A/N: Here we are, the dance! I had a lot more that was supposed to go on, honestly, but felt that the costume contest itself would have been a bit silly so I figured to cut it. I mean, there is always Wizard's Prom and other fun little dances I want to include, maybe include more in the time of this story or series- I haven't fully decided how to throw it, yet- when the regular Harry Potter things are going on. There are people changing sides, lines dividing families.. I have a lot going on here and yet, somehow I make it work in my own insane way. Until next time, hopefully Pokémon Violet and my toddler don't distract me too much from writing up the next chapter. Since now, the holidays arc shall begin.

Chapter Eleven

The Samhain Formal

Three Days Later..

Bellatrix huffed as she transfigured her dress robes into another costume at Trixie's suggestion. This had been going on for twenty minutes already and still she hadn't been able to settle on a costume for the dance that night. Although, it really didn't help that Nick kept what he wanted to go as a secret, even from her who should have been coordinating costumes with him by now. Just stay calm. Nick is just forgetting it, that's all. Wish we could get him a remembrall, but I don't think those are very widely sold yet..

Bellatrix giggled. "Yeah, you'd think he would remember his own advice to live life and not let the bad shite get to him. Oh well, we'll ask him when we see him later." Nick had gone back to the Ministry, supposedly to finish Hagrid's little trial. Bellatrix hoped he would be back at the school early enough to actually attend the dance. Even as in the bag as Nick had things, the Wizengamot could still delay an actual verdict all day if they so pleased. And with Nick still outing the bad members one by one, the trial shouldn't take the longest even with such nonsensical proceedings.

I hope everything goes how he thinks it will. Hagrid may be eccentric, but he is amazing with magical creatures, just the same. Maybe he can take over Care classes from Kettleburn before he gets himself killed. Bellatrix nodded with that, she totally agreed that Kettleburn needed to stop taking such dangerous risks with only so few actual body parts left to him.

Sighing to herself, Bellatrix transfigured her robes back to normal for now, shelving them for more regular autumn wear for classes. Just because Nick wasn't there didn't mean she could play hooky. Unfortunately, since she would be having class with some of the still more unfavorable Slytherins that hadn't yet seen the truth and reality in Nick's declarations. Thankfully, Professor Slughorn was a gracious enough teacher not to let the bullying get out of hand.

You know, I've been wondering.. Why are the schedules rotating somewhat? In the books originally they were a set schedule, although whether that was for the entire year or just each semester was never specified.

"You're going to make me go mad if you throw any more hypotheticals at me this morning. Can we please just get on with Potions?"

Yeah, sure. Let's go. I think I remember Slughorn telling us we were brewing some more powerful version of the Dreamless Sleep potion. With that, the girl with two voices left her dorm room to go to breakfast.

Later, Around Lunch, Courtyard..

Bellatrix took a bite out of the sandwich in her hand, reading slightly ahead in her Transfiguration textbook. She had gotten a Patronus message from Nick (to the shock of poor little Professor Flitwick as the dragon appeared in the room) in Charms last period, telling her he would be back shortly and to meet him in the courtyard. She hoped he wouldn't leave her waiting long, as the sandwich was more of an appetizer than her whole lunch meal, and therefore would enjoy hitting the Great Hall before much else.

She was aware of the air chilling slightly around her before she heard the crack, turning around to find Nick standing there, a Cheshire grin on his face and a single red rose stretched out between them. "My lady."

Bellatrix giggled, Trixie outright poking fun at him. "You're cheesy as hell, you do know that, right?"

Nick rolled his eyes as she took the rose, smiling as she sniffed it. "Yes, yes, I'm well aware. I'm sorry all my cuteness comes from movies as old or older than I am."

"Don't be. It's all too cute, really. And, I have to say, I feel a lot better that technically we aren't hiding this anymore."

"Same here, Bella. Did any of the others give you any trouble while I was out for the morning?"

Bellatrix shook her head. "No, but I think that's more the old goon squad has kind of become your goon squad, instead protecting me if anyone did get out of line. Anyway, enough about my day. How did it go?"

Nick sighed with a smile. "Good, better than that, actually. I have now convinced the Ministry that what I've been saying and trying to have done is the right thing to do, although it'll still go a bit slowly for a while still. But, Hagrid has been pardoned and given his wand privileges back. Dumbledore brought him to Ollivander's shop to get a new one. Are you ready for tonight?"

Bellatrix frowned then. "No, thanks to you. How can I figure out what to dress as when you still haven't even told us what you're going as so we can match."

"So.. Trixie didn't tell you? I haven't changed what my costume would be since she and I had that exact conversation before school ended last year."

Bellatrix looked into the water of the courtyard fountain, searching her reflection for Trixie's reaction to said question but coming up with no results. "Damn it, Trixie." She muttered. "Whatever, I'll get it out of her after classes finish up, then. I hope you're hungry, that sandwich I had did nothing for me, honestly."

