Choosing Sides
January 20th, 1996
An owl landed on Belle's shoulder as she carried her luggage to Ed's car. Belle recognized the owl immediately as Whisp, Sammy's Bard Owl. She carried a small letter in her beak.
She was glad the owl arrived before they left that morning to go visit Ed's family in America. There had been a mass breakout from Askaban, some of which were You-Know-Who's followers. It just felt safer for her and Ed to leave the country for a bit. The children had chosen to remain at Hogwarts, saying they felt perfectly safe there.
Belle opened the letter and couldn't believe what she read.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I wanted to send this letter before you received notification from the school. I got in detention for protesting against Professor Umbridge's rules. She gave detention to Lee Jordan, you saw him, the boy who you saw help me off of the train? He was simply speaking out against the newest abominable and unfair Educational Decree.
I believed his punishment unfair, and I had to stand up for him. I decided to rebel against that woman by breaking a separate Educational Decree. I kissed him, in the Great Hall in front of everyone, including Umbridge.
-Sam
P.S. He's my boyfriend now.
Belle handed the letter to her husband who began laughing, "You are sure this is from our Sammy?"
Belle nodded and rubbed her forehead. She felt almost proud, but so worried what this could mean for Sammy and her future. "That is our Sammy."
"Wasn't she the one who turned down some guy for a kiss after the ball thing?" Ed asked turning pale.
"Yeah, when she said she wanted her first kiss to mean something, I always thought she meant love. I never imagined her first kiss would mean rebellion." Belle continued rubbing her forehead.
Ed said handing the letter back, "I don't know how I feel about my daughter having a boyfriend or the whole kissing thing."
"That's the part you are concerned about?" Belle scoffed.
Ed shrugged, "Yeah, I mean that woman took away her little newspaper, I was expecting Sam to crack at some point. I was not expecting her to start dating, the last thing we need to worry about is her getting into a different kind of trouble."
"It was going to happen eventually Ed. She's a beautiful and intelligent young woman." Belle rolled her eyes. "Surprised it hadn't happened sooner."
Another owl swooped down onto her shoulder, it was her son's Black Banded owl, Mordicus.
Belle swore loudly as she opened the letter. Jack had rarely sent any letters this year, unless he needed something desperately.
Dear Mummy,
I am concerned for Sammy. She is keeping foul company and is engaging in rebellious behavior. This is dangerous, especially considering the impending war. She does not need to be making herself any enemies. She does not need to be on the wrong side of things. I will try to talk sense into her, but I require your assistance, she will take my disproval as an attack on her personally.
Also I do not approve of the young man she is seeing. He is beneath her in both intelligence and decorum.
All of my love,
Jack
Ed laughed harder than he should have. "Well if Jack doesn't like him, I'm sure he's a wonderful young man."
"Edward really?" Belle shook her head, "I do think Jack raises an excellent point, this sort of things creates targets. She has made a very dangerous decision."
"What would you rather she do?" Ed asked putting the suitcases into the trunk of their car. "Stick her head into the sand and ignore the problems around her?"
"I wish both of our children were coming with us to America." Belle admitted leaning against Ed's car. "I want to afford them every choice I never had, but I can't help but worry for their safety. Especially after reading this."
Belle took a deep breath remembering the calm before the storm she endured. Remembering the people she knew who would still be around if they hadn't made the choices they had.
"I knew people." Belle shook her head. "People who decided when the last war began, that they were going to make a difference, most of them are now either dead, or worse."
"There's a worse to being dead?" Ed asked, Belle suspected in a jesting sense.
Belle nodded uncomfortably, faces flashing in her mind, "There is a worse."
February 14th, 1972
"Can you believe it? A whole family of muggles tortured and killed." One fourth year Ravenclaw girl whispered to another as Belle walked the halls on her way to class.
"And that family of Goblins. How awful?" The other girl whispered back.
Belle tried not to listen and instead continued on her way, she was nervous like everyone about the impending war, but she had to focus on her own safety.
She'd seen the mad man who was at the center of it all. She'd eaten dinner at the same table two years prior. A horrible man with a nasty name. He reminded her more of a coiling snake than a flesh and blood human.
