Miz Lorelai

"MIZ LORELAI."

Chapter Two-The Surprise

HARRY

In the morning, I got dressed in my robes and Apparated down stairs. Lauren jumped a mile when I appeared suddenly beside the kitchen table.

"You should be used to this by now," I said, amused.

All Lauren did was give me a sardonic smile and give me a filthy look before returning to her cereal that she was eating. Hermione came down the stairs soon after dressed in a pair of grey sweat pants and a white tank top. Her hair was fluffed around her shoulders.

I looked at Lauren, shocked.

She had never acted like this. To me, she was acting coldly toward me.

I walked over to Hermione.

"Is it me or is Lauren acting coldly toward me?" I whispered to Hermione glancing at Lauren.

Hermione looked into my eyes.

"No, she is. She's not exactly happy with you now," Hermione said, slowly.

"Why? What did I do?" I asked, surprised.

"Nothing...that's the problem," Hermione replied, as she poured herself some coffee from the coffee machine.

I looked at her, bemused.

Hermione took a sip of the coffee with two hands and then put the cup down.

"Harry, she thinks you're spending too much time at the Ministry! You hardly spend time with her! Frankly, I've noticed it too!" Hermione said.

"But I've been busy! It's been hectic these past few weeks!" I protested.

"I know...but just make sure you don't get too busy for what really matters," Hermione said, simply as she picked up her cup of coffee again and went over to the kitchen table. She sat down beside Lauren.

I felt awful. I had no idea Lauren felt like that and I certainly didn't mean to ignore her or not spend time with her.

Finally, an idea came to me.

"Hey, Laur, how about you come to work with me?" I asked, turning around to face her.

"Huh?" Lauren asked, shocked looking up.

"How about coming to work with me?" I repeated.

"Why? So I can help you work?" she asked stiffly.

"No! Just the two of us," I said.

"Sure," Lauren said, in a monotone and went back to her cereal.

I looked at Hermione, who shrugged. Lauren didn't seem to thrilled about coming but I decided to try and see what was really bothering her deep down.

"Okay. Go get dressed," I said.

Lauren got up and put her bowl into the sink and then jogged upstairs.

"What on earth is going on with her? I thought she'd be happy to come with me to work?" I asked.

"I don't know, Harry. It could be because of her system now changed or there is something else deeper that she isn't telling us," Hermione said, shaking her head.

I looked after Lauren.

She came down fifteen minutes later dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue tee shirt. She had her hooded Hogwarts cloak tied and wrapped around her shoulders. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail. On the back cloak was the Hogwarts crest.

"Fine. I'm ready," Lauren said.

I nodded.

"As you can't Apparate yet, we're going to have to get to the Ministry by Floo powder,"

Lauren rolled her eyes.

"OK Hermione. We'll see you later," I said, giving Hermione a kiss.

"Okay. Be careful, Harry," Hermione said, kissing me back.

Then Hermione gave Lauren a hug and kiss.

Lauren and I headed over to the fireplace. I grabbed a handful of the grey ash and stepped into the fireplace.

"The Ministry of Magic," I said, clearly and loudly before I dropped the ash.

In a whoosh of green fire, I felt a tug around my navel area and I was spinning. I still didn't like traveling this way, but Lauren couldn't Apparate yet, so it was the only way.

Soon, I stopped spinning and emerged in the Ministry. I dusted the ash off my robe and waited for Lauren to emerge. She did.

I dusted the ash off of her.

"You okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine. I didn't get lost or anything," she said irritably as she reached up and tightened her ponytail.

I studied her.

LAUREN

Dad was studying me. I hated it when he did that. It was like he was able to read my mind.

The Ministry was underground. In the center was a fountain where a wizard, witch, goblin, centaur and elf stood. The ceiling was a peacock blue. On either side of them were dozens of fireplaces where either witches or wizard were waiting to depart and arrive probably. The figures in the pool, which was also the fountain, were gold. Glittering jets of water were shooting from the goblins hat, the wizards and witch's wands, the tip of the centaurs arrow and each of the house elf's ears.

"This way. We've got to check our wands in for a second," Dad said as he led me over to a guard standing by what looked like a scale but with one dish.

