I'm sorry for the long wait, I promise I've been working on this fic, I just couldn't get the words to word for me. I hope you enjoy this and any other chapters i'm able to get out.

Sadly I can't guarantee a new chapter soon, but I promise this fic is NOT abandoned, and I WILL continue it, albeit slowly.

Until next time, Peace Out.

The Quidditch world cup was as magical and chaotic as Harry thought it would be.

It was amazing to watch professional Quidditch players run plays he could only ever dream of doing. Spinning and twirling through the air as they fought for the quaffle, dodging bludgers and players alike while two men battled it out for the snitch, it was a dream come true.

The fun continued on when they returned to the Weasley's tent, the after party in full , George and Fred were laughing and chugging butterbeers, Sirius was sharing his firewhiskey with Bill, Charlie, and Arthur, Percy was trying to read a book while appearing unbothered by all the noise as Bella and Ginny danced to whatever song was on the radio.

As for Harry…

"You're staring at her again."

"I am not."

He was being teased by Hermione, who'd been watching his interactions with Bella all day and had come to a simple conclusion.

"Something happened between you two."

"I don't know what you're talking about." he denied swiftly, turning his head with a soft blush.

"Oh my something did happen!" Hermione giggled, "you'll tell me sooner or later, or Bella will tell me, either way I'll find out."

Harry groaned, leaning forward a bit, turning his head back, "she um…well she kissed me."

Hermione's eyes widened, "and how did you feel about it?" She prodded a bit.

"I…well it was great…wonderful…' he stuttered, a dopey smile beginning to form, making Hermione roll her eyes good naturedly, "it surprised me, no doubt, but it was-"

"Great?" Hermione asked teasingly, making him chuckle.

"Yeah…" he ran a hand through his hair.

"Did you two talk about it?"

Harry laughed, "yeah, we did."

"So…" Harry began as they walked through the nearby field, his arm looped with Bella's, who was pulling him along towards a copse of trees, where Sirius and Tonks were already romping about in the spring they surrounded; Remus lounging under one of the trees, reading.

"So?" She questioned, bumping his hip with hers as she smirked, "you can't keep a lady waiting all day, Potter, it's not the polite thing to do."

Harry chuckled, "and when have you ever cared for the 'polite thing to do'?" he asked.

"I've always cared, thank you very much." she objected with faux-offense. "Now, what was it you wanted to talk about?"

"...the kiss." Harry mumbled after a slight hesitation.

"Did you not want me to kiss you?" she asked.

"N-no! I mean- I did, but…I…what does this mean?" he stumbled over his words, making her laugh again.

"It means that You're mine." she said, leaning into his side, "and I wanted to stake that claim, if only to you."

"I'm yours?" he asked with an amused smile.

"Yes you are Potter, and you better get used to that." she suddenly jumped up and kissed his cheek, making him freeze for a moment as she slipped away, her laughter echoing across the moor.

"So you two are…going out?" Hermione prodded, shaking Harry out of his thoughts.

"Er…yeah I guess so." he said slowly, carefully, "she said I'm hers, so…"

"A bit possessive." Hermione muttered, "but I'm beginning to understand that's Bella…but how do you feel about it?"

"I…don't know." he said honestly, smiling softly as he looked back over to where Bella was dancing with Ginny, laughing as they twirled about, "she's…frustrating, she picks fights with anyone who so happens to raise her ire that day, she likes to tease me, gets on my last nerve with her quips and condescending looks, she always knows what buttons to push to get me riled up…she's also unexpectedly gentle and kind at the oddest of times; she never turns away any younger years that come to her for support, even if it's just for a kind word and a 'how do you do'; she enjoys the quiet just as much as she enjoys disturbing it with chaos, she's an enigma that I struggle to understand at the best of times." he looked at Hermione, who was staring at him in surprise, "what?"

"Nothing, it's just…you said all of that with such fondness." she sighed, resting her chin on her hands as she watched Ron laugh with his brothers, "I don't think anyone will ever speak like that about me."

