The Burrow and Diagon Alley: Fifth Year

Just as Ginny said, she invited Elizabeth to come to the Burrow. Although Elizabeth had been friends with Ginny for a long time, Elizabeth had never been to Ginny's home, although she met Mr. and Mrs. Weasley once in Diagon Alley. Then again, Elizabeth usually spent all the time that she could with her mother. Now that Elizabeth's mother had…past, Elizabeth didn't mind leaving her father's house. Especially since it seemed that her mother was right: her father did drink a lot, but like her mum had said, her father was rarely violent when drunk. There had only been one incident, but Elizabeth managed to stop her father before he actually punched her. She did have a bruise from the vice grip her gave her. Elizabeth suspected that the incident was the reason why her father let her go to the Burrow. He seemed too overprotective to do otherwise. Elizabeth was to stay at the burrow until the term started, which wasn't too far away. Luckily, the bruises had almost completely healed, she healed the bruise the muggle way, and as long as she made sure the bruises were out of sight with a glamour, everything was fine.

Currently, it was very late at night. Elizabeth had been deep asleep when she had heard voices from downstairs. Currently, she was sharing a room with Ginny and Hermione, herself sleeping on an empty space on the floor. Mrs. Weasley hadn't wanted Elizabeth to sleep on the floor, but when Elizabeth told Mrs. Weasley that she slept on the floor all the time at other people's houses and all she needed were a few blankets and a pillow, Mrs. Weasley relented. It was already packed enough with two beds in Ginny's room.

Elizabeth checked her watch and it read that it was around one in the morning. She decided to go downstairs. Luckily, her pyjamas were fairly normal; just a t-shirt and pants. She walked down the stairs, yawning, noticing that Tonks, Mrs. Weasley, Dumbledore, and Harry were there. Before Elizabeth could greet Tonks, she had left.

"Hello, Professor," said Elizabeth politely. "Harry, Mrs. Weasley."

"Hello, Miss Moreau. Well, I shall see you at Hogwarts, Harry," said Dumbledore. "Take care of yourself. Molly, your servant."

He made Mrs. Weasley a bow and followed Tonks, vanishing at precisely the same spot.

Harry blinked. "Elizabeth! I didn't know you were here!"

"Ginny invited me," said Elizabeth. "I just came last night along with Granger."

"What are you doing up?" asked Mrs. Weasley. She steered Harry by the shoulders into the full glow of the lantern on the table to examine his appearance.

"You're like Ron," she sighed, looking him up and down. "Both of you look as though you've had Stretching Jinxes put on you. I swear Ron's grown four inches since I last bought him school robes. Are you hungry, Harry, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm not all that hungry. You really cooked a lot for dinner…tonight? Last night?"

"Yeah, I am," said Harry.

"Sit down, dears, I'll knock something up," said Mrs. Weasley. Both Elizabeth and Harry sat at the table. Crookshanks jumped on Harry's lap.

"How was your summer?" asked Elizabeth as Mrs. Weasley gave Harry some onion soup and bread.

"It was fine," said Harry. "How about yours?"

"Good," stated Elizabeth.

Mrs. Weasley sat across from Harry. "So you persuaded Horace Slughorn to take the job?"

Harry nodded in agreement.

It took Elizabeth a few moments to remember where she had heard the name Horace Slughorn before. She remembered that Slughorn was the Potions Master and the head of Slytherin before Professor Snape. He was very famous for having the 'Slug Club' that only had 'elite' members. But, if Slughorn was the old potions master, then where would Professor Snape go? Unless…

"He taught Arthur and me," said Mrs. Weasley. "He was at Hogwarts for ages, started around the same time as Dumbledore, I think. Did you like him?"

Harry shrugged and gave a noncommittal jerk of the head.

"I know what you mean," said Mrs. Weasley, nodding wisely. "Of course he can be charming when he wants to be, but Arthur's never liked him much. The Ministry's littered with Slughorn's old favourites, he was always good at giving leg ups, but he never had much time for Arthur… didn't seem to think he was enough of a highflier. Well, that just shows you, even Slughorn makes mistakes. I don't know whether Ron's told you in any of his letters… it's only just happened… but Arthur's been promoted!"

Elizabeth smiled. She had heard the news just that morning, or was it yesterday?

Harry swallowed his hot soup fast. It seemed to be painful as tears came to his eyes. "That's great!"

"It really is, Mrs. Weasley," said Elizabeth enthusiastically.

"You two are sweet," Mrs. Weasley beamed. "Yes, Rufus Scrimgeour has set up several new offices in response to the present situation, and Arthur's heading the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects. It's a big job; he's got ten people reporting to him now!"

"What exactly?" Harry asked. Elizabeth got the feeling that he hadn't read all he could on the wizarding world, unlike herself or even Granger.

"Well, you see, in all the panic about You-Know-Who, odd things have been cropping up for sale everywhere, things that are supposed to guard against You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters. You can imagine the kind of thing… so-called protective potions that are really gravy with a bit of bubotuber pus added, or instructions for defensive jinxes that actually make your ears fall off… Well, in the main the perpetrators are just people like Mundungus Fletcher, who've never done an honest day's work in their lives and are taking advantage of how frightened everybody is, but every now and then something really nasty turns up. The other day Arthur confiscated a box of cursed Sneakoscopes that were almost certainly planted by a Death Eater. So you see, it's a very important job, and I tell him it's just silly to miss dealing with spark plugs and toasters and all the rest of that Muggle rubbish."

Mrs. Weasley ended her speech with a stern look, as if it had been Harry suggesting that it was natural to miss spark plugs. Elizabeth was glad that the stern look wasn't aimed in her direction.

"Is Mr. Weasley still at work?" Harry asked.

"Yes, he is. As a matter of fact, he's a tiny bit late… He said he'd be back around midnight…"

She turned to look at a large clock that was perched awkwardly on top of a pile of sheets in the washing basket at the end of the table.

