The End Or The Beginning?

The one where life goes on.

The meal was delicious. Harry wasn't sure if it was because of the quality of the food or the company. But the latter seemed to be more probable.

It was strange that he had never met Amabel in his world – especially since she radiated with magic on a very high level.

She surly would have been spotted during the war.

He reasoned that she had died before they had any chance to meet or she had never been born in the first place.

That thought brought him to one of the reasons why he had decided to wander into the Diagon Alley. Where, or more accurate when did the differences between the Worlds start?

"It doesn't bode well, does it?" She asked bringing him back to the present.

"Huh, what does?"

"My thoughts exactly." Despite the sad tone, Harry could clearly see some humor in her eyes. Although, there was a sense of uncertainty underneath.

"Ok..." Harry said slowly, "I think you lost me..."

"That's right." She said with a solemn nod. "You spent..." she looked at the wall of the pub where an old clock hung, "...an hour with me and you're already loosing interest."

Ignoring Harry's "Hey" of protest she continued.

"I know we didn't talk about ourselves much. I mean actual facts about us, but some stories we've shared seemed interesting enough." She sighed with an exaggerated sadness. "I understand, you're just not interested." She looked him in the eyes, "Are you sure you were pinning after the girl, back there in the Alley? You don't have to pretend with me. I'm open minded, I'll still think you're a nice guy, even if you're gay, Harry."

Her eyes never wavered from his, but there was an ocean of mirth in them now.

Harry's mind reeled. For a fraction of second he felt a pang in his heart thinking about Ginny, but an instant later his jaw hit the table at the rest of what she had said. He was just recovering when she hit him hard.

"On the other hand, I wouldn't have to worry about your intentions and never have to concern myself when undressing, I mean changing," she amended quickly, "in front of you." And than she flashed him a radiant smile.

Harry snorted. "Merlin's beard!" he exclaimed. "Woman, give a block a chance."

She fluttered her eyes at him still smiling.

"You're a blunt one." He laughed. "Now listen because a have an explanation."

"Oh?" Eyebrows raised, her voice was was sweet and innocent.

"Yes, oh." He said his brow knitted and he caught her with an intensive look. "And it's a good one."

"Okay."

He mock scowled. "Yes, well. Just before you so rudely interrupted me I was thinking that this is the most pleasant time I've spent in a long time." He smiled at her gently, all joking aside.

"I really mean it." And he really did.

Amabel looked him deeply in the eyes, the mirth seeping from hers, taking that grain of uncertainty with it. All that left was a satisfaction and something else, something warm he was sure he should recognize.

"Me too." She said softly.

They sat, quietly looking at each other, lost in their own thoughts.

Harry was astonished with himself. Talking that way with a girl, a woman – he corrected – should left him speechless, not to mention red as tomato or white as ghost. His thoughts turned to Tonks, no matter how much he had liked her and her exuberant personality she could turn him into a embarrassed blurbing fool with a word and a wink. Here, he was flirting shamelessly with a woman he had met over an hour ago, enjoying himself and having fun. This was something new.

"Am I forgiven?" Harry asked with a smile.

"Well..." She paused "You didn't address the other part of the problem." She said the humor back in the full force. "I meant revelation."

Harry almost chocked on his butterbeer. "Now," he paused, "you put me in a difficult position. Being a gentleman I am." He scowled at her quiet snort. "I should assure you that you have nothing to worry from me. On the other hand being with a beautiful woman, not necessary dressed, might dent my gentlemanly upbringing." He finished with a wicked smile.

But inside, he was frozen socked at his daring. It was totally not like himself. He quietly checked his Occlumancy, he checked if he could be under any potion or spell. Of course he found nothing, and he would not found anything if he was poisoned, spells – maybe, potions – no.

He knew that he started blushing slightly and he knew that what he had said had some effect on her as well because she blushed herself a little.

And again something different happened, something he thought shouldn't be possible between man and woman having a conversation they just had.

"I was too forward, wasn't I? It was too embarrassing?" He asked, astonished that he could ask something like that and at the same time curious that it felt totally natural to talk like that.

"Well, I've asked for it." She smiled and any shadow of awkwardness vanished between them.

