Chapter 4
Dark Stranger
"Fred, George, you first. We'll meet you in front of Flourish and Blot's," Mrs. Weasley said. The twins both grabbed some floo powder from a pot on top of the mantle. They stepped into the fire place and shouted 'Diagon Alley' simultaneously. They were both engulfed in green flames and disappeared.
"Ron, if you don't mine me asking, how you are getting the money for all this," Harry asked pointing to the long list of books for the new term.
"Remember the joke shop Fred and George opened? Well, considering our current state, they agreed to pitch in until dad gets a new job."
"I see."
"Come on Harry, you next," Mrs. Weasley said. "And remember to speak very clearly this time, tuck you arms at your sides." She handed him a handful of floo powder as he stepped in to the fireplace. Harry hated traveling by floo powder, but he knew better than to complain. Her threw the powder at his feet and shouted 'Diagon Alley". Harry closed his eyes as he spun around and around.
He hit the ground hard with a loud thud. He almost chocked as he was surrounded by a cloud of ash and soot. He climbed out of the fire place to find himself inside the Hog's Head. Harry would have preferred to come out somewhere else, but at least he wasn't in Nocturn Alley. He was heading for the door when he saw a strange man sitting in the corner of the pub. He was sitting there with a hood draped over his head, hiding his face. All Harry could see was his two crystal blue eye's piercing through the dark depths of the man's cloak.
Harry was about to leave again, but the man stood up and strode over to where Harry was standing. Harry's heart began to beat faster as the man drew closer. He began to sweat. Should he run for it? No it was too late.
"Hello...Harry Potter."
"Wh-who are you?" Harry stuttered.
"Oh, excusse me for not introducing myself. Ossric Dougal."
"Nice to meet you...Mr. Dougal," Harry said forcing a smile. Mr. Dougal thrust out his hand to shake Harry's. Harry hesitated, but grabbed his hand none the less. It was ghostly white and icy cold. Harry didn't like the way this man behaved. Nor the fact that his face was hidden. His voice sounded like that of a snake. Yet it was a persuading and pleasing voice to hear. But he hissed an awful lot. Harry released his hand and walked out of the pub. He was more than glad to be away from that man.
"Ssee you around...Harry."
"Harry, over here!" Ron yelled from down the street. Harry ran over to greet Ron and Hermione who were still standing in front of Flourish and Blot's.
"Sorry, I got held up in the Hog's Head. Long story, I'll tell you later," Harry said, not wishing to talk about it. "Well, I need to go to Gringot's. Do you want to come Hermione?"
"No, I've already got my money," she said. "I think I'll go with Ron."
"Ok, then let's all meet at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. How's that?"
"Great," Hermione said.
"We'll be there," Ron said, unenthusiastically.
"I think I need some new robes, mine are getting awfully short," Ron said.
"Alright, we'll go to Madam Malkin's first then."
"The thing is, I'll have to buy used robes, because I'm afraid that is all I can afford," he said going red.
"It's ok Ron, no one will know, I won't tell a sole." So off the Madam Malkin's they went.
"Hello," said the lady at the counter when they stepped into the shop. "How can I help you?"
"I'm here to buy some robes...used robes," Ron whispered.
"Oh, no problem dear, you just wait here a moment." She went into one of the back rooms, and came out with an old tattered box full of robes. "Here you are," she said handing the box to Ron. "The dressing rooms are over there, just bring the box back when you're done."
They made their way to the dressing rooms. Ron was just about to give up, when he finally found some robes that fit.
"What do you think. I know it's a bit too long, and the sleeve has a tear. But, it's nothing mum can't fix," Ron said showing Hermione.
"Well, it certainly fit's better than all the rest of them," she said encouragingly. Ron gave a weak smile. Just then someone entered the shop. Ron's smile turned into a look of pure terror when he sow who had just walked in. It was Malfoy.
Malfoy's gaze was immediately drawn to the corner where Ron stood. He strutted over toward them.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Weasley, and his little mud blood girlfriend."
"Watch it Malfoy," Ron snapped.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Are you too ashamed that you can't afford real robes? Why doesn't your mom just knit you up a pair? Then maybe you'll be able to afford your books." Malfoy started cracking up.
"Can it, cockroach!" Hermione yelled.
"What was that?"
"You heard me," Hermione sassed.
"Ooh, getting a little feisty today, are we Granger?"
"Get out of here Malfoy, before I smack you like I did last time!" she threatened.
