Disclaimer: I own nothing…
A/N: Thanks so much for all the reviews! I hope you enjoy this chapter… By the way, if you like this fic, check out my other one "Prophecy" it's a Lily and James fic that I'm rather fond of… There's only mention of Lexi… Sorry, she doesn't appear, but there's a lot said about her… Hope you enjoy!
By the time the weekend after Lexi's first Occlumency lesson, she had progressed a bit. She hadn't mastered it yet, but Harry was impressed. Sometimes she did better than others. Sometimes she passed out. Sometimes she managed to break through the connection. Harry hadn't really seen any other memories of interest, but the memory of Lexi being hit kept coming up. It was obvious that it was a painful memory for her by the way she wouldn't meet his eyes after he saw it. Harry was too afraid to ask what it was and she didn't seem to want to tell.
That Friday night, Harry, Elizabeth, Hermione, and Victor were invited to Remus and Tonks' for dinner.
"Harry, it's good to see you," Remus said, clapping him on the shoulder when Harry apparated to their house. It was a split level home that Tonks and Remus had bought shortly after their wedding.
"Good to see you too, mate," Harry said with a smile as he looked over his one time teacher. He still looked older than his age and a bit shabby—the effects of being a werewolf—but he seemed much happier than he had ever been. His eyes were dancing with happiness.
"Wotcher Harry?" Tonks asked, walking into the entrance hall where Remus had been greeting Harry.
"Hey Tonks," Harry said with a smile. "Is anyone else here yet?"
"Hermione and Victor are waiting in the living room," Tonks said, walking towards the living room.
"I thought you were bringing your girlfriend?" Remus asked, looking confused as he and Harry set off towards the living room.
"She's running a little late. She said she'd be here in about a half an hour," Harry told him as they walked into the living room to find Hermione and Victor sitting side by side on the couch across from the fireplace. Tonks was sitting in a chair near the couch.
"Hey Harry," Hermione greeted him with a smile.
"Hullo Harry," Victor greeted him looking surly. Harry sat down in another chair and Remus sat on the arm of Tonks' chair, smiling.
"When will Elizabeth be here?" Hermione asked.
"Soon," Harry said, checking his watch.
"Elizabeth?" Remus asked, looking confused. "I thought her name was Lexi?" Harry glanced towards Hermione who shrugged.
"No, how did you know about Lexi though?" Harry asked curiously.
"He met her after we finished shopping for bridesmaid dresses," Hermione said. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Bridesmaid dresses?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, after Ginny, Lexi, Tonks, and I finished shopping for dresses, we came back here for some food," Hermione said simply.
"Why was Lexi shopping for dresses with you?" Harry asked, confused. Before Hermione could answer, there was a pop and everyone turned around to find Elizabeth. Harry jumped up and walked towards her.
"Hey, Liz," Harry said giving her a hug.
"Hey, sorry I'm late," Elizabeth said sweetly.
"No problem," Tonks said with a smile. Elizabeth looked around, confused.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Harry said with a shy smile. "This is Remus, Tonks, and Victor," Harry said, gesturing to each. After greeting each other, Tonks suggested that they all go to the dining room for dinner.
"So, what do you do, Liz?" Remus asked as they all sat around the table, eating dinner.
"I'm studying to be a healer," Elizabeth said with a smile.
"That's great," Tonks said offhandedly.
"So, how do you all know each other?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
"Well," Harry began, "Remus was a friend of my father's and a teacher of Hermione and I's. Tonks was… An auror. The two of them got married last year. Victor and Hermione have been dating for…"
"A while," Hermione said beaming.
"What did you teach?" Elizabeth asked Remus.
"I taught them Defense Against the Dark Arts," Remus said simply. "For a year."
"He was the best teacher we ever had," Harry said, nodding for emphasis. Hermione nodded along. "What are you doing now?" Harry asked Remus.
"I'm actually teaching again," Remus said with a smile.
"That's great!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Yeah, that's really awesome," Harry added.
An hour or so later, they had finished supper and were sitting around in the living room, talking.
"That was great," Harry told Tonks.
