Chapter 5: In Need of a Helping Hand
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Lesley sat bolt upright upon arriving back into consciousness, causing her spine to give her a jolt in protest. Madam Pomfrey, as if sensing her distress, ordered sternly for her to lay back down. Cursing impatiently she did as the healer instructed, laying back down onto the flat hospital bed. One of her lower arms had been put into a cast, she realized, pondering the reason why. Her other arm was in a sling, another muggle use that wasn't common because of the powerful healers in this time and age. Another thing that made her most uncomfortable was her right ear, it was ringing nonstop and made her feel unbalanced, not to mention her head felt the size of a basketball and was pounding horribly.
"Ms. Riddle, it was nice of you to come back to us on such short notice, it's been almost two weeks since you have been awake completely." The Madam said, forcing a smile upon her features as she looked her student over, a bit sadly. "Dumbledore would undoubtably be pleased, not to mention..." she clucked her tongue knowingly, "another young man, though it seems all of the other houses have been concerned as well." she said this last part questioningly, as if thinking Lesley knew the answer.
"Sirius, where is he-" Lesley started, sitting up again only to have a stronger hand to push her back down on the bed.
"Thats enough, Miss. Riddle, or I will have to restrain you myself." She ordered, though Pomfrey's eyes struck through, showing that she wanted nothing of the sort.
Lesley reached up with the hand opposite the one in the sling, grabbing her head, hurt. The Madam swept over immediatly, putting a hand up to Lesley's head, taking it back just as quickly. Muttering to herself, something about, "not again," she left Lesley, who was shaking uncontrolably, sweating all over, and wheezing, to fetch a potion.
"Drink up, come on," she insisted, holding the small goblet up to Lesley's twitching lips, who shook her head slightly, signaling that she didn't want it. Madam Pomfrey, not to be swayed, pouring the contents down her throat as gently as she could, though it was much harder from the shaking and choking ensuing from Lesley.
It took a moment for Lesley to figure out what was happening, and all at once her shaking receeded, and her eyes drooped silently. The figure in front of her became blurry, the room doing soft circles in every direction, and the voices around her became slurred. Her eyelids closed contently, and she fell into a deep sleep.
"What was that?" Dumbledore asked in a low voice, "Did it happen again?"
"Yes, another seizure, I don't understand, Dumbledore." Madam Pomfrey said, confused, "Why isn't my magic helping her? It's like she's immune somehow, and it's scaring me. She isn't doing so well on her own."
"Don't worry, Poppy." Dumbledore said, his eyes dimly twinkling, "I'm sure the answer will turn up somehow. Did you ever get a reply from Ms. Riddle's father?" he asked, tapping his fingers together expectantly.
"Of course, sir. He says that he will be arriving later on today, but Dumbledore-"
"No questions now, Poppy. Send someone to get me when our guest arrives." he interrupted, letting his long robe(beard nearly as long) sweep the stone floor as he exited the room without another word, Madam Pomfrey staring after him, perplexed.
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Lesley glanced around, the fog around her oddly comforting. She looked down at her hands, the ringing in her ear had stopped, it was as if the last few weeks had never existed. She felt the feeling of a dream, but this was better, she didn't want to wake up, not now. Suddenly she stiffened, twisting her neck upwards and looking up at where a ceiling should be.
"Mom?" she asked, meekly, though there was no sign of her anywhere. The hair on her back brissled against her shirt, as a soft, calming wind swept over her. An angelic figure slowly appeared in front of her, and Lesley reached up a hand to her mouth, trying not to gasp in surprise.
Standing in front of her stood a creamy skinned woman with soft colored lips up in a great smile, two dimples the only wrinkles visible on her smooth face. The familiar brown eyes, only now filled with warmth to the brim, looked her daughter over approvingly. A silk white dress stretched out behind her, while the front held up enough just for Lesley to see the long legs and feet adorned with white sandles lying underneath. Her dark brown hair laid on her nearly bare shoulders, one arm hanging by her side.
"Lesley, dear," Rosa's voice resounded, reaching out one of her hands to touch Lesley's cheek, who closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her face.
"Mom, but..." Lesley whispered, eyes snapping open, her brow furrowing. "your, your," she sputtered, looking her over once more, stepping backwards against a wall that had decided to prevent her from going any further.
"Yes..." her mother replied, a bit sadly.
"But... how?" Lesley choked. She couldn't believe that she had been so mad at her mother all this time, and it turned out that she had been dead all along, but for how long, and who had caused it? So many questions, but she could only wait painstakingly for the answers.
