Chapter 21 – The Three Broomsticks
Lizzie spent the remainder of the week remarkably quiet. Halloween was approaching, and she hoped for an electrical storm soon because she was growing tired of muttering the animagus incantations. Flitwick wanted her to perform at the Fall Concert on Halloween and she hadn't a clue what to sing. Her next lesson with Dumbledore was going to be the night before, which made her unsure she'd even be up for the task at all.
Slughorn's potion was either working remarkably well, or Voldemort was uncommonly content. Lizzie moved quidditch practices to Sunday mornings and Tuesday nights, trying to navigate her increasingly tight schedule. The reading for coursework was growing tenfold, and she was relying heavily on the Half Blood Prince's book.
When the anticipatory Hogsmeade date arrived, Lizzie found herself completely out of character and overly preoccupied with how she looked. She borrowed a little bit of makeup from Lavender to brighten up her dismal, sleepless complexion, added some extra curl to her hair and wore something casual but still rather flattering, pulling on a leather and denim jacket over the black blouse she had changed in and out of at least four times.
It wasn't like this with Cedric, she thought. He didn't even ask me anywhere we just went naturally, never cared what I wore. But she pinched her own cheek at this trying to avoid self-sabotaging this relationship by comparing everyone to someone she'd never get back.
Hermione smiled at Lizzie when she made it to the common room. "You look pretty," she said encouragingly. Lizzie rolled her eyes and they locked arms heading down to Hogsmeade to meet the others. Several yards behind them, footsteps of the assigned aurors could be heard following them, and Lizzie ignored them and what the reality they symbolized the best she could.
Hermione and Lizzie pushed open the door of the Three Broomsticks and caught the attention of several people. Seamus waved them over to where him and Ron were sitting, Ron looking extremely disgruntled by Dean and Ginny snogging in the corner.
When she made it to the table, Seamus leaned in for a hug and a kiss on the cheek, Lizzie smiled and he brought back a couple of butter beers.
Hermione nudged Ron for them to find another table and give Lizzie and Seamus space, but he was a little too thick headed for a moment to realize before the ordeal got a little awkward.
"Ron, let's go say hi to Rosmerta?" Hermione asked, and tugged on his arm assertively. Lizzie choked back a laugh and looked over at Seamus who seemed both inviting and awkward.
"You've got to forgive me, I don't remember how to like... date..." Lizzie said with a smirk. Seamus chuckled a little.
"We don't have to call it that if you don't want to," he said.
"I'm going to call it an etad then," Lizzie said and grimaced at her own daft joke.
"Sorry?" He asked.
"Etad, date backwards, backwards date..." she explained stupidly, shaking her head. He frowned back confused but still smiled at the effort.
"I'm usually funnier than this. Going to blame that one on the torture, it really is a great scape goat for all my shortcomings lately," she said, and he laughed at that.
"How well do I know you Lizzie?" He asked.
"I don't know, I'm an open book. Read all about it on the cover article," she chuckled.
"So that stuff is true?" He asked.
"It's more like historical fiction... inspired by reality," she chortled into her butter beer.
"Ok... well what are your favorite things?" He asked.
"Coffee, flying, coffee, music, coffee... reading... chocolate, but not white chocolate... coffee... chocolate flavored coffee..." she rattled off.
"Coffee then? Noted," he said laughing.
"Yeah, in a vat... My kidneys don't even bother to filter the stuff anymore," she rattled off and he chuckled.
"When did you develop the obsession?" He asked curiously.
"I would tell you but then this is going to cease to be a lighthearted conversation," Lizzie laughed.
"No, seriously..." he encouraged.
"How much about me do you really want to know? I mean... most people have really had to dig..." she asked, growing serious.
"As much as you're comfortable with... I suppose," he said, and she nodded slowly at him contemplating.
"Let's save that for another date. Something lighter," she smiled.
"Lighter than coffee?" He asked, confused.
"You'd be surprised," she chuckled.
"Chocolate a safe bet?" He asked.
"Oh, absolutely. You remember Lupin, no doubt?" Lizzie asked. Seamus rolled his eyes.
"No, who?" He laughed. "Was that the only decent Defensive Magic professor we've had? Was that his name?"
"The one and only," Lizzie smiled. "He's basically family, like an uncle, these days like a dad... was my parents and Sirius's best friend..." Lizzie explained. "His mad obsession with chocolate rubbed off on me, especially in Switzerland this summer, I didn't think much of it before I knew him... or knew him again... I mean he was there when I was born so," Lizzie explained fondly.
"Blimey, really? No doubt why you were his favorite student," Seamus said.
"How do you navigate the werewolf ordeal?" Seamus asked.
