A/N: Okes. Seventh chapter…I wrote this really weird. I sorta started from the of it and worked my way to the beginning. I don't know—I confuse myself sometimes. Oh well. Read and Review -- I really want some input on this chapter! (please?)

Chapter Seven ::  Diagon Alley

A few days later, while everyone was eating breakfast, 6 barn owls flew in and dropped a letter into each of their laps.  Everyone sat in silence as they read their Hogwarts letter for this year. 

Dear Miss Granger,

Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first.  The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock. 

            This year, all prefects and seventh years will be taking a foreign exchange trip to the United States of America.  The enclosed packet of information will tell you all that you need to know.

            A list of books for next year is enclosed.

Yours sincerely,

Professor M. McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

"An exchange trip? To America? Is this a joke?" Fred asked.

"What exchange trip?" Ginny asked.

"Sorry, Gin.  Seventh years and prefects only."

"Oh."

"Wow! We're going to be staying in New York City! In Manhattan!" Hermione shouted.

"Yeah, so?" said Ron.

"I've read so much about American wizards! They are completely different than us! I mean, that would make sense considering they are located on the other side of the world, but it's amazing how many differences there are between us and

them!"

"Well, what sort of stuff, Herm?" Harry asked.

"You know how in England, we have a lot of pure blood families?" Everyone nodded, "Well, in America, there are a lot more muggles and a lot less wizards and witches.  There are still plenty of magic people, but a lot less pure blood families.  The only pure blooded families are the ones who went over in the more recent years.  Draco will hate it."

"Wow. What else Hermione?" Ron asked. \\I can't believe this! They actually want me to tell them information that I know! This never happens . . .better not push my luck \\. . .Hermione thought to herself.

"Well, the students there don't have boarding schools like us.  They go to high school, and there are only 4 levels in the high school.  It's a really complicated system if you ask me."

"That's America."

Everyone continued to read the information.  Hermione couldn't believe what she was reading.  Not only would she be staying in America for two weeks, but also she would be staying with a high school student from New York, who attends a school in Manhattan.  She would go to school with the student, and pretty much just follow the student on her normal daily routine.  The letter did note that in order to go, the students must keep good grades until the trip. \\That won't be hard for me.\\ 

"Well, looks like we will be needing a trip to Diagon Alley quite soon." Harry said.

"How does next Thursday sound? I'm sure my parents won't mind." Hermione replied.

"Wonderful.  We're all out of fireworks, we can get some there, Fred." Said George.  Everybody rolled their eyes. 

"Along with every other trick in the book, right George?" Ron asked.

"Maybe. . ." Fred replied mischievously.

* * *

The next Thursday, Hermione woke up early, as always, to cook breakfast for everyone.  This morning, she cooked pancakes, French toast, waffles, hash browns, eggs and biscuits.  She also chopped up some fresh strawberries from the garden.  After her mother and father ate, they went out into the backyard.  They had taken the day off from work to go with everyone to Diagon Alley.  Hermione knew, however, that her father was beginning to really enjoy the wizarding world. Once her parents had exited out the backdoor, Ginny came downstairs looking distressed.

"Hey, Gin. What's wrong?"

"I can't stand it.  Fred and George are TWO rooms down, and I can still hear them snore! How do you sleep through that?"

"I'm a really heavy sleeper, it's almost impossible to wake me up when I'm in a deep sleep.  I bet if there was a fire, I still would stay in my bed, sound asleep."

Ginny laughed.  She looked at the table and immediately became happier. "Mmm-mmm! French toast and waffles! My favorites!"

Hermione smiled. "I'm glad.  Hey, Gin, I'm gonna go for a walk around my neighborhood.  I'll be back in a little bit."

"Mm-kay" Ginny replied, her mouth full of food.

            As Hermione walked out her front door, her mind was racing.  She didn't know what to think of her dream last night.  It was the same progression of dreams that she had been having for over a month now, but this time, the two people dueled, and were both heavily injured.

"Excemperatus!"

"Megoniadio!"

Their curses still echoed in her mind.  Excemperatus was a painful curse that made you feel like you had millions of insects crawling around and biting under your skin.  Megoniadio was another painful curse that made your hair catch on fire, and burn to the scalp.  Hermione didn't know what to think of these dreams.  If they continued, she feared that the two people would kill each other off.  What irritated her even more was that she still hadn't figured out who the two people were.  She seemed to know them, but she could never remember their faces.  As she passed under large, green and shady trees, her mind turned to other thoughts.  Thoughts she had never had about anyone before.  She couldn't shake them off, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to.  They happened every time he was around, every time he talked to her.  His face was so much different from that of what she remembered in her first year.  \\He really has grown a lot.\\  She thought. 

