AC_D2: Alternate Jobs- Party Planner

Day two of this year's Advent Calendar is Harry with another job possibility.

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“Party planner?” the ninja on the other side of the office table looked up from Harry's documents with open confusion. “Is that an actual job?”

“It's what I do,” Harry replied with a wry smile. It's what I have to do since it's on the papers, was the more honest reply to the question.

“What do you do as a party planner?”

Having spent almost three weeks trying to get to Konoha on his own, Harry had put a lot of thought into his 'job'. “When someone wants to have a party, they hire me to set things up. That means I find a place for the party, decorate it, get the food and just prepare everything. The person just has to show up and start the party.”

The ninja blinked at Harry. “You're just doing everything.”

“Pretty much,” Harry nodded.

“I've never heard of such a job,” the ninja said with a frown as he tugged on his goatee. “Then again, not many people throw parties in Konoha.”

“Everyone needs parties to celebrate,” Harry said. “They're the easiest way to make good memories.”

“Good memories, huh. That is definitely a rarity.” The ninja leaned back in his chair and look away from Harry. “What kind of parties do you do?”

“Everything other than weddings,” Harry replied without hesitation.

AC_D5: Alternate Job:Gardener (Part 2)

A continuation of this.

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Harry scribbled in the last of the information and closed the log with a sigh of relief. As he stretched out the kinks in his back, Harry marvelled at the darkening evening sky that shone through the greenhouse roof.

Though he was finished with his own work, Harry waited with bated breath. If the routine of the past few days held firm, the blonde girl, Ino would show up with a smug look of challenge as she gave him a bunch of time-consuming tasks to complete by the end of the day.

Her smug look always taunted him to just say no.

And because Harry didn't want to lose to her, he stayed in the greenhouse until the late hours of the night completing those inane tasks. He only made it back to his apartment to sleep for a few hours and sometimes have a quick mirror conversation, before returning back to work at the greenhouse. He hadn't had any time to search Konoha for any Uzumaki.

But today seemed different.

Maybe she had finally tired of her game and Harry was free to go home early.

With the cautious look around to make sure that she wasn't going to pop out and surprise him with more work, Harry made tentative plans for his free time as he cleaned his tools and work surface. After a final check of the greenhouse, making sure that all the windows and panels were secured, Harry locked the main door with genuine delight.

He had an entire free evening to himself.

Rushing past the other closed greenhouses with a new sense of joy, Harry caught a glimpse of long blonde hair in the corner of his vision. A glance showed a purple outfit, confirming Harry's suspicion. Ino was still around and by the looks of it, she was working in the only lit greenhouse.

Not wanting to lose his free evening, Harry slowed his footsteps and even used a spell to ensure that he wouldn't make a sound as he passed by her greenhouse.

Badly muffled sniffles from her greenhouse made Harry pause. He was tempted to walk away because this didn't concern him, but he could just imagine Hermione's disapproval.

AC_D7: Alternate Jobs- Fisherman

“You're a fisherman and you moved to Konoha?” The shop owner asked with disbelief.

Harry nodded as he examined the fishing rod in front of him. Sleek and smooth, it was fitted with strong metal fittings and looked sturdy enough. “I wanted a challenge instead of the usual.”

“Well, it'll certainly be a challenge to earn anything here. People can catch their own fish. The ninja are quick and don't even need a fishing rod.”

Harry shrugged. “That's okay.”

The old store owner stared at him. “You know, wanting a challenge is all well and good but it won't pay the bills.”

Harry nodded but said, “I'd like some extra line.”

“And tackle?”

Considering he didn't actually know what a tackle was, Harry shook his head. 

The shop owner looked ready to launch into some sort of lecture.

Harry said, “Can I fish at any location or are places restricted.”

“As long as it's not on a clan's property, it's okay to fish anywhere. Clans keep their compounds secure, so you won't end up there anyway.” The shop owner looked at him. “Anything else?”

x=x=x=x=x

Alternate Jobs: Bartender Harry

First, some quick replies to some messages sent in through the ask box.

1. Did you change your settings?I can't see your blog properly. I'm not sure if you can see this either.

I do break the coding a lot on here when I experiment with the layout. Over the past few weeks, I've deleted and moved some things as part of a much needed clean-up. But nothing seems broken to me. Could you be more specific about what you're having problems with?

