Chapter 4

Its Shopping Time Again

For the second year running, Harry and the Weasleys' had left the school-shopping trip to Diagon Alley a little late. They had three days to go and Harry and Ron needed new school robes and new dress robes for the leaving Prom, (something they were all lamenting). No doubt this year was going to be twice as stressful and perhaps even more so since the ever-dawning comprehension that they could be attacked at any time never left them, and one of their friends were missing. Or perhaps missing wasn't the correct word.

"I think this is beyond paranoia," stated Hermione in a hushed voice, once they had arrived in the streets of the once lively Diagon Alley.

A large selection of the shops were boarded up, including Ollivanders and Madam Malkins. Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream stall was missing and by the look on everyone's faces, they all felt a pang of misery and despair, for they had known the jolly man well. In front of some big shops, when you looked at them from the corner of your eye, an opal glimmer shimmered across the whole front. But once you moved, it disappeared. Harry surmised these were some kind of barriers, but why people would think Death Eaters would enter Diagon Alley was beyond him.

The street wasn't exactly empty; it just seemed so because there was less chat, less bubble and less laughter. Even toddlers gripping their mother's hands didn't point at the black cat that scooted in front of their path or the flapping birds in the window of the The Magical MenagerieThey saw Lavender Brown with her parents and they waved half-heartedly at her. She stared at them wide-eyed for a few seconds, but then waved back, before disappearing into a bookshop.

"Its just being safe, Hermione," Mrs Weasley said.

"No, I mean the spells that are covering the street," said Hermione. She pointed at the floor. "Do they really expect Death Eaters to come to the most busiest street in London?"

Mrs Weasley uttered a soft gasp and hurried her pace. Harry followed Hermione's gaze to the ground and only saw what she was on about when he placed his palm on it. The slabs of pavement were warm and slightly pulsating.

"It'll be a charm that would trigger an alarm if anyone were to land bearing the Dark Mark," said Hermione, taking her hand off the pavement with a sort of nervous twitch.

"They can do that?" said Ron, frowning. "Why don't they just put it everywhere?"

"It's only in the middle of the street, that's why some of the shops have their own protection. They couldn't put it everywhere; it's a hard and powerful charm."

Ron was about to reply when a flashing sign caught their eye. It was on the window of the twin's shop.

If Death Eaters bother you

Then you should be warned about…

MOTH BALL EATERS

The savage creatures that chew moth balls

So moths can chew your clothes!

Moth Ball Eaters repellent half price

The words rippled orange and yellow and seemed to be the only brightness in the whole street. Harry laughed, joining in with most of the people around him, but the sign received scowls from Hermione and Mrs Weasley.

"Its not as bad as the other sign, I guess," stated Mrs Weasley in a defeated voice.

Inside, the shop was clearly the busiest in the street.

"Ah, our family and friends, so glad you paid us a visit!" said Fred, beaming at them.

Harry grinned at him. "Business still as good?"

"Yeah – even better actually, which was a surprise to us. We've breached out into more Self Defense gear, the ministry love us!" said Fred, slapping his hands together happily.

"And you're being careful about who you sell this stuff to?" asked Ron, narrowing his eyes at them.

The smile disappeared from Fred's face and he nodded glumly.

"We've got charms in front of the shop and everything. We've warned the staff to tell us if they see anyone fishy…" Fred trailed off, shaking his head sadly. "I can't help but blame myself for that thing at Hogwarts. I sold it to him, that bastard."

Mrs Weasley glared at him but did not say anything.

"It wasn't your fault," said Hermione. "Who knew Malfoy was going to do that?"

A few customers glanced over at her warily and she stopped talking.

"Yeah well, thanks to him we've lost a few customers," said Fred darkly, and he went over to serve someone who was carrying a large amount of fireworks.

Hermione went with Ginny to the hair products while Harry and Ron looked at the self-defense items on offer.

"Imagine how many N.E.W.Ts they would have received if they'd stayed on?" whispered Ron, staring at a pair of glasses that permit the wearer to see in the dark and use them like binoculars.

"They're doing better without them," muttered Harry. He couldn't help but be jealous. N.E.W.Ts were something that would determine whether he got a good job or not, but he'd prefer spending the year helping to look for Roxanne. It seemed unfair that the Weasley twins were allowed to skip them and become rich businessmen. But he had given them the money, so to avoid sounding hypocritical, he kept his mouth shut. But from the disgusted look on Ron's face as he studied a ring that projected a see-through barrier around an object for ten minutes, he was thinking the same thing.

"They might be good with spells and charms, but they haven't got a lot of common sense. I mean, would you sell that stuff to Malfoy?" said Ron, with a certain glint in his eye.

"No, but then again, I know what he's like," said Harry. "It would have happened without Instant Darkness Powderbut maybe there wouldn't have been so many casualties."

This hushed the conversation and they moved over to Mr Weasley, who had just asked where George is.

"Taking the afternoon off, he's upstairs snoring. He's been a bit under the weather."

