Disclaimer: See Chapter One
A/N: I apologize for the long delay in getting this chapter out. My daughters wedding had diverted all of my attention. The wedding though was quite beautiful; it was a traditional Celtic Hand-fasting ceremony. Both of our families are of Irish descent which I found amusing since the Hand-fasting ceremony is of ancient Scottish tradition.
Anyway, with the distraction of the wedding I kind of lost my flow of writing, and so this chapter, at least to me doesn't feel quite as fluid as it should be, although my wife said it was good. But she's biased. Anyway I hope you enjoy the chapter, not much action in this chapter but it does include some important developmental pieces.
I have placed a Poll on my homepage to see if there is any interest for me to create a forum for Passageways. Take a look and vote yes or no. If there is enough interest I will create one. So without further ado I hope you enjoy this next chapter of Passageways.
Chapter 25
The return feast had been anticlimactic, Dumbledore had kept his speech short, only touching upon the loss of the students that had died in the Hogsmeade attack, and that future visits to the small wizarding community would not be terminated but would be closely monitored by staff.
He also reminded students that classes would begin first thing in the morning and that they should renew their commitments to their studies and focus on becoming the best witch or wizard that they could become.
One by one the students filtered out of the Great Hall heading back to their respective common rooms. Bella had lingered behind, allowing the Great Hall to empty. Harry stood nearby under his invisibility cloak, once there were only a few stragglers left, Bella and Harry right next to her underneath his cloak left the large hall. Several minutes later they walked into the Room of Requirement to find someone waiting for them.
"Welcome back, my champions." Lady Hogwarts greeted the two teens with a warm smile.
"Thank you my Lady." They both replied.
"I trust that your meeting with Bella's family went well?" She asked.
"It started out bumpy, but I think we have allies in the Black family, at least most of them." Harry replied.
"By most, I assume that my counterpart gave you a hard time?!"
"Auntie Walburga! I've missed you!" Harry replied excitedly approaching the portrait of Walburga Black.
"She was a bit standoffish auntie." Bella replied matter-of-factly. "But I think we changed her mind, at least somewhat in regards to Voldemort, but she still believes in the purist philosophy."
"You should let me talk to her dears; I could get her to see reason. Once I explain to her how we lose our children because of the machinations of that madman and what he does to our whole family, she will be after his head." The portrait stated passionately.
"I would love to see that." Harry chuckled. "But, we can't do that without exposing who I really am and when I come from."
Walburga nodded her silent agreement. Knowing herself as she did, she knew that her counterpart would try and use that knowledge for self-gain and would most likely harm their goals. "Well, just give her time Harry, if she comes to realize that her family is in danger she could become like me and be one of your staunchest allies."
"Thank you auntie, I hope we can sway her as well." Harry sighed.
"Master Harry Potter has returned!" A gray blur suddenly attached itself to Harry's left leg.
"Dobby?" Harry asked surprised to see the quirky elf.
"I brought them all here while you were gone Harry." Lady Hogwarts replied appearing in front of the couple. "Your timeline has been completely altered and I knew that you would not want to leave them behind."
"Them?" Hedwig suddenly flew over to him from a perch near the fireplace and landed gently on his shoulder and nipped at his earlobe affectionately.
"Hey girl, I've missed you!" Harry told his oldest friend. Hedwig nuzzled her head against his cheek and barked softly. Harry noticed also taking a look around that the ancient looking Kreacher and Winky were also in the room shuffling about.
Bella noticed the little female House Elf fidgeting about and looking sullen. "Is there something wrong Winky?" Bella asked the elf.
Winky suddenly looked nervous. "N-no mistress it's just…"
"Just what?" She asked.
"Winky is not knowings what to do, this room is small and needs little cleaning, Winky is hoping that she would be working in a proper home, now that yous and master is married, Winky is wanting to be a proper elf and takes care of her family." The little elf was twisting the hem of her frilly yellow dress nervously.
"Oh, well…master Harry and I…that is to say we don't have an official residence yet." Bella explained. Turning to Harry she followed up.
"Are there any Eveningshade houses still in existence?" Bella asked her husband.
