Hermione was watching the sun go down on a hill just outside the castle, she was still on the grounds but far enough away that it was difficult to see her from any of the windows. She knew she was already out past curfew but she just couldn't make herself go back inside. She'd gone to the owlery to check on Fallow after supper and found him hiding behind Harry's owl Hedwig. It had taken her forty minutes to convince him to give her the letter strapped to his leg.

She knew who it was from, her step-father, she could understand his desire to hide it, and he hated returning to that house. So did she but at least she had Sterling to ease her time there. Fallow only had her. It saddened her but she'd convinced him if he gave it to her she'd let him remain at Hogwarts for the holidays.

So now she'd have nothing and no one to talk to aside from Sterling the holidays. She sighed and pulled her knees up to rest her chin on. At least the thought of Sterling helped ease her dread of returning home. She loved seeing her little angel unwrap her presents, it never mattered what she got the kid was excited over socks as long as she got to tear off wrapping paper and make a mess. The thought reminded her she still needed to buy her a present.

The temperature was dropping with the sun but she was still too content and lost in her thoughts to leave her haven of solitude beside the lake. She was so lost in herself and what to buy the little girl she didn't hear the D.A teacher walk up behind her.

"Got a good reason for being out past curfew, little miss perfect?" Hermione jumped and blushed at the nickname. Of all people to catch her tonight she honestly wished it had been Filch or even Snape. Bella had been avoiding her since her trip to the infirmary. Hermione didn't know why everyone was trying to hide it but she knew she had been there with the raven beauty, her clothes had smelled of the forest and faint traces of vanilla. Fragrances Hermione had no business smelling like. She was angry at the mind games, just because they didn't like each other didn't mean she would go around letting all the students know Bellatrix was human, that she was uncomfortable being alone after an attack.

She pushed those thoughts out of her mind with calming breathes and thoughts of Sterling, she didn't want to be angry she'd never get any rest. "I lost track of time." Hermione stood up quickly and faced her teacher. She swayed slightly and was surprised Bellatrix reached out to steady her. "Too fast." She mumbled and stepped away from the warm hand. She didn't want Bella to touch her; she was tired of being the only one of them making an effort to be civil all the time. Their relationship was much easier to understand when Bella hated her and wasn't sending out mixed signals.

Bellatrix smirked. "That's not a good reason, Gryffindor, you know I think this deserves a weeks' worth of detention and ten points away. You and I both know if the sun sets and your outside you're out of bounds." Hermione paled. She didn't know if she'd survive a week, Bellatrix always did her detention at night and they lasted forever and with Hermione they were usually physically tiring. She was already anticipating nightmares, a week of dealing with those and detention didn't sound very appeasing.

"Professor please…" Bellatrix tutted and shook her finger mockingly at her student.

"If you can't do the time dear don't do the crime. Isn't that what you muggles say?" Hermione gaped. "Close your mouth dear it's very unattractive to leave it hanging open like that." She snapped her mouth shut a little bit confused. Bellatrix sat down on the hill Hermione had just vacated. She patted the spot next to her and sighed when the younger woman finally realized she meant for her to sit. "What were you doing out here anyways?"

"Trying to avoid reality." Bellatrix arched a perfect eyebrow.

"Why?"

She thought of what her life would be like after school was over for her. How she wanted to run away but couldn't without abandoning Sterling to her father. "I-I find myself in a difficult situation where nothing I do is the right choice. Any choice I make is going to result in someone getting hurt. Maybe even myself….most likely myself." She trailed off and her eyes took on a glazed look of someone focusing too hard on something besides the now.

"Ugh. Granger I never would have pegged you for the lovesick type. Just pick one already and get on with it." Hermione startled and looked at her professor in shock. "Either Weasley or Potter it doesn't matter they are both nitwits." Bella continued scathingly.

"I- you think this is about what boy I date?"

"Isn't it? I do have to admit though I didn't take you for a homewrecker. Potter is dating your Weasley friend after all. Wont that be a bit awkward at the Gryffindor breakfast table?" Hermione didn't answer because it wasn't a serious question. Bella didn't expect her to answer she was only using it as a means to mock her student yet again. Hermione hung her head and let her loose hair cover her face while she worked furiously to control her emotions. How could you feel so much for someone who had so little respect for you? It was something she asked herself every day, every time she saw the beautiful raven witch sitting beside her.

"No, not really," she answered quietly, she looked at Bella with tears still in her eyes but to the brunettes shock they didn't fall. Bella herself was frozen at the sight of them. In all the years she had taught Hermione she'd never thought she actually got to the girl. "But for all you care, Bellatrix Black, it might as well be." The raven haired witch frowned at the use of her name. No student should be calling her by her name, not even this vixen, she'd worked her ass off to become a professor, gone against her own father, and they were damn well going to respect that. But something stopped her from launching into a fit of anger and offering up longer detentions. Hermione's eyes looked dead and slightly glazed, Bella had this sinking feeling things weren't exactly as they appeared and her jealousy may have just widened the bridge between them further than she had ever meant. Her inside squirmed at the thought of something more serious than love problems going on with her best student but she couldn't think of what else it could be. Before she could find a suitable response Hermione had stood up and turned back to the castle. "Let me know when my detention is please. I have your essay to attend to." Bella was too shocked to respond to the cold tone and simply watched in silence as her bonded walked back to the castle without so much a backwards glance.