It was now the weekend, and Hermione had her etiquette training, once again. The group had taken to joining in the Room of Requirement, where tea was being made by Pansy. Belladora was off in her own world, and there for didn't see the exchange that happened between her friends. They looked worried and kept shuffling their glances from each other to her.

Hermione and Draco stopped midway through their dance lesson and turned towards the witch.

"Sister, what is wrong with you?" Draco asked softly but determined. His eyes raked over his sister's blank faced that moved to face him.

Belladora knew she should tell them, but it wasn't the right time yet. They were too young to comprehend. She couldn't tell them about her past, and how it was affecting her now. She didn't trust them enough; she did trust them but not enough. And so, she made up a lie about being tired and changed the subject.

"It is the hierarchy duels this week. Meaning from tomorrow, you have to be prepared to be challenged, and to challenge others for your place. If you do not get your title, then the next year you will have to challenge again. Although," and she went deathly still, and the room went cold. "if you cannot beat those in our year then are you really worthy?"

Everyone paled, except Luna who played with her hair and conjured flowers of remorse and servitude around the room.

The etiquette lesson passed slowly, and it dragged. With Belladora in this mood, everyone was watching the clocks waiting for their chance to get out of the small conjured ballroom.

~

When it was dinner time, the finely dressed group made their way down to the great hall, information. They had just made it to the entrance hall, when they were stopped by a surprising figure.

"Before you go in there, little one, listen closely." A soft baritone voice spoke, and Bella was quite shocked.

Zabini stood before them, face blank but mischief playing in his voice, speaking only to the queen of the group. He had his hands in his pockets, and his navy-blue shirt rolled up to his forearms, and he was reclined against the wall.

"Lily Moon has taken to creating her own hierarchy. She is sat in your seats, and she is spouting nonsense about your entourage…" his eyes dragged over the five of them, taking in subtle changes of breathing, and eye movements. Belladora noticed this, and she was intrigued. "Therefore, just a little warning, as Lily has broken protocol."

Bella thought his words over and examined him closely. She couldn't quite read all of him, but she could tell that he was telling the truth and taking advantage of them. So, with a polite smile, she offered her arm to him.

"Then please, Heir Zabini. Join me as King apparent, so we can see how this plays out."

He delightfully smiled and a sinister look caught her eye.

"Are you excited to see conflict, Heir Zabini?" She said with a fair bit of cheek.

He smiled, and it was dark and honest. It sent chills down her spine and made her chuckle.

"How could you tell, Miss Avery?"

They shared a short laugh, before walking into the hall. As expected, Lily was sat in their seats, Greengrass next to her. She also didn't look very happy as she was in the princess seat and not the queen. Lily's face lit up as she spotted them coming. But then it turned dismayed as she didn't get any reaction from them. They simply sat across from the other first years and started to eat while chatting. Greengrass was helplessly sat there trying to get Lily to help her with her food. But the blonde witch was paying more attention to the group across from them.

"So, finally decided to fall in line Avery?" Lily asked venomously. She rested her chin on her hand and smiled cruelly. But they played no attention to her. She growled quietly and Greengrass signed.

"Lily can you please pass me the potatoes?" She spoke quietly, her ire only shown to Lily. But once again her friend paid her no heed. She shook her head and waved her wand, for the potatoes.

"I think it's finally time you dropped the Mudblood and joined the real Slytherin's now, Bella." Lily's voice was loud enough for the whole table to hear, but she still got no response.

Belladora couldn't help it, she was listening to Moons quips, but she couldn't find it in her to be bothered by it. After listening to her go on for about 5 minutes about her friends and their life choices, she turned to face Moon. It was a sight to see, all of Moons friends had turned away from her. She was just so annoying and wrapped up in her own business that she hadn't even noticed them move down the table. She made eye contact with the blonde across from her and sneered at the lack of decorum.

"That's enough, Moon." Her voice was low, but it snapped through the hall. Most people turned to see what was happening, but they couldn't see over the students standing.

"How dare you!" Moon spoke, face flushed with anger.

Bella twitched her finger then, subtly. Zabini caught its movements and his eyes widened slightly. He watched in interest as Moons mouth snapped shut and she found she couldn't get her words out without gagging. She choked and coughed, nearly purple in the face as another Slytherin pulled her up and took her to the infirmary.

Her group looked shocked and chatter filled the room, as they soon followed after her. Belladora's group had the smarts to look confused and worried, as Dumbledore gained attention of the hall.

"Silence!" Dumbledore arms were raised in a supposedly warming way, and his robes shook as he stood on his feet.

