Chapter 9: San Francisco
I… I know what you did, like a boy of summer gives his first kiss.
Love is dancing on my finger,
He got to the heart of the matter and lingered.
Now I'm walking with a living
I always like Steinbeck and those old men whistling.
Harry accepted a glass of expensive champagne from the flight attendant as that song ran through his head, Hermione was right, Vanessa Carlton was brilliant, especially for being a muggle.
We're back, We're back in San Francisco,
We're back and you tell me I am home
Harry already missed Hermione, it was too late to call her, so he didn't bother.
Talking in the mission over coffee
This is my utopia, Man I'll be your lady
As the ocean rises and the sun is fading
He looked around, all his men were asleep, it was early morning, or late night, whatever you want to say.
He booted up his laptop, and got online to check the news.
We're back, we're back in San Francisco
We're back, we're back in San Francisco
We're back, we're back in San Fran…
Nothing new, Ron must be lying low for now.
And now, I feel the ever after,
Over red wine on the eve of summer
The buzz, the buzz of the city as we settle in it's majesty
I… I know what you did, in San Francisco……..
Harry nodded off to sleep in a few minutes, his laptop still on and poised on his lap.
After a few hours, Harry was shaken awake by an overeager Tonks
"We're here! Come on! I wanna go shoppin' I've never been to the states before!" she cried, shaking Harry violently.
"OK!" He yelled when he was awake.
Being first class passengers, they were allowed to exit the plane first.
San Francisco International Airport was by far the biggest airport Harry had ever been to.
Harry saw TV's everywhere, playing thousands of shows, from Blue's Clue's to Summerland.
The American Ministry had sent them a limo to escort them back to the Ministry building.
Harry had been to the American ministry building before, there was a place in every city that linked into the same building, the building itself was in New York city.
When they reached the alley where they could access the building, everyone but the driver piled out.
Harry walked to where the archway should be, "Gobbledygook" he said, and the archway opened slowly.
Harry entered the busy atrium.
It looked a lot like the atrium in London, except that instead of the fountain of magical brethren, there was a large statue of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, And John. F. Kennedy.
Large American flags were hanging from the ceiling, and witches and wizards were bustling around everywhere, shouting and yelling.
The normally calm ministry building, was in utter chaos.
"'Scuse me sir" someone said as they rushed past.
Harry led his party of aurors to the large desk in the center of the room.
"Excuse me, sir," he said to the man sitting there, "I have a meeting with the President"
The man looked up, "Name?" he asked.
"Harry Potter" Harry said, all the chaos stopped.
"By George, are you really?" the man asked, his eyes flicking upwards at Harry's scar.
Harry nodded, and pointed to the register, "My meeting" he said.
"Oh! Oh right!" the man said, fumbling around with the register.
He pressed a button on his intercom, "Mr. Harry Potter to see President Alexander" he said.
"Send him in" someone replied over the intercom.
"We need one of those in Britain" Tonks said.
Harry shushed her and followed the man to a set of stairs.
He led them down into a brightly lit Dungeon, ending in a solid oak door.
He knocked on the door three times before someone told him to come in.
He opened the door and motioned Harry inside.
"You'll have to wait here" he said to Tonks.
Carpathia and Stone tried to get through anyway, "We're his bodyguards" they said.
"No-one is allowed…" he was silenced by a glare from Carpathia.
"It's ok guys, no-ones going to attack me here" Harry said and Stone nodded.
The man shut the door and Harry sat down across from President Alexander.
"You wanted to see me Potter? Said it was urgent?" he said.
Harry decided to get straight to the point.
"I have a warrant to arrest a Ronald Weasley, he is the cause for the fall of the Golden Gate bridge, we have the floo and apparition networks being highly monitored, he hasn't left your country"
The President folded his hands and leaned on his handsome oak desk.
"How can you be sure he didn't take a plane or ship, or a broom?" Alexander asked.
