A Muggle Coffee Shop AU

A Near Escape

Gen and Anna had been through a lot together. Anna losing her parents, Gen dropping out of college, Anna shaving her head one summer, and Gen buying her first car. They had witnessed each other's successes and failures, new relationships, and breakups, they'd been through it all together, and now they were standing on the front entrance of Anna's house, staring at the white door.

"You know, I still remember the first time I came over to play." Gen commented as Anna stuck the key into the door.

"I'm not leaving forever." Anna reminded her, her attention shifting as the door opened without needing to be unlocked.

She looked around apprehensive as she pushed the door open wider. The hallway looked the exact same as she and Sirius had left it, two hours earlier, and she frowned. Maybe she had just forgotten to lock it on their way out. Granted it wouldn't be the first time that had happened, and she had been distracted by a certain pair of grey eyes.

"I know, but it's so weird. So much has happened in the past twenty four hours." Gen continued as Anna walked inside, taking care to close the door behind them.

"You and Sirius going to Paris, being chased by death eaters, meeting the order, getting the locket." She paused as Anna looked back at her, her eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"How'd you know we went to Paris?" She asked suspiciously, and Gen hesitated. "Uh..you told me?"

"No I didn't, because I haven't spoken to you alone since you disappeared from work five days ago ." Anna answered, folding her arms and giving Gen a look. "What did you have to do with it?"

Gen clapped both hands over her mouth, but when the death glare only hardened, she relented.

"Sirius may or may not have presented the idea to me...to make sure that you would like it." Gen squeaked through her fingers. Anna raised an eyebrow and Gen added. "I promise, that's all. Are you mad?"

"No." Anna smiled despite herself, "Why would I be?"

"You can't imagine how much I've been dying to know how it went, although." Gen elbowed Anna in the ribs and she laughed. "Judging by you two, it went well."

Anna opened her mouth to respond, but the words died on her lips as she turned the corner into her living room. Everything was trashed. Pieces of furniture overturned and destroyed. Glass lay on the floor, the curtains were ripped down and were lying in a dirty heap on the ground.

"What happened here?" Gen finally broke the silence, gazing around at the destruction in shock.

Anna stepped into the havoc, her hands trembling as she reached down, picking up the picture on the floor. Her parent's smiles were intact, despite the slight burns around the corners, and it's crumpled appearance, and Anna stuffed it into her pocket where it would be safest.

"They were here. They know where I live."

----

The two women walked throughout the house slowly, looking through each destroyed room, finding small things that they remembered.

Anna looked at her reflection in the mirror that was now cracked, making her look distorted. Sirius had stood over her shoulder not four hours ago, and now Gen stood behind her, her expression furious.

"We need to hurry. Take what you need and let's go."

Anna looked up, knowing that Gen was right. With robotic movements she collected a few choice items of clothing from the mess on the floor, grabbing her necessary toiletries and stuffing them all haphazardly into a bag.