"I'm not sure to be honest." Harry began.
"Yous do being having a house Master Harrys sir!" Dobby jumped up and down.
"I do? How do you know and where is it?" Harry asked.
"When yous bonded Dobby to you, your family magic now flows through Dobby. Dobby is knowing where all properties of Evyshades, Blacks, and Potters is!"
"Oh, well…that's great Dobby! So are there any Eveningshade properties that are still in existence and are they habitable?" Harry asked.
"Oh yes Master Harry! The manor in Yetholm is still standing and has been in stasis and hidden since the last Evyshade left for muggle world!" Dobby said excitedly.
"Well then perhaps you, Winky, and Kreacher could go there and prepare it for us. Would you like that Winky?" Harry asked the little elf.
"Yes master, Winky wants a proper home to take care of, and perhaps to take care of babies soon to." Winky stated hopefully. Bella blushed and Harry nearly choked at the seemingly innocuous comment.
"Um…well…I don't think we're quite ready for that yet Winky." Harry stammered.
"Not for a few years anyway." Bella added, and subconsciously placed a hand on her belly, the thought not entirely unpleasant to her." She never thought about being a mother, she was only sixteen for Maeve's sake, but now that the idea had entered her mind she smiled at the thought of one day being a mother.
"It's settled then, go an open the manor and prepare it for Bella and I to visit in…let's say about two weeks, right before Samhain." Harry told the three elves. The three elves bowed to their master and mistress and with three small pops were gone.
"Once your residence is active again I can create a secure floo link from there to here." Hogwarts added helpfully
"What do you think?" Harry asked Bella with a smile.
"I think that we need a proper home, we are after all Lord and Lady Eveningshade, we should have our own place." She stated with faux pomposity, before a smile broke through.
"Well then a place of our own you shall have milady!" Harry replied sweeping into a low bow, grinning from ear to ear.
"Prat!" She giggled slapping his arm playfully.
"Now that your home is settled, I think we must speak about plans for your education and training." Lady Hogwarts interrupted the two teens. "It is not possible for you to return to your own time Harry, the time currents are to chaotic now, to try and return would be dangerous and I could not guarantee in what reality you would be stepping back into. Your time line in essence is being re-written and is no longer stable."
"So no going back then." It was a statement, and Harry surprisingly felt a sudden loss. He had left everything behind, including Hermione and Luna. Though he felt sadness at the loss of his friends he was comforted by the fact that he had found family here in the past…no he rethought, not the past…this is my present and my future and realizing for the first time that he felt like here was where he was meant to be.
"Anticipating your need for tuition, I have arranged professors for you to complete your studies." The image of Helga Hufflepuff informed him.
"Who?" Harry asked curiously.
"Helena Ravenclaw will be teaching you Ancient Runes and Arithmancy and Astronomy. She was a very clever girl, so like her mother." Lady Hogwarts sighed with a hint of sadness.
She continued. "The Fat Friar will be teaching you Herbology and Potions, the two fields of study are complimentary and should be taught in tandem with one another. Of course the Bloody Baron will be teaching you Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts, really there is no one better he was a master at both. Your Aunt Walburga will be teaching you about the magical government and politics. And I will be teaching you charms, History of Magic, and will be helping you with your family magic as well." She smiled.
"Great!" Harry replied a bit sarcastically. "Add that to what Dorea will be teaching us, I'll have barely enough time to breathe."
Hogwarts rolled her eyes at the young man in front of her. "In centuries past, Harry, students worked on their studies from sunup to sundown. There were no free periods or House Qudditich teams to divert your attention.
"You were expected to devote every moment in study and sharpening your skills. In those days students were given a master or mistress after your third year, and you were then their apprentice until they felt you were ready to practice your craft in the world.
"An apprenticeship generally lasted four years which is where the seven years of magical education was thought of, but, in those days some apprenticeships could take up to ten years or more. In fact Dumbledore's apprenticeship in Alchemy lasted twenty years.
