Chapter Seven: Refreshing Familiarity
August 25th
8:23am
Black Chateau, Isle of Man
Harry
"Try again," came the encouraging voice of Tonks. He had landed flat on his arse trying to apparate away from a stinging hex that their aforementioned instructor had sent at him. It was their fourth lesson, having gone through the three D's with Remus a grand total of twelve times, they had moved on to the auror side of things.
"At least you didn't splinch yourself this time Potter," Daphne said in the best imitation of Draco she could manage to the dismay of Harry. Daphne had been experiencing apparition her whole life so it was much easier to replicate the feeling under pressure and Hermione hadn't been motivated enough to be at Tonks' mercy. Harry on the other hand, was notoriously bad at any magical travel besides a broom.
Harry picked himself up and replied, "really? You're gonna go with Malfoy?"
Daphne shrugged and didn't look to be in any rush to reply. Tonks cleared her throat to get his attention and started speaking, "I've seen you apparate fifty times before, do I need to get Remus to come tell you the basics again?"
Shaking his head vigorously he vehemently replied, "no no no, I've got this let's go again."
"Great!" Tonks said cheerily, "Remember to account for your momentum and don't look where you want to apparate, use your peripherals." Harry nodded and readied himself. Tonks raised her wand and cast a stinging hex at him which he promptly apparated away from to the left. They repeated it several times, each apparition faster than the last, until Tonks was basically predicting where Harry was going to appear. In the end, just like the other times, Harry was his own undoing when he tripped after a particularly quick apparition backwards landing him exactly where he started, in the dirt.
"C'mon that was barely a minute," Daphne teased from her place on the sidelines.
From his place on the ground he glared and sniped back threateningly, "just you wait, tomorrow's sparring session will be humbling."
"Oh please, not if you're moving like that. Nicolas Flamel could outpace you and he's coming up on his 700th."
His glare morphed into a smile and Daphne stood and helped him up. "I should know better by now to try and out-wit you." Daphne smirked and winked as he brushed himself off. Too often had their verbal sparring sessions ended in defeat for him but that didn't necessarily mean he didn't enjoy them.
Tonks weighed in and japed, "you Gryff's aren't known for learning a lesson quickly, gotta beat it into ya," whilst grinding her fist into her hand menacingly.
Holding his hands up in surrender he spoke quickly, "there will be no beating or violence of any kind thanks. I'm going to go get ready for Diagon, thanks again for the lessons Tonks."
"Not a problem Harry, I've got some free time in a couple of days if you'd like to give it another go?" Tonks offered.
Nodding Harry replied, "sure that works for me."
"Cool, cya kiddo's," she said, making for the apparition point outside the wards.
Harry turned towards Daphne and asked if she was coming with them to Diagon today.
"Of course," she replied. "If there is an attack I'd rather be there than at home. I'm already ready though, so you can go on up. I'll wait out here for you all."
Harry simply nodded and left her in the grounds, going back towards the manor to have a shower and change. After all, it wouldn't do to have chosen one stink of body odour and dirt.
August 25th
9:00am
Diagon Alley, London
Daphne
Waiting outside close to the apparition point, Daphne was the first to see Tonks when she returned from scouting Diagon Alley. She hadn't had much interaction with the chipper witch, she had found her to be both a formidable opponent but fun in a teenager kind of way. Of course her sense of dress was a major win in Daphne's eyes, saying as much when she approached.
"Nice jacket," Daphne complimented.
Tonks looked down at her long red leather jacket and smiled. "Thanks, yours is cool too, not colourful enough for my taste though," she said referring to the black. Daphne half-smiled and nodded, feeling as though that was an accurate response from what she knew of the auror.
"Yes, well I do have an image to uphold. Can't have any self respecting Slytherin in anything other than black or green," she quipped. Tonks snorted and Daphne continued, "how's the alley looking?"
"Clear, for now. Although I can't guarantee you two won't be recognised," Tonks replied looking displeased with the thought of them swarmed by reporters and worshippers alike.
Daphne saw Harry, Hermione and Remus walking down from the manor and kindly said, "then I am thankful you taught us how to apparate under pressure." Tonks smiled in appreciation and nodded in respect which Daphne returned, happy that of the few interactions she's now had with the auror, this was a positive one.
