Over the next few days, with the help of George, Ron and Ginny,Harry grew to understand the point that everyone was trying to make about Hagrid. Unfortunately Hagrid would have to wait. If it was true, and Hagrid was dead, leaving now to find the true would only sacrifice their safety the currently held. If Harry was right, and Hagrid lived on, well Harry knew how strong Hagrid was. He could make it through anything. However there was that little voice in the back of his head that kept reminding him, all of this could be a complete lie. Until they had sufficient means of a safe house, and they knew more about what Lucius was planning, he would have to stay under the radar. And all of this, could just be a way of getting Harry out and into the general population again. For now Harry would have to keep his mind on the task at hand, and forget everything else. Whenever his mind went towards Hagrid, he immediately thought of him out on the moors, breeding dragons. This, if for nothing else, would make him smile.
It was three weeks after George and Angelina arrived at the tent, and finally things started to settle in like normal. Draco was laying on his bed, Hermione with her head across his legs. He sat there, quiet as could be, watching her sleep. He dare not wake her, it had been so long since she'd slept so well, He wasn't about to spoil that for her. It was 11:30 in the morning. Everyone was so exhausted that hardly anyone bothered to get up. As Draco watched her, Luna walked by, headed towards the stove. After several moments, and a few clinks of metal, she reemerged with coffee for him. Handing it to Draco, and with a kiss on the head, she returned to her own bed.
With a purr, Hermione curled herself into him. Part of him thought she must have been dreaming, but the other half knew better. That part knew she was dreaming for certain, and she smelled his coffee. When she finally cracked open her eyes, flooding them with sunlight, it was two hours later. Turning over she called to him. " Draco?" But before she could get an answer, there he was. He was sipping his coffee, his 3rd cup, and attempting to read out of one of her books.
" Don't break your brain..." She whispered in a hushed, half awake tone. Before he managed out any words, she had taken his coffee cup, swigged down half of it, and given it back.
" So why are you reading that?" she asked, scratching her head.
" Just checking it out.." He murmured.
As he did, Luna entered without a word, refilled his coffee and left.
" Been up all night?" Hermione asked, oblivious to Luna.
" Um.." Draco stuttered, looking from cup, to the tapestry, and back to cup, trying to figure out what had happened. " yeah...most of the night...Hey...did you just see..?" He looked at her, pointing in the direction Luna has appeared from.
Hermione looked at him, holding her breath for a moment, waiting for him to finish his sentence.
" Oh never mind" He said, shaking his head and finishing it off with a hand through his hair.
He was so attractive when he did that. She found it hard not to just jump on top of him, right then and there. The voices she could hear made it very clear to her that everyone else was awake, and therefore, within hearing distance.
" So I guess I should probably get dressed and whatnot then?" She asked him, tugging at the shirt she had on, his, that was a bit too big.
" Well I guess so..it's getting late..."
At the table in the main room, everyone sat,chatting away. At a lull in the conversation, suddenly a voice erupted from behind a tapestry.
" DRACO!!!!!!!!! You let me sleep until almost 2 in the afternoon?!?!?!?!?!"
" Well, that'll be Hermione then.." Ron smirked. Taking his sandwich up, he ripped it in half. First stuffing half of it into his trap, then giving the other half to Luna. Who in turn shoved hers down her throat in the same manner.
" Hermione...We tried to wake you up, I swear!" Draco said. He was serious, but you could hear the smile on his face, " But you sort of got.......angry.."
"Angry?...Angry?..What's that supposed to mean?" She was yelling louder now, and sounding very much like Mrs. Weasley.
" Well..not to be a git.." Angelina interrupted loudly, causing Hermione and Draco to exit their bed. " But he did try! Grabbed me on my way to the bathroom. I shook you and ya took a bite at me.."
Mostly everyone giggled, Hermione turned really red. Filled with anger, she sat back into the couch, looking at her feet.
" So, " Ginny said, breaking the tension, " Who's up for going over the day's agenda..?" There was a rustle of shifting asses on seats, and then nothing.
" Well jeez, don't everyone jump at once"
" Can I have the floor Gin?" George asked. Ginny, a little shocked and taken back, smiled and avidly nodded. "We have to get out of this tent! Not only is it not safe, but it's getting harder and harder to come across food. We need a house of some sort, truly. I was thinking, we move in as muggles, no magic. None! We stay off everyone's respective radars, lay low. Should give us enough time to get our shit together.."
George hadn't realized it, but mid-rant he stood up. With a look around of puzzlement, he sat back down quickly. " So that's my idea.."
Angelina cleared her throat, then spoke. " When I was little, we used to visit my auntie and cousins in America all the time. She hasn't lived there in a long time, but I can remember clear as day this old manor in her town. It was decrepit and falling apart, so no one ever bought it. My cousin Missy wrote me last month and told me they had visited some friends who still lived in the town, and that old house still sat empty. It's big, well, I just think it'd be perfect."
