Annabella The Sidekick (Sequal To Defiance)

Chapter 7

Weeks pass and another person is petrified. We're not supposed to be alone anymore, and there's a rumor going around that Hogwarts is going to shut down. Fred and George won't let me go anywhere alone, and neither will Draco. Christmas holidays start the next week, and George is coming the day after I get home for dinner. I don't know how Dad is going to like this.
Draco gives me an invitation to the Malfoy annual Christmas party, which is really a ball. I always go to keep Draco from being annoyed to death by Pansy. I don't know how I feel about going home, since Harry hates me.
When we finally get on the train, I sit with Fred, George, and Lee. I was going to try and sit with Harry, but they wouldn't open the compartment. Fred and Lee leave to get candy, and I lay my head on George's shoulder. "I don't want to go home." I say. "I know you don't." He replies. Then he grins. "I think my mum is going to make you a sweater." He says. He's told me all about the Weasley sweaters. "You said they were comfy." I say. "They- you're wearing my sweatshirt." He says with a smile. "Yup. It's really comfy." I say. Before Lee and Fred get back, I put my head in George's lap and fall asleep.
"Bells. Wake up." I hear George's voice say. "C'mon. We're pulling into the station." He says. I sit up slowly and then grab my trunk. George grabs it from me and walks out. "I can carry my own trunk!" I exclaim. "I know you can. But I wanted to." He replies with a wink.
George carries my trunk over to my parents, where they're waiting with Harry. "Hello Mr. Black. Hello Mrs. Black." He says shaking their hands. "Call me Sky darling. And that's Regulus." She says, pointing to my dad. For an ex-death eater, he's really quite friendly. "We can't wait to have you for dinner tomorrow." My mum says. "I can't wait to come." George says.
Then Mr. And Mrs. Weasley come over with their kids, and it turns into a reunion for our parents. Ginny makes sure to give me a good shove on the way to talk to Harry. I end up on the ground. Guess what happens to my sleeve. It gets pushed up when I try to catch myself. I look over at my mum, who's looking at Harry. Usually, he'd chastise whoever pushed me, but he just smiles at Ginny and talks to her. Nobody is looking at me except for one person; my dad. He gives me a look that says "We'll talk about this later." Fear runs through me. I don't want Harry to get in trouble! What if it makes him angrier?
We get home, and I'm immediately pulled into my dad's study. "Show me your arms." He says. I reluctantly pull up my sleeves. After a few weeks, the bruises have faded a little, but they're still pretty bad. "When did this happen?" He asks. "A few weeks ago. I don't remember exactly." I say. "Who did it?" He asks. "Harry." I mumble. "Harry?" He asks. Reluctantly, I nod. "Harry James Potter! You have three seconds to get in here!" Dad says. He runs in a moment later. "I want you to look at Anna's wrist and tell me what happened." He says. Harry goes pale. "Go ahead." My dad says. Harry glances at my arms, and sees the still bluish marks.
"She had been somewhere with George, and she came into my common room. Ginny had been talking about how Annabella was bullying her, so I was angry and I just grabbed her. I wasn't thinking." Harry says. "All too right you weren't." Dad says. "Did she tell you to let her go?" My dad asks. "Yes." Harry says. My father never really gets angry. He gets more disappointed. But I can tell he's struggling not to blow. "You're not going to Ron's house, you're not going to see Remus either, and you can write them both and tell them why you're not going. "That's not fair!" Harry exclaims. "I think it's very fair. And after not speaking to her in two months, you didn't even speak to her at home. Sky and I love you like a son Harry, and now we have to punish you like one." He says. "I can't believe you didn't believe Anna." My father says, shaking his head.
I walk into the kitchen where my mother is making dinner with tears in my eyes. "Why does he hate me Mum?" I ask. I see her heart break for me. She casts a spell to make dinner and we go up to my room. When we're sitting comfortably on my bed, my mum grabs my hand."I'm going to tell you a story." She says. "Okay." I reply.
She sighs and begins. "My brother was a year older than me. We were best friends when we were younger, but then he started Hogwarts. When he came back for the summer, he had completely changed. He hated me. Just like you and Harry now. I was broken hearted. I cried my eyes out every day. My parents loved the new James and I was never good enough for them. They hated me too. I went to Hogwarts and my brother and his friends bullied me mercilessly. I was put in the hospital wing a lot. Your Uncle Sev, Father, Lucius, and Cissy were always there for me. Find the right people, Bella. A couple years later, James apologized and it was like he never hated me. But during the time he did, nothing got better. Trust me when I say you're lucky your parents care." She says. "I know I am. Thanks Mum, I love you." I say, hugging her. "I love you too, Darling." She replies. I feel a little better now, but not a lot. I don't think I'll truly feel better until Harry and I make up. If we do make up.

It's still not Thursday. Oops. ;)