Chapter Eleven Visitors From the US and the Halloween Party
Disclaimer: Any characters other than Athena and any situations related to the book or any other Harry Potter related items belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. I do not gain any money from this. I only write to relieve stress and to get the ideas out of my head.
A/N. Feel free to leave a review or comments on anything I messed up on or if you have a suggestion for the story. Don't feel obligated to give me a review though. I appreciate everyone who reads my stories. Reviews are bonuses in my eyes so like I said don't feel obligated to leave one. Thank you also to those who have added this story to favorites or following I appreciate it. ".."=talking '..'=thinking *..*=text message/notes
October 31, 2000
Athena awoke to the sound of her alarm going off. The previous week the ministry had decided to end the half-days on Friday noticing the productivity had gone down. She rubbed her eyes as she tried to make herself wake up before she went into her kitchen nearly jumping when she noticed her dad was sitting at the table "dad what are you doing here?"
Athena's dad looked at his daughter smiling acting like he was always there when she woke up "well sweetheart I've missed you. Your mother also wants to know when you will be coming home to Boston. I know in the last phone call we received from you we were told that this job at the ministry in London was a permanent one and that you were moving to London. That must be a joke since you never lived this far from us and you had a great job back in Boston."
Athena worked on making coffee as she tried to process what her father had just said. Once the pot was finished filling up she poured herself a cup before looking at her father "I have a great job here that pays decently and I'm part of a team. I may not be as high up in the department as I was in Boston but the work I do here matters. For crying out loud I helped track down and prosecute Death Eaters who had managed to avoid being captured at the end of the war. I have friends here and I don't plan on moving back to Boston. You and mom are just going to have to deal with visiting when you can and accepting that I'm here in London to stay until I have to leave."
Athena's dad stared at the table in front of him before looking at his daughter "you have friends in Boston, you have family in Boston, and you had a great job where you did amazing things in Boston. Why would you want to stay in London when you have all those things back home?"
Athena sipped on her coffee trying to ignore the throbbing in her head that was a result of arguing with her dad "I have a boyfriend here dad. I finally feel like I fit in for what I am capable of not who I am or who my parents and grandparents are. I feel like I belong here and it was always my dream to work in London and you know it. So when I finally get the chance to live out my dream I'm going to take it. This isn't some temporary thing dad I'm going to stay here. I'm not moving back home."
Athena's dad sighed softly "I had hoped that wasn't the case but you aren't my little girl anymore and I can't order you to come home. I guess I'll have to settle for the times we can visit each other but I'll miss my daughter."
Athena glanced at the time "well I need to go get ready Harry will probably be soon." She power walked into her room going about her routine before waiting in her living room 20 minutes later. She looked at her reflection in the mirror liking the braid she had managed to style her hair in before looking down at the black flowing skirt and the orange button up she was wearing under her robes smiling.
Athena's dad looked at his daughter "you seem to be missing shoes and a bag and if I know my daughter she never goes without shoes or her bag." He was going to wait until she left to head out wanting to make sure her escort came.
Athena blinked then scrambled into a pair of orange flats and grabbed her trusted black cross body bag before looking at her dad "thank you for reminding me." She looked up hearing the floo smiling as Harry walked out of the flames.
Harry looked at Athena "good morning you look gorgeous as always." He leaned down and gave her a kiss only to pull away when he heard someone clear their throat. He looked over at Athena's dad surprised to see him there "hello Mr. Blaze. I didn't expect you to be here this morning."
Athena glanced at her dad "well we are leaving now. You know my answer on our discussion." She walked over and gave her dad a hug and a kiss on the cheek before returning to Harry's side taking his arm before they apparated to an alley near the entrance to the ministry.
Athena's dad looked around his daughter's apartment one last time before appearing back in his home in Boston. He looked at his wife "she isn't planning on coming home dear. She's made new friends and has a new boyfriend and apparently this job in London is more important than her job in Boston."
Harry looked at Athena as they walked through the flames together "so do you want to come over early and help me set up for the party tonight?" he didn't ask about her dad not sure if she would want to talk about him being in her apartment this morning.
Athena played with the end of her braid thinking "sure give me more time to make sure my costume works out and that all the details are perfect. I'm sure Hermione and Ginny would like the details to be perfect for the first party outside of school that's been thrown for Halloween." Her thoughts kept drifting back to her dad feeling slightly guilty for just abandoning them to chase her dream job to London since she had never really been more than an hour worth of driving away from them.
Hermione walked over to the two she noticed the guilty look on Athena's face "what's with the guilty face? Did you do something illegal that I need to be aware of?" she looked at Harry after a moment "what time would you like Ron and I to come over to help get set up?"
