A/N: Thanks to all of you who reviewed this! It means so much to me. :) Hope you like the second part. It's a wee bit long, but it sets up where I want the rest of this fic to go.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and I am humbled in the presence of the supreme genius of JK Rowlings.
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"Hello is Veronica there?" Harry asked. He tried to keep his voice low so that the Dursley's wouldn't notice. If they found him in Dudley's room, talking on the phone they would probably lock him in the downstairs closet for a month.
"Yes she is," A pleasant voice replied. "May I ask who is speaking?"
"Tell her its Harry. I was, uh, supposed to call her."
"Right then. Hold on for one second." He heard a muffled voice calling for Veronica on the other end. He shifted the receiver from one sweaty palm to another, praying that the call wouldn't last too long.
"This would be so much easier if I could owl her," he murmured.
"Hello?" At the sound of her voice Harry suddenly felt all of his resolution and confidence fall from him.
"Hi, uh, this is Harry. You know, the chap you met at the pet shop?"
"As yes, Kibble boy. Of course I remember."
"Yeah." Harry felt his face flush. "Anyway, I was wondering, you know, if you can make it I mean, would you go out with me to dinner or a flick or something?" He stammered this all out somehow. "I mean you don't have to, if you don't want to." He added quickly.
"Well I don't know..." She said slowly. Harry's face fell. "You know what they say about English food…" Harry could tell she was grinning on the other end. "No I'm just playing. Of course, I would love to."
"Oh and erm…one more small thing." Harry felt sheepish. "Your host parents might have to drop us off at the train station …"
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Harry rushed down the stairs. His date was set, except for one small detail. He hadn't exactly asked Uncle Vernon if he could go yet. Harry groaned.
The chances he would give his permission were practically nil.
Harry joined the Dursley's for lunch. His Aunt Petunia gossiped away about the neighbors as his Uncle Vernon responded with one-syllable grunts, too busy with the newspaper to be disturbed. Dudley sat with his little piggy eyes on the television, despondently nibbling on a carrot. Harry cleared his throat.
"You carrot stick is over there," His Aunt Petunia said briskly, annoyed that she was interrupted.
"No, I need to ask you something." Harry insisted.
His uncle grunted in response. Harry cleared his throat and prepared for the plunge. "Yeah, so I am going out tonight." His uncle slowly lowered the paper, his eyes flashing dangerously. "With a friend. At around seven or so."
"Oh no you are not." His uncle's voice was like ice.
Harry didn't say a word. Instead, he pulled a letter from the back pocket of his jeans. He slowly opened it, and pulled out the note inside.
"What is that? " His uncle barked.
"Oh this," Harry said innocently. "Oh nothing. Just a letter. From my godfather. You know, the serial killer who escaped from prison? Funny how they haven't caught him yet." Harry shrugged. "Suppose he just wants to know how I am doing…"
Uncle Vernon let out a low growl. "All right," He fumed. "You want to play hard ball I take it. Fine. You may go. But you must be back no later than ten. And if I see or hear so much as a hint of anything … unusual," He practically spat out the word. "You can forget about ever going back to that bloody school of yours!"
"Smashing." Harry grinned and tucked away the letter. He was glad his uncle didn't notice it was actually an advertisement for a cruise to the Isle of Wight. He uncle muttered under his breath, as he ripped angrily through the paper. Dudley frowned at Harry, wondering what his plans were. But Harry just raised his eyebrows with a triumphant gleam in his green eyes. Leaving the table, he bounded up the stairs to his room.
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"Damn it!" Harry groaned. He was trying desperately to flatten his unruly black hair. It was definitely a loosing battle. Hedwig hooted at Harry, as if she were advising him to give it up. Harry glanced at his snow-white owl, as she shifted restlessly in her cage. It had been awhile since she had been out.
"You look bored," Harry commented. Hedwig gave her feathers an impatient rustle. "Alright then, I'll give you something to do." It had been awhile since he had owled any of his friends, or even Sirius for that matter. Harry decided to drop his godfather a quick note before he left. Grabbing a quill and piece of parchment paper he scribbled the following:
Sirius,
Things have been going well.
Met a girl the other day in a pet shop. She's a muggle, but she is pretty and
seems fun. We are going out tonight. It should be fun.
Dursley's are horrid as usual.
Oh and my scar hurt a bit in the pet shop when snake talked to me.
Nothing major though.
Harry
Hearing the doorbell ring downstairs, he quickly stuffed the note in Hedwig's claws and sent her on her way out the window. Giving his hair a final pat, Harry grabbed a jacket. As an afterthought, he grabbed his wand as well and stuffed it in an inside pocket. After all, he was going out into Muggle London alone . . .
Harry saw the Dursley's as soon as he reached the foot of the stairs. They were all crowded around the entryway. There were all staring out the door at Veronica with strained expressions, their muscles tensed for action. Too many times had Harry's magical friends caused them woe. Veronica looked rather befuddled.
"Um so yeah, is Harry here?" She asked. Uncle Vernon stiffened. Dudley let out a small whimper. "Can I see Harry . . .?" She seemed at a loss for what to say. She stepped forward. Uncle Vermon's eyes flashed warningly.
"Oh don't let her in!" Aunt Petunia exclaimed. "I have only just fixed up everything from last time!"
"Yes it was so considerate of you not to come in through the fireplace," Uncle Vernon growled, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Harry decided it was time to go. He pushed through his relatives, and pulled Veronica over the threshold and slammed the door in Uncle Vermon's face. Veronica stared at him in amazement.
"Rooooiiigggghhhtttt," She said slowly. 'You've got some messed up relatives there."
"Forget about it." Harry shook his head, sighing. "Let's just go."
