A/N: Wow, thank you all who keep following this zany madness, all over a hundred of y'all. I like how I made it kinda (VERY loosely) like the River Song arc of Smith's Doctor. Somehow, I only realized this because I recently saw the meme detailing how River was with her parents the whole time watching over them as well as the Doctor. Makes the OG Bellatrix from this cycled timeline make more sense in my opinion in her motives in upcoming chapters. Otherwise, I needed something a bit more original than recycling HBP's main Death Eater arc with the Vanishing Cabinet, but I'm taking an opportunity to get creative with it as I have a right to be with this, no? So, Voldemort's getting a new, limited trick which was practically ripped from another fic but I changed enough where it's my own version of said events, plus less scenes to it. Also, sorry it's a bit shorter than average I wanted the whole Christmas Party but to at least start and drag the next chapter on a bit. Lot of things I want to get to in that one. Anyways, see y'all next update.

Chapter Thirteen

Home for the Holidays

A Week and a Half, Later, King's Cross Station, London..

Neela Negron grimaced at the sight of the man, obviously disguised, standing nearer to the entrance of the train station. What the fuck is he doing here? She thought as the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station with a loud hiss. She squeezed the hand of the little girl standing with her.

"Oh, I'll be home for the holidaaaays!" Neela had to cover her giggles as she watched her son get off the train, followed by his new ensemble of friends and singing Christmas songs.

Bellatrix saw Neela first, waving shyly at the Negron matriarch as Nick focused on the unknown man by the entrance. "Hey, mom." Nick said after a moment. "Hi, Merula. You adjusting alright?"

"Hi.." Merula started, obviously shy around so many people.

"Oh, is this the little cutie you guys went to that orphanage for? She's precious!" Andromeda said with a gasp.

"Hush, Andi. You'll scare the girl. This is a bit new to her, alright?" Bellatrix said, kneeling down to Merula's level. "You okay, sweetie?"

"Yeah. Mama Neela takes really good care of me."

"She's been nothing but an angel. Nick, have you.?"

Nick nodded. "Yeah, I noticed him as soon as I got off the Express. I could feel him, the slimeball."

"Language in front of the child, Nick." Bellatrix admonished to a nervously chuckling Nick. "What are we going to do? We can't let him just be here with all these impressionable students, can we?"

"Of course not, love, I got it. He's not making new friends today." Nick said as he stalked off, seemingly away from the disguised Voldemort by the door.

Neela looked at Bellatrix. "Love, huh? Not Trixie just yet?"

Bellatrix blushed but wore a mischievous smirk. "Maybe. You knew it would happen eventually." She winked with her tongue sticking out at Neela, a sign she hadn't seen since before her and Nick had first wound up back in the past yet again, confirming her own question's answer.

*AWaH*

Nick approached the hooded man undetected, clearing his throat once standing beside but just behind the man. "Tom. Lot of nerve, showing your face here."

"Ah, there he is. I must say, I was expecting a bit.. more to you."

"Oh, there we go again. Screw you, Tom. Why are you here?"

"What? I can't come to see family come home for the holidays. Nice chorus, by the way. You practice that?"

"Fuck off, I've been singing since I was a child. Usually I'm even worse with being tone deaf than that, so consider yourself lucky that wasn't too horrible. You're lying, though. You have no other family than me, and I can't excommunicate you because you never got sworn as a Gaunt. Hence why I wear the ring."

"Name means nothing in terms of power. You're not the only one who realizes why you and I are so powerful on our own, despite being Purebloods."

"You are a half-blood, not Pure. I am considered Pureblood in the more traditional wizarding sense that, while absolutely horrid in this day and age, comes in handy now and then. My family was started by a Pureblood and a Muggle, and every so often a Muggle would come into the family, creating more powerful Pureblood members because the family was older than a generation in Pureblood status. You would have qualified had you gone to Gringotts about it before splitting your soul. Now get out of here, Tom, before Auror Moody shows up. I can contain you for him, don't forget. Losing a few pieces of your soul for all eternity really drains the old magic battery, eh?"

"Do not speak to me of blood and politics! You are but a boy compared to me. Your little winning streak is about to come crashing down, believe you me. Savor your family while you can."

"Like you could even harm them." Nick laughed. "I know all about your complete failure to get through the orphanage wards, as well as those upon my house and Black Manor. Face it, Tom. The way things are looking, pretty soon you won't be able to even fight me, not that it's even anywhere near equal footing as is."

