Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away Home!

[wintersnow]

They half walked half ran for a while, how long, Harry wasn't sure. When he felt they were safely far enough away from the Leaky Cauldron, Harry lead Pansy into an alley way and pulled off his cloak.

"Reducio!", he whispered sharply, and the cloak shrunk to roughly the size of a handkerchief. He stuffed it into his pocket, and helped Pansy with her own cloak, only to bend down and begin to roll up the cuffs of her jeans so they wouldn't trip her. "You'll need your cloak later, so shrink it. Quickly!" he hissed finishing with her pant cuffs. This was no time for arguing and he hoped she wouldn't start.

He left her side for a moment lightly peeking out of the alley and into the abandoned street. A heavy mist filled the air, as it had rained, and gave the entire city a gloomy and ominous feel. The Street lamps flickered. A cat crossed the street carrying some form of garbage in it's mouth. Harry was rather certain that Mcgonagall, despite any work she did undercover in her cat form, would never sink to carrying around garbage in her mouth feline or not.

Turning back to Pansy he sighed, trying to calm himself down as his heart was in his throat. "This is what we're going to do. I know you'll probably hate it but it's the safest way." He brought Pansy to his side and pointed to the far end of the street where a staircase lead into the London Underground. "That is the subway. It's a train system that muggles use to get places. " He turned back to her. All the while his voice was hushed, and urgent. If any of the Order knew what he was about to do they'd skin him alive. "We're going to take that to where I'm staying and send you home through the fireplace." Harry patted his pockets wishing he'd actually brought any spare muggle change that his aunt and uncle had given him as shoddy birthday gifts. Alas. No luck. They were going to have to jump the gates. As it was quite late, Harry was fairly sure they wouldn't run into any trouble, but this was also London - which was under the most surveillance of all the cities in the entire world.

"No magic, and I mean it." Harry whispered, taking her hand again, lightly squeezing it and quickly darted across the streets and down the stairs into the grubby London Underground station.

[Trixier]

For once Pansy had been quiet she had not complained when Harry took her hand and had not complained about walking too fast. As they reached the corner that bonded Muggle and wizard London she waved her wand to reduce her cloak as Harry had done. She watched and leaned back as Harry rolled up the sleeves of that dammed muggle article of clothing and not even a word came out of her. As she looked at Harry and looked around to the shoddy areas of muggle London Pansy would never admit it but she was terrified.

"This is what we're going to do. I know you'll probably hate it but it's the safest way."

"That is the subway. It's a train system that muggles use to get places. "

"We're going to take that to where I'm staying and send you home through the fireplace."

She listened to Harry, if she remembered correctly muggle transportation still wasn’t free. They would need to use some muggle money. She raised an eyebrow at Harry and then looked into her pocket. She had once a long time ago sneaked off with her cousin to what they called a muggle shop and they had to change their money from galleons to muggle before they left in their little adventure. Since then she had carried what had been left over in her pockets as a daring factor that she had gone and sneaked out of her house.

She looked into her pocket well the money was probably on her robes and not on these jeans. She pouted slightly and growled getting irritated.

With her free hand she kept a firm grip on Harry’s hand and looked over her shoulder every couple of steps. Even if her hair had grown over the summer to reach her shoulders instead of her cheeks she doubted that it would be enough to conceal her.

"No magic, and I mean it."

“Harry if I am attacked you assure yourself that I will hit back.” She said her defenses lowering for a moment as they reached the stairs. It was hot and grummy the humidity from the rain not making it any easier for them to walk around. Pansy now took a step back and gripped on Harry’s arm. “If I die during all of this Potter I am going to decide to turn into a ghost and haunt you for the rest of your life.”

She took a pause. “What if somebody sees us?” She asked eyeing the gates.

[wintersnow]

“If I die during all of this Potter I am going to decide to turn into a ghost and haunt you for the rest of your life.”

