CHAPTER 3

CHANCE ENCOUNTER

Harry slammed the door of the cupboard shut, there was never any food in his apartment, Harry and Ron had drawn up a rota when they had moved in, well Harry and Ron had been forced to draw up a rota by Hermione when they had first moved in, deciding who would do the shopping each week, who would clean up and do household chores and things like that. Harry checked the rota and it was infact his turn to get the food shopping done.

"Bugger!" He said out loud to himself, as he grabbed his wand and his wallet from the dining table. He hated shopping. There were always people looking at him, he decided not to apparate to the local supermarket but to go to one a few miles away in a quiet village where there would be less people to stare at him, and watch his every move like a hawk. He quickly changed out of his auror robes, he had just finished a twelve hour night shift, and threw on a pair of baggy blue jeans and a tight khaki t-shirt, his long toned and muscular arms, could be seen clearly, and the t-shirt showed off his well defined chest. "Oh for goodness sake.'' He said as he looked down at his torso. "This was my favourite top, I'm never letting Ron do the washing again. He's shrunk my favourite top.'' Not being bothered to change Harry flicked his wand and with a crack apparated from his apartment to a small village just a few miles away from the Burrow. He appeared in a secluded alleyway, he would need to walk a few metres to the supermarket, he couldn't very well apparate straight inside as this wasn't an all wizarding town, there were a few Muggles still living there, although the majority of people living there were in fact magical.

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Ginny impatiently held the phone to her ear, it was still ringing, still ringing, still ringing "Oh for God's sake Colin answer the phone." She said to herself.

"Hello" A breathless voice said on the other end of the phone.

"Oh Hi.'' Ginny said shocked, "Um I was just wondering if you wanted to come food shopping with me.'' Ginny asked.

"Oh not today Gin, can't we go tomorrow?'' Colin said

"No, today's my only day off and there's no food in my house.'' Ginny said. "What took you so long to answer the phone anyway?"

"Oh Daniel just got back from his parents house this morning and..."

"Stop there, I don't think I want to know the rest." Ginny interrupted quickly. "Never mind then, I'll give you a ring later on then yeah?"

"Yeah definitely, I'll talk to you later then Gin, I have to go now, bye." Colin said hurriedly, as a lot of laughter could be heard in the background.

Ginny replaced the handset rolling her eyes; she would just have to go shopping alone. She threw on a small jacket over her pink sleeveless top, and her flared jeans, slipped on a pair of sandals and grabbed her handbag and headed out the door, for the small walk to the supermarket just a short walk down the road.

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Harry strolled through the door into the supermarket, well it could hardly be called a supermarket, more like a large shop, but it would have to do. He grabbed a trolley and started wheeling it around, placing various items in as he went. He continued his way around the shop, always conscious of the curious glances he was getting, whether it was because he was Harry Potter or just because he was new to the village, he didn't know.

After walking around for a couple of minutes Harry had made up his mind that he preferred shopping here rather than anywhere else, there were less whispers, less glances and less hassle for him. And without all the distractions, Harry found that he actually rather enjoyed shopping. He started taking in the details of all the people around him, the old lady with a small wicker shopping basket and a stooped walk, the young boy, crying for a lollipop. The woman standing over by the chocolate biscuits, she had her back to him, but Harry felt strangely drawn to her. She tossed her head to the side and her shiny red hair fell down her back.

He caught a glimpse of her face, and from that glimpse he knew, after avoiding her since he left Hogwarts, after making excuse after excuse spending as little time at the Burrow as possible, and only visiting the Weasleys when she wasn't at home, he had to run into her now. In a scruffy pair of jeans, a top that was too small for him and his hair looking worse than ever.

He started backing away quietly, desperately wishing that she would not see him, he couldn't deal with the heart ache again, he'd pushed it back again and again, tried to subdue it, tried in vain to get over her. But even now, four years after they had left Hogwarts, four years since he had seen her last, four years since he had saved her life, she could still do this to him.

He started backing away quicker, not looking where he was going, only knowing that he needed to get away as fast as possible. She'd broken his heart when he found out that she was dating Colin, and he didn't want to know how happy they still were together. He was almost clear of her, all he had to do was to reach the door, he abandoned his trolley and turned quickly to face the door but as he did, he ran headlong into an old woman pushing a trolley, loaded to the top with cat biscuits.

Harry stumbled backwards apologising profusely, praying that he would still have time to get out of this. He helped the old lady pick up the boxes of cat food and piled them into her trolley, apologising as he backed away.

Then he heard it. "Harry is that you?"

