#Knockturn alley

[leighbaye]

🖤 ₊˚⊹ — eldest daughter of the malfoy family (2) #DISCONTINUED

parring ➵ draco malfoy x sibling f!reader

summary ➵ the beginning of the end, the initiation ceremony.

age of parring ➵ 16 - 18

warnings ➵ angst, mention of pain inflicting, broken families, flashbacks.

extra ➵ thanks to @cafekitsune for banners, extremely special thanks to @helendeath for supporting this story! mind you this chapter is long, you are responsible for your consumption. first chapter here.

before you knew it, the following school year was rapidly approaching. apparently it was the perfect time for him to conceive the dark mark.

for whatever reason for father, lucius, thought it was best for your younger brother to receive the dark mark. not thinking about the mental toll it will bring him.

the next moment, you were in draco’s room helping him get dressed and ready out the door. you weee buttoning his blazer and you then ran you hand though his hair, keeping it down. you then sigh.

❝ are you ready? ❞ you asked in a soft spoken voice, genuinely curious about his wellbeing.

❝ i-i guess, still unaware how the process will go. ❞

you then sat on his bed, patting his silk sheets to a spot next to you. he took the hint and approached you and took a seat.

❝ well whatever you feel uncomfortable, just reach out to me okay? ❞

he replied in a hum, he cleared his throat forgetting how observant his older sister was. like the both of you were in a in a pact and however he felt it will affect how you acted.

❝ how did you, yknow deal with the aftermath of embedding of the mark? ❞ draco asked hesitantly, wondering how you would answer his question.

you then stared off into space, all of the sudden the ceiling captivated your attention as you vividly remembered how it went down.

it happened in a different circumstance, but that you couldn’t remember why and when it happened. you wanted to spare yourself from revealing to much or it would most definitely get your brother more anxious then he already was.

you were also sixteen years old when your left forearm was tainted with the mark. the bubbling of a cauldron filling your mind also being the center of attention, plus witnesses taking your branding as amusing.

the pain was excruciating. it felt as if you were being held in the one of three unforgivable curses, the cruciatus curse.

the noises of your soft cries and the hot tears streaming down your cheeks fillings your memory as the dark lord announced your current loyalty to him to the rest of the death eaters.

the glittering green skull with a snake protruding from its mouth was now visible, you rubbed and pinched your skin as you were trying to rub fast drying ink off your skin.

how much you needed to see your baby brother in that very moment.

the final vision you saw was back at the manor, you were embraced by your father and you choked back sobs as he caressed your head. trying to comfort his eldest daughter, narcissa with tears welling in her eyes wiped tears away from your eyes.

draco was only fourteen when this all went down, of course he want present due to his young age. he wasn’t aware until much later that you had the mark.

how much you pushed him away from you, afraid of how would then perceive you. how much he wanted to be there for his big sister but it hurt him how painfully obvious you wanted nothing to do with him until these uncontrollable feelings subsided.

as you told him everything he wanted to hear, you noticed how much facial changes he made. slowly and slowly worsening his mood as he took in how he sister handled that all on your own.

not even able to take a full breath in and out, you embraced him as tightly as you physically could. sniffing being heard as mumbled, because you laid your face into his neck.

❝ i-i just want you to know i will be always be here for you, im so worried for you draco! ❞

draco eyebrows furrowed, responding in a hug back is his breathing struggled hearing you be in undeniable pain hurtes him because what you faced will happen to him next.

just without emotional support from him, which filled him with guilt although it was never his fault. he was just to young and still naive.

❝ i hate for you to go through this alone and just knowing i can be present makes me so relieved you have absolutely no idea! ❞ you hiccuped, whimpering.

you let yourself from a hug you know he needed. both of hands grabbing his face and making eye contact with him. his eyebrows furrowed, in a frown as he desperately tried to blink his tears away.

your fresh manicured fingers in a gentle manner rubbed his eyelids, you then kissed his temple as you always did. it was evident that it worked.

you pressed your forehead together looking at each other in a platonically loving way. reminding you of back when the both of you were kids.

the malfoy family, besides lucius, were now present in knockturn alley. where draco’s death eater initiation ceremony will take place.

as evident as it was, knockturn ally wasn’t the same as before. previously full of life, color, & and people of every blood status, it was now dark, gloomy, and isolated. reminding you of malfoy manor in a way.

how you wished to be home at this very moment, knowing you needed to prepare for the worst.

dressed formally, hair laid down held up in a ribbon. you made sure that your robes covered the dark mark. people were still around and you needed to have social awareness.

you and draco, in a quick pace, followed narcissa. stealing rapid glances around it seemed to be clear, you continued followed your mother and swiftly grabbed draco’s hand as the closer you got to the location he almost stayed put.

as if he even had a choice. it pierced you but it was the truth no matter what. little did the both of you know, harry potter, hermione granger, and ron weasley were watching you from a distance.

❝ harry, is it me or do draco, his elder sister, and mummy look like three people who don’t wanna be followed? ❞ ron asked as he observed with harry, which led with hermione whipping her head around.

then there you guys were, as mentioned previously, narcissa entering into a alleyway. and the sight of you and draco holding hands and following right away.

the golden trip exited, staying in a logical gap between the malfoy’s. awaiting for what revelation was about to arise.

the long alleyway lead to a staircase leading down, letting go of draco’s hand and lifting your dress just a few inches of the ground to prevent any tripping.

the next turn lead to the site of where the initiation would take place. borgin and burkes. you and narcissa entered simultaneously while draco stayed out, he makes eye contact with you as you held the door open for him. the ceremony would begin shortly.

the both of you were being lead to another room where the vanishing cabinet was stored. as that was happening, the trio went onto the roof as quietly and sneakily as the possibly could.

harry then observed through a window how close you and draco were than he initially imagined. the noticed the small detail of the matching stacking ring on the same finger. he thought it was a soft touch but let those thoughts subside.

you and draco ran your hands over every corner and crevice of the vanishing cabinet and exchanged in small talk in form whispers before narcissa and distracted draco by planting a kiss on her only son’s cheek, while you looked at other items the antiquarian held.

then the reason why you were held up here commenced.

a group of voldemort-sympathisers, including bellatrix lestrange and fenrir greyback encircled an old cauldron containing a bright green potion and, in the centre of the circle stood draco.

as draco extended his left arm, the potion in the cauldron exploded with light and, quickly, the group dispersed.

୨⎯ 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡 ⎯୧

[charmedchapters]

winter wonderland -

hogwarts edition

[theaskywalker]

Imagine Draco and you sneaking around in Knockturn Alley

Masterlist

[cquarrel]

CHAPTER TWO: A WITCH WITHOUT REFERENCE revised and updated!

Tomione fanfiction where Tom & Hermione are in their late 20s. Wizarding world of the 1950s (speculative) heavily featured!

Canon and original characters.

[whalefairyfandom12]

Knockturn Alley commission by the wonderful @impudraw.

“You’re almost as twisted as me, Detective. You’re as broken at the very least.”  “Perhaps that’s why I haven’t been able to get this infernal case off my mind,” Ominis breathed, teeth biting the skin underneath Sebastian’s ear. “Night and day it consumes me.” “Been thinking about me a lot, have you?” Sebastian chuckled against thin lips, chasing eagerly for a twisted intimacy he found himself craving from a thing as damaged as him.  “Always,” Ominis said bitterly. Whatever nightmares he’d had about the ‘Ripper’ before were almost certainly going to be twice as lethal now. “And now I want to break you. I want to perform an autopsy on whatever remains of your soul and run my fingers over the pathetic, mutilated parts you’ve tried to hide.” (He wanted to know if it matched his.)

[marta-krasina]

Лютный переулок

[malfoy-aesthetic]

[sunnyrealist]

Chapter 72: Dresses and Daggers

The Sun, the Moon, and All Our Stars

Summary and Details…

Previous Chapter Recap/Context: Kate's best friend, Pearl Abbott, has recently gotten engaged. In this chapter, the two of them go wedding dress shopping in Diagon Alley. While there, Kate takes a calculated risk by visiting Borgin and Burke's. Under the guise of selling a magical artifact, her true intention is to have a private conversation with Ominis. Sebastian had finally reunited with him for the first time in about a decade, only for Ominis to reveal the truth - he and Ruby were, regretfully, the reason he ended up in Azkaban - and promptly, the two of them became estranged once more.

