A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed/followed/favorited this story, I really appreciate it! I'm going to try and update this story every Wednesday, but no promises ;)

This story has not been beta-ed, so please excuse any errors.

Also, instead of PM-ing everybody who reviewed and had questions, I'm just going to respond to them here, so if you don't want to read them you can just scroll down for the next chapter!

Mandy: Thanks! I will be continuing this as much as I can, as long as my interest in the story/pairing continues.

Yumari: Thanks! And yes, the story does take place in '91 when Harry enters. Harry and Ron will be making appearances in the story but I don't want them to detract from the focus of Bellatrix and Hermione, so they will be secondary characters of sorts.

Anyway, enjoy and review!

Young Love

Chapter Two:

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly," and with that she left the chamber.

The first year students broke out into admissions of nerves, despite McGonagall's plea for them to remain quiet. The only two students not talking were Bellatrix and Hermione. Hermione, because she was scared out of her mind for whatever was about to take place in the coming moments and Bellatrix, because she was watching Hermione's face twist and turn into expressions of anxiety and anguish.

For a reason unbeknownst to the dark-haired witch, watching her fair-haired counterpart riddled with such despair saddened her. And for that reason Bellatrix slipped her hand into Hermione's, much like she had placed her hand on the girl's knee earlier. Bella knew that Hermione would not/could not speak due to her anxiety so instead of soothing the girl with words, she tried to show her that she was there for her by her actions. Hermione looked up, surprised by the contact, but not in a bad way. Bella lightly squeezed the other girl's hand in solidarity, causing Hermione to smile.

After a few moments Professor McGonagall returned, and Bella reluctantly pulled her hand away from Hermione's.

"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall instructed the first years, "and follow me."

They walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.

The Great Hall was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up there, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them.

Bellatrix heard the muggleborn gasp slightly at the view of the velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. Bellatrix whispered to Hermione, "Its bewitched to look like the sky outside." Hermione nodded, remembering that detail from her Hogwarts: A History book.

Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat.

For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth ― and the hat began to sing:

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, But don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black, Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none) For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.

Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Black, Bellatrix!"

Bellatrix gulped. How can I be the first one up? She thought. There surely must be someone before me, maybe someone who's last name starts with an A? Bellatrix was frozen to her spot in line, consumed by her thoughts. It was now Hermione's turn to comfort the other girl, and show Bella that everything was going to be alright.

"You're going to do brilliantly." Hermione whispered to the slightly older girl as she goaded her forward.

Bella stumbled towards the professor. McGonagall lifted up the sorting hat and gestured for Bella to sit on the stool. Bella obliged, although it took her mind a few moments of convincing. She sat down, facing all of her peers for the first time. The raven-haired girl searched for Hermione's now smiling face in the crowd, the sight of the young witch calming her. Bella heard a slightly suppressed laugh coming from the back of the line that tore her gaze from Hermione. Her eyes darted to the back of the line to find a sniggering Draco, an amused sneer playing on his lips. Oh, god. What a prat. Bella thought before returning her gaze to Hermione.

The professor gently placed the hat on Bellatrix's head and the magical hat snapped to life.

"Ahh," said a small voice in her ear. "Another Black, what a surprise!" The hat quipped sarcastically. "A Slytherin no doubt, am I right?" The hat paused for a significant amount of time before speaking again. "Or will you be a Gryffindor like your cousin Sirius?" The enchanted piece of leather searched her mind. "You are teeming with talent and potential, unsurprising from an heir of the Black family. You have a pure heart, full of good intention, and you don't seem to hold your family's belief in pureblood supremacy." Bellatrix's mind instantly went to the unapproving looks and remarks she would get from her family if she was sorted into the Gryffindor House. "Oh, but what's this? Scared of what your family will think? Maybe you're not so brave after all — better be SLYTHERIN!"

Applause filled the air from the Slytherin table and Bellatrix sighed audibly in relief as McGonagall removed the sorting hat. The Black heir walked shakily toward the Slytherin table at the far right of the hall. Gemma Farley a Slytherin Prefect got up and shook Bella's hand welcoming her to the house. Bellatrix sat down with the other Slytherins and watched as first year after first year got sorted.

The young Slytherin's smile faded as she realized that Hermione may not be in her house. Although the two witches had only met mere hours before, Bella felt like she had known the other girl for lifetimes. Maybe she'll be in Slytherin, ugh, who am I kidding? The young witch chastised herself. Hermione is determined, kind, beautiful— wait did I just think beautiful. Oh my god, its the first day, nay, hour of school and I've already got a crush, and on a girl I most likely will never get. Way to go Bella, you bloody idiot! Bella was pulled out of her self reprimanding as Hermione was called to be sorted.

The fair-haired girl walked cautiously to the sorting hat and sat down. McGonagall placed the old leather hat on her head and the hat began to speak in her ear.

"Oh, another mugglebborn, how delightful! There seems to be quite a few of you lot this term, the more the merrier I say!" The hat boasted into her ear. "Now where to sort you?" The hat questioned as it searched the young girl's mind. "You are determined to learn as much as you can about the wizarding world..." The hat began it's monologue, but Hermione tuned it out searching for Bellatrix at the Slytherin table. "Oi, girl!" The hat bellowed. "This is one of the most important moments in your Hogwarts career it would do you some good to pay attention—" The magical object stopped. "Is that a crush I see?" Hermione cursed under breath, hoping the hat wouldn't see her desire to be sorted into Slytherin, only to be able to spend time with Bella. "I hope you know I'm not allowed to sort you into a house because you have a crush on one of it's members." Hermione sighed, of course you can't, the witch thought. "But let us see if you would be compatible with the Slytherin House. You're a muggleborn, minus one. You are not cunning or sly, minus one. You are brave, minus one. And you have a heart of good, minus one. Sorry, dear, it looks like I am going to have to sort you into— GRYFFINDOR!"

Hermione and Bellatrix grimaced in unison as the Gryffindor table burst out into applause.

The new Gryffindor removed the hat from her head and joined the Gryffindor table. She was congratulated and welcomed by the Prefect Percy Weasley as she sat down. McGonagall called the next name and the clapping died down.

Hermione glanced over to the Slytherin table, searching for Bellatrix. The Gryffindor found the Slytherin and to her surprise the raven-haired witch was already looking at her. As their eyes met, both girl's gaze softened and they smiled at each other.

"Congrats, Mione!" Mouthed Bellatrix.

"Congrats, Bella!" Hermione mouthed back.

The rest of Sorting Ceremony and the start-of-term banquet went by without a hitch and soon the houses were leaving to retire to their dormitories.