Chapter 29: Nott the Best Shopping Trip

"I think I'm going to head toward the Apothecary," Theo stated once they arrived in Diagon Alley for some supply shopping.

There had been a very thorough search about the immediate area to make sure that there were no potentially dangerous wizards on the loose. As of the last meeting there had been no more heard from any of the Death Eaters. It seemed that they had gone on some sort of rampage for the sake of it. This did not mean that Harry had been allowed to roam the streets alone. He was currently in the sights of Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks, Remus, and Arthur Weasley. There were so many students running about the shopping district that the Order Members, save Moody, found it acceptable to allow Theo and Harry the ability to wander toward the stores without standing right on top of them pair

Harry smiled at Theo as he walked arm in arm with the lanky boy. Inside the Apothecary they were greeted by the usual gruff man. Harry remembered how the man had just stared at him awkwardly when he was last there. He remember, with a touch of guilt, that he'd had feathers for Theo. Those too were lost to Ainsley. Harry had asked both Remus and Snape (when the man was at Black House) if Dumbledore had made any mentions about getting his wand back in some form or fashion. Both of the men stated that Dumbledore had been working on it, but both were also unaware of exactly how he planned on doing so.

While his boyfriend was looking specifically for certain ingredients Harry was just proud of himself for making his O.W.L.s in Potions. Theo was in the back corner looking at shrivelfigs while he debated buying more Jobberknoll feathers.

Before he could decide the door to the Apothecary opened, but Harry noticed no one in particular had stepped in. He and Theo were the only customers at the moment. Harry stared at the door as it slowly closed back. The man at the counter was busy flipping through an old book. The wind? How could it have been the wind? Whatever it was he decided it was hardly worth mentioning and took some of the feathers after deciding that he should in fact grab some.

When he went to the register he made sure Theo was still busy with his own shopping. The man observed that he seemed to like those feathers as he remembered Harry being in their earlier that summer. Harry just gave a weak smile and kept the bag to himself. He hoped Theo wouldn't ask what he bought. Theo came up to pay shortly after with several jars and bags. "I always buy half the store when I come here."

"That's why you're going to be a Potions Master," Harry said.

"Where do you want to go next?" Theo asked as he pulled out the due amount. He handed the man an extra Galleon simply for being a good clerk.

They stepped out of the shop and back into the hustle. As they strolled, Harry felt something brush along his arm, but when he looked he saw nothing. Someone could have easily walked by and their robe could have ran over his arm. If they hurried by quick enough then he would not catch them. Harry pulled Theo along toward the book store—Flourish and Blotts. Theo made mention that he would like to visit the Amanuensis Quills shop afterwards.

With as much misfortune as Harry had he should have known that upon entering the book store he would be facing Molly and John Dawlish who were there for Ginny and apparently Hermione who happened to be with the couple. Dawlish, for some reason, had his wand out. He looked dressed for a duel. Harry remembered being told that he was an Auror, so the possibility of him being ready for possibly Death Eater raids was likely. Harry flinched as Molly called his name and tried to motion him over.

"Oh, look at you Harry. You're all grown up." Molly's hands cupped his cheeks and he tried to smile at the woman. "And who is this fine young man?" Molly's eyes traveled up Theo's slender form as he stood by waiting for the red headed woman to unhand his boyfriend.

Harry stepped back and pointed at Theo and said, "Theodore, this is Molly… erm…"

"Dawlish. Molly Dawlish." Harry nodded curtly. So, it appeared as if she'd managed to marry the man. "It's so nice to meet you Theodore."

Theo gave a slight bow and looked toward the stern man. They both watched one another for a moment before Theo claimed that he was going to find an Herbology book. Molly summoned her daughter and Hermione over from their spot somewhere across the store as they too searched for texts.

"Hello, Harry," Hermione said upon seeing him.

Harry said hello to her and then turned to Ginny. The youngest of the Weasley children was very melancholy and quiet. She said hello, but glanced over at her mother who was speaking with her new husband. The man was talking back, but Harry couldn't understand what it was he was saying. Eventually the couple made their way further from the three teens. "Are you two having a good Summer?"

"It's been fine. I went with my family to France for a month and then I came back and have been staying with Ginny at Mr. Dawlish's home."

Harry awaited Ginny's reply, but the girl sighed. "Everything alright Ginny?"

