Chapter 10: The evening in Diagon Alley
Fleur's family finally left the Burrow. Bill and Fleur went to the ministry with them to see them off. It felt quite empty in burrow, due to absence of guests now, with Fred and George at work and Bill at ministry along with Fleur – it seemed quiet and gloomy. The silence was broken when three owls landed in the lounge; everyone was quite surprised to see them. Ginny stepped forward and looked at all the letters, there were two letters for her from Hogwarts, she opened one of them excitedly…"Oh I am so glad Hogwarts is not going to be closed this year, this is great… (At which both Harry and Ron faked surprises over the news…they didn't tell anyone that Hermione already gave them the news)…and I guess this other one is my OWL result…" said Ginny as if talking to herself. All the Weasleys were looking at her with curious looks, it was obvious how excited they all were and were forcing themselves to stay calm; since Ginny was the youngest Weasley plus only daughter/sister, she was everyone's darling and even if she had not done well, they all would not have been hard on her or anything of the sort. Ron and Charlie both walked up to her and she finally sighed with relief…she had done well, she had scored 8 OWLs. Everyone congratulated her for beating Ron's score; Ron himself hugged Ginny and was actually happy for her.
Finally Ron and Harry opened their letters. "Where's Hermione? She has yet to open her letters…" asked Ron
Harry looked at the letters with Hermione's name on them…"Oh she has received two of them…I bet she got the head girl position…one of them is for that…lets go give them to her", both boys rushed upstairs with her letters…on reaching Ron's room…they found her asleep so decided to give her the letters later. When they returned, Charlie noticed them, still holding the letters…
"Where is she? Didn't you give her the letters?" asked Charlie
"She is sleeping so thought we'd let her sleep and give them to her later?" replied Harry. Then he continued; "So umm I was wondering…when are we going to get our Hogwarts stuff, you know books and all?" asking from nobody in particular.
"We can go now, we are not left with much time anyway since you have to leave for Dursleys tonight…I think you should wake up Hermione?" suggested Mr. Weasley.
"Let her sleep Dad! I think she's had a tiring time with the healers…you take Harry, Ron and Ginny; I'll take her when she gets up or probably in an hour…" Said Charlie, then he continued as something else entered his mind, "Hey Dad, wait for Remus and Tonks to come, go with them, the more the better … you know – around Harry"
"Yes, yes you are right …Let's wait for them to come home" said Mr. Weasley.
Bill and Fleur arrived and Bill announced that he had something to discuss with his family; on hearing this Harry quietly made his exit because he thought it was family time and he should not be there and headed upstairs towards Ron's room. Nobody noticed his exit because Ginny had excitedly announced her OWL result to Bill when he was not even finished with his sentence about his and Fleur's news. Bill and Fleur both gave her a congratulatory hug. Harry was watching all this from upstairs and finally entered Ron's room. He envied the family bondage between all the Weasleys…but then he was glad that they treated him as a family member and never let him think otherwise. Similarly he was happy to have Ron for a friend…he was more like a brother and he would not trade his friendship with Ron for anything in the world…while Harry's thoughts revolved around Ron and his family, he finally looked at the sleeping figure of Hermione, he sat down and stared at her, "how can I forget my other half, I am more than lucky to have friends like her and Ron, I can always count on them to be there for me no matter what…yes I truly am blessed…" Thinking along these lines, he noticed that Hermione was slightly cold, for she tried to pull the bed cover on herself in her sleep but since she was sleeping, the attempt to cover herself, failed. Harry thought it was quite hot for her to feel cold but he got up anyway, pulled the bed spread from his bed and covered Hermione with it; he was looking at her and couldn't turn his eyes away from her…to him she looked really innocent and calm, he reached out and brushed her hair away from the face and tucked them behind the ear. He sat next to her on the bed and for some odd reason felt like giving her a tight hug – it was odd to him because he never felt like hugging Hermione before, he had felt protective of her but still it never entered his mind to hug her or show any affection towards her. He finally whispered something unconsciously – "you are not a hag Hermione. I never told you how beautiful you looked on Bill's wedding and …", at that very moment Ron entered the room and interrupted him.
Harry stood up quickly as if caught doing something wrong, "hey Ron, What's up?"
Ron who seemed ignorant of Harry's earlier actions finally spoke, "Bill and Fleur can't shift in to their new house because of the attack and since death eaters know where they live, it is totally out of the question so they found another place near Gringotts, it's a small apartment…so that's what they wanted to tell the family, By the way Remus and Tonks are here, I came to collect you … we are leaving for diagon alley .." Then Ron looked over Harry's shoulder to see Hermione…"should we wake her up?"
"No I don't think so Ron…I think she needs her rest; Charlie offered to take her later anyway…so lets go".
