January 18th, 1977

Slytherin Dorms

Anabella rolled out of bed, rubbing her eyes hard. It was the middle of the day, and she'd made the decision to skip her classes that day. Her eyes were glowing a bright golden color that she found was very difficult to cover up.

She had finished two rings, both of which she'd given to Fabian- one for him and one for Gideon. She breathed a little easier knowing that they'd be taken care of.

The timekeys, as she called them, were already spelled to the right place and time that she wanted them to show up - through the wards, since she'd played with them when she was at Shell Cottage. It meant that all they had to do was point their wands and say "Portus Potter" and they'd activate.

The spell, to her complete frustration, had stopped working as soon as she'd finished the rings for the twins. It was as if she was back to square one, no progress having been made at all. It had frustrated her to the point that her sparking hair turned into accidental magic in the form of a small bolt of lightning hitting the wall. They'd decided to take a break from the spell, if for no other reason than to let her calm down.

She pulled on the handmade robes Dorea had given her and put on the things she always wore - her ring that she'd charmed, the ring Regulus gave her, and the Potter bracelet. Once she tamed her hair, she pulled it into a tight, high ponytail and made her way to Hogsmeade with Avery at her side.

She pushed her hand out in front of him and held on as she sent them to the house they'd been using. They apparated into the small den and Anabella shrugged off her jacket, placing it carefully on the coat rack.

There were elves there, she knew, that were already preparing tea and sandwiches for the meeting. She led her friend to the office nearby and sat down, Avery following her to stand at her side.

"What does he want?" Avery asked, speaking for the first time. He wasn't a morning person and she was well aware of that.

"I'm not sure," Anabella admitted. She set her wand on the desk and leaned back in the chair. "Might just be to talk more since we didn't get much time at the ball."

"Lord Lestrange has arrived with his heir," the elf announced, leading the brothers into the room. Anabella smiled and thanked the elf and stood to greet the two.

"It's nice to see you, Rodolphus."

"I don't get a warm greeting?" Rabastan smirked. She rolled her eyes.

"I saw you at dinner last night. Excuse my rudeness."

"Bastan, don't be rude," Rodolphus told his younger brother before turning his gaze to Anabella. He bowed his head. "It's nice to see you as well, Miss Carter."

Anabella waved for the two to sit, and they did. She tried to put on a relaxed front and guessed that it wasn't working well by the way Avery rolled his eyes at her. "Has Bellatrix Imperiused you again?"

"No, thankfully," he said, looking truly relieved.

"Good."

"I have come with bad news, however."

"Ah."

He hesitated before he spoke. "They're watching you."

Anabella paused. Would she never be safe from him? "How long?"

"Since you disappeared before the raid in Diagon Alley," he answered, glancing at Avery.

"That could be seen as a friend warning an ally," she tried even as she sighed. She was too tired to run again.

"That's what I suggested," Rabastan told her. Rodolphus nodded.

"But the Dark Lord wants you watched more carefully. He's assigned the both of us to watch you, but we're being watched as well. He's not a trusting man."

"Well," she sighed. "Thank you for the warning."

"It wouldn't do for our way out of this mess to die before she can get us out," Rabastan told her. She made a face at him, but she knew he was right.

"Well, I assume you'd like to know more about what I'm doing," she guessed.

"I'd appreciate that," Rodolphus said slowly.

"You know who I'm working with. You know I'm helping my boys, but not how." He nodded, so she turned to Avery with a smirk. "Avery-,"

"Anabella, no-,"

"Shirt, please!"

"You're a pain in my ass," he told her plainly even as he lifted his shirt. She poked his mark, making it light up. "Regulus's patience is astounding, ace."

She winked at him and did the same, pushing her bra up just a little to show her own mark on her ribs. The older man looked startled and went to turn away, while his younger brother smirked at her, eyeing her mark. "Careful, Rabastan. Regulus sees you looking at me like that and he'll hex you badly."

"I don't see him here, do you?"

"Don't flirt with her," Avery stared. "Are you stupid? If she feels like it, she can damn you."

"I wouldn't do that," Anabella elbowed her friend. "Relax. The point of these marks is that they're recognized in the ministry and in the light. When the war is over, if you have one, it'll be much easier to be cleared of your crimes. The price it comes with is helping me when the time comes to finish this."

"I can get behind that," Rabastan decided. His brother nodded. "A tattoo and freedom in the end sounds good to me."

"Is there anything else we should know?"

Before Anabella could say no, Avery spoke up. "If you ever see Regulus, Severus, or myself going to extreme lengths, even outing ourselves, it's because we-,"

"God, do not tell them!" she interrupted. "With my luck, they'll do it, too!"

"-because we swore fealty to her. It protects us legally and magically, and more to the point, it protects her," he finished.

Rodolphus stared at Avery. "You're really that loyal to the light?"

Avery raised an eyebrow. "No. We're that loyal to her."

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January 22nd, 1977

"It's just the bookstore, Sirius," Anabella rolled her eyes. "Calm down. Do you really want to spend two hours in here, bored out of your mind?" she reasoned. "Besides, the Quidditch Supply Store is right next door. If I need you, I'll yell."

