Chapter 9: The Day Out
Harry came downstairs, early in the morning and helped himself to tea and toast. Page was still in bed, she hadn't slept most of the night, and she deserved a lie in. By nine-thirty she got up and went downstairs to see Harry and four elves crowded around him. "Harry, what's all this?" Page looked down at another elf she had never seen before. "This is Dobby, he's a friend of mine. Annie knows him, and went to get him." Said Harry with a smirk on hid face. The elf bowed low to Page. "An honour to meet Harry Potter's friend. I am most pleased to see that Harry Potter is well, since the Dark Lord, came for him again." All the house elves quivered with fear. "Nice to meet you too Dobby." Said Page who was trying to change the subject. "Harry. Hermione Ron and Ginny will be here at ten. So you can have a little chat while I have some breakfast." When ten came, Harry and Page were ready to go. Suddenly from the middle of the carpet, came Ron, Hermione and Ginny. "Dumbledore gave us a portkey, told us it would be quicker and less dirty." Said Ron who fell onto the floor. Harry and Page helped them up. And they set off down outside, waving goodbye to the elves and Dobby. "We'll be back at four. Bye girls, take care of Dobby." They called after them, and soon they were out of sight. They ventured off out into the garden. Harry and Ron were in front of Hermione and Ginny. Page was looking around her garden, and she saw the swing on which her father used to push her. They turned right and down a narrow windy path that led on straight into the village. Page knew that somewhere where that the guard was watching them, and she felt happier that they were to cover her back. They entered the little village. All the houses and shops looked comfortable and snug in the summer sun. Hermione and Ginny squealed at the sight of a little tearoom where honeysuckle had surrounded the outside of the door. "Oh, this is a lovely little village Professor, I can't seem to understand why you left?" Hermione was in complete admiration at the sight of the little cottages and little paths neighbouring them. "Well Hermione I had to get out live my own life, although I must admit I do miss the place. Why don't we get some coffee? I have muggle money don't worry." They went into a tiny little coffee shop on the corner of a road. The smell of coffee hit them as they walked in. They found a table, and waited until a plump muggle came to order for them. "What will it be my love?" She got out a small little notebook and a pen, "Five coffee's please." She scribbled down the order, smiled and scurried off. "Right, down the lane next to us is a wizard alley. Sort of like Diagon Alley. But it's much smaller. We can pick up some stuff there." Hermione looked at her puzzled. "Professor, we haven't got our school list yet." The others had picked up on this also and looked at Page like she was a fool. "I know, but its nice to be outside like this in a magical environment, you can only take too much of muggle activity until you get bored." Harry thought that she was right. Dudley wouldn't even think of having bubblegum that wouldn't pop, or ice creams that make your tongue turn blue with cold, or eating sugar mice, that would make you squeak for hours at a time. When they had finished their coffee Page paid the woman, and walked out into the sunlight. The village still looked the same, kids playing in the street, people nattering away to their neighbours. Page took them around the corner to a dead end. She looked around to make sure they were not followed and tapped the wall with her wand. "It's just like Diagon Alley." She said, as the wall started to unfurl itself to become an archway. The Alleyway was half the size of Diagon Alley, but it had similar shops. Page took them around stopping at every shop to get a good look in its window. "Look Harry a new broom" Shouted Ron as he pointed to a broom that was varnished red, with streaks of black on its tail. Harry and Ron goggled at the new broom, Hermione and Ginny went next door to the bookshop, and Page remembering what Severus said, went towards Harry and Ron to look at the broom. "Wow, the 'Firebolt Extreme'. It must cost a fortune" Ron seemed to be drooling at the sight of it. "Naught to a hundred and seventy miles per hour, in five seconds? Harry if you got that broom, England would be begging you to play as seeker." Harry laughed. "Yeah. But I don't want to know how much it is-" Page looked at a note that was attached to it and interrupted them. "Harry you have a Firebolt right?" Harry nodded, and she continued, "Have you looked at the note? It says, "This broom can only be bought by Wizards who have previously owned its predecessor the 'Firebolt'. See inside for more details." Maybe you should go in and ask." They all went hurried inside. The shop smelled of leather and wood from the uniforms and brooms. Harry and Ron paired off, and went to the back of the shop to see the latest Quidditch Uniforms, while Page went to the counter. A frail old man smiled at her as she approached. "Hello, can I help you?" His voice sounded cheerful, "Yes, I would like to know how much the 'Firebolt Extreme' is? I own a Firebolt