Disclaimer: Don't own anything you recognize from the books.
Harry mounted his broom swiftly, soaring high above the practice stadium. At the other end he could see Ron positioning himself infront of the goals, as two chasers headed toward him with the quaffles.
"Potter!" Coach Necre's voice filled the stadium, "I'm letting the snitch out now!"
Harry glanced back down to where the coach was standing and watched as he let the golden snitch. Immediately it had vanished, zooming around the pitch. Harry decided to wait a few minutes, warm up, before he went after it.
He watched a lone bludger be beaten back and forth along side of him, before pulling his broom up and did a double spin. He pulled down and head straight toward the ground.
"POTTER!" Necre's voice filled the stadium once again, "STOP WITH THE TRICKS AND CATCH THE SNITCH!"
Harry pulled out of his feint and quickly scanned the pitch, searching for a glimmer of the golden ball.
Nothing caught his eye, so he changed direction and headed toward Ron's end of the pitch.
"How you doing Harry?" Ron called out to him as he circled the goal posts.
"Yeah, all good," he called back as Ron took a quaffle in the stomach.
Suddenly, a slight buzz filled Harry's ear's, a shimmer of air whipped past his face.
Ron began to yell something else out to him, but Harry was off, in a world that contained on himself and the golden ball that was whizzing away from him. It zagged up, so Harry zagged up, it quickly dropped down and he followed, finally Harry was almost with an arms reach, when the snitch changed course and zoomed up, causing Harry to fly head first into the course of the bludger that had flown in the wrong direction.
Classing his grip around the cool metal of the snitch, Harry felt his knee smash as the bludger came into contact with him. Wincing in pain, he carefully pulled his broom back down to the ground as Necre and the team doctor headed toward him.
Emma sat at her desk, placing the final picture into the photo album. It had taken her a week to develop and two album's before she had finally come to something she knew they would love. Carefully she closed the second photo album and placed it in the box with the first, before placing the lid on the box.
Brain entered her office, just as she was tying the ribbon around; ensuring the lid didn't come off.
"Here's your mail," He said, dropping a large pile of parchment on to her desk, "Oh and Witch Weekly just flooed to say they want you to their next spread on that actress, Morgan, no Meagan Brinkly. They must have been impressed with the one you did on the Zabini couple,"
"Uh huh," Emma replied absentmindedly as she picked up the pile of parchment and he left her small office.
She quickly went through her letters, one from her mother, another from the daily profit asking if she wanted to renew her subscription, a short note from Sarah telling her she would be late for lunch. Then finally she came to the last letter which had delicate handwriting on the front of the envelope, one Emma had never seen before.
Carefully breaking the seal, she unfolded the piece of parchment that was inside.
Dear Emma,
Unfortunately neither Draco nor myself will be able to pick the photos up as we had previously planned as we have decided to extend our honeymoon for another week. I've enclosed a cheque and was wondering if it were possible for you to drop them off to Blaise. Sorry about the inconvenience.
Ginny Malfoy
Emma sighed and looked down at the box that was beside her desk. Glancing at her watch she found she still had an hour till she was to meet Sarah at their new time, and her next job didn't start till the next day, when Ginny and Draco were supposed to pick the photos up.
Putting her coat on, Emma grabbed her handbag, before picking the e box up off the floor.
"I'll see you tomorrow," she told Brian as she exited the building.
Sarah stared at her piece of parchment. Most of it was blank, and it had been like that for the past two days and her dead line was in an hour.
"Niiick," She whined, causing the man siting at the desk across form her to look up, "I need help,"
He smiled softly at her, "I thought my ideas, how did you put it, were crap this week,"
She frowned at him, "you know I didn't mean that, besides everything else we have is just boring and not what people want to read about." It was true as well, all the most interesting piece of gossip they had managed to come up with this week was about some American singing sensation using polyjuice to pretend his girlfriend was some stick thin model.
"Well," he looked at her, seeing the glimmer of hope in her eyes, "I was saving this for next week, but since we are desperate." He passed a file across the desk.
"Meagan Brinkly's split up with Josh Hart. You've been holding out on me Nicky boy," Sarah exclaimed as she scanned the file.
