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Pat re on. c om(slash)belleveela(delete spaces)
In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world changed irrevocably. While most people focused on fighting the virus, a technological breakthrough happened in the shadows, nearly unnoticed but with enormous consequences. Technology advanced at a dizzying pace, pushing beyond previously unachievable boundaries. During this global isolation, technology uncovered the existence of the magical community.
Until then, wizards had lived in secrecy, safeguarding their mysteries from Muggles. However, new technologies capable of detecting magical energy made hiding impossible. Muggles, armed with modern tools, quickly took control of the magical world. Their advantage was overwhelming, and any resistance was swiftly crushed. Wizards, who had once been masters of their own fate, now found themselves trapped with no way out.
The Muggle authorities, fearing the power of magic, implemented drastic measures. All wizards were ordered to register, and using magic was strictly forbidden without prior approval. Their wands, symbols of their power and freedom, were confiscated. Only a few who managed to find employment within the state structures could occasionally use magic under strict supervision.
For many wizards, it was a time of great pain and loss. They were forced to live in a world that did not understand their gifts and viewed them with suspicion and fear. Many tried to adapt, while others longed for the old days when magic was part of their daily lives. Amidst this new reality, hope for change and rebuilding the lost world was born, but the path to it was long and fraught with dangers.
Some managed better, while others did not cope at all.
As Harry Potter waited to cross the street, he watched the approaching vehicles, standing at the curb with his nearly new rescue dog, Sirius.
The traffic lights took some time to change, as the intersection was always crowded with cars and taxis. Despite the rain, Sirius seemed excited and alert, moving his head back and forth as if watching a tennis match. It was surprising how well-trained he was, considering the shelter where Harry found him had no idea how he had undergone such training.
They had been walking to the dog park a few blocks from Harry's apartment for nearly a week, both eagerly anticipating their destination but for very different reasons. Sirius loved the chance to run with other dogs off-leash. He showed none of the fear Harry had seen in other rescued stray dogs, which was another mystery. The shelter estimated his age to be about three years, but to Harry, he looked and acted younger. Sirius was only his third dog and the first he owned outright.
The light changed, and the traffic waited as they crossed the intersection. A small crowd gathered with them to wait for the light, mostly people on their way to meetings. It was too late for the morning rush and too early for the lunch crowd. Harry had woken up half an hour earlier and had a quick breakfast while Sirius ate, before taking him out for a walk to the dog park. Taking Sirius out after returning home late at night from his shift at the Underground Tavern, where he worked as a bartender, Harry knew Sirius's needs were likely urgent but not severe. Still, he didn't make him wait long to go out. Sirius didn't complain; he never complained, at least not yet.
They quickly covered the three blocks to the dog park. Harry scanned the park as they approached but didn't see what he was looking for. As soon as they passed through the gate, he unleashed Sirius, who ran across the uneven grass to a small pack of dogs playing at the other end of the enclosure. Harry walked to the first bench, partially sheltered from the rain by a large, fully-leafed tree, and sat down to wait.
Harry had been coming to this dog park since the first COVID lockdown almost three years ago. He was new to the city and had moved in with a few Muggle guys he found on Facebook, in an apartment he could barely afford with his income from the Underground. To make ends meet, he walked dogs on the side. He had never owned a dog growing up, as the Dursleys were nearly allergic to all pets, but he always liked the dogs his friends had in their small town. His first apartment was small, so he couldn't have his own dog then, but walking dogs, even for money, was something he genuinely enjoyed. He didn't expect to stay in that first apartment long, so he promised himself he would get a dog when he moved out.
"Here, boy," Harry said, feeding Sirius a treat. Sirius had finished playing with his new pals in the dog pack and came over to where Harry sat, wagging his tail and sticking out his tongue, panting heavily. Sirius was a good dog, especially for a rescue dog with Harry's limited experience. Harry worried that Sirius might not stay with him long. Such a well-trained dog was likely wanted by his former owner, so Harry kept an eye on the lost dog section on Facebook. So far, he hadn't seen anything about a German Shepherd-Labrador mix that matched Sirius's description. Harry was ready to clip the leash back onto Sirius's collar when he heard what he had hoped to hear since he started coming back to this dog park.
"Hey, Harry," came a sweet voice. Harry turned and smiled so hard his cheeks hurt.
"Hi, Hermione. It's been a while." Harry stood up, and Hermione walked over and hugged him. "I've missed you."
"I missed you too," she said, making Harry's heart nearly leap out of his chest. "How long has it been, a year or something?"
"Not quite, but close." Harry stepped back and looked at her, wondering if he was being rude. "You look great," he added quickly. She smiled that shy smile he loved. Still loved.
Hermione Granger was a beautiful young woman Harry had met in this dog park about 18 months ago when they both brought their dogs in the middle of the morning. She usually brought three matching Bichon Frises, all white, all incredibly cute if you liked that breed, but now she only had one on a leash. Harry hesitated to ask what happened to the other two. She glanced around for his dog, and he had to explain. "Where's Snitch?"
