Harry Potter: The Next Stage of Power

2.) Dating

Harry woke the next morning and went for his run like yesterday he ran to the primary school and back. He went to the garden first and did the weeding first so he didn't have to change twice. As he was weeding he heard his Aunt talking over the fence with the neighbor. "Oh I tell you Anna, that new couple next door to you look truly nasty. Filthy, that's what they are."

"Oh I agree. I heard them talking one day and it was weird. They just seem to finish each other's sentences and they have this little girl who is just weird. But cute too, I don't like the looks of her. I may suggest to her mother that school you and Vernon send Harry to."

"Is her name Katie by any chance?"

"Who the little girl? No, her name is Aurora, have you ever heard of such a name?"

"No, that's the worst name for any child. My lord, are they barbarians," Petunia said as Harry tuned them out. He finished and checked his watch. He had one hour to get showered and changed before Katie arrived. He stood and dusted himself off before entering the house. He showered and changed before heading to his room. He stood in front of the mirror as he rubbed the fuzz on his chin. He trimmed it in his mind, as the hair slowly grew inward and vanished. His training was paying off as he shortened his hair. It was about an inch long when he stopped it. It curled loosely and slightly shimmered as he took a towel and dried it slightly. It was short enough now to not cover his scar. He liked it for some reason so he decided to try it and if Katie liked it longer he could make it longer with his training.

"I'm about to go out with Katie Bell, the hottest girl in school. God I still can't believe it." Harry danced in place slightly before he pulled his glasses on. He pulled out his wallet as he counted the money. "We can go to a movie and maybe something to eat afterwards. He left his room with a smile as his Aunt and Uncle sat down in the living room with Dudley and his best friend Piers. "I am going outside to wait for Katie okay?"

"Sure boy."

"I bet she is ugly," Piers said.

"I bet she is handicapped and mentally challenged," Dudley shot back as Vernon smiled.

"I think she maybe better than you two think," Harry shot at them before opening the door. He walked down the walk way and saw her car come around the corner. She pulled up slowly and smiled out the tinted black window of the small Beetle. She rolled it down slightly and looked at Harry.

"Harry, you look great."

"Oh, thanks. Listen I know it's weird and you don't have to but would you come in and met my vicious Uncle and Aunt and their son and his friend. They seem to think your going to be ugly or something and I wanted to show you to them."

"Oh, be careful Harry Potter. If you let people hear you talking like that they may think we are boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Aren't we?"

"If you want to be," Katie replied as she shut the car off and stepped out. "Let's go and I can flaunt you and you can flaunt me." Harry smiled as he took her hand and they walked up to the front door and Harry opened it.

"Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, Dudley, Piers. This is Katie Bell...my girlfriend." At that his family and Piers all dropped their jaws at her. She was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Her blonde hair came down to her shoulders as her blue eyes danced over the shocked faces. "Aunt Petunia I heard you wanted to tell her something."

His Aunt shook her head as she looked at Harry. "Yes, come with me." She motioned to the dinning room Piers stood and walked over to her putting on his failed attempt at charm.

"So where do you know Harry from?"

"Oh," she said as she clutched Harry's arm trying to back away from the greasy Piers. "We go to school together, I'm two years ahead of him."

At this Petunia lost her composer and her jaw dropped again. Vernon and Dudley seemed to be stuttering. Piers, however, was unaffected as he didn't know about Harry going to Hogwarts. "So you were a bad girl before then."

Harry released Katie's hand as he moved to stand in front of her. His anger began to show as a ball of paper in the trash bin behind Dudley lifted into the air and flew at Piers. It hit the back of his head, as Harry was about to hit him. "Back off Piers, she would never date a snake like you." With that said Harry turned around and smiled at Katie. He held her hand as she turned and they left. "I am sorry, I shouldn't have asked you to do that."

"It's okay Harry," Katie said with a giggle before they got into the car. As Harry buckled his seat belt she leaned over and they kissed quickly before driving off.

**********

When they arrived at the movies Harry paid and they went to find a seat. Harry laughed and draped his arm over the back of her seat as they traded stories of the twins. When the movie started Harry drifted his arm onto her shoulder. She had her head on his chest slightly as they watched the movie.

