The Reason Why I Smile

Chapter One

-x-x-x-

She recalled seeing him before. He was pretty wild in her own eyes and exciting for sure, but all the same, the three distinct claw marks across the left side of his face always seemed to ward people away from him. She never got involved with him, in conversation or otherwise, not because of his scars, but because it didn't seem like her place. He looked as if he was happy anyway, and it had occurred to her that perhaps he had a girlfriend, or a wife even. Whatever was the cause of his happiness, she didn't feel any need to disturb it.

At least she hadn't.

"I can not do dis. No more, Bill!" A young woman a year or two older than she was could be heard trying at the man she'd only just been thinking of. "You were so beautyful! So bright, a light of adventure~ now..."

She was frowning as she listened to the woman who was insulting the young man. She listened a bit longer.

"I want my Bill back, can't zee Saint Mungo's Magik away zat...zat...zat scar?!" The beautiful woman cried out, and the man blanched before he sighed.

"Fleur, I don't know what to say,"

"Say zat you will fix it!"

The woman watching sighed as she made her way over to the arguing couple. She wasn't sure what she'd say. If she'd say anything at all, her feet were moving, and she seemed to be following along with them.

"I...I...I can not look at you with zat scar! I love you, ve are so good togezer, but zee scar is not a good look for eizer of us!" The woman missed the look of hurt in the man's eyes or ignored it altogether.

That was what had made her snap. She reached out and took hold of the young lady's ponytail and gave an annoyed tug, surprising a shocked gasp from the girl who turned with a look of confusion in her eyes. "For such a beautiful woman, you sure have an ugly personality. If you honestly loved him, then those feelings wouldn't go as far as skin-deep. Can you look him in the eyes and tell him you love him, or are your eyes drawn to a small scar?"

Fleur seemed furious at the interfering with business, not her own. "Zis is none of your buziness!"

"No, it's not..." she smiled, "I just refuse to turn a blind eye to something so petty. Besides, as loud as you're talking, you're inviting everyone to take part in this argument." She turned and eyed the redhead for a few seconds, finally letting go of the blondes ponytail, she glanced back at the girl. "Someone who has such a beautiful smile, shouldn't have to listen to your hurtful words, and he's done so far longer than necessary. He's too good for you, and you should honestly reevaluate what 'beauty' is because you have proven to be...a very...ugly person." She bowed her head to the woman who looked gobsmacked at her words. Turning to the man, she smiled, "your scars define you. Someone who fought for something they believed in, someone who had important people to protect. However, I've never known a Weasley to sit back and take such an assault on their person. You are far more beautiful than any Veela could ever hope to be, and you deserve better," once more, she bowed, then left the two in a stunned silence.

x-x-x

Bill Weasley watched the fiery blue-eyed woman walk away, a look of shock on his face. Her words weighed heavily in the air.

A slip of a girl saw him as beautiful. It was a shame, but Bill couldn't say the same thing about his fiance. He looked at the woman he had come to love and had to question himself.

Could he change for her when he was happy the way he was?

Should he have to change?

"Bill, are you lizening to me?"

Bill looked at Fleur, his eyes connecting to her disgusted orbs when she looked at him. He never thought she would look at him like that, she used to look at him with love and adoration, or so he thought. "What do you want from me, Fleur?" He sighed, "I am fine with my scars...why can't you be?"

Fleur stepped back from him, eyes narrowed, "How can you be!? Iz dizguzting!" After she said that, her hand flew to her mouth as if she didn't want to say that out loud to him.

Bill's face went blank as he heard what she said, it hurt to hear her say that to him. He didn't think their relationship would have been based on looks. It seemed like it was for her.

"If that is how you feel..." He paused, looking into her wide eyes, "...I think it would be for the best we go our separate ways." It hurt him a lot to say this to her. He loved her, but he would be damned if he stayed with a shallow woman. He wanted someone to love him no matter how he looked. He wanted to be loved for just being himself.

Fleur stood straight, tears in her eyes as she glared at him, "You're breaking up vith me?" The look of shock on her face; it wasn't unnatural to see it there when all he'd seen before was smiles.

Bill narrowed his eyes, "That is what I said." He took a deep breath, "I no longer wish to marry you, or see you for a while, if at all possible."

Fleur gave him a dark look as she processed everything in her mind. She couldn't believe this was happening, "Ve are to ve wed thiz zummar! You are gozing to break it zoff now!"

"I can't marry someone who can't accept me..." Bill gave her a meaningful look, "..and you've made it very clear that you can't..."

Fleur hissed at him, blue eyes glowing as she stood tall, "You regret thiz, Bill Weazley. You regret thiz and come cralzing back! Then I'll rezect youz!" Her accent was growing thicker as she yelled at him. She took off her engagement ring and threw it at the redhead's eyes; her face had lost some of its color compared to when they first started the conversation.

Bill picked up the diamond ring off the floor and turned to leave. He paused for a moment before he turned and looked the pale French woman in the eyes and looked her over, "..I guess my mother was right about you..." His eyes hardened, "you really are shallow." He turned and walked away, ring clenched in his hands as he tried to keep the tears from falling when he was out in public.