Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and Co. J.K. Rowling does.
Summary: After one very eventful night ten years ago, Voldemort was destroyed and Harry disappeared. Where did he go? What happened that night? Only one man knows the answer: a teacher named James, aka Harry. The ironic part: Ron and Hermione are in the same city. Will they ever come face to face?
Chapter 10: Shopping and Apologies
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Ron and Hermione packed their luggage and things, ready to leave. Today, Thursday, was their last day with the Bollis's.
Truth be told, it was a relief to Hermione to be going back home. She missed her kids and worried about them. And it wasn't that the Bollis's weren't nice, far from it, but she just couldn't shake the thought that Ginny didn't really love Daniel.
She knew it was an awful thing to think, but Daniel just looked so much like Draco, and, well, Ginny never really talked about Daniel, not about his personality and things. Sure, she talked of him, but that wasn't the same.
And there was another thing.
This town was giving her the chills. Something about reminded her of Harry. The way it smelled, of mint and soap. And the way she felt walking around, the air still holding a hint of refreshing cold, even though it was summertime.
Yes, all in all, she was happy to be leaving Canada.
"Ron, dear," Hermione called from the bathroom, while putting on her earrings, "Are you almost packed?"
"Yeah," Ron called back, "Just trying to close this suitcase."
Hermione could hear Ron grunting, attempting to force the suitcase closed.
"Oh, honestly," she said, walking out of the bathroom. "Here, let me do it." She pulled out her wand. "Claudes. There. See? It's no problem."
Ron huffed.
"Quit moping and finish up. We are going shopping in the wizarding district before we go, and I don't want to be short on time."
Ron smiled. "Yes, dear. Of course, I wouldn't dare to try and interfere with yours and Ginny's shopping time."
"Oh, stop."
A few minutes later, Ron and Hermione had their things packed, lined up next to the door, ready to leave with the five o'clock portkey.
"Well, won't this be a fun outing?" said Mrs. Bollis.
Mr. and Mrs. Bollis along with Ginny and Daniel were getting up from the couch where it looked liked they were reading the morning paper.
"Sorry we took a while," said Hermione.
"No problem at all, dear."
The group trouped outside into the warm air and began walking, Ron and Mr. Bollis walking and talking together, then Mrs. Bollis and her son, and Hermione and Ginny brought up the rear.
"I can't believe you guys are leaving already," commented Ginny.
"Well, it was only a five day trip. I can't stay away from teaching for very long."
"Who's substituting for you?"
"Lupin."
"Good for him!"
"Yeah, it's his chance to prove everybody wrong."
"So how are Jack and Emily?"
"Just fine, acting just like the kids they are, most the time."
"Still bickering?"
Hermione laughed. "Oh yes. That certainly hasn't gone away!"
"You know, Hermione," said Ginny, "You're just going to love Harrington Square. They have really nice robe shops. They have a Falkmur's and a Cleaton."
"Both?"
Falkmur's and Cleaton were popular wizarding clothing stores, and Harrington Square was the main wizarding center in Calgary.
"Yeah, both of them. We are going to have so much fun!"
Ron apparently overheard his sister and called back to them, "Ginny, dear, you can have as much fun as you wish, but let's not pick the stores clean of all their products. That goes for you too, Hermione, love."
Ginny and Hermione just laughed in response.
Within no time, the group was walking through Harrington Square. Ginny and Daniel were showing Ron and Hermione the sights, and like good guests, they were oohing and ahhing to the things Ginny and Daniel pointed out.
"And that's North America's largest broom store," said Daniel proudly. "It's like a warehouse in there! You can find any broom, even spare parts to old and out-dated brooms."
Ron goggled at the display window. Little animated figures were zooming around on brooms, playing a small quiddich game.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, I must agree with you, Hermione," said Ginny. "I don't see what the fascination is either."
"But you like quiddich!" said Daniel.
"Oh sure, I like it all right, but I don't plaster my face to the display window of any fancy broom store." She gestured towards her brother, who was still staring intently.
The group decided to split up to shop on their own. Daniel and Ron looked as if they weren't budging from the broom store, and Mr. and Mrs. Bollis decided to sit down at the nearest cafe and people watch. Which left Ginny and Hermione open to all the shopping they wanted to do at the department stores.
A few hours later, Ginny and Hermione returned, their arms heavy with bags.
Ron and Daniel were sitting with Mr. and Mrs. Bollis at the cafe.
"My goodness," said Mr. Bollis, "You girls certainly did some shopping."
"And just how are we going to get this home?" asked Ron. "After we take the portkey, we have to walk quite a bit to get back to my mother's house, and then we have to go by Floo powder with the kids to get back home."
"You're being way to sensible, Ron, and I don't like it," responded Hermione. "I'll manage."
Ron snickered.
"Be quiet! I needed new robes anyway. Besides, Ginny will help me put a shrinking charm on it, won't you?"
"Definitely," answered Ginny.
