A/N: WOW! Why do I always forget to update this story? Well, there's only15 chapters so we're sort of half way there. I'll update this one everyfew daysuntil it's done.(cause it's all written. ) And then, I'll start to follow with the third and final Nightshade story Yay! (7 chapters and counting)I have to get this done fast since book6 will be out and people will see the complete irrelevance of these stories. lol. Remember, they're planned and written before book 4! So lots of things will be out of whack!I really like this story though and it's fun to see what happens to Bella. I hope you all enjoy it as much as me. :)

Disclaimer: No... mumble-mumble... mine... J... K... Rowling's... ZZZzzzzZZzzzz.....


Chapter 7

"Christmas Present"

At the end of the day, Bella went straight up to her dormitory. She looked at the time and saw that it was half passed seven. No one would be in her dormitory now and she was glad. Not only couldn't she stomach most of the people in her year, but also she would be meeting an old friend there in private. The moment she entered the little round room, Bella threw herself on her bed. Nearly instinctively, Stormy leapt up to Bella's side and rubbed herself against her leg. The girl took her Kneazle and began to pet it.

"Well, look at you! It will be terrible giving you back won't it? I'm sorry I haven't let you out enough. I have things on my mind…"

"Oh really, then please do tell, my dear," came a voice.

Bella looked at her pet surprised until she realized the Kneazles, as intelligent as they were, didn't talk. She then noticed the ceiling of the room become a foggy white and a head pop out of it. It was a woman's head. It seemed Bella's guest had come at last. The Grey Lady floated down gently to Bella's bedside and rested her weightless self beside her.

"Oh, there you are! I suddenly thought Stormy could talk," said Bella smiling.

"Well, she definitely can listen… as can I. Now tell me dear, what has been occupying your mind lately?"

"Well… it's this whole thing with Bill and Sandra… I mean, I've really pushed her away and don't know what to do now. Winter was right… they do belong together,"

"Mr. Weasley and Miss Cunningham, an item you say? I thought she had her eye on another young man,"

"Well, that's what she told me at the beginning of the year… that she and him told each other they'd be going together for the Graduation Ball but it seems she's changed her mind,"

"Oh dear. Have you spoken to her?"

"Well… not really. I just didn't feel like I could after finding out about this,"

"Well, I suggest you do. Miss Cunningham would never do something this underhanded to you. She likes you very much,"

"Enough to take away the one person that… well… anyways…"

"Oh! I'm late! I'm sorry I had to make this short dearest, but I have a date with the Bloody Baron today! It seems he wants to talk to all the Hogwarts Ghosts about the low level of haunting that have been happening since the beginning of the year! I'm sorry to say that he must be just about the lowest! …Although the scariest. Well, I'm off! Please think about it Miss Nightshade. Good evening," she bellowed as she disappeared through the floor.

In the Gryffindor common room, everyone looked energized and ready for the weekend. Charlie was frantically collecting his teammates for today was Ravenclaw's fist match of the season. He had to get everyone to come and study the team's only real opponent this year. As he ran back and forth he caught sight of Bill who was sitting at a table.

"Come on Bill! Ravenclaw's first match is today! We got to go!"

"No, sorry, I can't make it. I got this potions essay to write and you know how Snape gets,"

"You can write that tomorrow Bill! No problem! Besides, this year, with Miller as Captain, the match is sure to be very different,"

"Sorry, maybe next time but my life depends on this essay!"

"Aww, ok. Hey Jaycee, are you ready?" said Charlie as he called out to the hyperactive blonde.

"Yes! I'm here! Oh! Is Bill going to miss the match?" she said looking at the pile of books in front of him.

"Yeah, well, we'll be off. Come on Jaycee," said Charlie as he took the girl's hand.

She blushed as Charlie dragged her off and Bill couldn't help but smile. It seemed like Charlie would be waiting for the right moment to reveal what he knows. Percy and the twins followed suit as they saw the whole common room empty. However, they were going out mostly to encourage Bella on instead of studying their Quidditch rivals.

