Broken

This is torture, this is pain

As soon as Harry pulled open the café door, he felt like he had made a mistake. The café was empty except for his presence. Ginny looked up at him and frowned when she saw who had entered. Quickly, she covered up her frown and pasted on a fake smile.

“Hello. I suppose you’d like to get something to eat?” Ginny strode toward him, grabbing a menu from a nearby counter as she walked over. Harry watched, mesmerized, as she walked to him. Her perfume wafted toward him. She smelled like vanilla. Harry nodded dumbly at Ginny and she quickly led him to the counter, close to where she had been reading her book. He sat down at the counter and quickly perused the menu. He didn’t really care what he ate, so long as it was warm and filling. He decided on a bowl of chicken noodle soup and a bacon sandwich.

The last thing that Ginny had wanted was to see that freaky guy again. He was handsome and well dressed, but she couldn’t forget how he had grabbed her arm a couple of days before. It had been very odd and had left her feeling disconcerted. “Do you know what you want?” she asked him.

Harry looked up and smiled. “Yeah. Can I have the number two soup and sandwich combo?”

Ginny smiled back at him, much to her surprise. “Yeah. I’ll get you your soup first, okay?” Ginny turned and went back to the kitchen. As soon as she left, Harry stood up from his seat and looked at the book Ginny was reading.

“Gray’s Anatomy?” he asked himself. He soon heard footsteps and settled himself back in his seat, pushing the book back where it was. A bowl of soup was placed in front of him, along with the sandwich. Ginny handed him a napkin that was wrapped around a knife, fork and soupspoon.

“Here you go. If you need anything, just tell me.” Ginny turned back to her book and continued reading.

Harry began to eat, but felt an uncomfortable silence. It was sort of odd and he wondered if Ginny was ignoring him or was truly engrossed in her book. He decided to try and start a conversation with her. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are you reading?” He looked up at Ginny and spooned some soup into his mouth.

Ginny looked up, startled. “Oh, it’s a medical textbook. I’m studying to be a doctor.”

Harry was surprised. “Wow! That’s a lot of work. Did you always want to do that?” Harry was intrigued to learn that Ginny had chosen to become a Muggle healer. Harry realized that she hadn’t let go of her dream to be a healer; she had just changed it a bit.

Ginny shook her head. “Nah, when I was younger I wanted to be a professional athlete. It wasn’t until I was almost finished with school that I decided to become a doctor.”

“An athlete? What sport?” Harry took a large bite of his sandwich. He couldn’t wait to see how Ginny was going to explain this.

“Oh, I wanted to play soccer. I was quite good actually. I played all the time with my brothers. But then I got injured and I could never play the same again. So I decided to become a doctor instead.” Ginny shrugged her shoulders and looked down at Harry.

Soccer? Ginny had equated quidditch with soccer? Harry guessed that the Muggle sport was about as popular as quidditch was with wizards. “That’s wonderful! Are you going into sports medicine?”

Ginny shook her head again. “No, I decided to become a pediatrician. You know, a doctor for children? I can really do some good there.”

“I see.” Harry was at a loss for words now. He didn’t know what to discuss with Ginny. He looked down at his soup bowl and picked up his spoon to eat some more.

“What about you? What do you do?” Harry was startled by Ginny’s question. He figured she would want to try not to converse with him anymore, especially after his behavior the other day.

“Oh, I’m self employed. I build websites for companies.” Harry hoped this lie sounded plausible.

Ginny nodded. That explained a lot about his clothes. The area that she lived in was full of young university students. She was used to seeing people with crazy hair colors and odd clothes. This guy looked very out of place. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a plaid button down shirt. It looked like it had come from one of those Abercrombie and Fitch stores. Ginny never looked in that shop, she didn’t have the money to afford the clothes there. “That must be an interesting job.”

“It’s alright. I can set my own hours, but I don’t really like it. It can be a bit monotonous.”

“I could see that. But if you mess up, no one dies.” Ginny grinned at Harry.

“True enough. Did you hear about that guy that went to get his foot removed at the hospital? The doctor cut the wrong foot off! Can you imagine that?” Harry watched as Ginny’s face lit up.

“Oh my gosh! That doctor was a former professor of mine. He was practically brain dead. Did you know, he was forced to retire after that incident?” Ginny started giggling.

“Really! Goodness.” Harry was about to say more when he something strange cross his field of vision. He could have sworn he saw a man looking in the window to the café, only to have him disappear from before his eyes. “Did you just see something?”

“I thought it was just me! It looked like some albino. He had blonde hair, right? It seemed like he just disappeared!” Ginny had thought it looked like Draco Malfoy. She hoped he hadn’t been peeping in the window. She had no wand or anything to defend herself, except for this nerdy guy.

