Disclaimer: I own nothing. I do not own the characters, they belong to the wonderfully talented J.K. Rowling. I am making no profit whatsoever off of this story.
A/N: I'm not even going to try and beg for your forgiveness this time, I'm just so sorry. The only reason I can give to you for my extreme tardiness with this chapter is that I am lazy and school has been hectic. I hope you all enjoy this and my sincerest of apologies to all who were waiting for this.
Review Responses:
Iaurhirwen-- Thanks so much for the review, once again. I thought that the story needed a little fluff before the serious stuff came. This chapter has a little more fluff, but also deals with some serious issues as well. Oh, and you won't find out what is in the envelope until a couple of chapters later. Please don't kill me!
duj-- Yes, I know that the school was almost closed in CoS, but they didn't close it indefinitely, like they are doing right now (in my opinion). And yes, I know it seems unlikely that Harry would be able to know a spell that the adults didn't, but that will be explained in a few chapters. Thanks again for the great reviews!
emmaline of trebond-- Thanks very much!
mosleyn001-- I'm glad you like it and yes, I will be continuing on with the fic, I'm just having issues with creative flow right now and my laziness is also interfering. Combine all that with school and you're sure to have issues updating . Thanks for your support!
Warning: HBP Spoilers
Chapter Five: A Trip to Diagon Alley
The next morning, Harry woke early and went down to breakfast, where the Weasley parents were seated having an involved discussion with Moody, Tonks, and Lupin. When they noticed his presence, they quickly stopped talking and Harry lingered on the threshold, unsure of whether or not he was welcome. Making his decision quickly, he turned to leave, but was halted when Moody growled for him to turn around and park himself in a chair.
"It's about time we tell you what's going on," was his only explanation. "No, Molly, in this I will go against you. Potter has a right to know now that he's of age and Minerva's already planning to induct him into the Order. It won't hurt to have him know a little of what we're doing before that happens." Mrs. Weasley stopped herself from going into a tirade, just barely, and nodded reluctantly, looking quite displeased with the retired Auror.
"It's alright. I can wait if you want, Mrs. Weasley," Harry insisted, finding that his words rang true with what he honestly felt. "I've waited two years, another few days won't hurt. I'll be in the drawing room and I'll keep the others from coming down." Before Moody or anyone else in the kitchen could protest, he walked calmly upstairs and sat on the couch before the fire, breathing out tiredly. The tapestry depicting the Black family tree caught his eye briefly, the sight of the burnt out names of Sirius and his aunt making him smile briefly. He conjured the book he had received on Occlumency for his birthday, and began to read calmly about the basics of the art he had never truly mastered. When he felt a hand run through his hair, he looked up sharply, having been caught unaware by his girlfriend while he read his absorbing present.
"You're up early," she commented and he hastily put the book aside as she came around to sit on his legs, leaning against his chest.
"Couldn't sleep anymore," he explained, bringing a hand up to stroke her hair back from her forehead. "Haven't slept well since Dumbledore died."
"Me neither," she confessed in a whisper and he bent his head to kiss her hair, a silent form of comfort. She tilted her head slightly and he obliged her, bringing his lips down for a brief yet sweet kiss. They sat there for quite a while afterwards, staring into the flames the fireplace provided and thinking of better times.
When Ron and Hermione came down from their rooms for breakfast later that morning, they paused at the open door to the drawing room, catching a glimpse of red hair overtop of the tall back. Upon further inspection, they found Ginny and Harry, the latter with his head resting on the red-haired girl's lap, both asleep. Ginny's head was propped against the back of the sofa, her face relaxed and her right hand resting in Harry's hair, as though she'd been carding her fingers through the thick locks. Harry's face was also relaxed, his mouth open in the sign of deep sleep, giving face to the fact that he needed it much more than anyone else.
"Should we wake them for breakfast?" Ron asked in a whisper, but Hermione shook her head in the negative, not wanting to disturb the sleep they so obviously needed, nor the comfort loved ones could bring to each other. She retrieved the blanket resting on the back of the armchair and threw it gently over Harry's form as he shivered. He sighed comfortably when his shivers subsided and turned his face more towards Ginny's torso and the warmth she provided.
