A/N: Here we are again, another heavy chapter. But hopefully the last full-on drama fest for a few chapters. If no one can tell, I'm having a blast writing this shit and I have a lot more I want to at least screw with in terms of plot elements and possible twists. Until next time.

Chapter Six

Tides Begin Turning

Black Lake, One Week Later..

Bellatrix had taken to studying on the far shores of the lake, doing her best to continue avoiding Nick at any chance she got, which resulted mostly during free periods or after classes between meals. The worst part of it all was that she hated that she was avoiding him, but she couldn't face him after that day a week earlier. The emotions, both Trixie's and hers combined, had overwhelmed her once Nick had deactivated the spell, and she still wasn't comfortable with the explanations that were brought up as to how this all happened. "You know, stay coming here so often and Gaunt will find your little hiding spot."

Bellatrix sighed. "Leave me alone, Lucina. I'm here for only that reason, you realize."

"No, you're here hiding from your feelings, and for reasons you won't explain to me." Lucina scoffed.

"It's just.. complicated, Luce. Have.. have you seen him?"

Lucina rolled her eyes. "Yeah, here and there outside of class. He looks absolutely miserable without you next to him, and he only asks me about you if we even speak." Despite her words, Lucina had indeed spoken with Nick several times, and each time she had learned further why her best friend was so infatuated with him, especially seeing as how he cared just as much about her than she seemed to about him. But their behavior towards each other at the moment was just ridiculous. "Just stop this fight you have going and snog him senseless. You know that's what you want to have happen, anyway."

Bellatrix looked at her, exasperated. "Really? Coming from you, that's rich. You're the one who kept telling me he was nothing but trouble and now you want me to go to him?"

"Oh, Merlin.. Bellatrix Druella Black, the undisputed queen of the school, is scared because she likes a boy? What happened last week? Seriously, talk to me. I'm your best friend for what, exactly?"

Bellatrix sighed, her emotions bubbling up as they caused her magic to make a branch of the tree she was sitting under snap off as if she had used the cutting curse on it. "You're right, alright? I.. I can't tell you exactly what happened. I just don't know what to think is.. real."

"Wh-what? Bellatrix, seriously? Whatever all this weird secrecy is with Nick, it shouldn't matter about what is real, and that everyone has seen since term started."

"Yeah, and just what is that supposed to mean?" Bellatrix asked, frustrated.

Lucina sighed. "Bullocks, Bella! Fine, if this won't snap you back to yourself, then I'm gonna have to tell Nick exactly where you've been hiding. I, well.. ugh, I didn't like Nick because I was jealous, alright?" Bellatrix's gaze seemed about ready to cut Lucina like her magic had the tree as the blonde gulped. "Don't look at me like that. It should have been obvious, but your attention has more or less been solely focused on Nick since you first met him. My best friend almost forgot all about me in a single summer. Then, the first time I even met Nick, you're all over him like you were a dog and he was your favorite chew toy, not to mention defending him from all my accusations, although I let that all go by now. And then, not a day later, you and him aren't even in the same place as one another, and for the last week that's as abnormal as you're being. So what if he likes another girl that looks just like you? She's not here, right? You have every right to make a move on him if you want to. Or, is it that you've given up trying to break him down into taking you into an empty classroom?"

Bellatrix felt her cheeks flush crimson. "Lucy! It isn't like that, alright? I'm scared not of the rejection but the fact that to him, I may as well just be an imitation of that other girl. I hate this.."

"Merlin, you're impossible. What happened when you found out Harris was talking to the other girls in fifth year? Hmm?"

Bellatrix frowned. "What do you reckon I did? I found him in Transfiguration class and punched him right in his jaw. He couldn't eat right for a week, even with Madam Pomfrey healing him up."

"Exactly, you acted on your feelings. So why is it any different now? Other than the general aura of mystery that surrounds our newest schoolmate."

"That's just it, Luce. It really isn't that different, but I feel differently about Nick than I did two years ago with Harris' shite. Not to mention he's keeping us apart as well, and not doing anything about it himself."

"Maybe not directly. Just.. Please go and talk to him. I don't want my best friend to be in a slump like this."

Bellatrix sighed. She's right, you know. Running from this isn't helping either of us, let alone Nick. Not to mention you keep ignoring me like I'm not a part of your mind now..

Shit it, Trixie. I'm still upset with you and Nick over those confessions, and you know that's why I haven't gone to him.

Boo hoo, Bella. Suck it up and go talk to him. Before he does something completely and irrevocably.. well, stupid.