The guard passed a thin aerial over Dad as he held out his arms at his sides. The aerial hummed. Once it stopped, the security wizard put it down.

Then, Dad handed him his wand. The wizard put it into a brass thing that looked like a scale but with one dish.

After a few moments, it began spitting a long receipt.

"Phoenix feather core, eleven inches, been in use for about twenty years?" the guard asked him. "Correct?"

Dad nodded.

"OK. Here you go," The guard handed Dad his wand back.

The guard's eyes landed on me.

"This is my daughter. She needs a visitor's pass. We had to use Floo powder to come," Dad explained.

"Ok, no problem," The guard said.

He went behind his desk and typed in something.

"Name?" he asked me.

"Lauren Potter," I replied.

"Business here?" the guard asked as he typed in my name on a device that was a cross between a computer and a calculator.

I froze and looked at Dad stumped.

How would I explain I was going to work with Dad? What was the real reason he asked me to come?

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"She's helping me," Dad offered.

"Fine. Here you go." The security wizard handed me a little badge that I clipped to the collar of my cloak. "Stand still please."

The guard waved that aerial over me. After it hummed, I handed him my wand.

"Unicorn hair core, twelve inches, been in use for four years? Correct?"

I nodded.

Again that receipt printed up. He impaled the receipt onto a large stack of them and handed me my wand back.

"You're free to go."

Dad and I began heading to his office. We got into a lift.

A few wizards and witches entered the lift and Dad and I were pushed toward the back. A young witch, in her middle twenties, got in and kept smiling at Dad. I glared at her until she finally turned around.

A voice came suddenly in the lift.

"Level four: Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, incorporating Beast, Being and Spirit Divisions, Goblin Liason Office and Pest Advisory Bureau."

The young witch that was smiling at Dad got off the lift.

"Level three: Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, including the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, Obliviator Headquarters, and Muggle-Worthy Excuses Committee."

About three wizards got off here.

The lift continued to the next level.

"Level two: Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services."

"Here we go," Dad whispered to me. "S'cuse us!"

We made our way off the lift. The hallway floor was marble, which led to a pair of black double doors. A sign was on one of them in dark blue lettering:

AUROR HEADQUARTERS.

I stood, completely stunned. I had no idea that Dad was an Auror.

My bottom jaw dropped.

Dad had stopped walking and turned around to face me.

"Coming?" he asked.

"Why didn't you tell us you were an Auror?" I asked accusingly.

"Because I knew your mother would worry all the time. She would tell me how dangerous this job is and I didn't want to worry her or you," Dad replied, softly.

"So, you basically lied to us instead," I said, angrily.

"Think...would your mother have let me do this?"

"No,"

"All the more reason why I didn't tell her. I have to do this. I never got a chance to know my real parents. They were killed before I even got to know them. By going after dark witches and wizards, in some strange way, I feel like I'm helping them," Dad said.

"Well, as of now, I'm wishing I never knew you," I spat as I stormed past him, brushing past his shoulder and I continued through the double doors.

I knew that what I said hurt Dad real good, but I didn't care now. He lied to Mum and I, plus, now I know the real reason why he wasn't spending time with me. He was more interested in finding dark witches and wizards than spending time with me. Now I knew the real reason he wanted me to come. He wanted to tell me the truth. He really didn't want to spend time with me at all. That only made me even more furious. I heard Dad coming up behind me.

"My office is this way," he said, quietly as he led me to the right.

I followed him into an area where there were cubicles. His cubicle was the last one on the row. A dozen pictures of wanted wizards and witches were pinned up on a board over his desk. My eyes moved to his desk.

There was about five pictures on his desk. One was of Mum, Dad and Ron in their last year at Hogwarts; the second, of mum and his wedding day; the third, me at age five, and the fourth of all of us. Mum, Dad, me, Ron, Fleur and Luke. The fifth one was just a picture of me when I started Hogwarts.

"Sit," Dad said, as he waved his wand and conjured up a chair.

I sat.

Dad sat behind his desk.

"Hello, Harry!" a familiar voice called.

We looked up.

Ron was leaning over the top of Dad's cubicle.

"Ron! What are you doing here?" Dad asked happily as he gave Ron a hug over the top of the cubicle.

"We're here to register for the cruise! Remember? You asked if we'd like to come along and we said sure!" Ron said laughing.

