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Chapter Five: Draco's Detour
Harry remained within the confines of the Mould-On-The-Wold Cottage’s property over the next few weeks. He spent most of his days playing games of Exploding Snap, Wizard Skittles, Snitch Snatcher, and Gobstones with his family in the cottage, Runok Ko by himself in his room, and Shuntbumps with Theodore and Remus in the hidden field. He also enjoyed the homecooked meals Remus made, as Harry had not realized how much he missed them. Harry also received responses from Tracey and Allison pledging their support for Harry in relation to the prophecy as well as telling him about their summers and O.W.L.s. They had been more similar to Harry marks wise, mostly "A"s and "E"s, Allison got a "O" in DADA and Study of Ancient Runes, while Tracey got a "P" in Divination she made up for it with an "O" in Charms. Allison also included in her letter that her "E" in Potions meant she too could not be an Auror to her father's disappointment but she felt relieved that she now had an excuse to pursue other interests.
It would have been a happy, peaceful holiday had it not been for the stories of disappearances, odd accidents, even of deaths now appearing almost daily in the Prophet. Not long before Harry’s birthday Remus shared some news he had learned from Nymphadora.
‘There have been another couple of dementor attacks,’ he announced one morning. ‘And they’ve found Igor Karkaroff’s body in a shack up north. The Dark Mark had been set over it—well, frankly, I’m surprised he stayed alive for even a year after deserting the Death Eaters; it only took a couple days for them to catch up with Sirius’ brother…well, maybe we should try to find a more positive story.’
But bad news continued to poor in, as only two days before the thirty-first of July, amongst the birthday cards Harry received from friends and family, was an obituary pamphlet from a funeral home in Hale, Liverpool, United Kingdom. The picture was of a middle aged woman with a round face, brown hair, and green eyes who Harry had met only a couple times. The obituary read:
“In loving memory of Balance Runcorn (nee Noir)
5 Sep 1956 ~ 27 Jul 1996
Balance was a kind woman who enjoyed gardening, reading by the fire, and sewing. She is gone too soon but will never be forgotten.
Balance is preceded by her parents Verseau Noir and Fester Boot, her husband Albert Runcorn, and her daughter Allison Heather Runcorn.”
Harry and Theodore wrote Allison right away, they had known her mother had been sick for quite a while but last either of them had heard she was still stable. They gave her their deepest condolences and that if she needed anything all she had to do was ask. She wrote back thanking them but that she just wanted some time to herself, and Harry remembered how he felt after Sirius died and agreed to her request. Tracey wrote saying that closure to the end of the summer they should all go to Diagon Alley together to cheer each other up and that didn’t sound like a bad idea.
On Harry’s birthday things continued to get worse, Remus and Canini were exhausted from transforming the previous night but Remus tried to make it feel like birthdays of the past, but with the Fidelius Charm the only person outside of their household who could attend was Tonks, and between the cake and presents there was just more bad news.
‘Have you heard about Florean Fortescue, uncle Remus?’ asked Tonks as she drank some butterbeer. ‘The wizard who owned—‘
‘—the ice-cream shop in Diagon Alley?’ Harry interrupted, with an unpleasant, hollow sensation in the pit of his stomach. ‘He used to give me free ice creams. What’s happened to him?’
‘He was taken by Death Eaters by the looks of his flat, there was no body or dark mark, but I sadly think we won’t be seeing him alive ever again.’
‘Why would they take such a sweet man?’ asked Canini with tears welling up in her already tired eyes.
'We don't know why some are taken then killed while others just killed where they are,' answered Tonks glumly. 'Best guess is he upset a Death Eater somehow and they wanted to make an example out of him. Oh, and Fortescue isn't the only one missing from Diagon Alley, Ollivander is too.'
'The wandmaker?' said Theodore, looking frightened.
'Yes, but while we know for sure Fortescue was taken, there wasn't a sign of a struggle at Ollivander’s shop, so it is possible that he is just on the run for his own safety, but we don't know for sure,' answered Tonks.
'How-how will first years get their wands?' asked Canini.
'Families will make do with other makers, or skilled enough parents will make their own for their kids,' said Remus. 'But Ollivander was the best, and if the other side have got him it’s not so good for us.'
The day after this rather gloomy birthday tea, their letters and booklists arrived from Hogwarts, and by the afternoon Remus had received a letter from the Weasleys.
'Good news, the Weasley's have set a date from when they want to go to Diagon Alley, it'll be this Saturday, they say they’d like us to go the same day just so that there are more friendly faces there,' said Remus, who was clearly just as antsy as they were to get out of the house for a bit and maybe see some friends. 'Harry, you and and Theo should write you're friends to let them know that is the date you'll be going and tell them where to meet up.'
