Holy shoot over 100 reads? Thanks guys : )
-Hannah
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Being a second year was indeed less stressful than a first year. The professors knew everyone already, the students had already made friends, and they'd already been sorted into their houses. Plus, they had some power over the first years who looked up to all of the older students. One thing Belle had noticed was that the first years did look short, even to her, who'd only grown an inch over the past summer. They looked like little toddlers walking for the first time. Belle wondered if she looked like that when she first arrived.
Just like first year, classes did fly by fast and soon Belle found herself three weeks into the school year already. It was a Saturday, and Quidditch tryouts were scheduled for before lunch. James was going, as was Sirius and Eileen, but Belle had politely declined. She'd been terrible at flying last year when they did mandatory broom lessons with Madam Hooch, who hated Belle with a passion. It was mostly because the first two classes Belle refused to leave the ground due to her fear of heights. So she stayed in her dorm when the other girls left to watch Eileen tryout, leaving her alone.
It had only been forty-five minutes and she'd already completed her homework, taken a shower, and cleaned up her side of the room. She was bored, even more bored than she'd been over the summer when her father wasn't home to take her to the hospital to talk with her mother. After a few minutes of staring out the open window, she got up and went to go brush her wet hair and dry it with the spell she had recently learned. But as she passed the large body mirror next to the bathroom, she paused. Slowly, she stepped back until she was right in front of the mirror.
Belle had never truly looked at herself, and now that she did, she couldn't help but notice flaws and more flaws, especially in her face. Her eyes were too big, her lips too small, her nose too bulky. Her brown hair was lifeless and thin, and the freckles that covered her nose were hideous. Her eyes, which were normally a vibrant hazel, looked boring. She wasn't naturally stunning like Rose, she wasn't nicely tanned like Eileen, she wasn't extravagant looking like Lily. She was plain, boring, brown hair and muddy eyes. She was Boring Belle. How fitting.
She stepped away from the mirror, now viewing her full body. She had a flat chest, and a flat bottom. She looked like a child, unlike Rose who had filled out over the summer. She wasn't athletically fit like Eileen. She didn't have Lily's utter confidence that made anyone turn and gawk at her. She was bulky, and short, and seemed to have too much extra fat in her legs and arms. Bulky Belle.
Her style isn't as cute as theirs. She doesn't strut around like they do. She didn't speak her opinion on everything like they do. She doesn't wear size A bras like they do. She wasn't like them. She read books while they made more friends. She drank pumpkin juice while they drank tea. She ate too much while they ate just enough. She was weird, James and Sirius both said it themselves. Bizarre Belle.
Bizarre, Bulky, Boring, Bizarre, Bulky, Boring.
The words seemed to run on replay though the girl's mind. A frown overcame her lips and her stomach dropped down by her feet. How weak she was.
The door creaked open, and the voices of her friends laughing filled the room, where Belle scrambled up from the floor. Not only were the girls entering, but the boys as well, all laughing and smiling. They were probably talking about me, Belle thought. She calmed herself, putting on a fake smile as she stood awkwardly next to the dresser she and Rose shared. The laughter quickly faded when Lily called the girls' name.
"Belle? Are you okay?"
All heads turned in Belle's direction, making her face flush even more than it already had.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" She chuckled nervously, hoping to merlin her eyes weren't red.
"Your eyes are red." Eileen pointed out, a look of worry on her face. "Have you been crying?"
"No - no, I don't cry." She laughed, though the fake-ness of it was clear to everyone. "How was Quidditch tryouts?"
"Oh! It went amazing! Guess who made the team?" James giggled like a child, clapping his hands.
"And guess who didn't." Rose snorted, nudging Sirius. The boy glared at her.
"Shove off, Rosie."
"Oh, Belle, I made it! I'm the first ever second year girl to make the team! How cool is that?" Eileen asked, her eyes showing pride and confidence; two of the things Belle didn't have right now. Belle smiled at the girl through clenched teeth, making Remus and Lily frown.
"That's great!"
-- -- -- -- --
Belle sat with Remus in the library, reviewing Potions for their upcoming test. She'd been devoting herself to her studies recently, which seemed to be a good distraction. Remus and Lily had still not forgotten the scene in the dorm but have yet to confront the girl about it. They were hoping Belle would tell them herself but too much time was passing. About a month and a half had passed and Belle had yet to get a letter from her father. She tried to convince herself that it had just slipped past her father's mind to write to his only child, but she had a bad feeling her father was avoiding something. Something that most likely had to do with her mother.
"Belle." Remus whispered, nudging her leg with his foot underneath the table. Belle looked up from her Potions textbook, eyebrows raised.
"Yea?"
"Can I talk to you in the hall?" He nodded towards the hallway, where the two could talk without getting shushed. Belle nodded though confused. Once the two were safely out of ear's distance from Madam Pince, Remus begun to talk.
"Lily and I, we knew- know- you were crying in the dorm that day."
Belle groaned, shaking her head.
"Remus that was a month ago."
"We know, but thats not the point. Why were you crying? You can tell me, Belle."
Belle looked him dead in the eyes and locker her jaw.
"'llI tell you when you tell me."
"Belle, I really can't-"
"Well, Remus, I really can't. Looks like we're all unhappy."
"Why are you being this way?" He huffed, slightly annoyed. Belle had been touchy all month, and none of her friends could figure out why.
"Maybe this is the real me." Belle shrugged, her temper rising. Little did she know that the remaining Marauders had stumbled upon the two, and were hiding behind a weird statue a little ways away.
"This ins't you, Belle. Don't try to play it off like that."
"That's where your wrong, this is me. Your just finally seeing how disgusting I really am!" She raised her voice, freezing when she realized what she said. Great, now Remus was going to think she was a freak as well.
"Disgusting? What - Belle you are not disgusting." Remus gaped, looking at his best friend who looked so small right now.
"Yes I am, Remus. No need to sugar-coat it, I am."
"How are you even slightly disgusting, Brielle?"
"My eyes are too far apart, I'm too short, I'm too bulky-"
"Shut up." It was now Belle's turn to gape at Remus, who never uttered such blunt words to anyone before.
"Excuse me?" She said.
"Belle, shut up. You're not disgusting. You know who's disgusting? Moaning Myrtle. She's disgusting." Belle looked down, but a smile had accompanied her face. She glanced up at Remus before blushing.
"You think so?"
"Yea, you're- uh- cool." Remus said awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. Belle giggled, nodding her head.
"Thanks Remus, you're cool too." She smiled.
"Thanks." The two sat in an awkward silence for a moment, before speaking at the same time.
"I should go-"
"I need to go-"
They both chuckled, before Belle nodded at him and went the opposite direction, a light skip in her step.
This was the happiest she's felt in a long time.