Regina was on her way to Severus' office – it was after all the only place in Hogwarts (at least that she knew of) where she could safely apparate from – when she rounded a corner and crashed into a body.

"It's way past curfew," a stern voice stated. Once Regina got her bearings, she rolled her eyes and finally acknowledged the student she'd run into. Belle French. Of course it had to be her.

"So?" Regina cockily asked and stood up, leaving the other girl to get up on her own. She was raised to always be polite but Belle French somehow just rubbed her the wrong way. "You're here as well, aren't you now?"

The brunette had eventually collected all of her books – Regina seldom saw her with less than two – and was now dusting off her robes. The glare she sent Regina spoke volumes. "I AM a prefect. You however are not. So what's your excuse?"

Ouch. Regina had forgotten that the Ravenclaw had been made prefect at the beginning of 6th year. It was a good thing that prefects could only take house points from their own houses. But, the girl could – and probably would do so with glee – tell on her, getting her into trouble. Good thing she kind of had a good excuse.

"I am on my way to see Professor Snape. He's expecting me."

"Very well," the Ravenclaw said after a moment of silent contemplation. "I suppose it won't bother you then if I accompany you."

"I- argh, suit yourself," Regina snorted and darted off, not bothering to wait for Belle to catch up to her. Her left forearm was burning and she was pretty sure it got worse by the minute. Severus had once told her that the Dark Lord did not like to be kept waiting. He'd also told her the story of Crazy Wilbert Grouche. The guy had managed to ignore the pain of his Lord's summons for three days. It had gotten him his nickname, sent him right to St. Mungo's psych ward...

No, she was in a hurry. There was no time for waiting around to see if the prefect would really come with her.

A whole staircase later, the brunette finally caught up with her. Unfortunately, it coincided with the exact moment she bent over in pain, hissing sharply.

"Are you alright?" The other girl was breathing rapidly beside her, hands on her knees. Her voice was breathy but Regina could hear the hints of concern.

"Yes, of course," Regina straightened up, taking in a deep breath to steady herself. Her mark felt as if it was trying to burn up her whole body, her veins were on fire, and tears were threatening to escape her dark eyes. "I'm fine. Period cramps. I get them- really bad once in a while… that's why I'm meeting my uncle."

Belle nodded but thought to herself that she'd never seen someone double over like this, not even from period pain. She was a Ravenclaw after all. It was not easy to fool her.

"Let's get going," Regina rasped out, rounding a corner and taking the hidden side door that led to the dungeons. It was obscured by a knight's armor and only known by Slytherins – it was after all a great benefit to know of a shortcut that others didn't – but Regina couldn't care less right now. She was in pain. She needed to get to Severus' quarters. Preferably yesterday.

Belle followed after the Slytherin girl, now more certain than before that this was about something big, something important. She would have not taken the shortcut if she wasn't in a great hurry to get to Professor Snape's rooms. Well, it could come in handy sometime. This night of dull patrolling around the halls was getting more and more interesting.

Belle was about to ask something – what, she would later have no memory of – when Regina Mills fell to the ground just a few steps away from her and didn't make an effort to get back up to her feet.

"Regina?" Belle hurried to her side and crouched down. "Regina–"

"Get Severus, please," the girl interrupted her with the last tiny bit of strength. "Please, Belle."

At first, Belle was too startled to move. Regina Mills had only ever called her 'French' – the few times she'd addressed her anyway… Her name... it had sounded so very foreign but also… intimate and familiar at the same time. Watching the girl's eyes flutter closed, Belle set into motion.

Casting a quick and skillful 'Levicorpus', she lifted Regina's limp body into the air and guided her carefully through the dark corridors. She would not just leave her behind in a dark and abandoned part of the castle.

OUAHOUAHOUAHOUAH

When the sleepy Potions Master's face appeared in his office door, it switched from downright furious to deadly worried in seconds.

"What happened?" he barked out before Belle could even find the words she needed to say, still slightly shocked at his facial expression. Was there a heart after all in the sourly man?

