Truth or Dare ✔️

1

She had run all the way from platform 9 3/4 and stood in the middle of platform two at King's Cross Station and realized that she had missed her parents' train; it had been the last train of the evening and she would have to wait for the next Chunnel rail to Paris. Disgruntled, Hermione Granger made her way to the information kiosk hoping that someone would still be available to assist her. As she approached, she saw the closed sign and looked at the hours: 6:45 AM to 8:30 PM. She glanced at her watch and saw that the time was 8:37. Tears filled her eyes and she pulled her trunk behind her as she listened to Crookshanks share his unhappiness and meow mournfully from the confines of his carrier as well as the stale Christmas music piped through the speakers. She looked out the large windows and saw that was raining hard outside and stopped by one of the many gift shops and purchased an umbrella for her walk toward The Leaky Cauldron. Hopefully, she would be able to let a room for the night. She made her way through the crowds toward the side street where the old pub was located and walked the pavement toward the heavy oak door and opened it, closed her umbrella and stepped inside. She looked up and her heart sank as she saw at least a hundred people milling about the pub. She approached the bar and flagged Tom the innkeeper, down.

"Excuse me Tom?"

"Happy Christmas, Miss Granger! How are you?"

"Thank you Tom. I've been better, thanks. Would you by any chance have any available rooms for the night? My parents' train left without me and I'm stranded here in London until the morning."

Her face fell when he frowned and shook his head. "No my dear, I'm terribly sorry. We're completely full up. I don't even have any students boarding over that you could room with."

She closed her eyes and nodded her head. "Alright, thank you." She turned on her heel and headed for the door, with no idea where she could go.

"Miss Granger, wait!" Tom came from around the bar and approached her, wiping his hands on a towel, then slinging it over his shoulder. "Perhaps you should inform the Deputy Headmistress of your situation? I'm certain that she could come up with something?"

Hermione shook her head. "There is no one there save Professor Snape and Mister Filch and if you please, I will sleep in the alley before I contact one of them!"

Tom smiled and nodded. "I understand, but you're--"

"I'll be fine. I have one other place that I can try. Thank you though."

"Alright," he said uneasily. "You take care!"

"I will. Happy Christmas," she replied as she opened the door and was assaulted by the cold air.

She knew that she didn't have enough money to hail a taxi for home, so she headed for the closest place that she knew she would be able to stay; a place where, if she was lucky, she might even be able to get a hot meal...Number 12 Grimmauld Place.

She quickly left the Leaky behind her and then passed King's Cross station, as she walked along the pavement, pulling her heavy trunk behind her. She was damp from walking the rain and had felt the temperatures dropping. Soon, she was walking through a light snowfall and she pulled her muggle coat tighter to her as the snow had grown thicker and heavier. She had dropped Crookshanks off at the boarding kennel, where at least he might enjoy his holiday being pampered. Within forty-five minutes, she was standing in front of the hidden entrance to the Headquarters to the Order of the Phoenix. Looking around in all directions, she withdrew her wand and tapped on the wall of the building three times and stepped back, still keeping an eye out for anyone who might come her way. Moments later, the house row home came into view and she opened the door and walked inside, where she heard loud heavy rock music blaring from downstairs...at least someone would be inside and she knew that it most likely was Sirius Black and that he'd be alone. She inhaled deeply; he was cooking something that smelled wonderful and she left her trunk at the front door and approached the back of the house, removing her coat as she walked along the narrow corridor.