(NOTE : I would like to apologise to everyone who has been reviewing only
to find them deleted. I have not done this!! Ive just discovered that if
you review a chapter, and then I update it...Your review gets deleted. I
didnt know about this, so what Im going to do from now on is not put the
chapter up until it is complete. This is still Chapter 23 - Appearances pt2
: Friend or Foe But I didnt want to update the chapter and delete
(inadverntently) all of youre lovely reviews! Apologies all round! Sorry!)
~*~*~*~*~*~DIAGON ALLEY - THE LEAKY CAULDRON - 10 MINUTES LATER~*~*~*~*~*~
By the time Lana had packed Harrys things, and the stuff of hers that shed managed to get from Sirius and hers old house before she got too upset and had to leave, a very pissed off Harry had already alerted the Order.
Lupin was stood outside the Leaky Cauldron waiting for Lana.
In her rush, Lana had managed to get changed into a pair of red jogging bottoms (think the new flarey sort that are in ever New Look ...:P) and a tight white Fred Perry t-shirt...Not that the name meant anything to the Magical World. She had tied her hair up into a loose bun, with bits falling down, and had flung 2 bags over her shoulder.
Lupin was nervous, after last nights kiss, he wasnt sure what Lanas reaction would be. Would she be pissed? Want more? Have forgotten all about it, or act like it never happened? He had no idea. He jumped as Lana Apparated next to him with a very loud crack.
"Bloody hell woman!" he said, hearing James' words come out of his mouth.
"Sorry...Better work on that later." she muttered, her insides squirming uncomfortably as she looked at Lupin. Lana still felt close to him, but now...It was different. And she knew why - Theyd kiss. But she could either let it ruin their great friendship, or she could forget it ever happened. She prefered the latter.
They stared at each other for a second, before Lupin took one of Lanas bags. "Let me carry that" he said, slinging it over his shoulder.
"You think I over-reacted?" Lana asked, thinking that this moment outside the Leaky Cauldron was the quietest she was going to have for a while...The Minstry will probably be on her case...But never mind. She can handle them.
"I dont know. Harrys in quite a state. Cant make much out of his rantings. What did you say to him?" Lupin asked, half furious with Lana for upsetting Harry, half - well he didnt know.
Lanas eyes teared up and she put her hand over her mouth. She slowly moved it away. "I asked him...If he remembered what happened the last time he tried to play hero..." she trailed off, tears falling. "I didnt mean it to - to sound like it did. Like I blamed Harry. I dont. I - " Lana wiped her eyes, and wasnt sure if she wanted Lupin to hug her or not. Just as he wasnt sure whether he wanted to hug her or not.
He got the feeling Lana wasnt telling him everything. "We've got a private room. Mrs Weasleys here, along with Bill and Charlie. Moody, Tonks and Dumbledore are on their way."
Lana nodded and tried to make herself look presentable, but her eyes were red. And she had a thumping headache from scanning the area, and it was getting worse. They walked inside and Lupin steered her past the crowds and into the back room.
Harry was kicking things around the room, and when he saw Lana walk in, this pissed him off even more and he flew at her, wanting to hurt her as much as she had hurt him by suggesting it was his fault that Sirius died.
Charlie Weasley saw this, and, having working with Dragons, he had quick reflexes. He grabbed Harry by the arms and struggled to restrain him.
"Harry - " Charlie grabbed at him, trying not to hit Harry.
"YOU BITCH! YOU BITCH! HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO ME?! WHERE WERE YOU WHEN SIRIUS DIED? WHERE? WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU ANYWAY? WHAT WAS MY AUNT TALKING ABOUT? YOU AND SIRIUS? YOU AND MY MOTHER! YOU BITCH! YOU JUST - HOW COULD - YOU DONT - " Harry was so angry he could barely form words, and Lana got the feeling hed been like this since they arrived.
Lana was trembling, she knew shed told Harry too much, or rather, she hadnt told him enough. Her dark brown eyes looked from Harry to Mrs Weasley to Charlie to Bill to Lupin and back to Harry.
