was seemingly occupied by something other than a few dozen owls, for a change. Arabella sat in there on the floor, her back perched against the decaying wooden wall. She had been feeling rather homesick lately, and with all the chaos of Harry Potter's unexpected Tournament trials, she felt that she had to inform someone about it rather than just Deanna, Fred and George, or her sister.

Thus, she decided late at night, that she was going to write a letter to her parents - using her owl named Henry to deliver the parchment.

Dear Mum and Dad,

Everything is fine here at Hogwarts - Ellie is surprisingly happy to be back. I am too.

There has been no sign of Voldemort yet, so tell Gran that she was wrong (and that she shouldn't keep scaring people with her weird theories)!

The Triwizard Tournament is soon, and this year we have four competitors. Harry's name was put in there by accident, I think. Nobody is really sure what happened, but whatever it was, I don't think it was done on purpose.

And as I tell you every year, Zoe and Erin are just as annoying. Zoe is keeping a secret from us all, and I have no idea what it is. I'm just hoping it's nothing serious. Actually, knowing her, it's something stupid like she grew an extra toe or accidentally swallowed a Bowtruckle.

But I can't help but worry, as always.

I hope you're doing well, and Dad - try not to blow up the house with your Potion-making, please.

(Mum, use your witchy powers if you must, but just don't let Dad do anything dangerous.)

Love and miss you,

Bella x

She lazily shoved the letter into an envelope, placing it carefully into Henry's open beak. Stroking his wing affectionately, she grinned through her chapped lips. "Say hi to Mum and Dad for me."

Arabella watched out of the window as her owl took flight, cascading further away until his form became a mere dappled brown figure amongst the moonlight. The girl thought of her parents - both of them present with magical blood - and her mother's endearing nature and her father's passion for Potions. She laughed delightedly, thinking of all the moments her and Ellie would watch their father Potion-making. Whenever it went wrong, the mixture would set fire or cause his hair to become like static electricity, and this amused the sisters so much that they would laugh about it for hours.

She missed moments like those, for they were filled with nothing but serenity and peaceful acts of pleasure, performed carelessly through the sounds of the howling winds and the relaxing warmth of the sun. But the night was bitter and cold now; nipping at her nose and violently blanketing her body in an uncomfortable breeze.

The sound of quaint footsteps made the redhead swiftly turn around, observing who was behind her but sighing when she saw that it was just Harry Potter. "Oh, hello Harry."

"Hi, uh, is my owl here?"

"Your owl? You mean Hedwig?"

"No, no - it's just that I sent a letter to Sirius and I wondered if a reply letter had arrived yet."

As if on cue, an owl as black as the night sky flew in through the window, its amber eyes glistening proudly. Harry smiled in delight, taking the envelope from its beak and perching himself against a pedestal where the dark owl sat. Bella moved beside him, reading over his shoulder as he took the letter into his hands. He noticed her presence, and instead decided to read aloud.

"Dear Harry, I couldn't risk sending Hedwig. Ever since the World Cup, the Ministry have been intercepting more and more owls and yours is too easily recognised. We need to talk, Harry. Face to face." The boy paused for a moment, scanning the rest of the letter before turning to Arabella. "He's asked me to meet him in the Gryffindor Common Room - alone. Should I go?"

Bella rolled her eyes. "Of course you should, Harry. I have no idea how Sirius will be there, but why not just go anyway and find out?" He nodded in agreement before she continued. "I'm jealous; wish I could go with you."

"You're jealous? I can't even get into your Common Room, Bella. I don't know any of the stupid riddles."

"Once a Ravenclaw, always a Ravenclaw." She teased with a grin, patting Harry on the head patronisingly. She waved a small goodbye and carefully made her way down the narrow steps, bumping into Cho Chang as she was too focused on staring at her own feet. "Sorry." She murmured, attempting to carry on walking before she was stopped by Cho calling her name.

"Is Harry up there?" She asked.

"Yeah, why?" The redhead raised an eyebrow.

"I just wondered."

