In the days following their argument, Bella didn't hear a word from Draco. He walked on the opposite side of the corridors and moved seats in class to be as far away from her as possible and although it was what she wanted, it didn't hurt any less.
"There's a Hogsmeade visit tomorrow." Freya said cheerily in their dorm on Friday night. "That should cheer you right up."
"I don't know." Bella said softly.
"It'll be good, you'll see." Freya said, sitting on the bed beside Bella. "Is it Malfoy? Is that what's wrong with you?"
Bella's stomach sank with dread; "Wh-what are you talking about?"
"That prank him and the other Slytherins played on you and Harry at the Quidditch match?" Freya said skeptically.
Bella internally sighed in relief; "Aw, yeah - that."
"Are you okay?" Freya asked.
"I'm fine - I'll come to Hogsmeade tomorrow." Bella replied.
"Aw, great." Freya smiled.
When Saturday morning came, Bella wrapped herself up in her warmest jumper, robes and Gryffindor scarf and went to breakfast with everyone else.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked as Hermione glared down the table at Harry.
"They're up to something." Hermione replied. "Harry's going to go to Hogsmeade today with the Invisibility cloak."
"Even after what happened to Ron in the dorm?" Freya gasped.
"How could he be so stupid?" Emily cried.
"Ron encouraged him!" Hermione added.
"Typical." Bella scoffed.
Once they were in Hogsmeade, Ron broke off from the group, heading for Honeydukes.
"They are definitely up to something." Freya commented as they walked up the High Street.
"I'm just going to go to the Post Office really quick, I'll catch up to you guys." Bella said, breaking away and heading for the Post Office.
She didn't reach the Post Office as Crabbe and Goyle were waiting outside and stopped her before she could enter.
"What do you think you're doing?" Bella asked angrily.
Goyle thrust a piece of parchment into her hand and she looked between them with raised eyebrows.
"What is this?" she asked.
"Read it." Goyle replied.
They stepped around her and disappeared into the crowd. Bella unfolded the parchment and in Draco's neat writing it read; 'meet me by the trees at the Shrieking Shack at 11 o'clock? Please come.' Bella sighed. She wanted to stay mad at him but she didn't want to keep being upset. She decided she could at least hear what he had to say and so she walked up the hill that led to the Shrieking Shack. But she didn't find Draco alone. Draco's head was covered in mud, Crabbe ran at nothing, Goyle looked terrified and Ron stood doubled-over, crying with laughter. Bella looked around the scene with confusion written on her face and when Crabbe tripped and fell, revealing Harry's head for everyone to see, Bella finally understood what was going on.
"AAARGH!" Draco yelled, pointing at Harry's head. He turned and ran, barely seeing Bella in his terror. Crabbe and Goyle followed quickly after him.
"Idiots, the pair of you!" Bella yelled, turning back to Hogsmeade.
"Where are you going?" Ron asked.
"To fix your mess." she replied.
Bella ran down the hill, looking frantically around for Draco. She spotted him not too far ahead of her and ran to catch up with him. When she finally reached him, half-way up the path to the castle, she grabbed his arm, pulling him back to her.
"Bella!" he yelled. "What are you doing?"
"Calm down!" she yelled back.
He held his chest, trying to get his breath back. Crabbe and Goyle had appeared behind them, also trying to get back their breath. Bella still held his arm and could feel him shaking through his robes.
"Go!" Draco barked at Crabbe and Goyle.
They both looked startled but backed away nonetheless.
"Are you alright?" Bella asked gently, dropping her hold on his arm.
"Do I look alright?" he snapped.
"I'm very sorry." she snarked. "I was only asking."
"I know, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you." Draco sighed.
"You were on your way to tell the teachers, weren't you?" she asked.
"Yes." he replied. "He's not supposed to be here."
"Please don't." Bella said softly.
"Why shouldn't I?" Draco said.
"Because he's my friend -" Bella replied. "and I don't want to get into trouble."
"He should have thought about that before sneaking out of the castle." Draco replied, walking further up the path.
"Please Draco!" Bella cried, hurrying after him.
"Fine." he huffed, turning back to her.
"What did you want to say to me?" Bella asked.
"What?" he replied.
"You asked me to meet you, why?" she said.
"I just wanted to properly apologise." he said quietly.
"Go on."
Draco sighed, leaning against the wall behind him; "I really am sorry for what happened on the Quidditch Pitch. You were right when you said I didn't think about you. And I'm sorry for avoiding you the past few days, I juts wanted to give you some space. I know this doesn't make up for what I've done but I hope it's a start."
"These stupid, immature pranks really need to stop." Bella sighed.
"They will." Draco said firmly, pushing off from the wall.
"Good." Bella replied. "I can't keep getting in the middle of your petty squabbles."
"It won't happen again." Draco said.
"Good." Bella said again.
After a few moments of silence she added; "You better get back to the castle for a shower, you're filthy."
"Don't remind me." Draco groaned, truding up the path to the castle.
