Chapter Two
Harry does indeed make it to his latest job intact, and just on time. The job isn’t much- and doesn’t pay much either, for that matter. He is stationed with a group of other men and woman, sweeping the streets. He doesn’t mind the menial tasks- on days when he is too bruised by Vernon to have even the slightest hope of finding work, he often is set to doing chores similar to this. The other men shun him- they hang around in groups and are much older than him, many with wifes and children. He, however, does have one shining beacon of hope in Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley. Hermione really shouldn’t be working on chores such as this one. She’s smart- really smart. Harry doesn’t even know where she finds the time to read so much, but read she does.
Ron, in comparison, is not book smart but rather street smart. He is forever looking out for Harry, who is rather..open, about his views. Hence his having no companions other than Ron and Hermione. No one wants to be friends with a boy with a bright red target marked on his head, after all.
Speaking of Ron and Hermione…
Harry spots a bright mess of red hair coming to greet him, and immediately begins to grin.
“God, “comrade”- we were beginning to think you were a no show!” exclaims Ron. “You’re usually bright and early, what happened Harry?”
Harry smiles sheepishly, “I got…distracted.”
Ron looks at him knowingly, and then a bit awkwardly. He’s never been very tactful about these sorts of things, but Harry has never minded. He’s awkward about it too. It makes him feel weak.
Instead, Ron pats him placatingly on the back, and then says: “Well, we have a lot of work to do, streets are littered with leaves today.”
“Oh joy,” Harry moans playfully, and they get to work in a comfortable silence.
That is, until Hermione arrives.
“Harry! Ron!” she exclaims, her eyes alight. It’s the end of their shift, so both Ron and Harry set their brooms down in order to greet her.
Hermione flies into a warm embrace with him, and for a moment he savours it- he hasn’t much in the way of physical affection, so he’ll make the most of it.
And then she steps out of the hug, and Harry is left to mourn the warmth.
Meanwhile, Hermione is speaking “- didn’t have a shift today, and so I was reading, and oh!-”
Harry (and most likely also Ron) hasn't got the foggiest clue as to what she’s talking about, and just lets it wash over his head as all three of them walk to a nearby bakery. Not that they can afford anything in it, but it’s warm and the owner and the employers are quite fond of them, and as such allow them to sit at a table in the back most days.
Harry and Ron sit on one side, and Hermione on the other. Once her fervour has died down, Harry lets out a crooked grin and says “My my, have I got a surprise for you two today!”
He reaches into his pocket and dramatically pulls out the can of peaches, the can cold to his calloused fingers due to the October chill.
Ron grins and plucks the can from Harry, opening it and licking his lips. “Blimey mate, don’t know who you had to kill to get this, but can’t say I’m complaining!”
“Ronald!” Hermione admonishes, and immediately looks around frantically in case anyone had heard him. Though Harry rolls his eyes with Ron, he too looks around and immediately looks around. There is the General from earlier, stationed at the front of the cafe. He doesn’t notice Harry immediately, but when he does, their eyes meet and Harry feels a chill run down his spine.
Then they break away, and General… Rookwood? No, General Riddle goes back to speaking with the woman he had been speaking to earlier.
Harry looks back to his friends, who are eating the peaches with gusto, and Harry tries to put stupid Generals with stupid eyes out of his mind.