Ch 10

Sinead woke up early on Friday and insisted that Danny join her at the gym. She was a bit nervous and hoped that running a few miles on the treadmill would calm her down. After running nearly 10 miles Sinead's nerves were better and they stopped to get some coffee. Danny showered and then relaxed watching TV. Sinead put the turkey in the oven and began on the sides. The day before she made a few simple deserts as well as homemade bread. By 5 everything was done and Danny was experimenting with drinks. The table was already enlarged and Danny had help set it. At 6 Sinead heard a bark and opened the door to see Snuffles and Remus.

"Come on in." Danny's eyed widened as Snuffles became a man.

"Sirius and Remus, this is my friend Danny."

"Nice to meet you. We picked up some wine on the way." Remus said handing over two bottles.

"Great." Danny and Remus went right into werewolf conversation and Sirius jumped in telling stories about how he turned into a dog to help Remus during his transformation. Tonks arrived next carrying a pie.

"Don't tell anyone, mom made it for me." She said with a nervous laugh.

"Tonks, this is my friend Danny."

"Hi." She said as Danny started handing out drinks. Bill arrived from work at the same time Mr. and Mrs. Weasley flooed in.

"I doubt the greasy git will show up." Sirius said when Molly mentioned that the only person who wasn't there was Severus.

Arthur was looking around the flat which had a lot of muggle supplies. Danny turned on the TV and began to explain what cable was. The group fell silent when there was a knock on the door. Sinead was in the kitchen checking on dinner so Bill opened the door.

"Hello Severus." He said opening the door wider.

"Nice to see you, Severus." Molly said as Severus scanned the crowd. Sinead emerged and smiled.

"Hi Severus, this is my friend Danny."

"So you must be the Potions person? Sinead mentioned talking about the wolfsbane potion with someone."

"Yes." Severus felt a bit out of place in the gathering and Sinead sensed it.

"Dinner is ready if everyone wants to sit down." With a wave of her wand all of the food from the kitchen appeared on the table.

"Did anyone start their holiday shopping? Sinead helped me do most of mine yesterday. I'm horrible at picking out gifts." Danny said.

"I'm just about done as well. Better to get everything done before the rush." Molly said.

"Sinead, are you going home for Christmas?" Sirius asked.

"No, I'm actually going to stay here. If I go home my mum will have a fit and try to get me to stay. I haven't officially told her yet but my dad knows I'm staying. Bill, you're going home right?"

"Yes, my son would never forgive me." He said with a frown.

"Oh you have a son? How old?" Arthur asked.

"Jim will be turning 21 this spring."

"Are you married?" Molly asked as Sinead bit her lip.

"No, divorced. I married young at 19 and joined the army. By the time I was 25 I was finished in the army and divorced. My wife remarried and has two daughters."

"Oh, sorry to hear." Molly said as Tonks glanced at Remus.

"We were a terrible match, still can't get along."

"One of the papers interviewed me when someone leaked I was your patient." Danny said trying to change the topic, Sinead frowned.

"Hmm... wonder who would have done that." She muttered.

"It was your ex, he was quoted in the paper as well. Maggie didn't want to tell you since she knew you'd get mad." Danny said as Sinead shook her head.

"I figured more papers would be waiting in line to interview you. An improvement to the wolfsbane potion is groundbreaking." Severus said.

"The Daily Prophet wanted an interview with the dreadful woman Rita Skeeter. When I asked for a new interviewer they said no. I did do a few interviews over the phone with newspapers and magazines in America. My new line of products is finally copy-written I sent the first few shipments to Salem a few weeks ago." Tonks and Molly fired off questions.

"Sinead, you a making quite a name for yourself. It's nice to see that someone new has finally made a mark on potion making." Severus said in between questions.

Sinead assured Tonks and Molly that once she began selling her products in London they would be the first to know, she gave them each a bottle of shampoo and both women promised to try it. After dinner everyone returned to the living room. Molly and Tonks remained to help clear the table.

"Such a lovely meal. Thanks again for having us." Molly said waving her wand as the dishes began to be cleaned on their own.

"Yes, it's been a good night." Tonks said with a smile. She had been seated next to Remus. The women returned to the living room to see Albus had joined the group. Danny was proudly showing off the bite mark on his knee and shoulder.

"How did it happen?" Albus asked.

"It was my fault. I was the one that suggested we go see this haunted house." Sinead said as Danny shook his head.

"How could it be your fault? You didn't know this could happen. I was just glad it was only three of us there and I pushed the girls out of the way. Sinead stunned the werewolf and used a spell to call for help. My girlfriend at the time passed out when she saw me get bit for the second time. If it wasn't for Sinead's quick thinking we all would have been dead." Danny said as Sinead glanced at her hands.

"That was brave of you. What happened to the werewolf?" Remus asked.

"Arrested and charged. It turns out the man, Justin Farley, had attacked another person during the previous full moon. He has been sitting in prison since then. Several murders that the police though were were animal attacks in New Hampshire and Maine were also linked to him." By the time desert was severed it was late.

"Tonks, this pie is delicious." Sinead said giving her a wink.

"Oh you think?" She said nervously.

"I agree it's delicious." Remus said as Sirius agreed.

Once desert was finished Albus had to return to Hogwarts. Molly and Arthur made sure that Sinead didn't need any help before they flooed back to the Burrow. Sirius turned back into Snuffles and Remus and Tonks were going to walk back to Grimmauld Place with him.

"I should be going as well." Severus said as Sinead gave him a small smile.

"Thanks for coming."

"Thank you for inviting me. It was nice to meet you Danny. Goodnight."