Chapter Nine: Diagon Ally
"If you're going to Diagon Ally anyway." Mrs. Weasley began, sending a disapproving look at Hermione. "You'll want to pick up some new dress robes."
"Why would we want to buy anything so torturous?" Ron exclaimed, aghast, a hand shooting protectively to his throat; Hermione rolled her eyes, suppressing a giggle.
"For the Ministry ball." Mrs. Weasley replied. "Arthur was going to tell you last night, but, I guess he forgot, what with you two coming home and everything. Anyway, here's the official invitation." With a flick of her wand, a scroll fell to the table beside Hermione.
"Dear Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Mrs. Weasley." Hermione began, unrolling the heavy parchment carefully. "The Ministry has decided that, along with monetary payment, a public recognition and thanks are deserved; it has then been decided that there will be a thank-you ball on the thirtieth of July in the Ministry's ambassadorial department. A return owl should be sent as soon as possible, with a list of those attending. Yours always, Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister of Magic."
-
The trio was the center of much staring, as they strolled down Diagon Ally to Gringotts; rather then being mobbed, they seemed to be either held in worshipful aw, or Hermione was simply beating them off with how fragile she looked.
"I think I'll sit this one out." Hermione commented, quickly settling down on an uncomfortable looking bench just inside the large bank foyer.
"You'll be ok out here?" Ron queried, looking around as if he thought Fluffy might jump out of the crowd at any moment, and gobble his wife up.
"I'll be fine; you don't need to worry about anything." Hermione reassured him. "I just don't feel up to the roller coaster ride"
"Roller coaster?" Ron still hadn't learned the finer points of muggle entertainment; it wasn't, though, like Harry had ever been on a real roller coaster either.
"Never mind, just go." Hermione urged him on allowing herself an amused smile; Harry lead Ron up to the front counter were a goblin glared out from under heavy brows, and over his protruding nose.
"Harry Potter." Harry said, sliding his key across the counter.
"And Ron Weasley." Ron added, doing the same.
"Follow me." The goblin's voice was low and nasally.
"I don't know how Charlie can stand them." Ron admitted, in a whisper, as they followed after him.
-
"Harry." Luna's drew out his name; offering him an airy smile as she turned from Hermione, as the two boys came back, slightly more wobbly for the Gringotts experience.
"Hi Luna."
"So, where to next?" Ron asked, nodding to Luna, but with all his attention trained on Hermione.
"I was thinking, Slug and Jiggers Apothecary; I think they are still there." Hermione pulled out a list of exceeding proportions; a sadness slumping her thin shoulders.
"I need to get some supplies for my field research of Swoppits." Harry jumped, Luna had somehow moved around to his left shoulder as he had been trying to think of someway to raise the depressing curtain that had fallen over them all.
"What are Swoppits?" Ron barely rained back a snort of laughter; Luna didn't seem to notice, and began to explain at great length as they walked up the alley.
"Swoppits generally live in garbage dumps, but they are attracted to any sort of strong smells." Luna explained gravely, nearly running into a mother who was healing a scraped knee; Harry grabbed her elbow a second before impact and pulled her out of harm's way. Luna smiled at him, realizing too late what had just been averted, and continued.
"They like to climb up people's nostrils, if their big enough, and stuff up your sinuses. Muggles commonly mistake them for air born allergens."
"What are you studying?" Ron asked, his nose brushing Hermione's hair as his head turned to look back to Luna, beside Harry.
Harry noted how Ron's arm curled protectingly around Hermione's waist; how her head leaned ever so slightly into his shoulder. Harry didn't hear Luna's reply, but her next question broke him out of his reverie.
"Where is Ginny?" Harry blinked and found Luna's face craned forward, and blinking up at him.
"She had to go to work." Harry shrugged. The fact, if he wasn't caught up in the reminiscing their final meeting, did make him feel sort of weird, considering he had to have any kind of real job.
"The Department of Mysteries has been stressed recently." Luna nodded sagely. "Something escaped."
"Oh." Harry wasn't exactly sure to believe her or not, but who really knew what they were up to anyway?
"Good afternoon Sirs and Ladies." A think man peered at the quartet over a large wooden counter, a wide grin plastered across his face; Harry had no doubt he knew exactly who they were. Except for Luna, perhaps. Hermione was all to happy to happy to engage him, and the man was soon jumping around his small shop as she listed item after item.
Lund, on the other hand, had treated to a corner where she was examining a shelf of smelling salts.
Harry moved to look over her shoulder, but stopped a foot behind her, already overwhelmed by the smell, which was even stronger then the other odors that covered the rest of the shop. Harry sneezed.
"Swoppits." Luna commented, her nose centimeters from the faded labels.
A/N I believe I wrote this some time before school even ended last spring, but I never actually got around to typing it up and posting it.
Anyway, I believe I have written better since I authored this.
The next chapter is also half written already, but I hope to restart writing this story.