Almost 10 years later…

Harry peered over his father's shoulder, trying to see what he was working on. His father's eye began twitching as Harry just stood there watching him work over his shoulder. "Seeing as you appear to be bored, you will make yourself useful. You can either go out and buy new ingredients or sit down and help… Hovering is not one of the options, so desist this instance!"

Harry puffed up his cheeks and put his hands on his hips. "I was only trying to see what type of potion you were working on this time. I know you are close to a breakthrough, so I wanted to see how you were progressing."

Severus rolled his eyes, Harry was always too curious for his own good. "As heartwarming as that may be, your hovering is only going to distract and annoy me. As I said, you now have two options… pick one before I lose my patience."

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning…" Harry mumbled as he began to walk away. "I will go out and get ingredients. What do you need this time?" Without saying a word, Severus lifted a paper from the table and held it in Harry's direction. Harry begrudgingly walked back over and grabbed the list.

"Try not to dawdle. I know how much you like going to the bookstore, but don't waste all of your time there. I would like to get the ingredients before the day is over." Severus stated as he began crushing a unicorn horn.

"I don't spend that much time there!" Severus rose an eyebrow, clearly not believing Harry's words. By the looks of it, Harry didn't really believe his own words either. Harry let out a frustrated sigh and ran his fingers through his hair as he headed for the door. "I promise I'll be back before it gets dark." Severus stared blankly at him, giving him a look that said, 'I'll believe that when I see it'. Harry just pouted and left the house.

Harry began walking down the street, sparing a glance at the shops that he passed. He heard Madam Malkin shout out that she had new clothes for sale. Harry peered down at his own clothes. He was wearing light blue pants and a white cotton shirt, with the sleeves rolled up. He didn't have a problem with his attire, in fact, he really didn't care much about clothing to begin with. Who cared about what you were wearing, or what you looked like for that matter. Harry hated the vanity that he was surrounded by, all he cared about was knowledge. If someone couldn't hold a decent conversation with him, he didn't care much to converse with them. Unfortunately for Harry, most of the people in the town were simple folk; they only cared about their shops, their families, and their looks. Harry couldn't relate to them at all. He always wanted to learn. He wanted to have new experiences in life, he didn't want to settle down and raise a family. Living in this town was driving him crazy. He needed a change of scenery.

Passing Pomona Sprout's flower shop made him think more about relationships. A shudder ran through his body. Relationships… He really wanted to escape those. He was receiving more attention than he wanted, and from people he did not care for at all. In fact, they were his least favorite people in the entire town. Why was he cursed with such horrible luck? Thankfully, he didn't see them out and about quite yet, so he might be able to avoid them for the time being.

Harry let out a sigh of relief when he finally came upon Horace Slughorn's shop. When he entered he was hit with a variety of smells coming from the potions and ingredients throughout the shop. Harry peered down at the list and started looking along the shelves, trying to find the ingredients.

"Ah, Harry! How good to see you again! How is Severus doing?" Horace asked as he clamped his hand onto Harry's shoulder. Harry forced a smile on his face. He could understand why his father never wanted to come to this shop. Horace wasn't a terrible man, but he was very chatty. He could go on and on about a subject. Harry had learned that quickly when he had regrettably gone to one of Horace's special dinner parties. He wished he was like his father sometimes, his father had no problem telling people off.

"Hello, Horace. My father is doing well. He is working on a new potion. I'm actually here to gather a couple of ingredients for it." Harry held up the list so Horace could see it.

Horace grabbed the list and looked it over. "Moonstone and porcupine quills? What an odd combination of ingredients. Wonder what he is concocting this time…" Horace began walking down the aisles, grabbing the items as he went. "You'll have to let me know how this one turns out. His potions always have so much promise." Horace walked to the counter at the back of the store, Harry quickly followed. "If it sells well, you'll have to be sure to let people know where the ingredients came from of course."

Harry refrained from rolling his eyes. "Of course." Horace was always trying to get something out of every situation. It was a little annoying how transparent he was about it. Did the man have no tact? Once the ingredients were paid for, Harry grabbed them and put them gently into his shoulder strap pack. "Well, it was nice seeing you again. My father wants these as soon as possible, so I have to go. Bye!" Harry stated as he rushed toward the door, trying to avoid talking to Horace any longer. Before Horace could even get a reply out, Harry was already out of the shop.

