Chapter 28: Something Wicked This Way Comes

August 30, 2007

Early the next morning Bella set out alone to get some supplies from Diagon Alley and Muggle London. She picked up a bulk pack of ballpoint pens, lots of muggle notebooks, a few quills Hermione recommended, and she even set up her own Gringotts vault.

With plans to rendezvous with Neville later in the day she set off first to meet up with Leah and Hermione at the Leaky Cauldron. The bartender was coughing terribly when Bella entered, so she steered around him carefully in her search for her friends. Finally she found them tucked away in a far corner.

"Hey, guys," she grinned. "Ron, I didn't know you'd be here."

"He's not supposed to be." Hermione quirked an eyebrow.

"Oi, you lot would skive off as well if George kept trying to experiment on you!"

Leah began snickering, and Bella recalled her previous encounter with George's beard candies. "What was he trying to do?" she asked with a shudder.

Ron turned a bright shade of red and muttered something indecipherable. Finally Hermione spoke for him between her own laughs.

"George keeps trying to slip Ron something called gendersnaps. They mimic the taste and appearance of ginger biscuits, only they cause you to switch genders for up to thirty minutes."

"So he says!" Ron shouted. "One of his 'test subjects' stayed switched for three bloody days!"

Bella's eyes widened. She'd take the beard over other male anatomy any day.

The barman hobbled over with butterbeer for the ladies and a firewhiskey for Ron.

"Thank you," Hermione half-smiled. "Er, pardon the intrusion, Tom, but are you alright? You don't quite seem yourself lately."

"Me health isn't what it used to be, Miss Hermione, but I manage. Don't you worry about ol' Tom." He left before she could ask anymore questions, and Hermione frowned.

"He's been ill for weeks. I'm worried about him."

"It's not like he has any family to miss him when he's gone," Ron shrugged, earning a death glare from his wife. "I mean," he coughed, "Tom's a good man, and...I hope he recovers."

"Couldn't magic just take care of something like that?" Bella asked. Leah leaned forward without thinking, clearly wanting to know the answer as well.

"That's the conundrum," Hermione's eyes narrowed. "He'd never admit to it, but records show he's been to St. Mungo's twice in the past month. The healers suspect he came in contact with dark magic, but he won't admit to anything."

Leah seemed upset by Hermione's words. "How did you find this out? Don't you people have...doctor-patient confidentiality?"

"Of course we do," she snapped back, looking ruffled. "But when dark magic is suspect there are exceptions."

Leah still appeared flustered, so Bella tried changing the subject. "How are things with Andromeda and Teddy?"

The she-wolf's eyes brightened at once. "I love it there. Teddy–he's so brave, and Andromeda's so understanding about everything." Her eyes almost sparkled while she went on. "It's nice not having to worry about people judging me, you know — people who just saw me as the stilted ex girlfriend of Sam Uley. I feel like I can be my own person here."

"That's wonderful!" Hermione patted her arm.

Ron took a swig of butterbeer and leaned back with his arms folded. "How's Teddy doing? Last night was the full moon, wasn't it?"

"Two nights ago," his wife corrected immediately.

Leah's face fell slightly. "Not so good. The last few nights have been pretty rough. He's not transforming yet or anything, but I wonder if that potion you guys told me about might help."

Hermione nodded slowly. "I'll look at the data involving the use of wolfsbane on control subjects. If there are no serious side effects, then there's no reason Teddy shouldn't be able to take it as well."

Leah smiled widely. "Thanks. You're a great friend, Hermione."

"Oh, Leah, you're more than welcome!" The witch burst into tears. "S–sorry, it's the hormones!" she cried, and Ron was left to pat her on the back until she was done.

Bella turned to Leah. "How was Jacob when he left?"

"He was...okay. I think getting back home will be good for him."

"That's good..." she trailed off vaguely. There was a commotion near the entrance of the pub, and Bella rose to see what was going on.

"I'm a supernatural being. I have just as much right pass through here to Diagon Alley as your kind!"

Chills ran down her spine, and she felt Leah tense next to her.

"It's Rosalie, we have to get out of here," Bella whispered, shooting a warning glance at Ron and Hermione, and they immediately grabbed their wands.

They were just nearing the brick exit when Rosalie caught sight of them and pushed through the onslaught of wizards blocking her path.

"Impedimenta!" Hermione cried, and Rosalie slowed...to a human pace.

"What business do you have in Diagon Alley, Miss Hale?" Hermione folded her arms authoritatively.

"I need to see your Wizengamot." Her eyes fell on Bella, and the vampire let out a scathing growl.

"Unless you're going to supply more specifics, I'm afraid that's simply not good enough."

"That girl you're protecting assaulted me using a dark curse, and I intend to see her burn for it."

Bella paled as many of the bar patrons stared in her direction.

"She is no danger to anyone in the Wizarding World."

"I've looked into your bylaws. Her use of the Cruciatus curse against me was illegal. Bella Swan belongs in Azkaban!"

Murmurs filtered through the crowded bar, but Hermione just rolled her eyes.

"The wizarding world is far more than petty vendettas and vigilante justice. Subsection three, one-point-two of that same bylaw clearly states that if a witch or wizard with no prior suspect activity finds his or herself in dire peril they are permitted to use unforgivable curses to defend themselves. Furthermore, we have multiple witnesses who can attest to Bella's innocence regarding the event in question. Your claim has no justification." Rosalie's eyes narrowed, but Hermione was on a roll. "And as Deputy Head for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I can assure you once and for all that the Ministry of Magic will have nothing to do with your case!" Hermione spat. "You're out of your element, Miss Hale."

A thin smile spread across the beautiful vampire's face. "We'll see." The she vanished the way she came, leaving a flurry of dust in her wake.

Ron patted Bella's back. "Don't think on it, Bella. She can't hurt you here."

But Bella couldn't help the feeling of foreboding that settled over her senses. Something was coming...something bad.