Chapter Ninety-Nine: Preparing for School
"Impedimenta!" Daphne shouted, but Sirius was already gone.
She groaned and began to move again herself. Her legs burned from all the running she'd already done that day. She scanned around, trying to see where Sirius had gone, but the long grass on the hills and the few scattered trees made it incredibly hard to see anything.
There was a slight crack somewhere in the trees behind her, and she immediately shouted, "Protego!"
She was just in time, because Sirius's Stunner bounced off the shield and disappeared into the undergrowth.
She whirled around, trying to spot Sirius and shoot back, but of course, he was already gone again. What could she do? If she cast Homenum Revelio she'd be standing still for a moment, and Sirius would probably instantly relocate when he felt the spell. She was already trying to listen for any noises and to spot any signs of movement, but it seemed like Sirius had Disillusioned himself, making him very hard to spot. She could go to the top of the hill to have a better vantage point, but if she did, she'd also become an easier target to hit.
Before she could come up with anything else, it felt like something gave a strong jerk on her right leg and she fell forward. She broke her fall and instantly cast the Shield Charm again, but nothing seemed to happen.
She pressed herself into the grass to make herself more difficult to spot, and when she hadn't seen or heard anything after a few seconds, she leapt up and wanted to sprint away, only there was another pull on her ankle and she was hoisted into the air and almost immediately let go again, causing her to land crumpled in a heap.
Before she could disentangle her limbs, her wand was ripped from her hand, soaring through the air and getting caught by Sirius's color-changing hand.
"Not bad," he said with a grin, lifting his Disillusionment Charm.
Once Daphne had gotten back to her feet he threw her wand back to her.
"You still got me," Daphne said sourly.
Sirius shrugged. "Of course I did. But you're getting loads better. You're scanning your environment well and you're using your ears, too. I'm deliberately making it hard for you, you know. I doubt most people will be Disillusioned when you fight them."
"Still…I need to be able to deal with it," Daphne said. "What was that last spell, anyway?"
Sirius grinned. "Levicorpus," he said. "I just dispelled it immediately because I doubt Harry would appreciate me looking at his girlfriend's pants. In a real fight I'd probably have tied your robes over your head for good measure."
"I knew I should've worn Muggle clothes today," Daphne muttered, feeling her face glow at the thought of having her robes tied over her head.
"I'd have tied your shirt over your head instead. It doesn't matter anyway, because I would also have Stunned you if this had been a real fight," Sirius said. "Come on, let's go back. Your mum will be almost done with the Quidditch practice, I bet."
Daphne nodded and followed Sirius back in the direction of the Burrow. It was the day before Harry's birthday, and daily life at the Burrow consisted mainly of training in one way or another, much as it had done at home.
Even though it was hard work, Daphne was glad for the chance to go outside and be active. When Sirius or her parents weren't around to practice with them, they had to stay within the confines of the garden for safety reasons, as the protective enchantments around the Burrow didn't extend beyond that. She knew Harry felt a bit guilty about all of it, given that the measures had been put in place mostly for his sake, but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley didn't blame him in the slightest.
When Sirius and Daphne returned, the others were just coming back from Quidditch practice, looking like they'd been put through hell by Mum, but all looking thoroughly satisfied, too.
Sirius and Mum greeted each other with wide grins. "How'd hide and seek go?" Mum asked.
"Pretty well…for me. How was your game of catch?" Sirius asked in return.
"Amazing, good, needs work," Mum said, indicating Harry, Ginny, and Ron in turn.
Ron looked a bit embarrassed to be the only one judged as 'needs work' on this occasion.
Mum seemed to notice it too, because she said, "Still easily enough to win the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup, I imagine. You mostly need to work on your confidence, Ron. The basics are there. But, and I mean this in the nicest possible way…don't try to compete with Harry or Ginny for the time being. They're both better flyers than you. You're too forceful when handling your broomstick, and until you learn to be gentler with it, you will always lag behind them."
Ron nodded a bit sulkily, and Daphne knew it had to sting being beaten at Quidditch by his younger sister.
"Don't worry about it," she said bracingly. "At least you're still better at Quidditch than I am."
"You don't even play," Ron said sourly.
"No, but it's not your mum giving you disappointed looks every time she praises your boyfriend and girlfriend for being good at Quidditch," Daphne said.
"Hey, I am proud of you," Mum said. "Mainly of your choice in partners, granted, but proud nonetheless."
"Wow, thanks," Daphne said with a roll of her eyes.
