The afternoon was shot for both of them after that. They each decided to call it a day. Charlie informed Harry that he was going to go out that night and see what other leads, information he could gather. Both wizards agreed it was best if Harry did not come. They'd did decide they would meet up in the morning to go to a magical black market, together. They knew they needed to be seen out more in this underground world of smugglers and illegal traders.

Harry arrived back at Falling star drained. It had been an emotional day. Questions swirled in his mind as he absently walked into the kitchen. Had Jenny changed that much in two years? Had time in the states made her a different person? Would she not want to see him? Was he too late?

Harry stood staring at the ice box when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned and saw a young Maisse standing before him. He was confused.

"You must be Harry Potter?" the girl whispered.

"Umm..." He closed the ice box door, "yes, I am." He looked at her more closely, Maisse's sister, he wondered.

As if she was reading his mind, "I'm Gwen, Maisse's sister," she whispered again.

"Nice to meet you, Gwen" he whispered back, "Why are we whispering?"

"Here," she handed Harry a letter, "this will explain everything."

Harry looked from Gwen to the letter, confused

"Read it," she smiled slyly.

Harry slowly opened the letter and found it was from Maisse, hastily written to, not her normal flowing script.

Gweny - Take Jenny Professor Prewett to Falling Star. Harry Potter is there. Don't ask, just figure out how to get her there, soon. In the evening; it's important. Love you - Maisse

Harry read the letter again, and then a third time.

"She's upstairs in the library," Gwen smiled and turned and left. Harry heard the front door close and his stomach drop, Oh Merlin, he gasped in his head.

Harry slowly climbed the stairs muttering under his "breathe, just breathe.' His heart was pounding so loud he was sure Jenny would hear him coming.

When he reached the library, there was no one there. Is this a joke? He asked himself until he heard a voice, a voice that he longed to hear again speak.

"Oh Gwen," the voice came from the top of the ladder, "This first edition Vanity Fair is gorgeous!" she smiled, flipping through the pages.

"Hi Jenny." Harry couldn't take his eyes off of her. Her hair has grown, she's never cut it. "Hello, Harry." she said, finally, with little emotion.

"Gwen told me you were here," he was so nervous, I never used to be this nervous around her, he realized. He couldn't stop staring at her face, that beautiful face that was in his dreams every night.

."As you see," she nodded.

"Jenny..." He sighed, breathed.

She raised an eyebrow, "Harry..."

Her tone bothered him, she sounded curt, "Are you going to come down or do I have to strain my neck muscles to talk to you?"

In Harry's mind, the conversation spiraled out of control from there. She was clearly upset that he was staying at the Pottinger's Ranch. I guess she's heard the rumors, he thought. He got mad at her for it. Then he told her he was working with Charlie and she got mad at him, not my fault I'm working with her slimy cousin, he didn't dare say that out loud.

He thought the conversation was improving when he asked if she'd received his letter, but was mistaken. He made the mistake of telling her what Charlie had told her, about her Scot friend and the tattoo. Jenny took it as Harry didn't believe her letter, WHY can't I just tell her how I feel, he berated himself. Again, they argued about her cousin, clearly she's had enough of me, he said in his mind.

She started for the door, "If you won't believe me-"

"WAIT." He grabbed her arm.

"-then why bother listening?"

"Please, Jenny, don't go," his eyes begged.

She looked at him, pained by his disbelief, "Why should I stay? You obviously think I'm lying.""Stay." Harry whispered, "It's been two years, I can't let you walk out. Not now, not after... after everything."

"Please, Jenny, don't go," his eyes begged.

When she didn't make for the door, Harry thought maybe they would be able to talk, really talk. Somehow though, the conversation got out of control again, drifted to places that he couldn't understand, well, he could, but thought they'd resolved that years ago; leaving from Bill's wedding, Hermione, why she couldn't come with them during her sixth year at school. Didn't she understand what we had to do? What I had to do? How I had to picture, believe, they she'd find another man to love, a better man, have a family. If I didn't believe that, he shock his head as that vision from so long ago crystallized in his mind, I never could have gone to face Voldemort, alone.

When she tried to leave again, he knew that he couldn't stop her. I won't let her walk out of my life again, his mind screamed. Harry took both her hands in his, looked in her eyes and begged her to come back the next day. Shocking to Harry, she agreed.