When Snape heard a knock on his door, the last person he imagined he would see was her. But there she was. After a few hours after the encounter between them and Narcissa, Bellatrix Lestrange came back. She didn't have her hood on, and there was something very different about her eyes.
''Did you forget something, Bellatrix?'' He asked, numbly.
She sneered bitterly, looking down. ''Let me in.''
When he did not move, she made her way into the house, carefully avoiding physical contact with Snape.
She stopped in the middle of the living room, waiting for Snape. He stood at the door for a few seconds, then, sighing, he closed it and went inside.
''Have a seat.''
''I'll be quick.'' She said, still standing. Her voice was cracking.
She took her cloak off, placing it on the sofa.
''Very well.'' He waited, slightly smiling.
Bellatrix looked down, then at him again. The look in her eyes took Snape by surprise, and his smile faded. Those were the eyes he knew from long ago, when everything was different. She opened her mouth, then closed it again.
''Bella?'' He tried. The closeness threw her off, and she seemed lost in thought.
''You know why I'm here.'' She said, coldly.
Snape felt a sudden heaviness in his heart. ''I'm sorry-''
Bellatrix laughed bitterly, ''You're sorry? After all these years, all you say is 'I'm sorry'?''
''Bella-''
''I went to Azkaban, Severus! And you said...'' She was now breathing heavily, ''You said you would never leave me to rot in that place alone. You said you'd be there with me!''
''With you?'' he asked, angrily, ''with you and Rodolphus, you mean?''
''Don't turn this around!'' She yelled, holding back tears, ''He means nothing, he is nothing and you know it. You've always known it. You betrayed me so you could get your comfortable spot at Hogwarts! You chose freedom over me, doubting the Dark Lord would come back, doubting my loyalty to you-''
''It's done, Bellatrix. Things are different now.'' He said, gravely.
''Because you made them different. I don't even trust you anymore. How can I be sure that you're not on their side,'' she said with disgust, ''fighting for them?''
''Do you really believe that?'' He asked, hurt.
She did not answer.
''You're a coward.'' She began.
Snape's eyes glowed with anger. ''Don't.'' He warned her.
Bellatrix smiled. ''You're a coward, being Dumbledore's puppy, avoiding Azkaban, betraying me to get what you wanted. The best of both sides.''
''Get out.'' Snape said, with the same anger.
Her smiled faded. She approached the sofa, and him.
''It was all a lie, wasn't it?'' She asked nastily, getting closer to him. ''All you've ever done is lie to me!''
Snape felt like he was burning on the inside. He looked at her, his eyes flickering with hate, as he got closer to her.
''How dare you?'' He asked angrily, and before she could answer, he grabbed her by her shoulders and pressed his lips to her. She struggled with his grip, but suddenly found that her arms were around his neck, deepening the kiss.
After a long moment, she broke the kiss, painting for air. He stared into her eyes, as if looking for an answer.
She broke apart from his grip and turned around. Breathing heavily, she grabbed her cloak and made her way towards the door.
''Bella...'' Snape said, grabbing her arm.
''Let go of me.'' She said bitterly, avoiding his black eyes.
He did, and she left, slamming the door behind her.
It took him what he guessed as half an hour to actually look away from the door and make peace with what had happened.
He couldn't hear any noises outside.
Not even the howling of the fox that had bothered him for so many nights.
The End