disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just Arabella and her story. Hope you guys like it!

Secrets and Deathday Party

October arrived with a chill spreading over the grounds. Madam Pomfrey was busy making Pepper Potion for staff and students. Ginny, who was looking a little pale, was bullied into taking some by Percy. Her ears were left smoking for several hours afterwards. For days on end, raindrops would splatter against the castle windows, turning the green grass into mud, but this did not dampen Wood's need for extra regular training sessions.

It was certainly funny to see Harry drag himself back inside the common room with his clothes practically hanging off of him, soaked, mud in his wake, his hair sticking to his face and his glasses still fogged. Arabella let out a bark of a laugh and Harry shot her a look. He went upstairs to change into some dry clothes and came back with a towel, still trying to dry his hair.

"Nice hair, Harry," said Arabella, sniggering. "Going for the wet poodle look?"

Harry rolled his eyes at her. "Never mind that, I've got something to tell you. Nearly Headless Nick invited us to his deathday party on Halloween and I said that we would go."

"A deathday part?" asked Arabella in disbelief. "And you actually agreed to that?"

"It sounds interesting," said Hermione keenly. "I bet there aren't many living people who can say they've been to one of those – it'll be fascinating!"

"Why would anyone want to celebrate the day they died?" said Ron. "Sounds dead depressing to me…."

"What sounds dead depressing?" came a voice behind them.

Arabella turned to see Fred and George. They dropped their bodies on the couch and the firelight made their hair glow.

"Deathday party," said Ron, finishing up his potions homework.

"That does sound depressing," said George, nodding.

"Say, Arabella," said Fred, "we need to have a chat with you."

Arabella scrunched up her eyebrows and looked at them. "All right…." Fred and George grabbed her by the armpits and dragged her to the corner of the common room, away from the others.

"So," began Fred, "do you mind doing us a favour?"

Arabella shrugged. "Depends on the favour, I suppose."

"Well…" said George, "do you mind telling us about one of your potions? Specifically the blue skin and yellow hair one."

Arabella raised an eyebrow. "No," she said simply.

"Please," pleaded George. "We've been trying to figure it out for the past month and we've been getting nowhere."

"Then keep trying," said Arabella, smiling. "It took me and Remus a while to figure it out as well, and I'm not going to just give it to you. Come on, you two are smart enough."

Arabella made her way back to where the others were and took her seat again. She turned back to her Potions homework just as Fred and George took a seat on both sides of her.

"Please," said Fred, "we'll do anything for you. Come on, Bella –"

Arabella's quill stopped mid-sentence. She squeezed her eyes for a moment and tried to steady her breath.

No time for that, Bella….Would you like to come see Mummy, poppet…. Such a pity, isn't it…. After what I'm going to do to this pretty thing over here…. It's a reminder of who you are…. Please stop…. It hurts…. Watch this, poppet….

"Don't call me 'Bella'," she said hoarsely.

"Why not?" asked Fred, smirking a little. "Bella?"

There was a part of her that snapped. She grabbed her wand quickly from her robes and pointed it roughly at Fred's throat. George backed away from her and Fred held both his hands up. Hermione gasped as Ron and Harry's eyes widened.

"Never call me 'Bella', Fred," she said in a low voice. "Or I swear, I will curse you into oblivion. Understand?"

Fred nodded carefully, not saying anything. Arabella could see the fear in his eyes and felt ashamed in herself. He was her friend and she just threatened to curse him. And it wasn't just him, everyone was now looking at her as though they were scared. Arabella gulped, put her wand away and quickly packed up her things, shoving them into her bag. She could barely look at their faces as she rushed up the stairs to her dormitory.

She threw her bag on her bed, but she missed and it thudded on to the floor. She kicked the wood of her bed and sat down on the mattress. She took her anger out on Fred. She did not have a problem with him, she never did, she never will – but now they will all have a problem with her.

The door to the dormitory then opened and Hermione walked in.

"What was that about?" asked Hermione.

Arabella licked her lips. "I… I don't like to be called 'Bella'."

"Well, I gathered that much," said Hermione.

"It's a long story, Hermione," said Arabella. She laid back against her bed and buried her head in her pillow.

"We've got time," said Hermione. She sat on the edge of Arabella's bed as Arabella shook her head. Hermione sighed. "You've got to talk to someone, Arabella. Threatening someone for calling you an innocent name is not normal."

Arabella winced and squeezed her hands. She then sat up and said, "There is nothing innocent about that name."

Hermione was about to say something but Arabella rushed on.

"I know someone else by the name of 'Bella' and her name is Bellatrix Lestrange and you know what she did? Do you want to know the story? Ever wonder why I never wear anything besides long sleeves?" She rolled her the sleeves of her robes to expose her arms and her scars to a terrified Hermione. "My mother was tortured by Bellatrix and three other people – but Bellatrix, she was the one who enjoyed it, who thrived in it. She tortured my mother, she tortured me and cut up my arms and then she killed her in front of me – she killed my mother in front of me."

