The days after Imbolc marked a change among the students of Hogwarts and the Members of the Wizengamot. Many Houses from the edges of the Light and Dark Factions officially entered into an alliance with House Black and the rest of the Neutrals, marking the official beginning of the Neutral Bloc. The Light and Dark Factions now found any of their legislations requiring the Neutrals input or approval to even have the chance to pass. The Light was hit the hardest, as the Neutrals began to strip away bans against practices, restrictions on certain books and the lifting of gag orders against certain debate topics. A new balance of power would begin to settle in the Chambers of the Wizengamot, and the more radical changes were yet to be brought to their attention.
In Hogwarts, Rhea's position became strengthened amongst 3 of the 4 Houses. As finals would soon become the focus of teachers and students alike, Rhea found herself the centre point for a lot of impromptu tutoring lessons. Rhea eventually gave in and with help from her friends, they began a proper study group, with tutoring shared among the more capable students and an abandoned classroom as their meeting point. Rhea begrudgingly took a more flexible position, as she was too advanced in most subjects to actively lead the students from the subject matter they were covering. She did join Draco in leading the potions study sessions. Her cousin knew how to get her to cave in. Bloody peacock!
The year came to a head as soon as April was close to turning to May. Flitwick and Rhea had been discussing how many courses she could technically get the OWLs for during next year when they both spotted a name on his completed version of the castle map (he had been right crass with her when Rhea's name still refused to appear on the page). Rhea was heading to the door when Flitwick called out to her. "Miss Black. Do be careful. Auror Potter is likely to arrive soon because of his map and while Family Privilege allows you to ignore Aurors when they come after you because of Bellatrix, it doesn't give you the right to attack them outright." Rhea huffed, "And here I thought I had the perfect reason to curse James Potter in the back." Fillius' raised eyebrow made her laugh as she rushed out the door.
Rhea took advantage of not appearing on the map and called Nyx to her, the two popping out in the hallway and reappearing disillusioned on one of the stone slabs near the path towards Hagrid's Hut and the Forbidden Forest. She could see the shapes of Potter and his men scattered across the clearing, trying to surround Bella, who was lying low to the ground in her panther form. Rhea needed to remember to get her a gift with a panther on it. Bella's form when she now had some weight and muscle was beautiful. She was about to jump down when she heard a howl. Rhea spotted something ill shaped as it tore through the clearing, straight for Bella. The glow of the moon on her skin turned from comforting to scalding.
"Damn it, Bella, why did you attack on the night of the full moon! Of course, Potter would let his friend loose despite the Board's ruling!" Taking down a werewolf, and half a dozen Aurors while not exposing herself wasn't going to be easy. Then she heard another voice. "Dad, Moony and his Aurors have her surrounded, come on let's make sure she doesn't get away!" Rhea wanted to scream as she saw the 3 Gryffindor boys and 1 girl move down the path underneath her. "Of all the rotten…" Rhea's mind stopped as she thought about it. James and Remus might be hunting Bella right now, but if Henry was endangered, they would assuredly go to save him. It was underhanded and mean. Salazar would be proud.
Rhea and Nyx found themselves deep in the woods as she called on her Earth and Blood Magic. She had only ever used her connection with Death's Creatures but she technically could influence the wills of others. Using Dementors would tip off the Ministry that there could be a Necromancer up and about and they just weren't ready to be adults about it. Rhea smiled. "But there is no way of telling why a pack of wolves found the Hogwarts grounds so inviting. Maybe the werewolf drew them in." She felt the wolves close in on her as she focused her mind. Wielding her blood was the easiest thing for a Blood Mage, but affecting another's still inside their body was another matter. Still… she smiled as she felt the connection but stumbled as she linked herself to the minds of the pack. There were a lot more complex thoughts than she expected.
