Harry stared at William. He wanted very much to play this game- it wouldn't really be like chasing after a snitch, but he felt he could compete with William more evenly than he could with tennis. "What exactly would we be seeking then?"
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Harry and William spent the next two hours wandering around the park, sometimes walking placidly by Thomas' side and sometimes racing across a field, as they fought to see who could spot "the hidden object" first. Thomas was made an impartial judge and set to select various rare birds one might see in Hyde Park. First, after they left the tennis courts and wandered by the Serpentine, was a black swan which Harry proudly pointed out from almost 500 meters away and which William refused to believe was actually a swan and not a duck until they rented a boat and went out to it to check.
Harry was ridiculously smug on returning to shore and William sulked until Thomas gave them the next "object" to look for. Then, William became incredibly alert and looked around with Harry to try and spot a redwing before him. He managed to do so, although Harry contested this was due more to the fact that William kept cutting him off and obstructing his view, and so, when they started hunting for a fieldfare, Harry took to running past William into the fields. Harry, who was much quicker than William, found a fieldfare first, although William argued that Harry had only done so because he accidentally startled it from a bush and if Harry had been playing properly, he'd not have seen it at all.
By two in the afternoon, Thomas was trying desperately to get them back onto the path to head for The Dorchester because they were going to be late for their reservation. Harry, feeling guilty that he might ruin lunch plans, quickly raced toward him to walk out of the park. William, however, dragged his feet slowly back to the path and stubbornly insisted that Thomas select another bird for them to find as they left the park. Harry was greatly annoyed that William was being so rude and knew he was only making such a fuss because Harry had found the last bird and was ahead of him. But William refused to move until Thomas relented, and so, as they walked off, both Harry and William were glancing around quickly, trying to find a dunnock- a small brown bird, easily mistaken for a sparrow but with slightly different markings and a narrower beak.
Once they reached Park Lane to head for The Dorchester, William was in an absolutely foul mood because, after Harry had spotted the first dunnock moments before a small flock swept past, he had turned to him and smugly told William that he 'had the advantage.' Harry, on the other hand, was positively beaming and responding happily to Thomas' amused comments.
Upon reaching the hotel, Harry was once again impressed by how extravagant the surroundings were and wondered once more why William, dressed as he was, was so fond of such places. They were greeted in the lobby of the hotel itself and led to a large dining area. Harry was startled to find that they were actually being led past all the tables where everyone else was eating and were instead given seats in a secluded nook, separated from the larger hall by a low wall and rows of tall fronds. In the small area was a setup rather like a sitting room, with a couch and two armchairs situated around a low table.
Harry looked about nervously at the huge gilt mirror over the couch, the lacy cloth on the table, the velvety covers on the seats, the patterned wallpaper, and- worst of all- the three people who were apparently going to wait on them alone. He really had dressed somewhat nicely for today, in one of his favorite red shirts and well tailored black pants, but after playing tennis and racing about (and sometimes getting knocked down- William did not play fair) in the fields of Hyde Park, Harry was sweaty and dirt stained and quite a mess. He didn't feel at all as though he should be in such a posh place as this.
As he was glancing about and looking down with embarrassment, William and Thomas both sat on the armchairs and left Harry to sit on the couch between them. Harry sat gingerly, worried that someone would insist he leave rather than stain the upholstery. If Harry had ever tried to sit in any chair at Privet Drive in the state he was currently in, Aunt Petunia would have tossed him out on his ear, yelling for him to rinse off with the hose before coming in again. Thomas noticed how nervous Harry had become and quickly asked what the matter was. Harry tried to play it off by saying only that he wasn't used to such a grand place.
William, glaring blankly out of the corner of his eyes, cut Harry off impatiently. "It does not matter what you are dressed like Harry, or how dirty you are." Then he went back to glaring at the table with his toes twisting over each other restlessly. Harry blinked and glared back at him.
"Look, I can tell you don't care what other people think-" he started off angrily before being cut off again.
"Correct! I do not care what other people think," William glared at Harry and then set his chin on his knees, suddenly appearing to lose interest and gazing at Harry placidly. "Why do you, Harry?"
Harry was brought up short by that. "Er, well, why wouldn't I?" he asked lamely.
