A/N: I'm back from Vacation and I've decided to update in everything!! It's a great welcome home present don't you think? Please read and review because you know I love it!!
Disclaimer: Beloved Bill… my version. Thanks for the inspiration J. K. Rowling! Yes, yes I know he and the Weasley are yours! *tear*
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Chapter 2
"Getting Noticed"
The prefects led out the first years after they told the remaining years the new passwords. Bella and Sandra headed out with Winter as she left a few of her chattering friends and admirers at the Slytherin table. Once they were reunited, the Ravenclaws decided to walk her to her common room. Winter was commenting to Sandra about Bill's smile, that she had somehow seen, and urging her to meet with him more often. Sandra sighed as they faced a plain stonewall at the other end of the castle. Winter bid them goodnight as she whispered: "Absolute Power". She didn't really care whether or not the two had heard her because it seemed ridiculous that they'd ever want to enter. The girls walked away quietly. Bella was still a bit discouraged by her invisibility when it came to Bill. Sandra noticed her mood and put her hand on her shoulder as they reached a large mirror at the end of a hall.
"Astral Flight" said Sandra.
Sandra's reflection transformed into a raven and the mirror opened wide to reveal the Ravenclaw common room. Bella always thought the common room looked it's best at night as the stars glittered though the widows framed with pretty, blue, silk drapes. Unlike what Bella had heard about the Gryffindor common room (which was also in a tower like Ravenclaw) they had a few balconies to perch on and Bella liked to sit there sometimes to think. Most of the furniture there was upholstered with navy velvet and had raven characteristics carved into the wooden ends like: raven heads and talons. A warm glowing fired would set the calmness of the elegant room as it made the many oak tables glisten. There were paintings and statues that decorated the place and a large set of bookshelves filled with different and interesting books. Most of the Ravenclaws preferred to places their schoolbooks there so they wouldn't be left looking around their things right before classes. So there was a shelf reserved for each year.
Some people were already in the room, talking mostly about Fred and George's silliness. Sandra led Bella to a velvet sofa and told her to sit. She did so, confused and looked at her good friend shyly.
"Now Bella, tell me what's up? You've been acting tense all day,"
"It's nothing really," she said
"It's something… are you nervous about the Quidditch season?"
"No. Although most of the team is leaving –"
"Then, school?"
"No. That's not it,"
"It's Bill isn't it?" she said with certainty.
"Oh Sandra, please! It has nothing to do with him,"
"Ha! Bella, you really just have to be more assertive! If there's something, or someone you want then you should go for it! Don't be scared of what might happen!" she preached.
"But Bill doesn't know I exist. It's a bit odd when out of nowhere a person, let alone a fourth year, comes up to you and says something like: "Hello, I've noticed you around and I want to go out with you," He'd laugh at me or just call me "cute" and leave!" said Bella surfacing her fears to Sandra.
"Well, do something to make him notice you then. You're a Ravenclaw beater; I know you have that forcefulness! I see it all the time at the pitch,"
"That's not the same!" Bella said in a whisper.
"Well Bella, this time will be your time! You'll have your moment to shine!" declared Sandra as she got up. "Goodnight! I'm exhausted," she said as she went to the girls' dormitories.
Bella wasn't sure what she meant by "this time will be your time" or "your moment to shine" but one thing she was clear on was that Sandra had a point. She needed to make herself noticed… but how?
***
The following morning was started with a huge wake up call in the Gryffindor common room. The sound of numerous doors bursting open was heard throughout the tower. Most people looked utterly exhausted and irritated while others looked strangely excited. The first years ran down to the common room to see the Prefect and huddled around him. It seemed that he would be giving in extra pointers about the teachers and locations of the classrooms. Jonathan was rubbing his eyes impatiently as Lee, Fred and George followed with huge grins.
"Do you think he'll be showing us good stuff like secret passageways or haunted halls?" said Lee excited.
"I dunno, how many passages you reckon there are?" asked Jon rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Must be hundreds!" said Fred.
"Thousands!" said George.
"All right everyone! Let's get to it! We've got a good half hour before breakfast and there are just some things you need to know if you want to get off on the right track!" said a scruffy looking boy.
The twins walked away with their friends as Bill came down from his dormitory looking like a bit of a mess. Charlie was quite used to getting up early and was already waiting near one of the tables. Jaycee was sitting next to him looking at her wristwatch constantly.
"Where ARE they?" she muttered.
"Relax Jaycee, they'll be here," said Charlie looking about the room.
Suddenly two familiar heads were seen going in their direction. It was Percy and next to him, Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Keeper in his 3rd year. It appeared that they already were in good conversation by the time they made it to Charlie and Jaycee. Bill trudged along, hair tossed every which way, to his remaining family.
"Hello Oliver, it figures you'd be the first to show," said Charlie brightly.
"Oh? Well, where's the rest of the team?" he answered.
"I don't know. But Jaycee told me you had strategies for me? Why don't you tell me while we wait?"
