Harry had been at his party for many hours now and it was, to put it simply, a blast. Some guests had come early to help the Weasleys decorate and pitch up the golden marquee outside the house. It resembled the set up of Fleur and Bill's wedding with a more celebrative look to it than a formal wedding one. There were small, silver clothed tables spread around the rectangular perimeter starting from the entrance. A Gryffindor banner was placed at the front of the room as well as scarlet floating candles, making the beautiful place glow in the darkness around them. Golden and scarlet balloons were fastened on the supporting poles accompanied by the same colour of streamers. The tent was slightly larger than the one at the wedding because of the greater amount of people. Many had come to greet the Boy Who Defeated You-Know-Who and he handled the crowd of admirers well; welcoming them kindly and being naturally modest when they complimented him on his great accomplishment. Children had even approached him shyly with a blush, wanting his autograph and telling him how they wanted to be just like him when they grew older. He smiled at each of them, giving a lesson here and there like "Never be afraid to experience something new or to give adventure a try" or "Keep your friends close, they'll always pull through for you."

Other people who were present during the Battle of Hogwarts were also given a considerable amount of fame. Ron, Hermione, and Neville were kind and thanking everyone for the compliments although Professor McGonagall stayed reserved and merely smiled with a nod. Everyone was having a splendid time, dancing, chattering, and just enjoying the company of their friends and acquaintances. Finally, Harry had finished speaking to everyone who approached him and slumped down in a chair by Ginny, George, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and Luna.

"I haven't seen Mum and Dad so happy in quite a while." Ron commented happily, looking on at Arthur and Molly Weasley, dancing in each other's arms to the sound of the music peacefully.

"I would say." Ginny agreed slipping her hand into Harry's on the table with a small smile. He forced himself to smile back but the touch of her hand in his just didn't feel right, awkward in a sense.

"Yeah, it sure is nice to see Mum without worry lines on her forehead." George said.

"I bet it calmed her down making me work my wand like a slave and setting all this up." Ron mumbled under his breath, earning a slap from Hermione.

"Mrs. Weasley just wanted everything to be perfect for Harry's-" She stopped when she looked at him. Harry was absentmindedly twirling a teaspoon around in his cup, staring intently at the motions it made in his coffee. He didn't feel at rest for some reason. Something seemed to be missing but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"Harry... is something wrong?" Luna spoke in her soft voice. He looked up and blinked.

"Oh uh... no nothing I'm fine. Saying hi to everyone tired me out a bit, that's all." She nodded and accepted his evasive answer even through she sensed his opposition to be truthful.

"Well how about opening your presents? I know that always gets me in the spirits."

"No thanks George, I can't open my presents in the middle of the party." But George was already reaching under the table and pulling out small boxes of presents.

"Then I will open them. No worries though mate; these are only presents from people you're close to, like us and a few others. All the other ones are from the random guests that invited themselves."

"Come on Harry, you're much too stiff. Go ahead and open them." Harry's eyes widened when Hermione said those familiar words that he had heard not too long ago from a certain woman. He had no idea why, but thinking of her sprouted a charming smile on his face and he started to think that perhaps she was the reason he wasn't having as much fun. She actually managed to make his every day interesting and fun with her different personality, unique looks, and cunning ways. Bellatrix was an entirely new type of person to him… and he loved it.

"What are you thinking about?" Ginny interrupted his careful thinking, looking at him worriedly. Clearing his throat, Harry tossed aside thoughts of the dark witch. He didn't want to be one of those men who think about other girls when they're already in a relationship; even if the relationship wasn't going so well in his eyes.

"Sorry, I uh, changed my mind. Let's take a look at those presents." Gleefully they watched as he unwrapped a small gift first, revealing a black case. Hermione had given him new oblong, rectangular, glasses. He tried them on earning a 'wow' look from Hermione. "What?" Harry asked, blinking a few times to adjust his eyes.

"You look even handsomer than before. It defines your eyes perfectly as well." Luna said quietly with a soft smile. Ron nodded in agreement.

