A/N: my school has been canceled for the rest of the year so I might have more time to update this story depending on how they set up our online work.

Also I changed the cover but I don't know if I like it more than some other options so can y'all help me choose

Sorry for taking so long to write this chapter but it's really long so enjoy

Chapter 19: the marks on her skin

January 1977

Drawing circles on her skin.

Circles on her arms, her outer thighs, her calf's, her shoulders, her back, her side.

Cold and nimble fingers drawing circles on her skin. Finger nails barely scraping along her body making her skin tickle and crawl. The pads of the fingers and the palms were calloused. And Annabelladonna realized.

They weren't drawing circles.

They were trying to get a good grip so that they could pull her down into the cold water below. Hands made their way to her mouth, blocking her poor attempts to gasp for air until she was fully submerged. Her eyes were wide open, surrounded by  a cold stormy blue, the same blue that she had hidden in her irises. The hands pulling her down were a milky white color with uncut grey finger nails attached to them. The nails were digging deeper and deeper into her skin as they dragged her into the depth of the murky water. Her chest was so tight it felt like her lungs were about to explode, so she closed her eyes and took a breath. Waiting for that inevitable moment where the water would fill her to the brim and take her life.

But that didn't happen.

So she opened her eyes again, that heavy feeling remained in her chest, and there was an aching in her body. She woke up in her room.

But there were still bruises and crescent shaped marks left on her body, slightly bloody and they hurt like hell. Annabelladonna just put on her uniform and ignored the numbing pain as she walked down the stairs to the common room. She was surprised to find a boy clad from head to toe in red and gold.

"Hey Rem, what brings you here."

"Oh there's nothing going on I just wanted to know if I could ask you a question."

"Okay, shoot away."

"Did the boys stay in your dorm a few nights ago."

"Yeah, you kinda locked them out bud."

"Oh yeah. Right. Sorry about that by the way."

"Yeah. So why'd you have to ask, are you jealous? Cause you can stay over anytime you want. Any of you guys can. I mean why wouldn't you want to, the Hufflepuff rooms are significantly more comfortable than the other houses rooms, trust me on that."

"Ha that's funny, no I wasn't jealous. Why would I be."

"Aww you're turning red. You know, you're kinda cute when you're jealous."

"Alright I'm leaving. See you at breakfast."

"Actually about that. You kinda won't. See there's this ball at Beauxbatons and it's kinda really important and good ol' Dumbledore gave me permission to go up and spend the day there since it's a Saturday."

"Oh.. do you have a date?"

"Not really. I'm just going with my friends. Why do you ask?"

"No reason."

"What if you came with me? I mean only if you'd want." Bella was twiddling her thumbs nervously, she really wanted Remus to say yes but she knew that her chances were slim.

"I really shouldn't, I wouldn't want to scare anyone from your pretty people school with my face." Annabelladonna smushed his cheeks in while he was saying that, causing him to smile softly at the girl. "But yeah, make sure to have fun. Not too much fun. We don't want Sirius becoming an uncle just yet"

"Oh no, it's gonna be a long time before I have kids."

"Good. Sirius being an uncle would be too much responsibility for him."

"Yeah it'd be cute though. Anyways I gotta go, unless you wanna rethink my offer of you coming with me."

"I think I'm pretty good here."

"Yeah. Okay well I have to go see Dumbledore now so I'll uh catch you later."

***

"So Miss Black, I have informed Madame Maxime that you will be traveling to her school for the winters ball. But per you request I asked her to tell no one else."

"Thank you professor."

"And I have already sent some of your stuff over there to make the trip easier for you."

"Thanks, I'll see you later."

***

Annabelladonna grabbed a handful of floo powder off of Dumbledore's desk and stepped closer to the fireplace.

"Madame Maxime's office!"

