Okay I think I'm doing pretty good, five chapters and then another one within the corse of the week, aren't you proud of me? If you are PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review. I want to send a special thanks out to those who reviewed right away. Ktoddhim, who left one review for each chapter (lol I loved that), Amarthiel thanks for the review, I know I said this already but I just wante dto thank you again, Allijoy thanks for popping in, I hope that this gets to you just so you know how much reviews touch me, A.S. Leif, as always you spring up and make me grin, Tomsgirl2005 thanks you for not throwing tomatos my way, and lastly, but definatly not leastly, RidDles girl, the last half of the chapter is for you, you'll see what I mean but I wrote it with you in mind. : D
Well Daughter of Darkness LOVES reviews so do me a favor and tell me what you think of this chapter, I'd love some critial reviews or at least tell me what you like about it. It's fun to hear not only what people like but why they like it...okay I'm done...12pages of one chapter...is that too much? Lol
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Changes
When George brought Lenore back the next morning…well you can imagine the results of her skipping the previous night's lessons. Congregating in the living room, the six tutors were giving her a thorough chewing out, alone because they had scooted everyone out of the room. For Lenore she felt as if they were each taking turns as to what she did wrong.
"ENOUGH!" she suddenly exclaimed, fighting the tears back. The elves looked as if they were abut to object but she spoke before they could. "Please, just stop." She sighed looking down, her knees clenched to her chest. "I get the fact I am a failure. That I'm not up to your standards but please just stop." Lenore was horrified when a tear escaped her eye but she didn't stop speaking. "I am trying. I am trying so hard to make you happy. I am trying to do what you say, trying to complete the tasks you have set forth but I don't know how." Wiping her eyes she looked at her tutors, fire and pain in her eyes. "I just don't understand what you want me to do. Don't you think I want to control my power? It's not as if I'm blatantly blowing you guys off. I want to learn."
"You showed us your attitude quite clearly with your actions last night," Wren said in a controlled but disappointed voice.
The raven-haired girl stared at her appalled. "My actions last night?" she gaped. "You people have been working me to death for three days straight. I barely have time to eat and sleep, let alone shower. You all expect me to be experts on the last lesson by the time I get there the next day when I don't even have free time to breath let alone practice what you taught me! I needed a break! I'm tried of people telling me I'm worthless! I'm tired of you telling me that I'm too stupid to complete the tasks!" Tears were falling freely but she didn't care. She had to say her peace to the flabbergasted tutors in front of her. She shook her head. "Merlin, you guys act as if I'm trying to fail. I understand you don't like me. I understand I'm a disappointment, but don't you think that I want to succeed? The sooner I succeed the sooner you guys leave therefore it is only logical that I would want to do my best."
Jalia sneered at her. "Quite clearly, your best isn't good enough,"
"No…I guess it's not." Lenore looked down. "So if you already know that then why are you still here? If I'm really worthless to teach," Her eyes snapped up to them, burning with rage. "Besides, if you look at it logically again, if all of you teach in the same way and I don't learn that way, isn't it the teacher's fault for not finding a different approach, not my fault." She got to her feet. "I'm taking a day off from lessons. If you want to find me to do anything other than insult me I'll be in my room."
With that she swept from the room, if she had been wearing robes they would have billowed out. She was almost to her room when she heard someone call her name. She hadn't thought the tutors would confront her so soon. Turning she saw George hurry up the stairs, taking them two at a time. "Leo," he stopped in front of her and she looked up at him. They were quiet for a moment before a smirk broke out across his face. "That was some chewing out you gave them,"
A blush colored her cheeks. "You heard?"
He held out something orange. "Extendable Ears, invention of mine…and Fred's but it lets you eavesdrop."
She snorted taking it. "Interesting."
"So are you serious going to ditch your lessons today?"
"Call it a weekend on a Thursday," she muttered looking away. "I think I'm going to catch up on some reading….and take a nice long bubble bath." A dreamy grin was on her face.
George smirked. "Really?"
She punched him on the shoulder. "I'll see you later George," she said, walking towards her room.
"Bye Leo,"
Lenore stopped and looked back. Impulse filling her she hurried back to him, calling his name so he would stop. He looked back and she stood on her tiptoes. "Thanks for last night," she gave him a peck on the cheek before hurrying back into her room.
