A/N: Here. We. Go.. I found it ridiculous that, in the Fantastic Beast movies, that Nagini is brought up, but no one knows of such a name in the more modern timeline? Makes no sense, so now we have a possibility where Nagini defects Voldemort, but the finer details of that are yet to be worked out. Enjoy.

Chapter Nine

Magic and Mentality

The Day Before, Grimmauld Place..

"Why am I here again, Bellatrix? As Lady, can't you just summon whatever book it is you're looking for?" Sirius asked his twin sister as they searched the family library. She had dragged him back home without even saying much else other than the fact she was looking for something specific within their family library.

Bellatrix sighed as she flipped through another old tome, dust falling from the article as she tried to find something, anything about the family curse her and her siblings had always been taught to fear, but not exactly why or what the curse was. "Because, Sirius, I'm not completely sure what I'm looking for. And to summon the right book, I need to know what book I'm actually searching for. I thought you knew more about the family curse?"

"I do, but it's bad stuff to get into, Bella, especially for one as passionate as you are. Why such a sudden interest in it? Did professor Grubbly-Plank really get to you so badly?"

"Yes! She made it seem like she'd seen the Black Madness before, and since she's younger than father was, that means someone else in the family succumbed to it. I just want to know what happened and why we don't know about them. If only we could figure out who else.. That's it! The tapestry!" She said, bolting out of the room with Sirius shaking his head.

"You're not going to like what you find out about it, Bellatrix! Can't you just trust Nick to keep you out of such a state?"

"Not when I don't know what that state entails, dear brother." Bellatrix replied, walking fast to the study. Her study, now, and turned to the wall where the entire Black family was laid out in the form of a tree, as most Pureblood families kept. She scanned the generation before her, Sirius and their siblings, disappointed as she couldn't find any trace of whoever she must have been searching for. Then she saw it, a branch leading off from her father's name but with the small label for whomever in the family this mystery person was being pitch black. Bellatrix smirked, as James had taught her a trick just a week earlier to help in this exact situation. "Revelio Lumos."

The light from her wand went into the tapestry, the blacked out label glowing and showing itself as the branch began elongating again, this time connecting to another label before branching down into her generation, where two labels sat. Her breath hitched in the middle of a gasp as she saw what the tapestry was telling her. Despite knowing so much about the family, Bellatrix had never known she'd had an aunt, his father's sister who married into another family, the last two names to reveal herself making her feel sick to her stomach after all the speaking Nick had been doing against the inbreeding of the Pureblood families and what her own situation may have been before Nick entered and changed their lives. The names read Rudolphus and Rabastan Lestrange. "No.. Ugh, that's disgusting. And ironic, I guess."

"You found something?" Sirius said as he walked over from the desk, where he had been looking at a picture of their whole family, well before Walburga had gone insane with her sudden loyalty to a man who didn't deserve the praise he had garnered. He looked where his twin was pointing and gagged. "Oh, shite. We're related to those two insane bastards? Actually, I think we just found out why the professor knew so much about our underlying mental issues. It's obvious that dad's sister went full blown insane and hence was banished from the family. She probably met the Lestrange patriarch from there and lo and behold we have two cousins who suffer from the curse of our family magic without even knowing exactly why they act the way they do. At least, in Rabastan's case, the little shit."

"Yeah, it seems Nick's kick to his brother's ego made Rudolphus realize just how idiotic he was acting, but Rabastan is after him still, even knowing he has no chance unless he surprises the hell out of Nick. I hope he tries something again, I'd love seeing Nicky get truly serious about this fight he wants to make into his own personal crusade. But now we know what we need to look for in the library, at the very least. If it still exists within these walls." Sirius nodded as the twins went back to the library.

Once there, Bellatrix took her wand out. "Accio journal of Geminea Black." When nothing happened, she huffed. "Ugh, now what do we.. Kreacher!"

The elderly House-Elf appeared in a crack as he popped into the room, bowing with a strangled smile on his face. "What can Kreacher do for Lady Black?"

"Firstly, you can stop looking at me like you want to bring me to Voldemort for my mother. As Lady of this House, I can not only banish you from every Black property but also free you in such a way that would never see you working for another wizard again, not even that fool who thinks himself all-powerful."

The House-Elf widened his eyes as he felt the binding of his existence to Bellatrix's magic tighten. He chose then to bow hastily. "Of course, mistress. What else would you have old Kreacher do for you?"

"Did you know my father's sister Giminea? The one father took off the family tapestry?"

The House-Elf nodded hesitantly. "Yes, Kreacher did. Such a good girl, a perfect Black, until.." His voice trailed off, not wanting to say anything further.

"Until what, Kreacher? What was so bad that father banished her from the tapestry? I know it was him, otherwise we would know about our aunt." Sirius nodded from behind her as the elf sighed.

"The old master didn't like to talk about it. Your aunt was a kind-hearted soul, but your grandparents neglected to truly train her Occlumency shields. Then, in her sixth year at Hogwarts, she met a boy. She called him Thomas to Kreacher once, and she told him about the family curse, although a better description of it would be a hindrance to most people."

"You mean the Black Madness, right Kreacher? What is it? Did our aunt ever leave a journal? Or our grandfather leaving an account of her banishment from the family?"

