Chapter Two: The People You Meet
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. End of discussion.
Thursday came faster than usual. Well, it actually came as fast as normal, but Harry didn't realize how many days had gone by until one morning the bathroom mirror reminded him. It also made a comment on how scruffy he looked in the morning before he shaved.
"You ready to go?" Harry asked as Reagan came down the stairs. She nodded energetically and followed Darenn into the study. Harry watched as Darenn went first. After he disappeared into the green flames, Reagan took her turn throwing Floo Powder into the fireplace and yelling, "Diagon Alley!" Harry shook his head, wondering why Reagan liked traveling by Floo Powder. He Apparated to the Leaky Cauldron in time to pull Reagan out of the grate as she landed expertly.
"I don't understand why you don't like it, Daddy," Reagan said, brushing herself off.
Harry shook his head. "I have my reasons."
"It feels like your stomach falls to your toes. It kinda tickles," she explained.
"I know what it feels like," Harry replied. "If you like the feeling so much, we should go a Muggle amusement park and ride a rollercoaster."
"A what?" Reagan asked.
"Nothing," Harry replied. He occasionally forgot that he knew more about the Muggle world more than his children did.
The three made their way through the Leaky Cauldron. They chose a table in the middle of the room in perfect view of the door.
Harry could tell that Reagan was a little nervous. She had only met Draco three times before and none of them had been pleasant. The first time had been in the San Francisco Jumper Station in California when Harry had taken his family with him to America to meet his newly found relatives. The second was when they arrived back at Platform 9 & 3/4 after their first year at Hogwarts, and the last had been this past fall as they were boarding the Hogwarts Express. None of these times Draco and Reagan had spoken much; Harry didn't really want his daughter to have much contact with the man. Though since their daughters had formed such a strong relationship over the years, Harry began to realize that she had to deal with him eventually.
Harry and Draco were both Aurors, but Harry was the Commander in Chief of the British Auror Confederation. Draco was no where near as highly ranked as Harry was. It sometimes posed as a problem because Draco's attitude towards Harry had not improved since they left Hogwarts. Draco had to basically force himself to be respectful of Harry because Harry was his superior.
Reagan heard the door open and didn't need to turn around to know who had walked in the room. She felt her father physically and mentally tense beside her, and then she heard the squeal.
"Reagan!" Josie cried. Reagan turned and saw her blond friend running across the room. Reagan grinned. She jumped and hugged her friend.
"Good afternoon Draco!" Harry said and offered his hand.
"What's made you do cheery this morning, Potter?" Draco said and shook Harry's hand.
"Nothing," Harry replied. "But I'd watch your tone."
Draco smirked at Harry. "My apologies, sir."
"Hello Josie," Harry said.
"Hello Mr. Potter," Josie replied. "Father, this is Reagan."
"Its nice to see you again, Mr. Malfoy," Reagan politely said. Harry grinned to himself, proud of his daughter's manners. He was half expecting Draco to make a comment on Reagan but none came.
"Pleasure," Draco said to Reagan.
"Are all ready for school?" Harry asked Josie and she nodded, sending sideways glances at her father.
"She has all her Hogwarts things," Draco said to Harry.
"Well, Reagan and Darenn both have some things still left to buy, so why don't we send your trunk along to the house," Harry said. He tapped Josie's trunk with his wand, muttered a spell and it disappeared.
Draco muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like, "Show off."
Harry turned and glared at Draco.
"You're excused, Draco," Harry said sternly. "I'll see you Monday."
Draco returned Harry's glare and Disapparated. Harry shook his head and turned to see if had Josian noticed his exchange with her father. She hadn't, but he knew Reagan did. He had felt her energy tense beside him.
"Well ladies," Harry said. "Shall we?" He motioned towards the door and followed them out of the Leaky Cauldron.
The sun was shining brightly outside as they stepped onto the cobbled street. Darenn walked along at his father's side and Josie and Reagan chatted a few paces ahead of them.
"Girls," Harry said, directing them towards Flourish and Blotts. Reagan glanced at her father, smiling and steered Josie into the shop.
"Reagan, honey, give me your list," Harry said to his daughter. Reagan produced her list out of her pocket and handed it to Harry before moving off towards the Romance section after Josie.
"How many classes is she taking?" Harry asked as he looked over his daughter's book list.
