A/N: Here's another chapter. Hope you enjoy and leave a review
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Chapter 6: In Diagon Alley
Arriving at the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry was for once able to remain standing and quickly moved out of the way for Mrs. Weasley to arrive right behind him. Dusting herself off Mrs. Weasley turned to Ron and said "here's your money" handing over the coins she had just pulled out of her purse.
"Thanks Mum" replied Ron.
"Ginny come with me and we'll meet you three back here at twelve."
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley" answered Harry and Hermione while Ron responded "Ok, mum".
After Mrs. Weasley and Ginny had left the Leaky Cauldron Ron turned to the other two and asked "where to first then?"
"I need to get some money out" replied Harry.
"And I need to change my muggle money so we should go to Gringotts first" stated Hermione.
Walking through the door out from the Leaky Cauldron Harry led the way through Diagon Alley. All around the sounds of happy children, adults and animals could be heard. Passing through the large doors of Gringotts the sounds of the alley where shut out as the doors closed behind the trio. Approaching one of the goblin tellers Harry asked to make a withdrawal from his account. Handing over his key Harry was taken by the goblin down to his vault, returning a few minutes later with a bag now containing, bronze knuts, silver sickles and gold galleons. Approaching Ron and Hermione who were standing by the doors Harry asked "ready?"
"Yep, I've changed my money" replied Hermione.
"Let's go then," said Ron. Heading back out through the banks large doors, the trio could once again hear the pleasant sounds of the activity occurring within Diagon Alley. Making their way through the crowd the three friends headed first to the apothecary to refill potions supplies, Harry noticed however, that Ron didn't make a purchase. They then headed to Madam Malkin's for Hermione to get some new school robes. The next stop for the trio was the pet store so they could pick up more treats for their respective animals.
Having collected all that they would need for the upcoming school year except their books Harry, Ron and Hermione headed off towards Flourish and Blotts. Stopping outside the store Ron announced, "I'll see you guys in the quidditch store, I'm using my brothers old books again."
"Ok mate" called Harry over his shoulder as he and Hermione headed into the bookstore and Ron moved off towards Quality Quidditch Supplies. Moving into the rows and rows of books Hermione turned to Harry and asked "can I see your book list?"
"Sure" replied Harry, reaching into his pocket and handing his booklist to Hermione.
"Good, they are both exactly the same" stated Hermione after having quickly browesded both her own list and Harry's.
"So we'll just grab two of each book" finished Hermione as she handed Harry his booklist back and he put it away. Harry and Hermione then started navigating their way through the shelves and would occasionally stop for Hermione to pull out two copies of a book and stacked them on Harry's outstretched arms. Upon having collected two of each of:
Taking Care of Magical and Non-Magical Creatures by Janet Wargroves
Understanding and Speaking with Magical Creatures by Hank Timewobble
Potions for the Gifted by Francis Hendrick
Turning Junk into Something Useful by Denesis Kilma
Charming Charms for the Charming by Charm Graceland
The Dark Arts for the Light Side by Linda Congrouscy
Past and Present Laws and How They Effect You by Janice Donwood
Plants and How to Use Them by Basil Mint;
Paying half each for the books Harry and Hermione split the bags between them and walked out of the store back into the pleasantly noisy alley. Passing through the crowd Harry and Hermione entered the quidditch in search of Ron. Push their way through the sea of teenagers and young children Harry and Hermione found Ron up the back of the shop looking at a collection of Chudley Cannons posters that had recently come up for sale.
"Ron" called Harry as he and Hermione approached Ron from behind. Turning around quickly, Ron had an excited look plastered on his face and took something out from underneath his arm.
"Look at this Harry" chattered Ron quickly unrolling a poster of the Chudley Cannons making a victory lap after their last successful match. "Isn't it great? I just bought it" continued Ron completely wrapped up in his new purchase.
"Pathetic, that's what it is" drawled Malfoy, having just stepped out from behind a nearby shelf with his two goons Crabbe and Goyle "and I'm sure it cost your family all their money for the next three years."
"Get Fucked Malfoy" scowled Hermione.
"Oh, little miss prim and proper has a mouth on her now, but I can assure you I have and you never will mudblood" returned Malfoy.
"Your right hand doesn't count, Malfoy" countered Hermione, pushing past the blonde haired boy with Harry and Ron close behind, both giving Malfoy a glare on the way past which Malfoy returned with a trademark smirk.