"Are we all clear?" Harry asked as the group reached the two.
"Yep! Let's get a move on before the lunch time rush hits us," Tonks said, falling back into her lively personality easily.
"Alright, let's stick together and do this quickly, there's no need to expose ourselves more than necessary," Harry intoned seriously.
With nods all round Remus grabbed Harry and Hermione whilst Tonks took hold of Daphne. The familiar feeling of her whole body being squeezed through a tight tube overtook Daphne for a moment before the feeling dissipated and her vision was set on the mouth of Diagon Alley. The first thing she noticed about the place was how less magical it all felt, no bright eyed kids could be seen bouncing with excitement nor were there any wide smiling parents watching them in pride. Half of the shops were closed down either from fear or bankruptcy, and there was only the odd vendor here and there down the alley. Surveying her companions, she could see that the depressive state of the alley affected them more keenly. Harry's face was set in the frown that he does when he hears news of a disappearance or death, likely adding the alley's decadence to his own failure to kill Voldemort sooner.
'Seeing the alley is probably one of his most significant memories of magical Britain, another piece of his, and Hermione's, childhood taken by the Dark Lord,' Daphne realised.
"Where to first?" Remus asked.
Hermione took out a list and scanned it for a moment, flicking off a beetle that landed on the page. Daphne could see the gears turning in the girl's head, calculating the fastest way to go through the shopping list. Clearing her throat, Hermione said, "Scribbulus for some quills and parchment."
The group made the short trip to shop and Remus went in with Harry and Hermione to get what they needed. Daphne stood watch outside with Tonks who was looking at her quizzically.
"Why aren't you going in too? I thought you needed supplies."
Daphne had been expecting this question and replied, "my parents went with my little sister to get her things and picked up my materials for this year as well, I'm really just here in case things go wrong."
Tonks nodded and found the more she interacted with Daphne the more she respected her, the comments she made in their meeting in Gringotts proving to have little weight. The trio inside finished their shopping and headed to the next stop on the list, Flourish and Blotts.
The street was quiet, with only lone witches or wizards scurrying about quickly with their heads down and covered. Daphne thought she'd see more aurors patrolling the street but figured they'd be mainly used in the ministry. She caught a plump man sitting at Fortescue's staring at Harry as he passed and readied herself for trouble. Nudging him and nodding her head in the man's direction, he turned around and met the man's stare causing him to look away.
Harry called out, "can I help you sir?" He sounded irritated but also curious, which in turn piqued Daphne's curiosity.
"Uh… no Mr Potter, sorry for interrupting your day," the man half mumbled.
Harry didn't drop it however, stepping closer to the man he analysed him as though he were trying to remember something. "I know you," Harry said quietly. "Have we met before?"
"He was in Godric's Hollow, Harry," Remus recognised.
Harry turned around and Daphne could see he was shocked to not have realised. The man looked to gather himself and said, "you saved my son and daughter that dreadful night. I saw you here today and thought about how I wasn't able to thank you."
Harry shook his head and replied quickly, "no thanks needed. Just doing my best to make the community a better place."
'Gee if it was anyone else I'd think he was pulling that out of his arse,' Daphne thought.
"You don't understand, I lost my wife when my Zoe was young and the trauma of it left her mute. The universe has taken much from me Mr Potter but you saved the brightest stars in my life. For that I offer my thanks," the man said tearfully.
Harry regarded the man before putting a hand on his shoulder and saying, "I can only accept your gratitude if you promise to do right by those two always. They deserve it and you owe it to yourself to be a good man for them."
"Of course Mr Potter, they're everything to me."
"Good," Harry said with finality. Clapping the man on the shoulder he continued, "we have a busy day ahead of us so we've got to leave you now but goodbye and good luck."
The man said his farewells and the group carried on to Flourish and Blotts. The same arrangement of Remus and the two Gryffindor's heading inside whilst Tonks and Daphne stood outside. Daphne twirled her wand in her hand as she thought about that interaction. 'He's a natural at the whole hero thing, if only he was more interested in politics. It's going to help if Scrimengour goes for the ministry contract, all those public appearances and for winning over the population in the propaganda war that will no doubt start soon,' Daphne thought before chuckling her mind. 'Harry is right, I never stop scheming.'
