The boys were spending the night at school, but would return to the manor in the morning. They had both been too badly in shock, and been put to bed in Severus' guest room. Severus had wards on his room, but also on that part of the dungeons. He had since the time of Albus, but had not used until now. Anyone could come down for his office and classroom, which were at the bottom of the stairs. Any further, and it required one having permission for the wards. Only Slytherins were tuned into it, and so other than Sirius and Arcturus still there, no one could come. The boys were safe here, and would leave in the morning. They would remain with the rest of their family, at a Black home, till this was settled. The wards were changed, to make sure Bella never had entrance. The elves were all checked as well, after learning it was an elf who placed the hand. It was little surprise, as no human could have snuck into the dorms, and the school wards were strengthened as well. For now, even teachers could not have their personal elves at school. Only Kreacher was allowed access, and ministry elves the rest would be kept out.

Sirius remained in the rooms after Arcturus and the others left for the night. He was reluctant, but he agreed to leave the school as well. He would not hide out in the manor, but his family needed him. Moody was sending an auror to teach for him, while he was gone from the school.

Severus watched. "Staying mutt?"

Sirius sighed. "I hate…"

Severus motioned. "You can stay as long as green won't give you nightmares."

Sirius looked at the couch. "May remind me of my bedroom as a child."

"Inner Slytherin coming out?"

"My mother hoped."

Severus motioned. "Take the bed."

Sirius was shocked. "Lost your marble?"

"I have to work in the lab late. Take it before I change my mind."

Sirius laughed a little. "Or come back to your senses."

Severus smirked. "Or that."

Sirius went to go. "Thank you."

"Just doing it to save you grumbling if I wake you."

Sirius almost cut back but stopped. "Thanks."

Severus headed for his lab. "You're welcome mutt."

Severus was not sure why he invited the man to stay. He knew the boys would need him, especially Harry, when they woke up in the morning. Draco and he were much closer, due to Lucius, than he was with Harry. Harry spoke to him a lot and did potions with him, but was different. It was simply easier for Sirius to be here he told himself. He knew if the boys were in any shape to make jokes, he would be in serious trouble. Harry would take his Uncle sleeping in Severus' bed as signs of things to come. Severus knew though that Harry would be in no shape for it. He actually wished he would wake to Harry making an attempt to set them up. He hated what both the boys were going through.

He was in his lab working later. He found it a good way when he was worried and he needed a distraction of some kind. He knew what potions to do and which ones to stay away from. It was not the time to do something like the wolf's bane.

He was working when he heard the door open. "I thought you were asleep mutt."

A silky voice came. "Excuse me?"

Severus looked up. "What are you doing in here?"

The woman moved in. "I heard of your legendary courtesy."

Severus growled. "No one need be down here but Slytherins."

She motioned. "Your classroom is across the hall."

Severus grumbled. "I know I should have stayed in my private lab."

She perched on a stool. "That would be a shame."

"I am sure you are not lacking for company."

She shrugged. "I like yours."

"Don't waste your time. Your charms are lost on me." He spat.

She shrugged. "No hurt trying."

"We both know you came down here for something."

"I heard Harry may be leaving school and you may need a Hand."

Severus stared at her. "How do you know?"

Her smile changed. "Surely you aren't such a fool."

He had his doubts about her even before Sirius had said something. But she was a teacher from Bulgaria and they knew that she had been. But that smile, and the look in her eyes, he knew the woman was not working for Bella and Rodolphus. He knew she was Bella. He could not understand how she had been at school all this time but never acted. Or why she would reveal herself to him now.

He reached for his wand. "You are a fool."

"Oh I was thinking the same."

"You will never get out of here."

"Oh I know I will."

Severus smirked. "My wards are already in place."

"You will take them down and let me walk."

Severus smirked. "And why would I do that?"

"Because of my husband's company."

Severus didn't bite. "My nephews are safe."

"Too bad their friends were not so watched."

Severus didn't believe her. "You won't talk your way out of this."

She threw something on the table. "Willing to take that risk?"

Severus looked at the item. "We will take you down."

She turned to leave. "I will come after my entire traitorous family, until they all join dear Grandpa in the ground."

Severus watched her leave and summoned an elf. He made sure she left the school and had the wards changed, Lucius had told him the passwords from the school governors. By the time he headed back into his rooms, he found Moody, Arcturus and Lucius were back, but to his surprise, Wallburga had come as well. He reluctantly told them Bella had been in the school and that she had escaped. They all demanded to know how.

Severus threw down the item on the table. "Because they have taken a hostage."

