When You Wasn't Famous
By: Sam Lincoln
Disclaimer: The characters from Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling and are used here without permission.
"When you're a famous boy/it's gets really easy to get girls/It's all so easy you get a bit spoiled/but when you try to pull a girl who is also famous too/It Feels Just Like When You Wasn't Famous
-When You Wasn't Famous, The Streets
Chapter 23: Driving a Ferrari at Speed
"Now sir, are you sure you know what you're doing? Cars like this can be very temperamental," the clerk at the high-end car rental office said to Harry.
In response Harry turned the ignition key on the powerful Italian sports car and revved the engine. He threw the car into reverse and stomped on the accelerator. The car shot backwards across the parking lot and with a flick of the wheel Harry came to a stop next to where Ginny stood.
"Holy!" The clerk said as he came running over to Harry and Ginny. "I've never seen anything like that. You took that over a six inch curb like it wasn't there."
"Just testing the suspension," Harry said as he leaned over and opened the passenger's side door for Ginny. "Now was there anything you needed me to sign?" The stunned clerk handed Harry a clipboard and pen. "And don't worry, I'll bring it back in one piece," Harry said as he tossed the clipboard back to the clerk. He gunned the engine and sped out of the rental car parking lot.
"Hey my pen!" The clerk said in the direction of the fast retreating car.
"I cast protective charms on the car, and a sobering charm on myself, so we don't have to worry about breaking it," Harry said to Ginny as he slalomed through the traffic. "Have you ever driven in a car before?"
"Nothing like this. My dad had a beat-up Anglia he used to drive around the countryside until my mum made him get rid of it." Ginny said. She grabbed onto a hand hold built into the door to brace herself. "And certainly not on the wrong side of the road. You do this every time you come here?"
Harry braked heavily at an intersection. "Of course. There's nothing quite like driving a fast car through the desert at speed. It's like flying, only totally different."
"That's very descriptive Harry," Ginny said.
Harry felt his cheeks flush and he spared a glance over at Ginny while waiting for the traffic light. "Okay fair enough, what I meant was that the sensation of speed is similar. If you want I could teach you how to drive so you could see for yourself."
Ginny whipped her head around. "Do you mean that, seriously?"
The light turned green and Harry stamped on the accelerator. "Of course, it will be a lark."
"But I have no idea how to drive a car."
"Neither did I until my mum taught me," Harry said.
"And did she use a flash car like this?" Ginny asked.
"Well no, it was a dodgy Ford Mondeo, but the idea's still the same. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be a natural, and if not we'll just have to buy them a new one."
"You might be sitting on piles of money Harry, but even you can't go around buying cars like this on a whim."
"Actually I can, and so will you after you take the transfer to Puddlemere."
"Harry I…" Ginny started to say. "Can we not talk about that? I know we have to at some point on this trip, but just not right now? I'm trying to enjoy the car ride."
Harry nodded his head. "Fair enough, this is a holiday after all. So what do you want to do first? Check into the hotel, or do something about your wardrobe?"
"Hotel, that's the quickest route to drinks, and I am desperately in need of one or three. Why didn't you warn me it was going to be this hot?"
"It's a desert and it's summer. I thought that would be self-evident."
"I'm a Weasley, we're not made for this sort of heat. My blood is too thick and my skin is too pale."
"In that case we'll have to thin it out with plenty of drink and long hours by the pool, in the shade," Harry said. He drove the car into the valet station of the hotel. "Come on," he said to Ginny as he got out of the car. "We'll get a drink in your hand in no time."
"You handle the hotel registration. I'm going to find a bar. Hold on, is that the Eiffel Tower?" Ginny pointed off in the distance.
Harry smiled. "Welcome to Las Vegas." He tossed the car keys to a valet. "Be careful, it's a rental." The valet nodded and handed Harry a ticket.
"That's something Muggles do, right?" Ginny asked in a quiet voice as they walked into the hotel lobby.
"Of course, who parks their own car? And if you do want to visit the bar take this." He handed Ginny a carefully folded stack of bills. "So you have something to pay for the drinks."
