Chapter 21

A new intern, Paul, walked out and introduced the woman of the hour. Making sure to outline what was about to happen. After the reading, JK Rowling would answer approximately 20 questions or as many as they could get into one half hour, whichever came first.

At the beginning of the tour, the interns had banded together and drew straws to see who would be doing the introductions when. Harry had intervened, making sure each would get a turn and that everything was fair. Even though each got to introduce the woman twice, Paul was still ridiculously excited about the prospect. As he exited the stage, Harry patted him on the shoulder and was given a beaming smile in return. Were they to be attacked by Dementors right then, Harry's Patronus would dim in the light of Paul's.

Joanne walked out into their little makeshift stage, taking a seat in the single chair out there. Harry was standing in the wings, close enough to hop out if the woman needed help, but not so close as to be awkwardly just standing there. He was clutching a clipboard with an itinerary, that Hermione had created, and about a billion other 'important' papers. There was an earpiece in his ear, conveniently magiced to not only streamline what Joanne was saying, but the questions coming her way.

Since the unintentional revelation in New York, Harry had been picking the questions that would be taken after the reading. If Joanne had a problem with a question, she'd give him a sign and he'd quietly feed her the answer or let her know it was alright to divulge the actual details.

He hated doing this, Joanne was a very sincere and interesting speaker. No, after the backlash of everything in New York, she had insisted. Said she didn't want to cause such a public scandal unless Harry himself wanted it. Which he didn't, so he reluctantly agreed.

Joanne picked the chapter or two that she'd read, so Harry was always pleasantly surprised by the story he'd get to listen to. Her voice was perfect for telling stories and Harry always closed his eyes for a bit and imagined it was his mother reading him a story before tucking him into bed for the night. He tried not to dwell on it too much, but that small indulgence was just necessary sometimes.

His eyes were closed as he listened to the warm voice reading about adventures he had sort of been on, when he felt a presence on either side of him. He didn't have look to know that to his right was Hermione and his right Ron, but he did anyway.

A tiny smile was dancing on the edges of Hermione's mouth. No doubt, satisfied with a program going off without a hitch, so far. She was proud of him, they all were, but really, these release parties were all her. Harry could easily see her as an event planner. Everything would go as planned and she'd not allow drunken relatives or jealous observers get in the way of everything going perfectly.

Harry added it to the list of possible future ventures he'd bring up to her later.

Ron had a lazy smile that bloomed across his face. He looked slightly high, but maybe that was the after-effects of the great sex. While Ron was a very open guy, Harry was drawing a blank. He figured the straight forward question of 'What do you wanna be when you grow up?' would probably be the most appreciated.

The three of them stood there, silently listening to the amazing woman before them.

Once the last word of the second chapter was uttered and the applause had died down, Harry reached up and turned on his earpiece. He brought the clipboard up to cover half of his face, like the coaches during American football matches. He was in the shadows enough that no one would be paying any attention to him, but he still made the move look natural.

Ron and Hermione had earpieces that they turned on as well, however, theirs didn't have a microphone that would convey answers or consent to the blonde haired woman on stage.

The questions started coming in. Three of interns were at the front of the crowd, making sure the queue didn't get to crazy and that everyone was civil about it. They were British, after all. They knew how to form a bloody good queue.

Harry was pleased that Joanne only asked for help twice. Each time he simply gave her the go ahead. No one asked anything too invasive and the whole thing went off almost too smoothly. There were, of course, several people who wanted to know about the gay Dumbledore thing, but thankfully, the questions didn't go too in depth in any particular area.

Joanne walked to the wings amongst thunderous applause and enveloped Harry in a massive hug. He sunk into it thankfully. He remembered the one disastrous time Joanne had beckoned him onto the stage and he stood there awkwardly as the polite clapping continued. After that, she hadn't tried again. She simply showed her gratitude and support the same way Harry did. The British way.

Pulling back, Harry smiled at one of his mentors. "Be sure to take a breather. Hermione set up a meet and greet for you."

Joanne's face scrunched up in confusion. "But Harry, I thought we didn't do those. What if I'm asked a question I just can't answer? What if—?"

Harry shook his head. "We can still use the earpieces if you'd like, Jo, but I'm sure you'll do brilliantly."

They'd migrated over to the tea table and Harry silently fixed them both a cuppa. After she'd taken a thoughtful sip, Joanne finally spoke. "I want you there."

Harry had been mid-sip and the surprise had caused some of the hot tea to come out of his nose. Which, by the way, if not pleasant.

"But—"

She interrupted him by handing over a serviette. "No. I want you to be there. If it's simply a one-on-one they won't be too upset if I have my PA there and if a question get's too, I don't know, complicated for me, you can intervene."

Harry thought about it for a moment. "I'll be there, but we're using the earpieces." He held up his hand when she started to argue. "No, this guy is expecting to talk to the JK Rowling, not her personal assistant. And you know how I get around people sometimes. Give me a wand and I'll take on all the baddies that you want me to, but actually talking to people and trying to get them to like me based on that alone isn't really my strong point. I'll be close, though."

Joanne huffed. She didn't seem happy at all. "Promise?"

"I promise. Now, your public needs you!" Harry gestured dramatically and, giggling, Joanne headed toward the room he'd pointed out.