Bellatrix frowned, having no retort for that as she stood back up, levitating her books back into her bag. "Whatever." She muttered. "Lucy, this is my problem to deal with, alright? I'm sure I'll figure out what I want to do soon enough, it just.. isn't time, yet."

"Fine, I guess. I tried. I'll see you at dinner then, yeah? Or are you going to avoid that, too?"

"I don't know, yet." Bellatrix mumbled before she started walking away back towards the castle. "You coming? It's fucking cold out here, you know."

"You've been sitting here for almost two hours!"

"Warming charms."

"Ugh, smart arse." Lucina said as she followed after Bellatrix.

Negron Household, Same Time..

Neela hummed as she put down the letter from Nick, detailing his first week at Hogwarts. She was happy he had found friends, although she had known he would. She was surprised at his words about Bellatrix, and his suspicion that something omnipotent seemed to be going on, saying something about memories of the future Bellatrix was having. "So, her memories are finally returning to her. I told them the first time something would still go wrong, but Nick didn't want to listen then. Hopefully, this time around he finishes what he started. I'd hate to see all his work done for nothing a second time.." Sighing, Neela sipped her coffee. Eventually, she would have to tell Nick the full truth of what had made them come back here, but it wasn't time yet. Not if Trixie was still trying to decipher what happened to her in the first place.

Slytherin Common Room, Hogwarts, After Curfew..

Nick had been sitting on the couch, pretending to read the book in his hands as he heard the chatter in the room die down bit by bit. Other than him, he could recognize the voices of Rabastan Lestrange and several other goons, one of which was cackling as they stopped moving over by the far side of the common room. "Hey, Rab. I heard Black's all alone up in the Astronomy Tower."

"Which Black, you moron? Avery, there's five Blacks running around Hogwarts you know." Rabastan said, rolling his eyes.

Michael Avery smirked, crossing his arms. "Who else, Rabastan? The one your brother is intended to marry."

"Bellatrix?" Nick's ears peeled at the mention of her name as Rabastan looked towards the couch, where he saw Nick's black hair. "Odd. Usually, she isn't alone."

"Seems like those two got into a little fight or something. Ever since the free day before classes started, they haven't been in the same room unless necessary."

"Hmm. Well then, seems like a perfectly good opportunity. Come on, I know how the Prefects patrol the corridors. We can get there before anyone is ever the wiser." Rabastan cackled, smiling widely and insanely as him, Avery and their third member left the common room.

Nick sighed from his seat. "She'll be fine. She can handle three idiots by herself." He said quietly, continuing to read even as he felt the shiver of a bad feeling move up his spine.

Astronomy Tower..

Bellatrix had finished her patrols almost twenty minutes earlier, which was why she had told Powell, the Ravenclaw Prefect she had been paired up with, that she was going to go look at the stars on the Astronomy Tower before bed. So she had been sitting here, on an admittedly precarious section of the somewhat falling apart tower's peak, eyes staring up at the sky and the millions of twinkling stars. "I'm such an idiot.."

You're not. Admittedly, even possibly being the same person, you're still smarter than I ever was. You have talent, Bellatrix. And whatever is going on with you and Nick, I..

"Don't, Trixie, alright? It doesn't matter what's between Nick and I, I'm not you."

But that's the thing, isn't it? You and I are almost exactly alike, except the point where I'm not a witch. Or maybe I am, I don't know. All this Doctor Who nonsense is making my brain hurt worse than watching the show. But, I'm just saying that maybe we should stop fighting about this.

"And what? I court Nick with you commenting all the time? I don't think so." Bellatrix startled as she heard another voice joined her in the tower.

"Oh, well if there's trouble in paradise, maybe you need a change in scenery, Bellatrix." Said Rabastan as him and Avery walked into the room, the third member of their group nowhere to be seen.

"Rabastan.. What the hell are you doing here?"

The Lestrange brother cackled maniacally. "It doesn't really matter what we're doing here." He looked around the room. "Who were you just talking to?"

Bellatrix narrowed her eyes. "No one, you dunce. It's already past curfew, so bugger off before I dish out your punishment as the prefect I am, arsehole."

Rabastan wasn't looking at her, but he nodded with a sinister grin on his face as Bellatrix felt herself get hit from behind with a stunner curse as the third would-be Death Eater appeared behind her. "Good work, Henley. Now set up the silencers. No one needs to hear what happens next." He laughed again, joined by his cohorts.