Ginny glanced at Hermione who answered, "I'm certain that you are aware things have been very strained in the Weasley household. Well, recently, when Molly and Dawlish had their paper work sorted through, officially wedding them, Ginny had to return to The Burrow and get her things."

"I'm sorry that things have been really difficult for you, Ginny."

Ginny shrugged and finally spoke. "Isn't your fault. Dad's been seeing someone more recently. Mum got married. Blimey Harry, that man's just so austere and authoritative."

Hermione nodded in agreement. "He checks all the bedrooms to make sure the beds are made up in the morning."

There was a small giggle from Ginny. "I wasn't aware of this rule until after breakfast when we were all sitting there eating and he just stares at me until I asked, What? He just glances as Mum and says, 'It's so tragic, Molly. Children aren't as disciplined as they used to be.'" As she quoted Dawlish she put on a fake gruff voice. They all began to laugh.

When Molly and Dawlish returned Ginny and Hermione excused themselves and promised that they should see him at school. Harry said good-bye to Molly and Dawlish as well. Molly gave him a parting hug, but Dawlish eyed him severely.

Harry went in search of his boyfriend who happened to be in the general vicinity with both of their books stacks next to him. "I went ahead and pulled them for you."

Harry kissed him. "Thanks, Handsome. I appreciate it."

Theo winked at him and blew a kiss in return. Harry nearly swooned. They both went to pay for their things so that they could go get some quills and ink from the Quill shop. Theo liked the more elegant quills, while Harry was quite fond of the plane and usual. "I blame my father," Theo had said as he picked up a large and extremely fleecy quill. "He always had such nice quills."

When they were done with that. Both were relatively completed in regards to shopping, except Theo needed some alterations to his robes. He'd grown a little over the course of the summer. "I heard at Durmstrang, if you wear the wrong size robes, or something like that, you have to do a walk of shame about the school with a sign," Theo said as they pushed through the doors.

"Who told you this?" Harry asked.

Theo shrugged. "I do a lot of sitting in corners of places and listening to people talk back in the Slytherin Common room."

Harry snickered as they both stood waiting to be serviced at Madam Malkin's Robes. Harry nearly forgot that Adrien Pucey had taken a position as an apprentice to the woman. When the young man saw them enter he immediately stopped servicing the young Hufflepuff he was doing alterations for and ran toward them, grabbing them both up in a strangling hug. "After I finish with that girl there I will take one of you as my next victim," the boy grinned and rushed back over to finish the girl.

Madam Malkin approached and asked which one would be interested in going next. Theo and Harry had to make the decision on who trusted Pucey more with their school robes. "You go with Madam Malkin," Theo told Harry. Harry looked at him as if asking if he was certain. Theo nodded.

Harry was up on the stand as Madam Malkin changed this or that. He stood as stiff as he could. Theo was taken up soon after Harry was. Pucey pointed out to his Superior how much longer he was going to have to make Theo's robes.

"You need to seriously stop, Theo. You're going to be wearing size Giant one of these years."

The older witch almost got onto Pucey for his words to a customer, but Theo laughed and told her they were close friends.

"I'm not that tall. Besides, I should be done growing now."

"Hopefully."

When they were done getting their robes fitted and reworked, they paid and gave their respects of Graham Montague to the man's fiancé who smiled and waved them out the door. Madam Malkin too seemed pleased and waved as they left. Harry wasn't sure what they should do after that. Stopping for some Ice Cream was an idea.

"Are you still interested in joining the Slytherin Quidditch team?" Harry asked as they walked up the street.

"I still don't know. Are you suggesting that we might head to the Quidditch Supplies?"

Harry pulled Theo and hit a solid wall of nothing. Something was definitely in his way, but all he saw was the remaining stretch of Diagon Alley and all of its occupants. Harry backed away. Luckily, Theo seemed to notice is at well. In a hushed whisper a voice said, "If you want to live, you will follow me."

After those words were spoken it was as if everything else inside of bustling street was silence. All Harry could hear was the sound of his heart beating. Theo looked down at him and his eyes were narrowed with worry and disbelief. "Who are you?" Harry asked. He reached out to see if he felt the solidness. It was gone.

"Follow the shoes."

Both boy's glanced down and saw a pair of brown shoes, but nothing else. Harry wasn't sure if those shoes were to be trusted.

"Tell me who you are."

