A/N Ah, chapter ten... we have reached the double digits and the stories still slugging along. Hopefully it gets more interesting. As usual, thank you so much those of you who review. For those of you who don't I beg of you at least once, please please review my story. I would appreciate it, thanks. Bree as usual, cleverly noted the cat disappeared. It did not my friends, for Billy took excellent care of her. Now, on with the story!
Disclaimer: Don't people tire of hearing this? I think we all know by now, I own nothing you are reading about. Everyone else in the world, of course does, including the wonderful author of the Harry Potter books herself, J.K. Rowling, although I wish my favorite character didn't have to die, but enough about that! On with the story!!
London was indeed easy to get lost in. The group fought their way against the swarms of people heading the opposite way. Everywhere you looked there was a tour bus making rounds, showing off the proud London sights. At one point the group got separated and met up near Alex who had attracted quite a crowd.
"You guys don't talk, you don't move, and I seriously find it offensive that you stare at me while I walk by." She was saying to one of the guards wearing a huge fuzzy black hat. He remained motionless as she pointed at him with one of her French fries she had gotten from a stand nearby. Her cheeks were tinged bright red with anger.
"Uh, Alex, I think we'd best be on our way. You can chat with the nice guard later ok? Right now, we really have to find a hotel. You don't happen to know where one is, do you sir?" Chris had stepped forward and grabbed Alex by the arm. He was now looking at the guard with a small frown on his pale face. "Guess not. Sorry to trouble you sir."
Alex made a face at the guard behind Chris's back then followed him to the now laughing group. Draco was leaning against Billy for support, which, in turn, was leaning against a light post. Rosie giggled nervously, but Hermione looked disapproving.
"What a way to go unnoticed, Alex. They'll find us for sure if you keep that up!"
"I don't like it when people stare at me and he was glaring, like I did something wrong!"
"That's there job Alex! We're in London now, things are different. Just stick with me and Draco and we should be fine." Hermione said with an exaggerated sigh.
"Fine, I am sorry. Just no more guards ok?"
Hermione laughed and nodded. Then they continued their walk in search of a hotel. Before long, Hermione was knocked onto her butt by a passing man. Papers flew as the man felly over her.
Rosie bent to help her up while Alex scowled at the man. As he bent picking up all the flying papers, she said, "Hey! Watch where you're going! You didn't even apologize what's wrong with you?
"I'm awfully sorry but you see I'm kind of in a hurry. My employer was expecting all this to be returned to her and now I have mixed it all! I will be in so much trouble, so you see, I'm rather frightened."
Alex mood was softened by his English accented tone. He really sounded scared. She helped him pick up the papers, her eyes briefly skimming over the words witch and wizard and Harry on the pages. Her eyes grew wide and she said, "Who is your employer?"
"I don't think she would like me to say, uh..." His cell phone rang. He answered it trying to grab up papers with one hand. Alex continued to help him as her friends called for her to hurry up. He spoke in a shaky voice to the person on the other end of the line. "Yes ma'am, I was on my way over but you see I had a little accident. Yes, I know, you need it quickly, but I've only got some girl helping me pick it up. No, she doesn't know it's yours. What? You want to speak to her? Are you sure ma'am? Alright, here girl and be polite."
Alex curiously took the cell phone and murmured a soft hello to the woman. A soft and gentle voice filled her ear.
"Hello my dear, thank you so much for helping Mr. Snuffles pick up the papers. I must ask, have you read anything on them?"
"Mr. Snuffles?" She looked at the man and saw him roll his eyes.
"Well no, actually his name is Mr. Jenkins, but he has a rather bad cold at the moment."
"Oh ok. Um, no ma'am, I did not read anything off the papers. My friends are in a rush because we are searching for a place to stay. I insisted on helping your employee pick up the papers."
"Oh, my dear, you don't know how happy this makes me. You say you have no place to stay? Oh dear, we can't have that. Have Mr. Snuffles take you to the nice little Hotel near the Café, he'll know the one. Put him back on so I may tell him. A pleasure talking dear, perhaps we will talk later. Bye now."
Mr. Snuffles or Mr. Jenkins as his real name was, talked for a few more minutes then hung up. By then the papers were gathered. He stood up and smiled nervously at the group. "Well, we had best be off then. My employee has instructed me to check you into the Café Hotel."
"Uh sir, we don't have the money for that." Rosie piped up. She also held up Maggie who had been curled up in her clothes in the bag that dangled against her waist. "Plus, I don't think Hotels allow cats and I am not leaving Maggie behind."
Mr. Snuffles/ Jenkins waved his hand impatiently. "No, no. All that stuff has been arranged by my employer. She really has a kind heart you know. You guys have nothing to worry about. Now come along and quickly if you don't mind."
Hermione and Draco followed closely behind him, asking him questions so they could trust him. The other four, five if you include Maggie, made up the back, enjoying the sights they had never seen before.
Finally, Hermione and Draco decided it was safe to trust him and replaced the others as the back. They were giving space to talk and the others took turns bugging the poor little man about the sights and his employer. He carefully avoided direct answers however.
Draco cleared his throat and said in a voice only she could hear, "Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"I know we haven't talked much these past few days. Between the arguing and the death eaters, we sort of had a hard time speaking huh?" She nodded and he decided to continue. He cleared his throat again and said, "There's something I need to tell you, Hermione and I don't know how to start."
"Start at the beginning." She said with a small smile. He knew she was trying to make him laugh but he had to be serious, or else he knew she wouldn't believe him.
"If only it was that simple. Hermione, I care about you and I don't want anything to happen to you." He said it in a rush and looked away, waiting for her reaction."
She smiled up at him and said, "I care about you too. You've been a great friend through all of this."
Draco looked away and grimaced. Just a friend, that's all he was to her. She didn't get it. He looked around for something else to say. "You know, if you ever need to talk or something, I'm there? Don't ever think you can't talk to me. Things are going to be different for now on."
"Oh, I hope so Draco." She was silent for a moment, and then she said, "I miss Crookshanks."
"Oh, uh, well I'm sure Dumbledore is taking good care of him for you. You know how he is..." Draco trailed off, a confused frown playing on his lips. They had stopped at a crosswalk. A batty old woman had walked up to Mr. Snuffles/Jenkins and began to pat his head. The poor little man stood there stupidly as Alex and Rosie laughed helplessly.
"Such a nice little girl." The woman said and began to walk off. The group continued to laugh... all except for one that is.
Billy stared after the old woman, a look of amazement on his face. "Grandma?"
The old woman ignored him and kept walking. Rosie and Alex struggled to control themselves... it was too funny! The crazy old bat petting the little man and then Billy thinking it was his grandmother... what a day in London!
They finally reached the hotel and settled in two of the biggest, finest rooms they had, the boys in one room, and girls in the other.
"This is so cool!!" Rosie and Alex said together. Alex jumped on the bed while Rosie spun around in the computer chair at the desk. For the first time in a while, they weren't scared. They felt safe and ready to take on whatever came their way.
A/N how do you like it? In the next chapter, I think they may meet the employer or something and there may be romance... who knows? Well, I should know, I'm writing it!!! Well, go easy on me I'm making it up as I go. Bree bit of jokes from or good history class days!!! Hope you enjoy!!! The rest of you, I hope you liked the senselessness too!! Please read and review, it's discouraging when I don't get too many.