"As for plane and ships, our intelligence sources are watching the ticket market, and if anyone flew a broom out of here, we'd know, the sky's are being monitored as well, Ron flew here under his own name, but never left" Harry replied curtly.
"And this has to do with me why?" the President asked.
Harry shook his head,
"It doesn't really, but if we have to deal with anything in a foreign country, we have to notify the leader of that nation's magical populous" he said.
Alexander nodded, "You have notified me, I trust you have all your living arrangements set up, and how long will you be here?" he said.
Harry shook his head again, "Yes we have a hotel," he said, "as for our time, I have no idea, could be a week, could be a couple of months, but I know Ron he'll be easy to track"
Harry stood up, bowed slightly, and swept out of the office wordlessly.
Tonks, Ramsey, Drake, Stroker, Carpathia, and Stone, fell in to step behind him.
They quietly made their way out of the building and apparated to the
5 star wizarding hotel they would be staying in.
Harry had wanted to minimize the expense of the trip, but Tonks had to have the best they could get, first class plane tickets, five star hotels, limo's.
Who knows what else she would get, after all, she wanted to do some serious shopping.
As they walked into Frisco's Finest, Harry had a deep impression of the Burrow.
It was very clean, very HUGE, and very Magical.
Tonks gasped, "holy cricket" she said.
Harry knew Hermione would love this place.
A receptionist greeted them and showed them to their rooms, they all got separate rooms.
Harry's was connected to Tonks's by a door near the restroom.
It was marvelous, the room had a huge double water bed, there were 3 shelves above the bed head, it had it's own bathroom with a walk in shower.
Beside the door to Tonks's room was a large, handsome, dark oak entertainment center complete with a DVD player, accompanied by a library of DVD's.
Harry saw some of his favorites such as, Troy, Van Helsing, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, Pirates Of The Caribbean, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Star wars Episode III, and a few others.
On the left side of the bed was a rich, ornate, red plush rug sitting before a large brick fireplace.
There was a small tin sitting on top of the fireplace mantle, upon opening it; Harry saw that it contained a decent amount of floo powder, that was convenient.
A large bookshelf was on the right side of the bed, it contained novels, magazines, cookbooks, TV guides, and many other kinds.
On the far right wall, there was another door; Harry opened the door to find that it led into a small kitchen complete with all appliances and a mini-bar.
Harry left the kitchen in amazement, this was better than the flat he and Hermione had shared so many years ago.
Harry smiled at the memory of those years, when they were without a care in the world, and the only thing that had mattered was their love.
Harry was brought out of his reverie by the banging open of the door between his and Tonks's room.
"This place is wicked boss!" she shouted.
Tonks had a tendency to shout when she was excited and not notice she was shouting, Harry frequently had to remind her to keep her voice down, but this was an exception.
As Harry looked around the blue papered room with it's fine woven carpets and exquisite design, he had to agree with her.
"This is amazing" he said.
"Bloody right it is!" she said, "oh I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go to a concert with me, you're the only one here who likes music besides me" she said.
"Muggle or magic?" Harry asked, deciding that they had enough time.
"Muggle, it's that artist that Hermione likes a lot, wha's her name? Vanessa Carlton?" Tonks said.
Harry liked the prospect of that, he wanted to get a souvenir for Hermione, and an autograph from her favorite musician would be perfect.
"Maybe Tonks, I'll check my schedule" he said.
Hermione calmly strode into the house after a long day of job hunting, now that the children were off to school, she had decided to give modeling another chance, for pure recreation.
She didn't need a job but she wanted a job.
She had gone to her old agency and reinstated herself.
Her work was to start tomorrow, and that was just photo shoots for a portfolio.
She flung most of the mail unceremoniously onto the counter, before tearing open Mark's letter.
Dear Mum and Dad,
My first week at school is going great.
I'm In Gryffindor!
I've already made a very good friend, she's a girl and she's really smart.