When it was over they left hand in hand talking about everything as they walked down the street to get some food, but neither where really hungry so they sat on a bench. "So what shall we do?"

"Well, we can go to the park and relax. Or we could just walk around someplace, like the mall or something. Or we could just go somewhere quiet and talk."

Harry blushed as they stood and began to walk. She slipped an arm around his waist as he held her shoulder. "Let's walk for a bit and then we can try some of the other things you mentioned," Harry said to he.

"Okay," Katie smiled leaning her head against his chest. They walked along for about an hour before returning to her car. They drove to the park and sat in the afternoon sun. Harry lay on his hands as he glared at the blue and white sky. Katie leaned over him with an am draped slightly over his chest. She rested her head on her free hand as she looked downwards at Harry. "You are a truly great man Mr. Potter."

"How so Ms. Bell?"

"You lay here in the sun. With a beautiful girl fawning over you and not once do you attempt to kiss me. In fact it took me to kiss you all but a few times."

"Why try to kiss a gorgeous girl when she will kiss you?"

"Harry! Are you trying to flatter me?"

"Yes, I am."

"Well, you did it then," Katie said with a smile before kissing Harry and wrapping her arms around his neck. They kissed and held each other for almost an hour. "Harry?"

"Yes Katie."

"I think we have an audience." Katie smirked as Harry looked around to find a couple of people goggling at them. Harry smiled as he kissed Katie and they reluctantly stood.

"Where should we go?"

"Well I can think of places," Katie said with a mischievous grin as she twisted her toes in the grass.

"Like?"

Katie smiled at Harry who was wearing the same grin she had just had. "Like my place." Harry nodded as they climbed into the car and drove off hand in hand.

**********

When they arrived Harry found she lived in a small apartment. "What shall we do here? Alone. Unsupervised."

"Shut up and kiss me again," Katie snapped as she pulled Harry close to herself and kissed him fiercely. Harry kissed her back as they slowly made their way to her bedroom. Harry shut the door and they lay in bed dressed as they held each other.

"Katie," Harry called out gently as she pulled her head away from his chest.

"Yes Harry."

"Should we be doing this?"

"Only if we both want to. Why, don't you want to?"

"Yes but it's just that...well what I mean to say is I've never..."

Katie sat up instantly and looked at Harry. "You're a..." Harry turned red as he nodded. "Oh, well we shouldn't do this." Katie rolled off the bed and went to her bedroom door.

"But I thought you wanted to?"

"I do but it should be special. Something you won't forget ever. Come on we can watch some television." Harry watched her leave and felt like he could have killed himself. He stood and followed after her as they sat on her couch and watched the television. Slowly she drifted of into a sleep with her head in Harry's lap as he used his power to levitate a blanket to him. He covered her up and turned the TV off as he leaned his head back drifting off to sleep.

**********

Harry woke with a start as he saw a tall man standing over his head. He jumped up and backed into a wall as he heard Katie laughing. "Daddy, leave Harry alone. We didn't do anything."

"So you're my little Katie's boyfriend. Let me warn you that if you hurt her I will hurt you." The man pointed a large finger at Harry as he threatened him. Then the man let his hand go out as an offer of greeting. "Now that the formalities of fatherhood are finished, I'm Simon Bell. I have heard a lot about you young man."

"Hi," Harry said as he gripped the larger man's hand and shook it firmly. The rest of the morning at Katie's apartment was normal, almost, as they ate breakfast. Harry fixed it since he felt like he should. "Here you go Mr. Bell. Here's yours Katie," Harry said as he scrapped eggs on to their respective plates.

"Harry, call me Simon. When we are done Katie can drive you home."

"Your Uncle and Aunt are going to be angry aren't they?"

"Yeah but hey it's okay. I can just threaten to send an owl to my godfather and they will be nice and calm again."

"Your godfather? Who's that?" Simon asked as he sipped his coffee.

"If I told you, you would freak out and think I was crazy."

"Try us Harry," Katie said as she smiled and sat her chin in her hands.

"Well, before I do you, both have to promise some stuff. That you won't tell anyone, you won't freak out, and that you will not think I am crazy or anything."

"Okay," Katie said as she brushed her bare foot against Harry's.

"We promise," Simon said as he leaned forward.