"I left you that day, that is something that certainly cannot be forgiven," Rosa paused slightly, smiling sadly to show that she was sorry, "but I came back. It took me a few months, but I came back. I had to make sure I could support the two of us, I wanted you to come and live with me, but I had to leave you somewhere you could be until I could take care of you." looking at Lesley's questioning face she continued, "I'm not surprised that you never knew, as he was none too happy to see me, I must admit. No, he wasn't the one who... did this to me, dear, though it wouldn't be that shocking if he had arranged it. Believe it or not he grew quite attatched to you, even if it doesn't show. I am sorry," she added, accepting the sudden hug that sprung from Lesley's arms.
Planting a small kiss on Lesley's forehead, she lifted her daughter's chin to look her in the eye, "I know you were, or possibly are, still angry with me, but I wanted to let you know, that I always loved you. I never meant to abandon you or make you feel unwanted. You mean the world to me, and still do." Rosa ended, stepping back slowly, her appearence beginning to fade away, "Look me up sometime," she said, her blurry figure smiling softly, until Lesley couldn't see her anymore. Before she could react she was drawn back awake, and almost yelled in surprise on who was standing over her.
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If Lesley had been calm, she would've noticed the sudden lack of pain in both of her arms and the complete deafness of her right ear, but she felt frozen numb as her father looked her over with his cold, comfortless eyes.
"W-what are you doing here?" She whispered, tearing her eyes away from him. He made one of those horrid chuckles, the kind that rattled her bones and made her want to crawl under a boulder and never come out.
"Why, I thought you'd be happy to see me," he replied, smirking at her and closing the curtain around her bed. "no need for an audience." he explained curtly, pulling up a chair next to her.
Lesley flinched unwillingly, pushing herself to the opposite side of the bed, as far as she could go, trying to prevent him from touching her. But he laid a hand on her shoulder anyway, as if just to spite her. "Get your filthy hand off of me," she hissed, glaring at him, "you murdered her! You didn't even tell me that she came back for me, and your the one who caused me to have that accident, aren't you!" she exclaimed, squirming under his touch as he clasped a hand over her mouth.
"Now, now, you are much smarter than I would have thought you to be, but," he paused, clucking his tongue disapprovingly, "such a temper you have, what shall I do with you?" he asked removing his hand from her mouth.
"I hate you," she seathed, knowing that it was obvious but not caring. There was no other way to express this feeling she was... feeling. It was as though someone had just ripped her soul out of her body and was holding it right beyond her reach, just torturing her slowly as it was torn it bit by bit apart, loving every moment of it, while she cried for it to be returned... snapping back to attention she wondered silently why he was here. Who would summon him up at this place, he certainly couldn't have come uninvited, and who would think for even a moment that she would want him here? Dumbledore, she answered to herself, because he's a conniving asshole who loves to stick his old, wrinkled hands into others' bisnesses.
"Awww, my little girl is back," he said sarcastically, pulling a strand from her face, but she smacked it away.
"Get out," she ordered, pointing towards the exit to express her point, but he only laughed.
"I will not." he replied simply, as if there was no more to be discussed about the topic.
"Madam Pomfrey!" Lesley said, loudly, and was glad when a set of feet appeared behind the curtain.
"What is it, Ms. Riddle?" She asked, concerned.
"I'm beat, Madam," Lesley replied, letting her eyes sulk lazily, "I'm really in no shape for visitors, could you please show my father out?" she asked, acting meek and tired.
She nodded her head understandibly, grabbing Tom's elbow and leading him out, with him arguing that he should be able to see his daughter whenever he liked.
Resting her head back onto the pillow, Lesley grunted softly.
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It was nearly another whole week before Lesley started becoming uncomfortable. She couldn't hear a thing through out her whole right ear, and she couldn't sleep without a potion. Her father had finally gone back home, leaving her without any visitors, and she faked sleep whenever Sirius came. He was way too good for her, and he was wasting way too much time with her, she convinced herself.
"Lesley, it's time," Madam Pomfrey said quietly, obviously unnerved by what she was going to have to do.
"Okay," she replied automatically, stepping barefooted onto the chilling floor. Professor Harris had designed a potion specifically to see what was permenantly damaged. That would glow a sickening black, and pain would be sent to those parts of the body, making Lesley terribly apprehensive.
A deep maroon liquid sloshed in the cauldron as Dumbledore dipped a ladle inside it's contents, going back two times before he was satisfied with the amount in the goblet.
Lesley stared at the goblet. It was all silver, except for the gold leaves painted around the rim, and of course the streak of maroon traveling down the side that had missed the cup completely. Unwillingly she reached out, wiping it off and licking it off her thumb. It tasted bitter, but as she swallowed she coughed, as it burned down her windpipe and throat at the same time. If that was how bad it burned when she tasted that much, how was she supposed to drink all of that? She thought to herself, grabbing the goblet and chugging it down, might as well get it over with.
