She loved him and he loved her,but it was not that simple -- Summer 1976

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Bella and I had been seeing each other for nearly two years now -- it would be two years at the annual yule ball that Walburga and Orion Black threw for the wealthiest and most pure of blood families.  We always went to keep the peace, now however I went to be able to see Bellatrix without having to sneak around much.  Monica knew about Bella, but kept her mouth shut for the sake of the safety that the Ollivander name provided to her and our son.

I found Bella and went up to her, easily sliding my hand into hers as she stood looking across the pond at the park.  "Hello beautiful," I whispered to her as I did so.  I was a bit of a romantic and Bellatrix was, well, a little dark to say the least.  She was seventeen now and would be going into her final year at school.  I was aware of how enthralled she was with the Dark Arts and the man who was coming to be known as Lord Voldemort.

I squeezed Gary's hand as he slipped it into my own and turned to him.  I gave him a fleeting kiss on the cheek.  I loved him.  I really did.  My family already had me paired with Rodo and he was a good choice, really.  And I would follow through with it because it was something that needed to be done.  "Do you know is going on?" I questioned softly.  "The Dark Lord is steadily rising... it is going to be magnificent."

I looked at Bella and nodded.  "I am well aware of what is going on," I said to her.  I was not sure if I would agree that it was marvelous, however.  "What are the Blacks doing about it all?"