Voldemort sneered. "How dare you. Av-" His spell was cut short as his throat seemed to close up, preventing him from speaking. But.. he didn't utter a single word.. Voldemort thought as he felt his body stiffen.

"No way to treat your family, Tom. Even if they're your betters." Nick laughed. "You'll stay like that until all of us are nice and safe in our houses, which my magic will then automatically cut the spells binding you off and you can go back to whatever hole you crawled out of. Stop trying to stop me, Tom. It'll only bring your end to you more swiftly. Happy holidays." With that, Nick walked off to rejoin the others, now joined by Argenta Moon and the first year, Robin Lux.

"Hey, Robin. Haven't really seen you much about school. How's Hogwarts treating you so far?"

The small boy beamed up at him. "It's been really good, actually. Thanks to you, most of the other Slytherins don't care about my parentage, and even better I've made a lot of friends outside our House as well."

Nick smiled. "That's great. And Argenta, how are you?"

The sixth year girl giggled. "I'm fine. This year has been so much better than the last few. Even the classes have seemed easier without the Death Eater kids spouting off their nonsense."

"Good. Good. Alright, I owled your parents that I would make sure you both get home safe so let's go. The longer I stay here, the more my spells on Voldemort over there drain me, and I'd like to keep them up until we're all safely at home."

Argenta gasped. "That's Voldemort? Shouldn't you call the Aurors?"

Bellatrix cackled. "Oh no, Nick won't face Moody another time. Old man's already pissed about his own Aurors being on Voldemort's payroll. No, children, let's all get home." She urged, pushing the younger students towards the barrier out of the platform into Muggle King's Cross.

Nick laughed at his girlfriend before walking along with her, his mother smiling as the couple's hands clasped together between them, a giggle following as the younger students complained that neither Nick nor Bellatrix were much older than them at all.

Later, Negron Household, East End..

Nick threw himself on the couch, sighing as he felt his spells on Voldemort snap free. At least he can't go after Argenta or Robin. Those two are the future. He thought as the fireplace roared to life, flames turning green before Bellatrix stepped out, dusting the legs of her sweatpants off. Nick looked at her with one half-open eye. "Couldn't even stay away for one night?"

"Hogwarts favorites us Slytherins." She said matter-of-factly. "We get private dorm rooms, Slughorn doesn't go checking rooms for people who shouldn't be there. Honestly, it's surprising that Andromeda's the only one pregnant in our year, let alone the whole older half of the House." She said, curling her legs under herself as she sat down next to him. "You spoil me, I'm too used to laying down next to you, now." Suddenly she shrank back as Neela appeared in the doorway, a water bottle in hand as she sprayed it towards Bellatrix a second time.

"Nope. Not before graduation. I know what you're thinking, Trixie. Leave your sister the only one in school pregnant, please." Neela said sternly, Bellatrix looking at her heatedly as she dried her hair with a quick spell.

"You're no fun now, Neela! And what's the deal with you, anyway? You're still the same as you are in the-" Neela waved her wand and stopped Bellatrix as another set of footsteps entered the room, revealing a fifteen year old girl that Bellatrix and Trixie were both unaware of.

"Not around your little sister, Nick." Neela said as if she hadn't magically shut Bellatrix up. "She doesn't need to know about your new crusade."

"Ooh, is it another Basilisk? Nick's lucky he can talk to snakes." Said the younger girl, her brown hair that matched Neela's swinging back and forth.

Nick chuckled. "It's alright, Ang. And I already dealt with the basilisk, thank Merlin. It should be loving life in the sun in Greece among its own kind. But, mom's right, squirt. You don't need to know about this. It'll put you in danger back home. Which reminds me, what are you doing here?"

"I got a pass to come for the holidays. I'll miss a day coming back, but the Headmaster said it would be fine. He knows what it's like to have family live far away. He even brought me over himself."

"Well, that's cool. How is everyone back in Crystal Springs?"

Angelina Negron shrugged. "Fine, I guess. Although I keep getting owls from Meera asking if you're ever coming home."

"Who's Meera?" Bellatrix said, Neela noticing her growing discomfort at the conversation.

It was then that Angelina noticed Bellatrix was there. "Oh, hello there. Who's this beauty then, Nick?"

