Disclaimer: Damn, I keep forgetting to put this on my chapters. You get the idea; I don't own anything except the plot and Isabella. The end.

A/N: I'm getting so frustrated with myself I've bitten my nails down to the quick. I gotta stop; it's a bad habit. Good news for me, possibly bad for you: I'm back at rugby practice from my injury, so I don't know how often I'll be updating. It won't be too long, maybe a couple of days to a week. Oh! And I need help learning Britishisms so that when I write people speaking, it sounds like it would in real life. Please read and review!

It wasn't until the next morning at breakfast that Bella realized that the twins hadn't answered any of her questions except the one concerning who they were. She bit into a piece of toast savagely, irritated with her own carelessness.

When the mail came, Bella was surprised when a beautiful golden owl swooped down in front of her. She saw that it wore a jeweled collar and was carrying a muggle envelope. Bella opened it and smiled with happiness as she recognized the handwriting. It was from her mother.

To My Darling Bella,

Hi sweetie. How is school going so far? Your father and I miss you so much, you haven't been away from us this long since...well, never. I hope you like the owl. We picked him out for you while you were buying robes at that wizard place during the summer. You get to name him. Please write back soon!

Love,

Mom and Dad

P.S. We've decided that now is the opportunity to get back on the photography map, so November through February, your father and I will be on an expedition to Africa. You can join us over winter break if you want, or you can stay with some friends. Ciao.

Bella sighed and her smile of delight turned somewhat wry. Trust her parents to be off at the first chance to try and save the world from humanity. Her parents often submitted their photographs to societies dedicated to restoring the land to its original state and cleansing the world of pollution.

She looked at the owl, who was in turn looking back expectantly. Bella was startled when she realized that the owl's eyes were an odd turquoise color. She held out a piece of bacon to him as a treat for his first delivery and he began rapidly consuming it.

"I think I'll call you Eros," Bella said softly, resting her head on her arm, peering up into the curious aqua stare of her new pet. "It was said that he was a golden god with beautiful eyes the color of the sky."

The owl newly dubbed Eros just stared back at her, and she could swear that he looked a bit bored. Smiling slightly, Bella offered her arm to Eros, and he hopped aboard promptly. Walking outside, she pointed to the owlry tower. "That's where you'll live my friend. I'd take you there myself, but I have a class in fifteen minutes, and I want to be a bit early. Off you go!" She launched Eros into the air, who immediately took off toward the tower; as if he had understood every word Bella said to him.

Ten minutes later, Bella walked through the doorway into her potions classroom. Spying Professor Slughorn, she made her way to him and introduced herself. Her professor smiled jovially and seemed to take an instant liking to her. He watched her intently as though she were about to perform an amazing feat.

As the students filed in with mere seconds to go before the start of class, Bella saw the three people who had been talking about her. She knew who Harry was because she had heard all about him from her fellow Slytherins, and it wasn't too hard to deduce the names of the two friends with him.

Bella decided that she had better take in initiative to introduce herself; it was less of a hassle that way. She took a seat next to Ron, whose face immediately turned the infamous Weasley red.

"Hi," she said, voice still a bit smoky from sleep. Bella was definitely not a morning person. "My name is Isabella Vito. I just transferred here from America."

Ron was too flustered to say anything coherently, and he knew it, so he let Harry do the talking. "I'm Harry Potter, this is Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley."

"Nice to meet y'all," Bella responded with a smile. Harry was a bit perplexed that she hadn't recognized his name, but she was American, and he wasn't one to brag about his fame. But before any further conversation could take place, they heard a cold, drawling voice behind them.

Malfoy had decided that he wanted to torture the Golden Trio today, and it only irritated him further that Isabella was sitting with them. Malfoy ground his teeth; she was actually smiling and laughing. Time to interrupt the sickening display of friendliness.

"If all these pleasantries keep up, I think I'm going to be sick," he sneered.

Harry turned around to respond, but stopped halfway and listened to Bella's retort.

"And if I have to turn around and view your face, I will hurl. Don't be an ass, Malfoy, or I'll turn you into a duck again." All the while, Bella was calmly rummaging around in her bag for her textbook and quills. She also took out a sketchpad and a couple of pencils. She flipped open the sketchbook and began to make short, quick strokes across the paper. Within a matter of minutes, she had drawn an amazingly accurate portrait of Malfoy and an arrow pointing to a sketch of a duck.

"Here," she said, passing it back to the said Slytherin with a devilish smirk on her face. "Just to remind you if you forget."

Harry, Ron and Hermione were hard-pressed to control their laughter, but soon turned their attention to the front as Professor Slughorn started the lesson. Two hours later, the four left the dungeon classroom.

"I can't believe it!" Ron complained. "Three feet of parchment on the proper brewing of lust potions! I mean, why start the year off with that? Why not something practical, something we might actually use."

"Honestly, Ronald, Professor Slughorn has his reasons for teaching as he does. And lust potions are hard. If you don't do it right, it turns into a poison; some have no antidote. So you had best pay attention," Hermione checked her wristwatch. "I've got to hurry or I'll be late for Arithmancy." With that she bustled off down an adjoining corridor.

"Mental, that one," Ron said quietly, but Bella detected much affection for the young lady.

"So," Harry said. "Ron and I have got free time next, until we have Transfiguration. What class is your next?"

"Divination. Should prove interesting enough if the teacher knows what they're doing." Bella tucked her schedule back in her bag.

Harry and Ron exchanged meaningful glances. "Which teacher do you have?"

"Firenze."

They breathed a sigh of relief. "Why?" Bella asked, utterly confused.

"There's two teachers. Trelawney and Firenze. Firenze is a centaur, and he actually knows how to read the future in the stars, none of the junk Trelawney teaches; even if Firenze seems to keep his head stuck up in the sky constantly. But seriously," Ron gave her a droll look. "Trelawney is a drunk old bat who likes to think she inherited the Seer genes."

Soon after, Ron and Harry showed Bella to her classroom and took their leave.

When she opened the door, Bella couldn't stifle the gasp of surprise that passed through her lips. What she had thought would be a normal classroom had been transformed into a meadow, and the ceiling bewitched to look like the nighttime stars.

Firenze was standing in the middle of the meadow/classroom surrounded by a gaggle of admiring girls. Bella snorted in amusement. That was when Firenze looked at her and their gazes locked.

Slowly, he trotted over to her. Firenze took her hand and bowed low over it, his kiss grazing her knuckles.

"So you've come at last...Princess."

Surprise warred with confusion and bemusement. "It seems a lot of people have been saying that to me recently. Though I'm not sure why."

Firenze rose, his face solemn. "You will understand soon," was all he said. And before Bella could ask any more questions, he began the lesson.

This has to be the oddest year of my life, she thought. If only these people knew what I'm keeping hidden from them, I don't think they'd be so happy to see me.

Thoughts of Rafe shimmered to the surface of her thoughts, and this time, Bella let them stay. It was too dark for anyone to notice if her eyes became a little teary, or to wonder at the sudden sadness taking over her lovely features.

But unbeknownst to Isabella, Firenze did notice, and he knew exactly the cause of her woe. Yet, he knew that soon, she would overcome the grief and guilt, with the help of someone that would love her more than life. And that everything would turn out all right in the end; for everyone involved in the mad scheme of life.

A/N: No, Firenze is not the unwanted attraction talked about in the summary. Just in case you were wondering. Don't worry, you'll find out who it is soon enough. Don't forget to review! I want to hear everything you've got to say (well, concerning my story anyway).