Over the next few weeks Lexi grew to maybe the size of a 9 month old. She was starting to walk and had most of her teeth. She had already started to talk. She wasn't saying all that much. Just the basics and the stuff Hermione had taught her. Harry really couldn't believe how fast she was growing and learning. She was a very advanced child.
Harry turned sixteen on the 31st of July and that was the day Lexi had said her first word which was 'Daddy'. It was now only a week until Hogwarts started and Harry was starting to get a little nervous. He had long since realised that Lexi's teeth couldn't pierce the skin. Not yet anyway. That was good.
Harry was with most of the Weasleys in the living room getting ready to floo to the leaky cauldron so they could go do their shopping in Diagon Alley for school. "I'll take Lexi for you, Harry," said Mrs Weasley, taking Lexi from Harry. Harry nodded and followed after Ron into the fireplace. He flooed to the Leaky Cauldron and waited for Mrs Weasley to show up. She came last with a scared looking Lexi.
"Daddy," she moaned. Harry took her from Mrs Weasley's arms. Everyone glanced around the Leaky Cauldron. Only a few people were in there and they were all sitting quite close to the Weasleys. Harry was sure that they heard Lexi's cry for him. Tom certainly did, for he was looking at Harry, his eyes wide with shock and confusion. Harry watched Mr Weasley go over to talk to Tom. He came back moments later, giving Harry a wink. Harry thought that Mr Weasley had probably just told Tom to keep Harry's little secret under wraps for the time being. Harry nodded, gratefully, at Tom.
Everyone went outside, to the back of the Leaky Cauldron where Hagrid was waiting for them. "Ex'ra protection," Hagrid shrugged at the quizzical look Harry gave him.. Harry nodded understandingly at the half giant towering above him.
Mrs Weasley tapped the correct brick on the wall with her wand and it opened to reveal Diagon Alley. Harry looked around. He noticed that the place seemed a lot more deserted this year. The place was still full of people bustling through the streets and trying to get their shopping done, but that wasn't what was different. The street was dark, a lot of shops were boarded up and there were posters and leaflets on the wall and lying around on the ground. Harry picked one up.
MINISTRY OF MAGIC PUBLIC NOTICE
THE WIZARDING COMMUNITY IS CURRENTLY UNDER THREAT FROM AN ORGANIZATION CALLING ITSELF THE DEATHEATERS!
BEWARE!
OBSERVING THE FOLLOWING SIMPLE SECURITY GUIDELINES WILL HELP PROTECT YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR HOME FROM ATTACK!
1. You are advised not to leave the house alone!
2. Particular care should be taken during hours of darkness. Arrange to complete journeys before night has fallen!
3. Review the security arrangements around your house, making sure that all families are aware of emergency measures such as shield and disillusionment charms and in the case of underage family members, side-along apparition
4. Agree security questions with friends and family so as to detect death eaters masquerading as others using Polyjuice potion.
5. Should you feel a family member, friend or neighbour is acting in a strange manner, contact the Magical Law Enforcement squad at once! They might be under the Imperius Curse!
6. Should the Dark Mark appear over any dwelling place or other building, do not enter, but contact the Auror Oficce immediately!
7. Unconfirmed sightings suggest that the Death Eaters may be using Inferi. Any sighting of an inferius or encounter with some should be reported tot he ministry IMMEDIATELY!
Harry scoffed and shoved the leaflet in his pocket. "Gringotts first!" said Mrs Weasley leading the way to the Wizarding Bank, Gringotts. Inside the bank they decided to split up. Harry would take Lexi to his own vault and everyone else would go to the Weasley's vault. Harry carried Lexi over to one of the goblins.
"I would like to enter vault 687," said Harry, uncertainly. That was the number that Hagrid had told him outside. The goblin didn't stop writing on a piece of parchment.
"Key, please?" he said.
"Er, yeah," said Harry, fumbling in his pocket for the key. He found it and handed it to the Goblin. The Goblin sighed and took the key from Harry. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Lexi and Lexi whimpered in Harry's arms. The goblin looked away.