Elizabeth had seen the clock just the other day. It was a strange clock with nine hands, but instead of telling time, it showed certain situations in which case the Weasley family could be in. Since Elizabeth had been there, and probably a while before, each hand pointed to "mortal peril."

"It's been like that for a while now," said Mrs. Weasley, in an unconvincingly casual voice, "ever since You-Know-Who came back into the open. I suppose everybody's in mortal danger now… I don't think it can be just our family… but I don't know anyone else who's got a clock like this, so I can't check. Oh!"

With a sudden exclamation she pointed at the clock's face. Mr. Weasley's hand had switched to "travelling." That was really useful. Perhaps Elizabeth should ask how Mrs. Weasley got that clock…'Course, she didn't have much family to put on it, but she wouldn't mind putting her friends on there.

"He's coming!"

And sure enough, a moment later there was a knock on the back door. Mrs. Weasley jumped up and hurried to it; with one hand on the doorknob and her face pressed against the wood she called softly, "Arthur, is that you?"

"Yes," came Mr. Weasley's weary voice. "But I would say that even if I were a Death Eater, dear. Ask the question!"

Elizabeth hardly thought that the clock would have worked if it wasn't Mr. Weasley, but Elizabeth didn't say otherwise.

"Oh, honestly…"

"Molly!"

"All right, all right… What is your dearest ambition?"

"To find out how airplanes stay up."

Then again, asking questions were also quite ridiculous. What if the person got captured and the Death Eaters tortured them for information? Then again, someone could lie, but unless they were skilled at Occlumency, the captors probably could figure out if they were lying or not.

Mrs. Weasley nodded and turned the doorknob, but apparently Mr. Weasley was holding tight to it on the other side, because the door remained firmly shut.

"Molly! I've got to ask you your question first!"

"Arthur, really, this is just silly…"

"What do you like me to call you when we're alone together?"

Elizabeth could tell that Mrs. Weasley was blushing horribly. She and Harry glanced at each other, before partaking in a very loud conversation, drowning out Mrs. Weasley's answer.

"So—!"

"How's—!"

Elizabeth and Harry spoke loudly in unison, but stopped when they heard Mr. Weasley say:

"Correct. Now you can let me in."

Mrs. Weasley opened the door to reveal her husband, a thin, balding, red-haired wizard wearing horn-rimmed spectacles and a long and dusty travelling cloak.

"I still don't see why we have to go through that every time you come home," said Mrs. Weasley, still pink in the face as she helped her husband out of his cloak. "I mean, a Death Eater might have forced the answer out of you before impersonating you!"

Exactly what Elizabeth thought.

"I know, dear, but its Ministry procedure and I have to set an example. Something smells good… onion soup?"

Mr. Weasley turned hopefully in the direction of the table.

"Harry! We didn't expect you until morning!" exclaimed Mr. Weasley. "Elizabeth, what are you doing up?"

"When Harry came in, the voices woke me up," explained Elizabeth with a shrug.

Harry shook hands with Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Weasley dropped into the chair beside Harry as Mrs. Weasley set a bowl of soup in front of him too.

"Thanks, Molly. It's been a tough night. Some idiot's started selling Metamorph-Medals. Just sling them around your neck and you'll be able to change your appearance at will. A hundred thousand disguises, all for ten Galleons!"

"And what really happens when you put them on?"

"Mostly you just turn a fairly unpleasant orange colour, but a couple of people have also sprouted tentacle like warts all over their bodies. As if St. Mungo's didn't have enough to do already!"

"It sounds like the sort of thing Fred and George would find funny," said Mrs. Weasley hesitantly. "Are you sure…?"

"Of course I am!" said Mr. Weasley. "The boys wouldn't do anything like that now, not when people are desperate for protection!"

"So is that why you're late, Metamorph-Medals?"

"No, we got wind of a nasty backfiring jinx down in Elephant and Castle, but luckily the Magical Law Enforcement Squad had sorted it out by the time we got there…"

Harry stifled a yawn behind his hand.

"Bed, both of you," said an undeceived Mrs. Weasley at once. "I've got Fred and George's room all ready for you, Harry, you'll have it to yourself."

"Ah, that's why none of us were allowed in that room," Elizabeth said, nodding sagely.

Harry glanced at Elizabeth, surprised. Mrs. Weasley looked guilty. Elizabeth hadn't meant for her to feel bad about it. "Where are you sleeping?"

"With Granger and Ginny in Ginny's room," Elizabeth answered.

Harry frowned. "But…with the two beds, it is really small. How could you guys fit—?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

Suddenly, Harry grabbed Elizabeth's arm and stared at the faded bruise. Elizabeth winced. She forgot to put the glamour on when she woke up. Then again, since it had almost faded away, she assumed that no one would notice. No such luck; it seemed that Harry was very good at noticing things.

"What's this?" asked Harry coldly.

"Nothing," said Elizabeth easily. She had always lied well, even before going to Hogwarts. "I accidentally bang into the door at my dad's house. Although I'm there for Christmas, I'm not too used to the house."

Harry frowned. "They look like bruises one would get if someone gripped them too hard. Trust me, I would know."

"Let me see that, dear," Mrs. Weasley said kindly to Elizabeth.

"And just how would you know?" Elizabeth asked Harry, unintentionally ignoring Mrs. Weasley.

Harry looked uncomfortable. Neither of the teens noticed Mr. and Mrs. Weasley frowning.

"I – I just know, okay?" said Harry, stuttering slightly. "How'd you get the bruises?"

"How do you know what a vice grip feels like?" retorted Elizabeth. "I've never felt one, but it seems that you have."

The two teens stared at each other, stubborn, neither refusing to give up. Elizabeth had a faint idea. She had seen Harry's uncle, aunt, and cousin at King's Cross and had heard about how they needed threatening. Elizabeth didn't know how bad it was, but she knew that Harry must not have lived the most comfortable home life. They both startled when Mr. Weasley cleared his throat. Harry realized that he was still holding Elizabeth's arm and let it go, blushing. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and laid back in her chair casually, but hiding the bruise from sight.

