Deserted Diagon Alley

Saturday dawned and Mrs Weasley became less and less cheerful. She even seemed very tense at breakfast Saturday morning. Bill, who would be staying at home with Fleur (much to Ginny's displeasure), passed two full money bag across the table to Chris and Harry.

"Where's mine?" demanded Ron at once, his eyes wide.

"That's already theirs', idiot," said Bill. "I got it out of your vault for you, Harry, because it's taking about five hours for the public to get to their gold at the moment, the goblins have tightened security so much. Two days ago Arkie Philpott had a Probity Probe stuck up his . . . Anyway, Chris, I changed the money your father send you in Muggle way, Sirius gave it to me, a few days ago. . . Well, trust me, this way's easier than standing in lines for days. . ."

"Yeah, I know. Sirius told me," said Chris pouring the gold in her small purse. "Thanks, Bill."

"Thanks, Bill," said Harry, pocketing his gold.

"'E is always so thoughtful," purred Fleur adoringly, stroking Bill's nose. Ginny mimed vomiting into her cereal behind Fleur. Chris shook her head in disapproval and Ginny rolled her eyes.

It was an overcast, murky day. One of the special Ministry of Magic cars, in which Chris had ridden once before, was awaiting them in the front yard when they emerged from the house, pulling on their cloaks.

"It's good Dad can get us these again," said Ron appreciatively, stretching luxuriously as the car moved smoothly away from the Burrow, Bill and Fleur waving from the kitchen window. He, Harry, Hermione, Chris and Ginny were all sitting in roomy comfort in the wide backseat.

"Don't get used to it, it's only because of Harry," said Mr Weasley over his shoulder. He and Mrs Weasley were in front with the Ministry driver; the front passenger seat had obligingly stretched into what resembled a two-seater sofa. "He's been given top-grade security status. And we'll be joining up with additional security at the Leaky Cauldron too."

"I am glad they have no idea about the legend," whispered Chris to Harry.

"Lucky you," muttered Harry. "I don't fancy doing my shopping while surrounded by a battalion of Aurors."

"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?"

"A couple of hours, I expect," said Mr Weasley. "Ah, good, they're here!"

Chris imitated Mr Weasley and peered through the window; her heart leapt. There were no Aurors waiting outside the inn, but a girl with straggly, waist-length, dirty-blond hair, very pale eyebrows, and protuberant eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look, wearing pale-white robes. Beside her were two boys, one a lot taller than the other one, but both had the same kind of mousy-hair, brown eyes and some freckles on the face, dressed in sweatshirts and pants; and behind them stood two figures, one a tall, handsome young man in a black formal robe and other was a gigantic, black-bearded man, wearing a long beaverskin coat. All of them were beaming at Chris and others.

"Luna! Colin! Cedric! Hagrid?" Chris was surprised and confused at the same time as they made their way to her. "Wait, you are not Harry's 'security', are you?" Chris nudged Colin, teasingly. Harry rolled his eyes at her and Colin laughed.

"No, they are not but we are," said Cedric, giving a one-arm hug to Chris. "Me and Hagrid."

"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.

"And I am the newest Order member and an employee of the new Muggle Observers department in Ministry," said Cedric smiling. "Dumbledore called me today to bring Luna, Colin and Denis; and asked me to stay with you all. He knows you all will prefer us than a bunch of serious-looking Aurors."

"That's true," Harry beamed.

"Let's get goin' then — after yeh, Molly, Arthur —" Hagrid led the group towards the Leaky Cauldron.

The Leaky Cauldron was, for the first time in Chris' memory, completely empty. Only Tom the landlord, wizened and toothless was there. He looked up hopefully as they entered, but before he could speak, Hagrid said importantly, "Jus' passin' through today, Tom, sure yeh understand, Hogwarts business, yeh know."

Tom nodded gloomily and returned to wiping glasses. Chris remembered her first visit to Diagon Alley with her father and a not formed in her stomach, as they 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 colourful, 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 nearest 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 Mrs Weasley as they passed, leering at Ginny. "Protect her pretty neck?"

"No thanks," said Ginny giving a fake smile. "I will make myself one if I need."

Chris, Ron, Harry and Colin chuckled but Mrs Weasley turned to Ginny angrily. "Don't talk like that! In fact, don't talk to any stranger at all."

"If I were on duty . . ." said Mr Weasley, glaring angrily at the amulet seller.

"Yes, but don't go arresting anyone now, dear, we're in a hurry," said Mrs Weasley, nervously consulting a list. "I think we'd better do Madam Malkin's first, Hermione wants new dress robes and Ron's showing much too much ankle in his school robes, and you must need new ones too, Harry, you've grown so much — come on, everyone —"

"Molly, it doesn't make sense for all of us to go to Madam Malkin's," said Mr Weasley. "And you said, we need to buy an owl for Ginny and I am sure Colin, Luna have other things to buy too. I say we split up."

"But —" Mrs Weasley looked anxious.

"We just have to buy books, and some potion ingredients, Mr Weasley," said Colin. "My brother is starting his third year, and oh yes, we have to buy an owl."

"Alright," Mr Weasley nodded. "Hagrid, please go with Harry, Ron and Hermione; Cedric can go with Ginny, Colin and his brother to the pet shop and we can go to Flourish and Blotts and get everyone's schoolbooks."

"I want Chris and Luna to come with me," said Ginny.

"I don't know," said Mrs Weasley anxiously, clearly torn between a desire to finish the shopping quickly and the wish to stick together in a pack.

"It will be fine, Molly," said Mr Weasley. "Cedric has been trained, he could have been an Auror if he had time. He can take care of them."

"I will take care of them, Mrs Weasley," said Cedric very seriously.

Mrs Weasley still looked uncertain so Mr Weasley spoke, "You lot quickly finish your shopping and met us at Flourish and Blotts."

Everyone nodded. Colin and Luna gave Mrs Weasley their booklist and Mr Weasley gave Ron and Ginny money. Mrs Weasley did not look entirely convinced, but allowed the separation, scurrying off toward Flourish and Blotts with her husband. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid set off for Madam Malkin's while Chris, Ginny, Luna, Colin and Dennis took off with Cedric.

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To be continued. . .