Nick laughed. "Starved, I didn't eat breakfast this morning, so lunch would be appreciated." Smiling widely, Bellatrix looped her arm with Nick's as they went towards the Great Hall.

Once classes were finished for the day, Bellatrix found herself without Nick once again, this time because the other boys had asked him for help with what was most likely the Marauders' annual Halloween prank. So, instead she was in her dorm room surrounded by her sisters as well as Lucina, Marlene and Lily, each going over what they would be dressing as with their dates for the dance. "What about you, Bella? What are you and Nick doing for costumes?" Asked Narcissa as she played with the hem of her school skirt.

Bellatrix shrugged. "No idea, actually. Nick will tell me before the dance, I'm sure. What about you, Cissy? I was unaware that anyone had asked you to the dance at all."

Narcissa looked down, clearly embarrassed by her older sister's line of questioning. "You're gonna laugh or tell me not to go through with it.."

"No, she won't, Cissy. You can tell her anything, she can't judge you. That's how sisters are, right?" Nick said, looking at Bellatrix, wondering just who could possibly have asked the fourth year girl out.

"Exactly, Narcissa. I just want to know who happens to like my little sister. As long as it isn't any of those people." Bellatrix put a finger to her lips with a giggle as Narcissa smiled.

"Well, actually.. it's Severus.."

Bellatrix's head snapped to her audibly, making Trixie cringe in her mind. "When the hell did this happen, then?"

Andromeda laughed then. "You'd have noticed they've gotten closer over the last couple of weeks if you and Nick hadn't still been dancing around one another's feelings the entire time. It's like you and him live in a totally different world when it's just the two of you together."

"Andi, I'll admit that seems ridiculous, but you aren't wrong about that, either. Still, I'd like to have known my little sister was going on a date with an older boy."

"I don't have to answer to you for everything, Bella, even if you are Lady of the House." Narcissa said, sticking her tongue out half-heartedly at her older sister. "You still don't answer most of our questions about Nick that you and him keep secret."

"That's different, Cissy. Nick is not like most of us, and I.. we still need to process how to tell you without sounding like we belong at St. Mungo's."

"Nick could do that, himself. But, I guess I see your point. Just.. don't keep us out of the loop forever. We need to know the truth eventually."

"You all will, I promise. I don't think Nick and I necessarily need to keep it a secret anymore, as it is. Not after the other morning at the Shrieking Shack." Bellatrix shook her head. "You never answered my question, Cissy."

"We're not dressing up, actually. Severus is far too grumpy to effectively fit into a costume and I just.. honestly don't mind just dress robes. I'll make them a bit more spooky at least." The fourth year giggled as Bellatrix looked at Andromeda now.

"Ted and I are going to be a matching Muggle couple for the dance." Andromeda said, grinning. "Their clothes are so fun to mix and match as well as coordinate, so many more styles than us witches usually have in stores."

"That's true, even in the way of swimsuits." Lily said with a nod. "Although, bikinis do seem to be catching on with our peers lately."

Bellatrix clicked her tongue in amusement. "Yes, but that isn't hard when the confident girls like us show off and make the less confident want to be like us."

"Don't be vain, Bellatrix. We've all seen that you aren't some shallow bint from the east side of Buckingham like you used to make yourself out to be. There's no need to be body shaming anyone."

"I'm not body shaming. I'm simply pointing out that sometimes, people's actions control the situation more than you expect. Other girls don't have to follow the lead of another, but they will when they feel their pride threatened. I for one know of terrible things I could do, but I choose not to because I know the situation has to call for such an extreme reaction to make sense. For instance, I have the motivation to effectively use any of the Unforgivable Curses but I know I would only condemn myself I used them, so I use less dangerous spells to accomplish my goals instead."

Lily hummed. "I guess I can see what you mean. It's basically just a leaders vs followers argument."

"Exactly. Are you and James attempting to match, at least?"

"Oh, of course. He loved the idea of vampire count and countess. I really plan on making him not look anywhere else tonight."

Bellatrix cackled. "Bookworm Evans, being so bold? What's made that happen all of a sudden, I wonder?"

"The same reason any of us can say things are different but better now. Nick is very good at making people believe in his words, and with that I've come to see that I don't have to be afraid of the idiots who decide his cousin has what's truly right at stake in this. Voldemort is just wizard Hitler, and after what he did, I'd rather side against that. Voldemort has proven he's not above acting just as Hitler did with the Jewish Muggles, and that shouldn't sit right with anybody, magic or not. It's the bigoted, hypocritical Pureblood families that even believe their magic can only stay between magic blood but you know what Nick rightly said about that. Without genetic variety, the magic will only keep shriveling up more and more. And because of how right he is, I want to live my life without fear of that madman. Nick makes me feel like I can do that."