Oliver looked painfully embarrassed to tell anything to Charlie, he was even surprised that he had asked. Percy and Bill looked at each other discontented. They loved Quidditch but they knew that when Charlie began talking about it, it wouldn't stop until he was satisfied with what everyone had said. So, the other two decided to tear away from the group before it was too late.
"You know what Percy, I'm hungry. What about you?" casually suggested Bill.
"Yes!!! I mean… yeah, sure. I guess we should go to the Great Hall then. Well, goodbye. See you in class Oliver," said Percy but his voice couldn't be heard through the new conversation the group was having about improving their performance with the Chaser Quidditch maneuver called: "Hawkshead Attacking Formation".
Bill and Percy left that conversation behind them as they exited the common room. They walked down the halls as Bill looked like he was still recovering from sleeping days on end. His hair was still messy and he didn't even bother to fix his tie. Percy, though not really bothered by his brother's relaxed look, still wondered if anyone else would care that the Head-boy of one of the most famous and greatest Wizarding Schools of the nation was looking like a total bum. So he decided to tell Bill to straighten up a bit.
"Bill… you look a mess… what if- what your girlfriend showed up right now and you looked the way you do,"
"Perce, she's not my girlfriend… at least not yet," he winked.
But to his horror a familiar voice could be heard but a few feet away. Sandra was walking with small group of girls and looking as elegant as ever. Bella was walking with them but her mind seemed to be focused on other things for she never noticed Bill until Sandra had lead the group right to him.
"Hello Bill how are you?" she smiled.
Looking a tad embarrassed, Bill tried as subtly as he could to fix himself up a bit by passing his hand through his fiery red hair and pulling a bit on his collar. Percy couldn't help but laugh as all six girls looked at him oddly… well, five perhaps. Percy then noticed Bella looking at him in a way that was far different from the others. Her cheeks were rosy and her expression looked almost frightened. He realized her gaze was set on Bill as he turned his head subtly. He looked back on her as they caught each other's stare. Bella quickly looked down. This boy had seen her transfixed on Bill.
"…Well, that's great! I hope you do," lingered the sound of Sandra's voice as Percy returned to his brother's situation.
"Well… I'll see you in double Charms," said Bill as the crowd followed Sandra into the Great Hall, Bella behind them.
Percy noticed that Bill's tie was secured now and his hair looked much less like a fiery bird's nest. Unknowing if he should comment on the girl, both boys slowly followed the path that they took to their table. There was barely anyone there and breakfast would be served in 5 minutes. From their seat they saw the twins slump over to their side. They looked like they were ready to fall asleep.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Bill.
"He's SOOOOO boring! That prefect had us walking around the school, looking at classrooms, giving us history lessons… I mean, the only interesting thing was the dungeons and the teacher was already there, he looked like a greasy BORE!" said Fred.
"Yeah. I mean, now I think we know every inch of this place… and all before breakfast. There's nothing left to explore," said George glumly.
"I'm sure you'll both find something," Bill replied.
"That's right you can't know everything about this school yet! I don't even think Dumbledore knows… Oh! Food!" said Percy as a plate of hash, eggs, bacon, buttered toast and orange juice magically appeared before them.
They began to eat. With their Wealsey appetites fuelling them like nuclear energy, they got through the first round rather quickly. Percy looked up and still noticed that strange Ravenclaw girl looking at Bill. What did she want with him?
Meanwhile, as they sat, Bella was feeling rather attacked by Percy's staring. So she decided to stop. "What was the harm in looking?" she thought as she munched on her toast. Sandra meanwhile was talking to one of her friends as a familiar face crept over her shoulder. Some of the Ravenclaws simply turned around once this visitor spoke: "Yeah, yeah, turn your heads you buzzards," said Winter.
"Winter!" said Sandra disapprovingly.
"Well, if they want to act like that…" she said with an evil smirk.
"You know what they think about Slytherins. Well anyways, what's up?"
"You know my eyes don't fail me Sandra… I actually came to talk to fourth year," she said just as darkly.
Once Bella heard this, her head spun around to see Winter look straight at her with her spooky yellow eye.
"I see you've found new prospects for yourself fourth year? It's about time you realized that you were going for the wrong Weasley,"
"Excuse me?" asked Bella.
"I can see everything fourth year. Just remember that!" she winked.
"New prospects? What are you going on about?" asked Sandra now totally intrigued.
"Well… I've just been seeing a little eye contact going on between the Gryffindor table and this one… but it has nothing to do with the Head-boy…"
Bella's face flushed! She had NEVER told anyone a side from Sandra that she fancied Bill! Winter just figured it out but kept it quiet as far as she knew. Now, her whole house would hear!
"Really?" said Sandra with a wide smile. "Who Bella?"
"I already said it was another Weasley didn't I??"
"STOP IT WINTER!" shouted Bella.
The whole table looked in Bella's direction.
"Well? What are you looking at?" she said forcefully, still hot from her outburst.