Just like you Mum, her name's Holly, she's really nice, and she helps me in my classes.
I'm not so good at Transfiguration, but I'm good with everything else.
My best subjects are Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions.
I'm ok at charms, but they're not really my strong suit.
Oh yeah! Dad I made the Quidditch team! Seeker just like you! I already won the first game of the season!
The Firebolt's awesome; I've never flown a broom like it before!
Draco and Ginny's daughter Riley is not very nice, she got into Slytherin.
Of course, that didn't stop Lily from being friends with her, those two are inseparable!
Gotta go now, I'll send this with Ares after charms class
(yes, Mom I'm writing during class, sorry but "Wingardium Leviosa" seems a bit pointless!
Love,
Mark
Hermione finished reading the letter and smiled, he had a friend that was good.
And he had made the house Quidditch team, she was proud and she knew Harry would be too.
She was glad to hear he was doing good in Potions too.
But as she thought about it, Slughorn probably went easy on him because he was Harry's son.
She set the letter down and tore Lilly's open next.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I made Ravenclaw! I guess that means I'm smart huh?
I've really enjoyed my first week here; it's been a blast learning all this stuff.
I spend most of my time in the library, Hogwarts's library is huge!
Just like you said mum!
Mark's being a prat just because he's so popular and he's a seeker.
My only friend really is Riley, even though she's in Slytherin.
I don't see that much of Mark, and during the Quidditch match I didn't know who to cheer for.
It was Ravenclaw vs. Gryffindor, who do I cheer for, my brother or my house?
I don't like Quidditch very much, it's violent and pointless, and I don't like wizards chess either.
I was watching the Weasley twins play and I noticed how barbaric it was.
I saw a house elf too! I read about them in A revised History of Hogwarts.
Hogwarts has the biggest population in one place in Britain in over 500 years.
They're really cute, I met one named Dobby, and he says he knew Dad, he's kinda weird.
I'm doing well in all my classes, my favorite and best is Transfiguration.
I love it, but my favorite teacher is Professor Lupin, I don't like Professor Slughorn that much, but everyone else is really nice, professor McGonagall says you were her favorite student.
She also told me and Mark about all the crazy stuff you and Dad and Uncle Ron got into when you were at school.
Professor Flitwick is really nice too; he goes really easy on all of us.
Professor Hagrid is probably the nicest teacher we have, he says he knew you, Dad, and uncle Ron really well, and that you were all really good friends.
I do have some bad news that accompanies this letter also,
Crookshanks died, he fell out of the stands at the Quidditch match and broke his neck.
Madame Pomfrey tried to help her, but she was already dead.
The feasts are really good, I love Hogwarts so much.
The meals aren't as good as your cooking mum, but they're good.
Mark and I will be home on December 15th we'll see you then!
Love Always,
Lilly Leanne Potter
Hermione's smile widened after reading her daughter's letter, it sounded like Lily was following in her mothers footsteps and Mark in his fathers.
She wrote back to them, praising their grades, and scolding Mark for saying Wingardium Leviosa was pointless.
She told him about the incident where it had saved her life from a troll in first year.
After sending the letters she checked on Bellatrix and the baby,
Bella was passed out on the couch and the baby was playing quietly on the floor.
She smiled before heading to her bedroom; she was going to freshen up and go see Luna.
Heaven knows that girl could use someone to talk to.
"THERE! THERE! IT'S RIGHT THERE!" Tonks shrieked, "You missed it"
"Well I can't see anything with you waving your bloody arms everywhere, miracle I didn't hit something" Harry snapped, he pulled into a random driveway and turned around.
He drove back until Tonks pointed out the symphony hall and drove up.
It was packed, cars were everywhere, Harry drove around the lot for 15 minutes before he found a spot, and it was the last one.
They walked in and a man checked their tickets, "Lucky, you've got seats on the stage balcony" he said.