"Yeah, not to mention your boyfriend could totally take on a room of Death Eaters by himself with the skill he showed the night of the incident." Marlene was referring to Bellatrix's attempted rape by Rabastan and his goons. "From what you've said about it, at least."

Bellatrix sighed. "Yes, I guess Nick has made quite a reputation for himself around the castle. Thankfully not all bad. I do respect Dumbledore for expelling any of those students who do mess with Nicky, though. It's good seeing Dumbledore start taking action as well, he's usually too pacifistic to do anything like that before. Did you know before this year, Hogwarts hasn't had an expulsion since Hagrid? Even as false as it was, you'd think there were bound to be some students with warranting behavior otherwise but no. Then again, some would argue that's why Dumbledore is spoken about as a crackpot at times."

"Our headmaster may be a great wizard, but he surely doesn't always make sense to us all, that's for sure. Anyway, was anyone here invited to the Deathday party?"

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "Nick and I were asked by that eccentric Gryffindor ghost just the other day about it. If only there was a way for one to sever a ghosts head from their body, maybe he'd have a more enjoyable party. He always gets rejected to join the Headless Hunt because of it, although how ghosts can hunt is another mystery entirely." She explained. "Nick told him we may stop by when the dance starts to die down, but I hope he doesn't feel the need to.."

I think he will. Nearly-Headless Nick was a beloved character in the books, and in all honesty he doesn't discriminate among the students like most of the ghosts, notably the Grey Lady and Bloody Baron. He deserves to have a nice occasion here and there, even if it's only to celebrate how he died..

Alright, maybe we'll pop in, but no promises. Bellatrix thought to her other self as the girls continued having their fun throwing the latest gossip from around the castle amongst themselves.

Great Hall, Several Hours Later..

Nick and Bellatrix arrived at the Great Hall for the Samhain Formal, both dressed in outfits straight out of a British history textbook, a style almost fifty years old as it was. While their costumes didn't exactly fit, the characters portrayed being twin siblings and not lovers, Nick didn't care enough, just liking the outfit well enough. Bellatrix had to admit though, the steampunkish outfit she had on did show off her figure more than well enough, even if Nick said that wasn't why he liked the costume on her.

Nick stopped them just outside the doors, taking his wand out and fixing Bellatrix's disheveled hair. The dance had been going on for almost two hours already, but they had just left the Deathday Party down in the dungeons to pay their well-wishers to Nearly-Headless Nick. Bellatrix had admitted she'd had fun identifying Hogwarts ghosts as opposed to visiting specters, enough so that when they had left that particular room in the lowest level of Hogwarts, they had found themselves in each other's arms in a nearby broom closet. That was, until little Peter found them, scaring the life from the couple as they realized they had other places to be. Peter hadn't been in attendance to the dance, not being the biggest on the event in question, and was instead keeping a lookout on the Marauders' copy of the Map for anyone acting out of place. However, as of that point it had only been Nick and Bellatrix not at the dance so thankfully there was still nothing to worry about.

As they entered the Great Hall, the large doors closing by themselves behind them, Nick and Bellatrix were separated once again, boys and girls taking their respective member of the Hogwarts power couple away towards different areas of the room.

"Where were you two, then?" Sirius interrogated Nick as the Marauder's all gathered around their now captured friend.

Nick just rolled his eyes in response. "Merlin, such dramatics, Sirius. We attended the other Nick's deathday party in the dungeons. I dare say it was actually pretty fun to watch ghosts complain about their lives in such a way. And before you ask, no I did not shag your sister. The broom closets here may be spacious, but not the right environment for the divine gift that is your sister to be ravished in."

Sirius went to lunge when James, Remus and Peter held him back, all cackling like mad hyenas. "Calm down, Pads. You know he's only teasing you." James had to gasp to get some air. "We all know Bellatrix wouldn't settle for a broom closet."

On the other side of the expansive room, Bellatrix was red in the face as her sisters interrogated her about where she was with Nick for the last several hours. "Andi, Cissy, come on! Nick and I did not shag or anything like that. A good bit of snogging, yeah, but that's the extent. Seriously, we just went to wish Nearly-Headless Nick a good deathday. Did you know they use their severed heads as bowling balls? Those ghosts are immensely fascinating, really."

Andromeda gave her sister a look. "Just because you're the oldest and the Lady of our House doesn't mean you can hide such things from us, Bella."

"Well, so what if I did shag him? It would be about bloody time, speaking about this emotional dance you all believe we're still putting on."

"We already know you two are fully official now," Voiced Lily. "It's only obvious, you two stopped pulling away from each other whenever you would subconsciously try to hold hands or if your shoulders touched in class. Since the other morning, there's no resistance between you and we all feel it in our magic because both of you combined create a nexus wherever you are."

"A nexus?" Bellatrix asked her Gryffindor friend, having never heard the term before.

