Chapter 4: Terror in Diagon Alley
(I'm doing what I can to make the story flow, but it's just not full of action. I promise that this one will have some suspense toward the end, hence the chapter title. This first part was necessary to set up for the second book, which is also coming up very soon. Bear with me folks. I hope you aren't disappointed!)
Harry was completely startled. What went through the cabin? Harry then saw what looked to be like claw marks in the door. As he left the cabin, he saw tracks. Harry had a sinking feeling that Remus Lupin could have been a weird werewolf transformation. Harry ran all that he could toward the Forbidden Forest. He knew that's where Remus would be.
This side of the forest was more Muggle-like. Where would he find him?
Suddenly a howl came from a clearing. Harry rushed and hoped that whatever it was, it would be Remus changing back. Then Harry saw something horrible.
There was a gray wolf that was very savage and primitive looking. It looked like it was in great pain. His eyes were squinting. The wolf couldn't take it. Then he began to loose his hair and take human form. It was Remus, but aside from that, a black thing emitted from him. It was swirling and very strange. Then, when it finished, it began to take shape of a long, slender being. He had three long claws and long flat feet.
The creature's eyes were small red slits and he had a small grin on his face. Other than his eyes, the creature was totally black. He was also extremely agile and leaped in the air and traveled back toward the camp. Harry rushed over to Remus with a very scared look in his face.
"What was that?" Harry said.
"That was the threat of everyone now. I have a feeling that Voldemort created him with the help of Dementors and Death Eaters. However, this is just my own speculation from what I've learned and known." Lupin's voice was weak and he began to heave.
"What did he do?" Harry asked.
Lupin looked at Sirius for a very long time. He finally said, "He turned me into my worst nightmare."
* * *
After two days, the two received a letter from Ron and Mr. Weasley. Harry read Ron's first:
Dear Harry,
It seems pretty cool that you have been with Professor Lupin! I can't wait 'til you come. You better tell me everything that's going on. I'm serious. Also, I've got a really cool thing to show you, but it's a surprise. You'll never believe it. My dad says that I can use it too during Hogwarts! Oh well, I've probably already got you wondering. Can't wait to see you again,
Ron
Harry was really wondering what Ron got. He had a few ideas, like a new gown. But was Hogwarts holding another dance? Remus finished reading Mr. Weasley's letter and gave it to Harry.
Remus and Harry,
I think that we can arrange for you to stay for the summer. Some unexpected money has turned up throughout our house lately. My wife wasn't exactly thrilled about the werewolf idea, but then I cleared some things up about that situation. Have no idea how to get there. I suppose that you will find your own ways. Ok, I'll let you get to your various duties that you might have. See you soon.
Arnold Weasley
"Harry, we're going to drink that gunk again," Remus said.
Harry got his stuff and waited for him. He was scared out of his mind. There was something out there that Harry couldn't detect. The problem was that that something was probably from Voldemort. He was getting a little smarter. That thing was creeping him out. It could defy Remus's own powers. Remus brought out two vials.
"Ok, I know this isn't the most comfortable thing to do, but I think that this is just the best way to do things since you can't apparate," Remus said.
"Right," replied Harry. They both quickly drank the vials and immediately were pulled to the Burrow.
When Harry "landed" he tripped on a Gnome and fell. Remus was full of laughter but was soon attacked by large orange blur, which turned out to be Crookshanks. It was Harry's turn to laugh. Then he wondered what Hermione was doing here. Soon even more laughter came from two suspicious boys, Fred and George.
"Boy, Harry, both of you guys should be lipots for pairlaines!" Fred screamed in delight.
"Don' you mean pilots for airplanes?" asked Remus.
"Yeah, we know, we know," George replied. Mrs. Weasley rushed out of the back door and had a look of glee on her face.
"OH, Harry…I'm so glad you can return to us! It's like you're another son to us! Pretty soon, we won't have to take care of so many children!" She sneered at Fred and George. They would never learn, even at the age of sixteen.
"I'm also grateful for your hospitality, Mrs. Weasley," Remus said.
Harry made the necessary greetings and began to wonder about Hermione and Ron. Where on earth were they? Suddenly, Harry got his answers. Ron came blurring by as Crookshanks had done. Ron was on a new broom!
As Ron made another turn past the house, he slowed down and leaped toward Harry. He had a large grin on his face. "Like it? It's my own broomstick! It's not a Firebolt but it's something just as good. I have my very own Blitzen! It's a brand-new type of broom. However, Charlie says it's for a secret wizard sport. I can still play Quidditch on it, but it's especially made for this game. I really want to play. Hogwarts is going to have it!"
"RONALD! This is confidential information! I don't know why you're brother chose to give you that information. I'm surprised that he even had the inside scoop! Maybe he learned about that while bringing those darn dragons to the Tournament! Why on Earth!" Mrs. Weasley howled.
Remus just smiled. Harry knew that Lupin knew all about this.
"So where's Hermione?" Harry asked as he carried his trunk and Hedwig to Ron's room.
"For some reason, my mom had this loony idea that we could take care of that foreign trash while she was away," Ron said in a very dissatisfied tone.
Harry forced back a smile. Ron was so jealous!
* * *
The rest of the months continued and Harry was always glad when at the Burrow. However, Remus was rarely even seen. In fact, he said that the defense was a powerful invisibility shield. It made the Burrow and it's surrounding area physically invisible, no magic could be detected. Virtually no one even knew that the people living here even existed.
The nice thing was that owls had an uncanny way of knowing where Harry was. On his birthday, he got his fair share of packages from Hermione, Hagrid, and Sirius. Plus there were the Weasleys.
