Spoiler Alert: This is the second part of Harry Potter Unbound. While I think for the most part the story should be self contained, it will build on and there will be repeated references throughout this story to the first part, Harry Potter Unbound: Blue Blood. It might not be necessary, but therefore it is probably best to read that first.
A Visit to Diagon Alley
"Dobby."
A soft pop alerted Harry to the elf's presence despite the dark of the night. It was five thirty in the morning, and no one else was awake at the Dursley residence.
"The Great Wizard Harry Potter called, sir."
"Shhhh. Don't wake everybody up." Harry frantically whispered. "Did you talk with Hermione? Is everything ready for our plan?"
"Dobby spoke with Harry Potter's Hermy's elf Winky. Everything be ready."
"Okay, then apply your disguise on me, and pop me over to our meeting point."
HPU
Several hours later, just before lunch, a couple of unremarkable teenagers waked on Diagon Alley.
"Knockturn Alley was kind of disappointing." the girl with long, very straight hair said as they left that alley.
"I kind of hoped for more, too, but at least it had more than Flourish & Blotts. I mean they did not even have the books we found about rituals and Legilimency." the blond boy her age replied. "And don't forget the supplies. We might not need them immediately, but they should be useful once we get to actually performing some rituals. It's good I have my winnings from the Tournament. We could not afford this stuff otherwise."
"You're right. The two ritual books look like they should be interesting. If they are what I think they are, they will clarify the theory behind creating new rituals. At least a bit. The lack of resources here just shows you how amazing the Hogwarts library is" the girl said with reverence. "Especially the restricted section."
"I would also guess that to get a full look at all that Knockturn Alley offers, you have to have some kind of familiarity with the store owner. They probably don't just sell the highly illegal stuff to any bloke of the street. I'm kind of surprised that we even found all the things we did." The boy said, "I guess its because all we found has some legitimate use."
"I don't think we would be able to explain why we have a legitimate use for them, though."
"Speaking of legitimate use, how were you able to get access to the restricted section of the Library?"
"Professor Flitwick trusts me. I am his best student after all." Hermione said, slightly cocky. "I'm sure he would not believe you if you told him I was not researching for papers."
Harry laughed.
"Have I told you that he made me fifth year prefect?"
The two came close to the little pub that they had picked for lunch. Harry understood in a moment that Hermione had changed the subject due to the possibility of being overheard. "Congratulations Hermione, I really had never any doubt that you would be prefect."
"I have been on the top of our class every year, he really had no choice in the matter."
"What do you mean? Grades are not the only thing the Head of House has to go by." Harry said.
"The boy and the girl with highest average grade in each class is the prefect." Hermione said. "At lest in Ravenclaw. Is that not how Slytherin does it?"
"No, Snape just picks whomever he wants to."
Hermione frowned. "So he can just pick who he likes? That doesn't seem objective."
Well, this year I can objectively say that Malfoy will be prefect."
"What?" Hermione's frown deepened. "It will be a pain to work with him. Do you know who will be the girl prefect?"
"I can only guess. Either it will be Pansy Parkinson or Daphne Greengrass. Greengrass is not bad. I have actually befriended her younger sister. Parkinson you can imagine yourself."
Hermione shook her head, "I'll deal with it when it becomes clear. Anyway, it is interesting how the houses have different traditions. I wonder how Hufflepuff and Gryffindor pick their prefects."
At this point the two had choose what to eat. Harry went with fish and chips, while Hermione picked a healthier salad and soup option.
They sat down for to enjoy their lunch. Their conversation drifted to what they had done over the summer.
"With all this shopping we have yet to talk about the summer." Hermione said. "Have you done anything exiting?"
"Oh, you know, the usual. Gardening…"
"How have you dealt with … what happened … at the third task?"
"I don't think I want to spoil the day with that." Harry suddenly got a far away look. Truth be told he had not completely gotten over the death of his friend. To see her die, … disappear … He had just become better at burying it. And so he deflected. "I have been getting the Daily Prophet through Dobby."
"It has been weird having Winky around. I feel guilty about letting them help so much for no pay, but she keeps insisting that since Hogwarts is empty through the summer, she needs to help me, her Mistress. I hate when she calls me Mistress. She even came with the wages from Hogwarts. She left them on top of my desk, and I don't know what to do with it. Winky wont take it, says I rented her out, and so it belongs to me."
