Four Years Later
People passed her in varied states of disarray. A mother to her left was holding a sleeping child in one arm with a bag slung over her other shoulder and holding a toddler's hand tightly in her free hand. A businessman in a full suit ahead of her was muttering angrily to a poor stressed out teen dressed in fast-food employee apparel. A janitor was slumped against a wall, watching everyone pass with glazed eyes. Three teens pushed their way through the mob while shouting half-assed apologies and laughing.
The airport had such a wide diversity of people. And some very slow security.
Amara readjusted her backpack strap on her shoulder, one foot tapping the ground, eyes darting back and forth as she hummed along to the song playing on the loudspeakers.
It had been four years since she had been in London. Not long after the battle, Amara packed her bags and took the first Portkey to America, leaving behind the wizarding world without a word to anyone. The only one who knew was Hermione, only because the two of them had worked on a plan to restore Hermione's parents' memories. Amara found her own parents and went to a four-year university to get a Muggle degree in Engineering in addition to completing Auror training through MACUSA. While Amara had no real plan to get overly involved with the wizarding world again after the war, it was always good to have a fall back plan in case her Muggle life did not work. Her wand often stayed locked in a safe in her apartment, untouched now for months at a time. Currently, it resided under her pant leg and tucked in her boot, an unnatural feeling and yet a somewhat comforting presence.
"Amara!"
A frazzled looking Hermione, waving her hands back and forth, a huge smile on her face, emerged from behind a luggage carousel. A slight smile stole across Amara's face as the two hugged and she received a face full of the bookworm's frizzy hair.
"I forgot how much trouble it was to get to the airport," Hermione snagged Amara's bag before the other girl had the chance to.
"I guess I just got used to it," Amara chuckled. "I thought if I was to take a Portkey I'd puke immediately after. Sleeping on a plane seemed a lot easier at the time." She cracked her neck before continuing. "I also forgot how uncomfortable economy class seats were. Think we could arrange for a Portkey back for me?"
Hermione's smile disappeared. "I'm sure we can, but I don't quite know when you'll be leaving. The case the Ministry asked you to come for… It's pretty big. They are pulling all their resources for this one."
"Oh."
Silence lapsed between them as they walked to a back alley. Once far enough from the street, they linked arms and Hermione Apparted. They landed in the wooden floored hallway of an apartment, Amara dropping to her knees and breathing heavily, resisting the nausea that swept over her. When Hermione made a move to help her, she merely shooed her off. Hermione bit her lip but walked away. Amara shifted to lean back against the wall, head between her knees, gladly accepting the wordless glass of water Hermione returned with. The silence now held an uncomfortable tone as Hermione slid down against the opposite wall, the back of her head banging it slightly as she stared blindly at the ceiling.
"It's quiet," Amara remarked quietly. "Where's Ron? I assumed he'd be here."
"We broke up a year ago."
Another silence; Amara did not know what else to say, choosing to scratch the back of her neck instead.
"I'm the one that broke it off." Hermione smiled ruefully. Lolling her head slightly so she could look at the other girl. "We felt thrown together by everything that happened at Hogwarts… Pressured to be that couple. It wasn't long after we all left for the fighting to start. We tried to get it to work, we really did. Then Lavender Brown came back, convinced Ron that our relationship was not worth it. So I ended it."
"Could've told me."
"And what would that have accomplished? We weren't exchanging information on a personal level. Harry's really the only one who knows the whole story. The Prophet got a hold of Ron for an interview, he claimed he's the one that broke things off. Arguing seemed pointless."
A brief pause.
"So where did you end up after school?" Shifting topics seemed a lot better than continuing their current depressing conversation path.
"With all the research I was doing to restore my parents' memories, I decided to become a Healer. Graduated top of my class, early. Working here in the city at St. Mungo's ever since."
Amara's smile was sincere as she congratulated her friend. She stood up and offered her hand to Hermione.
"Let's go," she grinned.
"Go where?"
"I think it's time the both of us got back into something. You're calling Ginny and the three of us are hitting up the best club we can find. And don't lie to me- I know you still talk to her since you forwarded her and Harry's wedding invitation to me six months ago. Plus she's the only one out of the three of us who knows how to dress for that scene."
"AMARA!"
It felt like being barreled by a freight train, a red-haired and freckled blur ramming into her at full speed. A breathless laugh escaped as Amara wrapped her arms around the lone female Weasley sibling.
"Hiya Gin."
"It's been so long! And you're lucky it's the off season and Harry's out on assignment. I've been dying to get out."
Amara chuckled. "I had a feeling. Now, what can you do to help me and Hermione make ourselves presentable?"
Hermione shrunk back a bit at the grin that took over Ginny's face.
"I thought you'd never ask."
In a surprisingly little amount of time, Amara found herself feeling slightly violated by the pair of tweezers in Ginny's hand.
