Hi guys! Phew. I'm so happy that last chapter is out of the way. After posting I cursed myself for not breaking it up into smaller chapters but hey, here's a fresh update. A big thank you to my new followers/favourite-button-pusherers. But most of all, thank you to all those who review *virtual cupcakes for everyone* You make me want continuously update and better the story. Here's a bit of Bella. Hopefully this will explain some questions.

Chapter Twelve

Somewhere within the LeStrange's abode, Bellatrix lay on the floor; a clock and a single teacup beside her. Before Rodolphus had been captured by Aurors, he often did international recruitment for the Dark Lord – travelling to Eastern Europe and as far as Turkmenistan. Often he would bring back gifts and spices for his wife whom always expected something upon his return. Their marriage, like many Pureblood's, was unconventional and highly political. Neither heart belonged to the other; the only thing they had in common was their devotion to their Lord.

She took another sip. The opium in the tea numbed her. It felt good not to feel again. Her dark eyes looked over to the clock in front of her. 7:07. If everything was going to plan, by now, Narcissa would have offered the Mudblood an aperitif – the girl would accept it. One, because no one could deny an offer from the true Siren of the Black family and secondly, Hermione would be embarrassed, feeling ridiculously overdressed compared to her host. Bellatrix chuckled to herself, wondering what Cissy thought of her little detail. In another thirteen minutes the first course would arrive followed by two more, then the key would be offered. Not even her drugged tea could sedate the jealously the raven haired witch felt. She could tolerate spending some time away but a Mudblood by Cissy's side?

"I'm still working it out…" wasn't exactly the response Bellatrix was hoping for. They didn't have room for some bi-curious git who wouldn't take the bait.

Narcissa had kept her distance since Hermione arrived at the Manor. Bellatrix insisted she hurry things along. Her sister had seen the blonde court suitors and reduce them to a blubbering mess faster than anyone she knew. The younger sibling asserted that she could handle it herself and was reluctant to have dinner at all with the girl. The Death Eater had sworn that if supper didn't go ahead, she would make it a nightmare for Cissy during the days that surrounded New Years. It was like playing match-maker with Lucius all over again.

O~O~O

The sun had barely peaked over the gardens. Inside the Black house, the middle child crept towards the bedroom at the opposite end of the landing. Unlocking the door, she swore silently as her hands shook uncontrollably. Andromeda couldn't help but breathe through her mouth seeing that her nose was blocked from crying all night.

She had been forbidden to enter Bellatrix's room. It was strictly off limits to her 'traitorous filth' as her sister so eloquently described. Taking a deep breath, she stepped soundlessly into the darkness. Clothes, parchment and books littered the floor – much to their parents disdain. Somewhere in a desk drawer was an engagement ring which had been arranged years in advance. This would be Bellatrix's last New Year's Eve as a Black. Her new name felt alien on the sister's tongue. Bellatrix LeStrange.

Andromeda knew exactly what she was looking for as she neared the bedside table. Her doppelgänger always kept the book in the same spot.

"Cissy? Is that you?"

Andromeda held her breath, she hadn't expected her sister to rouse.

"Go away. It's too early." She mumbled into her pillow.

Her heart hammered in her chest, all she needed was the book. If she was quick she could leave before Bellatrix had time to wake up.

As she reached for the textbook, a hand gripped her already bruised wrists and dragged her onto the bed and into an embrace.

"Alright you can stay but shut up." The eldest said sleepily, kissing her shoulders.

It only took seconds to realise that the other person in her bed was not Narcissa. Literally kicking Andromeda out of bed, Bellatrix illuminated the room to find her sister puffy-eyed on the floor.

"Why the fuck are you here? Huh? What have I said about coming into my room?" Wiping her lips on her own pyjama shirt as if to remove all trace of the girl before her.

"Bella, please. Don't get angry…"

"Who? Me? Oh, I'm not angry, Dromeda. Why would I be angry over YOU coming into MY room, crawling into MY bed? You fucking hypocrite."

Andromeda cringed.

"It wasn't even like that Bella. You're the one who…it doesn't matter…I need your Charms textbook…you know the one…"

Bellatrix eyed her suspiciously. It was the first time this morning that she actually saw her sister. Her hair wasn't perfect like it usually was. Her face was blotchy and red. And she had some blood stains on her nightgown.

"What've you been up to, Dromeda? You didn't bring that Gryffindor here did you?"

"I just need the book, Bella. You'll have it back soon."

"Why all the secrets?"

"Please…"

"No. You can't have it. Get lost. I'm going back to bed."

Andromeda threw herself at her sister's feet. Sobbing uncontrollably.

"Please…please" she whispered, over and over again until Bellatrix kicked herself free.

"I'll get Father if you don't shut up."

"This is why I'm here Bella! It's Papa…" she stammered before breaking down into tears again.

Bellatrix handed her a tissue. Finally interested with what she had to say.

"Last night…he and Mama were fighting…about the same thing they always do…" looking up she saw the anger and guilt plagued in her sister's eyes. "I don't know what time he came home…but he woke me up…and he asked me how much I wanted a baby boy to take the Black's name…and when I said that I didn't care he slapped me…he said that he had seen the future…he said…I could make all their troubles go away…"

The eldest didn't say anything, it had been the longest amount of time she had listened to her sister. Despite her best efforts, she could not shake Andromeda from this 'phase' she had with those whom weren't of their kind. She had kept Andromeda's secret from their parents. The eldest sibling felt it was in her duty to set her sister on the straight and narrow but when she found her in bed with a half-blood for the second time, Bellatrix told her to fuck right out of her life until she grew out of her sick obsession.

"You have…unforgivable curses in there don't you?"

Bellatrix let out a single laugh. "You want to crucify Father? Piss off."

