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A Dream
Belle entered the Ravenclaw common room. She glanced about looking for her dorm mates. Luna was sitting in a corner reading. The other three were at a table diligently working away. Belle sighed in relief and headed to her room.
She entered the room and headed to her bead. She parted the pale blue silk curtain and laid her dress and shoes across the bed. As smile crept across her face as she reclined on the bed. The day began to replay itself in her head.
It started with the carriage ride to Hogsmeade. The ride was quiet but comforting despite the anxiety. When her thoughts drifted to their first trip to the Three Broomsticks her smile drooped. While there they shared their history, hopes, and dreams. Their histories were so dark. Belle, abandoned on a doorstep only a few months old. Neville, his parents tortured to insanity. While both endured a perpetual feeling of loneliness and despair.
She quickly turned to their dreams and aspirations and her smile returned. Neville wanted to bring honor to his family and make his parents proud. He wanted to be an Auror. While she wanted to find the identity of her parents and know what happened. But most of all she wanted to have a family of her own, to be there for her children.
Belle got up and went to the foot of her bed. She opened her trunk and pulled out a pair of pajamas. She carefully slipped out of her robes and uniform, placing them next to the trunk. She pulled on the baggy checkered flannel bottoms and top. Still thinking of the day with Neville, she retrieved her dress and shoes from the bed and softly set them in her trunk.
The soft green silk shimmered in the light from the oil lamp hanging overhead. Her thoughts drifted to how the dress slowly took shape. The forest green silk danced alongside the blue dress. Quickly and methodically the needle and thread weaved its way across the fabric, a dress forming out of nowhere. The lavender colored silk ribbon dancing and spinning, forming a small rose. The dress was amazing, graceful and stately and hers. The dress was all hers.
Belle closed the trunk lid and climbed onto her bed pulling the silk curtains shut. She crawled under the large comforter and pulled it up tight to her chest. Her mind drifted to Neville. In the hallway, him leaning in towards her, his facing getting closer his lips drawing near.
She closed her eyes. She felt his lips on hers. The early summer heat warmed her body in the night. A drop of cool water fell on her head. Another fell, this time on her cheek. Belle reluctantly broke the kiss.
"We should probably be getting inside." Belle spoke softly.
"Not yet." Neville answered. "I have a surprise."
Neville took her hand and led her from the entrance doors. He started in the direction of the lake. Belle followed quietly. The rain was coming down softly. The cool water perfectly accenting the early summer warmth
They reached the lake and Neville stopped. They were now both soaked, but neither cared. The lake was beautiful. The rain could be seen bouncing on the moonlight lit surface.
"Belle." Neville called softly.
"Yes."
As she turned toward him, he grabbed her other hand. "Belle," Neville continued. "I love you. You mean everything to me. I don't know what I would do without you."
"Neville," Belle interrupted. "I love you too. You have made feel better than I have ever felt before." She leaned in to kiss him. Suddenly everything went dark. Then she heard cries of pain.
Belle saw three wizards in black cloaks with the hoods up standing with their backs to her. She saw two more wizards on the floor writhing in pain, a man and a woman. "Crucio!" a rough female voice screamed. The witch on the floor started shaking uncontrollably and screaming.
The wizard in the middle lowered their wand. The witch on the floor stopped screaming and thrashing.
"What do you know about the prophecy?" The rough female voice demanded.
"Nothing, we know nothing." The witch on the floor cried.
"Crucio!" Screamed the female, this time the tall wizard to the left joined in. The woman on the floor again began to shake in pain. Her voice cracking as she screamed.
A fourth wizard also wearing a black cloak entered the room. "The child isn't in the house." He said. He was shorter and his voice seemed younger than the others. The wizard on the right raised his wand.
"Where is the child?" He commanded.
The man on the floor lifted his head. Obviously in pain he grimaced as he turned to look at the questioner. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Crucio!" The wizard screamed. The man on the floor tensed and relaxed, repeatedly; spasming in pain. His mouth opened but no cries came out.
The wizard in the middle, Belle figured it was the female, lowered her wand and turned to the Wizard to her left. He followed suit and lowered his wand also. The wizard on the right did the same.
Again the female voice bellowed. "Where is the child? And what do you know of the prophecy?"
The witch and wizard on the floor answered in unison. "We won't tell you anything."
The standing witch turned to the shorter of the wizards and nodded her head. He lifted his wand, aiming at the man on the floor. "Imperio." The wizard got up from the floor and stood. The wizard to the right raised his wand. "Crucio!" The wizard who was now standing collapsed back to the floor but stood again just as quick as he had fallen.
In an almost robotic tone the tortured wizard spoke. "Accio wand!" The wand flew out from beneath a bookcase. The man held his wand, poised to use it. The short wizard started waving his wand about.
The tortured man aimed his wand at the witch on the floor. "Crucio!" he slowly croaked. The witch screamed. Her arms started flailing and she flopped on the floor. She wriggled like a fish out of water crashing into a dining table and chairs.
The short wizard lowered his wand. The entranced wizard lowered his and regained his conscious mind. He stared at the woman on the floor. Suddenly he realized what he had just done. He collapsed on top of the witch, sobbing uncontrollably. The four cloaked wizards pulled their cloaks tight around themselves and disappeared with a loud "pop."
Belle suddenly awoke. Tears started pouring down her now colorless face. The dream was horrible. The pain and suffering of the pair, it was so intense and palpable. It seemed as if she actually lived the experience.
Belle hadn't had that dream since coming to Hogwarts. This time it was more intense. The colors were vivid and the screams deafening. She could see the faces of the victims. But the pain Belle felt this time was different.
All the times before she thought they were her parents being tortured. She clung to that as her only knowledge of her parents. Defending her safety at any cost. Now she knew they weren't her parents, but Neville's.
This revelation played harder on her heart. Now she truly did know nothing of her parents. But why did she have this dream before? It didn't make any sense. Why would she dream of Neville's parents being tortured? Should she tell Neville? Could she tell Neville?
Slowly, Belle cried herself back to sleep. Her mind blank from fear and sadness.
A/N: Thanks to Stroppy-Teenager for the review of the last chapter. It was much appreciated. As for those items being small details, a story, like lifeis all in the details. I'm considering re-writing that chapter and the last little bit of the preceding chapter to correct for those details.
I'm sorry about the lack of plot so far, but I have been trying to be more detailed than my last story. Also I haven't had many plot ideas for their early relationship. However, with this chapter I realized what I can do to bridge this story from this point to where I want it to be.
Now I have a couple requests. Please review my portrayal of Neville to this point of the story. I could use the feedback. Also, I'm planning an AU story where Harry is the son of Severus and Lily. I'm considering a couple different twists.In oneHarry is actually the son of James but Severus doesn't know itandin theotherSeverus was killed and Harry wasraised by James. Any suggestions would be welcomed and if you know of a good Lily/Severus story please pass it on.