You Want Who?

I would like to apologise for the lateness of my updates, due to struggles with depression and illness of late, my ability to write unimpeded if somewhat diminished. I am going to continue to plug away at this story, Term begins in the next chapter. Please forgive any mistakes, due to a personal tragedy my Beta has had to bow out. Thank You George for all your help to date. As usual, you guys know the deal, not mine, no money made, written for fun, and posted for your continued amusement. And now... On with the Show

Chapter 8

Diagon Alley!

The day of our trip to Diagon Alley dawned clear and warm. Professor Dresden still looked half asleep when he all but fell out of the floo but his dog bounded through, tail wagging, enthusiastic enough for the both of them.

I was a bit nervous about this outing. The chance to go to Diagon Alley without any 'parents' was too good to pass up. Our Protection Detail were to be Professor Dresden and Mouse, Tonks, Bill and Fleur. Mrs Weasley seemed ready to protest again but Dresden just bustled us out the door with a cheeky wave to Ron's anxious mother.

For a short way we walked under multiple charms and spells to conceal us before slipping onto a public bus and heading for the Leaky.

It was actually really neat to be the one taking someone else on their first trip to Diagon Alley. Even though Mr Dresden was an adult, a super powerful Wizard and a Warden, he still looked like a star struck eleven year old Muggle-born, seeing the alley for the first time.

We ambled up the Alley; the Professor was so busy looking at everything and everyone he didn't even make any snarky remarks and we'd reached Gringotts before I thought to warn him. He was snickering over a moving picture of Fudge gesticulating madly on the cover of the Daily Profit, his lime green bowler repeatedly falling from his head into his hands. Which he, of course, promptly dropped. His amusement vanished when faced with the Goblins. I'd had time to hiss, "Please Sir, be polite. And don't stare or show your teeth, they don't like it." Dresden gave me a cavalier wink. I was NOT reassured.

Surprisingly we survived. The Professor managed not to crack a single joke while Goblin Bogrod served us, and saved us a trip to the Vaults by means of the Goblins not wanting him down there. In fact they really seemed to want him to leave. There were some dark mutterings about 'Circles' and the "Earl King' and 'great insults'. Our gold was brought to us in record time, hostile goblin glares following our every move. We were all but escorted to the doors when we left. I looked up at our, now red faced, Professor.

"Sir?" I asked.

He grimaced. "I may have trapped the Earl King in a magic circle once. The Goblins would definitely would know all about it."

I stared at him in shock. "The Earl King! As in the King of the Goblin!? Isn't he.. I don't know.. dangerous? " I asked, curious.

Dresden nodded. "He's definitely that. I only survived him by chance, I really don't want to run into him again anytime soon."

We'd made it some way down the alley by this time and had reached Madam Malkin's. Harry, Ron and I picked up our pre-ordered robes before heading to the apothecary and the magical menagerie for supplies. Dresden seemed fascinated by the shops and had even brought two sets of Wizarding robes. Acromantula silk, and high quality. one in a deep charcoal gray, the other in a blue so dark it was almost black. Our next stop would be Scibbulus Writing Implements for quills and parchment, then onto Slug and Jiggers for our years potions supplies. First we stopped in at Potages Cauldron Shop, Ron needed a new cauldron. Again.

We had agreed we would have lunch at Florean's before getting our books. By popular consent, Florish and Botts was always our last stop, well mine. The boys would head over to the Quidditch store and Zonko's whilst I browsed the books. Even Ginny would give up all pretense of female solidarity after a while and disappear into the Quidditch store herself. I had the feeling Professor Dresden would have a greater appreciation for the books then our Harry did but I wondered if even he would be ready to leave before I was.

Turns out, I never got to find out. Disaster, in the shape of a six foot seven Warden of the White Council, struck in the Potions store.

Everything seemed normal enough, Harry, Ron and I gathered up the items we needed and replenished our potion supplies. Dresden browsed the shelves, sniffing and poking different things. The shop-keeper had a weather eye on him, probably worried he'd knock priceless potion ingredients to the floor. The fact he was shadowed closely by the huge Mouse probably didn't help. I was just glad he didn't taste test anything. Everything was paid for and tucked away when our new Professor noticed something. His spine seemed to straighten and he suddenly became much taller than he'd previously appeared. An odd reddish glow began to admit from the staff that had been dormant in his hand. He strode forward and turned towards the suddenly nervous shop-keeper.

"What is this?" he asked, his voice soft and deadly. He gestured to a pretty pink sign advertising the latest in love potions. The shop-keeper gulped. In that same quiet, deadly voice the Professor addressed the store keeper. "You know who I am?" the shop-keeper nodded, clearly shaking in his boots. "You do know that the White council banned the use of these types of... potions at least a century ago?" the now whey faced shop-keeper frantically shook his head

"Th.. Th.. The Ministry..." he stammered.

"The Ministry is still beholden to the Laws of Magic. Something it seems you have all forgotten." Dresden growled. "Get rid of this swill or do I have to put on the gray cloak and make things official?"

The shop-keeper all but fell over himself to clear the offending shelves as Dresden stalked out of the shop. We all followed him outside. Seeing that he was somewhat more calm I gathered my Gryffindor courage and asked "Sir, what was that all about? Love potions aren't illegal are they?"

