When Renata reemerged to the surface she splashed Harry in the face
with the water.
Harry sputtered again. "Watch it. That water is cold."
"So is the water you're swimming in. I told you it's all snow melt."
After a few minutes they all tried to get back into the raft; a task much harder than Renata had made it look. Dominic had climbed in without any trouble and Renata had done it with at least as much ease. The rest had difficulty. After a minute of ineffective trying, the twins allowed Dominic and Renata to each pull one of them up. The twins, who had been observing, hauled Ron and Hermione back in the raft without too much difficulty. Then, only Harry was left treading the chilly water.
He tried climbing up for a few minutes before deciding the task was too difficult.
"What are you waiting for? Pull me up."
"Waiting for you to ask nicely. I've got all day you know, but see, here's the thing, Sidewinder is coming up ahead of us real soon and here comes the end of Beaver Pond." She stared at him placidly.
"Help me out of here, please."
"Alright." She leaned over the edge of the raft with her arms braced. "Let go of the ring on the side of the raft and grab each of my arms. Get a good grip." She grabbed the orange life vest where it went over each shoulder. "On three. One. Two. Three." Harry kept a tight grip as Renata hoisted him back onto the raft and caught her breath.
Fred eyed Renata suspiciously. "How is it you were able to get into the boat yourself, pull me up, and pull Harry up, but George and I couldn't get ourselves up?"
"It's easier to be in the raft and pull someone else up than to get in by yourself."
"Still," he persisted. "You got up by yourself."
"That takes a whole lot of upper arm-strength."
"Like you've got it?" George snorted. "Your arms look like toothpicks."
Ron laughed as well. Renata didn't.
"I'll take anyone of you on in arm wrestling as soon as we can find some sort of table." She put her shorts back on but left the shirt off, it was still wet.
Before any of them could respond to Renata's challenge, Dominic spoke.
He looked ahead. "Positions. Here comes Sidewinder. Left side of the raft paddle forward, right paddle back. Here we go."
Harry did as he was told. As he should have guessed, but didn't, the raft was going through the rapids in circles. They went over rocks, were bounced around a lot, and a bit of water came into the raft but they made it through in one piece.
Dominic wiped his face and smiled. "Three down, two left. Water shouldn't be too bad for a bit but keep your grips on your paddles."
Taking the opportunity to rest, Hermione asked, "What do you do the rest of the year? Live up here and wait for the summer rafting trips to start?"
"I've got a place right near lake Isabella. It's a little drive but not too bad. Like a lot of the rafting guides I work winters up here at the ski lodges and summers on the river."
"Why are there so many tents around here?" asked Ron.
"Campers. People come up for a couple nights, or a week, or couple weeks, however long, and the rent space and camp. Some people go fishing in the river. Others like to go biking or hiking. Here comes the next set, little Las Vegas. Rock ahead, back two everybody. Forward three. Back, back, back."
Again the raft lurched around and over rocks. Cold water churned around their ankles. Harry could feel the rocks under his feet.
It was soon over and the water stopped the exuberant pace it had been traveling at and slowed down to one that was swift but more moderate than it had been.
"One set left and these are the worst. Forward four. Ewing's Rapid. This one is a monster. At this one they take pictures. They've got a guy out there on a big chair with a camera."
"Where? On the bank?"
"No. Back one. Out on a rock. Forward 2."
"How did it get the name Ewing's?"
"When we pass, if you get a chance to look up, you'll see a big restaurant called Ewing's, up on the cliff. I don't know whether this set of rapids is named after the restaurant or if it's the other way around, or what they're both named after. If you're in the restaurant and you get a window seat you can see this part of the river. Left side, back three!" It was too late, they were caught on the rock. "Everyone get on high-side. Lean toward the side of the raft the rock is stuck on." After a moment of rocking they got back in the main stream of the river. "In just a second I'm going to say 'go' and I want you all to paddle as hard as you can. I want all of you to keep forward, hard and strong. If you think you're going to even possibly fall out of the raft, duck down, bring in your paddle, and sit on the bottom of the raft. It will be cold and wet yes but it's preferable to getting caught in the rapids and possibly not coming back out again. Forward! Go!"
