Chapter 8
She met Lee for lunch at the Three Broomsticks, but something seemed to be missing. She remembered dates with James, and how wonderful he would make her feel. That was what it was like to be in love. She missed that, and she was not finding it with Lee. She felt guilty comparing Lee to the perfect James, but what could she do? She had known what it was like to have true love and she would forever be measuring everyone against James.
A barmaid met them at the entrance and led them to a table. They ordered butterbeers and looked at the menu. Finally, Jessica decided on a mutton, lettuce, and tomato sandwich while Lee got a hearty steak. Over butterbeer, they discussed their plans for the upcoming year.
"I don't think I can get out of Quality Quidditch Supplies, but I wish I could," Lee said wistfully. "What about you? Do you have a desire to leave the Weasley twins and their pranks?"
"Well, their pranks I could do without, but I don't think the twins could do with out me. On that night I went on a date with you, George was there after hours stocking and cleaning. They need me to do the work. You know them, party and pranks. That's all they would do if they could."
Lee laughed. "I see. You don't think you could abandon them. Do you think you would leave if given the chance?"
Their food arrived, and they were distracted for a few minutes. Lee repeated his question.
Jessica thought for a moment. "No, I don't think I would. We've been friends for so long, I don't think they could do without my help at their store."
"All right, put store aside. Given the chance, would you take a vacation from their pranks?"
"That's easy, Lee! Of course I would!" she smiled. Jessica's expression turned from one of amusement to a ponderous one. "No, actually I wouldn't. If you take away the pranks, what do you have left? The average, everyday, boring guy."
"Yeah, I guess they would." Lee looked into her deep hazel eyes. "Knut for your thoughts?"
"I was just thinking about Fred and George. Recently, George has been really moody while Fred has been a little too cheery. I think something's up."
"What makes you think that?"
"I just told you. George didn't want to let me come to this date. He's been really weird to me, but tries not to let on. In the meantime, Fred is egging his brother on. George has always been the follower, and for a while I thought Fred was getting annoyed with him, but everything went back to normal. Now that I think about it, it's overly normal."
"What do you mean by overly normal?"
"I mean it's almost faked. I'm sorry, I'm probably just reaching too deeply, but something tells me that I'm on the right track."
"You are," Lee said, then looked mortified. "I mean, you probably are. You're the best at reading people's feelings quickly, before they are covered up."
"That's what you think, and maybe I am. But for me, I'm always worried that people can read what I am feeling. James used to tell me that all a person has to do is look into my eyes and they know how I feel about something."
"Who's James?"
"A- a guy that I used to know."
"A guy. Really. Like a boyfriend?"
Jessica was in shock that she had just referred to James as a 'guy' that she used to know. "No, more than that. He was my fiancé."
"What? You were engaged once?" Lee stared at her, mouth agape.
"Yes, three years ago."
"What happened? Was he fool enough to break up with you?"
"No, he was killed. Murdered."
"By who?"
"His parents."
"His—what?"
"His parents were pure blooded and I'm half-blood."
"I can't believe it. How did his parents not love you? What's not to love about you?"
"Apparently my birth station."
"Look, Jess, I am so sorry."
"It's all right." Jessica took the last bite of her burger and looked at her watch. Her break was almost over and she had to walk back to the store. "I got to go, Lee, thanks so much for inviting me."
She reached into her purse and began to extract money to pay for her meal. Sadly, she realized that she did not have enough money. Thankfully, she did not have to reveal the fact since Lee stopped her, telling her that he would pay.
The sun was shining brightly off of the snow covered streets as Jessica left the Leaky Cauldron. She dodged a sleigh and trudged through the snow towards Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Children were having a snowball fight in a small area in which there was a fountain. Happy witches and wizards skated in a small pond. Jessica looked up at the bright sun, but she could not smile.
She was not sure exactly why. She remembered back to her talk with Lee about James. Somehow she could not help comparing his reaction to George's. She found that Lee's response was one of shock and not of tenderness as George's was. She remembered how George hugged her with the deepest compassion. I cannot love him, can I? A new dawn came over her face, but she drowned it almost immediately. She was in a relationship with Lee, not George. As Weasley's Wizard Wheezes came into view, Jessica shook her head free of thoughts of George. With new determination, she stepped into the store, resolute that she would not give in to her newly realized feelings toward George.