"You look more mature, that's for sure." Hermione pointed out, pleased with her decision. She thought this would be the perfect present for her friend whose previous spectacles were much too childish for his growing age. It passed Hermione's subconscious that if she was fortunate enough to be with Harry instead of Ron, she wouldn't hesitate to give him a kiss with looks like his.

Next, he opened a gift from George which was a mini-Harry on a broom in his Quidditch uniform; it was a little bigger than his hand. "What's this he asked?" George pulled out his wand and tapped the top of its head.

"Fly little Harry." The figure sprang to life and shot through the air and around guests, spewing colourful sparks from behind the broom. They watched it zoom with great speed everywhere until it at last landed back in Harry's hand.

"Wow, that's amazing!" He admired, investigating how closely it resembled himself.

"Yeah, it was Lee's idea. It'll sell amazingly at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. That right there is the first model, free of charge of course." They continued opening a few more small boxes. There was a green sweater with a golden 'H' on it, homemade by Mrs Weasley; a game of Wizard's chess from Ron, bringing back fond memories of them from their first year together; a silver chain bracelet from Luna with a Thestral charm on it; Neville had made a scrapbook from every picture that had ever been taken during their time at Hogwarts; and Professor McGonagall had neatly folded an aristocratic, stylish, black suit with a vest and grey tie. She happened to be looming over him when he opened it.

"Potter, opening your gifts early I see." She as always, had her hair in a neat bun under her cocked witch's hat and wore a smart green, velvet and black, long-sleeved robe. Harry smiled warmly at her, turning slightly crimson.

"N-no, not at all Professor McGonagall! They convinced me to-"

"Oh no need to cover yourself, it's alright. How do you like the suit? I didn't plan on you growing so much in such a short time. I'll have to make some alterations." McGonagall released her nine and a half inch stiff wand from a pocket in her robes and with a flick, changed the size.

"It's smashing; what's it for though? I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon where I can wear something this formal."

"Ah yes, it seems I forgot to tell you. This coming December, Hogwarts shall hold a ball. It's going to be similar to the Yule Ball but it won't be celebrating the Triwizard Tournament. It is going to be hold on the occasion of a victory; good conquering evil and a war coming to an end. I hope you all can make it." Harry was secretly pleased that it wasn't celebrating him. First of all, the triumph over Voldemort wasn't him alone; everyone else was just as important. He had also been invited to many shindigs after the war but only went to a few. Celebrating after the death of so many of his friends and classmates seemed unjust.

"I will be sure to be there."

"I trust you will. Happy birthday, Harry." Nodding curtly, she floated back through the crowd and out of eyesight. Ron had taken the suit out of the box and was inspecting it with an awe-struck look.

"Bloody hell Harry! This is one costly outfit! I wonder how she managed to afford this." Hermione slapped Ron's hands off of it and properly folded it and handed it back. Rubbing his red hand, Ron turned to Ginny, "Looks like it's your turn." She took a deep breath, biting her lip, and built the courage at last.

"You read my letter right?" He nodded. "Well Harry… my special surprise to you is…" another deep breath. She had reached into her small purple purse, matching the frilly gown she was wearing, "We have been together for quite some time now Harry and… I would love to be your wife. So," she opened her small hands to reveal a black box and opened it. There was a small golden ring in it. "Will you marry me?"

He was shocked. What could he say? He was confused himself. Harry had imagined the moment one of them proposed, most likely him, to be memorable, amazing, and incomparable to anything else. He thought his heart would be racing and there wouldn't be a second of hesitance between either of them. But there was. Millions of things ran through Harry's brain, "Why don't I want to say yes? I should be excited. I should want to marry her, yet I can't bring myself to do it. Why do I… fear agreeing to this? Am I scared of commitment? Is it because I have fallen out of love with her? Or… it could be that I never loved her to begin with." Ginny was beginning to worry and feel a bit awkward. She hadn't received any response other than him staring at the floor intently.

