Handwritten Messages
May 20th, 1975
Belle sat up straight watching the last of her competitor's models walk. It may have been her third year competing in the Annual Moda Fashion show, but it was her first time showing a line completely by herself.
This was the biggest show in the country, however only designers who lived and owned or were part of partnerships in Moda's industry could compete. She and Vivi had always placed in the top ten together, but Belle was on her own this year at Vivi's insistence. Vivi was convinced Belle could win the whole thing if her designs were unrestrained.
Belle had worried at first that it could be a safety issue to not hide behind Vivi's name. What if she were recognized? What if her family got a hold of it and recognized their bird feathers? At both Alice and McGonagall's reassurance, Belle decided to go for it. It had been years now and her family hadn't even tried finding her.
Belle had spent the last year conceptualizing. She'd started and restarted at least a dozen times.
She had started by first taking inspiration from her travels, but it was too whimsical and she'd already done that theme. She and Vivi had done well with the theme of 'America the Beautiful' so Belle couldn't do that again.
Next she tried basing designs on some of her favorite music, but it always looked so contrived. It needed an element of reality of true deep emotions.
Her whole concept changed one night when she found herself in a horrible dream reminding her of her childhood and her journey.
She stood before Goliath the Augury in a dark room with no light. He towered before her and spoke with the voice of her mother, father and brothers all at once.
"Belle Aine, you have failed the Brennas." Goliath hissed through his white beak. "You have left us and you are a disgrace to this family."
Belle shook her head and looked down to her hands, she was without a wand. "I am not a Brenna."
Goliath raise his large wings at a span across the room and yelled, "What did you say?"
"I am not a Brenna." She repeated loudly and steadily pulled her shoulders back. She noticed her feet were bare. There was dirt beneath her toes and she let her toes play in the coolness.
Belle stood strong and held her hands open like they were wings of her own. Her hands tingled like they had fallen asleep from gripping them too tight. She opened her hands. From one hand a waterfall cascaded and she could smell the fresh water. It felt cold as the water touched her feet.
In her other hands she held a flame, the crackle and pop of the fire smelled strong and smoky. It was hot but never burned.
Wind whipped through her hair and mixed the aromas together.
"Then what are you?" Goliath asked looking at her with his one working eye.
Belle closed her eyes and prepared an answer.
When Belle opened her eyes, she awoke in her bed and was fully inspired.
She created a line based on the elements and her own personal story.
Her models were now walking and wearing her designs. The first two designs started out dark using the Augury feathers quite literally. One short dress and one long gown, both with cascading red cloaks. The cloaks' fabric made a crinkling sound, like the whispers of the fears she ignored every day.
Next was the element of the earth. Two deep and dark green pantsuit sets with blue trim. The edges were sharp and unforgiving. One suit had sleeves with long and flowing fringe that drug the ground and changed color as if it was being drug through actual dirt. The next had high brown boots that went up the model's thighs.
This was followed by the wind element. Nearly see through fabric was the theme for the next two looks. Brocade was placed strategically to cover just enough to give the feeling of being naked as wind whipped around on a cold mountain. She had transfigured the fabric to move as the model did.
The water and fire elements came last, the fire was a man's dress robes in a deep garnet with actual fire on the shoulders. She had based it off of her fiancé and how he made her feel, alive.
The water dress was based in the idea of her own wedding gown. It was white at the bottom, but greens and blues floated down from below the sweetheart neckline. The sleeves were long and tight, but ended in little triangles at the hands. There was a long veil that floated behind the dress, changing colors as it finished off the show.
After her models finished, she stood from her chair and bowed. There was a standing ovation, something she'd never seen before at one of the shows.
After the show, she and Vivi went to the record store. Ed had just closed it up for the night and greeted them excitedly as they came inside.
"How'd you do my dear?" Ed asked before pulling her into a deep kiss, he let go and held her hands. "Wish I could have been there."
"She deserves more than kisses my friend, she blew them all away!" Vivi insisted. She handed them each a glass of champagne.
"I got second." Belle exclaimed, still riding the high. "Which I mean, I didn't win exactly-"
"She's being modest, it's nearly impossible to get second place." Vivi giggle and held her champagne glass aloft, "To Belle Green! Soon to be the hottest designer in Moda."