Pairing: 25-year-old, post-Azkaban Sebastian Sallow x 24-year-old Kate Mayflower (my OC), the assistant librarian at Hogwarts

Content warnings: In general, this story is rated 18+, so minors should not read or interact with this story. This chapter features a bit of meddling, attempting to salvage a relationship, and brief mentions of smut (oral sex - female receiving and spooning sex).

The full chapter is available below the cut; it can also be found on AO3 (link is posted below). I truly appreciate any feedback.

Chapter 72: Dresses and Daggers

The shop bell tinkles as Kate and Pearl exit Gramercy’s Gramophones. Kate clutches the new record to her chest, smiling excitedly. Sebastian will be so thrilled to listen to the collection of Beethoven’s most famous songs, and she can hardly manage her excitement. She retrieves her extendable bag from her pocket, adding the disc to the other items she has purchased from stores in Diagon Alley, all for Sebastian - a package of sweets from Herbert’s Sherbets, a pair of Quidditch gloves and a broom servicing kit from Quality Quidditch Supplies, and a few new books - a murder mystery, one about the history of wandmaking, and another about magical governments around the world. 

Pearl hadn’t uttered a word about the large quantity of Wiggenweld potion Kate had also bought from Culpepper Drugs and Preparations, and for that, she was thankful, as the reason for the purchase was private and a bit embarrassing.

Speaking of a need for Wiggenweld, Sebastian had been in such a good mood the previous night. They had sat together, reading, and stopped for a fun conversation about some of their Hogwarts memories. He even put down his book, the one he had been engrossed in for hours - The Theory of Time, a title she had never heard of but he swore was fascinating. He had asked her to tell him all about her time at school and seemed particularly interested in the events of her third and fourth year. Experiencing an accident in Potions class that had caused a severe burn to her left hand; failing a lesson on Boggarts and needing extra tutoring with Professor Hecat; all of the silly pranks she had pulled with her friends; helping Professor Garlick with some extra work in the greenhouses; forming a friendship with house-elf named Feenky who taught her many cooking enchantments in the kitchens; a family trip to the seaside in the summer; and of course, meeting her first boyfriend - a shy, dark-haired Gryffindor boy who would write her love poems. Kate was flattered by Sebastian’s keen interest in her life and relished in giving him all of the little details he requested. In return, she pried out details about Sebastian’s various crushes and casual romantic entanglements from his years at school. 

This dialogue had led her to ask more about his friendships. Knowing she was moving in on dangerous territory, she tiptoed as much as she could around the matter, but eventually, Ominis came up.

“Sebastian,” Kate had began quietly, “Have you given more thought to… to Ominis?”

“I don’t want to,” he replied shortly. “There’s no need.”

“But… Sebastian, he’s… your brother. And it doesn’t sound like he and Ruby ever intended for you to be thrown into Az-”

“I don’t want to think about him,” he said with finality. “I’m not going to reach out to him.”

Kate had opened her mouth to push him further but changed her mind quickly with his sharp tone. 

Instead, she invited Sebastian to sit on the floor between her legs. She wove her fingers into his thick chestnut curls, massaging his scalp as he sighed in pleasure. Soon enough, she was the one sighing in pleasure as her boyfriend had turned around, kissing his way up and down her thighs, his tongue exploring her cunt as she threw her head back in delight. The night had ended with them spooning, his cock buried inside of her as he moved languidly, whispering words of love, of worship, of eternity. He told her he would love her no matter where time brought them, no matter what. They slept well, satisfied and spent. With Sebastian, Kate had never felt so secure in her entire life.

Pearl and Kate turn, strolling down the street towards their main destination - Gaberlunzie Garments, or more specifically, the smaller shop upstairs - Shrew and Scold’s Bridal Wear. 

As it comes into view, Kate grabs Pearl’s hand. “Well, are you ready? It’s an important day!”

Pearl chuckles, tucking a strand of her white-blonde hair behind her ear. “Yes, I am. And I’m so glad you’re here with me, Kate.”

Opening the door and marching upstairs, they are greeted by a witch who verifies their appointment and leads them into a room filled with rack after rack of wedding dresses. It’s a sea of white satin, lace, and tulle, with an occasional pastel pink, gold, and cream sprinkled about. Kate follows the two, allowing herself to touch and examine the dresses.

What might she wear someday? 

White - white for sure. A long gown with flowers in her hair and perhaps a veil. Perhaps gold accents and jewelry…

Eventually, Kate is led to a comfortable leather armchair outside of the dressing chamber, where she waits for Pearl to emerge. And when she does, Kate gasps.

“Oh, Pearl!” Kate exclaims. “You- you look beautiful! Absolutely stunning!”

Pearl’s alabaster skin turns a bit pink as she twirls about. “Thanks… I like it, but I don’t think it’s quite what I’m looking for. It feels too old-fashioned.”

The tailor nods, guiding her back into the dressing area. 

The next dress is hideous, and Kate has to try her best to keep her face neutral before hearing Pearl’s opinion.

“It’s scratchy - not comfortable at all. And it’s far too lacy for me,” she tells the shopkeeper.

Two dresses later, Kate begins to picture what she might like in a bridal gown design and how Sebastian might view her as she walks down the aisle. Kate, unlike Pearl, adores lace, and she can see herself in a dress with floral accents. It would be rather symbolic to look like a princess, considering her past life as Queen Eilionoir…

She can hear squeals of excitement behind the door, and when Pearl emerges, it’s written all over her face - this is her bridal gown. Kate grins, taking in every little detail. The dress has a high neckline, a full and blousy bodice, and a ruffled skirt with a long train.

“Do you like it?” Pearl asks eagerly.

Kate stands immediately, taking Pearl’s hands. “It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect. You are going to be the most gorgeous bride that ever lived.”

Pearl smiles with tears in her eyes. “Thank you. Someday, you’ll be a beautiful bride, too. And I can’t imagine your time will be far off.” She steps back. “We’ll be back before a year passes.”

The tailor suggests that she should look at accessories - necklaces, veils, hats, parasols, slippers - a full bridal trousseau. But before Pearl is swept into another room, she halts.

“Kate, why don’t you try on something, too? Just to… get ideas…” she suggests merrily.

Another store employee invites Kate back into the room filled with bridal gowns. 

“To be upfront, I’m not engaged,” Kate informs the woman. “I’m not ready to purchase anything. I’ll humor Pearl with one dress.”

Ten minutes later, the dress has been buttoned up, and Kate steps up to the golden, ornate mirror, examining herself with wide eyes. The employee places a long veil over her hair. Seeing herself in a wedding gown takes her breath away, and her heart thumps. 

“It’s lovely,” the employee murmurs. “Perhaps you’ll be back in the shop soon enough.”

Kate exhales. “Perhaps,” she echoes, turning around to view different angles. “Who knows?” She sighs.

After modeling the dress for Pearl, she patiently stands still so that the shopkeeper can unfasten all of the delicate buttons. She considers the idea further. Might she become a married woman before her 25th birthday? Her entire body grows warm with the thought, and she smiles to herself like a lovesick fool. 

Their future might yet be unknown, but she is certain it will be bright and filled with joy. It has to be.

An hour later, Kate says farewell to Pearl and hesitates. 

Still in Diagon Alley, she stands still in the middle of the street as people hurry past. She has just passed by Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor, and all she has to do now is turn left and she’d enter Knockturn Alley for the first time. 

If she crosses onto that street, she crosses a boundary. And there’s no telling what the result might be if she breaks past that invisible borderline.

It’s a risk. But it’s a calculated one, and she has a decent excuse in case it goes south. 

Taking a deep breath, she steels herself and marches towards Borgin and Burke’s.

She finds it easily, with windows trimmed in green amidst a brick building. Before she can lose her nerve, she enters the shop. 