'Thank you Remus, I can't wait,' said Harry, he had been wanting to see his friends for weeks.
'Now, when we're in Diagon Alley everyone has to stick with at least one other person the entire time, preferably we'll all stick together the entire time but I have a feeling you and your friends are going to want to sneak away for some fun, so just be safe, ok?' added Remus, and Harry agreed.
The day before they were to head out Remus apparated to the Weasley's home called the Burrow, and when he returned he had four decent sized money bags with him.
'Gringotts has vastly tightened their security and it now can take all day to withdraw some gold, Bill wrote a couple days ago offering to bypass it and get us each spending money for the year from each of our vaults,' explained Remus as he handed each kid a bag. When he handed Theodore his he added, 'This is the very first withdraw from your new vault, Theo.'
'Er, thanks,' said Theodore as he accepted the bag, though Harry could tell this wasn't as happy of a moment as maybe Remus thought it was because the only reason the Goblin's allowed Theodore to open his own vault a month previous was because his biological father had finally been caught and was forced to officially sign away all custody over Theodore, and the only reason his father was caught was because they all fell for the Death Eater trap that lead to Sirius' death.
‘Now remember everyone, this is you’re spending money for the entire year, so make sure to make it last, as I am unsure when we’ll be able to access each of our four vaults again.’
‘We will Moony, promise,’ said Canini.
It was an overcast, murky day. And as they put on their cloaks to Harry’s surprise a mysterious looking car parked on the other side of the road across from the Cottage. There was no way they could see them thanks to the Fidelius Charm but it seemed to be waiting for them.
‘The car was sent by the Ministry of Magic,’ explained Remus as they all stepped outside.
'Why?' asked Harry, who didn't even know the Ministry had muggle looking cars.
'Because after they realized they were wrong, and after the Dementor attack last year, as well as the rising number of Death Eaters, the Ministry has insisted they provide you top-grade security. And there might be more when we reach our destination.'
Harry, Theodore, and Canini got into the back seat while Remus sat in the passenger seat next to the Ministry driver.
Harry had to admit the car was luxurious as they began to drive away, but he did not much fancy doing his shopping while surrounded by a battalion of Aurors. He had stowed his Invisibility Cloak in his backpack and felt that, if that was good enough for Dumbledore, it ought to be good enough for the Ministry, though now he came to think of it, he was not sure the Ministry knew about his cloak.
'Here you are, then,' said the driver, a surprisingly short while later, speaking for the first time as he slowed in Charing Cross Road and stopped outside the Leaky Cauldron. 'I’m to wait for you, any idea how long you’ll be?'
'At least two hours, though I can't be sure,' answered Remus. 'Thank you for the ride, and I hope you brought a book.'
'Harry! Look!' said Canini suddenly, looking out the car window.
Harry imitated his sister and peered through the window; his heart leapt. There were no Aurors waiting outside the inn, but instead the gigantic, black-bearded form of Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, wearing a long beaverskin coat, beaming at the sight of Harry’s face and oblivious to the startled stares of passing Muggles.
'Harry!' he boomed, sweeping Harry into a bone-crushing hug the moment Harry had stepped out of the car. 'Its good to see ya!'
'You as well,' said Harry, grinning as he massaged his ribs. 'We didn’t know "security" meant you!'
'I know, I was surprised too. See, the Ministry wanted ter send a bunch o’ Aurors, but Dumbledore said I’d do,' said Hagrid proudly, throwing out his chest and tucking his thumbs into his pockets. 'Let’s get goin’ then, yer friends are already inside—after yeh, Remus—'
The Leaky Cauldron was, for the first time in Harry’s memory, completely empty of adult customers. Only Tom the landlord, wizened and toothless, remained of the old crowd, instead the inn contained Harry and Theodore’s best friends Tracey Davis and Allison Runcorn. Tom looked up hopefully as they entered, but before he could speak, Hagrid said importantly, 'We're all jus’ passin’ through today, Tom, sure yeh understand, Hogwarts business, yeh know.'
Tom nodded gloomily and returned to wiping glasses.
The girls stood up once Harry and his family fully entered the room. Both were in their everyday witch robes which was almost odd to see as he normally only saw them in the Hogwarts uniform. Tracey's hair was nearly to the length and style it had been before an accident had cursed it off two years prior and she was wearing a pretty green locket. Allison had freshened up her very short spikey bob hair style, but instead of her normal pink headband she was wearing a dark red one, she also looked quite tired but smiled slightly when she saw them. Harry and Theodore quickly ran over and gave her hug.