            As she walked up the steps to her front porch, Hermione's mind turned to other things.  Two people seemed to be arguing inside.

"George! You've already had FIVE pieces of French toast, PLUS 4 waffles and more eggs than any of us!  Would you PLEASE let me have the last waffle?"  Ron shouted.

"Ron, I can make more if you would like me to . . ." Hermione said quietly.

"Oh, g'morning, Hermione."  Harry said.

"No! You won't go out of your way to make more for me, Herm.  Thanks, but I think George can live without another waffle!"

"It's really no big deal, Ron."

"Herm," he said calmly, "You've already made us all breakfast . . .you don't need to make more.  Thanks by the way for doing it again this morning. It was really good, and I would have loved to enjoy more of it, if it wasn't for a pig here at the table . . ." He glared menacingly at George.

"Fine! Have the waffle!" George said. Then he grinned. "I'll just have some more pancakes instead!"

Everyone laughed.  "Hey, Hermione! When are we leaving for Diagon Alley today?" Ginny asked.

"I was thinking right after lunch.  And we could have dinner at the Leaky Cauldron if you'd like."

"You're parents won't mind?" Fred said while smiling.

Hermione laughed. "Ha! I know for a fact that they love going to Diagon Alley, even more than me! And they especially love the Leaky Cauldron.  Don't ask me why, but they do."

"Well, it sounds good to me.  Mum and Dad gave us some money to buy our supplies, but we are really gonna have to ration it.  There's not too much." Ron said.  He looked embarrassed by the fact that they had so little money.

"Well, I won't really be needing any new robes this year, maybe we could save some money then." Ginny said quietly.

"Gin, you've been growing like a tree lately, you have to get new robes!"

"I also need a lot of school supplies! I'll be fine!"

Fred and George were shifting nervously in their seats. "You guys should be fine on having enough money."

"Are you kidding? We have to by new supplies and everything for all four of us!"

"No, George and I will be able to pay for ourselves."

"How are you going to do that?" Ginny asked.

"Don't worry 'bout that.  Just know that you will have enough money." George said.

"Okay . . ." Ron and Ginny said in harmony, curious on how their brothers were going to pay for all of their supplies.

After a good lunch of assorted sandwiches, everyone gathered around the fireplace in the living room.

"My dad wrote and said that he hooked up our fireplace to the Floo network again." Ron said.

"Floo network?" Mrs. Granger asked.

"Oh, mum.  It's really easy.  You take a pinch of this," Hermione held up the can with the glittering powder inside, "and throw it into the fire.  It will turn green, and then you step into the flames . . ."

"Don't worry though! They won't burn you!" Harry said.

"That's right, they don't hurt at all. So after you have stepped into the flames, you shout your destination. Ours is, obviously, Diagon Alley."

"You'll spin around a bit, and you'll see lots of other wizarding fires, but as long as you speak clearly into the flames, you'll arrive at the correct destination."  Harry said.  Hermione remembered how his first experience with the Floo network ended up, and she guessed that Harry didn't want her parents to end up in Knockturn Alley.

"Make sure to keep your elbows tucked in!"  Ginny peeped.

"And don't get anxious and step out early! Just speak clearly and you will be fine!"  George said.

Mr. and Mrs. Granger looked very overwhelmed. "Are you sure we will be ok?"

"Yes, Dad.  As long as you do what we said, you will be fine.  And Tom, the innkeeper at the Leaky Cauldron, knows we are coming, and so he'll be waiting for us at the other end.  Don't worry, Mum.  You'll be fine."

Mrs. Granger looked at her daughter and smiled. "Ok, see you in Diagon Alley!"

"Wait! We'll go first Mr. and Mrs. Granger." said Fred.

"Yeah, that way you can sort of see what will happen." George said, trying to reassure Hermione's parents.

Fred went first.  He grabbed a pinch of the Floo powder and threw it into the fire.  As expected, the flames turned green and rose above his head.  He stepped into the fire and yelled "Diagon Alley!" loudly and will a small 'whoosh,' he was gone. 

"Well, that seems simple enough!"  Mr. Granger said, with a huge smile on his face.

"Alright, I'm going to go now, and then you can come after me if you would like Mr. Granger." George said.

