Chapter 29: What No One Can See

August 31, 2007

Bella had been holed up in her room since the encounter with Rosalie. She'd canceled her plans with Neville, skipped dinner, and had been practicing her magic every moment since.

It was a combination of frenzied feelings that motivated her. Bella had a feeling that Hermione hadn't quite scared off the blonde vampire, and it wouldn't hurt to learn and perfect as many spells as possible, but there was also the fact that school started the following evening, and she didn't want people thinking she was a squib like Filch.

Neville came by to bring her something to eat when she didn't show up to breakfast, but Bella could hardly think about food. She had to prove herself. She had to make sure she'd be prepared when Rosalie made her next move.

After a few dismal attempts at getting objects to fly and trying to summon a pillow from her bed, she gave up and plopped down on the mattress.

Latesco.

She folded her legs and leaned back, observing the frosty, blue, second skin that shimmered over her body as it vanished from view. She tried tugging on it, stretching it with her mind, and anything else she could think of, but it remained firmly fixed like a sort of exoskeleton.

Bella was inclined to believe it was the physical manifestation of her shield, but it was so firmly attached to her person that there was probably no use trying to manipulate it.

With a few choice waves of her wand, everything in her room became invisible, and she laid back with a sigh. Was there an extent to what she could make disappear? She pointed her wand at the draperies, but they remains visible as ever. Oh well, it must have been a protective enchantment of the castle.

She peered down at her hands and was struck with a crazy idea. What about her wand? It was an irrational notion, but what if she succeeded? And she could practice that prolonged shield charm she'd been aching to try.

Protego Totalum.

Drawing her wand in a sharp arc, she created a shield that curved like a tidal wave, and it stayed in place to her delight after she lowered her arm. If the spell could deflect at exactly the right angle, it might hit her wand...at least, that's what she hoped.

Okay, here goes...

Invisibilis Obscurus!

The wand ricocheted off the shield and bounced toward Bella's Bed. She dived, hand outstretched, and managed to catch the beam with her wand. Unfortunately Bella continued to sail through the air and crashed into the window with a great bang.

"Unnngh..."

The sound must have echoed into the hall, because moments later she heard a knock.

"Miss Swan! Are you in need of assistance?" a voice squeaked outside the door.

Professor Flitwick! She'd never been so grateful to hear his high-pitched tone. With a haphazard jab of her wand the door swung open, and the Charms Professor bustled inside.

"Raging Hippogriffs!" His eyes bulged at the sight of well...nothing.

"Sorry, hang on," she groaned, waving her wand around the room.

The shield dissipated, the furniture became visible, and Bella came into view in front of the great stain glass window.

"I think I broke something."

Without so much as blinking he zapped her onto a stretcher. "Morgana's Ghost, Miss Swan, whatever were you attempting to accomplish whilst crumpled on a window ledge?"

"Um..." She peered at her wand, which to her great dismay was still as visible as ever. "I was just practicing some spells. I guess I got a little carried away." She rubbed her right ankle and winced with pain. What a disaster. She should have known it wouldn't work. Her wand was literally made to block spells. But she had secretly hoped that she could overpower the will of the wand. She felt ridiculous in hindsight.

With a frown Professor Flitwick began levitating her and the stretcher toward the hospital wing. "Responsibility, Miss Swan! That above all is that which we strive. None of this reckless tomfoolery—"

"—It won't happen again," she cut in quickly, hoping to prevent a long winded rant.

"Quite right. As a member of the staff you are expected to uphold the values of your house!"

Bella frowned as she registered what he meant. "But I'm not in a house."

Flitwick paused, appraising Bella with shrewdness in his gaze. "Then the solution is easily remedied." A jet of light burst from his wand, and Bella's ankle felt completely healed. With another flick the stretcher disappeared, and she bounced onto her feet. "You must be sorted at once!"

Ten minutes later Bella sat in Professor McGonagall's office staring at a musty old hat.

"So I'm supposed to put that on my head?" she peered at it with wonder.

"Indeed," the headmistress answered. "Not all staff are required to be sorted, Miss Swan, but I am in agreement with Filius that it may aid you in your efforts to assimilate."

Bella nodded slowly. "Okay, what do I do?"

"Place the sorting hat on your head, and it will decide where you belong."

She took the hat and gingerly placed it on her head, and immediately the hat began to speak.

"An occlumens, eh? A master of shields. Hmm." He was silent for several seconds before a long exhale issued from above her head. "Perhaps sorting is not the path for you after all."

"No, I want to be sorted," Bella talked back.

"Then you must let me in."

"I...don't know how."

"Then I am sorry to say that you cannot be sorted."

The hat said no more, and Bella pulled it from her head, feeling dejected.

"Extraordinary," McGonagall remarked. "I have never met a soul in all my days with the capacity to stump the sorting hat."

"I didn't want to stump the sorting hat. I wanted to find out where I belonged."

"Then perhaps you should learn how to let him in."

Bella left, feeling utterly confused. How was she supposed to let the hat in?

How was she supposed to let anyone in?

Someone pointed out that my title doesn't make sense in regards to the bulk of the plot, so I'm going to change it. Any suggestions? I was thinking of changing the 'Muggle Squib Extraordinaire' part to something about her shield and then in a few chapters dropping the 'Bella Swan' part altogether.

You all have helped motivate me so much, and I'm so grateful for your feedback! Also, I think "Raging Hippogriffs" is my new favorite exclamation. Thanks for reading! -V