Chapter 5: I Have An Official Grudge Against You-Know-Who

Adrenaline pumped trough my body as I starred into Fluffy's eyes. Good as dead, that's what I was. What we were. Hermione, Ron, Harry and I, just because I was a knob head. My wand hand shook violently, as Fluffy crouched. There was no way I could stop him with any of my useless First Year spells. Fluffy then proceeded to pounce at me.

"Mobiliarbus!" I screamed, pointing my wand and closing my eyes. Fluffy yelped. I opened my eyes, shocked the spell had actually done something. We had certainly never learned it in class. I must have read it in one of Rob's old school books. Fluffy floated in midair, looking completely stupid and confused. He suddenly dropped to the ground with a bark. He scrambled back to his feet.

"Mobiliarbus." I said again, and watched in wonder as he rose and fell once again. I repeated the spell. Again. Again. And Again. The last time I dropped Fluffy, he swayed to the side, colliding his left head with the wall and dropping all three, unconscious. I had just knocked out a three headed dog by smashing it to the ground. That was one for the books. Once I had broken out of my trance, I hurried towards Hermione, pulling her onto her broom, then dragged Ron towards it as well, since my broom had broken during the collision. Broom's wouldn't fly unless the rider was on, so I cast Wingardium Leviosa on it-it took me several tries-dragging open the door to the hallway. I managed to levitate them all the way to the Hospital Wing on the third floor, dragging them into beds, tiptoeing past two other students who were in beds by the door. I grabbed a bedpan reluctantly, and threw it against Madam Pomfrey's office door as hard as I could. One of the two students bolted upright in their sleep, and I took it as my cue to rush out, not bothering to look at the person I had disturbed. I waited outside the door as Madam Pomfrey rushed out of her office, demanding to know who was causing such a ruckus. I waited some more, crossing my fingers.

"Merlin! What are these two doing here?" She exclaimed. I grinned, and rushed down the hall, booking it back to the third floor with the broom. Keeping and eye on Fluffy, I had to fly back down the trap door, since there was no Devil's Snare to break my fall. Having kept all the doors open, I slipped easily thought the first four challenges. I landed outside the purple fire, the troll still knocked out beside me. I held my breath as I decided what to do. One, I could wait to see if the fire would go down on it's own, or two, I could take my chances flying over it. There was room to fly near the top. I mounted my broom, rising into the air and forward. The flames rose as I flew above, and I felt them lick at my pants leg. I landed on the other side, stomping my foot rapidly to extinguish the purple flames that had caught my pants. I grabbed a random bottle off the table, smashing it against the edge and pouring the contents over my pants leg. I let out a sigh of relief as the searing hot pain calmed. Only then did I notice the screaming coming from the other side of the black flames. I walked towards the fire, squinting my eyes to see trough to the other side. Something was moving, no-trashing around. I couldn't make it out, and my stomach clenched as I thought of Harry taking on Snape. Or worse. I summoned the broom, mounting it quickly before flying over the fire. Yet again, the flames leaped up at me, catching my clothes on fire. I didn't wait for the broom to land to jump off. I rolled down a set of stairs, the fire dying on my way down. I rolled onto something soft, and looked down to find Harry, unconscious. Glancing up, I saw Professor Quirrell, hands covering his face. One of his faces. There was a second one on the back of his head.

…

A. Face. On. The. Back. Of. His. Bloody. Head.

…

I was brought back to my senses when it snarled at me. Red eyes, slits for nostrils-it looked like an albino snake.

And it could only be one person.

I woke up. At least, I think I was awake. I couldn't feel a single part of my body. I was vaguely aware of voices buzzing in the background, and I wished they'd speak up. I opened my eyes, staring at a ceiling. I tried to get up, to see where I was, and why I was here instead of my dormitory. But I couldn't. No part of my body would respond. I tried to open my mouth. No use. Something moved on my right, and my eyes followed it immediately.

"Is she awake?" I head distantly. Yes! I'm awake! I though desperately.

