Sort of insomnia driven, I couldn't fall back to sleep because there was a mouse in my wall and my cat was losing her shit trying to get the little bastard and I wasn't about to stop her from getting rid of the vermin.

...That and she just kept meowing at the door when I threw her out, whatever, I don't have to work today so you all got this, enjoy!

My thoughts were rather fervently occupied with the card in my pocket during the ride back to London; I obviously informed Rab and Barty about it and they both volunteered to be my escorts for the ball without prompt, assuming I accepted it that is.

I was hesitant truthfully, though the idea of showing up with both my boys on my arms amused me enough to actually consider doing so just to see the other guests reactions, but that was beside the point.

The point being I did not have a fucking clue as to what Riddle's interest in me entailed, was he just being a creep with a Lolita complex or was he trying to sink his hooks into one Black, a favored one at that, in order to draw the rest of the family into his short bus schemes?

Without meaning to I lightly muttered out, "Who am I kidding, it's probably both, mathematicians answer, 'yes', goddammit..."

Andromeda glanced up at me in concern as she took my hand into hers, ti was so small and soft, I stared at her tiny fingers a moment and couldn't help but marvel at the strength those digits held.

Where my hands ever that small?

"Bella are you ok?"

Knocked out of my reverie I felt that 'Fucking NO,' should have been my response but I had no desire to make my problems my sister's problems so I just smiled while nodding once, "I'm fine love just...preoccupied. That's all."

I think I need to tell Dad and Grandfather about this one, let them know my suspicions of the creep factor, and despite my desires to keep this to myself, it was really a family matter.

I will not let my family follow canon on this one, we'd all be one big happy slightly deranged clan that would withstand the coming storm of suicidal eugenics if I had any say in it.

Andi seemed to sense that I was having some rather deep thoughts and thus wandered out of our cabin to find her friends, that's when Barty spoke up, "Bell, knut for your thoughts?"

"Probably worth a sickle," Rab stated flatly while still reading the book in his lap, I had to resist laughing at that.

Regardless I replied to my concerned friend in a serious tone, "I'm not sure how to handle this...Tom situation."

Both of my boys glanced at me and grimaced with looks of...pained consternation? I was not really sure what they were conveying but they were not pleased that much was for certain.

"Should have just burned the invite when you saw the creeps message on it," Rab muttered.

"The fact that Malfoy himself seemed uneasy handing it off to you should say something about this entire situation Bell," Barty stated while adjusting his reading glasses. He was not wrong, per say...

But it was the entire Spider-man scenario played in macro, with great power comes great responsibility, and I could cause one hell of a mess by being on the inside and shoving a stick through the spokes of this particular bicycle. How far would I be willing to go though?

I let out a tired sigh while shaking my head slowly, Fuck...slippery slopes indeed...

"I...am going to bring this to dad and grandfather's attention... I... This is too much for me to handle on my own, and I admit to being... Hmm... Not afraid, but apprehensive?"

I was not really sure on that one but Rab took my left hand while Barty took my right and they both squeezed lightly while shooting me beaming smiles.

It was a very cute action that made weird butterfly feelings flutter in my chest a moment as they nodded at me, Rab then spoke up first.

"I think that is your best course of actions honestly Bell."

Barty nodded, "You are notoriously independent so I doubt this...creep...would expect you to involve adults in the matter."

I sat in silence for a time before nodding, "Yeah...lets go with the unexpected..."

With that I spun in my seat and a moment later I was laying on my back, my head on Rab's lap, feet on Barty's, and yawning loudly.

"Wake me when we get to the station will you?"

As I faded off I heard Rab mutter, "Why do we put up with this?"

While slipping fully into the realm of Morpheus I could have sworn Barty replied with, "Because we're in love with her?"

Rab simply stated, "Ah," and I was then completely out of it.

Meh, probably just my imagination.

When I showed the invitation card to my parents and explained the previous meeting I had with Tom I was incredibly shocked to see both of them visibly pale, my stoic mum had tears gathering in the corners of her eyes and my dad looked like he was ready to vomit.

