Kiara Pride-Lander: Book 6

by Kimberly Joan Amethyst

The sixth book in my Kiara Pride-Lander series. All the main old characters, and some new faces, are there. DISCLAIMER: I own nothing apart from my own characters. Enjoy!

6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Dani's Detour

KIARA

I remained within the confines of Dawson Manor's garden over the next few weeks. I spent most of my days playing two-a-side Quidditch there (myself and Sian against Chris and Chrissie; Sian was dreadful and Chris good, so we were reasonably well-matched), but Sian would play with us when she could, for she was pulled away for some reason or other, and we wouldn't see her for a couple of hours, and when she came back she would look either frustrated or annoyed, and none of us would dare talk to her, knowing full what her temper's like, or she would appear exhausted yet happy, and she would be easy to converse with. Anyhoo, whenever Sian couldn't play with us, Merida took her place. My evenings were spent eating triple helpings of everything Sian put in front of me and spending time with the rest of the Dawsons and my parents.

It would have been a happy, peaceful holiday had it not been for the stories of disappearances, odd accidents, even of deaths that were appearing almost daily in the Squabbler in those days. Sometimes Sam and Mr Dawson brought home news before it even reached the paper. To my parents' and grandmothers' displeasure, my sixteenth birthday celebrations were marred by grisly tidings brought to the party by Timon Meers, who was looking gaunt and grim, his auburn hair streaked literally with silver, his clothes more ragged and patched than ever.

"There have been another couple of Stinger attacks," he announced, as Sian passed him with a large slice of birthday cake. "And they've found Ifu Kula's body in a shack down south. The Death Trail had been set over it - well, frankly, I'm surprised she stayed alive for even a year after deserting the Love Destroyers; Pumbaa's brother Okoro only managed a few days as far as I can remember."

"Yes, well," said my father, frowning, "perhaps we should talk about something diff - "

"Did you hear about Florence Foskett, Timon?" asked Sam, who was being piled with wine by Ferdinand. "The woman who ran - "

" - the ice-cream place in Brickabon Alley?" I interrupted, with an unpleasant, hollow sensation in the pit of my stomach. "She used to give me free ice-creams. What's happened to her?"

"Dragged off, by the look of her place."

"Why?" asked Chrissie, while my parents and grandmothers pointedly glared at Sam.

"Who knows? She must've upset them, somehow. She was a good woman, Florence."

"Talking of Brickabon Alley," said Mr Dawson, "looks like Madam Wandwick's finally gone, too."

"The wand-maker?" said Merida, looking startled. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sian pause in her eating.

"That's the one. Shop's empty. No sign of a struggle. Seems like the Love Destroyers carried her off on Athena Amethyst Phoenixclaw's day off, although how they did it without her knowing, I'll never know - "

There was a sudden clunk as Sian's spoon fell on her plate. We all looked at her; she looked at no one but stared at her own plate, her face expressionless. Then, quite suddenly, Sian stood up, startling everybody, and stormed out of the kitchen without a word to anybody.

We were all silent for a few moments, shocked by Sian's behaviour. Then Chris said, trying to get the conversation back on track, "But what will people do for wands now?"

"They'll make do with other makers," said Meers. "But Wandwick was one of the best, and if the other side has got her it's not so good for us."

The day after this rather gloomy birthday tea, our letters and book lists arrived from Dragon Mort. Mine included a surprise: I had been made Quidditch Captain.

"That gives you equal status with Prefects!" cried Sian happily. "You can use our special bathroom now, and everything!"

"Wow, I remember when Kat wore one of these," said Chrissie, examining the badge with glee. "Kiara, this is so cool, you're my captain - if you let me back on the team, I suppose, ha ha ..."

"Well done, sweetheart," said my father, looking at the badge and smiling at me proudly. "Following in my footsteps. Your mother and I are so proud of you."

"That we are," said Mum, coming up to my other side and kissing my cheek. "We knew ever since the first moment we saw you fly that you would be captain. Oh, how we have waited for this day!"

I ducked my head, both pleased and embarrassed by their praise. Fortunately, Sian decided to speak at that moment, taking the attention off of me for a second.

"Well, I don't suppose we can put off a trip to Brickabon Alley much longer now we've got these," she sighed, looking back down at her own list. "We'll go on Saturday as long as our father doesn't have to go into work again. We're not going there without him."

"Sian, d'you honestly think She-You-Know's going to be hiding behind a bookshelf in Flourish and Blotts?" sniggered Chrissie.

"Foskett and Madam Wandwick went on holiday, did they?" said Sian, firing up at once. "If you think security's a laughing matter you can stay behind, while the rest of us go to Brickabon Alley without you - "

"No, I wanna come, I want to see Tanya and Geri's shop!" said Chrissie hastily.