"I think so." The voices were becoming clearer. "Miss Gryffindor?" Professor Flitwick's face loomed over mine. I blinked. "Hello!" He said cheerfully. I tried to scowl, unsuccessfully, may I add. "You got yourself on quite some trouble. Quite some trouble." He said, unaware of my growing irritation at his light mood. I wanted to know where Harry was. Were Quirrell was. Were he was. "Now hold still, Madam Pomfrey and I still need to cure your burns and the curse." This sent me into alarm mode. I was cursed? Flitwick continued babbling as they worked. I could feel nothing, of course, and for that I was thankful.

"Bella, it's not that bad, honest." Hermione tried again.

"Not that bad? NOT THAT BAD? Hermione, my skin is cracking off!" I snapped, throwing down the mirror.

"I wouldn't say cracking…" She said, twiddling her thumbs. I groaned, my facial expression pulling at my skin and creating even more cracks.

"I feel like a broken vase." I snarled, leaning back on my pillow and crossing my arms. The back of my arms tingled as the skin broke there too. "It looks ridiculous."

"Your very lucky to be alive, young lady." Madame Pomfrey scolded, setting a new pitcher of water by my bed.

"I'd rather have died! I can't go on this way!" I cried.

"Drama Queen." Someone chuckled. My head snapped towards the door, where Rob was leaning against the frame. "You look ridiculous." He added with a grin.

"Shove it." I mumbled, grabbing the mirror to inspect the cracks my frown had created. That's when the first chunk fell. "Oh hell!" I screamed, as my skin shattered on my lap.

"Be lucky the new skin is right under. If the Stone hadn't made contact with you the second the curse hit you, you'd be a pile of dust right now." Madam Pomfrey snapped. That's when I decided to tone it down a bit. "But remember. You CAN'T PEEL IT OFF. It has to fall on it's own." And the gloom returns. Dumbledore then decided to walk in, saving me from the lengthy monologue I was about to jump into.

"Miss Gryffindor, a word, please." Rob and Hermione both left us, and Madame Pomfrey retired to her office.

"Professor." I greeted the headmaster.

"Bella, I'm sure you remember the events of the night two days ago." He started.

"Actually, professor, I only remember going back for Harry, getting my legs burnt, falling into the chamber with that mirror, and seeing You-Know-Who. Then there's nothing." I admitted. Dumbledore seemed surprised by my comment.

"My dear, you made it all the way back to the fist challenge." Dumbledore said. I raised my eyebrows, and two dull pops and a tug signaled that I had cracked the skin over my cheekbones.

"The first challenge? But how's that possible, You-Know-Who was right there! He wouldn't have let me get away." I argued.

"Voldemort-" I flinched. "-could not touch Harry with his bare hands. Professor Quirrell tried, but he was burnt in the process. He pulled his wand out, however. And my best guess is that you did as well, though somewhere in the fight you seem to have forgotten it and used your nails instead." He chuckled. "I assume you pulled Harry onto the broom and flew over the flames, a feat that you must have know would burn you both."

"Yeah, well. It was getting burned or getting killed." I grumbled.

"Quite true." Dumbledore agreed. "But he followed you. Shoot you straight out of the air too, in Professor Flitwick's challenge. We only found splinters of the broom." My eyes widened, and I leaned forward to hear more of my adventure. "I'm sure you dragged Harry all the way to the Devils Snare pit before you got hit with the curse. The Stone was still in Harry's pocket, lucky thing you feel on him."

"Lucky." I agreed.

"So tell me, does it hurt?" Dumbledore asked.

"The curse?" I asked. He nodded. "Not at all. When I woke up I couldn't feel a thing, couldn't move either."

"That's strange." Dumbledore mumbled.

"Why is that, sir?"

"This curse is know to be very painful." He informed me.

"Must have been the Stone then." I shrugged.

"That's quite possible." Dumbledore agreed. "Now, I've come to inform you that the end of term dinner is tonight. Will you be attending?"

"I can't hide forever, professor." I chuckled dryly.

I didn't mind the stares. I got enough of that already. What bothered me was the pity. It was all I could do not to get on the table and shout: It'll grow back, people! Get back to your dinner! Never seen someone with cracks on their skin before?

I'll kill Harry, I swore to myself, I'll kill him and burn everything he owns. However, I would have taken the pity over what happened next. As Dumbledore announced the House Cup winner, the Slytherin's cheered with such vigor, I wanted to personally slap each and every one of them. Twice, I added, seeing Malfoy banging his goblet against the table. I tightened my hand on my fork, and the skin on the back of my hand cracked.

