Lily stared off into space for a few minutes, her quill twirling slowly in a circle as she listened to the basics of turning the live object into an inanimate object. She touched the locket and closed her fist around it, her thoughts floating away again as Severus nudged her to grab her mouse. She blinked and looked over at him, her white little mouse was escaping the confines of the makeshift cage.

"Evans. Are you with us today?" The professor asked to the tittering of the Slytherins.

"Sorry Professor, just a little distracted." She said closing her hand over the mouse to keep it on the desk.

"Well I can see that Evans, how about you demonstrate the wand movements that I have just shown the class."

Lily glanced at Severus who looked back at her unable to help.

"I- um." Lily held her wand up and brandished the wand in a z formation hoping at least it would spark.

"Just as I thought, five points from Gryffindor and pay attention to your classmates working Evans or it will be ten."

James and Sirius groaned at her, she wasn't making any friends when she lost points for the house. By the end of the lesson she was the only Gryffindor to actually turn her mouse into a wedge of cheese.

"Tough lesson?" Bella asked catching her in the hallway, Lily looked up at her surprised.

"Yeah, transfiguring mice."

Bella nodded, "I hated that lesson, still I was the only one to transfigure mine into a cat and ate my partners mouse." She grinned and Lily was not sure if Bella was joking or not.

"I'm kidding Evans." She refrained from calling Lily Pet. "Still, meeting tonight you can't miss it." And before Lily could respond Bella was gone, lost in the crowd of students all moving in a stream towards lunch.

Lily waited in the usual spot for the rest of the group to appear. She checked the clock, it was ten minutes past midnight and still nobody was there. Did she have the meeting place wrong? She frowned and decided to wait a few more minutes before giving up and going back to her dorm. At twenty past midnight she gave up and headed back for the dorm.

"Evans." She heard a whisper from a dark corridor. "Come on we're waiting." The voice belonged to Bagman who beckoned her forward into the unfamiliar hallway and into a classroom. Everyone was there already, Lucius stood in the middle next to Bella who was frowning slightly and nodding at whatever he was saying.

"Welcome Evans." He called when he spotted her, "We've been waiting for you."

Bella looked over her shoulder and scowled slightly before walking over to her. "You could have told me you were going to be late."

"I was waiting by the statue." Lily protested to Bella's immediate shushing.

Lily blushed slightly and felt Bella's hand on hers, she thought to pull away but decided it wouldn't hurt anything to have Bella's fingers entwined with hers.

"Members we've come tonight to address a most grievous crime among our ranks."

A hush fell over the assembled group, everyone's eyes fell to Lucius as he stood holding a wooden paddle.

"A blood oath is a sacred vow not to be taken lightly. You are bound to your master or mistress by ancient magics that cannot be undone."

Lily swallowed hard and squeezed Bella's hand, he was talking about her. She had told Dolohov that she wanted to be freed from her oath to Bella. Her heart roared in her ears as Lucius paced with the paddle. Her eyes followed his movements as he paused in front of them.

"You are bound by honour into this bond and we have one among us who wishes to be released from the vows they so eagerly took not two months ago."

He walked away from the pair, Lily's fingers digging into Bella's palm. She was scared to breathe. She stepped closer to feel Bella's arm against her own. "Bella." She whispered. Bella shook her head almost in perceptively.

"Bellatrix." Lucius said turning back towards them. "Come forward." Bella released Lily's hand, her head held high as she approached Lucius.

"Because you violated your blood oath with violence you are to receive a strike for each act of assault against your servant Lily Evans."

"No!" Lily shouted and moved to stand between Bella and Lucius.

Lucius paused and looked at the pair.

"Shhh Pet, go back." Bella said against Lily's ear.

"Bella no." She said gripping Bella's arm.

The group stayed silent watching the exchange between the three.

"Would you take the strikes for her?" Lucius asked looking between the pair.

"No." Bella answered before Lily could. She pulled Lily to her and whispered, "Stand just over there so I can see you and I won't feel a thing. I promise." She pressed a soft kiss to Lily's ear and walked her over to the spot that she could still see her.

Bella walked back over to Lucius and faced the group, "For my transgressions against my blood sworn. I am guilty of pushing her to wanting to be released from her bond to me."

Lily wanted to flee the room, to be forever away from this club and its members. Her feet were rooted to the spot as her mind screamed to run. This was all her fault, she glared at Dolohov who did not have the courage to look away. He had betrayed her trust, she shook her head at him before returning her gaze to Bella. Her eyes swam with tears, it was her fault, her fault Bella was going to be hurt. She couldn't open her mouth to stop it, her breathes came fast waiting for Lucius to strike.

Her eyes locked into Lily's as the strikes made a sickening sound in the silent room. Lily's eyes refused to close, refused her to look away, Bella shook her head at her, her eyes not even watering from the pain. She didn't have to cry, Lily cried enough for both of them.