Chapter Two - Home Again

"Isabella, it's great to see you back."

I smiled at Professor McGonagall, before stepping in to hug her. She was stiff at first, but sighed and relaxed before hugging me back.

"You've been gone for more than your expected leave," she noted, and I shrugged. She looked at me as if she were expecting an explanation, and I sighed.

"We never really set a good time... I mean, the whole point of me going to America was from making sure me and Nate were separated to make sure at least one of us would live if Voldemort attacked," I said bluntly, hoping she'd drop it, but she shook insistently shook her head.

"Professor Dumbledore meant to keep you wherever you were for only so long. You should have gotten the owl for the all clear shortly before August. Everyone knows we needed you around sooner to keep Mr. Swan in check." McGonagall said, looking at me with a calculating gaze, before closing her eyes. She turned to her desk, before sitting down and looking through some papers.

"Regardless, you're back now, and you did complete your sixth year shortly before your leave. Now, you chose to not follow your brothers choice of career and chose Healer... There'll be some pamphlets in our House bulletin board sometime later in the month for internships and job applications to St. Mungo's. You completed your O.W.L. exams with O's in everything but Divination, but even then you received an E in it, so you could continue on with the course if you wished, which I highly doubt... Now, this year you will have to obtain N.E.W.T.s in Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, as well as Herbology to be eligible to go into the field of your choice after graduating. You may take extra courses, but I wouldn't it recommend it much Ms. Swan," McGonagall told me, looking through my records and grades. I wrinkled my nose.

"I'll take your advice and just continue on with the necessary courses, if that's alright ma'm," I said after a moment of thinking, and my head of house just nodded, before tapping a piece of parchment, and handing it to me. I looked down at it as the letters moved around on the paper, slowing down as time went on, to show me my timetable. I looked back up when I had read the paper, a bit confused over my new Potions professor.

"You are to report to classes starting tomorrow, and you will be given a grace period of three weeks to gather all necessary materials for your classes. There is a new addition to our faculty, due to Professor Snape taking up the Defense Against the Dark Arts post. Professor Slughorn is most elated to meet you, and has asked me to give you this," McGonagall said, before handing me a letter rolled up, closed by a ribbon encircling it. I raised an eyebrow at Snape gaining his dream job, but I'm guessing Professor McGonagall took it as a question about the letter, before she launched into an explanation.

"It's a formal invitation to his group of what he calls elite students. Ms. Weasley, Mr. Potter, Mr. Swan, and Ms. Granger are in it," She explained, looking for my reaction. I just shrugged, before she looked down at her papers and then looking up and telling me to go get a good night's worth of sleep. Nodding, I got up before bidding her a good night and making my way through the castle. It was dark outside, dinner done for nearly three hours ago, and I was aching to get back to my dorm. I had dropped off my stuff earlier, and only managed to put my clothing away before being dragged to dinner, and then McGonagall's office. I rolled my shoulders and twisted my neck slightly, trying to get the kinks out. After going to bed, all of us woke up when dad got home, making mum go into a state of rage of getting behind a day in house chores. This made it possible for an actual full nights sleep before venturing back to Hogwarts through a portkey into Hogsmeade, where we were greeted and taken back to the castle by Hagrid.

I remember walking through the worn, beaten path back to my second home, thinking of all the times I had gone through it while going to Hogsmeade with my friends and family. The castle was beautiful, as always. The grass was a bold green color, the lake a washed out blue reflecting the colors around it, the sky a gorgeous light blue with clouds here and there. You could tell Autumn was beginning to roll in, with the leaves on the trees beginning to crisp and change colors. The air was cool and crisp, the lingering effects of Summer slowly leaving.

I was brought back when I ran into something. Or better yet, someone. I shook my head, and opened my eyes up to see a pair of green ones staring at me, a twinkle in them.

"Watch where you're going Bells, we don't want you falling and breaking your nose now," my best friend smirked, and I just batted my eyelashes.

"Awwwh, are you still jealous that I'm the prettiest when it comes to our friendship?" I teased, and Harry just shook his head laughing.

