Hidden In These Walls

CHAPTER FIVE

Music and chatter filled the area, even with it being so wide open it already sounded like we were in an arena of people, house elves, and creatures galore. Tents pillared big and small, wide and narrow. We waded through the busy crowd, the kids up front pointing to circus jugglers, giant musical instruments that stuck up tall over the people, others on stilts wandering around and not bothering to watch below, like they knew where to step without trampling on a single person.

Hermione and Ginny walked in front of me, I could hear and see the two pointing and giggling excitedly, not that I could blame them. I wished I myself could have had more fun with it, but the closer we got to the match, the more I oddly felt a loom of dread. I wasn't sure why necessarily, but something was off, or at least felt so.

With all the times I was able to notice something off last year, or think of something or someone and it happening, it tripped me off even more so. What if this was another odd premonition? "Oi, Oz!" I snapped out of my daze feeling a hand on my shoulder, gripping just a bit. I turned my head and saw who I believed to be George, "You seem like you're off in your own world! Are you okay?"

"Yeah, your brow's all furrowed!" Fred(?) spoke coming up on the other side, mimicking deeply furrowed brows, but then his face relaxed, and he did not laugh, nor did George. These two, as joking as they were, they were quite kind. I gave a small, tight grin. I wasn't going to worry them, not with such a fun day ahead, "Yeah! I'm alright, there's just alot of people and it's a bunch of noises all at once! I just want to get to the tent."

The two glanced over the top of my head and nodded to one another, "Don't worry!" said Fred, who I believe stood on my left, and on the right George piped up, "We'll stick with you!"

"And keep you company!"

My false, nervous grin turned to a genuine smile, my anxiety easing just slightly, "Thank you, Fred. Thank you, George," I glanced back and forth trying to acknowledge the two in their respective places. They didn't seem to correct me, so I assumed I was right. We continued traveling down the cramped pathway, and I hadn't realized it until then but the two acted as a block for me from the crowd, standing by my side and not letting anything bump into me.

"So, Oz," Fred called out over the loud murmurs, "How has life treated you after graduation?"

"Oh!" I wasn't expecting this conversation with them, "Well, it's been going quite well, surprisingly!"

George spoke up again, "Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah, since graduation I got a job under an ex-Auror, who has been sponsoring me and teaching me the ways of the job. Let's see... I was able to move out of my parent's house," I couldn't help but spit out the word 'parents'. Realistically speaking they had found out I was sending letters to my ex-Professor, Lupin, and another that I only wrote as 'S'.

They had a temper tantrum and threatened to kick me out, and I took it upon myself to go ahead and leave at once, "I've been living in an apartment near Diagon Alley ever since!" Technically it wasn't a lie. I didn't necessarily have my own apartment. I had been staying at Moody's house, but I was told by him that no one could know due to my safety being breached.

"That's wicked!" George patted my back.

"We're really happy to see you, mate! We've all missed you, especially Harry!" I smiled warmly. Harry missed me? That was something that shocked me.

"Does he now?"

"Yeah! Since you've shown up today it's been 'Oz this' and 'Oz that'. Not that we blame him, you're a bloody brilliant guy!" That was what made my face warm, I truly didn't realize or know how much I was valued by others, especially the Weasleys who I held in such a high regard. The Weasley twins always put it straight, there was no hiding the truth with them. They just said how it was and that was that.

"Thank you..." I muttered, not knowing how else to take such a high compliment, "You two are pretty brilliant yourselves!"

Behind I heard Amos speak up, "Parting of the waves I think old chap, see you at the match!" Those ahead stopped and turned. Arthur shook Amos' hand one last time, "See you at the match! This way kids!" Cedric and Amos took off in the opposite direction, and a few of the kids called out, "See you later Cedric!" Arthur began marching through another crowd of people, thankfully not nearly as dense with people as before.

"Ah, here we are!" Arthur walked up to a tiny tent, and opened the flap, waving everyone in with a gentleman's wave and a slight bow, "Home sweet home!" One by one we single-filed into the tent. Just as I suspected, it was much larger inside, with a kitchen, a small dining room table, a few beds, and a small living room with a few cozy seats. I sighed and traveled over to the couch and plopped down, my feet were quite achy, I hadn't walked that much since my Hogwarts days. It seemed like such a far-off concept to me.

"Get out of the kitchen, Ron we're all hungry!" Arthur got onto Ron, and the twins mimicked, "Get out of the kitchen, Ron!" I glanced back seeing the twins leaning back in chairs with their legs kicked up.

"Feet off the table," He pointed at the twins who took their feet off for a moment, then put them back where they were, still mimicking, "Feet off the table!"

I shook my head at the two mischievous lads, relaxing into the soft cushions. I sighed and cozied up pulling out a book from the bag I had brought. It would be a while before we stepped foot into the arena. As I sat and opened my book I heard Harry mutter, "I love magic..." I smiled, I did too kid, I did too...