The remaining time passed before the beginning of term began with relative comfort. Apart from one seemingly simple trip to Diagon Alley, what a mistake to go, apparently it takes a while for magic folk to forget a few incidents. It seems that even after all these years people aren't that keen on general destruction and they definitely do not like death. They all presumed that I went on a murderous rampage with the other Death Eaters, but contrary to very popular belief I wasn't trusted enough to go out with the adults. In fact I really didn't do much in the way of anything, I was used I the worst way by Voldemort. In the end I became a mere puppet, a toy that he brought out on special occasions to prove a point. However I could see where everyone was coming from, if you become associated with a delinquent group of deathly wizards and witches you tended to get tarred with the same brush.
Flooing there was quite the experience, it was similar to riding a bicycle, once you learn you don't forget, however I completely forgot that you get covered in dust. This was not appropriate arrival attire when one of the first person you happen to see is the hopelessly stuck-up Malfoys. However I quickly diverted myself down a side street to avoid them seeing me in this manner. Instead of trailing around after Molly and her brood I chose to kit myself out with suitable garments for the upcoming year, seeming my extensive Muggle clothes would not exactly help me settle in. I reasoned with myself that purchasing trunks of new clothes would encourage me to stay, well I couldn't go and wear cloaks around Muggle London with ease. Well maybe certain parts.
I quickly cleaned myself up with a simple incantation and wandered over to the one shop that I knew could bestow upon me the best clothes money could buy. Even though the large majority of pureblood families were close to bankruptcy due to frivolous spending of the past generations, my family luckily invested sensibly. This has left me with an enviable fortune and thanks to my dabble with the seriously Dark Arts it was left all to me when my parents were killed. Walking into Twillfit and Tattings reminded me of the countless times I was accompanied there with my mother before each school term. I opened the heavy mahogany doors and waltzed right into my past, everything was exactly the same, right down to the smell of the tailor's cloying cologne. However there was one small change, the employment of a rather petite young seamstress of which I was highly thankful for, the tailor was getting quite arthritic. He noticed me as I glimpsed through a leather bound book full of the hundreds of designs.
"Just let me know what you want and I'll get Miss Tatting to measure you up." A musty voice echoed from the storeroom. As I moved from the front of the shop towards the counter Mr Twillfit himself emerged from the doorway, "My my, I haven't seen you for a while."
"Likewise." I never felt entirely at ease in his presence, but he dressmaking skills were unmatched.
His mouth twitched into a smug grin as he spoke, "So you're back and how may I help you?"
I couldn't bring myself to speak again so I merely pointed out several designs in the ancient book and proceeded to be measured up by Miss Tatting and her very nimble fingers. It was then that I heard the slightly high pitched tones of Narcissa Malfoy. Unfortunately I was effectively trapped by a tape measure and the threat of several hundred pins. I couldn't quite make out what she was saying but I knew she wasn't alone, there was someone else with her, a younger male. I soon realised who it was, it was her son Draco. I could vaguely remember seeing him as a baby, but I had no wonder what he would look like.
"Right, you're done. They'll be delivered normal time."
"How long is normal time?"
"Surely you know Olympiya! Or have you been at Malkin's recently?"
Worse Muggles, "Hello Narcissa." I stepped off the platform gently and carefully made my way over to why she was stood, "How have you been?"
"Fine, fine."
I interpretated this as 'I don't want to speak to you anymore' and took myself over to the counter once more and attempted to pay on my Gringotts card. It was declined.
"Your card has expired by some considerable time, but I'll put it on your parents account." Internally my stomach rose a couple of inches towards my mouth, but my handy Slytherin composure came into play and I was thus socially saved.
"Having problems there?"
"Non whatsoever, just putting it on my account."
"You have an account here?" Her face fell slightly, "They are quite exclusive."
"I know." I hoped she would take that as I wished to speak to her no more.
As I took the receipt I stared at Narcissa and saw a melancholy deep seated in her pale blue eyes. Sometimes a slight twinge of sadness rose within me for her, but each time it was forced down because I couldn't bear to think of her in that way. I left the shop are endeavoured to find who I came here with, but it wasn't long before I heard Molly's shrill tones above the gentle rabble of Diagon Alley.
"Where have you been?" It's the mother in her I'm sure.
"I went to have some clothes ordered."
"Where from, we didn't see you in Madame Malkin's."
