Riding a Nightmare

Reflect On

Last Time:

This person was using something to become invisible and the door shivered a tiny bit as this person was considering how to get in ...

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Hours earlier ...

Loretta heard the boy's footsteps and her arm shot out effortlessly catching Harry before he escaped the house, "I smell a hero complex. Lucky me." She muttered dryly and dragged the boy back into the kitchen with Cherry. "You're not going anywhere."

"Those arrows track me, right? I should be the bait!" Harry exclaimed despite being dragged back by the old woman.

The old woman snorted, "Of course you're going to be the bait." Loretta said and let the boy go. "Now let me get changed and I'll tell you the plan." She said as she turned around and left the kitchen again.

Harry relaxed when she actually did go up the stairs instead of leaving, "Who knows when more will come? I don't want anyone to get hurt-"

Cherry burst out laughing at the reasoning, "My grandma isn't someone you should worry about. Didn't she already help you?"

At that Harry was reminded of the man he saw Loretta shoot. It was true and it felt odd to him. He's tried getting help from other adults at Hogwarts, but was always brushed off. Even when he met Sirius and Remus just a few months ago he and his friends had to handle everything without much help from adults ... The headmaster even encouraged them to go solve everything alone.

Is Loretta serious about helping him?

Harry looked up when he heard the footsteps coming down the stairs. They sounded heavier than before. It was clear why when he saw the old woman enter the kitchen in her new attire.

Gone were the slippers, nightgown and hairnet. Instead she was wearing camouflage pants with lots of pockets, a black shirt and a baggy camouflage jacket. Most importantly she was wearing heavy combat boots. The only thing that stayed were her glasses.

"Cherry, Harry. Follow me." She said as she grabbed the shotgun from before, which was just standing near the back door. The two teens followed Loretta to the living room. "Now you boys will need to stay together, got it?" She said as she moved a shelf.

Just like with the old man's home, the shelf was pulled and a secret room was revealed. Again there was wall to ceiling racks of weapons. As she loaded up on weapons Harry was going through more mental processing.

"Yes, grandma." Cherry said, but noticed Harry wasn't answering so he nudged Harry's shoulder gently.

"Huh? Yeah, we'll stay together." Harry said and tried to focus.

Of all the things he learned so far the fact that Cherry was actually a boy wasn't a big deal. Right now he was much more interested in helping Loretta. Of course, he thought he was going to fight these people too. However, when he tried to take something off his chain Cherry took his hand.

"This way, Harry. Grandma will be a while yet." Cherry teased as he pulled Harry to a set of stairs that led downstairs all while carrying their drinks in his free hand.

At this moment Harry's mind was still preoccupied. He was only now fully understanding the detailed illusions and how they protected the home. From the outside there were trees in the house and many busted windows, but that wasn't the case inside. The only broken thing was the glass hutch the currently dead attacker broke. However, all the glass was already cleaned up by the protective grandmother.

What also crossed Harry's mind was a few questions. Why was Loretta taking so long and how many guns could she even carry? However, with a glance over his shoulder he saw Loretta putting brass knuckles on. Apparently she wasn't just going to strictly use firearms.