Chapter 10

AN: So thanks to everyone that took the poll, or messaged me about my dilemma, I really appreciate it!

Kids, Ron and Neville were right. Like most things, you find love when you aren't looking for it.

And that's exactly what happened to me February seventeenth, the year two-thousand. I was most definitely not looking to fall in love. It had been over three months, but I was still bitter and upset. I'd renounced love, and thrown myself into solely working.

Your mother, mean while, had started her Qudditch career in Ireland, and I didn't even see her at Christmas.

It was a miserable time.

Back then it was still difficult to be in a magical public place without being surrounded. Everyone recognized me, and everyone wanted to speak to me. It was very tiring.

So I began sticking to muggle places more and more. There, I could have a drink without being bothered. I could sit down to a meal without interruption. It was a much needed relaxation.

On that particular day I went into a small cafe, not knowing how fateful that decision was.

It was a small, brightly lit place that smelled exquisite, and always had customers, but was never crowded.

I took one of the small back tables and engrossed myself in a book. I must've sat there for twenty minutes before she came up.

"Excuse me, sir." I heard her sweet soprano voice.

I looked up and saw a short women looking at me with big baby blue eyes.

"Uh, yes?"

"When you came to this table, was there a mobile phone?" She asked. I now noticed that she looked rather urgent and upset. "I left mine here."

"Oh." I looked around trying to remember. "Sorry, I don't think so."

She swore under her breath, and looked like she wanted to kick something. "Sorry to bother you."

By then I'd taken a good look at her, and saw how simply beautiful she was. Not the stand out type, but still beautiful.

"I'm sorry. Perhaps you should try asking the management here." I suggested as she turned to leave.

"Oh, good idea. Thank you!" She hurried up to the shop's counter. I watched her go up and ask one of the staff, and they gave her the missing phone. She happily took it.

I got up from my seat, to go speak to her. I really didn't just talk to random girls like that, especially then when I was in my anti-love phase. But she was very pretty.

"Found it?" I asked.

"Yes." She replied gleefully. "Thank you!"

"I'm Harry. Harry Potter." I extended a hand. She looked at it and smiled. It was wonderful that she didn't instantly know everything about me.

"I'm Vivian." We shook. "Vivian Alden."

"Would you care to join me?" I daringly asked. "Even though you've already been here." I remembered.

She smiled. "Yeah, it'll be nice to sit down after my crazy day." We went back to my table and sat.

"I love this table." She said, gazing out the window. "It's so peaceful here."

"It's my favorite too." I agreed. "No one bothers me."

"Yes. Except, I guess I did."

I grinned. "That I didn't mind so much."

"Good, I hate to interrupt people. I really do."

"I'm happy to meet someone that actually cares." I smiled at her. She looked away smiling shyly. "So what do you do?"

"Oh, I'm in college." She answered. "I'm only nineteen, you?"

"I'm nineteen too."

"Oh! Are you a student here in london too?" She asked.

"Uh..." I hadn't thought of this question arising. "No, I already work as a... investigator actually."

Her eyes went wide. "Really? Did you graduate early or something?"

"I just did enough in school to qualify." I was making things up.

"Wow, that's amazing. What sort of cases do you work on?"

"They're confidential." That at least was true. She looked even more impressed. "What are you studying?" I didn't want to talk about myself any more.

"Marketing." She answered. She began to tell me all about it, but I honestly don't remember much of what she said. We were there for a long time, until her phone buzzed.

"Oh, sorry!" She exclaimed picking it up. "I have to take this!" She came back from the call looking harassed. "Sorry, but I have to go."

"That's too bad." I jumped up, wishing she could stay longer "Could I have your number before you go?"

She paused, thinking it over. "Harry, you seem really nice."

Those simple words made me feel happier than I had in a very long while.

"But honestly, I just got out of a pretty intense relationship."

"Me too." I admitted.

"I'm not sure I'm ready again."

"I understand." And despite my disappointment, I truly did. "But, what if I give you my number, and you call when you want to talk." My flat had come with a line I'd never used, but thankfully I'd bothered to memorize the number any ways.

Vivian smiled. "Alright." She took my number down, and left me standing there completely amazed.

I was actually feeling something again, something that had been buried deep deep down. Excitement, happiness, eagerness. I was now overwhelmed with the fantastic feelings. I got the urge to jump in the air in exclamation. I rushed over to one of the employees I saw working there almost every time I came in.

"Hi, did you see that girl I was sitting with?" I asked her.

"Yes." She answered in surprise.

"Does she come here often?"

"Pretty often." She answered.

I went to the manager and found out that Vivian came in every Tuesday and Saturday morning. I wouldn't leave seeing her again to fate.

That's another important thing about finding love, you have to act.

I did see Vivian again, the following Saturday. We sat together again, and talked the whole time. The next day she called me.

I walked into the warm pub. I found Ron and Hermione in the back laughing and holding hands.

"Hey guys." I greeted sitting down, and picking up a menu. "I'm feeling like stew."

We'd started a tradition the summer before to meet at this muggle restaurant every Thursday for lunch. A muggle place so we'd be left alone, and we did it to make sure we would still see each other.

"Whoa, Harry." Hermione spoke up. I put down my menu to see them both looking at me oddly. "You're smiling!"

"Hmm," I shrugged. "Guess I am." I went back to the menu.

"Alright." Ron said. "Who's the girl?"

"Guilty." I grinned setting aside the menu.

"Really?" Hermione was over-joyed. "Who is she?"

"Her name is Vivian Alden." I told them. "She's a student at a university, and a muggle."

"A muggle?" Ron was shocked. "Why'd you want to date one of them?" Hermione and I both gave him withering looks, but otherwise ignored his comment.

I told them everything about how we met and such.

"I thought you were 'done with dating'." Ron smirked.

I didn't know what to tell him.

"Just try not to get obsessed with this new girl." Hermione advised. "You got seriously messed up last time."

"I know, I know. I'll try."

But I felt that going crazy for Vivian would be all too easy.

AN: So don't hate me for introducing a new love interest, there is a method to my madness! She'll help to make Harry not so depressed and stuff. Jeez this story has kinda been a downer, I don't know how you all have stuck with it!
But now I'll try to have more happiness! Happy happy stuff!
Anyways, you guys are the best! And please leave me a review!
My reviews aren't even half the amount of followers I have, and a lot of them are the same people reviewing more than once. Come on guys! Am I really asking too much?
Maybe that sounds kinda demanding or bratty... whatever. Please review!
Love you guys!