Finding Comfort
Bella stood in the center of her new room, eyeing the boxes stacked around her. The room wasn’t much—simple, with wooden floors and a small bed tucked againts the far wall— but it was hers, for now. She drew her wand from the inside of her jacket, feeling the familiar warmth of magic settle in her fingers.
with a gentle flick, she muttered, “Wingardium Leviosa,” and the bedspread lifted smoothly into the air, floating gracefully to its new place on the bed. She gave it another look and whispered, “Colovaria,” watching as the dull fabric shifted to a deep, rich green, trimmed in silver—the same colors of her Hogwarts house.
Bella continued to move objects with the flick of her wand, guiding them to their proper places with a quiet “Wingardium Leviosa.” Her books floated from their boxes, hovering to the bookshelf. Her old slytherin scarf danced through the air before settling on the back of her desk chair.
once the major items were place, she focused on transforming the room’s colors. The wooden furniture looked too plain. “Colavaria,” she murmured again, and the wood darkened, becoming sleek and polished, transforming the room with elegant contrast. A soft silver shimmer now ran through the curtains, complementing the green bedspread.
A few small decorative pieces, relics from her time at hogwarts, floated into place with a quiet “Accio Serpent.” A small silver serpent figurine Narcissa had given her landed gently on the nightstand, along with a set of old potion bottles and her quill and ink. The room now elegant and controlled felt more comfortable.
Just as she stepped back to admire the room, there was a knock at her door. Charlie stepped inside, his eyebrows raising as he took in the transformed space. His eyes lingered on the rich green and silver hues woven throughout.
“Well, you’ve really made it your own.” he commented. He looked around, pausing on the deep green bedspread and the silver accents. “Though, you know, with all this green…you’re making me feel like I’m living with a Seahawks superfan.”
Bella smirked, shaking her head. “It’s a little more…sophisticated than that, Dad.”
Charlied grinned. “If you say so. Just don’t start painting the house green and silver, alright?”
Bella chuckled, setting her wand down on the dresser. “I think you’re safe from that.”
He gave her a nod, lingering by the door. “You need anything for school? supplies, clothes? we can head into town and get whaever you need.”
“That’d be good. Maybe some groceries too.”
Charlie rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, the fridge is a little…empty. We’ll make a trip of it.”
As she began to arange the last few items in her room manually, Bella glanced at him. “I also need to get in contact with Aunt Nacissa. I left Rudy back in London. I really would like to bring him here. It would make communication with her and Draco easier.”
Charlie looked at her curiously. “Rudy?”
“My owl.”
He chuckled. “You wizards and your pets. Sure, I’ll let her know.”
Bella gave a small smile. Having Rudy here would bring her a bit of comfort.
Later that afternoon, they made the drive into town. The sky was overcast as usual, casting Forks in the familiar dreary light Bella remembered. The roads twisted through the trees, the dense forest crowding the highway in a way that felt strangely comforting. Even after all her years away, something about the wild, untamed nature of Forks still soothed her nerves.
When they arrived at the grocery store, Bella grabbed a cart and followed Charlie through the aisles. As they picked out basic supplies—milk, bread, vegetables—Bella kept an eye out for anything she might need for the first day back in school. Though Forks High was a far cry from the grandeur of Hogwarts, it still required a certain level of preparation.
As they rounded a corner near the produce section, Bella’s eyes landed on a women, She was beautiful, with delicate features and soft, caramel-colored hair pulled back in a neat bun. She moved with a graceful ease, placing items in her cart as if she were gliding through the store. Charlie gave a nod toward her as they approached.
“That’s Esme Cullen,” he said quietly. “She and her husband, Carlisle, are pretty well-known around here. He’s the town doctor.”
Bella smiled politely as Esme caught sight of them, offering a warm, welcoming smile of her own.
“Hello, Charlie,” Esme greeted. Her voice was soft, filled with kindness.
“Esme,” Charlie nooded in return, then gestured to Bella. “This is my daughter, Bella. She just moved in.”
Esme’s gaze shifted to Bella, her eyes lighting up with curiosity and warmth. “It’s so nice to meet you, Bella. Welcome to Forks. I hope you’re settling in alright.”
Bella smiled softly, but there was something about Esme’s presence that sent a shiver down her spine. ”Thank you. I am, bit by bit.”
If Esme sensed Bella’s hesitation, she didn’t show it. “If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask,” she added kindly, her voice almost melodic before she moved on.
As she dissapeared down another aisle, Bella turned to Charlie. “She seems…nice.”
Charlie nooded. “Yeah, the cullens are good people.”
Bella’s brow furrowed slightly as she watched Esme vanish around the corner. Good people, maybe…but there’s still something strange about her. She filed the thought away for later. They continued shopping and after 20 minutes they had eveything they needed to restock the fridge and the school supplies for tomorrow
Just as they reached the registers, a flicker of movement caught her eye. Esme was there again, her cart filled with items, her demeanor serene and composed. But as she glanced up and met Bella’s gaze, something shifted in the air. Bella felt a sudden urge to use Legilimency, to delve into Esme’s thoughts and uncover the mysteries hidden beneath her calm exterior.
The desire washed over her like a dark tide, and she recoiled at the thought. The last time she had used Legilimency, it had been to do the bidding of the Dark Lord, to invade minds for manipulation and control. The memory made her stomach churn with disgust. How could she even consider tapping into that power now? The very idea felt like a betrayal to the kindness Esme exuded, and Bella felt a wave of shame crash over her.
Charlie glanced at her, his brow furrowing with concern. “You okay, Bella? You look a bit pale.”
Bella forced a smile, trying to shake off the weight of her thoughts. “I’m fine, Dad. Just a slight headache.”
He nodded but didn’t seem entirely convinced. Bella turned her attention back to the register, deliberately ignoring Esme’s presence as they moved through the checkout process. The unease lingered, but she focused on her dad’s voice, grounding herself in the familiarity of his concern.
Once they finished and stepped outside, Bella took a deep breath, grateful to leave the store behind. The cool air washed over her, a welcome relief from the tension that had clung to her inside.