Lily frowned, confused. "A Magical Nexus? You've never heard of them? It's like how ancient peoples built monuments where they believed ley lines to exist. Basically, though, your case would be more like an empowerment of sorts, like Nick's magic is absorbing yours but in return, yours feeds off of his at the same time. I've never seen anything like it, and it's already a rare thing to find in our world, considering."

"You can see their magic, Lily?" Narcissa asked, fascinated.

Lily nodded. "Sometimes. Before I knew it was magic I was seeing, back before my Hogwarts letter, it kept me from befriending the bullies in Muggle primary school. In other words, your magic is not only really compatible with Nick's, but it's practically symbiotic."

Marlene rolled her eyes. "Do your dissertation on that after we graduate, Lils. Seriously, why are we even interrogating Bellatrix about this? Her and Nick have earned their privacy to their affairs, even if half of the girls in Gryffindor still want a piece of Nick. And this is a dance, we should all be with our partners dancing. Before the festivities end and we have to keep dealing with classes."

"You realize tomorrow is a Saturday, right? Our classes are over until Monday, anyway."

"I don't care! There weren't nearly enough summer parties this year, so I have to settle for school dances until after graduation where at least one of us better be celebrating at home."

"Jeez, calm down, Mar. When we all get home for the summer you'll have your party invites, you'll see. If all goes well, we'll all have a lot to happily celebrate by then." Bellatrix said, shaking her head in amusement.

Andromeda giggled mischievously. "By that time, will it be your bridal or baby shower, Bellatrix?"

Bellatrix looked at her sister, smiling sinisterly as Trixie whispered in her mind. By how the timelines usually occur, she's about to be preggo herself. "Let's leave that as a surprise, shall we sister? Anyway, I want to go have a dance with my man, thank you." Bellatrix broke away from the other girls, her sisters huffing as she walked away.

"Andi? Is it just me, or is Bella different these days?"

"Bellatrix Black was never what most Wizards would consider normal, Cissy. Not with the skills she possesses at our age, or the brains. She is acting a bit more differently than the sister we've always known, but it's a happy kind of different. You can tell just by looking at the two of them. You'd think they both had found their missing piece in each other."

Narcissa smiled then. "Yeah, you're right. I'm glad he came into our lives, even if he's fixing to fight this war by himself, if any of us let him."

"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that. Nick knows more than he ever lets on about, and that makes me beyond glad that he's on our side."

"Too right. Now, I think I'll join Bellatrix in dancing with my date as well." Lily said with a laugh. "You all coming?" The girls shook their heads and went to go find their partners for the dance. Now that Nick and Bellatrix had arrived, the whole party seemed to have sped up a bit and none of the girls wanted to waste anymore time talking amongst themselves.

Nick smiled wide at Bellatrix as she found him out on the crowded dance floor, talking to none other than their friend from the train ride, Argenta Moon. "Hey, Bella. Finally got away from the girls? Argenta here was just telling me about her Muggle boyfriend back home."

"Oh? That's nice. I'm sorry if I'm cutting in, but could I have a dance with my date, Argenta?"

The sixteen year old nodded with a smile. "Of course, Bellatrix. You look gorgeous in that outfit, by the way. Very post-war and steampunk."

Bellatrix smiled. "Yes, I do look good, don't I? Nick was the one who picked the costumes, I'm just going along with it. It is quite stylish, though, I must admit."

"Very true. Alright, I'll get going. Enjoy the dance, guys."

"You too, Argenta. We'll be seeing you." The younger girl nodded again and ran off as Bellatrix threw her arms around Nick's neck. "Are you two alright?"

"Yes, we're fine, Nicky. But thank you for checking. Now," Bellatrix smiled wickedly. "How's your waltz?"

Nick looked at her, surprised but smiling. "No game to speak of, but I'm a quick learner."

Bellatrix purred, giggling behind her hand. "Oh, I know that much already. Fine then, let's see how quickly you can manage to step up to my level." They shared a laugh as they began to waltz, Bellatrix at first explaining the steps as she went through them.

Before long, Nick was waltzing Bellatrix around like a pro, and the couple had switched to another form of dance as several couples left the party, probably off to go snog somewhere private. The two decided to take a break and found their friends all gathered around a pair of tables they had pushed together for them all to sit. "There you two are. Full of surprises aren't you, Nick? I didn't know you could dance like that." Sirius said with a chuckle.

Nick shook his head, sitting down next to him. "I didn't, actually. Turns out, your sister is very good at teaching."

Sirius's nose crinkled in disgust. "I don't know how else to take that but wrongly, my friend. As you said before, what you and Bellatrix do in the bedroom is your business."

Nick looked at him emotionlessly. "You're a fucking idiot. But, how's everyone else's evening going? Andromeda, is this the famous Ted I've heard so much about?" He said, waving to the wizard sitting beside Andromeda, who raised an eyebrow at Nick as he nodded.

"Ted Tonks. I guess you're the infamous Lord Gaunt, then?"

