David Nolan couldn't believe his luck as he practically skipped to the library. He'd gained an invite to a study group tonight. More importantly, he'd gained an invite to a study group from Mary Margaret Blanchard. Having been hopelessly in love with her since their first year together, David saw this as quite an accomplishment.
His nerves were on fire, but his heart felt lighter than it had in years. Nearing the library, the charming boy took a deep calming breath. This was his chance, his big moment. He couldn't screw this up. As David rounded the book stacks to the table Mary Margaret spoke of, he could hear low voices rebelliously whispering in the all too quiet area.
"Really he's not as bad as you think," a light accented voice was saying.
The response came from a voice that he immediately identified as his long time crush. "I wish I could believe you, but I've known him a bit longer than you."
"But obviously not as well," was the waspish reply.
David couldn't make out the next few exchanges. Breath caught in his chest, the Gryffindor's anxious mind assumed they could only be speaking of him. Who was speaking to Mary Margaret? He didn't really recognize the voice, so they couldn't be talking about him, right? Was Mary Margaret not interested in him after all? Had pity been the reason she invited him today?
Despite his nerves, David knew that he had to face her if he ever wanted an answer to his questions. Like a proper representative of Godric Gryffindor's house, the young man pushed his anxiety down and did the brave thing.
"Hey guys," he said quietly as he stepped out from behind the bookcase.
To his great relief, Mary Margaret's face instantly broke out in a warm smile. "Hey David! Glad you could come."
His attention focused on the lovely way Mary Margaret's yellow blouse accented her dark hair and green eyes, David didn't notice any of the other table occupants until he settled in beside his adorable housemate. Which meant that when David finally decided to take notice of his surroundings the gigantic grin slipped from his face. He'd sat directly across from one Belle French. This isn't going to end well, he thought as he tried to school his features into something friendly. The unfamiliar voice from earlier and the mystery of their subject solved, David did his best to not make a complete ass out of himself.
Directing his attention elsewhere, David noted that both Emma and Ruby had decided to join the little study party along with Regina Mills and her constant companion Mal. All the girls at the table shot him smiles ranging from welcoming to downright seductive. All except one. Belle's steady glare never wavered as he pulled out his Charms book and assignment.
Luckily Ruby saved him as she leaned across Mary Margaret with a humorous glint in her eye. "So, David," she whispered theatrically. "Mary keeps trying to drag me to the Quidditch match tomorrow and since I keep refusing, she's in desperate need of a friend. Do you happen to know anyone who's going?"
Blood rushed quickly to David's cheeks as he glanced helplessly between the other occupants of the table, hoping someone would save him. When no one spoke up, he felt the blush deepen.
"I, I mean… I'm, I'm, or at least I was, I was planning… what I mean is," he stammered, voice cracking over the words.
Emma broke first as the girls began shamelessly giggling at him. David could feel his ears turning an, if possible, even deeper shade of red.
"Oh dear," Mal called from the other end of the small table. "I do believe we've broken him."
"Leave him alone," Mary Margaret ordered finally.
Seeing that her face was just as red as his, gave David the courage to finish his offer. "I'm going to the match tomorrow. If you want someone to go with, I don't mind going with you."
The embarrassed but pleased smile that split Mary Margaret's face sent butterflies aflutter in his stomach. "I'd like that," she answered quietly.
From the triumphant looks on Emma and Ruby's faces it seemed that a few others were as excited about this accomplishment as him. Even Regina shot him a grin of smug satisfaction.
"Are we actually going to study tonight?" inquired the only sour face at the table. Belle's glare seemed to have darkened even further as she leveled her eyes at him. "Because if not, I do have other things to do."
"Calm down bookworm," Regina instructed. "Let them have their fun so Ruby and Emma can stop obsessing over playing matchmaker."
Ruby shrugged and shot that mischievous gaze Regina's way. "Yes, I'd hate to have to set you up with a decent fellow like Robin Locksley."
If looks could kill, Ruby would most certainly have been a puddle on the floor from the scowl Regina shot her way. Having been friends with Robin for years now, David couldn't help but snicker at the insinuation. Robin had been making eyes at Regina since Christmas and obviously those feelings were mutual. I'll have to nudge Robin into making a move soon, David thought.
