I am Isabella Potter, daughter of Harry and Hermione Potter.
I am a pretty normal teenage girl, considering,
But I live in pretty abnormal world.
~*~
"Mum, this is getting a little bit silly," Isabella complained as she wandered around the store after her mum.
"Isabella, you know how much this means to your father," Hermione said to her daughter, sighing.
"Yeah, but it means very little to me," Isabella whined, and it was true, it was great what here parents were doing, but a ball like this was not her idea of fun times.
"You should be excited, why aren't you excited?" Hermione asked, she looked concerned now, not good.
"I am excited!" Isabella said meekly, Hermione raised an eyebrow at her. "Look I know dad thinks my birthday is a big deal, but it really isn't."
"Bella, you are his only daughter, his only child, he really wants to make a big deal over this because he won't be able to do it again, now will you please try and enjoy this party, please?" Hermione practically begged her daughter.
"Fine, I'll go to the stupid party and I'll hate every moment with a huge smile on my face," Isabella said finally, her mum beamed at her. "I still don't see why it is such a big deal to him."
"Because you're turning into a beautiful young woman, and he wants to celebrate that," Hermione explained, she smiled at her daughter. "Anyway, all your friends are coming."
"I know my friends are coming, I invited them, but it isn't just my friends, is it. Loads of your friends are coming," Isabella pointed out.
"This would look lovely on you," Hermione said holding up a pretty pink dress, Isabella looked at it with narrow eyes. It would, her mother was right, but it was pink. "Try it on?" Isabella wasn't given a chance to answer; her mother literally pushed her into the changing room, but not before forcing the dress into her hands.
Dressing rooms were hell to a girl like Isabella, too many mirrors.
That's not saying Isabella wasn't pretty, but she wasn't outstanding in the way some people were. Or at least that's how she saw herself
She had long dark hair, not quite black but too dark to be brown. Emerald eyes, just like her father. Pale skin, not as pale as her father, but rather more like her mother. She was tall and slim like her mother, but she still had slight curves, she wasn't a stick in anyway.
Really she was pretty average looking, at Hogwarts there were a lot of girls who were much prettier then herself; they were usually the ones that wore tiny tops and skirts that resembled something closer to a belt.
"Let's see it then!" Her mother called. Taking a deep breath Isabella pulled back the curtain that hid her from the world and looked up to meet her mum's eye. Her mother looked at her with wide tearful eyes; she brought her hands up to cover her mouth. "You look so beautiful." She mumbled, blinking back tears
"Thanks mum," Isabella said feeling slightly awkward, it was just a dress.
"Do you like it?" Hermione asked, almost reluctantly, fearing her daughter will say no, but Isabella felt bad for being moody about the party already, and it was a nice dress, so she smiled at her mum and nodded. "Well, we'll get some things to go with it." She said softly, Isabella nodded and changed back into her jeans and t-shirt, putting the dress on its hanger and handing it to her mum to carry.
"Mum you know I won't be able to walk in those!" Isabella laughed as her mum held up a pair of high heeled shoes; Hermione rolled her eyes at the sixteen year old.
"You could learn," Hermione insisted.
"Without breaking my neck?" Isabella asked grinning, she looked around and saw another pair, they were silver and would go nicely with the dress, plus they weren't nearly as high. "What about these?"
Hermione looked at the shoes and smiled.
"Perfect," She said happily. "Now all we need is jewellery, though, maybe we should get you some make-up, I mean, do you really have anything?"
"Other then the Mascara and Lip-gloss Ginny got me for Christmas, not really," Isabella replied furrowing her brows, she wasn't good at makeup, only ever really grasping how to apply mascara without smudging it recently.
"Maybe we should get someone in; it is after all a special event," Hermione said thoughtfully, and relief washed over Isabella, that was a good idea. "Do you want your hair done?"
"I was going to ask Ginny," Isabella replied instantly.
"Well of course we'll have Ginny do it, but is there anything you want done, I had mine put up for the Yule ball, and again for my wedding," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"Hadn't really thought much about it mum," Isabella admitted. Other then knowing it would be Ginny who did her hair she hadn't thought twice about it, Ginny was the obvious choice, as well as being her parents' best friend she was also a famous hair stylist now.
