American Royalty III

Part 6: Time we explain things

The cool night air wrapped around them as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Percy, Annabeth, Connor, Valerie, Jason and Piper hurried down Shaftesbury Avenue, dodging the few late-night revellers and the occasional bus that whooshed by. The streetlights flickered, casting uneven shadows over the group. Harry's mind was still racing from the events at the Burrow, his chest tight with worry.

"Where are we?" Ron asked, looking around as if trying to get his bearings. The city felt foreign to him, with its bustling sounds and the unfamiliar scent of exhaust fumes in the air.

"Shaftesbury Avenue," Hermione replied, a distant look in her eyes. "I used to come here with my mum and dad... to the theatre." Her voice dropped off, and she seemed lost in a memory for a moment, but she quickly shook herself back to the present. "Just popped into my head. I don't know why."

The noise of the city seemed out of place after the chaos they had left behind. Harry glanced at the faces of their companions—Percy was alert, his posture tense as he scanned their surroundings, while Annabeth kept one hand close to her knife, eyes narrowed with suspicion. Piper, walking beside Annabeth, seemed calm but kept looking over her shoulder, as though expecting danger to follow them at any moment.

"This way," Hermione urged, leading them into a narrow alley to escape the street's prying eyes. The group hurried after her, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the brick walls.

Once in the alley, Hermione stopped and began rummaging through her beaded handbag, muttering under her breath as her fingers disappeared into its depths. After a moment, she pulled out a set of clothes.

"We need to change," she said, tossing jeans and jumpers to Harry and Ron. "We can't walk around in our dress robes, not with Death Eaters after us."

Ron held up the clothes, a confused frown on his face. "How did you fit all this in there?"

"Undetectable Extension Charm," Hermione replied briskly, throwing on a jacket. "Now hurry, Ron."

She chucked another bag to Annabeth who began pulling out clothes for the others.

Harry quickly changed into the Muggle clothes Hermione had given him, the familiar weight of dread settling in his stomach. They were out in the open, exposed. He caught Percy's eye, and he gave a small, reassuring nod, though his gaze remained vigilant.

They quickly made their way into a cafe and slid into a booth. It was then that Harry noticed that Jason's head was still bleeding and he seemed slightly out of it. Annabeth seemed to notice at the same time Harry did and handed him something which he swallowed. Instantly the wound was gone and the colour returned to his face.

"Better?" Annabeth questioned.

"Loads," He said using a cloth to wipe the remaining blood from his face. Before Harry could question it though the waitress came over.

"Cappuccino, please," Hermione said with a nod as the gum-chewing waitress eyed them with disinterest, barely paying attention as she walked away to prepare their order.

As Harry settled into his seat, a flicker of movement caught his eye in the security mirror across the cafe. His heart leapt into his throat as he spotted two figures entering the cafe, cloaked in long, dark robes. Death Eaters. Without warning, Harry's reflexes kicked in.

"Down!" he yelled, diving beneath the table just as a spell shattered the window behind him. The sound of glass exploding filled the air, followed by screams from the few customers scattered around.

Chaos erupted in an instant. Spells flew wildly across the room—tables were overturned, and chairs skidded across the floor as Ron, Hermione, Percy, Annabeth, and Piper leaped into action. Percy drew his sword in one fluid motion, parrying a curse with a spark of magic as Annabeth threw herself behind a fallen table, casting a spell toward one of the Death Eaters.

Harry barely had time to register the flurry of movement as a curse whizzed past his head. "Stupefy!" he shouted, pointing his wand at the nearest Death Eater. The figure crumpled to the floor with a groan, stunned.

Hermione fired a barrage of defensive spells, her voice calm but commanding. Ron blocked another curse with a Shield Charm just as Percy swept forward, knocking the second Death Eater off balance with a swing of his sword.

Within seconds, the battle was over. Both Death Eaters lay motionless on the ground, their wands discarded. The cafe was in ruins—tables overturned, shards of glass everywhere. Harry could hear his heart pounding in his ears as the adrenaline started to fade.

"We need to get out of here," Hermione urged, panting as she stood up and brushed her hair out of her face. She pointed her wand at the fallen Death Eaters. "Obliviate."

The group quickly fled the scene, their footsteps hurried as they disappeared into the night. The city around them felt suddenly hostile, the darkness hiding untold dangers. Harry glanced nervously at the shadows, his thoughts swirling with the events that had just transpired.

"How did they find us?" he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else.

"Maybe you still have the Trace on you," Hermione suggested, her voice laced with frustration.

"Can't be," Ron countered, shaking his head. "The Trace breaks at seventeen. It's Wizarding law."

Hermione stopped in her tracks, her face falling as the realization hit her. "We didn't celebrate your birthday, Harry," she whispered, regret flickering in her eyes.

As they hurried along the street a flicker of movement caught Percy's eye and instantly riptide was in his hands. They were being followed.

Harry opened his mouth to respond, but Hermione waved him off, her tone shifting back to practicality. "Doesn't matter now. We have bigger things to worry about,"

That's when Percy got a good look at it. A hellhound. Before Percy could alert the others the hellhound bounded out of the shadows lunging at them. Ron screamed and Hermione shrieked as Valerie and Jason grabbed hold of them while Piper and Connor shoved Harry out of the way. Riptide was uncapped in seconds and before the hellhound had a chance to fight back Percy sprinted towards it, sliding under its belly and plunging riptide deep inside it causing it to evaporate into golden dust.

Ron, Hermione and Harry all stared wide eyed as Percy shook the gold dust out his hair. Before they could as any questions though Annabeth spoke up, "We need to find somewhere safe."

Grimmauld Place. The thought came to Harry's mind like a beacon in the dark. "We could go to Grimmauld Place," he said, his voice quiet but certain. "They won't expect us there."

The others nodded in agreement. They hurried through the streets of London, the sounds of the city fading behind them as they approached the hidden entrance to Number 12, Grimmauld Place.

The door creaked as it opened, revealing the dark, musty interior of Grimmauld Place. Dust clung to the walls and floors, and the smell of damp filled the air. The house felt abandoned, its eerie silence broken only by their footsteps as they entered cautiously.

"Feels even more deserted than last time," Ron muttered, glancing around as they stepped into the hallway.

Harry barely had time to register the cold stillness when a sudden voice echoed through the corridor—a familiar, unsettling voice.

"Mad-Eye? Severus Snape?" it hissed, the sound like nails scraping on glass.

The group froze as a figure began to rise from the floor, shadowy and menacing, rushing toward them. But just as quickly as it appeared, the figure dissipated into dust, swirling around them before settling back to the floor.

Ron exhaled sharply. "What in Merlin's name was that?"

"Mad-Eye's doing," Hermione replied, though her voice wavered slightly. "A security measure... to keep Snape or any Death Eaters from getting in."

Silence hung over the group as they exchanged uneasy glances. The house felt oppressive, its dark secrets lurking in every shadow. But for now, it was a refuge—a place where they could regroup, if only for a moment.

"You have a lot of explaining to do," Hermione said rounding on the Royals. 

They shared a look, having a silent conversation. Eventually, Piper spoke up, "We'll tell you everything you need to know,"