THE MANOR

Chapter 2 – Diagon Alley

The sun shone brightly through the small crack of a window, and Hermione stretched out luxuriantly on the small camp bed she slept on. The light grew brighter, and finally, Hermione found herself forced to awaken, no longer able to shield the sunlight from her eyes and sleep.

Opening her eyes, she smiled to see the room she was in. Ginny had evidently already awoken, and was downstairs, but the room was clean as a pin, as opposed to Ron's room. The room had been painted a pale, pastel pink, and the furniture, although the paint was peeling slightly, was white. Hermione's belongings were piled at the bottom of her camp bed, and now, Hermione leapt up, and changed swiftly into a pair of old, loose jeans and a blouse, before hurrying downstairs, stopping every so often on the stairs to tie the shoelaces of her sneakers, urged on by the smell of frying bacon and fresh bread.

Last night, Hermione had fallen asleep almost straight away, after being urged to drink a cup of hot cocoa by Mrs Weasley. The rest of the Weasley household had still been awake, Fred and George, Ginny, Bill, Charlie and Percy, and she had been greeted with friendliness.

Now, she went quickly into the crowded kitchen, where she could see Bill, Ginny, Harry and Ron were eating breakfast.

'Good morning,' she said cheerfully.

Ron, whose head was burrowed in his arm, gave a groan. 'How can you be so cheerful at this hour in the morning? I wouldn't have tried to get up if it weren't for the fact that Pig was hungry.'

'Ron, it's already half past nine,' Hermione said primly. 'Of course I'm cheerful, although I shouldn't really be. I should have woken up ages ago, and begun studying.'

Ron raised his head slightly, shook it in disgust, and shoved another massive bite of bacon, eggs and toast into his mouth, before dropping his head once more onto his arms. Harry raised a brow at this, but turned to smile at Hermione.

'Good morning,' he said, and was echoed by Ginny and Bill. Ginny was fairly awake, and was eating quickly and neatly, while Bill – although not as asleep as Ron, held his head in one hand, the other hand holding a cup of suspiciously strong coffee up to his mouth.

'What are we doing today?' Hermione asked, beginning to eat the huge breakfast laid out before her.

'Quidditch,' Ron mumbled.

'You can't possibly be planning to spend the entire day playing Quidditch,' Hermione protested.

Here, Ron sat up quickly. 'Hermione! I have to get into the house team this year! Wood's gone. The keeper spot is open. You know I wanted to get in last year, but we had the Tournament, so I couldn't get it, but I will this year.' He said all this with great determination. 'And of course, that means practise.'

Hermione sighed. 'Haven't you already spent all holidays practising?' she asked.

'Yeah, but I can't afford to slacken off one bit,' Ron said, with decisiveness.

'Who do you think the Quidditch captain will be, Harry?' Bill asked, with a trace of interest. Hermione noticed the fang earring was gone, but that he had acquired a new belt, which looked as if it were studded with the teeth from some dangerous monster. His hair had also been cut, but was spiked up to create a semi-mohawk.

Harry hesitated. 'I don't think it'll be Fred or George,' he said, half apologetically, making Bill grin. 'I think it's most likely it'll be Angelina, Angelina Johnson,' he clarified. 'She's very good, with quite good strategic skills,' he added. 'But then again, Katie's a bit more stable, and Alicia can pacify the team best.'

Bill nodded at the no-answer, and the table continued eating. In time, Hermione spoke up. 'What have you been doing lately, Bill?'

Bill considered the question, sipping his coffee. 'Actually, that's classified information,' he said, smiling. 'You'll probably figure out some of it eventually, but I'm doing all manner of things for Dumbledore.'

'Is Charlie too?' Hermione asked, interested.

Bill nodded. 'He's doing something early today, but I got to sleep in,' he gave a small yawn, 'for once.'

Hermione considered asking Bill more questions, but decided not to. Bill looked a bit too tired, and she could see the dark circles under his eyes. It would be kinder not to pester him. Presently, though, Bill rose and went to get ready for his day's work.

'Met up with Krum anytime these holidays, Hermione?' Harry asked slyly, glancing over at Ron.

Ron's fork clattered onto his plate.

