Seven Years
By: Resident Goddess
Rated: PG-13

Chapter 3: Diagon Alley

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all its corresponding characters and elements belong to JK Rowling and not myself. This story does, as do most of the characters in it.

Summary: Trouble is brewing at Hogwarts 13 years after Harry Potter and his friends have gone. Now his daughter and the children of his friends must battle an evil they don't even know is there.

A/N: About the kids, but also about the parents, too. A take on what happens after Hogwarts and Voldemort.

***

I woke up late, as usual. My internal clock has been broken since last year, when Vita woke me up at 2 O'clock in the morning, and told me that it was daylight savings time. I was too tired to realize that she was lying, and I stayed up for three hours after that, until I realized that it wasn't really going to get light outside. My clock hasn't been right since, and frankly, I'm pretty sure it had started to annoy dad.

"I'm not going to tell you to get up again, Diana!"

My door was closed, but I could still hear him. He'd called up three times already, and I didn't think he was buying the 'sorry-my-door-is-closed-can't-hear-you' gag, so I got up.

All my robes were dirty.

I couldn't very well go to Diagon Alley in Muggle clothes, I would be a laughing stock, and I refused to go in dirty ones, so I sat down at the top of the stairs to think for a long time.

"DAD!" I called downstairs, "I don't have any clean robes!"

"Throw some downstairs and I'll clean them up for you!" He called back after a minute, sounding irritated. I choose white. Linen. Something cool, and I don't mean 'in' when I say that. I mean the opposite of hot.

A few minutes later, dad had sent Vita up with my robes, and I had slipped them on and run down the stairs. Dad was dressed in black, and Vita was in light pink…how embarrassing. I was going to point out to dad that he was going to roast to death, but decided against it, instead, dad led us out to the street, where a cab waited.

We always took the cab when going to Diagon Alley. We never took the Floo Network, like at the Weasleys…dad had told us something about a bad childhood experience, and I had decided not to ask. When the cab arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, Dad reached in his pocket and pulled out a few grubby looking pieces of paper. I wrinkled my nose, Muggle money, it all sounded so complicated.

"Good day to you sir, ladies." The cabdriver said, and dad lifted a hand as if to wave. The man didn't mention our strange attire.

The Leaky Cauldron was noisy, smoky and hot. I pulled the front of my cloak over my mouth and nose, and my dad nodded to the shopkeeper, and I turned around to glance at Vita. She had her cloak covering most of her face except for her eyes, and she had wrapped her arm around mine without me noticing.

"You okay?" I asked, she looked panicked, and I could feel my hiccups coming on again. But we were already at the back of the shop, and soon through the door. The brick wall that greeted us was a welcome sight, and I let my cloak fall back down to its original position. Dad was busy muttering something under his breath, and he looked back at us blushing,

"Almost forgot--three up, two across." He said, and laughed a little, hitting the bricks with his wand carefully. I rolled my eyes. Honestly--I couldn't understand how they would want someone like my dad as an Auror…he was about as scatter-brained as they came.

We stepped onto the cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley, and I was immediately swept back into the wizarding life. For the last few months (after I came home from the Weasleys), I was bad off as a Muggle, and since I couldn't use magic (and didn't know any useful magic), I couldn't do anything. And dad always holed himself up in his study or was off doing whatever it is those Aurors do these days. Now I felt better.

"Are we going to Gringotts?" I asked, shooting a look down the street to the bank,

"Nope, I have enough money on me for your supplies." Dad said, and steered Vita to the left. "We'll get your wand first, if you don't mind. We're supposed to meet Ron and the Weasleys for lunch in an hour."

I huffed and looked at Ollivanders. The hiccups were coming--I was going to be in Hufflepuff for sure.

"You look nervoussssss." Vita said, dragging out her s's and peering at me through silted eyes. I recoiled back from her,

"Don't do that, you!" I said and straightened up, "I am not nervous!" And with that, I stuck my nose up in the air and pranced right into Ollivanders. And right into Draco Malfoy.

"Nnnghhhh." I said, though it wasn't really a word.

"Morning," Draco said, and helped me up from the floor. He looked up at dad and smirked, "She's turning out just like you, Potter."

"Good morning, Malfoy, how's the wife?"

Both men started snorting with laughter. Ugh. I couldn't contain myself,

"What's WRONG with you people!? We are in a PUBLIC place! CONTROL yourselves!!"

I looked around, the shop was empty except for Katharine and who I guessed was Auryn, I hadn't seen him for 8 years. Mr. Ollivander must have been in the back, and I flushed a deep red.

"Remember what I told you about those classes, Potter," Draco muttered to dad, rather loudly so he was sure I heard, "Every year I tell you, she'll just get worse and worse."

