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The Girl in my Arms	By : PotionMaster Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 3779 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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‘I can’t believe you invited him!’ Severus grumbled as he sat in front of the fire drinking his tea. ‘It’s bad enough that Albus seems to think that it needs all three of us to keep those blasted children out of trouble - although how even The-Boy-Who-Needs-a-Leash could get into trouble in a private viewing box at a Quidditch game is beyond me, it’s bad enough that I have to play babysitter to that spoilt brat, but now I have to spend an entire afternoon cooped up with that bloody moron as well! What on earth were you thinking woman?’

*Oh for Merlin’s sake calm down, Sev, * Bella thought from the bathroom as she finished getting ready for the outing. *Firstly, Harry is not a spoilt brat and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t keep up this ridiculous pretence of hating him when we’re in private since Remy and I both know it’s all an act and you don’t dislike him any more than most of the other students. Secondly, I didn’t invite Sirius, Harry did. It’s his Christmas present and he can invite anyone he likes. Anyway I thought you were looking forward to the game, don’t you have a bet with Rolanda about it? *

‘A bet that I will win regardless of whether I’m there when the Harpies beat Puddlemere or not,’ he replied. ‘And no bet is worth having to spend several hours in a confined space with Black.’

*Honestly Sev, I don’t see the problem. You and Sirius have been getting on much better over the last week or so. Surely the two of you can manage to spend one afternoon together without fighting? *

Severus’ jaw dropped in astonishment causing Remus to chuckle as the normally erudite professor grasped for words. ‘How on earth did you come to that conclusion?’ he gasped eventually. ‘Black and I aren’t ‘getting on’, we’re simply getting better at avoiding one another. We haven’t spent more than five minutes in the same room as each other since the full moon. Even we can manage to be civil from a distance, being stuck in a viewing box together is an entirely different matter.’

*Then you’ll have to start learning to be civil to each other from a lot less distance, * Bella snapped. *This year is going to be difficult enough without Remus and I having to keep the pair of you apart. You both need to grow up and start acting like adults. *

Severus glared at Remus who was still chuckling to himself. ‘Any time you want to help me out, feel free to jump right in,’ he invited.

‘The Glare’, which generally silenced even the most rebellious student in seconds only caused Remus to laugh louder. ‘Oh no, I’m not getting involved. Any minute now she’s going to try taking points away from you. Besides she’s right, it is about time you both started making more of an effort and today is the perfect time to start. Sirius won’t want to do anything to ruin Harry’s present so he’ll be os bes best behaviour. As long as you don’t start anything, today should be perfectly amicable.’

*Besides, Siri’ll be far too distracted to cause trouble, * Bella added. *Bill invited himself along when I spoke to Molly earlier this week, so they’ll be far to preoccupied with one another to notice if Voldemort himself turned up. *

‘Bill and Sirius?’ Remus queried, confused. ‘When did that happen?’

*Don’t tell me you missed the sparks that were flying at the meeting of the O? * ? * She paused and when Remus didn’t say anything she continued, *Oh Merlin, you really didn’t notice! Well trust me there was definite sparkage from the moment Sirius entered the room. They were sitting so close together that they were practically touching and the air between them was positively sizzling. Then they left together, supposedly to ‘catch up’, but personally I think Bill was just looking for an excuse to spend more time with Sirius. Bill is halfway to falling already, I’d put money on it and if Bill decides he wants Sirius then Sirius doesn’t stand a chance! * She came out of the bathroom with a far away look in her eye.

Remus growled under his breath. ‘You are having entirely too much fun wandering down memory lane,’ he grumbled. ‘I’m not sure we should let you go and collect him today.’

Bella shook herself free of her memories and looked at Remus in surprise. *Oh come on, he was my first love, I’m allowed to get a little nostalgic every now and then, doesn’t mean I’d want to go back even if I could. Bill’s part of my past, you and Sev are my present and future and now I’m going to leave to pick up the others before things get entirely too sappy. Go and get Sirius and Harry and I’ll see the two of you there. * She grabbed her broom and swept past them and out of the room.

Bella mounted the broom and took off as soon as she was outside. She flew into Hogsmeade and landed in front of ‘The Three Broomsticks’. Rosmerta was just opening up when Bella walked in.

=Good Morning, Rosmerta, = she signed. =I’m taking some of the students to a Quidditch match, can I have some bottles of Butterbeer, some soft drinks and some food please. =

‘Quidditch?’ Rosmerta asked as she started putting bottles on the bar. ‘Who’s playing? And how many of you are there going to be?’

