The Smudges Of Life
July 1st, 1997
Belle hadn't been inside of the castle in over two decades, she wished she were there on better circumstances. Instead she found herself striding through the hallways in a complete tizzy. Her knowledge was slightly blurry when it came to events. She knew Dumbledore was dead, attacked and killed by Severus Snape. Death Eaters had made their way into the castle, fought off by Order of The Pheonix members and a few members of Dumbledore's Army.
Unlike last year, where she had been relieved to find her daughter hadn't run into the line of fire, this year she'd received notice of her daughter's involvement. It was early morning when she'd finally arrived to be at her daughter's side.
Samantha had been set on fire and her wounds were apparently extensive. She'd been saved from further damage by an Order member, but it was never the news Belle could have ever wanted.
She had hoped when she opened the letter that it was news of her son. Even just a letter proclaiming he was alive would be enough for Belle.
It had been six months since he'd left, taking what was his. After a long and arduous argument on Christmas Eve, he'd proclaimed his love for suspected Death Eater, Hilda Burke. They met in Hogsmead and he said she understood him on every intellectual level. She was also quite a bit older than him. Belle could do nothing as he left, he was an adult. He could do whatever he wanted, but she felt like she had failed him.
Belle had never felt more empty in her life than she had over the last six months. She'd even shuttered her store. She wanted the flexibility to just leave and find her son if he needed to come home. She took a few mail orders to keep the home afloat, but her creativity had taken a major dive.
Now, Belle felt like she'd failed her daughter. She hadn't protected her well enough.
Belle arrived at the Hospital Wing where Madame Poppy Pomfrey looked like she hadn't aged a day.
"Oh good Belle!" Poppy exclaimed leading her through the Hospital wing.
There was a beautiful woman with silky blonde hair in the back corner sitting beside a man who was asleep. The man's face was completely covered in bandages.
Samantha's bed was hidden by a curtain. It was in the center of the wing. Beside her, in another bed a young man slept soundly. Belle assumed her daughter hadn't been the only one injured.
Poppy hastened Belle inside the curtain where she saw her daughter asleep on her stomach. Her untouched arms were above her head and her hair lay around her like a crown. A bit of her beautiful hair had been singed off. Belle was sure she could at least help her regrow that. The burns stretched from the bottom of her spine to just beneath her scalp. The scars were open and oozing puss.
"Scarring will be permanent unfortunately. Magical fire often can't be reversed, by even practiced hands." Poppy said as she began applying ointment to her daughter's back. "When she wakes, she will be in a fair amount of pain. Plenty of rest afterwards for her. She has a slight concussion, but that's no trouble once she is awake. For now, we let the wounds air out. I'll wrap them in a bit."
As Poppy continued her work on Samantha, Belle asked to pull up Samantha's hair and fix the singed part.
Poppy agreed and let Belle do her work. She used a hair regrowing spell before pulling it into a braided bun atop Samantha's head.
Afterward, Belle had to step out from behind the curtain. She was about to lose her breath. Belle hated crying, but in this distinct moment she couldn't help it. She found herself sobbing intensely. Everything in the world came crashing onto her shoulders. Her family was in shambles. It was everything she'd ever feared, her son was gone and Samantha was going to end up dead, or worse like-
"Mam." A boy's voice called interrupting her thoughts. Belle looked up to see the young man in the bed next to her daughter's had woken up. He was sitting up now and holding out a tissue for her. "It seems ridiculous to ask, but are you alright?"
She shook her head and but took the tissue. "No, but thank you for your kind inquiry."
"You are Sam's mum right?" The young man looked pretty beat up himself. She knew him from somewhere, she just couldn't place him.
Belle nodded before dabbing her eyes.
"Is she going to be ok?" He asked nervously.
She nodded and finished wiping her tears. "I think so. She hasn't woken up yet to know for sure."
"I was worried when I saw they had a curtain. Often, that means the worst." He took a deep breathe. "I didn't see what had happened to her and no one will tell me, last I'd seen she was dueling Dolohov."
