Tomorrow morning the atmosphere was tense like they had left it the previous night. As neither of the two companions would address the other first it was left to chance as who would speak first.

The streets of this generic English small town seemed all quiet and alike until they came across a cheep looking inn where Hermione paused. "You want to try this place? This might be enough for one night." She said rustling her coin-filled pocket.

Pansy had to clear her throat. It was like her voice already rusted from one day of cold and silence. "It's up to you." She said feigning indifference, though in truth she hoped Hermione could pull it off. There was nothing she wanted more right now than to spend a night in a proper bed.

Hermione's wishes where quite similar in that regard, but she had one more concern, which was changing the bloody bandage on her hand.

They walked inside to find a youthful looking grey-haired woman sitting by the counter, reading. She sprang up to greet them.

Hermione greeted back with her bandaged hand, but realizing quickly hid it by her side.

"Welcome girls. I'm Rose." The woman said with a smile. "What do you need?"

"I'm Pan…"

"Sabrina." Hermione interjected pointing to Pansy who looked back at her wide-eyed. "And I'm Judy." Hermione said going straight to the counter to pour out her coin pocket. "We'd like a room please… the smallest you have."

Rose looked rather stumped, so Pansy hastily limped over. "Excuse her madam. It's been a long day. You see we're from the other side of the country. We had a bit of an accident, so we'd appreciate it if you'd let us sleep here tonight, even if we are a bit short on coin."

"How could I not." Rose replied squeezing Pansy's hand. "But are you sure you're alright, shouldn't you visit a hospital or…"

"No, we have only minor injuries. We just need a good day of rest and we'll be on our way tomorrow." Pansy explained.

"Alright, if you're sure. Follow me then!" Rose went up the long, narrow staircase and beckoned them to follow.

"That was just terrible, thank god I was here." Pansy whispered to Hermione when Rose gained some distance on them. "And what's up with the fake names?!"

"Just a precaution, sorry I forgot to tell you up front. I just thought of it in the moment."

"You're good at that, aren't you?" Pansy noticed.

"I guess…"

"Hurry up you two!" Rose called them from the top of the staircase. She stood there watching Pansy struggle and make a painful grimace each time she had to step on her injured foot.

"You know Sabrina there's a doctor here with us. I could ask him to have a look at that for you."

"It's ok, I don't want be a bother."

"Oh, don't be silly, I'm sure he'd be glad to help."

"Well, in that case… sure." Pansy reluctantly accepted. She still had an irrational fear of Muggle doctors from all the horror stories she heard as a kid.

Rose opened the last door on the second floor and showed them in. "Here you go! The bathroom and shower is back there at the end of the hall. And don't be shy to let me know if you need anything."

"Thank, you so much." Pansy said shaking the woman's hand, while Hermione stood in the middle of the room and gazed around.

"Nice room." Hermione concluded. "I'll go take a shower now." She said grabbing a towel off the bed.

"Me first!" Pansy did the same and limped away for the bathroom as fast as she could.

Hermione frowned, but didn't bother chasing after her. She lifted the foggy windowpane to see a storm brewing outside. Distant dark clouds gathered over the horizon. It will rain heavy all night, she figured, a night which she'd thankfully be spending inside.

On her way back from the bathroom Pansy heard voices from downstairs. It sounded like Rose was talking to two men downstairs, so Pansy quickly kneeled on top of the staircase where she could listen in from the shadow.

"Have you seen these two ma'am?" A deep voice asked, no… rather demanded.

"No. I have not, but I'm not sure I'd tell you if I did." Rose coldly responded.

"Oh… and why is that?" The man asked.

"You didn't show me your badges. How can I be sure you're actually police?"

"Actually we're not. We're from the nearby mental hospital ma'am, and those two girls I showed you are our patients that recently escaped. They're highly delusional and very dangerous…"

"That's alright, don't bother. She knows nothing." A second much coarser voice interrupted.

"How can you be sure?" The first voice asked.

"I can tell. Let's just go!" The gruff voice said angrily and then Pansy heard the doors swing.

Where those… Pansy wondered running back to the room. She rushed inside and shut the door. Half dressed, with a towel wrapped around her chest, she pounced on Hermione grabbing her shoulders in panic. "Granger, we gotta go!"

"What?! Go where?"

"Anywhere! Just go!" Pansy exclaimed frantically looking around.

"But we just got here, what's the…"

"Listen! You don't understand! It's them, the Death Eaters! We must escape, maybe through there…" Pansy rushed over to open the window when the doors suddenly swung open.