Minerva's Daughter Annabella

YULE.

Another dangerous year had passed with the students as more danger and truth was known about the true actions of Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew for the few involved. A new year had begun and so had the triwizard tournament. "So Harry are they forcing you to take part?" Bella asked fearing the answer she would get. "Yeah. Look I promise I didn't put my name in the goblet of fire." Bella just nodded. "I know and I am sure that in time Ron will accept it." Harry didn't look as sure but accepted it nonetheless. The two walked their separate ways to their next lessons which neither really wanted. 'Charms' she mentally sighed but walked on all the same to the lesson. When she walked in she saw her usual spot next to Jamal free and so sat down. Over the year and a bit of friendship the two had come to know each other for their true beings. Jamal was a pure blood but wasn't bothered with the fact of Bella being a half-blood because as he put it 'your mother is proof that a half-blood is as good as a pure blood' which made Bella smile widely.

When sat down she smiled and prepared herself as her mother began teaching after a few more students walked in. "So the Yule Ball." Jamal excitedly stated as they all attempted to transfigure something but only Bella managing to succeed. "Yes. What about it?" she asked curiously as Ellis and Matt listened in closely. "Well do you know what you are going to wear?" he asked slyly as Ellis and Matt talked a little of what they planned on buying Bella just shrugged her shoulders. "It depends upon who I end up going with but I suppose I will pick something up at the Hogsmeade trip." Jamal just nodded himself and continued "Well I guess since you two are going out that Ellis and Matt you are going together." The two smiled excitedly at each other and nodded. "So Bella who are you going with?" Once again she just shrugged and smiled a small smile. "I haven't been asked yet." Jamal looked wide eyed. "The ball isn't all that far away." He sounded worried for her but stopped there. "Who are you going with?" Bella asked but secretly wished that he said no one yet as he opened his mouth "Oh I asked Lillilia. A girl from Beauxbatons" Bella mentally sighed but outwardly smiled at Jamal. "She is the girl that occasionally sits with us, right?" Jamal nodded and the lesson continued.

Once both hours were spent Bella had just finished packing up when her mother beckoned her over. "Right darling. Here is the money for the dress for the Yule Ball." Bella thanked her mother and hugged her very tightly "I am thankful but I don't know if I shall be going. I will think about it honestly." Mcgonagall was about to question it but her students walked through the door so decided to leave it. The day passed slowly and Bella didn't feel like joining in with the usual conversation with her friends so sat on the edge minimising the potential conversations. When lunch came around she sat with Harry, Hermione, Ron, George, Fred and Ginny where she laughed and behaved as though nothing was wrong though she wasn't as quick as she usually was which Ginny picked up on when they headed back to the common room. "Ginny I will tell you but can we talk in our room?" Ginny nodded and walked silently watching as they walked to the room.

"So. What is wrong?" Bella slumped onto her bed, the one next to Ginny's. "It's two things really. First I still don't have a partner for the ball and second I was hoping that Jamal would ask me but instead he asked some french girl and I will tell you now. I do not dislike french people generally but right now I strongly hate them and their perfect looks." Ginny smiled and scrunched up her nose. "Look I know that it sucks trust me but, I know that there are lots of male students around the age of." she pretended to ponder but continued quickly "your age." Bella only smiled and  lightly laughed. "Alright I will wait." With that said Bella and Ginny headed for their next class which was defence so she knew she would have to talk to the three of them as Professor Moody didn't pay too much attention to the students anymore. He seemed preoccupied.

"Spit it out." Matt said as he was the only one in class so far. "Spit what out?" She asked faking ignorance. "You know. Why are you so distant today?" He asked but Bella just shrugged "don't feel like life today." Matt nodded and continued on preparing for class. Before the professor had entered another Gryffindor approached Bella "Hey, so I was wondering if you would go to the Yule Ball with me." He asked trying to sound brave. Bella nodded and smiled a small but excited smile. "Great. What colour tie should I get?" He asked finally "oh um. Baby blue." He nodded and went back to his friends who all patted his back and whispered 'It took too long for you to ask her that.' Bella kept smiling and felt her self become giddy. "Bella got a date." Matt started quietly chanting and Bella just smiled even more. "shut up." she finally squeezed out and Matt turned quiet. When Jamal finally walked in he sat next to Bella and smiled. "So told Matt yet?" Bella just furrowed her brows and shook her head looking confused. By the time the lesson finished Bella walked out with the two boys wishing Ellis had been there but instead she went in search for her as it was their last lessons for the day.

"sooooo. Guess who has a date to the dance." Bella sounded excitedly and Ellis squeeled slightly as the two sat quietly beneath a tree doing homework. "Name and time." Ellis exclaimed and Bella laughed before replying "Isaac the Gryffindor just before defence which made me wish it was you there not Hufflepuffs." Ellis went wide eyed. "As in Isaac the brunette who all the girls would have preferred over Viktor Krum. I mean if he wasn't a second year of course the older years would have." Bella nodded and smiled as they did their work. The tree brought shade but it didn't bring silence for long as a gaggle of second year boys walked over. Bella just ignored it until they moved along. After their noise died down she jumped to the heavens and back when a hand grabbed her shoulder. "Hey Bella." It was Isaac. "Do you mind if I join?" Bella smiled and shook her head making room for him where the three all studied till dinner.

Matt had found the three just before dinner and so Bella was left alone outside with him as they walked the long way inside. "I was wondering if after you get your dress if you fancied going to the three broomsticks where we could get a drink if you want." His face showed his fear of rejection but he covered it up quickly. "Yeah. I would love to." she stated and they walked to the entrance together. As they slipped into the castle Bella felt her hand being captured by Isaac and she smiled. "Why did you ask me?" she asked a little curious. "You're pretty, funny and caring. Oh and don't forget I am failing transfiguration so if..." he was stopped short when Bella laughed a little at his joke. "Although I could do with some help." He commented and she didn't doubt for a second he was serious. "I know. Last year I would occasionally help my mother mark the homework. shocking." she mocked and they laughed hand in hand into the hall. A few students looked at them but quickly looked away as they weren't too bothered by the sight.

At dinner Bella sat with the hoard of about five boys as they ate. Not once did Isaac let go of her left hand. Bella already knew the boys and quickly she realised that she had a lot in common with them as they complained about the day and she just laughed slightly knowing it was all too real. "So Bella. How can you prove that you can steal our precious Isaac from us?" One ginger boy asked jokingly and Bella laughed out a reply "quite the opposite. Why should you lot take me from my precious friends?" They all continued on for dinner and soon it was time for bed. Bella held Isaac's hand until they had to go their separate ways. Once in the room loads of questions came at her and Bella answered them as well as she could and after they finished talking Ginny piped up "I know you might not want me to bring it up but what about Jamal?" Bella just shrugged her shoulders. The other girls didn't know that she fancied him but it was now or never. "To be honest I only wanted him to ask me because I thought I would be alone but it worked out and I prefer it this way." Bella was honest and all the girls went to bed with a smile on their faces. Even Ellis thought about it whilst in the Ravenclaw area.