Nick chuckled nervously as Bellatrix turned towards him. "Angelina, meet my fiancé, Bellatrix Black. Bellatrix, love, this is my little sister Angelina. I was unaware she would be spending the holidays with us. Wait, we just got home, so when did you get here?"

Neela spoke up. "She arrived yesterday evening. Now, Angie, we're still talking about something important out here, do you mind leaving your brother, his girl and I alone for a bit longer?"

"That's fine, but Nick's engaged?! After the fiasco that was Sameera? I thought he wasn't even on the market?"

"Har har, sis. I love this girl, always will." He said, kissing Bellatrix's knuckles which calmed her down a bit as he continued. "Now shoo. Big people are talking."

"You're not much older than me! Oh, fine. Better not put off hanging out with your little sister now that you have another girlfriend." Angelina stuck her tongue out at Bellatrix and Nick before turning to leave the room. "Engaged. Unbelievable! Now Sameera's gonna hound me even worse." She further complained.

"Alright, now that she's out of the way," Neela said, turning back to the seventeen year olds. "Welcome, Trixie, to the real timeline."

"Real timeline? But what about the future? Aren't you and Nick from there?"

Neela gestured so-so with her hand. "Yes and no. While it's true we were originally from the two-thousands, that ended when this damned cycle first began when we woke up here the first time. I've just been playing dumb about you both since we came because Nick and you needed to find each other first. As for when Nick had to die and come back again, that's a bit more complicated to explain."

"We're listening, mom. I want answers to how all this Doctor Who crap happened in the first place."

Neela giggled. "Yes, well, it's a good thing you liked that show growing up, or you'd never see what was different in the first place. No, we came back this second time because, at the behest of your older self, Bellatrix, it was needed for Trixie to bond with Nick, or that's how she explained it to me. I don't know why, since you two were revealed as soulmates the first time we went through this. So what's different now, then? Other than Trixie now being awake. How long has that been under control, I wonder?"

"A week and a half. And why would we need to bond? What, is Nick's life really that different once he's reset to this time?"

"Exactly, Bellatrix. It is pretty different. Like with whom Angelina mentioned. Sameera Sehkmet is.. was Nick's girlfriend from before we moved to the UK. Never liked her, though. I'm pretty sure she was after him for his status as heir to Ilvermorny. Very pretty though, just too petty. And, being honest, the first time in the future without you, he would have wound up with even worse. Now, with the two of you engaged, she's thankfully out of the picture. That's as well as the change that there's another child of mine here, or the fact you're twins with Sirius, not a cousin like the original timeline. Bringing Nick through time that first time warped things out of sync with the future, but now I'd say it's for the better, as long as whatever Nick is planning to do about Voldemort goes smoothly enough."

"It will. He only has a couple of Horcruxes left, and without all those portions of his soul still around, he'll be more or less powerless to stop me from ending his miserable existence. If I even want to by that point. Might just be better to turn him over to the Department of Mysteries. They'll have a field day with his disregard of magic."

"That's true. But, he still has people there, doesn't he?"

"Maybe. He may not have won them over, yet. I wouldn't know. This is still a huge bit of unknown territory we're dealing with. I've been changing things, hoping I'm not far off from this first cycle everyone keeps mentioning. But I honestly don't know if I'm actually succeeding, mom. Right now, as Bellatrix rightly told me, I should be enjoying myself and just.. go with the flow."

Neela hummed. "Alright, I guess you deserve to just chill for a bit, seeing as how you two are fully reunited, now."

"Damn right we are. You know how fucked up it is seeing yourself be happy with the guy you feel for? It fucking sucks, Neela! And I was helpless for weeks without a change. And then he does some weird fucking spell I've never heard of before then and I'm somewhat free to take over my own body. This has all been a lot of stress, Neela. Can you truly blame me for wanting to stay close to Nick? I mean, it's not our fault Slughorn doesn't separate students in other dorms."

Neela frowned. "I guess you do have a point, however this whole situation was never fair to you, Trixie. And I apologize for yourself about that, you didn't deserve to be lied to your entire life."

"I'm not mad about that. It was necessary, according to my mom's letter to me. I'm just mad that I had to play third wheel to my own boyfriend!"

"To be fair, we've been official for what? Almost two full months?"

"Not the point, Nicky."

"Have you two.. actually slept with each other, yet?" Neela asked cautiously, their response laughable as they both turned beet red and began talking at once, denying it all. "Alright, alright. I'm your mother, Nick, three times over, so allow me my fun at poking at your relationship."