Belle's heart dropped, she knew the name Dolohov better than she'd care admit. Belle decided not to show her horror since he was obviously recovering himself. She instead explained her daughter's condition.
As his face shifted into a state of distress, she figured out who he was. He didn't look the same as he had nearly two years ago in her store. He looked more like his mother now and he had grown out of his father's ears.
"You are Alice's son? Neville right?"
He tilted his head, "You know-knew my mum?"
"We were in the same year in school, and pen pals during the war." Belle said gently, "I also know your Grandmother pretty decently, she comes into the shop a fair bit."
"She likes your hats." He nodded, still looking distressed. "You made my dress robes for Slughorn's party."
Belle nodded wanting to think about anything besides her daughter's mutilated back, "Did you have a nice time?"
"Yeah." His ears turned pink slightly, "It was nice of Sam to ask me."
Several curse words flashed through her mind. She'd been so distracted by Jack's leaving that she forgot to even ask Sammy how the party had went. She hadn't even found out who her date had been. She felt like a horrible mother.
"Pardon me." A French accented voice called to Belle. She looked up to see the radiant blonde woman standing at the foot of Samantha's bed. "Did I hear correctly? You are the little journalist's mother?"
Belle nodded. "Yes, you heard correctly."
She introduced herself as Fleur Delacour. Belle recognized the name from the Triwizard Tournament.
"She is a very brave girl to battle with Death Eaters at such a young age." Fleur complimented. "Bill, he was there when your daughter was attacked. He was helping to protect the castle."
"Is he the one who saved her?" Belle asked looking over to the man who was asleep still.
Fleur nodded nervously.
Belle walked over and wrapped the young woman into her arms and hugged her.
The woman didn't know how to respond at first, but sank into her arms after a moment.
Belle let go of her and backed up, "I apologize. I just feel awful about everything and I have no way of thanking you and your husband."
"Fiancé, we are not to be married until August." She revealed with a relaxed smile and Belle's heart sank. "Can you believe his mother suggested I would not still marry him because of his scars?"
Belle was taken aback, "Oh, that's presumptuous."
"I would of course still marry him, because he is a hero and his scars show his bravery."
A few moments later, the curtain around Samantha's bed was removed and Belle looked to see her daughter now in soft pajamas, laying above the blankets on her stomach.
Poppy looked her over calmly before turning to Belle. "I will need to redress those wounds in an hour." Poppy looked at the floor. "It could be anywhere between a few moments and a few hours till she wakes."
Neville briefly looked at Samantha. He turned green at the sight of her asleep.
"Please lay down Mr. Longbottom." Poppy insisted to Neville. "If being near Miss Fyre causes distress to your own healing, I will move you." She threatened and he laid down.
At that moment a skinny short boy came running into the entrance of the Hospital wing. He had a gigantic bouquet of sunflowers in one arm and a basket of candy in the other.
"Mr. Creevey I do not appreciate your bursting in here." Poppy scolded.
"I'm sorry Madame Pomfrey, but these are for Sam and Neville." He looked past and waved at Neville who without much motion waved back. "From the Gazette of course."
"How thoughtful Mr. Creevey, but they are both resting."
"Oh Poppy, do let the boy in." Belle insisted motioning towards the boy who walked in now, still hurried and exuberant. He only stopped his exuberance briefly, to stare at Fleur. If she weren't so distressed, she'd be laughing. Samantha talked quite a bit about Colin and how she enjoyed his partnership at the Gazette.
"Are you Mrs. Fyre?" He asked almost bouncing. "These flowers are for Sam, Hagrid let me pick them from what's left of his garden!"
Colin went to put the flowers down but saw Samantha and his face dropped.
Belle took the flowers before transfiguring a vase for them and placing it on Samantha's bedside table.
"These are for you Neville." Colin began walking over with the basket of candy. There were tears welling in his eyes.
"Sam can have them. I don't think I could stomach food right now." Neville insisted to Colin. Belle found it odd, what sixteen year old boy turned down candy? Maybe he'd hit his head.
