THAT SUMMER, Chapter 14
By Reija Linn
Bill
After Harry's lessons with Azhame had finished, we had one more week left together in Egypt before we had to return to England. I'd arranged with my boss that I got leave for an indefinite amount of time, promising to return to work as soon as my business in England was finished. My boss, though not exactly overjoyed, gave me this leave since he had to report to the English company heads. And those were, by the State of War in England, obliged to give free any employee who had reached a certain level of mastery of Defence Against the Dark Arts if he were to fight against the dark. As I was.
I also had one extra free week for preparations, which I could spend with Harry, now that we both had no work to think about. Luckily, I'd saved some money during my years of working for Gringott's, so this did not provide a problem.
As it was, I tried to make Harry's last week in Egypt an enjoyable one, and we kept ourselves well-occupied, not the least to keep our minds off that which was to come. None of us knew if we would come out of our battle in England alive, and I for one could not bear to ponder on the thought of loosing Harry.
Also, there were the thoughts of what would happen thereafter. I would, of course, return back to Egypt, where I had a flat and a job - a life.
Harry, on the other hand, would remain in England, where his place was with his friend and his godfather, where the future awaited him, perhaps in the place of a Quidditch player for England - Charlie had told me he was a fantastic Quidditch player, professional material, and I could imagine from the way I had seen him fly.
Or perhaps as an auror, as his and Ron's friend from school - even if the Dark Lord *was* defeated, there was still enough Dark magic around, and there would always be dark wizards, had always been throughout the ages.
What future would there be for him here in Egypt - with me?
For a moment, during that first night we had touched as lovers, I had imagined my feelings returned. But since then, Harry had given me no indication of this, and I had to accept the fact that it was not meant to be between us.
During our last week together in Egypt, we went to Shezra's pub a couple of times, as much for a few glasses of cider (which she served for the many people from England who worked here) as for some more information about the situation in England.
We also went to the local nightclub one evening, which I hadn't visited in ages.
We had the luck of going there on a Saturday evening, when they usually had a live band playing. That night, it was "Temple of Cheron", a gothic rock band who's lead singer Carla I'd met a couple of times - a girl about my age, who wore leather clothes and a studded belt, long, black hair and dark, Egyptian eyes - quite beautiful, actually, if you were inclined towards women.
The nightclub itself was much like any wizard nightclub or disco in England I'd ever went to, though the walls were painted with sinister scenes from old Egypt, and the people were as they were everywhere in clubs around the world - people who wanted to have some fun on their weekend, meet new people, perhaps find a date, or just take out the week's stress by dancing to some good old rock music.
During one of the breaks, Carla came up to me and asked me to introduce my 'gorgeous friend', which I did.
"Harry Potter?" she seemed most delighted at this. "Oh, I've heard of you, of course, who hasn't? You're quite famous, even outside of England. And my father was from England, came here to work and met my mother, who's Egyptian, so I always keep informed about everything that's going on over there. Pity about the current state - someone should stand up to that bunch of lunatics. How's it going with you, Bill? Still no chance for a date with me? Still only on the male side?"
I smiled at her. "Sorry Carly, no chance."
"Aw. But you still haven't moved on from that last fruit of yours, that fellow worker for the bank, have you? What was his name? Drake? Stupid git, if you ask me. If you were mine to have, I wouldn't let you go in a million years!"
I actually blushed at this. She was only joking, of course, but for one, Carla could be quite out-spoken, and also, I could imagine better things to talk about in front of Harry than recounting my ex-lovers.
"So, Harry, have you been enjoying Egypt?"
Idle conversation continued for awhile, until Carla decided it was time to 'rock some more', and left us behind as she returned to her band colleagues.
"Nice girl," I remarked to Harry. "They play here sometimes, we've met first when I was still pretty new to England."
I then asked Harry for a dance, while the band was playing something rather metal rock orientated - no danger of getting too close and being misunderstood - and he accepted. As after a couple of rounds the music drifted to something more slower, rather gothic-orientated, we did not leave the dance floor, though, and though I knew there was no future in this, the feel of holding Harry's body in a light embrace was dancing was very pleasurable indeed. I even caught Carla wink at me, once, and though I slightly shook my head at her, she continued to smile at us throughout the evening.
