Bellanne walked with her arms full of parchment as she stumbled into the kitchen. Alastor Moody, Tonks, Molly and Arthur Weasley were all standing around the kitchen. Remus Lupin sat at the kitchen table looking worse for wear as he sipped his coffee. They all looked at Bellanne nervously as she dropped the load of papers in front of Alastor on the counter.
"What's this about?" Alastor growled.
"I'm not doing this." Bellanne said handing him the papers,
"I won't do that to my sister, not when she needs me."
"What?" Remus shrieked in a voice he had never used. He stood up and walked to her.
"You heard me." Bellanne said, "I've been talking to her for a few weeks now and she needs me. With Lucius gone, she has no one."
"Since when have you ever cared about her?" Remus snapped, "What's wrong with you?" Confused as though she might be under a spell.
"Nothing is wrong with me," Bellanne snapped back at him, "My sister needs me and you expect me to just sit here while she kills herself with grief."
"Bellanne," Molly started, "I think it's fabulous that after all this time you've started speaking to your sister again, but I just worry that you're doing this to try and get close to Bellatrix."
"Narcissa hasn't seen a trace of Bellatrix since June." Bellanne said matter of factly.
"She may be using you, girl." Alastor growled out, "Don't be
a fool and let your guard down. As soon as Lucius breaks out of Azkaban, and I
assure you he will, she'll turn her back on you."
"You didn't see her." Bellanne snapped, "She's stopped eating, she's nothing but skin and bones. She's killing herself, and as much as we have differences, I don't want to see that happen."
"I don't trust her, and if I have to I'll stay here to make
sure you don't get yourself into something you can't get out of."
"OH please, Remus." Bellanne scowled at him, "You didn't even stick around for our child; you won't stick around for something this trivial."
"You're making a mistake, girl, and it's only going to get you killed." Alastor said.
"Tonks, you know how important family is?" Bellanne said. Tonks up to this point had chosen to say nothing, looked at her aunt with worry in her eyes.
"I do Auntie," Tonks said, "But after all we know, I can't believe you're doing this."
"Nymphadora?" Bellanne said, "Would you turn your back on me like that?"
"Never in a million years," Tonks honestly answered, "But I have no reason to care about Narcissa or Bellatrix. They're not my family and never will be."
"Molly when was the last time you talked to Percy?" Bellanne said, "If he were in trouble you would drop everything to help him wouldn't you?"
"Don't bring Percy into this, Bellanne." Arthur sternly told her.
"I'm not trying to be rude, Arthur, I'm trying to make a point." Bellanne said, "That no matter what differences we have, we're still family."
"We're still family." Narcissa laughed in low key as she visited her husband in Azkaban. Lucius was looking worse for wear as he enjoyed the story from his wife, "She actually thinks that just because you're here, we're going to be family."
"Your sister and her husband know the Dark Lord is planning something, but they don't know what." Lucius told her in a low key voice, "Keep Bellatrix informed so she can pass the information along."
"What if she doesn't play the game?" Narcissa laughed as she held her husbands hand.
"Let her go on a little tour of the lower levels." Lucius said, "I'm sure they'll be something down there that will persuade her to play." Lucius kissed his wife's hand before the visiting room opened up and two Azkaban guards walked in.
"Is it time already?" Narcissa said as tears began to well in her eyes.
"For this week, my love, but rest assured I will see you next week. Then it will only be too soon before I'm home for good." Lucius said as he kissed her forehead. The two guards grabbed Lucius by his arms and drug him from the room, leaving Narcissa with her husband's words and plan in her head.
Remus walked into Bellanne's room, still looking weak and pale, but with confused expression on his face. Bellanne didn't speak to him as he entered. She sat at the table in her room, writing on a piece of parchment. Remus sat down on her bed and watched her in silence.
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Remus walked into the kitchen of the home he inherited from his grandfather to see Bellanne sitting at the kitchen table. The place that the two now called home, in northern England, gave them solitude from the set of tragedies that had plagued them over recent years. It had been almost five years since James and Lily had been killed and Sirius went to Azkaban. Bellanne refused to believe that her cousin would have done such a thing, but all the evidence pointed that way. Because of their close contact with Sirius, eyes in the wizarding community were on them like hawks. Some people had even made outlandish claims that they too were followers of Lord Voldemort. The constant scrutiny was too difficult to live with. The only problem Bellanne found living in the north were, what she called, the head hunters. The people who believed that every myth they'd ever heard was true and spent a good deal of their time searching for mythical creatures that didn't exist.
"Bell," Remus smiled as he ran a soft hand down her cheek, "it'll be ok."
"I know, you usually head out of the village." Bellanne smiled at him, "I'll never stop worrying though, as long as we live here."
"The muggles are nice here."
"Tell them you're a werewolf, Remus," Bellanne smiled as she kissed him, "then tell me how nice they are."
"Well, Mr. Chicaner is rather understanding about my monthly trips to visit my mother." Remus said. Bellanne crooked a slight smile.
"At least you have work." Bellanne said reassuringly.
