Bellatrix trudged into the mansion, a mixture of depression and irritation settled deep into her abdomen. She'd been stood up every night since her discussion with Hermione. She snuck onto the school grounds just after ten and stayed until one before giving up and returning to her sister's home.

"How'd it go?" Alecto asked curiously.

She and Bellatrix held a respect for each other. Being the only women to bear the Dark Lord's mark, they interacted quite often. They weren't friends by any means, but Bellatrix knew how hard it could be; how the other Death Eaters looked down upon her – forced her to live in her brother's shadow.

Bellatrix said nothing and continued through the mansion to the library.

Narcissa was always tucked away in there at night, waiting for her return while enjoying the silence that came with hiding in that room. None of the Death Eaters ever trampled in there; most of them hadn't touched a book since they left Hogwarts.

The blonde woman was curled up in a chair near the fireplace, a book in her lap and concentration written into her features. Her fingers ran along the thin pages before leafing through it. It seemed as if she were looking for something that eluded her.

"Good evening, Bella," Narcissa greeted without taking her eyes away from the book.

Bellatrix slumped into a chair and tucked her legs beneath her. "What am I to do, Cissy? It's been four nights and she still hasn't shown up."

Narcissa continued combing through her book. "Well, you could give up, but I don't think the Dark Lord would be too thrilled with that idea." She set her book aside for a moment. "Try and write the girl a letter a day, see if she responds to any of them. If she does, try writing to her for a little while. Let her get to know you. Change up your plan a little."

Bellatrix gnawed her bottom lip thoughtfully before grinning. It was a brilliant plan. She'd have to check with her Lord, but she hoped it would work.

(Bellamione)

The Great Hall was alive with chatter. Whispers of a black panther sighting near the lake made its way through the tables, but most waved it off as nothing. Draco seemed tense, but no one paid him much attention.

Hermione was seated next to Harry, absently picking at her eggs. Ginny and Ron shared worried glances at the girl, but said nothing.

"Are you okay, Mione? You seem…off." Harry stared at her with pleading eyes, begging for a way to help his friend.

"Yeah, mate, you've seemed off since the Hogsmeade trip. What's wrong?" Ron added.

Hermione shook herself out of her thoughts. "I'm fine. I'm just thinking about our potions essay."

Ron's eyes widened comically and he frantically shoveled his food into his mouth before hurrying up from the table.

"Where are you going?" Harry questioned.

"I forgot about the essay and if I get another bad grade, Mum will kill me." His words were mumbled by the food and crumbs sprayed from his mouth. Hermione's nose scrunched in disgust.

Harry waited until Ron had left the hall before turning to Ginny. He raised his eyebrow, "And how did your mum find out about Ron's grades?"

Ginny smirked and took a healthy bite of her toast. "I don't know what you're implying. You're acting like I wrote Mum and told her that Ron was chasing girls and catching up on sleep in the library instead of doing his work."

Hermione nearly snorted her laughter, but channeled it into a cough. She shook her head and halfheartedly chided the redhead. She agreed that Molly needed to know of her son's study habits – or lack thereof – but she needed to act as though it was a bad idea for Ginny to have ratted her brother out.

Sipping her pumpkin juice, Hermione looked up in time to see an owl arriving with a letter clasped in its beak tightly. It was sleek and black with a single white spot on each wing. Its bright blue eyes seemed to stare holes into Hermione's body.

"Whose owl is that?" Harry asked, reaching for the letter.

It hopped away from the boy and shifted closer to Hermione, dropping the letter and a package next to Hermione's goblet.

"I don't know." She had an idea, but she was praying silently that she might be wrong.

She took hold of the letter and opened it, her eyes quickly skimming the page.

My dear smart witch,

I was quite disappointed to not see you at the lake. I've been every night this week, but you haven't. Normally, I'd be angry that someone wouldn't keep up their end of our bargain, but I realized that you still don't trust me. I understand that now, so I thought we could talk through letters for a little while – get to know each other. I'm not the heartless monster everyone assumes, you know. I do want to get to know the person surrounding the brain in your head. You're a brilliant person; you need someone you mustn't dumb down for.

The bird's name is Nox. He won't peck you, but might peck at others who try to intercept our letters (given that you wish to speak with me). He was a gift, and now I'm giving him to you. He likes toast and has been known to steal it when you aren't looking.

Hermione glanced up from the paper and laughed at the bird as he pecked at her breakfast. He was a peculiar little bird, but he was already growing on her a little. He hopped about the table, pecking at Harry's bread after he'd pecked off what he wanted from Hermione's toast. He attempted to push the bird away, but nearly fell over when the bird went for his finger. Ginny wouldn't stop giggling.

In the package is a container of ink. It's been magically sealed. It shouldn't be too hard to remove, especially with your penchant for all things magical. It was also enchanted so that no one other than you or me can read the letters, in the event something or someone gets to the letter before the one it was intended for, does.

I hope that you decide to write back. I would like to get to know you better, Hermione. However, if you decide you don't wish to have any contact with me, just send back the inkwell and I will understand.

Yours truly,

The Black Panther.

Hermione closed the letter and slipped it into her robes.

"So who was the letter from, Mione?" Ginny asked, passing Nox her toast and letting him peck until he was full before he flew away to the owlery.

Grabbing hold of her package, she set it beside her plate and continued eating. "Just Viktor asking how things are going this year. I'll answer him this evening, after classes are over."

Ginny snickered and started up a conversation with Sheamus, who was glaring daggers at Harry, but was more than happy to converse with the redhead.

Hermione glanced over her shoulder and locked eyes with Draco. He was staring – not glaring – at her, his face drawn into its usual downcast expression, but there was something in his eyes that didn't make sense.

(Bellamione)

After dinner, Hermione sat in the common room, the inkwell set neatly beside the paper. She'd unsealed it quite swiftly and hadn't done anything with it since. She just gazed blankly at the paper. Nothing, not even a greeting, was etched onto it.

The common room was quiet, except for the sound of Ron and Dean playing wizard's chess in the corner. Most of the students were tucked away in their dorms or wandering the halls before curfew. The fire was crackling, though it was slowly dying out.

Black Panther,

I have decided to…