"Then you just buck up your ideas, sister, before I call our mother and explain to her that you're too immature to come with us, and then you'll hear what she says!" said Sian angrily. "And that goes for returning to Dragon Mort, as well!"

Chrissie turned to stare incredulously at me as Sian snatched up a laundry basket and stormed out of the room.

"Blimey ... you can't even make a joke around here any more ..."

But Chrissie was careful not to be flippant about Zira over those next few days. Saturday dawned without any more outbursts from Sian, though she seemed quite tense at breakfast. Sam, who would be staying at home with Ferdinand (much to Chris, Sian Merida's and the other Dawons' - besides Chrissie's - pleasure), passed a full money-bag across the table to me.

"Where's mine?" demanded Chrissie at once, her eyes wide.

"That's already Kiara's, idiot," said Sam. "I called your grandmothers, Kiara, and together we got it out of your vault for you, because it's taking about five hours for the public to get to their gold at the moment, the fauns have tightened security so much. Two days ago Arlene Peacock had a Probity Probe stuck up her ... well, trust me, this way's easier."

"Thanks, Sam," I said, pocketing the gold.

"She is always so thoughtful," purred Ferdinand adoringly, stroking her cheek with the backs of his fingers. Chris mimed vomiting into his cereal behind Ferdinand. I choked over my cornflakes and Chrissie thumped me on the back.

It was an overcast, murky day. Two of the Ministry of Magic cars, in which I had ridden once before, were waiting for us in the driveway when we emerged from the house pulling on our cloaks.

"It's good Dad can get these again," said Chrissie appreciatively, stretching luxuriously in the back with Chris, Sian, Keziah, Ben and myself, as the cars moved smoothly away from Dawson Manor, my parents, Sam and Ferdinand waving from one of the front windows. Beth, Kestrel, Merida, Joe, Jack and Dave were in the other car.

"Don't get used to it, it's only because of Kiara," said Mr Dawson over his shoulder. He was in front with the Ministry driver. "She's been given top-grade security status. And we'll be joining up with additional security at the Witching Service, too."

I said nothing; I did not much fancy doing my shopping while surrounded by a battalion of Aurors. I had stowed my Invisibility Cloak in mu bag and felt that, if that was good enough for Crighton, it ought to be good enough for the Ministry, though now I come to think of it, I was not sure the Ministry knew about my Cloak.

"Here you are, then," said the driver a surprisingly short while later, speaking for the first time as he slowed in Queen Anne's Street and stopped outside the girls' public toilets. "We're to wait for you, any idea how long you'll be?"

"A couple of hours, I expect," said Mr Dawson. "Ah, good, she's here!"

I imitated Mr Dawson and peered through the window; my heart leapt. There were no Aurors waiting outside the bathroom, but instead, the gigantic, black-haired form of Mina Wickes, the Dragon Mort gamekeeper, wearing a long beaverskin coat, beaming at the sight of my face and oblivious to the startled stares of passing Muggles.

"Kiara!" she boomed, sweeping me into a bone-crushing hug the moment I stepped out of the car. "Noelani - Aureole, I mean - yeh should see her, Kiara, she's so happy ter be back in the open air - "

"Glad she's pleased," I said, grinning as I massaged my ribs. "We didn't know "security" meant you!"

"I know, jus' like old times, innit? See, the Ministry wanted ter send a bunch o' Aurors, but Crighton said I'd do," said Mina proudly, throwing out her chest and tucking her hands into her pockets. "Let's get goin', then - after yeh, Matt - "

The Witching Service was, for the first time in my memory, completely empty. Only Dizra the landlady, wizened and toothless, remained of the old crowd. She looked up hopefully as we entered, but before she could speak, Mina said importantly, "Jus' passin' through today, Dizra, sure yeh understand. Dragon Mort business, yeh know."

Dizra nodded gloomily and returned to wiping glasses; Mina, the Dawsons and I walked through the bar towards the doors at the end. Mr Dawson twisted one of the doorknobs to the left, and when it opened, we found ourselves in the enormous, crowded, echoing, rushed hall of Fauntrotts. We dashed through the large crowd of people and out the front doors right into the heart of Brickabon Alley where we paused, looking around.

Once our eyes had adjusted and we saw the rest of the long winding street unfold before us, we saw that Brickabon Alley had changed. The artificial sunlight had gone, to be replaced by an impenetrable darkness, so that only the streetlamps were the only source of light visible to us. The colourful, glittering window displays of spellbooks, potion ingredients and caldrons were lost to view, hidden behind the large Ministry of Magic posters that had been pasted over them. Most of these sombre purple posters carried blown-up versions of the security advice on the Ministry pamphlets that had been sent out over the summer, but others bore moving black-and-white photographs of Love Destroyers known to be on the loose. Katalina Outsider was sneering from the front of the nearest apothecary. A few windows were boarded up, including those of Florence Foskett's Ice-Cream Parlour. On the other hand, a number of shabby-looking stalls had sprung up along the street. The nearest one, which had been created outside Flourish and Blotts under a striped, stained awning, had a cardboard sign pinned to its front. Amulets: Effective Against Werewolves, Stingers and Inferi.

