What Do You Want To Be?
Part One: Belle Brenna
-July 31st, 1991-
"Mum, I think I did it better." Samantha insisted coming from the back of her shop, showing her mother the braid she had attempted. It was sticking out and half of her hair hadn't made it in.
Belle rolled her eyes at her youngest who had been attempting to do her own hair for weeks. She had very difficult hair, and of course she'd be expected to do her own hair at school. She was off to her first year at Hogwarts in just under a month. "Oh darling. I'm afraid it isn't much better. How about we stick with the two hairstyles you can do?"
Samantha slumped her shoulders and pursed her lips. "I'm going to be ridiculous at Hogwarts aren't I?"
"Oh no baby, you just have hard hair that's all." Belle comforted her daughter and rubbed her back. Samantha had very kinky and curly hair, very much like Belle's estranged family, but Belle decided not to mention that. She didn't like thinking of her family or mentioning them around her children. They were Fyre children, not Brenna children after all. "Go back and try the regular pigtails this time."
Samantha crossed her arms and stamped her foot. "Fine."
Her daughter was averagely a sweet child, but she occasionally reserved a small bit of spunk just for her mother. "Don't give me that attitude. It's much better I'm honest now, than you be picked on later at school."
Her daughter went off to the back room again as the bell to her shop rang. Belle looked up to see her eldest, Jack running into the shop with one of his school friends, Cassius, following him. His shorter curly hair was tussled and he looked out of breath.
"Mum!" Jack called excitedly jumping up and down. "You won't believe who we saw!"
"Who?" Belle asked.
"It was Harry Potter, I'm sure of it." Cassius insisted joining in Jack's excitement, "He was leaving Ollivander's next door!"
Belle was slightly intrigued, but unsurprised, "I bet he was getting his wand for Hogwarts. He is around your sister's age after all."
Belle remembered quite well that she had corresponded with at least two other witches who were pregnant at the exact same time she was. They had both reached tragic ends, Potter's mother was one of them. Belle had been safe living in America at the time.
"Yeah, but he's Harry Potter." Jack said excitedly, "He's famous."
"Poor boy." Belle shook her head. She remembered his parents. They were much younger than her, but she was a Prefect when they had their first year of school. She'd caught James Potter in a fair bit of trouble. Lily was sweet and quiet, a brilliant little girl. It was a shame what had happened to them.
"He's growing up all alone I heard. Now you two leave him alone." She looked at her son sternly.
"Oh come on mum." Jack grimaced, looking remarkably like his father, "I just want to ask him if he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like."
"Jack Edward Fyre, I forbid you from doing any such thing." Belle exclaimed loudly.
"Oh come on mum!" He exclaimed again, "It must have been terribly interesting. I wonder what it'd be like to have the perspective of someone who's faced the killing curse and survived! I bet he's a cool fellow!"
"He was no more than a baby and that monster killed his parents!"
The conversation was interrupted by little Samantha.
"I did the pigtails, is it better?" Samantha came out with crossed arms over her dungarees. They weren't perfect, but at least she had a part and the hair was even.
"I think they look nice Sammy." Jack remarked with a laugh from across the store.
Samantha's smile extended, "Really? Do you think it'll be alright for school?"
"Oh yeah, most first years look dreadful. You will fit right in." Cassius remarked to her and before Belle could reprimand the boy for saying something so backhanded to her daughter, Jack interjected.
"Shut up Warrington!" He looked at his friend who cowered backward. Jack turned back to his sister. "What he's trying to say is, no one will care what your hair looks like. You are already going to be the smartest girl Slytherin has ever had!"
"Or the loudest." Cassius interjected again.
Jack turned back to Cassius. "Didn't I tell you to shut up? My sister may be loud, but it's only because she's got a lot to say. She's brilliant you know? She's already read all of her textbooks and she already copied every page. She's got everything memorized! She's going to get Slytherin so many points, we might win house cup!"
Cassius took a step back and looked down at the floor.
"You really think so Jack?" Samantha asked trepidatiously.
"I know so." Her brother laughed and Belle was proud her children were close to each other. She couldn't ever remember having the same kind of closeness her children had with her own siblings. Her children were very close in age and they'd been attached at the hip since Sammy was born.
Her closest brother in age, Logan had been five years her senior. He had been a Death Eater and had been killed during the war. Before that, she hadn't seen him in nearly eight years. She hadn't seen most of her living brothers since she'd been to the mansion four years ago. Around the time when they'd moved back to the UK.
"We're going to get ice cream at Florian's, want to come Sammy?"Jack asked towards his sister.
Cassius groaned and rolled his eyes at Jack.
