Second Chances~ Harry Potter

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Harry and Ellie walked to the Shop in silence, dodging growing puddles as the storm grew around them. In the distance, thunder rolled, followed soon by a brilliant flash of lightning. Ellie kept far enough from Harry that they weren't quite touching, but she could still feel the heat radiating off of his sleeved arm.

As the reached the shop, Harry stepped aside, holding the door for an eye rolling Ellie stepped into the brightly lit shop. Their clothes dripped water droplets onto the black and white tile as they walked towards the cotton candy colored counter where Mrs. Winter sat with her head titled, a phone to her ear. As Ellie neared, her mother looked up and frowned, taking in her daughter's soaked exterior.

"Ellie, you're soaking wet!" She scolded with a disapproving scowl. "You too, Harry." She added, clicking her tongue in a motherly way.

"It's really coming down." Harry laughed, shaking his head and sending water droplets across the shop.

"Stop that!" Ellie laughed, wiping water from her recently drying face. "You're making a mess."

"So are you, dear." Mrs. Winter said, tossing the pair towels she had recovered from the back room. "Now please, let me finish my call." She added, turning her back to the two.

Ellie rolled her eyes, Harry noticing that this reaction was a regular one. She rubbed the towel roughly on her hair, messing it up and making the ends curl from the dampness and rough treatment. After some drying, Ellie walked behind the counter and pulled out two bowls.

"She'll be a while." Ellie said, gesturing to her mother who still sat talking quickly into the phone pressed against her ear. "And it doesn't look like we'll have any customers any time soon, either." She added, nodding at the storm that raged on outside.

Ellie filled the two foam bowls with ice cream and walked over to the table Harry had sat down at. She pushed a bowl towards him and handed him a spoon, taking the seat across from him. They sat in silence; the only sounds around them were the pattering of rain and Mrs. Winter talked quietly into the phone across the shop.

"How did you do that?" Ellie finally said, sticking the spoon in her mouth.

"Magic." Harry repeated, pointing his spoon at her.

"What are you?" She laughed. "Some fucking magician."

"Magicians are fakes." Harry responded. "I, my disbelieving friend, am no fake." Ellie gave him a disapproving look before turning back to the window and watching the rain fall.

"Damn it!" Ellie shouted a few minutes later, startling Harry. She had ice cream on her shirt and where ever bowl once set was a black cat. "Damn cat!" She shouted, shoving the animal off the table.

"Ellie watch your mouth." Mrs. Winter scolded half-heartedly from across the room.

"How did the damn thing even get in here?" Ellie huffed, wiping her shirt off angrily.

"Through the door probably." Mrs. Winter said, finishing her phone call and looking worried.

"I hate that stupid thing." Ellie scowled at the animal, who hissed in response. "I swear, one of these days I'm going to light you on fire." She threatened the cat. Harry nearly fell out of his chair when the cat snorted out its nose in disbelief.

"Oh don't look at me like that!" Ellie scowled at the cat, who licked its paw, unamused.

Then, as Ellie stood still cursing the cat angrily, the animal turned its head to Harry. In one moment, its red eyes locked onto Harry's and for a second, they flashed vividly; a bright red that etched itself into Harry's mind. At the same moment, he cried out, his hand flying to his forehead; a forgotten pain seared, suddenly alive.