Chapter Nine: Lost and Found

-George-

I backed out of the bathroom slowly as Ashley looked up to me, tears streaming down her face. "George…"

"This was the tattoo you were talking about, wasn't it?" I asked quietly. I still couldn't believe what I was seeing.

She carefully got off the sink and pulled her sleeve back down over the Dark Mark. She stumbled back into the room, weak from whatever pain the Dark Mark had caused her. "Please, George. Let me explain."

"Oh, I'm going to love this," I said sarcastically, anger building inside me. Ashley and I had known each other for two months. Two months! Not once did she mention that she was a Death Eater! I think I had a right to be angry.

"It's not my fault I was ever a Death Eater," Ashley said softly has she sat on her bed. Tears continued to fall as she explained to me her story. She even told me that the only other person who knew was Harry.

When she was finished, I only felt angrier. "Do you really expect me to believe this?" I yelled at her. "It doesn't make any sense!"

"Yes it does and you know it!" she yelled at me. I was taken aback at how loud she became. "I'll be damned if I sit here and let you call me a liar! I'm not a good actor, okay?" Her voice was calmer this time. "I couldn't make any of this up even if I wanted to. I haven't seen my mum in six months because of this Death Eater mess. Every day, I walk around terrified that those same two Death Eaters will get me and force me to go with them." She looked me straight in the eyes. "Do you really believe I would make this up? I loved my mum. I would NEVER lie about something as serious as this."

Her face was mixed with hurt, anger, and desperation. I still felt a little angry myself, but I didn't really know why. Maybe it was because she didn't tell me when we first met. Maybe it was because I knew she was telling the truth, but I didn't want to believe it. Whatever reason it was, it made me turn around and leave.

"Where are you going?" I heard Ashley ask behind me.

"Home," I said as I turned the knob.

"You can't go home!"

"I just need to… think. I need to clear my mind." I turned back to the girl who I had fallen so hard for and felt the tears build up inside me. I couldn't let her see me cry. "I think I need a break, Ashley."

Before she could say another word, I hurried out her room and down the hall to mine. Behind closed doors, I slid to the ground, put my head in my hands, and cried. I couldn't remember the last time I had cried.

I'd broken up with Ashley and left her all alone because I couldn't deal with her situation. I felt like the worst person in the world.

-Ashley-

A break. He said he needed a break.

It has finally happened. I screwed things up so badly that I lost one of the most important people in my life. There's no way I can ever get George back. Not after this.

Feeling much better (physically), I decided to go for a walk. I left a note for Hermione and left the hotel, praying that I wouldn't run into any of my friends during my stroll around Paris.

It took all of five minutes to realize that walking around the proclaimed City of Love was a bad idea. Everywhere I turned, there was a couple kissing, holding hands, or cuddling. I was never a person to have ill feelings towards couples because I loved seeing people happy, but it hurt to know that not even thirty minutes before I had that sort of relationship with a guy I'd fallen so hard for. Now it was over.

It was a beautiful night, one of the best I'd ever seen in Paris. Stars littered the night sky, turning it from black to midnight blue. The moon was huge and bright, casting its light on every little thing, including myself. I felt that with the light shining on me, everyone who passed me could see right through me. All my flaws, mistakes, lies…

I wanted the moon to go away.

I sighed and continued walking in my one direction. I was going to a park nearby. Leslie took me there all the time when I was a kid. It became our place, where we went when she needed to cry over Sirius and just clear her mind. It was exactly where I needed to be at the moment.

When I entered the park, I sat on the very first bench and stared at the Dark Mark. I knew exactly why it was burning and it scared me to bits. It wasn't supposed to happen this soon…

I knew I needed Harry. I needed to talk to him and tell him everything that was going to happen. But I didn't want Harry. More than anything, I just wanted my mum. I wanted to talk to her, to have her mend my broken heart and tell me everything was going to be okay. Not just with George, but with my Dark Mark business as well.

I couldn't take it anymore. I put my head in my hands and cried, letting the tears flow freely once again. I cried until my chest hurt and I couldn't breathe. I needed everything to be alright again.

"Darling, why are you crying?" I heard a woman's voice say. I refused to look up from my hands as she sat next to me. "It's a beautiful night and love is in the air."

"Love is always in the air here in Paris," I said. "But not for me. Not tonight."

"Boyfriend problems?"

I laughed a humorless laugh. "Ex-boyfriend, actually. We broke up not even an hour ago and I'm just… I'm taking it hard."

I felt the woman embrace me in a hug, which I returned out of habit. I didn't even know this woman, yet I felt I could pour my soul into her and trust her completely. It let me know there were still good people in the world. "Thank you, miss. I really needed that hug."

"You're much welcome, Ashley," I heard her whisper.

I quickly pulled away from the stranger once I heard this. "I didn't tell you my name… Who are you?"

I was off the bench with my wand drawn before the stranger could make a move. It was possible she was a Death Eater, but…

The stranger laughed and smiled as she left the bench and stood in front of me. "Well, for the past six months, most people around here have known me as Neakee Tucker. But you, sweetheart," she said as she slowly grabbed my hands, "you know me as Leslie Dark."