"Looks to be a lot," Darenn commented, looking over Harry's arm at the parchment.
"She has Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Muggle Studies?" Harry's eyes grew.
"It seems that way. She also has all the others ones too, like Potions and Transfiguration and Charms and stuff."
"Isn't that a lot?" Harry asked.
Darenn shrugged. "Mum did it. James did it. I have Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes. And we play Quidditch."
"I only had Care of Magical Creatures and Divination."
"Aunt Hermione old us that Divination was a silly subject. She ended up dropping it."
"Yes, I vaguely remember," Harry muttered.
"I guess the timetables worked out for Reagan to have one extra class without overloading herself," Darenn said.
"Can I help you?" the saleswitch asked.
"Um, yes, I need...uh..." Harry paused and looked at the parchment again.
"Here, Mr. Potter," she offered and took the parchment from him. "Allow me." Darenn handed her his list as well and she went off to gather their books.
"Hey Dad, look at this," Darenn said, picking up a book.
"Famous Wizards in the Twenty First Century?" Harry asked. "How can they make one yet? This century's just begun."
"Well, they did," Darenn replied as he flipped though it. "And guess what?"
"Oh, no," Harry groaned as Darenn turned the book around. "Chapter Four: The-One-Who-Conquered-the-Dark-Lord?"
Darenn chuckled. 'You can't get away from it, can you Dad?"
"This was eighteen years ago!" Harry cried and took the book from him. "You'd think it would be old news! It says the 'Boy-Who-Lived, conquered the Dark Lord!' Oh, come on!"
"Dad, I don't think you'll ever live it down. Its going to be one of those things that follows you around forever and ever," Darenn chuckled.
"Oh, cut it out!" Harry scoffed and playfully smacked his son's arm. Darenn laughed and took the book from him.
"Hello Darenn," a voice said. Harry turned and saw a pretty raven haired girl, who looked slightly familiar.
"Oh, hello, Avery," Darenn said, seeming to grow nervous. "Dad, this is, um, Avery Valentine. She's a Gryffindor, in my year."
"Its a pleasure to meet you, Miss Valentine," Harry said as he shook her hand.
"Its nice to meet you, Mr. Potter," she said and blushed. "I think you know my Mum. She mentioned you once."
"Is that so? What was her name?"
"Padma Patil, though when she married my dad it was Padma Valentine," she explained.
"Oh, yes, I do remember your mum," Harry replied, wondering how much Padma had mentioned him. "Tell her hello for me, will you?"
"Oh, yes, I certainly will!" Avery replied.
"Dad, do you mind if we go and get some ice cream?" Darenn asked. "I mean, will you be okay with the 'giggle girls'?" Avery gave him a questioning look and then she saw Reagan and Josie on the other end of the store.
"I'll be fine, Darenn," Harry asked. "We'll head over to the Apothecary next, then meet us at Quality Quidditch Supplies."
"Thanks Dad," Darenn said. "See you."
"It was nice to meet you, Mr. Potter," Avery said as she walked past him.
"ÒIt was my pleasure," Harry replied.
"He's so nice!" he heard Avery say to Darenn as they left the store.
"Here you go, Mr. Potter," the saleswitch said as she handed him his book order and Harry turned to take them from her. "Just sign right here, Mr. Potter." He signed his name on the charge slip for the gold to be taken out of his vault to cover the cost of the purchases.
"Can you send them to my house?" Harry asked.
"Of course, Mr. Potter," she replied, smiling. "Everything will be taken care of."
"Thank you," Harry replied. Reagan and Josie were already waiting by the door and he met them with a bright smile.
"Where to now?" Reagan asked.
"The Apothecary," Harry replied. "Then Quality Quidditch Supplies and then Madame Malkin's, and then."
"Then can we get ice cream?" Reagan asked.
"Yes, I was about to say after Madame Malkin's we have an order to place for your mother at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor and I don't see any reason to pass up the opportunity to have ice cream ourselves." Reagan and Josie smiled brightly as they walked into the Apothecary. This store always made Harry nauseous so he did his best to hurry.
"Where'd your brother go?" Harry heard Josie ask. He went with Avery Valentine to get ice cream, Harry thought. She's a very nice girl.
"Oh, he went to get ice cream with that Avery girl in his year," Reagan replied.
"How do you know?" Josie asked. "Did you see them?"
