Who Are You [Harry]

[Deleted]

January 15, 2026
HARRY JAMES POTTER

Gabrielle had been back in the country about a week now. Getting situated, finding a shabby little flat, finding connections for jobs and reaching out to contacts. Overall getting caught up on the information network. When she'd last been in the country she would have never dreamed of setting foot in the "black market" but now? It was where she was most comfortable. The underground, where she brushed shoulders with criminals and villains of all sorts. It didn't bother her like it used to. Her old mentor had given her a few references for when she did finally decide to return home, and those references gave her a huge leg up. It immediately gave her access to the networks she needed without having to prove herself. His recommendation was enough proof. 

That was where she first heard the rumors that Harry Potter was not dead, but very much alive. And running some off rundown pub in Godric's Hollow. That was a rumor she couldn't ignore. The first time she'd come to the pub she'd run across a rather... bothersome bartender. She'd chosen not to push her luck in trying to meet the owner that day. Didn't want to come off suspicion. No. Her plan was to just become a casual regular until she finally got a glimpse of the owner, to see if the rumors were true. 

It seemed luck was on her side though. Because it was only her second time at the pub. She'd gotten a pint and was just casually sipping at it when the owner walked it. It was a quiet afternoon, no other patrons and the one bartender on staff keeping themselves busy restocking and cleaning. "So you ARE alive. Fancy that," she spoke up, so he'd hear her as he entered the pub. While her hair was longer, her eyes colder, and her nose pierced, he'd no doubt recognize her. He'd been close with her father before his death. Then, after graduation she and Abigail had joined the Order of the Phoenix. Though when the group had fallen apart Gabrielle had taken off.

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

Harry scrubbed his face tiredly as he considered the growth strategy for the pub. He hadn't really realised the depth of business it would take to keep the pub running well. Hermione had always been the clever one, though Harry was completely capable of doing maths. Thankfully, computers had taken the wizarding world by storm recently, and Harry had happily started learning about the basic functions as well as word and number processing. It made keeping the financial side of the pub in better order.

His office doubled its use for the pub and for the Order. He tucked away a few drawings he'd made of the structure of the Order, pleased to have finally come to a decision. There would be no leaders, only democracy. They would all lead, really. Harry was glad to take a step back, guiding the Order members without making some grand gesture such as Dumbledore's Army. He'd been a teen then, and the decades that had passed had given Harry clarity as to what was right and wrong, safe or not. Locking up his desk with the necessary enchantments, Harry rose from his desk, and slid out of his office, keen to have human interaction instead of just computer interaction.

Harry froze as a familiar voice reached his ears, not one that he had heard in over a year. His eyes met those of Gabby's, who glared at him with a sense of betrayal brewing deep within her. "Gabby," said Harry, clearing his throat. "I'd offer a drink, but I see you have one," he added rather awkwardly. The daughter of the late Kingsley Shacklebolt, sister of Abigail who had died tragically, and formerly a close family friend. But the coldness in her eyes gave him pause. "You look er... well." Harry wasn't certain he would use well, with tattoos and piercings all over her. "Alive and drinking, I suppose. And how are you? Other than also alive," he muttered, not entirely certain where Gabby was going with this.

@gabrielle

[Deleted]

January 15, 2026
HARRY JAMES POTTER

When people knew everything the Shacklebolt family had gone through they weren't surprised by how hardened Gabrielle had become She'd lost half her family to the Purifiers and hadn't seen any justice. She been promised time and time again that if she just trusted them, justice would come. And yet after all this time, they'd become empty promises. Pretty words, but no weight to them. Pretty lies. And when you broke your promises so many times? Well, she had learned to stop trusting those that made the empty promises. The Ministry. The Order of the Phoenix. Even her father's friends, such as Harry Potter. She didn't hate him though. Just... was tired of those empty words.

Seeing him walk in had stirred a little warmth in her heart. Because he was still alive. James and his siblings had their father back. At least that was a pain they didn't have to feel anymore. But how? Why? What had happened?

Though, the moment she heard her childhood nickname she almost twitched. Gabby. That's what they'd always called her. Abby and Gabby. But she'd come to resent the nickname when grieving her sister's murder. It had tied her to Abby. And now it felt like the name had died with Abby. "I prefer Gabrielle now-a-days." She answered softly. Despite her resentment of the nickname, there was still a fondness forward. As, again, she'd shared it with her sister.

He seemed a bit nervous at her appearance. She partially felt like she couldn't blame him. It'd been a long time. She doubted James had mentioned that she'd been off the grid since his own disappearance, but depending on when he'd come back he might have noticed her absence, particularly if he'd stayed in contact with her mother. "I've been fine. Been traveling." She answered slowly. She glanced down at her pint, before sliding it aside, so she could lean her elbows on the table and lean forward a bit. "You look 'well' for someone that up and disappeared. Care to explain?'

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

Harry cocked a brow as Gabby replied that she didn't go by Gabby anymore. He'd seen her from nappies - did she think a year would change everything that they had been through together. He considered shooting back that he was Harry, and he'd call her what he always had. Instead, Harry let the matter lie. "Fine then, Gabrielle," said Harry with only the slightest amount of sarcasm. Her gaze and tone softened despite the hardness she'd led with, and Harry felt himself feeling a bit guilty. Gabby had lost so much, her father and her twin sister, in the span of just a few years. He ached to hold her, to remind her that he was here and he would make sure everything would be okay, if not perfect.

But the truth was uglier than that - Harry had disappeared without a trace for months before finally deciding to resurface. Kingsley nor Abby could do that.

Harry nervously wrung his hands before him, unsure of the reason behind Gabby's reappearance, how or why she had tracked him down. He presumed it had to do with the fact that he had indeed returned, though he was certain whispers preceded his outward declaration. Sighing, Harry glanced at the bartender beside him, giving him a nod before turning back to Gabby. "Gabby - er, sorry, Gabrielle. Let's talk elsewhere. This is a... mixed company sort of establishment," said Harry, his gaze drifting over the patrons of the pub who were indeed an amalgamation of muggles and wizards. "I'll explain everything. Including the truly awful decision to disappear," said Harry, leading the way back to his office, checking over his shoulder to ensure Gabby followed.

@gabrielle

[Deleted]

January 15, 2026
HARRY JAMES POTTER

Gabrielle could almost see the hesitation in his own remark, as if holding himself back from refusing. When he did speak she still heard that slight sarcastic tone, something Harry Potter was known for. She didn't expect him to be a "respectable" adult in the sense of all formality. Harry Potter had always been someone that played by his own rules, and smart mouthed. No doubt a skill he'd taught to all of them growing up. Gabrielle though just raised an eyebrow, as if silently daring him to challenge her on it. She could make the low blow of commenting on how awkward the nickname was considering the death of her sister if she needed to go there. Though it would be his decision if she stooped to that level.

When he did speak again, he almost slipped up but corrected himself. Then went on to say they should talk elsewhere and explain. Well, she hadn't expected him to be willing to talk so quickly, but she was glad that he would get right to the point. He knew she hadn't come here without an intention. It wasn't just a friendly "Hi, how are you? I missed you" meeting. She nodded in return. She quickly raised her glass and downed the rest of her drink before getting up to follow him. "At least we're in agreement on that decision," she answered. Truly, awful.