Hermione gave Harry two items: A Super Guide to Really Dark Magic (No need to buy this for school now! I've heard that this will be on the book list (Dumbledore and McGonagall always give me some information before hand). Harry also received the most amazing thing he'd ever seen! With the help of Viktor, he and Hermione had given Harry a Quidditch Simulator. Harry could review plays or even watch the greatest games played. What was even cooler is that Harry could replace the Seekers and play himself! Ron was ready to quit opening presents and start playing with Harry immediately.
Hagrid gave a simple, yet very meaningful picture of Hagrid with a creature Harry would never thought of. Hagrid was in a picture with Norbert. It was very comical as he read the letter from Hagrid explaining that Norbert welcomed him with a breath of love! As Harry looked closer, Hagrid's face was fairly black. He also claimed that Norbert knew Hagrid's face. Harry was very skeptical on that one.
Sirius gave Harry an interesting gift. It was a gift certificate for 20 Galleons in Diagon Alley or any store in Hogsmeade. It was ingenious and simple. Harry smiled. He didn't need any money. Or maybe he did…Harry thought and considered the gift as something necessary. Sirius wasn't dishing up all the clues that Harry needed quite yet.
Finally, the Weasleys chipped in all together and gave Harry a Customizable Wimzo's Watch. Each hour had standard terms such as "You're late for something!" Or "Danger's Near" or "Time for Practice." Harry thought it was ingenious. Not only could he customize the hour positions, he could also make a different set for each day. This meant that his whole schedule for his classes could be set in the watch! Harry loved his gifts and the friends he had to share them with.
* * *
The time came for four Weasleys and Harry to go to Diagon Alley and buy their things. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had various tasks to look after and weren't able to attend. Lupin suggested the four stay for the week in Diagon Alley and that he would take them to King's Cross Station on September 1st. With little encouraging, Mrs. Weasley finally gave in. Mr. Weasley was satisfied with the decision immediately. Harry had always admired Mr. Weasley's sense of thought and knew what he was talking about.
So by Floo Powder (Harry was delighted to use this mode of transportation more than anything, particularly, the blue transpo-vial gunk!), the five children were on their own in trusty Diagon Alley. Nothing could go wrong. There were enough wizards and witches there to help out the kids. Shows how much they knew…
* * *
"OH! HI HARRY! HI RON!" Hermione squealed. She was most excited about meeting Crookshanks. The cat leaped from Ginny's arms and landed on Hermione's arms with great ease. Ron muttered something snide, no doubt.
"Thanks for the gifts, we didn't have a whole lot of time to use the Simulators, but they were fun!" Harry said. Ron agreed.
"It was Viktor's idea. We had the most dashing time! I loved it so much!" That wasn't the last the two would hear about Viktor (I can assure you). Ron just rolled his eyes.
"Did you just get here?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded. "Hey, this list is pretty small this year. I always thought fifth year would be the edge of the toughest years at Hogwarts. Last year was easy enough. There were so many distractions though. You would think they would do something to make up for all the lost time! I mean, I've gotten so many letters about my schedule from Professor McGonagall. They keep telling me that I can only have seven classes this year! SEVEN! Really! I just don't get it!" Boy was she babbling!
"Well, I have to go to Gringotts," Harry said.
"Ok," Ron said. "Harry, I think I'm going to get a different pet. I mean, Fred and George were drooling when I said I'd sell Pigwidgeon to them. I think they're still up to something."
Harry wondered what Ron would actually get. He wasn't actually a cat person. A rat would be a little over the line. He didn't like toads; Ron said that himself. An owl would be Harry's thoughts. But Ron was in a weird mood.
Harry returned from the bank with heavy pockets. To his great shock, Ron bought a kitten. He bought a smoky gray kitten with almost blue stripes. Harry's jaw just dropped.
"What do you think?" Ron asked. "Isn't he cute?"
Hermione showed some sort of displeasure. "I think he's just jealous that I have Crookshanks and that he thinks he needs a cat to one-up me!"
"WHAT! I don't think so! Caesar doesn't like it when you talk mean to him like that!" Ron said.
"Caesar?" both Harry and Hermione said. That was certainly an interesting name.
Aside from the conflict, the three continued their day buying supplies. Harry desperately wanted to discuss his eventful summer. As soon as they were done, Harry treated them to large sundaes. In hushed voices, Harry explained everything from the warning from Sirius, to Remus's werewolf/Auror cure, to the Nightmare Creature that could be extracted from Voldemort himself.
"WOW! We're in for a real treat this year!" Hermione said.
"I'll say," Ron muttered. He was hardly paying attention to his ice cream and was more intent on finding the places Caesar loved to be petted most. It was Hermione's turn to roll her eyes.
Suddenly, a scream shot down from the street. Hermione stood up along with Harry. Caesar was basically sleeping by the time and Ron didn't want to wake him up. Ron just sat there and acted like nothing serious was going on. But something was definitely wrong. Harry saw the black, slender thing leap on top of the buildings. Harry rushed toward the incident and saw an older witch lying on the ground.
Hermione shrieked, "Is this it?"
"I'm afraid so," Harry was very scared.
"Neville!" Hermione saw the troubled boy frantically pick up his various books. The black creature then leaped down and went into Neville. Suddenly, the boy wasn't Neville, it was Professor Snape.
-I just thought up the last part off the top of my head and I like it. If you do too or have some great thing to say to me, go ahead, review. Critics are ok too, as long as if it's something valid to say. Hopefully, I'm not too demanding.
-Lynkin