OLD MAGIC

Chapter 16: Christmas Shopping Gone Wrong

November swept in with blustering winds and billows of snow. Between classes children could be heard squealing from well thrown snowballs and seen building snowmen in the courtyard. Elsewhere in the castle, not everyone was as happy as the children.

"Those fools!" Quirrell's voice hissed. His eyes flamed with fury as he paced angrily back and forth in his empty classroom at the end of yet another interminable day.

While Voldemort ranted, the real Quirrell was laughing with glee. Word had reached their shared ears that Dolohov and McNair had been arrested by the aurors. It warmed his heart that not all the ministry had been corrupted. Despite Fudge's interference or lack there of, Voldemort's minions were being caught and the reign of terror he'd worked so hard to build, was crumbling.

"Without my physical guidance they are making stupid decisions!" The stuttering that Quirrell was known for was completely absent as the malevolent spirit continued to rant. "I must have a body of my own and soon or all my efforts to cow these sheep will be ruined." He degenerated into angry muttering which was fine with Quirrell as he was hardily tired of hearing his voice spewing such vileness about.

His good mood evaporated minutes later when Voldemort halted in his tracks and said, "Yes! That's it! I'll lure the boy into the forest with tales of an injured unicorn. That will get the brat where I want him and away from his hidden protectors. But first I'll need a unicorn."

Quirrell shuddered within his mind with fear and disgust. He'd already been involved with the deaths of two unicorns already and it sickened him. He desperately wanted to warn someone, especially Harry about what the fiend planned but, as always, he was completely helpless.

As the dark spirit made his plans, Quirrell could only stare around his classroom in misery. Suddenly, a movement under the huge cabinet in the corner caught his eye. He stared there for as long as Voldemort allowed his head to be in that direction. Just before his body began to move off, he saw what it was he'd spotted. The little kneazle that had been spying on them for months carefully eased itself from under the cabinet, vanishing from view before it was fully in sight. A sigh of utter relief filled the possessed man.

"Thank Merlin! Potter will be warned." With that worry dealt with, he allowed himself to recede within that part that was still his own and rest. He might be of help later when the boy's guardians tried to put an end to the wizarding world's most deadly enemy. He prayed they succeeded and set him free.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"HARRY!" A voice shouted behind the black-haired youth. He turned and received a snowball in his face.

Laughter filled the air as he removed his glasses, shook them off and brushed the wet stuff off his forehead and cheeks. A softly muttered cleansing spell cleaned his glasses which he put back on.

"You asked for it Harry," Ron laughed. "We've been yelling at you forever it seemed. Where your mind get to?"

"Very funny, Ron," Harry snorted, giving his mate a friendly shove. "I was just thinking about what I need to get for Christmas presents when we go to Hogsmeade this weekend."

"Bugger it! I hadn't even thought about shopping. Me mum will be furious with my thoughtlessness so I'd better be thinking of something to get them all. Thanks for reminding me, mate." Ron's face scrunched up in concentration as the two of them headed inside to warm up and get ready for dinner.

"You're welcome," Harry said, smiling.

They reached the portal leading to the Gryffindor Common Room a few minutes later, Ron giving the password so they both could step through. There were many others there before them so the room was noisy with all the chatter. The pair pushed their way through the mob and went up to the boy's dorm.

As they stripped off their clothes to change, Ron asked, "Harry, you going home then?"

"Uh huh." Harry's voice was muffled by the jumper he was pulling on.

"Will we get to meet your friend or friends at the station?"

Harry was pulling on his robe when he turned to eye Ron for a moment before shaking his head. "Sorry that wouldn't be a good idea, Ron. Their anonymity keeps them safe, remember?"

"Oh aye, that's true. Sorry, I did forget but still it's sad we can't meet them," Ron said, unhappily.

"When it's safe in the world again, I'll be happy to introduce you to them all, Ron...promise," Harry comforted his school friend. Ron's smile returned.

"I'll look forward to that. Now, let's eat. I'm starving!" The redhead lead the way as they hurried to follow their fellow Gryffindors down to the great hall for dinner.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Saturday came with sunlit skies though it was very cold and snowy. The children allowed to go into town were already up and eating breakfast. Their happy chatter filled the air making most of the teachers smile indulgently down at them from their high table.