2.So good to hear from you! LOVE all the excerpts you post and the many many interesting tangents you're brain goes through. Good luck with you're writing and that you finally reach the epilogue you had written years ago!

I'm glad you're enjoying the crazy tangents. They're fun to write because I'm never sure how they'll turn out. But they're also super distracting because they always pop up when I'm trying to add to my AtO draft.

Anyway on to bartender-Harry.

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“I didn't know that Soma hired anyone so young here,” the new customer said, his barely concealed confusion easy to hear as he sat at the bar. “You must have impressed him."

The dull green vest, the strange headgear that framed his face and the trained watchful air made Harry straighten in interest. His first ninja customer. Topping up the last glass, Harry pushed the tray to the waitress and said, “I own this bar now. What can I get you?”

The ninja blinked, the only outward sign of his surprise before he shrugged. “Anything that will silence the bad memories for a while.”

Harry couldn't help feeling sympathetic. “I've got just the thing.” Scanning the shelves behind him, Harry bypassed the bottles of bright multicoloured alcohols- the crystalline blues, the blood reds and even the glittering black ones- and grabbed an unlabelled bottle filled with dark purple. The strong berry smell that wafted up as he filled a glass reassured Harry that he had gotten the right bottle. 

His ninja customer eyed the purple drink that Harry had placed in front of him. “What's this called?”

Harry shrugged. “It doesn't have a name yet.”

Instead of the wariness that Harry had expected, the ninja downed the drink without hesitation. “That was good.”

“I had a lot of trouble making that one” Harry said, feeling his tension ease as he filled another tray of drinks and handed it to the only waitress who worked at the bar. 

 

“You made it?” the ninja said in wonder. 

Life-Coach (Part 2)

A continuation of the life coach idea with a little more Kakashi. Not much because I still don't have a proper feel for writing him.

Warnings: Plotholes. Not part of AtO. And short.

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As Harry took a seat at his table, the restaurant owner smiled. “Harii-san, I'm glad you could come.”

“I never say no to free food.” Harry said.

“I'm glad I can repay all the help you've given me.”

“I didn't do too much, Kimiko-san. This restaurant is running because of your hard work.”

Kimiko huffed but said, “What can I get you two?”

A grey-haired man sat on the other side of the table, opposite Harry. A man who definitely hadn't been there moments ago. 

AC_D22: Alternate Jobs- Life Coach (Part 1)

Let me start by saying, I don't actually know what a life coach does or how they go about doing their job.

I have a general and very basic idea and that's what I'm basing this bit of crack on.

Warnings: Plotholes. Not part of AtO obviously.
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"What's a life coach?" The gate guard, Kotetsu, asked looking genuinely puzzled at the job title on Harry's papers.

Glad that no one had heard of the job, Harry created his own description of the job title hoping it sounded feasible. "I help people achieve their goals by motivating them."

"What goals?" Izumo, the other guard asked as he stamped some documents.

"Life goals. Things like succeeding in work, family and other life things."

"Strange," Kotetsu said. "Who would need that kind of help?"

Harry shrugged, feeling strangely defensive of the job title even though he wasn't really a life coach. "Some people need someone who's willing to listen and help them solve their problems. With enough motivation and support, people can achieve anything."

"Sounds like something that civilians would be interested in," Izumo said thoughtfully.

Alternate Jobs: Baker

Another possible job that Harry could have ended up with if he'd answered differently when getting his papers. You can find the previous jobs here: Gardener and Fortune Teller.

This idea sort of grew and grew and I had to stop it before it got too crazy.

Warnings: Un-editied, a what-if scenario, not part of AtO and probably full of plot holes.

“Not the right taste!” An angry man yelled as he slammed the door open and stormed out of the room. “You just don't want to hire someone that's better than you.”

Considering the person before the angry man had left in tears, Harry wondered if he'd be better off leaving before the interview itself.

“You're the last applicant,” A gentle voice said as the door slip open. Clad in large armour with purple markings on his cheeks, the red-haired man would have been intimidating if his eyes weren't so tired. He smiled and motioned for Harry to enter.

Keeping a careful grip on the box he'd brought along, Harry entered. Removing the cooling charms he'd put on the box, Harry placed it on the only table in the room and took a seat at the chair he was shown to.