Sirius frowned at her, but he nodded. "Fine, but if anything seems off, call for me."

"I did just say that," she rolled her eyes. He waved at her as he headed next door. She stepped into the book store and took in a deep breath, taking in the scent of the books. Moving further inside, she glanced at the selection of rare muggle books and decided to pick through it.

She wandered back to the auto-biographies, waving a quiet hello to the owner. She spent a good fifteen minutes back there, sifting through the gentle copies. Every once in a while she'd pick something up and read the back before putting it down again and moving on.

She'd been in the store for about half an hour when she heard the jingle from the door opening and closing again. She was hidden behind some bookcases, but she could clearly see a familiar mane of black hair. Her heart rate picked up at the sight, and she immediately began quietly looking for a way out of the store without behind seen.

"So, Bush," Bellatrix began. Even just the sound of her voice had Anabella on edge. "I assume you have my book."

"Lady Lestrange, I did warn you it would take a week or more to get it in, even illegally," the owner - Bush, apparently - said nervously. Anabella stopped where she was. She had a bad feeling about what was about to happen. "It's on the way, but I don't have it yet."

"And I told you it better be in today," she said sharply. "So can you get it or not?"

"I can, just not- not today," he told her weakly.

"Well," she said, sounding very much like she had lost her temper. There was a short pause, and then Anabella saw a flash of red light and heard screams.

She debated for a mere moment if she wanted to get involved or not - if she even thought she could get involved - before stepping forward and raising her wand. Before she could cast, however, her foot caught on one of the fifteen book high piles of books and knocked them over. She went down with the books, landing hard as Bellatrix's attention turned to her.

"And who the hell are you?" she asked. Anabella looked cautiously between the insane witch and the poor owner, who had collapsed to the floor. There was no way she'd get him out of there before Bellatrix cast at her. "I've seen you. You were hanging around my blood traitor cousin, is that it? Well, I can't get to him, but someone he loves works just as well... Crucio!"

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"Jesus, go get her if you're so stressed," James rolled his eyes at Sirius. "It's been a while, anyway."

Sirius nodded and moved quickly out of the supply store. He frowned when he realized that the door to the bookstore was shut and locked. He quickly waved his wand to open it, and when he did, silencing wards fell and he heard the screams and whimpers. Running in with his wand ready, he immediately stunned his deranged cousin. She hit the ground as he reached Anabella and pulled the whimpering girl into his arms. "Fuck. Jesus fuck, Bel. What the fuck happened?"

"Oh, shit," James cursed, stopping short behind Sirius. "Shit. Is she...?"

"She's unconscious," he answered, carefully picking her up. "Grab the cloak. We have to get her to Madame Pomfrey."

"The Room," she managed, coughing as she spoke. "Not... just the Room."

"Who the hell is going to heal you, Bella? Because you have to be healed," James told her, tugging his cloak out of her bag. He threw it over Sirius and Anabella and walked next to them toward the castle.

"I will," Sirius grimaced. He didn't look to see the look he got from James. "I learned to heal growing up so I could heal Reg and myself. It's been a while, but... you know she'll kill us if we take her to Pomfrey."

"Shit. Okay, let's just... hurry."

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"Where's Black?"

Severus looked up, annoyed. "I have no clue. Likely in Hogsmeade with Bella."

Avery raised an eyebrow. "She's in the Room."

"Then check there."

"She's in the Room because his cousin just tortured her," he said plainly.

Severus' head shot up. "Why didn't you start with that?"

Avery shrugged. "She's being healed and I didn't expect you to be a cunt about a simple question."

Severus glared, getting to his feet. "Let's find him. He should know."

"Oh, I'm sure he already does."

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He was in Dumbledore's office. It took a Patronus to help them find him. Apparently, when the torture had begun, Regulus had screamed. He'd abandoned the second year he'd been tutoring and was running toward the path to Hogsmeade when McGonagall had tried to stop him. He'd raised his wand at her, so he'd been stunned and taken to the fifth floor. Severus and Avery had barged in on him trying to convince them that something was wrong with Anabella. He was released when his friends confirmed that something was very wrong.

"Who?" he asked as he looked at Anabella's trembling body.

"Not now," Sirius snapped. "Her magic's fighting me. I need your help."

Regulus moved over immediately. "What can I do?"

"Use your bond," Sirius told him. "You're soulmates, so if you use your bond, you can get closer to her magic than I can."

"The only way I can do that..." he grimaced. "I... you know what it means. I have to enter her unconscious mind."

"I'd prefer that to her dying, and you know she's close to it," his brother snapped. "Hurry up."

Hesitantly, Regulus came to sit next to her on the bed. He raised his hands and touched her temples and, cautiously, entered her mind.

It was a mess.

"Regulus."

He looked to the left, his breath catching. It was Anabella, but...

"I know I'm different."

"Why?"

"Because I am only a part of Anabella. I am her magic- her core. You can call me Hermione," the girl, her magic, apparently, told him.

He stared, amazed. "You seem... fine."

"Oh, I'm not," she disagreed. "We're very much unwell. Sirius is trying his best, and it works to an extent because of the bond she made, but you- you can fix this. You can support me to heal her."