Her eyes adjust to the dim light of the rather large shop, noting that she is completely alone. When she sees the wares for sale, she inhales sharply. Terrifying masks are hung on the walls and human skulls and various bones belonging to both humans and beasts line the shelves to her left. There appear to be a large assortment of potions in bottles of all shapes, colors, and sizes in a locked display case. To the right, the shelves are filled to the brim with a wide variety of objects - weapons, jewelry, goblets, antique books, cages for dangerous creatures, and more. A sign is displayed amidst the items warning customers, “DO NOT TOUCH! Ask a store employee for assistance.” Though there is a large, roaring fireplace in the back of the store, Kate shivers. There’s something about this place - and it isn’t just the clearly dangerous items - that seems to amplify every bit of anxiety she has ever felt.

The wooden door leading towards the storage room in back opens, and a blonde man emerges, carrying a large box. He sets it on the table with a thump and calls out, “Welcome to Borgin and Burke’s, and thank you for your patience. May I help you?” 

He draws his long ebony wand from his pocket, and it blinks red as he slides the box towards the right side of the counter. His unseeing blue eyes move about, and his eyebrows knit in confusion at the customer’s silence. “How may I assist you today?”

Kate holds back, wondering if she should flee without saying a word. Ominis would never know it was her. 

But if she left now, Sebastian might never rekindle their fragile relationship. And Kate can’t bear to stand by and let their friendship - their brotherhood - disappear. She has to try for his sake. For Sebastian’s future.

“Good afternoon,” she murmurs.

Ominis’ head tilts slightly, and he fidgets, adjusting his deep purple vest. He’s impeccably dressed, his suit, cape, and bow tie tailored just to him in the most up to date fashion. “Kate? Kate Mayflower?” he asks timidly.

She takes a few steps forward. “Yes. It’s me.” 

“What are you doing here?” he inquires, confused.

“Erm…” She opens her extendable bag, rummaging around frantically. “I have an item to sell. I understand this shop appraises and purchases rare and ancient magical artifacts…?”

Ominis nods. “Yes… I can help you.”

There’s silence as Kate continues to fumble. Finally, she recovers the item, and she slowly and carefully places it on the counter. 

“It’s a dagger that Sebastian and I found on an expedition to the ruins of an ancient castle in the Highlands,” she explains to the unseeing man.

The blonde man subtly tenses upon hearing her boyfriend’s name, but he regains his composure quickly. “Tell me more.”

“Its handle is set in silver. There are tiny rubies and emeralds inlaid to form what looks like three red roses,” Kate tells him in a measured, even tone. “Its sheath appears to be made of genuine green dragonhide.” She pulls the dagger out of its scabbard, and the blade shines as though it had been polished meticulously. “It seems as though it could do some damage; however, it is more decorative in nature, like an item given to a king just for show.” 

She observes, fascinated, as Ominis picks it up to examine it in detail. His right hand glides over every centimeter, and he is clearly using his wand to make out its shape. 

“The shop owners will be interested,” he tells her after a minute. “And I’ll ensure you receive a fair appraisal.”

“Thank you,” she murmurs. It is awkwardly quiet for a few moments.

“Is this really why you came here?” Ominis finally asks. “Or is there something more?”

“I… I was hoping to speak with you privately,” she replies nervously. 

“Ah. Well… I am due for a break, coincidentally,” he notes. “There’s an excellent tea shop down the street called Rosa Lee. We could talk there while Mr. Burke assesses the dagger. Otherwise, we can chat here, if you would prefer…”

“Tea sounds lovely.”

The two of them share inconsequential small talk on the walk to Rosa Lee. They are served with steaming cups almost immediately, along with delicate petit fours. 

Discussion about the weather dies down, and Kate gives an uncomfortable, half-hearted chuckle to break the silence. Ominis, seated with perfect posture, brings his teacup to his lips.

“What is it you wished to speak about?” he finally inquires after a moment.

“It’s… Sebastian,” she murmurs. “He doesn’t know I’m here, and I’d like to keep this rendezvous secret. I… Honestly, I’m worried about him. He… I can’t…” She struggles to find the right words. 

“Please, take your time.”

Kate sighs and is silent for a while. “I want to start off by telling you how truly sorry I am about Anne. What happened to her… it isn’t fair.” She notices that he freezes momentarily at the mention of her name. “And although I would not have done the same, I can understand what you and Ruby were thinking at the time of Sebastian’s incarceration. I believe it when you say you had no idea that Azkaban would be the result.” She takes a sip of her tea and pauses. “Sebastian means so much to me, and he always will. I would do just about anything to help him and make him happy. And… that’s why I’m here.” Ominis’ expression is thoughtful in response. “I know it’s impossible to take back the past, but… I’m hoping that you can still be a part of Sebastian’s future. He’s very upset, Ominis… I’m afraid that he may not seek out your company on his own. He needs to be pushed.”

“If he doesn’t want to see me, that is his choice,” Ominis replies. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you’re brothers, Ominis,” Kate insists. “Please, don’t give up on him. He needs you, even though he will not admit it. Please… write to him. Try to meet him again. Don’t forsake this relationship. Do what you must.” 

Ominis frowns, contemplative.

Kate says with finality, “If you won’t do it for me… or for Sebastian… then, Ominis, for Merlin’s sake, do it for Anne.”

[the-hobgoblins]

Still breaking hearts and bending fate, Mae?

After her home was invaded by Mathis’ goons, Maeko climbed up to the roof of a nearby building and waited until sunrise, to see if the slumlord would actually make good on the threat his lackeys had promised. 

He did. Maeko watched as Borgin and Burkes allowed Mathis through its front doors, and then she felt the old building’s allegiance change—a grinding ache, deep in her bone marrow, that physically immobilized her for just under a quarter hour. She shivered with sweat and clutched at her ribs on that grimy rooftop until at last the wards severed completely, releasing her.

She scrambled down to the alley, weaving in and out of dawn’s shadows until she reached Justin’s flat near the Diagon Alley Menagerie. Knowing Justin was in Brazil visiting family for the holidays, Maeko let herself in.

A post owl tapped on the window, nearly spooking Mae out of her skin. She hastily let the creature in, and was surprised to find it held a note with her name on it.

The piece of parchment, which contained one single, cryptic line, was left unsigned. 

But it didn’t need to be. Maeko recognized the handwriting.

“How in seven fucking hells did you even find me?” Maeko spat accusingly (and rather unfairly) at the owl. It tilted its head a full 45 degrees, as if to say, is this witch really yelling at ME right now? 

Scowling, Maeko grabbed a blank piece of parchment from Justin’s cluttered desk and scrawled:

Did you know all that was going to happen, you prick? Have you just been sitting around in Scotland for three fucking years, waiting until you could say ‘ I told you so ’ ??

Her hand shook, and she dropped the quill. 

After a moment, Maeko added:

Why didn’t you warn me, Tucker? Are you really that pissed at me for leaving? Why wouldn’t you tell me what would happen if I came back to this awful fucking place?

She held up the quivering piece of parchment, eyes darting over what she’d written. Then, with a single thought toward the conduit that now adorned her finger, the letter exploded in an unnatural burst of black smoke and flame.

She dropped it, still smoldering, into the wastebasket. She shooed the owl back out the window, and snuck out of the flat. And then Maeko ran, and she didn’t look back.

[morsmordream]

hi! today i visited universal studios in orlando, florida (i’m not american) and took some photos of knockturn alley that i thought might be useful for myself to help visualise when writing fics etc

i thought i may as well share them here in case some form of visual aid would help anyone else!

[hptheboywholived]

Harry Potter Fantasy Lands Sign Post - by C.L.V Moore

[thegriffinpuff21]

SIRIUS BLACK’S TATTOO

When Sirius was sixteen he was disowned by his parents right before the upcoming War. So he went to the Potter’s and stayed there with James and his parents. It was during this time that Sirius decided to get drunk. While he was drunk James asks him what he wants to do and Sirius decides to get a tattoo. So because James was 17 and had an appratating license they go to Knockturn Alley. Its there that Sirius marks his freedom.

[stabbyapologist]

I have such a strong desire to shop at Flourish and Blotts and Borgin and Burke's.

[braveclementine]

Chapter 3

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (Please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

𝕿𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖆 knock on the door and I groaned and shouted, "Five more minutes dad!" Why the hell was he waking me up for anyways? Wasn't he supposed to be underground right now? Or teaching Trang? Come to think of it, wasn't Dumbledore supposed to be coming today?