Several of her brothers, including Glenn, hung on his every cruel word. He publicly announced his intention to rule over the Wizarding World less than a month after the dinner at her home.
All Belle wanted to do was to get as far away from it all, as she possibly could. She only had a month until she was of age and could fully make her own choices. She could begin the real work to escape.
She was still deciding if she'd stay at school for her last year, she felt she owed it to McGonagall, to stay. However, with the way the world was, she desired to get out as quickly as possible. She'd go somewhere far, maybe America.
"Hey Alice," Belle asked as she sat beside her in her charms class.
Alice was crying slightly and wiped her tears as Belle sat down.
Belle put her hand on Alice's shoulder, "Are you ok Alice?"
Alice shook her head. "Did you hear about that family of muggles?"
Belle nodded and placed her book bag onto the floor. "Yeah, horrible, stuff." She didn't read the paper anymore, it caused her too much distress.
"Tortured to death, can you imagine anything worse?" Alice asked wiping her tears more.
Belle could, but decided not to tell Alice about it.
"I'm just glad that once I'm finished with school, I'll be in Auror training. I can make a difference there." Alice insisted before pulling out her books.
Belle hadn't originally been able to imagine Alice seriously fighting anyone. That was, until she'd dueled her in Defense Against The Dark Arts. She was very talented, a real natural. "I'm sure you will make a difference Alice."
Alice opened her notebook and Belle noticed a small card fall out of it.
"You dropped something Alice." Belle pointed to it and reached down to pick it up. It was a simple card with a tiny bumble bee buzzing in the shape of a heart. It said, Bee Mine in the center of the heart.
"Oh." Alice exclaimed nervously and took it from Belle quickly. "That's nothing."
"That looked like a Valentine to me." Belle giggled a little and wondered if Frank had finally come to his senses. "Who's it from?"
"I don't know." Alice shrugged and her ears underneath her braids were turning several shades of red, "It was at my desk in Ancient Runes. It's only signed, from a secret admirer."
"Do you think it's from Frank?" Belle asked in a hushed whisper.
Alice's smile faded, "No of course not. Besides, I told you after the Christmas party that I'm quite over him. If he couldn't figure out my affection that night, he never will!"
It was nice to see Alice finally come to her senses. She was glorious that night and if he didn't fall in love with the way she twirled and danced that night, he was an idiot.
"Well then who do you think it might be from?" Belle asked scooting closer. Happy to have distracted Alice from the scary world around them.
"I haven't the foggiest, I've been so distracted by my affection for Frank I never imagined anyone else would be interested." Alice honestly revealed. "I am determined to find out."
"Cissy always knows everyone's business." Belle offered, "Maybe she would know."
Alice's eyes downturned, "I don't think I could ask her, she hasn't been the most amiable towards me lately."
Belle wracked her brain, Cissy hadn't seemed distant or even different to her. Why would Alice's opinion of her change now?
Professor Enneking entered the classroom and started class, so Belle wasn't able to press Alice for what she meant.
Charms passed perfectly fine. Before heading to potions class, Belle found herself pulled over into an empty classroom by her newest boyfriend.
She and Lucious spent a great deal of time together, finding quiet places to snog. They didn't talk much, but they did spend whatever moment they had in each other's company.
Today, it seemed would be no different. She tried to pull herself from him after a few moments locked in each other's embrace.
"Oh come on Lucious, I'm going to be late." Belle insisted with a laugh and pushing him away. "I don't like to miss potions."
"Oh come on now darling, it's Valentine's Day." He grabbed her waist to keep her from leaving. "I'm sure Slughorn would expect nothing less."
She held out her hand, "So where's my Valentine then?"
He reached into the pocket of his robes and pulled out a small envelope. "Don't worry, I didn't forget you."
She took the envelope before reaching into her bag and handing him the card she had made. It was a small watercolor painting of a setting sun with a green twinge to the horizon.
"Well, we've exchanged pleasantries." He smirked before kissing her again.
Belle lightly pushed him off of her again, "I'm serious Lucious. I shouldn't be late."