The water around them became more violent. Harry braced his feet and tried to keep paddling. He saw a flash of light a dimly heard a voice cry over the roar of the water, "Keep paddling!" A few seconds later, Harry saw Hermione duck down inside the raft. It wasn't long before they were finally through; the water calmed and they went under a bridge and to a landing much like the one they had launched from: a small dirt area, steep, and clear of weeds and other vegetation that surrounded the rest of the riverbank.
"Off the raft. Tip it over, dump the water, throw the paddles in and stack it with the others behind the bus. Oh, for anyone who took their shirts off please get them back before you dump the water out."
When that was done they crossed the street to where they had first boarded the bus. Dumbledore and the others were waiting. Many students had to stifle laughs: Dumbledore's beard and hair-both long enough to be tucked into his belt-were sopping wet.
The group went into Chilly Willie's to get some lunch and ice cream and then boarded the bus that would take them back to the Angels Academy. As soon as they had boarded the bus Dumbledore waved his wand and they found themselves all dry, and wearing the clothes they had worn before the trip down the river.
Hermione had wanted to talk to Renata but Renata stood up and pushed her aside. "I've got something to take care of." Harry and the others watched as Renata walked over to the seats where Fred and George were sitting. "Six o'clock tonight. Arm-wrestling."
"We aren't going to arm-wrestle a girl."
"Of course not."
"Do you want me to sock you both in the face right now? I'll take on both of you and any one else who thinks they can beat me." No one else answered the challenge. "That's what I thought." She went and sat back down with a stunned group.
Hermione asked in disbelief, "Did you treat people at the Angels Academy this way?"
"They learned to stay out of my way fast enough so that I didn't have to. Most of them anyway," she grinned. "If it makes you feel better I wouldn't really hurt anybody. Well, one. If I ever catch him. Other than that I wouldn't hurt anyone."
"You twisted that guy's arm on the first night we got here. Looked like it hurt, too," pointed out Ron.
"He deserved it. Besides I strained an arm muscle of his for a minute and then he rubbed it out. His arm was fine. I had to prove a point."
"What was the point of making him say 'not this, not this, not this'?" asked Harry.
"Oh, that. That was a partial list of names some guys call women. Names I happen to find offensive. People have names. They shouldn't be grouped. For example, if a guy said, 'Wow, look at those hot chicks, eww that one is a troll, I mean come on! She has an off-centered nose and he left ear is bigger than her right one.' That type of stuff is extremely offensive and no one should put up with it. So I don't." The discussion seemed to end there. "I wonder what Dumbledore was talking about last night."
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
"I mean what I say: last night when Dumbledore told us when to meet this morning he said there'd be a surprise tomorrow night. I'm trying to figure out what. It's something." She sat mulling it over as she watched the scenery.
Harry was just glad that she was keeping her mind off of the fact that just days before, she had known Voldemort's approximate location. The ride back to the school was uneventful. The next day they assembled on the field at eight thirty once more.
"Be in the same groups as yesterday. Today my group will be going to Dragon's End. Everyone back inside, follow me. Single file, please." Dumbledore led them through the Dining Hall and on to where a smaller room was. He stopped in front of the fireplace. "We shall be traveling there by way of Floo Powder." From a pocket somewhere in his robes Dumbledore produced a pouch and handed it to the first person in line: Susan.
She stared blankly at the bag until Hannah whispered something in her ear. Then Susan stepped up to the flames she took a pinch of powder out and set the bag down. Susan threw the powder in and as she stepped to the flames said, "Dragon's End!" She disappeared. One by one so did her classmates. At last only Harry and Dumbledore were left.
"Go on, Harry."
Harry stepped up to the green flames burning brightly. They felt no hotter than warm breath. Clearly, he said the name of his destination and after a moment of spinning with the flames he was there. He saw the others and started toward them. He took a moment to observe his surroundings.
The room he was in was brightly lit with lanterns hanging from the ceiling and on each table. It appeared to be a restaurant or inn similar in kind to the Leaky Cauldron. A woman sat behind the counter to talking to one of the customers. In the far corner there was a staircase that must have led to rooms upstairs. Harry turned and saw Dumbledore appear from the fireplace.
Instead of going to the back door, Dumbledore led them to what appeared to be the main entrance. When the door was opened Harry couldn't believe his eyes. Waiting outside the door, just as calmly as you please, was a mountain lion of double the normal size and a reddish hue. It didn't seem to notice as the thirteen of them passed right by. When he looked again, Harry saw that the mountain lion was playing with a ball of string. Harry then realized his mouth was open and he shut it and started to walk again.
