One Last Fare

[wook77]

My first HP fanfiction, be kind please. 

This is part one of a multi-part. Not sure how many parts at this point. This is for a quotations challenge. The idea behind it was inspired by Harry Chapin's Taxi but it is by no means a song-fic. It also doesn't really go too far along with the storyline from taxi. So, without further ado... 

  Author: wook77 
Title: One Last Fare 
Summary: Post Hogwarts. Harry leaves the Wizarding World behind to drive a cab in Muggle London. He picks up one more fare and encounters his past. 
Challenge and quote: Battlefields Quote Fic Challenge – Quote #60 – “Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it. - Swedish proverb.” 
Rating: R 
Pairing: Harry/Draco 
Warnings: Contains Slash. Contains Spoilers for HBP. 
Genre: Angst/Drama/Humor 
Disclaimer: Not mine. I have four bucks in my checking account, please don’t sue me, I need that money to go to the grocery store. 

The inside of his cab was immaculate. The seats were stainless, the glass was clear and the notebooks and logs that the government insisted he keep were all organized and filed. The radio crackled as dispatch called the drivers and ordered them about.

It wasn’t the dream job for the driver of this cab but it was a dream. Here, he didn’t have to worry about all the different expectations on him unless it was to get the passenger from Point A to Point B. It was a simple job that soothed the driver’s soul.

He kept the radio on very quietly as the range of passengers went from the sublime to the ridiculous. The passengers were doctors, lawyers, students, protesters, sports fans, harried office workers and high and/or drunken revelers. This range of people also soothed the driver’s soul.

Today, his CD of choice was Mandalay. The band had a female vocalist that drifted, almost dreamily, from song to song. It provided a perfect backdrop to the stresses of the day. The traffic melted into an accompanying dance to the beauty of the music. Each passenger provided a type of percussion to the music of the traffic. There were pauses and abrupt voices, a trilling giggle that sounded like a brush against a cymbal.

The driver, himself, was not noticed by many of his passengers. They were simply too busy, too important, too something to pay attention to the man ferrying them around London. To those passengers that did notice him, he was a quiet young man with soft blue eyes, messy red hair and a face that hadn’t smiled in true happiness in years. No one saw what the real man looked like underneath the glamour he’d cast on himself. No one saw Harry Potter, formerly the Boy-Who-Lived.

Harry preferred it this way. He’d grown tired of the way everyone fawned over him in the wizarding world. It was impossible for him to pick out a book in Diagon Alley without passersby grabbing his sleeve, touching his hand or even caressing his face. They called him the Saviour of the Wizarding World in the Daily Prophet. The stress of the war and then the subsequent stress of being the hero had finally gotten to the young man so terribly acutely that he simply vanished one day. He left his apartment, his vault at Gringott’s, his friends, his lover and his adopted family. He left the world that had rescued and then, in his opinion, imprisoned him, without a backward glance.

The only thing he took with him when he left was his wand. This one possession was the reason that his cab was the envy of all the other drivers in his company. With a quick "scourgify", the cab was, once more, immaculate. The passengers that felt a need to make conversation with their driver would always remark on how his cab was the cleanest in London. It was a small point of pride for Harry.

All in all, it was a simple and tranquil life for the man that defeated Lord Voldemort. This simplicity fit the new Harry Potter very well. The brash and outspoken boy that challenged the Ministry of Magic was gone. In his place was a quiet young man that drove his cab during the day and then went home to read a book. On the rare occasion that he went out, Harry had a small group of people that would drag him along.

He wasn’t happy by any definition. Instead, he was content and he valued that contentment. It was a nice steady emotion that kept him sane.

If he caught himself wishing or missing the world he’d left behind, he need only look at the Daily Prophet on a daily basis to reinforce his decision to escape. The newspaper printed articles that speculated on his whereabouts and whether he was dead or not on a daily basis. He was taking up where Voldemort left off, he was surfing in Aruba or he was married with fifteen children in Switzerland. Each suggestion was more outlandish than the next. Every article finished with an offer of a reward for any information leading to the confirmed whereabouts of one Harry Potter.

The only article in the rag that ever made Harry want to go back to the wizarding world was the announcement of the wedding between Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. The article featured a plea from both parties for Harry to please come home. Ron was married without a best man because that was where Harry was always meant to stand. The situation hurt Harry but he couldn’t face going back.

The door to his cab opened and startled Harry out of his reverie. The passenger tossed in a brief case and quickly slid into the seat. The door slammed shut and a voice called out the destination.

"Heathrow, please." Without looking in the mirror, Harry nodded and shifted into gear.

It was a few minutes and a couple of miles before Harry glanced into the mirror. The bright red hair that shone back at him tugged at his memories.

<i>"Ginny, I can’t do this anymore. I’m not who you think I am." Harry pulled Ginny’s hand off his arm.

"I, just, I can’t let you go into this battle without closure. You deserve to be happy, Harry." The almost frantic gaze coming out of the young woman’s face caught at Harry’s heart and conscience.

