Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
"D a n g e r o u s . S e c r e t s"
B y : T s a v o r i t e
– D i a g o n . A l l e y –
The next day the letters from Hogwarts arrived. Harry's also included the badge which said he was the new Captain for the Gryffindor House Quidditch team. That meant as much as the fact that he enjoyed the same status as a Prefect, without the task of guiding the first years and point people to the rules. Hermione explained that, seeing as Ron and her were both Prefects for the Gryffindor House.
All of us were sitting in the kitchen and Mrs. Weasley grabbed Ron's list out of his hands. "It's about time we visit Diagon Alley, now that you received this," she sighed with one last look on Ron's letter.
I looked at mine, beside books I also needed a cauldron size 6, ingredients and robes. I folded the letter again and I listened to the argument that had appeared between Ron and his mother. Mrs Weasley wanted to visit Diagon Alley next Saturday, that way Mr. Weasley could join us; she simply refused to leave the house without her husband. Following to this, Ron had made a stupid remark about Voldemort, that wasn't the smartest thing to say and his mother warned him that if he went on like that he wasn't allowed to come with.
I chuckled and Hermione made a face.
"How often does he do this?" I asked when I leaned towards her.
"At least once a day," she answered and we laughed.
Ron looked at us when his mother had walked upstairs. "You can't even make a bloody joke anymore..." he muttered and Harry was now laughing with us.
"Yeah, ha-ha, how funny it is! It almost cost my year at Hogwarts!"
"Ron, your mother is just concerned about you! And she's right, it's way too dangerous to walking around alone, even when you're in Diagon Alley," Hermione said and Ron just rolled his eyes.
At the end of the week, it now was Saturday morning and everybody was having breakfast, Bill dropped by to give Harry and me our money. Ron looked at the bags filled with Galleons, Sickles and Knuts.
"Where's mine?" he asked with big eyes.
"This is their money, I got it for them because nowadays it takes around five hours before you can get to your money. The goblins really tightened up security."
"Thanks Bill!" is said and I took a relieved breath. If I had to pick up my money they would be getting suspicious. My vault was in one of the lowest reaches of the bank and it was highly secured. The deepest vaults belonged to wizarding families that were centuries old and all of those vaults belonged to powerful and feared families. My vault was one of the deepest without a doubt.
After breakfast we walked outside, the car the Ministry had sent had already arrived to take us to The Leaky Cauldron. It was a grey day, the weather hadn't changed during summer, and we got in the car. The inside was magically enlarged and Ron stretched himself out on the king-size back seat.
"It's just great dad was able to get transport again."
"Do you travel like this a lot? Isn't the use of Floo Powder much easier and faster?" I asked while I pushed Ron aside so Harry and I could take a seat.
"It's too dangerous, the fireplaces are being watched by You-Know-Who's people," Hermione said and Mr. Weasley turned around to look at us.
"And don't get used to it Ron, it's only because of Harry. The Ministry has given him the highest security status. When we arrive at The Leaky Cauldron there more security will be waiting for us."
The car pulled away from The Burrow and stopped a short time after that in the centre of London, in front of The Leaky Cauldron. Everybody got out of the car and my jaw dropped out of amazement. In front of me stood the largest man – if you could call him that – I had ever seen. His face was almost completely hidden by his big black beard and his wild hair. He was wearing a large coat made of brown beaver hide and he walked towards us.
"Harry!" he roared and he gave Harry such a huge hug I could swear I heard his spine snap. It was obvious they knew each other and that give me a sign to relax a bit. This man wouldn't be dangerous, or so I hoped.
"I see you have found a new friend!" he put a giant hand in front of me which I hesitantly shook.
"Hagrid, this is Jenna, Jenna, this is Hagrid. He is the gamekeeper at Hogwarts and he teaches Care of Magical Creatures."
"Hay," was he only thing I managed to get out.
"It's OK, I usually have tha' kind of reaction on people." Hagrid told me happily and he winked.
We followed him inside and we walked through the empty inn until we arrived at the chilly, little courtyard. Hagrid took out a strange, pink umbrella and he tapped the bricks on the wall which immediately transformed into a passage to the twisting alley.
