Chapter 2//Reunion

Nicole and I finally arrived at the entrance to Diagon Alley. Still nervous About being here Ally, it took a half an hour of reasoning with Nicole to leave the flat. Ideas and situations popped into my head: what if he doesn't remember me? What if he hates me? What if he's GAY? Anything was possible. I stood in front of the brick wall at the Leaky Cauldron, recounting all my doubts and fears that I formulated in my head through out all these years. I didn't notice the puzzled look Nicole was sending me the mean while

"You do remember how to get in, right?" Nicole inquired, breaking me out of my train of thought.

"Uh, of course I do. How could I forget?" I forced out a laugh as I reached into my robe and pulled out my wand. I tapped on each brick with confidence but the last one. It's been five years, give me a break! I teetered over 2 bricks for a few moments. Breathing in sharply, my wand pressed against one and I closed my eyes. Half hoping, half praying that the door would open.

At first, a thick silence fills the small room. I hear Nicole's shallow breathing when suddenly the room shakes. The bricks jump to life and move to the side, creating an entrance in front of us. I give a silent sigh of relief.

"Told you." I retort before Nicole can speak and we step into the busy Diagon streets. I felt the magic in the air that I could only vaguely remember. Another major difference between New York and here was the wizarding neighborhoods. New York had a dozen wizarding neighborhoods each one like the next. They all had their updated systems and muggle computers to organize things and what not but Diagon Alley was traditional and ancient. Most of the shops along the street had a history and a sort of belonging to the neighborhood. They didn't need fancy computers or complicated technology. Technology was more frightening then inviting to Diagon Alley regulars.

"This ... is ... adorable!" Nicole squealed with delight. "You couldn't find anything like this in New York, not even in SoHo." She said dreamily as we were pulled into the steady stream of shoppers.

"You couldn't really. Well, now that you've seen it let's go-" before I could turn on my heal, Nicole grabbed my arm.

"Come on, Gin! You can't say you haven't missed this place. You're so lucky to have grown up with this." Nicole linked her arm with mine as we continued down the street. "My mom never took me to these types of places. We ordered everything by catalogue."

"Why wouldn't your mum take you?" I asked with concern. Even with my family's lack of finances, we continued to visit Diagon Alley when we needed to.

"Stupid Muggle Mafia. My mother read one muggle news paper and I was convicted to a life of solitary confinement." Nicole spoke with spite. I repressed a giggle at this statement. "Oh! An Ice cream shop! Can we stop by? PLEASE?" She pouted. I sighed happily and we swung right through the entrance.

The rest of the afternoon we spent wondering up and down the streets. We went into Flourish and Blotts to check on the latest publishing's ("The Magically MAD Me" by Gildroy Lockhart). After, we went to the Apothecary. I was in need of spider powder and Nicole was looking for authentic Newt's tail ("One once sold me a iguanas tail and my hair was purple for a week." Nicole complained.) We spent the longest time in Magical Menagerie, the local pet shop. Birds squawked as we entered the tiny shop. Against the wall were stacks upon stacks of cages filled with little critters. There were rats, spiders, bunnies, a strange animal that looked a cross between a frog and a gerbil, and of course cats. In a cage near the door was a rather large bird.

"Aw, look how adorable this one looks. It's such a bright pink!" I say as I move closer to the bird's cage. The feathers on this bird were a bright pink you could only find in certain 80s music videos. Suddenly the bird squawked and it's feathers dissolved into a lighter shade of pink. "Oi! Nic! Come look at this." I say, not daring to take my eyes off of the bird, in fear it might disappear next.

"Gin! It?s just pink, most birds that species-*SQUAWK* whoa..." Nicole marveled at the bird as it continue its decent down the many shades of pink. A few minutes afterwards, the bird neared being completely white. As Nicole and I were about to move onto another animal, the bird ruffled its feathers and returned to its original shade of pink.

