The night was darker than any other night, no moon to light up the land. The breeze was cooler than usual for a Thursday night in mid-August, so cold that the woman standing in front of a set of large metal gates had to wear a black zip up sweatshirt. She was a small woman, no taller than five feet, and remarkably thin yet her muscles were tone, and her incredibly long black hair was perfectly straight as it blew in the cool wind. Her eyes were lovely shade of blue, and if hadn't been for the slightly insane look it her eyes, they would have been beautiful. Her left eye twitched a bit as she looked at the dark grey mansion beyond the gates she lingered in front of. Holding an axe in one hand she used the other to pull her wand out of the sleeve of her sweatshirt.
"Alohomora." She said as she pointed her wand at the gates. The hatch unlocked and she pushed the gates open. She slowly walked through the gate and up the large horseshoe drive that lead to the front of the house. She walked up to the front steps and looked at the crest on the front door. The name that was engraved on the bottom of it cursed her very existence. It shamed her, much like it did some others in her family. She jiggled the handle on the door, finding that it was unlocked. Thinking of how ignorant the homeowners were, she let her self in and slowly walked into the house. She walked into the living room which was beautifully decorated in old wizarding antiques and expensive furniture. She quickly walked to the back of the in the living room and walked up the stairs. She's glad the family didn't have any children, thinking about the horror they would see in the morning would have caused the woman to turn around. But, once reaching the top of the stairs, she quickly walked down the hall to a set of large french doors leading into the master bedroom. She quietly opened the door and tip toed in. She walked around to the bed where she saw a woman and her good for nothing husband asleep. She held the axe up over her head, bumping the bed on the way up.
"Bellanne, what are you doing?" the woman lying in bed screamed waking her husband.
"Hey," Bellanne smirked as she brought the axe down on the woman's torso. Her husband tried to get up and run for his wand but Bellanne was too quick with the axe and quickly swung it, at him catching him in the neck.
"Bellanne!" The woman tried to scream as she bled to death, "Bellanne!"
"BELLANNE!" A voice came from behind her, "BELLANNE!"
"Huh?" She answered hazily.
"Did you hear everything we just told you?" Mad-eye Moody asked her.
"Uh, yea," Bellanne barely choked out as she looked down into the snifter of whiskey she held. Remus took a seat next to her.
"You ok? Anything you want me to do?" He asked her softly. The girl was silent as she looked down into her drink.
"Will you explain it all to Cordelia?" Bellanne asked as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"You know I will." Remus said as he wiped the tear from her eye and kissed her forehead.
"I think Hermione and Ginny are telling her about Hogwarts upstairs, do you want me to go and get her?" Molly Weasley offered to her.
"NO!" Bellanne's head snapped up, "not right now."
"She's going to figure it out sooner or later." Tonks said.
"Don't worry, we won't wait too long to tell her. But not now, maybe when I take her to Diagon Alley to get her school books." Bellanne said as she wiped another stray tear from her eye and swallowed the snifters contents in one gulp.
"We're all going the alley tomorrow, dear," Molly said, "Why don't you just come with us tomorrow? You'll know when the time is right."
"Right," Smiled Bellanne. She was silent for a few moments before she spoke, "Sirius would have been so excited to know that she was accepted at Hogwarts. I wish he could be here to see her off." Bellanne trembled out before she broke down in tears. Remus wrapped his arms around her protectively and let her cry into him.
"He'll be watching, you know he will." Remus whispered to her. Molly couldn't stand the site of seeing Bellanne cry, beginning to cry herself; she excused herself to the kitchen. Everyone else took the moment to let them be alone and slowly removed themselves from the room. Most everyone took to the kitchen, where Molly was drying her eyes.
"I'm glad he's here for her," Molly said.
"He should be," said
Tonks, "He hasn't been around for anything else."
"It's not our place to pass judgment on their decisions." Arthur Weasley said.
"I'm not judging," Tonks argued, "I'm just saying I'm glad he's here because he should be."
"Look, why don't you all change the bloody topic." Mad-Eye said, "Like what's for dinner tonight, Molly. With all these people here you're bound to be cooking something."
"We're not eating until Harry arrives tonight." Molly said, "But, I'm making Cornish hens, mashed potatoes, and such. I should probably get started."
"I'll help." Tonks offered. Molly looked at her wearily.
"Why don't you go up and get the girls to come help us in the kitchen." Molly said. Tonks smiled as she took the back way out of the kitchen as to avoid the living room.
"I've got some business to attend to, myself." Mad-Eye said, "I'll be back later this evening." With that Mad-Eye Moody staggered out of the kitchen.
"Arthur, aren't you going to meet up with Bill and Charlie?" Molly asked of her husband.
"You're right I am." Arthur said, "I totally forgot, I hope I'm not running too late. With all the commotion going on here, it slipped my mind."
"Well get going then, I'll see you tonight." Molly said giving him a kiss on his cheek then shooing him out of the kitchen.
Arthur walked into the living room to see Remus sitting alone in the living room with his head in his hands. Arthur silently thanked the gods that his hair wasn't turning grey as quickly as Remus.
