Today's post....people...

A New Room Mate...

It was already mid October. Harry was having a good time training. The training was challenging, that means a lot of hard work and patience. Harry had struck up good terms with Shaun Macmillan and his friend Rebecca Coates. All three of them would be sitting in the mess during the lunch hours and munching their food and discussing various issues involving the Ministry, their training sessions and their trainers. One topic which Shaun never liked to discuss was his past. He never told Rebecca or Harry from where he did his schooling or where he lived before, he never discussed the war but would quietly listen to Rebecca and Harry. Rebecca had attended Beauxbatons and that surprised Harry.
“oh there is nothing like only for French people. Its just an all witches school so my parents were keen on that and they sent me there and I loved Beauxbatons and from the very beginning I have had great love for France so I never felt as if I have missed something really bad not attending Hogwarts,” she said one day during her lunch.
“but how come I didn’t see you at the Triwizard Tournament?” asked Harry
“Harry…if you have forgotten when the tournament took place let me remind you. It was when we were in fourth year and I was not 17 then to take part in the tournament and only the capable girls came to Hogwarts with Olympe”
“Olympe?” asked Harry “never heard that name”
“Madame Maxime,” she said to clear his confusion
“oh yeah sorry forgot,” he said. They silently ate for sometime and then Rebecca whispered, “Shaun have you thought of ever going on a date?”
“what!”
“yeah, on a date. Why do you sound so shocked? Never heard of it?”
“come to the point Beccca,” he snapped
“don’t snap! Well anyways you see a group of girls to the table next to yours”
“yes,” he said glancing side ways so quickly that no one could have thought that he did realize the presence of a table next to him, “yeah, what about them”
“well you see, it looks everyone is interested in knowing you. I have been seeing this from quite sometime, almost everyday,” she said
“so…”
“what so? Go ask someone out. Really you need to loosen up a bit” at that Shaun and Harry looked at her as if she has lost her mind. She didn’t care at the guys looks and continued, “I think there is this new girl today who is continuously sneaking glances at you. The brown headed one in the center.”
“Becca I think you are wrong. They must be busy with our boy who lived friend sitting in front of us,” he said waving his hand towards Harry
“hey, don’t call that Shaun, you sound like a Prophet reporter and moreover I am engaged mate,” he said with a grin and Shaun rolled his eyes.
“oh come on…” she said and Shaun took a chance of glancing at the girl who Rebecca spoke about. As soon as he glanced at her she looked up from her mug of steaming tea. She looked as if she was concentrating on something. He looked at her, she was fair and had straight brown colored hair and was tracing the mouth of the mug with her finger and looked as if she was thinking hard. She realized that they both were holding each others gaze for quite sometime so she broke it with a small smile and a nod. He returned back and looked at her as she resumed her conversation with her friend. He turned back again to Rebecca. Rebecca saw all that went between them and a satisfactory smile was creeping across her face.
“so…?” she asked
“what?”
“what do you think?”
“about what?” said Shaun looking back in his plate trying to decide on what to pick up and eat.
“nothing…leave it I think this much was enough for today. Maybe tomorrow you will speak about it”
Harry looked at Rebecca and he remembered his classmates Parvati and Ron’s ex girlfriend Lavender.
“Rebecca is so much like them,” he thought and shook his head, “maybe a bit less like Lavender and bit more than Parvati”. Shaun didn’t want to get into any of this so early so he tried to change the topic.
“um Harry I heard that you are moving out of your friend’s house?” asked Shaun
“yeah how did you know?”
“well you have to pay a price for being a well known wizard, don’t you?” said Shaun waving the Daily Prophet in front of Harry.
“is it given in the newspaper?” and Shaun nodded
“oh damn”
“Ron’s going to hate this,” Harry breathed and Rebecca giggled
“what?”
“nothing she has a small crush on your best buddy,” said Shaun taking another bite of his food
“I hope Hermione doesn’t hear this, Rebecca,” said Harry, “oh dear Rebecca is like Lavender,” thought Harry, “Hermione already had a lot of Lavender 2 years back,” he thought.
“oh don’t worry she wont. I know they both like each other but they aren’t spilling the beans yet” and Harry remembered what Hermione said about people knowing about them before they could tell them and he just shook his head
“Becca…anyway Harry I wanted to know if there is an extra room in your apartment?” said Shaun and Harry snapped up
“I mean, if there is and if you don’t mind sharing the rent,” said Shaun tentatively seeing Harry’s reaction
“oh no, no I have no problems in sharing the rent and yeah we do have an extra room. The apartment which we are interested in is a 3 bedroom one so I think with Ron and me there would be no problem.”