"It will take a few minutes for it to work," she heard a faraway voice, and she stumbled, flinching as two pairs of hands gripped her elbows and brought her straight up. She couldn't see correctly, for when she looked at the people about her all she saw was their bloody bones moving about, and frankly it was scaring her.
She jumped away from them, resting on the cold wall comfortingly. It was wonderfully freezing, and she closed her eyes, willing for the effects of the potion to go away. Suddenly she doubled over, pain seering over the whole of the right side of her head. She grabbed her head with her hands only to have them ripped away by a strong pair of hands.
Lesley heard gasps of surprises, she heard mumbles of discomfort, and she clawed at the ground, hoping for this pain to go away, just go away...
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"Finally got her to sleep," Lesley heard a familiar voice say, but she couldn't pick it out.
"So it's true?" another voice said, but she knew that one immediatly, without question. Sirius?
"Yes, permanent deafness in the right ear..." the other voice said sadly, and Lesley's breath caught up in her throat. She should've known, she realized.
Waiting until Sirius had left, she quietly got to her feet, changing into her forgotten Slytherin robes. Tugging her wand into her pocket, she left her room, making for the exit, before she was stopped.
"Where are you going, Ms. Riddle?" Madam Pomfrey chastied, but Lesley quietly turned around.
"Unless you can tell me for certain that you can help me, I see no reason that I should remain here, I have been here long enough." she replied, biting her lip and looking the Madam deathly in the eye, leaving her speechless.
Spinning back around Lesley stormed out of the hospital wing.
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If I Am by Nine Days
Lesley walked the edge of the topest ledge on the Quidditch stadium easily enough, but offbalanced. She didn't dare to look down, no, not until she was ready. Putting one foot in front of the other, she walked back and forth on the ledge, one foot in front of the other, one foot in front of the other, she thought to herself miserably.
She didn't want to go home for this summer, she didn't want to live a life half deaf, she didn't want to live this destructive life of hers. If she fell from here, she was bound to kill herself. She could already picture it in her mind, her father throwing a cocktail party, Sirius hooking up with some beauty in Gryffindor, forgetting all about her, Lucius marrying Sirius's sister, having blonde hair- gray eyed, vicious Slytherin children. Nothing in this life would include her memory, she thought sadly.
Turning, she put her hands up to parallel her shoulders, looking straight ahead. A bird feeling, she thought quietly, wish I could be a bird. This could be it and she didn't even have a ciggar. Oh well, she thought, doing this world a favor is enough.
Suddenly a strong pair of hands wrapped protectively around her waist. It wound around her stomache, it was a wonderful touch, she admitted. She had no objections to this person touching her, simply because she knew who it was.
"What are you doing here," she said softly. His arms tightened,
"Could ask you the same thing," he whispered gently in her left ear. She wondered if he had meant to say it in that ear or if it was just because it was closer. Then it occured to her that it didn't really matter.
"You deserve better." she said flatly, trying to wriggle out of his grasp, but he pulled her closer,
"And I don't want better." he replied, and she bit her lip. That answer had never come to her, she had no retiliation.
"Your too good at arguing," she whined, and she could swear she felt him smile.
"I didn't know we were arguing."
"It's not going to be easy..." she whispered.
"I never said I wanted it to be," he said, picking her up off of the ledge in such a swift movement she felt as light as a feather.
"You just have all the answers, don't you?" she said, smiling slightly.
"Not all of them," Sirius said carefully, but he didn't elaborate.
"I think I'm falling for you," she said quietly, looking up at his great gray eyes covered slightly by his raven hair.
"I think I'm falling for you too." he said, pulling her a bit closer, resting his chin on her head, slowly moving her head upwards, kissing her softly. It was less intense then the previous ones, but Lesley still loved it.
She loved how he saw through all her bars, shook off all the chains she had locked herself into, how he didn't care how screwed up her life was, and always came in the nick of time. She loved his touch, his heat. Hell, she thought, smiling out of the corners of her mouth, she was beginning to seriously think she loved him...
The kiss ended all too fast for Lesley, but she let it go, releasing him and smiling at his face. No matter how smooth his words, he still was a little boy inside, she thought to herself.
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Lesley opened her eyes, looking back at Sirius before looking back at her old broom that didn't look so, old anymore.
