HARRY

I watched my butler Bennet whack the golf ball off my rooftop we were on with his gloved hands, overlooking the entire city as I sighed with boredom, resting my chin in the palm of my hand sitting on my foldable beach chair.

"Pardon me sir but- shouldn't we be worried about where the golf balls are landing?" Bennet politely addressed me with a stiff turn of his straight, suited body.

"Why should I care." I swirled the expensive alcohol in the fine glass in my hand, actually taking time to try and count all the bubbles to pass the time.

He didn't say anything, just returned back to testing out the new golf gear I had bought but was too lazy to try and see how it felt, in turn ordering him to test all the new gear out while I watched him.

I released a sigh.

"What will you be doing on this day sir." Bennet swung again, squinting out at the sun before the sound of some collision below echoed up to where we were while I yawned.

"Oh dear." He murmured, placing his hand over his eyes to shield his eyes from the sun as he tiptoed slightly, peering down with apprehension while I slumped in my chair.

"I think the question is what have I not done on this day." I rubbed at my eyes before pinching my nose, head lowered.

"You could swim in the Bahamas?" Bennet suggested.

"Did that last month." I muttered.

"Maybe hang gliding in Rio." He offered.

I threw my head back with an irritated groan.

"Been there, did that."

"Take your jet to France then."

"I'm bored of my jet." I whined, feeling completely empty and frustrated inside, like nothing could entertain me anymore before I felt petite, feminine wet hands snake their way to my tense broad shoulders, gently rubbing me through the expensive fabric of my designer shirt.

"Maybe I could keep you busy today, hm.." Angela purred seductively in my ear, her tan bikini body fresh out of my pool as her lips grazed my ear while I continued to blink at the view with an uninterested expression.

Her hands continued their descent down my chest, unbuttoning my shirt while she placed chaste kisses over my neck before I pushed her away, rising from my chair with dissatisfaction as I downed my drink.

"I've done everything, been everywhere. There's just nothing to do anymore." I claimed as I heard Angela grumble in annoyance from behind, obviously offended and maybe if it was another time I would have apologized to the Puerto Rican model, but right now, I just didn't care.

"There is one place." Bennet said, as if talking to himself before I snapped my head to him.

I narrowed my eyes.

"Whatchyou talkin' bout." I questioned, seeing his steady gaze shift to me.

"If you are interested sir, I will take you there. Just as long as your eyes are closed so it will somewhat be a surprise." He proposed with a knowing tone.

"I swear to god if you take me to your room Bennet-" I began, staring at him with a stern look before a goofy grin spread across my face.

"Then I might just give you a raise, eh, eh." I commented with a dimpled grin, nudging him with my elbow as he slowly blinked at me, looking like he was contemplating whether or not to throw me off my own roof.

"Aha. Ha." He let out a forced, humorless "laugh" with a straight face.

"Always so funny sir..." Bennet dryly trailed off, placing his hands behind his back before he walked away while I let out an "I know right," following after him passed a still pissed off Angela.

               "This doesn't smell like the Hamptons." I observed, making a face with my hands over my eyes, covering the location from me as I stood outside my limo.

"Oh yes, that is because it isn't sir." Was Bennet's clipped response before the sound of a car driving off quickly roared from behind me before fading into the distance.

A few seconds past before it clicked in my head.

"Wait what." I dumbly stated in confusion, lowering my hands and looking back to find Bennett and my ride completely out of sight.

"Wait what!" I repeated with wide eyes, frantically looking around hoping this was some kind of sick joke before I took in my surroundings.

There was a constant sound of violent construction drilling on concrete and car horns blaring in the back as I stared at the uneven, tire streaked road, dry patches of brown lawns, gray skies, and old vandalized buildings lined behind slanted net fences.

I shuddered.

I was in the poor area.

"I'm gonna kill him." I muttered under my breath, warily eyeing the rough looking people who blatantly stared at me as I decided not to stand in the middle of a ghetto street by myself with my Rolex watch and designer clothes.

Recognizing the building in front of me belonged to Ron, I released a stressed breath, pissed beyond belief and running a hand through my hair as I fast walked across the dingy street, mentally questioning why everyone here looked like they smelled like three day old bologna.

I was about to open the front door, only to quickly bolt to the side at the last minute when Arlo came walking out- or more like riding out of the building on a pink, kid bicycle with some girly sparkly tassels hanging from the handles.

I stayed hidden at the side, watching my twin ride away in the pink bike.

Dumbass.

Ron stayed on the top floor right? I mean she was the land lady.