"No thanks." Samantha shook her head, her pigtails flying. "I've got to practice my quill skills!"
"Ok." Jack shrugged before looking at his mum. "Can I have money for ice cream?"
Belle laughed, he'd stood up for his sister, of course she'd buy him ice cream. She handed him a few sickles. "Yes, but leave the poor Potter boy alone."
"Alright Mummy." Jack kissed her cheek before running off with Cassius. Samantha went into the back of the store to practice her writing as Belle began her work. She had a hat, a gown and a set of dress robes to finish before the end of the day.
Belle sat to finish the hat she'd been working on. It was supposed to be picked up in just a few hours. It was an emerald hat with large black feathers. She liked the materials and it was quite a stately piece. She felt the joy of creation and enjoyed the brief escape it provided from the woes and turmoils of raising two young children.
She had just finished her work before packing the hat into a hat box when the bell to the store rang.
It was the new owner of the hat she just finished. Augusta Longbottom was a bitter looking old woman who always ordered the most austere hats. She wasn't alone like normal, today she had a small round faced boy with her. Belle suspected she knew who he was, considering his mother had been her other correspondent during the war.
"Good afternoon Belle!" She called in as she made her way to the counter.
"Hello Augusta, I have your hat all ready for you!" Belle finished tying the bow on the hat. "And who do you have with you today?"
"I know I've mentioned my Grandson, Neville." Augusta said placing her hands on the round little boy who looked at everything with wide eyes. Augusta nudged him with a stern look, "Say hello to Mrs. Fyre."
"Hello," He meekly greeted, looking her in the eyes only briefly.
"Good to meet you Neville."
He just nodded before looking back up at his grandmother.
"My Sammy is going to Hogwarts this year too." Belle said trying to make conversation.
He didn't say anything, just nodded.
"He's a shy boy, but a bit of time at Hogwarts will do him good." Augusta said, directly in front of the boy who's shoulders reached further towards his abnormally large ears. Belle remembered his mother from school, she was a pretty woman with an outgoing personality, unfortunately her son didn't take after her.
"Mum!" Samantha came running out quickly, her hands now covered in blue ink, "Can I go to Scribbulus? I'm out of ink."
"I'm with customers." Belle shook her head at her daughter. "And for the record that's the third pot of ink I've bought you in a month. Either go back to using muggle pens for your scribbles or do it a bit less."
Her daughter loved to write and wrote everything she could. Dictations, original stories, poetry, diary entries, honestly anything that came into her little mind was preserved in paper somewhere. She'd copied all of her textbooks so far and Belle was convinced her daughter might have gone a bit overboard in preparations.
"Sorry mum." Samantha apologized before turning around to go back.
"This must be your daughter, Samantha right?" Augusta asked.
"Yes, this is my Samantha." Belle said motioning to Samantha who turned back around. "Sammy, this is Mrs. Longbottom and her grandson Neville, he's going to Hogwarts this year too."
"Hi." Samantha waved lightly looking between them with a big jovial smile.
"I wager you are very excited." Augusta observed snidely.
Belle both dreaded and anticipated excitedly whatever came out of her daughter's mouth.
"Oh yes, I'm really excited!" She said loudly coming and leaning over the counter on her tip toes. She was short for her age, but it never stopped Samantha from being louder than everyone she knew. "My brother Jack wants me to be a Slytherin like him. But I'm not sure I want to be one. I want to be in Ravenclaw like mummy or maybe Gryffindor like my favorite author, Kennilworthy Whisp!" She turned to look at the little boy, "What house do you want to be in?"
"Gr-i-i-ffindor." The little boy stuttered out, which caused Augusta a wave of shock across her face. Her snide expression switched to a small smile.
"Wicked. Did you get your wand yet?" Samantha asked holding up her's. The poor handle was probably going to be ink stained permanently.
The little boy nodded, "I've g-g-ot my da-d-s."
"That's wicked. I got mine next door, it's Hazel with unicorn heartstring! Mr. Ollivander says unicorn hair can give out, but I think it makes it more magical." Samantha babbled before putting her wand into the front pocket of her dungarees.
"What is it you need all of that ink for?" Augusta asked Samantha looking at her fingers.
"I'm writing a fantastical story about dragons. I'm trying to practice using a quill for school and it isn't quite finished because I keep making mistakes." Samantha's mouth squished together and her nose wrinkled, "I'm used to muggle pens."
"Is that what you want to be when you grow up someday, a writer?" Augusta asked making Samantha's face light up. She jumped up and down.
"Yes, I do. I want to write books someday! Maybe I can tell the most magical and intriguing stories of all time! I'll have the greatest of adventures." She smiled brightly before looking back to poor little Neville who's eyes got wider as she asked her next question. "What do you want to be?"
