When the calendar hit February, Cass had already been well on her way to recovery. After taking her first steps at Christmas, she was determined to get back on a broom before the final Quidditch matches. She needed the scouts to see her fly. Quidditch was her whole world and she was determined to get some sort of offer even if she killed herself doing so. The doctors finally gave her clearance to start walking around with only the use of crutches if she needed them. Cass was just thankful to not be restricted to her bed any longer. She had assumed that it meant she would be able to go back to school soon but her mother seemed to have other ideas.

"But I'm walking, mummy. I'm ready to go back." Cass had found Bella sitting in the library nursing a glass of fire whiskey. "Dr. Hoffman and Aunt Aviya said I'm a miracle. We already knew that but they also said I'm ready to go back to Hogwarts. I just know that flying is out of the question for another month."

"Your Aunt Aviya doesn't know what she is talking about and I'm beginning to doubt Dr. Hoffman. You couldn't move, Cass. No walking, no sitting up. You couldn't go to the bathroom. I helped Winky change your bed pan. It was quite disgusting now that I think about it."

Cass groaned, "but I can do all those things now, mummy. I don't need help anymore."

"You almost died, again. I really don't know what I would've done if you hadn't come back to me," she saw the disappointment in her daughter's eyes. "Listen kitten. It's not you. I trust you so much. I know you won't fly until you are cleared. Aunt Aviya even offered to go back to working at the school for a few months to keep an eye on things. It's the school I don't trust. How am I meant to send you back there when the headmistress has her head so far up her own ass that she can't see what happened?"

"I understand that mummy. I hate McGonagall, too. Ginny didn't even vouch for my flying skills. That's a shot to the ego."

"Come sit down," Bella patted the seat next to her.

Cass sat down carefully next to her mother. She wasn't in a lot of pain anymore but she still felt tightness when sitting or standing for too long or after a night of lying down. The doctors told her it would fade overtime. "It's that face you made sitting down that worries me. I know you are still hurting, kitten. You are so much like me and that's a scary thought sometimes. I would've done anything to get back out on the pitch."

"But I won't fly until they clear me. I swear it, mummy. I just want to go back to school. It's my seventh year and I've missed so much of it. It's valentines next week and I really really wanted to be with Sam. Take her to Hogsmeade. Maybe to see the squid. I don't know, I haven't planned it yet. I just want to go see her."

"Cass…" Bella's voice was soft and Cass knew that was about to be the end of the conversation.

"Please at least think about it mummy. It would mean so much to me to go back."

Bella didn't trust that school to be able to provide the care her daughter needed while finishing her recovery. With that Weasley girl still running around unpunished, what was to stop her from hurting Cass even more? "You know you can't sleep with your girlfriend right now. Especially at Hogwarts and don't even think about using my rooms for that."

Cass's mouth dropped open, "that's not what… no… I was insinuating that. Mummy. No," her entire face turned bright red. "We haven't even. No."

"By the color of your face I think it's safe to assume that you are still a virgin." She tried to hold in her laughter at the sheer amount of embarrassment Cass just went through.

"Yes mummy," she closed her eyes trying to hold her embarrassment inside, "we haven't had sex yet. Sam wants to wait and I respect that."

"Absolutely nothing wrong with waiting."

"Did you wait?"

Bella didn't exactly know how to broach that conversation. Of course she didn't wait. She was betrothed to a guy since she was child even though she had no interest in him or any man so she secretly dated girls at school. "Not exactly."

Cass didn't try to push for an explanation, "do you wish you did?"

"Yes," she sighed, "but had I waited for your mother to come along then I'd have been a virgin well into my 40s."

"Okay," Cass laughed, "that may be a little too much waiting." After a short comfortable silence, Cass brought it up again, "I don't want to go back to school just for Sam. I want to go for me. My NEWTs are coming up and I've been preparing for them but I think it'll help me more if I'm at school."

"Did you already ask your mother?"

Cass shook her head, "no. She went back to work and it seems she's forgotten about us again. Kitty even left to go back home. Auntie Andy thinks I should go back but I think it's just because she's tired of sharing the breakfast sausages with me."

Another stab to Bella's heart. She knew Hermione had pulled away again after Cass started to walk again. After the New Year, she has gone back to work at the ministry, spending more and more hours at work. Katherine had felt that she was ready to go home and Bella was almost certain that Hermione would move back with her. When she didn't, it surprised everyone however Hermione still remained in the guest room and didn't interact with everyone all that often. "Okay," Bella sighed.

"Okay? Okay, as in I can go back to school?"

"Yes but under several long and fully laid out conditions."

Cass's eyes were smiling, "whatever they are I fully accept all of them."

