Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

This story is around Small Favor or Turn Coat, but no spoilers as long as you already know about Harry and Molly's relationship. It also makes a vague reference to the novella found in "Mean Streets". It is finished and I just need to clean up a few rough spots near the end, so the whole thing should be up within a week or so.

I knock on Harry's door and try to huddle as close to the wall as possible. Even at the bottom of his stairs the wind is terrible, rain coming down in sideways sheets and and trashcans are rolling along the street and crashing against cars. This is the last favor I'm doing for Molly for a long time, she owes me big time for this. I could be almost home by now if she hadn't begged me to stop by here on my way home from practice.

"Alicia?" Harry finally opens his door, staff in his hand and a frown on his face. He looks surprised to see me, which isn't a surprise since I've never been to his house before. Before I can explain why I'm there a huge bolt of lightening slams into the transformer up by the little parking spot at the top of the stairs and it explodes in a ball of blue fire. I don't even realize I'm screaming until Harry yanks me into his apartment and slams the door behind me. Embarrassed I clear my throat and glare into the candlelit gloom of Harry's apartment. Shaking the water out of my hair I note an odd collection of mismatched furniture and a crackling fire in the hearth, despite the somewhat warm evening.

"Uh," Harry's voice pulls my attention back to him, "You ok?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Just a little deaf now."

Harry leans his staff in the corner behind the door without taking his eyes off of me and then crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow is silent question.

"Guess you're, uh, wondering why I'm here?" I say. "Apparently my sister left a shirt here the other day that she just has to have tomorrow and asked me to pick it up on the way home." I try looking him in the eye but can't keep his gaze, I've always been kind'a nervous around him. Despite my dad's admiration for him, and assurances that I can trust Harry if anything ever happens, and the fact that I know he's saved Molly from some kind of trouble she got into, I'm still not comfortable around him. The flickering candlelight and shadows make his face look harsh, cold. There's a twisting in my gut when he doesn't answer right away.

"I think all her clothes are by her desk." Harry's voice isn't quite as low as my dad's but it's enough to make me jump a couple of inches when he speaks. Harry notices and chuckles, breaking the mood and my fear vanishes. "Come on, I'll take you down."

I follow him through his living room and into the kitchen where Mouse is laying next to an open hole in the floor. Mouse thumps his tail when he sees me, probably remembering all the cookies I fed him secretly last time Harry brought him by the house. Harry doesn't check his gait when he gets to the edge of the hole, stepping down into it and out of sight. I however, pause at the top and stare down into the dark.

"Watch your step," Harry's voice floats up to me, "The light is better once you get down here."

I take a deep breathe and step down into the dark. I'm relieved when I get to the bottom without tripping and breaking my arm, his steps are steep and narrow. Harry's basement is crazy crowded, candles are scattered around stacks of books, boxes and bags are labeled in a jagged scrawl and a huge model city on a table takes up most of the floor space.

Harry points at a basket sitting by a small desk by the wall, I can see my sister's Floggin' Molly shirt laying on top on the stack. Digging through the pile reveals more than one shirt with a mysterious stain or hole, and a pair of pants that looks rather chewed on one leg. What does my sister get up to over here? In fact, why does she often end up out of her clothes anyway? I finally find the one she wants, a black lace thing with more holes than fabric, and shove it into my purse.

Turning around I see Harry leaning on a counter and tracing the pages of a large, dirty book with one finger, silently sounding out the words as he moves down each line. Judging by the open books piled on every available surface this is what he was doing when I interrupted him.

"Find what you were looking for?" He asks without turning around, making me jump again. How does he do that?

"Yep, good to go." I head back toward the stairs and Harry straightens to follow. "Oh, don't worry about me, I'm sure Mouse can show me out." I grin back at him.

"Sure he can," Harry says. "But he can't lower the wards on the door, which means you can't open it." He smiles, "So unless you want to spend the night-"

"Oh, my mom would kill you." I hear him snort in agreement behind me as we head up the stairs but I have to say I don't feel comfortable with the idea that I might be trapped here, if Harry decided to not open the door.

When we get back to his front door Harry holds his hand out and stares for a second, almost like he's looking through the door, then takes the handle and turns it, pulling the door open. His back is between me and outside but instead of stepping out of my way he slams the door shut and re-locks it. When he turns around I giggle without meaning to, he looks more annoyed than anyone should just from glancing outside.

Swallowing back my laugh I ask, "So, you going to let me leave now?"

"That could be a problem." Harry isn't smiling and now neither am I.

"What is it?" My mom's monster attack plans come flooding back, holdovers from the days of drilling on how to quickly and effectively get into the safe room. Does Harry even have a safe room? "What's out there?" My voice is tight with fear.

"What?" Harry asks, then he seems to actually notice me. "No, Alicia, it's ok. There's nothing supernatural out there." He gives me a quick smile, "We're perfectly safe in here. We would be even if something was out there, my house has withstood more than a couple of attacks." He puts his hand on my arm and directs me back toward the kitchen, "But we do need to make a phone call."

In the kitchen he has one of those old back and white cat phones hanging on the wall, the old rotary kind with the tail that swings back and worth. "Where did you get that?"

"Murphy thought it suited me." Harry's lip quirks up in amusement.

"Who am I calling? In fact," I pull away from him and cross my arms, "Why am I calling someone instead of leaving?"

"You're calling your parents and you're telling them that you're here with me and you're staying for supper and not to worry about you."

"What? Why?" I try to protest, "I need to take a shower, homework-"

"You remember that lightening strike as you came in?"

"Yeah-"

"It brought down the whole pole, there's a couple of lines laying across the stairs. You aren't leaving till the city comes out and cleans up, and they aren't going to be doing that until this storm dies down a little." Harry points at the phone, "Call."

I make the call, hoping that Dad will just come pick me up or something. I mean, Harry is fine but really... Unfortunately, my Dad agrees with Harry. Insists that even if the lines weren't down I should stay, apparently lights are out all over the city and the roads are flooding. Before I hang-up Harry waves at me and motions for the phone so I hand it over.

"Uh huh, no problem." Harry shakes his head, "She's fine here," he glances my way, "I'll keep her here till things straighten out, I'll have her call before she leaves so if you don't hear from us don't worry." Harry listens for a minute and grins, "Ok, night."

I lean against Harry's counter with my hands in my pockets, feeling awkward. I'm stuck in a gloomy house with my sister's creepy magic teacher and his huge dog until who knows when.

Perfect.