The shopping continued as it had been for the next two stops, Eeylops Owl Emporium and Slug & Tiggers Apothecary saw Harry, Hermione and Remus go in and then out a few moments later. Their final destination was perhaps the only slice of life left in the Alley, Weasley Wizard Wheezes. Harry's significant donation had grown to be the life of the Alley in these trying times, a fact not lost on any in the party.
When they approached the shop, Daphne noticed Hermione subtly try to duck her head and hide behind everyone. At first this confused Daphne as she hadn't known Hermione to be an anxious person but upon reevaluating the whole picture she realised why Hermione acted as she did. 'The Weasley twins aren't known for their tact, I suppose that could be quite frightening for someone grieving. Any reminders of Ronald might be best avoided,' Daphne deduced.
"I think I'd like to go inside this one," Daphne said, trying to avoid an incident. "I'm curious to see if these two are as ingenious as you suggested," saying the last part to Harry directly.
"That's fine, Tonks you can guard alone for a few minutes?" Harry asked.
Just as Tonks was about to reply Hermione stepped out from Remus' shadow and offered, "I can stay out here too, I'm not too interested in the pranks these two have mass produced, I'm sure we'll see them at Hogwarts."
'Masterful skills Miss Granger, lying through the skin of your teeth and to your best friend no less.' Daphne mused. She also noticed Harry look at his best friend with a contemplative gaze before nodding his head and heading inside. 'I wonder if you figured it out too? Can you fathom Granger's grief or have you closed yourself off to everything but your goal… just I have.'
Daphne had noticed the way Harry had thrown himself harder into training after the ministry, finding the breaking point of his breaking point. He never mentioned Ron to anyone but Sirius and only when Sirius asks how he's coping. She had seen the worried glances his surrogate uncles gave him when they caught him brooding. 'Perhaps they expected him to wallow in despair or rage against the unfairness, grim determination wasn't a possibility for what they thought they knew of him,' Daphne speculated. The Harry that they described could sometimes be very different to the one she knew. They would speak of an impulsive, emotionally driven boy and she had seen that side of him but it was a minority compared to the dedicated and prudent person she knew.
"You coming?" Tonks asked her from the doorway into the store. Daphne shook her head to clear her thoughts and walked in. The shop was exactly what she'd expect from the two most chaotic forces of nature the world had ever known. Magic ran rampant throughout the building, spells, charms, enchantments and jinxes flying through the air and interacting with objects on the high stacked shelves on the bottom floor. Mystical pink potions oozing exceptionally tasteful scents and wide-eyed children experiencing magic for the first time by being pranked. In the middle of it all, at the top of a staircase, two lanky red headed men in purple suits greeted their newest customers.
"Harry!" called the one on the left cheerfully.
"And co!" called the other one, equally cheerful.
"Welcome!" they declared together. The two of them beckoned the company up the stairs and led them to a back room. The room looked similar to a potions lab in Daphne's opinion but heavily modified and had junk scattered across the many desks scattered around the room.
The twins sat on a desk side by side as the three of them spread out to look at all the contents of the room. Daphne had found a blue jelly bean which she assumed was a member of the Bertie Botts Beans packets. She reached out to grab it but was stopped by one of the twins' alarmed voices.
"Best not to touch that, or anything else in here for that matter. Not even we could tell you what would happen for half this stuff."
"Let alone reverse it," the other twin finished ominously.
Not too keen to interact with untested magic, Daphne nodded and said, "probably for the best then."
Close enough to see that the two had name tags on, she could distinguish the two of them for once in her life. Fred, who had warned her about the bean, spoke, "aye, certainly for the best. Now, Harry, what can we do for our secret investor?"
Harry, who had been inspecting a wizard's hat that would pop in and out of existence, turned and regarded the twins. "How much free time do you two have? Because I might have a bit to ask of you."
The twins looked at each other and came to a silent agreement. George stood and said, "look, Harry, we want to beat you-know-who as much as anyone but we aren't the combat types."
Fred followed by saying, "what he's trying to say is that if what you've got for us isn't joining your secret army then we might be able to help."
Daphne hid a sneer realising that her little speech had cowed the twins to this point. 'Of course they would decline to actually be in any danger, leave that to the more capable and less cowardly.'
