Disclaimer: I do not own Shakespeare's works or 10 Things I Hate About You. Please don't sue me, blah blah blah.

Chapter Ten:

Rodolphus was not a good kid, he knew that. Everyone in Hogwarts knew that. He had seen his fair share of detentions. But never once had he felt such discomfort and anxiety and pure worry. He had only ever felt laziness and boredom. Now, he was wondering desperately if his sudden plan of attack had worked. If Bella didn't forgive him, he could kiss Evan's money and Lucius' chance with Narcissa goodbye.

The day was sunny outside. Rodolphus couldn't gazing longingly at the whispering breeze and the drifting billows. He never realized how much of an outside person he was until he was caged as so.

Professor Vervara was supervising him. It wasn't that unpleasant. He didn't seem to find much pleasure in torturing him and had just given him some lines to write out while he sat there reading some magazine about…

Actually, what was the magazine about? As far as Rodolphus could see, the cover contained something suspiciously resembling a naked breast. Was Professor Vervara into porn? He shuddered in disgust before quickly turning back to his parchment.

BANG!

A gust of wind blew through the open door. It was Bellatrix, standing in the doorway, baggy robes billowing threateningly. Rodolphus felt in awe of her.

Professor Vervara looked up from his (dirty?) magazine with a start. "Miss Black?" Rodolphus noted his quick flick of hand to hide the magazine under the desk. Maybe he was reading a dirty magazine. He suppressed another shudder.

To their surprise, Bellatrix donned a sweet smile on her face. It was… entrancing.

Rodolphus could feel the calm before the storm.

She edged her way seductively in front of Professor Vervara. His eyes were unable to leave her. "Professor, I have something vital to discuss with you." Bellatrix rotated around so the Professor had his back to the door… and Rodolphus. She smiled again, looked over Vervara's shoulder and shot Rodolphus a meaningful glare. Suddenly, everything was clear.

"Miss Black, whatever you wish to discuss with me, I'm sure will be more appropriate when I am not occupied with detention." Vervara made an effort to tear his gaze from Bellatrix. She quickly stepped closer. Vervara froze. He was immobile from Bellatrix's intoxicating Madame de Cheberre perfume. She gazed deeply into his eyes and swiped an indignant hand behind his head, motioning for Rodolphus to leave.

He attempted to do so soundlessly. It was hard going.

When his chair inadvertently scraped the wooden planks of the floor, Vervara seemed to come to and realize something was amiss. His head snapped to the side. His eyes would land on Rodolphus any moment. They would be caught! Bellatrix, the model student, would be in trouble! It was unthinkable!

But something even more unthinkable happened.

Bellatrix grasped the professor's flabby chin and yanked his face towards her once more. Then, with lightning speed, she stepped back and called, "I need to discuss this, Professor" before pulling up her blouse. Rodolphus fled the room, but not before catching sight of the cover of the fallen magazine. It was topless witch. He was unable to suppress his shudder this time.

He just got the hell out of there and prayed the enthralling image of Bellatrix clad in her lacy purple brassiere would not remain in his mind forever. It was too much for him to bear and he forced himself to sink against the wall in order to retain some semblance of normalcy. It seemed to work.

That was, until the lady in question stumbled out of the classroom, a pretty flush in her cheeks and the first genuine smile he had ever seen on her face.

"What are you waiting for, Lestrange? Let's go! Hurry!"

He needed no telling twice. Unknowingly, his hand found a path into hers and they ran off, scampering into the sunlight like two naughty children caught with their fingers in the cookie jar.

They ran and ran and ran. Before they knew it, they were standing in the middle of Hogsmeade, panting breathlessly and wondering what on earth they were doing.

Bellatrix faced him. "I forgive you."

Startled, Rodolphus turned to look at her.

"You forgive me?"

"Yes, well, after your amorous and disturbing display on the Qudditch field in front of the whole school, I decided that I will forgive you. You've suffered enough humiliation."

Rodolphus groaned. "I really did just sing 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' in front of the entire Hogwarts population, didn't I? What was I thinking?"

She reached up and cupped his chin. He was surprised at how silky they felt against his skin. "You were thinking about nothing like you usually do. You are an idiot, Rodolphus. And that is why I forgive you."

Then, she jumped away, laughing softly, and twirled off into the distance.

She called him Rodolphus.

And that was when he smiled and chased after her.

(o) - O - (o)

Life was pretty good.

Well, for Lucius at the moment, it was really good.

Considering he was encased in a broom closet that smelled musty and like rat fur, he should have actually been rather miserable. But he overlooked the smell and the fact that really the cupboard could hold only one broom, two buckets and a person at the most because Narcissa was unbuttoning his shirt at a ferocious speed and hungrily sucking on his neck. She was also surprisingly limber, which was good because otherwise there was no way they'd both fit inside.

After the Quidditch game, after Rodolphus' fascinating little display, a pert blonde outline had hurtled into his arms and he was pleased to see it was Narcissa and not some stray golden cannonball intent on killing him. She had hugged him tightly, murmured her congratulations at winning the game, and then announced that a huge celebration party was to take place in the Slytherin common room.

This idea was met with a roar of approval.

