/

Chapter thirteen

The afternoon on Diagon Alley

/

Only nine days were remaining from the summer holidays when a great horned owl with letters from Hogwarts arrived at the Grimmauld Place, landing right on the top of a huge pile of newspapers and magazines that covered the recent Pettigrew trial. Their letters included the usual cover word from professor McGonagall and quite an expansive list of textbooks. However, there were also two surprises waiting inside of them.

First, in the one that belonged to their bookworm Hermione. Headmaster Dumbledore selected her to become a Head Girl, which was – let´s be honest – to be expected. Harry and Ron congratulated her heartily and not long after Tonks and Lupin as well.

The second news was already very surprising. At the very end of the letter was a notice for all students from third years and up to get any costume for the masquerade ball night that was to be held on All Saints' Eve.

The trio welcomed the idea with enthusiasm.

"Great! Something new for a change!" Ron declared, already thinking furiously about the best disguise to make himself visible and cool.

The next happy news of the day was the arrival of Ginny with her school trunk. After a proper welcome, they all set about convincing Remus to visit Diagon Alley to do some shopping, since they had been sitting in the house for the entire summer. They kept annoying the poor werewolf for almost half an hour before he broke down and left to arrange an escort for them. In the end, he himself, Tonks, and as an inconspicuous shadow Kingsley Shacklebolt agreed to go with the students.

Harry sent Hedwig to ask Angela if she wanted to join them. She replied that she would find him on the Alley, which he read with a knowing smile. He expected nothing else from her.

On Wednesday at two in the afternoon, they met downstairs in the hall with lists from the school in their pockets. Everyone but Harry and Ginny, who headed to the fireplace in the kitchen, apparated to the place. Harry let Ginny go first and was the last one from their group to appear on Diagon Alley, after the elderly wizard almost kicked him out of the busy room with many public fireplaces.

With Tonks hanging onto Lupin in the lead and Shacklebolt a few meters behind, they visited the bank at Gringotts first. They withdrew some money after a gruesome and endlessly long security search, and then immediately headed to Flourish and Blotts bookshop. On their way, they passed by the shop windows plastered with posters of wanted Death Eaters so densely that it was not possible to see inside a single store. All over the walls, there were warning notices, and instead of lively trading, tens of Ministry decrees on purple and red parchments flew among the abandoned structures of the stalls.

They met only few people and they all rushed about their business without looking back. Although the heat had subsided a little and there was a gentle breeze, which was very pleasant, the environment of the quiet street felt very depressing.

Their favourite bookstore was not exactly crowded either. They could see some parents with their little ones, who just took the necessary textbooks, cleared the store, and headed to the next one as quickly as possible, just to get this job done.

Harry noticed that most of these people were secretly staring at them, whispering to each other and he was not surprised at all. Hermione and Ron, on the other hand, seemed to be a bit nervous about it.

"That's what happens when they make some Death Eater trial open to the public," Harry hummed toward them and started searching for the ´Attack Curses for Experts´ book. Luckily, he found it quickly, took it from the shelf and was about to turn down another aisle to the Potions textbook section, when someone tapped him on the shoulder. His already picked books almost fell to the ground as he jerked and turned sharply.

"Did I scare you?" Angela asked with a small smile, a stack of textbooks in her arms as well, with ´Advanced Witchcraft´ sitting on top.

"Oh, not really… It's just the atmosphere," Harry replied.

"True… It doesn't look very cheerful around here," she agreed with a sigh.

Harry looked around cautiously. "Come to the Potions section. Nobody will see us there," he whispered.

She giggled and nodded right away: "Okay…"

Once they were finally in the darkest corner of a shop, they kissed passionately, still holding their books carefully.

"Missed you," Harry murmured with a sigh.

Angela did not even open her eyes when she replied softly: "I´ve missed you too…"

They almost literally lunged at each other again, unable to stop themselves, bending the books between them mercilessly. It felt too good to be so close again. Angela shivered when she felt Harry´s tongue teasing her lips. He pressed on, conquering her mouth with sudden urgency, making her gasp.

Unwillingly, listening to the voice of reason, she pulled away from him a little breathless. "We shouldn't kiss like that in public, Harry," she whispered. "What if someone sees us?"

"I don't really care at this moment," he replied hoarsely, put his textbooks aside on the floor, then took hers as well and imprisoned her in his arms uncompromisingly.

"Harry, come on! Don't be silly!" Angela squirmed, chuckling.

"Stop resisting, or someone will hear us," he reminded her meaningfully, sliding with his hands down her back and then even lower to her round butt.