Ron chuckled in spite of himself and Harry and Ginny grinned at Daphne.
Despite all the fun she and the others were having, however, news in the world at large wasn't nearly so happy. Every single day, there were stories in the Daily Prophet about disappearances, strange accidents, and deaths. Even during Harry's birthday party, Remus brought them bad news.
"There have been another couple of Dementor attacks," he said, gratefully accepting a slice of birthday cake from Mrs. Weasley. "And they've found Igor Karkaroff's body in a shack up north. The Dark Mark had been set over it — well, frankly, I'm surprised he stayed alive for even a year after deserting the Death Eaters; Regulus only managed a few days, didn't he?" he asked, looking at Sirius, who nodded grimly.
"Yeah. It didn't take long for them to get to him."
"Did you hear about Florean Fortescue, Remus?" Bill asked. "The man who ran–"
"–the ice cream place in Diagon Alley?" Harry interrupted. "What happened to him?"
"Dragged off, by the look of his place."
"Why?" Ron asked, while Mrs. Weasley glared at Bill.
"Who knows? He must've upset them somehow. He was a good man, Florean."
"Talking of Diagon Alley," Mr. Weasley said, "looks like Ollivander's gone too."
"The wand-maker?" Ginny asked, startled.
"That's the one. Shop's empty. No sign of a struggle. No one knows whether he left voluntarily or was kidnapped."
"But what'll people do for wands?"
"They'll make do with other makers," Remus said. "But Ollivander was the best, and if the other side have got him it's not so good for us."
"Maybe–" Harry began, but Mrs. Weasley said, "Okay, that'll be enough gloom and doom for today, thank you! Let's just enjoy Harry's birthday, please!"
Harry and the others nodded, but Daphne could tell he was still worried about something. The next day, the book lists arrived from Hogwarts, and to Harry's surprise and elation he had been made Quidditch Captain.
"This gives you equal status with Prefects!" Hermione said happily. "You can use our special bathroom now, and everything!"
"Wow, I remember Charlie wore one of these," Ron said, examining the badge with glee. "Harry, this is so cool, you're my captain — if you let me back on the team, I suppose," he added with a nervous laugh.
Daphne, meanwhile, turned to Ginny and said, "At least you didn't get a fancy badge. It'd be a bit lonely if I was the only one here without one."
Ginny giggled. "Don't worry, I'm not as rule-abiding as my dear brother…"
"Hey! I'm not that rule-abiding," Ron said.
Hermione glared at him.
"Then again, respect for the rules is very important," Ron amended hastily, and they all laughed.
"Well, I don't suppose we can put off a trip to Diagon Alley much longer now that you've got these," Mrs. Weasley said, looking down Ron's book list. "We'll go on Saturday as long as your father doesn't have to go into work again. I'm not going there without him."
Maybe it was her Divination, or maybe she just knew Ron well enough, but Daphne knew he was about to make a stupid joke, and she quickly shook her head and drew her thumb across her throat. Fortunately, Ron realized what she meant and he kept quiet.
"I doubt your mum would appreciate any jokes after all those stories lately," Daphne said once Mrs. Weasley had moved away.
Ron nodded. "Yeah, I realized that once I saw you gesturing." He shook his head. "She'd probably have left me here if I'd gone through with it."
On Saturday morning, Bill gave Harry and Daphne a bag of money each.
"Where's mine?" Ron asked immediately, his eyes wide.
"It's already theirs, idiot," Bill said. "I got it out of your vaults because it's taking about five hours for the public to get their gold at the moment, the goblins have tightened security so much. Two days ago Arkie Philpott had a Probity Probe stuck up his…well, trust me, this way's easier."
"Thanks, Bill," Harry said.
"So if security's so tight…how did you manage to get gold out of vaults that aren't yours?" Daphne asked.
Bill grinned. "Because Sirius and Edmund gave me permission to," he said. "Oh, by the way…I've got something else for you…" He handed her an envelope. "I ran into Valentina Barese there, and she said she'd visited that friend of yours. She asked me to give you this."
Intrigued, Daphne opened the envelope and began to read.
Hey Daphne,
Thank you for contacting Valentina! She showed up at my house one day a few months ago and said she'd be able to lift my curse. It wasn't easy — she put me into an enchanted sleep for two weeks — but she says it's done, and that I'm no longer cursed! I think she's telling the truth, too, because I definitely feel much better. It's like I can actually make decisions that won't get me hurt, now. I'm still sending this letter in the 'old' way of giving it to someone, as my track record with owls is…not too great, and Valentina promised me she'd get it to you. Do me a favor and send me an owl back when you get this, so I know you've gotten my message. Thanks again for your help, and say hi to everyone in S.I.N. — the people who still know me, anyway.
