Chapter 4
Bella Feels Feelings
It just so happened that the clothing shop in question was only two blocks away from the theatre. The group made their way, chatting about the movie and other amicable topics. Bella made small talk, but was uncharacteristically quieter than usual. Clara caught up with her and inquired.
"Didn't you like the picture, dear?" She asked.
Bellatrix glanced over. The expression on her visage could only be described as pained.
"It's not that. It was a wonderful flim."
"Film, Auntie, film." Draco called.
Bella glanced back at her nephew with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"It was a wonderful...film." She said, looking back to Clara.
"Well what's wrong, dear? You've been positively sullen ever since the theatre."
"It's just that... well... when you spoke of your son, I remembered..."
"…What fond memories we had when we were young." Narcissa finished, grabbing her sister by the arm and dragging her behind the group. "What are you playing at, Bella?" Narcissa spoke low. "You pick now to grow a conscience?"
Bellatrix took a breath and looked at her sister.
"I don't know Cissy. I honestly don't know."
"Well you need to sort it, and quickly. What's done is done." Narcissa reminded.
"Here we are, then." Morty called. "This looks to be the place."
The five of them stopped in front of a store front. In the window were a number of mannequins wearing all sorts of vintage clothes. Narcissa and Clara immediately made to go inside. Morty looked thoughtful.
"Seems there's a bar across the way. Mind if I go in and have a cold one while I wait till the rest of you are done, dear?"
As if in a trance, Clara called back.
"That's fine, Morty."
Narcissa paused and looked behind her. Draco had a tortured look on his face, and Bellatrix still looked slightly lost.
"Morty, why don't you take Draco and Bella with you. I'm sure your wife and I can handle ourselves." Narcissa smiled.
"Thank the gods." Draco said grabbing his aunt and stepping into the street.
The sound of screeching brakes and honking horns filled the air when Morty snatched them both back.
"Seems those two can handle themselves...I'm just wondering now about us three." Morty laughed.
When the street was clear, Morty, Bella and Draco crossed without incident and entered the pub.
The lights were low, and the patrons sat at various tables, eating, drinking and socializing. A jukebox played in the corner, not too loud but up enough for enjoyment.
"Shall we?" Morty said as he motioned toward the bar.
"I could go for some chips." Draco stated.
"Come have a drink with an old man." Morty offered Bella a seat.
The three sat down, and the barman came up.
"What can I get you?" He asked.
"Two pints of something decent, and a basket of chips for the boy."
The barman turned away to procure their orders and Morty turned to Bella.
"So," Morty said, "Care to tell me what's bothering you?"
Their beer came, and Bella took a deep drink.
"It's nothing really... Nothing I can't get over...past." She took another long gulp.
"Well, have it your way, then." Morty smiled.
At that moment, one of the patrons approached the bar.
"Oy, Stan!" He called. "Can you turn this up?" Referring to the music playing.
"Sure thing, Lenny." Stan said as he cranked the dial behind the bar.
Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong
Sail away with me
To another world
And we rely on each other, ah-ha
From one lover to another, ah-ha
"What the devil is this, then?!" Bella asked eyes wide.
Morty looked back at the jukebox.
"Just a song from the 1980's" He said.
"It's awful! Are my ears bleeding?!" Bella practically screamed and clutched her pint with both hands.
Draco looked at his aunt in wonder, mouth full of chips. It was if something in her head snapped. She let go of the pint, covered her ears and began rocking back and forth. Morty leaned forward and looked at Draco in question. Draco could only raise his hands and shake his head in wonder.
I can't live without you
If the love was gone
Everything is nothing
If you got no one
And you did walk in the night
Slowly losing sight of the real thing
Bella slowly stood as if in a trance, and walked over to the jukebox. Draco and Morty looked on in wonder. Without warning, Bella lifted her booted foot and slammed it into the front causing sparks to fly and glass to shatter and the record to skip.
Islands in the stream...
Islands in the stream...
Islands in the stream...
Islands in the stream...
"Make it stop!" She screamed.
"Fuck, Bella!" Draco yelled, standing quickly and rushing toward the jukebox. "Have you gone mental?!"
Just then, Stan the bartender picked up the telephone to call the police.
"I don't get paid enough to deal with this shite." He said before dialing.
Morty stood, downed his pint and made for the other two.
"Come on, we've got to go... Now!" Morty said, dragging Bella and Draco out the door. The skipping record could be heard into the street.
As they exited, Clara and Narcissa were entering the pub and they all collided.
"What in the devil is this all about, then?" Narcissa asked picking up her new fedora.
"Bella's gone and destroyed things! They've called the muggle law!" Draco yelled. "We have to go!"
The group took off running down the sidewalk, sirens screaming in the distance.