Seeking Ginny

It was a difficult task just to walk in the crowded café on Sunday afternoon, much less work, but somehow Ginny was managing to do it. She wound her way through the hordes of people waiting to be seated at the entrance, sure that she would step on a foot or smash into a body, and wondered whether or not she would actually have the energy to apologize.

It was hot. Aurelie's blonde hair was sticking to her cheeks and a very flushed Christian looked as though someone had cast a Speeding Charm on him as he ladeled drinks into glasses, stirred bubbly cauldrons and shot goblets across the bar - all with several well-timed charms. The unbearably hot weather was causing the residents of magical Paris to either close themselves up in their houses with double-energized indoor climate charms or, it seemed ironically, come to Le Papillon where the temperature was a touch cooler than that of the wood burning oven inside the kitchen.

Le Papillon's stucture was old, built in the late 12th century, and did not handle indoor-climate charms very well... especially when its walls were vibrating from the amount of people they currently held. Ginny could only wish to be locked up in her flat with magical climate instead of squashed against dozens of people in this boiling curse of a place. Still the customers piled in, rushing first to the bar to order one of Christian's frosty drinks, then waiting to be seated where they would dawdle at their tables for hours and order refill after refill. It was enough to drive anyone mad and Ginny had dealt with the same thing the previous night, which had caused her to stay late, which had prevented her from finishing the heaps and heaps of homework due tomorrow.

Today was the day that she'd made plans to show Harry around magical Paris. However, there really was no way that she could do that unless she and Harry were to spend the evening doing the rest of her homework. Canceling on him plagued her with a bout of guilt when she imagined how extremely appalled her mother would be if she knew what little effort her daughter had made in spending time with Harry while he was in Paris.

During her shift, Ginny was able to take a short break and rush over to the post office, which was just across the street from the café. She sent an apology to Harry for having to cancel their arrangement and inquired if they could reschedule at all, then grabbed a local owl and sent Brian a quick message to let him know that she would be home to study with him tonight.

After seriously considering stopping in the Quidditch shop and buying a broom so she didn't have to walk, Ginny arrived home later that night. Brian was indeed home, but instead of sitting at the table doing homework, he stood in front of the fireplace looking wild-eyed.

"Third bloody letter this week!" he bellowed, turning to Ginny and holding up the crumpled piece of parchment. "Can't the bloody witch take a BLOODY HINT?!"

Ginny dropped her handbag on a chair and let the wonderfully cold air of the living room wash over her.

"What?"

Brian held up the crumpled piece of parchment, his eyes wide and said, "I have a bloody stalker."

Ginny blinked the sweat from her eyes and tried to think of a response. "Well, it was bound to happen eventually, the way you carry on."

"I've never even been OUT WITH THIS WITCH!"

She winced as he shouted, wondering how she'd managed to find herself a flat mate who was a combination of all of her brothers put together. It was like living with Bill and his witches, Ron and his godforsaken loudness, Fred and George and their jokes... all rolled into one person. Only Charlie's persona seemed absent from Brian's character, but that was probably because Charlie had shocked everyone with his normalcy in recent years by getting married and having a family.

After reveling in the cool living room a few moments longer, Ginny went off to shower, leaving Brian in front of the fireplace, mouthing soundlessly at the letter.

It was after her wonderfully refreshing shower when she'd finally curled up in her armchair with a Gobbledygook novel, when there was a sudden whoosh at the window meaning post. In the middle of trying to translate a very difficult paragraph in her head, she didn't look up until she felt a flutter on her cheek and whne she did, she saw a flash of pure white from the corner of her eye and lowered her book at once.

"Hello," she said softly, then smiled as the snowy owl landed gently on her shoulder and ducked her head to peck at Ginny's ear. "You remember me, do you? Well, you're just as lovely as I remember you... yes, you certainly are."

She took a few seconds to stroke Hedwig's soft feathers before taking the piece of parchment from her. Harry had written in response to Ginny's letter that afternoon, telling her that he would be free on Tuesday morning as she had inquired. Ginny took a bit of parchment and scrawled a time and place where they could meet and had just watched Hedwig sail out the window with her response when the bathroom door opened and Brian came out.

"Who were you talking to?" he asked her as he took his seat on the sofa.

"I had a letter."

"You often speak to your post?" he asked mildly, picking up his book.

Ginny grinned and returned to her book.