"Nick, please. Or Lord Negron if you must. It's a pleasure, man. I believe you're just starting Auror training about now, right? I know Andi mentioned you graduated last year."

"Yeah, it's still early and when Moody heard about the dance he took me aside and told me to take the night off to spend with my girl and her family. And he may have mentioned to keep an eye on you while I was here, although I doubt you're that suspicious. Least, not to me. Most people with things to hide usually avoid me."

"Ah, yes. You have some sort of recognizance, right? Inherent lie detecting skills?" Nick remembered Tonks mentioned very vaguely about a sort of seer ability in her family, but Nick figured she had meant the Blacks, since Bellatrix was a natural Occlumens.

"Yes, actually. Family talent, as far as my dad would tell me. He works in Corrections, so it's quite useful for him. But, as I was saying, then there's you who have willingly shared information that some in the Ministry find suspicious of. There are those who even believe you're a younger clone of Voldemort, sent to infiltrate and supposedly turn the students here into your own brand of Death Eaters, taking out the Dark Lord before establishing yourself as the ultimate Wizarding power."

"Wow, I didn't know I had people thinking that way of me." Nick said, shrugging it off with a laugh as he looked at Bellatrix. "I'm just a knowledgeable guy who wants to help keep people safe. That's not a crime, last I checked and hardly a reason to dig into my background. You probably wouldn't find much if anything incriminating, anyway. And before you say anything, MACUSA allowed my use of an Avada on that poor Thunderbird because the thing was in excruciating pain and the Ilvermorny staff couldn't bear to do the job. I volunteered and, being Heir to the school there, they allowed it as an act of mercy."

Ted held his hands up. "While that was supposed to be a fun story to hear, I guess there really isn't much to tell there."

"Nope. Although, do you mind stepping away from the gang for a minute. I just want to run something by you."

"Don't scare the guy, Nick. What are you doing?"

"Trust me, Bella. It's just a question or two." He patted her shoulder as Ted nodded and the two went off towards one empty wall of the Great Hall. "What's this about?" Ted asked the younger boy.

"Not much, just some more insider knowledge you might like to know, along with a gift." Nick said, taking out a small badge, modeled after the same one Ted already had as part of the Aurors (and had been crafted using Nick's memory of Moody's badge at the Ministry). "This will protect you just as Bellatrix's own does, for I know if things weren't altered like this, you would not love past your daughter's.. third birthday, I believe."

A/N: Parasite Eve reference for those who know.

Ted looked at Nick skeptically. "How do you know these things? It would seem to some that you have a book of prophecies like the ones they've published from Nostradamus."

"You know, I'm pretty sure he was a closet wizard, but no there's no journal of apocalyptic events or anything like that. I just know some things about the future, and that window of knowledge closes with everything I do to change the events I know of. For everyone's benefit."

"Alright.." Ted said, taking the badge. "I'll make sure it's always on me, just in case. But.. why go through the trouble for me?"

Nick grinned, looking at the Black sisters. "Bellatrix is my girl, and I protect those I consider family. And under that umbrella is you as well as Andromeda, Ted. Tell Moody I said hello, would you?" Nick laughed as he walked back to the table, whispering into Bellatrix's ear as the girl beamed and got up, Nick leading her back to the dancefloor.

Ted say back down next to Andromeda. "That boy is something else."

Andromeda giggled. "I tried warning you. At least he's determined. And he's done a lot to hinder the Supremacists in our culture already."

Ted nodded. "Yes, I can tell. And Bellatrix is.. very different now, seeing them together. But, it's a happy kind of different, you know? Arcturus chose your sister's husband-to-be well, judging by her necklace."

Andromeda shook her head. "Wrong, my love. Father had no say in Bellatrix's happiness. In fact, those two were after one another before school even started. We all met him in Diagon Alley over the summer, and ever since Bella has been enamored. Then he made that necklace, charm crafting at it's finest. It protected her in the best way, as well. You remember the incident I mentioned in my letter, correct?"

Ted nodded, frowning. "Yeah, when the more stupid Lestrange brother tried ganging up on her with friends to rape her. I can't believe they would even try something like that in the first place."

"Yes, well. To be fair, those two weren't any bit together then, it really started after he saved her. He can apparate in, out and around the castle, you know."

"Moody mentioned something about that. Being a Gaunt allows him very exclusive privileges. Only the Headmaster is supposed to be able to do that. So you trust him, then?"

Andromeda nodded, giggling. "Oh, explicitly. He won't let anything come to those he wants to protect, and it seems that's almost a majority of the school. The only ones still on his shit list are the remaining would-be Death Eaters."

Ted gasped as she said it. "That reminds me. Moody wanted me to warn Nick that Voldemort is using brands, now. All his closest followers have it, apparently, judging by your mother."

"Mother? How would you know mum.."

