Until We Meet Again

Harry, Ron and Hermione decided to go into town for hamburgers that night, since the Dursleys made it quite plain that they were not welcome at the dinner table. Harry couldn't remember having such a relaxing evening while he was staying at Privet Drive.

"Did you see your cousin's face when I vanished that remote control thing while he was watching TV?" Ron asked as the three of them walked back from dinner.

"Yeah, I thought he might wet himself from shock," Harry laughed. "I don't think Dudley expected you two would be able to use magic here."

Hermione sighed.

"Honestly, you boys have got to find something better to do with your time than frighten Dudley."

"Like what?" Ron asked, looking as though he'd like nothing better than continue scaring Harry's cousin.

But Hermione didn't answer. She'd stopped walking altogether, and was peering just ahead of them at the neighborhood park.

"What's up, Hermione?" Harry asked apprehensively.

"I thought I saw someone in the park. But what would they be doing there so late?"

"Who knows. Dudley's buddies used to hang out there some nights during the summer. Maybe it's just one of them."

"No," said Ron, who was pointing. "It's not one of Dudley's friends. It's a girl! Do you see her?"

Harry and Hermione squinted into the darkness.

"Yes, on the swing set." Harry tensed and noticed that he'd already pulled out his wand. Hermione motioned for him to put it away.

The girl was sitting on the very swing set Harry himself used to occupy. She was swinging slowly, letting her legs dangle and her feet graze the grass beneath her.

"She probably just wants a bit of privacy," Harry said, assuming she was there for the same reasons he used to be. "Come on."

But as they made their way past the park, the girl saw them and stood. Harry's stomach lurched as she jogged over to them. Ron and Hermione looked as apprehensive as he felt. He shook it off, feeling silly for being afraid of a girl in a park.

"Hey!" she called, smiling as she finally reached them.

"Um, hey," Ron replied uncertainly.

Harry stared at her. She looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place her. She was very pretty. She had dark, curly hair that hung below her shoulders, and equally dark brown eyes. She was almost as tall as Harry. There was something knowing in her gaze, something that made Harry think he'd seen her before.

"Have we met?" Hermione asked earnestly. She must have been thinking the same thing as Harry. Well, probably not the pretty part.

"Not quite, but I've seen you three at Hogwarts." Her voice was calm and cheerful, giving no indication that she noticed how anxious Harry, Ron and Hermione felt.

"At Hogwarts?" Harry asked. "But nobody who lives around here goes to Hogwarts."

"You do," the girl said, grinning. "And I don't go to Hogwarts, I go to Beauxbatons. I don't live here, either, I'm just staying with my Aunt Figgy for the summer."

Harry balked at the name.

"You're... you're Mrs. Figg's niece? The, uh, squib from across the street?"

The girl nodded and stuck her hand out to Harry.

"Noel Langdon," she said.

When Harry didn't make a move to shake her hand, Hermione stuck hers out instead.

"I'm Hermione Granger. This is Ron Weasley," she said, as Ron waved and stuck his hands in his pockets. "And this is -"

"No need," Noel said, turning to Harry. "You're Harry Potter. I know. Like I said, I've seen you all at Hogwarts. I was there for the Triwizard Tournament and the Yule Ball."

"Oh, that's where I've seen you, then," Ron gushed. "I knew she looked familiar," he added, elbowing Harry in the ribs and raising his eyebrows.

"Yes, well," Hermione said, all business, "we've got to get going. It was nice meeting you, Noel." She began ushering the boys towards the Dursleys'.

"Do you have to go back so soon?" Noel called, catching up with them. "It's just me and my aunt here, and I don't really have a link to the wizarding world right now besides my owl. I don't mean to be rude, but it's been a bit boring around here. I was hoping we could all, you know, hang out for a bit."

Harry had to grin. He knew exactly how she felt, had felt it himself every summer since he started going to Hogwarts.

"Yeah, it can be boring, to say the least." He glanced at Hermione, who was looking at him sternly. Then he hastened to add, "But, uh, we've got to get back. Maybe some other time."

"Oh, alright," Noel replied regretfully. They were nearing the Dursley home and, consequently, Mrs. Figg's house.

Harry, Ron and Hermione hurried into the Dursleys' house, leaving Noel standing in the street. Harry almost felt guilty for leaving her alone, and he watched her through the front windows as she went inside Mrs. Figg's house across the street before he joined Ron and Hermione in his bedroom.

"Well, that was interesting," Ron conceded, flopping down on his back on Harry's bed. "Imagine, a witch coming to visit right across the street."

"I wouldn't call it interesting," Hermione interjected. "I'd say it's a little too much of a coincidence."

"What do you mean, Hermione?" Ron asked. "Don't tell me you think she's working for you-know-who. She's just a student, like us."

"Well, until we know exactly what she's doing here, I think we should steer clear of her."

"She's just staying with Mrs. Figg," Harry said matter-of-factly. "You remember Mrs. Figg? She's the squib I told you about who stood up for me in front of the Wizengamot after the Dementor attacks. She's a member of the Order. I seriously doubt she's in leagues with Voldemort, Hermione."

Hermione sat down at Harry's desk, apparently running through the facts in her mind.

"I suppose it does sound rather innocent. But I still don't think we should be hanging around with her while we're here. We should be thinking about what we'll have to do after the wedding, trying to figure out the rest of the Horcruxes."

Ron sighed deeply and rubbed a hand over his eyes.

"Can't we just relax for a few days before we get down to it? It's summer vacation! I just want a little bit to wind down from school and... everything."

"Ron's right, Hermione. We should rest while we can, it might be the last downtime any of us will get for a long time." With a yawn, Harry conjured up two fluffy pallets on the ground. Hermione went to the bathroom to change into her pajamas while Harry and Ron changed in the bedroom.

"So, Harry, what do you think of Noel?" Ron asked as soon as Hermione made her exit.

Harry grinned.

"I think you shouldn't let Hermione see you staring at her like you were doing back there. You're going to get yourself in trouble, mate."

Harry and Ron changed into their pajamas, and once Hermione returned, Harry turned off the lamp that lit the room. Then the three of them collapsed beneath the blankets and went to sleep.