"Anyhow, come on. I was just coming to get you," Harry said, before taking my hand and dragging me back to Gryffindor Tower. I rolled my eyes, but complied. I was going this way anyways. I tripped a few times, seeing how he had gotten a lot taller than me over the time I had seen him last, and thus his legs had gotten a loads longer than my own.

"Damn it, slow down," I mentioned when I tripped for the fifth time, nearly into a painting. The man in the painting looked to be in his sixties, and was not at all amused by my display of clumsiness that wasn't even my fault. I remember when I did make it out to by all my fault. I frowned, and Harry continued to pull me like a child with their rag doll. He did slow down however, which I was grateful for. I saw blurred faces pass us by, holding up my hand half-heartedly to wave hello and goodbye. I knew people would be asking questions tomorrow, but that was tomorrow. I had time.

Before I knew it, we were in front of the Fat Lady. She looked at me, and just smiled.

"Your hair has gotten a bit longer," she commented, before adding, "Password?"

"Sneazler Crackle," Harry said, before covering my eyes with his hands. I nearly kicked him, but decided not to. I heard the passage open, and he slowly led me in. There were hushed voices coming from inside, and the sound of 'shhh' echoing. I was losing my patience, when Harry finally stepped out from behind me, and I opened my eyes to see an array of House colors, and party decorations everywhere. There were two long tables on one side of the room, opposite to the fireplace, with food and drinks occupying nearly very inch of it's surface. People had kazoos, party noise makers, and even firework sparklers, while grinning at me.

"Welcome Back!"

The shouting came from everywhere, and soon, hugs and pats on the arm and back and head came from everywhere. I just stood there, yelling out random 'hey' and 'hello's while trying to keep up with the amount of faces presenting themselves to me. Soon enough, the crowd dispersed among the common room, and people were talking to each other rather than at me. I could smell the alcohol that were in the spiked pumpkin juice, but shrugged it off. Let them get wasted, it'd be entertaining, I concluded before picking up a stalk of celery and nibbling on it (why someone bothered bringing a platter with vegetables, I will never know). I ended up catching up on all the gossip that I had missed while I was gone, and found out Ginny and Dean were dating, and she had quite a few of her own admirers the year before. I sighed, upset that I had missed all of that.

"Why do you look so glum?"

I turned to see Nate, who was nibbling on a carrot. I raised an eyebrow.

"You're not off getting wasted?" I asked, and he shrugged.

"We have class tomorrow, and I'm not trying to give McGonagall a reason to suspend me to my room. She did last year, and I nearly burned the damn thing down in boredom," my twin brother told me casually, and I looked at him.

"I heard you raised some hell when I was gone," I said, and I shook my head before adding, "and you were damn sloppy with it too. A shame."

It was Nate's turn to look at me, before laughing and grabbing me into a hug and kissing my cheek.

"Oh, Bellie Welllie, you should have been here, and not off being fancied by some American bloke," He sang, and I just flicked him in the neck, before stiffening a bit. He just pouted, before poking me.

"Too bad you probably gave the poor wanker a heart attack," He mused to himself, before turning his head slightly, and grinning.

"Anyhow, this is my favorite song, and Ronald is ruining it with his damn spastic movements."

With that, my brother was gone, and I knew he didn't know anything. Rolling my eyes as he pushed Ron with his hip and began to... Dance, I believe, I looked back at the room. After a few more minutes of just watching people, I sighed before going up to bed. Already, I could feel a heavy feeling in my heart, and I knew this was me getting over Edward. It wasn't nearly as painful as the initial post-break up had felt. It just weighed me down, and I knew that all those memories with him would just rear their ugly heads once in a while. But, I felt... At peace with it. Enough, at least, to not feel as though a huge chunk of me were gone. I climbed the staircases to my room, ignoring the music and sounds of laughter coming from my classmates.

I swung open the door to my room that I shared with other seventh year girls, before just throwing myself onto my bed. I got up though, to just put on some comfy shorts and a tank top. I laid down on the bed, and scooted under the blankets. Thoughts of the Cullens and my family kept me up for an hour, before I finally closed my eyes shut, and I fell asleep soon after, but not without seeing the familiar golden topaz eyes haunting my dreams.

