Chapter 9: Playing Nice.
Seriously, I was the biggest, stupidest, most brainless most ridiculous twat in the history of mankind; and I discovered this all in the elevator on the way to the 6th floor to deliver some stupid music for my best friend.
Could I not control myself?
Was I a sodding 15 year old again?
Why did I think kissing my ex girlfriend who I was trying to win back and who I severely damaged was a good idea?
On what planet did I wake up on, lost all sense of reason and rationality and snogged the bloody hell out of someone I really shouldn't have. This planet. This day. THIS….THIS!
"Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid!" I muttered to myself as I lashed out my right hand and collided with the side of the elevator wall.
And though I knew it was wrong and that I probably just set myself back entirely in this quest I had assigned myself I couldn't help but want to go back to that moment and stay there forever. I wanted her. I wanted her so badly I could still taste it on my tongue. I wanted to kiss her for hours while letting my hands rediscover her body. I wanted to see her skin flush as I slowly removed each piece of her clothing until she wore nothing, and most of all I wanted to make love to her until neither of us could see straight.
Get a hold of yourself Harry.
Sex was easy. I didn't just want sex.
Would I feel better? Fuck yeah, I would.
But one night would be nothing compared to seeing her walk towards me in a white dress again. Though the next time she does it better be her own.
The elevator doors glided open and I stalked forward to the receptionist who was idly examining her nails. I didn't wait for her to address me; I was passed playing nice today. "Delivery for Granger." Her eyes flicked to me lazily and then she shot out of the chair.
"Oo…of.. course, Mr. Potter. Yeah. Of Course." I dismissed the familiar reaction and stabbed my finger at the button for the elevator, the doors glided back open and I continued my musings without the watchful eye of anyone and everyone in the wizarding world.
One thing I did miss about the Muggle world was the complete anonymity.
But it was nowhere near how much I had missed Ginny, and having people act totally barmy around me was something I should have long been used to. It had always made me uncomfortable, that wasn't something that was going to change. I was Harry Potter.
Maybe Hagrid should have given me a clue to this when he had come to get me when I was eleven years old. The only thing that I had imagined when I heard the words 'magic' and 'wizard' was never having to do the dishes again and maybe turning my cousin into every foul animal imaginable. I thought that being magical was going to make my life a hell of a lot simpler. Boy was I wrong.
My phone began buzzing in my pocket and I let my eyes close in exasperation, I knew Hermione's necessity for perfection but this was getting a bit ridiculous..
I flipped open my phone to see an unfamiliar number across the screen.
….That was a little strange…
And even more suspicious. Two things I would gladly admit that I have become very very adverse too.
I took my chances.
"Hello?" I said slowly preparing myself for the worst.
Seriously? Preparing myself for the worst? What did I think that Voldemort was going to get on the other line and ask my how my days been?
"Oi, Potter!" My shoulders eased as I recognized the voice of George on the other end of the line.
"George, I didn't know you had a phone."
"Do not mention this to Dad do you hear me? I can imagine the hours of questioning now."
"No man you're good, what's going on?" I made my way through the entrance hall of the sleek silver building and out onto the bustling London Sidewalk. I seamlessly blended in with the crowd as I started walking towards the Leaky Cauldron.
"I need your help with something, as my silent business partner and all." I had to admit, he had my curiosity peaked. Not to mention there was the underlying statement that never seemed to nigle itself out of my mind that neither of us would say, 'since Fred's gone'. My mind revolved around that last statement.
"Anything. What do you want me to do?"
George's voice considerably lightened at my words, "Are you going to be at the Burrow tonight?"
"Yeah, I planned on it."
"Then I'll meet you there about seven. We'll talk about it then."
"Sounds good, see ya." And just like that the conversation was over, I quickly saved George to my contacts as I wondered what had I gotten myself into, and thankful that I had found something to momentarily distract myself from my disastrous decisions.
"You're mad do you know that?" The words burst out at me before I had a chance to even register what they were. George seemed a little sheepish as we both stared at the 'favor' in front of us. "How…" Was pretty much all I could get out. How was pretty much the only relevant word that needed to be said when you were faced with an eight foot tall mutated pygmy puff.