"Harry - Harry listen to me - " Lana started to say
"YOU WERENT THERE! YOU DONT KNOW! YOU DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! YOU DIDNT SEE HIM DIE! YOU - "
"Yes and Sirius said hes glad I wasnt there!"
Harry stopped struggling and stared.
"What do you mean, he said?" Lupin asked, looking at Lana.
"I knew it!" shrieked Mrs Weasley "Shes been using Dark Magic! Shes a Death Eater, a spy for You-Know-Who!"
"Oh dont be so bloody stupid Molly" Lupin said, rubbing his temples.
Lana stared at her, incredulous. "There is only one thing I hate more than the Dark Arts, Molly." she told her, struggling to keep her voice steady. "And thats me." she added, quietly, a tear falling, and Lana wiped at it quickly. She was shaking.
"I think we should all sit down." Bill said from the corner, and Lana turned to look at him, and, despite herself, found herself grinning. His earring fang, his long hair..She was glad to see Mrs Weasleys uptightness hadnt affected all her children.
Bill grinned back, amused that Lana found him so amusing...Good looking, he thought. Bill flicked his wand and some more chairs appeared. Lana took the one at the end of the table, distancing herself from everyone. Lupin took one to Lanas right, a few chairs down, Harry sat to Lanas left, close to her. Mrs Weasley sat beside Harry, and Charlie sat between Lupin and Bill. They all looked expectantly at Lana.
"What?!" she asked, leaning back on her chair.
"You said you spoke to Sirius." Harry said, through gritted teeth, trying to keep calm, and it really wasnt working.
Lana felt a lump in her throat, and she looked down. "I - I dont know."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DONT KNOW?!" Harry shouted, slamming his fist down.
Lana looked up. "Well Voldemort played mind games with you. Sirius was your biggest weakness; as you were his. As it turns out -" Lana took a deep breath. "Sirius is also, my biggest weakness."
Lupin looked at Lana.
Harry was confused. "HOW THE HELL CAN HE BE? YOU DIDNT EVEN KNOW HIM! YOURE NOT EVEN OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW HIM!"
Lana chuckled.
"No, hes right Lana." Charlie said, and Bill nodded.
"No, hes really not." Lana said, looking from Harry and looking at Bill and Charlie. "Appearances can be decieving."
"So you ARE a spy for You-Know-Who?" Molly asked.
"Voldemort. And NO dammit woman, dont you bloody listen to a word Im saying?" Lana said.
Harry kicked Lana under the table. Mrs Weasley had said she regarded him as a son, and he would not have anyone talk to her like that. Unless it was Sirius, and Sirius wasnt here, so...
Lana felt it but pretended not to notice. However, her gaze travelled to Lupin.
"I dont even know where to start." she said, shrugging.
"YOU TOLD ME YOUD NEVER LIE TO ME!" Harry burst out.
Lana turned to him, eyes strangely vacant. "But you asked the wrong questions Harry."
Lupin noticed this and grabbed Lanas arm. "Lana?" he shook her a little, and she blinked a few times.
"Sorry. That was me disconnecting my emotions."
"You cant shut them out Lana. You know that." he said softly, hand still on her arm.
"Did a pretty good job last night." she said, a slight laugh.
"Its not good for you." he told her, looking at her.
"But it hurts. It hurts so much."
"I know."
"YOURE HURTING?! HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK I FEEL!" Harry burst out, again. "I SAW HIM DIE!"
"Youre lucky. Youve only seen 2 people die." Lana said, voice wavering.
"LUCKY?! ONLY?!" Harry shouted.
"Yeah. Lucky. One you barely knew, one youd die for."
"AND YOU THINK THATS A GOOD THING?!"
"How insensitive are you?" Mrs Weasley asked, shocked.
"I dont have the time nor patience to be 'sensitive'. Some things are hard to hear. And Im sorry, but thats just the way it is."
"Can we just stop arguing and listen to what Lanas got to say?" Bill asked.
"Shouldnt we wait for Dumbledore and the rest?" Charlie asked.
Lupin shook his head. "Dumbledore knows. Moody knows. Tonks knows."
