Just so you know, I don't own any of these characters or anything else that has to do with the Harry Potter series.
I was inspired by a youtube video to do this story, I hope you like it.
Arriving in the Night
I jump off the Night Bus into the dark damp London street. I can hear the sounds of the city all around me, cars motoring by, the laughter and chatter of the people walking on the sidewalk, and somewhere in the distance there's music. The Night Bus pulls away and quickly disappears into whatever reality it travels in.
I had not originally planned on taking the Night Bus, but I didn't know where to go and I thought if I tried to apparate without knowing exactly where I wanted to go I might end up somewhere I didn't want to be.
I push through the door of the Leaky Cauldron and I'm quickly engulfed in the warm familiar smells of, butter beer, wood smoke, and good food. I glance around and see that about half the tables are full and there is only one seat left at the bar. Most of the people at the tables seem to be just finishing up a late supper, which reminds me that I left the Burrow before I had a chance to eat, all the same, I don't feel like eating. I feel like I swallowed a large heavy rock. I don't feel like sitting at a big empty table all by myself. I always feel like everyone's looking at me when I sit by myself in a restaurant, especially if I don't have a book to hide in.
I head over to the empty bar stool, as I walk over I take a look at my bar mates. Although it's hard to get much of an impression from their backs, I don't recognise either of them, the one on the left, wearing the long slightly shabby purple robes, appears to be sleeping on the bar and the one on the right, a fair haired guy with broad shoulders, looks like he slept in his clothes and can't find his comb.
I take another quick look around the room before I sit and realize that other than Tom the barman, I don't recognise anyone. Well shoot! I was hoping there might be someone in here I knew, I really needed someone to talk to.
I could have talked to Ginny, but I stormed out before I thought of that, and I'm not ready to see Ron again so soon after such a big fight. I can't talk to Harry because other than the same reason as Ginny, he gets really uncomfortable talking about relationships, especially mine and Ron's. I can see why, being tugged in different directions by your two best friends can't be easy, but I sure could use a friend right now.
Wow, I never realized before that not only do my closest friends all hang out together; we all practically live together at the Burrow. Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket, or maybe it would be better to say, all my bunnies in one burrow.
"What can I get for you tonight my dear?" Tom asks as I sit down. He's a friendly enough person, except that he's a little creepy, too creepy to talk to about something so personal.
"I'll have a fire whisky please Tom." He raises his bushy eyebrows at me.
"A little strong for you isn't it miss?" Maybe it would be any other day, but not today, I need the fire in my belly to get rid of this rock.
"It's been one of those days, ya know?" He searches my face for a few seconds, before he nods and turns to get my drink. I don't know what he was looking for, but he must have found it in my expression because he returns quickly and passes me my drink with what he probably thought was a reassuring smile, but it just made him look creeper.
"Things not all rainbows and butterflies over at Casa de le Weasley, Granger?" The fair haired man on my right breaks into my contemplation of Tom's creepiness. His voice sounds really familiar, but not at the same time.
I turn to look at him and find myself staring into pale blue haunted eyes with dark circles underneath. His face has changed so much in the three years since I last saw him, a lot seems to have changed. His usually well groomed hair is over long and tousled, as if he has been running his fingers through it repeatedly. His clothes look even worse up close, as if he's been sleeping in them for a while, or maybe just picked them up off of the floor. His face is what shocks me the most though, his usual arrogance has been replaced with what looks like depression, his eyes are dull, his skin is almost sallow, and he has a two day beard at least.
I am so shocked by this person, so changed from the one we all knew and hated, I can't help but blurt out my surprise.
"Merlin's beard Malfoy! What happened to you?"
If you liked what you read, please let me know. I have a lot more to add to this story, so if you want more you have to tell me.
