Things were changing. A lot of things. All three kids were now in school and you would have thought that things would be better. They weren't at all. The clouds were more grey and stood as still as a tower. Even the trees didn't stir, scared they would be silenced.

Andromeda's thoughts were overflowing like a treasure chest - unable to stay closed. What if this isn't normal? What if her family were wrong? What if blood doesn't matter? She meandered down the isolated corridor, frozen because of the crisp breeze. She stood at the door of her older sister's dorm, contemplating whether to knock. She knocked. Thud. Thud. Thud. It swung open.

"Ugh what do you want? I'm busy!" Bellatrix sneered at her sister with a look of pure annoyance.

"Did you hex that first year?" Andromeda asked, almost scared. Bellatrix just laughed and smiled at the memory. That was a yes. Andromeda pushed her way into the room; barging past her sister. "You shouldn't have done it. What did he do to you?"

"He ruined my top."

"You had no reason to do that! You know you're acting like mum!" She snarled back at her.

Nothing could have braced her for the pain. Bellatrix's wand lifted so fast she didn't have time to think. She was screaming. She had been crucioed many times in her life but nothing hurt worse than this. Her own sister betrayed her.

Andromeda stood outside her classroom door, shaking as she looked at the A on her potions essay. She couldn't get an A. She didn't even know why - she just froze, her hands were shaking. Everything was different and she couldn't bring herself to breathe properly, feeling as though there's a weight on her chest. An A meant she would be punished. It wasn't the best - it wasn't perfect. People who walked past asked if she was okay and she just nodded. Saying she's okay when she's far from it.

"You know, for once even I beat you." A voice called from behind her. Him. God how she hated him. Ted Tonks stood smiling behind her, which dropped when he noticed her look. "Are you okay?"

"Leave me alone." She pushed past him, away from the door. She felt her chest tightening and she couldn't stop it. Andromeda shook her hands, trying to shake away this feeling of dread. A hand touched her shoulder pulling her back, as arms wrapped around her shoulders, burying her head in his chest. She never gets hugged - ever. Frankly she hated them but this was...nice.

"Breathe...I've got you." He whispered to her as she hyperventilated; she closed her eyes. She slowed her breathing as her panic attack subsided. He rubbed her back whispering comforting words in her ear. Maybe he wasn't all that bad? "An A is still better than most Black, it's not that bad-" Ted began but was cut off by her hoarse, cracking voice.

"You don't get it, I can't be bad. I have to get the grades. That's all I have! Bellatrix is the favourite and Narcissa is so beautiful, that she'll be married as soon as she leaves here. I have nothing! I'm not pretty or- or I don't I don't want to go to the dark side! I want to be better. I have to be better!" She cried sliding down the wall gasping for breath. Everything was coming out now.

He watched as she sank to the floor, people watching her - whispering. He moved them all along and knelt in front of her. His hands moved to sit on her knees. "You're beautiful, Black and not that bad." He reassured her.

She looked at him, her eyes red and swollen and her chest heaving. He reached out to move a strand of her hair out of her face. She sniffed. "You think I'm beautiful?" She whispered calmly to the Hufflepuff boy in front of her.

"Of course- I mean you'd be stupid not to think thatâ" Ted whispered back, smiling softly to her. She leaned up to press her lips to his gently - like she was scared to hurt him. He froze, but as soon as he gained his senses back he kissed her back putting a hand to her cheek. She breaks away and pushes him back.

"I'm sorry- I have to go."

Anger was what surrounded Bellatrix's dorm. She sat on her bed practising spells with a frown etched upon her face. Rita laid next to her, watching her in a meticulous way.

"How dare she! Saying I'm like our mother!" Bellatrix spat as she waved her wand, exploding the pillow in front of her, covering the bed in feathers.

"Calm down Bella." Rita sat up and pulled her wand away from her. If looks could kill Rita would be dead right now. Bellatrix reached over her to grab the wand. Rita smiled and put it behind her back, playing around. Bellatrix dorm was mostly black, meaning that there was an eeriness to it. She pinned her down to get the wand; faces inches from each other.

Rita's heart raced as she looked up at her. They don't know how it happened or when, but they were kissing. Bellatrix hands either side of her head as their lips were interlocked. They finally broke away to breathe and they just stared at each other. Bellatrix sat back on her bed and grabbed her wand, hurriedly.

"Leave."

"But Bella-"

"Leave!" She spat at the girl. Rita left with tears in her eyes.

How is it that they're so similar, yet so different?