Part Nine

Harry, Ron and Lee Jordan stood outside of a café in muggle London awaiting the arrival of Hermione, Harriet and the twins. The smell of coffee wafted out onto the street every time the door to the café opened. Ron breathed deeply as the smell drifted out the door.

"Oh I wish they would hurry up," he said, looking expectantly down the street. "I'm starved; the only thing I had to eat today was a piece of Fred and George's new candy."

"What does it do?" asked Lee, leaning up against the wall of the building.

"You know what, I'm not entirely sure," replied Ron. Harry stifled a laugh as their four awaited companions arrived.

"Hello all," said Hermione, breathless. "Sorry we're late. I had to take care of something." She shot looks to the twins who were grinning sheepishly. Harriet smiled to herself and led the group into the café. They grabbed a table and sat down. Fred sat next to Harriet and held her hand unnoticed under the table. Harry took a menu off the table and opened it.

"Well, what does everyone want?" asked Harry, scanning the list of coffees, espressos and sandwiches. "Assuming I'm the only one who brought money..." he glanced at Ron whose face grew red.

"You shouldn't assume so much, Potter," said George. "Fred and I have money."

"That's right, Harry. We don't need your charity," said Fred, reaching into his pocket and dumping a handful of gold galleons on the table. Hermione looked aggressively at Fred who shrugged. "What? They're not the fake galleons!"

"No, but it wouldn't matter if they were anyways." The twin looked questioningly at Hermione. "We're in muggle London; you can't use Galleons."

"Oh. Right." Fred quickly shoved the golden coins back into his pocket and leaned back in his chair. "So I guess you're treating then, Harry."

"No, I refuse to let my brother be the hero once again. I'm paying," said Harriet taking her hand out of Fred's and pulling muggle money out of her pocket.

"Fine by me," said Lee putting his hands behind his head. Harriet rolled her eyes and looked around the table.

"So what do you all want?" she asked. Hermione looked up from her menu.

"Oh, I don't know," she said. "Something light, I suppose. Mrs. Weasley said we could all go back to her house for a big dinner."

"Ah, more party time, then?" said George smirking at Fred, who gave him a sharp jab in the ribs.

"Oy Fred, who's that?" asked Lee, pointing to the door of the café. Everyone turned to see who he was pointing at. In the doorway was a tall girl with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She was looking around the café as if she were searching for something. Her eyes lit up as they fell upon Fred.

"Oh, Freddie iz that you?!" she squealed in a heavy French accent and flew to the table where they were sitting.

"Freddie?" asked Harriet, looking skeptically at Fred, who hesitated.

"Uh, hello Marietta," said Fred looking down. "What brings you here?" Harriet stood up suddenly.

"Hello," she said, holding out her hand. Marietta shook it briskly. "I don't believe we've met."

"Oh, no of course not 'ow silly of me," Marietta replied, tossing back her hair. "I am Marietta, Fred's old girlfriend."

"Fred's old—"

Fred stood up just as suddenly as Harriet did.

"And how nice it is to see you here, but I'm sure you have other places to be right now," he said shoving Marietta toward the door. "I wouldn't want to be the one to blame for keeping you from the rest of London."

"Oh you didn't think that I would come all the way to London and not veezit my dear Freddie!" said Marietta, returning to the table and taking Harriet's seat.

Harriet was speechless. The group at the table was watching the scene with interest. They were all well aware that Harriet wasn't someone you wanted to mess with. Fred shrugged and pulled out his seat for Harriet to sit down. Marietta stopped him.

"Do not be silly, Fred. You sit; I am more than positive that your friend iz capable of getting 'erself a chair."

Harriet looked daggers at Marietta as she pulled a chair over from another table that was occupied by two startled looking business men. She sat haughtily down next to Fred and crossed her arms.

"So Freddie, 'ow 'as everything been going? I 'ave not seen you in so long!" said Marietta. "I am assuming you finished 'ogwarts then?"

"Well, sort of," Fred said. "More like walked out."

"Oh, Freddie, you always 'ad that lovely sense of humor!" laughed the French girl. "I miss that about you," she said, flapping her eyelashes.