"Bollocks to that," Harry snorted, "no one can deny the greatness of Hermione Granger, of the London Grangers."

Hermione laughed at that, "the London Grangers?" she chortled, "where on earth did you come up with that?"

Harry blushed, "Bella recommended some books." he mumbled as her laughter intensified.

"Are we laughing at Harry," Bella asked, suddenly appearing behind him, her hands snaking around to settle in a hug , her chin resting on his shoulder, "I'd like to join in."

"It wasn't all that funny-" Harry started, blushing from the neck up at the sudden closeness.

"-apparently I'm the Great Hermione Granger, of the London Grangers." Hermione teased, making Bella laugh her wild laugh that sent a flurry of butterflies through Harry's stomach.

"So you did read my book suggestion," she laughed, teasingly kissing him on the cheek, "and was I right?"

"...yes…" he mumbled again, causing another fit of laughter for Bella, who kissed him again and glided away to Siri, immediately dragging him to the radio to dance with Ginny and Bill.

"She's like a hurricane." Harry muttered, running a hand through his hair.

"And you love every minute of it don't you." Hermione teased, making Harry toss a cushion at Hermione, both ending up in fits of laughter as the party slowly began to gravitate towards them, a few hours later everyone was staggering off to bed, Harry fell into the bunk under Ron with a large smile on his face, ready for a good night's sleep after one of the most exciting days of his life.

And then he woke to panic and screaming, Jostled awake by Mr. Weasley and Sirius, who was leading the girls back into the main tent, flickering flames partially illuminating the room from slit in the tent. "What's going on?" Harry asked as he threw his glasses on.

"We need to go now, stay together, don't lose sight of one another!" Mr. Weasley ordered them as he led them out of the tent and into chaos.

Fires were raging all around the camp grounds, a large group of wizards in dark robes and skull masks was laughing and jeering as they carved a path of destruction through the tents, blasting them out of their ways as they trudged through possessions and people alike, above them, a family of muggles were suspended into the air, the monstrous men jeering and laughing at them as they intermittently shot stinging hex's at them.

"Sirius! We need to go help! Harry! Make sure everyone gets to the trees! Get to the stadium if you have to just stay together!"

"Bella stay," Sirius ordered, making Harry look at the girl, she was glaring at the attackers, clutching her wand tightly as her magic seemed to condense around her.

"Bella, we need to keep everyone safe." Harry said, taking her hand into his, his touch seemed to jerk her out of whatever angry trance she was in, with a hesitant nod they began ushering their friends through the panicking crowds, vainly trying to keep tabs on everyone even as Fred, George and Ginny were separated from them; soon, they found themselves in the forest, were groups of wizards and witches were chattering nervously.

"We need to find the others," Ron said, standing on his toes to look over heads, "where do you think they went?"

"Hopefully the stadium." Hermione said, looking around worriedly, "maybe we should head that way."

"That's the least of what I would say."

Bella's grin looked more like a snarl as she whirled towards Draco Malfoy, who was sitting on a tree root looking wholly unbothered by the potential danger, "Nephew," she practically spat, "and where is daddy dearest?"

"Don't know," he shrugged, worry briefly flashing through his eyes before that air of indifference returned, "I don't have to worry, if anything you need to get Granger out of here."

"What are you on about?" Ron spat.

"Are you dense Weasley?" Draco sneered, "do you know who's marching through the campgrounds right now? Do you know what they'll do to Granger if they find her?"

"Who are they?" Harry asked, his hand closing around his wand as Draco looked at him.

"Death Eaters." he said, making those close enough to hear him shriek in fear, "and they're not polite when it comes to Mudbloods."

Suddenly Bella was on her cousin, wand jabbed into his throat as she pinned him to the tree "I've been informed that's not a word to be used in any company, much less polite company." she whispered coldly to him, "you forget yourself, Nephew."

Once again Harry took Bella's hand, "he's right, we need to get Hermione and any other muggle born in the area out of here." he said, glaring at Malfoy as Bella snarled and pushed away from the boy, who unceremoniously collapsed back between the roots of the tree.