From behind him came a tinkling laugh and a massive purring sound. Renata was rubbing the massive feline under the chin affectionately. Hermione stroked its head.
Ron spoke before Harry could again open his mouth. "What are you doing? That thing's going to eat you!"
Renata looked at him, "No, he's not. I've known Cameron for ages. Ever since Carmen has had him."
"Who?" Harry asked.
"This," she patted cat's flank, "is Cameron. Cameron is Carmen's pet. Carmen is the girl you saw at the counter. Cameron wouldn't hurt a fly. At least, he wouldn't hurt one he trusted. Let's go, the others are getting ahead of us."
When they were once again within earshot of Dumbledore and the others they stopped. ".everyone split up into groups or pairs. At all times I want you with someone else. Please stay together. Now you may go where you wish but do not leave this street and please be back at the Griffin's Talon by 2 o'clock. Enjoy your day."
Almost instantly Harry lost sight of Renata, at first he had thought she had left but then he realized he simply couldn't see her through the crowd of people around her.
"Professor Dumbledore, five stores over, on the left side down that way is a place that sells excellent socks."
"Thank you."
"Fred, George, sorry, there's no Zonkos, but there is Gorbadoc's One Stop Joke and Prank Paraphernalia. It's that way, on the left side, three doors down. You can't miss it. Dean and Seamus, there is a Quiditch shop that way, left side, two doors down. Anyone else?
"Ginny the um.what was it you were looking for? Oh, the bookstore! Right down there, first door. Who else? Hannah? Susan? Just looking. Fine by me. If Parvati and Lavender were here I could point out this great little place where a wizard I know tells the future and fortunes and stuff." The others all left leaving just Ron, Hermione, and Harry standing with Renata. "So, where do you guys want to go?"
"Brooms."
"Great. The broom shop is that way, left side, and two doors down. Enjoy. Hermione, remember that bookstore I was telling you about? Let's go. See the two of you back here for lunch at half past twelve."
Ron and Harry watched as the girls left then they started off toward the Quiditch shop. They spent maybe half an hour looking at the latest gear and brooms before deciding to see if the twins were still in the joke shop.
As it turned out, they were. George and Fred were arguing with the owner. "How can you not have Filibuster's fireworks?"
"And what about Dungbombs? I can't believe you don't have those."
"Sorry, boys, but Filibuster doesn't import his fireworks out here. Says the dry climate would be a liability he didn't want to have to answer for. As for the Dungbombs, well I prefer my own." He reached under counter and pulled out a small brown sack, he dumped the contents on the table.
In revered and awed voices Fred and George replied, "You're the Merle Bugswollow. The man who invented Merle's Stunk Packs By the Dozen?"
"The one and only."
Harry came to the counter and asked, "How do they work?"
"They come in packs of twelve, you see, the one here with the skull on it is the starter. You place the other eleven wherever you want them, and when you want them all to go off you set off this one. It's ripe when it explodes, trust me."
Fred and George each bought several packs. Harry and Ron each bought one and in addition Harry bought a box that seemed more useful than foolish; the box was only the size of his hand but it could fit a full- grown person inside. The storeowner demonstrated, the only problem was, if you went inside you had to have someone else get you out.
After the joke shop Harry and Ron went to the bookstore to look for Hermione and Renata. They weren't there.
"Ginny, have you seen Hermione and Renata?" asked Ron.
"I saw them, but they didn't come inside. They just walked right passed the window. Hi, Harry."
"Hi, Ginny."
Feeling no urge to look at books, Harry and Ron left and began walking in the direction Ginny had indicated. Passing by yet another bookstore they saw Hermione.
"Where's Renata?"
Hermione looked puzzled. "I thought she was with you two."
"Why would she be? We left her with you."
"Yes, but she said she was going to find you in the joke shop or the broom shop and she was going to say hi to a couple of her old friends on the way. I thought she would have found you by now."
"I wonder if she was looking for us at all."
"Figures she'd go and pull something like this. Where would she go?"
"Maybe she was looking for old friends and didn't want any of us around."
"Maybe," agreed Harry. But somehow he doubted it.
"Well, do we go on with our day or do we look for her?"
