Chapter 26
Ok…no belly button piercing. That was really just a habit thing. Oh…and I figured that I wanna use Delta Goodrem for Leah because there's a song that is so perfect for this. I'm also back to not being about to think up titles. Damn.
The day they had to leave for school, Leah and Molly got in a fight.
"You cannot where that school!" Molly said.
"Why not? You ever look at the muggle teenagers? All the girls are doing it." Leah said. She had come down the stairs in a black short skirt and a red spaghetti strap top. She had white leather boots on.
"That's true Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said.
"See. And it's not like I'm going to be wearing it long. Gotta change into uniforms when we get to school." Leah said.
"I don't care. You are not leaving this house wearing something like that." Molly said.
"Then I just won't leave now will I?" Leah said. She turned and stomped back up the stairs.
"Mum...you didn't have to do that." Ginny said. "She was getting along fine with everyone yesterday, thanks to Hermione. Now you probably just drove her back into seclusion." She looked at Hermione who sighed and nodded and went up the stairs to Leah's room.
Leah hadn't changed her clothes all too much. All she did was throw on some shorts that were a little longer then the skirt and a black tank top with a gold star and silver moon on the chest. Leah flipped her hair around to cover the tattoo and her shoulders. She yanked on a different wristband just as Hermione knocked on the door and came in slowly.
"Hey…Ginny is talking to Mrs. Weasley." She said. "She said that Mrs. Weasley probably drove you back into seclusion but I'm kinda hoping she didn't."
"No…I can't stay here anyways." Leah said. She sat on her bed and did her make-up. "I swear though…if Molly starts hassling me again…I'm gonna hit her…really hard."
"That's ok." Hermione said, leaning against the wall next to the door. "I'm surprised you haven't done that already."
"Yeah me too." Leah said.
"HURRY UP LEAH!" Ginny shouted. "WE HAVE TO GO NOW!"
"ALRIGHT!" Hermione shouted. "You ready?"
"Yep." Leah said. She put her make-up and some other things into a bag then went downstairs with Hermione. She put the bag in her trunk. Molly said nothing but it was obviously that she disapproved Leah's outfit, considering the fact that every time Leah rose her arms for any reason, her shirt would come up.
When they got to the station, Moody got carts again and Leah and Hermione stationed themselves near the back of the pack. Behind them Tonks was keeping rear guard, with cherry red hair today. Only Hermione got replies from Leah but Harry and Ron, who were right in front of them, turned around every so often to try and get Leah to talk to them.
They went through the barrier and onto the train together. After that Leah left them alone in a compartment and wandered the train. She looked in other compartments and got pulled into them by random people who she knew from DA last year. Each one was wondering if Leah knew who their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was. Either that, or they were telling her how sorry they were because Sirius died.
The news of Voldemort being back and that Sirius was not on his side and was now dead had spread rather quickly. Some people didn't believe the bit about Sirius though. Last week in the paper was a whole page dedicated to something to do with Sirius. All Leah knew was that it involved the fact that Sabrina was now in a coma and it mentioned Leah a lot.
"Black? Bloody hell is that you?" Leah turned around to see Draco's head sticking out of a compartment. A second later Crabbe, Goyle and Blaise were doing the same. All four were staring at Leah.
"Yeah…it's me. Why? You like?" Leah said, deciding to have some fun. She turned around to give them a better look. When she faced the boys again, they were still staring wide eyed and mouthed. Leah smirked. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Wanna come join us?" Blaise asked suddenly. "Or are you off to see Potter and them?"
"I'll join you guys." Leah said without thinking. She walked into the compartment and sat down. Instantly Draco and Blaise sat either side of her. She looked at both of them. "What?"
"Would you hit me if I said you are now hotter then you used to be?" Blaise said.
"Hmmm…" Leah said. "No…I don't think I will." There was a knock on the door and everyone looked up to see someone standing there.
"What year are you lot in?" The guy asked.
"Sixth." Leah said.
"Alright. You're supposed to get these." The guy said, handing around tags. He then left.
"Oook." Leah said. She turned it over. "It's a plain white tag." She shook it and her name appeared on it. "Oh…shake them."
"Why do we need our names on tags?" Goyle asked.
"I really have no clue what they're for so don't even ask. Hermione might know." Leah said. "How about I go ask and if there's still time I'll come back?"
"I'd rather you not leave." Blaise said, putting his arm on the back of the seat behind Leah.
"Well I have to anyways…gotta change clothes sadly." Leah muttered.
"Let her go Blaise." Draco said. Leah stood and left.
"She got real hot man. I thought she was cute before but now she's a bloody bombshell." Blaise said. Draco smirked then looked out the window.
Leah got back to the compartment where she left Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny. She had left four of them there and came back to find Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Dean, Neville, Ernie, Justin and Susan.
"Whoa…where's Harry go?" Leah asked, walking carefully into the compartment.
