Chapter Four- A day in Diagon Alley
Harry woke. He hadn’t slept too well last night. Everything had been spinning around his head again. This time he didn’t push it out, this time he thought about what he had to do and how he was going to do it. He still wasn’t too happy with Ron and Hermione coming with him, but he knew there was no stopping them. And then he thought about the Horcruxes themselves. What did he know already? The diary, ring and maybe the locket were destroyed. He still had to find the cup, snake and some object that once belonged to Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. He also needed to find out how to destroy them, as Dumbledore had never got the chance to tell him. Then, his thoughts moved onto Ginny. Was he doing the right thing, leaving her? He sure didn’t want to, and she didn’t seem too cheerful about it either, but he knew he had to as she wasn’t safe with him. No one was really. He had argued with himself for hours, and eventually, he fell asleep.
Even in his dreams, he couldn’t get any real rest. His head kept swimming with memories of his past six years at Hogwarts. Some were good, and some were bad, but all were like seeing his life through a window of sorts. Like through a Muggle TV. He remembered meeting Hagrid, Ron and Hermione, his first Quidditch match, the Mirror of Erised, Quirrel, the Philosophers Stone, seeing Voldemort, Dobby, the car journey with Ron to school, the messages on the walls, the chamber of secrets and saving Ginny with Ron… the list goes on. He also dreamt of the night Dumbledore died, being trapped in his own body, being forced to watch his greatest mentor and his friend being murdered by a man Dumbledore trusted. Harry’s hate for Snape ran through his veins and through his heart.
All the troubles Harry had when he was younger and lived with the Dursleys, like being bullied by Dudley and being mistreated by his aunt and uncle, seemed so insignificant now. Now he knew what real pain was. Pain was when you loose something that you thought would be there forever. Pain is when you are so sick and tired of having to fight all the time, you just want to give up, even when you know you can’t. Pain was when you are forced to give up the things you love. Pain was all Harry felt during the cool, dark nights when he had nothing else on his mind.
But when he really thought about it, his life wasn’t all bad. He had Ron and Hermione who were like family to him. The Weasleys had more or less adopted him. He had Remus and Tonks. He had his friends at Hogwarts. He had the Order. All these people believed in him, and he was eternally grateful for that. He knew he had them behind him if he ever needed them, and he knew they would be there at the final battle. It was then that Harry realised he wasn’t alone in this war. It wasn’t just him and Voldemort. Voldemort had made sure he had people on his side. And Harry would do the same; he would be forced to do the same.
Once he finished this thought, a warm breeze whipped around his face and ruffled his hair even though the window wasn’t open. And he knew, though he wasn’t quite sure how, that someone had heard his thoughts, and they were proud of him.
Harry looked over at Ron’s Chudley Cannon clock and saw that it was ten to six in the morning. The sun was just rising and was setting a dull orange glow over everything, especially Ron’s bedroom which was already tangerine. Sleep wasn’t coming back to Harry. He knew it wouldn’t, so instead of lying here for hours, he got up.
He opened the door as quietly as he could and shut it behind him. Harry slowly made his way downstairs and into the kitchen. Looking out of the window, Harry saw the rise of a new day, a soft palette of orange, pink and yellow shining across the perfectly clear sky.
Hermione was arriving today. According to the letter he and Ron received yesterday, she was Apparating to The Burrow at around eleven, and then later, they were taking a trip to Diagon Ally to do their robe shopping for the wedding. Ginny had her bridesmaids dress fitted in Paris as planned by Fleur. According to her, it was the most boring five hours of her life, as she had tried on all the robes in the shop, and then Fleur decided to get the set she tried on first. Harry had made sure not to get himself into any situations that would include him being alone with Ginny, or his feelings may get the better of him.
He made himself a cup of hot tea; took it outside, sat on the porch step and sipped. It was just getting warm; even though it was only six in the morning he removed his t-shirt and let the sun light hit his bare skin. He was very comfortable on his seat, so he didn’t realise how long he had been sat there when he heard movement from inside the kitchen. Presuming it was only Molly, Harry walked straight in, not bothering to put his t-shirt back on. It was rather a shock when he found Ginny with her back to him making herself breakfast. Uh-oh. As she turned round, it was clear she hadn’t noticed Harry, as she jumped and dropped her plate. Harry had to stifle a chuckle as he walked over to help her clean up. She had gone rather pink and was laughing at herself.