~*~

The horrible temperatures continued into Monday and any hopes that it would change by the next day were quickly squashed when Ginny woke on Tuesday and went over to the window. She poked her head out and gazed down, feeling a rush of hot air assault her. The congested streets looked slower--people seemed to travel at a stroll instead of the brusque walk most took to work and many more were on brooms.

It was very lucky that she'd agreed to meet Harry near the ice cream seller from the other night because it was legal Apparition from her flat and the minute Ginny materialized there, she was so taken aback that she had to pause for a second. It was like being inside a boiler and it was only nine am. The temperatures were bound to increase even more as the day progressed.

To her surprise, Harry was already waiting for her, sitting on a bench and looking so typically Harry as he checked his watch and looked around.

It had been so long since she'd had the chance to look at Harry... really look, without him knowing. It was weak of her, she knew, but something forced her to stand quite still, chewing on her lip as she studied the boy she used to know so well.

He was so very much the same. He could still sit on a bench, with people all around and encompass that same Harry-isolation that could occur anywhere, such as a busy corner in Paris with people walking along, zooming past on broomsticks, even stopping to cast a look over their shoulders to see if their eyes were playing tricks or if it really was Harry Potter sitting on a bench in Lacasse, Paris.

But there was something different. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Perhaps she was just not used to seeing this older version of Harry.

Harry chose that moment to look up and his eyes fell directly on Ginny. Her cheeks grew warm and she felt that familiar, naughty, embarrassed, damn, he caught me feeling and found herself grinning at it almost fondly. Shaking her head at herself, she gave him a small wave and went over.

"Something funny?" Harry asked looking amused as she approached with a smile playing on her lips.

Ginny shook her head, letting out a much-needed laugh. "I think I'm just delirious from this heat," she said, throwing back her head and pretending to sob. "Harry, it's so hot!"

"It is, isn't it?" Harry said, squinting in the strong sunlight.

"Yes... it is," she said, "and I have lovely work to look forward to this afternoon where climate charms won't work."

Harry looked surprised, "They won't?"

She shook her head. "Place is too bloody old, too much magic going on in the kitchen, too many people packed into the place. It's like a nightmare. Honestly. You should be thankful the Ministry is well-charmed. Tell me, are they looking for any waitressing help?"

Harry grinned and was about to answer when a group of young witches zoomed by on brooms all of which had paper fans attached to the handles. He and Ginny looked after them for a moment before turning back to each other and sharing a grin.

"I'm not certain about this Ministry," Harry said, answering her question. "But at home, we'd love to have you--there's never time to go out for lunch."

"Oooh, that's a great idea," she said. "It can be my backup plan if I don't find a job! I'm not the best waitress in the world, but don't worry, I won't embarrass you in front of your co-workers."

"Is it usually this warm in the summer?" Harry asked, wiping his brow.

Ginny sighed, peeling her long hair from the back of her neck. "I've never actually experienced temperatures this high before, but I don't think it's extremely rare. Happens once in a while, just like everywhere." She paused and looked around for a bit. "I suppose we shouldn't let it hinder us...?"

Still squinting, Harry gazed up and down the street, contemplating. "No. No, I suppose we shouldn't..." he trailed off, looking none too excited about sightseeing. There were small circles under his eyes. He looked tired.

"It's up to you, Harry," she said after a moment. "Jacques the Jaunty's tomb is outside and we would have to walk there..."

Harry bit his lip and turned back to Ginny. "Is there anything we can do indoors?"

"Well... there's the Magical Creatures museum, they have skeletons of all these ancient beasts, but...hang on, I think they're closed for renovations."

"Anything in Muggle Paris?"

"Oh--how about the Louvre?"

Harry lifted a brow, brightened by this. "Can we Apparate?"

Ginny laughed. "Harry, are you mad? We've been trained to think Apparition is a very bad thing around here. No, once we're in Muggle Paris, we can Apparate to wherever we need to go, but from here we'd have to go to Lacasse's entrance to Muggle Paris and--well, wait a second... I think that's even further than the tomb. Let's see, perhaps that's legal Apparition after all."

She pulled her wand, pointed it to ground where she was standing, and muttered the incantation that would give her the distance to any certain place from that point. Then she said, "Entrance to Muggle Paris." The distance in kilometers rose in blue smoke... the number was just beneath the legal limits.

"Sorry... we'll have to walk anyway," she said, looking at Harry sheepishly. "It really is up to you."

Harry blew out a breath and looked around again. He stopped his scan of the buildings suddenly and pointed over her shoulder. "What's that?"