Kreacher hummed. "Your grandfather would have kept record of it in the book reserved for such knowledge, as only the Lord or Lady can access the pages of said volume. As for lady Giminea, her journal is safe, hidden where none may find it. Why all the sudden interest in this? Your father spared you her tale for a reason."

Bellatrix nodded. "I understand that he did, but I need to know before I absolutely flip my shite and kill half of Hogwarts for one wrong action."

Kreacher frowned. "You believe yourself to be in danger of such influences, Kreacher has seen that glint of fear in past Lords, Ladies and children alike in the many years of service to the Noble Black family." Bellatrix nodded. "Here, Lady Bella will need these to overcome such trials." With a snap of his fingers, two books appeared floating in the air in front of Bellatrix and Sirius. "Both your father's accounts on the Black Madness, as well as whatever origins he could discern and the other is the journal you seek. Now, Kreacher must continue cleaning Master Arcturus' bedroom. Soon enough, it shall be you who sleeps in that room, my Lady."

Bellatrix felt a shiver of grief run down her spine as she frowned, nodding as she picked the books up from the air. "Thank you, Kreacher. I know not all of us may act like it," She glared at Sirius, who looked down. "But it is most appreciated. After you finish your cleaning, cook yourself something nice, alright? And perhaps we'll bring the family together this weekend, if the Headmaster allows it. Things are changing, Kreacher, and I would like it if you could try to do the same. We can always request a new elf, you know." She smiled teasingly, the elderly elf shaking his head.

"Kreacher is an old elf, Mistress. Such things can be hard for one who has lived for so long already, but for the kindness you and your sisters have always shown Kreacher, I can try."

Sirius was surprised, this was different than Kreacher usually acted (he always seemed to hate Sirius with a passion). "Kreacher, you were always close to our mum. Why are you acting like she doesn't even exist?"

Bellatrix smirked. "Probably because, according to the family tapestry now, our mum isn't a part of this family. I exercised my right as Head to excommunicate her and the motion passed unanimously because of her murdering father. So, Kreacher is technically compelled in a way to not give a dragon's arse about Walburga whatever her maiden name was. But that's better for us, according to Nick."

"And it always goes back to Nick. You know, other than the obvious sexual tension between you both, why is everything he says fact to you?"

Bellatrix smiled coyly. "Because he's proven, again and again, that it all is. He's different, Sirius, and that's part of what I love about him."

Sirius smiled. "As long as you're happy, Bella. And look at the bright side about this family curse shite. We've already gone through a bad loss for our family, but none of us are any the more erratic than usual. Honestly, it's possible the curse was broken with our aunt being tossed from the family."

Bellatrix scoffed. "Yeah, right. Now you're just being optimistic. There are only two ways to break a family curse, one in our family's case because it's connected to our Magic. Because of that, the only way to overcome such things would be if someone with enough magical strength was to break the connection themselves. But, the only wand I know powerful enough to do such a thing is known only as a legend. Now come on, let's get back to school. I'll look over these tonight and talk to Nick about it tomorrow."

Sirius nodded as the twins left the office, Bellatrix stopping as she saw another book sitting on a shelf next to the door, the book seeming to glow to her like it was calling to her. She grabbed it and inspected the cover of the small book, much shorter than most others Bellatrix had ever seen in her life. "The Hallows and the Three Brothers: The Unedited Story as Recorded by Apollo Black, Third Lord of the House of Black. Sirius, have you ever seen this book before?"

Sirius took the book as Bellatrix held it out to him, his frown deepening as he shook his head. "No, I've never seen this one before. But by the name, do you think this is about the legend of the Deathly Hallows? Like the fairy tale?"

Bellatrix hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe. I guess I have a third book to read through tonight." She said as she took the book back. "Well, either way, let's get back. Without any other voice of reason, James and your other two idiot friends will wind up serving detention with Slughorn for weeks."

Sirius barked out laughing. "Yeah, they probably would. Plus, someone just wants to see their beau again."

"Another word about Nick, Sirius, and we'll send you into an early grave ourselves." Bellatrix cleared her throat. "Sorry for that."

"That's from when you and Nick weren't speaking to each other for a week, isn't it? The weird dual voice thing?"

"It's not two voices. They're both me in most ways, just another aspect of my personality. Nick doesn't mind it, although he knows more about it than most of our friends do. But that really isn't too important. Are you really judging me, brother?" She asked, unamused.

Sirius shook his head, although she wasn't looking at him. "Nah, I'm alright about it. As you said, Nick is trustworthy enough that everything he's said will happen, has. It's just weird that he knows so much."

"Yes, I can see where you're coming from there. It is rather unnerving. Did you know the headmaster's brother runs that inn in the Hogsmeade? The Hog's Head?"

"Aberforth? Doesn't surprise me, they're both alike in their own ways, like we are. Another piece of knowledge gained from Nick, I'm guessing?"

Bellatrix nodded. "Yep." Was all she said as she tilted her head and stuck her tongue out at Sirius, the action being the last thing her brother saw before she apparated to Hogsmeade.