"It's been a while since I've had a good job." Remus said, "Not that working as a blacksmith is great, but…"
"It pays the bills." Bellanne finished his words, "Terry down at the restaurant wants me to work tomorrow night for Celeste, putting me at six days this week."
"Extra money always helps." Remus reminded her. He was silent for a moment before spoke again, "I guess I should get going." Bellanne rose from her seat and wrapped her arms around him as tight as she could.
"I'll miss you." Bellanne whispered into his ear. As she painfully let go, Remus walked to a side closet and grabbed his broom from it.
"I'll be back tomorrow afternoon, when I wake." Remus told her as he opened the back door. Bellanne walked to him and kissed him sweetly.
"I love you." She said to him. Remus smiled at her before he took off out the door.
Remus was almost out of the city when the moon rose. He stopped mid-air and looked in horror as he knew what was about to happen. Wondering why it had risen so much earlier that usual, he lowered himself to the ground. He had just touched down when the transformation took over. Gray hair grew all over his body and his robes burst from his body. The wolf had taken over his body and mind, and he only knew one thing. His mate was near by, and in heat.
It was close to 2 am when Bellanne woke up on the couch with her book on her chest. She rubbed her eyes as she came around. She sat up and placed the book on the table in front of her. Leaving her living room, she walked into the kitchen grabbed a glass and filled it with water. She had turned from the sink when something came crashing through the kitchen window. Bellanne screamed in panic not knowing what had come into her home. She quickly ran into the living room and grabbed her wand from atop the fireplace. She turned around as a large grey wolf stalked into her view.
"Remus?" She trembled, "By the gods!" The wolf growled as he continued to stalk towards Bellanne. She held out her wand, pointing it at him, but was unable to make a sound come out to form a charm. The wolf growled again, this time scaring Bellanne so bad that she dropped her wand. She scrambled frantically to catch it but the wand rolled under the couch and out of her reach. Her sudden movements proved to the beast that she was unarmed and the animal leaped at her, trapping her against a wall.
"R-R-Remus." She stuttered in fright, "please stop." She knew her begging would do no good and she had no way out of danger that wouldn't result in a bite. The wolf slashed her shirt and her skin. The wounds were deep as the blood poured from her body to the floor. A couple more slashes were delivered, complete with the same results. The wolf stopped and backed up slightly, looking as though he might back out. Bellanne took that moment to kick the wolf out of her way sending it sliding across the room. She screamed for her life as she ran for the door. Just as she was about to open it, the front door swung open and slammed right into Bellanne, knocking her unconscious. The man standing in the door way, pumped his shot gun and aimed it right at Remus. Looking right in to the eyes of the wolf he fired one shot off, missing the animal completely. The wolf stopped in its tracks and began to back up. The man pumped his gun once more and fired off another shot, again missing the animal. This time, however, the wolf took this as a sign to leave. It jumped out the back window and bolted towards the forest. The man ran after the animal and fired off another shot into the dark.
Remus returned to the house the next afternoon, just as ragged as usual. He walked into the house and found it in shambles. Glass broken, gunshot holes in the walls, and the living room furniture scattered and broken. He panicked as he ran about the house looking for Bellanne.
"Bellanne!" He screamed, "Bellanne!" He ran in to the master bedroom to see his bride with bandages and bruises on her face and arms. Half asleep, Bellanne weakly moved back in her bed, "Oh GOD," Remus cried out, "What happened?"
"Remus," Bellanne said as tears welled in her eyes, "What
happened to you?"
"Me?" He responded in shock, "What happened to you?" He said as he took a seat next to her on the bed, looking at her wounds.
"You." Bellanne responded, "You happened."
"Me?" Remus said in shock as he stood up.
"You came here and attacked me." She said quietly, "Don't you remember?"
"No." Remus said, "I don't remember anything about last night." He backed away from her.
"How can that be?" Bellanne sighed, "I mean you took your potion?" Remus sighed.
"I must have fouled it up." Remus replied, "You were working all week, so I had to do it."
"Remus, you should have told me to check it." Bellanne said as she tried to sit up again.
"This should have never happened." Remus said, "I should have been more careful." Remus began to get agitated in his movement as he walked back and forth, "I can't believe I let this happen to you."
"Remus," Bellanne pleaded, "calm down, I'll be ok. I only have a few stitches and the bruises will heal. No lasting injuries."
"I could have killed you, or turned you into monster like me…" Remus started, but was interrupted by a knock at their front door. Remus walked out of the bedroom and towards the front door. Bellanne weakly pushed herself to her feet and followed him out. Bellanne however stopped by the bedroom doorway and timidly peered out. She watched Remus open the door. A gruff looking local man stood at the door wearing a blue and greed flannel shirt and a pair of ripped jeans.
"How can I help you?" Remus politely asked the man.
"I'm here to see Miss Lupin." The man said.
"Mrs. Lupin," Remus corrected the man, "is under the weather at the moment."
"I know," the man started in, "I was the one to got rid of that wolf that attacked her last night." Remus swallowed hard as he looked at the man.
