Word count: 719

These are the moments Alice loves the most. For one brief, glorious moment, she can really and truly relax, hidden away from prying eyes, tucked away in some secret place that only she and Bellatrix know about. Here, nothing else really matters. They don't have to keep up appearances, to pretend to hate one another as all Gryffindors and Slytherins seem to. Here, they can let their masks fall and hold one another close.

"You're quiet tonight, pet," Bellatrix murmurs, a slender finger dancing over Alice's cheek.

Alice chuckles and looks up at her girlfriend, unable to resist a smile. "Just thinking," she says.

Bellatrix smirks, dark brows raising. "Oh dear." She lets out a soft laugh. "That's quite dangerous, you know."

"Oh, hush!"

Of course she doesn't mean it. Alice treasures these moments with the other girl, and all she wants is for Bellatrix to talk about anything and everything. Each moment they spend talking is another moment they can stay hidden here, sharing in a love only known to them and the silvery moon who watches through the window.

Her girlfriend's expression softens as she pulls Alice closer. "What were you thinking about?"

"How strange the world is," Alice answers. "How you and I are not meant to be, and yet here we are."

Meant to be. It's such a pretty phrase, but Alice knows it doesn't quite fit for them. They exist here in this moment, together and so sickeningly in love. And yet, they do not truly belong together. Alice isn't a fool. She knows exactly what sort of family Bellatrix comes from; the Blacks have undoubtedly found Bellatrix a suitable husband, and it's only a matter of time before Bellatrix has no choice but to do what's expected of her.

They are in love, but Alice knows it isn't a love they can share with the world. Some would call the love impure simply because two girls dare to love one another. Some will say it means nothing simply because they cannot produce an heir to carry on their bloodline. Still, others will never be able to see beyond the rivalry the two Houses maintain.

Even so, against all odds, Alice fell in love, and she doubts anything will ever change that.

"Here we are," Bellatrix echoes, and her words, that whispered confirmation, is so sweet that it makes Alice's heart flutter. "At least until you get bored with me."

Alice snorts, eyes rolling. "How could I ever get bored of the girl I love?" she asks, and she's almost offended Bellatrix would even suggest such a thing.

Bellatrix just grins, adjusting her position so that she leans in, amusement in her dark eyes. Her face lingers just inches from Alice's. "Come now. I've seen the way Longbottom looks at you," she teases, cackling. "He's like a lost little puppy dog."

"You're the worst," Alice groans, pulling away and waving a dismissive hand. "Frank is nice, but he's just a friend."

"Frank? On a first name basis with him now, hmm?"

"Bella…"

Bellatrix shrugs and reaches out, fingers curling around Alice's wrist and pulling her closer. "I'm only teasing you," she assures her. "But you know, you and I were friends once."

"We really weren't."

"Hmm… No, I suppose we weren't. We skipped a few steps to get to where we are."

Alice shakes her head. Truth be told, it's a miracle the two of them managed to fall in love at all. Luckily for them, Flitwick paired them together whenever Bellatrix was struggling, and the rest is history. Against all odds, love managed to bloom.

"I wouldn't change it for the world," Alice says with a content sigh, snuggling a little closer to the Slytherin, a smile on her lips.

Bellatrix tightens her grip around Alice, almost like she's afraid Alice will disappear. "Really? Is this really what you want?"

Maybe it isn't perfect. Alice suspects she will always find herself wishing she could kiss Bellatrix in public or hold her hand while watching a Quidditch match. Still, Bellatrix is in her life, and the circumstances don't really matter.

"I want you," Alice answers, and she means every word of it. "I want only you, however I can have you."

Bellatrix kisses her. "I love you, Alice Fortescue."

"And I love you more."