stages of denial

chapter 14

"Morning bella." harry smiled softly, making her a seat at the table.

"So glad you finally came out of there," ron rummaged food into his mouth, "i mean you were in there for like..a long time, a weirdly long time."

Immediately Hermione jabbed him in his side, making her eyes wide.

"Ow!" He pushed at her playfully before looking back at Isabella, "I was only worried." He shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm glad to be out too." Isabella spoke softly, smiling at her friends.

They all carried on in side conversations while Isabella sat there silently.

Feeling eyes peering on her, she lifted her head only to meet eyes with Draco, within seconds the doors slammed shut, breaking their eye contact and forcing everyone to turn.

In the doorway stood Cedric, his face bloodied and bruised. Gasps and whispers immediately spread across the great hall.

Bella's mouth fell open, fighting the urge to go up and help him.

A few kids from Hufflepuff ran to his side, offering him aide and looking for a story.

"What happened?" One of them spoke.

Cedric said nothing, only let his eyes lead to Draco.

Everyone looked to him, confused yet not surprised if these were his actions.

Draco stood from his seat quickly, brushing passed shoulders and pushing through the doors.

Without thinking Bella's feet were up and following behind Draco.

"Hey," she walked behind him, trying to get his attention, "hey!" she spoke louder.

He took a deep breath before turning towards her, "What?" He spoke sternly, his face softening once he realized who had chased after him.

"Was that?" She pointed back to the great hall.

"And if it was?" He shrugged his shoulders carelessly.

"But why? Did something happen between you two?" She fidgeted with her robes.

"Are you that stupid?" He huffed, "this was because of you." His voice raised slightly.

"What? I didn't ask you to do that." She shook her head.

"No you didn't, but he definitely asked for it." He began to walk away quickly mumbling the password to Slytherin.

"I'm not done talking." She followed after him, slipping into the common room before the door shut.

"What do you want Bella?" He groaned turning back to face her.

"I just don't understand why you'd do something in my name, for me." She gestured to herself.

"I didn't start that rumor." His face looked defeated as he sat on the couch.

"What?" Confusion was written all over her face.

"I didn't start that bloody rumor about us." He spoke louder, grabbing a bottle from a nearby drawer.

Her heart sank. If he was telling the truth, then who would do that?

"If it wasn't you then who started it?" She took a seat near him, her eyes gazing at the fire.

"It was the girl who Cedric was with on the night of the party." He shot back the bottle, his face become sour.

"What? That doesn't make any sen..." she cut herself off.

It did make sense,  it made perfect sense, what's the best way to get between a relationship.

"But why you, she could've chosen any guy, you're the only one who knew about the closet mistake." She looked to him, her hands fiddling in her lap.