A/N: Hello there, lovely people. This is just something that has popped into my head and I had to get down. I should be writing my dissertation but this is much more fun. I can't promise regular updates but I can promise some Bellamione goodness and a finished story one day! I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. Please review but more importantly: enjoy!

Days like these were where Bellatrix Black got her reputation as "short-fused". All day she had to cope with idiots of the highest degree. Sighing, the dark haired witch rubbed her temples. Setting her quill down on her desk she lazed back in her chair. Outside of her office she could hear the hushed voices of what sounded like McLaggen and Derwent. Undoubtedly arguing between themselves over who was going to knock on her door.

'Just come in before I hex the both of you.' She growled, leaning forward and propping her head on her elbow.

The two young men hurried inside sheepishly. Neither of them risking eye contact with the so clearly frustrated woman. 'Sorry to interrupt you, mam. It's just that...' Derwent started but failed to complete.

'It's just what...' Bellatrix huffed. She had far more important business to be sorting rather than listening to these imbeciles ramble on about something they could have easily sorted themselves. Her department were becoming lazy. That's what happens when a soft sap like Arthur Weasley is put in charge of the Ministry's recruitment. Merlin knows what anyone saw in that man. Not only was he as charismatic as an infantile troll but the man had a weird obsession with 'Rubber ducks'.

'Minister Shacklebolt has asked us to remind you that your presence is expected at the gala tonight.' Derwent gulped while McLaggen chose to look anywhere but at the now, seething beauty.

'You can tell Minister Shacklebolt that I would rather bathe in Acromantula venom.' The woman growled.

'Uh,well, the Minister assumed you'd say something along those lines and well, he said it's not a request: It's an order mam.' McLaggen finally spoke, his eyes downcast the entire time.

Bellatrix sighed. She'd spent her entire day cleaning up other people's mess. Why on earth had she ever agreed to become department head? Nowadays, she spent her time doing paperwork, assigning pathetic little boys and girls the fun stuff while she eased over their mistakes and inadequacies. The raven witch longed for the days where she spent all day, every day out in the field. Hunting people down, duelling with passion and for a reason other than training. She missed the thrill. The biggest thrill she'd had lately was stumbling across that Weasley boy and his giggly girlfriend at it in the janitor's closet on the fifth floor. The boy almost wet himself when he looked up to see her standing in the doorway, evil smirk firmly in place. At least her reputation remained in tact. It was just her will to live waning now. The look on the boy's face as he returned to his station that afternoon is still one Bella keeps close for when she gets particularly frustrated. There's nothing quite like other's humiliation to make yourself feel better about life. To top off her generally shitty day, the woman would now have to attend the Minister's gala. A pathetic excuse for a party. Not even a party at all. Another way for department heads and deputies to get together and discuss work, just without the depressing moniker of 'Staff meeting.' Bellatrix groaned. Was anything going to go right today?

'I don't know why I can't just send you to these bloody things.' Bellatrix huffed, stashing her wand into her black garter and straightening her gown. She was stood with her deputy outside of the Minister's reception.

'Because while I'm not as useless as your other worms, I'm still not nearly good enough at saving face and keeping things in check like you do.' The young man laughed. At first, his boss had petrified him. He knew from the get-go that she was not one to cross. Luckily, he was good at his job, unlike some of his colleagues and despite never hearing her say it, he knew the woman respected him.

'True. Just do me a favour... Every time I seem to sober up, supply me another firewhiskey. Every time someone you know I hate comes near, whisk me away.' The witch groaned, dread filling her from head to toe.

'So, keep you drunk and away from everyone in there?' The boy laughed.

'Exactly. That's why I keep you around, Potter.' The woman smirked briefly before steeling her resolve and heading to the doorway.

