The event yesterday had left a startled yet very confused Harry but he had tried the whole morning to forget it, unsuccessfully of course. He was lounging in the study, a book about Aurors opened so he could get as much information as possible but focusing was impossible. His mind was elsewhere, on a certain black-haired beauty accompanied by an inner conflict of right and wrong.

'Damn Harry! You can't think about her so much!' he thought, 'She's insane and killed both Sirius and Tonks! Don't forget that you have a girlfriend too, what about Ginny? If she found out where Bellatrix had touched you she would be disgusted. Then what if Ron and Hermione leave you too?' The last sentence was enough to finalize his decision not to think about her in that sense anymore. It worked until the witch managed to finally get out of bed and barge into the study, her voice flooding the house with an uproar.

"My god, that's quite the comfortable bed you have me sleeping in. It's hard to get out of." Although the main reason she slept so late was because of the small paralysing nightmares she was having about her old master but she had no intention of telling Harry about them and seeming weak.

"Funny how right as you wake up all the silence and peacefulness just escapes out the door. Maybe that's why I made sure your bed was hard to escape."

"Ha-ha very funny Potter. You know, I wouldn't mind having a sleeping partner." A victorious grin graced her lips when Harry's face became visibly flushed. He managed to hide his shyness though.

"The pillows are your only partners. And you know you can just call me Harry." That was the first step to earning her trust Harry had thought of. They had to be comfortable with eachother, but not too comfortable. Eventually, he even planned on finding out everything there was to know about her. Good start.

"That will take some getting used to, but I'll manage soon enough." She plopped down next to him and looked curiously at the book he was reading. "Aurors? Why would you be reading about those uptight arse people?"

"Because one day I plan on being one of those 'uptight arse people'." She looked disgusted by the thought and grabbed the book from him and threw it to the side. "Hey, I was reading-" He stopped when he took a look at what Bellatrix was wearing; a tight, fitted, black, corset leather jacket, with black knitted gloves reaching up to her elbow, and a black dress underneath. Never before had he noticed how stunning the colour looked on her. She caught him staring and couldn't help but take it as an advantage.

"Like what you see... Harry?" her tone only slightly suggestive.

"Oh please Bellatrix, I'm no pervert." A lascivious grin spread across her face.

"Is that so?" She slowly leaned over him, her arms on either side of his body. "You could honestly say then, that you haven't thought a single nasty thing about me... ever?"

"I promise you I've never once thought something as disgusting as that about you in my life."

"I may not be as strong of a Legilimens as I am an Occlumens, but I know when I'm being lied to." Her hand slowly travelled down his body and stopped on his abs. "Harry," she purred, "I know what's going through your mind... something we would perhaps... both enjoy... like how much you'd like... to kiss me?" She whispered huskily. Slowly the seductress leaned in closer and closer to his lips. Harry didn't move though, quite honestly, he didn't want to. In fact, he was working on closing the distance until a doorbell awoke his senses to exactly what was going on.

"I- I better get that." He slide out from under her and hurried outside, Bella's high-pitched, mocking laugh following him as he shut the study door behind him. Harry took a deep breath and opened the door, surprised to see Hermione, Ron, and Ginny.

"Hello there Harry sorry we didn't tell you we were coming but we just wanted to make sure you were still alive," Ron half-joked. "You do look a bit shaken up though."

"Oh, uh do I? Sorry, I've been reading all day." Hermione looked at him incredulously but dropped that matter for now.

"She hasn't been bothering you too much has she?" questioned Ginny after giving him a soft but meaningless kiss on the lips. Where Bellatrix's lips almost were... Harry thought.

"No, no not at all she's surprisingly interesting to live with." He answered honestly. "The house is never quiet when she's awake, her laugh and voice never make it so."

"That's expected considering how her cackling rings through your ears like someone scratching a chalkboard. Where is she anyway?" Hermione asked.

"She's in the study down the hall, yet I have no idea what she's up to right now."

"I would lock her up in the basement or something if I were you."

