Disclaimer: Everything you recognise is not mine, everything you do not recognise is mine.
Chapter 6: A Forbidden Trip
Harry woke up next morning and looked around. Ron must be down at breakfast, Harry thought. He walked out of the common room quickly, sprinting down the corridor towards the Great Hall. (what can I say? He was hungry!) He sat down beside Ron, who was listening to Hermione. She was speaking to him in a soothing voice and telling him to eat.
"You really do need to eat, Ron," Harry piped up. He began to eat a piece of toast as they talked. Hermione turned to him.
"You remember about that Banshee essay that we have for Defence against the Dark Arts, don't you?" she reminded him, a reproving look lingering on her face.
"Yeah, of course!" Harry exclaimed, trying to sound enthusiastic.
"Then how much have you done?"
"One roll," he replied.
"We have to complete three, and you're only on your first roll?" She rolled her eyes.
"Look, Hermione," Harry said calmly, "I'm going to get it done, so does it really matter?"
"Yes, it does! What about Ron? How much has he done?"
"I've finished it," Ron said quietly.
"Finished it? You finished it?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Yeah," he replied. "There wasn't much else to do last night," Ron shrugged.
There was a swishing sound from overhead, and Harry knew exactly what it meant. Hedwig landed on the table, nipping Harry playfully on the ear.
"Hey Hedwig," he said to her, as she ate some of his toast. "What do you have for me?" She held out her leg, allowing him to untie the letter that was attached. He opened it and read aloud:
Harry,
I know you are probably looking forward to your first Hogsmeade weekend. -"I almost forgot that was today!" Ron said, finally sounding cheerful - but I must tell you not to go. You know that Voldemort is growing stronger, and I don't want anything to happen. Muggles are being killed each day, along with important witches and wizards all around Britain, adding to my concern for your safety. Stay on the alert, and please write me back as soon as you can!
Sirius
"Why does he have to do that?" Harry said angrily, slamming his fist on the table. "He's the one who signed the form allowing me to go to Hogsmeade!"
"Harry, he's worried about you...he doesn't want you getting hurt," Hermione said, frowning. "Hogsmeade isn't protected in any way! You-Know-Who could strike and no one would know until hours later...It's just not safe..."
Harry agreed silently to himself, but he didn't feel like telling Hermione she was right.
"Hermione's right, Harry," said Ron, shrugging. "You could just not go this time..."
"No! I'll wear the invisibility cloak! There's no way Voldemort could see me under that!" Harry said, standing up quickly.
"Harry -" but before Hermione could finish he had already gone.
* * *
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good," Harry whispered, looking around apprehensively as students headed for Hogsmeade.
He watched as the map showed itself, and he walked to the one-eyed witch after making sure no teachers were near. "Dissendium," he whispered, and the hole formed. He stepped through, walking down the dusty passage to the Honeydukes cellar. When he reached the trap door, Harry climbed through, closing it seamlessly behind him. He climbed the stairs cautiously, nimbly missing a worker, who was carrying a large box of Canary Creams up the stairs while humming a Weird Sisters tune. Harry looked for Ron and Hermione as he entered the shop. They were standing over by the Fizzing Whizbees, talking to each other in hushed voices. Harry moved in closer to hear what they were saying.
"Ron, I don't want to talk about it," Hermione said, sounding agitated. "Harry shouldn't have come, and I'm glad he didn't. He would just be putting himself in more danger."
"Too bad I did then," Harry said in her ear. Hermione jumped.
"Harry? What are you doing here?" Hermione asked, outraged.
"Well, I just wanted to come. I dunno," he shrugged.
"Where are you, anyway?" Ron asked, his hands flailing blindly around him.
"Right beside you," Harry directed. "To your right."
"Oh, okay. Well, we need to go. Everyone's looking at us like we're mad."
* * *
The three of them walked into Zonko's Joke Shop a few minutes later, nearly running into Fred and George, who were talking to Mr. Zonko in a business-like manner. The twins turned toward them.
"What are you two doing here?" Fred asked, glancing with a wink at the large space that was Harry.
"We just came to have a look around," Ron said casually. "Why are you here?"