"No, I want to kill whatever's inside of me. I don't know if I am…but if I am…I can't…"

Bellatrix narrowed her eyes. "You slut. If you think I'm going to protect you from your half-blood spawn you can think again. I can't wait till they find out."

"Shut up Bella!" Grabbing the book from the bedside table, Andromeda fled the room. Bellatrix wasn't too far behind. As they ran across the landing, Bellatrix slowed as the younger sister stopped outside of Narcissa's door.

"Don't you dare wake her up!" Bellatrix hissed.

"Him." Andromeda corrected.

The eldest sister death stared the other as she opened the door to the youngest's room. A chair had been knocked over and a suitcase and pair of trousers had been flung on the floor. Laying on the bed was their father, snoring like a hog. His flaccid penis resting on his stomach.

Bellatrix closed the door and dragged Andromeda to the hallway.

"What is he doing in Cissy's room? Where is Cissy?"

"Cissy is in my room…she said she wanted to be closer to you…so I swapped her. Just for a night."

"But he's naked!"

Andromeda raised her eyes to meet her sister's. She could barely admit it to herself let alone another. The tears came before the words.

"He raped me, Bella."

She looked at her younger sister speechless, retracing everything she had said this morning. She was confused. Her father had never raised a finger to Andromeda. The older sister didn't know what to do, she had never seen someone so empty. Taking her by the hand, Bellatrix raced with Andromeda through the house to the bathroom. Undressed her and turned on the shower to full pressure. For the first time in many months, Bellatrix held her. The two of them sitting on the floor of the shower, crying as the clothed witch scrubbed her sister. Cooing apologies while brushing her hair through her fingers.

"This isn't what 'home' is supposed to feel like." She wept.

"It'll be alright, Dromeda. It'll be alright." She reassured. But she wasn't so sure that it would be. In less than a week she would leave this house to get married and her sisters, Narcissa, would remain unprotected.

"I'll be right back, okay?" Kissing Andromeda's forehead "you stay here."

Soaking wet, Bellatrix left to get her textbook, dripping water throughout the house.

On the way she passed Narcissa's room. She could still hear the brut snoring. Opening the door, she grabbed her father's suitcase and returned to her room.

The first thing that caught Bellatrix's eye was the Prophecy. She had remembered her father talking about the Hall of Prophecy before. As a senior Minister, he was entitled to access of Level 9. However, Bellatrix had never actually seen a real one. Opening her textbook, she scribbled its description on one of the back pages before placing both hands on it.

She felt her head spin as she was warped into the glass, glowing ball. The images flashed at her in rapid succession. She saw a mansion, bigger than any other she'd ever seen. Some people. A young blonde haired boy holding his mother's hand. Bellatrix gasped as she recognised Narcissa – an adult – but it was unmistakeably Narcissa. She was so beautiful. So happy.

The montage replayed but she had, had enough. She understood who her father thought he had slept with and for what purpose. Her blood was boiling and her stomach felt sick. Grabbing her book, she ran, tears streaming down her cheeks to Narcissa's room, not caring if she would be heard. Opening her text to the last page, she followed the notes that she had written.

"Wake up! Wake up you piece of shit!" Bellatrix swung her arm, hitting her father's testicles at full force. The sleeping man instantly awoke, dry retching from the pain.

"How could you! Your own daughter!" She bellowed, striking him with a cruciatus curse. It felt good, finally getting back at him after all these years.

"Did you know that you fucked the wrong one? Did you know you fucked Andromeda?"

Cygnus' eyes rolled into the back of his head, the power of the unforgiveable curse was stronger than any he, himself, had ever inflicted. For he had never held the passion his eldest child had. For she was seeking revenge for what had happened…and what will happen. For love.

"Narcissa will never have to go through what Andromeda did! I won't let you do that to her! I hate you! This isn't what home is supposed to feel like!"

With a final blow, a bright green light flooded the room before returning to normal. Her father lay motionless on the bed, his body limp. A strong surge reverberated through her body. Bellatrix could feel it happening, just like she had read. Her soul was tearing. Something she never thought possible. The pain was slow – she'd one day come to realise that a tattered soul was easier to break. The young woman hugged herself tightly, desperately wanting herself to remain whole. Tighter and tighter she constricted herself until her ribs bruised and tears pooled at her feet.

"Stay with me a while. Just a little longer." She pleaded softly to the dividing forces within her. She held onto the silver, bird skull necklace Narcissa had given her, visibly shaking.

"You did this." She whispered to the lifeless man. "You hear me? You made me do this!" thumping her fists against him. "You have no idea! No idea what you've done!" crying into his chest until she tired herself. "Now I'm broken. Andromeda's broken. But not Narcissa. You'll never break her."

Grabbing her textbook, she furiously flicked through her pages of notes. She didn't want to be one shattered piece. But she could be two whole, separate fragments.

Pointing her wand at her temple, she whispered the spell again and again until she got it right. And she knew when she got it right because whatever had torn inside her was now physically being forced from her shell of a body. A piece of her soul had broken away. She could see it. The tiny orange speck. Floating from her lips. She tried to catch it. But her hands simply passed through it like a ghost. She tried again and again, crying out. Ignoring the body of her father as she jumped in an attempt to reclaim what she had lost. It was useless. She couldn't take it back. The only thing she could do was keep it hidden, keep it safe. So she fixed it to the only thing she could see on the dresser – the mosaic jewellery box.

Did anyone catch the LoTR reference? :p
Oh! Before any hxc potter fans attack me about the prophecy...I based it verrrry loosely on the rule. Technicallllly Draco is Cygnus' grandson and Narcissa's father. Him thinking Draco was actually his son kinda makes it about him... Voila! :D *segues away*

Now Narcissa and Hermione are alone. What will happen? You'll find out next update ;)