As she closed the door she heard him mumble a 'your welcome' and she watched a brilliant smile spread across his face. Shutting the door all the way she leaned against it, a stupid grin on her face, her heart fluttering in her chest. That was fun.
The first thing she did on her self-proclaimed day off was grab a clean set of clothes, a bath towel and she headed back the way she came and into the bathroom. Locking the door the mirror commented on not seeing her in a long while (it had been more or less sleeping whenever she was up.) Turning on the faucets she poured a bubble bath into it. Shedding her clothes and stepping into the warm water Lenore felt, for the first time in days, perfectly and happily content. Settling down in the hot water she shut her eyes, ready to relax for an hour or two.
"Is there a reason for this nonsensical rambling you seem intent on emitting?"
She sat up sharply, a bit of the bubbles sloshing over the side of the tub. Damn! Why can't I just relax without him bothering me? She thought settling back in. Even as she thought that the events of her running into him in Diagon Alley went over in her head. Snape had been a callous bastard. Why was he so cold to her? It felt as if she was back in Hogwarts the day before she left. He didn't want her and now that he was out of Dumbledore's sight he could act as he pleased.
Lenore was surprised at a sharp ache in her chest. No, she thought sternly. I don't care about him. He's always hated me and he was playing with my emotions. It didn't alleviate the ache but a familiar sense of distain filled her. All of it was a game to him. I was nothing more than the opposing team and he won. A tear unnoticed trickled down Lenore's cheek. No. He didn't win. You hate him, a familiar little voice in the back of her head told her.
Oh…hi…haven't heard from you in a while, Lenore shut her eyes, not finding it strange at all that she was talking to herself.
You made me shut up because you were trying to convince yourself of lies.
Is that right?
You know as well as I do that all Snape, the name was dripping with hatred, wanted to do was play with your emotions. Just like he did with your mom.
Um, hello you are me, and how do we know that that was all his intention was?
Leo don't be an idiot.
I'm not an idiot!
I didn't say you were I said you're being one.
Am not!
Are too!
Am not!
Are too!
AM NOT!
ARE TOO!
MERLIN! I'm arguing with a voice in my head! I'm insane, GO AWAY! Lenore was starting to question her sanity. She was arguing with herself.
You're perfectly sane. You only have warring emotions and I'm the voice of the truth.
You're not the truth!
Aren't I?
NO! Lenore opened her eyes. Her mind shot to all the things that Snape had been doing lately. Shifting uncomfortably in the water if a voice would smirk her voice was. Shut up.
I didn't say a word.
Why are you doing this to me?
I'm just showing you the truth.
Argh! I'm so confused!
You were right from the beginning about him, accept it.
WHY! She sat up sharply. Why should I just accept it? Why am I talking to myself! I HATE THIS! YOU ARE NOT REAL!
Why can't you accept that you hate him and he doesn't care a jot for you?
Lenore stared straight ahead at the decorated tile on the wall. Because I wanted a family… she couldn't believe she just admitted that. It was a feeling she had been trying to ignore since Snape and she began to get along. More than anything she wanted the comforts that a family brought and since the first nightmare that she had while staying with Snape she realized she thought that it would be her chance to get a family again. The hatred burning in her replaced the ache in her chest. I was stupid. It was just me trying to make something real that wasn't.
Decided to stop lying to yourself?
Leave me alone.
I can't I am you.
Then do me a favor and shut up!
The rest of the bath went unhindered by the nagging voice but Lenore had to admit that the voice had a point. When she was dressed and back in her room she looked at her mother's journal and the parchment both of which sat on her desk from where she had left them. The hatred and ire burning in her caused her to march forward and fold the parchment scrap. Sticking it within the pages of the book she set it on the shelf along with her mother's other journals. Snape was a bastard. Plain and simple and she didn't need to read any more of her mother's deluded thoughts to know that her mother was crazy to believe that man could care about anyone but himself.
Unsure what to do, she pondered between reading up and practicing a few things from her lessons or playing the piano. Taking a mini piano about the size of her palm she wondered how Dumbledore shrunk it if he knew that she couldn't do magic. Shrugging and setting it on the floor she had to jump back as it grew into a usable object. A smile traced her lips and she slid into the piano bench, her fingers tracing the ivory keys.
