Chapter 9: No. Bloody. WAY.

After three more agonizing hours on the train, we finally arrived at Hogsmead Station. We were all in our uniforms, and I realized that my skirt was a tiny bit too short. I scowled and adjusted my height a little. I was now the size of a 10 year old. I hated being short.

"Bells?" Hermione giggled, "You can just adjust the length on the skirt! You don't need to make yourself even shorter!"

I scowled and did just that. I then made myself taller...maybe a couple centemeters taller than I was originally, but hey! A short girl's gotta do what a short girl's gotta do!

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We got a carrage to ourselves. It was a bit cramped, but it worked. The ride up to the castle was only 5 minutes, and by the time we were there, our stomachs were all rumbling. We climbed the front steps into the castle, and I was greated by the familiar caress of warmth by the castle. She was like a mother to me and Harry.

"Did you feel her?" Harry whispered to me.

I nodded back and we grasped hands. Together, we walked into the arms of our ancestors.

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"To those whom are new here, welcome!" Dumbledore started, "To those whom are returning to another year, welcome back! Now, before we all become befuddled with our feast, we have 5 more students to be sorted. They will all be joining 5th year, and they are to be treated with utmost respect. Now, without further a do, please welcome, the Cullens!"

Bloody hell no! I narrowed by eyes at Dumbledore and glared at him when he looked at me. The twinkle in his eye was full blown out to tempt my patience. He knew! Oooh! I am full out pissed!

"Cullen, Alice!" McGonagall called out.

Alice walked up to the stage. It was odd to see her walking instead of dancing and bouncing around. It was as if she was depressed about something. She sat down on the stool, and McGonagall put the Sorting Hat on her head. It was a few minutes before the hat called out, "Gryffindor!" Oh Hogwarts help me now!

"Cullen, Edward!"

Edw-he made his way up to the stage and to the stool. When he sat down facing the rest of the hall, I got a good look at his face. There were purple rings under his eyes. They were more pronounced than usual. His eyes sagged, and his hair was unkempt. He looked tortured, and he was definately moping.

"Gryffindor!" the hat called out after 5 minutes.

It was the longest the hat had ever taken to sort someone. Ha, I bet the Cullens weren't even magical!

"Cullen, Emmet!"

Emmet, who was usually an overgrown bear with a 3 year old's heart, slouched up to the stage. His usual enthusiastic demeanor was gone. Instead, he was actually looking down. He thumped his butt down on the stool, and the hat was put on his head. Emmet's eyes lit up, and his eyes searched the hall. for me. My gut clenched, and my stomach rose to my throat.

"Hale, Jasper!"

Jazz walked sullenly up to the stage. The hat was placed on his head, and he was immediately placed into Gryffindor as well.

"Hale, Rosalie!"

Rose strutted up to the stage, but even she looked troubled. The hat was placed on her blond curles, and her hand went up to smooth them. She frowned and appeared to be arguing with the hat. After a few minutes, the hat slowly and hessitantly called out, "Gryffindor!"

"Mrs. Cullen will be co-teaching History of Magic, and Mr. Cullen will be assisting Madame Pomfrey

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The food appeared on the table, and the conversation level sky rocketed. Harry noticed my face, and he questioned me.

"Nothing," I said toying with my mashed potatoes, "Just really tired."

Harry still looked worried, but he shrugged and dug into his mountain of food. I sighed. Boys will be boys I suppose.

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"Mr. and Miss. Potter!" Dumbledore called out after dinner, "A word in my office please!"

We both nodded and made our way to the headmaster's office instead of our common room.

"What do you think he wants?" Harry asked me.

"I don't know," I shrugged, "Can I stop in the bathroom real quick? I'm prefect, so I can use the prefect's bathroom."

Harry agreed, and we veered off course to the Prefect's bathroom. I went in, and Harry's face didn't show surprise and marvel like I had expected. Hmm...had he been here before? I shrugged and went to do my business. We left a couple minutes later.

"Do you think we're in trouble?" Harry asked again.

"I don't know Harry!" I sighed impatiently.

"Oh, sorry," he mumbled distractedly.

We arrived at the gargoyle 5 minutes later. We looked at each other, and stared back at the statue.

"Er..." Harry looked around nervously, "cockroach clusters?"

"Blood magots?" I tried, "lemon drops? Sherbery lemons? er...Blood pops? Rat tails? uh...train tracks? guitar totes? erm...winter blasts? uh...damn it! vampire shit!"

"Bella!" Harry exclaimed, but the gargoyle leapt aside.

I shrugged and lead the way up. I knocked on the door, and all of the talking inside stopped.

"Come in!" Dumbledore called.

Harry pushed the door open, and we walked in to the room. As soon as I saw who was in the room, I turned around and was about to leave.

"Bella," Dumbledore called me back with an obvious tone of command.

"What?" I asked innocently, "i just remembered that I left my journal in the loo."

"What journal?" Harry asked stupidly.

I shushed him with a glare.

"I'm sure that you can retrieve it later," Dumbledore smiled amused, "Now, I asked you to come here to introduce you to the Cullen family."

I kept my eyes on Fawkes. Harry waved cheerfully. Dumbledore comtinued on.

"This is Rosalie, Emmet, Alice, Jasper, Esme, Carlisle, and Edward," he said.

I had flinched when he had announced Edward's name, and Jasper had looked at me with an odd expression on his face. He must have felt my emotions. Had the others noticed my slip?

"They are here to protect you as the year progresses. If only they were here last year as well," Dumbledore looked sadly at Harry.

"What?" I said feeling concerned, "What happened last year?"

"That," Dumbledore said, "is a story for another time."

I turned to Harry who blushed and mumbled something about telling me in the common room.

"Was she not here last year?" Jasper's voice rang out.

Damn it! He was starting to piece things together.

"No," Dumbledore glanced at me, "she was, ah, away."

"Well," I said, "Professor, if that is all, I am rather tired. May my little brother and I leave?"

"Hey!" Harry protested, "I'm only a couple minutes younger!"

"Yeah, yeah," I teased, "You're still younger."

"In just a moment," Dumbledore said, "The Cullens will need help getting to your common room, so they will accompany you. The password is Vampyrutic bat!"

He winked at me, and I grinned back at him. Harry was chatting up a storm with Emmet, probaly about quidditch.

"Well, let's go," I sighed.

Harry and I led the way down the steps and out to the corridor. Harry stopped to tell them about a portrait, but I just kept walking. Anything to get away from the Cullens.

"So," Jazzy caught up with me, "Bella, how did you get your hair to be brown?"

I stopped short and turned to him.

"Excuse me?" I said coldly, "My hair was always red."

"You can't fool me Bells!" he grinned, "you always have that same emotion when you're around Edward. It's not that hard!"

"Well, if you're so smart, then why don't you just go tell the rest of them?" with that, I started running.

I knew that he could catch me easily, but he didn't. He stayed there until the rest of them caught up.`I didn't look back.