By this time, Rodolphus had been dragged off to detention by a very angry looking Professor McGonagall. Lucius decided he could fend for himself. He also noted the absence of Narcissa's black haired sister. A kiss from Narcissa wiped all trace of sanity or thought from his mind.

But a kiss turned into kisses. And the kisses turned into rubbing and panting and other inappropriate behavior not suitable for first years to view. So they managed to cram themselves into the first broom cupboard they saw (well, all right, felt) in order to escape virgin eyes.

They never made it to the party.

Blindly, he wondered how he had managed to climb from a loser newcomer that harbored a useless crush against Hogwart's princess to the princess's kissing companion (technically, they weren't dating because Rodolphus had not yet managed to reel in Miss Bella). He decided not to pursue the ponder when Narcissa started nibbling his left ear.

It was hard to think in a situation such as this.

(o) - O - (o)

Rodolphus had not realized Bellatrix could run so fast. It was a long chase before he finally managed to catch up with her. Her eyes sparkled with renewed vigor and the jog had tainted her lips a pleasant shade of crimson. He couldn't stop staring at those lips.

It really was a nice day; too nice to be jogging, as a matter of fact. So the two teenagers shed their robes. Rodolphus considered just leaving it there, but Bellatrix (as rational as ever) argued that waste was disgusting and that her name was sewn into it so they would get busted if the clothing were to be discovered. He reluctantly agreed to drape the robes over his arm.

He couldn't help seeing Bellatrix in a new light as she skipped happily before him. Her hair, clean from the party, bounced gaily in the shimmering afternoon heat. Her waist, now visible from the ruffling peals of wind that streamed her blouse to her skin seemed smaller than ever. When she turned her head to grin widely at him, he almost stopped breathing. She was even more beautiful than at the party.

And Rodolphus suddenly realized why.

She was free and unhindered by the worries that were consuming her. It was too early in their relationship (or, what counted as a relationship) for him to wonder at what her worries were, but he admired her carefree beauty that fluttered through the breeze and trickled a warm journey right to his very heart.

He caught her hand and led her into Madam Puddifoot's. It was quaint and very… pink, but too many teachers drank at the Three Broomsticks. The barmaid might recognize them and report two truants. The Hog's Head was unspeakably dirty. So, it was to the nearest (and cleanest) café they went.

As for Bellatrix, she was shocked at how happy she was. In fact, this feeling had not returned to her since…

Evan.

But, she thought resolutely, this is different. I have no responsibilities to uphold. There are no strings attached. I can just be me.

Rodolphus pulled out her chair for her. This pleasantly churned a series of gratitude and astonishment in her. So he was a gentleman after all!

Their ordered drinks came and a comfortable silence descended upon them. It was at this moment that Bellatrix truly realized how bizarre the situation was. She, a model student, had just flashed her most hated professor, then proceeded to bunk the rest of school with the school's resident bad boy. And she was enjoying it!

Even as she wondered what was wrong with her she couldn't help the smile stretching across her face.

In the sunlight, she watched Rodolphus shift uncomfortably on the velvety stool. She wanted to laugh, but any sudden movement or noise might alert him to the fact that she was avidly observing. She felt like a hunter watching a glorious tiger, afraid that a motion might drive him away.

Suddenly, he stood up. "You know, Bellatrix. I don't feel like being contained today. Let's leave and find adventures outside with the wind."

She blinked and took his proffered hand. Somewhere along the way, linking palms with Rodolphus Lestrange had ceased being strange. And that was strange in itself.

"Okay."

And they were off (well, after paying for their drinks. They weren't criminals) in the blustery draft, shouts and laughter floating through the clouds, joys rising higher than the sky. Their sins and decadence melted away. They were found and innocent once more. They were in high spirits.

And when they looked at each other, they found a quickening in their heartbeats and footsteps. If they didn't know better, they'd say they genuinely were falling in love.

But they knew better.

After endless rounds of darting between cobbled street ways and thoroughly investigating the whole of Hogsmeade, the rays of the glinting sun was finally wavering and the two were lying on a park bench, unwilling to return to the world of failure and destruction and troubles.

Rodolphus sifted her hair between his fingers and marveled at its glossy quality. She just closed his eyes and marveled at how good it felt.

"Bellatrix."

"Hmm?"

She was content enough to let down her guard and allow her eyelids to flicker shut.

"Will you go to the Christmas Formal with me?"

Her eyes snapped open with a vengeance. And her innocence fell away like a cloak. She sat up, her suspicions piercing an unhappy arrow through her contentment. She had been in the game too long not to question sudden motives.

"Why?"

He shrugged, but inside, his mind was splintering. He could feel her slipping away.

"Because I want to take you?"

"No, Rodolphus."

And with that, she scrambled off the bench, disillusions firmly woven back out of place, robes draped once more around her delicate frame, eyes too shadowed to meet his gaze.

He had proceeded too quickly.

"Bella!" called he.

But it was too late. She was no more than a circle of leaves trailing forlornly after her trembling steps.

-

AN: I know, it's a long wait and a short chapter. I really wanted to write this chapter, and end it, just right. It was lovely to finally (FINALLY) get some sweet Bella/Roddy moments. And forgive my small Lucy/Cissy intervention in between. I love my blondes and it is vital to see the progress in their relationship also, right? I hoped you liked this chapter and I hope the long wait was worth it.