DISCLAIMER: The Great JK Rowling owns Harry Potter, the Weasleys and his friends (and enemies) as well as those places mentioned in her books.
Chapter 13: Angela's Recall
Ron dropped himself on the couch. He was so tired of Hermione sending him on errands everywhere since only he can Apparate easily and sometimes Apparition can drain the energy out of you.
Harry walked in the apartment with Angela on his sleeves, laughing at some lame joke Ron was sure Harry made up again. Except for that encounter with his sister and the photographer yesterday, Harry's been animated these days.
"Hey, how's the groom?" Angela asked, easing on the mint green lounge chair and opening a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
"Exhausted. How's the Department?" He asked. Starting today, he filed a month long leave from the ministry for the wedding, so did Hermione.
"Just a few sessions to go and the International Ministry of Magic will be underway." Harry answered, getting some beans from Angela's box. "Though Russia and Bulgaria's giving most of us a little bit of a hard time, I think we'll push through."
Angela nodded. "The States are very supportive, thank goodness!"
"So how's the wedding going?" Harry asked as he spit a booger-flavored bean on his palm.
"Exhausting. Tiring…" Ron groaned. "Hermione's such a slave driver."
"You should know better, Ron." Harry went into the kitchen to wash his hands and returned quickly. "We've been with her for eight years."
"Yeah. Can't believe I'm actually doing this. Getting married at nineteen!" It seems as if he idea occurred to him just then.
"Are you having cold feet, Ron?" Angela asked intently.
Ron shook his head. "No. It's just that suddenly I realized that I'm still so young. What if things go wrong? What if I end up hurting her?"
Angela gave Harry a knowing look.
"Ron, Neville and Lavender got married immediately after leaving Hogwarts. They'll be having a baby now, you know that. Did anything happen? None." Harry sat down beside him. "It's really up to you and Hermione. But from the looks of it, this marriage will work."
Ron sighed and looked at Angela. She gave an encouraging nod. "I think so, too, Ron. You'll be great husband and father."
Ron cringed at the last word Angela said. Though he's about to marry Hermione in a few days, the thought of being a father hasn't occurred to him yet.
He shrugged and stood up. "I'll go in my room and rest, okay? If Hermione calls, tell her I slipped into a coma." And he dragged himself to his room and fell into his bed.
"So how are you, Harry? It's been a while since we really got to talk." Angela said as Ron's door closed.
Harry sighed. "I don't know, Angela. I'm sort of emotionally unstable these days. Ron's moving out in a couple of days and all of that wedding stuff going on. I never felt so alone since before I left Privet Drive eight years ago."
"Well, this things happen, Harry." Angela said. "At least it's Ron and Hermione marrying each other. You? Haven't you found your woman yet?" She asked casually.
Harry shook his head and looked away.
"You haven't found or you let her slip away?" She asked, giving Harry an expectant look.
Harry was surprised at Angela's question. "What do you mean?"
Angela chuckled. "Oh, c'mon Harry. I may not know you as long as Ron or Hermione does but I know you. I know you have something about some red head girl who happens to be your best friend's sister."
Harry looked at Angela then looked away abruptly. He stood up. "I have to fix the reservations in the hotel and the church. Do you want to come?" He changed the topic.
"Oh Harry, admit it to yourself. You love Ginny." Angela stood up, too. "I can't go with you. Go ahead and fulfill your duties as Best Man. Ron looks like he needs all the help he can get." She said as she looked at Ron's slightly opened bedroom door. "I have to check my email. Catch up with my friends at home."
She waved good-bye and left Harry in the apartment. He walked towards the window and looked at the alley below. People keep on appearing from the corner of Diagon Alley, carrying shopping bags. He looked over at Hermione's and saw two silhouettes, one was Hermione's and the other was unmistakably Ginny's. From the looks of it, she already moved in.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were sitting around Hermione's dining room the next morning. Harry decided to take a few days off to help the couple and Ginny decided to move in earlier to help, too.