The door opened anyways and I rolled over, aggravated, and then realized that I wasn't even home. I was at the Weasleys house. Dad wasn't even here!

Bill came in, holding a breakfast tray in one hand and his wand in the other. His hair was a bit longer than before but his fang earing was the same and so was his warm smile. I lifted the sheets up a little.

"Bill?" I said, "What are you doing here?"

"I, unlike your dad, live here." Bill said, conjuring a small table to set the tray on. I blushed.

"Sorry, I forgot where I was." I said, yawning and stretching and letting the sheets fall again. "Congratulations on your engagement, by the way."

"Ah, you heard about that already?" Bill asked.

"Nope, foresaw it." I said, picking up a fork and putting some egg in my mouth. "I think it's a lovely idea."

"Think mums trying to replace Fleur." Bill said in a hushed voice.

"Yes well that's because she's French, and vain, and a bit erm. . . full of herself?" I said lightly. "At least, that's how she appears to us women. Of course, I don't mind her as badly, though perhaps a bit jealous she got such a great catch. But men like her, much to women's' annoyance which is really the only reason Ginny and Hermione have such a problem with Fleur because Harry and Ron like her too."

"Well that explains a lot." Bill muttered and then said brightly, "So I'm a great catch then?"

I glared at him playfully. "You're engaged Bill!"

He blushed. "That's no-"

"I'm playing." I said with a roll of my eyes. "Don't worry."

"I need to get to work." Bill said, standing up. I yawned again and got out of bed and picked up my tray.

"Have fun." I said, kissing his cheek and then carried out the tray and headed to where Fred and George's room was.

"Morning." I said, walking in and sitting down on the edge of Harry's bed. I noticed he already had his tray of food too.

"Anyways." Ginny said after everyone had said morning back, "Mum's going to put a stop to it if she can, I bet you anything."

"How's she going to manage that?" Harry asked.

"She keeps trying to get Tonks round for dinner. I think she's hoping Bill will fall for Tonks instead. I hope he does, I'd much rather have her in the family." Ginny said.

I snorted and then remembered none of them knew who Tonks really loved.

"Yeah, that'll work. Listen, no bloke in his right minds' going to fancy Tonks when Fleurs' around. I mean, Tonks is okay-looking when she isn't doing stupid things to her hair and her nose, but-"

"She's a damn sight nicer than Phlegm." Ginny said.

"Why do you think she changed her hair color and looks like a middle aged woman?" I snapped. "Because she does love someone, it's not Bill, and she wants him to like her back."

"Who?" Ron asked with interest and I ignored him.

"And she's more intelligent, she's an Auror." Hermione said, ignoring me.

"Fleur's not stupid, she was good enough to enter the Triwizard Tournament." Harry said.

"Not you as well!" Hermione said bitterly.

"I like Fleur." I said, frowning. "You guys just don't like her because she's another woman and she works her veela magic on the boys."

"I'd much rather have Tonks in the family!" Ginny insisted, "At least she's a laugh."

"She hasn't been much of a laugh lately." Ron said. "Every time I've seen her she's looked more like Moaning Myrtle."

"That's not fair!" Hermione snapped. "She still hasn't got over what happened. . . you know. . . I mean, he was her cousin!"

My heart twisted and I started shoveling bacon into my mouth hoping I didn't have to speak.

"Tonks and Sirius barely knew each other!" Ron said. "Sirius was in Azkaban half her life and before that their families never met-"

"That's not the point, she thinks it was her fault he died!" Hermione said and I looked up.

"How does she work that one out?" Harry asked.

"Well, she was fighting Bellatrix Lestrange, wasn't she? I think she feels that if only she had finished her off, Bellatrix couldn't have killed Sirius." Hermione said.

"I was fighting Bellatrix too." I said softly. When the hell had Tonks fought Bellatrix? Then again, I couldn't completely remember the whole thing so I'm sure there probably was a point in time where Tonks had been fighting Bellatrix.

"That's stupid." Ron said.

"It's survivor's guilt." Hermione said. "I know Lupin's tried to talk her round, but she's still really down. She's actually having trouble with her Metamorphosing!"

"With her-?"

"She can't change her appearance like she used to. I think her powers must have been affected by shock, or something." Hermione said.

"I didn't know that could happen." Harry said.

Something fresh was rising up in me again, something like guilt. I'd survived. I'd been fighting Bellatrix. I'd taken over a second time when Tonks was down. . .I think so anyways. I was pretty sure I'd fought Bellatrix as least twice. I definitely remembered Sirius pushing me out of the way. But surely Sirius wasn't the reason Tonks was sad? Surely I was correct with my reasoning.

"Ginny." Mrs. Weasley said, popping her dead in through the door. "Come downstairs and help me with the lunch."

"I'm talking to this lot!" Ginny said.

"Now!" Mrs. Weasley said and withdrew.

"She only wants me there so she doesn't have to be alone with Phlegm!" Ginny said crossly, swinging her red hair around like Fleur and pranced across the room with her arms lifted like a ballerina.

"Wait Ginny." I said and got up from the bed, putting my tray aside. "I er- have something to tell the four of you."

They looked at me curiously and I looked around at the four of them. "Now listen. I don't want anyone to know about this, understand me? Not Bill or Fred or your parents or anyone. This stays between the five of us."

"What is it?" Ron asked in curiosity.

I hesitated and then closed my eyes and when I opened them again, I was a cat. Their mouths were dropped and then Hermione shrieked, "You're an Animagus!"

"Shh!" I said, quickly turning human. "Keep your voice down Hermione!"

"Sorry." She said, "But if the Ministry-"

"Professor McGonagall was the one who said that I shouldn't tell anyone. She said that if Voldemort was going to take over the Ministry, it would be best if there were no records that I was an Animagus. Besides, if Voldemort's after me and he just sees a cat, he's not going to be suspicious, now is he?"

"That's ingenious." Ron said with an open mouth. "Harry, you should do that!"

Harry looked positively frightened at the idea of being asked to turn into an animal and I giggled. "Ginny, I'll come down with you." I said. I nodded at Harry and then left the room with her.

"I can't believe you're an Animagus. . ." Ginny muttered under her breath. "When'd you do it?"

"I believe I got it done before the first Hogsmeade adventure when we decided to form D.A." I said. "But I'd also foreseen that Voldemort would be able to see Harry's memories and I knew it would be useless to become an animal if he picked it out of Harry's head. So I kept quiet until now. According to Dumbledore, Voldemort is closing the connection between the two of them so I thought it would be safe if I let him know now."

"You should help me-" Ginny said and cut off as we entered the kitchen. I made no promises, keeping my mouth shut.

Fleur was sitting at the kitchen table, an onslaught of words coming out of her mouth and I tuned them out.

I helped Ginny and Mrs. Weasley prepare the lunch as Fleur continued to talk and then after a few minutes, there were thundering footsteps on the stairs and Hermione came sprinting into the kitchen, skidding to a stop.

"Goodness! What happened to your eye!" Mrs. Weasley said, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel, and hurried over to Hermione.

Her eye was completely black, looking like she'd been punched. She also looked a bit like a panda.

"Ah, one of Fred and George's things punched me." Hermione said, "But never mind that! Have any owls come in yet?"

"They'll be here soon." I called over my shoulder. "But if you must know, you got ten 'Outstandings' and one 'Exceeds Expectations' in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"What are your grades?" Ginny asked with a grin, knowing perfectly well that I couldn't foresee anything about myself. I threw a towel at her.

Mrs. Weasley made Hermione sit down while I counted down the minutes until the owls arrived in a bored voice. She was trying to get the bruise to go away and after several tries, Harry and Ron entered the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley said, "It just won't budge. This has always worked before, I just can't understand it."

"It'll be Fred and George's idea of a funny joke, making sure it can't come off." Ginny said.

"But it's got to come off! I can't go around looking like this forever!" Hermione squeaked, shooting me a panicked look. I yawned.

"Four minutes."

"You won't dear, we'll find an antidote, don't' worry." Mrs. Weasley said.

"Bill told me 'ow Fred and George are very amusing!" Fleur said, smiling.