In Harry's opinion people didn't interact that way, especially people who had just met. Nevertheless, he felt totally at easy, astonishingly so, that it should bring some alarm to the forth of his mind, but it didn't. He liked her, he knew that she had some secrets she didn't want to talk about, it was obvious from the way they were talking during lunch, and he respected that. She knew that he had secrets of his own and never grilled him for answers to questions he choose to ignore.

"We have to repeat that date." Harry blurted suddenly.

"So that's a date?" Amabel smiled.

Harry raised his eyebrows and shrug in affirmative.

"I'm not used to asking a bloke twice," she continued, "especially for the second date." Her easy grin was infectious. "So, it's nice you've asked."

When she didn't say anything more, Harry rolled his eyes, "And?"

"Oh, I thought it's obvious." Amabel looked at him strangely, " Of course we should meet again."

He knew that he looked silly with a goofy grin on his face. They went back to their butterbeers.

"Oh, damn." She started after a few minutes of small talk. "Harry, I'm sorry, I have to run. Totally forgot I have to meet someone..., like a ten minutes ago." She bit her lip hesitantly. "Listen, send me a note to the Hog's Head, addressed to Amabel, ok?"

Harry arched an eyebrow, "Hog's Head?" Thousand thoughts sprinting inside his mind. He stood up with her.

"Yeah." She said bitting her lip again, suddenly nervously, "I'm really glad we met." She leaned towards him. "It's just..., I'm really glad."

"Me too." Harry said in a quiet voice.

She kissed him on a cheek, lingering slightly. Simple kiss - and it somehow send waves of pleasure through his whole left side, all the way down to his toes.

She smiled briefly at him again, "Owl me?"

Harry could only nodded.

She smiled again. "Bye."

"Bye."

Amabel vanished with a small pop. Part of Harry registered another big difference between the worlds, there were no apparation wards in the Leaky Cauldron. But that part was very small and distant.

Harry sat in his chair again, looking at the spot she had just vacated. I had fun.

What a strange day. Fawkes is in this world, there is a chance that he would have his old wand – at least a wand exactly like his. There is no Voldemort here, just Tom Riddle, some terrorist who spent half of his life in prison. No prophecy to dictate his life. A family that took him in. A whole new life with plenty of possibilities and non hindrances.

Harry froze with a sudden realization – I would have to find a job! Maybe I could teach, his excitement seemed to spread out of control, or fly!

"And it's just four o'clock." He said happily.

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The street looked just as crowded as it was a couple of hours earlier.

After he had left the pub, Harry decided to go and find Hermione's apartment. He remembered that it was above a second-hand bookstore. But where exactly, he wasn't sure. He was pretty convinced it was on his right, but then again, He couldn't bet on the fact that Sirius and he actually came from the direction of Leaky Cauldron.

Casually fingering his new wand, Harry started down the Alley again, this time looking more closely at the buildings, rather than people.

After fifteen minutes of casual stroll he had found a place that looked promising. It was a two stories building with a bookstore downstairs and an outdoor staircase on the side of the building.

He climbed the stairs and entered a small hall that led to another staircase. Down the hall he saw the door that he had vaguely remembered.

Harry knocked on the door and waited. He heard some noise and after a while it clicked open.

However, It wasn't Hermione that opened the door.

"Can I help you?" Ask young man in elegant robes and what looked like a permanent frown on his face.

Harry hesitated for a moment wondering if, after all, he had missed her flat. The man was waiting for an answer.

"Hi, I'm Harry. I was..." But he didn't have a chance to finish.

"I don't want to buy any rubbish you're trying to sell. I'm rather busy, good day." And the door closed in Harry's face.

Harry scowled rising his hand to knock again but paused listening quietly for any signs of voices inside. Unfortunately he heard nothing apart from some shuffling inside the apartment. He decided that the man was definitely alone. Standing there with his fist half raised he had reasoned that there was a chance he didn't actually find Hermione's home.

With that conclusion Harry left the guy alone.

After his lunch-date, he was in a too good of a mood to be bothered by some random prick. He would see Hermione at the picnic party they were preparing for him anyway and maybe he will pick some random history book from the bookshop downstairs.

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"Thanks for your help Hermione." Lily smiled at the young witch. They were in the attic looking for some more plates and cups. The little party was turning to become some event.