"Let go!" she urged, blushing. "You are crazy!"

"Yeah, but about you."

Angela wanted to say something in protest again, but Harry locked her so tempting lips with another eager kiss. Giving up, she circled her hands around his neck, happily enjoying his warm, somewhat possessive touches; just as the pleasant shivering in her stomach and even lower…

After a lovely and quite hot moment, however, something interrupted them. Behind the bookcase to Harry's right, there was the sound of someone's laugh and soft voices.

Trembling with desire, they broke off their kissing and listened…

"So, what do you say?"

"That it´s a great idea, darling."

"Then we just need some proper cover, pack up and go."

"But that can wait for a while…"

The voices fell silent and it was more than clear what the tongues of the owners of these muffled voices were dealing with now.

Harry and Angela's gaze flew up to where a small space between the ceiling and the top of the bookcase was. Then they looked at each other and began to choke on laughter.

They picked up their textbooks, Harry took Angela's hand, and they cautiously peeked around the corner to see who had the same idea as them. Their urge to laugh vanished right away. They stepped out to the aisle in surprise and watched the couple in astonishment. The kissing pair finally noticed them and remained standing still like pillars of salt.

It was Draco Malfoy with Daria Prescott.

The four of them stared at each other for a moment as if they had just discovered a new alien entity. Then – at the very same time – Angela let go of Harry's hand and Draco's palms slid down from Daria's waist. Harry and Draco's faces took on identical expressions of disgust, and Angela awkwardly greeted Daria.

Draco picked up his textbooks – originally also carelessly thrown down on the floor – helped Daria with her load and looked up again. Harry was still staring at him. If looks could kill, there would be two fresh corpses in the shop. Angela and Daria looked at each other meaningfully.

"I had a hunch," Draco sneered disdainfully, as he slowly started walking toward them. "Absurd lovebirds together again."

Angela frowned.

"What do you care, Malfoy?" Harry snapped.

Draco did not take his eyes off him, as Harry was standing right in his way.

"I care quite a lot. You know, Angela is my fiancée, Potter boy," he replied with a sneer, only two steps away from him.

"Well, you don´t seem to behave as a faithful fiancé yourself," Harry remarked caustically.

Draco just smirked and Daria stood behind him with a concerned expression. Angela placed her hand on Harry's arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. But her boyfriend didn't even move; he wasn't going to just get out of their way.

"Interesting haircut, Malfoy," Harry said more calmly as he glanced over him. "Like having a needle case on your head."

"Yet you still look like you pushed your head in an electric current," Malfoy growled back.

Daria gently pulled him by the sleeve of his black jacket. However, she received no response.

"How's your papa, Malfoy?" Harry asked venomously.

"Warning you, Potter. Get out of my way. Now," Draco reacted threateningly, gripping his textbooks tighter.

"I'm shaking in fear," Harry sneered.

"You should," Draco replied, a confident coolness emanating from his face.

He wanted to retort something, but Angela tightened her grip on his arm and began to pull him uncompromisingly toward her.

"Harry, let him through," she hissed urgently. "It's not worth it."

Harry, unlike Draco, did not look at her, but after a while, he finally stepped out of their way. Malfoy walked away without even glancing back. After saying a quiet goodbye to Angela, Daria slowly followed him.

Harry still looked sullen, even as Angela looked at him pleadingly. "Can't you finally let it go? Every time you see each other it's like you want to kill the other."

"Well, you´re right about that!" he snapped.

"Fine. Let me know when you're out of this annoyed mood," Angela said and walked away briskly to the counter to pay for her textbooks.

Harry realized he overdid it and caught up with her outside the shop where they waited together for Ron and Hermione who had come out along with Lupin and Tonks. They greeted Angela with some surprise, only Hermione looked like her presence did not faze her at all.

They moved on to other shops in silence. However, it was not the last time they met Draco Malfoy that day.

/

The shop window of Fred and George's store caught their eye like a crackling firework among the posters on both sides of the street. The left window was crowded with a dazzling array of objects that spun, banged, sparkled, bounced, and shrieked. The right window was plastered with a huge dark red poster flashing a bright yellow slogan:

"WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO?

YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT U-NO-POO —

THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION!"

Hermione, Ginny and Tonks were all looking at the slogan kind of stiffly, Angela with a strange smirk, but Ron, Harry and Lupin were all laughing hard.

"That's brilliant!" howled Ron. "The U-No-Poo!"

Harry could not even breathe with laughter and just nodded. Lupin was now quite in control and Hermione shot them a disgusted look.

