Encounters in the Alley

A/N: So—here's the Diagon Alley chapter you've all been waiting for! I know you're probably confused about the chapter numbers—some user kept telling me to delete the A/N chapters...they're still the same. Battle of the Labyrinth is now Chapter 37, and this is Chapter 38. Chapter 39 will be the train, and so on.

Anyways, school is A PAIN. My Social Studies teacher gave us some Middle Ages Project. Apparently it's required for all seventh-graders but I already have enough work on my belt...

I am so close to 100 followers! I have 93! I hope I can achieve 100; it would make me very happy! :)

Enjoy the next chapter of 'Love and Hate's Daughter!' :)

Lina POV

Anne and I land in the same fireplace I had landed in the last two years. The first year I landed here with Percy. The second year I landed here with the Weasley family. Now, I'm landing here with Anne.

Who will I land with next year?

I help her up and we go outside.

"Wow!" Anne exclaims, scanning the alley. "This place is amazing! So, when are we going to meet your friends?"

"Well, I have to find them first, Anne- Banana. I think they're at the Leaky Cauldron." I grab Anne's hand and we walk over there when someone's arm blocks us. I look up to see...Draco Malfoy AKA the slick git.

"Keep walking, maybe he'll go away, he's just a slick git anyway." I hiss in Anne's ear as I keep walking with her.

"I'm still here, you know, Quimby," He tells me.

I spin around and hiss: "Unfortunately."

Anne turns around as well and gets a good look at Malfoy. "You don't look like a slick git." She announces.

My eyes widen. "Anne!" I hiss.

Malfoy's attention turns to the little girl in front of me. "Where would you get that idea?"

"From her," Anne says, gesturing to me. "I don't think she likes you that much."

"That's an understatement," I mutter. "Anyways, what do you want?" I growl.

"I just wanted to know if your summer was alright, but if this is what I get for asking, fine." He says.

I snort. "Oh, please Malfoy, like you would care about me. Everyone knows that you only care for your precious daddy." I sneer at him.

"You know, you're impossible." He snaps at me.

"Not as much as you are," I snarl back.

"Lina," Anne interjects us. "Shouldn't we go meet your friends?"

"Yeah, Anne, you're right." I tell her. I give Malfoy one last sneer before I lead Anne to the Leaky Cauldron.

"Why do you hate him so much?" Anne says.

"Because he's a slick git," I tell Anne, as if that explains everything. "I mean, he always has a bone to pick with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, my best friends. He's an annoying jerk in general. And he's mean to the younger kids, the first-years. There is really nothing to like."

Anne, thankfully, drops it. I don't want to have to go into a full-fledge rant about how much I HATE Draco Malfoy.

I take her into the Leaky Cauldron and I see Ron and Hermione. "Ron! Hermione!" I exclaim.

"Lina!" They exclaim, each pulling me into a hug.

"Hey, have you seen Harry?" I ask them.

"We were going to go shopping in the Alley. We thought he might be in one of the shops, come with us?" Hermione asks me.

"Of course!" I say. "This is Anne." I say, gesturing to Anne, who waves her hand hello. "She was a new camper and I guess we sort of became close." I noticed something different in Anne. The Anne that I toured around Camp Half-Blood wouldn't have the nerve to interfere with Malfoy and me in a fight. She wouldn't have said what she did to Malfoy either.

"Hello, Anne," Hermione and Ron say kindly.

"Hi!" Anne says exuberantly. "This is so exciting!" She scans the Alley, where there were a number of wizards bustling around.

Hermione and Ron laugh. "Okay, so we should probably try Madam Malkin's first." Hermione says. "We all need new robes and the ones from our first year probably don't fit us anymore."

I had gone from 4'8 to 5'0, but I don't think I've grown that much, really.

With that, the four of us make our way towards the robe shop. "Where are we going, Lin-Bean?" Anne asks me.

"We're going to a robe shop," I explain. "Our old ones aren't fitting us much."

"Wow, do you know how cool that is!" Anne exclaims. She gasps as if she had an idea. "What if I used one of these for Halloween?"

"Well..." I say, skeptically. "I think you need to get it fitted..."

"Please!" Anne begs me.

"I can try to work something out with the tailors," I tell Anne. "No promises." By 'work something out' I mean 'charmspeak.'