"EVERYONE BUT ME AGAIN!" Harry shouted, slamming his hand down on the desk.
"No, Harry. Theres a lot we cant explain. Lanas youth, what happened to her, where shes been...Nobody knows. Or if they do, theyre not telling. And thats just not funny." Lupin said, trying to lighten the mood and failing.
"Um, I think I know where to start." Lana said, who was leaning forwards and had put her elbows on the table, and was resting her head on her hands, eyes fixed intently on Harry.
"Personally, I want to know why Lana made such a fuss, used magic on a Muggle, scared the hell out of Harry and is now here." Mrs Weasley demanded.
"I'm getting to that now Molly." Lana said quietly, but didnt take her eyes off Harry. "I have something to say first tho, to Harry."
"I think Harry should leave. He doesnt need to hear about You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters." Molly said, looking to Lupin for support.
"Harry stays." Lana said, moving her gaze to Molly.
"What gives you the right?" Molly asked.
"I have every right. And besides...Harry isnt a child, Molly. He's 16. He's seen and dealt with more than anyone could possibly imagine. If anyone here has the right to be here, its Harry."
Mrs Weasley thought how very like Sirius she was. Again, she thought that Lana thought shed got her best friends back, like Sirius had.
Harry gawped at Lana. He wasnt expecting her to defend him like that.
"Thanks." he said.
Lana managed a weak smile. "I just think you need to know everything. No secrets, no lies. No matter how much the truth hurts." she was in incredible emotional pain, and had the locket Sirius brought her on their first anniversary (1 year - at Hogwarts) in her right hand, and was twirling it around.
Bill couldnt help thinking how intelligent she was.
"Well how about you start by telling me why youve dragged us all here like this?" Molly demanded.
Lana looked at Lupin. "Dont be mad with me. And please dont lecture me, I dont - I dont think I could handle it."
Then she turned back to Harry, and barely taking her eyes off him, she told him that Lucius had been to the house, skimming slightly over details they really didnt know, but what she would tell Lupin and Dumbledore later. Lana ignored the gasps from Molly as Lana told her that Lucius had been to her house, and Lupin told Molly to be quiet as Lana told them that she took Harry out to the clubs anyway, even though Death Eaters had been around. She also skimmed over her and Lupin...and got straight into the Sirius "Ghost Roads" vision.
Her voice was notably quieter and sounded full yet drained of emotion as she spoke. Again, she skimmed over the "i love you" parts, but told Harry how hard it was for Sirius to hear Harry screaming for him, and Sirius not being able to get back. Lana wasnt sure whether this helped or not, she expected the latter, but it had to be said. She told Lupin she had no idea what she was supposed to find.
Harry felt himself crying as Lana spoke of Sirius, and buried his face in his hands. He couldnt believe Sirius had spoke to Lana. He couldnt believe that Sirius was, wandering some kind of Ghost Road, as Lana put it. It was destroying him. This made him more determined to find a way to contact Sirius. He hated himself that he had caused Sirius pain by shouting for him, but Harry needed him. He needed him so bad, sometimes it was hard to even get out of bed. Pathetic, he thought to himself. But nobody knew. How could anyone have any idea of the grief he was feeling? No parents, and his Godfather murdered in front of him, now some girl telling him shed spoken to him..
Lana struggled to keep her composure.
She swiftly moved onto Lucius, Crabbe and Goyle. She paused slightly.
"Are you okay?" Lupin asked, looking concerned.
"Im fine." she replied
"No, I meant.."
"Im alive arent I? Harrys alive..Thats good enough for me." she said stubbornly.
"Why didnt they just kill you?" Charlie asked. "I cant figure it out. Why not just kill you?"
"Because he cant." Lana said simply.
"I think he can." Bill Weasley said.
"No, he really cant." she repeated.
"Oh youre so arrogant! Like Sirius, and look where - " Mrs Weasley began to rant, but as soon as she saw the looks on Harry and especially Lanas face, she stopped herself.
Lana gripped the table so hard her knuckles were going white and as she spoke, she actually pulled a chunk of the wood out. "Im going to take that as a compliment. Being like Sirius." she said, with obvious restraint, and winced as the wood cut into her hand.