"Wouldn't that be a bit harsh, Ron? She isn't all together bad. Now that Voldemort isn't an influence on her anymore Bellatrix hasn't done anything even remotely evil. Her crazy personality is still there though."

"My god Harry... it sounds like you're attached to her!"Harry gave Hermione a confused stare.

"What are you talking about? I'm not in the least bit attached to someone like her. I'm just saying that she's not that bad of a living mate. Besides, it's only been three days."

"Three days too many, obviously." mumbled Ginny.

"She's right, how about this Harry. Drop her off at Malfoy Manor and stay with us for atleast a week or two. Too much of being with her and you might end up the one that's changed." Ron suggested.

"I think you're all overreacting just a bit. Sounds more like you just want me back."

"Alright, you caught us but come on, just stay for a while. Everyone misses you." The pleading look in the ginger boy's eyes was just too much to resist.

"God fine Ron. Just stop looking at me like that!"

"Brilliant, we'll be waiting outside." Harry went back to the study and opened it to find Bellatrix scrolling through the Auror book with a bored expression.

"Just like I thought, they're a bunch of talentless snobs." She threw the book again to the floor. "Oh, and don't worry, I heard the conversation I'll just pack my trunk."

"Oh... you heard everything?"

"You'd be surprised how much self-control it took me not to murder the ginger head for the basement comment." She stood up and lightly kissed his cheek as she passed, sliding her hand across the item between his thighs. He couldn't help but shiver as she did so and touch the cheek she had kissed. Once she came back downstairs with her trunk floating behind her, he gave her a handful of Floo powder.

"Try not to miss me too much Harry."

"Oh, it's going to be hard but I'll try my best." He said sarcastically as she disappeared in the green flames with a wicked smile.

The Weasleys were just as heart-warming as last time Harry visited, all giving him loving hugs and asking him how he's been doing living with Bellatrix. They were surprised when he said that she wasn't much of a problem but came to the conclusion that he probably just didn't want them to worry. The first few days weren't too eventful. Harry even worked in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes with George and Ron, not able to keep a smile off his face at the joy the shop brought to everyone who walked in.

Seeing everyone else's smiles brought a bit more of George's old self out which was a pleasure to see. As Harry looked around he thought, I should bring Bellatrix here sometime she would- but he cut the thought short. First of all, she wouldn't even be allowed in Diagon Alley considering how many people want her dead. Second, someone might actually take a shot at trying to kill her and that for some reason didn't sit well with Harry. And third, why was she even crossing his mind in the first place?

Although, he had to admit that ever since he left, she was always there in his subconscious mind, running around with that sneaky grin of hers and cackling, a sound that was actually pleasant to him now. Hermione was the only one to notice his newly distraught personality though. She could tell that when he smiled, something was bothering him and eating away at his brain. So, on the fourth day of his arrival she confronted him. "Hey Harry."

"Oh, hey Hermione what are you doing up so late?" He was sitting on the windowsill of Ron's bedroom while his best friend snored softly, knocked out, on the bed next to his.

"I could ask you the same question." She whispered sitting next to him as he laughed a little.

"Good point."

"Harry… something's wrong. You don't seem yourself."

"What are you talking about Hermione? I can assure you that I'm perfectly fine." Her eyes narrowed at him.

"Is it about Bellatrix?"

"W-what? That's absurd, why would I be thinking about her of all people?"

"I don't know, you tell me." He sighed and stared out the window at the black night, shining stars, and long grass that surrounded the Burrow.

"There's nothing to tell."

"Obviously it must be something. You barley eat, whenever I see you, you look like you're daydreaming, and you don't even talk or crack jokes as much as you used to. Something is pestering you, and you're perfectly aware that I won't rest until I know what." Hermione was a persistent girl, that much Harry knew but he just couldn't tell her about his complicated relationship he had with that woman.

"It's nothing Hermione." He muttered in a final attempt to get her to let the subject go.

"I'm not buying it. Say its nothing one more time and I'll have to tell everyone and force us all to get it out of you. Might as well tell me now, no one else would know." It was no use, so he sighed and tried to tell her in the best way he could.

"It's just… Bellatrix and I are… I don't know. Getting along better than we should be?"

