A/N: I do not own anything except the few made up places and streets off of Diagon Alley. Thanks for reading.
The large man tipping his hat, secretly hiding a bunny rabbit outside the shop caught my attention only once before, two years earlier. I couldn't quite pinpoint what made me want to enter the shop that day, but I felt myself compelled to walk through those two doors to the wonders within.
I couldn't help but laugh as I walked through store, watching as the children begged their parents to buy them Reusable Hangmen or Extendable Ears and the parents ignoring their pleas. As I walked by one pair, I couldn't help but listen. "Just thing one thing, mommy," the young girl of about six years begged. She was a beautiful little girl with bright blue eyes and long, knotty dark hair. She was dressed and ragged clothing and her mother looked much the same. They both had chapped, dry lips in the middle of May and that was an automatic sign they were both thirsty, and their clothes told me they were poor. I closed my eyes, just to be sure. After a moment I had seen all I needed to see and reopened them. When I was about to help them out I heard her mother say, "we just can't afford that, baby" and before I knew it they were leaving the store. I walked over to where the little girl was standing and picked up the pygmy puff she wanted and made my way to the register
I placed it on counter and fished through my oversized bag for my wallet. "That will be five galleons," the young man with vibrant red hair said from behind the counter. There wasn't a hint of a smile on his face.
I have to say, I almost took this as a challenge, "Don't you want to know why a twenty four year old young woman is looking to buy a pygmy puff? Aren't you the least bit intrigued?" I asked with a chuckle. He peered up at me and forced one of the most artificial smiles I'd ever seen to his face. "Oh come on, you can do better than that," I teased. He gave the smallest hint of a smile and I pounced on it, "There you go, I knew I could get a smile out of you," I giggled slightly.
"I haven't done that in a while."
'Taken a girl's money?" I teased playfully.
"Laughed," he said with a small smile. He didn't react much to her teasing, and though she found it odd, she didn't say anything
I handed him the galleons and smiled, "Well I hope to see you again soon," I turned to leave before turning to him again, "I'm Emma, by the way."
Moments later Ronald Weasley emerged from the back room to stand beside his brother, "Who was that, George?"
George shrugged indifferently, "Some girl named Emma."
Ron peered over his brother's shoulder and a smirk crept to his lips, "Oh, well Emma left you her number."
George paid him no attention and didn't much care. Sure, Emma was cute, but George didn't want that right now... or maybe he didn't want anything like that ever again.
When I emerged from the store I tightly shut my eyes and was able to pinpoint exactly where the young dark haired girl and her mother were and hunted them down. "Excuse me," I yelled, as I made my way through the streets of Diagon Alley. The girl and mother turned toward me and then turned back around, not recognizing me I suppose. "Excuse me," I said tapping the young girl on the shoulder, "I believe you forgot this." I handed it to them and turned away before they could realize that it wans't something they forgot instead it was something I was giving them.
"I'm sorry, but this isn't ours," the mother said, causing me to turn around and look at her.
"It is now."
The mother reached into the bag and pulled out the pygmy puff and the girl's shrill screams of excitement brought a smile to my face, but the real pleasure came when the women reached in and pulled out a key. I then heard the thundering of hers and her daughter's feet behind me. "M'am," she said as she tapped my shoulder. I turned to her and smiled, "What is this for?"
I smiled brightly, "It's my gift to you. I own the apartment complex down the street from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Ginger's Apartments, and I need someone to keep up with the housekeeping. There is an apartment available if you'd like it for the housekeeper." The woman's face lit up and she giggled with excitement.
"That would be wonderful. I'll take it... I mean we'll take it."
"Come this way then," I said turning down the Ginger Street, off of Diagon Alley.
"Mommy, what's going on?" the little dark haired girl asked as she peered at her new surroundings.
"We have a home, my love," her mother told her and she looked thankfully at me.
After I showed them to their new apartment (furnished and everything for the housekeeper), I made my way back to my room to check my messages.
"You have 3 new messages," the answering machine voice began, "First voice message," there was a short pause and then I was thrown off guard when I heard a male's voice, "Hello Emma Davis, this is Ron Weasley, you left your number with my brother today. I wanted to speak with you, so if you could give me a call back I would really appreciate it," he then left his number and hung up. I jotted the number down and left the room before even listening to the two other messages.
I ran with lightning speed to the phone in my room and dialed the number and after only a couple of rings a male picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Ron Weasley?"
"Yes."
"Hi, this is Emma Davis. You left a message with me asking to give you a call."
"Yeah, hi. I actually stole you're business card from my brother and saw that you owned Ginger Apartments right around the corner. I'm actually looking for somewhere to live right now and wondered if you had any available for move in as soon as possible.
"Hello, Mr. Weasley," I said extending my hand politely. I was a bit surprised to see he was alone, but I didn't think much about it. "So, why don't we go to my office and discuss this." I smiled and we made our way toward my office where we took our seats from one another. "So, I don't know if you know anything about us, but will be 85 galleons a month that will be due the 1st of every month. We do allow pets, we have a pen out in the back for dragons and other magical creatures, but that has to be cleared with me first. Um, utilities are covered in your overall rent. Do you have any questions?"
