Chapter Two: The Line Begins

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

The next morning Reagan blinked as she stepped into Diagon Alley. After four years it hadn't changed a bit. She smiled as she took in the familiar sights sounds and smells, glad that college in a different country on the other side of the world hadn't take away the homeliness she felt in London.

She found a seat in the Leaky Cauldron, and sat down to wait for her mum. She was meeting her mother, and they were going to go look together, but first Ginny had to do to a staff meeting that she couldn't get out of. She was a bit early so she flipped through the Daily Prophet, and stirred her tea. She scanned the classified looking for places she could visit today, hoping that one would work out.

"Hmmm," Reagan said to herself, and pulled out a quill, her spoon still stirring her tea. Two bedroom, living room, dining room, full kitchen, two bath, quaint and off the beaten path... "Off the beaten path means its way far away."

She read over more of them, muttered a highlighting charm onto her quill and circled one that read, London, walking distance of Diagon Alley, Ministry of Magic, and all major underground stations. Two Bedroom, two bath, living room, dining room, full kitchen with Muggle hookups available, pets okay...

"Finding what you're looking for?" a voice asked, and Reagan looked up. There was a tall, built, blond haired wizard standing beside her table, looking at her.

"Yes, I think I did," Reagan said.

"Is this seat taken?" he asked.

"Not yet," Reagan replied. "I mean, I'm meeting my mother, and she's not here yet."

"Mind if I sit down?" he asked.

"Not at all," Reagan replied and the wizard sat down. He was tanned, and had eyes the color of the ocean.

"I'm Brent," he said, extending his hand. "Brent Johnson."

"Reagan Potter," she said and shook his hand. "Its nice to meet you Brent."

"Potter?" he asked. "You wouldn't happen to be related to-"

"Harry Potter? Yes, he's my father," Reagan answered before he could finish.

"Actually I was going to ask if you were related to Darenn Potter," he said.

"Oh," she said. "Sorry, its just a reaction."

"Its okay, your brother did the same thing the first time I met him."

"You know Darenn?" Reagan asked.

"I'm on his team," Brent said.

"Oh! His Quidditch team, you play for the Cannons too?" Reagan asked.

Brent laughed. "Yes, I'm their Seeker. I joined the team two years ago."

Reagan smiled, but didn't mention how she had been offered a position on the Cannon team as well.

"Sorry, I've been out of the country for a while," Reagan said. "It was kind of hard to follow Quidditch."

"But you are a fan of it?" he asked.

"Of course," she replied. "I played at Hogwarts."

"What position?"

"Chaser," she replied.

"I played at my school," he said. "But I went to school in America."

"Which one?"

"Are you familiar with the American wizarding schools?" he asked.

She nodded. "I went to college, and my American cousins go to school out there."

"I went to Pasayten School of Magic," Brent said.

"My cousin Allison went there," Reagan said. "I roomed with her while we were in college."

"I can't say that the name sounds familiar," Brent said.

"Thats all right," Reagan replied. "I don't know everyone that went to Ho

gwarts." "Well, Reagan, how long are you in England for?" he asked.

"The rest of my life, as far as I know," she replied. "I'm going to look for a place of my own before I have to go in for my job orientation."

"Are you free tonight?" he asked.

"As far as I know," she replied.

"Would you like to go to dinner with me?" he asked.

Reagan smiled at him. "Yeah, I would."

"Its a date then," he replied. "I'll owl you with details, but plan on about eight."

"Eight it is," she said.

"It was wonderful to meet you, Reagan," he said. "But I do have someplace I've got to be."

"Oh of course, I don't want to keep you," Reagan said. "I'll look for your owl."

"It should be along shortly," he said. "I will see you tonight then."

"Bye," Reagan said and watched him walk out the door of the Leaky Caldron, into Muggle London.

"He was cute," her mother said to her, and Reagan turned around. Ginny smiled and sat down across from Reagan.

"Yes he was," Reagan replied. "And he asked me out."

"You're back in the country for less than a day and they're already lining up," he mother teased.

"Honestly, Mum," Reagan said. "Here, see what I found." She pushed the newspaper across the table and Ginny looked at the ones she had circled.

"A few of these sound nice," Ginny said. "Are you ready to get going?"

"Yes, definitely," Reagan said and checked her watch. "I have to be at the Ministry of Magic by three o'clock for my orientation tour."

