Chapter 2

"The first thing we need is wands." Bellatrix said as they stepped out of the golden doors of Gringotts. "You will need your first one, and I need to replace the one they snapped when I was sent to Azkaban." She continued, leading the way down the street. "Now the only place to get a wand, is here." She finished, stopping in front of a store with a sign hanging above the door labeling it as Ollivander's. "Come on. Let's get your wand." Bellatrix said as she skipped into the store.

Sonja followed the bouncy witch into the store with a sigh. "Were you always this way, or is this a recent development?" She asked as she looked around the store. It was rather dark, and cobwebs hung in the corners, and it looked as though someone had thrown some of the boxes from the shelves.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Bellatrix asked.

"You seem very… I don't know… Childlike." Sonja started. "At least for someone who was an adult a couple of days ago."

"What's the point in life if you can't have fun?" Bellatrix asked. "I do that by acting the way I do. Get used to it, because if the goblins were right, we're stuck together." She finished seriously as an old man entered the room.

"Greetings, am I to assume you are here to purchase a wand?" The man asked.

"Yes. Both of us are going into our first year at Hogwarts." Bellatrix replied.

"No you aren't." The man replied. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, and you already bought one. Eleven inches, willow and unicorn hair, rather springy. They snapped it when you got caught didn't they?" He asked as he leveled a piercing stare at Bellatrix. "And you didn't have any kind of magical ability until two days ago." He finished, swinging his stare to Sonja.

Bellatrix shuddered slightly. "You always did know a lot Ollivander." She said. "But how did you know about Sonja?"

"Because knowing is what I do." Ollivander replied as he stepped back and pulled a box from the shelves behind him. "This should do nicely. Ten inches, elm and phoenix feather." He said as he handed a wand to Sonja. "Give it a wave."

Sonja gestured halfheartedly with the wand, and Ollivander snatched it back. "Nope, won't do." Ollivander said as he grabbed another box and handed her the wand. "Nine inches, yew and dragon heartstring." Sonja had barely twitched when Ollivander had the wand out of her hand again. "Still wrong, but closer this time. You see, the wand chooses who wields it." He explained as he pulled down another box. "Ten inches, ebony and dragon heartstring." He identified the wand as he handed it to her.

As she closed her hand around the wand, Sonja felt something deep in her, an uplifting feeling somewhat like freefall. She waved the wand in front of her, sending out a trail of silver and green sparks.

"Did that feel as good to you as it did to me?" Bellatrix asked.

"Better I'd imagine." Ollivander replied when it became obvious that Sonja was stunned speechless. "Emotions tend to lose a bit of their strength through a bond such as you two share. Not much, but it would be noticeable." Ollivander turned to Bellatrix. "Now you are lucky."

"And why would that be?" Bellatrix asked suspiciously.

"Because I finally get to test a theory I've had for years. You know that a wand chooses who wields it correct?" Ollivander asked, getting a nod from Bellatrix. "Well what happens if the person changes in the years they wield their wand? That wand that was originally yours becomes no better than a borrowed wand. This is the theory I've been unable to test. See no one really wants to be told that they have to replace their wand every couple of years. However, for my theory to be correct, it would have to be a huge change to your character to necessitate a new wand." He finished as he pulled down a box. "Here, try this one." He said as he removed the wand from the box and handed it to Bellatrix.

As soon as she touched the wand, Bellatrix felt something deep inside her, almost like her heart was jumping for joy. She silently cast a simple levitation charm and everything within five feet of her slowly lifted off the ground. Sonja gave a surprised squeak as she felt her feet leave the floor.

"Curious. I've had this wand forever, and I had almost given up hope of ever selling it." Ollivander said as Bellatrix carefully set everything back on the ground. "I made it when I was younger and was still experimenting with materials. It is the only wand I've ever encountered that was made with veela hair as the core. The wand itself is made from ebony. Use it well." Ollivander finished as he slipped into the back room.

"What did you do?" Sonja asked as she regained her voice.