A song began to come forth and it was a few moment before she recognized it as Moonlight Sonata from Beethoven. The music was pouring forth from memory, which surprised Lenore. She could never memorize a peace of music before and now she was playing Beethoven from memory? It didn't make much sense but she ignored the confusion and simply let the music flow from her. It wasn't so much the playing that relaxed her but the music itself. Finding the music changing from Beethoven she tried to figure what she was playing. Giggling she began to sing along with it, realizing that it was 'One Jump Ahead' from Aladdin. It was maybe two hours later when she stopped playing, amused at all the songs she had played.
Leaving the piano as it was she sat on her bed (she wasn't quite sure how to get it to shrink again.) Taking a Muggle pen from her desk she set it on the bed. She wasn't bored, not by a long shot, but she really did want to learn how to control her magic. Attempting to lift the pen with her wand, she wasn't surprised when it shot to the ceiling and made a tiny dent. Dropping her wand on the bed the pen fell back down.
Fine, I'll do it wandlessly, she thought, knowing form experience that her wandless spells had more of a chance of success than her spells where she used a wand. "Wingardium Leviosa," the pen shot up again but instead of hitting the ceiling it began to zoom around the room. Irritated already she let the pen drop and tried to attempt the spell again. After several attempts (one causing the pen to hit her on the forehead) she leaned against the wall going over what her lessons had been. What was she missing?
It hit her almost instantly. Before each lesson truly began Jairdan had her attempt Focus. Perhaps…hm…Lenore crossed her legs and shut her eyes, trying to feel her magic. Focus was not something she was good at but instead of thinking of magic as this force she pictured magic as something she could see. Something tangible. Opening her eyes she nearly gasped. Her sight had changed slightly, instead of seeing just an object; she saw an aura as it were around the object.
Her mother's journal was glowing a bright gold with a mix of darker gold in it. The piano had faint blue glow around it but what she was shocked about it the magic that was emitting from her. Her magic stretched over most of the room in an opaque rainbow. But it wasn't how far the aura was stretching that shocked her, it was how bright and strong it was. She had more magic that she even realized.
Licking her lips nervous she began to think about taking some of that glowing aura back inside her. Pain ripped through her body as the aura dimmed slightly and she gasped, doubling over on the bed. Okay, that was obviously not how to do it. Maybe it wasn't so much trying to bring it back into, despite what Jairdan was saying…maybe it was more controlling the output.
"How do I do that?" she asked herself out loud. Looking at the pen she muttered: "Wingardium Leviosa," Her wand extended. The pen was shooting around the room again. She reaching out she touched the aura and it quivered. Grabbing the stream that was leading to the pen she gave it a yank and, though it caused her to reel back slightly, the pen stopped zooming around the room and was quivering in the middle of the room, suspended in mid air. Grinning she pumped her fist and exclaimed: "YES!"
The moment she let go of the aura, the pen shot to the ceiling and then zoomed wildly about the room. She cursed silently before deciding to do a different approach. Shutting her eyes pictured the rather thick stream of aura that was shooting from her wand to the pen. Biting her lip she pictured in her head pulling some of that magic back, much like the yank before. The sound of the pen hitting walls stopped and she opened her eyes. The auras were gone but very clearly in front of her was the pen, hovering as if she had cast the spell normally.
"I did it…I did it!" she was ecstatic. Maybe this Focus thing wasn't as hard as she thought. Shutting her eyes she pictured the auras again. Maybe if she pulled her entire aura in she could use her wand normally. In her mind she pictured pulling most of the aura into a tiny ball. She opened her eyes and twisted her wand in her hand. "Here goes nothing," pointing at a stuffed animal which was sitting on her bookshelf she whispered: "Tarantallegra," The stuffed cat floated from the shelf and instantly began to do a very strange movement with the stuffed legs.
A grin spread across her face. She did it. She could cast spells.
"Orchideus!" flowers sprouted from her wand. "Lumos!" her wand lit up brightly. "Nox!" A broad grin was on her lips. "Diffindo!" a large rip appeared in the bedspread which she was pointing at. "Deletrius!" the spell damage was repaired. "Accio!" the cat flew towards her. "I DID IT!" she exclaimed happily as she continued trying charm after charm.
Unnoticed, two sets of eyes watched her from the other side of the door. "Seems you were mistaken, Jairdan." The orange person beside the tall elf said. "We only needed to give her the opportunity."
The elf turned on his heel and left without a word, unreadable emotions playing across his face. The Almost Human sighed looking back at Lenore who was causing things move in a circle around her. They all had been mistaken.
