Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, places, spells except Vulpecula Lestrange

A/N: Hello honey bunnies! Thanks for the support! Sorry, this one took a taddle bit long but enjoy! Pop a review! :D

Comments-

dragonlily22- Heyo Alley Cat! Thanks for the review; the complete story will take a while though… thanks! Also, Brandy, really? Nicknames… *glomps* *bops*

"Firs' years this way! Firs' year! Don't be shy!" Hagrid called as we jumped out of the russet steam engine. He waved to Harry before leading us to the boats; out of the corner of my eye could see the threstrals who were by the carriages. One of the younger ones whinnied to me - it could sense I could see it – and smiled in its direction.

We climbed onto the boats, I sat next to Hermione and we started talking about books – including Hogwarts: A History. She was talking like a natural born witch though she was muggle-born; her eyes were bright with excitement and passion as we discussed different magical spells and abilities.

"Can you do anything yet?" she asked. Her eyes slid to the castle in the distance as the boats started to move across the glassy lake surface.

"No, but I think I can do things," I answered. "My father works for the Ministry of Magic so he taught me some things. I know spells but we aren't allowed to perform magic outside of school."

"True, I just found out so I've been reading everything about Hogwarts and magic!"

The boats touched down on the opposite bank and we climbed out on the rocky shoreline. Hermione moved to the entrance with me behind her, Hagrid knocked on the wooden doors making a loud and hollow sound. The door opened and a professor stepped out, the light inside washed over us as she opened the door even wider to let us in. She nodded once to Hagrid before leading us to the hall and up the steps where we stopped in front of an even grander door. While we waited, a soft murmur rose up from the crowd in anticipation.

"Ah, Harry Potter," Draco said, we glared at each other before he held his hand out and smiled. "I see you have made friends with blood-traitors and muggle-borns. I can help you chose the better."

"Thanks but no thanks," Harry replied. "I think I can see who is a good friend or who is not."

Draco went red, he sneered at me before turning to Harry. "You'll regret that Potter, making friends with filthy blood traitors, like my cousin."

"That will be enough, Mr. Malfoy," the professor said behind Draco, he turned and strode to where Crabbe and Goyle, two pure-bloods, were standing.

"You are about to enter the Great Hall where you will be sorted into you Houses: Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff," the professor addressed the rest of us. Her gaze raked across us before she turned and pushed the doors opened.

"Follow me now," she called. "And stay in line, please."

We walked in nervously; I was closer to the front – trotting behind McGonagall – and looking around in wonder.

"Wow, this is even better than the books," Hermione gasped next to me.

I only nodded trying to take everything in; Nymphie wasn't joking; Hogwarts' Great Hall was breath-taking! Candles flickered above the four, long benches and tables with cheering students clad in green, blue, red, and yellow. A golden staff table stood at the end of the hall with candles hovering over the podium where Dumbledore was standing.

We stopped before Dumbledore and waited; the professor brought out a hat and placed it on the stool. For a second it didn't move but it lifted itself up and started to sing, it sang about the houses and their talents before falling silent, waiting.

"Abbot, Hannah!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

One table started cheering, my sister's and father's table clad in gold with the Hufflepuff ghost – the Fat Friar – grinning merrily above.

"Bones, Susan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Boot, Terry!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

It went on and on from Hermione to Harry – both in Gryffindor – then to me.

"Tonks, Vulpecula!"

The hat was dropped on my head and a voice spoke in my mind, the voice of the hat.

Oh, a Black? Should I plop you in Slytherin like your family? Or Ravenclaw where you seem to fit on?

'Anywhere', I thought, 'I really don't care.'

A definite Slytherin attitude but has the brains of a Ravenclaw, you do know you are special right? Your wand doing what it did at the choosing?

'What?'

I'll put you in… "RAVENCLAW!"

I jumped up and handed the hat back to Professor McGonagall before I walked over to my House excitement fizzing up inside me unable for me to contain. There was Cho waving to me as I went over and sat down next to her smiling at Marietta.

After the Sorting and a few words from Dumbledore a feast appeared, I began to eat while chatting leisurely with some Ravenclaws about books and whatnots unknowing of my year yet excited.

