No sooner than when Harry arrived at the Burrow, he was already walking down Diagon Alley, alongside an overly-enthusiatic Ginny, a soot-cover Ron, and an extremely delighted Mrs.Weasley.
"I'll take Ginny to the potion shop. We'll get your potions refills. All you need to do is get your books," Mrs. Weasley told Ron, while wiping his shirt clean of soot. "Oh, and if you see Hermione, tell her I say 'Hi'."
"Don't worry, mum. I'll tell her when I see her," Ron reasurred her, while looking around at all the people passing by. He was a little embarresed about having his mum treat him like a child.
"Ok, let me hand you some money...," Mrs. Weasley slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a handful of coins."Twenty galleons and thirty sickles should be more than enough. Don't spend it all, though. And don't forget to meet us at Florish and Blotts in about two hours."
"Ok." Ron began pulling Harry's shirt, leading him towards the Florish and Blotts.
"Where did Hermione say she was going to meet us?" Harry asked while opening the door to the bookstore.
Ron walked in and immediatly became part of the crowd. "She said she would meet us here at around this time," Ron managed to shout over the crowd of people. Apparently, they weren't the only people who needed books. Every nook and cranny of the already small bookstore was filled with people. People were snatching books off the shelves left and right.
Ron lead Harry to the desk, where an extremely frazzled-looking man stood. He semmed to be the only person working there.
"Sir?" Harry asked him, trying to get his attention. Thye man jerked his head around and gave a half-hearted smile to the two boys.
"What can I get ya, lads?" he asked.
"We need a few books," Ron managed to state, politely.
"So that's why you're here?" the man asked sacastically. "I thought you came here to buy a few hippogriffs."
Ron acted as if he didn't here the man's rude comment and continued with what he was doing before. He held out the list of books and started to read the titles.
"We need two copies of 'Grand Book of Potions, vol. 6,' 'The Really Big Book of Plants,' 'Twenty Centuries of Magic,' and 'The Magical Book of Magic.' "
"Ok, I'll be back with those books, and you better have fourteen galleons and two sickles when I come back." The man disappeared into the crowd and headed towards the bookshelves. It was then that Harry remembered the letter he had received. He had to show it to the shopkeeper in order to redeem it.
While Ron searched every face in the store for Hermione's, Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter.
Harry was just unfolding the letter when the shopkeeper returned with a pile of books that towered over his head. He dropped the books onto the counter and outstreached an open hand. Ron put the coins into his hand and attempted to grab the pile of books, but couldn't.
"Would you like the books sent directly to your homes or schools?" the man asked, sounding like he was actually concerned about them.
'That would be nice."
The man took out a piece of paper and a quill from under the desk."Where do you want it sent to, then?"
"Hogwarts," Harry stated.
"And do tell me which house you're in, what year you are, and what you're names are."
"Gryffindor, sixth year. And our names are Ron Weasley and Harry Potter."
"Oh! Me, too!" shouted an all-too familiar voice. Ron and Harry turned around and smiled at the appearence of their friend, Hermione.
"So I guess you will need all these books as well?" the shopkeeper asked.
"Yes."
"Ok, that'll be five galleons and fifteen sickles. Oh, and tell me your house, year, and name."
Hermione explained all of the information to the man while handing him the money.
"We're all sixth year Gryffindors. My name's Hermione Granger, that's Ron Weasley, and that's Harry Potter."
As she pointed towards Harry, the man examined him carefully.
"You wouldn't happend to be the same Mr. H. Potter that this parcel belongs to, would you?" He pulled out a package from underneath the counter.
"Yes, that's mine. You wouldn't happened to have seen who sent this to you, would you?" Harry asked the shopkeeper while taking the parcel out of his hands.
"Not a clue," the man said. "It was left on my doorstep about a week ago."
"Well, thanks anyway."
The man let out what seemed to be a slight grin and waved goodbye to the three Gryffindors.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all headed towards the door, but before they could get outside, Hermione's curiosity got the better of her.
"Why did you get a parcel?" she asked. All Harry did to respond was take out the letter and showed it to her. She read it to herself and finally handed it back to him.
"I wouldn't open it if I were you. What if it's dangerous?" Hermione warned, looking fearfully at the parcel.
"Oh, come on. It's only a parcel! What can it do?" Ron asked her.
"It could be full of.... dangerous snakes or something!"
"Snakes? Who in the right mind would send snakes in a box?"
"I'm just thinking, Ron."
"That's nothing new." That answer, however, didn't come from Ron.
"Is there ever a day you DON'T think?" spat Draco Malfoy. He began to look at Harry and Ron, in digust.
Ron whipped out his wand and directed it towards Malfoy's face. "Leave us alone, Malfoy," Ron demanded, keeping a strait face. Malfoy, however, couldn't do the same.
Malfoy let out a smirk, followed by a snort of laughter. "Can't you do anything without you wand, Weasley? Or do you depend on it for everything?"
