[2:45 AM]

The clock ticked away the hours. Bellatrix was, once again, sitting in the common room at an ungodly hour working hard on trying to study for her O.W.L. exams. She had slacked off lately because of her mood improvement and Quidditch, but her days were still bare without someone to talk to. The fifth year had not said much to her ex-boyfriend since the Valentine's Day ball and now she was sorely missing their friendship. Tawse was the only person outside of her family that she considered to be a friend. Well, other than Peyton, who was gay and in another house, and Billie, the Gryffindor whom she barely spoke to outside of class. Maybe she'd have to work on that?

"Ugh, stop thinking about it," she chided herself. "Focus!"

Her eyelids were becoming heavy again. Duke's death had put some strain on her and she was missing him, too. It was times like this when she was getting sleepy that he would appear, croaking demands to feed him a Fudge Fly. She took one of the Crackle Chocolates from the package there on the table beside her enormous pile of books and put it into her mouth. They crackled just as the package described which was the sensation that woke her back up. Once bright-eyed and able to focus a little longer, Bellatrix ran her quill along her chart made for Potions here and there to scribble notes.

"Okay, I need to add Asphodel here and here..."

Her hair was pulled up into a pair of double buns and she was still wearing a uniform, though it was untidy. She'd taken her shoes off and replaced them with fuzzy house-shoes of multiple colors, the tie had been cast aside, and her shirt was partially unbuttoned from the top. Only her skirt seemed to be undisturbed from the usual attire. Bellatrix leaned back in her chair at the table, yawned, and glanced at the clock. 2:46 PM.

"It's still early? Potter's knickers! A five minute break won't kill me.."

-- Trent's Uniform. --

---

Trent, in short, wasn't the best sleeper. He usually stayed up late at night, writing poetry and being a borderline creeper. He often annoyed his dorm mates by being up late, but they were growing used to his dumb behavior. Normally, Trent got two hours of sleep every night. He would then nap in, and in between, classes. He also tended to sleep the weekend away, since he didn't care enough about his friends to hang out with them until after two o' clock in the afternoon. He was a nice chap, he was.

That night Trent had gone out to the kitchens to enjoy some private cooking time with the elves. He was a brilliant cook, which Waker Nolan had obnoxiously found out during the Valentine's dance. This time, however, he was left with his food in peace. He would deny it, but food definitely comforted him. He still couldn't shake Mystique out of his thoughts. He found it rather bothersome, but he wasn't sure if he ever truly wanted to forget about her. The girl, in Trent's eyes, was perfect... Much too good for Trent. The Travis boy would always beat himself up about little things... But this wasn't exactly a little thing.

He had stuffed himself with enough food to make his skinny stomach ache. But it was a nice ache, at least, compared to what he was feeling in his chest. It all sounded so silly. Trent realized he should have been used to being alone and depressed by now... But having that taste of belonging just made him feel so... Alive. He left the kitchens, still dressed in his robes. He probably would fall asleep in them and then wake up, ready for class. He hadn't showered in a few days... But his hair wasn't looking all too awful yet. Trent's body was used to not having regular showers, anyways. He was probably way more healthy than all those people who washed themselves every day. Their body produced that sweat for a reason!

He arrived in the common room and took a few strides in, ready to settle up in his dorm for the night, when he heard a female voice speaking to herself. Most of the posh Slytherin girls didn't dare talk to themselves, not even in the privacy of the common room. His head peeped around the corner, his creepy stare landing on a figure slumped over one of the tables. He could tell immediately it was Bellatrix Dark, just by her raunchy ass hair. Of course, Bellatrix was foxy as hell... But she was the definition of "Lunatic". Which was the only reason Trent had never flirted with her.

He contemplated whether or not to just keep walking to his dorm. This chick was probably ravenous. He didn't want to get her disease. However, she continued to murmur to herself and Trent grew more and more creeped out. He finally pulled himself together and decided to just go for it. He turned the corner and headed towards his dorm, not even trying to remain inconspicuous. He had nothing to hide, after all.