"That's fine, but Trixie is the one you have to watch out for. I didn't know that she slept in nothing but panties before last week."

Neela had the spray bottle pointed at Bellatrix again. "Heel!"

"Mom! It's fine. It was just.. a shock, is all."

"He likes it, anyway, Neela. He's always pawing me in our sleep."

Somehow, Neela had gained a second spray bottle and was now spraying both teens, who laughed at the situation.

*AWaH*

A while later, Bellatrix lay on Nick's bed, head supported by one arm as she watched Nick put some books away on his bookshelf, seeing something that truly shouldn't exist there, not to mention that had not been present on the bookshelf as far as she could tell from her last visit to his room. "What are those doing here?"

Nick looked where she was, plucking one of the seven out of the bookshelf. "Huh. I have no idea. Maybe it somehow came back to help fix the mistakes me and Bellatrix made the first time this cycle started. I mean, if there's any information about how to stop Harry's life as a sacrificial lamb-"

"My aunt said there won't be a Harry Potter this time around. According to her and her Black family Seer abilities, James and Lily have all girls."

"That's.. definitely a big change. However, that may just tell us that we're doing fine." Bellatrix looked at him skeptically. "Come on, Trixie. Think about it. If Harry Potter doesn't exist, then Voldemort would probably have been taken fully out of the game by the time his Hogwarts years came around. Here, look and see if that's right. I mean, the title changed, who knows what else did." He handed the book to her, which was indeed now titled The Potters and the Philosopher's Stone. "Not surprised they're using the brit English name for it, since we're over here."

Bellatrix frowned at the book. "This book started the descent into madness that, had Lizzy not sent me back here, would have turned me into a Muggle Bellatrix Lestrange, Nick. Minus the extra compulsion bullshit from Voldemort, himself. I don't know if I really want to know what else was originally changed before I became a thing, well you know what I mean."

"Yeah, future knowledge of yourself, even if you don't live it, could be dangerous. I just thought it would help if you were on the same page as I am. I don't know everything that went on, but if you know, then we can still be ready for anything. I already know how that story ended for me the first time around.." He stood looking at the bookshelf, sighing from what he'd learned of his and Bellatrix's first try at stopping Voldemort altogether and how the Potter books depicted the final epic battle that wound up being a dark finish.

Bellatrix got up, both on instinct and with added pressure from her other half- it was getting harder to distinguish either of them had switched into the main control role of their body- and snaked her arms around Nick's chest. "Nicky. We're not letting that happen. Not again. Not to you, and definitely not to any children we may have by the time that battle comes to pass. If it even does. Focus on the here and now, not a good twenty years in the future. Shite, I just realized we'll be in our late thirties already by the time those books wrap up, and in our fifties when you would otherwise be alive. We'll be like grandparents to you."

"Yeah, I guess we would be pretty old by then, and yet mom would be the same.. That makes no sense, unless she was something more than just a magical human the whole time.. I don't know." Nick grabbed her arms near where they clasped together across his chest, rubbing circles on the back of her wrists with his thumbs. "It doesn't matter, alright? What does matter, right now, is us enjoying the holidays with our new, wacky family. Right?"

Bellatrix hummed as she looked at him. "Yeah. So.. you have a sister here in the past? When were you going to tell me?"

"Ideally? Before you had met her. She's a good girl, though. Takes after me a bit.."

"Oh, so she's stubborn as all hell? Or incredibly booksmart?"

"Both, really. She wants to join the Aurors when she finishes at Ilvermorny. I worry about her, you know? And I've been wondering whether she existed in the future alongside us somewhere. She could have been a teacher if that's the case, even though mom said she only came about this time."

Bellatrix giggled. "She's lucky to have a brother like you, Nick. But enough about the ever-unraveling mystery of our current circumstances. As you said, it's the holidays, and we have more important things to worry about. Such as the list of gifts we need to pick up." She looked at him with a look that didn't say she wanted anything to do with shopping at that moment.

"Mm." Nick hummed. "Doesn't seem like shopping is really what you have in mind. Plus, it's nearly eleven at night. Diagon Alley would be closed at this time."

"Mhm. Ever the perceptive one, aren't you Nicky?" With another giggle, Bellatrix flopped herself backwards onto the bed with Nick on top of her, the two laughing before their lips met.

*AWaH*

Grimmauld Place..