Colin resumed talking after placing the basket beside Samantha, "I held an emergency Gazette meeting this morning to put together ideas for you both. Ernie suggested the candy. Ginny suggested the flowers. She said Sunflowers and Moly are Sam's favorites. I haven't got a bloody clue what Moly is. So I figured Sunflowers alone would do instead."
"Moly is an herb not a flower." Belle said pinching her face together. When did that become one of her favorites? Sammy was horrible at Herbology and it wasn't a commonly found herb. Why would she even mention that as a favorite?
"Did Ginny really say Moly is Sam's favorite?" Neville asked, his eyes wide.
"Yeah." Colin said with a raised eyebrow. "I also had everyone start working on a new edition of the paper. I had Ernie interview Ginny and Luna, for a piece detailing the attack. I was going to try writing a tribute piece for Dumbledore." Colin's words stifled. It was obvious, he like everyone, was affected by the Headmaster's death.
Neville's wide eyes didn't go away, "Colin, you are the photographer. Should you really be writing a tribute piece?"
"I may be no Sam at writing, but I was going to do my best. As the next senior member of this establishment, I should be the one to write it." Colin crossed his arms aggressively "McGonagall said it was best not to publish a Gazette anyway, since we don't know what will happen to the school."
"You've done a good job Colin. With Sam's condition, I'm sure the Gazette couldn't have been in better hands." Belle complimented.
"You are a very thoughtful friend." Fleur complimented.
Colin blushed at Fleur's attention, "She'd have done it for me."
Colin didn't leave Sam's side for the next hour or so and sat with Belle. He took the time to tell Belle about every article that had been published in the last year. Fleur occasionally joined the conversation but stayed beside her Fiancé.
Neville seemed a bit out of it, laying down to appease Poppy. Belle wondered if Augusta was going to come and see him, or if he was being left to heal on his own.
Poppy arrived with an extravagant set of flowers for Fleur's fiancé from his future in-laws. That bouquet was followed by a large bouquet of Sunflowers and Roses for Sam.
"Who are those from?" Colin asked looking at the very pretty set. He read the card before backing up. "Hopefully they don't blow up or do something ridiculous."
"Why would they do that?" Fleur asked curiously.
"Lee?" Neville asked, his eyebrows stitching and speaking for the first time in hours. He rolled over, looking away from the flowers.
Colin nodded, "That's the Git."
"Oh is that the little journalist's boyfriend?" Fleur asked looking at the beautiful bouquet her parents had sent. It had baby's breathe, lavender and bluebells.
Belle laughed, "Ex boyfriend. From my understanding anyway. Doesn't stop him from trying."
"I hope she's not going to go with him again." Colin crossed his arms.
"Aw," Fleur giggled, "Are you hoping to win her affection? How adorable!"
"Me? No!" Colin made a face like he had smelled something bad, "She's more like my sister. Lee was just really awful to me, Ernie and Neville too. He wasn't awful before they started dating, but he sure was during."
"Sammy did say he was the jealous sort." Belle rolled her eyes. "Did she know that he was awful to you?"
"I've seen Sam punch people for less, so I doubt it" Colin shrugged with a smirk, "And it's better not to get between a couple. No one wants to be the reason someone breaks up."
"Ah the woes of young love. A very welcome distraction." Fleur continued her giggling, before kissing her fiancé's scarred and still sleeping forehead. "Well, I think I shall get myself a spot of lunch. Care to let me distract you with food Madame Fyre? You must be famished."
Fleur stood and motioned for Belle.
"Do you think it's wise to leave her?" Belle asked looking back to her still sleeping daughter. She had rolled herself onto her side now and looked almost peaceful.
"She will recover Madame Fyre." Fleur insisted.
"Call me Belle, please. Your fiancé saved my daughter's life and paid a very large price, I think we are beyond pleasantries." Belle insisted standing from her seat, but not taking her eyes off of her daughter.
"He is a hero, as is your daughter. However, Madame Belle, we cannot help our heroes recover if we do not keep our strength." Fleur insisted taking her arm.
"Don't worry Mrs. Fyre." Neville piped up again, "If she wakes up, she won't be alone."
