DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER

It was the morning that students would return to their homes from Hogwarts and Sirius Black and his little brother Regulus Black were in their house, 12 Grimmauld Place, the ancestral home of the Blacks, in Sirius' room, watching a tiny sparrow that was perched on the ledge by the window of the room.

Sirius had been trying to teach his younger brother to be kind, and some days ago, while they had been getting bread from the bakery, they had discovered the small bird, injured, and had secretly taken it in, to nurse it back to health.

The sparrow seemed almost well enough to fly back to wherever it had come from. All the brothers would have to do was make sure it was fine and then let it out into the open.

Hopefully, their parents would not find out. For, they were brutal, harsh and of course, against Muggles and Muggleborns, prejudiced.

Sirius whispered, "Reggie, you see how cute that little bird looks? It'll soon be able to fly back to its home. Don't you feel so happy seeing it, well enough to go back home? Imagine how happy it will be."

Regulus whispered, "But if it makes noise, Mother and Father will find out."

Just then, the bird looked at the two boys and began to chirp.

"Oh no," Regulus whispered, "Mother and Father will hear you, please stop."

Sirius whispered, "Birdie, quiet, we can't let anyone know you're here. You'll bring everyone here and…"

Just then, they heard a male voice calling out, "What's going on in here?"
"Oh no," Sirius whispered, "Father heard us! Quick, Reggie, help me close the curtains. Quickly…"

But before they could make a move, the door to Sirius' room burst open and a stern and rather mean looking man with brown hair, dressed formally, entered the room.

Sirius and Regulus gulped as they looked at their father, Orion Black, a ruthless man.

Orion looked sternly at his two sons and demanded, "What is this noise that I hear coming from your room? Is this some childish play of yours?"

Sirius blurted, "Uh… Father, you see, I was just telling, oh no…, I, I can explain…"

Orion who had noticed the sparrow, cut him off angrily speaking, "So this is what you have done is it? Bringing a bird in this house? Who gave you permission to do such a thing?"

Regulus said, "It was hurt Father, we just wanted to…"

"Enough of this nonsense," Orion cut off the child, "We are from the most Ancient and Noble House of Black. We do not give in to weaknesses, stoop down to lowly actions, bringing small creatures in as pets…"

He looked at the bird, strode over towards it, and with a hateful smile on his face, he picked up the bird and held it in his hands as if it were a tool.

He said, "But you know what? It's time I taught you an important lesson, and you have just provided me with the means. Listen carefully boys."

"Father," Sirius spoke anxiously, "Please, we'll take him outside, back to…"

"SILENCE SIRIUS BLACK," Orion roared in his face, "YOU WILL NOT BE TAKING THIS BIRD ANYWHERE UNTIL I AM FINISHED!"

He then looked at the bird, which was looking at him, its face full of desperation, its eyes giving a pleading glance, but he himself looked at it with a cruel smile on his face.

He then looked at his sons and said, "We are from the most Ancient and Noble House of Black. Muggles and their products, the so called wizards and witches known as Muggleborns, Mudbloods in our society, are beneath us. We are above such weaknesses. Their weak blood does not belong with ours. We are meant to be strong and powerful, but emotions that you see in those Muggles will make us weak. Attachment is insidious. It can make us forget what we stand for. If we allow it to dominate us, then we shall not be able to do what we have to do to blood traitors and Mudbloods when we have the chance to do it, and we shall thus betray our family values and become outcasts. We have no right to allow ourselves to be controlled by our emotions. We as Blacks, keep our emotions in check, no matter what."

With that, he gripped the left wing of the bird, and to the horror of the boys, he pulled at it suddenly, snapping it and breaking the wing that had just healed.

As the bird cried out in pain, Regulus burst into tears even as Sirius shouted, "NO!" Their father shouted, "Regulus Arcturus Black, don't be a weakling, keep your emotions in check! And Sirius Orion Black, shut your mouth. Don't you dare talk back to me like this!"

Regulus immediately stopped crying and looked away. Sirius on the other hand, looked at his father with a cold stare.

Orion Black showed no mercy towards the poor innocent sparrow, breaking the other wing and injuring the bird further before finally twisting the neck and crushing it in his hands, ending the bird's life.

