Chapter Five: Danger

Hermione didn't make it to diagon alley the next day. Her parents were up at the crack of dawn, insisting that she and her friends join them at the beach. Try as she might to persuade them out of the idea, it was impossible. She spent so little time with her parents already, and everyone else was excited to go.

Ginny went into Hermione's room to change and Ron headed down the street to invite Genvi. Hermione stopped Harry before he could close his door.

"Do you realize how risky this is?" she whispered.

"What, me being out in the open?"

"Yes! Any of us being out in the open. Someone could see us there, and even if we managed to hold them off they could follow us back here—"

"Hermione, it'll be all right." He put a hand on her shoulder and sent her a smile. "Remember what Ron said about enjoying yourself?"

"We could be killed!"

"We'll be fine."

He closed the door behind him. Hermione sighed in exasperation and leaned against the wall. Was she the only sensible person here?

Whether she liked it or not, everyone was going. Genvi came back to the house with Ron, all smiles. Hermione tried to smile, tried to act like she was excited for the trip, but wasn't very successful.

Everyone piled into her parents' van. The drive to the beach wasn't long, but it seemed like an eternity to her. Harry and Ginny headed for the water immediately. Genvi laid out a towel to sunbathe. Ron sat next to her, chatting. Mr. and Mrs. Granger set up an umbrella and a couple chairs.

"Why don't you join your friends in the water, Dear?" Mrs. Granger asked.

Hermione shrugged. "I'm not really feeling up to it."

"Well, at least take off your jacket. Aren't you hot?"

"I'm fine."

Her mother hesitated before sitting down and opening a book. After a few minutes, Hermione sat next to Genvi and Ron on the sand. Genvi sent her a bright smile.

"Glad you decided to join us!"

Ron sent her a strange look. "What's with the jacket?"

Hermione shrugged. "I'm allowed to wear a jacket, aren't I?"

"It's a bit hot, isn't it?"

"I'm fine."

"Here." Ron leaned across Genvi and tried to pull Hermione's jacket off her shoulders. She pushed him away quickly. As she did so, the tip of her wand slipped out of her sleeve.

"Merlin, Ron! What's your problem?"

Ron raised his eyebrows. "You're keeping it on so you can keep your wand hidden?"

"Yes, okay? My shorts' pockets aren't deep enough for it."

"Why don't you just put it in the bag like me, Harry, and Gin?"

"Because unlike you, I realize how dangerous this is!" she snapped. "What if someone sees us—a Death Eater, perhaps? Voldemort could be here in minutes. I'm not about to let go of my wand."

Ron frowned at her. "You're being paranoid."

Hermione scoffed and stood. "Fine. I'm overreacting to the fact that the most powerful wizard in the world wants us dead."

"That's not what I meant. Just the chances of them being here on this beach—"

"It's a popular beach, Ron."

"Even more reason why they wouldn't be looking for us here!"

Hermione just shook her head and walked away. Ron laid down with a sigh and sent Genvi a forced smile.

"Sorry about that."

"It's all right." Genvi watched Hermione go. "You guys really are in the middle of a war, aren't you?"

"Yeah, but I'd rather not talk about that."

"Maybe Books is right." Genvi shifted so she could see Ron better. "Maybe we shouldn't have come."

Ron shook his head. "The chances that one of our enemies will see us are small. I understand 'Mione's concern, but she could relax a bit. We need all the relaxation and fun we can get."

"Still, it's risky."

"Well, we're here now, and we might as well make the best of it." Ron stood and held out a hand to Genvi. "Wanna join Harry and Gin in the water?"

Genvi smiled at him and took his hand. "Sure."


The drive back to the house seemed even longer than the drive to the beach. Hermione's senses were on alert, watching everything around them, making sure they weren't being followed. She didn't relax until they were once again inside the house and the door was locked.

Harry clapped a hand on her shoulder. "See, I told you everything would be fine."

Hermione sent him a small smile. "Okay, you were right—this time. We're not doing anything like that again."

"Whatever you say," Harry said with a chuckle.

Everyone went to their respective rooms to change. Ginny and Genvi both decided to take showers, since they got in the water. The boys didn't care as much and were in the kitchen when Hermione emerged from her room, carrying her purse. She walked up to them.

"Ron, did you happen to bring floo powder with you?"

"You're going to diagon alley now?" Harry asked.

"Yes."

Ron thought for a minute. "I think so. Be right back."