At that moment, Dumbledore, Tonks and Moody walked in. Followed by - Snape.
"I dont know if it was Sirius or not. Could have been Voldermort playing mind games with me." Lana said quietly.
~*~*~*~*~*~DIAGON ALLEY - THE LEAKY CAULDRON - 10 MINUTES LATER~*~*~*~*~*~
By the time Lana had packed Harrys things, and the stuff of hers that shed managed to get from Sirius and hers old house before she got too upset and had to leave, a very pissed off Harry had already alerted the Order.
Lupin was stood outside the Leaky Cauldron waiting for Lana.
In her rush, Lana had managed to get changed into a pair of red jogging bottoms (think the new flarey sort that are in ever New Look ...:P) and a tight white Fred Perry t-shirt...Not that the name meant anything to the Magical World. She had tied her hair up into a loose bun, with bits falling down, and had flung 2 bags over her shoulder.
Lupin was nervous, after last nights kiss, he wasnt sure what Lanas reaction would be. Would she be pissed? Want more? Have forgotten all about it, or act like it never happened? He had no idea. He jumped as Lana Apparated next to him with a very loud crack.
"Bloody hell woman!" he said, hearing James' words come out of his mouth.
"Sorry...Better work on that later." she muttered, her insides squirming uncomfortably as she looked at Lupin. Lana still felt close to him, but now...It was different. And she knew why - Theyd kiss. But she could either let it ruin their great friendship, or she could forget it ever happened. She prefered the latter.
They stared at each other for a second, before Lupin took one of Lanas bags. "Let me carry that" he said, slinging it over his shoulder.
"You think I over-reacted?" Lana asked, thinking that this moment outside the Leaky Cauldron was the quietest she was going to have for a while...The Minstry will probably be on her case...But never mind. She can handle them.
"I dont know. Harrys in quite a state. Cant make much out of his rantings. What did you say to him?" Lupin asked, half furious with Lana for upsetting Harry, half - well he didnt know.
Lanas eyes teared up and she put her hand over her mouth. She slowly moved it away. "I asked him...If he remembered what happened the last time he tried to play hero..." she trailed off, tears falling. "I didnt mean it to - to sound like it did. Like I blamed Harry. I dont. I - " Lana wiped her eyes, and wasnt sure if she wanted Lupin to hug her or not. Just as he wasnt sure whether he wanted to hug her or not.
He got the feeling Lana wasnt telling him everything. "We've got a private room. Mrs Weasleys here, along with Bill and Charlie. Moody, Tonks and Dumbledore are on their way."
Lana nodded and tried to make herself look presentable, but her eyes were red. And she had a thumping headache from scanning the area, and it was getting worse. They walked inside and Lupin steered her past the crowds and into the back room.
Harry was kicking things around the room, and when he saw Lana walk in, this pissed him off even more and he flew at her, wanting to hurt her as much as she had hurt him by suggesting it was his fault that Sirius died.
Charlie Weasley saw this, and, having working with Dragons, he had quick reflexes. He grabbed Harry by the arms and struggled to restrain him.
"Harry - " Charlie grabbed at him, trying not to hit Harry.
"YOU BITCH! YOU BITCH! HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO ME?! WHERE WERE YOU WHEN SIRIUS DIED? WHERE? WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU ANYWAY? WHAT WAS MY AUNT TALKING ABOUT? YOU AND SIRIUS? YOU AND MY MOTHER! YOU BITCH! YOU JUST - HOW COULD - YOU DONT - " Harry was so angry he could barely form words, and Lana got the feeling hed been like this since they arrived.
Lana was trembling, she knew shed told Harry too much, or rather, she hadnt told him enough. Her dark brown eyes looked from Harry to Mrs Weasley to Charlie to Bill to Lupin and back to Harry.
"Harry - Harry listen to me - " Lana started to say
"YOU WERENT THERE! YOU DONT KNOW! YOU DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! YOU DIDNT SEE HIM DIE! YOU - "
"Yes and Sirius said hes glad I wasnt there!"
Harry stopped struggling and stared.
