Final Curtain

Author: Mysterious Phantom Shyraz

Disclaimer: HP not mine. Anything else should be unless mentioned.

Act II Scene iii

It had been a few weeks since the attack of the Quintaped. Harry had, on several occasions, made visits to the Wizarding part of the town. It seemed that the people are doing quite well on their own. Though they were a bit suspicious, and curious, of having a foreigner entering their place. Harry was intelligent enough to not bring Hedwig with him, just in case should anyone make a connection, either to the Boy-Who-Lived or the mysterious Piax, he did not want to take the risk.

"ARG!" Harry screamed as he shut the door to the apartment. He had just returned from having tutored nearby. "I can't stand it anymore!"

Hedwig cocked her head in her master's direction as if to ask what was wrong.

"Those kids…they're just….arg!" Harry can't begin to explain his frustration. The kids he was tutoring was either too stupid, too stuck up or too dense to comprehend another language. As if sensing her master's irritation, she flew towards him, landing on his shoulder and gave a small assurance nudge. Harry smiled, although his familiar can't exactly talk to him, but she sure understands him.

"Thanks girl." Harry felt a tiny bit better but he still did not feel like cooking. He just came back to put down the couple of books he had with him, "I'm going to go out and grab a bite, you stay and watch the place ok?" Hedwig seemed to nod in understanding and resumed her place on the perch.

It was not a long walk to a nice bar and restaurant nearby. It was owned by an old man with grey hairs populating most of his head. Though he may look old, but he acts young and is often more energetic than most teenagers. The bells rang as Harry opened the door; it was warmer inside with the open fire and the crowds of people gathering for dinner.

"Oops, sorry there laddie." The old man said as he nearly spilled the drinks he was holding. Harry helped steady the old hand and took a few of the cups in his hands.

"Where do you want this?" He asked, there was no way an old man could take care of this place all on his own and with such a large crowd.

"Um…" The old man was stunned, there was not many people willing to help him seeing as he did it all on his own for quite a few years already. "Over there, by the window."

Harry placed the drinks down and headed over to a free table only to be called over to another table for an order. Seeing there's no other person around, he took the order and went to the bar table, only to put it down on paper and gave it to the old man through the window connecting between the kitchen and the front. Back and forth Harry went, taking orders and replacing them with the food products. The crowd died down after a few hours, which gave Harry time to breath and to feel hungry. After all, he has yet to have dinner.

"Here you go lad." The old man handed Harry a cup of hot tea and a plate of pasta, "Its on the house. Thanks for helping."

Looking at the plate, his stomach grumbled again. 'Maybe I should drop being a tutor. I'm not a teaching type of person anyways…my help in DA back in Hogwarts is a proof of that.' He thought to himself has he ate. By the time he finished both his drink and food, there were only two tables of people left. A couple sitting by the window and a young women near the fire.

"It's amazing how someone like you can take care of a place like this." Harry complimented the old man as he cleaned the glasses.

"Ah, but my old age isn't helping me. This place has been here for a long time and if I close it down, people won't know where to go."

"If you don't mind, I could come a help you at night." Harry said. He genuinely wanted to help and its not like there could be danger here in the muggle world.

"Really? It'd be great" The old man smiled. Harry rose from his chair and cleared away his dishes at the same time. "Leave it be, you've helped me enough today. Go back home and rest." Harry nodded and left the place.

'I'm definitely quitting the tutoring job. Being a teacher does not suit me anyways.' He stopped by a convenience store on the way and bought a packet of birdseeds. Hedwig doesn't seem to like it much, preferring the Wizarding type over the muggle type. Harry couldn't blame her, he'd much prefer the Wizarding sweets rather than the boring muggle ones. Though the chocolate frogs still shocks him and the blood lolly-pop still creeps him out.

"You're home late." Harry was greeted by the sudden voice in his head as he entered.

"What are you doing looking like that?"

"I was thinking of flying out to find you. You're normally back before midnight, not after." Harry glanced up at the clock, it was late but he did not feel tired.

"I never knew you could read." Harry mocked.

"You never asked." Hedwig glanced from Harry to the bag he was holding, "Something for me?" She asked out of curiosity.

"Greedy bird." Harry took the packet out of the plastic bag and poured some into the dish.

"Humph, you should have bought it back in that Wizarding area you visited this afternoon."

"Oh, so you knew. So you probably heard it too while you were there."

"The news about you being dead or the one about the most recent attack? It's about time you paid a visit downtown." Hedwig looked directly into Harry's eyes.

"So I can't hide forever…" Harry looked out of the window at the crescent moon. "Can't hide…" He sighed and readied for bed.