'No,' Hermione, casually eating. 'I was in Australia most of the time. Mum and Dad had a dentist's convention there, which was pretty boring. However, I spent most of my time visiting local Australian magical sites. And bunyips are not scary, Ron,' Hermione said, grinning. 'You should see some of the spiders they have there though,' she added thoughtfully.

'Right,' Ron said weakly, turning a little green.

'I really wanted to see an Antipodean Opal Eye – they're indigenous to Australia, you know, but I didn't get to. Some of the Aboriginal magical rites are fascinating though. And they have so many useful bush plants that can be used in potions. Joey showed me some of the potions his parents made,' Hermione added.

'Joey?' Ron and Harry both asked suspiciously.

'This boy I met there …' Hermione winked at Ginny, who had been gazing love-lorn at Harry.

'Really?' Both Ron and Harry attempted to look disinterested.

'But the billiwigs were amusing! I got stung once,' Hermione changed the subject mischievously, seeing their faces go a little red in frustration. 'One of the most interesting things was how some of the charms they use are just a bit different to ones we use. That was really fascinating.'

Harry and Ron, clearly disinterested, tried to look interested.

'Never mind,' Hermione shook her head. 'How was your holiday?'

Ron sighed. 'I wanted to see the Chudley Cannons game, but Dad was too busy to take me, so that was out. Instead I spent all my time either practising Quidditch with Ginny, or staring at my homework.'

Hermione's eyebrows shot up. 'Staring?'

'Didn't make much sense,' Ron shrugged.

'But you should have tried a little harder,' Hermione retaliated. 'You could have owled me for help.'

'You were too busy having fun in Australia,' Ron said, shaking his head. 'With this Joey person,' he added pointedly, scowling.

Hermione decided to put Ron out of his misery. 'Joey's an eight years old kid, Ron,'

Ron, and Harry's expressions brightened. 'Sounds like a fantastic little chap,' Ron said jovially. Ginny, laughing at her brother's antics, left the kitchen to get changed out of her pyjamas.

'What's happened these holidays?' Hermione asked Harry, now that Bill and Ginny had left.

'More's happened to you than me,' Harry said pointedly. 'I've had absolutely nothing happening these holidays. The Dursley's weren't even that awful. I did absolutely nothing, except for housework and homework.'

'Not even a twinge in his scar,' Ron reported. He'd evidently spoken to Harry about it.

'You sound disappointed,' Hermione accused Ron. 'And you,' she stared hard at Harry.

'Come on, Hermione,' Harry laughed. 'I'm not that foolish. Did I tell you about Dudley, though?'

Harry and Ron both grinned wickedly, as Hermione gave Harry a long look. She had the distinct feeling that he was avoiding something.

'What about Dudley?' Hermione asked resignedly.

'You know the diet thing last holidays?' Harry prompted.

'Yes.'

'It didn't really work back then.'

Hermione rolled her eyes heavenward.

'But these holidays!' Harry and Ron both burst out laughing. Ron took up the rest of the tale. 'The pig spent the whole holidays sweating it out at the gym, and dieting excessively! Do you know why?'

'I wouldn't have thought Dudley could stand on a treadmill without breaking it,' Hermione commented dryly.

'He broke two on the way,' Harry corrected. 'And three of those cycling things.'

'So why the sudden hopeful loss of weight in Dudley?' Hermione asked.

'Because there's a girl involved,' Ron's smile had turned positively vicious.

Hermione tut tutted Ron's attitude.

'But, Herm, he was hilarious. It was always "Gwendolyn this," or "Gwendolyn that," or "do you think Gwen will notice how good I look?"' Harry imitated his cousin.

'So how does he look now?' Hermione asked. 'Better?'

'Unfortunately, he's still of killer whale proportions,' Harry said, attempting to be serious.

'Although he wobbles slightly less,' Ron tried to be fair.

Hermione rolled her eyes, just as Harry and Ron stood up. 'Quidditch,' they explained in unison.

The next few days passed peacefully enough in the Burrow. Hermione spent much of the time studying, but it was fun to have meals with her friends, or to joke around with them after dinner. Sometimes, she also helped Ginny with the household chores, such as shopping in the little village nearby, or aiding with the cooking, cleaning or washing. However, she never managed to talk to Harry alone, without Ron, or Ginny there. She could tell that Harry didn't want to say anything while they were around, and it seemed like he didn't want to say anything to her either, so it would be a task of great persuasion.

