All September, October and November December and a few days of January had passed. And things were only getting worse.
Bella had stayed at Hogwarts for the holidays and used that time to talk to Snape. Nobody trusted him right now (not that they did before.) but Bella knew the truth.
She enjoyed her time alone, away from everyone and everything for those few days, she needed some of it. She had lots of work to do though, she had several different assignments for the few classes she was taking this year. She almost didn't finish but she promised Draco to do it, so she compromised to it.
Draco approached her, breaking her train of thoughts and gave her a tight hug.
"How were your holidays?"
"Busy." Bella said. "I wrote so many essays that I think my hand won't ever work again, and I must thank you for that."
"Did you finish them?"
"Of course." Bella said in a duh tone.
"That's the Bella I know." Draco said with a smile.
"Yeah, but believe me, my hand and my brain are damaged for life." She said exaggerating. "I read so much information that I don't know if I have space for more."
"Aww poor thing." Draco said sarcastically. "Anyway, I have news for you."
"Hmm, okay, bad or good?" Bella asked worried.
"Kind of both."
"Okay, tell me."
"We had some visitors over for Christmas this year."
"Aha."
"Some snatchers caught the idiot of your husband and his friends."
"WHAT?" Bella exclaimed, practically jumping from her seat. "But where are they now? Are they alright? How is Ron? Is he okay? Oh my God, Oh my God!"
"Bella."
"I knew I shouldn't have left them, but no…"
"Bella!" Draco yelled so she could shut up. "You're ranting." He said grabbing her from her shoulders and shaking her.
"What do you want me to do? I can't do anything from here."
"Well you're right about that."
"Oh my God! Are you going to answer any of my questions?"
"If you tell them one by one and slower, yeah I will." Draco said. "Yeah, they are fine, don't worry."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Your mother tortured the mud-blood a bit though." Draco said lowering his voice a bit. "And they were put with other prisoners but they managed to escape, and take Mr. Ollivander and a Goblin with them and the girl we had there as well."
"Who?"
"I don't know, some weird girl from Ravenclaw, a blonde."
"Luna Lovegood?"
"Yeah, I think, yeah." Draco nodded. "They took my wand, so if you happen to see them please ask them for it."
"I'm afraid I won't see them anytime soon."
"Still, ask them for it, I need it." he urged.
"How did they escape?"
"They had my ex-house-elf with them, he helped them escape, little prat."
"He saved me, you know?" Bella asked a bit annoyed at him for insulting Dobby. "He rescued me from my parents."
"Hmm, I didn't know that." Draco said pretending he didn't know, Bella had already told him.
"Well you know now that he's a great elf."
"Whatever." Draco said rolling her eyes.
"So, are they alright?"
"And what do I know?" Draco asked a bit annoyed. "They fought against us and apparated, you should be concerned about us not them."
"Why?"
"Well, my father touched his mark to call Him, and He came when they were gone, he was pretty upset and punished us all."
"Are you alright?" Bella asked worried.
"Yeah, he didn't punish me as hard as the rest."
"Well, that's… good." Draco nodded.
"I found something though, that may be of your interest."
"And that is…"
"Well he asked for you…" Draco said. "Asked why he hadn't seen you in so long and why you weren't there with us."
"And?"
"Well we told him, you couldn't be helping Potter because you weren't with him when he got caught, but he wanted just to make sure so he tried to use that stupid trace you got on."
"Yeah?"
"And apparently it didn't work."
"It didn't?" Bella said, a bit of hope growing inside of her.
"Nope, I told him you were in Hogwarts, though, he tried and tried but he couldn't know where were you, he even summoned Snape to ask him if you were really here, and he told him you have been here since September like everybody else."
"And, what else did he do?"
"Well, he then went to another room to talk to your parents in private, I assume it was about the trace."
"That's great news!" Bella said smiling.
"Yeah." Draco agreed. "But I wouldn't risk it."
"I guess you're right."
"Just be careful, okay?"
"Yeah." Bella nodded. "Thanks, for telling me."
"Not even mention it."
"Draco?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm glad you're back."
"Oh Bella don't get all corny now."
Then they both smiled at each other and went to sleep, they needed it because classes started the next day, and neither one of them was ready for that yet.
