Thank you reviewers. I do not own HP. Sorry for a relatively short chapter. I hate Author's Notes.
The rest of the summer flew by. Bellissia grew closer to the Lupins than she had been to her own father, and they welcomed her with open arms, especially Antonia. Bella was so reminded of her parents when she saw Antonia. The woman looked like her father, with her tan skin and silky-straight hair, but her mannerisms and ways were just like that of her mother, or at least what Bella remembered of her mother. She missed them, but she feared she would miss the Lupins more when she left for school. Fortunately, Remus, James and Sirius would be going with her. They had grown to be almost like her brothers, especially Remus. They were certainly protective of her. Once when they were walking around the muggle neighborhood, some punk and his friends started wolf-whistling and cat-calling Bella. The looks on the boys' faces was priceless. Sirius and James went for their wands to "curse the smirk off their faces," but Remus and Bellissia quickly intervened.
The night before September the first, Antonia insisted everyone go to mass to pray for a safe journey. Bellissia, also being a devout Catholic, was more than happy to oblige. She also secretly wanted to light a candle for her mother. The rest of the family, however, was completely against it.
"Mum, James and Sirius aren't even Catholic! They aren't even familiar with muggle religion! It'd be weird because they wouldn't get it," Remus protested.
"Tony, honey, I know it's our family's tradition, but the boys will feel a bit awkward," Phineas said.
"You know I really don't mind," Sirius told the Lupins, earning him a jab in the side from James. "I think it would be neat to see."
"Trust me, it's not neat, it's boring!" Remus said. Bellissia laughed.
"Oh, come on, it's not that bad. The worst is when the Priest does the whole service in Latin. Now that gets confusing!" she said.
"Well, at St. Mary's mass is done in Italian at five and English at seven. I thought we could go to the seven and then stay a little while afterwards," Antonia said, chancing a meaningful look towards Bellissia.
Finally James said, "Alright, I'm game." And they were off.
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The six of them arrived at the church without a moment to spare. They had to grab seats in the back to avoid disrupting the clergyman's schpiel. Bellissia ended up wedged between Remus and Sirius in a space that was clearly meant for two very thin people. She sat back and let the old man's words wash over her. Her religious peace didn't last long, as Sirius kept asking her questions about communion and baptism. Just when she thought she was going to snap at him, the assembly was dismissed. The room was quickly cleared. Only a few elderly ladies who kept scowling at Bella's low cut shirt remained. They all split up to look around. Bella suspected Antonia knew she wanted to be alone, as she led Sirius off to show him the bells. Bella wandered to the dimmest corner of the cathedral, where there were hundreds of small, white candles. She crossed herself in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and took a candle. She lit it with another, kneeled, and began to pray. She prayed for her dead mother, her deadbeat father, her grandmother and grandfather, Phineas, Antonia, and Remus Lupin, James and Sirius, but mostly she prayed she could succeed in her new school and that she could forgive her father. She was rocking back in forth, so concentrated on her prayer, she did not even hear the little old man walk up behind her.
"My child, what is the reason for your prayers? God sees all, and He can forgive all."
Startled, Bella stood up. "Father! I...I pray for many things, such as my mother. She has passed on and I pray for her and for my family."
"Child, your mother is in a better place, and I know her loved ones realize this. Tell me, what is your name? I have not seen you here as of late."
This man made her feel about half of her age. He was so kind and fatherly. She pasued before answering, "Bellissia Angenelo. I just moved here to live with my cousin Remus Lupin and my Aunt Antonia and Uncle Finny."
"Bellissia, Lei sono Italiano?" (Are you Italian?)
"Si, sono un poco fuori di pratica, nonostante" (Yes, but I am out of practice.)
"Essere audace, le forze potentementi verranno al suo aiuto." (Be bold, the mighty forces will come to your aid.)
"Wait, father, I thought priests quoted the Bible, not Goethe."
"With God, all things are possible," he said with a wink. He then turned and walked towards alter.
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Back at the Lupin house, everyone was preparing for bed. Sirius was telling anyone who would listen about the belfry and the nun he met there. Bellissia went to her room earlier than everyone else in hopes of getting more sleep. She laid there for a while, just thinking about the sermon and Hogwarts and everything else that was happening. After an hour or so, she heard a soft knock on her door. Slightly shocked, she whispered, "come in."
The door swung forward and her sandy-haired cousin Remus tiptoed inside. She grinned at him.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing. I remember how scared I was the night before my first day of Hogwarts."
"Thank you Remmy. I'm really nervous, but I'm hanging in there."
"Good, well, sweet dreams." He turned to leave, but Bellissia held out her hand and grabbed a hold of his white t-shirt.
"Remmy, will you stay with me until I fall asleep...I, um, my father used to do that for me when I was nervous, and I, you know, miss it."
Remus broke into a smile. "Of course I will, Bella."
Bellissia scooted over to make room for him in her queen bed. He gingerly crawled under the sheets. She smiled and scooted close to him.
"You know, I love you, right cuz?" she asked.
"Yeah."
They both closed their eyes and did not open them until the next morning, bright and early.