It turns out that I was able to charmspeak one of the tailors to fit Anne into witch's robes, so all four of us were doing fittings.

"So, how was your summer, Lina?" Hermione asks me.

"It was..." I hesitate. "Alright..."

"You totally hesitated on that." Hermione says.

"Well...it is a long story..." I tell her. "I think I will wait until we're in Hogwarts."

Hermione looks at me. "Fine, Lina. But you're telling us everything as soon as we're on the train compartment tomorrow."

"Including Harry?" I ask incredulously. "You know how he's like!"

"Including Harry," she says firmly.

"How was your summer?" I ask, changing the subject.

"Probably a great contrast to yours," she says.

"Lina," Ron asks. "Did you get my message?"

"No, I am not going to let you copy my Charms Essay!" I say exasperatedly and Anne giggles from next to me. "Why don't you ask Hermione?"

"No, Ronald." Hermione says bluntly.

"Besides her essays are better than mine," I tell Ron.

"I know, but Charms is your best subject, along with Defense against the Dark Arts and Potions." Ron says.

"Potions?" I snort.

"Ron's right, Lina. Your potions are amazing. The only reason you only scrape through the class is because Snape hates the Gryffindors, and he doesn't like your short temper at all." Hermione says.

"True that is." I tell them, and we laugh.

The fitters finish up with us, and Anne is adorned in a Ravenclaw uniform. "You'd make a very good witch, Anne." Hermione says.

"Wonder if I can sneak in Hogwarts?" Anne asks, teasing.

"It would be tough without magic." I tell her. "And you're little, even for a first year."

"Eh, worth a shot." Anne says.

We go to Flourish and Blotts to get books. "Okay," Hermione says. "Since Care of Magical Creatures is the only class all three of us are taking together—we should get the Monster Book of Monsters first."

I walk up to the clerk. "Hogwarts?" She asks.

I nod. "We need three copies of the Monster Book of Monsters."

"Oh, god! Not more of those! It seems everyone's taking that class!" The lady exclaims, nearly sobbing. "Alright—remember do not open these, please!"

"But how will we read them?" Hermione asks, horrified; Ron looking thrilled for an excuse not to read it.

"Believe me; you do not want to open it." The lady says.

"Okay," I mutter to Anne. "As soon as we get to Camp, Anne-Banana, we're opening that book."

Anne nods. "I couldn't agree more, Lin-Bean! The curiosity would be too tempting."

So the lady hands us—more like wrestles—three books and they seem to be growling. I jump a little; as does everyone else as we put them in our bags.

"Okay, Ron, you and I need Unfogging the Future for Divination," Hermione says, her and Ron grabbing two copies of that.

"Lina, we need Magical Hieroglyphics and Logograms and Guide to Ancient Runes for Ancient Runes," Hermione says, as we grab two copies of each of those for ourselves.

Hermione grabs the books for the other electives.

"Hermione, why are you taking Muggle-Studies?" I ask her. "You live with Muggles," Ron nodding in agreement.

"It's best to know what you can," she says, Anne nodding in agreement. I shake my head at the two of them. As Anne grew older, she would be like an Annabeth.

I would be the one who honestly wouldn't care—the reckless one. Then I would get scolded for being the reckless one. Not that I already don't...

We grab the required course books, the Standard Book of Spells Grade 3, and Intermediate Transfiguration and put them into our bags. "Okay, I think we're done here." I tell them. "Anne, would you like anything?"

Anne nods. "I want to know more about the Wizarding World!"

"Here," Hermione takes a book from the shelf titled Guide to the Wizarding World and gives it to Anne.

Anne looks at the book with amazement. "Wow!" She exclaims. "This is going to be so cool!" She immediately immerses herself into the book and I chuckle under my breath.

We pay for all the books we got and left the store.

After that, we went to the Apothecary and the Cauldron Shop to get Potion stuff. I doubt Anne was even paying attention as she was reading.

Then, we went to Ollivander's, because Ron needed a new wand, considering what happened to his old wand last year.

Anne finally looks up from her book. "So this is where you get wands?" Anne asks.

I nod. "Yep."

"Wow…" Anne says.

Eventually, we just went to Florean Fortescue's. The four of us got huge sundaes and sat at a table. "Keep looking for any sign of Harry," I instruct them.

I turn to Ron. "Guess who I ran into earlier?"

"Harry?" He asks hopefully.

