It's been a while. Sorry to keep you waiting. Do me a favor and disregard the paragraph from the previous chapter. I didn't mean to put that there :/
We arrived in New York City after several hours. It was Liana's idea. She said that she always wanted to go back. She explained that she once went when she was a little girl with her grandfather.
We landed our brooms in an alley and stuffed them into our trunks, which we hid with a concealment charm. Liana led me around the corner, where we started exploring the beautiful city with giant skyscrapers and flashing lights. There were so many people, but they were looking at us strangely as they walked by.
I looked down at myself. Liana and I were still in our Slytherin and Ravenclaw robes. "So we need to find a place to live," I told her. "How do we get to Salem anyway?" I looked around. We were on Fifty Second Street and Second Avenue, according to the green rectangular signs on the corners.
"Taxi?" she said, unsurely. She put her hand out and a yellow taxi pulled up to us. "I remember seeing Grandfather do it."
"Where to?" the man in the car asked us.
"We're looking to go to Salem, Massachusetts. Do you know which direction that would be in?" I asked the man.
"It would be eastward, definitely."
"Thank you very much."
We went back to the alley which we landed in and got back on our broomsticks. We rose in the air and flew high into the sky. "Won't the Muggles see us?" Liana asked me.
"Probably. Who cares?" I said, laughing a bit. Liana laughed too. She pulled out her compass again and led us east. About an hour later, we came across a young girl flying on a broom. She smiled at us as she flew toward us. Another witch!
"Do you know where Salem is?" I asked the girl.
"Sure. I live in Salem. Just follow me," she said. Then she raised her eyebrows at us. "You're not from here are you?"
"No. We're from Europe," I replied. We hadn't exactly tried to cover up our obviously English accents.
"Is it nice there?" she asked me.
"I suppose. I like America better, I think," I said.
"America's okay. How old are you two anyway?" she asked.
"We're both sixteen," I said. "I'm Draco."
"And I'm Liana," Liana told the girl.
"I'm Jennifer," Jennifer told us. "I can show you around if you like… If you need a bank or an owl or books or whatever…"
"That'd be great. And is there any way to convert our money into Muggle money?" I said.
"Of course," Jennifer said with a smile, beginning to descend. We followed her lead and followed her into Salem.
"Well a bank would be quite useful. But all of my money is in Gringott's and it's not even converted into American money."
"That's no problem. We have atm machines at Tasping Bank. I'll show you." I called Liana from across the street. We introduced ourselves to the girl, whose name was Jennifer Brooke. She led us into the alley she came from. "Alohomora," she said and waved her hand across the bricks. An archway was formed and we followed Jennifer inside down the staircase. She led us into what looked like a shopping center. We went inside Tasping Bank and I approached the atm.
"What do I do?" I asked Jennifer, utterly clueless. The machine looked very complicated to me. What were all those buttons? And what did that hole in the middle of the machine do?
"Insert your wand and then put in your pass code," she replied. I did as she said and my savings popped up. I entered that I wanted to take out another ten thousand dollars in Muggle money. The machine thrust out several hundred dollar bills, which I stuffed into my bag. Liana did the same and took out money as well. She told me that her family always had money, but that her father wasted plenty of it on alcohol.
Jennifer informed me that she was in her sixth year at the Salem Witches' Institute. She also lived a few blocks from us. She gave us her address and said that we could visit her on weekends or to just send her an owl. "At my school, since I live so close by, I can go home whenever I want. As long as I have permission, of course," she said. "Will you two be enrolling next term?"
"That's sounds really nice," said Liana, smiling. "But we can't… It's too risky." Her smile immediately went away.
"What's wrong?" asked Jennifer.
"It's a long story. Maybe we'll explain later," Liana told her.
I also bought a male owl, who we decided to name Terry. Fortunately, they still used owl post in America. I'd write to Harry as soon as we found a hotel or something. Jennifer recommended Merryweather Inn. "It's no five star hotel, but I hear they have a really good breakfast buffet and the rooms are real nice," Jennifer had explained over dinner at a restaurant called Wight's.
"Thanks for all your help," Liana said. "We'll send you an owl in a few days. We should all get together again."
"No problem. It was nice meeting you," Jennifer said before putting money on the table and walking off in the opposite direction, broomstick in hand.
Liana and I went inside Merryweather Inn, a few doors from Tasping National Bank. The inn was grand enough for me, but we just needed someplace to stay until we found a place of our own. It would do. I went up to the wooden desk to check in. Behind it, sat an old woman with gigantic glasses that took up most of her face. "May I help you?" she asked in a nasally voice.
"I'd like to book two rooms. Connecting, if you have," I replied.
"We have rooms 205 and 206," she said. "Or we have the two bedroom suite: room 401."
I looked at Liana, waiting for a response from her. "We'll take the suite," she told the woman, who placed a key on top of the desk. "You'll be charged 200 dollars per night," the woman with the glasses said before we took the elevator to the fourth floor.
I opened the door and stepped inside. There was a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms with bathrooms in each, and even a balcony which overlooked Valerium End, where all the stores were. "Check out the view!" exclaimed Liana. "It's beautiful." I looked outside and paid attention to my surroundings. It was a beautiful view. Breathtaking, actually… Probably because it was night time.
I pulled her into a hug from behind. "I haven't been able to do that for hours," I said, brushing a kiss on her cheek. She spun around to face me. "Or this," she purred and kissed me on the lips sweetly.
I smiled, making her smile too. Then she pulled away for a moment. "Wait a second," she said, narrowing her eyes. "I thought that we broke up."
I frowned. "Broke up? Why the hell would I break up with you? That's ridiculous."
She smiled. "I'm glad you find it so ridiculous," she said and chuckled.
"Just shut up and kiss me," I said. Surprisingly, she didn't hesitate. She leaned in and pressed her lips against mine. Then she said, "I'm going to get ready for bed. I'm exhausted."
"Okay," I said, staying out on the balcony for a few more minutes before doing the same. We had a long day ahead of us: house and job hunting, I supposed.
I crawled into bed about a half an hour later, after kissing Liana good night. I smiled at the thought of her. I couldn't believe that just a couple weeks ago, I intended on letting her go. All because of Voldemort. Thinking of Voldemort, I looked down at my arm to find that my Dark Mark had completely vanished. It was nowhere to be found. I grinned with happiness and relief. I fell asleep, enveloped in my thoughts of finally being happy again.
I couldn't ever go back to England, not until Voldemort was defeated. I really hoped that Harry could destroy him once and for all, freeing us all of worry and constant fear.
I felt someone lay next to me in the middle of the night. Whoever it was wrapped their arms around me. I knew it was Liana because I smelled apples and because well… I just knew Liana was near. I turned over to face her. "What are you doing in here?" I yawned sleepily.
"I don't want to be alone," she whispered. Silence. "I'm glad I came here with you."
"You wouldn't have let me leave without you. You didn't exactly leave me any options."
She smirked. "You're right."
"I'm glad you came too," I said softly, reaching for her curly waves of dark brown hair. I stroked her hair and looked into her eyes. "I meant what I said the other day… about loving you. I do love you."
"I love you too," she said and closed her eyes. I kissed her forehead and closed my eyes as well. Then I drifted off into a wonderful dream, where Liana and I got married. I wanted to make that happen one day. That is, if we made it that far…
Yay! Love is such a beautiful thing but most guys now a days just screw you over, then leave you to wallow in your own sorrow :( But anyway, on a happier note, the next chapter will be based on what's happening at Hogwarts :) Stay tuned! And review!
~Lola Estheim
