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Both Sides	By : ccino49 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 10429 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 26
- 27
- 28
I do not own any of the characters or places from the Harry Potter books or films. They all belong to J.K. Rowling. All that is mine is Lou and the plot. I am not making any money from the writing of this story.

Both Sides.

CH 27 Shadow in the pantry

When Ginny left, complete with a glitzy t-shirt, black suede trousers and a pair of boots she borrowed for her date this weekend, Lou paced the bedroom and sitting room. She wanted to write to Severus, ask him if what she�d been told was true. Ask why he did it and please would he stop. She wanted so desperately to see him now, make sure he was safe.

Lou wasn�t stupid, not by a long chalk.
She quickly figured out the real reason he was distancing himself from her. That day he promised to be her friend, she knew he�d meant it. The truth was in those dark eyes of his and she�d seen it. He was trying to keep her out of all this Order business, that�s what he was doing. He wasn�t sure if he�d survive and he wanted to make sure she was okay. Lou was convinced of it.
But what did she do about it? If she wrote and told him she knew, he would deny it, if he responded at all. She had to go to that meeting. She had to know what was going on.
Mrs Weasley was taking them to Diagon Alley tomorrow and the meeting was tomorrow night. Lou decided to offer to make tea tomorrow night, tell Mrs Weasley she looked tired and to go put her feet up. That way, Lou could prepare the food and get herself hidden before everyone started arriving.
Ginny, she needed Ginny to tell anyone that asked, that Lou went upstairs straight after tea, then no one would look for her. Now she�d made up her mind what to do, Lou calmed down and went to soak in the bath.
Studying the cuffs still on her ankles, and feeling the collar round her neck, Lou wondered why they hadn�t fallen off when she shifted. �They must change along with me.� She thought. �I didn�t take my clothes off and they changed with me too.�
Lou slept better that night than she had since Severus left and was up early next morning. In fact she was first in the kitchen, and started making breakfast for everyone. She put on an old robe that was kept hanging up in the pantry so she didn�t splash her new clothes with grease from the frying pan.
Hermione was next up and began laying the table. �How are you doing with your essay?� she asked.
�What essay? Oh the shape shifting thing, I finished, thanks, the book was a big help. I�ll bring it down after breakfast.�
�You finished already, It took me two days when I did shape shifters in professor Binn�s class.�
�I already did some before you gave me the book. I just needed some help with the details.� Lou lied. She hated lying, she wasn�t very good at it.
But Hermione didn�t question her further. �It must be hard for you, having to learn everything from scratch. All us muggle borns did, but we didn�t have to wait until we were 15 years old. How come you didn�t get a letter when you reached your 11^th birthday?
�Because my magic was bound, I didn�t know I had it until I came here.�
�Bound? That�s awful, who would do such a terrible thing?�

�My mum did it when I was born, she couldn�t look after me and she thought my dad was a murderer. The only thing she could do was put me in a muggle orphanage. She bound my magic because she didn�t want me to get in trouble for doing things I shouldn�t, not because she was trying to hurt me or anything.�
�I�m sorry. I didn�t mean to upset you Lou, or say anything bad against your mum. So your mum was a witch too?�

�I know, it�s alright. If Severus hadn�t brought me here, I might never have known about it. And yeah, she was.�

�Severus?�

�Err, Professor Snape. I�m not supposed to call him Severus, only when it�s him and me. You won�t tell will you?�
�Why would I? I don�t like Professor Snape much, but I do respect him, and if you like him, who am I to cast aspersions?�
�Ginny said you were okay.�

�Did she? Well I think I am too.� The girls grinned at each other and Lou felt as though she had made one less enemy. �Two down, several hundred to go.� She thought.
�I know why Harry doesn�t like me, my dad being his godfather and then me coming and getting what should have been his. I didn�t ask for it though, and I told the Headmaster we should share it. He said Harry didn�t want it anyway. Seems he was wrong.�

�No he wasn�t. Harry doesn�t dislike you Lou, not really. He�s just, well Sirius was the closest thing he had to a father, losing him as he did, when they had so little time together, it was hard on him. He never wanted this house, or the money, he has enough of his own I think, just give him time. I spoke to him you know, about those photo�s, I think he�s working up to showing them to you.�
�What about the other one, Ron? You can�t tell me he doesn�t hate me. I don�t understand what I�ve done to make him feel like that.�

�With Ron, you don�t have to do anything. He�s a law unto himself, heart of gold and loyal to the last. He�s protective of everyone he loves though. He sees you as a threat to Harry, it�s just his way. He�ll come round.�

�To be honest I don�t care whether he does or not. I like Ginny, and her mum and dad, but the way he�s been with me, I�m really not interested in anything he does or says from now on. I don�t need people like that in my life.�
Hermione said nothing. She was already fuming at Ron for not giving Lou a chance, now it looked like he�d blown any chance of making things up with her.
�So, what house do you think you�ll get chosen for?�

�I don�t know. Professor Snape told me to try and persuade the hat to put me in Ravenclaw. I don�t know an awful lot about them all, but he said I�d be best suited to that one.�
�Just because Professor Snape said you should go in Ravenclaw, doesn�t mean you have to.�

�I know, but everything he�s told me so far has been right, and I trust him.�

�You might get put in Griffindor, we�re all in Griffindor.�
�I know you are, but I�m still gonna try for Ravenclaw. Will you still talk to me if I do?�

�Lou of course we will. Just don�t get put in Slytherin, there�s a lot of animosity between their house and ours. I�d hate for it to affect you.�
�Professor Snape�s head of Slytherin and he�s okay. He told me to try and not get in Slytherin too, he said it wouldn�t be good for me. Did you get to choose?�

�Not really. The hat was going to put me in Ravenclaw at first, but it changed it�s mind and put me in Griffindor instead. It was like it sensed that Harry, Ron and me needed to be together. You can try and persuade the hat, it worked for Harry, but it doesn�t always work. Sometimes you just have to take what�s given.�
Everyone started coming into the kitchen for breakfast and the conversation between Lou and Hermione stopped.
When Mrs Weasley showed up, she was delighted that Lou had fed everyone already. �You�re a God send Lou, really you are. Thank you.�
�It�s alright Mrs Weasley. I like cooking.� Lou was happy though to leave the clearing up to Mrs Weasley, something the woman did with a few waves of her wand.
Severus and Remus were right, it was just as clean this way as when Lou did it the muggle way. �Will you teach me how to do that? It�s a lot easier than my way.�

�I certainly will. We�ll start this weekend. In fact you can all learn.� She told the four Griffindors.
This earned a lot of groans from those involved, especially Ron and Harry.

�Thanks a lot.� Harry said to Lou.
�Any time.� She told him haughtily, before going to the hall for her jacket. She was dressed muggle today so had no intention of putting a cloak on. Taking off the old robe and hanging it on a hook, she took her lovely new khaki jacket she hadn�t worn yet, it matched the cargo pants she was wearing. They fit her snugly, as did the jacket and she knew she looked good. At least in the muggle world she would. Lou wasn�t sure about Diagon Alley.
When Harry entered the hall a minute later she turned a fiery red when he gave a low whistle.
�Wow, you look different.� His eyes roved the length of her body and she squirmed uncomfortably.
Lou didn�t usually like this kind of attention, but it felt strangely good at the same time. Not because she had a thing for Harry, but because no one her age had ever reacted like that to her before. Maybe Ginny was right, there might be some nice boys at Hogwarts. The trouble was, boys still wanted the same as men, and Lou wasn�t willing to get into anything she couldn�t follow through. So she gave him a shy smile and hoped Mrs Weasley wasn�t going to be long.
Harry took his own cape from the hook next to where Lou was standing at the front door.

�Why are you waiting there? We need to be in the kitchen.�
�Oh, why?� She asked puzzled, as they made their way back to the kitchen.
�For the floo, Mrs Weasley can�t apparate both you and Ginny to Diagon Alley on her own.�

�The floo? You mean we have to go in the fire?�
�Well yeah. Have you never travelled that way before? I was scared first time, but it�s not too bad once you get the hang of it.�

�I have, but I was forced and got a load of bruises into the bargain. I think I was unconscious the next time.�

�Why, what happened?�

�Long story, you don�t want to know.�
The pair entered the kitchen and Lou stood back against the wall nervously while Harry moved to stand with his friends.

