Chapter 12

Muggle London May 20

She was being crushed. Pressure was on her windpipe. Air was being cut-off. She relaxed as her eyes broke through the morning crust. In front of her were the eyes of a sociopath staring deeply into her. Her soul was being penetrated as the monster pushed down on her neck and shoulders.

"MEOW… MEOOOOOOWWWWWWWW"

She looked at the alarm clock as Warlock kneaded his way into his servant's face and neck. It was 7:30 on Sunday morning. A perfectly reasonable time to sleep through but her duties as a servant of the feline took precedence over her comfort.

"Okay, fatso, I'll get the T-U-N-A" She lifted the cat off her neck. He looked at her with betrayal and then calmed as soon as she pulled the covers off of her body. He jumped down and tried to test her agility, darting between her feet, arching his back and wrapping his tail around an ankle. Good, she was still alert, and within seconds the magic popping sound of a plastic lid popping off a tuna can opened. She scraped out an overflowing spoonful of red meat, and he proceeded to claim his due.

Even as her master ate, Leah put on the tea kettle as all things, including too early a morning were better with a good cup. She checked her e-mail on her laptop. The girls had a good time in Munich last night and wished she was there with them. Another time she thought. More importantly, the director of next week's work sent her the scene list. It was not bad; three scenes, one of which would be physically demanding.

She ate some toast and marmalade before putting on black stretch pants, a neon yellow sports bra and a comfortable gray t-shirt from the most recent ten kilometer race she competed in. Once she slid her shoes into her almost worn out running shoes, she lightly moved her wand in a circle and wav to cast a Notice-Me-Not charm. It was a luxury for any woman to run in London without being cat-called or harassed much less for someone of her profession to not be recognized. She slid her wand and her wallet into a drawstring bag. A few quid and more coins jingled and jangled at the bottom of the bag as she placed it on her back. She snuggled Warlock for a minute and went out the door before he could guilt her into an hour long snuggle session on the futon.

Shoes were laced tight in the lobby before she entered the quiet of London for a five mile run along the Thames, and then a ninety minute session of hot yoga. This was both a personal cleansing and professional preparation. Strength and flexibility stabilized her. As she ran, she decided to call Ginny tonight for a cup of coffee.

May 21, 2003

He looked at his e-mail. Most were routine messages. His assistant had flagged the important ones for immediate review and replied to the housekeeping requests on her own initiative. She would make sure that he showed up when and where he was required.

He was being called back to the colors for a temporary mission. A Squadron would be on standby for hostage rescue and special missions during a medium sized international conference that was being assembled rather quickly. The Queen and her Prime Minister would be speaking to dozens of international leaders so security would be needed. Rumors had been flowing that the Regiment would be tasked but few rumors had a reserve component being activated.

"Jane, clear my calendar starting on Friday night for at least ten days"

"Yes sir" the soprano voice answered from her desk.

May 21, 2003

Ministry of Magic

Kingsley Shacklebolt shook hands with the newest qualified Auror. Fourteen trainees were no longer trainees. Twenty recruits had been part of the class. One resigned on the fourth day of training, three more voluntarily withdrew over three years, one knew she was close to being bounced and the other two were just not willing to make the needed commitment. Two trainees had been involuntarily separated from the office as they were a danger to others and themselves even with training.

This was the largest class of Auroris to graduate in over a century. Most years trained no more than a handful. Some years, especially during the interbellum, had no new fully qualified Aurors. This class would bring the Auror's office to the level of significantly undermanned instead of dangerously so; Aurors had fought and died at the Battle of Hogwarts, they had been ambushed in Diagon Alley, they had executed by Death Eaters during the first few weeks of the coup, and even more had gone underground and decided that the work was no longer for them. Another supersized class was a year out. Assuming normal attrition, the Auror's Office would be back to authorized pre-war strength once the smaller non-emergency cohort which had just completed their first year of training graduated.

