Hope
May 2nd, 1998
Belle charged forward, yelling at the top of her lungs. It was absolute insanity. Flying creatures, centaurs, giants and hundreds of concerned parents were there to battle for their children. Belle had lost sight of her daughter in the crowd, but knowing she was alive strengthened her determination to get to her. She was almost to the courtyard now.
She sent hexes and spells to everyone who resisted her plowing through. Even out of her form as a vulture, she could smell the death around her. It was becoming more and more pungent as she stepped over each Death Eater's body.
She eyed each one, praying none were Jack. She recognized a few faces as people she had seen at her home. Each more evil than the next and she felt more and more relief.
She saw Narcissa and her husband racing through the crowd, not really fighting, just yelling out their son's name at the highest level that could possibly be reached.
The chaotic battle seemed to be raging both inside and outside of the Great Hall. Her daughter was on the steps leading into the castle dueling a couple of much too familiar faces. Samantha was beside a boy in a Hogwarts Gazette shirt and they seemed to be holding her own, but Belle knew they wouldn't be able to hold for long. It was her brother's Kyle and Glenn, they were dueling. The men were sending curses at them and shouting loud profane taunts.
The boy was knocked back, hopefully he was just stunned and not the alternative. Belle couldn't smell death from his body, so she assumed the best.
Belle ran to help her daughter who was now standing solitary and alone against her brothers.
"Mum!" Her daughter cried out. A wide smile stretched across her bloody and bruised face.
"Oh little Belle. What's it been? Twenty-maybe thirty years since we've seen you? " Kyle cackled out as their body language indicated they were prepared to duel her.
"Twenty or thirty years too soon if you ask me!" Belle cried out stepping in front of Samantha, "Now get away from my daughter."
"Glad to see your hiding really kept you and your safe, because you will always end up right back where you stand, battling your past." Glenn taunted back sticking out his tongue.
"Instead you are still the worthless little worm you've always been." Kyle continued his taunts, making Belle lose what little respect she had left for him as her brother.
"No one talks to my mum like that" Samantha cried out before stepping out from behind Belle and sending a spell his way. "Especially not ugly Brenna bastards like you."
The spell narrowly missed Kyle, but her daughter began furiously dueling him. This left Belle to face Glenn. They sent spells back and forth, narrowly missing and equally matched.
Glenn the man who had caused so much fear in her childhood, now looked like nothing more than a man. He fought like one too. She was no longer defenseless, she was a full fledged witch who could stand her own.
"Your little muddy runt must be the little girl Dolohov set on fire last year." Glenn cackled as they dueled. "It's a nasty shame I didn't try that with you back in the day, saved us all a load of trouble if I'd have just killed you while you were young. I wasn't creative enough."
Glenn sent a spell towards Belle, laughing with his eyes still fiery and maniacal. He cackled as she blocked it.
She could feel her blood boil remembering the small child he'd hurt, remembering what he'd done to her.She remembered the cold nights when she couldn't sleep because she was worried that he was the monster beneath her bed. He no longer had that power over her and she kept repeating that in her mind.
Glenn's taunts became louder. "Just face it Belle, you are nothing without our family! Just a nasty little blood traitor. To think, you were mother's favorite."
Belle growled before screaming out, "Flippendo!"
It was a direct hit to his chest. Glenn went flying backwards. The sound of his skull slamming against the stone wall behind him almost overpowered the sound of the battle around her. Blood streaked behind his head as he slid down the wall. The smell of death wafted from him.
Belle now focused on helping Samantha who although was holding her own, seemed to be losing stamina. Belle stepped in front of her daughter, sending up a shield spell. It reflected the spell Kyle had sent and instead rebounded upon him. She did not smell death upon his body.
During their duels, the courtyard had become almost deserted, with the majority of fighting now taking place inside the hall.
Samantha didn't waste a moment and ran to her friend who had been knocked back.
"You alright Ernie?" She asked the boy as he stirred. He smiled at her and had a giant scar down the side of his face.
