Harry Potter
Book 7
The Society of Dragons
Chapter 5
The Deserted Alley
The Following morning, Harry woke and quickly got dressed. He was really impatient. He hoped that Kreacher would return with Mudungus today.
He arrived downstairs to see Lupin cleaning up breakfast from the Dursley's, Ron and Hermione were eating Grits and Ham. Lupin handed him a plate when hoots were heard. Four Owls arrived through the open Kitchen window. All leaving Four letters on the table.
""Ah, your final letters" Lupin said " I remember mine, kept it safe until Christmas where your father burned it in one of his plans"
He handed Ron's first, then Hermione's then Harry's.
"And Draco's" Stated Lupin as he held the letter in his hand "Better deliver this one"
The moment Lupin left, Hermione screeched in cheer.
"What?" Harry stated as he gave a double take towards Hermione. He had hoped Kreacher had returned.
"I made Head Girl" Hermione said holding up a silver Badge.
"Lucky" Ron said "I'm still Prefect."
"Who's the Head Boy?" Harry said as he sank back in his chair.
"Professor McGonagall says its Draco" she stated as she re read it.
"What?" Ron said almost dropping his letter "They gave it to that git? The one who tried to do Dumbledore in?"
"Apparently so" Hermione said with disgust.
Harry looked at his final letter. It said the usual, that term starts on the 1st of September and his following list of supplies:
Dark Magic and its Uses By Toa-De
Dark Forces for the Untamed By Toa-De
Dark Magic Unleashed by Toa-De
Transfiguration Year 7 By Minerva McGonagall
Charms Year 7 by Filius Flitwick
Herbology Year 7 by Pomona Sprout
Potions for the Professional By Horace Slughorn
"Look at this, half the class book list are by the professors themselves" Harry stated
"Well it's a rule you know" Hermione said
"Let me guess" Ron said "Hogwarts a History?"
"No" She said flushing a bit "Just a rule for anyone who works there. If you wish to work at Hogwarts, you need to publish a book. However it only applies to the core classes. Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"You know this how?" Harry said, finishing his breakfast
"I may have asked Professor McGonagall about it back in fifth year about teaching after I Graduate." She said
"Look at all the DADA Classes. What are we doing, actually using Dark Magic?" Harry said.
"That's quite exactly true Mr. Potter" said a low voice from the entry way
Professor Ragnum had entered the room, in his leather long coat, and black tuxedo. His wooden staff under his left hand
"Professor" Hermione stated "What exactly are you going to do in the class?"
"You will find out soon enough." he said with a smile. As he smiled, his scare stretched with it, sending a chill down Harry's back.
"Anyway, I'm here to let you know, Myself, Alastor and Dumbledore will personally be escorting you three through Diagon Alley Tomorrow morning. First stop, Gringotts for Weasley and Potter, then your shopping for books and potion ingredients, then a little ice cream, ordered by Dumbledore, then straight back here. Also, the Malfoy boy will be coming along."
He nodded and walked away, and with a pop, he had disappeared.
"Any word about Kreacher yet?" Ron said as he put his letter in his pocket.
"No" Harry said, "I hope…
A large pop in the foyer, followed by rumbling and screaming made the three of them run to the foyer. Mudungus and Kreacher stood in the hallway, Mudungus trying to leave with Kreacher holding him back.
"Mudungus!" Lupin said as he ran down the stairs "In the kitchen now!"
All of them returned to the kitchen, Kreacher staying close to Mudungus as if he was going to murder him
"Mudungus" Harry said holding the fake Locket up "You took this from this house, or one like this, where is it!"
"Why do you want to know" He said, staring down the fake Lockett
"He probably wants to know if he should have sold if for greater price" Ron mumbled
"Alright" Mudungus said "I took it alright, set up my booth in Diagon Alley, then the two came over, and said it belonged to their family. I said for a fair price, but they held their wands and ordered me to hand it over, I have it to them free of charge."
"Who?" Harry said
"Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy" Mudungus said and with that he pop'd away. Kreacher grumbled and ran for the stairs. Harry following close behind.
Once at the room, he found Kreacher yelling at the two, backs against the wall
"Get this foul thing out of here" Narcissa screamed
"No" Harry said holding up the fake Lockett "Where is this one you bought from Diagon Alley"
Narcissa became pale and shivered
"H-how did y-you get that!" she said as she pointed her bony finger at it.
"You….you know don't you?" Harry said "you know what this is?"
"Draco, leave now!" She said as she shivered at the sight of the Lockett
Draco scowled and left the room with Lupin. Kreacher grumbling still, holding a fork in one hand.
"Where did you get that?" she asked again
"In a cave, with Dumbledore" Harry said "However this is a fake, you have the real one, where is it and how do you know about it"
"Yes, I know of what that dreaded thing is." she began "Lucius found out The Dark Lords most dark secret, next to Bellatrix. After the Diary incident, he told Lucius about it. After Lucius got out of Azkaban and The Dark Lord Taking over our Manor, Lucius wanted to destroy him from the inside out. He began to track down the remaining Horcruxes. We found the Lockett by mere accident. Lucius took it. We hid it in our Vault in our bedroom at the Manor. However, when Lucius was murdered, we didn't have time to take our belongings with us."
"So" Ron said "One of them is at Malfoy Manor? Great, that's a death trap that is"
"If your going to want to get it back" she started "You would need me, Only me or Lucius could open that Vault. Only our wands work on it."
"Thank you" Harry said "We will consider it"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione went back to their bedroom, discussing the morning headline in the Daily Prophet "Muggles Witnesses on Loose"
The next day, the three of them were set to go by 9am when Dumbledore and Ragnum had arrived. Moody had arrived well before they awoke.
Harry had managed to tell them all of their findings in the quickest possible way.
"There is no way we could do it" Moody said "That Manor is more protected then the Ministry and Azkaban combined. It would be sending us to our death."
"I could send in two dragons to attack. They wouldn't know what hit them" Ragnum said "Then three Society members, with Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Narcissa could possibly sneak in and get it."
"All maters we will deal with in time" Dumbledore said rising from the table. "Right now, Diagon Alley."
They all went via Flu Powder. They arrived in the Leaky Cauldron. Moody went first, followed by Ragnum. Then Ron, Hermione, followed by Harry then Dumbledore. They left after saying goodbye to Tom, and three Witches who seemed interested in Moody, and strolled down Diagon Alley.
The Alley had been bare, signs up with wanted posters, Ministry ads, Protection Ads, the crowds little and littler. Shops closed and only open during small hours out of the day.
They entered Gringotts, and went down deep into the underground of the
Bank.
Harry felt a chill fall over his body, and a flash of the Golden Hufflepuff cup flashed through his memory. He heard a soft voice, in Parseltounge, coming from the deep depths of the bank. Could a Horcrux be stored here?
Harry thought over it countless times. There would be no way. Voldemort didn't have a vault, nor did he ever come here. He had a fund from Hogwarts that paid for his books.
Harry kept the idea close to his mind but shrugged it off.
After gaining money, and buying their books, they managed to meet Ernie in Flourish and Blotts. He seemed only interested in Hermione since they both were made Head Prefects. They got Ice cream from the Leaky Cauldron, and went back to Number 12 Grimmuald place before Noon.
The day passed by as Ron and Harry played wizards chess and exploding snap, while Hermione, already indulging herself in her books.
In one week, They would all be on the train, back to Hogwarts for their final year.