"Well, I got a request for one that was a little bit bigger and I thought, hey no problem, I'd just hit it with a little swelling solution. Well it started swelling so I gave it the antidote, then it started throwing up so I gave it some hangover potion thought that it might help a bit and then it just kept growing…"
Merlin what have I gotten myself into. "Apparently." Sarcasm dripped like poision from my words. "So what in the world are we supposed to do about this?"
George once again adopted his sheepish grin. "Well I kind of thought that you would have and idea about that?"
Somehow this honestly doesn't even surprise me that this is my life.
"I don't know what you want me to do with it mate. Have you called Hermione? She's the genius at this sort of thing, I'm pretty much bullocks at anything that doesn't have to do with defense against the dark arts."
George Yelped and a fearful grimace split across his freckled face. "Are you kidding me? That woman is batty! You know how she gets with creature rights, she'll have me strung up for this I'm sure of it. Leave her out of this."
The pygmy puff gurgled and with a loud popping noise seemed to instantly grow another appendage.
I stared in absolute horror.
"Did it…" Once again I had no need to finish my sentence.
"Yeah it does that."
Merlin, again, what did I get myself into.
"Hey Guys, Mum wants to know if…" George and I whipped around to see Ginny come around the corner. My hand immediately flew to the back of my hair but I had no reason to worry, her gaze was quite firmly on the monster behind us. The silence that stretched between us was almost tangible. It didn't take long for it to become unbearable and we all rushed to speak at once starting off with Ginny's loud exclamation of "What the Bloody hell is that?"
Mixed with my, "Well you see here what happened is…"
And George's quite loud shriek of "Harry did it!"
We both turned to him and by the look on his face I could tell he could read the not so friendly-murderous look in my eye. Son of a….
The Pygmy Puff gurgled again and rolled forward a few feet causing George and I to leap away in surprise.
"What the hell does this thing move now?"
"You are asking me like I know. This is as new to me as it is you." Something I could hopefully give him credit for, he'd never mutated a pygmy puff before.
I made a mental note that Ginny looked freaking gorgeous even though her mouth was hanging open still staring at the shifting pygmy puff. For the first time since I laid eyes on the monstrosity I was mildly thankful for it's weird existence. Yet it did not stop the want to snog her again. I'm not sure there is anything that could crush that need.
I was going to try and be witty and insert a "nice weather we're having statement" maybe move this along to see if Ginny had any ideas on what we could do with George's experiment gone wrong when a loud squeal emitted from the Pink furry blob and it heaved forward towards us.
Good, God. This thing was coming after us.
A squealed "Run." Issued from George as we both took off past Ginny towards the garden.
I stopped immediately as she didn't move an inch, just continued to stare in shocked awe. The Blob slowly rolled over and began to tip again, this time within distance of Ginny.
A few steps and I was at her side. "Ginny, we gotta go."
Nothing.
"Ginny. Now would probably be a good time to run."
The Puff reached it's tipping point and slowly started down towards us.
"Goddamit Gin Run!" I yanked her arm back and started off to weave my way through the garden, at this point the puff had hit it's momentum and was progressively picking up speed. Hand and hand we ran for our lives with a psychotic genetic freak of nature rolling along after us. If we make it through this, I am killing George.
The Stone fence surrounding the garden loomed into view and as we neared it I could barely make out the image of George signaling us to duck behind us. With three more sprinting strides we were jumping the barrier and pantingly sitting behind on the ground. I didn't even get a chance to check on where the Puff even was before a earthshattering boom reverberated around us and the top portion of the stone disintergrated into a cloud of dust.
I could only imagine that the look on Ginny's face mirrored my own as we slowly rose to look at the damage.
There was pink everywhere.
Not as in Puff.
As in pieces of Puff. Everywhere.
That tangible silence hung between us again as we all stared gobsmacked around the garden.
It was Ginny that broke first.
Howling with laughter she dropped back to the ground clutching her sides as tears leaked from the corners of her eyes.
Slowly a smile spread across my face and a laugh escaped me as well. Then a look from George did it and I collapsed on the floor with Ginny, laughter escaping me in loud guffaws. After what seemed like 20 minutes and some semblance of calm had washed over us all, Ginny finally had the heart to ask. "Did that really just happen?"
I gave her smile as I answered. "Yeah, it totally did."
A/N: Oh my gosh you guys! I am so sorry about the wait. Here is a short chapter for you and I'm going to get started on a longer one later today! I promise!
Again I'm so sorry! LOVE ME!
Just Kidding. Enjoy.
Nurse Holliday