Potter's Shadow (Draco Malfoy)

Chapter 41

It was two days before Hogwarts finished for the winter holidays when Ginny, the rest of the Weasleys and Harry were rushed back to Grimmauld place after Arthur Weasley's attack. This meant Hermione and I were the only two, from our group, getting off the Hogwarts Express at King's Cross just under a week before Christmas. 

Hermione and I had followed the crowd through the barrier and onto the Muggle platform. 

"Who is meant to be meeting us?" Hermione asked me. 

Both of us had been left in the dark since everyone's disappearance a few nights ago. I was just hoping we wouldn't have to make our own way back to Grimmauld Place. 

"Rosie, Hermione!" I spun round to find the voice, my eyes falling on Uncle Remus weaving his way through the crowd. 

"Uncle Remus!" I shouted, running over with Hermione following behind me. I swooped him into a hug, inhaling the comfort of his laugh as he wrapped his arms around me. 

"Missed me did we?" He chuckled, stroking his hand through my hair. 

"No, I missed the hugs. Don't really get many of those at school anymore," I sighed. 

I felt him squeeze me tight, "Still not talking to Harry."

"More like Harry still isn't talking to me. Haven't you spoken to Harry?" I asked. 

We eventually pulled back, "I've been on Order business. This is the first time I've had off. Let me take your trunk." 

Remus took the trunk and started leading us out of the train station. Remus turned to Hermione,  "How's school?" 

"Alright. I'm falling behind in Arithmancy and DADA is pointless. It's a good thing we have Harry teaching the DA. I was worried I'd fail my OWL's," Hermione rattled. 

"You are the brightest witch of your age," Remus reassured her. 

"Thanks and he is meant to be my god-father," I joked with Hermione. 

Remus lifted his hand and ruffled my hair as we walked to the curb, "We're going to take a muggle cab. More inconspicuous for the Order than the Knight Bus." He walked his way over to the taxi ranks and organised a driver before waving us over. The driver put our trunks in the boot of the car, while Hermione and I sat in the back with Crookshanks. It left Remus up front with the driver. 

"Grimmauld Place, was it? What number?" The guy asked as he pulled the car into the road. 

"Just drop of us in the corner of the square, we will be fine," Remus evades. Obviously it was still dodgy to give the Order's full location, even to a muggle, even if they couldn't see number 12. 

"Hermione, did you want to come Christmas shopping in Diagon Alley tomorrow?" I offered quietly as we sat in the back of the taxi. I whispered Diagon Alley in order to not draw attention from the driver. 

"I do need to get a few presents," She nodded to me. 

Remus turned around in his seat, "You're going to have to organise this with the others when we get there. Things are very different from the summer."

"You mean we can't go to a public place without worrying?" I asked. 

Remus nodded his head towards the driver, "We'll talk about it your Uncle's." 

I huffed before looking out the window watching as we got closer and closer to Grimmauld Place. We eventually pulled into the square, while the cab driver pulled over. He helped us pull our trunks out before turning around and leaving the square. We watched as Remus scanned the surrounding before leading us up to Number 12, when he knew nobody was looking.