I trudged toward my room, cursing everything even related to classes to hell. I had a good twenty pounds of (borrowed) textbooks alone, as well as some of the potions equipment Professor Slughorn was happy to lend me. He practically threw them at me. I climbed up the steps, nearly yelling at a first year who had the misfortune to bump into me. Sighing, I merely kicked open the door to the room I shared with five other girls, including Hermione. Dumping my bag onto my bed, I nearly kicked off my shoes and threw myself onto the bed where schoolwork wasn't littering it, before realizing I was starving and dinner would be starting around now. Groaning, I began to drag myself to the Great Hall, making some people look at me funny. Ignoring them, I slowly began making progress into the huge room, where I could see my friends and family sitting together. Still dragging my feet, I, with of course, so much grace, planted myself between Harry and Ginny.

"You nearly sat on my hand Bells," Ginny pointed out, before turning back to Dean and talking about Quidditch. Ignoring her complaint, I looked at the food before me. Nate caught me looking like an asylum patient put in front of a plate and utensils for the first time in years, before frowning.

"Food. Good. Eat. Drink. Burp. Eat More. Bed. Come on Iz, you haven't been gone that long," my twin informed me, and my eyes practically shot daggers at him. He didn't cringe though, and instead sighed before taking my plate and serving me food. I looked at him with shock, and he just winked at me before giving me a hefty portions of vegetables. I couldn't even complain. I would have kissed his feet if it didn't involved moving.

"You'll get more used to this time zone soon enough," He said with a shrug, and I felt as though I could kiss his cheek and just squeeze the life out of him with a hug at that moment. I slowly got through my dinner, and finished it when people were halfway through dessert. I decided to not eat any, and knew that doing anything other than sleep right now was out of the question. Slowly, I got up to my feet.

"You look like you got hit by a train," Ron commented, and I looked at him.

"Wait, so I look like you or," I said, leaving him hanging before shuffling out. I could hear Ginny laughing at some joke Dean said, and knew someone was following. I turned my tired neck back a fraction, and immediately saw the bush of brown borderline ginger hair.

"Hermione, aren't you going to stick around with Ron?" I asked, and she laughed.

"I've seen Ron nearly every day for the last year. I've seen you for maybe three hours in over a year," Hermione said, and I smiled. We walked back to the tower, making small talk about the weather and classes. It wasn't until we actually were past the Fat Lady's portrait and in our room that we go to talking. She told me about what had happened over the my absence. Harry had a short fling with Cho Chang, again, which failed miserably on both ends, ending up with them agreeing to be friends, but nothing else. Ginny had gone out with at least two guys other than Dean, although Hermione was pretty sure it was more than just two. Her and Ron had gotten together last Christmas break, and everything was going smoothly. She updated me with a whole lot of gossip, and I was kind of glad I wasn't around for our sixth year.

"Anyways, that's how Millicent's cat went missing. Good thing too, I always had a thing against that damn thing," Hermione finished with, obviously thinking back to our second year when she took the polyjuice potion and ended up a cat for a good two months. I just laughed, before stretching a bit. She frowned, looking at the clock.

"And just when I was going to ask you about America. You look dead," She said, before getting a strange glint in her eyes. I soon recognized that as the one Harry had whenever he proposed we go sneak around.

"I'll ask you in the morning," She said with a grin, and I was going to argue before I realized. Today was Friday. All hail the thing I called weekends. She frowned for a second.

"Better yet, I'll ask you in the afternoon," Hermione corrected herself, before pulling me into a hug. She left, leaving me to change into my pj's in a painfully slow pace, before collapsing on my bed. I didn't even have the energy to close my curtains around my bed, before realizing I had my wand. Reserving my energy to flick my wand, I resisted the urge to palmsmack myself before watching the curtains fall in a very uncrisp manner, but still coming down and blocking out the light and people's view of me. I must have been exhausted if I couldn't even pull curtains down cleaner than a first year's first attempt at it. Ignoring how pitiful that was, I tried to fall asleep. After a good hour of listening to my roommates come in and get their things, I yelled into my pillow out of frustration.