She felt her throat close up. She rolled down her sleeves and said, "Hearing that name, hearing someone call me 'Bella'… it just brings back all those memories and it always feels as though… as though… I don't know. I just hate it, I hate thinking about that night, about Bellatrix and those other people who I can never forget."

Arabella did not even notice she was crying. She closed her eyes and saw Kassandra pleading for her life – Bellatrix laughing over her as she screamed and begged and pleaded and crying for Kassandra, for Remus, for Sirius –

Arabella felt her chest close up and let out a small scream of anguish, remembering that she called for Sirius that night, thinking that he would actually come and save her. She could not stop herself from crying now and Hermione quickly gathered her I her arms, hugging her. She waited patiently and soothed Arabella's back.

"I – I hate her so much," whispered Arabella.

Hermione said, "Nobody's ever going to do that to you again."

Perhaps this was when they became best friends, and when Arabella realized that Hermione was willing to do anything for her because they're friends. They would do anything for each other, they would protect each other and keep them safe. Arabella would forever be grateful for Hermione's friendship for years to come.

"Why don't you write to Mr. Lupin?" said Hermione after a while. "I'm sure he'll like that."

Arabella have a short nod as Hermione left the dormitory to give her some privacy. She took out some parchment and ink. She thought about it for a moment before putting her quill to the paper.

Dear Remus,

How are you? How's your job? Are you taking care of yourself?

I miss you. I miss you more than ever right now. I told Hermione about the incident. Someone called me 'Bella' and I snapped, unfortunately. She then comforted me and I told her what happened. I showed her the scars and she didn't leave me. I didn't tell anyone else and I don't think I should. What do you think? I feel like I should tell the others, Harry and the Weasleys, but I don't want thing to feel as though I'm some sort of freak or something. I don't know what to do, Moony. I really miss you right now. I wish you were here.

Anyway, I punched Malfoy in the nose, he called Hermione the M-word and I could not just stand by and do nothing. Also, we're going to a deathday party on Halloween for Nick. Sounds terrible.

Hope you're safe and well. Love you.

Arabella.

She read over the letter a couple times. There was so much more she wanted to add, but did not know how to express it. She wanted to write about Bellatrix always being there, as though she became part of Arabella now, and how she despised herself because of this. But she could not tell Remus this. He does not need to be burdened with this now. This was her problem, her burden, she had to deal with it.

She sealed the letter in an envelope and stuffed it into her pocket. She then went downstairs and saw Hermione, Harry, Ron, Fred and George by the fireplace.

"I'm sorry," she said to Fred. "For everything. I didn't mean anything I said. I would never want to curse you."

Fred and George looked at each other for a moment.

"I don't know, Fred," said George.

"You know you could beg for my forgiveness," said Fred. His face slowly broke out into a smile.

"Or you could tell us how to make the potion," said George.

Arabella was confused. "You're not mad?"

Fred shrugged. "Hermione told us not to give you a hard time. So, what's the story, why do you hate the name?"

Arabella hesitated and then looked at Hermione for a moment. "I… I just have a family member with the same name 'Bella.' Hate her with a passion. Hearing the name brings up some bad memories. It's a long story."

She licked her lips and hoped that it would be enough for all their curiosities.

"If you ever need to talk to us," started Harry.

"We're here," said George.

Arabella smiled at all of them and nodded. "Thank you," she mouthed. "I've got a letter for Remus and the rain's starting to lighten up. I'll see you all in a bit."

"I'll come," said Harry.

Arabella gave him a look as they left the common room. "You don't need to watch after me, you do know that, right? I'll be fine. I can look after myself."

Harry shrugged. "I know you can."

"So what did Hermione tell you lot?" asked Arabella.

"To not push it," said Harry, "and that you've got a really good reason for blowing up like that. Is she right?"

Arabella nodded. "Yeah. It's a long story."

Harry nodded. "I get it. Don't worry about telling us. We're still you're friends, and, plus, I know what it's like to have a sort of shaky past. Mine's just with Voldemort. So, I get it. They're always there in the back of your mind."

Arabella nodded. "Are you scared of him?" she blurted out.

Harry shrugged. "Maybe. I'd be stupid not to be afraid, I suppose. But I try not to think too much about him, I try not to give him that power over me."

Arabella nodded once again. But it was hard for Arabella to forget about Bellatrix and her wicked smile and her standing over her with a knife and her blood on the counter surrounding her. Bellatrix will always be held over her head, following her until the end of her days.