"Sirius," she said softly, carefully. She couldn't play Quidditch anymore, it scared her to death, even looking at it made her stomache churn, though a large part of herself longed for her to feel the wind blowing in her face as it always did on a broomstick. He stared back at her, that mischievous grin on his face.
"I'll help you learn again." he insisted, pulling her up to her feet. She looked around the Quidditch field, the green grass slowly returning to the ground. It was mid-March now, her birthday, she reminded herself, rolling her eyes.
"Theres only one broomstick," she pointed out, but his smile only grew.
"Exactly."
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Holding his hand in her own, Lesley looked up at him as best she could, as her head was under his chin and melding in with his neck. She was sitting with him up in the empty Quidditch stands, their secret hide-a-way, she supposed. Everything was deserted but she could still feel the pounding of feet rooting for their own teams, the byast announcer keeping score of the game, and she could still see the players hovering high above. Her eyes narrowed at that...
"You know, one time I blew up the kitchen at two in the morning," Lesley said quietly, not knowing any other way to start a conversation. He chuckled,
"I bet that didn't turn out very well, Tom have a fit?" he said, and she smiled.
"I bribed a house elf to take the heat." she explained simply, and the two laughed at the thought of a six year old bribing a tiny house elf.
"You ready?" he asked, stroking some of her bangs out of her face,
"Sure." she said, biting her lip but standing up with him. She let him hold onto the broom as they decended onto the field.
"First," Sirius said, climbing up onto the broom and pulling her up on it in front of him, "you grip the handle like so," he held her hands tightly on the broom, and she scoffed, but let him continue, "and then," he said, changing his accent badly into french, "if you have two people on the broom, the person in back holds onto the fronts waist, like so," and he wound his arms around her, making her chuckle,
"Has anyone ever told you, misuer Black, that you are extremely talented in making examples?" she asked, trying her own french accent, which was, amazingly, better than his.
"I do believe you are the first, young madam," he replied, and continued, but softer and more serious now. "kick off, hard." there was a long silence. Lesley felt her knees go numb, and her eyes went wide. She couldn't do this, she couldn't do this, she couldn't-
"Lesley, I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere," Sirius encouraged, and before Lesley could second guess herself her feet pushed against the ground and they were in the air. For a moment she felt the blissful air across her face, until reality sunk back in.
She looked down at the ground, and she swayed, her blood rushing cold. Even Sirius's urges of encouragement couldn't keep her from freaking. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god..." she whispered, shaking. "I can't do this, I can't do this..." she said in defeat, shaking her head over and over again.
"Les, listen to me, it's okay, we're fine-" but before Sirius could finish she was already pushing the broomstick down, and bracing her feet for the hard impact. Pulling up just in time, she grabbed Sirius's hand and pulled him off of the broomstick before he could crash to the ground. Close one.
"that was the best landing I've-" he began, but Lesley threw the broomstick aside, grabbing her knees to her chest and rocking back and forth. She couldn't do this, no, no, no, she couldn't...
"Les," Sirius said, kneeling next to her, "you just landed both of us safely on the ground going at least twenty miles an hour." he said, but she shook her head, talking muffledly through her knees,
"I almost got us killed because I lost it."
"But you didn't," Sirius smiled, but she lifted her head and stared at him.
"I can't do this." he scooted closer to her
"yes you can." he said, tracing her face softly. He was so damn convincing! She thought to herself, and she nodded her head in agreement.
"You did good for today, considering. I think I might even give you a cookie," he joked, and she smiled.
"A big chocolate chipped one?" she asked, before pushing him in the shoulder.
Waiting for a girl like you by Foreigner
"If you want," he said, pulling her ontop of him.
"I think I could settle for a sugar," she said softly, kissing him. Instantly he let her tongue in, allowing her to explore the top of his mouth, before taking action. Resting her lips ontop and below his upper lip, she smiled as he rolled her over, lips trailing down her neck.
She giggled dispite herself, letting her fingers through his great black hair. She didn't mind the wet grass rubbing against her robes, but she did finally move her mouth back ontop of his, then broke away.
"I'll be looking forward to the continuation of this little meeting," Sirius said, grinning. He took his hand out of her hair reluctantly, helping her to her feet.
"You won't be the only one."
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A/n: What have I done? I'm sorry readers, but I couldn't help myself... it's the fluffiest, least sense making chapter I've ever done... but c'mon, it was a good snogging scene... right?
Not that sorry for the delay, since none of you reviewed for me to hurry up. Working on a few other fanfictions and original stories, but it's spring vacation, so I have a lot of time: ).
Oh and, sorry about the whole seizure thing at the beginning, did my best.
No need to tell me that this was written very sketchy-like, because I know this. I've already rewritten this chapter five times and I will not do it again. So deal.
