J K Rowling owns all the rights to the books and the amazing characters she created. I write only to satisfy my imagination and use my creativity and make no money from my writings.

Chapter 10 – A Chance for Romance

Roddy was settling in nicely at his new job. He was a very good physician and although he worked mostly on the Muggle side of the clinic, he soon found that his services were being requested on the Magical side.

It was there that he made the acquaintance of HER. At first he hadn't recognized her as it had been years since he had last seen her, but then the chief surgeon introduced Medi-Witch/Physician's Assistant Susan Bones to Healer/Doctor Roddy Owens.

Roddy had to quickly throw up his emotional mask. He had become a master Occlumens and Legitimist during his time in Japan and could now hide his emotions rather well especially after certain charms had been removed from him during his healing time. His recovery was fast and only an expert like Snape would have noticed the slight shock he had displayed and quickly hid. Instead he smiled at the girl – now a woman, and she smiled back at him. After the introductions they started being briefed on the case before them. Treatment on the patient began and eventually ended for the day.

Roddy was conflicted. He didn't want to risk exposing himself to Susan Bones, but they were now co-workers. They hadn't really had much contact during their school years, rarely having the same classes together and then there had always been Ron and Hermione chaperoning him and keeping people (especially girls) away from him. The only real contact he had had with her was during the DA classes he had conducted. It had been years though and he had completely changed since then becoming an entirely different person.

Dare he risk more? She had been a pretty child, a lovely young girl (he had noticed while in school even if he couldn't do anything about it such as asking her out) and had grown into a beautiful woman. She had a ready wit and a charming personality and from what he had witnessed and heard about her, she was a talented Medi-Witch on the Magical side and had a Physician's Assistant degree on the Muggle side of things.

However, while he was deciding what to do, she decided to take the initiative and sought him out. For the first time in many a year (or at least since his escape) he was flustered, blushed and even stuttered. Mercifully she only smiled at his antics and didn't laugh.

The friendship started in earnest as they were assigned cases together, met for lunch, and at times dinner, in the cafeteria. It evolved into meeting for a drink after hours (usually with others from the clinic) and after a few weeks, Roddy gathered enough courage to officially ask her out. They had a very nice dinner at an excellent restaurant which lasted until the staff politely kicked them out as they wanted to close.

They then took a stroll around the lake and before they knew it, it was 2:00 a.m. Neither had duty the next day but had had a busy day at work and although they shared several blissful kisses, Susan apologized for not inviting him to her house because her house elf (the only one she had been able to take with her when she fled Britain) would have a fit if she brought a "beau" as she termed it, home on the first date.

"But don't worry as soon I will invite you over for a meal – which I might even cook!" Ten days later she did have him over but had given the elf the night off. Roddy behaved as a perfect gentlemen (just in case the elf's idea of having a night off was to disillusion herself and spy on her mistress). The food was very good, consisting of a decently prepared roasted beef, with a roasted potatoes, creamed onions, peas mixed with a variety of different mushrooms and a deep dish apple pie with a side pitcher of cream for pudding.

Susan served a very good wine with the dinner and after dessert had asked in a posh and snobby British accent "Would the gentleman care for port or brandy? I apologize for not having any cigars but as a physician you know smoking is bad for you." They both had a good laugh at that and an extremely pleasant evening. There was a lot of kissing and cuddling but "no real action" but Roddy was mature enough not to take offense. Besides, he felt the elf lurking about.

They dated a few more weeks going to dinners, movies and even the ballet. Roddy was surprised that he actually enjoyed it but was a bit wary about going to an opera. He'd have to think about that as his cultural education was non-existent except for movies, popular music and the occasional good book when he had time to read.

They had been seeing each other for about three months when Roddy gathered his courage and asked Susan to his humble adobe for a home-cooked dinner. "After years living on my own, I did learn to cook rather well if I do say so myself. What would you prefer: French, Italian, Japanese, American – mostly Southwestern and Southern – or something classical British?"