"It was my pleasure Mrs., um, Lily." Hermione said, "It is I who should be thankful. I mean, I am thankful."

Lily looked up from one of the boxes with her eyebrow raised, the girl went to elaborate.

"Well," she hesitated, "I don't have a lot of friends. I was, I am," she corrected, "rather shy. Sometimes, I would say something that to others sounds offending and well..."

"Hermione, you know I always liked you. And I think of you as a friend." She handed the younger witch the top of another box to put on the side.

"Thank you." Hermione blushed at the complement, "I know, and I like you and Mr. Potter as well. And Remus is a great boss. And, well, it is hard not to like Sirius." They shared a smile. "But I mean friends my own age. I suppose I have Skylar, but lately I was wondering if I'm doing the right thing with him." She lapsed into silence, lost in her thoughts.

"But anyway, I meant that with Harry it's so..., I don't know." She sighed and knelt to look through another box that Lily showed her. "He acts so relax around me and like he knows me and ... and trusts me. I know that from his perspective he does. I mean, I know that I can't be the same person like that other me, but he treats me so... I've never felt like that. I know that he's practically just showed up, but I feel like I've just got my old friend back." She stopped her rambling and looked at the older witch to see her with a sad and wistful expression on her face.

"I'm sorry, I did it again, didn't I? I didn't mean to upset you." Hermione said quietly.

"No honey, You didn't upset me." Lily smiled sadly, sitting on a dusted floor of the attic. "I think, that I envy you. He didn't know Rose, James and me in his world." She smiled at Hermione, "I know what you mean, though, he did seem really relaxed around you." She squeezed Hermione's hand. "I'm happy that he sees what a great person you are, Hermione."

They searched in silence for a few minutes.

"How many people are going to be here?" Hermione asked when the silence stretched for some time.

"More than I would care for. Rose wanted to invite some people from your year and few teachers." She smiled again, this time with real humor. "Than James and Sirius started adding plus one to everyone and the families of invited and families of those with the invited." She shook her head. "I lost track when Sirius had sent an owl to a friend of his from Romanian Auror's Corp and than James had send another to remind this guy to bring some of his friends. And the worst of it is that I don't know if they were kidding or not." She looked resignedly at Hermione but smiled with an affection, thinking of her boys.

"How do you manage with them?" Hermione asked when they started levitating their findings downstairs.

"I'm afraid that it's pretty much a package deal." Lily laughed.

They entered the kitchen to find Remus and Rose levitating tables and chairs outside.

Lily shoot her daughter a glare. "And what do you think you are doing with a wand, young lady. You know you're not supposed to use magic...," she looked around not seeing James anywhere, "and where is your Auror father?"

"He's with Sirius making some lights for the Quidditch pitch. He said that we probably wont play until its dark, so they went to enchant the pitch."

Lily sighed, "Does any of you know who will show up?"

Remus smiled at her, "It probably be more than you originally expected."

"Did Harry said when he's going to be back?"

"Not really, he only said that he will have lunch at the Leaky Cauldron." Rose said.

"And when are people supposed to start coming?"Lily asked again, levitating now clean dishes outside.

"Molly flooed and said that she will be around three to help with food." Remus said, "And that The Weasleys should start appearing after five. Also Alice is on her way, she said she will remind Neville of this and come straight her."

Lily nodded handing Hermione some cutlery to put on the tables outside.

"Oh and Alastor said that he will be in a bit, to check on the wards." Remus smirked leaning against windowsill. "He said that James and Sirius probably mucked your wards." Lily snored knowing about Moody's overzealous attitude.

Lily wasn't entirely sure what to think about this party. Hopefully, it wouldn't be too much for Harry. She wondered briefly how many of the people that will show up had died in his world, but she banished that thought concentrating on preparing everything for the party.

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AN:

To all it may concern – I will finish this story, really. I don't really have time to write, but I will try to post next chapter soon.

Well, I just can't thank you enough for your Reviews. I mean it. It's just, wow! Thank you all.

I think I don't need to remind you to leave another Review, you know, the button 'go', and few words.

Oh and MeghanReviews - thanks for Occl/Legili reminder – I missed that one.

Thanks again.