Chapter 2

"Harry?!"

He turned back to Alicia and obviously didn't recognise her as he only gave her a smile that was clearly reserved for indulging crazy fan-girls. He turned back to the waiter and continued arguing.

"Harry! It's Alicia! Alicia Spinnet!"

At this proclamation Harry held up his hand to silence the waiter and stared at Alicia. He stared so much that Alicia blushed. Oh, God. Did he just check out her cleavage? Oh, God, he did.

"Alicia Spinnet?" he raised his eyebrows. "You look…with that dress and the hair…I mean…How are you?"

"I'm a little pissed off to tell you the truth."

"Really?" Harry sidestepped the affronted waiter and sat down across from her.

"Just take a look around."

He did so. Everyone else in the restaurant was paired off and were holding hands and sharing food. "Ah, we've been set up."

"Precisely."

Harry looked at his hands and a slight blush crept up his neck. He obviously wasn't used to uncomfortable situations. Alicia, on the other hand, was a veteran. Her azure eyes skimmed over Harry, noting everything from the green silk tie to the crisp white shirt with tiny Snitch cufflinks. She was pleased to note that he still had the same devil-may-care hair and the glasses gave him a boyish innocence that made Alicia shiver involuntarily.

Harry's gaze rose and Alicia dropped hers quickly. She studied her menu as his eyes performed the same curious inspection hers had only moments ago. Her face burned at the scrutiny. She had to say something classy. Something appropriate.

Unfortunately, all she could come up with was, "I read about your break up in the paper."

Harry blinked in surprise and Alicia felt like hiding under the table. "Oh, I'm sorry I brought that up. I wasn't thinking."

"It doesn't matter."

Clearly it did matter. Alicia mentally kicked herself. Mention his painful separation. That'll bloody impress him. No wonder she was single.

"Would you like to buy your love a rose?"

Alicia and Harry both stared at the guy who was carrying a basket of red roses. Perfect timing. Women all over the place were sniffing roses and sighing. Everyone in the restaurant seemed to be conspiring against the unwilling couple.

"Would you like to buy your love a rose?" the gentleman repeated slowly.

Harry glanced at Alicia then the basket of roses. "She's not…I mean, we're not…"

"Oh," the rose man dropped his smile. He clearly thought they'd been wasting his time and continued to the next table. Harry and Alicia both watched him as he posed the same question to that man.

"I'll take a dozen!" he announced loudly.

"Oh, you're such a dear!" his date simpered.

Women all over began to look at their single roses bitterly. "Why didn't you buy me a dozen?" Alicia heard one lady demand.

"A dozen?" Harry rolled his eyes at the display. "Really, he's obviously compensating for something."

Alicia giggled. "Exactly what I was thinking."

Harry smiled back. It was a proper smile this time. The ice broke and they no longer bothered to avoid the others gaze. Before they could strike up a proper conversation, however, the waiter returned and dropped a menu in front of Harry and walked away with his nose in the air.

"You know, I get the distinct feeling he doesn't like me," Harry chuckled as he perused his menu.

"Can't imagine why," Alicia said in mock puzzlement. She looked over her own menu and shook her head. "I didn't know there were so many different types of pasta. I'm sure they must have made some up."

"I didn't know there were so many ways to cook fish."

Alicia's stomach growled in protest. She hadn't eaten all day because she wanted to order as much food as humanly possible and make Fred and George pay through the nose. She had absolutely no intention of letting Harry pay for her so all she could afford was an entrée. Again, her stomach growled.

Harry peered over the top of his menu at her. He noticed her discomfort and Alicia found herself wishing he wasn't so observant. "What do you say we go get some real food?"

Alicia visibly relaxed. "That's the best suggestion I've heard in a long time."

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Some fifteen minutes later, Alicia and Harry were sitting in the middle of McDonald's. Harry had his tie undone and his top button open. Everyone in the restaurant was giving the pair curious glances.

"I think we've caused a stir," Alicia laughed.

"Well, we aren't exactly dressed for the occasion," Harry grinned and bit into his burger.