"It's still early? Potter's knickers! A five minute break won't kill me.."

Trent halted and turned his stare back onto the young girl. "Do you always talk to yourself?" he asked her, his voice as chavy as always. Luckily, Trent spoke clear enough for people to understand him completely, due to the fact that he was adopted into a clean-speaking family. But he always had that dirty vibe to his voice. He could tell his adoptive parents hated every time he spoke.

"You're bonkers, you are..." Trent told her, even though he now had a smile pressed onto his face. He made a move to leave again before he stopped and considered the Dark girl. "What're you studying, anyhow?" light conversation... It didn't hurt. Even if he was probably going to have his throat ripped out by her harpy claws soon.

So focused into her work at the time, the sixteen-year-old hadn't heard anyone actually come in. Had she not decided to take a break at the time she did, the presence of a passing student this late at night might have gone unnoticed. She looked, half-expecting it to be Fir since he was nearly always coming in around this time, but found a different, much taller 7th year. Immediately, Bellatrix recognized him as the one that had dipped his finger into their cake which had set her twin off in a raging fury about "ruining the cake"! She, on the other hand, had found it funny that someone was brave enough to walk up to their cake and taste it, then insult it.

"Do you always talk to yourself?"

He had a tone, a tone that Bella wasn't sure she should feel insulted by. It was only a question, after all, but it certainly wasn't innocent. Uncertain whether or not he actually wanted to open that can of flobberworms, she hesitated in answering. At first, she sampled one of the Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans that was laying scattered across the table from its box along with Crackle Chocolates, Fudge Flies, and Jelly Slugs (ew! Pepper flavor!), then picked up her quill and started to tap it thoughtfully while staring at her parchment of a chart she'd made. By the time she decided to open her mouth to answer him, he spoke again.

"You're bonkers, you are..."

He was smiling. Was...was that a good thing that she was bonkers? She honestly had absolutely no idea if it was. Bellatrix, of course, knew that everyone had labeled her as psychotic, insane, mad, and "bonkers" and she never felt the need to prove them wrong. She'd tried in her second year, but only succeeded in securing absolution that she was, indeed, psychotic. People generally stayed away from her, whether in fear or for the mundane reason that she was just "too crazy", and so she could see it as a bad thing. On the other hand, Xavier had called her "perfect", Fir was just as crazy, Billie was strange, and Peyton didn't seem to mind at all. Then, there were her relatives who were all just as mad as she was, even little Chancelier-perfect Erin who could get too distracted and meander off in the middle of a dangerous situation. A handful of people had stood by the resident "psycho" of Slytherin, not seeming to mind at all. With that fact enlightened to her (by an outside source; Bella couldn't see it for herself), Bella could see being crazy was a good thing. Now, a complete stranger was standing before her calling her bonkers and smiling at her. Did he, too, think it was good or was he one of the many who thought it was bad?

"Thank you," she returned the smile, "and, yes, I do talk to myself. All the time, whether anyone's around to listen or not."

"What're you studying, anyhow?"

She groaned and rolled her eyes in frustration, though it was pointed at her new study habits and the material more than it was to him or his question. The teenager turned back to the table full of books, parchment, broken quills (one of which was in her hand; she was obviously using them), and full, rusted ink bottles to glare down at the chart on her parchment.

"My O.W.L.s, unfortunately. I want to make sure I can memorize most of the material before June, but these teachers keep adding new stuff that makes me wonder if we're going to need any of this old tosh!"

Her blue eyes furtively glanced at him. Did he want to stay and help her study? No, he had probably come in ready for bed and didn't want to think about something he'd already taken two years ago. He had N.E.W.T's to worry about, anyway. Bellatrix would have been more than gracious for help, but it was best that she didn't ask him; he might run away at the thought of work. Gradually, she turned back to sit sideways in her seat, placing her quill down as she did so to show that she wasn't going to carry on the conversation about studying and schoolwork.