It seemed as though everything was looking up for Arabella. Fred really seemed to have forgiven her for snapping at him, and neither Ron nor George held it against her. They took Hermione's word for it and did not press the subject. The small conversation with Harry seemed to help a little. It helped her realize that she was not the only person in the castle with something looming over them. She was grateful for Hermione, for never pushing the subject anymore. She was grateful for all of them. They didn't hold anything against her and she promised that she would never blow up again.

When Halloween arrived, the whole school was happily anticipating the Halloween feast. The Great Hall was decorated with live bats, Hagrid's pumpkins, and large lanterns. There was even a rumor that Dumbledore booked dancing skeletons for entertainment.

But a promise is a promise and at seven o'clock, Arabella, Hermione, Harry and Ron walked past the doors to the Great Hall, and towards the dungeons. The passageway leading to Nick's party was lined with thin candles, all burning bright blue. The dungeons were freezing and Arabella heard the strange noise of a thousand fingernails scrapping against blackboards.

"Is that supposed to be music?" Ron whispered. They turned a corner and saw Nearly Headless Nick standing at the doorway.

"My dear friends," he said mournfully. "Welcome, welcome… so pleased you could come…"

He swept off his hat and bowed them was certainly an interesting sight. The dungeon was full of hundreds of ghost, rifting around a crowded dance floor. There was an orchestra and the chandelier held more than a hundred black candles. Their breaths rose in a mist before them. They practically stepped into a freezer.

"Shall we have a look around?" suggested Harry.

"Careful not to walk through anyone," said Ron nervously.

They set off around the edge of the dance floor. They passed a group of gloomy nuns, the Fat Friar, and a knight with an arrow sticking out of his forehead. The Bloody Baron was also there as well, surprising Arabella.

"Oh no," said Hermione, stopping abruptly. "Turn back, turn back, I don't want to talk to Moaning Myrtle –"

Arabella groaned as Harry said, "Who?"

"She's the ghost in the girl's first floor bathroom," said Arabella as they backtracked quickly. "She's really annoying."

"She haunts one of the toilets," said Hermione.

"She haunts a toilet?" asked Harry.

"Yes. It's been out-of-order all year because she keeps having tantrums and flooding the place."

"We try not to go in there," said Arabella. "It's awful trying to have a pee when she's in there going on and on about things that don't really matter."

"Look, food!" said Ron.

On the other side of the dungeon was a long table. They walked towards it but stopped at the next moment, horrified. The smell was quite disgusting as the fish was rotten, the cakes burned, cheese moldy, and maggots everywhere. A ghost then approached the table, crouched down low, and walked through it.

"Can you taste it if you walk through it?" Harry asked him.

"Almost," said the ghost sadly. He then drifted away.

"Can we move?" said Ron. "I feel sick."

They had barely turned around when a little man swooped suddenly from under the table and came to a halt in midair before them.

"Hello, Peeves," said Harry cautiously.

Peeves was wearing a bright orange party hat, a revolving bow tie, and a broad grin on his wicked face.

"Nibbles?" he said sweetly, offering them a bowl of peanuts covered in fungus.

Arabella gagged as Hermione said, "No thanks."

"Heard the two of you talking about poor Myrtle," said Peeves. "Rude you two was about poor Myrtle." He then took a deep breath and bellowed, "OY! MYRTLE!"

"No!" Arabella and Hermione said together.

"Peeves," Hermione whispered frantically, "don't tell her what we've said, she'll be really upset."

"We didn't mean it," said Arabella, "we don't – er, hello, Myrtle."

Myrtle was the gloomiest ghost Arabella has ever met. She glided over, half-hidden behind her hair and thick glasses.

"What?" she said sulkily.

"How are you, Myrtle?" said Hermione in a false bright voice.

"Nice to see you away from your toilet," said Arabella. "Have you been doing something different with your hair?"

Myrtle sniffed.

"Miss Granger and Miss Black were just talking about you –"said Peeves slyly in Myrtle's ear.

"Just saying – saying – how nice you look tonight," said Hermione. "Right, Arabella?"

"Of course," said Arabella, glaring at Peeves. "Your – er – glasses match your – er – hair."

Myrtle eyed Hermione and Arabella suspiciously.

"You're making fun of me," she said, looking back and forth between the two of them. Her eyes began to swell up instantly.

"Us? No," said Arabella, shaking her head.

"Didn't we say how nice Myrtle's looking?" said Hermione, nudging Harry and Ron.

"Oh, yeah –"

"They said –"

"Don't lie to me," Myrtle gasped, tears flooding down her face, while Peeves chuckled happily over her shoulder. "D'you think I don't know what people call me behind my back? Fat Myrtle! Ugly Myrtle! Miserable, moaning, moping Myrtle!"

"You've forgotten pimply," Peeves hissed in her ears.

Moaning Myrtle burst into sobs and fled from the dungeon. Peeves shot after her, yelling, "Pimply! Pimply!"

