CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
A LOCKET AND A GIRL

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Morning rose and the two friends went outside to greet Lee, who was in the kitchen with a bright smile on his face as he cooked pancakes. It was almost like there wasn't a war looming with that smile, the cheer, and how normal it felt. Conversation was heard as they listened to the wizard radio to see what was happening and read the Prophet.

It was almost normal. Just two friends staying over with their other friend and having a relaxing weekend. They drank tea and coffee (Corey always preferred that) and listened to music as time night came around and Lee started another broadcast of Potterwatch. Amandla and Corey sat in for it and added some of their input, even though it probably wasn't the safest thing, before heading to bed.

It was almost normal. Except it wasn't.

There was still a war and they were still hiding out at Lee Jordan's place and they barely knew the guy. It wasn't a relaxing weekend because as soon as Corey shut the door and sat down on the bed he let out a large sigh and turned to his friend, "So where can we find this 'Waverly Hart'?"

Amandla rolled her eyes, "I told you – she exists. And I have an idea, I'm hoping she still lives there. It would be kinda sad if she didn't."

"Yeah, but what are we gonna do if she doesn't live there? If she left or doesn't wanna see us? Come on, Amandla, we gotta think about it," Corey urged.

"Look, I get it. But she had to have been a good from my Uncle Aiden's if he wrote about her and even mum remembered her name. I don't think she'll turn us away," Amandla shook her head, trying not to think about how this woman might not want to see her and Corey.

"Yes, she sounds nice, but it's been years. You said that he died and Waverly told your mother, but she's probably moved on with her life. Has a husband or something and kids. I highly doubt she wants to be wrapped up in hiding two fugitives in her house," Corey pointed out, "So where would we go?"

"France? Germany?" Amandla sighed then and looked away from him, "I don't know, I'm just hoping she'll let us stay a few days. Nothing serious."

"And what if someone sees us? What if tells Death Eaters where we are?"

"She won't! I know she won't!"

"How do you know that, you've never met her. All you know is that Aiden knew her and she briefly talked to your mum. That's practically nothing."

"I don't want to fight with you," Amandla softly said, "Just – just trust me with this. We can leave tomorrow, and if it doesn't work, come back here."

Corey shook his head, "You know Lee won't let that. He already told us earlier we can only stay a few days."

"This is only our second day, I doubt he'll kick us out if we come back for two more after this," Amandla pursed her lips, a look of determination in her eyes.

Corey looked at her, seeing how she pleaded with him, how much she wanted to meet this woman. How much trust she placed in this woman, and knew it more. He already knew that, yet he still had doubts. And again, he found himself agreeing. He knew he shouldn't – they could be killed for this if it were a mistake – but he still agreed.

The Lovegood nodded his head, "Okay, but we're Apparating to France if this isn't a good idea."

And again, she smiled brightly and the previous look was replaced with overwhelming joy that even Corey felt as Amandla hugged him tightly and muttered thank after thank. He held on tightly, wanting to savor the hug and how warm she felt. Wanted to remember this joy forever.

―

"Well, I'm sorry to see you two go," Lee held his tea in his hand, sitting in the chair as he saw the two friends with their bags packed as they told him they were leaving, "It was nice meeting you. That's a nice thing about this; I get to meet so many people."

"Thanks for letting us stay, Lee, we hope you don't get caught. And I personally hope you'll be able to have you dream one day," Amandla smiled.

Lee shook his head, standing up, "No, thank you. I hope you two survive and we see each other again, it was so nice meeting you two. I enjoyed every moment you guys were here."

Corey smiled at him too, "We hope we didn't cause any future trouble to you."

"Don't worry about it," Lee eased their worries, "I've only been suspected once, and even then they didn't take me in. I'll be fine, but please tell me you actually have a plan. I don't like knowing people are just wandering around."

"No, no. We're going to stay with a woman for a few days who'll let us stay with her, don't worry. We've got it covered," Amandla said.

"That's good. Have a safe travel," Lee sincerely said, placing down his tea, "Now, give me a hug."

Amandla was first, wrapping him up tightly in a nice hug full of gratitude for what he had done for the two. It was such a risk, it was dangerous and he could be killed for it, yet he still let them stay. Gave them a home, fed them, and was all around so nice to them. Had this warmth to him that was so infectious and always rambled, going on and on and Amandla loved it. She missed having such careless conversations without the slips of war in them.

It had been such a long time since she had one like that. Probably a year or two – and that was too long in her book.

Then, Corey gave the guy a hug and it wasn't as long, the Lovegood boy anxious to go, but it still held the same meaning. Same passion. Lee let go of him first, "You two should get going. It's still a bit dark out and that'll help you if they have anyone scouting that neighborhood."

"Thank you for everything you've done," Amandla said as they went to the door and exited. The hallway was completely empty and she interlocked her hands with Corey's.

He gave her a look, "You ready?" And she nodded with a gulp, knowing the feeling that was going to happen next.

Closing her eyes, she felt her body swirl and squeezed her eyes more when she had the feeling of her stomach and brain switching places at least for a second. Amandla would never get used to this, even after landing in the middle of the road with her hand still holding onto Corey's, probably having gotten tighter during the exchange that had just happened. She felt queasy and disorientated, a ringing in her eyes and she a moment when she opened her eyes, there were black spots covering her vision to the extent where she could almost not see.

Corey let out a sharp breath but her mind couldn't focus on it as it pieced itself back together after what had just happened and her knees went him and Amandla grabbed out for the man beside her to hold on. He did the same. They didn't fall.

When the two finally felt conscious enough, Amandla opened her eyes again and the spots were gone. She saw a house before her in the midst of a neighborhood and glanced at Corey. "Shall we?"