"Guess again," I say flatly, also disappointed that it wasn't Harry. "Let me give you a hint. We hate his guts."

"Malfoy?" Ron spits out his name venomously.

"Yep." I say, popping the p. "It was rather...unfortunate." I sneer, and Ron laughs.

We keep looking for Harry.

"Hey, Lin-Bean," Anne asks. "Maybe that random guy's Harry?"

"Don't be silly, Anne-Banana, it's not like some random guy's going to be—" I look at where she was pointing. "Oh gods, that IS Harry!"

"Harry!" Hermione and I wave our arms frantically. Luckily, he sees us all and comes in the shop and takes a seat at our table, however, not before wrapping me up in a huge hug.

"Did you all have a great summer?" He asks, looking at Ron, Hermione, and I in turn before laying his eyes on Anne.

"Oh, Harry, this is Anne." I tell him. "She's a friend from Camp." Anne waves at him. I blush.

"Hello, Anne." Harry says kindly to her. I could tell he didn't know what else to say to her, so I jump in.

"Did you really blow up your aunt?" I ask him.

Everyone at the table laughs except for Hermione, who gives Harry a stern glare.

"I didn't mean to," Harry says sheepishly. "I just—lost control."

Ron, Anne, and I burst into laughter.

"It's not funny!" Hermione snaps at us. "I'm amazed Harry wasn't expelled."

"I thought so too," Harry says. "Forget getting expelled, I thought I was going to get arrested! Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let me off, does he?" Harry turns to Ron.

"It's you, isn't it?" Ron says. "Famous Harry Potter and all that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry would do to me if I blew up an aunt. Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me! Anyways, you can ask Dad yourself this evening. We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron too! So you can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow! Hermione's there as well!" Ron turns to me hopefully. "Lina—you could stay too! You could go back to Camp and pick up your trunk and come over here!"

I look at Anne and shake my head. "No—no I need this last night at Camp. I'll just meet you guys at King's Cross Station tomorrow, it'll be alright."

"It's my birthday in September," Hermione says.

"That's coming up!" Anne says. "What're you going to do?"

"Well," Hermione smiles at her. "I think I'd like an owl. I mean, Lina's got Midnight, Harry has Hedwig, and Ron has Errol."

"Errol's just a family owl," Ron reminds her. "Anyway, I need to get Scabbers checked out. I don't think Egypt agreed with him." Ron's rat did look a little ill.

"We could go to the Magical Menagerie." I suggest. "We can see if Ron has anything for Scabbers, Hermione can get her owl, and I can buy owl treats for Midnight. Plus, I'm sure Anne-Banana would love to see all the pets there."

Anne nods, enthusiastic.

We went to the pet shop, and it was nothing like when I went to get Midnight with Percy in first year.

It was crowded, cramped, and the animals were noisy. All in all, I think it was a disappointment for Anne, whose excited face fell the second we went in there.

"This stinks." She pouts. "Literally."

I smell something putrid. "It was much better the way I remembered it, Anne-Banana. I don't know what changed."

Ron talks to the witch behind the counter, and I grab some owl treats for Midnight and quickly pay for them.

"OUCH!" Ron cries out. A cat seemed to be attacking him.

"NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!" The witch cries. She tries to grab Scabbers away from the cat, but Scabbers hurries out of the shop.

"Scabbers!" Ron cries and runs out of the shop, Harry at his heels.

Anne and I stay inside with Hermione.

"What can I help you with?" The witch asks us.

"What can you tell me about Crookshanks?" Hermione asks.

Anne and I widen our eyes. How could Hermione want to buy that thing?!

In the end, Hermione bought Crookshanks, insisting to Anne and me that he was lonely and nobody wanted him.

I was still unconvinced.

"You bought that monster?" Ron asks when Hermione, Anne, and I emerge from the shop.

"It was her idea!" Anne and I yell simultaneously, pointing at Hermione, who glares at us.

"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" Hermione says, petting Crookshanks.

"Hermione, that thing nearly scalped me!" Ron yelled.

I was on Ron's side for this one...I mean...the cat nearly scalped him...

"He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?" She asks the cat.

"Scabbers needs rest and relaxation! How's he going to get it with that thing lurking around?" Ron asks.