Ginny glared at Harry. "You are not giving me money, this is a loan, I will pay you back the moment I can."
"Of course, I would never dream of trying to pay your way." A smile crept onto Harry's face. "Outside of the suite and car that is."
"Prat," Ginny said. She clubbed him on the arm. "Now which way to the bar?"
"I think there's one over that way, now go be a good girl and get pissed while I go wait in queue to check in."
Ginny reached up and patted Harry on the cheek. "Silly boy, in all the years you've known me have I ever been a good girl?"
Harry caught Ginny's hand and kissed her palm. "That's what I'm counting on."
"Steady on there. That can wait until after you get us checked in." She spun Harry around and gave him a gentle shove. "Now get a move on."
After negotiating the long queue at the check in desk, and witnessing a spectacular meltdown by a man who bore a striking resemblance to his Aunt Petunia's husband Vernon over a reservation mixup, Harry made his way into one of the hotel's several bars in search of Ginny. It did not take him long to find her sitting at an elegant bar with several empty hurricane glasses already in front of her. Harry chuckled to himself as he watched Ginny flag down the bartender and demand another drink. In both dress and demeanor she did not belong in the swanky bar, but her looks and the large wad of money she flashed around kept the bouncer at bay.
After receiving a fresh drink, something red with an umbrella in it, Ginny turned on her barstool and saw Harry standing there. "Harry! Get over here, you have to try this!"
Harry smiled and did as he was told. "What is it?" He asked as he took the drink from her hands.
"The barman calls it a Singapore Sling." Ginny said. "I think it's very refreshing."
"Very strong is what it is," Harry said after taking a sip.
Ginny thrust the remainder of the money Harry gave her at the barman. "Pass the word, for the rest of my stay I want to have one of these in my hand at all times, are we clear?"
The bartender glanced down at the stack of folded bills in his hand then over at Harry who simply shrugged. "This isn't exactly hotel policy, but certainly ma'am."
"You'll be dead before we leave, you know that right?" Harry said to Ginny as she unsteadily climbed to her feet.
"Harry I am on holiday, no training, no Hermione. I am going to do what, and who, I want. Do I make myself clear?"
Harry bit back a smile. "Crystal, now if you would like they said our suite is ready so we could check that out. Alternatively we could visit the hotel shops and get you some decent clothes."
"What's wrong with what I have on right now?"
"For starters you can't exactly wear it the entire time we're here now can you? Also while you do look lovely in that Harpies training kit, it won't exactly pass muster at a five star restaurant. Besides, I thought you liked shopping?"
"I certainly do, but there are other things I'd rather be doing at this precise moment." Ginny waggled her eyebrows at Harry, leaving no doubt what she had in mind.
"We can always go shopping later," Harry said as he took Ginny by the hand and lead her out of the bar.
"So how does this work?" Ginny asked Harry. They were standing in front of a roulette table on the casino floor the next day. After giving their suite a thorough examination, Ginny and Harry had ventured down to the hotel's boutiques and returned with an array of cocktail dresses, bathing suits, and pastel jumpers. They then spent the remainder of the day, and a fair portion of the night, lounging by the pool. The next morning after a big breakfast of grapefruit, potions and coffee they made their down to the gaming floor to try their hand at some gambling.
"It's very simple," Harry said. "You just place a chip on the number you think the ball is going to land on. Or, if you aren't feeling as adventurous you can wager on the ball hitting a range of numbers."
"But the payout isn't as high."
"Exactly."
"And what's to stop me from charming the ball to land wherever I want it to?" Ginny asked.
"For starters, that's cheating and you aren't a cheater. There are also powerful detection wards in place which will summon the American version of the DMLE if you do. They do not taking cheating lightly here."
"Apparently not," Ginny said. She twirled a chip through her fingers. "So what should my first ever wager be on?"
Harry plucked the chip out of Ginny's hand. "Most people would make a safe wager, like odds or evens."
"But I'm not most people."
Harry smiled. "No you are not." He tapped Ginny on the nose with the chip. "Which is why I'm not going to tell you have to wager, I know better."