William gazed seriously at him. "Perhaps because the only people you know here are myself and Thomas and we will not hold your appearance against you. What would it matter if anyone else does?"
Harry looked at the table and shifted his feet. It had always mattered what people thought of his appearance. The Dursleys had always thought Harry's hair and scar were hideous and would punish him whenever they were reminded just how upsetting those features were. The neighbors and his teachers had all thought Harry was too scrawny and his clothes too baggy and believed he was a troubled child because of it and ignored and avoided him. Then, in the wizarding world, Harry worked so hard to fit the standard of the "perfect Gryffindor", hoping no one would notice how he looked, and he ended up being judged, being liked or disliked, based on that alone. Everyone had always had an opinion of Harry based on what they saw of him, and some of those people could be quite loud about expressing those opinions.
"It just... always has," Harry mumbled uncomfortably. "Why would that change now?"
"Would you prefer it if it didn't matter?" William asked in a monotonous voice.
Harry looked up at him, really looked at William- at his baggy clothes, his tangled hair, the dirt on his shirt, the tear in his jeans. Harry looked carefully at how at ease William was, perched on a fancy chair like a naughty five year old. He looked at William's face with a smudge on one cheek and bags under his eyes. Now that Harry thought of it, he was rather... envious of William. William could go anyplace and just be himself and not worry about how others viewed him, he was completely unaffected by others' opinions of him. For Harry, who had always lived being dictated by the opinions of other people, it was both disturbing and entirely enviable. Harry wished that he could sit here in this opulent room, on this expensive couch, in his dirty clothes and not be at all intimidated by the surroundings or the people watching- the way William was sitting. Harry realized he hated William in that moment.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean it won't stop mattering," Harry said softly.
"Why not?" William asked again in that flat tone.
Harry was suddenly very angry with William. "Because," he said shortly. "Just because I want to not care about it, doesn't mean everyone else will let me!"
William tilted his head to the side while keeping his chin on his knees. "Do strangers have that much control over you, Harry?" he asked lightly.
Yes, Harry wanted to say, they did. He didn't like it, but they did and when he disappointed all those strangers in some way (like dumping his "fiance" and quitting the auror department), he got to read about it in the paper (pages 9-12 of The Daily Prophet, written by Rita Skeeter a month and a half ago after senior aurors spread the 'where is Harry Potter' gossip) and feel confused and guilty that he wasn't living up to some un-named expectations. Harry couldn't say this though, so he just glared at the table in silence. William and Thomas shared another meaningful look that Harry didn't notice and then the conversation was interrupted as a tea service was set out with finger sandwiches and scones.
Harry looked up at the food, utterly starving after the long and active morning and wanting to ignore the conversation that had just happened. He was surprised to see that 'lunch' was actually afternoon tea- a high tea in fact. Harry hoped the sandwiches could fill him up. He took the first one, chicken with mustard, and swallowed it in a single bite.
The tea continued in a subdued manner, Harry eating quietly and nodding every now and then while Thomas tried to make small talk. William sipped his tea (laden down with six sugars and half the cream) and watched Harry ignoring him expressionlessly. When the little cakes were set out, William made sure to grab as many as he could to keep Harry from eating them and Harry just shrugged and started eating what was left. Thomas had since given up trying to get Harry to talk and only took a small tart to nibble, stirring his tea rather morosely.
After the tea finished and they went out to the car, which had been brought round the entrance by valet, Harry was starting to feel guilty about ruining the tea so. Once the car was on the street, he muttered a quiet 'sorry.' William turned to regard him from his perch and chewed his thumb. Thomas glanced back in the rearview mirror at Harry, smiling sadly, and said it was quite alright.
But Harry was far from satisfied with this. He had been having a splendid time with Thomas and William and then he had ruined it by getting all moody and sulking. It wasn't William and Thomas' fault that Harry had to put up with the wizarding world going loopy over his every move. Harry had hoped simply saying he was sorry would be enough to fix things, but as William was only staring at him in that creepy manner and Thomas had gone back to driving without saying anything else to Harry, he thought maybe he needed to do something more.
