(Disclaimer: If it's in the first six official books, it belongs to J.K. Rowling. If it's in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, kudos go to Fred and George Weasley. (Also Rowling's stuff, but don't tell them that!) )

For those who don't know, NFL is the National Football League. NBA's basketball. I don't watch sports, but it was the best way I could think of to describe Hagrid without a cliché.

Chapter 10: Diagon Alley

When Tonks stopped the Ministry car stopped outside a seedy-looking pub, Talione was having second thoughts—fourths, by this time-- about going to Diagon Alley. The black-bearded giant awaiting them in front of it was scowling at the passerby who turned to stare at him. Recruiters for the NBA or the NFL would drool if they saw him, if they could disregard the coat made of a hide Talione didn't recognize or the pink umbrella he carried.

"We'll be done in a few hours," Mr. Weasley told Tonks. She nodded and pulled away without another word. She had been unusually quiet that morning and none of them figured out why yet.

As soon as Harry got out of the car the giant swept him up in a bearhug. Harry rubbed his ribs when he was set down again, but he looked overjoyed to see the giant. "Hello, Hagrid! We didn't know you were the bodyguard!" Diagon Alley was an attack waiting to happen with so many students about and an Auror group had been installed there a couple weeks ago for protection. But Harry was Harry and he needed personal guard as well. He'd been irritable when he heard the news.

"With a bundle o' Aurors here already," Hagrid said cheerfully, "Yeh don' need any more followin' yeh all 'round." He gave them teenagers a once-over, frowning when he saw Talione behind Ron. "Yeh mus' be Talione. Who hexed yer eyes?"

"No one. They came that way." Talione said waspishly. It was fun when he shocked Ginny, Ron, and Harry at breakfast but now he wished he had his glasses back, even if he hadn't figured out how to get rid of the blue color. The Muggles were giving him a few double-takes as well.

Mrs. Weasley was in the same state of anxiety. "Can we please go in?"

Hagrid nodded and led the way into the pub. The large pub was deserted, rows of empty tables and chairs cluttering the floor. The only occupant was a man standing behind the bar, drying a stack of glasses. He looked up hopefully when they came in and then sighed when he noted four of them were of school age. "Passin' through, Tom," Hagrid said.

They crossed the floor and went out a back door into a small stone courtyard devoid of anything but trash and weeds. Here Hagrid raised his umbrella and tapped a few bricks in the middle of the wall in front of them. Talione jumped when the wall groaned loudly and a hole appeared in the middle, growing larger as the bricks peeled back to form an archway.

A few of the store windows he could see from the arch were boarded up, and many of the other windows were covered in large white Wanted posters with pictures of loose Death Eaters and smaller Ministry of Magic posters in purple giving advice on combating creatures like Boggarts and Dementors. Ranged along the street were a few small stalls advertising trinkets for protection that were very likely useless junk, like the yellow plastic ring his brother found in a cereal box.

Mr. Weasley glowered at the nearest stall where someone was rattling runes on chains at the passing shoppers. "I thought the Aurors would've rid the street of those. If I was only on duty…"

"Wait until Monday for that, we're in a hurry," Mrs. Weasley said, consulting a list. "We should go to Flourish and Blotts and then Madame Malkin's, Merlin knows you need new robes again, Ron, I wish you would stop growing..."

"I have to go to the bank to get the money first," Talione reminded her.

There was an "Oops," from Hagrid and he pulled a jingling moneybag from one of the coat's pockets and handed it to him. "I forgot all abou' that. Dumbledore said its yers."

"Thanks." Talione opened the bag and stirred the contents with his finger. It was a majority of silver with a few gold coins at the bottom and he tied the bag again.

Ron's eyes were wide. "Do we get one?"

"Sure! But it comes with three feet of red tape, Hogwarts issue," Talione told him. Ron grimaced. "Yeah, I thought so. It's only a loan anyways." Although it was a little heavy to be comfortable, the string on the bag was long enough to go around his neck with his permit and he zipped his jacket over it to foil would-be thieves. "What's Flourish and Blotts?"

"Bookstore," Ginny answered. "Mum, do we all need to go? We'll be done faster if we split up."

The others agreed with her. None of them knew where Hermione was and they wanted to see her and get the maximum time possible at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Mrs. Weasley was torn between getting the shopping done early and the safety of the group. "All right," she conceded. "Ginny, you're staying with us. Hagrid can you see the boys to Madame Malkin's?"

