Two of Hearts

Chapter 1

Nine years had passed since that painful day. The day he had let his one true love go. Nine years without Surika. He had neither her or his son at all. She left him for better things, and God did he miss her terribly! Not a day went by that he didn't think about her and Ryan, and what they could have had.

Not long after he had completed his seventh year, the Dark Lord had been defeated, and Harry went on to play Quidditch. Though he was good, and he loved Quidditch, that profession only lasted a few short years. His heart just wasn't in the game. Now, at age 27, he was unmarried, and owned a popular bookstore. He had everything- fame, wealth, a great job, but he was missing one thing- Surika. It wasn't as if he didn't date, he had tried several times with several women, but no one seemed to click like Surika did. As a result, he had been severely deprived of physical pleasure. It seemed impossible, but he had cared so much for Surika, that making love to anyone else seemed like an awful sin.

"You really need to go out, Harry," said Draco. Yeah, it too seemed impossible, but after Surika left, and Harry fell into misery, Draco turned over a new leaf and out of the blue, they became friends. Ron hadn't been too pleased, but he eventually coped with it.

"Leave me alone, Draco."

"I'm just saying that nine years is a long time to be moping over someone. Crying over Surika is not going to bring her back. Besides, if she's not dead, then she's probably married. I mean, she would be about your age, right? It's high time you moved on!"

"Gee, Draco. Thanks for the pep talk," said Harry glumly.

"Now, you are going to get out and do something if I have to chain and drag you! Hey, there was this café that Hermione was talking about. It's in London. It's a muggle joint, but if it'll get you out of this damn house, I'm game."

"Oh, fine! Geez! I'll go! I'm free Saturday."

*Saturday

Harry paced around the square restlessly. Where was that blonde idiot? Probably busy playing women. Just as he was about to leave, Draco arrived, out of breath and grinning.

"Where have you been? And what's with the grin? Did you plow over a small child or something?"

"Ha, ha. Very funny," he drawled. "I was just detained. Pretty brunette from the bar."

"It figures," sighed Harry. "Let's just get this over with."

"Don't get too enthusiastic, now. I don't want you to over do it," Draco said, his voice seething with sarcasm. Harry chose to ignore it, and let him lead the way to the muggle world. He had been so long from it that he had forgotten how busy it was, from cars to people; Harry wondered how on earth they were going to find the place.

"Here it is."

It was a small café, not much bigger than a large coffee shop. Draco ushered him into the café, where a woman of perhaps 20 met them at the door. She had shiny blonde hair and blue eyes, and a somewhat irritatingly wide smile

"Good afternoon, gentlemen. I'm Kate. How may I service you today?"

"Well, Kate," said Draco silkily, "I think we shall hav meal."

"Follow me, gentlemen."

She led them to a table and issued menus.

"Would you have a drink, then?"

"Umm...I think I'll have a Brandy, Kate."

"And you, sir?"

But Harry wasn't listening. His attention was directed over to a corner table. A boy, no older than nine or ten, sat there with a little girl of about five or six. He had untidy jet-black hair, like Harry's, and brilliant green eyes. He was tall and thin and wore round, silver glasses. It was strange...he could have sworn that boy was...but it couldn't be...

"Sir? Excuse me," the woman said.

"Oh, uhh...sorry. I'll take a white wine, I think. Hey...who is that kid over there? Do you know him?"

"Oh, him. That's Ryan Preston. He's the son of one of our waitresses here. Nice kid, he is. A bit reserved, though. His sister, Alexis there, is a different story entirely. She is the most outgoing, sunniest child I've ever seen. They're very nice kids. Their mum raised them wonderfully."

"Who is their mum?"

A bell rang.

"Oh! Those are my orders! I shall be back!"

With that, the young woman hurried away. Draco gaped at him.

"Now what's your problem?"

"Malfoy...I...I think that boy is...my son..."

"Nonsense! He couldn't be...could he?"

"Look at him, Draco. He looks like me and his name is Ryan."

"Coincidence."

"I don't think so..."

"Aaack! Look!"

Draco pointed toward the door. Harry nearly choked. There was a woman rushing through the door, quickly tying back her long black hair. Her tired face made what were once bright green eyes look dull. Though she had aged some, there was no denying that this was Harry's love. This was Surika.

"Mrs. Preston! You're late again!" barked a very gruff-looking man. He was older and quite chubby. Harry almost wanted to come to Surika's rescue, but he thought better of it.

"I know, Earl, I know! I'm sorry! I was sidetracked!"

"Surika?" Harry blurted. She turned her eyes to him and paused for a long moment.

"Kate! Your tables are waiting!" she called, and with that, she turned away from him and went back into the kitchens. She emerged minutes later, fixing a maroon apron around herself. Without a second look, she strode over to the table where the kids were sitting. The little girl crawled up into her lap and the boy he now knew was his son scooted closer to her.

"How was school today?" he heard her say.

A great longing ached every inch of his body. Oh how he wished that she were still his! Though she looked weary and aged quite a bit from what he remembered her, she still retained her feminine beauty. After two children, she still looked fabulous enough. She wouldn't be his, however, and it hurt to think that way.

"She's still mad at me," he said gloomily, and got up to leave. He couldn't take it any more. He only hoped that she was happy. His answer to that came to him later on that week.

