CHAPTER TEN
BPOV
"Sorry I'm late, Professor," I said, as I hurried into Potions. Professor Carlisle just nodded and directed me to the only seat left in the theatre, next to Edward. With a sigh, I slid in beside him. He nodded to me a little coldly, but didn't speak, his attention immediately returning to his father, as he made notes on everything Carlisle said.
While his attention was fixed on the lecture, I took the opportunity to look at him closely. Edward's face was angular, appearing to have been sculpted by an artist. His lips were full, dark pink and I found myself wondering what it would be like to kiss him. Shaking my head, I shifted my gaze to his bronze hair; it was messy but in such a way that it appeared deliberate. His hands were clasped on the table in front of him, long fingers resting perfectly still. His shirt sleeve o one arm was rolled up, revealing a strong forearm with blonde hairs that caught the light, shimmering like gold. My mind wandered back to the glitter spell I cast on him and I coughed to cover up the giggle which rose in my throat. Edward glanced across at me curiously, but then turned his attention back to Carlisle who was going through the practical activity we would be doing, while I wondered briefly why he had only one sleeve rolled up.
"Edward, will you work with Bella?" said Carlisle, smiling at us.
"Of course," said Edward.
"And Bella, how is Hermione?" asked Carlisle.
"She's much better, thank you," I said, politely. Carlisle smiled and then moved to the next pair. Edward took the ingredients and began to silently add them to the cauldron, pausing every now and again to stir them in or mutter the words of a spell. As the potion suddenly flamed blue he stepped back with a triumphant smile and then sat down on his stool.
"Well done you two," said Carlisle, clapping us both on the shoulder.
"I didn't do anything," I said. "I just watched."
"You can do the next one," said Edward, as Carlisle handed us the ingredients. Edward watched as I went through the motions to create the concoction and then gave me a small smile when I got it right. We worked in silence for the most part and when the lecture finished, he disappeared out of the door quickly, leaving me feeling a little confused. I thought things between us might have changed with what had happened with Hermione, when he had been so gentle and caring. But he had gone right back to being cold and distant, leaving me wondering if I had imagined him cuddling me and comforting me.
Feeling a little hurt by his indifference, I gathered up my books and headed for the library. Collecting the books I needed, I found a quiet corner and set to studying for an essay I had due for my Transfiguration class. The hours rolled by as I scratched the final letter and put my quill away with a deep sigh of satisfaction, relieved to have completed the paper. Glancing towards the window, a little dazed I realised it was dark and wondered what time it was. The clock at the back of the library chimed at just that moment. Eleven o'clock. Good grief, how had I managed to be out that long?
Hurrying towards the door, I rushed down the corridor, but was frozen, as a faint dull green light emitted from the wall to the side of me. Without having to look I knew which picture it was coming from.
"Bella! Bella!" His voice fills my ears and then he is before me, his robes billowing in the breeze. His face today is grey and his eyes dull, as if he has just died. His hand as it grips my arm just below the elbow is like ice and I cannot help but shiver at his touch. "I need you to come with me. I need you to see."
"See what?" I ask, but my voice is carried away by the wind which gathers around us.
He pulls me along behind him; his nails digging into my flesh, making me wince and scurry along behind him, wanting him to remove his hand.
"You must listen to me, Bella," he says, urgently. Before I can speak, he grabs my arms again, his fingers digging into my flesh painfully. "He is coming. The blood is what he needed, blood of a Muggle and blood of a Pureblood. But they had to be soul mates or it wouldn't work. Now all the Necromancer needs is someone who is able to speak to the dead; really speak to the dead. You must beware, Bella. Please, be careful. You must not tell anyone."
And then he leans forwards, relaxing his grip a little as his green eyes suddenly blaze again with life.
"You are our soul mate, Bella. Never forget that. Save him, please, save him!"
And then his voice is carried away, as he fades before my eyes, leaving me confuse d and alone.
XXX
"Isabella! How many times must I tell you to stay off the corridors after curfew?" His angry voice cut through my mind and I staggered forwards as I was jolted from my dream.
"S... sorry," I stammered, still rubbing my arms where Cedric's fingers had pressed into my flesh. Edward grabbed my arm and I cried out, making his eyes narrow and then he looked down at my skin.
"Who the hell did that to you?" he asked. I looked down at my arm and was surprised to see finger shaped bruises which could so easily have been caused by Edward I realised, as he placed his hand over them, his eyes searching them curiously. "Bella?"
I yanked my arm away from him and scowled, recalling how cold he had been in our lecture.
"Nothing to do with you," I snapped. "I need to get to my apartment. Wouldn't want to be breaking curfew."
"You're already breaking curfew," he replied.
"If you hadn't held me up I wouldn't be," I replied. Edward raised an eyebrow.
"Bella it's quarter to twelve," he said. I staggered a little and he caught hold of my elbow, steadying me. "Come on."
"Where?"
"Trust me," he said, grabbing hold of me. The world pitched around us and when I opened my eyes we were in a small tavern; the Hogs Head Inn. Edward ordered us a drink and then settled into the booth next to me.
"I thought we weren't allowed out past curfew," I said, a little nervously. Edward leaned forwards, his elbows rested on the table and his gaze focussed away from me.