Harry and Draco woke up in the morning and at first they could not remember what happened. They both felt odd, and knew they must have taken some kind of potion. Realizing they were in Uncle Sev's rooms, they slowly remembered what had happened the night before. They were both drawn and shaky as they dressed and headed into the sitting room. They knew whose hand it was, they knew what happened in the hospital. They had always believed they were safe in the wards of the school. They didn't understand how the hand had got into their dorms.

They were surprised to find Uncle Sirius was there when they woke up. It was early still and they knew he would have been up late. They saw pillows and blankets on the couch and realized he had slept down there with them. Severus vanished them though.

Harry looked at his Uncle. "You stayed."

Sirius nodded. "I wanted to be close."

Harry made no joke and went into his arms. "Thanks."

Draco's stomach grumbled. "I am hungry."

Severus shook his head. "You can eat at the manor."

Harry worried. "Why the rush?"

Draco agreed. "Why can't we stay for food?"

Sirius assured the boys. "No rush, but the family is waiting."

Severus added. "Your parents insisted."

Draco didn't believe it. "Mum would feed us first."

Harry agreed. "Something has happened."

Sirius shared a look with Severus. "Bella was in the school."

Draco was shocked. "The hand. You said an elf though."

Severus admitted. "The new professor."

Harry sunk into a chair. "She was in the school."

Sirius assured him. "She is gone."

Severus motioned them to come. "And soon you will be."

The boys didn't argue any more as they headed for the gates. It had been agreed it was better the boys not be told until they were home at the manor. They would both be extremely upset if they knew about the kidnapping and who it had been. The family would do everything, using all their resources and allies, to get them back though. But the boys would have been hard enough to remove from the school, without being told. If they knew all that happened, it would make it even rougher to get them to go. They were already shaken enough as it was.

They were surprised when they were heading for the gates when they were met by Hagrid. He told them that they needed to come into the woods. Harry had a feeling what it was about, and he was right. Not far into the woods, they were joined by Firenze, but also Magorian.

Harry bowed his head. "Blessings on the herd."

Sirius was amazed. "You are Lord Magorian."

The older nodded. "I usually would not permit such."

Harry asked. "Why have you come?"

Draco whispered. "Only Harry has met him."

Magorian handed him something. "I know you are leaving school."

Harry looked at the package. "What is this?"

Firenze said. "Something from both your lines."

Magorian nodded. "Since you leave the protection of the founder's school."

Harry slid it into his robes. "I am going home to my family."

Magorian nodded. "Keep it close."

Sirius motioned. "We must take him."

Firenze surprised them. "I will accompany you."

Magorian looked at Sirius. "Keep him safe."

Sirius assured him. "With my life."

Harry wondered. "Why me?"

Sirius reminded him. "You are heir to two founders."

Harry reminded him. "So are all the Blacks."

Firenze went to leave him. "You are the true heir."

The title could be inherited by anyone in the family. But the true heir, in the sense the centaurs spoke, could wield the magic. The deep gray core magic came from a mix of the two families. Though people like Pollux could wield gray magic, Harry and Arcturus were the only two who had really mastered it. Though Harry had removed the blood adoption, he was still legally James' heir. He was heir to the senior and junior branches of Gryffindor, as well as Slytherin. It was the reason the centaurs had been helping teach him, and even Magorian had taken an interest in him.

Harry was surprised when there was a limo waiting for them and not the bus. Someone had pulled some strings and got one of the ministry cars. Harry had never ridden in one and he didn't understand. Sirius explained that it was decided it would be safer than taking the bus.

Harry was relieved when they got in the manor and saw his dad. "Dad."

Regulus hugged him. "I am relieved you are safe."

Remus agreed. "We have been worried."

Draco held to his own mum. "They said she was in school."

Narcissa sighed. "I couldn't believe it."

Lucius agreed. "Her sanity held longer than usual."

Harry asked. "She can't get back right?"

Draco nodded. "Our friends."

Sirius assured him. "The wards are changed."

Harry was on edge. "Why did she get away?"

Draco agreed. "Didn't you try to stop her?"

Severus shared a look with the others. "We couldn't."

Harry demanded. "Why? Is she that strong?"

The adults shared a look and they were trying to figure out how they were meant to tell the boys. They would both blame themselves for putting someone they cared about in danger. Neither boy, even Harry, was not really to blame. Bella and Rodolphus were not after them because of Voldemort. They were out for personal reasons, and it was the family they were after. They were paying for their parents now.

Arcturus found his voice. "They took a hostage. If Severus had stopped Bella, Rodolphus would have killed Fred."

An: So Bella is revealed, and the boys are safe at the manor, but the fun is just starting.

Review and I update sooner.