Misunderstandings
April 26th, 1995
Easter Holidays were very welcome in Belle's little home. Since they didn't have the children home for Christmas, it was nice to have them for Easter. Samantha had come home very excited about one of her articles getting published in the Daily Prophet. However, Belle was unhappy with a small development regarding her children. They weren't speaking to each other.
Jack it seemed had threatened every boy in school to not ask Sammy to the ball. Sammy still managed to procure a date, but it had hurt her immensely. Samantha begged her mother to not intervene, it was her fight. They'd apparently fought it out, but the remnants remained behind.
Jack had recently made a few other odd choices. Choices Belle hoped were just normal teenage things. She'd noticed he smelled like cigarettes, something she prayed she was wrong about. He'd also had several detentions for arguing with teachers. More than he'd ever had before, at least six detentions in just a few months. He didn't seem very excited about anything like he used to, except his studies.
His OWLs were approaching, and she wondered if his studying had something to do with a desired career path. She decided not to ask him herself, she didn't want to be the nosy mum, she figured he would say something eventually.
Ed on the other hand, was not nearly as subtle. She overheard a conversation between the two of them as they listened to one of their favorite albums together. Samantha was upstairs, apparently studying for a Herbology exam she was terrified for, so it was just her two men deep in discussion.
Belle leaned against the doorway and listened tentatively to the conversation.
"So have you given much thought to what you want to do after school Jack?" Ed asked Jack with a look over his shoulder as he bobbed his head to the music. "Your mother told me you have a career consultation soon along with your big exam thing right?"
"Yeah, it's my OWLs." Jack nodded with a smile back, "I'd like to continue on my focus in philosophy for a career."
"You know careers in philosophy don't make any money?" Ed asked and Belle was ready to smack him, Jack never cared about money. This was about passion, not money. "There must be something else you enjoy."
Jack's face shifted dramatically and his eyes looked downward, "No, there isn't. It's the greatest thing I've ever studied. I've been doing research, a great many wizards have been successful philosophers."
"I'm sure they were born into money Jack, something you weren't." Ed said and Belle knew that was his own fears coming out.
"No, but I'm sure I can figure it out. It's what I find most fascinating in the world." Jack explained desperately. "And I don't want to live my life going in a perpetual circle, work, make money and die."
"You have to survive Jack." Ed argued back.
"Mum's an artist and Sammy has her scribbles. You say nothing to them. That seems quite unfair." Jack fairly argued.
"Your mother has made a business out of her art and designs. Your sister's scribbles have already made her money, she was in the Daily Prophet already."
"Oh, only by default, it wasn't even a good article!" Jack said becoming louder.
"She has a real plan for her life Jack, and she's a year younger." Ed continued. "Of course I'm not going to gripe at her."
"What would you know anyway?" Jack asked, sounding beyond perturbed. Belle could hear him stand and head towards the stairs. "You aren't a wizard, you are a muggle who works at a hardware store!"
"You do not need to speak to me that way!" Ed yelled at him. "Come back here right now young man."
"No, I'm going to my room so I can rethink my life so I can find some way of making you proud! Not that it really matters what you think." Jack yelled back.
Belle decided it was best to enter the room. That was not the conversation she had hoped her husband and son would have. Her son and husband said nothing else as she looked at them. Her son just strode up the stairs in a huff.
"Ed!" Belle groaned and rolled her eyes at her husband, "That was not the way to have a conversation with him."
Ed asked still loudly and with a groan back. "I just want him to think about his future!"
"He is thinking about his future, but we can't tell him what is wrong or right career wise." Belle argued back.
"I don't want him to end up broke and living off the streets! Is that a crime?"
"No, it's just he doesn't understand that, he's fifteen. If we tell him up, he's going to say down. "
"He's old enough to understand plenty. But I expect it's my fault. His behavior is my fault?"
"No one said anything about fault." Belle shook her head, she hated arguments. She and Ed rarely had them, when they did it was often only about their children. He had a different idea to what she did about raising them. "You don't understand is all."
"Because I'm not a wizard?" He yelled back, making her heart drop.
She shook her head instinctively, but internally agreed.
"Well, let's just blame it all on that." He continued animatedly waving his arms around. "Everything would be solved if you'd just married a wizard."
"Shut up Ed!" Belle yelled in response. "I never said that. I just want you to take how Jack is feeling into account."
"But I don't understand do I?" Ed yelled again.
Belle couldn't take it, she needed to breath or say something she'd regret. She climbed the stairs to her bedroom and slammed the door behind her. She laid down in her bed, exhausted. She was failing, she was failing her marriage and she was failing her son. She was failing Sammy, she wasn't sure how, but she was convinced she was. She was failing just how she'd been told she would fail when she said she was leaving the Brenna family behind.
Her thoughts circled for what felt like hours, until a small nock came at her door.
"Belle." Ed called in softly, "Can I come apologize?"
"Only if it's genuine." Belle insisted back.
Ed crawled into bed with her and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry my beauty." He kissed her cheek. "I was an ass to both you and Jack."
Belle wanted to laugh at his admission.
"I'll tell him I'm sorry tomorrow." Ed whispered. "I just want what's best for him."
"I know what you meant to do." Belle admitted, "You just said it wrong."
"I know. Promise you don't regret marrying me and not some fancy wizard guy?"
"I promise."
December 22nd, 1971
Belle looked at Gideon who was talking to his date with a vibrancy. Belle didn't know her and couldn't remember seeing her in any of her classes. She was a red haired woman wearing a simple green gown.
