I returned to my flat that night to see John waiting outside.
"John!" I said, surprised. "Why are you 'ere?" I hugged him.
"I'm surprised you haven't heard about it yet," he said. He looked up and down the hall. "Er, can we speak inside?"
"Um, sure." I let him in and we sat on the couch.
"Ministry members were outside your building. They found two dead Muggles and there were flesh-eating slugs on them. I don't know who'd want to do something like that. There haven't been any magical related Muggle deaths since—well—since You-Know-Who was in power."
Wrong.
"Actually, Muggles can come across certain bewitched items, like bewitched necklaces that can choke t'em…Maybe someone set some slugs loose," I suggested.
"Perhaps," John said. He took my hand. "The thing is…Ministry officials are going around to all witches and wizards living in the area to question them."
"Ah, great," I groaned. John lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it. I smiled at him.
"Do you want me to stay with you until they come?" he asked slyly. I giggled.
"Well…only if it does not inconvenience you," I purred.
"On the contrary..." he said, and inched closer to me on the couch.
-
--Meanwhile at Grimmauld Place--
"My cousin Martin just sent me an owl and said that The Ministry had just visited his house and started asking him all sorts of questions," Emmeline Vance said, walking back into the kitchen to rejoin the other remaining Order members.
"Peri said she lives in the building where they found the bodies outside," Tonks said. "I wonder if they've got to her yet."
"Poor thing," Molly said. "I hope they don't give her too much of a hard time."
"Knowing the Ministry, they probably will," Arthur said. "But don't worry, dear, she'll be fine."
"I hope so," Molly said, worried. "And if they try to hold something against her, they've got me to reckon with!"
-
The doorbell rang suddenly and we sprang apart. I jumped up and started fixing my hair while John went around looking through the peephole.
"It's them," he said. He turned to look at me and I let out a giggle. I tapped my wand gently on his face. "What's that for?"
"Getting rid of the lipstick smudges," I said. The doorbell rang again. I sighed and reluctantly opened the door. Two stern-looking men were standing outside.
"Miss Michaud, I am Reynold Thomson and this is Eeyore Scallop. We are here to interrogate you about the murder of two Muggles outside this building. May we come in?" The taller man, Thompson said.
"Um…yes. Please, sit down," I said. They walked in and cast John a look before sitting down. I sat in my armchair and John went to stand behind me.
"Miss Michaud, would you please tell us what you have been doing from 8:30 until now?" Scallop asked.
"Well…8:30 we were out on a date." I indicated John and me. "We first went to a restaurant a few blocks away and then went walking along t'e park with t'e duck pond and then came back 'ere."
"And you've been here ever since then?" Thomson asked.
"No, John walked me to my door and t'en I went inside to be ready to go to my friend's house…she hosts a book club sometimes," I said, hoping it was a good enough lie. I felt John smooth his fingers over my shoulder. I think he sensed my nervousness.
"You currently work in The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, is that correct?" Scallop asked.
"Yes."
"How long have you worked there?" Thomson asked.
"About two 'ears now," I said.
"Thank you for your time. I am sorry if it brought you any inconvenience." And with that, they Disapparated.
-
"Are you sure this is the right one, Arthur?" Molly Weasley asked, looking nervously up and down the hall. Molly insisted on checking up on Peri, so Arthur took her the next morning.
"I'm sure it is," Arthur said.
"Then why is she not answering?" After that was said, the door opened and they were met with a young brown-haired man. They stared at each other for a moment.
"I guess this is the wrong place after all. We're sorry for disturbing you," Arthur said, and turned to walk away.
"Wait—are you looking for Peri?" Molly and Arthur looked back at him, surprised.
"Yes. Is this her flat?" Molly asked.
"Yes, please come in. She's in the kitchen." He stepped aside to let them in and then closed the door. "I'm John, by the way."
"Arthur Weasley, and my wife, Molly," Arthur said, shaking hands with John.
-
I walked over to the kitchen doorway to see Molly and Arthur talking to John.
"Molly! Art'ur! What a surprise! Come sit down at t'e table, I was fixing breakfast. Do you want Coffee? Tea?" I said.
"Probably just a little spot of tea, dear. Let me help you," Molly said. She followed me back into the kitchen and we left the men to talk.
"What brings you two down 'ere?" I asked while beating eggs for an omelet as Molly made tea.
"We were worried, dear. What with the Ministry going around and the dead Muggles," Molly said. "By the way, how was it?"