"Do you really think I cooked that?" Tonks asked. Everyone laughed.
"Her cooking is dreadful," Remus said.
"It's not that bad," Tonks argued.
"I suppose if someone can't taste it…" Remus said. Tonks giggled.
"Don't worry, Tonks, I can't cook either," Hermione said with a smile.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Elizabeth said, jumping up from her seat with Harry.
"What's wrong?" Tonks asked.
"I have to go. I have to get up early. I'm sorry. I had a great time. Thanks for having me. It was good meeting you guys," Elizabeth said.
"Let me walk you to the door," Harry said, getting up and walking after Liz towards the entrance hall.
"I had fun tonight," Elizabeth said when they were standing by the door. She smiled shyly.
"Thank you for coming with me," Harry said, smiling shyly.
"Anytime," Elizabeth said, looking around casually. Harry shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Well, sleep well. Have a good day," Harry said after a moment of awkward silence.
"Ok, well, bye I guess," Elizabeth said shyly. Harry gave her a hug.
"Bye," Harry said. With a pop, Elizabeth was gone.
"So, what did you guys think of Liz?" Harry asked a few minutes later when they were all sitting in the living room.
"She's… Ok," Remus said apprehensively.
"Ok?" Harry asked.
"I liked Lexi better," Tonks said bluntly.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I like Lexi better," Hermione said quietly. Harry looked at her in confusion.
"Lexi is definitely better," Victor said, looking surly.
"What does Lexi have that Liz doesn't?" Harry asked in an annoyed voice.
"Lexi is smarter, prettier, funnier… And you and her just fit better," Hermione said in a know-it-all tone.
"What the heck does that mean?" Harry asked, annoyed.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"When you said that Lexi and I fit better," Harry said, raising an eyebrow.
"You kind of…" Remus said, trailing off.
"You need someone just as screwed up as you," Tonks finished.
"What?" Harry asked, semi-shouting.
"You need someone who isn't perfect. You need someone as screwed up as you are. Someone who can understand you. Someone who doesn't have a perfect life," Hermione said with a sympathetic smile. "And don't get mad at me. Deep down you know I'm right."
"You know, I don't try and interfere in your relationships," Harry said, narrowing his eyes.
"You asked," Tonks said, shrugging her shoulders. Harry grunted.
"You guys are insane. Liz is great," Harry said defiantly. Hermione sighed.
"Lexi is better," Victor said after a few minutes in which no one spoke. Harry looked up at him.
"Once again. You guys don't know what you're talking about. Liz is great. Lexi is… Evil," Harry said defiantly.
"You don't know Lexi enough to judge her," Hermione argued.
"I know her enough to know I don't like her," Harry said quietly.
"You just don't like her because she's not fawning over the precious Harry Potter like the rest of the world," Hermione argued. Harry clenched and unclenched his fists and took a deep breath.
"I don't care if people are fawning over me or not. I don't want people to fawn over me," Harry said with his jaw locked.
"Well, then, why did you stop liking her when she didn't know who you were?" Hermione asked with an eyebrow raised.
"I didn't like her long before that," Harry said, taking a deep breath.
"So, you admit that you disliked her before knowing her?" Hermione asked.
"I refuse to have this conversation," Harry said stubbornly.
"Fine, I'm sure you'll eventually figure it out on your own. I just hope it's not too late," Hermione said quietly. Everyone in the room was looking back and forth between Harry and Hermione.
~~I hope you liked! If you liked it, go review!~~
Muse of the Stars~ I promise, she'll be gone and they'll be together… When the time is right…
SunLight704~ Lol! When the time is right!
Byttmeo3~ Yeah, we'll find out about the memories eventually…
BabyBlu4~ Yeah, we're not really supposed to love Liz to death or anything…
Faith456~ Wow, a cliff… What a way to go…
PotterChick1~ We'll find out the stories… They're good…
Queen of Zan~ Lol! Sounds like you're not sure if you like Liz or Lexi more… Lol!
SmacksKiller~ Interesting name… Liz really isn't supposed to have a strong character… She's just… Sweet and too perfect… Lol!