After the Dawn

Chapter 5

Once again Harry Potter found himself at the door of Bellatrix Lestrange's cell. And once again he didn't know why.

Why did her dark eyes haunt him as he lay awake at night? Why did he fantasize about those eyes… looking up at him as her body writhed under his? And why did he keep coming back... even though he knew damn well he should stay away from her?

He paused at the door, his hand freezing an inch from the bolts that secured it. His desire to see her again battled with his knowledge that it was a bad idea. Last time he had been inches away from kissing her.

A curious mixture of anticipation and dread came over him as he undid the bolts and slid the door open.

Dread and anticipation turned to shock. There was no-one there.

It was definitely the right cell. He could see furniture… half eaten food… and several piles of clothes. But no Bella.

She couldn't have got out… it had still been locked… and she had no wand.

He jumped as a husky purr of a voice behind him said "Hello there."

A frown spread over his face as he looked over his shoulder to see Bella grinning mischievously at him. "Bella... you scared me" he said reproachfully.

"Awwww. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fwighten you" she said mockingly, starting to come closer. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming back. I missed you..." she purred, standing behind him and resting her chin on his shoulder.

"Why would you miss me. I'm your enemy. You hate me... remember?" he said rather sharply. Her closeness both unnerved and aroused him. And it was hard to think with her breathing down his neck

"'Whoever said I hated you? Do you hate me?" she purred… a mock pout on her lips. "Well... I..." he said, startled to realize he could no longer honestly say yes.

"You don't do you? You should do... after all I've done... but you don't. Why is that?" she asked.

"I don't know..." he said honestly. She was right. He should hate her. He had hated her… enough to use crucio on her. So what had changed?

"Well. Because I don't hate you... I'm going to tell you something" she whispered in his ear. "My niece and her pet werewolf? Not my work" she finished, walking around him. S

urprise came over his face at her words. Certainly he had never been told it was her who had killed them. But he assumed as she had been trying very hard to kill Tonks… that it had been her.

"What..." he said in a voice that clearly showed his shock and skepticism.

"I was just a little too late. Alecto and Amycus got to them before I did. A bit disappointing really. I'd rather wanted to do it myself..." he said irritatedly.

"You didn't kill Tonks? Or Lupin?" he said, voice a little less skeptical. "Sadly no" she said rather bitterly.

"And why should I believe you?" he snapped, saying 'you' like it was an insult."Believe me or not. I don't really care" she said haughtily.

"Even if it's true... you still killed Sirius" he said disdainfully. "That I can't deny... even though it was lucky fluke..." she sighed.

"A fluke" he asked, anger giving way to surprise. "Honestly Potter... do you know nothing about curses? Avada Kedavra is green" she said in a 'no duh' tone.

The scene from the ministry flashed before his eyes. He could still remember it so vividly. Sirius laugh….Bella's wand flashing… the expression on Sirius's face as he fell backwards through the veil. But the curse… it hadn't been green. She hadn't aimed to kill.

"You're telling the truth…" he said disbelivingly. "I do that quite a lot… but people are always surprised" she said dryly.

He couldn't help an amused snort at that. She chuckled… a surprisingly pleasant sound that was much sweeter than her usual cackle.

"I always knew you had a sense of humor… somewhere" she purred teasingly, her smile mischievous. "I must admit… that's the first time I've laughed in a long time…" he admitted.

"Surely it must feel… good… to have won?" she said silkily. "To have many people admiring you… respecting you…" she said as she walked slowly towards him.

"A handsome boy like you. The girls must be lined up around the block…" she purred, a teasing edge to her voice.

"Dating opportunities have been rather thin on the ground lately" he said wryly.

"That… is such a shame…" she said in that same husky purr, winding her arms around his neck. "A young man should have fun… sow his wild oats" she purred. "And here's a secret… most girls dig the hero thing" she said teasingly.

"Not you though right?" he said wryly, acutely aware or how close she was… of her perfume tickling his nostrils. "Maybe not" she admitted. "But I happen to have a weakness for handsome young men…" she whispered.

His hands slid around her waist as if their own accord… pulling her closer… pressing her into him. Heat flooded through him at the press of her lips against his… drowning out ay thoughts that he shouldn't be doing this.

All he could think of was the silky smootness of her skin under his hands… the soft curves pressed against him… the fierce, hungry yet deliciously soft lips on his…

It was madness he knew… but a madness that felt so damn good there was no way he could not give into it. He'd never lusted after anyone like this. Never wanted anyone like this.

It was only when he realized she'd managed to propel him over to the bed… and remove his shirt and belt… that some form of sanity returned.

The realization that that unless he stopped this now they would very soon end up in that bed seemed to bring him to his senses.

And only the knowledge of the awful things she had done stopped him from throwing caution… and the rest of his clothing… to the wind. One of them had to be clear headed… and he if he stayed there any longer it wasn't gone to be him.

There was already a persistent throbbing in his pants that was demanding he do something about it.

Bewilderment and something like anger flashed over her lovely face as he pulled away.

"I can't" he said quickly. "Why not?" she pouted.

"I just can't…" he said… backing away and heading for the door.

He could feel her glare boring a hole in the back of his head as he left… feeling he should win a medal for self-restraint.