"That reminds me, you forgot your rat tonic," Hermione says, handing it to Ron. "Stop worrying, Crookshanks will be sleeping in my dormitory and Scabbers will be sleeping in yours, what's the problem? Poor Crookshanks, no one in the shop wanted him."

"Wonder why," Ron says sarcastically. Harry, Anne and I catch up to follow him. Hermione eventually catches up to us.

When we reach the Leaky Cauldron I sigh.

"I think Anne and I had better be going," I tell them.

Their faces fall. "Hey," I tell them. "We'll all be together again tomorrow!" I tell them. I give them each one last hug.

"Goodbye, Anne." Hermione says kindly. Anne waves back to her as we go back towards the fireplace: "Camp Half-Blood!"

Anne and I land in the Big House, where Annabeth was waiting for us. "Lina, Anne!" She exclaims. "How was it?"

"Usual," I say indifferently.

"It was amazing!" Anne says excitedly. "I got robes, and a new book for myself!"

"Wow, Anne, that's great!" Annabeth says.

Annabeth, Anne, and I walk out of the Big House and into the Camp, where I see an odd sight.

Clarisse and Silena were...hanging out with each other. Okay, that is wrong on so many levels. First of all, they HATE each other...like, even more than I hate Clarisse.

I decide to speak up: "What the Hades did I walk into?" I ask them.

"Oh my gods," Annabeth says, shocked.

"I thought you guys didn't like each other?" Anne says questioningly.

"Doesn't it look nice?" Silena asks us, gesturing to Clarisse's hair.

"I guess..." I trail off.

Clarisse looks up at me and smiles—which is even more INSANE. She hates me. "We actually have a lot in common."

"Has this world gone insane?" I ask nobody in particular.

"We both like boys and we care for our siblings." Silena shrugs.

"Thanks for helping me with my...boy problems." Clarisse says to Silena.

"No problem!" Silena smiles at her.

Anne was just watching the scene with confusion and Annabeth was trying to figure out what the Hades is happening.

"Okay, I am officially creeped out now. I swear, Clarisse, I think you just smiled at me." I tell her.

She shrugs. "I owe you as well."

"For what?" I ask, confused. I would NEVER do anything for Clarisse.

"When you were fighting in the Battle, I don't even think you were paying attention to things around you. But in reality, you saved the life of one of my half-sisters. Thanks." Clarisse says.

"You're welcome..." I trail off. "I suppose this is better than you two hating each other." Annabeth, Anne and I continue walking.

"That was strange," Annabeth mutters.

"Try to stay out of trouble at Hogwarts this year," Annabeth tells me.

"I don't get in trouble." I tell her. "The trouble finds me."

She pulls me into a hug and walks away from the Hill. I wouldn't be seeing her for another year—same with Anne.

But—I am still so excited for third year! Heavens knows this summer was stressful!

It was September 1st today. I leave for Hogwarts in ten minutes.

"Stay safe, Lina." Silena says. We both look in one direction. Usually, Lacy is here too—wishing me a farewell. But, she isn't here. She died in that Battle. I feel rage inside of me. If I get another chance to fight these monsters again—

We hug, and I leave the Aphrodite cabin for a full year. I know the Battle will be coming up this summer—and I will be there—fighting by everyone's side.

But for now—let me enjoy third year.

I stand by the fireplace with Anne, who has tears in her eyes.

"Hey, Anne-Banana." I tell her. "I packed some extra drachmas so that we can Iris-Message more often."

She nods, excited. "What would we do without Iris-Messages?"

I pull her into a hug worthy of the war god—Ares.

"I hope you have fun, Lin-Bean." Anne says.

I nod, some of my own tears coming in my eyes. "I will, Anne-Banana."

We go in one last hug, both of us starting to sob a bit.

Chiron comes up next to Anne. "Have a great time at Hogwarts, Lina." Chiron smiles.

I nod. "I will."

I pull away from Anne—and give her one last goodbye and a smile—and I take the floo powder to King's Cross Station.

I'm off to my third year at Hogwarts—not knowing what to expect.

A/N: So...that was Diagon Alley! Next will be the train and dementors...hmm...interesting... Yeah—Anne won't be making an appearance until next summer (unless you count Iris Messages) :( Lina doesn't know what to expect for third year, and you don't either. Only I know, and you'll have to find out what I have in store for her! ;) I hoped you enjoyed the chapter! Sorry about school.

Please R&R :)

-Ana