A New Found Love
Chapter 7: Cullens
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. I only own Ashley.
Bella's POV
I am thinking of ways so that the Cullens won't recognize me.
I just couldn't face them yet.
How could I tell them that I lied to them about my identity?
How could I admit that Isabella Marie Swan never existed?
What will I do? Will I forgive them and let them back into my life or totally cut all ties with them?
Many questions were hanging in my mind.
I was so confused—I didn't know what to do.
I have faced many problems but I always ended up with a solution.
But I doubt I would have the answer to this problem.
Soon, dinner was over but I barely ate anything.
I stood up as quickly as I could hoping that nobody would stop me from escaping.
All my hopes vanished when Professor McGonagall said: "Ms. Black, Mr. Malfoy, please stay back for a minute."
I motioned to my friends to go and gave them a curt nod.
I sank back down on my seat and quickly composed my face into a business-like expression.
"I wonder what she wants." I thought to myself.
I waited patiently for the Great Hall to be empty aside from Professor McGonagall, the Cullens, Draco and I.
I rose from my seat and carefully avoided the Cullens' gazes and walked forward to Professor McGonagall.
I noticed that Draco had done the same and we reached her almost at the exact moment.
"You need something done, Professor?" I asked politely.
"Yes, dear, but first I'd like to introduce the both of you to the Cullens." She told us.
"Carlisle, would you like to introduce your family?" she asked them quietly.
"Yes, Minerva. I am Dr. Carlisle Cullen and this is my wife Esme." Carlisle started.
I watched the face of the man I used to consider my second father and saw that his smile didn't reach his eyes.
"These are our adopted children, Alice and Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett, and this is Edward."
He introduced them like the way he introduced us in that baseball game.
But this time, I was not included.
"Ms. Black, Mr. Malfoy, care to introduce yourselves?" McGonagall asked.
I looked at Draco and silently asked him with my eyes if he wanted to go first.
I hoped he understood and fortunately, he did.
"Draco Malfoy." He merely said, with a slight bow.
"Nice to meet you, Draco." Carlisle replied
Draco didn't look the least pleased but hid it well.
"And you are?" Carlisle asked me.
"I'm Bellatrix Black." I said stiffly.
"Nice to meet you also, Bellatrix." He replied.
"It's just Bella. Everybody calls me Bella." I said, a little rudely.
I didn't really mean to be rude but like my mother, I have quite a temper and I remembered that time in the forest when Edward abandoned me like an unwanted toy.
I looked pointedly at their faces and saw something I couldn't comprehend—sadness?
"No, they left me, they won't be sad." I told myself.
"Bella, Draco, I am asking this from you more as a favor." McGonagall started.
She paused for a few seconds to look at each of us.
"I would really appreciate it if you will both be so kind as to teach the Cullens?" she continued, making the last part sound like a question.
"Teach them?" Draco suddenly asked.
"Yes, teach them."
"The Cullens aren't that knowledgeable in magic so I would like you to teach them."
"Edward, Rosalie and Alice were Purebloods before they were changed but their memories faded a little after quite some time."
"Jasper, Emmett, Carlisle and Esme were Muggles." She said.
"You're going to let us teach Mu—" Draco started.
Luckily, I stepped on his foot before he said the word Mudblood.
I didn't step too hard though, I didn't want to hurt him.
He glanced at me and looked down, as if he was ashamed.
"That would be fine, Professor, although exactly what subjects do they need to learn?" I asked quietly.
I thought this would be the perfect plan for revenge for what they've done to me.
Maybe I could play with their feelings a little bit like how they played with mine when we were in Forks.
Good thing I mastered Occlumency in my sixth year so Edward couldn't read my mind.
Maybe I'd block Jasper and Alice, too.
"If she's going to teach, then so am I." Draco stated.
I was very happy inside.
Draco will put down his pride for me.
I was right in being friends with him, he's not such a bad person.