Storming out of the store the trio started to make their way back towards the Leaky Cauldron. "I can't believe it, he's got even…" started Hermione who all of a sudden stopped talking as large shadows swept across the ground. The pleasant noise that previously could be heard in the alley had also fallen silent and a shiver ran up Harry's spine. For a split second the place was eerily quite until masses of screeching could be heard coming from above.
Looking up Harry could see a huge swarm of harpies partially blocking out the glowing sun. Moments later the harpies were moving closer and closer. Suddenly screams could be heard throughout the alley as people realised that the harpies were diving. Diagon Alley was under attack. Grabbing Hermione and yelling "RUN!" to Ron Harry took off towards some nearby barrels. Harry and Hermione made a dive for the barrels just in time as one of the harpies swooped past just missing their heads with its sharp claws.
"What are harpies doing here?" asked Ron hurriedly as he dashed behind the barrels with Harry and Hermione.
Raising her head just above the tops of the barrels Hermione looked quickly at one of the attacking harpies before ducking down behind the barrels again. "Voldemort" stated Hermione, Ron cringed at the mention of the dark lord's name.
"Are you s-sure?" asked Ron with a slight quiver in his voice.
"Yes. They have the dark mark across their chests" replied Hermione harshly, "we have to get back to the leaky cauldron" she continued more calmly. Sticking her head out around the side of the barrel Hermione screamed at what occurred just meters in front of her. A harpy had just swooped and as it tried to grab a screaming boy its sharp claws lodged in the young child's neck. The child no longer screamed, but just went limp. As the harpy soared back into the sky the boy's head was ripped from the rest of his body.
Harry quickly stood up, grabbed Hermione again and with Ron close behind he took of again into the alley, which was in complete chaos. All around people were running, children were screaming and a few others had their wands out trying to hit the harpies with spells. Unfortunately none of the spells were connecting and many of the witches and wizards who were casting them suffered the same fate as the boy or were picked up and once in the air dropped to become nothing but red pancakes on the pavement.
About a foot away from the door to the Leaky Cauldron another harpy dived straight at the trio. Both Harry and Ron hit the pavement just in time, but Hermione wasn't so lucky. The creature had managed to grab her shoulders in its powerful claws. In an instant both Harry and Ron were back on their feet, wands in hand and cast the Petrificus Totalus curse towards the harpy. As both the curses hit the creature Hermione slipped out of it grasp and started plummeting back to earth just below the harpy.
Seconds before Hermione hit the street Harry dived out and caught her, rolling Hermione and himself out of the way just before the creature smacked hard into the ground right where they had just been. "You alright Hermione?" asked Harry immediately with a look of concern in his eyes.
"Yes, I'm fine thanks to you Harry" replied Hermione with a smile creeping over her lips and her cheeks turning as red as Harry's were becoming.
"Let's go", yelled Ron a lot calmer than he had been since the attack had begun. Climbing back onto their feet Harry and Hermione followed Ron as he took closed the remaining distance to the Leaky Cauldron. As he was crossing through the doorway into the Leaky Cauldron Harry heard many popping noises behind him and looking behind him saw aurors appearing in the alley. Shutting the door behind himself Harry took one last look outside to see the harpies being beaten back by the aurors.
Harry gazed around at the inside of the pub, noticing that many members of the Order of the Phoenix, including Dumbledore, had arrived and was glad to see that Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were both there also. At the noises of the three entering Dumbledore turned towards the door they had just entered through and said "and here they are now. Glad to see you three are alright."
"Thank you professor" replied Harry, Hermione and Ron together.
"What are Harpies with the dark mark doing in Diagon Alley, sir?" questioned Hermione.
"As you know the war with Voldemort", Ron cringed at the name, "has begun and this is his first action in the newest Wizard War"
"But professor, he must have know that the aurors would arrive to stop him" voiced Harry.
"I can assure you that he knew that Harry, this wasn't about causing damage, but about showing us that creatures have joined his side and to try and get people worried and afraid."
"Albus, its time I get the children back home" said Mrs. Weasley
"Of course Molly. Goodbye Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss. Granger. I'll be seeing you three at Hogwarts."
"Bye professor" chorused the trio as they followed Mrs. Weasley to the fireplace and flooed back to Grimmauld place. Upon their arrival Hermione appeared to completely deflate and before anyone could say anything she took off up the stairs and moments later a door could be heard slamming. Looking worriedly up the stairs Harry contemplated going after Hermione but decided instead to follow Ron, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley who had moved into the kitchen as he figured that she would just want to be alone.
Little did he know that as a matter of fact she did want him to follow her as she found that just his attempts to comfort her would work to make her feel better.