A/N: a very short and slashy
installment… still nothing dirty… I can't bear to do dirty
things with such clean characters… I would feel bad about it… I
save that stuff for my Esca fics. Again, if you don't like slash, now
would be the time to stop.
Yeah for *~*GinnyPotter*~*, who
was good enough to re-review (sorry about the slash… I enjoy weird
pairings… There, I fixed your name… it was late and I was tired…).
And thanx, as always, to the lovely Meg Albatou, just because. M, You're
an inspiration to all who love to fic (Heh heh… that sounded dirty-bad!)
Well, luv ya, all my ladies and gents out in the fic-dom… Don't
blame me for anything I've written today… in this chapter, the
previous one, or the next one… I forgot to take my medication… au
revior, mes amies! – Le Belle Nymphean qui fumee beaucoup de…
n/m…
The
reception was held in the great hall, which had been decorated specially for
the occasion. Candles floated on clouds of silver, blue and purple, and the
floor was covered in a thick fog, giving the hall a delightful sense of whimsy.
Everyone seemed happy, especially the new couple, who remained latched to each
other throughout the entire meal. Nearly everyone stopped to offer their
congratulations to the bride and groom.
Halfway
through the meal, Bill noticed the large black dog curled up at Charlie's
feet.
"Hey
Charl, who's your friend?" Charlie looked at his brother guiltily.
"Uh…
oh! Yeah… this is Padfoot," he said shakily. Bill narrowed his
eyes.
"Sound's
familiar… Who's is he?" Charlie's eyes darted around
the room, desperately trying to find an appropriate answer.
"He's… um…"
"He's
mine," Laelyn said quickly. Bill scrunched up his nose in amusement.
"Yours?
First a baby, now a dog… what else would you like to tell me about this
secret life at Hogwarts which I suddenly seem to know nothing about?" He
gave a her a quick peck on the lips.
"Well,
he's not actually MINE, exactly… just a friend I've made
since I came to Hogwarts. He doesn't BELONG to anyone… per se. But
he seems to really like your brother." She shot Charlie a meaningful look
behind Bill's head, and her new brother-in-law squeezed his eyes shut.
"The
two of you must have been talking, then."
"Yes.
Do you realize that dogs are among the most noble, faithful and LOVING animals
on earth?" A smile flitted across Charlie's face.
"Especially
this one." Laelyn smiled.
"Take
care of him, Charlie."
Bill
looked confused. "Did you just give him a dog?" he asked, puzzled.
"Sort
of." She patted his arm. "Don't worry about it, dear."
A
group of Slytherins passed by the head table, where the wedding party was
seated. Among them were Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. Laelyn wrinkled her nose in
distaste. Malfoy saw this, and as he passed, he said to Crabbe and Goyle in an
overly loud voice, "Well, I suppose it's only fitting that one of
those Weasleys should get married to a
freak…"
Bill
jumped from his seat to confront Malfoy, but Laelyn laid her hand on his arm.
"Sit down… it's
not worth it. He's just a stupid boy… I can fail him." Bill
clenched his fists and sat down.
"You
shouldn't let him disrespect you like that. You can't help that
you're different."
She
shrugged indifferently. "I'm used to it." She kissed him on
the cheek. "You know, your little brother takes after you an awful
lot."
"Which
one?"
"Ron.
He's always defending Hermione, just like you defend me. They're an
adorable couple, don't you think? I wouldn't be at all surprised if
they end up like this some day." Bill nodded.
"Hermione's
a good kid. My mom would be thrilled."
"Did
I hear my name?" Hermione said, leaning towards them.
"No…
I said, 'Er, pass the tea'," Bill said without thinking.
Hermione narrowed her eyes.
"Laelyn?"
Laelyn made a tortured little squeaking sound and nodded her head forcefully.
Hermione shrugged. "Okay. Whatever."
Beside
Bill, Charlie pushed his chair away from the table. "It looks like the
dog wants to go for a walk. I'm going to take him out," He said
awkwardly. Laelyn nodded.
"Have
fun!" She called after the two of them as they headed for the exit.
Padfoot barked.
"What
did the dog just say?" asked Bill. Laelyn smiled. He was completely
enamored with her ability to talk to animals, and was constantly asking her
what this animal or that animal had just said.
"He
said 'Thank-You, Laelyn'."
*****
Sirius
and Charlie stood in the now-abandoned garden, locked in a tight embrace.
Sirius pulled the dog collar off his neck and flung it under a rose bush with
an air of disgust.
"I
hate hiding. GOD, I hate it!"
Charlie
rubbed his back soothingly. "Soon your name will be cleared, and then you
can go out in public again."
"But
I still can't be with you…"
Charlie
squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm so sorry… I hate seeing you like
this. We'll find a way, I swear we will…" Sirius closed his
eyes, letting a smile spread across his face.
"What
would it be like?"
"Well,
we could move to some pacific island, totally secluded… we'll get a
house on the beach, and we'll drink Pina Coladas until we're
dizzy… Or we could move to the arctic, and live in an igloo. We'll
go ice fishing, and keep each other warm…" He kissed Sirius'
cheek.
"But
what good are fantasies?" asked Sirius, his face falling again. "We
could never do that… and we can't tell anyone either…"
"You
told Laelyn," Charlie said pointedly.
"Ah,
but she's different. She knows what it's like to long to be
accepted. She'd never discriminate against us; too many people have done
the very same thing to her. But other people don't know how it
feels."
Charlie
nodded sullenly. "But still, it's nice to know we've got a
friend. And maybe she could talk to my brother."
"You
think that's a good idea?"
Charlie
shook his head. "I really don't know. But maybe he'd
understand." He put his arms around Sirius from behind. "Anyway, we
have a few seconds together now. Why spend them being all gloomy. We're
together. For now, that's all that matters." Sirius smiled and
stroked the younger man's arm lovingly. My Charlie… always
looking on the bright side…
"How
did this happen?" Sirius said worriedly, noticing for the first time a
huge red welt on his lover's arm. Charlie just laughed.
"I
work with dragons, Si. It's just a burn." Then, seeing
Sirius' concerned expression, "Don't worry about it! It
doesn't even hurt anymore!"
"Oh
good." Sirius' voice was full of relief. "Because if it did,
I'd have to go and kill that damned dragon for you."
Charlie
laughed. "Well, it doesn't REALLY hurt, not enough for you to go
all the way to Romania and slay a dragon over, but you COULD kiss it better if
you like." Sirius chuckled.
"You'd
like that, wouldn't you?" He said. Charlie nodded. "Oh, all
right…" He gently kissed Charlie's arm, working his way up
the limb, until he reached his lips.
"Si…"
Charlie said, amused, "My mouth is one of the few places that damned
dragon has avoided breathing on…"
"Oh?
Where ELSE are you burnt?"
"Don't
be dirty, Si."
"Oh,
have I offended your 'virgin' ears?" Sirius said, now fully
on the verge of laughter.
"My,
aren't we sarcastic."
"I
prefer 'sardonic pervert', but then I shouldn't get picky,
should I?" The pair exploded into peals of laughter, happy, if only for
the moment, with only each other.