"Miss Moon has been taken to the infirmary and be sure that she is going to get the best care. Now, did anyone see what had happened?" He waited, looking around the lit great hall. No one moved, and the Slytherins were a little too still.

"No? What a pity. Alright, everyone get back to your dinner."

He dismissed them after that, and Belladora turned to see Zabini staring through her eyes. Not at her eyes, but through them.

"You are magnificent, little one."

She checked to make sure her shields were up and shifted minutely.

She didn't know what he meant, but the food disappeared from the table, and so everyone made their way to their dorm rooms.

From then it was hard to go anywhere without the scrutiny of Zabini following her. Draco wasn't sure what to make of him, and so there was a healthy rivalry budding. Hermione didn't think anything of the boy and left him to his devices while she read her books. She would often catch him staring at them all in interest but Bella the most. Luna kept conjuring flowers in his hair, and as much as he pouted, he allowed her to do it. Sometimes electricity sparked and he flicked his fingers, and her hair would twirl, and flutter and tiny blossoms found themselves entangled in it. The first time it happened, Luna was delighted.

Only Bella and Luna saw this hidden power of his, as the others didn't think much of Zabini. Pansy the least of all.

"Zabini, wonderful to see you at our table again." Pansy sneered, as she walked down from the dorm room. The common room barely noticed her as she was quiet and bashful in her steps. She looked as though someone had ruffled her feathers, but she still sat down with grace.

"Ah Pansy! A pleasure as always! What brings your beautiful self to our table?" He smirked back, and Pansy all but gaped at him.

"Your table?! Yours? Zabini, I ought to remove you from my table myself- "

Belladora had witnessed enough. She waved her hand, and Pansy's voice retreated to the back of her throat. She winced and delicately coughed, before turning to their queen.

"My apologies Bella." She said woefully, before glaring at Zabini determinedly.

"My dear, he is duelling for King. You should show him some respect, no? Unless you wish to challenge him?" Bella spoke softly. She couldn't take it anymore; all the useless arguing about what Zabini was doing and why he was here. She instead read her potions journal that she and Severus were currently conversing over, but Pansy had interrupted this time.

Her quip shut Pansy up quick, and her eyes were drawn to someone behind them.

"Good evening Slytherins."

Belladora's head snapped up and she turned to see Severus. He looked over at her and in his eyes, she could see laughter.

§Did I scare you, my dear. §

His voice echoed around her head, and it was the calm that she needed. Her eyes fluttered and a small smile worked its way on to her face.

His face never changed, but he saw Bella's reaction and inwardly preened.

"As you well know, it is the week of hierarchy duels." Everyone had turned towards him then. "If you wish it, first years, you can stand as a noble and take on the challenge of your classmates." His eyes moved over to the second years, "The rest of you, don't get comfortable in your titles. Someone can still challenge you. You are not safe."

He spoke directly to the second years, as the rest of Slytherin have been in their hierarchy for going on two years or more and so no one had the brawn to duel for something that isn't theirs.

"First years," Severus' voice angled towards them again and it rippled across Bella's skin. "is there anyone who would like to stake their claim on a title?" He sounded bored, but really his fingers gave way to his excitement. He loved this tradition. Bella stood first and spoke her title commandingly. "Queen." She walked to stand behind Severus and waited for her friends to join her. Pansy claimed Queens Knight only seconds before someone else, and they glared at each other as she walked. Draco staked his claim on Kings Knight, with only a few disgruntled looks. Both Luna and Zabini spoke at the same time, claiming Princess and King. Hermione had yet to speak, and that was because she had her plan. Lily spoke next, claiming Queens second, and lady in waiting. She looked gleeful as she strutted next to Luna. Luna's nose scrunched up cutely, and flowers seemingly dropped from the air above Lily - flowers of morbidity and revenge.

"Is there anyone who would like to come forth and challenge the nobles stood here today?" The professor spoke, while eyeing up the common room.

Hermione smiled subtly, as Severus waited for anyone to challenge at the moment. She would wait. She needed to wait. As it wasn't time yet.

"Very well. Be safe, and remember you are Slytherin. No ducking outside of these walls." He looked over them again, and with a flick of his cloak, left the room. There was a stillness growing as they all stared at the nobles. This was going to be a tough week.

The first challenge came from Theo Nott, challenging Draco for his title. They duelled for 10 minutes: Theo was talented for a first year, and he made Draco ponder their friendship. However, Draco had been training with the Dark Lord for a while. He was no match for Draco.

Pansy and Luna were not challenged. After seeing Draco's duel, most of the first years were content with the hierarchy. However, Hermione was not.

