Chapter Seven: Diagon Alley; Where Once We Walked
Disclaimer: The plot and any fictitious characters are mine, but the Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings universes belong to their respective owners. I'm just messing around with their worlds.
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Hermione, Ron, and Draco landed in Muggle London, in an alley just around the corner from the Leaky Cauldron. Ron shot out his hand to steady Hermione who stumbled while Draco leaned heavily against the wall.
'Snape… do you think he made it?' Ron asked, moving to the mouth of the alley and peering out.
Draco closed his eyes. 'Probably not,' he replied sadly, shaking his head. 'That man always did have a death wish,' Draco murmured, walking casually out of the alley.
Ron rolled his eyes at Draco. 'You better not get us caught,' he hissed, trailing after the Slytherin.
'Hush, Weasley. I'm in as much danger as you are. Although, we're more likely to get caught by your red hair acting as a homing beacon,' Draco countered, frowning at Ron and tutting.
Ron's face reddened, but any comeback was stopped abruptly by Hermione grabbing his arm. 'Do not bait him, Ronald,' Hermione warned, before scowling at Draco who was waiting for them. 'And we need to work together if we're going to get that book,' Hermione reasoned, trying to think logically about how they were going to succeed.
'Wonderful, you're using your brains, Granger, but that doesn't mean we're best friends all of a sudden. I still despise you,' Draco said, smirking at her.
'The feeling is mutual, believe me,' Hermione hissed through clenched teeth, holding Ron's arm to stop the redhead from attacking Draco.
'Do you have any spells in your vast arsenal which can change appearances?' Draco asked, tapping his chin pensively. If they could disguise themselves, it would be much easier.
Hermione shook her head. 'Not really. I can change hair colour, but that's about it,' she answered, hating the fact she didn't know what to do.
'That could work. Would throw them off at first glance,' Draco replied, nodding his head.
Hermione nodded. 'Fine, but I don't want either of you pestering me about changing it because you don't like it,' she huffed, tapping her wand on Ron's head first.
Ron's hair grew out to the length his brother, Bill, had his. It was curly and poofed out of his head. The colour of his hair changed from red to dark brown. 'That actually suits you, Weasley,' Draco said, raising his eyebrows. 'You look like one of those Muggle rock stars,' he added, making Hermione and Ron stare at him in bewilderment.
'How in Merlin's name do you know about Muggle rock stars?' Hermione asked, trying to process what he said.
Draco smirked at her. 'I know everything because I'm amazing,' he answered arrogantly. 'And I don't need to explain myself,' he said, frowning at them.
Hermione shook her head before moving over and tapping Draco on the head as well. Draco's blonde hair became black, and it grew out down to his chin while part of it covered one of his blue eyes. Draco looked in one of the shop windows before looking at Hermione. 'I'm detecting a theme,' he muttered, pointing at his hair. Draco had to admit, he liked it, but he didn't think his mother would have approved. At this thought, Draco felt tears sting his eyes.
Hermione gritted her teeth, hoping Draco wouldn't attract any female attention with how he looked. He looked more striking with dark hair… Hermione ignored her thoughts, knowing that just because he was attractive physically, his personality was foul.
Hermione tapped her own head, and her curls became straight and shortened to her shoulders. Her hair colour changed to blonde with green tips.
Hermione pointed her wand at Draco, Ron, and then herself, transfiguring their current clothes into plain, black robes, and frowned. 'You know, we will probably draw more attention by looking like this than we would normally…' she trailed off, looking in the shop window and finding she actually liked her hairstyle now.
'Too late now,' Draco muttered distractedly, grabbing the sleeves of their robes, and dragging them towards the Leaky Cauldron.
'I can walk on my own, you know,' Hermione snapped, pulling her arm away from him. 'I think we should try and act as casual as possible. It might look suspicious if we rush straight through to Diagon Alley,' she whispered thoughtfully, and the boys nodded.
'Reconnaissance first, and then we make our move. That works for me,' Draco muttered with a shrug and slowly opened the door to the Leaky Cauldron. He peered in, taking a quick look around. There was no one in there he recognised. 'I think we're clear,' Draco said, pushing the door open fully and leading them in.
The three made their way to a table in a dark corner and sat down, trying not to look suspicious. 'Repello wizards and witches,' Hermione said softly, her wand under the table.
Hermione quickly pulled out three tumblers, a bottle of Butterbeer, a book, and a deck of cards. She poured the Butterbeer into the glasses before handing one each to them along with the deck of cards which Draco picked up and started shuffling.
'Infinite Incantatem,' Hermione whispered, taking off the repelling charm. 'Muffliato,' she then said, so they could speak without anyone eavesdropping.
