The Flight Of The Vulture

Chapter 11: The Smudges Of Life

July 1st, 1997

Belle hadn't been inside of the castle in over two decades, she wished she were there on better circumstances. Instead she found herself striding through the hallways in a complete tizzy. Her knowledge was slightly blurry when it came to events. She knew Dumbledore was dead, attacked and killed by Severus Snape. Death Eaters had made their way into the castle, fought off by Order of The Pheonix members and a few members of Dumbledore's Army.

Unlike last year, where she had been relieved to find her daughter hadn't run into the line of fire, this year she'd received notice of her daughter's involvement. It was early morning when she'd finally arrived to be at her daughter's side.

Samantha had been set on fire and her wounds were apparently extensive. She'd been saved from further damage by an Order member, but it was never the news Belle could have ever wanted.

She had hoped when she opened the letter that it was news of her son. Even just a letter proclaiming he was alive would be enough for Belle.

It had been six months since he'd left, taking what was his. After a long and arduous argument on Christmas Eve, he'd proclaimed his love for suspected Death Eater, Hilda Burke. They met in Hogsmead and he said she understood him on every intellectual level. She was also quite a bit older than him. Belle could do nothing as he left, he was an adult. He could do whatever he wanted, but she felt like she had failed him.

Belle had never felt more empty in her life than she had over the last six months. She'd even shuttered her store. She wanted the flexibility to just leave and find her son if he needed to come home. She took a few mail orders to keep the home afloat, but her creativity had taken a major dive.

Now, Belle felt like she'd failed her daughter. She hadn't protected her well enough. 

Belle arrived at the Hospital Wing where Madame Poppy Pomfrey looked like she hadn't aged a day.

"Oh good Belle!" Poppy exclaimed leading her through the Hospital wing.

There was a beautiful woman with silky blonde hair in the back corner sitting beside a man who was asleep. The man's face was completely covered in bandages.

Samantha's bed was hidden by a curtain. It was in the center of the wing. Beside her, in another bed a young man slept soundly. Belle assumed her daughter hadn't been the only one injured.

Poppy hastened Belle inside the curtain where she saw her daughter asleep on her stomach. Her untouched arms were above her head and her hair lay around her like a crown. A bit of her beautiful hair had been singed off. Belle was sure she could at least help her regrow that. The burns stretched from the bottom of her spine to just beneath her scalp. The scars were open and oozing puss.

"Scarring will be permanent unfortunately. Magical fire often can't be reversed, by even practiced hands." Poppy said as she began applying ointment to her daughter's back. "When she wakes, she will be in a fair amount of pain. Plenty of rest afterwards for her. She has a slight concussion, but that's no trouble once she is awake. For now, we let the wounds air out. I'll wrap them in a bit."

As Poppy continued her work on Samantha, Belle asked to pull up Samantha's hair and fix the singed part.

Poppy agreed and let Belle do her work. She used a hair regrowing spell before pulling it into a braided bun atop Samantha's head.

Afterward, Belle had to step out from behind the curtain. She was about to lose her breath. Belle hated crying, but in this distinct moment she couldn't help it. She found herself sobbing intensely. Everything in the world came crashing onto her shoulders. Her family was in shambles. It was everything she'd ever feared, her son was gone and Samantha was going to end up dead, or worse like-