Chapter 9: A darkened alley, scary boss and James Potter..

Harry fell on the ground of a darkened alley, back up, his face pressed against the hardened ground.

"Thanks Merlin," Harry muttered, "that I don't have to wear glasses anymore!"

Hermione, who had landed in a large puddle of to the left of Harry glared at Ron, who had his butt stuck in a trash can. Harry got up and took one glance at Ron before his laughter filled to empty alley.

"Oh yeah," Ron grumbled, "laugh at the guy with his butt stuck in a can!" Hermione, who had gotten up wet, finally couldn't take it anymore and snickered.

Harry strode over to Ron and helped him out, a grin on his face. Hermione glanced at her friend, sighed and shook her head.

"What are we going to do know?" She asked shivering as a rat skittered by, squeaking as it did so. Harry glanced at the rat, frowned, took out his wand and levitated it. The rat squeaked in shock and tried to get away. Harry murmured something under his breath and a warm yellow light enveloped the rat. The rat relaxed and Harry set it down and let it skitter away.

"What did you do?" Hermione shrieked. She hated rats- especially after the Peter Pettigrew incident.

"It was injured, it needed help!" Harry said indignantly. It was his job to protect earth and everything on it.

Hermione scowled and leaned against the doorway of the room they were sharing. Harry was currently going through the job ads, muttering to himself. Ron was playing with a rubber ball, throwing it against the wall.

"Well," Hermione said exasperated.

"I have found a job as a Quidditch helper at Old Jake's Quidditch shop that gives you a flat, 2 gallons per week and food. It's the only thing worth taking. Tom won't let us stay here for more than a day without paying and its five gallons per night. I suggest we take it."

Hermione scowled but though Harry was right. It was better than having to work at the Leaky Cauldron with drunken bums hanging over you.

Harry examined the stuffy flat that he, Hermione and Ron were sharing during their time in this universe.

It was small, with a living room, three bedrooms of medium size and a kitchen and bathroom. The walls were stained and patched, the carpet dirty and ragged.

"Well," Harry said, placing his bags down. "We should fix this up." Hermione looked disgusted as she made her way to her bedroom, on occasion making a noise of disgust, while Ron made his way to the kitchen. It was covered in dirt and dust. He opened the refrigerator, grimaced, and backed away in shock. There was nothing in there, except spiders.

Hermione looked at her room. It had a full sized bed, with no sheets on it and a dresser, which was dusty and old looking.

Hermione, despite her living conditions, grinned as an idea came to her. A new project came to her.

A full blown out clean up!

Harry gathered his money and bought the paint in various colors, the carpet and the cleaning supplies, while Hermione and Ron made their plans to their rooms.

"I," Harry said over the bags, "have got the stuff." He placed them down on the ragged couch. Hermione nodded and said, "We'd better get the furniture out of here." Harry nodded and go tout his wand and flicked it. They were gone, with a hardware floor, no furniture, dirty walls and windows and no food.

Brilliant.

Harry decided he'd do the living room. He currently had an old pair of Dudley's jeans on and a tank top on, his face dripping with sweat as he washed the floor, scrubbing hard.

Finally getting the last bit of dirt, he went over to the radio, which was perched on the actually clean windowsill. The cool air of the afternoon came in, refreshing Harry. He grinned and turned on the music.

"Hello witches and wizards," said the radio announcer. "This is muggle hour and we'd like to say….." The radioman paused in a semi-dramatic moment. "HAVE A GREAT SUMMER KIDS!!"

"Here's Always by Salvia…"

I hear, a voice say, "Don't be so blind"

Harry snorted and grinned. He heard that voice all the time and her name was Lady Fate. He straightened up and stretched. His tank top covered the scars on his back well enough but he was glad he suggested they take different rooms. Hermione had the kitchen, Ron the bathroom and then they would all tackle painting their rooms.

It's telling me all these things, that you would probably hide
Am I, your one and only desire
Am I the reason you breathe, or am I the reason you cry

Harry grabbed the paint roller and the plastic holder and opened the tan paint for the walls. It gleamed as Harry stirred it. Tapping the stick on the side, he placed it in the plastic tin before he placed some paint in the tin and he rolled the paint roller in it before starting on the wall near the door. He rolled it up and down while listening to the lyrics..

Always... always... always... always... always... always...
I just can't live without you

I love you, I hate you, I can't get around you
I breathe you, I taste you, I can't live without you
I just can't take anymore, this life of solitude.
I guess that I'm out the door and now I'm done with you.

The door flew open, startling Harry but not enough for him to jump. He placed the roller in the tin near his feet before facing his large boss. He was fat, purple faced and reminded him way to much of his uncle. Harry stared at his boss determinedly as his boss examined the living room before turning to his employee with a scowl on his face, wrinkling his mustache under his nose.

"What is going on Boy?" He hissed at Harry. Harry blinked and shook his head, mentally of course, and said clearly, "We're cleaning up the flat." His voice was cool and his eyes swirling in mystery and power. Jake Andiron, the boss of the whole Quidditch place and the flats that were above his shop, nodded and huffed, "Well, boy, don't disturb my business." He turned and slammed the door, making the windows rattle. Harry snorted.

What business? Drinking and smoking?

He ran a hand though his grimy hair, took up the paint roller, and started on the next walls, his muscles gleaming with sweat.