He rolled his stunning eyes. "I will concede only on the stipulation that you sit with me at dinner tonight."
"I'm in a different house Lucious." Belle argued as he took her hand and they walked from the empty classroom.
"No one will pay it any mind. It is Valentine's Day like you so kindly informed me." He said with a large smile. "Everyone sits with their date on Valentine's day."
"Fine." She smiled before letting go of his hand and continuing on her way to potions. She put the envelope into her pocket and figured she'd open it later.
The class started off simple enough.
"It's Valentine's day, so I believe an attempt at Amortentia is appropriate." Slughorn announced. "Let's work in pairs."
Slughorn began pairing off students, Belle hoped to be with someone competent. She'd been paired with Pandora Pickering once, and it resulted in several explosions. Thankfully Cissy didn't take potions anymore, she was positively dreadful.
"Miss Brenna with Mr. Prewett please." Slughorn said making Belle's throat tighten. She made her way over beside Gideon, his brown eyes looking her over. She could do this, she was over him of course. He had a girlfriend and she had a very elegant boyfriend.
They began working, only speaking when they had to. She thought she would be able to manage until he began making conversation.
"So I noticed you've been spending a lot of time with Malfoy." Gideon observed.
Belle pulled her shoulders back, "Yes, he's a very interesting person."
"I never took him to be your type Belle." Gideon said in return.
Belle replied sternly, "My type is none of your business."
"I don't know, I mean, anyone else I could understand. You are such a free spirit and he's the kind of person you could bring home to your family." Gideon said with the words, 'your family' sounding more like an insult.
Belle would admit it stung. "Well, maybe you don't know me as well as you thought."
"It's not just that." He whispered as the potion began smelling of roses and basil. "He's dangerous Belle."
"Dangerous?" Belle asked raising an eyebrow.
Gideon came closer, "You've heard of Death Eaters right?"
The term stung at her. She'd heard the term quite often, in hushed whispers around her dining room. She knew it was what they called that horrible wizard's followers.
"You don't think?" Belle asked taking a small step back.
"No confirmation, but if the rest of his family is any indication."
"People could say the same for me." Belle snapped back harshly.
Gideon shook his head and said, "You are different." She could feel his eyes looking her over.
"You are just saying this because you are jealous." Belle surmised aloud. She stood straight again and pulled a hair from her fallen ponytail.
Gideon practically knocked the cauldron over, "Even if I wasn't, I'd still warn you."
"You have no right to be jealous." Belle said stirring the cauldron and smelling a bit of Patchouli. "You have your gorgeous red haired girlfriend to worry about not me."
He wrinkled his nose, "Girlfriend? I don't have a girlfriend, I haven't had a girlfriend since we were together."
"The girl you brought to the Christmas party. She's your girlfriend right? The older red haired woman, seemed awful comfortable with you." Belle insisted watching the potion change to a pearl color.
Gideon started laughing causing the pair beside them to look over, "She isn't my girlfriend. She's my sister."
"Sister?"
"Yes, Molly Weasley, my sister. She'd never been to a slug party and her husband Arthur, thought she deserved a night out after the baby." Gideon explained shaking his head in disbelief. "So I got permission to have her as my date instead."
Belle's mind raced, his sister?
"But Lucious said he went to ask you if you two were together, because I wanted to talk to you." Belle couldn't finish her words, she was so confused.
"Lucious didn't say anything about you. At all." Gideon revealed as he stirred the cauldron. "He asked how my mother was and how my sister's baby was. We're all related, he knows Molly isn't my girlfriend."
Belle had made a mistake, a horrible mistake. How could she not have seen it?
"Are you alright?"
Belle shook her head almost knocking the cauldron over. "No, I feel stupid."
Gideon pat her back, "I'm sorry Belle."
Belle took a deep breathe, almost soothed by the sent of their finished Amortentia.
"What did you want to talk to me about Belle?" He asked softly looking over the cauldron at her.
Belle decided she was just angry enough at Lucious' deception that she could answer, "Not now, maybe we can talk later."
