Masquerade (Discontinued)

Chapter VI

Number 12, Grimmauld Place, London, England, Great Britain

Friday the 24th of July 1998

4:00 AM

"Love?"

Bella groaned and swatted angrily at whomever had addressed her. She turned over, long thick hair entangling with her pale arm. She felt a large hand caress her face, lovingly and she leaned into it and let out a sigh of content.

"Love, come on. Wake up."

Bella cracked open a green eye and could only see a tall and fuzzy shape standing over the bed that she had slept in since she was three. She groped on her night table for her glasses and she frowned when she didn't find it. She sat up, her cheeks flushed from sleep and her eyes glassy.

"Whuzzgoinon? Whersmaglassez?"

"Here, sweetheart."

She felt that same large and gentle hand slid her glasses into her hand and she placed it on her face. It slid down the slope of her aristocratic nose and it was crooked but she could still see. She frowned when she realized that she had failed to pull her hair back into either a ponytail or a braid for the night. She stared up at her fiancé and her eyes widened at the sight of him.

He was pale and there were the beginnings of dark circles beneath his eyes. His expression was strained and the crimson in his dark, dark eyes were even more apparent. He looked exhausted and ready to collapse on his feet. He still donned his black battle robes and her eyes widened when she saw that it was burnt. His hands were bloodstained but she could tell that it was not his blood.

"Tom?" she murmured, her voice hoarse from sleep. Tom nodded and he held out his hand. Bella grabbed it and stood from the bed. Her knees gave out from under her and she fell against Tom, clutching to him weakly. Tom frowned before bending and grabbing Bella up from her under knees and pulling her to his chest.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his collarbone. He walked slowly from the room and he kicked the door open, softly. His eyes widened when they fell on the Lord Black.

"I knew you were here. I sensed the Darkness enter the wards," Sirius murmured, softly. He looked almost accusatory. Tom raised an eyebrow as he stared at the man whom despised him so much.

"Yes. Why are you here?"

"Why do you have my goddaughter?"

"I'm taking my fiancée home. Where she belongs," Tom said, sharply and Sirius glared at him, fire in his grey eyes. He had a challenging look upon his face and Tom stared down at him, harshly.

"This is her home."

"Maybe. But she's mine. I fought to make her mine and I'll keep it that way. Now get out of my way, Black," Tom spat and Sirius stared at him in shock though he didn't move from the doorway. Tom rolled his eyes and pushed past him. Bella made a whimpering noise and Sirius looked up sharply as she made the noise again. Her face was screwed up into a frown.

Riddle stopped and he leaned against the wall, looking down at her with something akin to worry on his face.

"Sweetheart?" Riddle whispered and Bella made the noise again. Her eyes cracked open and she stared up at her fiancé. Sirius watched as her eyes welled with tears and her arms tightened around his neck.