hannah and racket landed in a storage room in a pub. she told racket to go back and if he was asked about her to tell the truth. when the elf had gone she walked out of the store closet and into the bar.

nevile was waiting for her. when he saw her he ran up to her and engulfed her in a hug.

"what happened?" he asked concern in his voice.

"james hit me" she said hollowly "i cant believe he hit me" hannah was in shock, james had never raised a hand to her before he was more of a no-dinner-for-a-week kinda guy.

nevile looked angry but he pulled her into another hug.

"so what do we do, where are we going to stay?"

"come on where staying with a friend of mine, my parents dont know them because they are muggle"

nevile followed hannah out of the pub and down the street a turn left turn right and stop. the door was red with a lion door knocker.

they knocked on and the door opened by a boy with black curly hair, crystal blue eyes. he looked to be a few years older than them.

"hannah! what is it, whats happened?"

"we need a place to stay" she gave him he best puppy eyes and he was nodding when a woman came behind him.

"benjimen whos at the door?" her voice was soft and friendly and hannah felt longing and an ache that she shoved it down. "hannah is that you, oh its good to see you!" she hugged hannah before noticing nevile "and whose your friend, come in"

they were ushered in and pushed into chairs at the kitcbe kitchen table. thats when ben's mother noticed the bandage on her wrist.

Hannah sat through the mother hens fussing before telling them what had happened (minous a few details) and was offered a bed for a few days.

nevile and ben shared a room whilst hannah slept in the guest room.

it was gone midnight when nevile came to check on her to find her staring out the window and her shaking her head.

"what are we going to do, we can't stay here"

"i know" hannah didnt look at him but her voice trembled "we cant go to sirius, thats probably the first place they would look." she took a deep breath.

"you dont have to be here you know"

"i know but i know you have something great planned and i want to help you"

hannah smiled and then nodded "i do but it wont be easy"

"then it will be worth it