Draco and Ron looked at Hermione appreciatively that she had thought this through. Draco dealt out the cards, and Ron picked his up even though he had no idea what they were playing. He didn't know any Muggle card games even though he knew it was just a ploy to ward off awareness to them.
'Do either of you recognise anyone in here?' Draco asked, looking down at his own cards and smirking.
Ron glanced around swiftly. 'No and I used to know everyone who came here,' he told them, looking back at his cards. 'What are we playing?' he asked Draco.
'No idea,' Draco countered, placing one of his cards down. Ron frowned and placed one of his down. Draco smirked at him. 'I win,' he said with a chuckle.
'How can you win a game if you don't even know what you're playing!?' Ron seethed, glaring at the Slytherin.
'Because I'm just that good.'
'You're a complete jackass!'
'And you're an unsightly twit!'
Hermione rolled her eyes, drowning out the insults Ron and Draco were throwing at each other. She looked down, feigning reading her book, but it was a unique book she fashioned that was see-through. It gave the illusion of someone reading, but they were observing everything going on.
Hermione raised the book marginally, noticing three hooded and cloaked figures entering the pub. 'Shut up,' she whispered urgently to Draco and Ron who stopped bickering. 'Look,' Hermione said, not looking up from her book.
Draco reshuffled the deck of cards, his eyes drifting over the pub. His gaze halted on the three cloaked figures who lowered their hoods. 'Delightful,' Draco said derisively, his lips in a thin line.
'Who are they?' Ron asked, not risking a glance at them.
'Dolohov, Yaxley, and Goyle Senior,' Draco told them, lowering his head.
Hermione blanched, remembering the curse Dolohov had used on her in the Department of Mysteries. 'We should get out of here,' Hermione said, cleaning the tumblers with a quick spell and putting them in her bag. The deck of cards went in next after Draco handed them to her.
The other patrons scrambled out the exit to Muggle London as the three Death Eaters made threatening comments about them daring to sit in "their bar" and that they would "kill any who were still in there within the next minute".
Hermione, Draco, and Ron, not wanting to find out if this was merely a threat, hurriedly moved to the back door which led to the entrance to Diagon Alley. Draco shut the door, but not before the Death Eaters glimpsed their way. 'Hold on!' one of them barked.
'Colloportus!' Draco said, moving away from the door as the Death Eaters banged on it. 'That won't hold them indefinitely,' he supposed, heeding the expletives of the three Death Eaters. 'Language, gentlemen,' Draco said, shaking his head. Draco moved to the wall. 'Be ready for anything,' he warned them and raised his wand to tap the wall.
'Too bad we don't have Harry's Invisibility Cloak,' Ron said dejectedly, taking out his own wand.
'I don't think we'd all fit under it anyway,' Hermione said, pointing her wand at the wall.
Draco tapped the bricks and moved back as the entrance opened. The three peered out into the streets of Diagon Alley which were utterly abandoned. They quickly stepped out onto the street as the wall moved back into place and an explosion was heard from the door to the Leaky Cauldron.
'We have to move!' Draco said, sprinting down the street with Ron and Hermione following closely behind. The managed to get into the alcove just before Flourish and Blotts and Disillusioned themselves as the three Death Eaters came into view, running past them down the street.
The three breathed heavily. 'Do you think Professor Dumbledore knew it would be this dangerous?' Ron whispered, trying to catch his breath.
'Perhaps, but he would also have confidence in our abilities, Ron,' Hermione replied, shaking her head.
Ron peeked around the corner, seeing several Death Eaters standing a few metres away from them. One of them was Dolohov, and he couldn't see where the other two went. The others didn't look familiar at all. Ron pulled back in. 'There's more of them,' he told them.
Draco looked out, cursing under his breath. 'We can't fight them, there's too many,' he muttered, peering out again. The Death Eaters were walking down the street, glancing into the buildings and down the alleys. 'They're aware,' Draco said, crossing his arms. 'We'll have to run to the shop,' he told them.
'But, what if they go into the shop while we're in there?' Hermione whispered, shaking her head even though she knew neither of them could see her.
'Then we hide and take them out quietly,' Draco countered, reaching out and grasping what he hoped was her arm.
'Who's touching my arm?' Ron asked in a frightened whisper.
'Shit, Weasley germs,' Draco muttered, wiping his hand on his trousers.
Hermione rolled her eyes. 'This is not the time, nor the place!' she said heatedly, looking out onto the street herself.
