Hermione Voldemort's Daughter

Chapter 9: Diagon Ally

"First stop: Gringotts." my father smirked. I'd only been in Gringotts a few times, and it was just how I remembered it. Marble floor, chandeliers and a million or two goblins sat at mahogany desks working passionately. My father walked briskly to a table and I had to trot to keep up with him.

"Yes?" a goblin asked without taking his eyes of his work. His quill scribbled fastly across the page and I wondered if it was a quick-notes quill like Rita Skeeter had.

"We would like to see the Riddle vault, please?" my father said to the goblin, then to me, "The Gaunt vault was renamed to our Riddle when your great-grandfather died."

"What's your name?" the goblin continued, using the procedure.

"Tom Marvalo Riddle and Sophia Lily Riddle."

"And does Mr Riddle have the key?"

"Here." my father stuffed his hand in his pocket and held out the golden key with three sapphires welded into it.

"Follow me," the goblin sighed and got up from his desk. He led us into a dark passageway. Remember that I'd never been into the vaults before so I found it a bit scary but at the same time thrilling. After we'd gone to Gringotts, we went dress shopping. Normally I hate dress shopping, but oddly today I loved it. First of all two witches took me and dad to be fitted, then they brought out three dresses that could suit me (but of course Dad got suits). The first dress was deep crimson red and swept down to the floor. At the top it had little beads that were charmed to sparkle wherever I was. It had three roses sewed onto it. "It's lovely on you; I love it!" praised the shop attendant, Lucy.

"I don't know... there's something that just makes me think it's not me." I frowned. I wasn't going to say it out loud but I'd be crazy to wear it at the ball. I mean, it'll be full of Death eaters. Gryffindor hating Death Eaters. And this dress was Gryffindor colours. The next dress was like the first, in a way, but more plain. It was slinky, and a navy blue with one single rose on its corner. Did all the dresses in the shop have flowers on them?

"Hm..." Lucy looked doubtful. I echoed her thoughts. It didn't sit right on me. "Third time lucky?" In a way, she was right, because I decided that this one was absolutely perfect. It, like the last, was strapless. Across the strap was a small sash with a green ribbon. It sort of puffed out at the hip, but in a non puffy sort of way. And, my favourite part weirdly, it was Slytherin Colours.

"I love it; it fits you perfectly," Lucy giggled as I twirled and whirled around in it.

"So do I," I admitted. "Dad! Look at this!" I walked out and saw my dad standing stiffly in a small- titchy, even- green tux.

"Wow," he gasped, wheezing in an attempt to breathe.

"Dad, I think that tux is just a little bit too tight." I laughed. "Expandio!" the tux let in a little air and my dad breathed a sigh of relief.

"Expandio. Is that even a real spell?" he asked.

"Must be otherwise it wouldn't have worked." I mused. "So, what do you think?"

"I think wow." my father answered.

"Thanks." I gushed. "So you will be buying these?" Lucy asked us. My father nodded.

Later that day I walked through the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. I was immediately attacked by a hug.

"Mione!" Ginny squealed.

"Gigi!" I gasped, "Squeezing me to death now!" she let go and blushed.

"Sorry," she apologised.

"Ginny, what has it been, two days and you act like she's been gone for a year!" Ron exclaimed from the table behind her.

"Hi guys." I greeted as I sat down. I took some presents out of my bag and handed them one each.