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Lesley sat bolt upright upon arriving back into consciousness, causing her spine to give her a jolt in protest. Madam Pomfrey, as if sensing her distress, ordered sternly for her to lay back down. Cursing impatiently she did as the healer instructed, laying back down onto the flat hospital bed. One of her lower arms had been put into a cast, she realized, pondering the reason why. Her other arm was in a sling, another muggle use that wasn't common because of the powerful healers in this time and age. Another thing that made her most uncomfortable was her right ear, it was ringing nonstop and made her feel unbalanced, not to mention her head felt the size of a basketball and was pounding horribly.
"Ms. Riddle, it was nice of you to come back to us on such short notice, it's been almost two weeks since you have been awake completely." The Madam said, forcing a smile upon her features as she looked her student over, a bit sadly. "Dumbledore would undoubtably be pleased, not to mention..." she clucked her tongue knowingly, "another young man, though it seems all of the other houses have been concerned as well." she said this last part questioningly, as if thinking Lesley knew the answer.
"Sirius, where is he-" Lesley started, sitting up again only to have a stronger hand to push her back down on the bed.
"Thats enough, Miss. Riddle, or I will have to restrain you myself." She ordered, though Pomfrey's eyes struck through, showing that she wanted nothing of the sort.
Lesley reached up with the hand opposite the one in the sling, grabbing her head, hurt. The Madam swept over immediatly, putting a hand up to Lesley's head, taking it back just as quickly. Muttering to herself, something about, "not again," she left Lesley, who was shaking uncontrolably, sweating all over, and wheezing, to fetch a potion.
"Drink up, come on," she insisted, holding the small goblet up to Lesley's twitching lips, who shook her head slightly, signaling that she didn't want it. Madam Pomfrey, not to be swayed, pouring the contents down her throat as gently as she could, though it was much harder from the shaking and choking ensuing from Lesley.
It took a moment for Lesley to figure out what was happening, and all at once her shaking receeded, and her eyes drooped silently. The figure in front of her became blurry, the room doing soft circles in every direction, and the voices around her became slurred. Her eyelids closed contently, and she fell into a deep sleep.
"What was that?" Dumbledore asked in a low voice, "Did it happen again?"
"Yes, another seizure, I don't understand, Dumbledore." Madam Pomfrey said, confused, "Why isn't my magic helping her? It's like she's immune somehow, and it's scaring me. She isn't doing so well on her own."
"Don't worry, Poppy." Dumbledore said, his eyes dimly twinkling, "I'm sure the answer will turn up somehow. Did you ever get a reply from Ms. Riddle's father?" he asked, tapping his fingers together expectantly.
"Of course, sir. He says that he will be arriving later on today, but Dumbledore-"
"No questions now, Poppy. Send someone to get me when our guest arrives." he interrupted, letting his long robe(beard nearly as long) sweep the stone floor as he exited the room without another word, Madam Pomfrey staring after him, perplexed.
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Lesley glanced around, the fog around her oddly comforting. She looked down at her hands, the ringing in her ear had stopped, it was as if the last few weeks had never existed. She felt the feeling of a dream, but this was better, she didn't want to wake up, not now. Suddenly she stiffened, twisting her neck upwards and looking up at where a ceiling should be.
"Mom?" she asked, meekly, though there was no sign of her anywhere. The hair on her back brissled against her shirt, as a soft, calming wind swept over her. An angelic figure slowly appeared in front of her, and Lesley reached up a hand to her mouth, trying not to gasp in surprise.
Standing in front of her stood a creamy skinned woman with soft colored lips up in a great smile, two dimples the only wrinkles visible on her smooth face. The familiar brown eyes, only now filled with warmth to the brim, looked her daughter over approvingly. A silk white dress stretched out behind her, while the front held up enough just for Lesley to see the long legs and feet adorned with white sandles lying underneath. Her dark brown hair laid on her nearly bare shoulders, one arm hanging by her side.
"Lesley, dear," Rosa's voice resounded, reaching out one of her hands to touch Lesley's cheek, who closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her face.
"Mom, but..." Lesley whispered, eyes snapping open, her brow furrowing. "your, your," she sputtered, looking her over once more, stepping backwards against a wall that had decided to prevent her from going any further.
"Yes..." her mother replied, a bit sadly.
"But... how?" Lesley choked. She couldn't believe that she had been so mad at her mother all this time, and it turned out that she had been dead all along, but for how long, and who had caused it? So many questions, but she could only wait painstakingly for the answers.