Draco gazed out as well. 'Now's probably our best chance while they're all in shops. Come on,' he said, silently making his way out of the alcove. Hermione and Ron trailed after the outline of Draco they could just make out ahead of them. Draco reached the door to Flourish and Blotts, trying the handle. 'It's open,' he whispered, opening the door only a little and slipping through. Hermione and Ron followed.
Hermione turned to the door. 'Colloportus,' she said and the door locked.
The three moved to the back of the shop before removing the Disillusionment Charm. Hermione tapped Draco's and Ron's heads, making their hair return to normal before fixing her own. Draco touched his blonde hair. 'Aww, I liked my new hair,' he said with a pout.
Hermione shrugged. 'You could always learn the spell yourself and change it back,' she told him, moving towards the bookshelves.
'I could… but I'm lazy,' Draco countered with a sigh and sat on the stairs watching Hermione search for the book. 'You know, there's possibly an easier way to get the book…' he trailed off, shaking his head.
Hermione shot him a look over her shoulder. 'Oh? Do tell, Malfoy,' she said, turning fully to look at Draco with a smirk he thought would make Slytherin proud.
Draco smirked back, pulling out his wand. 'Accio Time Travel tome,' he muttered, and his eyes widened as tons of books came careering towards him. Draco raised his arms to protect himself as they bombarded him.
Ron and Hermione laughed and moved over to him. 'Well, at least you got all the books in that category in one place,' Hermione said, picking up one of the books.
Draco scowled at her. 'It was intentional,' he said, picking up a book and flipping through it. Hermione and Ron raised their eyebrows, but neither of them commented.
'How do you think we'll know what the right book is?' Ron asked, skimming the introduction of the book he was holding.
'Dumbledore's letter said he placed another message in the book we're looking for,' Draco replied with a shrug, leafing through his book rapidly before tossing it away from the stack.
Draco grabbed another book, looking down at the cover and grasped it was a children's book and wondered how that got into the pile. He opened it and perused the first page before shaking his head and flinging it over his shoulder onto the floor.
Draco reached for another, catching the disapproving glance Hermione threw at him. He shrugged nonchalantly; now was not the time to be fretting about the books. Draco highly doubted anyone would be back to claim them, so keeping them in perfect shape was not at the top of his list of priorities. Half the books in the shop were tattered and dog-eared, so several more wouldn't make a difference.
After an hour, Draco's pile of tossed books had expanded significantly, but they were no closer to discovering which book it might be than they were when they started. He growled under his breath, hurling another one on the discarded mound and shook his head. 'This is futile,' he muttered, sitting down dispiritedly on a chair.
Ron sighed, putting his book down on the table and leaned against the wall. The two wizards raised their eyebrows as Hermione let out a groan of frustration and threw the book she was holding across the room.
Ron moved over to Hermione, taking hold of her shoulders gently. 'Hey, we'll find it,' he reassured her, but she shook her head.
Draco stood and wandered behind one of the bookshelves. He leaned against the bookcase, letting out a sigh. Draco was irritated, discouraged, and he just wanted to get away from this senseless war which was meaningless. His eyes burned with unshed tears, and he knew it was not healthy to try and disregard what happened to his mother and Snape. Draco leaned his head back against the bookcase, letting the tears fall, and he slid down to the ground, placing his head in his arms.
Hermione and Ron appeared at the entrance to the section, unsure of what to do when they saw the blonde Slytherin crying. Hermione moved slowly towards him, shrugging off Ron when he took her arm to stop her. She sat next to him, tentatively placing her hand on his back.
Draco flinched, pulling away from Hermione, so she moved away from him. The Slytherin stood, pulling out his wand and blasted one of the bookcases, making it fall over. 'This fucking war…' Draco seethed, lowering his head as his shoulders shook.
Hermione looked at Ron who didn't seem much better. 'I know how you feel, Malfoy,' Ron said miserably, leaning against the bookcase.
'What the hell do you know, Weasel!?' Draco snapped, turning around and glaring at Ron.
'Fred… was murdered… during the battle…' Ron faltered, trying to keep his emotions in check.
Draco sobered and shook his head. 'I didn't know,' he muttered, slamming his hand into the bookcase. 'What the hell is it all for?' he said indignantly, looking out the window. They were silent for a few moments, all three of them glowering at nothing while lost in their own thoughts. 'Shit,' Draco mumbled, kicking one of the books on the floor.
'What?' Hermione asked, looking at his crestfallen expression.
'It's not here,' Draco said, cursing under his breath. 'Of course, it fucking isn't. Dumbledore would never make it that easy,' he snarled, running a hand through his hair.
'What are you talking about, Malfoy?' Ron asked, moving toward the blonde.