Hermione became accustomed to seeing Mr Weasley, Percy, Charlie and Bill leaving at unearthly hours and returning to the Burrow after the rest of them were asleep. Fred and George eased their teasing of Percy, partly because of Mr Weasley's unusually firm interference, and partly because of Percy's involvement in 'real' matters now. Well, more real than before, when he had dealt with the thickness of cauldron bottoms.

'Today, we're going to Diagon Alley,' Mrs Weasley announced one morning a couple of days before September 1st when school would start. They had all received their letters from Hogwarts the day before, and it seemed like a good time to pick up school supplies.

'I've already purchased my school textbooks,' Hermione told them. 'Except for Standard Book of Spells Grade V – they were out of stock.'

'How did you know which textbooks to get?' Harry asked, puzzled.

'I asked the teachers at the end of last term,' Hermione explained. 'But I need to pick up more parchment, potions supplies, and stuff like that.'

The others nodded. In other words, Hermione would be coming with them. It didn't take long before the Weasleys plus Harry and Hermione had flooed to Diagon Alley. The sight of the sunny, narrow street filled with witches and wizards, filled Hermione with a great deal of contentment, and after they stopped off at Gringotts for Harry to pick up some money from his vault and Hermione to exchange some Muggle money, they split up to go their separate ways.

'No Knockturn Alley!' Mrs Weasley warned Fred and George.

'Never fear,' Fred said with aplomb.

'We have more important things to do than that,' George added, fingering the stack of order forms he carried. The twins left, grinning with mischievous anticipation, and headed towards Zonko's. Mrs Weasley sighed exasperatedly, and went towards Madam Malkin's with Ginny.

'Let's go to Flourish and Blotts first,' Hermione suggested firmly to Harry and Ron.

'Come on, Hermione, let's go to Quality Quidditch Supplies,' Ron said quickly.

'Ron, you know our school texts are far more important than your broomsticks,' Hermione's scolded.

'But they're so heavy!' Ron complained. 'I don't want to walk around carrying around those books!'

'Stop whingeing,' Hermione said flatly. 'We're going to Flourish and Blotts. Right, Harry?'

Harry looked at his two friends, and attempted to give a neutral shrug.

They headed for Flourish and Blotts.

'Oooh! Look, Harry,' Hermione pointed inside the bookstore, her eyes lighting up. 'The new Arithmancy book by Pye Fluxions has come out! I've been waiting for it to be released in ages! And look – a revised edition Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them!' Harry watched in amazement as his friend seemed to run towards the books in some far off obscure corner of the bookstore. He wondered how it was that she even noticed them, and went in more slowly with Ron.

'What books do we need,' Ron asked gloomily.

'Er, I don't know. Haven't really checked out the list yet,' Harry said, pulling out the letter.

'There'd better not be a revised edition of The Monster Book of Monsters,' Ron said, scowling, but it looked as if it would be safe. There were no cages in the bookstore this time.

With the help of the shop assistant, Harry and Ron were soon laden with their textbooks for fifth year.

'Is Hermione ready yet?' Harry asked, looking around.

'I don't think so,' Ron said, disgruntled. He was quite upset by the new thick book – Unfogging the Future Book II – that was to be used for divination. 'Look, she's still obsessing over that book by Fly Puckson whatever.'

'Pye Fluxions,' Harry corrected absently.

'Whatever. Hey, let's look at the Quidditch books,' Ron said brightly as they neared the Quidditch section of the bookstore.

'Check this out, Ron,' Harry pointed out a book – Keeper's Knowledge Kracked.

'Great! Maybe I should get it. Think it'll boost my chances of getting on the Gryffindor team?' Ron asked enthusiastically.

At that moment, an all too familiar voice sounded behind them. 'You're not serious,' the voice drawled. 'Another Weasel on the team? That would make almost half the Gryffindor team poverty-stricken.'

Ron dropped his books at once and spun around, his hand fumbling for his wand, mouth spluttering broken insults. Harry didn't even bother turning. 'Take that back, Malfoy.'