"You alright?" He looked up at Ginny silently, pursing his lips. There was a tense atmosphere in the air around them.

"Come on now, it's not like there's any Death Eaters around to stop your wedding, Harry." Neville was trying to lighten the mood, but for the Weasleys and Harry it only made it harder to withstand. There was one left but she wasn't going to be here. She didn't have a wand and couldn't even escape the charm around the house. Or so they thought.

As if on cue, a notorious, shrill chuckle sounded through the skies. They were well aware who it was. The fright from their hearts flowed in currents throughout the marquee. Their eyes travelled to the curtains of the entrance and, as though she owned the place, in strolled the dark witch. Bellatrix Lestrange. People near where she stood had scurried away in a rush, most everyone with their hands holding their wands or near it.

"It never ceases to warm my heart when there's a party to greet me." The cynical grin on her face had cowards trembling. The panic created by her simple arrival was even better an experience than she had thought it would be and filled her with thrill. Scanning the room like a hawk, her eyes carefully observed Molly, Arthur, Minerva, Luna, and Neville. Mr and Mrs Weasley didn't move. They already knew about her living with Harry and that she couldn't cause harm without her wand. But no one else besides the rest of their family, Hermione, and the Ministry knew of this. Because of others lack of knowledge, Neville, Minerva, Luna, and a few others were standing in front of the people who had cowered back in a huddle, their wands at the ready.

"What are you doing here?" Professor McGonagall hissed while keeping her tone even and narrowing her eyes. Bellatrix smirked dementedly.

"Why, I only came here to drop off a present for the... famous Harry Potter." Now she looked directly at Harry and winked. He stared blankly back; clueless as to what to do and frankly trying to figure out how she had gotten out in the first place. There were three charms around 12 Grimmauld Place, not too strong but enough to keep Bellatrix inside.

"You aren't welcome here!" Neville spat. "I will be sure you are dead before I leave!" Obviously his animosity towards her was boiling over the top. The need, the desire, for revenge was climbing to the top of his priorities list.

"Ah... Longbottom, we meet again. You truly have grown courage haven't you boy? Good, you're much more interesting. However, I don't have the time for you at the moment." She strode towards Harry, trunk in hand. No one attacked her as she covered the short distance between them; a big surprise. Although, everyone was trying to work out what was going on in their heads. Bellatrix Lestrange; escaped Death Eater, craziest of the bunch, most likely to torture slowly then kill, and the same woman who not too long ago wouldn't take a second of consideration before murdering an innocent soul. That person was standing before them and not doing a single thing. Nothing. Not even trying to put fear in their hearts but doing it naturally as though it were a talent. Guests in her way stared on and drifted out of her path when she walked like she was royalty.

Up until this point, Neville had thought someone else would take a step forward and try to stop her but no one did. This only coursed rage through his veins further and he flicked his wand. "Confringo!" But Harry was too quick.

"Protego!" He stood before her with a defensive pose like a mother protecting her young. The shield charm stopped the spell in its tracks but didn't repel it back towards the caster. He had seen Neville's fists clenched tightly by his trousers, trying to contain himself, anyone could see that he was about to make a move. Harry acted on reflex. Nothing could happen to Bellatrix in his book. The reason of his need to protect her was as much a mystery to everyone else as it was to him. 'Why did Harry Potter just defend an old foe?' They questioned, 'Did he plan on killing her himself? Would he rather have her sent to Azkaban? Could there be an ulterior motive they didn't know about?

"H-Harry..." Neville said, lost and lowering his wand slowly. Harry took a deep breath and turned to face Bellatrix who was mindlessly staring at her long, claw-like nails. He had taken notice of the black trunk in her hand and recalled Narcissa's visit. That gave him a pretty logical idea as to how the charm had been broken.

"Bellatrix... why did you come?" He questioned in a hushed, stern whisper. There was a deathly look in his normally gentle eyes yet Bella managed to keep her cool. He didn't, or more precisely couldn't, intimidate her.

"I warned you that I would put up a fight, did I not? Besides, this party needed a little... action."