Ginny twisted around to look. "That's a restaurant. I've never been there, I dunno if there's anything really interesting about it..."

"Well... do you think it might be cool inside?" he asked after a few seconds.

"I have no idea," she said on a laugh. "Do you want to ... go in there for coffee or something?"

"That's... fine with me. I haven't had breakfast," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow and glancing at Ginny for the final decision.

"Breakfast it is. Come on."

They walked slowly down the row shops to the little café called Massa, and when they stepped inside, a wonderful rush of cold air assaulted them. Ginny and Harry exchanged looks of approval.

In terms of décor, Massa was the direct opposite of Ginny's café. It was very bright, with orange and golden tones in the walls and floor tiles, the windows were colorful glass blocks, the tables were small and square, their tops made of colorful pieces of glass under a smooth coating. It was adorable and cozy, but unlike Le Papillon, the place was gleaming and new, and lacking any sort of historic ambience at all. It was missing the very thing Ginny most loved about her café.

"This place is ... different," Harry commented after the waitress had taken their breakfast order, and as though reading her thoughts, said, "The café you work in, does it look like this?"

"No, not at all. The building is much older and it's not so... bright. It has a sort of...charm that I suppose is difficult to find in newer buildings like this." Then she grinned, "But it's not so cool on hot days, so who cares about charm?"

Harry smirked. "Has business been slow because of the heat?"

"We're busy as ever! It's because our bartender makes these cold drinks that are quite famous across town. It's awful though. I can't wait for it to get back to normal."

At that moment, their waitress approached with their breakfast: a basket of bread, a dish each of butter and jam, chocolate spread, a glass container of pumpkin juice and coffee. As she placed each item on the table, Harry eyed the basket of bread with an ironic lift of his brow.

"Haven't the French ever heard of bacon?" he asked rather disdainfully after the waitress had left.

Ginny, who had been preoccupied when the trendy waitress had glanced at Harry almost three times in quick succession before dragging herself away, looked at Harry in confusion before breaking into an understanding grin. "Tired of bread are you?"

Harry nodded, evidently more interested in scowling at the food than the gaping waitress. "I'm beginning to miss your mum's breakfast."

"Oh, I know. Goodness, mum's breakfast... I haven't had it in... over a year now! Honestly, Harry, shame on you for bringing it up, you've only gone--what, a few weeks without it?"

He smirked and took a croissant.

"So, anyway, excluding the breakfast, do you like France at all?" Ginny asked him conversationally once she'd taken her own croissant. Then she pointed to the bread he was about to lift to his mouth. "Just close your eyes and pretend there's bacon in it."

Harry took a bite and shook his head while he chewed. "Not working."

She shrugged. "Anyway, Paris? What do you think so far?"

"It's all right, I suppose. I haven't seen much of it."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I know. I'm doing my best to amend that, but really, Mum will kill me if she finds out that I haven't given you a proper tour already."

"She'll never know," he said, mouth full.

"Oh, you'll be surprised. So, anyway, Mum's breakfast. Last time I was home, I slept right through breakfast on all three mornings, including Christmas Day, and I didn't forgive myself for weeks after I got back here."

"You were home for Christmas?" Harry asked, looking surprised. "When?"

She pulled the coffee towards her and poured a cup. "I went home the Christmas before last."

Harry looked confused. "Did I... was I there...?"

Ginny took a sip. "You were on assignment somewhere, I think."

"That's right," he said at last. "Africa."

She smiled sympathetically. "Sounds very exotic but... Christmas in the desert? That had to be... dreadful."

He shook his head. "Christmas in the rain forest. Nigeria."

"Do you often get sent away during holidays, then?"

He lifted a shoulder again. "It happens. Was that the only time you've visited home?"

"No... actually I've been back a few times. We just kept missing each other, I suppose. You were always on assignments, always away somewhere exotic and beautiful."

"Probably not exotic and beautiful," he added.

Ginny tsked. "Yeah, right. So where've you been? Tell me about the places you've seen."

Harry made a face. "Er...I don't really get to see much when I'm on assignment, it's always just a lot of work."

Ginny waited for him to add something, but he didn't. "Oh," she said at last, trying not to be disappointed that he didn't seem eager to discuss his travels. She knew it was all probably top secret and everything, but that only sparked her interest further.

"Will you be happy to finally go home, then?" Harry asked after another sip of coffee. "Er--" he looked up at her, eyes narrowed. "Did I ask you that already?"