"Cheeky bint." Sirius said with a hearty chuckle. "Nick has his work cut out for him, that's been obvious since day one." He turned on the spot, the crack of apparition taking him away from the grounds of Black Manor.

As he stepped out into Hogsmeade and found Bellatrix admiring a dress in one window of a store he was fairly sure hadn't been around the previous year, he rolled his eyes. "Something gold? I thought you preferred your Slytherin silver?"

"Oh, sod off, Siri. It's nice, the color isn't important. You know, not for nothing, I wish Nick had been with us on this little excursion. He could have apparated us right into Hogwarts if he felt up to it."

Sirius looked at her in disbelief. "No way. No one can apparate through Hogwarts' wards."

"He's a Founder's Heir, Sirius, remember? The Gaunts are Slytherin while it's thought possibly the Potters are heirs of Gryffindor. Being a Gaunt also made him heir of Ilvermorny in America. Afforded him a foresight for when danger came to the school, or so he says."

"Nice to have, though. Must be nice, having such advantages over others. Now it makes sense why you're so attracted to him."

Bellatrix huffed. "I swear to Merlin, Sirius, I won't stop her from doing it. She knows the spell to kill you and just as many to hide your body where no one will find it for years, where no magical trace can link her or I to your murder."

Sirius stood there, shocked as Bellatrix kept walking back towards Hogwarts. "Hey, wait up, sis." He said as he hurried to catch up to her. His sister really was the scariest of the three.

Two Hours Later, Slytherin Dormitory..

Bellatrix sat on her bed, legs crossed and her head propped up by her hands, themselves held up by the upward sides of her knees. She had been sitting there and staring at the three books she had received back at home ever since getting back to the castle, finding herself increasingly unable to open any of the three tomes.

Ugh, just fucking start with the one you said sounded like a fairy tale. If I'm right, then it might just tell us something about your magic, if a certain story was right in it's assumptions. And that could answer a few of your questions, at the very least. Trixie said, fed up with waiting for Bellatrix to make a move about her study of the three books.

"Alright, alright. So sue me for wanting to be absolutely sure I even want to know about this shit myself. It might be better to just not know."

Bullshit, you need these answers as much as anyone right now, Bellatrix. Don't ruin your chance for that by getting scared of what you might find.

"Well then, what if-"

You have Nick. We have Nick, he won't let anything bring us to that point and you're just scared of it happening because of what he's said before about you. You're already different, Bella, don't let fear make that difference relapse.

"You're right. Of course you're right. Fine, we start with this one, then." She picked up the book written by one of her earliest ancestors, quickly realizing why the cover stated this story as unedited. While it was what she knew otherwise as the Tale of Three Brothers, the difference was glaring as she got to the part where Death confronted the three Peverell brothers..

As the brothers stood on the bridge, a chill more biting than any they had witnessed before came upon them as a figure appeared at the far end of the bridge. Antioch, the eldest Peverell, called out into the foggy night. "Who are you, stranger?"

A/N .5: If anyone recognizes why that's technically a reference, kudos. For anyone else, just know that the scene in question is pretty amusing. Back to the story, sorry.

The stranger said nothing, it's cloak billowing while showing no visible feet as it came closer to the three brothers. One arm extending towards the three, revealing a hand of alabaster white bone that seemed to glow in the moonlight breaking through the heavy fog. "Cheatsss.." The stranger seemed to hiss, it's voice bringing chills to the Peverells.

"Cheats? What do you mean, cheats?" Asked Cadmus, the middle brother.

The figure seemed to grumble as it spoke again. "No one.. crosses the river.. they all die.."

"What, you've never seen wizards before? Magic is simple enough to build a bridge where there was none before." Claimed Antioch, his inflated ego showing in his words.

The cloaked figure laughed, a chill permeating the air even more than before as the figure spoke again. "Magic comes with a price to pay, and for defying Death itself, your price is the deaths you have cheated me out of." The figure broke a tree branch from the rough bridge railing and handed it to Antioch. "For defeating me, however, I shall give you each a gift. For you, the oldest brother," The brothers looked at each other, how did this entity- Death, as it stated- know which of them was older or younger? Antioch took the new wand and felt his magic surge. "A wand most powerful, able to defeat any opponent you come across."

The figure then picked up a river rock, handing the smoothed stone to Cadmus, who also felt the highly intoxicating magic emanating from the stone. "For you, the middle child, a stone capable of raising legions to fight your enemies with no risk of pain or tiredness. And finally, for the youngest sibling," Death ripped the cloak from its body, the material shimmering in and out of sight as Ignotus took the offered cloth. "A cloak of perfect invisibility, to hide from those meaning you lethal harm." Without another word, Death disappeared..

Bellatrix grimaced. From there, the story continued as the other versions stated, with the older brothers meeting their end in the most horrendous ways. But then, it changed from the beaten path again as Ignotus, in his old age, confronted Death.

.. Ignotus took the cloak off of himself as Death neared him, surprising the warden of the afterlife. "I have looked for you all over this earth." Death stated.

Ignotus smiled sadly and nodded. "I know, I've worn the cloak whenever you got too close, old friend. But, now I am but an old man, a family raised and nothing left to live for. You took my brother's by force, tricking then with your gifts. But not me, I knew you would always watch us, waiting until we bit the dust. Now, I give my life to you willingly, Death, as any old friend would."