"A-a-n Au-r-o-r." He managed to squeak out as his Grandmother put her hands on his shoulder.
Belle remembered that his parents were both Aurors and suspected Augusta had put the idea into the unremarkable little boy's mind.
"That's cool." Samantha giggled before looking back up at her mum, "Can I go to Scribbulus now please?"
"Of course." Belle chuckled, appreciating her daughter's outgoing nature, before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a few sickles, "But that's all the ink I'm getting you until school."
"Thanks mum." Samantha said before running out from behind the counter. "Nice to meet you all." She waved to Augusta and Neville, who slightly waved back.
"Be back before lunch please." Belle called at her daughter.
"Ok mum!" Samantha said before leaving the shop and skipping down the street. Her pig tails whipped around as she skipped.
"What a remarkable young lady you have there!" Augusta remarked with the shock still going across her face as she watched Samantha skip away.
"She is very excitable, that's for sure." Belle said, worrying her daughter would become a target at school for her imaginative ways, "I worry she may be teased once she gets to Hogwarts, she tends to speak her mind a lot."
"I'm sure she will be just fine." Augusta practically laughed as she reached into her bag, "And if she isn't, I'm sure Neville wouldn't mind being her friend right?"
The little boy just nodded and nervously shot his eyes towards the floor again. Belle doubted he would really attempt friendship with her, he seemed to be terrified of her.
"Now, here are the Galleons I owe for the hat and a few sickles to cover your little lady's ink." Augusta laughed as she took the hat box from Belle and slid the money across the counter.
"You don't need to pay for her ink." Belle insisted pushing the sickles back.
"I insist." Augusta slid the money towards her before handing the big parcel to Neville. "Go on outside Neville, I'll meet you there. We are meeting your Uncle Algie for lunch soon, he says he has a late birthday present for you."
As soon as the little boy had left, Augusta turned back to Belle, "I've been trying for years to get him to speak to someone of his age group. He's definitely nothing like his father unfortunately."
Belle wouldn't say it aloud, but thought to herself that it was a good thing he wasn't like his father. His father, before his tragic fate, was a git.
"Oh." Belle was taken back, "Well, Samantha is a chatterbox."
"Please take the sickles." Augusta insisted sliding them across the counter. "I insist. I've been given a small glimpse of hope that he isn't completely without wits."
Belle took the sickles but felt bad for the little boy as his Grandmother walked him away from the store. Belle remembered being a child and being told exactly who she was supposed to be. She had been compared to others her whole life and she felt so bad for the little boy going through something similar. She would never torture her children in such a way.
Jack could be opinionated and sly, but he was sweet and caring when it came to the ones he loved. Samantha could be loud and messy, but she was wickedly smart and friendly. Belle decided she could only look at the positives when it came to her children. Something she had never been afforded by her own family.
-April 24th, 1971-
Belle Brenna leaned against the stone walls of the Astronomy tower looking up at the stars. Her long dark hair whipping around her in the wind. She was supposed to be there to do her Astronomy homework, but it felt ridiculous now since she'd probably be giving up the subject after her O.W.L.s.
"Why would you need Astronomy Belle?" Her mother had asked her. "You aren't going to be an astronomer. You need to remember what long term goals are set for you."
Belle shook her head, she knew what she wanted to do, but she also knew what she was expected to do. She was expected to help run the family business. She was supposed to stay home with her mother after school, before being married off to some pure blood she was likely related to in some disgusting way or the other.
She was sad to be giving up Astronomy, it was one of her favorite subjects.
At one time Belle thought about painting an entire landscape of the stars outlining each and every one of the constellations and the patterns. She'd also wanted to learn the stars in case she wanted to travel the world, they could help her find her way if she were ever lost. She definitely felt lost right now, but not even the stars could help her.
She mourned the explorations she'd never get to take. She mourned that her days would soon be spent harvesting feathers to sell to whatever dark wizard offered the most power. She felt no different. She was an Augury bird herself, useful only to gain status and wealth.
"I thought I'd find you here Miss Brenna." The voice of her favorite Professor bounded through the tower.
Belle looked at her stately Transfiguration Professor who walked in. She was around her mother's age, but she was much softer in disposition. Belle trusted her fully and they had often bonded over shared Scottish heritage.
Belle would often stay after class and the two would play cards and talk about almost everything. Belle had never been so open with an adult before, and it was a refreshing change from her home life. Professor McGonagall was more like an aunt or cousin to Belle than a teacher. She knew that wasn't the most respectful, but her Professor never seemed to mind.
