Yes I've skipped a fair chuck of time. I'm thinking of going back to them in one way or another so if you want that. Let me know!
.
Reunions
.
Roughly One Year Later.
14 June 1999
Harry shook the long hair from his face, looking around. Diagon Alley hadn't changed since he'd last seen it a year ago. In two days he would be taking his NEWTS at the ICW but he wanted to visit Teddy before he did as his visits had been sparse in the last year. He spent most of it with Various Tutors in different countries throughout Europe, McGonagall had really contacted the best of the best for him and he was grateful for that. Both for their expertise and that none were in England where he had left his problems behind. He wandered down the buslting street, looking for a shop that might have something he could buy for Teddy. As he passed Quality Quidditch Supplies he saw a camera flash light up his silhouette, turning he saw the little photographer that worked for the Daily Prophet scurry off.
Well, so much for keeping my reappearance low key. He sighed and pressed on, until he found what he was looking for...
Twenty minutes later as he stepped out of Toys For Little Tykes a familiar shock of short red hair caught his eye. He called out. "Ron!"
The redhead turned. "Harry!" He crossed the street and gave him a manly hug. "You didn't say you were coming back today!"
"I was trying to keep it low key, I didn't want to risk George seeing the letter and throwing a party in the middle of Diagon Alley."
Ron lauged, "You have a point there. Come say hi now you're here, he'll get a kick out of it."
"Sure, why not?" And they headed to WWW. "How's life at the shop?"
"It's great actually, kinda busy sometimes. Though Ginny helps out during the holidays."
"It's good for you mate I'm glad you figured out what you wanted to do." He spoke the last part with bitterness that Ron actually picked up on for once.
They neared the shop entrance. "You mean you haven't?"
"Not really, I suppose it all depends on how I do on my NEWT's."
Ron clapped him on the back as they entered the already bustling shop. "You've just spent a year with your nose to the grindstone. You'll be fine."
That's a muggle expression, he must be with Hermione. Harry grunted then looked around. The place was packed. "Is this a quiet day?"
...
After catching up with George and meeting some of the start-struck hired help. Harry declined the offer of free merchandise and exited intent on stopping by Gringotts when he stopped dead. The Bushy hair he hadn't seen for over a year bounced as Hermione marched towards the shop, towards him! As he stood frozen she noticed him. Her brown eyes locked on his and she marched towards him. Fuck. Should I just say hi? What would I even say? What if I just apparate away? C'mon Harry, indecision isn't you. You just do it, whatever it is. And purely on instinct he apparated away with a crack loud enough to startle passers-by.
He landed on the stones at the front door of Potter Manor, rather than the Entrance Hall as he usually did. His heart was pounding in his ears. What the fuck was she doing there? All the effort to do his shopping on a day when he knew she couldn't possibly be there, was for nought.
.
*Flashback*
Harry made his way over to Minerva who was now with Kingsley. The Wizard saw him coming. "Ah here he is. I have to say again, thank you for having this get together. It's been quite the night."
You're telling me. "It's nice to have some people to fill the place." He replied, hoisting a grin on his face. He turned to the Witch. "How soon could I start this tutoring thing?"
She looked surprised. "I'm sure some of them would start as soon as you wish, others may need to clear their schedules."
Harry took a long swig of his drink. "I'd like to start as soon as I can."
She looked at him with concern. "So soon Harry? You've only just moved into this place."
Harry paused, bottle near his mouth. "I just need to keep busy that's all. How's the list coming along?"
She tapped a broach that he hadn't noticed she'd been wearing and it turned into a scroll. It listed names, subjects and location. His eyes widened at the location at the top of the list. I hope the weather is good in Rome this time of year.
*End Flashback*
.
He'd drunk too much that night as well, and again, passed out in front of his parents portrait. He'd royally fucked up that night, he wasn't a hundred percent sure how, but all he needed was the look in her eyes to convince him. Pure disgust was what he saw, and every time he drank in the last year, the memory of that night rose to the surface. A new nightmare was added to his collection. Thoughts now firmly centred on her, he trudged into the house.
...
Later that evening he sat on Andi's couch with a glass of Firewhisky in one hand as he watched his godson play with his new toy. Andi looked him over. "What are you going to do after you take your NEWT's?"
"Provided I Get the required grades. I think I'll join the Aurors, they have a two year training program. So I'll do that and see if I like it. If not... Then I'll think of something else."