Ginny snatched the chip away from Harry then stuck her tongue out at him. "Oh you're no help."
"Place your bets, last call," the dealer said to the assembled gamblers.
Ginny reached out and placed her chip on the number eight. "Why eight?" Harry asked.
"It's been a pretty good year so far," Ginny said with a shrug. "Might as well see how long the luck holds."
"No more bets," the dealer said. Instead of watching the ball spin around the wheel Harry kept his gaze focused on Ginny. She was fixed on the wheel and glared at it with such intensity that it was no surprise to Harry when the ball came to stop on eight.
"I won!" Ginny said. "How much did I win?"
"Thirty-five times the value of the chip," Harry said. "So enough to pay me back for that dress you're wearing. Unless you'd rather let it all ride on the next spin?"
"I think I'll go out on top if it's all the same to you," Ginny said.
"That is the way to do it in most things. Now how about we go find some lunch?" Harry said. They gathered Ginny's winnings and left the gaming floor.
"Are you sure you want me to do this?" Ginny asked Harry. She was sitting behind the wheel of the rented Ferrari. Harry had brought them out to the middle of the desert late one night to teach Ginny how to drive.
"Absolutely, this will be brilliant. You will be brilliant. The road here is long, flat and abandoned, the perfect conditions. Now do you remember what to do?"
"Stick my foot on the accelerator, when the needle hits 8,000 pull this paddle on the right. Is that really all there is?"
"Just remember to hit the brake pedal and be sure to downshift, pull the paddle on the left, when you want to slow down. Are you ready to get started?"
Ginny stabbed the ignition button and the powerful engine roared to life. "Might as well give it a go." She stamped on the accelerator and the car leapt out onto the road, kicking back gravel in its wake. "You were right Harry," Ginny shouted over the din. "This is like flying, but different." A grin spread across her face. "Still, it's absolutely brilliant. The only thing missing is the wind in my hair."
Harry gave a short laugh. "Next time we'll have to get the convertible then."
Ginny slammed on the brakes and the car fishtailed to a stop. "What do you mean next time?"
Harry felt his face flush. "You, er, don't want to do this again?"
"The past week has been amazing Harry, but you know this is only a one time thing don't you?"
Harry scrubbed a hand through his hair, then banged on the dashboard. "We have to have the talk now don't we?"
Ginny looked sadly at Harry. "I reckon we do."
Harry fell silent for a moment then nodded. "Fine, just budge over and let me drive. I'd rather not have it out in the middle of a motorway where some lorry might come trundling along."
They traded seats and Harry drove them in silence off the motorway and onto a bumpy gravel track. He eventually came to a stop on a small rise that overlooked the desert. He pulled a blanket out of the car's boot and spread it out on the ground for them to sit on.
"Ok, first the easy question. Are you going to accept the transfer to Puddlemere?" Harry asked.
Ginny shook her head. "No, I'm going to ask for Barcelona."
"All right, why?"
"Because I think my play would improve if I get exposed to other styles."
"It's because of me isn't it? You're going to pass on the opportunity of a lifetime all because of me."
Ginny crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Oh get over yourself Harry."
"And get over yourself Ginny. I know how much being close to your family means to you. You wouldn't toss them aside just because you want to expand your Quidditch horizons or some such bollocks."
"You would know something about that," Ginny said. She added a glare for good measure.
"So that's what this is about," Harry said. "You do resent that I broke up with you."
"Of course I resent that you pillock!" Ginny grabbed a clump of dead grass and threw it at Harry. The sod bounced off his chest and landed in front of him.
Harry hung his head and sighed. He worked his hands open and closed. "Would it make a difference if I told you the real reason I broke up with you?" he asked.
Ginny's eyes narrowed into slits. "What do you mean real reason Harry? You broomed me because you wanted to prove your commitment to Quidditch. That's what you've always said."
"I just told you that because you'd believe it, but it wasn't the truth. Not all of it at least."
Ginny scrambled to her feet and aimed her wand at Harry's head. "Start talking now."
"Please believe me when I say I'm not proud of this, but what was the thing I was most afraid of when I was at Hogwarts?"
