Golden Hair || A Rapunzel and Harry Potter Crossover

four

Nick dragged Zinnia through the shady streets, past jeering drunks and old hags. Zinnia shrunk behind Nick with every step, wanting to run back through the Crimson Diamond and into the London streets. The streets finally opened wider and became warmer and lighter. The shops became cheerier, the streets busier. 

"Where are we?" Zinnia asked, her eyes wide. 

"I'm surprised you didn't ask that earlier, but this is Diagon Alley." Nick smiles at her and sidesteps into a door, leaving her alone on a street. Zinnia quickly followed him into the building which turned out to be a restaurant. Zinnia looked around and came to the conclusion that it was much nicer and homelier than the Crimson Diamond. She saw Nick at the front desk, talking to the owner. Zinnia went over to him, just as he pulled out some gold coins.

"What are you doing, Nick?" Zinnia asks.

"Are you not hungry?"

"Well, yes, but--"

"Then stop complaining and find a seat." Zinnia sprinted to a booth in the corner with red and blue pillows everywhere. Nick joined her a few minutes later. 

"I hope you like butterbeer and sausages and potatoes," Nick says, and Zinnia nods her head, preoccupied with the strange people wandering in and out of the restaurant. In truth, she had absolutely no idea what butterbeer was. When a waitress came and served up the toffee-smelling drink, Zinnia wondered whether it was some sort of ice cream or milkshake, but when she touched it, it was warm. Nick noticed her confused expression. 

"That's butterbeer." He says. "It tastes like butterscotch." 

Zinnia brings the glass mug to her lips and takes a sip. Then another. Soon her glass is half empty and her sausages untouched. Nick pushes the plate towards her. 

"Eat." Zinnia reluctantly puts down her mug and takes a bite of the sausage. 

"Happy?" 

"Very." 

- - - -

After they had finished eating, Nick decided that they needed a place to spend the night. He chose a small, comparatively clean alleyway with only one garbage can. Zinnia adjusted her sweater underneath her head.

"Are you sure this is safe?" 

"Positive."

"Have you ever slept in an alleyway before?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Then how do you know?"

"I don't." Nick admits.  

"That's good to know." 

Zinnia closed her eyes and relaxed. She fell into a state of dozing until a loud noise startled her awake. 

"Nick?" She whispered into the darkness. Silence follows. She crawled forward to see better in the midnight lighting. She could make out two shapes in the shadows. Zinna gasped and pressed her body against the wall and tried not to breathe. 

"Where is it?" One of them growled. This one was large and hulking.

"I-I don't have it."

"Then where is it?"

"I don't know!"

"You stole it from us."

"We stole it together."

Stole what? 

"Then you betrayed us." 

"I'll get it back. I promise."

"See you at school, brother."

There was a thud, a groan, then silence. 

"Nick?" Zinnia whispered in silence.  

"Zinnia?" He groaned back. 

"Are-are you okay?"

"Could you come here?" 

Zinnia got up and moved towards the lump in the middle of the alleyway. There was a small whimpering sound as she moved closer to the boy. 

"Nick?"

"Help me." He whimpered back. 

"What did he do to you?"

"Dropped me." 

"Ah." 

"Just.. help me up." 

Zinnia pulled Nick to his feet, while he tried to not put weight on his left ankle, which appeared to be sprained. 

"Zinnia?"

"Yes?"

"My ankle hurts."

"I know." 

Zinnia eases him down and he winces and lets out a strangled animal sound thing. (Imagine a cat who is being swallowed by a dinosaur while also trying to cook a chicken nugget and failing miserably.)

"Stop being a drama queen."

"Sorry." 

"It's fine." 

"Ok." 

"Who was that?"

"My brother." Nick looked terrified as if even mentioning the guy would send him into another dimension. 

"You have a brother?"

"I have two." Nick closed his eyes. "I think we should get some sleep."

"Yeah." Zinnia was still quite confused and shocked by what she had just witnessed. "Yeah, let's go to sleep."

She leaned back onto her sweater and Pascal curls up on her stomach.

"Night." She whispers into the darkness,and the word disappears with no reply. 

-------

Hello!

So that was a surprisingly deep ending. Probably too deep for the situation but oh well! SO, school starts for me tomorrow... I don't know whether to be happy or sad. I'll really miss 

@Red_Pandi

because she's not coming back to school with me. ☹️ On a positive note, I HAVE FINALLY UPDATEDDDD! Honestly I procrastinated for so long but here it is, chapter four. Hope you enjoyed!

kkthxbyeeee,

Amber