Fred tried to look insulted, and replied, in a mock-Percy attitude, "Well, Ronald, we were initially speaking with Mr. Zonko about our merchandise. We're trying to make a profit," he raised an eyebrow. Harry choked a laugh from underneath his cloak. He knew that persona from anywhere. "Now if you'll excuse us," George continued, "we have a proposal to offer. Now go away," he whispered.
"Yes, Weatherby," Ron replied, putting his hand up to his forehead in mock salute. Fred snorted.
They walked to the other side of the shop, Ron leading the way, stopping them in front of a bag of dung bombs. Fred watched, swelling with pride. "He makes me proud," he said, "taking after us like that." George nodded as Ron grabbed the largest bag, which read 'New and Improved'and walked to the front counter. After paying the cashier six sickles, the three of them walked out of the shop and headed for The Three Broomsticks. They walked in and were greeted immediately by Madam Rosmerta.
"Welcome to The Three Broomsticks! How may I help you?" she asked them warmly as they sat down at a nearby table
"Er...could we have three butterbeers?" Ron asked. Madam Rosmerta eyed them suspiciously, but simply said "Very well," and walked away.
"That was close," Harry whispered.
As they sat down, she brought them their drinks and walked away. Harry drank his butterbeer down rather quickly, trying not to make much noise, out of fear of being heard. When they'd finished, feeling much warmer than before, they walked out into the cool October air. "Are we just going to go through the passage?" Harry asked, still clutching the map in his left hand.
"Yeah," Ron whispered quietly as they went into the alleyway that was beside Honeydukes and all got under the cloak. "This is going to be hard," Ron said aloud.
"Shush!" Hermione screeched.
1 The three of them walked through the crowd anxiously, making sure they didn't bump into anyone. After creeping down the stairs, they felt around the ground for the trap door, and jumped down into the passage. "Lumos," Harry whispered, and the tip of his wand lit up. They walked down the tunnel for what seemed like an eternity, until they finally reached the end. They pushed open the hole and climbed through.
"Using the map again, Mr. Potter?" a familiar voice called from their left.
Chapter 6: A Forbidden Trip
Harry woke up next morning and looked around. Ron must be down at breakfast, Harry thought. He walked out of the common room quickly, sprinting down the corridor towards the Great Hall. (what can I say? He was hungry!) He sat down beside Ron, who was listening to Hermione. She was speaking to him in a soothing voice and telling him to eat.
"You really do need to eat, Ron," Harry piped up. He began to eat a piece of toast as they talked. Hermione turned to him.
"You remember about that Banshee essay that we have for Defence against the Dark Arts, don't you?" she reminded him, a reproving look lingering on her face.
"Yeah, of course!" Harry exclaimed, trying to sound enthusiastic.
"Then how much have you done?"
"One roll," he replied.
"We have to complete three, and you're only on your first roll?" She rolled her eyes.
"Look, Hermione," Harry said calmly, "I'm going to get it done, so does it really matter?"
"Yes, it does! What about Ron? How much has he done?"
"I've finished it," Ron said quietly.
"Finished it? You finished it?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Yeah," he replied. "There wasn't much else to do last night," Ron shrugged.
There was a swishing sound from overhead, and Harry knew exactly what it meant. Hedwig landed on the table, nipping Harry playfully on the ear.
"Hey Hedwig," he said to her, as she ate some of his toast. "What do you have for me?" She held out her leg, allowing him to untie the letter that was attached. He opened it and read aloud:
Harry,
I know you are probably looking forward to your first Hogsmeade weekend. -"I almost forgot that was today!" Ron said, finally sounding cheerful - but I must tell you not to go. You know that Voldemort is growing stronger, and I don't want anything to happen. Muggles are being killed each day, along with important witches and wizards all around Britain, adding to my concern for your safety. Stay on the alert, and please write me back as soon as you can!
Sirius
"Why does he have to do that?" Harry said angrily, slamming his fist on the table. "He's the one who signed the form allowing me to go to Hogsmeade!"
