Year: 1990
"Hurry up, Bella!" the tall brunette called back at Rosabella as he sprinted down the hill, his black skates banging against his back.
"I'm coming!" Rosabella shouted at him, as she attempted to stop herself from tumbling down the steep grassy hill.
"Bella! Quick!" He added, finally reaching the diamond silver lake, with Rosabella only a few meters behind him. "Look!" He breathed, shocked by the surroundings.
Rosabella watched as the lake slowly began to freeze over, her own dainty white skates dangling over her shoulder. "Wow!" Rosabella gaped in awe, as she bent down, running her fingers over the crystal clear ice. "Can we really skate on it?" Rosabella asked, tilting her head in doubt.
"Of course," the older boy nodded, taking a seat on the grassy slant to tie up his black skates. "Come on, Bella," he encouraged, helping her finish tying her pristine white skates, before stepping onto the smooth, delicate ice, hand in hand. The pair floated across the ice, practising their elaborate jumps and spins as time evaporated around them. The sun stared at the world without pause through the crystal clear sky, as it radiated down on them as they skated across the cool ice, practising their competition routines.
All was well until the ice underneath Rosabella slowly began to crack. The dreaded sound reaching her ears only after she dug her sharp, metal pick into the ice, rotating her body fully as she launched herself into the air. "Bella!" the boy screamed as he watched the ice begin to cave in underneath her, Rosabella cutting her calf with the blade in the distracted moment she attempted to land on the watery ice below her.
Rosabella immediately cried out in agony, the older boy rushing over to aid her. "Bella? Are you okay?" he asked, anxiety filling his voice as the white ice of the lake slowly turn red from the seeping blood of Rosabella's wound. The boy attempted to help her as she started to sink, her shrieks resonated out into the tranquil serenity that surrounded the once diamond white lake. The icy water pushed down on her from all sides, forcing her underneath. She pushed on the ice that had closed off her entry, the face of her friend stuck on the other side.
Her lungs burned for more air, and her gushing leg creating a pool of red around her. The frozen water-filled her lungs and she lost all strength to fight, the weight of her skates pulling her down towards the darkness of the bottom. The young boy watched in horror as his friend pounded against the ice, but failed. Her face slowly disappearing from the bloody surface that separated them and he couldn't do anything to stop it.
"Rosie darling," Rosabella's mother Katherine said, rubbing the small of her young daughters back, "it's time to wake up sweetie," she cooed attempting to get the nine-year-old out of bed. Today was an especially eventful and most definitely exciting day for the young girl. It was the 19th of September, her best friends birthday.
"Five more minutes, mum," The little girl slurred, shaking her head. Rosabella refusing to open her eyes, attempted to pull the covers over her head, shielding her from the morning sunshine, her dreams had refused her sufficient sleep yet again.
"Uh-ah," Katherine protested, pulling the covers back down over her head, "If you want to go to Hermione's house for her birthday today, you have to get up now, honey," The young mother persuaded her sleepy daughter out of bed.
"Fine, I'm up," Rosabella sighed, finally opening her eyes, to reveal a beautiful pair of sapphire orbs.
"That's my little Rosie," Katherine smiled brightly, patting the sheets beside her daughter. "Come, let's get you ready," Katherine answered, opening Rocabella's large cream french windows, allowing the warm summer breeze to flow throughout the room.
"Good morning, mum," Rosabella greeted her mother with a hug half asleep as she made her way towards the bathroom off her bedroom.
"I love you, honey," Katherine replied wrapping her arms around her daughter's small figure as she passed. "Let's get you ready and fed, before you have to leave, alright?" She questioned and Rosabella gave a small nod as she exited the bathroom.
Rosabella pulled her cutoff denim jeans, grey woollen knit jumper and her shiny silver ballet flats, off the racks from inside her wardrobe, placing them on the freshly made bed her mother had just finished fixing. The little girl dressed herself with the assistance of her mother at times, in a short six minutes.
"Alright, Rosie, what braid are we doing today?" Katherine asked emerging from the wardrobe, where she had folded and put away Rocabella's nightwear, before walking into the bathroom where Rosabella was already waiting, brushing through her long golden locks.
