Chapter Six
The next morning, Molly had prepared breakfast for the whole table before leaving with Arthur. The Aurors did not get back to the house until very late the night before, so Sirius was the only one up and enjoying her infamous French toast.
A very sleepy-looking Ginny walked into the kitchen and grabbed herself a coffee before sitting near the older man. "Morning gorgeous," he smirked and she flipped him off. "Hey now, where is the temptress that I was sitting with last night?"
"That 'temptress' got woken up really early this morning by her boyfriend slamming around in the bedroom trying to quietly join me in bed. He had a rough night apparently, and wasn't too happy about being on look-out with tantrum Tonks" she said between sips of caffeine.
"I heard that," Remus said, walking into the room fresh out of the shower. He kissed the back of Ginny's head before grabbing his own plate of breakfast, and placing one in front of her as well. "Coffee isn't food darling. Are you working today?"
"Yeah I have to be at a Quiddich match tonight, I was thinking of inviting Larissa along – give her the VIP treatment."
"Well I was hoping that I could steal her for tonight," Sirius said. "And you too Remus, I want all of us to go out for dinner."
"Does this mean we get to meet your lady-friend?" Remus asked.
"Haha, you would ask that. I just thought it would be nice for Larissa to enjoy the company of people a little closer to her age."
"How old is she?" Ginny asked.
"Over 200 years," he smiled.
"It's impolite to reveal a lady's age, you dolt," Larissa said, entering the room. Apparently forgetting her housecoat, she sat at the table in her skimpy human lingerie and put her head on Sirius' shoulder. "I hate waking up at human hours, and I'm out of synth-pills, so I need to go to Knockturn Alley today, pretty please."
"Synth-pills?" Hermione asked, up and completely dressed, as usual. "You mean synthetic blood! I read about those, do they actually work?"
"Do you have any bite marks on you?" asked Larissa, to which Hermione nodded. "Well then I guess they are."
"I chose to write an essay when I was at Hogwarts about the use of synthetic potions as placebos; very interesting history with the Ministry of Magic."
"Not interesting in the least!" contended Larissa. "Lord Alucard had a difficult time even getting the Ministry to acknowledge vampires as Magical Individuals. Once we had representatives in the office, their recognition began to expand, and then vampires started to pass bills...but that was all in the late 1800s; it took a long time for us to get here."
"I can take you to the Alley," said Remus. "I need to pick up Wolf's Bane for the next month, I'm completely out."
"Thanks handsome," she said, lifting her head as Hermione had placed some pancakes near her to eat. Once everyone was done breakfast, showered and ready for the day, Remus met Larissa in the front lobby of the house.
"We can take my car love," she said, grabbing her keys from the small table and looking over herself once more in the mirror.
"Are you sure about that? I can't drive stick," he muttered with a smile.
"Who said you were driving?"
Sirius came into the hallway to see them off, telling Remus he would let Tonks know where he was when she decided to wake up. And with that, they left, Larissa in her sun-protecting clothes, lighting a cigarette on her way to her sexy black car. He made his way back to the sitting room, grabbing his book before relaxing in his favourite chez-lounge. The mangy Kreacher hobbled into the room shortly after, carrying a dusting cloth and pretending to clean.
"Master, the rest of your guests awoke and would like brunch. Kreacher cannot debase himself to serve them. Where is the blood-traitor woman?"
"You insignificant thing, Molly isn't here for the rest of the week, so you have to serve them or I will give you the beating you deserve. Now bugger off and leave me alone!"
"Blimey, I come here to talk, and this is my greeting?" Harry asked, standing in the doorway. Kreacher passed him, in grave disgust, but Harry ignored him.
"Sorry son, I'm almost at my wits end with that miserable elf. What did you need to talk about?"
"I wanted to practice my engagement speech...if you don't mind?"
The black Ferrari pulled up outside the Leaky Cauldron, and the two adults got out. They were truly a sight, as both of them looked gorgeous in just everyday clothing. Remus walked around and met her on her side of the car and placed a hand on the small of her back to lead her inside. Larissa strode through to the back of the pub and out the side door to the secret passageway that leads into Diagon Alley. The witches and wizards they passed could not help but stare at the mysterious couple; most of them recognized Remus, but Larissa was a beauty unto herself.
When they reached the wall separating them from the Alley, Remus tapped his wand on the secret bricks, and they moved aside for the two to walk through.
"They should really make this a lot simpler," Larissa complained, dusting pieces of brick off of her sleek dress.
"Then anyone could get through," Remus said, directing her towards Knockturn Alley.
"Would that be such a bad thing?" asked Larissa. "I mean, the 'muggle' world is getting used to the idea of vampires and zombies, why not witches and wizards?" To that, Remus merely replied with a scoff, and he took her by the hand past some unruly looking shops.
"I'm not a child Moony," she whispered as he let her hand go.
"I understand that, but I need to make clear that you are here with me – some warlocks can smell pure vampire blood a mile away."
They finally reached Borgin and Burkes and Larissa entered, refusing to hold the door open for him in anger. She walked up to the counter and bought him almost completely out of synth-pills. Remus ventured off in search of his necessary Wolf's Bane.
As Larissa walked through the store, staring at all the preserved creatures and shrunken heads, her eyes met a pair of blue on the other side of a showcase. She stood up and a younger man, with platinum blond hair was smiling at her, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Draco, how nice to see you," Remus said, returning to Larissa's side. His entrance was unprepared for, and Larissa's pale face turned a bit pink in embarrassment.
"Yes Remus, it has been a while, hasn't it?" Draco replied, putting his hand out to greet the man. Larissa could not get past how gorgeous the young man was; he looked so familiar and his classic beauty could only be attributed to...
"You must be Narcissa's boy" Larissa stated with a smile. "I've known your mother for a very long time, you look just like her...my name is Larissa Black. Don't worry, we are related by family only, so you can still take me home with you, if you so choose."
Draco smiled from ear to ear, but Remus knew better. "And what would your brother say to that, I wonder...well Draco, it was nice seeing you. You should stop by at the office, and we could arrange a dinner or something."
"If I get to stay in the company of this goddess, then whatever you wish Lupin," Draco said with a wink and kissed the back of her hand, before leaving the shop. Larissa's blood-red eyes followed him as he left, dirty thoughts running through her mind before she turned and looked at Remus. "Shall we go then?" she asked, to which he replied with a nod and took her by the hand, secretly noticing her roll her eyes and led her out of the shop.