"Who the hell are you?" Bella asked, opening the door seeing her sister standing on the other side with a guest.

"Bella," Hermione came up from behind her and pulled her fiancé slightly to the side, "come on in. Welcome. Make yourselves at home. Dinner is in 25 minutes so maybe now's a good time for introductions, Cissy." The brunette gave her best I'm sorry eyes to the two women who just entered her house.

"Maybe we can do this somewhere more private," Cissy looked over Hermione's shoulder seeing everyone staring at her.

"Why?" Bella asked with clear annoyance in her tone. "What's your name girl?"

"Aviya ma'am," the girl said quietly. Bella got a good look at the girl who was a little shorter than Narcissa with a tan skin tone, dark brown almond eyes and long wavy dark brown hair. She was wearing black thick framed glasses, a sports coat, a black v neck T-shirt and black skinny muggle jeans. Bella would have to comment on her formal wear later. Clearly she didn't know what acceptable formal wear meant.

When Aviya called Bella ma'am everyone turned when a little chuckle came out of Andy. She had her hand covering her mouth trying to stifle her laughing.

"Ma'am? Well we can worry about that later. And just how do you know my sister?" She eyed Cissy suspiciously waiting for someone to speak.

"Bella," Hermione grabbed her arm, "let's go do this in the library."

"Why?" She turned back to her youngest sister. "What's the big deal? Honestly. I must not be getting something here. I expected you to show up with the next Lucius that I would have to pretend to like and make small talk with."

Bella watched as Cissy exchanged a glance with the girl. Hermione squeezed Bella's arm when she felt her stiffness. The realization of the moment caught up to the oldest Black sister and her mouth dropped. Andy moved like a ninja coming to stand on the other side of her sister and whispered, "Phoenix shit," in her ear as the dark witch closed her mouth, turning to glare at Andy.

"Bella, this is Aviya Hart, my girlfriend. Aviya, this is Bellatrix." Cissy spoke with certainty trying to gauge the reaction of everyone in the room.

"Nice to meet you," Aviya extended her hand to Bella and waited, staring at her.

Bella turned to her other sister, "did you know?" Andy smirked at her and began to speak when Bella waved her off and turned to her fiancé, "did you know?"

"Bella," Hermione tried to reason and she was cut off.

Bella stepped out of the hold that Andy and Hermione had on her. She turned and looked around the room, "so you all knew and you didn't tell me?"

"We didn't want to upset you," Hermione tried to reason.

"I don't think it worked," Andy whispered to the brunette.

"You all knew?" The dark witch's voice rang with anger.

"Actually," Draco spoke up from the back of the group, "I didn't know either."

Bella nodded at her nephew and continued, "you all knew and you didn't tell us?"

"Bella, please let's just go into the library…" Cissy's sentence was cut off before she had a chance to finish it.

"No," Bella threw her hands up, "shag whoever the fuck you want. I don't give a damn but to spring this on me," she looked back at Draco, "on us at a formal dinner like it's not a big deal." She shook her head and started storming out of the room, "no!" She threw her hand back stopping her fiancé, "don't follow me." Bella left the room and the clicking of her heels could be heard down the hallway followed by the slam of a heavy wooden door.

"So, that went well," Andy broke the silence which was received with a slap from Hermione. "What? I was literally on my best behavior."

"How long have you been bisexual, Madam Malfoy?" Luna spoke up from the back of the group next to Harry who was trying to look casual.

"Umm," Cissy was flustered by the bold question.

"What a curious thing to ask," Aviya looked at the blonde witch. "You must be Luna. I've heard so much about you." She smiled and shook Luna's hand, "about all of you really."

"Mum?" Draco raised his eyebrows.

"I suppose I've always been bisexual. I just never had any reason or opportunity to act on it. We were forced into arranged marriages at such an early age." She saw a look of hurt on her son's face. She approached him and lowered her voice so just the two of them could hear after casting a muffliato, "I cared deeply for your father, Draco. He gave me you and for that I'll be eternally grateful but what I have with Aviya, well it's a love that I didn't think I'd ever be able to have."