Harry and Tonks followed the man's directions and found their seats, looking down they could see the stage probably better than anyone else, they were right on the stage, a few feet above where the musicians would be playing.
Harry looked out at the crowd, over two thousand people had crowded into the symphony hall.
Harry imagined that it was the most crowded place in Frisco that night.
After a few minutes the musicians piled onto the stage.
At once Vanessa Carlton spoke up, introducing herself and saying a few words of thanks to the applause.
Then she sat at her piano, and began to play.
She went through a bunch of songs, starting with San Francisco and ending with A Thousand Miles.
Afterwards she asked for two requests, Tonks shouted out Paint It Black, and Harry remembered listening to that song so many times during his depression without Hermione.
(A/N: This will be the last song I write into the story, meaning I use the whole song and not just mention the name)
She struck up the tune and Harry hummed along.
I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore, I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
I see a line of cars, and they are painted black
With flowers, and my love both never to come back.
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a new born baby, it just happens every day
I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door, and I want it painted black
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted black, oh baby
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted black, oh baby
No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted black, oh
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky
Painted, painted, painted black oh baby
Painted, painted, painted black
As she ended the theatre thundered with applause, her performance that night had been utterly marvelous.
As they left the building, Harry remembered that he wanted her autograph for Hermione.
He tried to get to her but a screaming mob of fans separated them.
Harry pulled out his wand and nonverbally stunned some of them, invisibly blasting a way through the screaming fans.
"Miss Carlton, can I get an autograph for my wife?" he asked.
She smiled and signed the CD case he was holding out.
"Thanks" he said, and backed into the crowd, he apparated back to the car with a pop.
Tonks was waiting in the car, "I got one too!" she said holding up her copy of Be Not Nobody.
Harry nodded and started the car.
They drove back towards the hotel, but were detoured when they heard police sirens blaring.
Harry pulled to the side of the road and let the cops speed past.
Harry flipped on the radio, "Devastation at the north side civic center…" Harry flipped it off, and looked at Tonks who just nodded.
They both Dissapparated with a CRACK!
Wow mum!
Did you really get attacked by a troll?
That's really cool! You must have been scared!
And Uncle Ron saved you with Wingardium Leviosa?
That must have been really wicked mum!
Professor McGonagall said she was terrified when she saw you guys standing there beside the unconscious troll!
I would have been scared; I bet Dad wasn't scared though, He's not afraid of anything, not even Voldemort.
Sorry about writing during charms, I gotta go, see you in a month!
Love
Mark
P.S: Lily was too busy to write so she sends her apology's and greetings!
Hermione put down the letter, it had been waiting for her when she had arrived home from Luna's earlier that day.
Luna had sobbed all over Hermione, and all Hermione could do was sit there and pat her on the back.
Luna was devastated, she felt like Ron had utterly betrayed her.
Hermione had talked with her after her sobs had died out.
They talked for an hour before Hermione returned home.
Now she was sitting at the kitchen table, folding Mark's letter back into it's envelope.
One line went through her head again and again,
I bet Dad wasn't scared though, He's not afraid of anything, not even Voldemort.
That was the public opinion, Harry Potter was invincible, and nothing scared him.
But Hermione had seen the fear in his face as he left to confront Ron.
Hermione had seen the fear in his face when he had killed for the first time.
And Hermione had seen the fear in his face when he had found her.
And she had definitely seen fear in his face when he had asked her to marry him.
The fact was, Harry Potter wasn't invincible, he had emotions too, and that included fear.
Harry and Tonks appeared near the civic center, the rest of his team was already there.
But it seemed as if all time had stopped, the flames around the civic center were frozen.
Muggle police and firemen were frozen in their tracks.
Then Harry heard a voice, coming from the roof of the civic center.
"I knew you'd follow me Harry, but I came alone, so we fight alone, no backup, this is it, the showdown" Ron yelled.