Meanwhile, at the Black family manor, Andromeda sat on the edge of the couch as she looked to Theodore, having just told him about their unexpected news. "What were you thinking, luv?" Ted asked her.

"I want to keep it.. I know I'm still in school but if I can't attend next year, then I can always do the work at home and graduate that way. It isn't ideal, but.." Andromeda was nervous, her mind racing with the possibility that Ted wouldn't want to be a part of the baby's life at all.

Ted sighed, a small smile on his face. "Everything will be fine, Andi. I'm not going to leave you high, dry and pregnant. I was raised better than that. As long as your family is supportive as well."

"Oh come now, Teddy! We're Blacks but we're not Death Eaters. Only that banshee of a mother we used to consider family." Sirius said as he entered the room, giving a sympathetic smile to his sister.

"I'll never understand how you old families can just excommunicate someone on a whim like that in the modern day. It's archaic and medieval, is what it is."

"While I do agree it's a bit barbaric for the times, it is handy in the right situation. Hence why the old laws were never outright abolished."

"It still doesn't sit right with me, about your mother, but I understand the sentiment after asking Moody about it. Even after seven years full of learning, even us graduates still learn new things all the time."

"Amazing how full of unknowns the world really is, innit? Now, I believe it's starting to get a bit late and Andi has to be up early like the rest of us so we can start this house cleaning project Bellatrix decided to put us on over the break."

"Bella isn't even here, Siri. She went straight to Nick's the first opportunity she got." Andromeda said to a surprised Sirius.

"Really? Honestly, that girl. Gets a boyfriend and now she's never around."

There was a faint calling of Sirius' name from upstairs. "Siri! Come back to bed." Came the voice of Marlene McKinnon, much to Andromeda's surprise. She hadn't known Sirius had snuck her into the manor.

"Calling the kettle black, Mr. Pot? At least Marlene's here. Marlene can help us clean tomorrow, Bella doesn't have to be here. Let her enjoy herself, she's been much too stuffy the past few years with keeping us away from our mother's influence."

Sirius sighed. "Yeah, I guess you're right about that, at least. Fine, but if she's not home by tomorrow night, I'm getting her. Lady of the House or not." He said before backing back out of the room.

Ted laughed once he was far enough away, or so he thought. "That Sirius. He's a dog, but he's a good dog at least." Andromeda giggled along.

"I heard that, you prat." Sirius called, making Ted gasp.

"How did he..?"

"Sirius has the best hearing out of the family. Merlin only knows why." Andromeda said as the couple decided to leave the room themselves.

The Next Morning..

Trixie, thinking Bellatrix's family needed a bit more excitement in their lives despite everything, was now grinning quite devilishly while holding two frying pans, one in each hand. Trixie, I really think this is a bad idea..

"Nonsense, Bella. We told them today began cleaning, and I for one want it done before Christmas day which is only in a few more days as it is. Plus, as you said to Nicky, we still have to go buy gifts. Now just let it happen and enjoy the chaos that ensues." She said before violently banging the pans together as she walked up the stairs. "Alright, everybody up! It's cleaning day! Time to make this house a real home!"

Marlene poked her head out from Sirius' room. "Oi, some of us are trying to sleep."

"Don't sass me, Marlene, you don't even live here. But, since you're here, you can help clean up."

"Why couldn't you just drag Nick here, then?"

"He has other things to do, namely hang out with his little sister while she's visiting. Now come on, you lot! Up and at 'em!"

She giggled as she dodged a stunner spell aimed for her from Andromeda's room. "Ted won't stop me from cursing you, sister!"

"Love you too, Andi. Come on, we need to get this place ship shape, please?" Bellatrix pleaded, hands clasped in front of her. "I was thinking we could hold a party here for Christmas."

"Are you insane, Bella? With Voldemort after Nick and all of us associated? Even the holidays can't be that safe."

"It'll be fine. Nick will enhance the wards before we begin and it'll only be known to our friends and allies, if any decide to show good faith in us. The Bones family have been very impressed with how Nick and I have been wanting to change the outdated prejudices we suffer from. Maybe a good holiday party can bolster us with them, it'll show that the Blacks mean business when it comes to wanting change. To want to change."

Andromeda sighed, frowning defeatedly. "Alright, alright. You win, sis. I get what you're saying, and you're right. Especially with it being so sudden."