'Potter to the rescue, as usual,' Draco Malfoy said, a derisive sneer on his pale, pointed face.

Harry gave Draco Malfoy a hard stare as he turned finally. 'What do you want?' he asked flatly, one hand on Ron's arm, trying to prevent Ron from thrashing Malfoy into a pulp.

The fifth year Slytherin ignored Harry, instead surveying the shelves, with a certain amount of wicked delight. 'Look, Weasley!' he said mockingly, picking up one of the books. 'Maybe this will be more useful for you.' Malfoy handed Ron a yellow and black book – Dummy's Guide to Staying Alive on the Quidditch Pitch by H. Elpme.

Ron snarled furiously when he read the title, but Malfoy had left, snickering.

'One day, one day,' Ron raged as Harry attempted to hold him back.

'I know,' Harry said, promising. 'One day, one day, Malfoy will pay. But, now we'd better drag Hermione away from Pye Fluxions, hadn't we?'

Ron reluctantly agreed, and they went to find Hermione.

'Finished with Mr Fred Plumberson yet?' Ron asked Hermione grumpily.

'Pye Fluxions,' Harry reminded Ron.

Hermione gave a short laugh. 'Most definitely not!' she exclaimed. 'This book is so interesting. I'm getting it,' she said decidedly.

'I thought you only had to get the Standard Book of Spells Volume V,' Ron said confused.

'That's the set text,' Hermione said patronisingly. Honestly, Ron could be so thick sometimes. 'This is for me to read in my free time!'

Ron choked.

It was then, Hermione noticed that Harry still had a grip on Ron's arm, and that Ron's face still looked a little red and angry. 'Whatever is the matter?' she asked.

'A run in with Malfoy,' Harry said darkly.

Hermione pursed her lips. 'It was unavoidable I suppose,' she said. 'He does have to come to Diagon Alley too. I do hope he doesn't cause too much trouble this year.' She was still very angry about last year, when Malfoy had been the link with Rita Skeeter, allowing all the very nasty articles about herself and Harry to be published in the Daily Prophet.

She picked up the Arithmancy book, and turned to the two boys. 'So, have you two paid yet for that lot?'

'No,' Harry replied.

'Let's go then,' Hermione suggested. Soon, they were headed away from Flourish and Blott, to the relief of Harry and Ron, and reluctance of Hermione. Although Hermione found her bag of books to be heavy (mostly due to the length of Mr Pye Fluxion's publication), she knew better than to complain, since it had been her idea to go to the bookshop first.

'Where to now?' Harry inquired once outside.

'I need to meet Fred and George at two o'clock,' Ron announced. He flushed a little as the other two turned to him in surprise. 'They said they would get me some new dress robes. Apparently,' he added quite proudly, 'they've already made a bit of a profit.'

Hermione noted this with relief, observing the knowing amusement in Harry's green eyes at hearing this information.

'Okay, so we still have some time,' Hermione said. 'Let's get some more school supplies. The apothecary?'

The apothecary it was, and after they obtained more potions ingredients, they went to purchase parchments, quills and inks to work with during the year. When two o'clock came, Harry and Ron went promptly to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, while Hermione decided to go off shopping herself, promising to meet the other two at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour in half an hour.

Where should she go? she wondered. She needed to get some more food for Crookshanks, and a new bell, but surely she could wait for Harry and Ron to go to the Magical Pet Store. Hermione didn't need to buy school robes – she had outgrown her old ones, but had purchased new ones earlier in the holidays.

Finally, after the minute of deliberation, she set off down the Alley, deciding to just browse past and stop at places of interest. The first place she stopped at was a new charming boutique – Masquerade – where she amused herself by looking at various handbags, scarves, costume jewellery and the like. This bored her though after a few minutes, especially since she did not intend to buy anything there, and the chirpy, high-voiced and air-headed shop assistant became progressively more annoying, so she left the store and continued on.

In a little while, she found a shop that intrigued her. It was old, with windows that were half clouded with the dirt of age. The peeling letters on the window vaguely informed her that it was an Antique Stall, and curiously, Hermione went inside, her entrance announced by a low, soft, yet resonant gong.

