25 | ﴾ That's New ﴿

                                    

                                          
After the random conversation with Luna I took on a further inspection of the crates within the windmill for the purpose of storing food. Then I made my way back to the cottage. I shut my eyes at the front door, hoping pathetically that I would be able to avoid some of the more aggressive resistance members. 
                          
Inside Ron and Harry were clustered around a bunch of parchment at the living room coffee table, with a short boy I didn't recognize that was shouting in a Scottish accent and jabbing his stout finger into the paper below them. Ron was holding his very long red hair back with both hands on his forehead as they studied what looked like little footsteps moving across a building blue print. I leaned over Harry's shoulder curious about the magical artefact and all three stopped speaking to turn towards me.
                          
"What you want then?" The Scottish boy barked angrily. I frowned slightly as Harry slowly folded the paper. The ink on the cover faded as he whispered an incantation with his wand, but all I could make out under his breath was something about being moody.
                          
I cleared my throat, "I need to go into London for agricultural seeds. I 'ave money, plenty of et. I want to start planting today." I gave them a forced smile and twisted some of my hair in my finger. I wasn't used to being so despised by a group of peers.
                          
Harry nodded in consideration, "That's really great. I'll go with you - we always leave in pairs. I have a vault at Gringott's that I need to collect from." He stood and patted Ron on the back who was now smoldering in the loveseat next to the rude Scottish boy. Harry tucked the parchment into the back pocket of his jeans after folding it many times and we went back outside. 
                          
I stood on the muddy porch, unsure of where to disapparate from. Harry began explaining to me that the pink tulips were a rough indication of the perimeter of the protective ward around the camp. Beyond where the flowers ended it was only about ten meters until the ward vanished, and once outside of it, magic could be traced. 
                          
It was highly important not to disapparate to and from any point outside of the ward circle, and for me especially not to wander over the line given the bequeathment mark on my neck. "Malfoy has obviously figured out by now that he can't trace you here. I imagine it's surprised him; he always underestimates us. Which we've used to our advantage. If we didn't have the ward hiding the camp he'd have been back in a heartbeat to grab you and break his end of the trade. Or worse, bring a flock of Death Eaters here." Harry's face permeated with irritation in the sunlight and I felt bad for him having to deal with a rivalry against Draco, who was a true bully and very resourceful. 
                          
I pressed my lips inwards in a line, knowing that Harry was only partially correct. Surely Draco was displeased about not knowing exactly where I'd been taken, but it wasn't as though he had been planning to steal me back - at least, not right away. The Order was completely in the dark regarding our arrangement to meet every week on Fridays when I was supposed to exchange their vulnerable information. My eyebrows were knitting together with the guilt welling up in my heart on the porch and I fiddled with my wedding ring to vent the discomfort.
                          
Harry noticed my concern and rubbed my shoulder which sent shivers of embarrassment down my spine, "It's okay, really. Even if he follows us to London we'll just disapparate back here. Hermione did a stunning job with the ward." He held his hand out then and I took it. He gave me a moment to prepare and then we were twisting away, landing in an alleyway stocked with several barrels and a sleeping homeless man. I was surprised by the lack of nausea as we gained our balance and I flattened out my dress.
                          
"Dat was much better den what I am used to," I mused as we merged into the crowded sidewalk. The day was sunny and warm and downtown London was packed with excited people enjoying the May sunshine. There were vendors cramped in the boulevards, cheery music, and bright colored coats. Even a clown was putting on some form of mime artistry in a nearby courtyard, drawing the attention of tourists with cameras. I clung to Harry's jacket so that I wouldn't be dragged away by the mob of muggles fighting for space on the sidewalks and a genuine smile grew on my face as I twisted my head in every direction, taking in the vibrant streets and culture.