I landed on my shoulder with a crash, feeling pain explode through my arm. 

I'd never be one to master floo powder.

Grumbling, I stood, and winced. I couldn't move my arm. I grabbed my wand, whispering, "Ferula." A makeshift sling appeared and I held my breath as my shoulder popped back into place. I let out a groan.

I'd appeared in a book shop, one that was most probably Flourish & Blotts. I wiped off soot from my clothes, slinking out of the store before I could be noticed. What lay outside had me shocked.

Diagon Alley was barren. The streets were dark and cold, lights flickering. I shivered, rubbing my arm with my good hand as I walked past Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, my childhood. How I longed for some chocolate chilli or sticky toffee pudding ice cream right now. 

Most of the shops were closed. I tried to push open the doors to Eyelops Owl Emporium where I'd bought Hera.

I missed Hera.

But she was safe—safe with my parents . . . who had no idea who I was.

My nose started to burn, and I wiped pressed my eyes to the inside of my elbow, coming to a stop. All of this was my fault. 

All.

My.

Fault.

I twirled the ring on my thumb, starting up my walk again. Suddenly, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye.

I dropped to my knees, whipping out my wand. "Petrificus Totalus!"

"Incarcerous!" 

Tight ropes slithered around my body , causing me to drop to the ground. I writhed, but the harder I tried the tighter the ropes became. 

"Show yourself!" I shouted, grunting as I tried to fight the tightening feeling. They were beginning to cut into my skin.

"I'm sure the Dark Lord will enjoy some fresh bait today," a man sneered, teeth bared, coming into view. "Are you a runaway mudblood? A blood traitor? Well, we'll see, shall we?" He reached for me, but with a heave I rolled away from him.

"Wait, wait," I stopped him. "I'm none of those. I'm a pureblood. Slytherin," I added for good measure.

"We'll let the Dark Lord figure that out." He reached for me again.

"Wait! Roll up my sleeve," I said, jutting my chin towards my left arm. The right one was starting to hurt again, hanging in its sling, pressed against my chest.

He looked at me, disconcerted. 

"Well, go ahead. I'm all tied up."

Wand in hand for protection, he reached forward, yanking up my sleeve. I turned my arm outwards, baring my forearm. "See?"

The Dark Mark slithered, moving on my skin as if it were alive. The Death Eater took a step back.

"Finite."

The ropes untied themselves, and I rolled onto my knees, grabbing my wand and getting to my feet. I pointed it at him.

"Expelliarmus!" His wand flew out of his grasp. I accio'd it and it whizzed into my palm, next to my own wand. I pointed them at him. "What's your business here?" I asked him.

He pulled up his own sleeve, an identical ink-black Mark twisting on his arm. "I was posted here. Give me my wand back."

"We're switching posts. Your name?"

"Quinton Sapp. You?"

"Not important." I cleared my throat. "I was posted near Azkaban."

The Death Eater's eyes widened. "I can't go there!"

"You can now. Dark Lord's orders. Don't bother going to him; he killed one of his own just a few minutes before I got here. He's bloody mad right now."

The Death Eater nodded, eyes fearful. "Fine." And with that he disappeared in a cloud of swirling black smoke.

I'm glad that was done and gone. I continued searching for any signs of life, stopping by the Leaky Cauldron for good measure. There were people inside, but the place was oddly silent. Even the shrunken heads didn't breathe a word about me being underage.

I left.

As I walked further down the road, I notice something that made my heart soar, a smile breaking out across my face. A huge redheaded figure stood in front of the only brightest, most inviting shop at Diagon Alley, a tophat on its head.

Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

They had to be inside. 

I started running towards the entrance, yanking open the door and jumping inside and finally, I felt safe.

"Welcome to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes!" Two cheerful voices spoke. "A place where everything's a joke, and jokes are everythi—" the voices stopped. I glanced around the store to see Fred up on a ladder, and George working something behind the register.

Their mouths fell open.

"Slytherin Steele?" Fred called, absolutely shocked. He slid down the ladder (that was skill, I had to admit) and walked towards me, hair redder than ever. George jumped over the counter, making his way to the entrance where I stood. Fred got to me first, grabbing me by the shoulders. I winced, but he didn't seem to notice.

