That Fateful Night

Chapter Four

A Letter and a Trip To Diagon Alley

A/n: I'm going to try to post as much as I can before September 6th. When school starts I will be rather busy so it may be a week or two in between chapters.

---

Soon enough it was July and a letter addressed to

Miss K. Granger

The Second Bedroom

17 Apiraile Court

London

had arrived. The young girl was so ecstatic that her mother had to catch hold of her so that she could sit the girl down to read the letter. And when she was finally sitting she could barely get the letter open because she was tearing at the envelope frantically. In the end Hermione had to take the letter from her and open it.

But when it was finally opened another small envelope was inside addressed to Miss H. Granger. Hermione was rather puzzled. Never before had she seen anything like this before.

The envelope was small and brown with a Hogwarts crest on it. Hermione slit it open slowly but with some caution. Hogwarts hadn't sent her anything since they had canceled her ten-year reunion due to unusual graduation circumstances that year.

When she had gotten the letter out she unfolded it rather quickly. Her curiosity was bothering her now. She could understand sending a letter to muggle born's parents but not to a witch. When she had gotten it unfolded she looked at it, scanning it quickly. It read:

Miss Granger,

As you know, the ten-year reunion for your graduating class was called off due to unavoidable circumstances. However, we have rescheduled it for a few days during the Christmas break. We hope you can join us on December 16th this year. We will have sleeping arrangements set up through the 19th so you can catch up with your old classmates for a few days. Please RSVP before October 17th so that we may have time to arrange everything.

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress

After reading over it a second time, a small smile crept onto her face. She'd get a chance to see what everyone had been doing with their lives. And maybe, Ron and Harry would be there. She hadn't talked to either of them in years. But then a thought made her frown. Draco would probably be there. And he'd probably meet Katie. But what it he didn't want to? She'd be crushed.

Hermione shook this thought off and busied herself with looking over Katie's supply list. It hadn't changed much since she was a first year. She did wonder who the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher would be this year, though.

And instead of allowing her mind to slip back into thinking about Draco or anyone else, she smiled brightly, looking at Katie and said, "We're going to Diagon Alley again, Katie."

Katie's face lit up even more so than when she got her letter. She loved school shopping, especially now that she was going to Hogwarts. "Oh really!" Katie loved Diagon Alley but it wasn't often she got the chance to go.

---

"Now remember how to use floo powder?" Hermione asked, a few minutes later, standing by the fireplace.

Katie rolled her eyes. "No, you only taught it to me like a billion times, mum!"

"Well I don't want you to end up in Knockturn Alley or worse!" She paused, and without thinking about it said, "You know Harry ended up there once."

"Yes, yes I know."

"Ok take the powd-" Katie grabbed a handful of the powder, tossed it into the fire, and stepped in. Hermione heard her call out clearly, "Diagon Alley." Hermione repeated those steps and found herself in the Leaky Cauldron.

"G'day Miss Granger." She heard a voice call.

"Hi Tom."

"Is that Miss Katie?" The man asked. He hadn't seen the girl in a while.

"Yup!" Katie announced loudly. "I'm getting my school supplies! Last year was my last year at The London Private Academy for Beginning Witches and Wizards. I go to Hogwarts this year!"

Tom smiled. "My grandson, Michael is starting there this year too. Maybe you'll see him there."

"Maybe. Well Tom we're off to shop I'll see you later." Hermione said and took Katie's hand. She pulled her out to the entrance to Diagon Alley and tapped the correct brick with her wand. The entrance way opened revealing the stunning view of Diagon Alley. It was packed with witches and wizards of course.

Many boys and girls about Katie's age were dragging their parents from shop to shop, begging for sweets and broomsticks amongst other things. Almost all of them were clearly as excited as Katie.

Hermione thought she saw two heads of silvery-blonde hair once but when she tried to get a better look they were gone. She briefly thought of Draco again and how sexy he had looked last time she had seen him. It was difficult imagining him with another child, let alone married.

"We're going to Gringotts first mum, right?" Katie sounded excited about the prospect.

Hermione nodded, only half paying attention. She had caught another flash of the blondes. Now she was busy trying to see the two again.

"Oh goody!" Katie squealed with delight. "We get to ride the carts!"

"Katie you can't honestly want to ride those carts! They're absolutely horrible."

"I do want to ride them mum!" The girl said grinning at her mother.

"You're crazy Katie!"

---

Two crazy cart rides and one store later they stood in front of Madame Malkin's. Hermione figured that Diagon had been safe for quite some time and that her daughter shouldn't have too much of a problem in the store so she decided to leave her daughter on her on own for a few minutes. Maybe she'd make a new friend before school.

"Now Katie go in and get three sets of black robes." She said, looking at her daughter carefully.

"Mum! Black makes me look like a ghost! And the list says preferably black for classes. Not that we have to have black."

Hermione had forgotten that they had changed the rules since she had gone to school there. "Oh all right go in and get some decent robes. This is the only money we're spending in here so choose wisely. I'll be down the street at the bookstore, Flourish and Blotts. Go there when you're finished. Ok?"

"Thanks mum! Ok I'll meet you down there when I'm done. I think I remember where it is."

"Do be careful, Katie. And if you forget where it is just come right back here and ask Madame Malkin." With that Hermione walked away with Katalia calling after her, "I will mum!"

Katie entered the store, grinning, and who did she see but the pale sneering face of Dimitrius Malfoy. Her smile fell automatically.

---

A/N: Hermione meets up an old "friend" in the next chapter or so. Also Dimitrius and Katie chat... Should prove to be very interesting.

Please review! I like to know how you like it so far!