"Would you like some candy? I have all sorts here, but if you don't like what's here, I have more in my room. Sugar Quills, Licorice Wands, I have almost anything."

She waited for a bit, thinking over all the options that she could talk to him about, before her mouth spread into a grin. It wasn't the mischievous grin that meant she was about to hex you, tie you up in a broom cupboard, and leave you there while she skipped off to class. It was one of those rare good-mood grins that meant she found something funny or amusing.

"By the way, how did you like the taste of our birthday cake?"

"Thank you, and, yes, I do talk to myself. All the time, whether anyone's around to listen or not."

Trent stared at Bellatrix, a semi-horror struck expression plastered on his face. He furrowed his brows, as if what she said was completely stupid and he was going to hex her now. He called it his... "You're-stupid-and-I'm-going-to-hex-you-now brow furrow." However, he had no ill intentions at that moment. Who spoke like that to people? And why the bloody hell was she telling him "thank you"? Trent was used to offended, lunatic Bella who would try to kill someone for just telling her that her raunchy ass bed of hair had a rat in it.

Which it probably did. But that's beside the point.

He nodded, finally, his creeptastic smile forming once more. "Right... You're welcome," he told her, "Cheers then!" It was at this point he regretted even speaking to the foxy, foxy Dark girl. It was hard to bicker with someone when they were thanking you for your insults. What kind of masochist...? What even...? Trent wished he knew what was going on (and growing) in that little head of hers. It probably wasn't as pretty as her. Wasn't her father some deranged killer? Wait. That was all purebloods. He forgot. Oh, how Trent loathed purebloods sometimes. They made for good jokes, at least. So, have you banged your cousin yet, or are you waiting 'til marriage? Trent was a proud muggleborn. Even if it meant some of his friends would think poorly of him at some point.

The girl groaned and Trent's lips formed a small, disgusted sneer. But he remained pleasant nonetheless. It was a simple impulse of his. He made nasty faces because he hated everything. Easy. But usually he could control that inevitable hate when he was around girls. Did Bella even count as a girl anymore? Sure, she had a nice set of knockers and a nice, long torso... And a cute lil' bum. But she also had that brain. If only it was the other twin in Slytherin... Then again, he highly doubted that, if Beatrix weren't such a little... What's-it... Know-it-all Ravenclaw, he'd have a chance to get dibs. Not only that, but she was possibly insane, too, now that he thought of it. She was too sugarcoated. At least Bellatrix was completely open with her loony-ness. Trent guessed she kissed like a rabid weasel... All over the place, with a few biting here and there.

Which was what made some Slytherin girls better at snogging. It was then that Trent had to consider why he was always falling for Hufflepuffs. Sweet girls were nice and all, but the meaner ones could be fun, too.

What was he even saying? He still liked Mystique... A whole lot. His stomach churned, lightly, and Bellatrix blabbered about her studies.

"My O.W.L.s, unfortunately. I want to make sure I can memorize most of the material before June, but these teachers keep adding new stuff that makes me wonder if we're going to need any of this old tosh!"

Trent vaguely remembered his OWLs. He hadn't done too good at them, mainly because he decided to nap through the process, but he managed to get passing scores. Trent was actually rather smart... Incredibly smart. He was just very, very lazy. If Trent wasn't such a genius, he wouldn't have been such an asshole, anyways. He wouldn't be able to fight back if he didn't have his intelligence... And let's face it, Trent was a scrawny ragamuffin.

He shrugged, lightly, and made his way over to where the girl sat, "It really depends on what you want to be, I guess..." Trent told her, being oddly reassuring, "Like, I want to be a photographer..." He paused did his brow furrow again. He had never told anyone that. Not even Georgie. And Georgie was his lover. How embarrassing. "I mean... I want to be a manly firefighter. Anyways. Point is, I don't need any of those stupid OWLs. Or NEWTs, for that matter. Do muggles care that I got an 'A' in Potions? No. They'd be concerned about what the bloody hell I'm talking about," he smiled and sat down in a seat a few feet from Bellatrix. He was over a foot taller than the girl. How awkward.