I couldn't sleep. My brain was too cluttered up with what had happened in the last week (my first reaction was to ask myself if it really were just one week). Everything had been so different. My birthday. Not something I looked forward to all that much, and not something I wanted to be made a huge deal. It hurt thinking about Nate, but the feeling of being in love... It sort of pushed it out of my mind. I grimaced. Those months with Edward were like I was in a dream. A beautiful, blissful dream.

Thinking back, I don't know just how I got so lost in him. To think that I was ready to throw everything away was a bit of an eye opener. I always had doubts, but I never voiced them with him. He didn't know me. The real me. Things like whether or not I would lose my magic, or if I could manage to visit my family somehow... I nearly hit myself. I was so stupid to think changing me and spending my life with him would be the most wonderful thing.

Closing my eyes, I knew all of that was over. Thinking of the Cullens brought back some heartache, but I knew it would... Alright, it wouldn't cease to exist. I couldn't kid myself. There'd be days I'd look at the Forbidden Forest and close my eyes and smell Forks. There'd be days I'd look at a swash of fabric or see a mannequin and think of the days Alice made me be Barbie Bella. There'd be days I'd look at the back of a Healer with blond hair and think of Carlisle.

But, I'd think of all the times I snuck into the Forbidden Forest with Fred and George, and how I'd get into trouble with Nate, Harry, Ron, and Hermione and be sent in there with Hagrid at the pitiful attempt of detention. I'd think of how Mum could whip up a brand new dress from a simple few yards of fabric that I'd buy. I'd think of how much I loved helping people and how life as a healer would never be too boring.

I could feel a smile creep up on my face, and let myself actually relax. Suddenly, the bed felt so mushy but firm and amazing, and the sheets felt so cool and silky...

"Swan?"

"The Wiggenweld Potion is the potion that counteracts the Draught of Living Death. It revives the person from the deathly slumber nearly immediately," I said, and Professor Slughorn nodded feverishly.

"Ten points to Gryffindor! Now, Ms. Swan was correct. Every one of you attempted the potion last year if you were here, and Mr. Potter was graced with a vial of Felix Felicis. Next week we will make Wiggenweld. Now, this year, I convinced Professor Dumbledore to allow a very special multi-month potion lesson that we will visit ever so often. We will start to make Felix Felicis in October-" Professor Slughorn said, before being interrupted by nearly everyone in the class. I could see some of the Slytherins looking very smug about this, and was a bit worried until he said his second half, "-Settle down, settle down. Only the five top marks will be allowed to keep their potions, and only if they are extraordinary. If there's even one mistake, you will not be allowed to take it out of this classroom. When done improperly, even just a bit, Felix Felicis can be the most dangerous substance. Now, for this week, it will be a short and simple review week. On Monday, we will have a review exam. Nice, short, and simple. Nothing too hard. Then we'll get into the fun stuff. Alright, go ahead into study groups."

Instantly tables started to shift, the sound of chairs scraping the floor flooding my ears, and conversations with basically anything other than Potions as the subject. Instantly three more chairs joined me and Nate's table.

"So, everyone, the first Hogsmeade meeting is next weekend. Who is trying to score me a date for it?" Nate said, and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I thought we were going to hang out," I mumbled, and Nate looked at me before sighing.

"True enough, I did promise you that didn't I. Alright. Who is trying to score a date for me for the Halloween trip?"

Everyone just stared at him while he waggled his eyebrows, before Ron spoke up.

"Well, I heard Emma from Ravenclaw has her eye on you," He said before whispering something in Hermiones ear, causing her to giggle. I just stared at those two before smiling, and then turned to Nate.

"For fucks sake, did you become bachelor number one while I was gone?" I asked, and Nate just laughed.

"Oh, darling Isabella, when you were gone, I had quite a few of my own little romantic adventures. There was one with Millicent-" Nate said, and I looked at him with a glare.

"Please tell me you did not throw yourself around last year. You are not that low of stature," I deadpanned, and Nate just sighed.

"Oh, Iz, Millicent is not that bad of a person, she's just a bitch. But a good kisser," Nate laughed out, and I nudged him in the ribs.

"Ouch, Iz, come on, I need those things to live," He whined, and I rolled my eyes before turning to Harry.

"What about you? Anyone you've taken a fancy to while I was gone?" I asked, and he just looked at me.