"Ohhh." A third year girl cringed.

"Yes, yes, well done Slytherin. But recent events must be taken into consideration." Dumbledore said. I perked up a little. "I have a few last minute points to dish out, lets see. First, to Mr. Ron Weasley, for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor fifty points." Cheers erupted from around me, but I settled on a smile, deciding not to damage my face any more than it needed to be.

"Second-to Miss Hermione Granger, for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor fifty points." Beside me, Hermione dropped her head into her arms, and I suspected she had burst into tears. I rubbed her back as the out table screamed in happiness.

"Third-to Mr. Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor sixty points." I though my ears would burst with the noise.

"Fourth-to Miss Bella Gryffindor-" I thought I was going to choke. "-for daring nerve, loyalty, and fierce courage in the face of danger, I award Gryffindor sixty points." Now it was my turn to get my back rubbed by Hermione as I stared at Dumbledore in shock. We had exactly the same number of points as Slytherin. I though I would burst with happiness when Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak again.

"And to Mr. Neville Longbottom, for having the courage to stand up to a friend, I award Gryffindor ten points." I could help myself this time. I cheered and clapped, not bothering if my skin broke like a thin pane of glass. I would be able to rub this in Malfoy's face for years.

"You three have to come over this summer. I'll send an owl." Ron said.

"Make sure it's in the first four weeks. I'll be in China all summer after that." I said, hopping off the train with Chess in my shoulder.

"Rich little-" Ron started mumbling. When we reached the Weasley's, I greeted them politely, keeping an eye on a fat, purple muggle man who was making his way towards us.

"Ready boy? Let's go, we haven't go all day." He fumed, motioning for Harry to follow him as he walked back towards a tall, long necked woman and what must have been a fat boy.

"Is that your pet troll? Why do you put it in a wig?" I asked Harry in a whisper. He chuckled.

"That's my cousin. He's a pain." He explained.

"You poor boy. I'd take you to China with me, but you wouldn't want to be there." I sighed, patting his shoulder.

"Why's that?" He asked.

"It's a spa resort." I grimaced.

"I'll take Dudley, thanks." Harry grinned.

"Potter!" His uncle shouted.

"Have the most pleasant summer you can, Harry. I'll owl."

Rob had found me seconds after I had said my goodbyes to the Weasley's and meet Hermione's very, very muggle parents. That was an experience.

"Let's go." He said, grabbing my hand.

"Are mom and dad here?" I asked, towing my trunk with my free hand. Chess slipped down my arm and onto my baggage.

"No, they sent the Malfoy's to come pick us up." Rob said.

"Why would the do that?" I groaned.

"I though you liked the Malfoy's?" Rob asked.

"Correction: I like Narcissa Malfoy. End of story." I grunted. Turning the corner to the apparating point, I caught sight of the three blondes.

"Why do we have to go with them again?" I asked.

"Sam." Rob said simply. Boy, did that shut me up good. I took Narcissa's arms tightly, while Rob held on to Lucious along with Draco. We apparated straight into the entrance hall of Malfoy Manor.

"You kid's are welcome to stay until you parent's return from the hospital." Narcissa said.

"I think we can manage, thank you." Rob said politely.

"I insist you stay for dinner." Lucious said.

"That way, Bella can tell me what happened to her face." Narcissa smiled knowingly. Lucious seemed a bit surprised at his wife's comment but didn't say anything.

"I'll be in my room, if any of you bother to try and find me." Draco grumbled, stomping up the staircase.

"What's bothering him?" Narcissa mused.

"I'll bet it's nothing." Lucious said, rolling his eyes. "That boy is far to melodramatic." I smiled. Point for Mr. Malfoy in my book.

"In the bloody hospital." I sighed. "That boy is going to kill me."

"He can't help it, Bella." Rob snapped.

"Of course he can't help it! He's ill! It's not like he does it on purpose! 'Hmm, my family is too happy, how about I make my heart stop beating?'"

"Your not funny." Rob hissed.

"I wasn't trying to be. My little brother's heart fails constantly." I seethed. There was a polite knock on the Malfoy's parlor door.

"Dinner has been served." Lucious announced smoothly.