"You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
"Alright mud blood, bring it on," he snarled.
That was the last straw, Hermione had had enough. She pulled her wand out of her robes, and muttered something under her breath. Sparks shot out of the end of her wand, hitting Malfoy, thrusting him backward into a pile of boxes.
"Oh, now you've done it, wait until my father hears about this!" he said in a rather panicked voice.
"But, I didn't do anything much, the boxes broke your fall didn't they," Hermione said sarcastically. Ron was trying really hard not to laugh. He realized what Hermione was really doing. She hadn't meant to knock Malfoy over, because Ron could see his hair slowly turning a bright shade of pink.
"What are you snickering at Weasley," Malfoy asked.
"Oh, nothing," Ron lied forcing back a smile.
"I'll get you both for this. Especially you, Granger. Just you wait." He stormed out of the shop, and slammed the door.
"What a chicken," Hermione muttered.
"Yeah." They both began to burst with laughter.
"Can you imagine the look on his face when he comes on the train tomorrow, with a full head of pink hair," Hermione said in-between giggles.
Ron, who had been rolling on the floor with laughter, got up and walked over to the counter. He put down one gold galleon and a couple of sickles.
"Will that be enough?" he whispered.
"That will be fine dear." Ron blushed. They walked out of the shop together with wide smiles on their faces. Ron could think of a better way to end his morning.
"Thanks Hermione. But you really didn't have to-."
"I wanted to." She reached over and gave him a hug. Ron blushed again.
They strolled over to the Leaky Cauldron with smiles on their faces. Harry was waiting for them when they entered the pub.
"You're late," Harry said impatiently.
"Sorry, we had a bit of a...hold up in Madam Malkin's," Hermione explained.
"Yeah, ran into Malfoy," said Ron bitterly.
"Malfoy! What happened!" Harry shouted. Lately, he'd been getting all jumpy every time someone even mentioned Draco.
"Shh, not so loud," Hermione scolded. Everyone in the pub was now staring at them angrily.
"Let's go sit down shall we?" Ron suggested.
"Good idea," Harry said. "I've got some things to tell you." They found a vacant table in the far corner, where they could talk quietly without being easily overheard.
"Well, first, better get the bad news out of the way. Now, just to warn you, this may come as a bit of a shock, but please try not to overreact."
"Just get on with it Harry, nothing can make my life any worse," Ron said grimly. Harry forced a smile. He knew this was probably the worst news Ron would ever hear. But Harry couldn't keep it to himself any longer. Besides, they would have found out sooner or later.
Harry pulled the daily prophet clipping from Dumbledore, out of his pocket and flattened it out on the table in front of Ron.
"What's this," Ron asked.
"Read it," Harry said gulping. Ron started reading, Hermione read over his shoulder. His eyes grew larger as he scanned the page.
"Y-you can't be serious," Ron whispered. "Lucius Malfoy, the Minister of Magic! I'll bet he is the one who fired my dad." Harry didn't say anything.
"Do you know what this means?" Hermione asked, though nobody answered. "We will have to be a lot more careful now. Especially with Draco around. Who knows, he might just have us all sent to azkaban as a joke."
"Honestly Hermione. Nobody's that heartless," Harry commented. Ron gave him a look as if to say, Malfoy is.
"Oh, I shouldn't have turned his hair pink," Hermione said nervously.
"You turned his hair pink!" Harry said, raising his voice.
"Please, quiet down will you?" Hermione begged. The whole pub was now starring at them again, looking very annoyed at Harry's frequent outbursts.
"Sorry," Harry said looking around nervously. "What happened exactly?" He turned toward Hermione.
"He insulted me," said Ron. "Like he always does."
"Yes, and I've had enough of him," Hermione said, shaking her wild and frizzy hair around. "He's tormented Ron enough, I had to do something. He deserved what he got."
"So that's why you two were smiling before. I was wondering how on earth you could be so happy. Considering...well, you know."
"Yeah, you should have seen the look on his face," Ron said as he chuckled. "You'd have thought he swallowed a fly or something."
Harry laughed at the thought of Malfoy with bright pink hair. What a sight it must have been. He just hoped Lucius wouldn't come after Hermione for it. He could get her into some serious trouble, now that he was Minister of Magic. Harry shuddered at the thought of poor innocent Hermione sitting in a cell in Azkaban. But they couldn't do that to her, she was only a girl, could they?
