Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Carmilla but I am hungry so I'm going to go take care of that.
Laura groggily opened her eyes, the movement of Carmilla getting up waking her. Carmilla hadn't yet noticed that her girlfriend was now awake and made her way to the bathroom at the end of the hall to get ready for work.
Carmilla by nature was not a morning person, in fact pretty much the opposite, she would happily live nocturnally if it was viable for her to do so. Her reasons for getting up so early however, she didn't mind so much. She'd only been working at Flourish and Blotts for the past week but could tell this was her kind of job. Her main job was to man the front desk and when business was slow she was allowed to read what she liked from the shelves, something that suited Carmilla just fine. It was an added bonus that she now had some money coming in since she'd lost any access to the family's wealth when she cut ties from her mother.
Laura weighed up the pros and cons of going back to sleep and decided to wait until Carmilla left before she did. She reached for the nightstand, using her wand to light up the clock face, it was weird for her to see Carmilla willingly get up at 5:30am and she was impressed her girlfriend was managing it without complaining.
Carmilla entered the room as quietly as possible keeping the towel tight around her when she saw Laura sitting up in bed.
"Morning creampuff" she said kissing the blondes cheek "sorry I woke you."
Laura shook her head "Don't be, it means I can see you before you go" she replied taking the opportunity to kiss the other girls lips.
Carmilla hummed in response, her hands tangling in the Gryffindor's hair and deepening the kiss briefly before pulling away from her.
"As much as I'd love to stay here all day and continue this, I have to get dressed" the Ravenclaw said making her way to the wardrobe, looking something to wear amongst her mass of mostly black clothing.
"We couldn't even if you weren't working" Laura told her, blushing as the Ravenclaw got dressed.
"Why's that cupcake?" the raven haired girl asked, pulling her shirt over her head.
"The Hogwarts express leaves today, we'll all be taking Harry and the rest of them to Kings Cross, and I have that meeting with Xenophilius Lovegood later on."
"Shit I forgot" the Ravenclaw confessed, pulling on a black dragon leather jacket as she crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed beside Laura, "you'll do great, he'd be an idiot not to want you as a writer… and if Luna's anything to go by then he might have his head in the clouds but you can bet anything that he'll be wiser than he lets on."
"Thanks Carm" the Gryffindor leaned in, kissing her girlfriend on the lips "now go or you'll be late."
"Yes mam" Carmilla mock saluted, standing to leave "see you tonight cupcake, I love you."
"I love you to" she smiled as Carmilla left before rolling over and hugging the Ravenclaw's pillow as she settled back down a few more hours of sleep.
"Come on everyone, go check that you've packed everything" Mrs Weasley called out to the students heading back to school "we don't want to miss the train."
"Once was enough" Ron mumbled, remembering their second year when he and Harry flew his father's car to school when they weren't able to get onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters because of a certain house elf.
"I'm all packed, my trunks in the hall" Ginny told them "you two remember everything?" she asked Harry and Ron who were eating toast.
"Yeah I just need to take my trunk down and get Hedwig" Harry answered.
Ron mumbled something with his mouth full and nodded his head in agreement.
She shook her at her brother and sat down, stealing a piece of toast from his plate.
"Oi!"
"Come on Ron, you're not going to miss one piece" she told him trying not to laugh at his shocked expression.
"Is Hermione ready?" Harry asked trying to distract the pair, knowing if it came to it that Ginny would win any argument between the two.
Ginny was momentarily caught off guard by the question but recovered before either of the boys could notice, "yeah she's just double checking she has everything, you know Hermione."
It was a good enough answer for the pair who continued with breakfast while Ginny was just glad she didn't have to come up with another reason for their brunette friend's absence.
"We should head downstairs" Hermione sighed.
"Probably" Tonks agreed but made no effort to move.
"You are aware that means you as well, right?"
"Mmhmm" Tonks nodded pulling the shorter girl closer "five more minutes."
"Okay, but then we really will have to move" she replied, bury her face in the pink haired girl's neck.
The two had been up for a couple of hours already and since Hermione had packed the night before, they decided to spend the rest of the morning together. Now though, they really had to get moving and meet the others downstairs. At least they wouldn't have to part just yet since Tonks was one of the Order members escorting them along with Laura, Kingsley, Lafontaine, Mr and Mrs Weasley and even though he'd been told it was a stupid idea for him to go, even in his animagus form, Sirius would probably be there too.
A knock on the door caused the two to jump up, Tonks went to answer the door while Hermione tried to make herself look as though she was searching for something. They needn't have bothered though as Tonks opened the door to reveal Laura.
"Hey you two" the blonde greeted them cheerily "sorry if I' interrupting but we're leaving in less than five and I said I'd grab you while Molly checks everyone else."
"Thanks Laura, I just need to grab my trunk and I'll be down" Hermione told the blonde.
"Alright, be quick though or Molly will come get you herself" Laura told the pair before heading back down stairs.
"Alright then let's go" Tonks said grabbing her travelling cloak from the back of her door "I'd rather not face the wrath of Molly Weasley if I can help it."
"Probably for the best" Hermione agreed.
The Gryffindor moved to pass her girlfriend who was stood in the doorway when the Auror spun her round. The pink haired witch leant in, kissing the shorter girl briefly before pulling back.
"Sorry, won't be able to do that at the station" she explained.
"Don't apologise" Hermione smiled "but we should really move, I've been informed of just how frightening Molly Weasley can be."