Athena looked at Hermione "I haven't done anything illegal. My dad showed up this morning to ask me when I was moving back to Boston. We had somewhat of a discussion/ argument about me moving back that was finished when Harry arrived this morning. He just made me feel guilty for being far away from him when I had always been close by even when I went to school."
Harry put his arm around Athena's shoulders bringing her closer to him not wanting her to go back to the states. He looked at Hermione "well the party is supposed to start at 7 so if you want to come over at 6-6:30 that would be great."
Hermione nodded at Harry before looking at Athena "so your parents are used to having you close and haven't adjusted to the change. So because they don't necessarily want the change to happen they are making you feel guilty for chasing your dream and living here in London?"
Athena bit her lip nodding before heading off to the lifts noticing it was nearing the time they needed to be at their desks. Harry went after her followed by Ron and Hermione as they noticed the time as well. Ron had been quiet most of the morning tired from talking with George the night before trying to convince him to come to the party.
Hermione looked at Ron noticing the dark circles under his eyes "I'm guessing your talk with George didn't go as well as planned?"
Ron shook his head "no we talked for a long while but he isn't really sure that going to a party and not being able to pull pranks with Fred is what he wants to do. I did manage to convince him to put in an appearance at least and I'm hoping that maybe he will find a reason to stay."
Harry looked at Athena as they stood in the lifts "you aren't thinking about moving back to Boston are you?" he watched the number rise on the lift as he waited for an answer not sure what to think with her behavior since they had left her apartment.
Athena shook her head no "this is my dream job. I'm happy here in London with you, Hermione, and Ron. I just let my dad guilt trip me a little bit. I've came up with a list of reasons why I shouldn't leave and why it is good for me to stay and they far outweigh the list of reasons to move back home. My parents will just have to get used to me being here and be happy for me. Besides if they were in my shoes they would take the job and opportunities that come with it and want to be happy even if it meant they couldn't see me as much as they would like." She got out as the lift doors opened once again stopping at the front of the Auror department to admire the department that had brought her to London in the first place.
Harry stood by Athena's side looking at his department he glanced at her "reminiscing on what brought you to me?" He let out a silent sigh of relief now that he knew she was going to stay. He wasn't going to stop her from leaving if she really wanted to go not wanting to keep her from being happy and he had worked out a plan to make sure their relationship lasted as long as it was supposed to.
Athena looked up at him then nodded "it is sad that it was violence that had gotten out of control that brought me here but I don't regret coming here. I'm glad for the opportunities I've had even if part of it was saddening."
Hermione and Ron finally reached the two having taken a different lift so they could talk to each other alone. Hermione looked at Harry and Athena before escorting Ron to his desk trying to get him to cheer up. Ron sat at his desk glad the paperwork wasn't as bad as the previous weeks he smiled for his fiancé before giving her a kiss on the cheek and starting on his work.
Harry "well I guess we should get to work before the department heads come out and yell at us for not working." He walked over to his desk thinking about the events that had brought Athena into his life.
Athena followed after Hermione to her desk thinking about the party later hoping it would go off well knowing Hermione, Harry, and Ron hadn't celebrated Halloween since school. She sat down at her desk and began working on the research she had started the previous day.
Hermione looked up after a while from her research as people walked past her before looking at a clock noticing it was time for lunch. She stood up and gently tapped Athena on the shoulder "hey its lunch time and I'm sure the boys are waiting for us to appear so they don't have to drag us out of the office."
Athena closed her book hearing Hermione. She got up stretching her arms above her head as she rolled her head from side to side "let's go before they come to drag us out." She headed down the hall ready for lunch stopping in front of Harry's desk.
Harry looked up from the last piece of paperwork he was working on before lunch "is it lunch time already?" he asked teasingly surprised she had come out of her office right at lunch time.
Athena nodded smiling "yep Hermione and me figured that we would get up and follow the rest of the crowd leaving for lunch so you and Ron wouldn't have to come find us and pulls us away from our research."
Ron looked up as Hermione walked over to him "ready for lunch?" he asked starving as usual and ready to escape the office for a little while.
Hermione smiled "let's go get something to eat before you die of starvation." She waited for him to walk over to her before she took his hand heading for the lifts.
Athena looked at Harry once Hermione and Ron had gone past them to the lifts "are we eating with Ron and Hermione?" she watched the two go not sure if they were going to catch up to them or if they were letting Ron and Hermione have alone time.
