After the Dawn

Chapter 7

It was the evening after Harry Potter had been to see his old enemy… and ended up in bed with her.

He hadn't been able to get her out of his head all day. Ginny had commented that he had seemed distracted. His insides had squirmed guiltily at that.

Now they were walking along the main road through Hogsmeade after having a drink at the Hogs Head. Though Aberforth had been his usual gruff self he had insisted their drinks were on the house.

Ginny frowned slightly as the serious expression on his face. He should be happy shouldn't he? They had won. And they could finally be together. No war… no interruptions… just them.

Hogwarts was restarting again in September… only a few months away… and they could do 7th Year together… pick up the pieces of their lives…

A smile broke over her face as she thought of a way she could take that serious look of his face. She put her hand in his. A genuine smile curved the corners of his mouth as he saw her happy expression… the long coppery hair blowing around her face… her green eyes bright… cheeks pink from the wind.

Not caring that anyone might be watching he pulled her to him and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. But even as he kissed her, smelling her fresh sweet scent… feeling her hair tickle his face as she kissed him back… he couldn't get another pair of lips out of his mind.

When they broke apart Ginny was looking at him with that look he remembered from the time she had kissed him in her room… when they were about to… before Ron interrupted…

Her smile widened at the look on his face. "Why don't we go back to Grimmauld Place…" she said in almost a whisper.

He held her hand tightly as they disappeared from Hogsmeade and re-appeared in the master bedroom of 12 Grimmauld Place. Both of their eyes went to the large 4-poster bed with its crimson coverlet.

And then her lips were on his… her arms around his neck… kissing him like she did that day at the Burrow… and it was bliss… but once again he couldn't help thinking of Bella's lips… soft… yet fierce and hungry on his.

His hands wandered down her back to rest on her waist as she pulled him closer… pressing her body against his. He couldn't help thinking of a different… curvier.. more womanly body.

She deftly undid his shirt, letting it fall to the floor.

Thoughts of Bella consumed him as they tumbled on the bed. He could taste Bella on his lips even as he kissed Ginny. He could remember vividly how she had looked… smelt… felt… the noises she had made…

Just the memory of what they had done made certain parts of his anatomy stand up and pay attention.

And then it was Bella… her lips on his skin… her curves pressed against him… her hands on his body… wandering down his torso to undo his belt…

"Bella..." he murmured softly. "What?" snapped a feminine voice.

His vision swam as Bella turned back into Ginny… who looked both hurt and severely annoyed. "What did you call me? She asked in a tone that reminded him forcibly of her mother.

"Uh…" he said, his brain unhelpfully blank. How could he explain saying someone else's name?

"Who the hell is Bella?" she said angrily. "Some girl you…" she started to say, voice trailing off as comprehension dawned on her face. "No. Not her…" ahe said aghast. "Not Bellatrix Lestrange…" she said in a shocked, disgusted voice. Backing away from him.

He said nothing but his shamefaced look confirmed her fears. It had been Bellatrix he'd been fantasizing about.

"I guess she's attractive… if you don't mind Voldemort's sloppy second she said derisively. For a moment anger flashed over his face… and he felt a strange urge to defend Bella.

"I have to go" she said coolly, getting up and rearranging her clothing. "I'm sorry" he said as she turned and went to open the door.

She looked over her shoulder, her expression saying that she understood, but it was going to be hard to forgive him. "I know" she said softly before walking through the door.

Hw sighed heavily, resting his head in his hands.

When he went to do his jeans back up a small piece of paper slipped out of the pocket and fluttered to the floor. He bent down, picked it up and unfolded it.

The ink was black on snowy parchment. The writing was unfamiliar… a fine, spidery hand that was unmistakably feminine. There was only one line.

'I know your thinking about me – B'

He crumpled it up and tossed it with undue force into the trash.

Damn her he thought. Damn her.

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


Bellatrix was lying on bed reading a book when Harry entered her cell.

She was wearing a long sleeved black dress with a square neckline that showed a generous amount of cleavage.

A grin spread over her face as she looked up and saw him.

She snapped the book shut and tossed it carelessly on the bed beside her.

It was dark green. It was with some shock that he recognized Dumbledore's face on the cover.

"The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore? He said surprisedly, raising one eyebrow.

"What? I always read Rita Skeeter. We were friends back at school. In fact I helped her get a job at the Prophet" she said matter-of-factly.

"That figures" he said dryly. "I hope she cut you a cheque for all the headlines you made for her" he said dryly.

Bella snorted. "She should" she said with a cheeky grin.

"So... did you get my note?" she asked sweetly, dark eyes glittering mischievously. "Yes" he said peevishly. "And was I right?" she purred.

"No" he said stubbornly. "Liar" she said in a wicked, smug voice.

He didn't have to ask how she knew. She seemed to have an uncanny knack for knowing what he was thinking. He flushed slightly as he remembered saying her name… while he was with Ginny…

"I bet your little blood-traitor girlfriend doesn't know you slept with a notorious Death Eater..." she said wickedly. Even though he didn't want to rise to her bait he couldn't help getting rather peeved at her barbs.

"Personally I can't see what you see in her... I guess you must have a thing for ginger hair..." she said dismissively. His hands clenched into fists. He did not like her talking about Ginny that way. It felt wrong to even be talking about Ginny with Bella.

"Must be nice to have a real woman after having a little girl... or haven't you fucked her yet?" she said poisonously, smiling sadistically.

Rage flashed through him. Before he knew he was lunging at her… not even bothering with her wand. She was quicker though. As he came within arms reach she pulled the knife out of a sheath under her sleeve and held it once again to his throat.

"Temper temper" she purred. "If you don't calm down I might have to cut something off… and that" she continued, eyes flicking downwards, "would be a real shame" she finished smugly.

He considered going for his wand… but he knew she could easily do some damage with that knife… before he had got it out.

Not that he thought she would maim him… but you never knew with Bella. She could be just toying with him… but she might not be. And if he made her really mad there was no knowing what she'd do.

He did nothing, holding his hands up in a gesture of peace. "Good boy" she purred satisfiedly. "Now… while I've got you at my mercy… I think I'll have your wand…" she said with considerable relish.

He gave her a look that said 'no way in hell.' "You heard me Potter" she said firmly, eyes merciless. "Over my dead body… Lestrange" he growled.

Her eyes narrowed and the blade tip of the blade dug into his neck. A single drop of blood slid down his neck.

"If you insist" she said in a deadly voice. A tremor of fear went up his spine. He couldn't be sure she wouldn't carry out of threat. After all… she had already tried to kill him once. And the fact they had slept together didn't change anything.

He slid his hand in his back pocket and slowly withdrew his wand. Wicked delight spread over her face as he handed it to her.

Then she was pointing his own wand at him.

The last thing he heard was her yelling 'stupefy' before everything… went… dark.