The Smell of Death
July 1st, 1973
After their first date, Belle spent any free time she had in Ed's company. He unknowingly taught her everything about the muggle world. They went roller skating and ate ice cream. They had a great time at the Beach Boy's concert after watching her very first baseball game. She met his family, who were all very welcoming. He showed her a Television, and after she revealed she'd never seen one, he took her to her first movie. He did find it confusing that she'd never seen one, seeing as there were TVs in Scotland. They would stay up late listening to records and would kiss under the stars inside his car.
It was after one of these late nights that Belle arrived home to a long distance owl carrying a letter in it's beak. She expected it to be from Professor McGonagall but she was surprised to see different handwriting.
Dear Belle,
It is honestly a joy to write to you as I have missed you desperately. You can't imagine the emotions I have had in missing you. At first, after realizing you weren't writing me back, I was very angry. I thought you had betrayed my trust. Then I realized, were I in your situation, I'd have done the very same thing. I understand now what you were alluding to on the Hogwarts lawn. I wish I'd understood better, and I feel awful about what I said. I wouldn't blame you if you hated me. I have vowed with my life never to reveal your situation or location, not to anyone.
As the school year has ended, your family did arrive at the Platform looking for you. They were disturbed when you did not arrive. First came the letters, then they arrived at the school.
Mr. Urquart, the head of the Auror department, had several of us Aurors hidden in Hogsmead. We were very prepared to help defend the castle.
Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall greeted them at the gates. It seemed to be a gaggle of your brothers. They were not allowed to enter the school's property to search for you. Your brothers did not cause a large fuss, especially once Professor Dumbledore said we had no control over where you went when you left school. However, Mr. Urquart believes they may try to cause more trouble over it in the future.
Professor Dumbledore however, has full faith they will not return to the school. He also believes that Ingrid did a well enough job destroying the evidence of your disappearance. However, people are looking for you now. We don't know if they suspect America yet, but I would recommend caution.
McGonagall approached me after the situation at the castle. She wanted someone else to know your whereabouts beside herself and Ingrid. She worries her owls may be watched more carefully now. She also said it would be good for us both to keep in touch so you never feel like we have forgotten you. Nothing we correspond about will be shared with anyone else, for both our safeties of course.
Many things have happened since you left. I'll try to keep it to the positives of course. I'm sure you have heard about the traumas of war and those horrible atrocities, so I will not prove myself to be a negative correspondent. I will try to send you only the best news.
Auror training was intense, but I quite enjoyed it. Frank and I made it through rather quickly, with honors even. We've both been off traveling the country, trying to stop dark wizards before they can attack innocents. I've been doing my best anyway. I know it's not as glamorous as what you've been up to. McGonagall says you are making a real splash in Moda.
I'm engaged by the way. Frank proposed with his own mother's ring, can you imagine? It's beautiful. It's so untraditional! I was surprised because his mother is quite set on tradition. It's a gold band with a single red ruby in the center. He asked me on his family's property, beneath a beautiful willow tree beside a small pond. He said it's his favorite place and it only seemed right he ask his favorite person to be his wife there. We aren't in a rush to be married, but we'd like to be by next year, before this war gets crazier.
I miss you desperately my sister. Please tell me that you are safe and well.
-Alice Flume
Belle quickly set out to pen her responses.
Dearest Alice,
I am so sorry for what my leaving has caused. I worry for the safety of those at Hogwarts and I am beyond grateful for the protection I have been afforded.
I am of course safe and well. Living in Moda has been incredible. I am business partners with Vivi Bianchi who owns Chateau Bianchi in Moda. We design some of the most incredible things here. We're even entering the yearly Moda Fashion Show with a lot of our newest designs.
I've traveled the country and I've seen so much. Beaches, mountains, skyscrapers, waterfalls and so much more. America is an incredible country.
Like I said before you left, things in my life were complicated. I could never hate you. You had no idea what I was going through, for it to work I couldn't tell anyone.
