You Don't See Me

CHAPTER TEN: Gratifyingly Uncomfortable

All it took was the initiative of a three-year-old kid to break the uncomfortable silence that followed. "Uncle Harry, this is our Aunt Ginny," Drew started.

"She treated us to ice cream!" Charlotte happily added.

"Yeah Daddy, she bought me ice cream too," Abby showed off her chocolate stained shirt as evidence. Noticing that Harry was still too stunned to speak, she added, "Dad? Hello???"

It snapped Harry back into reality. "You were saying?" he asked his daughter.

"I guess we'd better go," I said, taking the twins' hands. "It's getting late. I promised Hermione I'd have them home before the evening. C'mon kids, say goodbye to Uncle Harry and Abby."

Harry shifted his weight from foot to foot. I could tell that he was as uncomfortable as I was at this meeting. The kids' efforts to make conversation were worth a try, but it just wasn't enough. As Abby bid farewell to the twins, the distance between us became much more obvious. We had become like strangers to each other.

I cursed myself silently, wishing for the thousandth time that I had control over what my heart felt. He was there. Right next to me. Just being so close to him caused my skin to tingle with a mixture of revulsion and excitement. I was making myself sick. How many times did I have to remind myself that Harry Potter was way out of my league?

"So I guess I'll be seeing you around?" he asked.

"Yeah...I'm in England for a few weeks probably," I replied flatly. 'Was I trying to antagonize him?' I'd resolved firmly when I was still in New York to quit obsessing over Harry by the time I returned to England. So far, I was doing a good job keeping my guard up.

"It was nice seeing you again, Ginny," he said. My heart gave a painful thump. Why did he always have to be so charming?

"You too, Harry," I replied.

"C'mon hot stuff, let's get going!" he beckoned to Abby.

The little girl immediately bounded over to his side. They both waved goodbye and soon disappeared into the crowd slowly packing Diagon Alley that afternoon. A smile touched my lips. He was so attentive to his daughter, so available to her - the way good fathers in loving families were supposed to be. Only when they were out of sight did I realize that Cho's name never came up during our short conversation. I sighed. He must really miss her considering that Abby was beginning to look more and more like Cho lately.

I snapped out of my reverie as Drew was tugging my hand, reminding me that we had to get going as well. Who would have guessed that a kids' day out at Diagon Alley would turn out to be the longest afternoon for me in years? I sure hoped that Hermione would be home. I needed to talk to someone.

But as it turned out, I couldn't muster enough courage to tell Hermione about the encounter I had with the Potters when we were in Diagon Alley. Drew and Charlotte didn't say anything about that incident as well. Whatever their reasons were, I sure as hell loved them for the big favor they unknowingly did for me.

****

On Saturday morning, after four work-free days at the Burrow, I decided to check the voicemails on my cell phone. I had made it a point to keep it turned off when I first arrived to avoid any phone calls from New York. But knowing Vera, I was sure she must have made a dozen calls by now just to find out where I was and when I would be coming back.

My predictions turned out to be correct. My voice mail had about two dozen messages and three-fourths of them were from Vera. Considering this averaged roughly six calls a day, it was only a matter of time before she'd call again and I mentally prepared my excuses while waiting. Soon enough, my phone rang after a few seconds.

"Vera?" I answered. I was a hundred percent sure it was her voice I'd hear.

"Good heavens, Ginny! Where are you?" Vera rambled on the other end.

I might as well have received a howler given the tone of Vera's voice. Fortunately I had taken the call in the garden for fear that any form of magic inside the house might disrupt the conversation.

"Althea has been demanding your presence every time she meets with the staff assigned to her wedding! You need to come back here soon," she added. It was more of an order than a request and I couldn't help but sigh irritably.

"My letter had my reasons carefully explained. I'm in London right now. My parents are celebrating their wedding anniversary in a week and my presence is very important," I explained. Secretly, I crossed my fingers hoping she'd accept my explanation. "And besides, I gave specific orders to my staff that Kate should handle all decisions while I'm away. She can do the job."

"Ginny, Kate isn't you," Well that comment was expected Vera wasn't very fond of Kate after all.

I remembered that during lunch breaks, Kate would whine about the "wedding nazi" (our term for Vera) and how her working style drove Kate nuts. Well, Vera was really a perfectionist when it came to her job and expected the same dedication from her staff. Kate just happened to have a different outlook than Vera, which is why they clashed more often.

"Give her a break, Vera. The lady's been trying to impress you for ages now," I prodded her. Even though Vera had this 'tough-as-a-nails' attitude when it came to her personal and business life, most of the office knew that I was the only one who could get through to her. "I'll make you a deal. If she doesn't deliver in this wedding, you're free to withdraw my chance to be partner."

"All right, you win this time," she said. The exasperation was obvious in her voice. "But I want you back here in two weeks or else I'll have to drag your butt back here if I have to. Understand?"

"Yes ma'am!" I replied in my best obedient tone.

Thankfully, Vera hung up after that and I was all alone again in the garden contemplating what to do next.

