Chapter 2

A/N: Hey everyone, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter, here's the second part of the weekend update. I'll be posting an Author's Note in Conqueror's Fact to let the readers that don't follow me know that the second story arc is up. Anyway, I hope you like it. Read, review, follow, fave and enjoy! I'll see you guys next weekend.


Hermione woke to the sounds of bustling around the room, it took her a moment to realize that the red and gold she usually woke up to had been replaced with silver and green. She rolled her eyes and sat up, several of the beds were already empty and made and a few late risers were still nestled under the covers.

"You must be the new girl everyone is going on about." A warm voice spoke. Hermione looked to her left and was greeted by the face of Andromeda Black. Everyone always said that she and Bellatrix were nearly identical but the main differences were their eyes and voices, it was rather easy to tell them apart if one actually tried, Hermione noted to herself before smiling at the middle Black sister.

"I guess so. I'm Hermione Kane, it's a pleasure to meet you." Hermione offered her hand which Andromeda pushed aside, choosing to hug the now shocked witch.

"I'm Andromeda Black, my friends call me Andy though. And I know you're shy, but you have nothing to worry about." At Hermione's questioning gaze Andromeda chuckled,

"My younger sister wouldn't shut up about you earlier. She's a good judge of character, hence the hug instead of the handshake. Oh! Before I forget Professor Slughorn dropped off your uniforms this morning. Don't worry about sizing, their charmed to fit you just right." Andromeda finished with a wink. Hermione chuckled lightly and blushed at the older witch's antics.

"Got the new girl blushing already Andy? You don't waste any time do you?" A voice called out from the doorway. Both Andromeda and Hermione looked to see Lilith leaning against the door frame, a crooked smile on her face.

"N-No, it's not like that." Andromeda stammered, blushing hotly. Lilith grinned lecherously at the response, reminding Hermione of a similar conversation she had with Tonks. Andromeda gestured to Lilith who in turn fully entered the room and stood next to her.

"This is Lilith Bolton, she's a sixth year, and my older sister's best friend." Andromeda stated, Hermione didn't miss the dreamy look in her eye, and she was sure Lilith hadn't either. Smiling, Lilith grasped Hermione's hand and gave it a friendly squeeze.

"Nice to officially meet you, I'm glad you were able to settle in alright." Lilith's smile faltered slightly at the sight of the ring on Hermione's finger, and her eyes slowly made their way back up to nervous hazel ones. Lilith's eyes narrowed for a second before her smile returned full force.

"That's a pretty ring. Family heirloom?" The falter and return of the smile on Lilith's face was slightly concerning, and Hermione wasn't sure how she should respond but thankfully she didn't have to.

"I'm sure there's an age limit on this room, Lilith." The taunt came from just outside the room, where Bellatrix stood smirking. Lilith chuckled and turned to face the other girl. Hermione was slightly relieved to no longer be the focus of the Bolton heir's attention.

"You two hurry up and get ready for the day, we'll be waiting in the common room." Bellatrix spoke, grabbing Lilith's hand and pulling her away, the gray eyed witch only smiled and waved a goodbye as she was dragged out of sight by her curly haired friend.


Breakfast in the Great Hall was particularly interesting. The Slytherin table was rowdier than usual thanks to all the gossip and speculation on the arrival of their newest housemate. Bellatrix was especially interested in anything pertaining to the fifth year's arrival, she could tell that there was something different about the girl and she was determined to find out what it was.

"You know, it wouldn't hurt to actually talk to the girl instead of watching her out of the corner of your eye." Bellatrix turned to glare at Lucius who looked unimpressed. Antonin chuckled at the jab and nodded, while Lilith attempted contain her laughter but her shaking shoulders gave her away. Bellatrix jabbed her best friend in the side with her elbow which earned her a shove in return. Antonin added to the frenzy by throwing grapes at both witches while Lucius kept an eye on everything.