"Harry!" She screamed in a whisper that caused Ron to stir a little. "Are you telling me that you're developing feelings for that woman? She's horrid! She's wretched and just plain evil and nasty in every way possible! Have you already forgotten that she killed Tonks and Sirius?"

"Hermione you're over thinking things! I just… I care for her a bit is all and I can't get her damn face out of my mind. She's always there no matter how hard I try to get her out, prancing around with that crooked grin of hers."

"It has barley been three days, how could you have started liking her so much in such little time?"

"I don't know! That's the part that bothers me! I'm supposed to despise her but I can't and I hate it!" Ron shot up in his sleep when Harry's voice rose at the last part.

"Eh…what are you all doin' here? Am I in candy land yet?" He muttered sleepily.

"Go back to sleep Ron." Ron followed his girlfriend's orders and dropped back onto the bed, dead as before. "You're really having a battle within yourself about this aren't you?" He nodded and looked away in shame. "Well, as long as you don't somehow fall in love with her it's alright. But if anything happens between you two Harry, just think about Ginny, or the things Bellatrix has done for that matter." Harry just rubbed the back of his neck and sat on his bed, lying under the covers.

"I'm going to sleep, thanks for caring so much though, Hermione."

"Anything for you Harry, just know that I'm always here to help."He nodded and closed his eyes, dreaming about the woman who confused him with a conflict of emotions.

At the moment, the topic of his dreams was in bed as well at the Malfoys, staring up at the ceiling. She couldn't stop thinking about that moment she had with her cousin's godson just before leaving that day. The kiss was so close but never happened. Why was it bothering her that she didn't get to finish it? Had she actually grown a bit of affection for the boy? 'That's impossible.' she told herself. He was the dark lord's worst enemy and here I am, willing to kiss him. Ha, I sure am a pathetic case. But hey, why not just go along with what my hormones want me to do?' It was of course a joke but why she found the suggestion appealing was beyond her.

The beautiful woman was having the same distraction problem as Harry though. Her thoughts were always elsewhere the past few days and only her sister Narcissa had taken the time to realise it. Just then, Bellatrix heard a soft knock on her door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Cissy."

"Come in." Narcissa walked in wearing a long, white sleeping dress and closed the door gently behind her.

"What do you want at this hour Cissy?"

"Answers. You're acting… strange. Is something on your mind?" Bella simply sighed dismissively and curled a finger through her hair.

"What the bloody hell are you getting at?"

"Well, it could either have something to do with Voldemort's death… or something about the Potter boy."Her heart paced a bit faster at the sound of his name but she didn't show it.

"Ugh, must you really bother me with such idiotic and trivial things at this time?"

"So that must mean it has something to do with Potter." Bellatrix stared at her, baffled.

"How can you infer that he of all people would be crossing my mind for even a second?"

"Because if it had something to do with Lord Voldemort, you wouldn't mind speaking of it, so I can easily guess it's not him."

"Fine, believe what you will."

"Come now, Bella. Tell me, is there anything going on between you and Potter?"

"No Cissy, there isn't and why would there be in the first place?"

"Well… you've been known to be quite a tease."

"I can't argue with that." she snickered.

"Alright, in that case Bella if you do plan on teasing him for your own pleasure, try not to get too close to him. Out of all the people I know, Harry is perhaps the most loveable. Even though you've never fallen for any of your past targets that you've harassed, he's different so be careful."

"Are you saying that you love Harry? Uh oh, Lucius won't be happy to hear this news."

"Bellatrix don't think such things! I'm just saying that he's hard not to admire. I owe a lot to him. After all the fights him and Draco have had, he still risked his life to save him. It's thanks to him that my son is still alive."

"Fine, whatever you say Narcissa. I'm going to sleep now." Narcissa opened the door but stopped before leaving.

"Oh, and one more thing Bella, try to get rid of your habit of sleeping naked." She said looking at her sister's body covered only by the sheets.

"Now you're just asking too much."

"What if Harry happens to walk in on you sleeping?"