~o~

Christmas Break…

~o~

The train home was an ideal place for my dear cousin to start his leisure bullying without being caught by a professor. He would prank some other first years with the help of Crabbe and Goyle and set mischief to the older students.

"Hey cousin," he smirked when he found me reading. "Whatcha reading? Ravenclaw junk? Pity you weren't in Slytherin."

"Go away Draco," I sighed looking up at him. "Seriously, before I hex you."

"Nah, I think I'll stay," he sneered making a grab for my book.

I saw it coming when his muscles tightened and moved the book away so his hand grabbed empty air, "Also, you also need to work on that too."

He was furious now, his eyes narrowing in anger that made him quiver, "You're going to pay for that cousin , just wait you stinking half-blood."

He turned and stalked away his fist clenched angrily, digging his nails into his palms; I watched before going back to my book, not the teensiest bit worried. When the train started to slow, I pulled my hair back into a side ponytail and picked up my things. A smile played on the corner of my mouth when I walked past Draco who grumpily slumped in his compartment, a frown on his face.

He saw me looking and sneered hastily in my direction earning a grin from me; his sneer suddenly changed to a look of surprise when something hit him in the face. I didn't stop to see what it was, instead, I walked to the door and pulled it opened.

I hopped out of the train to see a familiar pink hair girl looking around. Her eyes met mine and I waved calling out. "Nymphie!"

"Vulpie!" she replied as I ran into her familiar arms. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too," I grinned before I drew away. "Did you make it?"

She nodded frantically and I felt my grin widen. "You're an Auror now! That's amazing! You have to tell me how you passed the tests!"

Nymphadora's hand entwined mine when I got my bags. "Mum is super excited about Christmas this year; wouldn't be surprised why."

With a last glance at the sleek red train, the world started to turn and twist as Nymphadora apparated us to our home. We arrived outside on a patch of bright, green grass still growing in the snowy weather; I turned to look at the cottage, it was glowing a warm orange from the many candles inside and the festive lights hung up.

Andromeda was at the door when we apparated; she ran to meet us. "Vulpecula! Nymphadora! You're home!"

That received a scowl from Nymphie but mum didn't notice, probably too busy rushing us inside and out of the snow. I stepped into the warm cottage with a smile at the purple fire and the "snow" falling from the living room ceiling.

"Vulpecula, honey," Andromeda whispered in my ear. "We need to talk for a second. We'll be right back, Nymphadora."

I followed her, nervous about what she had to say; wasn't she excited for the holidays? We walked into my room and she gently closed the door, "Vulpecula, this may come a shock to you."

"What?" I asked, turning around, I met her gaze.

She seemed hesitant to continue. "You aren't a Tonks by birth."

"WHAT?" I screamed jumping up from her bed, "What do you mean by that? Am I adopted?"

"You're still related to us!" she said quickly. "Just from different parents, still a Black but not… disowned."

I shook my head to clear it and sat back onto my bed. "Who are my parents then?"

Andromeda took a shaky breath. "Bellatrix, my sister, and Rodolphus, her husband."

I lost it right there; tears falling streaking down my face. My entire life was a lie? I didn't even try to wipe the tears away since I knew that more would quickly replace them. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Cissy told me not to tell," Andromeda answered; brushing the tears from my cheek she hugged me and squeezed.

"Cissy? You mean your sister, but I thought she wasn't supposed to talk to you."

"She broke that after your real mother got thrown into Azkaban."

"And I'm guessing I was branded by the Dark Lord?" I asked holding out my left arm.

Andromeda nodded and quickly removed the glamour revealing a faint but definite Dark Mark. The red mark contrasted against the pale skin and made my stomach jolt. "Was it done when I was a baby?"

"Almost when you were born and before he fell," Andromeda answered.

"Who knows?"

"The Order, Dumbledore, Professor Snape."

~o~

After Christmas

Gryffindor Common Room

~o~

"Whoa Harry! Is that an invisibility cloak?" I asked when I saw the shiny fabric in Harry's hands.

"Yeah," he grinned. "Got it for Christmas but don't know who gave it to me."

I shrugged and touched the cool fabric. "You've used it, right?"