"I get it mum," Draco looked up at his mother, "I'm not mad. I just wish I had known prior to this. I see where Aunt Bella is coming from. It's a lot to take in with everyone else around."

"I'm sorry," she pulled him into a hug, "I just didn't want you to be disappointed."

"What?" He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back slightly, "disappointed in you? Never." He kissed her cheek, "I love you mum and I will always support you. I'm happy that you are happy." His mom let out a sigh of relief that she didn't realize she was holding, "introduce me properly?"

She smiled and signaled Aviya away from her current conversation with the Potters. When she approached, she stood next to Narcissa without touching her and Draco suppressed a smile when he saw her first instinct was to put his arm around his mother but immediately changed directions, "Draco, this is my girlfriend, Aviya. Aviya, my son, Draco."

He held out his hand and immediately shook her extended hand, "it's a pleasure to meet you. This is the part where I threaten if you ever hurt my mother and so on but I'm pretty sure Aunt Bella will take care of that for all of us when she comes around."

Aviya let out a nervous laugh, "it's nice to finally meet you too. I've heard so much about you." She glanced at her girlfriend, "apparently you can't say the same." Cissy bumped shoulders with her. "Joking, I swear. Is your wife here? I'd love to meet her."

Draco looked around, "she is but I think she scooped Teddy up and left the room when Aunt Bella started swearing. She has a sense for incoming danger." He smiled and pointed to the sitting room, "shall we get a drink? It looks like Hermione is going to start her damage control." He smiled at her as she gave him a furrowed brow look of worry, taking off down the hallway that Bella exited few minutes ago. "Good luck," he shouted after her.

Andy came over to join them, "she'll need it. Drinks?"

"A drink sounds perfect, thank you." Draco smiled when he saw Aviya reach down and grab his mother's hand squeezing it, reassuring her that everything was okay.

Hermione left the grand foyer in the direction that Bella stormed off. She sighed and pulled out her wand. "Expecto patronum," her little silver and blue otter shot out from the end of her wand and swam around her waiting patiently for its task. Hermione spoke, "find Bellatrix, please," she commanded and the little otter nodded and started swimming down the hallway leading Hermione around the manor. The otter led her out the back door towards the quidditch pitch. The patronus stopped just outside of the shed where the flying equipment was kept. "Thank you," Hermione said to her otter and released it from the magic hold. She knocked softly on the door, "Bella?"

"Go away," she heard a muffled voice from inside.

"You know that's not going to happen. Can I come in? It's a little chilly out here."

A loud dramatic sounding sigh came from behind the door, "fine," her fiancé said as she opened the door and stepped aside for Hermione to come in. The younger witch warmed right up with the warming charm spreading in the small sized shed. "I told you not to come after me."

"You've known me long enough now to know that I wouldn't leave you alone when you are hurting," Hermione watched as her fiancé went over to the side of the shed and slid down the wall to the ground, legs folded under her. She shook her head and joined her on the ground. Hermione wrapped her arm around Bella's shoulder and waited for the dark witch to accept the offer and snuggle into her neck. She only had to wait a moment for her to take the bait. "Now, would you like to talk about it?"

"No," came the muffled reply from her neck.

"Okay," Hermione leaned her head back against the shed and waited.

Bella sighed, "fine," she responded not moving from her spot, "I just thought Cissy trusted me enough to tell me these important life changing things. I mean did she really think I would be so cruel? Look at me, I'm marrying a muggle born who's half my age."

"I suppose," Hermione started gently, "she was just concerned that you'd react as you did in the foyer." Bella scoffed but Hermione shook her head and continued, "you were pretty upset back there."

"I was upset because you all were keeping something important from me. I don't want to be in the dark. I can't be in the dark," she sighed, "I spent too many years in cold, dark spaces. I refuse it." She closed her eyes and inhaled Hermione's scent, instantly calming her, "besides, man or woman, nobody will be good enough for Cissy."

"Her girlfriend is pretty nice. I've met her at the hospital a few times," Bella snapped her head up, "don't look at me like that. You know it wasn't my secret to tell. I would've told you immediately if I wasn't afraid of your sister murdering me."