"What do you mean, he said?" Lupin asked, looking at Lana.
"I knew it!" shrieked Mrs Weasley "Shes been using Dark Magic! Shes a Death Eater, a spy for You-Know-Who!"
"Oh dont be so bloody stupid Molly" Lupin said, rubbing his temples.
Lana stared at her, incredulous. "There is only one thing I hate more than the Dark Arts, Molly." she told her, struggling to keep her voice steady. "And thats me." she added, quietly, a tear falling, and Lana wiped at it quickly. She was shaking.
"I think we should all sit down." Bill said from the corner, and Lana turned to look at him, and, despite herself, found herself grinning. His earring fang, his long hair..She was glad to see Mrs Weasleys uptightness hadnt affected all her children.
Bill grinned back, amused that Lana found him so amusing...Good looking, he thought. Bill flicked his wand and some more chairs appeared. Lana took the one at the end of the table, distancing herself from everyone. Lupin took one to Lanas right, a few chairs down, Harry sat to Lanas left, close to her. Mrs Weasley sat beside Harry, and Charlie sat between Lupin and Bill. They all looked expectantly at Lana.
"What?!" she asked, leaning back on her chair.
"You said you spoke to Sirius." Harry said, through gritted teeth, trying to keep calm, and it really wasnt working.
Lana felt a lump in her throat, and she looked down. "I - I dont know."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DONT KNOW?!" Harry shouted, slamming his fist down.
Lana looked up. "Well Voldemort played mind games with you. Sirius was your biggest weakness; as you were his. As it turns out -" Lana took a deep breath. "Sirius is also, my biggest weakness."
Lupin looked at Lana.
Harry was confused. "HOW THE HELL CAN HE BE? YOU DIDNT EVEN KNOW HIM! YOURE NOT EVEN OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW HIM!"
Lana chuckled.
"No, hes right Lana." Charlie said, and Bill nodded.
"No, hes really not." Lana said, looking from Harry and looking at Bill and Charlie. "Appearances can be decieving."
"So you ARE a spy for You-Know-Who?" Molly asked.
"Voldemort. And NO dammit woman, dont you bloody listen to a word Im saying?" Lana said.
Harry kicked Lana under the table. Mrs Weasley had said she regarded him as a son, and he would not have anyone talk to her like that. Unless it was Sirius, and Sirius wasnt here, so...
Lana felt it but pretended not to notice. However, her gaze travelled to Lupin.
"I dont even know where to start." she said, shrugging.
"YOU TOLD ME YOUD NEVER LIE TO ME!" Harry burst out.
Lana turned to him, eyes strangely vacant. "But you asked the wrong questions Harry."
Lupin noticed this and grabbed Lanas arm. "Lana?" he shook her a little, and she blinked a few times.
"Sorry. That was me disconnecting my emotions."
"You cant shut them out Lana. You know that." he said softly, hand still on her arm.
"Did a pretty good job last night." she said, a slight laugh.
"Its not good for you." he told her, looking at her.
"But it hurts. It hurts so much."
"I know."
"YOURE HURTING?! HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK I FEEL!" Harry burst out, again. "I SAW HIM DIE!"
"Youre lucky. Youve only seen 2 people die." Lana said, voice wavering.
"LUCKY?! ONLY?!" Harry shouted.
"Yeah. Lucky. One you barely knew, one youd die for."
"AND YOU THINK THATS A GOOD THING?!"
"How insensitive are you?" Mrs Weasley asked, shocked.
"I dont have the time nor patience to be 'sensitive'. Some things are hard to hear. And Im sorry, but thats just the way it is."
"Can we just stop arguing and listen to what Lanas got to say?" Bill asked.
"Shouldnt we wait for Dumbledore and the rest?" Charlie asked.
Lupin shook his head. "Dumbledore knows. Moody knows. Tonks knows."
"EVERYONE BUT ME AGAIN!" Harry shouted, slamming his hand down on the desk.
"No, Harry. Theres a lot we cant explain. Lanas youth, what happened to her, where shes been...Nobody knows. Or if they do, theyre not telling. And thats just not funny." Lupin said, trying to lighten the mood and failing.
