Hey all! Here is another chapter for you! Sorry, this one is a little short than the previous chapters, but I promise that the next one will be longer.

Anyway, I hope y'all have had a wonderful month of April!

Now, please, enjoy!


Chapter 16

It was rather depressing outside. Aside from being forced to stay with at least one of the adults, the overall atmosphere of Diagon Alley was dark, gloomy. At the beginning of summer, the atmosphere was lighter, not by much, but now…it was mimicking the overall attitudes of its residents. Voldemort was back, and now everybody knew it. The Daily Prophet's coverage of the fiasco in the Department of Mysteries made sure of that. The Dark Lord let himself be seen by the now former Minister and the entirety of the Auror Department. And the theatrical picture signifying his return brought back the fear that permeated all of the British Isles just 16 years ago.

Nobody wanted to go out. Nobody wanted to risk the chance of falling victim to the nefarious deeds of His inner circle of Death Eaters. But it was inevitable; places to go, people to see, things to buy. And that's how today was: doing the unfortunate necessary of stepping out of their homes. Students needed their school supplies for the upcoming year and the adults scurried off to their jobs.

Usually, the Alley would be filled to the brim with bustling families—excited first years, enchanted muggleborns, and more—excitedly doing their annual shopping for robes, books, and supplies. Many milling about by the Quidditch Shop or the Magical Menagerie. But not today.

It wasn't as bustling or exciting, it wasn't bright nor filled to the brim. No, today, people were scurrying like rodents, rushing to get their shopping done and get home as quickly as possible, lest they risk being taken. Not that that was going to happen today; there was no point. Fear was already spreading and there didn't seem to be any raids happening. Though poor Ollivander was already snatched earlier this week. Now, where were the first years going to get their wands?

Despite spending the majority of her summer with Harry and Sirius at Black Manor, Hermione wasn't privy to majority of the on goings of the Dark Lord and his inner circle. So, it shocked and greatly upset the teen witch to find the destroyed wand shop and noted the missing wand maker. But that wasn't something she could dwell on at this point in time; not with Ron and Ginny Weasley dragging herself and Harry to their brothers' unsurprisingly successful joke shop.

"We need something to cheer us up," Ron said.

And Ron was right. It was utterly depressing and one couldn't help but somberly frown.

As Ginny excitedly pulled open the bright orange door of Weasleys' Wizards Wheezes, the group heard the laughs and boisterous chatter of the patrons. Stepping inside, ignoring the adults tailing them, the teens spread about to look around at the products presented by Fred and George.

Venturing off on her own path, Hermione made her way to a bright, tall, pink stand as she absently heard Ron's attempts at bargaining with his brothers on the prices of one of their products. Looking into one of the pink flower like bowls, she found pink, luminescent potions which Hermione instantly recognized that they were love potions. Of course, they would have that here, Hermione laughed inwardly. Feeling a bump on her shoulder, the young Duchess found an amused Tonks looking at her. The auror then raised an eyebrow, having shifted her gaze to behind the auburn-haired witch. She motioned for Hermione to glance behind her and she found two things: 1) a lustful glazed look of Ginny as she held one of the potions, looking over to Harry, and 2) the lustful, somewhat creepy, gaze of one Cormac McLaggen. Hermione couldn't help but cringe at the sight. Great, not only do I have to deal with Ron, but now Cormac, she thought.

Turning back around, Hermione rolled her eyes at the amused metamorphmagus before tossing the potion back into the flower bowl.

"I will have order." The two witches heard the robotic voice of the despised inept professor, Dolores Umbridge. The teen couldn't help but laugh as she looked up to find a miniature version of the pink toad riding on a unicycle on top of a tightrope cable while balancing two buckets of water on her shoulders. It was truly a sight to see. Thinking, Hermione had to agree with Ron's previous words. They did need something cheerful, especially when the school year was about to start.

They didn't spend too much more time in Fred and George's shop after Ron tried to bargain with his brothers. It was a little funny to listen to and watch. However, after Ron's failed attempts, only a few prank toys were bought, including the Weasley twins' peruvian instant darkness powder, before they decided to leave to continue their shopping. Once they step outside, the atmosphere was still the same as before they stepped into the joke shop, so they quickly made their way through the various shops before finally arriving at Hermione's favorite: Flourish & Blotts.

