A Job and a Warning
Chapter 5: A Job and a Warning
The next morning, Harry found himself standing outside **Merlotte’s Bar & Grill**, staring at the faded wooden sign. The place looked… lived in. A little rough around the edges, but with a charm that made it feel welcoming.
“You gonna stand out here all day, or you comin’ in?”
Harry turned to see Sam leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on his face.
“Just takin’ it all in,” Harry replied.
Sam nodded, stepping aside to let him in. “Well, come on. Let’s get you settled.”
Inside, the place was just as he expected—dimly lit, a little noisy, and filled with the scent of beer, fried food, and something else… something Harry couldn’t quite put his finger on.
“Here’s the deal,” Sam said, leading him behind the bar. “You start on dishes, cleaning tables, maybe some bartendin’ once you get the hang of things. Pay’s fair, and I expect you to keep your nose clean. We don’t do trouble here.”
Harry gave a short nod. “Fair enough.”
Sam studied him for a moment before lowering his voice. “You’re different.”
Harry tensed. “And?”
“And that’s fine,” Sam said easily. “But different attracts attention in this town. Some folks won’t care. Others? They’ll wanna know what makes you tick.”
Harry met his gaze. “And which one are you?”
Sam smirked. “A little of both.”
Before Harry could respond, the front door swung open, and Lafayette Reynolds strutted in, dressed in a purple tank top and tight jeans, looking like he owned the place.
“Well, well,” Lafayette drawled, eyeing Harry. “Who’s the new boy?”
“Harry,” Sam said, already moving to grab a crate of beer. “He’s startin’ today.”
Lafayette leaned on the counter, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Ain’t he cute? You legal, sugar?”
Harry chuckled. “Just barely.”
Lafayette winked. “Damn shame. Well, if you ever need someone to show you how to get by in this crazy-ass town, you just let me know.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Knock it off, Lafayette.”
Lafayette grinned but backed off, grabbing an apron. “Alright, alright. Let’s get to work.”
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A Few Hours Later
By the time Harry got his first break, he was sweating and exhausted. Turns out, working at a bar was a lot more demanding than he expected.
He stepped outside for some fresh air, wiping his hands on a rag, when he felt it—the prickle at the back of his neck.
Someone was watching him.
Harry turned slowly, scanning the trees beyond the parking lot. At first, he saw nothing. But then—a shadow moved.
A tall figure stepped just into view. Bill Compton.
“Evening,” Bill said smoothly, his voice carrying an old-world charm.
Harry didn’t move. “Can I help you?”
Bill studied him with an intensity that made Harry’s skin crawl. “You are new here.”
Harry crossed his arms. “Guess that’s obvious.”
Bill took a step closer. “I can sense something about you… something different.”
Harry forced himself to stay calm. “That seems to be a running theme around here.”
Bill tilted his head, considering him. “Be careful, Mr. Potter. There are those who would be very interested in someone like you.”
And with that, he vanished into the night.
Harry let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
Yeah. Bon Temps was definitely not normal.