"She was on her way to you," Belle rambled out, watching as he plucked his student out of the air and carried her into his office. She quickly followed her teacher and closed the door behind them. "She was in pain. She said it was period cramps," the Ravenclaw rolled her eyes at the notion that she would ever believe such a crap. "But I know it's not. She kept clutching her arm, not her stomach. She fell just when we reached the dungeons. I took her to you." The professor looked positively sick but also somewhat relieved. Why would he-

"You know what's wrong with her," Belle stated. The pale man still had Regina in his arms and Belle was in awe at the gentle way he now placed her in a chair.

"Professor?" Belle – for once – chose to not back down and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "What's happening to her. I demand to–"

"You know nothing of her struggles," Severus Snape turned around sharply and his dark eyes seemed to be looking deep into her. "Life as a muggleborn witch may not be easy," he hissed, "but life as a young pureblood witch isn't either. Especially for one of Regina's family and status. There are many things wrong with her. And I know your hunger for knowledge and learning demands an answer to what you witnessed tonight. I understand, as weird as that may sound to you. But. You need to leave now. And do not try to find out what is wrong with your fellow student. It wouldn't be good for either of you."

His impressive and open speech had touched something in the Ravenclaw. She quickly nodded at the professor, assured that he would know what to do. Then she left the room. But only for now. She would find out all about this mystery that was Regina Mills.

OUAHOUAHOUAHOUAH

"Belle," Regina quietly called out when she woke a short time later, drenched in sweat and shivering.

"She's no longer here," Severus magically lit a few candles and stepped closer to his bed so Regina could see him. "She brought you here and left you in my care. I know you were summoned tonight," he placed a palm on her forehead to check her temperature. "Rest for now. It's a big day and I refuse to send you to the arena without being properly rested. At least as much as you can be after a night like this."

"I have to-" Regina started to get up but was quickly pushed back into the mattress from his firm hand on her shoulder.

"It's taken care of. I spoke to the Dark Lord once I'd settled you. He awaits you tomorrow night instead. It is all I could do." His eyes met Regina's and softened. "A summons is even stronger when the mark is still fresh and the bearer is young. It'll be better soon, I promise. I was just a few years older when I joined… By your third summons your body will most likely react like those of the other Death Eaters. You will still have to get to him as fast as possible, but it'll hurt less and you'll have more time."

Regina weakly nodded at her godfather and sunk back into the pillows. Her eyes were already drooping close again. "Stay here?" she mumbled and held out a hand.

"Of course." Severus securely clasped her hand in his and sat down on the edge of his bed. "I will be here. Sleep."

OUAHOUAHOUAHOUAH

Her arm still hurt. More so, it felt like it didnt really belong to her body. It felt like dead weight to her; still attached to the rest of her but lifeless. She sighed and strode back into the tent that had been set up for her. Fleur Delacour had been the first. There had been a few screams but also clapping - Regina was sure the girl had managed though. Krum was up second – she'd heard raucous applause and cheers a few minutes earlier and knew he'd managed to get the golden egg. She also knew it was now only a matter of minutes until she stood in front of the Horntail. Just until they got Krum's dragon out of the arena. If he hadn't just killed the beast. It would have been his tactic probably…

She kept pacing the tent until movement from the tent flaps made her perk up.

"Hello?"

More movement. Regina quickly reacted and pointed her wand at the now parting tent flaps.

"It's just me," Belle French walked in, palms up and a nervous half-smile on her face. "Just wanted to... check, I suppose."

"Check? On me?" Regina raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Why ever would you do that?" She watched as the Ravenclaw blushed and stared at her feet.

"It… it was a dumb idea. Never mind." The blue eyes found Regina before Belle moved to walk back out of the tent.

"Wait!" Regina called her back. Somehow, she didn't like how disheartened the girl had sounded a moment ago. Nor did she like the slumped shoulders. Belle turned back around, waiting for her to say something else.

"Thank you, I suppose. For checking up on me, I mean. I- I appreciate it. Even though I still don't get why you'd even come here in the first place. We're not exactly friends, remember?"

"We could be," the brunette stated as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

AN: thanks for giving this a chance for everyone who's been reading this. I still can't decide on the girl I'll pair Regina with and it's giving me a headache ;)

Regina/Elsa x Regina/Snow x Regina/Belle x Regina/Maleficent

I do have to admit though that I'm a sucker for conflict. A muggleborn Belle as Regina's love would definitely add that. Hmm. Your suggestions are of course very welcome.