=There’ll be five adults and three children. I want enough food so that if the match drags on the kids don’t start gnawing on us. You know what teenage boys are like. It’s the Harpies game. They’re playing Puddlemere. One of our ex-students is playing his first game for them as Keeper. =

‘Ooooh, sounds like fun. Who are you cheering for?’ Rosmerta said as she started to pack the drinks and food into a large hamper.

=The Harpies. I’ve followed them since I was at school. The manager’s a friend of mine. = She looked through the full hamper. = Rosmerta, you’ve done us proud. Now how much do I owe you? =

Rosmerta shook her head, ‘I’ll add it to your tab unless you really want to pay for it now.’

=Great, thanks, = Bella signed, pulling out her wand and shrinking the hamper to a more manageable size. =Would it be too much trouble to leave my broom here? If I don’t get a chance to pick it up tonight I’ll come back later in the week for it. =

‘Not a problem. I’ll put it behind the bar for you so it’s safe. How are you getting to the game?’

=Brooms, so we’ll probably go straight back to the school when it’s over. We can’t apparate because of the students so there’s no reason not to head straight back. Thanks again Rosmerta. I’ve got to go, I’ve got to pick up a couple of students from home before meeting everyone else at the game. =

She waved at Rosmerta and then disapparated.

Bella reappeared just outside the front gate to ‘The Burrow’. Ginny Wey wey was waiting for her.

‘Hello Professor Pettigrew, mum said to tell you that they’re running a little late,’ she said with a grin, opening the gate to let Bella in. She felt a tingling sensation as she stepped through, caused by the protective wards surrounding the house and garden. She shivered slightly at the sensation as she had earlier in the week when she had visited Molly to tell her about the game and invite Ron along.

=So, what’s taking them so long? I thought it was we girls that took hours to get ready? = she asked Ginny.

The young girl giggled, ‘Bill can’t decide on an outfit. Charlie says he’s got a crush on someone.’

Bella raised her eyebrows questioningly, =Really, on whom? =

Ginny looked around conspiratorially, ‘Well, they all seem to think I’m stupid but there’s only going to be three guys there. Professors Snape and Lupin and Sirius Black. I know it’s not either of the professors or he’d have been making up excuses to visit the school so that really does only leave one person. My brothers apparently think I’m too immature to work that out.’ When she finished she opened the door and showed Bella into the kitchen.

=Hello Molly, Charlie, Ron, = she signed to the various occupants of the kitchen. =Ginny tells me that Bill’s not ready yet. =

‘Hello Bella honey,’ Molly said. ‘Ginny could you go and find out what the twins are doing and tell them to stop it, please.’

Ginny ran out the backdoor towards a shed which had smoke coming out of it. ‘I swear those boys will be the death of me one of these days,’ Molly complained. ‘Bill is upstairs getting changed again. He says that he has nothing to wear.’

‘Which is amazing since he’s tried on at least a dozen different outfits that I’ve seen,’ Ron joked.

‘Not to mention the twenty or so shirts strewn across our bedroom floor,’ Charlie added.

Bella laughed silently, =I thought Ginny was exaggerating. He’s actually getting nervous about this? =

The boys nodded. ‘These two aren’t helping, they’ve been teasing him all morning when they think I’m not listening to them,’ Molly said.

=Well in the interests of getting there some time today I’ll go up and talk to him, = Bella signed. =Which one is it? =

‘Second on the right,’ Molly told her. ‘Good luck.’

Bella ran up the stairs and knocked on the door.

‘Who is it?’ Bill called out.

*Well, how am I supposed to answer that, * Bella thought frustratedly. She tried the handle and found that the room was unlocked. *Oh well, it’s not like he’s got anything I haven’t seen before. * She pushed the door open and went in. Bill turned around and yelped, grabbing a shirt to cover himself as he stood there wearing nothing but his boxers and a pair of socks. Bella smiled as he blushed.

=Morning Bill, = she signed, grinning delightedly. =Mmmm, gotta love the scenery. =

‘What are you doing? You can’t just barge in like that!’ Bill gasped.

=Sign language doesn’t work so well through a door, luv, and if I’d waited downstairs for you there’s a good chance I’d still be there next Christmas! =

‘I’m nearly ready,’ Bill argued. ‘I was just -’

=Trying to choose the perfect outfit to seduce Sirius? = Bella questioned with a grin. =And unless they changed the dress code, boxers and socks do not qualify as nearly ready. =

‘What makes you think I’m trying to seduce anyone?’ Bill hedged.

=The only person that doesn’t know it yet is Sirius. Now sit down and let me find you something to wear so we can go before Hermione thinks we stood her up. =

Bill sat on the bed and watched as Bella went through his closet. ‘Do you think I can? Seduce him I mean,’ he asked.

