Summer went by rather fast. Harry spent his birthday alone with Ron and Hermione at a small Café. Chandra on the other hand decided to save her birthday festivities for the last day of summer. She decided to drink until she blacked out, which left Luna taking care of her. The redhead was now regretting her decision as she stood with the rest of the group in Dumbledore's office as he and professor McGonagall explained what would be happening while they were at the school. McGonagall simply went over some rules that Chandra didn't hear before she started talking about living arrangements.

"We have set up three living quarters. Ms.Black and Ms. Granger will be in one, Ms. Lovegood and Ms. Goldwing, and the last one will be for the three boys."

Draco rolled his eyes at the thought of sharing a space with Harry and Ron but kept listening to the professor.

"You students will go about your day as you normally would. Ms. Black, I must ask something of you."

Bellatrix looked at the professor and raised a brow, giving her full attention.

"I must ask you to help with classes, you won't be acting as a teacher, but as an assistant. Many teachers here are thrilled to have someone as bright as you to help. Professor Slughorn is especially happy to have a member of the Black family in his class once again."

"I always did love his class…"

"Then it's settled… I will provide you with a list of classes where your attendance is needed each day."

The professor went to speak when there was a hefty knock on the door. She looked back at Dumbledore who sat at his desk, smiling. He nodded at her and she nodded.

"Enter."

The door opened and Hagrid came in, closing the door behind him. He smiled and nodded at the group.

"Hello, everyone. I came with a present."

Everyone looked at eachother with strange looks before a fluffy head peeked out of Hagrid's coat. Luna smiled and the small puffball jumped down and ran to her, making Hagrid laugh.

"You have Dumbledore and Chandra to thank for that. I picked him up this morning, Fang just loves him."

Luna smiled and looked at Dumbledore as he cleared his throat.

"He will have to stay at Hagrids while you're here. Me and Ms. Goldwing came to the conclusion that you can't just leave a pup alone for months. You are free to go visit him any time you want."

"Thank you, professor."

Chandra smiled as she rubbed her head, trying to cover up her obvious hangover. Professor McGonagall smiled and placed her hands together.

"Well, if that is all, I will show you to your quarters. Ms. Lovegood, if you could let Hagrid take the pup…"

The group left the room and Luna handed the dog over with a smile before hugging Hagrid tight, earning a smile from the half giant. Luna smiled and ran off to rejoin the group.

Mcgonagall led the group to a corridor near the Slytherin comonroom and stopped at the end of the large hall. She gestured toward three rooms, two on one side of the hall and one on the other.

"You are free to choose which room you would like, except for the boys. The three of you will take the line door on the right, inside you will find three sleeping quarters, a living area and a small kitchen. The other two are the same, the only difference being that there is only one sleeping quarter."

Draco smiled slightly, happy that he wouldn't be sleeping in the same room as the other two.

"Well, I must be off, classes start tomorrow. If any of you need something, please find me."

The professor handed Bellatrix a piece of parchment and walked off. Bella placed the paper into her pocket and opened one of the doors and held it open as Hermione went in before entering herself. As they looked around at the drab white and grey decor Bella wrinkled her nose.

"A bit dull, isn't it?"

As she closed the door and took a step further the colors in the room changed. The grey walls were now accented by black shelving and the sofa and chairs turned green with silver trim. Hermione walked into the kitchen area and watched as the dish cloth on the counter turned into a red and gold print. Bella called out from the bedroom.

"I'm just going to be thankful that this room is mostly black...it has accents of red, and silver on the bedding."

Hermione joined her in the room and hugged her.

"Good, our house colors make everything look like a muggle Christmas…"

Bella raised a brow.

"You don't like Christmas?"

"No, I do, I just don't think the colors they choose to represent it really go together."

Bella nodded in agreement before the door opened and Chandra walked in.

"Hey...wow yalls looks weird. I came to ask if your room changed to your house colors."

