Chapter 51: How love works
"Sirius!" Lucy squealed when Sirius wrapped his arms around her and lifted her over his shoulder. Lucy let out a puff of hair when she felt her stomach make contact with his shoulder and gave a small laugh when Sirius began to walk. The soft up and down feeling she felt was the same with a horse. She let out a sigh and watched the hall of Hogwarts go by her from Sirius's back.
"Care to tell me where we are going?" Lucy asked after some time has passed and she and Sirius were out of the Hogwarts castle and now on the grassy grounds, "and why I couldn't use my own feet to get there?"
"Come one Luce, where's the fun in that?" Sirius spoke for the first time and laughed. His shoulders shook with his laugh and Lucy felt the vibrations in her stomach. She laughed too.
They were both in their sixth year in Hogwarts and everything seemed to be going well. They were together and no one could come between them. No parents and no love rivals. They were just them. Everyone left them alone and those who didn't supported them. They have already been through up and downs together and were able to hold strong. Sure, there were times when everything seemed to go downhill and Lucy felt like there was no such thing as hope, happiness and love but whenever those feelings came Sirius was there to make her see sense. Lucy smiled softly when she saw the Quidditch Pitch pass by. Sirius was always there. Why did it take her so long to realize it?
He was there for her through and through.
Even when she threw bratty tantrums or got over stressed and broke down.
He was there.
"Almost there," Sirius said when he walked by the Quidditch Pitch. Lucy wore a confused look that he could not see.
"Is it just me or are we going in a circle?" she asked
"It's just you - ow!" came Sirius reply. He received a kick in the stomach, curtesy of his girlfriend. He stumbled a bit and made her jump on his shoulder. Lucy let in a surprised gasp.
Lucy furrowed her eyebrows and awkwardly tried to look behind her to see where Sirius was going. "What was that for?" she asked referring to the uncomfortable jump on his shoulder.
"That, my little Lucy bear was payback for kicking me," Sirius said with a lofty tone, "Which, for your information, you shouldn't do since if you kicked hard enough I would crumple on the ground making you fall to your painful death"
Lucy punched his back, though it had little effect on him. "That's a lie," she blew her bangs away from her face, "I could not die from falling of your shoulder. You're not that tall"
She then let out a surprised scream when she slid of Sirius shoulder. She was just about to make contact with the ground but Sirius caught her in time. Her eyes were wide with shock and her cheeks red from embarrassment, her mouth was still gaping from the scream she let out. Sirius laughed at her expression. SHe made a whack at his chest.
"That," she hit him again, "was" another hit, "not" hit, "funny!" two hits.
Sirius continued the laugh. Lucy's hits made little effect on him. She was not that strong. He continued to laugh as he walked towards his destination with a pouting Lucy in his arms. Sirius walked and walked, often making turns and passing by things twice but in time he finally reached the Black Lake. He placed Lucy down under a beach tree and sat down beside her. He remained silent as he looked at the lake and admired the sparkle it had because of the sun. Lucy; however, did not look at the lake. No, she just sent Sirius a questioning look that he chose to ignore.
"Sirius?" she began. Sirius hummed in response. "If you were just going to take me to the Black Lake why did you have to carry me? No, why did you have to pass the Quidditch pitch four times? Wait, why did you have to keep making those twists and turns if we were just going to end up here?"
Sirius did not look at her. He continued to look at the distance. "Why indeed?" he then looked at her with a goofy grin, "I just wanted to confuse you"
Lucy gently whacked his head. "Git," she said with laughter in her voice, "How can you confuse me? We've been here numerous times!"
"But you didn't know we were going here in the first place now did you?" Sirius raised and eyebrow. Lucy looked at him, dumbfounded. "Exactly," he then said with a nod of accomplishment.
"But why did you want to bring me here?" Lucy said blinking herself back to reality.
Sirius tucked a hair behind her ear and gave her a soft kiss on the lips before drawing back. Lucy just looked at him with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. The expression she always got whenever he kissed her unexpectedly. Sirius chuckled.
"W - Wha?" Lucy said in a daze making Sirius give out a bark of laughter.
"I brought you here," Sirius began after he calmed down. He took something out of his pocket. "Because I wanted to give you something"
"What did you want to - Holy mama!" Lucy exclaimed with wide eyes making Sirius laugh again. This girl was too much for him.
