Warning: AU for all the books, whilst it will follow them in key events.
AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE
By
SilverSkies
CHAPTER SEVEN: The Darker Side of Shopping...
Decent shopping as Harry discovered involved traipsing alongside Bella to a multitude of shops. At which most of them she would lean in to have a word with the shopkeeper and there would be an exchange of muttered words before leaving the shop and going onwards. He was tempted to ask what was going on, but knew better than to disturb her when she was obviously hunting for something or someone…
They entered yet another dismal seeming shop. The windows were caked with grime and the door smeared with Merlin knew what, prompting Bella to nudge it open with a foot. He could tell from her stance as she viewed the interior and the shopkeeper that this was where she wished to be. A straightening of her spine, her focus completely on the wizard that sat behind the beaten counter – Harry wondered what they were here for until Bella spoke.
"Greetings. My companion and I are in need of your services." Her voice came out low and dangerous.
"Ah, and what services exactly should that be?" The wizard, a greying man – scrawny, who wore a tattered robe and hat, questioned.
"You came recommended. In days such as this, how could I fail to taste your wares?" This – Harry had trouble following until he understood 'days' referred to the current lack of any Dark Power, and 'taste' was a hint at being a Death Eater.
The shopkeeper obviously had come to the same conclusions, for his face showed a modicum of surprise before he nodded slowly before speaking carefully, as if not to offend. "I don't have many customers of your…quality these days…but you understand I must ask for some… proof of identity."
Bella looked carefully at the shopkeeper – he seemed to be the right person, he was more careful than she had heard… though in the days of the Dark Lord, those less-than-Light wizards hadn't had to worry so much about Aurors…
"Very well." She drew Harry's wand, and with a swirl she silently cast the Dark Mark. "I trust that is sufficient for you?"
The man's eyes had widened at the sight of that most feared symbol, before nodding vigorously and beckoning them to the back of the store.
Once in the back of the store, closing the door to the front, he was blunt.
"How many wands are you wanting?"
"Two," came the swift answer from Bella. Harry busied himself in studying his surroundings – the walls were stocked with boxes – with labels like 'Maple' or 'Dragon's Heartstring', though there was one that appeared to say 'Thestral tail hair' – it sounded interesting.
"Very well. Which are your wand arms?"
"We require wands suitable for both."
That comment received a speculative look from the shopkeeper.
"Any other requirements?"
"They need to be…unique."
The older wizard frowned, "you're worried about brother wands?" Before holding up his hands in appeasement, "no need to answer. You'll get what you came for. I'll need a few drops of blood from each of you."
"Naturally." Once again she drew Harry's wand and pressed it gently to her index finger – leaving behind a small cut where blood was already welling. She conjured a small glass vial and let fall a single drop inside, before doing the same for Harry. "The blood is to be destroyed once done." Her words were an order, a threat clearly visible in her tone.
"But of course," he said, before taking the vials, "Now let me see."Taking out his own wand and scanning the blood – his eyes narrowed in thought. "Perhaps Linden? Holly or Hazel? And this one – Bamboo or there is an affinity with Ebony…a close relation to the Black family perhaps? Hmm… cores… Sphinx feather? No not quite right…perhaps Thestral? Or a combination? And the flight feather of a Hippogriff for the other I believe… Yes."
Summoning the required materials, Harry and Bella watched as the wizard set to work.
--
Taking his new Linden wand, 11 ¾ inches, core of Sphinx down and Thestral hair; Harry held it aloft for a moment – studying it in the light from the wall sconces, before giving it a slight wave. A dark mist filled with lightning appeared from the end, and it sent little frissons of delight down his spine. He nodded to Bella – this was as well suited to him as the other wand.
Bella watched Harry carefully as he tested his new wand. At his nod, she felt an almost imperceptible amount of tension recede from herself; and then took to studying her own wand: Bamboo, 12 inches, and core of a Hippogriff flight feather. Rather different from her last. A simple wave and she knew this wand was for her; her old wand would doubtlessly no longer suit, not that she had a chance of getting it back.
"They are adequate. How much are they worth to you?" Here, she was somewhat worried – such wands weren't cheap, and they could hardly afford to bring suspicion to Harry's accounts.
"That will be thirty galleons…each."
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing – that was quadruple the amount he had paid in Ollivanders! Despite his shock, Bella seemed satisfied with the asked price and handed over the required amount.
"I trust the usual discretion will be followed?"
"But of course, Sirs."
And with that said; Harry and Bella left the shop.
--
A dozen shops later and Bella had collected a rather interesting set of books – ranging from the rather tame 'The Extensive Treatise on Magic' – a lengthy work on magical theory; 'Loopholes and the Law – revised edition' – a book banned by the current Ministry; 'The Artes of the Mynde' – a book on the mental arts of Occlumency and Legilimency; to 'The Beast Within' – a guide to becoming an Animagus, banned since the 15th century; and 'Dark Gifts' which had a lengthy section on Parseltongue and related magics.
It was, in Harry's opinion far too long before they left to go home, but eventually Bella decided there was nothing left worth buying – at least just yet… so back to Little Whinging they went.
--
Back home again, it was a few days before Harry could once again visit Bella. When he arrived, however, it was to see said witch, scrutinising the rather large tome 'Loopholes and the Law' whilst taking notes.
"Anything of interest?" He inquired; picking up 'Dark Gifts' and leafing through the pages to the section on Parseltongue.