“I haven’t done that since before my third-year,” she said between giggles.
Her laugh was infectious, and Harry couldn’t help but join her. She yelped as she cut her finger on a piece of broken china.
“Ouch!”
Harry looked up and found himself looking at her again. She looked so amazing, as always, even first thing in the morning. Harry was snapped back to reality when she asked him something.
“What?”
“I said can you get me bandage please.”
Harry had soon found his way around the Weasley’s kitchen, with much help from Molly, so he knew where to go with out getting lost. Most of the time.
“Here you go,” he said, giving her the material.
She tried tying it round her own finger, something that wasn’t working for her.
“Here, let me,” Harry offered and took her hand and gently tied her bleeding finger. “That should last until your mum can fix it.
“Thanks.”
It was then that Harry realised how early Ginny was up, usually she had to be woken up. He asked her about it when he finished clearing up the broken plate, and Ginny was making bacon for both of them.
“Oh, I don’t know…” she trailed off.
Harry wasn’t convinced “Ginny? Is everything all right?”
“I’m fine, never better,” She said, a little too quickly.
“There is something wrong. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re never up this early.”
She was silent for a while. She then murmured something that Harry didn’t quite catch.
“What was that?”
“I said I had nightmares.”
“What type of nightmares? What are they about?” asked Harry, curious.
“There about…” She took a deep breath. "There about Tom in the Chamber. I get them sometimes, and it’s like, is like being there with him again, but this time you don’t come…and…and…” Her long hair was keeping her face from view. Harry was shocked; he’d never really thought about how much Tom effects her still after four years. Harry’s hatred for Lord Voldemort increased.
“Ginny?”
She sniffed, cleared her throat and brushed her hair from her face. “I’m sorry, I’m being an idiot. They're only dreams, they're not real. It’s just my imagination but they…”
“Feel so real,” Harry finished for her. She looked up at him, questions in her eyes. The sudden recognition came to her and she started apologising
“Oh, Merlin, Harry. I’m sorry! Here’s me going on about nightmare when you-”
Harry had to laugh at her flushed face. “Calm down! It's okay, you are aloud to talk about nightmares whether I have them or not.”
She smiled sheepishly at him. “Sorry. I’ll just shut up now anyways.”
Harry made more tea as Ginny finished the bacon. They heard footsteps on the stairs, and Molly soon joined them. And she stared at Ginny with a concerned look on her face.
“Are you okay, Ginny?”
“Yes, I’m fine, mum.”
“Why are you up so early this morning?”
“Oh, I don’t know, I just woke up…”
Molly didn’t look convinced but dropped the subject.
“Can you please get that t-shirt off the table.” Molly went outside to feed the chickens. Molly had started treating Harry like her seventh son, rather than a guest at their house. It was rather odd for Harry, to be treated this way, but he certainly wasn’t complaining. It must have been then that Ginny realise Harry's clothing, or lack thereof, and blushed.
“Why didn’t you tell your mum-” Harry started as he did as Molly ordered, but was cut off by Ginny.
“Because it only upsets her, and she’s got enough on her plate right now.”
“But-” He was cut off again by the door opening.
“Any bacon or tea, mum?”
“No bacon for me, but tea would be lovely.”
He placed three mugs of tea on the table, and Ginny placed the breakfasts in front of herself and Harry.
Harry was playing with his Snitch on the front porch of The Burrow. They were waiting for Hermione to arrive and were trying to pass the time. Ron was sat in between his best friend and sister. He was watching Harry’s progress with the small ball without much interest, but Ginny was slightly bothered by it.
“Do you have any idea how annoying that is, Harry?” Ginny questioned, her teeth clenched.
“No, I wasn’t aware that it was annoying at all,” said Harry mildly, though the laughter was evident in his eyes.
“If you catch that thing one more time, I’ll shove it-”
The rest of her sentence was interrupted by the pop of someone Apparating.