"Follow me Mr Potter!" The goblin led Harry through a door to a cart on what seemed like a railway track. The goblin motioned for Harry to sit down. He did and held onto Lexi as tight as he could without hurting her. Harry dearly hoped she wouldn't get sick.
The cart suddenly went whizzing off on the track. Harry felt like he was going to puke and he sensed Lexi felt the same, but she just sat there hugging Harry. When they eventually reached Harry's vault He set Lexi down on her feet. She wobbled for a moment before she started to stop feeling dizzy. The goblin opened the vault and Harry's eyes were met by the sight of mounds of gold coins, piles of bronze coins and loads of little silver ones. Harry grabbed as many galleons, sickles and knuts as he could and piled them into his magically expanded pouch. He exited the vault and sat back in the cart with Lexi and they zoomed back to the main bank.
When they got outside, Harry realised the Weasleys were still in their vault. Harry sat down on the steps with Lexi. He tickled her and played with her. "Stop daddy!" she squealed with delight. Harry continued playing with her. "No daddy! Bad daddy!" and she gave him a stern look before slapping him across the face and giggling.
"You cheeky little monkey!" whispered Harry.
"My, my this is a shock! Do my eyes deceive me? Do my ears?," Harry looked up and immediately wished he hadn't. Standing above him with a photographer was Rita Skeeter.
"Back at the Prophet, are we?" snarled Harry, hugging Lexi close to him. Rita laughed a little too loudly.
"Well one has to earn a living and you can tell that Granger girl that I've registered myself as an animagus so she has no control over me whatsoever!" sneered Rita, joyously. "Enough about me though. It seems a lot has changed since I last saw you, but how is it possible?
"I suppose we don't need to know a lot of the details. The headline alone will be enough to sell every single copy of the paper. So tell me, Harry, how does it feel to be a father? Do you feel like you're giving your daughter the life you could have had? Who's the mother of the child? When was she born?" said Rita, softly, but excitedly. Harry groaned.
"Go away, Skeeter! Like I'd tell you anything!" then the Weasleys and Hermione appeared beside Harry. Rita smirked and walked away with her photographer.
"Well, looks like the cat, or bat's out of the bag!" sighed Ginny.
"she's a vampire not a bat!" insisted Harry.
"Yes, we know dear. Ignore that Skeeter woman anyway. It was bound to come out some time or other. It's better to get it over with sooner rather than later. Right, well we really must go and get some shopping done.
The rest of the day was spent getting robes and dress robes, quills parchment and paper, books and potion sets and other little bits they needed for school. At some point they bumped into Dean, Seamus and Neville. Mrs Weasley took Lexi from Harry and headed off in the other direction as soon as she saw them. Harry and Ron spoke to Dean, Seamus and Neville for a while before following the rest of the Weasleys and Hermione to the ice cream parlour.
Harry sat down and ordered Lexi the tiniest bit of ice cream. "Well, you're going to be front page news by tomorrow morning!" said Ginny. Harry shrugged.
"What's new?" he sighed, feeding Lexi.
"At least she doesn't know that Lexi's a half vampire!" said Ron. Harry shuddered at the thought of Lexi being hated for being a vampire. Most wizards and witches wouldn't take too kindly too it. Suddenly Hermione gasped.
"Oh no," she moaned. Harry looked at what she was pointing at. There was a beetle on the wall of the shop. Harry gasped. Rita Skeeter was an unregistered animagus. Mr Weasley quickly ushered them out of the shop and bag to the Leaky Cauldron. The flooed bag to the Weasley's house and Harry put Lexi up for a nap.
"Can't wait to read the Prophet tomorrow," he muttered darkly to himself. Everyone else exchanged worried glances.
Sorry it took so long, but I'm writing another story too and It's hard to get peace and quiet here. Anyway, I really hope you guys liked this chapter and please review. There's no point in me writing if you don't review!