A/N I know I haven't posted anything since late May. I've been busy as anything what with a death in the family other family commitments and other writing. Plus this chapter requires a lot of planning. Nice thing is We have enough of an idea of how the fifth year curriculum is laid out with Book 5 being out now that when this one is finished I can maybe continue work on Amy's fifth year (assuming I don't write about her time in Japan after this abbreviated year is finished which I'm considering not doing right away). AS you all know one of the characters in the story Jamie is the daughter of Sirius. Those of us who read the fifth book in the HP series know what happened. I'm not going to spoil anything so if you read the Fifth Book by JK Rowling then assume something happened in one of the later books to make things work for the story.
Chapter 9 The Lure-sheet
There was a thin coating of snow on the ground as Amy and Hitari sat outside after classes were over one Saturday.
"I'm still trying to get used to freedom after all I didn't have much while I was with Hecate. I missed out on a normal childhood."
"I wouldn't say I had a normal childhood myself. Come on Hitari my father grew up among a bunch of overbearing Muggles while the Wizarding World worshipped him. Even after he started school he had to constantly deal with his being famous for something he did as a little kid that he didn't even remember. Also my mom being a famous author well it seemed like everyone knew who I was because I was the daughter of the boy who lived."
"You've managed though."
"I know." Amy said.
"We probably should go inside."
"Not yet Hitari I have some things to do first." Amy said as she made some notes. Hitari glanced at them only Amy had used a tricky charm to keep anyone other then herself from reading it.
"My mom told me how people give presents for Christmas. When are you going shopping?"
"Don't know I usually try and go when my dad will let me." Amy replied as a piece of parchment landed next in front of them.
"There is something weird about this parchment I'm not sure we should do it." Amy said
"Come on Amy it's Friday what's the worst that could happen?"
"Ending up back under Hecate's control," Amy replied.
"No thanks," Hitari said as she saw the message on it.
This parchment will take you where you need to go. Just touch it.
Amy without thinking picked up the parchment so she could take it to her dad's office Hitari also grabbed it and they disappeared from the grounds.
When they reappeared they heard a familiar voice.
"Oi, Fred our special portkeys appear to work."
"George, what are you doing here?" Amy asked.
"I work here." George said.
Amy looked around and realized she was in the back of the joke shop.
"It's a new product designed to bring customers literally to the shop. I had sent one of our delivery owls to deliver the Luresheet to you so it could be tested."
"Your timing George was great since it gives me a chance to do some Christmas shopping." Amy informed him.
"OK." George said as they walked out the front and headed for Flourish and Blotts.
"You were sure informal with the store keeper."
"He's my uncle."
While there Amy picked up a few books including this one type of Japanese dictionary.
"Extra credit book for your mom's class." Amy said though she had other ideas.
They then continued on going through the shops looking for ideas. Hitari took advantage of the time to buy something for Kari along with Lynda who was easily her best friend. Most of the other girls she wasn't too sure about even among the Ravenclaws. As night came upon them they headed for the Leaky Cauldron.
"Hi Amy, Hitari." Neville called out.
"Hi Neville, has my dad called here looking for me at all?" Amy inquired of the tavern owner.
"No but your usual accommodations are waiting for you." Neville reported.
Amy then led Hitari to the room that Neville tended to give her. She noticed a fire in the fireplace. Out of a pocket of her robes she removed a small pouch.
"Extra money?"
"No actually I tend to carry some Floo Powder with me at all times." Amy said. "Hogwarts Harry Potter's Quarters." She said as she stuck her head in the fireplace.
"Amy, where are you?"
"Leaky Cauldron. I sort of fell victim to a new advertising ploy of Gred and Forge's."
"Is Hitari with you by any chance Kari was worried about her."
"Yes Hitari is with me. I'll be home by dinner on sunday at the latest."
"Shopping venture I take it."
"Well you know I have to get it done as it is and those two pranksters handed me an opportunity on a platter."
"What did they do that resulted in you ending up in Diagon Alley?"
"They came up with a sheet of parchment that when you touch it automatically portkeys you to the backroom of the shop and I ended up the guinea pig as far as testing it."
"Kari was worried that Hecate had managed to recapture you."
"If I even see Hecate again it will be too soon."
"Thanks to letting me know. As an old friend of mine Alastor Moody once was quite fond of saying Constant Vigilance." I decided not to refer to Moody by his well known name.
"Good advice dad. I'll see you Sunday." Amy promised him before pulling her head from the fireplace.
"Well our tracks are covered. My dad safely knows where we are now."
"Well what do we do about dinner?"
"That's a good question." Amy realized as she thought it over. She then grabbed a bit more Floo Powder. "Sadia's Robe Shop."
"Hi Amy," Sadia greeted her. "What are you up to?"
"Hitari and I are in a room at the Leaky Cauldron trying to figure out what to do about Dinner."
"What brings you to Diagon Alley?"
"More like who. Your boyfriend and his brother better known as my uncles." Amy said.
"How about doing me a small favor Amy?" Sadia requested.
"That being?"
"Step fully from the Fireplace."
"OK," Amy said. A short time, later Hitari followed her.
"Whoa nice place." Hitari commented.
"Yeah my little place in the world." Sadia replied as Katrina and Kaylee walked into the kitchen.
"Hi Amy!" Katrina said.
"Hi girls." Amy said. "Still the little pranksters you were when we first met."
"Of course!"
"How long have you known them?"
"Just about a year. I met Sadia at Madame Malkins Robes for all occasions but I didn't really meet her daughters until Christmas time."
"Of course Kaylee decided to terrorize Amy a bit while she was at Florean Fortescue's by causing Amy to fall face first into some ice-cream then walk in front of her with Katrina." Sadia told Hitari.
The dinner Sadia served that night had an Indian flair to it. After dinner Amy and Hitari returned to the inn for the night. The next day they wandered through the shops looking for last minute things as well as making a stop by Florean Fortescue's.
"This is some of the best ice cream I've tasted since becoming free."
"If anything Hitari you didn't deserve the childhood Hecate provided you." Amy commented. "You should have been with your mom the whole time."
That night Amy hid somewhere while she wrapped the stuff she had purchased. The next morning She sat down with Hitari.
"I'm leaving what we do for the next several hours up to you,"
"Let's swing by your house and visit your siblings." Hitari suggested.
"Sounds like a good idea I haven't had time really to swing home as it is." Amy said as she gathered up her stuff. Soon after that they were taking the floo network to the Potters.
"Amy, I didn't figure you would be swinging through here at all." Ginny commented.
"It was a last minute decision." Amy informed her.
Amy ended up spending the time doing homework and entertaining the twins. About an hour before dinner they left and took the low road back to Hogwarts. When they arrived they went right to the Great Hall. Harry walked up to them
"Glad you made it back. Cutting it close though."
"We've been back in the area though since morning only we were at home."
"Did you see any of the family at all this weekend?"
"Of course we saw Fred and George after they lured Hitari and me to the shop and we had Dinner with Sadia and her girls one night."
Author's Note February 16th 2004; I just want to thank Aalikane the newest member of my beta-staff for doing the long delayed beta for this chapter.