The knocking on the door was loud. Incredibly loud. It was as if there were bomb going off outside of her door, and ara wondered dimly if the door could withstand such a beating. Ara struggled to stand up but the second the moved her head pain shot through it. With a crash and the squeal of strained springs she collapsed back on her bed yelling for the knocker to enter.

Cassandra did not have an easy time telling Bellatrix that she lost her daughter. The woman naturally reacted badly and if it hadn't been for their long friendship she was sure that she would have been long dead. Cass was on the edge of a breakdown similar to that her daughter suffered, this was the reason why she had not told her daughter of her real mother. Cassie loved her daughter, adored her. And how could she not? She had been a bright student, a Ravenclaw, and graduated with honours from Hogwarts. She was accepted into many programs in the ministry including the healing and Auror program. She had turned both down to take a job with the Unspeakables. However, when she met that awful man, she resigned and took an independent researching contract with the ministry. Cass always warned her daughter about that man Geoffrey, she knew he was a bad apple, but she was so in love, and so happy. Cassie didn't have the heart, Bellatrix was right, she had gone soft. But Cassie was never the killer, the fighter that Bellatrix was. Instead she was the voice of reason, the restricting force that held her back. She hadn't even joined the death eaters, claiming that it would further endanger Ara if anything ever happened to Bellatrix. But Ara would always be her daughter, always, at least in her mind.

And something did happen. She was sorry her friend went to prison for all of those years, and yet some part of her, deep down, knew that she deserved and was secretly saying 'serves you right'. She couldn't bring herself to acknowledge her friend and fallen from being noble to being a ruthless criminal, and she was weak for that. No matter how many children Bellatrix killed, how many families she tore apart, Cassandra would always be her friend. Through thick and thin. Always.

And it is because of this reason that we find them here in the hallway in the hogs head. Bellatrix had her hood pulled up hiding her face, Cassandra spoke for both of them. Aberforth knew Cassandra and sadly told her that her daughter was probably passed out in her room.

Cassie cautiously entered and was saddened to see her daughter clutching her head in pain, struggling to see in the dark. Bellatrix turned on the light which only elicited a sharp intake of breath from Ara and a groan. Cassandra dug through her purse and pulled out pain potion and helped her daughter gulp it down. "im sorry dear, I know its no hangover potion but this should help" she cooed as she stroked her daughters hair.

Bellatrix looked around and sniffed at her daughters surroundings. The room was filthy, certainly no place for someone of the status of a Black or a Lestrange.

After a few moments ara's mind began to clear enough to see who it was exactly was in her room. She let out another groan, "what the bloody hell are you doing here" she jerked away from her imposter mother, ignoring the hurt that crossed her face.

"we came to introduce you to—"

"me" Bellatrix had cut her off as she proudly took off her hood.

The resemblance was astounding. Ara jumped back in surprise, what had her birth certificate said? She had blocked out the name of her true mother when she saw it, but it all came rushing back to her. Aras face paled as the realization and truth settled in, her mother, her real mother, was the notorious escaped mass murderer Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Another Aberforth" Ara called from down the table.

Aberforth leaned heavily against the counter as he gave his patron a drink before pouring himself one. He sat down on a stool and looked at her. "Seems like your going through a rough spot in life yeah?"

Ara snorted into her ale "yeah I s'pose you could say that." There was a grim amusement that was intertwined in her words.

"Well Ara" he gave a dramatic sigh as he leaned on his elbow "tell me you problems, what troubles your soul child?"

Aberforth always had a soft spot for some of the Hogwarts students who found themselves into his tavern. Ara was one of those regulars who brought him candy when she was in school every Hogsmeade weekend. She much preferred to sip butterbeer in his empty, albeit dirty tavern than the loud and crowded three broomsticks. He also enjoyed her conversations; she was very mature for her age. She never really had very many friends either. It pained him to see her in this condition, sipping something much stronger than her usual butterbeer.

Two sips later she responded "I'm having an identity crisis" it sounded pitiful, even to herself.

Aberforth nodded "a quarter life crisis?" he was pleased to see that his comment drew a genuine smile out of her.