"As if you don't know your way around the Ministry of Magic by now," Ginny replied. "We have enough time though."

"We're supposed to get our employee passes and name tags and security tags and all those other things."

"You know who else works at the Ministry?" Ginny asked.

"Dad, James, Aunt Hermione, Uncle Ron, practically our entire family," Reagan replied.

"True," Ginny agreed. "Lane and Trevor work there also."

"That will be nice," Reagan said. "At least I might know someone to have lunch with from time to time."

Ginny frowned at her. "That was the reaction I was expecting you would have."

"Reaction to what?"

"To learning that you and Trevor will both be working at the same place."

"Mum Trevor and I..." Reagan paused, and sighed. "I haven't spoken to Trevor in four years."

"You didn't talk to him the entire time you were in school?" Ginny asked.

Reagan shook her head. "Nope."

"There was something there, Reagan," Ginny said.

"I'm sure there was," Reagan replied. "Was, Mum, was. How and I supposed to know if there still is? Besides, he's probably married with kids now, like everyone else I know."

"Not everyone has children now, Reagan," Ginny said.

"Name one person that didn't have kids when I left but has them now."

"Neither Paul or Ethan have children, or wives," Ginny replied.

"Fair enough," Reagan said.

"Trevor doesn't have any kids and he isn't married," Ginny said. "He was dating a nice girl though, but I haven't seen her in a while."

"And how do you know this Mum?"

"Because," Ginny replied. "I happen to be married to the Commander in Chief of the United British Auror Confederation, and that means every year around Christmas I have to go to a stuffy ball where the only people I know are your father, my brother and the Minister of Magic."

"And why would Trevor be at one of these balls?" Reagan asked.

Ginny looked at her daughter. "Do you know nothing of Trevor?"

"I haven't talked to him in four years," Reagan replied.

Ginny nodded. "When you see him around the Ministry, ask him what he's been up to."

Reagan rolled her eyes, and continued to walk with her mother towards the first flat on her list.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"And this is the Atrium," the tour guide was saying to them. "There are Floo stations on each side, some for departures, some for arrivals. Now if you'd follow me, we're about done getting you all checked in. Lastly is your security badges. These are what get you access to the different parts and files of the Ministry. There are nine security levels, each separated into three color categories. Levels one through three are blue, levels four through six are yellow, and levels seven through nine are red. Now as you are in the Ministry longer and your advance your clearance level will go up. Very few individuals begin with a yellow, or even a red. Reds are mostly Aurors and Department Heads, and of course the Minister of Magic herself, Mrs. Hermione Weasley. Now come along."

Reagan walked with the other people in her group, mostly young and fresh out of Hogwarts. She was bored and felt a bit out of place. She stood in the security badge line, and the witch was checking off names.

"Kierra Melanie," the witch said. "Level one." The employee behind the podium taped the badge with his wand and handed it to the the girl in front of him. Next was Titan Hamley, he got a level one as well. Reagan began to notice that the witch had been right, everyone was getting level ones.

"Hatcher Markey," the witch said and made a check on her parchment. "Level one as well."

The boy in front of Reagan took his badge and went to the other side of the podium, looking at his badge.

"Name please," the witch asked Reagan.

"Reagan Potter."

She scanned down her list and made a check next to her name.

"Reagan Potter," she said to the employee. "Level..." She paused and looked closer at her parchment. "This must be a mistake, give her a level one and we'll get this cleared up."

"What level does it say?" Reagan asked.

"It says level eight dear," the witch says. "But interns and entry level don't get level eight's."

"I don't think I'm an intern or an entry level, though," Reagan said.

"Of course you are dear," the witch said. "No need to be embarrassed about it, everyone starts off down there. It takes time to work your way up. Do you know what department are you going to dear?"

"Experimental Magic," Reagan replied.

"Are you sure dear?" the witch asked. "I wasn't aware they were taking on anymore interns."

"I've already told you, I'm not an intern," Reagan replied. "I've already done my training, I'm a Constructor."

The witch blinked a few times and then looked back at her parchment.

"Oh of course," the witch said. "How silly of me, it says so right here, Reagan Potter, level eight, Department of Experimental Magic, occupation: Constructor."

"Thank you," Reagan said taking her badge from he podium employee, noticing how her's had a bright red star in the corner of it, and everyone else had a blue one.