Isaac
Daphne grinned widely and showed the letter to Harry, who nodded appreciatively.
"Wow, I can't believe she managed to break that curse," he said.
"Oh, hey, is that that Prefect who got Petrified?" Ginny asked when she looked over Harry's shoulder at the letter.
Daphne nodded. "Yep. It was because of that I found out that he was cursed to begin with…so it's actually because of you that he's cured of it now," she said.
"Well, I'll try to get possessed again, then, see if I can help anyone else," Ginny said.
"You'd better not. It was scary enough rescuing you once," Daphne muttered.
"Well, this time I'd give you a kiss for rescuing me," Ginny said with a grin.
"Oh, well that changes everything," Daphne replied, now grinning as well.
"I thought you were with 'Arry?" Fleur asked.
"I am. But I'm also with Ginny," Daphne said casually.
"Je ne comprends pas ces anglais…" Fleur muttered with a shake of her head.
"Don't worry, no one does," Bill said with a grin.
"You should get going; the car's here," he added to Harry and the others.
They headed outside where, indeed, a Ministry car was waiting for them.
"It's good Dad can get us these again," Ron said, stretching out on the magically enlarged back seat.
"Don't get used to it, it's only because of Harry," Mr. Weasley said over his shoulder. "He's been given top-grade security status. And we'll be joining up with additional security at the Leaky Cauldron, too."
The trip was surprisingly short, and the driver had managed to park directly in front of the Leaky Cauldron, where Hagrid was waiting for them.
"Harry!" he boomed the moment Harry had gotten out of the car. "Great ter see yeh, Harry! And yeh lot too, o' course…" he added with a grin, drawing each of them into a hug in turn.
"We didn't know 'security' meant you," Harry said with a grin.
"I know, jus' like old times, innit? See, the Ministry wanted ter send a bunch o' Aurors, but Dumbledore said I'd do," Hagrid said proudly.
Daphne was glad to see him again, but it also made her feel a bit awkward — she wouldn't be taking Care of Magical Creatures to N.E.W.T. level, mostly because she was pretty sure the subjects she would take were going to give her a lot of homework, and she didn't want to have to eat into her scarce time with a subject she didn't particularly care for, even if she loved the teacher. She'd be dropping Muggle Studies and Divination for the same reason; it would be easy enough for her to learn more on her own now for both of those things, anyway.
As far as she knew, Harry, Hermione, and Ron would also be dropping the subject. She'd better talk to Hagrid about that as soon as possible; she wouldn't want him to be surprised by their decision when the year started, after all.
"Er, Hagrid? Now that I'm seeing you anyway, I need to tell you something," she said.
"'Course, what is it?" Hagrid asked.
"Well, er, you're probably expecting us to continue Care of Magical Creatures, but, er…well, I won't be, anyway…I just don't think I'd have enough time for it and while you're one of my favorite teachers, I have subjects that are more important to me, so…"
Hagrid looked crestfallen and looked at Harry, Hermione and Ron.
"Yeh too?" he asked, and Daphne felt it like it was Caesar's 'Et tu, Brutus?'.
Slowly and guiltily, they nodded.
"Aaah, that's too bad, that is," Hagrid said. "I had a lot o' fun things planned…But yeh'll still come visit, righ'?" he asked hopefully.
When they all vehemently assured him that they would, he cheered up again.
"Well, guess yeh'll be my favorite student now, then," he said, grinning at Ginny, who grinned back.
"As long as that doesn't mean I need to hug a chimera, I'm fine with anything," she said.
They entered Diagon Alley itself and Daphne immediately saw how much it had changed. There were warning posters everywhere, accompanied by posters of Death Eaters known to be at large. Many of the stores were boarded up, but shabby little stalls had sprung up everywhere. The nearest one had a cardboard sign at its front.
Amulets: Effective Against Werewolves, Dementors, and Inferi
A seedy-looking wizard was rattling armfuls of silver symbols on chains at passers-by.
"One for your little girl, madam?" he called at Mrs. Weasley as they passed, leering at Ginny. "Protect her pretty little neck?"
"Get anywhere near her neck and I'll break yours…" Daphne muttered, and Ginny, who heard her, chuckled.
"I can do that myself, but thanks for the offer," she said.