"It was supposed to be a simple levitation charm. Just to pick up the lamp here." Bellatrix said as she placed her hand on the lamp next to her. "As you could see, it didn't do exactly as I wanted it. Good thing I'm going back to Hogwarts. I haven't had magic go wrong like that in years."

"Well where to next? New clothes? I definitely don't feel much like a witch in this." Sonja said indicating her current outfit, which was actually her old clothing shrunk courtesy of Dumbledore.

"Fine then, we can go get our robes. You still shouldn't wear them until we get to Hogwarts though." Bellatrix said as she led the way out of the store. The two of them turned a corner and Bellatrix ran smack into a slightly heavy-set boy, getting knocked to the ground in the process.

"I'm sorry." He said as he offered Bellatrix his hand.

Bellatrix looked up as she reached to take his hand and froze. "Y…You wouldn't happen to be Neville Longbottom… Would you?" She asked as she took his hand and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.

"Yes I am. Why?" Neville replied.

"I need to talk to you for a minute. In private." Bellatrix said with a significant look at Sonja, who stepped into a nearby bookstore to wait. "Is your grandmother here? I need to see her too."

Poor Neville looked confused. "Gran is over there." He said as he pointed to a regal looking old woman sitting in a café.

Sonja was looking through the books before curiosity got the better of her. She stepped out the back of the store and shifted to her fox form before dashing off after her dark haired friend. She arrived just in time to see an old woman slap Bellatrix across the face, knocking the young witch down. Sonja ran over and leaped to her friend's shoulder and rubbed against her cheek comfortingly.

"I remember you…" She whispered softly before turning her attention to the two people in front of her. The old woman was glaring angrily and Neville looked shocked. "I won't ask for your forgiveness, what I did was unforgiveable. But I wanted you to know that it wasn't my choice. I want you to know that if I ever get the chance to make it up to you in any way, large or small, I will."

The older witch stormed off, followed by Neville, who looked back concerned.

Bellatrix absently petted the fox on her shoulder and she remained sitting on the ground, lost in thought. "I can still hear their screams you know." She said to the small fox on her shoulder. "Frank and Alice were good people, and what happened to them was unfair in the extreme." She finished as she pulled Sonja into her lap. "Now what are you doing here?" She asked. Sonja cocked her head to the side and simply stared at her dark haired friend. "Right, animals can't talk." She sighed. "You are cute though. Are you following me?" Sonja gave a yip before dashing off toward the book shop she had stepped into originally. "Oh right… Sonja." Bellatrix said as she stood and walked toward the store to meet her friend.

Sonja met her at the door to the shop. "What happened to your face?" She asked feigning ignorance.

"I fell." Bellatrix replied, not wanting her new friend to know what she had done in her past life.

'Fell… Right. Cuz falling down leaves a handprint shaped mark on your face.' Sonja thought as she followed Bellatrix to the robes shop. 'Although I can't blame her too much for not being truthful… I haven't told her I'm the "ikkle foxy" that she met in the forest and seems to adore.'

Later

Sonja was back in St. Mungo's Hospital waiting for the doctors to come and perform the tests on her magical core strength. Bellatrix was seated in a chair across the room, humming a nameless tune as she looked around for something to entertain herself with until the tests on Sonja were done. Both witches looked up as a man in white robes walked in.

"How are you this evening Miss Uchiha?" The doctor asked without looking up from his clipboard.

"Ugh. Don't call me that. My name is Sonja." She said with a grimace.

"Very well Sonja. This will only take a moment." The doctor said as he cast several spells over her. "Well that is surprising."

"What is?" Sonja asked, disgruntled. 'I hate hospitals, and I need a smoke…'

"The strength of one's magical core is measured on a numerical scale. Normally, a witch of your age would have a score of around 55 to 60. Yours is 70. An average adult witch could expect a score of around 90 to 95. So if your magic grows as normal, you will be a very powerful witch indeed."

"Sweet. Can I go now?" Sonja asked.

"Well you are in perfect health, so there really is no reason for us to keep you here, so yes you can leave." The doctor said as he left.

"Thank god." Sonja said with a sigh as she hopped off the bed she had been sitting on. "Lets get out of here. I really hate hospitals and I am in desperate need of a relaxing smoke."