"Right. Sorry. We had a little excitement at home," Dad said, glancing at me sideways.

"What sort of excitement?" Ron asked.

Dad went to open his mouth, but I jumped up.

"Go ahead! Tell him! Tell the whole bloody Ministry!" I snarled as angry tears swelled in my eyes.

I turned on my heel and stalked away.

HARRY.

I felt as if my heart was being lit on fire. I wasn't going to tell Ron. I wouldn't embarrass her like that.

"Nothing. She's just upset with me now," I said, quietly.

"Oh," Ron said, nodding.

"Where's Luke and Fleur?"

"At the registration office. Down to the right," Ron said, pointing down the corridor inside the headquarters. "I dunno why they had the office here in the Auror headquarters. Maybe it was the only space available?"

"I don't know either," I said, quietly.

"Here comes Fleur and Luke," Ron said eagerly.

I looked up.

Fleur still looked as gorgeous as she did in when we saw her last. Her silver blond hair was pulled into a braid and Luke was walking beside her dressed in Muggle jeans and black tee shirt. Fleur was in violet robes.

"'Arry! How nice it ez to see you!" Fleur beamed.

I grinned.

Fleur came right up to me and gave me a kiss on my left cheek, then on my right.

"Fleur! How are you all doing? Luke?" I asked beaming.

"We are good. Luke ez starting hiz third year at 'Ogwarts," Fleur said, proudly.

"Wow," I said, softly.

Luke kept his eyes on the floor and nervously shuffled his feet. He has dark blond hair, wavy and thick and Ron's eyes.

"Where ez Lauren?" Fleur asked, looking around.

"Um, I think at the registration area. I'll go get her," I lied, forcing a grin. "Excuse me."

I side stepped Ron and followed after Lauren.

Sure enough, I found her leaning against the wall near the registration office for the cruise. Her arms were folded over her chest.

"Lauren?" I asked, approaching her.

"Leave me alone," she snapped.

"Listen to me...I wasn't going to tell Ron! I wasn't going to embarrass you!" I said.

She faced me. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"Why was the real reason you brought me along?" she asked.

Her tone was cold and stiff.

I looked at her stunned.

"The real reason? To spend time with you!" I said.

"Sure! You lied to me and mum!" Lauren snarled, her eyes flashing.

"I had to! I didn't want to worry you two! I have to do this, Laur! It's the only way to stop other families from losing loved ones!" I said.

"You don't understand! I don't want to lose you again!" Lauren shouted as she just burst into tears and sank to her knees. She hugged herself and began rocking back and forth. Her hair had come loose of the ponytail and hung around her face. I heard her sobs.

"Honey?" I asked, gently as I sank to my knees beside her.

I linked arms with her.

"What's really going on? You're really not mad at me...are you?" I asked, quietly putting my face close to hers.

"I don't want to lose you again," she repeated sobbing.

"Lose me again? What are you talking about?" I asked bemused.

"You were in a coma once before. Suppose a dark witch or wizard succeeds in killing you? Where would mum and I be then? I don't want to lose you at all," Lauren sobbed.

Finally, I realized what was really going through her head.

"Oh. Honey...you won't lose me...I promise," I said, gently, putting my forehead against the side of her head.

"How do I know? It can happen like that! Auror's have a dangerous job, Dad!" Lauren sobbed. "Please promise me you'll change jobs!"

"Laur..." I began but she cut me off.

"Promise me!" she nearly shouted.

She was looking at me now. The tears were just streaming down her cheeks. Her eyes were filled with such a pleading look, that I felt my heart melting.

I didn't want to hurt her either.

"Okay...I promise. How about I switch to working with Arthur Weasley in The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts? Would that be better?" I asked, gently and softly.

Lauren nodded.

I threw my arms around her and hugged her. She hugged me back. I buried my face into her hair.

"I love you, Laur," I whispered.

"I love you too, Dad...very much," she replied.

We held each other for a bit before we released each other.

"Let's go register for the cruise, shall we? Oh and Fleur and Luke are waiting to see you. Go ahead. I'll register us," I said, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

She grinned and headed back down the corridor to where the Fleur, Ron and Luke were waiting. I walked over to the office.