"Bed, both of you," said Mrs. Weasley sternly. "You guys can talk, tomorrow."

"Technically, it's today," Elizabeth couldn't help but point out. She blushed when she did. "Sorry."

"I've had Fred and George as sons," Mrs. Weasley said with a laugh. "You can't get any worse than that."

"Oh, I don't know," Elizabeth said lightly. "I can think of a few people who are worse than the twins."

Elizabeth and Harry shared a glance, ignoring the fact that they had been in a battle of wills just a few moments before. They both seemed to be thinking the same thing: Malfoy.

Harry yawned again. Mrs. Weasley shooed them up the stairs. They stared at each other as they reached their separate rooms.

"So, what was that bruise about?" asked Harry.

"How do you know what it feels like to be gripped so hard that you have bruises?" asked Elizabeth in return.

They both glared at each other, before walking into their rooms.

Neither had won, but they were damn sure going to try again soon.

-x-

"Dunno," said Harry. "He can't be worse than Umbridge, can he?"

"I know someone who's worse than Umbridge," said a voice from the doorway. Ginny slouched into the room, looking irritable. Elizabeth, who was right behind her, rolled her eyes. "Hi, Harry."

"What's up with you?" Weasley asked.

"It's her," said Ginny, plonking herself down on Harry's bed. "She's driving me mad."

"What's she done now?" asked Granger sympathetically.

"It's the way she talks to me… you'd think I was about three!"

"I know," said Granger, dropping her voice. "She's so full of herself."

Elizabeth saw that Harry was confused. Maybe he didn't know who exactly was here…

"Can't you two lay off her for five seconds?" said Weasley angrily.

"Oh, that's right, defend her," snapped Ginny. "We all know you can't get enough of her."

"I think she's fine," said Elizabeth.

Ginny snorted. "That's only because you're part French. If it wasn't for that, you'd be annoyed like the rest of us."

Elizabeth could see Harry's confusion deepening. She stifled a chuckle.

Harry started to say, "Who are you…?" but was ultimately interrupted when the door suddenly flew open. Harry yanked the bedcovers up to his chin so hard that Granger and Ginny slid off the bed onto the floor. Elizabeth, who didn't sit on the bed like the other girls, laughed at their misfortune.

Fleur walked in, holding a breakfast tray. "'Arry," she said in a throaty voice. "Eet 'as been too long!"

The only thing she felt that was annoying about Fleur was her French accent. Seriously? Then again, she didn't live in Britain, unlike her mother, so that was fairly acceptable.

As she swept over the threshold toward him, Mrs. Weasley was revealed, bobbing along in her wake, looking rather cross.

"There was no need to bring up the tray, I was just about to do it myself!"

"Eet was no trouble," said Fleur, setting the tray across Harry's knees and then swooping to kiss him on each cheek. Harry blushed. "I 'ave been longing to see 'im. You remember my seester, Gabrielle? She never stops talking about 'Arry Potter. She will be delighted to see you again."

"Oh… is she here too?" Harry croaked. Elizabeth couldn't help but roll her eyes. Seriously, boys were quite single-minded. Flash a pretty smile and it seemed that they were done.

"No, no, silly boy," said Fleur with a tinkling laugh, "I mean next summer, when we… but do you not know?"

Her great blue eyes widened and she looked reproachfully at Mrs. Weasley, who said, "We hadn't got around to telling him yet."

Fleur turned back to Harry, swinging her silvery sheet of hair so that it whipped Mrs. Weasley across the face. "Bill and I are going to be married!"

"Oh," said Harry blankly. "Wow. Er… congratulations!"

She swooped down upon him and kissed him again.

"Soyez prudent, Bill pourrait être jaloux si tu embrasses Harry trop," teased Elizabeth. Be careful, Bill might be jealous if you kiss Harry too much.

Fleur laughed. "Bill n'a pas à s'inquiéter. Je l'aime trop pour lui donner jusqu'à pour Harry." Bill does not have to worry. I love him too much to give him up for Harry.

"Bill is very busy at ze moment, working very 'ard," Fleur said to Harry in English, "and I only work part-time at Gringotts for my Eenglish, so he brought me 'ere for a few days to get to know 'is family properly. I was so pleased to 'ear you would be coming… zere isn't much to do 'ere, unless you like cooking and chickens! Well… enjoy your breakfast, 'Arry!"

With these words she turned gracefully and seemed to float out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Mrs. Weasley made a noise that sounded like, "tchah!"

"Mum hates her," said Ginny quietly.

"I do not hate her!" said Mrs. Weasley in a cross whisper. "I just think they've hurried into this engagement, that's all!"

"They've known each other a year," said Weasley, who looked oddly groggy and was staring at the closed door.

"Well, that's not very long! I know why it's happened, of course. It's all this uncertainty with You-Know-Who coming back, people think they might be dead tomorrow, so they're rushing all sorts of decisions they'd normally take time over. It was the same last time he was powerful, people eloping left, right, and centre…"

"Including you and Dad," said Ginny slyly.

"Yes, well, your father and I were made for each other, what was the point in waiting?" said Mrs. Weasley. "Whereas Bill and Fleur… well… what have they really got in common? He's a hardworking, down-to-earth sort of person, whereas she's…"

"A cow," said Ginny, nodding. "But Bill's not that down-to-earth. He's a Curse-Breaker, isn't he, he likes a bit of adventure, a bit of glamour… I expect that's why he's gone for Phlegm."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes as Granger and Harry laughed at the nickname and Mrs. Weasley looked reproachful. "You guys, she isn't really that bad. You say that you don't see what they have in common with each other, but people don't have to have anything in common with each other to be in love. You know, you guys really make her feel bad. She talks to me all the time, Fleur, because I'm the only girl who doesn't treat her as if she was the dirt on her shoes. Fleur seems to think that you guys hate her because she's French, and I didn't dissuade her from that, but, really, Mrs. Weasley, I appreciate you letting me live in your house and I know it isn't any of my business since I'm not a part of the family, but couldn't you guys at least respect Bill's wishes and at least try to get along with her instead of sticking up your nose at her? You all talk about how it would be better if Bill fell in love with Tonks because she's smarter and funnier, but maybe you should let Bill decide for himself. Plus, it isn't as if Fleur is unintelligent; she did get into the Triwizard Tournament, after all. This may not be my place to say it, and I'm sorry if I seem rude Mrs. Weasley, but just give her a break!"

