"Excuse me, can I join you?"

Natalia looked up at the person. He was her age to be certain. Black hair and gorgeous green eyes behind some thin, circular, wire framed glasses. She moved her duffel bag to the floor between her feet.

"Of course." she said smiling at him.

He sat down on the bench beside her and they sat awkwardly in silence. Some trains came and went, all the while the guy kept glancing over.

"Am I that interesting?" she asked. He blushed.

"Sorry. It's just..." he exhaled and rubbed the back of his head. "I'll make it up to you. Do you want to grab a coffee? Or are you waiting for a train?"

"I've got no place to be." she smiled. "What's your name?"

"Harry."

"Mine is Natalia – call me Nat." she said offering her hand. Harry took it and shook it with a grin. "Know any place good?"

"The cafe here isn't that bad actually. I go there often." Harry said standing. Natalia followed him with her bags.

"How often is often?" Natalia asked as they were seated in a booth by the window.

"A couple times a week...most nights really." Harry confessed. "I like the trains, meeting new people."

"So am I to assume I'm not the first girl you've brought here?" Natalia teased. Harry laughed and blushed a little.

"No actually. You're the first." he confessed.

The waitress came back with the coffees that Harry had ordered and asked if they would like anything else. Natalia dug out some money from her pocket. There was some coloured bills Harry didn't know and, some Euros and a mess of coins. Some of which Harry knew all too well.

"How much is a bowl of soup?" Natalia asked. When the waitress said how much it was Natalia pouted slightly. "Ah never mind then." The waitress nodded and walked away.

"That's quite a collection of coins you have there." Harry said pointing to her open hand. Natalia put the contents on the table in front of her.

"Yeah, I still have some money from home." Nat said digging out all the coloured bills and coins. Harry picked one up.

"Canadian...dollar" He said reading the coin.

"We call it a Loonie."

"A loony?" Harry laughed.

"L-o-o-n-i-e." Nat said taking the coin back. "And yes, it's because of the loon on the coin."

"Alright, but that's funny." Harry giggled. He picked up the largest gold coin next. "What is this one?"

"I dunno what it's called actually. My mom sent me with some." Nat shrugged, trying unsuccessfully to convince Harry she didn't know what it was.

"It is a galleon." Harry said softly. "And that makes you a witch." Harry grinned. "That is unless, your mom is just a very passionate coin collector."

"Umm."

"Hogwarts is it?" Harry asked taking a drink of his coffee. They were both drinking it black with no sugar.

"That's the plan." Nat sighed more thankful than disappointed Harry saw through her. "I've honestly been sitting on that bench waiting for someone to come get me for hours though. Are you from the M.O.M?"

"Have I come to collect you? No. I just thought you looked kind of lonely out there on the bench." Harry confessed.

"Just a lucky break then." she smiled a bright full smile. Harry bit the inside of his lip.

"Lucky break for both of us." he said.

Nat quickly drank the rest of her coffee. Harry followed suit.

"So I take it you don't have a place to stay then?"

"No." Nat blushed. "I was hoping that all that stuff would have been arranged when I was collected."

"It is strange that they left you like that. Were you late?"

"I might have been a little. I'm still kinda on Canadian time." Nat confessed softly with a light blush.

"Well, I'll send an owl in the morning. You can come stay with me tonight if you like." Harry said standing. Natalia stood as well and tossed some Euro's on the table. Harry was going to protest but Nat shook her head.

"You can get the next one." she smiled pulling on a aviator type jacket she dug out from her duffel. Harry grinned and zipped up his hoodie.

"So there will be another coffee date in our future?" he asked slyly.

"Of course." she grinned after gathering her bags. "As long as you play your cards right."

"I'll keep that in mind." Harry said and led her out of the cafe. When they climbed the stairs and entered the busy streets Harry took her hand so he wouldn't lose her. Nat was grateful as more than once she was almost knocked off her feet by busy shoppers trying to get the last of the end of summer deals.

"Where are we going?" Nat asked as they turned onto a calmer street.

"to where I'm staying." Harry answered.

"Which is?" Nat asked further. They stopped in front of a dirty little pub.

