Of Darkness and Light
Harry had been staying with me for the last month and had gotten accustomed to my schedule. Though there wasn't a problem with my going out during the daylight hours I did tend to sleep in until after dusk unless business demanded otherwise. During the four weeks we've spent in each other's company he'd opened up to me and enlightened me on the facts of his life. As we spoke I noted the key facts and wasn't overly surprised to find out that he was sixteen and had attended a school teaching witchcraft and that he'd learned a lot about life in the process. I learned about the friends he'd had that had betrayed him, loved ones that he'd lost, and the trials he'd been through. I told him bits and pieces of my own upbringing and had eventually told him about my being immortal.
Though we've rarely left my home I've seen some of the clothing that he had been lounging in and that was unacceptable of my human. With that in mind I made a couple of calls and had a few stores open late for me so that we could go on a little impromptu shopping trip...well impromptu for Harry. He would be associated to someone royal and that was besides the fact that I felt he deserved a little pampering from all the shit he'd been through.
With that in mind I grabbed a pair of blue jeans and slid it over my hips and fastening it securely around my small waist. I then slid my well manicured feet into a pair of brown snake skinned sandals before pulling on my delicate tan colored chiffon halter top. I smoothed the shirt over my chest before pulling on my earth stoned earrings and pulling my brown leather jacket over my shoulders before heading out of my door and over towards Harry's room. I walked in to find him flipping through a book and twirling his wooden stick through his fingers.
It was weird how wizards thought that they were so much more advanced than mortals and yet they used a wand to channel their power when they could do the same things without the stick. Magic did, after all, come from within. I shrugged off the thought and arranged the little decorative pink on my jacket before I cleared my throat to announce my presence. Harry looked over and said hello before asking me what I wanted.
"Put your things away. We're going out," I replied.
"Where to?" Harry asked as he closed his books.
"We're going to get you some new clothing to wear because the overly large things you wear just won't do," I retorted as I looked closely to take in his reaction.
He smiled widely and closed his book and grabbed a large blue, red, and white stripped shirt before saying, "Great! I just need to head to Diagon Alley and pick up some money."
I shook my head and said, "This one's on me."
"Are you sure?" he asked me insecurely.
I smiled before saying, "If I wasn't I wouldn't have offered."
Akasha and I were riding in a black limo along a very posh strip in London. Akasha sipped on her customary wine glass filled with deep mahogany liquid swirling around the transparent glass. She stared at me for a couple of minutes before asking me what I was comfortable wearing. I thought about it for a moment before answering.
"To be honest I'm quite content in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I think it'd be practical to have a few business suits as well as a couple of formal tuxes for a couple of balls I might go to. Most of the time we wear formal robes when attending balls but muggle wear isn't excluded and I'd prefer to wear that than clothing looking like it should adorn a female," I replied.
She nodded just as the car stopped and motioned for me to exit the car. I opened the door and stepped out to be presented with a large store labeled as Abercrombie & Fitch. The closed sign was clearly visible but as soon as we rang the bell a woman wearing an identification sign opened the door and held it as we walked through the thresh hold. Akasha sat down at one of the arm chairs in front of the section that held the shoes and told me to pick out the things I liked and to model a few outfit for her before we decided on what to get.
We stayed in the store for a little over two hours as I went through various cut jeans and different types of shirts. When we left Akasha had purchased over ten pairs of jeans (different cuts and washes), twenty different color shirt (though all complimented my tone), as well as a few tanks, sock, and boxer shorts. The bags were placed in the trunk of the limo before we headed off to American Eagle Outfitters to see what they had to offer. The same process went on there before we headed to Armani to pick up a couple of suits, tuxes, and dress shoes.
I tried on a few of the things the store had to offer, though Akasha said that we would get everything tailored to her liking later, and I had to honestly say that I left with some very nice things. I saw the salesmen eyes light up as she walked through the door and started to tell them what she wanted. I was dressed in the finest they had to offer, what with the delicate silk shirt and ties that went with my extremely well made three piece suits. When we left the Armani distributor we headed over to Foot Locker so that I could pick up a couple of sneakers to go with the large amount of casual clothing I had gotten earlier.
As Akasha and I rode back to the first place, other than Hogwarts, I had thought of as home she had gotten a call and I could tell that it wasn't one that she was happy with. She tensed and her eyes narrowed as she switched languages to one I wasn't familiar with and doubted many people ever would be. The hour long drive back to her apartment was filled with her sensual voice speaking rapidly in anger. We were five minutes from home when she abruptly hung up the phone and looked as if she was tempted to throw it across the expanse of the car.
"Would it be out of line to ask you what's upsetting you?" I asked.
"Six centuries without even a word mentioned of my getting bonded and suddenly my dear old mother decides that I need to find a consort," Akasha replied.
"So you have to get married?" I asked, trying to understand, and not knowing why I was a little jealous at the idea of someone else spending time with the female I had become quite attached to over the last month.
"Basically," Akasha answered as the car stooped in front of her building.
She had gotten a few of the door men on hand to help her with the bags before leading the way inside of the building and into the elevator. The employees of her building knew of her and knew that she tipped well so they didn't have a problem with helping her out or meeting her at her door.
"So what's the problem? You're a beautiful woman and I'm sure men would just line up at the chance to bond with you," I replied, speaking from the heart.
"The problem isn't with the men wanting me. It's their reasoning for it. The men waiting in line are doing so for the title and the power. I haven't really let anyone get close enough to me to want anything more," she replied.
"You let me," I replied.
"Yes, I let you in," I responded with a smile, "But that was because you're different. I sensed something different in you. Besides you showed interest before you even knew who I was."
"So why don't you bond with me?" he suggested.
I thought about it but I couldn't accept. He was still a child and I couldn't allow him to make a decision that would last for eternity. "You are too young to make such a decision. You are but a child Harry and a decision like this can't be rebuked after it has been done."
"I may be many things but a child I am not. I've never been able to conceive the thought of being a child yet alone have a childhood. What I offered was not something done at the spur of the moment. I care for you a great deal though I can't say love because I've never really experienced it. I am sure that given the time I could and would love you if you gave me the chance. Besides I'm the only appealing offer you have at the moment," he replied.
With that said the door to the elevator opened and I walked down the hall to my apartment and allowed the hotel employees to place Harry's things into his room before handing them each a fifty dollar bill and watching them leave before continuing my conversation.
"Had this been more thought through I would have no problem accepting your offer but this is a spur of the moment decision and I won't impose on your life like that. You are so young and have too much to live for to give yourself to someone without thoroughly thinking of the consequences," I replied before I bid him good night and headed into my room.
I peeled off my clothes and thought over Harry's offer. He really was a sweet boy. I sighed and pulled on my red scalloped lace baby doll and turned back the covers on my bed before slipping in and heading to sleep.
I watched Akasha walk out of the room and made the decision to formally ask to be her consort. She had done so much for me over the last month and I truly cared for her. Being joined to her for an eternity wasn't as unappealing as she tried to make it out to seem and I would have no problem with that at all. She was a beautiful woman and had become on of the best friends I'd ever had.
With that thought in mind I grabbed a piece of Akasha's stationary and wrote to the head of Gringotts. I simply inquired about whether or not they had a universal method of purchasing items within or outside of the wizarding world without having to visit the bank before hand. I sent the letter with Hedwig who'd found me a couple of days after Akasha had taken me in. As I watched Hedwig fly off I set the clock on the bedside table before turning back the sheets and getting into bed. I had a busy day planned for the morning.