Hola, mis amigos, y bienvenidos a mi historia nueva. Erm... I hope I said that right.
No, I haven't forgotten my other story, I'm just stuck on writing the dream-sequence the next chapter starts with.
I do not own anything related to Harry Potter or The Beatles (except CDs, DVDs, books, and the like). This story is based on the original "gameshow" called "Who Wants to Be Midnight's Snuggle-Buddy?".
"As Hagrid had said, what would come, would come… and he would have to meet it when it did." – last line of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
"Everyday this summer had been the same: the tension, the expectation, the temporary relief, and then mounting tension again…" – p. 3 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
Harry sighed. Maybe this thing Hagrid suggested wouldn't turn out after all. Maybe he would never get over what had happened that past June during the third task of the Triwizard Cup.
Orange hues gone purple told Harry that he should perhaps climb off the roof of number 4 Privet Drive. Sunset was the best and most discrete time for post to come, so if nothing arrived in that half hour then nothing more would arrive that day. Besides that, after dark a person would be lucky if he made it off his roof alive, especially in the case of the roof of this mass-manufactured suburban house.
One long fall later, Harry rubbed his head and swatted for the stupid mosquito that stung him. Instead, his hand found a note:
------------------------- O'Harmonie : Wizzard Felloefhip for 1282 Yeerf ------------------
Deare Mifter Durfley,
We hath founde you a Matche!
-----------------------------------
Name: Veronica Ryan
Eyes: Green
Hair: Black
Enjoys: butterbeer with honey, traveling, playing chess,
hanging out with friends, anywhere will do. Just
as long as there's lots of toys, I'll be happy to
hang with you!
-----------------------------------
A reprefentative twill meet you Bothe at thee Leaky Cauldron at 7 o'clock
tommoroe nite.
-------- This beest an automated anfwering fervice. We bide you not reply. --------------
"Veronica…" Harry smiled. Maybe he could get over Cedric after all.
----
"Welcome to the Leaky Cauldron!" the bartender waved. "Ermmm… you can leave your suitcoat and your flowers on the counter if you like."
"Thank you!" Harry grinned. Tonight was going to be his night.
----
From the opposite corner of the pub, Tom Riddle jolted. Of all people… he wasn't expecting…
----
"Hey, have you seen a black-haired, green-eyed girl anywhere around here?" Harry asked the guy on the stool next to him.
"Dunno," he shrugged. "Only black-haired guy dressed up as much as you is sitting over there in that corner, perhaps he can help you."
Harry turned in the direction he was pointing.
----
"Shitshitshitshitshit, don't recognize me, don't recognize me," Tom muttered.
Harry winked and glided over to his table. "Might you be Veronica Ryan?"
"Yes, but I go by Ryan. My father named me after a porn star." Tom seethed inwardly at his own stupidity. He should've never tried a dating service.
"Lemme order you a butterbeer! Honey, right?"
"Yeah, yeah…" Tom stared at the butterbeer he had already ordered. Find a way out before he recognizes you and your reputation is ruined, he frantically thought.
"Ack!" Harry cried as he fell over in pain.
Oh no, it's his scar! I gotta run! I gotta run!
"Would you believe it, I tripped over a stuffed snake! I wonder who left that in here… Oh yeah! You like toys, don't you?" Harry smiled.
"Yes, they delight me… very much so…" Tom didn't know whether to feel relieved or to feel embarrassed. Crap, what's Nagini doing here?
"But it's so cute!" Harry picked Nagini up. "Hello!" Harry squeaked while opening and closing its mouth. "I'm Snakey! I want to be your friend! I love you!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Tom shrieked as Harry pressed Nagini towards his face to give him a kiss.
Harry's face fell. "What's wrong, sweetie?"
"Don't you DARE call me sweetie! Here I am, minding my own business, and then YOU come along! And you ruin EVERYTHING! How am I supposed to get my life back after 14 years if… if YOU keep… keep… keep…" Tom frustratedly punched the table, unable to put words to his frustration. "RUINING MY LIFE?! FOR GOD'S SAKE!" Tom stomped out.
Harry's eyes widened. His pupils dilated, only focusing on the door.
----
"WHY DOES THE WORLD HATE ME SO?????" Harry sobbed into Dumbledore's shoulder later that night.
"There there…" Dumbledore patted his back. The owner of the pub had called Dumbledore to be Harry's designated driver after the 10th bottle banged upside the head.
"And… and… I don't even know what I did wrong!" Harry wailed. "How could he just… LEAVE ME THERE?" A fresh wave of tears crashed on the rough shore of Dumbledore's epic facial hair.
"Maybe that just wasn't the way for you to go." Dumbledore shrugged… as much as he could with a hormonal teenager hanging onto him.
"Well, what other ways are there supposed to be?!" Harry cried.
Dumbledore's eyes lit up. An idea had been brewing in his mind, but he had not yet had an excuse to try it.
"Let me show you my latest plan…"
----
Three weeks later, a panel of judges (Professors Lockhart, Trelawney, and Moody) narrowed the competition down to 18 contestants.
"Annnnnd next week!" a purple-suited Dumbledore cheesed up the microphone, "we'll have the person you've all been waiting for FINALLY ready to choose for himself! The contestants will be purely anonymous, so he won't know who he's picking! How will we do this? Just wait and see! Come watch our season premiere on the next episode of…. WHO WANTS TO BE HARRY'S SNUGGLE BUDDY!"
Roll credits (to the song "Can't Buy Me Love" by The Beatles).
Just for the record, all of the contestants will be anonymous (they will be disguised but never as themselves). If you (the readers) keep track of all of the dropped hints and review and guess correctly who the contestants are, I will be throwing out treats when the contestants leave the show. I hope you guys enjoy this!