"You alright, Lad." Arthur said.
"I don't know," Remus sighed, "Bell is so upset, which she has every right to be and I don't know how Cordelia is going to take it."
"You'll know what to do when the time is right." Arthur said, "Well I will you see later." With that he walked out the front door. Remus sat on the couch and leaned his head back over it and closed his eyes.
****************************************************************************************************
James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus sat with the rest of their house and third year students as a load of first years began to walk in. They all watched with smiles on their faces as the young children nervously walked to the front of the hall. Sirius seemed more intent on watching the students than the others. The last in the crowd of first years was a small girl with a pale complexion and shoulder length black hair. Sirius smiled at waved to her.
"Is that Bellanne?" James asked, "She looks nervous."
"She's worried about being sorted into Slytherin." Sirius said.
"I'd be worried about that too." James laughed, "The bulk of them being ugly and all."
"You might have to stop saying that if she's sorted there." Peter metioned.
"He wouldn't have anyone to tear down then." Remus laughed. They all had a good chuckle before the sorting began. As the sorting began Sirius looked across the room to see his cousin Andromeda smiling at him from the Ravenclaw table. He and Bellanne were closer though. If she wasn't sorted into Gryffindor, he'd be content knowing she was with her sister. But just beyond her, he saw another pair from the family, Bellatrix and Narcissa. Unfortunately, Andromeda and Bellanne had to deal with these two more often than he did. The two were staring back at Sirius with usual look of disgust.
"Black, Bellanne!" Professor McGonagall called out. Sirius watched intently as his cousin walked up the steps to the sorting hat. She carefully sat in the chair and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head. Sirius looked across to see Bellatrix and Narcissa with hopeful looks on their faces. It was several moments before the hat made its decision.
"RAVENCLAW!" The hat called out. Sirius let out a sigh of relief knowing that she hadn't been sorted into Slytherin. He smiled as he watched his cousin walk to the Ravenclaw table and take a seat next to Andromeda who instantly gave her a hug.
"Watch this." Sirius smirked. He stood up with a goblet in his hand.
"Sirius what are you doing?" Remus questioned him.
"Hey Bellatrix!" Sirius shouted. Both Bellatrix and Narcissa looked in his direction. Sirius raised his goblet and smiled at them before he took a drink. Both women looked at him again with a disgusted face before they turned to their friends. Andromeda and Bellanne both smiled and laughed at Sirius.
"That's great, Sirius." Peter laughed, "We haven't even been here an hour and you're already causing trouble."
"Yea, but it's worth it." James laughed.
****************************************************************************************************
Remus sat up and laughed at the memory of that day, just then a door swung open slamming against its back wall, which almost instantly caused the portrait of Mrs. Black to begin screaming. Remus shot a silencing charm at it as Severus Snape walked into the hall.
"Good evening." Remus greeted, "Good news I hope?"
"No, I'm just delivering the Wolfsbane Potion for you." Severus said handing the potion bottle to Remus.
"Right, the moon." Remus swallowed hard just thinking about it.
"Have you told the girl?" Severus asked.
"About an hour ago."
"Have someone boil it for you tonight." Severus said. Just then the kitchen door swung open and a girl of about 11 with long brown hair walked in. She stopped dead in her tracks as she saw Professor Snape.
"I'll see you soon, Severus." Remus said as he watched Severus march out of the house.
"Who was that?" Cordelia asked as she crawled onto the couch next to Remus.
"That was Professor Severus Snape. He's going to be your potions master when you get to Hogwarts." Remus told her, the child put on a look of worry as Remus told her, "His bark is worse than his bite."
"I hope so." Cordelia said, "Are you coming to Diagon Alley tomorrow with Mom and me to get my things for school?"
"I don't know, sweetie." Remus smiled at her.
"I mean I'm only here for a few weeks before I go to school. It's not often I get to see my dad." Cordelia looked, almost, broken hearted at Remus.
"Cordelia Lupin!" Bellanne shouted from the upper ledge, "What have I told you about guilt trips?"
"I'm sorry." Cordelia sighed.
"I know you are, now go finish helping Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen." Bellanne instructed her daughter. Remus and Bellanne watched her walk back into the kitchen.
"She's right, Bell." Remus said, "It's not often she gets to see me."
"Remus, I can't talk about it right now." Bellanne said as she walked down the stairs.
"I know, but she's going to be upset when I can't go to Diagon Alley tomorrow." Remus said as he walked closer to her.
"You're the one who decided that you were too dangerous to be around us, you were the one who asked me not to tell her. You asked for things to be this way, not me." Bellanne snapped at him, "You think this has been easy for me."
"I never said it was." Remus sighed standing up, "But it's not any easier on me either. I see you maybe, if I'm lucky, once every couple years. I correspond to my daughter through owls. You think I like things like this?" Both were silent for a moment as they stared down each other. Bellanne's look softened first.
"You know what though," Bellanne smiled at him as she leaned her head against his chest, "I'm just glad you'll be there to see her off to school in two weeks, and I'm glad you're here now." Remus kissed the top of her head as he placed one hand around her shoulders.