Chapter Twenty

"I don't think you should be alone tonight." Luna and Neville agreed after hearing the details of Hermione's ordeal.

"I just want to get back to the leaky cauldron." Hermione said, "Her mind racing, "You don't mind if I slip away quietly do you?" She asked her hosts.

"Sure," Neville said, "can't say that I blame you. "We'll explain to Aurelia when we find her, but judging by how close she and Seamus were getting I don't think she'll mind too much." Neville chuckled and said, "You'll go with her won't you D... Ouch!"

Luna had dug him sharply in the ribs with her bony elbow, "Course he will!" She said quickly, "I'm sure everything will be fine, you know that most local legends are hogwash."

Hermione knew that if anyone believed in legends; no matter how ridiculous they were Luna would always be the first one to believe in it, in fact ridiculous legends were how she had made her fortune with The Quibbler, but Hermione knew that Luna was trying to comfort her so she smiled and said, "I'm sure you're right Luna."

"Right well we will send for our driver and I will come and get you when he's ready." Neville offered kindly, "I hope our horrible resident pervert didn't ruin your evening altogether, and I'm not talking about Seamus." He laughed.

"I best get back to our guests," Luna said, "I daren't even guess what sort of mischief they are getting into now. It was great to see the two of you again. If anything unexpected happens please keep me up to date." With that she hugged each of them and left the room, followed by Neville.

"I'm coming with you," her stranger said, "I don't want you to be alone tonight. I will stay awake all night and keep a look out for anything untoward. And.." He added, "I won't take no for an answer."

Hermione nodded, relieved not to have to go back to an empty room at the inn.

"Cars out front." Neville's head popped round the door, "If you're quick you can leave without anyone noticing, the foyer's deserted."

Hermione and her partner whisked through the entrance hall and were ushered into the back of an old Roll's Royce.

Neville waved as the car set off down the driveway.

The couple were comfortable in each other's company without saying very much on the drive back to The Leaky Cauldron. Hermione rested her head on her stranger's shoulder and he had his arm around her shoulders as they drove through the warm black night.

When they arrived back at The Leaky Cauldron it seemed Tom had arranged a lock in, there were a dozen or so witches and wizards still in the bar, some were dancing and others were chatting, and a few others were playing tiddlywinks at the bar.

"Another late night, Miss Granger?" Tom enquired, grinning. "Night cap?" He added.

"Yes, and thanks Tom, I think we will. Two large firewhisky's please?"

"I'll bring 'em over, take a seat." Tom said jovially, removing a stray tiddlywink from his tankard of ale.

Hermione and her stranger looked out of place in the dingy pub, but none of the patrons batted an eyelid.

"Some night eh?" She said with a gleam in her eye.

"Best I've had in a while." The stranger said, "Thank you for the dance, I have loved spending time with you."

"Me too," Hermione said and she leaned towards him, closing her eyes, and pouting her lips.

"Two firewhisky's." Tom said banging two massive tankards down on the scrubbed wooden table where they sat. Hermione's eyes flashed open and her partner rolled his eyes at the landlord's bad timing.

Hermione and her mystery man ordered a few more drinks and soon they were playing tiddlywinks with some very drunk wizards at the bar.

"I win again!" Hermione slurred as her tiddlywink landed with a splosh in her own glass, and as she raised her arms in victory, she slid backwards off her stool and landed with a bump on the floor, laughing all the while.

"Think I'll get her up to bed, before she does herself some damage." Her partner said to the assembled wizards, getting up from his chair and leaning over the very drunk Hermione.

"Your eyes are so sexy." She hiccuped staring up from the floor, "I know you from somewhere don't I?"

Laughing, he picked her up and carried his drunken princess up the stairs to her room.