I went into the small, rickety elevator, having to pinch my nose from the smell of piss and press the button with my elbow, not knowing who or what has has touched that small circular, disgusting button.

Reaching the top floor I waited for the gated door of the elevator to slide to the side, only for it to do so and jam and stop midway.

My brows furrowed.

I grabbed the gate, trying to manually push it only for it not to move an inch as I jiggled it with frustration.

With no signs of the rusty door opening any further I attempted to squeeze myself through the gap, making whiney grunts in irritation before finally passing through it.

I straightened my collar with a huff, glaring at the elevator door as I turned to leave.

I quickly fast walked back to it with a grumpy expression, kicking the stupid gate door of the elevator causing it to fully slide open as my jaw went slack.

"Fucking stupid." I muttered under my breath, finally walking away down the narrow, dimly lit hallway.

Turning the corner, still brooding before I bumped into a small body, making me almost curse them out in frustration for even touching me before my green eyes connected with a pair of dark brown ones.

"Oh, you're here." Ron blinked, staring at me for a few moments as I awkwardly stood there in front of her.

"Uh yeah I- hey, where are you going." I snapped when she moved past me with disinterest, causing me to trail after her.

I looked at the bandana in her hair and her black, cropped tank top, exposing all the colorful tattoos over her arms and shoulders while her large hoop earrings swished with every step she took while she carried a large tote bag slung over one shoulder.

She looked like a ratchet Santa clause.

"I've got errands to do." She simply responded, heading for the satanic elevator I had just left.

"You look like a ratchet Santa clause with that sack." I told her as I followed her into the small space of the elevator.

"Thanks, I'm going to be doing my laundry across the street." She said, pressing the button as I peered down at her hoop earrings, reaching out and touching them, tilting my head to the side and sticking my fingers through them to see how big they were as she stared straight ahead of her, unbothered.

"Can I come." I requested.

"Sure, there any reason you're in this neighborhood by the way?" Ron asked as we reached the bottom of the building, walking out while I made sure to be closer to her when I noticed more dirty looking people glaring at me.

"My stupid butler dropped me off here as some kind of sick joke, and I forgot my phone in my damn limo." I grumbled, sticking my hands in the pocket of my shorts.

"I hate when that happens." Ron tsked with a sigh, making me send her a sideways glance as I smirked.

We crossed the street, entering the coolest place I've ever fucking seen.

"Woah... there's washers and dryers everywhere...." I trailed off in awe, smelling the clean detergent and soap in the air as Ron let out a small "yup," getting some type of basket with wheels as we entered this store called the Laundromat.

"Look, Ron look, look there's dryers over dryers." I eagerly pointed at the dryers stacked against the wall, turning my head over at Ron who was busy opening her sack of dirty clothes.

"Ron look, Ron you're not looking, look." I insisted.

"I see it Harry." She said, finally glancing up as my eyes widened in amazement while I smiled.

She suddenly produced a roll of quarters from her bag, gesturing me to come over.

"I need you buy me some laundry detergent over there okay." She instructed, handing me a few quarters in my open palm as I stared down at the money before looking at her with wide confused eyes.

"Where?" I looked around before she directed my gaze over at some type of vending machine in the back.

"Are you- you sure I can do it?" I questioned her with a nervous gaze.

"You'll be fine bud." She patted my arm as I inhaled slowly and nodded, turning and heading over to the vending machine in determination, my confidence dying when I reached the bulky thing as I looked at all the buttons and slots.

Okay so what the fuck do I do now.

"Soap." I said, waiting for it be voice activated, just like the technology in my mansion.

"Soap." I repeated, louder this time as I stood there in front of the vending machine.

Fuck was everything in this neighborhood broken.

"I said soap you stupid piece of-"

"Why are you yelling at the vending machine?" A small voice suddenly asked, making me tear my frustrated gaze away from the large box to stare down at a chubby, Mexican little girl with short hair, blue food coloring over her face from the popsicle she was slurping on, her chubby belly protruding and making her shirt look like a crop top.

Did Dora the Explorer just talk to me?

"I'm not yelling, I'm ordering it." I corrected the kid, the irritation still clear in my tone.

"You're weird." She stated, giving me a look before she went in front of me, putting a quarter into the machine and pressing a button before it suddenly roared to life, churning until a small item was heard plopping at the bottom where the slot was.

Dora retrieved a small soap package before walking passed me like it was no big deal.

Fucking show off.

"Wait," I stopped her with my voice as she turned to look at me.

I held out a quarter for her.

"Could you uh- maybe hook me up." I whispered, eyes darting over to the vending machine before she took the coin, walking over and pushing it in, pressing another button before handing me the soap that fell through the slot as I gratefully took it.