Rosabella scrunched up her face excitedly, as her mother rested her chin on her head, grinning at her through the mirror. "French braids, please," Katherine smiled, as her daughter handed her the brush to begin.
Rosabella swiftly dragged the chair into the centre, hopping up with the assistance of her mother, "Alright Rosie, sit still while I part your hair," Katherine instructed her bubbling daughter as she grabbed a tooth comb from the bottom draw. The blonde woman quickly braided her daughter's hair, adding two sapphire blue ribbons on the ends of both the braids, to match her stunning eyes. "Let's get you some breakfast, darling," Katherine hummed, picking up her daughter and placing her on the ground.
Rosabella raced down the left marble staircase, to see both Scout and Patch waiting for her patiently at the bottom. The two dogs began panting hysterically as they chased Rosabella around the foyer and towards the kitchen, skidding into the wall as the young girl made a swift turn on them.
"Morning dad," Rosabella chirped, running towards her father for a hug, the two dogs on her tail once more. Matthew laughed, serving up the buttermilk pancakes he had just cooked.
"Hey, Sweetie," Matthew scooped his daughter up into his arms embracing her tightly, as his wife Katherine took a seat on the island. "You excited to see Hermione today?" He questioned the little girl resting in his arms.
Rosabella nodded eagerly, "Of course!" Rosabella clarified for her father, give him a look of "why wouldn't I be?"
"I know, darling, I'm just checking," Matthew mused to his daughter, chuckling at her change of tone. "Now pancakes with whipped cream, maple syrup and blueberries for my beautiful little Rosie," He said holding up the plate of pancakes in his daughter's reach.
"Yay!" Rosabella cheered, "Just the way I like it, daddy," She giggled, kissing his cheek as she sneaked a whipped cream covered blueberry into her mouth.
Katherine seated at the white island, sipped on her coffee as she skimmed through the daily prophet, exchanging words with her husband regarding the latest Ministry scandals. "It's concerning, to say the least," Katherine sighed, folding up the paper.
Matthew just nodded in agreement, watching as his daughter ate her pancakes oblivious to the world around. Rosabella jumped down from the barstool, racing back up the white marble stairs, too quick this time for her fluffy four-legged friends to realise. Rosabella packed her white polka dot backpack with her favourite novel from Flourish and Blotts, Hermione's present and some lollies she sneaked from the kitchen this morning, while her parents were talking.
"Are you ready, Rosie?" Rosabella heard her mother call from downstairs.
"I'm coming," She quickly shouted back, zipping up her bag as she descended the stairs for the third time. Katherine opened the large black wooden doors, as the little girl finished walking towards her, "Bye dad," Rosabella shouted through the house, as she followed her mother along the porch towards the car.
"Bye Rosie," Matthew smiled from the front door, as Rosabella jumped into the front seat of the car. "Have a nice day, sweetie," he waved closing the black doors once more.
The mother-daughter pair drove happily to Hermione's house down the road, singing along to Madonna's Vogue. "We will pick you up at 2:30pm, for your lessons, okay?" Katherine told her daughter, who just nodded as she sung along to the radio. "Rosie, wait for me, darling," Katherine called out to her daughter, who was half way down the driveway already, having jumped out as soon as the car stopped.
"Come on, mum," Rosabella grinned uncontrollably, as she pulled her mother towards Hermione's front door. The young girl played with the sapphire bows of her braids as she waited at the door.
"Rosie, darling," Jean breathed, happily hugging the little girl as she opened the front door. "How are you?" She questioned, gesturing for her and Katherine to come inside.
"I'm good, thank you," Rosabella smiled, "I can't wait to see 'Mione," She responded, bouncing on the balls of her feet excitedly.
"She's just upstairs," Jean said pointing Rosabella in the direction of the staircase "Why don't you head up there, and I'll have a little chat with your mother," Jean told the little blonde girl, who quickly farewelled her mother, rushing up the stairs to see her best friend.
"Hermione?" Rosabella called out to her friend when she reached the top of the stairs.