Bellatrix groaned as she tried to get up as Henley took her arms behind her back. But, not before she had stroked the pendant around her neck with her thumb. She knew what these boys were about to do, and she didn't have anyone there to bail her out of the situation. "Nick.." she whispered, a lone tear falling onto the pendant as Henley used incarcerous to bind her hands behind her back. The family sigil inside the pendant switched back and forth three times before it flashed, unseen by the others present.

Back in the common room, Nick got up fast, feeling the pulse of magic from the charm he'd given Bellatrix. "Those fucking idiots." He said and, despite the wards set up, amazed the few students around him as he apparated out of the room.

With the telltale crack, Nick appeared in the Astronomy Tower, eyes ablaze as he saw the three boys approaching the bound Bellatrix, the girl's uniform torn up in several places. "Get the fuck away from her, you pricks!"

Rabastan turned to him with a cackle. "Oh, and the upstart shows up. How did you even get up here? I warded the tower myself."

"Not accounting for apparition, however. You forget, I'm a Gaunt, the last heir of Slytherin. If anyone can bypass the anti-apparition wards, it's a Founder's heir. Now I'll only say this one more time, or I'll make good on that promise I made to your brother on the fucking train. Your little minions, too. I'm sick of you Death Eaters thinking you run everything. Well, not now that I'm here."

"Oh, such big words from some nobody who just happened to inherit the Gaunt family lordship. And what do you really care, anyway? It seems you and Bellatrix here haven't been on such amicable terms as of late."

"It doesn't matter. I made a vow to protect her from the likes of you and I'll die before any of you fucking touch her."

"We'll see about that. Stupefy!" A red stunning curse flew towards Nick, whose wand was out and at the ready as Nick cast a shield nonverbally.

"Is that seriously all you got? Reducto." A burst of magic blew up over Rabastan's chest, sending him to the ground as Nick did the same to the other two. To Hell with disarming them first. "I warned you all to really think about what you were all doing, following the Dark Lord. It's obvious now that you three, at least, are either too stupid or too insane to be left alone. Taking advantage of a girl you had to take by fucking surprise?! Bellatrix would never have been caught in a duel against your lowly fucking ass, Lestrange!" He had the other two restrained and Bellatrix was freed, rubbing her wrists where the magical ropes had been tightly holding her hands together.

Rabastan, on the other hand, had the pointed end of Nick's wand inches from his face, and Lestrange's wand was under Nick's foot. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Lestrange smiled menacingly and spat at Nick's foot. "Fuck you, Gaunt. The Da-agh!" Nick flicked his wand, stopping the boys words with a slap to his face with magic.

"My cousin will not stop me from ripping his fucking spine from the rest of the sack of shit he calls a body. Not if it means kids like your deranged ass will follow an ideal that spells extinction for magic, not some funnel of power to you and the rest of the lowlife families following Tom." Rabastan watched with wide eyes as Nick transfigured one sneaker into a boot, swiveling it to make it more comfortable from the sudden change. "Now, know this, you piece of shit. You want to misuse your magic, go right ahead. But don't think you'll get away with what you tried here tonight. Any of your little Death Eater friends decide to try anything on Bella, her sisters, or Lucina Malfoy ever again, there won't even be a body for Aurors to fucking find. I'll show you all the true meaning of going against the House of Gaunt. And to let you know I'm serious," He stomped down on Rabastan's groin, Bellatrix recoiling from the yell of pain the boy sung in response. "Fuck you too, Rabastan."

Nick went over to Bellatrix, helping her up from the ground gently. "Are you alright, Bella?" He repaired her uniform and robe. "They didn't..?"

Bellatrix shook her head quickly. "No. No, they didn't have a chance. How did you..?"

"When they stunned you, the pendant called out to my magic, allowing me to know exactly where you were so I could apparate here. Although, I knew you were up here anyway, those dingbats literally announced their plans with me reading in the common room." Nick sighed, just the sight of Bellatrix unharmed calming him down. "It doesn't matter, now. What matters is you're safe. Come on, let's go report this to Dumbledore. I'm not letting any of these little bastards getting away with any of their fucking stunts."

Rabastan went to try and grab his wand as Bellatrix saw and turned. "Expelliarmus!" The wand flew further from his reach, landing in Bellatrix's hand. "Just fucking stop, Rabastan!" Nick chuckled as he went over to the boy in pain, dragging him by one arm to his two cronies, grabbing one while motioning for Bellatrix to pick up the other's hand.