"Never better, I'm alive!" The boy laughed as Samantha helped him up and he ran into the Great Hall.
A horrifying scream sounded from inside the hall followed by what sounded like an explosion. Belle grabbed her daughter, they ran inside just in time to see that Bellatrix Lestrange had been killed by Molly Weasley and You-Know-Who was furious.
She couldn't believe it as she watched the son of the little Evan's girl stand against You-Know-Who. Harry was barely a month older than Samantha. She was so relieved, like everyone, to find out he was in fact not dead. Harry was dueling You-Know-Who, and everyone waited in baited breathe as Harry defeated him.
Belle was honored as her eyes witnessed the downfall of the dark and evil wizard. His terror had plagued so much of her life and the lives of so many others. She even allowed her mind to think the name of the man who now lay dead upon the floor of the Great Hall. He was just a man after all. Voldemort was dead.
As many ran to the young man who had defeated the Dark Lord, Belle felt another set of arms around her shoulders. Her daughter was holding her tightly and sobbing out rather intensely. They held tightly for a few moments, in an unshakeable silence as the celebrating continued around them.
"Mum, I knew it was you." Samantha cried heavily into Belle's shoulder. "I saw a vulture and I hoped it was you and I knew we weren't going to die."
"It was me." Belle whispered, kissing her daughter's forehead. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, are you?" Samantha asked uncomfortably letting go of her mother, "Jack was here. We fought."
"He will be found." Belle insisted touching her daughter's face, "I'm sure of that. For now, let me look at my brave little lion. I'm so proud of you."
She decided the task at hand was to tend to her daughter. Aside from her obvious physical injuries, Samantha almost looked a bit like a different person. Not that Belle wouldn't have known her daughter, but she looked much older. There were more worry lines on her forehead and you could tell she didn't sleep much by the dark circles underneath her eyes. There was also just the way she carried herself, less like a timid girl and more like a woman with her shoulders back and head held high. She didn't look or act like little Sammy anymore. Belle wondered if her daughter's childhood and childish ways were now a casualty of war? She cursed the universe for that, war had taken so much from her already.
She was still writing, which was still par for the course with her. From what Belle could read over her shoulder, even her writing had gone through a bit of transformation. It seemed more personable and real, not just a spew of facts.
Samantha was now collecting facts from Hermione to make sure what she had written was completely accurate. Belle watched and listened to her daughter and her friend Hermione's conversation as everything leading up to this fateful day was detailed.
"Excuse me Samantha, might I borrow your mum for a moment?" Minerva asked from behind Samantha putting a hand on her shoulder.
"That would be fine." Samantha insisted with an approving nod to Minerva and Belle.
Minerva put her hand on Samantha's shoulder, "Also do me a favor Miss Fyre, next time you decide to try and run after Mr. Longbottom with his idiotically heroic ideas, don't kick so hard, my leg will certainly have a bruise."
Samantha grimaced, "Sorry Professor."
"I'll forgive you." Minerva winked at her.
Belle stood and followed Minerva from the Great Hall.
"I need you to inspect a few damaged paintings, if you don't mind Belle." Minerva said as she led her to a hallway with a stack of damaged paintings.
"I don't mind. It might clear my mind a bit." Belle said looking at the first painting, only slight damage.
"Jack was not amongst the dead." Minerva murmured as she inspected, "I checked for him."
Belle's heart felt relief briefly. "Samantha said he was here, I feared the worst when I didn't see him."
"He may be alive, Aurors are searching the grounds as we speak."
"Good, he will be found." Belle insisted, "I'll search for him myself after I get Samantha home. She's finishing up her writing and then I think she needs some rest."
"I heartily agree." Minerva insisted, "I also believe it is my duty to inform you that three out of your four brothers who were present today have been found dead."
Belle pulled her shoulders back as she knelt beside a painting, "I was aware, considering I killed Glenn myself. He and Kyle attacked my daughter and her friend Ernie."