"Don't worry Hermione." I said, still in my best Professor Snape extremely bored impersonation. "Fred and George have bruise remover and they'll give it to you when we go and see them at Diagon Alley."

Hermione was pacing back and forth in the kitchen now, worried about her owls. "It's not like you failed." I said in an irritable voice.

"What happens if we fail?" Harry asked.

"You own a joke shop." I said, popping chicken into my mouth. Ginny and Ron laughed but Hermione didn't.

"We discuss our options with our Head of House, I asked Professor McGonagall at the end of last term." Hermione said.

"Don't worry Harry." I said. "You got one 'Outstanding', one 'Acceptable', five 'Exceeds Expectations', one 'Poor' and one 'Dreadful'." I rattled off. "The Poor is in divination and the dreadful is in history of magic and you didn't want to take them again anyways."

Harry looked relieved.

"What about me?" Ron asked.

I squinted my eyes and said, "I don't know the exacts but I see seven O.W.L.s for you. Also, Harry, you'll be upset about your potions score because you'll think it means that you can't take Potions and become an Auror. However, because of Professor Slughorn, you'll be able to take it because his standards are lower."

"Good to know." Harry said. Neither Ron or Hermione seemed to register my words but Ginny did, giving me a curious look.

"What d'you mean Professor Slughorn is going to be teaching potions?" She whispered in my ear.

"He's the new potions teacher." I said, shrugging my shoulders. "Dumbledore gave Snape a different position."

Suddenly Hermione screamed and I jumped, knocking over the chicken pan which Mrs. Weasley saved with a wave of her wand before it hit the ground.

"Hermione!" I complained. "I already told you what your grades are!"

But I was drowned out by her shrieking, "Oh no!" Mrs. Weasley was squeezing past her to open the kitchen window. "There's four of them!"

I rolled my eyes and waited as the owls swooped into the kitchen, landing in a neat little line on the kitchen table and all four of our owls lifted their right legs. I moved forward to one of the middle owls and detached my results smoothly and the owl flew out.

I knew I had to have at least one Outstanding, maybe more. After all, I knew for a fact my Defense Against the Dark Arts was perfect. I was pretty sure my Charms was too. I didn't think much about Astronomy because that made my stomach a bit queasy.

I opened the letter and pulled out the results.

ORDINARY WIZARIDNG LEVEL RESULTS

Pass Grades                               Fail Grades OUTSTANDING (O)                     POOR(P) EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS (E)       DREADFUL (D) ACCEPTABLE (A)                        TROLL (T)

Elizabeth Kane Lupin has achieved:

Ancient Runes                                                                         O -----------------------------------------------------

Astronomy                                                                              O ----------------------------------------------------- Care of Magical Creatures                                                       O ----------------------------------------------------- Charms                                                                                   O ----------------------------------------------------- Defense Against the Dark Arts                                                O ----------------------------------------------------- Divination                                                                               O ----------------------------------------------------- Herbology                                                                               O ----------------------------------------------------- History of Magic                                                                      O ----------------------------------------------------- Potions                                                                                    O ----------------------------------------------------- Theory of Magic                                                                      O ----------------------------------------------------- Transfiguration                                                                        O

I read the grades over again. That couldn't be possible, could it? I'd certainly made mistakes on Ancient Runes and there was no way that I could've pulled an 'Outstanding' in Astronomy. . . unless all that studying I'd done had actually paid off.

And who had put the last name Lupin after my name? I felt a bit of pleasure at that and if it weren't for the fact that my last name was really Potter, not Kane, I would've had dad legally change it to Lupin a long time ago. I wasn't complaining either. Elizabeth Lupin. It had a nice ring to it. So did Elizabeth Snape. Mrs. Snape. Ew, oh goodness.

"How'd you do Eliza?" Ginny asked nervously, "You-er- look a bit sick."

Did I?

Ron yanked the card out of my hand and said, "She got eleven 'Oustandings' and. . . she only took eleven subjects."

"I should've continued with Arithmancy and Muggle studies." I said. "Then I would've obtained thirteen O.W.L.s and gotten a perfect score."

Ron scoffed, waving my card in front of my face, "This is a perfect score Eliza!"

"Oh, right." I said.

Ginny giggled.

"Dad'll be pleased." I said, much brighter, "when did you say he and Uncle Moody are coming over Mrs. Weasley?"

"Tomorrow night for dinner." Mrs. Weasley said. "I do wish Tonks could come."

I bit my lip. Was Tonks avoiding Dad? I knew that they had been talking about Sirius before, I'd overheard it. That was when Tonks had announced her love for Dad. . . bloody hell my life was a mess. Still. . . could be worse. I could still be paralyzed.

I went upstairs to get my Firebolt and Harry, Ron, Ginny, and I played Quidditch while Hermione watched. It was a bit uneven because Harry, Ginny, and I were all extremely good and Ron was only fair.

The following day, Dad showed up with Uncle Moody for dinner. They both were very happy with my O.W.L. results, although dad was completely ecstatic. He couldn't stop grinning the entire time he was there. I knew he was proud of me and that made me twice as happy. He read the name above the grades.

"Messed your name up a bit?" He said in a not at all casual voice.

I pretended to peer at it and then said, "I don't see a mistake."

He nearly exploded with pride. I would've sent a letter to Severus with my grades except 1) he probably already knew and 2) he'd already told me not to risk sending him an owls while at the Weasleys and also not to use their floo portal to his house. We were completely cut off from each other.

Unfortunately, one could only stay happy for so long before reading the paper the next day. There were mysterious disappearances and strange accidents. Bill and Mr. Weasley also kept bringing home bad news before it even reached the papers so we often reacted to some of the things twice.

On Harry and mine sixteenth birthday, Dad dropped by again, bringing Trang with him this time. I finally noticed that his brown-red hair was now streaked with gray and that his robes were patched and more ragged than ever.

"There have been another couple of dementor attacks." He said as Mrs. Weasley gave him and Trang large pieces of birthday cake. I was scrutinizing his robes with narrow eyes, "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; Sirius' brother Regulus, only managed a few days as far as I can remember." He noticed me glaring at his robes and said, "Elizabeth, I can wear whatever I want."

"You have new robes." I muttered.

He smiled and said, "How am I supposed to act like a poor werewolf if I'm wearing brand new robes?"

I sniffed and shoved cake into my mouth so I didn't have to answer.

"Did you hear about Florean Fortescue, Remus?" Bill interjected, as Fleur poured him more wine. "The man who ran-"

"-the ice-cream parlor in Diagon Alley?" Harry asked. "He used to give Liz and me free ice-creams. What's happened to him?"

"Dragged off, by the look of his place."

"Why?" Ron asked.

"Who knows? He must've upset them somehow. He was a good man, Florean." Bill said, a shrug of his shoulders. It was so strange to brush off disappearances so quickly.

"Talking of Diagon Alley, looks like Ollivander's gone too." Mr. Weasley interjected.

"The wandmaker?" Ginny asked, looking startled.

"That's the one. Shop's empty. No sign of a struggle. No one knows whether he left voluntarily or was kidnapped." Mr. Weasley added.

"Kidnapped." I muttered before sticking another piece of cake in my mouth.

"But wands- what'll people do for wands?" Ginny asked, looking disturbed.

"They'll make do with other makers." Dad said. "But Ollivander was the best, and if the other side have got him it's not so good for us."

"Voldemort doesn't want him to make wands." I said, putting my empty plate down and then walked down the lawn to stroll around the garden. Suddenly an owl fluttered down on my shoulder and I took the letter and small package and walked farther away from the Burrow and sat down on a stone.

I opened the letter. It was very short and barely said anything at all but made me smile all the same.

Happy Birthday love. Miss you. -S.S.

I put the letter in the pocket and opened the package.

"Oh!" I gasped, looking in the box. There was a ring, bracelet, necklace, and earrings in the box. All were Princess Cut and I was very sure that they were black sapphires.

Dad was walking down the slope to me. I quickly closed the box and stood up. "Are you leaving?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah." Dad said. "What's that?"

"Nosy aren't you?" I muttered. "A birthday present." My cheeks burned and dad nodded his head, a knowing look coming over his face and he set his mouth in a grimace.