“I'm Chōza Akimichi,” the man said, his voice still gentle as he took a seat opposite Harry.

“I'm Harii.” Harry hesitated before he added. “I just came to Konoha a few days ago. The gate guards, Izumo and Kotetsu, were the ones who told me about this.”

“Ah, yes,” Chōza said, “The had mentioned sending someone over.”

After some more polite small talk, Harry opened the box.

Chōza stared at the cake inside for a long moment before he cut out a generous portion. With each scoop of cake, he chewed slowly with an unwavering expression.

When he finally emptied his plate, Chōza looked at Harry with a serious expression and said, “This is... perfect. Not too soft and not too dry.”

Remembering the long string of spells he had leaned and used on the batter and then on the baking cake itself, Harry couldn't help but congratulate himself at the end result.

“You're hired!”

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Alternate Jobs (Omake)

The two other jobs Harry could have ended up with if his spur of the moment answering had gone another way...

Warnings: These are just what-if scenarios. Not part of AtO's established time-line, so these are full of plot-holes.

1- Gardener
"I didn't actually believe them when they said your snakeroot was still healthy and growing," the woman said as she looked around the room in awe.
Harry smiled politely.
"I'd like to buy all of these plants."
Harry gaped slightly. "Okay?"
"And I think it'd be helpful if you dropped by the greenhouses. Maybe you can find out what's troubling our plants there..."
"I'm not a professional or anything. Everything I know is self-learned," Harry said.
"And yet, you are the only person in Konoha who has managed to keep their stock of snakeroot alive and healthy for use. What's your secret?"
Harry sighed. "I talk to them."
The lady blinked in surprise.

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Harry fiddled with the cuff of his sleeve as he followed the woman through the hospital. "You do remember me telling you I'm not a professional or anything."
The lady nodded. "Yes, I remember. But it's been two weeks since then and our plants here haven't shown any sign of recovery. But your plants are still thriving. Maybe your... unconventional methods have some merit."
Harry stifled a snort at the polite wording. "Don't expect much."
The greenhouse was better than he'd expected. Sure the plants were in various stages of dying, but it wasn't all bad.
"Then I'll leave you to it," the lady said and left.
Harry walked around, paying particular attention to the plants that needed the most help. The things I end up doing to maintain my cover story... Harry patted the soil beneath one of the dying plants. "Don't be like that, I'm sure they'll take better care of you from now on..." Herbivicus.
The colourless spell seeped in to the soil releasing the scent of rain-drenched soil. Harry smiled in accomplishment as the plant rippled slightly and it became a healthy green.

-x-x-x-x-x-

On the roof of the building opposite the greenhouse, a masked man gaped.

2- Fortune teller
Harry stared at the cigarette in the bearded man's mouth and then looked down in to the tea cup in front of him. "Your death will come after your lungs fill up with smoke and ash."
The teenager beside the man snorted softly and rolled his eyes but the man just smiled politely and paid him before leaving.
Harry wanted to scoff at himself too as he pushed the tea cup away. Why is it that the first 'fortune' I gave dealt with death? Maybe I'm drawing too much inspiration from Trewlany.

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A week later, the teenager returned wearing black. His face was grim as he emptied his tea cup and passed it towards Harry.
Harry frowned as he recognised the expression on the other boy's face as a mixture of fear and a need for reassurance. He looked down in to the tea cup. "You won't be dying any time soon."
His customer relaxed slightly.
"You'll bury your problems easily."
The boy blinked, looking slightly confused but he paid and left.

-x-x-x-x-x-

Harry didn't know whether to laugh or cry when the boy came back with new customers two days later.
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So, mid September and I'm back in the normal swing of things. Funny how it's easier to write now than it was in the summer. You'll be happy to know that I now have 3000+ words written for chapter 13- that makes me quite happy actually.

I've also finished my Fairy tailXHp crossover- only it doesn't have a name and proper summary. The old summary just wasn't working for it- understandable since I added so much more to the story since I wrote that summary.

But for the title, I can't think of anything- does that mean that the story isn't as complete as I think it is? Usually after you've written something/ know the plot, doesn't the name just come to you- that's how I name all the chapters for AtO.

Polar