"They can't force you. You've reached the age of majority, and I'm the head of the Black family, so they've got nothing on you there. In all honesty, I don't think that even I could force you to marry anybody."
"Yeah, well on a one to ten scale of ruthless, you're a zero and my aunt is five hundred and fifty."
"All right, so they're obnoxious," Harry admitted. "At Hogwarts, you can ignore them. When the summer comes, you'll have a place with me. Feasibly, you might never see your aunt or mother again."
"Okay," said Bellatrix. "What happens after I stay here until the end of the term and go home for the summer with you?"
"Well, I don't know. What are your summer plans? Majorca?"
"Very funny," Bellatrix said, beginning to get slightly cross. "I'm not going back for my seventh year. I'm going to be helping you fight the dark lord."
Harry couldn't argue against the merits of fighting the dark lord, and he knew that he would need help sooner than later. The Order would make an effort, and Minister Prewett would be relentless in his pursuit of Death Eaters, but Harry knew that the fight against Voldemort boiled down to him and Voldemort. Having someone at his side that he could trust would be a boon. There were still other facets of the decision to consider, however.
"What about your NEWTs?" Harry asked. "How are you supposed to pass those?"
Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "Why do people get NEWTs, Harry?"
Harry shrugged. "Because they should?"
"So they can get a job, Harry. Do you really think I'm going to go around looking for a job anytime soon? Harry, we're possibly the richest people in all of Britain!"
"Eh, you're still presupposing that we're going to get married."
"Aren't we?" Bellatrix asked, trying to peer into Harry's green eyes intently.
"I haven't committed to that," Harry said stubbornly, avoiding her direct gaze.
"Why not?" asked Bellatrix. "We could do it today."
"I just don't want to jump into it," Harry grumbled.
"Fine," groused Bellatrix. "We don't have to do the marriage today. However, so far, your only objection to me leaving Hogwarts is that I won't earn my NEWTs. I don't need them, and I can always get them later. Where does that leave us?"
"I don't know."
"It sounds like I'm moving in with you today," announced Bellatrix.
Harry closed his eyes and searched for a reason to deny her. In the end, he came up empty. "Fine," he said, giving in.
"Great," said Bellatrix, noticeably happier. "I'll run up, grab my trunk from my dorm, and then you can phoenix fire us out of here."
"I'm not phoenix firing anywhere," retorted Harry. "I've got better things to do than be exhausted all day. Besides, I don't have a clue how to take extra people with me."
"Spoil sport," Bellatrix grumbled.
"I just agreed to let you leave Hogwarts and move in with me, and you're calling me a spoil sport?"
"Letting me come with you was the logical thing to do," Bellatrix said airily. "It benefits you just as much as it benefits me."
"Don't even start that," Harry said.
"All right," said Bellatrix. "I can leave Hogwarts on my own. Where shall I meet you?"
"The Three Broomsticks," Harry decided. "I'll meet you there for lunch at two."
"Lunch at two?" Bellatrix asked incredulously.
"Yeah, I going back to bed," Harry announced. "See you then." His image then disappeared.
.....
Lunch at the Three Broomsticks proved somewhat successful-at least for Harry. Bellatrix had eaten lunch at the proper time up at the castle. Consequently, she satisfied herself only with a butterbeer as Harry ate. Eventually, he double-apparated Bellatrix and her luggage to the hotel he'd checked into just before meeting her. They were soon standing in front of the door to their room.
"This is your key," Harry said, retrieving a hotel room key from his pocket. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, gesturing into the room. "There you are. The bed closest to the window is mine." He then handed her the key.
"Aren't you going to go in?" Bellatrix asked, noticing that Harry was ostensibly remaining in the hall.
"I've got errands," Harry replied. "I'll probably be back rather late, actually. You got anything you're planning to do?"
Bellatrix pursed her lips and set her face into a somewhat annoyed expression. "Well, normally I'd prefer to accompany you on your errands, seeing that we're partners, but as it is, I think I should probably go find us a more permanent place to live."
"I don't know if that's a good idea," Harry objected. "I've been moving around because Tom has apparently put the word out about me."
Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "I know of some wards that we can use to keep him and his merry band of minions away from us. As long as we have ownership of the property, it will be relatively easy to set up the wards."
"That sounds pretty good," Harry said. He didn't enjoy moving around too much. Bellatrix's experience with the darker arts might also prove useful. She would know what they needed to defend against.