"If something bad happens to her it's her fault."
"Nothing will happen. She knows the area well enough, right?"
"But if something happens, it's our fault too because we didn't try to stop her."
"What time is it?"
"Eleven-thirty. Why?"
"Twelve-thirty she'll be at Griffin's Talon. I think that's the café or whatever it was where we came in."
"True. Let's walk around for a bit if we haven't found her by noon we'll go back there and wait." So they continued onward in the direction they'd been going. More than once Harry turned to look behind him.
"What is it, Harry?"
"It's nothing."
They'd been walking another ten minutes when Ron stopped him. "Harry, what is it? You keep looking back over your shoulder."
"No, I'm not. Am I?"
Ron and Hermione nodded.
"It's not really anything."
Ron whacked Harry's arm.
"What was that for?" he straightened his glasses back on his nose.
"Don't lie to us, Harry. What is the problem?"
"It feels like there's someone following us."
"I don't see anyone."
"Neither do I but it feels like somebody is there." Harry tried to brush the feeling off as he started walking again. They were nearly at the end of the street when Hermione saw Renata. "She's coming out of Journey with a Mystic: Darnell Tells All. Funny. This must be the fortune teller or whoever she was talking about earlier."
"Do we follow her or see this guy and try to find something out?"
"We split up. Someone go to her and the other two talk to this Darnell. Who wants to talk to Renata?"
"Harry."
"Harry."
"Not me!"
"Why not?"
"Why is it always me?"
"Because!"
"It just is!"
"Not this time. If Renata found out something about me or about Voldemort I've got to know."
"Then go found out."
"She wouldn't tell me," protested Harry.
"How do you know she wouldn't?"
"Just trust me. Hermione, you're a girl. You talk to her."
"I'm not going just because I'm the only girl here."
"Besides you don't believe in divination and that junk anyway."
"No, but obviously there's something about this one that made Renata go, so I have got to find out about it too."
Ron snapped, "We're losing time! Look, I'll go find her and see if I can get her to say anything. You two, just go!" Ron went off in the direction Renata had taken and Harry and Hermione went inside.
Harry had expected the inside to be similar to Professor Trelawny's classroom but what he found was quite different.
Harry sputtered again. "Watch it. That water is cold."
"So is the water you're swimming in. I told you it's all snow melt."
After a few minutes they all tried to get back into the raft; a task much harder than Renata had made it look. Dominic had climbed in without any trouble and Renata had done it with at least as much ease. The rest had difficulty. After a minute of ineffective trying, the twins allowed Dominic and Renata to each pull one of them up. The twins, who had been observing, hauled Ron and Hermione back in the raft without too much difficulty. Then, only Harry was left treading the chilly water.
He tried climbing up for a few minutes before deciding the task was too difficult.
"What are you waiting for? Pull me up."
"Waiting for you to ask nicely. I've got all day you know, but see, here's the thing, Sidewinder is coming up ahead of us real soon and here comes the end of Beaver Pond." She stared at him placidly.
"Help me out of here, please."
"Alright." She leaned over the edge of the raft with her arms braced. "Let go of the ring on the side of the raft and grab each of my arms. Get a good grip." She grabbed the orange life vest where it went over each shoulder. "On three. One. Two. Three." Harry kept a tight grip as Renata hoisted him back onto the raft and caught her breath.
Fred eyed Renata suspiciously. "How is it you were able to get into the boat yourself, pull me up, and pull Harry up, but George and I couldn't get ourselves up?"
"It's easier to be in the raft and pull someone else up than to get in by yourself."
"Still," he persisted. "You got up by yourself."
"That takes a whole lot of upper arm-strength."
"Like you've got it?" George snorted. "Your arms look like toothpicks."
Ron laughed as well. Renata didn't.
"I'll take anyone of you on in arm wrestling as soon as we can find some sort of table." She put her shorts back on but left the shirt off, it was still wet.
Before any of them could respond to Renata's challenge, Dominic spoke.
He looked ahead. "Positions. Here comes Sidewinder. Left side of the raft paddle forward, right paddle back. Here we go."
Harry did as he was told. As he should have guessed, but didn't, the raft was going through the rapids in circles. They went over rocks, were bounced around a lot, and a bit of water came into the raft but they made it through in one piece.