"They just asked me questions and then left. It was fine," I said. "John was there, don't worry." I added when she didn't look convinced.
"John is your boyfriend, dear?" Molly asked. I nodded. "He seems nice. How long have you been dating?" I stopped to think.
"Well…we went out a few weeks ago and then work got in the way and then yesterday we went out together," I said. "My mother will be 'appy when I write. She's crazy for grandkids." Molly laughed.
"That's mothers for you," she said. I laughed.
"By the way, dear, are you doing anything today?" Molly asked suddenly.
"No, I didn't really 'ave anything planned. Why?" I asked.
"It's Remus's birthday today and we're planning a surprise party," Molly said. "A few of us are going to prepare for it and we needed someone to keep Remus away from Grimmauld until it's all set. Arthur's going to take him to this Muggle place but—" Molly's expression was uncertain.
"What type of Muggle place?" I asked.
"It's so bizarre—with big contraptions and all sorts of stuff that Muggles swing their selves around with!" It took me a moment to understand her, but when I did, I couldn't help but laugh.
"An amusement park?" I asked. Molly shrugged her shoulders.
"I'll never understand Muggles and their form of entertainment," she muttered. "I just hope Arthur doesn't go and get everyone killed!" I laughed aloud this time.
"Don't worry, Molly! I've been to amusement parks before, they're not really dangerous—unless someone vomits on you, but that's a different story—"
"Oh, Peri, dear…I hope it isn't asking too much…but could you go with Arthur and Remus? I'd feel a lot better if you would." Molly looked at me with pleading eyes.
"Sure, I'd love to go," I said.
"Thank you, dear," Molly said, looking a lot more relieved.
"Le petit déjeuner est prêt!" I said as Molly and I brought out the breakfast.
"Merci!" John said as I set a plate in front of him. I smiled at him.
"De rien." I turned to my visitors. "Are you sure you don't want anything other than tea?"
"We're fine, dear, we breakfasted earlier," Molly said. We had a pleasant morning, talking about the weather, Quidditch, and Ministry affairs.
"Well, thank you for the breakfast, darling, but I'm off to work now." John kissed me on the cheek and then Disapparated. I blushed and then turned back to the Weasley's.
"What time are we taking Remus to the amusement park, Art'ur?" I asked.
"Oh, so that's what you call them!" Arthur said. Molly rolled her eyes. "I was thinking three o' clock would give the decorating committee a head start."
"That sounds good," I said. Our conversation was interrupted by an ancient-looking owl that fluttered through the open kitchen window and landed on top of the croissants.
"Oh, goodness! I'm sorry Peri, Errol's getting too old for this."
-
"This is amazing!" Arthur said, gazing at a person in a pink bunny suit. "Is that thing REAL?"
"It's someone dressed up as a rabbit, Art'ur," I whispered, for some people were giving us strange looks.
"Oh. Right. So, which one of these metal things should we try first?" Arthur asked. Remus had been looking around while Arthur had been marvelling the pink bunny suit.
"This one looks mild enough," Remus said, pointing up at a simple hill roller coaster.
"Good choice!" I said, and we got in the queue waiting to go on.
"I haven't been to one of these places ever since I was really young," Remus said. "And even then, all I did was ride the carousel." It came time for us to get in separate lines according to which car we wished to ride in. Arthur got into a car and Remus and I got into the car behind it.
"This is so exciting!" Arthur said, practically jumping around in his seat. He said to the Muggle beside him, "Have you been flung about often?" The Muggle looked at him uncertainly.
"Ready for your first rollercoaster ride?" I asked, inciting some sort of conversation out of the mostly quiet man.
"As long as I don't fall out, I'm fine," Remus said. He blanched slightly, but other than that he was smiling. Soon the rollercoaster started making its way out of the station and up the incline.
"This is rather comfortable, don't you think?" Arthur asked his Muggle seatmate. The rollercoaster reached the top of the hill and paused for half a second before pushing over the top. Arthur and Remus were screaming their heads off along with the majority of the rest of the riders. I laughed and put my arms up. Remus reached over and pulled them back down.
"Are you mad!" he yelled over the chaos. He had gone even whiter in the face.
"It's alright, Remus we've got seat belts!" I yelled back. Soon after, the ride came to an end as the rollercoaster reached the station once more.
"That was wonderful!" Arthur yelled, jumping out.
"That was hilarious!" I yelled, laughing at the memory of Arthur and Remus yelling their heads off.
"That was insane!" Remus said, but he was smiling now and all color had returned to his face. "Let's do it again!"