Hermione felt like telling everyone that she told them so, only she hadn't actually shared her Sirius theory with anyone but Ginny and Tonks but she had still been correct. The shabby black dog that was Sirius' animagus form, otherwise known as Padfoot, followed behind them as they made their way through Kings Cross station. He'd managed to find a quiet room and have a word with Harry before he was told he had to stay behind while the rest of them went to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, something he wasn't happy about.
On the other side of the barrier they were saying their goodbyes to the students returning to Hogwarts. Laura wished Ron and Ginny luck for the Quidditch try-outs and hugged the rest of her fellow Gryffindors, letting them know she'd write to keep them in the loop. Lafontaine stood slightly to the side with Fred and George confirming which day the twins stash Weasley's Wizards Wheezes products would arrive.
Tonks and Hermione watched as Mr and Mrs Weasley said goodbye to each of their children, saying their own goodbyes while trying not to touch too much.
"I'll write as often as I can" Tonks told the younger witch.
"So will I, I'm going to miss you" Hermione replied hugging the older witch.
"I'll miss you to" the pink haired Auror hugged her girlfriend tighter before they separated.
"Come on we better get on the train" Ginny said coming up behind Hermione "and I need to find Luna at some point" she said in a lower voice so that only Tonks and Hermione could hear.
"Alright" Hermione said putting another steps worth of space between her and the Auror.
"See ya' soon Tonks" Ginny spoke to the older witch.
"Have fun Gin" the pink haired girl laughed and hugged the redhead "stay out of trouble" she warned ending the hug.
"Come on Tonks, we Weasleys always stay out of trouble" she grinned.
Tonks looked over to where the twins were climbing onto the train before replying to the youngest Weasley "I don't believe that for a minute."
After the Hogwarts express had left, Laura went her separate ways from the other Order members to meet Xenophilius Lovegood at the Leaky Cauldron. He'd chosen the venue seeing as they'd both be in London and they both knew where it was.
Laura sat across from Xenophilius who was peculiarly dressed in an odd mixture of lilac and orange robes, his shoulder length white hair framing his face. She couldn't help but think that maybe he wouldn't be interested in having a teenager write potentially controversial news pieces for his magazine. She pushed the thought out of her head though, eccentric or not he seemed like a reasonable man and remembering Carmilla's Words from earlier, chastised herself for being quick to assume.
"Okay then Laura" he began after a couple of minutes of appraising her "why do you want to write for the Quibbler?"
The Gryffindor took a large breath in an attempt to control her pace "I want to write the truth Mr Lovegood. The Prophet is a shambles, they're printing stories telling blatant lies about things they know nothing about. I mean just as a couple of examples, passing Harry Potter off as some kind of attention whore, I played Quidditch with him for years and he's nothing like that. They're denouncing Voldemort's return when they should be warning people, saying Cedric Diggory's death was an accident of the TriWizard Tournament when he was murdered in cold blood by the same wizard they're claiming has been dead for years." Laura paused for breath allowing what she said to sink in before continuing, "it's just wrong… and whoever is willing to read should be able to know what's really happening, instead of the skewed version they're getting now."
Xenophilius stared at Laura, not saying anything as he thought about what she'd said. They'd been silent for a full minute when Laura began to wonder if she'd spoken to fast, something she was prone to doing, and would have to explain it all again.
"Okay" the white haired man spoke.
"Okay…" Laura repeated, unsure of what was going on.
"I agree Miss Hollis" the wizard sat up straighter "I don't believe a word that comes from the Prophet and the Potter boy seems like a nice young man."
"He is" Laura nodded.
"You can have a page in the back of the Quibbler" he told her "I can't offer more than that at the moment since I have a lot of interesting articles coming out over the next couple of issues but the back page is reserved for you and any news you think is worthy."
The Gryffindor struggled to hold in her squeal of excitement when the man stood and shook her hand, "thank you sir."
"Call me Xenophilius, I'll send you an owl with the details Miss Hollis" they shook hands again before oddly dressed man left, leaving her with a massive grin on her face and the urge to do a happy dance.
Today was a slow day, it was the day that all of the students left to go back to school meaning that Carmilla had very few customers to serve and a lot of time to read. She thought of what her mother would say if she saw her working here, probably something along the lines of how it was a waste for her to have even taken her N.E.W.T.s in the first place. She had gotten four N.E.W.T.s in subjects she took an interest in seeing as she didn't know what she wanted in terms of a career yet, that could wait until after they'd stopped Voldemort and his Death Eaters, something Carmilla would much rather use her energy on.
She was sat at the counter, reading through a copy of Dreadful Denizens of the Deep when she heard someone clear their throat in front of her.
"Sorry how can I help you?" she asked, lifting her head to look at the customer but instead found her girlfriend grinning like an idiot "hey creampuff" she greeted her moving around the counter to hug her "what are you doing here?"
"I just had my meeting with Mr Lovegood at the Leaky Cauldron" the blonde beamed.
Carmilla smiled back "I take it from the mood you're in that it went well."
"I got a page to write whatever news I think people should know" Laura rushed out in a squeal.
"That's great, I told you he'd be an idiot not to hire you" Carmilla smirked.
"I know… also sorry for disturbing you at work, I was just really excited and wanted to tell you."
"You can meet me here anytime you want creampuff" Carmilla told her "I'm proud of you."
Laura beamed and kissed Carmilla on the lips, keeping it PG in case Carmilla got in trouble, "I should head home."
"I'm only here for another three hours" Carmilla told the blonde "we can celebrate properly when I get back."
"I look forward to it" Laura replied making her way out of the shop.
"Me too Creampuff" Carmilla said to herself "me too."
With a cruel smirk and menacing cackle the cloaked figure walked in the shadows, it had been a while since they'd seen anything but the same four walls and they were more than ready for the change of scenery.
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