"Anyone not wanting to run into Death Eaters follow me." Bella shouted, heading deeper into the forest, Harry, Ron and Hermione scrambling after her as the majority of the crowd eagerly followed.

"That was wicked." Ron said as he finally caught up with everyone else, "I don't think Malfoy will be spouting off again anytime soon."

"I reckon he peed himself just a bit." Harry said with a chuckle, making Bella grin victoriously.

"To his credit, he warned us." Hermione said begrudgingly.

"Doesn't excuse him for being a prat." Bella said, "he knows how to conduct himself, he's not a child."

"Erm…guys…" Ron suddenly spoke up, making everyone look back at him, "I can't find my wand."

"You're just telling us this now!?" Bella asked incredulously.

"I didn't notice until now." He said defensively, holding his hands up.

"We can't go searching for it until at least the sun's up," Hermione sighed, "it's too dark-" she stopped as someone screamed into the night.

"MORSMORDRE!"

A jet of green light shot into the sky, illuminating the forest in an eerie glow as a giant smokey skull appeared in the sky, a snake twisting and winding its way out of its open mouth.

All around people began to scream and run into the stadium, hoping for a sanctuary while Bella immediately ran towards the source of the jet of light.

"Bella, wait!" Harry called, running after her,Hermione and Ron right behind him, they burst into an empty clearing, nothing in sight to suggest who had cast the spell.

Multiple loud Cracks! Had Harry and Bella going back to back, both deflecting stunners into the empty forest as several red robed wizards appeared and surrounded them,Hermione and Ron dove for the ground as they leveled their wands, "STUPEFY!" They shouted, as Bella snarled out a "PROTEGO MAXIMA!" stopping their spells dead in their tracks as Harry gathered his magic to counter-attack.

"STOP! THAT'S MY SON!" Mr. Weasley was suddenly there, standing between them and the children.

The spellfire stopped and Harry slowly untensed, intertwining Bella's hand with his own when she reached out for him.

"What's the meaning of this?" SIrius spat, glaring at the Aurors as he stepped between them and the children.

From there the discussion devolved into accusations and hard answers, it was found that Barty Crouch's House Elf Winky had Ron's wand, and so the blame for the dark mark was put on the elf, which Crouch dismissed immediately with clothes. After that, the tired and frazzled teens were guided back to the tents, Hermione seething about Mr. Crouch's treatment of Winky.

"It was so horrid! How could he yell at her like that! He didn't even try to get her side of the story."

"That's how most wizards are with their house elves sadly," Bella told her, rubbing her arm soothingly as they entered the tent, "best we can do is treat those we meet with respect."

"There has to be something else we can do." Hermione countered desperately as she sat down in a nearby chair, arms crossed.

"House Elves survive by siphoning off excess magic from their masters." Sirius explained, "it's a symbiotic relationship that many wizards abuse, unless you can find a way to spare the house elves from having to do such, there really isn't."

"I'm still confused as to what was so bad about that mark." Ron said.

"It's the Dark Mark Ron," Bill explained, "it's HIS mark."

"His followers would throw it over anywhere they killed." Sirius said solemnly, "it hasn't been seen since the end of the last war."

"Seeing it tonight, it was almost like he was back." Mr. Weasley said, shaking his head, "enough of the dark talk, get some sleep, I'll try and get us a Portkey out first thing in the morning."

The kids staggered off to bed, Harry ready to pass out for as long as he could, Ron was asleep before his head hit the pillow; sadly Harry didn't fall asleep immediately, his mind running rampant with thoughts, questions and memories.

They didn't quiet down until a slender figure slipped into his bed, her wild curls fanning out on his chest as she burrowed into his side, "Bella?" he questioned.

"Sh, sleep." she mumbled to him before she too went under.

Harry blinked, then smiled as he wrapped his arms around her, falling into a far easier sleep then he would have otherwise.

She was gone before he woke in the morning.