Impressed with the now old wizard's words, Death seemed to hum as everything went cold, just as it had for Ignotus and his brothers all those years earlier. "Very well. For outsmarting Death not once, but twice, I shall admit I owe your family more than I did with you and your brothers before." Suddenly, Ignotus felt his magical core not only expand but the feeling of it became incredibly cold, as he had felt from each of his brothers before their tragic deaths. "There. Now, you and your descendants' magical powers are now fueled by my own power, as the only people to ever overcome Death's Hunt. You and your children have my essence itself as a draw of power. Your oldest brother's ilk shall be fueled by the aspect of Death known as Chaos, bringing any who fall victim to immense grief mad with power. As for your brother just above you in being born, they shall inherit magic derived from the rebirth associated with some afterlife variations, becoming more powerful as time goes on. Now, come, friend. Your brothers await you." With a nod, the spirit of the old Ignotus floated from his body and into the afterlife, the legend of the Hallows of Death falling into just that: legend..

Bellatrix was wide-eyed. If what she had read was correct, then Nick's family, as well as any other thought to be descended from the Peverells of legend (such as her own and the Potter family to name a couple) were usually considered more powerful wizards because of Death itself, even if the story said Nick's family (the Gaunts) would have been fueled by rebirth, whatever that meant. Fantastical as it might be, it made sense as to why every time she felt Nick use his magic, the surrounding area had become a bit colder but never too noticeable. As for the connection to her own family, it was obvious where Death came in according to the Black family and their familial magic: Madness of power. It explained the so-called Black Madness and why it was always so prevalent in her family, due to being attached to their magic in the first place. "That's a lot to take in, I can't lie about that."

You're telling me, that was even different from the version I've read, and it came pretty close to being the same at the same time. Now, onto whichever you think is best to look at now.

"Yeah, maybe my father's accounts of the Madness.. It would seem a good middle ground to gain insight before delving what made my aunt go absolutely batshite insane.."

I really do love it when people curse in British accents. Australian too, but they're so similar from the get-go.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes before opening her father's records of the Black Madness, realizing the book she held wasn't just the information gathered by Arcturus Orion Black, but the accounts went back nearly as far as the author of the legend she had just read, someone calling themselves the seventh Lord of House Black being the earliest written accounts. Supposedly, that was when the family had incorporated teaching Occlumency to every member, for their generation had several Blacks go mad, both in mind and passion. She perused the book for pertinent information, not finding much as most previous Lords and Ladies (the few that held the title before Bellatrix) had only written about what family members had gone through it. Arcturus had done the extra mile and had investigated the origins of such a supposed curse, and it seemed he had found what he was looking for.

He had connected the aspect of Power that Death had warned of in their ancestor's account of the legend of the three brothers. He had discerned from there that most if not all of their ancestors who had fallen under the Black Madness had done so after experiencing serious emotional trauma, such as a magical war tearing the family apart and putting it into the state the first accounts from this book spoke of. Then Bellatrix connected what Kreacher had said about her aunt to the conditions stated in the earlier accounts. Sirius had been right. All of them had been lucky enough that their father's death hadn't sent any of them into the madness described. "I don't know if I should look at the journal anymore. I've learned everything I needed to already, Nick will be most pleased I spent our time so worthily."

Are you really scared right now about reading that journal? Why?

"I.. I don't know. It just seems like whatever is written in the journal might be a bit overwhelming to the reader. Kreacher wouldn't hide it for absolutely no reason. That elf is dutiful, even if he outwardly seems to hate everyone."

I guess that is true. Kreacher was a right bastard to everyone in the books and movies we had growing up, Nick and I. Then again, the you in that line of events would have been his ideal mistress anyway, after Walburga's ass. Maybe it just worked out better this way, with you and Sirius being brother and sister instead of cousins.

"I have enough of a headache about all this.. Ugh, fuck off with this journal right now, we know what causes it and how to possibly undo it, although that would mean Nick would have to find the wand from the story.."

Oh, him and I already know exactly where the Elder Wand is. It's here, at Hogwarts, as safe as can be for the next twenty-ish years.

Bellatrix felt her eye begin twitching as she got up from the bed, realizing it was almost the end of dinner, not enough time to properly enjoy a meal if she went to the Great Hall now. "Damn it, might as well call it a night though. Let's get something to eat from the kitchens and then see if we can sneak into Nicky's bed again."

Oh, I do love it when you tease him. It's just as if I was, and that's still a win in my book.

With another rolling of her eyes, Bellatrix made her way out of the room.

Bellatrix sighed as she looked at the door to the Room of Requirement, knowing Nick must already be inside as she'd heard tell of his return to the castle several minutes earlier. Just go in. Trust me, Nick isn't going to condemn you because of what you learned last night and this morning.

That morning, at breakfast no less, Bellatrix had investigated the contents of her late aunt Giminea's journal and had been shell shocked to say the least. As Kreacher had said, the Black girl had been such a sweet thing until she had her heart broken by the boy the elf had mentioned, his full name being Thomas Marvolo Riddle, which made the hair on Bellatrix's arms stand up straight and if Trixie recognized the name she hadn't commented about it. But it has sent the girl into such a deep spiral she had terminated her own- hidden- pregnancy, which had made Bellatrix lose all intention of eating lunch that day.

