Suffering and Recovering [A Marauders Era Fanfic]

Ch. 3 ~ Shopping and Apparition

Here, dearies, here you go. I love you mwahh!

I went down to breakfast fairly early, telling my mom that I just couldn't speak. To my surprise, James was already there. While Mum was going on about how she was "excited I'm going to Hogwarts", I questioned him by raising a single eybrow. He just winked back, so I raised both eyebrows and rolled my eyes, turning back to Mum when she started talking about how we were going to Diagon Alley today.

I nearly slopped my orange juice down my front at that. 

"What? Bloody he- why? And how are we going? Dad has work today, he can't take us by Side-Along!" Thank god for that, too, I loathe Side-Along Apparition. You usually only use Side-Along when you have to Apparate with a minor, or if your relative is a Muggle or Squib. It causes whoever isn't using magic to feel nauseated after Apparating. After that beautifully accurate description, wouldn't you want to travel by Side-Along, too? 

Note the sarcasm. 

"Go get ready, dearies," Mum sighed. Finally, she noticed we weren't listening to her rambling. "We're leaving in an hour." 

I sighed and shuffled up the stairs, before hopping into the shower. 

Yay, an outing. Can't you just see me radiating joy? 

I groaned out loud. I'm going to need major help getting through the day. 

 *

An hour later, I found myself in the living room of the Potter Manor, in my favorite armchair by the fireplace. I had my photo album in my hands and was absent-mindedly flipping through the pages, smiling whenever I came across one with Eli or Dom in it. Whenever I flipped the page away from one of those pictures, my smile left my face and my heart ached a bit. Why did moving on had to be so hard? Why couldn't it have been someone- anyone- other than Eli? Why did it have to be him? 

I heard James and Mum walk into the room, and I resumed flipping pages randomly. I heard James talking about inviting a friend to Diagon Alley, but my mind was somewhere else. It was where I longed to be at the moment; with Eli. It was then that I realized something that made my heart swell at the same time as making it drop into my stomach.

I know I was in love with Eli. 

Still might be, too.

I groaned inwardly, repeating my feelings to myself. I was in love with a dead person. Now, that's not something you'd hear everyday. I wonder if necrophilia was legal in the United Kingdom... 

Now, now, Jackie. Enough with these bitter jokes. Dark humor is a road best not taken. 

Oh, leave me alone, what do you know? You're my conscience, but that doesn't mean you control me. 

That's exactly what I do. Anyway, see what this is doing to you? You're talking to yourself, for Merlin's sake! You're going crazy, Jacqueline. Stop torturing yourself. You're going to end up kil-

"Jackie?"

I jumped, looking up, to find Mum gazing down at me, worriedly. 

"Are you okay, dear? Maybe you shouldn't go..." I quickly shook my head. I needed to go, I had to take my mind off of all of this. Shopping was the best solution. 

"I'm fine," I murmured, standing up. "Let's go." 

She stared at me for a few minutes, before shaking her head and smiling softly. 

"We're flooing," she said, bringing her hands together. "James, Jackie, you go first. Remember to speak clearly, dears." She held out the floo powder to me, and I grasped a fistful of it. James and I stood in the fireplace, and as soon as we did, it turned green. We clasped hands, and I extended my hand in front of me, still in a fist. 

"Diagon Alley," I cried. We became engulfed in the flames, and when I could see clearly again, I found us at the Leaky Cauldron. We quickly stepped out, and as James scanned the place, Mum came through the fireplace as well. 

"Right, then," she said cheerily. She loves shopping more than I do. "You lot go to Madam Malkin's, then, you both seem like you've had stretching jinxes placed on you. I'll go to Gringotts, but you should have enough money with you for the robes. I'll see you two at Florean Fortescue's when you're done, okay?" Without waiting for an answer, she was gone. James turned to me, grinning, but his smile faltered just a tad when he noticed my blank expression. We agreed, through a quick glance, that we should be off. 

We walked through Diagon Alley, passing Flourish and Blotts, Ollivander's, and Eeylops Owl Emporium, agreeing to visit all of these places when we had more money. We finally reached Madam Malkin's, and boy, was it packed.

I let go of James' hand, ignoring his confused expression, and walked towards Madam Malkin's. Once we bought our robes, we sat in a corner. I dunno why, but James said to stay, and I really wasn't in the mood to walk down to Florean's by myself. After waiting for about fifteen minutes, I became impatient. Wouldn't you have? I mean, I didn't even know why we were still here! 

I huffed and stood up. James stood as well. 

"Can we please leave?" I asked. "I really want to go to Florean's." 

Yes, I was being whiny, but what do most girls do when they're upset? That's right, they shovel down as much ice cream as possible. That's kind of my main priority right now. 

As soon as the words left my mouth, though, James grinned and stared at a spot above my shoulder. Puzzled, I turned around, only to find myself facing- a guy. 

A tall, dark-haired guy. He looked to be about 15, which is how old James and I are. He was the sort of guy that you can say for sure will be bad news; and he was really handsome, too. 

My life is so complicated.

Yes, this is late. But hey, I was in Vegas. With no internet connection and a power outage just waiting to happen. 

Not a good combination.

But it's here now! So I hope you liked it. Love you!