Thoughts and Memories

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

Leigh sat in Madam Puddifoots, the reservation quickly settled by Helia's patronus. He sat in the corner, the circular table having three circular incense candles hovering just above the surface. He felt the basic charm that was there keeping them in place, but the smell that they protruded filled him with ease.

Waiting for Ashlee, Leigh leant back and relaxed, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes. He had to remember to keep a low profile, for if his enemies caught wind of his sudden revival they would find him too swiftly for him to escape. His thoughts drifted to his death, the cold pain he felt when he was consumed and the painful control he felt leading up to it.

His eyes suddenly shot open when he remembered the man who was about to do him in, the man was Gabriel Vandesar. A dark look crossed over his face as he felt his anger rise within him, his composure remaining intact, but when he looked at the opening door and the person entering, all his current thoughts vanished and his head swirled with nervous thoughts.

He breathed out slowly, waiting for Ashlee to find him...

[Ashlee Van Dort]

<sup>Ashlee made her way through the door and looked around, gently placing a peice of hair behind her ear. She still couldn't beleive he was back, it was still a dream in her eyes.

She looked in the far corner and spotted him. She wanted to scream at him, tell him how it had hurt her to lose him and possibly even slap him but at the same time she wanted to throw her arms around him and kiss him. As Ashlee made her way over to him she settled with a simple smile.

Ashlee came to a stop at the chair that sat across from him. She glanced at the floor for a moment before making eye contact with him again, "Hi," she said with a warm smile. She nervously began to fix her hair then let her hands drop to her sides as she looked at the table.</sup>

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

'Hi...' Leigh replied with, drifting off afterwards. All the urges he had, all the feelings and emotions he felt, swelled beneath the surface, his grip on them barely in control. His leg began to bounce uncontrollably and the only thing that was going through his mind was the thought of how much he must've hurt her.

He looked into her eyes and saw the pain that she felt, he felt it himself. He saw the dazzling sparkle that they had that had first attracted him to her and the fear he felt when he fell for her. He felt his cheeks warm, as he remembered some of the nights they had shared.

Without thinking, without even blinking he stood up, moved around the table and took her into his arms, scooping her up and embracing her tightly like he felt the world would end. He put her down and looked into her eyes and leant in, kissing her, no fear in his being whatsoever.

[Ashlee Van Dort]

<sup>Ashlee let herself go in his embrace. She closed her eyes and kissed him back passionately, all her love for him returning. She didn't care that he left, it was the fact that he was here with her now that mattered to her. Ashlee slightly smiled as she continued to kiss him. She pulled back slowly, giving him one last gentle kiss on the lips before looking into his eyes.

He seemed different somehow, but when Ashlee looked closer, it was the same Leigh she'd always known. She placed her head on his chest, closing her eyes she spoke softly, "I missed you."

She didn't know how else to say the way she felt when he was gone or the pain she endured, she only hoped he felt the same way. She pulled back and placed a soft, small hand on his face.</sup>

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

'No matter where I've gone, what I've done... I've missed you too much to even think that something else is more important.' Leigh said softly with a warm smile on his face. He felt her warm hand on his cheek, the smoothness of his hand a thing he remembered all too dearly.

'Where I've been, what I know... No one is safe.' Leigh said quietly, taking Ashlee's hand off his face and holding it firmly in his hand. 'I'm in danger all the time so I can ill afford to have you with me right know... Please just take comfort in knowing I'm alive and well, and take any measure to protect yourself from the being that stole my life.'

Leigh leant forward and kissed her forehead, pulling her in for one last embrace. 'I don't want your life in danger...' He whispered. 'My own is enough.'

[Ashlee Van Dort]

<sup>Ashlee looked down, sadness in her eyes. She knew what he meant. She had done whatever it took to find out what had happened to him, even if it meant risking everything she had. Still she had done it in hopes to find some closure. She knew that what had killed him was a very evil being and if she wasn't careful, could take her life as well. Ashlee didn't care though, she wanted to be with him. She needed to be with him. She pulled back and spoke quietly.

"But..." she started, before looking back into his eyes and seeing the fear. She looked down and sighed, "Is there any chance that I'll get to see you again?" she asked, unsure of the answer. Knowing he meant well, she was still upset that he could show up out of the blue, revive her feelings for him, then tell her he couldn't be seen with her.</sup>

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

'Of course you'll see me again, plenty of times.' Leigh said, gently placing his hand on her chin and tilting her head up so her eyes looked into his. 'I'm remaining around Hogsmeade, the only place where his power can't find me for some reason. I'll apply for a for job, find a place to stay in quiet, then you can come and see me whenever you want.'

Leigh smiled warmly, knowing what he had just said was a spur of the moment thing as not to make Ashlee further upset, but he liked the idea and began to formulate a plan on how to achieve it. His eyes showed slowly that he was telling the truth.

[Ashlee Van Dort]

<sup>Ashlee looked down and nodded. "Ok," she said softly. She looked back up. "Just don't go dying on me again," she said with a smile. Ashlee began to feel uneasy of the fact that Leigh was going to constantly be in danger now. Her smile faded and she looked around nervously.

She looked back at Leigh and sighed. "Be careful, please," she simply said giving him a soft kiss on the cheeks. "I really must be going," she stated looking down.</sup>

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

'I can't promise you I'll be careful, but I can promise you'll see me again soon enough.' Leigh said, smiling. 'If you must go then go, just remember to keep me being alive to yourself. I know others may know, but if they connect you to me then there is no way in the Divine hells that they'll stop me from ever getting to you again.'

Leigh looked away as a wave of forbidding washed over him, the thought of having to fight off a horde of Ministry officials was enough to even unsettle the mind of the dragon he shared the mind link with. Leigh shook off the feeling and smiled warmly.

[Ashlee Van Dort]

<sup>Ashlee nodded, "I know, I wouldn't dream of telling anyone," Ashlee said before giving him a hug. She stepped back and smiled at him. "I'll see you later. I've got things to do," she said with a slight giggle.

With those last words she turned towards the door, waiting to see if Leigh would say anything else.</sup>

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

'Take care.' Leigh said to himself as he watched Ashlee leave him, the site of her leaving enough to unsettle his stomach slightly. With a grimace he turned away from the door and clenched his fist tightly, it soon shaking in fury as he remembered one thing he had to do. He turned sharply from the corner and proceded to leave and left the shop, flicking a coin onto the counter as he left, seemingly melding into the scene outside.

((And I do believe this thread is finished, lol.))