Opening the door, she smiled as she walked into a small empty classroom, or so it seemed until Nick saw her walk in. Then, the room became more on par with the greenhouses of the most famous Herbologists, trees, bushes and even a faux grass floor shifted into existence as Bellatrix looked on, closing the door behind her and snapping off a stray dandelion bud, which faded into magical particles without even hitting the floor as the Room's magic contained itself.

Nick saw the thoughtful look Bellatrix wore and tilted his head. "Alright, what's wrong?"

Bellatrix gave him a small smile before crossing the room to him. "Let's not worry about that just yet. How did things go at the Ministry? Did you already get Hagrid off the hook?"

Nick shook his head. "No, some much-needed evidence is needed, and will be found later tonight when myself as well as the Newt Scamander go into the Chamber of Secrets and secure one millenia-old Basilisk."

Bellatrix's eyes widened as Trixie raged in her head about how stupid the idea sounded. "Are you mental? There's no way I- we- would allow you to do something so asinine as walking to your death against the most dangerous snake to ever rule this world since the Ice Age. Not without backup."

"Again, I'll have Newt, the number-one expert on any and all means to capture a magical creature. I'll be fine, love. Heir of Slytherin, you know." He smirked.

Bellatrix looked away. "It doesn't matter, Nick! It's said only the Heir has authority entering the Chamber, you know. Anyone else with you will only make the basilisk attack you."

"Mirror shield charm." Nick said, stopping Bellatrix from chewing him out any more. "It'll cause the basilisk's sight to not affect me on my side of the shield, but it will the basilisk. Little known fact, they can paralyzed temporarily by their own sight, the effect lasts longer the more exposed the creature has become to the state itself. Judging by how little the damn thing gets out and is probably hibernating the rest of it's time away, I can guess Newt and I can get it into one of Scamander's cases and on its way somewhere it can't harm the students ever again." While he knew none of them would know why other than Bellatrix because of her dual mind with Trixie, Nick silently imagined the care-free looks of a petrification-free Hermione Granger.

Bellatrix didn't seem entirely convinced, but she knew when Nick had something in his head then it would happen regardless. "Alright, I trust you, just.. please don't do anything stupid."

"Ah, we'll, now there's something I can't necessarily guarantee. I'm a magnet, as you've already witnessed." She swatted his arm. "Ow! Seriously, Bella, I promise I'll come back. To both of you." He didn't miss the glint in her eyes as she looked back at him. "So what about you? Figure anything out about this family curse of yours?"

Bellatrix nodded then, sighing. "Yeah, a lot, really. Tell me, in all of your extensive banks of knowledge, have you ever heard of the Tale of Three Brothers?"

"The legend of the Deathly Hallows. James is directly related to the youngest brother Ignotus, the invisibility cloak he uses is the exact same one."

Bellatrix felt her jaw drop. "Seriously? What about the other two Hallows then?"

"Well, the Gaunts were related to Cadmus, the middle brother. The Resurrection Stone became a crutch to the family and even cracked, but the stone still works. It's most likely the old Gaunt ring, the one I believe you have in your private vault at Gringotts, along with a goblet of some kind, I believe. Probably looks as old as can be, belonged to Helga Hufflepuff. Also another one of Voldemort's Horcruxes."

"What? You mean that's probably why I feel such.. darkness when I visit the vault?" Nick nodded. "Shite. Alright, then what about the wand? Trixie said it was here in the school.."

"Yes, it is. Dumbledore carries it, as per the conditions of the Elder Wand. He won it from Grindelwald during the last war. Enough about the hallows, Bella. What's this about, really? What else did you find?"

The curse itself is known as the Black Madness, and it stems from my family's own relation to the cocky oldest brother, Antioch. His lust for power, from the Elder Wand no doubt, created the situation where, if someone within the Black family undergoes massive mental trauma, their mind kind of cracks and they become obsessed with power and ever going madder and madder as time goes on. The last member of my foly to contract it was my aunt, who just happens to be Rudolphus and Rabastan's mother, which kind of explains their own insanity. But, there was something else. My aunt had the curse triggered because a man named Thomas Marvolo Riddle broke her heart, shattered it more like." Nick looked at her, Bellatrix able to see the gears in his mind turning. "What, Nick?"

"Was that why Voldemort and Bellatrix.. No, it couldn't be something as ridiculous and simple as that. He went for it because she was insane, like Rudolphus was from the beginning.. Ugh, thank Merlin I'm here to stop that from happening. Anyway, continue."

"The only other thing that's become apparent is that the Elder Wand is probably the only thing capable of putting a stop to any Blacks contracting such a craving for power ever again. Hopefully.."

"If that's true, then maybe I can convince the Headmaster to allow me to use it for a moment to do just that, but Dumbledore won't give it up without a good as hell reason to do it."

"And saving an entire family from being at the mercy of a curse isn't good enough motivation to help us out?"

