The first few minutes alone with Bellatrix were painfully awkward, mostly because Bellatrix herself barely spoke as the two walked side by side through the snowy streets of Hogsmeade while cold wind drifted between the narrow buildings and snow crunched softly beneath their boots, yet despite the silence stretching between them, it somehow never became truly uncomfortable.
Bellatrix simply wasn't someone who talked much naturally, and even now her gloved hands remained tucked into the pockets of her long black winter coat while her sharp eyes wandered across the village instead of toward him, though Gilderoy noticed she never actually strayed far from his side either.
Eventually, deciding that somebody had to start the conversation before the silence swallowed them whole, Gilderoy glanced toward her beneath the falling snow and spoke casually.
"So, Bellatrix, what exactly have you been doing lately?"
Bellatrix looked at him briefly before answering in her usual calm tone.
"I participated in the European dueling tournament."
Gilderoy immediately caught the important part.
"You participated in an another duelling tournament?" he repeated with interest. "And how did that go?"
Bellatrix's lips twitched faintly beneath the dark scarf wrapped around her neck.
"I won."
Gilderoy's brows lifted with genuine admiration, though there was no real surprise in his expression either.
"Bella, that's actually impressive," he said, sounding more pleased than shocked, as if part of him had already expected nothing less from her.
"It was expected," she replied flatly, though the faint redness slowly appearing around her ears completely ruined the indifferent image she was trying to maintain.
Gilderoy noticed it instantly and smirked.
"You're blushing because I complimented you?"
Bellatrix shot him a sharp look immediately.
"I am not."
"You definitely are."
"I am cold."
"Right," Gilderoy replied unconvincingly while Bellatrix deliberately turned her attention toward the snow-covered shop windows instead of looking at him anymore.
Still, after several quieter moments passed between them, Bellatrix spoke again, though this time there was a slight hesitation beneath her voice as if she normally wasn't used to sharing these things openly with other people.
"I received an invitation from the ICW to work for them."
That immediately caught Gilderoy's full attention.
"You too?"
For the first time since they started walking, Bellatrix looked genuinely surprised.
"You received one as well?"
"Yeah," Gilderoy answered enthusiastically. "Right after the tournament."
Bellatrix seemed to grow more engaged in the conversation after hearing that, the guarded distance she carried around herself easing little by little as they continued walking through the snowy streets together.
"I've been considering it," she admitted after a moment while brushing snowflakes from her sleeve. "Working abroad sounds appealing, and honestly…"
A faint smirk touched her lips.
"The idea of hunting dangerous wizards across different countries sounds far more interesting than sitting behind a desk somewhere."
Gilderoy let out an amused huff.
"You really enjoy fighting that much?"
Bellatrix finally glanced toward him directly again, and this time there wasn't even the slightest hesitation in her answer, just simple honesty.
"Yes."
"The idea of tracking dark wizards down," she continued quietly while snow settled against her coat, "duelling them, defeating them…"
"It does sounds thrilling."
Honestly, Gilderoy could completely see it. Bellatrix wasn't someone meant for politics, paperwork, or quiet ministry offices. She looked genuinely alive whenever combat came up.
"Then why not become an Auror?" he asked curiously.
Bellatrix immediately shook her head.
"Aurors belong to the Ministry," she replied with faint disdain in her voice. "They follow orders constantly. ICW agents operate more independently unless it becomes an international matter."
That honestly sounded far more appealing to Gilderoy too.
"You should join," he encouraged her sincerely. "I'm planning to do the same after graduating."
Bellatrix grew thoughtful after hearing that, her dark eyes lingering on him a little longer as though the idea of accepting the ICW offer suddenly sounded far more appealing now that Gilderoy planned to join later as well.
Without either of them noticing how much time had passed, the two eventually wandered inside the Three Broomsticks while snow continued falling softly outside the frosted windows, warm air immediately wrapping around them alongside the comforting smell of butterbeer, firewood, and food.
Bellatrix quietly ordered butterbeer for both of them before choosing a quieter table near the back of the tavern, and when Gilderoy took a proper sip, warmth spread through his body almost instantly, easing away the winter cold lingering beneath his coat while the sweet taste settled pleasantly against his tongue.
Technically, he possessed the original Gilderoy's memories of drinking butterbeer countless times, and he had even tasted it himself during his visit to France. Yet memory and experience were two entirely different things. This was only the second time he had personally drunk butterbeer, and despite knowing exactly what to expect, the experience still felt faintly unreal.
Bellatrix watched him over the rim of her mug.
"You've never had butterbeer before?"
Gilderoy looked up from his bottle and smiled faintly before taking another unhurried sip, allowing the warmth to settle in his chest.
"I have had it," he admitted. "This is only my second time."
Bellatrix's eyebrows rose a fraction.
"Only your second?" she repeated, sounding more curious than surprised.
Gilderoy nodded. "I tried it once before while I was in Paris."
"Hm."
Somehow the conversation became easier after that, perhaps because Bellatrix relaxed slightly once they started discussing subjects she genuinely cared about, or perhaps because the warmth of the tavern softened the tension lingering between them.
Either way, time passed surprisingly quickly.
Bellatrix spoke more openly while describing several dueling matches she had participated in over the past year, and Gilderoy slowly realized that beneath all the intensity, arrogance, and stoicism, she genuinely loved magical combat in the same way some people loved art or music.
The more excited she became while speaking, the faster she talked, and strangely enough, he found himself genuinely enjoying simply listening to her.
By the time they finally stepped back outside, afternoon had already begun fading toward evening while snow continued drifting quietly across the village streets.
As they walked back through Hogsmeade together, Gilderoy casually reached for Bellatrix's gloved hand.
The reaction was immediate because Bellatrix visibly stiffened beside him, her eyes snapping toward him in clear surprise as though she hadn't expected the contact at all, and for one brief second Gilderoy genuinely thought she might pull away.
But she didn't.
Instead, after the smallest hesitation, her fingers slowly tightened around his hand. Honestly, that alone felt like progress.
Eventually the two reached the Hog's Head Inn where Amelia and Narcissa were waiting for them, though right before entering Bellatrix suddenly stopped walking altogether.
Gilderoy glanced toward her curiously and immediately realized she looked like she wanted to say something, except Bellatrix clearly wasn't good at putting those kinds of feelings into words because her brows furrowed slightly while she avoided looking directly at him, and for the first time all day she seemed genuinely uncertain.
Gilderoy squeezed her hand gently.
"We can do this again whenever you want, Bellatrix."
Gilderoy and Bellatrix locked eyes for a moment, both clearly remembering the kiss they had shared back at Black Manor, and before either of them could say anything, Bellatrix suddenly grabbed the front of his sweater and pulled him down into a rough kiss.
Gilderoy immediately kissed her back, one hand sliding firmly around her waist as Bellatrix pressed closer against him for several heated seconds before finally pulling away, her breathing slightly uneven while the faintest smirk touched her dark lips.
Then, almost instantly, her expression turned stoic again as though nothing had happened at all before she simply turned and walked inside ahead of him.
Gilderoy followed shortly after and immediately noticed something surprising. Amelia and Narcissa were getting along incredibly well.
To him they seemed like complete opposites, yet somehow the two women were chatting animatedly together near the fire.
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