The Flight Of The Vulture

Chapter 16: Facing The Music

May 20th, 1963

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday when Vivi and Belle shut the store and decided to venture out a bit together. Belle had decided not to travel this particular weekend because Brownie had recently laid a nest of eggs. Belle knew she couldn't keep all four of the birds that would eventually emerge. Vivi had already claimed a pair for herself, asking for Belle's help in raising them and eventual breeding.

Vivi had also recently offered Belle a full partnership in the business. Belle was considering it, but knew that there was still so much of the world she wanted to see yet. Would she want to be tied down to one place?

She pondered it greatly as they visited the nearby muggle town. It wasn't much of anything, it was as Vivi explained, a 'blink and you will miss it,' sort of place. There were a few shops, a theater, a few restaurants, a church and a record shop. Otherwise it was just old looking homes and a school that sat at the end of town.

They wanted to visit the record shop. She and Vivi shared a love for muggle music. Belle could choose her own music now, she wasn't contained to what was smuggled into school. For the town being incredibly small, they somehow always procured the best music. Vivi suspected it was because a lot of Moda residents visited it, so albums sold quickly and there was a big demand.

Belle had another reason she liked this particular record shop. There was a muggle there who she couldn't stop thinking about.

There was something different about this muggle. He was certainly handsome, no doubt about that. She really liked his light blue eyes and his broad shoulders. What she liked most was the color that seemed to surround him. It was a deep blue color that sparkled and danced around his frame. She wondered if it was her imagination, but there was something magical about him.

Every time she'd been to this record store, they didn't exactly speak, but they nodded at each other. She'd even seen him smile at her and his whole face would turn completely red. 

It felt different when he smiled at her. No one, not even Gideon, had made her heart flutter like this. She hadn't attempted dating while in Moda, she was honestly too busy and too focused on her own personal freedoms. There had been a few blokes who had showed interest at a few of Vivi's parties, but they were never very serious. She was somewhat still feeling the slight guilt of never actually breaking up with Gideon. McGonagall said he was doing great as an Auror though. Besides, she hadn't been in contact with him in nearly a year. He must know things were over.

"You could just say hello to him you know?" Vivi suggested over her shoulder as Belle looked at him at the cash register. "In my experience, staring at people from a distance doesn't exactly get you anywhere."

"He's a muggle." Belle answered sharply back. She'd only spoken to muggles when it was completely necessary.

"So?" Vivi asked with a giggle.

Belle laughed, it was just her parent's prejudice coming out of her. "So, isn't it more complicated with Muggles?"

Vivi laughed leaning her elbow on Belle's shoulder, "Not since Rappaport's Law was repealed."

Belle laughed a little. It had been illegal in America for muggles to marry magical folk. Her father had thrown a fit when it was made legal, saying America was a foul country.

It became more interesting as Belle considered it. It would be thrilling to at least flirt with him. She could figure out something to say.

Belle nodded to Vivi, "I'll give it a go. I guess. I'm a bit rusty though."

"You are barely eighteen Belle, you can't be rusty." Vivi mentioned, "And he's probably nicer than those British school boys you went with."

Belle laughed, "I mean, more than likely."