Meanwhile in the Ravenclaw common room excitement fluttered in the air. Bella began to dash towards the exit but before she could reach it a voice called her from behind, a voice she had been trying to avoid.

"Bella!" called Sandra, "You - you forgot your bat,"

"Oh… Thanks... I guess I left it on the table," she said shyly.

"Listen Bella, I don't like us fighting, especially for something like this,"

"Sandra I know that for you this isn't a big deal, that it's just another boyfriend but it really hurt me that you would do this to me,"

"No Bella, you don't understand! You never let me explain everything to you,"

"Well, maybe later then. Thanks for my bat. We'll talk, ok?" said Bella as she forced a bit of a smile.

Sandra smiled too. Bella ran out with her black locks floating in the air. She had hurried to get the pitch at such a fast pace that morning that she didn't bother to fix herself up. The weather was nice and cool. A bit windy but it would be useful for today as the last week of November drew to its close. The Ravenclaws were to play Hufflepuff and they were very excited since they had miss the opportunity to do so last year. Bella ran into the player's room in a hurry and suddenly felt a hand grab her shoulder. She turned around to see a tall, fit, 7th year boy look at her with a smile.

"Ready to play a good game?" said the boy.

"Of course!" said Bella politely smiling back. "Say, are you okay with the position you're in? I mean after what happened, this will be your first match where you're not -"

"Your concern for me is touching Bella. It's nice to see such sweetness behind your power," he said smoothly. "You know, you look nice with your hair down," he added.

"Eh… thanks," she answered unsure. "I meant to tie it up. Can't play properly with it in my eyes," said Bella now putting her Quidditch robes over her clothes.

"Would you mind leaving it loose after the game?"

"Why would I do that?" she added, putting her glasses in her pocket.

"Just to show that our prize beater has more to her then her bat," he said.

Suddenly, Andrew came running down to them in a huff. The match was going to start in 15 minutes. He arrived just as the boy began to walk closer to Bella.

"Hey are you both ready?" he asked.

"Yeah – yeah, keep your robes on!" answered the boy crossly.

"Whoa! Sorry Silverwings! I just want to be sure our best Chaser and Beater are good to go! I'm in charge of you now and -"

"Please don't act cocky Miller! Well, I guess we better go. Ready Bella?"

"Yeah I guess," she said hurrying to Andrew's side and leaving the boy far behind them.

"It's the first time he's spoken up this year. Do you think he's still peeved, you know, has pint up aggression?" asked Andrew quietly to Bella.

"I don't know. Well, would you be happy if you were demoted?" she hushed back.

"I guess not. Well, time to get the team ready," said Andrew as the rest of the Quidditch team huddled around him, Roger Davies looking particularly nervous.

After a final pep talk the team was in the air. Opposites confronted each other as the game fell way. Andrew had no problems with the current seeker, who like him was on his last year. He and knew his moves well. Bella was mostly interested in protecting "their best chaser" for he was a bit of a risk taker and she was mostly around to keep him, his opponents and the bludgers in check. She left the rest to everyone else.

From the stands Charlie, Jaycee, Percy and the twins were cheering on the great performance by Ravenclaw. "The better they play, the more challenging for us!" said Charlie grinning. "Look at their strategy! Definitely different then Hank Silver's but not bad," he added as Davies scored another 10 points for Ravenclaw. "Go Bella! Go! Watch out!" shouted Percy and the twins. Charlie looked at them surprised. He didn't think they'd be routing for the beater that knocked out Wood. After it was over and Ravenclaw had won by a sweep, Percy went down to congratulate Bella. After he returned to the castle, Oliver Wood looked at Percy suspiciously and began to walk towards him.

"You know… you're making it too obvious,"

"What?"

"That you like her! Always flocking to her whenever you get the chance! If you want everyone else to believe that you're just friends then act like it!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" said Percy angrily. "Besides, she likes someone else so that sort of stops you theory doesn't it?" he said victorious.

"She does? Well, if it's not you then… oh, of course! It makes sense now why she stares!"

