The Other Side: A Harry Potter FanFiction

Chapter VI

London was definitely not how Lana remembered it.

            The sky was covered in dark gray clouds that shot lightning every few minutes. Many buildings had a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth painted on its brick walls. The streets were dirty and moist with rain, and the people who walked along it moved fast and fearfully; except for those who wore short sleeved suits so others could admire the tattoos on their arms; the same sign as the graffiti on the walls.

            Resa walked beside her, keeping her head down, having advised Lana to do the same. Her short legs could move surprisingly fast, and in no time at all she'd guided Lana into a nice neighborhood.

            "We should be at least a little safer in this part of town," she said, "My home is just down the street. This entire neighborhood is reserved for servants of the Dark Lord."

            "Who is this Dark Lord guy?" Lana asked.

            Resa's eyes widened and she shushed Lana quickly. "Are you mad? Do you want a death sentence?"

            "A death sentence for what?"

            "Speaking of the Dark Lord in such tones," Resa replied, "This neighborhood is under watch of the Death Eaters. Don't you see them?"

            Lana gave her a quizzical look, and then Resa pointed to the sky sharply. She looked up and saw half a dozen men and women flying around on broomsticks.

            "Oh," she whispered, "So that's what I saw on the plane."

            "What?" Resa asked, "Airplanes haven't been in use every since the Dark Lord took power!"

            "Who is he?" Lana demanded.

            Resa looked around quickly, then motioned for Lana to follow her into a small house.

            "I told you I'd answer all your questions," she said as she unlocked the door and ushered Lana inside, "And I keep my promises."

            As she led Lana into the living room and cleared a space for her to sit, she said, "First, you need to explain something to me."

            "I'll tell you anything I know," Lana said, "Which isn't much."

            "Firstly," Resa said, "Why is it you act as though you've only just found out there is a world out there beyond muggles?"

            "I don't even know what a muggle is," Lana responded weakly, "I just know a bunch of people have called me that today."

             "Must have amnesia or something," Resa murmured, "How can someone your age not know what a muggle is?"

            Lana shrugged. "This whole world confuses me."

            "Which brings me to my second question," Resa said, "If you aren't from this world, where are you from?"

            Again, Lana shrugged. "This entire place... its so complex and horrible. All I know is that I moved to Kensington yesterday, got myself drunk, followed some dude into that Ministry place, knocked my head on a shelf and was out cold for God knows how long."

            "But Kensington is-"

            "I know, it's gone," Lana interrupted, "I'm just telling you the truth."