"You will be staying in my rooms with your Aunt Aviya. You will still attend all of your physical therapy appointments. When you need to attend your doctor's appointments, I will floo to Hogwarts and get you and bring you back after the appointments. You will not fly until you've been cleared. No apparating until I've cleared you for that. You will not engage with Weasley under any circumstance. You will go to school, study and not break any rules that will get you back on McGonagall's radar."

"So be good for once," Cass smirked. "That all seems perfectly reasonable. Is Aunt Cissy going to let her wife come to Hogwarts with me?"

Bella cackled, "it's funny that you think she has a say in anything."

"I call a claim on the bed. Aunt Aviya gets the couch."

Bella shrugged, "of course. That goes without saying. You can go back at the end of the week. I'll have a conversation with your mother and she can alert the headmistress."

Cass threw her arms around Bella's neck, hugging her tightly, "thank you, mummy. I won't let you down."

"You've never let me down, kitten. Go on, therapy starts soon."

Cass had went back to Hogwarts with Aviya and Bella was truly sad to see her go. She had gotten used to her being around and it was nice to get a chance to spend time with her no matter the horrendous circumstances. Now, it was Valentine's Day evening and Hermione had made some stupid excuse about working late at the Ministry via a fucking text message so it was Andy and Bella at home for the romantic dinner she asked the elves prepare for Hermione days prior. Sure, they weren't on the best of terms but she was still her wife. "Thanks for the dinner, cutie," Andy winked at her from across the table.

"I hate you," Bella pushed her salmon across her plate.

"No you don't," Andy felt bad for her sister. It was her first Valentine's Day in 22 years that Hermione skipped out on. Whether Bella would say it or not, Andy knew she was hurting. "Do you want to go set fire to the Ministry later? My treat. I'll buy the gasoline."

"As fun as that sound," Bella appreciated what she was trying to do, "I'll probably just go to bed early."

"Is that code for masturbating or crying yourself to sleep?"

Bella rolled her eyes, "neither. I just don't need anymore reminders of how shit my life is right now. I hope Cass and Sam had a nice Valentine's."

"Have they had sex yet?"

Bella smirked, "she said they haven't. I think I believe her. She got all red and squirrely when I asked her about it. She's also not stupid. If she has sex and fucks her back up even more then no flying for her."

"Sex or Quidditch. What a choice," Andy cackled.

"Sex. Always sex," Bella laughed with her sister. "Another reason I don't think they've done it yet. Cass would still pick flying over fucking. That'll change."

"Well not everybody had an amazing first time," Andy scoffed, "it's not like we all got the pleasure of fucking Rosemerta."

Bella smiled fondly, "that really was something."

"Do you think she remembers?"

"Ha!" Bella had no doubt, "I'm sure I was the best fuck she's ever had. Since it was my first time and all, I tried really hard."

"Wasn't it her first time too?"

"Exactly," Bella smirked, "that means every time after she'd have to compare it to me. I feel bad for everyone who has had her after me. Poor fools."

"Is there where I give you the humility talk?"

"Save it for the less fortunate," her mood shifted again when the elves brought out Hermione's favorite ice cream. "Enjoy the pudding. I'm going to bed."

"Hey," Bella stopped at the door and looked over her shoulder, "for whatever it's worth, Hermione is a fucking idiot."

"Thanks, Andy. Happy Valentine's." She took herself up to her bedroom and started pacing. It didn't take long for Bellatrix to show her face, "I knew you'd be around tonight."

Nothing says Happy Valentine's Day like a little torture, Bellatrix was lounging by the window. Seems muddy would rather be spending the evening alone. Might as well have some fun.

"I told you to stop calling her that."

And I've told you I'll do as I see fit, the argument went back and forth for days over the way Bellatrix addressed Bella's wife. I still don't see what you've ever seen in her. At first I thought she might be a good lay but I have yet to see you fucking so I don't think that's it.

"It's not always like this," Bella was still very defensive of her wife. "If you want to go torturing you better keep her name out of your mouth or we won't go anywhere."

I didn't say a word.

"Sure you didn't," Bella grabbed a book and relaxed on her bed.

Why are you sitting down? This isn't the time for catching up on a mediocre book. It's time for torture.

"We can't go anywhere until Andy goes to sleep or at least to her room." Bellatrix threw her head back, snoring dramatically. "Oh stop that. Always so fucking dramatic you were."

Are.

"That stands to be seen. I just need to figure out how to make you go away for good."

You'll be bored without me. Personally I think you like having me around. Your life was boring without me.

"My life was perfect up until 6 months ago." She shrugged, "at least there aren't anymore dementors at Azkaban."

We won't be going back there.