"You could just use it for S.P.E.W., if you still are doing that."
"Good idea. I have been thinking how I can re-purpose S.P.E.W. to not free elves, since they don't survive that, but to help to improve their treatment." Hermione's brows furrowed, then cleared up. "Anyway, how has runes worked for you?"
They proceeded to talk for the next half hour about summer home work and their independent studies. Mostly they talked about runes, and how much Harry learned about them. Hermione was pleased with Harry's progress, she hoped that in future rituals he would be able to help her prepare the circle. One only needed to know runes, not ritual theory, to write them with sand or blood on the floor. They also talked a little about Defense. Harry wanted to ask her how she had handled the Legilimency exercises, but in the public setting he did not dare to. Then their conversation shifted to Hermione's summer.
"Our summer trip was very strange. We spend a week in the French Riviera and then a week in Rome. I liked those places, the Mediterranean coast is beautiful, and the Magical enclave in Rome is fascinating. Did you know that even though Muggle Italy united in 1871, wizards in it Italy still have their city-states?" But my parents are … growing apart. We barely did anything together aside from the actual travel. And the entire time that they were in the same room they argued." Hermione's eyes became watery. "I don't know how they can stand it. Before Hogwarts we always were together for these things. We would visit museums, the sights and just spend time together. Now I mostly saw my dad head to the bar and I think my mom, … I don't know what my mom did during our trip. I don't know why they even went."
Harry reached out to hold her hand. Having no real experience with family, Harry had no idea what to say, so he just tried to express that he was there for her.
Hermione tried to make a shaky laugh. She tried to get to a more positive subject. "At least it helped me in learning French and Italian. Since I went everywhere by myself, I had to really apply myself to them, and I think it bore fruit. I don't think I am anywhere near fluent, but I can make a decent conversation happen."
"That's great, Hermione." Harry tried to be encouraging.
But Hermione did not let go of the sour mood. For the next fifteen minutes he just tried to comfort her as she poured out her fear of how her parents relationship was going. Towards the end she shifted to her relationship with Ron Weasley. Apparently after a few Quidditch letters in the beginning of the summer, Ron had stopped writing her, despite numerous letters from her. Harry was not surprised at this development. He remembered warning Hermione that he did not see her as very compatible with Ron. He also held his own hopes in the back of his heart. Despite this he only tried to listen, and to comfort her, less with words, he didn't know what to say anyway, but with his presence.
After this heavy topic Hermione went to the bathroom to clean up a little.
When Hermione had returned, the two got up and went towards Fortescue's, to get a little desert before leaving to Muggle London. As they walked, Harry started talking once more: "Hermione, I have been thinking a lot. When I look at the past four years, I have come to some conclusions."
"That you need to have a peaceful year for once?"
"I wish." Harry rolled his eyes. "No, last year Moody warned me before the Tournament that I was one who always attracted trouble, and that I had to learn to live with it. To embrace it even. So, this summer, while gardening, I have been thinking. How do I do that?"
"Is that not why you study Legilimency and Defense?"
"Of course, but even those someone else made me start. I need to do more. I have been thinking, if I am alone I can not possibly be was well prepared as if I had a team behind me."
Hermione looked at him seriously. "Harry, you know you have me."
"I know. Thank you." Harry was serious too. Then he scratched his head. "But I was thinking. I need more than one friend. I need a core of trusted … associates, and a bigger group of … I need network of intelligence asets. I don't want to be surprised so much. I need to make sure I have the information … I don't want to be constantly surprised again. Both Moody and Snape taught me that in a battle you have to be proactive. Well, with Voldemort back, we are now again at war. If you have to be proactive in a battle, you surely have to be proactive in a war." Harry stopped and looked at Hermione, who had also stopped now. "What I am saying, is that I want to build a network of infromants throughout Wizarding Britain. And I am asking you to help me."
"Do you have a plan?"
"I've been thinking a lot. I have some ideas."
"What would I do?"
"For now you would be my stronghold in Ravenclaw House, and my informer on the prefects. You would coordinate with the associates that I intend to find in those two circles."
"We would stay friends, right."