"Come on. They need to sleep," Hermione coaxed Ron, leading him out of the room by his hand.
"I can't believe the Board of Governors is being so callous!" Mrs. Weasley muttered as Harry and Ginny both came downstairs to the kitchen, a little bleary-eyed. "Honestly, using Albus' actions as reason to close the school! Preposterous!"
"What are they saying now?" Harry wanted to know, startling the Weasley matriarch out of her anger.
"Oh, Harry, dear, Ginny, I didn't hear you. Would you like some eggs and sausages?"
"Yes, please," both replied, knowing that it was a poor attempt to change the subject, but willing to let it go. Harry picked up the discarded Prophet and read the headline: Board of Governors Use Former Headmaster Against McGonagall's Case.
"Oh Harry, dear, I don't think you want to read that," Mrs. Weasley immediately stated, snatching the paper from his own hands.
"Molly, that's enough. Harry is of age, and he is bound to find out what's going on anyways; let him see the paper," Moody growled from his seat, pausing in sipping his tea. Harry didn't say anything, but he was grateful that Mad-Eye had stuck up for him, as he didn't know what the Weasley mother would have done should he have tried the same thing. She reluctantly relinquished the paper and he took it with a bit of hesitation, sitting down to read the latest report on the hearing to save the school:
Yesterday in Courtroom Ten, with the Wizengamot overseeing the events, the Hogwarts Board of Governors headed off in another heated battle versus the Hogwarts Professors to either save the school or close it. The hearing has been going on for over a week now with accounts from every single Professor, defending the school continuously, and with several parents expressing their desire for the school to be left open. On the other hand, there have been several more parents demanding the school's closure now that former Headmaster Albus Dumbledore was murdered on school property by none other than his own employee, Severus Snape. An unconfirmed report stated that Snape apparently aided the Death Eaters to enter the castle and then killed Dumbledore when protégé Draco Malfoy failed to do so.
Now, the Board of Governors is saying that Dumbledore knew about a possible attempt on his own life and even suspected that the students who were harmed during the year, Katie Bell and Ronald Weasley, were innocent victims of attempts on his life.
"He knew that he was a target for assassination and that his own students were at risk and yet failed to do anything about it! What I want to know is why other parents are allowing their children to return to that poor excuse for a school when its students are at risk!" Concerned parent Cillian Parkinson says.
"I know I won't be returning for the last year of my education there, even if it does stay open, which is highly unlikely," adds his daughter, Pansy Parkinson.
Dumbledore's actions have been heavily questioned not only by parents, but also by the Board. Even though the Professors of Hogwarts vehemently defend their former Headmaster, there is little doubt in this reporter's mind that the school will not survive for another year.
"Yeah, I bet there's no doubt in your mind they'll close the school, you old cow," Harry murmured angrily, tossing the paper across the table at Hermione and Ron. "Three guesses as to who wrote the article, but you'll only need one."
"Skeeter's just a miserable wretch, Harry, come off it," Ron tried to reassure him, but it did nothing to soothe Harry's burning stomach.
"Ron's right Harry. If she had it in for you, it's only natural she'd have it in for Dumbledore, too," Hermione continued and that seemed to calm his nerves. Ginny took one of his hands in hers and held it, prompting him to look sideways at her through the hair falling in front of his eyes. Annoyed, Harry thought he should cut it soon.
"Don't worry. You'll set it all straight again, Harry. The Ministry loves you," Ginny teased and he felt a smirk come to his lips, despite his bad mood.
"Not anymore they don't. I've told Scrimgeour off twice for trying to recruit me as the Ministry's poster boy. I don't think I have too much influence over there anymore," he explained pessimistically.
"Twice! Once was bad enough, but twice?" Ron groaned dramatically, dropping his head into his hands pathetically. They all laughed at his expense, which lightened the mood of the kitchen's occupants considerably.