"Don' fret, Molly," Hagrid said reassuringly. "I'll keep an eye on them."

"Keep your eyes open for Bill and Hermione," Mr. Weasley reminded them unnecessarily. "We'll meet at Fred and George's shop."

The groups split up despite Mrs. Weasley's misgivings and her group set off towards the bookstore. Talione kept his eyes open as they walked to Madame Malkin's. There were Aurors spread out along the street; some wore bright red robes to make themselves stand out, one posted at least every several yards, but Talione noticed a few customers sitting at tables and talking quietly where the Aurors were absent. They were very alert for shoppers, not quite pulling off the casual look, like plainclothes cops at home. The real shoppers were huddled in their small groups, nervously looking around as they walked and no one talked to anyone else except for the occasional hello from students Ron or Harry knew. A couple saw Hermione and Bill earlier, but couldn't say where they were.

Madame Malkin's only had two posters in the window. One showed an ugly troll of a man named Goyle and the other described a Dementor. Since he was so big Hagrid chose to stand guard outside while the others got their robes. The shop was brighter inside than others because of the fewer papers blocking the sunlight and they were greeted by Madame Malkin herself.

There was a young woman with long black hair already on a footstool at the back of the shop getting fitted for new robes by a younger witch with pins in her mouth. She glanced at Talione when he got on the stool beside her. Madame Malkin dropped a black robe over his head and started pinning it.

The customer turned her head forward again to look at the mirror, and saw Ron and Harry reflected behind them. Harry's expression wasn't friendly. "Hello, Cho."

"Hello Harry, Ron," she said. Talione turned to look at them and got a pin jabbed in his leg. ("Hold still!")

"Are you still teaching the D.A. this year?" Cho asked Harry.

"Dunno. Depends on how bad the professor is in Defense this year," Harry said. "And if Edgecombe decides to betray us again."

Madame Malkin's assistant put in a last pin in Cho's robes and stood. "You're done, dear."

Cho stepped off the stool, glaring at Harry. "Marietta did what she thought was right. It wasn't fair for Granger to hex her like that. She still can't get the marks off!"

Ron snickered. "That's what she gets for running to Umbridge," he said. "No one double crosses us and gets away with it." The assistant gathered up Cho's robes and followed her to the front of the store. Cho didn't look at any of them while she paid and stalked out without another word.

"What's the D.A.?" Talione asked.

"Dumbledore's Army," Harry said. "Though I guess we should change it officially to Defense Association now, or something like it."

"So it's a dueling club?" Talione asked. He nodded.

"You should continue it, Harry," Ron said as he took Cho's place on the stool.

"It's like I told Cho," Harry said. "We're starting Newt studies this year. I might not have the time."

"Is Defense Against the Dark Arts the only class like that?" Talione asked.

"Yeah. And if no one volunteers for the position this year, Snape'll get it," Ron said. "He's been after it for years."

"Whether this Snape gets it or not, the D.A. sounds like a good opportunity to practice," Talione said. "With Voldemort--"

Ron winced and the assistant jabbed Ron with a pin. Madame Malkin gasped and dropped his hem. "Don't say that name!" she hissed, here eyes darting around the shop as if Death Eaters were going to spring out of the racks of clothes.

Talione grimaced at his reflection. "Why? He's an idiot. Just another man with idea of world domination," he said. Madame Malkin scowled.

Harry frowned and walked out of sight behind a row of dress robes. "You don't know him like we do," he said harshly. "He's more powerful than you think."

Since he was in England Talione erred on the side of caution and refrained from calling them scaredy-cats. "The Death Eaters are still human under that garbage they wear. They die just as easily as anyone else."

Madame Malkin's fingers shook as she put in a last pin and stood up. "If you have any common sense you will stop saying those things now!" she admonished, shaking a finger at him. "It is your choice to say such things but you will not do it in my shop, young man!"

Taken aback, Talione raised his hands in surrender. "All right, I'll shut up. Just let me pay for my stuff before you kick me out," he said. The witch's lips pursed and stayed that way while she wrapped and rang up his uniforms, happy to see his back as he went outside to join Hagrid.

"'Lo, Talione," said Hagrid. "Yeh get yer robes?"

"My cloak's on order, but I got the rest," Talione replied. He leaned against the bricks beside the door. Eeylops Owl Emporium was across the street a couple doors down. He could hear the hooting from inside the shop. He already missed Auric and Shadow fiercely and he would've liked an owl to keep him company, if he could afford to keep and care for one. "If I stayed in there any longer, Malkin would've hexed me. I still have a bunch to learn about Voldemort."

