Chapter 42
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It was nearly four o'clock when Harry and I sat down on a bench in the busy wizarding street, catching our breaths. We placed the bags at our feet and leaned back.
Harry smiled as he closed his eyes, turning his head towards the sun. "Thanks, Alec. This was really fun."
"Any time." I smiled as my head lolled to the side, so I could look at him. "I mean it, anytime you want to have a break from the Dursleys, just write to me and I'll be there within an hour."
He opened his eyes and smiled softly at me. "Thanks, but my time with the Dursleys is almost up. But I still want to meet up, but just because I like hanging out with you, not because I need an escape." He said blushing slightly.
"I like hanging out with you too, Harry. Obviously, otherwise I wouldn't-" I stopped with a little frown. "What did you mean your time at the Dursleys is almost up?"
"I - I can move in with Sirius on the fifteenth. He bought a house last week and the papers are nearly in order."
"That's good." I smiled. "I'm really happy for you, Harry."
"You're not mad?"
"Why would I be mad? You're finally getting a home where you're wanted."
"You're welcome too, you know." He said as he shifted more so he fully faced me. "Have you talked to him?"
"No." I said as I looked away. Harry placed his hand on my arm, making me turn. His eyes were nearly pleading.
"Talk to him. I'm not saying this to make you feel bad, but he's really lost at the moment. Doesn't know what to do with himself."
"That's probably just because he isn't used to his freedom anymore."
"It's not. He visited me two weeks ago, it's you, Alec."
I sighed and leaned my head back, looking at the clouds that floated by. My head snapped back when I heard someone call my name.
"ALEC!" I saw Angelina run to me, Lee strolling behind her with a silly smile. I jumped up from the bench just as she hurdled herself at me.
"Ange!" I smiled against her shoulder. "What are you doing here?" I asked when we pulled back, Lee came over to kiss my cheek.
"Getting our school supplies. You?"
"Hanging out with Harry. Did the letters arrive?"
"Yeah, this morning."
"The results." I whispered to myself. I looked back up to Angelina and Lee. "How did you do?"
"Five O's, four E's and one A's." I smiled at Angelina's beaming smile and turned to Lee.
"Three O's, four E's, two A's and one P."
"What? Where did you get a Poor in?" I chuckled.
"Divination." Lee shrugged with a grin.
"Ah, well. That's okay then." I clapped his shoulder.
"Want to come and have a drink with us?" Angelina asked, pointing at the Leaky.
"We were just about to go." I looked to Harry, who shrugged a little. "But I think we can go for one drink."
"Brilliant." Angelina looped her arm through mine and led me to the pub, Harry and Lee trailed behind us.
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Harry and I stumbled through the fireplace without anything going amiss. Dusting my clothes off, I stepped inside the large room. "Uncle Moony!" I called out. I heard footsteps run over and Remus looked at me with worrying eyes.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. We had a great time today. Did my results come in? We bumped into Angelina and Lee, theirs arrived this morning." I rambled out.
Remus smiled as he pulled an envelope out of one of his pockets. I took it with a slight tremble, my eyes fixed on the envelope.
"Do you want to do this alone? I can leave." Harry suggested.
"No." I shook my head. "I want you here." I looked up to Remus. "I want everyone here. Are Aunt Cissy and Draco home?"
"Yes, I'll get them." He kissed the top of my head before disappearing behind one of the doors.
"Let's go to the sunroom."
"Sunroom?" Harry asked as he followed me. I saw him look around the house in amazement.
"Yeah, just through here." I pushed open the large double doors. "It's my favourite room."
"I can understand why." Harry said, his eyes flickering around the room. He walked over to the floor length windows and looked out to the garden. When we heard the others come closer, Harry tried to hide his curious and amazed eyes. He did a poor job of it, and the way Draco smirked at him, he had recognised it too.
I sat down next to Remus, while Draco and Narcissa took the seat in front of us, and Harry chose the chair to my left.
"Ready, cub?" My uncle asked.
"Cub." Draco snorted a laugh.
"Really, Draco?" I rolled my eyes. "Or should I call you, my little dragon."
Draco sputtered, turning pink. The blush so visible on his pale skin. Harry bit down hard on his lip to try and hold in a laugh. I looked back to my letter and ripped it open. I unfolded the letters and the first one about my school things, I handed over to Remus. Then my eyes flickered over the page. The silence was a little earie, it sounded like everyone was holding in their breath.
"Alec?" Remus voice soft.
"I-" I looked up from the letter to my uncle. "I got all O's on my OWL's."
Remus beamed at me as my smile finally appeared, getting over the shock. "That's great, cub." He hugged me tight. "What about your NEWT for Potions."
"Probably an Outstanding too." Draco huffed and leaned forward to snatch the letter out of my hand. His eyes were on the page for a second as a grin crept up. "Told you so."
"Well, we need to celebrate this, don't we?" Narcissa smiled.
"Narcissa's right." Remus agreed. "What about dinner in De Laatste Deur."
"Never heard of it." Draco said.
"It's a Belgian restaurant on the outskirts of London. It's really good." I said excitedly. "Dank u, Uncle Moony."
"Mijn plezier." He smiled and kissed the top of my head. "Gefeliciteerd. Oh, en er ligt een brief van Jack voor je klaar in je kamer. Die kwam deze middag aan."
