AN: I'm sorry, I kept you waiting so long, but I was a bit stressed during the last weeks. Well, I made the upload again without the help of a beta-reader, simply because I still haven't had the time do put a structure into my story. As soon as I find the time for that, I will sand this to a beta. Forgive me for this chap in my humble excuse for English ;-)

Chapter 4 – The Animal within

As she came back nearly four hours later, she found Harry in their room.

She froze amidst the step, as she saw, that he was sitting in a lotus position on the floor surrounded by five candles.

After the grade the candles were burnt down already he had to have been for at least three hours in this state.

She sat quietly down on the bed and watched him intently. Opposed to all she knew about this boy before, he was now sitting upright in a determined and confident way. The position was perfectly achieved from what she knew. She saw, that his eyes were moving in a constant way.

His breathing was slow and regular. It came deep down from his stomach and seemed to be intensive.

She tried to remember how you could find out your form. There were some different ways to achieve that. Of course at first you would have to find out if you have the ability in the first place and that contained a complex potion which only masters could brew. Another potion was also one of the ways to find out your form, but this has to be freshly brewed and that was a long process as well. Another way was a personality test and dream journals. An even longer and harder way. She tried to remember if meditation was a way.

She needed a while before she could remember. Only the strongest wizards with a well organised mind and powerful determination could find their inner animal this way. But if they achieved it that way, it would be the fastest way to achieve the actual transformation. If the trance was deep enough you could learn anything you need about your inner animal and could instantly move forward to the practical part. As far as she knew no wizard or witch had achieved it with the meditation in the last two centuries.

He was smiling as he opened his eyes and with a flick of his wand and again no incantation the candles extinguished and disappeared.

"Hello Bella. You are back to black." he stated, "Do me a favour and stand up." he said without moving from his position.

Curiously she followed his wish.

"Turn around!"

She did that too and nearly felt how his intense green eyes were wandering over her body.

He on the other hand took in her new clothes. She wore black and narrow jeans that were low cut on her hip. She wore a silver chain instead of a common belt. Her belly was uncovered and above hat she wore a black stretch-top with short arms. On it was a blood red rose printed directly above her breasts.

Her silky hair swayed lightly as she turned around.

The narrow jeans emphasized her long legs and her crisp butt.

Her black top did the same for her other womanly features.

Harry whistled with a devious grin, "What are you, Bella? A gothic femme fatale or a seductive sex goddess?"

She grinned happily, "Thank you. I take it you like what you see. Maybe you will sleep sometimes together with me in my bed." She teased him.

Without changing his nice expression he said, "Maybe."

"Now, I guess you were looking for your form. Where did you get the potion?"

"What potion?" he asked.

"The potion which determines if you have the ability."

"Ah that potion. I didn't use it." he said smirking.

"What? Why not?" she asked irritated.

"Why should I? My dad was an animagus and everybody goes on about how much I am like him. Everybody keeps telling me how powerful I am. I didn't bother."

"But…"

"No but. I do believe, that anything is possible with magic. You only need two things, enough determination to reach your goal and enough power. I was thinking a lot for the last weeks, a lot over my last years in the magical world. I tried to watch my actions and achievements objectively from a third person view. I came to the closure, that I am indeed somewhat powerful. Take the Dementors for instance! I was able to cast a corporeal Patronus with thirteen. One, that was powerful enough to chase away hundred of the foul creatures. I was able to withstand an Imperius of the dark lord himself with fourteen. I deemed that enough for me to become an animagus."

"I see. I know it is not very probable but did you find your form?"

"Not only that." he answered solemnly and was finally getting up.

"What do you mean?"

"I did not only find my form but I did learn all about it I need to know as well." he stated.

"Impossible." she gasped.

"As I said, nothing is impossible. All teachers told me it is impossible to block the killing curse. If it had been, I wouldn't stand here."

"Alright. I don't argue with you about that. Spill it!"

"No, you first." he said grinning.

"I am a black eagle owl."

Harry nodded thoughtfully, "Studious and vicious. It is fitting for you but I didn't know you like flying."

"I had not often the chance to but I do."

"I like that. We could do this together, Bella." He said smiling.

"Now to you."

"How about you take a few guesses? All wizards think they know me and you are included. Show me, what you know about me!" he asked her.

She became thoughtful.

"You like flying and you are a very good flyer as far as the intelligence of the dark lord says. I think you are a flying animal too. You are very powerful as you said. I mean, nobody found out his form the way you did for the last two centuries. They simply hadn't the power and you did it with the first try. You are brave, noble, courageous and righteous. You are a true Gryffindor. I would say you are a lion but they can't fly. If it would be possible to become a magical animal, you could be a griffin. But it isn't. So, how did I fare?" she asked sure of herself.

"Totally wrong except the first fact." he said with a slightly disappointed voice.

