Bellatrix was lying on the sofa, staring at the common room fire. She had gotten worried when Narcissa didn't return at the designated bed time at which all students had to be in their common rooms or their dorms. She had shared her discomfort with Lucius, who had gone to go look for her. Just before he had left, a first year with greasy black hair chimed into the conversation. He had met Narcissa in a corridor just outside of the charms classroom and that's where he'd left her. So Lucius set off in that direction. Rodolphus had gone to bed and Bella had decided to stay up. She made the excuse that she was waiting for her sister, but in reality, she was just dying for another chance to talk to Tom alone. He had drifted back downstairs when more people had filled the common room, getting ready to go to bed. He hadn't talked to her like she had hoped he would, instead he just sat in an armchair and observed people.

Now, they were the only two people in the common room. Tom was absorbed in the notebook he was writing in and he didn't notice when Bella got up to stand in front of him. Finally, she cleared her throat and he looked up. His deep brown eyes were mesmerizing and Bellatrix floundered a bit for her words before she said, "Whatcha writing?" She then mentally kicked herself for the lame question. Why would he share it with her?

He smiled a little and said, "Dear Bellatrix, these are my personal thoughts." She kicked herself again, "But," He continued, "You can sit down here with me. I have a question for you"

She eagerly grabbed another chair and pulled it up close. She curled up in it the best her v-neck shirt would let her, and she leaned in, waiting for the mysterious boy to tell her what he wanted to know about her. He looked slightly upwards, thinking hard. Then, he opened his mouth and said, "How important is blood-status to you?"

She was taken aback. Of course it was important, but what if it was a test to see whether or not he could like and trust her? What if he didn't think it was important? But what if he thought it was? She finally spit out the truth, "I believe it is an important thing for all pure-bloods marry other pure-bloods and for mudbloods to just go away and not speak to us." She hoped this was the right answer.

He searched her face and it gave her a creepy feeling, almost as if he could read her mind. "That's good." He stood, "I must retire now. Goodnight Bella, dear." And he went up to his dorm room. Bella was confused. What had just happened?

Before she had much time to try and decipher this boy that has captured her attention so fiercely, she heard a giggle in the hallway outside the common room. Cissy was back. Bella rolled her eyes at the giddy laughter. Cissy was such a goof sometimes. Then, Narcissa rounded the corner and went upstairs to her dorm. She didn't even notice Bella sitting in the corner, but Lucius, who entered shortly after she had disappeared up the stairs, did notice. "Hello Bella." He smiled, "I'm going to bed. Nice to see you, though." He started walking towards the boys' dorms, trying to be calm, but Bella could tell he was just as happy as Narcissa.

Bella wanted to gag. The little lovey-dovey fourth-years were so goofy. The relationship wouldn't last. The honey-moon phase would end soon and when it did, it'd crash hard. Why not have a little fun on the way down? Bella smiled at the thought and said, "Hey, Lucius, that's a lovely shade of lipstick you're wearing." She giggled uncontrollably when he blushed and hurried upstairs, covering his mouth. Bellatrix, having had her fun, stood, stretched, and went up to her dorm. Andromeda was already asleep, but Narcissa was scribbling wildly in her diary. "So, how was your night?" Bella asked coolly as she got changed into her night-dress.

"Fine. Nothing unusual happened." Narcissa shrugged, but she was still smiling stupidly.

"Oh really? You're setting the pages of your diary on fire writing so fast. Just to tell it nothing?" Bella made a movement to smooth her sheets, but she was actually getting ready to grab the book.

"Yep. That's the idea." Cissy kept writing. Bella made her move. She hurtled herself over the bed, grabbed the diary, somersaulted across Narcissa's bed, and landed squarely on Andromeda.

Dromeda shot straight up and asked what was going on. Narcissa went to lunge after Bella, but got tangled up in her sheets. While she was trying to untie herself, Bella yelled, "Andromeda! Grab Cissy and hold her down!" Bella waved the diary in the air, and with a devious smile, Dromeda pinned her baby sister to the bed. Bellatrix cackled and Flipped the diary open, "If you won't tell us, then we'll find out for ourselves."

Narcissa's face was so red with anger, Dromeda thought she might explode. "Oh lighten up, Cissy. You know we love you and wouldn't use this knowledge for evil." The redness faded a bit, but she was still peeved as Bella began to read aloud.

"Dear diary, wow. Lucius is a pretty nice boy. I finally let him kiss me today. He was sweet and gentle and I feel safe around him. I can't help but wonder what he'd—" Bella stopped reading and fell to the floor laughing. Narcissa blushed and Dromeda was yelling at Bella to keep going. "Narcissa, you're so cheesy." Bella giggled, and then continued to read, "What he'd do if he ever proposed. I hope it's romantic. I can't tell my sisters, they'll think I'm nuts, but I really like this guy." Bella tossed the diary back to Narcissa, who was now free from Andromeda. "You know, you can always tell us stuff. I don't think you're nuts. Relationships at this age can work. Mum and dad started dating as fourth years."

Bella came and sat on Narcissa's bed with her sisters. Cissy glared at them, then smiled, "Actually, I'm kind of glad you know. But you can't tease us. Promise?"

They promised and all three of them hugged. It was a sweet moment until Bella said, "But if he ever pressures you to have sex, I'll kill him."

"But what if it's not pressure?" Cissy asked, a gleam in her eye.

Bella simply said, "You better not!" She tried to sound protective, but in reality, she couldn't stand the thought of her sisters losing their virginities before she could.

"And why not?" Cissy sounded defiant, but she was smiling and playing along.

"Because I'll kill you if you get to it before I do." She laughed, but Dromeda had a smirk on her face.

"Sucks to be you." Andromeda stood and moved to her own bed.

"Why's that?" Bella asked, but suddenly, she knew the answer. "Alright, who and when?" She was sort-of angry, now.

"Rabastan Lestrange at the beginning of summer and again last night." Dromeda smiled and lay back down on her bed. "And I'm done discussing it." She didn't know why she said it, but she figured she was just glad to have a leg-up on Bellatrix for once.

Bella and Cissy looked at each other, horrified. But they respected Dromeda's wishes not to talk more about it, plus Bella was sure she didn't want to hear about it. So, she curled up in bed after saying goodnight to Cissy. Bella decided to let her mind wander, but instead, it ran straight to Tom. She couldn't stop thinking about him and every time she did, she became more awake. Finally, she collapsed into a dream that involved a huge snake. The details of the dream were forgotten by the morning, but the snake slithered through her mind all day.