"They controlled every detail of your life, when you slept, when you ate, the hours of study and the hours of practical applications, you had no say in how you spent your day. Now what I have planned for you will require your absolute dedication but you will have some personal time, I don't think Bellatrix would allow me to take all your time." She chuckled getting a heartily nodding Bella glaring at her.
oooOOOooo
Midnight Forbidden Forest:
"Our lord has commanded us to double our recruitment efforts here at the school; we must approach every pureblood of our political leanings to join the cause of purity." Rudolphus Lestrange instructed his inner circle; the inner members consisting of his brother Rabastan, Greg Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, Amycus Carrow, Evan Rosier, and Waldon Mcnair. Lucius had been pulled from school and was rumored to be in France with his mother and fugitive father.
"How are we to persuade them?" Evan Rosier asked tersely, he was still not happy with Rudolphus and his treatment of his sister Olivia, who had been beaten by the newly ascended Lord Lestrange for losing the communication ring she had been given.
"By not giving them a choice!" Rudolphus replied heatedly. "Those who do not join this noble cause are traitors to the pureblood that runs through their veins! Let them know that they would be seen as traitors to their own kind and would not be looked upon favorably once our master takes the government!"
"Many of the lighter families and even some of the darker families will not join, especially after what happened in Hogsmeade. Our lord's men were cut down in the street! The Black family the pinnacle of pureblood society and a dark family were leading the charge! How are we to convince the others of our strength with this kind of failure?" Greg Goyle asked.
"The failure in Hogsmeade was unfortunate and the Black family will pay for their treachery, but our lord is planning another demonstration of our strength and resolve, and it will put to rest any doubt of our lord's power." He stated without further explanation.
"Now, we have a second mandate, and that is persuading…" Rudolphus began with a sadistic smile. "…the mudblood students to "voluntarily" leave our world and not return to Hogwarts."
"How are we to persuade them?" Crabbe asked with a vacant look on his face.
"Subtly." Rudolphus replied. "We must be Slytherin about this. We cannot risk bringing unwanted attention to ourselves. Most of you are competent enough now from our summer training to use the imperious curse…use it! Use others to achieve our goals, but you will leave the Black sisters to me. I have something special in mind for those whores."
oooOOOooo
Olivia Rosier watched from her darkened corner of the Slytherin commons room as her older brother snuck out with the Lestrange brothers and several others of Rudolphus' lackeys. Her external bruises and broken nose and jaw had been healed, but the internal bruises on her psyche and spirit had not.
Olivia had lost most if not all of her lingering infatuation with the oldest Lestrange brother, after his rather cold and callous "punishment." She now kept her distance from the volatile youth, and was unsure if she was willing to follow someone who was undeniably sadistic and with an avarice for power that was only dwarfed by his depravity.
The attack in Hogsmeade had been an eye opener for the Slytherin pureblood. To speak of revolution and punishing the mudbloods was one thing, but the indiscriminate killing of children and other innocents was something that tore at her very soul. She could not support any organization that could perpetrate such heinous acts against innocents.
She still felt that the mudbloods were corrupting their culture with muggle ideology and culture, but she was finding that killing them because of their heritage was no longer something she could support. Perhaps there were other ways to save the old ways and customs that didn't involve murder and mayhem.
Olivia had made the decision to approach Bellatrix and warn her about what Rudolphus was planning. She had overheard that there was a bounty on the Black family for lifting their wands against the purist movement and Lord Voldemort's soldiers. Bellatrix and her sisters would be in danger from the children of the darker families. They had orders to capture one or more of the sisters and get her out of Hogwarts and into the hands of their lord.
Olivia feared for her friend and distant cousin, Bella was a pureblood from an ancient family and it did not sit well with Olivia that Lord Voldemort who professed a desire to elevate purebloods and bring back the glory days, would want to exterminate one of the oldest families in the country. So, she decided that she needed to speak with Bellatrix as soon as possible.
oooOOOooo
Lily sat in her four poster bed in the first year girl's dorm, and was reflecting upon the strange but wonderful events in her life since she found out that she was a witch, and had entered the wizarding world. The most intriguing event however was meeting the enigmatic Lord Eveningshade and learning that she was a member of that family, and then discovering that they were an infamous family with a long history in the magical world.
