Author's Note: The title of this chapter comes from the title of my first part of the Trilogy---Again. That song by Lenny Kravitz is one of my favorites and I couldn't resist letting that be the title to this chapter because it just seems to fit perfectly here. I hope you guys enjoy. Thanks to all of you guys who have read and reviewed, you keep me going!
Chapter Five
Again
"I've searched through time, I've always known
That you where there, upon your throne
A lonely queen, without her king
I've longed for you, my love forever"
(Lenny Kravitz' Again)
Harry had spent the past 15 minutes pacing on the sidewalk in front of Billie's Bar & Grill. He was scared. Out of all the things in his life he had done, from fighting a basilisk to taking on one of the most powerful wizards in the world, and the idea of simply walking into a restaurant had him scared to death.
What had he done? He'd thrown away his second chance for a start, he thought to himself. There was no way that he'd get another chance like this again. No matter what his name was, he'd burned way too many bridges. With his latest actions, he'd had a feeling that he'd not only burned them, he'd blown them to smithereens.
He didn't know if anyone would understand what he'd done. Hell, he wasn't even sure he'd understood it, but he would never have been able to live with himself if he hadn't at least come here to find out for sure.
"Come on, Harry," he told himself. "Just open the door and walk on through."
He took a deep breath and walked inside. It was just after four o'clock in the afternoon. There weren't that many people inside the restaurant, except for a few people gathered by the bar. Harry looked around and only saw one waitress, who was most certainly not Hermione. This girl had short, spiky blonde hair.
When she saw him standing by the door, she smiled warmly at him.
"Have a seat anywhere, sweetie," she said.
Harry nodded. He decided to take a seat at the bar, where the other patrons were. An older woman was standing behind the bar and she smiled warmly at Harry as he sat down.
"Good afternoon, darlin'," she said. "What can I get you to drink?"
Harry smiled nervously at her. "Um, what do you recommend?"
She laughed. "Well, I would want a double martini, but being as I have to cook tonight, I wouldn't recommend that. How about a glass of iced tea?"
"That sounds great," he said, taking a menu from her.
She turned around to get him his tea and again, Harry scanned the restaurant for any sign of Hermione.
"Here you are," the woman said giving him a glass of iced tea. "My name is Billie. I own this fine establishment. I don't remember seeing you before."
"I just got into town, actually," Harry said.
"Well, welcome to Chapel Hill," she said smiling at him. "I'll give you a few moments to look over that menu."
Harry nodded.
He couldn't believe he was actually here. What would Ron and Maggie say when they heard about this? He hadn't bothered to send them in a letter explaining what he was doing. There hadn't been time. He also knew Ron would think he was out of his tree and Maggie would probably be hurt to find out that he had ditched his training to go chase after his dead girlfriend's doppelganger.
Before leaving London, he'd busily scribbled a note on a piece of parchment to Sirius explaining where he was going and asking him not to tell anyone where he was or what he was doing. The last line of his letter said he'd explain it all later. Yeah, he'd do that, Harry thought, when he figured it out for himself.
So, he'd arrived in Chapel Hill less than an hour ago and checked in at a hotel down the street. He'd felt anxious as he made his way down the street to the restaurant. There were so many questions he had. Mostly, if this was her, how was it possible? He'd seen her die, after all. How was any of this possible? This had to be without a doubt the most surreal experience of his life.
"Have you decided?" Billie's voice asked, breaking him out of his reverie.
"Oh, uh, yeah," he said. "Could I have a BLT sandwich with extra mayonnaise and an order of French fries?"
"Sure can," Billie said, writing this down on her order pad. "Should just be a few minutes."
"Thanks," Harry said.
He was about to turn around and scan the restaurant again when he heard a familiar voice behind him.
"Billie!" she exclaimed. "I am so sorry. You wouldn't believe the line at the bookstore. I came right here from there. You wouldn't believe the price I had to pay for these things. There mostly used, but I still had to spend over $300 in books."
Harry turned around and saw her. She was carrying about three heavy bags of books. Her cheeks were flushed and flustered.
He had to stop himself from getting up from the chair and taking her in his arms. It was just like Neville had said. Her hair was a little shorter than it had been and her accent wasn't as pronounced, but it looked and sounded just like Hermione. She walked right past him, not even looking in his direction. She set her bags of books down on the bar and took a deep breath.
Billie came out from the kitchen.
"Julie," she said. "Good Lord, girl. You look as if you've just run the Boston Marathon."
"I feel like I have," she said. "At least I don't have to worry about working out today. Those books must weight about 30 pounds."
"Did you buy out the whole store?" Billie asked, her eyes getting big as she surveyed Julie's purchases.
"I feel like I did," she said. "I need some tea."
"By all means," Billie said. "Let me get you a glass. Have a seat."
She sat down beside Harry and smiled.
"Hi," she said.
He looked at her, his mouth agape.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I probably smell to high heaven. You would too, though, if you had to lug three bags of books through campus and down three blocks. I was such an idiot. I should have taken the bus, but I left my bus pass in the apartment and then I didn't have any change. And I'm telling a total stranger about my problems."