"I just wanted to keep it to myself for a while," he said dreamily back to her.
"And you call yourself a writer," She muttered under her breather, quickly noting the main points.
Emma managed to walk to Blaise's apartment building in twenty minutes, realizing that when she got there she could have just apparated. Ignoring that thought, she quickly made her way up the elevator and onto he third floor. Knocking on Blaise's door, she desperately hoped he was home so she didn't have to carry the box with her, and once again realizing she probably would have been better taking it to his office.
The door opened and Emma found herself looking to a pair of emerald eyes.
"Emma?" Harry asked her gently.
"Hey Harry," Emma said, once reminding herself that he lived there as well, "Blaise isn't here is he?"
He shook his head, "No, he's at the office."
"Oh, well I guess, I can leave this with you anyway," Emma said, holding the box out to him.
"Um, okay, what is it?" Harry said, hesitating to take the box.
"Their Draco and Ginny's photos, they asked me to drop them off since they won't be back until next week," Emma smiled at him.
"Oh right," He muttered to himself, "do you want to come in?"
Now it was Emma's turn to shake her head, "I'm actually on my way to meet some one," she said.
"Oh," Harry sounded disappointed; "Well I better not keep you then,"
"Yeah, well, I'll see you around," she said before apparating out of the building and into Sarah's office.
"Emma darling," Nick's voice filled the room.
"Emma, I said I'd be another twenty minutes still," Sarah exclaimed.
"What, oh yeah, right…. I don't mind waiting," Emma said in a bit of a daze.
"So, why are you waiting in my office?" Sarah said not looking up from the story she was writing.
"I don't kno-" Emma began to say but was interrupted.
"Don't worry, Sarah, go I'll finish the story," Nick cried enthusiastically.
Sarah looked at him skeptically, and he pulled a pleading puppy dog face at her, "Clearly your other best friend is having man trouble at the moment, something more important than a small story about Meagan Brinkly," he tried.
"I'm not having man trouble, thank you very much," Emma spoke, regaining her composure.
"You're eyes are slightly dreamy," Sarah said finally tearing her eyes away from her parchment.
"What?" Emma asked horrified.
"We write gossip," Nick pointed out, "We know all the signs. So who is he?"
"What? No one," Emma said.
"Whatever, now you two go eat so I can have some piece and quiet," Nick exclaimed, stealing the story from Sarah's desk.
Rolling her eyes, Sarah grabbed her coat and purse, before dragging Emma out of the office and down the street, where they apparated into Diagon Alley.
Fifteen minutes after Emma had visited Harry; he was faced with a new visitor.
"We can go see what Ron's doing and take him into Diagon Alley," a bored Hermione said, "like we did before school started,"
"Hermione, don't you have work?" Harry asked suddenly.
"My department's going under renovations at the moment," Hermione responded, as she picked up and began to flicking through a magazine that was on Blaise's kitchen table.
"Really? Why?" Harry asked.
"Because trolls began to riot and started a fire in there," Hermione replied seriously, "So can we? Go into Diagon Alley I mean?" she looked up at him, like a schoolgirl getting on the bus from the first time.
"I'll go floo Ron then," Harry sighed, leaving the kitchen.
Five minutes later the three of them were standing in the Leaky Cauldron.
"So, should we eat first?" Ron said, trying to sound inconspicuous.
Harry glanced at Hermione who glance back at him; both were trying not to burst out laughing.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Nothing," Harry responded, "We've already eaten though, but if this place your going to has coffee I'm set,"
Ron glanced at Hermione who nodded in agreement.
"Great, there's this great place next to Flourish and Blotts," he exclaimed, leading the way out of the pub, "it's like Italian or something,"
Hermione and Harry followed Ron down the street, until finally they came to a small café like restaurant, called Dolce, next to the bookshop.
"So, Hermione I thought you were working today," Ron said.
"I've already explained to harry, my department's getting renovations," she responded, glancing down at the menu.
"Really? Why?" Ron asked the same thing Harry had early.
"Trolls burnt it down," Harry answered seriously.
