Chapter Thirty Four
Dirk and Dean had just spent a night on the edge of the forest after nearly a week wondering around the country, wondering if it was a trap or not.
A safe camp on the edge of the forest with other people sounded too good to be true, especially as Dean watched his old house for the fifth time.
"We have to go." Dirk said after a while, pulling the younger boy away from the empty council house. He was getting worried about how down the poor boy was getting.
Dean allowed himself be led away, and wasn't entirely surprised to arrive at the edge of the forest near Hogwarts.
"It's not healthy, kid." Dirk said loudly, "Look, I know you're really worried about your mother but come on! We've been going back to that house every week!"
Dean nodded, rubbing his head, "Yeah, I know. Some time without magic might be good, plus it will be nice to see someone else, I bet you're a little bored of my company after all this time." he smiled, although somewhat weakly.
Dirk smiled kindly, in truth he'd grown rather fond of the boy. He had two sons at home that reminded him a lot of Dean. He never let things get to him, always managing to slap on a smile no matter how wet or cold they'd ended up. H didn't blame Dean for starting to feel down over everything.
"I'm not bored of you." Dirk said, trying not to sound too soppy, "Never."
They had wandered up and down the forest line, further wearing down their already worn shoes, there was only so much that magic could fix time after time.
In the end they had to admit defeat and camp another night, the light had dimmed to the point of them barely being able to see. Thankfully it didn't rain on them, but they did wake up to the first flakes of snow falling.
"Kinda surprised it waited this long." Dean said, looking up at the sky, "Normally hits us in November."
"It is only just December." Dirk pointed out, brushing a few flakes of powdery snow from the boy's shoulder, "I mean yesterday was November still."
Dean nodded, "Good point."
"So, which bit of the forest line should we aim for first?" Dirk asked, neither of them had felt comfortable sleeping near the tree line, they'd heard too many horror stories of what lurked in the forest.
Dean shrugged, his face growing serious for a moment, "Do you… do you think the camp fell apart? Or got caught? And that's why we couldn't find them?"
Dirk puffed out his cheeks and let the air out at once, "I think… I think another night around here isn't going to kill us. And the camp sounds like the best place we could be right now."
Dean nodded, and they started to once again trudge up and down the tree line, making sure they weren't getting to close.
"Wait." Dean said, just before he suggested taking a break to eat the last of their meagre food, which was down to four slices of bread.
He took a few nervous steps towards the trees. He was sure he saw a person, moving through the quickly falling snow.
"I think there are houses there." Dean said, unable to keep the joy and relief from his voice, "But Harry said it was a camp… surely that means tents? He said tents…"
Dirk and Dean looked at one another and nodded, walking as quickly as they could towards the rough houses.
"Is someone there?" Dean called out.
"Hello?" William called back, trying to place the voice, "Dean… Dean Thomas?"
"Yes… yes that's me." Dean called, his relief flooding into his voice, "I've got someone else with me as well. His name is Dirk Cresswell."
William came over and frowned, "What's going on? How did you know we were here?"
"William what's going on?" Cho called, coming out into the snow, wrapping her arms around her, "It's freezing out here!"
"Cho?" Dean said, they were close enough to touch now, "I don't know if you know me but I went to school. In Harry's year."
"Oh… no I'm sorry, I don't think we met. I know Dirk though." Cho shrugged, trying not to let her teeth chatter, the weather really had taken a turn into winter, "You work with my Dad."
Dirk frowned in confusion, "I work with your Mother…"
Cho grinned, "Just checking. Come on in."
William gave her a sharp look, "Are you sure?"
"Well they can't stay out here." Cho pointed out, "We might as well deal with this inside before we start losing fingers and toes to the snow."
"Pansy would agree with me." William said, rolling his eyes.
"You have things to bribe Pansy with that I don't." Cho said, grinning wickedly, William opened his mouth to protest, "You know, like hair braiding and foot rubs."
William glared at her and shook his head before grinning back. Dirk and Dean smirked, following them into the largest of the three huts they could see. Inside was far more cosy and warm than either of them had expected.
Several lamps hang from the rafters. Solid wooden benches lined the walls until they reached the last third of the hut, which was divided into four by large curtains.
In the centre of the hut was a large fire, two cauldrons bubbling over it hanging from a huge tripod, filling the hut with the smell of rich, hot soup.
"William, could you pour the kettle into the tea pot?" Pansy called, with their back to them, "Or Cho, whichever one you are. Titania and Marcus will be here soon. I told them not to come if it snows but goodness knows Titania will come anyway, which will be nice really as I love hearing her… oh… hello." Pansy had turned around and looked between the newcomers, Cho and William, "It's Dean isn't it?"
Pansy smiled slightly awkwardly, wiping her hands on a rough apron.
"Hello." Dirk said said back, whipping his woollen hat from his head and extending a hand towards Pansy, "Dirk Cresswell. I used to work at the Ministry, Head of Goblin Liaison… at least I was. Pleasure to meet you…"
"Pansy." Pansy smiled, shaking his freezing hand, "Pansy Parkinson. We've probably met at some point."
Dirk nodded, "Yes. I know your parents well."
Pansy looked questioningly to William who raised his hands, telling her wordlessly that he hadn't a clue what was going on.
"You said you had people coming?" Dean asked, tiptoeing closer to the fire, "Just so you know we're on the run… we can't have people know about us…"
Pansy let out a light laugh, "We're all on the run here. Titania and Marcus are centaurs. They helped us build this, and the other two buildings."
