Chapter 9

It wasn't that she's naïve. No, of course she wasn't. She's a Malfoy after all. But she just ignored all the signs thinking that it was just mere coincidence. That maybe it was just her imagination talking and she must be really crazy for thinking anything like this could happen. She gripped her wand tightly and ran as fast she could towards her brother.

Of course the vampires hadn't seen her yet but she knew for a fact that a wizard's scent is more powerful than a muggle's. And also considering the fact that she had Draco with her and their scent is all over town just gives those leeches an extra bonus.

"How could I have been so daft?" She muttered angrily.

She looked around the corner and saw the little blonde girl with the coal black cloak standing a few yards away from them. Her blood red eyes confirmed that she is a fact a vampire. Bella grabbed a hold of Draco and looked him in the eye.

"There's not much time to explain but these vampires aren't like the friendly ones I've met in Forks." Realization dawned on her brother's face. He dumped the groceries to the side and gripped his wand.

"What? Why'd you dumped our groceries?" Bella whispered-yelled. She picked up their groceries and put it inside her purse that she charmed to make it bigger inside. "We still need food you know."

"You could've told me that!" Draco argued, rolling his eyes at her.

"Yah. Whatever. Let's just get this over with." Bella pulled out two large red cloaks that she had bought earlier and passed one to her brother. "Here. This could help a bit."

"We could just apparate from here. No one will see us." Draco suggested.

"We can't."Bella stated firmly while motioning her head upwards. There were muggles on the roof of several buildings, if they apparate from where they are standing they'll be seen for sure.

"Damn it."

"You got that right."

Bella looked again and without warning, grabbed Draco's hand and ran as fast as they could towards the alcove in the wet market. They bumped from person to person ignoring their protests. Bella looked back and for sure, two huge guys were following them. One of them met her eyes and grinned as he trudge his way towards their direction.

"Draco, faster!" Bella cried as his brother dragged her.

Bella pointed her wand at the vampire's way and a branch sprouted from the ground, tripping the burly vampire and his friend. They looked confused for a moment and that was what the siblings needed to escape. They ran past the café and down the street they had walked earlier. Draco sighed in relief when he saw the alley they came in and pushed through the crowd of blood red cloaks. As soon as they turned the corner, a pale hand appeared out of nowhere and pulled the two aside.

"Agghh!" Bella screamed as she slammed onto her brother and they both hit the ground. Instinctively, she pointed her wand at the enemy and stretched her arm to protect her brother. Like a lioness protecting her cub.

"Back the hell off, leeches or I swear I'm going to burn your asses down." Bella hissed fiercely. She glared at the petite frame in front of her and swore she could have mistaken the girl as Alice Cullen.

"Bella?" asked the vampire.

Her voice sounded familiar but Bella wasn't really in the mood to get acquainted in the moment. The girl stepped closer to them, her hands in front of her as if indicating she means no harm. Her expression looked amazed at the same time apprehensive.

"Who are you?" Hissed Draco, his wand also pointed at her.

"I'm Alice. Alice Cullen." The girl said softly while looking at Bella. "Don't you remember me?"

"Back. Off." Bella gritted her teeth as tears were forming in her eyes. Now is not the time to break down. As much as she wanted to hug Alice Cullen, her brother's safety is her priority right now. Every second they stood in that alley the more their lives will be in danger. We could become wizard kebab if she doesn't move her ass now.

"I'll help you. I know who you're running away from." She reached out her hand and Bella pointed her wand at her throat.

"Stop. Just get out of here. We can't be seen." Bella said as vaguely as possible. She looked at the vampire fiercely and desperately, asking with her eyes to just let them be. Alice looked at her one last time and nodded in understanding. In a blink of an eye she was gone and so were the siblings.

….

"God damn it, Alice!" Bellowed Edward. "What do you mean you talked to her?"

"She's in Italy and I figured I should say hi." Alice explained not entirely telling the truth. "She's with a guy and I got curious so…"

"If she's already moving on, let her be." Edward turned his back on his sister and looked at his bare hands. He felt disgusted at himself. Bella was better off with a guy she could live with normally.

"It's funny, actually." Alice said with a hint of humor in her voice. "I think the guy is her brother."

"What?" Edward looked at her smug face and glared. "If you know something I don't, Spit it out."

"It wasn't exactly confirmed but their similarities and features did the trick!" Alice's laugh chimed around the small space of the bell tower.

Originally, Alice came to Italy to save her brother's ass from getting killed. She saw that he wanted to kill himself for being unworthy of loving someone like Bella. Poetic bastard, isn't he? But the thing is, he missed the part that Bella is a witch and there might be a chance of a life of them together. Alice just has to make them both realize that they're being stupid for even breaking up and they need to get back together.

"Alice!" Edward growled. "Quit playing around. You're blocking your thoughts as it is so I know you're hiding something from me."

"If I tell you now, would you change your mind of going all teenage suicidal?" Alice demanded with her hands on her hips.