Since meeting 'Harry' as he wanted her to call him, she had felt a new stirring in her magic and knew that something within her had changed or had become 'unbound' as Harry called it. Harry and Bella had told her that it was the Eveningshade family magic beginning to assert itself. This thought excited and yet terrified her. She had seen the kind of power the Eveningshades could wield from her studying one of the family history books, and it was breathtaking.
She wondered if that was the cause of James Potter's and Sirius Black's sudden change of attitude toward her. Were they afraid of her now because of her heritage…she wondered? They had been uncommonly nice and even offered to escort her back to Gryffindor Tower after dinner. They had their first actual conversation while walking that didn't include screaming at the two boys for one of their stupid pranks.
Whatever the reasons were for their behavioral change she figured she should take advantage of it. Pettigrew, she noticed, wasn't too happy about James and Sirius giving her any attention that wasn't in the form of a prank and had sulked mutinously behind the group as they returned to the tower. Remus didn't seem bothered by her presence at all, but he had always treated her with kindness so it wasn't too much of a surprise.
Lily lay back on her pillow but sleep wouldn't come, she was still too keyed up. The excitement of the past few days was still engaging her young mind. Giving it up as a lost cause for the moment she opened her trunk and pulled out another Eveningshade journal that Harry had given her. She jumped back into her bed and propped herself up against the headboard and pulled the blankets up to her neck, and settled in for a good read.
oooOOOooo
"AAARRRGGG!" Bella sprang from the bed, her wand seeming to suddenly materialize in her hand. Harry's terrified scream had woken her from a rather blissful dream. She gazed open mouthed at what she saw before her. Harry was flat on his back on the bed looking straight into the ghostly face of none other than the Bloody Baron who was floating horizontally mere inches above Harry's own body.
"Its time to wake, Lord Eveningshade." The ghost spoke, its voice seeming to echo hollowly. "You have an hour to bathe and eat your breakfast before my lessons begin.
Harry quickly nodded, feeling very uncomfortable with the ghost's close proximity. Harry could feel the cold coming from the spectral being and it gave him goose-pimples.
"And may I suggest my lady that you find appropriate attire to put on." The Baron stated not turning his head to look at the teenage girl.
Bella let out an embarrassed 'eep' as she realized she did not have on a stitch of clothing. Blushing madly, she yanked the comforter off of the bed and hastily wrapped it around her form.
The Baron floated up and turned to exit the room. "One hour, my lord, one hour." He proclaimed as he floated through the door.
"What the hell was that?!" Harry roared after coming to his senses.
"Apparently your wake up call." Bella groused at the unwelcome visit of the Slytherin ghost.
"What time is it?" Harry asked getting himself out of bed.
"Six in the morning!" Bella stated disbelievingly as the time displayed itself in the air after a twirl of her wand. "Classes don't even begin until eight-thirty!"
"I guess mine start earlier." Harry shook his head. "Nothing for it I guess, but to start the day."
"Join me for a shower?" Harry grinned lustily at his wife.
"Sorry sweet-cheeks, I'm going back to bed for an hour." Bella replied and then padded back over to the bed and flopped down on the soft mattress. "Be a dear and cast a silencing charm on the bathroom door, the sound of running water will keep me awake." Bella smirked playfully.
"Ouch!" Bella griped as a pillow smacked her on the head. Harry smiled triumphantly before quickly closing the bathroom door behind him before his wife could retaliate.
An hour and a half later a showered and dressed Bella walked from her and Harry's bedroom into their common room. At least she thought it was her common room. The familiar couches and chairs were gone the light homey feel was replaced with what looked like a training pit of sorts.
The wood floor was now sand, the four walls were gone and the room was now oval in shape, halberds, swords, spears and shields lined the walls. In the center of the room Bella saw Harry kneeling in the sand panting as if he had run a marathon. His wand was held loosely in his right hand. Directly in front of him were various random objects; a chair, a cauldron, a large mirror, a scarecrow, and a rather big slab of granite.
"I'm impressed Harry." Bella heard the Bloody Baron who was floating around Harry in wide circles say to her husband. "You have your father's gift for transfiguration. Remember, magic results are not only produced by power but by intent as well.