"You were in front of Cedric's picture again," he said, picking his drink up and gulping down a mouthful. His eyes shifted when he mentioned his brother and I felt a wave of sympathy for him. It was easy to forget that the boy I kept dreaming of was his twin.
"Sorry," I said, automatically. Edward laughed humourlessly and then sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"How long has he been talking to you?" he asked. I started at his words and gulped my own drink down nervously.
"I don't understand," I said. He laughed again but when he turned to face me his green eyes were blazing with anger.
"Don't lie to me, Isabella!" he growled.
"I want to go home," I said, getting up. He clamped a hand over my wrist.
"The first time he spoke to me, I thought I was going mad," he said, quietly and I sank back onto the seat.
"You too?" I asked.
"It started after Mom passed away." The American word slipping out in his cut-glass English accent sounded bizarre, but then I took note of what he said.
"Your mom's dead?"
"Happened about twelve months after Cedric," said Edward. "She had a heart attack one day; I suppose losing her son literally broke her heart. Dad followed just six months later. The only family I have left is Carlisle and he's not even my real family. I suppose at first I thought that I was dreaming about my brother because I was so lonely."
I felt tears prick my eyes as he picked up his glass and drank again, keeping his eyes fixed away from me as he spoke.
"When I told Carlisle about the dreams, he told me to keep quiet about it; especially in front of the Volturi professors. The first time I caught you staring at Cedric's picture I had a feeling you were experiencing the same thing but I couldn't work out why."
"He said I was his soul mate," I replied, quietly. Edward smiled sadly.
"Whatever he said, I knew he was talking to you when I kept catching you staring at his picture along the Memorial Corridor. I also knew that if I had noticed others would too and that was the last thing I wanted. You wouldn't bloody listen when I told you to stay away though, would you?" This time his voice was bitter and I shivered slightly.
"I couldn't help it, Edward. He drew me in somehow and even when I made up my mind that I wouldn't look at him..."
"My brother was always a charmer; very persuasive," Edward conceded.
"Does he talk to you, Edward?" I asked, suddenly. Edward shook his head, unhappily.
"He tries to but it is always really windy and I can never hear him."
"If I am his soul mate, does that mean I am yours too?" I enquired. Edward replaced his empty glass on the table and was very thoughtful for a moment, a scowl marring his features before he stood up abruptly, grabbing my arm.
"I'll get you back to your apartment." The world span around us again and when it steadied we were standing outside my room.
"Edward..."
"Look Bella, stay away from me," he said. "I am not what you think I am."
And with that he turned away from me and disappeared down the corridor. Tears burnt my eyes as I remembered every word he had said and then I sank down the wall, burying my head in my hands. Gentle hands suddenly lifted me from the floor and I looked up to see Neville standing over me. He held me as I wept, not speaking and then when I was finally calm he led me into my apartment, after I said the password.
"Tea?" he asked and I laughed.
"What is it with Brits and tea?" I asked. Neville smiled back at me.
"Best thing in a crisis," he replied. "You should know that."
"I guess I should," I replied. "Maybe one of those herbal things Hermione keeps in? Otherwise I won't sleep."
As Neville heated up some water using his wand and handed me the herbal infusion I stepped back and sighed deeply.
"Edward knows about my dreams," I said. Neville paled slightly.
"You told him?"
"No, he worked it out. He had seen me standing in front of Cedric's picture and tonight something really strange happened. I was walking past his picture and suddenly it was like he reached out and grabbed me." I rolled up my sleeves showing Neville the bruises on my arm and his eyes widened.
"Bella that's not possible," he said. "The dead might be able to speak to the living sometimes but they can't physically touch them; they don't have a physical body anymore."
"Well he managed to drag me around behind him whether I wanted to go or not," I said. Neville shook his head and sighed.
"In the dream he can speak to you and he can touch you, even persuade you to do what he wants you to do, but it's impossible for him to really mark you in any way."
"It was kind of weird because when Edward appeared he put his hand over the marks and they were the same size as his fingers, but I guess him and Cedric were twins so..."
"Wait, Edward put his hand on your arm and the marks fitted his fingers? You're sure Edward didn't do it?"
"Positive," I said, but Neville looked doubtful.
"Well, whatever, I'm glad I caught you. Harry and I will keep an eye on Edward and I would advise you to stay as far away from him as possible. Edward might seem alright, but he is very dangerous, Bella. Even he would tell you that."
"What makes him so dangerous, Neville?" I asked, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.
"Hopefully you'll never know," replied Neville, darkly. "Anyway, we should both go to bed. I'll call by in the morning and make sure you're ok. Here." He handed me a small vial with a purplish potion in it.
"What's that?" I asked.
"A sleeping potion; it will help you to drift away without dreaming," he said. A real smile broke across my face then as I had wondered how on earth I was to sleep after the strange evening I had had.
"Thanks, Neville," I said, giving him a quick hug, which he returned awkwardly.
"Night, Bella," he said.
"Night," I replied, as I closed the door behind him. Giving myself a brief moment to think about the conversation I had with Edward, I then drank down the potion and settled back against my pillows, my last thought being of a pair of green eyes, which had become the saddest thing I had ever seen.