A muggle bookstore had just opened, and of course, Hermione just had to go. Not only her, but she also drug along her husband, Ron, and their two children, an eight-year-old boy named Derek, and their daughter of six, Gwen. She had also prodded Harry endlessly to come. She too felt he needed to get out and experiment with new people. He reluctantly agreed, but little did he know that fate would soon be playing right into his hands.

Standing in the vast array of the Fantasy section with Ron and Gwen, whom made it very clear how bored she was, A little girl of about Gwen's age walked right up to Gwen.

"Hello!" the little girl greeted brightly. 'I've never seen you around here, are you new?"

"Err...just visiting," said Gwen, a bit shocked at the stranger's outgoing manner.

"I'm Alexis. Alexis Preston. What's your name?"

"Gwen Weasley."

"Wanna go see the aviary with me?"

Gwen turned her eyes up to Ron and gave him a big, pleading look. Her big green eyes contrasted dramatically with her flaming red hair.

"Can I go, Daddy? Pleeease?"

"It's fine with me, but be careful. This is a big place and if you get lost, your mum will kill me."

"Yay!"

And off the two went, talking up a storm. Harry stood there, thunderstruck. Ron gave him a quizzical look and waved his hand in front of Harry's face.

"Oy! You still alive, Harry?"

"Ron...do you know who that was?"

"Yeah, Alexis Preston. She just told us."

"And Alexis Preston is Surika's daughter."

"Surika who?"

Harry had the urge to slap him. How could he forget?

"Surika! You know, Surika Parker? Tall, black hair, green eyes. The girl I've only been obsessing about for the past 9 years! Ring a bell?"

"Oh, Surika! I see! I...what?" Ron choked. "You mean that was her kid?"

Harry nodded. Ron hadn't changed much. If his red hair hadn't been so evident, Harry would have sworn he was blonde.

"I wondered why she looked so familiar. She looks just like her mum. Except for the eyes. She has blue eyes. Probably from her dad."

At that precise moment, fate went into play. Surika came striding around the corner, obviously looking for her daughter, and SMACK! She collides with Harry and staggered back.

"Oh! Excuse me, Sir. Have you seen my..."

A stunned expression passed over her face when she saw who it was.

"Hello, Surika."

"Harry...fancy seeing you here..."

He noticed how she was avoiding his eye when she spoke. Anger didn't seem to matter to her anymore. She neither raised her voice nor changed expression. She was merely calm, and her eyes never wandered from his feet.

"It's been a while..." Harry said, uncertain of what else to say.

"Yeah..." she replied, just as uncertainly. "Did you see where my daughter went? I have to take Ryan to his eye appointment, and I'm going to be late starting dinner..."

"Well... she just went with my daughter to see the aviary," said Ron.

"Thank you. See you around, I suppose."

She turned to leave, and Harry finally noticed the heavy sweater she was wearing, although it was May and at least 70 degrees. A horrible thought came to Harry. What if she were being mistreated? Suddenly, a sharp voice caused him to whirl around.

"Where the hell have you been, Woman?"

Surika winced as the man addressing her shoved his way past Harry and grabbed her arm tightly.

"I...I need to...to take Ryan to his appointment..."

"Don't you lie to me, you wretch!"

"I'm not! Ryan has an appointment, I told you that yesterday!"

"Don't raise you voice to me, Woman! I've had enough of you mouth!"

The man, well built, with light brown hair and blue eyes gave Surika a violent shake. Harry, overcome by protectiveness, came to Surika's aid, pulling her from the man's grasp and stepping between the two of them.

"That will be quite enough," said Harry, firmly.

"Get out of my way!" snapped the man.

"That will be quite enough," Harry repeated, his voice rising. "You won't touch her again."

Glaring acidly, the man balled up his fists. Harry prepared himself for an attack, but it didn't come. Instead, the man cast a threatening glance at Surika and left. Harry turned to Surika and made a motion to touch her face, but she jerked away from him.

"Why did you do that?" she snapped at him.

"He shouldn't be treating you like that, that's why!" retorted Harry in irritation.

"Jeremy doesn't mean it! He...he's just tired!"

"You're only in denial, Surika! They all say that, and they'll keep saying that!"

"How dare you! You don't understand! I love him and he loves me!"

Before she had the chance to evade, Harry reached out and grabbed her wrist firmly. He felt her tense up slightly as he shoved her shirtsleeve clear up her arm and examined the heavy blackish-blue bruises from her forearm past her elbow.

"Oh yeah," remarked Harry, sarcastically. "It really looks like he loves you a lot. He's really gentle with you."

Surika glared and wrenched herself from his grasp. She pulled her sleeve back over her arm.

"You don't know what you're talking about! Those mean nothing! You know what? I don's have to listen to this! I am not your property, I'm leaving!"

With that, she whirled around and began to depart.

"Yeah, go home so your hubby can beat the crap put of you! I don't care! And you know what? If he beats you to death I won't care! I won't care at all!"

After she had left, Harry sank into a chair. Ron felt it wiser to fade out as Harry buried his face in his hands. Hot tears began to stream down his cheeks. Pain, loneliness, and frustration stabbed at his soul like a dagger. The extreme guilt he felt made him feel sick. If only he had kept his mouth shut. He was blaming her for being upset, when it was his own fault. He didn't think anything could bring her back to him now. There was no hope anymore.