Chapter 12: Runaway Misunderstandings

The next day was the first Quidditch match of the year. Most everyone in the school was excited for it because it was between Slytherin and Gryffindor, the most rivaled houses in Hogwarts.

Bella had decided early on that she wasn't able to go to the match because of her conflict of interest. Before she entered the great hall that morning, Professor McGonagall pulled her off to the side.

"Miss Darling, your head of house has just informed me that he let you off with a warning. Is that true?" she asked in an even tone.

Bella nodded her head. "Yes ma'am," she answered quietly.

From her eyes, anyone could tell that McGonagall was ready to hex Snape into oblivion, but from her face you could tell nothing. "Did he say why he let you off?"

Bella shook her head. "No ma'am, but he did say I would be in loads of trouble if I ever did anything out of line again," Bella answered trying to make her favorite teacher sound just as mean as everyone thought he was.

McGonagall now looked ready to throttle Snape instead of hexing him. "While your head of house may not have punished you, I am assigning you detention with me before dinner every day for a week. And you will not be able to attend the match between Gryffindor and Slytherin this morning. Do you understand?"

"Yes Professor. Can I tell you why I hit Ron?" Bella asked.

"Yes."

Bella sighed. "While it was no excuse to hit him, he made Hermione cry. I just lost my temper and wasn't thinking. I would like to apologize to Ron when he comes down too," Bella added.

Professor McGonagall was taken aback. Normally a student would say anything to get out of her detentions, but Bella sounded sincere. And then to hear that Bella, a first year Slytherin, wanted to apologize for her actions? McGonagall had known she was different from her peers but not that different.

"Professor?" Bella prompted. McGonagall snapped out of her thoughts quickly.

"Were you going to go to the match?" she asked.

Now it was Bella's turn to look taken aback. "Actually, no. It doesn't seem right for me to go when almost all my friends would be cheering for Gryffindor, especially since I'd rather be cheering with them," Bella responded in an embarrassed tone. Her reason had sound much better in her head, but out loud it sounded childish to her. "Are you going to make me go for punishment?" she asked fearfully hesitant.

McGonagall actually smiled a bit at Bella's fear. "No, I think your detentions will suffice. Now off you go, you must be hungry," she answered Bella while directing her to the Slytherin table. "And don't forget your detention tonight," she added.

Bella smiled. "Yes Professor. Thanks!"

As Bella sat at her house table, she noticed the entire Quidditch team was there this morning. Normally no one else would be up this early except Bella.

"And remember," Marcus Flint, the team captain was telling his team in a hushed tone, "we'll win no matter what. And don't let Hooch see," he added quickly.

The team finally noticed Bella sitting near them and hushed up after Flint had finished. Everyone ate in silence but as soon as Bella left the table to wish her friends good luck, they began speaking again.

Bella headed over to the Gryffindor table as Ron, Hermione, and Harry sat down. When she neared the table, Ron tried to hide behind Hermione.

Bella stepped right up to Ron and out of the corner of her eye, saw Professor Snape tense up at the teacher's table.

"Ron, it's okay, I'm not gonna hit you," Bella began. "I just came to say I'm sorry. I just lost my temper and I really shouldn't have hit you." Bella grabbed Ron in a hug as he stopped trying to hide from her. "I really am sorry," she whispered as she turned a little pink when she noticed Harry and Hermione watching with bewildered expressions.

"I'll explain later Hermione," Bella laughed as Hermione quickly looked away. "And Harry," she started again, this time quieter, "good luck today. Watch out though, I think they're planning something bad. I hope you win," she mumbled so that only the trio could hear her as she turned even redder.

"Aren't you coming today?" Ron asked. Bella shook her head unable to find her voice for a moment. "You've gotta come, even Hermione's going and she doesn't even like Quidditch."

"I can't and I wasn't going to go anyway," Bella started explaining as Hermione motioned for her to sit down. Bella looked around quickly and got a nod from McGonagall. "Alright, Professor McGonagall gave me detention for hitting Ron and she isn't gonna let me go to the match too," Bella said without hesitation. "I wasn't gonna go in the first place though because I'm a Slytherin and I'd rather be cheering for Gryffindor," she finished turning pink again.

All three of the trio's jaws dropped at Bella's confession but they soon began pelting her with question.

"Why would you be cheering for Gryffindor?" Harry was the first to speak.

"But, but, but," Ron tried to speak but Hermione voiced the same comment he was trying to articulate.

"But they're your house team," she stated quietly.

Bella shrugged. "I know but they're all jerks and all my friends, except Davidella, are in other houses," she elaborated. "The only time I'll cheer with them is against Hufflepuff."

Again, all their jaws dropped but the sound of approaching footsteps behind them snapped them all back to reality.