In Sirius' hand was a necklace with a pink crystal heart pendant. The heart was small but beautiful. Lucy looked closely at it and could swear that there was a sparkling mist swirling around inside the heart. She took it from Sirius' hand and noted that it felt warm in hers. She looked back at Sirius with wide eyes. "How?" she began, "How did you get the mist inside?"
Sirius palm made contact with his forehead. "Among all things... you ask how the mist is inside," he took the necklace from Lucy and scooted a bit so it was easier for him to put it on her. Lucy blushed and touched the pendant again. She felt the warmth.
"It's a very curious thing," she reasoned, "And why is it warm?"
"It just is," Sirius said curtly and let his hand linger on her hair a bit as he placed it over the chain, hiding it. He ran his hand through it a bit before turning Lucy's head towards him and kissing her on the lips once more. Lucy returned it.
When they finally stopped for air Sirius pointed at the necklace, Lucy looked down at it and gasped.
It was glowing a bright pink.
Lucy opened her mouth to speak but Sirius spoke first.
"It glows when the person who places the necklace on you loves you," he said in a soft voice, "I love you"
Lucy bit her lips and brought her face close to his. "I love you too," she breathed
Zoey quietly passed by the kitchen and saw Mr. Weasley talking to his three eldest sons, Bill, Charlie and Percy, in a quiet and serious tone. Zoey observed that the air around them was rather tense and she could not help but believe that they were talking about her and her "situation". She felt glad that there were people who cared about her but she could not help but feel guilty. She did not want them to worry, waste their time trying to help her. Zoey did not like the fact that they were going rather deep into her situation. She was scared that if she found out that there were more people who knew what she was doing, she would do something to hurt them. Zoey felt another pan g of guilt in her heart. A couple of days had passed since she was in the Burrow and in a few hours Ron, Mr. Weasley, Fred and George would be picking up Harry. Zoey hoped that the idea of Harry being in the house will take their minds of her. She could only hope.
Zoey gave a sigh when she knew that she could do nothing to stop the Weasley in worrying about her. She was just about to enter the kitchen in hopes that her presence would disrupt their meeting but she was stopped when a hand took hold of her shoulder. Zoey felt the hairs at the back of her neck stand up and she bit in a scream. She stiffly turned around with wide eyes.
"I never really took you for the type to eavesdrop, Zoe," Fred said with a grin as he brought his hand back to his pocket. Zoey swatted his arm.
"Don't scare me like that!" Zoey flushed. Fred laughed. "And I was not eavesdropping!" she added.
"So pressing your ear to the door while my dad, Bill, Charlie and Percy are talking isn't eavesdropping?" Fred raised an eyebrow.
Zoey's blush deepened. She did not even know she was pressing her ear to the door. "I – I was?"
Fred's smirked. "Yep," he popped the 'p', "You looked pretty intent on knowing what they were talking about too," he paused, "But listing through the door would do you no good. Try placing a glass on the door," Fred then turned and began to walk towards the door leading to the backyard. Zoey followed.
"A glass? What good would that do?" she asked him as they stepped foot on the grassy ground.
"Loads, according to dad. He said that's what muggles do," Fred said with a shrug.
"I still don't follow," Zoey paused, "They should invent something that would make eavesdropping easier…"
Fred looked at her with an amused raised eyebrow. Zoey blushed.
"I – I – I'm not saying eavesdropping is good. All I'm saying is that there are certain conversations that should be heard and well – Stop giving me that look!" Zoey childishly stomped her foot and puffed her cheeks.
"What look?" Fred sniggered and held up his hands in defense.
"That look you were giving me earlier!" Zoey said, "So what if I want to listen to some things I'm not supposed to hear? I can't be good all the time."
Fred placed both his hands on Zoey's shoulders and lightly shook her to stop her from talking. "Gee, calm down, Zoe. I wasn't saying anything."
"Your look was implying something," Zoey muttered.
"The only thing the look was implying was that you just gave me an idea," Fred grinned and Zoey sent him a questioning look. She shrugged his hands off of her shoulders.
"I don't like where this is going," Zoey said slowly though she broke into a smile.
Fred stuck his tongue out at her and took her hand in his and began to walk. Since he was taller than Zoey, Fred glanced down and tried to see if there were any signs of Zoey letting go of his hand. So far so good. Fred had decided that he should just see if there were any signs that Zoey may possibly like him back. Sure, it was cowardly and at the moment he was a poor excuse for a Gryffindor but hey, it was pretty courageous of him to hold her hand!
No
It wasn't
He's done that before.