He leaned forward and knocked on the door, canceling the spell which caused the door to appear see-through on one side. Everything Lenore had been hovering dropped and the girl looked startled towards the door. Suddenly there was a burst of magic, rippling through the house, causing Gagan to be thrown off his feet.
"What was that?" Hermione asked as Ron righted a fallen knight on his chessboard.
Ginny was on her feet instantly as they watched Mrs. Weasley fly by the entry way and towards the stairs. "There's only one person I know of who is upstairs," she said as her excuse of fleeing the room.
Hermione and Ron looked at each other before flying to their feet and racing after the youngest Weasley. Joined by the rest of the house including Jairdan and Taban, they whole house thundered up the stairs. They came upon Gagan, sprawled at the bottom of the set of stairs leading to Lenore's room. There was a gash on his head and he was struggling to sit up.
"Gagan!" Taban was by his side helping him.
"Released magic…" he managed to say holding the back of his head.
Ron was watching in complete horror and somewhat fascination as a gold liquid was seeping through his fingers…was that Centaur blood? Shaking his head Ron realized he was the only person besides the two on the floor who hadn't gone into Lenore's room.
Hermione was shocked when she came upon the messy room. Books were thrown about on the floor and she had to quell her urge to fix them, horrified at how they were laying. But the need to fix the books was quickly silenced when she saw Lenore unconscious on the bed, Mrs. Weasley doing a diagnostic spell.
"She's in some sort of magical shock." Mrs. Weasley was cleaning a cut at the top of Lenore's head. The girl was unresponsive. "I don't understand…"
"How can she go into magical shock if she can't use her magic?" Bill asked the question which was on the tip of everyone's tongue.
"She released the magic without realizing what it could do," Jairdan, who was in the back of the room, said quietly.
Hermione whirled around. "What?" she gaped.
"Zhe cannot do magik. What vou say makez no sense." Fleur said frowning, her sister clinging to her arm.
"Unless that's what she was practicing on her day off," Hermione said, her eyes wide. "That's it, isn't it? She wanted to please you people and by doing so she injured herself!"
Jairdan moved forward after a moment. "She managed to control her magic," He took the cloth that Mrs. Weasley was using to clean Lenore's head. "But Gagan must have decided to talk to her and he startled her. She released her magic all at once and it rippled and back lashed. She'll be fine by dinner. Her body can resort that which she has lost." The cloth glowed blue for a moment and he touched it to Lenore's head. The cut healed. "Magic will not absorb well into her body at the moment, she needs rest."
The entire room watched the once cold unfeeling elf shift Lenore into a more comfortable position before leaving the room. "What was that?" Ginny said in shock.
Mrs. Weasley ushered them out of the room. "I'm not sure, Ginny." She answered after a moment. "I'm not sure." With a shake of her head she shut the door. She had a letter to write to the Headmaster…it wasn't going to be a pleasant one either.
The first thing she felt was an incredible pain, shooting through her head. Gasping in pain, Lenore didn't even think about opening her eyes. That really hurts…what happened? She thought slowly blinking. The room came into focus little by little and she found herself staring at a ceiling. Of course you're going to stare at a ceiling what else would you be staring out when you're lying on you back on a bed? Her thoughts shot snidely. Her head really hurt and it wasn't the type of headache she was used to. Once, when her mother and she were experimenting with her control over wandless magic, the magic back lashed and Lenore woke up with a headache very similar to this one.
Sitting up slowly she grasped her head, gasping when her fingers hit a tender spot on the spot just below her hairline. That hadn't happened before. Glancing at the time she blinked and shook her head (a bad thing to do because it caused her to fall back on her pillow for several long moments) it was nearly dinner time. Lenore swallowed hard and moved slowly, placing her bare feet on the hard-wood ground. She had to take it slow. Maybe she could find a headache potion.
It took several minutes for Lenore to gather the strength to stand. She was about to take her first step when the door opened, Wren stood on the other side, holding a tray with various herbal ingredients. They looked at each other and then Lenore grabbed the desk-chair, her legs shaking. "Head hurts," she managed to say and the Almost Human nodded walking in, setting the tray down.
"Drink this," she said handing a rather disgusting looking brew. "It's a natural but magical remedy for magic back lash."