"Well as long as it's an appropriate gift." Dad said, looking at the package with distaste.

There were so many jokes I could've made if it had been Trang but this was dad and the same jokes didn't apply. "It's just jewelry." I said.

Dad had a strange look on his face. He'd gotten me books again and also jewelry cleaner. At the moment, I was wearing the locket that I'd arrived to his house with. "Dad. . ." I said softly, putting the box down and wrapping my arms around him. "You can't possibly be jealous. You don't have to compete with Severus for my love."

"Of course I do." Dad said in a gruff voice, his arms tight around me, "He's trying to take my baby away from me."

I laughed lightly and kissed his cheek, "Ah, Dad, you've given me jewelry. I have the dragon ring which I wear, and you've also given me that sapphire necklace, which I wear. Besides, I've always preferred that you give me books."

"Only because you hate me spending money on you." Dad said.

"Must've gotten that trait from you because you still won't wear the robes I bought you three years ago." I said lightly.

He sighed, "Does me wearing shabby robes really bother you?"

"Well, no, not really. I kind've like it actually, it fits you. I just don't want you to degrade yourself because your a werewolf. You can dress nicely. . . for dates. . ."

"Not this Elizabeth." Dad said, withdrawing his arms and I dropped mine.

"Look." I said, taking a deep breath. "I'm not going to talk about it with either of you anymore, okay? But I think you'd be happy dad, if you had someone to take care of besides your almost adult daughter. . . and why should you deprive yourself from love? You deserve the world." I gave him a small smile, picked up the box, kissed his cheek, and headed back up the lawn. I headed back inside the house, going upstairs to Ginny's room.

Trang was in the room too, settling in.

"Hey! Happy Birthday!" She said, wrapping her arms around me and I hugged her back awkwardly. "What's that?" she asked, pointing to the box in my hands as we let go.

"Jewelry from my husband." I said smugly, throwing the words at her.

She shuddered. "I still can't believe your married! I can't believe your dad-"

"Well It's not an official marriage," I said softly. "but in our minds we're married, we just have to wait one more year."

There was no more conversation about Severus as Hermione entered the room at that moment, looking extremely annoyed, her eye still black.

The next day, our Hogwarts letters arrived and Harry got a badge saying that Harry was now the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain.

Trang was very interested in O.W.Ls and Prefects and Quidditch Captain badges. "Can I try out for the Quidditch team?" She asked me at dinner that night.

"I don't know." I said honestly. "I think so, Dumbledore's starting you at third year. Did your parents sign your Hogsmeade form?"

"Reluctantly." She said with a roll of her eyes. "Wonder if there'll even be an open position on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team."

"Oh so your going to be a Ravenclaw?" Hermione asked in interest.

"Well that's what the Sorting Hat said." Trang said, sounding a bit nervously.

"Bonkers Dumbledore let you in." Ron said and after Ginny and I stomped on his feet he defended himself by saying, "I just mean that it's weird the way she's starting out! Not that I don't want her there!"

"And what are O.W.L.s?" Trang asked, grinning about Ron's reaction.

"Those are tests you'll take in your fifth year to see what classes you'll continue in your sixth and seventh year to get a job after school." Hermione answered.

"So wait. . . the classes actually determine the job I get after school?" She asked, hesitantly.

"Yeah." Ron said.

"What if I took the wrong classes!" Trang shrieked, looking horrified. "Oh dear!"

Ron rolled his eyes and muttered, "There's another one."

"What classes are you taking?" Hermione asked quickly.

"History of magic, Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, herbology, astronomy, care of magical creatures, and ancient runes." Trang recited off the top of her head.

"You'll be fine." I said calmly. "Don't worry. Just make sure you pass your classes and by fifth year, we'll make sure you pass."

Trang still looked faint with horror, but moved on with her other questions like how to become a prefect or quidditch captain.

It was decided that on Saturday, we would go to Diagon Alley in order to get our new books and other necessities and we'd also go and see Fred and George's newest joke shop.

There were seven new books that I needed:

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6 by Miranda Goshawk Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage Confronting the faceless by Rupert Collar A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration by Emeric Switch Magical Theory 2: Delving Deep by Bernice Morton Advanced Rune Translation by Yuri Bilshen Flesh-Eating Trees of the World by Chandra Bottlebrush

Saturday morning, I went down to the kitchen and sat down next to Harry and across from Bill and Fleur who were sitting very close together. I remembered when I'd had a crush on Bill. Now, I was just glad he was happy, but also missing Severus at the same time.

Bill pushed me and Harry over bags of gold.

"Where's mine?" Ron demanded.

"That's already theirs, idiot." Bill said. "I got it out of your vaults for you guys, because it's taking five hours for the public to get their gold at the moment, the goblins have tightened security so much. Two days ago Arkie Philpott had a Probity Probe stuck up his. . . Well, trust me, this way's easier."

I grinned, tucking the gold into my pocket. "Thanks, Bill." Harry and I said together.

"'E is always so thoughtful." Fleur purred, stroking Bill's nose. I grinned, hiding it in my cornflakes. Ginny was miming vomiting and I heard Harry choke on his cornflakes.

It was a horrible day out too. The dementors were breeding, creating all this mist. At least the Muggles couldn't claim bloody global warming, whatever that was. Trang had tried explaining Global warming to me a few times. It seemed like a conspiracy theory. Freezing temperatures in July! Well, no, I supposed it was August now, wasn't it.

There was a Ministry car waiting for us and we quickly pulled on our cloaks, including Trang though she was having a difficult time getting used to wizarding attire.

"It's good Dad can get us these again." Ron said as the cars moved away, the five of us in the backseat and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley in the front seat.

"Don't get used to it, it's only because of Harry and Elizabeth." Mr. Weasley said. "They've been given top-grade security status. And we'll be joining up with additional security at the Leaky Cauldron too."

"Don't worry." I said, looking at Harry's glum face. "It's just Hagrid." He brightened up considerably.

"Who's Hagrid?" Trang hissed in my ear.

"Professor for Care of Magical Creatures." I hissed back.

"Here you are then." The driver said as we pulled up in front of the Leaky Cauldron. "I'm to wait for you, any idea how long you'll be?"

"Three hours seven minutes." I said, pushing Harry gently so that he would get out of the car. The driver gave me a startled look, but I was already climbing out of the cab.

"Harry!" Hagrid boomed, sweeping Harry into a hug and then cried, "Elizabeth!" He pulled me into a hug as well, "Buckbeak- Witherwings, I mean- yeh should see him, Harry, he's so happy ter be back in the open air-"

"Glad he's pleased." Harry said, grinning.

"You're lucky." I said pleasantly, joking. "I was thinking about keeping him."

Hagrid chuckled and Harry said, "So your my 'security'?"

"I know, jus' like old times, innit? See, the Ministry wanted ter send a bunch o' Aurors, but Dumbledore said I'd do. Let's get goin' then- after yeh, Molly, Arthur-" Hagrid said proudly, putting his thumbs in his pockets.

Trang was staring at Hagrid with a bit of surprise and anxiety.

"Hagrid." I said as we walked through the Leaky Cauldron, "This is Trang Nyguen. She's going to be starting at Hogwarts this year."

"Yeh'd be teh one tha' Dumbledore let in late?" Hagrid asked curiously.

It was hard to tell because of her dark skin, but Trang blushed. "Er, yeah."

"Well if yer anythin' like Elizabeth here, yeh'll do fine even if yer late!" Hagrid said brightly.

Trang gave me a curious look and I shrugged my shoulders, "Just so you know, nicknames usually stick."

"So I'm going to be the 'late girl' am I?" she asked gloomily.

"Don't worry." I said. "Your true friends call you by your name. . . late girl."

Trang pushed my shoulder.

We entered Diagon Alley and paused, taking a look around. Trang's mouth had dropped again and she pulled her glasses off, polished them, and put them back on as though that would change the scene before us.

The windows that used to show all the lovely things they sold were covered instead with purple Ministry signs or black and white Azkaban escapees. Some of the windows, on the other hand, were boarded up like Ollivanders and the Ice-cream parlor. Small stalls had popped up on both sides of the streets.

