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Author: St Margarets Story: Lee Jordan: Tour Guide Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 7 Words: 142,091
After Lee decided that he was going to buy the paints for Holly, it became a lot easier to go to work. Out of the dark, cold nights of dust and dirt would come the wealth of shimmering blues, greens, reds and yellows, and all the colors in between. He was thinking of this on a foggy, chilly night in mid-October. Even though the sky had not brightened and he hadn’t looked at his watch, he could tell his shift was coming to an end by the squares of light shining through the fog from below. Checking his list, he saw that he had only four more chimneys to clean and that they were in the Diagon Alley area. He carefully headed east, keeping his bearings in the swirling fog by noting the buildings he was flying over. Luckily he could smell the fresh bread and cinnamon coming from Berte’s Bakery and easily found that chimney. His stomach growled as he cast his wand over the hot stack. Maybe he would Apparate over after his shift was through. He was just descending to find Flourish and Blott’s brick chimney when a small glint of silver from below caught his eye. Peering through the cottony mist, he tried to discern if that was spell work he had seen. Then he saw it again – an unformed bright flash of silver that seemed to stop in mid-air, as if something black and substantial had blocked it. He was still puzzling over this when what felt like a frozen hand gripped him, and he heard disembodied voices: redundant… I am not…if you had money…. He fought with all his might to remember what this was. He had heard of this happening to other people. Hadn’t this happened on the Hogwarts Express? Think, he told himself. Think to save yourself from the Dementors. Mum had to move to France…Lee instinctively pulled on the end of his broom, so that it obediently rose through the mist, and his head began to clear. There were Dementors in Diagon Alley. He leveled off and looked down again. Why hadn’t they chased him? Then he saw the glint of silver again. Because they were swarming around someone, he realized in horror. Without stopping to think, Lee took out his wand and called Expecto Patronum. His fish burst out of the tip of his soot-covered wand, coloring the mist all around him silver. Then it dove towards the Dementors and Lee followed, wondering if one little fish could penetrate that hard darkness. It was difficult to see during that short dive, but when Lee touched the ground, he realized that the Dementors were gone. His little fish had managed it. Then he froze. The prone body of a witch lay curled on the pavement. Surely she hadn’t been Kissed? She was groaning and shivering which he took to be a good sign. “Um – Miss?” He touched her arm and tried to look over her shoulder at her face. She didn’t answer but continued shivering. “Come on,” he tried again. “Let’s get you….” He looked around to see where they were in Diagon Alley. He saw Gilds Art Supply Store, which was right by Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. He heaved a huge breath. “Let’s get you to Fred and George,” he said in a firm voice. Surely they would have some chocolate. “Okay,” the witch answered through chattering teeth. She slowly raised herself on trembling arms and then sat up – pushing her long, dark hair out of her face. Lee couldn’t see her clearly, but she looked vaguely familiar. “Hang on to me,” Lee said, handing her her wand. “We’re going to walk slowly over to that shop. My friends own it.” He hauled her to her feet. She was a short woman and now he could see that she was wearing Healer’s robes. She managed to walk the short distance on trembling legs, but Lee thought she was going to fall over while he hammered on the door trying to rouse Fred and George. He held the woman tightly against his side. “Fred! George! Open up!” George opened the door wearing a pair of pajama bottoms and an expression of sleepy confusion. “Dementor attack,” Lee said shortly, hauling the women across the threshold. It was blissfully warm in the shop. “Get a chair.” George’s eyes opened wide, and then he quickly conjured a straight chair. “Here, sit down,” he said to the woman. “Got any chocolate?” Lee asked. George jerked his head towards the backroom as he kneeled in front of the woman and started to chafe her hands with his own to warm them. When Lee returned with the chocolate, he