"Oke-doke!" Mr. Granger said.  He looked extremely excited.  Hermione couldn't believe how eager her father was acting.  She felt really good that her father really seemed to enjoy the wizarding world.

After George disappeared into the fire, Mr. Granger immediately grabbed his pinch of powder and threw it into the fire.  With a voice of enthusiasm, he shouted "Diagon Alley!" and vanished into the flames.

After Mrs. Granger, Harry, Ron, and Ginny had all departed into the fire, Hermione took a last look at the house, threw in her pinch of powder and shouted "Diagon Alley!" with a sturdy voice.  In an instant, she felt like she was being sucked down a massive drain.  She could see countless other wizarding fires spinning around her, but she kept her elbows tucked in and waited for the spinning to slow down. Once she felt herself coming to a stop, she fell out into the Leaky Cauldron.  Hermione looked up and saw everyone smiling down at her.

"Have a good trip?" Harry asked.

"Hermione! When can we take the Floo network again? That was just like a roller coaster ride!" Her father shouted exuberantly.

Hermione smiled.  "Well, we get to take it home, if that makes you happy!"

"Yippie!" her father shouted with joy.  As Hermione thought about it, her father was exactly like Mr. Weasley.  He was just as completely enthusiastic and interested in the wizarding world as Mr. Weasley was in the muggle world.  

"Well, what do you say we get to shopping?" Ginny asked excitedly.

Fred and George went off together \\probably headed for the nearest joke shop\\ Hermione thought, and Mr. and Mrs. Granger decided it would be best if they went into Muggle London for a little while.  Hermione agreed to meet her parents at a Muggle spot so they would be able to get back into the Leaky Cauldron for dinner.  After giving her some muggle money to exchange and big kiss, her parents left for the muggle world. 

Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ginny walked off to Gringotts Bank.  After Harry had gotten some money out of his account, and Hermione had exchanged her muggle money for galleons, sickles and knuts, the gang went off in search of their supplies.   After Harry bought them each an ice cream cone at Florean Florescue's Ice Cream Parlor (Harry got a strawberry-peanut butter cone, Ron and Hermione got strawberry-peach, and Ginny got chocolate), they stopped at Madam Malkin's to get new robes.  Each of them needed new Hogwarts robes, but after Hermione checked the list, they realized that they needed dress robes again this year.  Harry decided he wouldn't need to get one, since Lavender, Pavarti, and Padma had already bought him a perfectly good robe for his birthday.  Hermione was able to find a gorgeous scarlet robe that was made of fine silk and had a touch of golden shimmer to it. Ron and Ginny looked a little disappointed, however.  Hermione knew that it was because they didn't have enough money to buy both Hogwarts robes and dress robes.  Luckily, Fred and George arrived right on cue. 

"Don't worry about your dress robes.  Fred and I already bought you both some." George said, while pulling out two robes from a bag.  Ron's was a navy blue robe, very plain, but perfect for him.  Ginny's was a beautiful purple robe that had a few silver swirls around the shoulder and bottom of the robe. 

"How did you guys get to be so good at picking out dress robes? These are perfect!" Ginny squealed.

"We know." Fred grinned. 

"Where did you guys get all this money?" Ron asked curiously.

"Oh, we gotta be going. We still haven't gotten to the joke shop yet." George said, trying to avoid the subject.

"Um, yeah. See you guys at dinner."

"You didn't answer my question!" Ron called.

* * *

Once their money pockets were empty, and their arms were full of packages, Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny headed back to the Leaky Cauldron.  Everyone dropped their packages off in their private room where they would be enjoying their meal, and Hermione set off into the Muggle London to meet her parents.  After waiting at the bus stop (where she and her parents agreed to meet at 5:00pm) for a few minutes, Hermione saw Mr. and Mrs. Granger walking towards her with a few bags in each of their hands. 

"Hungry for dinner?" Hermione asked them.

"You bet! What's on the menu?" her father replied.

"I don't know.  I'm sure it will be something good though.  Tom the innkeeper always makes wonderful meals.  What did you get?"

"Just a few surprises that I'm sure you and your friends will enjoy.  We'll show you all once everyone gets back to our house."

Hermione smiled.  Her parents were always able to find good surprises.