Harry and Ron both left the room, while Harry was upstairs; Ginny had decided to treat everyone to a scoop of ice cream at diagon alley for her result. They all left for diagon alley with the exception of Charlie, who volunteered to keep an eye on Hermione.
At Diagon Alley, Fred and George joined them as well; they all stopped at the ice cream parlor first, "Oh I wish Charlie could come too..." said Ginny, "But I am glad you all are here" Ginny said the last bit with a big smile. They all had their ice creams … an hour passed there…all of them talking about random stuff and having a good time. Harry was having a good time and was actually having a decent conversation with Ginny without any awkwardness between them for which he was really glad. Ron, Harry and Ginny finally decided to get up and buy their supplies. Remus, Tonks and Bill accompanied the three of them while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley left with Fleur to check out the new place they were planning to live in.
Meanwhile back at burrow…Charlie was having tea quietly in the kitchen when he heard Hermione's voice calling out Harry's name…then she tried Ron's and Ginny's ….finally Charlie got there in time before the panic took over her completely. She looked scared with a wand out in one hand and stick in other while clutching her two letters in the same hand.
"Oh Charlie…am I glad to see you…I just got up..." said Hermione in an unstable voice.
"Yeah … yeah I am home…everyone else has gone to diagon alley for their supplies…I was actually waiting for you to get up so could take you there as well…" Charlie replied as if explaining something to a five year old.
Hermione seemed to relax after his explanation and finally gave a sheepish smile…"I just panicked a little when I saw nobody around and didn't hear anyone replying when I called out their names…anyway I'll just grab my bag with money and we can leave."
When she turned around to go back in the direction she came from, two more owls came and landed in lounge…she turned to look … Charlie picked up the letters and told her that they were for her. Hermione came down and sat on the chair next to where Charlie was standing. Hermione took the letters from him and opened them…after going through first letter, she smiled and said "how sweet!" and then opened the other one and repeated the same words.
"Who is sweet …if you don't mind my asking?" asked Charlie
"No I don't mind…these are the letters my friends from Hogwarts sent me, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood – they heard about the attack and my injuries so they wrote to inquire about my health…" Hermione replied.
"That really is sweet of them. You seem like a popular figure Hermione among the students…" said Charlie.
Hermione laughed over that and got up with the letters in her hands…"Not really, yeah probably being friends with Harry Potter is a reason and then in fourth year you read the rumors in Daily Prophet so I guess … yes I am popular (she laughed again) But Neville is a good friend and so is Luna, last year Luna and I got closer … anyway other than that I am not really that popular…not really liked by many at school" said Hermione "Anyway I am gonna get my bag now", saying this she went upstairs.
She finally came back with a bag on her shoulder and the two left for Diagon Alley. They first stopped by to get books, and then left for other shops from where Hermione could buy other stuff…on their way; Hermione came across the quidditch supplies shop where only yesterday she landed. Somehow Hermione feet stopped right there, she stared at hard at the shop from outside and the whole scene repeated itself in her eyes. Charlie who had gone a little ahead of her finally discovered her to be missing from his side…instantly looked around for her. He was spotted by Ginny and she called out his name, he looked at her and waved…next to Ginny were Ron and Harry…they started moving towards Charlie while Charlie looked around again for Hermione…finally he saw her and moved towards her without waiting for the other three to reach him. They also made it just in time when Charlie reached Hermione…he stopped short at when he saw how hard Hermione was staring at the quidditch shop.
It was Ginny who broke the silence, "I thought I'd never live to see the day when Hermione would actually consider shopping for quidditch supplies…" and gave a hearty laugh. Both Ron and Harry laughed over this as well…Harry moved forward waving his hand in front of her and said "so which broom are you planning to buy – nimbus 2005 or firebolt 'x' or…" Ron and Ginny started laughing really hard over this.
Hermione finally acknowledged their presence with a fake smile while Charlie stood behind Ginny all flared up … because he understood why Hermione was staring at that shop. It was the same shop where she apparated to …
Hermione gave them a fake smile and shook her head …"No was just looking, not interested in quidditch …"
"Good that you admitted or else it would've been obvious what you were trying to do…" said Ginny…Before Hermione could give her some answer the owner of the shop came out…
"How are you doing Little Miss…you can't imagine how glad I am to see you walking. Why don't you come in and bring your friends in…" offered the shop keeper.
"I am quite well, thank you. I am here because of your help Sir… or else …" replied Hermione and moved towards the shop.
"Oh quit it … it was nothing. I am just glad that you are alright…now come on in" he held the door open for them all and continued talking, "and I am no Sir…call me Bogey…" he gave a big smile to her.
They all followed Hermione inside…when it was Harry's turn, the shop keeper finally recognized him and said "Oh how wonderful…If it isn't Harry Potter…Thank you so much for visiting this shop … is there anything I can get for you…anything at all?"