WVWVW

The Hogwarts Express was full of chatter and cheer, the same as every year Harry stepped onto the magnificent steam powered marvel of engineering, though this year he left with a slight bit of Melancholy. He would miss Sirius, and Tonks, Remus would have been with them on the express had the rumors of his lycanthropy not leaked during the summer. Fortunately he was able to find some work as a private tutor; though it didn't pay nearly as well as Hogwarts did.

"I wonder who'll be our new DADA teacher." Hermione wondered as they stepped into a compartment after their good-byes.

"Perhaps a vampire this time." Bella joked lightly as she laid down on the seat, her legs dropping into Harry's lap.

"Oi." he objected.

"Oi." she mimicked mockingly, bouncing her feet a few times to further annoy him before pulling a small book out.

Harry rolled his eyes, "whoever it is, I hope they're as good as Remus was." he said.

"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore has chosen a good replacement." Hermione began, only for Ron to cut her off, "oh yeah, cause Lockhart and Quirrel were such good choices."

"Lockhart? That second rate author?" Bella asked with a tilted head, "I read his book Holiday with Hags, I wasn't impressed."

Ron and Harry laughed while Hermione flushed a bit, "HIs books had truly insightful ways to handle dark creatures-" She muttered.

"Ways that are covered in basic defense books," Bella rolled her eyes, "honestly, he spent half the book going on about how wonderful his hair looked."

"That's about how his classes were too." Harry informed her, "he's a fraud, by the way, he stole most of his stories from witches and wizards who actually performed the feats, before he obliviated them."

"And you couldn't tell me this before I wasted an afternoon on Holiday with Hags?" Bella griped.

'I didn't know you were reading Holidays with Hags, otherwise I would have told you, I thought I burnt the books honestly-" Harry shut his mouth as both Hermione and Bella looked at him sharply.

"You burned books?" Hermione demanded.

"Trash or not, you don't just burn it." Bella grumbled, nudging him rather roughly with her boot.

"I'd have joined him if I knew he was doing that." Ron muttered quietly, smiling uneasily when Hermione rounded on him.

"I technically didn't burn them." Harry said not-so helpfully, "I asked Dudley if he wanted to destroy some of my school stuff and he jumped for the chance, one of the few times we bonded over something."

Bella raised an elegant, unimpressed eyebrow.

"...So, has anyone else been getting 'hints' about what's going on at school this year?" Harry asked, trying to take the heat off of him.

"Yes!" Ron groaned, making Hermione's eyebrow raise at the sulkiness his tone took, "Percy's been "hinting" all summer. Right mad I'm tellin' you."

"Sirius has been tapping his nose every now and again when talking about school, that used to mean he had a big prank planned when we were younger." Bella said, "I'm sure he knows exactly what's going on."

"He's been a bit more on the nose for me." Harry muttered, "always going on about, 'an entertaining time for you lot.'."

"That's because you're a bit thick dear." Bella said, making Hermione snort.

"Oi!" Harry objected as Bella cackled, the rest of the train ride was filled with laughter and chatter; until around lunch time, as they were unpacking the lunches Sirius had prepared, (he'd gone on a food kick and had become a decent chef), when Draco appeared in the doorway, Blaise Zabini and Daphne Greengrass behind him.

"Nephew." Bella greeted, not looking up from a steaming slice of shepherd's pie inside a muggle tupperware container, "if you ruin my meal, I'll be flaying your bits off with a dull butterknife."

Daphne snorted before schooling her features, Blaise shot her an amused stare before looking back at them.

Draco swallowed and stepped forward, giving a small half-bow. "I have come to apologize for my behavior towards all of you." he said formally, not straightening up as he continued, "I have been informed that my behavior is unbecoming of myself and will strive from now on to treat you all with respect so long as you respond in kind."

Bella raised an eyebrow while the golden trio stared at him in shock.

"You're taking the mickey." Ron blurted.

"He's telling the truth." Blaise Zabini said cooly, "his mother contacted ours and requested that we make sure he truly apologizes."

"And stick to what he says." Daphne agreed, leveling an impressive glare at Draco, before looking back at them, "what say you?"