Ron sighed, "Okay, if you say so."
"I do."
Daniel and Ginny had to cover their mouths to keep from laughing at Ron and Hermione's playful arguing.
"Well, shall we go?" asked Mr. Bollis, standing up.
"That would be nice," said Ginny, "Any longer and Ron might convince Hermione to return that nice blue robe she got."
"That would never happen!" said Hermione.
Everyone got up and grabbed their things (Ron and Daniel had each bought a small broom servicing kit), Mr. Bollis paid the waitress, and they were off, headed back to the Bollis's house.
It was about four o'clock and Ron and Hermione had a good hour until their portkey left, so the walk back to the house was an easy, slow one.
As they were walking down a street, Hermione noticed that they were across from Peter's Bakery, and then she remembered about Jack and Emily.
"Ron!" she whispered to him, "I forgot to pick up something for the kids."
"Oh dear, that can't be good."
"No, it really isn't. But there is a really good bakery across the street, and you know them, they will be delighted to get anything sweet, and thrilled if it is a muggle sweet from Canada."
"You're right."
"So I'll just run over there really quickly. You guys just stay here."
"Sure thing," answered Ron.
Then Hermione addressed everyone else, informing them that she would be back in two minutes.
Hermione crossed the street and entered the bakery, the door giving a tiny jingle of bells, announcing her presence.
Hermione looked through the glass and the pastries lined up inside.
"So, how can I help you?" asked the same man who had given her the bread the other night. He was walking out from the back, again wiping flour from his hands onto his apron. He seemed to be forever cooking.
"Um, I'm looking for some pastries to bring back home. How are these 'Canadian Creams'?"
"Oh, those are a specialty. They are my version of a Boston Cream pastry."
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"You know, Boston Creams, with chocolate on top and a cream filling?"
Hermione looked blank.
"Well, anyway, these have a cream filling, but with maple sugar on the top."
"Sounds interesting."
"They're good, I promise you."
"Okay, I'll take two of those, and two of those red maple-leaf shaped cookies."
Peter swiftly turned around. "Um, so sorry, but it seems as if my éclairs are burning. I'll get someone else to ring you up." The man went dashing back into the kitchen, and Hermione could hear Peter scolding someone.
Hermione could also hear someone inside speaking. "Okay, okay, I'll take care of the customer; you just save the éclairs, Peter. Emma, Jacob, I think you guys should stay far away from the oven from now on."
Hermione didn't know why, but that voice seemed to give her the strangest sense of deja vu.
Little did Hermione know that the group across the street would be waiting a lot longer than two minutes for her.
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James took a deep breath. He once again rehearsed the well-prepared speech in his head. Then he held his breath and entered Peter's Bakery. He was there to apologize and explain.
It was Thursday afternoon, and, like he had promised, James was there to help Peter cook éclairs. James really hadn't spoken to Peter since Monday, but he had been constantly thinking of the proper apology. And James was rehearsing a way to explain himself. "Hi, I'm sorry, oh, and I'm a wizard" didn't really cut it.
James looked around. Peter was at the counter, doing paperwork.
"Um, hi," said James.
Peter grunted in response.
"Look," began James, "I'm sorry for the way I acted. Really, it isn't that I don't trust you. I mean, you are like a brother to me. It's just that-- I think--" James stopped short. Peter slowly raised his head, looking at the silent James.
James gathered his courage once again. C'mon, he urged himself, Peter is your best friend. You can't lose him. He deserves to know the truth.
"You see," continued James, "I think I am more afraid to admit my past to myself, let alone anyone else. It's not you, Peter, it's me. And, well, I'm sorry, and I am prepared to explain myself because I think you deserve to know."
Peter looked surprised at this pouring of emotion from James. In fact, he looked rather like he did not know what to do."
"Er, well, it's okay," said Peter, "I meant to apologize. I was being rather harsh, and your past is your past, and you shouldn't have to explain yourself if you don't want to. It's just that so many strange things have been happening, and they all seem to revolve around you. I guess I just was startled by the realization that I might not know you as well as I think I do."
"So you don't mind if I prefer not to tell you about my past?" asked James hopefully.
"Well, I would like to know, just because you have now made it very mysterious," Peter gave a small smile, "But I understand if you don't want to."
James was at a loss. On the one hand, he was thrilled that he didn't have to explain anything to Peter, but on the other hand, James had been prepared to tell his friend the truth, and he realized that he would have to explain things to Peter at some time or other. He couldn't avoid it forever.
"I'll tell you at one point, really, I will," answered James, "But, would you mind if--"
"If you put it off a bit longer?" finished Peter. He laughed. "No, I wouldn't mind, I'm just happy that we are on speaking terms. You know, you're brutal in an argument, James. It's awful being angry at you. You use that certain tone of voice, and choose just the right words... Geez, I would hate having you as my enemy. And who would have thought that you could be so good at being cold and angry?"
James laughed good-naturedly. "I've had practice."
