Chapter 26
Lucy grabbed Sirius's hand as they walked down the main street in Hogsmeade. He looked over at her and grinned, "Aberforth seemed happy to see you."
"Yeah, well, he always did like me. I, uh, spent time there during my school days every now and then. I think he's really an old softy. I stayed there off and on last year, helping Aberforth out." Lucy waved to Mopsey, an older lady with a lot of dogs that she'd met a few times, as the older lady passed the pair of them.
"Should we stop in at Rosmerta's?" Sirius asked.
"No, not yet," she grinned and started running out of town to a place where no one was around. "It snowed last night. I like the snow." Without saying anything else she transformed into her animagus and a minute later Sirius had done the same.
The pair of them ran around in the snow, chasing each other and biting at the lightly falling flakes. Sirius was able to knock Lucy down a few times and tumble her around, but they both knew it was all in good fun. After about an hour they transformed back into their human selves.
Sirius grabbed Lucy's arms and turned her to face him, "You're all rosy and your eyes are sparkling."
Lucy giggled, "I had fun." She leaned up on tiptoe to kiss him lightly before they started heading back into Hogsmeade. As they walked arm in arm down the road Lucy felt Sirius gradually tense. She only noticed what was causing his tension when they practically ran into Dinah and Severus outside the door to Dervish and Banges.
Lucy started to smile, worried the two men were going to start something in the middle of the street. Her eyes kept finding their way to Snape, but she looked at Dinah enough to notice her doing something similar to Sirius. The two couples just stood in the middle of the street for what must have been a few minutes, people having to go around them, before Severus scowled and marched to the door of the shop.
He stood inside the doorway, looking at Dinah, "Are you coming?" Lucy thought he could have been a bit more polite in addressing his girlfriend, never mind his rudeness in completely ignoring Lucy herself.
"Um," Dinah said, "you go ahead and get what you need to. I'll be out here. I should at least say hi to Lucy…"
"Do as you like." He continued into the store. The man could really be rude when he wanted to be, Lucy noted.
"Um, sorry about that," Dinah turned back to the couple with and awkward looking expression on her face. "I forgot you two are here during the weekends."
"It's okay," Lucy said. Sirius stood silent at her side. "Actually, if you come here on the weekends the likelihood of you catching us outside the house is pretty slim," she could feel herself blushing.
"Right, yeah..." she shrugged. " Well, Severus had a few things to pick up and then we were thinking of going to the Three Broomsticks. I'd ask you to join us, but well... you know. I don't know that it would go over well. Um, how are you, Sirius?"
"Not bad," he responded, "We were going to head on over to the Three Broomsticks as well. Rosmerta's been asking about Lu. Thinks I've been keeping her locked away or something, but we can just as easily go for dinner."
"Yes," Lucy nodded, "That'd be fine. We don't want a repeat of what happened before Halloween after all."
"Yeah, thanks. Sorry if it's too much trouble," Dinah smiled. "I was just kind of glad to get out of Hogwarts with him for once. It's kind of our first 'date'... or well, it is in my head anyway."
Lucy grinned, "Its fine. First dates are fun," she hugged Sirius's arm, "We've never had an 'official' first date really."
"Sure we did," Sirius countered, "What about that night we had dinner together a couple weeks after Dumbledore brought you to Grimmauld Place?"
"Yeah, I don't think you can count that as a date since you didn't ask me to dinner and it included most of my relatives, along with half the Order."
"Oh, but I did arrange for you to sit next to me and there was definite flirting going on under the table."
"I still don't think that's a date," Lucy said, rolling her eyes.
Dinah smiled, "Doesn't sound like one. But you could always make a point to have one now. You can dress up and go to Madam Puddifoot's or something." She laughed. "Not that you would necessarily want to."
Lucy blushed at the thought of going to Madam Puddifoot's. They'd been there a couple times, only to pick up some dessert and leave. Lucy didn't think she could sit in that shop and demurely eat the food, especially considering what they'd done with it in their own home. "That sounds nice, maybe not Madam Puddifoot's though. We could dress up and you could make me a nice, romantic, candle-lit dinner at home. We could slow dance in the kitchen, while cleaning up. Oh, I can just picture it."
Sirius cast Lucy an indulgent smile, "Okay, but it'll have to be another time. Rosmerta has refused to feed me again until I show her evidence you're still alive."
"That sounds romantic," Dinah sighed, a corner of her mouth turning up in a smile.
