I'm really sorry this chapter took so long, I've been a little busy. Also, this chapter gave me some troubles, I rewrote it twice and I'm still not thrilled with it but I don't think it'll get any better haha...thanks for the feedback, I hope you like it.
It had become nothing out of the ordinary for Bella's thoughts to dwell on Tom Riddle for several minutes at a time during the day. Whenever there was a break in her concentration, it had almost become a habit for that dark haired spectacle to seep its way into her mind. It wasn't like Bella to wear he heart on her sleeve, so it was near impossible for anyone to tell what she was feeling, nevertheless thinking. So she went about her schooldays, floating in between an attentive tunnel vision and an absent minded bliss. She wasn't going to deny that this new friend made her happy. Tom was easy to talk to, he was funny, smart, and could carry an actual conversation that consisted of neither gossip nor irritating body bashing.
They seemed to understand each other like no one else in the world could. There was an unspoken fascination between the two, constantly wanting to know more about the other and neither wanting to talk about themselves. Neither came from a perfect home life, and finally being able to find solace in each other was something Bella likened to coming up for breath after being held underwater for years. Never had she known someone like Tom before. And she had the impression that he felt the same way.
For a while, Bella would get irate or jealous looks from other girls as she passed by Tom at her side. It had circulated, naturally, that hr and Tom were "together", which they were not. When the rumor started to die down and people realized they were just good friends, girls began throwing themselves at Tom again, something he seemed oblivious to.
It was true that they weren't an item, but Bella certainly saw their relationship as more than friendship. They were best friends, soul mates to be bold. But Bella felt a bond with Tom that was stronger than any she had experienced. He was special. Her exception.
It was Saturday afternoon. Bella had been in the common room reading when Tom invited her to join him at the Three Broomsticks, to which she happily obliged. After Tom had ordered them a couple butterbeers and a slice of pumpkin pie, only made during the autumn and winter seasons, they sat at a table, eagerly waiting for the warmth to radiate to the rest of their bodies. Tom glanced out the window.
"It's always so beautiful here when it snows," he sighed admiringly. Bella followed his gaze and saw a glistening landscape of whitewashed hills that rolled into a pure horizon. All the water was frozen, and large snowflakes fluttered down to gently land on top of the others, sheet after sheet. Not too far off was Hogwarts, spires and towers jutting into the chilled firmament.
Bella also loved the grounds around the school during the winter, the holiday season bringing a feeling of infectious joy. Hogwarts had a way of bringing people happiness that wasn't artificial, the air seemingly filled with a kind of euphoria inducing drug.
"So are you going home for holidays?" Tom asked. Bella turned from the window with a morose expression, something she normally did at the mention of "home".
"Yeah. Well I sort of have to…to be with the family and all."
"You don't want to go home then?"
Of course Bella loved her sisters, but the rest of her family was entirely abhorrent. They were prejudiced, haughty snobs that took far too much pride in their social status, something they tried to distill in the younger generations as soon as possible. It never really stuck with Bella, seeing her family as a repulsive bunch.
"Well…" she hesitated, not wanting to lie, but also not wanting to talk about why she disliked them so much. "No. No, I would be happy to be anywhere but there for the holidays. Or any day for that matter," she blurted. Just then their order arrived and she distracted herself by wrapping her icy hands around the hot foaming mug and held it close to her face before taking a sip.
"Oh," was all Tom said. Bella wasn't sure if his tone was understanding or retreating and looked up from her drink apologetically. She remembered his situation, not really having a home or family to go home too. He lived in many different places, orphanages, foster homes, and suddenly she felt very guilty.
"Sorry," she said quietly. "I…I know you don't really-"
"Why are you apologizing," he asked suddenly, almost offended.
"I uh…I," Bella stuttered. "I don't know."
Tom smiled at her as he took a swig of his beverage.
"I love Hogwarts. Staying here with a majority of the student body gone? It's peaceful and quiet and…great," he laughed, ducking his head to give himself a chastising look at his uncharacteristically menial vocabulary.
Bella let slip a giggle, slightly jealous of the solitude he had the privilege to experience in the giant castle.
"Although, I have to admit it would be immensely more enjoyable had I a friend here as well. Even thought the stillness is nice, it can get a bit boring," Tom had run his sentences together so quickly that Bella almost didn't catch his implicit suggestion. Once she did though, her eyes widened and she looked up through her lashes to lock eyes as one corner of his mouth tugged upwards.
"You're friends with everyone. I don't think there's one person here that wouldn't want to be your friend," Bella mocked.
"I mean a good friend," there was much less innuendo in this statement since he looked directly into Bella's eyes, but it wasn't meant in a flirtatious manner, he really wanted a friend with him for the holidays and Bella supposed that she was maybe the first honestly true friend he had. She had a tugging in her stomach telling her to stay with him, she wanted to.
"I don't think I can," she said looking away sadly, shattering the tacit game Tom was playing. "My father wouldn't be very happy about that."
"You're sure?" Tom said, hope clinging to his words. She thought for a moment, inhaling the scent of butterscotch and spices slowly.
"My father's not really one for making exceptions. And my family would never let me forget about the year that I ditched them for school," Bella rolled her eyes.
"Not a joyous bunch, are they?"
Bella scoffed and shook her head vigorously.
"I literally can't think of the last time one of them said something nice about someone else. They're all so negative."
"What do they do for fun?" Tom asked with a slightly amused laugh.
"Fun for them is gossiping about how muggleborns and half bloods are abominations to society," Bella did her best impression of a snobby old lady. "It's not funny," she added when Tom laughed more.