'We're so sorry about your mum, Allison,' said Theodore.
'And that we weren't at the funeral,' added Harry as the two begun to let her go.
'Dad wanted a more private service, it was really mostly her few friends and some of Dad's co-workers, but hey this makes up for not being at Sirius' funeral,' she said with a shrug.
'Your grandparents, were they there, we read about them in the obituary,' asked Harry, although given Tracey scrunched up her face when he said it he guessed it was a difficult topic.
'They, er, weren't invited,' said Tracey quietly.
'What do you mean they weren't invited?' asked Theodore in shock. 'She was their daughter!'
'Dad was grieving,' responded Allison in a forced stoicism, 'and we both still are. You make choices that don't seem logical to others but make perfect sense to you. I didn't agree with dad either but seeing as I've never met them I didn't question his decision.'
'Sorry Allison,' said Harry genuinely, 'I didn't know that was a sore subject.'
'Its all good, I just want to get some shopping done.'
'Yes, and we should get started,' said Remus coming over with Canini. 'I don't want to inconvenience Hagrid for too long.'
'S'no inconvenience,' said Hagrid with a smile, and with that said Harry and his family, Hagrid, Tracey, and Allison walked through the bar and out into the chilly little courtyard at the back where the dustbins stood. Hagrid raised his pink umbrella and rapped a certain brick in the wall, which opened at once to form an archway onto a winding cobbled street. They stepped through the entrance and paused, looking around.
Diagon Alley had changed. The colorful, glittering window displays of spellbooks, potion ingredients, and cauldrons were lost to view, hidden behind the large Ministry of Magic posters that had been pasted over them. Most of these somber 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 Death Eaters known to be on the loose. Bellatrix Lestrange was sneering from the front of the Apothecary. A few windows were boarded up, including those of Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor. On the other hand, a number of shabby-looking stalls had sprung up along the street. The nearest one, which had been erected outside Flourish and Blotts, under a striped, stained awning, had a cardboard sign pinned to its front:
"AMULETS
Effective Against Werewolves, Dementors, and Inferi"
A seedy-looking little wizard was rattling armfuls of silver symbols on chains at passersby.
'One for your little girl, madam?' he called at Remus as they passed, leering at Canini. 'Protect her pretty neck?'
'Now you see why Mr Weasley has his hands full,' mumbled Remus as he glared at the amulet seller.
'Yes, I do,' whispered Harry back.
'Well,' said Remus looking at his list, 'Hagrid why don't you take the kids to Madam Malkin's to get new robes while I go to Flourish and Blotts to get this years textbooks. Because of Harry and Theodore's hand-me-downs Canini only needs one new book, Book of Potions, and I'll just pick up four sets of sixth year books and you all can pay me back when we meet up again.'
'Actually I am planning on filling my empty Divination slot with Alchemy,' said Theodore, 'and its book, Alchemy, Ancient Art and Science, isn't on the list.'
'Oh and I'll need Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes for Ancient Studies,' exclaimed Tracey.
'Ok, you too haven't out grown your robes yet so you can come with me to pick out your textbooks, Hagrid do you think you can take them to Madam Malkin's on your own,' asked Remus.
'Don’ fret, they’ll be fine with me, Remus,' said Hagrid soothingly, waving an airy hand the size of a dustbin lid. While it was obvious that Remus trusted Hagrid, and it was his idea that they split up, he also seemed reluctant to have them all not by his side. He went off toward Flourish and Blotts with Theodore and Tracey while Harry, Canini, Allison, and Hagrid set off for Madam Malkin’s.
Harry noticed that many of the people who passed them had the same anxious look as Remus, and that nobody was stopping to talk anymore; the 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 of us,' said Hagrid, stopping outside Madam Malkin’s and bending down to peer through the window. 'I’ll stand guard outside, all right?'
So Harry, Canini, and Allison entered the little shop together. It appeared, at first glance, to be empty, but no sooner had the door swung shut behind them than they heard a familiar voice issuing from behind a rack of dress robes in spangled green and blue.
'...not a child, in case you haven’t noticed, Mother. I am perfectly capable of doing my shopping alone.'
There was a clucking noise and a voice Harry recognized as that of Madam Malkin, the owner, said, 'Now, dear, your mother’s quite right, none of us is supposed to go wandering around on our own anymore, it’s nothing to do with being a child—'
'Watch where you’re sticking that pin, will you!'
A teenage boy with a pale, pointed face and white-blond 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. He strode to the mirror and examined himself; it was a few moments before he noticed Harry, Canini, and Allison reflected over his shoulder. His light gray eyes narrowed.