Belle doubted that excessively.
"I'm taking you two out tonight and since you insist on eloping without my presence next year, let's call it my version of a premature wedding reception!" Vivi laughed with a true liveliness. "Only the finest places in Moda for us this evening."
"Are you sure I can?" Ed asked nervously as he sipped the champagne. Belle knew he wasn't a fan of anything that wasn't a simple light beer.
"Of course, and if anyone points out your status as a muggle I'll put them in a good old body bind." Vivi laughed causing her glasses to fall. She pushed them back up onto her nose.
Ed chuckled but pursed his lips as he responded, "That sounds painful."
"I promise I will only curse you with one if you break my partner's heart!" Vivi threatened him jokingly. "Come on muggle, come party with us."
"Sure." Ed smirked a little and Belle kissed his cheek.
"Wonderful. It's about time we showed your muggle off to Moda." Vivi joked before looking him over, "He could do with a small makeover."
Belle shook her head in shock but looked to Ed who started to laugh.
"Not a damn chance." Ed responded with a shake of his head.
"It's alright Vivi, I like his classic muggle look." Belle laughed before looking out from the record store and seeing an owl with a letter in its' beak. She cautiously went to see the owl and see who it was from.
It was addressed to a name Belle had left behind.
Belle Brenna
She opened it and realized immediately who it was from, it painted a true heartbroken image.
It was from Gideon.
May 8th, 1998
Samantha had spent much of the last few days just sleeping. Her article had been published and it seemed to slow her healing time, just reliving it all through her own words so immediately made her shrink. She was awake just long enough to read it, vomit and then go back to bed.
Ed had seemed more than disturbed by his daughter's written words. He had never been good at hiding his true feelings and he had to leave the room to read the extent of it.
The article itself didn't seem to be the main problem. The main problem began when the owls began arriving carrying offers of jobs, fan letters and hate. They came in such droves that it was difficult to even send their own owls and the augury were nervous. Belle tried weeding through them as her daughter just began shaking at every envelope opening.
Belle was having the opposite problem to her daughter. She could barely sleep. Every time she closed her eyes all she could see was either her son's face, or her brother Glenn's as he hit the stone wall behind him. She had hated him so much, and hated what he had done, but she never meant to kill him. The guilt was consuming her.
The last two nights she had found herself absentmindedly sitting outside on her back porch, late at night and looking through her daughter's mail. She was filing to see if there were any letters of importance, especially anything with news of her son. On this particular night it was clear Summertime was creeping in.
Whisp landed behind Belle and nudged her beak against her cheek.
"I assume Lee sent you."
Belle looked at the letter in Whisp's beak, it was addressed simply: Beautiful
Belle placed it atop the 'Give to Samantha' pile.
She entered her daughter's room the next morning with caution and a pile of letters. Samantha was awake and just staring at the ceiling. She was in an oversized soft looking tee shirt and her hair was in messy two tailed braids.
Whisp flew in the door and perched herself beside Samantha on her pillow, as if in genuine excitement to see her master.
Samantha stared at the letters with little enthusiasm, but sat up and read the one from Lee first. Her eyes rolled dramatically as she finished the letter.
"Trouble between you two?" Belle asked cautiously sitting on the end of her daughter's bed.
"It's complicated, I'll forgive him for it though." Samantha said putting the letter onto her desk. She rubbed her face. "Hard to be mad at someone who's grieving."
Belle nodded, "I suppose so."
"He's selling the building, but I'm going to see if I can get my things in a couple days. Artie is still there and I miss her." Samantha breathed out, "Lee and Genevieve are good at taking care of her."
"Who's Genevieve?" Belle asked allowed.
"Genevieve Horner, she was on the Gazette when it first started. We weren't exactly friends, but she's nicer now." Samantha explained.
Belle was somewhat relieved to hear her daughter had another woman around. "Why was she staying with you?"
"How many Potterwatches did you hear?" Samantha asked as she cracked her neck.
"All of them I think." Belle thought back, they'd done their best to listen.
Samantha tilted her head. "Did you hear the one where there was a woman who was manipulated into marrying a pure blood Death Eater?"
"Is that her?"
Samantha nodded, "She's pregnant and she was living with us. She had no where else to go, Kingsley was hiding her."