Alicia looked down at her dress and noticed a group of gawking teenage boys nearby. She pulled the chopsticks out of her hair and let her medium length brown hair cascade down her back. One of the boys knocked over his drink.

"You like torturing teenage boys?"

"It's one of my hobbies."

"I heard you did a bit of that back at Hogwarts."

Alicia grinned. "Oh, you heard, did you? What precisely did you hear, Mr Potter?"

Harry suddenly began to look uncomfortable. Alicia stared at him, demanding an answer of some sort. "All right, I heard something in your last year."

"Something?" Alicia quirked an eyebrow.

"Something about you and Roger Davies in the broomshed," Harry mumbled into his food.

"Oh, that?" Alicia waved her hand dismissively. "It never happened. Warrington from Slytherin started the whole rumour because I turned him down. Don't tell me you actually believed I'd lose my virginity to Roger Davies in the broomshed?"

Harry blushed to the roots of his hair. Now that he thought about it…

"Don't worry," Alicia flicked a fry at his head, which he dodged easily. "It was a pretty good rumour. Even I believed it for a second. But I guess that explains why you ignored me for most of my last year. Must have thought I was going to try to seduce you or something."

The look on Harry's face confirmed this. He was profoundly embarrassed and Alicia was beginning to feel the same way. After the two of them had become a little closer at Hogwarts Harry had suddenly backed off and hardly talked to her at all. At the time Alicia hadn't been able to put her finger on why but now she knew that he thought she was some sort of evil temptress out to snatch his innocence.

Time for a change of subject. "So how are things with Puddlemere?"

Harry sighed in relief inwardly. Finally, something he could talk about. "We're still rebuilding after Wood's transfer to the Bats but our reserve Keeper is coming along well. It was just surprising when Oliver accepted the offer, everyone thought he was happy at United."

"He wasn't as happy as he should have been," Alicia shook her head.

"How do you know?"

"Well, I'm finished eating," she replied briskly. "Want to get out of here?"

"Sure, but you never answered my question," Harry peered at her curiously. "Got something to hide, Alicia?"

"Not at all. I just thought it might be nice if we make our way back over to Charing Cross Road and get some ice cream from Florean Fortescue's."

"Ok, I get the picture, you don't want to tell me. That's fine."

Harry stood up and Alicia groaned. He just smiled innocently and led her out of the restaurant. Alicia hurried after him. "All right! I'll tell you!" Curse him and his stupid green eyes.

"I'm kinda responsible for Oliver's decision to leave Puddlemere."

"You?!" Harry demanded, as the two of them strode through the streets of London.

"Well, I spoke to him just after the Bats made the offer and he mentioned the new attitude that had appeared at the club since you arrived and I suggested that a change might do him good. How was I to know he'd listen to me? He never did before!"

Harry just shook his head, a little miffed but mainly shocked that Alicia was responsible for the most expensive transfer in the League's history. "Man, I wouldn't like to be in your shoes if the Puddlemere fans found out you're responsible for losing us the best Keeper in the League."

"You won't mention it? If the press got hold of the information…"

Harry jammed his hands in his pockets and feigned contemplation. "I could make quite a lot of money by selling it to the Prophet and I could always do with a little spare change."

"Like hell you could," Alicia glared. Everyone knew that Harry had more than enough money. On top of the fortune his parents left him he was one of the highest paid Quidditch players in the world.

"Relax. The press won't get anything from me. As you know, I don't really have a productive relationship with them."

Alicia was silent. She hadn't wanted to bring that up. Harry had a real love/hate relationship with the media. They all loved him but he hated them. It was down right horrible sometimes. Even though Rita Skeeter was long gone he still got a hard time.

"Why are they so awful to you? Surely there's someone more deserving of slanderous rumours," Alicia offered.

"I'm an easy target I suppose. It's much more interesting if they discredit me," Harry shrugged.

"Everybody wants to know Wonder Boy's dirty little secrets," she agreed with a smirk. "Even if they aren't true."