Daphne grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, I just hate con-artists like that. Selling heaps of junk to gullible, scared people…"
"I know," Mr. Weasley, who'd been listening, said. "If I were on duty…"
"Don't go arresting anyone now, dear, we're in a hurry," Mrs. Weasley said. "I think we better go to Madam Malkin's first…everyone needs new robes…"
"Molly, it doesn't make sense for all of us to go to Madam Malkin's," Mr. Weasley said. "Why don't those five go with Hagrid and we'll go to Flourish and Blotts and het everyone's school books?"
"I don't know," Mrs. Weasley said anxiously. "Hagrid, do you think–?"
"Don' fret, they'll be fine with me, Molly," Hagrid said soothingly.
Mrs. Weasley didn't seem entirely convinced, but she relented anyway, and they split up.
"Migh' be a bit of a squeeze in there with all o' us," Hagrid said once they'd reached the store. "I'll stand guard outside, all righ'?"
So Daphne and the others entered the store on their own. At first glance, it seemed to empty, but then they heard a familiar voice from deeper in the store, behind some racks.
"…not a child, in case you haven't noticed, Mother. I am perfectly capable of doing my shopping alone."
A voice Daphne recognized as Madam Malkin's said, "Now, dear, your mother's quite right, none of us is supposed to go wandering around on our own anymore, it's nothing to do with being a child–"
"Watch where you're sticking that pin, will you!"
Malfoy came striding past, wearing dark green robes filled with pins. He examined himself in the mirror, and then noticed that Daphne and the others had entered.
"If you're wondering what the smell is, Mother, a Mudblood just walked in," he sneered.
"I don't think there's any need for language like that!" Madam Malkin said. "And I don't want any wands drawn in my shop, either," she added, looking at Harry and Ron, who had indeed drawn their wands.
Daphne, meanwhile, looked over at the others and said, "If you're wondering what the smell is, someone seems to have left a pile of dragon dung here."
Narcissa Malfoy now came around the corner. "Put those away," she said coldly to Harry and Ron. "If you attack my son again, I shall ensure that it is the last thing you ever do."
"Really?" Harry said, taking a step forward and staring back into her eyes. "Going to get a few Death Eater pals to do us in, are you?"
Madam Malkin squealed and clutched her heart. "Really, you shouldn't accuse…dangerous thing to say…wands away, please!"
But Harry did not lower his wand.
Narcissa smiled unpleasantly. "I see that being Dumbledore's favorite has given you a false sense of security, Harry Potter. But Dumbledore won't always be there to protect you."
Harry mockingly looked around the shop. "Wow, look at that, he's not here now! So why not have a go? They might be able to find you a double cell in Azkaban with your loser of a husband!"
Malfoy wanted to attack Harry, but tripped over his robe. Ron, Ginny, and Daphne laughed.
"Don't you dare talk to my mother like that, Potter!" Malfoy snarled.
"It's all right, Draco," Narcissa said. "I expect Potter will be reunited with his parents before I am reunited with Lucius."
Harry raised his wand higher, and Daphne wondered if a fight would really break out. She was ready to draw her own wand as well, if need be.
Madam Malkin decided to simply carry on taking Malfoy's measurements.
"I think this left sleeve could come up a little bit more, dear, let me just–"
"Ouch!" Malfoy bellowed, slapping her hand away. "Watch where you're putting your pins, woman! Mother… I don't think I want these anymore…"
He pulled the robes over his head and threw them on the floor at Madam Malkin's feet.
"You're right, Draco," Narcissa said with a contemptuous glance at Hermione. "Now I know the kind of scum that shops here…we'll do better at Twilfitt and Tatting's."
"Well, really," Madam Malkin said, scandalized.
"Don't worry about it," Daphne said. "You're better off without having Death Eaters for customers…"
"You really shouldn't accuse people of that without–"
"Her husband is in Azkaban for being a Death Eater," Daphne said flatly. "Do you really think she and her son are any better? Good riddance to them."
Despite Daphne's admittedly bad attempt at cheering her up, Madam Malkin was rather distracted the entire time, and seemed to be glad when they left the store.
Then, they moved along the street, buying supplies where needed. Daphne and Hermione bought ingredients for Potions, but Harry and Ron, who wouldn't be taking it, didn't.
Eventually, they reached Fred and George's shop, which contrasted heavily with the somber stores around it. A gigantic purple poster covered the window.
Why Are You Worrying About You-Know-Who?
You SHOULD Be Worrying About
U-NO-POO
the Constipation Sensation That's Gripping the Nation!
