A/N: Hey y'all! This was written for HPFC and Hogwarts. JamesBellatrix.

Word Count: 457

Thanks to Ari for beta'ing!

WARNINGS: small mention of blood, implied character death

Enjoy!

They were all whispering about it. James Potter's soulmate had not been Lily Evans. His true soulmate was among the Dark Lord's closest followers—who, exactly, Bellatrix did not know.

But soon she would.

She caught the arm of Severus Snape, who she knew had been to see Potter since he'd been captured. The Gryffindor was rotting in their dungeons, a place Bellatrix never went unless asked to dole out special punishments; she was above guard duty.

"Snape," she whispered, her full lips barely moving, "Potter's soulmate—who is she?"

Snape's dark eyes flickered down to her pale wrist, a brow raised in an expression of polite disinterest. He lifted the thing fingers of his free hand and pulled up her sleeve just slightly, so the small, thorny black rose was visible. "You, Black," he said at last. "You."

She watched him through the bars of his cell, her black eyes emotionless. In the dim light she could barely make out some details: his cracked glasses, the blood trickling from his forehead, the bruises scattered along his arms…

She didn't understand how this could be.

He fought for Dumbledore. He'd married a Mudblood and tried to raise a child with her. How could someone who would lower themselves to that be meant for her?

At least, she thought, his blood was pure.

Bellatrix absent-mindedly twisted a strand of curly dark hair around her finger, and let herself wonder about Potter. Did he know? Had he ever guessed it could be her?

But more so, why? What about him made him the perfect match for her? What made them soulmates?

The word made her lip curl.

The truth was, nothing about this man held any sort of appeal for her. He was handsome, yes, and had the right blood. But his morals, his beliefs… they were backwards.

She straightened suddenly; a moment later James began to stir. Maybe this wasn't about what he could do for her. For the first time in her life, it might be time for her to give to someone else.

It was the only explanation. James Potter has lost his way in life, and he needed her to find it again. She was filled with a strange excitement as she considered him in a new light.

He was talented at transfiguration, she knew. He was a skilled duelist, and his bloodline was undiluted.

Without another thought, Bellatrix marches over to his cell and unlocked the door. She crouched in front of the man and lifted his chin just as his beautiful hazel eyes began to open.

Yes, he would be a wonderful asset to the Dark Lord, indeed.

She heard him suck in a breath.

"Hello, my dear," she purred.

His eyes hardened.

She smiled.