A/N: Hi! Sorry it's been so long since the last update! Ugh, my life is so fricking busy right now, I feel like I don't even have time to blink. But yesterday was my 19th birthday, so I figured I'd be nice and get something up. Sorry that it's really short, but I promise the next one will be long to make up for it.

xoxo

KK

Chapter 14

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The sprouts had indeed been jinxed. Just as Fleur was reaching for the bowl, one of the sprouts did a wiggling leap to land in her hair. Amidst the distraught veela's shrieking, the sprout wriggled down and got under her blouse. Bill took her into the living room to extract the lively piece of vegetation.

And, as predicted, George got an earful from his mum on growing up and being responsible. Fred and Bella grinned at one another then continued eating their potatoes. Harry nudged Bella in the ribs with his elbow.

"So why is it that whenever Ron comes back from finding you and Fred his face matches the color of his hair?" Harry asked quietly, amusement glinting in his green eyes.

Bella felt herself start to flush as she grinned cheekily at one of her best friends. "Harry, if you need a lesson on what boys and girls do together when they're attracted, then you're more clueless than Ron," she replied, just as quiet. The topic was at an end anyways, as Mrs. Weasley had stopped shouting at George and was once again asking Harry, Bella, Hermione and Ron what they were planning on doing for the rest of the holiday break.

"Staying here, as long as we're welcome," Harry replied after swallowing a mouthful of food. Ron hadn't bothered before starting to respond.

"Mfagafh," was the inarticulate noise that emerged from his over-full mouth.

Bella raised an eyebrow at him. "Gee Ron. Sorry, but could you translate that to English? The rest of us here at the table don't speak pig."

Ron had the grace to blush and wait until his mouth was unoccupied before speaking again. "I said…"

They never got to hear what it was that Ron was trying to say, as at that moment, a large Eagle Owl slammed into the kitchen window. With an annoyed screech, he scratched with a talon on the windowpane. Mrs. Weasley got up and opened the window, the owl immediately sidling in, absorbing the warmth after the chill of the winter air.

Mrs. Weasley untied the letter from the owl's leg, while said owl pretended he was bored with all the happenings around him. He reminded Bella of someone…

Her thoughts were interrupted by Mrs. Weasley. "It's for you Bella, dear."

The table became quiet as Mrs. Weasley handed Isabella the post. The jet black envelope with silver ink enscribing her name sent chills down her spine. The handwriting was elegant, yet slightly cramp. When she looked at the seal, she breathed a small sigh of relief. The dragon with slashing claws pressed into the wax could only belong to one person.

"It's from Draco," she murmured, not realizing she had spoken aloud. Her relief was short lived however, and the blood drained from her face as she read his missive.

Bella,

I'm not sure when you'll get this, but I had to write, to tell someone. You all ready know, so how much more danger can you get into? Happy Christmas, I get to kill a bunch of muggles today! That's what I woke up to. Great fucking present, don't you think?

Prince of Slytherin

Bella looked out the window at the falling snow in confusion. What in hell was he talking about? It was bad news, that was obvious, but Draco would never write about inconsequential things. There must be a hidden message somewhere. All of a sudden, some of the letters started rearranging themselves until they read: 'Come outside, please.'

Isabella shot out of her chair and ran to the door, everyone yelling after her, wondering what was wrong. Draco never said please for anything. Something must be desperately wrong.

Once outside amidst the flurry of white flakes, Bella paused and looked around. She could barely see anything due to the gloom and the snow, but a shadowy figure was slowly moving towards her from the road. Though over five hundred feet away, Isabella instantly recognized the profile.

"Isabella! Come back in! It's not safe…." She heard Mrs. Weasley's voice calling out after her, but she was all ready sprinting towards the staggering figure. When she reached him, she stared into his shattered gaze, the silver swirling turbulently with his emotions and pain.

"Oh Draco," she all but whispered.

He managed to summon a slight smirk, which quickly turned into a grimace of pain. "Seems I can't keep myself out of trouble."

And he passed out into the snow, blood staining the pure white from the wounds on his body.

Bella screamed for the Weasley's to come and help. Panic was clogging her throat as she tried to turn Draco over.

Oh please, she thought, don't let him die. Please don't let him die, God.