Chapter Two: In Diagon Alley
Disclaimer: /sighs/ Do you honestly think I own Harry Potter. If I owned Harry Potter or any of the other characters (although Prism is mine) I would soooooo not be here typing in my parents bedroom. Please R/R!
''No... Harry, no. He can't be...'' Hermione gasped covering her mouth with her hand.''Okay, mate, quit jokin' around.'' Ron said as the Chocolate Frog head fell into his lap.
''I'm not joking. Why do you think I would joke about something like that, Ron?'' Harry said.
''No, Harry, he's not dead. Please say he isn't.'' Hermione said, tears streaming down her face.
''He's- oh Mione', please don't cry. Come here, please don't cry.'' Harry said hugging Hermione.
''He can't be dead! He was the nicest person I've ever met. He- he just can't be dead.'' she sobbed into Harry's neck, ''We didn't even get a chance to clear his name.''
''I know, Mione', I know. It's gonna be okay. We'll be here for each other.'' he said placing a kiss on her head.
''Uh...'' Ron uttered staring at the two, ''Did I miss something here?''
Harry glared at him over the top of Hermione's head.
''What? Are you guys together now?'' he asked allowing the Chocolate Frog head to melt in his clenched hand (A/N, Oooh, jealousy, jealousy?).
''Yes, Ron we're together! You know you should be a little more compassionate when you learn a close friend of yours has died!''
"I- I am. What makes you think I'm not?'' he stuttered.
''Just the fact that your makin' some big deal about Harry and me being an "item'' when you should be worrying about what we're going to do now! I mean one of the OotP is dead. Doesn't that worry you Ronald Weasley?''
''It-it does...''
''Just... don't say anything else Ron. Nothing else.''
''I- I-.''
''Nothing, Ron!''
''I'm sorry all right! God, Don't you get it. I deal with things through sarcasm. Don't you get /my/ way of coping? Don't you get that I may not be the crying type?'' he stopped and shuddered slightly at the thought of him crying, ''I cope by avoiding it. Blimey, we're not even at school yet, Hermione, and you're already fighting with me. Can't we just have one freakin' year without fighting?" he replied angrily.
''Ron, I-''
''I don't want to hear it, Hermione.''
''Ron, I'm sorry. This is getting to me. Please forgive me!'' she replied threading her arms around his neck.
Ron's face hardened, then it softened and he turned around and hugged her back, "Oh Mione'. You know I always do. Do you know what we need?''
"What?'' Hermione asked releasing Ron and wiping her eyes on her sleeve.
''We need to visit my brothers.''
''Ron. It'll take all day to get to Diagon Alley.'' Harry said as Hermione came over and leaned into him.
''Who said we were goin' to Diagon Alley?''
''Wha- Oh!''
"Mmhmm. Mrs.Granger."
"Yes, dear.''
''Do you know the way to my house?''
Hermione, Ron, Mrs.Granger, and Harry crept around to the back gate of The Burrow. Silently they pushed it opened and winced as it creaked.
''Ronald Weasley! Why didn't you tell your dear mother you were bringing Harry home today? You scared me half to death.'' Mrs.Weasley said rushing around and grabbing her son in a rib breaking embrace.
''Mum, I'm fine. Mum- get off!''
''Welcome Harry dear, and Hermione dear. And Mrs.Granger! Welcome.''
''Thank you Molly.''
''Well what are you guys still doin' outside. Come, let's go inside and have some tea.''
''So what are you fella's doin' home?'' Mrs.Weasley asked Ron over her tea cup.
''We just came home to use the fireplace. We're going to visit Fred and George.''
''Why?''
''Did you hear about Sirius?'' Hermione quietly asked the older, red headed woman.
''Ah, that I did.'' she sighed and took a sip out of her tea cup.
''You mean you knew?'' Ron said setting his tea cup, picking it up and sipping out of it again.
''Well, yes. Yes, I did. Arthur and I both knew.''
''And you didn't tell me?!'' he replied slamming it down breaking the handle.
''No... no we didn't.''
