"For what it's worth I believe you, Minnie," kept playing over and over in the youngest Black's head as she made that long walk to the headmistress's office. It was only a few days before Cass's birthday and all the news from home hadn't been too positive. She kept in regular contact with her sister through text messages even though cell phones were considered contra banned at Hogwarts. After everyone except a select few had written her off as a liar, she wasn't too concerned about following the school rules. She used her phone as often as she liked whenever and wherever she pleased. When Slughorn told her to put it away during class she merely looked at him and said, "Blacks don't follow school policy, Professor," and packed up her stuff leaving class early. That seemed to be the final straw for him as she was summoned to headmistress McGonagall's office. Her grades hadn't slipped and she still attended all of her classes so she wasn't quite sure what the problem was. "For what it's worth I believe you Minnie," her long term rival grabbed her arm before she left Potions class and whispered to her. Pandora Lovegood was now among the really short list of those who believe that Minnie saw Weasley attack her sister and she wasn't quite sure what to do with that information. Pandora wasn't the type of girl who would say something that she didn't fully believe. She was just like her mother in that regard. Minnie never saw eye to eye with her and they weren't friends but they grew up together. A mutual tolerance for each other's existence is the best she could describe their relationship. That was until the blonde grabbed her and told her that she believed her. She thought back to the first time she rode the Hogwarts express and how blatantly rude she was to Pandora and after six years, she actually regretted it.

*September 1st, 2018*

"Take a seat, Min," Cass had opened the door to the cabin they had from last year. James was already inside. Pandora was sitting next to him looking out the window. "Fresh meat coming through," Cass cackled as Minnie took a seat opposite James leaving the seat across from Pandora for her sister. "Where's Freddy?"

James shrugged, "he said something about his grandmother telling him he had to sit with Victoria. She didn't want to sit with us."

"What a bitch," Cass rolled her eyes. "Good. She thinks she's Godric's gift to flying. She can go sit elsewhere."

"She's going to be sorted to Gryffindor," James rolled his eyes. "Glad I dodged that bullet."

"What about you Pandora… where do you want to be sorted?"

Pandora stared at Cass for an uncomfortably long time, "I suppose I'll go wherever the nargles lead me."

James gave Cass a look pleading for her not to say anything or egg her on so she responded, "I bet you'll be a ravenclaw like your mother."

"It would be an honor," she smiled then turned to Minnie. "And where will you go Minerva? Gryffindor I'm sure."

Minnie's face turned red and Cass wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or anger, "no you airhead. I'm going to be sorted into Slytherin like the rest of us Blacks. I couldn't possibly see myself in any of the inferior houses." She folded her arms over her chest and looked out the door, avoiding the rest of the conversation.

If Pandora was upset she didn't show it, she just pulled out a bag of sweets and went back to looking out the window. Cass gave James a look and he came over to squeeze next to her, "well this is going to be a fun train ride."

"I thought Minnie might want to get sorted into Ravenclaw," James whispered, "but I'm not saying anything in fear that she will rip my head off next."

Cass leaned in, "being in Gryffindor is a sore subject in our house." She looked out in the hall when she heard a familiar sound, "oi it's the trolley lady. I'm going to get us a bunch of shit to eat." She turned to her sister, "come with me. Let's get some treats."

"Fine," Minnie sighed.

When they got out in the hallway she stopped her sister, "what was that?"

"Pandora just makes me so mad. She had the best scores in primary school and no matter how hard I studied I couldn't beat her. I want to be the smartest witch. And I will be."

"Woah, Min, you will be far more advanced than Pandora but we are all friends here even if she is a bit weird. Our mums are like best friends with their parents. There is no escaping this."

"Are you telling me to play nice with her?"

"No," she handed Minnie a galleon, "I'm telling you not to be a bitch."

"Fine. I'll be nice but if she mentions me and Gryffindor again I'll punch her."

"Fair enough."

present day*

Minnie found herself standing at the base of the headmistress's office not exactly wanting to go in there. Her namesake wasn't exactly on her list of favorite people right now which made this so much harder. She had always looked up to Minerva as a roll model until she decided not to view her memory or take what she had to say seriously. The only people who seemed to care was her, Sam, Ember, Andy, Bella and apparently Pandora. Not even her other mother had the decency to believe her. That was the hardest pill to swallow. Cass had even told her that Hermione hadn't been home for over a month. "Just get it over with," she argued with herself. "Transfiguration," she whispered and the statue turned revealing a spiral staircase. She walked up the stairs and took a seat when she saw that there was nobody else in the office. "Thank Salazar," she sighed.

"I never thought I'd have the pleasure of seeing you in this office, Minerva."

