Briar POV
I tried to make sure I wasn't a burden to the Potter family over the next few days. I wasn't sleeping well, so in the time they slept, I would clean the communal areas of the house. Do a load or two of laundry. Bake bread. I did those jobs at the speed I would have at home though, meaning I was left with hours to do nothing but think. I didn't like thinking. Thinking was the same as dreaming, maybe worse.
"Morning Briar," Harry yawned as he made his way past the living room and to the kitchen. He didn't even look to see if I was actually there. It had become so normal for me to be sat staring at the wall, I suppose. "Oh bloody hell!" I heard from the kitchen with a loud crash. Ginny came rushing down the stairs at the noise and I dragged myself from the arm chair. Harry was hopping around the kitchen holding a very red looking foot.
"What the hell, Harry," Ginny scolded, wrapping her blue fluffy dressing gown around her. I noticed the coffee mug smashed on the floor and began gathering the shards before Harry could step in those too.
"It's the stupid bird again," Harry finally sat himself down.
"Well did you let him in?" Ginny made her way over to the window and I glanced over. There, behind the glass, sat two large and ominous eyes. If I was Harry, I'd have dropped my coffee too. It was impossible to see the rest of the bird in the dark. Ginny opened the window and held out an arm. A large, thick, fluffy leg reached in and anchored onto her wrist, before a second one joined bringing in the impressive grey owl.
"I've never seen a grey barn owl," I muttered without thinking.
"Hercule isn't a barn owl." Harry replied. "He's a bloody menace is what he is."
"He's quiet sweet really," Ginny cooed a the bird and he ruffled his feathers and chirped his approval. She let him set down on the kitchen table.
"Sure," Harry dropped his scolded foot and reached out the take the letter in Hercule's beak. Hercule dropped the letter and snapped at Harry's outstretched hand. "See, menace!" Harry snatched up the letter before Hercule could do any real damage. The owl seemed pleased with himself when Harry's hand retreated. "Here, Briar, it's for you." He held out the letter for me. I took it with a shaking hand. I didn't know this bird, or who would be writing to me.
"It's from Stella," Ginny patted my shoulder. I nodded and turned it over to see my name scribed in blue ink. Why would she be writing to me? James said she worked in an accountants office. If they thought they'd get a client out of me, she was sorely mistaken!
Briar,
Lunch today, I was thinking around 11:30. We can eat and then I need a girl's opinion on some new work clothes. Teddy is useless and Victoire scares me.
Ask Ginny for my address, it's not far from where we'll eat.
If he's being ornery, give Hercule a piece of banana. He loves them and in turn will love you. Do. Not. Tell. Harry.
Love, Stella.
I'd forgotten about her dinner invitation. I looked back at the bird, who was currently squaring itself up to Harry who still didn't look fully awake. To save the poor man's hands any further abuse, I clicked my tongue and caught Hercule's attention. His large, ashen face turned too me, one sharp looking foot still hanging in the air in Harry's direction. I slowly reached out for a banana from the kitchen side and opened it, taking a chunk off and popping it in my mouth. It didn't taste like much, nothing did anymore. But Hercule dropped his foot and turned his body to me. I offered him a small hunk and he happily bounced over the table towards me, carefully taking the offering between his rather deadly looking beak. Once he'd finished, he preceded to rub his head against my hand, letting me scratch under his chin to happy chirps.
"Stupid bird," Harry grumbled. "Don't know what I've ever done to him."
"No idea, darling," Ginny hummed. "What did Stella want?"
"She's asked me out for lunch." I said robotically, still petting the owl. Ginny stopped what she was doing for a moment.
"You're going to be late, Harry." She said simply. Harry looked at her, then at the clock, then back at her and then back at the clock before muttering profanities and nearly falling from his chair in hurry to get up. Ginny shook her head. "Honestly, it's like having four children. One being a permanent toddler." She came over to the table and popped a steaming mug of tea and a plate of toast in front of me before she sat down to her own. "You don't sound too sure about lunch with Stella."
"I'm not." I said honestly. "I know she's your Teddy's girlfriend or whatever-"
"whatever," Ginny nodded with a small grin.
"But I just don't feel like seeing people." I shrugged and took a sip of the tea. It was sweetened. "I don't exact deserve to be spending my time 'doing lunch' and clothes shopping."
"Yes you do." Ginny tutted in a motherly manner. "Look, Stella's had some troubles, she's been in dark places. She wont have asked you out just for details or just because. She'll have asked you out for support. For you or her - I don't really know. But, young lady, you more than deserve to go out and enjoy yourself. If I hear that you've had anything other than cake for your lunch, I'll be very disappointed!" She smiled at me.
