|In The Dark|

65

How I Choose To Live

ANNABELLE LUPIN-BLACK

Draco's been asleep for about an hour and I was working on my homework. Then I heard the pounding on the door. I flinched and looked up. "Draco!" the voice yelled. I glanced over and Draco was fast asleep. Luckily the sleeping potion would keep him that way even with all the racket. "Draco, hurry up, mate!" the voice yelled again. I sighed and went to the door. I opened the door just a crack and Theo stood there. "Belle?" he said in confusion. "Shhhh!" I said quickly. His face faltered. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "Draco was helping me with my homework and he fell asleep." I lied. He laughed. "That boring, huh?" he teased. I chuckled. "Apparently." I said. He smiled. "Well, since you're here..." he said, cocking an eyebrow. "What?" I asked. "The party. Come. It'll be fun." he said. I shook my head. "Sorry, Theo. I have to-" I started. "Belle, I wouldn't let anything happen to you." he said. My face fell. "I know that's what you're worried about." he said. I looked down and my cheeks burned. "Enzo, Blaise, Pansy, Astoria and I will all be there. You'll be fine." he said. "Theo, I just don't think it's a good idea." I said quietly. He sighed. "Right," he said. I forced a smile. "I'm sorry." I said. He shrugged. "I know you are, Belle." he said. Then he turned to leave. I shut the door and Draco's eyes fluttered open. "Go to the party, Anna. It might be the last one in a while." he said tiredly. Then he fell back asleep. I paused. Then I remembered something dad used to say.

I opened the door back up and Theo was at the end of the hall. "Theo!" I yelled. He stopped and looked at me. I ran down the hall to meet him. "I can die in any way the fates choose. That part isn't up to me. What I can choose is how I live." I said. He smiled. "My dad used to say that to me. And he's right. So let's go." I said. He smiled brightly and we went downstairs. There were bright lights and decorations and music and drinks. People were dancing and talking. It was a party. We went over to our friends and when they saw me, they all started cheering. "Do my eyes deceive me or is Annabelle Lupin-Black at our party?" Blaise said. "Yeah, it's me. Don't cream your pants." I teased. They all laughed. "Do you want a drink?" Astoria asked. "No thanks." I said. I felt Theo's eyes on me but I ignored it. "Pans, shall we?" I asked. She smiled as I pulled her up. Then we went to the dance floor. As we danced and jumped around, I couldn't stop smiling. "I'm glad you're here, Anna." she said. "Me too." I said.

THEODORE NOTT

Blaise, Enzo, and I sat on the couches as we watched everyone in the room. When Astoria returned with drinks, she passed them out and then she sat on my lap. She kissed me and she tasted like firewhiskey. I wanted to pay attention to her, I really did. But I couldn't keep my eyes off Annabelle. The way she swayed to the music, her breasts bouncing up and down, her hair flowing. God, she was gorgeous. Astoria pulled my chin to face her and she kissed me again. "Astoria, why don't you go dance with them?" Blaise said. "Yeah, that would be hot." I said. She smirked and stood up. She went and joined them. "You're welcome." Blaise said. "What?" I asked. "You couldn't stop staring at Anna dancing. At least now you can watch and Astoria will think you're watching her." Enzo said. I scoffed. "I wasn't watching Belle." I said. "Yeah right." Blaise said with a laugh. I rolled my eyes and took a sip of my drink. "She's changed. I don't know when or why, but she did." Blaise said. I stared straight ahead. "I know you've noticed." he said. "I don't know what you're talking about." I mumbled. "She's got a fire in her. Remember what she was like before everything." he said. I shrugged. "Remember how she used to cause trouble in Snape's class or how she used to carry that camera around everywhere. She's herself again." he said. I drank my whole glass of firewhiskey and winced as it burned. "She hasn't been smoking or drinking. She's laughing, making jokes. She's at a party for fucks sake. That's gotta show you something." he said. It did. She was at a party. That's a big deal. "She hasn't given up. She wants to live. I know it." he said. "Just stop, Blaise. I'm with Tori." I snapped. He sighed. "You don't love her." Enzo said. I looked at him sharply. "You don't love Astoria. We can all tell." he said. "I do love Astoria." I snapped. "Mate, we get it. You're scared to get hurt again. But something changed. You need to give her a second chance." he said. I know what changed. I know the reason she's fighting again. It's not for me. "I love Astoria. Now drop it." I spat. Then I stood up and walked over to her. I pulled Astoria into a kiss. "Let's go upstairs." I whispered. She smirked and we went to my bedroom. She's nothing like Annabelle. She's pretty and she knows it. But Annabelle is special. She elevates herself. If only they knew that the reason Annabelle is different is because she's fighting to keep Draco alive. That's right. She's changed because he's changed. She's just as marked as he is.