A few minutes later, after applying magical resistances and other short term magical benefits to the wolves, Rhea set them loose. They would attack the kids and Aurors but keep their distance when it became too dangerous, stalking their faux prey. She and the Hogwarts elves would be having a lot of words. These wolves will need a lot of meat to repay them for this service. Shifting into her owl animagus form, she and Nyx watched the altercation. Her guess had been on the nose. Remus dropped his fight with Bella and went straight for the kids when he heard the howls and the screams, James and 3 other Aurors soon left with him. That left 2 Aurors and one injured but angry Panther. Rhea decided to even the odds and hit the ground as her Grim animagus. She was still small and not as imposing, but her Death Magic tied perfectly with her form. She could produce the terror that the Grims were infamous for and get them to leave Bella alone.
With two terrified Aurors running back to join their teammates, Rhea could finally focus on Bella. Goddess! Remus and those bastards did a number on her as the damage became apparent once Bella shifted back to human form. The skin tight leather clothes Rhea commissioned for her were practically shredded, just barely keeping her modesty intact. Rhea didn't take any chances, she created a black cloud surrounding them both and shifted to human, placing herself against Bella's body. "Lean on me, Bella. I got you. Let's get you out of the wards so we can get you treated." Bella just grunted as Rhea pulled her further into the Forbidden Forest. A few minutes into the Forest Rhea sighed in relief as she felt the wards slip over their heads. One Portkey keychain later and the two Blacks were gone in a puff of smoke.
"Mom, Dad get Andy and Cissa quick! The Blasted Aurors did a number on Bella and I can't heal her and cleanse her at the same time!" The sound of their daughter's voice echoing through the house woke the two of them up from their restful sleep. Sabrina made a few Transfigurations to keep themselves decent as they got down to the ground floor. Sabrina's breath got stuck in her throat. Rhea hadn't been kidding, it's a bloody miracle Bella's alive. She helped her daughter lower Bella down and Levitate her body towards the ritual chamber. It tended to double as a medical ward in emergencies and this certainly qualified. In the chamber mother and daughter were forced to strip Bella down completely to get to work on her without obstruction, Rhea peeling away layers of cursed damage from Remus' werewolf claws and Sabrina using spells to knit back the skin, arteries and veins. They hardly noticed as Andy joined them in the chamber, the latter getting out the potions they would need to get her sister back to health.
Nymphadora was the last to arrive, having been called in her Auror capacity to comb the school. The Ministry at that point didn't care if the Black's got her, they just wanted to make sure Hogwarts was safe. She walked to the back of a tired Sirius sitting down in the family room. "How are they?" Sirius turned and smiled, "Aside from dead tired after 9 hours of healing, potions and diagnostics? They are good. Bella will have a few thin scars, but all will heal and there won't be any traces of Lycanthropy in her system. She's probably on some Dreamless Sleep as all our beloved ladies rest up. How was Hogwarts?"
Dora shrugged. "Henry, Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom are all in the Hospital Wing with bites on their ankles and scratches on their backs. Remus is confined to his cell in the Dungeons with a pissed off Snape as his jailor. James and most of the Aurors were sent to St. Mungos with deep scratches and bites, nothing major. 2 of the Aurors will need to spend time with a mind healer though. Something they encountered has got them spooked, leaping at shadows and everything. Last but not least, Dumbledore has called for calm. Lucius, with your vote, called for classes to be postponed for the next few days, with parents permitted to see their families. That should keep everyone busy while we get Aunt Bella up to snuff."
Sirius nodded. "All in all it could have been worse. Surprised about the wolves though. Rhea didn't say anything about how she got Bella out of the grounds." Sirius turned to her, "Anyone trying to blame the mess on Rhea?" Dora shook her head. "None of the investigators are. No one saw her be anywhere near the whole mess. Flitwick mentioned that he had informed Rhea that Bellatrix had been spotted on the premises and that she should go see her family in case something happened. That is the official notice of Rhea's whereabouts by her Head of House. I heard Henry blaming her for all that happened to them from the Hospital Wing, but that's all. Pomfrey then proceeded to feed Henry some Dreamless Sleep, to the relief of everyone stuck there."
Sirius chuckled, "Then Rhea did a spectacular job. Sure, we will eventually say Bella's with us but hopefully by then she won't be a Lestrange, but no one can pin this mess on anything Rhea did." Sirius' mood soured, "Though we will probably have to sack Remus. His contract made it clear he would be staying in his cage in every full moon, so tonight he broke the contract, even if he wasn't a threat to anyone with the Wolfsbane Potion in his system." He sighed and Dora rubbed his back. "I know he was your friend, but he made his choices. Last night he made another one, and it will cost him. He can't say he wasn't warned."