Harry couldn't help but smile, "Ah, well I'd have a dancing partner forever then." As they neared the gates Harry looked around. Late, and the night watch seemed to be no where to be found. He blinked as Pansy grabbed his arm hugging it close to her. Glancing to the side and trying to stifle the rising blush growing in his cheeks he lightly cleared his throat for. . .well he wasn't entirely sure why.

“What if somebody sees us?”

"We're already being watched, just do me a favor and don't look up, okay?" Harry was well aware of the dark orbs that hung from the ceiling and what they concealed, they'd have to be quick about it and hope the security guards were sleeping in the surveillance room. He tugged her forward toward the gates. The gates in themselves weren't so much 'gates' in the traditional sense. They were the small units you walked through with the long gears that turned and stopped at each turn. Harry had always had an irrational fear of getting trapped in one, but had always just dealt with it. This time. . .he had no pass and therefore no way of getting 'stuck'. This time he'd be bypassing those uncomfortable bar things all together.

Lifting Pansy up he sat her down on their edge, she'd have to scoot across herself. Harry on the other hand easily vaulted over them with a small hop over. Elementary PE had done something for him at least, those vaults were always a pain in the arse but they proved useful now. Taking Pansy's hand he quickly darted down the hallways full of humid heavy air and behind a column nearest the platform. Looking around he sighed lightly watching the counting red LED clock above the platform. They had two minutes before the next train arrived. Running a hand through his hair nervously he leaned against the large column behind them. "So. . .now we just wait."

He gazed around. This had to be one of Londons least used stops. That was good, and bad. Good because no one could see them - bad because they couldn't be lost within a crowd. He sighed again. One Minute, forty five seconds to go. . .

[Trixier]

As Harry cleared his throat Pansy looked up noticing the blush on Harry's cheeks. As she noticed this and then realized her grip on his arm. She blushed but didn't say anything, and didn't released her grip. She didn't like muggles, she didn't know about muggles and that made it all terrifying.


"We're already being watched, just do me a favor and don't look up, okay?"

She couldn't help herself she glanced up with her eyes but didn't move her head at all she noticed the large black spheres and idly wondered what they would be there for. Leave it to muggle to find really cruddy decorations.

She was impressed as Harry picked her up. In fact she was really impressed she slid down from the uncomfortable area and quickly grabbed Potter's hand again when he was done. At his mention f waiting Pansy sighed in an exaggerated way crossing her arms and looking at the clock. This was ridiculous. Why couldn't muggles just make it so if you needed to catch this monstrosity it would just show up?

As she thought of this she looked around and noticed a tall man with many skin blemishes approach them. She immediately grabbed Harry's arm again and her other hand reached for her wand.

"You kids need help?" The man approached them and seemed to be nodding towards the cameras. "You know you need to pay?"

Pansy stood there for a moment with her eyes wide and then her usual demeanor kicked in. "I beg your pardon?" She snapped and glared at him. "What would you be implying?" She asked stepping out from behind Harry.

The uniformed man seemed to take a double take as he stepped closer as Pansy looked at him up and down. Immediately he seemed to grow nervous. As this happened she kept an eye on the clock. It read 59 seconds now.

"Are you Frank Richards’s daughter?"

The brunette had no idea who Frank Richard's was until she saw a board on a wall that had different people on it with the same type of uniform the man was wearing. Highest in the poster was Frank Richards. She tossed her hair and set her head high.

"Yes and I have left my ticket. If my father finds out that we are late you will be to blame." She said glaring slightly at him again. "What is your name boy? I am pretty certain daddy will love to hear all about you."

At this the boy seemed to stutter and grow paler. "Ah ah ah no problem Miss Richards! I was just trying to do my job."

"Well you should be careful of how you speak to people." As she said this the subway arrived making it louder in the area. She grabbed Harry's hand and walked towards it. As the doors closed and the subway sped off another man in uniform approach the one that was standing on the platform.

"That was Frank Richard's daughter!"

"What are you talking about? His daughter is a blonde!"

As the subway sped off Pansy felt herself growing uneasy. It was going far too fast for her likes and shaking too much. She closed her eyes as she sat down and glanced at Harry.
"Spear me your that was not a nice thing to do speech, Gryffindor." Even with her glares still not letting go of him.