"Ugh, how rude." I crossed my arms over my chest and sat down. Draco smiled widely,

"Where's er--what's your second daughter's name, Potter?" Draco said, loudly behind his hand, his eyes on Vita. She launched herself into his arms,

"It's Vita, Uncle Draco!" She said, hugging him around the neck,

"That's right! I remember now! Sorry I couldn't come to your birthday party, girl."

"It's okay, you can come next year." Vita said, but I knew he never would. I didn't think it was fair, Draco and Ron should switch off coming to our birthday parties…Ron always came, and Draco never came. I liked both of them, why couldn't they just get along?

At that moment, Mr. Ollivander came out of the back room and handed Auryn a wand. I studied that kid as he was distracted. He looked just like his father, ugh. One good looking Malfoy was enough, I might die of a coronary. Auryn swished the wand and shot it shot silver sparks.

"Good, good!" Mr. Ollivander took the wand from Auryn and inspected it closely. Katharine had gotten off her seat and was trying to see over the tall counter, "Hmm…very interesting. Ah--Mr. Malfoy…"

"Oh, that's me." Draco murmured, and walked over to the counter. Mr. Ollivander talked to him in low tones that I couldn't hear, and Vita was getting fidgety. "Right then," Draco said after a few moments, and turned to dad, handing Mr. Ollivander his money, "I guess we're off then, Potter. See you at work tomorrow. Vita, Diana."

"Do I get a wand, daddy?" Katharine asked as they walked out,

"Not a chance," Draco said, and looked back and winked at me. Damn those Malfoy men.

***

"Here you are, Miss Potter." Mr. Ollivander said, handing me my 8th wand. I sighed and groaned, but as soon as the wand touched my hand I knew that it was the one. I swished it…silver sparks. 12", Unicorn tail hair, ebony. "Wonderful! A powerful wand, that one, springy and good for Transfiguration…looks like you may take after your father…"

"But dad's wand is holly and has a--"

"Oh no, that's not what I meant, dear girl." He winked at father, I snorted.

"Thank you Mr. Ollivander. Diana, take Vita outside while I pay, please." Dad said, and I sighed and grabbed Vita's hand. The sun outside was hot, and it was almost five minutes before dad came back outside.

"What took you so long?" I asked as we started to walk towards Madam Malkin's.

"Just talking to Mr. Ollivander." Dad said, and opened the door. A large witch in mauve robes came out and greeted them,

"Look at you, young one! Getting your Hogwarts robes, are you?" She asked, and didn't wait for me to answer. "You look like a size 6 or 7, but that doesn't matter, we measure everyone no matter what." My God, the woman's starting to rant! She stopped when she saw my look, and led me into the back where I was promptly harassed for over an hour, but finally got my robes.

***

"Flourish and Blotts." Dad said and opened the door for us. It was well lit inside, and Vita automatically had a field day. Dad dragged her away from the books, however, and we were in and out in less then a half-hour, all my books for first year in hand. And it was off to the Owl Emporium for us…what I had been waiting for the whole time. While Vita and I were inside, dad went to the Apothecary and got my potions supplies.

Dad came back before I had chosen an owl, and he helped me look around. Vita had gone off and looked at the baby owls across the shop, but I didn't want a baby--I wanted a full-grown owl.

I spotted one in a corner, it was white with brown spots, and I pointed to it with my mouth open for a few minutes. Dad had gone to get the shopkeeper, and I moved closer to the cage.

"Hello, you." I whispered, "You are a pretty thing, aren't you?"

"She is a pretty one, hasn't been here long, either. Young, too." The shopkeeper said, coming up from behind me. He took the cage down and we walked to the front counter. "Just one animal for you today, Mr. Potter?" The man asked, glancing at Vita, dad nodded and Vita looked put out. We walked outside into the bright sunlight.

"Dad, I think we're late for lunch," I said, checking my watch,

"I've sent an owl ahead to Ron," Dad said, and we walked into a side shop to buy a cauldron, brass scales and a telescope.

The shop was stuffy inside, and dark. Inside the shop a father and son were waiting at the counter to pay. Dad raised his eyebrows and glanced back at Vita and I. I studied the two closely, the father was slightly on the pudgier side, and his head seemed to rest on his shoulders…he was lacking in the neck department. The son was more on the healthier looking side, was short, and had dishwater blond hair. They didn't look at all familiar to me, but dad seemed to be passing a Gaul stone, so I figured the man must be an old classmate or something.

Oh how wrong I was.

