Sweet as Chocolate

Chapter 22

As I wake up, all I can see is a big claw holding around my body. "Cora?" I breathe. Just her claw itself, is heavy, or maybe she just holds me really tight. "Cora, honey. Wake up." I start to wiggle in her grip, and she starts moving. 

She lets go of me, and stands up, so my body falls to the ground, with a bump. I rub the back of my head. "Thanks, darling." I groan and look up at her face looking down at me. I smile and shake my head. She reaches down, and bites down in my hood, and pulls me up. 

I land on my feet, and she lets go of me. I pet her, and she bows down before me. She's about to leave. I bow down for her, and smile at her, as she takes off and disappears in the sky. Wonderful creature.

"Is she just a teenager, or were you just pissing her off?" Remus asks behind me. I turn to see him fully dressed, and without a scratch, which makes me very happy. "She's not a teenager. However she was acting like one." I point out, and Remus nods.

I stump the fire out, so it doesn't burn after we leave. And pick up my broomstick to get ready to go back home. I feel Remus's hand in my free hand, and I look up at him.

"Are you alright?" He asks, concerned, and comes closer removing the space between us.

I nod, "Yes, I am. It was the best for the both of us." I tell him. And it's really nice to talk to him about this too. He's just great. I look around searching for his broomstick, but he didn't bring it. I reach mine into the air, and let it fly home without me. "I'll rather walk with you." I tell Remus as he looks confused at me.

We start walking towards Hogwarts, and I feel like I need to ask him: "Are you alright?"

He looks down at me, and smiles. "Yes, Love. I'm alright. I'm just glad you came to my rescue before I got grilled." He grins, but I know he means it. Cora can be very intimidating. "You're worth so much more alive, than dead." I say and kick a stone out of my way. He scoffs at me, and shakes his head. "Unbelievable."

When I arrive at my dorm room, I see the extra clothing I usually had at Severus's, lying folded on my bed. And now I know, it is over. I really hope he meant it, when he said we could still be friends.

I reach my hand in the air, and wait for Leo to land on it. I promised we'd come visit her in the Christmas holidays, so here we go. I wave my wand and make a transformation spell at Leo, so he becomes smaller, and can fit in my pocket again.

"Just sit tight, Leo. When we get to the cemetery, you'll be back in your normal form again." I tell him, and he gets comfortable in my pocket. I flick my wand and we disappear from the dorm room, and in less than a second, we are in London.

"Where's your grandmother?" The waitress asks me, as she puts down my chocolate milkshake in front of me. She's old, and has this kind of grandmother-vibe, herself, which makes me feel relaxed and cared for. I don't remember seeing her around here. To be honest I didn't really pay attention to my surroundings that much, when I was with Margot. She was all I saw.

"I'm sorry, what?" I ask her, and she points at the seat opposite of the table, with her wringly, old finger. "Your grandmother," She says, smiling at me. "You used to bring her here every week. But you haven't been here in a couple of months now. Is everything alright, dear?" She asks me, caring. It's weird how she notices such things as our appearance. We were just customers, but we were noticed. I look at the seat in front of me, and think about all the memories we've had in this diner.

"She died." I say, and look up at the waitress again. "And I moved away, but I'm here now to visit her at the cemetery." I tell her, and she puts a hand on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry for your loss." She says, and smiles weak as she returns to her job. However, I think it's nice of her to just acknowledge us, when we were here.

As I drink my milkshake, I look out of the window and see a well known face. I follow it, as it walks through the door to the diner, and sits down in Margot's seat.

"Remus, what are you doing here?" I ask him, as I stop sucking on my straw. "You shouldn't be alone here. I know, it's hard on you, so just let me be here with you." He says, and I smile. I'm really glad he's so observing, and caring. "Thanks." I tell him, and hand him my milkshake. "Want a taste?" He takes it and takes a sip, and hands it back to me as the waitress comes back. "Here are your pancakes, dear." She sits on the plate in front of me, and my eyes grow big. I'm so hungry! "And this must be your father." She turns to face Remus. I look up at him, trying to hold back a laugh. He opens his mouth to say something, but I grab his hand, and interrupts him from speaking: "Yes, this is my daddy." I tell the waitress. She turns to me. And Remus is eyeing me aggressively behind her. He's shaking his head at me, and mouthing the word: DETENTION, to me. But stops when she turns her head to him again.

"Can I get you something, sir?" She smiles politely. Remus clears his throat and points at my milkshake. "Just the same milkshake as my little girl." He says, smiling aggressively at me. And it makes me feel so good inside, I love making him uncomfortable. She nods at his order, and walks away.

He smirks at me, as I dive into the pancakes. "Don't worry, Daddy. I won't tell mom." I wink at him, and he leans back in his seat, blushing. "You are the definition of 'trouble'." Remus mumbles under his breath. I lean forward, pushing my pancakes over the middle of the table, and lean closer to him. "But apparently," I whisper, as I look him up and down. "You can't get enough." I bite my lip, and look him in the eyes. He looks away, and rubs his cheek. "You're walking on thin ice, Ellie." He says, and leans in too. We are only inches away from each other, and I can feel his breath on my lips. "I like a little danger." I whisper, while looking at him biting his lip. I slowly lean back, and start eating my pancakes again.