Dominic wiped his face and smiled. "Three down, two left. Water shouldn't be too bad for a bit but keep your grips on your paddles."
Taking the opportunity to rest, Hermione asked, "What do you do the rest of the year? Live up here and wait for the summer rafting trips to start?"
"I've got a place right near lake Isabella. It's a little drive but not too bad. Like a lot of the rafting guides I work winters up here at the ski lodges and summers on the river."
"Why are there so many tents around here?" asked Ron.
"Campers. People come up for a couple nights, or a week, or couple weeks, however long, and the rent space and camp. Some people go fishing in the river. Others like to go biking or hiking. Here comes the next set, little Las Vegas. Rock ahead, back two everybody. Forward three. Back, back, back."
Again the raft lurched around and over rocks. Cold water churned around their ankles. Harry could feel the rocks under his feet.
It was soon over and the water stopped the exuberant pace it had been traveling at and slowed down to one that was swift but more moderate than it had been.
"One set left and these are the worst. Forward four. Ewing's Rapid. This one is a monster. At this one they take pictures. They've got a guy out there on a big chair with a camera."
"Where? On the bank?"
"No. Back one. Out on a rock. Forward 2."
"How did it get the name Ewing's?"
"When we pass, if you get a chance to look up, you'll see a big restaurant called Ewing's, up on the cliff. I don't know whether this set of rapids is named after the restaurant or if it's the other way around, or what they're both named after. If you're in the restaurant and you get a window seat you can see this part of the river. Left side, back three!" It was too late, they were caught on the rock. "Everyone get on high-side. Lean toward the side of the raft the rock is stuck on." After a moment of rocking they got back in the main stream of the river. "In just a second I'm going to say 'go' and I want you all to paddle as hard as you can. I want all of you to keep forward, hard and strong. If you think you're going to even possibly fall out of the raft, duck down, bring in your paddle, and sit on the bottom of the raft. It will be cold and wet yes but it's preferable to getting caught in the rapids and possibly not coming back out again. Forward! Go!"
The water around them became more violent. Harry braced his feet and tried to keep paddling. He saw a flash of light a dimly heard a voice cry over the roar of the water, "Keep paddling!" A few seconds later, Harry saw Hermione duck down inside the raft. It wasn't long before they were finally through; the water calmed and they went under a bridge and to a landing much like the one they had launched from: a small dirt area, steep, and clear of weeds and other vegetation that surrounded the rest of the riverbank.
"Off the raft. Tip it over, dump the water, throw the paddles in and stack it with the others behind the bus. Oh, for anyone who took their shirts off please get them back before you dump the water out."
When that was done they crossed the street to where they had first boarded the bus. Dumbledore and the others were waiting. Many students had to stifle laughs: Dumbledore's beard and hair-both long enough to be tucked into his belt-were sopping wet.
The group went into Chilly Willie's to get some lunch and ice cream and then boarded the bus that would take them back to the Angels Academy. As soon as they had boarded the bus Dumbledore waved his wand and they found themselves all dry, and wearing the clothes they had worn before the trip down the river.
Hermione had wanted to talk to Renata but Renata stood up and pushed her aside. "I've got something to take care of." Harry and the others watched as Renata walked over to the seats where Fred and George were sitting. "Six o'clock tonight. Arm-wrestling."
"We aren't going to arm-wrestle a girl."
"Of course not."
"Do you want me to sock you both in the face right now? I'll take on both of you and any one else who thinks they can beat me." No one else answered the challenge. "That's what I thought." She went and sat back down with a stunned group.
Hermione asked in disbelief, "Did you treat people at the Angels Academy this way?"
"They learned to stay out of my way fast enough so that I didn't have to. Most of them anyway," she grinned. "If it makes you feel better I wouldn't really hurt anybody. Well, one. If I ever catch him. Other than that I wouldn't hurt anyone."
"You twisted that guy's arm on the first night we got here. Looked like it hurt, too," pointed out Ron.
"He deserved it. Besides I strained an arm muscle of his for a minute and then he rubbed it out. His arm was fine. I had to prove a point."
"What was the point of making him say 'not this, not this, not this'?" asked Harry.