****

"Feeling a little edgy now, aren't we?" Hermione teased me as I helped her bake cookies for dinner that evening. "Nervous about seeing Harry again?" I forced a shaky laugh. She obviously had no idea what she'd missed these past few days.

"Sshh," I replied, putting a finger to my lips. Why did Hermione keep bringing him up?

"Don't worry, you'll get through this evening," she said. "But wait until you meet his daughter. Abby's adorable. She's the spitting image of Cho now," she continued.

"I'm over him, okay?" I replied matter-of-factly. "It's no big deal."

"Chill, Gin. I was just trying to get you in the right frame of mind," Hermione said. "You know, perhaps I could even play matchmaker on the sidelines tonight," she said, with a twinkle in her eye.

I couldn't help envying the contented look in my sister-in-law's eyes. For a career-oriented woman like Hermione, she'd been able to juggle work and family life pretty well. She'd even mellowed through the years compared to her 'by-the-book' attitude back at Hogwarts. It was certainly a welcome change in one of the Ministry's top Aurors.

I let out a frustrated groan and squinted at Hermione. "Okay, just drop it! I don't want to be a part in whatever scheme it is that you and Ron have up your sleeves," How would I ever get over Harry when my whole family kept pushing me towards him? "Harry Potter ISN'T MY TYPE!!!" I declared. Unfortunately, my voice was loud enough to allow everyone in the house to hear me.

"Speaking of the devil," Hermione said, nudging me in the side.

I followed Hermione's eyes to the front door and felt my heart kick into overdrive. Harry was ambling casually towards Ron and my dad who were sitting by the fireplace discussing something. Abby was holding Harry's hand but broke free of his grip as soon Charlotte called out to her from upstairs.

'Was my voice too loud?' I hated the thought of him having overheard my big mouth and my stomach clenched at the mere thought of facing him. "We're done here, right? I'll be in the garden if you need me," I said to Hermione. My exit was made in a few seconds as I darted outside in the wink of an eye.

Unfortunately, Harry must've noticed my hasty retreat and he followed me outside much to my dismay. I sat on a bench in the shade and looked past him. The garden was tinted in the intense orange of the setting sun. I felt cold, probably because of the breeze that came with dusk setting in. But I couldn't tell whether the goose bumps prickling my skin were caused by the wind or by the guy who was leaning on the fence across from me.

"Hey," Harry said.

I smoothed my beige capri pants. "Hey. What's up?" I said. Go ahead. Give me your best shot.'

"Nothing," he replied. "Are you... all right?" He looked at me for the first time since I arrived back home.

I probed his intense green eyes for traces of sincerity. I couldn't decide whether they looked concerned or just plain gorgeous. "Yeah, I'm all right. Why do you ask?"

"Well, you seemed terrified when you saw me arrive," Harry said. There was the slightest of creases above his brow. "You bolted before I could even say hello to you and Hermione."

"You've always had a gift for understatement," I let out a nervous laugh. I couldn't help it. His apparent concern was throwing me. "I'm sorry. I just needed a breath of fresh air after a whole afternoon in the kitchen."

Harry laughed as well. He shoved his hands into his pockets for apparent lack of anything to say. We both wanted to ask each other about something but couldn't speak.

"Hello there!" a man's voice exclaimed, startling both of us. Harry and I turned around to see Remus Lupin and Sirius Black walking up the garden from the front lawn. "I hope we weren't disturbing anything," Sirius winked mischievously.

"Oh, hey, Remus, Sirius," I said, actually relieved to have them barge into our conversation. "To what do we owe this visit from the noble professors of Hogwarts?" I inquired.

Prof. Remus Lupin had taken his old teaching position back at Hogwarts right after "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" was defeated in battle. Sirius Black, Harry's godfather and guardian, was happily serving under Professor Dumbledore as the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher . It was certainly a far cry from his earlier life as an escaped convict from the Azkaban prison. Both men were settled well at Hogwarts and were well loved by the students there.

"Ginny," Remus said softly. "I wouldn't have believed Hermione's news that you were back unless I saw it with my own eyes." The gray streaks in his hair seemed to have increased over the years but he remained as soft-spoken as ever. I gave Remus a hug as Sirius chatted with Harry.

"So what brings you both here?" Harry asked Sirius again.

"The marvelous cooking of Molly, what else! Surely you didn't think we would miss the traditional Saturday dinners we've been having for years now?" Sirius answered. "Seriously though, we just wanted to welcome back the Manhattan girl. How's New York?" he darted me a look.

"Bustling with people as always. It's a city that never sleeps after all," I responded.

"She's a wedding coordinator," Harry added. "Honestly Gin, I always imagined you working for the Ministry after Hogwarts." He sounded so confident when he said it that I didn't know whether I should be elated or insulted by the remark.

"I happen to love my job," I replied bitingly, raising my chin. "Besides, maybe the Ministry wasn't my calling." If Harry made another comment about it, I was determined not to back off from this verbal banter.

But Remus was quick to change the topic of conversation.

