[a/n]Brought to you by NameisJames "refuses to help Dumbledore recruit Slughorn" As usual for me, when a character isn't named, I simply keep that of the actor[ress] Not Christmassy, but still pretty light for the Holyday.

Harry Does Different DVIb

Elarica Changes History

Harry Potter wanted nothing to do with his 'family' for a while. So he just got into the London subway and rode around aimlessly. This had the unintentional benefit of making himself all but untraceable. He didn't even keep track of what he was doing. Board a train, stay on for a stop, or ten. Change and sit in a station for an hour, or jump on the next train departing in another direction. At the moment he was sitting in an underground diner, enjoying a meal. That and the swaying hips of the waitress, an older woman of …maybe 20.

"Harry Potter? Who's that?" a voice suddenly intruded.

His crush, well of the hour, had spoken to him. Harry gave a depreciating shrug answering "Eh, some tosser." He jumped, a flashing thought that he might be bending …at least… the Statute of Secrecy.

"Well that's fine then." She countered with a grin "Elarica Johnson. And I'd worry about the space if there was more than three people here. And as the customer started moving she waved him back "Well clearly you're not a tosser. Sit as long as you like. What brings you here? It's after 10."

He shrugged, not able to return with his name "Call it tourism."

"You sound as Limey as me. Care to try again?" she was amused.

After a second shrug Harry retorted "Anything wrong with just roaming about?"

"As you say, so - -" she was cut off asking his name by the sight of a shadowy figure. Going for a fork in defense ordered "Look out there."

Tense, he complied, then rolled his eyes "Nothing to worry about. Nothing to worry about Elarica. Just my Headmaster. I'm sure he's got a good reason for tracking me down."

"Headmaster? How old are you?" she frowned in concern that she had been about to hit on a child.

Harry caught the change in attitude and …well, fibbed, answering "Seventeen. In a few days." He did NOT add, out loud, '368 to be exact'

"Well, I guess a senior isn't too bad. I got a bit worried." Answered Elarica, sizing him up, pleased. "Well go talk to the old man before he starts having fits. I'm not leaving."

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The smile was too much to resist. Outside he said "Hi Professor. Fancy meeting you here. Heading somewhere special?"

"AS a matter of fact, yes." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled "I do apologize for interrupting your meal."

Blushing slightly Harry answered "Just finishing up. Does this mean you're looking for me?"

"Certainly not as easy as I anticipated." the professor gave a disappointed look.

Harry bristled "It's summer. I wanted out."

"As may be." Dumbledore waved it off "I find myself in need of a favor. Can I count on your assistance?"

Teen boy kicked in "Well maybe in an hour or two. I was hoping to …ahh… I mean"

"Ahh, young love" the old man was wistful "Regrettably, needs must, do accompany me now."

Harry almost reflexively started to obey, then stopped "Why? What do you need? And why me?"

"You may recall the school's persistent need for replacement defense teachers." He began, seeing that insufficient, he added "The particular wizard I have in mind would actually assume the Potions position."

The boy jumped into the announcement "You mean Snape's leaving too!" Then a long-ago remark came back "Percy said Snape always fancied the Dark Arts."

"That is Professor! Snape, Harry." The Headmaster chided.

He ignored that "And somehow you want me to recruit this new guy? Obviously. What's in it for me?"

"Alas, at this time, we must - - -" Dumbledore began.

One did not interrupt the Headmaster in the middle of a sentence, but Harry did "You want ME to give up a little normal fun? A chat with a pretty girl." He blushed a trifle "And my reward is Snivilus taking over my favorite subject? Well NO."

"I would strongly recommend not using that word, Harry." This rose to the level of a near threat.

Harry didn't care, he reached for the diner door "Fuck Snivilus. Good luck, Headmaster. I'm going back to Elarica. See you in September."

"There are other, more important concerns my boy." Dumbledore made a show of exposing his wand "I do dislike the use of Obliviate, but the young lady is a potential risk and - -"

Harry didn't think, he reacted, seizing the professor's wrist and shoving it away keeping it there by force. In a quiet fury, he snarled "You unbelievable bastard! Do that and I'll do whatever I can to wreck your plan." He paused for a moment then smirked "I remember Madam Bones backing me at the trial. Or if not, maybe Rita can do an article on your crimes."

"We will discuss this insolence at a future date, Harry." The Headmaster's yielding was accompanied by a sudden chill in the area.

The teen slapped the hand he held away, ignoring the wand that clattered on the tiled floor and stalked away "Stay away from me old man!"

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Elarica Johnson came out from the back when the door dinged. And smiled at the return of her new acquaintance. "Alright there?" she walked him to his table and set a glass of ice water on it "Not that I was spying, but even a blind man could see that go pear-shaped."

"Allow me to introduce myself, Elarica." He said, then took a long slow draught of the comforting cold drink. He offered a hand and said "Harry Potter. Resident tosser."

The waitress giggled at the revelation "I have a feeling I am going to enjoy at least the next several hours. And lucky for me, the morning crew starts a 4AM."

He set his hand on top of hers and grinned.