"Well, it doesn't matter to me as much anymore. But things did get worse when I broke up with Danni. The media grilled me."

"You occupied the front page for a month," Alicia said without thinking. "Not that I paid much attention or anything," she added quickly.

"It's all right," her companion assured her with a small smile. "Mrs Weasley still keeps a scrapbook on me. But it's been over five months since I broke up with Danni and reporters and photographers have finally stopped camping on my front lawn so hopefully things will keep getting better."

Alicia quelled the sudden impulse to throw her arms around him and tell him it would all be fine. Harry wasn't a kid anymore. He was a very capable young man and consequently didn't need to be consoled and coddled.

"Harry, do you know what's happened to Danni?"

"Not a clue. It is a bit odd though. Danni never was one to shy away from media attention. I would have thought she'd be ranting and raving about how horrible I am."

Alicia frowned. If she were a gambling woman she would have bet 500 Galleons that they hadn't heard the last of Danni McFarland. There were still dozens of rumours being thrown about concerning her disappearance since the very public break up. Most fancied that she was in rehab or had committed herself to some sort of mental institution. The more ludicrous rumours were that she had committed suicide or that Harry had paid someone to 'get rid of her'.

Although Alicia didn't know the woman personally she didn't think she was the type to just dissolve into the shadows after Harry disgraced her. You see, she'd been pilfering her own share of Harry's fortune and with a little help from Ron and Hermione he had discovered the truth. As good-natured as he was, Harry had believed her when she claimed she was donating the money to charity. Of course, these charities were non-existence and the money went straight into her own vault at Gringotts.

Harry was looking a little down and Alicia nudged him with her hip. "Chin up, Wonder Boy. I've had my own trouble with the media so I know how bad it can be but you mustn't let it get you down."

"You've had trouble with the media?" Harry raised his eyebrows sceptically.

"You didn't know? It was all over the paper last April."

"I don't read the papers much," he explained as he held the door to The Leaky Cauldron open for her.

"You must have heard about Kieran Kingly's affair with Coach Jameson's wife? I was his fiancée at the time."

"No way! That was you?!"

Some of the somber looking patrons seated at the bar turned to the excited youngster. Harry held up his hand apologetically and they all went back to their drinks. He ushered Alicia through to the courtyard, still looking rather shocked.

"It was me, unfortunately. Mind you, the media didn't really pay particular attention to me. One tabloid magazine even called me Lisa. It was just distressing to see my private business splashed everywhere. Then when Kieran tried to deny it…" Alicia trailed off with a sigh.

"I'm sorry," Harry said earnestly.

In the low light she recognised the genuine compassion glistening in his eyes. "You haven't changed much. You still feel the need to apologise for situations that really aren't your fault," Alicia pulled her wand out of her handbag and tapped the familiar bricks. "All of this talk about doomed relationships is depressing me. I need ice cream."

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"seriously? You're telling me you've never tried Fortescue's cookies'n'cream?"

"That's exactly what I'm telling you," Harry affirmed.

The two of them were wandering aimlessly through Muggle London. Both were carrying ice cream cones, Alicia with her favourite cookies'n'cream and Harry with double chocolate chip. For nine o'clock on Saturday night the city was bright and busy. Alicia hadn't been in London at night for around two years. She hadn't remembered it being so beautiful.

The air was crisp and Alicia pulled her thin wrap around her shoulders. What she wouldn't give for a nice baggy jumper and a pair of track pants. And slippers…she'd sell her left arm for a pair of slippers. Those damn heels were killing her.

"You have to try some," Alicia urged.

"No thanks. I just don't think cookies and ice cream should be mixed."

"I won't take no for an answer, Harry. Don't make me use force," she offered her ice cream to him after a moment's thought he took a tentative lick. "Honestly, I don't have any fatal diseases."

He glared at her but obligingly look a more substantial lick. Alicia smiled in satisfaction. "Nice, huh?"

Harry shrugged nonchalantly. "I guess it's passable but it doesn't really do much for me. Though that could have something to do with the fact you slobbered all over it."