Minerva nodded in a slight response as Belle continued her work. The paintings mostly seemed recoverable. Belle was about to tell Minerva to have the paintings sent to her shop when Augusta came striding up to them.
"Minerva, have you seen Neville?" She asked frantically. This was the shabbiest Belle had seen the normally very austere woman. Belle couldn't judge, she wagered she looked a rite mess."One moment he was in the Great Hall and the next, well, he was gone."
Belle looked up from the last painting and shook her head. Maybe he was hiding from Augusta? Belle certainly wouldn't blame him.
Minerva shrugged despondently. "Haven't the foggiest Augusta. I would maybe ask Sprout, he may be helping her recover the Greenhouses."
"I hadn't thought to look there." Augusta responded looking contemplative. She caught sight of Belle and greeted her, "Inspecting the paintings Belle?"
Belle nodded wiping her hands on her skirt, "Yes, then I'm going to get Samantha and take her home."
"That seems only right." Augusta agreed.
"Well, since I have both of your attention, I believe it is a good time to tell you that the school will be giving special awards to both Neville and Samantha." Minerva said crossing her arms.
"He bloody damn deserves one." Augusta said with her shoulders receding further and giving a pat upon Belle's back. "So does your brilliant daughter of course."
Belle raised an eyebrow, she hadn't seen her daughter do more than anyone else at the moment, "Why is Samantha getting one? Her work with Potterwatch isn't exactly a school activity. "
"Samantha was my second of course." Minerva stood taller, "Helped me lead the group in Gryffindor tower."
Belle smiled feeling a bit of pride, "That's my Little Lion."
"Do you two need anything before you leave? Tea, wine, very strong whiskey?" Minerva asked with a laugh.
"You know I don't drink Minerva." Belle rolled her eyes.
"Tea then?" Minerva asked with raised eyebrows.
Belle nodded. "Yes, that would be best."
"I don't drink either, but with the way my back is aching, whiskey sounds like the ticket. But don't let Neville see, I don't want to encourage him. He's never touched a drop and I intend to keep him on a proper path." Augusta said with a small smirk creeping across her face.
Belle laughed without thinking. She doubted that completely.
Minerva summoned the requested drinks and the three ladies stood together in a small bout of welcomed silence. Belle tried to breathe for a moment, trying to focus on the fact she had her daughter back, but in the back of her mind, it was only her son she could think about. She had a plan she could enact. She would get Samantha home, then she'd transform and look for her son. She wanted to find him herself, bring him home and help him recover properly.
"The Minister of Magic is trying to get your attention Belle." Minerva said before motioning to Kingsley Shacklebolt as he walked down the hallway to her. He was a stately man she recognized from his pictures in the Prophet. He pulled Belle aside from the other two women.
"Mrs. Fyre, your daughter has just completed a service not many people twice her age could handle." Kingsley explained hurriedly. "She just took count of the dead. Understandably, your daughter needed to step out for a moment. But time is of the essence and I can't wait for her return."
Belle felt her jaw drop and she couldn't speak or think.
He grabbed hold of both of her hands. "Your daughter took account of the whole battle it seems, what I read, perfectly written. I have sent an unabridged copy to every major news outlet in our world. The world needs to know exactly what transpired in complete and utter transparency. Such excellent forethought young Miss Fyre has. She is a credit to your raising I suspect."
Belle's heart dropped, no wonder Samantha needed to take a breathe outside away from everyone. Her mind emptied and suddenly she worried for her daughter's mental state.
"I believe she deserves a reward of some kind." Kingsley insisted, "Many people here today do of course, but I would like to offer her an opportunity that could be the ticket to a successful career for her."
She finally found words forming as she replied to Kingsley, "I'm sure she will be honored to have her words printed. Maybe you can speak to her about her career some other time, because once she comes back, I think she needs to come home."
"Understood." Kingsley bowed his head before walking away.
She made her way back over to Minerva and Augusta.
"You still have some of that whiskey Minerva?" Belle asked and a glass was quickly in her hands and just as quickly downed. She hadn't had whiskey in a long time, but she felt warm which was appreciated. She explained to the two women what Samantha had done.
