Hey, everyone! Thank you all so much for your reviews. I personally like this chapter a lot as I've been thinking about how to write it for awhile. Originally, this was going to be the beginning of Dear Sirius, but I decided to make it the fourth chapter, instead. I hope you all enjoy it!
Reviews:
Ash-Caro-Lynn: Thanks a bunch! I can just picture all the Marauders signing their letters like that during the summers at Hogwarts when they're all away from each other.
Padfootette: Thank you! I hope you like this new chapter.
"You have everything now, right?" Leanna asked her daughters as the three made their way down the street towards the Leaky Cauldron. "We didn't forget anything?"
"No, Mummy," Cassie said, reaching forwards to grab her mum's hand. "We grabbed everything. "Can we eat lunch at the Leaky Cauldron before we go home?"
"Yes!" Brielle cheered in agreement, grabbing Leanna's other hand. "Please, Mum?"
"As long as you eat your chicken tonight without complaining," Leanna said, giving both children a stern look, though she was struggling not to smile.
"We will, Mum!" Cassie and Brielle both cheered in unison.
"Then I don't see why not," Leanna smiled, leading both girls through the gate to the back of the Leaky Cauldron. "What do you both want?"
"Cottage pie," Cassie said.
"Bangers and mash," Brielle decided after a moment of thought.
"Okay, then," Leanna said, letting go of her daughter's hands. "Go find a seat. I'll go tell Tom the orders."
Brielle and Cassie ran off to go find a table and put their bags down. Leanna went in the other direction, going up to the bar where Tom was sitting.
"Mrs. Black," he said, giving her a toothless smile. "What can I do for you?"
"Just Leanna, Tom," said Leanna with a small shake of her head. "I think I might get attacked by someone if you call me that."
"Of course," Tom said with a solemn smile, picking up a dirty glass and starting to wipe it clean. "How are you dealing, by the way? Has he tried to come see you?"
Leanna paused for a moment, not sure how to answer. She couldn't just tell Tom that Sirius had spent the night at her house.
"I'm dealing well enough, all things considered," she said after an extra moment's deliberation. "As well as I can be, anyhow. It's hard, especially with the girls and all."
"Of course," Tom agreed softly.
"But, no, he hasn't come to see me." Leanna paused to look down at her hands. When had she started twisting them into her shirt? "I almost wish he would. To get answers, you know? I thought I knew him, Tom."
"Of course," Tom said again. "You can never see that sort of thing coming."
"No," Leanna sighed, thanking Merlin Tom had believed her story. "You really can't. Anyway, I'm here to order some lunch for the girls. We've just finished our shopping."
"Ah, yes," said Tom, growing excited once again. "They're both starting Hogwarts this year, correct?" He barely paused for Leanna to nod before continuing on. "It'll be the usual, then?"
"Yes, the usual," Leanna grinned, thinking of how her daughters ordered the same thing every time they came to the Leaky Cauldron. "I don't think they'll ever change their order. I'll actually take a cottage pie too, Tom."
"It'll be right out, Leanna," Tom said with a toothless grin at the young woman. "You go sit down."
Leanna thanked Tom before quickly hurrying over to the table in the back corner that Brielle and Cassie had picked out, avoiding all the glares sent her way from different patrons.
"Everyone's staring at us, Mum," Brielle hissed as quietly as she could, staring at an older woman across the room who was glaring particularly harshly at Leanna's back.
Leanna turned to the woman and threw her her own glare.
"It's nothing, sweetheart," Leanna muttered, rubbing Brielle's back. "They're just a bunch of idiots."
"It's 'cause of Dad, isn't?" Cassie mumbled, picking at a hangnail on her finger and swinging her legs under the table. "They all think he's a murderer and now they're staring at us."
Leanna opened her mouth to answer, but then closed it again. Sometimes, she forgot how smart her kids actually are.
"Yeah, baby," she sighed, squeezing Cassie's hand from across the table in an attempt at comforting her. "But it's all going to be okay."
"Here you are, Leanna," Tom interrupted the hushed conversation between mother and daughters. "Brielle, Cassie, your food."
"Thanks, Mr. Tom," Brielle smiled, plastering on a fake grin.
"Thank you," Cassie said quietly, sending a small smile at the bartender. She had always been more shy than Brielle around people she didn't know.
"No trouble at all, girls," Tom smiled, putting the three dishes down in front of the three girls at the table. "Tell me if you need anything else."
"We will, Tom," Leanna said, waving the man off.
She picked up her fork and began to eat. Brielle and Cassie followed suit.
"Aunt Lea!" a voice called as footsteps came thudding down the steps. "Cass! Brie Brie!"
"Harry!" Cassie and Brielle shrieked, jumping from their seats and running to the black-haired boy that had come running down the steps.
"I wondered if we would bump into you," Leanna laughed as Harry wrapped his arms around her in a quick hug. She returned it briefly, thanking Merlin that the dining area was now empty. "How's your stay here been?"
"It's fine," Harry said with a shrug. "Ran into some friends that are staying for the night since we're leaving for Hogwarts tomorrow."
"Oh that's nice," Leanna said. "Who is it? Maybe I've heard of them."
"A muggleborn named Hermione Granger and the Weasleys," Harry replied.
As if on cue, a short girl with brown, frizzy hair and a tall, gangly, ginger boy came pounding down the stairs. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Leanna realized the boy was Ron.