"I don't slobber!" Alicia elbowed him indignantly.

"Whatever you say," he said airily. "You cold? I could conjure you a jacket or something."

"I'll survive. Besides, I'm quite capable of conjuring things for myself."

Harry barely hid a smile. "Nice to see you haven't changed either."

"What is that supposed to mean," she eyed him warily.

"You still have to do everything for yourself."

"Are you suggesting that's a bad thing?"

"Certainly not. In fact, it makes a pleasant change," he answered contemplatively.

"Glad to hear it. I didn't want to have to go all feminist on you."

"You're a feminist?" Harry laughed, then stopped suddenly as he realised it wasn't really appropriate.

"Lord no! Too much hard work if you ask me. But working at a club full of witches gives me this sort of girl-power vibe."

"You work for the Harpies?" Harry deduced. "I think I remember hearing Fred mention it in passing."

"Yeah. I'm the Chaser coach," Alicia said proudly.

"Ah, that explains why the Harpies' Chasers are the best in the League."

"You're exaggerating," she blushed.

"I'm not. They work really well as a group. Just like you did with Angelina and Katie. It's like watching you girls back at Hogwarts."

"You're just saying that so you can have more of my slobbery ice cream."

"No, seriously, you did a really good job with them," he insisted.

"That mouth if yours is going to get you in trouble one day, Potter."

Not to mention me, Alicia added silently.

"I'd be surprised if at least one of your Chaser's isn't selected for the World Cup."

"What about you? You must be confident?"

"I'm trying not to worry about it too much yet. It's not till August and the League finals start next week so I'm focussing on that. One thing at a time."

"Spoken like a true media prince."

Harry tried to look offended but he just ended up laughing with her. They took a seat on a bench to finish their ice creams. They sat in comfortable silence for a minute or so before Alicia noticed that Harry kept opening and closing his mouth as if he wanted to say something.

"Spit it out," Alicia coaxed.

"Well, I was just thinking-" he hesitated "-it's been nearly a year since you broke up with Kieran…you must have a steady boyfriend by now."

She made a derisive noise that wasn't very ladylike. "You'd think so, wouldn't you?"

"You're single, then?"

"Yeah. It's sad really. I have the worst luck with blokes but I'm sure you don't want to hear my sob story," she finished her ice cream just as Harry did.

"Go ahead," he urged. "I want to know how someone like you can still be single."

"Ah, Harry," she sighed, "if I only I had met a guy like you when I left Hogwarts. I was only a silly, idealistic girl when I left school. I was looking for a hero, you know, the knight in shining armour type. When Kieran came along I thought he was my soul mate. Well, that didn't work out quite as planned."

"But it wasn't your fault," Harry was quick to point out.

"But I shouldn't have let myself be sucked in by his charm. If I hadn't been such a naïve little girl…anyway, after it ended I no longer had a hero preoccupation. Now I wanted the dark and mysterious brooding type. I think I'd been reading too many 19th century novels. I was quite annoyed when I didn't find my own Heathcliff or Mr Rochester. After that morose episode I decided I wanted a family man. After all, I was getting on in life."

"Let me guess, you found out that most men who want a family already have one?"

"Spot on, Harry. Needless to say, I didn't really like the idea of being the 'other woman'. Then I decided a mature guy was what I needed. Unfortunately it turns out males don't reach maturity till they're forty, even then some don't mature at all. So that brings us to right now."

"And, out of curiousity, what sort of guy are you looking for now?" Harry asked casually.

"My only prerequisite is a Y chromosome."

"Ah, that narrows it down."

Alicia stood up and rubbed her hands together. Fast food and ice cream. It was without a doubt the best date she'd ever had. Then again, it was a non-consensual date. Anyhow, it was the best almost-date she'd ever had.

"Now that you've heard my boring story I think I better be getting home. I have work in the morning and I'm sure you have a charity function, press conference or something equally strenuous to attend tomorrow."

Harry stood up and scowled. "I'll have you know I've got a three hour training session tomorrow."