"Grab onto me, it's the only way you won't get splinched trying to apparate into Dumbledore's office."

"R-right." Bellatrix said hesitantly as she cuffed his wrist with her hand and Nick apparated them away from the Astronomy Tower.

Headmaster's Office..

Dumbledore quickly began choking on his nighttime tea as the five teenagers apparated into his office. He was privy to ask how it had been possible as he realized the only ones fully aware of themselves were the young Gaunt and heiress Black. "What is the meaning of this? Have you been duelling on school grounds?" He asked seriously, taking in the sight of the two knocked out boys.

Nick nodded. "Yes, I have. But, before you go spouting something about school etiquette, take a look at these." He extracted the memory of the event from his mind, looking at Bellatrix for her own side of what had happened. Nodding, Bellatrix allowed Nick to extract her memory as well, putting them both in vials he procured from his pocket and handing them to Dumbledore. "You'll want to see what this was all about, sir."

Nodding with an inquisitive expression, Dumbledore took the vials and brought them over to his pensieve, pouring the memories into it and then disappearing himself as he went walking through the memories as they occurred.

A few minutes later, the Headmaster returned with a deep frown on his lips and a thousand apologies in his eyes. "Oh, dear. Thank you, Nick, for being there for Bellatrix. I would hate to explain the ordeal to her father had something unsavory occurred."

Nick nodded as Bellatrix's hand slipped into his, squeezing. "Of course. I promised Lord Arcturus I wouldn't let anything happen to his girls. The boys can handle themselves, I think. What will happen to these three?"

"I assure you, Lord, the utmost punishment. Now, run along to bed. I will speak with you both again another time as it is quite late."

"Of course, professor." Nick said, going to the door. "By the way, I'd like us to have a chat about old Tom one of these days, headmaster. I believe you know something that could help me out with that particular problem." Dumbledore nodded as the two teenagers left the room. Another blow to his forces. Tom must be pissed at young Nick's actions against him. I wonder if he would consider trying to ally with Nick..

The walk back to the common room was silent and, thankfully, bereft of other distractions as Nick and Bellatrix made their way down to the dungeons. "You're awfully quiet now, Nick. I'm sorry.."

"Don't be. It isn't your fault they targeted you. My cousin knows you're close to me, Bella. You're a target and he'll let his followers do anything to you if they think it'll break who you are."

Bellatrix scoffed disbelievingly. "How can they break what isn't truly known? I don't know whether I'm me or if Trixie is."

"You both are, plain and simple. I hate having to need to tell you that, really, but I've seen where your head is at over the last week. And I don't give a damn, alright?"

"But, Nick, how can you-"

"Don't say another word about it, Bellatrix and just listen. I don't care whether you're you, Trixie, hell you could be Morgana LeFay for all I give a shit. The point is I am attracted to you, who you are. I just don't want to jump into something that could blow up in my face later on."

Bellatrix frowned, her eyes shining. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, and bear with me on this, let's say we do start dating, courting, whatever you wanna call it, right? Everything's fine throughout the term and maybe for a while after graduation. Then, we start having more and more fights and then possibly those could turn into duels. Or, and this is the worse off of the two, the fights send you into a spiral we can't get you back out of and old Bella comes out to play and stay." Nick explained.

He's such an idiot. Can you please just kiss him and end this fight? I won't let you become that monster again, especially if we are to merge into one mind eventually. Bellatrix huffed.

"Trixie? I guess she'd have a lot to say now that she's conscious of where she is."

"Yeah, like telling me continuously to stop acting like an idiot and kiss you.." She mumbled under her breath.

"Hmm? What was that?"

"Nothing, nothing. So, what you're telling me is you want me, but you're scared to act on that because you still think it's- in some ridiculous way- cheating. Am I right?"

"Yeah.. basically."

Just tell him what I told you this morning when you almost decided to stop avoiding him at breakfast.

Fine, you annoying bint. "What if I told you that Trixie wants us to stop all this and go for it?"

Nick looked at her. "She told you that?"

Bellatrix nodded. "Yeah. In her words, she said 'Bellatrix and I are supposed to become one mind, and at this point the fact we look alike isn't important'. She also said some very vulgar things about it all."

"Yeah, that's a product of the future. Kids our age are overly sexual for almost no reason compared to our parents." Nick laughed as they finally reached the common room door. Bellatrix was about to say the password when Nick decided to try something. Bellatrix gasped as Nick told the door to open in Parseltongue, and was even more surprised when the door in fact opened.