Harry looked at her as he walked over to where she stood "we eat lunch with them most days so let them have their own private lunch for now. That way I know every last little detail concerning the party will not be discussed any more than it has been this past week. The party will go on just fine without you and Hermione needing to freak out. The only thing you need to worry about concerning the party is having a good time tonight. So where would you like to go eat besides McDonalds and the sub shop we normally go to?"
Athena tapped her chin as she thought about the food options available "hmm we could go to that diner we went to the day I was supposed to leave London? As for the party Hermione and I are somewhat perfectionists so we just want every detail to be perfect and for the party to have no problems so we go over every little detail." She walked towards the lift wanting to get out of the office even if they were still deciding on where to eat.
Harry walked with her towards the lift "that sounds good to me." he waited with her inside the lift leaning his head back against the wall before glancing at Athena "you know we've been together for a little over a month."
Athena blinked surprised before nodding "yep we have been together for a little over a month. It's been a wonderful month." She looked up at him letting a soft smile grace her face before she got out of the lift quickly transfiguring her robes into muggle clothes before walking out into the rain.
Harry blinked at the rain before offering Athena a hand "have you ever danced in the rain?" he asked wanting to let loose and enjoy the moment with her before they got lunch.
Athena took his hand twirling around in the rain giggling as people stared at them "I haven't before now but I understand why they do this in the movies."
Harry watched her smiling as his hair clung to his face and his glasses blurred up from the rain drops. He caught her as she twirled into him before brushing a lock of hair away from her face taking the moment to look at her and ignore the people around him yelling at them for being in the way. "You look so beautiful right now."
Athena looked at him blushing as the rain continued to fall around them "we should probably go eat now before we get colder from this rain and so we get out of peoples way."
At the sandwich shop Hermione ate her normal turkey on rye sandwich "do you think the party will be ok? I mean Athena and I have gone over every detail and made sure everything had been bought and the invitations had been sent but I still feel like something is going to go wrong."
Ron placed his hand on top of hers "everything will be fine Hermione. You worry too much I'm sure you and Athena have done everything possible to make sure this party is a success. Just relax and get through the work day and then it will be time to have fun."
Harry and Athena ran into the diner soaked to the bone from standing in the rain as long as they did. Harry quickly headed over to the booth he usually sat in when he came trying to clear off his glasses without using any magic. Athena sat down across from him glancing out the window at the grey skies and constant downpour smiling to herself. Harry looked up as the waitress walked over before ordering for the two of them having gotten used to what Athena liked and didn't like well enough to be able to order for her. Athena blinked then nodded at Harry's choices approving of what he had ordered for her while she had been focused on the outdoors.
Harry looked at Athena "enjoy watching the rain?" he had noticed she seemed focused on the rain while he had been ordering for them.
Athena blinked then nodded "it seems to be a calming or soothing presence when it isn't thundering as well." She looked up when the waitress returned with their food eyeing the delicious looking meal that was set in front of her. She ate her fish and chips meal savoring each bite as if it was her last meal.
Harry ate his meal trying not to chuckle as he watched his girlfriend eat surprised every day that she wasn't like the other girls who would pick at their food and not want to eat anything more than a salad. 'not that there is anything wrong with eating like that I just enjoy seeing a girl have an appetite and not be afraid to eat a huge meal in front of me.'
Eventually lunch had ended and the four were back at the ministry heading back to their offices each one having to perform a hot air charm on their clothes to dry off. Hermione and Athena transfigured their clothes back glad to see there were no wrinkles or damages from the change before they headed off to their desks wanting to get finished with their research. Harry and Ron transfigured their clothes back to robes before sitting at their desks ready for it to be time to party.
Hermione looked up a few hours later as the clock stuck five and it was time to leave for the day. She worked on packing up her bag having finished and turned in her research for the day a few minutes earlier before she turned to Athena "so am I going home with you to get ready for the costume party or are we meeting at Harry's?"
Athena was packing up her bag "you can just come back to my place since your costume is there anyways. We don't have to be at Harry's until 6 so that gives us time to make any last minute alterations to our costumes and make sure we look perfect before we head over. I'm sure Ron is going to be surprised that you decided to be something other than a librarian." She headed for the lifts after sending Harry a note.
Harry blinked when a purple paper airplane landed on his desk in front of him. He opened the note glancing at Ron before getting up "Hermione is going over to Athena's to get ready for the party tonight so they don't want us to wait for them. We will see them in an hour so if you want to just come back to my place and hang while we wait for them you are more than welcome to."
Ron "well I've got to get my costume and George but I'll be over to hang out after that." He got up and walked to the lifts with Harry before apparating home when he was able to.