Finished, he looked at his bloody hands and then towards the boys.

Regulus looked like he wanted to cry. Sirius on the other hand was looking at Orion with anger.

An enraged Orion strode towards Sirius and brought his bloody hand down on his face, slapping him hard and hissing cruelly, "Look what you have done, you wretch of a boy! You have taught Regulus attachment! You are a disgrace! Why can't you just listen to what your Mother and I tell you every day?"

Sirius whispered back angrily, "You didn't have to kill that poor sparrow. I would have let it out tonight. I wasn't planning to have it as a pet."

Orion yelled, "YOU HAD NO PERMISSON TO BRING THAT CREATURE IN HERE BOY! NOW GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"

Sirius yelled, "You murdered that poor bird. He didn't do anything! And you…"

Just then, a female voice yelled, "Don't you dare talk back to your father like that Sirius Black!" and a woman with piercing black eyes, high cheek bones and a pointed nose, Walburga Black entered the room and slapped Sirius.

Sirius looked coldly at his parents before wrapping an arm around Regulus, whom he hoped would not be made to do his parents' bidding to the core.

Sirius had always been different. His first word had been 'mother' instead of Mudblood as his mother had hoped. Somehow, he had always disliked the pureblood mania of his family, and his parents of course had always tried to force him to follow their ways.

And he had always refused, and had gone against their wishes, and for that, each time, he had been punished.

Later on, in the Hogwarts Express…

Abhimanyu and Bellatrix were on their last patrol. Soon after that, they would have to go to their compartments and prepare to get off the train in London.

The end of the year feast had been a great one. This time, Gryffindor and Slytherin had been in first and second place, Slytherin losing only by a small margin of five points.

Abhimanyu had wished it could be a tie, but still, was happy that his house had won. Still, unlike some, he was not one for jeering. And he did not jeer at any Slytherins for losing the house cup.

As they two entered a car, Bellatrix suddenly grabbed Abhimanyu's hands and led him towards a compartment that happened to be empty.

She said, "Abhimanyu, you know, I can't believe all that has been happening since last year, but now, I won't get off the train the same way I got off last year. And plus, you know what my family is like."

Abhimanyu said, "We'll both be getting our auror apprenticeships, so we should be able to see each other at the ministry. Who knows, perhaps we'll have the same mentor."

"You never know," Bellatrix replied, "But in any case, we'll have to keep our relationship a secret, at least for now."

Abhimanyu replied, "I suppose we will, but at some point of time…"

Bellatrix said, "We'll figure it all out eventually, but right now, we'll have to be careful about what's going on in between us."

"I'll be super careful Bell." Abhimanyu asserted.

"Do be careful," Bellatrix said, "And, before we part, I love you."

With that, she and Abhimanyu shared a kiss.

An hour later…

Sirius who was in his room whispered to Regulus, "Our cousins will be back any moment now."

Regulus whispered, "I have to make Mother and Father happy, but I want you to be happy too."

Sirius whispered, "Reggie, don't worry, we'll get through this. No matter what, don't let them get to you. We did the right thing when we took in that bird, and Father and Mother were just…"

He stopped, not wanting anyone to hear any swear words that he felt like using.

Just then, they heard their mother call out, "Ahhhh…, Bellatrix, Andromeda, Narcissa are home, Sirius, Regulus, come down and say hello to them."

Sirius and Regulus went down excitedly to the ground floor where they saw their cousins standing near the staircase.

Regulus ran over to Bellatrix to hug her, and Sirius ran straight towards Andromeda.

As the cousins hugged each other, they heard Cygnus who was standing nearby saying, "Children, I am pleased to see your enthusiasm to greet your cousin sisters, but you must let them have a wash, after that train ride."

Sirius gave Narcissa and Bellatrix a quick hug and then the Black sisters went upstairs for a wash.

Later on at night, soon after the family had eaten their dinner, Sirius and Regulus were sitting with Bellatrix on her bed in her room, and Andromeda and Narcissa were sitting next to them.

Andromeda looked at Regulus and Sirius and whispered, "Sirius, Reggie, you look a little upset. Did something happen?"