"I'll come get you!" Colin insisted. "You deserve a break Mrs. Fyre."
"Now the food here is quite heavy, but maybe it will help you keep your strength." Fleur said as she began walking her out of the hospital wing.
Belle remembered Cissy complaining about Hogwarts food making her gain weight on almost a daily basis. She laughed like she hadn't in a long time, since at least her son's disappearance.
"Mum?" Samantha's eyes had opened and she was trying to sit up.
Belle wasted no time and ran to her daughter. She tried to avoid touching her back, but couldn't help holding her shoulders and kissing around her face.
"Was I on fire?" Samantha asked blinking furiously once Belle let her go. "My back hurts. Is everyone ok? I can't see very well. Did we stop the Death Eaters? Was I on fire?"
"Slow down baby, I'll explain in a minute." Belle insisted touching her face. "Just let me look at my little lion for a moment."
Her daughter sobbed into her shoulder, "I'm sorry mum. I mucked up."
Belle hushed her daughter and let her continue crying. "Shhh, you didn't muck up baby."
How could Belle explain what had happened? How could she explain Dumbledore's death? How could she tell her daughter she was scarred for life? How could she explain that although the man down just a few beds from her had saved her life, he was paying a heavy price for it?
It was a lot of information to place on her daughter's shoulders.
Belle took a deep breathe and decided to hold onto her favorite slivers of advice. It was advice she'd been given by Dumbledore himself. She had to look at the grand scale of things. The full painting as it were.
Telling her daughter would distress her, that was true. However, that would just be a small smudge in her painting.
Not telling her, that would be catastrophic and ruin the whole painting. Her daughter should know exactly what happened to her immediately.
April 16th, 1972
Belle walked into the Transfiguration classroom in an emblazoned huff. She was going to go tell McGonagall she was leaving. She was leaving tonight at midnight and no one could stop her. She had no idea where she was going, but did that really matter? She was going to get as far from her family and her troubles as she possibly could.
She began striding through the rows of desks when she saw McGonagall was not there, instead, looking at the chalkboard with the next day's quiz on it, was the Headmaster.
Belle froze.
"Good evening, Miss Brenna!" Dumbledore called back to her, twirling in his long cloak covered in deep purple stars.
"Good evening Headmaster!" Belle said nervously.
He looked over his spectacles and smiled widely at her, "It seems we both seek the same person. Unfortunately, it would very well appear, we are both too late for the day."
He walked over to her desk and pulled up a paper, he began to read,
"Dear Albus,
Tonight is my monthly Thursday night off. I must only be reached for the utmost of emergencies.
For example:
If the the Potter, Black, Pettigrew, or Lupin boys are causing trouble, is not an emergency.
If you find any students in compromising positions, it is not an emergency.
If Myrtle overflows the bathroom, it is not an emergency.
If Filch wants to hang students from their thumbs in the dungeon, please stop him, but it is not an emergency.
You may reach me for real emergencies. Only real horrific emergencies, like the castle is on fire or Hagrid has snuck in a dragon. Unless someone is dying, being tortured physically, or it can't be fixed with magic, it is not an emergency.
I only have one true night off of work a month and I plan to spend it completely uninterrupted.
Your devoted friend, Minerva."
As Dumbledore finished reading he began giggling and sat behind her desk, "In other words, she has a date this evening."
Good for her, thought Belle. She'd never really thought about Professors going on dates or having lives outside of school.
"I'm sure you can assume with whom." He looked up from behind his spectacles.
Belle giggled along, the man from the Ministry of course, "Mr. Urquart?"
His eyes twinkled as he nodded, "Poor Urquart, he proposes marriage to her every month or so. I don't quite understand her reasons, but she turns him down every time. She also continues seeing him every month, so I do wonder her full motivations. Then again, who am I, to judge the matters of the heart?"
Belle nodded, "Not our business I suppose sir."
"Now, my true business with Minerva this evening, did actually have something to do with you Miss Brenna." Dumbledore said standing up from the desk.
"Me?" Belle asked looking around nervously.