Sandra was quite surprise with is but Winter looked overjoyed. Bella got back to eating her food and looked up shyly at Sandra to say: "She's wrong you know… There's definitely nothing happening between me and anyone,"
***
After two weeks Fred and George had made themselves known everywhere. Rumors were spreading like wildfire that they had joined in with Peeves and were responsible for the commotion in the girl's bathroom last Sunday. The elder Weasleys denied it because they knew that their rations of joke stuff must have been used up after first week. However the twins were resourceful so doubt still lingered in their minds. Classes were going along as they usually do. Percy had just started "Arithmancy" which was paired up with Ravenclaw, Charlie had begun rounding up the troops for their first Quidditch practice and Bill had begun his routine study habits in preparation for his N.E.W.T.s at the end of the year. Everyone seemed very busy so the twins felt sort of ignored, which was definitely a BIG mistake.
"So... what do say about trying them next week?" said Fred.
"Yeah! And I know JUST where to do it!" answered George.
"Mates… what if we get caught? I mean, we'd be in big trouble! Everyone already thinks you guys are a problem, especially that Potions master… Snape,"
"Don't worry Lee! We're very good! We haven't pulled anything at this school yet so we're itching to try!" smiled George.
"Itching?? Ooh, how about itching powder in Moonfrey's robes the week after?" said Fred.
"No-no! Not Moonfrey! I like her! She appreciates a good joke!" said Jonathan.
"Yeah, you're right. When's our next Defense Against the Dark Arts class again?" said Fred.
"Tomorrow, but look, I want to go with you guys this week for the "you-know-what", mind if I come?" asked Jonathan eagerly
"Sure! You can help us plant the…"
"And what are you four up to?" asked voice in the background.
This voice belonged to Lakia Moonfrey, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. She told the boys that hey should be getting to class soon because Professor McGonagall was having a bit of headache and wouldn't forgive so easily if they came late.
"Thanks for the tip Professor! You're my favorite teacher for a reason!" said Jonathan while everyone else looked at each other rather disgusted by Jon's attitude.
"Sure-sure… now run along then," she said smiling.
Lakia was a very pleasant, and obviously observant, woman to have noticed the boys' class books. She continued to walk to her class slowly as most students were entering the rooms. Everyone knew that Moonfrey always allowed herself to come in 10 minutes late to every class. This way, she'd be sure that by the time she got there, everyone would be in. As the boys scurried along the corridors they could see Percy heading for his classroom. They quickly waved "hello" and continued to dash towards Transfiguration class. Percy, turning his head, saw them and waved back being but a hallway away from his destination. However, be as it may, he should have seen where he was going… Before he could react there was a loud crash! Someone had just run into him, knocking all his things on the floor, including his glasses.
"Oh! Sorry!" said the girl who bumped into Percy searching very quickly for her things that equally lay on the floor.
"Fine, fine!" he said scrounging about.
Percy didn't have much time to talk but once he looked up to see just who this person was, he remained motionless as he saw that girl again. It was that same dark-haired girl who was looking at Bill on the first day of the sorting. He hadn't seen much of her since then but he remembered her ice blue eyes clearly. He didn't say a word as she was frantically looking on the floor for something.
"Oh! Oh there they are! Sorry about that! Got to go!" she said as she quickly stood up with a pair of glasses in her hands. She barely looked at Percy's face during the incident and ran towards the east wing.
Percy only moved once she was out of sight. He continued to pick up what was left on the floor and came upon a pair of glasses. However, these were not his. His were horn-rimmed but the same bronzish color. He gazed into one of the lenses to see nothing but a blur. Percy picked up an open book beside him with the name: "Belladona Nightshade" written in the cover.
"So… Belladona, I guess we'll meet again soon…" said Percy to himself as he got to class.
When Bella got to her "Care of Magical Creatures" class and settled her things, she began to search in her bag for her glasses and class book. She then noticed that the glasses she had in fact picked up, were not her own and saw that her book was missing. "Oh, that boy! I'll bet he has them… and I didn't even get a good look at his face!" she thought. She sighed of distress yet knew that all in all, things weren't that bad. She loved "Care of Magical Creatures" and was exceptionally good in class as was she in the following course of the morning: Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Kettleburn arrived shortly and slouched down on a chair next to a small corral that had, about 10 or so, kneazles in it. Kneazles were cat like creatures had flecked speckled fur, outsized ears and a tail like a lion's. A side from their appearances, they also held remarkable traits of intelligence and intuition. It was known that if one were lost in the company of the beast, the kneazle would lead its master back on a safe path. The small animals kept walking in the corral and looked inquisitively at the students. The teacher began to call for people's attention as the Hufflepuff's and Ravenclaws did so.
"Now everyone, today we have a treat. I've just been allowed to bring in these kneazles in to show to you all. As you know, a license is require for ownership of these fine animals and I've just been allowed a temporary one for the year to any student that can give me the most facts about them,"
Bella's eyes danced. She knew lots about magical animals. She raised her hand to nearly every question and got them all right. She even corrected the teacher every once and a while which didn't exactly bode too well with him but he knew she had earned her information by studying a lot and was very bright. So, as class went on, Bella got her kneazle ( a grayish one ) and would be allowed to take it with her next week.
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A/N: If you want more please review!!!!
