Harry Potter and the Kid and the Tiger
Chapter Six-Announcement at Diagon Alley
"OK, dad. Now here. This is how you use Floo powder. You take a pinch of this dust, and throw it into the fire. You then yell, "Diagon Alley!" and step through the flames. Watch Ron."
Hermione gave Ron a bit of the powder, and Harry watched as Ron tossed the powder into the flames, which turned green, and confidently yelled, "Diagon Alley!" and walked in.
Hermione then gave a pinch of it to Harry who, after placing his glasses safely in his pocket, tossed it into the flames and yelled, "Diagon Alley!"
Immediately Harry was deposited at Diagon Alley, however uncomfortable the trip was, Harry was out of a fireplace relatively quickly, and rolled into the streets of Diagon Alley. Harry turned around, and read, "DIAGON ALLEY FLOO STATION" on a sign over a fireplace, he then felt a tap on his shoulder and saw Ron standing there. Harry nodded and opened his mouth to say something when Hermione's father popped out of the fireplace, then lost his balance and fell. Harry and Ron rushed over to help Mr. Granger who was glowing with pride.
"I did it! I traveled by magical means!"
Harry had to smile, he had once had the same feeling of exhilaration when Hagrid had come to where the Dursley's had been staying and told him that he was a wizard. After they helped Mr. Granger up, they saw Hermione's mum come out of the fireplace, followed by Hermione herself. Hermione was the only one who hadn't stumbled.
As they walked through Diagon Alley, Harry tried to stay as close as he could to Hermione, and felt a sudden impulse to hold her hand. He decided to be nonchalant and just let his arm swing, and clasp her hand. He ignored Ron, who was looking completely amused as Harry tried to put his plan into play, and missed Hermione's hand several times, managed to get a few of her fingers and finally got her hand.
Naturally, as they were in Diagon Alley, one of the first shops they saw was "Quality Quidditch Supplies", and Ron rushed over to the entrance. Harry, meanwhile, was in a quandary, should he leave Hermione's hand, and follow Ron in the Quidditch store, or stay with Hermione?
Surprisingly, Hermione solved the conflict for Harry.
"Mum," she said, "Harry and I are going to Quality Quidditch Supplies, I need to buy a broom, I'll use my Christmas money."
"Actually 'Mione," Mr. Granger said, "We need to leave, so will pick you up here in two hours OK?"
Hermione nodded, and then Hermione led Harry over to the store. He stared at her in shock. Hermione seemed to notice this and she flashed him a smile that made him temporarily forget why he had been in shock. Then, Harry remembered.
"You....want to buy a broom?"
Hermione nodded.
"Why? You don't fly."
Hermione smiled, "Oh, but I do."
Harry stared at Hermione in confusion, but that passed when they walked into Quality Quidditch Supplies. All of the latest brooms were on display. Harry was stunned, when Hermione tore her hand away from his and began talking animatedly to the clerk about the latest brooms: the Nimbus 2500, the Twigger 150, the Firebolt, the Cleansweep Fourteen, and the Comet 430.
Harry already had a broom, a Firebolt, it had been a gift from his godfather Sirius, and at the time had been the best racing broom on the market. Now Harry noticed a Firebolt was only 85 Galleons, and some of the other brooms; especially the Twigger were all well in the hundreds. Perhaps he should update his broom.
"Can I help you?"
That voice was familiar...Harry turned around, and saw the smiling face of Lee Jordan! Lee was Weasley twins' friend and also went to Hogwarts. Like the twins he was going to be in his seventh year at Hogwarts.
"Hullo Lee," Harry said, "You working here?"
Lee smiled, with a twinkle in his eye, "That I am Harry. Summer job, dad's worried I might not get a job as an announcer for the Chudley Cannons."
Harry chuckled, Lee was well known for his biased commentaries during Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch matches. Harry could still hear Jordan now...
"Johnson closing in on Flint. Poke him in the eye Angelina! Just kidding Professor!"
"So, Harry, thinking of getting a new broom?"
Lee Jordan's question pulled Harry out of the past.
"Er, yeah. What would you say is the best?"
"Well," Lee said thoughtfully, "The Nimbus 2500 is fast, but some say it overturns a tad, the Cleansweeps and Comets are as reliable as ever, and their a good buy, but...it's the Twigger 150 that's the best. Maximum speed of 275 miles an hour, and unlike the Twigger 90 these don't warp under high speeds. Best Braking Charm on the market, yes. Certainly would help your play as Seeker."
Harry thought about it and decided to ask the price.