"You're kidding right? Trolls burnt down the department of education?" Ron asked.
Hermione glared at him.
"You work in the department of education?" Harry asked before she could respond.
Hermione looked at him startled, "Erm, yes."
"So why'd they burn it down, you refuse to give them reading lessons?" Ron continued.
Hermione looked at her two best friends; "alright I called in sick today,"
"You did WHAT?" Ron asked loudly, causing people at the next table to look at them.
"Ron, shut up," Hermione hissed at him, "I am allowed to have a sick day if I want,"
"No, you're not, your Hermione Granger, workaholic," Ron pointed out, causing Harry to begin to laugh.
"I am not a workaholic." Herman responded.
"I can't believe you just said that," Ron replied.
Emma and Sarah sat at a small corner table at Dolce. Emma was trying to listen to Sarah as she continued to talk and concentrated on her meal that was infront of her, but her thoughts kept drifting to a certain black haired man that had entered the restaurant with his friend just ten minutes before.
"So are you going to tell me who you keep thinking about instead of listening to me?" Sarah asked, snapping Emma from her thoughts.
"What? I've been listening to you," Emma responded, looking down at her plate.
"What was I just talking about then?" Sarah asked her best friend.
"Um, that time you came to Australia and almost drowned at the beach so the lifeguard would notice you?" Emma guess, knowing she had said mentioned something about it earlier.
"Wrong," Sarah replied, "I was telling you about this gorgeous shoes I saw the other day,"
"Oh," Emma replied.
"Who is he?" Sarah asked, taking a mouthful of her pasta.
"Who's who?" Emma asked.
"Don't try and play dumb with me missy," Sarah said once she had swallowed her food, "I know that game too well."
"It's no one," Emma replied.
"You admitting that it is no one just automatically proves it someone," Sarah retorted.
"What? That doesn't even make sense," Emma answered putting her fork down, "besides it's a bit rich you asking me this when you won't even admit to having a crush on Ron Weasley,"
Emma finished speak, just as Ron stood and walked toward the bathrooms, which was just near their table, although Sarah had her back to him, unknowing that he was even in the restaurant.
"Don't try and change the topic," Sarah said loudly, "Besides I do not have a crush on him,"
"Hello Ron," Emma said smugly as he spotted them.
Sarah's face, paled, but she didn't turn around as Ron approached the table.
"Emma," Ron said cheerfully, "How's those pictures coming along? Hello Sarah,"
Sarah simply nodded, but turned back to her food, knowing she was blushing.
"Oh, I gave them to Harry this morning," Emma said, her voice slightly high.
"Oh really? He never mentioned it. Well I'll leave you two to it then," Ron said before continuing his way to the bathroom.
"You knew he was in here the whole time," Sarah squealed at her once he had disappeared.
Emma simply nodded.
"Why didn't you say anything," Sarah asked.
Emma didn't say anything as Ron walked back past their table and sat down at his own again. Harry and Hermione glancing over in their direction as he pointed them out.
"Hello?" Sarah's voice broke her from her thoughts; "did you try to embarrass me on purpose?"
"What no, I just didn't see any point in making a big deal about it, especially since you don't like him or anything," Emma said, putting her fork down.
Sarah's face when bright red, "I…arragh just stop it,"
Emma smiled, "I have to go, Brian's expecting me back soon," she lied, getting her purse out.
"Yeah, I don't really feel like eating right now," Sarah told her, getting her purse out as well. They left the money on the table and grabbed their coats, each hoping they could leave the restaurant discreetly.
Harry watched as the two of them put their coats on and began to walk toward the restaurant exit. He had moved seat when Ron went to the toilet, knowing he would be able to see her from this seat. He looked down as they began to walk toward the table, just as Hermione glanced around for a waiter.
"Oh, Hello Emma," she said and Harry felt the two girls stop. He looked up from his menu.
"Long time no see," He tried to smile at Emma.
"Yeah… how are you Hermione?" Emma asked, turning to back to the girl.
"I'm good, you know you need to come by when Blaise is off one day, I'm sure he would love to cook for you," she joked.