"Alright then. As for your question, Bella, they need to learn everything you can teach them except in Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes."
"Potions might also be an exception. Let me know when you can teach them and I'll prepare a place for your lessons."
"Now, I suggest you go to your rooms and sleep well, we have a long day tomorrow." Professor McGonagall said.
"Goodnight, Professor." I said with a smile.
"Goodnight." Draco said.
I was surprised he even said anything because McGonagall isn't his favorite teacher.
Maybe the least favorite and somebody he considers not even worthy to greet.
I thought that he must really be changing.
He might not be the Draco I used to despise.
With that, we left together and went to our common room.
"You are honestly considering teaching those leeches?" he asked me.
"I can't see any problem with that Draco and besides, I have some spare time." I replied coolly.
Although, truth be told, I really didn't have much spare time.
It was just an alibi which must have been pretty obvious.
"You know you don't really have spare time, don't you? It's our last year and the exams are very important. Besides, you also have Head duties to fulfill. What are you going to do, split yourself?" he asked accusingly but clearly with worry.
"I'm fine, I'll try to squeeze them all into my timetable. But tell me, why did you accept the offer?" I asked, more out of curiosity.
"I couldn't just leave you alone with them, they're vampires for Merlin's sake!" he exclaimed.
"He cares about me." I thought happily to myself.
"They don't stand a chance against me, you know. Plus, I really can't see why you're worrying." I replied softly.
"Y-You told me we're friends, right?" he asked, unsure.
"Of course we are, but I'm a grown-up witch, I could fry them in what? Two seconds?" I asked, jokingly.
He chuckled silently.
I loved the sound of it.
"Yes, yes, Miss I-could-fry-them-in-two-seconds. Goodnight, Bella." He said with a smile.
"Goodnight, Draco." I replied, a little light headed from sleepiness.
I walked a little wobbly to my room but almost fell down if it weren't for the arms that caught me.
"Thanks, that's the second time you caught me today." I mumbled inaudibly.
I didn't know if he understood me but he whispered: "Sweet dreams, Bella."
After that, my eyes closed on their own accord and I couldn't open them anymore.
But as I fell asleep, I felt someone carry me to my room.
The next day, I woke up with the same clothes I wore last night.
I groaned and lifted my head a little to look at my clock.
"6:30! It's too early." I thought to myself.
I stood up, holding on to the side table for support.
I looked around, and realized that I haven't even had a good look at my new room.
It was different than the dormitories.
There was a huge window and a balcony where you can study the movements of the stars or simply gaze and marvel at the sky.
The horizon has a tinge of red and orange meaning the sun hasn't fully risen yet.
The bed was huge and white in color.
It was king-sized with four posters with curtains around them—similar to the bed back in my dormitory.
There was a simple beige carpet underneath it while a huge chandelier hung above it.
I vaguely remember Professor McGonagall saying that we can decorate our rooms according to our own taste.
I made a brief mental note to sketch out a plan for my new room.
I looked for a door that might lead to a bathroom but saw none.
Oh well, maybe the bathroom is outside my room.
It' a good thing I woke up early—I didn't need to race for the bathroom.
I walked to the closet and saw that it was huge enough to fit all those clothes my mother forced me to bring.
With a flick of my wand, all my clothes came out of my trunk and arranged themselves in the closet.
I smiled at my work and took a fluffy white towel, a bathrobe, some clean clothes and my toiletries.
I took my time in going to the bathroom, it is still too early anyway.
I thought about the previous night and everything that happened.
Before falling asleep, I remembered Draco carrying me to my room.
I will have to thank him for that later.
I twisted my door handle and pulled the door open.
Looking around, I immediately saw what I was looking for—the bathroom.
In a few strides, I reached the bathroom and pushed the door open.
The bathroom was very large—almost as large as my bedroom.
There was a huge bath tub in the middle the size of a small swimming pool with a lot of faucets surrounding it.