"Well the 'Sweep-14 is 130 Galleons, the Comet the same. That new Nimbus is about 275, and the Twigger is a flat 400."
Harry was dumbstruck. "Four hundred Galleons!"
Lee Jordan smiled, "Of course Harry I can get you a nice fat discount since your a friend of mine, so...I'll charge you 310 Galleons, sixteen Sickles, three Knuts."
Harry thought it over. The Twigger looked like a great buy and at a reduced cost, and he could afford it. After all he had nearly two million Galleons in his vault. He nodded.
Just then Hermione rushed over carrying a new broom in her hands, "Harry! Guess what! I just bought the new Twigger 150! I had to borrow a little more from my parents, but I've got the best broom yet!"
Lee Jordan seemed a little shocked at Hermione's

1. Appearance

2. Sudden interest in Quidditch.
"So, Ms. Granger, nice to see you."
Hermione turned, "Oh hi, Lee."
"Well," Lee continued, "Your not the only one to buy a Twigger," he pointed at Harry. "I'll get it now Harry."
Hermione smiled, "You got one too?"
Harry nodded, "Herms," he began, "Why the sudden interest in Quidditch? I thought you were afraid of flying?"
Hermione shrugged. "I was afraid, but my parents forced me to go to Flying Camp. Since their Muggles, they want me to have a full wizarding experience. It was fantastic! Flying, what a great feeling! Plus, I guess I can't live entirely in books. That gets boring after awhile."
Harry nodded, and accepted the broom from Lee and paid for it. "Shall we leave?"
Hermione nodded, "If we can ever get Ron away from those Chudley Cannons robes." She gestured to Ron who was staring at the robes with a gleam in his eye, he was obviously wishing he could have them. Harry and Hermione walked over, hand-in-hand, and Ron didn't notice. Sniggering, Harry waved his hand a few times in front of Ron's face. Ron blinked and his eyes deglazed.
"Where to now?"
Harry shrugged. Hermione, on the hand, answered matter-of-factly, "Flourish and Blotts."
"I thought," Harry said sarcastically, "That it got boring just living in books."
Hermione stared daggers at Harry. If looks could kill, Harry would have been dead.
"Anyway," Hermione began, looking coldly at Harry, "We need to pick up our up our books."
Harry nodded. He felt like a complete git. He always did after he insulted Hermione and he wished she could take his joking less seriously. Harry sighed, and the three walked out of Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"Sorry, 'Mione," Harry said softly.
"No problem, Harry," Hermione said, smiling at him. "It's no big deal. I really should take these things less seriously."
With another sigh, this one of relief, and Harry took Hermione's hand in his and smiled as he felt the warmth that her touch gave him throughout his body. He really liked her. He couldn't believe he had never seen her like this before. Harry idly wondered why she had decided not to go to Bulgaria to see Krum.
"So Hermione," Ron's voice broke into Harry's thoughts, "Why didn't you go to Bulgaria to see Krum?"
Harry felt Hermione's hand shudder at the mention of Krum's name. Harry was surprised at this, but more so at that Ron had just said what Harry had just been thinking.
"Oh...er, well...he always got jealous when you or Harry paid attention to me," Hermione began, "And I saw him kissing Hannah, a Hufflepuff girl, when we got off the Hogwarts Express, and I was going to ask him when I was should to go to Bulgaria."
"Oh," Ron said.
Harry looked at Hermione who was looking pretty mad, apparently thinking about Viktor Krum and Hannah Abbott kissing.
"I'm sorry Herms," Harry said.
"Don't be sorry, Harry," Hermione said, "I'm over Viktor."
She smiled at Harry and Harry smiled back.
They were still looking at each other when Ron suddenly cleared his throat.
"Uh, guys, should you want to continue on, Flourish and Blotts is this way."
"Oh," Harry and Hermione said at the same time, and started on to the bookstore.
At Flourish and Blotts Hermione quickly got her books, and so did Harry, and they walked out hand-in-hand accidentally leaving Ron inside the bookstore reading Flying with the Arrows, a book about the Appleby Arrows. They were well on their way to Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions, as they both needed new robes since they had grown so much over the summer holidays.
When they realized Ron was missing, they started to turn back, but Harry, who suddenly had an idea, pulled Hermione back.
"Hermione," he said nervously. He hadn't remembered feeling this nervous ever, not even in the car with Hermione on the way to her house, nor asking Cho Chang to the dance, or even fighting Voldemort. Harry also knew that she would probably say yes, especially since they were walking hand-in-hand and all, "Will you be my girlfriend?"