“Hermione!” Ginny yelled excitedly, and ran over to the curly haired brunette and hugged her.
Harry put his Snitch in his pocket, and Ron ran his fingers through his hair. Ron had been curiously nervous all morning since Harry reminded him of Hermione’s arrival.
Harry was soon attacked by a bush of brown hair. “Harry! How are you? Have you grown again? God, you have to stop, you make me look small!”
“Hey! Don’t complain! I’m smaller than you!” interjected Ginny.
“And Ron’s taller than me,” Harry added.
Hermione hugged Ron as well but when she pulled away, they both had a slight pink tinge to their faces and couldn’t meet each other's eyes. The door swung open to reveal Molly.
“Oh, Hermione, you’re here! Come in, come in.” She ushered her inside and sent her trunk up to Ginny’s room, where she was sleeping.
The four teenagers sat down at the table. Hermione glanced at Harry and Ginny who, again, somehow managed to get sat next to him, but said nothing. Neither of them had mentioned anything from their conversation earlier that morning.
“How was your holiday, Hermione?” asked Ginny.
“Oh! Greece was brilliant! I love the Mediterranean food. And those Ancient Ruins we went to see where so interesting…” Hermione babbled on like this for a few minutes, until she abruptly changed the subject.
“How are you, Harry?” She gave him a sympathetic look. Those sorts of looks really got on his nerves.
“Yes, Hermione, I am fine,” he said in a forced calm voice.
Ron must have thought this as the time to cut in. “Who’s coming outside?”
Everyone got up from the table and into the hot sun.
“I’d love to have a garden like this. Mine at home is really small,” said Hermione, gazing around at the Weasley’s land with a far-off look on her face.
“Anything is really small compared to this,” laughed Harry.
They were sat by the pond again; it had turned into a regular thing. All four of them had dipped their feet into the fresh water.
“To me, The Burrow is just…home. I can go and live at Hogwarts all year, and The Burrow will still be my home, still the place I’d come back to. I’ll be really sad to leave it,” Ginny said thoughtfully.
“Ron, Ginny, Harry, Hermione! We’re leaving in ten seconds so get yourselves in here!” Harry heard molly shout.
The quartet walked back to the house to find Molly and Arthur, who had got time off work, in front of the fireplace; travelling cloaks in hand, ready to go.
“I’ll go first, then Hermione, Ginny, Ron then Harry. Molly will come last,” said Arthur.
They all took a pinch of floo powder and shouted their desired destination in turn. When Harry stopped spinning, he found himself in The Leaky Cauldron. It was as empty as it had been his last visit. When Molly came into view, the group made their way into Diagon Alley. The street was an array of greys and blacks. The people that where in the streets hurried from one shop to another, not stopping and talking to fellow shoppers or browsing the shop windows. The once inviting place looked dismal and depressed, as if even the cobbles on the street floor could feel the dark mood that had encompassed the nation.
As they walked down the street at a quick pace, Harry could feel the presence of someone behind him, but when he looked around there was no one there. When they were nearly at Madam Malkins, Harry heard the splash like someone stepping in a puddle, then someone cursing under their breath. Harry wheeled around but still, could see nothing.
“Are you okay, Harry?” asked Hermione, sounding worried.
“Yeah…I’m fine…” He ripped his eyes away from the piece of air in front of him and continued. His senses where heightened, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He could still feel someone's eyes on him. When he heard the flap of a cloak from directly behind him; Harry spun around, grabbed for where an average persons throat would be, slammed the invisible body into the nearby wall and ripped of an invisibility cloak. In front of him was Nymphadora Tonks, eyes wide and looking more than a little shocked.
Harry hand sprung away from where he was holding her by the throat.
“Please tell me you’re my guard?”
“I was. I told you I’m not good at the discreet thing. Oh, what exciting things happen when I’m on guard!” she said sarcastically as she rubbed her neck.
Harry laughed. “Well, I wouldn’t call them exciting.” He looked around to find Ginny, Ron and Hermione also laughing, but Molly and Arthur looked worried.