“Odd, huh? Well, I guess I better be going.” Harry was reluctant to leave Ginny. He wanted to stay and continue to chat with her. However, he had a feeling Draco Malfoy had been peeping in at he and Ginny. He wanted to follow Draco and see exactly what he was up to. “Listen, I had a good time talking to you. Could I come back and see you here again?” Harry took a ten-pound note from his pocket and threw it on the table.

Ginny hesitated. He was a nice guy and very handsome. She just didn’t know if she should involve him in her life. She had always pictured herself dating a wizard. Could she be compatible with a Muggle?

Harry saw her hesitation. “That’s alright. I understand, I guess I’ll see you around sometime.” He began to walk to the door. Disappointment was filling his heart, rather than the joy he should be feeling at possibly capturing Draco.

“No, stop. I just don’t know my schedule. I mean, I’m always at school or studying. I don’t know when you’d see me here again. But I do go to the park for a run in the morning. You could see me there.” Ginny walked toward him. “I’m Ginny Weasley by the way.”

Harry laughed and shook her hand. “Sorry, I ask to see you again without telling you my name? How ridiculous! I’m Will Black. What time will you be there?”

“Six in the morning. I have early classes.”

“I’ll be there, then. Where shall we meet?” Harry dreaded getting up so early, but the thought of spending some time with an old friend made him feel better. He was also antsy to chase after Draco.

“The big tree with the tire swing attached, alright?” Ginny wondered why this guy was going to all this trouble for her.

“Great! I’ll see you tomorrow!” Harry rushed to the door, almost out of it before Ginny’s yell stopped him.

“Your change, Will!”

“Keep it!” Harry ran out the door, hoping to catch some glimpse of Draco.

Harry ran down the street, headed in the direction he thought Draco might have taken. ‘You fool! He’s wearing an invisibility cloak. How will you ever see him?’ Harry mentally berated himself. He pulled out his wand. Thinking quickly, he realized that rain would reveal the wet form of Draco, even with the cloak on. “Brochiate!” A fine mist of rain began to form and soon heavy drops of rain were falling on him. ‘Haha, Malfoy, you bastard! I have got you now’. Again Harry pulled out his wand to cast another spell. “Lumos pedis Draco Malfoy!” Brightly lit footsteps began to fall upon the ground, leading Harry to where Draco had walked.

Following the trail left by Draco, Harry was led to the small neighborhood park. Water was running in rivulets down his face, soaking him to the skin. Harry felt no cold however; his skin felt like it was burning. He was enjoying this chase of Draco and anticipated the capture. Harry whispered “Lumos” and watched as the tip of his wand emitted a soft glow. The light cast about the wooded area, glinting off the wet grass. He said another spell to make himself invisible and looked for the form of Draco.

Suddenly he saw him. A strangely invisible form was beating a man. Harry could see the water that had soaked the cloak and revealed Draco’s lean, muscled form. Rain was bouncing off him as well, creating the hazy form of a man. Harry watched as Draco beat the man senseless, kicking and punching the poor man. Harry felt like attacking Draco, but knew he needed to be careful. Soon the man was unconscious and Draco gave him one final kick to the ribs.

“Stupid fucking Muggle!” Draco leaned down and began going through the man’s pockets. Finally, he found the man’s wallet and emptied it. Harry wanted to beat Draco up for what he was doing, but decided he needed to find out what he and his father were up to. Draco looked around furtively, making sure no one was watching. Then he stood up and gave the man another kick. Draco threw off the wet cloak and began to jog away. Harry followed after him and wondered where he was going.

Draco slowed down in front of a run down looking shop. He stopped, looked in the window at his reflection and smoothed down his hair. The sign above the shop read “Blue View Video”. Harry quickly figured out that this place sold pornographic materials. He could barely hold in his peals of laughter. Poor lonely Draco! Draco finished tarting himself up and walked in, followed by Harry. Harry watched as Draco lazily eyed the magazines. Finally, Draco chose “Playboy” and “Naughty Girls”. He paid for the magazines with the stolen money and began to walk slowly home, flipping through the magazine.

‘Draco, you surprise me!’ Harry thought. When they had been in school, Draco had always been bragging about his sexual prowess. Now here he was, looking at girlie magazines. Harry followed Draco until reached a small ramshackle house. Draco whispered “Alohamora”. He grabbed the doorknob and pulled open the door. “I’m home, Father.” Harry chose not to follow Draco. Now that he knew where Draco was, he and Lupin could conduct surveillance on them anytime they chose. He had to go to bed anyway. He flicked his wand behind him and the rain suddenly stopped. Harry put his hands his pockets and began to walk home.