That comment earned a laugh from the dark witch, "please we all know I'm the sister to fear. Nobody lays a hand on you, pet." She kissed Hermione's cheek, "why are you always so patient with me? I truly don't deserve you."

"I love you, Bella," she simply said. "We bring balance into each other's lives. I wouldn't have you any other way."

Bella snuggled back into Hermione's neck, "I love you, too." A quiet moment was shared before Bella spoke again, "but don't expect me to like this new girl. She'll get the same treatment from me as Lucy did until she proves her worth. And if I see her taking advantage of Cissy, I'll kill her. No first I'll torture her, then I'll kill her."

"That may not be the best introduction," Hermione smiled.

"This girl needs to know who I am, love and what I'm capable of."

"She's not brand new to London. She definitely knows who you are," Hermione laughed.

Bella grumbled, "I still don't like that everyone kept this from me."

"I know, Bella. But believe me when I say that Andy and I had your best interests in mind."

"Don't even get me started on Andy. That little shit will get an earful after dinner is over. Should we just skip dinner and hide out here the rest of the evening? From my position, I can straight down your blazer and I am not complaining," a deep chuckle reverberated off the wall of the shed. "This outfit needs to make a comeback when I am able to take full advantage of it. This whole no sex until marriage thing is for the birds."

"Trust me," Hermione laughed, "you're not the only one who hates it."

"Well good thing masterbating isn't off the table," Hermione looked at her fiancé with a little shocked expression, "I'm definitely going to be thinking about this outfit in the shower tonight," she winked at Hermione and stood up, "let's get this over with so I can tend to myself in the shower." Hermione just shook her head and stood with her mouth open. "Phoenix shit, pet." She kissed the corner of her mouth. "Come on, I suppose I need to speak with Cissy first." Bella pulled a still shocked Hermione out of the shed and back into the house via the trail her otter led them on earlier. "Tell Cissy I'll be in the library," she kissed her cheek. "I think we need a little privacy."

Bella and Narcissa had been in the library for awhile and it was making Hermione nervous. She tried to preoccupy herself not thinking of what the two witches could be talking about for so long, "do you think everything is okay in there?" She turned to ask the middle black sister.

"Well I don't hear any yelling or spells firing. I'd say it's at least civil."

Hermione shot Andy a worried look, "Bella doesn't care that Cissy is bisexual. She was upset that she was kept in the dark about something so important in her sister's life. Surely you can understand what it's like to be left out."

Andy sighed, "look I get it. But it wasn't my secret to tell. Cissy had to work through whatever was keeping her from telling Bella herself. I mean," she smirked, "you have to admit, sometimes talking to Bella can be a bit intimidating."

Hermione laughed, "yes but I never thought Cissy to be one to shy away from Bella. They helped each other through their lowest points in life." They stood in silence watching the library door for any signs of movement. "Do you think Bella will be nice to Aviya?"

"Not a fucking chance in hell," Andy cackled.

"Maybe she'll learn to like her," Hermione smiled.

"Doubtful," Andy smirked, "nobody is good enough for our baby sister."

"That's what Bella said."

"Well," Andy nodded, taking a sip from her wine, "I don't see Aviya backing down. She'll keep at Bella until she wears on her," another evil smirk, "or until one of them kills the other."

"Should I go in there?" A new voice entered the hallway causing a resounding "no" to come out of Hermione and Andy. Aviya looked only slightly deflated, "but I might be able to help smooth things over. I'm much better at selling myself in person."

"It's probably best if you stay out here or in the other room." Hermione said as gently as possible.

"Yeah," Andy smirked, "the first thing Bella sees when she emerges from that room probably shouldn't be your smarmy ass checking out her baby sister." Hermione reached out and smacked Andy on the back of her head, "what was that for?"

"Be nice to our company," she hissed quietly. "Why don't we all go back into the drawing room and wait for them to come out. It's not going to do any of us any good to be standing around outside. Come on," she looped her arm through Andy's pulling her away from the library.

"Hermione," Luna called her over, "I was hoping we'd have a minute to go over the article for the Quibbler this week."

"Yes," Hermione looked a little worried, "there's nothing incriminating in it is there?"