Harry went to his house he went up to his room to check over the costume Kreacher had gotten for him earlier in the week. He was wondering what it could possibly be since the house elf wouldn't really tell him much about the costume other than that he would like it and it was a popular costume.
A half an hour later Athena pulled on her gown letting the silky material flow down her body twirling slightly noticing the thigh-high slit in the costume before turning to Hermione "what do you think?"
Hermione looked at her wearing a more modest Grecian gown "you look beautiful. Harry won't be able to take his eyes of you. What do you think of mine?"
Athena smiled as she moved the gold bracelets up her arm "you look like a sexy goddess who isn't going to show a lot of skin but is still beautiful and sexy in her own way. We just need to do your hair and makeup and the transformation will be complete."
Hermione sat down on the seat in front of Athena's vanity mirror she looked at the different makeup and hair products before looking at the girl through the mirror "please don't do too much makeup."
Athena smiled "I usually do the least amount I can get away with since I'm not big on using a lot of makeup." She turned the seat around so Hermione was facing her before she applied little amounts of makeup.
Back at Grimauld Place Harry had changed into his vampire hunter costume. He looked at the plastic crossbow and bottles of water labeled *holy water* attached to the belt around his waist that had come with the costume. He looked up hearing the floo light up smiling when he saw George and Ron step through "hey guys ready for a party?"
Ron looked at Harry "a vampire hunter? I would have thought you would be dressed up as a police officer or something similar." He was dressed as a police officer while George was dressed as a muggle magician.
Harry shrugged "I thought about it but I had asked Kreacher to go pick me out a costume since I had been busy this past week dealing with Gringotts. He found a popular costume and thought I would like it. I like your costume though Ron and George that is a perfect costume for you."
At exactly 6 o clock Hermione and Athena walked through the floo both looking like the goddesses they were supposed to be. Athena had light gold eye shadow and gold sandals on her feet leaving her hair down. Hermione had bronze eye shadow and bronze sandal on her feet with her hair pulled up with little tendrils framing her face. Her hair had been tamed into looser curls giving her more of a goddess look.
Ron looked at his fiancé letting his jaw drop at how beautiful she looked "wow Mione you look absolutely stunning. Not that you aren't normally beautiful but tonight just wow."
Harry looked at Athena before walking over to her "I'll have to keep you by my side the entire night so no one tries to steal you away from me. You look beautiful." He whispered softly into her ear.
Athena looked at him blushing faintly though it could barely be seen with the bits of makeup she wore "thank you. I like your vampire hunter costume." She went to start setting up to hide her embarrassment still not used to being complimented by Harry. She looked around the room waving her wand turning the dark and unfriendly room into a room suitable for a party before helping Hermione decorate the room making it look similar to a professional party planner's work.
Ginny walked through the flames with Neville at 7. She was dressed as a vampire queen in a full length ball gown with college. She had made her skin pale with white costume makeup making sure to leave a line of fake blood dripping from the corner of her ruby red lips. Her hair was temporarily dyed a few shades darker. Neville appeared to be a vampire butler dressed mainly in black with a white shirt and a black cape. His skin was paler than normal and his hair was slicked back completing the look. Once Ginny had enough time to look at all the decorations she walked over to Athena and Hermione "hey Hermione and Athena. You guys did an amazing job decorating this place. It barely looks like its former self. Wow I am super impressed."
Hermione nudged Athena "Athena is the one who did all the charms. I just told her where the decorations should go and the colors we wanted. She's really good at decorating charms it would appear from the transformation of this room. I love your costume though you may want to avoid Harry. He's a vampire hunter." She said giggling at the opposite sides Harry and Ginny appeared to be on costume wise.
Athena looked around "it really isn't that hard. I just got tired of having decorators screw up my room at home when I wanted to change so I just researched decorating charms and practiced until I could do it the first time and get what I wanted. I do like your costume a lot though Ginny. You look absolutely stunning."
Ginny looked at the two noticing the costumes "you two look stunning as well. I'm surprised Hermione that you decided to go for something different then a witch or a librarian. Not that there is anything wrong but I love the costume you have on. You both look like Grecian royalty."
Hermione "I'm supposed to be a Grecian goddess while Athena is dressed as the Greek goddess Athena who she is named after. I was hesitant to go for something like this but Athena convinced me it would look good and I have to agree with her judgment."
Harry was chatting with Neville "vampire king? I noticed Ginny was a vampire queen. How have you been Neville?"
Neville looked at his costume "I'm either a vampire king or a vampire butler. I'm not really sure since most of their costumes are the same. I've been good teaching as usual. The students seem to really enjoy my lessons and I have the weekends to spend with Ginny when she isn't on the road so I've been good. How have you been? Oh and nice vampire hunter costume. I'm a little surprised you aren't dressed up as a police officer like Ron but I like your costume."