They hear the ritual chamber door open and see Andromeda walk out. She smiles at them. "Bella is still on the mend but we have confirmation on the contract being active. Sabrina had wanted to get the Ritual off on Beltane but no chance in the time we have her, she will start fighting us as soon as her body can try. Both Sabrina and Rhea are out for the rest of the day, so we need to be on shifts watching over Bella until we can get her cleaned out." Dora rushes over to her mom to make sure she is okay as Sirius watches on. "We got Bella home, Arcturus. Just gotta make sure she stays home. Please, watch over her."
The ritual chamber settles, but Rhea doesn't stop staring at the raised dais where Bella remains chained down. She sighs, "That's every single cleansing ritual we know. How did they all fail to break the slave contract?" Sabrina comes around and hugs her from behind. "We've been at this for hours Rhea, let's get some rest and see if we can think of something else." Rhea nods begrudgingly and the two step out of the chamber and head for the kitchen. Kreacher places hot chocolate in front of both of them as they sit down, their thoughts still on Bella. When Bella had physically recovered, they had woken her up. Only, that had been a mistake.
Bella being in poor physical condition had been a factor for how the contract behaved. If she was weak and injured, the contract would relax its terms, but once she was at tip top shape, it was all or nothing. It took Andromeda, Narcissa and Nymphadora all using overpowered stunners to knock her down. Rhea had felt disgusting when she tied Bella to the dais with magic dampening chains but it proved to be the only way to keep her contained. 4 days after she had been captured and fully healed they still had only managed to remove her Dark Mark. Rhea settled her thoughts and drank from the hot chocolate.
At least the Ministry had backed off. They had tried to play some twisted logical loops to get Bella out of their custody. Thankfully having Amelia Bones, Alastor Moody and Lady Abbott, who held a high position in St. Mungos, pay a visit and confirm the existence of the slave contract on Bella made the Wizengamot and the Ministry leave Bella as a House Black problem. Of course, not everyone wanted to let it go. James Potter was still calling for her head, as was Alice Longbottom. Augusta had been part of the initial moves against Bella's current custody, but Amelia deposited the diagnostics that confirmed the slave contract, as well as Rhea's diagnostic of the state Bella had been in just before Yule. The horror written down on the parchment was enough to make Madam Longbottom cool off.
Sirius and much of the House of Black had wanted to use the health scan Rhea had done to investigate what was happening behind the walls of Azkaban but Rhea had told them all to wait. Bella had been the victim and it was her choice if she wanted to bring the criminals masquerading as guards to justice. She just had to get herself free of the contract to do that. At least Rhea's classmates and teachers were supportive. She was getting notes on all the assignments she was missing in class and about news from the school, while Pomfrey got the health scan Rhea took once Bella was safely behind Grimmauld's wards. Andromeda was keeping Pomfrey updated on Rhea's continued work as a Healer. However, there was one class she currently didn't have to worry about.
DADA had been postponed indefinitely until a proper replacement for their professor had been found. The Board, including Sirius, had not taken Remus' moonlit jaunt well, regardless of the circumstances or James Potter's attempts to get his friend out of trouble. While he was in control of his faculties under the effects of the Wolfsbane Potion, he did break the contract he had agreed to by not being in his cell during the full moon. While Remus wouldn't suffer any other consequences for his actions, his employment at Hogwarts, or his current lack of employment, was not negotiable. Also, there remained some debate as to whether Lupin's presence had been the motivating factor for the wolf pack visiting the grounds that night. Had Lupin behaved like a professional towards Rhea and the other houses, she would have felt some guilt about that. Oh well.
