30th August, 1997

Arabella awoke in her dreary bedroom once again. Her muscles groaned loudly as she sat up and let out a sigh. Another day, more torment to come. The only thing keeping her going these days was the prospect of Hogwarts and meeting her mate. Only two more days and she would be free of this hellhole. Bella would never return to this dreary room, haunted house or her psychotic uncle ever again.

She still needed to visit Diagon Alley for her school supplies, and she was running out of time before term starts. Nothing like leaving things to the last minute. Rather than leaving it until tomorrow, Bella decided that she should race out today in order to purchase her necessary items after a quick trip to Gringotts to withdrawal money from her vault. She was lucky her parents had thought of it before they died and left her the sole recipient of their small fortune. Her family wasn't Malfoy level rich, but the money left in her account would leave her comfortable for many years. In fact, the sole reason she hadn't used it to leave the torturing chamber she called home was the age restriction her father had set. Her father being half-blood cape from a household that upheld both muggle and wizard traditions, and he believed that she should not come into the assets until she turned eighteen years old. Of course, she still had access to the funds for her schooling, but there was a set withdrawal limit which did not allow for purchase of something as extravagant as her own place.

Without another thought Arabella quickly got herself ready for the day ahead, glancing in the mirror on her way out of her bedroom which made her stop suddenly. Her right eye had darkened and swelled immensely overnight. This would only draw unwanted attention, so quickly pulling out her wand from the sleeve of her coat, Arabella concealed the black eye insisting she would purchase a healing potion while she was out today. Of course, she would have to sneak out fast before her tormentor awoke to find her missing. It was times like this, she was surprised she wasn't placed in Slytherin. Bella was a proud Ravenclaw but to survive in this household for a little over a decade, she had to adapt and developed an aptitude for being sneaky when the opportunity presented itself.

As quickly and quietly as she could, Arabella made her way out the front door and down the street with her wand gripped tightly in her left hand. Cautiously glancing over her shoulder, she found a secluded alley not far from the house and apparated directly to the Leaky Cauldron. Bella was just thankful she had managed to escape the house to get her apparation license after her seventeenth birthday and coming into her inheritance.

Arriving in the crowded pub, she pushed her way out to the entrance to Diagon Alley and promptly tapped the bricks as she was shown by Professor McGonagall before her first year at Hogwarts. Stepping into the Alley, a frown was displayed on the young veela's face as she glanced around at the battered stores. It seems even Weasley's Wizard Wheezes has been affected by the war currently happening in its doorstep.

Arabella sped through the street to the grand entrance of Gringotts bank. Despite the general destruction going on around it, she could see almost no fault with the exterior. Eyeing the warning sign warily, Bella slowed her pace down to calmly make her way through the door. She had always had a slight distaste for goblins and dreaded the annual trip into the bank each year. It wasn't their general appearance that had her shuddering each time she walked through the door. It was their grouchy attitude and rude demeanour. The goblins always seemed distrustful and judgemental to any witch or wizard that graced them with their presence. Making the transaction as efficiently as she did, had only come with practice, and once complete Bella exited the bank the way she came.

Glancing at the well-worn wristwatch on her right arm, Arabella rushed off to complete her few errands with haste. She had never seen Florish and Blott's so empty. As she scanned the shelves effectively finding the books she needed, she noticed only one other customer in the entire store. Before any interaction may occur, Bella made her purchases and placed them into her purse. Undetectable extension charms had been her saving grace over summer holidays. It had made hiding magical items from her uncle much easier.

One last errand to run before Arabella could return home where severe fury and punishment awaited her. She was not looking forward to the aftermath of her unapproved field trip. If the wizarding world was safer, she would have had no problem lingering within Diagon Alley for the remainder of the day. As it were, it seemed best to hurry along due to avoid any trouble she may stumbled across by accident.

Entering Slug and Jigger's Apothecary, it appeared just as quiet as the book store. Bella made her way to the rack of brewed potions along the back wall. Scanning the shelves, she found the ones she needed to heal her current injuries, before mentally checking them off in her head to ensure she had chosen the correct ones. To stock up her potion ingredients for class, she only needed some boomslang skin, knotgrass and bat spleen. Carefully selecting her ingredients, Arabella took her time at this task. She had always believed that the best quality ingredients made for better quality potions. Once she had collected all her required items, she made her way to the counter and paid for them before promptly heading out the door.

The temperature outside seemed to have dropped drastically and she could now see her breath in front of her. The feelings of depression and dread had made their way through her body which made the hair on her neck stand up. Only one thing caused this type of reaction. Dementors. Knowing how poor her Patronus charm was, Bella picked up her pace hoping to make it back to the Leaky Cauldron as fast as possible. Just as she stepped inside the door, she spotted the hovering, hooded figure just metres behind her. Pulling the door shut, she sighed in relief.

She had barely escaped the monster's clutches once more. Each day she had to face a new demon, it shouldn't have been a surprise that today it just happens to be a soul-sucking skeleton. Arabella stepped up to the apparation point and turned on the spot, heading back to her most frequent demon. Uncle Barnabas...

Author's Note: This is more of a needed filler chapter. The purpose will be revealed in the next chapter. September 1st will be the basis of Chapter 6 so excited for that. Sorry if this didn't seem to significant to the plot but it was definitely needed.

Disclaimer: Of course, I do not own Harry Potter or any of the places/stores/creatures that appear in this chapter. I only own Arabella and Uncle Barnabas. Thanks :)