"Mmm... yes, actually, I think you asked me the other night after the interview."

"Right. Sorry."

She waved her hand. "Don't worry about it. I'm so used to people asking me that all the time, I've actually memorized the answer by now."

He lifted a brow. "Really?"

"Yes." She lifted her chin and recited, "I'm happy to be going back, but I'll be very sad when I have to say goodbye. It's become my home here."

Harry nodded thoughtfully, smiling and buttering his bread. "I think you did say something like that."

"Sometimes I change a word here and there."

A smile played on his lips as he sipped his coffee, looking like he was deciding whether or not to say what was on his mind. Then, as if he'd come to a decision, his face relaxed into an easy smile and placed his cup back down. "It's a bit like people wanting to know all about the exotic places I've seen."

She started to laugh. "Ugh...well, at least I was polite and answered you properly," she retorted, tossing a piece of bread towards him.

He grinned. "So...magical Paris--it's really quite a big city, isn't it?"

"Lacasse is big," Ginny agreed, nodding. "Doesn't compare to the size of all the other arrondisments, though, but...."

Harry's brow furrowed as he poured another cup. "All the other... what?"

"Arrondisments," she said, pulling a off a piece of croissant. "They're like towns, or small cities. Paris is made up of twenty-one arrondisments, although if you said that to the average Muggle, they'll tell you you're mad and that there are only twenty of them. However, Lacasse is the twenty-first, only visible to the average witch or wizard," she added with a grin. "Anyway, I can't believe I'm giving you a lesson on magical towns when you've been all over the world."

"I've not been all over the world," he corrected. "Just... a few places."

"A few exotic places," she corrected.

Harry groaned. "They're not exotic when you're working."

"I know, I know." She took a sip of coffee, glad for the relaxed tone of this breakfast in comparision to the first half of the interview the other night.

"I would love to travel all the time," she said a few minutes later, after she and Harry continued to eat their breakfast in comfortable silence, "Even if it's for work."

"Even with a group of aurors all over the age of one hundred?"

She waved that matter aside. "I can make friends with anyone."

Harry nodded, looking quite amused all of a sudden.

"What? Why are you smiling?"

He cleared his throat, setting down his cup. "Just thinking how true that is--about you making friends with anyone." Ginny looked at him, confused for a second until he grinned at her. "Luna Lovegood."

Ginny suddenly became quite stern. "Don't get started on Luna, I'll have you know that her magazine sells almost two times the copies Witch Weekly does, according to the statistics in the Prophet. She has a huge following, the public finds her a riot."

"Alright, I was just kidding!" he exclaimed, looking put in his place like he and Ron always did when Ginny would yell at them for making fun of Luna. "I like Luna!"

"Have you seen her lately?" Ginny asked, interested to know how Luna was doing and when Harry shook his head, she continued, "We wrote to each other a few times while I was here, but it's been awhile." She sighed. There were so many people she hadn't kept in touch with over the years. "How is Neville?"

"He's about to become a healer."

"I know!" Ginny exclaimed. "I forgot who told me that. Have you seen him recently?"

"A while ago. So, what about you? Have you ever run into anyone here?"

"Just you," she chuckled. "I've had lots of visitors from the family, of course. Mum, Dad, Charlie and the family, Bill. I've begged Ron for years to come and he never did. The twins were always too busy, although I don't see how they couldn't just leave the shops to someone else while they took a holiday to see their little sister. And now it's too late, I'm coming home in a few months. Although Sarah is supposed to visit after term ends to travel round France."

"Sarah Murphy," Harry nodded thoughtfully. "Right, she was normal."

"All of my friends are normal." Then she thought of Brian and his stalker. "Well, most of them anyway. Besides, lets not judge each other because of our friends--you do call my brother your best."

Harry grinned and polished off his croissant.

They sat in the trendy café for almost two hours after that and when Ginny looked at her watch, she was startled to see that her shift began in only twenty minutes. She couldn't believe she'd lost track of time, but it was nice, sitting with Harry and talking about old times. It made the people in those memories become familiar to her again, almost as though she was seeing them herself after all this time.

After Ginny bade Harry goodbye with the promise to owl shortly about sightseeing, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of accomplishment as she walked to work.

The café was still quite the madhouse, but not due to people seeking cool drinks from the heat. It seemed as though Lacasse was finally tired of the hot weather, and during the first hour of Ginny's shift, just as she was serving a tray of frosty drinks to a table outside, the sky opened up, sending rain pouring down in sheets. And one hour after that, as though by magic, the downpour slowed and cleared, leaving a picturesque sky and temperatures as fresh and cool as a typical summer night.