"I didn't understand a word you just said." Draco looked frazzled between us. "Who's Jack?"
"Childhood friend." Remus said.
"Best friend." I corrected.
"Ex-boyfriend." Remus grinned.
"All the above." I finished with a smile.
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We were just eating our main course when someone called out for Remus, and my stomach dropped.
"Remus?"
"S-Sirius." My uncle nearly shocked on a mussel. "W-what are you doing here?"
"You recommended this place a few weeks ago, remember." I saw him walk around the waiter, coming into view. He saw Harry first, a little surprised smile appeared on his face. Then he saw Narcissa and Draco, he frowned. Then his eyes fell on me. His movements stopped completely, and his eyes looked a little glazed over.
Remus cleared his throat. "Well, uhm-"
"Have you read my letters?" He asked, ignoring Remus, his eyes fixed on mine.
"No." I looked away from him to Remus. "Can I be excused? I'll just take Harry and Draco to the little pub at-" I nudged my head, not wanting to tell where I was going in front of Black.
But Remus being Remus, understood in an instant. He looked over to Narcissa for a second. "Sure, be home by eleven." He gave me a sad smile.
"Thanks." I kissed his cheek. Draco and Harry followed me out without a word, just before we reached the doors, I heard Black say.
"You're letting her go out to a fucking pub!?"
I looked over my shoulder to Remus, ready to turn back. But Remus's eyes found mine and gave a small shake of his head and I stepped out of the restaurant with the two boys.
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I was leaning on my cue, pursing my lips to hold in my laughter as I saw Draco trying to play pool. Harry was not so subtle and held my shoulder as he nearly doubled over laughing, his cue swaying in his other hand. We've been here for about two hours, the two boys didn't exchange much in conversation, only snorted and snickered at each other when one of them failed to do bar games. We have played darts, pools, pinball and foosball. Draco glared at us as he looked up from his que. He was leaning over the table trying to get the right shot. He was practically lying on top of the table as he tried to reach the ball.
"I never imagined Malfoy in a muggle bar." Harry said still whizzing, his eyes on the Slytherin.
"I've been dragging him into all kind of muggle things since he arrived in France." I smiled as Draco's cue slipped and missed the ball. He grumbled and blew his fringe away before he leaned back down.
"And he had gone willingly?" Harry asked in incredulous tone.
"Willingly is a strong word." I chuckled. "The first time out, I practically had to drag him out. But ever since then..."
Harry hummed slightly as he looked to the blond boy. I followed his gaze and we both started laughing again as he frustratingly tossed his cue on the green table. Draco was shits at pool while Harry couldn't land a dart on the dartboard. To say it was funny, was a serious understatement. Thank, de la Barre, Remus had vast muggle knowledge and happily gave it over to me. I may be a pureblood through and through, but many people wouldn't know it when they knew my knowledge all things muggle.
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Two hours later, we were back in the manor. The living room was dark, Remus was probably already in bed, while Narcissa usually stayed in the library until midnight. That's good, because I would rather not know what happened in the restaurant after we left. At least not tonight. Draco bid me goodnight with a kiss on the cheek as he ignored Harry and walked up the steps to his room. I nudged Harry with a smile as he huffed at the Slytherin. He smiled back and followed me up the stairs. Moony or Narcissa had already placed a second bed in my room for Harry, his backpack situated on the foot of the bed.
"I'll go change first; you can go after." I said walking to the second door in my room.
"You have your own bathroom?" Harry's eyes were comically large.
"Every single bedroom in this house has an ensuite, it's ridicules really. But it comes in handy." I shrugged. "I'll be right out."
Once I've brushed my teeth and got changed, I walked back in to see Harry sitting on my bed, with the letters from Sirius in his lap, still closed. He looked up, and with a soft voice, he said. "He wrote a lot of letters."
I walked over and sat down on my bed next to him. He handed me the stack, and I looked down as my fingers trailed over the paper. I didn't look up when I said. "I guess I should read them. Because apparently, he's not going to stop trying. And with you and Remus..." I took in a deep breath.
"I can stay with you, if you want?" Harry offered with a small smile, reaching out to hold my hand.
"No, no." I shook my head lightly and looked up to him. "You go change, I – I need to do this alone."
"Alright." He retracted himself from my bed. "I'll just take a shower then, give you more time. It's been a while since I had a proper one, actually." When I tilted my head in confusion, he added. "Dudley always turns off the hot water when I'm in the shower."
"Take all the time you want, Harry. There are several showerheads, just don't use the power beam." And the Dursleys will get their due, believe me. I added to myself.
"I'll keep that in mind." He chuckled before he disappeared in the bathroom, once the door closed behind him and I heard the familiar click of the lock falling into place, I leaned back against the headboard. I picked up the first letter and stared at it for a moment before tearing open the envelope. The letter fell open in my lap and it read.
Dear Alec,
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Translation:
Dutch English
Dank u Thank you
Mijn plezier My pleasure
Gefeliciteerd. Oh, en er ligt een brief van Jack voor je klaar in je kamer. Die kwam deze middag aan. Congratulations. Oh, and there is a letter from Jack waiting for you in your arrived this afternoon.