could now see that the witch was a young woman with a cloud of brown hair – and that he knew her. She was Laura Turpin, Amy’s flatmate. “Eat this,” Lee said. She didn’t look up, but she obediently put a chunk in her mouth and then took George’s hand again. “Better?” George asked in a gentle voice. Laura focused on George, who was still kneeling in front of her with a look of concern on his face. The dazed expression was clearing from her face. “Yes.” George stared at her for a moment. “Um – I’ll make some tea,” he finally said. “My mum always says tea helps.” Surprisingly, Laura gave him a small smile. “Healers say that too.” George’s eyes widened as they focused on her robes. “You’re a Healer, aren’t you?” She nodded and then started to scrape back her hair, as if she just realized it had come out its tidy bun. “I don’t look like one now, though.” “George, this is Laura Turpin, Laura this is George Weasley,” Lee said, thinking this was an absurd moment to be calmly introducing people. “And I have to go. I have three chimneys to clean in the next twenty minutes.” Only then did Laura notice he was there. She squinted blankly at his soot-covered face. “Lee Jordan,” George supplied. “Oh! I didn’t recognize you,” she said apologetically. “That’s okay,” Lee answered with his hand on the doorknob. “I’ll check back later.” Lee wasn’t able to check back immediately, because he had to scramble to finish cleaning his chimneys, report to the office, and return home to clean up. When he Floo’d the shop no one answered, so Lee guessed that George had probably escorted Laura home – to Amy’s flat. Since he didn’t want to think about worlds colliding again, he decided to go to bed. Fighting Dementors was more exhausting than sweeping chimneys. * When Lee finally popped in on Fred and George before his next shift, he found only Fred in the shop. “Where’s George?” Lee asked. Fred looked up from the seeds he was sorting on the counter – there were green ones and white ones. “He’s healing the Healer,” he answered briefly. Lee blinked at the implications. “He asked her out?” “I don’t know if there was a formal invitation,” Fred answered with a small grin playing on his face. “But he thought she shouldn’t have to be ‘alone tonight after her ordeal.’” Lee grinned back. “Nothing like tender loving care.” “I don’t even think the girl realized that it was you who rescued her.” Lee laughed. “George had the tea.” Fred laughed, too. “Angelina is going to be so happy, except for the fact that she didn’t introduce them.” It seemed strange to hear Fred talk as if this was more than a passing fancy on George’s part – but then George had never had a passing fancy as far as Lee knew. “Do you know this Laura-girl very well?” Fred asked. “No,” Lee answered. “She was Amy’s flatmate – but she always worked at night, so I only saw her once.” He shrugged. “Holly’s seen her around at St. Mungo’s.” “You don’t think she’s like that Amy person – do you?” Fred had stopped sorting seeds and was watching Lee intently. Lee felt a stab of annoyance. Was Fred going to assume that everyone around Amy – including him and her flatmate were untrustworthy in relationships? “Fred, I don’t have a clue what she’s like. That’s something George is going to have to find out for himself – without any help from you or Angelina or me.” Fred looked at him steadily and nodded. Lee could understand his concern. They had grown up with Angelina and Alicia and Holly and all the girls from Gryffindor. Fred would have been happier if George had chosen someone they all knew. And Laura was older and from another house – Ravenclaw– Lee guessed. But still, George deserved the chance to get it wrong if he so desired. As Lee flew from chimney to chimney that night, he realized that he had started to forgive himself for his colossal mistake with Amy. He had taken a chance and had made a lot of mistakes – but hopefully he had learned something valuable, too. He had to stop doubting his own judgment. As he flicked his wand over a double-flue chimney, he hoped that George would never have to learn a lesson like that. * Lee wasn’t able to have a long discussion with George, or anyone for that matter, for over a fortnight. Everyone was simply too busy. Holly was spending long hours at the hospital and working with him on their joke book at night. Angelina was on a five match road trip, which was just as well, since Fred and George were busy filling orders for all the Halloween party favors that were