Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

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Chapter IV: Delays

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Liam led the girls out of Hog's Head and into the afternoon. Luna regarded Hermione curiously as the older witch walked beside him. Luna knew that when Hermione first saw him she was reluctant to even look at him.

But clearly something has changed in her.

Luna had found Liam in Knockturn Alley a few months before, or rather, he had found her. She was in the middle of an assignment and had entered the dark alley for information.

What she got was trouble instead. She was cornered by what remained of Voldemort's minions and tried to hurt her in ways she could not express. One of her attackers stunned her and when she came to, she found herself in a room and suddenly panicked. Until she realized that she was in a room of the Leakey Cauldron.

How she got there was a mystery. She suddenly noticed that she was not alone.

"You're awake," a familiar voice said as Luna sat up. Looking at the source, she smiled as she found her fellow Ravenclaw sitting on a chair beside her.

"Hi, Cho," Luna smiled at Cho Chang. "What are you doing here?"

"Making a house call," she smiled. After Hogwarts, Cho became a mediwitch. Madam Pomfrey took her under her wing and taught her well. But something was bothering Luna.

"Why are you here?" she asked. "I thought you had a private practice."

"Well, I was called to help a friend and I couldn't say no to that," she smiled.

"Is young mistress fine? Yes? Yes?" a shy and nervous voice asked from the doorway. Luna saw Liam in his usual drags. At first Luna thought of him as a hobo and she did not want anything to do with him. However, she was puzzled when Cho smiled and beckoned him inside.

"She's fine, Liam," Cho shook her head in amusement. "It's a good thing that you're there or things might get worse."

"Young mistress has no business being in bad alley. Yes. Yes," Liam said as he hobbled on his walking stick. "Mistress almost died." Yes. Yes."

"What is he talking about?" Luna asked confusingly.

"According to him, you were ambushed by Death Eaters," Cho said nonchalantly as she checked Luna's bandage. "You were knocked unconscious and Liam 'stole' you from them."

"Never see Liam, bad men did. Yes, Yes," he said proudly. "Angry they were for losing you. Yes. Yes."

"I could just imagine," Luna smiled and regarded Liam with much curiosity.

"What were you doing there anyway?" Cho asked.

"I had a lead on a story I had to check out. It seemed that I was close to something."

"It seemed to me that you were closer than you had expected," Cho sighed.

"Liam know what bad men do to young beautiful mistresses." Yes. Yes," he shivered. Whatever it was, it must not have been pretty. Luna didn't even ask.

"Rest assured, you are under Liam's protection now," Cho smiled. Luna was skeptical but admitted that the man had pulled her out of a sticky situation and could be useful. But she was still skeptical when it came from Liam's ability to protect her.

"A Knut for your thoughts?" Cho smiled as she looked at Luna.

"I'm just not sure that Liam should be helping me," Luna sighed. "It's my problem."

"Liam made it his problem too when he interfered," Cho said.

"Healer right. Yes. Yes," Liam nodded vigorously. "Liam now mistress's servant. Yes. Yes." At that time, Luna knew that she would be in for it.

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"So Liam has been your contact in Knockturn alley ever since?" Hermione asked as they followed Liam towards Hogwarts.

"After the attack I felt vulnerable," Luna smirked. "I know I faced Death Eaters before but I had all of you to help me. I felt my courage build up when you started working for the Quibbler and became my partner. Liam is inconspicuous and can move around the Alley with ease. We, on the other hand, stand out too much."

"No argument there," Hermione sighed. "But I feel that there is more than Liam that meets the eye."

"It took me six months to realize that," Luna smiled. "And still I can't understand him." She looked at her friend only to find her in a pensive mood. "What is it?"

Hermione shook her head and smiled at her. "It's nothing. I was just thinking about this Hunter."

"I caught a glimpse of him when he passed us. What about him?"

"I don't know," Hermione sighed but Luna was too smart than her friend gave her credit.

"You like him." And this was not a question. As soon as she uttered those words, Hermione's reaction was spontaneous.

"That is absurd!" she shrieked. Inwardly she cursed herself. Was she really that obvious? Hermione didn't think so but nothing past Luna. Not even that tiny incident. Luna smiled knowingly as she shrugged. Sometimes, Hermione can't hide anything from that girl.

"Anyway, we'll meet these slayers soon," Luna said but was curious as to why Liam had stopped.

"Meeting with Slayers will be delayed. Yes. Yes," he said worriedly as he stared ahead. Following his gaze, it was obvious why.

About a dozen men in dark cloaks blocked their path and not one of them felt right. Liam gripped his staff in a defensive posture as he slowly backed away while Luna and Hermione felt their wands in their sleeves.

"Who are they?" Hermione asked as she looked around. She tensed when she saw that more men blocked their escape.

"Death Eaters. Yes. Yes," Liam gripped his staff tightly. Hermione saw the worry in his features as he looked around. She and Luna could Apparate but she didn't know if Liam could.

For now, they were trapped.

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end of 5.