What the fuck was going on behind the scenes that I had been completely cut out of? Because really, what the hell?

Still I kept my composure while I waited for them to calm themselves, eventually dad gave me an even look and nodded towards me with a hint of genuine respect, "It was wise of you to bring this to our attention Bella. I in turn will have to bring this to your grandfather's attention immediately, please try not to dwell on it until we've come to a consensus."

That reaction did not really appease me, or mum for that matter but really, what could we do?

So I distracted myself with my sisters and their antics, Andi was enthralling Cissy with her stories about Hogwarts while our littlest sister gushed about her pen pals Lily and Sev and how excited she was about going to school with them in September. I really wasn't sure how that one would unfold but the Half-Blood and Muggle-Born having an established relationship with a Pure-Blood of the highest pedigree could only shake things up in a rather amusing manner.

What can I say, I'm quite a bit like Ledger's interpretation of the Joker, I'm simply an agent of chaos who wishes to see what happens when you give reality a gentle push. Honestly, what else would anyone expect from Bellatrix Black?

Two weeks passed before I received any information about the Midsummer Ball from my family, and the source of said information shocked me beyond words.

When I was called to my father's study the last person I expected to be waiting for me was Lord Arcturus Black, my grandfather and patriarch of our entire clan. He gave me an appraising once over, taking in my dress, my Slytherin green polished nails, primped curled hair, and meticulously applied makeup, and after a moment let out a grunt of approval.

"Well granddaughter, you at the very least do not embarrass the family with your presentation."

I couldn't help it, I rolled my eyes, rather then offending my Lord he smirked while the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly, after a moment I met his gaze evenly while drawling out, "Really grandpa? Really?"

He let out an amused laugh while shaking his head slowly, "I am sorry my dear I could not help myself. Unfortunately I do not have time for pleasantries so shall we as they say get down to brass tacks? You are aware that this 'Lord Gaunt' has been attempting to gain our allegiance in his rather short sighted goal to reform our society in order to subjugate the muggle-born's and enslave the muggles, all while wrapping the entire moronic facade up as a push to reestablish the Old Ways?"

I nodded, "Yes grandpa, I have been paying attention and it just sounds..."

"Idiotic." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes, if Grindelwald could not pull it off with the resources he had what makes Gaunt think he can do better? Especially considering the fact that Grindelwald did not segregate magicals along with the muggles, Gaunt's method creates too many divides that while in the short term would financially work in his favor, would never be feasible to continue in the long term."

Arcturus stared at me a few moments before he smirked, "You always were a sharp one little Bella. Cunning, intelligent, and perceptive...there is also something else about you that puts you above everyone else."

I was admittedly confused at this statement, "Grandpa?"

"Loyalty, more specifically familial loyalty. You would never, in any circumstance trade your sisters in for a marriage contract that would gain you massive amounts of wealth, would you? You would never betray your father in a scheme to gain his title, would you? You would never poison your cousins to make sure they could not lay claim to what you saw was rightfully yours, would you?"

I stared at my grandfather in open horror and shock, the proud man shot me a sympathetic look, walked up to me, and took a knee while I muttered, "...Never..."

"I know," then Lord Black hugged me, and I hugged him back, "That is why I am giving you this order, it is dangerous, it is long term, and it will be painful, but you are the only one who can pull it off. Go to this Midsummer ball, find out what you can about this 'Lord Gaunt', and find out exactly what sort of threat he is to our family. As long as you can morally accept what happens, you need to stay as close as you can to the action in order to keep our clan informed."

I wanted to cry, I was being told to do the one thing I had been actively avoiding my entire life in order to protect my family.

My grandfather wanted me to join the cult of idiots.

"Ok, grandpa."

I suddenly felt like I have lost all control over my life...was this what the original Bellatrix felt like in the beginning? My grandfather dismissed me so he could work out future plans with my dad and I soon found myself wandering into my room standing before my full length mirror.

I took in my shocked visage for a time before turning away and for the first time in my life... I had no idea what to do.