Draco blew out a breath of exasperation. 'The riddle…' he snapped back, glaring at the redhead. 'I was wrong,' Draco growled, picking up a book and hurling it across the room.
Hermione moved towards Draco. 'So, do you have an idea where it might be?' she asked him, watching him kick another book. Hermione didn't think she'd ever seen Draco this angry. She knew he was letting out his grief though, which he needed to do so he could focus.
For a moment, Draco was silent, and Hermione wondered if they would get a reply from him. 'Granger, read the riddle again, but slowly,' he said, glaring out the window.
Hermione nodded, pulling out the letter from her beaded bag. She cast an eye over it until she reached the riddle and read it out loud to him. '"You will find in the heart of danger, but stealth and cunning must be applied to your search",' Hermione paused when Draco held up his hand to halt her.
'So, we're looking for the most dangerous place in the Wizarding World at the moment,' Draco deduced, tilting his head. 'What was next?' he probed, turning to look at Hermione.
Ron came to stand next to Hermione as she frowned and read the next part. '"Concealed in a dwelling you know well, unseen from those outside the law, but in plain sight",' Hermione paused again, glancing up at Draco who was frowning.
'A place hidden from Muggles, maybe?' Ron suggested with a shrug. 'And somewhere only people who work with the law can go? Like Aurors?' Ron added, looking between them.
Draco looked at him, raising his eyebrows. What Ron said made sense, but Draco wasn't about to concede that. 'And the last part?' Draco said, nodding at the letter.
Hermione looked back at the letter. '"It is farthest away from its home; next to the closest thing, it has to a complete opposite",' Hermione finished, looking up and frowning. 'So, it will be on the wrong shelf. Linked to something completely opposite from Time Travel,' Hermione construed, receiving an absent nod from Draco.
Draco tapped his chin pensively as he muttered the riddle back to himself under his breath. After a moment, he turned to look at them. 'I know where it is,' he said, moving back through the shop and grabbing his satchel.
'What? Where?' Hermione asked, picking up her beaded bag.
'Weasel, where is the most dangerous place in the Wizarding World at the moment?' Draco asked, startling Ron by aiming the question at him and not Hermione.
'I would say the Ministry of Magic,' Ron replied, crossing his arms and scowling at Draco.
Draco smirked. 'Precisely.'
'You can't be serious,' Hermione said, her eyes wide at the notion that the book would be there. 'Dumbledore wouldn't put it somewhere that dangerous,' she argued, crossing her arms.
'Do you even know Dumbledore?' Draco asked, looking at her in incredulity. 'After everything the "Golden Trio" endured for seven years, without him even batting an eyelid, and now you say he wouldn't put it in the most dangerous place?' Draco said, shaking his head.
'I…' Hermione trailed off and closed her eyes. There really was no arguing with Draco on this one. Everything he said was accurate. Dumbledore really had let them go through hell without stepping in once. The copious incidents where they almost died, and he just let it happen. Even with the battle in the Department of Mysteries Dumbledore hadn't made an appearance until Voldemort had…
Ron lowered his head, cursing under his breath. 'You know he's right, Hermione,' he whispered, clenching his fists.
Hermione sighed resignedly. 'So, how do you propose we enter the Ministry of Magic? And where would the book be? There's no library there,' Hermione said, glaring at the blonde.
'I'll take us in. I have authority to Apparate in there, courtesy of a friend of mine. Even Lucius and the Dark Lord don't know about that,' Draco told them, shouldering his satchel.
'And? What about the book?' Ron asked him, his mouth set in a grimace. He was not looking forward to trying to traverse the Ministry of Magic which could be teeming with Death Eaters.
'The Department of Magical Law and Enforcement,' Draco countered simply as if he were merely commenting on the weather. 'The last time I was there, the Death Eaters had moved in, and magical creatures were roaming the place, so we'll need to find a way through them. I have an idea though,' he told them, crossing his arms.
'And what exactly is your plan, Malfoy?' Ron asked, reaching up and pinching the bridge of his nose.
'We get in, we find some Death Eater garb, and move through the ranks like we're meant to be there,' Draco retorted, smirking at Ron.
Ron shook his head in disbelief. 'And you actually believe that will work?' he asked in scepticism.
'You're unbelievable, Malfoy,' Hermione said, shaking her head. 'How do we know this isn't a hoax to get back in favour with You-Know-Who?' she grilled him abruptly, giving him an accusatory stare.
Draco raised his eyebrows. 'Oh, so Dumbledore just included me in his letter, and I elaborately planned my own mother's death and Snape's death just to get back into the Dark Lord's good graces?' Draco seethed, his face becoming red in anger.
