Call me 11
Disclaimer: Insert something original and funny about me not being JKR here. I'm all out.
11
They made steady progress down the A1 as they travelled Megan got increasingly grumpier. Simon had refused to allow her to smoke in the car and this had affected her mood.
After two hours Simon pulled into a service station. "Time to stretch your legs and nip to the toilet." While Harry and Lisa visited the toilets and grabbed some food, they watched Megan who was sat on a bench outside chain smoking one cigarette after another. After half an hour Simon gathered them all back together.
"Why the rush?" Megan complained. The gates don't open for hours."
"True, and if we have to hang around in the car waiting for them to open then I'll apologise but I doubt we'll make as such good time in this next stage."
Simon's prediction turned out to be true as they got closer to Knebworth their speed slowed until they were is a stationary queue of vehicles. By the time they got to the parking lot they were thankful his car had air con as other people getting out of their cars look hot bothered and sweaty. As they got out of the car and headed off Simon called them back.
"Lisa, can I have your ring? You're not used to wearing it and I think you'd be a little upset to lose it. "
She reluctantly removed it and handed it over. "Take care of it."
The three of the headed into the park. Harry looked around amazed, he had never seen so many people in one place. He thought there had been a lot of people at the world cup but this dwarfed them. Megan wanted to head straight for the main stage but Lisa and Harry wandered the edges of the crowd. They looked over the multitudes of food vans and the merchandise outlets. Harry wanted to buy a T-shirt but hesitated over the cost.
"I'll buy you one if you want?" Lisa offered. "When we get married do you want to keep separate bank accounts or join them together?"
"What?" He asked confused. "Harry we're engaged now. If I have cash on me, I'm as happy to spend it on me as you. One day we're going to running a house together, paying bills and mortgages. Do you think a t-shirt is going to matter in the grand scheme of things?"
He allowed Lisa to buy him the shirt after that but he was a little distant for a while. Lisa had changed a mental gear in their relationship. Being engaged really meant preparation for marriage to her. He had thought of it more as another stage of commitment. Saying I love you, to saying I never want to leave you. He shied away from thinking about the future. He was enjoying every second of this summer but his long term future seemed sealed by a prophecy he didn't believe in. It took him a monument to process what Lisa had just said.
"What?" he asked.
"I said do you want me to get my tits out here?"
"I was brooding again wasn't I?"
"Just a bit. It you're going to worry every time I mention the future it's going to get tedious." Lisa dragged Harry off to the fun fair as they didn't have much interest in the Bootleg Beatles. It was also hard to brood while being spun upside down as well. They drifted round the edges of the crowd until the Prodigy came on. Harry carefully cast a low level muggle repelling charm to get himself and Lisa closer to the main stage. Lisa hung on to Megan's arm and pulled her along behind them.
They danced and lost themselves in the music. Being one with the crowd. Eventually Oasis came on stage and they were carried forward on a surge of people. Afterwards Harry was never able to recall details. Just impressions of the event. At one stage he found himself with an arm round Lisa and another round a total stranger singing and crying in the emotion of the event. By the time he had screamed himself hoarse hoping for an encore he wasn't the only one in tears.
The three of them staggered out of the main field emotionally drunk. Weary and uncoordinated. Lisa blocked Megan's view as Harry used point me to find Simons car.
The lateness of the hour, the sound of the engine all combined to have Harry quickly asleep leaning against Lisa in the back.
He awoke in a stationary car. He glanced up slightly bewildered as Simon was missing but after a moment Harry saw him sitting on the front of the car drinking from a bottle. He slowly moved out from under Lisa whose head was now on his shoulder and got out to stretch his legs.
He nodded at Simon and leaned against the bonnet of his car mirroring his pose. It was a clear night and wherever they where there wasn't enough light pollution to prevent the stars from being seen. He found Orion's belt and followed it down. There it was the brightest star, Sirius.
Everyone one Harry cared for died and here he was getting engaged. Hadn't he learnt his lesson?
"You okay Harry?"
"Sorry I was worlds away."
Simon followed his gaze. "What ever happened to Sirius? That boy didn't have to go looking for trouble. It found him in Spades."
"He died. Just over two months ago. It was my fault." Harry answered shortly keeping a tight rein on his emotions.
"Really? You killed him?"
"No, I was tricked into thinking I was rescuing him. It was a trap he had to rescue me and was killed doing so." Harry looked down at his feet. This wasn't right. "Simon, I made a mistake. I shouldn't be here getting involved with you and Lisa. People die around me. I should just get my stuff and go when we get back to your house."