After a few minutes, he came out of his and Harry's room with a small bag of powder. "It's not much, but it should be enough to get all three of us there. We can buy more to get back."

Hermione shook her head. "I'm going alone."

"No, you're not," Harry insisted. "It's too dangerous."

"Oh, and going to the beach this morning wasn't?"

"That was a muggle beach. This is diagon alley. I guarantee you there will be Death Eaters there."

"Even more reason for you not to go, Harry. If you go, we'll definitely be attacked, but I can manage to slip by unnoticed."

"Well, at least let me go," Ron said.

"No. I'll be faster on my own."

He raised his eyebrows. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, just that I know what I'm looking for and you don't."

Harry frowned. "Hermione, let one of us go with you."

"No way. Even if something does happen to me, at least the two of you will be safe."

"Then I should go!" Ron said, standing. "I'm the least valuable of the three of us."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't be silly, Ron."

"I'm not. Let me go. Tell me what to get, and—"

"If it'll make you feel better, I'll take the invisibility cloak," Hermione said, folding her arms. "But I know exactly what I need, and you don't. I'll be there and back within two hours."

Harry and Ron exchanged glances. They knew arguing would get them nowhere.

"If you're not back by then, we're coming to look for you," said Harry.

Hermione nodded and took the powder from Ron. Harry retrieved his invisibility cloak from his room, and she put it in her purse just in case. Without another word to either of them, she stepped into the fireplace.

"Diagon Alley!" she said, and disappeared in a wisp of green flames.


"Is that everything, Miss?"

Hermione nodded. The shopkeeper gathered her things and put them in a small bag.

"And the order?"

"Give me two weeks."

Hermione's face fell. "I need it as soon as possible."

"Like I said—two weeks."

"All right," she sighed as she took the bag. "I'll see you in a couple weeks then."

Hermione took out her list as she stepped out of the shop. There was just one more stop to make. She looked at her watch as she walked towards it. She'd been gone an hour and a half. Maybe she should wait and pick up these last few things when she came to get the first of her orders next week. She didn't want Harry and Ron coming after her and putting themselves in danger.

Deciding to head home and get the rest of the things later, Hermione turned around, and ran right into someone. Her bag fell on the ground and she scrambled to gather her things.

"I'm sorry!" she said quickly. "I should pay more attention to where I'm going."

"Don't be sorry, Miss Granger. You're just who I was looking for."

The man's familiar voice sent a wave of panic through Hermione's body. She grabbed her purse and ran, leaving everything else behind. Lucius Malfoy followed on her heels. When he grabbed her jacket, she let him pull it off and kept running.

"STUPEFY!" she yelled, pointing her wand behind her shoulder.

Someone fell. She turned around quickly. Malfoy was on the ground, but four more men were headed her way. She spun around again, only to see three others coming from the opposite direction. People in the streets scattered as the men pulled out their wands, each of them pointing at her.

She stuck her hand inside her purse and felt the silky material on top. As the first curses were cast, Hermione ducked to the ground and pulled the cloak out, covering herself. She ran to the nearest shop and backed up against the wall, holding perfectly still. The men continued to send spells at the spot where she had been, until Lucius Malfoy caught up to them, looking disheveled.

"She's obviously gone, you idiots!" he said, kicking the air where she'd been. "But she couldn't have got far. What are you all standing about for?"

The men spread out, some going down side streets, some going into shops. Hermione held her breath and hoped her heart wasn't beating too loudly. Everyone else on the street cowered in front of the men, praying they wouldn't be noticed.

Slowly, Hermione slinked toward the nearest fireplace, wincing every time her footsteps made the slightest sound. One of the men was searching the shop, but he was on the other end. She reached inside her bottomless purse to find the floo powder. As she searched for it, her shoulder hit a stack of books behind her, and they fell.

Hermione froze. So did the man. His eyes landed on the books and he grinned.

"Gotcha."

He pointed his wand toward her. Hermione jumped into the fireplace, her hands finally snatching the powder. His first curse barely missed her. She threw down the powder. Seeing the green flames, the man ran towards the fireplace now, lunging for her.

She said her address as quickly and quietly as she could. Just before the man could reach her, the flames engulfed her, and she was in the floo network. When she saw her living room, she let out a sigh of relief and stepped out of the fireplace.

Almost as soon as she had, she froze again.

On the other end of the room, Ron and Genvi were on the couch, snogging.


A/N: As always, I love reviews! Thanks for reading :)