"Not from you it didn't."

"Now that's just rude Harry." People were shocked to hear her use his first name and in a way that wasn't complete distaste. "I go to all the trouble to escape and bring you your present and you tell me I'm not welcome."

"YOU AREN'T WELCOME HERE. THE ONLY PLACE YOU SHOULD BE IS IN YOUR GRAVE." Neville shouted, only to be restrained by Ron and George with Luna placing a calming hand on his chest.

"I don't believe I was speaking to you... Longbottom." She growled through gritted teeth. The current of hatred between them could practically be felt in the air. Before they began to rip each other limb from limb, Harry grabbed her arm and escorted her outside the tent. Once they were inside the Burrow, he shut the door behind him, pinching the bridge of his nose. Bellatrix took notice of his new glasses, the way they framed his sharp face while giving a smart look, and felt a stronger lust towards him.

"I don't understand... When I specifically told you not to come, why would you disobey me and come anyway? Then again, I need to remember who I am talking to. You took orders from no one except him." He paced back and forth, running a hand through his hair. "What am I going to tell everyone? That you're living with me? Ha! They'll be breaking down my door in no time. What did I do to deserve this? Oh yeah, I remember, I saved you. As a consequence I'll have everyone against me. What a great day..."

"You really worry too much. If you stay like this, your hair will turn grey in no time." He looked at her and finally stopped pacing. Harry sat himself down on a kitchen table chair, head in hand.

"This is no time for jokes... what's in that trunk by the way?" It was leaning against the door where Bella had set it. Picking it up again, she easily placed it on the table and unlocked a few silver latches.

"It's your present. Reaching inside, she pulled out an item. Her finger was wrapped inside a ring and as the gift rose from inside, eventually, a large golden cage was revealed. Inside it was a snow white owl with shocking turquoise eyes. He recognised it as the same one he was yearning for the day that Bellatrix begged to be taken out for a drink.

It was even more beautiful up close. Feathers as white as a cloud, a beak as black as the darkness of the night with similarly dark horizontal bars along its body, below its round head a sort of V-shape was there, making it look as though the owl was wearing a spotted coat over its shoulders. Harry could only look on in wonderment at the animal's magnificence. "Her name is Evelyn. I thought that after the Battle over Little Whinging you could use another owl." There was nothing he could think of to say. Who could imagine that Bellatrix Lestrange would be the one to give him an owl with no other reason but to be nice? He surely didn't which explained his lack in a proper response.

Going with his gut, Harry rose from the chair and looked at her intently. Bella thought he would start scolding her again for coming and was prepared for the worst but he did what was least expected. He hugged her. It was a sudden, tight, long embrace. She had never been hugged like this before. Not by her sisters, her parents, or her so-called 'companions'. There had always been a fine boundary between displaying actual affection which no one she had ever known had crossed... up until now.

She stood still at first. It was perhaps the most confusion-filled moment in her life. Harry Potter... was hugging her. Kisses can mean nothing; it could just mean a simple desire. However, a hug, especially one like this, meant so much more. It means caring; a sense of strong emotion towards one another. Perhaps Narcissa was right. Maybe, just maybe, they were becoming too attached. At the time however, it didn't matter to Bellatrix whatsoever. She uncertainly hugged him back though with not as much feeling. It would only bring her closer to him, something her logic told her wasn't right.

"Thank you." Harry whispered into her ear tenderly. She nodded, resting her chin on his shoulder. At that moment, the door was slammed open by Ginny and George.

"Where is that-?" Ginny was cut short by the sight before her. The woman who had tried to kill her was hugging her boyfriend; rather romantically she might add. As though her words struck a current between them, Harry bolted back from her.

"G-Ginny!" He stammered nervously, looking like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. Bellatrix side stepped out from behind Harry and smiled sneeringly at her, sitting herself atop the kitchen table. Ginny only glared at her with an icy look.