But now he had fourteen more fully qualified Aurors. Harry Potter was the tactical leader and the best duelist while Susan Bones had taken the prize for her classroom activity. He would need them shortly. London would be hosting the Western European Convention on Magic for the first time in a decade next week. Diagon Alley was too small and crowded to accommodate all of the delegations. Muggle hotels had been booked for some of the more integrated groups that would not stick out like a unicorn's horn. He would need the extra Aurors for security.

That was a problem for tomorrow. Him and Gawain could take a few hours off this afternoon as the new Aurors celebrated. One advantage of being in a large class is that buying drinks for all of the trainers would not cost any Auror their first month's salary like it had cost him on his graduation day.

May 23, 2003

Muggle London

The young woman hurried out of the Tube station. Her eyes darted back and forth as she took in the rush of the City as it was slowing down from its work day. Thousands of Muggles were leaving their offices where they performed symbolic manipulation magic that transformed spreadsheets into paychecks. It was beyond her ken. Another wave of Muggles were coming into the center of London for an evening of enjoyment and entertainment. That was a world she could understand.

Ginny breathed deeply as she turned down a narrow alley. Pakistani spices mixed with Lebanese chickpeas and Jamaican jerk stands. Her nose was leading to her mind being bewitched, her senses ensnared and the fame plated. Half a dozen stalls and small doors leading into basement restaurants, she stepped into a North Indian restaurant that had some of the best chai she knew.

Her eyes scanned back and forth as she adjusted to the light. Half a dozen families were eating their dinner. A seven year old was being obstinate as he wanted pizza and not the food that his parents had grown up with. A pair of university students were taking a break from a summer project while a trio of management consultant trainees spared no time to talk; calories, suitably flavored, were the priority. Her head turned again, and then she noticed what she needed to see.

Leah was sitting by herself. Her dyed hair was gone. She was back to being a natural brunette wearing beetle glasses as she devoured a well worn novel in her hand. The table was off the wall and no one chair could see all exits.

Leah put her book down, rose and wrapped Ginny up in a hug:

"So good to see you, I'm glad you picked up the phone." She smiled and released the red head from her grasp.

"I'm happy to see you, anyway we can get a different table?" Ginny's palms were sweaty and the hair on her wrists was up.

Leah's eyes rose slightly. "We're safe here, this is one of my regular spots. We're in Muggle London in a hole in the wall." She pulled out Ginny's chair and then sat back down. A waitress came over and placed a steaming cup of spiced tea and milk in front of Leah.

"May I get you anything or do you need a moment?"

"I'll take what she has" Ginny mumbled. Her fingers rolled around her wand in her purse. Her eyes could not focus on only the waitress and her old classmate. They wandered through the restaurant. She saw nothing beyond a pleasant evening and sat down in her chair with her fingers knowing exactly where her wand was.

"I was surprised to see you… I just never really pictured you to be someone spending a lot of time in Muggle London."

"Same here, I didn't expect to see you. I knew you went underground and disappeared as soon as you left the school, but I had not heard a thing from you". Ginny parried the conversation's opening gambit easily. Little was given and little was offered.

"I had nothing on the other side. I was worthless and vulnerable and unable to trust anyone. Anyone who would want to help me either knew nothing or could not risk themselves. Over here, I was able to walk into a hospital and get treated. And then I could survive. No one cared about me. At least no one cared about my past and my family and my blood. I was alone, but I was free for the first time and I did not have to fight to breathe."

"You doing well?"

"I think so. 5th Year fucked me up. I was a wreck for the next two years. Still have my days, but I am not haunted by the Carrows or the Inquisitiorial Squad any more… how about you?" Leah sipped her tea as the waitress gave Ginny her hot drink. Ginny held the mug tightly underneath her nose and for the first time since she got on the Tube, she relaxed. The cardamom and cinnamon went through her nose. The ginger brought her back to the hearth at the Burrow when she was eight years old. Dad's bonus was short that year and there were five boys at Hogwarts. Mom stretched and skimped and somehow despite the only presents being hand me down toys and a single hand knitted sweater, the spice cakes were the best she had ever eaten. She had helped her mother with those cakes and she wanted the smell to remain embedded in her clothes for the entire winter as her family was happy.

