Chapter 9
"So does anybody know what we're doing here?"
From the looks on the faces nobody knew. Sirius looked at his watch again as a waiter came and poured them more wine. It was nearly eight and they were all waiting for Peter to arrive. He had no idea what was happening.
An owl had arrived at four telling him that they would all be having a meal that night at seven thirty in Antonio's. Sirius had to admit that it was a nice looking restaurant and wondered where Peter had heard of it from as it was muggle and none of them had been there before.
"Are you ready to order yet?"
The waiter looked at them all and it was Frank who answered.
"We're waiting for somebody else. But if he's not here in ten minutes we'll order without him."
The waiter nodded before walking away. Sirius looked around at his friends they were all there except for Peter. Remus looked at his watch this time shaking his head.
"It's not like Peter to be late, well this late anyway. I hope he's okay."
Nobody responded. It was something that wasn't spoken about. Sometimes people just didn't turn up and were never seen again. But that wouldn't happen to Peter. Sirius took the silence to look at his friends. So much had changed over the last few years for them.
James was sat between Lily and Remus. He wondered how long it would be before James asked Lily to marry him. They hadn't been together a year yet but it was clear to everyone that they would last. Then next to Lily was Joe who had his fingers locked with Branwen's on the table. They looked comfortable together.
On Branwen's other side sat Alice. She was leaning against Frank looking at his menu her own folded closed in front of her. They looked so happy together. Married life seemed to suit them. For some reason there were two empty seats next to Frank and then it was him with Amanda next to Remus. Sirius was holding her hand under the table as she looked at the menu. He could tell she was trying to decide between Pollo alla Griglia and Tagliatelle alla Bolognese as she kept tapping the words with her free hand.
"Sorry I'm late."
Sirius looked up to see Peter come rushing over to their table. But suddenly the second empty seat made a lot of sense. There was a pretty looking girl with him. She looked a little nervous as Peter pulled out the one next to Frank for her before he dropped into the second seat.
"Everybody this is my new friend Alesha. I had to wait for her to get changed that's why we're late."
"Pete word of warning mate. You never blame the girl for being late."
Joe winked at him and Sirius saw the colour rush to the girls face. Sirius simply smiled as he picked up the menu. The waiter was back and everybody ordered. When they had done so all eyes went to Peter. He though seemed not to notice. Sirius caught the way he glanced out of the side of his eye at the girl next to him.
"So are you going to introduce us or do we have to do it ourselves."
Peter looked at Amanda quickly but the girl, Alesha beat him to a reply. Sirius was surprised to hear a Scottish accent on the girl.
"I know who you all are. You're Amanda Dixon and that's Sirius Black your boyfriend next to you. Remus Lupin is the other side of you. Then there's James Potter, Lily Evans, Joseph Wild, Branwen Ddraig, Alice Scott no sorry Longbottom and Frank Longbottom."
Sirius was impressed. The girl smiled and carried on.
"I'm Alesha Burke I'm Taylor Fox from the Prophet's personal assistant. I've read about you all in the papers and seen your pictures. You have to have lived under a rock for the last couple of years not to have heard of you guys."
Sirius shared a look with James across the table. The girl had done her research. Or maybe she had known of them from school. In all fairness they had been well known in Hogwarts and even though he didn't recognise her didn't mean she wouldn't recognise them. Frank seemed to think the same thing.
"If you don't mind me asking Alesha how old are you?"
"I just turned eighteen in July."
"So you've just finished school then. Funny I don't recognise you and I thought I knew everyone in our year."
Branwen had leaned forward in a strange manner. Sirius had seen a similar look on Tad throughout the years. It was a look that said she didn't trust what she had heard. But before the girl could answer Peter was speaking up.
"Alesha didn't go to Hogwarts. She was home schooled. And well I thought it would be nice to invite her to dinner with us to celebrate my good news."
That seemed to catch everyone's attention. Sirius tried to think what news Peter could have. Maybe his mum had come to her senses and was no longer miserable that his father had left them and drinking herself to death. Remus though was grinning as he spoke to Peter.
"You got it then."
"Yep he loved the Quidditch photos and hired me after seeing them."
"Wait you got a job?"
Peter turned and looked at Sirius with laughter in his eyes.
"Yes. I am the new sport photographer for the Prophet. I have to cover the Bats and Cannon game on Wednesday."
Suddenly it got very loud as everybody start to congratulate Peter for his achievement. As the food arrived though and conversations started to break out between them all Peter leaned in and caught Sirius' attention.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"How do you flirt?"
"I don't Amanda would kill me. Remember what happened after the bar!"
Sirius looked over his shoulder. But Amanda was chatting with Remus. Peter was shaking his head slowly at Sirius.
"I just meant in general."
Sirius looked closely at Peter and suddenly got the meaning to the question. He smiled leaning closer.
"You don't need to flirt. Trust me just ask the girl out and she'll say yes. She's been checking you out the entire evening."
Peter looked startled as he sat back up. Sirius couldn't help laughing. Amanda turned and gave him a look. He leaned in close and kissed her cheek. It looked like some more things were about to change.