"No, I um..." Reagan paused. "I mean yeah, I saw them walk past the window and just assumed that they were getting ice cream."
"Oh," Josie said.
Damn, Harry thought. He'd have to be careful with Josie around. If Reagan didn't want Josie to know about their Connection, then he would have to do his best to avoid question raising situations.
"Done?" he asked the girls. He stood with his bag full of Reagan and Darenn's replacement items as well as a few things Ginny had asked him to pick up.
"Yup," Reagan replied and Harry followed them out of the store.
"We're going to Quality Quidditch Supplies next, right?" Josie asked, more to Reagan than Harry.
Reagan nodded. "Yeah, Dad said I could look at new brooms, cause mine is getting old."
"Old?" Josie asked. "You've only had it for three years."
"He said I could look, not get. I'll need a knew one next year," Reagan replied.
"Hey Dad," Darenn said as they stepped into Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"How was your ice cream?" Harry asked and Darenn blushed.
"You can stop thinking that, Dad," Darenn replied. "Avery and I are just friends."
Harry made an attempt to look offended. "I never thought any different!"
"Yeah right, Dad," Reagan put in. She and Josie were moving towards the broom displays, and Harry gave her a smirked at her.
"Seriously, Dad," Darenn said, looking determined.
"All right, all right," Harry answered and followed his daughter.
This year's model, the Nimbus 4000, were designed to each specific Quidditch position. However, that was not the only specification. There were fourteen models total, one for each position and one for a male rider and a female rider. Apparently it mattered. Harry watched as Darenn, Reagan and Josie drooled over the brooms.
"Look, it says 'Price on Request,'" Reagan said to her brother.
"Of course it does," he replied. "They never put the prices on these things. I've never seen an actual price."
"Excuse me," Harry asked the saleswizard passing by.
"Oh, yes, Mr. Potter?" he asked. Harry pulled him out of the hearing range of his children.
"I'd like to make an order," Harry began and waited for the man to pull an order pad out of his robe pocket. "Can you please send one Nimbus 4000 Chaser, female, to Miss Reagan Potter, and one Nimbus 4000 Beater, male, to Mr. Darenn Potter, both at Hogwarts the second week of term." The man scribbled down the order.
"That's a hearty gift," the man replied. He handed Harry the quill to sign for the gold transfer and Harry penned his name on the line.
"Are you going to get them?" Reagan was asking Josie.
The blond girl shrugged. "I don't know. Father doesn't like it when I spend my money on things like that."
"Like what?" Harry asked, coming into the conversation. Josie looked at Reagan and then back at Harry.
"Josie wants new Seeker gloves because hers went mysteriously 'missing' after the Quidditch cup last year," Reagan explained.
"Missing?" Harry asked.
"Well, we won the Cup against Slytherin, and Mathias was mad so he stole her gloves."
"He did not!" Josie insisted. "Father said he checked Mathias' room and they weren't there."
"Yeah, and he also told you to stop making up excuses for your own irresponsibility. Like you would ever be irresponsible about anything."
"He's my brother," Josie said. "I don't think he would just take something from me."
"Why not?" Reagan asked. "My brothers just take things from me all the time. Parchment, chocolate frogs, quills; I have to etch my name in everything I get so I can prove its mine."
"But its different," Josie replied and crossed her arms.
"How?" Reagan challenged.
Josie didn't answer immediately. "It just is."
Reagan and Josian stared at each other.
"Well whatever," Reagan finally said. "If you don't buy them, then I'll buy them for you." Josie looked at her friend. Anyone could see the internal debate going on.
"Well, I suppose Father won't really know," Josie eventually said. "I mean, it is my money."
"Its settled then," Reagan said. "You can get your Seeker gloves and I need a new pair of Chaser gloves and we'll be set."
"Reagan," Harry began.
"I can pay for them, Dad," Reagan said, realizing what her father was intending to do. "If you don't let me spend my money, then I'll be filthy rich before I'm twenty and won't know what to do with it."
Harry nodded and looked at Darenn. "Do you need anything?"
"Nope," Darenn replied. "I bought new gloves last year."
"I'll wait outside then," Harry said and left the store. Soon after Darenn followed Josie and Reagan both holding their new purchases as if they were gold.
"Madame Malkins?" Harry asked, and the three nodded and headed towards the shop.
Harry had always liked Madam Malkin's. It had been one of the first shops he ahd been in when he had first discovered the wizarding world. It was where he ahd met Draco for the first time.