Ginny frowned and cast her mind back to all the late night conversations the two had shared. "Your father, living under his shadow." Realisation hit Ginny and she reached out for Harry. "Oh Harry, don't tell me."
Harry lurched to his feet and took a step backwards, moving out of Ginny's reach. "Don't get me wrong, I love my dad. He's never been anything but supportive of me, it's just…"
"It's just everyone saw you as the return of James Potter, and that was an impossible standard to live up to."
"They all just assumed that I'd go to Hogwarts, get into all sorts of mischief, meet the right witch, then settle down. And do you want to know the funny thing?" Harry asked. His voice started to rise in pitch and he began to pace. "I did meet the right girl, and that scared the wits out of me. All the things I thought I wanted to do with my life just didn't seem as important compared to you. I know it's horrid of me to say that, but it's the truth." Harry came to a stop and visibly sagged. "I didn't want us to be James and Lily Mark Two. But most important, I wanted to be exactly what I became, an international Quidditch star with no attachments. I'll understand if you want to hex me now."
Ginny leaned against the bonnet of the Ferrarri. "Just for future reference Harry, what you meant to say is you were afraid of commitment and panicked. Not that you wanted to shag as many women as possible. Girls really don't like to hear that." She drummed her fingers on the side of her car. "So why are you telling me this now? You've decided to give up the playboy lifestyle, settle down with a nice witch and raise a family? Is that it?"
"If you know a nice witch then yeah. Otherwise you'll do," Harry said.
A smile flashed across Ginny's face, but she managed to still her features. "Are you really sure you want to take the piss now?" She walked over to Harry and patted him on the cheek. "Your timing is terrible dear."
Harry reached up and caught Ginny's hand in his. "Ginny, I still love you, I don't think I ever stopped if I'm honest. I know I have no right to ask you this, but take the transfer to Puddlemere. Play Quidditch with me again." He ran his thumb across the palm of her hand.
"You love me, but you just want to play Quidditch with me?"
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but I figured I should start small. Merlin knows why you'd want anything to do with me at this point."
"It won't be easy, the press will be ruthless to us if we're on the same club, to say nothing of if we're also dating." Harry took heart that Ginny hadn't hexed him outright.
"We'll be together, and the rest of the club will have our backs. Come on Gin, are you really going to run away? Stay and help me kick the teeth in on those wankers who don't want us around anymore."
Ginny stood there with her hand in Harry's for a long moment. Harry started to worry that she would tell him to get bent. Eventually though she she raised her other hand and pulled Harry in for a soft kiss. "I want to make one thing clear. This is not me saying yes to the whole rest of my life thing," she said to Harry. "After all Quidditch playboys make for terrible boyfriends. However, so help me if I don't still love you too. So I'm willing to try this again, under the worst possible spotlight. I figure if we can survive the next season, then maybe we can talk about the rest of our lives. How does that sound?"
"That sounds perfect." Harry pulled Ginny in for a heated kiss.
Author's Notes: And scene. As I was conceptualizing this story, one thing that occurred to me was that even if James and Lilly never died they would still cast a large shadow over Harry's life at Hogwarts, James especially. The question then became how would that impact Harry? This is my answer to that question. Setting this chapter in Vegas was a natural because of The Streets' song "Memento Mori" and the Fear and Loathing jokes followed from there. I am, in fact, drinking a Singapore Sling as I type this on a Friday night. They are very refreshing, and very strong, and I will close with the recipe. Remember to drink responsibly, and do not drink and drive (like I almost had Harry do). Thanks once again to everyone who's read this silly little story. Just one little epilogue left to wraps things up.
Singapore Sling:
.5 oz cointreau (which is really just fancy triple sec, so feel free to use that)
.5 oz Heeling's cherry liquor
3 oz Gin (any will do, but stay away from the more exotic botanicals like Hendrick's you don't want to taste cucumber!)
4 oz Pineapple Juice
fill a shaker with ice, add the booze and pineapple juice. Shake well. Pour mixture into a highball glass filled with ice. To make it red add grenadine. Enjoy!
-sam