"Amara, you need to stop moving! I just have a few more…. There! Done."
Amara rubbed her eyebrows, a frown marring her features. "I didn't expect this to be a whole process, I thought maybe we'd throw on some make-up, grab some slutty looking clothes from the back of Hermione's closet that she never wears and go to a club," she grumbled, swatting away Ginny's hand when she reached towards her again.
Ginny giggled. "Please, I don't half arse going out. It's all or nothing, Amara Stormwind, and you knew that. Now, where did Hermione run off too?"
Two hours later found the trio finally ready. Hermione kept tugging down the legs of her shorts and getting her hand slapped by Ginny's every time. Amara was wobbling slightly in the tall wedges Ginny had brought with her, feeling the edge of her already short dress riding up slightly. She was just grateful the dress wasn't skin tight like Ginny's, who managed to highlight every inch of her Quidditch-toned body.
Ginny's dress was a vivid blue, highlighting her fire-colored hair, turned a mesmerizing orange in the setting sun's rays. She had no issues walking in her stilettos, easily putting one foot in front of the other in such an effortless manner.
Hermione was in a pair of skin tight shorts, paired with a glittery, loose cream tank top that Ginny had discovered in a box in the back of her wardrobe. She had cast a Warming Charm on herself when Ginny refused to let her wear a worn fleece over the outfit. Luckily, Hermione had a pair of flats that matched her outfit enough to keep the outfit-monster Weasley happy.
Amara's dress was one she had brought with her, a comfortable green dress that Ginny promptly vetoed the length of. When Amara had refused to change, Ginny whipped out her wand and made alterations herself, moving the hemline up until it brushed halfway up Amara's thighs, adjusting the neckline so it showed "the proper amount of cleavage for a night out." When Ginny's back was turned Amara used a Sticking Charm to make sure nothing moved. On their way out the door, Amara also grabbed her leather jacket. She was met with stunningly little argument from Ginny, who merely cocked her head and smiled. Hermione rubbed one arm with her hand, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
"Let's get a move on then!" Ginny's high ponytail swished behind her as she marched to the living room.
"Remind me why we decided to do this?" Hermione whispered.
"It seemed like a good idea before she got here." Amara shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket, feeling slightly more comfortable as the familiar material shifted over her shoulders. "Any clue which club we're going to?"
"Absolutely none."
"A non-Muggle club? Really Gin?" Amara eyed the line that wrapped around the building. Maybe around the block. "We'll never get in. We could've charmed a Muggle bouncer to let us in."
Ginny merely hooked her arms through one of each of her friends and pushed forward.
"Hey Don!" she grinned widely and the large bouncer standing at the front of the very long line. The front of which did not seem to appreciate three girls cutting in front. "How's Sarah? Remy?"
Don's straight face flickered. He grunted in response to the red head's question.
Ginny merely smiled up at him, pulling Amara and Hermione closer. "Got any room for three girls looking to have some fun?"
Don raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe with the guarantee of two top notch seats to the next three Cannon's games?"
His shoulders loosened and he let the girls in with a small chuckle and many protests from the people standing in line. Protests swallowed by the deep bass of the music currently being played inside the building.
They were stopped before walking through a second set of doors which Amara found to be odd. She was even more confused when she was handed a mask and instructed to tie it over her face. She fingered the material, tracing over the plain white cloth, hoping for an explanation. She did not get one, but she was told she would not be allowed to enter without the mask. Ginny and Hermione had put theirs on while she had been arguing with the mask-holder, and when Ginny saw Amara protesting, she dragged Amara to the side and demanded her to put on her mask.
"You'll be fine," Ginny half-yelled over her complaints, "they just use an Illusion Charm so your identity remains safe. I've been here plenty of times, it's for people's safety. The Charm is activated when you walk through the doors, and when you take off your mask the charm lasts for about two more minutes. Now let's GO!"
Ginny grabbed both Amara's and Hermione's hands and dragged them through the door, upon which the bass doubled. Amara could feel the pulsing beat down to her bones, could see the crowd of bodies dancing and grinding, could smell the sweat and liquor in the air.
"I'm going to go get us some drinks!" Ginny shouted, maneuvering between the closely packed bodies to get to the bar while Hermione and Amara waited on the side. Amara forced herself to relax, resting her weight on one leg and bringing the other up to the wall she was slouched against as she scanned the room. Hermione had settled her unease slightly, no longer visibly shifting from foot to foot, but she still hugged her left arm close to her side, her eyes darting everywhere. Her hair had lightened slightly and her eyes had changed to a shimmering blue.
Amara could feel the length of her wand that she had stuck down the back of her dress, was aware of it any time someone walked past her.
Ginny came back to the pair not long after she had left, her bright locks darkened to a shimmering black, her eyes piercing green. Amara would not had recognized her if not for her dress and shoes.