[wintersnow]

A movement out of the corner of his eye, a man coming forward looking annoyed but slightly curious as well. He saw his friend's hand dive for her pocket. Harry squeezed her hand tightly. Don't do it, you idiot.

"You kids need help?" The man approached them and seemed to be nodding towards the cameras. "You know you need to pay?"

"Well we uh-"

"I beg your pardon?" She snapped and glared at him. "What would you be implying?"

Oh fuck. OhfuckOhfuckOhfuckOhfuckOhfuckOhfuckOhfuck! "What are you doing?" Harry murmured between his teeth. They were going to be lucky to get out of here at this rate.

"Are you Frank Richards’s daughter?"

"Yes and I have left my ticket. If my father finds out that we are late you will be to blame." She said glaring slightly at him again. "What is your name boy? I am pretty certain daddy will love to hear all about you."

"Ah ah ah no problem Miss Richards! I was just trying to do my job."

"Well you should be careful of how you speak to people."

And just like that Harry was lead onto the train, only to watch the men converse, gesturing angrily at one another as they sped away.

Pansy sat down, and in doing so, as she had a death grip on his arm, Harry was dragged down to sit with her. He looked down at the Slytherin girl. She had always been so confident, poised, arrogant, and in many ways a complete and utter bitch towards him and his friends. He'd seen her old self shine through there for a moment. The pompous Pansy had sliced through the situation with an uncanny amount of ease. It was amazing to see how well she could manipulate people. "Pansy I-" she cut him off.

"Spear me your that was not a nice thing to do speech, Gryffindor." Even with her glares still not letting go of him.

She looked tired. She looked worried, scared and very much unlike the Pansy he'd known for so long, and seen only a few moments ago. The confident black haired girl glared up at him, but the only thing she honestly looked like was terrified and deflated with fear and worry. He sighed, hung his head for a moment, his long messy hair falling into his eyes as his glasses slipped down his nose. "Thank you." He said, and finally looked up at her that small half smile playing over his face.

He looked over her once more and pushed his glasses back up his nose with his free hand. He wanted to reassure her that everything was going to be okay and there was nothing to worry about, but truth be told, he wasn't sure about that quite yet. To be honest he wasn't sure she was even going to be safe at her own home now. Her parents were death eaters, and as much as her parents might love and cherish their daughter if Voldemort wanted her he'd have her -. . .just to get to him.

"Pansy. . "He said his smile fading, " When we get to our stop, I'm going to have to blindfold you. . .I can't let you see where we're going until we get there."

[Trixier]

Pansy didn't know what was going on through her head. When Harry said thank you she leaned against him her head coming to rest against his neck. She closed her eyes for a second trying to relax as her fingers played with Harry's. She wasn't thinking, she was too scared to even care about how she looked and what others would say. She was aware it wasn't lady like behavior but it was better than worrying.

"Just be quiet..." She said nuzzling slightly with his neck. She wanted to be comforted but she doubted that Harry would. Why did she even want to? It wasn't as if Draco would have been any better. She thought back on to what her parents would say and she tensed up, however the smell of Harry's hair was actually enough comfort for her right now. So much that she was almost falling asleep.

"Pansy. . "He said his smile fading, " When we get to our stop, I'm going to have to blindfold you. . .I can't let you see where we're going until we get there."

She looked up at him not moving away and rolled her eyes. "Charming Potter." She said as she sighed. "What type of girl do you think I am?" She suddenly snapped and gasped noticing her position. She backed away and cross her arms leaning against the wall. Oy, so that was why she had calmed down a bit. Blushing she reached back into her pocket and touched her wand.

[wintersnow]

"Just be quiet..."

And she curled up with his arm, her head resting on his shoulder. He could feel her breath washing over the arm she held so tightly. The dark straight strands of hair bunching into a mess and tickling his ears and neck.