A seedy-looking witch was rattling armfuls of silver symbols on chains at passers-by.

"One for one of your girls, sir?" she called at Mr Dawson as we passed, leering at Merida. "Protect their pretty necks?"

"If I were on duty ..." said Mr Dawson, glaring angrily at the amulet seller.

"Yes, but don't go arresting anyone now, Dad, we're in a hurry," said Sian, nervously consulting a list. "I think we'd better do Sir Waldin's first, I want to pick up some new material in case I need to design a dress, and Chris is showing much too much ankle in his school robes, and I think you need new ones too, Kiara, for the arms are a bit too short for you - come one, everyone- "

"Sian, it doesn't make sense for all of us to go to Sir Waldin's," said Mr Dawson. "Why don't you, Chris, Chrissie, Kiara, Ben and Keziah go to Flourish and Blotts, and I'll go with the others t pick up everyone's school books?"

"I don't know," said Sian anxiously, clearly torn between a desire to finish the shopping quickly and the wish to stick together in a pack. "Mina, what do you - ?"

"Don't fret, yeh'll be fine with me, Sian," said Mina soothingly, waving an airy hand the size of a dustbin lid. Sian did not look entirely convinced, but allowed the separation, heading off with Mina, Chris, Chrissie, Ben, Keziah and I to Sir Waldin's, while Mr Dawson took Beth, Kestrel, Merida, Joe, Jack and Dave to Flourish and Blotts.

I noticed that many of the people who passed us had the same worried, anxious look as Sian, and that nobody stopped to talk any more; that shoppers stayed together in their own tightly knit groups, moving intently about their business. Nobody seemed to be shopping alone.

"Migh' be a bit of a squeeze in there with all o' us," said Mina, stopping outside Sir Waldin's and bending down to peer through the window. "I'll stand guard outside, all righ'?"

So Chris, Sian, Chrissie, Ben, Keziah and I entered the little shop together. It appeared, at first glance, to be empty, nut no sooner had the door swung shut behind us than we heard a familiar voice issuing from behind a rack of dress robes in spangled purple and red.

" ... not a child in case you haven't noticed, Father. I am perfectly capable of doing my shopping alone."

There was a tutting noise and a voice I recognised as that of Sir Waldin said, "Now, dear girl, your father's quite right, none of us is supposed to go wandering around on our own any more, it's nothing to do with being a child - "

"Watch where you're sticking that pin, will you!"

A teenage girl with a pale, pointed face and white-blonde hair appeared from behind the rack wearing a handsome set of dark green robes that glittered with pins around the hem and the edges of the sleeves. She strode to the mirror and examined herself; it was a few moments before she noticed Chris, Sian, Chrissie, Ben, Keziah and I reflected over her shoulder. Her light grey eyes narrowed.

"If you're wondering what the smell is, Father, a Sackbrain and a traitor just walked in," said Dani Malty.

"I don't think there's any need for language like that!" said Sir Waldin, hurrying out from behind the clothes rack holding a tape measure and a wand. "And I don't want wands drawn in my shop, either!" he added hastily, for Chris, Chrissie, Ben and I were still standing by the door with our wands out and were pointing them at Dani Malty.

Sian, who was standing slightly behind us, whispered, "No, don't, honestly, it's not worth it ..."

"She's right," said Keziah. "Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is walk away."

"Yeah, like you'd dare do magic outside school, Dawson," Malty sneered at Sian. She then turned to Keziah, and said, "And you, have the Dawsons brainwashed you so much that they made you lose your touch? I would've thought you'd have taken a shot at me by now."

"That's quite enough!" said Sir Waldin sharply, looking over his shoulder for support. "Sir - please - "

Latchna Malty stepped out from behind the clothes rack.

"Put those away," he said coldly to Chris, Chrissie, Ben and I. "If you attack my daughter again, I shall ensure that it is the last thing you ever do."

"Really?" I said, taking a step forwards and gazing into the smoothly arrogant face that, for all its pallor, still resembled his sister's. I was as tall as he was. "Going to get a few Love Destroyer pals to do us in, are you?"

Sir Waldin gave a shocked gasp and clutched at his heart.

"Really, you shouldn't accuse - dangerous thing to say - wands away, please!"

But I did not lower my wand. Latchna Malty smiled unpleasantly.