"Oh, that. That was a partial list of names some guys call women. Names I happen to find offensive. People have names. They shouldn't be grouped. For example, if a guy said, 'Wow, look at those hot chicks, eww that one is a troll, I mean come on! She has an off-centered nose and he left ear is bigger than her right one.' That type of stuff is extremely offensive and no one should put up with it. So I don't." The discussion seemed to end there. "I wonder what Dumbledore was talking about last night."
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
"I mean what I say: last night when Dumbledore told us when to meet this morning he said there'd be a surprise tomorrow night. I'm trying to figure out what. It's something." She sat mulling it over as she watched the scenery.
Harry was just glad that she was keeping her mind off of the fact that just days before, she had known Voldemort's approximate location. The ride back to the school was uneventful. The next day they assembled on the field at eight thirty once more.
"Be in the same groups as yesterday. Today my group will be going to Dragon's End. Everyone back inside, follow me. Single file, please." Dumbledore led them through the Dining Hall and on to where a smaller room was. He stopped in front of the fireplace. "We shall be traveling there by way of Floo Powder." From a pocket somewhere in his robes Dumbledore produced a pouch and handed it to the first person in line: Susan.
She stared blankly at the bag until Hannah whispered something in her ear. Then Susan stepped up to the flames she took a pinch of powder out and set the bag down. Susan threw the powder in and as she stepped to the flames said, "Dragon's End!" She disappeared. One by one so did her classmates. At last only Harry and Dumbledore were left.
"Go on, Harry."
Harry stepped up to the green flames burning brightly. They felt no hotter than warm breath. Clearly, he said the name of his destination and after a moment of spinning with the flames he was there. He saw the others and started toward them. He took a moment to observe his surroundings.
The room he was in was brightly lit with lanterns hanging from the ceiling and on each table. It appeared to be a restaurant or inn similar in kind to the Leaky Cauldron. A woman sat behind the counter to talking to one of the customers. In the far corner there was a staircase that must have led to rooms upstairs. Harry turned and saw Dumbledore appear from the fireplace.
Instead of going to the back door, Dumbledore led them to what appeared to be the main entrance. When the door was opened Harry couldn't believe his eyes. Waiting outside the door, just as calmly as you please, was a mountain lion of double the normal size and a reddish hue. It didn't seem to notice as the thirteen of them passed right by. When he looked again, Harry saw that the mountain lion was playing with a ball of string. Harry then realized his mouth was open and he shut it and started to walk again.
From behind him came a tinkling laugh and a massive purring sound. Renata was rubbing the massive feline under the chin affectionately. Hermione stroked its head.
Ron spoke before Harry could again open his mouth. "What are you doing? That thing's going to eat you!"
Renata looked at him, "No, he's not. I've known Cameron for ages. Ever since Carmen has had him."
"Who?" Harry asked.
"This," she patted cat's flank, "is Cameron. Cameron is Carmen's pet. Carmen is the girl you saw at the counter. Cameron wouldn't hurt a fly. At least, he wouldn't hurt one he trusted. Let's go, the others are getting ahead of us."
When they were once again within earshot of Dumbledore and the others they stopped. ".everyone split up into groups or pairs. At all times I want you with someone else. Please stay together. Now you may go where you wish but do not leave this street and please be back at the Griffin's Talon by 2 o'clock. Enjoy your day."
Almost instantly Harry lost sight of Renata, at first he had thought she had left but then he realized he simply couldn't see her through the crowd of people around her.
"Professor Dumbledore, five stores over, on the left side down that way is a place that sells excellent socks."
"Thank you."
"Fred, George, sorry, there's no Zonkos, but there is Gorbadoc's One Stop Joke and Prank Paraphernalia. It's that way, on the left side, three doors down. You can't miss it. Dean and Seamus, there is a Quiditch shop that way, left side, two doors down. Anyone else?
"Ginny the um.what was it you were looking for? Oh, the bookstore! Right down there, first door. Who else? Hannah? Susan? Just looking. Fine by me. If Parvati and Lavender were here I could point out this great little place where a wizard I know tells the future and fortunes and stuff." The others all left leaving just Ron, Hermione, and Harry standing with Renata. "So, where do you guys want to go?"
"Brooms."
"Great. The broom shop is that way, left side, and two doors down. Enjoy. Hermione, remember that bookstore I was telling you about? Let's go. See the two of you back here for lunch at half past twelve."
