Finding a Father.

Ch. 2.

By: Waterlili

Isabelle bolted up in bed with a gasp. She looked around the unfamiliar room breathing heavily as she tried to figure out where she was. She closed her eyes and tried to shake away the memories of the nightmare she'd just awoken from. She opened them again when she heard the door open. Charlie Weasley, whom she'd grown quite close to the previous summer, entered his usually handsome features contorted with sorrow. Isabelle realized it hadn't been a dream.

"No…" she choked out as she began to sob. She felt Charlie's arms circle around her as he held her while she cried.

"Shhh….oh my sweet Belle" he whispered as he stroked her hair.

"It's really true then. Mum? Uncle Jack? Aunt Liz?" she asked when her sobs subsided.

"Your Aunt wasn't there she had to go into the village." Charlie said softly.

"Oh" she said her eyes filling with tears again. She buried her head in Charlie's shoulder bawling again.

"Lay down and go back to sleep, Someone will come see if you want to eat in a bit." Charlie said softly as he stood.

"Charlie" she said softly, holding a hand out to him. "Don't leave, please? Just stay until I'm asleep." she pleaded.

"Alright. Against my better judgment, but alright" He climbed onto the bed behind her. He propped his head up on his elbow, his other arm laid across her waist as if to protect her. "Sleep now." he whispered kissing her forehead.

Isabelle closed her eyes and drifted back into the familiar blackness. She lie between the stages of sleep and waking for quite awhile. She could here Charlie talking to her softly but couldn't make out what he was saying as she finally crossed the barrier to sleep. The next time she awoke she came face to face with a very angry Sirius Black

"CHARLIE WEASLEY, WHAT IN THE NAME OF MERLIN'S BEARD ARE YOU DOING IN BED WITH MY GODDAUGHTER?" Sirius shouted when entered the room and saw his 15 year-old goddaughter snuggled up against a 22 year-old Charlie Weasley.

"Sirius, stop yelling" Isabelle said quietly, rubbing her temples.

"Isabelle what were you thinking?" he asked angrily.

"I was thinking that I just lost the most important person in my life and I didn't want to be alone." she said quietly, leaning against Charlie.

"Belle…I'm sorry, but…."

"Nothing happened Sirius." Charlie stated calmly. "I was only going to stay till she fell asleep, but I just had a Norwegian Ridgeback, give birth this morning so I guess I fell asleep as well."

"Greta gave birth" Isabelle said excitedly.

"Yes, oh Belle you should have seen it, it was…." Charlie stopped abruptly when Sirius coughed loudly.

"Nothing happened Si." Belle said softly.

"I believe you." Sirius said sulkily. "Dinner's in ten minutes if you want to eat." he said quickly as he left the room.

Isabelle and Charlie both sighed with relief. Charlie grinned suddenly and poked her in the side.

"Hey now!" she giggled.

"You just smiled you know" Charlie said with a sideways smirk.

"Well, what did you expect? I'm devastated Charlie, but that doesn't mean when you tickle me I'm going to burst into tears." she said seriously.

Charlie hugged her and she tipped her head into his shoulder. They both looked up when the door opened again. It was Harry.

"Mrs. Weasley sent me to tell you to come down to eat." He stammered before leaving the room as quickly as he'd come. He slipped into the room he was sharing with Ron and sat on his bed.

"What's wrong mate? You look awfully pale." Ron said with a raised eyebrow.

"Belle and Charlie" Harry said quietly.

"Belle and Charlie?" Ron asked confused.

"Mmmm yeah they were in the next room…." he stopped when he saw Ron laughing. "What?"

"Whatever you're thinking you're wrong. Belle and Charlie are just friends. They both share the same weird obsession with magical creatures. They got pretty close last summer. I think she might have had a crush on him for about a minute."

"Oh."

"Why were you so weirded out?" Ron asked then his eyes grew wide. "Bloody Hell. You're in love with her."

"What? No." Harry said quickly. "I'm with Dria." he said resolutely.

"With her maybe. But you're in love with Isabelle Wood. The pretty little brunette who has taken up residence in the next room over."

"Sod off Ron." Harry grumbled.

"You've got it bad mate. I hate to say this well…I don't really but…Dria's done for"

"Adria and I are FINE. Why does everyone dislike her so much anyway. Even Remus doesn't like her."

"Harry, mate, No one likes Adria because…..how to put this nicely. She's a bitch." Ron stated plainly.

"Ron, I can't believe you." Harry growled. "Can't you just be happy for me."

"What's going on?" Ginny asked as she entered the room.

"Ron thinks my girlfriend is bitch." Harry said sullenly.

"You asked." Ron said annoyed.

"I agree with Ron on that point" Ginny said trying to hide her laughter by coughing.

"Does everyone feel this way?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes, except maybe Malfoy but that's only because she's sleeping with him." Madison Kingsley said from the door.

"MADDIE" Ginny squealed running over to her friend.

"Bloody Hell, Maddie." Ron said shocked. "You didn't have to tell him so bluntly."

"I don't do tactful Ronald. You know that." Maddie said with a grin.

"My Dria……sleeping with Malfoy." Harry stammered.

"Since fourth year" Ron said quietly.

"No." Harry said resolutely. "You all just don't like her because she makes me happy."

"Does she really Harry?" Ginny asked kindly. "When was the last time she made you laugh? Or smile even?"

"I…uh….it doesn't matter if I smile with her Dria and I have a serious committed relationship."

"You might be committed. The only place I'd commit Adria is to St. Mungo's mental wing." Maddie snorted.

"MADDIE" Ginny and Ron both yelled exasperatedly.

"Gin, Maddie, you two and Belle used to be close with Dria. What happened?" Harry asked.

"Umm…." Ginny blanched and looked like she might cry.

"Err…."Maddie tensed.

"What?" Harry looked confused.

"Nothing" Maddie and Ginny said at the same time as the bolted from the room.

"What did I say?" Harry asked Ron confused.

"Sit down, Mate. This is kind of a long story." Ron plopped on his bed and waited for Harry to sit before continuing. "Adria and Ginny have been friends since they were like five. Even though Adria's a muggle-born, she and Gin met in the village one day. I don't really remember the whole story. Maddie and Belle are both from pretty prominent pureblood families. Belle met Ginny when they were five, and Oliver and Percy were going to Hogwarts. Mum invited Belle over, Maddie tagged along, Adria was there and the fearsome foursome was formed. It was incredible they were always together. It was like Gin finally had sisters." Ron told the story with a slight smile at the memories.

"So what happened?" Harry asked.

"No one really knows outside the four of them. Belle and Maddie came one day for tea and Adria never showed up. That was the summer after our 2nd year. Adria came over one more time that summer right before school started. No one really knows what happened that night. All we know is the next day Belle was in St. Mungo's ,barely alive, and Ginny and Maddie told everyone they never wanted to talk to Adria again.'' Ron finished slowly.

"That doesn't make any sense." Harry said drawing his eyebrows together.

"No it doesn't." Ron stated simply. "But that's the way it is"

"This is all very confusing." Harry grumbled.

"That's how girls are mate. Let's go get dinner huh?"

"Yeah sure."