"I, er," Harry said hesitantly. "I... um, I don't really like talking about this," Harry frowned and looked out the window so he wouldn't have to see William staring at him or Thomas glancing at him in the mirror. "I've always been judged by people, for lots of reasons, and whenever I don't do whatever they think I should, I get... in trouble, I guess." Certainly a lot of trouble was caused for him anyway.
"And I don't like it, but that's just the way it is, and lately," Harry paused. He had already told Thomas and William about quitting his job and all his friends being upset with him, so this shouldn't be difficult to explain. "Lately that is, I've not really been doing what everyone expected me to and... It sort of makes me nervous I guess. It's the first time I've really gone against other people's wishes."
Harry paused, that wasn't quite right. "Well, important people anyway- people that matter to me. But, I've disappointed them now and... and I don't really want to go back to the way things were, I didn't like it as much as I thought I would." This was starting to get confusing, but Harry just had to make sure he didn't mention magic or dark lords or the Daily Prophet, and it would be okay. William was pretty smart at least- he always seemed to figure out what Harry wanted to say, even when he didn't say anything- so he could figure enough of this out too. "And they've all sort of come to terms with that, but I still feel like I'm letting them down, so, I dunno, I guess I'm just worried about, um, upsetting more people..."
That sounded perfectly barmy. Harry probably sounded like a timid twat who was afraid of offending anyone around him. Even worse was that Harry felt it was at least partially true.
The car was silent and Harry worried for a moment that he had completely alienated William and Thomas and his jumbled attempt at an explanation hadn't helped anything, but then Harry heard William saying his name lowly and realized he was being called.
"Er, what?" Harry said as he turned to look cautiously next to him. He wasn't actually looking at William, but watched his toes as though those might give him a clue to what William was thinking.
William bent sideways so his head hung over his feet and he blinked up at Harry's startled gaze. "Apology accepted Harry." William sat back up and Harry's confused gaze followed his blank face as it turned to look out the window. "However, I think you must learn to stop caring for those 'important people's' opinions, Harry. If you can disappoint them only by trying to be happy, then they are not very good friends, are they?"
"That's not it!" Harry protested.
"Then what is it, Harry?" William asked un-caringly as he looked out at the passing street. "It certainly sounded just now, and last week, as though all your friends were disappointed with you for making a new life for yourself."
"They're okay with it now though," Harry said weakly. "They just... Worry that I'm not doing the right thing is all."
"How exactly is living your life as you choose 'not the right thing'?"
Harry looked down. That wasn't really what he meant, at least he didn't think it was. He knew his friends were worried about him when he quit the aurors, but that was because they thought he was depressed or something- not because it wasn't the right thing to do. As for now... okay, so they did think that cooking was... well, not as important as auror work, but they were supporting him! They wanted him to be happy, he knew that! The problem, he supposed, was that he also knew that everyone in the whole world (including his friends) thought that "The Vanquisher of Voldemort" should be doing something more worthwhile with his life than house-elf work.
"It's complicated," he said softly. "Just, I've always done my best to live up to everyone's expectations and now that I'm not... it just takes some adjusting to. But they're all letting me do what I want- they do want me to be happy. They're just... surprised, I guess, that what makes me happy isn't what they thought."
"I see," William said flatly. Harry wondered how they'd even gotten on this topic. William didn't seem interested in talking about it and hadn't Harry only wanted to apologize for spoiling tea? But that seemed to be the end of the conversation and Harry spent the rest of the drive gazing out the window in an uncomfortable silence.
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About half an hour later, L was walking leisurely along a path in Jubilee Gardens with Harry keeping pace quietly beside him and looking everywhere but at him. Wammy had dropped them off yet again so he could park the car. They would meet up with him around the entrance to the London Eye around four o'clock. L had planned to take advantage of the alone time this afforded him with Harry, but that was before the disturbing conversations they'd had over tea and in the car.
L had known, of course, after going over information gained from the Dursleys, that Harry was likely to have certain... issues regarding his sense of worth, but seeing it on display almost, had been difficult for L to handle. Something about seeing directly how Harry felt about himself made L feel raw inside, as though he was being scraped with sandpaper every time Harry gave an unconscious indication of his sense of worthlessness.