"You know it's difficult for us to change our minds." Edward said sullenly.

"Well maybe this could…" Alice showed her the conversation with Carlisle and Esme and the encounter with Bella and her brother in the alley. She saw the emotions change her brother's face as it goes from disbelief to determination to horror.

"They were almost killed, Alice?!" Edward yelled. "Why didn't you tell me that first?!"

As usual, Edward's over protectiveness and over reaction got her sister to roll her eyes at him. She smiled to herself for doing a job well done for meddling and patted her brother's shoulder.

"So, what's our plan?"

….

They hit the ground and landed in the front steps of their White house. Draco supported his sister and carried her through the door and into the living room. His sister let go of his hold and with a dark expression, she walked through the living room and kitchen area and reached the French double doors. She silently snuck outside and in Draco's mind he counted to five.

One…Two…Three...Four…Five

"Argggghhhh!"

Blasts of magic resonated from his sister's wand as she trashed everything in her sight. Plant pots were smashed and tables were over-turned as his sister unleashed her emotions within her surroundings.

"You stupid son of a bbiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-" Another loud blast of pots smashing.

"you good—" and another.

"for nothing—" this time a tree branch broke. Or maybe a chair.

"leech!" A blasts from his sister's magic came undone and everything became silent.

Draco made his way at the kitchen and reached at the top corner cupboard. He grabbed the bottle of fire whiskey and two glasses from the counter. He poured one for himself and an ample amount for his sister. He drank his share and let out an appreciative sound from having tasted alcohol. He poured another for himself and grabbed his sister's glass. As he was about to go outside, when his sister came in looking harassed.

He reached out his hand that was holding her glass and offered it to her. Bella looked at the glass and without hesitation drank the alcohol all in one go. Her face contorted for a second and she gave the glass back to her brother.

"Feeling better?" Draco asked, a hint of smirk on his lips.

"A little bit." She mumbled as she grabbed the bottle and poured a large amount in her glass. She clinked her glass to Draco's and downed her drink again. She settled the glass on the counter ungracefully and sat on the stool.

Draco finished his drink and pulled his sister into a hug.

"What are you doing?" muttered Bella.

She was squashed against her brother's chest and felt awkward at the sudden affection towards her.

"I'm hugging you." Draco simply said.

"Why?"

"Because you were crying." He patted her back quite awkwardly and let out a humming sound. Bella, despite being hesitant, wrapped her arms around her brother's waist and felt comforted. She remembered during their childhood that she used to do this to him whenever their grandfather would hurt him. How'd time had turned everything upside-down, she wouldn't even know. After a few heartbeats, Draco slowly let go of his sister.

"How about now?"

"Much better." Bella smiled.

Draco didn't know what was happening back at market but he was sure that black haired girl was his sister's vampire friend. He could see the pain Bella was carrying at that moment and he thought he wanted to rip the vampire's head off for even leaving her in that town in America.

"You okay?" Bella asked out of the blue.

Draco smirked at her and answered. "I should be asking you that."

"Well. I just endangered our lives so…"

"You didn't." Draco reassured. Typical for his sister to think it's all her fault. "You didn't ask for those freaks to come at us. They were just there and we were just there too. It's no one's fault."

Bella nodded her head and hugged him again. "If something happened to you because of me, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."

"Stop." Draco looked her in the eye and smiled. "Nothing is going to happen, we'll be okay."

"With my luck, just be prepared."

"Always."

…

"Draco! Could you help put these decorations up?" Bella shouted while flicking her hand at the Christmas tree she conjured. She set the tree upright near the wall in the living room and with a snap of her fingers the tree stood still. Due to the emotional episodes the two kept having, Bella decided that in order to change the mood the best thing to do at the moment was to set up the Christmas tree.

"Why?" Draco asked lazily as he plopped down on the sofa. "You obviously don't need any help."

"Actually, I do." Bella smiled. She flicked her hand onto some boxes in the corner and put them beside her brother's feet. "These are decorations for the Christmas tree. I need you to hang them nicely while I go bake some cookies."

Bella left her irritated brother to himself and went to their kitchen. She got the cookie dough out of the refrigerator and started forming them into cookies. She lined it on an oven tray sprayed with oil and slid it in the oven. She flicked her wrist again and a bag full of candies came from somewhere in the house. She placed it on the counter top and started distributing them to three separate green bags.

"Bella!" Draco shouted.

"Yeah?"

"What are these?" he asked again, sounding uncertain.

Bella back towards the living room area and instantly cracked up at her brother's predicament. Draco was now in a tangled mess of Christmas lights. The decorations were strewed across the sofa and her poor brother couldn't seem to move from all the lights wrapped around his body.

"Stop laughing and help me, woman!" Draco hissed which made his sister laughed out loud even more.

Bella accio'ed her Polaroid camera and without her brother's knowledge, snapped a photo. Draco blinked a few seconds before glaring at his insufferable sister. Out of sheer desperation, he tried getting out of the tangled mess by jumping around which made the whole situation funnier.

