All Along the Watchtower
Chapter 1 - The Boy Who Lived, Yeah Right
Harry reached the brick barrier which guarded the way to Diagon Alley in a bad mood.
While coming out the floo he slipped, but this was a regular occurrence. Over the years Harry had refined his habit of tripping after flooing into a slight stumble. However, someone spilled beer or whiskey on the floor and his stumble became a fall, a very bad fall involving the mantel of a brick fireplace. The rapidly forming bruise on the side of head didn't help his mood either and after taking a moment to dust himself off Harry produced his wand. He tapped the correct bricks and the wall peeled back to reveal the hub of wizarding shopping in England, Diagon Alley.
Despite the return of the Dark Lord Voldemort, the Alley was relatively untouched and remained the sprawling shopping capital of years past. It was as crowded with droves of witches and wizards buying all manner of wizarding produce.
He strolled down to Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlour and decided to go in while he waited. Harry was friendly with the proprietor as he always asked about the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Even after the Tournament it was strange for someone to ask for his perspective. Mr Fortescue, Florean as he proffered, explained many times that his boy had told him all about the other Hogwarts Champion. But Florean was still interested to hear Harry's take on the enthusiastically skewed tale his then first-year son strung.
Harry took his time as he walked outside and was surprised to see his best friend sitting at one of the tables. Kaden was leaning back, feet up on the table playing with a small black rectangle which Harry assumed was his latest mobile phone. Harry never understood his friend's fascination with muggle technology, the phone may have been useful but fire-calling was far easier. Harry pulled a silver seat from under the table and made to sit.
"Piss off, seats taken." Kaden droned without looking up.
Harry pushed his friend's feet off the table in response.
Kaden put away the phone and sat up. "What's up?"
"I landed on my ass coming out of the Floo." Harry deadpanned.
"I overheard Chang talking to her friends about how cute you looked." He rolled his eyes for good measure.
"I kinda-"
"-you ran out of there as fast as possible...you two make me want to be sick, just bloody ask her to marry you, have two-point-five kids and get it over with already."
Harry scowled at his friend's comment and threw his ice-cream in Kaden's general direction, never expecting it to hit its target.
Kaden swatted the ice-cream out of the air with his wand and a little magic but it splattered on the table and hit his jacket. "Do you know how much this jacket cost?"
"Want me to buy you a new one?"
"You know if I didn't have another at home I might." Kaden sniffed as he tried to apply sloppy cleaning charm.
Harry flicked his wand and the stain was gone.
"Thanks."
Harry could never understand why his friend was so bad with cleaning charms when he could murder most people in a duel. Harry found out by duelling with Kaden in Defence Against the Dark Arts that he was a power player, dominating his opponents with powerful, potent spells which Harry found hard to keep up with at first. It reflected his own style quite well although Harry liked to think he had a bit more finesse.
"Have you decided?"
"I don't want to disappoint my mum mate, really, she'll go mental being stuck in that house without me."
"How will you disappoint her? Lady P will be happy for you, that elf Nobby will probably throw himself off a bridge mind." Kaden said, only half joking.
"His name is Dobby and he isn't obsessed; he just finds it amazing that I don't ignore him all the time!"
Kaden shook his head. "Come on mate; this is your chance to get away. My dad's old place in London is just sitting empty and he offered to get it all re-done for us, hell I'll even let you drive my car if you want!"
"My dad won't let me and I don't know how Sirius will react, you know what he's like."
"Sirius thinks it's a great idea and you were seventeen last week, your dad can't stop you."
"How do you know what Sirius thinks?"
"I had to deliver a few Portkey permits to the Ministry for my dad and ran into him. He thinks I'm right too, he wants you to have more freedom." Kaden paused. "And Chang will be impressed if you have your own flat, car and fantastically fuckable roommate if she gets bored with you."
Harry shook his head at Kaden's confidence, something he knew he struggled with. Even his recent years as a Quidditch prodigy did little for it. He was more than confident in his magical abilities, not many people could stand toe to toe with a Dark Lord and live, but socially he wasn't fantastic. The memory made him tug at the sleeves of his jacket, pulling at them until they covered his hands. "Cho is a witch; she won't be impressed by a car and you," Harry snorted, "she shot you down before."
Kaden pouted. "I was drunk."
"I told you not to drink that night."
"You were drunk as hell too, and I thought she was her older cousin. Not that I expected different from her. I'm not a man wh-"
Harry gave Kaden a pointed look.
"That is not the point; I would never intentionally go after the girl you like." Kaden said rubbing his chin either thoughtfully or in remembrance. "Chang pointed out my mistake so I turned her in your direction...and just so you know every girl is impressed by my car but you don't need the car. After one of your Quidditchpractices you kissed her."
"Your dad would let me move in with his two sons and be quite happy?"
"My dad's a rich man Harry, he has a lot more to worry about than what we do with an apartment and don't change the subject. Why didn't you tell me about Chang?"
Harry's face was hot and slightly red. "I was going to tell you but you were off with Padma or was it her sister? I can't remember which and it slipped my mind."
"It was Padma, though Pavarti is cuter right enough."
