Magical Miracle
by Teddylonglong

Will Arthur Weasley's influence prevent Bellatrix Black from becoming the evil witch at Voldemort's side in spite of the expectations and demands of the House of Black and allow her to provide the family, which Harry Potter will need in the future?

COMPLETELY AU, partly OOC, perhaps Molly Weasley bashing; pairings not decided yet

Completely AU means that I willingly change things from how they happened in canon. People might be even be born in a different year from canon. If you read the first chapter and don't like it, just stop reading.


PART I What if Bella met Arthur on the Hogwarts Express?

On September 1, 1962, a young girl with bushy black hair walked along platform nine and three quarters with mixed feelings. On the one hand, she was happy to finally be allowed to attend Hogwarts. However, on the other hand, she was the oldest of three girls from the old House of Black, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight magical families. Her parents were very strict, and when they had said good-bye to her, her father had firmly reminded her that she was promised by contract to Rodolphus Lestrange and thus should see to it that she got herself sorted into Slytherin.

Afraid of what might happen if she failed to convince the Sorting Hat of sorting her into Slytherin as was expected from her, Bellatrix Black hesitantly boarded the train. She passed a couple of compartments that were already full with older students, who were loud and seemingly happy to see each other again, before she came to a compartment, where only one boy was sitting. He had red hair and cast her a friendly smile.

"Come in," he said, kindly. "Are you a first-year?"

"Yes," Bella replied, shyly. "I am Bellatrix Black."

If she had expected that the other boy would stare at her in admiration upon hearing her name, she was completely mistaken, as he simply replied, "Nice to meet you, Bellatrix. I am Arthur Weasley."

'Oh, that's one of the old magical families as well,' Bella thought, as she hesitantly returned the boy's smile.

"I am a Gryffindor second-year," Arthur continued to speak, "and I already love Hogwarts. It's full of old magic and surprises. I am happy to be allowed to study there."

"Me too," Bella replied, smiling, just when a group of four older girls entered their compartment. 'Thank Merlin, there's no space for Rodolphus and Rabastan,' she thought in relief, as she slid into the seat right next to Arthur to make space for the girls.

Rodolphus was the older of the two brothers, however, due to their age difference of no more than ten months, they were both going to be in her Hogwarts year. On the one hand, Bella neither especially liked the brothers nor disliked them; however, it annoyed her greatly that her father had already made a deal with their father promising her to Rodolphus.

'Oh well, at least he's not as bad as Rabastan,' she thought, inwardly sighing.

The older girls immediately began to talk about their holidays, their studies and the professors at Hogwarts, and Bella and Arthur mostly sat there quietly listening. After a while, Bella found out that they were all Ravenclaws, and she almost felt sad knowing that she could not choose her own house.

"Where do you think you're going to be sorted?" Arthur finally enquired, causing Bella to let out an unconscious sigh.

"I'm supposed to get sorted into Slytherin," she replied, shrugging.

"And why might that be?" Arthur asked in a soft voice. "I don't think that anyone should choose the house for you. The Sorting Hat is supposed to make the decision according to your own choices and your personality."

Bella shrugged. "You don't know my family," she whispered back. "My father will be very angry if I don't get into Slytherin. He might even kick me out of the family."

During the remainder of the train ride, she and Arthur kept talking about this and that, and by the time they reached the station in Hogsmeade, Bella had the impression that for the first time in her life she had found a friend, whom she had chosen herself.

"Can we be friends?" she asked in a small voice, hating that she felt herself blushing.

"Yes, of course. I'd like that," Arthur replied, gently, casting her a genuine smile.

"Even if I'm in Slytherin?" Bella enquired, shyly smiling back.

"Sure," Arthur promised, only to add, "We could always spend some time in the library after the last afternoon class or after dinner." Turning around, he pointed at a very large person. "Over there, that's Hagrid, a half giant. He will take the first-years over the lake to the castle by boat."

"Can't I just simply go with you?" Bella enquired, quirking an eyebrow.

"You could," Arthur replied, smiling, "but the view over the lake is absolutely gorgeous, and I wouldn't want you to miss it. Go on and join your classmates, and I'll see you later on in the Great Hall."

"All right, see you later then," Bella replied and hesitantly approached the half-giant, who was unexpectedly friendly. A few minutes later, he helped her into a boat together with three other first-years.

'Arthur was right. The view is magnificent,' she thought, smiling as she thought of the Gryffindor second-year. 'He's really nice, nicer than all the other boys from the dark families,' she thought, wondering if her family would at least allow her to choose her friends by herself.

tbc...?

Are you interested? Please tell me what you think about this chapter and what you expect from this story. Any constructive opinions and ideas are welcome.