Breaking Rules

by Rylee Jane

Author's Note: It's beenforever since I've even thought about this story, to be honest. I didn't think anyone was reading it, so I quit writing it. But, it's a good story, so I'm going to give it another shot.

Chapter 3

Anderia wasn't a large island, and had a population of barely 400 people, all magical. The island was masked, so Muggles couldn't see it at all, and during the summer, it did a decent tourist trade.

It was less than a mile from Harry's house on the western shore to Dalley's shop, close to the middle of "town", and Harry preferred to walk the distance to and from, rather than Apparating. The weather was almost always pleasant warm and dry during the day, just a bit chilly at night, and the smell of the ocean was so thick in the air that Harry sometimes felt he would choke on it.

He passed the post office and the food mart, nodding to Marly Jentsen, the town healer's wife. She was one of those women that really liked to chat and Harry knew if hewascornered by her, he'd end up being late to work, so he rushed on as quickly as possible. She probably thought it rude of him, but she would undoubtedly chalk it up to him being British or something.

In truth, he didn't talk much to anyone here. He talked to Celia, of course, since he lived with her and could hardly avoid talking to her, and he would hang out with Enny and his wife, Camita, from time to time. He talked to Dalley at work, but he really did more listening than talking there too.

Most people had gotten the hint and stopped trying to carry on a conversation with him a long time ago, sticking mostly to small talk when they saw him on the street (if they spoke at all), or to business when they visited the shop.

He was, he knew, considered a bit backwards, maybe a bit peculiar or moody. He was fine with that. He was an outsider, even after being here three years, and he didn't know that he wanted to be completely accepted. As long as people treated him as a guest, he would have no problem behaving like one.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew why he preferred it that way. He would never allow himself to think about it, but he didn't plan to stay here. He knew that, someday, he'd just decide to go and he'd go. He'd grab his bag, pack his stuff and go. He wouldn't say goodbye, he wouldn't take anyone with him, he'd just disappear.

He winced as he realized that he walking past Celia's office. She was standing at the counter, talking to her assistant, Kia. As Harry passed, Kia glanced up and waved,nudging Celia.

Celia smiled brightly at him as she moved towards the door. "Hey you," she said, stepping out onto the sidewalk. "I tought you'd be at work a'ready."

"I'm running a bit late this morning," he said, putting one arm around her waist as she hugged him. "Guess I should have gone to bed earlier last night, huh?"

She laughed. "Oh it's not the goin' to bed dat gets us, it's the goin' to sleep when we go to bed." She brushed a kiss across his cheek. "You'd better go now before I make you come inside and you're even later for work."

He nodded, giving her one last squeeze before heading off up the sidewalk.

"You'll be home for dinner, yeah?" she called after him.

"Yeah. Of course." He waved at her over his shoulder, trying to ignore a pang of fuilt as he turned the corner onto the main street. He stopped in front of the shop and moved to push the door open. It stayed shut.

He glanced at his watch, shaking his head. Dalley was never late opening the store, and it was after eight. He pulled his wand, muttered the password and waited until he heard the lock click open. "Dalley?" he called, stepping inside.

The shop was quiet; the only sound was the soft creak of the enchanted fans on the ceiling. "Dalley, you here?"

Harry went around the counter and into the back room. It, too, was empty.

He sighed, tossing his bag onto the work table and pulling on his work robes. He glanced at the list of orders they had to fill today. Nothing too difficult. Ointment for Mr. Kern's stiff knee, sleeping draught for Mrs. Cawshell (insomniac extraordinaire), a boil potion for Annie Rourkey (Harry didn't even want to imagine where the wrinkled, old woman had a boil), and a batch of hiccough-cessation solution for Miss Ernestine Mallort (Harry wished she'd quit drinking the "potion" that was giving her the hiccoughs in the first place, since she came in at least twice a month for the remedy.)

He pulled an apron on over his robes and started gathering the ingredients for the boil-cure. He had just finished crushing the snake fangs when he heard the bell over the door jingle.

"Be right with you," he called through the curtain, dumping the powder into the cauldron and lowering the flame. He stepped out into the store, wiping his hands on an old towel. "Oh, hello, Ms. Grant," he said, forcing a smile. "What can I do for you?"

The woman turned to smile at him, holding out her hand. "Ah, Harry, me dear boy. How many times do I have to ask ya to call me Rubea, eh?"