myself." The shopkeeper beamed at her, "Because the 'Firebolt' is so expensive, high demands for them are too overwhelming, so we have brought out a new broom. The Ministry of Magic, has only applied this for wizards and witches who own a 'Firebolt' themselves. Of course there is the matter of extra money to be paid. The 'Firebolt Extreme' is only for wizards and witches who are in a Quidditch team; unfortunately this does not apply for School Quidditch. It is much too fast. And could be fatal if a student would to fall off." Page nodded, thanked him, and led Harry and Ron out of the shop. "What do you mean it's too fast? Brooms are meant to be fast that's the whole point. Especially for a seeker, the faster we fly, the quicker the Snitch is caught, quicker the game will be over." Harry was not pleased when Page told him. He seemed to be in a mood, until Hermione offered to buy them all ice creams. As 4 o'clock approached, they started the head back to the secret opening. Screams could be heard from over the wall. They all looked shocked. Page knew that it had started. She quickly tapped the wall and peered round the side. She could see muggles been thrown into the air. She found an opportunity, and took it; she drew out her wand, and told the others to do so as well. "Now listen to me, if you see anyone, whether it be a muggle or not, I want you to say "Banishios" Its like Expelliarmus, but its more powerful. Harry you stay with me, Remus told me you can defend yourself, but whatever affects you, will affect me. And I don't want to be killed, because then you have no protection. Understand? "Yes. What about Ron, Hermione and Ginny?" Harry sounded a little shaken. "I want you lot to stay at the side of me. If you go in front they have a good aim, if you go behind me, they will have good aim. When I say go, we run for the cottage OK?" Page waited until there was a lot of screaming before she said, "GO!" They all darted, she ran out into the middle of the street, the muggle children who where playing on the road earlier, were sprawled on the pavement, and what looked like their parents were twisting and writhing in the air above them. Page caught the sight of four wizards in cloaks; she knew that two of them were Death eaters the other two must have been Mad-Eye and Shacklebolt. Luckily the Death eaters were too busy duelling and didn't notice them as they sneaked around a wall, which was hiding them from sight. Then they ran up to the cottage via a steep path, which led to the front door. When Page got there Remus and Tonks saw them running towards the cottage, and they all darted in side.
Harry came downstairs, early in the morning and helped himself to tea and toast. Page was still in bed, she hadn't slept most of the night, and she deserved a lie in. By nine-thirty she got up and went downstairs to see Harry and four elves crowded around him. "Harry, what's all this?" Page looked down at another elf she had never seen before. "This is Dobby, he's a friend of mine. Annie knows him, and went to get him." Said Harry with a smirk on hid face. The elf bowed low to Page. "An honour to meet Harry Potter's friend. I am most pleased to see that Harry Potter is well, since the Dark Lord, came for him again." All the house elves quivered with fear. "Nice to meet you too Dobby." Said Page who was trying to change the subject. "Harry. Hermione Ron and Ginny will be here at ten. So you can have a little chat while I have some breakfast." When ten came, Harry and Page were ready to go. Suddenly from the middle of the carpet, came Ron, Hermione and Ginny. "Dumbledore gave us a portkey, told us it would be quicker and less dirty." Said Ron who fell onto the floor. Harry and Page helped them up. And they set off down outside, waving goodbye to the elves and Dobby. "We'll be back at four. Bye girls, take care of Dobby." They called after them, and soon they were out of sight. They ventured off out into the garden. Harry and Ron were in front of Hermione and Ginny. Page was looking around her garden, and she saw the swing on which her father used to push her. They turned right and down a narrow windy path that led on straight into the village. Page knew that somewhere where that the guard was watching them, and she felt happier that they were to cover her back. They entered the little village. All the houses and shops looked comfortable and snug in the summer sun. Hermione and Ginny squealed at the sight of a little tearoom where honeysuckle had surrounded the outside of the door. "Oh, this is a lovely little village Professor, I can't seem to understand why you left?" Hermione was in complete admiration at the sight of the little cottages and little paths neighbouring them. "Well Hermione I had to get out live my own life, although I must admit I do miss the place. Why don't we get some coffee? I have muggle money don't worry." They went into a tiny little coffee shop on the corner of a road. The smell of coffee hit them as they walked in. They found a table, and waited until a plump muggle came to order for them. "What will it be my love?" She got out a small little notebook and a pen, "Five coffee's please." She scribbled down the order, smiled and scurried