Ginny, Christian and Aurelie exchanged almost gleeful looks at this news.

"Perhaps people will want to spend the evening outside then," Aurelie said hopefully, and no sooner had the words left her mouth than a wave of customers rushed in, all looking as though they had been freed from some prison.

"We haven't left the house for three days because of the heat!" exclaimed a frantic looking woman in such rapid French that Ginny almost didn't catch what she was saying. "We'd like to sit at a table outside, please!"

"So would we!" chimed a different couple.

The two waitresses and the bartender exchanged another look, but this one had no signs of glee whatsoever.

However, as they worked through the afternoon and into early evening, things weren't as bad as they could have been. It was busy and it was hectic, but the work was so much easier now that it had cooled down. Most of the occupied tables were outside and it had turned into such a lovely evening that every time Ginny set foot on the cobblestone patio to handle another order, her mood brightened. The sunset was one of the most colorful ones she'd ever seen; the entire sky lit up with pinks and oranges and dark purples all swirling into each other like the surface of a potion brewing in a steaming cauldron.

The high spirits of the customers rubbed off on the staff. Every time Ginny and Aurelie passed each other serving their tables, they laughed at some joke or whispered about a particular customer and Christian could be seen talking amiably with the customers at the bar.

A group of very good-looking wizards about Ginny's age sat at a table that was between the end of Ginny's station and the beginning of Aurelie's. Though normally, the two fought over which would be stuck serving that table, it was an entirely different matter this time around. Over the heavy chatter of dozens of diners, Ginny's brown eyes met Aurelie's hazel ones and the challenge was issued. Whoever made it there first would clearly win the opportunity to serve the eye-catching group.

"No Speeding Charms," Ginny warned Aurelie as the tall, blonde waitress banished a drink order to Christian with such speed that the piece of parchment slapped him in the face. When one of the men from the table in pursuit flashed a grin at Ginny, she rushed her tray to her other customers, blushing foolishly and almost spilling soup onto someone's lap.

But alas, it was Aurelie who made it first in the end and Ginny slumped onto a barstool inside.

"Wait... could it be... is everyone served?" Christian asked mildly as he sent a Guinness down the bar.

"Yeah, my table for ten is happily eating their bouillabaisse."

"Aurelie?"

Ginny sighed. "She's still... working."

A very high, feminine laugh issued from outside and Ginny grunted. "That's her. Working."

The bells chimed for the hundredth time, causing Ginny to draw in her breath and prepare for another group of ten--then she sighed in relief as she recognized the woman who entered.

"Ginev-ra?" sang a high, earsplitting voice. "Is that you over there?"

"Yes, it's me, how are you Genevieve?" Ginny called out as the brightly dressed regular descended on the bar, glittering shawl flowing behind her.

"I have photographs from my granddaughter's honeymoon in Greece! Aurelie told me to bring them in--where is that girl?"

"She's outside. Is your granddaughter back already?"

"Of course she is! It's been two weeks."

"Ugh, time has been flying lately."

"That is has, Ginevra," she said, peering at Ginny through her rhinestone-rimmed glasses that magnified her heavily lashed-eyes. "You have a minute to look, then? Greece is magnificent."

"In a moment Genevieve, just let me seat these customers." For another couple had just walked in.

"Okay, you go on, then. Aure-lie! Come here and look at these photographs!"

Ginny lead the couple outside, passing Aurelie who was carrying her table's order. Ginny grinned at her. "Genevieve's waiting."

"I heard," she grumbled.

"You'd better hurry, before she gets loud."

"Too late," she laughed.

After seating the couple and taking their drink order, Ginny went back and peered over Aurelie's shoulder at the photos.

"Those beaches are beautiful," she whispered in awe. "Why can't Paris have beaches?"

"You have to go south for that," Genevieve said matter-of-factly. "Jean and I went to the Mediterranean for our twenty-fifth anniversary. Nice, Cannes. We went to all the islands on the Mediterranean. They were spectacular. You girls should have a holiday down there! All those fine-looking young men with muscular chests."

Aurelie and Ginny exchanged wide-eyed, mirthful looks. Ginny had the sudden mental picture of Genevieve harassing the men on the beach - in her long, beaded dresses and feathered hats.