L was certain, after spending a rather competitive morning with him, that Harry had a definite sense of explicit self-esteem. That is, Harry was proud of himself and his abilities in a specific and conscious manner. However, hearing Harry speak about "disappointing important people" and not wanting to care for other people's opinions when he obviously did care, proved to L that Harry had a very low implicit self-esteem. Meaning that Harry thought of himself as having less value than other people in a general and unconscious manner.
Perhaps the worst though, was when Harry had looked at L so intensely. L had gotten the impression that, as Harry studied his every feature, he was comparing L to himself. L was used to people comparing him to themselves, and knowing they would always find him lacking in some way that justified their derision of him was what made L hate being looked at so much. Because, L knew, generally speaking, most people would get an ego boost at the thought that they were better in some way than him. As much as he disliked the implications, this was perfectly normal.
But when Harry had compared himself to L, he seemed to find himself lacking and became depressed for it. L wasn't sure what to think of this. He'd always thought personally, of course, that he was a much preferable person to everyone else, but to see Harry think similarly and then feel bad for it... It was horribly distressing and not normal at all.
The entire situation was very disturbing to L, even though he had been expecting it and had even planned out how best to manipulate Harry based on that psychological profile of him. But now that it came to it, L found himself too uneasy to do much more than walk quietly with Harry and pretend nothing was wrong. This wasn't a particularly poor move- it wouldn't lower the trust he'd managed to build with Harry and would likely increase it- but he had intended to utilize Harry's issues at a moment of stress (a moment like right now) in order to gain more information. And now that it came to it, he wasn't doing that!
L scuffed his trainers on the path as he walked. He couldn't understand it. Here was a perfect moment to interrogate Harry, when he was vulnerable and willing to give out more information than he normally would (he'd certainly been desperate enough for forgiveness in the car to go babbling on about his life) and instead of taking full advantage of that like he should- L was giving Harry time to calm down and regain his balance. L was flummoxed.
Beside him, Harry was unconsciously nodding to himself and his steps began to match L's more forcefully. Well, L thought glumly, Harry must be feeling better. As if to prove this, Harry started talking to L as if nothing awkward had ever occurred between them.
"So, why did you want to go to the London Eye anyway?"
L shrugged. "Thomas wanted to try it," he said noncommittally.
"Oh," Harry trailed off, but L could tell that was more because he was trying to think of something else to talk about, rather than nerves. Well, he had missed out on a prime interrogation opportunity, but he could still lead the conversation.
"Are you interested in riding it?" L looked directly at Harry as he said this. He would start with Harry's topic and then slowly direct the conversation toward something more interesting.
"Sure," Harry said with only slight interest.
"Why?"
"Well, I've never done anything like it I guess," Harry said as he thought.
"Never done what, exactly?" L asked dully as he turned to walk down another path. Harry paused a moment before joining him.
"Never ridden a big wheel," Harry said with such practiced nonchalance that L knew instantly he was deliberately avoiding something.
"Neither have I," L said with as careful disinterest as Harry was trying to portray. "But that is not what you meant."
Harry glared at him and shrugged. "Don't know what you mean," he said stubbornly.
L grinned slightly and was amused when Harry flinched. "Yes, you do," he said with a pleased smile. Who knew Harry's own bland choice of topic would give L something to question him about? Harry glanced away, clearly trying to dismiss the whole conversation.
Normally, it was boring when a suspect was this easy to read, but somehow watching Harry express nearly everything he was feeling, when before he only showed polite interest to 'William', was incredibly satisfying. L thought this might be because he knew Harry had decent control over his face when he needed it (when he'd lied a week ago, his expression hadn't changed at all- only his eyes had flickered briefly to the side), but since last night, Harry had reached a point where he was willing to trust L and Wammy with more personal matters and was relaxing that control.
So now, L got to enjoy a whole range of emotional expression and visible cues on Harry's face that revealed his every thought. The best part was that, unlike a suspect who would break from nerves and spill everything once realizing they had slipped somehow, Harry seemed completely unaware of his relaxed expressions and was more than willing to stubbornly ignore any slips he made. Which made it all the more fun to get Harry to admit to something or go along with L's plans while his face showed exactly how annoyed he really was with the situation.
"So," L asked with that same evil grin that unnerved Harry so much. "What did you mean?"