"Of course!" Harry was not confused, but almost hurt. "I want to always be your friend. This does not change that. This will just be how we expand our influence and prepare for what is to come. It is to make sure we can remain together, … as friends."
"Okay, Harry. You will have to give me more details on how this will work, but never forget, I'm with you."
The two resumed walking. As they reached Gringotts plaza in front of the bank. Harry felt a chill come over him. He wondered why that would be, it was a hot summer day. He looked over to Hermione, and noticed that she too was shivering.
What was going on?
The sky still appeared cloudless as before, but everything was covered in shadows.
The crowd around them grew restless. Any moment now it would go into panic.
Then the source of the disturbance became apparent: Hundreds of Dementors came into sight, and began to descend on the crowd.
Harry felt the familiar chill, he heard the the cries of the crowd and the trampling of the feet. A real stampede had started to the three exits of the plaza.
Harry right hand grabbed Hermione's and he tugged her along, to try to follow the crowd and stay out of harms way. He hoped someone older would cast the Patronus spell. After all, there were enough adults around, and he did not want to risk blowing his cover. Dobby and Winky had spend a lot of effort to allow Hermione and him to come here unrecognized.
But it was not meant to be. He saw the Dementors come closer and closer. The crowd just panicked more, as a Dementor closed in on a target. The target, a middle aged wizard fell down unconscious.
The Dementor bowed down, as countless other Dementors found their own targets. It began the soul sucking process that was called 'a Dementor's kiss.'
Harry could not stand by and watch dozens of witches and wizards loose their soul. He quickly passed Hermione's hand from his right to his left hand and pulled his wand out with his right, his wand hand.
"Expecto Patronum!" He bellowed as he recalled his happiest moments.
His faithful stag Patronus formed and instantly charged at the Dementor by the unconscious wizard. The creature instantly shrieked back in terror of the powerful guardian.
The crowd let out a collective sigh of relieve. And even started to clap and cheer a little, as Harry's Patronum charged and repulsed the Dementors. It had a little difficulty in herding them together, since they had spread out so much, but it had no problem preventing any of the pedestrians from being harmed.
A minute after what would have been too late to save all, twenty Aurors popped onto the plaza. Moments later they added at least ten Patronum guardians to Harry's, and ended the threat within seconds.
Harry released his spell, and his loyal guardian dissipated. The Aurors herded the Dementors into boxes, and presumably brought them to Azkaban.
Harry did not care, where they went, he just wanted to disappear. Hermione realized this, and pulled him into a little side alley and called Winky. The two gave each other a quick good bye hug, and with the help of their elves, quickly returned to their respective homes.
HPU
The following day was not a happy one. Petunia had not been pleased that Harry had disappeared without a warning for most of a day. Harry had left a note on the kitchen table, but that did not appease the wrath of the Dursleys. In the previous evening, Harry had not eaten dinner. Vernon had looked like he was about to beat up Harry, but Dumbledore's warning from years before, held him of. Or maybe it was that Harry was now a better fighter then him.
Regardless, today had been grueling. He had worked the entire day without a meal. Mostly in the yard, but also in the basement.
Now Harry lay exhausted and hungry in his bed. Just to add insult, he was not allowed to shower. He expected tomorrow to go similarly.
It had been worth seeing Hermione and doing the 'school shopping,' but Harry could not wait to leave this house. Anything would be better.
The soft pop of Dobby alerted him to his presence. Suddenly there was the smell of shepherds pie in the room.
With a grunt of "Thank you, Dobby." Harry attacked the meal.
It was not until the meal was in his stomach that Harry saw the Daily Prophet and its headlines:
Aurors Save Diagon Alley from Dementor Attack
Countless Dementors find Diagon Alley and attack innocent school shoppers. Twenty brave Aurors arrived within minutes of Dementor alarm. Zero casualties occurred. DMLE starts inquiry into cause of loose Dementors.
Harry read the paper with disgust. The Ministry claimed all credit in preventing the Dementor kissing of who knows how many souls. But they rejected any responsibility for the attack. The whole paper seemed to be intent on showing how great the Ministry was and that Wizarding Britain was lucky to have such a competent Minister.
This was why he needed his own network. He needed to know what was behind this drivel.
A.N. So the typical shop at Diagon Alley chapter, I hope it nevertheless started this story, hopefully not with too big of an info dump.