Harry Potter and the Curse of V'ardian

Chapter 5

Of Worries and Wheezes

Standard Disclaimers Apply

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The following day, Snape informed Harry that they were going to Diagon Alley.

"The Headmaster has requested that you bring your invisibility cloak and wear it the entire time," Snape said. Harry saw the logic, though he couldn't help thinking that Snape would rather imagine he wasn't there as well.

The three of them gathered in front of the fireplace and Snape turned to them.

"I will go first, then Katherine, and then Potter will come last. Be sure to wear your cloak. Once we are there, I must leave you. I have a letter to post. I will meet you on the steps of Gringotts at midday. If any trouble arises, return here straight away, is that clear?"

Harry and Katherine both nodded, and Snape stepped into the green fire and disappeared.

Katherine followed and soon Harry was alone in the room. Sighing, he pulled his cloak over his head and, stepping into the fire, shouted 'Diagon Alley!'

"I'm here," he muttered. This really was ridiculous. The Alley was crowded, and there was no way he was going to walk around unnoticed.

"Very well," said Snape, talking to Katherine. "I will see you later."

Spinning on his heel, he stalked off into the crowd. Harry rolled his eyes. Some things never changed.

Stepping slightly closer to him, Katherine whispered.

"I have to go to Gringotts first. I can get you some money as well."

"Okay," said Harry, glad she was at least being civil.

"Alright, just stay close behind me. We don't want anyone bumping into you."

Hoisting her bag higher on her shoulder, she turned and began to move through the throngs of people waiting for a free fireplace. He received an odd look from an official-looking man when he accidentally stepped on his foot, but without too much trouble they soon found themselves ascending the wide stone steps leading up to the large white structure.

Harry followed Katherine through the door, a goblin eyeing her suspiciously. She turned her head towards him.

"Are you there?" she asked, as they queued in a line.

In reply he pressed his key into her hand.

"Two hundred Galleons, please," he whispered, and she raised her eyebrows in surprise. Two hundred Galleons was a lot.

"Very well," she murmured.

The goblin behind the counter beckoned them forward, and Katherine placed a key on the counter.

"I would like fifty Galleons from this account, please."

The goblin took the key and examined it carefully, before nodding his consent. He was about to motion to another goblin when Katherine leant forward, placing Harry's key next to her own.

"And I would like fifty Galleons from this account."

The goblin eyed her suspiciously and picked up the key, examining it.

Eventually he lowered it and eyed Katherine, who stared at him, stony-faced.

"This is not your key. Where did you get it?"

Katherine was about to reply, but Harry stepped forward and removed the cloak.

"It is my key. I would like two hundred Galleons. I'm sure you understand my need for anonymity?" Harry asked.

The goblin bowed deeply.

"My apologies, Mr Potter," he said respectfully. "Please, follow me."

Harry glanced around and pulled the cloak back over himself. Thankfully nobody had noticed him.

They spent the next few hours in relative silence, gathering the required necessities for school. Katherine was extremely grumpy at the strange looks she was getting and was refusing to talk to him. Eventually there was nowhere else to go, so they found a seat outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour and sat down. Katherine crossed her arms over her chest and glared determinedly away from Harry, indicating that she did not want to talk.

Harry was thinking how boring this would be, when someone caught his eye. He glared as Draco Malfoy rushed past their table, obviously intent on reaching his destination. On a sudden impulse, Harry stood up, his chair scraping on the ground. Katherine looked at him sharply.

"What are you doing?" she hissed.

"We've got an hour till we have to meet Snape. I'll be back soon."

"You can't leave!" Katherine whispered, but Harry ignored her.

"I won't be long," he said, and hurried off into the crowd after Malfoy.

The slick of blonde hair was easy to follow, and as they neared the end of the Alley, the crowd thinned. Suddenly Harry realised where they were going, and he followed Malfoy into the dreariness of Knockturn Alley. It was dark and dingy, and a coldness seemed to hang in the air. Harry hurried after Malfoy and managed to slip through the door as Malfoy hurried into the one shop in Alley that Harry had visited.

"Borgin!" Malfoy barked, as he strolled up to the counter. The timid looking man bowed deeply.

"Mr Malfoy, what a pleasure," he lied easily, his oily voice grating on Harry's nerves.

