Just an Itch

Ice Packs and Recipes

A loud knock on the door roused the curly haired woman from her lackluster slumber. "Go away," she yelled back at the door. The knocking had quit and Bella had assumed they got the picture so she rolled back over and started to fall asleep. Her false sense of security was quickly ruined and her door opened and someone jumped into bed with her.

"Oh no, Auntie. If I'm expected to do Christmas morning with the family wearing these damn moose pajamas then so are you," Dora snuggled up against her aunt and put her cold feet against the back of her Aunt's calves.

"Oi fuck off with that," she hissed and pulled her legs up and away from Dora's freezer feet. "Didn't your mother teach you how to respect your elders? Now leave," Bella yawned, "I need my beauty sleep."

"There's presents for you as well."

"Well seeing as how my birthday was yesterday and it was an utter nightmare," she turned to face her niece, "I'd rather skip today. Thanks."

"Oh shit. That's right. 50?" She smirked when Bella nodded. "Why didn't we celebrate yesterday?"

"I've never been big into birthdays and believe me, I don't need another reminder of how old I am. Currently, I'm feeling every part of 50," she sighed and pulled her phone over to look at the time. She saw 10 missed messages from Morgan and nothing from the person she had hoped to hear from.

"She left," Dora said, getting a glimpse of her Aunt's phone.

Bella's head whipped around to look at her niece, "what?"

"Hermione was gone this morning. She left a very cryptic note downstairs but nothing aside from that. Her pajamas were folded on the bed. It was like she was never even here."

"Fuck," Bella threw her phone.

"That'll show her. Violence to your phone," Dora's laughing ended when she saw the dismay on her aunt's face. "I'm sorry. Did something happen after we all went to bed?"

"Is there anything going on between you and Hermione?" Bella asked quietly.

"No. I was just trying to get a rise out of you. It was stupid but I thought I could help you realize your feelings for her if you thought she was off the market. Hermione is hurting and I'm guessing you are too even if you are too stubborn to admit it."

"Well that was only somewhat shitty but message well received," Bella glared at her niece.

"You still like her?"

Bella looked away and responded in a small voice, "how could I not?"

"You could send her a text message, you know. Texting isn't breaking whatever bogus rules the Dean has in place."

"Texting and confessing my feelings sounds like something I definitely won't be doing today."

"Oh come on. Getting Hermione back... talk about a great birthday present."

Bella laughed, "yeah but I can't exactly have her back the way I would want, now can I?"

"What the Dean doesn't know won't hurt her," Dora shrugged.

"You are definitely a Black. Now go on and get out of here. I'll be down in a minute."

Dora got up and headed towards the door before turning back, "I'm not sure what happened with the two of you last night but the pair of you seem utterly miserable. The Dean's rules can't be worth the torture you are putting yourself through. See you down there." She turned and left, closing Bella's bedroom door behind her.

"Fuck," Bella wiped her hand down her face. "She couldn't have just come to me when she wasn't drunk?" She sat up, got out of bed and walked over to make sure she didn't break her phone. Thankfully her phone was okay but it was only 9:30am and Morgan was already texting her. "Fucking woman," she shook her head and put her phone back on the charger. Before she set her phone down she thought about sending a quick message to Hermione. "No," she shook her head and put the phone away.