Suddenly the girl was surrounded with blue walls once again and when she let the air into her lungs she knew she was home. The school smelt the same, like vanilla and parchment. The air was crisp and it circulated throughout the room. The feeling of belonging settled deep into her heart once again. Once the headmistress of Beauxbatons saw her she was ushered into a quick hug. Madame Maxime cared for all of her students but Annabelladonna was the woman's favorite. When Bella went to school there she was constantly helping out the staff as well as the students. The staff was super excited for her seventh year because they have decided to make her head girl, so when she was transferred to Hogwarts it was a disappointment to many.

(Imagine that everything underlined is in French.)

"Oh dear you look so grown up. I remember when you were just the tiniest little thing."

"It's only been a few months Miss. It is you who has grown, did you get even taller when I was gone."

"Oh I don't think so, maybe you just shrunk?"

"Yes because that is entirely possible. Anyways Miss, I think have found someone who's even taller than you."

"Who?"

"His name is Hagrid, he's the groundskeeper at Hogwarts."

"Oh I may have to meet him sometime, see if he is actually taller than me. Well I think I have taken up enough of your time, for it is not me you came to see."

"Yes I better be going. Thank you for welcoming me back Miss."

"Come back anytime dear, this is your home you can come and go as you please." With a tight lipped smile and a nod the headmistress sent Bella back out into the school.

***

Bella found herself walking to Asher and Apollo's dorm, her old safe haven. You see Bella moved into their room because the girls in her original dorm found some reason to dislike her so she found ways to avoid seeing them everyday like moving in with the boys. When she got to the door she stopped for a second, nervous about how they would react. I mean, she knew that they missed her, but she didn't know if there was any underlying resentment since she left. Before she could knock the door was forced open by her two best friends and when they saw her they just stopped and stared. Asher reacted first by placing his hands on her shoulders, making sure she was real, and pulling her into a hug. He nestled his head into the crook of her neck and laughed as he pulled her close.

Saying he was overjoyed would be an understatement.

Apollo stood behind him. He looked like he had seen a ghost. His gaze trapped on the scar lying on her cheek. He looked like Remus did when the boy focused on her scar with that guilty look in his eyes so Bella broke away from Asher and threw herself at Apollo. Wrapping her arms around her neck and forcing him to support her.

"You're an asshole Bells."

"Thank you, I try to be."

Apollo put her back onto the ground and Asher joined the hug once again, leaving the girl smushed in between the two boys.

"Bella, are you crying."

"Yes, you fat assess are crushing me and it hurts."

"Aww it's really her."

"Who did you think it was Ash, the queen of fucking England."

"Well you are starting to get your old English accent back." Asher stroked his chin in a moment of fake pondering.

"Tell me, have you been drinking tea lately." Apollo grabbed her chin and started to examine her face, as if he was looking for proof that she was someone else.

"Fuck no, tea is disgusting." Apollo slapped his hand over her mouth, pulling a face of betrayal.

"Don't let them hear you say that, they'll kick you out of England and you'll have to come back here. Actually on second thought, shout that from the rooftops."

"You're ridiculous. I missed you guys."

"We missed you too, we just about went insane without your dumb ass giving us some comic relief."

"Oh shut it Ash. Let's just get ready for the ball."

"It's not for a few hours."

"Fine, you two wander and I'll get ready."

***

Annabelladonna started the process of getting ready by doing her hair, brushing her teeth, picking out her accessories, charming her arms and legs so none of the marks on her skin would show, and painting her nails. She would save the important stuff like doing her makeup and putting on the dress for when it was closer to the dance. She got dressed again and decided to go looking for her friends.

She just wandered around the school until she ran into Asher and Apollo again and they decided to head to lunch. At first when they walked in no one paid them any attention until people started noticing that the girl was back and slowly heads started to turn towards them. A little girl, a second year to be exact, payed extra attention to the trio. Getting out of her seat and rushing to the schools visitor. Victoria Grey has landed herself right in front of Annabelladonna her head slightly bowed and a look of regret on her face.

"I never got to thank you. For saving me that night. If it weren't for you I would be werewolf chow. I never got to apologize either. You probably wouldn't have been sent away if it weren't for me."

