Chapter 5: No Way of Knowing

July 16, 2007

"Yeah, pretty sure this one's not going to work either." Bella threw her head down in a mixture of disappointment and boredom. Had she really thought she could be a witch? Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.

Mr. Ollivander ignored her complaints. "Rowan and Dragon Heart-string. Ten and a half inches. Pliable."

It came as no surprise when nothing happened. Neville had left a few times to run errands and get lunch over the course of the last few hours, but now he was asleep on a small chair near the front of the shop.

"None of these wands are going to work. Face it."

"Isabella Swan, if there is even the slightest chance that there is a wand for you we will discover it."

She sat up a little straighter, feeling scolded. "Even if there is a possibility that a wand would work for me, I'm not exactly your average muggle...or witch...or anything. Don't you think the wand would be different too?"

Mr. Ollivander stopped short. "Ah, yes. I see. Bella Swan, if we are to discover your wand, I must know what it is about you that sets you apart from the rest. What is it about you?"

Bella hesitated, glancing back at Neville a few times to make sure he was still asleep. She didn't exactly know or trust Mr. Ollivander, but if there was even the slightest chance of honing any supposed magical powers inside of her, then she was sure he needed to know a few more details.

"When I was seventeen I fell in love with...someone." Ugh, she couldn't even say it. "A-a vampire." Ollivander said nothing but raised an eyebrow. "He had the ability to read minds, but mine was the only one he couldn't read." She decided to leave the werewolves out of it. Bella knew she couldn't bear it if something she said put them at even more risk. "And then the...muggle repelling charms didn't work on me, and the veritaserum failed too. The only power, if it even is a power, is that no one can get in my head. I don't even know if it's enough to make a difference though."

The wandmaker said nothing for nearly a full minute before replying. "You say you felt out of place amongst the muggles. Discern your true feelings carefully, my dear – how did your vampire make you feel?"

"Like I was home," she said matter-of-factly. But then she thought back to the end – the gaping hole in her chest that would never be filled after Edward left. And Jake...he'd given her a hole of his own now too – a hollow reminder of everything she made him lose. "I guess that's not the only thing he made me feel."

"Yes?"

"When he left, I felt broken...like a shattered vase...or a puzzle with missing pieces, I guess..."

"That is not unusual in vampire-human relations, I'm afraid," he mused articulately.

"Vampires and human relationships are common?" Bella could hardly believe what she is hearing.

"Amongst wizards and witches it is not unheard of, and of course it depends on the species of demon."

"They're not demons," she contested hotly, "not all of them."

"Nonetheless, it is far more rare – if not impossible – for muggles and vampires of any class to engage in successful relationships. One way or another, the human almost always meets death before their time."

"Oh." Bella couldn't really argue with that. James had almost killed her, and then his mate Victoria tried to avenge his death by attempting to kill her numerous times. If it hadn't been for the werewolves, there's no way she'd still be alive.

"Come back in a week's time, Bella Swan. I think I may have what you are looking for, or rather, what is looking for you."

Bella nodded, filled with an odd, fluttery, hopeful feeling. She walked up to Neville, poking him hard in the shoulder.

"Neville, come on. We can go now."

She expected him to stumble or fall out of his seat based on the angle of his body, but instead Neville jumped from the chair, pointing his wand straight at Bella.

"Whoa!" Bella jumped back but somehow tripped over a broom in the process, and she sailed in slow motion toward the ground. Fortunately, before she made contact with the floorboards Neville used some kind of wordless spell to stop her in midair.

"Sorry about that, Bella. I must have been having a flashback." He grabbed her hands, and she collapsed into his arms as he used the counter charm. It was like the rush of an elevator just before it stops moving, though she had to admit that Neville felt far nicer than cold, metal handrails. But then she recalled why she'd been falling in the first place and pushed away.

"You looked like you were about to curse me! What was that?"

"I told you, a flashback."

"Of you attacking people?"

"It's not what you think...I didn't mean..."

"Hey, you don't need to explain yourself to me. It's not my business." Of course the one, real friend Bella had to make in the wizarding world would have a violent streak. It was just her luck.

Neville, misreading her morbid self-examination, grew visibly more and more frustrated until he couldn't seem to handle her accusing gaze any longer. He turned to Ollivander. "Whatever she bought, just...send me the bill." Then he tore from the shop without so much as a backward glance.

"Wha—" Bella stared dumbly out the window until Neville disappeared from view.

"You have a great deal to learn about this world, Bella Swan," Ollivander appeared beside her suddenly, causing her to jump, "Mister Longbottom has endured far more than you can imagine. I would advise learning more about him before casting any sort of ill-conceived judgment."

"I didn't really...Besides, he doesn't exactly seem eager to tell me his life story at the moment."

"The library at Hogwarts has a section on notable events and biographies if I am not mistaken."

"He has a book?" Bella was stunned.