Hagrid flinched. A passing couple jumped and picked up their pace as they went past. A few feet to his right the nearby stall owner glanced askance at them and edged away. "I ough'da give you one of me amulets fer free," the vendor hissed. "Not good, saying You-Know-Who's name in public. Only Harry Potter has ever faced him and lived!"

Talione turned to look at him but before he could get out something spiteful the wizard flinched again. "Yer eyes! Already cursed, ye are!" He picked up one of the silver chains and tossed it at him. "Here! A gift fer better luck!"

He caught it. On the chain was a small mass of silver wire twisted around what looked like a black marble that glittered blue when Talione turned it in the sunlight. "Thank you," he said politely. Harry chose to exit the store with Ron right then. The vendor gaped when he saw Harry's famous scar and he muttered what sounded like a quick prayer under his breath. He was going to press more charms on them, but Hagrid started the group moving again first.

Talione thought Harry and Ron were going to give him a piece of their minds, but all Ron said was, "Seen Hermione yet?"

"No," said Hagrid. "No' yet."

Eeylops was their next stop for some Owl Treats for Pig and Hedwig, and then they visited the apothecary, Talione got a new Potions kit and Harry and Ron bought refills for theirs. Before they paid the other Weasleys joined them with Bill and Hermione, who promptly squeezed the breath out of Harry and Ron. She was happy to see Hagrid too, but her arms went only so far around him. She asked him about someone named Grawp. Grawp was fine but Hagrid gave Talione a suspicious look before he said so. It was a sore reminder of his status as an outsider.

While they walked to Fred and George's shop Mrs. Weasley deplored over Bill's long hair and choice of earrings and Hermione politely did her best to include Talione in the conversation. Her attempt fell flat as the subject changed to people they knew from school, in particular someone named Neville Longbottom she had seen in the Alley with his grandmother.

"…91...92…here we are," Mr. Weasley muttered beside Talione. "Whoa!"

The windows of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was an epileptic's worst nightmare. The yellow and purple sign over the door identified it as the right store, but it was not needed. The store was very clear against its sober neighbors. It looked like a firework display had been set off in the right window with a bundle of the store's products shrieking and flashing neon colors at the people going by. Several stopped in the street to gawk and impede traffic. The left window had two Ministry posters—pictures of a wizard named Macnair, and one Augustus Rookwood—and a poster of something that looked like a blue lunchbox. A small barrel sat behind the window with a label advertising the contents as fake barf.

Since he was too tall for the doorway Hagrid stayed outside again. The inside of the shop was extremely crowded and each of the party moved away as space opened up. Talione stayed near the door, unable to get near the shelves. He wished he was taller. The shelves were piled high with stuff like boxes of quills that wrote smart-aleck answers or checked spelling, Puking Pasties, punching telescopes, and fake wands.

The last was a reminder that he forgot to buy the most important thing on his list.

He saw Bill and Mr. Weasley standing in front of a black and white sign advertising Muggle magic tricks and moved slowly toward them. He passed Mrs. Weasley and Ginny, looking at a collection of pink shelves, but he couldn't find the other three in the crowd. "Mr. Weasley!" He pushed past a gaggle of little kids staring awe-struck at a bunch of colorful furballs rolling around in a cage. One of them tripped him and he stepped on Bill's foot. "Sorry, Bill. Wow, it's a zoo in here! You have a minute?"

Mr. Weasley put a box of card tricks back on the shelf. "What is it?"

"I forgot to go to Ollivanders!" Talione said urgently. "Can one of you take me when you're finished here?"

"Of course. Do you see Harry or Ron anywhere?" Mr. Weasley asked.

Talione looked around again. Ron was standing on the other side of the shop, talking to the puff of orange-hair in front of him. None of the Weasleys were that short, so he didn't know who it was. "I don't see Harry, but Ron's talking to someone near the Dungbombs."

"If we can get to the door, I can see you to Ollivanders," Bill said.

Talione laughed. "Hagrid said we have an hour left. It'll take half that to get out. Give my best to the twins, would you?" he told Mr. Weasley. "Pity I can't meet them today." Mr. Weasley nodded.