''Why?''
''We thought it would be best for you to hear it from Harry.''
''From Harry? Well he told us in the car. He made Hermione cry. Do you know how much it hurts to see Hermione cry mum? You could have at least told me so I could tell Hermione and I wouldn't have to see her cry. At least then she'd be at home and by now she wouldn't be all teary eyed around me cause' I can't stand it! Come on guys. If you need us we'll be at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.'' he said standing up and walking over to the fireplace. He took a handful of the powder in the flower pot and threw it into the fireplace stepping back as it sprang green.
''Diagon Alley!'' he screamed stepping into it and disappearing with a loud roar.
''Mum why don't you stay here with Mrs.Weasley? We shouldn't be to long.'' Hermione said standing up and taking Harry's hand.
"Sure dear. You two have fun.''
''Oh, we will.'' she replied smiling at Harry. They walked over to the fireplace, grabbed a hand full of Floo Powder, stepped into the fire and screamed "Diagon Alley!'' and disappeared with yet another loud roar.
''What do you mean we'll have fun?'' Harry said as they laid on the soot covered floor of Florish and Blotts.''I mean, this.'' Hermione replied taking Harry into her arms. She laced her fingers around his neck and kissed him gently.
''Er-hem. As much as I hate to see this....uh.... break this..... pationate moment... I believe we're here to see Fred and George, to deal with a loss.'' Ron said looking down on the couple.
''Oh... yeah.'' Hermione said standing up and brushing off her muggle jeans.
''Yeah. What store number was that again?'' Harry said standing up hastily.
''Number Ninety-three. Don't you remember from last year? 'If you are interested in our portable swamp you can come and visit us at number ninety-three Diagon Alley. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, our new premises.' You don't remember that?''
''Oh yeah. I remember. That was the day Umbridge went mad. Oh that was fun.'' Hermione said biting her lip thoughtfully.
''That was fun? We broke like, what, six school rules Hermione! Is this coming from /the/ Hermione Granger's mouth? The 'Now I'm going to bed before you get us all killed, or worse expelled' Hermione Granger?!'' Ron said unbelievably.
''Yes, I know, but... she was like the devil's wife.''
''Really. I thought she more resembled a toad.'' Harry said hugging her.
She giggled slightly, ''Yeah, you're right.''
''Okay, love birds. It's getting late. We need to get home soon.'' Ron said tugging on Hermione's wrist.
''Oh all right! Let's see here,'' Hermione said, ''Ninety-seven, Ninety-five, ah, yes. Ninety-three. Fred, George!"
''Hermione! How are you?'' Fred said coming up and hugging Hermione.
''I'm good, good, how are you?''
''Oh, we're good, great in fact. Business is booming!''
''Hiya, mate. What's up?'' George said wringing Harry's hand.
''Nothin' much, George. What's new with you?''
''Pink Eye Pasties.'' he said supplying red one from his pocket, "They give you a nasty bout' of the Pink Eye, then you just eat this,'' he said supplying a blue one from his pocket, ''and it's gone.''
''Wow. Did you ever find the cure for the Fever Fudge?''
''Nah, mate. I've sprouted a few new blisters trying to find one.'' he said glumly.
Harry winced out of sincerity for George, "Well, don't pull one on me.''
''Ah, no worries mate. I'm close to a cure.'' Fred said coming over and wringing Harry's hand, ''How are ya'?"
"I'm fine, Fred, how are you?''
''I'm good, good.''
''You didn't tell /me/ you were close to a cure.'' George said to Fred.
''I didn't? Well, sorry mate, musta... slipped my mind.'' Fred said glancing cautiously at George.
''Mmhmm, well... I'll just be in the shop then /Fred/.'' George spat back at him and then turned walking bow legged back into the shop, inhaling sharply with every step.
''How's our ickle Ronniekins doin'?'' Fred said giving his littlest brother a bear hug.
''Gerroff, Fred. Gerroff! I'm fine!'' he replied pushing Fred away.