"I see that being Crighton's favourite has given you a false sense of security, Kiara Pride-Lander. But Crighton won't always be there to protect you."

I looked mockingly all around the shop.

"Wow ... look at that ... she's not here now! So why not have a go? They might be able to find you a double cell in Azkaban with your loser of a wife!"

Malty made an angry movement towards me, but stumbled over her overlong robe. Chris, Chrissie and Ben all laughed loudly.

"Don't you dare talk to my father like that, Pride-Lander!" Malty snarled.

"It's all right, Dani," said Latchna, restraining her with his thin white fingers upon her shoulder. "I expect Pride-Lander will be reunited with Pumbaa before I am reunited with my darling Narissa."

I raised my wand higher.

"Kiara, no!" Sian moaned, grabbing my arm and attempting to push it down by my side. "Think ... you mustn't ... you'll be in such trouble ..."

Sir Wadin dithered for a moment on the spot, then seemed to act as though nothing was happening in the hope that it wouldn't. He bent towards Malty, who was still glaring at me.

"I think this left sleeved could come up a little bit more, dear, let me just - "

"Ouch!" bellowed Malty, slapping her hand away. "Watch where you're putting your pins, man! Father - I don't think I want these any more - "

She pulled the robes over her head and threw them on to the floor at Sir Waldin's feet.

"You're right, Dani," said Latchna, with a contemptuous glance at Sian and Keziah, who didn't dare meet his eye, "now I know the kind of scum that shops here ... we'll do better at Trimmings' Dress Robes."

And with that, the pair of them strode out of the shop, Malty taking care to bang as hard as she could into Keziah on the way out.

"Well, really!" said Sir Waldin, snatching up the fallen robes and moving the tip of his wand over them like a vacuum cleaner, so that it removed the dust.

He was distracted all the way through the fitting of mine and Keziah's new robes, almost forgot to give Sian the material she had asked for, and when he finally bowed us out of the shop it was with an air of being glad to see the back of us.

"Got ev'rything?" said Mina brightly when we reappeared at her side.

"Just about," I said. "Did you see the Maltys?"

"Yeah," said Mina unconcerned. "Bu' they wouldn' dare make trouble in the middle o' Brickabon Alley, Kiara, don' worry abou' them."

Chris, Sian, Chrissie, Ben, Keziah and I exchanged looks, but before we could disabuse Mina of this comfortable notion Mr Dawson, Beth, Kestrel, Merida, Joe, Jack and Dave appeared, all of them clutching heavy packages of books.

"Everyone OK?" said Mr Dawson. "Got your robes? Right then, we can pop in at the apothecary and Eeylops on the way to Tanya and Geri's - stick close, now - "

Neither Chrissie nor myself bought any ingredients at the apothecary, seeing that we - foolishly thought - were no longer studying Potions, but we, along with Chris, did buy large boxes of owl nuts for Harold, Piggledon and Cattonia. Then, with Sian checking her watch every minute or so, we headed further along the street in search of Fangs' Friendly Funnies, the joke shop run by Tanya and Geri.

"We really haven't got too long," Sian said. "So we'll just have a quick look around and then back to the cars, we must be close, there's number ninety-two ... ninety-four ..."

"Whoa," said Chrissie, stopping in her tracks.

Set against the dull, poster-muffled shop fronts around us, Tanya and Geri's windows hit the eye like a firework display. Casual passers-by were looking back over their shoulders at the windows, and a few rather stunned looking people had actually come to a halt, transfixed. The left-hand window was dazzlingly full of an assortment of goods that revolved, popped, flashed, bounced and shrieked; my eyes began to water just by looking at it. The right-hand window was covered by a gigantic poster, that was dark blue and emblazoned with flashing yellow letters:

Why Are You Worrying About the Evil Scary Lady (She-You-Know)?

You SHOULD Be Worrying About

THE DARK SLUDGE DEUCE -

the Diarrhoea Sensation That's Gripping the Nation!

I started to laugh. I heard a weak sort of moan beside me and looked round to see Sian gazing, dumbfounded, at the poster. Her lips moved, silently mouthing the name, "the Dark Sludge Deuce."

"They'll be murdered in their beds!" she whispered.

"No they won't!" said Chrissie, who like me was laughing. "This is brilliant!"

