A/n Can I just say how dumb I am. IM DUMB. I had the chapter before this, this chapter (I THOUGHT), and three or four chapters after this on the computer. And I completely zoned and posted the wrong chapter forgetting to post Worrying about Bella and this one. My apologies to the people who read the previous Chapter four. Then I came to my dad's to upload this chapter and found out I had written it (EIGHT PAGES) but being the genius I am: I forgot to save it. SOOOOOOO I give you the now knew version of Promises, Christmas Dinner, Bella, and Tears…Enjoy!
All six survived the Friday meeting, barely. Lily and Cassie had to hold Bella back many times and Lily herself jumped on James and punched him yet again. The three were still torn but knew they had to stay together on this. November went by quickly most to the girl's dismay. Bella was terrified of going home, Cassie was worried for her friend, and Lily was scared for Bella…and the Evans/Potter dinner her family had every Christmas.
"Guys…" Arabella was sitting on the floor by the fire, her smiling face turning to a slight frown.
"What bell?" Cassie asked, closing one of her books.
"I know you guys said I would come back over break…"
"You will," Lily stated.
"I know but if I don't… I want you both to know I never would have survived all these years with out you. You guys and June are all I have and if when we leave each other tomorrow at the train station and you don't see me again promise me one thing,"
"Anything, Bell" Cassie and Lily said at once.
"Never be afraid to love again. As much as you two deny it you need love,"
"Of course,"
"Thanks guys," the three walked upstairs unaware of the ears that heard their conversation.
"Take care, Bella" June said hugging her tight. She wanted to protect her so much but everything was going as planned…it had to be.
"I know,"
The train ride was uneventful, but the worst was the goodbyes. Lily cringed at the thought of her best friend being hurt. Her mother engulfed her in a hug and her father kissed her forehead.
"So Lily, how's school?" Petunia asked. As much as she hated Lily for being the gifted one years before Lily got her letter it was Petunia who read all the fantasy books and coxed Lily into playing Magic school with her.
"It's okay, classes are getting harder." Lily replied smiling at her sister who returned the smile.
Christmas eve came quickly and Lily gulped looking at herself in the mirror. She had to admit she looked pretty. Her hair was done up in a bunch of curls, a few stray ones falling her face and her dark green knee length dress looked great on her.
"Lily, the Potter's are here," A sigh escaped her lips and she headed down the stairs, humming the pink panther theme which reminded her of the happy train ride.
"You two are going to drive together since James just got his license," Her father informed her, she shot him a death glare.
"Li..Evans," he greeted.
"Potter," she replied, buckling her seat belt.
"Music?"
"Please," and so started the one word war.
"Rap,"
"No,"
"Classical?" he added as a joke.
"Nope,"
"Rock,"
"Yes,"
"Good,"
"Yea"
"Bella…"
"Is fine."
"Cassie?"
"Terrific,"
"hmmm…."
"Remus?" she asked hating the silence, even if the music was playing.
"Living."
"Sirius,"
"Depressed,"
"Peter?"
"Clueless,"
"Duh," They pulled up at the restaurant and stepped inside.
"Lily would you and James like your own table?" her mother asked.
"NO," she whispered fiercely.
"Okay then, dear," her mother gave her that knowing smile and said a table for seven.
Lily avoided talking to James and was quiet the whole dinner. She woke up around ten the next morning and squealed in delight at the sight of presents. Cassie got her a picture of the three, Bella had sent her a large box about the height of her knee and a desk wide. Inside were a bunch of books but Lily noticed something interesting, a little button. She pushed it and the books disappeared and a trunk full of prank supplies were in front of her. She gasped in delight and read over the note.
Lils-
Picked this up in Diagon Ally, it has three compartments. Push the different buttons. Me and Cassie got a ton of your favorite books together and then went all out of the prank supplies. You can use it as your trunk.
Llyas,
Bella (and Cassie)
She closed the trunk and smiled. On top of the trunk was a picture of three circles interlocked at the center. In one circle there was a Lillie and an owl, in the other was a dog with a bell (Bella), and in the last one was a cat wearing a collar that had the Gemini sign on it (Cassie). The three's favorite animal's and a symbol for each.
Four long days later Lily found herself in a compartment on the train next to Cassie. The train was about to pull away when Bella burst into their compartment. Her hair was hanging over her face and she was wearing jeans and a turtle neck. Every inch of her body was covered.
"Bella," Cassie sighed in relief. She hugged her friend, who let out a yelp of pain.
"Are you okay?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, I didn't get it to bad," she didn't meet her friend's eye.
She turned towards the window flinching in slight pain. A muggle baseball flew through their open compartment door and hit Bella in the stomach. She fell to the floor, tears falling from her eyes. None of them noticed the Marauders standing by the door.
"Bella!" Cassie called, helping her into her seat.
"Wanna try the truth now?" Lily said, kneeling next to her friend.
"I'm okay," she flinched in pain as she turned to face the window. "Lily no!" it was to late. Lily had revealed Bella's stomach. It was beaten and battered. She had a large bandage around it, indicating broken ribs. Lily gasped and lifted up the back of her shirt, belt welts. Her legs and arms were in the same condition.
"Bella, did he…" Cassie whispered asking if her father did the unspeakable. Bella crumpled, sobbing onto Lily's shoulder.
"Oh god," Sirius whispered and was about to say more but Remus and James pulled him out. They left the three girls, who had collapsed on the floor, crying. No one knew but these three were happy. Not because of what happened but because they weren't alone when it did. They were content, just laying there on the compartment floor, crying on each others shoulders. They cried for Bella. They cried for the world. They cried for all those who died, and all those destined to die. The cried for all the pain. They did something rarely done: they cried for the people they hated and the people they loved. They sat there and…cried.
A/n I hate myself so much for doing this to Bella. Even if this might be revolving around her I had to do it to someone and there will be Lily and James action soon, including Lily dated James' Ravenclaw friend. More too come…if you want it.
Rhi