"Okay," Harry said as he began to tell them all about third year as it happened to him. He spent almost an hour telling them and they only stared at him with opened mouths. "So now you know."

"So you're telling me that, you know where Sirius Black is."

"Basically I know where he is part of the time."

"Harry that was so sweet of you," Katie said as she kissed him. Simon only looked away as he bit his tongue. "You could have told me before."

"But I didn't because I figured you would be afraid of dating the godson of an escaped convicted murderer. Plus I figured only those that may want to see him should know. So I figured since we are dating that I shouldn't keep it or any other secrets from you."

With that said Simon stood and slapped Harry on the back in a friendly way. "You both should go, talk on the way to his house and spend the day together. No more nights till I am dead or you two get married." Harry smiled and dressed back into his socks and shoes as Katie changed into some jogging pants and a baggy T-shirt. They waved by to Simon and left.

When Harry arrived home and was surprised to find his Aunt and Uncle not yelling at him. Katie came with him to his room as they entered the house. They talked and Harry told her all of the things that had happened in the years she knew him. "So, what do you think? Still want to be my girlfriend?" Katie walked to the door and closed it.

"Mr. Potter I think we need to clear something up."

Harry paled and gulped all at once. "Okay I understand."

"Harry, you think that because some guy with scaly skin wants you dead it's going to make me not like you. Well, you're wrong; I like you now and I will like you tomorrow and forever." Katie sat on Harry's lap in his desk chair. She was facing him so she could kiss him. "Now, if you ever think that again I will have to prove otherwise."

"How will you do that?"

"By doing this," Katie said before kissing Harry deeply and passionately. The kiss seemed to last forever as Harry held her close to him. They sat talking for hours as time just flew by.

**********

Two weeks of running and working passed quickly for Harry as he spent every minute he could with Katie. When the time came for him to head to Diagon Alley he found he had not finished packing. When he was done he shrunk his trunk and sent Hedwig on to the Leaky Caldron. He would be staying there for the next two weeks before he had to catch the train to Hogwarts. He left his home on Privet Drive and headed for Arabella's house. He had arranged to meet Katie at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. They would spend the day shopping and Harry wanted to get her a gift for her birthday which was a few months ago but Harry had not known. So he talked her into letting him get her a belated gift. He thanked Arabella for her work with him over the summer and used her fireplace to Floo to Diagon Alley.

He arrived and was greeted by Katie and the Wesley bunch including Hermione. The entire group went threw the stores after getting money from the wizarding bank. Harry carried three bags of gold around his waist and hide them well with his cloak. They picked their books and robes up. Harry had a hard time though as he had to remove all but his muscle shirt. Katie and Ginny along with Hermione all giggled at him as Fred and George kept Angelina and Alicia from looking. Harry was blood red when he pulled his shirt and cloak back on. Katie just smiled and kissed him. When all the school supplies had been bought Harry and Katie went to a wizarding jewelry store next door to Ollivander's.

"Harry its so expensive in here. You don't have to get me anything I told you that."

"Katie," Harry said before kissing her quickly. "Be quiet, I am getting you a gift whether you like the idea or not."

"Okay sweetie." Katie smiled and wrapped her arm around Harry's as she held his hand. They looked around and Harry stopped, as they looked at a row of necklaces all very expensive. "Harry these are too much."

"Katie, please let me spend the amount I want to on you. Now go back to the hotel and let me buy your gift. I will be there in a few minutes." Harry kissed her as he pushed her playfully towards the door. She nodded and laughed as she left. Harry turned back to the shop and smiled at the old witch behind the counter. "I wanted to ask you about deliveries. Do you make them to Hogwarts during Christmas holidays?"

"Yes, we do."

"Good then I would like to pay for a gift for then and one now." Harry smiled as he turned to look at the necklace and a bracelet he had seen and liked. Katie had liked them to as she had pointed to them and said so. Harry just said they looked okay so she wouldn't expect them. "I would like the bracelet here to be delivered for Christmas."

"Ah, the bracelet of Venus. Very wise choice, the jewel will change colors according to the mood the wearer is in. I will supply a list of colors for you separated from the gift."

"Thank you, the one I would like right now though is this necklace here."