When the band was later done with playing, Carla asked us to join her for a couple of pints at the pub (luckily, there were no official closing hours for wizarding pubs in Egypt, other than in England, and Shezra's was always open as long as there were still enough customers to serve), and we accepted, having danced enough for one night.
As we were sitting in the pub, Carla continued to cast me stealthy looks, quite obviously broadcasting that she thought although Harry and I weren't lovers, this was a pity, and we should be, and when Harry left for the loo, once, she turned towards me, black eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Gosh, he's cute, Bill. Heard he was handsome, of course, but he's smashing. You *should* make a move, at least - I think he's absolutely infatuated with you, with that smile he reserves for you and everything."
"Carly, I don't think that would be wise," and sighing, I recounted the tale of what had happened during our journey to Egypt two months ago.
"Oh Gods, that's terrible. So sorry for you - you're coping, though?"
I nodded. "It's hard. I sometimes even think it's cruel to be going on like this, with my father and brother dead, but..." I faltered.
"Yeah," she agreed, "but life must go on, right? And I still think he'd be perfect for you, once you've both come over everything."
"There's more speaking against it, too, you know. The age..."
"Bullshit. Had my first long-term relationship when I was sixteen, and he was twenty-eight. Lasted for three years, too..."
"Yeah," I smiled, "and then you dumped him for someone your age, right?"
"Wrong," she triumphed. "He dumped me for his bloody ex-wife, went back to family and kids and all. Guess that's out of the question for you, though. I'd reconsider the whole think, if I were you, but who am I to know of such things, I'm only a rock singer."
Luckily, Harry returned from the toilet at that moment, and all of Carla's further attempts at playing matchmaker were broke off for good.
Not that what she had said wasn't tempting. It was just pretty impossible, or so I thought back then.
The last night in my flat in Egypt...
I'd known the day had to come, and I also knew we were still going to spend a lot of time together on our travel, and in England - not to mention that we'd fight side by side, as I'd promised him long ago - yet it was also as if something was coming to an end.
I'd miss him in my arms each night, beside me in my own bed, miss coming home from work to find someone waiting for me, miss waiting *for someone* in the evenings. Dreaded cooking meals for one person again, and all those long evenings you did not want to go out but would still like to have some pleasant company to spend a pleasant evening at home.
How had he gotten me so addicted to him, in such short a time?
By Reija Linn
Bill
After Harry's lessons with Azhame had finished, we had one more week left together in Egypt before we had to return to England. I'd arranged with my boss that I got leave for an indefinite amount of time, promising to return to work as soon as my business in England was finished. My boss, though not exactly overjoyed, gave me this leave since he had to report to the English company heads. And those were, by the State of War in England, obliged to give free any employee who had reached a certain level of mastery of Defence Against the Dark Arts if he were to fight against the dark. As I was.
I also had one extra free week for preparations, which I could spend with Harry, now that we both had no work to think about. Luckily, I'd saved some money during my years of working for Gringott's, so this did not provide a problem.
As it was, I tried to make Harry's last week in Egypt an enjoyable one, and we kept ourselves well-occupied, not the least to keep our minds off that which was to come. None of us knew if we would come out of our battle in England alive, and I for one could not bear to ponder on the thought of loosing Harry.
Also, there were the thoughts of what would happen thereafter. I would, of course, return back to Egypt, where I had a flat and a job - a life.
Harry, on the other hand, would remain in England, where his place was with his friend and his godfather, where the future awaited him, perhaps in the place of a Quidditch player for England - Charlie had told me he was a fantastic Quidditch player, professional material, and I could imagine from the way I had seen him fly.
Or perhaps as an auror, as his and Ron's friend from school - even if the Dark Lord *was* defeated, there was still enough Dark magic around, and there would always be dark wizards, had always been throughout the ages.
What future would there be for him here in Egypt - with me?
For a moment, during that first night we had touched as lovers, I had imagined my feelings returned. But since then, Harry had given me no indication of this, and I had to accept the fact that it was not meant to be between us.
During our last week together in Egypt, we went to Shezra's pub a couple of times, as much for a few glasses of cider (which she served for the many people from England who worked here) as for some more information about the situation in England.
We also went to the local nightclub one evening, which I hadn't visited in ages.
We had the luck of going there on a Saturday evening, when they usually had a live band playing. That night, it was "Temple of Cheron", a gothic rock band who's lead singer Carla I'd met a couple of times - a girl about my age, who wore leather clothes and a studded belt, long, black hair and dark, Egyptian eyes - quite beautiful, actually, if you were inclined towards women.