"Oh dear. We'll need to go into Diagon soon, Arthur, we're nearly out of Floo powder," Mrs. Weasley said late one night when they were all gathered in the drawing room. She was inspecting the sad little flower pot with barely enough powder left for one trip by Floo.
"Do you mind if I go in with you, Mrs. Weasley? It's just that I need to pick up a few books on order at Flourish and Blott's," Harry explained, hoping beyond hope that she would agree to the trip. "It'll only take a few minutes, I promise, then we can leave," he added when she looked to be about to disagree.
"If Harry goes, can we go too, Mum?" Ginny asked from her vantage point on Harry's lap. "I need a few things myself from Eeylops." Ron and Hermione also piped in, although Hermione's parents looked a little apprehensive at the thought of their daughter going into the now dangerous shopping area.
"I wouldn't even need to go to Gringott's, I've already paid for my order in full," Harry said with a pleading note audible even to his own ears.
"We'd have to get an escort," Mr. Weasley stated thoughtfully, looking into the fire. "And I'm afraid…well…" He trailed off, sneaking a glance at Harry, who thought he'd figured out why they were so hesitant.
"I'm not top security anymore, am I? Scrimgeour probably took care of that once I denied him the chance to make me his poster boy," Harry ground out, emerald eyes flashing behind his lenses.
"Don't you worry about that now, Harry," Lupin spoke up from his place in a free armchair. "We'll just have to make do with what we have. I'll come with you all and I'm sure Mad-Eye wouldn't mind if I asked him properly. A little action would do him good anyways."
"I suppose we could all make a trip, then," Mrs. Weasley agreed hesitantly, her blue eyes looking worried. Mr. Weasley wrapped an arm around her shoulders protectively, murmuring a few comforting words into her ear.
"So, it's settled then. We'll go on Saturday, when there's likely to be a couple more people than the usual weekday crowd," Lupin finalised the plan firmly. "I'll contact Alastor in the morning."
On Saturday, they all readied themselves for the trip after having a large breakfast provided by the combined efforts of Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Granger. Tonks, having the day off from her Auror duties, had offered to come along as well, which had served to soothe most of the Weasley matriarch's disquiet. Harry and Ginny were to be Apparated by Mad-Eye and Tonks separately (Ron had passed his test just a couple of weeks prior) since there was not enough Floo powder for everyone. Harry, remembering the gut-wrenching squished feeling of Apparition, held tightly to Mad-Eye's arm and closed his eyes as they were squeezed through the tube of space to the small alcove leading to Diagon Alley. Wiping his watering eyes, Harry followed the rest of the group through the archway and into the nearly deserted streets of the shopping centre.
Ron claimed he needed to stop at the Quidditch store to buy some new broom polish, so with Mad-Eye, Tonks, Lupin, and the Weasley parents waiting outside, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Harry all entered the store. The only other people in the store were a mother and her small child, the latter turning to look at them curiously and then furiously tugging on his mother's robe end, staring with wide eyes at Harry.
"Mum! Mum!" He was whispering frantically and when his annoyed mother finally turned to look at who her child was pointing at, her own eyes widened almost comically and she snatched the child's hand quickly. Dragging him from the shop, they caught a few of the words she said to the small boy.
"…If you see him again, dear, don't stick around…attracts trouble like a magnet, that one does…" She was telling him in a chastising manner as the shop door closed and Harry felt his heart drop to his feet and his mouth go dry.
"Ignore it," Ginny told him forcefully upon seeing his stricken expression, grabbing his arm and holding it until he looked at her, knowing his face reflected the inner conflict he was experiencing. "She doesn't know what she's talking about, Harry. You're about as safe as anyone else at this point." If only to assuage the worry she felt for him, Harry put on a brave face and nodded once, shortly, but was moody even after a few minutes had passed.
Once Ron had picked up what he needed, and after many shifty looks from the store owner directed at Harry, they left the shop and Harry tried desperately to reign in his temper when he heard the door being locked behind them. He turned briefly to see that the shop owner had even gone so far as to put a 'CLOSED INDEFINITELY' sign up and board up the windows.
