A Whole Load of Trash

Ch9. Simmer Part One

Gwenda's Gems was a very glittery, very purple stoned, very well sought after beauty shop for young witches. Would normally not be Harri's or Georges place to go, however, if you knew what to ask, or if you were Harley Potter, then you would know that they also have very good products made from mer-people seaweed, which there is a proper name for, but Gwenda can not pronounce or spell, but thinks starts with a 'J'. Now these seaweed products, shampoo and soap etc, are very good at getting out difficult stains, including wine. So that night, they had popped over, and ordered a whole load for the group, asking for it to be sent over by car and in boxes.

The next morning, George and Harri bounded down to the lobby to collect their package, making sure that staff was there to bear eye witness of them collecting it, and promptly gave it out to the group, who mostly were grateful. Kristy had accused them of mocking her and that it was very rude and 'un-classy' to do so and Dudley had threatened them with a pounding if they woke him up again. So they had left several spares with Rick and Jasper, as they did not wan the staff to get involved.

Once everyone was cleaned, they were having a late breakfast- well for Harri and George. It was relaxing, peaceful and they were just genuinely happy that they were not purple any more. The wine was rather irritating.

There was a nice peaceful air about as they talked about yesterday, or speculated about what was in store for them today.

Harri was in conversation with Cherub; well Cherub was explaining to Harri about the marvellous way the grape mush and wine scattered about and how wonderful it sprayed about in some sort of dance.

When suddenly a loud screeching sound echoed around the breakfast room and a raven came swooping through the wide open windows and paused long enough to drop a letter in-front of Harri and then continued to fly out the opposite end.

The letter had no seal, it just simply had her name Harley James Potter in full and that was it. Harri, felt a sense of foreboding when she reached to grab the letter. Still holding the letter she looked over at George, who simply shrugged as if to say 'it's up to you'.

Getting up, the two walked to an empty corner of the room. Sitting down, hands shaking, breathing hard, with encouragement from George, Harri opened the letter.

There was only one word.

Haloween

That's it? Only one word. What could it mean? That one word so simple, yet it meant so much for her. And who sent it? She was quite positive everything was over? It was so random; it just didn't make any sense.

She looked up at George, who for once was looking very sombre, instead of his cheerful self. It really was quite depressing.

She surveyed the room of all her ex-classmates and their friends. Looking at them, they seemed so light and free.

Looking at them she felt old.

Growing up she learnt when she could speak, when she was needed, when she needed to be hidden, when she could look after herself. She had to look after herself growing up.

Constantly with her classmates at Hogwarts, she felt old. She'd see them very dependant on their parents, brothers and sisters, readily accepting help from others, young and alive. It was a hard concept for her to grasp, to be able to loose control and be free. She couldn't be free; she couldn't afford to be loose. The high expectations and the mounted pressure of being the girl-who-lived, always the need for her to be more than just the girl she was.

This was why she loved flying. The breeze flying through her hair, the wildness and recklessness of it, she felt free. It was utter and total bliss.

This simple note once again reminded her that she had more responsibility, her actions and words spoken mattered more than most people. It also reminded her, the people she had of recently being getting to know, most probably are very much sheltered and the business world and politics don't directly affect them, they may take interest in what is happening, but in the end it's all stuff that's continuously changing, while she on the other hand is in the thick of it and her actions are crucial.

She bit her lip and sighed heavily, her head pounding she swallowed thickly.

She really couldn't live with this now, or ever, why did her past keep throttling and hitting her face forward; for once couldn't she catch a break?

She looked up at George and gave him a weak smile. He gently squeezed her shoulder and gave her a comforting smile.

She sighed deeply again.

Last night, after the excitement had died down yesterday, she and George had discussed the revenge and the poster she saw, about her feeling vulnerable and useless, how she hated it, bringing back her bad memories of the past.

And now this.

"Ok everyone' Kristy's shrill voice echoed around the room

Harri shook her head to clear her mind from the negative thoughts and straightened up to listen to Kristy.

"Ok, people, today's outing was cancelled, however we managed to re-book tonight's outing, so we have the day of, but tonight you shall be dining somewhere special"

Harri smiled, that must mean Jasper had managed to reschedule tonight's event.

Jasper indeed had rescheduled for tonight. On Kristy's order he had cancelled the other night and then this morning he had to call back saying that they still would like to be going. He shook his head it had been an interesting conversation.

He had to explain that yesterday was a miscommunication, and yes, he knows that he had greatly inconvenienced the working staff, that he was not going to cancel again, and that he shall provide help when required, and yes he knows they are busy people, and yes it almost went to someone else….etc.

For the short of it Kristy now has two sets of staff running around for her.

Jasper hoped to never make that type of phone call again.

Hoisting herself onto George's back she allowed herself to be carried out of the breakfast room, ignoring the snide comments of 'how childish', and towards the room they shared, so they could unwind without the stares.

She flopped down onto the bed, they had pushed the beds together after the first night, and she stared up at the ceiling, which swirled in gold and red paisley patterns all over it. She felt the left side of the bed as George joined her, she moved to the right to give him some space and the two just lay there in silence staring up at the swirling ceiling.

George waited silently next to her, giving her some time.

