Disclaimer- I don't own HP
A/N- Thanks for all of you reviewers!!!!!! It really helps me to keep posting, and updating. By the way, I know that my updates are really sporadic, sorry about that. Hope you like this chappie!!!!!!!!
Ron walked through the streets of Marcula Grandyliff at his side. With his huge black cloak billowing behind him, and his hair a sandy brown color, no one would have ever guessed Ron's true identity. He wasn't even feeling like himself. Ron gazed around at all of the little shops, Rulie's Robes, Will's Wonderful Wacky Wands, and other crazy stores. Grandyliff put his hand abruptly on Ron's shoulder.
"Aye lad, dis er is de place," stopping him in front of a fairly new looking store "Are you ready?"
Ron shook his head up and down determinedly, Grandyliff looked him in the eye "All righ' then," He sighed and led Ron through the large wood door. A bell chimed as they walked in.
"I'll be there in a sec, just have a look around!" A muffled voice called from somewhere in the back of the store. Ron looked around the room, seeing some of the familiar objects but also new different ones, "Ah, Grandyliff! Nice to see you again! And who is this young friend of yours?"
"Oh…this is…Jack Spears…he's interested in some of da dragon stuff. So I's been taking him round showin em all the good places in town."
"Ah, well I'm glad you consider Diggle's Dragons to be one of those good places in town. And what is it that you are in need of this time? You know we do have some new dragon's feed. It calms the dragons down a bit soothes em up. Apparently they've added some morphine to it," the man said slyly.
Ron looked at him, sizing him up.
"No thanks Bill, I think I'll just be taken the usual order of feed. Unless you have any other new useful items?" Grandyliff said, barely suppressing a smile, knowing that he was just urging the salesman on.
"Of course we do!" the man exclaimed-he was definitely a salesman from the heart, "Knowing that you are in the dragon training business, I'd like to show you this new toy. I've actually received quiet a few orders for it from other customers. It's the Zapper 2000!!!! A very useful item indeed. It will zap the dragon's sending an electrical shock through them, upon contact with the dragon's skin. It has a very good calming effect on them. It may look a little small now, but with the expansion charm it can do quiet a fair job. After all, we wouldn't want any of the trainers to get hurt," Grandyliff's jaw went clamp at this.
"No, I'll just be haven de seed," he said, his mood suddenly changing from good to bad, "And who are these other people tha been buying dis…er…Zapper?"
"Oh, well, my biggest buyer has been a man by the name of Gasper. A Malfoy has been buying quiet a few as well, must have a herd."
Ron paled, Malfoy. Malfoy was in this. He should have known. The slimy, dark wizard, was practically Voldemort's personal slave. It seemed like every big plan Voldemort had, had Malfoy in it. Helping in some evil little way, to fulfill his evil lord's purpose.
"Ah, never hurd of dem? Are de from round ere?"
"No, I hadn't either. There new…I had the shipments sent to…a mansion called, Pinkerton…somewhere in Sedalla."
"Ah…I knows where ur talkin' bout. Up north a lil, wonder what dem folks er doin' down here?"
"Well, I guess we are just the best dragon store around here," Bill said, puffing up a little. "After all, we do have the latest items. Few stores around here actually have Zappers, they are just so new, they are hard to find." Bill said, smiling proudly.
"Er…ya…guess so…" Grandyliff said, not quiet sure how to respond to Bill's self-flattery. "Well, we better git goin, then."
"Alright then, I should have the seed to you in a day or so. Come back anytime! Bring your friend along too, if he decides to get into the business. It's truly a great business Mr.Spears. Dragons are right powerful creatures and I'm sure if we could just learn to control their powers, they could help us quiet a bit. Especially with this war going on in England. You really should consider it." Bill said smiling broadly.
"An' I'm sure he will, won't ya Jack."
"Oh, yes of course! Sounds like a very worthwhile business, and thanks for your time Bill," Ron said smiling politely.
"No problem Spears, anything for a customer! Come back anytime, you are most welcome in my store!"
"We will, see ya Bill," Grandyliff said, pulling Ron out of the store with him.
As they passed Wacky Wands once more, Ron turned Grandyliff to him and said, "We need to talk,"
"Alright, Fairy Dust is a good pub, let's go there. I'm feelin like a beer anywayz, affer talking to Bill. Always thee salesmen though," Grandyliff said with a chuckle.
Ron grinned, "Just lead the way, Grandyliff."
Back at Hogwarts!
Hogwarts was full of excitement. With the new Halloween Dance this year for all fourth years and up, every one was in a hurry. All the boys were quivering with nervousness, unsure of whether they would be refused or accepted. While all of the girls were gossiping about who was going with who, what to wear, who to dance with and how to do their hair.
As Hermione and Harry strolled down the hallway, Harry figured it was time to pop the question, 'would she go with him.' Maybe, it wasn't the right time, maybe he shouldn't even ask her at all. Ya, he liked her, but was a month a long enough recovery time for someone who's boyfriend died? He decided to go ahead with it, just be casual, he thought. The approach is the most important thing-at least that's what Dean always told him. "So Hermione, are you going to the Halloween Dance with anyone?"
"No, I don't think so. I'm actually not really sure if I'll go at all," Hermione said easily on their way to dinner.
"But why not? I mean, I think it's time, that you started to move on a little Hermione. I know that you and Ron were really close, but…it's been almost a month."
"Oh, not you too Harry! Everyone else has been saying the same thing, 'It's time to move on.' 'Hermione, it's not like you were married to him, or bound to him' 'Hermione, Hermione, Hermione'" she said, imitating everyone's annoying little voices. "Just because Ron has been gone for a month, doesn't mean anything. I still love him, and I'll never leave him." Hermione said proudly, sticking her chin up high, as if to prove her point.
"Hermione, I wasn't saying that. I mean, you don't have to go to the dance with someone else. Besides, you helped to organize it, and decorate it, you should be there to see it all in action."
"I don't really care about what it'll look like 'in action' anyways, it's just a dance. I'm just doing the decorating, and junk for a little fun. It takes my mind off things. I'd focus my effort into SPEW but, it hasn't seemed to be really taking off lately. I'm sure it will though, we're just at the plateau stage."
"Ya, I'm sure it will," Harry said distractedly, desperately trying to get back on subject, "But It'll take your mind off things even more if you go to the dance!" Harry jumped in,"How about the two of us go together. I don't really have anyone to go with, ever since that whole nasty break-up with Luna last year. Besides, there's no one else that I like, or anything. And going just as friends would be kind of fun, don't you think?" Harry asked.
"Maybe…" she answered, unsure of this whole idea.
"And if you won't go, then I won't go. It's that simple. I don't want you being left all alone, just to wallow in past memories. We've got to live in the present. Trust me, it'll be a blast, and it'll take your mind off things, getting ready for it and all," Harry said, hoping that his speech had been convincing enough to win Hermione on his side. This was his first step, taking her to the dance. After that, things would surely escalade.
"Well, I guess I'll go then Harry. I mean if you really want me too. I wouldn't want you to miss out on anything. Even though I'm almost positive there won't be anything interesting going on, that is too terribly important. You know what…without Ron being here, there is no one else I'd rather go with." Hermione said with a smile.
"Thanks Hermione," Harry said. All the while Harry was thinking, that that last sentence was beautiful, 'there is no one else I'd rather go with,' if only that part including Ron hadn't been at the beginning.
"Off to dinner," Hermione said happily. "I guess this dance could be a little fun."
"It will be fun Hermione." Harry said positively, and then muttered to himself "It will be…"