Minerva left after a few moments to attend to her duties in putting the school back together.
"I'm going looking for Samantha." Belle insisted. "I should get her home and somewhere she can rest before that article hits the papers. She's going to be overwhelmed once she finds out."
"I would expect so." Augusta agreed, "I'll go with you. With any luck I'll find Neville."
They were about to head out to the grounds, when they looked into the Great Hall and saw both of them. They were both at the back of the Great Hall and they were speaking to Madame Pomfrey.
"There they are." Belle exclaimed, quite exhausted by this point.
"We were looking for you two." Augusta scolded slightly as they made their way over to them. Not that the kids minded much. They were both laughing like little children.
Belle's mind flooded with confusion, Samantha been looking at dead bodies less than a half hour before, she had been seeing Madame Pomfrey, obviously for an unknown injury. She had been almost a totally different person before. Why in the world would she be smiling and laughing?
"We went outside for a moment to breathe Gran." Neville explained with a giant smile plastered on his face. He explained how Samantha had taken the names of the dead and he wanted to make sure she was alright.
Belle noticed that Samantha's hand was intertwined with Neville's. His smile was incredibly reminiscent of his mother. It was the exact smile Alice had been wearing as she talked about the future on the Hogwarts lawn. Belle realized more than just getting air had happened while they were both missing.
"Well, I hope it made you both feel better." Belle said instinctively trying desperately not to think about Alice and how she'd once hoped their children would be friends. She wasn't quite sure this was the friendship Alice had in mind, but she certainly would have been thrilled.
She explained about the awards from the school and they both seemed less than interested. Neville kissed Samantha's cheek and her eyes didn't leave him as he walked away with Augusta. Belle had to bring it up, but calmly of course.
"Getting room to breathe?" Belle chuckled out to her daughter.
"Well, it started that way." Samantha dropped her eyes and a redness spread across her face. "I do want to go home too, or at least go wherever you and dad are staying. I have to get my notes from Kingsley first, then we can go."
Belle's heart dropped, she'd have to tell her daughter. "Mr. Shacklebolt told me that he already sent your account of the battle to be published."
The large smile that had etched her small face instantly evaporated, "It's not even finished. I asked him to let me know of any changes that needed to be done first."
"There were no changes then."
Samantha's breathe began to heave."There's some really personal statements in there."
"It's ok darling. Unedited is necessary right now. I'm proud of you sweetheart."
Samantha's hands began to shake. "Jack wasn't among the dead. I checked."
Belle nodded and tried to relieve her daughter's worry. His welfare was not Samantha's responsibility. "He must have run. Let's get you some rest darling."
"Shouldn't we look for him?" Samantha asked looking downward to her shaking hands, "Since Hilda's gone, now he might want to come home."
"Hilda's gone?" Belle asked, rather shocked, "Did you see her body?"
"Yeah, and I um..." Samantha was shaking worse now, "She tried to kill me, so I-"
"Oh my Little Lion." Belle pulled her daughter closer and kissed her forehead. It didn't take a lot to know what Samantha had done. Her daughter's shaking calmed as Belle held her closer. "I think you need a shower and maybe some sleep."
"Ok mum." Samantha's eyes stayed downward as they made it out to the grounds.
Belle squeezed her daughter's hand before they Apparated back to the INN where she'd left Ed. Belle had never seen him ever hold Samantha tighter as they reunited. He was overjoyed at the news that Voldemort had been killed.
They immediately went to their home and Belle quickly had the house back together. After taking a shower of her own and giving her daughter a very powerful sleeping draft, she returned back downstairs to Ed who was desperate for answers.
"How is she?" Ed asked after Belle reached the bottom of the stairs.
"She's well, she's a bit mucked up." Belle admitted rubbing her forehead.
Ed crossed his arms, "So by a bit mucked up, what do you mean?"
