Bellatrix and Abhimanyu woke up to find out that they had been asleep on each other's heads the whole time.

And they could hear Abhimanyu's parents coming down the stairs with suitcases.

At once Abhimanyu rushed forward, only to see his father come down with a packed suitcase in his hand, followed by Subhadra.

Subhadra smiled at him and said, "Good morning Beta. Slept well?"

Abhimanyu asked, "Yeah, are you leaving now?"

Subhadra replied, "Our flight is at 12 pm today, and right now it is already 7."

Rama added, "We have to leave in half an hour."

Around one and a half hours later, just in front of London Heathrow Airport…

Abhimanyu was standing in front of a doorway with his parents as they did some last minute checking to make sure they had all their passports with them. Bellatrix was standing next to him, and just with them were the other girls plus Lucius and Ginger.

"Ma, Papa, I'll miss you," Abhimanyu spoke sadly.

Subhadra hugged him saying, "I'll miss my baby boy! Just yesterday I was holding you in my arms as a tiny baby, and now you're so big! Take care dear child!"

Rama hugged him too saying, "I'll miss you son. We love you very much. Be a good boy and be brave and strong."

Bellatrix hugged Subhadra saying, "Aunty, thank you for everything. Please do come soon."

Subhadra replied, "We might come back here in November."

Bellatrix said, "There's something you need to know. Abhimanyu and I are planning to get married soon, and we absolutely do not want to do this without you."

Subhadra and Rama looked at Abhimanyu and Bellatrix with surprise.

Rama held Abhimanyu's shoulders and asked, "Are you really ready for this?"
Abhimanyu replied, "We love each other. And I'm sure I can do this."

Subhadra pointed out, "You'll have a responsibility. You have to take care of Bellatrix and her sisters and Lucius, you know that. You'd better take good care of them all, especially if you're going to marry Bellatrix."

Ginger spoke up, "Aunty, if there's any man fit enough for Bellatrix, it's him! Besides, it's not like…"

"What about Marie and you? I think you're good for Marie," Abhimanyu suddenly spoke up.

"Hey," Ginger cried out, "Just because she's with me doesn't mean I'm comfortable about it being spoken! She's still in her seventh year; her father will flay me alive if he finds out! Have you seen his face?"

Everyone burst out into laughter. Lucius looked at Narcissa, who smiled a little evilly back at him and then turned to look at Abhimanyu's parents.

Andromeda spoke up, "He's the only one we would really want to be married to Bellatrix. That is love, unlike her and Lestrange."

Narcissa added, "And I trust him with our sister. He once fought against the Dark Lord himself to protect Andi, Lucius and me. He would do the same for Bellatrix. He would never leave a friend behind."

Subhadra couldn't help smiling at that.

She then hugged Bellatrix saying, "Take care dear child. Be careful. Stay safe."

Bellatrix declared, "I will do everything in my power to keep Abhimanyu safe, just as I know he will do for me. I love him and if I have to die for him, then so be it."

Subhadra whispered, "You will be fine. May God protect you!"

Rama hugged his son and said, "No matter what, do not forget your responsibilities. And be brave."

Subhadra hugged him saying, "Be brave, be strong, remember that we love you very much. Fight bravely, and be safe."

Lucius was given a hug by Abhimanyu's parents. He was a bit taken aback, as he was still getting used to being comfortable with Muggles, but he politely said, "Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Pandey for everything. Be safe."

After a couple more hugs with the youngsters, the parents stepped into the airport and headed towards check-in.

Sometime later…

Abhimanyu, Lucius, Ginger, Andromeda, Bellatrix and Narcissa were sitting in a café and eating pancakes with hashbrowns and coffee.

Narcissa spoke up, "So, what happens now?"

Abhimanyu replied, "Well, Bellatrix and I will have to study harder. We're almost done with one year anyway. But luckily, there's that money saved up in my account at Gringotts. Plus, if we need financial help, we could ask Uncle Fleamont or Uncle Alexander."

Andromeda said, "It's not going to be easy, but we'll manage."

Lucius spoke up, "I got an owl yesterday from my mother. She doesn't exactly approve of our blossoming friendships, but she was still horrified about what happened to me last night. She says she's going to send me money regularly. And she wants to see me, and you."

"Oh," Abhimanyu replied, "Well, no offense, but I hope she doesn't turn out to be like, uh…, those…"

"Never mind," Bellatrix interrupted, "It doesn't matter. Anyway, nothing to worry about. She's nothing like Macready, Walburga, or my mother."

Everyone could sense the emptiness in the word 'mother' as Bellatrix finished her sentence.

Ginger spoke up, "Whatever happens, it's going to be alright."

Everyone nodded at that.