Harry was looking at him dubiously now. "Why on earth would that matter?"
Ha, L thought, an admission. "Because," he grinned. "I am curious."
"Yeah," Harry muttered. "You're like a bleeding cat with all your curiosity."
L nodded. "Yes, so, would you please answer the question?"
"Why should I?" Harry asked defiantly, and L was oddly pleased to see Harry becoming angry instead of falling into that awful, listless mood he'd been in since tea. Even if that particular state would aid the investigation, L found he preferred dealing with Harry like this, than when he was anxious.
"Because," L said with relish. "This is my vacation and I want to know."
Harry stared at him and laughed suddenly. "Nice try, but I don't think that really applies."
"Why not?" L pouted.
"Cause," Harry smirked at him. "It's my life you're asking about, so I get to decide whether or not to answer and- guess what- I don't want to!"
L felt his eyes narrow slightly and glared at Harry. "Too bad." Harry just gave that annoying look that said he didn't care what L thought of him and continued walking.
"I will answer one of your questions if you answer mine," L said suddenly to Harry's back. He didn't think it mattered so much if he found out what Harry had actually meant when he said he'd "never done anything like it" in regards to the London Eye, but he hated that Harry was now holding that information over him and he would win it from him.
Harry looked back at him with amusement. "I don't want to ask you anything."
"Liar," L said shortly and he saw Harry's eyes widen with shock. He smirked. "You want to ask about the car," he stepped closer to Harry. "-and the dining venues," L stepped in front of Harry and leaned into his face. Harry stayed where he was, refusing even to lean back and glaring confusedly at him. "-and why I dress like this. Don't you, Harry?"
Harry stared at him a moment and then took a deliberate step to the side to get away from L's face shoved into his. "So what?" he asked stubbornly. "It's not any of my business and my life isn't any of yours."
"But," L said reasonably. "You do still want to know about me and I want to know about you, so why not trade?"
"Why do you care so much?" Harry asked him suspiciously, but L could tell by his posture that Harry was seriously considering the idea of trading answers.
"You say and do odd things and I want to discover why," L said calmly. Harry stared at him and L was sure that Harry was thinking the same could be applied to him.
"What exactly was your question?" Harry asked slowly. L grinned at him and brought his thumb up to nibble on.
"What did you mean when you said you had never done anything like the London Eye before?"
Harry sighed and looked off a bit uncertainly before answering. "My relatives never took me along with them on outings, so I've never been to, um, 'fun' places, I guess. Tourist-y places."
L could have easily figured that out, but the point of this was to make Harry tell him what he was trying to hide, so L would count this as a win. "Alright," he nodded. "Why didn't they take you with them?"
Harry crossed his arms and braced himself. "That's two questions. It's my turn now, isn't it?"
L pouted again. "Yes."
Harry nodded. "Okay... Er, why do you dress like that?" he asked hesitantly. "I mean, you seem to know it doesn't fit in, so why..?"
He chose to avoid the money question again, L thought. Oh well, this was really the easiest question to answer and considering Harry's answer had been so insignificant, it was better his had a matching value. L would consider this a double win.
"These clothes are comfortable," L shrugged and turned to display an arm and a leg, his trainer dangling off his foot. "They are not itchy, they allow for maximum movement and they are warm. Much better than the tight, synthetic clothes fashionable people inflict themselves with."
Harry stared at L's pose and tilted his head. "And the socks? Why don't you like those?"
L stood straight again and tutted, waving his finger at Harry. "Now, now, Harry. That is two questions. If you want another answer, you must give me one as well."
Harry actually smiled at L. "Oh, so that's what you want to play now?"
L blinked at Harry. This might be a good way to get information while increasing Harry's trust in him... "If you can play by the rules, then yes."
"What rules?"
"Answers must always be kept even. We are now one and one. If I give an answer now, you must do so as well to bring us both to two. The same if you give an answer now."
"Can we choose to answer a different question if we don't like one?" Harry asked.
L thought about that. The point was to get information from Harry that he might not want to give, so if he could choose not to answer, then the whole game would lose its purpose. But if he didn't give Harry some concession, he would definitely back out...
"Yes," L said carefully. "However, choosing not to answer a question will result in a penalty."
"What penalty?"