Sirius said, "You wouldn't understand."

Bellatrix said, "Something must have happened. I'll hear you out. And I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to. You can trust your cousin Trixie."

"Okay," Sirius said, before proceeding to explain the story about the unfortunate sparrow.

Andromeda could not help gasping in shock on and off. Narcissa gasped after hearing the part where Orion had brutally murdered the bird. Bellatrix was the only one who did not gasp.

Finally after Sirius finished, she said softly, clasping his hands in hers, "Siri, more than a year ago, I would have just told you to listen to your elders and be a proper Black, but now, I'm different. I'm not who I used to be. And now I think you were doing what you felt was right."

Sirius looked at his elder cousin in amazement and said, "You support me?! You're completely different from before."

Bellatrix said, "Yes I am, thanks to a certain Muggleborn who saved my sister Andi, despite the fact that I sneered at him for six years."

Regulus piped up, "You said it was a good friend, but Father says Muggleborns are lower than us."

Bellatrix held Regulus in her lap and whispered, "Listen to me carefully little one, it turns out that's not correct. But can you keep a secret?"

"Yes," answered Regulus.

Bellatrix asked, "Will you promise not to tell anyone other than Sirius, not even your mother and father or your Uncle Cygnus and Aunt Druella, pinkie promise?"

Regulus looked at her and holding out his pinkie, he grasped her pinkie and said, "Pinkie promise."

"Okay," Bellatrix said, "This Muggleborn is not a weak person. He's actually very strong. And he's very kind, nice, polite, sweet, and he is a very good friend."

"Oh," Regulus said.

Bellatrix then leaned over to Sirius and whispered, "Do not tell what I am about to tell you to Regulus until he's older, okay?"

"Okay," Sirius whispered.

Bellatrix then whispered in his ear, "I love Abhimanyu Pandey."

Sirius' eyes widened with amazement and he hugged Bellatrix and whispered into her ear, "Oh yes! I can't believe it! Cool! I have someone on my side now! Wow! You're in love with a Muggleborn. I bet Mother will faint if she hears that."

Narcissa whispered into Regulus' ear, "See evil Bella, she's planning to eat you up."

"No," Regulus started, but Narcissa placed a finger on his mouth whispering, "I'm your friend trying to warn you. They're planning to tuck you in here, then Bella will hug you and kiss you goodnight, then she'll climb into bed with you, hold you so you can't escape, and then…"

"Cissy," Andromeda spoke, "Stop scaring poor Regulus. Don't worry Regulus, Sirius and I will protect you."

Bellatrix turned to her and asked, "From what?"

Andromeda replied, "From evil cousin Bella who wants to devour little Regulus."

"Is that so?" Bellatrix spoke, sporting an evil smile directed towards Regulus, "Hmmm… you look pretty scruncilicious."

She licked her lips and raised her fingers evilly, causing Regulus to hide behind Sirius who had a smile on his face.

The next day…

Collin Saunders was in his room in the manor near London where he had been living ever since his mother had married his cruel stepfather, Hewson Leverge.

He was checking his trunk and his shelves to make sure there was nothing he had not packed that he would need or miss dearly.

He had decided that enough was enough for him. He would be leaving this house and his so called family for good.

He couldn't help feeling sad as he thought of leaving. There was still some tiny hope that his mother would love him and show some affection.

But she had never given him any.

He often wondered on and off why his father had not just taken him.

He had essentially been an orphan all his life.

But now that he had friends, good friends who had listened to him, he had resolved not to be a bully any more.

After a last check, he pulled his trunk, with a backpack swung over his shoulders, out of his room, which had never been decorated unlike Avril's room which had been lavishly decorated.

As he stepped into the corridor and turned to head towards a staircase, he suddenly heard a cruel arrogant voice snarling, "Where do you think you're going Useless?!"

He turned around and saw his stepfather, Hewson Leverge, a man dressed formally in a red suit, with a beard and moustache and short hair, standing a little distance away and sporting a hateful smile on his face.

(NOTE: If anyone reading this fanfic has seen the movie Mangal Pandey, just visualize Captain Hewson.)