"Well, we'll talk to her later about it, now come on; we need to find you some jewellery," Hermione said.
Isabella rolled her eyes, she knew full well that when her mother was her age she wasn't interested in make-up and clothes, but ever since she realised Isabella was in fact growing up she had started taking an interest in it all. Or maybe she was like what happened with Ginny, who hadn't realised she was any good with hair until she started doing her own for social parties and such, and now she was famous for it. Either way, her mother had developed a small (Understatement much?) liking for shopping. Mind you she earns the money to be able to afford it.
Hermione Potter was a world renowned author as well as working for the ministry under the Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures. Her father, Harry Potter was the youngest Head Auror, ever. Money would have hardly be a problem if neither of the worked anyway, they had inherited the Potter Fortune.
Eventually Hermione had found something which she and Isabella could agree upon and then they left the busying streets and returned home. The house was empty when they arrived, as Harry was still at work.
Well when I say the house was empty that doesn't include Delilah, their house elf, which Harry had convinced Hermione to keep, as long as they paid her for her work and she was given holidays.
"Hello Delilah," Isabella said as she passed the house elf as she walked into the kitchen.
"Hello Missus Isabella. Can Delilah help with anything?" The house elf squeaked, looking up at Isabella with big blue eyes.
"I'm alright thanks," The sixteen year old replied with a smile, Delilah nodded and left the room.
"Sweetheart your dress is in your closet, and your jewellery is on your dressing table!" Hermione called from the living room.
"Thanks mum." Isabella replied, she sighed and leaned against the counter. Across from her on the wall hung loads of photos. Each was perfect, happy and brilliant.
She was in her own world staring at a picture of herself and her father sitting together on the sofa, he was reading to her and Hermione had snuck up and taken a photo by surprise, that's when Ariel, her barn owl, flew through the window.
Bells
Nice to hear from you so soon, glad you're feeling good, mum tells me your birthday party is due just before you head back to good old Hogwarts, though I dunno why Harry and Hermione are even bothering, it's not like you're going to survive the year without me.
Australia has been good, it's different over here, you'd love it. Father insists that I am going to end up lost in the middle of the out back, mum seems to agree with him.
I miss you loads, I will manage to get back in time for your birthday, promise.
Emmett.
Isabella smiled at the letter, it wasn't as long as she had hoped it would be, and he didn't go into any detail at all, but she was glad to hear from her oldest friend.
Emmett Malfoy, the son of Draco and Ginny Malfoy, a year older than Isabella, had gone off to Australia for the year, and he expected her to survive on her own. It was bad enough he wouldn't be at Hogwarts with her, to then find he wouldn't even be in the same country.
"Bella!" She heard a familiar voice cry, and before she even had time to look up she found herself in an even more familiar embrace.
"DAD! You're home early!" Isabella cried hugging her dad back with just as much enthusiasm.
"They didn't need me there, so I decided to come home early and see my two favourite ladies," Harry said with a chuckle kissing the top of his daughters head. "Where's your mum?"
"I'm here,," Hermione said, leaning against the doorframe, smile playing on her face.
Harry pulled his wife into his arms and kissed her deeply, causing Isabella to cringe, covering her eyes.
Hermione laughed at her daughter.
"Who wrote to you?" Hermione asked as she stood up straight.
"Emmett, he's enjoying Australia," Isabella replied, a mixture of happy and sad.
"He'll be home soon enough," Hermione said with a knowing smile at her daughter. Though her daughter was of course clueless about her own feelings, typical teenager.
"So tomorrow, you excited?" Harry asked as he sat with Isabella outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, both of them were holding a tub of ice cream that was melting quickly in the summer heat of mid august.
"Excited and nervous," Isabella admitted, shovelling ice cream into her mouth. Harry grinned at her. "I can see Emily coming now, dad. I'll be home by eight, that's alright isn't it?" Isabella asked as she stood up and picked up her handbag.
"Of course," Harry replied as he too stood up, Isabella kissed him on the cheek swiftly before disappearing into the crowds towards her friend; Harry chuckled to himself and made towards the Gringotts.