"Smoke?" Bellatrix asked confused.

"Come on. I'll show you what I mean in a minute. By the way, do you have a lighter?" Sonja asked as she all but dragged Bellatrix out of the hospital.

"Will this work?" Bellatrix asked as she pulled her wand out of her pocket and lit the tip on fire.

"Definitely." Sonja replied as they reached the portkey that would take them back to the Leaky Cauldron. They arrived in the common area and Sonja took off for the room they had purchased for the night. Bellatrix arrived shortly after Sonja to see her pull a white roll of paper out of her hoodie pocket. "Light." She commanded.

Bellatrix shrugged and lit the end of her wand again and held it out to Sonja, who leaned forward and used the flame to light the hand rolled cigarette in her mouth. She inhaled deeply and held the smoke for several seconds before exhaling in a long sigh.

"Oh I needed that." She sighed before taking another puff.

"What is that?" Bellatrix asked.

"This is a muggle drug that my uncle introduced me to." Sonja said as she held up her cigarette. "It's called weed. It has slight addictive qualities, but nothing relaxes me quite like it, so I use it. It's not illegal in the wizarding world is it?"

"Not that I know of. Most wizards don't mess with muggle drugs anyway. They have much more powerful and dangerous drugs they derive from magic." Bellatrix replied as Sonja finished the rest of the cigarette.

Sonja pulled out another cigarette, prompting Bellatrix to light the tip of her wand for her. "You have got to teach me how to do that." Sonja said as she puffed on the joint. "You want some?" She asked, holding out the smoking roll off paper.

"Why not. It's not the worst thing I've ever done." Bellatrix said as she accepted the joint. "How do I do it?" She asked.

"Just hold it in your lips, and inhale." Sonja said, miming the actions as Bellatrix copied her. "After a few seconds, take it out and inhale again to pull the smoke into your lungs." Once more miming the actions. "Now hold it… and let it out." Sonja said. Bellatrix exhaled and immediately went into a coughing fit.

"How (Cough, cough) do you handle (cough) that?" Bellatrix asked.

"Yeah it's a little rough the first time." Sonja replied as Bellatrix stopped coughing. "But how do you feel now?" She asked.

"Really… Good actually…" She replied slowly. "Kinda like I'm floating." She said as she sat back on her bed.

"That's how I handle it." Sonja said as she held her hand out to Bellatrix, who handed her the joint back. "It relaxes me."

"I can see that." Bellatrix said as she smoothly tucked her hands behind her head and fell back on her bed. "Where did you get that stuff?"

"You can buy it from certain muggles, but that's dangerous. My uncle grows it back home, and he sends me quite a bit every month." Sonja said. "If you want, I can have him send me more for you."

"Maybe, right now I don't think I'll use much." Bellatrix said as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

The next day

Bellatrix led Sonja onto platform Nine and three quarters in plenty of time to find a compartment on the train. After placing their trunks in the compartment they chose, they moved to the window to watch as the other students showed up. The first group to show up after they did was the older students, confidently striding through the barrier and to the cars they had claimed toward the front of the train. Next was the second, third, and fourth years, comfortable in saying goodbye to their parents for the entire school year, promising to visit for Christmas. Last to arrive was the first years, alternately excited and nervous as they boarded the train and took whatever compartments they could.

Suddenly, the door to their compartment opened and a young boy already dressed in his school robes with long black hair pulled back into a ponytail stepped in, dragging his trunk. He took one look at Sonja and his face clouded. "What are you doing here? Did mom and dad put you up to this?" He asked. "I can take care of myself. Just because I can't use youkai doesn't make me helpless."

"Jet. I'm not here because of you." Sonja replied. "There was an accident, and I got hit with some weird energy that reverted me to eleven. I can't use chakra anymore, and it was replaced with magic." She explained, trying to calm her cousin. "I'm a witch now, and I'm attending this school, same as you, to learn to use my magic."