The Minister's gala was the same old rubbish as usual. Some of the lower-level ministry workers were hovering around with trays of champagne. She noted the big oaf, Crabbe at one end of the room in a rather poorly fitted tuxedo, shovelling voulevant's down his gullet when he thought no one was looking. Saying that, it wouldn't be hard to figure out why the food was disappearing before it reached the guests and even easier to pinpoint the culprit. Like anyone could actually think that flobberworm should be in charge of anything even remotely edible. By the looks of him, if the tray of goodies hadn't been there he'd have been trying to chew his way through the wax fruit decorations on the various tables. Then again, the boy didn't look as though he knew what fruit was.

'Aunt Bella, I didn't think you'd actually come.' Nymphadora chuckled as she cornered her aunt in a gloomy corner, away from the swarms of socialites and department head's.

'Well, good old Shackers ordered it.' The dark witch huffed.

'And when has that ever stopped you?' The metamorphmagus laughed. Her hair was a tame brown. Bellatrix figured she was either bored out of her skull or her mother had made her promise to try and look more dignified. It wouldn't do for the newly appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts professor to have bubblegum pink hair after all.

'Maybe I'm going soft.' The dark witch smirked.

'Not likely.' Tonks scoffed. 'I'd wager that you're here to check out the new department head's and their deputies after Kingsley's shake up. You're running out of idiots to bully and need some new ones.'

'Now now Dora... I don't know whatever you mean. I intend to be nothing but kind and caring towards these new colleagues of mine.' The two witches laughed together and continued to chatter away in the corner, leaving the party to unfold around them.

It wasn't long before Tonks was swept away by Head of Magical Creatures, Remus Lupin. Bellatrix pitied the man really. He wasn't too bad, just a bumbling idiot who screamed 'Pity me'. The crush he was harbouring on her niece bugged her, she could do much better than she shabby, old man. Yet, the young professor didn't seem to mind being whisked away by the wolf. Perhaps an intervention was in order. Or at least a small threat in the man's direction.

It was clear that Potter wasn't going to keep his promise and Bella sighed at the empty glass in her hand. It looked as though she was going to have to weave her way through the crowds of people to get to the bar.

Nearly half way across the room the witch felt a weight press into her side. Growling, she turned just in time to catch a young witch and stop her from falling to the ground. Chuckling to herself the dark witch pulled the girl upright. Perfect. She mused inwardly. Fresh meat. However, all insults came crashing to a halt. Dark eyes locked onto the most gorgeous shade of hazel, hazel shining with apologies and a slight hint of fear that came with recognition on seeing the older woman's face.

'I am so sorry.' The girl rambled.

'Don't be.' Bella smiled, a rare sight on any normal occasion, let alone at one of these pointless gala's. The dark witch struggled to grasp words as she gazed into those heavenly eyes which were still locked on her own. Finally, the dark witch thought of something. 'So-'

'Bella!' Harry Potter's voice rang through her ears. Her brain snapped back to reality, her eyes tearing away from the golden opposite and snapping on to the dark haired boy.

'Potter.' She growled. 'What can I do for you?' The boy was oblivious to the warning behind his boss' tone. She couldn't decide what angered her more: Potter interrupting her time with this mystery girl or the fact that he'd been M.I.A all evening and now that she was actually beginning to enjoy herself he reappears like an unwanted smell.

'I know you asked me to sweep you away from idiots tonight but this is most definitely an exception.' The boy grinned. 'This is my best friend, Hermione Granger. Definitely not an idiot. Furthest thing from it in fact.'

Bellatrix's eyes drifted back to the young girl. They inspected every inch of her on show. From her light brown curls, elegantly tied to the side of her head, to her slender neck and cleavage that threatened to spill from behind the confines of her maroon gown. The dark witch prayed that the younger witch truly felt as violated and scrutinised as her blush suggested.

'Hermione.' The dark witch whispered as her eyes came back to the gentle, warm brown of the girls' own. Bella thought that nothing could have made this girl more appealing. She was wrong.

'Bellatrix.' The girl whispered back, breathless as she blushed harder under the dark woman's gaze. Bellatrix groaned internally. This was going to be a long night. No amount of firewhiskey or careful sneaking could have ever prepared her for such an invasion.