I don't own HP.

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Christmas Break, 1970.

"It's just an engagement Bella," said Andromeda, perched on the edge of her sister's bed, patting her shoulder lightly.

Bella, stretched face down on her comforter, ignored her efforts. It was not just an engagement, it was the end of her life.

Bella had thrown a frankly unproductive fit downstairs and gotten herself immobilized for her efforts. Furious tears streaming down her face she had watched the rim of her Father's robes turn away from her and walk out. She had heard her Mother call a house elf to clean up the mess and to take Bella upstairs to bed, "since she insists on behaving like a child."

Andromeda had appeared in her line of sight shortly afterward, and freed her from the spell. Utterly spent, Bella still hadn't moved.

"I mean, most engagements don't even end in a marriage anyway," Andromeda continued her petting.

She didn't understand, she couldn't, not until it had happened to her. Andromeda had never come home for Christmas only to be told that she had become engaged while she was at school.

Oh, hello Bellatrix, how was school? Also, we've sold you to a nice young wizard from the year below you. He's the one you'll be magically bound to for the rest of your life, how does that sound, hmm?

The fact that they had been so surprised when she flipped the table was just proof of how little they knew her, and therefore further proof of their lack of qualifications to pick her a spouse.

"Besides, you've still got two years. They' have to let you finish school first."

No, Andromeda didn't get it at all.

"They've sold me," Bella mumbled into her pillow.

Andromeda leaned in, "What?"

Anger giving her new energy, she sat up, "They've sold me, Andromeda! Their firstborn, the oldest Black. I'm their heir and they've just sold me off to some other family!"

Andromeda looked around the dim and clearly empty room worriedly. Bella scoffed. "Bella, no seriously, Bella, you know you can't say things like that! Sirius is at school next year, for Merlin's sake! You know how much trouble you'd get in if you were heard!"

Bella had been old enough when Sirius was born to notice and remember the abrupt change in her treatment by the family. It was a rather constant source of contention within the family that, as they both grew older, it was becoming clear that Bella had no intention of ever forgiving Sirius for being born.

"That's why they're doing it, I bet! Selling me off so I won't be a Black anymore!"

Bella hadn't ever really intended on marrying. If she wasn't going to be the head of the family, why bother? Marry some idiot from school then squeeze out a few children and spend the rest of her days wiping the drool off their grubby faces? No, thank you. Not Bellatrix Black. Leave all that to the poor girl who gets Sirius.

Bella saw herself as more of an adventurer. Like Alphard. She'd go to Egypt and spend her life ducking thousand year old curses. Maybe come home every few Christmases to meet Andy and Cissy's brats.

"That's not why, Bella. You know that. There's nothing anyone can do about the inheritance magic. It's all going to Sirius, and that's that. But he's getting to an age now-" Bella groaned loudly and flopped back on the bed, Andromeda continued on louder, "he's getting to an age where he understands whats going on, properly now, so you really have to let this all go and get along with him!" Bella gathered up a bunch of her curly black hair and started picking at the ends, giving Andromeda's little speech exactly the attention it deserved, "And they haven't sold you! You know that lots of girls get engaged in their 5th year, and it's like I said, most of them don't end up marrying that person."

Andromeda continued to comfort Bella inexorably. Bella ignored her, the argument was pointless. Andromeda was only a third year, she'd never been sold, she didn't see how bullshit society was yet.

Maybe she never would. Maybe only people who loose all legal rights just because a cousin born six years later happened to have a dick. Total bullshit.

But honestly, Bellatrix Malfoy? It just didn't sound right. And she wasn't about to just sit back and let it happen.

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I've been a little discouraged by the fact that no one seems to be reading this, but I'm really enjoying writing it, so let me know if what you think please.