"Is this real, Genevieve?" Aurelie asked, lifting up Genevieve's shimmering green bag.

"Why, of course it is! That's the hide of a Common-Welsh Green. My other granddaughter Cécile bought that for my birthday a few years back! Speaking of Cécile, Christian," she said, snatching the bag out of Aurelie's hands. "She has just had her heart broken by her beau. "

"Oh, I'm sorry," Christian said, his eyes becoming amused as he filled a goblet with Genevieve's usual red wine.

"Sorry! Don't be sorry! Her own fault if you ask me. He's an auror for the love of Merlin! She should have known better."

Ginny choked on her water.

"But that gives you sufficient opportunity!" Genevieve said, slapping Ginny on her back. "I am going to tell her to come in here tomorrow."

"She's lovely, I'm sure," Christian said. "Have another, Genevieve."

"They are so much in love," Aurelie sighed. She was gazing at a photograph, her chin propped in her hand. "They're not kissing or anything, they're just posing, but you can tell. You can just tell, can't you?" she asked, shoving the shot in Ginny's face.

Ginny peered at the rather handsome couple who were on the beach waving at the camera arm in arm; the waves of the sea foamed and crashed at their feet. "They look beautiful together."

"He's so handsome," Aurelie roared suddenly, peering closely at the photo. "Where did she find him, Genevieve?"

Genevieve launched into one of her usual hour-long stories and by the time she was finished, the sun had set completely and the tables outside twinkled with soft pixie lights, which fluttered in the trellis and bushes surrounding the patio.

"Turned out to be a lovely evening, didn't it?" smiled a lady, as Ginny set her drink on the outdoor table.

Ginny smiled. "Yes, it did. Did you need to see menus?"

"Oh, no," said the lady's companion, a burly man with a dark mustache, lifting the drink Ginny had just served him. "This is just what the healer conjured." They all laughed and Ginny told them to signal if they needed anything else. Her smile was still on her face when she caught the eye of the man at Aurelie's table--the one who had grinned at her earlier. However, after a very brief look, his attention was reluctantly turned toward his friend who had asked him something.

Blushing yet again and smiling a bit stupidly, Ginny walked back into the café only to have her arm grabbed roughly as she passed the bar.

"There you are, I need help."

"What is it?" Ginny asked in surprise as Brian, a huge roll of parchment under his arm, jumped off the stool he'd been sitting on and steered her away. "When did you get here?"

"You have to help me with this, I can't do it on my own. Bloody Mermish--" he swore so obscenely that a British couple seated nearby gasped and twisted around in their chairs.

"Would you kindly not use that language in my place of business?" Ginny asked him.

He snorted. "Place of business."

Ginny watched him with growing irritation. "Did you say you needed my help with something? Because I don't know that laughing at me is the way to go about asking."

"Sorry, look, it's that dialog thing for Mermish Composition. You finished that already, didn't you? I need you to tell me exactly what you wrote--"

"Hang on, I'm off in two hours, I can help you at home--"

"Has to be now love, I have way too much work to wait. Can't you take a small break--ten minutes?"

Ginny sighed. "I suppose. Here, let's sit at a table."

Ten minutes turned into thirty and thirty turned into her entire dinner hour, which consisted of a frustrated Brian and no dinner. Ginny had no qualms about helping Brian with his homework since he always did the same for her, however, every time she helped him, she found it extremely difficult not to scream her head off when he disagreed with every single suggestion she gave him.

"I can't do that," he said, irritably, as thought she'd been stupid for even suggesting such a thing. "If I did that, then I would have to change all of this, and then that would make this entire section obsolete. Because look..." As if to make her understand better, Brian slid his chair closer to her as he explained and Ginny tried to listen, but she suddenly became distracted at a very strong presence to the left.

It was the wizard from Aurelie's table; he was standing at the doorway, leaning through and looking directly at Ginny. His friends were gathered further back, obviously finished with their meal and waiting for him. Ginny watched his eyes flick to Brian and the arm that was slung casually across the back of Ginny's chair.

As if in slow motion, his handsome smile turned regretful; he lifted his hand in a gesture of defeat and made to leave. Ginny wanted to either shout across the room or push Brian off the chair--anything to make it known that he was clearly mistaken.

"...And then I can put that up there--are you even listening to me?"

"What?" She turned to stare at Brian dimly. Then she chanced a glance back at the door. Gone.

"Ginny?"

"Of course I'm paying attention," she snapped finally. "I don't agree with anything you've just said."