"You too judge me without knowing me as all the others do. How fits the evening of your rescue in that image? I killed and I tortured."

She nodded thoughtfully, "It doesn't fit very well. That was malicious and vicious, not treats of Gryffindor or a lion. Harry, I agree with you. I did judge you without knowing you. Please, tell me where I was wrong. I want to know the real you." She asked seriously.

"Well I like flying, it is the only time when I feel truly free. It is as if I left all burdens on the ground."

She smiled kindly at this.

"I am powerful, we covered that already. But I am not brave, I was simply foolish and stormed ahead without a plan in the past. But I won't do that anymore. I do, what I have to, but in the past I was more foolish than brave. I still am in some ways noble, but I am not against my enemies, at least not anymore. While I would never hurt an innocent, I have no more hesitation to kill or even torture my enemies. That was also in the past. I am also no Gryffindor, Bella. That hat wanted to place me in Slytherin. I convinced him otherwise."

"But why?"

"Because I think I was manipulated. First I met Ron, who is a Gryffindor. Second I met Hagrid who told me that all the bad wizards came from Slytherin which isn't true by the way. Third I met Malfoy who insulted my first friend. After that I decided that I didn't want do be in Slytherin. Now I agree with the hat. I would have done well in the Snake house and would probably be more ready to fight than I am now. I can be cunning if I need to and now it is time for that. I am now vicious and malicious against my enemies and they all will feel my anger and my revenge, but I am still protecting of my true friends and family. And you were wrong in the last place. Nothing is impossible."

"What? Don't tell me…"

"I AM a magical animal." he interrupted her coolly, without gloating. It was only another fact for him.

"Ok, you win. Tell me, please!" she begged now fully intrigued with the young wizard in front of her.

"What do you know of wyvern, Bella?" he asked with a devious glint in his eyes.

"A WYVERN?" she yelled.

He nodded.

"Wow. If we hadn't known before, that you are truly powerful, we do it now. Let's see. They are related to dragons. They are nearly as resistant as them, more malicious while or because they are far smaller. They are nevertheless nearly as dangerous. They reach a height of up to two metres and a length from head to tail end up to four metres. Their span width can go up to six metres. There are different kinds of them. Every kind can start another magical attack. The most common is fire breathing. Some breath ice, acid or in rarer cases even lightning."

"Well, I was ever somewhat special I would say."

"Lightning then?" she asked floored.

He only nodded, "And I am in such a dark grey, that it is nearly black. Besides the magical attack you forgot their dangerous mouth with it's large teeth and their extremely sharp claws. I think the tail of it is also very dangerous because it is pointed and looked armoured to me. They are also faster and agiler flyers than dragons. I for my part can hardly wait to try it." He said and rubbed his hands together.

"And I am not sure if I even want to be near you, if you change for the first time." She shuddered, "Well, then lets eat something and then let the fun begin!"

After that and until the time of his birthday, they trained nearly the whole day from early in the morning until late in the night.

They were still nothing more than friends, maybe not even that.

She still thought too often as foolish boy of him and told him so. He was either insulted and hurt because of that or enraged and he showed her with no hesitation that to enrage him was not a good idea. One time, as she taunted him about it, he even showed her how well he was able to cast a Cruciatus now. After that incident her respect of him grew and her taunting deceased nearly instantly. He on the other hand wanted nothing more, than to gain her respect. He didn't even know why that was so important to him, but that's the way things were. He didn't give it much thought. But he did learn and put much effort in his training to please her but that seemed to be impossible. He didn't know that she did respect him and simply still hadn't found his boundaries. So she pushed him farther and farther until exhaustion.

Slowly her view of him changed form that of a boy to that of a merciless but righteous young man. He was powerful and that was something she adored. She found him also sexy despite his age and if he returned that feeling, that was ok with her. So she did tease him more then once a day with his shyness and made him blush. But form time to time he did it with her too and they get better along as his birthday came nearer.

Mostly she liked the feeling of security around him. Despite countless and loud rows and fights they had, he let her feel that he cared for her. He brushed her hair every morning and that was her favourite time of the day. For the first time in her life, she felt like an adored woman, not like a bitch who is there to please her husband in any way possible.

So his birthday arrived at last. She had thought long about a present for him but she could only come up with one and she wasn't sure that it would go well for both of them. She wanted to give him the same feeling of care that he gave her and she knew only one way.

She sighed, as she got up for the day.

Harry was awaiting her already with breakfast.

"Happy birthday." She nearly squealed and hugged the surprised boy fiercely.

"Thank you." He stammered blushing.

"What have you planned for you special day?" she asked excitedly.

He cleared his throat and fixed her with a serious stare.

"Today, I have to know if you trust me with your life."

She was taken aback by this question.

"I… I do trust you, Harry… what do you mean with my life?"