"Very confident for the one of us who won't be held accountable."

Think of the stories you'll have.

"Next time you say that I'm just going to off myself," she pulled her book out of the bedside dresser. "Take a seat. We have to wait for Andy to go to bed."

Bellatrix huffed, fine. We better kill him tonight. I'm getting tired of fucking around. His screams aren't even that fun anymore.

Andy was laying in her bed reading a book when she thought she heard whispering in the hallway. "Maybe Hermione finally pulled her head out of her ass," she went back to reading her book. She was mad that she ditched Bella on Valentine's Day. She knew her sister would never admit it but this year was hard on her and she was hurting. Andy hated seeing her sister upset no matter the cause and as a dutiful younger sister, she was getting madder at Hermione by the day. The whisper got louder and it caught her attention noting that it didn't sound like the brunette. It sounded like her sister. "That's odd," she put her book down and grabbed a sweatshirt, throwing it over her head. She followed the whispers outside of her sister's room. It wasn't just whispering, Bella was having a full blown conversation with another person but there was only one voice in there. She heard Bella, "I know when Andy goes to sleep we will leave."

Go where, Andy thought to herself and who Bella was talking to. She had two choices. She could storm in there and demand answers or wait until Bella left and follow her. Then she heard Bella say, "okay just shut the hell up for Salazar's sake. Let's go see if Andy is in her room." She immediately panicked when she her rustling from behind the door and apparated into her room. She turned out the lights and threw herself into bed. It was early but convincing. At least Andy thought so when her sister quietly opened up the door and walked over to stand next to her. Andy steadied her breathing and willed herself to look asleep. "Okay, she's out," Bella mumbled to whoever was with her and took off back out of the room. Andy waited until she heard the door shut, cast a silencing charm on her feet and followed behind Bella at a safe distance. The shocking thing was that her sister was alone. There was nobody with her but she was having a full blown back and forth conversation. Luna had been right all those weeks ago and Andy felt like shit for not noticing or intervening sooner. "I have to follow her," she cast her patronus and then cast a spell that she and Bella had developed as teenagers to be able to see through their patronuses. She was able to diminish the light of her penguin to follow Bella through her apparition.

"What's she doing at the Rosier family estate?" Andy had a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach and sent her patronus to Teddy asking him to join her outside of the manor.

Teddy popped onto the scene immediately, "what's going on grandma?"

"It's your Aunt Bella. I'm worried about her."

"Worried how?"

Andy didn't want to upset her grandson but she needed someone else with her for whatever they would find in that house and she trusted Teddy with her life, "I've caught her a few times now, talking to herself. Well not just talking to herself but having a full blown conversation. I've also caught her sneaking back into the house a few times. She's just off and Luna pointed it out at Jack's funeral and I guess I'm finally noticing it."

"Well where is she? What can I do?"

"That's the thing. I overheard her talking to herself or someone that they had to wait until I fell asleep. And I followed her out here. My patronus saw her at the Rosier house outside of London. I'll be honest Teddy. I don't feel good about this."

Teddy pulled his grandma into his chest, "whatever it is. We will help her."

"Hold on," she whispered against him as she disapparated them onto an adjacent street just in case Bella was still outside. She hadn't actually watched her go in. "Okay," she let go of her grandson. "We have no plan. We don't know what's in there. All we have is our wands."

Teddy pulled out a pair of magical handcuffs, "I always have these now. Force of habit. I refuse to arrest her. I don't care what she's done."

"We don't even know if she's done anything yet. We just need to go in there and see what's going on."

Teddy followed Andy down the street, "we could really use an invisibility cloak right now."

He was right but she didn't laugh. Andy was too caught up in her worry to find humor in the situation. She cast another silencing charm on their shoes. For good measure, she used it on the front door too. "Okay. Here goes nothing," she silently pushed the door open and they began their search of the estate. It was dark and quiet which made the situation even more eerie. "Maybe she's…" Andy started to whisper when there was a loud bang, a scream and a cackle that came from a room off the kitchen. "The basement," she put her finger up to her lips and motioned for Teddy to follow her.

Bella and Bellatrix had been hitting Ron with curse after curse since arriving. She had to give it to her former self, there was something oddly satisfying about torturing on Valentine's Day. If she couldn't have sex then shoving daggers through an idiot's feet was a close second. The past few times they had come, Bella had let Bellatrix take over with the torture. She was more than content to sit back and watch the scenes unfold. Tonight was the night. They were going to put the idiot ginger out of his misery. Tonight, Ron Weasley was scheduled to die. "Please, no more."

The pleas for niceties are like music to my ears, Bellatrix cackled. It never gets old, does it? She turned her attention to the other woman.

