Slightly sappy ending to this one but third year is the calm before the storm that will be fourth year, let the kids have some fun. Also I really enjoy writing Snape, he is so much snarky fun especially when he is teasing Dany.

Anywho, Lily reviewed this and didn't find many faults but I'm sure I missed punctuation and the such as usual but regardless, I am tired, I want to sleep, so screw it, posting.

ENJOY!

There were many thoughts running through Dancia's mind at the revelation that her Aunt Bellatrix was going to be their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year.

Top of them all was quite obviously, WHY!?

Since their first day after their arrival at Hogwarts fell on the weekend this year the students were free to roam the castle after receiving their schedules. Once accepting her own from Professor Flitwick Dany shot her two best friends a conspiratorial look that they quickly nodded to. Both Harry and Hermione understood how screwed up this situation was due to continuous overexposure to the Black family and they too wanted answers.

Respecting Bellatrix for her knowledge in the archaic and esoteric realms of magic? Sure, that was acceptable.

Respecting her ability to train gifted students in combative dueling to best defend themselves against their enemies, also acceptable.

Giving her full access to an entire generation of impressionable children who have not had a single decent DADA instructor up to this point in time?!

Madness. This was setting a precedent Dany had not prepared for and she was going to confront the only available authority figure she respected at present over this turn of events.

Unfortunately that meant she had to sneak into and wait in Uncle Sev's office until he finished his yearly introduction speech to the first year Slytherins. This of course eventually led to her shifting about uncomfortably, which then led to her snooping through his bookshelves.

Finding a very interesting tome on the uses of blood rites in family bonding ceremonies Dany barely noticed her godfather enter the room as he let out a light cough gaining her attention as he drawled out a greeting.

"Dearest, is there a particular reason you are in my office raiding my private literature collection?"

Snapping the tome shut she slipped it back into its place on the shelf, gently of course, it was a rare collection of knowledge after all, before turning to meet her godfather's glare evenly.

He tensed up a bit as her burning gaze reminded him so much of her mother and aunts, then she ruined it a moment later as she whined out, "Uncle Sev how could you let this happen!?"

He relaxed a moment later, trying his best to remain impassive despite his amusement at her antics.

"I am of course assuming you are referring to your Aunt's placement as the DADA professor this year?" He stated this with his usual silky sibilant tone as he stepped around his desk while taking his seat, elbows now braced on the desk, fingers bridged before him, eyebrow raising.

Fucking hell did Dany wish she could pull off that look of absolute condescending calm, her godfather had certainly turned it into an art form.

She would admit it, she was jealous.

Sighing she took the guest seat before his desk before slumping back into her chair letting out an exasperated sigh.

"Why? I love my auntie, I do, but why would you let this happen to anyone outside of my family?"

Severus stared back at her a few moments before speaking out in a bland tone, "Would you like some tea?"

For once in her life, she took the Harry route, "No, I do not want tea, I want answers!"

He tilted his head to the side ever so slightly, "Oh my, how... Unexpected."

Sweet Morgana what was that supposed to imply?

"What, that I do not want to play politics, or that I just want some straight answers without the endless back and forth!? There was a reason I didn't want to go into Slytherin other than wishing to avoid their endless pissing contest with Gryffindor!"

Severus smirked at that, "No, that you don't want a cup of my best chamomile."

Goddess. Damn. It. All.

She caved in.

"I would love a cup of tea Uncle Sev."

Calling for a house elf a tea service was soon delivered and Dany quickly accepted the cup offered by her godfather after he had added a dash of lemon and a sugar cube. Gently stirring the steaming drink she placed her spoon down and left the cup beneath her lower lip letting the gentle scent of the steam waft towards her nose.

No one had a tea collection quite like Uncle Sev and it would be a crime to deny oneself access to it, a moment later she took her first sip and relished the taste.

Sighing she placed the cup on its saucer and turned tired eyes towards Severus, "Why are you trying to distract me?"

His shoulders slumped ever so slightly as he let out a tired sigh, briefly stalling a reply by taking a sip from his own cup. Eventually, running out of distractions he met her gaze evenly while simply stating, "Bellatrix is here because of you my dear."

Her brows rose at that as she took another sip of her tea.

That was... An unexpected turn of events.

"Because of me? Whatever do you mean?"

Severus exhaled lightly as he leaned back into his chair, glancing over to the wall to take in several framed photos that she was about 99% sure were of him and Lily Evans before he turned back towards her to reply.

"Your first year, you were confronted by a mountain troll who had killed a man who was supposedly skilled in taming the beasts and very nearly died in the process."

Dany grimaced at that, "Don't forget the thing started eating him too... Nightmare fuel there... Also that was an unlucky fluke not like it was being targeted at myself."

