Nothing was said on their way out. Bellatrix was walking at a leisurely pace, trying to comprehend how they had won when there wasn't a single innocent cell left in her body. It was ironic really that the world wanted her dead not too long ago but now that she served no threat, the Ministry needed her. It was actually rather humourous. Harry kept a fast pace ahead, ignoring the many wide-eyes watching them as though they were a circus. People began to clear out of their way upon the sight of Bellatrix Lestrange.

Only hushed whispers and the clicking of the convict woman's boots could be heard through the glorious long hall of the Atrium. The attention they were attracting surely wouldn't help the magical government with their issue but it was their problem now.

When they reached the right side of the Atrium where the gilded fireplaces meant for departure were, the line in front of them dispersed Hands were near wands but none were attacking. They had figured by now, as had Bella, that if she even made the slightest hint t of reaching for a weapon of any sort, spells would hit her left and right. There was no particular reason to hurt her just yet.

Trying to be as discret as possible, Bellatrix strode in a dignified manner with a smile on her face. The fear she instilled in everyone always raised her spirits. Harry ushered for her to step in first and looked on at the stone cold faces of the people around them.

"It's been swell seeing you all again." Bellatrix sneered with a cynical grin. When the green flames swallowed her up, Harry silently followed suit and was stepping out of the fireplace in the basement of 12 Grimmauld Place soon after.

"Hello Kreacher." He greeted the house-elf who worked studiously on preparing the table. Bella had already taken a seat and was gulping down a glass of water.

"Welcome back Master Harry." He croaked after setting down a large dish of beef casserole and then stalking back to his quarters. Harry took a seat at the head of the table, like always, and doled a small amount onto his plate. Chewing slowly, he thought of how to start a conversation but couldn't bring himself to do it. His mind always trailed back to last night. What are you supposed to say to a woman who used to be your mortal enemy on the day after you just slept together and saved her life? If there was a book with advice on what to do in such a situation, Harry would certainly get it but he had high doubts that such a thing existed.

By the looks of it though, Bellatrix didn't care one bit. It was another day to her. However, she felt like she needed to say something but didn't know how to go about it. The old Bella and the slowly reforming one were mentally battling with one another. 'Why do I have the damn need to say something to him...? I've never gave utterance to this word before! Like hell I'll do it now! But... what he did back there was so... so kind." What she had to say to him was very unlike her but eventually, she forced it out, thinking it would be better than worrying about it forever.

"Thank you." In the quietness of the room a sudden thing like that coming from Bellatrix threw Harry off his feet. He choked a bit on his food and swallowed it down with water.

"Excuse me?" He asked, assuming his ears had deceived him. This time, she had to cough up the words like each one was a dagger being pulled up her throat.

"T-Thank… you."

"Oh... for what?"

"For…" There were actually many things she had to be grateful for. This boy had done so much for despite all the hatred he had but of course, Bellatrix would admit to none of this. "For saving Narcissa from a trip to Azkaban." Simply speaking, Harry was dumbfounded. A Death Eater had just thanked him. He couldn't have been less prepared for this.

"Um... it's surprising that you would care about someone else."

"She's the only real family I have left; I don't see why I wouldn't. If there's anyone I care about in this world, it's only her."

"Well… you're welcome then." Even with what Bellatrix had said, Harry couldn't help but know for a fact that a part of her, perhaps the size of an atom, cared for him too. She just didn't know it yet. It was all the more reason for him to stay away from her. His friends would probably never accept them becoming close with one another.

The decision from last night was indeed a conscious one however he couldn't stop the guilt or the nagging voice advising him to not look at her. If he did, he feared the worst; which was that today would be a rerun of yesterday. So, when Harry was done eating he uttered nothing and jogged upstairs. Bellatrix let him go. She knew he was confused and even a bit conflicted with all the new things in his life. She had even expected him to to try to avoid her. So be it. Bella had gotten what she wanted and once given full freedom, she would never have to see or hear of Harry Potter again.

Later on that evening, Narcissa had returned to see if Bella was behind bars or not. When Bellatrix was the one to open the door, a grateful smile graced her features and she took no hesitation in embracing Bella. Narcissa had had good reason to believe that her sister would not make it.

"How did they let you go? I mean, you don't exactly have a sparkling past."

"Oh I didn't really say much. It was all Harry." An impressed look formed on Narcissa's face.

"Really? That's astonishing! He must be as tricky as you are."

"Ha, I would say." With the time of night Narcissa couldn't stay long but Bellatrix explained to her briefly exactly what had happened at the Wizengamot. As she was fed information, she become more and more won over by Harry's intellectual responses and rebuttals to everything the court had to say. "Ah, I almost forgot to tell you the best part," Bellatrix said as Narcissa was getting ready to leave. "The Chief Warlock had asked him who broke the charms; you very well could have been joining me in that hell but he covered for you nicely, blamed himself."

At first, she was nothing but shocked, standing there with wide eyes and a cocked eyebrow. Then it turned into a soft smile and she said, "I would expect that of him. After all, he helped you, a person he's never been too fond of to begin with... He is... different from most. I don't see why you wouldn't want to sleep and live with him." At this, Bella started to be a bit defensive.

"Wait you can't honestly believe that I slept with him because of personal feelings I have! I've told you there aren't any! He's Harry damn Potter!"

"Of course you don't Bella... of course you don't." And with those words brimming with sarcasm, Narcissa left Bellatrix to have another headache worthy dispute within herself. 'She's wrong... I could never think anything of him... I only did what I did to get something out of my system... Yeah that's what it is... That's all it was.'