in such hot demand this time of year. So he was very glad to finally convince both brothers to join him for one of the semi-final matches of the Midnight Quidditch League. It was the night of the full moon, so Holly was working late with her lycanthropy victim. This was to be the first transformation since the girl’s bite, and the Healers were watching the child closely for reactions to the Wolfsbane Potion. Holly wanted to be there – even though Lee didn’t think it was the best idea. He knew Holly would be calm and supportive for the girl and the girl’s mother – but that façade came at a price. He frowned, looking at the moon flooding the Exmoor moor with pale silver light. He knew that St. Mungo’s took every precaution with the werewolves, but Holly should be careful. “Lee, there you are!” George called. He and Fred zoomed over on their brooms looking pleased with themselves. “Apparated with your brooms successfully, I see,” Lee said with a grin. Fred had been predicting dire consequence – most of them not suitable for tender ears – since Lee had made the suggestion. ‘Everything is where it should be,” Fred laughed. “So where is everyone?” “It’s not midnight yet – and there isn’t much to set up. All the spectators watch from brooms since they won’t conjure the stands. I see Jim McGuffin has conjured the hoops though.” The golden hoops were plainly visible in the moonlight. “I don’t see how they can play when there’s no moon,” Fred said. “All the players wear glowing armbands. And they Charm the Quaffle, Bludgers and Snitch to glow. The hoops light up when a Quaffle comes near them – but not before. You need the eyes of a cat, that’s for sure.” “Sounds like fun,” George said enthusiastically. “We haven’t played since last year. Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes should start up a team.” Fred snorted. “When we have more than two Beaters on our team, we can enter the league.” “Did someone say Beaters?” Lee turned around to see Ali, Yuri, and Abdul, the three Chasers for Starlight Sweeps. “Our Beaters Apparated not,” Yuri said in halting English. Then he swore in Russian. “A forfeit we’ll have to call.” “Can you substitute?” Lee asked. Yuri frowned in confusion. “Can different players fill in for your Beaters?” Yuri nodded as comprehension dawned. “Sure thing – but we don’t know Beaters.” Lee grinned and looked at Fred and George who were eagerly listening to the conversation. “I do.” * “Those your mates out there?” Jim McGuffin asked. “How did you know?” Lee asked, surprised that Jim McGuffin recognized him and that he noticed there were new players on the Pitch tonight. “They’re the only ones not coughing and I haven’t seen hair that color out on the Pitch in a long time.” Lee grinned. He always forgot how the Weasleys stood out in a crowd. “How’s your research on Black Jack McCain going?” he asked. “It’s not,” Lee said gloomily. “I was made redundant at the Quidditch Museum and I’ve been sweeping chimneys ever since.” “Ah, sweeping chimneys, that’s good, honest work,” Jim McGuffin said. “My father used to sweep chimneys. Practically killed him though,” he added as he watched the players from Starlight Sweeps in red armbands circle around the players from Madam Malkin’s in green. Lee decided that the way to judge a person was not by the Quidditch team they supported or the broom they rode – but by how they treated chimney sweeps and dustmen. “I don’t see how being made redundant can keep you away from the information in the Quidditch museum. It’s a public facility, you know.” “I know – but I didn’t leave on the best terms with my boss,” Lee confessed. “So what?” Jim McGuffin said impatiently. “He can’t keep you out. Besides, I want to know more about Coach McCain, and you are obligated to find out for me.” Lee laughed. He probably did owe Jim McGuffin a bit more effort in finding out the whole story of Black Jack’s career. “I’ll go to the Museum when I’ve finished with this job,” he promised. “I have a list of players I need to look up.” The old man nodded in approval. “I’m looking forward to –” He peered myopically at Lee. “What was it you were writing? A book or an article?” “An article,” Lee said promptly. He was going to narrow his topic and write something he could publish in a magazine. Then he would know if he had the talent to write an entire book. Jim McGuffin nodded. “Let me know when it’s published.” The match began. Since it was a full moon, Lee had no trouble following the plays. Fred