"I already confirmed the rooms at Three Broomsticks and the church at Hogsmeade. You are off to Paris at exactly ten pm on Sunday, I already have the Portkey at home." Harry said as he shoved some parchment to the couple.
Ginny kept on munching some Chocolate Frogs but was listening carefully at what they were talking about.
"Yeah." Ron nodded. "Harry, will you help me bring my things over at Godric's Hollow this afternoon? I don't want it to get in the way in the next few days and Hermione and I want to go home there from Paris."
Harry nodded. "No problem."
"Uhmm, Harry, can I talk to you for a moment at the living room?" He said seriously.
He followed silently. Ron checked if they were out of earshot when he pulled something from his pocket and shoved it to Harry's hands.
"It's the ring I'll give her on Sunday." He said.
"Why are you giving it to me?" Harry asked.
"Oh, Harry. You're supposed to keep it for me." He hissed.
Harry nodded again. "Oh, okay." And put it in his pocket.
They went back to the dining room and after a few minutes more, Harry, quite exhausted, stood up and walked back to his apartment.
When he opened the door, the first things he saw were Ron's things in neat boxes. He can't help but feel sad for himself. He'll be living there alone. That afternoon, he and Ron are to bring those to Ron's new home at Godric's Hollow.
Ever since their first year at Hogwarts, he, Ron and Hermione were inseparable. Now, he fells like an intruder to the two. A third wheel. Ron and Hermione will be starting a family soon. A life together. A life without him.
He sat down on his favorite lounge chair and looked at the box. He didn't know he was drifting off to sleep when he felt someone poking him on the shoulder.
"Hey, Harry…" He heard a female voice say.
"What?" He sat up suddenly.
"You fell asleep." Angela said. Though she was wearing her favorite yellow robes, she looked quite sad. "I have something to tell you."
Harry shook the sleepiness out of him before he turned to Angela, who already sat on the other lounge chair. "What do you want to tell me?"
Angela sighed. "Our Ministry of Magic contacted me this morning. They need me back at SEA. Immediately."
Harry was speechless. "How about you job here?"
"They're thinking of sending someone else but since the International Ministry will be established soon, we might just wait for that. My work here is almost over anyway." She smiled her usual smiles but this time, it didn't reach her eyes. But she suddenly lit up. "And there's something else."
Harry waited for her to tell.
"Drew emailed me. He said he's willing to marry me despite being me. Witch and all." She was laughing now but Harry could see tears swelling up in her eyes.
Harry felt so happy for Angela but then the wedding suddenly popped in his mind. "But, when do your Ministry need you? Aren't you staying for the wedding?"
"They said they want me there this weekend. I said I couldn't. I told them I have something to attend to, very important. I'll be leaving middle of next week. Drew will be flying in tomorrow to help me pack and go with me to the wedding." She said almost cheerfully.
"That's great, Angela." Then he sighed.
"Yeah." She stood up. "I just dropped by to tell you. I got to go. See you around." And she walked out of the apartment.
Harry fell back on the chair. Then it hit him. Ron and Hermione are leaving. So is Angela. Now, he felt totally alone.
Ron didn't come home for dinner that night. He peeked out of the window and into Hermione's apartment. Most of the lights were on which told him that Ron is still there. Not in the mood for eating alone, Harry quickly got his cloak, it was a little cold for summer, and decided to take a walk down Diagon Alley and perhaps get a drink from the Leakey Cauldron.
Most of the days shops are starting to close their shops that made Diagon Alley quite deserted. Only a few people, mostly his age, were walking down the alley for a bit of nightlife. Once or twice he saw someone he met at Hogwarts but he just kept on walking on the shadows in the alley so that no one would recognize him.
He walked pass the new café (it's not that new anymore), Concoctions and saw the couple he hated to see, Ginny and Colin, by the window. He was in the shadows so they didn't notice him looking at them. They were talking at first then he saw Ginny smile then laughed. Colin held her hand and slowly pressed his lips on it. Though quite far from the couple, he saw Ginny's face redden.
