The Flight Of The Vulture

Chapter 8: What Do Children Really Tell Us Anyway?

June 19th 1996

Belle was bittersweet about returning home after their trip to America. She was glad to be home and glad that in just a few days she would be picking up her children from the train station. She loved Ed's family, but there was the obvious disconnect she could never fully express to them. The disconnect that they were all in separate worlds. They had to lie about a great many things. Many things which did not always play to their favor.

His family thought Belle was odd for sending her children to a boarding school. They also thought that Ed was the only one working. She could say she was a designer, but what if they asked to see her designs or asked where her shop was? Lying was easier than breaking the law.

Her Augury birds had been safe in her mobile aviary that she could carry along, but they did not like being contained for long periods of time.

She had only heard slight news from her children, she knew Sammy had been in a lot more trouble than Belle could have ever possibly imagined. She'd been busted along with a gaggle of other students for participating in something called, Dumbledore's Army.

Belle realized she couldn't control her daughter's choices, it would only make her rebel more. The whole ordeal just reminded her of the days before the war truly began. She worried greatly for the safety of her daughter. Her grades were still practically perfect and she had her OWLs this very week, so Belle tried to just focus on that for Sammy.

Jack on the other hand, had kept a relatively low profile. He only had a few detentions and he had become a distinguished member of something called, The Inquisitorial Squad. He was being praised for his intellect and Quidditch skills. It was nice to not worry about him, even if briefly. He was sparser in letters than ever, but Belle assumed it was just because he was being a hard working student.

Belle planned to check her shop in Diagon Alley and begin preparations to reopen. She knew that wouldn't be an easy task. She could possibly have a pile of new orders for the summer wedding season.

She stopped first at The Leaky Cauldron for a coffee. It was crowded for an early Friday morning. Why would it be so crowded and why did everyone have a copy of the Quibbler in their possession?

Belle made her way to the counter where an older woman with a badger on her hat had a copy of the Quibbler in her purse. She was talking to Tom, the owner of the pub.

"Yes, six Hogwarts students, with Harry Potter among them, and Members of the Order Of The Pheonix." The older woman explained. "They apparently fought all those escaped Death Eaters. Most escaped I believe." 

"You can't be serious though. You-Know-Who really back, and seen by the Minister himself." Tom shook his head in disbelief as the woman's coffee was poured.

"You mean former Minister." The woman smirked, "He resigned."

"I'll believe it when I read it in the Quibbler. Seems to be only real truth anymore." Tom argued holding up his copy. It looked like a cartoon of a bulbous woman in pink was stepping upon Hogwarts. Belle couldn't read the title or the author, but she considered buying a copy for herself.

"All of those children were fifth year and below. They were able to fight off wizards twice their age! It's amazing they all lived through such an ordeal."

Belle's heart shot into her throat. She had a fifth year student, one who was in the same house as Harry Potter. One who had joined a rebellion. One who she believed would run right into a fight.

"Codswallop." Tom responded to her and handed her a cup of coffee.

"I only know this to be fact because my dear sister in law's boy was among them. To think, we all believed he'd never amount to very much." The woman handed Tom a few knuts and he walked away for more coffee.