"Ginny, I am giving you closure. I can’t do this, it isn’t me. I just don’t feel anything, Ginny." Ginny started to protest but Harry interrupted her. "I don’t feel anything, Ginny. I don’t feel. It’s not just towards you; it’s not just towards Ron or Hermione. I’m numb."

With a soft sigh, Harry turned away from Ginny and the rest of the group preparing for the battle. He didn’t see the sad expressions of his companions.</i>

Harry sat there, in the driver’s seat, and listened as Ginny spoke with Ron. He let her voice, now staccato sharp, wash over him. The memories, those unhappy memories he’d fled the wizarding world to escape washed over him. He drove obliviously. The road in front of him blurred and images from time spent at the Burrow flashed, lightening quick, through his brain. A quick hug from Mrs. Weasley, a clap on the shoulder from Mr. Weasley, Fred and George’s happy laughter, Bill and Fleur embracing and throughout it all, Ron. His best friend, his first friend, not always the most steady of friends but then, for a boy who had had no friends, any type was welcome. Images of Ron brought images of Hermione as he couldn’t remember one without the other. They were two halves of the same whole.

His memory drifted towards the lover left behind but Harry reined it in quickly. It was better not to remember him. It was better to leave those memories on a shelf. In Harry’s mind, he stored them just like the prophecies in the Ministry of Magic.

It had been so long since he’d heard any of their voices. Harry had thought himself prepared to encounter them but no amount of preparation could have accomplished it. His peaceful existence, so hard won, was shattered and all it took was one fare.

As Harry remembered, Ginny’s voice continued.

"Ron, I’ll let you know as soon as I finish picking him up." A slight pause as Ron said something. Harry wanted to rip the phone from Ginny’s ear and listen to his friend’s voice but he didn’t, he couldn’t. "I don’t know. For fuck’s sake, Ron, what part of I don’t know do you not understand? I’m not there yet, traffic is horrible and I’m stuck in a cab!" Another pause as Ginny tapped her nails on her purse. "Ron, I’ll call you in a bit. I have to go, Mum’s on the other line."

The phone clicked closed and Ginny cursed under her breath.

"Do you have any brothers…Jimmy?" Harry was startled to realize that the question was directed at him.

"No, ma’am. I’m an only child."

"You’re lucky. Older brothers are annoying and you’re better off without them. Only thing worse than an older brother is five of them."

"Five?" Harry asked with what he hoped was an innocent tone. Which one was not counted? Which one was missing?

"Well, I guess it’s technically six plus an adopted one. I don’t count my brother, Percy. We haven’t talked to him in about eight years and my adopted brother, Harry, is missing." The last was said in a quieter, less assured tone of voice.

"How long has he been missing?" Again, Harry hoped he was using an innocuous tone of voice.

"Too long, five years too long. I miss him. The whole family does. No one knows what happened, he just disappeared one day. We’ve been searching for five long, lonely years."

While Ginny was speaking, the exit for the airport came up and Harry concentrated on his driving. The only remark he could think to make was a quick "I’m sorry," as he pulled into the queue waiting to drop off people.

"That’ll be fifteen pounds." Ginny handed the fare plus a sizeable tip through the window.

"Thanks for listening. Guess it’s one of the skills you develop, eh?" Ginny spoke one last time as she stepped out of the cab.

"Part of the job, I don’t mind." Harry nodded and pulled his cab into the queue that was waiting for new fares. As he drove away he stared into the rearview for one last glimpse of his past.

The queue for new fares was long and Harry sat in line for quite awhile. When he reached the front of the queue, his door opened and a voice he hadn’t known how much he’d missed spoke.

"Ginny, give me some time to decompress. You’re worse than a…" The voice broke off as the two new passengers sat down.

"Thirty-four Highland, please." Harry stared in shock at his new fares. Surely the man with Ginny was not who he thought it was. Looking sleek and sharp and unbelievably unchanged from years past sat the one man Harry refused to remember. Sitting in the backseat of his cab was Draco Malfoy, bane of his childhood, holder of his heart.

Comments

wow

[stolendreamer.livejournal.com]

This is a good start on what seems to be a very interesting fic. I recieved the announcement from the glassesreflect group so I do hope you'll continue to post. I would love to keep reading. Great job!

Re: wow

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Hey, thanks... I almost have part 2 written. It was meant as a one-shot but got really long. So, I broke it up into parts.

[midnytebloodlus.livejournal.com]

a great start i can't wait to see if there is more. You are definitely a better writer from the start than i was

[wook77.livejournal.com]

*blush* Thanks! I've written stories in other fandoms but this is my first HP. I've been consuming...errr, reading... a bunch of other stories and I'm only hoping my story is half as good as some of the other authors (like emmagrant01 and silentauror and coffeejunkii) I'll be a happy camper.

[midnytebloodlus.livejournal.com]

yeah don't we all especially silentauror i love her writing. I actually branched off to beta reading yesterday which i am happy about

[rissyboo.livejournal.com]

I think, I'm going to have too much to read. Another outstanding story to monitor. Oh well. I love it!

[wook77.livejournal.com]

gee golly gosh, thanks! I feel the same way... I'm like a kid in a candy shop on Wednesdays since that's when most of my favorite authors update.

