Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters or magical situations in this fic that are described in the Harry Potter series.
A/N: This chapter is slightly different from the others, as it doesn't just have Tom and Ginny or Lucius Malfoy. Please enjoy, and bear with me at the beginning of this chapter, it is a tad bit confusing. And thank you for your reviews. :)
CHAPTER SEVEN-
Home Front.
Diagon Alley had become deserted, only a smattering of wizards and witches remained; they were usually members of the Order, and Aurors, who would prowl around for a Death Eater or two. The witches and wizards would only come out of their homes when necessary, mostly for their weekly shopping. Hogsmeade was no better, and Knockturn Alley was the home for Death Eaters, and the general scum of the Wizarding World.
These changes came about when war was declared, although no battles would take place in these areas, sinister scuffles between Radicals would be the source of fear of going to Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, also a fear of being kidnapped.
These Radicals, the term The Daily Prophet had coined, were wannabees who exacerbated the troubles between the Light and Dark, and holding wrong perceptions of the side they advocated. When two Radicals from an opposing side met, a dangerous fight would break out, usually ending in a death.
One day, a fight of a similar manner did break out, in The Three Broomsticks, where Ron was currently telling Harry and Hermione what Professor Dumbledore had told him about his sister, Ginny.
"He said that she is alive and well," Ron said, slightly happy at this news. "But, he said that there was no way of reaching Ginny at the moment, he said Snape was trying his best," Ron said, distastefully, his face screwing up at the mention of Severus Snape.
"What does he care for Ginny?" Harry said, brutally.
"Oh, come on, you two still haven't seen how good Snape is?" she questioned, with an exasperated look on her face. "Or how much work he has done for...Dumbledore? He's putting his life on the line for Ginny, Ron."
"Only because Prof. Dumbledore told him to!" Ron said, forcefully. Then he quickly changed the subject back to Ginny to avoid an argument with Hermione. "I don't understand though, why does he want her there?"
"We know as much as you do," Harry said pointedly. "But, isn't there anyway we could...uh...help Snape along a bit?" Harry said, smiling slyly.
Hermione looked at Harry, and then Ron, who was also smiling at Harry' suggestion. They both turned to look at her pleadingly. "Ohh...all right," she said. "I know you'll both be lost without me," she joked.
"Shall we go and start right away?" Harry said.
"Well, I guess this means extensive and mind-blowing research, doesn't it?" Ron questioned regretfully, but determined.
"'Fraid so, mate," Harry said, patting him on the back.
"All right, we'll pay Madame Rosemerta and go back to Grimmauld Place," Hermione whispered the last part, taking out some money from her bag.
They opened the door of their booth and saw two wizards with their wands drawn, hissing obscenities at each other. The one on the right lost control, and opted for the use of his fist instead of his wand and cracked the other wizards jaw. Madame Rosmerta jumped in.
"Come on! Out, now!" she shouted. "I don't want to have to clean up your mess."
The two wizards faced her, wands still drawn, and both shouting a "Stupefy!" at her, watching her body thump to the ground.
"Honestly!" Hermione said impatiently, taking her wand out.
A/N: OK, this chapter was very short, it actually had another scene with Mildred Cray and her two daughters, but I decided to leave that out as it is not really relevant to the story, anyway the next chapter is slightly longer, focusing on Tom and Ginny again (it is based on them!) where they have a slightly intelligent conversation.
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