Hermione closed her eyes. 'Sorry, I shouldn't have-'
'Don't presume to know anything about me, Granger. No ruses; my life is in jeopardy as well, which you seem to forget,' Draco snapped, glaring at her. 'If I didn't have to work with you, I would leave you to rot,' he added heatedly, looking away from her and scowling at the floor.
There was a thick tension left by Draco's words, but neither Hermione nor Ron said anything. Hermione felt dreadful at what she said, wishing she could rip her tongue out to prevent it from letting loose any more snarky words.
Ron, on the other hand, was a little taken aback by how abrupt Hermione had been. Sure, he didn't trust Draco, but it hadn't even entered his head that he was shipping them off to Voldemort. Now, Ron couldn't help the slight niggling of doubt he did feel, but either way, he knew they were going to get through this or die trying.
'Well, if you're done making false accusations, I suggest we leave,' Draco finally muttered, having calmed down somewhat from Hermione's remark. He moved towards them, grabbing their arms and without warning, he Disapparated with them with a small POP.
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'His strength returns,' Elrond stated from where he was observing Frodo, Sam, and Harry from his balcony.
Gandalf nodded, coming to stand next to the Elf Lord. 'That wound will never fully heal. He will carry it for the rest of his life,' he replied forlornly, watching the young Hobbit.
Elrond tilted his head. 'Yet, to have come so far still bearing the Ring… the Hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil,' he said wistfully with a frown, casting a sidelong glance at Gandalf.
'It is a burden he should never have had to bear,' Gandalf said resolutely, moving away from the balcony, and picking up his staff from where it was leaning against Elrond's desk. Gandalf let out a sigh, looking at Elrond. 'We can ask no more of Frodo,' he said, knowing what Elrond was implying.
Elrond's frown deepened. 'Gandalf, the enemy is moving. Sauron's forces are massing in the East. His eye is fixed on Rivendell. And Saruman, you tell me, has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin,' Elrond declared, moving to stand next to his desk and fixing Gandalf with a penetrating stare.
Gandalf closed his eyes. 'His treachery runs deeper than you know. By foul craft, Saruman has crossed Orcs with Goblin Men...' he trailed off, looking up at Elrond. 'He's breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard. An army that can move in sunlight and cover great distance at speed. Saruman is coming for the ring,' Gandalf told him anxiously, taking a deep breath.
'What of these others you have assured are coming to our aid?' Elrond asked, turning to look at him interestedly.
Gandalf closed his eyes for a moment. 'Their arrival is imminent, but they have some tasks to complete first,' he told the Elf Lord who nodded distractedly.
'One of them is a woman?' Elrond asked sharply, looking at Gandalf.
'Yes, a very powerful one. I ask that she be treated with respect,' Gandalf entreated, and Elrond raised his eyebrows.
'What form of respect does she demand? Is she royalty?' Elrond asked, amused at the request.
'In a manner of speaking…' Gandalf muttered, taking a deep breath when Elrond cast him an astonished glance having heard him unmistakably as if he'd shouted it. 'She is to be treated on the same level as Harry. She will be in my care, and I will take full responsibility for her,' Gandalf told him stubbornly.
'And what of the Council? Do you assume she will be hailed by our guests?' Elrond asked, glowering at Gandalf.
'No, I anticipate there will be a lot of discord amongst the male occupants with a female present, but that is neither here nor there. She should be revered as I am,' Gandalf stated crossly, frowning at the Elf Lord.
'Who is she, exactly?' Elrond asked, tilting his head.
'You will know soon, Lord Elrond, I assure you. I must speak to them once they arrive, and then you will be informed of what is happening,' Gandalf promised, bowing his head to the Elf Lord.
'You and your secrets, Gandalf,' Elrond said, shaking his head, but a smirk played on his lips. 'These visitors…' Elrond trailed off, casting a hard look at Gandalf. 'What is their connection to the Ring?'
'I cannot tell you, yet,' Gandalf answered simply, making the Elf Lord scowl at him. 'But, I will in due time,' he added rapidly, hoping to placate Elrond.
Elrond sat down behind his desk jadedly. 'This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves…' Elrond stated with a heavy sigh. 'We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and Isengard,' he said, looking at the old Wizard. 'Gandalf… the Ring cannot stay here,' Elrond said, shaking his head and leaning back in his chair.
Gandalf turned his head towards the window despondently as the sounds of galloping horses reached his ears. He moved out onto the balcony, watching Men ride through the gate into Rivendell, followed closely by a contingent of Elves, and a group of Dwarves appeared from behind them. Gandalf looked up at the sky. 'Precisely on time, as expected,' he muttered, turning to look back at Elrond.
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A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you all thought in a review :)