Her heart kept sinking every time Gideon looked over at her. She'd caved and come with Stuart Craggy because she hadn't had time to find another date. Most of the girls at the Slug Club Christmas Party were wearing her custom creations, and it had been a lot of time and effort.
Cissy, who's svelte figure moved like a Godess in her one shoulder gown, looked beautiful beyond comparison. She was practically glowing on Rabastan's arm. He had a hard time taking his eyes off of her, as did nearly every man in the room.
Alice who had paired her dress with little golden stud earrings, looked as pretty as a picture. She and Frank looked like a fine couple as they danced on the little makeshift dance floor. They twirled and danced well together, her gown casting lovely colors on the walls.
Belle on the other hand didn't feel beautiful or pretty. Instead, she felt powerful and elegant, like she could conquer the world. It was an outfit her mother would have never let her wear, too dark and too modern she'd say. Belle's gown was exactly what she'd wanted. It had black lace around the neck and sleeves with a deep blue bodice and flaring skirt.
"Well, Miss Brenna." Professor Slughorn exclaimed coming over to her. He had a set of ridiculous yellow dress robes himself. "Is it true? I hear you have made nearly every young lady's gown this evening."
Belle nodded after sipping her Butterbeer, "I did sir. It was all just a bit of fun."
"A bit of marvelous fun, if I do say so myself." Slughorn complimented with a gulping laugh, "It seems you are as talented at designing as you are at your potions. I should hope that in the future you plan to learn how to make men's robes as well."
"I shall consider it." Belle nodded, not having thought of the idea before.
"Now who is it you have brought as your date? A lady as talented and lovely as yourself can not be without an accompaniment." Slughorn asked looking around.
"I came with Stuart." Belle motioned to Stuart who was over by the buffet table. He was stuffing a tart into his mouth and holding a conversation with some older witch, who seemed less than interested. They'd merely arrived together. They'd only spent a little time in any kind of conversation and he hadn't asked her to dance. He'd spent most of his time at the buffet stuffing his face and trying to talk about quidditch.
"Oh how unfortunate." Slughorn grimaced with obvious bias. He took Belle by the arm. "Well, since it seems your date is quite occupied, maybe you wouldn't mind doing a favor for me? I have a member of my club this evening who it seems is without a date or any company. Mind helping the poor chap?"
Belle laughed and nodded, "I'm sure I won't be much for company."
"Oh posh." Slughorn admonished. "I am sure you are perfect company."
He led her to the side by the punch bowl where the blond long haired boy from the Quidditch match stood tall and bowed to Professor Slughorn. His eyes traced Belle with a sort of vigor Belle didn't want to admit she liked.
"Miss Brenna, this is one of my star pupils, he is one year ahead of you I believe. Your natural talents in my class may just well match though. May I introduce Mr. Lucious Malfoy." Slughorn said as Mr. Malfoy took Belle's hand.
"I'm enchanted to meet you Miss Brenna." Lucious Malfoy kissed her hand and she noticed how soft his lips were against her skin.
"Belle, please." Belle insisted as Professor Slughorn beamed.
"Ah, now if you two will excuse me, I must attend to my other guests." Slughorn excused himself and walked away.
"Brenna, are you of any relation to Kyle Brenna?" Lucious asked making Belle's butterflies immediately leave.
Belle nodded despondently, "Yes. He's my older brother."
"How extraordinary that Kyle should have a sister with much better features than he himself possesses? I personally found him ghastly looking when my older cousin introduced me last year." Lucious exclaimed and Belle felt blood rush her cheeks.
Belle laughed, not knowing how else to respond, "Thank you, I think."
They continued in conversations regarding potions classes, how he'd met her brother on a hunting trip, and her work with all of the lady's dresses.
She tilted her head and noticed Gideon looking in her direction. They locked eyes again, she looked away as quickly as their eyes had met. The butterflies she felt briefly for her new companion paled in comparison to the ones she still felt for Gideon.
"Do you know my relation? Mr. Prewett I mean." Malfoy asked looking between them. "We are second or third cousins, I'm honestly not sure which."
Belle nodded not wanting to admit her feelings, "We used to date. Nothing serious though of course."
"No one looks at a man like that and isn't serious."
"Beg your pardon?" Belle asked but liked the way this man could so easily speak his mind.
"I can tell he thinks you are beautiful." Lucious revealed speaking slowly and dramatically. "Which he'd be blind if he didn't."
"You think so?" Belle asked, her heart leaping.
"Would you like me to speak with him for you?" Lucious asked looking between them, "I'm sure I could see if he is in fact serious about his date. Maybe, he'd be more than willing to have a dance or two with you instead?"
"If it isn't too much trouble?" Belle asked with a skip of her heart.
"Of course not." He bowed his head to her slightly. He walked over to Gideon and the two seemed to be quickly in enraptured conversation. Gideon's date looked Lucious over judgmentally, but Gideon smiled quite a bit. Malfoy returned though with a downturned expression.
"Alas, it does seem he is quite taken with the young lady." He insisted with his shoulders back.
Belle's heart dropped and she drank a little butterbeer. "Oh."
"Quite serious really. A true shame. I'm sure you both made a fine couple." Lucious insisted. "It is obviously his loss to be with someone so your inferior. If your date would not mind, perhaps I could steal you for a dance instead? I am but a lowly compensation, but maybe a twirl on the dance floor would lift your spirits?" He asked reaching out his hand to her.
Belle smirked back at him before turning to see Craggy stuff another set of tarts into his mouth, "I'm sure my date won't mind."
Belle enjoyed her time as she took the floor with Lucious who spoke kindly to her. She began to wonder if maybe she wouldn't mind having a bit more of his attention.