Misunderstood | Draco Malfoy ✓

32 | Where Is It?

A double decker bus careens within inches of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and me as we stumble onto the streets teeming with drunken pub crawlers. "Where are we?" Ron asks as we walk the streets. "Shaftesbury Avenue. I used to come here to the theater with my mum and dad. Just popped into my head. I don't know why..." Hermione says as we hurry on with strangers bumping into us. "This way!" As we take refuge in the shadows, Hermione begins to rummage through her tiny purse. "We need to change." Ron and Harry look at each other's dress robes. From the purse, Hermione extracts -- in quick succession -- two pairs of jeans, T-shirts, and a pair of light overcoats. "How the ruddy --" Ron speaks up. "Undetectable Extension Charm, smart." I tell Hermione. "You're amazing, you are." Ron tells her. "Always the tone of surprise." As she gives the bag a shake, there is loud echoing of heavy objects, as if something has fallen. "That'll be the books." She sighs before getting our clothes.

The four of us then go to a small cafe to talk, "Do you reckon everyone's alright at the wedding? Maybe we should?" Harry asks us. "They were after you, mate. We'd just put everyone in danger going back." Ron tells him as the waiter asks us what we want. "Cappuccino, please." Hermione tells and and the other three of us say the same. "So where do we go from here? The Leaky Cauldron?" Ron asks. "Too dangerous. If Voldemort's taken over the Ministry, none of the old places are safe." Hermione tells him making Harry groan about his stuff as two guys come in making me eye them.

"DOWN!" I shout as I see the guys pull out their wands. The tile explodes on the wall where Ron's head had been only seconds before. A rope of green light singes Hermione's hair. "Stupefy!" Harry hits the biggest Death Eater straight in the face and he crumples instantly. "Expulsio!" The table behind Harry explodes and the spell ricochets, shattering the security mirror -- sending shards raining everywhere, including one that laces Hermione's cheek. "Petrificus Totalus!" Hermione says and he goes still. The Waitress steps from the backroom, "Go." I tell her and she doesn't argue.

"Lock the door, get the lights." Harry tells us. Hermione throws the bolt. Ron clicks the Deluminator, pitching the cafe into shadow. "This one's name is Rowle. He was on the Astronomy Tower the night Snape killed Dumbledore." Harry eyes the unconscious Death Eater. "This is Dolohov. I recognize him from the wanted posters." Ron looks at him. "So what do we do with you, huh? Kill us if it was turned round, wouldn't you?" Ron's face is hard. Hermione eyes him uneasily. "Suppose it's him that did Mad-Eye. How would you feel then?" Ron asks, "It's better we wipe their memories. We kill them, they'll know we were here." Harry tells him. "You're the boss. Hermione?" She turns, looking at him. He reaches out, wipes a trickle of blood from her cheek. "You're the best with spells." Shakily, she points her wand at Dolohov. Her arm trembles, "Obliviate."

"How is it they knew we were there?" Harry asks as we walk down the sidewalk. "Maybe you still have the Trace on you?" Hermione suggests. "Can't be. The Trace breaks at seventeen. It's Wizarding law." I tell her making her stop. "We didn't celebrate your birthday, Harry. Ginny and I -- we'd prepared a cake. We were going to bring it out at the end of the wedding..." She pouts to Harry. "Hermione. I appreciate the thought -- honestly. But given that we were almost killed by a couple of Death Eaters a few minutes ago..." He tells her. "Right. Perspective." She nods her head. "We've got to get off the streets, get somewhere safe." Ron tells us. "I have an idea." Harry says and we follow him.