We all walked through the opening and I immediately saw that disaster had also hit Diagon Alley. The shop-windows were filled with poster the of Ministry and black and white pictures of escaped Death Eaters. The face of Bellatrix Lestrange looked at me from the closest window. A couple of shops were closed and the sky was here was also grey and cloudy.
"Shall we go to Madam Malkin first? Ron and Harry drastically need new robes, they have grown so much! And Jenna needs a school uniform!"
"Molly, there's no need for all of us to go," Mr. Weasley interrupted his wife. "If the four of them go along with Hagrid then we can go to Flourish & Blotts and we can buy everyone their new schoolbooks."
It took Mrs. Weasley a long time to decide and she seemed in a dilemma with herself until Hagrid said something.
"With me 'round they'll be as safe as they can get, Molly. Don' need ter worry."
She didn't seem very convinced but eventually she left together with Ginny and her husband while Harry, Ron, Hermione and me followed Hagrid towards Madam Malkin. When we arrived at the shop, Hagrid stayed outside to guard the door while the four of us entered the shop.
"Hello?" I said softly and it looked to me the place was deserted until suddenly a cold and arrogant voice echoed though the shop. It came from behind a dress robes-horse.
"... not a child anymore if you hadn't noticed, mother. I can buy my own stuff by myself perfectly fine."
Someone clicked her tongue and warned the voice about the fact that it was too dangerous to be wandering around the streets all by himself.
I walked further inside of the shop while Harry, Ron and Hermione stayed put, close to the door. I looked behind me and they motioned for me to come back.
But before I could walk back a boy of roughly sixteen years old walked away from the dress robes. He had a pale face and his white blond hair shone in the light of the lamps. He was wearing a nice dark green robe and he walked towards a mirror with arrogant paces to admirer himself; it took a while before he noticed that I was standing in the middle of the room. His light grey eyes looked at me through the mirror and he turned around slowly. Then his eyes noticed Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"f you are wondering where the smell comes from, mother: a Mudblood just entered," the boy said and his eyes became slits when he looked at Hermione.
I looked at him with a shocked expression on my face. Mudblood was the worst word I could think of to call a person and Hermione didn't deserve to be called that.
Madam Malkin protested against his language and she angrily looked at Harry en Ron who had drawn their wands. "Wands away!" she commanded and the boys hesitantly did what was asked of them.
Next, the boy focussed on me. "You must be new, I should have noticed such a beauty if you were going to Hogwarts. I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," he said and he stuck out his hand for me to shake.
When I heard his name I felt a shiver ran down my spine. Malfoy. Meaning Lucius' son. I shook his hand and I kept looking him in the eyes. "Jenna Tate," I said after what seemed like eternity.
His eyes slowly glided down my body and a smirk appeared on his face. Ron and Harry both pointed their wands at his face when he took a step closer to me.
"That's enough!" Madam Malkin said and she looked behind her for some support.
A skinny woman with long blonde hair and a pale face appeared from behind the clothes. I assumed she was Narcissa, his mother. "Wands away," she said with an icy voice, but the boys didn't listen. "If you dare to harm my son again, I will make sure that that will be the last thing you will be doing ever."
"What do you want to do about is? Ask for a couple of Death Eaters to help you? Maybe they have a double cell in Azkaban. Then you can be together with that mug of a man of yours!"
I gasped for air and I knew that Harry pushed too far. Malfoy ran for him and he would have strangled Harry to death if he didn't trip over his long dress robe.
"Don't you dare talk to my mother like that, Potter!" he snarled and he gave Harry a look full of rage. If looks could kill, then Harry's grandchildren would be death. Harry lifted his wand even higher.
"Harry, put your wand away. He isn't worth it," I said, trying to calm him down and it worked.
"She's right, put it away," Hermione whispered and Ron lowered his wand as well.
Madam Malkin walked over to Malfoy and she pretended to act like nothing had happened, hoping that that way, nothing would happen. She leaned towards him to finish his robe but he had already taken it off and he threw it on the floor.
"Mother, I don't think I want this rag anymore!"