Typically upon entrance, everyone would know to just leave the bookworm to wander around the shop on her own, finding which books she wanted to venture her mind through. However, today, Ron insisted on following her around like some lost, kind of annoying, puppy. "Ron, truly, you don't have to follow me. You know I like to take my time looking around."

"I know, Mione. But, I want to join you," he said with a seemingly genuine smile.

"But-" she tried.

"Oh, that's a wonderful idea, Ron. Hermione dear, let Ronnie join you," Molly insisted causing said son to turn bright red at the nickname. "He can provide you with some company as well as safety, just in case something happens." The Weasley matriarch flashed a giant grin to the young witch before casting a knowing look to her son. She turned to Harry and Ginny, "and you two should do the same."

Knowing that this was going to make Hermione uncomfortable, Harry quickly protested. "How about Ron and I go together and Hermione and Ginny pair up? Ron would more than likely get bored if he went with Hermione."

Mrs. Weasley simply waved him off. "No, the two of you would get distracted with nonsense and not get your supplies. Besides, like I said, it's safer." Harry tried to protest further, but at Molly's sharp glare, he kept quiet.

Groaning to herself, Hermione simply made her way up to the second floor, knowing that Ron was walking right behind her. As they stepped onto the landing, the wizard grabbed a hold of Hermione's hand, fully intended to hold the witch's hand as they shopped for their-well Hermione's-books. Annoyed, the witch turned to look at the boy, "Ron, I'm going to need both of my hands if I'm going to properly look through these books, as well as carry them if I pick them." She tried to tug her hand out of his grasp, but he held it steadfast.

He simply smiled at her. "Well," Ron said as he rubbed his thumb over the back of Hermione's hand. "For one, it helps make sure we don't lose each other. I mean you like to wander," he said offhandedly. "And second, it feels nice," Hermione looked queerly at him, "holding your hand. It feels nice to do so," he expanded on his thought, speaking gently. His tone, though, made her want to pull away from him even more. "Besides," he added, "if you need to carry any of your books, I can carry some for you."

"But-" she tried but he simply smiled, but his eyes were unrelenting with his intents. Sighing in defeat, Hermione gave up her attempts at removing his hand and made her way to one of the far off shelves, deliberately ignoring the triumphant grin on the boy's smug face.


"I feel the compulsive need to take five showers," Hermione shivered in disgust. Unlike every other time the witch had gone to Flourish & Blotts, she tried to get her book shopping done as soon as possible. Ron's incessant need to hold her hand was enough encouragement for her to get back to Grimmauld Place as fast as possible. She needed to just get away, and when they got back, she along with Harry, Tonks, and Sirius, escaped to the Black library in the townhouse. Only Blacks were allowed into the room, and Sirius had keyed the two teens into the wards for the room, so the Weasleys had no way of suffocating them in at least that part of the house.

Harry laughed at the whinging. Hermione had already taken two showers before she joined them in their sanctuary. "I think you had already washed him away enough." At this point, he had thought she was going a bit overboard with the showers, but he couldn't blame her for acting that way. He, too, had to deal with Ginny forcing herself on him, though he had more success than Hermione in keeping the redhead from latching onto him.

"Honestly, Harry, he's lucky I didn't cut off his bloody hand." Sirius chuckled to himself from where he was sitting by the fireplace with his book. Tonks also laughed lightly at the thought. "I'm serious," she said incredulously, "if he touches me one more time, I will off the one thing most precious to him." The guys in the room flinched while Tonks let out a hearty laugh. "Very slowly...with a dull blade." Now, all three other occupants shivered at her words and scarily sadistic tone. Now, all three were thinking that it was best that keep the angry witch away from the ginger wizard.

Though he wasn't as homicidal as his best friend, Harry was just disgusted, angry, and annoyed by Ginny. Well, Ginny and Molly. Mrs. Weasley was going above and beyond to force her youngest onto Harry and Hermione. And with her mother's encouragement, Ginny is doing everything she can to make passes at the boy. "I know how you feel," he said simply with a nod. The two shared a sad smile.

With a look of understanding, "Just two more weeks, kiddos. Just two more weeks," Sirius sympathized.