"Well... No, no one really caught my eye last year," He mumbled, taking extreme interest in Hermiones Potions notes at that point. I looked at everyone for confirmation, and Nate just nodded.

"Although, I bet he could get any girl he wanted right now, with the whole 'I am the chosen one, bow down to me' thing going on," Nate smirked, and Harry glared at him.

"Oh, is that right, Mr. Nathaniel the Brave?" harry shot back, and Nate just shrug.

"Perfect reason why I'm in Gryffindor, eh Hermione?" Nate drawled out, and I noticed that Ron and Hermione were fairly close to each other. Hermione jumped, and blushed a bit while stammering on about how she was explaining the Draught of Living Death to Ron.

"Oh, I bet." I said, and winked at the two. Hermione just continued to blush, and Ron just sighed.

"Lay off Bells. We got this from everyone else last year," He mumbled, and I shrugged.

"Hey now, everyone got their chance! I just want my own," I teased. The rest of the conversation centered around Potions (surprisingly), and how classes already were becoming tiring. I lay my head on Nate's shoulder, and he just lay his chin on top of my head. We stayed like that until our double Potions period ended, before ending up with a free period. Ron and Hermione went to the library (the library of all places), while the rest of us headed outside.

Or, we tried. Professor McGonagall turned the corner, and when she spotted us immediately came toward us. I looked at Nate.

"You did not do something to her now, did you?" I hissed, and Nate just put his hands up.

"I haven't started pranking yet. I was waiting till you were more situated," He whispered, and I sighed. Harry just looked at us with amusement, and was going to say something but McGonagall reached us.

"Potter. Mr. and Ms. Swan. The Headmaster wishes to see you all on Friday night. Potter, I already postponed the Quidditch practice you had with the remainder with your team. It's an amazing thing that we had no seventh years last year," McGonagall said, before nodding. Then she looked at me and Nate and added, "Also, you two. If I hear about a prank you two committed even before the Hogsmeade weekend, you will be punished accordingly, meaning your next two Hogsmeade trips will be canceled for you. Understood, Nathaniel and Isabella?"

I nodded while trying not to laugh, and Nate groaned.

"But Professor, see, this means that I won't have anything to do with my free periods, and you know how I get when I'm bo-" Nate started to whine, but McGonagall just smiled. It was a bit of a sadistic smile.

"Now, Mr. Swan, I would love to see my House win this year's Quidditch Cup, and seeing how you are on the Quidditch team, I do recommend you work hard enough for me not to be disappointed after last years tremendous win over Slytherin," She said, before curtly nodding and walking away.

"Congrats you two," I said, breaking the silence, and Nate laughed.

"We were a mess in the beginning, seeing how you weren't around to be Chaser again," Harry said with a laugh, before grimacing slightly at the thought of what I guessed was him remembering how bad the poor person had been.

"You planning on playing again this year, Bellie?" Nate asked, poking me in the side. I flicked his ear, before shaking my head.

"I'm out of practice, and I honestly just want a sort of low key year this year," I said, and Nate just laughed.

"Oh, Bellie, we're Swans. We got out with a bang, not a sizzle," My twin said, grinning maniacally.

"Harry... How did you all live while I was gone," I said, and Harry just looked at me.

"We barely managed," was all he said, before a tired smile appeared on his face. I just sighed dramatically, before leaning on him. Nate starting complaining about losing my body heat ("Bellie, you great big ball of heat, get your ass back here, I'm freezing"), but I just ignored him, as Harry put his arm around me. Next to Nate, Harry was my best friend. I closed my eyes and smiled when we got outside, feeling the nice noon sun beating down on me. I had missed this, whether or not I had realized it. It was good to be back.

And that is Chapter two! Yay, haha. Now, sorry about the wait. I had some exams and stuff stressing me out, and I rewrote this chapter multiple times, all of them going in different directions. Expect an update by possibly Tuesday or Wednesday, at the earliest. Saturday would be the latest. Thank you so much to everyone reviewing, because it means a lot to me, and I like to know how you guys feel about how I'm taking the story. Anyhow, thanks for reading, and hope you enjoyed it.

xoxo

Lorri