"Well, better I explain something to you. I have been in contact with attorneys since my first visit in Diagon Alley this summer."

"What? Why?" she got an uneasy feeling in her stomach.

"Because I intend to make that not a special day for me but for you. You told me, that they don't have anything against you, what you would agree with under veritasserum. The lawyers looked carefully through all charges against you and they are fairly sure, that they would win if you would agree to show up to a trial and make a statement under the serum."

"What…?" she was once again floored by this boy.

"When would it be?"

"Today at one in the afternoon. I arranged a lunch with them so you could go through the charges to see if there is any concern."

She looked frightened, ready to jump up and run.

He laid his hand on hers and pressed is reassuringly.

"You are not alone in this, Bella. I will be with you all the time and if worst is to come, we will flee. I have two special portkeys charmed for emergency. I will hold them while you are checked for any magical item and give one to you before the trial begins."

"You have given this much thought, haven't you? And since when you can make portkeys?"

"For 5 days. I did independent studies, Bella. And yes, I have thought about it since you came here."

"Wow… It would nice to be free… but… are you sure?" she asked hopefully.

He nodded.

After some seconds her eyes widened and she gasped "You would be with me? You will be recognized!"
"No, I won't. I will be disguised as one of the assistants of Webster&Webster, a squib boy with brown hair, brown eyes, no scar, no glasses… you get the picture."

"I don't know, what to say, Harry."

"Yes or no are your options." He replied with a sincere smile.

"I trust you, Harry. If you say, there is a chance, I am going to use it. But… won't the dark lord know about it?"

"No. They only know in the ministry that there is a trial not about whom. The only one who knows is the judge… Madam Bones."

"They are going to be surprised."

"Yeah. That alone is worth it. I want to see the look in Dumbledores eyes." Harry said with a malicious grin.

So she agreed.

It was one in the afternoon as the judge announced the next trial.

"The ministry against Bellatrix Black formerly Lestrange."

Absolute silence reigned the great court of the Wizardgamot as the door opened and four people flanked by two aurors walked in.

There she was, one of the most wanted witches in Europe. The black haired woman held her head high and confident and she glared viciously at the gathered crowd.

Behind her were the two aurors and behind them were two elderly looking men and a teenager who seemed to be in awe at the gathered crowd around them. He carried some papers with shaking hands and nervous eyes.

Nobody knew that his hairs were coloured with muggle means or that he had coloured contacts in his eyes.

Nobody knew, that he was inwardly absolutely calm and collected as he sat down between the wanted Deatheater and the well known lawyers and handed them the files.

Madam Bones, the judge spoke again.

"Miss Black has surrendered herself to the ministry today on her own free will. She claims that she has been under a magical binding marriage contract against her will with the now dead Rudolphus Lestrange. She will make a statement under the influence of veritasserum also on her own free will. Because she is voluntary here, I grant the right to question her regarding the charges to her lawyers, Mr. and Mr. Webster. Nobody else is allowed to ask her questions as long as she is under the influence of the veritasserum. The lawyers will address all the charges against Ms. Black."

Murmurs ran throughout the hall but were instantly stopped by Madam Bones.

"Is the Wizardgamot alright with that?"

She received a positive vote and went on. The serum was administered by an auror and Mr. Webster began the interrogation.

"State your name!"

"Bellatrix Stella Black." she answered in a monotone voice.

"Did you marry Rudolphus Lestrange on your own will?"

"No. I was forced by my aunt."

"You are charged for torturing the Longbottoms to insanity. Did you cast any pain curse on them?"

"No."

The crowd gasped and yelled but Madam Bones put simply a silencing charm up.

"Thank you Madam Bones. Miss Black, why didn't you help them?" the lawyer continued.
"I couldn't disobey him or hurt him in any way."

"I understand. You are here for murder on MacArthur. Did you commit that crime?"

"No."

So the questions continued for nearly an hour.

"The last charge is the murder of Sirius Black. Did you kill him intentionally?"

"No."

"Did you kill him at all?"

"I caused his death."

"How?"

"I fired a stunner at him while duelling him in the chamber of death. He was hit and hurled through the veil of death."

"So it was an accident?"

"Yes."

"Why did you duel him if he was a Deatheater?"

"He wasn't."

Again the crowd gasped and this time the Wizardgamot as well.

"Explain!"

"He was framed by Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew is an animagus with a rat form. He accused my cousin of betraying the Potters. In truth he has been the secret keeper and he betrayed them to the dark lord. After that he cut a finger off and cast an exploding hex with his wand behind his back. He changed to his rat form and escaped through the sewers. He was the one who brought the dark lord back over two years ago. He is still alive and in the inner circle of the dark lord."

"Are there any other people in the inner circle?"

"Yes, Lucius Malfoy, Theodore Nott, …" she called all the names except Snape because he wasn't quite in the inner circle.