"How?" he asked, more than willing to do anything to help her.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "I think you know what we have to do to do this."

And he did. He'd known going in what he'd have to do, but he'd certainly hoped she'd have a better answer. But she didn't, and he sighed. "I need... I need her understanding and consent. I will not do something so permanent to her without... Hermione, I won't."

"You need to speak with her," she understood. "I can wake her, but you have to work quickly, understand?"

He nodded. "I understand."

"Prepare yourself," she warned.

Regulus backed up, leaving her mind, and waited. It was a few silent moments of Sirius working and Regulus waiting before Anabella shot upward, heaving in air. He rested his hand on her back. "Ana, breathe."

"Reg," she whispered, falling to lean on him. "Reg, help me."

He tensed at her words, his heart and his fealty vow begging him to do as she said. "I need your consent. Consent to bond, Ana, I have to have it."

"It'll... help?"

"Yes. And... we'd have done it eventually."

"I love you," she whispered, struggling to keep her eyes open. "Do it, please."

"I love you too," was his soft answer. He helped her fall back onto the bed gently as she passed out again. Before Sirius could question him, he spoke to his brother. "You have to do it. I can't- Ana could, but I can't bond us alone."

"Shit. Okay, but I'll have to stop healing her while I do," he warned. Regulus stared.

"Then work quickly."

The brothers adjusted until they were on either side of Anabella. Regulus held her hand tightly within his while Sirius waved his wand slowly over Anabella until a string of bright, pure magic rose from her chest. Quickly, he brought it up to Regulus's chest and pushed it in, connecting and permanently binding their cores. Regulus gasped at the feeling of his magic being wrapped up by her own horribly damaged magic. Soon he felt her pulling on him for help so hard he almost fell off the bed.

"She stopped twitching," Sirius said, relief coloring his voice. He looked at his brother and grimaced. "You should both rest."

"No," Regulus growned, his eyes shooting to Sirius. He managed to pull himself up and pull his wand. He pointed it at the other boy's throat. "Explain."

"Reg-,"

"Explain!" he yelled, not bothering to look at the door as it opened and Avery stepped in.

"Woah," Avery said, looking between them. "Bella will be pissed if you hurt each other. Especially if she's the reason."

"He did this!"

"No. Bellatrix did this," Avery disagreed. When Regulus's eyes widened, he winced. "You didn't know. Your brother's an idiot, but I didn't think he'd keep that from you."

"You let her hurt her again?" Regulus yelled. "She's terrified of her and you let Bellatrix torture her again for how long?"

"She said she was fine," Sirius said softly. He knew he deserved it. His job that day had been to watch and protect Anabella, and he'd certainly failed. "It was just a bookstore. How- why the hell was Bella even there?"

"It doesn't fucking matter," Regulus glared. "Look at her. Look at her, Sirius. This- the state she's in? It's your fault."

"You're not the idiot that got tortured," Avery snapped. Regulus looked pissed, so he rolled his eyes at his friend. "She's an idiot for sending him away, he's an idiot for going, and you're an idiot for wasting your energy being pissed when you could devote that energy to supporting her magic, so why don't you both shut up and focus on helping her? Jesus fuck."

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January 25th, 1977

"Sano."

Anabella looked up from her book and rolled her eyes at Rabastan, who had taken to using the nickname as a joke - he thought it was ridiculous and had laughed for five minutes when he'd first heard it. She had a feeling he did it because it made her laugh. "Huh?"

"You already know, don't you?"

"What?"

"You're a Legendary."

Her eyes shot to his. "Rabastan-,"

"Don't deny it. You know, don't you?"

Hesitantly, she nodded. "Yes. I knew I was a Light Lady, but my power levels proved... somewhat larger."

"He'll kill you," he warned. "Without hesitation, he will kill you."

"I suppose he can try."

"Circe, woman, you'll be the death of me," he told her. "My brother is unaware of what happened."

"Might be best to keep it that way," she suggested. He raised an eyebrow, looking so intently at her that she squirmed a little, careful not to wake Regulus, who slept next to her. "Stop."

"Mm."

"He'll hex you."

"You won't?"

Anabella sighed. "I like you, Bastan. But Regulus will notice the careless flirting, and he won't be-,"

"'Careless,'" he repeated, offended. "You think, looking at you after you've been tortured, any part of me is careless?"

She frowned. "Rabastan-,"

"My point is," he interrupted. "You need to be more careful. Bellatrix got too close for comfort. I will be around more frequently."

"You don't have to do that," she said softly. The idea that he had genuine feelings for her was one that made her uncomfortable.

"I'm going to," he said. He touched her hand as he stood. "Sleep. They're telling Prewett what happened in the morning, and you'll need plenty of energy to deal with that shitshow."

She nodded and waved goodnight as he made his way over to the beds on the other side of the room. After a few silent moments, she sighed. "Don't kill him."

"Why would I?" Regulus wondered. She'd had a feeling he was awake, and she'd been right. "He's much more likely to protect you to his best abilities if he has feelings for you."

"You want to use those feelings," she understood.

"I want you safe," he corrected. "By any means necessary."

"Great."

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