"Mr. Potter," Snape said from behind Harry and Hermione. "I wish you the best of luck today. You'll need it." He finally seemed to notice that Bella was sitting at the Gryffindor table. "Miss Darling, why are you not at your own table?"

"I was just leaving. I wanted to wish my friends good luck as I won't be going to the match today," she answered quietly, wondering how her head of house would react.

Snape merely grimace slightly at the mention of her being friends with the Gryffindors. "I suggest you attend and support your house, Miss Darling," he said pointedly, completely ignoring the trio.

Before he could continue, Bella interrupted him, which earned her a glare that would have scared any other first year. "I've been banned from attending the match by Professor McGonagall in punishment for attacking my friend, but I'll be happy to attend future games and support my friends," Bella replied.

Upon realizing how she had just spoken to her favorite teacher and her head of house no less, Bella's hand flew to her mouth and she looked up into the seething black eyes of Professor Snape.

In a barely controlled tone, Snape said, "While I may not be able to contradict Professor McGonagall, I refuse to be spoken to in such a insolent tone by one of my own students," he started in a tone that was ever so slowly rising and drawing the attention of a few Ravenclaws at the next table, namely Jared and Dustin, along with a few teachers at the staff table. "You will have detention with me every evening after dinner for the next two weeks, along with an earlier curfew than your fellow first years," he finished in a loud voice. Bella had started to shake at his hard tone. When he finally turned and began heading towards the doors, she lost it and ran past him and out onto the grounds.

Bella kept running until she found herself right outside of womping distance from the Womping Willow. She sat down and tried not to rip up the grass and scream because she knew she deserved the lecture she had gotten but it had hurt none the less.

She ended up walking around the grounds for the rest of the day, avoiding anyone that was not at the game in the morning and everyone that was outside after the game. She even stayed out past lunch and finally settled down by the lake.

It was nearing dinner time when Bella heard light but rushed footsteps behind her. Bella closed her eyes as she waited for another lecture from someone.

"Miss Darling, what are you doing out here?" It was McGonagall again. As if one lecture from her was not enough.

"I... I don't know," Bella mumbled as she stood up and faced her teacher, ready for another blow to her self esteem.

"You've miss your detention and- Miss Darling what happened to you?" she asked suddenly.

Bella looked up, surprised at the change in McGonagall's line of questioning. "What do you mean Professor?"

McGonagall blinked. "What do I mean? You look like you've been crying and have been outside all day," she answered as she began leading her student back to the castle. "Is this about Mr. Potter?" she asked out of the blue again.

Bella pulled away from her. "How'd you know?" she asked quickly, hoping Harry wasn't anywhere nearby, and completely misunderstanding her teacher.

Professor patted Bella shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry Mr. Potter is fine, just a few scratches and bruises."

Bella stopped so suddenly, she nearly fell over. "What do you mean scratches?" Bella nearly screeched. "Was Harry hurt?"

Now it was McGonagall's turn to look surprised. "Yes Harry was hurt. He fell off his broom at the match," McGonagall enlightened Bella. "What did you think I was talking about?"

Bella began blushing profusely. "Um, um, that, I, um, mean, the match-" Bella tried to cover up the misunderstanding.

McGonagall quickly caught on. She shushed Bella as she began rambling. "I quite understand, Miss Darling. No need to continue talking about Mr. Potter," she smiled at Bella in confidence.

Immediately, Bella turned even redder, if that was even possible. "I, um... okay," she finally managed to get out as they started walking again.

"Back to my first question, what happened to you?" McGonagall started as they entered the entrance hall and stopped off to the side.

Bella looked at her shoes, embarrassed for losing control again. "I, uh, well, uh," Bella stopped and took a deep breath. "I got really mad at Professor Snape and so I ran out, and then I felt really hurt, so I stayed out all day trying to avoid him and other people so I didn't hurt them in any way, and I tried not to cry but I didn't realize it, and now I have to go have detention with Professor Snape after dinner," Bella ended in a rush, close to tears again. "He scared me," Bella whispered.

Professor McGonagall was thunderstruck by what the child had just told her. "Miss Darling, I think we should talk to your head of house about this," she started, but Bella interrupted her loudly.

"No," Bella protested. "I don't want him to know. I can deal with this," she finished quietly.

McGonagall spoke at length. "Alright, but if this happens again, I want you to either come and speak with me or another adult that you trust," McGonagall softly ordered her.

Bella nodded, not willing to let herself speak after her outburst.

"Would you like me to write a note and excuse you from your detention with Professor Snape today?" McGonagall asked.

Bella shook her head no and she looked towards the entrance to the dungeons.

"Dinner shall be starting soon," McGonagall told Bella. "I suggest you eat something," she added kindly.

Bella nodded but as soon as Professor McGonagall disappeared into the great hall, Bella ran down the dungeon's stair case and decided just to wait until her detention started as she didn't want to see Professor Snape until she absolutely had too.