When Darkness Rises - The Rewrite
I do not own Harry Potter or anything of J.K. Rowling's.
Birthday Party - Chapter 9
Siri, Remy, Leo, and Draco spend the day decorating for the party for the following day.
Severus and Riddle appear when all the work is done.
"Where were you at hours ago? These guys cannot agree on nothing. We should have been done by noon."
"I do not decorate. I strategize," states Riddle, feigning a superior tone.
"You could have strategized the decorating."
The two stare at each other in a mock battle of wills.
"Where were you two? We could have used the help." Draco walks into the living room from upstairs. He may have been alright if his tone was not accusing.
"Draco. You are out of line." Riddle is eerily calm, but does not break eye contact with Leo.
"Having more hands would have made it go faster."
The air gets warm with Riddle's magic.
The man is surprised that Leo didn't shy away, instead, the teen's own magic intensifies.
"If you wouldn't argue the placement of everything, it wouldn't take as long."
"Do you not like what I have done?"
Sighing, Leo breaks his standoff with Riddle to turn to Draco.
"I like it. This will be a memory I cherish forever. However, there is a little too much stress involved in placing streamers. No one will notice."
Draco looks at him a moment before nodding. He raises his gaze to Riddle's ice cold one. "My apologies, My Lord, for overstepping. It will not happen again."
"Yes it will, but let's move past this for now." He sits in one of the armchairs. "Get comfortable. We need to discuss tomorrow."
"I am sure that everyone coming will be Light Side. At least, as far as I know. Just for the day, act like you would before this all happened. I do not believe Dumbledore will arrive."
"Please, why are we doing this again?" Draco's voice is tense. Not wanting to be cursed, but not completely sure about the reasoning.
"The likely hood of Leo's other mate being in the group invited is high. Also, his true friends are going to be revealed with you there."
"You were spending time with your cousin Sirius when Harry came to spend the summer. You two got over your differences and became friends." Severus gives them the story they will be telling their guests.
"What about Dumbledore?"
"He will go with the common consensus that he gets from here. He will stay on top as much as possible."
** The Day of Leo's Party **
"Get up sleepy head."
"No. I'm tired."
"If you wouldn't have stayed up most of the night biting your nails, you wouldn't be tired."
"I thought you were asleep." Leo flips over to squint at him.
"Cat napping. It is an acquired skill," the blonde answers with a smirk.
"How long till people get here?"
"Another half hour maybe."
Leo flips back over with a groan.
Chuckling, Draco picks him up and deposits him in the bathroom.
"Hurry up before breakfast goes to waste, I think Sirius is eating it all." Draco is standing just outside of the bedroom door, waiting for Leo to get done.
Blurring past, the small teen disappears around the corner. A second later, after a thud reaching Draco's ears, Leo slides back into view on his butt.
"The door got in my way." He gets up and takes off again.
Draco rounds the corner to see confusion on Sirius' face. When they make it downstairs to the dining room, Leo has a plate of sausage and bacon he is munching on.
"What was that for?" Draco asks, holding his hand, which got poked with a fork for trying to take Leo's food.
"It's mine."
"Fine, you can keep it."
Ten minutes later, Moody and Tonks arrive.
Moody plunks down in the seat closest to the fire. Kingsley comes in, calls a greeting to Leo, and sits to Moody's left.
"Wotcher Harry," Greets Tonks as she sits down across from the teen.
"Hi Tonks."
"Happy early birthday. I brought some presents from those that couldn't make it. Where do I put them?"
"Just put them on the table here. We are tormenting Harry until after lunch." Siri calls down the table with a smile. He is a seat from Moody, with Remy on his right.
Leo is on the opposite end, Draco to his right.
She does so before turning to Draco, "Hey Cousin. What are you doing here?"
"Hello, Tonks. I am spending time with Sirius."
The Weasley family bustle in with Hermione.
"Harry, where are you?" Molly asks as soon as she has her footing.
"Here," he stands up and steps to her to be crushed in a hug.
"Almost sixteen. Happy birthday."
She sits across from Remus after depositing her gift on the table.
"Happy birthday." Arthur greets, shaking Leo's hand before sitting down himself.
George and Fred crush him between them.
"Hey. Happy Birthday." They state together before sitting beside Tonks.
Hermione greets him next, before sitting one seat down from Malfoy.
"What's Malfoy doing here?" Ron asks Leo, disgust obvious.
"He is spending time with Sirius, so I invited him too."
"But it is Malfoy."
"It's fine Ron. Just have a seat."
He sits across from Hermione as Leo takes his original seat.
"Where is Charlie?"
"So, are we not enough for you?" Fred acts offended.
"We are much better than him." George adds with a smirk.
"You two are impossible. Harry, what have you been doing?" Asks Hermione, as she leans forward to see him.
"Nothing, just spending time with Sirius and Remus before school."
"Have you been studying?"
"Hermione, it is my birthday. The best gift you could ever give me is not talking school work."
"Fine." She says with a huff.
"Thanks." The two smile at each other.
"Hey, we noticed the streamers and wanted to know…" Starts George.
"Who put them up, because you are not that diligent," finishes Fred.
Draco just sends a glare at Leo.
"It was a group effort." Leo answers carefully.
Ron stays silent, just scowls and looks miserable.
George gets Draco talking spell work for a new prank object he is working on.
The others listen, occasionally throwing in a comment.
On the other end, they talk of the Dark Lord and politics.
McGonagall comes in as they are about to eat lunch. "Sorry I am late. Happy birthday. Since I am the only staff member that could make it, I brought gifts from them."
Leo opens all the presents after cake, making sure to act pleased, and to thank everyone.
Kingsley, Moody, Tonks, and McGonagall leave almost immediately after.
Everyone else except for Draco and Leo has moved to the living room. When the Floo lights up, it catches them by surprise.
"Charlie," breathes Leo.
"Mate," growls Draco quietly.
The large Weasley clenches his teeth, closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath through his nose.
"Mates," he says softly. "Do not take this the wrong way, but now would be a horrible time to break the news to the family."
"Your family, yes. Sirius and Remus already know."
"What is taking you two? Charlie. Don't be a stranger, come in and join us." Siri says, coming through the doorway.
He makes eye contact with Draco who nods.
The four join the rest.
"Charlie, come on, we only get a limited time with you."
"I thought I would stay longer, to make up for the time I missed earlier."
"Nonsense, they are tired."
"Very well." Charlie stands and gives Leo a parting hug. "I will return soon."
Within a couple minutes, Siri, Remy, Draco, and Leo are alone again.
A/N - It is a little rushed, but this is not a big focus for point, sense everyone is acting along the lines you would expect them too.