The next few weeks consisted of Harry leaving early in the morning and arriving back home late at night. It was only on a few occasions that he stayed back; on days when Bellatrix requested to go to the Malfoys for 'a change of scenery'. Otherwise, he made one excuse or another to not be left alone with his roommate. He figured that if she wasn't allowed to leave he could, thus making it easier to stay away from any sexual tendencies. The plan worked splendidly but for Harry alone.

While he was away, either at the Weasleys or wandering around Hogsmeade, Bella was left to float around like a ghost. Narcissa often visited and was never given a complete answer as to why Harry was always away. Generally, Bellatrix trailed around talking about him. She found it much easier that way to not think about where he was or what he was doing. Not too long ago she had thought that she wouldn't care whether he was around or not. After all, it was only a 'game' to her but it was undeniable. Bellatrix missed Harry.

Bella recalled that one of the reasons she didn't want to be in Azkaban was because she wanted more time with Harry but once they stepped out of the Wizengamot, she passed it off as nothing but a rash thought made in a situation of panic. But as the days went by she found herself really wanting him more and more. Finally, she snapped and thought of a way to satisfy her craving for the Boy-Who-Lived. The plan was a crazy one but would certainly be delightful.

It was the fourth week of one of Harry's escapades and September was right around the corner. Rain clouds loomed overhead, pouring down cold rain in buckets. Opening the large, creaking door carefully Harry leaned his broomstick against a stand, shaking water from his hair. He walked up the groaning steps into his room, taking no notice of dark eyes watching with a devilish smile from down the hall. Assuming that Bellatrix was asleep, he prepared for bed as quietly as possible so as not to wake her up. After a tiring day of playing Quidditch with some of the new students at Hogwarts, Harry was out as soon as his body made contact with the mattress.

His sleep was short lived for the sound of his bedroom door closing woke him up. "Who's there?" He asked in the darkness, fluttering his eyes and trying to see. Nothing was heard in return except the pitter-patter of rain drops and Harry's drumming heart. Reflexively, he tried stretching to reach his wand on the bedside table but his hands were restricted. When bright lightning flashed through the window he saw the tough ropes holding him back. Harry pulled on them, hoping to loosen the knot but to no avail. "Damn! Who the hell is here?" There was the sound of light footsteps on the wood floors. "BELLATRIX! Bellatrix come upstairs!" He yelled, hoping that she would hear him. There was a click and one of the lamps flickered open to reveal a smirking Bella.

"Scared you there didn't I?" Bellatrix teased. There was something different about her and as Harry's eyes adjusted to the light, he recognised what exactly was different. In Bella's eyes there was a sort of beast-like hunger as well as a temptress-like style to her form as she came closer to his bedside and leaned over him.

"Bellatrix… what do you think you're-" Her finger came down on his lips and she walked closer to him. Harry's eyes trailed down her pale body to see her wearing only a seductive black corset with small ruffles at the top and bottom, leaking a generous amount of cleavage into his view, and with strings on the back, tying together the ensemble. As far as he could see though, she had nothing else on.

"Shhh this will be quick." Tossing away his comforter, she climbed over him and kneeled with one leg on either side of his body. Bella's lips glided down his glistening, bare abs, leaving a few kisses here and there. A skilful hand manoeuvred its way into his soft flannel pyjamas and began stroking him in long, hard strokes.

"B-Bellatrix," he gasped between a moan "please, d-don't." His pleas did nothing to change her mind. And quite honestly, Harry didn't mind that at all. In the time that he had been keeping away from Bellatrix it did nothing to soothe the never ending yearning he had towards her. Even without the well-tied ropes, Harry was sure he wouldn't try too hard to get away.

When he was aroused to an immeasurable extent, Bella pulled down his pyjamas and lithely went down on him. She didn't give a single thought towards protection. Her want for Harry was too strong to even let that pass her mind. All Bella could pass through her conscience was the fantasy of a long-awaited release.

First in slow, dance like motions Bellatrix rocked herself on him and as the moments paced, Harry found himself in a sort of trance. All objections were tossed out the window, substituted by a heavenly bliss. Harry tried desperately to pull away from his restraints, not to escape but to give his hands the freedom to touch her soft skin and make her feel the same unexplainable ecstasy he was feeling. It was hopeless. The ropes stayed tight to the bedpost and only tortured Harry more, chaffing his wrists till they were red. All he could manage to do was thrust upwards, gripping the ropes as a leverage to meet her moves perfectly.

Bellatrix immediately took note of his sudden participation and used it as encouragement to quicken her pace. Nothing could be heard besides gasping, the creaking of the bed, a sweet rain, and loud moans of intense pleasure. Gradually, the fervour between them cast a fog in their brains, clouding all reason they had left. The movement of their bodies was by this time agile and flawlessly in synch.

At long last, Bella hit a violent climax, clenching the sheets tight enough that it left tears in the fabric. Not long after, Harry grunted and came into her. For what seemed like an eternity the two stared at each other, breathing heavily and hearts thumping rhythmically. Bellatrix leaned down onto Harry, holding herself up with her hands, and kissed him for a prolonged period of time. Then, she rose, brushed a hand through his hair, and made her way towards the door.

"Wait... where are you going?" Harry questioned, confused.

"To bed, of course." Bella only managed to take a few steps down the stairwell before Harry called after her.

"WAIT A SECOND! UNTIE ME!" The cackle he was so accustomed to resounded back up into his room.

"Maybe later; goodnight, Harry." A predator like Bellatrix wouldn't let her prey get away from her; not again.

A/N: And now we see that Bella really does have obvious uncontrollable feelings for Harry.