"Wow." Was all she managed to say, even Trixie being quiet in her head about it as Nick chuckled.

"Yeah, it is a neat trick. One of the things I always thought was cool, even if looked down on in most circles."

Bellatrix giggled, smiling as Nick found the two of them in the corridor leading to the common room. The black haired girl turned to him and, sighing, slipped her arms around his neck, Nick's reaction being leaning back into the cold stone wall. "You alright, Bella?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm.. we're fine, just.. happy. You stopped Rabastan and his goons from raping me, Nick. Even without these feelings, I would still want you with how protective you are of me. My loyal bodyguard." She giggled again, Nick joining in.

"Mm, and you're the princess this bodyguard was hired to protect, and I will until my dying breath, even if it kills me in the process."

"Nick.. What makes me so important to you? If it isn't because of Trixie, I mean."

Nick hummed as he let the back of his head lay against the stones behind him. "I couldn't tell you, really. I know that partially, Trixie is the reason, but there's a lot of unrequited history there. Otherwise? I don't know. Maybe I just feel obligated to stop you from becoming that. That monster should never have been allowed to exist, and right now I have that chance to stop just that. Even if it means unraveling fifty years of previously known history and rewriting it. At this, neither heaven nor hell could stop me from that goal."

O..M..G! Fucking kiss him! Ugh, he's so dated in his statements but it's so romantic, too. It's a good thing he wasn't looking at other girls, I'd kill a bitch if he said that shit to someone else.

But.. I am someone else, technically..

Nope, you don't count. We're too alike, and I'm already stuck with you. But, since we're so alike, I guess it would technically be like both of us are dating him.

This conversation's getting a bit too meta for me, thank you. Bellatrix smiled at Nick. "You know, Trixie is absolutely gushing about that last statement of yours."

"Oh, is she now?"

"Mhm. Practically begging me to kiss you right now."

"Hmm. Sounds like something she would say."

"So.. should we?" Nick shook his head, chuckling at her pout. "Nick!"

"It's not time, yet. I'm ready to be back at your side all day again, but the kissing will have to wait. I don't want to rush into things because we're so drawn to each other already. Plus, there's still a lot I need to learn about this you, I think."

Bellatrix sighed. "Oh, you. Fine, I guess I can hold off on really kissing you a little longer." She giggled again.

"Bellatrix? Nick! Where the hell were you two?" Came a new voice as the two broke apart, Bellatrix holding her hands behind her back as Narcissa joined them in the corridor.

"Cissy?! We, uh.."

"There was an incident. I'm sure you'll hear all about it soon enough. Is Rudolphus still awake, do you know?"

Narcissa shrugged. "Not sure, but I thought I heard music coming from his room, so it's anyone's guess at that point."

Nick nodded. "Well, Bella, I'll let you and Cissy here get to bed. I need to speak to Rudolphus before I turn in, myself."

Frowning in concern, Bellatrix nodded. "Alright. Just.. don't curse him. He wasn't the one involved this time."

"Wasn't planning on it. Night, girls."

"Night." Came the two sisters' voices as Nick walked off. "So, Bella, what happened?"

"Don't worry about it, Cissy. All you need to know is that there are going to be some big changes coming, and Nick is going to be the catalyst. Come on, let's get to bed."

Nick knocked on the door he knew was Rudolphus', having seen him enter the room more than once in the past week. When the door opened, the older Lestrange brother raised an eyebrow. "Negron? What can I do for heir Gaunt at this ungodly hour?"

"Stuff it, Rudolph. It isn't even past one am. I have a bone to pick with you, and I'd rather speak with you about it before you hear about the incident otherwise." At the other Slytherin's confused face, Nick continued. "Do you have any form of pensieve?"

Rudolphus nodded slowly. "Yeah, a handheld one. It doesn't bring you into the memory, but it still plays out as such. Why?"

Nick extracted the memory from earlier again, holding it out on the tip of his wand for Rudolphus to take. The boy stepped away from the door and motioned for Nick to come in.

Entering the room, Nick was surprised at how Spartan the room was, barely even a picture around. Not much for sentimentality, huh?"

Rudolphus scoffed. "Don't talk to me like you know me, Gaunt. Now, let's see exactly what you want me to see.." He said, putting the memory into the small mirror he held.

"Either way, I apologize for what it's worth, and you'll see what I mean." Rudolphus only hummed as he looked into the mirror, his eyes widening quickly as he watched the night's earlier events.

