Chapter 3: Diagon Alley

Can you stop the lies, falling from the skies, down on me, I'm still standing, can't you roll the dice, I might be surprised, conscience clear, I'm still standing here.

Still Standing – The Rasmus

Two evenings later the fun began. The Order, along with Veronique, who was standing in place of her mother, met in the kitchen to carry out the next move. She didn't like being in there, surrounded by people who often had their wands out. It made her nervous. Every so often people would look at her as if checking she was still alright and sane. It annoyed her.

"Right," said Lupin, "it's time we were off Alastor. They'll be gone by now." Moody nodded and followed Remus as he left the room. A group of others, including Nymphadora Tonks left after him.

Veronique sat by the fire, a glass of water grasped loosely in one hand. Mrs Weasley was getting worried about her, she knew. She wasn't eating properly and drank only water. She was always jumpy and reacted badly to any kind of physical contact even from her brother at times. Mrs Weasley had tried to talk to her but she answered questions and said nothing else.

Mrs Weasley was at a loss as to what to do. Skylar was grieving for his mother, but when Sirius told Veronique to cheer up because her mother's death wasn't her fault she merely said; "I know, I'm not upset about it," and carried on staring into the fire.

It was as if the girl had no feelings.

Then Mrs Weasley had an idea. She stood up and went over to where Professors McGonagall, Snape and Dumbledore were studying several detailed maps with Bill and Charlie.

"There's no way he'd be there, we'd know if he was, no one can hide anything or anyone there," said Bill.

Mrs Weasley walked over to Snape and tapped his shoulder to get his attention. He turned, glaring as usual.

"Yes Mrs Weasley?" he snapped. "As you can see I'm quite busy."

"I need your help Severus," she replied. He raised an eyebrow and motioned her to continue. "It's Veronique, she really isn't looking well. She doesn't eat properly, she drinks hardly anything, she doesn't make any useful comments, and she just sits and stares into the fire."

"What makes you think I can help?" asked Snape, sneering.

"Because she's acting just like you! She talks to no one, not even her brother; she hides her feelings from anyone and everyone. Help her!" Snape was silent for a long time.

"Alright," he said eventually. "I'll try and talk to her."

"Thank you."

Snape told Dumbledore where he was going and made his way to where Veronique sat by the fire. He conjured a chair from nowhere and sat down next to her. She didn't even look up.

"Good evening Miss Veero."

"Don't call me that."

"It is your name is it not?"

"Yes, but please, don't call me that."

"Why?"

She stared into the fire for a long time, thinking about how to answer this. She couldn't just say, because that's what the Death Eaters called me, what he called me, when he tortured me. Then she realised something.

"You should know." She looked up looking slightly wary of Snape. "You were there after all."

"What are you talking about?" he sneered.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. How about everything that happened to me last year? You were there, you saw it all."

"I don't know what you mean," he said coldly. He was lying. He remembered it well.

"Liar," she hissed. "Go away Snape. Run back to your master." She turned back to the fire. He stalked off.

She got up suddenly and ran from the room. She ran into the hallway and was about to go upstairs when the front door opened. Mrs Weasley had left the kitchen before Veronique and had opened the door. Veronique stopped in the middle of the stairs to watch. Remus and Moody walked into the hallway a boy around the same age as her between them. She knew who it was immediately; she would have to be blind not to recognise Harry Potter.

About two weeks after Harry's arrival Mr and Mrs Weasley took Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Fred, George, Veronique and Skylar to Diagon Alley to get their school equipment. They entered Diagon Alley together.

"Right, I think that we should go to Flourish and Blotts first," said Mrs Weasley.

"I need a wand," said Veronique quietly. Mrs Weasley didn't hear and Sky had to repeat what his sister had said.

"Oh of course, silly me," Mrs Weasley laughed. "Right, you, your brother, Harry, Ron and Hermione go to Ollivanders; we'll meet you in Flourish and Blotts." She led the others off.

"Where is Ollivanders?" asked Veronique.

"This way," said Hermione, leading the way. Veronique followed her.

"Why don't you have a wand?" asked Ron. Veronique bit her lip and sighed.

"They took it from me last year when I went missing."

"What?"

"Leave it," said Sky. "She doesn't like talking about it."

"About what?" asked Harry.

"Well I'm not about to tell you if I don't like talking about it! try to use your brain," cried Veronique, and she ran towards the shop that Hermione was standing outside.

"Way to go Harry," said Skylar sighing.

"Sorry, I didn't think-"

"I noticed. Don't worry, it's not your fault" Skylar followed his sister into the shop. Hermione, waited for the boys and then they entered after him.

