Ch. 7 – Living Without Me

Unfolding the newspaper and sipping my orange juice, none of the headlines really caught my eye. I put it down and gave it to Ashlee, who wanted news about the killer. I didn't really care about him, even though he was after me. I doubted he would actually kill me, even if he had the opportunity. I'm sure he still had a little bit of good inside him. I believed in second chances! Maybe it wasn't really his fault. Maybe he was being controlled by Voldemort, because Voldemort was too weak yet to come after me. Poor man… I truly felt sorry of him with all this going on.

While I was musing over my fruit salad, the soft hoot of owls denounced the arrival of the post. I didn't look up, because I never got mail. Who would I get it from? On my sides, my friends got mail, though. Hermione's newspaper came, Harry got his fanmail, Ron got some cakes from home, Ashlee got a newspaper, and Mikel got a very thick volume in a language I did not know. While I was examining my friends' packages, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, wand in hand, ready for whomever it might be.

Once I realized who had tapped me, I lowered my fences. It was only a student I recognized from some of my classes. She had a muggle envelope in her hand, and her eyes were shining with shear delight.

"Bella? This is for you! Here!" she jumped.

"Oh, okay. Thanks!"

"No problem! It's a real honor! Plus, your robes look super awesome today! Um, okay, bye!" she scampered away, obviously intimated by my rep.

My robes did look awesome, though. They were a mix of red, orange, and yellow, like a sunburst. They were really long, trailing behind me like a bridal gown. One day, if I ever got married to Cedric, I would wear something really pretty. I could see him from where I was sitting, and he was reading a book. He wasn't turning the pages, though. I wonder what he was thinking about? Across the hall, I heard his friend ask, "Hey… Ced? Man, what's up? You're like… cat and tonic, man!" he laughed. Cedric just shrugged and bored holes into his book.

Then, I remembered the letter that was delivered to me especially! The outside was addressed to me, at Hogwarts, and there was no return address or anything like that. I opened It up and pulled out a piece of loose leaf paper, with pencil writing on it.

Dear Bella

I miss you at home. I'm not sure where you are, but I hope you'll come home soon. I hope you are safe, because I worry about you. I don't know where you went, or why. I just hope that you return home soon. I do not want to spend my Christmas alone. I need you here with me. I need you because you bring FAITH, HOPE and JOY to my HOUSE. I would be so happy if you could just come by. I miss you.

I love you

Dad

I felt tears forming in my eyes. My poor, poor father! It was weird that he was begging for me to stay with him for the holidays. He was so independent most of the time, and I thought it was weird that he was so dependent on me. I pressed the letter to my chest, by my heart. If only I could just tell him that I was safe, and I would be coming home for Christmas. I was panning on exploring the castle with my BFF's, Mikel and Ashlee, and staring at Cedric, but my dad needed me.

I couldn't ignore that. Christmas was coming up, too! I could buy all of my friends muggle gifts back at home, and I bet they'd be fascinated by them, since they don't know much about muggles and their possessions. I could picture the looks of wonder and excitement on their faces… muggle things are quite delightful for wizards. As McGonagall came around asking which students were staying at Hogwarts, I told her that I would be staying home.

"But Bella, I thought you were staying with us for Christmas! What are you doing, going home?" asked Ashlee, sadly. Mikel was looking at me as well, frowning slightly.

"I know, I was! But, look at what my dad wrote me. I can't stay here." I felt bad, telling them I had changed my mind I handed them the letter.

"You're right. Your dad needs you more than we do. You're making the right choice," said Mikel, finishing, as Ashlee nodded.

"Thanks for understanding, guys. You're great. I wish I could stay here with you, but… yeah. Maybe for Easter. Even though things won't be so fester," I motioned to the garlands and tinsel and Christmas trees, "we can still have fun," I told them, earnestly.

"Awesome, can't wait!" exclaimed Ashlee. I smiled.

They were both such awesome friends. Better than anybody at my grade school by far. There was a certain magic in them that I couldn't find anywhere else.

"Oh no! Omg, guys, listen to this!" We all turned to see Hermione looking terrified, Harry and Ron both looking like they spilled their breakfast all down their front.

"Calm down, sister! What's up?" asked Ashlee, who was startled.

"This article! In the newspaper! Did anybody else read it?" We all said that we hadn't. "Well, all right, okay. You know…" her voice suddenly became low and fearful? "Hobogo Gogetta?"

We were all surprised she had said the name. The only person that I heard say it was Dumbledore, but then again, he was very obscure. She, Hermione, looked rather surprised as well. She was very feint and pale as a sheik, as if she had seen a ghost.

"Yes. We know all about him. But what's the article about?" questioned Harry, his front sopping, looking like he spilled breakfast on it.

"Well, he, here." Unable to say anything, Hermione showed us the paper. Most providence was a large picture of a boulder, with words etched upon it.

I am coming

for

Bella Swan

--Hobogo Gogetta

As my friends looked at it, their usually joyous faces became clouded with horror. They turned to look at me with shock.

"Bells…" started Ashlee, softly.

"What?" I asked, totes confused.

"Omg, what do you mean, what? HE'S AFTER YOU!" she shouted so loudly that people turned to look.

"Yeah, I know. What's the big deal? I can keep myself safe," I said, shrugging.

"Blimey, how did you know?" asked Ron.

"Dumbledore told me. He didn't tell me why, though. But he knows best." All my friends still looked scared, but nodded in agreement.