Chapter 3 settling in

I don't own anything you recognize

enjoy the story ^.^

Grinning I jumped into the car and peeled out of the driveway and went in search of Chief Swan's police cruiser.

Sure enough about four houses down I saw the cruiser. Coming to a stop outside of the house I cut the engine to my car I got out and made my way to the front door, knocking twice.

That was all it took to get the Chief to come to the door.

"Ah, Mr. Potter. Anything I can help you with?"

"Well sir I was wondering if Bella could show me around town…" I started unsure of how to do this.

"Sure…" he turned to the stairs and yelled, "Bella! There's someone here for you!" before turning back to me and opening the screen door. "Come on in son." He said just as Bella nearly tripped on the last step rushing down the stairs. With seeker instincts I caught her before she hit the ground. "We may have to keep you around here for a while, see if you can break her clumsy streak." The Chief joked.

"I just need a chauffeur around town for now but if you want you can help me get unpacked." I said with a smile at the blood red Bella.

"Sure. I'll be back later dad." She said as she grabbed her wallet from her bag and kissed her dad on the cheek before leading the way to my car.

Shaking my head I followed her closely and sure enough just as we reached the passenger door she slipped, but didn't fall seeing as how I caught her. I could hear Chief Swan's laughter from here as he shut the door.

"Thanks… I've fallen more times than I can count since I got in the house." She said turning red again as I unlocked her side and walked around to mine.

"It's not a problem." I said as I started the engine. "Now I need a grocery store to start with…" I said as I looked back at Bella.

"Turn left." She said with a smile. "I need to pick up something's as well. I swear Charlie is almost as bad as Renée… my mom." She added when she saw the look of confusion I gave her.

"Oh… how is that?" I asked curious.

"I've taken more care of my mother than she has of me over the years." She explained as she pointed to the small food mart.

In kind I turned into the parking lot and parked close to the door.

Without my insistence she flipped the little lock on the door as she got out.

"Mom's had to be manually locked after she lost the clicker thingy." She said with a smile as she grabbed a cart from the front of the store.

Following her lead we got mostly junk but picked up things that I knew I had to have for certain meals and I got an odd look when I picked up some of them but she muttered something about British foods that I missed, I got way more than she did though.

Once we checked out and were loaded back into the car she began to direct me around the small town.

After a while though she suggested that we head back to my house so I could put away my groceries.

She helped carry the things in and put them away and soon we had made it to where my bedroom where the trunk was.

She made an excuse to use the bathroom that I was more than great full for because my trunk was full of shrunken things. After removing my wand from my carry on I flicked it at the trunk and watched as about fifty boxes flew out. Quickly as I heard the water go off from the sink I placed my wand under the mattress and saw Bella wipe her hands on her jeans.

"I have to say this… I don't want to seem rude or anything but um… I'm not looking for a relationship of any sort…" she started not looking at me but studding one of the windows in the room.

"I was going to say the same thing but I have another issue than not wanting a relationship. I mean you're just generally not my type." I said sheepishly rubbing the back of my neck.

"What is your type? I mean I don't mean to sound rude or anything but you don't dress like any guy I have seen… that may just be because you are from England or something but I mean if you… you know… are into the not so fair gender… or into both or something… it's alright with me…" she said looking anywhere but me.

Relief flooded through me as I sank to the bed.

"I like guys more but girls are still attractive to me." I said looking at my hands.

I felt the bed sink and I looked next to me, Bella was close and she was looking me dead in the eyes.

"I'm okay with it. It makes hanging out with you even easier. I mean how awkward would it be if you liked me after I had said that?" she asked laughing and I couldn't help but join in. after a few minutes my sides began to hurt and I clutched them as I tried to stop laughing.

Bella recovered faster than me.

"So where do we begin with this mess?" she asked with laughter still clear in her voice.

I pointed to the three boxes near the door.

"Those go in the kitchen and the utility room and living room."

She got up and began to lift one and make her way down the stairs. In a hurry I flicked my wand before placing it back under the mattress and prayed to Merlin that she wouldn't fall.

Grabbing the other two of the boxes I followed my clumsy new friend.

Sure enough she was fine when I walked into the kitchen and found that she had opened all of the windows on the lower level of the house as if she had done so on her way through, which I am sure she had done.

I watched in amusement as she turned the radio to a local station that played old country, currently Alibis by Tracy Lawrence. I wasn't sure how I knew the American song but I did…

More than likely Hermione's doing. The girl likes every kind of music- to the point that I don't think eclectic is a strong enough word.

She's made Ron and I listen to everything from the Rolling Stones to Debussy and Mozart to Alan Jackson and Travis Tritt to Brittany Spears and Backstreet Boys.

It was horrible. But I loved it. It made me start taking up music whenever possible. Basically when I was with Sirius. He was the main one who supported that hobby. I was surprised at that. Not that Sirius supported me that I could always count on. But that he was the only one that did. It was a bloody hobby for Merlin's sake. One that did not have to do with death or fighting Voldemort.

Singing along with Bella as she danced through the kitchen managing not to drop anything or hurt herself in the process I felt… normal. It was an amazing feeling.

This was my chance to find out just who just Harry was.

When the next song came on after the commercials Bella paused and smiled before closing her eyes swaying with the music. She sat down in one of the chairs when the singing started.

She opened her eyes and smiled at me with a secret smile before going back to what she was doing before singing along softly to the song.

"…Alone and helpless
Like you've lost your fight
But you'll be alright, you'll be alright
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause its all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you Stand, Then you stand…"

I didn't know the song but listening to the words I instantly liked it. It fit me like a tailored glove.

So smiling my own secret smile we went back to organizing my kitchen. The we moved onto the living room, to the master bedroom on the first floor –we changed that into a movie room, and then she helped me with the three guest rooms on the upper level before she invited me to go to the diner where Charlie was meeting her.

A/n if you didn't already know the lyrics are from stand by rascal flatts.