Bellatrix beamed. "Yay! Now get up, everyone. Coffee is made so grab your cup and choose somewhere to start. I for one am upgrading from my room to the master bedroom, so I'll work on those two rooms. Regulus, if you'll be a dear, could you handle the attic along with Kreacher?"

The youngest Black sibling looked at his oldest sister, surprised. "But I'm terrified of the attic."

"Kreacher!" The old house elf appeared before the Lady of the House.

"Yes, Mistress?"

"I want you to clean up your old collection in the attic along with Regulus. But, you must make sure none of your harmful trinkets go near him, understand? It's bad enough I need to worry about my siblings out of the house, let alone within."

Kreacher nodded. " Of course, Mistress. Get ready young Master and I'll begin without you. Kreacher shouldn't have too many harmful items around by the time you come up. Not since your sister kept confiscating most of them."

"Be lucky I let you keep any of it, Kreacher. You're a good elf, but you do have your faults, I suppose." Bellatrix sighed. "Alright, Andi and Ted can handle light work in the kitchen and living room, they aren't bad since Kreacher has been keeping up with the main rooms. Our bedrooms aren't necessary to clean up either, unless you want to neaten things up. Sirius and Marlene can handle the study and library and Narcissa can do the ballroom. Maybe you can enlist Severus to come around, Cissy."

Narcissa, having just joined the party of heads in the hallway, blushed hard and closed her door again, Bellatrix giggling as everyone sighed but began getting themselves ready for the day of cleaning ahead of them.

Negron Household..

Neela opened the door and clicked her tongue at the woman standing on the other side. "Donna Talos. Or, should I just call you Bellatrix since it's just you and me here?"

The original Bellatrix Black frowned at her mother-in-law. "It's nice to see you too, mom." The woman- technically now older than Neela- replied.

"What are you even doing back here? I think you've meddled more than enough with time."

"Perhaps, although it doesn't explain just what the kids have been recently." Neela's confused face made her continue. "They're starting to wonder just how you are always the same and retain all the knowledge of my and Nick's exploits within this cycle we find ourselves in. Just why is that?"

Neela sighed. "Are you sure you want to know the answer to that? You've already fallen to the Madness once, don't risk that again. Only the current you has a chance to not go utterly insane at my truth."

"Don't tell me Nick is more right than we've always thought, with his obsession with Doctor Who. Where is my handsome man, anyway? You said you were home alone when Nick should be here too?"

Neela sighed. She didn't want something like this to happen, especially not with her daughter-in-law/neighbor back in the picture when she shouldn't have been there in the first place. "He's out with his sister, just come inside before they wind up coming home quicker. He will recognize you, you remember?"

"Of course I do. I'm only here to make sure things are going to plan."

"And what exactly is this plan? You sure didn't tell anyone about it before you decided to turn yourself into a head case without going insane."

Bellatrix entered the house, nodding that Neela was right.

*AWaH*

That Night, Negron Household..

Nick was faintly aware of the sound of apparition as he and Angelina entered the house. "Today was so fun! Diagon Alley is much more spacious than Vertic Alley is."

Nick chuckled. "That's probably just because Diagon Alley is outside while Vertic Alley is a subterranean mall. I'm glad you had fun, though. And you're sure Sameera isn't going to bother you anymore?"

Angelina shrugged. "I don't know. That girl's always been pretty obsessed with you, bro. I don't know if me telling her and confirming with that memory you put along with that letter will really help that issue. She might find her way here instead. She'd have the time, since you were dating an upperclassman."

"Yeah, yeah. I can handle Sameera. Although, I'll admit she was hot."

"And exotic, your usual type. Bellatrix seems a bit.. tame, compared to them."

"Bellatrix Black is perfect for Nick, Angie, you'll see." Neela said, drying her hands with a dishrag. "So? How was your day together?"

"Nick got me Bertie Botts ice cream! It was good when it was pickle flavored, but then it went to vomit." The younger girl grimaced. "As fruity as it tastes, that's nasty."

"Yes, you have to be careful with that one. I'm off to bed, loves. Tomorrow, I think I'll go do my shopping so I don't want either of you or the rest of our friends snooping on me, got it? Oh, and there's been a chiming coming from your room for the past ten minutes, Nick. I think Bella's trying to get in touch with that hand mirror she left her this morning." Angelina wandered off, probably to go up to her own bedroom as Neela turned to him. "Sameera is bad news, Nick. At least, she was the first time we were sent here. Honestly, I can't say I have many memories about her in this specific cycle. If she does make an appearance, just.. be wary."