When the memory had played itself out, Rudolphus sighed before cackling. "Good show, mate. I'd curse you for doing that to my brother but honestly? I hate the way he acts like he's top dog. And.. I'm sorry, too, for what I said on the train. I thought about what you said, you know. Well, actually, it's more like I haven't stopped thinking about it."

Nick nodded. "And?"

Rudolphus bowed to the other boy. "You're right, the way the Dark Lord is going about everything is wrong. Yes, I like the idea of having the Sacred Twenty-Eight stay that way, but inbreeding is no joke, I.. I asked Madam Prince for Muggle books detailing it, because we don't have much information on that kind of medical know-how. So, I'm with you, when it counts, my Lord."

Nick scoffed. "Don't call me that. I may be a Lord, but I'm also the same age as you, Rudolph." Nick put his hand out. "Allies, then?"

Rudolphus nodded, shaking Nick's hand. "Agreed. If Rabastan does anything like that again-"

"I'll report it straight to you, mate. Now, I have an exam in Transfiguration tomorrow and honestly? Not my strong suit. I tend to try and make things bigger instead of comparable size."

"Why would you do that consciously?"

"Well, in the United States there's a saying: everything's bigger in Texas. It can also be applied to Africa, but that's a different story. The point is, I kind of keep that mentality. Honestly, it's a wonder I got an O on my O.W.L.s for the subject."

Rudolphus chuckled. "Yeah, I guess that would be a bit troublesome. Also, I must ask: what's the deal with calling me Rudolph?"

Nick laughed. "Oh, Rudy. See, the fact you don't know is why it's funny to me. Don't worry, though, it isn't a bad thing." Nick opened the door again. "Night, Rudolph." He closed the door and went back to his room.

Opening the door, Nick froze up on seeing Bellatrix in his room. Not only that, but she was barely dressed. "B-bella! What are you doing here? And why are you barely wearing a thing?"

Bellatrix smirked from her spot, sitting with her legs crossed on the side of his bed closest to him. "What, this? I always go to bed in a nightie." She giggled. "Come. I want my hero to come lay with me tonight."

"Bellatrix, are you sure this is a-"

"It was Trixie's idea, alright? And I'm not asking for you to shag me, dummy. I just want to know you're still there, after the shite in the Tower." It hadn't seemed like it since it had happened, but Bellatrix had been terrified as the other boys had been about to take advantage of her, but Nick had seen the fear, and had reacted in force to match the despair he'd seen in her eyes. She patted the bed next to her, smiling softly with her head tilted to one side, her curly hair falling over her shoulder. "Please."

This is a very bad idea.. Nick thought, realizing that kicking Bellatrix out of his room in only nightwear would cause a lot more unnecessary attention than he wanted. Eyes were already going to be on him once the rest of the school knew about Rabastan and his crew trying to force Bellatrix. "Fine, but this isn't going to be a regular thing, Bellatrix. One night, I can handle but keep asking and we'll be lucky to sleep at all."

Bellatrix just giggled and patted the bed again as Nick swished his wand and swapped his school robes for pajamas. He made his way over and climbed into the bed behind where Bellatrix sat, laying down. After several moments of having no reaction from the Black heiress, Nick put his hand on her shoulder, rubbing up and down her arm from there as Bellatrix looked at him with another radiant smile. She laid down in the bed as Nick's arms snaked their way around her waist. She hummed, content as she turned to face him, her eyes boring into his. "Thank you for saving me tonight, Nick. Most girls don't have someone like you there for them the way you were earlier." She said, closing her eyes.

"Like I said, I'd go to hell and back for you, whether it's because of Trixie or not. Now, get some sleep, Bells, it's late."

Humming in agreement now, she cuddled up to Nick as he held her, both teenagers letting sleep take over.

The Next Morning..

Nick opened his eyes and was surprised to find the mass of red and black that had decided to take up all of his vision. He pulled his head back and remembered the night before, smiling softly at how serene Bellatrix looked while sleeping. Her head was now laying on his chest, one hand over his stomach while his arms had kept hold of her- seemingly- the whole night. She's beautiful.. Merlin, why did you throw a woman at me that looks exactly like the girl I fell in love with growing up? He thought.

Nick knew it was still early, the nighttime glow of the lake outside his window still carrying a bit too heavy of a tint to it, so he sighed and closed his eyes again, hoping for a bit more sleep before him and Bellatrix would really need to get up and get ready for class.

That is, until there was a knock at the door, followed by a rather annoyed pair of voices. "Bellatrix? Are you in there?" That was definitely Lucina.