"Poor thing." Belled crossed her arms, "Is she alright being there alone with Lee? I mean, I trust him but she may be a bit jumpy after her ordeal. She's welcome to stay here."
"She fancies Lee, so honestly I think she doesn't mind. Lee's a bit besotted with her too. I don't think he'd let anything happen to her." Samantha chuckled slightly as she said it. "They are probably enjoying the alone time."
"Is that why you are mad at him?"
Samantha laughed fully now, "Merlin's beard no. I'm mad at him for being a rotten friend, not because he fancies Genevieve. Get's his attention off of me for once. Besides, even with his short comings, he was a pretty decent boyfriend and Genevieve deserves someone nice.
"I'm glad then. I remember hearing about girls in her situation years ago. Honestly, I'm sure if I hadn't escaped, I could have been married off myself." Belle observed, it stung at her heart to think about. So many girls she grew up with received fates like that.
Samantha leaned her head onto Belle's shoulder, she was smelling much nicer than she had at the battle. She smelled like the vanilla shampoo they kept in the bathroom. "I'm glad you escaped mummy."
"I am too." Belle kissed Samantha's forehead. "I wouldn't have you."
Samantha muttered, "Or Jack."
Belle trembled a little as she repeated, "Or-r-r Jack."
Belle wrapped both arms around her daughter's shoulders. She had the same worries, but Samantha needed to focus on her own recovery, "Samantha, you can't worry about him now. He will come home if he is meant to."
Samantha went quiet before darting her eyes over to the other letters. She picked up the next one. It had a Lovegood return address.
"Luna?" Belle asked.
"No, Xenophilous." Samantha crossed her legs before opening the address, "Xenophilous has swooping handwriting, Luna has more precise and legible handwriting."
Belle laughed, of course that's what Samantha would notice.
"He's restarting the Quibbler and wanted to know if I'd like a job." Samantha smiled a little, "I wouldn't mind that. He said he can't pay much, but honestly, I wouldn't mind working for him."
"I saw a few other very official looking letters from a few different places, including the Prophet. Lovegood may need to raise his offer." Belle suggested, thinking about how Kingsley had mentioned wanting to help Samantha with her career. She didn't want her selling herself short.
Samantha shrugged. "Maybe, I think I want to keep things simple for a while anyway. I'd like a job where I can write of course, but maybe just simple stuff."
"Maybe I'll make enough to get my own place." Samantha smirked.
"If that's what you'd like." Belle's heart stung a little thinking about her youngest moving out. "You have been living as an adult for a year now."
"Maybe I can work with you for a bit still, get the shop back on its' feet." Samantha was looking up at Belle now.
"I can get the shop back up on my own."
"I can help you mum." She insisted, "Then I can write for the Quibbler, and maybe write a book. I have all of the notes and scripts from our Potterwatch broadcasts, it'd make a fine book."
Belle smiled as Samantha picked up another letter. This one had somewhat unreadable handwriting.
"I wasn't sure who that one was from, I couldn't read it." Belle admitted, "I can open it if you need me to, make sure, I just wanted to check with you first."
Samantha's cheeks were very red and her eyes darted, "No, I'd rather if you didn't."
"Handwriting?" Belle asked.
"I know everyone who was on the Gazette's handwriting pretty well." By Samantha's smile, Belle knew exactly who it was from. Samantha put the letter beneath her pillow. "I'll read it later."
Belle kissed her daughter's cheek, "Or I can give you some space. I'm going to make us some eggs, your father has missed my breakfasts since we've been traveling. Maybe you can join us after you read a few more letters and put on some real clothes?"
Samantha's smile remained, "I'd like that."
Belle looked down at her daughter as she stood from her bed. She briefly looked like the little girl who only wore messy and wild pigtails and cried about being loud. She was a woman now, but she wasn't that far from who Belle knew her daughter to be. It brought a small comfort to her that her daughter hadn't been changed by the war too intensely.
Belle made her way down the stairs and watched as another owl dropped off a letter. She recognized this owl. It was a snow white owl with a gray belly. It only arrived a few times a year, to send gifts at Christmas and at each of the children's birthdays. It exclusively carried gifts for the children.
This letter bore a name Belle had left behind many years before.
Belle Aine Brenna
It was from her mother.