A set of bathroom curtains hung above the bath tub like a halo, covering the future occupants of the bath tub.
A tall mirror stood at one side and different kinds of soaps and shampoo are displayed on a small table.
There was some sort of division in the middle of the room—a glass divider.
It wasn't exactly see through, it was translucent.
I heard feet shuffling from the other side of the divider.
A blonde head poked through the divider and I immediately recognized Draco.
"Bella? What are you doing up so early in the morning?" he asked.
He walked towards me and I realized that he was half-naked, his lower half only covered by a towel.
I walked in a bathroom with a guy inside who was half-naked.
How humiliating.
"Ah—um, sorry, I didn't know you were taking a bath. I-I mean, the door was unlocked so I just entered, I should have asked first." I stuttered.
I looked at my feet like they held much interest for me and blushed furiously.
"No problem, I am just taking a shower at the other side of the bathroom so you can use the bath tub." He said kindly.
"I—um, thanks." I muttered, my face still red from embarrassment.
With that, I marched to the bath tub and pulled at the curtains so he wouldn't see me.
I started to fill the tub with bubbles and perfume that blended perfectly together.
I took of my clothes and placed them in a corner and hung my bathrobe on a peg on the wall with my towel.
My clean clothes sat in a neat pile on a stool where I can easily reach them.
I started singing to myself this song that I really reached out to me the first time I heard it.
I was so wrapped in my own thoughts that I didn't hear the shower in the other side turn off.
When the song ended, I fell down from cloud nine and realized that I needed to get dressed.
I grabbed my white collared shirt and started fastening the buttons in one fluid motion.
After that, I pulled my gray sweater with the Gryffindor crest on it over my head.
I made sure my tie was secure and tied properly.
I pulled my equally gray skirt up, it touched just above my knee.
My knee-length socks didn't go amiss either.
I carefully put on my new black leather shoes with a low heel beneath it.
I snatched my newly pressed black robe and carefully pinned my Head Girl badge on my left chest.
I decided to add some midnight blue highlights on my hair—at the ends and some on my bangs.
Now, I am officially perfect.
I quickly went out of the bathroom and saw Draco sitting on a chair.
I smiled at him and he suddenly spoke up: "Where did you learn to sing like that?"
He asked with something in his tone—awe?
"It's just a past time since I was a little kid." I replied softly.
"Oh, and thank you for bringing me to my room last night." I added shyly.
"It's nothing. You were dead on your feet last night. You have a wonderful voice." He said.
"Thanks." I merely replied.
"Shall we go to breakfast then? Or do you want to go alone?" he asked, worry quite evident in his tone.
"Sure, I'm hungry." I said, my stomach growling it's agreement.
Luckily, Draco didn't hear.
The fact that I was hungry was probably because I didn't eat much last night.
I was too worked up with the Cullens to eat anything much.
Together, we walked to the Great Hall and as we passed, people stared at us.
I sighed and sat at the Gryffindor table when we entered the doors and ate heartily.
My friends weren't here yet—maybe they aren't awake yet.
Not many people were eating breakfast, good thing because I didn't really want any interrogation right now.
I was caught in my own thoughts—previous questions coming back to my mind.
They were questions about my own actions.
Why did I want to become friends with Draco?
"Maybe", a small voice in the back of my mindstarted. "You just don't want anymore enemies."
"Yes, yes, that's it, nothing more." I thought to myself.
Those kind of thoughts went on and on for a couple of minutes before I decided to go to the library before I go crazy.
Classes would officially start tomorrow.
I needed to get a head-on if I wanted perfect grades.
Tomorrow is going to be a big day.
(A/N: Sorry for the late update. I had to go and enroll myself. Thanks to all those who reviewed. I wrote an extra long chapter, hope you like it. Tell me what you think and review—they make me happy. Check my poll in my profile and vote as to who you want Bella to end with.)
