December 2000
Harry moved easily among the crowd gathered in Rymill Park. No-one spared him a glance, he was just another person heading for Adelaide's premier spot to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks. He easily walked alone, looking for a vendor to buy something to eat.
He could easily have stayed at home, away from the crowds, but he didn't want that tonight. New Year's Eve only reminded him that it was another year away from her. It was better if he was in a crowd, rather than alone with his melancholy thoughts
The hot dog vendor had the shortest queue, and he wasn't particularly hungry for anything specifically, so he grabbed one and a coke to drink. It was early dusk, still plenty of time to nab a spot to see the majestic aerial display. He wandered back up the road, stopping at nearby Adelaide Oval.
He'd been to a few Aussie Rules games, and a couple of cricket matches at the iconic oval. The Australians were passionate about their sport, so he'd gone to see what the fuss was about. He'd enjoyed the football but got bored with the cricket.
'It's all about tactics, just like wizard's chess', he imagined Ron telling him.
He'd gone to Australia after he'd left the Burrow. Not straight away, as he'd needed to get some money from his vault first. But two days after he'd left the Burrow, he'd arrived in Perth, Western Australia. He'd found a cheap motel and paid for a month stay.
He'd stayed six months, finding work on the wharves. Easy, manual labour that didn't require him to use magic, or save anyone, or fight a dark lord. He got up, went to work, and returned to the motel. Only at night was he not alone, for Ginny invaded his dreams, in a similar way to his sixth year, damn her!
He found he liked doing manual labour, liked the sense that his body was getting stronger. He learned to cook for himself; good healthy meals. He remained solitary, not allowing any one to get too close. He joked with the men and women who worked along side him, but never joined them at the pub, preferring to retreat to his run down motel room and read or watch mind numbing television.
And dream about Ginny.
He moved on, to the Northern Territory. First Darwin, then Alice Springs. He ran into some magical people at Alice Springs, for the area around Uluru was a magical environment. He fled when he noticed witches and wizards whispering and pointing at him.
He moved to Queensland, then Sydney, figuring it would be easy for Harry Potter to get lost in the busiest capital in Australia. However, it also had the largest magical population in Australia, and he must have been noticed by someone, for not even a week after settling into a motel, he saw his own face plastered across a magical newspaper. 'Chosen One spotted in Sydney!'
He quickly packed and fled to Melbourne. He picked up work at the markets, which meant early morning starts, again doing simple manual labour. He was finished work by lunchtime, and he started to go to the Muggle gym to work out some of his frustrations.
He soon got bored with the work, and decided to move on yet again. He decided on Adelaide, in South Australia. As he'd always done, he found a cheap motel close to the city, and soon found work as a labourer for a construction company, who built houses all over Adelaide.
Although initially he did grunt work he soon came to love the idea of building homes that people would live in. He found himself talking to the various tradespeople that were involved in house construction, and they were happy to show and advise him of what they were doing. He couldn't actually help them, as he wasn't qualified and for insurance purposes. He didn't mind though, content to watch and learn. In his mind, he was constructing a home.
A home for him and Ginny. With kids, and dogs and cats and owls.
He'd long ago given up trying to work out why Ginny wouldn't escape his mind. Other women held no interest for him. He was bound to her, solely. He took care of his baser urges himself, needing no-one else, although Ginny was with him, if only in his mind.
Despite living a Muggle life for work, he still practised his magic every night. As his body got stronger, so did his magic. With time he'd mastered wandless magic; self taught. He also practised yoga and tried various self defence classes.
Harry was brought out of his musings by the peal of bells ringing. He glanced at nearby St Peter's Cathedral, close to Adelaide Oval and, deciding to kill more time, walked closer to the historic church.
It was a wedding. A dusk wedding on New Year's Eve. With the bells pealing, announcing the couple's happiness. As Harry watched on, the bride and groom exited the church, to be surrounded by family and friends.
Harry gasped. The bride had long, red hair. It stood out like a beacon against her pure white dress. Her bouquet was a mix of red and white roses, signifying unity.
He'd never given Ginny red roses.
Why hadn't he given her red roses?
The bride was ecstatically beautiful, as all brides are. Her groom could barely take his eyes off her, despite the constant handshakes and congratulatory kisses. Harry couldn't blame him.
Ginny will make a beautiful bride.
The cars pulled up to take the wedding party away to celebrate the happy couple. The bride and groom posed for photos, drawing the passers by attention.
"Mummy, look, it's a bride," yelled a little girl, pointing.
"Doesn't she look like Cinderella in her pretty dress. Let's wait here and wave to her as she goes past," said the girl's mother.
The bride and groom finally got into the car and it moved off slowly. The crowd all cheered, and the bride and groom waved to people, people they didn't even know.
"She's coming, she's coming," said the little girl excitedly, jumping up and down.
The little girl must have caught the driver's eye, for he slowed down. The bride waved to her, pointing her out to her groom. As they looked back at her, the bride's eyes met Harry's.
Her eyes were brown; Harry was sure. He put his hand on his suddenly aching heart. The bride smiled at him, as the car drove away. Taking her away from Harry.
This was the sign he'd been waiting for.
Three hours later, as the Adelaide night sky lit up, and its citizens sang Auld Lang Syne, Harry was already on his way home to England.
To Ginny.
A/N And now the fun begins!