Three cheers for second chapter! Huzzah!

Chapter 2: Of Cobras and Felines
The night was cold and dark. Bellatrix hugged her thick trench coat against her, the fur brushed against her face from the blistering wind.

Her breath was shallow, making the breath smoke and curl faster from the cold. She sniffed and rubbed her nose.

The London streets where close to empty tonight.

She looked around the streets to make sure she was along before turning into a nearly pitch black alley.

Bellatrix walked quickly through the alley, arriving on the other side feeling neither flustered or nervous from the dark.

She looked around once again before stepping up a couple steps to a doorway. She took one more close look behind her before walking through the doorway effortlessly.

"You're late," said a voice from the corner of the dimly lit room.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "At least I'm here," she said hardly, taking off her coat and hanging it on the wall. She sat down on the sofa lazily.

"How is the mission?"

"Lucius, it's always the mission with you. Don't you ever think of anything else?"

Lucius turned around from where he stood and walked into the candlelight. His icy eyes burned dangerously. "That's not something you should be saying when the Dark Lord is so near."

Bella nodded seriously. "True. And as far as the mission is going, it's all systems go."

A sneer peeled onto Lucius's lips, obviously pleased. "Good. I want him dead by tomorrow."

Bellatrix froze. "Tomorrow? Isn't that a little soon?" She looked at him confused, many emotions crossed over er face.

"No later Bella. You know how the Dark Lord likes his jobs done. And you know his rewards."

Bellatrix stared, looking slightly puzzled. She looked up at Lucius. "But tomorrow?"

Lucius stared intensely. "I want him killed. You know everything will run smoothly without him."

"Yeah," said Bellatrix distantly. "But I still don't see how me killing him is crucial."

Lucius shook his head. "You know clearly why. He has disobeyed the Dark Lord. We don't know anything about him anymore. If we left him alive, it would be risking our plan."

Bella sighed. "Fine," she said nodded shortly. "Tomorrow night."

Lucius grinned as Bella stood up and got her coat. She quickly lef tth eroom without a goodbye.

"Excellent," he whispered.

The unusual amount of people knocking on his door had put Severus in a foul mood. He sighed and took in a deep breath. Putting down a shockingly long parchment, he stood up and answered the door.

Bella walked inside the room, her cheeks red and raw from the wind. She took off her coat and hung it on the wall. She then sat down on the sofa like visiting was a daily occurrence.

Severus stared for a moment before sighing and taking a seat next to her.

"Dreadful weather isn't it?" asked Bellatrix conjuring up a couple glasses of hot apple cider. She put hers down on the side table and handed the other one to Severus. Their hands touched when he grasped the glass. Bellatrix looked up at him with deep, black eyes as Severus stared back distantly. She let go of his glass quickly and fumbled with her own.

"It's rather cold for mid-fall," observed Severus swishing the liquid in his cup around. He looked around his room for a moment before looking at Bellatrix. "How about a fire?"

Bellatrix nodded gratefully, cradling the cup with gentle hands.

Severus took out his wand and pointed it at a bookshelf. The bookshelf slid to the side exposing a fireplace that was hidden behind it. He swished his wand a second time, and the wood in the fireplace erupted into smoking flame. The heat curled around Severus's face snake-like, embracing him in warmth.

"Severus," started Bella a bit hesitantly. "Have you ever really, had feelings for someone in your life?"

Snape stared at the ground for a moment before looking up at her. "Many times, Bella."

Bella nodded, taking a sip of apple cider. "Whom?"

Severus stared into the distance, his black eyes glazed over in thought. His chest rose up and down with sycronized beat as his surroundings turned into a mauve haze, blended together in a dull and gray darkness.

Many times, Bella.

Snape closed his eyes and looked at her, the dark pools of light that were his eyes never left hers as he put one of his knobby, elegant hands on top of her own delicate ones.

"A woman who I thought was beautiful the very first second I met her."

Bellatrix's eyes widened slightly before returning to their original heavy lidded level. She looked down at their hands, warm blood rushing through her body, before looking back up at him. Slowly, she began to lean towards him.

Snape kissed her deeply his hand that was originaly on her hands wrapped around her neck to deepen the kiss. Her lips tasted like sweet wine.

Bellatrix looked up at him as she cut off the kiss. "My heart feels the same way for you," she whispered in his ear quietly, she looked back at him and smiled weakly.

Severus cracked a small smile before wrapping her up in his arms, and kissing her sweetly again. Their surroundings were forgotten around them as they held each other tightly. The fire crackled and popped until it slowly died into a glowing ember.

The ring of a nearby clock pulled them out of their kisses. Severus quickly let her go and glanced up at the clock.

12:00 am

Bellatrix also gazed at the time. She looked at Severus with a weak smile. "It's late," she said standing up and dissipating her now cold apple cider. "I best get going." She turned towards the door, and went to get her cloak.

Warm hands wrapped around her hips and stopped her from her walk to the door. "Please stay," whispered a silky voice into her ear.

She turned around to meet Severus's eyes. His hands were still fastened tightly to her hips. "Are you sure?"

Severus nodded, looking down at her from his hooked nose. His raven hair fell elegantly around his face as he nodded. "Positive."

Bellatrix took a sharp inhale before nodding as well. "I would love to."

Severus took her hands and led her to another door. He stroked her hand as he opened the door and led her to the bed.

Bellatrix looked at Severus's back nervously. It wouldn't be long now. And then, the mission would be complete.

Hmmmm. I didn't want to change the rating. So, this is all you get. Hahaha. And a cliffhanger! I'm known for those too. Heehee.

Replies:

Silver-star-0: why yes…it is quite interesting. It took me a day to think of the plot. In Guardian of Animals, it took me life half an hour. And yet this one is only three chapters long. hahaha.

Maddevillechilde: thanks! It is pretty interesting isn't it?