Life in the castle only became harder on Harry as the days wore on. The hostility towards him grew steadily day by day but Bella knew deep down that Ron's behaviour was affecting Harry most. It seemed as though the students within the castle were following Harry's every move, throwing horrible insults at him. Freya, the voice of reason, quietly told Harry to ignore them while Bella told them something that would have her mother in a fit of hysterics.

The last day of the school week was drawing to a close but the last class of the day would make them feel as though the week was never ending; double Potions with the Slytherins.

"How much are we betting Malfoy will be the first with one of his snarky comments?" Harry asked as they descended into the Dungeons.

Harry's question was answered when they arrived at Snape's classroom. The Slytherins were waiting patiently outside of the classroom, every single one of them wearing a large badge on the front of their robes. Written in luminous red was the message 'SUPPORT DIGGORY - THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION'

"Like them, Potter?" Draco asked loudly as they approached the classroom. "Look what else they can do!"

He pressed his badge into his chest, the message in red vanished, replaced by another which glowed bright green; 'POTTER STINKS'

The other Slytherins cackled with laughter, each in turn pressing their badge until each one bore the horrible message. Bella felt anger, like she had never felt in her life, building in her chest.

"Oh that's very funny." Hermione said sarcastically from the other side of the corridor. "Extremely witty."

"Want one, Granger?" Draco asked, turning and holding out a badge to her. "I've got loads. But don't touch my hand, now. I've just washed it, you see, don't want a Mudblood sliming it up."

Quicker than anyone could react, Harry had his wand pointed right at Draco. Everyone around them scrambled backwards.

"Don't do it, Harry." Freya said warningly. "He isn't worth it."

"Go on, then, Potter." Draco said quietly, drawing his wand. "Do it, if you've got the guts."

They looked each other in the eye. As if in slow motion, Bella surged forward just as they both raised their wands in the air.

"NO -!"

"Furnunculus!"

"Densaugeo!"

Both spells hit Bella simultaneously and she cried out as she fell to the floor. Large, angry boils began to form on her face as her arms and legs began to grow at an alarming rate.

"Bella!" Ron cried, pushing his way through the crowd. He dropped to his knees beside her, a panic stricken look on his face.

Everyone around them gawped at Bella, lying on the floor like some sort of mutated octopus.

"And what is all this noise about?"

Bella lay there, hardly able to see through the large pus-filled boils on her face. Her arms and legs continued to grow in length, just not as fast as they previously had been. When no one made a move to speak, Snape pointed one long finger at Draco and said, "Explain."

"Potter attacked me, sir -"

"We attacked each other at the same time!" Harry yelled.

"- and both spells hit..." he trailed off, speaking quieter this time.

"Hospital Wing, Miss Weasley." Snape said nonchalantly.

"And how do you expect her to do that?" Ron yelled angrily. "She can't even stand!"

"Detention, Weasley." Snape said.

"Oh no, it's okay, you all go on without me. I'll just lie here and die." Bella mumbled, though it was difficult as her lips were also covered in the puss-filled boils.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor for your attitude, Miss Weasley." Snape growled.

"Potter, Weasley -" Snape barked. "- escort Miss Weasley to the Hospital Wing."

Ron and Harry tried to carry Bella's weight between them but her legs and arms were so long they ended up trailing along the floor. Harry chorused his apologies over and over again until they reached the Hospital Wing and Bella was suddenly extremely happy to hear the stern Matron's voice.

"What on earth is going on!" she shrieked as Ron and Harry lowered Bella onto the bed.

Harry quickly explained what had happened in the corridor and Madam Pomfrey hurried around the Hospital Wing, gathering potions and bandages.

"Silly, silly boys!" Madam Pomfrey cursed.

"'m ok-" Bella tried to speak but it was unintelligible.

"Don't speak." Madam Pomfrey snapped but she immediately softened. "I'm sorry, dear."

She made Bella drink a very foul concoction and quicker than it had happened, she began to regain the feeling in her arms and legs and they morphed back into their normal size. Madam Pomfrey layered a foul smelling creme onto Bella's face and covered it with bandages.

"The boils are a bit more stubborn than I first thought but a few hours with that creme and you'll be good as new." Madam Pomfrey smiled.

Bella gave her a thumbs up in response and Madam Pomfrey sauntered off into her office.

"I can't believe you did that." Ron mumbled.

"Don't even start." Harry snapped.

"Don't start? Really." Ron said.

"Yes, really." Harry replied. "This isn't the time or the place."

Ron made to reply but the doors of the Hospital Wing opened slowly. It was Colin Creevey.

"Harry!" he cried, hurrying into the room. "When Professor Snape said you were here I was worried but you're not hurt so it's okay."

"What do you want, Colin?" Harry sighed.

"You're supposed to come upstairs -"

"I'm not going anywhere." Harry cut him off.

"But - Mr. Bagman wants to speak to you. All of the Champions have been called."

"Go, Harry." Bella mumbled quietly. "I'm okay."

"Yeah, Harry, go." Ron said snarkily. "Wouldn't want to miss out, would you?"

"Get a grip, Ron." Harry retorted, standing from his seat.

"I'll come back and see you later." Harry said to Bella squeezing her hand before following Colin out of the Hospital Wing.

Bella turned on her side, her back to Ron, and pulled the blanket up to her chin.

"Why are you being like this?" Ron asked.

"Go away." Bella said. "I don't want to speak to you."

Ron sighed dramatically; Bella heard the chair legs scraping against the floor, the soft tap of his feet on the ground and the dull thud of the oak doors closing behind him. Shortly after, Bella fell into a much needed , dreamless sleep.

Bella awoke hours later and she could faintly hear someone moving behind her. She took a deep breath and that's when she smelt Draco's cologne. That strong reek of arrogance nearly had Bella bringing up her breakfast.

"Go away." she said, finding it much easier now to speak.

"Bella -" he said softly.

"I don't want to speak to you." she replied, still with her back to him.

"Please, just let me explain." he pleaded.

"I told you to be nice to Harry and still you continued to antagonize him. There's nothing to explain."

"You've got to understand -"

"Draco -" Bella said harshly, finally turning to look at him. "Leave."

With a defeated look on his face, Draco stood and crossed the Hospital Wing to the doors. He pulled them open and stepped out into the corridor.

"I never meant to hurt you, Bella." he said with one last look back before closing the doors behind him.