"So they're into the whole blood purity debate."
"Oh, to them there's no debate. Purebloods are considered royalty and everything else is considered dirty and obscene. My family takes blood purity very seriously," Bella said as she sipped her butterbeer.
"Makes sense, most Slytherin families are like that. Lots of legacies and whatnot." Tom unbuttoned his coat and shrugged it off his shoulders, placing it carefully on the back of the chair.
"Yeah well, it gets a bit irritating to be honest," she looked down at the table, her family not being one of her favorite topics. "I'm not even allowed to socialize with people that aren't pureblood."
Tom looked at her, a sudden soreness in his eyes, but he remained silent. There wasn't much comfort he could offer her at this point, her family wasn't going to change.
"I used to be friends with this girl, her name was Flora Finnigan. I think we were about 6 or so when she moved in next door. Anyway, we spent a lot of time playing together and running around the neighborhood, completely carefree." Bella held a reminiscent smile still staring at the table and Tom focused on her face so intently he could see her irises contract when a beam of sunlight suddenly caused to room to brighten.
"We would go to the park and see who could go higher on the swings, thinking that if he went high enough, we could fly all the way over. We couldn't wait to go to Hogwarts together either, we imagined the day we would get our letters, leave on the train, what house we would be sorted in, all of it."
Bella's smile disappeared suddenly.
"But one day, I guess my father had been talking to her parents, he found out that her mother was actually muggle born. So…he basically spat in her face and dragged me home by the arm, telling me I could never see Flora or her family again. I cried for days. I threw tantrums constantly wishing that I was part of their family instead. I told my dad I wanted muggle born parents too, associating that to actual kindness and affection, something he didn't necessarily provide after mum died. And my dad, well-"
She couldn't really say anymore than that, the afternoon already taking a turn. Not wanting to push any painful memories that he could tell were swimming around in her mind, Tom stood up and put on his coat. He offered a hand to Bella whose eyes glistened with a barely noticeable moisture and without saying another word, they left and made their way back to the school. He also put an arm around her shoulder while they walked, a gesture meant to comfort as well as keep her from seeing the pained expression on his face.
When they got back, people were chatting excitedly about a rumor that there was going to be an important announcement at supper, many making guesses as to what it could be, all rather dull and non-intriguing. Bella wasn't holding her breath.
She should have, though, because near the end of supper, Professor Dumbledore stood at the professor's table to address the animated group of students.
"Quiet, quiet," he stated calmly. Every person in the room ceased all activity and fell silent, listening intently, as was always the case when Dumbledore spoke.
"As the end of your first term approaches, I know that excitement runs high and attention spans fall short. But I would like to advise you to keep your fullest level of attention in class, especially those of you in your fifth year, and carry on with your studies. That being said, I have a special announcement to make."
Anyone who wasn't paying attention before certainly was now. Some wiggled anxiously in their seats.
"Some of you may know that our dear Galatea Merrythought, professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, has made the onerous decision to retire this year," Dumbledore said.
Many students started to mumble to their neighbors, some with disappointed looks, some with completely passive faces, but Dumbledore waited patiently for their attention again.
"As is tradition as Hogwarts, we have planned to hold a celebration for her valiant efforts and contributions to this school. So as to show our dear obeisance and admiration…" he paused, preparing for the ineluctable reaction, "…there will be held here in two weeks time…a ball."
Almost immediately, the hall erupted in excited shuffling with no effort at all being made to stay relatively quiet. Bella wasn't a huge fan of dances. There were people crowding, someone always ends up crying in the girls lavatory, and all that effort just to try and "out-pretty" all the other girls were things that she couldn't help but be put off by. One of the few things she did like was how beautifully the Great Hall was decorated and the meals that were prepared for the dinner before.
Dumbledore still stood at his chair and watched the waves of joy roll through the rippling sea of students.
"Dismissed," he called suddenly, prompting everyone to stand at the same time and rush to the door, hurrying off to their dorms to plan for the event only a fortnight away. They would send for anything and everything; new shoes, jewelry, dress robes, etc.
Bella walked back to the common room as animatedly as any other night, which wasn't really at all. Maybe she didn't have to go. But she did like Professor Merrythought, it would be inconsiderate not to show up to what was essentially her retirement party. She wondered how Tom felt about it.
She started looking for him, craning her neck over the crowd around her, but to no avail, so she decided to just head back to her room.
Once there, Bella was greeted by her room mates. All had practically emptied the contents of their trunks comparing the components of the one formal outfit they were required to bring that year. Going back to their usual girly chatter, Bella wondered how they were even friends. Sometimes they got along perfectly, but most of the time, more often now, they were completely different.
With a weary shuffle, she went to her bed and lay down with a soft thud, turning onto her side to face the window and her back to the rest of the room. The sky had frozen into a dark blue, the reflection of the moonlight on the snow preventing it from turning black. There was a complete absence of wind as she watched soft snowflakes drift down in a silent whisper. Bellatrix could almost feel the crisp air fill her nostrils as she drifted off to sleep.
Wow, I'm sorry, I really don't like this chapter at all...it's not cohesive and it's all over the place and I would love for it to be better, but I was not about to redo it a fourth time. Sorry again, this is definitely not my best work...
UPDATE 30/8/2013: I'm sorry chapter 5 is taking so long, I went on vacation where I got a little writing done, came back, and have since been dealing with a lot of unpleasant stuff. But I got a lot finished today and will be editing the final draft tomorrow so it should be up by the end of the week. Sorry again, hopefully soon I'll be able to get my groove back and write more often because I love it. Thanks :D