"Nick, you two better not be hiding out in the-" The door opened Nick flourishing his wand as he sighed, looking at the still-sleeping Bellatrix then at Lucina and Andromeda. "Lucina, Andi. We had a late night, I think she's still a little exhausted." He felt his face heat up at the suggestive looks Bellatrix's sister and best friend were giving him. "N-not like that. There was an incident. Bella? Bellatrix, wake up." He said, shaking the girl's shoulder.

Bellatrix startled, her hair a mess covering her face as she looked around. "What? What, I'm up."

Nick chuckled. "Andromeda and Lucina were looking for you. Maybe it's about time we get up, yeah?"

Bellatrix sighed. "Ooh! But I was having such a nice sleep." She pointed.

"Oh, none of that, Bella. Let's go. Up and at 'em, as they say. I have that exam in Transfiguration first period anyway, might as well get a bit of practice in beforehand."

"Oh, alright." Bellatrix said, climbing out of Nick's bed and catching the robe Andromeda threw towards her. "Thanks, Andi. I'll see you in a bit then, luv?" She asked, looking back towards Nick as he went through his dresser.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Bellatrix beamed as she closed the door, going over to her room with the two other girls.

"So what happened last night? Narcissa said she found the two of you holding each other in the entrance corridor of the common room." Andromeda asked, looking at her sister suspiciously. She was the extremely rebellious one, not Bellatrix so her behavior was rather off-putting.

Bellatrix smiled, but shook her head. "Nothing, honestly. Not even a kiss, just.. He saved me, sis. Like I was a princess and he was a noble knight."

"Oh, so dramatic, Bellatrix. Seriously, how badly a situation could he have bailed you out of?"

Bellatrix looked down, her face one that made the other two look at each other before they went into the room, closing her door. "Bella, what did Nick save you from? You can tell us, we're family."

Bellatrix looked at them, smiling. "It's not that important, girls, I promise. The fact is nothing actually happened and Nick is the reason why." Bellatrix set to getting dressed, ignoring the other two and their conspiratorial whisperings.

Transfiguration Classroom, An Hour and a Half Later..

Bellatrix got up from her seat at the table next to Nick, class having just ended as Nick put his belongings back into his shoulder bag. "Mr. Negron, a word before you go, if you please." Came McGonagall's voice as Nick turned to the older witch.

"Of course, Professor." He turned to Bellatrix. "I'll be right out, alright?" With a nod, Bellatrix left the room to wait for him. As the door closed behind her, Nick looked at the teacher again. "What's this about, Professor?"

Minerva smiled at the boy. "Do not worry, dear. You aren't in any trouble. I just happened to have noticed that your spell work, while amazing for a child your age, is just a tad bit unstable. I was wondering why?"

"Oh, it's nothing to be concerned with, Professor. A bit of the American in me, you understand. Sometimes I tend to aim a bit bigger, that's all."

"Ah, I see. Well, I'd like for you to practice a bit some nights, just to balance that out. N.E.W.T. exams will not be lenient with size discrepancies."

"I understand, Professor, thank you." Nick said, turning. "If that'll be all, I don't want to be too late to Magical Creatures."

"I doubt you would." Minerva chuckled. "By the way, I feel I must warn you about your.. after curfew activities as of late. While you did a good thing last night, despite doing what you were able to, your actions will have consequences."

"I know that, and I'm prepared for whatever Tom can throw my way. He may be older, but I'm the one with the family power, not him. And if anyone goes after Bellatrix, they will meet my wrath."

Minerva scoffed, smiling all the while. "Well, it is nice to know such chivalry still exists in the world. Miss Black is lucky to have you in her life, Nick."

"Nah, it's the other way around. Just in an odd way. Anyway, I'm gonna get going. And I'll watch my back. I know the other slimy gits that call themselves Death Eaters in this school are about to enter a whirlwind of a power vacuum." Nodding for him to leave, Nick left the classroom and, together with Bellatrix, they walked down to their next class.

Grimmauld Place..

Arcturus knew it was going to happen soon. Walburga had been upping her efforts to kill her husband off and gain control of the family, but Nick had spoken with Arcturus about what they should do when that happened. He sighed, coughing into one hand as he looked at his other, where the Black family ring sat in his open palm. "I'm sorry, Bellatrix.. I hoped you wouldn't have to step up like this until old age finally caught up with me, or I just became too tired to deal with the politics.."

