For my original Author's note, refer to La Default chapter.
I would like to extend my greatest thanks to the 9 people who reviewed! I send out Karma! (Breaks into joyous flamenco dance) Oh and to EvanescoDarkness, Carmen was just making a joke about the video cameras, have you been reading your Hogwarts A history? OK a corny joke I know. But thank you for your kind review! Oh and to Elmire, I never wrote Carmen as a spy (like Carmen Sandiego!), although that does give me an attractive idea...(rubs hands together mischievously)
Chapter Three: An interesting afternoon...
"Alright, just lean on me."
"Why should I listen to word you say? This is after all your fault!"
"My fault! Didn't I tell you there was no way you could make that jump? Anyway what kind of moron tries to jump onto a rooftop?"
"Let me tell you something Moony-"
"Please Sirius don't bother, we've had enough of your genius for one day. Just hold onto James, I have to open the door."
Disgruntled, Sirius wrapped an arm around James' neck, trying to keep his sprained ankle in mid air, the result of an ingenious plan to break into Death Eater headquarters, by jumping Police show-like from a rooftop, to another rooftop. He had made it. Just not in one piece.
James, struggling not to laugh, eased Sirius into a chair. Sirius pulled up his robes, and studied his swollen ankle. "Don't you say a word." He told Remus, shooting him a warning look. Remus laughed.
"Fine, just stay there. I think I've got something to fix that up in my room."
Sirius sighed and gently touched his ankle, cringing with pain, while Remus ascended the stairs.
"I still don't know what you were thinking."
"Oh shut up!"
Remus made his way quietly up the staircase. It had been another long, exhausting day. Then again, what else could you expect when you had Sirius and James for friends?
He ran his hands through his hair as he caught sight of himself in the hallway mirror, noticing his temples were starting to turn grey. He wasn't even 30 yet and he was already turning into his grandfather. He knew it was incredibly egotistical of him to be complaining about his hair at a time like this, when the entire world was in turmoil. Still-
He opened his bedroom door, trying to think of where he had left his medical potions. Probably next to the washstand. But when he opened the door, his potions were the last things on his mind. For a moment he thought he had walked into the wrong room. He was certain that walking in to his bedroom, to find a very er...well developed, stark naked woman drying her hair, or even a fully clothed woman for that matter, was most definitely a first. But before he had time to go through this, the woman looked up and saw him standing there, staring at her in the doorway, his eyes wide and his mouth hung open.
Her eyes, already rather large, widened and she clasped her arms across her chest.
"I-I don-wh..." Remus stuttered, trying to think of something, anything, to say. But what did you say when you found a naked woman in your bedroom? Well, the first thing you should do is avert your eyes! Hastily, and far too late, he shielded his eyes with his hand and tried to stutter some kind of apology.
"I-I'm sorry I did-I didn't know-"
"Get. Out." Her voice was a hoarse whisper.
"I-yes, but I-"
"GET OUT!" She screeched. And, pulling back her arm, she clenched her fist and smacked him in the nose.
Remus gave an agonized scream and fell back against the wall, clutching his hands over his nose, as the door slammed shut. Blood trickled out his right nostril and his head pounded, a wringing in his ears. Suddenly he felt a shadow descend over him, followed by an amused chuckle.
"Ah Mr. Lupin!" Dumbledore said cheerfully, "I see you've met Miss Pescetelli!"
"Here you are Moony!" Sirius smiled, handing him a towel full of ice, "A simple Muggle remedy but it really helps take the swelling down."
The four men sat around the rough kitchen table as Dumbledore filled them in on Carmen's father, and her introduction into the Order, and Remus filled them in about his violent attack.
"I bean really, what do you do when you find a daked woban in you bedroom?" he asked them, sounding like the victim of a severe head cold.
James thought for a moment, "Celebrate?" Remus pulled a face.
Sirius clenched his lips together, trying desperately not to laugh. "I still can't believe you got beaten up by a girl!"
"Shuddup!"
Sirius and James both broke into a roar of laughter. Remus muttered something under his breath and, clutching the towel to his nose, turned to Dumbledore.
"You could of ad least dold be." He said crossly. Dumbledore smiled and, like Sirius and James, seemed to be trying hard not to laugh.
"But I have told you Mr. Lupin. Just now. Although I did hope to reach you sooner." Dumbledore told him, his eyes twinkling. Remus growled.
"I am sorry" Dumbledore said earnestly, "but the poor girl was soaking wet and shaking with cold, and I didn't expect you back until this evening. I thought you and young Mr. Potter and Mr. Black were going to try to infiltrate the Death Eaters Headquarters?"
"Don't start." James smiled. "So she's the daughter of Salvatore Pescetelli then is she?"
"Yes. And she will be staying here with the rest of the Order." He said. Remus groaned.
"Now, now," Dumbledore assured him, "This was all just a simple misunderstanding. I'm sure if you just apologize to Miss Pes-"
"Abologize!" Remus asked incredulously, "She's the one who bunched be in the dose!" Dumbledore opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted as the door opened and Carmen walked in, trying her best to look dignified.
Remus, still angry about being smacked in the face for trying to get inside his own bedroom, was determined never to speak to this wretched woman ever again, unless it was absolutely necessary. And even then, only one word answers. Yes. No.