"They'd be all... 'What's this Hogwarts place you're talking about, mate?' and I'd say 'Get this, it's a school of MAGIC... Where we learned how to turn dogs into bathtubs and conjure up the materials to make all the free cocaine we want,'" he added, his smile rather sweet compared to his usual sickly smirk. Trent was trying to make Bellatrix feel better, really. He hated it when people worried themselves. He knew that pain and didn't want anyone, especially a younger student, to feel the same way.

"Would you like some candy? I have all sorts here, but if you don't like what's here, I have more in my room. Sugar Quills, Licorice Wands, I have almost anything."

His lip twitched and he said, flatly, "Uh, no thanks." Not just because he was afraid it was poisoned, but because he had just eaten a whole bunch of food. The boy ran a hand through his bangs, pushing them back, out of his forehead. Another reason Trent hated himself... He had a big nose. He only wished his hair covered that up, and not his sexy forehead.

She smiled at him and Trent's eyes simply widened while his lip twitched again, but otherwise remained blank. Another brow furrow. He must have always looked angry at her. Mainly, he was just confused now. She was created by Satan. She lured boys in with her cute lil' smiles and nice rack. Then ate them. Jokes on her... Trent had no fat in his body to even potentially taste good. She'd be eating a skeleton. HA.

"By the way, how did you like the taste of our birthday cake?"

Trent took to contemplating on leaving again. And he was very serious this time. Was she really mentioning that incident in... what? November? He almost forgot about that. It made him laugh again, remembering how Bellatrix had thanked him for that, also. Trent loved Erin as much as any other bro would, but he was a nutter for wanting to piss the Dark girls off. Then again, it was hilarious, it all was. He regretted nothing. He would have done the same. Though... Trent still had no clue why Erin was so hung up on crashing their party. Erin was funny. He knew all the right things to say towards Trent without pissing him off, despite the fact that they were all insults.

Finally, he smiled and shrugged, "It was okay, I guess. I'm not a big fan of hot pink food coloring, yeah? Tastes a little off... Perhaps if I had gotten large chunk of it--" he mocked the piece he would have taken with long fingers, the size being ultimately half the size of the cake, "-- I could have been a better judge. Alas, I only scratched the surface of your poisoned, demon food." He could be so charming sometimes.

He tilted his head, his face contemplating again, "Which isn't the reason I'm saying 'No' to your candy, yeah? I'm just not hungry..." he felt he needed to add that. He didn't want to make her feel like he was a complete douche. Trent didn't like insulting girls a whole lot. If he were to ever make one cry, he'd hate himself more than he already did.

"You have nice... face," he told her, trying to smile nice but failing miserably. His eyes still looked rather mean and unhappy while his mouth was having a hard time figuring out what a smile was. In the end, he pulled his bottom lip down too far and it looked like he was just baring his teeth at Bella. How suave. He was such a dashing young man. "I mean, it looks pretty and whatnot... In this lighting, I guess... Or always," he hardly understood why he was even saying this to her. After a moment, he gave up, his face scowling again, "Bollocks."

Was he nervous? Did he want to get away? Trent just stood there making unpleasant faces without a word. The words came floating back into her mind with more fervor than they had over the past several weeks. 'Think what ye want lass, at least now I don' hafta deal wit yer crazy anymore.' Bellatrix turned her glare back upon her papers, rage starting to wrap around her. The sound of moving feet interrupted the process and she looked up, surprised, to watch Trent sit down near her.