And Chrissie and I led the way into the shop. It was packed with customers; I could not get near the shelves. I stared around, looking up at the boxes piled to the ceiling: here were the Gross Body Boxes that the twins had perfected during their last, unfinished year at Dragon Mort; I noticed that the Bloody-Nose Bonbons were the most popular, with only one battered box left on the shelf. There were bins full of trick quills, the cheapest merely turning into rubber ducks or pairs of pants when waved; the most expensive of which pricking the heads and fingers of the unwary user; there were also proper quills there, which were, of course, enchanted, and which came in Self-Inking, Spell-Checking and Smart-Answer varieties. A space cleared in the crowd and I pushed my way towards the centre, where a gaggle of delighted ten-year-olds were watching painted men and women climb ladders, or else fall into a snake pit when stopping on a wrong numbered tile, which were all set on a box that read: Reusable Snakes and Ladders - Climb High or Else Watch Them Be Eaten Alive By Snakes!

"Virtual Reality Charms ..."

Sian had nudged to squeeze through to a large display near the counter and was reading the information on the back of a box bearing a number of images that were changing every five seconds, and a book next to it that contained various worlds to explore.

" "One simple incantation and you will be swept into a world that you have always dreamed of living in, which will last for thirty minutes, and will revolve however you want your daydream to go. It's easy to fit into the average lesson and is virtually undetectable (side-effects include vacant expression and minor drooling). Not for sale to under-sixteens." You know," said Sian, looking up at me, "that really is extraordinary magic!"

"For that, Sian," said a voice behind us, "you can have one for free."

A beaming Tanya stood before us, wearing bright-blue robes that clashed well with her brown hair.

"How are you, Kiara?" We shook hands. "Do you like what you've seen so far?"

"Yes, very, and I am well," I said. "So, it looks like business is going great. Sian said you had a real flair for business ..."

"Oh, she did, did she?" said Tanya teasingly. Sian looked unabashed at the sly look Tanya gave her.

"Well, I suppose you could say that," she said in an unconvincingly modest voice, for I could tell she was smug. Sian rolled her eyes at Tanya's silliness. Tanya sniggered and said, "Come on, Kiara, I'll give you a tour."

I left Sian standing by the Virtual Realty Charms and followed Tanya towards the back of the shop, where I saw a stand of card and rope tricks.

"Muggle magic tricks!" said Tanya happily, pointing them out. "For freaks like Uncle Matt, you know, who love Muggle stuff. It's not a big earner, but we do fairly steady business, they're great novelties ... oh, here's Geri ..."

Tanya's twin shook my hand energetically.

"Giving her the tour? Come through to the back, Kiara, that's where we're making the real money - pocket anything, you, and you'll pay in more than Galleons!" she added warningly to a small girl who hastily whipped her hand out of the tub labelled: Edible Death Trails - They'll Make Anyone Sick!

Geri pushed back a curtain beside the Muggle tricks and I saw a darker, less crowded room. The packaging on the products lining these shelves was more subdued.

"We've just developed this more serious lines," said Tanya. "Funny how it happened ..."

"You wouldn't believe how many people, even people who work at the Ministry, can't do a simple Shield Charm," said Geri. "Course, they didn't have you teaching them, Kiara."

"That's right ... well, we thought Shield Gloves would be a bit of a laugh. You know, challenge your mate to jinx you while wearing them, and watch her face when you wave your hand to flick it away. But the Ministry bought five hundred pairs for all its support staff! And we're still getting massive orders!"

"So we've expanded into a large range of Shield Hats, Shield Scarves ..."

" ... I mean, they wouldn't help much against the Unforgivable Curses, but for minor to moderate hexes or jinxes ..."

"And then we thought we'd get into the whole area of Defence Against the Dark Arts, because it's such a money-spinner," continued Geri enthusiastically. "This is cool. Look, Crystal Blinders. Point them at your enemy and the light that shines from them leaves your enemy temporarily blinded for five minutes. Handy, if you want to make a quick getaway."

"And our Music Mayhems are just walking off the shelves, look," said Tanya, pointing at a number of weird-looking bronze mini-gramophone objects that were indeed attempting to scurry out of sight. "You just drop one surreptitiously and it'll run off and blast loud music out of sight, giving you a diversion if you need one."

"Handy," I said, impressed.

"Here," said Geri, catching a couple and throwing them to me.

A young wizard with short blond hair poked his head round the curtain; I saw that he too was wearing the bright-blue staff robes.

"There's a customer out here looking for some joke parchment, Miss Fang and Miss Fang," he said.

I remember finding it very odd to hear Tanya and Geri called "Miss Fang", but they took it in their stride.

"Right you are, Will, I'm coming," said Geri promptly. "Kiara, you help yourself to anything you want, all right? No charge."

"I can't do that," I said, as I reached for my money-bag to pay for the Music Mayhems.

"You don't pay here," said Tanya firmly, waving away my gold.

"But - "

"You gave us our start-up loan, we haven't forgotten," said Geri sternly. "Take whatever you like, and just remember to tell people where you got it, if they ask."