"Oh my parents would've found something to send me away for. I have a feeling that this school didn't shape me into the person they hoped I would be. So don't blame yourself it really would've happened eventually. Just be more careful from now on, no more late night strolls during the full moon." Bella kept her voice as soft as she could manage, trying to show the young girl that she wasn't mad. The girl reluctantly nodded and went back to her friends. And Bella continued to walk with the boys until they reached the lunch table. As she sat down someone approached her from behind, covering her eyes with their hands.

"Guess who."

"Ares! Mon Nounours (my teddy bear)!" At the sound of her older brothers voice the girl jumped up and spun around, wrapping her arms around the tall boy. He patted her on the head and put his arms around her shoulders.

"How've you been mon caneton (my duckling)? Has that twin of yours been treating you nicely or do I have to have a little chat with him?"

"We've been getting along splendidly. How have things been here? And where's Gwaine, you two are always together."

"Um Bells we gotta tell you something." Asher cut in, pulling Annabelladonna onto the bench.

"Gwaine got a girlfriend." Ares and Asher glared at Apollo for being so blunt. "Sorry."

"Oh... okay. Is she nice?"

"Yeah. She's the greatest." Ares said and Asher once again glared at Apollo who could not seem to keep his big mouth closed. "Not as great as you though. No one could beat you."

"Okay, Y'know I'm not really hungry anymore so I'm gonna continue getting ready."

Bella knew that she had been over reacting, after all they had been broken up for a few months. But some part of her still thought that she and Gwaine would last forever. He was her first love, and it just hurt to know that he'd moved on so quickly. The girl tried to be happy for him, she spent the whole walk to the bathing room trying to convince herself that this was a good thing. That this was the closure that she never got. But that just made her feel worse. So she decided to take a bubble bath to try and clear her mind. She went all out. Vanilla scented bubbles, a face mask, cucumbers to put on her eyes, she put an array of flowers in, and a book to take her mind off things. She even put in her "Please Please Me" record by the Beatles. It was her favorite album from them by far and it always helped get her mind off things.

When she was done she went back into her old room and there she found Asher sitting on the foot of his bed.

"Hey Bell. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing okay Ash thanks for asking. When does that ball start?"

"In about an hour."

"Oh. Are you going to start getting ready soon?"

"Yeah in like forty minutes, I've gotta give myself time to be fashionably late."

"Funny. I'm gonna get dressed now so get out or turn around."

"Do I really have to? I mean it's not like I'd see anything new." The Frenchwoman just threw a pillow at his head, and the boy flopped onto his back and looked at the ceiling.

"Look and I'll make sure that it's the last thing you'll ever see."

"Worth it, you're fit as hell Bell."

"Just shut up already you prat."

Annabelladonna's dress was a light pink color, like cotton candy, it was the type of color that screamed soft comfort on a warm spring day. It was tight on the top and loose around the waist, the fabric flowing down gracefully into a pool of flower petals. She paired that with light pink heels, a small necklace with an A and a pink flower, light pink makeup, and a light pink purse. Her hair was held in loose curls that framed her face, making her look like a movie star.

"Okay Ash you can look now."

"Damn you look good."

"Really? Thank you."

"Oh don't pretend you don't know how pretty you are."

"I guess I do. Where's Apollo?"

"Oh he's getting ready with the boys."

"Why aren't you?"

"Well I trust that you'll make me prettier than he'll be so I'm gonna just stay here."

"Well I don't know if I can do it. It is so hard creating pretty art when your canvas looks like a stoned goblin." Annabelladonna grabbed his chin, examining his face with a sigh. "Well Cinderella I guess I can try to make you beautiful for the ball."

"Oh thank you fairy godmother. As long as you don't turn my pumpkin into a carriage, I'd rather it be a pie."

"You don't even like pumpkin pie."

"How do you know, maybe I've changed."

"Eh, you still sound like the same old Asher to me."

"Yeah, I guess I am the same. I missed you y'know. It's hard without you here. I could barely deal with the prick that we call Apollo when you were here but dealing with him alone is torture. Madame Maxime should be sent to Azkaban for making us share a room."

