Feels Good to Get Away, a tale from the now above the weather mind of M.T.Froste
AU Explanation: After spending a few days wondering where the hell I'm going with this story I have finally come to a conclusion and answered all my questions. First of all I had to consider is this a Hogwarts story? It's always simpler that way all the characters know each other etc. and all foundations are already layed. But then there's always the problem of Harry and Draco already stuffed by not liking each other and I really don't feel like being someone who writes a story with them going up to each other "Hey Harry, we hate each other, but I just found out I'm gay and love you." "Are you serious Draco, I just found out I prefer men too and have been in denial all my life about how much I love you and the past few years have all been a pointless façade." And no offence to anyone's story who did that but that sounds to me like the basis of a bunch of meaningless fluff and crap.
So this story has taken the turn of standing on the foundations of anything that forms in my mind. Hogwarts doesn't exist, no one knows each other unless that's how its been created in my head, though most of the main characters will make an appearance. Then that brings us to another snag: No Hogwarts, does that mean no magic? Hmm. I have decided no magic. And I know I am going to regret that somewhere later on because we all have those moments in life where we say to ourselves 'damn, I wish magic existed' and I know after making that decision to cut it there'll be a moment when it's really needed in the story and I'll be smashing my head on the desk overly frustrated. But that time isn't here yet, so I won't be dealing with giving myself brain damage just yet, let's hope I can avoid it entirely.
Next point: No Hogwarts so what's the location of all this. Thankyou to everyone who gave me suggestions about Draco's home and where it should be you really got me thinking. This is a really major point cos the decision will determine the whole outcome of just about everything. So from all your suggestions I came to the conclusion of somewhere small and quiet. The rest you'll have to find out in time.
I hope I've made the right decision by you all and you like the route I have decided to take. Sorry to anyone who's disappointed, I'm afraid I can't please you all. So without further ado here's what I've come up with. (I apologise for how shocking long this note is but i felt i should explain).
-CHAPTER TWO-
As Harry pulled on his jumper he couldn't help but feel slightly guilty. He hadn't been to the beach in at least a month. It was a similar feeling to that of avoiding a close friend for no real reason, and now he suddenly felt as though he had to make up for it.
He closed and locked the door, tucking the key under the damp mat. The air was still lingering with the scent of rain. His lungs welcomed the fresh air after being cooped up inside all weekend. He walked down the footpath noticing how beautiful all the plants looked with water droplets still clinging to their leaves. He loved his garden, it was a little overgrown he had to admit but he liked the wild look it created, like you're walking through a forest not knowing what will be around the next turn. Besides, in his eyes all a garden needed to be was large and full of colour and that was definitely what his was.
He came to the end of the path and hopped the stone wall that was just above waist height, not bothering with the gate. Leaning against the other side of the wall was his trusty bicycle. Swinging one foot over the frame and pushing off with the other he set off down the lane.
He rode out of his laneway and onto the main street through the village. He sped down the road's slope the wind whistling past his ears, sending his hair flying in all directions. As he drew into the Town Square he pulled up alongside a small store. It was originally a grocer but as time had gone by it gradually began to double as a newsagents, bakery and somewhere to pick up any general supplies.
He leant his bike up against the wall and stepped inside.
"Hey Harry," said Lavender, sitting behind the bakery counter sipping coffee.
"Hey. Is Hermione in yet?" Harry asked glancing around the store.
Lavender nodded in the direction of the back of the shop. Harry gave her a quick smile of thanks and made his way down the cereal isle vaguely trying to remember if he needed to grab anything while he was here.
Hermione found the young man contemplating over a box of nutri-grain and grinned. Good old Harry, she thought, as soon as he gets home with that he'll realise the other four boxes are still unopened.
"Hermione…" he said slowly frowning at the box, "I know you probably haven't noticed, but you always seem to know these things anyway, do I need to buy this?" He looked up at her grinning, hoping to god she'd be able to get him out of this confusing problem. The girl standing before him had her hair swept back into a bun and wore no make-up what so ever. So unlike any other girls of her age, he thought. But this was probably because it really wasn't needed. Hermione had a natural beauty about her. The hair gave her a no nonsense appearance but after knowing her since their childhood, Harry knew her personality was the complete opposite. She was fun loving, caring and always ready for any crazy ideas he came up with.
She laughed, "No Harry, I believe the other boxes in the top cupboard above your sink will be enough for the next few months."
"Oh," he laughed and blushed slightly.
Hermione stoped herself from letting out an 'awww' at how adorable Harry looked when he did that. The last time she had pointed it out she had ended up on the ground with an extremely irritated but still blushing seventeen year old boy on top of her with his fist drawn back telling her if she even dared say that again she was dead. Of course Harry was only messing about but she had managed to stop herself from laughing at his reaction to the comment and agreed never to mention it again. He had looked pretty serious though and she wasn't up for testing his threat's credibility anytime soon.
Harry placed the box back on the shelf. "I'm off to the beach, wanna come?"