"I left you that day, that is something that certainly cannot be forgiven," Rosa paused slightly, smiling sadly to show that she was sorry, "but I came back. It took me a few months, but I came back. I had to make sure I could support the two of us, I wanted you to come and live with me, but I had to leave you somewhere you could be until I could take care of you." looking at Lesley's questioning face she continued, "I'm not surprised that you never knew, as he was none too happy to see me, I must admit. No, he wasn't the one who... did this to me, dear, though it wouldn't be that shocking if he had arranged it. Believe it or not he grew quite attatched to you, even if it doesn't show. I am sorry," she added, accepting the sudden hug that sprung from Lesley's arms.
Planting a small kiss on Lesley's forehead, she lifted her daughter's chin to look her in the eye, "I know you were, or possibly are, still angry with me, but I wanted to let you know, that I always loved you. I never meant to abandon you or make you feel unwanted. You mean the world to me, and still do." Rosa ended, stepping back slowly, her appearence beginning to fade away, "Look me up sometime," she said, her blurry figure smiling softly, until Lesley couldn't see her anymore. Before she could react she was drawn back awake, and almost yelled in surprise on who was standing over her.
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If Lesley had been calm, she would've noticed the sudden lack of pain in both of her arms and the complete deafness of her right ear, but she felt frozen numb as her father looked her over with his cold, comfortless eyes.
"W-what are you doing here?" She whispered, tearing her eyes away from him. He made one of those horrid chuckles, the kind that rattled her bones and made her want to crawl under a boulder and never come out.
"Why, I thought you'd be happy to see me," he replied, smirking at her and closing the curtain around her bed. "no need for an audience." he explained curtly, pulling up a chair next to her.
Lesley flinched unwillingly, pushing herself to the opposite side of the bed, as far as she could go, trying to prevent him from touching her. But he laid a hand on her shoulder anyway, as if just to spite her. "Get your filthy hand off of me," she hissed, glaring at him, "you murdered her! You didn't even tell me that she came back for me, and your the one who caused me to have that accident, aren't you!" she exclaimed, squirming under his touch as he clasped a hand over her mouth.
"Now, now, you are much smarter than I would have thought you to be, but," he paused, clucking his tongue disapprovingly, "such a temper you have, what shall I do with you?" he asked removing his hand from her mouth.
"I hate you," she seathed, knowing that it was obvious but not caring. There was no other way to express this feeling she was... feeling. It was as though someone had just ripped her soul out of her body and was holding it right beyond her reach, just torturing her slowly as it was torn it bit by bit apart, loving every moment of it, while she cried for it to be returned... snapping back to attention she wondered silently why he was here. Who would summon him up at this place, he certainly couldn't have come uninvited, and who would think for even a moment that she would want him here? Dumbledore, she answered to herself, because he's a conniving asshole who loves to stick his old, wrinkled hands into others' bisnesses.
"Awww, my little girl is back," he said sarcastically, pulling a strand from her face, but she smacked it away.
"Get out," she ordered, pointing towards the exit to express her point, but he only laughed.
"I will not." he replied simply, as if there was no more to be discussed about the topic.
"Madam Pomfrey!" Lesley said, loudly, and was glad when a set of feet appeared behind the curtain.
"What is it, Ms. Riddle?" She asked, concerned.
"I'm beat, Madam," Lesley replied, letting her eyes sulk lazily, "I'm really in no shape for visitors, could you please show my father out?" she asked, acting meek and tired.
She nodded her head understandibly, grabbing Tom's elbow and leading him out, with him arguing that he should be able to see his daughter whenever he liked.
Resting her head back onto the pillow, Lesley grunted softly.
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It was nearly another whole week before Lesley started becoming uncomfortable. She couldn't hear a thing through out her whole right ear, and she couldn't sleep without a potion. Her father had finally gone back home, leaving her without any visitors, and she faked sleep whenever Sirius came. He was way too good for her, and he was wasting way too much time with her, she convinced herself.
"Lesley, it's time," Madam Pomfrey said quietly, obviously unnerved by what she was going to have to do.
"Okay," she replied automatically, stepping barefooted onto the chilling floor. Professor Harris had designed a potion specifically to see what was permenantly damaged. That would glow a sickening black, and pain would be sent to those parts of the body, making Lesley terribly apprehensive.
A deep maroon liquid sloshed in the cauldron as Dumbledore dipped a ladle inside it's contents, going back two times before he was satisfied with the amount in the goblet.
Lesley stared at the goblet. It was all silver, except for the gold leaves painted around the rim, and of course the streak of maroon traveling down the side that had missed the cup completely. Unwillingly she reached out, wiping it off and licking it off her thumb. It tasted bitter, but as she swallowed she coughed, as it burned down her windpipe and throat at the same time. If that was how bad it burned when she tasted that much, how was she supposed to drink all of that? She thought to herself, grabbing the goblet and chugging it down, might as well get it over with.
