Casablanca: Diagon Alley
3: What Do You Need?
Author's Note: Ok, next chapter. This one's mainly drama. I went through about 6 songs and then a good friend was talking about the goo goo dolls, and eventually the name What Do You Need? Came up and I was like thank you, I love you man! Sorry this chapter took so long, it was all a matter of finding the right song. and getting REVIEWS *cough cough* ahem. On to the story.
Disclaimer: I own nothin'. Goo Goo Dolls own What Do You Need, from Gutterflower. If you don't know who owns Harry Potter and all HP characters, go get some help. Or at least get out of the HP fan fiction corner of the site. Duh. ~*~*~*
Ron shook his head fiercely, snapping himself out of the memory. Just then a waiter, no older than 18, rushed up to him. "Mr.Weasley! Mr. Weasley! Harry Potter's here!" he said excitedly. Ron waved the young man off and stood up slowly. Seeing Harry would be nice. He guessed. But when he got close enough to see him and his companion, it was his companion that caught his attention. It was Hermione. On Harry's arm, laughing happily and then whispering in his ear. Ron just stood there and stared. He couldn't believe it. Hermione had left him for Harry, and now had the nerve to walk into his bar. He immediately wanted to know what she was playing at, but at the moment, Harry spotted him. "Ron!" he cried in surprised joy. "Ron! I don't believe it!" he hurried over to Ron and embraced him, Hermione following him with a terrified expression crossing her face. Ron stiffly hugged Harry back, all the while glaring at Hermione. "Harry. It's nice to see you. Have you been agitating many Ministry men lately?" Ron joked. He was immensely confused. He wanted to hate Harry, but just couldn't. He was glad to see him. As he said 'Ministry men', he realized that every Irish Ministry man in the pub was glancing suspiciously at Harry. He leaned in and whispered quietly to Harry: "Watch out. This place is swarming with Ministry folk." Harry nodded and pulled Hermione forwards. She looked scared. "Ron, I'd like you to meet my wife. Hermione Granger. You remember her, don't you?" Ron shook her hand and nodded stiffly. "We've met. After Hogwarts, I mean." Hermione nodded in agreement. "Long ago," she added, shooting a meaningful look at Ron. He looked away disgustedly and turned to Harry. "I'll give you my best table." It was hard, being so happy to see Harry, so angry to see Hermione, and so confused about them being married. He brought them to the nicest table in the place and grabbed two menus from a passing waiter, who looked confused but then walked on. He handed them to them. "I have to go get back to business. You two enjoy dinner, and please tell me how it was." He bowed and left, feeling strange and bitter. Minutes into Harry and Hermione's dinner, a high-ranked Irish general came up to their table. "Mr. Potter. May I have a word with you?" he asked. When he saw Hermione's 'be careful' look at Harry, he chuckled. "Don't worry, I just want to ask you a few things." He said. Harry nodded and stood up. "Excuse me, Hermione, dear, I'll be back soon." He left. Ron saw this and watched the general suspiciously. He went to talk to some people at a table near Hermione's, but she motioned for him to come over. "Ron," she said worriedly. "Will you go down there with Harry and the General? He's not very careful and I don't want him to get caught." Despite holding herself back, she was almost begging him. He turned away bitterly. "I don't believe you're actually asking me to do something for you." he snapped, but followed Harry for Harry's sake. Hermione sighed and put her head in her hands. When she looked up, the piano player was getting ready to play another song. He looked familiar. She stood up and walked over to him. "Neville?" she asked softly, surprised. He looked at her the same way. "Hermione! It's good to see you." He grinned. Hermione looked desperate. "Play it again, Neville, will you?" she begged. Neville looked flustered. "I can't, Ron forbids it-" "Please, Neville! Play it again. Play it again, Neville." Neville sighed. "Alright, I would, but I don't remember it." "Of course you do! You know it perfectly well, you're just scared of Ron!" she snapped. Neville glared at her. "He is my boss! And I really don't remember it." He said, scowling. "Oh, but you must! You know how it went." she began humming the song until he began to catch on and play it. Soon, he was singing it and Hermione thanked him, going back to her seat and wiping a tear away from her eye. A minute later Harry emerged from the side door, and Ron emerged minutes later. Harry headed towards Hermione but Ron froze, tuning his ears to the music he heard. Then he stomped towards Neville's piano. "I thought I told you never to play that song!" he breathed quietly, dangerously. Neville stopped singing but kept playing the melody of the song on the piano. "I know, boss, but Hermione." Ron stormed away before Neville could finish. ~*~*~*
~Before, with Ron, Harry, and the Irish Officer in the basement~ Harry turned around and spotted Ron. "You coming as well?" he asked with a grin. Ron gave a small smile back. "Monitoring things," he said. Harry grinned again. They made their way down the stairs. "So," The Irishman said once they were seated. "Now we've got the infamous Harry Potter in our humble country." "Famous Harry Potter, to the other half of the population," Ron reminded him. The Officer smiled despite himself. "Yes, I know. All right, the Well-known Harry Potter. I have to say, Potter, I can't have you stirring up any rebellions while you're in Cork." He said seriously, looking at Harry. Harry shrugged. "I'm not planning to stir up anything while I'm here. It's just a stop until I can get a legal way into France." "And you do know the British Ministry of Magic has offered quite a large sum of galleons for your capture. It could be dangerous to stay here too long. And some higher-ranked Officers than myself will want to make sure you don't escape the country." The Officer said. "Are you threatening me, Officer? Are you going to turn me over to Monagus?" Harry asked boredly while inspecting his nails. The Officer, whose name they now saw was O'Malley, shook his head. "No, Potter. I myself don't plan to turn you over. Fact is, I've taken a liking to you. While you're here, you're safe because I'm the highest-ranking Officer for miles. But break a law and I've no choice but to turn you in. Got it?" O'Malley asked. Harry grinned. "Crystal clear, O'Malley," he said, standing and shaking O'Malley's hand. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a lovely lady overhead to entertain." He and Ron began to head up the stairs, O'Malley put out a hand to stop Ron. "Can I have a word with you, Mr. Weasley?" he asked. Ron turned and looked at the Officer before sitting back down. Harry had already gone upstairs to Hermione. "Yes?" Ron asked. O'Malley scrunched up his nose and surveyed Ron for a moment. "Just doing some background checks, and-" "Background checks? On me? What for?" Ron interrupted quickly, rudely. O'Malley shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. "It's nothing serious, just that I heard some things about you."