Harry noted the uncomfortable looks on Ron and Hermione, and stood up, "i'm willing to let the past be the past." he said, stepping towards Draco, who finally straightened up, he schooled his features carefully, but he could still see the anger and disdain the boy had for doing this, "but you have to apologize to Hermione personally for calling her that horrible word."

"I quite agree." Bella said, setting her food to the side and giving Draco her full attention.

Draco looked like he had swallowed something sour, but straightened his back and schooled his features into as close to sincere as he could, "I apologize, Ms. Granger, for calling you a Mudblood, I have no excuse for doing so, and beg your forgiveness, so we might continue as acquaintances, if not friends." another half-bow, a small nod from Blaise.

"Apology accepted, Draco." Hermione said sincerely, deciding not to try and shake his hand.

Draco nodded to her and turned to Ron, "I also apologize for any slights against you, Mr. Weasley," he said, his voice a little more sincere, a little more respectful.

Ron just jerked his head in a nod, not trusting himself to speak his thoughts.

Harry extended his hand, taking Draco by surprise, "I should apologize too, I've instigated my fair share of fights." he said, extending the olive branch for him.

"...I too, must apologize." he said slowly, carefully extending his hand and giving Harry a firm handshake, "it was my words that started the altercations between us."

"All in the past, mate." Harry said genially, releasing his hand. "Would you like to join us."

"Not at this time, thank you." Draco said, giving them a respectful head nod, "have a good day," wit that he walked off stiffly.

"He can be taught." Blaise mused, giving them all a smirk, "I do hope this eases some tensions between our two houses, Potter, Weasley, Granger." he turned his gaze to Bella, "Black." he practically purred before walking away.

"Honestly." Daphne sighed in exasperation, giving them an apologetic smile before heading off after them.

"I do believe we have Cissy to thank for that." Bella mused, picking her food back up to eat while Harry handed Hermione and Ron their own containers.

"He didn't mean Hermione's apology." Ron grumbled, his bad mood lifting a bit at the hot food handed to him.

"Baby steps ronald." Hermione said, smiling at the smell of homemade shepherd's pie, "he still apologized."

"Does it count if he has to be forced to do it?" Harry asked.

"It's a step in the right direction," Bella said, "and while I don't care for him, he is family. He's entitled to a second chance…for now."

WVWVW

A few hours later.

Bella!"

The dirty blonde rocket of a third year slammed into Bella with a flying hug as they disembarked the train.

"Hello, poppet." Bella laughed as she returned the hug of her honorary sister, "how was the last of your holiday?"

"Brilliant, Daddy and I went to Germany in search of the Crumple-horned Snorkack.' Luna beamed, "we found several nests and Daddy thinks we could find a herd by next summer!"

"There's no such thing-" Hermione began, stopping when Harry elbowed her.

"I'm sure discovery is right around the corner." Harry said lightly, giving Hermione a look, "do you have pictures of the nests?"

Luna giddily showed them magical pictures of her and her father looking over strange nests made of Rock and moss, littering a large field of tall grass. Hermione begrudgingly admitted she'd never seen the likes of them before and Bella questioned Luna on what nesting habits the little blonde knew about the elusive creature. A topic she gladly began talking about as they loaded a carriage.

"-family sizes range from twelve to over eighteen if the nests are anything to go off of!" Luna shattered as the carriage began to move, "and from what daddy could figure, they're fiercely protective of their young."

"How'd he figure that?" Ron asked curiously, surprising the other fourth years at his question, "surely you'd have to be able to see them to guess on behavior."

"You can tell by the disrupted environment they leave behind." Luna explained serenely, "if you know what to look for."

"And what do you look for?" Ronpressed, leaning in a bit.

"First off you have to see that there's no sign of the Snorkacks leaving the immediate area around the nests," Luna explained, "their tracks don't go farther than the tree-line, daddy also found evidence of altercations between the Pack and local Fauna in the area; if they didn't care for their young, they'd be more likely to abandon them in the event of attacks."