That afternoon, at the ministry…

Abhimanyu was walking down a corridor on the DMLE level of the ministry.

Just then, he ran into a young man, an auror who said, "Pandey, Mr. Crouch is calling you to his office."

Abhimanyu replied, "I've heard. I'm on my way."

Soon, he stood in front of a large black door and knocked.

He heard a booming voice respond, "Come in."

He opened the door and stepped into the room.

It was quite a well stacked room, mostly full of shelves containing books, files and other equipment. At the back of the room, there was a medium sized table, behind which sat a man in black robes, a black tie, and sporting a graying mustache, none other than Bartemius Crouch, the head of the DMLE.

And of course, in front of the table, there were a few quite modest looking wooden chairs.

Abhimanyu entered the room and spoke, "Sir, you called."

"Pandey," Crouch replied, "Please have a seat."

Abhimanyu sat down after which Crouch proceeded to pour a glass of water for him before filling his own cup.

He then asked, "You are auror trainee Abhimanyu Pandey, right?"

Abhimanyu replied, "Yes."

Crouch asked, "Were you aware of the attack on the Muggle Parliament building on the same night that you faced He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

Abhimanyu replied, "Yes. I heard only the next day."

Crouch pressed further, "Were you aware of Andromeda Black being sighted as one of the attackers?"

Abhimanyu replied, "Sir, with all due respect, it wasn't Andromeda Black. That night, she was with me. I was trying to protect her, Narcissa and Lucius while fighting Voldemort."

Crouch said, "But it was reported that Andromeda Black had been sighted there. How do you know it wasn't someone else?"

Abhimanyu explained, "Sir, I have known her for years. We have been very good friends. And she and her sisters are against the Dark Lord."

"Against," Crouch cried out, aghast, "Against?! They are from the Black family! What in Merlin's beard could make you think they are anything but supporters of this Dark Lord?! Are you insane?!"

"Sir," Abhimanyu said, "I am not insane. In fact, yesterday, when Bellatrix was supposed to get married to…"

"I know that she is married to Rodolphus Lestrange!" Crouch shouted, "Do you take me for a fool?!"

Abhimanyu replied, a little hotly, "She refused him for me! And she and her sisters were disowned!"

Crouch suddenly stopped his rant and muttered, "What did you say?"

Abhimanyu explained, "It's true that they are from the Black family, but they've turned out to be totally different. In fact, Bellatrix and I have been together for the past two years. And now, she's my fiancé."

"What?" Crouch muttered in disbelief.

Abhimanyu showed a ring on his hand, the ring with the black family crest and said, "This is a ring which Bellatrix herself gave to me."

Crouch stared in disbelief at the ring and asked, "How is this possible?! Are you telling the truth?"

Abhimanyu said, "I can assure you that."

Crouch said, "I must examine it for any dark curses. Hand it over. If there are none, I will give it back to you."

Abhimanyu complied and handed the ring over.

Crouch pulled out his wand and cast some spells, trying to find out if there were any curses, but there seemed to be none.

Finally, he handed the ring back and said, "I still find it hard to believe you, but if what you are saying about Bellatrix and her sisters is absolutely true, then I cannot see why I should detain them. But who was it then at the Muggle Parliament building?"

Abhimanyu replied, "I bet it was Avril Leverge. She and Rodolphus both support Voldemort. Her father in fact…"

"Oh of course," Crouch growled, "It would be Leverge. She and her father! Barely some months ago last year, that man tried to have you assassinated! I should have known it would be her!"

He then asked, "If you were there at the wedding, then you must know what happened to aurors Richardson and his apprentice. What exactly happened to them? Why have they not turned up?"

Abhimanyu explained, "Actually, this wedding was a forced one. I was trying to get Bellatrix out of there by masquerading as Voldemort. Then, the aurors showed up and tried to take Andromeda. I forgot what I was supposed to do and ran over to defend her. I ended up taking off my hood and blowing my cover. Bellatrix came over to defend me from everyone over there and suddenly, the real Voldemort turned up. The last thing I remember of Auror Richardson and his apprentice is that they told us to run and that they would fight him off."

Crouch listened to his story and then replied gravely "If that is so, then the only thing we can assume is that they are dead."

Abhimanyu stated, "The war is only just beginning. Voldemort wants to rule over Muggles and Muggleborns."

"And make them slaves," Crouch finished for him, "Rule with the glorification of the dark arts, which I hate!"

Crouch then said, "You were quite brave out there the day before yesterday night, fighting the Dark Lord by yourself."

Abhimanyu replied, "It was a tough fight. The war has only just begun, and the only thing we can do is to move forward and fight."

"I completely agree," Crouch replied before returning to his seat.