BELLA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU MY FREAK!!!

Love, Aunt Lucienne

Bella gazed down at the short note her aunt had given her for her birthday, which was tomorrow. It brought a smile to the fifth year's face. Sometimes Bella wished Aunt Luci would visit more, but she was a fulltime potioneer in France. So far, this was the first card Bella had received. It also contained a small crystal vile with an ivy-like pattern decorating it. Bella would get a gift from her mum tomorrow presumably, but that was about it. There was only one grandparent alive, and although she adored Bella as the only grandchild, that didn't mean Bella personally knew her.

The light snow dusted the windowsill, and the screams of first years having snowball fights in the evening echoed throughout the castle. Bella desperately wanted to have fun and wanted friends and presents. The only problem was, deep down Bella knew none of this would ever happen...

Snow swirled outside her room as Zinni peaked outside. She was never dressed for the weather[1], and today was not different, but she'd need warm clothes for her trip back from the prefect's bathroom, so she gathered a pair of sweatpants that she was pretty sure belonged to Sophie, and a house pullover. She packed up her shampoo and other hair products, and though she could have used the shampoo there, it never made her hair feel as good as the muggle ones she had been using since she was a kid. A big fluffy warm town was tossed into her bag, and down the stairs she went, her (today) all black hair bouncing behind her in gentle waves.

The seventh year was taken aback  to see a rather tall girl clutching a bit of paper in the common room. Zin recognized her as a 5th year, but she couldn't remember her name. She toyed with the idea of pretending not to see her, and be on her merry way for a relaxing bath while the rest of the castle caused mayhem in the snow outside, but she was a Prefect, she couldn't just leave the girl alone. She had to at least say hello.

"You ok over there? Sorry, I don't remember your name?"

Her voice trailed off, and Zin clutched her bag, itching to be in the bathroom, kicking herself for even bothering. Why did she have to have responsibilities anyway? The girl looked a little odd, like a mixture of sad and happy, and like she was waiting for something.

Zinnia's eyes caught a glimpse of the vial, and she threw her bag on the chair closest to her, and sat down. That looked like a bottle of Veritaserum, and even if it wasn't, she wanted to know what it actually was. The potion maker in her was curious and the Prefect in her was cautious.

"What's that?" Her voice carried as she pointed to the beautifully decorated vial in question. She didn't want to alarm the girl, or even make her suspicious, but if it was something dangerous, she should confiscate it. Or keep it for herself, test it out, figure out what she could learn from it or how to improve it.

1.

[.]

Bella's silence interrupted by an older Slytherin girl, there was no point in trying to keep it. She had to respond. "I'm Bella. You?" She said to the girl in a monotone sort of way, boredom edging her voice.

As Bella soon noticed, this girl was a prefect. Remembering the prefect's other questions, she hastily replied. "I'm- I guess you could call it fine. And this is just an empty vile my aunt the potioneer sent me for my birthday. I suppose you'll have to confiscate it?" At this point, Bella was sure she had said too much.

The fifth year reached for her satchel and found a half-piece of parchment and her father's falcon-feather quill. Ignoring the older girl for the most part, Bella decided to write a thank you letter to Aunt Lucienne. She dipped the quill in her ink-well, and tapped it against the edge of the paper.

Aunt Luci,
Thank you so much for the kind birthday wishes. I'm glad to be your freak. I do hope you'll come and visit soon, I know mum wants to see you as well. I think we're making a Draught of Peace in potions, so in sure Professor'll allow me to keep some in the beautiful vile you sent me (Could be useful closer to the OWLs...)
Love, Bella

"I'm Zinnia, not that that matters, since you want to walk away from me." Zinnia couldn't believe this girl had such a lack of respect. To turn away from someone when she had taken the time to stop and say hello? Slytherin's were always there to help a fellow snake, and this one seemed to have missed them memo. Plus her attitude needed a serious adjustment. She'd heard of this girl, that's why she looked familiar but didn't know her name.

"Sweetie, just a word of advice." Zinnia's voce dropped an octave, and her words were at a whisper as she advanced toward Bella. "I'd stop being so snarky to prefects and and check your tone. You could develop a reputation here among prefects that wouldn't bode well for your next two and a half years."

It was the most Zin had said in days, but this slip of a girl had provoked her. She didn't get mad often, raise her voice, or run headfirst into confrontation, but something about Bella made Zinnia angry. Maybe it was the tone of her voice that smacked with disrespect and mistrust. Or the fact that she had turned away from Zinnia as she was speaking to her.

"Yep, I'm going to confiscate that, and you'll be doing lines next weekend. You need to check yourself."