"Xanatos!" Harry yelled, he realized Ron was dead and that this was not Ron, It was Lord Xanatos,
"I'll fight you! And I'll kill you if I have to!"
Xanatos cackled a high merciless laugh that made Harry shiver, that wasn't Ron's laugh, but it came from him all the same.
Harry apparated to the top of the building, followed by his men.
"Don't do anything unless I give the signal" he whispered.
He could hear Xanatos cackling, "Ready for a duel Potter?" he asked.
Harry drew his wand, he didn't want to do this, but he had to.
"Yeah Xanatos, I'm here, and I'm ready to fight" he said.
Ron stopped laughing, "Really? I didn't think you'd have the backbone to kill your best friend" he said.
"Ron's dead, you're not Ron anymore, therefore you are no longer my best friend" Harry yelled.
Harry motioned for his men to back into the shadows, Tonks tried to argue but he silenced her with a glare.
"I'm ready when you are" Harry said.
Lord Xanatos said nothing.
For a few minutes no one attacked, they just paced around the dark roof, it was too dark.
Ron could have been two feet away and Harry wouldn't have seen him.
Suddenly a jet of orange light rushed at Harry, he dodged it just in time, and he felt it graze over his hair.
"SECTUSEMPRA!" Harry yelled, it missed.
"So it begins" Ron said.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" he yelled, it grazed Harry's arm, and it felt hot.
They taunted and cursed and hexed and charmed for what seemed like hours, but could only have been a few minutes.
Unforgivable curses flew and Harry had to admit, Ron had improved his spell work greatly since Harry had last seen him.
Both had sustained serious injuries in the short amount of time they had fought.
"RON! IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO COME BACK TO OUR SIDE! YOU CAN'T WIN!" Harry yelled.
"Oh but I can" Ron sounded close.
Harry felt something poke into his back, Ron's wand.
Quick as lightning, from years of Quidditch and Auror training, Harry turned around, knocked Ron's wand out of his hand, and kicked him to the ground with his good leg.
Harry turned his wand on Ron, you can come quietly, or I can kill you.
Quick as a flash, Ron grabbed his wand and flung a curse at Harry.
Time slowed down, he saw Hermione, and Mark, Lily, and Anna clearly in his mind.
Bellatrix and Rebecca, and all the memories he had shared with Ron and Hermione.
Then he heard Tonks scream.
Harry looked up, everyone looked shocked, even Ron, Tonks's hands were covering her mouth and her eyes were wide.
Harry looked at his feet, Stone had jumped in the way of the curse, at the cost of his life.
Harry turned his wand on Ron, "You choose death" he said.
But Harry couldn't do it, he couldn't bring himself to say the words.
"Coward" Ron muttered, he could enrage Harry, but he knew Harry wouldn't kill him.
Suddenly Stroker stepped forward, "I'll do it" he said in his thick Transylvanian accent.
He leveled his wand at a fearful looking Ron, not Xanatos, Ron.
"AVADA…" he started.
"NO!" Harry screamed on impulse, he lunged and his shoulder connected with Stroker's stomach.
Stroker screamed, and toppled over, off the roof of the San Francisco civic center.
Harry rushed to the side of the building, even from the distance of three stories up, he could see the angle that Stroker's neck was at, he was dead, Harry had murdered him.
"No" he whispered.
Ron just laughed, then he apparated.
Harry ran his hand through his hair, "What have I done?" he asked himself.
He looked at his troops, they were shell-shocked.
Tonks stepped forward, wide-eyed and shaking.
"Harry, I'm going to have to place you under arrest" she said, pointing her wand directly at his heart.
Ok that's the end of the chapter!
Felecia sends her thanks to those who ere concerned about her, she's recovering slowly, but the doctor said there shouldn't be any permanent damage.
Holly, the character that I made you into Mark's friend is going to become a main character later on that's what I have done for your loyalty
Next chapter will be The Trial.
I don't have much to say so I'm going to end it here.
See you next chapter!