"Honestly, the nerve of some people," Mr. Weasley muttered angrily, putting a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder and directing him towards Flourish and Blott's. Harry managed to keep himself under control and when he entered the shop, the familiar keeper flashed him a wry smile.
"Having a rough time of it out there, I take it," he wheezed out and Harry forced himself to nod with an answering stiff smile. "Everything will right itself in time, I always say, not to worry. Your order just came in yesterday, Mr. Potter. Would you like a bag for them? They're quite weighty."
"Yes, please," he replied, stepping up to the counter to help put the books he had purchased into the bag. Before he could notice another's presence, Lupin had picked up one of the books about Animagi and was smiling bemusedly at him.
"You realize you could have asked me for one of the books, Harry. I have plenty of information on the entire process," the older man told him and Harry felt a blush creeping onto his cheeks.
"I didn't want to be a bother. It's time I started doing things on my own. I'm not always going to have someone to rely on soon," he countered cryptically. With a disconcerted frown, Lupin lay a hand on his shoulder and didn't move until he looked up into compassionate amber eyes.
"Don't feel like you're alone, Harry," he began quietly. "You'll always have someone to rely on." Harry forced another tight smile onto his tired face and Lupin seemed to buy it, because with a squeeze to the shoulder, he backed off.
"There we are, Mr. Potter. Have yourself a lovely summer vacation," the shop keeper wished him and with a goodbye, they exited the shop to meet up with the rest of the group waiting outside. The mismatched group continued on their way through Diagon, buying the things they needed while keeping a sharp eye out for trouble. When Ginny suggested going to Madam Malkin's for comfortable summer robes, the idea was met with dubious enthusiasm from the adults.
"Ginny, we agreed on going for specific things you actually needed. I'm sure you can survive without wearing new robes for the summer," Mrs. Weasley stated.
"Sure I can, Mum, but Harry's not prepared for the summer months," Ginny countered and Harry was quick to protest his need to go shopping for clothing.
"No, it's alright Ginny, Mrs. Weasley. I don't need anything and even if I did, I don't believe I have enough money on me at the moment to spare on new clothes," Harry reassured them. To his embarrassment, the Weasley parents, Lupin, Tonks, and Mad-Eye were all eyeing him speculatively, as though in agreement with his girlfriend.
"You know, Harry, I think Ginny's right. You do look like you need new clothes. And besides, if you plan on impressing the Board of Governors, you'll have to try harder than a pair of jeans and your Hogwarts robes," Hermione added with dawning comprehension. "I have money left over from last year, I'll pitch in for some new robes."
"So will I," Ginny piped in, already dragging Harry over to the shop.
"Mrs. Weasley!" Harry called desperately, fearing the worst of what the girls had in store for him.
"It's alright, Harry, we'll be waiting outside while they help you. And take this, dear, you may need it," the Weasley matriarch called, tossing a small change purse at her daughter, who caught it deftly. Ron followed, offering to pitch a few coins in for Harry's 'makeover', as he had laughingly dubbed the impromptu excursion. As the trio entered Madam Malkin's, they noticed the usually busy shop was quite empty and devoid of customers.
"Well, hello dears!" Madam Malkin brightly exclaimed when she came out from the back, clearly overjoyed to have customers at last. "What can I do for you today?"
"Harry's in need of a little sharpening up," Ginny explained and Harry sputtered indignantly, about to protest that he looked perfectly decent.
"Oh, of course! What's the occasion, then? Is it formal, casual, semi-formal?" It was obvious that Madam Malkin was up for a challenge and that it came in the form of one Harry Potter.
"He's going to the meeting between the Board of Governors and the Hogwarts Professors. He needs something casual, but that gives him a sharp look," Hermione said, already in full makeover mode.
"Right, I have just the thing for our young Mr. Potter! Give me a moment, I'll be right back, dears!" The elderly witch bustled into the back, clearly excited about the prospect of Harry's new robes. A few moments later, before Harry had the chance to protest that he really didn't need the robes, Madam Malkin practically ran from the back, proudly displaying the set of clothing she had in store for him. The robe itself was an emerald green, but unlike the one he'd worn to the Yule Ball in his Fourth Year, this one was less dressy, just the thing to impress, but something he could wear at an informal gathering as well. The button-down shirt that went with it was an earthy brown and made of fine material, light and comfortable-looking, and the dress pants were black cotton. Overall, the outfit managed to stun Harry into silence.