"Stop laughing!" He whined as he saw his sister dropped on the floor while clutching her stomach. Every time she seems to finally recover, one look on her brother's face and the laughter would come again. After about countless whining and shouting from the youngest sibling, Bella helped him get out of the mess.

Because of Draco's mood, Bella decided to help set up the tree using magic. After hanging the last Christmas ball, the two looked at their master piece in satisfaction.

"We are great." Draco praised.

"Of course we are." Bella agreed while sitting in the sofa. She mumbled something and three boxes of gifts appeared under the tree.

"No peaking, dear brother." She warned as Draco looked at the gifts excitedly.

Bella went back to the kitchen to finish what she was preparing and wrapped the bags of candies beautifully. She placed a card on each one writing the names of her Uncle, Hermione, and Dumbledore accordingly. The familiar 'ting' of the oven went off and she pulled the trays out to let them cool.

"That smells divine." Draco grinned as he sat down on the stool. He noticed the green bags that was set aside and read Hermione's name.

"Giving one to Granger eh?" Draco teased suggestively.

"oh knock it off!" Bella scoffed. "We're friends, idiot."

"That's what they all say…"

PANG!

"Ow!" Draco rubbed the sore spot on his head. "What was that for?"

"For being a git." Bella answered like nothing happened and place the pan back to its place.

…..

It was Christmas Eve and the Malfoy siblings were enjoying their hot chocolate and popcorn while watching a Muggle movie called 'Scream'. Draco was starting to get interested in Muggle movies, most especially horror ones. He insisted on watching movies all throughout the day and who was Bella to turn it down? They got nothing to do and so they slugged around the house and ate everything that Bella made.

"That is really stupid!" Draco mumbled. "Why hide in the most obvious place? Why?"

Bella shook her head at her brother and took a handful of popcorn for herself. She was happy that Draco was enjoying their stay here so far. There might have been some ups and downs but it was quite a miracle the two were doing okay. No Death eaters were tracking them as of the moment and amazingly no vampires either. Bella was really in a joyous mood.

"The plot is so twisted and utterly simple I cannot believe it." Draco mumbled after the movie was finished.

"Usually happens in real life, don't you think?" Bella commented insightfully.

"Yeah. But I really don't get why the killer has to use a knife?" Draco argued. "Why not a gun? Or poison? Does it have to be so bloody?"

Bella having tired of his questions for the hundredth time that day didn't respond and just stretched her arms above her head. She looked at the clock and instantly perked up.

"It's past midnight! Time for gifts!" She squealed, running under the tree to grab her gifts for Draco.

Draco, just excited as his sister, brought his and placed them in front of him. Bella handed him the biggest box and he took it with a smile. He does love being spoiled. He ripped the wrapper and gave a confused look at his sister. Bella gave him an encouraging smile. He read the words written on the box.

"Ipad?"

"Yeah." Bella grinned knowingly and Draco, realizing what it finally is, hugged her.

"This is wicked."

She laughed at her brother's reaction and he threw her gift at her direction. It was long and light. Bella opened it slowly and as carefully as possible. It was a velvet blue box containing a gold necklace with a pendant of a rose with thorns wrapped around it. It was simple yet beautiful, just like the witch.

"Thank you."

"No problem." Draco smirked while opening his second gift. It was a black leather cuff bracelet with a clear stone in the center. He raised an eyebrow at his sister for an explanation.

"It's to keep in touch whenever we got lost from each other. I have one back in my room." She explained. "Just whisper any name against the stone and that person will appear on it. To disappear, wipe the stone with your thumb. It only responds to you so other people won't be able to use it."

"So, I'll only be able to see that person?" Draco asked curiously.

"Yes. It's used by American wizards during their time of war."

Draco understood his sister's meaning and nodded solemnly back. They both would need the cuff when the war of their world comes. As usual, his sister put his safety first. He put on the cuff on his left wrist and gave his last gift to his sister. Bella opened her gift and grinned. She raised the sweater and laughed out loud. Bella's face was knitted at the center of the sweater with her whole name at the bottom.

"I have one as well!" Draco said and showed the same sweater to his sister. The only difference is that his face was knitted at the center with his name at the bottom.

"It's actually the house elves' gifts to us. Rather funny I think." He smirked.

"Brilliant little dorks that they are." Bella commented with a smile as she placed the sweater to her side. She gave her brother the last box of gift and smiled knowingly.

"I think you know this one without even opening it."

"Are these shoes?" Draco asked knowingly.

"Open it."

The youngest Malfoy rolled his eyes at her but opened the gift. It was a pair of black dragon hide leather boots in its most pristine brand. Draco made a sound of approval as he lifts one boot for a closer inspection.

"Fresh from Italy. Designed by Mister Jacques Dragonaire who is a famous muggle-born designer in Wizarding Italia." His sister elaborated. "Also, It's been charmed to never get a flick of dust or dirt on."

"Best. Gift. Ever." Draco answered emotionally.