Dumbledore, though smiling at one and all, wasn't as happy. He didn't want Harry to go into town but had no legitimate reason, beyond concern for his safety, to keep him from joining his classmates. If he forced the boy to stay behind it would only foster hurt feelings and make him even more wary around the headmaster than he already was. No amount of kind treatment and attempts to befriend the boy had worked and Dumbledore had no idea why.

Most all the children trusted him except for the Slytherins, for obvious reasons. Even Harry's friends trusted him but not Harry himself. He blamed the forest dwellers for that. He was certain they had warned the boy away from him. But that didn't stop him from trying to establish some kind of relationship with Harry. It was imperative the boy learn to trust him if he was to be molded into the weapon they desperately needed against the Dark Lord, which was why he couldn't keep the boy at the castle when it was obvious he so wanted to go.

To salve his conscience and concerns for the boy's safety, he recruited Snape to be Harry's shadow. That worthy was very unhappy with his orders and made no bones about just how upset he was about it.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

"Why should I be the one to trail after a gaggle of teenagers? Send one of the others who actually likes being amongst them," Snape growled in his most haughtiest tone. Of course this was all pretense since he did need to shadow Harry but the headmaster didn't need to know that hence why he pretended anger and annoyance, standing rigidly at attention before Dumbledore's desk the evening before the outing.

"Now Severus," Dumbledore said soothingly. "We can't very well let the boy go into such a dangerous situation without some kind of guard and we can't keep him here or he'll become resentful."

"You still can't get him to trust you, eh?" Snape said a bit snidely.

Dumbledore lost the twinkle in his eyes as he stared at the sallow man with undisguised annoyance. "That has no bearing here. You are the most skilled in defensive spells and are a member of the Order of the Phoenix which makes you the best person for the task."

Snape rolled his eyes but said, "As you wish, Headmaster." He turned about and stormed out of the office.

Once back in his own quarters in the dungeon, he smiled and relaxed as he got ready for bed. Having Dumbledore literally order him to be Harry's bodyguard worked in his and Hagrid's favor as this was exactly what they wanted to happen. Now he just needed to insure Harry didn't fall victim to any possible plans the malevolent spirit inside Quirrell might have to snatch the boy while he was away from the safety of the castle. Hagrid had already assured him that he too would be in town, though, since he couldn't be seen shadowing Harry, it was up to Snape to take that role. As he climbed into bed, his last thoughts as sleep slid over him was that he hoped the day would be just an ordinary one but didn't hold any hope it would. They were just not that lucky.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

With breakfast out of the way, the handful of teachers going on this outing led the way into town, the children stretched out behind them like so many beads on a string with a sour and unhappy appearing Snape bringing up the rear. Hagrid had left a few hours earlier so it would appear his errands were unrelated to those of the children.

Somewhere in the middle of the pack were Harry, Hermione, and Ron, chattering excitedly about all the different places they intended to go.

"I've got to check out the new stuff at Zonko's Joke Shop," Ron said, gleeful and excited.

"Well, I'm headed for Scrivenshafts Quill Shop for some new quills and writing paper then to Honeydukes for some chocolates. What about you Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Hmm, I too need to get some writing supplies so I'm with you there, Hermione but then I too want to see Zonko's cause that sounds fun, and, of course, Honeydukes. I also need to stop at Dervis and Bangs, Gladrags, and the Three Broomsticks for some butter beer and lunch."

"Blimey Harry, that's nearly the whole village," Ron snorted, amused.

"Well, I did say I needed to do my Christmas shopping, Ron," Harry laughed.

"So it looks like we go together since we all need nearly all those shops too. Should be fun," Hermione said, slipping her arms into each of the boy's arms making them all smile with excitement as they hurried forward.

The morning slipped by quickly and successfully to Harry's mind. He was in an excellent mood having found some great gifts for everyone on his list. And this was where shopping as a wizard was so much better than doing the same in the muggle world as he could shrink his goods into a small packet and tuck it in a pocket of his robes. How great was that? So now, shopping nearly done, he and Ron were waiting for Hermione to finish purchasing her items at Gladrags before they moved on to Honeydukes for candy then the Three Broomsticks to finish up the day.