Harry gave her hand a small shake, releasing it as quickly as could still be considered polite. Rubea Grant was his next door neighbor, and even for a village full of eccentric wizards, she was odd. She always looked at Harry strangely when she saw him, as though she could see right through him. She made him extremely nervous, and he tried to avoid her whenever possible. He stepped away from her as subtly as he could. "Of course, I'm sorry. What can I help you with today?"

"Well, Mr. Dalley tol' me he was gettin' some dragon claws in sometime dis week. Have dey come in yet?"

"Uh, yeah, we got them yesterday. What kind were you wanting?"

"Oh, I normally jus' use Welsh Green. Do you recommend someting else?"

Harry shrugged, leading her over to the bins with the dragon claws. "The Greens work fine, but it really depends on the potion you're making. For a vitality potion, the Ridgeback's claws are better than the Green's, and the Fireball's are really the best, but they can be temperamental too. You can also use dragon claws instead of doxy wings in some memory-boosting potions, except you have to boil them first or they can cause belligerence." He stopped, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, listen to me ramble on. The Greens will do fine for almost any potion."

Rubea laughed, her eyes wide. "No, ya're fine, dear. I tink dat's the most I've heard you say since I've met ya. An' I had no idea dere was so much to know 'bout dragon claws. I need someting for a strengthening potion. Time to be working in the garden and these ol' arms of mine can' quite take dat kin' of work anymore. Which claws would ya recommen' for dat?"

"Oh, you'll want Ridgeback or Horntail claws for that, then. They're much heartier than Greens and much more potent as well. If you use the Horntail claws, you'll want to cut the amount back a bit, though. Too much can give you nasty heartburn."

"How much do I use den? I get heartburn bad enough wit'out dis to help me" Rubea laughed.

"Let me check the book to make sure," Harry said, motioning to the shelves of books at the back of the store. "Dalley has a great heartburn remedy, by the way, if you ever want to try it." He moved behind the counter, running his finger along the spines of the books. He found the one he was looking for and started thumbing through it. "Sorry about this," he muttered as Rubea came wandering back toward him. "Dalley's normally here to handle this, but he's—not made it in yet. Here it is, you'll want to half the quantity."

Rubea frowned at him. "Really? They're that powerful den?"

"Apparently," Harry nodded. "They're a bit more expensive, normally, because they're so much more powerful, but Dalley sells them all for the same price."

"It's no wonder dat man isn' rich. He's too damned nice."

Harry laughed, shaking his head. "He is, at that."

"Well, den, I'll take the Horntail claws. Ya don' happen to have any of dat Heartburn remedy stocked, do ya?"

"I'm not sure. Let me check in the back."

Harry knew there were several bottles of the stuff sitting on the shelves in the stock room, but he wanted to take his time getting some. Rubea had been staring at him again, and he thought he'd seen her eyes flick up to the scar on his forehead for a moment. He was more than used to people back in London staring at the scar, but people here usually paid it no mind. To have Rubea, whose gaze was so penetrating and keen, stare at it was unnerving to say the least.

He moved some boxes around and rattleda fewbottles, taking as long as he thought he could before carrying the correct bottle back into the store. "Here we are. You'll want to take it with water, as it burns a bit going down. Two teaspoons in 8 ounces of water should do it."

Rubea smiled, taking the bottle and laying her bag of dragon's claws on the counter. "Thank ya, Harry. Such a sweet boy, ya're. Celia's a lucky, lucky girl to have ya." She laid two silver coins on the counter. "I owe Mr. Dalley some on me tab, too. Ya tell him if dat ain' enough to cover, I'll give him the rest nex' time I'm in. A'right?"

"Of course," Harry said, putting the money in the drawer under the counter. He looked back up, surprised to see the Rubea was still standing there, staring at him. "Is there something else I can help you with?"

She continued to stare at him, her eyes gazing unblinkingly into his. Harry felt a chill run through him, felt his blood turn cold in his veins, and he shivered. "Ru-Rubea?"

She shook herself, blinking suddenly. She seemed disoriented for a moment, her eyes unfocused. Then, she looked at him again and started. "Oh, Harry, I'm sorry. I mus' have—gotten lost in thought. You were saying, dear?"

He swallowed hard, shaking his head. "Nothing. I wasn't—saying anything. Are you okay?"

"Oh, yes," she said, but she seemed a bit shaken. "Yes, I'm—fine. Old age, ya know. Does strange tings to ya're mind."

Harry couldn't even force a laugh. He just stared at her, wondering what had just happened. He watched as she picked up her purchases and made her way to the door.

"Ya have a nice day, Harry," she said, not looking back.

So there's a new chapter. Let me know what you think, please:D More later!