It didn't take half an hour to get out of the store, although it took a few stepped-on feet and curses to get there. After telling Hagrid where they were going, they set off. Bill kept his hand in his pocket as they walked down the street. "Is Ollivanders the only wand shop around here?" Talione asked.

"No, but if you want the best wand he's the one to go to," Bill said. "He remembers every wand he's ever sold, too."

Ollivander's shop looked drab in comparison to the twins' shop. The window was poster-less and dusty with a single wand on display on a fading purple pad. A red-robed Auror stood outside and Bill chose to stay outside with her.

When Talione opened the door he heard a tinkle deep in the rows of shelves behind the counter. "Hello?" The shop was tiny and the only furniture was a narrow wooden chair. The air was nearly solid with dust and magic and Talione shivered. The magic in the air whispered to his senses like Grimmauld Place, inaudible except for a faint impression of emotion. It was curious and friendly and old. "Has he been here the entire time?" Talione muttered, turning to look at the wand in the window again.

"The Ollivanders have made wands--"

"Yahh!" Talione almost jumped out of his skin and whirled around to see an old man standing behind him, watching him with misty silver eyes. They almost glowed in the dim shop.

"Since 32 b.c," Ollivander continued serenely, "But no, I'm not so old. Good morning. Please don't lean on the counter."

"Sorry."

Ollivander's eyes gazed past him to Bill and the Auror deep in conversation on the other side of the window, then those silver eyes turned back on Talione and Ollivander took another step closer, putting him almost nose to nose. Talione wished the ewizard would blink. "Hmmm…you are a little old to get your first wand here. What's your name?"

"Talione Riddle," he said. "I'm starting at Hogwarts at the end of the month."

"Hmm…I remember another Riddle who came in here…a long time ago," Mr. Ollivander said, his voice still soft. Talione didn't like the humming, or the pauses, or the feeling that something important was being held back from him. "Yew, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Powerful wand, that was." The back of Talione's neck prickled. He got the feeling Ollivander shook his head. "Let's see now…hold out your wand arm."

Talione held out his right arm. Ollivander pulled a tape measure with silver marks from his pocket and measured him from shoulder to finger, around his wrist, shoulder to elbow, floor to hair. While he did, he said, "There's a saying about wands: the wand chooses the wizard. No two Ollivander wands are alike, just as the creatures the cores come from are unalike. And you will get poorer results with another wizard's wand.."

Ollivander stepped back, but the measure continued measuring as he disappeared in the row of shelves and Talione heard him humming as he looked around for a particular wand. Ollivander reappeared a moment later with a couple boxes, put the boxes on the counter, and opened one and gave the wand to Talione. "Maple and dragon heartstring. Nine inches, whippy. Give it a wave!"

Feeling a bit silly Talione waved it and his fingers were nearly pulled away with the wand a moment later. "No, no, that isn't it, try this one." Ollivander gave him the second. "Willow and unicorn hair, eight inches, good for charms."

He tried it out, but it was taken too. Humming happily Ollivander returned to rummaging the shelves for more wands. A foot-long yew wand with unicorn hair failed. Two more maples and a rowan were deemed unsuitable. "I'm sorry, I seem to be a difficult customer," Talione said after the ninth wand.

"Not to worry, not to worry, the wand chooses the wizard, remember!" Ollivander said. He was absurdly happier as the wands stacked up. "We just have to find it. Try this one: holly and phoenix feather, nine inches."

Talione took it, but he didn't wave it. "You said you don't sell the same wand twice. This looks like Potter's."

Ollivander's eyebrows rose. "This wand is shorter and the feather comes from a different phoenix," he answered. "Go on, try it out!"

Talione shrugged and raised the wand over his head, then dropped his arm. It was like sticking his hand in an electric outlet; the wand went from cool to hot in his hand and a tongue of green and red fire burst from the end. Talione dropped it, flexing his fingers and looking for burns, but Ollivander cried, "Bravo!"

"It tried to burn me!" The wandmaker prodded the wand with his finger and when it didn't react he picked it up. He put it back in the box and sealed it with his own wand. "Will it do that every time I want to use it?"

"Oh, no, no, it won't do that again!" Ollivander assured him. "I never saw a wand do that before, but I guarantee it is safe. I would never sell you a dangerous wand!" He held out the box and Talione took it nervously. He kept the end pointed away.

The wand itself was six Galleons. A leather arm holster so he wouldn't have to keep his wand in his pockets was three of the silver coins. Money changed hands and Talione decided he'd be happy never to see the strange man and his shop again.