"I don't find it very funny. Those two are asking for problems!"

"Please, Hermione," Harry tried to calm her. "Don´t make such a fuss about it."

Hermione just snorted and went inside with Ginny and Angela. Lupin and Tonks decided to wait outside, so only Harry and Ron followed them after a while.

"Wow, it's really amazing!" Ron praised loudly as they walked out with their pockets full. "It´s a shame we couldn't come here last year already, but it took ages for the Ministry to give them permission."

"I guess they knew why," Hermione assumed, but she was looking at Ginny's cute Pygmy Puff with interest.

Angela kept her hands hidden in pockets and looked thoughtful. Harry had been watching her for some time already.

"So? Satisfied?" Lupin called from the nearby bench.

"I think we have everything," Hermione replied.

"Yeah, but how about going somewhere else to sit down? I don't want to go back yet," Ron murmured.

"That's a good idea," Ginny joined her brother.

Lupin and Tonks looked at each other and then at their pleading expressions.

"Very well," Lupin nodded. "We're going to the Leaky Cauldron."

"Great!" Ron beamed, taking Hermione around the waist with satisfaction. Ginny walked next to them, followed by Remus with Nymphadora and as the last, not counting Shacklebolt, Harry with Angela.

"Is something wrong?" Harry asked quietly. "You're kind of tight-lipped."

Angela raised her head. After a moment of hesitation, she replied: "I'm just a little tired, that's all."

Harry did not say anything to that, he just took her hand gently and she did not resisted, which he half expected since they were in public. His girlfriend seemed to be really broody and he wondered if it was because their confrontation with Malfoy or if there was another, somewhat worse reason…

/

The Leaky Cauldron was half-empty.

They chose a spacious table in the corner, and Tom, the innkeeper, immediately made his way to them, apparently pleased. His business has probably not thriving much lately. They ordered some exploding lemonades and Butterbeers, enjoying the peaceful moment in the wobbly chairs.

Suddenly, Ron, who was facing the taproom with Hermione, smirked and turned to Harry, who was sitting with Angela with their backs against the wall.

"Guess who's here," he said quietly, nodding subtly to the far corner.

Harry did not even need a hint and he already knew who he was going to see when he turned his gaze to the designated spot. Malfoy noticed him at the same time and they locked eyes. Daria, seated deliberately in the shadows, was almost invisible.

Angela had to supress the urge to roll her eyes when she noticed them as well.

Nice! Showing off in front of everyone! she thought, but then she realized she was doing the exactly same thing and forgot about any sarcasm. Sweet Merlin, she and Draco were both stupid in the very same way…

Harry looked down on their table and began to tap his fingers.

"Who's he sitting with?" wondered Hermione after Tom placed their orders in front of them. "Isn't she your friend, Ginny?"

"Maybe," Ginevra replied thoughtfully. "It´s hard to recognize anything from here…"

"How about you stop staring at them like that?" Angela blurted out.

"What's wrong with you?" Ron eyed her surprised.

"Nothing," hummed the Slytherin witch, taking a deep gulp of her lemonade. Ginny eyed her suspiciously though.

Those few wizards and witches who were sitting inside the Cauldron gradually left. Aside from Harry's company, and Draco with Daria, there were only two elderly wizards discussing something over tankards with Wizard´s Brew when the door opened and three black cloaked women entered the inn. Kingsley Shacklebolt straightened up at his small table near the bar counter.

Tom, who had just been polishing a glass with a shabby cloth, turned deadly pale when the dim light of a few candles fell on the faces of the new visitors.

The older wizards looked at them apprehensively, threw a few silver Sickles on the table and stormed out. Grinning, the women sat down at the counter and ordered a double Firewhiskey and red wine from shocked Tom. One of them, a black-haired one, lazily summoned his wand, which he had in his pocket, just to be sure.

Draco and Angela just looked sideways at the arrogant women and their reaction was quick as a lightening. Angela put two Sickles on the table, hummed a soft 'sorry' toward Harry and before he could recover, the back door creaked behind her, just as it did half a second later behind Draco Malfoy.

Just as they literally evaporated, one of the witches looked intently around the place, alerting Harry and the others. A wry smile spread across her face. It was Narcissa Malfoy.

Harry sat clutching his glass of Butterbeer and placed his other hand on Ron's shoulder. He looked up confused, as did Hermione, and they also registered an old acquaintance.

Narcissa turned to her friends, who were just gulping down their whiskey and said loud enough for them to hear: "Look whom we´ve got here."

All three immediately turned to them.