''Good, good. Nice to see you're doin' okay. Got a gal yet?" said Fred, wincing slightly as Hermione punched his arm.
Ron rubbed furiously at the spot,''No, not yet Fred? You?''
''Fredie!'' a girl said coming over and kissing him, ''How's my little Frediekins?''
''I'm good, sweetheart.'' he replied kissing her again.
''Angelina? Angelina Johnson?'' Ron stuttered, disbelievingly.
''Hiya, Ron, What's up?''
''Nothin' much.'' he replied.
''Hello Hermione, Harry.''
''Hello,'' Hermione said tightening her grasp on Harry's waist.
''Hey Angelina, enjoying your summer?''
''Very much so, Harry. You?''
''Mmm, More or less.'' he ended smiling to Hermione.
''Hermy!'' a girl shouted from behind them.
''Pris! (A/N: Pronounced Priz) Come here!'' she replied taking the girl into her arms.
''It's good to see you Hermy.''
''You too, Pris. Oh, this is Harry, Ron, Fred, and Angelina. Everybody, this is my cousin, Prism.''
''Hello.'' Prism said flashing her bright blue eyes at Ron.
''H-hi. M' Ron.'' Ron said offering her his hand and shaking it fiercely.
''Ron, a good thing not to do is goggle at the girl. And don't kill her hand!'' Fred whispered to Ron who immediately stood up straighter and wiping drool off his mouth.
Prism laughed shortly and pushed a strand of red hair away from her face and flashing her eyes at him again, "Nice to meet you Ron.''
''I'm Fred.'' Fred said shaking her hand lightly.
''And I'm George!'' George called from the door way and walking wincingly over to her shaking her hand.
''Nice to meet you both. You three are the Weasley boys aren't you?''
''You've heard of us?'' Fred asked dignantly.
''Yes. Hermy's told me all about you.''
''Good job Mione'.'' Ron said to Hermione.
''Thanks, Ron.''
''I'm Harry.''
''Pleasure to meet you. Of course I've heard about you,'' she said to Harry.
''Oh, no. Here it comes. 'You're the boy who lived.' yada yada yada.'' Harry thought to himself but that's not what he got.
''Hermione's told me about you. And of course Rita two years ago.'' she replied.
''Really? Oh, you read Rita's articles. You know they're not true.''
''I know that. I've always known that. Nobody should trust that woman. I think it's all the sort of off their rocker people who do believe her.''
''Anyone up for ice cream? On me.'' George said taking out a pouch full of the wizarding money.
''So, no offense Prism, but what are you doing here?'' Ron said five minutes later in the ice cream shop.
"You mean Hermy didn't tell you?''
Ron shook his head no as George handed him his Carmel Fudge Split.
''Hermy how could you not tell them? I'm going to go to school here with you guys at Hogwarts.''
''What? But it's seventh year.'' Harry said through his sunday.
''I know. I've already attended a magical school in the States for six years so I'm coming here to finish.''
''But why come here when you've gone there for six years? Here ya' go Mione'.'' George asked handing Hermione her chocolate ice cream.
''My father is a special agent in the Ministry of Magic," Prism replied lowering her voice, barely above a whisper, "He's been on increased alert ever since Voldemort returned. He's been busy and we've been moving a lot. State to state. First we were posted in New York, then we went to Delaware, and from there South Dakota. Now he's at a new location and I'm staying here with my Aunt.''
''How did you get to school from all those states? I mean I've heard of an Magical School in the Americas. It's posted in Wyoming, isn't is Prism?'' George said to her.
''Yes it is. We have this thing in the Americas called the Floo Powder Network. Haven't you heard of it. I heard that we all use the same system but I may be wrong.''
''Your father works in the ministry of magic?'' Harry asked, ''What department?''
''I'm not allowed to say. It's Top Secret stuff. Not even Mum knows. Sorry.''
''No we understand. Has Hermione told you about our little group?''
Fred, George, Hermione, and Ron looked alarmidly at him.
''No,'' Prism replied, ''What is it?''
''Well, our headmaster is-''
''Professor Dumbeldore, I know.''