She tucked to vial into her pocket for further inspection later, made to grab her bag, but turned back at the last second.

"Really, you should think before you speak. Maybe, count to ten or something." It was downright nasty, at least for Zinnia, and she found herself not caring, as she threw her bag over her shoulder, and stalked off to the door.

Although she hated to admit it, Bella felt tears pressing at her eyes. The evening before her birthday had turned worse. Bella dashed after the girl. "Look, Zinnia, I'm sorry." A tear trickled down Bella's left cheek, and she immediately wiped it away. "It's just nobody has ever liked me or anything because- because I'm too smart, or I don't know. It's my birthday tomorrow, and this is the only gift I'll get probably, but maybe my mum will have sent something, but-" Bella sighed. "I suppose I deserve my punishment."

Feelings Bella had held since the young age of three burst out. Her father had died on Bella's birthday, explaining why she didn't get any gifts from his side or even any support. She barely kept in contact with them. The fact that Bella was often an emotional wreck during her birthday did explain why nobody gave her any wishes. Although Bella hated the fact that she was wrong in this case, the truth was truth. She had been rude to a prefect.

The lanky lean cat[1] lounging by the fire had seemingly gone unnoticed by the pair of witches currently sharing what some might call a moment. She lazily stretched, pawing at the ottoman for a moment before jumping down and following after the exiting 7th year, weaving herself between Zinnia's legs and purring loudly. While not particularly close, Roh had a certain fondness for the girl. Her neurosis reminded Waverly of her dear friend Annie who'd gone back to America after the Tetrawizarding Tournament last year.  Given what she did know of the metamorph, Roh had been surprised when Zinnia went out of her way to say hello before turning on the Prefect act, it wasn't like her to talk to anyone. She had been watching the 5th year for some time, trying to decide if it was worth the effort to try and talk to her - she'd always struck Roh as sort of up herself.

When the waterworks started and Bella insisted that everyone hated her because she was so smart and tangentially it was her birthday tomorrow and she'd only get one present but maybe more than one, Waverly rolled her eyes and decided it was time for her grand reveal. Moving just to the left of the pair she muttered the spell softly to herself, shifting from a lean lanky cat to a lean lanky seventh year[2], one eyebrow already arched in disbelief. She flicked a curl from her face and placed a slender hand on her hip, "Maybe it's not that people don't like you because you're smart. Maybe it's because you are so self involved you turn your back on people who are actually bothering to converse with you," her tone wasn't cruel, just matter of fact. "I mean if you meet 4 assholes in a day, that's not bad luck, it's a sign you're the problem and should probably fix that".

1.	Roh's animagus form, image
2.	wearing

"May I ask who you are?" Bella honestly wasn't in the mood for any more people, but if they would actually listen to her, she would certainly cope with them. A mix of nerves and anger and sadness filled the girl.

Bella looked back over at Zinnia, the vial sticking out of her pocket. She desperately wanted it back, but highly doubted she would get it. The fifth year knew she was awfully arrogant, but that was only because of the many social hardships she had faced. Truthfully, Bella didn't think she was the complete problem, but the problem was others judging her off of the one conversation they had. Everyone always seemed to catch Bella in a bad time, except for the professors, of course. Bella really wanted to snap at the Slytherin girl who had appeared from elsewhere in the common room. Thinking of ways to say it that wouldn't land her in any more trouble, Bella once again spoke up. "My choice of words saying others dislike me becuase I'm smart was obviously wrong. It is more because they may hold a jealousy towards me, but also could do with me not being very social. Those who do approach catch me in a wrong time, especially you two now. My problem today truly is that my father died tomorrow on my third birthday." Bella gave a breath of relief. Years she had been wanting to say that, but could never bring herself to it. "I am arrogant," Bella added in a barely audible whisper. "But if people gave me chance they would see through the layers I directly show."

Sighing deeply, Bella headed over to one of chairs and sank into it. She wasn't sure if the girls would come back, but she did want at least a little bit of comfort. She stared at the floor, spotting the letter she had written to Aunt Luci. It had a tear in it from where Bella had presumably stomped on it while chasing after Zinnia. The fifth year pushed the red and black glasses up that she had been wearing and smoothed out her clothes[1].

1.	http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=200644395

Waverly narrowed her eyes and shot a look to Zinnia that clearly read 'she can not actually be serious right now'. Roh had no patience for melodrama or people who seemingly felt entitled to her emotions or would resort to using losing a parent to guilt people into feeling sorry for them. There were about four million snarky (bordering on cruel) thoughts running through her head, but she took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Educating people was so exhausting.