"How about if the person who does not answer a question must instead do one task the other tells him to," L said speculatively.
"What?" Harry asked startled. "Why not just answer two questions or something?"
"No, that would make the answers given uneven and the only way to fix it would be to punish the questioner by having him give two answers as well."
"But what sort of 'task' are you talking about?" Harry asked.
"Hmm, that would be decided by the questioner when it comes up," L said simply.
"Well, what if the person doesn't want to do whatever task it is along with not answering a question?" Harry asked shortly.
"They will be doubly punished."
"I don't think-"
L jumped forward and interrupted. "We will play by the rules, but if someone truly does not want to answer a question and then does not want to perform the asked for task, we will simply call off the game. Alright?" L had to give Harry a way out it seemed, or he would not agree to play at all. Still, L was certain that Harry would be fine if the penalty rule came up- L would make sure any tasks he requested were tolerable.
Harry still looked uncertain. "Well, okay... But, what if someone lies?"
"How would either of us prove the other had lied?" L asked, trying to let Harry subtly know that he could still play the game without compromising himself. L would of course be able to tell when Harry lied and learn from that, but as long as Harry believed he could get away with it, he would agree to play.
"What if a person really believes the other lied without any proof?" Harry asked hesitantly. L frowned, did Harry know he could read him?
"If there is no proof, the liar cannot be penalized in the game." L watched Harry and bit his thumb. Perhaps Harry was nervous about lying in the first place? "Do you think you will be lying, Harry?"
Harry looked startled but didn't do more than shrug and glance away, making L's eyes widen. So there were questions Harry was anticipating lying for.
"I thought you didn't like liars, Harry," L said flatly as he walked a circle around Harry. "Isn't it hypocritical of you to dislike other liars and then lie yourself?"
Harry flinched and turned to face L walking behind him. "I never said I was the one who'd be lying!" he said angrily. But the fact that Harry had been so hesitant in asking about it before and was so defensive now made L completely certain that Harry had been planning to lie in the game. L was also certain that Harry honestly disliked liars though, as he seemed upset at the thought of lying even in a childish game like this.
"Then why so worried about rules for liars?" L asked speculatively, standing before Harry and looking at him with his eyes wide open.
"Well," Harry started awkwardly. "It wouldn't be fair if one of us is honest and then the other just lies the whole time. The game would be totally one-sided."
L nodded while his eyes stayed trained on Harry's face. "True, but again, there is the issue of how to prove someone is, in fact, lying."
"Er, I can tell sometimes," Harry said slowly. "When someone lies to me..." Harry looked questioningly at L. "You can too, can't you?"
L blinked at Harry, stunned. "What makes you say that?"
"You stare a lot," Harry said simply and he shrugged, as if that was his only explanation for the sudden insight to L's abilities.
"I stare?" L asked puzzled. "Because I stare, I can see people lying?"
Harry huffed in annoyance, acting as though L was being deliberately obtuse. "Well, yes. Why do you think I get so upset at you staring at me all the time?" he asked briskly.
"I thought you disliked being looked at."
"Well, yeah... But I know why people stare at others and it's not always friendly."
"People have stared at you to check if you are lying or not?" L asked curiously.
"Some people have," Harry shrugged again. "They'd watch and wait to catch a lie. I don't like it."
"So, do you lie a lot then?" L asked as he tilted his head to the side. Harry glared at him.
"No, I don't," he said shortly. "That's why I don't like the implication that I do."
"I see..." L stared at Harry some more. He believed that Harry didn't like lying and that certain people had indeed watched him to see if they could catch him in the act of lying... But he also believed that Harry, distaste for it or not, was still prepared to lie about anything he didn't want L to know. He also wondered how good Harry was at catching other people's lies and if he had seen through any of his or Wammy's... But, he didn't think Harry would continue associating with them if he had, so they were probably safe. He would watch what he said more carefully though, just in case.
"Well then," L started slowly. He would have to be careful about this. He had to ask certain leading questions to gain information and since he could not yet convince Harry not to lie to him, he couldn't really punish Harry for doing so. But he also needed this game to proceed for as long as possible- it was too good an idea not to use fully, even with the risk of Harry seeing through his own lies. "Perhaps, we could set up a point system. When one of us is convinced the other is lying, that one will get a point. If the other wishes to claim he is telling the truth, he will have to offer up proof of some sort- that should keep us from racking up points by declaring the other a compulsive liar. What do you think, Harry?"
