23 - Try
It was incredibly awkward for Harry, standing in front of where Sean Renard was seated on his couch. The coloured pillows and plaids that usually made his room feel warmer now seemed somewhat childish and out of place.
When, in fact, it was the aristocratic man that didn't belong.
After a moment of hesitation he went to the radio and turned it on. And yes, adding music only made the situation even more bloody ridiculous.
But there was really nothing for it.
"Close your eyes," he eventually ordered, trying to sound resolute, as if he knew what he was doing, when in fact he was making it up as he went along.
"Excuse me?"
The wizard belatedly realized that drawing on his limited knowledge of playground muggle magic tricks was perhaps not the perfect way to hide what made him different (freakish) in this world. Still, in for a penny, in for a pound so…
"Look, do you want me to help you or not? I need you to close your eyes and try to slow down your breathing."
And yes, now he was bringing mediation into the mix as well.
The Prince glared at him for a moment, sighed, and did as he said.
Harry moved to stand to the side, just in case the man decided to peek. Then, for the first time in this world, he drew out his wand openly in someone else's presence.
"Finite Incantatem"
His voice was pitched low, drowned out by the inappropriate love song in the background, but the touch of his magic was unmistakable. The wizard had only just hastily hidden his wand away again when the police captain's eyes snapped open.
"What was that?" the man demanded, "I felt something."
Harry let silence be his only answer. And apparently that was enough.
The Prince rose and gave him a piercing look, but didn't force the issue. "Did it work?" he asked instead.
"I have no way of knowing," Harry replied, "You told me to try and I did."
After a long pause, Sean Renard nodded sharply and let himself out.
Word Count: 350