''Yeah, well last year, the five of us, and lots of other students got together and formed the DA.''
''What's that? Why?''
''The DA is Dumbeldore's Army. We got together because our so called Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was not very good. Every day we would arrive in class and she'd tell us to put away our wands. She was a member of the Ministry of Magic.''
''Who was she?''
Harry looked at Hermione, Ron, Fred, and George as if it pained him to hear it. The four of them nodded, ''Her name was Umbridge.''
''Ah, yes. Delorace Umbridge. I've heard of her. Terrible woman. Dad's boss. Go on.''
''Yes, anyway. She outlawed all clubs and such. Even Quiditch.''
Prism gasped, "No!''
''Yes. You play?''
''Duh! I'm a Beater.''
''All right! Beaters rock! If you get into Gryffindor, maybe they'll let you take one of our spots.'' Fred said high fiving her.
''Why, you guys play?''
"Yeah. I'm a Seeker, and Ron's a Chaser. Fred and George were Beaters but they ditched Umbridge since she expelled them from the team.''
''Back to the story!'' Hermione said touching Harry's shoulder lightly.
''Oh, yeah, right. Anyway. We rose up against her and decided to sneak out. Learn D.A.D.A on our own.''
''Who was your teacher?''
''Harry was. We figured that since we couldn't learn it from /her/ we should learn it from someone else. Someone experienced. We figured if we are to die by Voldemort's hand- Oh Ron, stop acting childish, it's only a name-'' Hermione said to a flinching Ron, ''- we should at least know how to defend ourselves. Would you like to join us?''
"Yeah. Sounds great. The more people we get to stand up against Voldemort, the better.'' Prism said standing up.
''Listen guys, I hate to bring sadness to this affair, but we have to get back to my mum.'' Ron said standing up as well.
''Yeah. Well, Prism, we'll see you at school on September first.'' Harry said.
''No you won't. She's coming with us on our trip, Harry, and she's staying with us starting Saturday.'' Hermione said.
''Well, see you Saturday then.'' Harry said stepping away from the table.
''Yes, Prism. We'll see you Saturday.'' Hermione said hugging Prism.
''Yeah, see you Saturday, Hermy. Bye Ron.'' she replied once again flashing her blue eyes at him.
''Yeah, it was nice meeting you Prism.'' he flustered shaking her hand again.
''Nice meeting you too. Bye.'' she said then walked over to her Father who had arrived in the ice cream shop.
''Wow.'' Ron said to Hermione as they walked out into the sunlit Diagon Alley, ''You should have introduced me to her sooner Hermione.''
''You like her don't you, Ron?'' George asked, running painfully to catch up with them.
''Of course he likes her George, couldn't you tell? I mean it's that obvious. Ron, I think you and Prism would make a great couple. But she's no easy catch. You have to work your way to her.'' Hermione said taking Harry's hand.
''What does that mean?''
''It means you can't just meet her, then ask her out for dinner. It'll take time. And with you, loads of help.''
''Who am I going to get to help me, Mione'?''
''Me of course! She is my cousin after all.'' Hermione said looking thoroughly harassed.
''Lucky you.'' Ron muttered.
''Well, chaps, I'd love to go and talk to mum, but Fred will need my help keeping shop. I'll see the lot of you later.'' George said walking back over to number ninety-three Diagon Alley.
''Bye George. Oh, we walked right past Flourish and Blotts.'' Hermione said steering Harry back around to the shop. They walked through the door, jingling a little bell attached to it, and up to the counter.
''One small pouch of Floo Powder, please.'' Harry said to the shopkeeper.
''That'll be Five Sickles.'' the shopkeeper replied setting a velvet pouch on the counter.
''Thank you.'' Harry said setting down five sickles and picking up the pouch. The three walked to the back of the room and into the fireplace.
''Oh, this is gonna be painful,'' Ron moaned, as the three scrunched into the fireplace. Harry took out a handful of the powder, threw it down and screamed "The Burrow," and they were engulfed in the green flame.