"Oooohhh, I've always wanted to try Southwestern" Susan cooed. "Then Southwestern it is!" Roddy replied.

Damn! Of all the cuisines she had to pick this one. Roddy (or rather Harry) had eaten his way through the south west and enjoyed the food – he had even bought a cookbook. But he had never actually cooked anything with the exception of tacos, and they had been made with purchased shells. There was also the fact that he wasn't sure where to acquire most of the ingredients such as the shells, peppers, certain spices, etc. He would have to have Floody scour Europe for the ingredients. At least he had the fixings for margaritas, sangria and even rum and coke would suffice in a pinch.

Despite the problems, he was really looking forward to the dinner and hopefully Susan would stay for breakfast.

The "big day" finally arrived. Both of them had the next two days off and Roddy had Winky prep everything so that Roddy could have everything finished and truthfully said he cooked it all – except for the shells as Winky had to make those from scratch. They tasted much better than the store-bought ones Harry Potter had used.

The table was set, a pitcher of margaritas were chilling and a sangria punch was on hand if Susan preferred to drink that. The flat was cleaned, the preparation pots, pans and bowls were all cleaned and put away and the elves were given the night off. They were going to glamour themselves and take in a movie or two.

Susan was due at 8:00 p.m. and she was usually prompt. Roddy had an easy listening CD playing with several others lined up. He was tempted to have a sangria but no, he'd wait for Susan. But at 8:15 p.m., there was still no sign of Susan. He had a sudden, horrible thought that perhaps he hadn't told her where he lived, until he remembered that since she was a witch, she could just do a point me spell and find him, but then he was sure she knew his address. However, by 8:30 p.m. he was just about to phone her when the phone rang. It was Susan.

"Roddy, please forgive me but…something…has come up and I…I won't be able to come tonight. Can the food be saved for tomorrow?"

He started to get a bad feeling and he knew he shouldn't but he asked "What is this something?"

There was a pause before she said "A family problem has come up and…I have to handle it. I'll call you tomorrow and explain." With that said, she hung up.

'What family matter could this be' he thought. She didn't have any family left since Voldie had killed her Aunt Amelia. 'Oh well, maybe it is too involved to tell me now. Maybe she is in trouble or a friend, like Hannah Abbot who was as close to family that Susan had left. Perhaps Hannah was sick or one of her kids and she had contacted Susan for advice not wanting to go to St. Mungo's.'

No, that couldn't be it as Susan had mentioned once she didn't keep in touch with anyone back home due to several things she didn't agree with. He thought back to the conversation explaining the main reason.

"My best friend in the entire world, Hannah Longbottom, has basically 'disowned me' you could say because I left Britain and will not come back. She called my excuse of having too many bad memories as nonsense. She claims it is my duty to return home and help repopulate the country. She told me that is the only way I can claim my full inheritance – that and marrying. She even had some prospects who would be willing to marry me."

He now remembered asking her who and she gave a noticeable shudder before replying. "A housemate of ours was looking for a new wife as his had committed suicide. I told her that if I was married to the detestable Zacharias Smith, I'd consider doing myself in also. Well actually I would poison him or he would suffer a tragic accident."

They both had a good laugh about that but Susan wasn't finished yet. "Then there is another year mate, a Gryffindor no less, who caught his wife in flagrante delicto, divorced her ASAP and has been drinking himself silly ever since. It helps that his father owns a Muggle bar." Roddy thought it sounded like Seamus Finnegan, but since he wasn't supposed to know him, he didn't ask.

"There were a few wizards, all of whom were 'on the shelf' or had been widowed or divorce that no witch, or even a Knockturn Alley hag, in her right mind, no matter how desperate she was, would consider. But the absolute worse choice my once-upon-a-time-best-friend-forever wanted me to consider was someone who she knew that I positively, absolutely, irreversibly despised while we were at school and now outright hated."