"Well, I can't thank you enough for saving my wife's life." Remus told him, "Please come in." The man stepped into the door. Just then Bellanne walked out of the bedroom and walked up behind Remus and took hold of his hand, "What were you doing out this far on a night like last?"
"I was actually hunting wolves in the forest last night, when I heard your wife scream." The man said.
"I'm sorry," Remus trembled in his words, "I never caught your name."
"William." The man answered, "William Yardly."
"Well William, I thank you." Bellanne said from behind Remus, "I need to get some rest."
"Take care, mam." William said as he watched Bellanne walk towards the bedroom.
"Remus, don't be long, I need help changing my bandages." Bellanne said as she walked out.
"Well, I best be going." William said as he moved towards the door.
"Thanks again, William." Remus said anxiously trying to get the man out of his house.
"Just wondering," William said as he turned back around, "Where were you last night?"
"My…" Remus panicked at the sound of the question, "My…Mother is ill."
"Ill mother, eh?" William skeptically eyed him. The two men stared each other down for a few
minutes. William had turned towards the
door and was about to leave when Remus let out a low growl. William turned back around, "What was that?"
"What?" Remus questioned, "I have to go care for my wife." But William didn't leave, he stared down Remus for one more moment before he spoke.
"Well then, I should be going." William said as he walked out the door. Remus shut the door with a sigh then proceeded back into the master bedroom where his wife lay asleep. Remus sighed with a heavy heart as he laid down next to his wife and took her into his arms.
"You're not a monster." Bellanne whispered to him.
Once the night had taken over again, Remus and Bellanne woke up still in each other's arms. Remus placed a sweet kiss on his wife's forehead, still holding her in his arms. Bellanne weakly smiled up at him.
"I'm so sorry, love." Remus apologized to her.
"For what?" Bellanne asked.
"Do you really need to ask that?"
"You think you need to apologize for this." Bellanne smiled, "It was bound to happen eventually. We've been together for almost 6 years now, and this is the first time."
"There should have never been a first." Remus said.
"It's ok." Bellanne said as she kissed his lips. A loud banging on the front door interrupted their embrace.
"Who is it at this hour?" Remus said standing up. Bellanne too rose from the bed and wearily walked with Remus to the front door. Bellanne opened the front door to see about 150 people standing on their front yard with torches, guns, bats, and knives, all in hand.
"THERE HE IS!" A man screamed from the side of the crowd.
"What's going on here?" Bellanne screamed.
"We're here to make sure what happened to you, doesn't happen to our wives and children," a man screamed with venom.
"What are you talking about?" Remus spat out.
"HE'S A BLOODY WEREWOLF?" William screamed. Bellanne looked up at Remus and clung to him in fright.
"Remus, what are we going to do?" Bellanne panicked, "We have to get you out of here."
"How does he know?" Remus said.
"Who cares?" Bellanne said as she slammed the door, "They won't stop until they've killed you." Bellanne limped into the master bedroom and grabbed her cloak and a bag.
"You are in no condition to fly." Remus sternly told her as he grabbed all of their money from the box on their dresser and stuffed it into the bag.
"I will have to if I wish to survive this." Bellanne told him as she grabbed her wand and tossed it in the bag. Remus ran to the kitchen to retrieve their brooms. As he was in there he watched as the pathetic crowd outside began to set fire to the house and try to break down the door.
"BELL!" Remus yelled as he ran back in to the bedroom with the brooms in hand, "We have to go NOW!"
"OH my god," Bellanne panicked as she smelled the start of the burning, "They've set the house on fire." Remus pulled his wand off his side.
"Alohamora!" Remus yelled as pointed his wand at the window. The windows burst open, "Bell, we have to go now."
"All our things," Bellanne sighed, "We worked so hard for what we have."
"Let's go!" He said as he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the window. The two mounted their brooms and flew out of the window. The rioting crowd never saw them leave, nor did they seem them watch their home burn from the mountaintop in the distance.
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Remus continued to sit behind her in silence as she folded the parchment in half and placed it in an envelope. Then, attached the letter to her owl and sent the bird out the window.
"A letter to your sister?" Remus asked in a snotty tone.
"Does it really matter?"
"Depends on what you're telling her."
"If you're concerned I'm going to tell her about the Order, I'm not." Bellanne said finally turning to him.
"Good to know." Remus replied. The two stared at each other for a few moments before Bellanne spoke again.
"Are you actually going to stay here?" She asked.
"Do I need to?" Remus asked, "For your safety?"
"I don't need protection, Remus. I can take care of myself you know."
"We're just worried that you might be trusting Narcissa under false pretenses." Remus told her.
"I believe she's honest." Bellanne said not looking away from him.
"I just hope you're right." Remus told her.
Thanks to my reviewers.
Full-Pensive- Thank you for the great review. I'm glad you're finding my descriptions good for you, because that's the one thing I struggle with. If you need me describe something further, let me know, I'll fix it ^_^
Psycho Chic- I'm glad you like it.
Lucky Estrella- I know those Slytherins suck don't they.
Bell- you're so perceptive, I love it. Keep reading..