"Three hours? Is that all? Your coach has nothing on Wood. Remember those practices at the crack of dawn? And those darn tactical boards of his?"

"He's a crazy bugger," he agreed with a smile.

"Oliver taught me everything I know about Quidditch though. I owe him a lot," she said wistfully. She'd probably be working at the Ministry or at St Mungo's with her mother if Oliver hadn't spotted her potential and given her a chance.

"Same here."

They walked in silence for a moment and Alicia gazed up at the stars. Only hours ago she'd been ready to sneak out of Bella Notte and run for her life. Now she was walking beside Harry Potter of all people. She'd never have guessed…

Harry snapped his fingers in front of Alicia's face and she realised he'd been talking. "Sorry. What were you saying?"

"I was just offering to walk you home."

"All the way to Liverpool? That's kind of you."

"Liverpool?" Harry coughed. That was a little further than he'd anticipated. Like the other side of the country. "I thought you lived in London. You seem like the London type."

"Do I? I actually grew up just north of London in Watford. I used to come in to the city to visit family and friends. But when I got my job with the Arrows two months after I left school, I lived in Middlesbrough. Now I live in Liverpool but things are going really well at work so I'm thinking of moving to Holy Island to be a little closer to base. Do you live in Puddlemere?"

"No. I actually live where my parents used to. It's a little village called Godric's Hollow just outside Swansea in Wales. It's an all-magic community, which has its advantages and disadvantages, as you can imagine."

"It sounds like a lovely place. Maybe I'll have to pay a visit sometime," she hinted subtly.

"Sure, Ron and I would love to have you around sometime," Harry smiled.

Alicia almost groaned. She'd completely forgotten that Ron now lived with Harry. Up until six months ago he'd still lived at the Burrow but she remembered George telling her that he moved out. His girlfriend Hermione still lived with her parents, which was a small consolation. Though Alicia had a feeling that wouldn't last much longer and Harry would find himself with another housemate.

"Harry, you know how to use a phone, don't you?"

"Of course. I even own one," he said with a slight chuckle. "Scares the hell out of Ron when it rings."

"All right, I'll give you my number," she pulled a pen out of her bag and ripped a corner out of her address book. She scribbled her number down and handed it to him. Harry folded it and slipped it into his pocket carefully.

Alicia grinned. Now the ball was in his court. He would have to make the next move. She may not have been in the dating game for a while but she still knew a few tricks.

"Sure," Harry replied slowly. He knew that she'd just left it all up to him. But that was probably going to backfire for Alicia. "I had fun anyway. It was great to be able to relax and just be myself."

Alicia giggled. "I wasn't exactly dressed as myself but it was to great to not have to pretend to be someone I'm not."

The two of them just stared at each other for a moment as the crowd passed them by. It was such an awkward situation. To hug or not to hug? Maybe a kiss on the cheek would be more appropriate. Or a handshake. In the end Alicia just gave a tiny wave then turned and walked off.

Play hard to get. That was it. But she had been itching to snog him. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Harry still standing in the same spot. She smiled to herself and ducked down a dark alley and Disapparated.

Alicia was looking forward to crawling up in her bed as she drudged up to her front door. She pulled her keys from her bag and let herself into the house. She shrieked when the light in the entryway flicked on. Her first thought was that someone had broken in and she'd caught them in the act. Then she groaned and dropped her bag by the door.

"Fred! George!"

"Shh!" Fred said urgently as he appeared. "Jordy is asleep on your bed."

"Where's your stupid twin brother hiding?" she hissed.

"He's watching TV with the girls." Fred gasped. "What the hell are you wearing?!"

"Never mind, you prat," she leant against the wall and pulled the heels off her aching feet. "So Ang and Kat are here too? I thought they were busy."

"Change of plans?" he offered weakly.

Alicia pushed past him and went to confront his brother. The three of them were watching Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

"I can't believe you two picked my lock again. The last time you did that I nearly knocked you both out with a fry pan because I thought you were burglars. I'm going to get around to buying an alarm one-day and then you'll be sorry. Don't expect me to bail you out of gaol," she ranted quietly so as not to wake Jordy. She paused to smile at the girls. "Hi Angelina, Katie."