Congratulations on your engagement. Send me your measurements and what you want for a wedding dress, that is if you don't have one yet. I'd love to repay your bravery in taking on my secret with McGonagall and Ingrid. Vivi, my business partner and I are expert wedding dress makers. I can send it to you as soon, or sooner than you need it.
-B
This was the first of many letters exchanged. As time passed, it became a monthly correspondence. It was nice to be able to communicate with someone from her previous life as she began living a new one.
The only thing she worried about revealing, even to Alice, was her burgeoning romance with Ed. She was rather serious about him. He made her laugh and she desired to keep him in her life always. She even accepted Vivi's offer on becoming a partner in her business because now she had a reason to stay.
She wondered if this was what everyone had talked about. Was this what love was like? After two months passed, she knew she loved him, and after six months, she realized she'd have to show him her true self. They couldn't go any further, and she certainly couldn't tell him she loved him if she didn't tell him she was a witch. She refused to break his heart, she'd broken enough hearts in her life.
She wondered if he'd still care about her if she did. He had such a simple and beautiful life, would she just complicate it? An early evening in November, she sat with him alone in his family's home. His parents and sister were all gone for the evening. His older brother hadn't lived at home in a few years.
They were sitting on his sofa, finishing an episode of her favorite show. It was a show about a witch named Samantha. Samantha was essentially married to a muggle and had chosen to give up her life as a witch to be with the person she loved.
Belle knew she couldn't ever go that far, she was proud to be a witch. However, she related to their two worlds having to come together and compromise. The show was also giving her the confidence to maybe tell Ed exactly who she was. If Darrin could still love Samantha even though she was a witch, maybe Ed could still love her too?
As the show's credits began to roll she grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.
"I need to tell you something Ed." She began sitting up on her knees and looking at him directly in his beautiful blue eyes. "I'm a witch."
Ed's eyebrows stitched, "You are not. You are the kindest person I know."
"Not my personal character." Belle coughed a little in laughter as she sat up.
"You also don't have a warty nose or a pointy hat." He reached for her hand, "And I've never seen you turn anyone into a newt."
"Those are horrible stereotypes Ed, and I'm being serious." Belle put her hands on her hips. "I'm like Samantha in Bewitched, sort of anyway. I'm that kind of witch."
"That's hilarious, do you wiggle your nose?" Ed asked with a tiny chuckle.
"No." Belle shook her head. He obviously wasn't understanding her. "I have a wand."
She pulled her wand out of her pocket.
He didn't respond just stared at it. He took his hand back from her's."Is that a wand in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"
"Ed!"
"How'd you make that? Very cool, but Halloween was last month Belle." Ed continued laughing. He had a smile she adored, especially when he laughed. She both loved and loathed his ability to use humor as a coping mechanism.
"I didn't make it, I bought it from Olivander's in London when I was eleven." Belle said as nonchalantly as she could. She needed him to believe her. "It's a thirteen inch ash with a dragon's heartstring."
"Ok, well if it's really a wand, do magic."
Belle decided to start easy and just whispered while looking at the paper TV guide in front of them, "Wingardiam Leviousa."
He jumped back and just stared unbelieving at the paper as it floated.
"I'm dreaming!" He exclaimed.
Belle laughed, "No, I told you, I'm a witch."
His eyes had bulged out of his head, "Like Samantha?"
"Sort of."
"That certainly explains a good bit of things. Like why you never let me see where you live and work." Ed stood up from the sofa. He ran his hands through his hair.
"Because it's an underground Wizarding fashion district." Belle explained pulling her legs from under her and instead holding them against her chest.
He began pacing while asking ridiculous questions. She tried to answer them the best she could.
"Were you born like this?" He asked now fidgeting with his shirt.
"Yes, I was born like this." Belle laughed.
"Are there others like you?"
"Did you go to school for this stuff?"