Geri swept off through the curtain to help with the customers and Tanya led me back into the main part of the shop to find Sian, along with Keziah, Kestrel and Merida, were all poring over the Virtual Reality Charms.

"Haven't you girls found our special Wonder Witch products yet?" asked Tanya. "Follow me, ladies ..."

Near the window was an array of violently pink products around which a cluster of excited girls was giggling enthusiastically. Sian, Keziah, Kestrel and Merida all hung back, looking wary.

"There you go," said Tanya proudly. "Best range of love potions you'll find anywhere."

Merida raised an eyebrow sceptically. "Do they work."

"Certainly they work, for up to twenty-four hours at a time depending on the weight of the boy in question - "

" - and the attractiveness of the girl," said Geri, reappearing suddenly at our side. "But we're not selling them to our cousins," she added, suddenly stern, as Chris meandered his way over to us, "not when we hear Rickers here has got himself a girl at last - "

"And so what if I have? Last I checked, my dating life had nothing to do with you," said Chris calmly. Sian smirked at this comment and moved away.

"That may be, but you can't stop us from asking," said Tanya. "So, tell us, Chris, are you or are you not currently going out with a girl called Dena Wright?"

Before Chris could answer, a loud shriek caught our ears. We spun around quickly, and what we saw grabbed our attention. The whole shop went quiet.

Some douchebag had tried to touch Sian's rear by the looks of things, and Sian had quickly retaliated. She spun around, clenched the offending arm tightly and held it high above his head. The guy was grinning cockily at her, but Sian was glaring furiously at him, her breathing heavy, her eyes a storming sea of emotions. When she spoke next, her voice was low and deadly.

"I warned you to back off once before, but you didn't really get the point ... so let me make myself ... perfectly clear here ... Back ... the hell ... OFF!" Then she swung her right leg up and kicked him hard in the crotch. The guy immediately let go of Sian's hand and fell to the floor in a heap.

You could practically hear everyone in the room murmuring, "Oooh!" I know I could. As I looked around, different reactions met my gaze: there were murmurs of disapproval, shakes of many heads and glares pointed to the man lying on the floor, though I did see a few men unconsciously cross their legs. Sian was still glaring down at her attacker, but then she noticed the murmurings around her. Her face quickly became flushed as she said shakily, "I have to get out of here ..." and she made for the door. Across the room, I saw Mr Dawson go after her.

Our attention then went back to the groaning boy on the floor, who none of us had any sympathy for. Tanya then called to Will, "Will, escort this boy to the door and make sure he knows not to come back, will you?" Will nodded once, and walked over to the groaning boy, pulled him roughly up and half-dragged him to the door, chucked him out onto the street beyond and yelled, "And don't bother coming back!" He then slammed the door in the man's face.

We were all silent for a few minutes, all of us in the shop were still in shock by what we had just witnessed. That someone had tried to take advantage of someone like that? In public? And to Sian, of all people? Despicable - that was the word for it! The silence dragged on, until Keziah said, making us all jump, "Hey, Geri, what are those?"

As soon as Keziah said those words, people remembered where they were, and slowly we all started to move again, trying to find some enjoyment in the place, which, as you can imagine was difficult, as the air was still tense by the scene we had just witnessed.

We turned around again, and Keziah was pointing at a number of round balls of fluff in shades of pink and purple, all rolling around the bottom of a cage and emitting high-pitched squeaks.

"Pygmy Puffs," said Geri. "Miniature puffskeins, we can't breed them fast enough." She then turned back to Chris. "So, what were you saying about Dena Wright, Chris?"

"Nothing," said Chris. "Well, not to you, anyway. Who I date is my business, so don't you go poking your nose in!"

"Chris, I'm just saying there are better girls out there - "

"So what if there are?" Chris shouted. "I'm free to look around, aren't I? It's my life and Dena's my choice, so suck it up!"

Keziah interrupted them by cooing, "Aww, they're so cute!" over the Pygmy Puffs, and Chrissie, who had just appeared at Geri's elbow, laden with merchandise.

"That's three Galleons, nine Sickles and a Knut," said Tanya, examining the many boxes in Chrissie's arms. "Cough up!"

"I'm your cousin!"

"And that's our stuff you're nicking. Three Galleons, nine Sickles. I'll knock off the Knut."

Chrissie was about to voice her outrage at Tanya, when Mr Dawson reappeared, an arm hung loosely around Sian who, judging by how red her eyes were, had been crying. She certainly seemed calmer, but every now and again the occasional sob would wrack through her body. Around us, people cast Sian pitying looks, which she ignored. She was staring at the ground, avoiding our eyes. I was the first one to approach her.

"Are you all right, Sian?" I asked, hugging her rather awkwardly. Sian nodded her head rapidly, giving me a fleeting smile when I let go of her.

