The Protector

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I opened my eyes and dismounted the broom, smiling at the feeling of sunshine on my face. I removed Fred's jacket, handed it to him, and he tucked it under his arm, smiling back at me. I stared at him for a moment. In an effort to separate himself from his brother, he had cut his hair shorter and dyed it a dark honey brown. He never really did much with it, always looking as if he had just woken up. It stuck up in the most handsome way, looking completely effortless. I noticed for the first time how much this stress aged him. He had thin lines around his eyes, which were also adorned with purplish circles underneath. I soon realized we both were filthy, covered in soot, dirt, and blood. I looked away and Fred blushed. Sirius waved his wand, and a small cottage appeared. "Alright, you two," he said, "inside."

We followed his command. Fred opened the door for me, and I stepped inside, immediately somewhat disappointed. The cottage consisted of one room, a lavatory, and a small kitchen. Fred rubbed the back of his neck as he turned to Sirius. Sirius chuckled and traced a few lines in the dirt floor with his wand. It revealed a door, and when he opened it, stairs, which descended into darkness. I looked at him warily. "Down you go," he said, motioning to me. I drew my wand.

"What is this?" I asked, my heart beginning a rapid dance in my chest. Fred placed a hand on my shoulder, laughter hiding in his eyes.

"I'll go first," he said, chuckling. "You can trust Sirius. He's part of the Order." Fred slowly descended down the stairs, and I followed him.

"Lumos," I whispered. My wand soon produced a small but illuminating light which showed cozy furnishings, and multiple doors. Sirius lit some candles which lined the walls, and soon we were no longer in darkness. "Sirius, I hope this place has working plumbing," I said. He laughed.

"Of course, my dear." He gestured the last door on the west wall. "Your room is just through there, with your own bathroom. However, there is only one guest room, and my room isn't really fit for visitors," he laughed. "It seems you and Mr. Weasley will once again be in close quarters." I blushed and began to protest, but Fred interjected.

"That's fine. Thank you, Sirius, for your kindness," he said, and I stared at him, open-mouthed. I walked in silence to the door, opened it, and gasped.

The bed was quite large, with a fluffy red comforter and a hazy gray canopy. There were two dressers which sat beside each other, adjoining wardrobes, a television, and a small refrigerator with a glass door, which revealed various drinks. It was all illuminated by a rather large chandelier, fashioned from black metal, adorned with red candles. The walls were black brick, with no decoration, save for a clock just like Fred's mum's which showed where Fred and I were, and a photograph of Fred and George, with me squeezed in between. We were laughing, and Fred was looking at me with an expression that closely resembled fascination. My long black hair was blowing in the wind, my pale skin was flushed, and my green eyes looked happy. George smiled at Fred and mussed my hair, and I quickly looked away from the moving photograph, blushing at the memory. There was a small fire going in the fireplace, which was lined with red brick. The hardwood floors were a deep brown, almost black, and there was a soft woven rug in front of the mantle. There were two double doors, and I opened them, revealing a beautiful kitchen. The counter tops were onyx, and the fridge, stove, and dishwasher matched. The smaller appliances were all brand new as well, and there was a small table with two chairs. The walls were painted a dark red, and another chandelier, lesser in size, illuminated the room. I opened the pantry, and it was fully stocked. I smiled. I ran into the bedroom again, still taking all of it in, and approached the only door I hadn't opened. I stepped through the threshold to the bathroom, and was again, amazed. A very large bathtub, his-and-her's sinks, another door which I assumed housed the toilet, and a cabinet with plush towels stared me in the eye. There were an array of soaps, shampoos, conditioners, perfumes, colognes, and makeup which sat on the counter. A box was on one side, displaying various pieces of expensive jewelry. There was a similar box by the other sink, which held men's wrist watches. Two large vanity mirrors were above each sink, and a smaller chandelier which matched the one in our bedroom. The walls were a beautiful pale gray, consisting of multiple tile which was swirled with small crystals, and the floors were black stone. There were pillar candles of all sizes in every nook and cranny of the large room. I turned to see Fred leaning on the door facing.