The old witch smiled as she waved her wand and muttered a secret phrase to unlock the glass. When she had opened the cabinet she pulled bracelet out first and handed it to Harry. He looked at the silver and gold entwined metal and then the blue jewel set atop the metals. The witch then handed Harry the golden chain of the necklace. The jewel affixed to the chain was a stunning red; a silver heart surrounded it. It was beautiful. He walked over to the counter and laid them on a velvet cushion. The witch closed the cabinet and handed Harry a second necklace. "This is the other half of it."

"What?"

"The necklace you pointed to is called the eye of the goddesses, the one I just gave you is called the eye of the gods. They are a pair, you pay more for the two but it is best for you I think."

"Why?"

"Well, the two are linked. When you grab the amulet of yours then you will be able to say the name of a girl and you will find her. You will see her if your eyes are closed. But if she has the necklace then you will be able to speak to her using your mind. The necklaces will only work for those that own it. So you give it to her and she lets a friend use it the friend will not be able to use it."

"Okay then I like this idea. How much all together?"

"150 Galleons, that includes me wrapping the Christmas gift and owling it to you on the 24th," the old witch smiled slightly at Harry who opened his first bag and poured out fifty Galleons. His second bag held one hundred almost exactly. He had three left from the transaction, but he also had a third bag. "Thank you for your patronage."

"No, thank you," Harry said as he pushed the pile of money to her and then put the slim silver chain of his necklace on. The blue crystal looking like it had grown from the silver metal that held it in place. He smiled and waved good-bye to the sweet old witch after placing Katie's necklace in a velvet bag he received along with his proof of purchase for the other necklace.

Harry walked back to the Leaky Cauldron smiling as he entered. He walked over to the large table the twins, Angelina, Alicia, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Katie had picked to sit at. Harry stood behind Katie and held the purple bag in front of her eyes. "Harry," she said as she grabbed the bag and opened it. Harry sat next to her as she pulled out the necklace. Harry helped her put it on as the others admired it, except for Ginny. "Harry thank you so much but you shouldn't have."

'Katie can you hear me?'

"Yes, I can Harry I am sitting next to you," Katie said as she kissed him.

'Katie the jewel you have lets us talk in our heads. Just think about talking to me and not talk out loud.'

'Is it working?'

'Yes it is,' Harry smiled and kissed her as he reached for his and closed his eyes. He thought about the old witch and then he could see her in his mind. He let the image go as the kiss broke.

"So is there anything else I should know about this?"

"Well, I can tell you more later. First lets eat and have fun," Harry said as they all began to order into their plates and began eating.

**********

When dinner was over Harry smiled. "So where are you guys staying?"

"We are heading to our rooms upstairs. Mum said we had to stay here while she and Dad go visit Charlie in Romania," Fred answered as he looked over at Harry.

"Yep, Ginny and the other girls are sharing a room and we guys are sharing a room," Ron added as he and finished the game of chess between himself and Hermione.

"Well, what do you all say about us all going to bed?"

The entire group yawned in approval as the clock over the bar chimed once. "It's already one o'clock," Harry answered back as he stood and felt wide-awake. Katie stood next to him and smiled as she stretched.

'Bedtime mister.'

'Oh man, and I wanted to go save the world from Snape in his pajamas.'

Katie laughed as they all climbed the stairs with her and Harry bringing up the rear. "Good night everyone," Ron called out as they all waved and said goodnight. Harry walked with Katie to room six.

"Goodnight Katie."

"Goodnight Harry," Katie said and planted a kiss on his lips before turning and entering into room five across the hall. Harry smiled as he entered his room and stripped completely to his red boxers. He climbed in bed and looked at the ceiling before he heard and voice in his head, 'knock knock.'

Harry jumped up and went to the door. He opened it and found Katie in the hall with her nightgown on. She brushed past him as he asked her in her head, 'what's wrong?'

'Well I thought that tonight could be special.'

Harry shut the door as he heard her and registered it all at once. He turned and looked at her as he saw her in his bed under the sheets. The nightgown lay on the floor next to the bed. He looked back to the door and raised a hand as he sealed it with magic. He scrambled to bed and climbed in. 'Are you sure?'

"Yes, I am Harry." Katie giggled as she drew him closer and removed his boxers. She tossed them and ironically enough they landed on the doorknob as the lamp flicked out from the wind coming from the enchanted window.