As the group turned to their books, silence dominated the table. Occasionally, someone would bring up a point or question that involved group discussion, but overall David had to admit that it was a peaceful way to get homework out of the way. The young man found himself enjoying the banter between friends and the, sometimes silly, conversations that seemed to occur around all females of a certain age. It was refreshing. And spending time with Mary Margaret certainly had its benefits as well. Much to David's enjoyment, he'd even managed to make her laugh a few times.
There was only one problem the whole night. Belle French. When she wasn't steadfastly ignoring his comments, questions, or just him in general, she shot him dirty looks full of disdain. Knowing that he'd earned those looks, David did his best to make the best out of a horrible situation.
As the girls began to pack away their things, he found himself torn. He'd made plans to spend most of tomorrow with Mary Margaret, but he wanted more than anything to walk her back to the common room tonight. However, if he held back he could catch Belle and attempt to make some headway with that relationship. If he wanted to date Mary Margaret, he had to have the approval of her friends and Belle was one of those.
As Belle slung her bag over her shoulder and departed alone, David made his decision. "I'll catch you guys later," he called to the remaining girls (shooting a parting smile at Mary Margaret) before darting out after the Ravenclaw.
A flash of clothing at the end of the corridor had David racing to catch his intended goal. Reaching the cross section of the corridor he fell into step just behind the bookworm.
"Belle," he called breathlessly.
The girl stopped walking and turned curiously, giving him to time to catch up. Seeing that it was the object of her ire, Belle's face dropped back into the glower she'd worn all night. "David."
"Look," David began earnestly, "I-"
An irate Belle didn't let him finish. "You what? Do you really think there's anything for you to say to me right now?"
"I just-"
"You're the worst sort you know," she chided, picking up venom as she spoke. "You know that something is wrong, and you don't do anything to stop it. Instead you egg it on, or watch from the sidelines, or pretend that nothing is even happening. So, don't start with me David Nolan. Because I don't want to hear anything you have to say."
David felt his stomach hit the floor as Belle scolded him in righteous anger. The beautiful young woman who was kind to everyone she met, couldn't stand him. The worst part was that he didn't have any defense for himself. Correct as ever, Belle lay his sins out in front of him without hesitation.
Swallowing his pride, David answered her accusations with the only words he could think up. "You're right."
"And anoth- …" Belle paused as confusion swept away her fury. "What?"
"I said, you're right," the Gryffindor repeated. Shock overran any other emotion Belle might have displayed in that moment. Taking advantage of that, David plowed ahead. "I'm the worst sort of person. I, I've known that James and Killian and all of them were out of line for years now. But I've never done anything about it. Stopping them from going too far a few times doesn't wipe out the times that I just walked away or pretended it wasn't wrong."
Guilt that had been building within him for years spilled out at the feet of an angry woman. David might have come to Belle to beg for forgiveness just so he could date her friend, but now he found himself begging her forgiveness because he knew he needed to take a stand. He'd put of facing these truths for far too long because it terrified him. But for Mary Margaret, he could brave anything.
"I'm sorry," he continued his voice gruff with emotion. "I know that doesn't erase anything, but I truly am. If I could go back and make different decisions I would, but…"
Realizing that words had failed him, Belle's gaze softened minutely. "You shouldn't apologize to me."
"I know."
"Why then?"
David sighed. "I'm not sure you would understand."
"Try me."
Glancing up and down the deserted corridor, David leaned heavily against the wall and looked down at the books clutched in his hands. Gathering himself, he admitted a truth he hoped would never become common knowledge. "My father was a Death Eater. He was never very prominent within that circle, but he held enough sway to be sent to Azkaban after the war. I haven't seen him in years. Mum refuses to have anything to do with him."
A soft gasp had escaped Belle, but other than that the girl was completely silent as she waited for David to continue his tale.
"I guess…" the Gryffindor swallowed a hard lump in his throat. "James and I, we've looked out for each other since then. We he was sorted into Slytherin and started hanging around Killian I knew it could end badly. But he's my brother. His friends are my friends and vice versa."