"Ooh, and what's that look for? Has something been going on that you haven't had a chance to tell me about?" Lucy asked.
She laughed. "Oh no, no hidden meaning there. I was just thinking that I can't really picture Severus on that sort of a 'date'."
"See," Sirius murmured, trying to be polite and keep it quiet enough for Dinah not to hear, "I told you he didn't know how to properly romance a woman."
"I can see your point," Dinah said, turning to Sirius with a frown. He met her gaze instantly, looking embarrassed that she had heard him. "But you have to understand something about Severus. He's just chooses to do things a different way sometimes; it's part of his personality, and I wouldn't be with him if I didn't like him for who he is. Sure, sometimes I wish he would be more romantic, but that can come in time, and meantime I still enjoy his company. He has good qualities. Just because he doesn't do things the exact same way you do doesn't make his way wrong or bad. Surely you and I are both adult enough to admit that different people can have different personalities and that that's okay."
"I suppose you may have a point," Sirius said through clenched teeth.
"Of course she does," Lucy confirmed, "It's not like you and I always do things in the conventional manner. After all, you knew me for less than a day before you let me use your shower just so you could picture me naked in there the next time you…showered."
Dinah giggled. "Actually, that might just be a male thing. But yes, I'm glad you at least understand a little bit. Oh... there's Severus," she turned to see her own boyfriend walking up to her with a bag and a sour expression.
Severus gave Lucy a curt nod, still ignoring Sirius, and then addressed Dinah. "Are you finished here? Because I still have grading to do and so if you want lunch we should have it now."
Lucy smiled at the couple, "Enjoy your lunch. I'll see you both tomorrow."
"Okay. You two enjoy your dinner," she waved and then followed Severus in the opposite direction, towards the Three Broomsticks.
"Come on," Lucy said, tugging on Sirius's arm, "I'm still feeling rather jovial from our little romp, and just a bit snuggly too."
"If you want to go to dinner you have to get out of bed," Sirius instructed, later that evening.
"Mmm, but it's warm in bed," she said, burrowing further into the covers.
"It's not exactly freezing outside of it. The fire got a little low but it's perfectly comfortable out here. Besides if you don't get out of bed you won't get any dinner."
"Oh, fine." She was hungry and she'd need to eat before she returned to Hogwarts. She hurried into her robes and snuggled against Sirius on their walk to the Three Broomsticks.
"There you are!" Rosmerta greeted, when they walked into the tavern. "I was beginning to think Sirius had tied you up kept you hidden away somewhere. Though I wasn't entirely surprised that you didn't come for lunch when I saw Severus Snape come in here with that new Muggle Studies professor."
"Yes, well, we thought it best to avoid that situation all together," Lucy said, "And Sirius didn't have me tied up. We do venture outside the house." She had developed the beginnings of a friendship with the older woman when they'd been staying here earlier in the year.
"You forget I rented a room to you two. I know exactly what goes on when you're left alone."
Lucy blushed and didn't respond, just ordered her dinner. Sirius followed suit before Madam Rosmerta said, "You need to sit on opposite sides of the table if you would. I'd rather not have to throw a bucket of water on you two. I run a respectable establishment you know."
Sirius grinned and scooted to the other side of the table, "We'll behave. I promise."
"So," Lucy said, "I was thinking, maybe, if you're okay with it, we could host Christmas at Grimmauld Place. I mean there's plenty of room for all the Weasleys and the Lupins and Mrs. Tonks too if she wanted to come…"
"If you want to do that it's fine with me. It'll be good to have a lot of people in that house. I think it will be fun to get the remaining half of the Marauders together again too."
Lucy rolled her eyes, "At least Remus has some self-control. You and the twins will make things interesting enough. I'll write them when we get back."
"Right when we get back?"
"Yes," she grinned, "the minute we walk through the door. Then you can go about romancing me enough to get me to say yes to that date we talked about earlier."
Later in the week Lucy walked out of the Great Hall, figuring she'd try and catch Dinah later in Snape's rooms. She'd already tried Dinah's door yesterday and she hadn't been there so Lucy figured she was probably in the dungeons spending time with her boyfriend. She hadn't mentioned anything to Sirius about it yet but the idea had only recently occurred to her.
Looking up she suddenly realized the couple was standing just a few feet in front of her. "Oh! Hi!" she said, nervously tucking her hair behind an ear, "I actually just wanted to talk to…you…" She had only planned on asking Dinah but it would be rude not to ask Severus as well when he was standing right there.