Her explanation seemed to appease Jet as he wrestled his trunk into the overhead rack and sat across from the two witches. As soon as he sat down, Bellatrix tucked her legs under her and leaned into Sonja's shoulder with a sigh. "I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts. Hopefully they still have Quidditch there."

"What's quidditch?" Sonja asked, causing a scandalized shout to issue from outside their compartment just before a red haired boy barged in, followed by none other than Harry Potter and Tonks, who's hair was currently ice blue.

"What's quidditch?" The red haired boy repeated shocked.

"Ummm… Who are you?" Sonja asked as she gave Tonks a barely perceptible nod, which the former auror trainee returned.

"Ron Weasley. Self proclaimed quidditch expert." He said as he plopped into a seat next to Jet. Harry sat next to him, leaving Tonks to take the seat next to Bellatrix. For the rest of the train ride, they listened to Ron explain quidditch, with helpful insertions from Tonks or Bellatrix. Sonja had to admit. It sounded fun. She figured, based on Ron's explanation, she'd make a good chaser or seeker.

The one sour note of the entire ride came right after Ron finished explaining the rules of quidditch and how one scored points. A blonde haired boy walked in, followed by two large boys.

He took one look around the compartment with a sneer before his eyes landed on Harry, or more precisely, Harry's scar. "You're Harry Potter aren't you?" The boy asked, as if they should feel blessed by his mere presence.

"I am." Harry replied. "Pleased to meet you." He lied smoothly, trying to avoid making a bad first impression.

"Well you would go very far if you manage to avoid the wrong sorts of people." The boy replied with a significant look at Tonks and Ron. "My name is Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. It'd be my pleasure to guide you away from the wrong sorts of people." Draco said as he held out his hand.

Harry stared at the extended hand for a moment before looking Draco in the eye. "I think I can tell the wrong sorts all by myself thanks." Harry replied, causing Draco to leave the compartment with a huff, his two sidekicks trailing him dumbly.

The rest of the ride was relatively peaceful, and before long, the train was slowing to a stop at the Hogsmeade station.

Then there was Hagrid. Towering above the crowded students, he shouted for the first years to follow him.

"Ooh!" Bellatrix exclaimed as she grabbed Sonja's arm and dragged her after the large man. "Stick close. The boats only hold four."

"Kinda hard to wander off when you have a death grip on my arm." Sonja muttered as she allowed herself to be dragged forward. They arrived at the edge of the lake to see a small fleet of boats. Hagrid took one to himself and directed them to board the boats to cross the huge lake. As she was pulled toward the boats, she looked across the lake to see the castle perched on top of the hill overlooking the lake. They settled in the boat and were quickly joined by two other witches.

One had blonde hair and violet eyes and gave off an aura of aloofness. The other had red hair and green eyes and seemed to practically vibrate in excitement.

"I can't believe I'm finally here." The second girl gushed. "My name's Tracy. This is Daphne." She said indicating the girl next to her.

"Bella Black." Bellatrix said, avoiding using her full first name.

"Sonja Uchiha." Sonja said as she held her hand out to the two girls. "Pleased to meet you. What house are you hoping for?" She asked as Tracy excitedly shook her hand and Daphne took her hand for a moment before pulling away as if she were beneath her.

"Oh give the ice queen act a rest Daph." Tracy said as she rolled her eyes. "And we were both hoping to be in Slytherin. My parents were, and so were hers."

"I wouldn't mind Slytherin." Bellatrix mused. "But then again Ravenclaw also has appeal."

"Oh please." Daphne said, speaking for the first time since they had met her. "Ravenclaw are a bunch of bookworms. Slytherin is every bit as smart and will go farther after school rather than just gathering knowledge for its own sake."

The four argued the pros and cons of each house all the way across the lake and into the castle. A serious old woman greeted them at the door and led them into a side room. "In a moment you will be sorted into your houses. These will determine several things about your time here at Hogwarts, from where you will sit at mealtimes, to who your classmates will be." The woman said as her eyes fell on Bellatrix, and then Tonks. She showed no surprise, having been briefed by the headmaster, as all the teachers had been. "I will call you all by name, and you will come to stand before me after which you will be sorted." She finished as she turned and left the room. She came back several minutes later and directed the first years to follow her to the great hall. "Wait here." She said leaving them standing in a group just inside the door.