Hermione had already warned Lupin and Tonks about the surprising visit. Daria was just getting up quietly and discreetly from the table, and Kingsley Shacklebolt had his hand on his wand. The women stood up and headed across the taproom straight for them. One of them was Bellatrix Lestrange, and Harry had no doubts about the third one either.

So this is Angela's mother, he thought grimly, observing the sharp facial features of a slender witch.

Looking at Bellatrix, he saw red in front of him and he had to force himself not to jump up and scratch that smug smile off her face with his own hands.

Behind the backs of the three witches, Daria was inconspicuously heading toward the door, but then she suddenly stopped and remained standing there. Which was probably not a very good idea.

Lupin and Tonks jerked to their feet and drew their wands. Shacklebolt was already standing as well. Innkeeper Tom preferred to pretend he did not see anything and continued furiously polishing the glass. At the same time, however, he was approaching the alarm device under the desk of the bar counter, which was supposed to alarm the Aurors in these cases.

Harry, too, was already holding his wand and stood next to Remus. Hermione, Ron and Ginny also moved away from the table and cautiously stood behind them.

Madame Malfoy, her sister Bellatrix Lestrange and Mary Rosier stood directly in front of them with complete composure.

"Come on, you babies don´t wanna hurt yourselves!" Bellatrix giggled in her favourite tone. "Put those wands away before you gouge out someone's eye!" she added mockingly.

Harry had to admit that behaviour of Voldemort´s followers never ceased to surprise him. How could they afford to expose themselves here together like this? Were they not afraid at all? Not to mention that Bellatrix's rant was making his stomach churn.

Lupin saw that Kingsley was coming toward them from the side and pointed his wand in front of him so that nobody could tell whom he was actually aiming at.

"How about you all voluntarily surrender," Remus suggested.

"Yes, and we will take you to the Ministry to have a proper trial," stated Shacklebolt coldly, joining him.

The witches did not look surprised at all. They knew about him all this time. They giggled in unison.

"That's a good joke, gentlemen," Mary Rosier responded. Neither of those three gave any indication of what they thought of the wands pointed at them. They themselves still had them hidden. Behind them, Daria also slowly pulled out her wand. Tom was about to press the dark red button.

"You really think we would give up just like this? That´s disappointing," Narcissa drawled.

"Forget it!" Bellatrix snapped suddenly, and before they could recover, she turned around in a flash and Tom was thrown by her charm onto the shelves of bottles, which clattered and then shattered down on the floor. The innkeeper, with a slashing wound on his head, collapsed directly at them.

The other two had already taken out their wands when they noticed that Lupin, Tonks and Shacklebolt were getting ready for action. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Ginny giving Daria some subtle sign behind Lupin's back.

"You don't want us to hurt you here in front of these kids, do you?" Mary hissed.

"What children are you talking about?" asked Harry in a hardly controlled voice.

"Oh, our famous cocky Potter spoke!" Bellatrix sputtered. "I was already wondering that your tongue must have grown to the roof of your mouth!"

Harry just smirked. This was exactly the kind of crap he could have expected. Behind him, Ginny was discussing something with Hermione and Ron.

"Well, well, what are you whispering there about!" noted Mary Rosier sharply.

"That´s enough," declared Shacklebolt and opened his mouth.

At that moment, a four-time loud ´Expelliarmus!´ was heard. And almost immediately, the curses were gracefully deflected to the walls. Even the one from Daria, toward whom Narcissa turned to. Then, all three Death Eaters attacked in unison at once. Harry and the others were about to cast reflecting spells when the curses suddenly collided with some sort of shield, only to clatter over it and be gone.

Almost everyone's mouths dropped open in astonishment. For a barely perceptible moment, Mary Rosier gazed up at the thickly railed staircase. Narcissa angrily attacked surprised Daria, who was unable to defend herself for the moment, and again her curse was interrupted by something. But this time it was a different shield.

The Death Eaters looked at each other and started to recede toward the exit. Kingsley Shacklebolt cast a spell after them, but like theirs, it dissipated harmlessly into thin air.

"We'll see each other again!" Bellatrix hissed.

"No doubt about it!" Harry snapped after her.

Their cloaks fluttered mysteriously behind the Death Eaters and they were gone. Lupin tentatively sent a spell in front of him and it no longer hit a shield, but a wall.

The company looked after each other.

Shacklebolt shook his head uncomprehendingly. "I do not get it. They are getting more and more insolent with each day. We´ll check out the Malfoy mansion today."

"They're damn self-confident," Lupin remarked. "And convinced of their own inviolability."