Really, how dare she! But as soon as he saw her out of the corner of his eye, he dropped his towel and stared at her, all his anger forgotten.
Maybe it was the shock of it all but, when he had first laid eyes on her, he didn't realise just how beautiful she was.
Her eyes were the first things you really noticed. They were larger than average, framed by sooty eyelashes just as abnormally large, and dark brown, full of a wild fire, caprice, mystery and sensuality. A gold ring was embedded in her left eyebrow and a wicked smile playing upon her full, red, pouty lips. Her hair, half pinned back, was full, deep black and cascaded down her back in curls. Her skin was that delightful golden brown sheen of women with a Mediterranean ancestry, and she wore a red dress made out of a light floaty material, that clung to her extremely curved form and came down to mid-thigh, showing off strong shapely legs.
Remus wouldn't just apologize. He would beg for mercy!
"Ah Miss Pescetelli," Dumbledore said rising to greet her. She smiled and clasped his hands in hers, kissing him once on each cheek. Her opinion of Dumbledore had certainly changed dramatically since earlier that evening! "I would like you to meet a few gentlemen, fellow members of The Order and a few of the people you will be staying here with. This is James Potter." He said, motioning to James.
Carmen leaned over the table and took his hands and kissed his cheeks, as she had done with Dumbledore. Remus noted that when she bent over, a large amount of her ample bosom spilled out and he made a great effort to look away. He didn't want her to think he was a pervert.
"And this is Mr. Sirius Black."
"Delighted," Sirius grinned, he took her hands, "Do I get a kiss then?" he winked. Carmen rolled her eyes, pushed Sirius back into his chair and smiled. Sirius looked most pleased. Remus wasn't.
"And er- yes" Dumbledore coughed, possibly trying to stifle a laugh, "I believe you've met Mr. Remus Lupin."
Carmen went a little red and smiled bashfully, folding her arms across her chest. Remus got to his feet and hesitantly extended his hands. Gradually Carmen uncrossed her arms and took Remus' hands giving him a much quicker kiss on each cheek. Remus took a deep breath and caught the scent of her hair and perfume. He suddenly felt very embarrassed about his greying temples.
"Biss-I bean-I just wanted to let you dow that I'b sorry I had do idea-"
"No, no it's OK." Carmen said giving him a rather nervous smile. "It was all just a mistake." Tentivley, she reached out to touch his nose.
"Oh you um-you have my ring print on your face." She told him apologetically.
"Oh it's nothing." Remus smiled, trying to seem casual. But it hurt too much to smile and he clamped his hand over his nose again. Carmen smiled and bit her lip. Remus smiled back.
"Well then," Sirius broke the silence, "We should get dinner started, the rest of the Order will be here soon. You staying Albus?"
"Not this evening!" he said, "I have important matters elsewhere. I bid you all goodnight." And with a sweep of his hat he was out the door.
At around 11:30pm most of the Order had straggled back to headquarters, with the latest news of the Dark Lord and his plans, some still out on some secret task. Everyone for the most part was bright and cheery, for sitting down to a meal with the Order, even this late at night, was the only ray of light in an otherwise frightening and depressing existence. The one time to forget and laugh a little.
Remus had made a rather desperate struggle to sit as close to Carmen as possible, losing out in the end to Sirius and Alice Longbottom, to surreptitiously watch her every move out of the corner of his eye from his place across the table, between Moony and Hagrid. She spent most of her meal answering questions.
About Italy, the town where she came from, the Italian wizarding community, the school of witchcraft and wizardry that she had attended, and she in turn replied with gusto and much movement of her hands, talking about the beaches with the sun shining, warm sand under your feet, the sky "as blue as the Madonna's mantle", the friendly disposition of its people, the passion of their music and dance, the operas and the excess of food and wine you could purchase for so little.
He watched her laugh a gutsy, throaty laugh, lean in to whisper to Alice, sip her wine (of which she drank abundantly), scowled and clenched his fork every time Sirius struggled to get her attention and made her smile, and wondered why he cared so much.
"Well I don't know about the rest of you but I'm completely done in." James yawned, "What say we call it a night? Carmen we go to work tomorrow."
Everyone else yawned and nodded making their way up the stairs to their respective rooms.
"Come on," Remus told Carmen, with a lot more bravado than he felt, "I'll show you where your room is." She smiled "Grazie."
They made their way up the stairs, past the second floor where Remus' room was, a few drops of blood still on the floor, and up to the third floor to Carmen's room.
"Well, here it is." He said. They both stood in the hall for a moment, avoiding each other's gaze, thinking on something to say.
"Well," Carmen said finally, "Buonanotte."
Remus blinked, "Borna whata?" Carmen threw back her head and laughed that laugh.
"It's Italian." She grinned, "It means goodnight."
"Oh! Well then, Buonanotte!" He said grandly. Carmen arched an eyebrow. "How was my accent?" he asked.
"Boorish, provincial and you speak it through your nose." She told him frankly, tapping the end of her nose with a long red nail.
"Ah."
Carmen pushed the door open and stepped inside. "Night." And once again Remus met with the door.
Back in his own room, Remus fell down on his bed linking his hands behind his head and listening to the murmurs in the rooms next door. There was no denying it.
He had it bad.
