A.N. Hey y'all. This chapter is dedicated to California Love, who is an awesome reviewer!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, in this chapter, Harry goes to coffee with Jersey, and learns something about her. And he gets a letter from Ginny! * wink *
Malena
Harry awoke on Sunday morning sore and stiff from his Department of Mysteries training the previous day. It had been much more rigorous than Harry had expected. He had almost gotten decapitated, chopped into a million pieces and ground into a pulp all within 10 minutes. Harry gave a shudder as he remembered what happened to this one girl who was going through training. She had to go to St. Mungo's to get her legs and arms reattached. He hadn't gotten back to his house until about three o'clock Sunday morning. All of a sudden, the doorbell rang, the deafening sound echoing throughout the house.
"I'll get it!" Harry yelled. He walked downstairs and pulled open the door.
"What is it with you and answering the door in your pajamas?" Asked Ron. "I mean, it's two in the afternoon."
"I had a hard training session." Harry yawned, trying to ignore the ache in his legs and arms. "Come in." Ron walked in and sat down on one of the chairs in the living room.
"Hey Ron," James said, walking into the living room. "How're you?"
"I'm fine James," Ron replied.
"Harry," James said. "Why are you still in your pajamas?"
"Because I just woke up."
"Go change." Harry got up off of the chair that he was sitting in and went back up to his room. When he entered his room he was greeted with Spot, barking happily.
"Hey Spot," Harry said, reaching down and scratching his dog behind his ears. Harry picked up Spot's slobbery tennis ball and threw it down the hall for Spot to chase after.
Harry pulled on a black tee shirt and some jeans and went back downstairs.
"Since you didn't help me yesterday," Ron said, when Harry had returned. "Today can you help me pick out a present for Hermione's party."
"Sure," Harry said, taking a cup of coffee that James had handed him. "When is the party anyway?"
"Tomorrow, at the Grind." Harry almost spit out the coffee in his mouth.
"Tomorrow?" Harry said after he had swallowed his coffee. "I've got a date tomorrow."
"Already?" Ron said, raising his eyebrows. "I mean, it's been what? A week or two?"
"Well, it's not really a date," Harry said. "We're just going for coffee."
"So bring her to the party, it's still at the same place."
"I dunno, I mean, I wouldn't want her to be uncomfortable."
"She won't be," Ron said. "Trust me, we'll make her feel comfortable, even if we have to use the Imperious curse." Harry gave a dry laugh and sipped his coffee.
Ron left about a half an hour later, after Harry said that he would meet him in thirty minutes at the Leaky Cauldron, and Harry went back upstairs. There was an unknown owl waiting for him. Harry ripped open the envelope and pulled out a card with the words, "Thank you from the bottom of my Butt" on the cover. He flicked open the card and on the inside were the words, "It's a lot bigger than my heart." Harry started laughing, and couldn't stop for a few minutes. When the laughter had decreased, he read the name of name of the sender. It was Ginny.
Dear Harry, It read.
I told you that I'd write, even though we're only friends now. Anyway, schools boring, as usual. In case you didn't know, Professor Lupin is teaching again. Colin Creevy is standing beside me and he wants to know how to work the map again. He forgot.
Anyway, sorry about the whole, "Butt being bigger than the heart" card but I couldn't find any other descant cards that I thought you would like, so I sent you this one. I hope you found it humorous.
David was made Quidditch captain (surprise, surprise) and next week we're having tryouts to find a Seeker.
Colin keeps going on about trying out, but I think that this one boy in my year will get it.
Anyway, I got to go finish my homework now.
From,
Ginny
P.S. Write back soon!
Harry reread the letter and then set it down on his bureau and said to himself that he would write later. Harry showered, told his dad where he was going and Apparated to the Leaky Cauldron. Ron was sitting at a table with a bottle of Butterbeer in front of him.
"Hey Ron," Harry said, walking over to him. "Ready to shop for Hermione?"
"Yeah," Ron said, putting down his empty bottle and leaving a tip. They walked out to the backyard and opened to door to Diagon Alley.
"Where should we go first?" Ron asked.
"Flourish and Blotts," Harry said. "You know Hermione."
"Yeah, let's go."
While Ron looked through the many books in Flourish and Blotts, Harry went over to Quality Quidditch Supplies. He was looking at a new model broomstick, called
THE SPEED DEMON, when someone came up from behind him.
"Sweet!" Came a familiar voice from behind him.
"Jersey?" Harry asked, turning around.
"Hey Harry!" Jersey exclaimed. "So, did you get an owl from Puddlemere yet?"
"Nope, you?"
"Nah." Jersey turned back to the broomstick and let out a low whistle. "Look at that handle, it's looks more aerodynamic than the Firebolt.
"Yeah, but look at the tail, it's longer than the Firebolt, that means that it might tilt up a little."
"You know your broom care," Jersey said. "So, why are you here anyway. I mean, it's not like celebrities to come goggle at brooms."
"Actually, I'm supposed to be helping my friend pick out a birthday present for his girlfriend," Harry admitted. "That reminds me, you wouldn't mind going to my friend's birthday tomorrow? It's still at the Grind, so maybe we can go a little earlier to have coffee alone and without my old classmates."
"I'd love to go," Jersey said. "How about you meet me there at six."
"Sure, that'd be great."
"Well, I guess I'd better go now," Harry said. "See you tomorrow."
"See ya. I'm going to stay and look at the brooms, you'd better leave before I start to drool on myself, it's not exactly the most lady-like thing to do."
"Bye Jersey."
Harry walked back to the bookstore where Ron was paying for his purchases.
"There you are," Ron said. "I thought that you were supposed to help me."
