We belong together || Harry Potter x Reader

Chapter 35

"Snape?" Harry asked. Of course, he would take on that role after Dumbledore died; that's what he always wanted. Harry shook his head in disbelief. "What about Professor McGonagall?"

The man just shook his head, his eyebrows furrowed permanently. "If you don't shut it right now, I will kick you all out and forget about the stupid promise... You shouldn't have come here; this is ridiculous."

"What promise?" You pushed, making your voice as low as possible.

The man exhaled sharply. He got up from the ground a few inches to close all the blinds. "It's going to get dark; follow me here. Hurry on now; they are getting close."

He motioned with his chin to follow a trapdoor on the floor. Once he opened it after a set of locks and switches, there was a set of stairs leading... who knows where. You scanned your friends' faces, trying to sense what they thought of him. No one was eager to follow the man. Everyone was glued to their spot.

Glass shattered. Screams of pain and fear echoed throughout the pathway outside. The shadows of the dementors flying past cast onto the windows, their shadows stretching across the pub.

Knowing that you all would not trust him on a whim, the man softened his expression. "Look, I know everything is tough for you right now, but we don't have time to spare. He knows you are here already, so come on in, and I will explain everything."

Reluctantly, everyone followed him inside the trapdoor. The stairs were lit by soft candlelight looming a couple of floors down. He led the way, not looking back once to see if the four of you were following him. Once he reached his basement, he pulled out a chair for each of you.

The basement was not meant for a significant load of people; the max it could carry was possibly around twenty-thirty if no one minded being squished. No paintings or portraits hung up on the walls, yet many holes surrounded the walls. There was a table, a filthy two-seated couch, and a fireplace. It was not entirely welcoming, but it did not look abandoned. 

"What is happening outside?" Hermione asked, her shoulders raised in tension. She sat the furthest from the man; Ron claimed the seat next to him just in case.

The man took off the tight cap on his head and ran a tired hand over his face. His white beard matched his pearly white head; he looked exhausted, like he aged a hundred years by the time he reached the chair.

With a nervous glance, he looked at Harry; his piercing blue eyes looked into Harry's green ones. Harry felt a wave of familiarity like he had seen those eyes before. 

"You... You're the one I have been seeing in Sirius' mirror. How did you get that mirror? You shouldn't have! It was his!" 

"Yeah? Where would you have ended up if I had not been looking over you lot this whole time?! Now you have the nerve to yell at me for doing so?" He snarled, piercing Harry with a sharp exhale.

"Look, you shouldn't have come here." 

He was looking at Harry, who was no longer in disguise. 

Harry nervously looked at his friends. "You're Aberforth... Dumbledore's brother." 

"His brother..." Aberforth chuckled, sipping on his cup. He looked at Ron and Hermione, who eyed his sipping. With a pitying glance at the table, he walked away and, after a couple of moments, brought a plate with bread and cups of butterbeer. "Here, help yourselves." 

Harry stayed in place, and you followed suit. You were starving, but knowing that Harry was unwilling to give in so easily, you would stick right beside him. 

"Where is everyone else?" Hermione asked, grabbing a couple of stones. "The Order? Are they coming?" 

Aberforth scoffed. "That Order is as good as gone. You-Know-Who has won, it was best to stay low or move on. No use to keep on fighting a losing battle."