"Do you have it?" Malfoy asked roughly, and Harry wondered what he was talking about.

Borgin cowered.

"Not quite, but I have made arrangements-"

Malfoy interrupted him, his voice arrogant and rude.

"I expect you will have acquired it by the required date?" Malfoy hissed. "I would hate to have to resort to more…persuasive methods to encourage you to hurry."

"Of course, of course, it will be ready, sir."

Borgin was visibly frightened, and Harry wondered when Malfoy had started getting so important. Harry had a sneaking suspicion that Malfoy was following closely in his father's footsteps, and his theory was proven a second later as Malfoy pulled up the left sleeve of his robes.

"You know who you are dealing with, Borgin. Do not fail me."

"No, no, Mr Malfoy. I will do no such thing," gasped Borgin, averting his eyes from what Harry knew must be the Dark Mark. Harry could imagine Malfoy sneering before he turned around. Harry stepped backwards and bumped into a cabinet with a loud thump.

Malfoy and Borgin stared at the cabinet and Malfoy pulled out his wand.

"Are we not alone?" he hissed at Borgin.

"I had no idea, none at all, Mr Malfoy," he trembled, moving around the counter and drawing his wand.

Harry decided to make a run for it. As Malfoy began pacing towards him, Harry spun around and slipped out the door. He dashed into the closest doorway and stopped. A moment later Malfoy and Borgin followed him out and stood, looking around. Malfoy looked furious, and Borgin looked scared.

Grimacing at his clumsiness, Harry decided ti was time to leave, and quickly headed back to Diagon Alley. Taking his time walking back, Harry noticed a shop that he hadn't seen on his way, after watching Malfoy so intently.

It was amazing he had missed t; it was easily the most visible shop in the Alley. Glancing at his watch and deciding he had enough time, Harry dodged across the Alley and into Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. A bell sounded as he entered but no one noticed, and with good reason. The shop was overflowing with people, adults and children alike. Deciding he would have to risk it, Harry pulled off his cloak, but kept his head down. He pushed through the swarming customers towards the counter and caught sight of Fred and George.

He saw a witch staring at him in disbelief and quickly walked through to a back room of the shop.

"Oy, Fred, someone just went out the back. I'm gonna check it out."

"Rightio," came the reply. "I'll come with you. Felicity, would you mind watching the counter for a second?"

"Sure thing," sounded the bright reply.

A moment later, Harry came face to face with the Weasley twins.

"Harry!" exclaimed Fred.

Harry grinned.

"Looks like business si booming," he said.

George nodded fervently.

"Never dreamed we'd be this busy! It's amazing. We thing Mum has changed her mind about it now."

"Where have you been, Harry?" Fred asked, butting in. "We haven't heard from you all summer!"

The grin vanished from Harry's face. He shrugged.

"I'm staying at, well, you know where with Snape and this new girl. It's downright depressing."

"A new girl, eh? What's her name?"

"Katherine Winter. She's in my year."

Fred grinned.

"Is she good looking?"

Harry chuckled.

"She's not too bad, once you get past the attitude."

"Ooh, tough," winced George.

"Yeah, well I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts," Harry said.

"You aren't the only one. Hermione and Ron are at the Burrow and they're desperate to get away from Mum. They haven't been allowed to leave the yard."

"Are they coming to Grimmauld Place?"

Fred and George traded looks.

"Well, no. The thing is, Harry, Dumbledore came to see us. He said you needed to be left alone for a while. Mum wasn't happy about it, but Dumbledore was pretty firm about it."

"So what's going on, Harry?"

"I had no idea he said that!" Harry fumed. "I wish he would stop butting in where he's not wanted!"

"Well, I suppose Dumbledore knows what's best," said Fred.

"So I've heard," Harry said darkly. He glanced at his watch. "I have to get back," he said. "Give Ron and Hermione my best."

"Will do," said George, nodding. "And, Harry, thanks for everything," he said, gesturing towards the shop.

"No problem," smiled Harry. "I'll see you around."

Fighting his way back through the customers, Harry hurried back to find Katherine. It was nearly twelve, and when he finally spotted her she was standing impatiently tapping her foot.

"Where have you been?" she hissed, when Harry announced his presence.

"Taking a walk," he replied stubbornly.