Lenore blinked and then quickly dumped it into her mouth. She was quite surprised when it tasted vaguely like cinnamon and nutmeg. She wondered momentarily how long it would take for the remedies to act but the moment after she thought this the ache in her head subsided. Blinking she steadied herself before focusing on the Almost Human who was smiling.
"What happened?" she asked, her hand going up to her forehead again, the gash was still there.
Wren was arranging the vials on Lenore's desk and the woman looked up at her. "You experienced a magical back lash," she said as way of explanation. "Come, Mrs. Weasley would like to make sure you get food." She walked from the room leaving a very confused Lenore behind.
Shaking her head she hurried down the stairs, her mind briefly wondering where her piano went but that thought quickly became the last on her mind. Hermione jumped to her feet seeing her come into the kitchen. "Leo!" the girl looked worried. "Are you all right?"
"Um…I think so…what's going on?" she surveyed the people in the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley was stirring something; Hermione was dicing potatoes, Gabrielle looked very miserable as she skinned carrots and several of the other vegetables were being sliced and skinned by magic. "When I went upstairs it was maybe ten o'clock. What happened?"
"You don't remember?" Mrs. Weasley said looking back, startled and surprised.
"I…" it came back to her in a flash. The bath, the auras, the pen…her magic! She did it! She could do magic again. "I did it! Hermione, Mrs. Weasley, Gabby, I was able to hold spells!
"Yez, ve know." Gabrielle muttered, looking very sour at the fact she had to help.
Lenore wasn't aware that some of the brightness in her face fell at the blonde's words. "Congratulations Leo, that's wonderful!" Hermione said through clenched teeth, a fierce glare sent at Gabrielle.
"What? Szhe could have killed uz." Gabrielle said haughtily.
"What do you mean?" Lenore asked uncertainty.
The cold blue eyes bore into her. "Exazctly what I zaid."
"Lay off, Gabrielle. She didn't know that would happen."
"Ze could have killed uz! Or do vou not remember ze picture frame falling on me!" the girl shot back harshly. Lenore blinked, horrified. What had she done?
Hermione's voice dropped into a deadly tone. "It wasn't intentional. Don't blame her for—"
"Girls!" Mrs. Weasley whirled around.
Both teenagers busied themselves with the food in front of them. Man they must have gotten into some fight for Mrs. Weasley to force them to help her. Lenore thought.
"What happened? Why was I out for the day?"
"Lenore, when you managed to control your powers you didn't know how to release it." Mrs. Weasley explained slowly. "Gagan says that he startled you and you let go of the control. Because you were still trying to handle the magic it back lashed on you and a magical ripple went through the house. You were fed too much magic at once and you were knocked into magical shock until your body could handle it."
The raven-haired girl sank down into one of the kitchen chairs. "But I did it," a small smile was on her lips. "I really did it. Mrs. Weasley I was able to do spells again," her eyes were bright and, though Lenore couldn't see this, her eyes went several shades lighter to a dark green. "I was able to do it."
Mrs. Weasley's face softened and a kind smile spread across it. "That is great Leo, really we are all proud of you." Gabrielle tried to muffle a snort but to no avail. "Everyone is very happy for you." The daggers the red-haired woman was sending the blonde's way caused the girl to squirm. "Head outside, dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes or so."
"Okay…" sending a look Hermione's way she went towards the back door.
She ran into Ginny on her way out. The youngest Weasley grinned at Lenore. "What ever you did to George, Leo, he's been on cloud nine since he left this morning…he still hasn't come down from it." Ginny smirked. "Hasn't played a single prank yet…I even pulled one over on him."
Lenore's heart sped up. "George is here?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Oh, I see…over there, with Bill." She pointed to a place just beyond the string of tables.
True to her word, George was on his back staring at the sky, Bill whittling a stick next to him. Fleur was setting the table. Even from this distance, Lenore could see the stupid grin on the young man's face. Walking forward Fleur looked up, a happy smile on her face. Bill had spotted her but George hadn't. Loudly she could hear Bill ask George a question.
"So, what new drug have you been testing at triple W to make you like this?"
Lenore wasn't so sure that the twinkle in Bill's eye was entirely trustworthy. George sat up, balancing on his elbows. "I told you, Fred and I aren't doing anything like that…"
"Did you hit yourself with a cheering charm then?"
George took a half-hearted swipe at Bill. "Cut it out."
Bill winked in Lenore's direction. "Seriously, George what has you so high?"