Minnie groaned when the voice of Albus Dumbledore sounded behind her, "I'm already going to be in enough trouble with McGonagall. I hardly doubt conversing with an old dead guy in a portrait is fair."

"She takes after Bella," Severus Snape's portrait spoke up. "Next she's going to ask us if it is possible to avada herself."

Minnie turned around with her mouth hanging open, "how did you know that? Don't the two of you have somewhere better to be?"

Albus pretended to look at his watch, "not today."

"Great," Minnie rolled her eyes and turned back around. "I suppose the two of you don't believe me either."

"I never have trusted a Weasley," Snape deadpanned.

"At least someone here believes me," Minnie felt a little bit better. "Too bad portraits can't see memories."

"I wouldn't be so discouraged," Snape spoke up. "I think Albus will have something more inspirational to say."

"I don't need an inspirational speech. I just want my sister to get better, my mother to get her head out of her ass and for everyone to believe me. Is that so much to ask for?"

"We must try not to sink beneath our anguish ... but battle on," Dumbledore's words made Minnie turn around in her chair.

"And what the hell am I supposed to do with that?"

"I think," she could clearly see Snape rolling his eyes, "he means that in hard and trying times, it is quicker to give in to what comes easy. For you that would be whatever landed you in here. If your focus is on getting justice for your sister then do not waste your time on trivial matters and focus on what's important."

"So basically stop cursing Victoria and try to help Cass recover so she can come back and speak on her own behalf since nobody will listen to me?"

Dumbledore laugh, "there's Ms. Granger's logic."

"I prefer cursing."

"And Bella's back."

"I would say she's a good mix of both of her mother's, Severus."

"And I would say," McGonagall entered her office, "that the two of you are becoming more and more alike the longer you stay stuck on my wall. Now, if you'll excuse us, I wish to speak with Ms. Black alone."

Minnie all of a sudden felt her walls shift back into place when the men exited the portraits leaving her alone with the headmistress. "You wished to see me?"

"Please spare me the innocent student act, Ms. Black. There have been several reports of bullying, illegal duels and even muggles fights all circling around your name. Tea?" She asked and she fixed a cup for herself.

"No thank you."

"Can you tell me about these accusations?"

"Well if you've heard about the fighting then I'm sure you've heard the rumors. Not about Cass but the new rumors," Minnie rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. It has been a very difficult three months for her at school but the past few weeks had just made everything so much worse. The only people she had left on her side was Sam, Ember, James and apparently Pandora.

"Enlighten me."

"Weasle…" she saw a look on McGonagall's face. "Fine. Victoria," she stressed the use of her first name. "She's taken it upon herself to drag not only my sister but now she's moved onto my mother's reputation. It took my mother a lifetime to reset and make a positive name for herself in the wizarding community and she's gone and bloody ruined it here at school. She has convinced all of her minions in Gryffindor house that my mother is responsible for her father's disappearance and they've spread the rumors turning the other houses. Mummy doesn't deserve this disrespect and when I hear anyone speaking ill of her, I'll kill them. No questions asked."

"I can not condone the fighting no matter the reason for it." Minnie opened her mouth to rebuttal but the headmistress held her off, "I can not condone it but I also won't stand for it. I will have a talk with Ms. Weasley about the rumors she is spreading and then I will speak with each head of house to cut this off before it escalates."

"Escalates? Everybody in this bloody school thinks my mother is a murderer now thanks to that girl," she was enraged. "I really have to get back to my studies. I am assuming that I'm no longer allowed to floo home for my sister's birthday."

"You may go as long as I don't hear that any other fights have started on your account. I expect you back here the day after her birthday though and ready for midterm exams."

"Yes, headmistress. I'm not sorry for standing up for my family."

"I wouldn't expect that, dear," she gave Minnie a loving smile. "Sam has been given permission to accompany you home this weekend for your sister's birthday."

"Thank you, headmistress." She got up and started to walk to the door. "Mummy didn't do it."

"I truly believe that, Minerva."

"You know headmistress, I used to look up to you. You've always been such a powerful witch and a great role model," she let out a little sigh, "the moment you refused my memory, I lost my respect for you." Without waiting for a response, she exited quickly, walking straight down to her dorm room to get ready for the weekend.