The latter looked around the street and asked, “Where are the rest of them?”
Tonks shrugged, “I don’t know; we all split up. I just said I’d follow under the invisibility cloak.”
The adults nodded and carried on their way, Tonks disappeared down a nearby alleyway. The teens followed Arthur and Molly.
“How did you do that?” asked Ron, sounding impressed.
“Do what? Know she was there? I don’t know…I could just sense someone behind me, then she stepped in a puddle, then I heard her cloak rustle.”
They had now arrived at the robe shop. Molly took Ginny and Hermione to one side, and Arthur took the boys to the other.
An hour later, six people emerged from the robe makers, five of them with shopping bags.
“What ne-” Harry didn’t finish his sentence as he had just spotted someone wearing purple robes putting up posters with a lot of photographs on them. He ran over and asked for one. When he looked at it his face went pale.
“What is it?” asked Ginny. Hermione gasped, and Ron cursed. On the Ministry leaflet was the word WANTED in large purple writing, and underneath where pictures of every Death Eater Harry knew to be in Azkaban.
“Have they all escaped?” Harry croaked, though he was pretty sure of the answer.
“Yeah, it ‘appened this mornin’. Word is that two of’ guards were killed.” said the short blonde haired Ministry official through a think cockney accent.
Harry closed his eyes for a second, and then looked over at the Weasley parents. Molly looked shocked and pale; Arthur looked deeply troubled, but thoughtful.
“I think we should go now,” he said, “If there are Death Eaters on the loose.”
“Yes, come on, let’s go,” agreed Molly.
They swiftly made their way back down the street.
“Oh crap!”
“Language, Ginny!” scolded Molly.
“Sorry, mum. I left my purse in the shop.”
Molly looked nervous about letting her daughter go anywhere on her own.
“Well...take someone with you to go get it.”
“I don’t need a mentor to walk down a street.”
“Ginny.”
“Oh fine. Harry?”
“Yes?” he said, glancing at Molly.
She rolled her eyes, gave Harry's bag to her mum and grabbed his wrist. “Apparently I need a mentor. Go ahead without us, we’ll be ten seconds.”
Molly looked uneasy.
“Be careful,” she said and ushered everyone into the Leaky Cauldron and back to The Burrow.
It started raining. “Well this day is getting better and better,” remarked Ginny.
Harry was still troubled about the Death Eaters. Voldemort was getting ready, and Harry was nowhere near ready for and kind of battle with Voldemort. Ginny was taking to him but he wasn’t really paying attention.
“Harry? Harry!”
Harry looked behind him. Ginny was standing outside Madam Malkins, which Harry had walked strait past. He started laughing.
“Sorry about that.”
Ginny giggled. “It’s okay.”
They walked into the robe shop and, sure enough, there was Ginny’s blue purse on a stool in the changing rooms.
Once they where outside again, there was an almighty BOOM and dust and debris were flying everywhere. Ginny screamed; Harry's heart jumped to somewhere in his throat, he grabbed Ginny’s hand and dragged her further down the street away from the explosion. Not here, not today, please don’t be Death Eaters, Harry thought, even though he was positive it was.
There was another explosion as the shop that Harry and Ginny where just running by, blew up. The pair were thrown off their feet by the force of it, and were hit with glass, brick and wood along the way. They scrambled up; Ginny had a long cut along her arm and one on her shoulder, and Harry had a piece of glass in his leg, and a brick had struck him in the side. He ignored the pain and started running again. They had made it no more than five steps when their was an array of CRACKS, and over a hundred people in black cloaks and masks, Apparated all over the street and started randomly sending spells at people and buildings alike. Harry pulled his wand from his back pocket.
People were screaming and running around trying to get out of their way, several people from the Order, including Tonks and Remus, where in duels. Harry turned around, only to find that Ginny was not beside him anymore. He could hear his heart beat in his ears.
“Ginny!” he screamed as he ran in a random direction, the dust scratching at his eyes.
“Harry!” It was Ginny, but he couldn’t see her.
“We meet again, Potter. How lovely to see you!” Lucius Malfoy sneered. Harry spun around, pointing his want directly into Malfoy’s pale face. He looked much older than when he had last seen him, his eyes dead with no emotion. The look you can only get from Azkaban.