Daphne, Harry, Ginny, and Ron laughed. Mrs. Weasley, however, looked fairly horrified.
"They'll be murdered in their beds," she whispered.
"No they won't," Ron said, still laughing. "This is brilliant!"
They entered the store, which was packed full of people. It was nearly impossible to reach any of the shelves. Soon, Fred and George, both wearing magenta robes that clashed violently with their hair, even more than Ron's usual maroon did, had come over to give them a quick tour. Daphne was especially impressed by their Defense Against the Dark Arts section, which contained such items as Shield Hats.
Fred then led Daphne, Hermione, and Ginny over toward a section of the store where love potions were sold. A lot of giggling girls were packed around them, but Daphne shuddered. The very idea of a love potion didn't sit well with her.
"You…do know that none of us need love potions, right?" Daphne asked.
Fred grinned at her. "Well, you've already got two…why not make it three, or four?"
"And you're okay with Ginny doing that, too?"
Ginny, however, had already moved on to a cage filled with what looked to be squeaking balls of fuzz.
Fred, who seemed to have come to the conclusion that he, upon reflection, didn't want his sister involved with any love potions, seemed glad for the change of subject and began to explain to her that the balls of fuzz were Pygmy Puffs, miniature Puffskeins.
"Mum, can I have a Pygmy Puff?" Ginny asked when Mrs. Weasley came over.
"It's almost your birthday, isn't it?" Daphne asked casually.
Ginny grinned at her. "A pet as a present?" she asked.
Daphne shrugged. "Harry gave me Nyx for my birthday, too."
Mrs. Weasley looked at the cage and Daphne glanced outside, just in time to see Malfoy moving past, on his own. She looked at Harry and the others, who'd spotted him as well.
"Wonder where he's going," Harry mused.
Daphne looked at Ginny and Mrs. Weasley, who were still looking at the Pygmy Puffs.
"Give me your Invisibility Cloak," she whispered. "And an Extendable Ear, if you've got one…I'll follow him."
"Alone?" Harry asked unhappily.
"Everyone's bound to be looking out for you," Daphne said. "I don't stand out as much. Now come on, there isn't a lot of time."
Harry hesitated only for a moment, but then he pulled out his Cloak and an Extendable Ear and handed them to Daphne.
"Good luck," he whispered.
Daphne nodded, then quickly vanished beneath the Cloak and left the store.
She quickly made her way in the direction Malfoy had been walking, and caught up with him just as he turned into Knockturn Alley.
The Alley was deserted, and Daphne figured none of its usual customers were dumb enough to show themselves there during the day.
Malfoy, however, was fortunately bereft of that kind of common sense. She saw him entering Borgin and Burkes, and she quickly took out the Extendable Ear that Harry had given her.
"…get rid of someone." Malfoy said.
"We have various objects that can be used to that effect–"
"I just need to know how to do it," Malfoy interrupted.
"You want me to help you–"
"Yes, that's what I said," Malfoy said impatiently. "Don't start acting like you're an upstanding citizen now, Borgin!"
"Mr. Malfoy, what you're asking is–"
"Look here," Malfoy said.
Daphne craned her neck to see what Malfoy was showing Borgin, but other than his fearful expression she couldn't see anything.
"Do you understand now? This is far more important than you know. I'll be reasonable, Borgin. I'll give you some time to think. But once I'm back at Hogwarts, it'll be Fenrir Greyback coming by to check if you're giving this your full attention. And he isn't as patient as I am. And another thing…not a word to anyone about this, Borgin, including my mother, understand?"
"Of course…sir," Borgin said with a deep bow.
"Good. And in the meantime…don't sell any of your useful…objects. I might need them, after all."
Malfoy exited the store and walked away, and Daphne saw that he looked rather pleased with himself. For a moment she debated going in and questioning Borgin herself, but to what end? She had no idea what Malfoy wanted to do, other than apparently wanting to get rid of someone, but who? Harry?
She wouldn't put it past him, but since he'd come all the way here to ask for help, and had seemingly needed to threaten Borgin to get him to cooperate, it didn't appear like Malfoy had come entirely on his own volition.
Was he working on his father's orders, somehow? But Lucius would know better than to have his son kill Harry. Voldemort wanted to do that himself.
Whatever Malfoy was planning, Daphne was sure Borgin wouldn't tell her, and she had nothing incriminating enough to blackmail him with.
She sighed and reeled in the Extendable Ear. She wondered what Harry and the others would think of what she'd heard…