"Well, go on, mate, give it a try!" Ron urged him, giving him a nudge towards the fitting rooms.
"Oh Harry, those would look perfect on you!" Hermione agreed, giving him an extra shove for good measure. Ginny stayed silent, preferring to keep her opinion to herself until she'd seen what they looked like on her boyfriend.
Harry, cajoled by his friends, took the outfit from Madam Malkin's hands with a muttered thanks and closed the door to the fitting room behind him. A few minutes later, when he came out to show off his new clothing, he unsuccessfully hid a smile as his friends' jaws dropped. Hermione had been spot on with her prediction: Harry looked like perfection in the new clothes. His eyes were brought out by the emerald green robe and now had a hint of darker colour in them from the earthy brown colour of his shirt. The pants and shirt showed off his physique without being too tight, just hinting at the muscle tone beneath the cloth.
"So…what do you think?" Harry asked self-consciously after half a minute had passed and no one said anything.
"What do we think? Harry, we're buying those robes and shirt and pants whether you like them or not!" Hermione berated him and he laughed, receiving a nod of approval from both Ron and Madam Malkin. Ginny, however, was quite silent, and Harry began to worry.
"Ginny, you don't think these are too formal, do you? I don't know, but I think they show off a little bit much, don't you?" Harry asked, trying to divert her seeming impending displeasure. He was quite surprised, however, when she walked up to him and silenced his self-conscious ramblings with a brief kiss.
"You look stunning. We're buying this outfit for you," she told him and he smiled under the blush now staining his cheeks pink. "How much for everything, Madam Malkin?"
"For you dears, only five galleons," the elderly witch replied, obviously pleased with their approval of her choice. "I must say, Mr. Potter, you do look the part of an impressive opponent. I'm sure the Board will have their work cut out for them. I think it's a shame they want to close that school…Albus loved that place so much. To close it would be an insult to his memory." There was a moment of reminiscent silence before Harry spoke up, saying he would only be a minute changing back to his normal clothing.
"So, what did you buy?" Mrs. Weasley asked a few minutes later when the four teenagers exited the shop.
"I'll show you when I go to the meeting," Harry replied with a small mysterious smile, while the adults gave him sceptical looks.
"Don't worry, Mum, we wouldn't have let him buy anything too risqué," Ginny tried to reassure her mother while she walked with Harry hand in hand.
"Alright, dear, I trust your judgement. Now, we'll just go and visit Fred and George, then we'll go home," Mrs. Weasley decided, and the group headed off to see the twins in their joke shop.
"Hello there! George, c'mere, we've got our first customers of the day!" Fred called as soon as he saw them.
"Family doesn't count, Fred," George grinned tiredly when he saw his family standing there with Harry, and their guard. "So, what brings you to our humble shop?"
"We just wanted to see how you were faring," Mr. Weasley explained gently, looking at his two twins fondly.
"Not too well, we're afraid. Haven't had a customer all day. And we haven't been busy at all lately," Fred replied with a morose sigh, but he put on a small grin when he saw his parents' worried looks.
"Don't you worry about us, Mum, Dad. We'll be just fine. Soon as ol' You-Know-Who decides to kick the bucket, we'll have orders comin' out of our ears," George added. At the twins' humour, the atmosphere seemed to lighten up and the small group spent about half an hour chatting with them before heading back to Grimmauld Place.
A/N: I'm not entirely pleased with this chapter. I know the whole "makeover" idea is entirely too overdone, but I needed Harry's character to develop a little more into maturity, which made this one of the only ways. Not to mention the fluff between him and Ginny. Aww! Anyways, please review, even if you hated it. I don't know when the next chapter will be out, but I hope to be able to get some creative ideas back when the new movie comes out in two weeks. Yay! 'Til next time.