Rhea and Sabrina's latest brainstorming session came to a screeching halt when Sirius barreled into the kitchen. "I found it! Bellatrix is no longer a Lestrange and we got the dowry back plus interest, and amid the Lestrange Vault, the Goblins finally found the Slave Contract." He placed the parchment on the table. Rhea wrinkled her nose. Not parchment. This felt…wrong. "I think I am going to be sick!" She went straight to the sink and emptied her stomach. Sirius, on the other hand, received a hard whack to the back of the head. "Dammit Sirius, we already discussed how these things are made! Rhea didn't need to have human leather and blood shoved in front of her face!" Sirius looked apologetic as Rhea heaved again.
The few who were able to stomach being near the thing deciphered the legalese. Lucius huffed, "I knew Cygnus could be a bastard but to leave no exit clauses? For the first time, I am glad my father was able to get me and Narcissa betrothed. This… is vile, even by Dark Faction standards." Sirius and the rest of the Black family looked on dejected. "So there is no way out for Bella?" Lucius sighed, "The contract binds her to Rodolphus Lestrange till death." Everyone else hung their head until Rhea shot up from her seat. "That's it! That's how you break it!" Sirius looked at his daughter, "What do you mean? It's unbreakable! If you're thinking about temporarily killing Bella, trust me, it's been tried. It doesn't break like that."
Rhea looked insulted, "Of course that doesn't work, because the soul is still attached to the body. But if the soul enters the Veil, it should break the contract!" Everyone looked at her as if trying to figure out how that would even work. Sabrina catches on first. "True, that could work, but you haven't crossed the Veil on any night other than Samhain. We can't keep Bella chained in the basement till then!" Rhea looked smug until Sabrina's eyes narrowed at her. "Rhea, what did you do?" Rhea turns shy all of a sudden. Sabrina, fearing what could happen to her girl, snaps, "Rheannon, what did you do?"
"Yaip!" Rhea suddenly shifts into her small Grim form and jumps into her dad's lap. Sabrina slaps her hand to her mouth. Sirius pets his daughter's quacking body. "It's ok pup, your mom is just worried that you could be hurting yourself. You need to understand, that we aren't supposed to cross the Veil until we die. Don't be scared. She didn't mean to yell." Sabrina walks up to Sirius and Rhea and sits on her knees. "Rhea honey, I'm so sorry. I…don't know what came over me. I promise I won't yell again, but you can't keep secrets like that from us. For those who aren't Necromancers what you do can be terrifying. So please, tell me you weren't hurting yourself." The pup shot from Sirius' lap and shifted into Rhea before hugging her mom.
"I'm sorry. It was just something I'd do without realizing it. I didn't think it was all that important!" It takes a few moments for Rhea to settle down, though the moment does remind the family that while Rhea is mature for her age, she is still only 13 years old. For all the Healing she can do and the advanced magic she can cast without so much thought, she still has a lot to learn about people. Rhea steels her back and continues. "I can make trips into the Veil. Usually, it's in passing, like a Necromancer's apparition. It's unblockable and I can technically be anywhere I have seen. But I can also go through but not have a point of exit in mind. When I do that, I am very much in the Veil."
She looks around the room who are all stunned by what she just admitted to. "I've never taken anyone with me, so I don't know exactly what can happen, but I think that as long as I hold onto them they should be fine and if they're in the Veil with me for too long, anything tied to their life should snap. I think I can break Bella out of her contract if I take her with me through to the Veil."
Hugging her parents dearly, Rhea prepared to take Bella into the void. Despite how her mom got so scary in her eyes, she couldn't stop loving her. That thought bothered her and it was something she'd have to talk to both Mom and Andy about, but that could wait. Bella needs her right now. Despite everyone being nervous about it, they all thought about giving Rhea's plan a try. Mom had taken Nyx with her for a moment, which made her worried, but Nyx assured her everything was fine. Her Mom loved her and was just worried about her. Eventually, they pulled the chains from Bella's body, gave her a potion that would wake her slowly and all stood back as Rhea hugged Bella from behind. She looked her parents in the eyes, "Love you Mom, love you, Dad. I'll be back soon." With those words, Rhea and Bella vanished from Grimmauld Place.
