Chapter 16: Hogsmead

I arrived at the Three Broomsticks and hurried along to Twillfit and Tatting's. I was already quite late, and I knew that the Professor would not take kindly to my tardiness. I burst into the clothing shop slightly out of breath, and was greeted very warmly by Rein.

"Harry!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me, "What took you so long? Mum and I've been here for nearly and hour!"

"Sorry, I ran into a portrait of my family in the vaults and they wanted to know what had happened since they died."

"Oh! Well, that's wonderful!" Rein said uncertainly, "Isn't it?"

"Oh yeah", I answered smiling, "it was great! Did you know that my great-uncle Osiris was a sailor?"

"Of course I didn't Harry!" Rein exclaimed, "Tell me about him?"

I launched into a brief recount of what I'd found out about my family while Rein led me through the store, picking out things to try on. Occasionally she'd hold something up and ask, "How about this?" or "Maybe this, in a different color?" to which I'd respond accordingly. It wasn't until I'd gotten to the end of my story that I realized she'd started picking things out for me.

"Er, Rein?" I said, plucking a bright yellow traveling cloak out of her hands, "I appreciate you trying to help, but I really only need some plain black ones for school."

"Oh," she replied, "Well… how about this then?"

I responded by taking the black silk robes and putting them back on the shelf. "That's just not practical. I need something for everyday. Kinda like what your dad wears, only…"

"Not so teacher-ish?"

"Exactly."

We spent the next few minutes debating the difference between natural and synthetic fabrics, and had just moved on to the "charmed, or not charmed?" debate when Ms. Nightshade and Professor Snape showed up.

"There you two are!" Mina said, hugging us both, "I'd wondered where you'd run off to!"

"Mum," Rein said, crossing her arms, "tell Harry that robes that are charmed to repel stains and water are better than robes that are only charmed to be flame retardant."

"This is true love," Mina agreed, patting my arm, "Unless you're an Auror, you don't really need your robes to be flame resistant."

"That is," Snape added, "unless you happen to have the misfortune of sharing Potions with Mr. Longbottom…"

"Leave Neville out of this," I said, choosing the flame retardant robes nonetheless.

After several grueling minutes of trying things on and being told either "That's not very flattering, Harry" by Rein or Mina or "I believe those will suffice" by Snape, I took my purchases to the counter and paid for them. We were just on our way to the Three Broomsticks for an early supper when my forehead started tingling and Snape suddenly grasped his forearm.

"Get to Hogwarts, now!" he barked before he turned on his heel and Disapparated.

"Harry, Harry come on!" Rein yelled, pulling me across the street to the Three Broomsticks. "Mum!"

"Here I am!" came the reply from behind us. We turned and were embraced by Mina, who looked quite calm, given the circumstances.

"Mum, there's something wrong with Harry!"

"There's nothing wrong with me! This always happens when Voldemort's up to no good." I said.

"Are you sure?" Mina asked, obviously concerned.

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Good," she replied, steering me and rein into the nearest fireplace and grabbing a handful of Floo powder, "The Great Hall, Hogwarts!"

xxx

Rein and I arrived in the Great Hall an anxious, soot covered, disoriented jumble of arms and legs. Flooing hadn't helped my evil-induced headache any, and instead of staying on my feet once we reached our destination, I'd gone tumbling head first out of the fireplace. Of course, since Rein had been holding on to my arm, she'd fallen right on top of me. It was embarrassing enough that I'd fallen in the first place, but it was infinitely more embarrassing when a pair of shiny red boots stopped inches in front of my face.

"Harry, my boy!" Dumbledore said, offering a withered hand to Rein, "What brings you here?"

"Well…" I said, picking myself up off the floor and dusting off my robes, "we were out shopping, Rein and I--"

"And I take it this lovely young woman is the one you speak of?"

"Yes sir. Headmaster, Rein Nightshade. Rein, Professor Dumbledore."

"Hi."

"How do you do? You were saying, Harry?"

"We were shopping in Hogsmead when my scar, or rather, the skin where my scar was started burning and--"

"Albus!" Mina said stepping out of the fireplace, "you won't believe what happened! There are Death Eaters in Hogsmead!"

"Are you sure, Mina?"

"Yes," she said walking over to join us, "I saw them with my own eyes. I did everything I could to help before I came here but…" her voice trailed off and the two of them reached some unspoken understanding.

"Albus!"

We all turned to see a very worried Professor McGonagall striding towards us.

"Minerva, we have a grave situation in Hogsmead."

"Yes, I know Albus. I've already contacted headquarters, Alastor and the others are on their way as we speak."

"Very good. Ms. Nightshade, if you would be so kind as to escort Mr. Potter and your daughter to Gryffindor Tower and then join us at the Three Broomsticks?"

"Certainly. Come along you two, we've got no time to waste."

"But Professor!" I protested, "I can help! You know I can help!"

"Yes Harry, and that I why I need you here. To keep Miss Nightshade safe, and to tell Madame Pomfrey what's going on. Can you do that?"

"Yes sir." I replied, defeated. I knew a brush off when I heard one, and I really didn't want to leave Rein here by herself. Or endanger her by taking into the battle zone. "Come on Rein, we'll go to the Hospital Wing first. Good luck, Professor."