Chapter 12: Maybe
Maybe, I've been thinking recently that, maybe I could be happy with my new life. Maybe I could learn to forget Ginny. Even though things have been progressing quite nicely with Aly for some strange reason I can't shake Ginny. Maybe we should take this farther.
Aly has been the sunshine of my life in Paris. For weeks now it's been nothing but little cafes and walks in the twighlight. When it starts to snow she always dances in circles around me like a child, trying to catch each and every snowflake on her tongue, cheeks, and eyelashes. And then she'll smile at me with her white teeth and warm eyes and I'm sure that the snow melts before it even touches her.
She came to the library to see me the other day. It was the first time anyone had called for me and when the head librarian told me I had a visitor I half expected a petite redhead to be standing there waiting for me. Instead I was greeted by the leggy blond. Not a total letdown.
For some ungodly reason she decided that she wanted to take me shopping that afternoon, something I hadn't done since my first day in the city. Her favorite place was some absurdly named and ridiculously overpriced store called Dior. All I got was a scarf and even that cost almost a month's salary. Aly is apparently much better off than I because she later surprised me with a leather jacket from the store that I can't even fathom the cost of.
Because of her gesture and my inability to shake Ginny I decided to surprise her with an overpriced trinket of her own. While back at Dior or someplace, I could have been at another store for all I know of fashion, it was my unpleasant fortune to run into my first reminder of the magical world I had left behind.
"Severus?" A woman's voice from behind me. "It is you! How good to see you!" she said.
It was a professor I had in Hogwarts so many years ago. And here she was, right in the middle of Dior with me and no place to hide. "Madam Greenwright," I answered her congenially. "How good to see you."
She stopped in her tracks. "Severus? So polite now! The last I saw you, you were a whiney little brat. I see you wash your hair now too."
It was so good to see her. "Yes, I've done a bit of growing up," I said.
We chatted mindlessly for a few moments before I realized that I had told her I left the school and was living as a Muggle in Paris. She didn't seem fazed by the news so I figured she hadn't really heard it. After saying our goodbyes and well wishes we headed on our separate paths, and mine led back to Aly.
She loved the necklace I bought her. As I helped her put it on I thought of Ginny. As she kissed me I thought of Ginny. Maybe one day I can get her out of my head. Maybe I can't.
