Bowling For Escape
Date: September 5, 2000
Time: Afternoon
Location: Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes & Bar, Muggle London
Characters Involved: Harry Potter & Luna Lovegood (NPC appearance by Rita Skeeter)
Rating: PG
Harry'd seen the morning paper and instantly was glad he'd made plans with Luna. They'd had a press conference? Suddenly all the reasons he was against playing professionally came back to haunt him - in the form of congratulatory owl after owl from complete strangers, along with a few threats from devoted fans of other teams. And it was barely noon.
He apparated to Diagon Alley to meet Luna and rushed her into a side-along apparition to avoid anyone catching a glimpse of him. The last thing Luna needed was being the next Harry Potter rumour. They appeared in an all too familiar alley - near Privet Drive. Unfortunately, it was the safest place Harry knew of in Muggle London to apparate to without drawing attention - as long as he didn't draw any attention of his relatives. A quick taxi ride later and they were there.
Once, for one of Dudley's completely over the top birthday parties, Uncle Vernon had rented out a bowling alley. Dudley just had to have a bowling party. Harry had remembered it as one of the many times he'd wished he was someone else, anyone else - or more specifically, someone who got to actually bowl at the bloody party. Harry had been assigned, as usual, to wait on Dudley hand and foot. That job, along with Dudley's large, swollen, smelly feet called for much better bowling memories to be made.
"So, I was here once a long time ago - before Hogwarts. But I never got a chance to play." Harry opened the door for her, leading the way down into the 'bowling alley'. It was all very retro American and the first word that had come to Harry's mind now was 'dive', but the smile was there none the less. Aunt Petunia had been appalled at the place, but Dudley insisted and Dudley always got what he wanted. The memory of her face and the way she held her nose nearly all afternoon was emblazoned in Harry's mind for all eternity.
"I hope this is all right, Luna. I thought someplace in muggle London would be the best place to avoid the press, but we can go someplace else if you want."
Time: Afternoon
Location: Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes & Bar, Muggle London
Characters Involved: Harry Potter & Luna Lovegood (NPC appearance by Rita Skeeter)
Rating: PG
Harry'd seen the morning paper and instantly was glad he'd made plans with Luna. They'd had a press conference? Suddenly all the reasons he was against playing professionally came back to haunt him - in the form of congratulatory owl after owl from complete strangers, along with a few threats from devoted fans of other teams. And it was barely noon.
He apparated to Diagon Alley to meet Luna and rushed her into a side-along apparition to avoid anyone catching a glimpse of him. The last thing Luna needed was being the next Harry Potter rumour. They appeared in an all too familiar alley - near Privet Drive. Unfortunately, it was the safest place Harry knew of in Muggle London to apparate to without drawing attention - as long as he didn't draw any attention of his relatives. A quick taxi ride later and they were there.
Once, for one of Dudley's completely over the top birthday parties, Uncle Vernon had rented out a bowling alley. Dudley just had to have a bowling party. Harry had remembered it as one of the many times he'd wished he was someone else, anyone else - or more specifically, someone who got to actually bowl at the bloody party. Harry had been assigned, as usual, to wait on Dudley hand and foot. That job, along with Dudley's large, swollen, smelly feet called for much better bowling memories to be made.
"So, I was here once a long time ago - before Hogwarts. But I never got a chance to play." Harry opened the door for her, leading the way down into the 'bowling alley'. It was all very retro American and the first word that had come to Harry's mind now was 'dive', but the smile was there none the less. Aunt Petunia had been appalled at the place, but Dudley insisted and Dudley always got what he wanted. The memory of her face and the way she held her nose nearly all afternoon was emblazoned in Harry's mind for all eternity.
"I hope this is all right, Luna. I thought someplace in muggle London would be the best place to avoid the press, but we can go someplace else if you want."