"Harry, he's worried about you...he doesn't want you getting hurt," Hermione said, frowning. "Hogsmeade isn't protected in any way! You-Know-Who could strike and no one would know until hours later...It's just not safe..."
Harry agreed silently to himself, but he didn't feel like telling Hermione she was right.
"Hermione's right, Harry," said Ron, shrugging. "You could just not go this time..."
"No! I'll wear the invisibility cloak! There's no way Voldemort could see me under that!" Harry said, standing up quickly.
"Harry -" but before Hermione could finish he had already gone.
* * *
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good," Harry whispered, looking around apprehensively as students headed for Hogsmeade.
He watched as the map showed itself, and he walked to the one-eyed witch after making sure no teachers were near. "Dissendium," he whispered, and the hole formed. He stepped through, walking down the dusty passage to the Honeydukes cellar. When he reached the trap door, Harry climbed through, closing it seamlessly behind him. He climbed the stairs cautiously, nimbly missing a worker, who was carrying a large box of Canary Creams up the stairs while humming a Weird Sisters tune. Harry looked for Ron and Hermione as he entered the shop. They were standing over by the Fizzing Whizbees, talking to each other in hushed voices. Harry moved in closer to hear what they were saying.
"Ron, I don't want to talk about it," Hermione said, sounding agitated. "Harry shouldn't have come, and I'm glad he didn't. He would just be putting himself in more danger."
"Too bad I did then," Harry said in her ear. Hermione jumped.
"Harry? What are you doing here?" Hermione asked, outraged.
"Well, I just wanted to come. I dunno," he shrugged.
"Where are you, anyway?" Ron asked, his hands flailing blindly around him.
"Right beside you," Harry directed. "To your right."
"Oh, okay. Well, we need to go. Everyone's looking at us like we're mad."
* * *
The three of them walked into Zonko's Joke Shop a few minutes later, nearly running into Fred and George, who were talking to Mr. Zonko in a business-like manner. The twins turned toward them.
"What are you two doing here?" Fred asked, glancing with a wink at the large space that was Harry.
"We just came to have a look around," Ron said casually. "Why are you here?"
Fred tried to look insulted, and replied, in a mock-Percy attitude, "Well, Ronald, we were initially speaking with Mr. Zonko about our merchandise. We're trying to make a profit," he raised an eyebrow. Harry choked a laugh from underneath his cloak. He knew that persona from anywhere. "Now if you'll excuse us," George continued, "we have a proposal to offer. Now go away," he whispered.
"Yes, Weatherby," Ron replied, putting his hand up to his forehead in mock salute. Fred snorted.
They walked to the other side of the shop, Ron leading the way, stopping them in front of a bag of dung bombs. Fred watched, swelling with pride. "He makes me proud," he said, "taking after us like that." George nodded as Ron grabbed the largest bag, which read 'New and Improved'and walked to the front counter. After paying the cashier six sickles, the three of them walked out of the shop and headed for The Three Broomsticks. They walked in and were greeted immediately by Madam Rosmerta.
"Welcome to The Three Broomsticks! How may I help you?" she asked them warmly as they sat down at a nearby table
"Er...could we have three butterbeers?" Ron asked. Madam Rosmerta eyed them suspiciously, but simply said "Very well," and walked away.
"That was close," Harry whispered.
As they sat down, she brought them their drinks and walked away. Harry drank his butterbeer down rather quickly, trying not to make much noise, out of fear of being heard. When they'd finished, feeling much warmer than before, they walked out into the cool October air. "Are we just going to go through the passage?" Harry asked, still clutching the map in his left hand.
"Yeah," Ron whispered quietly as they went into the alleyway that was beside Honeydukes and all got under the cloak. "This is going to be hard," Ron said aloud.
"Shush!" Hermione screeched.
1 The three of them walked through the crowd anxiously, making sure they didn't bump into anyone. After creeping down the stairs, they felt around the ground for the trap door, and jumped down into the passage. "Lumos," Harry whispered, and the tip of his wand lit up. They walked down the tunnel for what seemed like an eternity, until they finally reached the end. They pushed open the hole and climbed through.
"Using the map again, Mr. Potter?" a familiar voice called from their left.