"Are they always like that?" Hermione asked incredulously.

Andromeda giggled and nodded, "Yeah, most of the time. It's usually Bella and Lilith, but eventually everyone rough houses with everyone else. It's all in good fun though." Hermione was taken aback by how carefree they all seemed, no trace of the monsters that they were to become later in life. She had to wonder why this was the year that they tried to return to. Suddenly the display of breakfast quiches next to the rambunctious group of teens exploded. Hermione and Andromeda jumped in their seats is surprise while the sixth and seventh year Slytherins all stood, wands drawn. Hermione looked to where the wands were pointed and was unsurprised to see that their wands were pointed at the Gryffindor table. And by the smirking faces of certain members it was clear that the Slytherins were correct in their assumption.

"One hundred points from Slytherin." The sound of the Headmaster's voice broke through the building tension in the Hall. Hermione's head snapped to the teacher's table, McGonagall's face was emotionless and Professor Slughorn was clearly outraged by Dumbledore's decision, as was his entire house.

Dumbledore fixed a stern glare on the house of green and silver as he spoke, "Lower your wands and be seated, or you will be reprimanded accordingly." Begrudgingly wands were put away and the older students sat down. Bellatrix, Lilith, Lucius, Antonin, and a few students that Hermione didn't know were the last to sit down, their angry eyes never leaving the teacher's table. The Great Hall was now suffocating under all of the tension the Headmaster had created, well almost all of the Great Hall, the Gryffindor table remained as loud and cheerful as ever, seemingly uncaring about what had just occurred. Hermione's eyes found themselves watching Bellatrix. She and the others were whispering between themselves intensely, and Hermione could only guess that there would be some sort of retaliation in store for the Gryffindors who caused it.


It was getting close to dinner and Bellatrix and Lilith had yet to fully calm down from the incident at breakfast. DADA had been particularly brutal for them when they chose to duel against each other instead of their less prepared classmates. Whispers of what happened during the duel had reached the entire school and the bright cheery atmosphere the day had begun with had soured into a toxic mixture of anxiety and rage.

"They can't honestly expect to get away with what they did." Bellatrix hissed. The group of teens had decided that it was best they remain in the common room until a plan of action was decided.

"Of course they do, they're Gryffindors and they have the support of the Headmaster. We need to be smart about this. They can move in the light unimpeded. We have to make sure it can't be traced back to us, we need to move silently, but with purpose." Lucius spoke evenly. To anyone else he seemed to be the most level headed of the group, but the sharp gleam in his eyes betrayed his cool facade.

"I'm sick of having to move in the shadows! The four of us could take out their entire house if we wanted, and yet they get to parade around as if they're untouchable." Bellatrix spat back, her hands were trembling, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the group. Lilith, who up until this point had remained silent spoke up.

"As much as I agree with you Bella, Lucius is right. We could take out that damned house, most of the staff, and probably most of the upperclassmen, but then what? Azkaban? Because we're good, but Dumbledore is better." Lilith placed a hand on Bellatrix's shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze. Bellatrix glared at nothing in particular before she sighed, sat back, and nodded. Lucius breathed a sigh of relief that Lilith was able to calm Bellatrix down, if only a little. He could tell that the witches weren't fully prepared to let things go, but he hoped they could stay calm until they came up with a plan. Sensing the lull in conversation as a potential opportunity for Bellatrix's mind to wonder and get her worked up again, Antonin moved the group onto a lighter topic.

"So...Bella, that Hermione girl is kind of cute, isn't she?" The dreamy look on the curly haired witch's face at the mention of the newest addition to the Slytherin house had the rest of the group shocked. Bellatrix became aware of the looks that she was receiving from her friends and sneered at them.

"What are you lot staring at? Whatever, it doesn't matter, let's go eat, I'm bloody starving." Bellatrix huffed as she stood and strode towards the door, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink. She was quickly followed by her snickering comrades.