'If you’re wondering what the smell is, Mother, a Half-Breed, a Squib decendant, and a son of a Mudblood just walked in, sound like the beginning of a joke,' said Draco Malfoy.
'I don’t think there’s any need for language like that!' said Madam Malkin, scurrying out from behind the clothes rack holding a tape measure and a wand. 'And I don’t want wands drawn in my shop either!' she added hastily, for a glance toward the door had shown her Harry had his hand in his robes indeed around his wand.
Canini, who was standing slightly behind Harry, whispered, 'He's not worth it Harry, ignore him...'
‘Yeah, like you’d dare do magic out of school,’ sneered Draco. ‘Last I saw you were running away from me like a coward, Potter.’
‘That’s quite enough!’ said Madam Malkin sharply, looking over her shoulder for support. ‘Madam—please—‘
Narcissa Malfoy strolled out from behind the clothes rack. Her resemblance to her sisters was less apparent, but the Black family beauty was still there, although muted by her ugly personality.
‘Take your hand out of your pocket, Potter, without your wand,’ she said coldly to Harry. ‘If you or any of your little friends try to attack my son, I shall ensure that it is the last thing you ever do.’
‘Really?’ said Harry, taking a step forward and gazing into the smoothly arrogant face that. He was as tall as she was now. ‘Going to get a few Death Eater pals to do us in, are you?’
Madam Malkin squealed and clutched at her heart.
‘Really, you shouldn’t accuse—dangerous thing to say—wands away, please!’
But Harry continued to hold onto his wand. Narcissa Malfoy smiled unpleasantly.
‘I see that being Dumbledore’s favorite has given you a false sense of security, Harry Potter. But Dumbledore won’t always be there to protect you.’
Harry looked mockingly all around the shop. ‘Wow…look at that…he’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 husband!’
Draco made an angry movement toward Harry, but stumbled over his overlong robe. Allison laughed loudly.
‘Don’t you dare talk to my mother like that, Potter!’ Draco snarled.
‘It’s all right, Draco,’ said Narcissa, restraining him with her thin white fingers upon his shoulder. ‘I expect Potter will be reunited with my dear stray of a cousin Sirius before I am reunited with Lucius.’
Harry finally took his wand out from his pocket and aimed it at Narcissa.
‘Harry, stop!’ said Allison, grabbing his arm and attempting to pull his wand out from his hand.
‘They’re trying to get you to use magic outside of school so you’ll get expelled again, don’t give them the satisfaction!’
Madam Malkin dithered for a moment on the spot, then seemed to decide to act as though nothing was happening in the hope that it wouldn’t. She bent toward Malfoy, who was still glaring at Harry.
‘I think this left sleeve could come up a little bit more, dear, let me just—‘
‘Ouch!’ bellowed Draco Malfoy as she touched his arm, slapping her hand away. ‘Watch where you’re putting your pins, woman! Mother—I don’t think I want these anymore—‘
He pulled the robes over his head and threw them onto the floor at Madam Malkin’s feet.
‘You’re right, Draco,’ said Narcissa, with a contemptuous glance at Harry, ‘now I know the kind of scum that shops here…We’ll do better at Twilfitt and Tatting’s.’
And with that, the pair of them strode out of the shop, Draco Malfoy while still clutching his arm managed to still step on Allison’s on the way out.
‘Well, really!’ said Madam Malkin, snatching up the fallen robes and moving the tip of her wand over them like a vacuum cleaner, so that it removed all the dust.
She was distracted all through the fitting of Canini and Harry’s new robes, tried to sell Allison wizard’s dress robes instead of witch’s but eventually Allison found one she liked though Harry didn’t get to see it, and when she finally bowed them out of the shop it was with an air of being glad to see the back of them.
‘Got ev’rything?’ asked Hagrid brightly when they reappeared at his side.
‘Just about,’ said Harry. ‘Did you see the Malfoys?’
‘Yeah,’ said Hagrid, unconcerned. ‘Bu’ they wouldn’ dare make trouble in the middle o’ Diagon Alley, Harry. Don’ worry abou’ them.’
Harry, Canini, and Allison exchanged looks, but before they could disabuse Hagrid of this comfortable notion, Remus, Theodore, and Tracey appeared, all clutching heavy packages of books.
‘How did it go?’ asked Remus, looking at the three Madam Malkin bags they were carrying. ‘You each got the robes you need. Good. Now, the only supplies we need now are from the Apothecary, Magical Menagerie, and Eeylops Owl Emporium. We also ran into the Weasley’s at Flourish and Blotts and they’re going over to Fred and George’s joke shop so we might as well go there to as a treat before we leave.’