"It's, um, it's okay," he said quickly. "I don't mind."
"Thanks," she said. Billie gave her a glass of tea which she gratefully took and immediately took a sip of. "You are an angel of mercy, Billie."
"Yeah, yeah," Billie said. "Well, I better go and get this fellow's BLT. You want to have anything to eat before you start your shift?"
"Yeah, that'd be great," Julie said, smiling gratefully at her. "A BLT sounds great. I guess I'll be having what you're having, then."
Harry smiled. "I guess so."
"Hey, Billie?" Julie called to her boss. "Did you get any applicants for the bartender job?"
"Oh, just the same yahoos that are always coming in here. One of them had the nerve to ask if that meant he'd get free drinks. Needless to say, he was shown the door pretty quickly."
"We'll find someone," Julie said reassuringly.
"Yeah," Billie said. "We're going to have to. I can't keep doing this and bartending. I'm going to collapse of exhaustion if I keep doing this."
"You're just a regular old Jackie-of-all-trades, aren't you?" Julie asked her jokingly. She nudged Harry, who had tried quite hard within the last few minutes not to stare at the poor girl beside him. She obviously didn't know who he was from Adam. He didn't want to scare her half to death by coming across as some sort of stalker within the first five minutes of meeting her.
It was amazing the similarities between this girl and Hermione. She had those same warm, coffee brown eyes that lit up when she talked. He was glad that he was sitting because if he'd been standing when he'd seen her, he had no doubt that he would have passed out. She took his breath away.
"So, are you from across the pond?" Julie asked him.
"Oh, yeah," he said, turning to look at her.
"Me, too," she said. "But that seems like ages ago, really."
"How long have you been here?" he asked, trying so hard to keep his emotions in check.
"Well, I came to the states about four years ago and I've been here at UNC for three years," she said. "Are you a student, too?"
"No," he said.
"So what brings you here to Chapel Hill?" she asked him curiously.
Harry didn't know what to say. Somehow saying, "Well, I think you look exactly like my dead girlfriend. In fact, I think there's an excellent chance that you are. So, that's why I'm here" didn't seem like the best route to take.
Luckily, he didn't have to say that. She cupped her hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry. I'm like totally butting into your business and we've never even met before. You must think I'm the pushiest person you've ever met in your life."
"It's okay," he said, trying to sound reassuring. He laughed. "We can clear that up straightaway. I'm Harry Potter." He held out his hand.
She shook it enthusiastically.
"Nice to meet you, Harry," she said smiling at him. "I'm Julie Maxwell."
The feel of her hand in his after such a long time felt so…he didn't have words to describe how it felt. It just felt right. He was disappointed when she let go. He told himself that he shouldn't be thinking like this, he had no confirmation that this was Hermione.
Billie came out a few minutes later carrying two plates and she set them proudly in front of Julie and Harry.
"Be prepared, Harry," Julie said, putting her napkin in her lap. "That is the best BLT sandwich you've ever eaten in your life. Trust me."
He smiled and took a bite.
"The girl doesn't lie," Harry said, after he'd swallowed his bite of sandwich.
Billie beamed at him. "This man's got good taste."
"So," Harry said. "I couldn't help hearing that you needed a bartender."
"In the worst way," Billie said. "You looking for a job?"
"In the worst way," Harry said, smiling at her.
Billie and Julie chuckled.
"So have you ever bartended before?" Billie asked him quizzically.
"Sure," Harry said smoothly. "Loads of times. You could say I practically lived in the pubs back home over the last couple of years."
Truth be told, he'd never bartended in his life. The closest he ever came to bartending would have been potions and somehow he didn't think Billie wanted him serving up Forgetfulness potions and sleeping draughts. The last part of his statement had been the truth. He'd definitely nearly taken up residence in the pubs back home when he'd been in his self-destruction phase. He hoped she bought it. The best way to get to see if this girl was Hermione would be to work side-by-side with her. This way, he could get to know her and try and find out how she came to be who she was now.
"Really?" Billie said skeptically.
"Oh, yeah," Harry said, smiling broadly at her again. In situations like this, throwing the old charm on couldn't hurt, could it?
"Come on, Billie," Julie chimed in. "We're pretty desperate. Why don't you give him a shot?"
Billie looked back and forth between Julie and Harry and then said, "Harry, I hope you don't mind if I steal her away for a second, but come here, Julie."
Julie looked nonplussed at her boss and friend, but nevertheless followed her into the kitchen. Harry couldn't make out what they were saying. Now that Hermione or Julie or whomever she was away from him, he was finally able to take that deep breath that he hadn't been able to take.
In the kitchen, Billie smiled at Julie.
"What?" Julie asked.
"We don't even know that guy, Julie," Billie said. "He just came off the street."
"Well, I don't think he looks like an axe murderer or anything," Julie said, stealing a glance at the handsome man sitting at the bar.