Harry rolled his eyes, identical twins did not look that different, he knew from personal experience. He was one.
"So it slipped your mind that you kissed the girl you've fancied for years?" Kaden shot at him.
Harry shifted nervously as the words smashed his rudder, floating listless was uncomfortable. "It was awkward and we didn't talk for a while. We didn't say anything about it and I guessed she thought it was a mistake."
Kaden sighed; he wondered if Harry ever learned anything from him. "She wanted you to talk to her about it. Not avoid her like the fucking plague. Fuck me; you're worse than a girl!"
Harry stayed seated. "Kaden, where are you going?"
Kaden grabbed his friends arm and pulled him out of his chair. "You're coming with me and we are going to get you a date with the girl you've fancied for years."
"I can do it myself; I don't need your help!" Harry said.
"You're not going to get it, we are going to find her and you can talk to her yourself!"
Harry glared at him defiantly.
"God you need pull that book out of your arse Potter."
Harry and Kaden walked Diagon Alley's streets in search of their prey for almost an hour. He was happy when Kaden stopped to take a phone call from his sister. Meanwhile Harry watched an array of people pass by. Harry waved to a few Aurors that he had met through Sirius including Tonks, Sirius's cousin. Harry was annoyed Sirius wasn't around; they hadn't spoken for a few days but he knew the Ministry rarely made experienced Aurors guard the Alley. Most were knee deep in the hunt for the Dark Lord. Harry didn't understand why they spent so many resources looking for him; they wouldn't find him until he wanted them to. It would be more efficient to prepare for attacks on the most obvious places such as Hogwarts and the Ministry and set a trap while pouring more manpower into the Hit Wizards and Unspeakables. As Sirius explained, it would be more efficient than sending out Aurors on a manhunt they weren't trained for.
"Karen's asking what colour you want your room to be?"
"I never said I was going along with this." Harry reiterated.
Kaden narrowed his eyes. "It doesn't matter, no one else will use the room so pick a few colours on the off chance you do."
"Ravenclaw blue, white and some silver," the same colours as his room at Hollow Manor.
Kaden returned the phone to his ear. "Blue, white and some silver...speak to you later…I won't be out late tonight…I know, I need to get up early…yes I will pack…really I will…I'll pack…bye and ask dad if he's heard from Connor…"
"What do you want to do?" Harry asked.
"We could always talk to Chang; she's coming out of Twilfitt?"
Harry's stomach did its' customary back flip which made him feel a little sick as he got to his feet and started walking.
Kaden put a hand on Harry's shoulder spoke in a conspiratorial whisper. "You are going to invite her to a moving in party a couple of weeks before school goes back."
Harry nodded, his mouth suddenly going dry.
"I'll distract Padma; get her out of the way. Remember, it's our moving in party and get her number so you can phone her about the details. She's a half-blood so she should know what you're on about and probably have a phone too. Take this." Kaden slipped a phone into Harry's pocket. "Good luck." Kaden finished, giving Harry a strong slap on the shoulder.
"Thanks mate." Harry said quietly while contemplating his impending doom, he wanted nothing than a black hole to appear and swallow him up. It would be a welcome, if not very practical alternative; there was no telling where the black hole would spit him out, probably an alternate universe where he didn't have a brother and an idiot for a best friend with any luck, if it did any spitting out at all.
Kaden fell in step between Cho and Padma. Kaden got the desired effect of confusion and spoke before Cho could speak or hit him. "Hey Chang, I take it you don't mind if I borrow dear Padma for a minute or two?" Kaden gave Padma his best swoon worthy smile- the one he claimed had broken too many hearts- and she blushed.
Cho looked at him with an annoyed expression and narrowed her eyes at him. Cho never liked the way her friend fell so easily to Kaden's charm. She had no intention of letting it happen ever again.
Before her scathing reply could be formed Kaden cut her off. "Harry will keep you company."
Cho thoughts changed focus instantly and her eyes found Harry only a step behind his best friend. Her face brightened and Kaden slipped away.
The two seventh years stood in complete silence, the awkwardness weighing heavily on the many words left unsaid between them. "How has…you're summer been… eh Cho?" Just keep on stuttering, Merlin why do I have to sound like an idiot! Harry chided himself, this was Cho and he had spoken to her a thousand times without any hint of a stutter.
"It's been okay, I guess. Just hanging around with friends, you?" Cho asked; her eyes alight with curiosity as she flicked a strand of ebony hair from her eyes.
Harry was entranced by the simple gesture and it took him a few seconds to answer back. "It's been a bit boring, I've only seen Kaden a few times. Most people would say that's a good thing but you begin to miss him, eventually, like a hole in the head."
Cho laughed at that.
"I've just been hanging about the house really, reading mostly and practicing my wand-work and Quidditch." Harry finished and quickly got to the point, mostly because he didn't know what else to say. "I know this is a kind of random but Kaden…well me and Kaden...we're having this party a few weeks before school starts and I was wondering-"
"-yes!" Cho interrupted hastily.
"Yes what?" Harry asked, rather stupidly by his standards, complete with a confused look. The reason soon dawned as Cho laughed again. Harry ruffled his already messy hair nervously.
