Part 3

Part Three – Harry

Yesterday, we almost lost Lily in the crowd. She told me that she'd approached someone who'd seemed trustworthy only to realize her mistake straightaway. Luckily, another person sensed this as well and scared the prat off. I should have watched her more closely, so it's nobody's fault but my own. I asked her what made her trust the other man...especially after Albus Severus described him to me...and she claimed he smelled like flowers touched by rain and reminded her of someone who would live back home in the Wizarding world from the way he'd been dressed.

When they asked to go to a museum this morning with two teenagers who happened to be staying on the same floor as us, I hastily told them no and claimed to have made other plans. It was just too risky to let them out of my sight for so long. I might have reconsidered if the boy and girl's parents had been going as well, but they were in some sort of meeting.

We ended up going to the Audubon Zoo instead, which was something that I'd hoped to put off until another day, having planned our "big" outings on certain days. It was fun, though, and the two teens ended up joining us. Nice kids.

The zoo that I visited with Dudley and my aunt and uncle as a child was nothing like this one. It was huge, first of all, and had so many exhibits that I feared we might not make them all through the day. For me, the best part was the swamp exhibit. There were loads of alligators there, some hiding in the murky water, some on the bank soaking up the sun. If that's what it's really like outside the city limits in the less populated towns of Louisiana, I imagine I'll stay right where I am, thanks.

This evening I'm not content to remain on my balcony. I want to go down and be a part of things. I learned that the ladies who expose themselves aren't doing so for fine jewelry. The necklaces I thought to be pearls or something expensive? They're merely plastic beads and can be bought for change at any souvenir shop in the city. I suppose I was shocked that people would do such a thing, but then, it's all in fun, isn't it? It's just another reason to cut loose and do something out of the ordinary for once.

And the long, crusty...breaded sandwiches that I love? They are called Po-boys here. I felt like such a berk when I realized I'd misunderstood that it was food for those who couldn't pay as much for their meals. Crazy, that. This place takes a lot of getting used to. Earlier today on the bus coming back from the zoo, some man asked me, "How's your mom and them?"

I nearly said that my mum was dead, thanks, and asked exactly who 'them' was but realized it was just some sort of greeting. When I said, "All right," he started talking about the heat and how he wished for a shower to cool things off. It was an odd exchange, but I enjoyed it. If I tried striking up a conversation with someone on the tube back home, they'd have thought I was mad.

Oh! An idea just came to me. I should go back to the Quarter and see if I can spot the man who helped Lily. I owe him my thanks. I have a good mental idea of what he looks like. I snicker as I think of sniffing around for a dark-haired, stern looking bloke who smells of flowers after a rain shower. Al told me that he'd found them in front of Smith's Flowers, so it's safe to assume the man works there or in the vicinity. At least I know his name; Samael, Lily said it was. I'll start there and walk about. If nothing else, I'll have a nice outing.

Getting to the old building the shop is located in didn't take very long, but I can see that it's already been shut down for the night. According to the hours posted on the door, I could check back after eight the next morning if I'd like. I will. I can ask the owner if he knows this Samael bloke. When I turn around, I gaze down the street and see a young couple holding hands and laughing. The boy resembles Teddy a little, and I can't help but think about him and hope that Victoire accepts his marriage proposal. I follow behind them, grinning, for a few blocks, but then I see something that shocks me: a man's profile.

This isn't just any man. This is someone who greatly resembles Severus Snape...black hair, hooked nose, thin frame. Intrigued, I watch as he pulls a set of keys from his pocket and unlocks a small door that opens to a narrow path between buildings that leads to a courtyard. It's obviously his home. He doesn't see me and closes the door, going about his business.

I know it's not Snape, but the shock of seeing someone so like him brings back a lot of emotions I buried long ago. If only Snape had lived, things could have been so different for us all. Suddenly annoyed, I feel it's best to return to my hotel.

Part Three – Severus

Just fucking great! I'm acting like a paranoid idiot! All day my heart has sped up each time the bell over the door rings when it's opened. I half expect the two kids from yesterday to pop in. Hopefully, they've moved on quickly, as most tourists are wont to do. The city is big enough for it, and there are other places they can visit.

