Chapter 02 – Doubts part 1

August 20, 1998. Los Angeles

Harry strolled the evening streets, taking in the eclectic sights of the City of Angels. He had grown up in the Muggle world, but the Dursley's never-ending quest to be "normal" meant that he was hurried away from anything that stood out. It was probably that repression that made Harry fall in love with the Wizarding world in the first place. The robes with vibrant colors, the hairstyles that seemed impossible, and the warped architecture that stood when there was no logical reason for it to stand. For the last seventeen years of his life, his knowledge of the Muggle world was only what was on Vernon and Petunia Dursley's list of pre-approved sites.

"Vernon would have a bloody stroke if he saw any of this," Harry thought with a smile.

The streets seemed to have no lack of people in impossible outfits, and vibrantly colored hair. The buildings didn't seem to be slanting in all directions but up, but the graffiti and signage certainly drew the eye.

Harry pulled out a disposable camera and snapped photos of some of the nightlife. It was a compromise he had made with everyone, to embrace his "inner Colin Creevey," and send pictures back to everyone. He was sad, at first, that none of the others wanted to join him on his travels, but he could understand their reasons.

Hermione had no interest in being an Auror, and was staunchly against putting off her N.E.W.T.S. another year. Harry had tried to make the point that Hermione could probably ace the exams right now, if she wanted. He only got her to drop the death glare when he promised to take pictures of all the historic landmarks he would visit. "At least, you'll learn some new things," she told him.

Once Hermione had decided to stay, Ron was a lost cause. He wanted to spend as much time with her as he could, before going to the Academy. He did get Harry to promise to take some pictures of any sports teams he saw play.

Mr. Weasley was quick to hand Harry a list of all the Muggle devices he wanted pictures of. Mrs. Weasley simply wanted Harry to be safe, and made it clear that he was in no way obligated to get pictures of an "elekticity plant." Mr. Weasley was a bit crestfallen at that.

George had asked Harry to get "plenty of pictures of the Muggle birds." A request that drew the wrath of Ginny.

"Ginny…"

Of all the questions he had about his place in the Wizarding world, it was the ones about her he had the hardest time answering.

"If I chose to leave, would she come with me? Would she be happy? Would I stay for her? Would I be happy?"

Harry continued walking, though no longer taking in his surroundings. When the threat of Voldemort had been in front of him, Harry felt so sure of the path he wanted to take. He would become an Auror. He would take the fight to Voldemort. He would not stand idly by. Now, with Voldemort gone, he was no longer certain what path he wanted.

"Do I really want to spend the rest of my life hunting down dark wizards? I want to have a normal life, but would I be if I walked away?"

"…no one."

The hollow voice snapped Harry out of his thoughts. He turned in the direction of the voice and found an elderly woman huddled, shivering in a doorway. Mumbling over and over to her self.

"I am no one. I am no one. I am no one."

"Ma'am?" Harry looked around the stretch of sidewalk around him, making sure no one had a clear view of him as he pulled out his wand. A quiet incantation under his, and a thick red blanket appeared in front of him. He draped it over the homeless woman, stopping her shaking, but not her mumbling.

"Do you have somewhere you can go?"

"I am no one. I am no one," the woman continued.

Harry worried over the woman before him. He couldn't help but think of the Longbottoms, still residing in St. Mungo's. It hurt him that with all the abilities magic gave him; he could do nothing to help this woman. But, his knowledge of the Muggle world might be able to at least ease her suffering.

Harry watched as one officer eased the elderly woman into the car. The officer talking to Harry, an officer Blake, looked up from his notepad.

"There's not much we can do, I'm afraid. At the very least, we can get her to a shelter for the night."

"Thank you, officer. Whatever you can do for her." Harry shook the officer's hand before he got into the car.

Harry watched the car head off for a minute before he headed back in the direction of the hostel. It wasn't long before he came across a pair of familiar looking blondes. He couldn't quite make out what they were discussing, but what he did hear made him pause.

"Did she just say 'vampires'?"

"Hey, Harry," exclaimed Lily.

Buffy turned around and saw the dark-haired man from the diner approaching.

"Is he following me?" Buffy thought, in a panic.

"Hey, Lily. Anne. What are you guys up to?"

Buffy kept her focus on the smiling man. She couldn't put her finger on why, but she knew there was more to him than just a tourist. She couldn't tell at the diner, but seeing him out and about… there was something in the way he carried himself.

"I was telling… Anne, here, about this rave Rickie and I heard about, and wanted to see if she wanted to come with."

Buffy inwardly frowned at the pause Lily took at her name. A glance at Harry, and she could see he had caught the pause, too.

"Because there's nothing that can go wrong with a Brit knowing who I really am." Buffy thought sarcastically.

"I'm not really in the partying mood," Buffy said politely to Lily.

"I had a bit of a tiring day, site seeing," Harry waved his disposable camera. "I was just going to go call it a night."

"Okay. Um… could either of you loan me a few bucks? I don't have a ride…" Lily shuffled her feet in embarrassment.

Buffy wasn't quite sure if this was a cover for asking for money for food, but she felt she at least could help Lily out. She pulled a ten-dollar bill from her pocket, just as Harry handed one over, too.

"Are you sure you want to go alone?" Harry asked Lily. "It seems a bit dangerous to be out on your own." Buffy could hear the genuine concern in his voice.

"It's okay, Rickie's waiting for me at the party. Thanks, you guys." Lily started down the street before turning back to shout. "If I miss you before you leave, have a fun trip, Harry."

Harry smiled back as he waved. "I'll be sure of it, Lily."

There was an awkward silence between Buffy and Harry with Lily's departure. Buffy could tell that Harry was trying to think of something to say.

"So," began Harry, "which way are you headed?"

"My apartment is east of here."

"Oh. Okay. I'm heading north. You want me to tag along? Make sure you're alright?"

"You ask that of all the waitresses you bump into outside of work?"

"No. Just you seem like something's—" Harry was cut off by an elderly vagrant man bumping him as he walked by. "Sorry, mate. You alright?"

The man started muttering to himself. "I'm no one. I'm no one."

Buffy and Harry both raised eyebrows at that. "That's the second time I've heard someone say that tonight."

"Same here," said Harry. It was then he noticed the man stepping into the road, with the light from a set of headlights shining on him. "Wait, don't—!"

In almost the blink of an eye, Harry saw 'Anne' push the vagrant out of the way of the car and get hit her self. By instinct, he ran out to help her.

"Call an ambulance," an unknown woman shrieked.

Harry knelt next to the blonde waitress. "Damn, she's fast," he thought. He examined what he could of her without moving her, he didn't see more than a few bruises. Harry looked over at the car; it had been a while since he took Muggle sciences, but there seemed to be a lot of damage to the car for so few wounds on the girl in front of him.

Buffy sat up, to the surprise of Harry and the gathered crowd. "Anne, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Buffy said as she got to her feet.

Harry followed her gaze to the opposite sidewalk, both made a note that the elderly vagrant was gone.

"I got to go," Buffy said, pulling away from Harry.

"Wait, you might need a…" Buffy had already run around the corner. "…hospital." Harry looked again at the damaged car. "What?"