"Oh? What about?" Dinah asked, looking curious.
Lucy's eyes dropped to the hand resting on Dinah's waist. It was Snape's hand and it really shouldn't be weird but it was…a bit. "Well, I was thinking…do you have any plans the first few days over the break?"
"Well, I was going to go back to London one of those days," Dinah said, as Severus dropped his hand. "But I hadn't decided quite when yet. I was thinking about sticking around here for a bit, maybe, but with no specific plans on what to do or anything. Why?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to come spend a couple days at Grimmauld Place with us? Severus too, of course," she added, blushing. "It's okay if you don't want to. I just thought it might be fun..."
"Oh..." Dinah said, her tone awkward. "Yes, it does sound fun," she said, looking a bit disappointed with Severus looking on, "I'd like to, but... I really don't think that it would be..."
"That would be fine," Severus said suddenly.
"What?" Dinah turned an incredulous glance on her boyfriend.
"Thank you for the invitation. We'll go. That is, as long as you realize it is to visit you and not ... him. You'll accept that I won't be particularly conversational were... he is concerned," Severus finished, looking at Lucy.
"Yes, yes of course," Lucy said, wringing her hands together. Sirius would not be pleased by this turn of events she was sure, but maybe it would be good for the two men… "He'll probably return the gesture I'm sure. I," she felt herself blushing, "I hope you don't think this is some sort of attempt to get the two of you on more civil terms. I know enough to keep my nose out of that particular issue. I really just thought it would be nice to spend a few days together outside of work, especially during the holidays."
"No, that's nice," Dinah replied, her smile still awkward. "Um... sure. What day were you thinking, then? The Saturday after classes end?"
"Yeah, that'd be great. If it works for you two that is. Oh, this will be fun!" her excitement temporarily overriding her trepidation. "Well," she said, checking the time, "I should probably go prepare for my first years."
"Okay. We can decide on times and everything when it gets closer, I guess. Thank you for the invitation," she mirrored Severus's earlier words as they bid farewell.
Well, that had been unexpected, Severus's agreement to spend a few days in the same house as Sirius, that was. Now, she just had to find the courage to tell Sirius…
"Come on!" Sirius yelled, pulling Lucy into the Three Broomsticks, gripping her hand so tight it hurt.
"Now, you can't tell me it's just a snow storm!" Lucy yelled to be heard in the crowded tavern.
"Land sakes!" Madam Rosmerta said, ushering them up to the bar, the only spot not occupied yet. "What in the world were you two doing out in this storm? Most sensible people are staying put, and the ones that got caught out in it made their way here awhile ago."
Lucy glared at her boyfriend, "Someone said it's just a little snow. Yeah, 'cause snow storms are always accompanied by lightening."
Rosmerta put some drinks and food in front of them before rushing off to take care of some people at the other end of the bar.
"Well," Sirius said, "looks like we might be stuck here for tonight. Unless that storm clears up real soon, which I doubt. We should probably get a room."
Rosmerta snorted, coming back to their end of the bar, "Any rooms I had were rented out long ago. You two will just have to rough it down here like everyone else."
I killed Sirius Black.
Lucy gasped, standing and looking around the room. She couldn't be here. No one else had reacted and she was sure if that woman had suddenly appeared in a room full of people, they would have noticed.
"Lu? You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost," Sirius asked, putting a hand on her back.
"Yeah. Yeah," she said again shaking her head, "I thought I heard something but it was probably just the storm."
"Come on," he said drawing her into a corner of the room, "why don't we get comfortable over here and wait out this storm?"
"All right," she said, settling on the floor with their back against a wall and snuggling together. Last time she'd heard the voice there'd been a similar storm…but this time she was away from Hogwarts. Did that mean something? Severus had asked her to let him know if she ever heard the voice again, maybe he would have some ideas.
The night wore on and one by one the people in Rosmerta's tavern fell into a restless sleep. Lucy and Sirius included.
Lucy put a few fresh vegetables on her plate, admiring the festive Christmas dishes that were being used that night, when she looked up to notice Dinah and Severus approaching her. She'd been so busy grading during this last week of classes that she hadn't had a chance to tell either of them about the voice in Hogsmeade last weekend. That and Lucy thought the couple may have been fighting since they'd been relatively quiet the first part of the week.
"Hello," she said when they reached her chair.