"I would ask what brought this on but I can guess. You were having fun but now you're engaged, you've had to look at the future and you can see the war. I was in school in the last war. The one that ended when your parents died. I ran from it. Ran from the war and that world. That's one of the ways people react. Now you're not a runner. You won't run from you-know-who and I doubt you will run from Lisa. So the people who face wars react in three different ways. They can put their lives on hold until it is finished. Some try to do everything as fast as they can because they could be dead any minute now.
In both of those, you give the other side a victory. You say, they are more important than your life is. The brave ones, they stay and fight if necessary but they live their lives how they want. Now you're with Lisa and Susan manipulated you a bit into getting engaged earlier than planned."
Harry went to protest buy Simon held up a hand.
"I know my wife. She wouldn't or couldn't have forced you against your will but you were on the edge and she nudged you. It didn't really matter because you had no intention of ever leaving Lisa. The whole engaged and married thing is just formalising something that is fact. I grew up in a church, I told you that before, well one thing I was taught but rejected at the time is about sex. It's not just a physical thing. The is a component to it that is mystical. The wedding service calls it becoming one flesh. You are joined to Lisa and she to you. Now my old youth leader used to say sex outside of marriage is impossible. There is what you have with your first partner then there is adultery. I'm not quite so black and white these days but there is something to it. I see it in you two. So, as I see it, getting married is just formalising the fact of the situation."
"You never said any of this last week."
"I didn't want to push you into something you went ready for." Simon shrugged. "Susan has different ideas. It's not a big deal, so you're engaged now, nothing has changed you've just formalised things. Harry, Lisa isn't stupid she knows the risks. I've also been getting information back from that world. Hufflepuff's will always do a favour for an old housemate. Yes there is risk but in a minute we're going to be driving at speed at night with a tired driver, everything is risk. But refusing to live the life you want, that way he's already won. Now get back in the car I'd like to see my wife at some point this weekend."
Harry slept after that. He was shaken awake back in York and staggered up to Lisa's bed like a drunk man. The two of them fell into it still fully clothed wrapped around each other.
They awoke late morning. They barely had time to shower, separately, as Lisa's parents were home, before they were called down for lunch.
"I just ordered a banquet meal." Susan explained. "Even your dad didn't fancy cooking today." On the dinner table where various sauces, meat dishes, poppadoms, naan bread and rice.
Harry looked round the table. Lisa was in a ratty and thread bare pair of leggings and a sloppy over sized t-shirt. He knew for a fact she hadn't bothered with a bra that morning her hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail. Simon hadn't even made that much effort he was still in his pyjamas with a robe over the top. Susan was the best dressed of them but her jeans had holes in the knees and her blouse was missing a button.
The Dursley's would have complained for weeks on end about such behaviour but he felt truly accepted here. Simon's talk last night had helped. Even the revelation that Susan pushed him into getting engaged made him feel more accepted and less like he was going to rejected.
"Boobs, Harry." Lisa whispered.
"I wasn't brooding." He protested. Lisa's eyebrow raised questioningly.
"I'm still half asleep. If I was brooding it wasn't moody it was because I'm happy." He leaned and whispered in Lisa's ear. "I love you Lisa."
Later that afternoon they lay on Lisa's bed together. Harry's hand casually sneaked inside her t-shirt as they talked. "I'm sorry, I have been broody this week and worrying, talking of the future I keep coming back to one thing and it's not the happy thoughts."
"I know."
"I'm sorry. The future can bring whatever it wants but I know about what the present has."
"And what's that?"
"Boobies." So saying he buried his face in her chest. Her giggles and laughter were slightly muffled as he blew raspberries into her chest.
Monday morning they headed out into York. They were just walking the city without any fixed destination. Harry still loved York and the medieval city still held surprises for him. Although one of the surprises it held for both of them was bumping into Zoe.
She immediately pulled Lisa a hug. "I'm glad to see you ok. I'm sorry about the party and what happened to you."
"It's ok, no permanent harm was done."
Harry scoffed at that. Lisa turned back to him." It's not like it was Zoe's fault. I'm not forgiving the idiot who put the pills in there."
Harry stepped up to Lisa and put his arm around her. "Yeah sorry, Lisa's right it wasn't your fault, all you did was open up your house."
"Thank you, both of you so what's new?"
"Not a lot." Lisa exaggeratedly waved her left hand around. Zoe grabbed her hand and looked at the ring in amazement, then at the two teens in front of her.