"He is a war hero. One who saved many lives during the last great war against He-who-must-not-be-named. You would do well to research such matters, if you plan on staying long."

The last thing he said, if you plan on staying long, stuck out to Bella. Just how long did she plan on staying? Bella enjoyed studying at the university, but here the folklore was tangible – reality. She'd made no lasting attachments nor made any commitments that required her to return to the muggle world. So she could stick around at least a month or two. Surely no witch or wizard could fault her for wanting to stay. It would be difficult to explain to Charlie later, but he'd forgive her in time.

"I'll look into it," she nodded to Ollivander. "Thank you. For all your help."

She left the shop quickly but became instantly aware that she had no idea where Neville had gone or how to get back to Hogwarts. She certainly couldn't magick herself into thin air the way Neville had done. It was difficult enough to stomach the journey, let alone imagine that she could ever do it herself. No, she'd just have to go look for him.

Edging toward a street called Knockturn Alley, Bella made her way down, hoping that somehow she would find Neville.

She hadn't even passed the first shop before a man in jet black robes approached her.

"Looking for someone?" His voice was low and gravelly, and Bella immediately regretted coming this way.

"N-Neville Longbottom." Maybe she was just overreacting. After all, it sounded like she had misjudged Neville. Perhaps this man wasn't so bad either.

He definitely recognized the name, though Bella wasn't sure if that was a good thing yet.

"I know Longbottom, alright. Came this way, he did. I'd be happy to escort you."

Warning bells were going off in Bella's head. "No, I don't need to see him. I was just curious. Thanks anyway." She turned to run when the man grabbed her arm roughly.

"Don't be so modest. I know he wants to see you."

"Let go of me," she grunted, trying to wrench herself from his grasp, but his grip wouldn't loosen. The man sneered, dragging Bella behind the first shop.

"Lie." Bella had heard those words before, but the voice sounded different. It wasn't Edward's velvety smooth voice, nor Jacob's deep resonance. This was Neville's melodic baritone, a voice which surprised her almost as much as her current predicament.

"Neville knows I'm here."

"Unlikely," the wizard laughed, and he threw her near a pile of trash cans and horrid smelling rot, which unfortunately splashed all over her clothes. "Longbottom's not the type of wizard that comes 'round Knockturn Alley. Thinks it's not decent." He laughed again, and Bella's skin prickled with fear. He pulled out a wand from his robes, and pointed it straight at her. "Don't scream."

The first time Bella had found herself in this kind of situation she hadn't thought to scream. She thought that somehow she'd be able to take on the group of men who had cornered her so long ago in Port Angeles. But Edward wasn't going to show up this time, and she knew she didn't stand a chance.

Bella's scream pierced the sky, catching the man totally off guard as it reverberated off the bricks into the open air. She wasn't very far down the darkened street; if she kept screaming, maybe Neville would hear.

"Silencio!"

The scream cut off completely, and to her horror Bella realized she could not make any sound at all. Thinking fast, she picked up a lid to one of the rubbish bins and held it in front of her like a shield.

She heard footsteps creeping toward her, and she crouched against the bricks for dear life.

"STUPEFY!"

Bella knew that voice. She knew that voice! Peeking above her makeshift shield she spotted her would-be attacker unconscious near some overflowing sewage and Neville Longbottom standing at the entrance to the alley, looking fierce.

"Bella," he strode over, lifting her into his arms and embracing her tightly.

"Don't," she squeaked out amidst her shaking limbs, "I smell horrible."

Neville chuckled, grasping her more tightly. "I'm not going anywhere. Close your eyes."

She felt the same, distinct pressure on her skull as before, and she knew Neville was apparating.

With a pop, they landed near the same smattering of trees they had departed from, and Bella knew they were back in Hogsmeade.

She collapsed gratefully against the nearest tree, still shaking. "How did you find me?"

He sat down beside her. "I was in The Leaky Cauldron, sorting out my thoughts, when some bloke walks into the pub, having a laugh about the girl looking like a muggle who'd just wandered down Knockturn Alley." His breathing wavered slightly. "I took off to try and find you, and when I heard you scream, Bella, I thought—" He buried his face in his hands. "I should've realized you wouldn't know where to go. Some dark wizards...you don't know what they're capable of."

"You're right." She felt her nose start to get that fuzzy feeling just before crying. "I didn't know. I'm sorry for not understanding...and for what I said."

"Godric, Bella." Neville leaned his head back until it hit the tree and sighed heavily after a few seconds. "You are a danger magnet."

She half-smiled, glad that Neville wasn't too upset. "Will you forgive me?"

He looked right into her eyes, and Bella was filled with a vaguely familiar fluttery sensation in the pit of her stomach. "There was no way you could have known what happened before you got here." Then he took her hand, squeezing it lightly for a brief moment. The air felt much thicker as his fingers lingered on hers, and in that instant, Bella suddenly found it harder to breathe.