"I have shots!" she squealed, handing one to each girl before clinking her glass with theirs. "Bottoms up!"
Hermione swallowed hers faster than Amara had thought she would, shrugging when Amara gave her a look.
"Helps me relax."
Ginny pulled them both to the dance floor. Amara went along willingly, but felt uncomfortable with so many strangers pressed against her. Ginny and Hermione kept downing shots; she passed hers off to random girls around her (who suspiciously took them without question) and leaned against the wall again, taking in the scene.
The tables surrounding the swarming mob of people where all full, some with girls dressed to the nines wearing the most uncomfortable looking shoes, others with friend groups laughing and shouting at each other to be heard. One table in the corner caught her eye.
There were four people, three guys and one girl, backs to the wall, observing the crowd. They seemed to be talking quietly, unfazed by the noise around them. Amara cocked her head, squinting a little to try and make out their features. The girl was in a slinky black dress, one Ginny would approve of, a black mask wrapped around her long, dark hair. The men wore various colors of the same shirt, all of them wearing some form of flattering jeans in addition to their own masks.
One of them stiffened slightly, as if he could feel someone watching him. His eyes turned from the dance floor to the edges of the crowds, scanning for that feeling. Amara immediately turned her eyes away, slumping further into her stance against the wall, one hand in her jacket pocket and the other behind her head. She could feel his eyes skim over her, caught momentarily perhaps on her pose before moving on. She waited a good two minutes before peeking over at the table again but by then two of the men had left the table, blending in with the rest of the club goers that night.
"Well hey there." A tall stranger in a tight tank top and tight skinny jeans leaned an arm against the wall not three inches from her head. His breath reeked of alcohol and he was swaying lightly forward as he spoke.
"Hi." She spoke dismissively in hopes that he would leave.
"You here alone?"
"No, I came with friends." Amara looked away from him. Maybe he would get the message to leave her alone.
"Right shame they left you here all alone. Especially with an arse like yours."
Amara closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly unfurling herself from her wall, she merely raised an eyebrow at the stranger.
"You should probably go home. Your body odor will probably drive all the other girls away."
She brushed past him, close enough to her his slurred "bitch" before making her way to the bar. She waited patiently at the end of the bar before ordering a water. When it arrived she reached into her pocket for money, only to be stopped by a cool hand on her shoulder.
"I'll pay for it, miss."
The voice was calm and quiet compared to the shouting of everyone else. Just loud to be heard, but not enough to deafen her. Amara hesitated at first, then internally shrugged it off, deciding not to shoot the gift-horse in the mouth.
She turned to thank the man, partially stunned to find it to be one of the four she had observed earlier. As close as they were, she could see him much more clearly. His skin, though somewhat pale looking, had a slight tan, almost seeming to hover over him. He had a dark blue button down, the top button undone; his hair was tousled in one of those perfect "just rolled out of bed" styles that all men seemed to have. His dark brown eyes peered at her through his black mask, looking over her just as closely as she looked over him.
Amara stood on her toes-or at least as much as she could in the damn shoes Ginny had given her- in order to reach his ear so she could thank him without shouting. His height surprised her; even though she was five foot seven with an additional four inches of wedge, she still couldn't get high enough to speak to him in a lowered tone. Which really was not tall, he could not have been more than six foot two or three, but still.
"American?"
His question startled her. She had been slightly intrigued by his cologne; the scent of apples and cinnamon was like a breath of fresh air among the rolling sweat and alcohol pile.
"Yes," she smiled. Her cheeks heated in a slight blush and she had never felt more thankfully to have the stupid mask onto cover it.
God, am I really that out of practice talking and flirting with guys?
"You're a long way from home. What led you here?"
"Work. One of my friends brought me here though. I asked her for a girl's night out, but I guess I wasn't actually prepared for the scene." She sipped some water to relinquish a sudden case of dry throat. "You're from around here though. I can tell. How well do you know this place?" She gestured as much as she could without accidentally hitting anyone.
"You could say I'm… quite familiar. Been a while since I've been here though." He leaned next to her and ordered himself a Firewhisky. "Care to explain why you were eyeing me and my friends earlier?"
Amara choked slightly on her sip of water. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," she responded, swiping a napkin off the bar to dab at the trickle down the side of her face.
"No?" His eyes sparked in amusement. She felt drawn in, as if someone was pulling her to him the more she looked. She shook her head. He smiled, flashing pearl white teeth.
"Well, then… can I interest you in a dance?" He held out his hand, looking at her expectantly.
She put her hand in his.
"Yes, you can."
A/N: Hey guys... Sorry for the long absence but I just have had no time since my last update to even consider touching this story again. I've just begun to find some more time for myself and I found this doc on my computer, so we're going to try and continue! Please review, it really does encourage me to come back and keep writing!