We do the same thing every night
I swear I've heard this song before
A swimmer who has seen a shark
I should really be more wary of the water
(Incubus - Beware! Criminal)
It was day three since that sunset in the attic and Bellatrix was not talking to him. Sirius tried a "will you pass me the butter, Bella?" on the breakfast table and she ignored him completely. Regulus picked it up and handed it to him. He didn't even want the bloody butter. He sighed and thought that perhaps this time he had been a little meaner than necessary.
"We are having a reception here next week for some of the other families." - Walburga said. His mother had a frigid expression even when talking about parties. Not that Sirius was looking forward to this one, though.
"Cissy and Bella need new dresses." - Druella added. "Can you take them?"
Sirius almost laughed at the prospect of his mother taking the nieces shopping. Walburga wore only black and her dresses all looked the same, she was not interested in these sorts of things. She was, however, very good on transferring her duties to others. "Sirius and Regulus will accompany them."
He opened his mouth to protest and Regulus shot him a nasty look. He gave up, since he probably would not have won the argument anyway. They left shortly after breakfast and arrived by floo network on Diagon Alley. The place was too damn hot and crowded with witches and wizards heading on every direction. Before arriving Sirius had the sweet illusion that they were only buying dresses - they'd go to a store and he and his brother would sit on comfortable chairs while the women decided. He soon learned that buying dresses also meant buying new makeup, new tights, new shoes and whatever more they felt like they needed at the moment. Bellatrix was quick on her choices, actually, but Narcissa needed to try everything a million times before finally choosing the first thing she picked up.
It was already half past noon and they haven't tried a single dress yes.
"That's enough, I'm not taking another step unless is towards a restaurant." - Sirius stated and stopped walking abruptly.
"Fine by me, we don't need you." - Bellatrix was trying to get on his nerves all damn morning.
"You heard mother, we must stay together." - Narcissa said and Bellatrix rolled her eyes.
"I actually know a place nearby. - Regulus added.
"Is it decent? I won't eat in just any dirty pub we stumble upon."
Sirius was so sick of being surrounded by these two girls. "You will eat there, Narcissa, or you will not eat at all. Lead the way, Regulus."
His brother started guiding them through the streets making too many turns for Sirius to ever remember the way back even if he wanted to. "Are you sure you know where we're going?"
"Of course I do." - Regulus answered really roughly and Sirius was taken aback by the tone. They finally arrived at the place he was leading.
"I don't like it, it's too close to Knockturn Alley."
Bellatrix let out a wild laugh. "My my, how the mighty have fallen. The brave Gryffindor is scared by the shabby elements of Knockturn Alley?"
She had a devious grin on her face. Were they alone Sirius would toss her against the wall and wipe the victorious expression of her face with his lips. Unfortunately, they had company, so he would have to go with plan B.
"I figure you're feeling quite at home, Bellatrix. These are your kind of people after all."
"You should watch your words, cousin. Your mother would punish you for much less."
Narcissa looked quite bored with their argument. "I thought we were eating here or not anywhere, so?"
"Fine." - Sirius said walked inside the pub. "Careful not to bite your tongue, Bellatrix. You'd choke in poison."
"Such a kid." - she said and sat by the table.
They ate mostly in silent, since neither of the four was very pleased with the situation. When everyone was almost done Sirius saw Mulciber and Avery walk inside the pub. They waved with their heads and for a second he was confused wondering why would they recognize his presence. He quickly realized that they weren't waving at him, but to Bellatrix and Regulus, who got up and went to greet the two wizards by the counter.
Sirius didn't like a bit. When Bellatrix and his brother got back to the table she wasted no time and said they should go find the dresses at last.
They went to the store and while the girls went looking through the store, the witch who worked there lead Sirius and Regulus to the fitting rooms, where there were several small rooms for trying dresses and big armchairs for the escorts.
Bellatrix and Narcissa joined them and the working girl followed them with a bunch of dresses on her arms. Each of the girls entered one of the fitting rooms and closed the curtains.
Sirius was seating comfortably at last, the place smelled like a garden and he was getting kind of sleepy. He heard the sounds of girls undressing and tried to avoid having undignified thoughts in the store.
At least he was trying until Bellatrix called for him. "Will you zip me up, Sirius?"
He was angry at her and was not in the mood for games. "Get Narcissa to do it."
"She's busy with her own dress."
Sirius looked at Regulus and he seemed way to eager to accomplish the task. He cursed in his mind, got up and entered the fitting room where she stood. Bellatrix was facing the mirror with a black shiny dress on. The zipper went all the way down her back and Sirius breathed heavily at the sight.
He stepped closer to her, apart by only the space necessary for his hands to work slowly on the zipper. Their eyes were locked on each other through the mirror the entire time. Once he closed it, he hugged her waist from behind and leaned his head on her shoulder. He buried his face on her hair to feel her inebriating perfume.
"Is this the winning dress?" - he asked, sliding one hand on the side of her body.
"Oh, no." - she said, playfully. "The one a picked didn't have a zipper."
"You're the devil." - he laughed and unzipped her with one hand without warning while the other was travelling dangerously on her body.