Hermione smiled at the green-eyed boy. It was so typical of him to rock up at 7am and expect her to be able leave work to come down to the beach. She and Harry had known each other since they were five years old when her family had moved into the small village. They had hit it off instantly and had remained best friends ever since. Twelve years had passed and Harry still had his carefree five-year-old outlook on life. His personality was impulsive and he didn't care what the outcome or consequences to his actions would be as long as they sounded fun and exciting at the time of thinking them up. This of course didn't make him a bad person; on the contrary, he was kind and sweet and all that she could have wanted from a best friend. She had loved growing up with him and watching him mature into the handsome young man that stood before her.
"Harry, I'd love to, you know that. But I can't just drop everything I'm doing and leave work just to go to the beach."
Harry sighed. He knew it had been asking a lot. Hermione took her work seriously, even if it was just at a village store. "C'mon Hermione," he coaxed, "We haven't been in months. It's the beach."
"I know, I know. I honestly wish I could but…" she trailed off and gestured to the shelves around them.
"I guess," said Harry glumly. It looked like he'd be going by himself, well not if he had anything to do with it. "But don't you just want to breath in that wonderful salty air, feel the sand between your toes, run giggling in and out of the waves like you always do?"
"Harry, stop it!" she said sternly, "It's so damn unfair you were given the ability to win people over so easily."
Harry grinned, "So that's a yes, right?"
"I hadn't finished-"
Fuck, Harry cursed in his head, so that was a definite 'No, sorry Harry, I'd rather spend my time in this dull shop instead of having fun with you at the beach'.
"Are you even listening?" Hermione asked as Harry stared blankly at her.
"No, sorry. Zoned out and started thinking about how great the surf's gonna be today, especially after last night's rain."
Hermione let a frustrated scream.
"Oh I'm sorry. OK, I'll stop pestering you. But you have to promise me you'll come with me tomorrow or whenever the hell you have a day off from this place." Harry's lip curled as he glanced around the store. He couldn't understand how Hermione could stand working here it was so…he didn't know how to describe it. It must've been a personality thing he decided, for he himself wouldn't be able to handle being stuck indoors all day.
"Yeah, definitely Harry. Tomorrow. Meet me outside Fortescue's. I won't miss another opportunity to go."
Harry and Hermione had spent half their childhood and teenage years at the beach. It was like a second best friend to them. They knew every curve of all the dunes and the best hideouts amongst them, the best places to build sandcastles so the tide wouldn't get to them and you'd come back the next day and find your work destroyed, when you'd be able to get the best surf and which days the water would look its bluest.
But their favourite thing about the beach had not been the beach itself but a small cottage built on the lane that lead down to it. The house was magnificent and could inspire any author stuck for ideas. No one lived there, this didn't mean it was run-down for it was a magnificent home, it was just that not many people came to the small town. City life was all the rage these days, apartments and fast cars, no one seemed to want to settle down in a small quaint town anymore. Why, Harry and Hermione had never known. So all through their beach days they would ride past the cottage, which Harry had named Fortescue's at the age of seven and the name had stuck ever since, so much so that even the older people in the village had started to call it by that. Fortescue's had always been a major incentive for spending half their lifetime down there and it was something they had come to love and would never be able to live without.
"Fortescue's it is then. Say 6.30am?" asked Harry. "That is if you'll be up by then."
Hermione cocked an eyebrow, "More like, that's if you can be up by then. So yeah, Fortescue's at 6.30."
Hermione pulled out a pad and scrawled a note to herself. Suddenly something hit her and she let a gasp of surprise, wondering why she hadn't remembered and mentioned it earlier.
"What is it?" asked Harry eyeing her questioningly.
"Hermione?" called Lavender. "Aren't these pies a little…ah...under cooked?"
Harry suppressed his laughter. Hermione had always been a shocking cook.
Hermione flushed red and walked hastily to the bakery counter, Harry following sniggering to himself.
"Hey, hang on Hermione, you didn't tell me what you thought of after writing that note."
"I don't know if you deserve to know after laughing at my cooking skills like that," she called back over her shoulder.
"Ooh, touchy," muttered Harry in an undertone.
They reached the counter and found Lavender prodding one of the pies frowning.
Hermione let out a frustrated sigh. Lavender looked up at Harry and tilted her head motioning him to the door in a signal for him to get out before Hermione completely lost it. Harry gave a quick nod and smile before giving a quick salute and exiting.
"Have fun at the beach, Harry," Hermione muttered, glaring at the half frozen pie.
"Did you tell him about Fortescue's?" asked Lavender.
Hermione's frown turned into a sly grin, "I decided he should find out for himself." She glanced up at Lavender who was shaking her head.
"What?"
"You should've just told him," Lavender said reasonably.
"And spoil the surprise? Nah. He'll find out in all good time. Oh and when he comes back I'm 'not here'," Hermione said contemplating the pie again.
Lavender laughed and rolled her eyes, "Alright. But he'll know I'm lying."
"True. But by then I will've escaped out the back way."
Both girls laughed and went back to their pie predicament.
A/N: I hope what's going to happen isn't overly obvious, but in a way a kinda want it to be. Meh, ahwell, I'm not making much sense am I? Tell me what you think and if you personally think I made the right decision with the setting. I sure hope so. And I'd really like any ideas about where I can go from after Harry finds out what the surprise behind Fortescue's is and beats Hermione to a bloody pulp for not telling him (not literally of corse). All input wanted and looked at beyond appreciation.
-M.T. Froste