"She killed the woman who seduced our son, helped lead a group during a battle, watched her friends die, avoided fighting her own brother, watched her boyfriend almost die, battled her own uncles, watched me kill one of them, and then she took down the names of all the dead, including the name of one of her closest friends and Gazette partner. Not to mention she wrote everything down and it's only a matter of hours until it's published internationally. Her brother is also still missing."
"So she's really mucked up." Ed said looking up the stairs.
"I think that's an understatement. I might need to see if I can get her to some kind of Healer, just to make sure she can be treated properly." Belle suggested.
"Like a shrink?" Ed asked still looking up the stairs.
"Sort of, we don't call them that here. Mental issues are treated similarly to physical ones."
"With magic I assume?" Ed chuckled.
He looked back to Belle after a brief moment of silence. "Wait, boyfriend?"
"That's what you retained from her whole ordeal?" Belle crossed her arms.
"No, but I'd rather focus on that than the rest of it."
"The Longbottom boy. She didn't exactly confirm they were together, but they sure acted like they were." Belle laughed at Ed's ability to single out his daughter dating. "It was nice to see her smiling for a little while."
"Well, we should invite him over for dinner sometime, keep her smiling." Ed suggested with a small laugh and a familiar smile back to Belle. He took her hand.
"She has your smile you know?" Belle remarked, she didn't feel completely like smiling quite yet. Her son was still missing.
"Yeah, but I'll bet she blushes like you."
"Will you do me a favor?" Belle asked kissing his hand. "Keep an eye on her, I'm going to go look for Jack."
Ed squeezed her hand and his smile faded, "You should rest Belle."
Belle shook her head frantically, "He's alive Ed. I can find him. I need to search before it's too late."
"Belle." He looked up the stairs then back to Belle, "He knows where we live. He is always welcome to come home."
"What are you saying?" Belle asked, taking a step back.
"He's either been found by one of those wizard police people or he will come home on his own." Ed's voice cracked and he looked at the floor.
"You are saying we should just give up hope?"
"No, I'm saying we should give him a chance to do the right thing, and come home. Something I certainly hope he will do" He pulled her to him and held her.
"And you look exhausted." He murmured into her ear, "Samantha needs you here, when she wakes up she will need you. Especially if what she wrote is going public, she will need another witch here who understands that world. And when Jack comes home, he will need you here."
Belle nodded and found herself leaning into his arms.
"I need you, here Belle." He kissed her cheek, "I couldn't stop imagining what I'd do if something had happened to you last night. Do me this favor, and give Jack the chance to come home so that you can recover. Please."
Belle said nothing, but wordlessly agreed. She needed to be there. It was a difficult decision but one that needed to be made for herself and her family.
March 17th, 1974
Belle took a deep breathe as she looked at the ring upon her finger. It was beautiful and unique just like her. An uncut diamond with a filagree encrusted band. Ed had done a wonderful job, not only with asking her, but also with picking out her ring. She had a feeling Vivi had helped him a little bit.
As she wrote in her diary about the ordeal, she watched as the colors reflected from the ring and onto the ceiling against her mural of the beach in Florida.
Ed promised when they married, they could be on a beach alone. She had a dress design in her mind. Something simple with the idea of sea foam passing through her mind.
They'd talked about their wedding and marriage a lot that night. Where they planned to marry, where they planned to live afterwards, how they'd make everything work.
Her contact with Alice had remained consistent. She'd even sent her a custom wedding dress that had gold specks along the bottom trim. She wished she could be there in person for her wedding, but Belle was happy to be safe exactly where she was.
Belle knew she'd have to come clean about Ed to Alice and McGonagall. It was a hard enough decision to say yes at all, let alone tell the people from her old life that she planned to marry a muggle.
When he'd asked her, she had barely gotten the words out, almost saying no because she was so scared by what it implied. It was a dangerous decision to fall in love and to marry him. They would always be met by prejudice in her world and they could never truly be themselves in his world.
She knew in her heart he was what she wanted. It had been nearly two years of living in America. She had a flourishing career, a man who loved her and she was completely safe from harm. It was a scary decision, but it was the right one.