"Thanks but No … I'll just see the brooms … may be some other time…" replied Harry. At which the shopkeeper started showing him the latest models of broomsticks. Harry, Ron and Ginny got busy looking at the latest models in awe. Soon they were joined by Tonks and Remus. They too started checking out the brooms.
Hermione stood there feeling a bit uncomfortable…Charlie noticed this and went to her…"hey why don't we finish with the rest of your shopping…?" asked Charlie.
"Sure…lets go" Hermione replied. She thanked the shopkeeper again for his help and left. All of them followed Charlie and Hermione for her other supplies. Finally they were all done and headed back home. Charlie and Harry were holding all her supplies and helped her with them to Ron's room. Ron and Harry were in the room with Hermione when they saw the opened letters on her bed.
"Hey who are all these letters from ?" asked Ron
"Well two of them are from Hogwarts …and other two from Luna and Neville" replied Hermione.
"What are they writing you for? ", this time it was Harry who asked her out of curiosity.
"Neville and I have been exchanging letters for past 5 years and Luna – ever since the fifth year. Anyway Neville's grandmother got to know about the attack and my being in St. Mungoes from Mrs. Diggory…so she told Neville – who met Luna sometime back and told her about me so they wrote to me inquiring about my health"
Then she turned towards them excitedly…"Guess what…I got the Head Girl Badge…" Both Harry and Ron congratulated her. Charlie and Ginny entered the room too to tell them about dinner and their departure for Dursley's when they saw the two of them congratulating Hermione…
Ron being Ron…had to spoil the moment eventually – "See I told you…Hermione was more concerned with her becoming a head girl rather than other stuff she said about concerning you Harry like…." That's when he saw Charlie and Ginny and stopped himself from continuing…"What are you two doing here?"
Hermione felt really angry at Ron's words but kept quiet because she didn't want to fight in front of Charlie and give away their secrets. Harry sensed her anger and just gave her a sympathetic look and whispered "I don't agree with him over that Hermione" … She kept quiet and the two decided to listen to what was Charlie saying.
"……so you better be ready…you are leaving right after dinner" ended Charlie…the whole time he kept his eyes on Hermione.
Hermione felt his gaze and didn't know what to do so she finally stood up and left with Ginny for her room to pack her final belongings.
Ginny politely helped her carry the school supplies to her room (to Hermione's surprise)
Back in Ron's room; Charlie closed the door once the two girls left the room… and turned towards the two boys.
"Now listen Ron and Harry…I know that Hermione is your best friend and I don't know her the way you do … But I think you need to know some things…Ever since I've been around you lot…the two of you have been totally oblivious where she is concerned… (Ron tried to say something but Charlie stopped him with his hand motion) First you made her feel ugly with your stupid remarks,…then you guys didn't care how she felt when she was in front of the quidditch shop…did you even begin to consider what probably went through her mind right then…she apparated herself there fully injured only yesterday when she was attacked…the place held some rotten memories for her… (Ron and Harry both sat down…Harry with his head in his hands registering every word Charlie was saying "when did I become so oblivious…Hermione and I understand eachother more than anyone else…" ) And right now when I entered … Ron.. are you thick or something…I caught only bits of your conversation…you could've just called her selfish rather than the long pathetic statements you were giving…WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU…Being friends for almost six years and still this is how you treat her…I fear to imagine how you guys have been with her all this time. Seriously! Think over it…you take her for granted way too much … one of the days she is finally gonna blow her top and leave the two of you…Try not to let that happen guys…be careful. She is too good a person to be treated this way…She …" Charlie stopped and finally gave them one last scrutinizing look and left.
After an uncomfortable silence, Ron spoke "He doesn't know her the way we do…he doesn't know how wild can she be…remember, how she behaved when Lavender and I were snogging…I still have…"
"SHUT UP Ron! Just drop it…" Harry cut Ron off and got up to finish packing. Ron did the same, annoyed at Harry and Charlie both.
They all had dinner…Ron, Harry and Hermione hardly shared any words during the meal. The three shrunk their trunks after the dinner…Remus and Tonks took them to the Diagon Alley first. They called a knight bus there and finally left for the Dursleys. Hermione and Remus shared a private hushed conversation in knight bus – Harry made a mental note to ask Hermione about the conversation later…right now he was nervous about the Dursleys.
The knight bus stopped in front of Privet Drive – the five people got off; Tonks and Remus turned off all the street lights with magic so the street was all dark. They reached the door and before knocking the door – it opened and Harry's aunt stood there along with Mr. Dursley.
Author's note: I hope you like this chapter. I'll try not to delay with upcoming chapters. Be patient with H/Hr to happen everyone. It's coming really soon.