Nick nodded, seeing his mother was serious. "Of course, mom. By the way.. Are you going to tell me just how you stay the same in each life we've lived? The few who know of this repeated cycle shit all day you don't change. If anyone should know, I think I deserve that right."

Neela frowned. "You're right, Nick. You'll find out eventually. Spoiling this surprise may be harmful before you're truly ready to know. I'm sorry I can't tell you more than that."

Nick nodded, sighing. "Yeah, I figured that might be the case. Usually my luck in this timeline, apparently."

Neela laughed. "Yes, you've been quite the center of all attention lately, haven't you? The Prophet has been doing a lot of talking about the 'Herald of Change, Lord Gaunt'."

Nick grimaced. "Ugh, I hope not shit talking, otherwise I may have half a mind to buy the damn place right from under whatever family runs it."

"Oh, no. In fact, I would say you've won over a majority of high rollers in our short time here. Enough to swing the news in your favor."

"I hate politics, even the smaller bullshit like the press. Why couldn't I have an older brother to handle that shit so I could just focus on Voldemort?" Nick gained a peculiar look in his eye. "Say, you don't think maybe.. I mean, Angelina didn't exist until I died and got sent back.. reincarnated.. whatever the hell the actual terminology of my dying, being brought here, dying again and living that life again only to come back another time. I'm sure you want to stop repeating time over and over again, right, mom?"

Neela sighed. "No, Nick. Yes, you're right that I want the cycling around to stop, I've had enough of it same as you. But, we are not chancing you even coming back a third time. I'm not losing my son another two times before I get to watch him live his life to the fullest once."

"I hear you, mom. I'll be careful of Voldemort and my apparent ex. And anyone else that seems suspicious. I'll go see what Bella needs. Night, mom."

"Goodnight, Nick. I love you."

"Love you too, ma. Don't stay up too late if you want to go shopping tomorrow." Nick chuckled as he began leaving the room.

"The same to you, Nick. Give Trixie my love." Neela smiled as she called the reply out to her son. Finding out the truth about what we are should never be on your list of things to know, but I understand the knowledge you may yet again live another life or more is frustrating when you don't know why it happens. It's bad enough the original Bellatrix from this alternate timeline knows..

Upstairs, Nick's Bedroom..

Nick picked up the mirror Neela had mentioned, the surface clouding before showing a noticeably worried Bellatrix in the reflection instead of himself. "There you are! I was bloody worried!" She exclaimed, pouting.

Nick chuckled. "I'm fine, Trix. How was cleaning?"

"Very well, actually. I have a room to finish up tomorrow but otherwise the rest of the house is ready for the Black Christmas Bash!"

Nick rolled his eyes. "Are you sure that's the name you wanna go with? Makes it sound like someone's going to get murdered and then it becomes a night of whodunnit."

Bellatrix huffed at him. "Nicky, it's my party, I can call it what I fucking want!" She practically squeaked.

Nick laughed. "Fine, babe, you can have your Black Christmas Bash. Did Cissy manage to get Snape over?"

Bellatrix giggled. "She did, and I tell you, she told him off about avoiding her. Couldn't have been that bad, though. I'm kind of sure he hasn't left the manor yet, although Lily is here to pick him up, apparently. Didn't realize they lived that close to one another."

"Of course, the books never specified but I always thought of them as childhood neighbors. Maybe not like right next door, but same block."

"Hmm. Well, I don't know why she isn't trying to get him out, and it's honestly annoying Bellatrix at this point, not sure why. We're friends now.."

"It's Bella's house, and she only really tolerates Lily, more for my sake."

"Eh, the two of them are a lot more alike than they want to admit, especially on Bella's part. Old habits and all that."

"Whatever. I took a look at the book.."

"Did you find anything we should be worrying about in about fifteen years?"

"I.. I don't know. I think I need to read through Chamber before I truly figure that out. But once I get the gist, you'll know. Promise."

"I hope you do. Things are going to start getting harder. For some reason, I have a bad feeling Voldemort is about to do something incredibly stupid yet unknown to us."

"I'm glad I'm not the only one, then.."

*AWaH*

Somewhere in China..