"Now, I want you to use transfiguration in an offense manner, this will require you to combine transfiguration with charms. You will again use the sand to create a spear, and then use a banish charm to send it toward the scarecrow." The silvery ghost told him.
*Pant* *Pant* "I d-don't think I c-can…too t-t-tired." Harry was gasping seemingly out of breath.
The specter flew angrily at Harry. "TOO TIRED!" He roared. "IN BATTLE YOU EITHER DO OR DIE MAN! Your enemy will not grant you respite to catch your breath; you only ever stop fighting when you or your enemy is DEAD! GET UP! GET UP and kill your enemy!" He lashed out.
Harry grimaced and struggled to his feet, Bella saw the exhaustion in his face and body language. Harry pointed his wand at the sand and appeared to be trying to cast a spell but it did not appear to be working. He tried again, determination set in his face. The sand in front of him began to coalesce into a crude spear, but it didn't look completely solid.
Sweat poured down Harry's face as the spear hovered in front of him, he then diverted some of his attention to the scarecrow that he apparently had created earlier. The loss of concentration caused the spear to lose some of its integrity as grains of sand fell from the transfigured spear. Suddenly the spear raced forward, Harry managed to banish it toward his target.
Bella watched as the spear collided with the scarecrow, but immediately turned completely to sand upon impact. Bella sighed sympathetically as Harry slumped to his knees panting harder now. The spear hadn't done any damage to the scarecrow and frustration was evident on her husband's face.
"Not good enough, not nearly good enough at all." The ghost shook his head. "We have much work to do; you must be able to split your focus without losing your concentration on holding your spells together, Mr. Eveningshade."
"I'm doing my best." Harry groused, from his kneeling position.
"Obviously your best needs work." The Baron replied unfazed by Harry's sour demeanor. "Take ten minutes to greet your wife and then it's back to work."
"Slave driver!" Harry mumbled under his breath, staggering to his feet.
"What are you chuckling at?" Harry turned to his wife who looked amused.
"Oh, nothing dear." Bella smiled going to him and kissing him tenderly. "Have you eaten?" She asked.
"Yeah, the bloody git told me I would need my strength today and to eat a big breakfast." Harry replied.
"How long will he be teaching you today?" Bella inquired.
"Till dinner." Harry sighed heavily. "He wants to see what I can do, and test my limits."
"That's good though, love. That way he can focus on areas you need to improve upon and strengthen what you already know." She said grabbing some porridge from a table of breakfast items that suddenly appeared along one of the walls.
"I guess." Harry replied morosely filling up a large glass of pumpkin juice and then downing most of it in one gulp.
"Have the elves come back yet?" Bella asked curiously.
"Oh! Yeah, Kreacher was here earlier and said that the manor is ready for us to visit. They must have worked through the night to get it so. Kreacher looked absolutely exhausted." Harry told her.
"Maybe we can go visit it after dinner tonight?" Bella asked hopefully. "Lady Hogwarts did say that she could connect the floo to the manor and here."
"Yeah, I guess we could go tonight. I'm a little curious to see what it looks like." Harry replied.
"I'm curious to see if there is a family library there." Bella said excitedly. Harry could not help but grin.
"I think you and Hermione would have gotten along." He told his wife with a chuckle.
"Do you miss her?" Bella asked curiously.
Harry thought for a moment. "Yeah, a bit. She was my closest friend at one time." Harry sighed. "But that's in the past now, or the future…well which ever. I do know that I'm where I belong now." Harry stated passionately, hugging his wife to him.
"Good to know." She stated with a wink. "Cause I'm not giving you up."
"So, what class do you have this morning?" Harry asked.
"Potions, then herbology, lunch and then double charms." She replied reciting her schedule for the day.
"In fact I should get going. I wanted to meet up with Andi and Cissy before classes start this morning." She told her husband.
"Tell them hi for me, and would you check on Lily as well?" He asked.