"Yes, Hogwarts."
"Do you make potions and stuff?
"I had an Outstanding in my grades for potions." Belle bragged almost.
"Do you ride a broomstick?"
"No, some witches and wizards do though. I don't personally, but that's because I have other ways of flying." She put her legs down onto the ground.
"How do you fly?"
"Well, I'm what my kind calls an Animagus, so I can turn into a Vulture." Belle realized how ridiculous that must sound to him as the words cascaded out of her mouth.
"Can I see?" He asked looking at her trepidatiously.
Belle shrugged before standing up, she waved her wand to close the curtains before transforming.
He jumped back and yelled a word she knew wasn't good in normal society.
She transformed back before sitting herself back onto the sofa.
"Is that why you ran away?" Ed was breathing very heavily now. He had sweat dripping down his face."Did your family not like you being a witch."
"No." Belle shook her head, not sure how exactly to explain the war and everything back home. "Why I ran away, is more complicated than that. My family hates muggles."
"What are muggles?" Ed asked and Belle's heart went into her throat.
"Muggles are non-magic people." Belle said softly.
"So I'm a muggle?" He asked.
"Yes."
"I kind of like that. Maybe I should get it tattooed on my forehead." He joked and she tried to find the humor.
Belle bit her lip, "Actually I'm pretty sure my family would murder us both, I mean really murder us. They aren't good wizards and witches. Theres a war and I didn't want to be a part of it. It's actually really dangerous that I'm with you."
"I won't tell anyone." He nodded, "I'll try and understand what I can."
Belle smiled, "I'll do my best to explain anything you want to know. Just promise me you won't tell anyone that I am a witch. It's to keep us both and a lot of other people safe."
"I sort of figured it was something that should be kept a secret, or else I would have met more people like you. Why are you telling me all of this now?" Ed asked sitting down and taking her hand's into his own.
Belle was surprised he was being so casual about it. She looked down at their intertwined hands. "I think our relationship is serious and it could complicate things in the future. I also wanted to give you the out, if you don't want to be with me."
"I mean, you may have to give me a bit of time to get passed the shock." He began laughing. "But, I don't think I'll take the out. I don't want to lose you."
"Really?" She asked and felt her smile spreading across her face.
"Really, you become more and more interesting every day Belle Greene."
"That's the other thing, my last name isn't actually Greene." Belle revealed, "It's Brenna. Belle Brenna."
"Well," He laughed taking her hand and putting it to his heart. "Belle Brenna, I think it's really cool that you are a witch. And I think it's really cool you want to be with a muggle like me."
Belle nodded and her face felt warm. "I love you Edward Fyre."
It felt right to say those words and it felt even better when he said them back.
"I love you Belle Brenna." He laughed before pulling her into his arms and giving her a very passionate kiss in return. They'd come a long ways from the day when he'd missed her lips trying to kiss her.
"So what other questions do you have?" Belle asked feeling like she was on cloud nine.
"What did you mean when you said there was a war?"
Her happy mood couldn't even be destroyed by the mention of the war, "There's a war, between the UK wizards, but I think we are safe here. The fighting is far away from us."
May 2nd, 1998
She tried to Apparate into Hogsmeade, but it proved to also be fruitless. She wondered if a Death Eaters had heard the broadcast and had sealed people out? Belle decided to Apparate to a nearby muggle town before flying into Hogsmead ready to fight. It was in the early hours of the morning when she arrived.
Belle knew the smell of death, especially when she was in her state as a vulture. The closer she came to Hogwarts and Hogsmead, the more pungent it was. Rancid and gaseous smells abounded through her senses.
She expected to see Death Eaters in Hogsmead, but instead she found an exceptionally large gathering of concerned parents and family outside of the pub. There could have been nearly a hundred people.
"Miss Brenna?" Her old Professor Slughorn asked coming up to her. He was in his night clothing and looked completely confused.