"Well," Luna's airy tone was a cause of concern for the brunette over the years, "I won't lie. Bella wanted us to go with the story that she was in fact the new Dark Lord but when I brought that to father he thought it best to use the information Bella gave us and go in a different direction."

"I could hug you right now," a look of relief washed over Hermione's features as took the printed article and scanned the document. The article talked about how The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black was in full support of Hermione becoming the next Minister for Magic. It talked about Bella and her relationship with the minister including their upcoming nuptials. It spoke of her recovery process and her break away from the Dark Arts. There was a large section of the article devoted to Hermione's hospital co-op with Dr. Hoffman including a statement directly from the doctor talking about bridging the gap between wizards and muggles. The end of the article did go into the slander from the Daily Prophet and Lucius, Dolohov and Skeeters' distaste for the Black Sisters. It was just enough to shift blame back on to them but not enough to take away why the Quibbler supports Hermione as Minister. "This is perfect Luna. Thank you," she handed the article back to her friend and gave her a hug.

"It's honestly the least we could do," Luna assured her. "We believe in your efforts to bridge the gap between wizards and muggles and Father really hates when the Prophet spreads lies and slander. He will probably reach out for more articles in the future if that's something you'd be okay with."

Hermione nodded, "yes, that sounds good."

Inside the library, Bella stood looking outside the door on the ground floor while her youngest sister paced behind her, "one of us should probably start talking," the blonde spoke up.

"Give me a minute," Bella bit back, "I'm trying to figure out what to say after being stabbed in the back by my family."

"Bella," Cissy walked over and tried to put her hand on her sister's shoulder but she pulled away. "I never meant to hurt your feelings. It wasn't my intention to purposefully leave you out of things."

"Well you did and it hurts," she pouted.

"I'm sorry," when she reached out this time Bella didn't pull away. "I guess I was afraid of how you would react."

"So you thought the best place to test your theory would be at a formal dinner surrounded by friends and family to see if I'd snap?" Bella growled, "well good show. I guess I acted just as you expected. Crazy Bellatrix Lestrange. She always delivers. I'm nothing if not consistent in my madness." Bella stormed away from her sister and up the stairs to the second landing, walking through the back door onto the balcony. She walked over to the far end of the balcony where an old telescope sat, peering into the viewfinder trying to calm her body. She heard her sister slide open and then close the door behind her. "Do you really think I'm that horrible of a person?" She asked barely a whisper, the hurt evident in her tone.

"Bella, no. That's not it," Cissy sighed behind her, taking a seat at the little table. "I guess I was just scared you'd be disappointed in me."

Bella turned around quickly, her eyebrows furrowed with confusion, "what? Why?"

"I honestly don't know."

"Because you are with a woman?" She saw her sister give a little nod. "Cissy, I'm getting married to a muggle born witch from Gryffindor. If anyone takes the cake as the pure blood family disappointment it would be me," she came and sat down next to her sister, reaching out and grabbing her hand. "We've moved past this. We are far more than what our family ever was before. Nobody can judge us anymore. They are all dead." She leaned in and kissed her sister on the side of her head, "I love you no matter who you are with." She smirked a little, "though if you had said you got back together with Lucy, I probably would've killed him on the spot. I'm proud of you."

"What?" Cissy looked up, wiping a stray tear.

"I'm proud that you aren't afraid to be yourself. Hopefully you get to experience what I have with Hermione. I wouldn't trade my witch for anything in the world."

"Are you going to be nice to Aviya?"

Bella thought for a minute, "no. Absolutely not." She cackled. "You might love her and all that but she has to earn my respect just like anyone else. I shall be a harsh but fair judge of character." Cissy rolled her eyes, "now tell me about how you met."

"Are you sure we shouldn't go in there?" Aviya got up from the couch and was pulled back down by Draco.

"We definitely don't want to ambush Auntie Bella right now," he tried patting her leg out of comfort then pulled his hand away when he realized it was awkward for everyone.

"Think on the bright side," Astoria spoke up, "as long as she hates you, you might not have to see her naked ass."

"What?"