Mrs Weasley asked to see him and so everyone went back to looking at items until she returned. They made their way out of the shop, waving goodbye to Fred, who seemed to a have cheered up when Ginny bought a large selection of conditioning balms. Since Madam Malkins was closed, they went to Seamless, a rather fashionable robe shop that was a tad bit too expensive for the Weasleys' liking.

"I'm not going to a second hand shop, mum. It's my last year and I want to keep whatever dignity I have left," Ron said, and he strode in.

An attractive young witch with her permed hair in a high ponytail came over, her palms clasped in front of her.

"What can I do for you?" she said brightly.

"These three need school robes and dress robes for the Prom," said Mrs Weasley. They were taken to the changing rooms and Mrs Weasley sat down on the chair, looking exhausted.

Harry, Hermione and Ron were sized and probed and poked until the lady disappeared and came back with three school robes. Harry was surprised at how well they fitted and couldn't help but admire Hermione's, which seemed to cling to her figure rather nicely. Mrs Weasley eyed the well-made robes with a look of despair.

"What colour would you pref-"

The woman stopped mid sentence and about a foot away from Harry's face. She seemed to have realised who he was.

"Black? Or navy," said Harry, relenting the stare from her.

"Uh – oh! But what about green? Its nice to have a colour that matches your eyes," she gushed, beaming at him.

"I could try that too…"

"I'll bring a selection down!" she said happily. "And you two?"

Ron glanced at his mother and ran a hand through his hair, which had grown quite a lot during the summer.

"A treat dear, your older brothers had new dress robes for their Prom," said Mrs Weasley. "And anyway, with your father new raise, it's not problem."

She smiled at him and Harry just noticed Mr Weasley's absence.

"Black for me," Ron said to the woman.

"Mind if I take a colour sample from your hair?" asked the woman suddenly. She received a queer look so she carried on. With her wand she flicked at a piece of Ron's hair, when she moved her wand away, a trickle of reddish ginger trailed after it and hung there like a piece of ribbon. She then looked at Hermione questioningly.

"I was thinking a pale blue or-"

"With dark blue, perfect."

The woman then disappeared again, the red strand following her. Ron rubbed his head, a little bemused and they waited.

"I wonder what the price will be," whispered Hermione, just as the woman returned. But she let out a soft gasp of awe as the saleswoman produced a navy flowing dress that seemed to ripple and shudder to the touch. From the bodice flowed Celtic spirals of light turquoise and sky blue and as it was held up against Hermione, it seemed to cling to her.

"Our dresses are made of the finest quality and each have their own personality. People usually buy a dress from Seamless and return to have it altered slightly for another occasion, because you'll find you'll become quite attached to yours!" said the woman brightly. Harry felt like he was in a TV advert.

"Oh it's beautiful…" said Hermione in a hushed voice. She went to the changing room, seemingly unable to take her eyes off the dress.

"And yours sir." She handed Ron a black robe with thick red stitching that matched his hair. Ron took it curiously while she beamed at him.

"And Mr. Potter, I brought you two," she said, holding out two separate robes. One was black with green stitching and an emerald collar while the other was the same, except navy with black stitching. "Personally I think the black…"

Harry nodded and went into the changing room, which he found too big for the mere operation of changing clothes. Just as he was pulling it on he heard Mrs Weasley cheer.

"Oh Hermione, you look like a model!"

He heard Hermione's giggles and rushed in putting on the robe to see her before she changed again.

He emerged to see Ron staring at her with glossy eyes.

"Wow 'Mione, you look…"

Hermione's cheeks reddened. She certainly looked beautiful in the dress, which just about covered her bare feet.

"Oh that suits you, Harry."

Harry blinked and looked down at himself. In his rush he hadn't looked in the mirror. Mrs Weasley uttered her verbal agreement. Harry shrugged slightly; he wasn't bothered about what he wore. If Roxanne wasn't found before the Prom, he wasn't going to attend. He couldn't bare going through such an important event in his life without her, it just didn't seem fair.

Hermione put a consoling hand on his shoulder.

"Maybe I shouldn't buy it."

"Oh don't be such a pessimist, Harry. She'll be back way before then, I'm sure of it," said Hermione, grabbing him in a tight hug.

They bought the expensive clothes and left to go to Flourish & Blotts Bookstore. Harry felt his money pocket lighten immensely as they left with handfuls of heavy books.

"What about Roxanne's?" he said coarsely.

Mr Weasley, who they had met in Flourish & Blotts Bookstorewinced slightly.

"The school will provide her with them when she returns," he said, his voice sounding hollow.

If she returns, Harry couldn't help but think glumly.

The two Aurors who were accompanying them spoke for the first time that day and informed them they only had less than an hour left. They went from shop to shop in a rushed manor and then took a portkey home with the Ministry's permission, since all Floo Networks had stopped and Portkey usage was banned unless with permission.

Shaking the soot from his already dark hair, Harry went upstairs and began looking at his new books. Even Ron sat on his bed, peering at the large textbooks.

"We're in for a rough year," he said, as if Harry didn't already know.

Harry suspected it would be even harder for Hermione, who had been appointed Head Girl, along with ErnieMacmillanas Head Boy.