"Hi," Dinah said; "We just wanted to double check with you that we're still on for Saturday and look at times. We were thinking of aparating over just before dinner, if that works for you. Or if you don't want to make something we can come after dinner."
"Oh, sure before dinner's fine. I'm excited. I get to play at being an adult and host people for a get-together," she grinned. It didn't take long for her smile to die away though, "Would you like to sit? The next couple chairs are empty and it's rather lonely at this end of the table."
"Sure," Dinah smiled and gestured for Severus to sit down as well, and she took Slughorn's usual seat while he took the next one down. "How have you been?" She took a turkey leg and some vegetables and mashed potatoes.
"Um, well, good mostly. Actually I wanted to talk to you but I've been so busy with last minute grading…You remember that storm last weekend? Well, I—I heard her again and you asked me to tell you if I did," she looked down playing with the mashed potatoes she'd placed on her plate while they'd talked.
"Where were you when you allegedly heard the voice of Bellatrix Lestrange?" Severus asked slowly, pouring gravy over his potatoes.
"In Hogsmeade. At the Three Broomsticks. And I didn't allegedly hear anything. I did hear her," she stared pointedly at Snape. He, at least, should understand why she needed someone to believe that she truly was hearing that woman's voice. She wasn't crazy. She wasn't.
"At Hogsmeade!" Dinah's head shot up from her plate. "Not at Hogwarts?"
"Not here, no," Lucy said shaking her head, "It was Saturday evening. We…he wanted to go out for dinner. The storm hadn't been too bad at the house. We could still see where we were going, but by the time we got to Rosmerta's…well it was bad enough that she wasn't letting people leave."
"So it seems the intensity of the storms increase with proximity to Hogwarts," Severus mused. "Then, at the very least, they should not follow us all the way to London."
"I hope not," Dinah shuddered. "But what about Bellatrix Lestrange?"
"Bellatrix was extremely close to the Dark Lord," Severus said. "Rather, she was more obsessed with him than anything. He did not care about it but on her side it was absolute. Her devotion to him is what made her as dark as she was. That, in combination with the insanity she obtained from Azkaban, of course. Though, if you ask me she was quite unstable even before that."
"She loved him," Lucy whispered. "If she had nothing else good in her she knew how to love. She was horrible and crazy, but she loved him and I think in her own way she loved Draco too. I didn't know her. I don't know what she was like before Azkaban…I want nothing to do with her and I don't wish her well at all, but she won't leave me alone."
"Even if you are hearing her voice, it might not actually be her," Severus said. "There may be other magic involved. On the other hand, if her devotion managed to connect her to the Dark Lord in ways that we don't understand, then..." he left it hanging, staring at Dinah.
Lucy munched on a carrot. She had to remind herself that Severus was trying to look at this logically. That he didn't think she was a crazy person. He seemed to believe she was hearing something; it was just what she heard that he doubted. "You don't have to believe me. I expect most people wouldn't. I know hearing voices isn't generally regarded as a good sign. But I really do think it's her," she shrugged, "Maybe I'm wrong though. I don't know if I'd rather be wrong or right. Either way it's not good."
"No, it's not good," Severus admitted. "But, as with everything that has been happening lately, we still have nothing tangible to go on or any course of action that can be taken. However, if you think of something, please feel free to mention it."
Lucy grinned, "I can think of a few things to say. None of them helpful and all of them libel to get my mouth washed out with soap," she sighed, "I know there's nothing to be done about it now. It's just so terribly frustrating to just sit on our hands and wait."
"Wow, you know, you are so right Lucy," Dinah sighed. "Right now I think that's the story of my life."
The next morning Lucy stood, all packed and ready to leave. She wasn't going until after the train had left, but Sirius was already at Grimmauld Place. He'd left Thursday while she'd had to wait to finish up her classes.
Well, she thought, this break should be fun. Things hadn't been too bad this term and she hoped it would get better in the next, though she actually doubted that it would. There was nothing she could do about it now though. She picked up her bags and Dora, in her carrier, and walked out of her rooms. Now, all she had to was tell Sirius about their guests who would be arriving that evening. It would be okay though. She just had to keep telling herself that.
A/N: Well, if you've read up to this point I'm guessing you've been enjoying the story :) If so please check out a Christmas short story featuring Lucy, Sirius, Dinah, and Severus. It's going to posted under animalwriter's account (she's the author of The Serpents' Kiss, co-story of mine) and please review letting us know what you think!