Chapter 7
Bella's POV
"Bella, can I talk to you?" Edward asked, somewhat hesitantly.
I swallowed noisily, but nodded, not trusting myself to speak, as I stood. My lips and mouth were dry, and I felt as if my heart was in my throat.
It was fairly late. Only Harry and Ginny were in the Common Room—snogging. I stifled a laugh. I knew it. I knew it.
"Remind me to tell Alice. She'll be happy." I muttered, still grinning.
Edward was smiling faintly. "They've actually been secretly dating since last June."
"What?!" I exclaimed. "And you never told any of us?"
He shrugged. "It wasn't my or anyone else's business but their own. Anyways…um, how have you been?"
I bit my lip, and shrugged, looking away from him. "Okay, I guess."
But that was the worst lie that had ever left my lips.
He laughed humorlessly. "We both know that's a lie. Jasper has noticed something's different about you too. You feel pain and an almost unbearable grief when near me. You are hardly eating or sleeping—and when you do, it's filled with nightmares. You're so pale—almost as pale as us—and you have lost a lot of weight. It's not healthy." He sighed sadly. "Why are you doing to yourself?"
"You think I'm doing it on purpose?" I exclaimed, angrily. "I don't want nightmares! I don't want to feel like there is a gaping wound in my chest! It's not my fault, either!" He flinched at my raised voice.
"Gaping wound?" he repeated, concerned.
I regretted the words instantly. Reluctantly, I explained, "That…that's what it feels like when I remember…" I trailed off, the words caught in my throat.
"Yes…?" he prompted.
"When I remember you all leaving…you leaving."
I looked away, tears beginning to form and fall from my eyes.
I'd grown used to the ache in my chest. Being home and with my friends helped quell the pain.
Surprisingly, I felt familiar cold fingers brush away the moisture in my eyes. I looked back to Edward and stepped away, shaking my head.
"Don't." I whispered hoarsely. "Don't do this to me. Not again. I can only take so much rejection."
His hands dropped from me as if he'd been electrocuted. "Bella…" his voice was pained.
I shook my head, looking away. "Just don't, okay? Please."
As I began to walk away, all too familiar freezing arms encircled my waist. I buried my face in his chest, wishing for once that I could live a normal life—even if I was still a witch and he a vampire. I longed for a life where I actually had parents that cared…and weren't psycho and where I wasn't the Chosen One. A world where Voldemort never existed.
I cried into his chest. The cold arms around me were comforting—familiar and safe. He stroked my head soothingly, whispering condolences into my ear.
When the tears were dry, I told him, "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"
"No, don't be sorry, love. It is my fault." He murmured. 'Love'?
I stared at him—the man I loved, love. Was it even possible he loved me?
But I shook my head, not meeting his eyes. "Don't say it unless you mean it. Please."
"Bella…" his voice was pained and guilty.
Before I could reply or leave, he captured my lips in a kiss. It was as blissful as any other, but filled with twice the passion.
When we broke apart, I was gasping for breath, my head spinning in confusion.
"I do love you, my Bella," he said quietly, as I rested my forehead against his. "Everything I told you then was the blackest blasphemy. But…after seeing that any of us could slip up at anytime…I knew we had to leave to protect you. My family never wanted to leave you…but they agreed it was dangerous. But…they didn't know I told you that lie. I was too much of a coward to admit it."
Guilt was the only emotion on his perfect face.
I kissed him quickly. "I do love you…and forgive you. But if you leave me again or I find out you're lying…I will use my wand."
He chuckled. "Not so shy anymore, are you?"
I grinned happily. "I am at home here. I'm just shy near Muggles."
"Why?"
"Like I said, my real family is screwed up. Big time. Dumbledore and the Order rescued me. Not only because I was a child of the prophecy, but also because they didn't want me to grow up like that…surrounded by death. So, after I was rescued, I grew up in an orphanage … until I was eleven. Professors are sent to tell students with Muggle parents about Hogwarts. McGonagall was sent to get me. I found out later that Lupin legally adopted me. Each summer, I either stayed with the Weasleys, Grimmauld Place, or simply Hogwarts. But, anyways, the woman who ran the orphanage was an abusive elderly woman. I was always skittish because of her—especially near Muggles. But I got over it upon meeting my friends here." I always shivered at the memory of the old Orphanage. I added, "I just found out recently that it is the very orphanage that Tom Riddle grew up in—the very same room, in fact."
I shivered.
"Tom Riddle?" Edward questioned.
"Junior, technically. Tom Marvolo Riddle Junior. The boy who grew up to be an infamous murderer." Upon seeing the confusion in his eyes, I added in a whisper, "Voldemort."
His arms tightened around me. "He will never get near you, love. I swear."
I smiled to him. "I know. But, when the time comes, you must swear not to get in between he and I, Edward." As he began to protest, I firmly said, "Swear to me."
Grimly, he nodded. "I will do my best."
I kissed him briefly.
Only then did I notice that a few had come downstairs and had seen and heard our conversation.
It was late, and most were asleep, but not them.
In the stairways that lead to the Dormitories, the Cullen siblings, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny stood. Edward's siblings were grinning ear to ear. My friends were gaping.
Harry still had an arm around Ginny. I smiled at that.
When they recovered from the shock, Hermione said, hardly hiding a smile, "Anything you'd like to tell us?"
A/N: Down to business.
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