Elizabeth stormed out of the room, leaving behind shocked and startled looks. She noticed Fleur standing across the hall, eyes glistening with tears.

"Merci beaucoup," Fleur said as they walked downstairs. Thank you very much. "Bien que je ne m'inquiète pas si ils ne m'aiment pas, je ne donne pas Bill jusqu'à pour quiconque, mais je souhaite que je pourrais encore obtenir leur approbation." Although I do not care if they do not like me, I am not giving up Bill for anyone, but I wish I could still get their approval.

Elizabeth sighed. "Ils vont s'habituer à vous par la suite. Il faudra un certain temps, si." They'll get used to you eventually. It will take some time, though.

"Merci beaucoup," Fleur said again. Thank you very much.

Elizabeth smiled. "Pas de problème." No problem.

Fleur wiped her eyes and busied herself in the kitchen along with Elizabeth, the two of them chatting aimlessly in French. They two of them continued talking, even as a very subdued Mrs. Weasley walked downstairs.

"You two don't need to worry about that," Mrs. Weasley said to Elizabeth and Fleur. "It's alright dears, I can do it."

Fleur shook her head. "'Iz fine, Mrs. Weasley."

"Don't worry about it," said Elizabeth. "This is the least I can do after your hospitality."

In a few moments, Granger had called for Mrs. Weasley. She had a black eye. Elizabeth's eyebrows rose. What…?

After trying a few spells, Mrs. Weasley turned to her book, The Healer's Helpmate. It was then when Harry walked downstairs and into the kitchen.

"It just won't budge," Mrs. Weasley was saying anxiously, standing over Hermione with her wand in her hand. "This has always worked before, I just can't understand it."

"It'll be Fred and George's idea of a funny joke, making sure it can't come off," said Ginny.

"But it's got to come off!" squeaked Granger. "I can't go around looking like this forever!"

"You won't, dear, we'll find an antidote, don't worry," said Mrs. Weasley soothingly.

"Bill told me Fred and George are very amusing!" said Fleur, smiling serenely.

"Yes, I can hardly breathe for laughing," snapped Granger. Elizabeth frowned. Really? Even after the lecture Elizabeth had given them?

She jumped up and started walking round and round the kitchen, twisting her fingers together.

"Mrs. Weasley, you're quite, quite sure no owls have arrived this morning?"

"Yes, dear, I'd have noticed," said Mrs. Weasley patiently. "But it's barely nine, there's still plenty of time…"

"I know I messed up Ancient Runes," muttered Hermione feverishly, "I definitely made at least one serious mistranslation. And the Defence Against the Dark Arts practical was no good at all. I thought Transfiguration went all right at the time, but looking back —"

"Merlin, Granger," said Elizabeth, rolling her eyes. "You probably have all OWLs, anyways."

"Don't, don't, don't!" said Granger, flapping her hands hysterically. "I know I've failed everything!"

"What happens if we fail?" Harry asked the room at large, but it was Granger who answered.

"We discuss our options with our Head of House, I asked Professor McGonagall at the end of last term."

"At Beauxbatons," said Fleur complacently, "we 'ad a different way of doing things. I think eet was better. We sat our examinations after six years of study, not five, and then…" Probably not the best time, Fleur.

Fleur's words were drowned in a scream. Granger was pointing through the kitchen window. Three black specks were clearly visible in the sky, growing larger all the time.

"They're definitely owls," said Ron hoarsely, jumping up to join Granger at the window.

"And there are three of them," said Harry, hastening to her other side.

"One for each of us," said Granger in a terrified whisper. "Oh no… oh no… oh no…"

Geez, these three were Captain Obviouses…Obvious? What was the plural for "obvious" anyways? Captains of Obvious? Still didn't sound right…

Granger gripped both Harry and Weasley tightly around the elbows.

The owls were flying directly at the Burrow, three handsome tawnies, each of which, it became clear as they flew lower over the path leading up to the house, was carrying a large square envelope.

"Oh no!" squealed Granger.

Mrs. Weasley squeezed past them and opened the kitchen window. One, two, three, the owls soared through it and landed on the table in a neat line. All three of them lifted their right legs.

Harry, Weasley, and Granger managed to get their letters and check over their requirements. Both Weasley and Harry looked delighted, but Granger looked rather disappointed.

"Knew you'd be top at Defence Against the Dark Arts," said Weasley, punching Harry on the shoulder. "We've done all right, haven't we?"

"Well done!" said Mrs. Weasley proudly, ruffling Weasley's hair. "Seven OWLs, that's more than Fred and George got together!"

"Hermione?" said Ginny tentatively, for Granger still hadn't turned around. "How did you do?"

"I — not bad," said Granger in a small voice.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"Oh, come off it," said Weasley, striding over to her and whipping her results out of her hand. "Yep… ten 'Outstandings' and one 'Exceeds Expectations' at Defence Against the Dark Arts."

He looked down at her, half-amused, half-exasperated. "You're actually disappointed, aren't you?"

…How'd she managed an Exceeds Expectations on Defence Against the Dark Arts?

Granger shook her head, but Harry laughed.

"Well, we're N.E.W.T. students now!" grinned Weasley. "Mum, are there any more sausages?"

All Weasley ever thought about was food.

-x-

For the next few weeks before the term started, everyone ended up spending most of their time playing Quidditch. It was generally Elizabeth and Harry against Weasley and Ginny (Granger had opted to watch) and all of them were about the same level. Well, Harry was the best flier by far, but Elizabeth, Ginny, and Weasley were about the same, even if Elizabeth sucked at Quidditch. Ginny had never really figured out why Elizabeth was Elizabeth was so good at flying, but sucked badly at Quidditch.