"Oh you know you love him. It'd be the same way if he were gone and I had stayed. We're like a tricycle, without one of the wheels it just doesn't ride as well. Now, where's your suit, we need to get you ready."

Asher fished out a suit from his closet and threw it onto his bed.

"Turn around. If I can't peek at you you can't peek at me. Solidarity."

"Not like there's anything to look at anyways." At that Asher just pushed the girl onto her back and got off the bed, turning his back to her.

"If that messed up my hair you're dead."

"Like you'd stand a chance against me."

"Well I've learned a few things since I've been gone. Mainly defensive spells but I can perform a mean instant scalping hex."

"How do you know? Have you tried it on someone?"

"Sirius made me angry."

"Well then... alright now beautify me."

"What do you even want me to do?"

"I don't know. Do my hair? Cover up my acne? Pick out some shoes for me? You know I can't accessorize for shit." The Girl just chuckled and went to his closet, picking out one of his many pairs of black dress shoes. She tied a black tie around his neck and grabbed the silver watch from his bedside table fastening it to his wrist. Bella made sure that there was not a single wrinkle on the suit, carefully smoothing it down until it was perfect. She tousled his hair, it looked better when it was messy.

"Well Cinderella I'd say that you're ready for the ball."

"Well then let's get going." Asher held out his arm and Annabelladonna looped hers into it. "So who will you be dancing with tonight Bell. Me or the Prick."

"Oh you already know I'll choose you, Apollo can't distinguish his left foot from his right. I mean, he almost broke my toe that one time. And you, well you know that Esmée practically made you into a dancing god."

"A god you say? Well what gives you the right to dance with a god?"

"Well any dance you can do I can do better. Walaburga has had me in dance classes since I learned to walk."

"You can't dance better than I can"

"Yes I can."

"Then prove it."

The two walked to the ballroom. They arrived around ten minutes after it started, still arm in arm, smiles on both of their faces. They walked up to Apollo, who was standing with Ares and Gwaine.

"Hey guys, so Bell and I had a little argument on who's the better dancer. Can you settle it for us?"

"How?"

"Just watch us, afterwards tell us who you think was better."

"Okay"

(Dance starts at 2:12)

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[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

(We worship Normani and Zendaya and we stan Val)

When the song stopped and the two were done their dances the returned to their table which now sat only Ares.

"So who do you think was better Mon Nounours (my teddy bear)" Annabelladonna asked.

"Well it's kinda a hard call since you two were dancing together and not dancing on your own but I'm gonna go with you Bella."

"You're just saying that because you're biased."

"You're right, I am biased."

"Suck my dick."

"Is that an offer?"

"No! I'm gonna go find Apollo. C'mon Bell."

"I think I'll hang with Ares for a bit, don't tire yourself out I wanna dance with you again later." The girl kissed his cheek and sent him on his way, sitting next to Ares and stealing one of his fries. "So no date today?"

"I wasn't feeling it."

"You could have any girl you want, why choose to come alone?"

"Yeah, I just have more fun alone. That's it."

"Okay."

Annabelladonna spent the rest of the ball dancing with her friends. Whether it be intricate and impressive dances with Asher or silly dances with Ares or just having Apollo flinging her around the room, she had the time of her life. She just didn't know that someone was waiting for her back at Hogwarts.
***

When it was time for the ball to end and for Annabelladonna to leave she rounded up all of her friends and said goodbye to them one by one. She knew that she would see them all during the summer since both Ashers parents and Apollo's mom were okay with her staying with them she just knew that the next few months would be hard. She already missed that feeling of warmth in her heart and she hadn't left yet. And then she saw him. Gwaine. With his arm wrapped around Désirée Du Lac. And her stomach dropped.

It's not as if she disliked Désirée, really, she was just the last person she would want dating someone that she loved. Désirée was perfect. She was smart, humble, kind, generous, you couldn't say a bad thing about her. So when they stopped in front of her her breath fell short, her heart pounding against her rib cage so hard that she feared everyone could hear it.