On his way back home, he made a stop into Irma Pince's book shop. Harry figured it wouldn't hurt to stop in for a couple of minutes. "Hello, madam Pince!" Harry stated excitedly as he started looking at the books. "Anything new today?"

Pince shook her head in amusement. "Unfortunately, no. It is a shame there are so few books to begin with, but that is what I get for opening up a shop in a town where people don't want to read. If you weren't a patron, this shop probably would have gone out of business quite some time ago." Pince saw Harry's pout and her amusement rose. She was surprised she still had books left at all. It appeared that the only books Harry hadn't bought at this point were the ones he owned before she even arrived in this town.

"Well, thanks anyway. Let me know when you get more books in! I can't wait!" Harry said excitedly, even though he was feeling a little dejected.

Pince smiled warmly at him. "You will be the first to know. Now, you should head off. I'm sure your father could use your help." Harry blushed and rubbed the back of his head. Madam Pince knew him so well. He supposed it was because he would spend hours in her shop just talking to her. She was the only one who could really relate to him.

"See you around!" Harry waved to her as he walked out of her shop. He hoped she would get books soon. As he was daydreaming about new books he bumped into someone on the street. Harry backed away and blinked a few of times. When he looked up he saw that it was Hagrid. Harry was confused, what was the man doing in the middle of the street?

Hagrid turned around when he felt someone bump into him. "'arry!" Didn' see yeh there. Yeh wouldn' happen ter wan' ter buy a dog would yeh?" Harry gave Hagrid a confused look then peered into the man's arms. Harry took a step back, the hairs on the back of his neck rising.

"H…Hagrid, you do realize that dog has three heads, right?" Harry asked nervously. Only Hagrid would be trying to sell one of his weird pets in the middle of the street. Since most people were afraid to enter the man's shop it did make sense that he had resorted to going to the streets. Harry didn't think the man would have much success. Although the man was quite large, maybe someone would be afraid that Hagrid would hurt them; they would probably buy the creature out of fear for their life. Of course, Hagrid was harmless, he wouldn't hurt a fly. The same, however, could not be said for his creatures.

"I found 'im in the forest all by 'imself, an' I couldn' just leave 'im there." Naturally… Harry thought sardonically. Harry just hoped that Hagrid didn't end up angering the mother of that thing. The creature would probably tear apart the town.

Harry was about to comment that Hagrid should probably put it back, but decided against it; he figured he would get nowhere with the man. Instead, Harry knew he had to get out of the situation fast. The longer he stood there, the more Hagrid would push him to buy the creature. "Well, that was very kind of you Hagrid. And while this conversation is quite… fascinating… I must be getting home."

"O' course 'arry. It was nice seein' yeh." Hagrid stated a little sadly as he watched Harry walk away. Harry sighed a breath of relief when he could see his house nearby, he was almost home, just a little further and he would be able to get away from all of these people.

Unbeknownst to Harry, as he was walking through the street, he was being watched. "Just look at him, he is the picture of perfection! We would make the perfect couple. Don't you think so Cho?" Cho grumbled under her breath, not daring to give a reply. She loved Cedric, she would do anything for the man, but did he ever spare her a glance? No… he only had eyes for Harry. She tried to convince Cedric that Harry had no interest in him, and that he should seek out someone else (preferably herself), but he always brushed her off. She tried to get more attention from him, even going to so far as to keep the other girls at bay. Especially those three girls that were hovering in the background. Padma and Parvati Patil, and Hannah Abbott were annoying her to no end. She had told them off many times, but they would always show up when Cedric was around. She would probably have tried to fight them off harder, but they weren't her main problem. No… Harry was the thorn in her side. She had hoped when Harry said he had no interest in Cedric, that Cedric would have backed off, but instead Cedric just pursued him even more.

Cho forced a smile on her face. Cedric's happiness outweighed her own, so she just had to grit her teeth and bear it. "You would make any couple look perfect. Harry is crazy for always denying your advances."