It would have been a happy, peaceful holiday had it not been for the stones of disappearances, odd accidents, even of deaths now appearing almost daily in the Prophet. Sometimes Bill and Mr. Weasley brought home news before it even reached the paper. To Mrs. Weasley's displeasure, Harry's sixteenth birthday celebrations were marred by grisly tidings brought to the party by Remus Lupin, who was looking gaunt and grim, his brown hair streaked liberally with gray, and his clothes more ragged and patched than ever.

"There have been another couple of Dementor attacks," he announced, as Mrs. Weasley passed him a large slice of birthday cake. "And they've found Igor Karkaroff's body in a shack up north. The Dark Mark had been set over it… well, frankly, I'm surprised he stayed alive for even a year after deserting the Death Eaters; Sirius's brother, Regulus, only managed a few days as far as I can remember."

"Yes, well," said Mrs. Weasley, frowning, "perhaps we should talk about something diff…"

"Did you hear about Florean Fortescue, Remus?" asked Bill, who was being plied with wine by Fleur. "The man who ran…"

"Is the ice-cream place in Diagon Alley?" Harry interrupted. "He used to give me free ice creams. What's happened to him?"

"Dragged off, by the look of his place."

Elizabeth winced.

"Why?" asked Weasley, while Mrs. Weasley pointedly glared at Bill.

"Who knows? He must've upset them somehow. He was a good man, Florean."

"Talking of Diagon Alley," said Mr. Weasley, "looks like Ollivander's gone too."

"The wandmaker?" said Ginny, looking startled.

"That's the one. Shop's empty. No sign of a struggle. No one knows whether he left voluntarily or was kidnapped."

"But what'll people do for wands?"

"They'll make do with other makers," said Professor Lupin. "But Ollivander was the best, and if the other side have got him it's not so good for us."

The day after this rather gloomy birthday tea, their letters and booklists arrived from Hogwarts. Harry had been made Quidditch Captain. When everyone heard about it, everyone congratulated Harry. Elizabeth sighed, undoubtedly feeling sorry for all of the losses that Slytherin had managed to collect over the years, but generally happy for Harry.

It was of no surprise that Elizabeth did not get a Prefect badge.

-x-

The morning of going into Diagon Alley and grabbing their new supplies, Bill tossed both Harry and Elizabeth a sack of money.

"Where's mine?" demanded Weasley at once, his eyes wide.

"That's already there's you dolt," said Bill. "I got it out of your vaults for you both, because it's taking about five hours for the public to get to their gold at the moment, the goblins have tightened security so much. Two days ago Arkie Philpott had a Probity Probe stuck up his… Well, trust me, this way's easier."

"Thanks, Bill," said Harry, pocketing his gold.

Elizabeth frowned. "I know you're a Curse Breaker for the bank and all, but how'd you get into our vault? Only my father and I can get in it, not that I'm being ungrateful or anything, I'm just wondering."

Bill shrugged. "I know people."

"E is always so thoughtful," purred Fleur adoringly, stroking Bill's nose. Ginny mimed vomiting into her cereal behind Fleur. Harry choked over his cornflakes, and Weasley thumped him on the back. Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

It was an overcast, murky day. One of the special Ministry of Magic cars, in which Elizabeth had seen before, was awaiting them in the front yard when they emerged from the house, pulling on their cloaks.

"It's good Dad can get us these again," said Weasley appreciatively, stretching luxuriously as the car moved smoothly away from the Burrow, Bill and Fleur waving from the kitchen window. He, Harry, Granger, Elizabeth, and Ginny were all sitting in roomy comfort in the wide backseat.

"Don't get used to it, it's only because of Harry," said Mr. Weasley over his shoulder.

He and Mrs. Weasley were in front with the Ministry driver; the front passenger seat had obligingly stretched into what resembled a two-seater sofa. "He's been given top-grade security status. And we'll be joining up with additional security at the Leaky Cauldron too."

No one said anything.

"Here you are, then," said the driver, a surprisingly short while later, speaking for the first time as he slowed in Charing Cross Road and stopped outside the Leaky Cauldron. "I'm to wait for you, any idea how long you'll be?"

"A couple of hours, I expect," said Mr. Weasley. He looked outside the window "Ah, good, he's here!"

Elizabeth glanced outside and saw Professor Hagrid as well as a huge, black dog…Sirius Black, if she remembered correctly.

"Harry!" Hagrid boomed, sweeping Harry into a bone-crushing hug the moment Harry had stepped out of the car. "Buckbeak… Witherwings, I mean… yeh should see him, Harry, he's so happy ter be back in the open air…"

"Glad he's pleased," said Harry, grinning as he massaged his ribs. "We didn't know 'security' meant you!"

"I know, jus' like old times, innit? See, the Ministry wanted ter send a bunch o' Aurors, but Dumbledore said I'd do," said Hagrid proudly, throwing out his chest and tucking his thumbs into his pockets. "Let's get goin' then… after yeh, Molly, Arthur…"

Sirius Black padded after Harry, barking. Sometimes, he would run between Elizabeth and Harry.

The Leaky Cauldron was, for the first time in Elizabeth's memory, completely empty. Only Tom the landlord, wizened and toothless, remained of the old crowd. He looked up hopefully as they entered, but before he could speak, Hagrid said importantly, "Jus' passin' through today, Tom, sure yeh understand, Hogwarts business, yeh know."

Tom nodded gloomily and returned to wiping glasses; Harry, Hermione, Hagrid, Elizabeth, Sirius Black, and the Weasleys walked through the bar and out into the chilly little courtyard at the back where the dustbins stood. Hagrid raised his pink umbrella and rapped a certain brick in the wall, which opened at once to form an archway onto a winding cobbled street. They stepped through the entrance and paused, looking around.