It was Brian's turn to stare at her. "Well, why NOT?"

"I told you." And, mourning the lost opportunity, she went on to explain.

"Will you two stop the fighting," Aurelie said, leaning over and resting her arms on Brian's shoulders. "It's time for celebration. Aurelie has just made a date."

"Don't tell me. One of the blokes from the table outside?" asked Ginny.

"No--they were all a bit too eager. It's the one over there, see him?"

They all turned to look.

"Looks like his taste is a bit mature, love," Brian said to Aurelie.

"That's his mother with him. Isn't that sweet? He's taken her out to dinner for her birthday."

"Sweet," Ginny and Brian echoed.

"So--are you all set with this, then?" Ginny asked Brian a few minutes later when Aurelie had gone off to take another table and Ginny had finished explaining everything.

"Yeah," he sighed. "I can't wait until all of this--" he swore again--"gets finished and we never have to worry about homework again."

"I know," Ginny said, though she was assaulted with a little nervous flutter.

"Bloody buggering hell!" Brian exclaimed and Ginny blew out an annoyed breath.

"Will you stop--"

"Sorry. I'm late." He winked at Ginny. "Dominique doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I can only imagine. Glad I could be of help," she said sarcastically, then stopped. "Hang on--I thought you had all sorts of work to do at home!"

"I do. After Dominique."

Ginny mouthed soundlessly. "So in other words, rather than have me help you when I got home, you forced me to take an hour out of my work just so you could go on a date? BRIAN MCGUIRE, YOU--"

"No foul language at work, love. Have to run, thanks!"

Ginny was left fuming and trying to figure out a way to ruin his date since he had most certainly ruined her chance of having one.

The evening passed rather quickly after that as the after-dinner crowed rushed in and by the time the last customers had finished dawdling, Ginny rushed to lock the doors. Aurelie left soon after that for her date, with Ginny assuring her that she and Christian could handle the cleanup and by the time they finished, it was nearing midnight and Ginny felt more energized rather than tired. They stepped out into the absolutely perfect evening and Christian nudged her arm.

"Walk to my place with me so you can Apparate home."

Ginny heaved a sigh--she often walked home with Christian at night because he didn't like her walking home alone and his flat was legal Apparition to hers.

"Actually, I think I'll go to the bridge--catch up on some owls."

He nodded. "Anyone special?"

Ginny smiled as they walked leisurely down Le Papillion's walkway, which led to the street's path. "Too many to list. I've been skiving off lately."

"Well, it's a nice night for it."

"Yeah," she sighed. "How about you? What will you do when you get in?"

Christian shoved his hands in his pockets. "Probably sleep." He sent her a sideways smile. "Double shift tomorrow--have to be there to open for breakfast."

Ginny nodded, her smile becoming pensive. There was always something so lonely about Christian. He had no family and no friends that Ginny knew of and he spent much of his time working. It was almost as though Le Papillon was the main focus of his life--in both work and social aspects. While Ginny would never think less of him for it, and although Christian always seemed perfectly content with his life, she couldn't help feeling sorry for him just a little.

They chatted a bit before saying goodnight and soon after that, Ginny found herself curling up on the floor of her bridge and listening to the splashes of the water below. After seeing Christian walk off alone, knowing that he was he was going to an empty apartment only to wake up and do the same thing again tomorrow, Ginny couldn't help but feel grateful and more than a little guilty when she counted the number of letters she would have to write tonight.

Ginny always saved her mum for last when she wrote to everyone in succession because she was the easiest. After answering all of her mum's questions from the last owl, Ginny found herself going on a bit in her letter. She wasn't the least bit tired and the weather was perfect as she listened to the water splash beneath her. She detailed her day and week and went into how she'd run into Harry at the Ministry, how he'd saved her interview and how they'd come to sit for hours in some café this morning. Because their conversation at breakfast had steered towards Ginny's old friends, she found herself thinking more about leaving Paris and going home. It was a reality now that she had her interview and while some parts of her were so excited, there was the other side that was just plain scared to leave.

It's good to see Harry, Mum. It really is. I find myself thinking about all the other people that I've "forgotten" while I've been here. Not that I've truly forgotten anyone, it's just when you don't hear their names, I suppose it's easy to sort of forget that they're a part of your life.

