Several minutes passed by in silence after Rabastan left.

Several minutes of Bellatrix and Severus glaring at each other. Severus had once been head over heals for the woman, who had once been a girl, standing before him. He'd snogged her, slept with her. Only to have it all snatched away and thrown back in his face. She'd lied to him. Told him that he did mean something, only to go and crawl in bed with someone else.

Rodolphus.

Lucius.

Anyone but him.

They had supposedly made up the last time he'd spoken to her, but it had all been lies. And he still hated her for it.

The silence was strained, but Severus wasn't going to be the one to break it.

Bellatrix's stare was cold, uncaring, and he could only hope that his radiated the same dislike.

Severus noticed that she hadn't changed much since Hogwarts, and that was some twenty-some-odd-years ago. Of course, Azkaban has left it's mark, diminishing her once flaming beauty to a semi-lit fire. She did look older, but so did Severus. Bellatrix hadn't aged, she'd matured. She was no longer the Head Girl, quidditch player, and seventeen year old vixen she had been. Instead, she was a thirty-six year old murderer, Death Eater, and widow.

Snape still had his greasy black hair, hooked nose, and cold black eyes. He was still cold and indifferent. Still an all out asshole, but extremely loyal. He proved himself time and time again to the Dark Lord, only to be given the smallest pat on the back, and then have Bellatrix Lestrange shoved off on him.

"What?"

Severus jumped. He'd come to lean against his desk again and had been letting his eyes roam over Bellatrix.

He looked at her, confused.

"What are you staring at?" She demanded.

"I think you could figure that out of your own." His cold eyes were boring into hers, daring her to say something back. He didn't want her here.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

Snape shook his head at her. "Honestly. Do you feel the need to play games? You're perfectly aware of what it means." He pushed himself away from his desk, crossing the low-ceilinged room and heading for the door. He didn't desire being cooped up in the same room with Bellatrix.

Severus reached out for the doorknob. Just as he was about to touch it, he was suddenly brought down on his ass. He landed on the floor, legs sprawled out in front of him before quickly scrambling up to his feet. Severus spun around to see Bellatrix with her wand held out.

"You bitch!" He hissed. He'd offered her his home, maybe not that willingly, but she was staying her. He had to put up with her ass and had agreed to it. And this was how she was going to repay him?

If Bellatrix wanted a fight, she'd get one.

Severus pointed his wand straight at her and flicked it. A jet of red sparks shot straight for Bellatrix, but to Snape's displeasure, she blocked the curse and sent it straight back at him.

He hadn't reacted fast enough and was slammed into the wall. Straightening himself up, Severus touched a hand to his head. Blood was pouring from the spot where his head had smacked against the wall.

"You want to play dirty Bellatrix? Have it your way then." He pointed his wand at her again.

"Crucio!" You couldn't block an unforgivable curse. Bellatrix fell to the floor, writhing in pain.

Her body contorted into shapes that it wasn't supposed to be able to bend into and her eyes were shut tight.

Severus watched her go on like this for minutes, wand still poised and doing damage.

Why wasn't she screaming?

"What, Bella? Too proud to scream? Or am I not hurting you enough?" He knew it was the first.

She was far too proud to scream. After several more minutes of watching her writhe in pain, hoping that she'd crack, Severus lifted the curse.

Her body went limp. Severus walked over to her, kneeling down and bending over her. His hand cupped her face and he turned her to look at him.

"I can beat you Bellatrix. I'm not the stupid little school boy that followed you around like a lost puppy. I can beat you and don't you ever forget it."

Her eyes were locked with his. Still a fighter. She refused to be the submissive one. Just like in school.

She could beat anyone at anything.

But Severus Snape had just caught her off-guard. For, back in school he hadn't been the type to use an unforgivable on anyone. No, throwing unforgivables left and right had bee what Bellatrix and Lucius had done. Too everyone and to each other.

"You're in my house, Bellatrix, and you're going to play by my rules."

"Or really? I am?" She was gasping for the breath she had lost during the curse, but Severus could still tell she was angry.

And before he had time to react Bellatrix had rolled over and successfully kneed him in the groin.

His wand fell to the floor and Severus bent over, clutching at his stomach.

He was now the one gasping for breath and through all the coughing and sputtering he managed to speak.

"Bitch."