Chapter 2
Harry doubted she would ever find her way back to the Dursleys. It’s been six hours since she left the enclave. Six hours spent wandering around Italy, hoping to see a semi-familiar landmark or a native who spoke English and could give her directions. Unfortunately, she had no luck with either. The only promising person she might have had a chance with was that blonde boy with the crown. But that encounter happened over four hours ago, and Harry was no closer to finding the Dursley’s house than she was when she started.
However, this outing wasn't a total failure. Despite being lost, Harry had found many little stores and places she wanted to come back and explore soon. She wrote the name of each shop on a page of her notebook and, after a game of charades with the locals, wrote the names of some monuments and statues on another page. Harry may not know what most of the words meant, but she would soon. Learning Italian was at the top of her To-Do List. Once she was at least passible in the language, she planned to return and explore these places properly.
But that was an adventure for another day. Harry was exhausted. She’s been on her feet all day, which normally wouldn't be a problem, except she's been walking non-stop for the last few hours. Harry didn't realize exactly how tired she was until she had allowed herself to take a break and sat down on a bench in this little park. There wasn't much there and the whole thing was about the size of a quidditch pitch, but it was peaceful. To her left was a pond with a group of ducks scattered around it. Benches like the one Harry was on were scattered around the park, mostly along the edge where the trees would provide shade. Tucked in the corner of the park opposite of the pond was a playground. The rest of the area was open. It looked like the type of place that was only frequented by those who lived nearby. So to Harry, it was perfect. She could easily see herself returning frequently over the summer. It wasn't likely that Dudley would find her here, given that Harry had only found it by accident.
Looking up at the sky, Harry sighed. It was currently a bright orange, but was steadily getting darker towards the east. She probably had one hour, two at most, before night fell. The girl decided she wasn't too keen on wandering around at night, especially in a place she didn't know. That was just asking to be kidnapped, or worse.
On the bright side, the bench she was sitting on was actually fairly comfortable. Harry could spend the night here, then continue finding her way back in the morning. It wouldn't be the first time Harry had slept in a park overnight, but it would be the first time she would do it without being locked out. Now that she had a new arrangement with the Dursleys, she had her own key to come and go when they weren’t there. She did her best to avoid her relatives, spending the time she was at the house locked in her room or trunk, so it was unlikely they would even notice she wasn't there. Even if they did, they certainly wouldn't care.
“Ushishishi. Has the peasant finally decided to stop following the prince?” A voice said from behind Harry. She wasn't afraid to admit that it startled her enough to make her jump. She span around, but nobody was there. Just a tree. Squinting slightly, Harry looked up towards the branches of the tree. Near the middle, something metal was catching the last rays of sunlight, reflecting the light just enough that Harry was able to spot it. She was able to catch a glimpse of blonde hair before the leaves rustled and a figure jumped down, landing silently on the grass. Harry recognized him as the boy she ran into earlier.
“I asked you a question peasant,” the boy said. Harry frowned at him.
“Firstly, you need to work on your manners. Acting spoiled like that won't win you any favors. Secondly, I never followed you. Until you so rudely gave me a heart attack, the last time I saw you was when I ran into you,” Harry told him. What she could see of the boy’s face went blank, and Harry felt like she was being judged.
“If you weren't following the prince, then why were you there everywhere I went?” the boy asked. His voice had become less accusing and more curious, so Harry allowed herself to relax a bit. Inwardly she sighed. It was just her luck to accidentally stalk someone.
“I’m lost. If I followed you, I swear it wasn't intentional. I’m just wandering around until I can find something I recognize,” Harry explained.
“Why did you not search for directions online or ask someone for help?” he asked.
“I don’t have a phone and you’re the only person I’ve met that speaks English fluently. Well. That speaks English and isn’t a tourist,” Harry answered.
“I could be a tourist,” the boy said simply. Harry shrugged.
“You could be. But you don’t carry yourself like one.” The boy was silent at Harry’s words, continuing to study Harry closely.
“What’s your address?” he asked after a moment. Harry blinked. Of all the things he could have said, she didn’t expect that.
“No offense but I’m not comfortable giving that information to a stranger that hides in trees until they can scare someone,” Harry said, causing the boy to smirk.
“It doesn’t seem like you are able to find your own way home so the prince will escort you.”
“Pass. I’ll find my way back eventually. Italy is only so large,” Harry said. She watched as the boy walked around to sit in the bench beside her, a foot of space between them.
“If I wanted to, I could just find your address myself and carry you there,” he told her. Something told Harry he would do it, but she wasn’t willing to give in that easily.
“At least buy me dinner before sweeping me off my feet,” Harry teased. The boy smirked.
“Ushishishi. That can be arranged,” he returned. Harry’s eyes widened slightly before she regained her composure.
“Can I at least know the name of my Prince Charming?” Harry asked. The boy didn't answer, seeming to study Harry once again. Harry was about to apologize for overstepping when the boy turned his head away from her and spoke.
“Belphegor. My name is Belphegor. However you have my permission to call me Bel,” the boy, Bel, said. Harry smiled.
“Prince Bel huh? It has a nice ring to it,” Harry mused. Bel giggled and Harry grinned at him. He returned it with a small one of his own. Barely noticeable, but it was there.
“You are an interesting peasant,” Bel said. “What is your name?”
“Harriette. But I go by Harry.”
“I shall call you Kitten,” Bel said, nodding decisively. Harry blinked in confusion.