Harry does seem different, and I don't know why that's surprising to me. I suppose I thought that I would be the only one to change in all this time and I would come home to surprise everyone. Now I wonder what it will be like when I do get home. Will everyone be different? Will I feel out of place? Because to me, I haven't changed at all, but I know everyone else thinks I have. Or perhaps that's the other way around. It makes coming home seem even more foreign a thing.

Ginny stopped and reread the last paragraph of her letter and thought of how similar it sounded to something she might write in a journal. It made her remember another letter she'd written to her mother--just about four years ago at the end of her first year in Paris. Her heart had been light as she'd sat on the bridge and wrote paragraph after paragraph. Ginny absently leaned her head back against the stone wall and let her eyes wander over the dark sky as the past floated around in her head.

I've found a flat mate, Mum. Now I don't want you to overreact, because this person has been a great friend to me all year. His name is Brian McGuire.

The very thought of it made her laugh out loud.

But then her smile faded when she thought about the rest of that old letter. It had started with her trying to explain just why Brian McGuire would be a good flat mate and had ended with her heart positively tumbling out of her chest and onto the page. She'd written so much that she'd had to cover both sides of the long roll of parchment, so much that her hand had cramped and her ink had almost run out. In trying to defend Brian to her mother, she'd admitted that he had probably saved her from quitting University and going back to England... that in being her friend, Brian had made her laugh for the first time since she'd arrived.

After a long time, she'd finally stopped writing and while reading the letter, had thought about just quiting the façade to go home if it was that painful. But the letter itself had been her answer--it had helped her more than she could say and in the end, when her heartache had finally passed, she'd tacked a few extra sentences onto the end.

I'm sorry about going on like this, Mum. I'm not miserable, despite how this may sound. I'm happy now, I'm learning to love it here and I'm going to love getting a job and having my own place. I feel so good right now, though. Like I don't need to feel these things anymore since I've written them down. It helped to write them down.

She'd paused there.

It's ironic, isn't it, but I really am the type of girl to keep a diary.

Ginny remembered having waited for her mother's response to that letter and every time the post had arrived, she would swear it was going to be a Howler. ("WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE LIVING WITH A MAN?!") But it hadn't been any such thing. It had, actually, been the shortest letter her mum had ever written to her.

Ginny,

For as long as you need me, I can be your diary.

Mum

Even now, thinking of that letter made her feel such a strong ache for her mum and it was only consoled by the fact that she would see her very soon....

***

Brian was sitting on the armchair in the living room when Ginny stepped into the flat later that night. He glanced briefly over his shoulder before turning back to his book and Ginny went over to Maurice to attach the letters to his leg.

"Take them to Mum, all right?" she instructed her bird. "She'll distribute them properly." Maurice squawked in agreement and with a swish of wings, flew out the window. Ginny watched him disappear into the night, then turned to Brian. "You're home early."

"Mmm," Brian muttered, his eyes never leaving the pages of the book. She might have started a fight then about his forcing her to waste her dinner break on him earlier, but she wasn't in the mood.

"You've finished your Mermish, then. Did it go alright?"

His answer was delayed, as he was seemingly unable to tear his eyes from the book. "Yeah. It was fine, thanks for that."

Ginny nodded. "What are you reading?"

Brian made an absentminded noise in the back of his throat. "Er... one of your Muggle novels...."

"Oh, which one?" Ginny asked curiously. It was a pastime of hers, reading Muggle literature. She found it fascinating, and her father had always made sure she was never without Muggle books as a child.

"Author is... Harper Lee?" he muttered, showing her the cover.

Ginny bent over the back of his chair, settling her arms over the top and peering at the pages over his shoulder. "I haven't read that one yet. Good?"

"Very."

"What's it about?"

"Mmm..." he muttered, still engrossed in the book. "It's American literature... strong characters."

"Well, hurry and finish so I can read."

"Right," he muttered absently. Then he lowered the book and tilted his head sideways. "There's room for two here."

Ginny sighed. Instead of rolling her eyes or coming up with some flippant retort, she plopped her head against the blanket that was strewn across the back of the chair. "Thanks, but no. I'm going to bed."

A spark ignited in Brian's light blue eyes. "Want company?"

Ginny scrunched up her nose and pretended to ponder the matter. She wondered what he would do if, for a joke, she were to lean over and whisper in agreement. Probably fall off the chair.

"Thanks, but no," she said instead, for the second time that night. "It was very kind of you to offer, though."

"Glad to." He gave a small wink, then lifted his book and became instantly engrossed. "'Night."

Ginny used his shoulder to push herself to her feet.

"Good night, Brian."

*