Dumbledore walked closer to her. "In my office, there is a portrait of every Headmaster or Headmistress who have graced the distinguished title. However, I myself have made a grave error."
Belle was curious, what mistake could the headmaster have made? She also wondered what it had to do with her.
"I forgot to get my portrait done." Dumbledore put his hand to his forehead, "A true grave mistake on my part. I've been in the position nearly five years, I really should get that done. Minerva says you are quite the artist. I've seen some of your work of course. The beautiful landscape of the forest with the Thestrals roaming about, may in fact, be my favorite."
Belle found heat raise into her cheeks. "Truly professor?"
"Of course, you captured their mysterious and yet gentle nature. Which is difficult when surrounded by the terror of the forest." He chuckled, "Only a true artist sees the beauty beneath, even in the oddest of creatures."
Belle smirked, no one of such high stature had ever complimented her work before, "Thank you Professor."
He nodded, "I would very much desire to know if you, would in fact, do my portrait?"
All thoughts of Belle's woes and her desire to leave, left her mind immediately.
She responded quickly with zero hesitation. "Do you not think you should ask a better artist? A more seasoned one?"
"How else does one get seasoned Miss Brenna?" His eyes twinkled again as he walked past her. "I need an artist who can see beneath for true beauty, as I worry there is not much beauty to be captured from me."
Belle shook her head, "I'd be honored."
"I will be prepared for a sitting soon, perchance you will be free Saturday next?" He asked as his robes swished upon the stone floor.
Belle nodded furiously. "Of course Professor."
"Now what did you need from Minerva? I may in fact be able to handle the situation, I am no Minerva of course, but I can try my best." A small smirk grew in the corner of his mouth as he stopped in the doorway.
"The Potter boy stole Miss Evan's book. I was offering her one of mine to fix the situation. I thought since McGonagall was their Head of House she should know of the situation." Belle answered, only partially lying about her intentions.
Dumbledore nodded, "I see. I am sure I can resolve the situation."
"Also I needed her advice." Belle revealed thinking back to the reasons why she'd wanted to run away, "I've mucked up, personally I mean."
Dumbledore chuckled, "Matters of the heart, I assume?"
Belle nodded.
Alice's stern talking to had made Belle feel worse than ever, not only about Gideon, but because she wasn't used to upsetting a friend in such a way. She felt betrayed by Cissy, not just because of her new found relationship, but also because of how she'd slowly been disregarding her. She hadn't many friends left, what was left for her?
"When you paint Miss Brenna, do you make mistakes?" He asked softly.
"Yes, everyone does."
"Do you always restart the painting? If you make a small smudges or maybe things aren't symmetrical on the first draft? Is the painting beyond repair?"
Belle shook her head, "No, I try and find a way to make it a part of the painting. Paint is too expensive to constantly start over. I only do that if I've really made a big mistake."
He smiled a little and tilted his stately head, "Are your matters of the heart big smudges or small ones? Do you need your clean slate immediately?"
Belle thought to herself, in the large scale of things, it was only small smudges. She was preparing for a world outside of this one anyway. Of course she knew her friends were hurt by her actions, and it was uncomfortable for now, but she'd be leaving soon. Maybe her leaving and disappearance would hurt less for them? Maybe if she told Gideon the truth, he wouldn't search for her. Maybe if Alice and Cissy thought her cross with them, they'd be less betrayed if she never saw them again.
"Can your smudge become a part of your painting?" Dumbledore asked looking back to her.
"Of course it can Professor." Belle crossed her arms. She knew what she had to do, and keep doing. She still considered running away sooner than before, but she'd run away this summer, not this very night.
Dumbledore exclaimed, "Excellent, now I must be off for a spot of supper." He began walking in the direction of the classroom where Cissy and Lucious were currently entwined.
"Professor!" Belle yelled to stop him, she wasn't sure why she was covering for them, but she didn't want to be known as a snitch, "You may want to go the other direction, I heard Peeves was causing mayhem that way!"
Dumbledore nodded before switching directions, he laughed back to her, "Ah yes. What fun would anyone have, if I stopped him?"