"Where is this grand perfect place?" Harry asked, looking skeptical. They had already tried the America idea, and it didn't work out so well last time.
" Louisiana, New Orleans to be exact. It's on the southern part of America. It's warm, no snow, hardly any rain to speak of. Listen you said you tried to stay out of site by staying in a little town, and that didn't go so great. This place..it's booming. There's tons of people. Haven't you ever seen those spy shows on the television. They don't hide, they blend in. Hide in plain sight really." Angelina pulled at her pony tail as if she were pleased with herself.
" Well, I think this might be a great idea" Ginny said. She was holding her head up with a hand under her chin, and was looking Harry in the eyes. She could look into them forever it seemed.
" Yeah, " Harry said, rubbing her cheek a little with his thumb, " Yeah I think so too"
" Alright so, let's pack and we can apparate, be there before dinner." Ron said, sitting forward in his seat.
" No...wait.." Draco said, putting his hand up, biting on his lip a little. " No. We do this different. We'll apparate to a large city, somewhere far from where we are going. From there we take muggle transportation. No magic, just like George said. They'll be looking for that."
They all silently agreed. In a matter of hours, after packing and destroying the tent, they stood in a train station in Boston Mass. Angelina and Hermione used what they all had left for money to buy tickets, and for some food for the ride. They managed to get two sleeper rooms, they slept in shifts. After 27 hours on the train, they finally reached New Orleans. Once they all piled off the train and had their bags, they set off. On the way through the city, Draco found a charming jeweler in a market. He sold the man his watch and his ring, receiving $450.00.
After much searching streets and complaining, mostly from Ron. They finally came across a part of town Angelina recognized. With a startled expression, she ran in circles, very much like a newly caged rat. " Wait a minute.." She muttered, " Wait a minute....wait.." She fumbled on her bag, dropping it to the ground and running towards an old rotten bench. " Wait...."
"We're WAITING" yelled several of her companions.
When she reached the bench, she turned to roll her eyes at them. " Shut it! I know this bench, look.....follow me" Running past them, launching at her bag, and running at a rather large metal gate. It was iron, though covered in vines. The metal was coated in rust. When she leaned on the gate, it let out a moan.
" You coming?" She yelled back to them, disappearing behind the gate.
" Oy, Ang,....where?" George yelled.
With a peek around the vines, she whispered, " home.."
Perhaps it was the excitement of what the city promised them. Perhaps it was fear. Perhaps it was even just a lack of food and sleep. What was it that made them completely oblivious to the large white house just beyond the gates. With caution they each crept through the iron gate. For a moment, no one said anything. They all stood there, staring. The house was your typical Louisiana manor. Something you'd read about in a vampire novel. Plant life had over taken it, the paint was chipping, basically the house was in a right state of decay.
" So, " Ron said, rubbing the back of his neck. " No magic then...right!?"
" Yeah, that's the plan." George answered his brother, turning his head slowly at him, " You're not scared of not having any enchantments on it...are you?" George elbowed his bother sharp in the ribs.
With a wince of pain, Ron rubbed his side. " Lousy GIT! No. If this is what the outside looks like, I'd hate to see what lies insides. And I assume we're gonna have to clean it right?"
Harry walked to the old oak door. Grabbing for the handle, several things came over him. The excitement of having a warm, dry place to sleep. The worry of what was on the road ahead. But mostly panic. For all he knew, this decrepit old house would collapse and kill them all while they were sleeping. The eight of them walked into the main foyer. The only light that came though was from the door behind them. There was an over whelming odor of dust and decay.
" This is going to take years to clean" Ginny said, squinting to see herself in a dust covered mirror. " At least muggle cleaning,it will"
She gave a wicked smile, sticking her tongue to her teeth. Brandishing her wand, she was just about to cast.
"Ginny!" George growled, grabbing for her arm, " We said no magic!"
With an exhausted roll of her eyes, she put her hands on her hips.
" Oh COME ON!! this is going to take FOORRREEVVVVVVVVVEERR " She groaned
" Hey George" Harry ran to his side, " how about this. Hermione, You and myself can run into town. We'll get some power turned on, some water and maybe even some gas to cook with. Luna and Ron can take Draco's money and go get some food and supplies. We need towels!!! Everyone else can pick up a bit!" Harry trailed off.
George breathed a heavy sigh, pulling up his shirt cuffs. " Alright Harry, lets go"
Just as they all were about to head out the door, Harry pulled Ginny in close by her belt. " And YOU!" He said, through gritted teeth. " Clean it up if you want, but make it LOOK like you did it by hand at least. "
Then he kissed her head. The last thing Harry saw as he was walking away was Ginny's devilish smile melt over Draco and Angelina's faces.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N Sorry it's been so long. Hit a major MAJOR case of writers block. Hope you all enjoy it, i have loads more coming!