Cho watched the gesture intently, smiling at him.
"You mean the...?"
Cho nodded, her chocolate brown eyes alight with happiness.
Harry, grinning like an idiot, took the annoying black glass rectangle out of his pocket. "So can I get your number so I can phone or something like that?"
Cho nodded and took the phone from his hand. Her fingers brushed his palm and a spark ran through them both. They both pulled back startled but recovered quickly and Harry looked on as her fingers ghosted over the screen lightly. "How did you get a phone like this? I thought both your parents went to Hogwarts? And why are you and Kaden throwing a party?"
Harry noted her hostility towards Kaden; it was perfectly understandable considering the perennial using of her best friend. Kaden was an acquired taste; Harry sometimes wondered how he acquired it. "They are but Kaden got it for me so we could talk, he doesn't have a Floo. I just agreed to move in with him. He's moving to London and the flat had a spare bedroom so he offered it to me. "
Cho was about to speak when Padma came into view and she was seething. Cho sighed and gave Harry a look that clearly said she was very sorry.
Harry answered with a lopsided grin, his emerald eyes twinkling in happiness.
"Cho can we go?" Padma asked impatiently as she glared at Harry.
"We can talk later Harry." Cho said; disappointment softening her tone.
"Guess so, see you later Cho."
Harry was stunned as she turned suddenly and her soft lips touched his cheek lightly before moving to his ear. "Text me later." Cho whispered as she slipped the glass rectangle back into his pocket. Harry watched her as she walked down the alley, he watched until she glanced back to see if he was gone.
"What are you smiling about?"
Harry looked to his side and found his best friend rubbing a red mark on his cheek. "I'm moving in."
"Why the change of heart?" Kaden asked as they walked down the Alley in the opposite direction of Cho and Padma; more for his personal safety than anything else.
"We can't have a moving in party if I don't move in, can we?" Harry stated, the prospect of a date with Cho had tipped the scales in favour Kaden's proposal.
"Well we-" Kaden stopped and grinned. "Fuck me, you actually asked her."
"Yeah, I did." It wasn't a dream; Harry Potter after nearly three years he had finally done it. He had finally asked out Cho Chang and she said yes. "I take it you didn't ask Padma?"
Kaden rubbed the red spot on his cheek. "I asked for her sister's number and she didn't take it well."
Harry laughed.
"Drink?" Kaden suggested.
Harry nodded. "Are you apparating or have you got the car?"
"Apparating," Kaden said as they made their way up the cobblestone steps after the barrier and into the warmth of the Leaky Cauldron. "The 350 is in getting a new paint job because some dick backed into it and drove off."
Harry laughed. "How far is the flat from here?"
Kaden glared at Harry for the mockery of his anger. "Not that far from here actually, it's a penthouse a couple of streets down. You want to come down and see it? I've got to go and see Karen but I have to pick up the 350 from the garage first if you fancy coming with?" Kaden asked as he ordered two glasses of Ogden's finest reserve.
Harry shook his head. "I can't, I have to get home and break this news to my mum and dad. Any idea when the flat will be ready?" Tom placed the glasses on the bar and stepped away but not before giving Harry a nod.
"Should only be a few days, Karen's been working the decorators like a girl possessed."
Harry took a long drink.
Kaden spoke again, with an air of arrogance around him Harry could smell. "Then next week we have a party and Harry finally pops his cherry."
Harry choked on the steaming fluid as it slid down his throat. Harry really...really...did not want to get into that subject, for reasons befitting of at least a broken nose on his part.
"Don't worry she's one too or so I've heard…just don't pussy out of this one like the last five alright?" Kaden finished giving his friend a good slap on the back.
"Fuck off, that's not why I asked her and you know it." Harry said after he recovered.
Kaden rolled his eyes, "Whatever, not to worry plenty of Karen's mates are going to be there if you fuck up!"
Harry glared at Kaden. If only you knew, Harry thought and it would stay a silent thought sadly.
Kaden looked away before his gaze drifted to his watch. "Shit, I've got to go mate, I never realized it was this late. I have to pick up the 350 before this garage closes or it'll be in there all weekend."
"Okay," Harry said, digging around in his pocket and finding the sleek black rectangle.
"No," Kaden shook his head. "That's yours; my dad got ten or twenty of them free through the company so don't argue; it's about time you had one. My new number is on it, so is Karen's. Yes, I know how much you two like to bitch about me, and now Cho's too. You know how to phone people so that's good and you'll figure out the rest easily enough. It's been enchanted so the battery won't run out and shouldn't go on the fritz unless you take it to the Ministry or Hogwarts, you know how badly magic can mess with electronics if you're not careful." Kaden cautioned as he moved away.
Harry looked at the mobile phone and remembered what Cho asked him, Harry caught him just before he got to the apparition point. "How do you text people?"
Kaden turned Harry's way with a little grin. "You'll figure it out eventually mate. Remember; tell your mum and dad and phone me later, not Karen!"
Harry sighed as Kaden turned on his heel and disappeared. Taking one last look at the mobile phone Harry stuffed it into his pocket. He would figure it out later and he made his way towards the Floo and Hollow Manor.