Rhea had to breathe harder now. She looked around at the endless black void filled with a rushing wind, her eyes wide. Was this the Veil? But she'd never been to a place like this. Every time she crossed the Veil, it looked … Rhea closed her eyes. Every time Rhea crossed the Veil before she did it alone. Maybe her view of the Veil would always be different from everyone else and what she saw now was the Veil as it is for others. Rhea sighed. She probably won't be here then. Rhea noticed that Bella began to wake up, and started to fight. "Please Bella, just hold a bit here with me. I promise Andy, Cissa and Siri are waiting for you." Bella stilled and looked around, "Did I…am I dead?"
Choosing her words carefully, Rhea answered her, "Yes and no? This is the Veil, or at least I think it is. We failed at breaking your contract the old fashioned way and this looked the most promising. Oh, I suppose I should introduce myself properly. Rheannon Sabrina Black, burgeoning Necromancer at your service! A pleasure to meet you, Bella. Would you prefer Cousin Bella or Aunt Bella?" A few seconds ticked in the void before Bella snickered and then started laughing. "We are supposedly in the Veil between the world of the living and the dead and you're worried about what to call me?" Rhea smiled into her curly hair. "Of course!" Bella shook her head, "Aunt Bella then." She looked around the black void. "I thought about death a lot in the last 12 years. I welcomed it then."
Rhea hugged her tighter, "So did I. For 7 years, it felt like the one thing that would finally give me what I wanted." The two slipped into silence and Rhea could feel the contract tethers snapping from within Bella. She'd be free soon. "But then I met Mom and Dad, Aunt Andi, Aunt Cissa, Cousin Dora and Cousin Draco. That's when I realized that Death could give me a lot of things. But not this. Never this." Rhea felt tears land on her arms wrapped around Bella's waist. Bella spoke after a while, "They are all back there? Waiting for me?" Rhea nodded against her head as she felt the last piece of the contract snap apart. Bella must have felt it too. "So, home?" Rhea smiled, "Yeah, let's go home."
Bella closed her eyes as she felt the magic swirl around her. It felt cold like the Dementors, but not suffocating or terrifying. It felt peaceful. Bella wondered how much that was her mind's twisted views on death or her newly named niece's presence behind her. From the moment she had met the girl, it had been one surprise after the other. She had known what was done to her in Azkaban but she hadn't pitied her. Rhea had focused on her wellbeing. And here they were now, leaving the Veil between the realms of the Living and the Dead because the girl wouldn't keep her secret of being a Necromancer from getting in the way of helping her family. Bella believed the Black's were fortunate for such a kind soul being amongst their ranks.
Eventually, the magic that brought a feeling of cold numbness into her body began to fade away and Bella dared to open her eyes. Tears began to flood them instantly. "Cissy, Andy!" Bella threw herself into her sister's open arms and hugged them back. She could hear her sisters crying with her. She didn't know how long they just sat there, safe in the knowledge they were together again. Bella didn't want it to end. Only her stomach decided to remind her it's probably been a few days since she ate. The laughter it drew from her family warmed her heart. Her sisters pulled back and she looked around the room, recognizing it as the ritual chamber in Grimmauld Place. She saw a man she felt was probably Andy's husband standing back with a girl whose hair kept shifting through a myriad of bright colours and standing just beside them was a man who could only be Lucius Malfoy. No one else but a Malfoy could manage blonde hair like that.
Her eyes finally settled on a couple trying to hug the stuffing out of their daughter. The woman's bronze hair was beautiful, her olive skin a distinct shade and she had the prettiest sapphire eyes. But it was the man hugging her and her newly named niece that caught her attention. No other Black could sport that much of a mane of curly hair and make it look as good. The energy around him and swirling around his ladies made it clear who he was. No Black could miss it. "My Lord Black, a daughter of House Black seeks Sanctuary amongst the Family." Sirius smiled, "It's Sirius or Siri to you, cousin. The Lord…" he looked at his fiancée who smiled and kissed him on the cheek, "… and future Lady Black both happily grant you Sanctuary. Welcome home, Bellatrix Black. You are amongst family again." Bella watched Sirius stand in front of her and pull her into a hug. She hugged him back as she felt the Family Magicks settle back into her. She was home. After 12 long years, she was finally home.