"Unfortunately Auntie Bella has shown her ass to everyone," Draco pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm not sure it was fully intentional but I believe everyone here has seen her giving it to Granger at some point."

"Draco," Hermione hissed, turning a bright shade of red while Andy cackled.

"Yes," Andy smirked, "you'll know your part of the family when you walk in on one of their sexcapades. Seriously Bella has no shame or embarrassment."

"So everyone here has seen her ass?" Everyone nodded except Luna who shook her head no.

"Potter," Draco looked at his friend, "she finally got you?"

"I was over for dinner and I wandered where I shouldn't have. It was quite an unfortunate experience for me," he uncomfortably shifted in his seat not making eye contact with Hermione.

"Well," Aviya shrugged, "something to look forward to I guess."

Hermione groaned when Andy cackled, "I'm never going to make it Minister because I'm going to have died of embarrassment way before I ever get the chance to win. Wish Dolohov the best for me."

Andy was about to say something when the doors to the library finally opened and the two sisters emerged. "It doesn't look like they hurt each other. Damn." She looked almost disappointed and Hermione pushed her, shushing her.

Narcissa walked over and whispered something to Aviya that no one could hear and the other woman nodded.

Bella walked over to Hermione and hugged her, bringing her mouth next to the younger woman's ear, "we sorted it out. We've come to the conclusion that I don't have to like Ms. Hart." Hermione gave a little laugh. "Sorry for ruining the evening."

Hermione whispered back, "I'm glad it's sorted. Aviya isn't so bad. You'll learn to love her. And nothings been ruined. The elves kept dinner warm for us."

"Grow to love her," Bella laughed, "good one, pet." She pulled away from her fiancé and addressed everyone else, "let's eat."

Two days later, Bella found herself sitting in the library looking over the serial killer case when an owl knocked at the door. She rolled her eyes recognizing the little tawny owl right away. She got up from behind her desk, walked over to the door letting the little owlet in, scratching behind her ears and removing the letter from the animal's beak. "I guess your mummy didn't listen when I told her you were still too young to be delivering mail," she let the owlet perch on her finger and brought her over to the bird stand on her desk so the animal could relax as she gave her a few owl treats. The owlet hooted in happiness. "Now, let's see what 'new girl' has to say that was so important that it couldn't wait until tomorrow morning," she opened the letter and read.

Bella,

I just wanted to let you know that nothing of great value happened on Friday night. It was all pretty quiet and the aurors never contacted me for any after hours business. I suppose that would normally be a good thing but I have to admit I'm getting anxious the longer the killer sits in wait. The longer this goes on the more connections I'm finding to my

mother and I'd be lying if I said I didn't consider going rogue on Friday night to look for him on my own.

Then I thought about our talk. I didn't want to do anything to disappoint you so I'm waiting but I just wanted to be honest with you. The longer this goes on, the less I'm going to be able to just sit around and wait.

Also I know you said Celeste shouldn't fly yet but everybody has to learn to use their wings one day. Let her stay until she's recovered enough to fly back. She won't be that much trouble. I know you have a soft spot for animals no matter how much you pretend you don't.

-Kate

Bella sighed, putting the piece of parchment down on her desk. "Your mummy reminds me so much of myself it's rather scary, Celeste." The owlet hooted in response. "She's going to wind up dead if she keeps up this train of thought and I refuse to be the surrogate mother to an overzealous owlet." Bella said, petting the exhausted baby animal until the little bird dozed off into a slumber.

The dark witch was lost in thought, absentmindedly petting the sleeping bird and a blue wispy penguin came into the room and Andy's voice spoke through the patronus, "Bella you have to come down to the kitchen. Your fiancé is going bat shit over Skeeter's new article. She said she's going to find her and keep her as a pet. As much as I'd enjoy that, you need to come talk some sense into her."

Bella sighed and dismissed the patronus, getting up. Celeste stirred when Bella moved, "go back to sleep. I'll be back," she reassured the little bird and apparated down to the kitchen.

"Merlin," Andy clutched her chest, "couldn't you use the stairs like the rest of us."

"This was faster and you made it seem like an emergency," Bella shrugged, her eyes scanning the room, "where's Hermione?"

