Chapter Thirty-Two
Dinner for Friends
Lenore smoothed her black and green pleated skirt, enjoying the fact that her eyes were a beautiful sea-green tonight. Choosing to highlight on that fact, she had chosen that skirt, joined with fishnets (and of course combat boots). Her shirt was difficult to choose until she settled on a glowing green tank-top corset shirt with a fishnet shirt over it, giving her a demon like look. She crimped her hair after she finished her hours of stretching (and after another shower) and braided a few tiny portions of it. Her eyes were line with dark-liner and then a trail of glitter causing her to smile brightly at her reflection. George had transfigured a cane with a silver Lion's head with two fake rubies as eyes. With one final look over, Lenore began to make her decent down the stairs. He was due to arrive in any minute.
About half way down George met her, coming up the stairs, a white tiger lily in his hands. A faint smile traced her lips as he stopped short. "Now, George, isn't it a little early for you to be giving me flowers? I mean this is the first date." His ears colored as he handed the flower over and she slid it into her hair with a grin. He was dressed in an untucked collared shirt and a pair of black slacks. He looked nice. Lenore smirked at him. "Shall we make a game out of getting out of here?" she asked as they reached the bottom floor. George looked at her. "See if we can sneak out with getting seen," she nodded towards the obstacles in their course.
He chuckled. "Leo, we could just use an invisibility pill,"
She pouted. "But that would take the fun out of it."
Once again he laughed before he nodded. "All right, what do we have to over come?"
"Mother Hen in the kitchen, blocking that door and the fireplace—no floo travel please. D. A. B.—" he cut her off as she peered over into the family room.
"Dab?"
"Dull Axe Brain is playing chess with Curse Master. Flowering Demon is lounging on the couch with her sister. Hairball and her beast are no where in sight." Lenore said with a smirk, pulling what she and her friends did frequently. She looked at him with the most serious look she could muster. "What's the plan, Captain Red-Ears?"
He snorted, his hand unconsciously touching his ears before he glanced at the door. "Front hatch appears to be unguarded. Do you suppose Hairball is anywhere near?"
She shook her head. "Reading a book of spells to make us clean, I suspect."
"Oh no!" George hissed as the orange beast flocked into sight, coming from the kitchen. "Sent to do his mistress' bidding. Think we can make it?"
"You might have to go on without me."
"Never!" he suddenly swept her off her feet and she nearly burst out laughing as raced towards the front door. He took a flying leap over Crookshanks who let out a howl and shot towards the living room. Just as they got to the door they heard Ron let out a screech and watched him dance around, trying to get the cat off of him. "Well done, my partner." He said flinging open the door and escaping.
A few feet from the door he put her down and then they proceeded to burst into giggles. "My friends and I do that at school all the time. It's so much fun."
"Shall we off, my lady? To braze a fine Muggle dining place?"
"If you say McDonalds I will slap you." She said as he helped her to her feet.
"Damn, Golden Arches out…how about the Happy Star?" he asked as the portkey activated and they disappeared from the Burrow.
Landing in an alley, Lenore gripped George's arm for support before she managed to get the cane down. "Really, George, where are we eating?" she asked as he lead her out of the alley. "Because I have a craving for—" she stopped in her tracks, dumbfounded."George…I…I don't know what to say." She said softly as she stared at her old homestead. "How did you get an International portkey approved?"
He smiled at her. "Who said it was approved?" She looked at him sharply and he started laughing. "I claimed an emergency, said that one of your friends got in an accident." George led her towards Scotties Family Restaurant, one of her favorite restaurants. "Which of course is a complete and total fabrication but your school Headmistress was willing to back it up."
Lenore's eyes lightened as she smiled. "Erica?
"Yes." He lead her up to the door. "However, I lied to you." Lenore stared at him. "When I invited you to go bow—bowling I wasn't invited just you." Pushing open the door Lenore's eyes widened as she saw her friends surrounding the many tables. Washington, Stephan, Helen, Mary Anne, Garret, Isaiah, Ralph, Astrid, everyone was there sitting in Scotties, even Octavos, Jocelyn, Renee, Laura, and Erica.
Letting out a squeal of joy Lenore ran towards them. "Guys, sweet Merlin, I can't believe it!" she said throwing her arms around Washington in a hug. He had grown almost an inch since she had last seen him and he now was taller that she was. His dreadlocks had grown down to his shoulders but other than those two things he hadn't changed all that much. "Wash, your hair…it looks great." She said before stepping away.