"You're right Draco," Narcissa said and she gave Hermione a hateful look. "I think we will find something much better at Twilfitt and Tatting's."
"I see you in school," Malfoy whispered to me while he turned around and walked out the shop. But before he left he bumped into Ron's shoulder as hard as he could.
I sighed when he had finally left. "What was that all about?"
"Harry and Malfoy have been sworn enemies since they first met each other at school," Ron replied and I grinned. Just like me and Snape.
Hermione nodded. "And they both have been in al lot of trouble because of that." She looked at Harry and gave him a stern look.
"Oh, like it's all my fault he's a stupid git!" Harry yelled and Ron grinned.
When we finally left with our new robes we saw that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were already waiting for us outside. All three of them were carrying heavy packages.
"Is everything alright? We just saw the Malfoys and -"
"Everything's great ma," Ron mumbled and he looked at Harry. It was obvious he didn't want his mother to know that he had gotten into a fight in no more than fifteen minutes.
"Sweetheart, I already got you your cauldron, all we have to do now is visit the Apothecary, the Owl Emporium and than we can go and see Fred and George," Mrs. Weasley said and she handed me a pewter cauldron filled with books.
At the Apothecary Hermione, Ginny and me filled up our Potions supplies and at the Owl Emporium all of us bought owl treats for Hedwig, Pigwidgeon and Twix, my Barn Owl. And yes, with lack of inspiration for a name I named him after my favourite chocolate bar.
On the way to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes we passed Quality Quidditch Supplies and I looked at the store-window which displayed a Firebolt. "Guys, I'll be right there. I just want to go and have a look inside," I said and Hagrid nodded.
"I'll stay with 'er Molly, you guys can go ahead," he walked with me towards the store and I entered.
The scent of fresh wood met with me when I opened the door and I walked towards the Firebolt that was displayed. I had always wanted one, but I hadn't been able to get one because of the circumstances. The Firebolt was still the best race broomstick in circulation. It could accelerate to 150miles per hour in no more than ten seconds. I caressed the smooth wood of the broomstick and I looked at the golden inscription.
"Can I help you miss?" A tall, skinny man walked into the store from a small room at the back of the store.
I nodded and I pointed to the broomstick. "I would like to buy a Firebolt."
He nodded and he disappeared into the small room. A few moments later he returned with a brand new broom. He wrapped it up in brown papers and I pulled out the money.
"You're one of the few people that will actually buy a broom these days. People are scared, don't come out of their houses anymore..." He muttered and he handed you the broom.
I said my goodbyes and I left the store. Once outside I greeted Hagrid who took my broom. He was also carrying my with books filled cauldron. "So, which way to Fred and George?" I asked and he grinned.
"Follow me!" he yelled and I had to run to keep up with his giant steps.
"Where have you guys been?" I asked when we were sitting in Ron's room in the late afternoon. I just had to know why they sneaked out when we were visiting Fred and George and their new Joke Shop. I was seriously thinking of using Legilimency but that would be un fair, seeing as I considered them my friends now. I never, ever, use Legilimency on friends.
"We were -"
"And don't tell me some lame excuse, Ron! Your mother might fall for that one but it won't work with me!" I said and I turned my iPod off, that way they had my full attention.
Ron looked from Harry to Hermione and then he looked to his feet.
"Actually is was Harry's idea, Hermione and I were sort of forced to come along..." he tried and he gave Harry a pleading look. He sighed and started talking.
"We were following Malfoy, the git we met at Madam Malkin's."
I nodded my head, they didn't need to explain to me who Malfoy was. The only child of Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy. Lucius being Voldemort's right hand who was now paying a long visit to Azkaban. The complete Malfoy family was known and feared for their association with Dark Wizards and Voldemort.
"So you were following Malfoy? And next?"
"He went to Borgin & Burkes in Knockturn Alley. That's all we saw," Harry said and Ron immediately nodded.
"Well, that wasn't worth following him for, was it?" I said and I smiled. 'They aren't going to tell me, yet,' I thought when Mrs. Weasley's voice ringed from the kitchen: "Dinner is ready!"