"Now that you are free, do you support the dark lord in any way?"

"No. I hate him and all his followers!" she said truthfully.

"Thank you." With that the anti-serum was administered.

Madam Bones took over, "I have no further questions, Miss Black. An interrogation under veritasserum is not to be questioned." She stated and shoot a glance to the enraged minister of magic.

"I ask the Wizardgamot to come to a verdict."

She received the answer minutes later and read it to the audience.

"Miss Black is freed of all charges. She has to get a compensation for her wrongful imprisonment in Azkaban. As the last true Black besides of the head of the house, she has the right to live in the family home."

Dumbledore gasped at this while Bella and Harry smirked evilly. That much for the secret headquarters.

"I add to that decision." she continued, "I declare Sirius Black posthum innocent. He or in this case his heir has to receive a compensation as well. It is to be divided evenly between Miss Black and the head of the house. The case is closed! A statement has to be printed in the press regarding your innocence, Miss Black."

"Thank you." she said visibly shaken.

She wanted nothing more, than to jump up and hug her new friend silly but she was well aware that this would compromise his security.

Dumbledore cleared his throat, "Madam Bones?"

"Yes, Mr. Dumbledore?"

"Could you tell me, who the new head of the house Black is?"

"No, that is not allowed to me. You will have to ask a Black for that information and I don't know if Miss Black is informed about that because she wouldn't have much chances to get in contact with him."
"Miss Black, may I ask you?" the old wizard turned to her.

She grinned evilly, "You may ask but you won't get an answer. I know very well who is the new head of my family and I know very well who is responsible for the whole mess in the Department of the ministry in the first place. I think it is too much fun to see, if you can find out that little bit of information."

With that she stood up and followed her lawyers out of the courtroom while many pictures of her were taken and with every picture her anger rose.

As one of the reporters asked her, "Miss Black! What do you do now? Have you a new lover?" she snapped and grabbed her on her throat.

"Leave me alone you bitch! If you ever come near me again, I will show you why I was one of the most feared Deatheaters! I may have a lover but I wouldn't tell anyone about that! Now run or I show you the meaning of pain!"

A white witch stormed out of the hall. After that, they were left alone and Harry whispered, "I should have known that kind of answer ages ago."

She snickered as they got finally out of the building and she had her wand back.

"Thank you, Mr. and Mr. Webster." she said sincerely.

"Yeah, thanks." Harry added, "Your charges will be transferred as we agreed in this moment."

Both nodded and disapparated.

"What cha…" she asked realising the costs of such a well known firm. But Harry disapparated with a smirk as well.

He waited nearly a minute for her arrival in his bedroom.

As soon as he heard the crack he found himself in a fierce hug and even before he could respond in any way, he felt soft lips on his.

He froze startled to the bone and needed nearly a half minute to recover. But then he felt the kiss igniting his feelings and slowly he began to kiss her back. Finally he closed his arms around her and hugged her gently back.

She broke away after another minute and grinned at his blushing face.

"You did truly deserve that kiss." she said happily but now she froze as she saw his face changing from bliss to indifference. But she had become to know him and saw that he was not indifferent but slightly hurt… at least.

"What? Didn't you like it?" she teased him.

She became concerned as she saw that this comment only deepened his hurt.

"Yes, I did." He admitted, "But, please, don't do it again. I don't want to be kissed in that way, if there are no feelings behind it." he added quietly and turned away.

Her eyes widened in realisation. He had feelings for her! And she had hurt him, with her meaningless comments degrading the kiss to some kind of payment for his helping.

But what brought her to kiss him in the first place? She asked herself. What did she feel for him? She cursed inwardly. Like him she never learned the true meaning of love.

But she knew for sure, that she didn't want to hurt him.

Thank you all for your reviews so far, please keep it up. I enjoy it to read them very much.

patwas-potter: It will take some time until bumblebee will become involved. I don't really think, lil Harry will be back for his sixth year ;-)

Avalynn Black: Ich habe es schon mal zu Warlock gesagt... ich werde keine meiner Stories übersetzen. Ich liebe es zu schreiben, aber ich denke nicht mal im Traum dran, eine Story zweimal zu schreiben... und das wäre es. Dazu spuken mir viel zu viele neue Ideen im Kopf herum und ich habe eh schon keine Zeit für all meine Ideen. Dennoch... da ist eine kleine Chance, dass dein Wunsch erfüllt wird, denn es hat sich jemand bereit erklärt, die Story zu übersetzen und ich stehe ihr sicher mit Rat und Tat zur Seite. Das Problem ist nur, sie hat auch nicht so viel Zeit, so kannst du davon ausgehen, dass das ne Weile dauert. Aber gib die Hoffnung nicht auf!

Well, I keep this answering to reviews short for now... because so you can read this chap earlier and I have like always not enough time ;-)