However much fun they were having, Harry kept alert for danger unlike his two friends who ignored their surroundings. but because of the threat to himself, he couldn't be that sloppy. His guardians had trained him to always practice what they dubbed "situational awareness" behavior no matter where he was. Right this minute, though, things appeared normal and their day was nearly over but still he didn't relax. Because of this training, he easily noted Professor Snape's hovering near wherever he was and spotting his foster father only once. For someone so large, it was amazing how the half-giant could be nearly invisible if he chose.

As Harry took another sweep of the street and its environs, seeing nor feeling no threats, he was, nonetheless, relieved when Hermione finally stepped out of the store at that moment. It was tiring being on constant alert. Gathering her between them, he and Ron made for Honeydukes, but they had only walked a few steps when Harry felt the fine hairs on his body rise in warning. Without hesitation, he grabbed Hermione's arm and yelled at Ron to follow as he tugged her inside the Owl Post Office they had just been passing. Confused, Ron was about to demand what was wrong the moment they were behind the door when a blast shook the ground and sent up a cloud of snow to obscure the area, blinding everyone. Screams of fear and anger peppered the air as people on the street scattered. The Postmaster standing behind the counter dropped down out of sight while the mail owls shrieked and flapped their wings in anger and fear at the loud commotion outside.

Now safe inside, Harry dared to peer cautiously out the window beside the door and saw the enemy appearing from a manufactured mist, wands at the ready. Ron tried to look outside too while demanding of his friend, "What the hell is going on, Harry?"

"Death Eaters!" Harry hissed, shoving Ron back and away from the window. Hermione had smartly kept to the floor and huddled between them. The uproar outside began to fade a little though the occasional outcry could still be heard. When nothing seemed to happen after a few minutes, the three couldn't resist peering outside to see if the danger had passed. Unfortunately, the invaders were still in the street, dark cloaked and wearing hideous skeleton-masks to hide their identities but there was no mistaking who they were ... Death Eaters, armed and searching for someone or something. The mist hid just how many of them there were.

But as they watched, two of the menacing Death Eaters suddenly moved toward the Owl Post Office while the rest hurried off in different directions. Before the three could decide if they should run out the back, the two heading for them were hit with a bright light that spat out of the mist, striking the pai,r and sending them flying further down the street, landing hard on the ground.

Appearing like dark ghosts against the thick mist were Professors Snape, Sinistra, Flitwick, and Vector with their wands out and firing spells rapidly one after the other. While Snape headed to the post office, the rest of the teachers ran after the Death Eaters that had scattered. The hunt was on.

As the three pulled away from the window in relief, Harry was concerned at why the enemy didn't apparate with the teachers hounding them and the aurors sure to arrive soon. To his mind, it meant their target, namely himself, was more important than their possible capture. Not good!

"Looks like they might have things well in hand..." Ron had begun to say when the rear door of the Owl Post Office exploded inward revealing a Death Eater who had obviously made his way from the street to behind the building before he could be spotted by the teachers.

The man ran in and made for Harry, shoving the other two children aside before snatching Harry by his left wrist then muttering a hasty apparition spell ... which didn't work much to the dismay of the Death Eater. He had no idea that Harry had stymied him with a swift and silently chanted anti-apparition jinx, effectively preventing him from kidnapping the boy.

"What tha...?" growled the Death Eater in confused shocked, repeating the spell but never sensing the person coming up behind him until he fell unconscious to the floor from a well placed blow to the head. A triumphant Draco Malfoy stood there with a huge rock in his hands that he must have brought in from outside.

How had he known Harry was in trouble? He must have seen them enter the post office, Harry thought. Either way he was very glad the boy had come to the rescue. "Great work Draco," Harry told the blond, smiling in relief. "However, you'd better get out of here before anyone sees you. I don't want you catching grief from your so called housemates," he warned. Turning to look out the window he noted Snape was heading their way. "And before Professor Snape sees you too."