"Oh, dear," said Hermione sadly.

Nearly Headless Nick now drifted toward them through the crowd.

"Enjoying yourselves?"

"Oh, yes," lied Harry, Ron and Hermione instantly.

"No – I mean yes," said Arabella after Hermione nudged her ribs painfully. Nick did not notice her initial answer.

"Not a bad turnout," he said proudly. "The Wailing Widow came all the way up from Kent… It's nearly time for my speech, I'd better go and warn the orchestra…"

The orchestra, however, stopped playing at that very moment. They, and everyone else in the dungeon, fell silent, looking around in excitement, as a hunting horn sounded.

"Oh, here we go," said Nearly Headless Nick bitterly.

Through the dungeon wall burst a dozen ghost horses, each ridden by a headless horseman. The assembly clapped wildly; Arabella started to clap, too, but stopped quickly at the sight of Nick's face. The horses galloped into the middle of the dance floor and halted, rearing and plunging. At the front of the pack was a large ghost who held his bearded head under his arm, from which position he was blowing the horn. The ghost leapt down, lifted his head high in the air so he could see over the crowd (everyone laughed), and strode over to Nearly Headless Nick, squashing his head back onto his neck.

Arabella watched as Nick and the ghost named Patrick banter back and forth for a while. Harry tried to convince Patrick that Nick was a scary ghost, but it did not convince anyone. Nick tried to gain everyone's attention and begin his speech, but Sir Patrick and the Headless Hunt began a rather interesting game of hockey with a head.

"I can't stand much more of this," Ron muttered, his teeth chattering, as the orchestra ground back into action and the ghosts swept back onto the dance floor.

"Let's go," said Harry.

They backed towards the door and within a minute, they were hurrying back up the passageway. Arabella was very cold and very hungry.

"Next time, Harry," began Arabella, "when someone asks you for a favour like this, talk to us before agreeing. "

"Pudding might not be finished yet," said Ron hopefully.

They were walking up the steps to the entrance hall but then Harry came to a sudden halt. For a moment, Arabella, Hermione and Ron did not notice and continued walking. Then they heard a faint scratching and turned to see Harry clutching at the stone wall, looking around, squinting up and down the dimly lit passageway.

"Harry, what're you –?"

"It's that voice again – shut up a minute –"

He pressed his ear against the wall even harder.

"Listen!" he said urgently.

Arabella, Hermione and Ron froze. They looked at each other. Harry was hearing voices?

"This way," Harry shouted and he began to run. They followed him up the stairs, into the Entrance Hall, and then up the marble staircase into the first floor.

"Harry, what're we –"

"SHH!"

Arabella said nothing, and neither did Ron or Hermione. They watched Harry.

"It's going to kill someone!" Harry shouted.

Arabella was bewildered. Harry was hearing voices and now someone was going to die? Harry then ran up the next flight of steps and hurtled around the whole of the second floor. Arabella, Hermione and Ron were panting, trying to catch up with him. They did not stop until they turned a corner into the last, deserted passage.

"Harry, what was that all about?" said Ron, wiping sweat off his face. "I couldn't hear anything…"

But Hermione gave a sudden gasp, pointing down the corridor.

"Look!"

Something was shining on the wall ahead. They approached slowly, squinting through the darkness. Foot-high words had been smeared on the wall between two windows, shimmering in the light by the torches.

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED.
ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.

"What's that thing – hanging underneath?" said Ron, his voice quivering slightly.

Arabella approached the dark shadow beneath it. She leapt backwards and nearly slipping on the puddle of water on the floor. Harry managed to catch her in time before she hit the floor.

"It's Mrs. Norris," she said, her voice shaking. She felt her heart racing wildly.

Mrs. Norris was hanging by her tail from the torch bracket. She was as stiff as a board, her eyes wide and staring. For a few seconds, they did not move, staring at her, transfixed.

"Let's get out of here," said Ron.

"Shouldn't be try and help –" Harry began awkwardly.

"Trust me," said Ron. "We don't want to be found here."

But it was too late. A distant noise told them that the feast had just ended. From either end of the corridor where they stood came the sound of hundreds of feet climbing the stairs, and the loud, happy talk of well-fed people; next moment, students were crashing into the passage from both ends.

The chatter, the bustle, the noise died suddenly as the people in front spotted the hanging cat. Arabella, Harry, Ron and Hermione stood alone, in the middle of the corridor as silence fell among the students pressing forward to see the horrific slight.

Then someone shouted through the quiet.

"Enemies of the Heir, beware! You'll be next Mudbloods!"

It was Draco Malfoy. He had pushed to the front of the crowd, his cold eyes alive, his usually bloodless face flushed, as he grinned at the sight of the hanging, immobile cat.

Thank you so much for reading! Tell me what you guys think!