"Emily!" Isabella cried hugging her friend. Emily grinned as she returned the hug. The pair linked arms and made their way towards the nearest café for a cold drink.
Emily Davis was Isabella's second best friend, a seventh year (or well, will be at least) Ravenclaw, the pair had met on the train, and hit it off instantly. Emily was smaller then Isabella, with short blonde hair and striking blue eyes, her skin was pale, almost glowing, and she was stunning in Isabella's eyes, or well everyone's really.
"How's Emmett?" Emily asked slyly as the waiter set their drinks down on the table.
"I got a letter from him, but it was only short," Isabella replied obliviously.
"Well at least he replied, y'know it takes Hugo weeks to reply to any of my letters if at all, and we've been going out for almost two years," Emily said pointedly, Hugo Weasley was the son of Ron and Lavender, the same age as Emily and Isabella, well in years at least, maturity was another matter altogether.
"Don't be too hard on Hugo; he ain't the brightest of the bunch," Isabella said fondly, she got on well with Hugo, well not surprising since she was practically raised with the Weasleys and Malfoys for that matter.
"You date him then," Emily said rolling her eyes, then laughed when she caught the expression on Isabella's face. Gross much?
"If I could go back in time I would never introduce you two," Isabella promised with a smirk, Emily rolled her eyes again.
"So any lurve interests?" Emily asked teasingly. She already knew the answer.
"Nothing has caught my eye." Isabella replied with a shrug.
It was the exactly same answer every time anyone ever asked her any variation of that question. Anyone who wasn't Isabella could see the girl was bloody well blind to her own feelings. But Isabella was Isabella.
"I heard Melinda got caught by her dad drinking," Emily informed Isabella with a smirk. "And when I say drinking I mean she was wasted, and in a very compromising position with Fabian Clark."
"You are such a gossip Emily," Isabella laughed, still wondering after all these years how Emily managed to stay out of Slytherin.
"It's a talent," Emily replied grinning.
"More like a damn curse, boring much?" Isabella said with a laugh.
See how this friendship works? Emily Davis, the popular girl with a bit of heart, and a big mouth. Isabella Potter, the quiet one, with a lot of friends. Yes both were popular, but in different ways. Emily was the definition of 'the popular girl'; Isabella had popularity thrust upon her as the (kinda) downside to having a lot of friends.
"Shut up, you know you love it really," Emily drawled with a grin. Isabella was the one to roll her eyes this time.
"Yeah like a hole in my head."
Eventually the sun begun to set and Isabella checked her watch to realised it was starting to get late and her mum would start to worry, regardless of what her dad said.
"I'll see you tomorrow, right?" Isabella asked as she got to her feet.
"Bet your pretty little head I'll be there," Emily replied as she paid their tab.
The two girls embraced before leaving towards different ends of the street.
"So what do you think?" Ginny asked as she smiled at her work. Isabella turned slowly to face the mirror; her hair was looking pretty good. It was waist length, and done into big barrel curls, only it was pulled into a half pony tail, held together by a pink sapphire clip.
"I really like it," Isabella said smiling at Ginny, the older woman grinned.
"I knew you would," Ginny said, running her hand through her own shoulder length ruby locks.
There was a knock at the door and Isabella turned to see Emmett standing there. She smiled brightly.
And then she stopped smiling.
Beside him was a girl she did not recognise, and girl who was too tanned to be English, and too pretty for Isabella's liking.
"Bells, I wanted you to meet someone. I was going to write it in a letter but I just wanted you to meet her, this is Callie," Emmett said happily.
Callie smiled in a friendly way at Isabella who had simply frozen to the spot.
"Hey, I'm Emmett's girlfriend," Callie said.
"You don't mind do you, I mean I know it's your party and Callie isn't technically invited, but she doesn't know anyone in England, and I thought it would be nice to bring her with me." Emmett asked, he was grinning boyishly, oblivious to anything that might be wrong.
"O-of course not," Isabella replied tonelessly. Emmett grinned at her, and then left with a wink.
Bugger.