He placed the ring inside an envelope, attaching a separate piece of paper and, with a wave of his wand, sent the ring and his final letter to his family at Hogwarts off to the only person outside of the school Arcturus and Nick trusted: Nick's mother.

Negron House, East End..

Neela was smiling, having just come home from her first date in years. She had dated while Nick had grown up, but her son and his unusually high level of magic tended to.. frighten off some of her suitors. However, this was also a repeat of her life as much as it was Nick's, and so she knew it had been time to go out and mingle with others her age. Her date had been a relative of the famous Magizoologist Newt Scamander, being his nephew by way of his brother Perseus. Remembering the initial loop of time, memories of a time once lost and now in the process of being regained fluttered to the forefront of her mind.

Suddenly, Neela was aware of the letter on the coffee table, addressed to Bellatrix but with a note for her. It read:

Neela, you must ensure this ring makes it into the hands of our children. I fear my time is shorter than I thought, my wife's poisoning damaging me all too readily as of late. Without the ring in her possession, Walburga will have no right to perform any decisions regarding my family, for only Bellatrix has that authority as of now, unless she decides it would be better suited in the hands of one of her siblings. Signed, Arcturus Black.

Damn, Neela thought. It's already about time for the ascension, then. The rest of this year will be much harder for those two without Arcturus as a partial buffer.. She called for Adria, giving her the letter. "Get it to Bellatrix, dear." With a chirp, Adria flew off towards Hogwarts.

Later That Night, Hogwarts Great Hall..

Dinner was in full swing as Nick looked up and saw Adria fly in through one of the post windows. He held his arm out for the small falcon but was surprised when she instead landed in front of Bellatrix, dropping the envelope and flying off to eat at the Owlery on campus. Bellatrix stared at the envelope with wide eyes, recognizing her father's handwriting as she picked it up, her hands shaking. Nick saw the bulge in the envelope and put his hand over her arm. "Only take the letter out. I have a feeling we both know exactly what that letter is about."

Nodding, Bellatrix opened the seal and extracted the parchment from the envelope. Her hand went over her mouth as she read.

My dearest Bellatrix. I hope things are Hogwarts are going well, as they are not here at home. I'm sorry to say that this may in fact be the final letter you ever receive from me, as your mother has been making sure to kill me off as quickly as possible while you kids are away.

I'm sorry if you decide you no longer want the responsibility of being Lady of the House, but you must keep the ring with you at all times unless you are to pass the title to one of your siblings. And tell Nick that, while he didn't want it, I enacted a contract between you two as a precaution of your mother deciding to meddle any further. If you both decide to keep it in place, however, you have my full emotional support. Be happy, my little Belladonna, and never forget what you believe in. With all my love, your father, Arcturus Black.

Bellatrix had to force herself not to throw up, tears already beginning to fall as Nick watched her, frowning. "Bella, go if you need."

She was up and moving towards the entrance to the Great Hall faster than Nick had ever seen her as he picked the letter up himself, cursing under his breath. He looked up and over at the worried faces of Narcissa, Andromeda and Regulus, nodding as he got up himself.

"Sirius? A word, if I may? Boys." Nick nodded in greeting as he walked over to the Gryffindor table where the Marauders sat.

Sirius nodded, having seen his sister get up and leave. He got up and followed Nick just outside the Great Hall, closing the door behind them. "What happened, Nick? It's rare that Bellatrix is like that."

"It's your father," Nick handed Sirius the letter. "I fear things are progressing faster than I had hoped."

Sirius looked the letter over. "Bugger. Well, this is going to send her absolutely insane in grief, you know."

Nick nodded. "I know. She's told me how much of a daddy's girl she is." He said quietly. "Do you know of the Room of Requirement, Sirius?"

The boy nodded. "Yeah, we call it the Come and Go Room, though. Why?"

"Get yourself and James up there tonight, after curfew. I trust the little map you four created can get you there without running into Filch or any of the other patrolling professors?"

"You know, your level of knowledge of things you shouldn't is scarily impressive."

"I try. But can I rely on you two to be there?"

"Yes, of course, Nick. Will the girls and Reggie be there?"

"As will Lucina. That's the whole group of people I trust right now. I'll see you there, I have to find Bellatrix before she does something she'll regret."

"She much likes the Prefect's bathroom. I would start there." Sirius said as he went back inside the Great Hall.

Good, good that's up on the.. fuck, which floor is that damned bathroom on again? He said, walking up the grand staircase to find his way up to Bellatrix.