Chapter Ten:
As they approached Clearbrooke station, Barron stood, and made his way to the doors.
'We're getting off at the next stop! I mean you can walk from here, if you really want, but we still have miles to go.' called Jodi, not looking up from her game of cards with Mick.
'I know that. I'm picking up Peta. We were going to meet up this weekend anyway.'
'You'll miss the train. There won't be another one through for an hour.' Gus warned.
'I know. I'll pick her up, and we'll take a taxi to the manor.'
'Well, alright then.'
Barron made his way from the station to the bakery and tattoo parlour.
He had made plans with her last time he was here, and this unplanned picnic was perfect. He didn't want things to be too awkward. Though the others were a bit awkward in themselves.
Then again, who was the one who woke up on top of the cupboard? he thought to himself.
He whistled as he made it to the doors, and knocked three times. He really liked Peta. She was really nice, and loved food almost as much as he did.
A pair of eyes peeped from behind the 'closed' sign. They lit up when they saw who was calling.
Peta burst through the door, covered in flour. She was wearing a silver scarf and was carrying a wicker basket, covered with an orange blanket.
After exchanging pleasantries, they set off to meet the taxi.
'So... What have you got there?' Barron asked, gesturing towards her basket.
'Oh! You said we were all going to go on a picnic, so I made a cake for everyone, and packed some sandwiches.' she beamed.
Once in the Taxi, they continued talking.
'So what about school? Where do you go?' Barron asked.
Peta blushed. 'Actually, I don't go to school. I haven't for a while. I've been working for my brother Ross for a couple of years now. School... Just never set right with me. I'm dyslexic, so that didn't help, but I just found that baking and painting was more my thing than books.'
Barron nodded thoughtfully. 'A tattoo and cupcake store. Interesting combination. I thought Jodi was pulling my leg where she told me where we were going.' he laughed.
Peta bit her lip. 'Um, yeah, about Jodi... She's a lovely girl and all, but she... has problems. Has she told you about her father? Leon Rose?'
Barron shook his head, confused. 'Her father? She's never mentioned him. At least not to me. She's told me all about her mother though. If she had told anyone, it would have been Justin, and we've only known each other just over a week, anyway. Why?'
She licked her dry lips. 'Well... I'm not sure if it's my place to say... I suppose it couldn't hurt... When she was little, her father went missing for ages. Mum said he was gone for months. Everyone thought he had left his wife, and she was too proud to admit it. Ages later, he turned up, but he was weird. I mean, he was eccentric to begin with, but after his disappearance... He...would ramble about monsters and dragons, and would shout weird things at people. Once, I remember walking down the street with mum, and he pointed at me and shouted 'Winn, Guard him! Levy over Sam!' . It just didn't make any sense...'
Barron shifted uncomfortably in the seat. Wingardium Leviosa was a levitation spell that was taught to all the first years. In fact, it is the first spell many Witches and Wizards learn.
'... One time, he- It was awful- he chased a small boy down a street, shouting at him to give back his power, or the 'Dark One' would get him. It wasn't what he said, that scared me, but the way he said it- he believed, truly believed that there was someone so evil out there. Even as young as I was then, I knew there was something... I don't know. Anyway, some doctors came for Leon the day after that. Strange ones in green uniforms. They took him away. I'm just letting you know that... Well, keep an eye out for her.' she finished, and stared out the window.
Barron was troubled: those doctors must have been healers from St. Mungo's, and the 'Dark One' was obviously you-know-who. What troubled Barron the most, was Leon's insanity after his disappearance. It was obvious that his absence was spent in the wizarding world, and that he had access to knowledge about He-who-must-not-be-named, which would mean that...
Barron groaned. Mr Rose had been driven to madness at the hands of a Death Eater, if not HIM himself. This was bad. He didn't know why, but he knew this was very, very bad. The rest of the taxi ride passed in silence, neither of them willing to break the uncomfortable silence. Peta felt like she had betrayed Jodi's trust, but that was stupid, she told herself. Jodi had never asked her to keep what happened a secret, and Barron deserved to know. All the same, she wasn't too happy with herself.