"She came into the Ministry a while back, demanding the contract between Nick and Bellatrix be annulled. When Moody told her that she had no rights within the family anymore- odd since she hadn't known she had been exiled already- she tore her sleeve off her blouse and revealed a tattoo only a wizard could have made. It was disgusting, really. A huge skull with a snake twisting around it and then out of the open jaw like something you'd see in a boneyard somewhere. Moody wanted Nick to know so he could make sure the younger crowd aren't getting them as well. The boss wants no Voldemort sympathizers in this school."

"That's harder done than suggested, Teddy. It's hard enough knowing which of these asshats is thinking about joining him already without the knowledge they have literal tattoos now." Andromeda leaned back. "Shite, when did things in our world get so bad?"

Ted nodded. "I couldn't say, but Moody says it's been a growing restlessness ever since Grindelwald. I just hope your faith in Bellatrix's boyfriend is well-placed."

"As far as me and the rest of my family are concerned, Nick is the greatest thing to happen to our world in decades. He very well may be the reincarnation of Merlin, as much as he denies any connection. Although, Gringotts would know, right?"

"Not necessarily. Technically, Merlin never registered his blood into their systems because he died just before it was established. Not to mention the man had no family to speak of, or so they say. I guess it could be possible his bloodline actually became one of the Hogwarts Founders, but Slytherin? How would that make sense?"

Andromeda shrugged, smiling as she saw Bellatrix and Nick twirling on the dancefloor. "I don't know. Most things with Nick only seem to make sense once he decides it needs to be known. As shady as that is, it doesn't matter. He kept my family from becoming a den of liars and monsters, so I suppose I do owe him one for that."

"I suppose so. I guess I can tell Moody he's barking up the wrong tree, then. So, should we join your ecstatically happy sister on the dancefloor?"

Andromeda gained a mischievous glint in her eye. "No, come on. I have somewhere I want to show you." She said, getting up from the table with Ted following close behind.

Lily sighed happily into James' shoulder as they danced. "This is nice. I wish the world wasn't going so tits up."

"Lily Evans, cursing? Is this a dream? Ow, alright, alright, love. All jokes aside, this school year is shaping up to be quite chaotic come the Spring."

Lily giggled. "Yes, it will, with Nick's vendetta against the Dark Lord. I do worry about Bellatrix, though. She seems just a tad.. worried, maybe? Like she knows something is about to happen. Something bad."

James hummed. "Maybe she does. Sirius told me she inherited the Occlumens skills she has from their grandmother. If she isn't telling us, though, it probably isn't the worst thing to know. Or she doesn't want us all worrying. Either way, I'd hazard a guess as to the subject of that worry being Nick. Those two seem to share a brain at times."

"Don't tease them, James. They're absolutely adorable together, like they've always known each other."

James nodded. "My cousin found a good one, it seems. I was worried, after what happened in fifth year Bellatrix seemed to take herself off the table."

"Oh, she was. Everyone figured she'd be the spinster of the school, but not anymore. I'm happy for her, Bellatrix deserves some happiness after the shite with her mother poisoning Lord Arcturus."

James nodded. "Yeah, Siri is still pretty bummed out about it, too. Even though he knows Nick won't let Bellatrix do something he knows could be the wrong move. She's going to help her family regain the prestige it should have, instead of being tainted by the Dark Arts."

Lily nodded as the couple continued dancing, all smiles.

"Stop it, Siri! You're going to make Nick come over here and give you a piece of his mind for being a prat." Marlene rolled her eyes as she berated Sirius for scowling at Nick and Bellatrix.

Sirius huffed. "I just don't get it. It's like he was always meant to be here, but absolutely no one knew about him before the summer. And Bellatrix's infatuation with him.. It all just doesn't sit right."

"Maybe not, but your sister is happy, Sirius. And Bella tells you everything eventually, right? So whatever you feel isn't right may very well be hidden for a reason. One that we possibly wouldn't be able to understand in the first place."

"Like what? Time travel without a Time Turner? No limits to where you could go? That's either impossible or a long way off, neither possibility seems too tractable."

"I don't know, Sirius, but maybe you need to just have faith that your sister, who is on par with Lily Evans in the academics department, knows what she's getting herself into. I adore you wanting to protect her, but we all saw how she handled her last relationship blowout."

Sirius sighed, smiling. "Yeah, yeah. You're probably right. I can't help but worry after what my mother's done. Just gotta have faith things will turn out alright." Giggling, Marlene nodded.

It has been some time since Nick and Bellatrix had gone back out onto the dancefloor, and it seemed neither of them wanted to stop anytime soon. Nick noticed a bit of sadness in Bellatrix's eyes. "You alright, love?"

"We're both alright, Nick. Trixie is a bit homesick, though. She misses Lizzy."

"I get it. I miss home, too. Although for me it's because no one understands my love of movie and TV show references here since most of said movies and Television programming do not yet exist, if they even will in this new world I'm working on creating for us all. This is home now, Trixie, even if that pertains to just how we are now."