Ron pulled his wand back and placed it back into his pocket. He took a few steps back, but still glared at Malfoy, coldly. Malfoy looked as if he was about to pounce, when a hand came out of the crowd and held him back, which was followed by a soft, "Stop."
The person who held him back was someone Harry had never seen before. Her straight, black hair barely reached her shoulders and her skin seemed to be as white as porcelean. Her facial expresion and her eyes were much like Malfoy's, cold.
"It seems as though Draco never introduced us. I'm Monica Morvalo." She turned her attention to Malfoy, who was glaring at Ron.
"Let's go," she said, strongly.
"Why don't I catch up with you later?" Malfoy suggested. He didn't stop glaring at Ron.
"I said NOW!" She snapped and he followed her out of the store. They soon disappeared into the crowd streets of Diagon Alley.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were now in a state of shock. They had never seen anyone other then themselves defy Malfoy like that, especially someone who seemed to be his friend.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Hermione said.
The three eventually left the store and headed towards the broomstick shop to pick up the brooms that the letter talked about. This shop, however, wasn't filled to the brim with customers, only a few spectators outside, observing the newest broom model, the Lightning Bolt. When they entered, they immedately spotted the shopkeeper, who greeted them kindly.
"I got this letter," Harry said, showing the letter to the shopkeeper. He read the letter and looked to the kids when he finished reading it.
"Vault 714, huh?" the shopkeeper asked, looking at Harry. Harry suddenly felt that the shopkeeper didn't believe him.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" Harry asked nervously.
"No particular reason," the shopkeeper reassured, "except the owners of this particular vault died years ago. Every last one of them. Quite sad, actually..."
"What do you mean?" Hermione interupted, sounding somewhat confused, which wasn't often for her.
"That's right. This vault was owned by a powerful wizarding family, who all died in a tragic ordeal. Each one of them killed by You-Know-Who. Each died a different way. Each way more horrible then the last."
"Which family are you talking about?" Ron asked. By now, each of the children were now interested in the story.
The man sighed heavily and turned his head towards the door. He turned his head back towards the children, and motioned for them to lean closer. He began to speak at a whisper.
"The Dumbledores."
A/N- Hehehehehehehehehe. A cliff-hanger. I'm so evil ^-^. What does he mean by "The Dumbledores"? Are they related to Prof. Dumbledore, and if so, how? And what EXACTLY in that package Harry just received? Could it have anything to do with the secret of Hogwarts? I intend to answer all these questions and more eventually. Maybe next chapter, or maybe later.... Anyway, review and tell me what you think. My muses and I enjoy receiving reviews. It makes writing stories worth-while.
"I'll take Ginny to the potion shop. We'll get your potions refills. All you need to do is get your books," Mrs. Weasley told Ron, while wiping his shirt clean of soot. "Oh, and if you see Hermione, tell her I say 'Hi'."
"Don't worry, mum. I'll tell her when I see her," Ron reasurred her, while looking around at all the people passing by. He was a little embarresed about having his mum treat him like a child.
"Ok, let me hand you some money...," Mrs. Weasley slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a handful of coins."Twenty galleons and thirty sickles should be more than enough. Don't spend it all, though. And don't forget to meet us at Florish and Blotts in about two hours."
"Ok." Ron began pulling Harry's shirt, leading him towards the Florish and Blotts.
"Where did Hermione say she was going to meet us?" Harry asked while opening the door to the bookstore.
Ron walked in and immediatly became part of the crowd. "She said she would meet us here at around this time," Ron managed to shout over the crowd of people. Apparently, they weren't the only people who needed books. Every nook and cranny of the already small bookstore was filled with people. People were snatching books off the shelves left and right.
Ron lead Harry to the desk, where an extremely frazzled-looking man stood. He semmed to be the only person working there.
"Sir?" Harry asked him, trying to get his attention. Thye man jerked his head around and gave a half-hearted smile to the two boys.
"What can I get ya, lads?" he asked.
"We need a few books," Ron managed to state, politely.
"So that's why you're here?" the man asked sacastically. "I thought you came here to buy a few hippogriffs."
Ron acted as if he didn't here the man's rude comment and continued with what he was doing before. He held out the list of books and started to read the titles.
"We need two copies of 'Grand Book of Potions, vol. 6,' 'The Really Big Book of Plants,' 'Twenty Centuries of Magic,' and 'The Magical Book of Magic.' "
"Ok, I'll be back with those books, and you better have fourteen galleons and two sickles when I come back." The man disappeared into the crowd and headed towards the bookshelves. It was then that Harry remembered the letter he had received. He had to show it to the shopkeeper in order to redeem it.
While Ron searched every face in the store for Hermione's, Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter.
Harry was just unfolding the letter when the shopkeeper returned with a pile of books that towered over his head. He dropped the books onto the counter and outstreached an open hand. Ron put the coins into his hand and attempted to grab the pile of books, but couldn't.
"Would you like the books sent directly to your homes or schools?" the man asked, sounding like he was actually concerned about them.