"Course she is, she's a Dawson," said Mr Dawson firmly. "Strong enough to get through anything us lot, aren't we?" Sian let out a sly giggle, which Mr Dawson noticed. "Ha! See? She'll be fine!" He kissed his firstborn on the top of her head, then let her go.

Sian looked nervously at Tanya and Geri, but before she could apologise, Tanya said, "Don't you dare apologise, Sian, for in our eyes you did nothing wrong!"

Confusion struck Sian then. "But - I just - "

"Sian, that pervert got what was coming to him," said Geri firmly. "You did the right thing, cousin, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. It's what any of us would have done. And we've just had him banned from the shop."

Sian looked shocked. "You didn't have to do that for - "

"Sian, family or not, a boy tried to take advantage of someone, who was not only a customer, but someone who was also underage. He had no right to do that. We had to do what was right." Tanya smiled slightly at Sian. "Besides, no matter how many times we argue, we're still just family, and family always helps family - "

"Couldn't help me enough to give me some of your stuff," Chrissie muttered. Geri turned on her.

"Chrissie, don't you think that this is far more important than you and your love for our stock?"

That shut Chrissie up, and it also made her bow her head in shame. Geri then turned back to Sian, her tone and expression nicer. "No matter what, Sian, we're still family. Never forget that."

Sian smiled at them reassuringly. "Thanks, girls."

Tanya and Geri smiled kindly at Sian before they went to help Keziah with a Pygmy Puff, and Chris, Sian, Chrissie and I momentarily had an unimpeded view out of the window. Dani Malty was hurrying up the street alone. As she passed Fangs' Friendly Funnies, she glanced over her shoulder. Seconds later, she moved beyond the scope of the window and we lost sight of her.

"Wonder where her daddy is?" I said, frowning.

"Given him the slip, by the looks of it," said Chris.

"Why, though?" said Sian.

I said nothing; I was thinking too hard. Latchna Malty would not have let his precious daughter out of his sight willingly; Malty must have made a real effort to free herself from his clutches. Knowing and loathing Malty the way I did, I was sure the reason could not be innocent.

I glanced around. Tanya and Geri were still with Keziah, looking at the Pygmy Puffs. Mr Dawson was delightedly examining a pack of Muggle playing cards. the rest of the Dawsons were scattered around the shop, each absorbed in a different product. On the other side of the glass, Mina was standing with her back to us, looking up and down the street.

"Get under here, quick," I said, pulling the Invisibility Cloak out of my bag.

"Oh - I don't know, Kiara," said Sian, looking uncertainly towards her father.

"Come on!" said Chrissie.

Sian hesitated for a second longer, then ducked under the Cloak with myself, Chris and Chrissie. nobody noticed us vanish; they were all too interested in Tanya and Geri's products. Chris, Sian, Chrissie and I squeezed our way out of the door as quickly as we could, but by the time we had gained the street, Malty had disappeared just as successfully as we had.

"She was going in that direction," I murmured as quietly as possible, so that the humming Mina would not hear us. "C'mon."

We scurried along, peering left and right, through shop windows and doors, until Sian pointed ahead.

"That's her, isn't it?" she whispered. "Turning left?"

"Big surprise," whispered Chris.

For Malty had glanced round, then slid into Dark Avenue and out of sight.

"Quick, or we'll lose her," I said, speeding up.

"Our feet'll be seen!" said Sian anxiously, as the Cloak flapped a little around our ankles; it was much more difficult for my three best friends and I to hide under it nowadays.

"It doesn't matter," I said impatiently, "just hurry!"

But Dark Avenue, the side street devoted to the Dark Arts, looked completely deserted. We peered into windows as we passed, but none of the shops seemed to have any customers at all. I supposed it was a bit of a giveaway in these dangerous and suspicious times to buy Dark artefacts - or at least, to be seen buying them.

Sian gave my arm a hard pinch.

"Ouch!"

"Shh! Look! She's in there!" she breathed in my ear.

We had drawn level with the only shop in Dark Avenue that I had ever visited: Borrin and Burka, which sold a wide variety of sinister objects. There in the midst of the cases full of skulls and old bottles stood Dani Malty with her back to us, just visible beyond the very same large black cabinet in which I had once hidden in to avoid Malty, her cousin and her mother. Judging by the movements of Malty's hands she was talking animatedly. The proprietor of the shop, Miss Borrin, an oily-haired, stooping woman, stood facing Malty. She was wearing a curious expression of mingled resentment and fear.

"If only we could hear what they were saying!" said Sian.

"We can!" said Chrissie excitedly. "Hang on - damn - "

She dropped a few of the boxes she was still clutching as she fumbled with the smallest.

"Electronic Ears, look!"