He told them Lou was worried about travelling by floo and they all turned to look at her.
�Come on Lou, it�s okay, really.� Hermione told her.

Ginny nodded vigorously, smiling widely, hoping to encourage her new friend.
�Hey, where did you get the new gear from?� Ron asked his sister.
�It�s Lou�s. She lent it to me.�

Ron turned to look at Lou and his eyes widened slightly. �Wow. She looks hot.� He thought. He�d was about to make some comment about them not needing to borrow clothes from the likes of her, but she was standing alone still, looking kind of lost and he held his tongue.
Lou didn�t notice him watching her as she hesitantly stepped towards them. She really wasn�t sure about this floo thing.
�No need to be frightened dear. Harry was scared his first time, but he�s fine now aren�t you Harry?�

Harry nodded, grinning as he thought of the first time he�d used the floo. He�d come out in the wrong fireplace and had to be rescued from Knockturn Alley by Hagrid.
�Just state your destination clearly.� Mrs Weasley emphasised the word clearly with a look at Harry. �And you�ll be fine. Harry, you first.�

Lou watched as Harry threw some powder into the fire and the flames turned green. �Diagon Alley.� he shouted as he stepped in. He disappeared with a whoomph.
�Err, where did he go?� Lou asked, startled.
�Diagon Alley of course. You next Ginny.�

Ginny gave her friend a smile and floo�d out.
Now you Lou.�
Lou stepped up to the fireplace and took a handful of powder from the pot Mrs Weasley was holding.

She threw the powder into the fire, shouted �Diagon Alley.� Closed her eyes and stepped into the fire. Only she didn�t. She could not get past the hearth. She opened her eyes and looked at Mrs Weasley. �I �I can�t. It won�t let me.�
�What wont dear?�
Lou reddened and lifted her trouser leg. She pointed at the cuff. �I forgot about it. You have to take it off or I can�t leave.� She hated that Hermione and Ron now knew about the cuff.
�Oh my. I�m afraid I don�t know how to Lou. I haven�t been told the spell. Who normally does it for you?�

�Professor Snape or Mr Lupin. Tonk�s can do it and Mr Shacklebolt.�
�Marvellous, and none of them are available. Never rely on a wizard. What are we going to do now?�

�It�s alright Mrs Weasley, you go. I�ll be fine here.�
�We can�t leave you on your own, besides, we still need to get your school things.�
�I could give you my list and some money, if you don�t mind that is.�

�I don�t mind at all dear, but you need to be measured for your robes at Madam Malkins.�

�Oh. Wait, she has my measurement from last time, can she use those?�

�Looks like she�ll have to. Are you sure you�ll be alright on your own?�

Lou forced herself to smile, she�d been looking forward to today. Ginny told her she had twin brothers with a joke shop in Diagon Alley and that they were going to visit them. Lou really wanted to go. �I�ll be fine Mrs Weasley, honest.�

She passed her list to Mrs Weasley and a sizable bag of gold. �If there�s enough, I want you all to have lunch on me, to say thanks for getting my things for me.�

�There�s no need to do that, we�re happy to get them.�

�Please Mrs Weasley, I want you to.�
The older witch smiled kindly at her and said thank you before stepping into the floo, closely followed by Hermione.
Lou was about to leave the kitchen when a hand settled on her shoulder.