I read a cardboard sign that read:

AMULETS Effective Against Werewolves, Dementors, and Inferi

I snarled. Despite the fact that those things probably didn't work, I still found that fact that they were being sold as a thing to ward off werewolves got my back up. There was a seedy little wizard behind the stall, holding a box of silver necklaces out to passerby's.

"One for your little girl, madam? Protect her pretty neck?" He asked as we passed. Mrs. Weasley clutched Ginny tighter, and Mr. Weasley muttered, "If I were on duty. . ."

I gave him the finger as I passed. Hermione sighed next to me and muttered, "So dramatic."

"Yes, but don't go arresting anyone now, dear, we're in a hurry." Mrs. Weasley said in a nervous voice, "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 and Trang will need school robes- come on, everyone-"

"Molly, it doesn't make sense for all of us to go to Madam Malkin's. Why don't those four go with Hagrid, and we can go to Flourish and Blotts and get everyone's school books?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"I don't know. Hagrid, do you think-?"

"Don' fret, they'll be fine with me, Molly." Hagrid said in a soothing voice.

I turned to Mrs. Weasley and gave her some of my gold and said, "I'm going to get robes too. This is for my books."

Then I went with Hermione, Ron, Harry, Trang, and Hagrid to Madam Malkin's.

"Migh' be a bit of a squeeze in there with all of us. I'll stand guard outside, all right?" Hagrid asked.

The minute we walked in, I heard a familiar voice saying ". . . not a child, in case you haven't noticed, Mother. I am perfectly capable of doing my shopping alone."

I groaned. I heard Madam Malkin's say, "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?"

"Guys." I whispered, "Don't raise your wands, whatever you do, okay?"

Ron and Harry gave no sign that they had heard me.

Draco appeared from the dressing room to stride over and looked at himself in the mirror, wearing a handsome set of dark green robes. Then he caught sight of us in the mirror and said, "If you're wondering what the smell is, Mother, a Mudblood and a werewolf brat just walked in." He said.

"I don't think there's any need for language like that!" Madam Malkin said scurrying out and glanced at us and said, "And I don't want wands drawn in my shop either!"

"Put them away!" I snarled.

"Yeah, like you'd dare do magic out of school. Who blacked your eye, Granger? I want to send them flowers." Malfoy said.

"That's quite enough! Madam- please-" Madam Malkin said.

Narcissa strolled out from behind the clothes rack and said in a cold voice, "Put those away. If you attack my son again, I shall ensure that it is the last thing you ever do."

"Really? going to get a few Death Eater pals to do us in, are you?" Harry asked, taking a step forward.

"Really, you shouldn't accuse- dangerous thing to say- wands away please!" Madam Malkin squealed, clutching her heart.

"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." Narcissa said with a cruel smile.

Harry looked around the shop mockingly and then said, "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!"

Malfoy made to move at Harry but stumbled over his robes. Ron laughed and I giggled.

"Don't you dare talk to my mother like that, Potter!" Draco said angrily.

"it's all right, Draco, I expect Potter will be reunited with dear Sirius before I am reunited with Lucius." Narcissa said.

I wanted to punch her in her face but instead, contained myself and simply said, "Actually, from what I've foreseen with Voldemort's little er- plan. . . Draco will see Sirius much sooner than Harry ever will."

A spasm of pain went over Narcissa's face and Madam Malkin gave a little scream of fear as I said Voldemort's name.

Narcissa opened and then closed her mouth, unable to find anything to say. Madam Malkin was frozen. I thought for sure that Narcissa was going to try and hex me but instead she whispered, "How did you find out?"

I wondered if she suspected Severus or the cat that had sat on his lap. With a smile, I pointed to my head and said, "There's a reason he wanted me. Of course, I haven't foreseen the entire plan but I have a good idea of what it is. What a shame." I smirked.

Harry and Ron had lowered their wands and were staring at me along with Hermione and Trang. "What are you two talking about?" Trang asked unwisely.

I simply smiled. "Oh, nothing of any importance."

"You're done!" Madam Malkin said, waving her wand so that the adjustments were made. Narcissa swept away from me, paid for the robes, and her and Draco were bustling out of the shop. I waited while the others got their robes and then we left the shop.

"Got ev'reything?" Hagrid asked brightly as we closed the shop door behind us.

"Just about. Did you see the Malfoys?" Harry asked immediately.

"Yeah, bu' they wouldn' dare make trouble in the middle o' Diagon Alley, Harry. Don' worry abou' them." Hagrid said in an unconcerned voice.

I thought about it. It wouldn't be that hard for Draco or Narcissa to summon Voldemort here. He could easily kill Hagrid, Trang, Ron, Hermione, and Harry and then take me. Or maybe since Harry'd be dead, he'd just kill me. I shuddered and wished that we were going to be leaving much earlier.

"Everyone all right?" Mrs. Weasley asked as they appeared out of the bookstore, handing us our book packages. "Got your robes? Right then, we can pop in at the Apothecary and Eeylops on the way to Fred and George's- stick close, now. . ."

"Don't get any ingredients." I muttered in Harry's ear, "Even though your taking potions, don't. Just trust me on this, and if Mrs. Weasley bought you a book, don't bring it to your first class either." Then I strode off to gather up my ingredients. Trang had never been in this store before and found everything fascinating.

"We really haven't got too long." Mrs. Weasley said as we headed up the street to find Fred and George's store. "So we'll just have a quick look around and then back to the car. We must be close, that's number ninety-two. . . ninety-four. . ."

"Whoa." Ron and Trang said together, stopping in their tracks.

Everything around us was dappled and gray, even the sky. However, Fred and George's store was bright red and orange. Passerby's were looking back over their shoulders and others had also stopped in their tracks, as though they were in the wilderness and had seen a very rare animal. The windows of the shops were filled with fireworks except the bottom right which had a gigantic poster, purple like the others but written on it in neon yellow words was the following:

WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT U-NO-POO- THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION!

Harry, Ron, Trang, and I started laughing and I heard Mrs. Weasley behind us, moaning and said, "They'll be murdered in their beds!"

"No they won't! This is brilliant!" Ron announced.

Harry and Ron led the way into the shop, Trang and I close behind them. It was packed with customers and I couldn't get anywhere near the stores. Trang had her mouth open again, looking the way she had at the Quidditch World Cup.

I followed the others around the shop, looking at the Skiving Snackboxes, trick wands, boxes of quills, and reusable hangman.

"Patented Daydream Charms. . ." Hermione read and I got behind her shoulder to see what she was looking at. There was a colorful of a young man, young girl and a pirate ship. "'One simple incantation and you will enter a top-quality, highly realistic, thirty-minute daydream, easy to fit into the average school lesson and virtually undetectable (side effects include vacant expressions and minor drooling). Not for sale to under-sixteens.' You know, that really is extraordinary magic!" Hermione said, looking at Harry.

"For that, Hermione, you can have one for free." A voice said from behind us. I turned to see Fred standing there, wearing robes of magenta that clashed so horribly with his hair and freckles that I actually winced.

"How are you Eliza? Harry?" Fred asked, shaking hands with Harry and giving me a hug and kiss on the cheek. "And what's happened to your eye, Hermione?"

"Your punching telescope." She answered.

"Oh blimey, I forgot about those." Fred said. "Here-" He handed her a tube which she unscrewed and looked at the thick yellow paste oozing out of the hole.

"Just dab it on, that bruise'll be gone within the hour. We had to find a decent bruise remover. We're testing most of our products on ourselves."

"It is safe, isn't it?" Hermione asked.

"'Course it is. Come on Harry, Eliza, I'll give you a tour." I left Trang with Hermione and followed Fred towards the back of the shop. "Muggle magic tricks!" Fred said happily, motioning to a less touched shelf of Muggle cards and ropes. "For freaks like Dad, you know, who love Muggle stuff. It's not a big earner, but we do fairly steady business, they're great novelties. . . Oh, here's George. . ."

George shook Harry's hand energetically and gave me a hug and a kiss on the opposite cheek. Almost as though they'd planned it. Knowing them thought, it was probably coincidental.

"Giving them the tour? Come through the back, Harry, Eliza, that's where we're making the real money- pocket anything, you, and you'll pay in more than Galleons!" George said to a small boy who quickly took his hand out of a tub full of Edible Dark Marks.