"She's a beauty!" A strangely familiar voice yelled from the backroom. "Been here for ages. She's actually half off to-" Mr. Neville Longbottum stepped out from the back room and looked at us, his eyes grew wide when they moved to me,"-day."

"Neville! What are you doing here?" I gasped with delight, if I had to see anyone from my past I'm glad Neville was the first.

"Ginny! Oh my, I haven't seen you since ... your graduation." Neville said with wonderment. He quickly moved around the front counter and wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug. "Where the hell have you been?"

"I've been in New York." I say taking a step back to get a good look at him. Neville had sure grown up since I've seen him last. His hair was now shaggy and he had a 5 o' clock shadow. He was a far cry from his pudgy Hogwarts day; now he was lean and tall. "Why are you working at a pet shop?" I say with a laugh.

"I'm in between jobs. I've been trying to get into a Auror training school." Neville said with a tinge of pride in his voice. Neville wouldn't be your first choice as a very productive Auror. He was rather clumsy and very forgetful. Yet, Neville's parents were driven crazy by one of Voldemort's followers Beatrice Lestrange. I guess when you have a reason there?s always a way. "I'm just trying to earn enough money at the moment." I smiled in return when I heard Nicole clear her throat rather forcefully behind me.

"OH! Oh, Nicole .. this is my friend from Hogwarts Neville Longbottum. Neville, this is my friend and co-worker Nicole Cook from America." I told her; Nicole blushed lightly as she reached forward to shake Neville?s hand.

"Hi Neville," Nicole said in a very un-Nicole-like voice. Usually she was full of confidence and stamina, but now it was frail and shy.

"Hi," Neville returned with a slight crimson blush on his cheeks as well.

"We just moved back to London. My job transferred over here and I was selected to work in the London branch. I work for a magazine called 'Cosmo Witch.'" I told him.

"Wow! That?s really great for you Ginny! Does your mother know your back? I remember she was pretty upset when you upped and left." Neville told her, his friendly voice unwavering.

"Well ... no, not exactly ... " I trailed off, looking at the ground.

"But we are going over there tomorrow night to surprise her." Nicole jumped in with her usual exuberance.

"Nice," Neville smiled at Nicole, then at me. "Well, I have to get back to work. We just got a new shipment of those color-changing cockatoos. Coming in all different colors now. Call me later and we'll have lunch or something" Neville smiled as he headed back through the door he came in through.

"Alright!" I hear Nicole say behind me as Neville disappeared once again to the backroom.

"Geez! Nic! He was talking to me!" I laughed as we headed back through the front door.

"He's cute! Why didn't you tell me about this Neville person?" Nicole said, looking back at the shop as if Neville was going to reappear again.

"Neville's just a friend. We went to one dance together and that was pretty much it. He's too nice of a guy to be a boyfriend. Well, at least any boyfriend of mine." I say, elbowing Nicole in the side.

"Yeah, we'll see ... we'll see ..." Nicole returns, trying to repress a smile.

We began our way back to Leaky Cauldron. The sun was going down and the street lamps were being light so it was time to go home. We walked through the Leaky Cauldron brick entrance. Many wizards and muggles were walking with Nicole and I, discussing their recently purchased items.

"I need to sit down. My feet are killing me!" Nicole complained and yanked me towards the bar. We found two unoccupied stools and sat in them. The bar was much more crowded then earlier, it was time for the night owls to come out and play.

"Two Wa-"

"Two Wa-" I said along with the man next to me. "Oh Sorry! You go ahead." I say with politeness. I glance over at the man and he has his back towards me. I couldn't see his face but his very untidy hair tickled my nose. Wait, untidy hair? It couldn't be ...

"Oh no, you go ahead." The man says and turns around. I am now face to face with the last person I wanted to see on this Diagon Alley shopping trip. Harry hasn't changed much since our last meeting. He wore the same style of glasses, his hair remained as shaggy as usual, and his lightening bolt scar remained as vivid as ever. It looked as if Harry hadn't changed one bit from my graduation. No wonder my legs still felt wobbly.