"Maybe… I'd have to visit Gringotts to know more…" She looked up at him and upon noticing his reading material, frowned and told him, "You should start with the Occlumency book, it may be dated, but it is the most authoritative work on the subject and it is the most vital thing of all for you to learn."
Harry blinked in response – weighing up the pros and cons of the situation. He huffed. "Fine." Replacing the book before him with 'The Artes of the Mynde', which he began to read… with difficulty.
Fore the lerner that is of quicke witt, the accumulatione of the knoweledge of these moste vitale artes wille be of far greater ease…
"Bella! This… this is all… old!"
She merely looked at him in response.
"Right… I'm reading… I might just need to translate it as I go along." He sighed dramatically.
Another look, and "There is an option known as note-taking you realise."
"Yea, and I realise you are going to look at my notes…"
"Well if the work's already done…" She smiled at him, and he supposed it was only fair, he didn't really fancy reading through books on Law.
He skipped the first section – about how great the book is, and why one should learn Occlumency and Legilimency, going to the next – 'The Arte of Occlumencie', which led to a frown, he really wished they kept their spellings the same.
… To begin withe one muste firste learne to clear the mynde of all thoughtes, this is believed to have aide in the arte by bringyn controle to the minde and is of moste use to the learner in defense of the sister art Legilimensy. Withe suche the attacker wille see nought that he has came fore and it wille provyde tyme for the learner's natural barriers to remove the attacker…
Right, he thought, all I have to do is clear my mind.
"What's clearing your mind?" he asked.
Startled by the sudden noise, Bella jumped in her chair. Scowling at him, she responded, "What do you think?"
"Um… like meditation? Trying to focus on one thing to the exclusion of all else? Then trying to think of nothing? How do you think of nothing?"
She snorted, "I would think the latter would be easy for you." At his glare she removed the smirk from her face, "No, I think you have the right of it… maybe just try not to think of anything, push everything from your mind. Is that what it says in the book?"
"Only as the beginner's exercise. Pretty boring though I think."
She sighed, "A lot of useful things are."
--
Another day, another section of the book to read – Harry's Occlumency was coming along… he hoped. Clearing his mind had been awful at first, so he'd taken the suggestion of focus on one thing alone, choosing his breathing. Focussing on every inhale and exhale, he kept having random thoughts float in, and thinking about not-thinking and thinking 'Have I done it yet?' which was a nuisance, but finally he had managed to exert enough control over his thoughts to just exist in this void. He was ready to go on to the next step.
Until Bella interrupted with an abrupt, "Here," and a small package in cream coloured paper with balloons and gold ribbon was thrust in his face.
He barely managed to catch hold of it as she released her hold on the item. Looking at her confusedly, he asked, "What is this?"
She stared at him, mouth agape for a moment. Before recovering her form nicely and using a voice that was a few shades away from a yell, she said, "What do you mean 'What is this?' Is it so absurd to think that I might want to buy you a birthday present, before you go off to Hogwarts, the one year I have the money to spend on such a luxury item!"
It was Harry's turn to stare. A present – for him; he haltingly gave a thank you, and turned his attention to the present. It was neatly wrapped; he shook it – no sound. Giving one last look at Bella, he dug his fingers into the ribbon – pulling it off the box and started on the wrapping. It was a jewellery box. Bella had bought him jewellery. He didn't know whether to be pleased and embarrassed she had spent enough on him to buy jewellery, or just embarrassed that she had bought him jewellery.
Obviously he had taken to long as Bella interrupted with "Are you going to open it sometime today?"
He nodded, cracking open the black box – inside lay a silver pendant – he vaguely recognised it as a rune, but wasn't sure which – it looked like a Y with the lower vertical extending upwards.
"Which rune is it?"
She smiled, obviously pleased that he had recognised it. "It's algiz, from the elder futhark, it's a symbol of protection. I thought it might help, and not only with your Occlumency." She took the rune, and threaded a black strip of leather through it; she beckoned him, necklace in hand, "Come here."
He let her put it around him, the rune felt cold against his flesh until it warmed to match his temperature. He fingered it, "Do you really think it will work?"
She scoffed at his question, "Do you think I would let you go away without any protection?" She paused and frowned, "Other than a secondary wand."
"No. I suppose not." He looked at her, memorising her, for in a month's time he wouldn't see her for about ten months. He swallowed at the thought. "Thank you." He managed to say again, before wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her blouse.
--
(AN: Um the title… in case you couldn't tell – I don't like shopping…
The wands: Linden is apparently linked with immortality, protection, sleep, luck and love; Holly and Hazel share the properties of protection, luck and anti-lightning (which immediately brought to mind Harry's scar…somewhat ironic?) Bamboo – protection, hex-breaking, truth and devotion.
thoughts on using a sphinx feather – they are known for speaking in riddles… yet it is the truth that they speak…much like Harry has to learn to do – couch his language so it is not readily seen what he is saying… Thestral because of the tie-in with Death. Hippogriff flight feather? Hippogriffs are proud, and dangerous when untamed… which fits with my idea of Bella…
Book titles – out of my head – fairly simple, which has me thinking others may also have chosen those titles… but really the first things that came to mind…more or less…
Okay… I have no idea about Olde English… or whatever… I do know that I've looked at a few images of these old documents (a while ago…) and deciphering them is hard… letter shapes are different too, not to mention the language…
Apologies for the time taken to update – having to face the horrors of exams… Oo
And a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed – SailorHecate, Lady AeTeRa, ranma hibiki, Getzer, ShyOrangette, Zephyrl, e, Wonderbee31, Harpalycee, kehlencrow and Zevrillion)