Fred was just fooling with himself.
"Cowardly git," Fred muttered, directing the insult to himself.
Zoey looked at him with raised eyebrows and quickly let go of his hand.
"No, I wasn't calling you a git," Fred quickly said, his cheeks turning red.
"Then who?" Zoey asked with her heart thumping against her chest.
Fred smacked his forehead causing Zoey to flinch a bit. "Are you okay?" Zoey cautiously asked, "It looks like you're beating yourself up"
Fred groaned in response, his hand still covering his face.
Zoey smiled softly at him and gently removed his hand from his face. She looked into his eyes and she felt her cheeks warm up. She felt a buzzing in her head. It wasn't the painful buzzing she felt before, no, this was pleasant. Almost soothing. The buzzing seemed to disappear from her head and move to her heart. Her heart thumped faster and faster and she almost felt a swelling feeling in them. She held on to Fred's hand and grinned at him sheepishly. For some reason, she did not feel entirely embarrassed. She slightly felt like a new person. Slightly.
She wondered vaguely if this was what people felt when they got a huge weight off of their shoulders. She wondered if everyone felt light hearted and cheery when they told someone about their troubles. When they let people into their lives. Zoey pushed the thoughts away. This must be the feeling she's been missing out. She wondered if the feeling would last long.
"Tell me about that idea of yours," Zoey smiled at him.
Fred looked down at her and grinned. "It isn't that look of an explanation. The idea is pretty simple in itself."
"Doesn't matter," Zoey began walking, "I want to hear it"
"It's just ears," Fred said
"Ears?" Zoey interrupted
"Yes, ears that you could extend to great lengths to be able to listen in on any conversation. You know, like maybe an ear on a string or something like that," Fred paused and thought a bit, "Something that you can stick in one ear and place the under end under – I don't know – a door maybe and you could hear every single voice and sound like it was a mere foot away,"
"That's a brilliant idea!" Zoey beamed.
"It was yours," Fred smirked.
"But you actually thought about what it can do and stuff like that. You added awesome to my idea," said Zoey.
"Added awesome?"
"It's a term," Zoey stuck her tongue out
"You're right, I am awesome," Fred mused and earned a smack from Zoey, "But what to call the product?" Fred continued.
Zoey raised an eyebrow. "Extendable Ears?" she said and earned a grin from Fred.
The Burrow lived at the outskirts of Ottery St. Catchpole and was so well hidden that Zoey doubted that a postman would know where it was. Zoey looked at the Weasley house with a smile. It looked like it was once a pigpen and had several crooked stories attached to it. Five chimneys dotted the roof and the entire house looked like it was held up by magic for its crazy construction. Zoey looked at the area around the Burrow she saw the garage where Mr. Weasley used to keep his flying car together with his Muggle Artifacts and Zoey could see a stone outhouse in the distance where the Weasley kids kept their brooms. If Zoey where to explore some more she would find the kitchen coop and much, much more.
Zoey felt free. She loved the Burrow and everything surrounding it. It was simple and fun and she knew that none of the Weasley kids felt trap. There was so much room to run around and have fun. Zoey felt her gaze soften. There was a gnome that popped out from a bush.
"I thought you were supposed to get rid of those," Zoey whispered to Fred as to not frighten the gnome.
"We did," Fred whispered back, "But they keep coming back. You know dad, he's soft on them. Thinks their funny."
The gnome saw Zoey and Fred looking at him and said a foul word that made Zoey blush.
"I didn't find anything funny with what he said," she muttered.
"You don't find swearing funny in general," Fred laughed
"Cause it's not," Zoey stuck her tongue out, a habit she developed.
Fred laughed and ruffled her hair. It was easier this way, spending time with her, chatting with her. It was easier when he ignored his feelings, when he pushed back thoughts of confessing. It was less troublesome. If telling Zoey how he really felt would ruin their moments like this then he rather keep it in himself. It was not cowardly because it takes a strong person to hold on to strong feelings. It takes a selfless person to put others before them. Fred was putting Zoey before his own feelings.
Zoey looked up at Fred and smiled.
Fred felt his heart skip a beat. It was talking all of his self control not to take her in his arms and kiss her. Yes, though he said he would keep his feelings hidden from her it was easier said than done. Most things in love was like that. Some are all talk and hardly any feeling. Fred tried to control his beating heart by distracting himself with burying his hand in his pocket. When his fingers grazed a smooth surface his eyes widened. He wrapped his fingers around the object and pulled it out of his pocket. He opened his hand and saw the crystal heart necklace George picked up from the floor when they came to Zoey's aid.