"Look, I'm truly sorry that you lost your dad at such a young age, that is awful. However it doesn't exactly give you the right to assume things about people - like that they're jealous of you and that's why they don't want to deal with you, or go around acting so fucking entitled," her eyes narrowed as again the girl seemed to turn her back and walk away from conversation as though the pair of seventh years should just follow her and beg her forgiveness.

Roh did follow but probably not for the reasons Bella wanted. "Newsflash Love, we've all got shit. I've got shit, Zin's got shit, Merlin half our professors have tragic backstories. Bad things happen - but if you want people to care about you you have to meet them half way. If you go around acting like you're better than everyone, with a giant chip on your shoulder why would they bother to look past the surface shit? Why would they bother with you at all? After four and a half years in this castle, you haven't made a single friend? Really? Maybe the problem isn't everyone else. Maybe if you weren't so up your own ass people would care. But why would anyone ever, in the history of the world, bother with someone who actually says things like 'everyone is jealous of me'. I can assure you that's not true and it's kind of a really shitty way to approach life."

"Who do you think you are? You- you bitch!" Bella wasn't usually one to roll out harsh language, but this girl had gone too far. "I'm a freaking emotional wreck around my birthday, and you certainly aren't helping!" Bella roared. A few younger students had come into the common room, most retreating back into the castle or to their dorms.

The tears were coming at full force, and the rage fired within the fifth year. "I'm a freaking emotional wreck in general, but that doesn't give you a right to judge me either. That's what everyone does with me! And don't you say any crap about it's my fault and I need it meet them halfway again. Hell, I judge people, everyone does! But I at least try to give people a chance. What chance did you give me? None! I can at least understand Zinnia's first reaction becuase I was being a bit bitchy, but I don't understand the crap you just pulled!" Bella's sock-wearing  toes were digging into the stone floor, shooting pains through her feet.

Her throat felt awfully parched and she had a pain in her stomach, probably from the rage. Bella angrily wiped her tears away, leaving a faint scratch on her left cheekbone. Dad... Bella remembered her father so clearly at this moment. She remembered watching him as he touched her hand one last time in Hogwarts castle before he died. Bella had never had this memory before. But it certainly was empowering to the almost 16 year old. A few stray tears ran down, but not from rage but from this memory, the last one of her dad. Not knowing what it had to do with the moment, Bella essentially stored it in the back of her mind until the argument subsided, or until one of the seventh years would listen.

This was exactly why Zinnia did not converse with people or make effort often. It was such a nightmare any time she did!

She'd already confiscated the questionable potion and was intent on leaving the common room for a nice bath but no. Life couldn't be that kind. Now she has a sobbing fifth year and a cat trying to trip her. Of course when she looked down she realized who it was. You couldn't share a dorm with someone for almost seven years and not learn a few of their secrets. Lips formed a wane smile as she reached down to scratch the top of Roh's head, sensing the other girl was offering her comfort in the only way she knew how.

Of course Zinnia only had a moment to take solace in the silky feel of the cat's fur before Bella was at it again. It was a sad story, sure, but the first thing she had done was ask the girl if she were alright, after apologizing for not remembering her name. She had tried to be nice, and then noting an unknown substance in a vial she had simply asked what it was. Zel had only recently been returned to them, students couldn't go around just accepting packages, as a Prefect she had to keep students safe and instead of answering her the fifth year had seemingly lost her damn mind.

She caught Waverly's look and returned it. It was a very sad story... but Roh was right. Everyone had stuff. Everyone had a story and all Bella seemed concerned with was her own suffering. Making friends had never been easy for the tiny Slytherin, it involved talking to people and letting them into your wold. She hoped she had never sounded as entitled as Bella though.

And then all the hell broke loose and all she could do was stand there with her mouth slightly agape, "do you want to lose more points and have your behavior brought up to Head of Slytherin? I assure you it will be far worse than anything Roh has said to you tonight. Being an emotional wreck doesn't give you any kind of excuse to behave the way you are. I asked you how you were, I even apologized for not remembering your name and you have been absolutely atrocious in return. If I had ever felt an ounce of sympathy it's gone now. You killed it."

In his hands was his pride and joy-- dorm room pizza. The ingredients were stolen lovingly gifted by the house elves, and he had spent the better part of the afternoon figuring out how to transfigure a makeshift pizza oven in the room. Now everybody's sheets smelled like stale breadsticks and garlic, but at least he had reserved some slices for Theo and Virgil.