The Professor studied me for a moment and then asked "Your 'muggle-born' are you not Miss Granger?" he asked mildly. I nodded. "Then, given your obvious intelligence, you would have head or Roofies yes? The Date Rape drug?" I nodded, swallowing. "Those potions are the same thing. Only you don't get to be unconscious." he glared over his shoulder. "They also violate the Third Law." feeling slightly sick I dropped the subject. Tonks frowned, Fleur looked sickened and Bill gave her a reassuring squeeze. Looking at the beautiful blonde I shivered, wondering how often she'd feared such dosing. Remus nodded quietly. Looking at Ron and Harry he said softly, "Think of them as liquid Imperius in a bottle." The boy's thought about it then both he and Harry looked sickened.

We had turned and walked perhaps three steps when Lucius Malfoy and son, complete with their bodyguards Crabbe, and Goyle and sons stepped out of the alley right in front of us. Beside Dresden I stiffened. This was bad. Malfoy jnr had never forgiven me for hitting him in the mouth, or Harry for consistently beating him at Quidditch, and I knew what his father thought of all of us. Our two groups met on the narrow sidewalk and I edged behind Dresden, yanking Harry and Ron back with me. Dresden noticed, not that I realized it at the time, and he and Mouse became a living barrier between the Death Eaters , the wannabes and us. At our backs I felt Bill, Fleur and Tonks, all tense and ready. remus had his hand locked around Harry's arm.

Malfoy began the music. Of Course. He sneered at Professor Dresden, obviously trying to look down his nose at someone who towered over him. Then his eyes lit on Tonks who gave him an insolent grin back and called "Hi Uncle Lucy!" The blonde Pure-blood's face went briefly purple before his mask slipped back in place and he resumed sneering at each of our group in turn. "So this is who the old fool entrusts to protect his precious, fallen, Golden Boy is it? A Half Blood, a Werewolf, a Half Breed, a Blood Traitor and..." He gave Dresden the once over before sneering briefly at Mouse "this..." he tsked. "How the 'Light' have fallen." Behind him, Draco was sneering, in a rather pale imitation of his father while Crabbe and Goyle jnr snickered at Lucius 'rapier' wit.

Four of our guard were pulling us back as Dresden stepped forward. He seized Malfoy's hand and .. began shaking it enthusiastically. We all blinked. "Harry Dresden, PI, Warden and the newest member of Hogwarts staff, pleased to meet you." Draco's eyes widened as he took in Dresden's height, the black leather duster and the seven foot carved staff. Then his eyes fell on Mouse and he took a couple of prudent steps back.

Meanwhile Lucius was still having his hand thoroughly shaken. And apparently crushed. He was holding onto his mask but it was slipping. "Lucius Malfoy" he ground out and Dresden released him sharply. He stumbled but managed to regain his posture and was eyeing the Professor more warily. Dresden must have smiled again, because Crabbe and Goyle had retreated to Draco's fall back position and were watching their fathers expectantly.

Dresden leaned casually against his staff and said, in a friendly, affable tone "Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, you should apologies to my companions." Malfoy Snr sneered at him. Though looking closer I could see something wary in his eyes. "Why would I ever do such a thing?" In that same affable voice Dresden replied "Because if you don't I am going to get angry." He leaned forward, his voice no longer affable nor friendly "Don't Make me Angry Mr Malfoy. You won't like me when I'm Angry." Malfoy stared back at him, eyes locked to Dresden's, his already pale complexion going paler than sour milk. They stood, frozen like that for a moment, then suddenly Malfoy was backing away from the Professor, visibly trembling and unable to speak. He stared at Dresden for a long second then at the rest of our guard. He muttered something that sounded like "I apologies" (it was hard to tell with his teeth chattering like that.) before turning and dragging his companions away as fast as he could without actually running.

While everyone else was staring in awe at Dresden I had my hands clamped over my mouth trying not to laugh. The high and mighty Malfoy had just been routed with a Hulk quote!

Remus looked at Dresden with dawning respect and said "What did you do? I've never seen him back down before!" Dresden shrugged and, lowering his voice, explained what had just happened.

"Soul Gaze. One of the differences between our magics I think. The first time I look into someone's eyes it triggers what we call a Soul Gaze. It's different for all Wizards but it's basically a 'look' into each others soul, revealing a glimpse who and what they are. Side effect is they get a look back. It's generally a good way to get the true measure of someone, but I try to avoid it as much as possible. especially with pieces of shit like that." He glared after the departed Purebloods.

"Why not?" I blushed. I still couldn't believe our Defense Professor just scared off a High ranking Death eater with a Hulk quote! My inner nerd was still cheering. (My Dad collects comics, and I much prefered them to the soppy romances of the kind Lavender and Parvati are always reading.)

Dresden smiled at me, letting me know he didn't object to the question. "When I share a Soul Gaze with someone, it's for keeps. Neither of us get to forget it. I don't like what I see often as not. And its intrusive as hell." I nodded. It made sense. I was more and more looking forward to our lessons that year. Remus grinned. "Whatever he saw, Lucius did not like it at all." Dresden merely shrugged. "At least he didn't faint."

"What someone has fainted before after doing that with you?" Ron blurted out. His ears going red as he thought about his question. "Sorry, Sir." Dresden gave him a sheepish grin. "Yeah.. not the best first impression, but she did agree to date me." We laughed as the adults in the group herded us back to Grimmauld Place. One run in with one group of Death Eaters a day was enough.

Upon arrival we 'children' were immediately sent upstairs, 'Order Business' was to be discussed. Dresden really looked like he wanted to come with us as he was dragged bodily into the kitchen for a 'debriefing' with Mad Eye. Mouse looked from him to us and chuffed, before heading up the stairs to join our little group. Dresden's howl of "Traitor" was cut off as the kitchen door snapped shut.