Days had now passed since Cedric's death and the time had not been kind to Bella. She had become distant, drawing into herself to avoid any conversation about how she was feeling - at meals times she pushed food around her plate and at night she lay staring at the canopy above her head, replaying over and over the scene of Cedric's lifeless body on the quidditch field, the excruciating pain in her chest never wavering.
She had only seen Draco once since her breakdown in the corridor. 'Are you okay?' he mouthed to her in the corridor - she nodded, a small smile on her face to put his nerves at ease. He seemed happy with her answer, returning her smile with one of his own.
When Bella found out what had happened to Harry after the Triwizard Tournament she felt sick to her stomach. She was in disbelief that one of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's Death Eaters, Barty Crouch Jr., had been posing as Mad-Eye Moody for the entire year. She was even more surprised that Dumbledore had not discovered it. Harry seemed to be coping well, on the outside, but Bella more than anyone knew that putting up a front was easier than revealing that you aren't really coping at all.
It was a welcome relief to everyone when the time came for them all to return home for the summer. The Hogwarts Express was filled with nervous energy; nothing like the journey had been when they had been returning to school for the beginning of the year.
"Will you come to the toilet with me?" Freya said quietly to Bella.
"Of course." She replied.
The two girls excused themselves and hurried through the bustling corridor to the toilet compartment in the middle of the train. When they were both inside, Freya shut and locked the door, turning to lean against the door with her hand still on the handle.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Bella asked sceptically, leaning against the sinks.
"We need to talk." Freya said bluntly, pushing herself away from the door frame to pace in front of Bella.
"About?"
"Malfoy."
Bella's eyes widened like dinner plates.
"W-What about Malfoy?" she asked.
"Why were you with him the night Cedric died?" Bella physically flinched at the mention of Cedric's name.
"Merlin, Freya!" Bella cried. "Do you really think now is the best time to ask me that?"
"I'm sorry for being insensitive but it's better to talk about it now rather than trying to get a minute's privacy when we're back home."
"I'm sorry." Bella said softly. "I shouldn't have shouted at you. It's just still so raw right now, I can't even hear his name without feeling that awful ache in my chest."
"Oh, Bella." Freya whispered, crossing the space, and pulling Bella into her arms. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have even brought it up."
"How did you even know I was with him that night anyway?" Bella asked, pulling back to look at Freya.
"You really don't remember?" Bella shook her head.
"I found you both in the corridor outside the common room. Malfoy was holding you up, trying to wake you up while you drooled all over him and kept swatting him away."
"I did not drool all over him." Bella groaned, covering her face with her hands as Freya nodded, trying, and failing to hide her amusement.
"Anyway, he helped me get you through the portrait and when I turned around to thank him, he was gone." As an afterthought she added, "just as well he left, I never want to imagine never-mind actively thanking Malfoy for anything."
"No one else saw him, right?" Bella asked.
"No, the common room was pretty empty, and we were only just inside the portrait hole anyway."
"Thank Merlin. That's the last thing I need." Bella sighed.
"You haven't answered my question." Freya crossed her arms over her chest.
"You noticed that, huh?" Freya nodded.
"I don't know, okay? I don't have an answer. If I knew what was going on, then of course you would be the first person I would tell but I really don't know."
"Okay." Freya said, holding her hands up in surrender. "Okay, I won't ask again."
Freya crossed the space and pulled Bella into her arms again.
"Just promise you'll fill me in on all the juicy gossip when there's something to tell." she whispered in Bella's ear.
"I promise." Bella chuckled.
Before they left to go back to their compartment Freya turned to Bella, a sympathetic look in her eyes.
"Are you okay? Really?"
"I'm as okay as I can be, but I'm coping."
"You know you can come to me, always." Freya took Bella's hand in hers and squeezed it in a show of comfort.
"What are friends for?"