Severus scoffed lightly, "Indeed, regardless as if that was not enough last year you uncovered the fact that not only was Lockhart a fraud, something we all were aware of but could not prove, but you also proved his sexual crimes against the student body."

Dany paused at that in confusion as she tilted her head to the side, "I mean, yes, it was horrible he had been getting away with those crimes but really how does that relate to me?"

Severus grimaced, stood from his chair, and began pacing which worried Dany a bit, eventually he pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head slowly before meeting her gaze evenly.

"You were not meant to know this, but during his interrogation it was found that he had planned on taking you as well, at the end of the school year when he could easily get away when and if your father found out what he had done."

Well. Shit.

"Oh..."

In all reality, she was honestly offended, mind magic depended on ones innate mental control and overall magical power. That's why Ronald was still affected by the imperius hours after it had been lifted, Hermione eventually gained resistance to it due to over exposure, and Harry just shook it off like an annoying hangover.

At this point in her existence, even with the raging hormones and not quite having full control of her mental barriers Dancia was quite frankly an atomic warhead to Lockhart's firecracker.

In the now though, that reaction would not serve any purpose, so it was time to improvise.

"It was daddy who had him sentenced to The Kiss, was it not?"

Severus nodded at that slowly as he rubbed his eyes, "Yes little one, he, Black, his Lady wife, and Lord Longbottom practically demanded it after that revelation."

Dany was quiet for a minute before asking, "And getting Auntie Bella to take up the position of the DADA professor?"

Severus snorted, "Take a guess?"

She sighed as her elbow hit the chairs arm and her chin landed in her cupped hand, "Mum's influence I would assume."

"Correct, though your Aunt Andromeda and cousin Nymphadora were in agreement as well."

She inwardly seethed at that revelation, Dora was so going to pay for this one.

Still confused she met her Godfather's gaze evenly as she asked, "How did she even get the job? I mean she was never tried, much less accused of being a Death Eater but with her unlamented deceased husbands history..."

"Your father's pull on the Board of Governors mostly, that and she was really the only applicant that would take the job this year."

Dany snorted in a very unladylike fashion, "Bet you ten galleons she breaks the curse on the position and we're stuck with her until I graduate."

Severus graced her with an amused smirk at that, "I do not take a fools wager my dear. Now, It is a Sunday, it is beautiful outside, and a young lady such as yourself should be with her friends rather than huddling in the dark with a dungeon bat. Enjoy the rest of your free day my dear, third year is when the real work begins after all."

Smiling she hopped off her seat, circled the desk, and gave him a heartfelt hug, "Thanks Uncle Sev, really, I needed that. I'll talk to you later, and I'll do my best to rein the Weasley twins in this year, they at least respect me as their Lady Chaos' protege so it might actually amount to something. Ta!"

With that the fae like girl waved to her Godfather as she flounced out of his office in a cascade of moonlit silver hair.

Severus stared after her a few moments before nodding to himself with a slight smirk, "Lucius was right, we need to begin digging shallow graves for all her would be suitors sooner rather than later..."

Dany knew exactly where to find her friends her course soon leading to the shores of the Black Lake, and upon arriving she could not help smiling at the scene before her.

Harry and Hermione were leaning against their favorite tree reading a book together, while Su and Padma sat on the shore with their bare feet resting in the lakes waters, and Luna along with Ginny and a few other second years were wadding in the shallows in the midst of a water war.

Dany chuckled to herself as she shook her head and after kicking off her own shoes she landed firmly on Harry's free side, both her closest friends glanced towards her in worry and she let out a tired sigh.

"It is kind of...my fault..."

After explaining the situation to them she was surprised to see both Harry and Hermione glare out towards the lake, the glowering pair gritting their teeth in anger.

Before Dany could ask what was wrong Hermione spat out, "That bloody bastard!"

Harry nodded slowly at that as he threw his arms around both witches shoulders and pulled them close as he calmly, yet coldly stated, "Lockhart is lucky he's dead. If anyone, anyone threatens anyone I love like that again... There won't be a body to find..."

That...was oddly comforting, both Dancia and Hermione snuggled up closer to him and nodded in unison.

"Same goes for you Potter," Dany teased, "Anyone who goes after you has to answer to us, isn't that right Mia?"

The bushy haired girl rolled her eyes in response, "Obviously, we're in this together after all."

As they basked in the waning summer sunlight, watching their friends relaxing and playing with no cares in the world, Dany could not help thinking one thing.

Everything she had suffered in her previous life, every hardship, heartache, all the blood, sweat and tears, this moment, right now?

Well, it was worth it.