Dad took on a superior stance and moseyed---yes, moseyed, that was how messed up he was---over to the two, standing at the counter. I was very prepared to be embarrassed…dad had a way of doing that to me…but instead, he was quite…intimidating. I'm serious--he harassed this guy--this random guy…someone we just MET in the little shop! My dad was supposed to be a role model, the hero of the wizarding world, but no…he was the harasser of innocent citizens!

"Well, look who it is…" Dad said and leaned on the counter, the man had turned to him and taken a step back. The kid looked interested, but confused. I was prepared to run out if dad said anything that would follow me for the rest of my life. "Never thought I'd see you here…Dursley. What's this, got married, wife had a kid--turns out to be a wizard?"

"Er,"

Wait a minute. Dursley? Wasn't that the name of dad's torturers during his childhood life?

"Too bad, but you wouldn't disown your own son…would you?" Dad was going on, I had never seen him like this before…except for that one time the neighbor's cat ate his favorite pair of socks…but still.

"Don't know what you're talking about, Potter. Why would I disown my own son! Lunacy!" The man had puffed himself up to his full height--a mighty 6 feet. Dad snorted, but ignored him, changing the subject.

"You didn't tell me that--Byron--was a wizard, Dudley." Dad said, and rocked back and forth on his feet in a menacing manner.

"Felt no need,"

"So, the wife a Muggle, or is she a Witch?"

"She is one of us,"

"Oh," Dad cocked his head to one side, "looks like no Slytherin for you." Dad shook his head like it was a pity, and leaned closer to the pair, "You see, they like purebloods in that house."

"Dad, you shouldn't harass people." Vita said, tugging on his sleeve, "If they're relatives you should offer to help them."

"Oh right, I'm sorry, you look lost."

Dad didn't sound sorry to me. He sounded like he was plotting something.

"You shouldn't be running around without an escort or something of the like. Maybe I can find a dog to look after you."

"Daddy!" Vita said, frowning deeply, and crossing her arms.

"Oh, how rude of me. These are my daughters...you know--the ones you wouldn't come to the coronations of? Vita and Diana, this is my cousin Dudley, and his...son, Byron."

***

So, out of the goodness of his heart (so he said,) dad started showing Dudley and Byron around, meanwhile dragging us along. We went back to Flourish and Blotts. We went back to Ollivanders. And we went to Madame Malkin's again, where we just happened to run into the Malfoys. Again. I swear, I could feel the heart attack coming on.

"Are you stalking us, Potter?" Draco said when we came in. Auryn was in the back getting fitted, and Katharine peered at Byron from behind her father's legs. Dad raised an eyebrow and snorted,

"Nope, got over that in 6th year."

I gasped and started coughing and hiccuping immediately. It was very hard to breathe.

"I was just kidding, Diana!" Dad said, patting me on the back. Great, now everyone in the room thought I was a freak. I sighed, I had soiled my luck forever. Byron was looking at me oddly, and Dudley looked quite disgusted, and Draco was smirking in an ever-so Malfoy fashion. I felt like dying of shame, damn those hiccups. "In there, Dursley." Dad said, and pointed to the waiting room, Draco lifted an eyebrow when the two had gone.

"Dursley? As in the Dursley?"

"M'hmm."

"Met him once, remember." Draco said and put a hand to his chin, "Very scary, had nightmares for a week."

I rolled my eyes, I was starting to get embarrassed for myself…I mean, my dad can be pretty ruthless, and taking out his repressed childhood anger on his only living relative besides his daughters--well, that was just mean. And now he was getting Draco in on it, and I knew from personal experience…those Malfoys…evil!

So we waited in the dressing room forever for Dudley and Byron to come out, and by that time Auryn had come out of the dressing room, Katharine had shot us a reproving look, and the Malfoys had said their goodbyes.

Then I suggested we leave the Dursleys to the vultures. Vita smacked me on the thigh.

***

When we finally got home, we hadn't actually had lunch with the Weasleys. Dad said that he sent an owl to Ron, but Vita sent one, too, just to make sure. I called her an over-achiever, and she called me a wanker.

The week went by uninterrupted for the most part, but we did get a new neighbor. She came over the afternoon before I was to go to school, and asked to be shown around our house. She then proceeded to ask me why we didn't have any televisions in our house…or phones. Or microwaves. I asked her what those things were, and then she asked me if we were Amish.

I made Vita show her around the rest of the house, and I went into my room and looked up the words 'Microwave', 'Phone', 'Television' and 'Amish' in my dictionary. They all said the same thing (except Amish, that is…apparently they are those people who are still living way back when witches and wizards were burned at the stake…yikes!), see Muggle Artifacts. Hmm.

Maybe I should take that class called 'Muggle Studies' when I get to Hogwarts.

***

[End Chapter 2]