Chapter 24

The past week had been a tense one. The line between my friendship with Sirius was getting blurrier. I tried to talk to Rodger about it, I knew he was upset, but he kept brushing it off and saying everything was alright.

So he didn't want to talk about it. Okay. We also hadn't talked about the Halloween Ball. I'm not one to care too much for these things, it would be a fun night I'm sure but I'm usually the last girl to get caught up in the whole thing and spend weeks thinking and talking about what dress I'm going to wear or how I'm having my hair done. However, given Rodg being slightly cold towards me as of late, I grew worried.

Is it okay for me to assume we're going together? I mean we don't have to, but if we don't is this his way of breaking things off with me?

I knew I was being silly and it was driving me insane, acting like some insecure girl, which was why I needed badly to talk things out with him.

So I waited a day, another day, and then one more. But that's enough, I knew this was bigger that the Halloween Ball, so I decided to seek him out one thursday afternoon when we both had a free period.

On my walk down the stairs, I bumped into James.

"Oh hi James, where have you just come from?"

"Third floor. Had transfiguration, what about you? Where are you headed in such a rush?"

"I was just trying to find Rodg" I went to walk past him-

"Oh he's by the lake" James said instantaneously.

I stopped. Furrowing my brow I asked, "how do you know?"

"I-I just saw him.." he answered nervously, pushing his specs further up the bridge of his nose.

"But..you said you just came from the third floor.."

"Oh, did I? Well, I think I heard someone talking about it, anyway why all the question B? Hurry up and scuttle off to find your precious amore." With that, he pushed a blank parchment further into his robes and hurried up the stairs.

Shaking my head, I headed off to the Great Lake.

I found Rodger was indeed by the Lake, reading a book on his own.

I eased down next to him, he gave me a small smile and continued to read.

I waited a few moments before snatching the book away.

"What gives Bella?" he asked, annoyed.

"Rodg, we need to talk"

He sighed and sat up. "About what?"

"About us. I know you're upset with me and I wish you would just say it so we could work it out." I said, picking at the grass.

He was silent for a moment, studying me.

"I'm not upset at you Bells."

"Really?"

"...Okay maybe I am a little upset"

"Please Rodg just tell me what I've done."

"You don't seem to even want to be in this relationship with me Bella! I'm not sure you're trying at all. I really like you, but if you don't want this then I have no plans to be a play thing."

I sat back, shocked. I took a few moments to gather my thoughts.

"Rodger, you are not a play thing, you're my boyfriend! And I do want this, I wouldn't be feeling this bad about you ignoring me if I didn't! I really am sorry for making you feel like I don't care but please believe me when I say I do."

I stared pleadingly into his eyes for what seemed like minutes, until he finally spoke again.

He ran his hands through his hair, "and I'm sorry I gave you the cold shoulder."

He finally smiled and pulled me into a hug.

I felt the tension that had been building up over the past week melt into relief.

"By the way, are we going to the Halloween Ball together? I hate to admit it but its a question that's been on my mind a lot lately." I asked.

He laughed, "well in that case" he got up, pulled me to my feet and made a big show of taking my hand and dipping into an ostentatious bow. "It would be my great honour and pleasure to escort you to the Ball my lady"

Self-consciously looking around at the several onlookers, I giggled, "I graciously accept."

After he kissed my hand, he rose and grinned. Sealing the deal with a kiss, we raced back up to the castle.

Everything was seeming to look up once again, until the very next day.

We were in Defence against the Dark Arts, by the Great Lake studying Grindylows.

The professor was rambling on about their characteristics, while standing knee-deep into the murky water.

I was diligently taking notes until I noticed something out of the corner of my eye.

A few yards away, I saw Niffy grazing on some fallen leaves by the edge of the Forbidden Forest

Niffy? We put you back in your cage! How did you manage to escape again?

Looking back at the class, who were focussing on the professor with rapt attention as he demonstrated the attacking abilities of the grindylow, I quietly snuck off to grab the niffler before he wandered into the forest.

As I approached, he hadn't noticed me. When I was about to grab him, he dashed further into the forest.

"No!" I chased.

How did you get so fast?

Finally, I snatched his up, "you bundle of trouble, lets get you back" I said, fondly stroking the little creature's head.

He gave a delighted squeak, but then I felt him tense.

"What's wrong?" I furrowed my brow as he stuck his nose into the air.

And then I felt the hair on the back of my neck stick up. Turning around slowly, I gasped and froze.

The same beast that had attacked Sirius and I the other day, was standing before me, lips pulled back over bared teeth that gave way to a vicious snarl.

This beast was much larger however, and more startling in appearance.

Not letting Niffy go, I fumbled through my robes for my wand.

Drat! I left it with my bag and books back with the class!

Panic rose in my throat and I turned heel to run.

I felt the ground shake as it pounded after me.

The scream died in my throat as it reared and jumped right on top of me in a flash.

However I did scream when the creature sank his teeth into my right leg, and began to drag me backwards.

Niffy escaped my grip and ran behind me, I heard a startling squeak and a thud and saw Niffy's still body as I was dragged past.

"Bella? Did you come in here? I thought I saw you, are you in here?" I heard Sirius voice call.

I screamed as the beast dug his teeth further into the flesh of my leg and continued to drag me backwards.

"BELLA? BELLA! WHERE ARE YOU?"

The beast stopped. He released my leg, I whimpered.

He rose his head and sniffed.

With a great leap, he jumped over my body and raced in the direction of Sirius' voice.

I fought for consciousness. I could feel the blood oozing out of my leg and pooling on the surrounding leaves.

I heard growls and snarls and ...was that a bark? Funny, I hadn't heard the beast make that sound.

After a few more agonising moments, heavy footfalls and looked up.

Sirius was running towards me, covered in blood. I hoped upon hope that it wasn't his own.

"Bella! Bella oh Merlin" he shifted me into a sitting position and, just like the previous time, began ripping material from his clothing and hurriedly wrapped it around my leg in an attempt to stop the alarming flow of blood.

I tried my hardest but couldn't stop the tears. Unimaginable pain seared through my leg.

I hadn't realised but I was clutching so hard to Sirius's sleeve that my knuckles were going white.

"It hurts" I clenched through my teeth.

"This is terrible Bella, why don't you keep talking to keep your mind off the pain? Would that help?" He lifted my chin with one hand so I wasn't looking at the wound.

I nodded and looked up at a nearby shrub sprouting purple and yellow flowers.

"My favourite flower is the purple lotus. One of the rarest flowers in the world. My grandma used to have a pond in her backyard filled with them. She would sit in a rocking chair and watch them each morning and evening. We found her sitting in the chair looking out at the flowers one morning when she had passed away. That's why I started creating that potion and why I love flowers. Ah! Sirius it's killing!"

"I know, I'm going to take you to the hospital wing now, don't worry you will be fine, I won't let anything happen to you" He said, I heard a desperation in his voice that quietened me.

"We have to take Niffy too!" I suddenly remembered.

"We'll definitely take care of him but I need to get you help right now" he said as he lifted me in his arms and sprinted off out of the forest.

The last thing I saw before I faded out of consciousness was Sirius' face, taught with worry and a strangled concern in his stormy grey eyes.

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- Sugar :)