"Fred?" Zoey asked with a tilt of her head. She could not see the necklace from the angle she was standing in. Fred shook his head and smiled at her. He then let the necklace dangle in front of Zoey's eyes. Zoey wore a shocked expression. ""Is that my...?"
"Your necklace?" Fred offered and walked behind Zoey with the pendant already laying on top of her chest, "Why, yes it is"
Zoey touched the pendant on her neck, it was warm at her touch, and felt Fred wrap the necklace around her and lock it in place. She felt his hand graze her neck while he took her hair in his hand and let it flow above the chain and down her back. It was one of those rare days when Zoey wore her hair down. Fred placed his hand on her shoulders once more. It was hard not to touch her. Even if it wasn't a hug or a kiss, just being this close to her made him feel like things were right. Fred found it harder and harder for him not to say something. He needed a distraction.
"I'm glad that you finally got tell tell us about your past," Fred said in a soft tone. The topic wasn't the ideal distraction but it worked. He felt Zoey stiffen before letting out a sigh. She had retold her story to the entire Weasley family at lunch. She had to repeat her words and she had to answer their questions. Numerous times she had to pause because she had a flashback and she placed her hand on her scar whenever she reached the part when she told them how she got splinched. The whole process of telling was more painful than telling Mr. Weasley alone because this time she could see more than one sad expression. More than one face showing pity. It killed her inside. It especially hurt when she saw how Fred looked at her. Zoey flinched when she remembered his face.
Zoey had told everyone Weasley her sob story and either answered their questions truthfully or chose not to answer at all.
Through the whole night Zoey felt like she told them everything.
Everything except for her wings.
That was a tale for another day.
"I'm glad too," Zoey said softly, "I feel so much lighter after telling you guys"
"We'll always be there for you, you know that right?" Fred asked.
Zoey smiled away from his view. "I know," she said.
A breeze passed them.
"You know," Fred said after a long pause of silence, "That as pretty unique necklace. It's warm in your hand and seems to have a mist trapped inside it"
"It was my mother's," Zoey said with a small smile and turned around to face Fred. She gave him a smile and thanked him.
"No pro - whoa," Fred breathed out. His eyes wide with surprise as he stared at the pendant. Zoey looked at him curiously and looked at the pendant herself. Her eyes widened as well. She took the pendant and held it up. She turned it a bit and cupped it in her hand to make sure it was not a trick of the sun. After several tests Zoey gave up.
The necklace was glowing a bright pink.
Fred looked at Zoey. "Has it always been able to do that?" he asked.
"Just now," Zoey said with a deep red on her cheeks
"F - Fred!" Zoey said with anger as she held in a burp, "G - George! Fix this rig - right now!" she yelled in between burps.
Fred and George were clutching their sides with laughter while Zoey stood in front of them with a hard glare on her face. In truth, she would have appeared frightening if she wouldn't burp every two seconds. Zoey burped again.
"I think - ahaha! - I think you should listen to her - pfft - Fred!" George said with laughter.
"Ahaha - W - Why should I?" Fred replied with glee, "I - ahaha - never got to see Zoey this angry before - and - aha- and let me tell you - it's hilarious!"
The twins words were drowned with laughter.
Zoey hoped they died from lack of breath
Zoey's glare deepened. She was the only non-Weasley in the Burrow at the moment and Fred and George took this opportunity to play a prank on her. Echo was not to come until tomorrow and the Weasleys were to pick up Harry in a few minutes times. Zoey would have accompanied them but she was preoccupied with her burps. She and Fred had returned to the Burrow not long ago and she had, unknowingly, accepted a Butterscotch candy from George. The moment the sugary treat dissolved in her mouth she began her uncontrollable burps. According to a laughing George she had just ate their newest candy "Burping Butterscotch"
"I - I - I hope!" Zoey burped again, "You both die from laughter!" She burped again. The twins laughed harder. Zoey huffed in irritation and stomped her foot before angrily turning around and walked to the kitchen. Mr. Weasley, Bill, Charlie and Percy left ages ago, where they were now, Zoey did not care, all she cared about was getting as far away from the twins as possible. She angrily sat down on one of the chairs, folded her arms across her chest and burped.
"Hey, Zoey," Ron greeted as he entered the kitchen. He would be helping in fetching Harry any time now.
Zoey burped instead of greeting him.
