Blue Belle {Fred Weasley}

Chapter 107

It was the middle of the night and Belle left her bed to tip-toe down the hall. She pushed open the twins' room door and slipped into the room. Her head was surprisingly clear that night thanks to Regulus' wise words but that didn't hinder her from seeking comfort in the early hours of the morning.

Fortunately for her, Fred was sat awake... reading? He glanced up from the page and smirked, patting the bed beside him as he shut the book, tossing it under the bed. As she climbed into his bed, nuzzling into his side like a little bear, cozying up and exhaling softly.

"What were you reading?" She asked him quietly, careful not to wake George who was snoring in the bed across the room from them. His hair was disheveled and his mouth was wide open, arm hanging off of the edge of the bed.

"Nothing much," he ran his fingers through the tips of her messy blue hair, twirling them. "Why's that?"

"I didn't have you down as much of a reader, that's all. So what was the title?"

"I already told you. It's called 'Nothing Much', I found it under the bed when I was hiding some tubs of puking pastels." Chuckled Fred which made Belle frown a little. "It's alright, I should have made it clearer. It's not really tickling my fancy but I couldn't sleep and didn't want to disturb you or 'mione and especially not Gin, she'd have my throat."

Knowing it was not that big of a deal, but Fred couldn't help but feel guilty when he would say some unclear things. Everyday it became more and more apparent that Belle struggled understanding things, now even simple sentences were challenging. Nobody understood why, she was a bright girl- out of the academic structure- yet, now it was as if she was deteriorating.

Belle peered up at her boyfriend, her eyes big and doe-like, "you could have come and got me. I wouldn't mind."

"I know, Bels, I know. Why were you not asleep?"

With a sigh she closed her eyes, "I've just been relishing in a clear mind. It's been so long since I didn't have a voice chirping away at me or a million thoughts clouded my head. The silence was blissful. I like silence, before getting involved with yourself and George and of course, Luna, I always had silence. Mum and I, we didn't talk much so it was just my journal and I. Now, I wouldn't change what I have now for the world but the silence was comforting."

"There was no voice tonight?"

"No. Thankfully. Don't get wrong, Tracy has been far better company than Enoch but it's nice not having any voice. Yes, I've called the voice Tracy. I dunno why but Tracy just seemed fitting."

"Sounds brilliant," said Fred with a hint of sarcasm but it was playful. Belle nodded happily and reached up to brush Fred's hair back. "It's getting long again, I don't know how I feel about really long locks like last year. As much I was a handsome devil, it was high maintenance and I am a man of ease. Beauty comes naturally to me. I require no effort, but with long hair I do."

"Are you getting it cut soon then?"

"Mhm. Maybe not by mum, as much as I love her, sometimes I get worried that she'll give me a buzz cut and I don't rate that look I'm afraid. Not on myself, anyway. Do you want to do it?" He suggested, kissing her forehead afterwards, his lips lingering and his arms wrapping around her tightly.

She held onto his forearm, a warmth draping over her and filling her up with love and care. She hadn't felt this free in years. Despite, being engulfed in Fred's arms she wasn't not tied down.

"Me? I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?"

"I'll give you a buzzcut."

"Ha. Ha. Funny you are."

Belle grinned widely, sitting up and staring at Fred with eyes filled with love and adoration. He really was one of the best things to ever happen to her. The voices didn't give her much time to take much notice of her surroundings, even to the point where Fred was just there. Now it was as if she was enlightened, Fred was so bold and bright in front of her, like she was seeing him for the first time again- only this time she loved him already.

"Do you want to take a picture? It'll last longer than you staring at my handsome face."

Belle rolled her eyes and leaned forward and kissed him softly. Fred's hands rested on her waist as hers were on his cheeks. It was a short, tender kiss interrupted abruptly by a loud snort from George who rolled over and wiped his nose with the back of his hand.

The pair broke apart with a snigger and glanced at George who was coiled up, cuddling his duvet into his chest. "So adorable," muttered Belle.

"Uh, excuse me Miss Florence, wrong twin."

She playfully nudged her boyfriend and moved to lay back down beside him. "You're adorable too, don't worry, Fred. We should probably sleep, you know."

"Probably but I'm wide awake."

"Same."

"This isn't good then, is it?"

The night slipped past them quickly, neither one sleeping at all. They did not really talk. Not verbally. Only lying on the bed in each other's arms, their eyes speaking for them as they fiddled with each other, Fred occupied himself by nonchalantly twiddling  her hair- he truly loved her hair and she found comfort in him playing with it, despite her own self-loathing for her blue locks. She drew shapes on his chest, her fingers grazing the thin fabric of his pyjama top but they kept their eyes connected.

You can tell a lot about what someone is thinking or feeling by their eyes. Fred saw deep into Belle's, she kept a lot cooped up and hidden so hers were very mixed but in those hours of the night, love vanquished them all. It was relieving to see it, she hadn't had a sparkle in her eye for a while and no matter how much Fred tried to cheer her up he couldn't seem to make a difference. A cloud had moved now, the light was on full show.

His Belle, his lovely Blue Belle, was returning.