"The Leaky Cauldron."

"Charming name." Nat said with a unsure expression. Harry laughed and pulled her into the pub.

"Welcome back Harry!" the barman said.

"Hey Tom." Harry replied. "Can I get supper for two taken to my room tonight?"

"Course Harry." Tom replied. Harry led Nat up the stairs.

"Should I be worried he didn't question your bringing a girl to your room?" Nat asked. Harry had let go of her hand now and she was keeping pace with him easily.

"Should I be offended you're asking that?" Harry replied with a laugh. "No, that's just how he is. He doesn't question much as long as the room is paid for. I have never brought a girl back to my room, at least not for what I think you're implying."

"Far enough." Nat laughed.

They entered his room, it was a good size and Harry's things had taken up much of the available surfaces. Harry quickly cleared off the dresser and offered the top of it for Nat's bags. She set them down and then turned to face Harry. They were awkward and silent for a few moments.

"I'll have to ask Tom for a cot for me to sleep on. You can have the bed." Harry said. "Unless you object."

"If you're feeling charitable I won't be rude and reject you." Nat said with a shrug.

"Well, that's good then." Harry said with a small smile. He was feeling more tense than he wanted to. He should have just rented a room for her. But would she had let him? Probably not, it's best like this.

"I'd like to take a shower if that's ok." Nat said bringing Harry out of his mental ramblings.

"Yeah of course. That door there leads to the loo."

"Loo?"

"Yeah."

"You tease my country for calling their dollar a Loonie and you call your washroom a loo?" Natalia laughed. "That's not fair."

"You're laughing at me now, so call us even." Harry retorted walking past Nat to open the washroom door, he stood to the side so he could wave her in. "The loo is yours."

"Yeah nice." Natalia said making a face and sticking out her tongue playfully.

Harry shut the door behind her and held his breath until he heard the water running and then exhaled heavily. In retrospect he really should have gotten Nat her own room. She was friendly enough but that seemed to make it worse. What were they going to do tonight? Tomorrow? Well tomorrow he could take her to Diagon Alley, she obviously didn't have her stuff yet. He had picked up most of his stuff, leaving the books and potion supplies for last. That worked, so what about tonight?

"Got your meals Harry!" called a voice from the door. Harry raced over to answer it and take the meals from Tom.

"You'll add them to my bill right?"

"Course. You want both of them on there?"

"Please."

Tom nodded and turned to leave. "Oh and can I get a cot brought up?"

"Course." Came Tom's ever simple reply.

Harry shut the door with his foot and turned to put the meals on the table. He heard the water stop and looked over towards the washroom. After a moment Nat popped out just wearing a towel. Harry bit the inside of his lip hard. Control Potter. Control.

"I'm sorry!" Nat said rushing to her bags and grabbing the duffel. "I forgot to take this in with me."

"No problem." Harry said, his voice was funny and tight.

It didn't matter though, Nat hadn't heard him and disappeared back into the washroom. He cleared his throat and took a drink of the pumpkin juice that came with the meal. Nat emerged again wearing her pajamas. The shortest plaid shorts Harry had ever seen and a long sleeve white shirt that was a bit too big. She was rubbing her short black hair dry with the towel.

"That is so much better." She smiled sitting down. She sat with one leg crossed under the other which was hanging down normally. "Traveling makes me feel so gross."

"Yeah. I bet." Harry said with a smile.

Nat was just too damn cute. She picked up her fork and stabbed the closest sausage. With a noise of happiness she bit into it. Harry grinned and started to eat as well. Tom brought up the cot some time later and took the empty dishes. Harry popped into the shower himself after the cot was made up and Nat stretched out on the bed with a happy sigh. She had fallen asleep before Harry was out of the shower.

Harry came out, shirtless on purpose hoping to earn some points with Nat. He gave a defeated smirk as he saw her sleeping. With one of her knees pulled up to her torso and both arms under the pillow on top of the blankets. It seemed like a sin against his manhood to cover up those long pale legs but he knew she would get cold if he didn't. Pulling the extra blanket out of the closet he put it gently on top of her and then turned out the lights with a snap and got into his cot.