"I still have a bad feeling about this, what if she isn't there? What if it's a wizard and they out us?" Corey whispered harshly.

Amandla looked unimpressed, "Corey, clearly this is a muggle neighborhood, and no wizard who works with You-Know-Who would live here. Now, come on."

She tugged at his hand harshly and the two walked towards the house, holding the numbers and address name her uncle's old book held. A key to this place, and Amandla held her head high. There was no turning back now; she would get her answers.

Knocking, she heard no movement behind the door for a moment and dread filled her stomach. Doubt crept into her mind as she thought what if no one even lived here anymore? and her lips parted. This could've been a huge mistake and they should've just stayed with Lee until the week was over or head to France right now.

But then she heard it; the shuffling behind the door and the sound of someone unlocking it before swinging it open. There was a middle-aged woman, about the age of Sirius or Remus, with curly hair and tan skin. Dark brown eyes filled with confusion as she saw two strangers, teenagers, standing on her porch.

"Hello? Who are you?" the woman asked the two teenagers, and Amandla gulped before smiling.

"Are you Waverly Hart?" Amandla asked instead of answering the woman's question.

"Yes," she confirmed, "But I still don't see why you two are here. If you're looking for the Adams, they live right next door."

"You don't know who I am, but you once knew my uncle. His name was Aiden, if that helps," Amandla desperately wanted for the woman to yes, that she did know that man.

"Aiden? Why, I haven't heard that name in years," the woman muttered, eyes widening in realization as she looked at the two, "You must be Amandla. Yes, Aiden did mention you."

"He did?" Amandla asked, hope creeping in because her uncle knew she existed and Waverly remembered him.

Waverly nodded, "Yes. Now, come inside. You two look like you need something to drink. Is water alright?"

"Water's fine," Amandla nodded and the two of them stepped inside as Waverly led them to the living room before dashing to the kitchen for the water.

She returned with two glasses for her guests. "Sit down, now. And tell me, Amandla, why are you here?"

They did sit down and Waverly took the chair next to the sofa. "I was wondering if you could tell me more about my uncle," she then looked at her friend, "Oh, this is Corey, by the way. We've been...traveling together."

"I always wanted to travel the world, never got around it though," Waverly murmured before her attention refocused to them, "What do want to know about him?"

"Everything. Anything," Amandla blurted out before cursing herself internally, "I mean, anything you know."

"Right, okay. Well, Aiden and I met where I worked. He was alone, always alone, and I continued to talk to him briefly. Then, one day, a fella came in with him. Never caught his name, the two never mentioned it when I was around, but I knew he was important. They disappeared for a while and I thought they'd just moved or something, didn't think much of it, until it was about six months later and Aiden returned.

"He looked so sad, so I asked him what happened to the other lad. I thought they had just ended their friendship or something, but it turns out the poor boy was dead. But then after my shift I saw him talking to these two guys, and they had these wands out – almost killed him – but he got away. Had to explain everything to me after that. Wasn't too happy about it, though, but it led us to becoming friends.

"Then he said he had to complete something; task or some sort that his friend started. They never got around to finishing it apparently, and asked me if I wanted to come along. I felt like I didn't have a choice, and he looked so lonely," Waverly then took a shaky breath.

"It's alright, go on when you're ready," Corey said softly, Amandla took engrossed with the story to even notice the grateful smile on the older woman's face at her friend.

"I can't really remember that night. We were at this weird place and he cut his hand and I fed him this water. I can't, I just, I don't really know. It's all a blur. Aiden pointed to a boat and told me I needed to leave him after this, but I couldn't. There was a piece of jewelry he took out and gave me – a necklace or something – and told me to take it to this elf named Kreacher. I didn't understand but then he collapsed and these...things appeared from the water and just took him and I couldn't do anything but run. I took the boat and got outside only to see that I was surrounded by ocean with the shoe outside. I remember touching it and then finding myself in a dining room of a house I didn't know.

"I placed the locket there, not even caring about finding this Kreacher he told me about, and fled. I went back home – here – to find a journal he always wrote in with another note to his sister, Gwendolyn, and an address for me to take it to. I did, but that's it. That's all I really know about him."

"But what was he like? What did – what did he do for fun?" Amandla leaned forward, only caring for more information.

"Drink...that's all I really know. And write, obsess over everything. I don't know, we really weren't even that close," Waverly shook her head, "And it's been such a long time. I'm sorry that I can't tell you everything you wanna know."

"No, no. It's fine," Corey sent her a reassuring smile. He then took a look at the different photos on the wall. There was her, at least it looked like her – a younger version – and a man beside her. They were holding hands and looking each other in the eyes with such love. "Is that your husband?" he asked without meaning to.

Waverly glanced at the photo before giving a sad smile, "He was. Died two years ago, though. He was a cop, I don't like to think about it."

"I'm sorry, really. Did you ever have any kids?"

She shook her head, "No. We didn't, but always wanted to. Fate was just never on our side."

Meanwhile, Amandla was just sititng there and starting intensely at the coffee table as she thought, taking in all the information. None of it made any sense, who was the guy he met? How did he die? Where were they? If there still a corpse to find?

Waverly noticed this and gave a worried look, "Is she alright?"

Corey gave his friend a glance before returning his attention to Waverly, "She'll be fine, she just needs a moment to process anything."

"Well, while she does that, do you fancy a bit of breakfast? I'm starving."

The Lovegood boy sent her a smile, "Please."

But Amandla only closed her eyes, knowing that she would never have answers for the more questions that sprang inside her. Aiden was dead and could never answer them; no one could. And she would just have to live with it.