Professor McGonagall stopped in front of a three legged stool and set an old hat on it. As soon as the hat touched the stool, it began to sing. It sang the history of the school, touching on the rivalries of the houses, and explaining the strengths of each house. Once the hat finished its song, Professor McGonagall pulled a roll of paper from her pocket and unrolled it. "Black, Bellatrix." The name caused several of the older students to break into whispers as they thought that they recognized the name.

Bellatrix walked up to the stool as Professor McGonagall took the hat in hand. Bellatrix sat on the stool and the professor set the hat on the young witch's head. After several seconds, the hat shouted out her house. "Slytherin!" The sorting passed quickly, with most first years sitting for only a few seconds before the hat shouted out a house. Tracy and Daphne both got what they wanted and went to Slytherin, but unfortunately so did Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. When McGonagall called Harry Potter, an expectant hush went over the gathered students. Harry sat on the stool with the hat on his head for several minutes before it shouted out. "Gryffindor!" This caused a loud explosion of noise from the Lion's table as they all cheered wildly as Harry grinned and stood to join his new housemates.

Tonks followed Harry into Gryffindor, as well as Ron. Jet went to Ravenclaw while Sonja followed Bellatrix into Slytherin along with Blaise Zabini. With Blaise, the sorting was done and Dumbledore stood before the gathered students.

"Before the feast begins, I would like to say a few words. The first years are informed that the Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden. A few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." He said with a twinkle in his eye. "Also out caretaker has a list of banned items posted outside his office, students would do well to review it. He would also like me to remind you all that magic is not permitted in the corridors between classes. Also, the third floor corridor on the left is off limits to anyone who does not wish to die a horrible and painful death. And finally; nitwit, blubber, oddment, tweak." He finished before sitting down once more. As soon as he sat down, the platters on all the tables filled with food.

"He's a bit odd isn't he?" Harry asked Ron.

"Or bloody brilliant." Tonks interjected. "He's the most powerful wizard short of You-Know-Who."

"Who Voldemort?" Harry asked, causing Tonks to pale while Ron choked on his roll he had just bitten into.

"Bloody hell mate!" Ron exclaimed. "You're some kinda brave using his name out loud like that."

"I don't see the point in not using it." Harry replied. "Yes he did horrible things. But then again, so did Hitler, and you don't catch muggles calling him He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Not using his silly sounding name is just barking mad."

"You know I've never quite heard it explained that way before." Tonks said with a thoughtful look. She opened her mouth, but now sound came out. She looked frustrated for a moment before trying again. "V..v…Voldemort." She said in a whisper as her hair faded from the electric blue it had been to a mousy brown and Ron launched into a coughing fit as he tried to expel the bit of chicken caught in his throat form when he had gasped in shock.

Over at the Slytherin table, Sonja was staring at Dumbledore in shock. "He's off his rocker isn't he?" She asked.

"Maybe." Bellatrix replied. "No one really knows for sure. The one thing I can tell you is that he is the only man that Voldemort fears, and for good reason. That man is the most powerful wizard of this age."

"And also a genius." Daphne added.

"That he may be, but he's still barking mad." Tracy replied as they finished their meal.

Dumbledore stood before the gathered students once more. "Remember that classes start tomorrow. Your heads of house will pass out your schedules at breakfast. Until then, prefects take the first years to the dorms. Goodnight." He finished as the prefects from each house stood to lead the newest students out.

Saxyguy – That's all for now folks. Just as a fair warning, Don't expect much from Jet yet. He won't really play a major role until chamber of secrets. I introduced him now so that he is the same age as Sonja appears.

Jet Uchiha

Age: 11

Eyes: seafoam green

Hair: black ponytail with bangs (Itachi's style)

Ears and Tail: tan with black rings on tail

House: Ravenclaw

Clothing: School robes and a blue and black scarf in the winter

Note: The first time Jet appears in anything other then school robes, assume that is his normal daily attire.