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Ginny stood staring at the selection of chocolate biscuits, he hands placed loosely on her hips. She hated shopping alone, she knew that this would happen, she'd reach the sweets section and all her self control would go out the window. She knew that she shouldn't, but she was so tempted. "Dammit Colin" She thought to herself. As she slowly started to reach for a pack of her favourites. But as she was just about to pick up a pack, she heard a loud crash from the opposite side of the store she turned around quickly to see what the fuss was about. All she could see over the heads of the people standing around her was that an old ladies, trolley had almost capsized, leaving boxes of cat food all over the floor. Then she saw the cause of the accident, a tall man stood up and placed a few of the boxes back in the trolley, his scruffy hair stuck up at odd angles at the back, and his baggy jeans slid down revealing his boxers as he bent over to retrieve the last few boxes.

Ginny smiled to herself, she had never seen this man around the village before. The man turned to face the old woman and apologised yet again. Ginny saw the profile of his face and froze. It was him.

"Harry is that you?" She said tentatively, before she cold stop herself, what was she thinking? She couldn't talk to him, not like this, not here. But it was too late.

"Oh ummmm hello Ginny, didn't see you there.'' Harry said awkwardly, very aware of the looks that he was receiving. He fidgeted awkwardly, never feeling so embarrassed in his life. Years of auror training had trained him for every eventuality, but none as awful as this. Auror training had boosted his self-confidence, his composure and his alertness, but all of that had disappeared now.

Ginny walked over to Harry slowly, thankful that the small crowd that had gathered had started to disperse. "So. What are you doing here?'' Ginny asked, trying to think of something to dispel the awkward silence.

"Just...Just came to get some shopping done." Harry said

"Bit far out for you isn't it?''" Ginny said curiously, wondering why Harry would travel so far just to get some shopping.

"Well you know what Ron's like, he's eaten everything in our supermarket.'' Harry said smiling awkwardly, hoping that Ginny wouldn't ask again. He didn't want to go into the fact that he was still paranoid about people watching him.

Ginny laughed lightly and for a brief moment their eyes met. Harry felt as though he had been struck by lightening, the full force of the love he had suppressed for so long hit him hard. He gazed down at her and took in every little feature he had missed for so long, her cute smile, her beautiful eyes, her long shining hair, that had obviously grown back since he saw her last.

"What are you doing here then?'' Harry asked stupidly, trying to draw attention away from the fact that he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Just getting some food shopping done, today's my only day off work and there is no food in my house.'' Ginny said, hoping that he didn't notice her hands shaking. "Colin was meant to come with me but he's ummm busy.'' Ginny said, talking to fill the silence.

"Oh" Harry said he knew she was seeing Colin, but he didn't expect her to throw it in his face like that. "That's a shame." He said sullenly. This wasn't like the Ginny he once knew.

"Yeah" She replied.

"So how are things with you two then?'' Harry asked, knowing that he needed to know, out of morbid curiosity. He didn't really want to know, but he needed to.

"Um great thanks." Ginny replied carefully. Uncertain of what Harry was actually asking. "I see him a lot, he lives just around the corner from me.''

"Oh rite, that's handy.'' He said, trying not to show how he really felt. This was tearing him apart. He hated himself for feeling this jealous, hated himself for letting her go, and hating himself for being too stupid to realise what he was doing to himself when he said goodbye.

"Yeah, he's over my house most of the time though. I can't get rid of him." Ginny said fondly.

"I shouldn't think you'd want to.'' Harry replied, now knowing how he could leave politely before hearing the rest of the conversation.

"Well its nice to have him around, but sometimes I'd like some time alone, just to be able to think and relax.''

"So he's one of those clingy boyfriends then?'' Harry asked, feeling inwardly happy, maybe Ginny was getting bored of him.

"What are you talking about Harry? Colin's not my boyfriend.''

"So you've finished then?'' Harry asked feeling triumphant.

"No, we haven't finished. We never were together. We're just friends Harry and besides Colin is gay, he's know since Hogwarts.'' Ginny said confused. She thought everybody had found out about that by now.

Harry started wide-eyed at Ginny. How could he have been such a fool, she was never with Colin, she never found someone else at Hogwarts.

"Ummm I'm sorry, I didn't know. I...I have to go.'' Harry said turning and running out of the store, and into a quite alley before apparating away, completely forgetting the fact that he hadn't done any of the shopping.

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AN I know this is only another short chapter and I'm sorry I just wanted to see what the response for this chapter was like. I hope you all enjoy. I know nothing much really happens but its essential to the plot. Thanks a bunch guys xxxxxx