Ron's eyes widened at her response and tried his best to hold back a laugh. "You drank anything fizzy lately?" he asked with suppressed laughter in his voice.
"D - Don't pu - push it," Zoey said holding down her burps.
"I wasn't going to say anything," Ron said holding up his hands in defense and took a seat beside Zoey. He wore a laughing grin on his face.
After a while, Zoey gave up. She folded her arms on the table and ducked her head. She let out another burp and said: "G - Go on. You - errp - you can laugh," she said with an embarassed moan.
Ron did let out a laugh.
"Nice to see the world - errp - cares," Zoey said.
The kitchen door opened revealing Fred, George and Ginny. Zoey let out another burp and Ginny broke into a laugh.
"Y - You're su - suppose to be o - on my - errp - side!" Zoey cried.
"Sorry, Zoey," Ginny laughed, "But you got t admit. This is funny"
Zoey held down another burp, "Easy for you to say," she burped, "It isn't you"
Ginny grinned and stuck her tongue out at Zoey. Zoey returned the gesture.
Fred chuckled and placed a hand on Zoey's shoulder. Zoey glared at him and pouted. She faced the opposite direction.
"Come on, Zoey," George laughed.
"You'll never be cured unless you face us," Fred continued.
Zoey contemplated on the idea before finally looking at the twins.
"That a girl," Fred and George said in unison. Zoey burped.
"Come on guys, just give her the antidote," Ginny grinned.
Zoey watched as George passed Fred another candy. Fred held out the candy to her but Zoey just looked at it warily. She swallowed her next burp.
"You just got to eat it, Zoe," said Fred, "It will make all the burpies go away!"
"Fine," Zoey snatched the candy after much contemplation and swiftly placed it in her mouth. She chewed on it for a bit before letting the rest dissolve in her mouth. She waited several seconds before smiling. The burps were gone.
"Lovely," Ron said with a clap.
"Never," Zoey said, "I repeat, never use me as your guinea pig ever again!"
"Lighten up, Zoey," George said.
"It could be worse," Fred grinned, "We could have given you the Ton-Tongue Toffe"
Ginny laughed, "Now that I would love to see!"
Zoey opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted when the kitchen door opened revealing Mr. Weasley wearing a smile. The stress and dark circles were gone from his face and he looked as chipper as ever. "Hullo, Weasleys!" Mr. Weasley greeted.
"Hi, dad!" the Weasley children chorused.
"Zoey," Mr. Weasley nodded.
"Mr. Weasley," Zoey laughed.
"Are we going to get Harry now, dad?" Ron asked, standing up from his chair.
Mr. Weasley nodded. "That's the plan," he said, "You boys ready"
"We were born ready," Fred said.
"You'd think they were going into battle," Ginny whispered in Zoey's ear and let out a laugh.
"Very well then," Mr. Weasley pushed open the kitchen door ushering his children out, "No time to waste! As the muggles say: 'Time is bronze'!"
And with that the Weasley boys left the kitchen.
Zoey looked at Ginny with confusion. "I thought it was 'Time is gold'?"
Ginny shrugged, "It's time. Why should it have a price?"
And you have a ZED MOMENT!
Also a little flashback to Lucy and Sirius' time :P
I got the idea of the necklace from a "Wizards of Waverly Place" episode I saw a few weeks back. I found it cute and well, I wanted to use it.
Please don't sue me.
Anyway, me wants to thank all of you who reviewed and the like. You guys are truly awesome.
Gosh, I'm hungry,
Today's been a rather lazy day for me.
Hardly did anything.
Tomorrow I'm going to be getting my report card...
GAH!
Anyway, I decided to just mention Zoey telling the rest of the Weasleys rather than type up the entire scene because frankly Zoey's story will just be the same one I types up in the previous chapter and I don't want to bore you with it...
Sorry in advance for any typos and the like!
I typed up this chapter using a different computer, I'm not used to the keyboard D:
Now, for some "conversation" (lack for better word) with my reviewers!
"TheAnnoyingOne97": Please don't die :P
"OddSakura": Please don't starve XD
"Kimboolinaa": Please don't poke my brains out, I need them XP
"wHaT's In A pEn-NaMe": I hope I updated fast enough :D
"beba78" , "YukiKyoMomiji" and "HogwartsCreations": Thank you :)
and also thanks to all of you who reviewed as well!
I love you all!
Anyway... I don't think I have that much to say now so...
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
and
I only own what I own!