To be polite he had asked who did she hate that much? She replied with a question.

"I heard about your initial meeting with Crappel (NOTE: the doctor with the relative who had briefly dated the Hero Ron Weasley) and I have always wondered if, as he claims, you were so impressed that his cousin knew and had actually dated the Hero Ron Weasley, that you had asked to borrow the signed a copy of his book. Now I believe you have better taste and also one must take everything Crappel says, not with a grain but the entire shaker of salt, but he is still saying it and has insinuated that he will arrange an introduction for you the next time you are in Britain. It isn't true, is it?"

Roddy's eyes went wide and he had to control his emotions before he sputtered out "Your so-called friend wanted you to MARRY THAT PIECE OF…SHIT?"

"That is why she is my ex-friend. Supposedly, since I am over 30, I am running out of time and since he and the others are available…well I shouldn't be that picky. I told her I would rather run off with Voldie if he returned. She then accused me of turning dark and the only way to save myself was to marry a famous Light wizard, especially one who was a Pureblood AND had defeated Voldie. I was so shocked that I was speechless for once – big surprise isn't it?"

"However, when I regained my voice, I told her in no uncertain terms that she could go…well it isn't repeatable even in front of Death Eaters or the proverbial drunken sailors. After she sent me a letter, hinting that 'The Hero' himself might be willing to come for a visit, as long as I could properly entertain him – whatever that meant but I shudder to think – and interview me for the prestigious position of his wife. If I passed muster, then we could return to Britain and get married, with his mother handling all of the arrangements. But he'd only marry me if I could still collect my inheritance."

"Is she still bothering you about this?"

"Not since I moved, left no forwarding address and had my house heavily warded. Also, I've arranged for any mail sent to me from Britain to be magically directed to Gringotts Paris, who for a substantial fee, will check it for charms, hexes, etc. and discretely forward it to my Gringotts branch without revealing my whereabouts. I haven't heard from her since but the Ministry of Magic has been trying to contact me and convince me to return to do my duty and save my soul. I had the Goblins reseal it and send it back 'return to sender, address unknown' but every so often they try again, especially with the Deluge looming."

Roddy put away the food and drinks. He then tried to read a book but could not concentrate. He still had that bad feeling and since he had learned long ago to trust such feelings, he had to act – probably like the typical Gryffindor he had once been. So he left a note for the elves, disillusioned himself and apparated outside Susan's house.

The lights in the living room were on as well as all of the lights on the other story. He peaked through the living room window but the room was empty, so he made his way around the back and looked into the kitchen window. He was truly shaken at what he saw. There was a man sitting at the kitchen table, his back to the window, picking at a plate of food. He looked a bit shabby and his back was hunched. Roddy didn't know who it was only that it was definitely not Ron Weasley.

He should have left then and there but he had to learn more, such as who the man whose hand Susan was now patting.

They might hear him if he came in the back or front door even if he put on a silencing charm. He knew he was being paranoid and should go home and let Susan explain when she had a chance…but…he just couldn't.

He looked around and saw that one of the windows of a bedroom at the end of the house was opened a bit, so he magicked it open all the way and then levitated himself upward and through the window. He was still disillusioned and wore the silencing spell and as he made his way out of the bedroom he felt a spell hit him, which cancelled his two spells. He was now visible to the very angry house elf, who probably had cancelled the spells, but it wasn't until she spoke that he noticed the girl.

"Who are you and why are you breaking into our home?" the child asked.

She wore a frown on her face and had a wand in her hand which he noticed only secondary to her looks. There, before him was an ebony-haired girl with vivid green eyes, just like his eyes, minus the blue contact lenses.

He was at a loss for words, and to make matters worse he heard Susan running up the stairs yelling out "What's going on up here? Are you settling in Alice and Augusta or annoying them?"

Roddy was too frozen in shock to do the sensible thing and apparate away and before he knew it, Susan was entering the room.

He'd have a lot of explaining to do!