"Then all the better for me." She drawled with a small chuckle as she drifted to sleep, the young wizard in her thoughts.

The rest of the two weeks passed by slowly and monotonously for Harry but once it was over he found himself unnaturally elated to see Bellatrix walking briskly down the stone pathway in a black velvet dress, lacy black arm warmers, and black leather boots. Upon seeing him, her step sped up a little; however she managed to keep her stern, arrogant expression in check. The change in pace didn't go unnoticed by her sister though who curiously watched by the door. Harry tried to keep down a smile which only halfway worked.

"Hope you had fun." He said casually.

"Not so much. As much as I love Cissy, her family's a bore." Harry laughed as he took her hand and waved a goodbye to Mrs Malfoy who returned it and closed the door behind her. Instantaneously they apparated back to 12 Grimmauld Place. "Home sweet home." smiled Bellatrix, walking inside.

"Right on time too, it just started raining outside." Harry stated looking outside as he closed the door. "I'm going to take a quick bath. You can go after me if you want."

"Why not just go together and save water?"

"Because that, dear Bellatrix, would be naughty and we don't do naughty things." He said it as though he were scolding a child, resulting in a playful smirk from Bellatrix.

"If I get punished for doing it afterwards, I wouldn't mind." Harry shook his head and walked up the stairs not wanting to discuss it any further and risk getting an erection.

When he was done, Harry wrapped himself in a white bathrobe while drying his hair with a red towel. Closing the door to the master bedroom behind him, he opened the sash of the robe and tossed it on the bed. The room was voluminous and had an arch-like window at the right side of the wall. His bed was just as large with fluffy pillows and a soft beige comforter set with two modern-styled black tables on either side, each with a gray lamp on it. The rest of the room consisted of an antique dresser, pictures of his friends and family on the wall, and two white chairs overlooking the window, the rain pattering against it.

"Hey Harry where is my-" said Bellatrix, inviting herself into Harry's room and finding a very delightful sight. The bliss was obvious by the amused smile and hungry look in her eyes.

"AHH WHY ARE YOU HERE? There's a brilliant new thing called KNOCKING Bellatrix! I think you should try it sometime!" Harry hollered as he reached for the red towel around his neck, as red as his face was at the moment, and tied it on his waist.

"Oh come now Harry, it's not like you have anything to be ashamed of. That much should be obvious." She drawled looking mesmerised and licking her lips at the sight of his toned, pale body. The comment only turned his cheeks a brighter shade of red.

"What did you need to know about anyway?"

"It seems I've forgotten…" she closed the door slowly behind her and strutted toward Harry, twirling her hair. Her other hand found its way around his neck, the space between them slowly vanishing. "But I do remember what we were about to do the other day… I'm sure you want to go for it again." What she said was true and they both knew Harry couldn't deny it. Ever so cautiously they closed the distance between their mouths until her cushiony lips met his thin ones.

One kiss led to another, and another until Bellatrix had taken control and dominated both their mouths. Harry's hands and body betrayed him as they wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer to his body. Her kissing style was ferocious, wild, and deadly just like her personality. It made all logical sense escape the confinement of his skull and instead, send a tingle through him that reached his manhood.

He failed to notice though that Bellatrix was leading them to the bed. She roughly dropped them both onto the cloud-like comforter, their bodies rubbing against one another and lips moulded together. Bellatrix quite enjoyed touching his wet body and running her hands through his hair. They flipped each other over as though fighting to be on top, as Harry's hand found its way onto her breast, giving it a light squeeze. A growl-like moan escaped her but then, as though a bulb went off in his brain, Harry shot up from her, perfectly aware as to what was going to happen if he didn't

"I can't…" He mumbled, remembering the talk he had had with Hermione.

"And why not?" she pouted with a hint of anger.

"I… I just can't. I won't." Harry rushed out the door, the intensity of her glare burning holes into the back of his head. He had come too close; Harry didn't know if he could help himself if that were to happen again. The resistance dam he had built up was slowly cracking. 'One more experience like that,' he scolded himself, 'and you're done for Harry. She'll shag you yet if you aren't careful.'