Diagon Alley had changed. The colourful, glittering window displays of spellbooks, potion ingredients, and cauldrons were lost to view, hidden behind the large Ministry of Magic posters that had been pasted over them. Most of these sombre purple posters carried blown-up versions of the security advice on the Ministry pamphlets that had been sent out over the summer, but others bore moving black-and-white photographs of Death Eaters known to be on the loose. Bellatrix Lestrange was sneering from the front of the nearest apothecary. A few windows were boarded up, including those of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. On the other hand, a number of shabby-looking stalls had sprung up along the street.

The nearest one, which had been erected outside Flourish and Blotts, under a striped, stained awning, had a cardboard sign pinned to its front:

AMULETS

Effective Against Werewolves, Dementors, and Inferi!

A seedy-looking little wizard was rattling armfuls of silver symbols on chains at passersby.

"One for your little girl, madam?" he called at Mrs. Weasley as they passed, leering at Ginny. "Protect her pretty neck?"

Elizabeth snarled at the wizard. Mr. Weasley seemed to have the same feelings.

"If I were on duty…" said Mr. Weasley, glaring angrily at the amulet seller.

"Yes, but don't go arresting anyone now, dear, we're in a hurry," said Mrs. Weasley, nervously consulting a list. "I think we'd better do Madam Malkin's first, Hermione wants new dress robes, and Ron's showing much too much ankle in his school robes, and you must need new ones too, Harry, you've grown so much…You as well, Elizabeth…come on, everyone…"

"Molly, it doesn't make sense for all of us to go to Madam Malkin's," said Mr. Weasley. "Why don't those four go with Hagrid, and we can go to Flourish and Blotts and get everyone's school-books?"

"I don't know," said Mrs. Weasley anxiously, clearly torn between a desire to finish the shopping quickly and the wish to stick together in a pack.

"Hagrid, do you think —?"

"Don't fret, they'll be fine with me, Molly," said Hagrid soothingly, waving an airy hand the size of a dustbin lid. Mrs. Weasley did not look entirely convinced, but allowed the separation, scurrying off toward Flourish and Blotts with her husband and Ginny while Harry, Weasley, Granger, Elizabeth, and Hagrid set off for Madam Malkin's.

Elizabeth noticed that many of the people who passed them had the same harried, anxious look as Mrs. Weasley, and that nobody was stopping to talk anymore; the shoppers stayed together in their own tightly knit groups, moving intently about their business. Nobody seemed to be shopping alone. It seemed to be dark times. Everyone was worried and afraid for their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Elizabeth frowned. She really hated Voldemort.

"Migh' be a bit of a squeeze in there with all of us," said Hagrid, stopping outside Madam Malkin's and bending down to peer through the window. "I'll stand guard outside, all right?"

So Harry, Weasley, Elizabeth, and Hermione entered the little shop together. It appeared, at first glance, to be empty, but no sooner had the door swung shut behind them than they heard a familiar voice issuing from behind a rack of dress robes in spangled green and blue.

"… not a child, in case you haven't noticed, Mother. I am perfectly capable of doing my shopping alone."

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed. Malfoy.

There was a clucking noise and a voice Elizabeth recognized as that of Madam Malkin, the owner, said, "Now, dear, your mother's quite right, none of us is supposed to go wandering around on our own anymore, it's nothing to do with being a child…"

"Watch where you're sticking that pin, will you!"

A teenage boy with a pale, pointed face and white-blond hair appeared from behind the rack, wearing a handsome set of dark green robes that glittered with pins around the hem and the edges of the sleeves. He strode to the mirror and examined himself; it was a few moments before he noticed Harry, Weasley, and Granger reflected over his shoulder. His light gray eyes narrowed.

"If you're wondering what the smell is, Mother, a Mudblood just walked in," said Draco Malfoy.

Elizabeth growled.

"I don't think there's any need for language like that!" said Madam Malkin, scurrying out from behind the clothes rack holding a tape measure and a wand. "And I don't want wands drawn in my shop either!" she added hastily, for a glance toward the door had shown her Harry, Elizabeth, and Weasley both standing there with their wands out and pointing at Malfoy. Granger, who was standing slightly behind them, whispered, "No, don't, honestly, it's not worth it."

"Yeah, like you'd dare do magic out of school," sneered Malfoy. "Who blacked your eye, Granger? I want to send them flowers."

"Who made you look like an ugly git, Malfoy?" taunted Elizabeth. "Because they really deserve an Order of Merlin for that."

"That's quite enough!" said Madam Malkin sharply, looking over her shoulder for support. "Madam, please!"

Narcissa Malfoy strolled out from behind the clothes rack.

"Put those away," she said coldly to Harry, Elizabeth, and Weasley. "If you attack my son again, I shall ensure that it is the last thing you ever do."

"Really?" said Harry, taking a step forward and gazing into the smoothly arrogant face that, for all its pallor, still resembled her sister's. He was as tall as she was now. "Going to get a few Death Eater pals to do us in, are you?"

"Oh, no, Mrs. Malfoy is purely capable in her own right," Elizabeth said. "She, after all, was a Black."

Madam Malkin squealed and clutched at her heart.

"Really, you shouldn't accuse… dangerous thing to say… wands away, please!"

But no one lowered their wands. Narcissa Malfoy smiled unpleasantly.

"I see that being Dumbledore's favourite has given you a false sense of security, Harry Potter. But Dumbledore won't always be there to protect you."

Harry looked mockingly all around the shop. "Wow… look at that… he's not here now! So why not have a go? They might be able to find you a double cell in Azkaban with your loser of a husband!"

Malfoy made an angry movement toward Harry, but stumbled over his overlong robe. Weasley laughed loudly.

"Don't you dare talk to my mother like that, Potter!" Malfoy snarled.

"It's all right, Draco," said Narcissa, restraining him with her thin white fingers upon his shoulder. "I expect that Potter will be reunited with his parents before I am reunited with Lucius."

Harry raised his wand higher.

