Guilt lead Druella to implore the headmaster of Hogwarts - one professor Dippet - to allow Bellatrix to attend Hogwarts in 1961, aged ten. Bellatrix should probably have started the following year. However, Druella argued, Bellatrix was born in January so she really was right on the cusp on the '61 and '62 years - and if she started in '62, she'd be one of the oldest students. Druella also told Dippet that Bellatrix's magic was advanced and uncontrolled, and she was causing problems at home - it was true that the girl was levitating breadknives and saucepans, however Druella privately suspected that these mishaps were thoroughly controlled and entirely deliberate. Druella never knew quite why she bartered for Bellatrix's freedom - when she fell asleep, she often wondered if it was a shred of maternal feeling for the girl. But then Bellarix's departure would only increase Andromeda's suffering. In that context, was securing Bellatrix's release really the maternal thing to do? Bellatrix had already been quite badly damaged by Cygnus's abuse, but Andromeda was only scratched. Perhaps it would have been kinder to confine the abuse to one of the three girls, and let the other two mostly avoid it? In three years (getting the other two girls into school early seemed impossible), would Andromeda be as distant and dead-eyed as Bellatrix?

*****break*****

Bellatrix sat on the train to Hogwarts, utterly thrilled. She was afraid for her younger sisters, and she did feel guilty for being so happy while knowing full well that they were in danger. But she was going to be free! She couldn't shake the joy brought by the knowledge that, for a few months at least, she would be safe from Cygnus's attentions and Druella's inattention.

Her trunk sat at her feet, and the loops of a handsome little leather backpack were still strung over her shoulders. The backpack contained her wallet, her wand (protected in its box) and two changes of clothes. Life had not been kind to Bellatrix, but it had taught her self reliance (not a common trait among ten year old purebloods). She felt, rather than knew, that it was important to carry the essentials on her person at all times. She didn't yet consciously know why she did that, but she would continue to do it for the rest of her life.

****break*****

The Hat had wanted her for Gryffindor.

"You are one of the bravest I have ever met," said the Hat, sounding pained. "The things that you have already suffered - and willingly borne - to spare your sisters!"

"What are you talking about?" Bellatrix yelped inwardly. "Can you read my mind?"

"Of course," said the Hat, blithely. "You are desperate to go to Slytherin."

"My whole family have always been in Slytherin," Bellatrix thought. "I am a pureblood."

"Ravenclaw?" Offered the Hat. "You're uncommonly clever. You like books, don't you?"

"Slytherin," Bellatrix thought, with all her might.

"You know," mused the Hat. "Your tremendous loyalty would suit Hufflepuff-"

Bellatrix actually spluttered.

"But," continued the Hat, "your dark streak makes you unsuitable for Hufflepuff. I still think Gryffindor is the best fit."

"My parents will kill me," Bellatrix thought in reply. "The Blacks and the Rosiers have always been Slytherins."

"You have tremendous courage, you stand up for what you think is right, and you will suffer to protect those you love," said the Hat. "These are uncommon qualities, Bellatrix - they don't come along very often and they are the makings of a true Gryffindor. Gryffindor would help to counterbalance some of the life experiences you've had during your short life so far."

"Slytherin," thought Bellatrix.

"You are not…unsuited….to Slytherin," mused the hat. "You're quite mercenary. You believe the ends will always justify the means, and you have a tremendous thirst for power. But you are rather braver, and more honest, than most young Slytherins who sit in this seat. Well, if you're sure, it had better be SLYTHERIN!"

*****break*****

Had it been near the sea, Hogwarts would have been completely perfect. As it was, Bellatrix's life was nearly perfect. She was out of her father's grasp and, though she hated to admit it even to herself, the danger in which her sisters found themselves was out of sight and therefore mostly out of mind. Druella's apathy toward every aspect of Bellatrix's life, except perhaps the condition her hair, was a distant memory.

Bellatrix's lessons were very interesting. Her teachers took on the role of surrogate parents - unlike her real parents, they cared immensely about her diligent attitude towards schoolwork, but not a whit for the knots in her hair. Her favourite classes were charms and flying, and the only class with which she struggled was potions. Nevertheless the potions master, Professor Slughorn, seemed to like her anyway - perhaps because he was also the head of Slytherin house, or perhaps because she was one of his better students. Bellatrix was far from the worst in the class, even at her very worst subject.

She made three close friends, all of them Slytherins. Arabella Bulstrode was a short, stocky, dark-haired girl with whom Bellatrix vied for the Transfiguration Prize. Hilda Selwyn was a beautiful, delicate blonde whom Bellatrix often helped in class. Hilda wasn't unintelligent, but she was beautiful, popular and academically lazy. Bellatrix helped Hilda with her homework in exchange for social status; she knew this was the basis of their friendship, and yet she found herself growing fond of Hilda all the same. Bellatrix had met and befriended both girls early in their first year. Her final friend was Stuart Craggy, a halfblood boy with a tremendous talent for broomstick flying. Their friendship was based purely on the respect that each had for the other's flying talent.

Bellatrix would have elected to remain at school for the Christmas and easter holidays, however her parents refused to allow it. When she went home for Christmas, she was horrified to discover that her father's improper interest in her had not diminished while she had been away - if anything, it had increased.

First year faded seamlessly into second year. Bellatrix measured her time at school not in years but in weeks until she had to go home, or could return to school, again. However, second year brought with it certain benefits - her mother bought her a good broom (a Cleansweep Five) and she and her friend Stuart both managed to join the Slytherin Quidditch team as substitute chasers. She finished second year with the highest Charms mark in the class, and within the top five for every other subject. She would only lose her top spot in Charms for one year in the rest of her school career.