"It will take a few minutes for it to work," she heard a faraway voice, and she stumbled, flinching as two pairs of hands gripped her elbows and brought her straight up. She couldn't see correctly, for when she looked at the people about her all she saw was their bloody bones moving about, and frankly it was scaring her.
She jumped away from them, resting on the cold wall comfortingly. It was wonderfully freezing, and she closed her eyes, willing for the effects of the potion to go away. Suddenly she doubled over, pain seering over the whole of the right side of her head. She grabbed her head with her hands only to have them ripped away by a strong pair of hands.
Lesley heard gasps of surprises, she heard mumbles of discomfort, and she clawed at the ground, hoping for this pain to go away, just go away...
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"Finally got her to sleep," Lesley heard a familiar voice say, but she couldn't pick it out.
"So it's true?" another voice said, but she knew that one immediatly, without question. Sirius?
"Yes, permanent deafness in the right ear..." the other voice said sadly, and Lesley's breath caught up in her throat. She should've known, she realized.
Waiting until Sirius had left, she quietly got to her feet, changing into her forgotten Slytherin robes. Tugging her wand into her pocket, she left her room, making for the exit, before she was stopped.
"Where are you going, Ms. Riddle?" Madam Pomfrey chastied, but Lesley quietly turned around.
"Unless you can tell me for certain that you can help me, I see no reason that I should remain here, I have been here long enough." she replied, biting her lip and looking the Madam deathly in the eye, leaving her speechless.
Spinning back around Lesley stormed out of the hospital wing.
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If I Am by Nine Days
Lesley walked the edge of the topest ledge on the Quidditch stadium easily enough, but offbalanced. She didn't dare to look down, no, not until she was ready. Putting one foot in front of the other, she walked back and forth on the ledge, one foot in front of the other, one foot in front of the other, she thought to herself miserably.
She didn't want to go home for this summer, she didn't want to live a life half deaf, she didn't want to live this destructive life of hers. If she fell from here, she was bound to kill herself. She could already picture it in her mind, her father throwing a cocktail party, Sirius hooking up with some beauty in Gryffindor, forgetting all about her, Lucius marrying Sirius's sister, having blonde hair- gray eyed, vicious Slytherin children. Nothing in this life would include her memory, she thought sadly.
Turning, she put her hands up to parallel her shoulders, looking straight ahead. A bird feeling, she thought quietly, wish I could be a bird. This could be it and she didn't even have a ciggar. Oh well, she thought, doing this world a favor is enough.
Suddenly a strong pair of hands wrapped protectively around her waist. It wound around her stomache, it was a wonderful touch, she admitted. She had no objections to this person touching her, simply because she knew who it was.
"What are you doing here," she said softly. His arms tightened,
"Could ask you the same thing," he whispered gently in her left ear. She wondered if he had meant to say it in that ear or if it was just because it was closer. Then it occured to her that it didn't really matter.
"You deserve better." she said flatly, trying to wriggle out of his grasp, but he pulled her closer,
"And I don't want better." he replied, and she bit her lip. That answer had never come to her, she had no retiliation.
"Your too good at arguing," she whined, and she could swear she felt him smile.
"I didn't know we were arguing."
"It's not going to be easy..." she whispered.
"I never said I wanted it to be," he said, picking her up off of the ledge in such a swift movement she felt as light as a feather.
"You just have all the answers, don't you?" she said, smiling slightly.
"Not all of them," Sirius said carefully, but he didn't elaborate.
"I think I'm falling for you," she said quietly, looking up at his great gray eyes covered slightly by his raven hair.
"I think I'm falling for you too." he said, pulling her a bit closer, resting his chin on her head, slowly moving her head upwards, kissing her softly. It was less intense then the previous ones, but Lesley still loved it.
She loved how he saw through all her bars, shook off all the chains she had locked herself into, how he didn't care how screwed up her life was, and always came in the nick of time. She loved his touch, his heat. Hell, she thought, smiling out of the corners of her mouth, she was beginning to seriously think she loved him...
The kiss ended all too fast for Lesley, but she let it go, releasing him and smiling at his face. No matter how smooth his words, he still was a little boy inside, she thought to herself.
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Lesley opened her eyes, looking back at Sirius before looking back at her old broom that didn't look so, old anymore.
"Sirius," she said softly, carefully. She couldn't play Quidditch anymore, it scared her to death, even looking at it made her stomache churn, though a large part of herself longed for her to feel the wind blowing in her face as it always did on a broomstick. He stared back at her, that mischievous grin on his face.
