Escape: Into the Potterverse [18+]

Chapter 23

You spend the next few days sneaking around and trying to avoid Draco. After the last time, you are worried how far he will go if he catches you alone again.

Eventually Wednesday afternoon arrives, and so the start of the Christmas break. When you arrive in the Gryffindor common room, you find Harry and Hermione sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace.

"Hi, y/n," says Harry. "Hermione tells me you are joining us for Christmas."

"Yeah, I hope that's okay?" you say.

"Yeah, it will be fine, don't worry," says Harry with a smile. "The Weasleys were really welcoming to me when I first discovered the wizarding world."

"Okay, I'll try not to be nervous," you say with a grin.

"So are you all packed and ready to go?" Hermione asks.

"Err, yeah, I think so," you say. "How are we getting to the Weasleys house anyway?"

"Oh, we're not going to the Weasleys house. We're going to somewhere called 12 Grimmauld Place. It's a, erm, safe place," says Harry. "And we'll travel there using a portkey that Dumbledore gave me."

"Okay," you say. "I've never traveled by portkey before."

"Well it's.... unpleasant," says Hermione. "But I'm afraid that's the only way to travel secretly through the protective charms around 12 Grimmauld Place."

"Okay, I guess we don't have any choice then," you say.

Harry carefully picks up a paper bag from the table beside him and tips it up. A tin mug falls out and lands on the floor in front of the fireplace.

"Okay, we all just lay on the floor and touch the mug at the same time," says Harry.

You follow his instructions and reach out towards the mug with your hand. You are overcome by the most unpleasant feeling you have ever experienced before. It feels like you are spinning around, floating up, and falling down all at the exact same time.

You land with a thump in a untidy looking room. Your body lays still, but all your insides feel like they are still moving. You stagger to you feet, then fall down again beside a small bin and vomit into it.

"I'm sorry, I did warn you it was unpleasant," says Hermione, as she strokes your back and hands you a tissue to wipe your mouth.

"Thanks," you say, and try to smile at her.

Then the door opens and a cheerful looking woman with red hair enters followed by Ginny. You recognise her immediately as Mrs Weasley.

"Hello dears," she starts to say. "Oh, hello. Who's this, someone new?"

"Hello, Mrs Weasley. This is our friend, y/n," says Hermione. "She didn't have anywhere to go for Christmas, I hope it's okay that we brought her?"

"If it's a problem, I can just go back to Hogwarts," you add quickly.

"Nonsense," says Mrs Weasley. "Any friend of Hermione's is a friend of mine."

Hermione grins and gives your hand a squeeze.

"Well I suppose we'll just have to find you somewhere to sleep," says Mrs Weasley, deep in thought. "There's not any more empty rooms.... but then Hermione's room has a double bed. That could work, if you two girls want to sleep with each other?"

You and Hermione both turn bright red when Mrs Weasley says that, but she carries on obliviously and turns to Harry.

"And Harry, you have the twin room next to Hermione's, at the top of the stairs with Ron," she says. "Well now that's all sorted I better get back to preparing the dinner."

Ginny looks over at you and Hermione still blushing, and she grins . Then she follows her mother back out the room.

"I'll just take my bags upstairs, I'll be back soon," says Harry. "Do you want me to take yours too?"

"Yes, thank you, Harry," says Hermione.

"Thanks," you add.

Harry leaves the room with all the bags. You and Hermione look at each other and grin. Then you try and calm yourself down and stop blushing so much, before you both head out towards the kitchen.

When you enter the kitchen you find Ron, Fred and George sat down at a long table, while Ginny is helping her mum prepare some vegetables. When Ron sees you he looks at you wide eyed.

"Oohhhh, mum. I forgot to say, our friend, y/n is coming too," says Ron.

"Yes, I know that Ronald," says Mrs Weasley rolling her eyes. "It's a bit late telling me now after I already met her."

"Sorry," Ron says sheepishly.

Soon the food is all ready, and Mrs Weasley comes back into the kitchen pushing Mr Weasley in a wheelchair. He doesn't look too bad, just covered in a lot of bandages.

"Look everyone, daddy's home," she says.

Everyone is happy to see him. Then Harry comes back in from upstairs followed by man you know must be Sirius Black.

Soon everyone is sitting down and eating loads of delicious food and drink.

Eventually, everyone starts to feel tired and thinks about going to bed.

"Ohh, I need the bathroom," Hermione says as she stands up from the table.

Ginny watches Hermione leave the room, then she hops up from the table and walks over to you.

"I can show you where your room is now," she says.

"It's okay, I'll wait for Hermione," you say.

"Hermione knows where it is," says Ginny. " Come on, up you get."

You reluctantly get up and follow Ginny up the stairs.

"This is where you will be sleeping," says Ginny as she enters the room and sits on the bed.

"Okay, thanks," you say.

Ginny motions at you to sit on the bed next to her then, once you have sat down, she looks at you closely.

"So what's happening between you and Hermione?" she asks.

"What, err, nothing," you say, trying hard not to blush.

"It's okay you know, I won't judge," she says and gives you a wink.

"Won't judge about what?" says Hermione as she walks in the door.

"About you and y/n being a couple," says Ginny grinning.

"What? You told her?" Hermione says blushing.

"No, I didn't," you say panicking.

Ginny giggles beside you. "She didn't say anything, Hermione," she says. "I just guessed. And the fact that you're not denying it..."

Then Ginny jumps off the bed and gives Hermione a big hug.

"It's fine, I'm just glad you've found someone that makes you happy," she says to Hermione. Then she looks over at you and smiles. "Plus, you make a really cute couple."

"Thanks," says Hermione and hugs her back.

"Well I'm tired now so I'm off to bed," says Ginny as she walks out the door. "Goodnight y/n, goodnight Hermione."

You both wish Ginny a goodnight, then Hermione comes and sits on the bed next to you.

"Well I guess that kind of makes it official now that someone else knows,"says Hermione. "We're officially a couple."

"Yeah," you say. "I guess you're right."