The nightclub itself was much like any wizard nightclub or disco in England I'd ever went to, though the walls were painted with sinister scenes from old Egypt, and the people were as they were everywhere in clubs around the world - people who wanted to have some fun on their weekend, meet new people, perhaps find a date, or just take out the week's stress by dancing to some good old rock music.
During one of the breaks, Carla came up to me and asked me to introduce my 'gorgeous friend', which I did.
"Harry Potter?" she seemed most delighted at this. "Oh, I've heard of you, of course, who hasn't? You're quite famous, even outside of England. And my father was from England, came here to work and met my mother, who's Egyptian, so I always keep informed about everything that's going on over there. Pity about the current state - someone should stand up to that bunch of lunatics. How's it going with you, Bill? Still no chance for a date with me? Still only on the male side?"
I smiled at her. "Sorry Carly, no chance."
"Aw. But you still haven't moved on from that last fruit of yours, that fellow worker for the bank, have you? What was his name? Drake? Stupid git, if you ask me. If you were mine to have, I wouldn't let you go in a million years!"
I actually blushed at this. She was only joking, of course, but for one, Carla could be quite out-spoken, and also, I could imagine better things to talk about in front of Harry than recounting my ex-lovers.
"So, Harry, have you been enjoying Egypt?"
Idle conversation continued for awhile, until Carla decided it was time to 'rock some more', and left us behind as she returned to her band colleagues.
"Nice girl," I remarked to Harry. "They play here sometimes, we've met first when I was still pretty new to England."
I then asked Harry for a dance, while the band was playing something rather metal rock orientated - no danger of getting too close and being misunderstood - and he accepted. As after a couple of rounds the music drifted to something more slower, rather gothic-orientated, we did not leave the dance floor, though, and though I knew there was no future in this, the feel of holding Harry's body in a light embrace was dancing was very pleasurable indeed. I even caught Carla wink at me, once, and though I slightly shook my head at her, she continued to smile at us throughout the evening.
When the band was later done with playing, Carla asked us to join her for a couple of pints at the pub (luckily, there were no official closing hours for wizarding pubs in Egypt, other than in England, and Shezra's was always open as long as there were still enough customers to serve), and we accepted, having danced enough for one night.
As we were sitting in the pub, Carla continued to cast me stealthy looks, quite obviously broadcasting that she thought although Harry and I weren't lovers, this was a pity, and we should be, and when Harry left for the loo, once, she turned towards me, black eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Gosh, he's cute, Bill. Heard he was handsome, of course, but he's smashing. You *should* make a move, at least - I think he's absolutely infatuated with you, with that smile he reserves for you and everything."
"Carly, I don't think that would be wise," and sighing, I recounted the tale of what had happened during our journey to Egypt two months ago.
"Oh Gods, that's terrible. So sorry for you - you're coping, though?"
I nodded. "It's hard. I sometimes even think it's cruel to be going on like this, with my father and brother dead, but..." I faltered.
"Yeah," she agreed, "but life must go on, right? And I still think he'd be perfect for you, once you've both come over everything."
"There's more speaking against it, too, you know. The age..."
"Bullshit. Had my first long-term relationship when I was sixteen, and he was twenty-eight. Lasted for three years, too..."
"Yeah," I smiled, "and then you dumped him for someone your age, right?"
"Wrong," she triumphed. "He dumped me for his bloody ex-wife, went back to family and kids and all. Guess that's out of the question for you, though. I'd reconsider the whole think, if I were you, but who am I to know of such things, I'm only a rock singer."
Luckily, Harry returned from the toilet at that moment, and all of Carla's further attempts at playing matchmaker were broke off for good.
Not that what she had said wasn't tempting. It was just pretty impossible, or so I thought back then.
The last night in my flat in Egypt...
I'd known the day had to come, and I also knew we were still going to spend a lot of time together on our travel, and in England - not to mention that we'd fight side by side, as I'd promised him long ago - yet it was also as if something was coming to an end.
I'd miss him in my arms each night, beside me in my own bed, miss coming home from work to find someone waiting for me, miss waiting *for someone* in the evenings. Dreaded cooking meals for one person again, and all those long evenings you did not want to go out but would still like to have some pleasant company to spend a pleasant evening at home.
How had he gotten me so addicted to him, in such short a time?