Done with you, done with you, done with you, done with you, done with you.

Hermione scrubbed the now clean marble cabinet as the music from the living room floated to her. She, feeling curiosity, glanced through the glass window of the kitchen to see Harry, even in a different appearance, seemed to radiant power. His muscles gleamed with sweat. She felt her face heat up.

Her hair was in a ponytail, her clothes her old muggle ones. Jean shorts and a red shirt that said The Elves did it!

She managed to clean up the table as she thought over the events of the past days.

One, she was in an alternate universe, something she never thought was possible.

Two, she was working in a flat with her two best friends, who were both cleaning.

Three, the Potters were alive here, minus Harry. She had read the transcript Lady Fate had given Harry.

But why was Harry involved with this? Yeah he was in debt but that was not a reason to take them out of school.

No, Hermione thought, they weren't losing any school time. They looked like they were asleep in their beds. Not in an alternate universe were Voldemort was in a war.

She sighed and opened the window, the sky was clear, cloudless. It was beautiful out there.

She looked at her half finished job. But not in here..

I feel, like you don't want me around.
I guess I'll pack all my things, I guess I'll see you around
Its all, been bottled up until now
As I walk out your door, all I can hear is the sound.

Always... always... always... always... always... always...
I just can't live without you

I love you, I hate you, I can't get around you
I breathe you, I taste you, I can't live without you
I just can't take anymore, this life of solitude
I guess that I'm out the door and now I'm done with you.

I love you, I hate you, I can't live without you.

I left my head around your heart.
Why would you tear my world apart?

Always... always... always... always...

I see, the blood all over your hands
Does it make you feel, more like a man?
Was it all, just a part of your plan
The pistol's shaking in my hands and all I hear is the sound.

I love you, I hate you, I can't live without you.
I breathe you, I taste you, I can't live without you
I just can't take anymore, this life of solitude
I guess that I'm out the door and now I'm done with you.

I love you, I hate you, I can't live without you
I love you, I hate you, I can't live without you
I just can't take anymore, this life of solitude
I pick myself off the floor and now I'm done with you.

Always... always... always...

Ron Weasley scowled and finished with the bathroom. He had used about fifty towels, squished about ten times as many spiders and was now standing looking over his work. It was a decent sized bathroom. There was a marble sink, a tile floor and a bath large enough for three people.

"Good job," said a voice in his ear. Ron turned to his best friend, whose shirt had tan stains on it, his face gleaming with sweat but a satisfied look on his face.

Ron went into the newly transformed living room with a wide eyes look of wonder.

It was painted a rich tan color, the trim a white color. The couch was restored and a nice blue color. The fireplace cackled happily filling the room with heat. There was a bookcase next to the window and a table, a deep brown color, in front of the fireplace. There were a few other decorations on the room. Ron grinned at his friend work.

Hermione came out of the kitchen, her shirt soaked with sweat. She took one look at the living room and grinned. It was perfect.

It was a Tuesday and it was Harry's turn to work. He was leaning against the register as the customer he had just served left with four brooms for his children. He grinned happily and placed the money on the register.

Inwardly he was angry, this money wouldn't be given to them- maybe a gallon or two- but the rest would go to their boss's drinking problem. Harry had advised to his friend to stay away from their boss when he was drinking.

Trust me, he knew a lot about drunk people and one thing was to stay away from them.

The bell to the shop sang out as Harry glanced up from his magazine. He looked around in surprise to see no one.

A stifled cry of sadness met his ears. Harry looked over the counter to see a young girl with auburn hair, deep hazel eyes and tears tinkling down her sweet face. Harry felt his head click for whom this was.

Rose Potter, his sister in every way- except the fact that he was dead in this universe.

Harry around the counter and squatted down next to the little girl. She sniffed and when spotting his said softly, "Do you know where my Daddy is?" Harry sighed and whispered, "I don't know child, what is his name?"

"His name is James Potter, messy black hair and eyes like mine," she whispered before saying a little louder, "My name is Rose Potter."

Harry gave her a gentle smile before saying, "I'm Griffin Jameson." He looked around through the windows of the shop seeing crowds pass by the shop. James must be crazy in panic, losing his daughter in this crowd.

"How about you get on my shoulders so you can look over the crowds," he said, before she nodded. He lifted her onto his shoulders and was out the door ("Duck Rose.") He made his way through the crowd as Rose looked around for her Dad.

A couple of minutes passed before Rise cried out, "Daddy!" Harry frowned and looked around. A gentle tap his shoulder made him turn around. James Potter stood there, his eyes a worried hazel, laden with the burdens of war. His messy hair was black as ever, his face wrinkled with grief.

"So your Mr. Potter?" he asked. He let down Rose before sticking out his hand. James looked over Harry before taking it.

"Griffin Jameson," he said as they shook hands. James face relaxed a little as Rose hugged his lef happily. He smiled and said, "Thank you for finding my daughter."

"She wandered in the shop I work at so I brought her out here," he said simply before saying, after he looked at his watch, "I'd better go, I have to get to work."

"Where do you work?" James called after him.

"Old Jake's Quidditch shop!" he called back before disappearing into the crowd.

Sorry its been so long but I thank you for your patients! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I wish for some suggestions to what happens next!

Thanks again!

R&R

Bookworm622