Harry sighed. "He was my girlfriend's dog—remember Ginny?" Hermione made a slight face but quickly hid it. "I remember her name," she said with a forced smile. "But I never met her."
"Of course. We broke up a few months ago, and she returned to her hometown, taking Snitch with her."
Hermione made a really sad face and gently touched Harry's arm. "I'm sorry to hear that," she said in a tone that matched her expression.
"Really? Honestly, I never liked that dog," Harry tilted his head, and she laughed.
"Well, you hid it pretty well, and he had such a cool name, right?" She smiled again, with more enthusiasm than that neurotic dog deserved.
"His name was the best thing about him, honestly." She laughed again and touched his arm. Harry thought it was a good moment to ask about her dogs. "Just one?" he asked gently, raising his eyebrows. She smiled almost immediately.
"Yeah, it's been a tough year," she said quietly, barely above a whisper. Her dog was tugging at the leash to join the pack, so Hermione motioned with her finger to take a break and unhooked the leash from the little furball's collar. The tiny dog scampered off and joined the others.
"Snowball, my dog, got cancer and passed away before we could even find out what was wrong. Then Sweetie got hit by a car." She choked on her tears. Unsuccessfully.
"Did you...?" Harry started but didn't finish. He almost didn't want to know.
"No, it wasn't my fault. Tracey had her then, thank God. I don't know if I could have handled it if she had died while I was watching her."
Harry knew Tracey was one of Hermione's roommates, a Spanish model who mainly did catalog work and some stage acting if he remembered correctly. He glanced at the dog Hermione had brought with her today to the dog park and strained his mind to recall the name of the third dog she had when they first met, but nothing came to mind. He also couldn't remember the name of her second roommate, who, by process of elimination, must have been the owner of the last of the three Bichons. He looked at Hermione with the saddest expression he could muster and apologized.
"I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry whispered, which only made her cry again. He placed his hand on her shoulder, and she waved her hand in front of her face.
"I feel bad that I can't control my emotions, but it's still so hard, Harry." She pulled a tissue from her bag and wiped her eyes. "I know I look ridiculous, but I can't help it."
"Not at all, Hermione. It's tough losing a dog, no matter how it happened. And you kind of lost two."
"I know, right? It's not that I didn't love Tracey's Sweetie as much as I loved Snowball." She looked at Harry and smiled through her tears. "I forgot how easy it is to talk to you." She looked down and away. Harry felt his color rise.
"Are you still with, um, what's his name?" Harry asked in desperation to change the subject and immediately felt like he jumped from the frying pan into the fire. Her demeanor changed, though in a way, for the better. She suddenly looked pissed.
"No, Cornac and I broke up a few months ago." She looked toward the dogs running at the other end of the park, her roommate's dog following the others on his tiny legs. Sirius led the pack, constantly glancing back at the other dogs to make sure they were following.
"Sorry to hear it didn't work out," Harry lied. Hermione never complained when she talked about her then-boyfriend, but she didn't need to. Whenever she told Harry anything about him, it sounded like he either treated her poorly or ignored her, making her feel inadequate. Harry didn't say anything at the time, although he wanted to, because he was in his own mess of a relationship and had enough drama in his life without inviting more.
She surprised Harry when she looked at him with a charming smile at the corner of her mouth. "Really, Harry?" she asked without asking, and he blushed deeply again.
"It's not that I wanted you guys to crash and burn, Hermione," he said honestly. Half-honestly. She looked at him even harder, and he had to laugh. "Okay, fine." He looked down and nodded. "Yeah."
She softened and smiled to herself. "It's okay, I knew he wasn't good for me." She looked away, then glanced back at him with a hint of a sexy smile. "I felt the same about Ginny, to be totally honest."
Harry was surprised. "Really?" He had no idea. "Why?"
Hermione stared at him a second too long before shrugging and saying, "No reason. I'm just glad you're not in that relationship anymore." She looked away toward the pack of dogs, but then turned back to Harry. "I'm glad you're back. What happened to you?"
"I moved, or rather I should say we moved." She waited for him to continue, so he did. "We couldn't convince the landlord to renew our lease, so we moved about three miles south. It was too long a walk." He shrugged, and she nodded, which he read as her awareness that fate had brought them together and separated them. Whatever worked now—luck, karma, subconscious desire—all three—was beyond him.
"Do you miss her?" She looked at him, but he tried not to read into it.
"Sometimes, a little. Not much." She nodded. "And you? Do you miss, um, what's his name?" He smiled, and she looked at him.
"Cornac? No, not at all. I've never had luck with men." She looked at him again, this time with something he hadn't seen before.
"You know," Harry began, then faltered.
"What?"
"Nothing. Never mind."
"Come on, Harry," she said with a gentle laugh. "What's on your mind?"
"Would you like to go out for coffee or something?" She touched his arm.
"I'd love to."
Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ,11, 12, 13 are already on Pa tr eon
If you would like to read the next chapters faster, see exclusive content, or support my work, please visit
Pat re on. c om(slash)belleveela(delete spaces)