"I wonder what Kristy has in store for us tonight" her voice was toneless, but at-least she was talking. He smiled.

"I think the better question would be what pink ensemble she shall be wearing next" he replied easily.

She snorted "You don't think a pink version of one of Neville's gardens was enough?" Harri wasn't mocking Neville, it just was that sometimes he-well lets just say he was a little too passionate.

George laughed "No, perhaps along the lines of a Luna inspired outfit, they do look smashing don't they?"

She laughed out loud "Yes they do, absolutely spiffing; I think Kristy would look great in one"

"Delightful" George agreed.

Then there was more silence; almost peaceful, the two lying side by side.

Harri smiled softly and turned her head sideways to face George

"George"

"Hmmm"

"George"

"Yeah" he turned his head to face her.

'Thankyou"

'No-worries" they both grinned.

Tumbling of the bed they both hugged. "So", Harri said after squeezing him "How do feel about pie?" He grinned down at her "Do you even have to ask?"

She laughed and hopped onto his back, and then the two made their way down to the kitchens.

They both knew that they eventually have to talk about the letter, first in private then to Ron and Hermione and eventually to everyone else, but now was not the time or place. No now, was not the right time.

Now they were walking through the staff corridors, it may only be a hotel, but it has a title of a castle and in all cases castles have secret passageways, or in this case staff corridors and George and Harri had found all of the hidden corridors the first morning, it was how they had picked their way to the breakfast room.

They were using the corridors, because they both couldn't deal with the stares and curious faces. Plus, the sure-fire way to get Harri to relax was to have her cook and George wasn't going to stop her if it meant pie.

Whilst Harri, baked her pie, whilst George supervised, the rest of the group were enjoying their time of.

Zane and Daphne had dragged Steven and Natalie to the mall. Zane was complementing Daphne on the different shoes she was trying on, Steven commented that she already had enough shoes; Daphne just rolled her eyes and stated that if she had too many shoes then he definitely had too many superman comic books. Natalie just rolled her eyes, but her smile gave her away, but she lifted her novel to cover her face and turned the page. They had bumped into Aiden and Sandy at the comic book store, when Steven had dragged them there first so he could buy a collection item of Superman, he had recently discovered.

Piper was out by the pool sunbaking, gaining some attention. Her friend David was doing some laps and every now and then stopping to make sure she was ok.

Ryan had gotten permission from Harri to have a look at her car and Cherub sat in the garden with Amy and Cecil, her sketch book under her arm.

Peter was nearby his nose buried in a novel, whilst Tamzin, Tanya and Samuel were out looking at the local animal shelter that Tanya had spied during their 'detour' from the other day. Then Tamzin though it would be a brilliant idea if they signed up as a group of three for a paint ball skirmish. Tanya and Samuel were a bit unsure, but Tamzin had assured them that it would be loads of fun, so slightly cautious they agreed.

Loraine, Sabrina, Macey, Chasety and Loraine's beau Guy were shopping at the mall. Well the three girls were doing some much needed 'retail therapy' and Guy was there to 'look after' the ladies. Sabrina's partner, Daniel was with Tyson and Caleb working out at the gym. They had left Macey's partner Sackson at the music store, where they would pick him up when they were finished.

Tamara was avidly cleaning her suite and doing the washing, she never trusted anyone else with her clothes and she always liked to clean the bed sheets and bathroom herself, hotel staffs never do it the proper way. Whilst Jared sat in the room avidly watching the politics channel.

Petal, like Tamara was cleaning a suite, but not hers, no, she was cleaning Dudley's. The poor boy couldn't look after him-self properly, which was why she was there and not the little tart. Desmond was god knows where and it really didn't matter.

Dudley, Pierce, Gordon, and Mason had decided to hit the streets, their girls proudly hanging of their arms, well except for Gordon's girl Missy, who had decided to take some time out and think things through at a nearby café.

Madison had joined Joseph in some fitness training. Near by Samantha and Sherry were playing around with a foot ball (soccer ball), whilst Darcy was writing some poetry and was talking with Lisa, who had gone of to buy some tea at the café across the road.

Dante, David, Natalie, Byron and Cathy, were by coincidence having coffee in the same café as Missy, discussing the politics of high society. Whilst Natalie's friend Byron was looking up possible auditions he could do once the week was over.

Kristy, Cassey, Trent and Gordon, were up in Kristy's suite going over what they had planned for the next few days

Harri was currently putting the finishing touches to her apple and cinnamon pie and to her wild berry cheese cake. Done she gave the cake to George, after threatening bodily harm if he ate it all, before they could offer it to anyone.

Rounding the corner, ending up just outside the buffet room she spotted Triton, who was standing by himself leaning against a wall observing the people walk by him. She walked up to him and offered him a piece of her pie; he just raised an eyebrow at her and abruptly turned away from her and walked of.

Unsettled Harley watched puzzled as he walked away from her. What was that about? She wondered.

"Harri, you ok" George called out from behind her. She shook her head "Yeah I'm fine" she replied.

"Well then M'lady shall we continue" he then offered her his arm and they pranced of in the direction of the garden of the hotel.

I hope you enjoyed.

Please Review.

GwendolynD