"Somewhere with Cho." Ron said, smiling. Leah just rolled her eyes. She grabbed her clothes and went into the empty compartment next door to change. When she got back only the Gryffindors were in the compartment.
"How much longer do you think till we get to the school?" Leah asked.
"I'm guessing about half an hour." Hermione said.
"Ok…do you know what these tags were for?" Leah asked, pulling hers out.
"You got one too?" Ron asked.
"Everyone in sixth year apparently gets one." Leah said.
"I don't know. I have no doubt Dumbledore will tell us though." Hermione said. Leah nodded and left again. She let her feet lead her back to the compartment with Draco, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle.
She spent the rest of the train ride with them and got off the train with them. She would have gotten into the carriage with them as well if it weren't for the fact that Hermione called her.
"Were you just with Malfoy?" Hermione asked. She and Leah got a carriage to themselves surprisingly.
"Yeah." Leah said.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"I dunno." Leah said.
"Ok…so you are hanging out with Malfoy now. Did you forget that he was a major monster to us last year?" Hermione asked.
"Actually no…he was a major monster to you, Harry and Ron last year." Leah corrected. "He left me alone…pretty much. He was the one that gave me the bracelet." She lifted her hand to look at it. "And he didn't even bother to search for my wand in Umbridge's office."
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know how his brain worked." Leah said. "I wish I did though…because that would just be cool." Hermione sighed and smiled. They met up with the others and went into the great hall together. Leah sat between Hermione and Ginny.
Once the sorting and meal ended Dumbledore stood and silence fell instantly. Leah looked up from her thumb war with Hermione.
"Welcome to another year." Dumbledore said. "To you first years, welcome to Hogwarts. To all students, the forbidden forest is, of course, forbidden. It doesn't matter how many times you've been in there already." His gaze was set pointedly at Harry, Leah, Ron and Hermione. All four of them smirked. "The village of Hogsmeade is out of bounds to students under third year. Now, everyone in sixth and seventh year…you are probably wondering what that tag that you received on the train is for."
"Told you." Hermione said. Leah rolled her eyes.
"Hogsmeade has a new place that is for sixth years and above." Dumbledore said. "That new place is a dance club." Everyone in sixth and seventh year cheered. Leah looked at Slytherin table and saw Draco smirked at her. She rolled her eyes and looked back at Dumbledore. "You use that tag to gain entry so do not lose it."
"That would explain it." Leah said.
"Now for the bad news." Dumbledore said.
"I knew it…give us the good stuff and we won't care what comes next." Harry said.
"As you all know, lord Voldemort…" Dumbledore said. Half the hall flinched as the name. "Has been alive for the last year. Last year, however, no one believed it. I have been asked to tell you to take extra precaution. Although you are all safe on the school grounds you must still be cautious. Those of you going to Hogsmeade must be back at the school by nine thirty. Sixth and seventh years, ten thirty." Dumbledore was looking at Leah and she was trying to figure out what he wanted. "Well…I'm sure you are all tired, and I hope you all sleep well. Classes start tomorrow so off you go."
"Hey wait a minute…who's our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" Leah asked, looking at Hermione as they got up and left the hall.
"I don't know. There was no one new at the table." Hermione said.
"Maybe they've dropped the subject." Ron said.
"Don't be an idiot." Leah said. "Of course they haven't dropped the damn subject. We need it more then ever now. I feel sorry for the first years of last year."
"Yeah." Hermione said. "We'll find out tomorrow."
"Yeah I guess." Leah said. "Do you think it could be Moody or Remus again?"
"Remus wouldn't come." Harry said. "He doesn't want to risk the fact that he might hurt someone." Leah sighed. "I doubt it would be Moody because he would have told us right?"
"More then likely." Leah said. "Ok…so it can't be them. It can't be Lockhart because he's still more mental then he used to be."
"No way in hell it could be Quirrel." Harry said. "He's dead."
"Thank god." Leah said. "And I saw Umbridge at the ministry a while ago. She was freaked when she saw me walking around. She's in no shape to do anything at all."
"Well it can't be Tonks or Kingsley." Ron said.
'It can't be anyone in the Order you idiot." Leah said. "So it's obviously not gonna be someone we know…duh."
"What about one of those professors from the exams?" Harry asked.
"No…they have to do that still." Hermione said. "We'll just wait until we have that class…or someone we know has that class."
"Yeah and…" Leah said. At that moment she saw Draco leaning casually against a wall, watching her. "Hermione's right…so drop the damn subject."
"Gee…you don't have to be a bitch about it." Ron said.
"That's what I am Ron. I'm a big bitch." Leah said. Ron and Harry went off. "I'll catch up Hermione, don't worry."
"Well…ok." Hermione said. She hurried to catch up to the guys. Leah walked over to where Draco was.
