Summary - Brought back from her adventures around the world, Hermione finds herself back at Hogwarts accepting the chance to get her mastery under McGonnagall. With Bellatrix still being DADA professor tempers flare but confusion and lust lurks beneath. Both have secrets, both crave the other. How long will it take before feelings and truth is admitted and what happens when there's a evil that will stop at nothing to destroy the true hair to a hidden kingdom.


Disclaimer - I do not own the recognisable characters they belong to J. K. Rowling, including all Harry Potter references.

Authors Notes - This is my first ever story, I do plan on updating fairly frequently so bear with me. Please let me know what you think.Also I want to thank Solo7015 for being my editor, your amazing!

- Any quotations in bold and italic writing are to be taken as the persons thoughts that is speaking.


Chapter 1

Bella drained the remaining firewhiskey in her glass and sighed deeply, it had been a long day.

She had been the defence against the dark arts professor for the last 5 years, after a classified incident sent her into an early retirement as an auror. She still yearned for the hunt, the way her blood would vibrate beneath her skin when she was close to her prey.

A knock at her door snapped Bella back from her thoughts, slight irritation run through her but she ignored her initial response and bid whoever to enter whilst she turned to refill her glass.

"Delightful evening is it not." said the ever humble Dumbledore.

With a quick glance out her window she noticed the clear night sky and briefly wondered how long she'd been deep in thought.

"What can I do for you Albus? As I'm sure you did not come to my quarters to discuss the weather."

"One colour, but not one size, stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies, present in the sun but not in the rain, yet feels no pain…"

"Seriously Albus, I am not in the mood for your silly word games" Bella growled.

A small smile flickered across his face, amusement shone through his eyes only to just as quickly change to concern,

"She arrives tomorrow."

Downing her drink she moves towards the window, a sense of restlessness flows through her as she looks upon the forbidden forest, it has been too long since she has allowed herself to feel free, allowed her mind to quieten and let her instincts take over.

"Yes I am aware, Minerva has spoken at great lengths with me about it so spare me the same Albus." Bella rubs her temples hoping to soothe the headache that had just appeared.

Turning from her, knowing that it wasn't yet the time. Albus made his way to the door quietly muttering the words "The world is changing Bellatrix, its only natural to change with it." As his hand touched the handle words spoken from behind him slowed his movements " One colour, but not one size, stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies, present in the sun but not in the rain, yet feels no pain… its clearly a shadow, now please save your riddles for the Ravenclaw's" Bella states dismissively.

With an amusing gleam in his eyes Albus left the room, leaving Bella focused on the calm and quiet night outside. She was still searching for the answers she has yet to even ask the questions to.


Hermione stood looking up at the castle she once called home, it had been 4 years since she last looked upon these walls. Her last year here was not the best. Not only having to deal with the new Professor Black who she seemed to irritate by just breathing, her parents died suddenly in a car accident which not only devastated her but also brought a few things to light, like the fact that she was adopted. Only a few trusted people knew about her adoption. She spent the next few years researching all she could about who she was and travelling as it now seemed that she was quite wealthy so didn't need to worry about making ends meet anymore.

After months of debating she finally decided to take up the offer from Minerva McGonagall to get her mastery in Transfiguration with her as her mentor. Though her reasons were purely selfish as something was calling her here she just didn't know what yet but she had learned to trust her instincts over the years. Minerva had become like a surrogate mother to her from her time at Hogwarts, and with her parents death they only grew closer, they still communicated through owl but it wasn't the same as their tea evenings they shared in her school years. Hermione was looking forward to starting those evenings up again but maybe with something more stronger this time, she had gotten quite the taste for expensive whiskey lately and was partial to a glass or two when the mood struck.

Hermione shook herself from her thoughts and headed towards the doors completely aware of the charcoal black eyes watching her with interest from the shadows but choosing not to react to this, only allowing a slight smirk to show "Lets see how you handle me now Professor Black."

Minerva was at her desk working though a large pile of parchment when Hermione found her. With a heavy sigh heard followed by a large red T slashed on some poor students work, Hermione couldn't stop a soft chuckle from escaping her lips which made Minerva look up to see Hermione leaning against the door. The years had been good to Hermione, her skin had bronzed beautifully from her travels, her hair which was now in stunningly tamed ringlets had also lightened considerably from the sun. But her deep brown eyes held a strength to them that Minerva had never seen before.

"I'm sure it isn't that bad, Min" Hermione spoke whilst entering the classroom and walking up to the desk.

Minerva was quickly out of her chair and wrapped her former student in a tight embrace, it had been too long.

"Hermione, I am so very happy to see you again, how have you been?" Minerva said happily in greeting the former student that had become like a daughter to her over the years.

"Its been quite a few years Minerva I'm not going to lie but I think my stories are best told in a different setting maybe over a strong beverage."

"Of course, come, lets head to my quarters and you can fill me in on your travels, letters can only say so much." With a smile Hermione agreed but under the condition she go have a shower first, a portkey always left her feeling dirty, maybe from the awful twisting of ones body would go through. She did not like to think to much about it, the idea was quite sickening.

Minerva laughed "Yes I remember quite well how much you detest portkey's" so they departed in different directions under the agreement to meet in Minerva's chambers in an hour.

Hermione felt a wave of surreal emotions wash over her as she walked down the hallways of Hogwarts, she could see memories of her time here. Harry tripping and smashing his glasses which he seemed to do a lot, always the clumsy fool. Hermione softly giggled to herself remembering the particular moment when he tried to spell some roses to sing a love song of some sort for his valentine only to have the things scream in his face! Seamus tried to help but only managed to blow the things up which was a blessing she thought.

Yes she had many happy moments within these walls but not all were happy, memories of her crying having just learned of her parents death came to mind. And moments of anger, when Ron kissed her unexpectedly in the great hall in front of everyone, that moment ended with him red faced on the floor, "Stupid fool" Hermione muttered to herself.

So lost in past memories it took her too long to realize she was being followed, cursing to her self but with quick reflexes she turned and fired off a wordless spell which was just as quickly brushed off and found herself roughly shoved into the nearest wall with her pursuer pressed against her.

"Now, now, this doesn't promote safety if our newest professor is twitchy with her wand. After all this is a school! What if I happened to be an innocent student?" Bellatrix couldn't keep the cheeky smirk from her face as she spoke these words.

Hermione's eyes blazed with fire, she couldn't help but spit the words "You are far from innocent."

Bella could feel the magic thrumming beneath Hermione's skin, she couldn't help thinking to herself,

"What have you been up to all these years girl?"

"Your awareness and quick spell work are impressive Granger. You were never this passionate in my classroom, tell me what changed?" Bella reluctantly pulled away from Hermione but soon found that she was now the one being press roughly up against the wall.

Having Bellatrix now at her mercy, Hermione's eyes darkened as she spoke the words "I had a better teacher".

A growl came from deep within Bella vibrating through her body, with the unspoken challenge. Hermione took a quick step back, leaving enough room between them that she could assess and react accordingly. Bellatrix was not one to be bested so easily and to have this girl so openly challenge her. She wanted teach this youngling a lesson and oh how she would enjoy them greatly, but this wasn't the naive bookworm she once knew. No this was a strong and trained woman standing before her and that interested her immensely.

"Well Miss Granger, I look forward to seeing how much better this teacher must be." With a wink Professor Black calmly walked away, leaving Hermione pondering on what just happened. But Hermione did not have long to ponder before she was cursing out loud again, she was now running late for Minerva, quickly turning to run the rest of the way to her quarters.