Andy pointed to the brunette who was pacing around the kitchen with what appeared to be a copy of the Prophet clenched in her fist. "I'm going to kill her," Hermione stopped pacing, "no. I'm going to force her into her animagus and keep her as my pet." She started pacing again.

"Fucking ruthless," Andy smirked looking over at her sister.

"Don't piss her off," Bella chuckled, "I learned that the hard way."

"Should we stop her?"

Bella shrugged, "depends. Does Skeeter deserve to live as a bug?"

"She spied on our dinner the other night. So maybe," Andy grimaced when her sister tensed.

"Twiggy!" Bella called and the little elf popped into the room. "Can you get me a copy of today's Prophet?"

"Right away missus," Twiggy popped away and back instantaneously handing Bella a copy of the paper. "Let Twiggy know if she can be of further assistance."

"Can you go up to the library and look in on Celeste for me?" The elf nodded, "thank you, Twiggy." Bella didn't have to search the paper long to find the article. It was plastered across the front page including a picture taken from an outside window of everyone gathered around the massive dining room table on Friday Evening with the headline: Was This the Official First Meeting of the New Death Eaters? "Oh bloody hell, here we go again," Bella rolled her eyes and continued reading.

Bellatrix Druella Black or should we just start addressing her as the new Dark Lord hosted what appears to have been the first meeting of the reinvented Death Eaters this past Friday at Black Manor. Nobody is surprised by this turn of events. We at the Prophet have been following the Black family for a while now and had expected to see the rise of the Dark Lord at some point. The most shocking turn of events at this dinner was the presence of 2/3rds of the Golden Trio. The Chosen One himself was seen hugging the Dark Lord. Who would've thought he would've ranked with the new Death Eaters? A representative at the Prophet reached out to the missing member of the Golden Trio for a statement regarding Bellatrix and Mr. Weasley's only response, "no comment." In other news, it seems the youngest Black sister is finally airing out her dirty little secret as she showed up to the meeting arm in arm with another member of Ms. Granger's hospital collaboration initiative. It is only a matter of time before Bellatrix makes her first move as the Dark Lord. We at the Prophet hope that you have sufficiently prepared for the next Wizarding War. *additional pictures from the evening found on page 5*

Bella put the paper down and sighed, "well at least inferior Weasley was smart enough to not engage. I'll give him that much."

"I just hope this doesn't scare Cissy back into the closet," Andy grimaced when Bella's hands tightened around the paper.

"Maybe we should just let you kill Skeeter. I'm sure we can keep you out of Azkaban," Bella turned to her sister who looked absolutely evil. "Or maybe we shouldn't give you permission to kill anyone. I think you might actually do it."

"No," Andy relented, "I wouldn't kill the bitch. Just scare her a little." Bella shrugged, "plus I think Hermione is the one you should be worrying about right now. From the looks of it, she's over there plotting out Skeeter's new bug habitat."

"Get out," she turned back to face her fiancé, "but also thank you. I can handle her myself. Don't go killing Skeeter without letting me know first though."

"Yes," Andy bowed, "my Lord."

"Oh fuck off." Bella rolled her eyes at Andy as she retreated from the kitchen. Bella put her copy of the paper down and walked over towards her fiancé trying to gauge the level of madness coming from her. "Pet?" No response. "Pet? Are you in there?" Hermione snapped her head up and glared at the older witch. "Want to talk about it?"

"Should we keep her in a jar or just throw her in the dungeon and let Andy loose?" Hermione stopped pacing to face her fiancé. She looked absolutely menacing.

"Careful, pet." Bella said with an amused tone, "you are starting to sound like me and I won't be usurped for the new Dark Lord position by my own fiancé."

Hermione glared, "she just makes me so mad. The insinuations are outlandish and to think people might actually believe her makes me see red." She levitated the newspaper between them and cast a silent spell, the paper going up in flames.

"Did that help?" Bella asked, pulling the younger witch into a hug.

"Yes and no." Hermione sighed, releasing some of the stress she was carrying and melted into her fiancé. "How many more articles until we release Andy?" Bella chuckled and held onto her witch tighter.