"Old? I don't know if it gets old. Repetitive, yes. I can't believe I used to do this 24/7."

There's nothing wrong with all day tortures, Bellatrix sounded petulant as she paced in front of their victim. We should just kill him. Put him out of his misery.

"Please just kill me. I'm ready to go."

See how cooperative he is after the foot thing? I love the foot thing. Wish I would've thought of it sooner. Muggles are good for something.

"I think the last thing the wizarding world needed was for you to be proficient in muggle torture techniques," Bella scoffed at herself.

But he bled and screamed so prettily for us, Bellatrix had a point. She did get immense satisfaction from his suffering.

"My favorite part is that DMLE has all but given up their search for you, Ronny. Just chalked it up to you being the deadbeat loser everyone knows you are. We could easily kill you and not one single bloody person would care. Not even your wife."

Well now let's be fair. His old cow of a mother would miss him. She never did cut the umbilical cord. Alas…

"She has plenty of spawn to fuss over," Bella agreed with her.

Bellatrix started clapping, I smell murder. Is it time? Please tell me it's time.

"I'm thinking," she started pacing, not seeing their company at the top of the stairs.

Bellatrix saw Andy and Teddy so she decided to push her further, come on. Don't be an idiot. It's time to kill him.

"I just need a minute," her pacing increased while she was running over everything in her head. "Hermione will never forgive me if I kill again."

"That's right," Ron coughed a little bit of blood. "She won't and you'll go straight back to Azkaban where you belong."

How are you going to let that blood traitor speak to you like that?!? Bellatrix shrieked.

"It's not clear cut, Lestrange," Bella growled. "I have a family to look after. What would Cass say? Or Minnie? Forget about Hermione. My girls. They need me."

Yes, Bellatrix agreed, they need you to take care of the reason your daughter had multiple surgeries. Or don't you remember her waking up unable to feel her legs. Pap Pap didn't even get to see his little girl walk one last time before he died. Truly a sad occasion.

Andy knew that was the last straw. She saw something flash in Bella's eyes that she hadn't seen in years. The evil that was lurking under the surface was present. "Victoria," she seethed. "That little bitch almost cost my daughter her future."

"Even if what you said was true happened," he was getting scared, "there's no way Victoria did it on purpose. And I promise I'll take care of it if you just let me go."

Bella cackled, "take care of it like you did in McGonagall's office? I'd be more likely to trust Mundungus Fletcher before I'd ever trust you. Hell, I'd let Lucius raise my children before I let you live."

"Please Bellatrix, I'll do anything you ask."

So now he's pleading for his life when just a few minutes ago he was pleading for his death. Cowardly sack of shit. Stop messing around Black. We had a plan. Your daughter almost died. Kill him.

"Alright, enough," Bella screamed. "This has gone on long enough. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." She stopped pacing and walked over near where Ron was chained. She raised her borrowed wand, "see you in hell Ronny boy. Avada…"

"Stupefy," Teddy shouted at his aunt as Andy cast a silent Expelliarmus to knock her wand out of reach. Teddy then hit Ron with a sleeping spell for good measure.

Andy rushed over to Bella. She was out cold on the basement floor. Teddy's spell was stronger than they thought but Bella would be fine in a couple of hours. "Are you okay?"

Teddy nodded, "that was crazy, grandma. Who was Aunt Bella talking to?"

"I think it's what the muggles refer to as a psychotic breakdown. I believe she was having conversations with her former self. We need to decide what we are going to do here."

Teddy looked down at his aunt and the unconscious beaten Weasley. They were going to need help with this one. Clearly they couldn't let Ron go. "We need to keep him chained up until we decide. If we let him go he'll just go blabbing about Aunt Bella and she'll be done for."

"There's no way she'll survive another trip to Azkaban."

"What are we going to do?"

Andy wanted to protect her sister and her family at all costs. She didn't know what they would find in this basement but she wasn't all that surprised. Thankfully they got here before anyone died. "I think we need to get Bella home and in her bed. Then we need to call the soul healer for some of those antipsychotics she told me that she used to take in the beginning."

"Will those help her?"

"It got rid of her hallucinations after the war. I don't see how this is any different. Stress, grief, anger… There's so much that can trigger these events. Cass getting hurt, fighting with Hermione and Jack dying must have sent her over the edge. I'll call the soul healer first thing in the morning."

"I'll stay over until she wakes up. You don't think we need to chain her, do you?"

Andy shook her head, "once she realizes that we know, she won't try this again."

"But what about him?"

Andy looked at the unconscious man, "there's only one thing to do… we force Hermione to watch Minnie's memory and we deal with Ron together as a family."