Achilles paled and his mouth dropped open in shock. "Papa." Narcissa said worriedly as Poppy fetched a chair. Achilles gratefully took a seat and found himself gripping the arms of the ornate chair. "Not my Bella. Please Narcissa surely there must be some mistake."

"I'm afraid not papa. Bella pleaded with me not to tell and I couldn't betray her."

"I knew that little wretch would get herself into this sort of trouble." Cecilia Black said pursing her thin lips and glancing thunderously over her youngest.

"Cecilia don't say that about her." Achilles said a hint of hurt in his voice.

"What it's true surely you must have noticed the type of thing she wears and how she acted at the Christmas ball and the Halloween ball."

"Cecilia she's 15 years old for crying out loud. That's what they do. I'm not saying Bella's an angel but nor is she the brazen hussy you seem to think she is."

"I beg to differ." Cecilia said somewhat loudly.

Meanwhile, Poppy was busy locating a potion to revive a pregnant witch and eventually found one near the back of the cupboard. Whilst the heated discussion went on she gently gave the correct dosage to Bella who squirmed slightly before blinking several times. Narcissa was the only member of the family to notice Bellatrix starting to come round and hurriedly moved to the side of her sister's bed. "Bella darling. It's me, Cissa."

"Wha…what happened?" Bella asked faintly looking up at her sister.

"You collapsed. It's okay now." Narcissa said.

Bella looked up suddenly as she heard the voice she detested the most in the world. "Mo...mother!" Bella said frowning and biting her bottom lip in worry.

"It's okay Bella. Papa's here too. They know about you been pregnant but not about the father. I had to tell themBella." Narcissa said apologetically pausing as she became aware her parents had ended their heated discussion.

"Bella." Achilles said relieved to see his youngest daughter had awoken.

"Papa. I'm sorry. I…I didn...didn't mean to." Bella said tearfully as a single tear made its way down her pale cheeks.

"Oh really Bellatrix. Honestly you may take your father for a complete fool but I on the other hand am not. You young lady have a lot of explaining to do." Cecilia said sternly.

"Mrs Black. I'd prefer it if Miss Bellatrix was able to rest a little. Raging at her will only upset her and she is still in a weakened state. Perhaps I can send you an owl when she has recuperated further." Madame Pomfrey said gazing at her young patient.

"But I wish to speak to my daughter. Surely you realise this is important."

"I understand your concern Mrs Black but Bellatrix needs to rest first before any lengthy discussions can take place. I will owl you as soon as she has had some suitable rest."

"Who is he?" Cecilia asked.

"What do you mean mother?" Bella asked softly.

"You know what I mean Bellatrix and don't pretend you don't. I want to know who the father is."

"Cecilia please don't. Bella needs rest."

"I'm astounded at you Achilles. She's bringing shame on the good Black name and all you can say is to not chastise her."

"Leave it Cecilia. Why don't we return to the Malfoys after all you were discussing the flower arrangements."

"Fine but this is not the end of it." Cecilia Black said bitterly glaring fiercely at her youngest child.

"Take care Bella angel and we'll be back." Achilles said in a soft but stern tone. He was torn between wanting to hug her and tell her he was happy she was awake, and on the other hand wanting to yell at her for hiding the situation.

"I'm sorry daddy." Bella said softly her brown eyes showing remorse.

"I know petal. Now you get rest okay and we'll be back to see you soon. Narcissa dear take care of her okay."

"I will father." Narcissa said solemnly. With that there was aloud pop and the two Black sisters were left in the infirmary with Madame Pomfrey. Narcissa somewhat undignified for a girl who was to be married in summer wrapped her arms round her younger sister. "Don't ever do that again Bella. I couldn't bear to lose you; not with Andie gone too."

"I'm not going anywhere Cissa I promise." Bella smiled weakly. Narcissa smiled fondly and somewhat wistfully at her baby sister, stroking an unkempt curl of Bella's hair from her eyes.

"Bella what do you want to do?"

"What do you mean?"

"About the baby? If you could do anything what would it be?" Narcissa asked seriously. Not knowing how Bella would respond.

"If it were up to me and no-one else then I…I'd want to keep it. I couldn't get rid of it after all it's a life regardless of whether or not it was planned."

"If that's what you want Bella I'll support you all the way."

"Oh Cissa! Thank-you, you're the best big sister I could wish for." Bella beamed.

"Bellatrix you need to rest." Poppy interrupted finally, knowing her young patient needed some sleep. Bella pouted somewhat.

"Madame Pomfrey, if I promise to take my rest after a short visit from someone would that be okay?" Bella asked sweetly rolling her eyes as the medi-witch tucked her in the crisp white sheets.

"It depends on whom that visitor is." Poppy replied not wanting large groups of Slytherins in her clean and peaceful infirmary.

"My cousin."

"What little Regulus why of course."

"No my other cousin Sirius." Bella said softly. Narcissa raised her eyebrow somewhat at Bella's request.

"Well alright but only for a speedy visit mind. Narcissa, would you fetch him from whichever class he's in please." Poppy said. The blonde nodded and left the room gracefully.Poppy sighed softly as she approached Bella's bed. "Miss Black."

"Aha." Bella acknowledged looking up.

"I suspect you haven't yet had any check up on the baby have you." Bella shook her head softly. "Would you like to see your baby?" Poppy asked. Bella nodded. "Okay Revealo Foetusim Apperum." Poppy said softly placing a hand on Bellatrix's stomach. There was a haze of swirling mist and then the room filled with a quick-paced heartbeat. The swirling mist gradually formed into a mass which was no bigger than a lemon. Bella chewed her bottom lip silently as her eyes glazed over somewhat. "That's my…that's my baby." She said softly finally comprehending her situation. Poppy smiled at the teenager softly.

"It's perfectly fine as far as I can see perhaps a little small for it's gestation but I don't actually know how far along you are.

"I'm 10 weeks." Bella said quietly. "I've known for longer than Cissa thinks I have. I just kept trying to avoid telling anyone. I thought if I avoided it everything would be fine and I wouldn't be a disappointment to daddy." Bella said looking away for a moment.

"Bellatrix your parents will come round."

"Mother won't; she hates me. I don't care too much about her but I'd never ever do anything that would purposely upset daddy."

"He knows that Bella." Poppy said reassuringly.

"I hope so." Bella replied smiling softly as her baby lifted a hand to its mouth and appeared to suck its thumb. Just then they were interrupted by a knock. Madame Pomfrey went to vanquish the current spell but Bella shook her head. "I want Cissa and Sirius to see. Please." Bella asked. Poppy sighed and went to the door, she'd argued once with Bellatrix after Bella had been admitted due to a stray bludger and one argument with Bellatrix Black was quite enough. Poppy opened the door slightly to check it was indeed Narcissa and Sirius and then opened the door further allowing them entrance. "What's that noise?" Sirius asked having not noticed the tiny hovering form above Bella's bed. Narcissa however beamed and ran to her sister's bedside gazing wide-eyed at the tiny baby that was projected in front of her. "Oh Bella. I can't believe that's your baby." She gushed forgetting momentarily that Sirius was not as knowledgeable as she was about Bella's current state.

"Baby? What baby?"