"Are you sure you could handle the fame? It might make suspects come quietly of course," she smirked. "But Auror's are quite visible. Do you want that?"
He shrugged. "I'll get used to it."
"Are you sure? Have you seen the paper?"
"No, why?" With a flick of her Wand her copy of the Daily Prophet landed in his lap. He turned the paper over to read the headline:
HARRY POTTER: BACK AMONG US
Below the headline was a picture of him that the photographer had obviously taken. It was taken side on, as he strode down the cobblestone street. He read the print under the picture.
Harry Potter is back, the saviour was spotted in Diagon Alley yesterday. Which seemed innocuous enough, until he met some old friends. Cont. page 8.
With some trepidation, he turned to page eight.
Another Granger Love Triangle By Rita Skeeter
Readers may remember articles by this author that discussed the love triangle of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Viktor Krum. Yours truly has discovered the real love triangle. The one under our noses all along! I am of course talking about the "friendship" between the three of our most famous Heroes. While in Diagon Alley, Harry Potter was spotted entering Weasley Wizard Wheezes with his best friend Ron Weasley. What Harry didn't know was that Hermione Granger was already on her way there already to meet Ron, her ex boyfriend. And when your truly spotted Harry leaving the shop in quite a hurry he ran in Miss Granger and disapparated upon sight of her.
You know what this means my readers. Harry has now found out about the relationship the two had behind his back and doesn't like it. Which means this author was correct on her suspicions about Miss Granger holding our Harry's heart since fourth year. UPDATES TO COME.
.
The paper in his hands started smoking. Noticing this he dropped it on the floor and Andi vanished it before it could damage the carpet. "Utter rubbish." Harry spat.
Andi rose a greying eyebrow at him. "I thought you could handle it?"
Harry watched the child playing while answering her. "I don't care what anyone says about me. But if it's about people I care about, that's different."
"And you leaving so suddenly had nothing to do with her?" He looked at her in shock. How did she know? "Just because you up at left for the continent, doesn't mean everyone else disappeared Harry. Not a week since you left and she was dating Ron." The news pierced his heart like a shard of ice.
He look back at the toddler. "I intended that."
She frowned. "And what in god's name made you think that was a good idea?"
"Well they were bound to get together at some point."
She snorted, belying the grey that streaked her hair. "You really aren't qualified for matchmaking Harry. In fact, give me a rundown on who you dated and why. "
He blinked but decided to play along. "First was Cho."
"And why did you date her?"
"Er, because she was pretty, and she played Quidditch."
"Oh? And how long did that last?"
"A couple months."
"Ok, next."
"Ginny. Err. Because she was pretty and, played Quidditch, and I could be normal. That was a couple months as well. And that's it."
"So your previous relationships are built on them being pretty, playing Quidditch and being normal? Do you know what those relationships lacked?" He shook his head. "Trust and Respect."
"But-"
"Do you trust Hermione with your life?
"Yes."
"Do you respect her motivations and vision?"
"Yes, but-"
"Is she pretty?"
"Of course but you don't have to convince me that I love her, I realised THAT."
"Then what's the problem?" Harry sighed and told her what happened that night. "You still don't see it do you?" Confusion covered his features. Andi sighed. "Does she trust you with her life."
He thought for a moment. "I suppose so."
"Does she respect you for who YOU are?"
"She's one of the few that do-Oh..."
Andi leant back, looking rather like Minerva when telling off a student. "Yes oh. And while I'm sure she finds you attractive that's not the point here."
"But she looked so horribly at me."
"Yes, because she was jealous."
He drained his glass. He'd never even thought about it like that, there was no reason to. She was only ever his friend, he'd never taken her loyalty to him to mean that. He thought it was because they had saved her from the troll all those years ago. He tired to look at it from an unbiased viewpoint. She'd cried on his shoulder, she'd looked out for his wellbeing constantly. They'd danced in the tent... Maybe they weren't dancing to forget about the pain of missing their significant other's. Maybe, they danced to find solace in each other, not knowing how they felt about each other? Wanting to feel special and be close to each other, like they really were a couple. If only for a minute.
Andi had been watching his face. "Maybe you should go see her."
Harry shook his head, he couldnt stay. "No." He croaked. "I can't, not yet." He stood up. "I'll be living in Grimmarauld Place after I take my NEWT's, You're welcome to visit any time."
She stood and gave him a hug. "I will. Bye Harry, good luck."
He glanced at the Toddler as he gathered his cloak. "Bye Teddy." And disapparated.
...