"Yeah," he admitted, "to sneak out and visit Hagrid."

I grinned and nodded, I was just swinging by to do joint homework with Hermione on Potions. Ron and Harry were busy working on Charms – procrastinating until the last night – and were frantically scribbling down paragraphs though they got distracted more than once.

"So what abilities do vampires have?" Hermione asked.

"They are nocturnal and can drink blood without getting sick."

"Aw, too easy," Hermione smiled. "Did you really remember everything?"

I nodded. "Yep, about."

"Bloody Hell! Look at the time!" Ron yelped. We turned where he was shaking his head from hitting the table; I lazily looked over at the clock and pursed my lips.

"It is only 9:36, Ron."

"Way past our time to sleep; plus, you have to go back to Ravenclaw Tower!" Ron replied. He rested his head in his arms and muttered. "I'll just go to-"

"Ronald!" Hermione yelled. "Wake up and walk up the stairs if you are so tired!"

Ron jerked awake and nodded before scrambling up the steps, he disappeared into his dorm and I rolled my eyes. "Boys."

"Hey! I'm a boy!" Harry replied grinning.

I stood before picking my bag up. "I need to get back to my tower. See you!"

"Bye!" Hermione and Harry answered before I hopped through the portrait and into the dark halls.

I just rounded the corner before I ran into Professor Snape, the head of Slytherin house, who stopped me. "What are you doing out this late, Miss Lestrange?"

"We lost track of time doing homework in the Gryffindor common," I answered, I was us to people using my "new" name but not professors – they normally would wince at the name like they would when someone said Voldemort.

"Come with me, please."

I bit my lower lip and followed, I could still hear Harry and Ron arguing faintly in their dorm as we walked into an empty classroom. Professor Snape turned and looked at me, to my surprise he said. "You look a lot like your mother, minus the hair color."

"Really?" I asked. "I'm guessing she looked like Aunt Meda, slightly different but somewhat?"

"Yes," he nodded. "And she had your fiery spirit, could tame any man who dared try to dominate her."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really? Aunt Meda said she was usually ignored since she could tear anyone apart in seconds."

"True," Professor Snape smiled slightly. "Now, off to your dorm. I won't dock points this time but next time I will."

"Thank you, Professor Snape."

I turned and ran from the classroom and down the hall, I got to the Ravenclaw dorm and entered running up the steps to my bed. Jumping into the covers – I sat leaning onto the headboard – I closed my eyes and tilted my head.

"My Lord?" a squeaky voice whimpered.

"Soon, I will be again."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Of co- there's someone listening to us! Who is it?"

"W-w-what?" the squeaky voice asked again.

"Who can listen to us when we are so hidden? Any special abilities?"

"V-Vulpecula Lestrange, m-m-my Lord."

"Ah, the child. Soon, when I am able to regain my body, I will take her back to her mother's side."

~o~

Bellatrix's POV

Cell #93; Azkaban

~o~

I rubbed my eyes and shifted yet again, the dementor had left a chill in the air that cooled me to the bone. I left my head up the black curls falling to the ground, I felt it burn, a slight twinge that always got my hopes up.

"Vulpecula? Are you still out there with Cissy? Are you safe?" my voice was hoarse with disuse and pain. The edges rough and cracking as I struggled to sit up with the chains digging into my wrists and ankles, my vision blurred for a second as blood rushed to my head.

"Bella?" a voice asked. It was Sirius.

"Sirius?" I said weakly. I scooted to the side of the cell and whispered. "Sirius? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, you?"

"A little fuzzy," I leaned onto the bars – caked with my blood over the years – and reached out and took his hand. "Did you lose something major? Why are you so subdued?"

"It's just, well, when the dementor was feeding, you were screaming your daughter's name," Sirius answered squeezing my fingers.

I smiled weakly. "It helped, you going to get out soon?"

"Yes, then I can find her."

"Good, I hope her father doesn't die in the meantime."

"Ha," Sirius pulled away. "Stay sane, Bella. I don't want to get out to find out you're not sane anymore."

"I'll try, just hurry."

I moved away from the cell bars and leaned against the wall; before I fell asleep, I smiled slightly and whispered. "I'm coming, my love. Just wait."