and George were a bit rusty for the first few defensive moves, but Lee could see them quickly hitting their stride. The ladies from Madam Malkin’s were surprisingly aggressive, but the Starlight Sweeps were outflying them. They simply had more ease on their brooms in the dark. “Damn eyes!” Jim McGuffin suddenly said after the Sweeps had scored their second goal. “I thought I might be able to follow a match during the full moon – but I can’t see the far end of the Pitch.” “I can,” Lee said. “I’ll tell you what’s going on.” “You can announce?” “I was the Gryffindor announcer at Hogwarts,” Lee said. Then he concentrated on the match. “Okay – Sweeps are in possession of the Quaffle. Their three Chasers – Ali, Abdul and Yuri – are seasoned players, by the way, and it shows. Ah – Fred, or is that George? Batted that Bludger right into the Malkin’s Chaser. That had to hurt. I wonder if it was her sewing arm?” “The Quaffle is within the scoring area – but the Malkin’s Keeper has deflected it. Malkin’s are in Possession. But – oh – the Malkin’s Beaters had better follow the Weasley brothers to keep those Bludgers in view.” Lee didn’t really notice the small crowd that had gathered around him as he explained what was happening to Jim McGuffin. He was having too much fun telling the story of the match as it was happening to worry about who was around him. “And the seamstresses just threaded the needle with the Quaffle – right through the center Hoop. Ten points for Madam Malkin’s.” When the Sweeps called a timeout, Lee could see Fred and George talking animatedly to the Keeper. He could tell they were having the time of their lives. Jim McGuffin chuckled. “I can see why they kept you on as an announcer. I haven’t enjoyed a match so well in a long time.” Lee felt the same way. It was incredibly good to look out and see Fred and George – his mates – hitting the Bludgers as they shouted insults at the opposition and encouragement to their own team. The match finally ended at two in the morning when the Malkin’s Beater mistakenly batted the glowing Snitch into the hand of the Sweeps’ Seeker. Fred and George’s faces were ruddy from exertion and the chill air. “That was brilliant,” Fred said. “We’re going to create a team.” “Right,” George seconded him. “We know a lot of people. Let’s ask around at the birthday party next week.” “What birthday party?” Lee asked. “For all of the October birthdays,” Fred explained. “Didn’t Holly tell you?” Lee shook his head. “You, Holly and Angelina all have birthdays in October and you’re all nineteen this year,” Fred continued. “It’s going to be next Friday because Alicia had other plans for Halloween night, and you and Holly have to work.” “Sounds fun,” Lee said. On the day of Holly’s birthday, he had bought her a cake from Berte’s Bakery, and she had shared it with all the children at the hospital. For his birthday she had made him a funny card in the same style as their joke book and had joined his family during his birthday dinner. This sounded a lot more exciting. * Late the next morning, Lee Floo’d Holly to see how her night with the werewolf girl had gone. He was happy to hear laughter before he saw her face in the flames. “Lee! How are you?” “I’m good – Midnight Quidditch only went until two so I had an early night.” “Come over, I have a funny story I was just telling Angelina,” Holly said with a twinkle in her eye. Obviously it wasn’t about the werewolf girl. Lee realized that it had been a while since he had heard her laughing like that. He Apparated directly into their flat. The Sunday edition of The Daily Prophet was strewn all over the low table in front of the settee. Angelina was sitting on the floor with a cup of coffee in her hands. Holly was curled up in her usual spot on the settee. “What’s going on?” Angelina giggled. “Holly’s been talking to Laura – you know – George’s new girlfriend?” “She’s a girlfriend now?” Lee asked, settling in the armchair. “I would say so.” Angelina grinned. “Do you want some coffee?” Holly asked. “I can get it,” Lee answered, moving to the small kitchen. There was a pot singing to itself on the counter. “Can I have one of these buns?” he called after he saw some cinnamon buns on a plate. “Yes!” “No!” Lee grinned. “Whose are they?” “They’re mine,” Holly said. “And you can have one.” ”Don’t eat all of Holly’s food,” Angelina scolded when he came out with one of the sticky buns in his hand. “She’s getting too thin.” “No I’m not,” Holly protested. “Do you want to hear my story or not?” Holly’s face did look a little more pinched – but that was probably due to fatigue more than anything else. “I’ll take her out and buy her a plate of –” He made a face and gave Holly a sidelong glance. “Curry.