Nick sighed. "While it is true that he probably would help us out of the kindness of his heart, not to mention the fact we know he has the actual Elder Wand, he's going to want to know the real reason I know so much about what's going on and what to do to stop it before it escalates the first time. You knowing that I know all this crap is bad enough it changes a lot already, not to mention the little things I've been working on changing and altering myself." He flicked the pendant of her necklace. "I can't have everyone knowing exactly what's going on with me, need to keep that group small, at least until I know everything is for the better. And, currently that means turning the House of Snakes against itself."

Bellatrix, ever a Black, grinned just as mischievously as her brother. "Then let's rain some chaos upon our House, then. What about members of other Houses that are related to the Death Eater issue?" Nick shrugged.

"I think most of those students aren't even here, so they may have gone on to better things past Hogwarts. Like our friend the Floo Coordinator from the Leaky Cauldron incident. And I know several who are only using the claim of Pureblood to get ahead of others, one namely Dolores Umbridge."

Bellatrix gagged. "Ugh, that absolute bint. No one here at school ever believed her claims of being a Pureblood here at school, so how..?"

"She works at the Ministry. Voldemort knows all about their plans because of Umbridge. It's the real reason why he comes out on top even though I've been thwarting a lot of his plans from the original timeline."

"I know you are, sweetie, but you need to let yourself live, too, you know?. You're right, you've already done a lot. So dial it down a bit and we'll see how things go for the next while." She gained a sultry glint in her eye then, and Nick still couldn't tell whether the feelings her eyes conveyed were from her or Trixie more. "Now, how long do you have until you have to go to the Chamber? We miss you, you know."

Nick chuckled. "Has Trixie been feeding you Final Fantasy X stuff? That game utilized and totally abused that line again and again. It's actually quite heavily memed about for it.

Bellatrix shrugged. "It may have been mentioned,. Not entirely sure. What I do know is that she's laughing her face off in my head and going to give me a migraine if she doesn't calm down. So, do you have time, Tiger?"

Now she was using Spider-Man references? Nick could tell that Bellatrix was somewhat embracing her other self and the knowledge she carried on par with that that Nick himself knew. "Yeah, I should have a bit of time. I don't think Newt is going to be around until about dinnertime, anyway."

"Ah, then Rolf will not be having such a pleasant day."

"Wait, we share classes with Rolf Scamander, don't we?" Bellatrix nodded, giggling. "I really need to take inventory of the.. current students.. Merlin, I'm stupid."

"You're plenty of things, Nicky, but I believe stupid is not on that list." Bellatrix giggled as the two continued chatting, enjoying their time together.

After Dinner, 2nd Floor Bathroom..

Nick was the first one to reach the bathroom in question, his eye twitching as he heard Myrtle's crying as she was known for. Moments later entered Newt and Dumbledore, the latter nodding to Nick. "You're sure the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is in this bathroom, my boy?"

Nick nodded as he walked to the set of sinks standing in a pillar in the center of the bathroom. "Yes, sir, right over.. which one is it? Oh, here." The teen pointed to one sink faucet, where a snake was engraved in silver on the side of the white porcelain of the sinks. "Salazar himself made it easy to find, if you knew what you were looking for. §Open§" Nick hissed in Parseltongue, the effect immediate as the sinks rumbled and shifted, the one with the snake engraving falling into the floor to reveal a large and deep tunnel. Nick cast a cushioning charm or five on himself as he looked over the side of the now open pit.

He looked at the older wizards as he stood with his back to the pit, arms splayed open. "Well, sir, you know what they say. Sometimes, all you need to do is take a leap of faith." He laughed as he jumped backwards, sending himself hurtling down the tunnel. In his mind, Nick heard Adria cry out as it had seemed to occur in the video games he was emulating, his fall disappointingly cut short by not a bale of hay but the long slide that served as the real entrance into the antechamber of the Chamber of Secrets. Thankfully, his spell work meant that he had felt nothing upon impact with the slide.

Dumbledore was looking at the pit with wide eyes. "This boy is going to be the death of me."

Newt laughed from his own position. "From what you've been telling me, I'd say it's the opposite. Seems like that young man has taken a much more righteous goal in hand than the rest of his peers. And he's a teenager, he's going to try and rebel a bit."

"Speaking from experience? Why does young Rolf not seem to care when you occasionally drop in to the school?"

"Oh, he's still got his boxers in a twist, he does. All because I didn't stop his aunt from reading his mind about who set the family reserve on fire. It wasn't him, but he was hiding the true culprit from the rest of us. Ever since he's been distant."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Ah, he'll come around, I'm sure. He still looks up to you, according to his grades in Magical Creatures. Hagrid and yourself are the last true students to truly feel a connection to the animals before him, he probably just realizes that he's more like his grandfather than he wants to admit. Now, as the young folks have started to say among the Muggles: you only live once." The Headmaster with almost a century of life experience smiled youthfully and jumped down the shaft, Newt shaking his head in amusement before following. It never was dull visiting the school, he'd found. At least this wasn't on business similar to the conflict against Grindelwald.