The carriage came to a stop before Ron could say anything, all of them disembarking and heading for the castle.

"I'd be happy to tell you more." Luna said to Ron as they walked, Bella and Hermione sharing an amused look as they went.

"I'd like that," Ron returned, "it's all a bit interesting once you get past the weirdness of it all."

Luna stuttered in her steps and Harry nudged Ron hard.

"N-not that weird is bad." Ron quickly reassured, "you've met my family after all, weird is a part of the Weasley name innit?"

The troubled smile that had crept up on Luna disappeared as he gave him another happy smile, "you're right, I like your family,"

"Same here." Ron said as they entered the great hall.

"Come along Luna," Bella said, her voice tinged in amusement, "we have to get to our table.

"Okay Bella," Luna agreed, before giving Ron a surprise hug, the boy stiffening and patting her back awkwardly in response, "thank you for talking with me Ronald, it was like having a friend." she said brightly before joining Bella.

"Bella will have your arse if you make Luna cry." Harry said as he patted his friend's shoulder.

"Oi! I was being nice!" Ron defended himself as they headed for the gryffindor table. "Better than how Hermione reacted."

"Just warning you, mate." Harry said lightly, as Hermione shot back with "there's no proof Snorkacks exist, Ron!"

"Well those nests are pretty convincing!" Ron defended Luna's claim, "and she sounds like she knows what she's talking bout 'moine, it wouldn't hurt to learn more."

"And when did you care about learning?" Harry quipped, making Ron splutter and Hermione giggle.

"W-well S-she's friends with B-Bella," Ron muttered defensively, cheeks and ears reddening as they sat down, " S-shouldn't we make friends?"

Harry and Hermione shared another amused smile, but quieted down as the first years were being led in.

The hat sang a song about unity and being there for their fellow students before he sorted the children. There wasn't much talking to be had during the feast, all of them focused on eating until it was time for Dumbledore's customary beginning year speech.

"Here we are, once again, for another fun year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore exclaimed, "where new friends and new adventures are to be had. I must, as always, inform you of the few rules we have here, as always, the Forbidden forest is-by it's very name-forbidden, no student may go into it's dark woods without a teacher unless you wish to die a horrible death; also, Mr. Filch wishes me to remind all of you, of the banned items that have been written down and posted outside of his office, I wish all of you to go by and make sure you have none of these items." his lips twitched at this, but he continued on, "I would also like to welcome Professor Alastor Moody, for stepping in as Defense Against the Dark Arts position this year."

The hall began to politely clap for the scarred, one eyed auror.

"Dad said he's bonkers." Ron whispered to Harry, "so paranoid he doesn't drink anything except whatever's in his flask."

"And finally, "Dumbledore began, "I am happy to inform you that this year, Hogwarts shall play host to a most honorable and ancient tournament. One that has recently been brought back for international cooperation, the Triwizard Tournament is set to start in October, and I hope all of you will be respectful to our sister schools Durmstrang and Bauxbatons when they arrive! I also look forward to see us compete, everlasting glory and fame awaits the champions and victor."

Harry found Bella as the rest of the students whispered excitedly to each other, he wasn't surprised to see her grinning madly at the aspect of competing in the tournament.

And then her expression soured when Albus continued, "due to safety concerns, the tournament shall only be open to those of age or above!"

"Isn't that a bit unfair?" seamus questioned as the hall filled with outrage and objections.

"The last time the tournament was activated, over a dozen people and all the champions were killed by a rampaging cockatrice." Hermione said primly, "I'm sure the schools don't want a repeat."

"Still, can you imagine?" Ron asked dreamily, "everlasting glory."

"You can have it mate," Harry said as they were dismissed, "I'm personally looking forward to a quiet year."

"Speak for yourself potter.' Bellagriped as she suddenly appeared beside them, Luna at her side and standing particularly close to an uncomfortable Ron, "I would kill to test my mettle against the best of the best."

"There's always the next one," Harry quipped lightly, "come on, I'll escort you two to Ravenclaw."