"They're probably quite certain that they're going to make everyone's knees tremble," Ron said with a deep frown on his forehead.

"You'd better all go back," Shacklebolt stated decisively.

Remus and Tonks fully agreed with him. Ginny kept an inscrutable gaze on Daria as she walked to them not very willingly.

"Remus, please take them back. I'll take care of Tom," said Tonks, already heading to him. Harry and the others left the money for the drinks on the table, took their purchases and went out. Ginny and Daria, who were passionately discussing something, were chased away by Remus.

This time, Shacklebolt made them all use the Floo network. He wanted to make sure they were safe.

The whole way they talked thoughtfully about why Narcissa Malfoy had revealed herself so needlessly. Until now, the Ministry had nothing to do with her. And today, she appeared at the Leaky Cauldron in the company of two wanted Death Eaters. And of course, there was one more thing that worried them. Who created that protective shield that no magic could penetrate? Harry had quite an idea…

/

The next afternoon in the house of Daria's grandparents, Angela was sitting in an armchair, glancing knowingly from Daria to Draco, who were sitting across from her on the couch with uncertain expressions. Daria was looking at her pleadingly, Draco somewhat defiantly.

"So… You're asking me to cover for both of you at once from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening," she concluded with a grimace.

"Sort of," Daria nodded.

"And where do you think I should go for those two days? To some hotel?"

"Stop acting like a poor victim!" snapped irritated Draco. "I know very well to whom you'll run to!"

Angela did not react to that, but she did not look at him exactly kindly. Daria dug into his ribs with her elbow: "Draco, stop it! Do you want to piss her off or what?"

He continued to watch Angela intently, but said nothing more.

"Hmm, all right," she nodded eventually. "But only because of Daria. If it was just you, Draco, I'd say no," she stated caustically.

"I believe so," the young Malfoy hissed. "Since you never care what I say, right?"

Angela glared at him, yet could not find words to oppose him. He was rightfully upset at her. The two of them had been discussing her relationship with Harry to the core; he had willingly helped her out to end it and now probably felt all his efforts wasted… She rather decided not to react; they would have ended up arguing at the best.

"What am I supposed to tell your grandparents, Daria?" the brunette asked with a sigh.

"The two of us are going to your aunt's cottage together," informed her Daria helpfully.

"Will your grandmother agree to this? She's been treating me differently for a while now..."

"She's known you long enough to trust you. Otherwise, I'm still here to stand up for you.''

"Okay then," Angela turned to Daria´s boyfriend with her eyes narrowed. "And what about your excuse, my dear Draco?"

"We're going to take a trip to the coast, to Cornwall, as an engaged couple," he replied reluctantly.

Angela wrinkled her nose. "It's cold there. Couldn't you choose some different place?"

"No," Draco gritted through his teeth.

"Fine," she grinned at him sourly. "Though, I still have one condition. I want to know where you two are really going to be. In case something unexpected happens, I will be the one answering the questions of your families…"

Draco looked disapproving, but Daria glanced at him and he softened up a bit. "As you wish. Daria?" he prompted.

"We'll be at my parents' cottage by that little lake. Blue Lake, you know where I mean," explained Daria.

"Yeah, I remember the place," Angela nodded. "You took me there once."

"So, it's a deal?" her friend asked already with an excited smile.

"Yes. I'll go see your grandparents right away and I'll confirm it for you, Draco, if anything. And as comes for the time," Angela tapped her left hand. "You know what to do."

Draco nodded grumpily: "Of course I do."

Daria beamed. "Thank you, Angela."

A bit pensive witch just waved her hand dismissing her friend´s gratitude. "Actually, Draco, I wanted to ask you how things went at your home? Did the wizards from the Ministry come? Strangely enough, there was nothing in the Prophet..."

Daria turned to her boyfriend curiously as well.

Draco gave an eerie smile as a response: "I kicked those incapable idiots out. They had nothing on me and neither mother nor father were in the house anyway."

"What? Well… I think you shouldn't provoke them unnecessarily," Angela responded a bit stunned.

"Keep these lectures for your mother, Rosier," Draco reacted quite aptly. "You better pray they don't focus on sending you to some orphanage or something."

Angela looked at him confused. "Why should they?"

Draco leant forward, looking in her eyes: "The Manor is now transferred to me, but even though I'm of legal age, I can't be your guardian. Although I told them that you are still living with us, I think they can cause you some real problems before you turn seventeen.''

"That´s right… Luckily, it won´t be long before I will," Angela replied gloomily.

Or unfortunately? noted an unpleasant voice in her head.