As Newt landed on the cushioning charm positioned above the floor covered in bones- never a good sign- he noticed Albus watching the youngest member of their group, the boy making several conjured images of dragons fly around the room in beat with a song only Nick could identify. The only way Newt could discern that was because of the way Nick's head bopped from side to side as he twirled his wand as an orchestra conductor would. When the boy realized the two older men were present, the images disappeared as Nick looked down. "Sorry. But of practice for the future."

"You never mentioned he was a prodigy, Albus." Newt said with a chuckle, clapping Nick's shoulder sympathetically. "That was impressive. I don't know many wizards of mine or even Dumbledore's skill who could conjure and perform such spellwork. May I see your wand?" Nick nodded, handing his Horned Serpent-centric wand to the Magizoologist, who whistled as he held it up in the dim light. "Marvelous craftsmanship.. And the jewels in just the same pattern as some native to the western United States. Big fan of Horned Serpents?"

Nick shrugged. My mom told me the Serpents we kept on our property in the States were protected wildlife, and with me being a Parselmouth I would talk to them. It only made sense when one died, offering their body beforehand to craft my future wand. I've had this powerful little stick since I was eight. A good nine years now."

"Extraordinary. It's rare for a Horned Serpent material to even be included in a wand, let alone an entire wand consisting of matching creature parts. I'd very much like to meet the wandmaker who shaped it for you."

"I can have my mother refresh my memory on the address to his shop. Maybe you could take your wife back to her home country for a spell? She must miss the American accents she must have been so used to in your youth."

Newt, not at all surprised this young man knew such things, laughed as he nodded. "Perhaps you're right. Tina has been badgering me to go back for a while now. But, back to business. Where's the basilisk?"

"Oh, this was more of a feeding chamber when Slytherin was alive. How he fed his pet, you know? I figured it was meant as an antechamber, keeping people out unless, you guessed it, you're a Parselmouth." Nick hissed in Parseltongue again as the large circular door the three stood in front of began to rumble in place, a snake similar to the one guarding the Slytherin common room entrance coiled it's way around the door, locks clicking free as it went.

The door swung open and the three marveled at the sight of the huge bust of Salazar Slytherin in the back end of the main chamber, the Basilisk pipe tunnels branching off from several ways nearby. "Welcome, to the Chamber of Secrets. Newt, I would set your case up before I call the basilisk. Chances are, it won't be too friendly once it knows the Heir of Slytherin isn't alone."

Newt nodded, having experienced the wrath of a basilisk once or twice before. He placed a large case on the floor of the Chamber between Nick and the giant bust of Slytherin. "All ready. You just have to lure it into the general area and the case will do the rest."

Nick nodded as he looked at the giant stone face, knowing what lay behind the ominous visage of the Hogwarts Founders. "No pressure." He wandlessly cast the mirror shield charm like he'd told Bellatrix he would and took a deep breath. §Come to me, beast of Slytherin. The Heir summons you.§ He hissed, clearing his throat from the effort and admittedly much longer series of hisses he had let out as opposed to what he'd actually said.

For a moment, nothing happened until everyone froze hearing a hiss even Nick didn't translate as the mouth of the stone Slytherin opened as Nick remembered seeing before, the basilisk slithering out from the now open maw. It stopped and looked at Nick from a coiled position above the shallow pond in front of the statue. §A Speaker? The Heir of Slytherin once again graces this chamber.§ The basilisk praised in Parseltongue as it studied Nick closer, the teen doing everything to keep as calm as possible with the monumentally deadly snake just feet away. §You must be Tom's offspring.§

Nick made a face as he replied. §No, actually, he is but my cousin. He was never recognized as Heir of our family, as I was. And while I know you have waited in this dark, depressing cavern for your entire life, I offer you the chance to have a real life, perhaps with others of your own kind?§ Nick hissed back, trying to handle the situation with as little issue as possible. §Keeping you here any longer would be cruel, even for my ancestor.§

Nick thought the basilisk had understood him enough to agree with the statement. Several centuries alone without any semblance of the outside world was a hard enough idea for Nick to think about. His thinking was proven wrong, however, as the basilisk instead reared back, baring it's fangs to attack. §You lie! My master gave me explicit instructions to protect this chamber for his offspring!§

Nick gulped. §I understand, but that was several hundred years ago. I wasn't even a thought in the universe when you were tasked with that. But, other than myself and the otherwise usurper you've already met, the line of Slytherin is dead, and I don't want this chamber to be a danger to this school. If anything, you should protecting the school yourself, but no my ancestors was too paranoid and distrusting for that.§

The basilisk wasn't having that as it roared, a hiss undecipherable but murderous releasing from the giant snakes throat as it started to lunge towards Nick. Thinking quickly, Nick rolled out of the way only for the basilisk to turn around, poised for another strike. "The case, Nick!" Newt shouted, catching the basilisks attention as it sniffed the air with its tongue to locate this new possible source of food.

Nick saw the case and, flicking his wand towards himself, flung it between Newt and a now-raging basilisk. The basilisk crossed over the open briefcase and immediately started being sucked in by whatever magic Newt crafted his cases with. In a last ditch effort, the basilisk tried to stop itself from entering the innards of the suitcase by sticking its fangs out, one lodging itself between it and the outside world of the Chamber. Finally, the basilisk went into the case as it closed and locked itself, leaving one of it's large fangs outside.