"Most days, I'm well. I lift, I fly, I practice Quidditch, and then come home and see Harry and then we'll go about it again tomorrow. Most days are good. I still have dreams. I still dream of being possessed by Riddle. I still see you and too many others being tortured by the Carrows. I remember my screams. And then, I wake up, and I go lift and fly some more." Leah looked at her hero with new eyes. The war was still wounding Ginny. Leah had walked away and found that her strength had to be with openness, openness to get help, openness to others and openness with herself.

She reached across the table and her hands wrapped themselve's around Ginny's strong Chaser hands that could grab a screaming Quaffle out of thin ear with only the tips of two fingers. Black painted nails covered coral nails and Leah's thumb squeezed Ginny's palm.

"I found help. I lived with the war, but it is not living in me anymore." Leah closed her eyes for a moment as she remembered her thrice weekly sessions initially. Her GP recognized the signs of trauma and rape in front of her; her patient refused to call it that and Leah would not say where she had been hurt, but the GP knew that she could not take care of the teenager on her own. Leah went and some days, she talked, other days she sat in a chair with her knees tucked under her chin and her back facing her therapist in silence for an entire hour. She controlled that hour and he never forced the conversation even as he created space for her to talk. And once she started talking, the talking did not hurt her as much as she feared. Her therapist saw her as a person worthy of respect, worthy of listening, worthy of care even as terrible things came out of her mouth. Three times a week became two, and then one. Leah knew she would always need someone to talk to, but now the past was in the past, the future would become the present while the present is now.

Ginny looked at the younger girl. She was doing so much better than she thought she would have seen. Leah was at home in Muggle London and at home with herself. She envied her.

"So what do you do? Me, I'm doing a little of everything; mainly Quidditch but taking a couple of classes at the Ministry and doing a tiny bit of writing for the Quibbler." The waitress forced a pause in the conversation as she came to ask if they wanted dinner or merely drinks. Leah ordered a vegetarian dosa plate for the two young women to share.

"I perform."

"Sing?"

"No, acting and some dancing. . I found that I like it, and I am good at it. I got lucky that is the case as I have little else I can do in this world. Even behind the Alley, I was only a mediocre student with only mediocre chances. Now I have a job I like, some great co-workers and colleagues, and it all pays well. Last year, I made the Muggle equivalent of over ten thousand Galleons after taxes."

Ginny's brain engaged quickly. She was making almost as much as a fully trained Auror. Taxes were different and the exchange rates were funny after the level of transfer was above pocket cash. But even with all of this, the young woman in front of her was doing well.

"That is amazing. Have I seen your work? I don't think I'll ever make that much behind the Alley as you put it; Harry will eventually if he becomes a Senior Auror… is it something I can do in my spare time?" Ginny was too used to being poor to give up a good chance.

"It is all on the Internet nowadays, are you wired at your house?"

"No, my dad would lose his mind if we ran Muggle wires to the house. My flat with Harry is wired, but we don't keep a computer there, too many bugs, but the extermination spells never turn up anything; I don't quite get what the technician means…"

"We're always looking, and with your body, you could find work, but it is a tough business; stick with Quidditch, it is as much fun easier on your knees."

The dosas were delivered to the table. The two girls attacked the tasty food in comfortable silence. As the last pancake was finished, and idle chit chat filled the evening while the waitress settled the check, Leah looked at Ginny hard. This was the first time Leah had ever seen Ginny relax. She made a decision and reached into her purse.

"You don't have to do anything, but I go talk to a Muggle therapist and I found it really helpful. His name and contact information is on the card if you ever want to talk to him." She handed the card over to her surprised dining companion. It laid on the table for an infinite silence. Ten seconds later, Ginny picked it up and slipped it into her purse.

"Thanks… it was good to see you Leah."

Ginny walked out of the restaurant with her fingers brushing her wand and the card's corner poking into her knuckles.