"I went to Twillfit and Tattings, like I usually do, not that it's any of your business how I spend my money."
"It's your parents money for a start."
"Which they left for me, which reminds me I must go to Gringotts. I'll see you back at the house." I took off before she could utter another word.
I had sorted out the problems with Gringotts fairly quickly, well after summoning Albus and the Minister of Magic to confirm that I was allowed to inhabit the Wizarding World again. In ended up being quite the gathering actually, the Minister ended up rallying several Aurors to monitor the situation. Apparently, even though I have been let back in, I still pose a serious risk!
It was a couple days later since Diagon Alley and I still felt a little unsettled, I could still sense Sirius within the walls and all I wanted to do was leave, but I couldn't. I was waiting for the clothes I had ordered days previously, even in the magic world you couldn't rely on your delivery to be on time! I was sat waiting on the couch in front of the fireplace almost patiently waiting for my clothes to arrive, seeing that someone or something (you never know here) was about to turn up. However instead of a spotty teenager, it was Severus, closely followed by Remus and neither looked happy.
"Where is he?" Severus aggressively demanded.
"Who?" I replied trying to match his tone.
"Harry, who else?"
"We need to find him Olympiya, he needs to be taken to Hogwarts." Remus imparted slightly more information.
"I think he's upstairs."
"You think?" Severus voiced raised once more.
"Look, I've been down here all day and haven't heard anything."
"That's not good enough, you're the only one here!"
"Hey, remember that I've just landed back here, I'm still getting used to it again!" I let him have it all back.
All three of us heard the creaking stairs in the hall and proceeded, silently, to investigate who it was. Finding it was all the children there we internally sighed, but the relief was shortly lived once we realised we were one child down.
"Where's Harry?" Remus attentively asked.
"Um…well…we…I…" Ron started.
"He's not here." Hermione finished.
"Well I can see that Miss Granger." Severus made he feelings clear though gritted teeth.
"Hermione, anyone, where is he?" I pleaded, seeing how worried Remus was looking at this point and how determined Severus was to find Harry.
"I don't know." Hermione herself was looking worried now.
"I saw him go downstairs, but that's it." Ginny offered.
"Right, we're getting somewhere now." Remus uncharacteristically exasperated.
I could imagine the pandemonium that was going to ensue. We all trooped upstairs to search for some clue to where Harry had gone to. Obviously there was no clue we could find to whereabouts, but clothes had been taken along with some photos and other bits and pieces according to Hermione. How she knew I had no idea, part of me wanted to ask, but the rest of me reminded the other half it was an adult.
Severus arranged for Molly to come over and mind the house, of course this leaves a little bit of a problem to explain Harry's absence. Though giving a quick look in Hermione's direction, I knew it would be sorted. Apparently she told Molly that she was tutoring Harry and Ron for the upcoming year, of course this left us with the dilemma that we had to find Harry and return him unharmed I was still to be told what was exactly going on. We flooed to Remus' house and began to organise what we were going to do as it was no use rushing out and making drastic mistakes. Remus' house was quite nice actually, plain and simple but it had obviously been lived in and subject to a few full moons without Wolfsbane.
"Nice place Remus." I think I made it sound too sincere as his checks blushed rapidly.
"Er, thanks. Shall we tell her then?" He glanced at Severus, who grunted a reply.
"Better do."
"We need to get Harry into Hogwarts, Voldemort has taken it upon himself to hunt Harry down and take him."
"You left the best bit out Lupin, he wants him alive. And you know personally what that means Olympiya."
There was too much of a sneer on the end of that, "What is your problem?" I knew I was to met with silence and didn't pursue it as it was time to think about Harry. "Never mind, what are we going to do about Harry then?"
Remus looked pensive before answering, "Where do you think he's gone?"
"How do I know Werewolf?"
"Sev! Honestly, get over it and think about the problem in hand!"
"Shut up! You don't know -" Here we go.
"Don't you dare go down that route, I know all about it. From both sides." I knew he was dying to get this all out, I was almost certain that he knew I kept seeing Sirius throughout school and he went on to confirm it.
"Oh yes, quite the double agent weren't you!" Bloody hypocrite! It was strange that I now felt this feeling a guilt rise through me.
"Oh come off it, that's exactly what you're doing now!"
"That's different!" How on earth did he come to that conclusion?
"I know, that was trivial school kid stuff, this is literally life and death. This is Harry's life."