Now that I'm looking over my shoulder, it seems my old spy senses have kicked in. I keep getting the feeling that someone is watching me. The hair on the back of my neck prickles occasionally, and it just seems like someone is here. Once, I nearly thought I heard breathing.

And my all-time low so far today? I nearly pulled out my wand in front of Muggles earlier! Why? As I watered a few plants hanging from my awning outside the shop, I saw a bird land on the lamppost nearby. There are plenty of birds here to be sure, but this one seemed to be watching me. I would move one way, and its beady little eyes would follow. I'd move the other way, and it would cock his head to see what I was about. Of course my intuition told me that this starling wasn't truly a bird but a spy. Without realizing it, I'd pulled out my bloody wand and was aiming it at it when... it began to ruffle its dark plumage, the metallic sheen of colors catching the sun's light beautifully, and began to chatter about indignantly.

It was as if it knew I was going to hex it. Or so I thought. That's foolish, though, isn't it? I'm glad that the man who'd been nearby stopped to take a photo of the bird and didn't notice my drawn wand. The starling preened for a few moments and flew off, never circling back. I just don't know what's happening with me right now. I've been content here. I've not worried about being seen in years. Yet, yesterday I had that strange feeling that something would happen. It came in the form of the British kids, one who looked like, and was actually named, Lily, which kept me unsettled all night. And today, I nearly checked a starling to make certain it wasn't an Animagus. Worse than that, it continuously feels as if I'm not alone in my shop when I know perfectly well that I am. My wards would alert me otherwise immediately.

A thought comes to me unbidden. Potter. Potter who has an Invisibility Cloak. "Accio Invisibility Cloak," I say to myself as quietly as possible, flicking my wand inconspicuously. Nothing happens. I feel very foolish, but only for a moment. Why should I degrade myself for taking precautions? As far as I know, he's Head Auror back at the Ministry. Minerva and I agreed long ago to not speak of him. She'd tried to inform me of his life: a marriage to Ginevra Weasley, the birth of his first son (named James Sirius of all things), and his promotion to Head Auror after only a few years in the Aurory.

My threat of cutting off communication with her finally made her realize that I don't want to know anything about that boy. I just want to forget and move on. I'm not so angry with myself anymore, and I've got over a lot of things over the years. I wish now that I had let her tell me about him and his life. Did he have other children? Did any of them have Lily's eyes?

Shock seeps into my veins. The boy yesterday had those eyes, and come to that, he could have passed for Potter's son. His age would be about right. But no, his name was Al, not James. But then his sister, Lily... Another coincidence? I could write to Minerva and ask her, but that would take time, which I don't have. These kids are here in New Orleans. What the fuck would Potter and his family be doing here? What a ridiculous notion anyway. Dumbledore would enjoy this.

My laughter startles the woman looking at the ferns in the corner. "Sorry," I say with a smile, putting her at ease. "Just thought of something that happened earlier."

She walks closer and returns my smile. "Anything you want to share? I know I could use a good laugh as well."

Thinking fast, I blurt out, "Oh, there was a starling perched out there on the lamppost, and it left droppings on a man's head." The lie doesn't bother me, and I can't help but to grin as she bursts with laughter.

"Oh God! Hahaha! That's hilarious. See, I would have figured that something like that would happen to me. It seems like someone's always taking a shit on me."

This is said with a smile, but I can tell she's being honest. "Here," I say, taking one of the long-stemmed peach roses from a nearby bouquet. "It smells lovely. Take it. A gift from me."

"I appreciate that." She sniffs it. "Mmmm. It's wonderful."

We talk a little, and then she leaves without buying anything but promising to return again soon, and I know that she's interested in me. It's very flattering indeed, and I wish that I could find myself attracted to her, but though she's a lovely lady, I feel nothing save friendship. Deciding to close the shop early, I go lock the door and pull the shades down. After doing some arranging, I'll go out by the river and clear my mind.

AN: Thanks go to beaweasley2 and rdholmantx for giving this a read through!