"I will but first I wanted to tell you that I saw you three duck into here, smart reflexes there Harry, then caught sight of that Death Eater disappearing behind the building. Knew where he was likely going and thought I could help. Glad I was timely. Bye!" Draco hurriedly explained as he dropped the rock then turned to run out the back door, shutting it behind him. He'd cut it close as the front door opened revealing a very worried potion's master.

"Is everyone alright," Snape demanded, going over to the fallen enemy to insure the man wouldn't be getting up and taking off the man's mask. He snorted as he recognized the fool.

Behind the counter the post master rose, white as a sheet, but relieved the danger was over. "I..I'm...fine, thank you," he said shakily, then turned to soothe the owls who were still flapping and screeching. Snape barely acknowledged him as his focus was on the prisoner and the children.

"Yes sir. We're fine now," Harry answered for all of them. "Is it safe now?"

Casting a binding spell on the prisoner, Snape answered, "It seems so. It wasn't a large group as they most likely figured they could get in and out fairly quickly. Since the danger seems over, everyone is being sent back to Hogwarts just to be safe. Unfortunately, you and several other witnesses will have to remain until the aurors finish questioning everyone."

As if summoned, an auror suddenly stepped through the still open front door with wand at the ready. Seeing the body on the floor he addressed Snape. "Only one here?"

"Apparently and it seems one of the children managed to hit him on the head when he wasn't looking," Snape said, carefully. The lump on the head and the rock on the floor had told him that but not who had done it.

"Excellent. We'll collect him now." The auror glanced at the children a moment. "We will have to question the children though, I'm sorry."

"That was understood which is why I'm taking them to the Three Broomsticks in preparation of your need to do that," Snape said smoothly.

"Excellent, you do that. One of us will be round as quick as we can so you may escort them back to Hogwarts." The auror looked satisfied with that arrangement and stepped closer to the prisoner to allow Snape and the threesome to leave.

The street had returned more or less to normal except for the absence of nearly all but a few students. Those few were being questioned outside Honeydukes and close to Zonkos. The four stepped into the street and continued down the road until they reached the small pub and went inside.

Since this was where they'd intended to go after Honeydukes (which Harry unhappily realized wouldn't happen now) they wended their way through the fairly busy place to a table in a quiet corner and sat. Snape stood over them, his expression dark. "It seems luck still follows you, Mr. Potter," he sneered, staying in character.

"Yes sir," Harry, playing along, spoke in a surly tone.

Snape stared at the three a long moment then leaned over them and asked in a low voice, "Tell me what happened." The three told their story including the presence of Draco. Snape's expression was unemotional as he said, "Three things ... do not mention Mr. Potter's apparent skill with a jinx spell, do not mention Draco Malfoy being here, and I care not what kind of story you concoct to explain how that man got the knot on his head but be consistent and on the same page when you tell it. For security reasons, only the headmaster should hear the truth of what actually happened, understood?"

Hermione blinked in surprise that Snape wanted them to withhold information from the aurors and was about to object but seeing Snape's expression, thought better of it. Ron had no such problem obeying since he was afraid of Snape, so just mutely nodded his head.

"We understand, sir," Harry muttered then looked up and asked hesitantly, "May we order food while we wait, sir?" Snape blinked then looked out the door a moment before turning back to them.

"Since it might be a long wait, I see no harm in that. Go ahead," Snape said quietly. "I'll sit at the bar and keep watch. Despite all the excitement and scare, do enjoy your meal." With that surprising show of concern, Snape turned away and took a seat at the bar that placed him halfway between the door and the children.

Ron looked at the menu but said in a low voice, "Blimey, he sounded almost caring."

Harry shrugged as he perused the menu as well. "He is supposed to care. Anyway, I'm glad we at least get lunch after all that. The hot turkey sandwich sounds perfect." The other two agreed and ordered the same thing as well as a butter beer each. The room had been filling with excited and angry patrons but no other students. Many of the adults eyed them curiously but seeing the teacher, none approached.

As they nursed their beers having finished their lunch, they discussed the attack. However, Hermione had a more pressing question to ask Harry before they could get into that discussion.