"I'll help you learn again." he insisted, pulling her up to her feet. She looked around the Quidditch field, the green grass slowly returning to the ground. It was mid-March now, her birthday, she reminded herself, rolling her eyes.
"Theres only one broomstick," she pointed out, but his smile only grew.
"Exactly."
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Holding his hand in her own, Lesley looked up at him as best she could, as her head was under his chin and melding in with his neck. She was sitting with him up in the empty Quidditch stands, their secret hide-a-way, she supposed. Everything was deserted but she could still feel the pounding of feet rooting for their own teams, the byast announcer keeping score of the game, and she could still see the players hovering high above. Her eyes narrowed at that...
"You know, one time I blew up the kitchen at two in the morning," Lesley said quietly, not knowing any other way to start a conversation. He chuckled,
"I bet that didn't turn out very well, Tom have a fit?" he said, and she smiled.
"I bribed a house elf to take the heat." she explained simply, and the two laughed at the thought of a six year old bribing a tiny house elf.
"You ready?" he asked, stroking some of her bangs out of her face,
"Sure." she said, biting her lip but standing up with him. She let him hold onto the broom as they decended onto the field.
"First," Sirius said, climbing up onto the broom and pulling her up on it in front of him, "you grip the handle like so," he held her hands tightly on the broom, and she scoffed, but let him continue, "and then," he said, changing his accent badly into french, "if you have two people on the broom, the person in back holds onto the fronts waist, like so," and he wound his arms around her, making her chuckle,
"Has anyone ever told you, misuer Black, that you are extremely talented in making examples?" she asked, trying her own french accent, which was, amazingly, better than his.
"I do believe you are the first, young madam," he replied, and continued, but softer and more serious now. "kick off, hard." there was a long silence. Lesley felt her knees go numb, and her eyes went wide. She couldn't do this, she couldn't do this, she couldn't-
"Lesley, I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere," Sirius encouraged, and before Lesley could second guess herself her feet pushed against the ground and they were in the air. For a moment she felt the blissful air across her face, until reality sunk back in.
She looked down at the ground, and she swayed, her blood rushing cold. Even Sirius's urges of encouragement couldn't keep her from freaking. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god..." she whispered, shaking. "I can't do this, I can't do this..." she said in defeat, shaking her head over and over again.
"Les, listen to me, it's okay, we're fine-" but before Sirius could finish she was already pushing the broomstick down, and bracing her feet for the hard impact. Pulling up just in time, she grabbed Sirius's hand and pulled him off of the broomstick before he could crash to the ground. Close one.
"that was the best landing I've-" he began, but Lesley threw the broomstick aside, grabbing her knees to her chest and rocking back and forth. She couldn't do this, no, no, no, she couldn't...
"Les," Sirius said, kneeling next to her, "you just landed both of us safely on the ground going at least twenty miles an hour." he said, but she shook her head, talking muffledly through her knees,
"I almost got us killed because I lost it."
"But you didn't," Sirius smiled, but she lifted her head and stared at him.
"I can't do this." he scooted closer to her
"yes you can." he said, tracing her face softly. He was so damn convincing! She thought to herself, and she nodded her head in agreement.
"You did good for today, considering. I think I might even give you a cookie," he joked, and she smiled.
"A big chocolate chipped one?" she asked, before pushing him in the shoulder.
Waiting for a girl like you by Foreigner
"If you want," he said, pulling her ontop of him.
"I think I could settle for a sugar," she said softly, kissing him. Instantly he let her tongue in, allowing her to explore the top of his mouth, before taking action. Resting her lips ontop and below his upper lip, she smiled as he rolled her over, lips trailing down her neck.
She giggled dispite herself, letting her fingers through his great black hair. She didn't mind the wet grass rubbing against her robes, but she did finally move her mouth back ontop of his, then broke away.
"I'll be looking forward to the continuation of this little meeting," Sirius said, grinning. He took his hand out of her hair reluctantly, helping her to her feet.
"You won't be the only one."
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A/n: What have I done? I'm sorry readers, but I couldn't help myself... it's the fluffiest, least sense making chapter I've ever done... but c'mon, it was a good snogging scene... right?
Not that sorry for the delay, since none of you reviewed for me to hurry up. Working on a few other fanfictions and original stories, but it's spring vacation, so I have a lot of time: ).
Oh and, sorry about the whole seizure thing at the beginning, did my best.
No need to tell me that this was written very sketchy-like, because I know this. I've already rewritten this chapter five times and I will not do it again. So deal.