The Protector

Nearly Killed in a Cafe

I opened my eyes as a bus passed me by. I was so close to getting ran over. Correction, we so close to getting ran over. My heart was racing. I could feel every part of my body shaking.

Hermione led us through the crowded streets. Those crowds didn't help with my elevated heart rate. In fact, it made it worse. Breath, Bridget. Breath.

"Quick question, where are we exactly?" Ron asked.

"Tottenham Court Road," Hermione answered. "I came here often with my parents to go to the theater. It was the first thing to come to mind."

"They'd never check a muggle infested, randomly picked street, right?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I guess not," Hermione sighed. "Follow me." We did so. We followed her in a back alley what was dimly lit. She began to open her little bag thing, "We're going to need to change." She pulled outfits out for each of us.

"How'd you do that?" Ron asked.

"It's an undetectable extension spell," Hermione answered, reaching in to grab some clothes for herself.

"You're amazing," Ron smiled. "Truly."

Merlin's beard! Just get a room!

We went into a cafe and changed. Then we decided to get ourselves a drink before going back out on the road.

"You're smart to bring muggle money," I whispered to Hermione.

"I mean, I planned to run away so I kind of needed it."

"What do you think happened to all the people at the reception party?" Harry asked.

"I'm sure they've handled it," I told him. "They're experienced wizards and witches."

"I feel like we shouldn't go back," Harry sighed.

"Harry, you wanted to leave last night, now you want to go back? That'll just put everyone in danger again-"

"Sh," I quieted Ron as I saw the waitress coming our way. When she arrived I could tell she wasn't really paying attention. She had earbuds in her ears.

"What can I get you?"

"Cappuccino please," Hermione pipped up.

"Same," the boys nodded.

"I'll be different then," I sighed. "Cafe mocha please." She turned and walked off. "Alright, what were you saying?"

"Well, where are we supposed to go?" Ron asked. "Where do we start? Should we try the Leaky Cauldron?"

"No," Hermione shook her head.

"Yeah, I don't exactly trust any public wizard domain," I nodded.

"I agree with Bridge," Hermione turned to Ron. "If the Ministry is taken over then none of the places your thinking of are safe. People at the wedding probably have gone into hiding for now."

I had a thought that made me groan and apparently Harry was thinking it too, "Our stuff. It's all at the Burrow still."

Hermione shook her head whilst looking at her bag. My jaw dropped. I was about to say something when three older guys walked in. I could tell right away something was strange. I didn't like them.

"Are you kidding me?" Harry asked Hermione.

I pat the table. I spoke loud enough for the guys to here me but not loud enough to where it was noticeable, "I'm going to use the loo. Be right back."

"Okay?" Ron nodded. I stood up as the group began to talk. I watched as one of the guys slowly took out his wand from his workers pants.

I whipped out my wand instantly, "Confringo!" He moved at the right moment, but he got hit with some debris. He shot at me but I moved. Instead it hit the table where my friends had been. They luckily moved.

Harry hit one of them with Stupefy and they went flying. We went back and forth, trying to get the other to surrender. Glass was shattered. Furniture was broken.

The bald one stood back up after Harry hit him. I aimed, "Diffindo!" He fell and cried out in pain.

It went silent and I snuck behind a turned over table. I saw Ron stand up and hit another one. Hermione did as well. She hit him with the freezing charm and everything went still. We all stood up. The waitress came back out. She saw all the debris we made.

"Leave! Get out!" Hermione instructed her. She ran out.

"No, wait," I groaned. "Hermione, I wanted my cafe mocha."

We went over to check out the guys after pulling the blinds and flipping off the lights. One of them Harry and I recognized. He had been on the tower when Dumbledore was killed. I did him some damage with the cutting spell I used. He was out.

Ron recognized the other one. "I've seen him from all the wanted posters and articles in the paper. What can you do now? Kill us if we turn our backs of you?"

"Ron," I grabbed his arm. "He's frozen. He can't hurt us anymore."

"And we can't kill them," Harry argued. "They'd know we were here."

"So I have to save that other guys before he bleeds out?" I asked.

"Yes," Hermione nodded.

"Alright, I'll go take care of him," I sighed. I went over to the bald man. He was unconscious but his wound was still bleeding. "Vulnera Sanentur," I traced my wand over his stomach. He groaned as the blood seeped back into him. "Lucky I didn't kill you, mate." He groaned. His breathing seemed to back to normal. I focused my wand on his head, "Obliviate."

"Come on, Bridge," Hermione took a deep breath. "We need to get moving." We were out on the streets, with people, in the matter of two minutes. The streets were calm and relaxing. Much better than the cafe but I was still upset about my mocha.

"How do you think they knew where we were?" Harry asked.

"You could still have the trace on you," Hermione spoke honestly.

"Once you're 17, they can't follow you with the trace. It's the law," Ron argued.

"Well they're the Ministry now and they don't play by the rules," I told him. "To them, they can do whatever the bloody hell they want."

"Oh no," Hermione groaned. "We haven't got to celebrate your birthday yet, Harry. Us girls had prepared a cake for you."

"Oh yeah," I recollected. "It looked awesome. We planned on bringing it out after the wedding."

"Guys, as much as I appreciate you doing that, but we were nearly killed by death eaters...twice! So it's fine."

"Okay," Hermione nodded. "Yeah, we need to keep a straight perspective."

"And we really need to get off the streets," Ron nodded. We all agreed on the place to go. Grimmauld Place.