She went through the remaining registration, basic payroll, wand registration and she got her meal card, though she wasn't planning on eating there very often.

"Now, you are all free to explore the Ministry, get aquatinted with it, as most employers will not accept you getting lost on your first day. Remember to stay within your clearance levels," the witch said to them all. "And welcome to the Ministry of Magic!"

Reagan rolled her eyes and turned on her heel towards her father's office. She already knew her away around the Ministry of Magic.

She smiled to herself at the familiar Auror uniforms as they passed by, knowing they were all in their informal navy uniforms.

She saw James in his uniform, and noted that his rank had gone up one since she had last seen him in uniform. He didn't stay and chat, saying he was on his way to a meeting, and hurried off the opposite direction Reagan was going in.

She got to her father's office and noticed that there were many people in the waiting room. She asked his secretary how long she thought it would be, and she said she's let him know she was here as soon as the meeting he was got over.

Reagan took a seat and reread the note that Brent had sent her earlier in the day:

Since you seem to be experienced in the ways of an American, than you would know the Muggle ways as well. Please meet me on the magical side of the Leaky Caldron, and we'll have a night on the town, Muggle style. Eight o'clock. ~Brent.

Reagan smiled to herself and tucked her note back into her purse. The meeting inside sounded like it was ending and she looked up at the door.

A few wizards came out, all clad in their blue uniforms, chattering to each other. A witch came out, handed something to the secretary and then doubled back and returned to Harry's office, passing a tall dark haired Auror on her way in.

Reagan watched him. He stood in the doorway reading something, dressed in his navy uniform, the brass of his ranking bars shinning in the artificial sunlight.

"Your father will see you now, Miss Potter," the secretary said to Reagan.

"Thank you," she said and stood up, her eyes still on the Auror in her father's doorway. At the sound of her voice he looked up and locked eyes with Reagan.

"First Lieutenant Daniels," her father said from inside the office and came into Reagan's view. "Would..." but he stopped, seeing Reagan.

"Yes sir?" Trevor said, turning and looking at Harry.

"Give this to Lieutenant Potter when you see him," Harry said, handing a file to him.

"I will sir."

"Reagan, quickly please," Harry called and walked back into his office.

Reagan walked towards the doorway and stopped when she got ot Trevor.

"Hi Trevor," she said.

"Hi," he replied. "Welcome back."

"Thanks."

"How long have you been back?" he asked.

"Since yesterday," she replied.

"I remember James mentioning something to me about you coming home," Trevor said, and shifted his papers. "I'm sure everyone will be happy to have you home."

There was so much she wanted to say to him, but now was not the time or place so she just looked at him.

"It was nice to see you, Trevor," Reagan said. "Maybe I'll see you around."

Trevor nodded. "Maybe."

"Reagan?!" her father called.

"You'd better go," Trevor said. "He's not in a very good mood."

"I know," she replied. "Its probably why I have a headache. Bye Trevor."

"Ah, good byes, those must be a new thing for you," he said coldly, and turned on his heel, he walked out of the office.

"I do have about fifteen other people waiting to talk to me, Reagan," Harry said as she came into the office.

"Sorry, Dad," she said. "I just wanted to say hi." She slumped down in one of the chairs and looked straight ahead. "Trevor hates me, doesn't he?"

"He doesn't hate you," Harry replied form his stack of paperwork. "But you can't blame him for being hurt."

"I tried to tell him," Reagan said. "It was just never the time."

"Reagan he was practically family to you," he said. "You told Cal, you told Lane. He deserved to hear it from your mouth rather than in a owl after you had left."

"Fine, Dad, side with Trevor," Reagan replied and stood up.

"Reagan, I am not siding with anyone," he said. "Nor and I going to sit here and watch you wonder why Trevor was short with you. He's worked his butt off since you've been gone."

"And I haven't?" she asked.

"I didn't say that," Harry said quickly. "You've both worked very hard, harder than most would if they had something like you two used to have."

"Are you saying that Trevor got promoted so much because he was burying himself in work so he could forget about me?"

"Not exactly," he said. "But he has done a lot in four years."

"So have I!" Reagan exclaimed.

"I know you have," he replied. "Talk to him, and you'd be impressed. He's climbed these ranks almost as fast as James did, and his father wasn't even the head of the UBAC."

"I don't want to talk about Trevor anymore," Reagan said. "I have to go and get ready."