Veronique was leaning on the counter trying to calm down when Mr Ollivander spoke.

"How can I help you Miss Veero?"

"You can start by not calling me that," she said wincing as she stood up. "I need a wand."

He bowed. "Certainly. From the same place as last?" She nodded and he went to find the wands.

"What does he mean?" asked Hermione, confused.

"Sky and I need different wands to you lot. We have different sort of cores. Sky for example has a griffin feather and my mother had a sphinx tail hair."

"Wow, really?" said Hermione. Veronique nodded, grinning at Hermione's expression.

Mr Ollivander returned carrying a box of wands.

"Try this, ten inches, holly, basilisk skin. No, maybe not. How about this? Twelve and a quarter inches, yew, wolver hair. No, didn't think so, but anything's worth a try. I know! Here, try this. Thirteen inches, mahogany, dark phoenix feather."

A shower of black and silver sparks flew through the air.

"Brilliant," cried Mr Ollivander happily as he placed the box of wands under the counter. "I should have guessed the dark phoenix would be the correct core. The last one you know, and that reminds me. How is Shadow?"

Veronique smiled properly for the first time since Hermione and Ron had met her. "Shadow seems alright, I haven't seen her for a while, and I think she went to Hogwarts ahead of me."

"Indeed, indeed."

Veronique paid for the wand and they all left.

"What's a dark phoenix?" asked Ron as they made their way to the bookstore.

"It's like a regular phoenix but it's black and silver and it can do more than the normal phoenix too."

"Like?"

"Well, within a certain time and depending on the state of the body it can bring people back from the dead," said Skylar grinning. Ron looked amazed and thoroughly interested. Even Veronique laughed.

"That's disgusting!" cried Hermione.

They met with Mr and Mrs Weasley before they reached the bookshop.

"We bought your stuff for you," said Mrs Wesley beaming happily. She handed out parcels of books to the five teenagers.

They began walking up the street, heading for the robe store when a wizard stopped them. Veronique looked up from her examination of the road and swore. She then moved silently behind Skylar. Skylar looked up, saw the wizard and turned to his sister who looked incredibly pale.

"Ah, Mr Weasley," drawled the wizard. "How wonderful to see you."

"Malfoy," said Mr Weasley stiffly.

"And Mrs Weasley, how delightful," Lucius Malfoy's smile was fixed in place as he looked upon the small party. "And four of your many children. And Miss Granger I believe. Yes, well." Hermione glared at Mr Malfoy. "And Harry Potter, naturally. I'm surprised you haven't dyed your hair red and painted on freckles. And who's this? My word, if it isn't Skylar. How are you cousin?"

"I'm perfectly alright thank you," said Sky through gritted teeth. Harry, Hermione and the Weasley children were all staring at him and Veronique.

"I heard about Orion, I am terribly sorry, honestly I am." Mr Malfoy sounded anything but sincere.

"Thank you Lucius," said Skylar again.

"And if it isn't Veronique." His fixed happiness became sincere as he looked upon her.

Veronique cringed and realised she would have to actually look at the man. She raised her head and looked into the cold eyes of her cousin. He smiled at her and she winced.

"How have you been since I last saw you my dear?"

She winced again and wished she or Malfoy would disappear. "I'm a lot better and happier than I was then I assure you." Mr Malfoy laughed.

"Oh how rude of me, Draco, come here." He summoned forward a teenage as blonde as his father. "Veronique, Skylar, this is your cousin Draco. Draco these are your twin cousins Veronique and Skylar Veero."

"Hi," said Draco. Veronique looked at him and didn't take the offered hand. Skylar did and he smiled at Draco. It was false, but it was still a smile. Draco didn't return the smile; he appeared to be afraid of his father.

Lucius seemed determined to start up a conversation with Veronique.

"So Veronique, you're beginning Hogwarts this year, what house would you like to be in?" She didn't answer. She stared at the floor and tried not to start shaking. "Don't know? Ah well. And of course you are in the same year as my son, how wonderful. You'll be able to show everyone how wonderful you are at throwing curses; I know how good you are at those things. Of course, you aren't as good dodging the curses but-" he was cut off as Veronique screamed.

She screamed and ran, but she tripped on a loose cobble stone and landed right next to Mr Malfoy. He leant down and smiled at her. Placing a hand on her shoulder he whispered, "Is something wrong Miss Veero?" She opened her mouth in a silent scream and looked pleadingly at her brother.

"Hey, leave her alone," he yelled fire blazing in his grey eyes.

Veronique was violently sick over Mr Malfoy, got shakily to her feet and disappeared.