Nick, holding a hand over his heart, slipped on one of his protective dragon hide gloves, casting an extra measure or protection on the glove before picking up the fang. "Now, this could come in handy. Do you mind if I take this, Mr. Scamander?"

Newt nodded with a smile. "Take it. I have a feeling you know what basilisk venom could do in the right hands. Just don't prick yourself with that fang. You'll be dead before you even realize what you did wrong."

"Oh, I know that. No, if the goblins will work with me, this venom is exactly what I need a weapon imbued with."

"Imbuing a weapon with.. What do you expect to do with this weapon? Go and destroy Horcruxes?" When Nick didn't answer, Newt's jaw dropped. "What?! Who's even employing something so-"

"Voldemort is, and I know where most of not all of them are. Tell me, has anyone seen Voldemort with a python familiar lately? He really should have Nagini by now."

"Nagini.. Now that you mention it, I have heard that name before.. but where?" Dumbledore asked as Newt snapped his fingers. "Newt?"

"You know the name because I, as well as Jacob and Perseus, met her before. Well, one other person did, too, and got quite close to the girl Voldemort's python used to be, from what I heard back then. You know exactly who I'm talking about, Albus."

Albus nodded sagely. "Aurelius.. But no one has seen him since the Quilin debacle."

"Maybe not no one. I mean, he is family, right Dumbledore?"

Albus' eyes sparkled knowingly as he huffed. "Abe won't like me questioning him, Newt."

"Oh, tell him to stuff it, then. Honestly, do you or Aberforth really, truly believe that Ariana would want her brothers fighting each other, blaming the other for what happened to her all those years ago? You're family, Albus. Whether you give a shit or not about him, you would still go and defend his pub even with no reason other than knowing he's your closest living relative."

Albus nodded. "You're right, of course. I'd give you fifteen points to Hufflepuff for rightly berating this old wizard." He chuckled. "Perhaps I'll seek Aberforth out tonight and see if he knows where Aurelius could possibly be. Nick, you said Nagini is a Horcrux as well?"

"Yes, sir. She would be most likely the final one made. He would have turned his diary first, perhaps even back during his school years. With that thinking in mind, it makes sense that he may have already corrupted Hufflepuff's Cup, which Bellatrix can easily get for us. Add to that Ravenclaw's diadem that I believe in the Room of Requirement if you summon it in lost and found mode. Slytherin's Locket and the original Gaunt family ring would have been easier to obtain, most likely being hidden somewhere at the Gaunt shack before I had it turned into a store. Bellatrix also possesses the ring in her private vault. Then there would be Nagini, the final intentional Horcrux."

"Intentional?"

"Oh, he aimed for immortality, and with each splitting of his soul he performed creating the Horcruxes in general, that goal is much easier to attain because of how hard it is to destroy a Horcrux in the first place and the person in question cannot be truly killed until all pieces of soul are otherwise destroyed before the main body. However, the unintentional seventh Horcrux will not be created at all, because that occurs in another.. six or so years, I think. Honestly the timeline is getting more and more muddied as I go through this year. That's why I'm in talks with the goblins. They want to help bring Voldemort to justice because they see the Ministry is doing jack shit when me, an otherwise ordinary teenage wizard, is hellbent on stopping this madman. I just need some kind of weapon that, hopefully, can isolate and destroy the soul piece without destroying the object. He turned three priceless heirlooms of this school into evil soul containers, and I for one would like the value of those items to stay intact after this, since it's known more that you must destroy the vessel to destroy the soul."

Dumbledore nodded. "I will ask anyone I know who could help for assistance, Nick, you know that. I'm sure keeping the integrity of those items would be an immeasurably worthy use of time and studying. Just don't get carried away and fall back on your classwork."

"No need to worry about that, professor. Well, my job here is done. I'm going to bed. Goodnight, headmaster, Newt." Nick said before apparating from the chamber.

"You know, do you think he could have apparated us down here in the first place?"

Albus simply chuckled. "Everyone likes a good slide now and then, my boy." Shaking his head in amusement, Newt and Dumbledore made their own way out from the Chamber of Secrets.

Hog's Head Inn, Later..

The moon was but a crescent high in the sky when Dumbledore entered the pub in Hogsmeade. He had his hood up as he sat at the bar, awaiting his brother to approach him.

"What are you doing here, Albus?" Aberforth said, knowing his brother immediately.

Albus smiled at his younger brother. "Hello, Aberforth. I came for a.. a family visit. Do you have a moment?"

Aberforth looked at the almost empty pub. "You came close to last call, so I'd assume you'd already know. Tell you what, you help me close up in a bit, we'll sit down with some nice Ogden's and see what you have to say. I am curious, though, why now?"

"A couple of things. For one, I have come to realize that, after all this time, I'm ready to concede that is arguing with each other for all these years would be against what Ariana would have wanted. She was too pure to want us fighting each other when we both know there are bigger threats out there." Aberforth nodded, motioning for him to continue. "And also, while I am more than happy to keep your private matters as just that, I have need of your son. Do you know where Aurelius is?" The tension in the bar became unbearable as Aberforth grimaced at his older brother.