Harry looked to be thinking about this carefully. L waited patiently, fairly certain of Harry's decision.
"Alright then," Harry said resignedly. "I suppose that'll work. So," he sighed. "Whose turn was it?"
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When Harry and William finally met up with Thomas at the Eye, they had been playing the question game for about ten minutes. They'd gone through a dozen questions on each side, mostly because the questions were all fairly casual, innocent ones. William seemed to think they should start out with easy questions, to get comfortable, before asking the ones they were more interested in having answered. So far, Harry had learned from William that socks were evil, the sky was not actually blue but any shade of it was a color William didn't mind looking at, cakes with cream were always better than cakes without, William was the English Junior Tennis Champion years ago (which made Harry feel slightly better for not playing well against him), and that reading was more a useful tool than a favored pastime.
Harry was surprised at himself for playing such an odd game with a muggle he'd only known for a couple weeks or so. He was even more surprised to realize he was having fun. He was also incredibly eager to get to the 'big' questions, like why William seemed to be so wealthy and wandered around with Thomas as a chauffeur and chaperone. Harry was still unsure whether such a question was polite (well, he didn't think William would care, but he worried what Thomas would think when he learned of the game) and was waiting until William asked him something that annoyed him enough to stop caring about being polite or not.
However, as he followed William and Thomas onto a capsule of the Eye, Harry thought he might be asking why William was so rich even before that because after they got on, the capsule was closed up. Harry turned to look outside in surprise and noticed quite a few angry people in the queue, watching their capsule go with only three people in it.
Looking back at his companions, Harry watched in confusion as William set himself up in that odd position on the curved bench in the middle to start eating... chocolates? Harry walked over to the bench to stare at the dozens and dozens of chocolates lined up on silver trays on the bench and William, balanced on a corner, delicately plucking one after the other off a tray to toss in his mouth.
"Er..." said Harry.
William glanced up with a square chocolate held between his lips and quickly swallowed it. "Try one Harry. There are plenty."
Harry just stared and, feeling suddenly as though he needed a translator, turned to look over at Thomas standing on the other side of the bench, watching him and William bemusedly. Thomas coughed quietly as Harry looked at him.
"This is a special service of the London Eye," Thomas explained. "A private chocolate capsule- I'm afraid William insisted once he learned about it." Thomas shrugged helplessly, though Harry could see him smiling.
Harry leaned against the railing on one of the glass walls of the capsule and stared at these two odd men he barely knew. He'd seen the ticket prices on a board outside- a single person was moderately expensive, how much more expensive would a single capsule, filled with chocolate, be?
"So, how much is a chocolate capsule?" Harry asked slowly. William paused in selecting another chocolate and glanced at Harry.
"Is that your next question, Harry?"
"I thought it was your turn," Harry said as he focused on William.
"We have answered an equal number of questions, Harry. It does not matter who goes next," William shrugged uncaringly and rested his hands on his knees as he gazed back at Harry, chocolates forgotten.
"Fine," Harry said shortly. "That's my question."
"£750," William said blankly. "Although we had to pay extra to keep the 'chocolate expert' from joining us."
Harry found himself staring in shock at William. £750?! For an hour long ride on a big wheel with chocolate?! Thomas made a calming gesture at Harry.
"The price would be the same no matter how many people we brought with us Harry, you haven't changed anything by coming with us," Thomas said reassuringly.
William tilted his head to the side. "Harry is not curious about his affect on our purchases, are you Harry?"
Harry just stared at him and felt his face blanking much like William's. He was curious about something and it didn't have anything to do with him. "Why do you have so much money to spend like this?" he asked flatly.
William waved his finger at Harry with a grin. "That is two questions in a row, Harry. I get to ask one first!" Harry just watched him expressionlessly and waited.
"Why does it matter where I get my money from?" William asked in a monotone. Harry blinked. So all the money was William's after all. But did it really matter why he was so rich? Harry didn't want to intrude on any personal business, but William was including Harry on his outings and had said he was curious about him and that he knew Harry was curious about him as well. However, Harry was getting a weird feeling from all this.