Gideon smiled lightly back, making the freckles on his face dance. "Meet me in the Astronomy tower. Dinner time, I'll sneak us food from the kitchen and we can talk over a picnic."
Belle nodded and smiled a little, she just needed a good way of telling Lucious it was all over. She had an idea and pitched it to Cissy as they began their way to dinner.
"That no good evil cockroach! He manipulated me, and I've been blinded by his striking eyes and excellent snogging for nearly two months." Belle exclaimed loudly.
Cissy laughed a little, "I tried to warn you."
"He even had the nerve to give me a Valentine. I haven't even opened it." Belle handed the envelope to Cissy. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Anything for you." Cissy offered taking the envelope.
"Give this back to Malfoy at dinner please and tell him I will not be joining him tonight or ever again." Belle stood tall.
"Consider it done. He doesn't deserve you Belle." Cissy raised her nose and smirked, "He's scum, lower than scum even and you are a Godess."
"I wouldn't go that far." Belle chuckled but pulled back her shoulders. "I am worthy of better though."
"Is Gideon really a better option though?" Cissy asked trepidatiously in a whisper coming closer to her. "What will your parents say? I'm not disagreeing that Malfoy is dirt, but maybe you should stick to wizards in his similar standing."
"What does that matter?" Belle asked in a whisper back. She was done caring what her parents thought, she would be gone soon anyway.
"It matters because of who your parents are Belle." Cissy continued, "Who they know. Things are getting scarier out in the world Belle."
Belle's heart went into her throat. She was so tired of hearing about the war. She had her own things to worry about.
"I understand why you don't want to go home, but do you want to give them cause to come get you?" Cissy whispered even softer. "Or worse, send someone to come and get you?"
Belle hadn't thought about that. As of now her parents didn't suspect her plans, what if they did eventually?
"I didn't want to say anything, but I've heard whispers." Cissy pulled Belle into a hallways away from listening ears. "That Gideon and a few others, that they have been recruited by Dumbledore."
"Recruited?" Belle repeated, mostly in confusion. "For what?"
"Something called the Order Of The Pheonix, it's supposed to be some kind of resistance." Cissy's voice trembled. "I've heard some students may even be allowed to graduate early to become Aurors. Dumbledore wants them to be trained, in combat."
"How do you know all of this?" Belle asked curiously.
"Ted, Dromeda's Ted. He wants to join this Order. He's trying to convince Dromeda to join when they graduate. They want to get married after school." Cissy sounded urgent, "I'm trying to dissuade her, because she will be lost to me if she does."
"Because he's muggleborn?" Belle asked looking at Cissy begin to wipe away tears.
"Yes, and Belle, I can't bear to lose you too. You are as dear to me as my own sisters." Cissy grabbed Belle's hand. "What if Gideon tries to put rebellious thoughts into your mind?"
"Then I should be allowed to make my own decisions about it." Belle insisted. "I certainly don't want to find out if the whispers about Malfoy are true either."
"What whispers?"
Belle explained what Gideon had told her about Lucious possibly being a Death Eater.
Cissy shook her head. "So what if he is? Do you want to be on the wrong side of things?"
"The wrong side of things?" Belle asked, taken aback. "Must I choose a side at all? Why are these my only options."
Cissy took a step back away from her, as if at a lack for words. Her breathing was heavier, "Just be careful, with Gideon, I mean. Alice too."
"What's Alice done?" Belle asked shaking her head.
Cissy grimaced, "She's one of them Belle. Don't you realize that? She wants to be an Auror and resist what's coming, and what's coming is dangerous."
It all suddenly made sense, why Cissy's first reaction to Belle's plight at home was to just have her stay with her family. It was why Cissy avoided activities she'd otherwise have enjoyed. It was why she rarely left her alone or why she insisted Belle go with Craggy to the party. She wanted Belle within arm's reach.
"I'll keep that in mind." Belle answered tactfully. She was sure Cissy meant well, but she was also sure she wasn't exactly innocent. She wasn't sure how she felt about meeting with Gideon now either.
Everyone seemed to have an idea what she would be expected to do. Belle was fed up with that. She wanted her decisions to be completely her own, and no one else needed to tell her what was best for her.