Chapter 5

"So something is going on with your family and Katie, plus George and Angelina are missing and the only connection we can find is Muggle London?" Hermione asked, clearly perplexed as she paced the room. "Do you have any idea if any of the rest of your family visited Muggle London recently?"

Fred shook his head, but then paused suddenly, "You know, I think maybe they did. Mum was talking about looking for dresses for Harry and Ginny's wedding and said something about venturing out a little further than they intended."

"Ah!" Hermione shouted, scaring the others. "Don't you see? That proves it now. There has to be a connection between something in Muggle London and what is going on. But what?" She sat down, trying to force herself to think of a possible link.

"Why don't we just go there then?" Fred asked.

"Do you have any idea how big Muggle London is?" Hermione asked in disbelief. "We could spend years searching there and turn up nothing."

"We're wizards, Granger," Fred said, rolling his eyes.

"But we have no idea where to start," she protested.

"Maybe I can help with that," Alicia said slowly. "I found this when I first found Katie like this. It was in her hand. It didn't appear to be from our world so I hung onto it. Maybe it is a muggle clue?"

"It's a receipt," Hermione cried, snatching it from the other girl's hand. "From a Muggle restaurant I'm certain. I recognize this street. We have to go now," she said, grabbing Fred's arm.

"And what about her?" Fred asked, nodding at Alicia. "How do we know she isn't withholding more information?"

"I wasn't with-"

"Fred," Hermione warned. "This is a huge clue. We need to check it out. Wizards, remember? We can just apparate back if we need to ask any more questions."

"Fine, but I think she is hiding something." He gave Alicia a reproachful look as he followed Hermione out the door.

"Look," Hermione hissed after the door had closed behind them. "I know something weird is going on and honestly I'm not sure who to trust, but we knew Alicia in school and we might as well give her some benefit of the doubt. She was your friend at one time, right?"

"Teammate, Granger. Teammate. And Draco Malfoy played Quidditch. Do you want to go ask his advice?"

"We have no other leads right now. So are you with me or not?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm with you." With that, he grabbed her arm and disappeared.

"Doesn't look like much," Fred said, surveying the outside of the building. It was an old building, that was obvious, and the amount of care given to it over the years was definitely lacking. A sign hung by one side, swinging ever so slightly with the light breeze available. The old, rickety sound reminded Hermione of something from one of the westerns her father made her watch as a child.

"Yes, well, it's muggle, isn't it? It won't have the fancy magic that the stores on Diagon Alley have."

"Shame," Fred said as he pushed open the dusty door, which one again screeched as it opened just as Hermione feared it might.

"Quiet, Fred," she hissed, "we don't want to announce our presence to everyone."

"I'm afraid it's too late for that, Granger," he said, nodding at the friendly looking group of people standing at what must be the greeter's podium.

"Table for two?" the girl smiled brightly as she glanced back and forth between them.

"Um, sure," Hermione said, following the girl rather blindly as she found it difficult to even survey her surroundings as she might would normally.

"Is it just me or does this place seem to dull the senses or something?" Hermione asked Fred after they were alone in their booth. "I feel like I can't form a coherent thought."

"Yeah, I thought it was the firewhiskey I downed at Angelina's, but maybe it's something else." He rubbed his eyes in frustration.

Hermione rolled her eyes, but chose to ignore his comment. Looking around, she tried her best to take in every detail despite the fog that seemed to be attempting to cloud her consciousness.

"Fred," she whispered, "look at that guy at the bar. No, don't be that obvious! Yes, the one that keeps staring at us. Why do you think he is doing that?"

"I have no idea. What do you think is good? They have fish and chips and a shepherd's pie that doesn't look bad-"

"Oh, Merlin's beard, will you focus, please? Now is not the time to eat."

"Sorry, Weasley stomach, always, time to eat. Now the shepherd's pie or one of the pasties?"

"You are completely impossible; you know that? Fine. Order the fish and chips, with a side of ketchup and mayo."

Fred's eyebrows raised in interest.

"I like to mix the two…never mind," she said, waving her hand in attempts to change the subject. Let's just order and try to act normal while I figure out what is going on."

"While you figure it out? Mighty presumptuous of you, I'd say. I'm not exactly known for being an idiot, Granger. Actually, if George and I had actually applied ourselves I'm sure our grades would have been far better-"

He was interrupted by a swift kick to the shins by Hermione. Sure enough, the same man that had been staring at them previously was making his way over to their table. Maybe he was just the waiter, but he certainly didn't look at all happy to see them.

"Order?" he growled at them as he drew closer, pen and paper in hand.

"Um, I'll have the fish and chips, mayo and ketchup on the side, please. I think the lady and I will share if that's alright."

"Fine," he said and stomped off, clearly either their mere presence really annoyed him or he had been having a really bad day.

"Nice place," Fred smirked. "Are all muggles so friendly?"

"Don't use that word in here. And no, I'm afraid not everyone is quite as charming as that fellow."

"So I was right? That was weird?" Fred looked around again, as if he was trying to catch someone in the act of something suspicious.

"Yes, that was weird," Hermione agreed. She continued looking around, hoping to spot something that would give them an idea of what happened to George and Angelina.

"It appears to be a pretty typical muggle pub," she said finally. "I wish I knew what we were looking for."

"I don't know. If this is your typical muggle place, then I'm seriously glad I'm a wizard."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, in all muggle joints do they hate us so much?"

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked looking around in alarm.

"Check that out," Fred said, gesturing with his fork towards a sign that Hermione had somehow missed in her previous examination of the room.

Hermione read the sign slowly, a sinking feeling growing within her as she took in the words.

"The magic stops here."

What happens next? Any idea? I would love to hear what you think. :) Thanks for reading!