Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 , 24 and 25 are already on Pa tr eon
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"Focus, Harry," he scolded himself, pushing away the nagging thoughts of the lovely blonde. "You've got a job to do."
With a deep breath, Harry put on his most charming smile and stepped into the luxurious hotel lobby, ready to escort their guest from room 2A on her shopping trip.
"Mrs. Longbottom?" Harry asked, approaching the sophisticated woman waiting patiently in the hotel lobby.
She was as elegant as he had imagined, her silver hair pinned up in a tight bun, and her piercing blue eyes assessed him coolly. She looked to be in her seventies, but her posture was impeccably straight, and her chin held high with regal authority.
"You must be Harry," she responded, her voice carrying a sharp wit. "Frank told me you'd be accompanying me today. I hope you're ready for an adventure."
"Of course, Mrs. Longbottom," Harry said. "If you have a moment, I can change into something more appropriate."
She waved him off. "You look fine, dear. I don't need a fancy man, just a strong one. And you look very strong."
"In that case, I'm at your service."
"Let's go," she said. "We'll walk. I need the exercise."
They left the hotel and walked six blocks to the shopping district, the sun casting a warm glow on the bustling cityscape. Mrs. Longbottom led Harry from one luxury store to another, each boasting sleek, modern interiors and delicate ambient lighting designed to envelop them in opulence.
When they entered an exclusive jewelry store, Mrs. Longbottom's eyes roamed over the diamonds in the glass cases.
"I simply must have this necklace," she declared, pointing to a particularly eye-catching piece.
"It's beautiful," Harry complimented, impressed by how the gems sparkled as she held it to her throat.
"Thank you, Harry," she replied with a mischievous smile, clearly pleased with his admiration. "Now, let's find something to match."
They continued shopping, with Mrs. Longbottom selecting a designer handbag with supple leather smooth as silk and a pair of Italian leather shoes that seemed to mold perfectly to her feet.
Harry marveled at her poise, every move she made calculated and graceful, as if she glided through life on a cloud of sophistication. The staff in each store addressed her by name and went out of their way to accommodate her.
For a guy who grew up in a trailer and had recently been living out of his truck, it was an eye-opening experience. Mrs. Longbottom lived a life Harry had only read about in his paperback novels.
"Thank you for accompanying me today, Harry," Mrs. Longbottom said as they left the last store, her purchases piled in Harry's arms. "I enjoyed our little outing."
"The pleasure was all mine, Mrs. Longbottom," Harry replied. "It was quite an enlightening experience for me."
As they approached the hotel, Harry felt the weight of the shopping bags in his arms and the lingering scent of Mrs. Longbottom's expensive perfume. The late summer sun cast a warm, golden glow over the busy streets.
Harry followed Mrs. Longbottom to her room, not surprised when she opted for the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator. He placed the bags where she directed and waited for her to dismiss him.
"Your help today has been invaluable, Harry," she said. "I appreciate your insights on the shoes. You have an eye for detail."
"Thank you, Mrs. Longbottom," Harry replied. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Just one more thing." She rummaged through her jewel-encrusted clutch. "Ah, here we are," she murmured, pulling out a small purse. "For your troubles."
"Mrs. Longbottom, there's no need," Harry protested, feeling warmth rise to his cheeks. "I insist."
"I won't hear of it. I'm just glad I could help."
"Dear, take the money. I'm a guest, and the guest is always right, correct? So do as I ask."
Reluctantly, Harry took the cash from her hand and folded it into his palm without looking at it. "Thank you, Mrs. Longbottom," he said. "I'm grateful."
"Think nothing of it," she replied, her regal demeanor contrasting with the playful glint in her eyes. "It was a pleasure spending the day with you, young man. I think all the young women we encountered today were quite envious of me. Perhaps we will do this again sometime."
"Of course."
"Have a lovely day, Harry."
Harry left Mrs. Longbottom and returned to the lobby.
"Did everything go well?" Frank asked as Harry approached the reception desk.
"It was an eye-opening experience," Harry replied.
Frank lowered his voice. "It's interesting to see how the wealthy live, isn't it?"
"Very," Harry agreed.
He still had an hour before his shift started. He went back to the concierge suite, wanting to take a shower and freshen up before work.
In the privacy of his apartment, Harry pulled the small purse from his pocket and opened it. A low whistle escaped his lips. Mrs. Longbottom had given him an 80-galleon tip.
"Rich people," he chuckled.
Undressing, Harry headed to the bathroom. After walking all over the shopping district trying to keep up with the indefatigable Mrs. Longbottom, a pre-work shower was much needed.
An hour later, as Harry stood behind the reception desk, he noticed a vagrant matching the description given the previous day by Mrs. Longbottom. He rushed out of the lobby, scanning the sidewalk, but the man had vanished.
The sun was setting behind the tallest buildings, and the streetlights were flickering on. The air was already cooling. Soon, it would be dusk, or at least as dark as it ever got in this city.
"Harry?" a voice called from across the street.
Harry turned to see Tonks crossing the street towards him, her pink hair practically glowing in the fading sunlight. She waved at him excitedly, holding a steaming cup of coffee in her hand.
"Nice to see you here!"
"Tonks," Harry smiled, his heart quickening at the sight of her. "Just got off work?"
"Yeah," she replied, taking a sip of her drink. "I thought I'd get some fresh air before heading home. Damn, bro. Nice suit."
Harry straightened his jacket, suddenly self-conscious about his attire. He still wasn't used to wearing such expensive, tailor-made clothes.
"A bit too warm for this time of year," he shrugged.
"How's 'Redheads and Revolvers' coming along?"
"Hell of a good book," Harry admitted, thinking back to the old, worn bench where he had devoured its pages before Mrs. Longbottom's shopping trip. "Can't wait to dive back into it when I have more time."
"Cool," Tonks said, her eyes sparkling playfully. "Well, I'm heading for some pho noodles. Care to join me? My treat."
Pho noodles with Tonks sounded like a blast. "I'd love to, but I'm on duty," Harry said regretfully.
"You work at this hotel?" she asked.
Harry nodded. "Concierge."
"They let you live here? Wow, sounds like a sweet gig."
"It's pretty nice."
"Alright then," Tonks said. "I'll take a rain check, bro. Drop by for coffee from Wednesday to Sunday. That's when I work. Otherwise, Ginny Weasley will brew your order. And trust me, you don't want that."
With a wave, Tonks walked off into the night. Harry watched her leave, a smile on his face.
Taking a deep breath, Harry returned to the Star Hotel.
Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 , 24 and 25 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)wickedbunny(delete spaces)