Hermione nodded and walked into the living room followed by Bella.

" How does yours look?"

"I never thought I would say this but blue and yellow go great together."

Bella rolled her eyes.

"I'll take your word on that."

"I wanna see the boy's colors."

Hermione shrugged.

"There's more gryffindors than slytherins so it's probably prominently red and gold."

"Let's go see, I wanna see if it looks like someone let a toddler color on the walls."

Bella groaned as they walked across the hall. When Chandra opened the door they all got a bit jealous. The living area was unchanged. The sofa was white and the rest was off shades of grey and the boys were all sitting and talking before Chandra spoke up.

"Oh no fucking fair!"

Draco looked up and gave her a strange look.

"What's not fair?"

"All of our things changed to our house colors. And Hermione's changed to a god awful mix of theirs."

"Maybe because you are all living as couples… only our bedrooms changed, and a set of dishes."

Chandra's eye twitched as she looked at the room, not noticing Luna walk up.

"I thought you liked what it looked like."

Chandra jumped, earning a collective laugh from the group. She eyed the group before looking at Luna.

"I do, I was just hoping to see Draco throw a tantrum because of the mixed colors."

Draco glared at her before picking up a copy of the daily prophet. Chanda rolled her eyes and shut the door. The group turned to go back to their rooms before someone called Hermione's name. Hermione looked to the end of the corridor to see Neville, walking up to them.

"Hi Neville."

Bella glanced over for a moment before quietly retreating into her room. Neville stopped a few feet away from Hermione and looked at his feet.

"Is it true?...

"I'm not a deatheater if that's what you're talking about."

"No, I know you wouldn't do that. I'm talking about you and...her."

At this point Chandra took Luna's hand and led her into their dorm, leaving Hermione to talk to the boy.

"Well...yes Neville…"

"Sh...she tortured my parents…"

"Neville there is more to that…"

"How do you know?"

"Believe me Neville, I do. I'm sure she will tell you."

He looked at her for a moment with a mixture of fear and hurt in his eyes before giving a rather forced smile.

"Does she treat you right?...I mean...she hasn't hurt you has she?"

"No, I'm quite happy with her actually. I hope you can come to be okay with that."

He looked as if he was in deep thought and they stood there for a few minutes before he let out a heavy sigh. She looked at her with a light smile.

"If you're truly happy then I am okay with it. I would like to talk to her about my parents...when she is able to, I know there must be two sides and I don't know when she will be able to talk…"

"Thank you Neville."

Hermione hugged the boy and they parted ways, Hermione going into her dorm. When she closed the door she saw Bella sitting on the sofa, looking as if she was trying to hold back tears. Hermione sat beside her, wrapping her arms around the woman. Bella relaxed a bit and sighed.

"I didn't think of that. I knew I was coming here all summer and I never once thought of him being a student here."

"Bella, are you okay?"

"Yes, pet...just a reminder of how horrible I am."

"You're not horrible."

"Not to you…"

"That's what matters. Besides, he said he wants to talk to you about it, when you're ready."

Bella found herself staring off into space as Hermione spoke, her mind replayed the events of that night. Of how she tortured Frank and Alice only to find out their baby was in the next room. She thought of how hard she cried as she laid in Narcissa's lap before she was taken to Azkaban. Suddenly she heard a loud bang and it brought her out of her thoughts. She looked at her unamused girlfriend before asking.

"What was that?"

"I hit the table to get your attention."

"Why…"

"Do you want me touching you when your like that?"

Bella looked at the brunette's arm and felt sick to her stomach. Hermione kissed her on the cheek, making Bella look at her.

"Bella, stop thinking about that. Its over, I'm fine."

"It happened."

"Its fine...I love you."

"I love you too, pet."

Hermione smiled and got up, disappearing into the bedroom as she called out.

"Its late, why don't we get ready for bed?"

Bellatrix smiled and made her way into the bedroom, shutting the door behind her.