Ch.6 Secret keepers
Snape arrived at Renee's...err...Harry's new place of living and was greeted by Camron and Dart, Dart barked happily and ran circles around them as they entered the kitchen where Harry was making lunch. "What brings you by, hmm?" Camron raised her eyebrows, Snape turned to Harry "Lupin and Tonks wanted me to tell you they'll come for the party", Harry turned around with an amused expression "Oh? Why didn't they tell me themselves?". Snape cleared his throat "They were busy...so, I see you're cooking, where's Renee?", Camron and Harry exchanged a glance before Camron answered "She's in the shower...", Harry had to hold back a snort at how she said it.
"She was covered in paint and just had to go clean off..." Camron rambled on in a somewhat idle manner, Harry was choking back his laughter at the blush on Snape's face. "You talkin' shit about me, Cam?" Renee walked in, towel drying her hair, clad only in a thigh-length bathrobe, she stopped and laughed nervously when she spotted Snape standing in the kitchen as well. Snape turned around, so as to not look at her and mumbled "Sorry for intruding, I had news to tell Harry", Renee stood there in a momentary shock before replying "I...should go put some clothes on...excuse me". She nearly ran to her room, Dart chasing her the entire way barking happily, Harry and Camron couldn't help themselves as they burst into a fit a giggles, Snape slumped down at one of the chairs mumbling "Could I have some coffee?".
While rumaging through her wardrobe, Renee found the hospital braclet from her accident that she doesn't remember "Mom and dad said I was driving and my car ran off the road...". She grabbed a tank-top and threw it on "But I only remember the hospital...nothing before that..." she then grabbed a pair of loose cargo pants and slipped them on. The scratching and whimpering from outside her door tore her from her self conversation as she opened the door to let Dart in, he jumped around and nuzzled her legs. "What do you think, Dart?" Renee bent down and scratched behind his ears "Think I'll ever remember?", Dart gave an affirmative bark, making Renee smile "Me too".
"Before you leave Mr.Malfoy, you need a parole guard...we don't normally do this, but we will give you the choice of two..." the man behind the desk stated. Lucius nodded for him to continue and in a sort of 'Thanks', "You can have either Mr.Arthur Weasly, or Miss Nymphadora Tonks..." the man read from a piece of parchment on his desk. Lucius thought for a moment "I wouldn't want to bother Arthur any more, what with him having such a full family...I'll take Miss Tonks, thank you", the man nodded "Wait here one moment, then". Lucius waited and looked around, he was one of the first Death-eaters to be freed so early, but he coopperated with them, he was honest with them and he was indeed a changed man, "You just had to pick me, eh?" came the amused voice of one Nymphadora Tonks.
"Now that I'm dressed, can I get you anything? Coffee?" Renee entered the kitchen, Harry turned around "Already got him a cup and I made one for you too", she nodded in 'Thanks' and sat down at the table. "Oh, Renee!" Harry called from over his shoulder "I was wondering if we could do the party and the festival two different nights...I was just thinking, there's not going to be enough time on my actual birthday for everyone to come over and do both". Renee nodded and took a sip from her cup "I don't see why not...when do you want to do what, that way I know when to make your cake", Harry's eyes widened, this was all too much "You'd really make me a cake?". Renee laughed "Unless there's a store-brand one you'd prefer", Harry shook his head "No thank you, I'd much rather have one you make, I can trust it'll be good...even with the arsenic" he winked, causing Renee and Camron to crack up declairing "He's one of us!".
"You say he was resisting the veritaserum?" Tonks eyed Lucius carefully, Remus blinked in disbelief "How?", Lucius shrugged "He wasn't giving straight answers, but some useful information, none-the-less". "Like what?" Remus edged closer, the three of them were at Remus', Lucius had to stay with his parole guard until further notice, the blonde man laced his fingers together "Like, James and Lily always had two secret keepers". Remus nodded "Sirius then Peter...", Lucius shook his head "No, no...they had two secret keepers...at all times...", Tonks raised an eyebrow "You mean that when Sirius was a secret keeper, somebody else was too...and then when Peter became one...". "That one other person was still the second secret keeper" Lucius finshed, Remus' jaw dropped "I never knew about this!", "Neither did Sirius" Lucius shrugged "Peter knew about it somehow though...".
"Wait a minute, did he say who the other secret keeper was?" Remus stood up and started making himself busy with preparing drinks for everyone, he felt fidgety. "No..." Lucius shook his head "But I have a feeling on who the other one was...Cecelia was mentioned...", "Cecelia Potter? The missing one?" Tonks blanched. "Yes...he said something about holding her in his arms that night..." Lucius shuddered "But...how else was she to know where they were? Unless...", "Unless she was a secret keeper as well..." Remus and Tonks' voice were near whispers. "I'm not sure of anything else though, I was pulled from my cell before I heard anything more...but I can tell you one thing, Cecelia wasn't a follwer of the Dark Lord, so that's ruled out of her where-abouts" Lucius shrugged.
Remus handed everyone a drink, they all sat there sipping in silence before Tonks spoke up "So...you didn't hear if he killed her or anything?". Lucius shook his head "Sorry...but I do have my fears on the matter...just how he said that...'I held her in my arms one last time that night'...disgusting", Remus and Tonks nodded in agreement and shuddered slightly themselves. "Oh, not to go so far off topic, but I see your parole states for you to have Muggle Interaction" Tonks reread the parchment, Lucius raised an eyebrow "Yes, and?", a smile quirked at Tonks' lips "We're going to the summer festival soon, plenty of muggles there, eh?".