"Hi, Leesh," Katie yawned and stretched. She was five months pregnant. "The twins told us you had a hot date and they convinced us to come here and wait for you. Just so you know, they picked the lock while our backs were turned. Ooh, I like the dress."

"So who's the hot date?" Angelina asked.

"Why are you back so early?" Fred asked.

"And alone?" George added.

"Before I answer anything I'm getting out of this thing," Alicia tugged at the dress. She tiptoed into her room where Jordy lay sprawled on the bed. She gave him a kiss on the forehead then silently changed into her comfortable pyjamas.

Back with the group she collapsed on the floor and lay on her back in front of the television. "You boys are so lucky I don't have the energy to throttle you."

"Did they set you up again?" Angelina turned to Fred and narrowed her eyes.

"She was so lonely, honey. You should have seen her last night…"

"It was heart wrenching," George put a hand to his chest dramatically.

"I'm sorry, love," Katie slid to the floor to lie beside her friend. "If we had known what they were up to we would have stopped them. How bad was it?"

Alicia considered her words carefully. George noticed her hesitation and took it as a good sign. He clapped his hands. "We knew you'd be perfect for each other!"

Angelina reached around Fred to punch him in the arm. "You wake the baby and you put him back to sleep. Who'd they set you up with this time, Licia?"

"Harry Potter," she answered in unison with the twins.

Angelina swore and Katie sat up with a loud "No!?" Jordy began to cry and Angelina sent Fred to get him while she knelt beside Alicia.

"You went on a date with Harry Potter?!"

"It was hardly a date," Alicia rolled her eyes.

"Who cares what it was? He's been voted Witch Weekly's most Eligible Bachelor for three consecutive years!"

"Did you make another date?" Angelina demanded.

"I gave him my phone number," she smiled slyly.

"Oh, I wish I was you," Katie sighed. "All those high society balls and functions…"

"Hey!" George protested.

"Is it my fault you never take me out anywhere?"

"What are you complaining about? We went out for dinner last week."

"Your mother's house doesn't count, George."

"You're making a big deal out of nothing," Alicia interrupted. "It's up to Harry now. If he wants to make a real date then he can call me."

"I'm sure he will." Angelina assured her. "Why wouldn't he?"

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Two weeks later…

"He still hasn't called?" Katie asked gently.

"No," Alicia mumbled.

It had been exactly two weeks since they'd been set up. Alicia had been awaiting his phone call everyday but it never came. She even rang her phone company to make sure everything was all right with her phone. Maybe Harry had lost her number? Perhaps she should get in contact with him. No, that would seem desperate.

Katie and Angelina came around Sunday afternoon to complain about men and eat chocolate. But Alicia wasn't really in the mood for company and she sat by herself as the girls played with Jordy.

"You know, dear, sitting by the phone won't make it ring," Angelina said then yelped as Jordy grabbed her hair to stop from falling over.

"I'm not sitting by the phone purposely. It just happens to be situated by my favourite seat."

"You're pining," Katie said matter-of-factly.

Alicia crossed her arms angrily. "Small children and puppy dogs pine. I do not."

"Look, I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation."

"We'll get Fred and George to have a word with him," Angelina decided. "After all, it's their fault you're pining."

"I'm not pining!"

Harry had better have a good excuse…

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A/N: I hope that was as good as last chapter. There was a lot more character development and background information. I hope Harry wasn't OOC. It's the first time I've really had to write him. Next chapter Fred and George will give him a good talking to. As you can probably guess there's also more to his ex-girlfriend than meets the eye. Just so you know, I exercised a little poetic licence with the location of Godric's Hollow. But we know it's in that general area at least.

Thanks for the reviews and if anyone is genuinely interested in H/A I suggest you visit HMS Chasing the Snitch over at Fiction Alley Park.

We're a small but devoted ship!