Closest To Heaven That I'll Ever Be

3. Fix You

On the third day of being back at the Hog's Head, I finally managed to leave my room for longer than the time it took to shower or collect whatever food Grandfather had left outside my door.

Not because I suddenly felt better. I didn't. My ribs still hurt, my arm was sore, and I was exhausted after walking roughly twelve steps.

No, the only reason I ventured downstairs was because I could hear raised voices coming from the pub.

At first, I ignored them.

Grandfather ran a pub. Raised voices weren't exactly unusual.

Then I remembered there was a curfew in place and nobody should have been in the pub at all.

So naturally, instead of doing the sensible thing and staying upstairs, I crept down to investigate.

Without my wand—thanks again, Harry—I felt distinctly powerless.

At the bottom of the stairs, I paused and looked around for something I could use as a weapon.

My eyes landed on a heavy brass candelabra sitting on a small table. Perfect. Not quite a wand, but if necessary, I was fairly confident I could do some serious damage with it.

I lifted it carefully and crept towards the door leading from the hallway into the pub.

I had no idea what to expect. A Death Eater. A Snatcher. Some drunken idiot who'd decided curfew didn't apply to him.

What I did not expect was Neville bloody Longbottom and Seamus friggin Finnegan.

I pushed the door open. "What in the name of Gryffindor?"

Both boys jumped. Seamus practically leapt out of his skin. "Merlin's soggy left ball sack, Addalie! You nearly made me piss myself!"

Grandfather chuckled behind the bar.

I lowered the candelabra. "Charming as always, Finnegan."

Seamus pressed a hand against his chest. "You were standing there holding that thing like you were about to cave my head in!"

"I might still." I smirked.

"Fair."

Neville, meanwhile, was staring at me. Properly staring. "Addalie?"

"Hello, Neville." I offered a small smile. He surprised me by crossing the room and pulling me into a hug before stepping back to look me up and down as Seamus gave me an awkward side hug.

"What happened?" His expression immediately changed. "We thought you were with Harry, Ron and Hermione."

My grip tightened slightly around the candelabra. "I was."

Neville waited.

"I... they..." I hated that I still couldn't say it. "We got separated. At Malfoy Manor."

"Malfoy?!" Neville and Seamus gasped together.

"Yes." I nodded.

"How the hell did you get out of there?" Seamus asked.

"Caught by a couple of Snatchers. If it wasn't for Draco and his mother, we'd all be dead right now."

Seamus stared at me. "Fuck me."

Grandfather coughed loudly from behind the bar.

Seamus glanced towards him. "Sorry."

Grandfather was very clearly trying not to grin. "So, boys," he said, apparently deciding to move us along before Seamus could offend the furniture as well. "How many have you got now?"