She spun to see Ron standing in front of her, studying her intently.
She backed off a little, not sure what he was going to do. �Look, if you�ve got something to say, just say it and let me go. You can�t make my day any worse, so hurry up and spit out every vile thing you want to say to me, then go. Please.� She told him.
He was a good few inches taller than her and she found him rather intimidating, stood so close to her. She lowered her eyes to the floor, waiting for the scathing words to come.
Ron cleared his throat. �I wasn�t gonna say anything bad, I just wanted to say �well I suppose I was a bit unfair to you at first, well all the time really. I�m sorry.� He mumbled, sticking his hands in his pockets and studying the floor with her. �I�m a Pillock I know, but I�m a cute Pillock sometimes. Ask the others.�
Lou couldn�t help but snort at this last statement. �Well I agree you�re a Pillock at any rate.� She told him, trying not to giggle.
�It�s a bit of a bugger you having to wear that bloody restraining cuff, how long have you had it on?�

�Since I got here, I wanted to leave and they wouldn�t let me. Look, you�d better go, they�ll be coming back to look for you.�

�Yeah, I suppose I better. Look, can we �you know, start again?�

�We�ll see.� She told him, not certain if he was genuine or not, or even if she wanted to be friends with him after all the horrible things he�d said to and about her. �Go on, have a nice time.�
Lou turned to leave the room and Ron took hold of her arm, halting her step.
She flinched when he lifted his hand to her face, but all he did was use a finger to wipe a sole tear from her cheek, before turning and disappearing through the floo.
Lou stared at the fireplace for a while, not too sure what just happened. After rattling around the house for a while on her own, she realised how empty it felt with just her there. She suddenly felt very lonely and there was nothing she could do about it. She couldn�t even go out for a walk.

She spent the day practicing everything Severus and Mr Lupin had taught her so far, taking a break for lunch and carrying on with her spells.
When she heard the others returning in the kitchen, she dashed through to see them, relieved that she wouldn�t be on her own any more.
�Hiya. Did you have a good time? Did you manage to get everything? What was the joke shop like? Have you had lunch? I can make you something if you want.�

All her questions came out in one breath, she was so pleased to see someone.
Then everyone started to answer at once and it wasn�t long before they were all sat at the table, the others telling Lou about their day and what they did, saw and bought.
Lou couldn�t help feeling a bit jealous of them, especially after being stuck here on her own for so long.
The Mrs Weasley handed her the items she�d purchased for her and the money bag that seemed to be almost as full as before they left.
�You did get lunch on me didn�t you? I really wanted you to.�

�Yes we did, and thank you. Hermione told her. The others added their thank you�s, then started telling her about the joke shop.
�Right you lot, lets have this lot put away.�

They all took their supplies to their rooms and Lou, quicker than most, dashed back to the kitchen just in time to see Mrs Weasley get ready to start making dinner.
�No don�t.� Lou said. �I mean, you�ve had a really busy day and I�ve been bored out of my skull. You go rest and I�ll make dinner. It�s only fair.�

�Thank you Lou, but it�s alright. I have a lot of extra food to make tonight, we having a �guests are coming.�

�It�s okay, I�ll make lots. I�ve done it before. Please Mrs Weasley, let me do this for you.�

Molly looked at Lou. �The poor girl looks desperate.� She thought. �Well okay, if your sure. Would you like me to stay and help you?�

�No, honest, I�ll be fine. I like cooking a lot, the more the better. Go on, get some rest.�
Molly didn�t argue any more. The truth was her feet were killing her and she was tired. She didn�t usually trust anyone to take over when it came to the kitchen, but Lou had proved she was a match for Molly and she left to go soak her feet.
Lou decided to make several soufflés, sweet and savoury. as well as a large pot of stew and dumplings. She did sandwiches and apple turnovers, pasties, quiches and a steak and kidney pudding. Mashed and roast potatoes, salad and cooked vegetables.

By the time she�d finished, the table was groaning under the weight of all the food and the smells from the kitchen were beginning to travel up the stairs.
�Oh Lou, this looks and smells fantastic.� Ginny told her. �How are you gonna stay hidden with the smell of this lot tempting you?� She whispered.
�I�ve eaten as I�ve gone along so I�m full. I�ll manage, I have to. You�re still gonna cover for me aren�t you?�

�Sure am. Don�t you worry about that. What have you decided on?�

�Shadow, in the pantry.�
�Hurry then. The smell from all this will be reaching Ron and Harry in a minute and they�ll be down here like a shot.�
Lou stepped into the pantry and shape shifted into shadow. She floated herself under a shelf and settled down to wait.

TBC
- 26
- 27
- 28
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Both Sides