Stephan was next in line so to speak to give her a hug hello. He hadn't changed a bit. "Hey Leo, how are you feeling? You look a little pale." She laughed shaking her head. He still kept his brown hair disheveled as always and his hazel green eyes were rich with laughter. Freckles were like a second skin on his face and he still wore his gold-wire rimmed glasses.
"Snot!" she exclaimed punching him on the shoulder before saying hello to Helen. She hadn't changed all that much either. Lenore still was taller than her and the girl had merely added fiery red streaks into her hair, giving the chocolate brown color a life of it's own. "Love the streaks, Helen. They look great." Mary Anne was next.
Mary Anne had changed, maybe the most so far. Her brown hair was pulled into two braid and then twisted into an elegant bun on the nape of her neck. She looked older. Her body had slimmed out. She wore a pair of jeans with a green poncho. "Hey there Leo. You look shocked."
Lenore laughed as she was 'passed' so to speak to Garret. His black hair was combed to the side and he was dressed head to toe in black, his shirt having a vivid blue lightening bolt through it and that was it. He was still as thin as always. He tickled her sided slightly. "Don't look so surprised, barely a peep all summer, Laura leaves abruptly and then comes back with such tales, we wanted to see you." He said with a grin.
Isaiah and Ralph, ironically, came up on either side of her and hugged her hello. "Do you two still do things in pairs?" she asked amused as Astrid came over.
These three were the younger end of her friends and were three peas in a pod. Astrid had dyed her hair jet black, bringing out her brown eyes and the freckles on her pale face. She had gained a bit of weight, rounding off a bit around the edges but still looking as beautiful as always. Ralph was still, well, short and stubby, his blonde hair now bleached but cut short with streaks of blue in the front part of his hair and on his goatee. His glasses were new, though, a set of silver wire frames accenting his blue eyes. Isaiah had grown taller. He still let his brown hair go slightly curly and wild on his head, his Greek nose was balanced on his face but he continued to have a little boy's face in his plump stature. They joked that these three were the Three Musketeers.
"So, did you like the surprise, Leo?" Erica asked before they hugged hello.
"I'm shocked, I can't…I mean…" Octavos and Jocelyn hugged her next. Both looking pale, due to their curse of being a vampire, but both using it to the height of it's ability to scare and amuse people with the old fashioned clothing and high collars. "This is a great surprise, thank you." She said with a faint smile giving Erica, Laura, and then Renee a hug hello. She looked back at George. "Thank you so much."
"They planned it," he nodded to her friends behind her. "I just got you here."
She smiled weakly before she looked back at them. "What time is it here?"
They grinned. "Two." Answered Mary Anne.
Tears of gratitude burned in her eyes as she allowed her best friend to lead her to the empty seat between herself and Garret. "Thank you so much."
For the next two hours they stayed in the restaurant, being served by a familiar waitress, the owner who had opened the restaurant especially for her. They talked and laughed, drinking the best Cherry Coke in the world as they ate, catching up on old times. However, seeing as how late it was, one by one her friends departed, soon, only Laura, Garret, Mary Anne, and George remained. The exhaustion of the day was catching up with her but at the same time she was pumped with sugar, enjoying the company of her friends. Currently Mary Anne and Garret were listening to George speak of his family. He had just finished explaining his joke shop before moving onto Ron.
"Ron, well Ron is—" he started.
Lenore cut him off snorting. "He's living proof that man can live without a brain."
Garret laughed. "That dumb huh?"
She took a sip of the Cherry Coke before shaking her head. "Not dumb per say, just thick skulled…they are practically the same thing….aren't they? Hm…I don't know….all I know is that if brains were wind, in his case, he wouldn't have enough to blow his nose with…maybe not even enough to sneeze with." She rambled causing George and Mary Anne to start laughing.
"All right, Leo. I think you've had enough Cherry Coke," Laura said reaching for the glass.
Lenore possessively held it out of reach. "Mine!" she exclaimed shaking her head.
Mary Anne grabbed it from behind. "No, I agree with Laura, you've had enough."
"Hey! Gimme back my Cherry Coke!" Lenore exclaimed reaching for the glass.
"Is she always like this when she drinks that stuff?" George asked Garret.
He nodded with a smirk. "Pretty much. She's addicted to it."