"Um, I think I know where to start." Lana said, who was leaning forwards and had put her elbows on the table, and was resting her head on her hands, eyes fixed intently on Harry.
"Personally, I want to know why Lana made such a fuss, used magic on a Muggle, scared the hell out of Harry and is now here." Mrs Weasley demanded.
"I'm getting to that now Molly." Lana said quietly, but didnt take her eyes off Harry. "I have something to say first tho, to Harry."
"I think Harry should leave. He doesnt need to hear about You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters." Molly said, looking to Lupin for support.
"Harry stays." Lana said, moving her gaze to Molly.
"What gives you the right?" Molly asked.
"I have every right. And besides...Harry isnt a child, Molly. He's 16. He's seen and dealt with more than anyone could possibly imagine. If anyone here has the right to be here, its Harry."
Mrs Weasley thought how very like Sirius she was. Again, she thought that Lana thought shed got her best friends back, like Sirius had.
Harry gawped at Lana. He wasnt expecting her to defend him like that.
"Thanks." he said.
Lana managed a weak smile. "I just think you need to know everything. No secrets, no lies. No matter how much the truth hurts." she was in incredible emotional pain, and had the locket Sirius brought her on their first anniversary (1 year - at Hogwarts) in her right hand, and was twirling it around.
Bill couldnt help thinking how intelligent she was.
"Well how about you start by telling me why youve dragged us all here like this?" Molly demanded.
Lana looked at Lupin. "Dont be mad with me. And please dont lecture me, I dont - I dont think I could handle it."
Then she turned back to Harry, and barely taking her eyes off him, she told him that Lucius had been to the house, skimming slightly over details they really didnt know, but what she would tell Lupin and Dumbledore later. Lana ignored the gasps from Molly as Lana told her that Lucius had been to her house, and Lupin told Molly to be quiet as Lana told them that she took Harry out to the clubs anyway, even though Death Eaters had been around. She also skimmed over her and Lupin...and got straight into the Sirius "Ghost Roads" vision.
Her voice was notably quieter and sounded full yet drained of emotion as she spoke. Again, she skimmed over the "i love you" parts, but told Harry how hard it was for Sirius to hear Harry screaming for him, and Sirius not being able to get back. Lana wasnt sure whether this helped or not, she expected the latter, but it had to be said. She told Lupin she had no idea what she was supposed to find.
Harry felt himself crying as Lana spoke of Sirius, and buried his face in his hands. He couldnt believe Sirius had spoke to Lana. He couldnt believe that Sirius was, wandering some kind of Ghost Road, as Lana put it. It was destroying him. This made him more determined to find a way to contact Sirius. He hated himself that he had caused Sirius pain by shouting for him, but Harry needed him. He needed him so bad, sometimes it was hard to even get out of bed. Pathetic, he thought to himself. But nobody knew. How could anyone have any idea of the grief he was feeling? No parents, and his Godfather murdered in front of him, now some girl telling him shed spoken to him..
Lana struggled to keep her composure.
She swiftly moved onto Lucius, Crabbe and Goyle. She paused slightly.
"Are you okay?" Lupin asked, looking concerned.
"Im fine." she replied
"No, I meant.."
"Im alive arent I? Harrys alive..Thats good enough for me." she said stubbornly.
"Why didnt they just kill you?" Charlie asked. "I cant figure it out. Why not just kill you?"
"Because he cant." Lana said simply.
"I think he can." Bill Weasley said.
"No, he really cant." she repeated.
"Oh youre so arrogant! Like Sirius, and look where - " Mrs Weasley began to rant, but as soon as she saw the looks on Harry and especially Lanas face, she stopped herself.
Lana gripped the table so hard her knuckles were going white and as she spoke, she actually pulled a chunk of the wood out. "Im going to take that as a compliment. Being like Sirius." she said, with obvious restraint, and winced as the wood cut into her hand.
At that moment, Dumbledore, Tonks and Moody walked in. Followed by - Snape.
"I dont know if it was Sirius or not. Could have been Voldermort playing mind games with me." Lana said quietly.