Bella turned around her arms full of clothes and smiled reassuringly. She tossed him a pair of dragon hide pants and a white t-shirt, which looked at least three sizes too small for him. When her hands were free she signed, =Bill, in that outfit all you’ll have to worry about is what I’ll do to you if you seduce anybody other than Sirius! = She waited until he had finished dressing before she continued. =Look, I don’t want to come over all big sisterish or anything, but are you serious about Sirius, if you’ll excuse the pun? Because he’s really vulnerable right now and if you hurt him I’ll hunt you down and break every bone in your body including the really difficult to reach ones in the inner ear! =

Bill put up both hands as if to ward her off, ‘Whoa. You don’t have to threaten me, Bell’. I know he’s been through a lot and I promise I’ll be careful, but I really like him, you know, and I think if we could just get to know each other a bit better we might sort of click, you know?’

=Bill, that has to have been the least coherent sentence ever to come out of your mouth, including the first time you asked me out on a date! =

Bill blushed, ‘Yeah well, I’m a Weasley, we’re not great at talking about our feelings. We’re better at actions than words. Anyway, none of that matters if he doesn’t even notice me!’ Bill worried.

=Of course he’ll notice you. He already has. If we could find a way to bottle the electricity you two were generating last time you met, we could solve the muggles’ energy crisis. It was amazing. You guys just connected. Now come on, you need a leather jacket, some boots and an earring and you’re ready. I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re done. = Bella gave him a quick hug and then ran back downstairs leaving Bill standing in the middle of the room, a leather jacket hanging from his fingers and a stunned expression on his face. Slowly a wicked grin spread across his features and, with a muffled whoop of delight, he scrambled to finish dressing.

When she got into the kitchen she flashed a quick thumbs-up at Molly. =He’s almost ready at last, = she signed. Glancing at the clock she gasped. =Bloody hell, we’re going to be late if he doesn’t get a move on. = She tossed the wrapped portkey to Ron, =That’ll take you directly into the viewing box. Do not use it until you’re both ready to go. I don’t want to have to come back for one of you. I’m going to get Hermione and meet you there or we’ll be in danger of missing the start of the match. = She waved goodbye to the other and then disapparated.

Bella had to apparate into an area a few streets away from the Grangers’ house in order to avoid being seen. She knocked on the door of the house, smiling at the sight of a giant holly wreath hanging from a nail. It appeared the Grangers went all out to celebrate Christmas. There were fairy lights gaily flashing on and off strung along the edge of the roof and more adorning a tree in the front garden. Hermione opened the front door and Bella got a glimpse of more brightly coloured decorations in the hallway.

‘Mum, dad, my ride’s here,’ Hermione called out. ‘I’ll call if I’m going to be late.’ Bella heard two voices calling out their goodbyes and then Hermione shut the door. ‘Happy New Year, Professor,’ she said merrily.

=Happy Christmas, Hermione, = Bella signed back. Hermione was one of her favourite students. Unlike the majority of the children at Hogwarts, Hermione seemed to really enjoy her classes and to actually be eager to learn something for the sake of learning rather than just to pass her exams or avoid a detention. =We’re meeting the others at the game since the Weasleys were running a little late. I’ve got a portkey with me so as soon as we find somewhere where we won’t attract attention we can leave. =

‘Weasleys?’ Hermione asked. ‘I thought it was just Harry, Ron and me and some Professors?’

=That was the idea originally. You three along with Professors Lupin, Snape and myself to watch over you, but Harry invited Sirius along and then Bill invited himself. =

‘Umm, Sirius and Professor Snape in the same box, is that really a good idea?’ Hermione queried worriedly.

=They’re both grown-ups. I’m sure they can manage to overlook any bad feelings for the length of a Quidditch game. = Bella signed with a confidence that she didn’t really feel. From the look on Hermione’s face she wasn’t convinced either.

They walked behind a block of garages and, after checking for anyone who might see them; Bella withdrew the portkey from her pocket. She unwrapped it and they both grasped it at the same time. She felt the familiar tug and a rushing sensation and then suddenly they were standing in the middle of a large viewing box.

‘Oh good,’ Ron exclaimed. ‘I thought you were going to miss the beginning of the game. The ref’s about to release the Snitch.’ Hermione quickly found herself a seat and Bella grabbed a pair of omniculors and ran over to the window, pulling a Harpies scarf out of her robes as she went. She raised the glasses to her eyes and watched as the Snitch shot straight up in the air between the two seekers before zipping off to one side. The match had begun.
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The Girl in my Arms