Sorry it's been ages and it might be a while till the next one but I try my best xx

The cold air tried relentlessly to whip the scarf from around her body, minute after minute she stood as the sun rose over the forest, watching the skies and winding her scarf back around her neck. Bellatrix had come up to the owlery for the past couple of mornings since she had sent the letter to her father, waiting to intercept the reply. She never got letters except on her birthday, when she would get a few blunt cards from various family, going from that to a letter every week or so might raise questions from her friends. Friends was an odd term for them, they would spend time together and make jokes, even meet in the holidays at their family's events and sneak out bottles of wine and fire whiskey. To trust them with her secrets and emotions however, would be naïve. They were the children of death eaters and had been raised as she had been, to be on top and show no weakness. Some more trusting than her had learnt this the hard way, like her sister she supposed. Just as she began to delve into that array of thoughts, a squawk from above gained her attention and a dark raven landed gently on her shoulder to drop a letter into her hands. It was only a few moments before she was gliding down the owlery stairs brushing ash from her hands, she was going to have to get planning quickly and very quietly.

Ron and Harry sat together and scribbled hard on parchment, waiting for the other to throw in the towel and suggest they go to breakfast, but neither did. The potions homework that was due wasn't impossible, it' just that no one had reminded them that it was due, because they hadn't spoken to Hermione in several days. Ron had tried in passing but seeing as he was usually with Harry, he went ignored by one friend and reprimanded by the other. His tired ink smothered hand and anxious stomach was the final straw, Harry and Hermione needed to make up soon. Harry's frustrated sigh caught his attention, it would have to wait he supposed, since Harry had quidditch practise later.

"right team, as you know our match against Slytherin is coming up and due to the… incident at the last game, we're going to be doing some team building exercises with Slytherin house" as soon as the Wood had completed his sentence the whole team groaned and Harry felt his stomach droop with shame, he had done this to his team. "Potter, you're with Black"

Harry opened his mouth to beg Wood to reconsider but before he had a chance wood threw him a beaters bat "and don't kick up a fuss because it wasn't my decision".

The bat was heavy in his hands and he chose to stare down at it rather than up at the approaching team, maybe Bellatrix would aim to get back at him and break his legs or something, at least he wouldn't feel so bad, and Hermione would see what she really like. The strangely hopeful thought made him look up at the body walking towards him.

"well Potter let's see how you try and maim me this time" Bellatrix rolled her eyes and swirled her beater bat in her hands.

The aim was to bat a ball between them without making it too difficult for one another. Harry started with a conservative whack, to which Bellatrix retorted to with a mighty swing that sent the ball flying past Harry. He scowled for a moment and then went to fetch the ball. If this is how she wanted to do things, then fine. He threw the ball up again and this time hit it hard, Bellatrix was ready for it though and crashed it back to him. Soon the sounds of the back and forth impacts had the attention of Wood.

"Potter, Black, I am under strict instructions that anyone not playing nice is getting banned from matches so for Merlin sake take it easy"

The two of stopped and looked at one another a little more calmly.

"fine" Bellatrix picked up the ball and tapped it to him and they started a gentle back and forth. "you Gryffindors sure do have short tempers" she jabbed.

"says you Black" Harry scowled and tried to focus on keeping the ball at a good speed.

"well sure I've put people in the hospital wing, but never with 6 fractures Potter" Bellatrix felt the usual flare or rage when she thought about the pain Potter had put her through, but she kept it relatively hidden.

"I…" Harry was flustered and ashamed "I never meant to hurt you" He stared hard at the ball in order to not meet her eyes "the thought of Hermione being hurt made me angry and well…it just takes over sometimes"

"that a pretty strange sounding apology Potter" So he says he didn't mean it, Bellatrix supposed she could understand the idea of an uncontrollable rage.

"I don't know what you're trying to do to Hermione and I'm not going to let you hurt her but, I wish I never did what I did" He could not bring himself to utter the word sorry, but he felt it would be enough for a girl like Bellatrix.

Bellatrix raised an eyebrow at Harry and struggled for an answer, she didn't imagine for a second that he would apologise. She just assumed that he hated her and had simply been waiting for the opportunity to show that. "well I think my several fractures would have agreed with you there, Potter" She smirked a little at him "But for the record, I'm not trying to hurt Hermione."

"So, after years of tormenting her you one day decide you like her?" Harry thought of all the pranks and comments that Bellatrix had thrown at Hermione over the years, the idea that she would change her tune so drastically just didn't make sense to him.

Bellatrix sighed "Well it's like you said, sometimes the anger just takes over… I guess I just misdirected it" Saying this to Potter made her cringe, but she knew it would take the truth to get someone like him off of her back.

Harry looked taken aback, the almost pained look on her face told him it was the truth. Everybody knew Bellatrix had issues with anger, but he hadn't really thought about it before, and as much as he hated the idea of it, they did have that in common. "well, it doesn't undo everything you did"

Shame flooded her cheeks "I know" she muttered.

They continued batting the ball to each other in silence until the exercise was over, and then they went their separate ways, Bellatrix brimming with a guilty feeling and Harry feeling conflicted.