Chapter 20 – The little mercenary

The next day Ginny was gone to the Burrow by herself to pick up the boys. Molly had organised a big Weasley lunch to celebrate Ron's return. Obviously, Harry called himself out as soon as Ginny informed him of it.

She tried in every possible way to convince him, in turn with sweetness and entreating. Even Molly contacted them through the fireplace to cox him, but he was inflexible. He still kept to his resolution not to see Ron again.

He was sorry to miss the lunch; he always enjoyed those kinds of reunions, especially in summer where they could eat outside. It was already a long time he hadn't had the chance to meet Bill, he was still a bit reluctant in going to Shell cottage since Christmas (he was scared of his possible reaction in seeing the place again) and he was eager to see George as well. But everything was obliterated by the possibility of meeting Ron. The only thought kindled his irritation again. Months had passed by, but this hadn't changed. He knew that once them being back in England everybody would have tried to cox him in a meeting, but he was prepared. He was ready to renounce to the happiness of a reunion with his only family not to see him.

So, he spurned every attempt and stayed home. He considered visiting Ted but then he was reminded that he would have probably been to the Weasley too since Victoire was there.

He surrendered at the thought that he would have been the only one not enjoying himself that day.

He went to his office to tidy up the mess left there the day before and to catch up with the work left undone. Glancing at the mountain of letters that Albus had filed and decided to go through some of them.

It was a long and tedious job. He didn't read all of them, it could have taken the whole day, but opened a few. Nothing new. There were some children's one that made him smile, he would have answered to those at least if it wouldn't have been for the fact that he didn't want to encourage that kind of correspondence in any way. There was a Regina's one too, he opened it out of curiosity, and it turned out to be not one of the most innocent ones.

Dear Harry,

I don't know if you'll ever read this (blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah). I dreamt about you tonight and it was such a horny dream! You were taking me in your arms and… (…..) …. you are so hot, when I see you in the morning I get so (…..) I cannot help but to shut myself in my room afterword to….(….. )… I know it sounds silly, but I truly love you, even if we never really talked, I feel like we are made for each other! I just feel it! It's like if I have always known you and I'm sure nobody will ever understand you as I would. I'd do anything for you! I know you are married but it doesn't matter to me. This is my address if you'll ever want to meet… (blah blah blah blah blah blah).

XXXXXXXXXXX

Regina

He thrusted it aside with the usual mixed feelings. Ignoring the insane part regarding being made for each other (how could she even think something like that was the wonder), he thought how bizarre it was to be unknowingly in somebody's else dreams. And in a dream of that kind as well. Ginny wouldn't have been pleased especially because, as Regina couldn't help to shut herself in her room to relieve her passion, he couldn't help to picture the whole content of the letter. Probably it was even Regina's object, most probably actually…. He couldn't stop his brain to do it no matter how strongly reproached himself for it. That girl could almost have been his daughter. Almost. He would have been a very young father but nevertheless... And then he was happily married. But it was also true that, strictly speaking, it wasn't cheating if there wasn't any real intention behind it. And anyway, it was so damn difficult to control his imagination when everything was described so well and when all the time that she gave him letters her outfit left so little to ingenuity.

He pushed the letter a bit farther away promising himself not to read Regina's one anymore and not to look at her too closely the next time.

He opened a new one and as soon he read the first sentence confused, he reached for the envelop to check the sender's name. Bianca Hooping. Ah-ah! James' sweetheart.

Harry was very undecided on what to do. The letter was there, already open in his hand, ready to be read. It was also true that it wasn't addressed to him and it was very wrong to read other people's correspondence...

Oh, what the heck!

Dear James,

I hope you are well. I wanted to write you a letter but not knowing your address I decided to send it to your father at work hoping that it will get to you. If you give it to me, I can write directly to you the next time.

I miss you very much. I think about you all the time and this summer seems unbearably long. I talked about you to all my muggles friends, and they are wild to meet you. Shame I cannot show them any pictures of you as they are all moving, and it would be such a giveaway! I told them you are quite famous being the son of a very important person and they were very impressed.

I could tell the truth to my parents and to my sister though. My father didn't get it being a muggle, but my mum was very excited and told me that you are welcome anytime if you want to pop in and to bring your dad too! I spotted him briefly on the platform 9 ¾ and I do so wish to meet him and to have an autograph on my chocolate card frog!

I hope very much you will. We have a nice house and a swimming pool; we could have some fun.

Let me know if you can come.