"Yes I suppose you could say its a quarter life crisis." She frowned a bit into her drink "oh Aberforth it's a quarter life disaster that's what it is"

She then continued to tell him all of her problems, of course changing names of certain people, notably her real mother. "And I don't know what to think, I mean she was a great mother, she is but she lied to me all of these years, and then there is my real mother, Cindy (the chosen pseudonym for Bellatrix), and I don't know her you know? She just appeared, and I get her absence, I under stand that, its just what do I think of her as, she missed my whole life you know, and uggh" she buried her face in her hands, tears of frustration leaking out of her eyes, but she had to admit, her soul felt lighter after telling Aberforth everything.

Aberforth leaned back and sighed. "Sounds like quite the pickle, do you want my advice" seeing her nod and peer through parted fingers at him, he continued "first forget about that guy, he was a jerk you will find someone else that you will love and he will love you. Second you should repair the relationship with cassie, you both will regret if you don't, and get to know your real mother, if you say there were circumstances that are logical why she couldn't raise you, then don't hold it against her. You need all the love you can get. Third go get yourself pampered, go to the spa get cleaned up and then go look for a job, the castle is always hiring, go apprentice yourself to some poor teacher, and then in three years you will have your own classroom. If you like I can set up an appointment with the spa and with Albus. And lastly" he smiled "make sure you pay your tab when you get the job, your drinking me dry here with nothing to show for it." Ara blushed as she began to pull out the money her mothers left her.

"This is all I have" she muttered meekly wondering just how much she owed. Aberforth patted her on the arm as he pushed it back at her "go get yourself cleaned up at a spa you can pay me later trust me when I say you need it" Ara slapped him playfully on the arm, before pocketing the money again.

"Thank you Aberforth though really" she said earnestly before leaving the tavern for the first time in what seemed to be ages.

The air was like heavens breath on her skin. When was the last time she had been outdoors? Humming, Ara walked down Hogsmeade, what Aberforth had said really made sense and she was determined to follow his advice.

Aberforth was a very insightful man; Ara began to learn over the years. He had always calmly listened to her problems and then told her what to do. Aside from his weird obsession with a painting in the back room and goats he was a pretty alright guy, who would always remain her friend.

Breezing into the hogs head that night Ara was a new woman, she had gone to a spa in muggle London that was absolutely exquisite and on her way back she stopped at a muggle sweet shop and bought Aberforth candies of every kind, as well as some things for herself. When she returned Aberforth told her she had an interview with Albus Dumbledore the next day for a job, he claimed that Albus was ecstatic to have her back in the castle. It had been a good day, one of the best she had in years, and it was so good that she almost forgot all of her problems. Almost

Late that night, Ara sat awake, sober, and staring at her ceiling. There were a lot of things on her mind. A job at the castle, she wondered how plausible that really was, it was just after Christmas and there was already snow on the ground. School was in session so it was unlikely that Hogwarts was really hiring. Albus was probably just humoring her. She turned on her bed. But on the other hand he may actually give her a job, albums was the sort of man who would hire a new teacher in the middle of term, she wasn't looking to be a teacher either, she was looking for anything, the kitchens would do if she had to. She sat up on her bed. She could always go back to the ministry and make spells for them, that was what she had done before, and as far as she knew the department liked her. She stood up and lit a fire. And then there was her mother, and her other mother, both of them. They were so hard to keep apart in her mind. Aberforth's advice would be sound if it was any other bloody person, but Bellatrix Lestrange is not someone Ara imagined she would want to get to know. She had seen the look on her mothers face yesterday though, she was sad. Yes she supposed she would have to confront them sometime soon. She sat down on a ragged chair. Her real mothers return also signaled another thing, it told Ara that dark times were coming, the papers were wrong; the dark lord was back from the grave. Ara's stomach flipped uncomfortably, with his return Ara would have to choose a side for the war, the Death Eaters or the Ministry. Ara desperately did not want to make that choice.

TBC

Tibys.

Right well im back from the dead. This has been one hectic year let me tell you, I have a full high school schedule as well as a part time college schedule in an effort to graduate early. Right now is AP exam week so I have been studying. Not to mention I completely forgot about this story and lost inspiration for it a long time ago. I am now on all new ideas and stories but I would like to thank Whoopsydaisy for reminding me this exists, and everyone else that reviewed, I really like them, and it reminds me I have an obligation. So yeah keep on me I promise ill keep going. I have this whole story in my head, I just haven't written it down. Anyways again review and keep me company, also if you have any suggestions on plots that is much appreciated, anything you would like to see, im thinking about having this go into a SS/OC later later later on, but im not sure yet.