I'm honored!

[hambares.livejournal.com]

Nice start! I am looing forward to more!

[wook77.livejournal.com]

next chapter is almost written... just gotta send it out to beta and get it back. May be posted as early as tomorrow...

Mmmm I like it

[kestrelsparhawk.livejournal.com]

Really nice beginning -- rich with promise. Love the Ginny encounter. I'm a little confused how he could move through the queue and end up with her again... but I presume you'll clarify that.

Look forward to more.

Re: Mmmm I like it

[wook77.livejournal.com]

I kinda pictured it like this... Ginny takes some time to get Draco. Harry takes some time to go through the queue and voila! there they are... but I"ll have to rewrite that part so it makes more sense.

Thanks for the advice and glad you're enjoying it!

[mixedtapesrlove.livejournal.com]

"Ron was married without a best man because that was where Harry was always meant to stand."
that almost made me cry. cant wait for the next installment. =)

[(Anonymous)]

Really great story, although I'm sad for Harry that he is more content to drive a cab and go home to a book then deal with the wizarding hassle. I hope Draco sees through the glammer. Can't wait to read the next installment! You've really set a great mood.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Part of this escapism is because of my own life. I'm so stressed at times that I just want to run away from home for a bit and just be. So, instead, I'm letting Harry do it for me.

Thanks for the wonderful comments!!!!

[wook77.livejournal.com]

I'm so honored. I really think making someone cry is a big compliment (I'm sick but let me 'splain). Someone connects enough with your story that they show emotion like that just means alot to me.

Next installment is coming soon... just gotta beta it.

[mixedtapesrlove.livejournal.com]

lol, i understand what you're saying. I'm glad you take joy out of my sorrow [just kidding]. :) hurrrrry with the beta.

[blackiesdungeon.livejournal.com]

i like it a lot :) but one thing keeps me thinking ... please dont make harry come back to the wizarding world, this is too cruel. please make draco come to harry and let them be a couple in the muggle-world, there the two can have peace and quiet and dont have to worry about pestering reporters or overenthusiastic fans of harry *shudder*
i can understand him so much, that he wanted to leave - but he shouldn't left without draco, but with him as a pair :)

hope, it sounds right +.+... i am a german fan and not so good in english ;)

*hugs*, bye, Blackie ^.^..

[wook77.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're enjoying it! I have the story outlined and the next part will kind of respond to what you're saying... so I'll let the story answer ;)

[blackiesdungeon.livejournal.com]

thanx :) i cant wait till you put it on ^^... do you anounce it at the mailinglist ? :)

*hugs*, bye, Blackie ^^...

WOW!

[(Anonymous)]

This was a wonderful set up! I am really looking forward to the next part... Harry must have been super stressed to the point of burn out to have left everything behind... I can really relate...I am wondering if Draco will be able to see through the glamor...Ginny obviously couldn't. Waiting for the next update! Until then.... ^_^

Jan

Re: WOW!

[wook77.livejournal.com]

I think people only really see what they want. How many times do you look at the guy/gal driving your cab or bagging your groceries? I realized the other day when an old friend of mine was the one bagging my groceries that I don't really look very much. Sure, I say thanks and have a good day but I didn't really look. So, this is kinda about that too.

Thanks for your comments!

Awesome Beginning

[(Anonymous)]

Even though you said this was your first attempt at HP fanfic, I thought it was most intriguing. Once I realized what they were, the flashbacks were a great addition to the story. They are a good vehicle to convey what had happened in the past.

Your cliff-hanger was so strategically placed that I can hardly wait for your next chapter(s). Oh, complements to the good beta work too ... I didn't notice any spelling or grammar distractions.

Luke

Re: Awesome Beginning

[wook77.livejournal.com]

*blush* I'm so glad you like it! I wanted the flashbacks to kind of just pop in there. I wanted it to be a bit realistic to what Harry was experiencing. I know when I'm driving and I have a memory pop into my head, everything else fades. I shouldn't say this but even the road fades a bit and the memory comes to the forefront. Then the memory fades and I'm back to driving.

*double blush* I did the beta work myself. I've had problems with beta's in the past and since I beta other people's work, I do my own too. I just have to sit back and read it out loud and it seems to work for the spelling/grammar things.

[jane-lily.livejournal.com]

I loved it but what I want to know is when and how fast can you update? I can really feel the excitement bubbling inside of me it feels all tingly. anyway update and soon please

[rachana-seea.livejournal.com]

Wow I really like this. I got the announcement on glassesreflect yahoo group and boy am I glad I did. I hope you put another notice when it's updated! I wouldn't want to miss the next part. It's too good for that.

[jamese-malfoy.livejournal.com]

I like the way you started this. I can't wait for your next chapter.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

The next chapter is up... it's at (let's hope this link thing works) http://www.livejournal.com/users/wook77/3970.html#cutid1

I'm off working on a pseudo-sequel as a plot bunny bit me. It should be posted soon...

[verosky.livejournal.com]

this is getting good!!
i hope u post the next part soon

[bitter-sweet666.livejournal.com]

Oh my god that was really good, on to read the next one!