"Fantastic!" said Sian, as Chrissie gave her, Chris and I a hearing aid before she gave herself one. We put them in our ears, before Chrissie took out the dial that went with them, switched it on and pointed it at the door. "Oh, I hope the door isn't Imperturbable - "

"No!" said Chrissie gleefully. "Listen!"

We fell silent and listened intently to what was going on beyond the door by the Electronic Ears, through which Malty's voice could be heard loud and clear, as though a radio had been turned on.

" ... you know how to fix it?"

"Possibly," said Borrin, in a tone that suggested she was unwilling to commit herself. "I'll need to see it, though. Why don't you bring it into the shop?"

"I can't," said Malty. "It's got to stay put. I just need you to tell me how to do it."

I saw Borrin lick her lips nervously.

"Well, without seeing it, I must say it will be a very difficult job, perhaps impossible. I couldn't guarantee anything."

"No?" said Malty, and I knew, just by her tone, that Malty was sneering. "Perhaps this will make you more confident."

She moved towards Borrin and was blocked from view by the cabinet. Chris, Sian, Chrissie and I shuffled sideways to try and keep her in sight, but all we could see was Borrin, looking very frightened.

"Tell anyone," said Malty, "and there will be retribution. You know Rasputin Silverfur? He's a family friend, he'll be dropping in from time to time to make sure you're giving the problem your full attention."

"There will be no need for - "

"I'll decide that," said Malty. "Well, I'd better be off. And don't forget to keep that one safe, I'll need it."

"Perhaps you'd like to take it now?"

"No, of course I wouldn't, you stupid little woman, how would I look carrying that down the street? Just don't sell it."

"Of course not ... miss."

Borrin made a curtsey as deep as the one I had once seen her give Narissa Malty.

"Not a word to anyone, Borrin, and that includes my father, understand?"

"Naturally, naturally," murmured Borrin, curtseying again.

Next moment, the bell over the door tinkled loudly as Malty stalked out of the shop looking very pleased with herself. She passed so close to Chris, Sian, Chrissie and I that we felt the Cloak flutter around our knees again. Inside the shop, Borrin remained frozen; her unctuous smile had vanished; she looked terrified.

"What was that about?" whispered Chrissie, switching the dial off as we took out hearing aids out of our ears.

"Dunno," I said, thinking hard. "She wants something mended ... and she wants to reserve something in there ... could you see what she pointed at when she said "that one"?"

"No, she was behind that cabinet - "

"You three stay here," whispered Chris.

"What are you - ?"

"Chris, where are you - ?"

But Chris had already ducked out from under the Cloak. He checked his hair in the reflection of the glass, then marched into the shop, setting the bell tinkling again.

"He's going to crash and burn in there," Sian murmured, shaking her head sadly, as she, Chrissie and I stuck our hearing aids back in our ears, and Chrissie flicked the dial back on again.

"Hello, horrible morning, isn't it?" Chris said brightly to Borrin, who did not answer, but cast him a suspicious look. Humming cheerily, Chris strolled through the jumble of objects on display.

"Is this pocket-watch for sale?" he asked, pausing beside a glass-fronted case.

"If you've got seven hundred and fifty Galleons," said Borrin coldly.

"Oh - er - no, I haven't got quite that much," said Chris, walking on. "And ... what about this nice - er - skull."

"Sixteen Galleons."

"So it's for sale, then? It isn't being ... kept for anyone?"

Borrin squinted at him. I had the nasty feeling she knew exactly what Chris was up to. Apparently Chris felt he had been rumbled, too, because he suddenly threw caution to the winds.

"the thing is, that - er - girl who was in here just now, Dani Malty, well, she's a friend of mine, and I wanted to get her a birthday present, but if she's already reserved anything I obviously don't want to get her the same thing, so ... um ..."

It was a pretty lame story in my opinion, and apparently, Borrin thought so too."

"Out," she said sharply. "Get out!"

Chris did not wait to be asked twice, but hurried off to the door with Borrin at his heels. As the bell tinkled again, Borrin slammed the door behind him and put up the "Closed" sign.

"Ah, well," said Chrissie, throwing the Cloak back over Chris. "Worthy try, but you were a bit obvious - "

"Yeah," said Sian, "even I could have done a better job than you, Rickers - "

"Well, next time you two can both show me how it's done, you Mistresses of Mystery!" he snapped.

Chris, Sian and Chrissie bickered all the way back to Fangs' Friendly funnies, where they were forced to stop so that we could dodge undetected around a very anxious-looking Mr Dawson and Mina, who had clearly noticed our absence. Once in the shop, I whipped off the Invisibility Cloak, hid it in my bag, and joined in with the other three when we insisted, in answer to Mr Dawson's accusations, that we had been in the back room all along, and that he could have not looked properly.