"I gave him access to my vault to stay in stock on Wolfsbane. But he still transforms it just curbs the impulses. Sadly, I mean...chocolate is poisonous to that part of him, he keeps his mood at bay with the stuff. He's the kindest person I know, but super overprotective lately... my dad would have made him my godfather if not for the affliction. Sirius was brilliant in every way, but a bit of an imbecile," she explained.
"You miss him?" He asked sympathetically.
"Yeah, every day. I used to meet him on Hogsmeade weekends actually. But... he really loved my dad and I just keep reminding myself that he must be with him. I know he's thankful for that. I would be," she said.
"What about you Seamus? I don't know much about you overall. You're Ron's best mate..." Lizzie asked.
"No, you're Ron's best mate," he laughed, and she smiled.
"Well, ok, I'm going to ask you ten questions then," Lizzie said excitedly.
"One - Where were you born?" She asked.
"Galway, Ireland," he answered.
"Two - what are three of your favorite things?"
"Dogs, hiking, and sailing," he said. She nodded back approvingly.
"Three - favorite book genre?"
"Mystery," he said.
"Four - favorite foods?"
"Potato pancakes, Irish coffee, and peach pudding" he said.
"Irish coffee?" She asked.
"You'll die and go straight to heaven, believe me," he laughed.
"Good deal... five... um... favorite quidditch team?"
"You need to ask?" He retorted.
"Ireland?"
"Obviously," he laughed.
"Six - muggle music or wizard music?"
"Muggle music," he answered.
"Thank God! That would have been a deal killer," Lizzie exclaimed.
"Seven - favorite bands?"
"Rolling Stones, Queen, and the Cure" he said.
"Not a bad lineup. I approve," Lizzie said impressed.
"Eight - Favorite subject?"
"Toss up... Transfigurations and Care of Magical Creatures" he said.
"Nine - what do you want to be?"
"Dunno exactly. Was thinking pyrotechnics," he said and Lizzie laughed.
"Ok... ten... favorite color..."
"Really?" He asked, under-enthusiastically. "Green," he said. Lizzie smiled.
"Ok, I think I know you way better now," she said sarcastically.
"My turn...born?" He asked.
"London, I thought everyone knew that. Skip what you can read about in a history book," she said.
"Things people don't know you like or you're good at?" He asked.
"Singing and tennis," she said.
"Types of books you like?"
"Classic literature...and...true crime..." she chuckled.
"Things you don't like to do?"
"Cook, clean, embroider, and knit, all the domestic arts electives in catholic school," she rattled off quickly.
"Biggest lesser known fears?"
"Bath tubs, bulldogs, trains, oven burners, household chemicals, small spaces, the dark... mice... red wine... smell of brandy... being buried, drowned, dismembered, or lit on fire...and the woods..."she rattled off endlessly.
"That's a lot," he said, confused. Lizzie nodded.
"Music... favorite bands?"
"Fleetwood Mac, bar none, Electric Light Orchestra, and Queen," she said happily.
Seamus smiled. "Favorite song then?"
"Ahhh... well none from one of the above, The Stranger by Billy Joel," Lizzie laughed.
"Where did you go this summer?" he asked.
"Repeat and you die, got it? I'm probably not supposed to say," Lizzie whispered and he nodded.
"Romania, Bulgaria, Paris, Giza, Ireland, and Switzerland," she whispered.
"Who'd you stay with?" He whispered back.
"Friends," Lizzie smiled evasively. "I'd tell you, promise I would, but I have to keep it all sealed. Wouldn't want you targeted for information at some point..." she explained. He nodded warily in understanding.
"Looks like they're hitting it off," Ron said to Hermione from the bar.
"Yeah, it sort of does," she said, eyeballing Ron approvingly.
"He's liked her for a long time you know?" Ron said. "I mean minus last year when he was a blubbering idiot... but..."
"Ron you want a drink?" Hermione asked sweetly.
"Sure, thanks," he said, oblivious to the look she was giving him.
Slughorn approached Hermione unexpectedly. "Miss Granger!" He said excitedly. "I wanted to extend and invite to you for a dinner, I usually host a couple each term for a select bunch of students," he explained. "Next Friday at 6pm work?" He asked. Hermione nodded and smiled appreciatively.
"Thank you, sir, certainly," she said.
"Please let Miss Weasley know she is invited as well, looks a bit preoccupied though," he winked, and Hermione choked on her drink at his reference while Ron scowled.
Lizzie and Seamus were deeper in conversation when Slughorn approached their table. "Lizzie, dear, just spoke with your friend Miss Granger, I wanted to extend an invite for a dinner I'm hosting next Friday. 6pm?" He asked.
