Chapter 26 – Spain


OoO


She didn't get to say anything else to Sirius as his mother was waiting on the platform for Regulus. Regulus joined at her side. His manner stiff and his face empty of emotion as he held out his arm. She knew that he was just playing his part and she followed his lead, but she hated the way he reacted to his parents. When they walked up to Walburga, she glanced at her friends. Lily was grasping James's arm, biting her lower lip in concern. Remus's eyes flickered between her and Reggie, playing with his nails as he looked towards them. And then there was Sirius, his gaze was hard and fixed on his mother, she saw how his hands turned into fists to his side. She made a subtle wave of her hands. Sirius shivered slightly and she saw how he opened one of his hands.

He recognised the shiver that went through him, he recognised her magic. He opened his hand when something appeared in it. It was a tiny piece of parchment; he folded it open and it read. You look prettier when you smile, love. He couldn't help the crooked smile as he looked up at her. She winked before her face turned blank again as she looked to his mother.

"What do you have there, Pads?" James asked.

"Hm?" He looked to James and quickly stuffed the parchment in his pocket. "Nothing." James grinned at him, but he turned back. Panic rose and his chest tightened when she was gone. "Moony, where is she?"

"Your mother took them."

"What?!" He nearly shrieked. "Why?"

"They have dinner plans to discuss the wedding." He said through gritted teeth as he looked at the spot that had vanished.

"I thought she was staying at your place the first two weeks." He snapped at Lily.

"She is, she's coming over after the dinner."

"Lily?!" They all turned when they saw Lily's parents waving her over.

"I should go." She kissed James lightly before she turned to Remus and Sirius. "I'll let you know when she gets at my place."

"Yeah, okay." They both answered, not really paying attention. They stood frozen to the spot as the platform was starting to empty. Fifteen minutes later, they were the only ones still there. Just Sirius, Remus and James.

"I don't trust this." Remus finally spoke.

"Me neither." Sirius grumbled. "My mother seemed too happy. She's planning something."

"They won't hurt her, right?" James asked. Sirius looked startled at his best friend; seemingly forgotten he was there too.

"Only if she gives them a reason to." He hated to admit it.

"But they need her to marry Regulus. They won't hurt her, they need her and she's off age, she can just go."

"She won't leave Reggie alone at that house." Remus shook his head. "Not with the thought they would take it out on him."

"And they would. And if they get a whiff that they really care for each other, they will use it." Sirius grumbled.

"Can't we get Reg out of there? If he's not under your parents' thumb, neither is Izzie. Can't he stay at your house?"

"I've told Sirius the moment he appeared on my doorstep that there was always room for Regulus. But-" James glanced to Sirius.

"Reg still believes there is some good in our parents, he won't give up on them. Even with the forced marriage, he thinks it would benefit him in the end."

"Reg doesn't want to marry her." Remus sneered.

"I know, Moony." Sirius groaned, running a hand through his hair. "But Reg still feels like he needs to do right by his family."

"Let's just see if we hear from her during the summer. Let's go home." James clapped them both of them back and they nodded solemnly and they apparated away. What none of them knew, not even Remus or Sirius is that Regulus would protect Izzie no matter what. Because in his eyes she was his family, and he would even disobey his parents for her.


OoO


Dinner went smoothly at Grimmauld place. Reggie's parents talked about a wedding theme as they silently ate their dinner. They never brought up her father or her uncle, but she knew she wouldn't be so lucky when she would stay at their house this summer. When Izzie arrived at Lily's place, the redhead flung herself at her with immense power, she nearly toppled over.

"Hey, I'm okay, Lily." She patted her hair. "Dinner was rather boring."

"I was so worried. We all were." She said once she pulled back. She inspected her again, looking for any sign of harm.

"I'm fine." She chuckled a little. "What are you all going to do if I spend over a month at their house?"

"Don't remind me." She scowled. "I need to let the others know that you're okay. I really wished I had an owl, but Petunia-"

"Lily, have you met me?" She grinned, pulling out her wand. Lily's eyes gleamed with fascination; she loved Izzie's charm work. She pulled a piece of parchment from her pocket and quickly jotted something down. With a complex wand movement, the parchment burned up between them.

"Did it fail?" Lily asked uncertain.

"No, it's a fire message. Remus and Sirius will have them by now."

"A fire message?" Lily frowned. "I never heard of it."

"That's because I invented it?" She shrugged sheepishly.

"Oh my God! That's amazing! You have to teach me!" Lily gasped and bounced on her heels.

"What so you can send dirty and secret notes to Potter?" She smirked.

"What? No!" Lily blushed furiously. "I know James and Sirius said they would stop by the two weeks you're here..."

"Lily, what's wrong?" Izzie asked nervously.

"Mum and dad are taking us for a surprise trip." Lily said excitedly. "We're flying to Spain, tonight."

"Spain?" Her eyes turned large. "I can't accept that."

"They already booked and since Petunia is going on holiday with that Vernon fellow, it will just be us, mum and dad. So, no is not an option."

"Alright." She grinned again, excited for the sudden trip. "Are you sure you can spend two weeks without James?"

"I'll manage." She laughed as she guided her inside the house. "I have you."

Izzie snorted. "Now I feel special. I should send them another message then, or do they already know?" She shook her head. And with that another piece of parchment burned up in front of them.

Izzie greeted Lily's parents as they were hastily packing their last things. Lily's father had just closed his suitcase with a relieved sigh when a blue-silver dog bounded through the house.

"Izzie!" Sirius relieved voice came from the dog's mouth. "Thank Merlin, you're okay. I was worried sick!"

"We were worried sick!" They heard Remus and James call out. So, Remus was with them too.