Harry "I've been good. I go to work every day and it has been a lot better since Ron and I get to go out on the field more often. It is usually short day assignments but I don't mind if it means I get to leave my desk for a bit. Other than that I'm usually with Athena hanging out or at the Weasleys with Hermione and Ron. Well that is when Hermione hasn't stolen away Athena for wedding planning. They only have a little over a month before the wedding so maybe the chaos will calm down the closer we get. I asked Kreacher to get me a costume since I had a list from Hermione, Athena, and Ginny to get for the party and this is what he brought back."
Soon enough the floo was lighting up as various school friends, coworkers, and other invited guests arrived. Music played in the background as people caught up with those they hadn't seen in a while. Harry and Athena danced with Ron and Hermione to the music having fun for once after a long work week. George was talking to Angelina Johnson off to the side trying to ignore the thoughts of Fred creeping into his brain.
Harry looked at all the decorations before returning his gaze to Athena as they danced "thank you again for making this place look amazing. I would probably have never been able to make it look this good."
Athena looked up at him "like I told Ginny it was a few simple decoration charms. I'm just glad it turned out as well as it did and that you let us use your place for the party."
Ron looked at Hermione as he did his best to dance with her "I'm the luckiest guy alive. I have the smartest most beautiful woman at my side and she loves me like I love her. What more could a guy ask for?" he kissed her nose smiling.
Hermione blushed surprised she looked at Ron as they swayed "I'm just as lucky to have you and I can't imagine my life without you Ron."
The music ended leaving the two couples to mingle while Kreacher worked on playing more Halloween type music. Athena followed Harry as he went over to talk to Seamus and Dean. Ginny and Neville had gotten some punch before taking a seat on a chair transfigured to look like a tombstone. Hermione and Ron talked to some of their work colleagues. George had begun to flirt with Angelina after pushing the sad thoughts out of his head. Bowls full of candy and treats in the shapes of ghouls and pumpkins lined the tables along with fruit bunch with eyeball shaped truffles. Butterbeer and firewhiskey were set up on a smaller table to discourage people from drinking too much. String spider webs and sheets made into ghosts hung from the ceilings while skeletons and tombstones covered the walls making the room look festive.
Seamus and Dean talked to Harry doing a once over on Athena before backing off as Harry made it clear she was taken. Athena kept an eye on the other guests glad to see most smiling and laughing while others had started dancing to the Halloween music in the background. Ron had come to join Harry allowing Athena to slip away to Hermione's side.
Hermione looked at her "I would say this party is a success by most standards. We have food, drinks, guests, and lots of happy people having fun after a long work week."
Athena nodded in agreement "it has gone well. Harry and Ron get to see old classmates and work colleagues outside of work and just get to have fun. Ginny gets to be at a party and even Neville seems to be coming out of his shell to have fun with Ginny."
Eventually the party died down leaving Athena and Harry to clean up. Ron and Hermione had left moments before to make sure Hermione got home safely and that George made it back to the Burrow having consumed a few firewhiskeys with Angelina. Athena undid the decorating charms watching the room turn back to its normal dark self sighing internally at the décor of the house.
Harry cleaned up the cups and other materials before looking at Athena "once it hits midnight in 5 minutes are you going to turn into a pumpkin? Or were you the fairy godmother for the party tonight?"
Athena looked over her shoulder at him "I would say I was the fairy godmother tonight. It was nice to meet some of your school mates and see you interact with them. It was a nice party and a nice night and I had a lot of fun."
Harry made the bag of trash fly into the kitchen to the trash disposal before walking over to Athena he set his forehead against hers before giving her a kiss "there are days I don't know what I'd do without you or Hermione."
Athena looked up as the clock struck midnight "I'm not quite sure either Mr. Potter. I should probably go it is midnight now." A yawn escaped her lips as the day's events caught up with her. She glanced at the floo before looking back at Harry "good night Harry." She reached up to give him a quick peck before walking over to the floo and disappearing through the flames.
Harry watched her disappear before sitting down in a chair thinking about the night's events and how much fun he had during the party. He had been glad to see George in a good mood even if part of it was due to the influence of firewhiskey. He finished the clean up before heading up to his room and falling asleep for the night telling himself to make plans with Athena the next day to celebrate their one month anniversary knowing it was a happy occasion that their relationship had lasted that long.
Song Choice: Shatter Me- Lindsey Stirling featuring Lzzy Hale
A/N 2. The links to the costumes can be found on my profile.
