The raven haired witch opened the door walking quietly in. The door shut noiselessly behind her. Dark brown eyes locked on to the figure of the headmaster. Albus, like always, was smiling at her from behind his desk.

"Ah! It's good to see you Ms. Black. I hope you weren't busy when Minerva found you."

Bellatrix shifted from side to side, "No not really."

"Good, good." Dumbledore said happily,"Have a seat Bella."

Bellatrix walked up to the chair in front of the desk, she placed her bag to the side as she sat down. When she looked up again the headmasters face changed, gone was the friendly old man and sitting before her was a serious man with grave news.

"Now Bellatrix I asked you here to tell you about something that'll be brought to my attention by a close friend and to ask something of you."

Nervousness creeped into Bellatrix, she rarely heard Dumbledore speak in such a serious way.

Folding his hands across his desk, Albus leaned forward, "I'm afraid Voldemort will come back into full power sometime this year ."

A gasp filled the room. The witch froze at Dumbledore's words. Before she could utter a word he kept talking in the same grave tone of voice.

"His inner circle is planning something Bella. And I need you to find out what it is. You are the only one who can do this I am afraid. Snape isn't close enough to the Death Eaters who are planning this. I hate to ask you to so such a thing Bellatrix but it may be the only way to stop him. To destroy him from the inside. I know what I ask of you is far from easy, to give up everything, your family and friends. But if you do this you will save hundreds of lives."

White as a ghost Bellatrix was speechless for a moment, but just for a moment.

"What about Harry?! Isn't he the bloody Chosen One!? The only one to defeat Voldemort!"

"That may be true Bellatrix but he'll need help doing so."

"Why me then!? Why do I have to give up my life for people who shunned me for years?"

"Because of the reason they shunned you. You're The Bride. If the Death Eaters find out you turned dark they'll jump at the chance to bring you to their Lord."

Bellatrix stilled, her mind began to process what Dumbledore was saying. Gave up her life to save hundreds of lives more importantly save her family and Hermione from Voldemort's terror. If she were to do this she'll be able to prove she was good and not evil like many still believed her to be. True she had to turn 'dark' to be good but it'll be worth it. To live a normal life afterwards not having to worry about what people were thinking of her. But before she could say yes to this she needed to know if Hermione returned her feelings. So she would base her answer to Dumbledore off of Hermione's answer for the Yule Ball. If Hermione said yes then it'll be a no for Albus, she couldn't gave up her life if Hermione did return her feelings. What if she died during this mission he wanted to send her on what would be the point of knowing Hermione loved her and she died before she even got to enjoy that love. And if Hermione said no she'll do what she needs to do to keep Hermione safe even thou the girl doesn't feel the same. Taking a deep breath Bellatrix answered Albus in a calm voice.

"May I have a few days to think this over?"

A sigh of relief left Dumbledore. She was going to think about this, giving them a chance to defeat Voldemort before he became too powerful.

"Of course."

With that said the witch picked up her bag and marched out like she was on a mission, which she was unknowing to Dumbledore. She was going to ask the girl she loved to the ball.

Fifteen minutes later Bellatrix was stalking towards the back of the library to her and Hermione's studying spot. Before she could round the corner she heard soft laughing from a boy and a girl. Dread filled her stomach that only doubled when she turned to find Hermione and Viktor sitting together. Both of them smiling and laughing with each other.

Hermione caught sight of her best friend,"Bellatrix! Where have you been?"

Bellatrix stunned by the sight before her answered the question in a daze, "Dumbledore's office."

Puzzlement filled Hermione's face, "What for Bella?"

Viktor stood up at this moment gathering his things as he spoke, "I'll let you two talk Hermy-own-ninny." His Bulgarian accent caused him to say Hermione's name oddly.

Smiling at her once more before he left, brushing past Bellatrix as he did. Dark brown eyes followed him as he turned the corner before turning to catch hazel eyes watching her curiously. Bellatrix sat down across from Hermione not wanting to sat in the same seat as Viktor.

"Hermione I need to tell you something important and I need to ask you something as well." Bellatrix serious tone seized Hermione's attention.

"What happen Bella? Does it have to do with your visit to Dumbledore's office?"

Bellatrix knew she couldn't tell Hermione that it was indeed to do with her talking to Albus. Shaking her head no she began to twirl her hair with her fingers. Hermione picked up on the movement and recognized it as a sign that the girl was nervous. Bellatrix licked her lips before talking again, "Hermione you're my best friend but I-" She paused and took a deep breath and looked up into Hermione's eyes. "I don't want to be anymore."

Hermione inhaled sharply, sadness filled her eyes. Bellatrix handed up a hand to stop her from speaking.