"Not a lot?" People turned to look in her direction her voice was so loud. "Not only are you engaged but look at that rock. You do know you're meant to spend a month's wages on a ring not something more than the G.D.P. of some countries."
Lisa smiled enigmatically and Harry just shrugged. "I never plan to buy another so why not make it a good one."
Zoe left them not long after that and Harry walked quietly next to Lisa until she nudged him.
"Don't tell me I was brooding again wasn't I?"
Lisa pulled him over to a bench. "You're a deep thinker so I think we need a new rule. How about you tell me what the problem is and we'll see if we can do something about it together. Left to your own you can turn good morning into a crisis but some of your worries are genuine. So what's the matter?"
"Nothing is really the mater. It's just I've seen how much fun you've had telling people about us, about us getting engaged. I'd love to tell Ron and Hermione, I was running through ways I could see them without bumping into the headmaster."
"So what have you come up with so far?"
"Nothing really, or nothing sensible. Putting on my cloak and flying up to Ron's bedroom is not my best idea."
"Is there something about Gryffindor nature that automatically goes for the most reckless idea?"
"Hey, I least I realised it was a bad idea."
"True we are making progress. How about something simple?" Lisa's suggestion was one he could agree with. "Do you want me there?"
"Of course. I want you everywhere."
"Pervert." She laughed as pretended to hit him.
"Not what I meant. No that ring says I want to marry you, I want you in my life. So yes I want you with me."
"The reason I ask is if it does go wrong, jumping on a broom with your cloak on is a last resort option. That would tricky with two of us. I'm not so good a flyer. If you're recognised and you get away then that's fine. If I'm seen then the headmaster will know where to find you."
Harry paused while trying to think of a solution. "I think we can get round that. It'll take time to set up. I think we'll send a note to the twins tonight. See how protective Molly is being."
With the outline of a plan in mind, Harry cheered up. He led the way know with Lisa holding his hand and following behind. He led her to the usual tattoo parlour.
"Hi, I'd like to book some more work. Do I need to prove my age again or is it still on record."
He left Lisa talking to the receptionist and went through to speak a different tattooist than previously.
Harry explained what he wanted. "Alright, I'm going to insist on the two week cool down period on the first, but as you've had work before I can do the ankh right now.
Lisa stepped through to watch as Harry had an Ankh tattooed onto his right hand. It was placed just below his thumb so that when he hand his hand sideways or when he held a wand it would be visible for all to see.
He smiled at Lisa. "New life, new birth, new beginnings."
"I was going to go for over my heart but I like that placement. Can I have a stag head, same size, and same place?"
It was only a matter of minutes for Lisa and Harry to swap places.
She fidgeted and squirmed as the needles buzzed.
"Doesn't this bother you?" She asked Harry. "How high is your pain threshold?"
Harry ran through various injuries in his head. Falling from his broom, having a bludger break his arm. Bitten by a basilisk. Skelgro and being put under the cruiatias by Voldemort. "Pretty high I guess."
"I've seen the scars so I guess so. "
They finished up and Harry booked another appointment for the twenty ninth after they returned from Spain.
"So what's the second appointment for, you getting Sirius done?"
Harry tried to be nonchalant but failed. "Um nothing much, a lower sleeve right arm."
Lisa stopped and looked him in the eye. "Considering how badly you are doing at trying to pass this off is making me suspicious. Talk."
"Um yeah, as I said lower sleeve, right arm. Gothic lettering."
"Go on."
"Yeah, your name."
Lisa paused while she considered that." I was going to comment on that being a big step but it's not in comparison with getting engaged. Can we go back and look at different fonts. I'm not keen on gothic font to be honest." She paused before pulling him into a searing kiss. "I love you Harry James Potter. Let's get this done quickly. My mum's on a late shift and I have the sudden urge to get naked. "
The next day Harry had a plan. He hoped Lisa would go along with it. He guessed she would. They sat eating breakfast still in their bedclothes.
"Can you do me a favour?" Harry asked.
"Let's see, let you live in my house, share my body with you, agree to marry you. I think I can probably mange something else, provided it's not too onerous."
A faint blush crept up Harry's cheeks. "Can you were the same clothes as when we went walking on my birthday."
"What's on your mind Harry?" He quietly told her his plan. "I'll go check my dress is clean. Get ready we are going out, soon."
The headed out into York. Lisa was excited but Harry was shaking slightly. This was his idea but. He wondered just how much he had changed to even suggest this. He had blushed the first time Lisa had wolf whistled at him.
They made their way to the minster park and headed for their usual tree. Harry cast a muggle repelling charm over the area and leaned back against the tree.