A few hours later, I looked up at the block of flats. Stella lived in the middle of Leeds, in what resembled a run down block of flats to the muggles around them. Ginny assured me that it was actually a very nice set of magical apartments. I sighed and walked up to the main door, looking for her name on the buzzer. Harris was scrawled in the same neat penmanship against one of the buttons and I buzzed. It took a moment before a crackle told me it had been answered. It was a man's voice.
"Hello?"
"Um... Hi? I'm looking for Stella?"
"Will you shift?" came a feminine voice. "Third floor, Briar, flat 2." A buzz and a click signaled the door being unlocked. I quickly grabbed the handle before the lock could shut.
When I reached the door, I went to knock. Only to hear Stella and the man bickering.
"Well it's up to you, do whatever you want," Stella huffed. "You always do."
"Stell -" He sighed. "That's not what I meant, and you know it." I knocked. I didn't want this to go on too long, it was getting awkward already.
"Look, I'll go." There was a ruffle of what sounded like a cloak being pulled from near the door. "Will I see you tonight?"
"You'll see me at work," Stella grumbled. "In the morning. As usual." There was a pop and then I heard the chain moving on the door. "Hi Briar," Stella was ready to leave.
"Hi," was all I could stupidly mutter. Stella locked up behind her and nodded for me to follow. I appreciated the fact she wasn't like most girls in the fact she didn't loop her arm through mine, or try to hug me or anything.
It didn't take long to get to the cafe, like Stella promised, and she didn't even wait for a waitress to decide where we would be sitting. Instead she walked in like she owned the place, and sat at a table in the little bay window. The room was dark, but comforting. It smelt strongly of dark roast coffee. A waitress appeared with menus, putting them down on the table and then she hovered with a notepad and pen.
"Not sure on food yet, Cassy, but I'll have my usual drink wise." Stella offered, I quickly scanned the drinks menu, feeling both of their eyes on me.
"Um... just a black coffee, please?" I smiled weakly. The girl, about my age, nodded and scribbled that down. She said something of 'being back soon' and left. We sat in silence for a while. Just looking at each other. Stella playing with her dark red stained nails. "Why did you invite me out?" I finally word vomited. Stella smiled.
"I had the feeling that it wasn't a good idea for you to stay home right now." She hummed. My face dropped. "I don't know any details, so don't panic. But I can tell when someone's in too deep and doesn't have an escape route."
"How?"
"Call it a sixth sense." She shrugged sitting back in the leather arm chair. Cassy appeared with our drinks. "Thanks, could we get two slices of the devils food cake? Cheers, pet." Cassy scurried off.
"Ginny told me I had to order cake." I muttered.
"Because Ginny knows I have a cake fetish." Stella gave me a wicked grin. "Cake is good for the soul."
"Your owl is pretty." I said. Just to make conversation.
"He's a bit of a prat, to be honest with you." She smiled. "He was a gift from Harry and Ginny when he was a baby. I was going through a rough time and they came across him and thought he was going through it too, so Hercule joined the family." She shrugged.
"He doesn't think much of Harry does he?"
"Oh he used too." Stella nursed her latte against her face. "Wouldn't do anything for anyone other than Harry. Until I realised he will do absolutely anything for a banana. Now he's got it out for Harry because he only offers actual owl treats." I laughed. Then felt guilty for laughing. Our cake arrived and for the first time since Imogen, I actually managed to enjoy something I ate - that wasn't coffee.
"So," Stella started, putting her fork down with a clatter against the plate. "I honestly don't want to know whatever it is that's got you this way - unless you want me to know?" I shook my head. I wasn't ready for that. "Great," she sighed with relief. "I mean... not great but ... if you ever want to tell me - that's great too..."
"I get you," I gave her a small smile.
"Great!" She gave me a smile in return. "I get the feeling that James is going through something too." I opened my mouth to argue. But stopped myself. "I get it- he can be a right royal 'See you next Tuesday' sometimes," I scoffed. "most of the time, but you may need to unpick this one together." I opened my mouth again. But nothing came out. "I'm not saying become besties, or jump in each others shirts or anything. Just - it feels like he might be the only one you should talk to."
"What do you know?"
"Nothing." Stella shrugged. "He was at ours this weekend. He's a mess, you're a mess, neither of you are currently at school. It's not taking a genius to see shared trauma."
I spent the rest of the afternoon with Stella, she picked out some gorgeous things - very sexy, entirely not what I would wear but suited her down to the ground. As we shopped, I mulled over everything she said in the café. By the time we said our goodbyes in her living room, which was very neat, bright and full of plants - the opposite of what I thought I'd be walking into - it was nearly five in the evening. I floo'd straight into the Potter's back sitting room - my preferred haunt over the more formal looking front room.
"Oh fucking hell, Briar," Someone's arms wrapped around me. The person let me go slightly, only to grab my arms painfully tight. I looked up into James's face. His eyes were wild and rimmed with red. His hair looked like he'd been pulling at it and his clothes looked rumpled. "Where the fuck have you been?"