"Harry?" I hear myself say. I feel like I'm having an out of body experience. I went from a sophisticated, New York, cosmopolitan women back to the shy, nerdy Ginny from Hogwarts in less than 2 seconds.

"Oh my god, Ginny! Oh my, I can't believe its you." He says in return, his eyes wide with wonderment. I feel him wrap his arms around me and for a split second I believe he's going to kiss me. Well, I would think that wouldn't I? Instead, it was a hug. A bloody hug. "It's so great to see you." He says in my ear and I can feel his warm breath against my skin. Damn it, Ginny! Stop it! Be Strong!

"Harry, it's great to see you. You've changed so much." I hear myself say in return. I close my eyes and take in his smell. Mmm he smells so good, what is that? I can't exactly find a name for it. It's Harry's smell, I don't need a name for it. Sadly, he pulls back to get a better look at me.

"You've changed too. My God, where have you been? I haven't seen you since your graduation." My what? My graduation, oh yes. Of course. I'm in such a dream state I can't even think straight. Wait! The ring? I quickly look down at his left hand and I see no ring. Oh, thank god. He's not married! Yet, the possibility of him being gay is still there. I gulp nervously as I accumilate a response.

"New York, I left for New York that day." I say with a weak smile. I could sense hurt from the way Harry was looking at me. I feel a pang grow in my heart and I have to look away at the large crowds of witches and wizards.

"Why didn't you tell me? I never got a chance to say good-bye." Harry asked. What am I going to tell him. Oh, I saw you give some chick a ring and I ran. Ha, that would be a riot.

"Hi there!" I hear Nicole chime in and I breath a sigh. God, I love her!

"Oh Harry, this is Nicole Cook. She's my co-worker and my flat mate. Nicole, this is Harry. He's a friend from Hogwarts." I say and watch them shake hands.

"Just a friend, Ginny? I think we were a bit more than that." He chuckles and punches me lightly on the sholder. Above all the noise now filling the small tavern, I hear someone clear there throat loudly. I look for the source of the sound and I see a petite blonde behind Harry. Her arms are crossed and she has a sour look on her face.

"Oh, Ginny. This is my girlfriend, Kate Oliver. Kate, this is Ginny. She's one of my really good friends." Harry and I make contact and I help but turn red. I was about to say Hello to Kate when an obnoxious laugh erupts from her mouth.

"Just a girlfriend, eh? I would thi-" Kate begins but Harry cuts her off.

"So, Ginny. How about a round of drinks? We can call it your 'Welcome Home' Party" Harry said with a grin and I couldn't help but grin back.

"Oh Darling, you know I can't drink." Kate said again with a fake smile plastared on her face. I could hear every ounce of hate dripping off her words. She didn't want me talking to Harry. I wanted to say 'fuck off bitch, he's mine' but I restrained. I have to remain a lady, of course.

"Then you can have a water. I want to celebrate with my friend." Harry retorted sweetly. I couldn't help but smile at this comment and watch the dissapointment on her face.

"Huh, then I'll just let you celebrate with your friend." She glared at him then lifted her gaze to me. "Nice to meet you Finny. See you when you get home."

"It's Ginny." I say innocently.

"Right." And she's gone. Thank god! One more moment with her and I would've ripped my hair out! Hate people like that, couldn't see why Harry would go off with her.

"So, how about those drinks?" He says unfazed. I nodded and he ordered 3 fire whiskies from the bartender.

The night went on and the drinks kept going. Everything began to blur together, from stories from Hogwarts to when Nicole excused herself to go home, saying she felt 'tired' from the ride up here. One thing I remember vividly is Harry ordering more and more drinks and our laughs become more and more loud and obnoxious. I remember the smoke of the bar beginning to annoy me so we went home. The next thing I remember is wake up to a blinding bright light. I tried to sit up but gravity and my hangover kept me in my place. The covers felt so soft against my skin, I did not want to move from this spot all day.