"Flippin' Steele! What are you doing here? It's too dangerous for you to be out like this?"

"Well, what about you two? You're supposed to be in hiding!"

"Just because You-Know-Poo is ruining everyone's fun doesn't mean we should keep them from it too. Plus, we're not harming anyone. It's a joke shop, for Merlin's sake."

"Mum hexed the hell outta this place," George added. "It's like Gringotts right now."

"How are you? What are you doing here? Where's Ron? Harry and Hermione?" Fred continued,  I couldn't tell if he was excited or super worried.

"They're fine, all safe. We're staying at Grimmauld Place," I said, assuring him. 

"But why are you here alone?"

"I . . ." I too a deep breath, then smiled. "I needed a laugh." I held out my arms (well, the right one only halfway) and gave Fred a huge hug, staying there for a minute or more. I could tell he needed one too. "Get in here, George," I said, my voice muffled through Fred's shirt, holding out my good arm. George joined in and we stood there in front of the door, my eyes watering as we did. I didn't realize how much I missed them until now, and now I was getting all emotional.

It was totally worth it.

⚡⚡⚡

"Well, tell us more," George urged, the identical twins smiling identically. Now that we were sitting in a better lighted area, I could see dark circles forming under their eyes. The amount of willpower they had was enviable. 

"We haven't eaten a proper meal in days," I said with a groan, leaning back in my chair. George was up in a flash, disappearing 'round a few shelves and into a room in the back. A periwinkle pygmy puff fluttered and landed on my shoulder, making cute little sounds. "Ron and Hermione have definitely gotten a little closer but I feel like Harry feels left out."

"Ron and Hermione?" Fred asked. "Our Ron? Our Hermione?"

 I nodded, and Fred laughed in disbelief. "I usually stay to myself. They're still a bit awkward with me," I continued. "Do you know there are at least ten Death Eaters waiting to kill us outside Grimmauld place?"

"No way," Fred's eyes widened. "So you're stuck?"

"I mean, floo powder works. That's how I got this," I pointed at my arm. 

"Don't worry about that. I've got just the thing . . ." Fred flicked his wand, a green potion whizzing into his palm. "Here," he reached forward. "Drink this."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Are you sure this won't making my tongue three feet longer? Give me uncontrollable body hair, or smell really, really putrid?"

Fred laughed. "I promise." 

I yanked off the cork, guzzling it down and within seconds, I could move my arm again. I slipped off the sling, flexing my shoulder.

"It worked!"

"Don't sound so surprised," Fred grinned. Suddenly, George reappeared, pushing a table towards us. On it was a silver platter of bangers and mash, with a side of juice. 

"We'll give you something to take back home as well," George said, setting the plate in front of me as Fred conjured up a table. 

We ate and talked for what seemed like an hour, when I finally remembered what I'd actually come here for. 

"I've gotta go," I said, brushing off my clothes, my cheeks tired and stomach hurting from laughing so much. "Thank you two. You don't know how much I freaking appreciate everything."

"Do you have to go now?" George asked. "It gets lonely sometimes."

"You have each other, don't you? As long as you two are together, you'll be fine."

"That's true," Fred grinned at his brother. George smiled back. 

"Oh, question," I said before standing up, "were would a sneaky guy like Mundungus Fletcher go with a bunch of old, maybe valuable artifacts?" 

"Mundungus? Ah, you're looking for him, are you? The only place he'd go to sell shady things would be Knockturn Alley. I'd tell you not to go, but I know you won't listen. All I can say is good luck," George said. 

They walked me to the door, handing me bags of trinkets, food, and toys on my way out.

"Are you sure you'll be fine?" Fred asked.

"Don't worry about me. Please take care of yourselves, both of you." I gave them each one last hug, holding them tightly, because I didn't know when I'd see them again. "Tell Mrs. Weasley I said hello. I do miss her."

"Will do," they said, waving. I stepped out again into the chilly night, shutting the door behind me. 

I stood alone once more, shivering. I wished I hadn't left them. I wished I could stay in that joke shop forever. If I hadn't been here, if I hadn't had to do so much to make up for my wrongdoings, I'd probably be working with them right now. How beautiful would life be that way?

But I pushed those thoughts out of my head.

Right now, I had bigger things to worry about—one of them being Knockturn Alley.