"That's what the witnesses say when they're being interviewed on the 11 o'clock news about the guy that no one would have suspected of killing 30 people."
"Billie!"
"I'm sorry," Billie said. "So, you think I should hire him?"
"Yes," Julie said, smiling. "He seems perfectly charming. And if I remember correctly, there was another person that you took a chance on a few years back that you didn't want to hire, but if I may remind you is now one of your best waitresses?"
"Why are you sticking up for someone you haven't met before?" Billie asked her.
"I don't know," Julie said. "There's something about him. I think he's a good guy. A keeper, if you will. Hire him, Billie. Put us all out of our misery of hearing you complain about having to cook and bartend and hire him. I beg you."
Billie looked at Julie and then looked out at the young man sitting at the bar. He didn't look like a troublemaker. When she looked at him, she didn't automatically get warning signs. And Julie seemed to think he was okay. Julie's opinion was one she trusted.
"Okay," Billie said.
Julie clapped her hands together. "Yay!!!"
"Why don't you go break the news to Mr. Green Eyes out there," Billie said. "Get him to fill out an application. Tell him his first shift will be tomorrow evening at 5:00."
"Great," Julie said, smiling.
"You know Trey's probably not going to like this one bit," Billie said, winking at her.
"Billie!" Julie said. "I'm not looking to date this guy! I was helping him get a job. That's all."
Julie turned on her heels and walked out of the kitchen.
Billie looked knowingly at her friend.
"Uh-huh," she said, smiling as she watched Julie sit back down beside Harry. "Something tells me you'll be changing your tune soon enough."
"So what's the verdict?" Harry asked when Julie sat down beside him again.
"Well, Mr. Potter," she said. "I think you've just landed yourself a job. You have to fill out some paperwork, of course, but Billie said you can start tomorrow at 5:00. We don't really have a uniform really. You just have to wear a white shirt and black pants."
"I think I can handle that," he said. "Thanks."
"For what?" she asked him, taking a bite of her sandwich.
"Well, you obviously had to say something to convince her to give me a go, right?"
"You are quite perceptive," she said smiling at him. "I just remember how it was to come here, looking for a job and having to convince her to hire me. I've been in your shoes before and I thought I'd put a good word in for you."
"I appreciate it," he said, turning to look at her again. "But, I mean, you don't even know me."
She turned to look at him and to her surprise found herself looking right into his piercing green eyes.
"I don't know," she said thoughtfully. "You just seem like someone to go to bat for, so to speak."
"Thanks," he said.
"You're welcome," she said, smiling at him. She looked around the restaurant and noticed that a number of people were filing in for the dinner rush.
"Well, I hate to eat and run, Harry," she said, pushing back from her stool. "But I better get ready. My shift starts in a few minutes."
She walked over to where her bags of books were and picked them up.
"Can I give you a hand?" he asked her, getting up from his own seat.
She looked up at him and smiled. "Yeah, that'd be great, actually. I can show you around, too."
He nodded and picked up two of the bags while she carried the other. He followed her back through the kitchen where she introduced him to the assistant chef Ray and two of the busboys, Mike and Tim.
She led him to the back room where she explained the employees used to eat dinner, take naps and study. He sat the books down on the couch and looked around.
"This looks rather cozy, doesn't it?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said, looking around the room. "You wouldn't believe the number of nights I spent in here studying in between breaks."
"What's your major?" he asked her.
"Elementary education," she said. "I want to be a school teacher."
Harry smiled knowingly at her. That sounded exactly like something Hermione would have wanted to do.
"You must like kids, then," he said.
"Yeah," she said. "I do. Everyone says I'll change my mind once I'm around them all the time, but I don't think so. I love the idea of helping a child learn how to read and teach them history and languages and all this different stuff. It's amazing to me that teachers do so much, but get paid so little for what they do."
Harry nodded. This was Hermione, through and through. The lover of knowledge, the crusader for equality. This was her.
"Don't get me started on that, though," she continued. "We could be here talking for hours."
Harry couldn't think of anything he'd rather do more than sit and talk with her for hours.
"So what about you?" she asked him. "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"Ah," he said. "I still don't know. I'm trying to get into law enforcement, actually."
"Oh, a man who likes to live on the edge," she said, smiling at him. "Chase down evil doers and put them in their place?"
He laughed. "Something like that."
"That sounds great," she said.
"Thanks," he said, smiling at her.
"Well, I better get on out front," she said, tying her half-apron around her waist. "I guess you and I will be seeing a lot of each other. You do realize that you signed on for the late night shift?"
"No, I didn't," he said, barely able to contain the elation he had at the luck of the two of them having the same shift. It was all falling into place, like he was meant to have come there. It was sort of like a sign that what he was doing was right; that what he had done was the right thing.
She was saying something to him, but he hadn't heard it.
"Hmmm?" he asked her.
"I asked if you were coming with me?" she repeated. "I wanted to finish showing you around."
He smiled at her. "Yeah, I'm with you. Right behind you."