Thank you! I'm sorry you'll have to probably wait for a while for the next update--I'll be away for two weeks (holiday) and won't be able to access internet!



:cat:



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They both laughed and continued down the dark streets in silence. A slight breeze ruffled Harry's hair as he looked up into the sky. It was surprisingly clear, a deep, velvety blue, stars sprinkled on it, like diamonds on a sheet; yet, the weather forecast had announced rain. After a while, he thought he could distinguish music, the chatter of many voices and tinkling china. Sure enough, a minute later, they emerged on the outskirts of Covent Garden Market, a covered shopping area in Victorian buildings. Around it, cafés, restaurants, shops and market stalls were grouped, hosting a part of London nightlife. A young musician was playing the guitar, and a large group of students was singing around him. Fascinated, Ginny stopped, before mixing into the crowd until she could see the guitarist, pulling Harry with her. She cocked her head to the side, listening for a while and observing the crowd attentively before turning back to him and mumbling, "It's nice to not be spotted in a crowd for once; to be considered a normal person."

Harry grimaced as they set off down the colourful streets, away from the group. "You get used to the stares," he said as Ginny slipped her hand back into his, which took him by surprise, yet again.

"Really?" she asked doubtfully. "I think I'm going to get a flat in the middle of a Muggle city and only venture the wizarding world when I have no other choice."

"Which you probably will have to every day if you plan on getting a job with your NEWTs. Somehow, I don't think they're are accepted by many Muggle universities and such."

Ginny made a face at him. "What's that building there?" she asked, pointing in front of them.

Harry squinted a bit. "Royal Opera House, I think," he said. "We'll probably get a blast full of singing when we walk past."

Ginny laughed. "You don't know if there's a park or something near here, do you?"

"In Central London?" Harry asked. "There are several, Hyde Park, or St James's Park, but unless you want to walk for a long while, we'll have to take the Underground."

"I'd rather not…but the Underground station's there," Ginny said, pointing across the street. "We could always have a look if there's a map or something…"

"There always is." A gap appeared in the traffic, and Harry pulled Ginny across the street quickly, entering the station, and narrowing his eyes from the blinding neon light again. They found the map soon after and stood in front of it, tracing the lines.

"Look, this here's a green space, that must be a park," Ginny said, pointing at a big green blob. "What's it say? Kensington Gardens."

"Ginny," Harry laughed, "we are here at the moment. See? Covent Garden. Unless you want to take the Underground, we'd have to walk approximately three miles."

Ginny huffed. "Fine, find another one then. I don't like these Muggle trains much, and if I can avoid walking too far, that would be grand."