'That would be nice."
The man took out a piece of paper and a quill from under the desk."Where do you want it sent to, then?"
"Hogwarts," Harry stated.
"And do tell me which house you're in, what year you are, and what you're names are."
"Gryffindor, sixth year. And our names are Ron Weasley and Harry Potter."
"Oh! Me, too!" shouted an all-too familiar voice. Ron and Harry turned around and smiled at the appearence of their friend, Hermione.
"So I guess you will need all these books as well?" the shopkeeper asked.
"Yes."
"Ok, that'll be five galleons and fifteen sickles. Oh, and tell me your house, year, and name."
Hermione explained all of the information to the man while handing him the money.
"We're all sixth year Gryffindors. My name's Hermione Granger, that's Ron Weasley, and that's Harry Potter."
As she pointed towards Harry, the man examined him carefully.
"You wouldn't happend to be the same Mr. H. Potter that this parcel belongs to, would you?" He pulled out a package from underneath the counter.
"Yes, that's mine. You wouldn't happened to have seen who sent this to you, would you?" Harry asked the shopkeeper while taking the parcel out of his hands.
"Not a clue," the man said. "It was left on my doorstep about a week ago."
"Well, thanks anyway."
The man let out what seemed to be a slight grin and waved goodbye to the three Gryffindors.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all headed towards the door, but before they could get outside, Hermione's curiosity got the better of her.
"Why did you get a parcel?" she asked. All Harry did to respond was take out the letter and showed it to her. She read it to herself and finally handed it back to him.
"I wouldn't open it if I were you. What if it's dangerous?" Hermione warned, looking fearfully at the parcel.
"Oh, come on. It's only a parcel! What can it do?" Ron asked her.
"It could be full of.... dangerous snakes or something!"
"Snakes? Who in the right mind would send snakes in a box?"
"I'm just thinking, Ron."
"That's nothing new." That answer, however, didn't come from Ron.
"Is there ever a day you DON'T think?" spat Draco Malfoy. He began to look at Harry and Ron, in digust.
Ron whipped out his wand and directed it towards Malfoy's face. "Leave us alone, Malfoy," Ron demanded, keeping a strait face. Malfoy, however, couldn't do the same.
Malfoy let out a smirk, followed by a snort of laughter. "Can't you do anything without you wand, Weasley? Or do you depend on it for everything?"
Ron pulled his wand back and placed it back into his pocket. He took a few steps back, but still glared at Malfoy, coldly. Malfoy looked as if he was about to pounce, when a hand came out of the crowd and held him back, which was followed by a soft, "Stop."
The person who held him back was someone Harry had never seen before. Her straight, black hair barely reached her shoulders and her skin seemed to be as white as porcelean. Her facial expresion and her eyes were much like Malfoy's, cold.
"It seems as though Draco never introduced us. I'm Monica Morvalo." She turned her attention to Malfoy, who was glaring at Ron.
"Let's go," she said, strongly.
"Why don't I catch up with you later?" Malfoy suggested. He didn't stop glaring at Ron.
"I said NOW!" She snapped and he followed her out of the store. They soon disappeared into the crowd streets of Diagon Alley.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were now in a state of shock. They had never seen anyone other then themselves defy Malfoy like that, especially someone who seemed to be his friend.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Hermione said.
The three eventually left the store and headed towards the broomstick shop to pick up the brooms that the letter talked about. This shop, however, wasn't filled to the brim with customers, only a few spectators outside, observing the newest broom model, the Lightning Bolt. When they entered, they immedately spotted the shopkeeper, who greeted them kindly.
"I got this letter," Harry said, showing the letter to the shopkeeper. He read the letter and looked to the kids when he finished reading it.
"Vault 714, huh?" the shopkeeper asked, looking at Harry. Harry suddenly felt that the shopkeeper didn't believe him.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" Harry asked nervously.
"No particular reason," the shopkeeper reassured, "except the owners of this particular vault died years ago. Every last one of them. Quite sad, actually..."
"What do you mean?" Hermione interupted, sounding somewhat confused, which wasn't often for her.
"That's right. This vault was owned by a powerful wizarding family, who all died in a tragic ordeal. Each one of them killed by You-Know-Who. Each died a different way. Each way more horrible then the last."
"Which family are you talking about?" Ron asked. By now, each of the children were now interested in the story.
The man sighed heavily and turned his head towards the door. He turned his head back towards the children, and motioned for them to lean closer. He began to speak at a whisper.
"The Dumbledores."
A/N- Hehehehehehehehehe. A cliff-hanger. I'm so evil ^-^. What does he mean by "The Dumbledores"? Are they related to Prof. Dumbledore, and if so, how? And what EXACTLY in that package Harry just received? Could it have anything to do with the secret of Hogwarts? I intend to answer all these questions and more eventually. Maybe next chapter, or maybe later.... Anyway, review and tell me what you think. My muses and I enjoy receiving reviews. It makes writing stories worth-while.