Part 2

Part Two - Harry

Today was nice. We woke up and had breakfast down in the hotel restaurant. While there, Lily overheard the couple at the next table talking about a local attraction-Aquarium of the Americas. It sounded very interesting, so we decided to go there. Albus Severus was very excited to learn that he'd be seeing local animals-alligators and such. The clerk at the desk happened to have a stack of local maps, enabling us to leave straightaway.

I must confess that I had as much fun as the kids. The décor was top rate, and the aquariums were brilliant. I think we sat on the bleachers and watched the schools of fish in the first large tank swim back and forth for almost an hour. Al snapped pictures the entire time and chattered about how he'd like to open a Wizarding aquarium back home. It's an interesting thought, but I highly doubt the Ministry will ever approve of it.

The fun part was taking a family picture while standing inside what were supposedly the bleached, sharp teeth and jaws of a monster great white shark. The Muggle who took the picture for us was puzzled over the camera. Al waved away his confusion by saying it was something new and digital that had just come out in Europe. Luckily, the lad believed it and snapped the shot for us. Oddly enough, he sort of reminded me of poor Colin Creevey. I often wonder what would have become of his life had he lived through that battle at Hogwarts.

Best not dwell on that... or the fact that our family portraits now lacked a second parental figure. Anyway, after going through all the rooms and participating in things such as petting a small nurse shark and finger painting, we made our way to the small café and had lunch. The crusty bread was quite good; the locals said it is something poor boys like to eat, and the fried shrimp, though spicily battered, were delicious. I plan to go back and have another as soon as I can.

We decided to take it easy this afternoon, watching the telly in our room and playing video games. We had pizza delivered for dinner, and now I'm out on my balcony once again while the kids have gone to bed. The brand of beer, Budweiser, recommended by the pizza delivery bloke, tastes strong but smooth as it goes down. Tonight, I don't charm away the sounds of the city, choosing to embrace it instead.

There's a different set of lads across the way tonight, but they, too, have loads of long necklaces that they toss down to women who show their breasts. As far as I can tell, most of the lot are long pearls. I expect that only the wealthy stay at that place. I smirk as I realize they don't know what they're missing by not eating those poor boy's sandwiches like I had for lunch. Second thought... if that's only what the poor lot eats, what's served to the rich?

My mouth waters just thinking of it. As I ease back into the shadows of my dark balcony, I can better see the two little black lads on the corner. They're tap dancing, each having a little box on the ground in front of them where pedestrians can toss in cash. A longhaired, bearded man just across from them is strumming on a box guitar and doing a poor job of singing some tune. I wonder how much money they possibly make like this. What would it be like to not have the responsibilities of a regular job? What would it be like to live in such a city?

New Orleans felt very welcoming. I'm not sure if it's the hospitality of everyone or if it's just me needing a change in my life, but I like it here-even though I've only been here for a couple of days. What would I do if I met someone here? I feel a little guilt settle in at this thought and simply concentrate on drinking my beer and watching the partygoers. Come to that, I wonder where that bag of crisps were put.

Part Two - Severus

Today I had a very strange feeling. I used to get this feeling back in the war when something wasn't exactly right. So far, I've not been able to place whatever it is, but I'd almost swear that something is about to happen. Something that I don't want. My first thought, naturally, is that I've been found out. What would I do if someone did recognize me?

This is something I've thought of for many years, and I always swore that I would do what it took to see that they didn't tell anyone else, as my life is very satisfying: Obliviation being the first on my list with Confunding a close second. Murder is last on the list, of course, but it's still on there.

I smirk as I think this. I've changed so much over the years that I doubt I truly could go through with it unless I had no choice, being attacked or something. I'd probably have to pack up and find another place.

But why? Would it be so bad if people knew that I still lived? There would be the curious ones who'd try to send owls or have chats, but on the whole, so much time has passed now. And I live a bloody long way from England. I really don't think it would matter. I'm still thinking about this as I close my shop and turn around, coming face to face with a beautiful young girl who looks so much like Lily that it causes me to gasp.

She's stopped to talk to a filthy, young man who's taken to making balloon animals for passing children for a dollar. Her voice! She's British. I slide away from them undetected and watch from the corner of my shop.

"I can't find my family," she says. "We were looking at hats... just there, and now I don't know where they've gone. I stopped to watch that lady painting a boy's face."

I don't need to use my Legilimency to know that the boy shouldn't be the one to help her, and for some reason, I can't allow anything to happen to this girl, not when she looks so much like my Lily. If only she had green eyes, she could be her.

When I step out and cut off the sod's attempt to lead her in an opposite direction, she seems grateful, and surprisingly, she doesn't seem afraid of me. Most strangers are wary of me at first. I expect I look sinister sometimes. Once someone asked if I were dressed as a vampire, something about me possibly being one of Lestat's mates. I had to research to find out exactly who this was and ended up enjoying a series of stories by a woman named Anne Rice who happens to live in New Orleans as well.

"All right?" I ask.

"You're British," she says with a smile. "Me as well."

"It's been so long since I've been there," I admit, "but yes, I am. Whereabouts are you from, my dear?"

"London." She grins brightly. "I'm Lily."

I'm sure she notices the widening of my eyes before I extend my hand. "Samael." Was the church's tale of Reincarnation true then? But how?

"Thanks for getting rid of him. Not the best idea I had. It's just that he was giving that child a balloon puppy, and I thought..."

"How old are you?"

"Oh, I'm fourteen-nearly fifteen though. Well, in about six months anyway."

"I'm sure your parents are very worried. This isn't the best place to get lost."

"Oh, it's just Dad and my brothers. Mum died."

"I am sorry to hear that," I say politely, still reeling from the fact that she looks like the Lily I once loved so much and that her name was, in fact, Lily. And she's British. This had to be the foreboding I felt earlier. Perhaps fate has intended to play a cruel trick on me.

"Look! My brother, he's just there!" She points to the lad running over to us.

"All right, Lily?" he asks worriedly, sliding his hand into his pocket as he looks at me.

I hope he doesn't think to pull out a can of Muggle mace or something.

"Of course, Al. This fellow helped me out. He's a Brit, too."

"Thanks, mate," the boy says, extending a hand. "My father told me to do a wan-er, to look for her."

I nearly gasp again as I see the boy's eyes. His eyes are the same shape and shade that I've longed to see once more for many years. I don't take his hand.

"Not at all. Be safe."

I nod and walk away from them as quickly as possible. I will forgo my stroll along the river tonight. It isn't until I reach my flat that I realize how quickly my heart is beating. Something isn't right with all of this. Why would I experience this now? Was this a sign of some sort? Since when do I believe in that rubbish anyway? Luckily, they were just Muggles, else I'd believe someone had sent her purposely. I suppose I'm not quite ready for the world to know about me after all.

AN: More up tomorrow! :)