Harry took a deep breath and let it out slowly, stealing himself for what was sure to be a not very pleasant experience before he made his way to the door as well.

The lights dimmed slightly and the crowd hushed as a bespectacled 20-something with dark blonde hair made his way to the center of the stage type thing that was at the front of the room.

" 'Ello, everyone! How're we doin' today?" His accent hinted to an Irish background, but his sincere words radiated with the excitement that was already permeating the room.

There was a loud cheer and lots of clapping. Jasper was practically vibrating in his seat. Edward was nearly envious of his gift. He was excited, but to be able to feel everyone else's too? He'd explode from being so happy. Not a bad way to go, if you asked him.

The intern continued talking, thoughts following the same excited line as his voice. "In just a moment, the JK Rowlin' will be out here to do a bit of a read for you, but you need to know a few thin's first. Please be respectful and dunna interrupt. After that, she'll be answerin' some questions. We hav'ta keep it short, so we'll go to 20 questions of one half hour, whichever comes first. Once the read is done, we'll be formin' a queue at the front. David, Timothy and Ethan'll be monitorin'. If ya' have questions, ask them. They're here to help. Now! Put your hands together for the J.K. ROWLIN'!"

The crowd erupted in squeals of delight, clapping and whistling that hurt the sensitive ears of the vampires and werewolves in attendance.

The woman that came out onto the stage was wearing a smart skirt suit in a neutral cream color. A large green book with a mustard yellow binding was tucked under her arm as she took a seat in the single seat occupying the stage.

"Alright. Are we well?" She asked, as she settled in her place.

The crowd got louder, if that was possible before they simmered down a bit. "Very well. Shall we, then?" She pulled out a pair of reading glassed and slipped them on as she opened the book across her lap to the bookmarked position.

The words washed over them in a wave of calm, intonation perfect and enthralling.

Edward was thrown out of his daze by one of the werewolves whispering to the other. "What's wrong, Jake?"

Edward turned his head to look at the dark haired boys. Jacob was staring off to the side of the stage, a look of concentration on his face. "Dunno. Does that girl look familiar to you? I swear, I've seen her before."

"Of course. That's JK Rowling and she's the reason we're here, idiot."

"Shut up, Embry! I'm talking about that one," this time he pointed to the left side of the stage and off in the shadowy section.

Edward turned to follow the finger and saw a small cluster of young adults standing there, looking more official than they had a right to. The girl in question was on the far left, looking professional but trendy, almost model-esque, even with her pale skin. Edward thought vampire for half a moment before he registered three heartbeats coming from the three there. So maybe just British in her paleness.

He didn't get the chance to look at the others before Emmett was poking him in the ribs. "Dude. Dude. Dude, listen."

Rolling his eyes, Edward looked at his brother. "What?"

"That's the guy." Emmett said, unhelpfully. Pointing in the same direction he'd already been looking.

"That's the guy that, what?"

'Don't be stupid, Eddie,' Emmett thought in a disappointing tone.

The finger was pointed this time to the boy standing on the far right. He had hair that was lighter than Edwards own, but with far less product. He was attractive and seemed to be emitting an air of extreme relaxation. So, either he was completely high or he had been affected just as Emmett had to all the sex that'd gone down in the wee hours of the morning.

Edward found himself nodding in approval. "Not bad, Em. Not bad at all."

Alice looked over at the two and shushed them harder than Madam Pince ever did anyone at Hogwarts.

They shut up and continued to listen, but Edward felt his eyes being dragged back over to the corner of the stage. The third of the group, in the direct center, was equally attractive. He exuded clam and excitement all at once, his clipboard making him appear slightly more important than the other two.

The chapters finished and the queue for questions had started.

Still, Edward couldn't take his eyes off the group. They definitely weren't vampires, but they didn't feel human either. They were too far away and there was too much interference for him to read them, but he couldn't look away.

The boy in the middle, the one dressed more professionally than the one Emmett had slept with, had brought his clipboard up to cover his mouth. It seemed a natural move, but… well, not entirely. Edward strained his ears, trying to hear anything that far away.

He caught a brief 'go ahead' and an equally quiet 'go for it', but that was all that was said.

Confusion marred the experience, and soon he was being ushered out of his seat and down the hall.

He was handed his pass and all but pushed into the door of the room where he'd be talking to his current idol. An intern, whose thoughts were on the girl that had captured Jacob's attention, looked over the pass and led him into the room. He was offered a beverage, but turned it down as he took a seat.

The intern smiled. "Please make yourself comfortable. Ms. Rowling will be with you shortly. She is taking a small break, you understand." The cordial intern than turned and left the room, closing the room behind himself.

Several minutes passed before Edward heard anything.

"Promise?" Came the, now familiar, voice of the writer.

There was a short, almost imperceptible pause before, "I promise. Now, your public needs you!"

This was followed by a set of footsteps heading his way, shortly followed by another. Edward's non-existent heartbeat sped up as he was about to meet a literary genius of the current age. He held his unneeded breath as the door slowly opened…

I know it's a cliffhanger, but yay! There's loads more than I normally write! Next chapter will have more interaction between the two, well technically three, sets. Promise.