"Ignore them." She swore she could see the dog smirk. "I got to say you gave us a heart attack when two flaming pieces of parchments appeared in front of us. But of course, we knew it had to come from -

"Our little Charmer." Three voiced chimed. Lily chuckled as Izzie rolled her eyes.

"And you better tell me what that was and how to do it, Iz. I mean it, I can't believe you didn't tell me." Remus chided.

"Anyway..." Sirius voice came once again. "Are you really going to use a plan thingy -"

"Plane, Pads. Plane." Remus's voice chuckled.

"Whatever. That's so awesome! Prongs is already besides himself that he won't see Lily for two weeks."

"Oi!" James called out.

"Am I wrong?" The dog raised an eyebrow.

"No." James's voice grumbled. Izzie glanced to Lily with a grin, she was blushing fiercely. "You're no better." James whispered but they heard it anyway. It was silent for a few seconds. Lily's parents were gaping at the blue-silver dog.

"Write to me, please." Izzie saw Lily's eyebrows raise since Sirius never says please. "Or send a burning parchment my way, but I don't know how to answer that." The dog frowned. "I can send you Pads here but that might not be a good idea among muggles. But I'll be happy if I just receive your messages." Izzie could imagine his silly grin. "Let me know, okay? I don't know how long-" The dog disappeared.

"That long apparently." Lily chuckled.

"What was that?!" Lily's father gasped. Izzie and Lily shared a glance before laughing.


OoO


The two weeks in Spain went by too fast. Lily and Izzie were sunbathing on the beach for the last time since they had their plane in a few hours. Lily was covered in sunscreen, a large hat and sunglasses, still as white as a ghost. Izzie on the other hand, had a nice tan as she basked in the sun. Her tan was disturbed by the white lines of scars across her body, but she tried not to think about it too much. She was extremely grateful for Pomfrey for giving her enough sleeping draught to get through summer break. She blinked open her eyes when a shadow fell on her. A young man with brown wavy hair, aviator sunglasses and swimming trunks towered over her, he had a sixth pack you could bounce a knutt off.

"Hello?" With hearing Izzie's voice, Lily opened her eyes too and pushed herself up.

"I'm Dan and that there -" He pointed to another guy a little further away. His accent sounded like he was from America. "Is Luke. We were wondering if you two gorgeous ladies would like to accompany us to the beach party later tonight?"

"We would love to, but we have a plane to catch in a few hours."

"That's a shame. What about an ice cream now?"

"I don't kn-"

"Sure." Lily interrupted and jumped up. "But can you take a picture of us before we leave?" She asked handing him the camera without waiting for an answer. Izzie stood up with a slight frown. Lily wrapped an arm around her and smiled widely.

"Why do you want to go get ice cream with them?" She whispered as she smiled at the camera.

"You're single and you have rejected every guy that showed interest."

"You sound like there have been dozens." She huffed.

"Close to." She smiled again as the guy, Dan, took another picture. "Why is that? Why did you reject them? Some of them were quite handsome."

"Not really in the mood for a summer thing. I'm engaged after all."

"Or is this about Sir-" She was interrupted when Dan and Luke walked over.

"I know the best ice cream parlour in the neighbourhood." He grinned his perfect white teeth. "Ladies, this is Luke. Luke, this is..."

"Lily and Izzie." Lily introduced them both. Luke sandy blond hair, his hair still wet from the sea as he combed it back from his eyes. His abs were less defined than Dan's, but he had the bluest eyes, Izzie had ever seen. He was shyer than Dan. It was obvious Dan was the more outgoing and flirtatious one. But Luke didn't need to be shy, not with what looks are concerned.

"Nice to meet you." He said. He had a little shy smile as he looked at Izzie. Lily saw this and the way Izzie stared in his blue eyes, that she stepped up to Dan.

"Show us the way, Dan." Dan looked from Lily to Izzie and Luke before smiling at her as he guided them off the beach.

"I'm sorry if we interrupted your day. Dan can be a little intrusive." He rubbed his neck.

"That's okay. Ice cream sounded good anyway, it was getting a bit hot." She gave him a small smile. "How long are you staying?"

"We're leaving in two weeks, just arrived the day before last. You?"

"Leaving tonight, we arrived two weeks ago."

"That's a shame. I would've liked getting to know you."

She tilted her head with a grin. "I could be a serial killer, you don't know."

He laughed wholeheartedly, making the pair in front of them glance back. "I highly doubt that."

"Oh, why?"

"You seem too... sweet. And way too beautiful to be a serial killer." He blushed excessively.

"Well-" She looked down with a smile. "Serial killers are mostly the people you don't suspect."

"Maybe I should be really worried then." He grinned.

"Maybe you should." She chuckled.

After they got ice cream, were Lily not so subtly distracted Dan from Izzie and Luke, they made their way over the boulevard. Going in different attractions at the pier. Before they settled in a small arcade.

"They are not that subtle, are they?" Luke asked as he glanced behind them where Lily and Dan were getting fries at the bar.

"No, definitely not." She chuckled as they turned back. They were sitting at a table near the window, looking over at the sea. "Where are you from anyway? I can hear an American accent but can't seem to pinpoint from where."

"California."

"So, you go from one beach to another." She chuckled.

"If you put it like that, yeah." He gave her a crooked smile. "But we're here as a graduation gift. I got into Stanford and Dan in MIT."

"Wow." She gasped. She didn't know much about muggle universities, but she knew the top ones from Remus. "That's impressive. Then I'm sure you both deserve this break."

"Thanks." His eyes gleamed. "What about you? I can hear you're from England. What about school?"

"I'm in my last year. Don't know what I will do next year though."

"Maybe you can travel?" He suggested.

"That's an idea." She offered him a smile, hoping it didn't come out strained. She was happy that Lily and Dan appeared back, carrying two paper cones full of fries.