It took a moment for her words to register in my mind. As I lowered my wand, I looked at her more clearly this time. She was basically a thirty-six year old version of me, with her gorgeous blond hair and olive skin tone. The only difference was her eyes. They were the soft blue color I'd grown so familiar with over the years.

I stuck my wand back in my pocket and ran into her arms, hugging her tightly. "Mummy!" I cried as we rocked back in forth. "Mum… I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you even more, Ashley," she said. I felt her tears become crushed between our cheeks.

I let her go and looked her over once more, letting the biggest smile take over my face. "Leslie… how did you find me?"

We sat back down on the bench as she said, "I was visiting a few friends and was on my way back home when I passed you walking in the opposite direction. At first, I thought my eyes were just playing tricks on me. Ever since we separated, Ashley, I've seen your face everywhere and it's about driven me mad.

"I was going to just ignore you at first, but when I saw that you were heading for this park, I… well, I decided to follow you. The moment I saw you sent on this bench, I just knew it was you. I know it could have bloody well been any blonde girl, but I took my chance anyway when I saw you crying." She tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and touched my tear-streaked cheek. "What are you doing in Paris?"

"Niki and I are actually here with a few friends," I began. "Her boyfriend and his twin brother's twenty-first birthday was two days ago, so we decided to bring them here as a gift."

"Niki has a boyfriend?" Leslie asked.

"Yes, Mum," I laughed, knowing she'd only ever since Niki with one guy.

"Well I hope he treats her better the last one," Leslie said smiling.

"He does," I said. "I mean, Niki is joyous as it is, but Fred… he brings out a whole other kind of happiness in her. I honestly can't explain it."

"It's about time she found someone who can make her that happy. She deserves it. So are you going to tell me about this ex of yours?" Mum asked.

I sighed, thinking back once again to everything that had just happened. "His name is George and he's Fred's twin brother."

"Best friends dating twins? You and Niki did very good," Mum grinned, making me giggle.

"Yes, I believe so as well. But… only one thing explains why we broke up." I slowly pulled up the sleeve on my arm to reveal my Dark Mark, making Leslie sigh. "It's setting out to ruin my life, one relationship at a time. This time… it took away a boy I let myself fall so hard for." I sniffed and said in a whisper, "It took away a boy that I might actually love."

There it was. I'd just admitted out loud to not only my mother, but myself as well, that I was in love with George. I leaned into Leslie as she put her arms around me, but I didn't cry. I didn't want to allow myself to cry anymore.

"Mum?" I said quietly.

"Mhmm?"

"Harry is here too."

I looked up to see shock on her face, just as I had expected. "Your god-brother, Harry? Harry Potter?" I nodded. "What's he doing here?"

"He's friends with Fred and George's younger brother, Ron," I explained. "Remember the boy Niki use to talk of from her childhood? He is Harry's best friend. It's pretty amazing how we all met and how we're all connected. Shows how small of a world it is.

"Anyway, I told Harry about the Death Eaters. He wants to help me."

"You're going to let him, aren't you?"

"I was skeptical at first. I mean, it's just more unwanted crap on his plate. But after tonight… I have no other choice. My Dark Mark burned tonight."

I watched as fear crept into my mother's eyes. "But… but it wouldn't burn this early…"

"My thoughts exactly. Harry is out with everyone else having a good time, so I don't want to bother him right now. But as soon as I can, I will tell him and we'll see what we can do." Leslie nodded, the only thing she could do at the moment.

I stood up and said, "I have to go back now. I'm leaving Paris tonight. You're not safe being with me right now and neither are my friends. I can't bring them into this."

My mother stood up and brought me into another tight hug. She whispered, "I understand, sweetheart."

"Please don't cry, Mummy," I said quietly, holding back any tears that wanted to escape. "Okay, that was really stupid to say…"

She laughed as we looked at each other. I wiped away her tears as she smiled at me. "We'll see each other again, I promise," I said to her. "One day, this Death Eater mess will finally be over, and you and I can be a family again, just like old times."

"I cling to that hope, Ashley. I cling to it for dear life."

It was getting harder and harder to hold back my tears, but I managed even as we let each other go. "We're staying at Belle Rêveur. Please go by and visit everyone soon. I know they will love you."

I couldn't force myself to say to goodbye to my mother, not a second time. Instead, I gave her a smile of comfort, more for her than for me, and I walked back towards the hotel.

When I got back, there was no sign that anyone had been in my room during the time I was gone. My note hadn't even been touched. At least they are out having a good time, I thought to myself.

I went to the closet, grabbed my suitcase and threw in all my clothes. I was in no mood for folding. I threw away the note I'd written before and wrote a new one, briefly explaining that George and I had broken up and I decided to go back home. They had to understand.

I put that note in place of the other and grabbed my suitcase. With one last look around my beautiful hotel room, I Apparated back to my apartment.

A/N: Here it is, Chapter Nine! I hate it took me two months to finish, but a lot more has happened this summer than I thought. So sadly, I will not have this finished before August. :( I do promise to try to finish at least before the end of the year. Thank you for not giving up on me just yet! :D