Harry was actually fairly well off, but after a life of not having anything, he'd gotten used to only using money for things he needed at the time. So paying £750 for something as frivolous as a chocolate capsule ride made Harry think of the Dursleys, always paying ridiculous amounts to lavish Dudley with gifts, and of the Malfoys, who used their wealth to buy power over others. Harry figured that William was probably selfish enough to actually want a chocolate capsule ride, but he thought that somehow this outing wasn't really about what William wanted, despite it being his vacation. Harry actually got the impression (from the car and the tea and now this) that William wanted Harry to notice how rich he was. But Harry was utterly clueless as to why.
"I don't really think it matters," Harry said slowly. Harry was certain that William was intentionally showing off his wealth to him as some way to manipulate him. So, he was suspicious of whatever it was a muggle like William wanted from him, but he still didn't think the man was a threat. For all he knew this whole thing was a weird way for William to make friends. Harry decided he might as well ask- William wouldn't care if he was rude and Thomas... Well, Thomas actually seemed both exasperated and amused by the whole conversation, so he likely wouldn't mind if Harry was rude either.
"But you seem to want me to ask about it, so why do you think it matters?" Harry asked as blankly as William. William stared at him and Harry was disturbed to see his eyes go flat and narrow slightly as they focused on him.
"Why do you think I want you to ask me about my wealth, Harry?"
"Just a feeling," Harry shrugged. "Are you going to answer?"
"But you have not answered my question yet, Harry," William said flatly.
"Yes I did-"
"A question does not answer a question, Harry."
Harry sighed in exasperation, the first sign of emotion he'd made since the question of money was brought up. "Fine," he snapped impatiently. "I don't care where you get your money from, but I think you, for whatever strange reason, want me to ask about it. That's my answer," Harry took a breath. "So, why do you want me to ask about it?" Harry paused. "That's my question."
William stared at Harry with those narrowed blank eyes and suddenly Harry wondered why he didn't feel threatened by this man. Oh, that's right, he could turn him into a ferret.
"I want you to think well of me," William said in his monotone.
"What?" Harry blinked and stared at William incredulously. William shrugged and turned to regard the chocolates again. Harry looked questioningly at Thomas who also shrugged and selected a chocolate to take with him to the glass wall behind him.
Harry sighed. This was turning out to be oddly exhausting. "So... Where do you get your money from?" he asked tiredly as he walked forward to pick out a chocolate too.
"That is two questions in a row, Harry!" William tossed a round chocolate into his mouth and crunched down on it with a grin. "It is my turn now."
Harry glared at him as he ate his own chocolate. "Fine, ask a question then!"
anananananananan
A/N: Here is the rest of the 'date' as I'm calling it! I hope you all enjoyed it. Is anyone surprised that Harry isn't as clueless as he looks? L sure is. Personally though, I believe Harry is a very intuitive person. He may not always have sound reasoning for his thoughts and conclusions the way L does, but he's usually right.
Harry and L have started a somewhat childish relationship of wanting to best each other in trivial games they come up with. The question game doesn't have any real way to 'win' but is more of a type of 'dare' game... Boys are ridiculously fond of daring one another to greater and greater heights to see who will fall first. So, who do you think will 'lose' at the question game first, Harry or L?
As for noticing lies, again I believe Harry is intuitive enough to tell when he's being lied to-- when he is paying attention! Also, of course, detection of lies would have been something he learned in the auror training. The reason Harry has not noticed William and Thomas' lies yet is because, 1) he does not know them well enough to know what to look for as far as truth and lies go, and 2) he has not felt the need to use his skills (meant for use against wizarding criminals) on two "unsuspecting" muggles. I'm afraid Harry, like so many of his peers, is falling into the trap of underestimating muggles-- i.e.- he can turn them into ferrets, but what can they do to stop him? This unintentional naiveté of Harry's will give L and Wammy the opportunity to get much closer to him than a magical person would be allowed to.
Thank you for reading and please review!
Oh, also- check this out- - - http: / / ryulabird. deviantart .com/art/Harry-s-Question-161227422
It's embarrassing that I was bored enough to make it, but what's done is done...