Collin responded, "I'm leaving this place for good. I'm sick of the way you've been treating me for years, you cruel evil bastard of a stepfather!" saying the title with as much venom as possible.

"Ungrateful brat," Hewson shouted, "Don't you dare talk back to me! I've given you and your mother a large place, and you have a sister and this is how you repay me?!"

"Stepsister you mean," Collin shouted, "I've seen how siblings behave at Hogwarts. Sisters and brothers are supposed to help each other, not one tormenting the other like Avril does to me. And all you've ever done to me is to abuse me and tell me things like I'm worthless, useless and that nobody will ever want me!"

"Who wants to be friends with a useless waste bully like you?" Collin heard a young female voice spit, and he turned around and saw Avril nearby.

He retorted, "You all made me one. I admit, I was wrong to bully others to vent my feelings, but you've been nothing but cruel to me. As for friends, I have friends now, and you think you're such a good friend, but you've lost Bellatrix to Abhimanyu! He deserves her more than you do you twisted…. And you, so called fatherly figure who…"

"Don't you dare talk back to your father and sister like that," a new female voice shouted, "Don't you dare embarrass me in front of them!"

And with that, a slim woman with long black hair, Collin's mother, entered the corridor from behind Collin and was about to slap him when he suddenly yelled, "YOU MAY HAVE GIVEN BIRTH TO ME, BUT YOU NEVER LOVED ME! YOU'VE HATED ME AND ABUSED ME FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER!"

"I gave you everything you needed, you brat," Collin's mother spoke.

Hewson placed a hand on his wife's shoulder and said, "Macready, don't bother about him. He's just a useless brat. He's finally leaving us. We won't have to put up with him anymore."

Avril commented, "Who will you stay with you urchin, that Mudblood Pandey and his friends?"

Collin yelled, "Don't you dare call him a Mudblood! He's a hundred times better than you, you bitch!"

"HOW DARE YOU," Macready yelled, but Collin yelled, "YOU SAY MY FATHER LEFT ME AND DIDN'T LOVE ME, BUT YOU'RE NO BETTER!"

And then, Macready narrowed her eyes and said, "You remember what I told you, but I think I shall tell you what really happened since you're leaving anyway."

She continued, even as Collin looked suspiciously at her, "Your father didn't actually leave you. Actually, I did love him, and he was so gentle and caring, and loyal, a Muggleborn, but I loved him mainly because of his money. He was very rich. Then you had to come along, and I didn't want you, but then your father persuaded me to keep you, so of course, I had to give you some attention and affection, but I could not stand your crying at night. Your father of course, loved you more than anything, but I never did. Then one day, you spilled all my cosmetics and I was furious with you and wanted to punish you badly for it, and of course, you had to start crying. Then your father came along and decided to divorce me and take you with him."

Collin was shocked to hear what he had heard.

His father had loved him.

But why hadn't he taken him?

And then, Macready continued, "You of course will want to know why he didn't. You see, things were going in his favor, and it seemed that I would be left with nothing, and he would have his full wealth as well as half of what I had inherited from my grandfather. But then, Druella came along. She helped me win, and he was left with nothing but half of his wealth. And then of course, I wanted to find a pureblood wizard, but no one would marry me, because I was a single mother, but I kept you anyway, for one main reason. What I did to you, was my revenge against your father. I humiliated you and prevented him from seeing you, and Druella helped me. Soon after the divorce, just after Hewson proposed to me, your father died of a broken heart. I never turned you out, but I never loved you either. Why do you think I showered Avril with gifts and sent you to a boarding school before Hogwarts? Why do you think I never signed your Hogsmeade permission slip? It's because you are the product of that Mudblood who cheated me and tried to leave me with nothing."

Collin stood there with his mouth wide open with shock. Hewson sported a cruel smile, and Avril a cruel look.

After some moments, he yelled, "YOU LIED TO ME! MY FATHER LOVED ME AND YOU TOLD ME HE DIDN'T WANT ME! YOU DID THIS TO ME! YOU MADE ME A BULLY! NO MATTER WHAT GOOD I DID, YOU NEVER APPRECIATED ME! ALL THIS WHILE, I'VE BEEN YOU'RE SLAVE FOR REVENGE! I HATE YOU!"