"Thanks." I breathed with a smile as she gave me one last look before skipping away.

I watched her leave before turning back to the machine with wide eyes, copying the little girl's actions before in uncertainty as I put in a coin, my fingers hovering over the buttons in confusion, not knowing which one to press before I randomly chose one.

I flinched back when it started to make that weird churning sound again before I heard the plop of the soap.

I was instantly addicted.

By the time I was done, Ron was loading her laundry into a washer before I approached her, dropping dozens and dozens of small packages of soap I bought onto the top of the machine as she raised her head up.

She stared at the soap, then at my proud smile.

"I did it all by myself." I stated with a grin.

"I only needed one." She let out a small laugh, raising her brow at me in amusement before taking one of them while I waited and watched her, leaning over the dryer to see what she was doing.

When she was finished loading everything, she pressed a few buttons, moving the basket to the side while I looked around, spotting that Dora girl sitting in front of one of the washing machines, peering through the circular window before giggling in entertainment.

I blinked with furrowed brows, wondering what was so interesting as I went over to the washer that had Ron's clothes, bending down and peering through the window.

My jaw dropped in wonder when the water inside the machine suddenly spritzed and swirled the soapy clothes around, my face pressed against the window as I found myself sitting down in front of it.

What kind of sorcery...

"Pst, Harry." Ron suddenly called me, making me hesitantly look away from the washer as she smirked at me, loading a bunch of white clothes into the washer besides me.

"Wanna do this load?" She asked, nodding at it as my eyes widened before I got to my feet.

"Really?" I asked, the excitement clear on my face as she nodded while I helped her put all the whites into the washer, closing it.

She was right by my side, our shoulders brushing before she pointed at the buttons and told me what to do step by step, occasionally turning her head so we would make eye contact so she knew I was listening as I nodded, looking at her, just staring at her.

I didn't realize she looked away, still telling me what to do before she caught me staring, making her smack me upside the head lightly, telling me to pay attention as I blinked, mumbling "right, right" while I straightened.

"Wait- wait you're leaving me? You're not going to watch." I panicked when she turned to leave.

"I'm gonna get us some chips, you'll be fine." Ron reassured me as I swallowed, still unconvinced before she smiled and left.

I rubbed at my jaw, looking at the washer that I had yet to start.

Then I looked at the pile of soap besides me.

Maybe it would be faster if I used more than one...

           "Fuck! Fuck! Everything is fine- everything is perfectly fine!" My panicked voice carried out through the entire laundromat as Ron turned, dropping the bag of chips in my hands at the sight of my long body over the soapy washing machine, large suds seeping out and spreading over the tiled floor as she quickly ran over.

"What did you do-"

"I told you not to leave!" I snapped at her in accusation before I watched her slide across the wet floor, eyes wide before she fell into the suds, bubbles rising from the impact as I  paused.

Oh my god I thought, watching her hurt figure on the ground as she propped herself on her elbows, rubbing at her head with a frown.

That was hilarious.

I then pointed at her, laughing.

She sat herself up, suddenly grabbing me by the shirt and dragging me down with her as I fell into the pile of suds that were forming.

"I told you, only put one soap." Ron huffed, attempting to stand only to be knocked over when I reached out and placed my hand on her back as leverage, the both of us struggling to get up on the floor like baby giraffes.

"Ow ow- my hair, my hair not my fucking hair!" I snapped when she gripped at my locks, her other hand on the machine as she got myself up with a determined look, finally reaching out and shutting the washer off.

The suds were left on the ground and over Ron's body and mine while we panted, soap all over our clothes and face before the manager finally approached us with a cross expression.

There was a moment of silence as the owner crossed his arms over his chest.

"She did it." I smirked from the floor at the same time Ron said "he did it" as we both pointed at one another in unison.

            "Bennet you better pick up from this hell hole right now or I swear." I muttered into the Ron's suck landline when we made it back to her place, somewhat dry as I heard her shuffle in the kitchen.

"Have a fun day sir-"

"Shut up and pick me up." I demanded before slamming the phone down, brows knitted together as I shivered, feeling slightly cold from my damp clothes as I walked over to the small kitchen counter.

"Do you not own a simple heater?" I berated Ron who gave me a look as I hugged myself on the stool I was sitting on, pouring and rubbing my arms.

"Seriously, I have goosebumps right now. How can you live like this-" My sentence was cut short when she suddenly draped a warm, soft blanket over my shoulders, making me pause before I touched the fabric between my fingers.

"Oh. Thanks." I said, hugging it around me before she suddenly slid a plate of something yellow and soft in front of me and a tiny bowl of some type of cold cream besides it.