"Got the cloak?" Lisa asked excitedly.
He handed it to her, she put it on the enveloped them both in the cloak.
"Do you think anyone can see us?"
"Hopefully not." She answered as she reached under her dress and removed her underwear.
Afterwards they dropped the cloak and Harry held Lisa close. "This was one of my favourite places in the world before, now..." Harry's words trailed off as Lisa kissed.
"Don't talk just hold me."
When they returned to Lisa's house they found an owl waiting for them, it was the twins response, they felt the plan was achievable. Harry fed the owl and returned a note of thanks. He then called for Hedwig and penned another note to his next would be accomplice.
Late the afternoon they heard a knocking on the door. That was unusual in itself as most people used the doorbell. Harry reluctantly allowed Lisa up and she fastened buttons as she went to answer the door.
Much to Harry's surprise Lisa led Luna into the living room. Luna was in a light summer dress with a frayed edge. Hedwig balanced carefully on her shoulder.
"Hello Harry. I had a lot of questions about your plan so rather than wear out poor Hedwig I thought I'd bring her back and talk face to face."
Harry got up and gave Luna a hug to which she rather stiffly responded. "You never give hugs Harry. You have changed for the better I think."
"Luna last Saturday I danced and sang, arm in arm with total strangers. Why shouldn't I hug someone who has risked her life for me?"
"I never said you shouldn't only you never have. Do you need me to risk my life again Harry or is this plan simpler?"
"Hopefully simpler, I have some news."
Lisa nudged him.
"We have news." He corrected himself. "We're engaged."
Harry was slightly disappointed in Luna's reaction, her expression that was normally one of surprise looked quite accepting of that fact.
"I knew that was going to happen. At your birthday party you took a drink from Lisa without looking at her. A couple have to have a very high degree of intimacy to do something like that. So I knew it was only a matter of time. Your ring is very pretty Lisa. You will have to make sure that it isn't taken by nargles."
Lisa just shrugged her acceptance to that advice.
"I was trying to find a way to see Ron and Hermione. Most importantly I was trying to do it without anyone from the headmasters group finding out where I was." Harry then out lined the plan he and Lisa had come up with, and Luna's pivotal role in it.
Luna questioned them and added details that would be useful. She stayed talking with then late into the afternoon, Harry cooked tea for them.
"Beer or Cider Luna?" He asked helping himself to a bottle of Newcastle Brown and passing a bottle of Merrydown to Lisa.
"My daddy doesn't let me drink alcohol. So I don't know what I like."
Harry poured a small amount of his drink into a glass and Lisa copied his action. Luna pulled a face at the Newcastle Brown but was soon drinking her own glass of cider.
Later when they walked her to the end of the street to call the Knight Bus Harry couldn't help to laugh as Luna seemed unsteady on her feet.
"I'll get everything started tomorrow and if it all goes to plan I'll see you Friday." With that Luna stumbled her way onto the Knight bus.
"I think that second bottle may have been a mistake." Lisa commented as the bus disappeared with a bang and a clatter unheard by any but them.
Friday morning was grey and cloudy much as the previous day had been. Yesterday they had just spent the day in the house reading and relaxing. Today Harry had a purpose. He gathered all the supplies he needed. Lisa was dressed in his favourite flowery dress. Hopefully the things she needed had been dropped off by the twins at Luna's house.
Once he had everything packed and had double checked it he walked up and down checking his watch. Waiting until it was time to head out.
"Come on let's go." Lisa got to her feet. "Being there early won't kill you. Me having to wait with you like this might."
They headed out and called the Knight Bus.
"The Lovegood residence, The Rookery please." Lisa told Stan he always looked nervous now when he saw Lisa, probably something to do with her threatening him after he tried to stop her mum getting on board.
Harry and Lisa got off and headed up a hill towards a squat black tower Luna greeted them at the door her hair looking more unruly than usual.
"Hello Harry, hello Lisa. You're early. " Her words had no accusation to them and she hugged them both. "I had a most tremendous headache yesterday. I think alcohol may not agree with me."
"Hi Luna, we're early because Mr impatient was driving me crazy." Lisa gestured at Harry.
"I quite understand I'm looking forward to seeing Ron and Hermione too. Ronald tends to get quite loud when he has surprises. Do you think he will shout today?"
"I don't know how they will take the news." Harry answered shortly. He was worried about both his friends' reaction. Luna was quite right Ron could shout and speak without thinking. Hermione could be quite sharp too if someone had a different opinion to her. He had to convince them both that staying away from the headmaster was a good thing and then introduce Lisa as his fiancé.