Harry shot a stunning spell at him, but it was easily deflected.
“Surely, you can do better than that!” Lucius taunted.
Harry started throwing spells at a fast rate(comma) and Malfoy shot them back.
“Harry!” It was Ginny again. Harry’s concentration wavered for a second, and he was hit by a curse that sent him flying twenty feet into the air and into a pile of rubble. He groaned, and forced himself to get back on his feet. Once he was balanced there was another round of loud CRACKS. Harry's heart skipped a beat, there couldn’t be more Death Eaters could there? No, it wasn’t, it was Aurors and more Order members. He only came back to his senses when he heard a familiar cackle of Bellatrix Lestrange.
“So you think you can fight me, pretty? Crucio! ” Harry spun around to find a sight that made his face lose all colour. Ginny’s screams reached his ears, and he pelted forward and rammed straight into Lestrange, who had put the red head under that torturing curse. With a cry of unrestrained fury, he sent curse after curse at Bella, and soon he was locked in fierce combat. Harry lost his concentration for a second when a piece of debris nearly concussed him, and she took this as her chance. She sent two cutting spells towards Harry, in quick succession, too quickly for him to block. Harry winced in pain as a slice across his right cheek and left forearm appeared, but sent his spells with even more fury.
Quite suddenly, all the Death Eaters clutched their left forearms and Disapparated, leaving everyone in the street in shock. Harry swore out loud. They’d lost them again! He looked around at the devastation that was Diagon Alley. Several buildings had been totally blown up; all had some form of damage to them and there were several bodies lying on the ground. Harry couldn’t see Ginny anywhere. He wiped his cheek with the back of his hand and picked his way through rubble. There where still Aurors and Order members around helping the injured.
“Harry!”
He spun around and found a slightly dishevelled Remus coming towards him.
“What the hell just happened? Have you seen Ginny? How many are hurt?” asked Harry.
“Harry, slow down. We don’t know how many are hurt, and I have no idea where Ginny is, but you need to find her and get back to The Burrow now. The Weasleys are going spare.” Remus then went to talk to Moody.
“Okay, I’ll find her…Ginny!” Harry called out. There where men, women and children, either unconscious or dead lying in front of him. He heard a groan, and some of the rubble to his left moved. He quickly went over, and there was a black haired woman, lying with her legs trapped under a wooden beam, eyes squeezed shut and fists clenched.
“Are you all right?” asked Harry.
“Can you please get this thing off me?” she ground out between clenched teeth, her eyes still closed.
“Wingardium Leviosa,” said Harry and moved the beam to one side. The woman sighed in relief and opened her brown eyes. She looked at him for a few moments, and then looked utterly confused.
“James?” she breathed.
“No, I’m Harry,” he said uneasily. “Did you know my parents?”
She hesitated and seemed to be rather shocked. “I“ Yes, a long time ago…”
Harry was curious but didn’t push her; she looked bewildered enough as it was. He helped her to a standing position; she couldn’t walk on one of her legs, so she used Harry as a human crutch.
He had noticed that she hadn’t looked him in the eye since she had learnt his name, which was rather odd.
“Well, thanks. I think I need to get this leg checked out so…bye,” she said hurriedly and with a swish of a cloak she was gone.
“Harry! Harry!” It was Ginny calling him. He turned around and found her running full pelt towards him. She threw she arms around him, and buried her face in his neck. She was shaking.
“Come on, we should be getting back. I get the feeling your mum is going to be extremely worried,” mumbled Harry.
Ginny sniffed, pulled away and took his hand firmly in hers. They quickly made their way back towards The Leaky Cauldron.
Author's Notes: Hey! I'm back! Soooo...what did you think of this then? All cheer for another long chapter! Any fave lines? Let me know! If you think this is a load of rubbish, tell me why! If you think its good, review!
Next chapter is the wedding, so get your fluff nets ready!...Fluff nets? What the heck am I on? Just get ready for some fluff. ;-)
Thanks again Stace, your the best!
Lisa xxx