"I-I love you Hermione. I want you to be mine and I want everyone to know it. I want to hold your hand when we walk down the hall. I want to randomly give you flowers because I can. To kiss you when we walk around the Black Lake. And stand in the snow and hug you to keep warm." Bella's words were soft, sincere and her eyes overflowed with love that Hermione was speechless allowing the older girl to finish.

"Will you be my date to the ball Hermione, as my girlfriend?"

Hermione tried to say something but no words came out, she clearly didn't know what to say.

Anxiety raced through Bellatrix causing a light sweat to cover her skin. She continued to twist her curls around her fingers. Silent filled the air between them before a voice flowed through it.

"I'm going with Viktor to the ball."

Anguish, Bellatrix was filled to the bone in anguish. She stood so fast from her chair it met with a violent crash to the floor. The sound jolted Hermione to rise as well. She hadn't meant to come right out and tell Bella that she was going to the ball with Viktor it was just the only think her brain allowed her to say. The raven haired girl backed away from the table clutching her bag to her. Her head was down black waves of curls hiding her face from Hermione.

"Bella! Wait. Please!" Desperation dripped in Hermione's voice.

Bellatrix's hands tighten on the strap to her bag. She felt queasy and faint. She knew the cause of the feelings, it was Hermione's presence. No longer able to be near her Bellatrix bolted. Her footsteps echoed with Hermione cries of her name and pleads for her to stop. They ran through the library, Bellatrix creating chaos as she magically throw books on the floor behind her to slow Hermione's chase. Her plan worked when she heard Hermione's cry in pain as she tumbled to the ground. Bella's desperate running didn't stop till she was safely back in her room in the Slytherin common room.

The next day the young Gryffindor waited outside of the Great Hall for Bellatrix to show up for breakfast. When she failed to do so Hermione walked to her class with her head down in sadness. Harry and Ron walked with her sneaking peeks at her ever few seconds. They knew her behavior had to do with Bellatrix. But like the school, that now knew a 'fight' occurred between the two girls, they did not know what had happen. The rest of the day passed by in a blur for Hermione. She kept an eye out for the raven hair Slytherin who seemed to vanished without a trace.

Later that night Bellatrix left the safety of her room to adventure to Dumbledore's office an hour before curfew. The halls were mostly empty a few students lingered here and there all of them stealing looks at her briefly. She knew of the rumors that were now floating around about her and Hermione. Her house mates weren't as quiet as they thought they were when they were in the common room talking about what might have happen between the snake and the lion. She stop in front of the gargoyle that lead to Dumbledore's office. Repeating the password McGonagall said yesterday she gain access to the stairway behind the stone beast. Walking into the room without knocking Bellatrix saw Albus sitting at his desk with tea set out for two.

"I had a feeling you'll be joining me this evening."

Bellatrix sprawled across the chair she sat in yesterday. Albus chuckled at the girls rather unladylike behavior.

"I don't want to beat around the bush Albus. You know I had a 'fight' with Hermione. You also know it has to do with what we talk about yesterday. But I will not tell you what happen between me and Hermione all you need to know is she doesn't know what you told me and that I'm in on this mission, plan or scheme whatever you want to call it. Now tell me how do I get these Death Eaters to trust me."

Dumbledore sipped at his tea quietly, taking in what Bellatrix said.

"You'll need to end your friendships with Hermione, Harry and Ron. It'll need to be a gradual thing to seem realistic. But fast enough so you are able to go to the ball with Draco."

"What?! Draco!? You want me to go to the ball with my bloody nephew!" Bellatrix shouted at Dumbledore.

"Not romantically of course. It'll be a statement that you are on their side." Dumbledore explained.

Bellatrix nodded in acceptance. She stood up and started pacing while thinking out loud.

"So that means I have four weeks to end my friendships with Hermione, Harry and Ron all the while making new ones with Draco and his friends. And Draco is the prefect way in because his father was in the inner circle in the first war and he was the one who gave Ginny Voldemort's childhood diary two years ago."

Dumbledore smiled at Bellatrix's fast working mind and her ability to put the whole plan together with only a few pieces of the puzzle was amazing to see. He sighed knowing she was detaching herself emotionally from what happen with her and Hermione. And when this was all over she was going to have to deal with it but by then it could already be too late or harder to fix. His thoughts were interrupted by Bellatrix.

"Alright then the little 'fight' with Hermione is an excellent way to start distancing myself from her and the boys. I'm sure my lovely nephew will say a few things about it as well so if I say the right thing to him it'll keep him interested enough to continue to talk to me. Tomorrow will be the beginning then. The rise of The Bride and the fall of Bellatrix Black."