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Chapter 3 holidays and chocolate

The following Monday, Harry received a note from Dumbledore, asking him to drop by the minister's office. Intrigued, Harry made his way to the office and had the secretary announce him.

Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, reading some reports.

"You wanted to see me, Minister?" Harry asked.

"Harry, come and sit down," Dumbledore smiled up at him. "I have a favour to ask you."

Harry didn't reply, but sat in the offered seat. Accepting the tea that Dumbledore conjured, he waited patiently; Dumbledore's favours were always interesting.

"I have been receiving some reports about unusual activity in a costal town of England, I would like you to go and investigate for me," Dumbledore asked.

"Do you have any information on what kind of activity?"

"It is possibly a child, unaware of their powers as yet," Dumbledore replied. "But the strength of the magic is why it was brought to my attention. If it is indeed a muggle born witch or wizard, they will eventually be notified through the appropriate channels, but I think that it merits some checking now."

"Tonks and I will go today," Harry replied.

"No, I want you to go alone," Dumbledore replied, "I would like you to spend a few days, disguised as a tourist and get the feel of the situation, before we decide what to do about it."

"Is this another ploy to get me to take a vacation?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore smiled, "You could do with a few days, and this way at least you can use the excuse that you are still working."

Harry shook his head, in the past seven years Dumbledore had become more insistent that Harry take a holiday, he had gone so far as to threaten to suspend him from duty. But Harry had explained that he wasn't ready, he was afraid to take time off in case anything happened in the magical world. He knew he was being silly, but somehow it had always felt that if he turned his back, for even a few weeks, that maybe another Dark wizard would emerge.

"Alright, I will go," Harry conceded.

"Take your swimming trunks," Dumbledore smiled, "And have a good time, that's an order." Dumbledore handed Harry the thin file about his 'assignment' and Harry could still hear him chuckling after he closed the door.

The address seemed familiar to Harry, pulling out the Greenstone file, he realised that it was the same bed and breakfast place that he and Tonks had raided a few weeks previously. The image of the pretty desk clerk suddenly swam into his mind and he smiled, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad break after all.

Harry apparated to a small park, just out of sight of the B&B, and withdrew his tiny suitcase, with barely a flick of his wand the case enlarged to its regular size, tucking his wand in his pocket, Harry made his way to the large white house.

The pretty woman was still working at the reception desk and she smiled at him as he entered the building. She wouldn't remember him, so he introduced himself and asked for a room for the week. She quickly noted down his particulars and led him up two flights of stairs, to a large room, with a pleasant view of the ocean. Telling him breakfast was served between seven and nine, she left him to unpack.

Harry emptied his case and tucked it on top of the wardrobe, then checking his appearance in the mirror; he grabbed his sunglasses and headed out to investigate the local area. Finding a nice tea shop a few streets away, Harry sat at one of the outside tables and drank a coffee, watching the world go about its business.

That evening he went down to the dining room and found a small table in the corner, the young desk clerk, who had told him her name was Emily Prewett, was taking the orders from a noisy family sitting in the centre of the room. Harry glanced at the menu and then sat, happy to watch Emily bustle around the room.

Emily was around 5ft8, tall for a woman, and her strawberry blonde hair was tied in an untidy bun on her head. Harry smiled as he saw her big, blue eyes twinkle as she placed the plates of food in front of the children at the other table.

She caught him staring as she straightened and turned, making her way towards him, she said, "Sorry to keep you waiting Mr Potter, have you decided what you'd like?"

"Could I have the steak, with salad and chips, please," Harry answered, "And maybe a glass of Red wine."

"Certainly," Emily answered, "would you like to order your dessert now; we have a very nice chocolate gateau."

Harry looked surprised for a second, then smiling he nodded, "Yes, that sounds nice."

Suddenly the idea of being covered in chocolate and having someone lick it off, didn't seem so bad. Shaking his head to remove the unwanted fantasies, Harry grabbed a newspaper from the nearby rack and tried to read until his dinner arrived. Then he turned his attention to his plate, forcing himself not to stare at Emily.

That evening, Harry lay in his room and closed his eyes; he concentrated on the people staying in the B&B, to see if one of them could be the source of the magic reported. Sure enough, he could sense another magical presence in the house. Trying to narrow it down, he probed a bit deeper and confirmed that it was a child. But the power of the magic surprised him, whoever the child was, they were powerful, or would be eventually.

The next morning, Harry went down to breakfast and surreptitiously watched the children in the room. The family that had been there the night before had two young sons and a baby girl. But none of the children's auras were displaying any signs of magic. Looking around the room, he saw another family with two girls, but they were not the source of the magic. All in all, there were eleven children in the room, but none of them displayed magical energy.

Focusing his mind, Harry searched for the child, and was rewarded by a definite presence. Taking his time, eating his cereal and toast and then lingering over his morning coffee, Harry waited to see if anymore children would come to breakfast. But even as a teenage guest walked through the door, Harry knew the he was too old, to register as a child.

The dining room was emptying and Harry didn't want to look conspicuous, so he took one of the newspapers out to the garden and sat down on one of the sun loungers to read. He monitored the people who were passing and found he could still sense the child, so he waited, pretending to read some more.

Harry could sense the magical child but was having no luck actually finding him or her. They were definitely still in the house or quite close by, but Harry didn't want to raise suspicions so he stayed in his seat and waited.