“ok good, actually I myself was in search of an apartment for myself and I thought I would ask you about it as you know this place better than anyone so…”
“oh no actually it was Hermione who helped us with it. I didn’t even know that Mr. Diggle has an apartment”
“so it is Mr. Diggle’s apartment?” asked Rebecca and Harry nodded
“so I will have to talk to Mr. Diggle about the rent and all,” asked Shaun and Harry said, “I think we can let him know about it but it isn’t necessary as long as you pay his rent” and Shaun nodded
“but may I ask you why you want to move out? I mean you are new here and you already have a house that belongs to your older generations where you guys are staying right now, then why?”
“nothing it’s a bit far for everyday travel and somehow I want to be on my own for some time. I don’t want my parents worrying about me unnecessarily, I hope you understand,” said Shaun. He knew the excuse of long distance travel was the stupidest excuse ever he could think of. What wizard will have a problem in travelling when he can do it by Apparation or by Floo Powder.
Harry after a sometime as he thought about Shaun's excuse said, “yeah I know, how it is. Ron’s parents are as good as my parents and I feel terrible when they worry far too much about me,”
“so that’s why I wanted to shift. I had no luck in getting an apartment for all this time but thanks to Prophet that at least I think I can have room to myself”
“yeah, you can come down any time and check on which room do you want and then we can settle down about the rent issue when we move in,” said Harry
“oh don’t bother about selecting rooms or anything, you guys pick your choices and the last one I will take it, don’t worry and I am fine with discussing the rent after we move in,” said Shaun
“ok then it’s a deal. Why don’t you come over today after the training is over to see the apartment. I will let Ron know about it and he will be there too,” said Harry
“that’s done then, after the day ends,” said Shaun getting up to throw the remaining in the waste basket. As he got up to leave Malfoy entered the mess with two of his buddies behind him
“what’s wrong with him?” thought Rebecca
“Malfoy will change,” thought Harry and shook his head but he was ready with his hand on his wand and Shaun didn’t care to look up and tried to pass Malfoy without a word.
“where are you going foreigner?” asked Malfoy
“why do you care?” he replied coolly
“’cause you are not moving out of here till you answer my questions,” he hissed
“my, my Malfoy looks like you have got this habit running in your veins now, is it? asking questions? I advice you not to listen and be around Mr. Braggley too much,” Shaun said. Harry knew this is not going to go down well with Malfoy. He was right behind Shaun and put his hand on his shoulder and tried to warn him. Malfoy twitched on Shaun’s comments and asked him nevertheless, “what have you done to my potion?”
“what potion?”
“get lost Malfoy,” warned Harry
“don’t act innocent, you filthy…” said Malfoy ignoring Harry.
“keep those swearing to yourself Malfoy they relate to you well,” Shaun cut him off. That triggered Malfoy and he lunged himself on to Shaun. Shaun had taken his wand out but Malfoy held his wand arm tightly around the wrist. He was much stronger than he looked in his lean physique. It was quick. People screamed all over, the group of witches who sat next to Shaun’s table got up quickly and moved away from the brawl. Malfoy’s buddies were out with there wands towards Harry and Rebecca and they hit a spell. But Harry and Rebecca were quick enough to defend and the hex backfired. Over the table Malfoy was on to Shaun. Shaun was struggling to move his arm to hit Malfoy with a spell. Before either Harry or Rebecca could come and help the brown haired girl who saw them busy with other guys stepped in and pointed her wand straight at Malfoy’s head.
“leave him alone Malfoy,” she hissed. He didn’t look at her and when he didn’t she disarmed him. He flew towards the other tables knocking off everything that came into his way. Shaun immediately got up and looked at where Malfoy was. He was lying down crying in pain. Shaun looked back at Harry and Rebecca and they were stunned themselves, he then turned around and saw the brunette facing him with a frown, “sorry” he muttered. He turned back and saw Malfoy was up again with much more anger. Shaun looked at him and walked away with Harry and Rebecca behind them. Malfoy didn’t go after them but he continued to stare back at the witch who helped Shaun. He glared at her as she turned her gaze back to him after she saw Shaun walk away. She glared back. One of her friends came and pulled her away from Malfoy’s glare and out of the mess.