He wasn't sure how to react. . .other than breathing. It was like he was on one of those nature shows and he had a really dangerous animal curled up against him. One false move and he'd be floating around the London Underground scaring the shit out of people. As fun as that sounded, Harry was fairly sure he'd rather not become a mass of floating ectoplasm and decided it would be best to just. . .stay still.

That was, until the thought of Pansy's safety came to his mind. He frowned lightly, his brow furrowing. He didn't want to see her dead because of him. She'd be safest at Hogwarts, but that was two days away. How was he going to keep an eye on her? What if Voldemort and his followers found out he'd been teaching her Defense Against the Dark Arts - and she teaching him, of all things, dancing? Would Voldemort just laugh at it? Or would he grab up the opportunity to use her? What ever the case, as much as he wanted to protect Pansy, the Location of the Order was something he had to protect too. So he told her.

She looked up at him not moving away and rolled her eyes. "Charming Potter." She said as she sighed. "What type of girl do you think I am?"

She suddenly gasped, and Harry quickly stood looking around wildly for the intruder, wand at the ready. But no one was there. He turned toward her sharply his heart racing in his chest anger beginning to boil. That outburst had scared the crap out of him! But his hackles quickly lowered as he looked at her. She was backed against the chairs and with her arms crossed looking dissatisfied. It hadn't been anyone that scared her - only him. Or their closeness. It was him she was scared of - no one else.

Pocketing his wand Harry sat down heavily and sighed. "Try not to scare me like that again." He said trying to slow his heart beat, realising that was a rather shitty thing to say concerning she was terrified of being so close to him. He didn't really mind it but. . well not in that wa-. . .or did he? His hand slipped through his hair again, pressing his bangs back and holding it there for a moment - his eyes closed. The scar lightly glimmered in the bright florescent light of the train,only to be covered again by his hair as his hand fell away.

A shifting in force. The train was slowing. Their stop was coming up. As the train came to a halt, Harry stood, leaning heavily against to support himself.

Another deserted station. "Come on. Let get going." He murmured offering a hand to help her up. They crossed over the train doors and into the muggy air of the station. Stairs rose to the left of them and into the quiet street. Harry thought about putting their cloaks on, but here wasn't the best of places. Two hooded figures slipping from the train station and into the street was something a lot of people would probably notice.

He made his way up the stairs, quietly checking things out as they slowly strode out of the station. More mist, it had rained again, the streets were once again wet, and leaves on bushes and trees glistened in the street lamp light. Harry lead the way forward, and once in a more darkened area, lead Pansy into the safety of the dark. "Cloaks now,"he said, taking his own out from his pocket and returning it to the original size. He slipped it over his shoulders, instantly blending into the night. What he wouldn't give to have had the sense to bring his invisibility cloak. But currently it was stuffed in his trunk, among books, homework, quills and robes. He hadn't bothered bringing it out in fear of forgetting it. No matter now. A blindfold.

Harry looked around for a minute, he couldn't see anything that would be a good blindfold. . .save for the paper bag on the side walk, but he knew Pansy would never agree to that. If only he could magically-. . .wait. Harry nearly facepalmed, but instead of chewing himself out mentally, he chose to rack his brain for the transfiguration charm for cloth. Thinking he got it, Harry practiced on the bag from the ground. It worked. . .sort of. The bag had turned into . . .a cloth bag. Harry sighed. It'd have to do. He cleaned it as well as he could, scourgifying any stains or grubby places that it had before he folded it in half and stepped behind Pansy.

As is slipped it over her eyes, Harry realized that he hadn't answered her question. What kind of girl did he honestly think she was? "I'm sorry about this Pansy, and to be honest I trust you. . .I just don't trust what the people around you would do to get information out of you." And he knotted the blindfold tight. Coming around her front he checked it, making sure that her eyes were completely covered. The blindfold rested from her forehead to the very tip of her nose. If she could see anything it would only be the ground, Harry decided.

He raised her hood, letting it cover her face, then raised his own. Taking her hand, Harry struck out into the streets, sticking to the shadows.