"I'm not sure I've ever met a centaur." Dirk said, rather excited, "This should be fun. Sorry to drop in like this…"
"Yeah about that." Cho said, sitting down on a bright pink cushion, "How on earth did you know where we were?"
"Harry told us." Dean said, sniffing the soup scented air.
"Harry?" Cho said, nearly dropping the kettle, "Is he OK? Where was he?"
"He's fine." Dean said, "We ran into him in a total fluke, on the edge of some wood. He said you were camping here and we'd be safe with you. You'll let us stay, right?"
"Yes." Cho said quickly, desperate for any news or connection to Harry, "Of course."
"We'll need to rearrange the sleeping areas." William shrugged, "But otherwise shouldn't be an issue. To be honest we could use the help around here."
"Speaking of help, where is Luna?" Pansy asked, "I asked you to go and call her."
William smacked his head, "Sorry I got all distracted. To be fair you only asked for one person and I brought you two!"
"I asked for a girl, you brought two boys." Pansy smirked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" William asked, pulling her into a hug.
"Nothing dear." Pansy laughed.
"You have to get used to a lot of this." Cho said, rolling her eyes.
"You have a fire, we'll deal." Dean said, holding his fingers up to the flames, starting to remember what being warm felt like.
"Not too close, you'll give yourself chilblains." Pansy warned them, "You need to warm yourselves slowly."
"Pansy is very into muggle healing at the moment." Cho explained, breaking out a packet of digestives, "We're all learning to adjust here. It's not so bad really, peaceful almost."
"Found Luna." William said with a smile, holding the solid wooden door open for Luna and two pale centaurs.
Dean had always had a bit of a crush on Luna, not that he'd seen her much; just during the DA sessions, but she was sweet and always had something interesting to say, if you were willing to listen.
She was dressed in a white, peasant blouse with a long flowing gypsy skirt. Her long, wavy white blonde hair half up in a plait and half flowing down her back and scattered with snowflakes.
"We have visitors?" She said, wiping the snow from her shoes.
She slipped her shoes off before walking towards the fire, sitting across from Dirk and Dean.
"We're here to stay." Dirk said politely, "Harry found us on the run and suggested we come and stay with you." giving her the brief version of events.
Luna pulled her feet up under her, "That's lovely. I'm learning to make clothes, I've always messed around with the idea of clothes making but we need new clothes now and Pansy and Cho aren't the best at sewing. They're good at making things pretty, though."
"Well I know I could do with some new clothes." Dirk grinned, "Dean managed to leave with some clothing, money and such but I had to leave with nothing but the clothes on my back."
Luna jumped up and went into one of the curtained off areas. She came back a few moments later with several shirts and pairs of trousers draped over her arms.
"They're not the best or anything…" Luna said, feeling rather silly now.
"No, no these are great!" Dirk beamed, "Don't suppose you have a bath around here?"
"We have a shower and a tub as long as it's not wash day." Pansy laughed.
"We're building them a bath once the weather clears." Titania said.
"I'm so sorry." Dirk said, turning his attention to the two centaurs, "Where are my manners, I'm Dirk Cresswell, and this is Dean Thomas. It's a lovely house you've helped build."
Titania laughed, "Do not worry yourself. Mother said that two weary travellers would be arriving, the stars of Gemini are acting most strangely in the heavens."
"Gemini acting strangely, who have guessed it?" Pansy smirked.
"My name is Marcus." Marcus said, glaring between his sister and Pansy, "And this is Titania, my little sister."
"Younger sister." Titania corrected, rolling her eyes, "Would you like a hand with dinner Pansy?"
"No thank you, it's OK." Pansy smiled, digging out their bowls and plates, "I'm all done. Did you manage to bring any bread?"
Titania slapped her hands over her mouth, "I forgot."
Pansy grinned, "Never mind."
"No I mean I remembered to get it, and then forgot it in my room…" Titania sighed, "I could go and fetch it."
"I think we'll manage. The weather is awful out there." William assured her, "Besides we've got cakes, well pancake, drop-scone things for pudding."
Dean and Dirk tucked into the steaming bowls of soup, trying not to eat like they were starving. It tasted amazing, as well as being warm and filling.
They both had warm-ish showers in the very cold hut before climbing into the lovely warm bed.
In each of the curtained areas there was a solid wooden bed frame with a thick straw filled mattress, which was far more comfortable than Dean had expected. They each had two fat feather pillows and more blankets than they could possibly use, as well as sheepskins under the sheet.
Dean and Dirk had agreed to share until more beds could be made, Luna giving up her room to share with Cho.
"I can't believe we're safe." Dean whispered, tucking the blankets around his neck.
It wasn't cold, not with the fire dying in the hearth and how insulated the house seemed to be, but he felt safer tucked under the thick blankets, like nothing in the world could get to him.
"We are." Dirk sighed happily, "We should ask if we can send letters out. I'd like to let my wife and boys know where I am, or at least that I'm safe."
"I don't think we'll be able to tell them where we are but that we're safe should be fine." Dean frowned to himself, "I think mum would like to hear from me as well."
"We can ask in the morning." Dirk yawned, a sudden wave of exhaustion washing over him.
Dean smiled, content in himself and rolled over; getting the first good nights sleep he'd managed in months.