"Things? Like what?" Ron interjected. O'Malley looked thoughtful yet uncomfortable. "That you fought alongside Potter for awhile, before moving here. At least that's what I heard." "I had a strange habit of picking the losing side and helping it out." "Expensive habit," O'Malley countered. "I'm a rich guy," Ron shot back. "It all sounds too nice guy-ish. That's not the Ron Weasley I know. The Ron Weasley I know- well, he isn't a nice guy." "Of course I'm not. I'm a businessman. What do you expect?" "That's not what everyone says. There's rumor that you lost your heart in Diagon Alley-" "Well, either way, I don't care anymore for anything. I pick no sides and help no one but myself. I'm not gonna stick my neck out for anyone." He left the room angrily.
~*~*~*
What do you need form me tonight
I feel you look right through me now
I can't pretend it's alright
Maybe we'll find a way somehow
Why do we need to turn it on
Why does it always feel so wrong
Fear makes you fragile darling
Hate is too heavy when you're weak
Now we're both lost in anger
When we're alone we'll
Find some peace
3: What Do You Need?
Author's Note: Ok, next chapter. This one's mainly drama. I went through about 6 songs and then a good friend was talking about the goo goo dolls, and eventually the name What Do You Need? Came up and I was like thank you, I love you man! Sorry this chapter took so long, it was all a matter of finding the right song. and getting REVIEWS *cough cough* ahem. On to the story.
Disclaimer: I own nothin'. Goo Goo Dolls own What Do You Need, from Gutterflower. If you don't know who owns Harry Potter and all HP characters, go get some help. Or at least get out of the HP fan fiction corner of the site. Duh. ~*~*~*
Ron shook his head fiercely, snapping himself out of the memory. Just then a waiter, no older than 18, rushed up to him. "Mr.Weasley! Mr. Weasley! Harry Potter's here!" he said excitedly. Ron waved the young man off and stood up slowly. Seeing Harry would be nice. He guessed. But when he got close enough to see him and his companion, it was his companion that caught his attention. It was Hermione. On Harry's arm, laughing happily and then whispering in his ear. Ron just stood there and stared. He couldn't believe it. Hermione had left him for Harry, and now had the nerve to walk into his bar. He immediately wanted to know what she was playing at, but at the moment, Harry spotted him. "Ron!" he cried in surprised joy. "Ron! I don't believe it!" he hurried over to Ron and embraced him, Hermione following him with a terrified expression crossing her face. Ron stiffly hugged Harry back, all the while glaring at Hermione. "Harry. It's nice to see you. Have you been agitating many Ministry men lately?" Ron joked. He was immensely confused. He wanted to hate Harry, but just couldn't. He was glad to see him. As he said 'Ministry men', he realized that every Irish Ministry man in the pub was glancing suspiciously at Harry. He leaned in and whispered quietly to Harry: "Watch out. This place is swarming with Ministry folk." Harry nodded and pulled Hermione forwards. She looked scared. "Ron, I'd like you to meet my wife. Hermione Granger. You remember her, don't you?" Ron shook her hand and nodded stiffly. "We've met. After Hogwarts, I mean." Hermione nodded in agreement. "Long ago," she added, shooting a meaningful look at Ron. He looked away disgustedly and turned to Harry. "I'll give you my best table." It was hard, being so happy to see Harry, so angry to see Hermione, and so confused about them being married. He brought them to the nicest table in the place and grabbed two menus from a passing waiter, who looked confused but then walked on. He handed them to them. "I have to go get back to business. You two enjoy dinner, and please tell me how it was." He bowed and left, feeling strange and bitter. Minutes into Harry and Hermione's dinner, a high-ranked Irish general came up to their table. "Mr. Potter. May I have a word with you?" he asked. When he saw Hermione's 'be careful' look at Harry, he chuckled. "Don't worry, I just want to ask you a few things." He said. Harry nodded and stood up. "Excuse me, Hermione, dear, I'll be back soon." He left. Ron saw this and watched the general suspiciously. He went to talk to some people at a table near Hermione's, but she motioned for him to come over. "Ron," she said worriedly. "Will you go down there with Harry and the General? He's not very careful and I don't want him to get caught." Despite holding herself back, she was almost begging him. He turned away bitterly. "I don't believe you're actually asking me to do something for you." he snapped, but followed Harry for Harry's sake. Hermione sighed