Here's Ch. 2!
I'm trying to spread out my updates so I don't catch up on myself too quickly and have ages before I post the next chapter...
Disclaimer: They're not mine, I'm making no profit from doing this, and all that jazz.
Carmel, chapter 2
Harry walked home after closing time, smiling at passersby and just enjoying the time alone. As he neared the small house he shared with Brianna, a witch he met at a nearby coffee house during his first few months in California, he thought back to his seventh year at Hogwarts. He’d been depressed then too, but for a different reason. Dumbledore had died at the end of his sixth year, at the hand of Severus Snape. Harry remembered being so furious when it happened, and feeling like such a fool when the memories in the pensieve that Dumbledore had left the Order showed him the truth.
Dumbledore had already been quite close to “the next great adventure,” as he liked to call it, when Snape had come to him with the information about his unbreakable vow with Narcissa Malfoy. Dumbledore knew Snape’s position with the Death Eaters was more important than even his own life, and they planned the whole thing together. Dumbledore knew that Draco was meant to kill him, and succeeded in saving Draco from becoming a murderer with Severus’ aid. Harry still hated Snape for that, but at the same time he had come to respect the older man. He had given so much of his life for the Order. He had to live a double life for so long- no wonder he was such a bastard. Why do my thoughts keep returning to Snape?
“Hey there,” Brianna greeted Harry from the kitchen as he entered through the back door, setting his keys in a tray on the counter. “How was your day?”
“Amber invited us to go clubbing in Frisco this Friday- I said I’d go. You wanna come?” Brianna swatted Harry’s hand away as he tried to dip a finger in the pot of alfredo sauce she was working on. “Hey! I just wanted a taste!” Harry smirked.
“You’ll get a taste when it’s done and on your plate. Sure I’ll come. Sounds fun- all the usual places?”
“Yeah. Maybe you’ll meet someone...”
“Or maybe you’ll meet someone Mister I’ve Been Sulking For A Month After My Bastard Boyfriend Tried To Get In My Roommate's Pants. Merlin!” her impish smile took away the bite in her words.
“Okay then, maybe we’ll meet someone. Smells done-” Harry stuck his finger in the sauce and sucked it off, moaning appreciatively. “Mmmm- I’m undone. You’ve really outdone yourself this time.” Brianna’s scowl turned into a smile and her eyes lit up.
“Really? I added a secret ingredient this time...”
“Really. Now let’s eat. I’ll get the wine.”
The two friends talked small talk about their jobs, coworkers, that cute guy that moved in three houses down, the wine, that new show on Bravo, and other trivial things. Just as Harry was beginning to forget about his earlier disturbing conversation with his inner voice, Brianna asked,
“So what really has had you down lately?” Maybe it was because this time it was Brianna who asked, or the copious amount of wine he’d imbibed with the meal, or a combination of the two, but he actually answered the question this time.
“I just feel alone. I mean I have friends- wonderful friends,” he looked at her pointedly, “but I want someone that I can share everything with. Have a meaningful life with...” he trailed off as Brianna nodded knowingly.
“I know exactly what you mean. And I know that it hurts- but don’t worry Harry, when you find love it will be the real thing.” She squeezed his hand reassuringly.
“Thanks.” He gave her a genuine grin, “So what are you going to wear on Friday? The usual slutty attire?” He winked and Brianna was glad to see some sparkle back in those emerald eyes.
“Of course.”
Disclaimer: They're not mine, I'm making no profit from doing this, and all that jazz.
Carmel, chapter 2
Harry walked home after closing time, smiling at passersby and just enjoying the time alone. As he neared the small house he shared with Brianna, a witch he met at a nearby coffee house during his first few months in California, he thought back to his seventh year at Hogwarts. He’d been depressed then too, but for a different reason. Dumbledore had died at the end of his sixth year, at the hand of Severus Snape. Harry remembered being so furious when it happened, and feeling like such a fool when the memories in the pensieve that Dumbledore had left the Order showed him the truth.
Dumbledore had already been quite close to “the next great adventure,” as he liked to call it, when Snape had come to him with the information about his unbreakable vow with Narcissa Malfoy. Dumbledore knew Snape’s position with the Death Eaters was more important than even his own life, and they planned the whole thing together. Dumbledore knew that Draco was meant to kill him, and succeeded in saving Draco from becoming a murderer with Severus’ aid. Harry still hated Snape for that, but at the same time he had come to respect the older man. He had given so much of his life for the Order. He had to live a double life for so long- no wonder he was such a bastard. Why do my thoughts keep returning to Snape?
“Hey there,” Brianna greeted Harry from the kitchen as he entered through the back door, setting his keys in a tray on the counter. “How was your day?”
“Amber invited us to go clubbing in Frisco this Friday- I said I’d go. You wanna come?” Brianna swatted Harry’s hand away as he tried to dip a finger in the pot of alfredo sauce she was working on. “Hey! I just wanted a taste!” Harry smirked.
“You’ll get a taste when it’s done and on your plate. Sure I’ll come. Sounds fun- all the usual places?”
“Yeah. Maybe you’ll meet someone...”
“Or maybe you’ll meet someone Mister I’ve Been Sulking For A Month After My Bastard Boyfriend Tried To Get In My Roommate's Pants. Merlin!” her impish smile took away the bite in her words.
“Okay then, maybe we’ll meet someone. Smells done-” Harry stuck his finger in the sauce and sucked it off, moaning appreciatively. “Mmmm- I’m undone. You’ve really outdone yourself this time.” Brianna’s scowl turned into a smile and her eyes lit up.
“Really? I added a secret ingredient this time...”
“Really. Now let’s eat. I’ll get the wine.”
The two friends talked small talk about their jobs, coworkers, that cute guy that moved in three houses down, the wine, that new show on Bravo, and other trivial things. Just as Harry was beginning to forget about his earlier disturbing conversation with his inner voice, Brianna asked,
“So what really has had you down lately?” Maybe it was because this time it was Brianna who asked, or the copious amount of wine he’d imbibed with the meal, or a combination of the two, but he actually answered the question this time.
“I just feel alone. I mean I have friends- wonderful friends,” he looked at her pointedly, “but I want someone that I can share everything with. Have a meaningful life with...” he trailed off as Brianna nodded knowingly.
“I know exactly what you mean. And I know that it hurts- but don’t worry Harry, when you find love it will be the real thing.” She squeezed his hand reassuringly.
“Thanks.” He gave her a genuine grin, “So what are you going to wear on Friday? The usual slutty attire?” He winked and Brianna was glad to see some sparkle back in those emerald eyes.
“Of course.”