"Well…you certainly have changed." Draco said.
"Why do you say that?" Leah asked.
"Well…I don't have to pull you away from your friends." Draco said. Leah rolled her eyes before grabbing him and pulling him into a closet. "And normally I'm the one that does that."
"Yeah…but I just wanted to." Leah said.
"Here's the big question though." Draco said. "I'm pretty sure this is Sierra personality type. So are you going to be her permanently now?"
"Nope…Sierra sings…I don't." Leah said.
"Yeah…both of you kiss real good though." Draco said before pulling Leah against him and kissing her. Leah was about to respond when memories from the summer came back and she pushed Draco away. "Should have expected that."
"No...umm…" Leah said. Her hand was lightly over her mouth and she was looking at the ground by Draco's feet. "It's just…bad summer memories."
"Why? What happened?" Draco asked.
"Just…nothing." Leah said. She wasn't about to tell one of her darkest secrets to Draco. "Umm…we really should go to our common rooms now."
"Oh right." Draco said, suddenly remembering. "You first."
"Thanks." Leah said. She looked up then left and leaded the common room, glad that she found out what the password was while they were in the great hall.
Leah changed quietly so that she didn't wake up Hermione, Lavender or Parvatti. She got into bed and lied there, looking at the ceiling until she fell asleep.
She was in the small room again. She hadn't been there in a long time. In the same dress too. Leah looked around. Small room…black dress…no mystery guy…yet. This time Leah was herself…she wasn't just playing by a dream.
"We really should find a better furnished room to meet in." Leah turned and looked at him.
"Don't tell me that…you're the one that plans the meetings." She said.
"Good point." He said. Leah smirked. This guy was amazing…but who was it?
Beep, beep.
Leah groaned and opened her eyes. There was beeping. She sat up then pulled the curtains away from around her bed and looked around. Lavender and Parvatti were gone and Hermione was pulling on her robes.
"I was just about to wake you up." Hermione said.
"No need…the beeping did it." Leah said.
"What beeping?" Hermione asked.
"Didn't you hear it?" Leah asked. Hermione shook her head. "Oh…must have been the dream."
"Probably." Hermione said. She waited for Leah to change, brush her hair, and do make-up.
"Her Mione…let's do your make-up." Leah said.
"I don't know." Hermione said.
"I'm not gonna do it like mine." Leah said. "I'm just gonna make you stand out a little more. Please?"
"Fine." Hermione gave in. She sat down and Leah got to work. She gave Hermione cherry red lips, light light brown eye shadow and a darker brown eye liner. She put on some blush, not a whole lot. Hermione looked at herself in the mirror. "Wow. Thanks."
"I'm not done yet." Leah said, looking at the clock. "Do you really want to eat?"
"Not really all that hungry." Hermione said.
"Ok…so by the time I get done, we can go get our schedules then have about fifteen minutes to talk with Harry and Ron before we have five minutes to get to class." Leah said.
"You're planning on taking another hour?" Hermione asked.
"Yep." Leah said. She got to work on Hermione's hair. She managed to straighten it using some hair stuff she got at Diagon Alley. She trimmed it a bit before braiding it. "There, what do you think?"
"You do good work." Hermione said.
"Yep…I figured…we're in sixth year." Leah said. "Got a new dance club we can go to…and you definitely got the body for some major moves now." Hermione blushed. "You just needed the head look."
"I take it you want to do this every day now?" Hermione asked.
"Pretty much yeah." Leah said. "You see how much make-up I got? Gotta use it on someone other then just me."
"As long as it's not every single day." Hermione said.
"Fine." Leah said. Leah swapped wristbands quickly to cover up the new cuts and the old ones as well. She also put a bracelet on the other wrist and another necklace (She had on the one she always wore that seemed to be pretty powerful).
"Ready?" Hermione asked. Leah nodded. They headed down to the great hall. Leah smirked at Hermione's reaction to all the looks she was getting. When they sat down at the table, Ron passed them their timetables then stopped and stared at Hermione.
"What's up?" Harry asked. Ron put his hand on Harry's head and turned it. Harry stared as well.
"Umm…boys." Leah said. "What do you think of Hermione's look?"
"Amazing that is." Ron said. Leah smiled and nudged Hermione.
"He thinks you're amazing." She said. "Hey…I wonder what Victor would think. We should send him a picture."
"Leah…we have muggle studies first period!" Hermione said quickly.
"Huh?" Leah looked at her schedule. "Oh…yep we do. Ok well we better get going then." They got up and left after saying bye. "We have DADA after lunch, then Care of Magical Creatures after that."
"Yeah…maybe Ginny has Defense in the morning." Hermione said. Leah shrugged. She really hoped she could figure out who the new teacher was before she had to go to that class.
Ok…who should the teacher be? I'm thinking maybe Dumbledore or someone that Leah knows and would really rather avoid.