"So where's your little hot stuff?" he asked Harry, referring to Abby.

"Oh, she's in her element as usual," he nodded towards one of the upper windows in the house. "Probably in there playing with Drew and Charlotte. She loves playing older sister to those kids," Harry sighed.

"Ah, it must be a sign!" Sirius exclaimed.

"What do you mean?" I asked. His comment had left us baffled.

"What Padfoot here means is, maybe little Abby does need to have a sibling of her own," Remus explained.

"You mean I should adopt?" Harry remarked. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to raise a child alone? And now you want me to add another one?" He was obviously a little annoyed with Sirius' remark.

Sirius smacked his forehead and burst out laughing. "Silly me! It always amazes me that my godson is the king of all oblivious individuals out there."

My left eyebrow shot up. These two gentlemen must be up to something. "Okay Sirius, spill it. You're making us more confused by the moment."

Sirius regained his composure and gave Harry a friendly pat on the back. "Remus and I are only suggesting that maybe it's about time that you get married again."

Harry's cheeks turned crimson at that remark but he wasn't about to let them get away with it. "I should ask you the same thing as well," he replied. "You haven't even told me about who it is that you're currently dating."

But Padfoot and Moony seemed unaffected. "We're way past our prime, boy," Remus answered. "It's you that we're concerned about. Abby needs to grow up with a mother figure." Sirius added, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

I fidgeted in my seat. The sudden turn of conversation was making me uncomfortable but I couldn't just bolt since it would be rude to both Remus and Sirius. Harry wasn't the only one who felt like he was in the hot seat. I shared his sentiments.

"Abby and I are doing fine," Harry reasoned. "I'm just not ready to commit to a relationship right now." I shot him a reproachful glance. Since when did Harry become so hesitant when it comes to relationships?

"Too bad," Sirius muttered, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder. "You must be the most eligible bloke in the Wizarding World right now."

Remus chortled and shook his head. "Just think, Sirius. Our little Harry is growing up."

"I am grown up! I'm happily content with my life and raising a five-year old daughter whom I love very much," Harry retorted. "And what was wrong with the way I was? Why do I have to change?"

"Life is change," Sirius replied. "If you want to live, sometimes you have to dive in and see what happens."

"Ah, the wisdom of Padfoot!" Remus whispered to me. I stifled a giggle. As much as I was uncomfortable listening to this whole conversation, it was fun seeing the two gang up on Harry.

Harry threw up his hands in frustration. "Aren't you going to say anything, Gin?"

I struggled to keep my voice low. "Calm down, Harry. Sirius and Remus were just trying to be helpful."

"Well it's not funny!" he shot back.

"Geez, can't you take a joke?" I said, barely stifling my irritation. Remus and Sirius fell quiet. Apparently, they were carefully weighing the situation before them to determine if another war of words might erupt between Harry and me.

Harry slumped back in his seat. He opened his mouth, then shut it. For once it seemed he didn't have an answer.

"There you are!"

I looked up wearily just in time to see my dad walking in our direction from the house with the little kids in tow. They were all grinning with comic apprehension as if they knew they'd interrupted an argument. Drew and Charlotte were both so delighted to see Remus and Sirius that they completely ignored everyone else as they ran to greet them.

"Uncle Sirius! Uncle Remus!" the twins yelled in chorus. Padfoot and Moony were famous for their tendency to spoil little kids by catering to their every whim, and the twins were well aware of this.

Abby, on the other hand, quietly approached her father and gave him a hug. Then she approached Remus and Sirius. With all of them busy in their respective conversation, I figured there was no need for my presence there. Remus and Sirius were talking with the twins and dad, while Harry was saying something to his daughter. I felt like the odd man out.

In a sudden movement I stood up, glancing at my watch. "I better get back inside," I reasoned. "I promised Mum and Hermione that I'd help with the cooking."

"Can I come, Aunt Ginny?" Abby asked. Her green eyes were sparkling with anticipation.

I looked at Harry for approval. He shook his head disapprovingly at first, as if sensing that Abby might be a distraction in the kitchen. "Are you sure it's okay for her to tag along?" he asked me. "She can be quite hyperactive when in the company of adults."

"It's okay," I replied. "I don't mind at all."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Looks like I'm outnumbered here. Okay hot stuff, you can go with Aunt Ginny. But promise to behave okay?"

"Thanks daddy!" Abby squealed in delight. She immediately rushed to my side, tugging my hand excitedly.

I quickly turned around, rushing to head back to the house with Abby in tow. The truth was, Mum could very well manage the kitchen even without help from Hermione and me. But sitting there with those men, I was feeling increasingly nauseous and self-conscious.

"Hey Harry!" Sirius called out, making sure I was still within earshot to hear what he had to say. "Looks like Ginny's a good babysitter for Abby. Your little girl has a good eye."

"Very funny, Sirius!" I hollered in return.

They were teasing Harry further as Abby and I went inside. At least it kept them pre-occupied before dinnertime. I sighed. This was going to be a long, long evening for all of us.

(To Be Continued...)