"I know, Nick, and I agree. But, this still isn't really home, you know? Not for the two of us. I miss Crystal Springs, I miss my best friend, even if she lied all our lives about who.. what she really was. I miss my older self, the mother I loved so much.. But this.." Trixie sniffed, keeping her tears at bay. "Right now, this is the happiest I've ever been and I hate that I like it so much. This.. Bellatrix isn't me, Nick. Not entirely. How can you stand there and still say you love me?"

"Because that's the thing that hasn't changed. Your appearance has, as has your personality, but you will always be you to me, whether here or in our future.. pasts? Just because your hair is less red than it was in Crystal Springs, for one thing, doesn't make you any less you. So please, my angel, stop pitying yourself for things that were out of our full control. What we do here, in this time, is what will matter when we exist in our previous lives once again. We'll go home, make sure the both of us are safe in case anything goes wrong against Voldemort. But that comes much later. Right now, I just want to enjoy the time I have with the girl I love, both sides of her. Especially because this is a dangerous time and I was already lost before. Twice, if that letter from future Bellatrix is anything to go by. One day you'll be used to it here, used to our new friends and family." He smiled as he pushed her hair back behind one ear. "Although I must admit having the same mother in two time periods is quite confusing."

"You're right. When I saw her through Bellatrix's eyes that day, before the attack on the Leaky Cauldron, I was raging that it made no sense. Why would your mother be the same some forty years before we were both technically born. I guess we'll eventually figure that one out, but right now.. I just don't know. I'm scared to lose you again, Nicky.. I never should have let us go to that movie that day."

"Come now, Trixie. If I hadn't died that day and been sent back here, at least this time I guess, then you'd never know just how amazing you really are, and yes I'm considering Bellatrix and you as the same woman, because you both are. You used to tell me that there felt like a huge piece of yourself was out there, missing. Bellatrix was that piece, Trix, and you just don't want to admit it because you're scared."

Bellatrix frowned at him. "I'm not scared. What am I supposed to be scared of, anyway?"

"Simple. Losing me again. This is a second chance, Trixie. For you and me. Everything will eventually sort itself out, just stop being afraid and live, Trixie. You never really died, your entire being was just transferred between time periods into your original body. Whether that was because of how me and Bellatrix interacted the first time around without your mind added in or not doesn't matter. Just give it all a chance, love. Lucina may not be Lizzy, but she is Lizzy's grandmother. It makes sense she's now your best friend, Liz was always kinda distrusting of me when we all first met as kids."

"You mean when she met us. Me and you were always in proximity even before school ever started for us, Nick. Our life, my modern day, macigless copycat existence was a predestined ordeal, and now that it's come full circle, that's fucking terrifying! The things my older self- the woman who raised me- did in the future grief of this Bellatrix are damaging. It can't happen again, and I'm scared there's nothing we can do to actually fix it."

"We'll be fine. We know what to stop, and I unconsciously started with that necklace before I knew there were such damaging consequences to stop. Face it, Trix, you wouldn't be here unless your mother thought you wouldn't be needed. She'd have let you self-destruct fifty years from now in your grief over my death. You'd have turned into a Muggle version of the very original Bellatrix."

"I still may, Nick! Don't you get it? Merging our minds means that the loss of you means double."

"Alright, I get that." Nick said, frowning. "But you trust me more than anyone else here. You know that I'm actually winning in this endeavor as it is but you're still doubting it. Worry about what happens in the future, for the future. Right now, focus on me, on us. And just live life. We'll stop whatever comes at us. Just trust me."

The girl at odds with herself sighed. "I do, Nicky. We both do. Whatever you need, we're here." Bellatrix smiled as her regular voice returned. "Nothing will make me willingly leave your side, not after everything you've already done for me.. For all of us here.. Do you.. wanna cut out of here?" She asked, suddenly blushing.

"Bellatrix Black, are you asking me to skip out on showing you off to the rest of the school any more than I already have since we arrived?"

Bellatrix scoffed. "Please. I'm just shallow enough to never stop enjoying that. No, I just want to spend some time with my boyfriend, now that it's plainly obvious for everyone here to see."

Nick hummed. "Whatever you say, Bella. But yeah, I'm feeling a bit cabin feverish in here now, even with the dwindling number of teenagers.. Where did your sister and her man go?" He asked, nodding towards the table they had sat at, where Andromeda and Ted had previously been sitting.

"Hmm, that's odd. I know she's a rebel, but that kind of behavior is hardly becoming when our family is much closer than it has been in years." Nick eyed her, confused. "Nick, hon, you need to pay attention. They went to go shag, probably in the one place Dumbledore will not tread when in use."

Nick nodded. "Ah, the Room of Requirement, then. Those two really are just asking to have a kid, then, honestly. So, shall we take our leave? I hear the gardens are quite lovely this time of year."