He dragged his gaze away from the two and continued walking to the Leakey Cauldron where Tom, the toothless bartender, greeted him.
"Harry! What can I get you?" He asked.
"I'll have brandy, Tom." He sat down on the bar while taking his cloak off. The Leakey Cauldron was half-full, to his delight. He hated drinking out in a packed pub.
Tom placed a glass of brandy before him, which he drank in one gulp. Tom seemed mildly surprised at him but didn't say anything until he ordered his seventh glass of brandy.
"Mr. Potter, I think you had a little too much to drink." Tom said.
"N-no… One hic last, T-tom." He said. Harry was already face down on the counter but he insisted on one last glass, and Tom obliged.
Harry's mind was in a blur. Too much alcohol seemed to start drifting into his brain. He tried to finish his last glass of brandy but he just dozed off to sleep.
His head was throbbing but he felt something damp and hot on his forehead. He tried to open his eyes but closed in immediately.
"Harry, what are you doing to yourself?" A familiar voice said stiffly. He opened his eyes to look at the owner of the voice. It was Angela.
"W-what happened?" He asked groggily. He tried to stand up but quickly sank back into his bed as his vision started to swirl again.
"Don't try to stand up yet." Angela commanded. Dipping the towel in hot water again and put it one Harry's forehead again. "I found you in the Leakey Cauldron a few hours ago. You were wasted." She said.
Harry groaned. He never drank that much before. "W-what time is it?"
Angela glanced at her wristwatch. "Half past eleven in the evening. What is wrong with you, Harry?"
"Where's Ron?" He asked.
"Hermione's, I guess." Angela answered, now damping the towel on his arms. She managed to take his robes off, leaving only his undershirt and boxer shorts. Harry seemed to notice this so pulled his blankets.
"How did you get me undressed?" He asked darkly.
Angela looked at him sternly. "Don't get worked up, Harry. I'm trying to help you here. Why did you get drunk? Do you have a problem?"
"No." He answered. Still feeling quite dizzy, he closed his eyes; it'll also keep him from looking into Angela's piercing eyes.
"I don't believe you." She said flatly, dipping the towel in the hot water once again. "It's Ginny, isn't it?"
"If you have to know, yes." Harry sank into his pillows. "Damn it!"
Angela shook her head and brought the basin of water to the kitchen to discard. Harry tossed and turned on his bed, though still very dizzy, he tried to focus his eyes on one of the pictures on his study.
"Well, you can't get Ginny by getting drunk." Angela scolded him when she came back.
"What will I do? Steal her from Colin?" Harry asked hopelessly, finally giving up on trying to put the photograph in focus.
"Put it this way, Harry. Ron and Hermione can still break up tonight and there will be no wedding, they're not yet married after all." Angela said as a matter-of-factly.
The idea seemed to dawn at Harry for a while but his expression suddenly turned sour. "I'm not going to break them up. That's too cheap."
"You're not going to break them up then." Angela sat down on the chair at the front of his desk. "You'll just make her realize that she's still in love with you." She said brightly and picked up his picture with the Weasleys. "You look quite good with the family."
Harry looked at her doubtfully.
Angela sighed and stood up. "Think about what I said, Harry. Gotta go. It's getting late. I'll be picking Drew up in the airport tomorrow afternoon."
Harry stood up, quite wobbly at first but got better balance after a while and grabbed his dressing robe to see Angela to the door.
"Harry, remember that it you need anything, a listening ear, a cup of tea, anything, I'm just next door, okay?" She reached up and hugged him.
At that instance, the door opened and they heard someone gasp. It was Ginny.
Ginny dropped herself at her bed in Hermione's apartment (well, it might as well be hers now). There were tears in her eyes. She couldn't believe her it. Yes, she had Colin, but somehow, seeing Harry hugging another woman, (in his undergarments, no less) made her insides churn and her heart skip a beat. She knew it. In as much as she hated to admit it, she still loves Harry.