            Once they reached their dining room at the Leaky Cauldron, Tom immediately started to bring out food for them to eat.  He prepared a good hearty meal consisting of a delicious vegetable beef stew, lots of rolls and biscuits, and a large homemade apple pie for dessert.  During the meal, Ron was still trying to figure out where Fred and George got all their money, while Harry watched, looking quite amused. Hermione and Ginny talked with Hermione's parents about their upcoming year at school.  Hermione's parents were always supportive of her, and loved to hear about her studies at school.  Hermione's mother had been especially proud when Hermione got her acceptance letter back before her first year at Hogwarts.  Hermione always wrote to her parents during the school year, telling them what was going on and how she was. After everyone was full to the brim; Ron, Ginny, Harry, Fred and George decided to take one last look in Quality Quidditch Supplies.  Hermione decided to stay back with her parents, and wait for them to pay the bill. 

"Did you have a good day dear? Get all your supplies?" Mrs. Granger asked.

"Yes, I was even able to get myself a new dress robe. Would you like to see it?"

"Oh, of course dear!"

Hermione pulled her new dress robe out of its box.  Her parents gasped at the sight of it.

"It's absolutely perfect for you, sweetie.  You are going to look absolutely beautiful in it." Mr. Granger said.

"She always looks absolutely beautiful, dear." Mrs. Granger said with a smile.

"Of course she does! Now all she has to do is get a good-looking date to go with her! Why don't you go with one of your friends, Hermione?"

"I'm not going to worry about that now, Dad."

"Do you think they are enjoying their stay with us?" he asked.

"I'm pretty sure that they are, Dad.  They are always so happy.  Except for when Ron and George are fighting over food, but it's all in good fun."

"I'm so glad, dear.  They are all so nice and polite.  Of course, the twins snore quite loudly, but they are certainly good for a laugh." He replied.

"You can have them over anytime you like dear.  They are all wonderful friends for you to have, and I would love to see them more often," her mother said.

Then, unexpectedly, the door opened.  As she turned to see who it was, Hermione assumed that Ron or Harry would walk in, mumbling that they had forgot one of their bags from the stores.  However, neither of them walked through the door, nor did Fred, George, Ginny or even Tom. Instead, a tall and black robed person walked in.  He had a dark mask on with strange and evil green markings all around the eye and mouth holes.  Hermione knew from the jump of her stomach that something was terribly wrong.  But it was too late to call for help.

"Plenus silens"

Hermione knew that curse.  It would silence the room so no one outside would be able to hear anything, no matter how loud it was inside . . .

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" her father asked as the man closed and locked the door.

"How pathetic. You do not seem to know who you are addressing, do you?"

"Why should I?"

Hermione knew what this man was.  His black robe and mask gave it all away.  Hermione remembered the Quidditch World Cup.  She knew what these people did to innocent muggles. And his voice sounded freakishly familiar. 

"Dad. . ."

"Shh.  Be quiet, dear."

The Deatheater laughed.

"You fool. Too bad you don't know that I," the Deatheater hissed, "am what you should fear most right now."

"Why?"

"Crucio!" In an instant, her father fell to the ground and began to scream so loud it hurt Hermione's ears.  "Stop it!" Hermione yelled desperately, "He has done nothing to you! Stop it! Please!" Hermione couldn't stand seeing her father in so much pain.  His shrieks of agony echoed in the room.  Hermione cried in horror as she watched her father shake violently on the ground.

"Shut up, you foolish mudblood.  Or you will get what you deserve."

"But he is innocent! Stop it!! Ple—"

"Crucio!"

It was unlike anything Hermione had ever felt.  Her body felt like it was on fire, and it seemed like a million knives were stabbing every millimeter of her body.  Her high-pitched screams only made the Deatheater laugh louder.  She could barely make out her traumatized mother sitting on the floor, whimpering and completely clueless of what to do.

"Stupid muggles. The world would be so much better without you."

"Stop it! Leave them alone!" Hermione heard her mother cry.

"Alright. What ever you say, you pathetic excuse for a woman."  He had stopped torturing Hermione and her father, and began to laugh so maliciously that it sent cold shivers down Hermione's spine.  But Hermione would have suffered a thousand more agonizing curses that witness what she was about to see. "Avada Kedavra!"

And right then, in a bright flash of green light before Hermione's eyes, her mother was killed.

A/N: This story is really writing itself now.  When I first set out to write this story, I had a completely different idea in mind.  But I dunno, I think I like how it's going (not that I like killing of Mrs. Granger) but this story might really get a plot soon.  Well, now that you have read it, tell me what you think! (Please??) I seriously want some feedback though---good or bad…just sock it to me!