Changing Times

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters created by J.K. Rowlings. The world belongs to her. I just happen to be transporting in for a short time.

PROLOGUE

HOGWARTS OCTOBER 1974

Bellatrix Black was trying to make it to the Room of Requirement without being found by Rudolphus LeStrange, Lucius Malfoy and Rabastan LeStrange. All she wanted to do was make it without being caught and try to find some way to escape this miserable day.

She received a letter from her Uncle Orion Black that she was now subject to a betrothal contract that had been negotiated between the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black and the Ancient House of LeStrange.

For her this meant that her father had sold her to be the bride of Rudolphus LeStrange and that was unacceptable to her. She didn't want to be some brood-mare for the little ponce. All she wanted as her freedom.

As she reached the seventh floor, she was surprised to see a door already there. While she was tempted to find another place to run and hide, she also felt this was an invitation and she decided to accept.

Samuel Jackson Belarion had awoken that morning after a rough night dealing with the unusual magic that was a part of his family's legacy. When he went to sleep his dreams had started out pretty normal. But somewhere during the night they had been disrupted and he had been visited by what seemed like a long lost relative. This wizard had given him very specific instructions and a key indicator that would prove the truth of this contact.

When he got up and dressed Samuel went to the room of requirement and paced back and forth three times as he had been instructed.

A door had appeared and he went inside to find a sitting room that mimicked his sitting room back home. When he sat down a cup of tea appeared and he settled in to wait for the second indicator.

Then the door that he had come through opened and Bellatrix Black walked into the room with him.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" she demanded, seeming close to panic.

"Sorry, Miss Black. I didn't mean to startle you. I came here to relax." he said trying to calm her a bit.

"I didn't mean to intrude." Bellatrix said as she started to leave.

"Please, there's no need. You are more than welcome to stay. Would you like something to drink?" Samuel offered.

"No. I shouldn't intrude. I'll find somewhere else to go." she said trying again to leave.

Samuel thought fast trying to find a way to keep er here for just a little longer so he could talk to her.

"Miss Black, would you be kind enough to stay and talk to me for a bit? My name is Samuel Jackson Belarion of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Belarion." he suggested, hoping his family name would be enough to entice her to stay.

"Really. I thought the House of Belarion was extinct." she said as she stopped and turned to face him.

"No. We don't normally reveal our existence to others because we prefer to stay in the shadows. But on occasion we step out to talk to select few individuals." he admitted.

"I see. That's interesting. But why would you tell me?" she asked.

"Because I needed a reason to talk to you. You seem to be having a rough day and I thought maybe we could get to know each other." Samuel suggested.

"It doesn't matter. I found out I am betrothed to Rudolphus LeStrange this morning." she said as she finally sat down in a chair across from him.

"Well, that hardly sounds like a good thing." he said as she picked up a glass off the table and took a drink of what looked like a muggle soft drink.

"It's not. But there is nothing I can do about it." she groused, depressed.

"Maybe there's something I can do about it though. If I can help, would you accept it?" he asked.

"If you could get me out of this, I'd do anything you wanted." he said quickly.

"Don't be so quick to make those kind of offers. I can help you, but it's not going to be quick." he said.

"What do you have in mind?" she wanted to know, curious in spite of herself.

With that simple question, she set in motion a plan that would hide her true self for several years until he was able to make the necessary moves.