"Will do lover boy, now give us a kiss." Harry gave Bella a smoldering kiss that left her speechless. With a goofy grin on her face she grabbed her book bag and headed out of the Room of Requirement to meet up with her sisters.
oooOOOooo
Dorea Potter had spent most of the night and a good portion of the early morning pouring over the two books from the ministry that her late friend Marjory had smuggled out. She was trying to find what in the books had concerned the Brotherhood of the Fox so much that it was willing to kill someone to obtain them. And what connection did the Brotherhood have if any, to the annihilation of House Eveningshade.
Obviously Marjory had made some sort of startling discovery from the books, otherwise she would not have been so frightened that she felt the need to flee the ministry and hide the books. The problem was that she herself was having problems in finding these discoveries. The knowledge of how to call information up from the books was not known to anyone outside of the archives.
So Dorea was not aware that to pull information from the book, all she needed to do was write on that first page the information she wanted and the requested information would appear. Instead Dorea was going page by page searching for any mention of the Eveningshade name or anything referencing the Brotherhood of the Fox.
So far her efforts had produced very little, that is to say she found nothing so far that mentioned the Brotherhood of the Fox, and only a few references to the Eveningshade controlled Wizengamot seats. There were several heated exchanges between House Eveningshade and several old Houses about expanding rights to muggleborn witches and wizards within the magical community.
The most vocally hostile houses toward the Eveningshades were the houses of Umbridge, Diggory, Fletcher, Lestrange, and Rockwood. Two of the houses surprised Dorea as they were known as light families; the Diggory's and the Fletchers, but this was nearly two hundred years ago and it was not unheard of for Houses to change their political leanings over time.
What was obvious was that the 1810 Wizengamot sessions, were some of the most hostile ever recorded. There were threats not only made against the Eveningshades but several other families as well, including a few of the Founding Houses.
The uproar seemed to begin in the January session, with the introduction of a bill sponsored by the Founding House of Granger, a bill written and proposed by the Eveningshade coalition. The bill proposed sweeping reforms to the current laws that oppressed muggleborns and other magical sentient beings from owning magical businesses, or working in the magical government, as well as other discriminatory laws and regulations.
From what Dorea had read there was wide support within the Common Houses, and a strong coalition amongst a quarter of the Hereditary Houses. From what she was seeing in print, it appeared inevitable that by the fall Wizengamot session that the bill would pass.
But by the fall session, where the bill would have been voted upon, things had radically changed. Several of the Common Houses that had supported the bill were no longer members of the Wizengamot, and others had changed their vote. Nine Hereditary Houses including the Eveningshades, had been silenced as well, their seats gone and other houses had been sworn in.
These Hereditary seats had been taken up by the Malfoy family, the Thomas, the Fudge, the Reinholdt, the Pritchard, the Crouch, the Borgin and most interesting was the additions of the Dumbledore family, and the Grindelwald. To add to this disturbing occurrence was that two Founding Houses suddenly becoming extinct, the Houses of Boswell and Granger.
These two Houses had been the sponsors of the new legislative bill and by all accounts were allies and supporters of House Eveningshade. For them to suddenly become extinct was beyond coincidental, it was highly suspicious if not downright obvious that they were murdered to stop the bill from being passed.
With the two sponsors of the bill gone, and House Eveningshade wiped out, as well as several other Hereditary and Common Houses who supported the bill, and the others, in Dorea's opinion, intimidated it to changing their vote. The bill died before it ever got the chance to be put up for a vote.
The signs of a conspiracy were evident, and though she had her suspicions on which houses were most likely involved, she had not found supportive evidence…at least not yet. She was determined however to search every page, inspect every paragraph, and read through every sentence until she did find something.
She did have one lead, and that was Borgin. She needed to learn of his involvement with the Brotherhood. Was the Brotherhood responsible for the 1810 shakeup in the Wizengamot? Was it merely a coincidence that his family became a Hereditary House that year and he being linked to this mysterious group who killed because of the historical information in those books?
No, she did not believe in coincidences. Her instincts told her that Borgin was only the first stone uncovered in what could be a wide conspiracy to stop legislation that would have drastically changed the social and political structure of magical Britain. And that conspiracy led to the extermination of several Wizengamot families including the Eveningshades.