Cedric chuckled. "He is just playing hard to get. Games are so much fun. By the end of it, I shall win his heart and he will be mine. No one stands a chance against me! Even that little floozy." Cedric clenched his fists, becoming annoyed all of a sudden. "She is always trying to ruin my plans! Harry is mine!"

As Cedric yelled out the last part he heard someone laugh nearby. "I don't think so Diggory! Harry is mine! Only my feminine charm can sway him. He doesn't want some little boy." Ginny Weasley stated a smirk on her lips.

Ron sighed heavily next to Ginny. "I don't see why you are so interested in him. You can do so much better. You even have your own little fan base…" Ron pointed at Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Terry Boot who were ogling Ginny from a distance.

Ginny just waved him off. "Harry is the perfect match for me. We will make the most beautiful babies! Especially with those eyes of his. They are like emeralds that sparkle in the sun." Ginny placed her hands on her cheeks and smiled happily as she relived her fantasy. Ron scrunched his nose in disgust at the scene. He didn't understand his sister's interest in Harry. The kid was so boring, and such a bookworm. He didn't want his sister with someone so abnormal.

Cho was fuming, she would not tolerate the Weasley girl badmouthing her love. "How dare you! Cedric is way better than you! You can't even begin to compare yourself to him! You are just an ugly little girl!"

Ginny gasped and ran over to Cho, grabbing her by the collar of her dress. "You take that back! You wouldn't know what true beauty was if it hit you in the face! There is nothing special about you, you are just… ordinary." Ginny let go of Cho's collar and turned away from her, folding her arms across your chest. "Although you are right, Cedric and I can't be compared, I am in a whole new league of my own!"

Cho went to retort, however, Cedric stepped in. "Now, now ladies. We shouldn't be fighting with my beloved nearby. What would he think of this squabble?" Cedric turned his head to look where he last saw Harry, only to find him not there anymore. "Oh no! He has disappeared! I must find him!" Cedric ran off, searching for Harry.

"Hey! Keep your hands off! He's mine!" Ginny yelled as she chased after Cedric. Ron and Cho just shared an exasperated look before running after the two. Unfortunately for Ginny and Cedric, Harry had already returned home. While the two really wanted to marry Harry, they were too afraid to even speak to Severus. No one was stupid enough to confront that man. Severus was terrifying, especially when it came to Harry. Cedric knew that he would have to get on the man's good side if he had any hope of winning over Harry's heart, he was just afraid Severus would tear out his own heart in the process. Ginny, on the other hand, blatantly avoided Severus, he was not part of her plan. Her eyes were focused solely on Harry, if she could woo him, then everything else would fall into place.

Ginny caught up with Cedric just as they reached Harry's house. The two stared at the house debating what to do. They really wanted to see Harry, but they did not want to see his father. And there was no guarantee Harry was even in there right now. For all they knew he could be somewhere else in town, or in the fields nearby… They knew how much Harry liked to wander around and explore.

Ron and Cho eventually joined the two and were not impressed to see Ginny and Cedric just standing there staring at the house. Ron, not being the patient type, grabbed Ginny by the arm and began pulling her along. "We are heading home. I am not going to have you waste your life staring at a house." Ginny tried to fight him off, protesting along the way, but she could not escape his grip.

Cho, on the other hand, just dutifully stood beside Cedric, waiting until he was ready to leave. She could see he was heartbroken at his missed opportunity to speak with Harry; it was always the highlight of his day. She wished he would look at her with such longing. Naturally, it would never happen, but it didn't mean she couldn't fantasize about it. It was hard for her to daydream, however, with Harry's house right there. So, her fantasy took a dark turn; she began imagining Harry's house burning down… with him still inside it. She would never do that of course… if Cedric ever found out it was her, he would shun her for the rest of her life. She couldn't handle having Cedric hate her.

She broke out her daydream when Cedric moved beside her. She followed silently behind him as he sullenly walked away. All of a sudden Cedric stopped in his tracks, making Cho bump into him. He got a determined look on his face and he puffed out his chest. "I will just have to try extra hard tomorrow!" With that in mind, Cedric walked more determinedly through the streets, envisioning how tomorrow would play out. Cho just shook her head. Tomorrow would probably turn out to be the same… or worse. She wished Cedric would stop deluding himself.

Brownie points to whoever can figure out what potion I decided to choose. ;)