"We've just developed this more serious line." Fred said. "Funny how it happened..."

I looked around the darker room with strict packaging and less crowded than the other, bright room.

"You wouldn't believe how many people, even people who work at the Ministry, can't do a decent Shield Charm. 'Course, they didn't have you teaching them, Harry." George said, continuing Fred's sentence.

"That's right... Well, we though Shield Hats were a bit of a laugh, you know, challenge your mate to jinx you while wearing it and watch his face when the jinx just bounces off. But the Ministry bought five hundred for all its support staff! And we're still getting massive orders!" Fred said now.

"So we've expanded into a range of Shield Cloaks, Shield gloves. . ." George spoke.

". . . I mean, they wouldn't help much against the Unforgivable Curse, but for minor to moderate hexes or jinxes. . ."

"And then we thought we'd get into the whole area of Defense Against the Dark Arts, because it's such a money spinner. This is cool. Look, Instant Darkness Powder, we're importing it from Peru. Handy if you want to make a quick escape." George said with much enthusiasm.

"How much is it?" I asked, going over and looking into the box with interest.

"Free." Fred said and I looked at him with a frown.

"Free?" I asked, puzzled.

"Only for you and Harry." George said, "These over here are Decoy Detonators and they are just walking off the shelves! You just drop one surreptitiously and it'll run off and make a nice loud noise out of sight, giving you a diversion if you need one."

"Handy." Harry said, impressed.

"Here." George said, throwing them to Harry.

"There's a customer out here looking for a joke cauldron, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley." A young witch also wearing magenta robes said, her head sticking through the curtains to the back room.

"Right you are, Verity, I'm coming." George said, "Harry, Eliza, you help yourself to anything you want, all right? No charge."

"We can't do that!" Harry said.

"You don't pay here." Fred said firmly, waving away Harry's gold.

"But-"

"You gave us our start-up loan." George said. "Take whatever you like, and just remember to tell people where you got it, if they ask."

He was gone and I turned to Fred, "I didn't give a start-up loan!" I said reproachfully. "And it's not like you're going to give Ron or Ginny free things!"

Fred shrugged, "Then let Harry get all your stuff, you're not paying either."

I exchanged an exasperated look with Harry before following Fred back out over to where Hermione, Ginny, and Trang were standing.

"There you go, best range of love potions you'll find anywhere."

"Do they work?" Ginny asked.

"Certainly they work, for up to twenty-four hours at a time depending on the weight of the boy in question-" Fred started.

"- and the attractiveness of the girl." George finished, reappearing. "but we're not selling them to our sister not when she's already got about five boys on the go from what we've-"

"Whatever you've heard from Ron is a big fat lie. What's this?" Ginny asked, changing the subject and pointing to a pink pot on the shelf.

"Guaranteed ten-second pimple vanisher. Excellent on everything from boils to blackheads, but don't change the subject. Are you or are you not currently going out with a boy called Dean Thomas?" Fred asked.

"Like you don't know who he is." I said with a laugh.

"Yes, I am and last time I looked, he was definitely one boy, not five. What are those?" Ginny pointed to round balls of fluff in shades of pink and purple, emitting high-pitched squeaks.

"Pygmy Puffs. Miniature puffskeins, we can't breed them fast enough. So what about Michal Corner?" George asked.

"I dumped him, he was a bad loser." Ginny said, putting a finger through the bars of the cage and I watched the adorable pygmy puffs crowd around her finger. "They're really cute!"

I had to agree and moved closer to the cages. "They're fairly cuddly, yes. But you're moving through boyfriends a bit fast, aren't you?" Fred asked in a slightly concerned voice and I hid my smile from him.

"It's none of your business. And I'll thank you, not to tell tales about me to these two!" Ginny said so I assumed that Ron had appeared.

"That's three Galleons, nine Sickles, and a Knut." Fred said behind me, "cough up."

"I'm your brother!" Ron exclaimed.

"And that's our stuff you're nicking. Three Galleons, nine Sickles, I'll knock off the Knut."

"Here." I said, thrusting Ron four Galleons.

"Thanks Eliza!" Ron said brightly. Somewhere behind me, one of the twins- probably Fred- was gritting their teeth.

"Mum, can I have a pygmy puff?" Ginny asked as Mrs. Weasley came over.

"A what?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Look, they're so sweet. . ."

"Fred?" I asked. "How do you tell which one is a boy and which one is a girl?"

"The pink ones are girls, the purple ones are boys." Fred said, coming up behind me.

"I'll take a pink one I think." I said.

"And I'll take a purple one!" Trang said enthusiastically. "They're adorable."

"Hey, ours could mate and we could get more!" I said, imaging a little pygmy puff farm. Trang giggled.

Fred took our pygmy puffs and I put mine on my shoulder and went through the store to find other things to get. I quickly got a couple patented daydream charms, Skiving Snackboxes, Extendable Ears and also the darkness powder and paid at the front counter, Verity was behind the counter.

But then George appeared and grabbed the gold and said, "I thought we said you got your stuff free?"

I glared at him. "I can spare. . . ten galleons and seven sickles George."

He sighed, shaking his head.

"What's your problem anyways?" I grumbled as Verity put my things in a bag. "Just take the damn money."

George winked at me and disappeared, not answering my question. Trang had bought many different things, her eyes bright. I wondered how much money she'd spent but didn't ask.

Mrs. Weasley was suddenly hysterical, looking through the shop and said, "Do you know where Harry, Hermione, and Ron are?"

"Oh." I said awkwardly, knowing very well that they were no longer in the shop. "Yeah, they went in the back to get some of the dark powder and dark detectors and things like that. I think Hermione was trying to find the bathroom too."

Mrs. Weasley looked relieved and went up to the counter with Ginny to buy her pygmy puff. However, after a few minutes, it was clear that Harry and Ron weren't back and Mrs. Weasley went outside to ask Hagrid if they'd gone past him and then rushed through the store, looking for them.

"Where are they?" Ginny asked in undertone.

"Stalking Draco Malfoy through Knockturn Alley." I said with a grimace. "What a waste of time too considering I could've just told them what his conversation entailed."

Mrs. Weasley went back outside to talk to Hagrid and Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned up with us, taking off the cloak. Harry stuffed it into his bag as I rolled my eyes. "I could've just told you what the conversation was about!" I grumbled.

Mrs. Weasley came back in and caught sight of us and they assured her that they'd been in the back room. We soon left the store, saying good-bye to the twins and with all our bags, it was a bit of a tighter squeeze in the car. We had been three hours and seven minutes and the car driver kept shooting me looks in the rearview mirror. I determinedly stared out the side window.

I couldn't wait to go back to Hogwarts. 

⬅️➡️

[thricethechrises]

Ok this might be a bit niche but is anyone else on TikTok all of a sudden getting flooded, pun optional, with "hot death eaters" videos from Universal's Halloween Horror Nights?

A few of us have made the connection that we all seemed to be on BookTok with a slight predisposition towards anti-heroes, or all around questionable moral choices in fictional men, And let me repeat in fictional people...

But yeah anyone else on here? I cannot be the only one >.> Also we could always share fic and book recommends!

p.s. none of us seem to support jkr and aren't engaging in Hp stuff in any way other then thirsting over videos that, yes, are taken at a place where jkr does draw money but not directly.

[xreaderbooks]

i know i've been inactive (and i'll be working on your requests and updates for the series' soon)

I just wanted to share that I was so close to having my moment with a death eater in knockturn alley at Universal, he literally wore the mask (the one everyone swears draco wore with the walk, hopefully you guys know what i'm talking abt) and it was the most exciting moment of my life until it was ruined by a group of people passing by that broke his attention and he waved his wand, shutting out all of the lights. He was inches away from me when they came and screamed at the trick and then he was gone 😭

my freaking heart y'all... i will never recover

p.s. i'm never the kind of person who records things, to which i normally regret after when everyone else has cool aesthetic pictures or whatever and i've been getting better at my timing so that I can also not be obnoxious abt it... but the ONE time that I try to record something cool, i don't even notice him LITERALLY BECKONING ME OVER with his finger until my cousin shoved me in his direction and the whole explanation from above happened 😔