LITTLE MISS MUDBLOOD – ACT 1 : SCENE 3 : CHAPTER 31
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The moment Hermione and Y/N entered the Leaky Cauldron was the moment of instantaneous chaos. Seven red-haired Weasleys were bustling around the place, wreaking havoc in every word they spoke, every step they took, and every thing they saw. It took approximately seven minutes for one of them to spot Hermione and Y/N with all their Hogwarts things, and about three more minutes to check them in and put all their stuff in their rooms. By the time Hermione and Y/N were ready to buy their stuff at Diagon Alley, Ron was too, so they headed off with Goldfish, unnoticed, to the hidden alley.
"Get this," said Ron, who had grown a few more inches and sported even more freckles. He too, had reached the peak of puberty, and that was a good thing – judging by the faint blush on Hermione's cheeks. "Harry blew up his aunt. Dad told us a few days ago, since he works at the Ministry and all – anyway, sometimes I wish I could blow up my aunt and get off freely –"
"Ron!" said Hermione sharply as they went to the Apothecary for more potions ingredients.
As they shopped, they looked everywhere for Harry – they figured he would be here of all places, since he was staying at the Leaky Cauldron – but couldn't find him. Halfway into their shopping Theodore, Blaise, and Daphne joined them, and they were looking different, too. Theodore had grown into an awkward height, Blaise was looking moodier than ever, and Daphne had grown a figure, just like Hermione and Y/N. They all needed new robes, so they visited Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions first.
Next was Ollivanders. Ron had snapped his wand last year so he was due for a new one, and since the Weasleys had won all that gold, he was able to get his own. After that, they had to buy their schoolbooks, and the assistant almost passed out when they asked for six Monster Book of Monsters. In fact, he did pass out when he saw the books tearing each other apart, and the manager and four other assistants had to come out to get them their books. They gave them each a belt to secure them, and then helped them buy their other books.
The six third-years looked around some more for Harry before giving up and visiting Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. They each bought an ice cream and sat outside, pushing two tables together. Y/N was about to tell them she was Quidditch Captain, when she spotted Harry.
"Harry!" she called. "HARRY!"
Harry spotted her and, with a smile, came by and sat.
"Finally!" said Ron, grinning. "We were looking for you everywhere – Flourish and Blotts, Madam Malkin's, the Apothecary –"
"I got all my school stuff last week," Harry explained. "And how come you knew I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron?"
"Dad," said Ron simply.
"Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?" asked Y/N, shoving down a laugh.
"I didn't mean to," said Harry, while Ron and Theodore roared with laughter. Blaise, Daphne, and Y/N snickered. "I just – lost control."
"It's not funny," said Hermione sharply. "Honestly, I'm amazed Harry wasn't expelled."
"So am I," admitted Harry. "Forget expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested." He looked at Ron. "Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let me off, does he?"
"Probably 'cause it's you, isn't it?" shrugged Ron, still chuckling. "Famous Harry Potter and all that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry'd do to me if I blew up my aunt. Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me. Anyway, you can ask Dad yourself this evening. We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight too! So you can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow! Hermione and Y/N's there as well! I don't know about you three," he nodded to Theodore, Blaise, and Daphne.
"No, we're just here today," said Daphne, checking her watch. "Anyway, we've got to go. Our mothers want us back by noon."
They left their ice creams for Goldfish and headed off with their stuff, waving their goodbyes. Y/N turned to Harry.
"Mum and Dad dropped us off this morning with all our Hogwarts things," she said.
"Excellent!" said Harry happily. "So, have you got all your new books and stuff?"
"Look at this," said Ron, pulling the long thin box out of his bag and opening it. "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. And we've got all our books –" He pointed at the large bags under their chairs. "What about those Monster Books, eh? One of the assistants fainted when we said we wanted six."
"What's all that, Hermione, Y/N?" Harry asked, pointing at the bags of books in the chair next to them.
"Well, we're taking more new subjects than you, aren't we?" said Y/N. "Those are our books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Study of Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies –"
"What are you two doing Muggle Studies for?" said Ron, rolling his eyes. "You're Muggle-borns! Your mum and dad are Muggles! You already know all about Muggles!"
"But it'll be fascinating to study them from the Wizarding point of view," said Hermione earnestly.
"Are you two planning to eat or sleep at all this year?" asked Harry while Ron sniggered. Hermione and Y/N ignored them.
"I've still got ten Galleons," said Hermione, checking her purse. "It's my –"
"– our."
"– birthday in September, and Mum and Dad gave me some money to get myself an early birthday present."
"How about a nice book?" said Ron innocently. Y/N gave him an unimpressed look.