A silence snuck between them as David tried to put his reasoning into words. But it seemed that Belle's resolve finally broke. "That doesn't give you the right to torment someone for four years David." The fire was back in the bookworm's voice.
"You don't understand," he pleaded. "My father's reputation followed James and I. No one wants to be friends with a Death Eater's kids. Especially not here. We had to find a way around that. Especially with me being a Gryffindor. Gold stands for everything that was wrong with the Dark Lord's ideology. He and his father are the worst kind of wizard Belle. Taking a stand against that showed everyone where our true loyalties are."
"But Rumpelstiltskin is not his father!"
"He holds the same beliefs."
"How do you know that?" Belle questioned practically yelling now. "Have you ever actually asked him what he believes?"
"I didn't have to. Everyone knows he hurt that muggle kid during the summer before our second year. He picks on students who are muggleborn as well."
This news obviously startled his companion. "What muggle kid? And which muggleborn students?"
Realizing that she obviously didn't know as much about the person she was defending, David took a gentler tone. "Ask him about the first. And as for the muggleborns, Eric and Phillip are prime examples."
Belle scoffed his final statement but turned the conversation. "That still doesn't give you the right to pick on someone four to one."
"I know," David admitted. "I know and that's why I've tried to hold them back. But it isn't easy when you know that the kid they're picking on deserves it."
The young woman's eyes flashed dangerously. Feeling a surge of fear David took a step back as she leaned towards him. "You listen to me David Nolan," she spat, "he doesn't deserve half of the shit that's happened to him. Especially not being tormented by pricks like you and your buddies who are looking to make themselves feel better by beating up an easy target. You just told me about how you're trying to get away from your own father's actions and then have the audacity to tell me that Rumpelstiltskin deserves everyone's hatred because of his father?"
She had him pinned to the wall with one finger digging into his chest. David felt his chest constrict as Belle leveled him with truths he'd been ignoring for far too long. And she wasn't finished yet.
"If you want to know what he believes or thinks, then talk to him like an actual human being. Do you really think I'd hang around someone who believed all that shite? You're using him as a scapegoat to make yourself look good. Maybe if you got your head out of your own ass, you wouldn't feel so bad about yourself all the time."
Having the kind girl curse at him was too much. David felt his beliefs begin to crumble around him. As she turned to stalk away, David grabbed her arm.
Belle whirled on him in indignation but stopped at the obvious tears welling up in his eyes. "I know," David breathed. "You're right."
Bright blue eyes widened as the star of the Gryffindor Quidditch team broke down in front of her. "David-"
"I'm sorry," he sniffled. "It's wrong. I'm wrong. I don't, don't-"
The horrified young man felt guilt that had stayed buried for far too long begin bubbling to the surface. Belle was right, he'd known that ganging up on Gold was wrong for so many reasons. But facing those, meant he had to admit he'd been a selfish prat. It seemed that under the glower of a brown headed Ravenclaw, he was finally ready to admit that.
Some of Belle's anger melted as she watched the young man collect himself. Collecting himself ever so slightly David took in a deep breath before continuing. "You're right. I'm wrong, I've been wrong. It was all just so… easy."
Belle stared at him with that hard look for a few more moments before her resolve finally broke. "I shouldn't have yelled at you like that," she admitted. "I'm sorry."
David shrugged heavily. "I needed to hear it. Needed to deal with all of this before I try to move on in other parts of my life."
Once again silence persisted between the two as David dried his eyes and came back on balance. Giving the bookworm a sheepish grin, he begged her not to tell anyone about his little breakdown.
The corner of her mouth twitched as she replied, "You're not who I thought you were David."
"Is that a good thing?"
Belle gave him the tiniest of smirks before turning to leave. "Apologize to Rumpelstiltskin. Take a stand and it might be a good thing."
David nodded as he watched the Ravenclaw girl walk away. Heading towards his own end of the hall, he almost missed Belle's parting words.
"By the way, Mary Margaret really likes you."
With a much lighter step and a heady feeling in his chest, David Nolan made his way back to the Gryffindor tower.