"Where are you going?" Harry asked.

Reagan gave him a look that practically dared him to say she couldn't go. "I have a date. With Brent Johnson."

"The Seeker on Darenn's team?"

"Yes," she replied.

"He's pretty good," her father replied.

"Is it a problem?" Reagan asked.

"Reagan I never implied that it was, so stop picking a fight. Just because your reunion with Trevor was not as smooth and wonderful as you've daydreamed about it, doesn't make it my fault and you don't need to take it out on me."

She stared at him, a bit dumbfounded.

"How did-"

"Magical connection remember?" her replied, tapping his head. "I had the weirdest dreams sometimes."

Reagan blushed. "All right, Dad, I'll leave you alone. And I suppose I do owe him an apology."

"Good, go and do it and have fun on your date."

"Thanks Dad," she said and left his office.

"Did you see which way Trevor went?" Reagan asked the secretary.

"I'm sorry dear, who?" she asked.

"First Lieutenant Daniels," Reagan corrected herself.

"He left the office," she said. "I didn't see which way he went though."

"Thats all right," Reagan replied and walked into the hall. She glanced both ways, but she didn't see him in either direction.

Deciding she would talk to him on another day, she went and stood in line for the lift, wondering what she was going to say to him the next time she saw him. Part of her wanted to hug him and beg him to forgive her for leaving and not telling him, but the other part wanted to remain unemotional. They hadn't spoken in four years, surly if either of them had wanted to keep in touch they would have tried.

Then the numerous letters she had always started but never finished popped into her head, and she wondered if Trevor had done the same.

She also realized that both of her parents had told her to talk to Trevor and see what he had been up to in the last four years. She had been a bit surprised to see him in an Auror uniform; she hadn't known he had applied. The last she knew, he was a medi-wizard. She did admit that being a First Lieutenant was an accomplishment, so he must have done something right.

"You still chew on your lip when you're thinking," Trevor said and Reagan jumped. He was standing beside her, but she hadn't seen him come up.

"I guess I do," Reagan said. "Its not like I'm a different person Trevor."

"You sure?" he asked.

"I'm pretty sure," she replied. "Are you any different?"

"Not really, maybe a tad more mature, but thats it," he said.

"More mature?" she asked. "You? I doubt it."

"You'd be surprised," he replied as they stepped onto the lift. "Did you cheer your father up?"

"I don't think so," Reagan said. "I think I annoyed him more."

"Oh I don't think that could be possible," Trevor said. "Besides, he's been in a better mood since you came back."

"Trevor, I've only been back a day," she replied. "How could you have noticed?"

"His mood was better today than it has been in a long while," Trevor said. "Noticeably better."

"And how long have you been working with my father?" Reagan asked.

"A while," he replied. "I had to have some way of knowing how you were doing. Slytherin, remember?"

"Trevor, I-"

"Reagan, I know," he replied. "I understand. It was just hard to deal with at first and...." Trevor stopped and looked at her.

"Is it worth talking about this?" she asked.

"It is, but not right now," he replied. "Do you have plans for the night?"

"Yeah, actually I do," she replied, not wanting to tell him what her plans were. "But I'm free tomorrow."

"Tomorrow will be better," he said. "Are you staying at your parents?"

"I actually just found a place today that I'm going to move into," Reagan said. "I can move in whenever I want."

"Can you cook?" he asked.

Reagan shook her head. "Nope, but I can order food well."

"Its all right, I can cook," he replied. "How about I cook you dinner in your new place?"

"That sounds nice," she said.

"Good," he said. "I am glad you're back, Reagan."

"Its nice to be back," she replied.

"I've got to get this to your brother," Trevor said. "So send me an owl, and let me know where and what time and what you want to eat."

"All right," Reagan replied.

"This is my floor," he said. "Bye Reagan."

"Bye," she said and the lift doors closed. Reagan sighed and rode the lift back to the Atrium.

"You've been back for one day and you already have two dates lines up," she said to herself as she made her way to the Apparation points. "Mum was right, they are lining up."

A/N: There is no Department of Experimental Magic, I made that up, but there is a Committee of Experimental Charms, but it hasn't said where it is. So I made up my own department. It also never says where administrative offices are, it is just assumed that they are on level one. So thats were I put them. It also says that Auror training takes three years, but I felt that was too long. So its three months in my universe. All the information I got was from The Harry Potter Lexicon.