"It really depends on what you want to be, I guess... Like, I want to be a photographer.. I mean... I want to be a manly firefighter"

The idea of photography didn't sound at all interesting. He carried on a bit and she half-listened, the other half of her mind focused upon pushing Xavier back out of her mind. Muggles were mentioned and immediately, she found herself highly curious. Her mum and dad always acted like muggles were awful, a blemish upon the world, but they had never said why. She smiled and nodded here and there while an excitement burned in her blue eyes. Trent seemed very familiar with non-magical people and she was dying to ask him loads of questions about them.

He turned down her off for candy, but she didn't seem at all disappointed. At least, not until he wrinkled his brows together. A momentary concern that she had insulted him by offering him candy appeared yet was discarded immediately. He always look unhappy and Bellatrix could recall a time when a scowl was permanently plastered upon her own face during her 4th year and the first semester of this year. That was, until the Halloween Ball when Xavier had...

"It was okay, I guess. I'm not a big fan of hot pink food coloring, yeah? Tastes a little off... Perhaps if I had gotten large chunk of it, I could have been a better judge. Alas, I only scratched the surface of your poisoned, demon food."

There was a pause during which Bellatrix could feel laughter building up. The slice he had demonstrated had impressed her immensely; it was a wonder he would have eaten so much of their 'poisoned, demon food' cake when she'd never seen him eat a bite in the Great Hall. Poisoned, demon food indeed! Not one person, even Harper, had left that party ill. The ludicrous assumption was enough to make her giggle until he further added on:

"Which isn't the reason I'm saying 'No' to your candy, yeah? I'm just not hungry..."

That was when she couldn't help herself. She burst into complete laughter, though again it wasn't the sadistic laughter one usually heard from Bellatrix when they were hurt or had just been hexed. It was honest Bellatrix, the Dark girl that was as happy and carefree as her twin over the summers. There was nothing insincere or tainted about her happiness now and Bellatrix wasn't sure if she liked how little of her cruel, dangerous self was showing through tonight with Trent.

"You have nice... face."

She stopped laughing abruptly although her lips were widened in a grin. The teenager watched him as he worked his lips around until the bottom one showed his teeth to her. What in Merlin's name was he trying to do? Surely he wasn't trying to... No! Trent Travis couldn't smile, could he? Was this his attempt?

"I mean, it looks pretty and whatnot... In this lighting, I guess... Or always."

To keep herself from giggling at his compliments openly, her hand had to cover her mouth. This was rather ineffective since her entire body was shaking with silent mirth. Her gaze ran over his face and he only scowled again, muttering, "Bollocks." Gradually, the giggling went away and she smiled at him. He'd called her crazy earlier and when she'd said thank you, he seemed confused. Uncertain whether or not he meant it in a good way, this had to be taken as his way of flirting and she had to admit, he was loads better at it than she was.

"Trent, are you flirting with me?" Although she refused to laugh, her smile widened. "You're not too bad at it. Let me have a go."

What could she possibly say to flirt with him? She didn't know him that well, though she'd certainly never tried to hex him. He'd been with Mystique Ketteridge at her birthday party and she'd heard they were a couple that, well, fell apart much like herself and Xavier. Clearing her throat, Bellatrix shifted nervously in her seat. This whole flirting thing was stupid!

"You have...mm, no, wait." The comment about his smile didn't seem at all plausible. "You're cute. No, no, that's lame. Everyone says that, Bella, don't use it." She seemed to be talking to herself now more than him. A lengthy pause occurred while she tried to think of something witty and flirtatious to say. With a sigh, she also gave up the task and leaned closer to him.

"You know, flirting's for girls who know what they're doing. The whole thing's ridiculous. I'll just have to be honest with you and dash it all if it's horrible! I think your scowl looks better than your smile and your compliments are horrid, don't even try. I have no idea what a fire-fighter is, but a photographer fits you better than anything manly!"

She nodded matter-of-factly and sat back in her seat, digging around in her bag to get a Sugar Quill. When she unwrapped it and started to suck on it like a lollipop, Bellatrix wondered what he would do now that he'd been complimented in the best way she knew how to flirt with someone.