When Bellatrix was eight her mother and aunt sat her and her sisters down for a talk. They told them bluntly that their only purpose in the family and life in general was to marry a well-off pure-blooded boy from a prominent family. She could still remember her sisters reaction to the declaration. Andromeda who was seven stormed out of the room; she was always an emotional child. Narcissa on the other hand, she was six, nodded her head politely and answered with the expected "Of course mother." And Bellatrix, well she just gave her mother and aunt a stiff nod before hurrying off to find 'Dromeda.

When Bellatrix was ten her mother sat her down again, this time without her sisters, and told her in no uncertain terms that Rodolphus Lestrange, eldest of the Lestrange boys, was to be her suitor. And that his advances should not only be accepted but encouraged.

When Bellatrix received her letter from Hogwarts it was her father, this time, that sat her down. He told that her acceptance into Slytherin wasn't up for debate and if she was sorted into any other house she'd be disinherited and disowned. She already knew this was expected of her but seeing how Sirius, her favorite cousin, was also starting Hogwarts she didn't expect it to be so bad. Unluckily for her Sirius was not only sorted into Gryffindor but accepted it with a smile. She didn't expect to see him at Christmas anymore; or any family function for that matter. Her on the other hand the Hat didn't even need to think on. It yelled Slytherin before even touching her head; she made sure to sit far away from Rodolphus as possible. The sorting lost all appeal to her until the last child, Yaxley, Harry, was called. He wasn't hesitant like the others. If anything he looked absolutely thrilled. Tilting her head to the side she regarded the boy with interest. Yaxley wasn't a common name at least not anymore. In fact it belonged to one of the oldest pure-blooded families ever to come out of England. But if her family histories lessons had been correct then the Yaxley family had moved from England about three generations ago in search of bigger and better things.

The Hat took his time with Harry. It languishly searched the childs extensive memories of not just one world but two. It seemed that young Yaxley, once Potter, lived, until his death, in a completely different world. And Merlin himself took pity on him and gave him a second chance by sending him into the past and giving him an entirely different life. It was absolutely thrilling. A clearing of a throat and a glare from the Deputy Headmistress caused the Hat to get back to its task. It wasn't a hard sorting. "Slytherin!" It called out then fell silent since its task was complete.

Bellatrix was so intent in her staring that she jumped when the Hat final reached its decision. And she was sure that she was the only one that saw the brief look of disgust that crossed his face at the declaration. Interesting. It also didn't escape her notice that his eyes seemed to linger on her cousin and the black haired boy he was talking with. Was it possible that her cousin knew him? Didn't seem likely since Sirius wasn't paying him any mind.

Harry always knew that being sorted into Slytherin was a possibility. How could it not when his family, in this world, were old fashioned pure-bloods. And they raised their only child to uphold their name and beliefs. Frowning he made his way over to the Slytherin table and sat as far away from the other children as possible. It didn't escape his notice that Bellatrix Black seemed to take an interest in him. And it didn't surprise him that halfway through the feast she had relocated to the empty spot across from him. He breathed a sigh of relief when the feast ended and Dumbledore said his peace then dismissed them to their respective houses. He was so mentally exhausted that he just wanted to fall into bed and sleep until next week. Sadly this was not meant to be.

"So a Yaxley has decided to grace Hogwarts with his presence." A haughty looking blonde boy said as soon as the students arrived in the Slytherin common room. "England not good enough for the likes of you Yaxley?" He demanded to know as he invaded Harry's personal space.

"My families business is of no concern of yours." Harry told him and tried to push his way passed only to be blocked by two other, bigger, boys. He felt a sense of deja-vu and instantly realized that he was being addressed by Lucius Malfoy. He resisted the urge to sneer. A Yaxley never raised his wand first.

By this time the students that had been milling about were taking notice of the power struggle going on in the common room between the fifth year and the first year.

Lucius scowled and crossed his arms over his chest. "Everything is my business." He sniffed in disdain. "You'll learn your place soon enough." He tilted his head slightly to the side a signal that he was finished and was intent upon heading to his dorm.

Harry frowned but held his ground. A Yaxley was never dismissed by someone of lower status than them. "I think that it is you that will soon learn his place." Right now he had to think as Harry Yaxley not as Harry Potter. He was raised to be superior to all of the other children. His family was one of the oldest after all.

Stopping Lucius spun around, wand out, and glared at the boy that dare challenge him. "What did you say?" He asked in a low, angry, hiss.

"Must be all that poor breeding." Harry tsked. "Need I summon the nurse to have your ears checked? No? Very well. So I'll continue on the assumption that you indeed heard me and are just playing stupid." His wand was still tucked safely in his pocket and there it shall remain. A Yaxley never settled a battle of words with a wand. It was uncivilized. "I'm afraid that you are under the mistaken impression that I'm afraid of you or should be. I am Harold Orjonus Arcturus Yaxley…." He paused for effort. "And I'm going to bed." He took advantage of having caught them off guard and lazily made his way to the first year boys dorm. Harry -1, Lucius-0.