and put her head in her hands. When she looked up, the piano player was getting ready to play another song. He looked familiar. She stood up and walked over to him. "Neville?" she asked softly, surprised. He looked at her the same way. "Hermione! It's good to see you." He grinned. Hermione looked desperate. "Play it again, Neville, will you?" she begged. Neville looked flustered. "I can't, Ron forbids it-" "Please, Neville! Play it again. Play it again, Neville." Neville sighed. "Alright, I would, but I don't remember it." "Of course you do! You know it perfectly well, you're just scared of Ron!" she snapped. Neville glared at her. "He is my boss! And I really don't remember it." He said, scowling. "Oh, but you must! You know how it went." she began humming the song until he began to catch on and play it. Soon, he was singing it and Hermione thanked him, going back to her seat and wiping a tear away from her eye. A minute later Harry emerged from the side door, and Ron emerged minutes later. Harry headed towards Hermione but Ron froze, tuning his ears to the music he heard. Then he stomped towards Neville's piano. "I thought I told you never to play that song!" he breathed quietly, dangerously. Neville stopped singing but kept playing the melody of the song on the piano. "I know, boss, but Hermione." Ron stormed away before Neville could finish. ~*~*~*
~Before, with Ron, Harry, and the Irish Officer in the basement~ Harry turned around and spotted Ron. "You coming as well?" he asked with a grin. Ron gave a small smile back. "Monitoring things," he said. Harry grinned again. They made their way down the stairs. "So," The Irishman said once they were seated. "Now we've got the infamous Harry Potter in our humble country." "Famous Harry Potter, to the other half of the population," Ron reminded him. The Officer smiled despite himself. "Yes, I know. All right, the Well-known Harry Potter. I have to say, Potter, I can't have you stirring up any rebellions while you're in Cork." He said seriously, looking at Harry. Harry shrugged. "I'm not planning to stir up anything while I'm here. It's just a stop until I can get a legal way into France." "And you do know the British Ministry of Magic has offered quite a large sum of galleons for your capture. It could be dangerous to stay here too long. And some higher-ranked Officers than myself will want to make sure you don't escape the country." The Officer said. "Are you threatening me, Officer? Are you going to turn me over to Monagus?" Harry asked boredly while inspecting his nails. The Officer, whose name they now saw was O'Malley, shook his head. "No, Potter. I myself don't plan to turn you over. Fact is, I've taken a liking to you. While you're here, you're safe because I'm the highest-ranking Officer for miles. But break a law and I've no choice but to turn you in. Got it?" O'Malley asked. Harry grinned. "Crystal clear, O'Malley," he said, standing and shaking O'Malley's hand. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a lovely lady overhead to entertain." He and Ron began to head up the stairs, O'Malley put out a hand to stop Ron. "Can I have a word with you, Mr. Weasley?" he asked. Ron turned and looked at the Officer before sitting back down. Harry had already gone upstairs to Hermione. "Yes?" Ron asked. O'Malley scrunched up his nose and surveyed Ron for a moment. "Just doing some background checks, and-" "Background checks? On me? What for?" Ron interrupted quickly, rudely. O'Malley shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. "It's nothing serious, just that I heard some things about you."
"Things? Like what?" Ron interjected. O'Malley looked thoughtful yet uncomfortable. "That you fought alongside Potter for awhile, before moving here. At least that's what I heard." "I had a strange habit of picking the losing side and helping it out." "Expensive habit," O'Malley countered. "I'm a rich guy," Ron shot back. "It all sounds too nice guy-ish. That's not the Ron Weasley I know. The Ron Weasley I know- well, he isn't a nice guy." "Of course I'm not. I'm a businessman. What do you expect?" "That's not what everyone says. There's rumor that you lost your heart in Diagon Alley-" "Well, either way, I don't care anymore for anything. I pick no sides and help no one but myself. I'm not gonna stick my neck out for anyone." He left the room angrily.
~*~*~*
What do you need form me tonight
I feel you look right through me now
I can't pretend it's alright
Maybe we'll find a way somehow
Why do we need to turn it on
Why does it always feel so wrong
Fear makes you fragile darling
Hate is too heavy when you're weak
Now we're both lost in anger
When we're alone we'll
Find some peace