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy." I said, taking a deep breath before opening the door and meeting his knowing gray eyes. He gestured fluidly with his hand in the direction of the dinning room. Rob followed me into the room, taking a seat beside Malfoy. I sat beside Narcissa, nodding my head politely. I kept my eye's away from Malfoy to avoid any unnecessary spats. Lucious took the head of the table.

"Draco, how did your exams go?" Narcissa asked, taking a sip of her wine.

"I expect I got at least and E on all of them." Malfoy shrugged, picking at his potatoes.

"Yes, especially at Transfiguration." I said innocently as I slipped my napkin onto my lap. "Blaise told me all about your lessons." Malfoy looked up from his plate immediately.

"Did he now?" He said, nonchalant. Faker.

"Mhmm." I said, sipping from my goblet.

"I expect he also told you the color of my underpants." Draco said coolly. I choked on my grape juice.

"Pardon?"

"Draco, don't speak rubbish." Lucious drawled. Draco smirked, but remained silent. "Dobby." Lucious called after a half-hour. A loud pop signaled the presence of the elf. "Desert."

"You brought it upon yourself." Ron laughed, as we stepped out of the fireplace in out kitchen.

"Did not! It's completely Malfoy's fault, it always is." I snapped. "Kida!" I pop sounded as the elf apparated.

"Yes missus?" She said, bowing low.

"Take my trunk up to my room, please." I said, shoving Chess off my shoulder. She meowed at me, barring her teeth. "Shut up." I hissed. She slit her eyes, but stayed silent. I pulled off my jumper as I made my way up the stairs to the ground floor. No one was home yet. I sighed, waking up the stairs in a sluggish pace.

"Bella, you've go an owl."

"Mum?" I gasped, dropping my fork in my breakfast. She rounded the corner, with a letter in her hand. "How is he?"

"Fine, fine." She said, handing me the envelope. "Just another attack. Bella, what happened to your face?" She said, placing both hands on my cheeks gently. "Was this the curse?"

"You look tired." I said changing the subject. I set down the parchment and stood up.

"I know, honey." She said, holding her temples. "I think I need to go to sleep."

"I'll walk you." I said, taking her arm.

"I'm not going to collapse halfway there, Bella." She chuckled lightly. "Go finish your food." I gave her a look to show her I wasn't going anywhere. I led her up to the fourth floor, opening the door to my parents room. She sat on the fainting couch and took off her shoes.

"Do you need anything else?" I asked.

"I'm fine, sweetheart. Where's your brother?" She asked, removing the pins from her bun and unzipping her dress.

"He went out." I said, grabbing her nightgown for her.

"Did he say where?"

"He's with friends. What about Dad?"

"He went straight to work." Mum sighed, pulling back her covers and sliding in. "I want to hear about your little adventure when I wake up. Nox." The room dimmed. "You should go out, too. There will be no one else home for a while." She mumbled, as I left, closing the door behind me.

Upon entering my room, I changed out of my pajamas quickly, picking my wand up from my side table and shoving it into my skirt pocket. Brushing my hair up into a ponytail, I grabbed a thin robe, pulling it on. I plopped down on my bed, opening the letter.

You should come over. Today. At noon. -Ron

Short and to the point. I grabbed a quill and some parchment from my desk.

I can probably come over for an hour or two. Busy today. Where do you live again? -Bella

I scribbled another quick letter, I capped my ink and set down my quill. Grabbing my money pouch, I hopped down to the ground floor and out to the backyard. I veered to the right, towards the little owl shed. I pulled the wooden door open, stepping in cautiously so not to get owl dropping on my shoes.

"Odie, come here." I called out. A large Hawk Owl landed on my outstretched forearm. "Take this one to Ron Weasley. This other one if for him. If you get these two mixed up, I'll kill you, got it?" I instructed. I waited for the owl to hoot an understanding. "Good." I said, handing him the two letters. I walked back inside, telling a house elf I would be gone for lunch. I grabbed a handful of Floo powder and stood in the fireplace.

"The Leaky Cauldron."

ANOUNCEMENT:

I'm looking for a Beta reader! I can't go at this alone, I'm only human! If your interested, PM me and we'll work something out!

A/N: So, two chapters in one day…hope this makes up for my disappearance! :P Midyears and all…YUCK.