"Harry, no!" moaned Granger, grabbing his arm and attempting to push it down by his side. "Think… You mustn't… You'll be in such trouble…"

Madam Malkin dithered for a moment on the spot, then seemed to decide to act as though nothing was happening in the hope that it wouldn't. She bent toward Malfoy, who was still glaring at Harry.

"I think this left sleeve could come up a little bit more, dear, let me just…"

"Ouch!" bellowed Malfoy, slapping her hand away. Elizabeth frowned. Something wasn't right there… "Watch where you're putting your pins, woman! Mother, I don't think I want these anymore."

He pulled the robes over his head and threw them onto the floor at Madam Malkin's feet.

"You're right, Draco," said Narcissa, with a contemptuous glance at Granger, "now I know the kind of scum that shops here… We'll do better at Twilfitt and Tatting's."

"Perhaps you should do better to just stay at your own house," said Elizabeth coolly.

Narcissa smiled unpleasantly at Elizabeth. "How is your dear father anyways? Not in any…trouble, I hope?"

Elizabeth smiled back at Narcissa, just as unpleasantly. "He is doing fine, thank you."

"Perhaps not for long," said Narcissa.

And with that, the pair of them strode out of the shop, Malfoy taking care to bang as hard as he could into Weasley on the way out.

Elizabeth frowned. Was that an actual threat or just a tactic to make Elizabeth nervous? She made a mental note to be careful anyways.

"Got ev'rything?" asked Hagrid brightly when they reappeared at his side.

"Just about," said Harry. "Did you see the Malfoys?"

"Yeah," said Hagrid, unconcerned. "Bu they wouldn' dare make trouble in the middle o' Diagon Alley, Harry. Don' worry about them."

Harry, Weasley, and Granger exchanged looks and Elizabeth had sighed, but before they could disabuse Hagrid of this comfortable notion, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny appeared, all clutching heavy packages of books.

"Everyone all right?" said Mrs. Weasley. "Got your robes? Right then, we can pop in at the Apothecary and Eeylops on the way to Fred and George's… stick close, now…"

Neither Harry nor Ron bought any ingredients at the Apothecary, but both bought large boxes of owl nuts for Hedwig and Pigwidgeon at Eeylops Owl Emporium. Then, with Mrs. Weasley checking her watch every minute or so, they headed farther along the street in search of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the joke shop run by the Weasley twins.

"We really haven't got too long," Mrs. Weasley said. "So we'll just have a quick look around and then back to the car. We must be close, that's number ninety-two… ninety-four…"

"Whoa," said Weasley, stopping in his tracks.

Set against the dull, poster-muffled shop Fronts around them, the Weasley twins' windows hit the eye like a firework display.

Casual passersby were looking back over their shoulders at the windows, and a few rather stunned-looking people had actually come to a halt, transfixed. The left-hand window was dazzlingly full of an assortment of goods that revolved, popped, flashed, bounced, and shrieked; Elizabeth's eyes began to water just looking at it. The right-hand window was covered with a gigantic poster, purple like those of the Ministry, but emblazoned with flashing yellow letters:

WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT

YOU-KNOW-WHO?

YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT

U-NO-POO —

THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION

THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION!

Elizabeth and Harry started to laugh. She heard a weak sort of moan beside her and looked around to see Mrs. Weasley gazing, dumbfounded, at the poster. Her lips moved silently, mouthing the name "U-No-Poo."

"They'll be murdered in their beds!" she whispered.

"No they won't!" said Weasley, who, like Harry and Elizabeth, was laughing. "This is brilliant!"

And he, Elizabeth, and Harry led the way into the shop. It was packed with customers; Elizabeth could not get near the shelves. She stared around, looking up at the boxes piled to the ceiling: Here were the Skiving Snackboxes that the twins had perfected during their last, unfinished year at Hogwarts; Elizabeth noticed that the Nosebleed Nougat was most popular, with only one battered box left on the shelf. There were bins full of trick wands, the cheapest merely turning into rubber chickens or pairs of briefs when waved, the most expensive beating the unwary user around the head and neck, and boxes of quills, which came in Self-Inking, Spell-Checking, and Smart-Answer varieties. To be honest, Elizabeth didn't really trust them.

A space cleared in the crowd, and Elizabeth and Harry pushed their way toward the counter, where a gaggle of delighted ten-year-olds was watching a tiny little wooden man slowly ascending the steps to a real set of gallows, both perched on a box that read: Reusable hangman - spell it or he'll swing!

"'Patented Daydream Charms…'"

Granger had managed to squeeze through to a large display near the counter and was reading the information on the back of a box bearing a highly coloured picture of a handsome youth and a swooning girl who were standing on the deck of a pirate ship.

"'One simple incantation and you will enter a top-quality, highly realistic, thirty-minute daydream, easy to fit into the average school lesson and virtually undetectable (side effects include vacant expression and minor drooling). Not for sale to under-sixteens.' "You know," said Granger, looking up at Harry, "that really is extraordinary magic!"

"For that, Hermione," said a voice behind them, "you can have one for free."

Elizabeth nearly pouted. Granger had all the luck.

One of the beaming twins stood before them, wearing a set of magenta robes that clashed magnificently with his flaming hair.

"How are you, Harry?" They shook hands. "And what's happened to your eye, Hermione?"

"Your punching telescope," she said ruefully.

"Oh blimey, I forgot about those," said the twin. "Here —"

He pulled a tub out of his pocket and handed it to her; she unscrewed it gingerly to reveal a thick yellow paste.

"Just dab it on, that bruise'll be gone within the hour," said the same twin. George, maybe? Perhaps Fred? "We had to find a decent bruise remover. We're testing most of our products on ourselves."

Granger looked nervous. "It is safe, isn't it?" she asked.

Very careful of Granger…So, very Slytherin of her.

"Course it is," said the twin bracingly. "Come on, Harry, I'll give you a tour."