"Like I'm going to believe that. Jesus Christ, Cho, who do you think I am?"

"I'm sorry I asked, then." She muttered, hanging her head defeatedly. Bella loved the advantage of being older than someone like Cho Chang, even if only by a year. Since the girl was so naturally skittish, Bella - rather cruelly - liked to take advantage of such a thing, but only because she didn't particularly like her mannerisms.

●

Arabella was walking alone through the Hogwarts corridors donned in her Ravenclaw attire; her robe hanging loosely off her figure, presenting the house emblem proudly upon it. She stared at the bronze eagle, touching a single hand to it and smiling.

A sudden immense force knocked into her back, pushing her forwards and allowing her books to spill onto the stone. She fell, her delicate hands hitting the hard ground with grazes littering them. She winced as she noticed a new hole in her tights from where her knee had been cut. The wound was not serious - barely bleeding - although it hurt more than she cared to admit.

She finally laid eyes upon the bastard who decided to push her, and sighed as she picked herself up. His Slytherin robes were in pristine condition, his pale hands clasped together as if he was waiting for her to speak. An overconfident grin was plastered onto his face, and she immediately crinkled her nose at the familiar odorous scent of his platinum blonde hair. "Malfoy, you idiot!" She yelled, gaining the attention of a few students passing by. "I hate you so much, y'know that?"

"I know that, Flannery." He laughed mockingly. "And I'm glad. Merlin help us if you actually liked me, because I certainly don't like you, or your stupid Weasley friends." Arabella noticed the green badge clipped upon his robe, making her immediately frown in distaste. It read 'Potter Stinks' in large black letters, and as she looked around it was as if everyone suddenly adorned the same badge - even some Hufflepuffs, of whom Bella thought would be too kind to do something so malicious.

"The feeling is mutual, you impertinent arsehole!"

As his friends approached him, laughing, Draco suddenly wore an anxious scowl as he stared wide-eyed behind Bella. She wore the same expression, expecting to come face to face with a troll, but was instead met with the mysterious brown eyes of Viktor Krum. Bella liked to think that she was good at reading peoples' emotions, but not with Viktor. If everyone else was an open book, he was one that was closed and sealed tightly.

He placed a calloused hand upon her shoulder. "Never talk to a girl like that, especially one as pretty as her." He warned Draco, who said nothing and only stared in disbelief; intimidated by Viktor's large size. The Bulgarian beckoned for Bella to walk away with him, and she did, gladly, while hiding her blushing cheeks as his words rang in her ears.

"Did you just call me pretty?"

"Bella, is it?"

"Arabella." She laughed nervously. She had barely even talked to Viktor, and he was already using her nickname. The girl felt uncomfortable when people called her that - apart from her friends and family, of course.

"Is it ok if I call you Bella?"

The redhead shrugged. "I guess so." She agreed, but only out of pure chivalry. She would've felt guilty if she declined him.

They walked into the courtyard where, coincidently, the other Champions seemed to be. Bella smiled at Fred and George when she saw them, rolling her eyes when Fred began making kiss faces and pointing to Viktor where he strolled directly beside her. She tried her best to stop herself from laughing aloud, though an unattractive snort subconsciously left her lips and she found herself instantly blushing even harder. "What's funny?" Viktor questioned curiously.

"Oh, nothing."

They stopped by a wooden bench, perching themselves onto it where the noise of chatting students was clouded by the canopy of grand oak trees. "I wanted to talk to you about the Triwizard Tournament. I heard from Harry Potter that the First Task involves dragons. I think we will have to fight one, and I've asked my Headmaster about it but he is too focused on his own work to find a strategy."

"So you're asking me to help you think of a plan to win the Task?"

Viktor nodded sheepishly. "Well, preferably to win the Tournament." When she laughed, almost in disbelief, he took her soft hand in his large, calloused one. "You're clever, Bella. I need your help."

VIKTOR AND BELLA MY BABIES YAYAYAY

I have so many cool and sweet and romantic ideas for this fic I'm so excited, especially when Bella should be helping him decide on a strategy ;)