"Harry!" the girl called, "where are you?"
"I'm over here, Hermione!" Harry called back, turning his head so he could see the girl properly. "Hey, guys, come over here and meet my neighbor. Her kids are starting their first year this year."
Leanna could practically tell the moment the red-headed boy recognized her. His eyes became wide, nearly popping out of his socket, and his ears grew the same red as his hair.
"Get away from them, Harry," he warned. "That's Leanna Black."
"I know," Harry said slowly, staring at Ron like he was crazy. "And her daughters, Brielle and Cassie." By now, both girls were clinging to Harry's arms.
"Don't you understand?" Ron nearly shouted, his entire face a tomato red. "She's Sirius Black's wife. She was his accomplice."
Leanna raised one eyebrow at the boy, a skill she had picked up from Andromeda. She was pleased to see Harry's expression nearly mimicked hers. Brielle and Cassie were glaring heavily at Ron. The muggleborn girl, Hermione, on the other hand, was staring at Leanna with wide, terrified eyes. She even went so far as to take a few steps back.
"I know exactly who Aunt Lea is, Ron," Harry said cooly. "I also know that I've known her since I was 10, longer than I've known you. If she had wanted to hurt me, trust me, she had plenty of chances."
"But," the girl, Hermione, said cautiously, as if she was scared Leanna was going to curse her, "you're a Death Eater's wife."
"My husband was nota Death Eater, girl," Leanna said, cooly, and Harry winced. He had always been good at telling when Leanna was going to get angry. "He never had the mark."
"He could have hidden it," Hermione muttered, glaring at Leanna desperately, like if she didn't the older witch would attack her. "He could have glamoured it."
"And held it up while he was asleep?" Leanna sneered. Was this girl that terrified of her? "I think not. Besides, what would a Death Eater be doing married and having kids with a muggleborn? I don't think Voldemort would have been too happy with that."
As soon as Leanna said muggleborn, Hermione relaxed. Everything was silent for a long moment, at least until a second red-head came down the stairs.
"You," the plump woman snarled, glaring heavily at Leanna. She quickly grabbed Hermione and Ron's arms and pulled the two behind her. "How dare you come anywhere near my son! Harry, quick, get away from that woman."
"Why are you all so convinced Aunt Lea's going to murder me?" Harry groaned. "I've known her for three years, Mrs. Weasley. I've slept over at her house. If she wanted me dead, trust me, she would have done it by now."
"She's dangerous," Molly sneered, gripping Ron and Hermione's arms tighter. "She's married to Sirius Black, Harry."
"Oh for Rowena's sake, woman!" Leanna snapped, nearly shouting in her frustration. "Shut up, already! I have never supported Voldemort, and I never will!" Leanna felt a sick sort of satisfaction at the flinch Molly, Ron, and Hermione all gave at the name. "I have never murdered anyone, and I plan on keeping it that way."
Leanna turned to her daughters and gently pried their hands from Harry's arms. She pulled Harry into a quick hug.
"I'll see you around, Harry," she sighed, squeezing his shoulders. "I'd rather spend as little time as possible around Molly."
"Of course," said Harry, pulling Leanna into another quick, tight hug. "I'll be sure to write Aunt Lea. Maybe we'll bump into each other tomorrow." Harry turned to Cassie and Brielle, hugging each of them. "I'll see you both on the train tomorrow. You can sit with me, yeah?"
"Sounds good, Harry," Brielle grinned.
Cassie nodded eagerly and snuck in one last hug before Leanna was pulling both girls out of the Leaky Cauldron.
Once Leanna got home, she stormed into her bedroom and locked and shut the door. She wasn't quite sure if she was upset or furious. She had used to worship Molly Weasley, and the woman had turned on her for absolutely no reason. What had she ever done to Molly. Absolutely nothing, that's what.
Leanna sunk down to the floor and buried her face in her hands. She stayed like that for several minutes before a slight scratching at the door caught her ear. She stood up and opened the door, letting the big mass of fluff into her room.
"Hello, Bagel," Leanna sighed, flopping back down on the floor to wrap her arms around the huge dog's neck. "I suppose you still love me, don't you?"
Leanna was rewarded with a big, sloppy kiss, and she couldn't help but laugh. Something about dogs had always made her feel that much better about herself.
"I love you too, sweetie," she grinned at the dog, pressing a kiss to his furry cheek. "Now, I suppose I'll write a letter to Sirius. It has been about a week since he last wrote."
Nodding to herself, Leanna stood and left the bedroom, smiling at her daughters as she passed them. Bagel loyally followed her all the way to the office where she sat down at the desk and pulled out a quill, ink bottle, and piece of parchment.
Dear Snuffles,
How are you? It's been almost a week. I'll admit I get very worried about you being out there alone. Have you reached your destination, yet? Are you safe? Merlin and Morgana, please tell me your safe. I ran into Molly Weasley today. Dear Rowena, I wanted to curse her. We were at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch, and we saw Harry. Now, Harry's friends came downstairs and the boy, Ronald Weasley of all people, said I was your wife. Of course, the muggleborn girl, Hermione Granger, got all freaked out by this. Then, Molly comes down the stairs and has the nerve to call me your accomplice, as if I WAS A DEATH EATER TOO! I really do not like that woman, Snuffles.
Miss you bunches.
Love,
Leanna