"Erm, of course, thank you, Professor," she said with a smile and he gave them a goofy grin and walked away. Seamus looked confused and Lizzie shrugged.
When Slughorn had left, Lizzie noticed Mundungus Fletcher in the corner of the pub talking low to a gentleman and exchanging something. Lizzie narrowed her eyes realizing that he looked frightened to see her. She sensed a strong feeling from him that he was hiding something.
"Seamus, sorry, give me a moment," she said, and made her way toward Fletcher. Seamus followed but lingered back and Hermione noticed.
"Hi, Mundungus," Lizzie said innocently. "How are you?" She asked.
"Good, Lizzie, very good, uhm..." he said awkwardly.
Lizzie noticed the top of a goblet in his bag that looked familiar. "What's that?" She asked. He tried to hide the bag and she summoned the goblet.
"These have the Black Family emblem, where did you get them?" She asked with realization dawning.
"Oh well um..." he said while images of him rummaging through Grimmauld Place ran through her mind.
"You ransacked his house didn't you?" She growled aggressively.
"Now, Lizzie, I didn't know it was signed over to you... when..." he tried to explain.
"Why would you do that in the first place?!" She roared. It sparked attention, notably so from aurors in the opposite corner. Ron and Hermione walked over nervously.
"What else did you take?" Lizzie asked furiously, snatching the bag and rummaging through it.
"You can have it back of course, Lizzie..." he pled trying to ease the tension.
Lizzie pulled a package of pictures tied with twine and her heart fell.
"What could you possibly need these for?" She asked. He had no words at first.
"Answer me!" She roared.
"Publishers pay a lot for pictures of... you... especially..." he admitted. The others looked between each other nervously. Even Dean and Ginny had broken up their close embrace to listen to the exchange.
"You stole these... to sell them?" She asked with a broken voice.
"Lizzie, I'm sorry, take them," he said, shaking.
"Oh I have your permission to take them?! You robbed us! These don't belong to you!" She shouted.
"This is all I have of him, Fletcher! There wasn't even a body to bury! No grave to lay flowers on! If these had shown up in the newspaper I would have FUCKING KILLED YOU!" She yelled. "You can have the stupid goblets, he hated them anyway, but step foot in that house again and I swear to God..." she hissed, snatching his shirt collar. She felt an unfamiliar hand grab her arm and turned to see an auror breaking up the exchange. Lizzie let go of Mundungus and he apparated.
"Fucking Christ," she hissed to herself, holding the photos. Hermione tried to catch her eyes looking scared, but Lizzie headed back to the table and undid the twine on the stack. Seamus, Ron, and Hermione sat back down with her nervously.
Moving faces of her dad and Sirius in their school years looked back at her; Sirius and Remus laughing; Lizzie on a child's broom with her dad laughing in the background; Remus smashing birthday cake into her face; Lizzie curled up on Snuffles; her mum and Remus smiling together; wedding photos, several wedding photos, they were only a year older than she was now; Lizzie on Sirius's shoulders sometime around her third birthday; her dad crying at the hospital with a new baby in his arms and Sirius kissing the side of his encouragingly; then a picture of the four marauders, to which Lizzie ripped off Peter and crushed him in her curled fist.
Hermione was picking them up as Lizzie silently discarded them onto the table to pick up the next. Pure joy, she thought, especially of James holding his daughter for the first time, and wiped away stray tears of her own, it was an unbearable amount of loss in a small stack of photos. Gravity seemed to weigh down on Seamus, and Ron watched Lizzie closely.
"He should have never taken these," Hermione said sadly. Lizzie picked up a picture of her and her mum cuddled up together in an arm chair and let out an involuntary whimper, her eyes pooled uncontrollably.
"Liz?..." Hermione said, reaching for her hand, but Lizzie gathered up the photos into a pile, tucked them in her jacket, stood up abruptly, and left. They followed her from a distance much like the aurors had. She wandered down the path and toward the lake and into the cave she met Sirius in. There was still a goblet left behind from the drinks she smuggled down. In her head she was imagining him sitting there, happy to see her. Lizzie pulled the photo of Sirius and her dad and permanently stuck it to the cave wall, but couldn't part with any of the others. She conjured a bouquet of flowers, and turned around, suddenly registering her friends were with her. She was silent for a moment and looked down abashed.
"I'm fine... he's with..." she started to say.
"Your dad?" Hermione finished for her.
Lizzie looked back at the picture on the wall. "He's probably happier that way, you know? I mean who would...you know? Want to stay... with me? With the choice, I mean?" Her voice was breaking and Hermione looked nervously at Ron and back at Lizzie apologetically. Seamus unexpectedly moved toward her and offered a hug, but to her surprise it didn't feel even a little bit awkward.