Cass had spent the better part of the last two months in more rigorous physical therapy after she has that spasm in her foot. It turned out that it had been a sign of healing though everything was still going slower than Cass had hoped for. She was even more frustrated than she had been. The feeling would ripple through her foot and up her leg when it felt like it. There was no rhyme or reason to when she got these feelings and it was hard to pinpoint what was causing it and how to get it back. The MRI showed that with an additional surgery they would be able to fix a few more of her vertebrae. Bella and Cass came to the decision that they would take this next step after her birthday so she would have ample recovery time between then and Christmas. The doctors seemed hopeful that this would speed up her recovery. Cass wasn't too optimistic, "they just want to poke around some more. It's not like I'll ever get fully better," she had told her girlfriend one night when she called her up. After their fight early on in her recovery, they made up rather quickly when Cass realized just how much she missed her hufflepuff. Since they made up, Sam had called her almost every night to check in and give her the latest school gossip. When she found out her little sister was getting into fights, first she felt proud then started to feel increasingly worried for her sister's mental health. She would have to have a talk with her when she came home for her birthday.

Bella had been working a little more than usual with the disappearance case they had called her in on so Cass had spent plenty of time with Aunt Andy when her mummy was away. "So what do you want for your birthday this year?"

"The use of my legs?"

"Someone is feeling cheeky this morning," Andy laughed. "How about something monitory that I can actually make happen."

"Less fun but okay," she sighed, "I just want a day with everyone how things used to be before all of things," she pointed to her legs that were wrapped in a blanket. "I want mum to get over herself and to come back home, I want my sister and girlfriend to spend time with me and I want to see Pap Pap and Kitty. Cook out some muggle foods, play some board games and have my annual Quidditch match that my teammates and I started up at school."

"You know Quidditch is out, kitten," Andy gave her a look between amusement and feeling sorry for her. "Unless you want to see me beat your mummy's ass at a game. That's the gift that keeps on giving."

"Like you could beat mummy," she rolled her eyes. "Even without me on her team, you'd be lucky to get a couple of points."

"Dangerous words there, Cass for someone who is dependent on me getting you to and from the bathroom."

"Sorry Auntie," a sheepish expression crossed her face, "it's just…"

"I know," Andy gave her a knowing look. "Minnie has been writing to me about the rumors at school. I know how protective the two of you are with your mummy. Listen," she reached out and took Cass's hand, "your mother is a big girl and isn't going to let the rumors of some silly school kids bring her down."

"I know I just wish this never happened in the first place. Mummy and mum wouldn't have fought. I'd still be flying. Inferior Weasel still probably would've gotten his good for nothing alcoholic ass kidnapped and everything would be normal."

A silence met the two itches as they both stared out the window. "Sherry will be here for physical therapy in 45 minutes. Pool time today. I still can't believe your mother transformed the basement into a swimming pool."

"Mummy loves me," Cass smiled, "she wants everything just as much as I do."

"Indeed," Andy smiled, "think about something you'd like that I can get you from the store." She left the room, immediately conjuring her patronus when she was sure Cass couldn't hear her. She looked at the wispy blue otter, "find Bellatrix and tell her that I just spoke with Cass and I think it's time for you to make up with Hermione. We both know she is wrong. We can continue to be bitchy at your wife behind her back. I am pretty sure the only thing Cass wants for her birthday is to walk and for her family to be back together. You can be in control of one of those things."

Bellatrix was sitting in her old office that she successfully had kicked Kate out of the day after she was asked to partner on the missing person's case when her sister's nosy patronus came barging in, interrupting her burger enjoyment. She had absolutely no intention of making up with her wife. It was Hermione's stubborn self that got them in this mess in the first place. Had she simply watched Minnie's memories then blame would be exactly where it needed to be. "I'd rather crucio myself than apologize to Hermione. I did nothing wrong," was the only message she sent back with Andy's penguin. When the penguin came back a second time with a message her heart broke a little. It contained a snippet of her conversation with Cass. Why should she have to make things right? She had been at the ministry almost every bloody day since Potter called her in. Hermione went out of her way to ignore her existence and she was more than happy to do the same. If anyone should feel guilty, it should be Hermione. Bella thought of the one Rosier Family estate that sat 60 miles outside of London. Close enough to the city that it would remain inconspicuous but far enough out of the way that it wouldn't stand out. It was the perfect hiding spot for her little problem. The more time she spent there with the weasel the more she felt her old self starting to surface. She was playing a dangerous game towing the line between Lestrange and Black. She had to maintain her sense of normalcy so she wouldn't become a suspect in this case.

Bella really didn't want to speak with Hermione. She felt betrayed by her but even Lestrange would tell her that the best way to not get caught was to keep everyone as close as possible. Plus, if this is what Cass wanted she supposed she could extend the invite if she happened to run into her. They didn't have to make up for her to come to Cass's birthday. She checked the time. It had just turned 1 which meant Hermione was probably on her way to the cafeteria or that her secretary was going to pick up her lunch. Bella took this as her opportunity to run into the witch. If she was in the elevator she would invite her. If it was the secretary, she would forget the whole thing. She walked out of her borrowed office and smirked at Kate who was back at her old cubicle, "submission is a good look for you, new girl."