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Despite its rocky start, the couple actually ended up having a rather fun time. Harry had just enough muggle money for the Tube fare and a cheap dinner, so they got off at a convenient stop in the center of the city and wandered around for a while. They stopped at a fast food place, and chatted over burgers and fries. Veronica was casual and funny, so soon Harry ceased to be self-conscious around her.
"So what school are you going to be attending?" Harry asked.
"Woodward." She answered, taking a sip from her Coke.
"Wow," Harry answered impressed. Woodward Academy was one of the premiere public schools in the country. "Aren't they quite selective?"
She shrugged. "I won this scholarship thing. So I get to study abroad for a year. They are paying too," she added. "Thank God. I only live with my mom, so we'd never be able to afford it." Harry assumed she was an excellent student, like Hermione.
But Veronica didn't dwell on herself for long.
"So where do you go?"
"Hogwarts." Harry replied without thinking.
"Hogwarts?" Veronica looked puzzled. "Hmm, interesting. I've never heard of it. Is it a boarding school?"
"Uh," Harry cursed to himself. Of course, she would be pretty well informed about all of the schools in the area; she had probably spent awhile researching which ones she wanted to attend or the exchange program. "Yeah its pretty small. And kind of out . . . in the country," he ended vaguely.
"Right." She eyed him curiously. Harry groaned. He really didn't want to have to explain how he was a wizard.
"We should go." He got up abruptly. "I mean, uh, there is this really nice park nearby, you know the one we passed by. We should go there."
"Right-o! Sounds spiffing," Veronica grinned, as she spoke with a bad English accent, trying to be a "posh Brit" as she had called Harry teasingly earlier. But Harry noticed the shrewd gleam in her eye. He was almost positive that she would look up Hogwarts as soon as she got home.
They walked outside and headed down the street. Entering the park, they meandered through the grass. All around them they could hear the roar of traffic, but the park seemed removed from the whole hustle and bustle of city life. The leaves rustled idly in the cool summer breeze, and squirrels hopped about pausing to nibble on berries and nuts. They walked in silence, enjoying the tranquility. Veronica linked her arm in Harry's. He hoped that she couldn't see him blushing in the semi-darkness.
They came upon a fountain. Clear water spilled from it, and splashed down into the pool below. The rippling water glimmered, reflecting the moonlight. They sat down on its ledge still holding hands.
It was well past ten, but Harry could care less.
"Make a wish," Veronica whispered. She pulled a penny out of her jacket pocket a tossed it into the fountain. It made a small ripple as it sank to the bottom. She turned to gaze at Harry. She looked so beautiful there, with the starlight gleaming in her dark eyes. They were inviting him to come closer. Before he knew it, he was leaning in towards her. He kissed her softly on the lips. She kissed him back, and he drank in the sweet warmth of her full red mouth . . .Harry was surprised at how fast it was all happening…but it seemed so right…
"Ow!" She exclaimed suddenly jerking back. "Something poked me!"
"I, uh . . ." Harry stammered embarrassed.
"No silly!" She slapped him playfully on the arm. "It was in your jacket," Before Harry could protest, she dug in the pocket and unearthed his magic wand.
"What the . . .?" She examined the long thin wand in wonder.
"Give it back!" Harry reached for his wand agitated. How would he ever explain what it was to her? But Veronica held it out of his reach.
"No I want to see," She protested, standing up. Slowly she swept it downwards in a long arc. It whistled through the air, and seemed to sparkle in the moonlight. "So you are going to tell me what the deal is, right?" she said. Holding it above it her, she waved it in a flourish. "Here you go," she said pointed it downwards in Harry's direction for him to grab, muttering in wonder under her breath.
That was when it happened. With a sudden blast, a blinding flash of red burst from Harry's wand. Harry cried out, and Veronica shrieked a high pierced scream, her hand still glued to the wand. The air it front of them was filled with a smoky, dull light. Then suddenly the mist cleared, revealing the terror that lay beneath. A horrible image, of a rotting skull, pale as death, with a green serpent sliding out of one of the cavernous eye sockets, met their horrified gaze. Slowly, it rose above their heads and ascended up above the treetops. The wind seemed to howl wildly around it, and the trees bent and shook violently in its wake.
"Oh my God," Veronica's breath came out in gasps. She still clutched the wand tightly in her sweaty palm. It was like her hand was frozen to it. She could feel her heart pounding against her chest.
"The Dark Mark." Harry's voice sounded weary and strained. "Give me my wand." Veronica handed it over without protest. They stood back to back, their breath coming out in anxious gasps.
Suddenly a violent burst of pain seared through Harry's skull. Moaning he sank to the ground.
"Harry!" Veronica fell to his side. "Harry!" She grasped wildly at his sleeve. "What's wrong?" Harry lay there writhing in pain, his hand clasped against his forehead. Veronica's head snapped up. She whipped her eyes about in a paranoid frenzy. She could faintly discern hooded figures, gathering around them through the branches of the trees. They seemed to have appeared from nowhere. Soon they were completely encircled. The Death Eaters, moved in towards Harry and
Veronica, their wands ready for attack . . .
Eventually, they halted. The hooded figures had closed around Harry and Veronica in a tight circle. Veronica watched in horror, as one of the figures raised its wand high its head. Holding it aloft, it muttered something, and aimed it directly at her, bursting with green light . . .
Suddenly a huge black dog burst into the clearing. Snarling, it tore through the group of Death Eaters, fangs bared and barking furiously. Veronica felt faint and dizzy with shock. The world seemed to spin around her. She saw the circle break, and some of the hooded figures vanish into thin air. And then she saw and heard no more.
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Well I hope you all liked the second chapter…there is still much more to come! I haven't even warmed up yet. :) Please review!!!