Love,

Bianca

A little mercenary. It was easier to understand James' struggle reading this letter. It was so obvious that she fancied him just for the lustre of being seen with somebody important. It wasn't his business anyway; he had to make his own experiences and decide for himself.

He closed the envelop with a charm that left no trace of him having read it and pocketed it.

After some more of nonsensical letters, he got back home where Ginny and the kids were waiting for him to get dinner.

While they were eating the light meal Ginny had prepared, Harry told James casually about having received a letter for him at work.

'From whom?' James asked eating his green beans unenthusiastically.

Harry took the envelop from his pocket, flipped it casually as to read the sender's name and trying to suppress a smile and to appear as composed as possible said 'A certain girl called Bianca apparently…'

There was a clang as James dropped his fork flustered. Thankfully his fluster prevented him to spot the broad grin appearing on both Ginny's and Albus's face simultaneously.

'Who is she?' Harry asked nonchalantly giving him the letter.

He took it quickly and thrusted it in his jeans' pocket 'Nobody'

'I know who she is…' Albus sing-songed cheekily.

They heard a tump under the table followed by a grimace from Albus who tailed off.

Ginny, without hiding a twinkling in her eyes, asked him 'Is she your girlfriend?'

'She is just a friend' he answered scarlet, sulking madly 'and it is nobody's business! I should be able to receive my mail without the whole family to know! I want an owl!'

'Keep your hair on. With that attitude you can rest assured you won't get anything' Harry replied calmly 'And you know why we can't. We've already explained thousands of times. It can be spotted; we cannot run the risk'

'But we could let it out at night! Nobody would see it! You had one when you were young! Why can we not?'

'How do you know?' he asked surprised remembering Hedwig, he had never told them.

'Aunt Hermione told me today. I told her how unfair it was that we couldn't get an owl and she told me about Hedwig, and she told me, as well, to remind you about the Dursleys'

Harry sniggered. How he missed speaking to her! She sent him a reproach through James not being able to meet him anymore. Hermione knew how, in the education's sphere, he made his personal line of conduct to behave as totally opposite as the Dursley's behaved with him in a sure way to do the right thing.

James, seeing his smile, asked 'Who are the Dursleys? Why she told me to tell you that?'

'They are my uncle and aunt the ones who ….' He hesitated.

Raised me? No, they surely didn't raise me…

Took care of me? No, that neither…

Geez…

'…offered me grudgingly a roof until I was seventeen.' he went for in the end 'Your aunt wanted to remind me how charmingly they behaved toward Hedwig. But this is different. We were living in a suburb back then. Now we are in a densely populated borough. We cannot get one'

And as James opened his mouth to retort Ginny stated firmly 'You heard what your father said. We won't get one'

James sulked worse than ever and, as it was usual by now since his return from Hogwarts, he didn't open his mouth again for the rest of the meal.

Harry privately, despite having asserted so sternly otherwise, decided to talk it over to Ginny again. James had a point. He was entering an age where social interactions were vital, and he needed to have some privacy in his correspondence. Perhaps they could find a way to get around the problem with some thinking. If even Hermione was siding with him, it meant that could be done. One must listen to his conscience when she tries to send you a hint.

When the kids retired for their room, Harry offered to Ginny to wash dishes together. He wanted to know about the day and about Ron.

It turned out that Ron was in a good mood, he liked being in Rumania, was getting used to the language (Hermione was already speaking it quite fluently) and he didn't mind his job, had brought James and Albus some colourful dragon scales and had joked pleasantly, happy to be back in his family. He had seemed awkward understanding that Harry wouldn't have been there, and he talked to Ginny in private to enquire after him.

'What did you tell him?'

'That you still don't want to see him' she replied with a frown.

'What did he say?'

'He didn't say anything, he just looked forlorn'

Harry grunted.

'Why don't you want to admit that you'd like to see him?'

'Because I don't'

'So then why all these questions?'

Silence. He didn't even know why he asked all this questions. Because he anyway cared about him? Because he felt very lonely since he and Hermione had moved away? Harry didn't know but he was sure he didn't want to see him. He was glad he was thriving though. More for Hermione's sake probably. He didn't want her having a hard time because of Ron. He wondered, as well, why they were still together after what had passed. Probably for the kids. Was it right though? But it wasn't his place to decide or condemn.

'Tomorrow we should get the pictures' Ginny woke him up from his reflections.

'What pictures?' Harry answered with his mind still on Ron starting to rinse the last glass.

Ginny rolled her eyes 'The Witch Weekly ones! Which one?!'

'Ah right…' he answered totally unconcerned.