"I told you!"
"Well I wanna hear it again to make sure I'm understanding you correctly."
"She kissed me," The raven-haired girl's face flushed. "I don't know why I'm so happy…I just am."
She giggled and George whirled around. His face turned beat red. "BILL!"
Lenore burst into laughter. "Hi George,"
"Er…um…hi Leo, how are you feeling?"
"Better." A smirk stretched across her lips. "How are you?"
If it was possible, George's face got even redder. "He's wonderful, you should have heard the wonderful things he has said about you—" Bill wasn't able to finished because George had tackled him, causing Lenore to burst into giggles. "Best mood I've ever—"
"He really haz been appy," a voice said in her ear. Lenore jumped, startled and saw Fleur had walked up beside her, a dreamy smile on her lips. "It remindz me of vhen Bill firzd kissed me. He didn't stop smiling for three dayz straight."
Bill smirked in their direction, he had George in a headlock. Winking at Fleur, Lenore watched the young woman blushed. "You really love him don't you?" Lenore asked curiously.
The blonde looked at her sharply. "Of course I do." There was a flicker of something in Fleur's blue eyes. "Waz there any doubt?"
"Honestly?" Lenore asked her looking back, amused at the two brothers wrestling. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Fleur nod. "Yes. In what little I saw, I wasn't sure what it was."
She nodded. "I am afraid, Mrs. Weazlee sharez vou opinion."
"I'm sorry, Fleur."
The blonde blinked and shrugged. "I must finish," she turned and walked away.
Lenore looked back at the two brothers (Bill remained victorious) and let out a sigh. She had seriously misjudged the relationship between Bill and Fleur. And, from what she knew of Mrs. Weasley, the red-haired woman had done the exact same thing. No wonder the two got into so many arguments about the upcoming wedding.
"DINNER!" Ron shouted causing Lenore to look back.
The youngest Weasley boy got a swift hit on the back of the head by Hermione as she came out with a dish. He looked mad at first until Mrs. Weasley chewed him out. It took nearly a half hour to get everyone at the table (excluding Wren, Jalia, and Baqer none of them really enjoyed 'human food' and left it at that…it had made Lenore mad to see Mrs. Weasley try to hold back the hurt, visible only in the woman's eyes). Mr. Weasley had apparently come home without Lenore realizing it and, once again was seated at the head of the table.
The meal when on without a fight (amazingly no snide comments from any of her tutors) and it was desert before any of the three tutors at the table addressed her. She was happily digging into a warm apple pie (a la mode—her favorite) when Taban spoke.
"Lenore," the raven haired girl looked up at the Almost Human. She was sipping a water glass, looking quite thoughtful in Lenore's direction. "Your tutors held a meeting not long after your magical back lash," She set down her fork, staring at Taban. This couldn't be good. Lenore glanced at Gagan and Jairdan. Gagan was making direct eye contact with her and Jairdan however was looking anywhere BUT her. "And we have decided something," Her black-blue eyes moved to Jairdan who seemed indignant but there was something different. "Jairdan has been elected to explain the situation to you,"
Panic was starting to set in. What if they were going to give up on her? What if this was their way of saying that she couldn't do anything right so they were just going to leave? THEY CAN'T! her mind screamed. "Don't leave, I just learned how to draw the power in!" she blurted out before Jairdan could even speak. She could feel everyone at the table stare at them. Looking from Jairdan to Gagan and then Taban before swinging her frantic look back to Jairdan, Lenore spoke again. "That's what happened this afternoon, honest! I was trying to practice what you were telling me, about Focus and pulling in the magic and I did it! I really did! I was able to see auras and do magic and…." Her panic subsided slowly after she spoke fast. "Please…don't leave. I want to…I need to control my magic. I can prove it to you! I can really! I was able to—"
"Are you quite finished?" Jairdan asked in a tone that reminded her all too much of Snape. Her jaw snapped shut. "Thank you," He sighed and looked straight at her. "After the incident this afternoon—" Lenore attempted to speak but he held up his hand. "Let me finish, Ms. Keller." Once again she shut her mouth with an audible click. "After the incident this afternoon, Gagan decided to bring us together to discuss where you lessons will be directed." Fear was still in Lenore's heart as the elf continued. "As you were unaware of this fact, Gagan insists that I inform you that we were watching you through a charm as you controlled your magic." This time her jaw dropped down but not because she wanted to speak but because she was in shock. They had been watching her? "We are quite aware that you have achieved the ability to pull in your magic. We are also becoming aware that the strain of all your classes in one day may be too much," Lenore couldn't believe her ears. "Therefore, after much deliberation, instead of having all your classes in one day they will be evened out. Gagan," the elf motioned to the Almost Human next to him. "Took the liberty of evening out your schedule and…." He looked strained to speak the next part of his sentence. "Joining your classes to make your lessons more manageable and giving you time to practice, read, and…relax."