"It's Mrs. Fyre now." Belle snapped back without thinking.
"I should have known that, I apologize. Your daughter has corrected me on a multitude of occasions." Slughorn looked exasperated, his hand over his heart. "I am a bit beside myself."
"What's going on? Why can't we get into the Hogshead? Why aren't you at the school? Has there been an evacuation." Belle decided to ignore his frazzled state.
Professor Slughorn explained, "Once we discovered Potter was in the school and that You-know-who was attacking, I lead the underage students out of a passageway the room of requirement had leading to the Hogshead for their safety."
"What about the of age students?" Belle knew her daughter wouldn't walk away from a fight like that.
"If they wanted to stay and fight, they were welcome." Slughorn answered putting his hand on Belle's shoulder kindly, "I am afraid young Miss Fyre was among the volunteers."
Belle said a word normally her husband and daughter seemed to favor.
"I was hoping to fight myself, along with all of these concerned family members. We were trying to get back inside the school but it seems like the Hogshead has been blocked off, including the passageway." Slughorn revealed looking around. "It's been quite an ordeal. We've been attacked by Death Eaters in town, we were able to subdue them. Then an Armistice was called by You-know-who for those battling inside the castle to collect their dead. We haven't been able to fight through their barricade at the entrance from Hogsmeade!"
"There has to be a way through!" Belle exclaimed loudly and several people around her turned their heads.
"We plan to get through of course! We will fight, once we can get the crowd together." A red haired man exclaimed to her. There was a man beside him with a small black dragon on his shoulder. He was wearing a fedora and squared off glasses. "We have a method to get through the initial barricade, but we need a way to scout and see if there are even people to be saved. We could be running into a trap."
Belle couldn't help but agree. The smell of death was present and it was on the wind now. She dreaded the idea. There was a possibility both of her children could be dead.
"You'd have to fly over the school. But even with broomsticks we'd be seen! Our attack would be compromised." One woman from the crowd exclaimed, she had a broomstick in her hand. Belle thought she maybe had seen her play Quidditch at the school a few years back.
"He could do it." The fedora man said motioning to his dragon. He had an American accent, it stood out from the other voices around them.
"What good will that do? It's not like he can come back and tell us what he's seen!" The woman exclaimed. "He's a bloody dragon, doesn't exactly speak English."
Belle was about to reveal her status as an Animagus and insist she could do it. Her attempt to form words was interrupted by the man with the fedora.
"You are an Animagus!" He exclaimed.
"How do you know that?" Belle asked, stepping back.
"He's a Legilliment." A red haired man, who now looked incredibly familiar insisted to her. She thought she recognized the brown eyes, but couldn't be sure. "You have to do it."
"Of course I do, I want to find my children." Belle exclaimed, her daughter and son's faces flashing through her mind. She had to find them.
"Your daughter is Samantha Fyre?" The man began laughing and the red haired man beside him laughed along.
"You know my daughter?" Belle asked. She took a step back, suddenly wondering why two very grown men knew her seventeen year old daughter.
"Samantha's best friends with my baby sister." The red haired man reached out a hand, "Charlie Weasley at your service."
The man with the dragon also laughed and held out a hand, "Kai Jones, nice to meet you Mrs. Fyre."
"I'll fly over the grounds." Belle said taking a deep breathe and shaking their hands respectively, "If I find survivors I will meet you all by the entrance to Hogsmead, be prepared to fight through."
"Oh great heavens!" Slughorn exclaimed as she transformed.
Several others gasped.
Kai knelt down and smirked at her, "Fly ahead Mrs. Fyre, see if there are survivors, we will gather the crowd and meet you there."
Belle bowed her head before getting into the air.
She flew above the castle, the smell of death became stronger as she flew over the grounds. The bodies weren't littering the ground now, but she could tell that they had been.