Remus' face grew confused, "but just last year you two practically begged us to let you into the order."
George cast a glance at Daphne who stared back, "we've come to understand our strengths lie elsewhere."
Daphne's barely covered scoff that followed drew the attention of the twins who were a mixture of frustration and self pity. Harry reigned the conversation back in by proposing, "thankfully all I want you to do is see if you can replicate a magical item for me." As he said this he pulled out a red piece of cloth and placed it on the table. Pointing his wand at it he resized it to reveal the auror robe that Tonks had gotten him for his birthday.
"An auror's robe," Fred said, intrigued.
"That's a tricky one Harry, very complex enchantment weaving and the material isn't cheap," George continued, running the numbers in his head.
Harry pulled a roll of parchment out of his pocket, "you're not going to have to spend a sickle, the only price is your time and energy." Had if the scroll to Fred who unrolled it he continued, "these are the things I'm looking for, if you can do all of it then great, if not then that's alright too. Think of it as a funded research project with no completion clause."
As Fred looked over the requests George asked, "is there a deadline?"
Harry's negative response seemed to relieve George as he took his turn to read the parchment. However his eyebrows disappeared into his hairline as he went further down the list of suggestions and modifications Harry had detailed. Daphne wondered what Harry had cooked up for the twins to warrant such a reaction considering their notorious status as inventors.
"May we have a moment?" Fred asked. Harry nodded and the twins took the parchment and left the room to another room behind the labs.
Daphne walked over to Harry and asked, "how long has this been in the works?"
Harry replied, "since I got it honestly. I have no use for an auror robe considering I don't fight in robes. If they can get it down to a vest or something similar and then mass produce it, we could have a workable magic armour that is actually practical in a combat setting."
Daphne nodded her appreciation and complimented him, "good thinking."
Smiling, he gave his thanks and they waited in silence for the twins to return. It only took a moment for them to re enter the lab room with wide smiles. They walked up to Harry and George stuck out his hand and said, "you've got yourself a deal."
Harry took the offered hand and replied, "thanks guys, if you manage any of the specifications then make two for yourselves as well." The two mock saluted and marched off back out into the front of the shop with Harry and company in tow. Once they were all back in the main part of the shop Fred turned to them and said, "by the by, you lot can nab anything you fancy free of charge, just let us know what you think of the products if you try them."
Thanking them, the trio split off and wandered around the shop. Daphne didn't find anything that looked particularly useful, she didn't think she could get a death eater to eat a candy that so blatantly stunk of distrustful magic so she left the shop empty handed. Harry had a bag of something called 'Peruvian Darkness Powder' and when she asked him about it he had replied challengingly, "you'll see tomorrow morning," likely referring to their daily spar.
The three of them regrouped with a bored Tonks and less anxious Hermione and made for the apparition point. Whilst the alley had certainly seen an increase of visitors since earlier in the morning, it paled in comparison to Daphne's former years. Although she appreciated the less crowded street, the empty feeling was felt by all. With no congestion in the street, they reached the Leaky Cauldron quickly and apparated out of London and England, to the safety of their headquarters.
A/N: Alrighty, Chapter seven. Did it take longer than expected? Perhaps. I wrote three separate chapters for this one because I couldn't figure out what I wanted. One was with apparition lessons by Remus and a meeting with Scrimengour which felt way too wordy. Another was a chat with Hermione and then apparition lessons with Tonks but Hermione's part felt unnecessary to the overall story. Then another one was very similar to this one but had an altercation with Narcissa and Draco Malfoy but when I considered the Malfoy story line in my fic it didn't feel right to have this interaction happen early. So what we got in the end was Apparition, Diagon and the Twins with a sprinkle of Hermione and a sneaky (or not so sneaky) nod to the Scrimengour plot line.
I did have fun writing all of these drafts though, never thought I'd think of drafts as fun let alone writing a draft in the first place but hey, it is what it is.
This chapter's recommendation will be 'The Resistance of Azkaban' by Shezza, an AU of significant proportions that includes the atrocities of war, subterfuge and international wizarding politics. Lots of fun but comes with a warning of triggering topics such as SA and disturbing deaths.
Hope y'all enjoyed :)