It was a sobering thought that there was some occult organization making sure that the status quo was maintained and that this organization would kill to keep anyone from discovering them. It made her task all the more precarious, she had no idea how far the conspiracy went and who all the players could be.
And with the names of Dumbledore and Grindelwald possibly connected, it made it just that much more dangerous, not only for her but for her entire family. She would have to use all of her skills and wits to stay in the shadows while she investigated this conspiracy. She would definitely have to speak with Arcturus about her suspicions; she would need the network of Black informants, spies, and muscle to go to places where a lady just did not go, especially one as well known as the Lady Potter.
oooOOOooo
"Bellatrix!" Olivia Rosier called out seeing the raven haired girl about to enter the Great Hall.
"Can't talk 'O', I'm meeting my sisters for breakfast." Bellatrix told the girl as she continued walking toward the Great Hall door.
"Please Bella! It's important." Olivia replied nervously.
Bella stopped. Olivia rarely used the word please; it was enough of a shock that it had stopped her in her tracks in disbelief. "What's so important that you are delaying my breakfast?" Bella asked impatiently.
Olivia looked around nervously as if she was afraid of something. "I need to tell you something, something very important…but not here." Olivia grabbed Bellatrix's hand and led her to an empty classroom near the Great Hall.
"This better be important 'O', I hate being late for breakfast." Bella warned.
Olivia led Bella into the empty classroom and closed the door and then cast a locking charm on the door. Bella looked suspiciously at her friend and had surreptitiously drew her own wand.
"Do you know any privacy charms?" Olivia asked turning toward her cousin. "It's just I don't want anyone to overhear us." She pled.
Bella could see the fear in her friend's eyes and her nervousness. "Sure…" Bella said slowly. "I know a couple of charms." Bella pointed her wand at the door and then at the four walls and finally at the ceiling and floor casting her spells.
"Okay Olivia, what's this all about?" Bella asked sharply wanting to get to the point quickly so she could go and find her sisters.
"You're in danger Bella, you and your sisters." She replied quickly.
"In danger? From what or who?" Bella asked.
"From Rudolphus, and the others in his group." She replied.
Bella rolled her eyes. "I can handle Rudy." Bella replied flippantly.
"You probably could, but what about Andromeda? How about Narcissa?" Olivia interjected.
This got Bella's attention. "What does he plan to do?" She finally asked in a dangerous tone.
"I don't know, but there is a bounty on your family, on every member of it. Lord Voldemort has put out the word that any member of the Black family should be captured and then brought before him."
"And what about you Olivia, what's your feeling on the matter? Is that why you brought me here? To try your luck at capturing me?" Bella sneered raising her wand at the girl.
"N-no! Of course not! I wanted to warn you about Rudolphus, to…to…to help you and your sisters." She replied hastily.
"Why should I believe you? Aren't you shagging old Rudy boy?" Olivia's eyes shot open in surprise at Bella's declaration. 'How did she know?' she wondered to herself. Bella's smirk and accusing eyes were all that she needed to see to know that she knew.
Olivia lowered her gaze, ashamed at what she had done. "I-I'm sorr…"
"If you're trying to apologize…don't. I have no feelings whatsoever about the unibrowed flubberworm. I'm merely dubious as to your sincerity about wanting to warn me, since you fancy the scion of flatulence."
"I…I admit that I fancied him once. But no more, I realize the kind of person he is…and I don't want…" Olivia hesitantly touched the left side of her face, as if it would cause her great pain to do so. "I don't want to be with someone who can be so…cruel." She finally muttered. Bella noticed several tears sliding down her friends face.
Bella remembered what Andromeda had told her about Olivia before the train ride home. That she had been beaten rather viciously for some offense to Rudolphus. Bella knew that it was because she had stolen the ring given to her as a member of the young Death Eaters. Bella felt a twinge of sympathy but only a twinge.
Resisting the urge to tell the girl that she made her own bed and deserved what she got, she decided to let the girl off. "Look, I appreciate you coming to me about this. If you here anything more, you'll let me know yeah?"
"I will, I promise. Evan is still hanging out with them and he always tells me what's going on. So if he plans to do something he'll probably let me know." Olivia replied.