She leaned her head back to allow him more access and her eyes were burning with fire when he looked back at her.
"Put your clothes back on, Bella." - he bit her softly on the neck and walked out of the room.
Regulus had a disturbed expression on his face. "What took you so long?", he demanded.
Sirius had to bury his fingernails on his hands to keep a straight face on. "Zipper was stuck."
Narcissa and Bellatrix got out of the store carrying their purchases and they went back to Grimmauld Place. The girls went upstairs, Regulus went to the library and Sirius followed him.
"What was that business with Mulciber and Avery?"
Regulus seemed surprise by the question. "Why do you care?"
"I'm your brother."
"I know, you've been my brother my entire life and never seemed to care much."
Sirius was hurt by his words. He did like his brother, he just couldn't stand to see him follow the family path.
"I do worry about you, Reg."
Something passed through his brothers eyes but he couldn't decipher before it was gone.
"It was nothing." - Regulus said and Sirius knew it was a flat out lie. "Just saying hello to some friends."
Well, he would have to get it out of Bellatrix on some other time.
It was almost midnight and Sirius couldn't sleep. His room was lit only by a reading lamp on his bedside table. Getting sleep on the Black Manor was always a problem. He was startled when his bedroom door opened, which he only realized because he was staring at the walls, since there was absolutely no sound made.
Bellatrix entered his room, closed the door and leaned against it. Her long hair was down and could be mixed up with her black tight nightgown that left almost nothing to imagination. Her pale skin was exposed on her arms and lots of her cleavage.
Sirius sat up on the bed, his covers were on his legs and his naked torso was uncovered. They were gazing at each other silently and a battle was happening inside his mind. It was obvious that he should refuse her. She bit her lip and it became even harder finding the will to do so. He should be a better man.
She had shady conversations earlier on the day that he wanted to question her about. She had ignored him for three days. He was suppose to hated her.
But damn he wanted her.
"Are you going to stay there staring at me or are you coming to bed?"
She walked very slowly towards him and climbed onto bed and on top of him, staying on her knees and not yet touching him. Their faces were inches apart and Sirius hand was cupping the side of her face. Her hair smelled fantastic and the feel of it tickling in his naked chest was adding to the temptation.
"Is this a good enough answer?" - she asked playfully and kissed him chastely on the lips.
Sirius sensed alcohol in her breath and pushed her away gently.
"Are you drunk, Bella?"
She tried to look innocent and failed remarkably.
"Yes." - she answered and her hands were travelling down his body. "But just a little."
"Stop." - he said with all determination he could gather.
She started planting kisses down his chest and her hands were on his thighs and squeezing. Fuck. He had to close his eyes to try to control himself. She slipped one hand down his pants and was making it impossible. The covers were pulled off and her mouth was on him and oh heavens fuck fuck fuck where did she learned that. His hands were clinging to the sheets and he called her name when she finished him off.
"Bloody hell." - he said, trying to gasp his breath. "We should not d..."
She cut him off. "Must you always ruin things with your guilt?"
His inebriated self thought she had a point. He pulled her up and kissed her deeply, feeling her whole body against his. It was heaven and purgatory at the same time. Bellatrix sat on his lap and took her nightgown off. Sirius had never saw her naked before and it took his breath away. Only the thin little cloth of her underwear separate them now. He laid her with her back against the mattress and his mouth was working down on her body, responding to his every touch.
Sirius lifted his head to look at her face and smiled mischievously. Then his lips were between her legs and his hands were on her hips and he felt Bellatrix melt into him. She was sweating and moaning and gripping his hair roughly as she reached her climax.
Sirius laid on her side and watched her trying to steady her breath. She seemed so vulnerable in his bed and he smile at the sight. He knew, however, that Bellatrix was anything but it. The illusion served him for the moment.
She looked at him with fire burning in her black eyes. "I want more. I want you."
His smile faded.
"You can't have more."
"Don't pull one of your games on me now, Sirius."
"You're drunk" - he said, caressing her hair. "You're getting married", he planted a kiss in her forehead. "And Black women must be pure for their husbands", there was disdain in his face as he repeated one of the many lessons of the Black family.
"Oh, so you're protecting my honor, is it?"
"Aren't you the one who's all attached to the Toujours Pur, my darling Bella?"
"Terrible timing for you to pick up on the family's beliefs, Sirius Black."
She hugged him and put her head on his chest. It was a rare peaceful moment between them.
She's intoxicating, he thought. Bellatrix Black is under my skin and I should hate her.
He hugged her back and fell asleep without any trouble.
Sirius woke up to her scent on his sheets. He smiled without opening his eyes and searched for her with his hands but found no one at his side. He opened his eyes to see her getting dressed very early in the morning. "Bella?", he asked, rubbing his eyes still sleepy.
"Hum?"
"What was that all about last night?"
She sat on the bed beside him. "Do I need a reason?" - her fingernails were tracing circles on his naked chest.
"No, but you had one." - he took her hand on his and gave it a soft kiss. She seemed a little surprise by the caring act.
"It was nothing." - he seemed to be getting this response a lot lately. "I got engaged, that's all."
She talked about that like she had just got something meaningless like a new dress and not a fiancée.
