It was about 1am and Bella hadn't seen Hermione since the previous night, which had consisted of nothing much other than kissing. She felt a strong urge to see Hermione again, to hold her, to kiss her, just to be with her. She recognized these feeling, this was how she had felt about Lucy. Bellatrix wasn't one to fall in love easily, she actually resented falling in love, because in her experiences it had only ended in heart break… but when she did fall, she fell hard; much to her despise.

She was eager to get out of the Slytherin dungeons and up to the 5th floor bathroom where Hermione was presumably waiting, but Narcissa and that blonde kid, Malfoy were in the common room talking – it was clear Cissa had a bit of a thing for him. In the end Bella just walked out the door, and when her sister had asked where she was going she just replied 'out'.

It was a good 10 minute walk to the bathrooms, Bella was surprised she hadn't been caught out of bed during her frequent night time walks. As she had predicted – Hermione was indeed waiting in the bathroom. She stood up and walked over to the Raven haired Slytherin.

"Bella, we need to-" Hermione was cut off by Bella's slender finger on her lips, before she covered her lips with her own. Bella pushed Hermione up against the closest wall and deepened the kiss. Hermione felt her knees go weak and as much as she wanted to continue the kiss she knew she couldn't, she had to talk to Bella.

She pulled back from the passionate kiss and caressed Bella's cheek, "We need to talk."

Bella sighed and sat down, pulling Hermione down with her.

"Bella I like you – I really do…"

"But?"

"But this – us – could get complicated."

"Why? Why does it have to?"

"Because it's me and I'm complicated." It wasn't entirely false, she was complicated; she just left out the part about being from the future and all of that.

"You're going to have to do better than that." She scoffed.

Hermione sighed, "Besides, I'm a muggle-born and if your parents ever found out… well you know what happened to your sister."

"So? Why can't we just be? That's all; just be. Who cares about parent and 'complications'?" Hermione didn't expect Bella to push the subject; she had just expected her to accept what Hermione was saying and walk away, perhaps even hex her for being muggle born, but she didn't. Perhaps Bella actually did care about her; perhaps the kiss actually meant something.

"Hermione?"

Hermione sighed, "Okay."

"Okay? As in okay? As in who cares about everything else? As in let's just do this, despite everything?"

"What do you mean by 'this'?"

"I mean us, together, as a couple."

"Okay, let's do this." Hermione said; what was she getting herself into? Entering into a relationship with Bellatrix Black, this was most certainly changing the past in one way or another. It couldn't end well, could it?

Bella smiled, not the usual smirk she does, a genuine smile – it was strange, but oh so beautiful. She slowly interlocked her fingers with the Hermione's. Hermione smiled back, she knew that she was getting into something risky – very risky, but perhaps it would be worth it, perhaps it wouldn't end badly… she couldn't see how it wouldn't, but just maybe there was hope... maybe.

They rested their foreheads together, before Bella placed light kisses on Hermione's neck, working her way up to her lips.

Hermione woke the next day with a smile on her face; a smile she knew probably shouldn't be there, because she was doing something ridiculously stupid, but never the less, it was there.

It was only when she got dressed and went down to the great hall, she realized how tired she was – she and Bella had stayed up all night talking. They had talked about where they would run to if they could – Bella said to somewhere with snow, somewhere like Alaska and Hermione had said to somewhere with sun, like Hawaii.

Hermione got to see another side of Bella; it was almost peaceful and sweet. Of course she had still retorted with witty, sarcastic comments or snapped when Hermione had asked the wrong question.

Hermione sat down amongst the other Ravenclaws eating breakfast – she did enjoy being with the Ravenclaws – they were all so interesting and knowledgeable, she could always strike up an interesting conversation with someone – but it was still weird not being at the Gryffindor table with her friends, she missed them deeply.

She yawned as poured some juice, "You tired, 'Mione?" Ron asked with his mouth full.

"Very," She said with a yawn, "Oh and you need to learn some table manners." She said with a slight smile, earning a chuckle from the people around her.

After breakfast Hermione headed up to the deserted common room because she had a free period. She sat down at a table and start to tackle her potions essay. With in 15 minutes had only written the introduction, before she was interrupted by someone taping her on the shoulder. It was Andromeda.

"Andy, hi." Hermione smiled, "How are you?" She didn't look too good; bags under her eyes, pale face, messy hair and tear streaked cheeks.

"Been better."

Hermione smiled at her sadly and nodded her head, "Do you want to sit down?" She gestured to the spare seat next to her. She sat sound, "What's wrong?"

"I know you know, Hermione." Hermione furrowed her brow, "I know that Bella told you what was going on." Hermione swallowed hard, did this mean that Andromeda knew about her and Bella? "And I know about you and Bella... she told me." She said, as if she could tell what Hermione was thinking.

"Oh." Was all she could say.

"But don't worry - your secret's safe with me." She smiled.

"Thanks." Hermione smiled back.

"Just be careful, okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"Bella is... she is a complicated person, she has baggage... I don't want to see either or you get hurt." She said; Hermione could hear a slightly warning tone in her voice.

"I don't want to hurt her, I will try my best not to, I will do anything to make sure I don't." Hermione assured her. What she had said wasn't a lie, but Hermione knew she would probably end up hurting Bella, despite the fact she didn't want to.

"Good." She said, "She likes you a lot. I just never thought I'd see the day when Bellatrix would be dating a muggle-born... No offense intended, after all I am in love with a muggle-born." She smiled. Hermione smiled back. "Before I forget; this is for you." She handed her a piece of folded parchment, "It's from Bella - apparently I'm an owl for her now." She chuckled, Hermione smiled.

As Andy got up to leave Hermione said, "Andy, if you ever want to talk or anything, you know where to find me... It must be very hard, what you're going through."

Andy nodded, "Thanks, I appreciate it." She walked up to her dorm.

Hermione quickly scanned the room ensuring it was empty and no one had heard their conversation - she was safe. She carefully unfolded the parchment, it read;

Hermione,

Meet me at the Lake (the Forbidden Forrest side) at 12pm sharp tonight.

-Bella xx