"I did not see you at dinner. I thought maybe you were off with Mr. Prewett until he informed me that you two had called it quits."
Belle's heart sank, she didn't want to break up with Gideon, but he wasn't held in high regard in her home.
"Then, after a very unusual discussion with your Head of House, I thought I should come and check on you." McGonagall said now walking further into the room.
"I'm just fine." Belle lied.
"You can imagine my surprise when I was informed of your intentions to drop my class."
"It's unnecessary." Belle revealed.
"It seems that you mean to drop almost every class, with the exception of Potions, Care Of Magical Creatures and Defense Against the Dark Arts." McGonagall inquired leaning against the wall beside her. "Maybe you can enlighten me?"
"I need those classes for working with my parent's birds. I don't need Transfiguration to work with the Augury."
"I thought you intended to become an artist and not continue with your family's business?" McGonagall nodded her head.
"I just think, art isn't a profitable profession." Belle lied, her heart aching. "I shouldn't be wasting my time on silly drawings."
McGonagall continued. "They are not just silly drawings Miss Brenna. You have a real true talent."
Belle stayed quiet, at home she wasn't talented. She was nothing at home. She was the little sister who was in everyone's way. She was the Ravenclaw, who craved knowledge and wisdom. She didn't crave power as the rest of her family seemed to.
"Is this your true decision Miss Brenna?"
"It has to be." Belle insisted.
"Says who?"
"My parents." Belle revealed. "My brothers, my whole family."
"You have never been one to follow them before." McGonagall laughed, "I remember the school receiving several Howlers when you were sorted into Ravenclaw."
Belle laughed to herself. "It was quite the scandal."
"Or when you chose to take muggle studies."
Belle continued laughing, her father had forbidden the class. It could lead to sympathizing with muggle borns.
"Why follow them now?"
"I have to." Belle insisted.
She didn't want to say aloud why she was afraid to defy them now. She'd seen who they were close with, she knew what they could do to her. They had once supported Grindelwald and recently, their loyalty had turned in even more dark directions. She was terrified of the repercussions. It wasn't just shame she faced, it was more sinister than that.
"You don't." McGonagall insisted.
"Yes, I do."
The wind whistled around them as they stared in a deadlock towards each other.
"It is obvious then why you wish to keep Care of Magical Creatures." McGonagall said into the wind. "I do know you enjoy potions, but how does that help?"
"I need Potions because I need to know how to properly brew the modification potion for the birds." Belle explained, "I can't be poisoning them."
McGonagall nodded, "And Defense Against The Dark Arts, why would you need that?"
Belle couldn't bring herself to answer. It was mostly because she feared the dark wizards who frequented her home. Some of whom, were her own elder brothers and their children. Belle was younger than several of her Nieces and Nephews who had been sent to Durmstrang for education because they focused more on the dark arts. The bloodlines she was expected to marry from, also had a plethora of dark wizards. What if they were more powerful? She needed the class to be safe from whatever dangers she potentially faced.
She wasn't sure how to explain all of that to her Professor who looked at her with soft blue eyes.
"Now, Miss Brenna, Belle, I ask this not as a teacher, but as another woman and someone I hope you can trust. Do you feel safe at home?" McGonagall asked, putting her hand on Belle's back.
Belle shook her head, leaning more into the brick wall. She wasn't one to cry, it showed weakness. She could feel her heart beat faster and she felt the urge to begin tears.
"I understand." McGonagall nodded rubbing her back. "How about you stay with me this summer?"
Belle nodded and felt joy escape her heart. "I'd love to, but they won't be happy about it."
"Just tell them that I am giving you special classes." McGonagall raised her eyebrows. "It is my understanding you wish to become an Animagus."
Belle turned and looked at McGonagall with a wide smile, "Truly Professor?"
"I've already discussed it with the Headmaster. Your parents will not find fault in your staying, depending on what you transform into, it could be helpful for communicating with those birds they breed."
Belle's heart raced, she had always dreamt of being an animal, preferably one with wings.
"It's a long arduous journey, one that can't possibly be done during the school year. You will have to stay at the school." McGonagall smirked. "Then, between you and I, you don't need to tell anyone what you can become. When you are of age, you can escape."
"What will I become professor?" Belle asked curiously.
"Your Patronus is a vulture I believe?"
Belle nodded. She was embarrassed, the vulture was beautiful, but it was scary and often seen as dirty.
"A noble creature, the vulture." McGonagall looked back out over the grounds. "Willing to clean up the earth, willing to see beauty in things others wouldn't initially see. Not to mention, the best part."
"What's the best part?" Belle asked.
McGonagall smirked and raised her eyebrows, "They can fly."