"The faster we find Weasley the better. I can't wait for you to vacate my office."

Bella cackled, "who knows at this rate, I might just come back full time. I forgot how much you and Dragon amuse me. Speaking of which, where are my nephews?"

"Draco and Teddy are going out to Weasley's to run for more evidence. This is getting us nowhere. Teddy thinks there is something strange about his wife so I sent them back."

"Of course there is something fucking wrong with his wife, she married Ron Weasley. If that's not the biggest red flag on the planet I don't know what is."

Kate tried not to laugh, "who taught you about red flags?"

"I have two teenage daughters. Plus, I'm not a complete imbecile. Now, if you'll excuse me… I have to go catch the lift." She didn't wait for Kate to respond and left the suite. She suddenly felt a wash of nerves in her stomach. Bella pushed the lift button and held her breath as the floors ticked down. When the doors opened as expected, her wife stood inside the elevator looking like a deer in the headlights. She scooted over as far as she could against the wall when Bella entered. They were both standing in the far corners of the square box, facing forward not speaking. Of course she was wearing that perfume that Bella absolutely loved. She was looking fit despite it being clear that she had lost some weight, probably due to stress but that didn't matter to Bella. She was still perfect in her eyes even if she was inherently and rightfully pissed at her. "Minister," she broke the silence as they were running out of floors.

She heard the exhale of breath before her wife softly whispered, "Bella."

Gods be damned if she wasn't still mad but she was a woman after all and it had been far too long. She reached out and pushed the emergency stop of the elevator causing it to hang in the shaft pinning Hermione to the wall with her own body. "Salazar you smell good," her nose brushed Hermione's throat.

As if by magnetic force, Hermione's hands found themselves trapped in her wife's black curls. She lightly scratched, pleased to see the older witch was still as sensitive as before. "Shouldn't we talk," she was near breathless when Bella kissed her jaw.

"We could but this seems more fun," she cast a silent spell, opening Hermione's button down shirt. "You're wearing the green," she looked up at her wife. "Hoping to get fucked in the lift today?"

Hermione was trying to maintain some semblance of self. They truly did need to talk. It had been months, "just a happy coincidence, I guess. We really need to talk."

Maybe Bella would've believed that if Hermione hadn't been grinding her pelvis into Bella's front, "that's not very convincing, pet. I think you want this quick, dirty, shag as much as I do. I think you've missed the ways I can make you cum." She hesitated at the button of her slacks, waiting to see if Hermione would stop her. Her other hand toyed with her already excited nipple through the lace of her bra, "what's it going to be, pet?" Hermione nodded her consent but that wasn't enough, "beg for it."

Hermione was too far gone to consider this an unusual request especially if this was make up sex. Bella tended to get a little more rough and demanding after a fight, "please Bella just fuck me already."

Bella's hand left her breast, cupping her neck and pulling her into a heated kiss while expertly sliding her hand into her wife's trousers, moaning when she felt how wet the lacy knickers were. "Fucking soaked for me," she said in between kisses. "Hold on, love. I'm going to fuck you now." She swallowed Hermione's pleasure as she let her fingers sink deep into her wife. Salazar, she was tight. She wanted nothing more than to apparate them to her bed but knew it wasn't the right thing.

Hermione turned her head away to pant, "Merlin, I'm not going to last."

Their hot pants with the wet noises coming from Hermione's sex was adding to the heat in the elevator, it was their most erotic encounter Bella could remember from the recent past. "Your so fucking wet, Hermione. Salazar, I could drown in you right now." Her thrusts were deep and hard. It was as if pulling this orgasm from her was a life force. "Come on, pet. Give me what I want," she bit down on her collarbone as she swiped her thumb across Hermione's clit sending her wife over the edge. "That's it. Give it all to me now. Don't be shy," her pace didn't slow until the brunette went over the edge once more. Bella wasn't unaffected by this encounter. She felt a familiar throbbing between her own legs but this had already gone past what it was intended to be. She rested her head on Hermione's shoulder, placing soft kisses along her collar and throat until she stopped pulsing around her fingers.

"I missed you, Bella," she finally said after she came back from her high. She immediately missed her wife when Bella pulled her fingers out and started to button up her shirt. "I really do wish to speak with you." Bella took a moment to catch her breath before stepping away and pushing the elevator back to life. "So that's it? You are just going to fuck me and walk away?"

Bella shook her head still unable to look at her wife, "Cass wants you, Jack and Katherine at her birthday dinner on Saturday. I came to find you to extend the invitation and well," she let the sentence die as the elevator doors opened. "Please consider coming. She told Andy that all she wants for her birthday is her whole family there."

Bella started to walk out of the lift when Hermione called after her, "we will be there."