[Trixier]

A small part of her wished that Harry had wrapped his other arm around her. She was scared, she wanted to feel safe, wanted, protected. Not that she would ever voice these concerns to anybody even less Harry.

She was aware of the fact that she was insane, that her parents were probably would probably crucio her or even worst disinherit her. She would be a little burned space on the family tree. It was funny she was certain that marriage would not be something to earn you be burned from the tree however betrayal was something completely different.

Pansy flinched slightly as Harry stood up and scanned the area surrounding them. She giggled slightly and covered her mouth. She ran her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath.

"Try not to scare me like that again."

She nodded still giggling covering her mouth. "I'll try." She said and smirked standing straight. "But you are bond to be scared because of me sooner or later, Potter." Pansy commented softly as she stood up and stood back next to Harry. She saw his scar glimmer and extended her hand. She brushed some hair away from it and then ran her finger down the scar sighting.

"This makes everything so complicated..." She said looking at his scar as she once more noticed how close she was and her cheeks reddened. She could feel his breath next to her face and she could feel every breath in his abdomen. Pansy looked into his eyes and noticed just how wonderfully green they were.

"Come on. Let get going."

Pansy shuddered as he said this. She stood there slightly confused until she finally followed him. What type of girl would he think of her? She wasn't a scarlet lady yet all of this and her actions were doing nothing to help her cause. She followed him still thinking of her question. He hadn't answer. What was his answer going to be? Oh, well Pansy I thought you would enjoy a bit of interesting get together. You see I've always wanted a girl that would give in so easily just a bit of attention?

She sighed and followed him. She took his hand still and licked her lips. She followed his instructions and took out her cloak and robe. She wrapped her robe over her muggle clothes and then added the cloak. Pansy was too busy with her own thought to notice the marks on the clot. Her eyes being covered caught her off guard and she flinched bringing her elbow up but Harry's voice calmed her down.


"I'm sorry about this Pansy, and to be honest I trust you. . .I just don't trust what the people around you would do to get information out of you."

Oh so that was what he thought she referred to? Pansy almost laughed but when she quickly thought it over and was led into the darkness scared of mis-steping she almost felt tears coming to her eyes. This was a big mistake. She knew of this and she was terrified of what the future was going to hold with her and him. He was leading her to something terrible. Her future had looked bad before but only in a dark way this one was way more dangerous.

"Potter..." She said and paused. "Don't let me fall." Or get killed, or burned, or deformed, or having to use a cane for walking, or loose her family. She opted not to voice this and instead continued to follow blindly behind him.

[wintersnow]

"Potter..."She said and paused. "Don't let me fall."

Harry smiled lightly as he took her hand. "It's okay, I'm not going to let you fall. No one's going to hurt you," he said as reassuringly as he possibly could. To be honest he was wondering if he was being a bit melodramatic by saying that. . .but it was said now. Not much he could do about it.

He kept her hand gripped in his tightly, scanning the streets for people, and the ground for any uneven spots that could trip Pansy up. It was a slow going process to even get the Headquarters of the Order. Harry wasn't sure how late it was when he finally had Pansy onto the front steps and opened the door, peaking in quietly.

The hallway to the kitchen was deserted, Kreature's raspy breathing wasn't heard anywhere, and he could hear Mrs. Black's portrait snoring lightly behind her curtain.

Harry pushed the door open lightly, "Almost there. A few more steps and you're home free." Leading her into the hallway he paused. "What ever you do, be as quiet as you possibly can. Stand still for a sec." And Harry stepped away from her to close the door as quietly as he could.

Coming back to her side Harry took her little pale hands into his and quietly led her down the hall, careful to walk well around the troll foot umbrella stand. He pushed the kitchen door open with a soft nudge of his shoulder. The door swung open slowly as he walked through it guiding Pansy slowly.

The fire had gone out which cast a soft gloom over the kitchen. It took little time for Harry to leave Pansy's side once more, secure the kitchen door and slip her blind fold off. "There." He said in a quiet satisfied voice. "Let me get a fire going and then we can send you on your way home."

((start the next one in Grimmauld place.))