Harry Potter: Syndicate of Heroes

The tapping on the window near his bed didn't exactly wake Harry up that morning. Really, how could a soft noise like that, no matter how persistent, wake someone who hadn't really slept that night anyway?

Twisting his head while fumbling for his glasses on the nightstand, Harry peered at the window as the world suddenly came into focus with the introduction of said glasses. As expected, there was an owl standing on his window ledge, peering in.

Throwing off his covers, Harry slid from the bed and padded across the short distance. The letter was quickly untied after the window had been slid open. The owl didn't even wait around for a response, taking flight as soon as the envelope was in Harry's hand.

As Harry retreated back to sit on his bed, he slit the envelope open to find a couple of pieces of parchment.

Dear Harry,

It was so good to hear from you and to know that you're doing well. And to be able to communicate with you like this after so many years is truly wonderful. I'm glad that you've finally started to settle down, even if it is so far away instead of here where you belong. Not that I don't understand why you're staying away, because I do, Harry and as much as I wish my best friend was closer so that I could see you and talk to you properly, I do understand.

If my calculations are correct – and they usually are (grins) – you should get this the morning of your Grand Opening. Congratulations and good luck! I'm certain that your … is it a restaurant or a café or a pub, you seemed a little vague on that part? Well, whatever type of establishment best describes it, I'm positive that it's going to be a success.

I wish that I could be there to help you celebrate your big day, but I'm swamped at work at the moment. There's rumblings in the Wizengamot of someone wanting to reintroduce some of those vile werewolf laws that we've managed to get repealed and I need to be here to head it off.

I do have some vacation time up my sleeve and as soon as the situation here is under control again, I'll be taking it and coming out to see you. So, make sure that you stay put! No wandering off again. I'd be most annoyed if I turn up on your doorstep one day and you're not there to greet me. And you know that the consequences for annoying me can be quite severe. (grin)

Everyone here is doing well. Ron's still with the Cannons, playing keeper and there's talk that they'll even make it out of the bottom half of the table one of these years. Neville and Hannah seem to be very happy. Somehow, they're making the fact that one works at Hogwarts while the other works at the Leaky Cauldron work for them. Luna, of course, is off once again on one of her adventures for her imaginary creatures. To be honest, I'm surprised that you never ran into her while you were travelling, probably because you delved into the muggle side of the world as well as the magical, while Luna stays strictly off the beaten path.

Well, I'd better wrap this up, I'm sure that you've got a lot to do this morning to prepare for your grand opening. (I still can't believe that you're opening a food establishment of all things! You, in a kitchen, I just can't picture it, not after watching you for six years in potions.)

Once again, Congratulations!

All my love,

Hermione.

The smile that Hermione's letter brought to his face never disappeared all through his morning ablutions and as he began preparing for the day. He dearly wished that Hermione had been able to come for today – Merlin knew he'd been pestering her about it in every letter that he'd sent back for the past month – but it seemed that some things simply couldn't be helped.

As he emerged from the door that led to his apartment, Harry made sure to lock the door behind him with a colloportus – there was no need to tempt any customers into wandering where they weren't wanted. Besides, he could imagine the trouble he'd get in if someone got up there and discovered his magical knick-knacks or books, or worse yet, the fact that a number of the rooms were much bigger than they had any right to be.

His eagle eye very slowly scanned the enormous room, seeking out anything out of place or to see if something needed to be done. Just as he'd known it was, the room was perfect.

He'd put in a lot of hard work here and between the contractors that he'd hired and what he'd done at night with a bit of judicious magic, the place was unrecognisable from the vast, empty, dusty place that it'd been when he'd first seen it.

The long bar remained, now cleaned and highly polished. It was enhanced by a set of stools in front of it, just waiting for customers. Behind the bar, he'd had a bench and shelves installed, a bench that was now filled with coffee machines and machines for making milkshakes and smoothies and thick shakes and juices. The shelves were filled with glasses and mugs and bottles of various kinds.