Harriet looked in disgust at Marietta. She turned to Ron, who looked back, just as surprised as she was.

"So," interrupted Harriet. "Has everyone decided what they want?" There were nods and murmurs of confirmation from around the table. Marietta made a 'hem hem' noise that sounded almost like the demonic DADA teacher they had all had years before. Ron jumped.

"Don't do that!" he shivered.

"I am sorry, Ronald," giggled Marietta. She looked to Harriet. "I was under the eempression that you are going to pay."

"Yes. I am paying," replied Harriet.

"Oh do not be silly! I will of course pay for the meal!" shouted Marietta.

"No really, I—"

"Ah ah ah!" said Marietta, digging through her purse. "It is the least I could do! By the way, I don't think I caught your name?"

"Harriet. Harriet Potter."

"Harriet Potter..." Marietta mumbled. Then her eyes fell upon Harry. "Oh! I did not realize that it was you! How strange, you are friends with someone who has the same last name as you do."

"Um, she's my sister, actually," said Harry matter-of-factly. Marietta looked back and forth from Harriet to Harry. She frowned.

"I am confused," she said. She looked at Harriet. "You are American, no?"

"No," replied Harriet. (A/N: yeah if you're wondering about the American thing that you are going to have to read my other fic: Harry Potter and the New Moon.) "I'm not. So are you people going to tell me what you want?" The group all shouted their orders at once.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" said Harriet, throwing her hands up. "I'm not going to remember all that."

"Here," said Ron, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a candy bar wrapper. "Write it down on this." Harriet took the paper and wrote down everyone's order. She stood up and walked toward the counter to order.

"Excuse me! Harriet dear!"

Harriet stopped and turned slowly around.

"Yes, Marietta?"

"You forgot, I am paying. Remember?" said Marietta sweetly, holding out the money. Harriet forced a smile and took the money.

"Uh, here Harriet. Let me help you with the order," offered George, standing up. Harriet looked at him gratefully, and the two walked to the counter. There was a short line of people waiting to order, so Harriet took the chance to ask George about the French girl.

"I don't know what she would be doing here," said George scratching his head. "The last time I saw her was over a year ago when her and Fred had been dating."

Harriet wondered to herself whether Marietta had been dating Fred when he and Harriet had kissed for the first time. Fred saw the worry in her face and gave her an encouraging smile.

"Don't worry your pretty little head, Harriet. Fred won't just up and leave you for some blonde little French girl."

Harriet smiled.

"Thanks, George." She gave him a brief hug, which he returned.

Fred, who had been sitting at the table watching George and Harriet in the line, winced as he saw the two hug. A wave of jealousy overtook him and he moved his chair closer to Marietta's.


Harry, Ron, Hermione, Lee, Fred, George, Harriet, and Marietta returned to the Weasley's house a few hours later. The rest of the lunch at the café had been uneventful. Except for a few tense moments between Harriet and Marietta, it had gone particularly well.

Mrs. Weasley greeted them all happily, but when she saw Marietta her eyes lit up.

"Marietta!" she yelled, pulling the French girl in a close hug. "I wondered when Fred was going to get the sense to invite you to visit!"

Fred blushed.

"Uh, actually, mum—"

"Actually," interrupted Marietta, after being released from Mrs. Weasley's hug. "I came to London to veezit my aunt who moved here last summer. But she will not be 'ome until next week because she is on 'oliday in Germany." She smiled at Fred. "But I could not come to Britain without saying hello to Fred."

"Well if you don't have to visit your aunt until next week, by all means feel free to stay here," said Mrs. Weasley happily.

"Why thank you! I 'ope I am not imposing?"

"Not at all dear!"

"Well then I would be 'appy to stay 'ere!

"Joy," Harriet mumbled under her breath, and she turned toward the back door, followed by George and Lee.

A/N: I'm sorry for the long wait. I have actually finished writing this story; it has just taken me forever to type it all up. Plus school is starting in a few days, so you may have to wait some more. Thank you to everyone who has been reviewing and please read my other fan-fic, which WILL eventually explain a lot that goes on in this story like the part I mentioned about whether Harriet was American or not. So review please and I will try to get the next chapter up soon!!!!

--Courto