Gagan leaned over the table, handing her a sheet of paper. Taking it, she looked down at it, shock seemed to have taken away her tongue.
Monday
10am-12pmWren, Control of Elemental Powers
2pm-5pmJairdan and Gagan, Magical Control
Tuesday
10am-12pmJalia, Strength in Battle
3pm-4pmBaqer, Knowledge of the World
Wednesday
10am-12pmJalia, Strength in Battle
2pm-5pmJairdan and Gagan, Magical Control
9pm-10pmTaban, Night Sky's Truths
Thursday
10am-12pmJalia, Strength in Battle
2pm-5pmJairdan and Gagan, Magical Control
Friday
10am-12pmJalia, Strength in Battle
2pm-4pmWren, Control of Elemental Powers
She looked up. "Thank you…" she managed to say. They did this for her…she couldn't believe it. It was…there was no words that she could think of.
"Does that mean she'll have time to breath now?" Ron broke the silence and Ginny hit him on the back of the head. "HEY! I'm serious, it's not like she and I are friends or anything but it ain't healthy what she was doing. We never saw her," A loud smack was heard and Hermione was rolling her eyes at the redhead who looked oblivious at why he kept getting hit.
"That's enough," Mrs. Weasley said firmly. "Finish your desserts and Ginny clear the table, Ron help her."
One by one the table guests went their separate ways until Lenore, who was just finishing her second slice of apple pie, and George, who had been entertaining her, were the only two left. Ginny came out and took her plate, looking quite dower and then promptly left George and Lenore as the sun set. Lenore thought it was a bit cliché but despite that she couldn't help but feel happy as she walked George to the apparition point. He had grabbed her hand and hadn't let it go yet.
"Leo," he said softly looking down at her. Theatrically she looked up at him with an embarrassed smile on her face, feeling very much like a silly school girl with a crush. "Why did you kiss me today?"
"I didn't." she said with a smirk. "I gave you a peck on the cheek."
His cheeks were flushed pink slightly. "Why?"
She shrugged. "Dunno…felt like it, I guess."
George stared at her. "Always do what you feel like?"
"Mostly yes," she said seriously and then they proceeded to burst into chortles. "Why?"
He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "I'm sorely tempted to do what I feel like right now," he whispered, drawing her closer to him.
"And what is that?" Merlin, Merlin, Merlin, he's going to kiss me! AH! He's going to kiss me I know it! Please kiss me! You want him to kiss you? YES! KISS ME! Her thoughts screamed, her heart pattering like never before.
Their lips started to close in on the distance between them when Ron shouted George's name. "HEY!" he came around the house and the two jumped apart, looking very embarrassed. "George, mum told me to tell you that she wants to drop Ginny and us off tomorrow to hang out at the shop and wants to make sure that we've got stuff to do…" he trailed off looking at the very embarrassed people in front of him. What they had been about to do came upon him so fast he looked as if he had been told that he just ate a monkey brain. "Ugh! Gross, go somewhere else to do that,"
"Fred and I have everything set, Ronald, please go assure mother of that." George said firmly.
Obediently, a rather disgusted looking Ron Weasley sulked back inside. Thoroughly sheepish, Lenore smiled at George. "I probably should go in too…busy day starts tomorrow." She started to go but George, who still had a grasp on her hand, squeezed the hand, causing her to stop.
"Not until I finished what I started," he pulled her back to him and before she could even think he lowered his lips onto hers. Fireworks exploded in her mind and her body felt a sensation of heat and happiness flowing through her. They parted lips only when oxygen became a defiant problem. Breathing in deeply she looked into the hazel blue eyes of George Weasley. His hand brushed her cheek. "I like following these impulses."
With that he smirked in her direction, walked backwards past the apparition point. A loud crack and he was gone, leaving Lenore staring after him, her fingers on her lips. Damn he's a good kisser.