Theo's grip on Harry's arm was stronger than before. "Harry, we should find-"

"No, you will follow me or lose your lives. Pick one, now."

Harry watched as the shoes took off down the walkway. He decided to drag Theo along until he realized the shoes were going into Knockturn Alley. "We can't," Harry tried calling after the shoes, but they didn't stop.

Theo pulled Harry's robe hood over his head and then his own. "Speak to no one," Theo whispered.

Harry had been in Knockturn Alley after the nasty incident of Floo in his second year. Harry heard the sound of wind whipping between the small spaces between the tall and narrow buildings. The shoes were turning a corner. Harry wasn't sure if this was a good idea. He had been silly in supposing a pair of shoes could be trusted. The shoes were seen waiting at another turn that would have them behind the majority of shops. Harry squeezed through the narrow passage with Theo holding his hand as tightly as was possible without hurting.

When they were through and out of sight. The shoes stopped and turned in a way that would suggest they were being looked at. That was, if the shoes belongs to an actual person.

"Explain yourself," Theo said in a low and dangerous voice. He still had his wand and Harry saw him reaching for it. "Who are you and what do you want with us."

"I am only here for Harry." The shoes were no longer whispering and it made it a lot easier to tell who the voice belonged to. Harry's heart sank into his stomach. He needed to puke. The man pulled off the invisibility cloak revealing Broderick Ainsley. "But I suppose since you too make such a dashing pair it's a good thing I caught you both."

There was no more doubting. Theo whipping his wand out and pointed it right at the man's face. "I'll hex you into Oblivion."

Ainsley laughed. "Oh, Theodore, put that away. I am not your enemy."

"You kidnapped me!" Harry snapped after getting out of his stupor. "Where are my things?"

Ainsley reached into his own cloak pocket and pulled out two wands. One was visibly told to be Harry's. Harry reached out to snatch it, but the man was more than willing to hand it over. "And this is your Invisibility cloak. I borrowed it. I've been waiting the last few days for you to come. The Death Eaters have been all around the place. I've planted several of your things around Muggle London to side track them, but I know it won't keep them long. They plan on raiding Diagon Alley."

Theo growled, "How do you know this?"

Ainsley gave and exasperated sigh. "Please, if you are going to successfully leave then you must trust me."

Harry shook his head. "I knew there was something up with you." The man reached out toward Harry. Two wands were now pointed directly in his face. "Don't come near me."

"I am not the bad guy. True, I've made bad decision, but when I found out they were going to come after you when someone gave them a tip that you were at the Leaky Cauldron I had to rescue you. You would not have made it till the morning when Arthur was supposed to retrieve you."

"How did you know? Are you one of them? Are you a Death Eater?"

Ainsley tried not to get snappy back with the teenagers. He'd honestly done nothing wrong. Keeping Harry's things had been the extent of his bad deeds toward the Golden Boy. "As I've said, I made bad decisions."

Theo seemed to be getting nervous. His head jerked at the sound of someone walking close to the small corner they'd turned down. "How do you know about the Death Eater Raid that is supposedly happening soon?"

Ainsley gave a crushed frown. "Because they were down the alley talking. As long as they have their wearing those masks they feel invincible." Ainsley reached into his robe and pulled out his own mask. Harry swallowed hard.

In a quiet voice, Harry asked, "Where do we go?"

"As far away from here as possible. I have a Portkey for you. It's from Dumbledore."

Harry wanted to scream. What was going on? Dumbledore was in on this as well? Why had the man been lying to him? Why could Ainsley not stop speaking so cryptically? Harry felt his face begin to burn. He was furious. He grunted and said, "Just give me the Portkey."

"Good luck Mr. Potter and Mr. Nott." Ainsely left around the corner in a flourish of black robes.

The Portkey in Harry's hand was a simple clicking pen. Harry held it out for Theo to take a hold of. "I don't know where this goes or if Dumbledore gave it to him. Are you ready to be foolhardy with me?"

Theo leaned down and pressed a firm kiss over the slight boy's lips. "Always."

Theo's fingers grasped the pen. It took a moment for anything to happen. The apparent trigger for such a Portkey was the Morsmordre summoning of the Dark Mark up into the sky. There were screams. And if they looked up they could barely see the edge of the symbol above them because of the tall buildings that engulfs them in the sub alley to Knockturn Alley. After the mark had been in the sky a full minute the Portkey was activated and Harry felt himself being stretched extra thin.