"I'll keep it in mind," Emma said absentmindedly, "you remember Sarah don't you from the photo shoot,"
Hermione smiled at the blonde, "of course, how are you?"
"I'm fine," Sarah answered nervously, "but right now I need to get going, work to do. Talk to you later Em,"
Emma stared at her friend's back as she left the restaurant.
"What about you Emma, do you have to go to work, or are you like our dear Mione and having a sick day?" Ron asked her.
"No, I only work until lunchtime on Thursdays," Emma admitted automatically and Harry saw his chance.
"Well, would you like to join us?" he asked suddenly, getting interesting looks from both Ron and Hermione.
"What, uh…I mean I wouldn't want to intrude, besides I've already eaten," Emma replied.
"Oh, you wouldn't be intruding, besides it would give me a chance to find out some embarrassing stories about Blaise while he's not here," Hermione said quickly, realizing what Harry was doing, "besides, we had sandwiches before we left, only Ron here missed out,"
"You guys just ate without telling me," Ron protested.
"Please, I need some dirt on him," Hermione pleaded, leaving Emma no choice but to join the table.
Sitting in the only empty chair, that happened to be across from Harry, Emma suddenly felt very self-conscious in her work suit and pony tail, ignoring these thoughts however, she turned to Hermione, "what kind of dirt do you need?"
"Blaise,"
"Hermione," Blaise responded from her couch.
"It doesn't matter," Hermione replied from her seat across the room.
Blaise glanced at her, knowing what she wanted to say did matter.
Sighing, he sat up, "what's happened?" he asked.
Hermione glanced up from her book, a frown on her face. "Nothing's happened, why do you think something's happened?"
Blaise was slightly confused, but continued anyway, "well every since I got back from the office you've been buried in a book that your not even reading and you only say my name and 'it doesn't matter' when you have something to tell me. Did you and Ron have an argument today?"
"No. It really doesn't matter," Hermione said, "besides you wouldn't be interested."
"Gee, I'm starting to think maybe I should have just gone and spent the evening with Harry if your gong to talk like this all night," Blaise said sarcastically.
"Whatever floats your boat dear," she grinned at him.
"Oh come on, just tell me what's wrong," Blaise pleaded.
"You have to promise not to go all weird though," Hermione told him.
"I can't make any promises if I don't know what I'm making them for," Blaise answered.
"Well, you know how I said Emma spent the afternoon with us," Hermione replied, ignoring his last comment, "well it as only because Harry invited her when we saw her with Sarah who had to go back to work."
"Yeah…so?" Blaise asked, clearly not getting anything.
"Harry invited her because he likes her," Hermione said, putting her book down to watch Blaise's reaction.
"Well that's good, I'm glad my friends like my family," Blaise said sarcastically.
"No I mean LIKE like, as in the way you like me," Hermione said and Blaise's eyes grew wide.
"What…no…Harry…. My cousin," Blaise stuttered.
"Well I'm glad he took that well," Hermione muttered to herself, "And I think she likes him back"
Blaise stopped talking and just stared at his fiancée.
"How do you know these things?" he finally broke the silence.
"I just do," Hermione shrugged, "and I was thinking that maybe we could set them up…"
"What…no…defiantly not, she's my baby cousin Hermione…. Not login to happen," Blaise told her.
"She's also a grown women, who is too shy to even look at Harry," Hermione told him, "you can't stop it if it's right"
"But it's not right," Blaise tried to protest, but Hermione silenced him.
"I've invited her to your apartment Monday night, I'm pretty sure Harry will make sure he's there, we're cooking," Hermione finished.
Blaise stared at her dumbfounded.
"Okay, your cooking," Hermione corrected her self.
"I think I need to go to bed," Blaise said to himself, "or wake up from this nightmare,"
"You can't tell them we know," Hermione said as Blaise got up and headed toward her room.
"I don't even want to know," Blaise groaned aloud.
A/N: okay there's the chapter... hopefully I'll get the next one up soon…also to answer some questions one reviewer had is that I never mentioned that Harry had any mental problems but the injury and flash back parts are a good idea so I might try and incorporate them into the story starting form now….
Please review… :-D