The twin and Harry left together. Elizabeth helped Granger put the paste on her eye. Soon, Ginny caught up to them. Granger and Ginny continued to look over the Patented Daydreams Charms. Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Although they were probably very handy, Elizabeth found it easy to slip into a daydream. Plus, she was also able to play music in her head, which was really helpful since CD players didn't exactly work at Hogwarts.

Without even noticing, accidentally slipping into a daydream herself, one of the twins, perhaps the same one as earlier, and Harry walked up to the three of them.

"Haven't you girls found our special WonderWitch products yet?" asked one of the twins. "Follow me, ladies…"

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. This should be…interesting.

Near the window was an array of violently pink products around which a cluster of excited girls was giggling enthusiastically. Granger, Elizabeth, and Ginny both hung back, looking wary.

"There you go," said one of the twins proudly. "Best range of love potions you'll find anywhere."

Yeah, she thought so.

Ginny raised an eyebrow sceptically. "Do they work?" she asked.

…Oh, come on Ginny. She had better be asking because she was just curious, not because she wanted to use them…

"Certainly they work, for up to twenty-four hours at a time depending on the weight of the boy in question…"

"… and the attractiveness of the girl," said the other twin, reappearing suddenly at their side. "But we're not selling them to our sister," he added, becoming suddenly stern, "not when she's already got about five boys on the go from what we've…"

"Whatever you've heard from Ron is a big fat lie," said Ginny calmly, leaning forward to take a small pink pot off the shelf. "What's this?"

"Guaranteed ten-second pimple vanisher," said one of the twins. "Excellent on everything from boils to blackheads, but don't change the subject. Are you or are you not currently going out with a boy called Dean Thomas?"

"Yes, I am," said Ginny. "And last time I looked, he was definitely one boy, not five. What are those?"

She was pointing at a number of round balls of fluff in shades of pink and purple, all rolling around the bottom of a cage and emitting high-pitched squeaks.

"Pygmy Puffs," said one of the twins. "Miniature puffskeins, we can't breed them fast enough. So what about Michael Corner?"

"I dumped him, he was a bad loser," said Ginny, putting a finger through the bars of the cage and watching the Pygmy Puffs crowd around it. "They're really cute!"

"They're fairly cuddly, yes," conceded one of the twins. "But you're moving through boyfriends a bit fast, aren't you?"

Elizabeth nearly sighed.

Ginny turned to look at him, her hands on her hips.

"It's none of your business. And I'll thank you'' she added angrily to Weasley, who had just appeared at one of the twin's elbow, laden with merchandise, "not to tell tales about me to these two!"

"That's three Galleons, nine Sickles, and a Knut," said one of the twins, examining the many boxes in Weasley's arms. "Cough up."

"I'm your brother!"

"And that's our stuff you're nicking. Three Galleons, nine Sickles. I'll knock off the Knut."

"But I haven't got three Galleons, nine Sickles!"

"You'd better put it back then, and mind you put it on the right shelves."

Damn, how heartless.

Weasley dropped several boxes, swore, and made a rude hand gesture at one of the twins that was unfortunately spotted by Mrs. Weasley, who had chosen that moment to appear.

"If I see you do that again I'll jinx your fingers together," she said sharply.

"Mum, can I have a Pygmy Puff?" said Ginny at once.

"A what?" said Mrs. Weasley warily.

"Look, they're so sweet…"

Mrs. Weasley moved aside to look at the Pygmy Puffs, and Elizabeth, who was standing right next to them, noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione looking out of the window. She looked as well and scowled. Draco Malfoy was hurrying up the street alone. As he passed Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, he glanced over his shoulder. Seconds later, he moved beyond the scope of the window and they lost sight of him.

"Wonder where his mummy is?" said Harry, frowning.

"Given her the slip by the looks of it," said Weasley.

"Why, though?" said Granger.

It seemed that they were in their 'trio mode' in which case they completely forgot about their surroundings and tried to figure out a problem. Although Elizabeth had barely seen this before, other students were calling these moments 'trio mode' around the school. So far, the 'Golden Trio', as people so wisely named them, hadn't noticed. Still, Elizabeth had to admit she was curious. Why would Malfoy leave his mother behind? After all, his mother was bound to be overprotective of Malfoy, especially after Lucius Malfoy being sent to Azkaban.

She noticed Harry glancing around. He caught her eye and frowned. Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"I expect information," Elizabeth said lowly, making sure that only Harry could hear her.

Harry nodded and out of his bag, he pulled out…a cloak?

"Get under here, quick," said Harry.

"Oh — I don't know, Harry," said Granger, looking uncertainly toward Mrs. Weasley.

"Come on," said Weasley.

She hesitated for a second longer and then ducked under the cloak with Harry and Weasley.

After the door had closed, that was surreal, Mrs. Weasley had turned around and frowned.

"Where's Harry, Ron, and Hermione?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

"They went to the back room," answered Elizabeth easily. "They told me to tell you if I was going to go look around the shop."

Mrs. Weasley frowned. "Well…alright. Go ahead and look around, dear."

Elizabeth smiled politely at Mrs. Weasley. "Thank you very much."

Leaving Ginny with her mother, Elizabeth moved around the shop. After Harry, Granger, and Weasley returned, luckily stating that they went into the back room and after Elizabeth bought some of the shield clothing (the shield cloak, hat, and gloves), as well as Instant Darkness Powder, they left Diagon Alley.

A/N: This chapter is a long one. I was thinking that I should split it into two parts, but then I was like, "Nah…" Yes, I do realize that the bruises were never mentioned again. Harry decided not to ask and Elizabeth wasn't going to ask unless asked first (of course, that may change later, when she gets curious or worried enough). And what happened to Padfoot? He stayed outside with Hagrid. They didn't think having Padfoot go inside was a good idea. And yes, Elizabeth was told this information between chapters, whenever the next chapter pertaining what happened in the shop is mentioned. Not sure when that'll be. Alright, thanks for reading. :) Also, guys, I write the author notes after I finish righting the chapter. xD