Katherine sneered and set off into the crowd. It seemed to be getting busier, and Harry kept bumping into people. Eventually they arrived at Gringotts, and ascended the stairs to wait for Snape.

In the distance Harry could see him pushing through the crowd, but his attention was pulled away by an oily voice to his side.

"Lady Katherine, what a pleasure. It has been some time since we met."

"Mister Pelier," said Katherine smiling at Lucius Malfoy. Harry gaped in disbelief. "How are you?"

"Very well, thankyou. And you?"

"Quite well. I am attending Hogwarts this year, did you know?"

However, the conversation came to an abrupt halt as Harry, who had not been looking out, was bumped from behind by someone coming out of the door. He stumbled forward into Malfoy who spun around, wand drawn. He stared straight through Harry and suddenly his hand stretched out. Before Harry had a chance to step away, Malfoy's hand snagged the corner of his cloak, dragging it off of him.

His face registered a look of disdain.

"Potter!" And he was not the only one saying Harry's name. It seemed as though the street had stopped, and the upturned faces gazed at Harry.

"Harry Potter!" someone yelled. The crowd slowly began converging on Harry and he looked around desperately. Snape was glaring up at him trying to push through the crowd, but he was never going to make it in time. Harry snatched his cloak out of Malfoy's hand and grabbed his bag.

"Let's go, Katherine," he said roughly, and they disappeared into the front doors of Gringotts.

The two of them rushed across the marble floor to a fire place and Harry motioned for Katherine to go first. Glaring at him, she took a pinch of Floo powder and disappeared into the green flame. Harry followed her seconds later as the doors of Gringotts burst open to admit a horde of people. Harry stumbled onto the kitchen floor of Grimmauld Place, angrily wiping his glasses on his sleeve.

"How the hell do you know Malfoy?" Harry demanded.

Katherine turned to face him, dusting soot off her sleeve.

"I don't," she said shortly.

"You were talking to him!" Harry said hotly. What was Malfoy doing walking freely in Diagon Alley?

"I was not!"

"I can assure you Katherine, that the person you were talking to was Lucius Malfoy, not some Pelier!"

Their argument came to a halt as Snape stepped out of the fireplace with a frown firmly in place.

"Can you not do anything without causing a fuss?" he sneered, before turning to leave the room. However, Harry called after him.

"Why is Lucius Malfoy free?" he asked. Snapo froze and turned slowly.

"What did you say?" he asked softly, dark eyes glittering in the dim light.

Katherine butted in.

"He thinks I was talking to someone called Lucius Malfoy!"

"Who were you talking to?" Snape asked.

A look of confusion passed over Katherine's face.

"I'm- not sure," she said.

Snape raised an eyebrow.

"You can't remember?"

"Look," Harry said, "Malfoy's supposed to be in Azkaban! Why is he walking around in London?"

"He isn't supposed to be!" Snape snapped. He turned back to Katherine. "You say you can't remember who you were talking to?"

Katherine shook her head.

"Potter, if Katherine cannot remember to whom she was talking then I fail to see how you can as well."

"Maybe he was using some kind of charm, a forgetfulness charm or something."

"Possibly, but that does not explain how she appeared to know him. I think perhaps a recognition charm."

"Fine, whatever it was. But it was Malfoy who had the charm on him!"

"You cannot be sure of that, Potter!" Snape snapped.

"I know who I was talking to, Harry, and it wasn't Lucius Malfoy!"

"How do you know? You said you didn't know him!"

"I know what he looks like," Katherine snapped.

Sir, you have to do something!" Harry ground out.

"Potter, there is no way Lucius Malfoy would be walking around Diagon Alley without at least a glamour charm on. It could not have been him."

"But Katherine didn't recognise him! Maybe he did have a glamour charm on!"

"Are you saying you can see through glamour charms now Potter?" Snape sneered.

Harry knew he was fighting a losing battle. He knew what he had seen, he didn't doubt it. But if what Snape was saying was true, then how had he seen through the glamour?

Harry headed up to his room and opened the door to find an unfamiliar grey owl seated on the window sill, a letter tied to its leg. Curiously, he untied the letter and began to read.

To Lord V'Ardian…

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A/N: REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! Personally I hated this chapter, but it had to be written. Don't forget to keep reading! ;)

Chapter 6: Of Power and Pride