Chapter Ten - Announcements June 1978
Izabella woke late in the afternoon, exhausted from the emotional day. She lay in her bed, stretching and looking up at the ceiling. It had been a very strange day... There was a knock on the door and she turned her head, calling for them to enter with a dry, sleepy voice.
Severus calmly leant in the doorway, leaning against the wall and grinning at her.
“Finally awake then.” he said.
“Shut up,” she grumbled, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
He chuckled and she looked up at him. His pale face was relaxed and his shoulders weren't tense. He seemed confident, like he was at school with his circle of friends, yet his eyes were soft and caring. She smiled. It was nice to see him like this at home.
“Lucius Malfoy is a pleasant man isn't he?” he said suddenly. Izabella arched her eyebrow slightly.
“I suppose.” she said cautiously. Severus grinned.
“Suppose he was very pleasant by that fountain?”
Izabella rolled her eyes and climbed out of bed.
“I'm going for a shower.” she mumbled, passing him and slamming the door to the bathroom.
She showered then returned to her room, pulling out a dark green dress from her wardrobe. She dryed her hair and applied a little make up, then dressed. She glanced at the time. It was half past five already. She sighed and grabbed her shoes and her bag and raced downstairs.
“I'll see you later Sev!” she called as she yanked open the door and made contact with someone's fist as they lifted their hand to ring the doorbell.
“Ouch!” she complained, holding her cheek which was throbbing from the impact. There was a snicker and she looked up into the faces of a group of Slytherins.
“Izabella... Looking delicious as always.”
“Avery I will curse you.” she warned darkly, glaring at Mulciber as he pulled back his fist that had just made contact with her face.
“I'd like to see you try.” he smirked. Izabella rolled her eyes and tilted her head back into the house.
“Sev! Your Death Eater friends are here.” she called. There were hisses from in front of her and Severus called her name in annoyance.
“Have a nice evening.” she said, smiling as she stepped past them then disapparated, landing in an alleyway in Godric's Hollow. She hurried forward, rushing towards the main square where the little restaurant was situated, rubbing her cheek where it stung slightly. She moved inside and approached the waitress standing at the front.
“Hi, erm table for Potter?”
“Izzy!”
She turned to see Sirius waving her over from the large table they were sat around at the back of the room. She smiled and walked over, taking a place between Lily and Sirius.
“We thought you'd never show.” Sirius said raising an eyebrow at her.
“Like you didn't show at mine last night.” Lily said accusingly.
“Oh Merlin! Sorry Lily I totally forgot.”
In fact, she had intended to leave the wake early to go to Lily's, until she met Lucius at the fountain...
"What happened to your face?" Sirius asked, frowning. "It's bruised."
Izabella groaned and grabbed a pocket mirror out of her bag. A purple tinge was glowing on her cheek.
"I'm going to kill Mulciber." she said in a low voice.
"He hit you?" Sirius demanded, rising from his chair.
"No, no! It was an accident." Izabella said quickly pulling at his arm. He narrowed his eyes slightly but sat back down reluctantly.
There was chatter around the table as they ordered their food. Lily turned to Izabella and tilted her head to one side.
“How was it?” she asked gently.
“It wasn't too bad actually.” she said smiling. Lily placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled.
“So come on then. What's this big news?” Sirius said grinning at James. Izabella glanced down under the table at Lily's stomach as she exchanged a look with James.
“We're getting married.”
The table fell silent. Then Sirius stood up and dived over to James, punching him fondly on the arm. Remus and Peter joined him in their racous celebrations. Lily turned to Izabella and took her hand.
“What do you think?” she asked, frowning slightly.
Izabella looked at her best friend for a long moment then sighed.
“Are you pregnant?” she asked quietly.
“No I am not!” Lily said defiantly.
“Does he make you happy?”
“Very.”
“Then it's fine by me.” she said with a smile. Lily squealed slightly then pulled her friend into a hug. Izabella locked her arms around Lily and smiled, then stood up to embrace James as Sirius finally stopped punching him long enough to swing Lily in a hug. Some people in the restaurant watched them with amused faces.
“Seven years of trying to get a date with her... I never thought you'd manage to get a ring on her finger.” Izabella said, grinning at James. He laughed then spoke quietly in her ear.
“I do love her. And I will look after her.”
Izabella pulled back to smile at him.
“I know James.” she said gently. “Because I'll kill you if you don't.”
He grinned at her and she made to go back to her seat before a voice sounded from behind her.
“Izabella! What a pleasant surprise.” Abraxas said, whilst Lucius stood behind him smiling slightly. Izabella turned and tried to smile above her curious expression.
“Mr Malfoy, what are you doing here?” she asked politely.
“I thought I would treat my son,” he said. “What are you celebrating?”
He looked over the table, glancing at the faces that surrounded it.
“Lily and James are engaged.” she said with a smile.
“And Izabella is my Maid of Honour.” Lily beamed. Izabella turned and raised an eyebrow.
“I wondered how long it would take for you to ask me.” she said grinning.
“Well congratulations.” Abraxas said, incling his head towards the couple. Lucius looked to Izabella.
“How are you?” he asked quietly. She nodded and smiled.
“I'm doing alright.” she said.
He frowned slightly and nodded towards her bruised cheek. She shook her head and smiled softly.
"I'm fine." she said quietly.
“Well, we shall leave you to it.” Abraxas said. “Goodbye Izabella.”
Lucius leaned forward and kissed her cheek softly. She smiled and said a quiet “Goodbye” before returning to her seat quickly, dropping her head as her food arrived.
“What was that about?” Sirius demanded. All eyes were resting on Izabella's face.
“What?”
“Since when have you known the Malfoys?”
“My mother is friends with them. They were at the funeral.” she said with a shrug.
Sirius narrowed his eyes at her, but Izabella changed the subject, quickly engaging Lily in talk of dresses and flowers.
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