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Okay, Angelina?” “Okay,” Angelina said. “I’m glad someone’s feeding her. I go away for two weeks and this is what I return to.” “So,” Holly continued as if that little byplay hadn’t occurred. “I saw Laura in the St. Mungo’s tea room last night. I was eating,” she added sarcastically to Angelina, who wrinkled her nose back at Holly. “And Laura told me about the double date she and George had gone on Friday night.” “Double date?” Lee asked, finishing his cinnamon bun. “But Angelina wasn’t around Friday night.” “Oh, Fred wasn’t the other Weasley George ran into on his double date,” Angelina crowed. “Then who?” he asked Holly, who was smiling broadly. “Laura is a good friend with another Ravenclaw Healer – Penelope Clearwater.” ”Who goes out with –” Angelina chimed in. “Percy,” Lee finished with a chuckle. He would have given money to see that. “Did George know who they were going out with?” “No,” Holly said. “That’s the thing Laura was asking me about. She wondered why George and Percy were so awkward with each other at the beginning.” “At the beginning?” Lee asked. “Did it get better?” “After Penelope and Laura started the shop talk, apparently Percy and George banded together,” Holly said with a smirk. “Shop talk?” “It was a childbirth, right, Holly?” Angelina asked with a giggle. When Holly nodded, Angelina continued. “I can just imagine it now. That’s one thing all those Weasleys have in common. They think babies come from the cabbage patch and even that process shouldn’t be discussed. I remember when my stepmum, Julie, had Alexander and Fred and I went to visit her at St. Mungo’s.” She laughed. “Well, I actually saw her and Fred wandered the corridors.” “Oh, I’m siding with George and Percy on this one,” Lee declared. Angelina snorted and Holly looked disappointed. “You know,” Holly pointed out, “I agree with what Laura said, it is a part of life – a beautiful part.” “But no bloke wants to hear about it at the dinner table,” Lee argued. “Especially about some witch he doesn’t know.” The very thought made him squeamish. “Well, it’s a good thing if it brings George and Percy a little closer together,” Angelina cut in. “I always liked Percy.” “Oh, the cauldron bottoms again,” Lee muttered. “What about cauldron bottoms?” Holly asked. “My dad makes cauldrons, remember?” Angelina said. “And he was really worried about his business being overrun by the cheap imports. Percy happened to write a report about cauldron bottoms for the Ministry.” “About which Fred and George never stopped teasing him,” Lee said with a grin. Angelina looked disapproving all over again. “Percy’s report went to my stepmum since Percy’s boss was busy with the World Cup. So she traveled to Birmingham to investigate and that’s how she met my dad.” “That’s a nice story,” Holly said. “I always wondered how you got a stepmum so quickly.” “Yeah.” Angelina looked uncomfortable. “I wasn’t too happy with how fast it went. They got married on New Year’s Eve – they had only been dating for a few months. But it all worked out.” She beamed proudly and tossed her braids. “Now we have Alexander –” “Who is the most advanced, most beautiful child to grace the earth,” Lee supplied. “I’m sure he is,” Holly said with a tender smile at Angelina. “And he’s lucky to have such a nice sister.” Angelina stood up and grinned at Holly. “A sister who will always poke her nose in his business,” Lee said. “That’s what siblings are for, Lee,” Angelina said loftily, conveniently forgetting that she had been an only child for eighteen years. “Is that true, Holly?” Lee asked. Holly looked startled. “I don’t know if Andrew has any business. Besides, Grandmother does enough meddling for all of us put together.” “In lieu of a grandmother, Alexander has Angelina – a fair trade off.” “And he has this baby Kestrels sweatshirt,” Angelina said, pulling a tiny garment out of a colorful shopping bag. As Holly oohed and ahhed over it and all the other miniature Kestrels paraphernalia Angelina displayed, Lee wondered what it was about baby clothes and women. He shook his head. Baby clothes and shoes and women – he didn’t think he would ever get it.
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