She challenged Lily for her title of Queens Second; Lily just laughed and sneered and accepted her proposal. Most of Slytherin had gathered to see the 'Mudblood' take on a Slytherin.

They assumed duelling positions ten steps away from each other, wand raised. Belladora was stood between them;

"Good Luck, and whoever comes out on top I will be grateful to have you at my side." She sent a piercing look to Lily, through violet eyes. Turning to Hermione, she raised her wand. Red sparks shot through the air and she disappeared.

This was a subtle show of power to anyone who would try to challenge her, like Daphne who was staring around the room looking for her. Her voice bellowed through the duelling hall, "Begin."

Lily snarled, quite pathetically, a spell first. "Furunculus."

The spell shot towards Hermione; Lily gleefully laughed as Hermione did nothing. She blinked, and Hermione was gone. Horror shot across her face as a second later a wand was pressed against her throat before she saw black.

Hermione watched as Lily fell to the floor under her silent sleeping charm. Her laughter bounced around the room, as several Slytherins demanded a rematch because obviously she cheated. Hermione looked to Bella, who was on the balcony overlooking the whole thing, but she was talking to Severus. She waited and watched as Severus put his wand to his throat.

It didn't take long for everyone to be looking at him.

"Miss Granger, what spell did you use?" He muttered, and she blinked.

"It was an illusion charm sir. I cast it when Lily was distracted by Bella. As was everyone else, and so I moved behind her and waited."

She saw Bella smile, and Severus gave a nod of approval.

"Miss Granger, you are now a noble. Congratulations on your title of Queens Second."

She curtsied and moved off the duelling podium, stepping over Lily as she went.

The next duel happened on the last day of the duelling. As she was expecting it to, Belladora was challenged by Daphne Greengrass.

She hadn't wanted to get challenged by anyone, as she didn't want to show people too much power. She was dressed for the occasion, in a beautiful pale fuchsia gown, with a more rose-pink accenting in lace. Her ever changing hair was still settled in a paled white, and her skin was flushed beautifully.

They were gathered at the podium once again, and Daphne was sneering as delicately as she could.

"I challenge you, Heiress Avery."

Belladora sighed but nodded all the same. She turned to look to Luna who had been playing with cherry blossoms and watched as her eyes cleared. Luna walked gracefully to the middle of the podium; oceanic blue gown pooling around her feet. She lifted her wand and spoke softly.

"A duelling will now commence; Heiress Avery and Heiress Greengrass for the title of Queen."

She paused now, as many Slytherins had gathered. It must be normal for them to gather for the challenges.

"On my wand," She took a trick from Bella, and shot blue sparks into the air, before she melted into cherry blossoms. Daphne was not distracted this time though. Silent and quite deadly, she shot out a cutting curse. As soon as it reached Bella, however it dissipated. The spell had burnt out altogether! She didn't wait to ponder it though, she cast several spells at once now, once again silently. Ice gathered along the podium and coursed up towards Bella in spikes; but once again, it dissipated before it reached her.

Daphne was enraged, she couldn't understand it! The girl was just standing there, she didn't even see a wand!

The Greengrass noble changed stance then, took a deep breath and started to chant. Belladora wasn't close enough to hear, but she was intrigued by the magic pooling around Greengrass and her feet.

The podium floor rippled, and Bella was shocked as water shot up around her in a sphere. For a second she panicked, as it entered her protection spells, but then she relaxed. The water was soon encasing her, and Daphne looked smug. Ice formed around Bella and Daphne watched as most of her entourage looked pathetic; eyes wide, and wands out. They couldn't cut in anyway, as the spells around the podium protected them. She looked back at Bella and did not expect to see her still stood. She was even smiling. Bella moved, and walked towards Daphne. The sphere though, continued to spin behind her and she soon surfaced. A small laugh bubbled out of her at Daphne's expression, before she took her wand and pointed it at the floor. Orange mist bellowed out of and then flushed outwards towards Daphne. She threw up protego and prepared to throw another spell. But she didn't have the chance. The last thing she saw was Bella standing down, and her head hit the floor.

Severus watched with intrigue. No matter what this witch did, he was always amazed.

"Well done, Miss Avery. Congratulations on the noble title of Queen. And with that concludes our duels." He did a brief look around the room. "Well done to the rest of you, it seems we have a powerful lot this year."

Pride flushed and radiated off the group, Zabini the most as he enjoys a good compliment. Hermione and Bella however, we sat with Luna on a chaise near the fireplace. Silent, and solemn Luna speaks.

"It's a change, they won't like it."

Belladora agreed, wholeheartedly. Slytherins hated when someone challenged them. It's going to be a long year.