Hermione lips spread into an extremely wide smile, "Of course!"
Harry bent down to kiss Hermione, and put his arms around her, and she came to him, hugging him gently. They were only two inches apart, one inch, half-an-inch, quarter-of-an-inch.
"Hey, so there you are!"
Harry and Hermione quickly separated and looked at Ron Weasley who was looking at the two, with what Harry supposed must have been bemusement at having caught Harry and Hermione about to kiss.
Blushing, Hermione gestured towards Madam Malkin's, "We were just going to go and pick up our school robes."
Ron sniggered, "Sure you were Hermi. Sure you were."
"We were Ron," Harry broke in, "Now why don't we go in?"
After going and picking up their new school and dress robes, Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to Florence Fortescue's for some choco-nut sundaes. As they were laughing at Ron's telling of his mum's reaction to Ginny's hair turning black, all of a sudden every one at the ice cream parlor gasped. A huge number of Death Eaters had just Apparated in the middle of the street.
One of them pointed his wand at his throat and magically amplified his voice, as Ludo Bagman had done at the Quidditch World Cup.
"Attention residents of Diagon Alley! We will not attack you now, for the one we fear is near! This is but an announcement, Cornelius Fudge and several high-ranking Ministry officials were murdered today in France. The dementors have destroyed Azkaban and let it's prisoners free! The schools will be next! Beware all who refuse to join the Dark Side! Your new leader is now, indeed, LORD VOLDEMORT, who has come to power again!"
And then, in a flash, they Disapparated.
Harry quickly looked at Ron and Hermione who both looked deathly ill. Ron kept muttering under his breath, just loud enough for Harry to hear, "Percy...was Percy there...Percy...was Percy there...is Percy d-d-d-dead?"
Harry then swiveled around in his chair and looked at the patrons of the ice cream parlor.
Several men and women had fainted. Small children were screaming, "Why did they say his name, why did they say his name?"
Florence Fortescue was standing there, looking as though Petrified, the remnants of an ice cream cone she had been making laying there at her feet.
Suddenly, Harry's scar hurt and he cried out in pain.
"So," Lord Voldemort said, looking at the Death Eaters who had just Appareted back. "What was their reaction?"
The Death Eater who had amplified his voice spoke up, "Fear my lord, fear. Complete fear."
"Very good Malfoy," the Dark Lord said, "And do you know who will become Minister now?"
Several Death Eaters shook their heads, Voldemort saw this and raised his wand, "Do not move in my presence!
Cruciomulia!"
The Death Eaters who had shaken their heads fell to the ground writhing. Finally, after several minutes, he let them go.
"Do not show such insolence to me gentlemen, or else. Since we killed every Ministry Head of Department save one who was not allowed to go for his young age. The fools at the Ministry will know be led by Minister of Magic Percy Weasley!"
"But, my Lord," one of the Death Eaters said, getting on his knees, "What of Ludovic Bagman? He wasn't there at the attack!"
"Ahhhhh," Voldemort said, smiling, "I took care of Bagman,
personally. Now, as punishment for speaking without permission, Crabbe-"
"No, my Lord!" Crabbe cried out.
"
Crucio!" Voldemort yelled with all of his might.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Harry Potter was clutching his scar and screaming loudly. "PERCY!"
Harry suddenly felt a hand clamp around his mouth. He tried to move around it, but this was in vain, as the hand tightened it's grip on his mouth. He looked up at who it belonged to, and saw that it was Hermione looking paler then he had ever seen her.
Breathing more easily, and now not squirming away, Harry suddenly felt Hermione release her hand. Harry then noticed he was laying on the ground at the ice cream parlor. He looked up at Ron, who was also looking over him, and was even more white-faced then Hermione, "What happened to Percy?"
Harry smiled sadly, "He's the new Minister of Magic, the Death Eaters killed every Department Head, and Voldemort killed Bagman himself. I guess even Dumbledore's people couldn't save Fudge."
Ron grimaced, "Percy as Minister? He's only 19!"
Harry shrugged, "I don't know that just what Voldemort said."
Ron gasped and said through clenched teeth, "Don't say his name!"
Harry nodded, and slowly got up off the floor. He suddenly noticed that everyone in the parlor was looking at him as though he had gone mad, and Harry figured most of them had probably read Rita Skeeter's article on him last year, which made things much worse.
"Er, sorry," Harry said as he dusted himself off, he leaned over to Hermione and whispered, "Is it time to leave to meet your parents yet?"
Hermione nodded, and the three walked out of the ice cream parlor were everyone wondered the same thing, Had Harry Potter gone mad?