"Say, Josie?" Harry asked and she turned to look at him.
"Yes, Mr. Potter?" she replied politely.
"Did you know this is the first place I met your father?"
Josie glanced around. "Really? In here?"
Harry nodded.
"Wow, that's nice to know," she replied.
"I thought you'd like that completely useless bit of knowledge," Harry said to her and he thought he saw Reagan roll her eyes.
"Did you get dress robes yet?" Reagan asked her friend.
"Yes, I came with my Mum last week," Josie replied. "Father insisted that I get black, something about looking appropriate."
"Oh," Reagan replied. "Then come help me pick out mine."
"Dress robes?" Harry asked Darenn as Reagan pulled Josie to the other side of the shop.
"Yeah, Dad," Darenn answered. "Dress robes, you know for the Holiday Ball. Fourth years get to go, didn't you read out Hogwarts letters? It was in the permission slip."
"No," Harry replied. "I signed Reagan's, but I didn't read it."
"Mum signed mine, and she read it. She told me to remind you because she doubted that you read Reagan's."
"Figures," he muttered. He walked over to his daughter and was surprised to see her taking to a tall dark haired boy.
"Oh, hi Daddy," Reagan said as he approached them.
"Hi honey," he said, eyeing this new boy.
"Dad, this is Trevor Daniels," Reagan said.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," Trevor said, and shook Harry's hand. "I was shopping for my dress robes when I saw Reagan. So I thought I'd stop and say hello."
"Nice to meet you," Harry said.
"Hey, Trevor!" Darenn said, shaking his hand. "How's your summer?"
Trevor smiled. "Oh, its all right. I took a vacation to Australia. My aunt loved it."
"That sounds like fun," Reagan commented.
"Australia, that's quite an interesting place," Harry said.
"It was, Mr. Potter," Trevor replied and glanced at his watch. "Well, I've got to meet my aunt at the Leaky Cauldron, right about now actually, so I guess I'll see you on the train." He smiled at Reagan and Josie.
"Bye," Josie said.
"It was very nice to meet you, Mr. Potter," Trevor said as he was leaving.
"Like wise," Harry replied.
"See ya," Darenn said as Trevor left.
"Oh," Trevor began, turning back to them. "Reagan, did you decide what color you're going to get?"
"Color for what?" she asked.
"Dress robes," Trevor replied.
"Oh! I was thinking white," Reagan answered.
"Good choice," Trevor replied. "I'll see you on the train." Harry watched as he left Madame Malkin's. Trevor turned and waved as he stepped out of the shop. Harry caught a glimpse of the patch on his Hogwarts robes and realized what house he was in.
"Dad, don't," Reagan warned before he could say a word.
"Reagan," he began but stopped.
"He's in Slytherin, so what?" Reagan challenged. "You always tell us not to judge people by their house affiliation."
"Reagan, yes, but," Harry started.
"There are no buts Dad," Reagan said. He's different, she thought.
"Reagan, stop that!" Harry scolded. Reagan's eyes grew and then narrowed into a glare.
"Dad, if you didn't let your guard down every time you were angered, it wouldn't be a problem," Reagan replied.
"Reagan," Harry began but he stopped. He didn't want to make a scene in the shop and especially in font of Josie, who was watching the exchange with great interest. Harry sighed.
"We'll finish this later," Harry said. He mentally closed the door before any more of her thoughts could pop into his head. Reagan jumped as his door mentally slammed shut and the light fixture above them shook.
Harry felt it would be best to sign the gold transfer slip for whatever they were to buy and leave, before he and his daughter got into a row. He scribbled his name on the parchment, scratching it harder than necessary at the last "r" and left the robe shop.
Harry was able to breath and straighten himself once outside. He took a few deep breaths and started to walk to the Magical Menagerie. Besides, he did love his daughter, regardless of who her friends were. He knew that he couldn't finish this with her later because he didn't want to fight with her when Josie was visiting, and they were both leaving for Hogwarts in a week. Harry sighed again as he entered the Magical Menagerie. There was one more thing he wanted to buy for his daughter.
A/N: This was quite a long chapter. Well, please review, I can't use the first fic excuse anymore, but I can try 'this is my first sequel so please review!!' And if you have any questions, please feel free to put them in the review box and IÕll do my best to answer them. ~EE