Voldemort gingerly stepped over the lifeless bodies of the Chinese wizards and witches he had slaughtered, taking care not to get any of the dirt and debris from the firing of spells on his shoes as he made his way into the back room of the all-purpose magical store. He was on a mission, and he knew he must have been close, according to the information he had gotten from the elder of this clan of wizards earlier that evening as well as the humming of the magic Voldemort sought.

He descended a stairway lit by nothing but a couple of ancient stone lantern towers near what he thought was the middle of the stairway itself. The space itself, once Voldemort had cleared the stairs, was so cold normal people would have noped out of there in seconds, but to a wizard who knew warming charms it was only a matter of how much power you put into your spell. Power, always power with Voldemort, never thinking there were other, better ways to feel powerful.

The chamber he found himself in illuminated itself, revealing walls etched with all manner of runes, in many different languages as well. This was the Wu Shien Long Clan's magic archive, where the Chinese wizard family kept all of their magical knowledge in order to pass it along to the next generation and the next after that. Unfortunately for the Wu Shien Long, Voldemort covered his bases as far as survivors were concerned.

After a while of searching the room full of artifacts and times full of knowledge he deemed unneeded, he finally found the book he was searching for. It was written in runes even a Master would have trouble deciphering, but Voldemort was a cheap bastard who used every advantage available to get ahead, including having killed the five top Rune Masters around Europe and Asia in order for his plans to reach the heights he hoped they now would. He opened the book to the first page and read the title out loud in pleasure. "Finally. Life From Nature: Building Homunculi. Now, maybe the tides can finally turn against that fucking teenage brat." He cackled as a wave of unknown magic crashed around him, pressuring him just enough to feel irritated as he met the source of magic face to face. Well, I wasn't expecting a Hungarian Horntail to be here, especially not a miniaturized adult. Could the Wu Shien have been protecting even more dangerous magic down here? He thought, dodging a fireball as he readied his wand to fight back.

*AWaH*

"Mom?" Nick asked as he entered the kitchen late that night, unable to find sleep for himself.

Neela looked up at him, her thoughts distracted from that of the original Bellatrix. "Hmm? Oh, Nicky. Why are you still up?"

The teenager shrugged. "Can't sleep. Listen, can I show you something up in my room? Bellatrix was the first to notice it but neither of us could tell how it happened."

Neela raised an eyebrow at him but nodded. "Sure." She got up and followed him upstairs to his room. When she opened the door and looked around, she had an inkling about what her son was talking about. "Now, what am I supposed to be seeing that seems out of place for you?"

"Seriously, mom? You already know about everything else, why wouldn't you know why these posters and stuff on my walls are still the posters I had in my room in twenty twenty-two?"

"Oh, that. I was unaware Trixie had seen through it, first. Although, only having her memories could have magically.. glitched, maybe? I don't know what word I'm really looking for but I wouldn't worry about it. Just a magical hiccup, if you will."

Nick looked at one poster, chuckling. "Right, happens all the time. Alright, thanks. It was just really bothering me for some reason. I mean, they'll be stored until the times are right, of course but I can't keep them up here forever, can I? Gonna have to move out soon, getting married and everything."

Neela looked at Nick skeptically. "Oh really, now? Barely six months here and already moving out? Where are you building it, then?"

"Who said anything about building?" He chuckled. "Haven't figured that part out. Yet. I know she's been fantasizing about a log cabin mansion in the middle of the woods surrounded by country fields on all sides but one, the final leading to a beach."

"That's pretty specific.. How long has this been going on then? Fantasizing about where her house will be, I mean."

"Since sixth grade."

Neela snorted. "Oh, so we're talking about Trixie and not Bella. Well, at least she knows what she wants."

"Yeah, although how she expected me to ever make that one happen in twenty twenty-two is beyond me. Too expensive, all those materials would mean like ten different bank loans."

"Yes, it would have been a real pain, that's for sure. Well, good luck on that but it is rather late. We both should get some sleep. Christmas is in four days and Bellatrix probably wants her party in two so you can all celebrate Christmas with your families and each other with enough time to relax as well. Not to mention you'll probably all decide on some ridiculous party for Boxing Day as well."

"Weird holiday, but I'll take take it. Alright, thanks for the insight, mom. I'll have them packed up before I go back to trying to sleep."

"Take some of the sleeping medicine in the cabinet. It's Peaceful Sleep Draught."

"Sure, if I can't will myself before long. Night." Nick closed his bedroom door, sighing. The holidays may be the only time to relax until this conflict comes to a head.