Bella groaned and rolled over, opening one eye as Artemis, her snowy owl, flew in through the open window and deposited a letter on her bed just before dawn, nibbling her ear to wake her, hooting gently. Yawning and sitting up, she pulled it towards her, removing the red ribbon from the roll of parchment. Unrolling it, she found only an extremely short message:

Come watch the sunrise? The terrace on the roof of my house.

Love,

Amara

Ps: I have breakfast.

Bella shrugged to herself. It would be another few hours at least before a house-elf would arrive to wake her. Wrapping her blanket more tightly around her, Bella closed her eyes and apparated.

"Hey there." Bella opened her eyes to find herself nose to nose with Amara. She grinned widely.

"Hi." She pounced on her friend, wrapping her in a giant hug and, simultaneously, the blanket. They rolled over and over, giggling widely. "I missed you." She moved so they lay side by side, her head on Amara's shoulder.

"I missed you too." Amara kissed the top of her head and sat up. "Breakfast?"

Bella shook her head, sitting up as well. "Just coffee, thanks." She gladly accepted the steaming cup that was passed to her, taking a sip. "I have brunch with my fiancée today." She grimaced into her coffee.

"Ugh." Amara bit into a scone slathered in clotted cream and raspberry jam. "How horrible for you."

"At least I get to meet him before the ceremony. My mother didn't get that…privilege."

Amara frowned. "I don't like the way they treat you. It's as though you're something to be sold, or traded or something."

"Well in this situation, I am." Bella replied honestly, taking another sip of her coffee. She smiled grimly at her friend. "Don't worry Amara."

Amara avoided her eyes, looking into the distance. "Look, the sun's rising." She whispered, softly.

Bella leaned against her, watching the sun come up over the trees.

They stayed like that for a long time.

Finally, Bella sighed. "I should go." Amara nodded and stood up, offering Bella a hand and pulling her up.

"Come back after?"

Bella wrapped her blanket back around her. "I'll try. It might be late though, I'll have to wait until everyone is asleep."

"That's fine." They stood for a minute. Suddenly, Amara moved forward and hugged her fiercely. "Be careful, Bella."

Bella grinned crookedly at her. "I will." Then she disappeared, leaving Amara alone.