Potter's Shadow (Draco Malfoy)

Chapter 74

Babies don't like portkeys, either. We landed ourselves just outside a door, which we were quickly pulled inside after our feet had made contact with the ground. Gemini started up in fits of tears as soon as the door slammed shut behind us all. I shifted her around pressing her ear to my heartbeat as I hummed a steady beat. Calmly walking around the large room we were in as I rubbed a line up and down her back. 

Were we in a pub? 

My eyes scanned the area in more detail. The bar and musty setting. Hog's Head? I turned back to the others to see them joined by an almost replica of Dumbledore. 

"Um, hi?" I spoke once Gem's wails had quietened to small whimpers. 

"This is Aberforth," Remus introduced, which the old man grunted at us in acknowledgment. "You'll be staying with him as long as it's safe here." 

I looked at the man, who was now walking towards the back, "Thank you." 

He didn't acknowledge the appreciation so I turned to the others, who seemed to be staring at every corner of the room rapidly. Maybe it was infested with nargles?

Remus smiled slightly, "I better be off. I can't be spotted here and I don't want to leave Tonks alone much longer."

I walked over to hug him, "Give them both a hug from me." 

Remus pressed a kiss to my hairline before repeating the same with Gemini. He wished Penny and Luna the best before disappearing out to door flicking a coin in his hand. We waited and listened as the crack of a portkey sounded as Remus left. 

"I guess we go to the back?" Penny looked over at me cautiously. 

"I like him," Luna grinned as she spun on her heels and skipped her way to the back. Well if Luna liked him, he couldn't be that bad. 

I shrugged off my backpack next to the one Remus had dropped off for me before leaving, I looped the hand not supporting Gemini through both of the top handles so I could hold both bags the short distance. Penny lead the way through the corridor until it switched from the Hog's Head to a more residential vibe, still under cared for. 

Entering the room which now had Luna and Aberfoth, I scanned the large portrait at one end of the room. A young girl stood smiling and waving at Luna, who repeated the gesture back at her. 

"Are you a Dumbledore?" Penny asked the question I'd been wanting to. 

He simply turned to us glared and nodded at the girl in the painting, who walked away into the distance as if heading for another picture frame. "What's it to you?"

Penny backed down really fast under his glare. I sighed, "Have you ever tried being open about things? She didn't mean to cause harm or offence." 

"You're one to talk, Miss Potter. Just wait a moment and you can be off and leave me alone," He grumbled. 

"You mean we're not staying here?" Luna asked him, turning away from the painting. 

"No," he said before turning to the picture. The girl seemed to be returning with somebody else. Aberforth took this as his cue and left the room. The portrait hole swung open, I turned my body to hide Gemini from sight. 

"Neville?" Luna asked, her eyes staring up at him from where she stood, only narrowly missing being hit my the portrait. 

"Alright, Luna. Penny." He greeted the girls. His eyes turned to me and raised his brow at me, likely expecting me to have been with Harry. I turned my body back, revealing the tiny form clung to my body. His mouth made an o like shape in shock. "That explains a lot. Why don't we get you guys through the tunnel?"