Avril hissed, "You're nothing to us. Soon, you'll be begging for mercy. No one will want you."

Hewson joined her saying, "You think you're more worthy than us? You can leave this house if you like. You can roam the streets all you like and you will soon be at our doorstep, begging us to take you back in, and then perhaps, we'll give you a small room in the…"

"SHUT UP!" Collin yelled, "I WILL NEVER CALL YOU MY FATHER AS LONG AS I LIVE! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A CRUEL MAN!"

"How dare you," Avril started, but Collin yelled, "YOU DISGUST ME! YOU'RE A CRUEL SELFISH PERSON WHO WANTS TO JOIN THE NEW DARK LORD, BUT YOU'LL GO DOWN ONE DAY! DO YOU KNOW THAT ABHIMANYU SPOKE TO THE DARK LORD, FACE TO FACE, AND OUTRIGHTLY ACCUSED HIM OF PRACTICING RACISM? HE, GINGER, AND BELLATRIX ARE MORE WORTH IT THAN YOU! AND BELLATRIX ISN'T YOUR BESTIE ANYMORE! ONE DAY, SHE WILL MARRY ABHIMANYU PANDEY! HE IS MORE WORTHY OF HER THAN YOU AND RODOLPHUS LESTRANGE EVER WILL BE!"

Macready yelled, "HOW DARE YOU, YOU WRETCHED…"

But Collin had had enough of being put down. He yelled at her, "YOU ARE SO CRUEL THAT YOU WILL DIE ALONE! ONE DAY, YOU'LL BE SORRY YOU TREATED ME THE WAY YOU DID, BUT IT'LL BE TOO LATE! YOU ORPHANED ME WHEN YOU TOOK ME AWAY FROM MY FATHER! YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER! I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT YOU DID TO ME!"

And with that, he took his luggage and left the house for good.

Abhimanyu was at Ginger's house in Kingston Road, London. He was sitting in the living room on a couch with Ginger. Ginger's father, a thin, well built man with graying hair and a serious but warm face, was sitting on the opposite couch.

The house looked a lot similar to Abhimanyu's house, but was bigger and had more rooms and a pool in an enclosure.

Abhimanyu said, "So, it's likely that Voldemort will strike soon. If not this year, then next year."

Ginger's father, Gordon Hebblethwaite, looked at him seriously and spoke, "You know, when I was your age, the battle of Britain was on us. I flew with the RAF. It was stressful, and the blitz was a total nightmare."

"You flew with RAF?" Abhimanyu asked.

"Of course young man," Gordon replied, "I first flew in a squadron of Hawker Hurricanes, and then towards the spring of 1941, I was made the leader of squadron 666, with Supermarine Spitfires."

"That's interesting," Abhimanyu replied, "So what could we expect if a war were to break out soon?"

Gordon was about to say something, but then the telephone nearby started ringing.

Ginger's mother exited the kitchen and picked up the phone.

She spoke, "Hello, this is Elizabeth Hebblethwaite of 18 Kingston Lane, Hebblethwaite residence speaking."

Everyone could hear her saying, "Oh yes, I'm Ginger's mother. What? You want to speak to him? Hold on, I'll call him. Ginger, its Collin Saunders, and he wants to talk to you."

"Collin?" Ginger cried out, jumping up from the couch and moving over to take the receiver, with Abhimanyu following him, "I hope he's not in trouble."

Ginger took the receiver and spoke, "Hello, Collin, is it you? It's me, Ginger here."

Collin's voice came through, "Ginger, it's me, Collin. I'm in Shaftesbury Avenue, London. Can you come pick me up?"

Abhimanyu took the receiver from Ginger and spoke, "Collin? You're in London? Hold on, we'll come and get you. Shaftesbury Avenue, right?"

"Yes, that's where I am," Collin replied.

Ginger turned to his parents and said, "Mum, Collin's in Shaftesbury Avenue. He's asking us to come and get him."

Gordon spoke, "The one that used to be a bully?"