"Ah! See? More of your mysterious past pops up! Did you have some evil friend who betrayed you? Were you the spokesperson for a country that had discussions with an evil enemy? Were you--"
"A rock star!" shouted Emma, bursting though the front door of the bakery, hands held high in a pose.
Jacob and Sarah carefully walked around the posed Emma, who looked as if she could hear some imaginary applause.
"Ba nuh nuh, ba nuh na na na nuhh!" sang Emma, playing an invisible guitar.
"What's with her?" asked Peter.
"Car. Radio. Song," explained Sarah.
"She listens to the worst music. All that noise and drums..." said Jacob.
Emma came over and whacked Jacob on the arm. "My music isn't bad! It's wonderful. And I happen to like it."
Emma then continued to dance around the room, singing.
"So, how are you, James?" asked Sarah.
"Fine."
"Ready to make some éclairs?"
"Sure." Apparently Peter had not told Sarah about the argument, which was fine by James.
Emma stopped dancing around and went into the kitchen with the others.
"I can't believe we're making éclairs again," moaned Sarah. "It was pretty bad last time."
"No, it will be lots and lots of fun!" said Emma.
"'Fun' meaning chocolate everywhere, right?" asked Jacob warily.
"Yes!" said Emma, way to excited about it, James thought.
"Well, shall we?" asked Peter, with the ingredients pulled out.
One hour later, the kitchen resembled the way it looked on that earlier Sunday, namely, chocolate and flour everywhere. Peter was getting a bit flustered. His bakery was open on weekdays and Saturdays, and so not only did he have to look after Emma and Jacob, who were trying vainly to make éclairs, but also take care of customers.
In fact, Peter was helping someone right now.
"You know," said Emma, as she was attempting to pour the cream into the pastry shell, "I'm so happy we could get together and do this. I mean, I haven't seen you guys in ages! Except you, Jamesie, I just saw you on Sunday."
"Um, Emma," said Jacob, "You saw Peter and Sarah yesterday, and you live with me. So why would it be 'except James'?"
Emma rolled her eyes. "My poor Cobbie is a little slow sometimes," she explained to Sarah. Jacob held his hands up in "beat's me" kind of way.
"Emma, I don't get it either," said Sarah.
"Oh, you guys, it's easy! I see you and Peter so often, that when I don't see you for a whole day, it feels like a very long time. For Jamesie, on the other hand, seeing him twice a week is a treat!"
"I can't figure out if that is a complement or an insult..." said James.
"That's wonderful," answered Emma.
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
Jacob shrugged.
Peter came back into the kitchen. "So, how are the éclairs going?"
"Well, I think," reported James. "We've made about twenty, and they're just in the oven now."
"Great!"
"Yeah, I like the chocolate topping the best," said Emma.
"I hate chocolate topping," said Jacob. Emma was once again smothering Jacob with chocolate.
"Tell me again why I'm going to marry you in a few months?" asked Jacob.
"Because I'm wonderful, and smart, and beautiful, and you love me to pieces. Itty bitty pieces. And because I like chocolate sauce."
Emma and Jacob continued to "work" on the éclairs, giving James and Sarah a break. Sarah was reading a book, and James was pondering his decision he made to Peter. James now felt that he did not want to explain anything. But as he thought about it more, he realized that a lot of strange thing had happened, though the events were not strange for James, who felt as if he really had had enough "strange" things happen to him for one lifetime.
Suddenly, as if to prove James' "strange things revolve around me" theory, a bizarre string of events happened that were seemingly twisted by fate.
The front door chimed, meaning Peter had to help out a customer.
Not two seconds later did the oven bell go off, signaling that the éclair pastry was done.
And at that moment, Emma lost the oven mitts.
No oven mitts meant no taking out pastries from the oven.
Which meant burnt pastry.
Emma was desperately trying to find the lost oven mitts, and Jacob was trying to work the oven. Unfortunately, he ended up raising the temperature.
That's when James and Sarah entered the scene. James yanked open the oven door and Sarah told Emma and Jacob that opening the oven would have been sufficient enough to stop the éclairs from burning.
The open oven let out the smoke from the slightly burnt éclairs, which consequently brought Peter running in.
"You guys!" he cried, "Can't I trust you for two minutes? Puff pastry is very hard to remake!"
"Um, your customer is waiting," pointed out Emma.
"I know!"
"Well?" prompted Sarah.
"Okay, okay," said James, attempting to be the peacemaker, "I'll take care of the customer, you just save the éclairs, Peter. Emma, Jacob, I think you guys should stay far away from the oven from now on."
"Thanks," said Peter, as he pulled out two oven mitts from a drawer to get the pastry with.
Never a dull moment with these guys, thought James.
Unfortunately for James, though, an even less dull and stranger moment was about to follow. For when James stepped out of that kitchen, a woman with bushy brown hair was standing in front of him.
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Dun dun dunn! The situation has been set…what will be the result?
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