Ron and Harry watched as the girls left then they started off toward the Quiditch shop. They spent maybe half an hour looking at the latest gear and brooms before deciding to see if the twins were still in the joke shop.
As it turned out, they were. George and Fred were arguing with the owner. "How can you not have Filibuster's fireworks?"
"And what about Dungbombs? I can't believe you don't have those."
"Sorry, boys, but Filibuster doesn't import his fireworks out here. Says the dry climate would be a liability he didn't want to have to answer for. As for the Dungbombs, well I prefer my own." He reached under counter and pulled out a small brown sack, he dumped the contents on the table.
In revered and awed voices Fred and George replied, "You're the Merle Bugswollow. The man who invented Merle's Stunk Packs By the Dozen?"
"The one and only."
Harry came to the counter and asked, "How do they work?"
"They come in packs of twelve, you see, the one here with the skull on it is the starter. You place the other eleven wherever you want them, and when you want them all to go off you set off this one. It's ripe when it explodes, trust me."
Fred and George each bought several packs. Harry and Ron each bought one and in addition Harry bought a box that seemed more useful than foolish; the box was only the size of his hand but it could fit a full- grown person inside. The storeowner demonstrated, the only problem was, if you went inside you had to have someone else get you out.
After the joke shop Harry and Ron went to the bookstore to look for Hermione and Renata. They weren't there.
"Ginny, have you seen Hermione and Renata?" asked Ron.
"I saw them, but they didn't come inside. They just walked right passed the window. Hi, Harry."
"Hi, Ginny."
Feeling no urge to look at books, Harry and Ron left and began walking in the direction Ginny had indicated. Passing by yet another bookstore they saw Hermione.
"Where's Renata?"
Hermione looked puzzled. "I thought she was with you two."
"Why would she be? We left her with you."
"Yes, but she said she was going to find you in the joke shop or the broom shop and she was going to say hi to a couple of her old friends on the way. I thought she would have found you by now."
"I wonder if she was looking for us at all."
"Figures she'd go and pull something like this. Where would she go?"
"Maybe she was looking for old friends and didn't want any of us around."
"Maybe," agreed Harry. But somehow he doubted it.
"Well, do we go on with our day or do we look for her?"
"If something bad happens to her it's her fault."
"Nothing will happen. She knows the area well enough, right?"
"But if something happens, it's our fault too because we didn't try to stop her."
"What time is it?"
"Eleven-thirty. Why?"
"Twelve-thirty she'll be at Griffin's Talon. I think that's the café or whatever it was where we came in."
"True. Let's walk around for a bit if we haven't found her by noon we'll go back there and wait." So they continued onward in the direction they'd been going. More than once Harry turned to look behind him.
"What is it, Harry?"
"It's nothing."
They'd been walking another ten minutes when Ron stopped him. "Harry, what is it? You keep looking back over your shoulder."
"No, I'm not. Am I?"
Ron and Hermione nodded.
"It's not really anything."
Ron whacked Harry's arm.
"What was that for?" he straightened his glasses back on his nose.
"Don't lie to us, Harry. What is the problem?"
"It feels like there's someone following us."
"I don't see anyone."
"Neither do I but it feels like somebody is there." Harry tried to brush the feeling off as he started walking again. They were nearly at the end of the street when Hermione saw Renata. "She's coming out of Journey with a Mystic: Darnell Tells All. Funny. This must be the fortune teller or whoever she was talking about earlier."
"Do we follow her or see this guy and try to find something out?"
"We split up. Someone go to her and the other two talk to this Darnell. Who wants to talk to Renata?"
"Harry."
"Harry."
"Not me!"
"Why not?"
"Why is it always me?"
"Because!"
"It just is!"
"Not this time. If Renata found out something about me or about Voldemort I've got to know."
"Then go found out."
"She wouldn't tell me," protested Harry.
"How do you know she wouldn't?"
"Just trust me. Hermione, you're a girl. You talk to her."
"I'm not going just because I'm the only girl here."
"Besides you don't believe in divination and that junk anyway."
"No, but obviously there's something about this one that made Renata go, so I have got to find out about it too."
Ron snapped, "We're losing time! Look, I'll go find her and see if I can get her to say anything. You two, just go!" Ron went off in the direction Renata had taken and Harry and Hermione went inside.
Harry had expected the inside to be similar to Professor Trelawny's classroom but what he found was quite different.