Elizabeth spoke, 'And it turned out he was being horribly treated. That poor child! We have to get him. Gordon, we'll all go get him."

Gordon got up and said, "Lizzie, you stay here. I'll go get him myself. Ginger, Abhimanyu, one of you will have to come along. You know him."

Abhimanyu quickly said goodbye to Collin and hung up before saying, "I'll come with you Gordon Uncle."

Around an hour later, the doorbell rang and Ginger went to open it. Sure enough, there at the doorstep stood Collin, Abhimanyu, and Gordon.

Ginger said, "Hi Collin, welcome. Come on inside."

A few minutes later, Collin's bags were in the living room and the boys and Gordon had washed their faces and were now sitting in the living room.

Gordon spoke, "Mr. Saunders, I hope you are not in huge trouble. You'll need to tell us what's going on."

Collin replied bitterly, "Yes, let's just say, I've had enough of my so called family, and I've been disowned."

"Oh my goodness," Elizabeth gasped.

Collin said, "I can't stand them anymore! I've had enough of being hated and unloved! I don't know where I shall stay though. I'm not an adult yet and…"

"You can stay with us," Ginger's mother suddenly spoke up, "Stay with us. We'll take you in."

Gordon spoke up, "It's the best we can do. You will need a place to stay. You will be like a second son to us."

Abhimanyu spoke up, "And my parents say that you can you can some stay over at my place any time you need."

Ginger spoke up, "We all discussed your situation, and we finally decided that it would be best you stay with us."

Collin looked at them all in wonder, and the next moment, he stood up and flung himself into Elizabeth's arms, crying, releasing pent up emotions.

Elizabeth hugged the boy and rocked him in her arms from side to side as she comforted him.

Abhimanyu watched on, happily.

Collin Saunders, who had once been a bully, had become a friend.

And more importantly, he would never ever be abused again, but would be loved like a son.

Later on in the evening…

Avril stood by a window on the first floor of her house, looking outside as rain pattered against the window and thunder rumbled.

She was seething with rage.

Collin had suddenly become stronger, and different.

Before, he had never dared to talk back to anyone inside the house the way he had in the morning.

And his statements about Abhimanyu and Bellatrix stung her to the core.

How could it be?

Bellatrix had once considered her as her best friend, but after that incident where that Mudblood had 'saved' Andromeda, not only had Bellatrix befriended him; Abhimanyu had replaced Avril as Bellatrix's best friend and she had even fallen in love with him.

Just then, she heard a male voice say softly, "Avril darling, what are you thinking of?"

She turned around and saw her father.

She spoke, "I can't believe that Bellatrix would fall in love with that pesky Mudblood Pandey! He has corrupted her and her sisters, and I'm no longer her best friend! Just what am I supposed to do Daddy?"

Hewson smiled and wrapped an arm around his daughter saying, "It would not be prudent to write to her family. She would be disowned. Mainly, you want her back, don't you?"

Avril replied, "I want her back. And then, we should join the Dark Lord. Rodolphus will soon take me to see him."

Hewson smiled wickedly and said, as they both looked out of the window saying, "Dearest Princess. See the storm? Wasn't it so calm before then?"

"Yes," Avril replied.

Hewson said, "To achieve the goal, the obstacle must be removed, and Abhimanyu Pandey is the obstacle."

Avril asked, "What shall we do?"

Hewson smiled wickedly and said, "It is like the storm here. This young man may think life is going well for him, but soon, he shall be reduced to nothing. Soon, my little princess, that foolish fool of a Mudblood shall be crushed, and Bellatrix shall not be under his influence anymore. Without his influence, she will realize that she was led astray and will come back to you. And then, both of you shall be able to serve the Dark Lord together, and put an end to the freedom of those foolish Muggle slaves who call themselves wizards, Muggleborns, Mudbloods. Daddy's little Princess shall soon have her best friend back, and that brown pest nigger shall be begging for mercy."

Avril was elated to hear her father's words and thought, "Soon, Bellatrix, you shall be my best friend again and that Mudblood will be crushed. You Mudblood Abhimanyu Pandey, soon you shall lose everything you love and you will be begging us for mercy."