The City
Chapter 2: The City
One week later…
“Blimey mate, this hot dog is amazing.” Ron groaned around a mouthful of food.
Harry’s best mate looked absolutely hilarious. Currently, his shockingly orange hair was covered by a Yankees cap, clashing against a bright red ‘I heart NYC’ t-shirt, which now had mustard running down the front. That paired with the sunglasses, cargo shorts and flip flops standing in the middle of Times Square made for quite the sight. Despite Harry’s discomfort, he couldn’t help but grin as Ron dove in for another bite.
He really couldn’t deny that Hermione was right, about Ron at least. Ron had been wearing himself down for weeks now, running the joke shop for George while becoming a rock for a family trying to heal. He had obviously matured since the days where his mood would switch on a dime. But Harry could see the dark bruises under his eyes. He could see how his smile would fade once someone’s back was turned. However, the minute they arrived in New York, it was like Ron was finally able to breathe. He started joking around again, his smile finally reaching his eyes as he transformed back into the idiot Harry knew and loved.
Harry wished he could do the same, but it was too crowded, too loud for him to relax. He had never been good with busy places (growing up in a cupboard will do that to you) but ever since the forest, since he got a taste of true peace, that sensitivity had been dialed up to ten. So, walking through the tourist sites of New York City was a new kind of hell. He flinched at every jostle of his shoulder, his hand gripped tight around his wand in his pocket as he followed Hermione and Ron through the city.
“Harry, turn towards me!” He heard Hermione call out to him, camera up to her face. He rolled his eyes and Ron flung an arm around his shoulders. At the portkey station at MACUSA, Hermione bought a camera and announced to both of them that it was about damn time they had some pictures together. She became an absolute menace from then on out. Ron, being the whipped puppy he was, indulged his girlfriend at every turn, dragging Harry along with him.
The camera flashed, and she straightened.
“Alright guys, have we done enough for today?” Harry grumbled, “I’m getting a bloody headache, and if I get screamed at by a crazy dude one more time, I’m going to flip out.” He wished he was kidding.
Hermione sighed. “Fine”, she said, “we have two more weeks here anyway, we can always come back.”
“Of course we can!” Ron said, grinning at her as Harry groaned. He grabbed Hermione’s hand as the three of them made their way back to their hotel.
When they got to the hotel, they separated their respective rooms. Hermione and Ron offered to share with him, but he had absolutely no desire to repeat the tent situation. Dealing with their maddening sexual tension was bad enough the first time, thank you very much. Harry breathed a deep sigh of relief as he swiped his key card and entered the dark and quiet space. Putting up a muffliato in case he fell asleep, he lay down on the bed and let himself zone out to the muffled sounds of car horns and city life below.
…
BOOM!
Harry jolted awake.
‘What the hell was that?!’ He thought to himself. He cautiously walked to the window, wand in hand and opened the curtains.
“Shit!!” He jumped back as something red and gold sped past his window, followed by a hoard of the ugliest creatures he had ever seen. Seriously giving blast-ended skrewts a run for their money.
Harry’s brain blanked as he ran out of his room. People were starting to line the halls and he could hear screaming in the distance. He pushed past everyone at breakneck speed towards Ron and Hermione, heart racing and he tried to control his panic.
“What in Merlin’s saggy ball sack is going on!” Ron yelled, clutching Hermione, whose eyes were wide with shock.
CRASH! They all jumped. This time the walls of the building shook, dust raining down from the ceiling.
“EVERYONE TO THE GROUND FLOOR, NOW!” Harry yelled out to the hall of terrified people. Nobody moved, seemingly frozen in place.
He cast a sonorus. “NOW!!” That got everyone moving. They all rushed to the stairs. Harry grabbed hold of Ron and Hermione and, not caring if anyone saw them at this point, apparated to the ground floor.
It was chaos. Through the glass doors of the lobby he could see an army of those creatures running through the streets shooting at people trying to escape. Harry could see them start to enter the surrounding buildings, massacring any civilians they saw.
“Hermione, ward the door! Quickly!” He yelled to his friend. She looked at him and nodded. Harry could see his friend’s shock turn into battle hardened determination. She approached the door, wand raised, and began layering protective spells.
“Ron! Help me get the other entrance!” She called behind her. Ron ran to the other side of the building. Nobody in this building would die today.
Harry could feel his magic build under his skin, rearing for a fight. He could feel himself focus in, thrumming with restless energy. Without thinking, Harry apparated outside.
Right into the middle of the battle.