"Annabelladonna, we missed you around here, your really must visit soon. Everything is boring without you."

"Yeah, I really missed being here. Can you keep everyone in line for me Désirée I fear that without me here to make bad decisions someone else might decide to do it."  Bella's voice was meek and it cracked several times during her sentence but everyone ignored it. She kept her eyes locked on Désirée's because she was too afraid to look at the boy next to her. His eyes were her favorite thing about him, if she looked at them now she may never get over him.

"We really did miss you Bella, more than you could ever know."

"I missed you too Gwaine but I've got to go now. My friends back home are probably worried."

"Home?" Gwaine asked with a sad smile. The girl had formed a new life. And as happy as he was, it made him miserable to not have her at his side.

"Yeah." The Girl has only just realized what she had said. She'd called her new school home and the more she thought about it the more it sounded right. She wasn't meant to be in Beauxbatons, she might have roots there but she'd been forming connections in Hogwarts. She had her brothers, friends, she had crushes. She felt normal at Hogwarts, she wasn't insanely popular, she wasn't loved by everyone. There were people who hated her guts at Hogwarts, and for some reason she loved that she wasn't in the spotlight all of the time. It made everything more enjoyable. "It's weird but I think that over the past few months Hogwarts has become my new home. Take care Gwaine. Don't go out drinking as much, I worry." She kept her head bowed as he hugged her. Her cheek was resting against his head but she quickly pulled away so she wouldn't soak his shirt with her tears.

"I won't. Promise."

"Goodbye."

"I still care about you y'know."

"Care about your girlfriend."

"I do I'll just... miss you."

"Goodbye Gwaine."

"Okay."

Both of them turned around, tears stinging their eyes, and left the now empty room. Bella found herself in the headmistress's office, floo powder in her hand, ready to say her final goodbye to the place where she grew up. And like that, she was gone.

Exhausted was one of the many words you could use to describe her in that moment. When she was walking back to her dorm the aching in her feet made her contemplate sleeping in the hallway. Tears were still pricking at her eyes and she just wanted the day to be over already, until she saw the boy once again clad in red and gold sitting in the Hufflepuff common room.

"Hey Remus, not to be rude but why are you here." Her voice was strained. She could tell that she couldn't keep her tears at bay for much longer so she kept walking forward expecting Remus to follow and he did.

"I just thought I'd ask how the dance was, are you okay?"

"Not really. You should probably go back to your room I'm not really in the best mood right now."

"What's wrong."  At that point they had reached the girls room and she collapsed onto the nearest bed, looking at the ceiling and hearing the soft click of Remus closing the door.

"How do you move on from someone that you love?"

"I don't really know the answer to that Bells. I don't think you do. One part of you deep down will always love them you've just got to realize that maybe that persons love isn't what you need right now. You've gotta find love from other places and eventually the pain will go away." Remus layed next to Bella, shoulder to shoulder, side to side.

"Am I stupid for thinking that we'd always be together." The girl turned onto her side facing Remus, letting him the the tears rolling down her cheeks. And the boy grabbed her hand. Lacing their fingers together.

"No, you were hopeful. It's a great thing to be."

"It doesn't feel great."

"It won't for a while, but you'll look back on all of the fun times you had and you'll barely even remember this pain."

"You're really nice when you're not being a dick."

"I've heard that before."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For helping me sort my thoughts out. I'm still a little scared but I feel a lot better."

"What are you scared of?"

"Not being able to move on."

"Well if that happens you'll just need someone to help you get over him."

"Know any willing applicants."

"Well you're looking at one." The two locked eyes, examining each other's faces. Bella didn't know who leant in first but somehow their lips met. It wasn't a long kiss, it was short, tender. It started a fire in the young girls heart and it finally brought peace to the boys mind. The two laid there smiling like idiots.

"You can stay over if you want. I have lots of room."

"That'd be nice."

And so Remus stayed for the night, causing his three best friends to panic and yell at him for worrying them. But Remus was too happy to care.

Remus Lupin had crush.

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