I hesitantly sniffed it.

"What is this..." I studied the foreign food, watching her stand across the counter from me.

"Cornbread and cinnamon butter." She informed, resting her chin in the palm of her hand.

"Those don't sound extravagant." I pointed out with a straight face, not interested as I childishly pushed the food away with my pointer finger.

"My mom used to make it for me a lot whenever I had a bad day, we didn't have enough money for really fancy cakes so instead she'd make really sweet cornbread," Ron explained in a soft tone that I never heard her use before, as if reminiscing before she grabbed the cornbread thing, tearing it apart and showing me the soft fluff inside, steam emanating from the bread, hitting my face.

Fuck that actually smelled good.

"And then she would make this cinnamon butter and refrigerate it so it was cold, like icing, then put it over the cornbread." She continued, grabbing a butterknife and sliding some of the cinnamon butter into one part of the cornbread before raising it, bringing it to my mouth.

"Mm-mm." I kept my lips sealed shut, shaking my head and leaning back.

"Look," She insisted, opening her mouth and eating the piece herself, chewing and swallowing.

She then prepared another piece for me, smearing the butter and then raising it to my lips.

Our eyes met and I hesitantly took it, wrapped up in her blanket as she fed me the cornbread.

It was warm on my tongue, satisfying even and it made me feel something I've never felt before when I ate my smoked salmon on wheat toast, or lobster with a side of caviar.

It made me feel... at home, if that made any sense.

I've never had this experience, sitting in a kitchen rather than a dining room, with no bib or folded cloth napkin over my lap but rather a warm blanket around me, while I ate something so simple yet delicious with Ron pouring me a glass of milk at the side with a smile.

Not because she was my personal chef or because she was hired to do so, but because she wanted to.

I brushed the crumbs off my face, cheeks full as I mumbled a quick "thank you," distracted with my food and taking a drink of the glass of milk.

She simply ruffled my hair lightly, making me pause from my drink -with a milk mustache no doubt- to gaze up at her warm smile while she kept her hand on my head, something I strangely didn't mind.

"Happy birthday Harry." Ron told me, causing me to stiffen, eyes slightly wide as I wiped my mouth with the back of my arm before speaking.

"How did you know?" I asked as she lowered her hand.

"Arlo told me he was going hiking with some people he met to celebrate his birthday today." She casually shrugged, bringing her arms up and stretching with a small yawn before she walked out of the kitchen, my eyes following her.

I turned to look down at my empty plate, picking one of the crumbs and nibbling on it before Ron's house phone rang.

"I'm five minutes away sir. Polly and everyone else at Valley Hill are currently at your house preparing for your surprise birthday party." Bennet informed when I answered the phone, Ron's blanket still around me.

"Great, what do they have planned this time." I retorted, peering down at my watch.

"Party at your mansion, then a quick jet plane to England at your manor for some horse back riding." Bennet informed as I suppressed a sigh.

As always.

I glanced over at Ron in her living room as she snorted, sleeping on her leathery, tatted couch before looking around her small place.

"Turn around." I told him.

"Excuse me sir-"

"Tell them I won't be there, that you couldn't find me." I instructed, lowering my voice.

"Sir, you want me to turn back home?" Bennet clarified.

I pinched my bottom lip, contemplating before I glanced over at Ron again, her mouth open in exhaustion.

"Yes, go back." I said, not wanting to go home just yet.

I didn't want to do the same thing that I did on my birthday every year.

Or every fucking day with those same damn people.

Bennet was quiet over the line.

"Well thank goodness I didn't leave the house-" He began.

"What the fuck. You said you were five minutes away." I snapped in realization.

"Ah yes, I lied, I'm still at your mansion. I expected you'd want to stay there at Miss Veronica's place-"

"Fuck yourself. Literally fuck yourself with a duster." I told him, hearing him release an uncharacteristic chuckle before I ended the call, more than angered.

I whipped the blanket around me like a cape it didn't drag on the floor as I grumpily made my way over to Ron, standing over her sleeping body on the couch.

I reached out, lifting her chin to close her mouth.

"Selfish." I mumbled to her under my breath, knowing she had kept me away from the birthday gift she could've given to me before I lowered my head and took it.

I kissed her lips.

It was a quick peck before I straightened, going over to the other end of the couch and laying down on it, our legs tangling before I draped the blanket to share over both of our bodies.

My eyelids started to droop and I rested my face against the cushions, feeling her legs graze mine underneath the blanket while my breathing slowed.

I'll never let her know this was the best birthday anyone could have ever given me.

Never.