"Well... that's not something you plan on seeing every day, eh?" George said, trying to break the awkward, suffocating atmosphere. Harry had taken a keen interest in playing with Evelyn's cage, avoiding Ginny's eyes that bore into the back of his head. She knew something was going on. Harry didn't hug just anyone like that, especially not a Death Eater. Frankly, she couldn't recall him hugging even her in that way. There was undoubtedly tension between them; sexual tension.

"Harry... May I... see you upstairs?" She turned and stomped up the stairs.

"Uh oh, looks like someone besides me is in trouble for once." Bellatrix joked, resting on the table on her hands. Harry rolled his eyes and with a deep breath, followed upstairs. Bella turned to George, "Hello there... what happened to your ear?"She had taken notice of his missing left ear. He looked anywhere but directly at her; he felt disgusted with the fact that she actually looked very attractive.

"Snape." She made an 'oh' look, remembering his specially made Sectumsempra spell then apathetically stuck her finger in Evelyn's cage and watched her bite painfully on it.

Upstairs, Ginny was sitting on Ron's bed, calming herself down and trying to make sense of everything. Harry stood on the other end of the room, watching her. Finally, she looked up with a hurt look in her eyes that tore through Harry's soul. She knew what she had to do. Her resolution was unbreakable now. She stood up and placed the ring box into his hands.

"I never would have guessed that you would have feelings for the infamous Bellatrix Lestrange. Any other person in the entire world I would understand, even Mrs Malfoy. But this... this is too much of a surprise."

"I never said I did-!"

"Harry, please don't even try to defend yourself. I know what I saw. I... I won't hold you back. I can't." Hearing this was a shock to him but Ginny knew what she had to do. Their relationship had been breaking apart at the seams for quite a while now. "It would be best for both of us... I mean, let's face it Harry. We haven't exactly been as close as we were before. This relationship it just... hasn't been working right. Perhaps... it's needed that we take a break from each other. I just hope your new love interest doesn't kill you."

"But Ginny I-" He tried to stop her. He didn't want it to end even though he knew she was right in every way. They weren't the same anymore. It didn't feel right.

"We both know it's true." She took a shaky breath. "Besides, if I'm the one to end this, you won't have to worry about you and Ron getting in a fight. I... I won't tell him about what happened and I'll make sure George doesn't as well."

"Wait... I don't know what you're thinking. There's nothing going on between me and her! We haven't done anything at all!"

"Answer this then... do you want to?" This question confused Harry.

"Do I want to what?"

"Do you want to do something with her? Is there even an ounce of emotion you feel towards her Harry? Go on, tell me. I already know the answer." He couldn't lie. Not with this question. He had been having fantasies of her for a long time now. There was no doubt in his mind that he wanted her, that he truly needed her.

"I... I don't know Ginny." He slumped against the wall by her sceptical eyes on him.

"Despite her... personality flaws she is an attractive person, I'll admit. Even if she's a deranged woman it would be understandable if you did want her. If you wish to, we'll take a break. I'll be waiting." There was a long silence. Ginny found the idea despicable but what could she do? Kill her? Send her to Azkaban? That would probably only hurt Harry. Scold him and tell him how wrong it was? He probably already knew. There was no other answer.

"Alright." Harry didn't know what else to say. It was a simple response but it answered her suggestion. They were taking a break and they both felt as though a weight was lifted off their shoulders. The pressure of trying to keep their relationship above water was gone. As Harry started to walk out, Ginny stopped him.

"Harry... be careful." He turned back to look at her, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"She's dangerous and not the sanest woman, you already know that. It should be enough to keep you on your feet. But if you do actually become... romantically involved with her don't form a bond, Harry. You tend to do that; form extremely strong bonds in a short amount of time. She will hurt you eventually and I won't be able to see you heartbroken. You've been through enough pain."

"What makes you so sure she'll hurt me?"

