****This is a fanfic all characters etc. belong to JK Rowling with the exception of Jenny Prewett, Alex MacCrimmon, and Maisse Pottinger****
Harry walked the halls of St. Mungo's like he'd done every day for almost two weeks. Since his first lunch with Maisse, he'd seen her everyday. For Harry, it was nice to have some one to talk to that had no ulterior motives, just wanted to be friends - she had enough problems of her own. Harry and Maisse had become good mates and it was a nice change of pace for him.
Hanging out with Maisse also gave him an excuse to not to have to go troll the pubs for witches; a task that, sadly, Ron hadn't given up. Luckily, Ron knew nothing of Maisse and Charlie, but Hermione did. Hermione thought it was a good idea for the two of them to spend time together. She thought they could help each other and indeed they were. The one time that the four of them actually had off, they spent an evening together at Grimauld Place drinking too much and trying to figure out how to get Mrs. Black's picture off the wall.
Harry was laughing at the memory of Mrs. Black yelling at her great-niece, Maisse and Maisse yelling back when he arrived at Maisse's new office - The Room of Records. He knocked on the door.
Knock knock
"Maisse?" Harry stuck his head through the cracked door.
"Oh, Harry! Hi!" Maisse was surrounded by boxes of records all trying to walk away from her. Maisse was trying to freeze them, but it wasn't working so well."
"Stupefy!" Harry froze the boxes.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Maisse asked, exasperated.
"Because you over think everything," Harry smiled, "Ready to go?"
"Go? Where are we going?" Maisse looked perplexed.
"Out, come on, I know you've been in her all day," he motioned to the door, "you need some fresh air."
They left St. Mungo's through the main entrance with all the other healers leaving for the day. Harry'd hidden their brooms under his invisibility cloak just out the door. He pulled his out first.
"I thought I'd look silly walking the halls with two brooms," he shrugged.
"What are we doing tonight, Harry?" Maisse wondered
"Flying, of course," he answered.
"Ok.... Well, you said you had two brooms?"
Harry reached down and pulled out her broom, "Right here. Draco let me in to your flat to get it."
"Where are we flying?"
Harry took out his wand and pointed at Maisse, he said nothing, but she suddenly disappeared. Harry then pointed his wand at himself. The same thing happened.
"Harry, I can see your outline," she was amazed.
"Good, then it worked," Harry was pleased with himself, "I've been working on an invisibility spell that will let other wizards see your outline. I've been working on it for Blaize and I to use, but figured I'd test it out tonight." Harry mounted his broom, "Ready?"
Maisse did the same and they both took to the air. Maisse followed Harry's lead through London and over the Thames, which they followed for miles - Harry leading sometimes, Maisse leading other times. Eventually they slowed to a pace where they flew side by side.
"You don't have to do this," Maisse said just loud enough for Harry to hear her over the wind.
"Do what?" Harry asked.
"Entertain me every night, or check on me everyday, I am fine," She explained.
"Oh, I know you are," Harry chuckled, "You are just fun to be around."
"I keep your mind off of Jenny?"
"No, not at all," he shook his head, "you don't have an agenda when it comes to Jenny or anything really. I think of Jenny, but the happy things, not the sad times. Plus, I like helping you keep your mind off of your problems."
"Ahh, the old Harry Potter Savior complex has come back, has it?" she teased.
That was a sensitive subject to Harry. Many years ago, when the Ministry was trying to discredit him, this was one tactic they used. They spread lies about him - he was an attention seeker, Savior complex, was unbalanced. Harry quickly changed the subject, "Speaking of your problems, have you heard from him?"
Maisse pulled up short on her broom, taking Harry by surprise he had to turn around to reach her. She was floating in mid-air, laughing.
"The great Gryffindor seeker missed that!"
"Very funny, do you want to head back" He asked.
"Yes, we are pretty far down river and I do have to be in early tomorrow. Healer Prewett would probably love it if I was late. She hasn't been very happy with me these past two weeks, and, as she deals with scheduling, well, need I say more?"
Harry and Maisse flew back toward London in silence for a while. Harry was enjoying the feeling of flying, the freedom it allowed him. His mind drifted towards Jenny and and all the times they'd gone flying. Her auburn hair flying freely. She was a sight, he smiled, she really would love to fly over London he thought .
"Thinking of Jenny?" Maisse asked, "You always get the same look on your face when you think of her."
"So, I asked first - Charlie, have you heard from him?" Harry changed the subject. Neither really liked to talk about Charlie or Jenny, their friendship wasn't based on helping the other through a difficult situation. They, well Harry, did truly enjoy her company, her friendship, but sometimes, one had to ask about the thousand pound hippogriff that was always with them.
"I have gotten a few letters from him since I got back. One written the day we had lunch. Mostly the same - He misses me, he's sorry, he loves me, what can he do to make it right." Maisse shook his head, "He'd talked to Zina, but hadn't had the test done yet. He did ask for more details about the Center in Switzerland and if I had a contact there."
"Have you written him back?"
"Yes, I didn't say much of any importance though; I told him about my new assignment in the records room and did get him the information about the Center, but nothing else. Shame this had to happen now really, while I still have weekly exams that are brutal, and my last rotation is mind numbing, I seem to more free time than ever."
"Did you tell him that?"
"No!" Maisse exclaimed, "I need him in Romania figuring things out. I do not need him here in London confusing me."
Clouds darkened the sky above threatening rain. They were probably about 10 minutes from Maisse's flat when Harry challenged "Race you!" and took off before Maisse could even respond.
Harry was leaning against the door to Maisse's building when she finally arrive, his invisibility spell removed. As Maisse dismounted her broom, he pointed his wand at her and removed her spell.
"Thanks," She looked at her arms, "nice spell!"
"So, did you tell Charlie you loved him in those letters?"
"No, Harry," she huffed, "I just said that my feelings hadn't changed. So, How about you? Have you decided to finally write to Jenny?"
"Awe Maisse, not you too?" Harry whined
"Fair is Fair my friend," She smiled.
"No, I am not going to write to her, Maisse." Harry admitted, "I am going to let her live her life in peace."
"But you love her..."
"Indeed I do, but too much has happened I'm afraid. I will just keep trying to move on, though it doesn't seem possible."
"I know the feeling,," she agreed and turned to walk up the stairs to her flat, "Oh, I just remembered, Draco is actually off for a few nights, well, working regular hours, wanna come over on Thursday for dinner and a few rounds of Wizard chess?"
"Yeah, sounds good," Harry started to leave, but the mention of Draco reminded him, "Maisse, the Ministry's Winter Solstice ball is coming up. Would you go with me?"
"Isn't it a bit early for that," she asked, "about a month away?"
"Yes, but I just remembered, Please don't make me go alone again this year,' he begged.
"Alright, I'll go," she sighed. "I'll see you Thursday." And she proceeded up the stairs to her flat.
Harry decided to walk to the Leaky Cauldron and floo home rather than apparate or fly. He was just in to the mood to walk for a bit.
You're practically married, Ron teased, just ask her for bloody sake and see if she can set me up with someone.
The Yule Ball, Harry thought. He'd been so nervous to ask Jenny, even though they'd been dating for two years.
"But this is like a real date Ron," Harry confessed, "Not meeting in the library or by the lake. What if she doesn't like to dance, do you think she'd say no?"
Ron just shook his head and mumbled, "idiot," under his breath as he walked away.
He'd hadn't been nervous at all to ask Maisse. It was like asking his sister out to lunch, if he had a sister that is.