She saw what looked to be a large gathering at the courtyard outside of the Great Hall. Half of the crowd was Death Eaters. Belle spied Narcissa and Lucious Malfoy, they had their son by the hand and Belle found herself feeling almost sorry for them.
She saw several of her own brothers, albeit they looked older than the last time she had seen them. Brogan and Constantine were near the middle of the crowd, jeering along with the rest. Constantine had certainly gathered a bit of weight and Brogan was graying. She hadn't seen them since she'd been to the Brenna Manor when her children were quite young.
The sight of Glenn made Belle's throat close. He still had the eyes of a maniac as they darted around the crowd. He was someone she hadn't seen in decades, he'd been in Askaban when she visited the manor. The same went for Kyle, he had been locked away in Askaban when she'd originally returned.
She saw Bellatrix Lestrange near the front with You-Know-Who. You-Know-Who, he had certainly changed the most. She remembered him being somewhat of a handsome man when he'd come for dinner years before, and now he resembled a snake more than a human.
You-Know-Who stood across from a jeering crowd. The crowd was composed of students and teachers. They were held back by what looked to be another line of Death Eaters. She looked down into the crowds, she was scanning for her children. Everyone looked wounded, dirty and angsty. They looked ready to fight to the death. She couldn't see Jack among the celebratory Death Eaters. She saw Minerva near the front, along with Sammy's Ginny and her family. She made out a few more familiar faces, but none so important as her daughter's. She saw Lee and hoped maybe Samantha would be somewhere near him, but she was unhappily mistaken. Could the worst have happened? Could her daughter be one of the dead she smelled permeating now from the Great Hall.
Belle couldn't hear much of what You-Know-Who was yelling. She could tell there had been a silencing charm placed somewhere, as words seemed choppy as she circled. She could maybe make out that he claimed that their battle was lost.
Hagrid who was standing with the Death Eaters, had someone's body in his arms and he was sobbing. She could make out by the glasses that it was the Potter boy. She surmised he must be dead just by the smell. Her heart broke, he was just a boy. Just a young boy who had died, the same as his young parents, fighting a war they shouldn't have been expected to fight.
She hoped this wouldn't mean people would stop fighting, they couldn't stop now.
You-Know-Who was yelling at someone who had burst through the Death Eater's line. Belle recognized Alice's son, looking rather beaten up and disheveled. Also just a young kid himself and looking rather small against the army before him.
Belle looked behind Alice's son to see another figure trying to breach the crowd after him. She knew her immediately, recognizing the Hogwarts' tee shirt she'd given her for Christmas two years prior. It was Sammy with her wild hair flying out of the braid in her hair. She was thankfully subdued. Minerva had grabbed her, keeping her from trying to follow him out of the crowd. Sammy was struggling against Minerva and looked to be wordlessly yelling at the top of her lungs.
Her daughter stopped struggling when she turned and saw who was holding her. She was still looking to be crying. From what Belle could tell, she had a black eye and she was bleeding from her mouth.
Belle flew above her and screeched down to her.
Sammy looked up and their eyes met. Sammy's eyebrows lifted and she mouthed, 'Mom?" Big crocodile tears were leaving her eyes and Belle recognized the look in her eyes. It was the look Sammy had given her since she looked her in the eyes as the muggle healers had handed her to her the day she was born. It was a look she'd given Belle every time she'd been hungry or needed a cuddle. It was a look she'd given less and less, but occasionally her eyes would still widen and her cheeks would still pinch as she cried.
Her daughter needed her.
Belle had to tell everyone that there were survivors and get them there fast. She flew faster than she ever had before. She made it back to the entrance where the small dragon had blown a large wall of fire, burning the barricade of Death Eaters who had been guarding the entrance.
As the army of parents ran towards the castle, she flew to the front of the line, transformed and helped lead the charge. She felt her feet become caked in mud and then as they hit the cobblestone bridge leading into Hogwarts she felt her heartbeat out of her chest.
They were going to fight, and they were going to save their children.