off. "Right, down the lane next to us is a wizard alley. Sort of like Diagon Alley. But it's much smaller. We can pick up some stuff there." Hermione looked at her puzzled. "Professor, we haven't got our school list yet." The others had picked up on this also and looked at Page like she was a fool. "I know, but its nice to be outside like this in a magical environment, you can only take too much of muggle activity until you get bored." Harry thought that she was right. Dudley wouldn't even think of having bubblegum that wouldn't pop, or ice creams that make your tongue turn blue with cold, or eating sugar mice, that would make you squeak for hours at a time. When they had finished their coffee Page paid the woman, and walked out into the sunlight. The village still looked the same, kids playing in the street, people nattering away to their neighbours. Page took them around the corner to a dead end. She looked around to make sure they were not followed and tapped the wall with her wand. "It's just like Diagon Alley." She said, as the wall started to unfurl itself to become an archway. The Alleyway was half the size of Diagon Alley, but it had similar shops. Page took them around stopping at every shop to get a good look in its window. "Look Harry a new broom" Shouted Ron as he pointed to a broom that was varnished red, with streaks of black on its tail. Harry and Ron goggled at the new broom, Hermione and Ginny went next door to the bookshop, and Page remembering what Severus said, went towards Harry and Ron to look at the broom. "Wow, the 'Firebolt Extreme'. It must cost a fortune" Ron seemed to be drooling at the sight of it. "Naught to a hundred and seventy miles per hour, in five seconds? Harry if you got that broom, England would be begging you to play as seeker." Harry laughed. "Yeah. But I don't want to know how much it is-" Page looked at a note that was attached to it and interrupted them. "Harry you have a Firebolt right?" Harry nodded, and she continued, "Have you looked at the note? It says, "This broom can only be bought by Wizards who have previously owned its predecessor the 'Firebolt'. See inside for more details." Maybe you should go in and ask." They all went hurried inside. The shop smelled of leather and wood from the uniforms and brooms. Harry and Ron paired off, and went to the back of the shop to see the latest Quidditch Uniforms, while Page went to the counter. A frail old man smiled at her as she approached. "Hello, can I help you?" His voice sounded cheerful, "Yes, I would like to know how much the 'Firebolt Extreme' is? I own a Firebolt myself." The shopkeeper beamed at her, "Because the 'Firebolt' is so expensive, high demands for them are too overwhelming, so we have brought out a new broom. The Ministry of Magic, has only applied this for wizards and witches who own a 'Firebolt' themselves. Of course there is the matter of extra money to be paid. The 'Firebolt Extreme' is only for wizards and witches who are in a Quidditch team; unfortunately this does not apply for School Quidditch. It is much too fast. And could be fatal if a student would to fall off." Page nodded, thanked him, and led Harry and Ron out of the shop. "What do you mean it's too fast? Brooms are meant to be fast that's the whole point. Especially for a seeker, the faster we fly, the quicker the Snitch is caught, quicker the game will be over." Harry was not pleased when Page told him. He seemed to be in a mood, until Hermione offered to buy them all ice creams. As 4 o'clock approached, they started the head back to the secret opening. Screams could be heard from over the wall. They all looked shocked. Page knew that it had started. She quickly tapped the wall and peered round the side. She could see muggles been thrown into the air. She found an opportunity, and took it; she drew out her wand, and told the others to do so as well. "Now listen to me, if you see anyone, whether it be a muggle or not, I want you to say "Banishios" Its like Expelliarmus, but its more powerful. Harry you stay with me, Remus told me you can defend yourself, but whatever affects you, will affect me. And I don't want to be killed, because then you have no protection. Understand? "Yes. What about Ron, Hermione and Ginny?" Harry sounded a little shaken. "I want you lot to stay at the side of me. If you go in front they have a good aim, if you go behind me, they will have good aim. When I say go, we run for the cottage OK?" Page waited until there was a lot of screaming before she said, "GO!" They all darted, she ran out into the middle of the street, the muggle children who where playing on the road earlier, were sprawled on the pavement, and what looked like their parents were twisting and writhing in the air above them. Page caught the sight of four wizards in cloaks; she knew that two of them were Death eaters the other two must have been Mad-Eye and Shacklebolt. Luckily the Death eaters were too busy duelling and didn't notice them as they sneaked around a wall, which was hiding them from sight. Then they ran up to the cottage via a steep path, which led to the front door. When Page got there Remus and Tonks saw them running towards the cottage, and they all darted in side.