"Many reasons, but the most obvious one is her no-half-blood policy. She would never be seriously committed to you. If anything, it's probably going to be only an affair to her. She'll throw you away when she's done." He had already considered this. It was true. Her distaste for half-bloods would cancel all chances he had with her. He had to keep his heart at bay. They could be friends and lovers but nothing more. Etching that reminder into his mind, Harry went back down to see Bellatrix fiddling with the small artefacts around the room and curiously eyeing the Weasley's special clock.

"Bellatrix... don't touch things that aren't yours." She turned to him and like a stubborn child dropped the Deluminator back on the cupboard. George had gladly left when Angelina called him out for a dance which made the two of them alone.

"How did it go?" She asked following him as he picked up Evelyn's cage along with the trunk and walked out the door.

"You don't need to know." He answered bluntly.

"Actually, I want to know which is just as important."

"No it isn't."

"I believe it is."

"Please go home Bella, no more questions. I can't have you stick around here and risk getting in any more trouble." They were still a distance away from the tent and out of view or hearing of people still inside, walking through the dark night. Bellatrix grabbed his hand before he walked to far out of her reach. He stood there. "Bellatrix let me go."

"She broke up with you didn't she?" The question was straightforward but judging by his long pause, the answer was obvious.

"We're still together." There was a hint of sadness in his voice. Even though he was thinking they wouldn't be together much longer and even though he wasn't as interested in Ginny as before, being left alone still hurt. Rapidly, she jerked him into the direction of the corn stalks which concealed them completely.

"You're a horrible liar, Harry." Bella let go of his hand and strode up to him, lifted his head while staring into his eyes for a while, then kissed him. It was the same type from this morning; sweet, soft, and tender. He wasted no time in kissing her back. There wasn't the restraint of having a girlfriend anymore yet it still felt slightly wrong to be so open to being with her right after breaking up with Ginny.

Things were heating up quickly as Harry took to wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her deeper into the kiss. Bellatrix found a way into his mouth by biting onto his lip then sticking her tongue in when he gasped from the pain. Grazing her tongue over the bite to lick up the blood, she pecked his neck whilst sliding her hands up his shirt to feel his hard, shaped, young body under her touch. Her cold hands and the shiver they sent through his body, especially his manhood, encouraged him further. Harry nibbled gently on her thin lips and hesitantly raised a hand to massage her breast, raising a soft moan from her that made him grow hard.

Luna had taken it upon herself to look for Harry. Ginny and George had returned but Harry and Bellatrix didn't. She had already searched the Burrow and was about to look inside the party some more when she spotted some rustling in the cornfields not too far off. Trying to make her way through as silently as possible, the crackle of the dry stalks didn't help much. The first sound of a snap brought them both back to their senses and yet again, Harry pulled away, merely a second away from when Luna appeared, peeking her head through the brush.

"Oh, hello Luna." Harry said in a cracked tone and cleared his throat. She took a few seconds to notice small details with her dreamy-grey eyes. Harry's lip was bleeding slightly and his shirt was in disarray. She had a good guess on what had happened but didn't want to think it possible; too gross a thought.

"Hello Harry..." She avoided looking at Bellatrix who was wiping her lip with her thumb. "Are you going to be coming back?"

"Yes actually, I was about to-" Bellatrix grabbed his arm and pulled him against her, covering his mouth with a hand.

"Sorry to say, but I'll be taking him with me."

"Wait WHAT?" With her other hand Bella picked up the cage Harry dropped and Disapperated, rising into the air in a black smoke. Luna was about to run back and tell everyone that Bellatrix had kidnapped him but Ginny was standing behind her when she turned.

"Don't worry about him Luna, she won't kill him."

"But-" Ginny turned on her heels and headed to marquee. Trusting her judgement Luna followed her silently but still wanted to find out what was going on. Could it be that they were involved in some way that didn't involve hate? Why didn't he kill her when he had the chance? Could there be... a liking between them?

A/N: Well there you are; a new chapter. SPOILER: lemons in the next chapter! There's probably going to be action in the next few ones as well. Some of you are probably thinking 'finally!' to the lemons part. Sorry for the wait though, their relationship just had to evolve enough but not too much. Until next time.