Slowly, she got up and took her cloak off and slipped into her nightdress. It's a good thing that Ron and Hermione decided to take a late night walk so she had the apartment all to herself. She doesn't want anybody seeing her get all messed up about Harry. Not since she got together with Colin.
She sat down before the mirror on her dresser and combed her long red hair. She looked at herself in the mirror. Then put the brush down. She knew she was being unfair to Colin, being with his yet thinking about Harry all the time. But she can't help it. Colin gave her attention she never got from Harry. Colin made her feel special while Harry made her feel sorry for herself.
She looked at herself eye to eye. The heart, she thought, can be taught to love another person. She told herself. But a little voice answered back. But can it make you forget the person you truly love? The voice asked back.
She pulled her eyes away from her reflection and laid her body on her bed. She knew the answer. It was no.
Early the next day, as Ginny and Hermione was eating breakfast in the kitchen; they heard a steady tapping on the window. There was a gray owl with a letter in its beak.
Hermione got up and fetched the letter. The owl flew away immediately. "It's for you."
Giving Hermione a very puzzled look, she took the letter and opened it.
Dear Ginny,
I have to tell you something of great importance. Please
Meet me at Three Broomsticks at 2 this afternoon. I'll be waiting.
Angela
"Who's it from?" Hermione asked sleepily as she sipped hot choco.
"Angela." Ginny said flatly. "I'll meet her at Three Broomsticks later."
"Why?' Hermione asked again.
Ginny shrugged. "Beats me."
Ginny took some of the Floo powder on the mantelpiece and Flooed to Three Broomsticks. She scanned the pub and saw Angela, wearing pretty periwinkle robes and hat. She's alone in a table by the window, drinking butterbeer.
"You wanted to talk to me?" Ginny asked when she reached her table.
Angela's face broke into a smile. "Yes. Please sit down. Can I get you anything?"
Ginny looked at Angela's face for a minute. "Y-yes. A butterbeer would be great, thank you."
Angela motioned for another butterbeer. They didn't break the silence until Ginny's butterbeer arrived.
"So…" Ginny started. "What do you have to tell me that's very important?"
Angela put her butterbeer down and looked at Ginny. "Whatever you saw last night, Ginny, it's not what you think."
Ginny looked away. "Look, Angela, you don't have to explain –"
"No, Ginny." She cut her off. "You have to understand. I'm doing this for Harry."
"Wait…" Ginny said. "I'm okay. I'm happy with Colin." She said, trying to convince herself, too.
"Are you?" Angela asked, her eyes looking at hers fixedly.
She couldn't take Angela's scrutiny she looked outside the window.
"Ginny, I may not know you guys for as long as you guys know each other. But in the time that we were together, I got to know you, Harry, Ron and Hermione." She said. "I know what you feel for Harry. And I know what Harry feels for you."
Angela's last sentence got her attention. "I'm sorry?"
"Isn't it obvious, Ginny?" She asked. "Harry loves you. He told me so last night."
Ginny looked at her doubtfully.
"There's nothing going on between us. I found him last night at the Leakey Cauldron, wasted." She explained. "I can't just leave him there. So I brought him home. When he was sober, he told me why he drunk himself. It's because of you. How stupid he was for letting you slip away. I was about to go home when you saw us.
"And just so you'll know, I'm off to the airport later to pick up Drew, my fiancé." She said. "I'll be going home next week. Ministry called."
Ginny nodded, not knowing how she can digest this new development. "But why didn't he tell me earlier?"
"You know how guys are. They don't notice girls until after other guys notice them, too." Angela smiled. "Look at Ron and Hermione."
Ginny feel silent, not knowing what to say. She was happy about what she found out. But then Colin's face flashed in her mind.
She felt Angela's hand on hers. "I know what's in your mind, Ginny. I just hope you make the right decision."
Ginny looked at her and smiled. "I hope so, too."
The thirteenth chapter… took me quite a long time to finish. It's the New Year!!! Happy New Year everyone!!! Please r/r.