Percy felt a jolt come over him. "No, don't tell me he noticed too?" he though as Oliver Wood gave illuminated sighs. He looked around nervously at the very thought of how Bella would react!

"Listen, you have to promise me that you won't tell a soul! Not one! I promised her to keep her secret!"

"You have my word! Poor girl, she's love struck! I mean, she's not ugly but I don't think it will ever really work out between us…"

"What?"

"I mean, doing all that to get my attention during the matches and I was so mean to her too! Tell her that although she isn't my type, we can still be friends. And do it nicely please. I don't want to hurt her,"

"Uh… sure…" said Percy looking at him like he had just lost his mind. As Oliver walked away Percy couldn't help but give a hearty laugh.

The seasons changed and soon the snow covered the Hogwarts grounds. Bill was sitting outside on the terrace as the wind blew by and tossed his hair onto his eyes. It was now the last week of December and the weather was fairly warm for the season. He sat alone and mused over what he was getting into. He had been seeing Sandra for about 2 months now in secret and he felt like he was getting nowhere. They talked and walked but their conversations seemed drab. It felt to him like she had an ulterior motive to their meetings but wasn't sure what. He was so caught up that he didn't notice a familiar body lean against the same stonewall that hugged the castle entrance.

"I don't understand you sometimes, you know that? I know this whole 'solitaire Romeo thing' might drive the girls nutty but don't you get bored of it?" said a voice with a male tone to it.

"It's not that. I'm just thinking, that's all. Besides, you're the quiet one these days," said Bill.

"Well… what did you expect? Did you think that I'd jump of joy and sings songs after being demoted to a regular chaser?"

"You're still the star player aren't you?" said Bill now grinning to the boy next to him.

"Yeah, I guess. But being Captain again would make it even better,"

"Ah Hank, don't worry about it," said Bill. "You know that Ravenclaw would be lost without you,"

"Too true!" Hank laughed as he passed his hand through his curly blonde hair.

Hank Silver has been one of the greatest players that Hogwarts had ever seen. He was a chaser of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team and had been captain for the last 3 years but an incident had changed all that this year. Hank Silver, also known as Silverwings, had been wrongfully accused of placing a jinx on the opposing team. The entire Hufflepuff team had suddenly become left-handed during their last match, the year before. Because of Hank's love for Quidditch, he was the first one to be suspected and had had his wand inspected using the "Priori Incantantem" charm which can show the last spells performed by a wand. Unfortunately for him, he had been practicing that very spell the night before, for Charms class, and was blamed for the act.

As they looked out onto the distance a navy blue robes swept before them. It belonged to Sandra and instantly both boys got up to great her. As they spoke, they looked at each other with a glare. They both seemed far too eager to welcome her. She smiled playfully but then brought her gaze to Bill.

"Bill… there's something I have to talk to you about," she said.

"Oh… ok," he said unsure. There was something about the tone of her voice that didn't make him feel like this in any way good news.

Percy and Bella were walking up to the Great Hall for the last meal before Christmas holidays, until Sandra had come up to them in a hurry. She asked Bella if she could have a word with her before they went and Bella agreed. She told Percy she'd see him after the feast and although somewhat curious, he agreed and walked into the Great Hall. Sandra looked at Percy and Bella saw that it looked like she was evaluating something in her mind.

"Bella, I have a very important question to ask you,"

"Yes?' she replied.

"Well, do you still fancy Bill? I mean, you spend a lot of time with his brother,"

"I… Yes… I still like him," she said nervously.

"Hmmm. Good, I was beginning to think that I had done all this for nothing,"

"Done what?" she asked still bemused.

"Well, I should wait for later to tell you. After all, it will only deal with later but I figured since I didn't get you a Christmas present this would be the next best thing," Sandra paused. "Are you ready?" Bella nodded. "I have just asked if Bill was brining anyone to the Graduation Ball and he said he wasn't so I told him of a friend that would go MAD if he brought her,"

Bella's heart jammed in her throat.

"And he said yes,"


A/N: Oh! He said Yes! How exciting! lol. But.. why? I wonder if I'll get reviews? ponders...