A click of a doorknob and some bushy brown hair flew around the corner to greet Rosabella, "Rosie?" Hermione breathed excitedly when she saw her best friend waiting for her.
Rosabella giggled as she nodded her head."Happy Birthday 'Mione!" She hugged her friend tightly, before handing over her present.
Hermione's face lit up at the sight, "Thank you, Rosie," the brunette thanked, holding the perfectly wrapped present in her hands.
"So what shall we do today?" Rosabella quizzed Hermione as they walked towards her bedroom down the hall, "It's your special day, you get to pick," Rosabella smiled as she sat on Hermione's white floral bed.
"First of all, it's our special day," Hermione corrected her friend, "and I thought we could play this new board game I received for my birthday," She suggested holding up the Cluedo board game for Rosabella to see.
The blonde girl eagerly nodded her head, "That's sounds fun," Rosabella said grabbing the box from Hermione and placing it on the floor, to set up. The two girls played board games and talked for hours, as time vanished around them, however, a knock at Hermione's door set that fun on pause.
"Hermione dear," Jean called out, as the white wooden door swung opened, "There is someone downstairs who wishes to see you," she informed her daughter, whose face was plastered with confusion.
"I'll pack up 'Mione and meet you down there," Rosabella offered, gesturing for her friend to go downstairs. Hermione gave a simple nod, quietly walking out of the room with her mother.
It didn't take very long for Rosabella to put her friend's room back in order and decide to give Hermione some space with her guests downstairs. The young girl played with her braids as she read through her favourite novel from Flourish and Blotts, completely losing track of time, as she waited for Hermione. An hour passed and Hermione was yet to return, slightly confused Rosabella closed her book, holding it to her chest as she walked down the stairs of the Grangers home.
Rosabella heard voices as she descended the stairs, one voice in particular. "Dumbledore?" Rosabella accidentally breathed aloud, and upon realising, quickly covered her mouth with her tiny hands.
The small blonde girl heard him chuckle, "You can come off the stairs, Rosabella," Dumbledore's called at to her and Rosabella obliged walking into the living room. "Rosabella, you look well," The old man said greeting the small girl with a hug as she walked over to him.
"What are you doing here?" Rosabella questioned curiously.
Dumbledore smiled down at the little girl, "I came here, informing the Granger's that their daughter is a witch," Dumbledore explained, gesturing towards Hermione and the Grangers, "I just finished explaining everything,"
Rosabella's mouth gaped open, "Hermione's a witch," Rosabella asked excitedly looking into Dumbledore's eyes.
"Yes, she is," Dumbledore nodded, "Just like you," he finished pointing at Rosabella gently.
"You're a witch too?" Hermione asked in pure shock, "but how can you control your magic? I didn't even know I had it! I made some horrible things happen to some people and…" Hermione rambled confused, as Rosabella took a seat next to her friend.
Rosabella giggled at her friend's rambling nature, "My parents taught me. You see they are both witches and wizards too," Rosabella explained to her friend. "But 'Mione this is so exciting, I can't believe we are both witches," she grinned, quickly changing the subject.
"I know," Hermione nodded in agreement, hugging her best friend with excitement, "I'm going to Hogwarts," Hermione breathed, as her parents spoke more closely with Dumbledore.
"Dumbledore," Rosabella spoke, regaining the man's attention, "Do you think, my parents can take Hermione and her parents to Diagon Alley for school supplies?" Rosabella asked the old man hopefully, as she held her friends hand tightly.
"That would be best, my dear," Dumbledore agreed, "Now I must be off, but if you have any queries I'm sure, Katherine and Matthew would be happy to help answer or even little Rosabella," Dumbledore informed the Grangers, before rising from his seat and heading towards the door.
2:30 came sooner than Rosabella expected and her mother like promised was here to pick her up for dance. Dumbledore had informed Matthew of Hermione, who agreed to visit the Grangers if they had any further questions. Rosabella farewelled Hermione, leaving her to spend the rest of her birthday with her family, as she attended her dance lessons.
Please read and review!
Vanilla xx