"How did you know how to do an anti-apparition jinx, Harry?" Hermione asked, frowning. "None of us have been taught this as yet." She knew of the jinx as she had read about it but didn't dare to attempt it as the book had said a child had to be a certain age and strength to pull it off. Which meant no one their age should try it till trained.

"I had very good instructors, Hermione," Harry deflected the question.

"But no one our age is supposed to be of sufficient strength to even do that," Hermione persisted.

Rolling his eyes, Harry leaned forward and spoke in a low voice, "Hermione, you know I was trained in magic much earlier in life than you. Because you were born and raised a muggle, you are at the level of most muggle born though you are smart enough to pick it up quickly. Ron being born into a magical family is more familiar though untrained with magic. Then there is Draco and a few of the other Syltherin that were given more advanced lessons by their families. To give you an idea where I rate among you all, I am at least fourth year level but much of that early training could only go so far as I must gain more age and strength for more than that. So the jinx was not difficult for me and I'm capable of a full Patronus as well."

Hermione's and Ron's eyes widened at that. "Wow, no one can produce a Patronus at our age usually. That's amazing Harry," Ron blurted though still keeping his voice low. Harry just smiled and shrugged.

Ron shook his head and let that subject go for now. What had his true attention was Malfoy's strange behavior. "Oy Harry, why do you think that git Draco came to our rescue? Slytherin are big on not helping others if it doesn't get them something in return." His rancor was back as he fumed about how the boy had saved them and smirked about it. Why would an enemy do that? He had to be wanting something, Ron fumed in confusion, slamming his beer mug down, his expression petulant and glowering.

Anger flared in Harry's green eyes as he nearly got in Ron's face. "He's not a git and I'll thank you to hold your tongue about him. If you can't accept the fact he is not the enemy and that he helped us because he cared and it was the right thing to do then keep your ignorant mouth to yourself. I've put up with your uncalled for animosity for a while now, Ron, but it's beginning to get very tiresome besides being immature. Grow up and look at what's real in front of you rather than what others have filled your head with about Draco and Slytherin House," Harry said coldly then sat back and finished his beer.

Ron gaped at Harry, shocked his friend would stand up for a Syltherin. "He's a Slytherin, Harry. That's all we need to know about what they stand for. Our house doesn't consort with them because their parents are pure bloods who believe in that rot He-who-must-not-be-named spouts off. They can't be trusted," he insisted angrily.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly to curb his rising fury at his friends obstinacy, Harry carefully said in a cold tone, "Not all of them are in collusion with the enemy, Ron. And for your information, just because they are in a house named for a snake doesn't make them all automatically evil. If you would just pay attention you would see there are more in that house that want nothing to do with the very few that are doing evil's bidding." He shook his head. "If I had any say, I'd do away with that ridiculous and artificial division of houses. It makes sense to have several houses as control of that many children would be difficult. But allowing a toxic rivalry between them is wrong. All houses should be able to be friends with any house they please ... be allowed to study together, play together, date, and so forth. What we have now allows for what Ron is so clearly displaying: suspicion, paranoia, hatred, distrust, jealousies, and vicious rivalries. Such behavior leads to no true unity in the school and long term hatred into adulthood. How useless to society is that mindset?" He ranted then shook his head, huffed and went silent for a few minutes, trying to regain his composure.

When he spoke again, he said more quietly, "We can speak of that subject at a better time and place so drop it. Right now we need to come up with a mutual story for the Aurors. My suggestion for this is: tell them what we saw up to when the Death Eater rushed in from the back door and grabbed my wrist, tell where the post master was, then Ron will say he had stepped to the open back door, saw the rock, grabbed it and while the enemy was still busy with me, bashed the ass on the back of the head. That should be true enough to be plausible with the "who it was" that hit the enemy being the only lie". Sound good enough for you both? " He stared at them intently waiting their response.

Ron was still upset and confused about the things Harry had said but in this he simply nodded in understanding and agreement. Hermione did the same, though she too was taken aback by Harry's earlier rant. She'd never heard anyone say anything like that before and it set her to thinking ... was he right?