"Mine!" Lenore said as Laura and Mary Anne attempted to keep the glass away from the girl. "Mine!" They all started laughing as Lenore dove for the glass and missed, landing in Garret's lap. She pouted. "They stole my soda."
George glanced at the time as Garret retrieved her cup and she happily sipped it, still in his lap. "Leo, we're going to have to leave. The portkey will reactive in twenty minutes. We're got to get back home. It's almost midnight."
Lenore suddenly turned serious. "Okay." She set her glass down and looked at Garret. "Thank you for everything. This was…thank you." She said giving him a hug.
"Now don't go and get all sappy now." Garret said tapping her nose. "You know that if you ever need us we'll come for you. We're all behind you, even if you don't think so."
She smiled standing up and turning to Mary Anne. "Please let me help pay for this I—"
Mary Anne shook her head. "No. This was our thing, we pay. Now go on and get out of here."
Obeying, she allowed George to lead her out, Laura following them just outside. "George, can I talk to Laura alone for a moment before we leave?" she requested. He nodded and walked out of hearing range. "Laura, did you get my letter yet?"
She nodded. "I can't answer them now Leo."
"Why not?"
The woman looked uncomfortable. "I can't tell you."
"Laura!"
"One of them I don't know the answer to and the other two I'm reluctant to say." Laura sighed shaking her head. "No, Leo. It's not my place yet. I need to clear something up with Snape before I answer either."
Ire burned in her as she hardened her look at Laura into a glare. "I asked you because I didn't feel it was appropriate to ask him those questions as of yet. We are still on rocky terrain, Professor Bent. Forgive me if I was too personal." She turned to walk away.
Laura grabbed her arm. "Now Leo, don't be like that, you must understand that—"
"That it is either none of my business or it involves someone else other than you…I must understand nothing, Professor Bent. It was nice seeing you again. Goodnight." She said stalking towards George who was watching them curiously. "Shall we?"
"Are you okay?" he asked as she realized she was holding back tears.
"Yes." She lied before he nodded and portkeyed them back to the Burrow. Lenore looked at George and smiled weakly at him. "Thank you, George, tonight was…it was great."
"It was really Mary Anne and Garret who organized it, Erica and I just got the portkey organized." He said with a smile walking her to the door.
She stopped and looked at him, shaking her head. "Still…you didn't have to. I haven't been writing to my friends as much as I should have and I…well I guess I just forgot that they cared about me."
"Leo, no matter how…well…snotty you can be, people will always care for you. No matter what." George said with a smile. "Does that sound too forward for a first date?" he asked after a moment of silent.
They shared a laugh. Standing on her tip-toe she kissed him on the cheek. "Goodnight, George." Lenore said before turning and walking into the house.
"Night Leo." She heard him say before he shut the door behind her.
Smiling to herself, Lenore walked up the stirs as quietly as she possibly could, trying to sneak into her room. Mrs. Weasley however, meet her on the second floor, a flowing terry cloth robe covering her nightgown. "It is you, did you have a good time, Lenore?" Lenore, not trusting her voice at the moment, nodded. "I…I wanted to apologize about this morning. We were in a panic over the shifts in your features. It was—"
She shook her head. "It's all right, Mrs. Weasley. I'd probably do the same thing if the roles were reversed."
The woman nodded. "Get onto bed."
Lenore grinned and walked up to her room. She shut the door and nearly jumped when she heard a beeping sound. Glancing around she spotted the letter paper that Dumbledore gave her blinking. Hurrying over to her desk she turned on the light and slid the paper out. She grew very pale when she read the writing on the page below her own. It wasn't Severus' spindly writing but someone else's, someone who dug hard into the paper with the quill.
Oh, little girl, what trouble you've gotten me into. Snape hit the roof after I tried to kill you…pity I didn't succeed. I had thought you were merely a summer charge or a dark lover of his but how delectable it has become that I discovered that you are that wretched brat of his and Serafina's. What a treat this will be to hold over dear Snape's head, to know that he did not abandoned the disgusting mother of yours but planned to sent her away. Perhaps even to wait until my Lord fell to bring her back. Blackmail is a wonderful.
The name signed was dug in with a few ink splotches and she started to shake as she read it:
Wormtail
P.S. How is your leg fairing?
She dropped the parchment like it had scalded her hands. She not only had unintentionally betrayed her father to the man that tried to kill her but…Lenore stared at the paper in front of her, unsure of what to do. Wormtail now had a way to blackmail Severus…he was going to be pissed.