“Kitten? Where did that come from?” she asked. Instead of answering her, Bel simply pointed at her shirt. Harry glanced down and made a noise of understanding. She was wearing a t-shirt that was half white and half black. The middle of the shirt where the two colors met was designed to look like two cats hugging each other. It was similar to the Yin Yang symbol, but with cats.
“Fair enough,” Harry said. Being called Kitten was better than some of the names she had been called at Hogwarts. Honestly, it was probably the nicest name she has ever been called. The two of them continued to exchange small talk for a few more minutes, until Bel stood up and offered Harry his hand.
“Come on Kitten. Let’s get you home before you have to sleep out here,” Bel said. Harry studied Bel, much like how he had studied her earlier, before accepting the hand and allowing Bel to pull her to her feet. Harry winced slightly now that she was putting pressure on her feet again, but she pushed the pain aside. Yes her feet were beyond sore, but it was nowhere near as painful as having Basilisk venom coursing through her veins or the pain in her scar when Voldemort was nearby. Compared to that, Harry could handle a little soreness.
Bel was giving her a Look, which Harry waved off. Don't ask her how she knew which look Bel was giving her, since she could only see half of his face, but she knew.
“I’m alright. Just a little sore from walking all day,” Harry said. She grabbed her bag off the bench and dug around inside it for a second until she found what she was looking for. A scrap of paper that had her address written on it. She had needed it when she registered at the Italian ministry and hadn't remembered to take it out of her bag afterwards.
Harry handed the paper to Bel. He looked at it and smirked before handing the paper back to Harry.
“You’re close. Only another ten minutes of walking and you would have been on your street,” Bel said, causing Harry to groan.
“Of course that’s my luck,” she sighed. “Which way do I need to go?” Harry asked.
“This way,” Bel said and started walking towards the pond. Harry hurried to catch up.
“You don't need to walk me home,” Harry told him. “I can find my way back with some directions,” she said. Bel shook his head.
“We can't have the kitten getting lost again,” he said simply. Harry frowned.
“I don't want you to be inconvenienced because of me,” she said more to herself than to Bel, but he still heard her. Bel stopped walking and turned around to look at Harry.
“It’s not an inconvenience. If I didn't want to walk you home then I wouldn't,” Bel said simply. Harry nodded, but she didn't quite believe him. It seemed Bel could tell, for he sighed and stepped closer. He raised his hand and placed it on top of Harry’s head, gently ruffling her hair. “Trust me Kitten. I am a Prince. I don't do things I don't want to. But if it bothers you that much, then you can think of it as an apology for scaring you.”
“Okay,” Harry said, her face heating up against her will. Bel smirked, giving her hair one last ruffle before removing his hand. He started walking again without another word, prompting Harry to catch up before she was left behind. She fell into step with Bel almost immediately, the other slowing his pace just enough to match her’s.
As they walked, Harry found herself observing Bel. He was almost otherworldly. It felt like he was on guard against something, but at the same time he was completely relaxed. There was nothing about his posture that suggested he was even a little bit wary. Every move he made was full of grace and confidence. His hair was blonde, but more of a light golden color compared to Malfoy’s borderline snow colored hair. It was long enough to completely cover his eyes, yet completely suited the boy. Harry wished she could see if his eyes were as interesting as the rest of him, but she wouldn't ask. If Bel covered his eyes, then he did so for a reason. It was similar to how Harry tried to keep her scar covered whenever possible. She had no reason to pry into his choices.
Then Harry found her eyes straying to Bel’s crown. It looked like something out of a fairy tale, but it felt right on him. Even though Harry had just met him, she felt that without the crown then something just wouldn't feel right. It was a part of Bel. It completed him.
“It’s really pretty,” Harry said without thinking. Her eyes widened as her brain caught up to her. “Uhh sorry. It’s just, your crown looks really nice on you. I think it suits you,” she explained. Inwardly she was cursing herself. If her cheeks got any redder then she’d match Ron’s hair.
“Ushishishi. Of course it does. I am a Prince after all,” Bel said. Harry could hear the pride in his voice as he spoke.
“What’s it like? Being a prince I mean. Surely you must have a lot of responsibilities,” Harry asked. Bel was silent for a second before he did his neat little laugh thing.
“You are the first to ask such a question,” he told her. Harry shrugged.
“I’m curious. I go to school with several people from noble families and you don't act anything like them. They only know how to hide behind Daddy’s name. But I can actually believe you are a genuine prince without questioning it. It just makes me wonder if I’m unlucky enough to only know the snobs or if you were just raised differently,” Harry explained. Draco Malfoy, despite being from one of the most influential families in the wizarding world, was more of a toddler on the verge of a temper tantrum when he didn't get his way.
“You are an interesting one, Kitten,” Bel said after a moment.
“You said that already,” Harry said, smiling. “But thank you.”
“Welcome. And we’re here,” Bel announced. Harry blinked in shock, not even realizing the had arrived sometime during their conversation. For the first time in her life, Harry was happy to see the Dursley’s house. It meant she wasn't lost anymore. But she was also sad. Now that she was returned home, Bel would leave. Despite their unconventional first meeting, Harry found she was genuinely enjoying herself with Bel. She wanted to spend more time with him.
Harry closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Opening them, she summoned all her Gryffindor courage.
“Do you want to meet up for lunch sometime?” she asked hurriedly. Bel clearly wasn't expecting that question. The lower half of his face morphed through several emotions before settling into a small, barely noticeable smile.
“I’m busy tomorrow, but afterwards I’m free until Monday,” Bel said.
They parted ways with plans to meet the day after tomorrow at the park. Harry couldn't keep the smile off her face if she tried.