As I was about to fall back into my slumber, I felt something move next to me. That is funny, it felt like another person was sleeping in my bed but that could not be Ö Then it all came to me in one quick flash. I had no clothes on. I don't sleep naked unless I ... I ... oh crap. I turn my head quickly and find a slumbering Harry next to me. He was naked as well. I let out a shriek and sit up quickly in my bed, my head spun quickly. Harry's eyes popped open and he sat up quickly as well, falling out of the bed in the process.

"Oh my god! Harry?" I manage to say without puking. I threw a blanket at Harry, who sat naked on more floor and I stood up, wrapping my bed sheet around me.

"Oh no, you don't think we ..." Harry trailed off.

"There has to be a logical explanation to this ... " I trail off as well.

"We slept together, plain and simple." Harry said and sat back down on the ground.

"We don't have to think that way! We could've just ended up in the same bed ... " I say, trying to convince myself of the inevitable.

"Naked?" Harry added and I sent him a glare my mother would be proud of.

"How much did I have to drink last night?" I asked, putting my hand upon my head and sitting down on the opposite side of the bed.

"As much as I did, I reckon." Harry said. Silence filled the room as the feeling that I slept with my brother's best friend began to sink in.

"Wow, this is a bit awkward." I manage to giggle but my stomach stirs.

"Yeah" Harry says, I could see the wheels in his head turn with some excuse to keep the silence from settling. "What time is it?"

"10:23" I reply.

"Shit! I'm late for work!" He says and begins to search for his pants, which were on top of a nearby lampshade.

"Where do you work again? I can't remember." I ask and lay down on my bed.

"Among many other things," laughed and I couldn't help but smile. "The Ministry of Magic, I'm just a paper pusher for now." He says and slides his pants on. "Neville, Ron and I are trying to save up enough to go to Auror Training school."

"Oh, that's right. That's right." I say and watch him put his shirt on. "Harry I don't want this to make our friendship all ... weird, ya know?" I watch him stop and look at me

"I know, I don't want it to either." Harry replies in a solemn voice.

"I mean, it's just sex. Friends have sex all the time." I laugh but who am I trying to fool? Damn it, Gin! You're never drinking again!

Starting tomorrow.

"Maybe. Oh Shit, Kate! What am I going to tell her?" Harry said, tying his shoes.

"Just say, you crashed on my couch. You were too drunk to go home and you just came to my apartment and crashed on my couch. She's blonde, she'll believe anything you sa-" I blurt out without being able to stop myself. "Oh my, Harry I didn't mean th-"

"You're right. She probably didn't even notice I was gone." Harry grinned. He stood up, trying to smooth out the wrinkles on his pants. "Well, I don't know if I should kiss you+ and say thanks or-"

"Bye Harry." I say with a smile and he returns it.

"Bye Gin. See you later." And he's gone. Faintly I hear Nicole say bye to Harry before she enters my bedroom.

"Well ... " Nicole says with her arms crossed, "How was it? Sounded good from my room, you guys were so loud!" she laughed and I threw my pillow at her.

"Why didn't you bloody stop me?" I say, throwing my covers over my head. "I slept with Harry fucking Potter!"

"I should be complaing to you. You guys woke me up three times!" Nicole said, sitting on the end of my bed. "How was it?

"How am I suppose to know? I was so pissed last night" I say, putting my hand on my head.

"Well, you better get unpissed and quickly. You have to call your mom and say your in town." Nicole said in the grown up voice I hate!

"Can I later, right now I just want to lay here and try to remeber last night." I say and turn my back to her.

"Ah, I see how you are. Trying to remember how big his-AHH! New rule, no throwing alarm clocks at your room mate!"

A/N: Thank you to all who showed interest in this story. As some of you might know, I am a senior in high school so I'm extremely busy in the months leading up to my graduation! I'll try to get a new chapter in as much as I can but that's all I can promise! I am looking for a BETA reader, if you're interested my e-mail is FLAPPERgirl7@hotmail.com and my aim is GrandeCappichino! Thanks! Until next time!