"Sorry, had to go look at the brooms. What'd you get her?"
"I ended up getting her a book about the medieval witches and wizards and a book of um…"
"Spit it out."
"Poems." Ron whispered sheepishly. "Thought she'd like it." Harry smirked and Ron rolled his eyes and walked out of the store.
"Hello Jersey," Harry said to his reflection. It was the next day and Harry had thirty minutes till his coffee date with Jersey. He had gotten a hair cut earlier and he had taken a shower. He was trying to figure out how to greet Jersey. "How are you doing tonight?" He shook his head and started another sentence. "Hey Jersey, what's up?" Harry rolled his eyes at himself and started again. "Hi Jersey-"
"Rehearsing?" Said an amused voice from the doorway.
"Shut up Sirius," Harry said, pulling a clean shirt over his head. "What are you doing here?"
"Your dad and I are going to a Quidditch match, we were going to ask you to come, but you have a date."
"Shut up," Harry repeated.
"So, who's the lucky girl?"
"Her name is Jersey Matten and we're just going out for coffee."
"That's how your mom and your dad got together."
"Sirius."
"All right, all right, I'm leaving."
"Hi Jersey," Harry said under his breath. He was sitting in a soft, plush chair at the Grind, Jersey hadn't arrived yet. "How're you?"
"Would you like anything to drink, Harry?" Asked Chelsea, one of the waitresses that always waited on Harry and his friends.
"Sure, how about a tall, decaf, double mocha latte with no foam."
"I'll have the same." Jersey had arrived. "Hey Harry what's up?"
"Nothing much," Harry replied. "You?"
"Nuttin' here." A few seconds later their coffee appeared in front of them on the coffee table. They sat for a few minutes, chatting. Harry found out that Jersey was a halfblood, and had lived in England until she was ten, and then her father transferred to America. Jersey had gone to school in the Boulder school of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Colorado. "You will not believe how much fun it is to ski at Copper Mountain," said Jersey, as she sipped her latte. "I mean, you have not skied until you've gone to Copper Mountain."
"I'll have to go there sometime," Harry said. "Have you ever-"
"Hey Harry," it was Hermione. "Who's this?"
"Hermione, I'd like you to meet Jersey Matten," Harry said. "Jersey, this is the birthday girl, Hermione Granger."
"Tis a pleasure to meet you," said Jersey, putting on a Shakespearean Accent. "Harry has told me so much about you."
"He has?" Hermione said, raising an eyebrow at Harry.
"Actually, no, but it's nice to finally meet you anyway." Harry handed over his present (a gift certificate to the Grind) and then they started chatting for little while longer. At around seven, Ron came.
"Hey Herm," Ron said, sitting down next to her and kissing her lightly on the lips. "Hello Harry, is this your date?"
"Ron, I told you-"
"Ron?" Jersey was staring at Ron. "Ron Weasley of the Burrow."
"Yes…" Ron said. He stared at Jersey for a second and then said, "Jerasina Matten?"
"Yes," Jersey exclaimed. "I can't believe it's you."
"It's great to see you too!" Ron said.
"You two know each other?" Harry asked, looking at them bewildered.
"We grew up together! Jersey just lived down the street from us," Ron said. "She and Ginny were the best of friends."
"How is Gin anyway?" Jersey asked. "I've tried owling her, but the owls never returned. I think they fainted when they were crossing the Atlantic."
"Ginny's good, She's finishing her final year at Hogwarts." Ron glanced over at Harry. "In fact, I think you should ask Harry about Ginny…" Harry glared at Ron.
"Why? You two go out?" Harry felt his face go red and then she slowly nodded. Jersey grinned.
"Harry and Ginny, kissing in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" She chanted.
"Not anymore," Harry said. "We broke up for about two weeks ago."
"First comes LOVE then comes MARRIAGE, then comes Ginny with the BAB-"
"All right, we get the point." Laughed Harry.
"I can't wait to hear from Ginny again," Jersey said. "When I get home I'm going to write her right away."
The rest of Hermione's friends showed up. Ron conjured up a small cake and Hermione blew out the candles. Harry, Jersey and the rest of them sat around, munching on cake while Hermione opened her presents. She blushed crimson when she opened the ones from Ron.
They spent the rest of the night chatting happily. They conjured up a small fire in a jar so that Seamus (Who was in California) could talk to them. Jersey laughed as Harry, Ron and Hermione told her about the adventures that they had at Hogwarts.
"I still can't believe that you actually stuck your wand up a trolls nose," Jersey said, tears of mirth coming out of her eyes.
At around ten o'clock that evening the small party started to scatter. Ron and Hermione Apparated to their houses after kissing each other goodnight. Then it was just Jersey and Harry left.
"That was fun," Jersey yawned. "You've got cool friends."
"Yeah, they're pretty great." Harry said.
"Well, I suppose I should be getting home now," Jersey said, "Or I might just fall asleep right here, Oh! Too late!" Jersey pretended to fall asleep on Harry, snoring loudly. "Watch out, I might start to drool again."
Harry laughed and pushed her off.
"All right, well, hopefully I'll see you soon."
"Yeah, I'll send you an owl, and maybe we can arrange another coffee date, or a movie or something," Harry said remembering that Jersey knew what a movie was.
"Yeah maybe." Jersey smiled and disappeared.
Harry smiled to himself and started to get up off of the couch. He had just walked out into the Alley, when he felt something jabbed into the back of his head.
"So much as blink the wrong way Potter and you will be killed," said a female voice from behind him. He recognized the voice. It was his old teacher, Professor Perry.
A.N. So, how'd you like the chapter? Review!!!!!!
Malena