"Yes, do you have any deluxe apartments?"
"Oh, we're playing on that level," I laughed. "Well yes, actually. We have one left. Those are 100 galleons per month. They are very nice. They are three bedrooms, two baths, with your own personal jacuzzi, and a small bar in the living room."
"Well, I just received a hefty raise, so I can afford it."
"Do you work at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?"
"No, I've been hired as the new seeker for the Chudley Cannons."
"Well, I'll be damned. 'Let's cross our fingers and hope for the best'. I'm their number one fan. I grew up with five brother and they all told me that I was wasting my time with the Cannons. Will you change our luck?" I laughed.
"No way! You're a fan? They are so hard to find these days."
"We are a rarity."
"Well, after I sign this you should come see one of our games. I can get you tickets."
"That would be awesome. I can't give you a discount on your rent, though," I said with a sly smile. I took that moment to really look at Ron. He was extremely attractive, not as much as his brother, but very close. Plus, it seemed as though his brother had no interest in me, so why should I waste my time, right? He was very chiseled (likely from Quidditch).
"Eh, it was worth a try. So, I have a game this Friday if you'd like to be my guest."
My eyes lit up and the smile on my face could no longer be hidden. "I would love that."
"Great I'll pick you up at 6, the game is at 7 and then we can get drinks after."
"It's a date," I said before immediately blushing.
He did the same and peered over at me, "I guess it is."
I helped Ron move in the following day along with the only brother who spoke to me anymore. It didn't take us long, "I think I'm going to order a pizza, would you like to join?" I asked Ron, but of course James, my older brother, answered.
"Of course he'll join you, baby sister." I blushed. Why was I doing that so much lately?
"Bye James," I said pushing him out of the lobby. "I love you and I'll call you soon."
"You got it baby sis. I'll talk to you soon," he said before leaning in to kiss my cheek and whispered, "Don't let this guy know your real job it will intimidate him." I rolled my eyes and gave a small push out the door and thought about his last statement.
I wasn't dating Ron, so there was no reason to tell him what my real job. Just as I finished the thought, my beeper went off and I turned to Ron, "On second, my other job," I said pointing to my beeper. Ron smiled and nodded. I called the number and Jones answered.
"Emma, we need you. We found one and you're the only one that can take care of it."
"I'll be right there," I said after he gave me all of the information.
I then made my way toward Ron, "Can we rain check, my other job needs me?"
"Of course. I didn't know you had another job."
"How else would I have been able to buy this complex?" I smiled before turning to go.
Once again I was running through the portal to London and through the streets to find my destination. "What's wrong, Marlow?" my partner asked me. My partner was Dean Thomas, a young man, a couple years younger than me and much more built.
"Long day. I never thought I'd be ending my day with you chasing down dumb asses." I laughed slightly.
"Well you're one of the few who can repel most spells kick their asses without magic. They always need you. We're the best they got."
"Damn straight." Before Dean Thomas I was paired with a double agent and I had to kill him. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do and secretly hoped I would have to kill another witch or wizard... or muggle at that... again in my life.
I was lost in thought when Dean put his hand behind him and stopped me. "There he is," he said as my eyes followed his gaze. The man stood about 6'4, dressed in dark colors with a cloak over his shoulders. He held a knife to a young girl's throat. "Game time." Dean whispered as he ran one way and I the other.
I snuck through the streets. Dean used the invisibility cloak we were issued because I was much lighter on my feet. As I approached the shadowy figure he was whispering for the girl to remove her pants. "What you can't get a girl without threatening her with a blade?" I asked into the darkness. He turned on his heels and smacked me to the ground. "Oh fuck, you're going to make me beat your ass?" I asked as I placed my foot against the side of his face before placing it against his stomach. "Now, Thomas!" I yelled as my partner grabbed the young lady and tossed me chains to tie around him.
When he was sufficiently tied up I rose and took him with me. Thomas walked over and removed his mask, sure enough he was a well known Jack-the-Ripper type that had been targeting witches. "Let's take him back to the station so I can get home." I looked over at the young girl and walked over to her. "How old are you?" I asked, wiping the blood from my nose where he had smacked me.
"I'm a healer, I can fix that," she said motioning to the broken nose. "You'll still have the bruised eye, but at least it won't be too bad."
I smiled at her, "That would very helpful, thank you." She whispered a spell and I felt my nose break back into place and the sharp pain took me a bit off guard. I put my hand gently on my nose and smiled, "Thanks. Do you need a ride somewhere?"
She shook her head and smiled before walking away. We made it back to headquarters in a short time and as Thomas filled out paperwork, I left. Thomas and I switched roles each time we went out. We were both highly trained and unless things were happening quickly, we had roles. It was a weird strategy, but it worked so we didn't fight it.