Dark Stranger
"Fred, George, you first. We'll meet you in front of Flourish and Blot's," Mrs. Weasley said. The twins both grabbed some floo powder from a pot on top of the mantle. They stepped into the fire place and shouted 'Diagon Alley' simultaneously. They were both engulfed in green flames and disappeared.
"Ron, if you don't mine me asking, how you are getting the money for all this," Harry asked pointing to the long list of books for the new term.
"Remember the joke shop Fred and George opened? Well, considering our current state, they agreed to pitch in until dad gets a new job."
"I see."
"Come on Harry, you next," Mrs. Weasley said. "And remember to speak very clearly this time, tuck you arms at your sides." She handed him a handful of floo powder as he stepped in to the fireplace. Harry hated traveling by floo powder, but he knew better than to complain. Her threw the powder at his feet and shouted 'Diagon Alley". Harry closed his eyes as he spun around and around.
He hit the ground hard with a loud thud. He almost chocked as he was surrounded by a cloud of ash and soot. He climbed out of the fire place to find himself inside the Hog's Head. Harry would have preferred to come out somewhere else, but at least he wasn't in Nocturn Alley. He was heading for the door when he saw a strange man sitting in the corner of the pub. He was sitting there with a hood draped over his head, hiding his face. All Harry could see was his two crystal blue eye's piercing through the dark depths of the man's cloak.
Harry was about to leave again, but the man stood up and strode over to where Harry was standing. Harry's heart began to beat faster as the man drew closer. He began to sweat. Should he run for it? No it was too late.
"Hello...Harry Potter."
"Wh-who are you?" Harry stuttered.
"Oh, excusse me for not introducing myself. Ossric Dougal."
"Nice to meet you...Mr. Dougal," Harry said forcing a smile. Mr. Dougal thrust out his hand to shake Harry's. Harry hesitated, but grabbed his hand none the less. It was ghostly white and icy cold. Harry didn't like the way this man behaved. Nor the fact that his face was hidden. His voice sounded like that of a snake. Yet it was a persuading and pleasing voice to hear. But he hissed an awful lot. Harry released his hand and walked out of the pub. He was more than glad to be away from that man.
"Ssee you around...Harry."
"Harry, over here!" Ron yelled from down the street. Harry ran over to greet Ron and Hermione who were still standing in front of Flourish and Blot's.
"Sorry, I got held up in the Hog's Head. Long story, I'll tell you later," Harry said, not wishing to talk about it. "Well, I need to go to Gringot's. Do you want to come Hermione?"
"No, I've already got my money," she said. "I think I'll go with Ron."
"Ok, then let's all meet at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. How's that?"
"Great," Hermione said.
"We'll be there," Ron said, unenthusiastically.
"I think I need some new robes, mine are getting awfully short," Ron said.
"Alright, we'll go to Madam Malkin's first then."
"The thing is, I'll have to buy used robes, because I'm afraid that is all I can afford," he said going red.
"It's ok Ron, no one will know, I won't tell a sole." So off the Madam Malkin's they went.
"Hello," said the lady at the counter when they stepped into the shop. "How can I help you?"
"I'm here to buy some robes...used robes," Ron whispered.
"Oh, no problem dear, you just wait here a moment." She went into one of the back rooms, and came out with an old tattered box full of robes. "Here you are," she said handing the box to Ron. "The dressing rooms are over there, just bring the box back when you're done."
They made their way to the dressing rooms. Ron was just about to give up, when he finally found some robes that fit.
"What do you think. I know it's a bit too long, and the sleeve has a tear. But, it's nothing mum can't fix," Ron said showing Hermione.
"Well, it certainly fit's better than all the rest of them," she said encouragingly. Ron gave a weak smile. Just then someone entered the shop. Ron's smile turned into a look of pure terror when he sow who had just walked in. It was Malfoy.
Malfoy's gaze was immediately drawn to the corner where Ron stood. He strutted over toward them.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Weasley, and his little mud blood girlfriend."
"Watch it Malfoy," Ron snapped.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Are you too ashamed that you can't afford real robes? Why doesn't your mom just knit you up a pair? Then maybe you'll be able to afford your books." Malfoy started cracking up.
"Can it, cockroach!" Hermione yelled.
"What was that?"
"You heard me," Hermione sassed.
"Ooh, getting a little feisty today, are we Granger?"
"Get out of here Malfoy, before I smack you like I did last time!" she threatened.