Inside, she was surrounded by a veritable treasure trove. There were hundreds of old magical artefacts – nothing extremely valuable or dangerous, but certainly interesting. There were cauldrons, of designs used hundreds of years back, and some of the earlier broomsticks. There were old paintings, vases, and mirrors. And scrolls, books and maps in plenty.

There were few customers, and most were hidden behind the shelves of objects. The store owner, an old wizard with a thin grey beard that reached his knees and dressed in a deep red dressing robe sat at the front of the store, unhurriedly polishing a bronze candlestick.

Hermione went along, looking at the objects, and although she had initially intended not to spend anything, could not resist buying a small vase, made of some sort of rose coloured crystal which a piece of parchment attached had said would emanate an aura of peaceful calm. It would be a lovely present for her mother when Christmas came around. Having bought something for her mother, she had to find something for her father, and presently, found a brilliant paperweight that was shaped like the eye of an Antipodean Opal-eye. Not a real eye of the dragon, it held the shifting colours this dragon was famous for. Fortunately for her, the two items were not too costly.

As she wandered through the books sections, she saw an unusual sight. Draco Malfoy, stood there, flicking through a very large old leather-bound book. The book, she saw quickly, was one on magical beasts, with vivid hand-painted illustrations of these beasts, and amazingly beautiful calligraphy with descriptions and other related information on the beasts.

Although she made no sound, he turned around suddenly, as if some sixth sense had alerted him of her presence.

'Granger,' he gave her a curt nod of acknowledgment.

'Malfoy,' Hermione responded. He didn't seem that antagonistic. Well, not like Harry and Ron had made him out to be. At least the first words out of his mouth had not been mudblood. There was still hope. In the lamp-lit books section of the store, he looked somewhat less menacing than usual. No ugly looking thugs surrounded him, and the pale sharpness of his face was softened in the gentle light. His pale, white-blond hair glinted in the lamp-light, but his grey eyes looking down at her were as hard as ever. He had grown a little too, over the holidays, and looked to be the same height as Harry, and with the same slender build – a seeker's build.

'Lost, are we?' he said smoothly.

Hermione sighed, resignedly. It looked like he was going to be nasty after all.

'No,' she answered snippily. 'Though you must be. I would have thought the shops in Knockturn Alley more your type. You must frequent that unsavoury location often,' she rambled, drawing herself up defensively. 'After all, you must be able to find things to help you behave like the cruel idiot you are. And I'm sure there must also be a bookstore there which sells books on how to describe muggleborns like me, and also on how to behave like a totally Slytherin arrogant snob.' She stopped, fully aware of how little of what she had said made much sense.

'What a creative mind you have,' Malfoy drawled, sounding somewhat amused. 'I suppose you imagine I would like to cuddle up in one of their pubs with a book of Dark magic in one hand, drinking some sort of evil concoction, and talking with a horde of Deatheaters.'

Hermione sniffed, trying not to let on that that had been exactly what she had been thinking. She glanced over to the book he was reading, to see he had left it open at the page on dragons. How fitting, she thought wryly considering his name, while admiring the beautiful drawings.

'Your book interesting?' she asked, deciding to drop her admittedly ridiculous discussion about Knockturn Alley.

'Yes,' Malfoy said, without his usual sarcasm. 'Very old. Probably costs a fortune, but I think I'll get it.'

'Why?' Hermione asked automatically.

He idly looked up at her. 'It interests me. We don't have it in the Manor's library.'

'I didn't know you liked Care of Magical Creatures,' Hermione said, stifling a laugh as she thought of Buckbeak and the Blast-ended Skrewts.

'I don't,' Malfoy said candidly. 'I do, however, admire magical creatures very much. The class itself is a foolish waste of time. Blast-ended Skrewts,' he snorted.

He picked up the book with his long-fingered hands, and headed to the front of the store to purchase the item. Well, Hermione thought wryly. Malfoy had actually seemed civil in that encounter. Not exactly pleasant, but he hadn't made any cutting remarks about her appearance, intelligence, associations, or blood as was usual. Something was definitely amiss with him. Maybe it was puberty, or hormones. They could do that to people sometimes.