On a beautiful, majestic silver tray that he had nicked from the Great Hall during the Christmas Feast, he walked into the common room to present his masterpiece. "I MADE PIZ--"

He walked into disaster. In no fictional world was this okay.

Longshanks and Sinnia were standing next to Mopey McNoFriends. Mopey McNoFriends was crying, probably because she had no friends. Or daddy issues.  Everybody had daddy issues-- after all, if parents were good at one thing, it was instilling their own unresolved issues into their children. For a moment, he took pity.

"I leave for five minutes," More like all afternoon, "And I come home to this." He motioned towards them with his elbow,  "Disaster. Ruin. For shame." He gave each of the girls a long, intentionally condescending look. "I raised you all better than that." 

"Well I said I was sorry." Bella muttered to Zinnia. "I just wasn't in the mood to talk. And please, don't write me up or take away any more points." Bella was actually sincere this time, and definitely made it clear. The fact she didn't want to talk was a partial truth. Bella really wanted some sort of comfort, but it's not like anybody ever gets what you desire. Especially me... Bella grumbled in her head.

Staring at the seventh year who had just walked in, she saw delicious, steaming muggle pizza. "Can I have some?" She said with a smile. It was amazing how differently Bella could act towards one person who hadn't yet managed to piss her off. The easygoing 7th year who Bella actually had heard of did manage to make Bella feel a bit better.

"And you certainly didn't raise me. If you did I wouldn't be such a bitch. Or whatever that one-" She motioned to the brown-haired girl whose name was still unknown-"wants to call me next." Bella smirked, what she just said sounding a bit like a growl.

Roh raised an eyebrow, actually impressed that Zinnia had stood her ground rather than looking for the nearest exit. She was not great at confrontation, the main reason Waverly had situated herself in the conversation to begin with. It was actually impossible to keep up with Bella's wild mood swings. She did find it mildly amusing that the fifth year had resorted to "terrible name calling", as though Waverly had never been called a bitch in her life by people far more impressive.

It was hard not to grin when Eli entered a room but in this one instance Roh regarded him coolly. He was typically one of her favorite people but given the situation his glibness was more vexing than anything. Waverly didn't get angry about things, not really, but there was a profound distaste for the 5th year bubbling in her gut. She was all set to walk away when she heard Bella's voice and felt her jaw clench.

"Step back Wee One. I haven't called you dick. I simply pointed out that maybe if you want friends you  should try not stomping off from people if you're just going to chase after them and beg for attention. Trust me, if I had been trying to do more than educate you on how not to talk to people who legitimately put in effort with you, you'd know." With a flick of her hair she leaned over Eli's shoulder and placed a loud smacking kiss on his cheek, "Did you put anchovies on it again? You know no one but you likes those. I don't even think you like them. You just like grossing us out."

"I don't want to hear it." He shrugged with the mighty power of a man who really couldn't give a blast-ended-skrewt's most blasted end. Girls were mean to each other sometimes. He wasn't about to get involved in some sort of self-righteous pity crusade. He wasn't about to get into some sort of ridiculous call-out spiral.

Ugh. Drama. It left a nasty taste in his mouth. Pizza, however... Pizza was sacred.

Eli elbowed Roh playfully after she landed a kiss on his cheek.  The girl was straightforward and blunt. She called things as she saw them, and sometimes that rubbed people the wrong way. Hell, she'd made him cry before. Not that it was exactly a feat-- many things made Eli cry-- like two geese being gay, any movie with a dog,  or friends getting kidnapped, and especially finishing a long seven-book series that took ten years to be written.

"Alright, you all can have some pizza, but only because you asked nicely first. " He rolled his shoulders as if prepared to lay upon them the most important command, "Ladies, eat up! There's no surprise anchovies this time." The smile he gave them was goofy, somewhat lopsided and absolutely reminiscent of a benevolent saint. "And you don't even have to kiss me--your undying devotion is enough."

"May I ask your name? I know you're the one person in this room who hasn't been a total ass, but otherwise-" Bella paused. "And who are you?" She demanded to the name-calling 7th year.

Bella grabbed a piece of pizza and bit into it. It was actually fairly good. This was the best pizza she had since visiting New York City with her mother her third year in Christmas break. Quietly, Bella whispered, "I stomp off becuase I wasn't in the mood for people tonight." She doubted the name-caller could hear her, but she had at least gotten the message out. Bella arched her back as she finished her first piece of pizza. She then scanned the ground for the letter she had written to her Aunt. It was teared up into little scraps of paper, the ink smudged in multiple places. Bella sighed, and leaned back in the chair, watching as the seventh years are in the same silence.