"Have you heard from everyone else you invited yet?" Renee asked Harry as he served cheese-steak sandwiches, he was taught how to make them by Renee. "Almost, just need to hear from Ron and Hermione, see if they're even going to be here around those days" Harry smiled and took a bite of his sandwich, luckily Renee always bought extra food and he was able to make one for Snape. They ate and enjoyed their food, shared a little with Dart and discussed what type of cake Harry should have, "I can make any kind of cake you want, any flavor, texture...I could make you a cheesecake, if you'd like?" Renee questioned. Harry shrugged, not being used to such treatment "I'll eat any cake you make me, Renee...I'm just happy that you're doing all of this for me...", Renee shrugged "What can I say? I like making people happy" she smiled and rubbed his shoulder affectionately like a mother would.
Camron looked around boredly then grinned down at Dart "You wanna go for a walk?", Dart started jumping up and down excitedly "Lets go for a walk!", "I'll come too!" Harry called after her as she headed for the door. They both got their shoes on and gave a smirk towards each other as they left the two adults alone in the kitchen, Dart kept nudging them and barking at them to hurry up and let him outside. They were halfway down the block when Camron turned to Harry "I tried to get my Aunt to admit she likes him, but she's all denials" she rolled her eyes and sighed, Harry snickered slightly and looked around the block. "Tell me, why doesn't Renee drive? I mean, does she just prefer the wrokout or...what?" Harry noticed everyone on the block with a car except Renee's house, never saw her drive, always walked.
Camron sighed again "She's not allowed to drive...", Harry raised an eyebrow "Why not?", Camron blinked at him then shook her head "My mom says that Aunt Renee was in a bad car accident years ago and it's nearly made her blind". Harry blinked now "She's nearly blind? She seems to do fine without glasses...", the teen girl shook her head "She wears contacts...oh, she also got amnesia from the accident too, she can't remember anything before the accident or something". "That...really sucks" Harry couldn't think of anything better to say, but luckily Cam started to laugh at it, "So..." Harry tried to think of something better to talk about "How about this sky today, talk about blue...". Cam laughed even harder, 'I'm such a dork' Harry felt himself blush, Dart even seemed to be laughing at him, "So, Harry...what do you want for your birthday?" Cam spoke up, seeing the embarrassment in Harry's face.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about buying me anything..." Harry stuck his hands in his pockets and tried to avoid eye contact, Camron shook her head "Nonesense, you deserve a birthday present...". Harry looked over at her in mild suprise, she blushed suddenly at what she said and stammered "I mean, everyone deserves a birthday present, right?" she laughed to cover it up but it sounded nervous. Harry couldn't help but smile at this, "My mum gets free stuff from her work...I could give you one of her companys' products!" Cam jumped up in excitement. "I forgot, what does your mother do?" Harry asked, Cam grinned widely "She owns a large electronic toy company...want a game system? I own almost every game system out there, I get them before they're out on the shelves!" she was bouncing on her heels.
Harry blinked at her in disbelief "You can actually get me a game system? For free?", she nodded entusiastically, he wondered how it was she had all of that, plus more and yet not be a spoiled brat. "Alright then...but only if it's free, I don't want you spending that kind of money on me" Harry gave in, Camron squealed and clapped "Yay! I know exactly what I'm gonna get you now! I just have to call my mum when we get back...".
"Harry's living with a muggle woman? Is that such a good idea?" Ron stared in disbelief at the letter he'd just recieved from Harry, Hermione peered over his shoulder and smiled "How sweet, she's throwing him a party...". Ron nodded "Yeah...at least she's a nice muggle, says so right here...'Renee is a very nice woman'...", Hermione was already getting a piece of parchment and a quill ready to send a letter back "Should we tell him the 'good news' yet, or wait until the party?". Ron smiled and leaned forward, kissing her cheek softly "I'm sure he already knows, but we might as well wait until the party, Remus and Tonks'll be there", she nodded and started writing a response back to Harry.
A knocking came to their door, Ron got up and opened it to see his little sister Ginny standing there, tapping her foot impatiently, her arms crossed "Well...?" she asked. Ron grinned now and pointed to Hermione, Ginny let her eyes travel to the muggle-born witches hand, a beautiful ring adorning it, "Yes! She said yes!" she jumped up and down and gave her brother a hug that would put her mother's to shame. Hermione started to snicker and raised her hand "What? This old thing?" she joked, Ginny ran in and gave her new sister-in-law-to-be a hug like the one she gave Ron "Wait until mum and dad find out! They'll be thrilled!". "Oh, yeah...can you tell mum and dad that Harry's living with a muggle woman and she's throwing Harry a birthday party and we're all invited?" Ron blurted out, Ginny stood there processing everything he'd just said before nodding and running out of the room yelling "She saidyes!".
Ron sighed and shook his head, he couldn't help but smile though, "Well, at least we know someone else is happy about this too" the brunette girl smiled at her fiance. "Who all do you think Harry invited? I saw Snape listed there...good to know he's not a git anymore, huh?" Ron snickered, Hermione rolled her eyes "Lets see you say that in front of him, now", the red haired boy snorted "What's he gonna do? Take points away?". A thundering of feet approaching the door let them know they were about to recieve more guests, the rest of the weasly family to be exact, they all threw open the door and cheered "SHE SAID YES!".
There you have it, another chapter...just send in those reviews! In fact, tell your friends about my fic! Yeah, more reviews! Again, if there were any confusions, just send me an email, k? Thank you for reading!
