Chapter 4, Traversing the Alleys, Part 1

Genre: Angst, Adventure

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter he would not be such a walk over and Voldemort wouldn't be such an idiot. Ergo I don't own Harry Potter.

Warning(s): Dark (not Evil) and Slytherin Harry/Hermione/Ron, Good Draco, Bad Voldie, some bad language

Summary: Common story with a major twist. The Golden Trio, due to various reasons, are dark Slytherins to the core.

"speech" – speech
^speech^ - parseltongue

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As the Weasley's bustled out of the Leaky Cauldron Ron easily slipped away on his own. He watched his family enter Potages Cauldron Shop with a smirk. Turning on his heel he slid past the other shoppers and into Knockturn Alley.

Ron was wary of everyone on this street. He stayed at least three meters from everyone else and refused to "chat" to anyone. Of course the only one who wanted to chat was a businessman who seemed to be from Carn Alley, a far more dangerous place. Ron ran quickly from that man.

Ron wandered through the street checking each window carefully. Finally he saw exactly what he wanted. The store was called Wilkes' Weapons. It was rather larger than other stores on the street and not quite as dingy looking.

Walking up to the counter like he owned the world Ron asked, "How much is the plain dagger in the window?"

The middle aged man behind the counter recognised the tone as 'I'm important don't fuck with me', "Right this way young master," he said slipping into the window display box.

Ron tapped his foot impatiently and within second the man returned with the dagger, "Is this it sir?"

Ron looked over the dagger, it was plain but elegant. The hilt was a deep, rich green and the blade itself was shiny and sharp.

"Yes, does it have any spells on it?" Ron asked hoping it would be cheap enough for him to buy.

"Of course, it has," the clerk said almost affronted, "It has spells to keep it clean and sharp and a spell to prevent it breaking. We can add more for a small fee."

"No thanks I only need it briefly," Ron lied, "How much did you say it was?"

"Only two galleons, for a third I'd sell you the case as well."

"I'll pay the two, but I want the case anyway. It'll be of no use to you and frankly very little to me, I'm not paying a galleon for something I don't need."

The clerk pursed his lips but agreed to the price. Ron left the store smirking with the dagger attached to his belt. Not wasting any more time he slipped back into Diagon Alley to make another purchase. He walked into a baggage shop that sold trunks, bags and purses. Three minutes later he came out with a mokeskin purse and three less galleons. He had put the dagger into his purse so that his family couldn't find it.

Searching for his family he came across a man and woman screaming at each other. The little girl between them, probably their daughter, was obviously distraught and mortified. No one else, least of all the parents, noticed when the girl ran down the side alley that ran down the side of Gringotts.

Ron chased after her and found her curled up clutching at blue teddy bear. The girl had masses of bushy brown hair that was only more messed up because of her run. Ron felt the first stab of empathy since his change.

"Hello, are you okay?"

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Hermione had been very excited to find out that her power was magic and that she could be trained. At first she had to endure many fights between her parents about whether she would even go. By the end the month she had snapped and told them that she was going the Hogwarts whether they liked it or not.

Unsurprisingly both her parents were rather wound up by the time they set foot in Diagon Alley. After buying her some school equipment they decided to look at the magical trunks. However this led to a massive fight about buying one.

Hermione was used to her parents screaming abuse at each other but she had never seen them do it in public. She turned very red and tears started to leak from her eyes. She couldn't believe that her parents were embarrassing her like this. Hermione did the only thing that made sense, she ran for it.

She was in a smaller side alley so she curled up and tried to hold back sobs. Hugging her bear, who she named Albert, to her chest she cried. She looked up to see a young red headed boy looking at her concerned.

"Hello, are you okay?" he said softly.

Hermione glared, "do I look okay?"

She tighten her grip on Albert and blinked her tears away.

The boy sat down beside her, "its okay. I saw what happened. I'd cry a lot more if that happened."

Hermione fidgeted, "what do you want?"

"I don't know, to make sure you are okay I guess?" the boy mumbled.

Hermione stared at him in shock. Why would this boy care about her?

"Well, you remind me of me I think. I don't like other people seeing me cry," the boy said red faced.

Hermione looked closer at him, the boy was rather tall, much taller than her, and he was really pale. His bright clothes seemed to completely contradict his demeanour.

"Do you cry often?" the words slipped from Hermione's tongue.

The boy looked at her and Hermione saw crystal clear blue eyes.

"Every night," the boy said solemnly, "its okay to cry you know, I won't judge."

Hermione couldn't hold her tears back anymore and wrapped her arms around the boy as she sobbed. The boy patted her back awkwardly and she bawled harder. Hermione wished that her parents would hug her like this.

Sometime after she pulled away and uttered a soft, "Thank you."

The boy grinned, "No problem. I'm Ron Weasley, I'm a Hogwarts first year."

Hermione smiled weakly back, "Hermione Granger, same."

Ron stood up, "I should look for my family now. Do you want to come with me?" he held out his hand.

Hermione took it and was hauled to her feet. "Thank you, I'd like that."

Ron led her out of the alley. Hermione's parents were nowhere to be seen so they walked down the alley way peering in to stalls. As they walked Ron told Hermione all about being raised with magic. He shocked her with stories of ghouls and brooms. By the time they saw the Weasley's in Flourish and Blotts Hermione was recounting her muggle life.

"Ronald Weasley where have you been!" said a large red headed woman.

Hermione guessed that this was Ron's mother and stepped up, "Its my fault mam, Ron helped me. I was having an issue. I'm a muggle-born, Hermione Granger."

Mrs Weasley blinked at her surprised, "Well next time don't just run off Ron. We could have helped."

Ron nodded, "Yes mum."

Mrs Weasley started to lecture two twin boys who had tried to set a book on fire.

Ron turned to her, "thanks a lot 'Mione. That was brilliant."

Hermione blinked, "'Mione?"

Ron blushed, "We're friends now right? I mean if you don't like 'Mione or-"

Hermione cut him off, "No I like 'Mione," she beamed at him, "I've never had a friend before."

Hermione was knock down by someone who immediately reached out to help her up.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry," The black haired boy blathered.

Hermione saw Ron's eyes widen, "Are you by chance Harry Potter?"

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Hello all!

I would have posted yesterday but then I saw mudblood's review and had to change my plans. See I had arranged for them to meet on Platform Nine and Three Quarters but them meeting at Diagon Alley fitted the story much better in the long run. So thank you mudblood wannabe!

I have no idea what (if any) pairings will surface in this fic but probably not cannon pairings because I immensely dislike them. I can stand Dark Harry/Ginny (I like Ginny just not with Harry) but Ron/Hermione will not ever show up in any fic I write. EVER. (again I don't like the pairing each character is good on their own)

Anyway I'll post part two soon. Remember this Slytherin story has a twist, so if anyone can guess it I'll dedicate a chapter to you.