"You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
"Alright mud blood, bring it on," he snarled.
That was the last straw, Hermione had had enough. She pulled her wand out of her robes, and muttered something under her breath. Sparks shot out of the end of her wand, hitting Malfoy, thrusting him backward into a pile of boxes.
"Oh, now you've done it, wait until my father hears about this!" he said in a rather panicked voice.
"But, I didn't do anything much, the boxes broke your fall didn't they," Hermione said sarcastically. Ron was trying really hard not to laugh. He realized what Hermione was really doing. She hadn't meant to knock Malfoy over, because Ron could see his hair slowly turning a bright shade of pink.
"What are you snickering at Weasley," Malfoy asked.
"Oh, nothing," Ron lied forcing back a smile.
"I'll get you both for this. Especially you, Granger. Just you wait." He stormed out of the shop, and slammed the door.
"What a chicken," Hermione muttered.
"Yeah." They both began to burst with laughter.
"Can you imagine the look on his face when he comes on the train tomorrow, with a full head of pink hair," Hermione said in-between giggles.
Ron, who had been rolling on the floor with laughter, got up and walked over to the counter. He put down one gold galleon and a couple of sickles.
"Will that be enough?" he whispered.
"That will be fine dear." Ron blushed. They walked out of the shop together with wide smiles on their faces. Ron could think of a better way to end his morning.
"Thanks Hermione. But you really didn't have to-."
"I wanted to." She reached over and gave him a hug. Ron blushed again.
They strolled over to the Leaky Cauldron with smiles on their faces. Harry was waiting for them when they entered the pub.
"You're late," Harry said impatiently.
"Sorry, we had a bit of a...hold up in Madam Malkin's," Hermione explained.
"Yeah, ran into Malfoy," said Ron bitterly.
"Malfoy! What happened!" Harry shouted. Lately, he'd been getting all jumpy every time someone even mentioned Draco.
"Shh, not so loud," Hermione scolded. Everyone in the pub was now staring at them angrily.
"Let's go sit down shall we?" Ron suggested.
"Good idea," Harry said. "I've got some things to tell you." They found a vacant table in the far corner, where they could talk quietly without being easily overheard.
"Well, first, better get the bad news out of the way. Now, just to warn you, this may come as a bit of a shock, but please try not to overreact."
"Just get on with it Harry, nothing can make my life any worse," Ron said grimly. Harry forced a smile. He knew this was probably the worst news Ron would ever hear. But Harry couldn't keep it to himself any longer. Besides, they would have found out sooner or later.
Harry pulled the daily prophet clipping from Dumbledore, out of his pocket and flattened it out on the table in front of Ron.
"What's this," Ron asked.
"Read it," Harry said gulping. Ron started reading, Hermione read over his shoulder. His eyes grew larger as he scanned the page.
"Y-you can't be serious," Ron whispered. "Lucius Malfoy, the Minister of Magic! I'll bet he is the one who fired my dad." Harry didn't say anything.
"Do you know what this means?" Hermione asked, though nobody answered. "We will have to be a lot more careful now. Especially with Draco around. Who knows, he might just have us all sent to azkaban as a joke."
"Honestly Hermione. Nobody's that heartless," Harry commented. Ron gave him a look as if to say, Malfoy is.
"Oh, I shouldn't have turned his hair pink," Hermione said nervously.
"You turned his hair pink!" Harry said, raising his voice.
"Please, quiet down will you?" Hermione begged. The whole pub was now starring at them again, looking very annoyed at Harry's frequent outbursts.
"Sorry," Harry said looking around nervously. "What happened exactly?" He turned toward Hermione.
"He insulted me," said Ron. "Like he always does."
"Yes, and I've had enough of him," Hermione said, shaking her wild and frizzy hair around. "He's tormented Ron enough, I had to do something. He deserved what he got."
"So that's why you two were smiling before. I was wondering how on earth you could be so happy. Considering...well, you know."
"Yeah, you should have seen the look on his face," Ron said as he chuckled. "You'd have thought he swallowed a fly or something."
Harry laughed at the thought of Malfoy with bright pink hair. What a sight it must have been. He just hoped Lucius wouldn't come after Hermione for it. He could get her into some serious trouble, now that he was Minister of Magic. Harry shuddered at the thought of poor innocent Hermione sitting in a cell in Azkaban. But they couldn't do that to her, she was only a girl, could they?