"Thanks 'O'." Bella told her friend with a half but sincere smile.
Olivia nodded and turned back to the door and cast the unlocking charm. Bella took down the privacy wards and the two left the classroom to go to the Great Hall. Bella found her sisters and made her way to them sitting just across from the two.
"About time you showed up, breakfast his nearly over." Andromeda stated giving her a disapproving glare.
"Couldn't get away from Harry?" Narcissa smirked playfully waggling her eyebrows.
"First off, you're too young to be making such insinuations young lady." Bella replied. "And second, it wasn't Harry that made me late. I just had an interesting chat with Olivia." Bella whispered leaning forward.
"What sort of chat?" Andromeda asked, picking up the seriousness in Bella's voice.
Bella looked up and down the table spotting the Lestranges' holding court with their lackeys. Bella shifted her eyes down the table toward the group. "The troubling kind of conversation." She replied flatly.
Both Andromeda and Narcissa stiffed at the implication. "What did she say exactly?" Andromeda asked.
"Later." Bella told her. "But from now on I don't want either of you going anywhere alone. Is that understood?"
Andromeda wanted to argue that she was capable of taking care of herself. But the glare Bella was holding her with brokered no argument. Andromeda nodded as did Narcissa.
"Cissy, I will escort you to your classes, Andi, is there someone who you trust to walk with you to class?"
"Yeah, my two roommates are trustworthy." Andromeda replied.
"Are you sure?" Bella asked probingly
"Yeah, Jessica is a half-blood and hates the politics in Slytherin, and Marney is her best friend and from a neutral house. I should be fine with them." Andromeda told her sister.
Bella nodded her head. "I want you both to meet me on the seventh floor at lunch time by the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. Actually Cissy I will come get you after your class. Andi, ask if your friends would walk with you to the library. It's a public place with a lot of people, and I'll meet you there once I pickup Cissy." The two younger sisters nodded there understanding.
Suddenly a loud cry echoed through the hall and many of the Slytherins started laughing. Bella noticed Rudolphus smirking and trying to put his wand away slowly without drawing attention to himself.
"Lily!" Bella heard Narcissa shriek. Bella looked up and saw the pretty redhead trying to pick herself up off the floor. Bella noticed that her legs seemed to be stuck together as she struggled to stand. 'A leg locking curse!' Bella growled glaring at Rudolphus.
Narcissa had gotten to Lily and was trying to help her friend up. Bella rose from her seat and cast the counter to the jinx. Lily was redfaced and looked like she was about to cry, but instead she stood up straight and defiantly glared at those laughing at her expense.
"Very mature." She directed her comment at the older Slytherin boys who were the most vocal.
"Are you talking to us mudblood?!" Terrence Travers a seventh year Slytherin growled at the little first year. "You do not speak to your betters without permission; in fact don't open your mouth at all unless it's on your knees, but you won't be using it to talk then either." The blonde haired boy smirked and received a round of guffaws from his house-mates.
Lily at first appeared to be frozen in place, everyone mistakenly thinking that she was standing in shock or fear. But Bella felt a sudden drop in temperature and noticed that the flatware on the Slytherin table began to rattle ominously.
All eyes were on the shaking flatware and goblets and ignoring the little redheaded Gryffindor, but Bella glanced at Lily and began to see her eyes begin to glow that killing curse green.
"Shite, shite, shite!" Bella hissed.
"Follow me, now!" Bella told her sisters as she moved quickly to Lily.
"Lily, come with me, quickly." Bella told the first year stepping in front of her. Taking her gently by the arm she guided her out of the hall.
The rattling stopped suddenly when Bella had touched Lily arm. A pair of twinkling blue eyes watched with interest as the Black sisters escorted Lily Evans hurriedly out of the Great Hall.
"Curious, very curious." Dumbledore murmured stroking his beard.
oooOOOooo
A/N: I'm back to writing everyday now, so I'm getting back into the flow again. The next chapter should be out by the end of next week and should be a bit lengthier than this chapter. Please leave a comment, critique or review, and let me know your thoughts. Thanks!