Luna chatted pleasantly to them explaining about her and her fathers search for various cryptozoological l life forms.
"Do you mind if I take my potions Luna?"
"No Harry I'm quite interested in how you will look."
Harry got out his prepared potions. The first was a simple hair colour change. He drank that in one swift movement. It was long enough that he could see his hair was now blond. The next potion was an aging one. He had discussed with Lisa how old he should look. Although it wasn't a precise science he drank that potion and glanced over at a mirror before looking at the girls. His clothes were uncomfortable tight as he'd grown as he'd aged.
Luna stared at him for a long time before speaking. "I believe some of my father's robes would fit you. You have the Lovegood hair. Would you like to be my uncle for the day?"
"I think that might work." Harry agreed.
Luna was about to head out before Lisa stopped her. With a wince Luna pulled out a hair and whispered something to Lisa.
"I absolutely promise." Lisa said quickly in response. She added the hair to her potion and then drank it quickly.
"That is probably the best tasting potion I've ever had."
"You should of tried drinking Goyle, he tasted of bogies."
Lisa stood and her dress slipped to reveal more flesh than Harry was comfortable seeing. Although it was Lisa in front of him it was Luna's body, he clamped his eyes shut. "Maybe you could wear one of Luna's dresses." He suggested feeling his face heat up.
"Or you could use magic to slightly shrink my dress." Lisa countered.
Harry produced his wand and pointed it in Lisa's general direction. "Say when."
After a moment Lisa spoke."That'll do, we don't want to go indecent in the other way."
"Thank you Harry, that was very sweet, the way you refused to look at my body even when worn by another."
"What did she ask you?" Harry asked Lisa as Luna left them alone.
"She asked that I wouldn't go anything intimate with you while I was her. "
"Yeah I promise too. " He shuddered "I mean it's not that Luna's ugly but..." he trailed off.
"Harry your sweet but stop talking. You'll either insult me or Luna so stop."
Harry was saved by Luna entering the room carrying some of her father's robes. "You can be my uncle Anaximander or rather you can be the other Luna's uncle. I will be under your cloak."
The robes were garish and in eye watering colours. Harry quickly decided there was no point looking for a reserved one and instead picked the most shocking. It had bright almost luminous oranges and pinks. It seemed to have the ability to not just clash with itself but with everything.
So they sat together Luna partially under Harry's cloak, ready to disappear at a moment's notice. Lisa dressed in Harry's favourite dress which seemed to show far too much leg when she had Luna's body on. He glanced at himself in the mirror, long haired and blond. Glasses missing, scar covered and older. Wearing the most horrible robes possible. He wondered how long it would fool his two best friends.
At five to eleven the fire roared green and a voice and face he wasn't expecting appeared.
"Iz it safe for us to visit?"
Luna had disappeared at the first roar of the fire.
"I was expecting Ronald and Hermione. Who are you?" Lisa asked.
"Fleur Declour, Molly az asked moi to come through with them."
Harry rolled his eyes at Molly's over protectiveness. He was glad he hadn't been there this summer. The freedom he had experienced had changed his life.
Fleur came through the fireplace looking more perfect than any human could manage. Her wand focused on Harry. "oo is thiz?"
"Anaximander Lovegood. My uncle. You did not think a member of the ministry six would be left unguarded?"
Fleur just shrugged. She threw some powder back into the fire and put in her head.
As she withdrew the fire roared to life and first Ron and then Hermione came through.
Lisa got up to greet them "Ronald, Hermione. Would you like some tea? Daddy has been making some interesting blends."
Ron grimaced but Hermione spoke for them both. "No thank you Luna. Molly has seen us both well fed. We came because you said you knew something about Harry."
"I know lots of things about Harry." Lisa told them. Harry had to hide a smirk from where he sat across the room. He was amused by watching his normally straightforward girlfriend try to act dreamy.
"Do you know where he is?" Ron asked.
"Precisely." Lisa answered." But it's confidential." Lisa looked pointedly at Fleur.
"I shall, az they zay, take the air. Do not leave without me Molly, would have my guts for her stockings"
Ron looked confused while Hermione hid a laugh. "It's guts for garters Fleur."
Fleur shrugged as she headed out. Lisa gave Harry a pointed look and he took out his wand and cast silencing spells around the room.
"Where is Harry?" Ron asked.
"Hi guys had a good summer?" Harry couldn't contain his smile as Ron and Hermione turned to look his way and realisation dawned on them both.
A.N.
Not a great ending point but I wanted to stop before I got into major dialogue.