Bellatrix giggled. "Merlin, you're such a sap. How you handle combat so well, I'll never know." She said as the couple linked arms and left the Great Hall.

"What is it, Rab?" Rudolphus asked his brother as an irate Rabastan threw himself into a chair next to him. Rudolphus had been taking Rabastan's shit lately, keeping his own opinions on finding Nick in the right to himself.

"That fucking twit, Gaunt. Negron. Whatever the shite he calls himself. Walking through the school like he fucking owns the place."

"As a Hogwarts heir, he technically does, in a way. What's this really about, Rabastan? If you wanted to make a move against him, you'd have done it well before now. Or are you scared he won't just stomp your private bits the next time you cross his nerves?" Rudolphus laughed despite himself.

"Very funny, Rudolphus. That boy is nigh untouchable, save for Bellatrix. Can't we just-"

"No, we are forbidden from ever using an Unforgivable, Rab. The Ministry will come down on this school, searching wand histories and magic signatures for days if.. Fuck it. Nick is in the right, brother."

Rabastan looked at his brother with disdain. "What?! Have you been smoking that stupid shite the older Huffles be toking behind the greenhouses?"

Rudolphus cackled. "Oh, you wish I'd gone and joined those arses, don't you? No, brother, I've seen the truth of what the man says, that's all."

"What truth? Nothing that idiot says can be considered true from what we know from the Dark Lord!" Rabastan's voice was dangerously high, but thankfully the music drowned it out somewhat.

"The Dark Lord." Rudolphus scoffed. "He's a sham, Rab. I looked him up, I did. Right in the student records and whatnot in the library. Muggleborn himself, top student, orphan. Framed Hagrid back in their school days, according to the Prophet. And you want to follow a Mudblood for the heightened status of the Purebloods? The families are dying out but by bit, thanks to us all marrying our cousins and shit for the most part. And Nick wants that to stop. He's considered a Muggleborn, generationally speaking, but he carries blood more pure than Voldemort does to the House they both belong to. The way Nick explained things to me, our children would have a class of almost half of our generation, and it would get even worse if Purebloods keep inbreeding with abandon as we have. The Blacks are a miracle for producing five children without deformity or complication, both Muggle and Wizard. I think Voldemort doesn't know what the fuck he's really talking about anymore. According to Nick, the man only wants to be immortal. I dare say that would be anyone's dream but if he needs to commit otherwise mass genocide on people just like us in every way that actually matters, since blood is red in all of us."

"Where did all this come from? Where's my brother?!" Rabastan went to get his wand but found he didn't have it, Rudolphus holding both wands in one hand.

"I'm the same as I've ever been, brother. I've just seen what's so wrong with the way we've thought about things, and I'm taking a stand about it. Voldemort killed our father, by the way."

"You lie!"

"Unfortunately, I'm not. Didn't you wonder why none of the letters we've sent home have had a reply of some kind return to us? The past month or so of school? Nick told me the full story, as told to him by Head Auror Moody," Nick had indeed told Rudolphus about his late father's passing, and had passed the family ring on to him, and the sincerity of Nick's condolences were what made him accept the Lordship, even as he hadn't yet put the ring on. He'd wanted to wait until Rabastan at least knew what was going on, what awaited his unwise decision to- if he so chose to- not stop blindly following the man gone from feared to shamed in the Daily Prophet. "And I will not say Nick is not to blame at all, for it was his actions that caused Voldemort to kill father, but you must listen to me right now, Rabastan Lestrange. Listen well, focus, and maybe you'll see how impactful this next conversation goes. Come, this is not a topic to continue further here." The brothers left the Great Hall, Rudolphus keeping an eye and his wand ready and watching in case his little brother decided to take things into his own hands, like he had attempted with Bellatrix earlier in the term.

Sometimes Later, Slytherin Dorms..

Rabastan shook his head. "No, it's wrong. It's all wrong. You're wrong! I'm not going to stop doing what I believe is right because you have the family ring now and say that we need to unite on this. Don't you get it, Rudy? I like the way Voldemort thinks. I want his plans to succeed and the Mudbloods in our world all killed off. The Pureblood families deserve to rule."

Rudolphus cursed mentally, fearing his brother would indeed see things in that way. Sighing, he twisted the ring on his finger. "Then you leave me no choice, Rabastan. Give it another thought, alright? You tell me what you want to do by the end of the week. If your mind hasn't changed, then be prepared to become an unknown to our community as a whole, as a disgraced Pureblood exiled from his family. If I have to, I'll rebuild this entire family, principles and all. With or without you. Goodnight, brother." Rudolphus places his brothers wand on the floor just inside the door as he went to his own room further down the twisting hallway. Many had had fun that night, the dance a reminder to let loose sometimes in life, but it seemed the Lestrange brothers weren't on that list.