"No, I don't think so," said Hermione composedly. "I really want an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig and you've got Errol –"
"I haven't," said Ron. "Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers." He pulled his pet rat out of his pocket. "And I want to get him checked over," he added, placing Scabbers on the table in front of them. "I don't think Egypt agreed with him."
Scabbers was looking thinner than usual, and there was a definite droop to his whiskers. Goldfish sniffed him curiously and barked loudly, growling.
"Goldfish," Y/N said, grabbing his collar and pulling him away from Scabbers. "No. Sit."
Goldfish whimpered and sat down, licking the remnants of Theodore's ice cream.
"There's a magical creature shop just over there," said Harry. "You could see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can get her owl."
So they paid for their ice cream and crossed the street to the Magical Menagerie.
There wasn't much room inside. Every inch of wall was hidden by cages. It was smelly and very noisy because the occupants of these cages were all squeaking, squawking, jabbering, or hissing. The witch behind the counter was already advising a wizard on the care of double-ended newts, so Harry, Ron, Hermione and Y/N waited, examining the cages.
A pair of enormous purple toads sat gulping wetly and feasting on dead blowflies. A gigantic tortoise with a jewel-encrusted shell was glittering near a window, Poisonous orange snails were oozing slowly up the side of their glass tank, and a fat white rabbit kept changing into a silk top hat and back again with a loud popping noise. Then there were cats of every color, a noisy cage of ravens, a basket of funny custard-colored furballs that were humming loudly, and on the counter, a vast cage of sleek black rats that were playing some sort of skipping game using their long, bald tails.
The double-ended newt wizard left, and Ron approached the counter.
"It's my rat," he told the witch. "He's been a bit off-color ever since I brought him back from Egypt."
"Bang him on the counter," said the witch, pulling a pair of heavy black spectacles out of her pocket.
Ron lifted Scabbers out of his inside picket and placed him next to the cage of his fellow rats, who stopped their skipping tricks and scuffled to the wire for a better look.
Like nearly everything Ron owned, Scabbers the rat was second-hand (he had once belonged to Ron's brother Percy) and a bit battered. Next to the glossy rats in the cage, he looked especially woebegone.
"Hm," said the witch, picking up Scabbers. "How old is this rat?"
"Dunno," said Ron. "Quite old. He used to belong to my brother."
"What powers does he have?" said the witch, examining Scabbers closely.
"Er –" The truth was that Scabbers had never shown the faintest trace of interesting powers. The witch's eyes moved from Scabber's tattered left ear to his front paw, which had a toe missing, and tutted loudly.
"He's been through the mill, this one," she said.
"He was like that when Percy gave him to me," said Ron defensively.
"An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so," said the witch. "Now, if you were looking for something a bit more hard-wearing, you might like one of these –"
She indicated the black rats, who promptly started skipping again. Ron muttered, "Show-offs."
"Well, if you don't want a replacement, you can try this rat tonic," said the witch, reaching under the counter and bringing out a small red bottle.
"Okay," said Ron. "How much – OUCH!"
Ron buckled as something huge and orange came soaring from the top of the highest cage, landed on his head, and then propelled itself, spitting madly, at Scabbers.
"NO, ROOKSHANKS, NO!" cried the witch, but Scabbers shot from between her hands like a bar of soap, landing splay-legged on the floor, and then scampered for the door.
"Scabbers!" Ron shouted, racing out of the shop after him; Harry followed.
Crookshanks sat on the counter, licking his paw and eyeing the door.
"Crookshanks has been here for ages," said the witch, watching him wander around. "No one wants him."
"He's adorable," said Hermione, who looks like she just fell in love. "How much?"
"Ten Galleons," said the witch, picking up Crookshanks. Hermione looked between the rat tonic and Crookshanks, trying to decide.
"I'll buy the rat tonic," said Y/N, digging through her purse. "How much?"
"Two Galleons," said the witch. She looked back at Hermione. "Yes or no?"
"Yes!" squealed Hermione, and she dumped her ten Galleons on the counter, taking Crookshanks from the witch happily. The cat purred contentedly in her arms.
Y/N gave the witch two Galleons and pocketed the rat tonic, following Hermione, Crookshanks, and Goldfish.
"You bought that monster?" said Ron, his mouth hanging open.
"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" said Hermione, glowing.
In its own way, it was. The cat's ginger fur was thick and fluffy, but it was definitely a bit bowlegged and its face looked grumpy and oddly squashed, as though it had run headlong into a brick wall.
"Hermione, that thing nearly scalped me!" said Ron.
"He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?" said Hermione.
"And what about Scabbers?" said Ron, pointing at the lump in his chest pocket. "He needs rest and relaxation! How's he going to get it with that thing around?"
"That reminds me," said Y/N, taking the rat tonic out of her purse and giving it to Ron. "You forgot your rat tonic."
"Stop worrying, Ron, Crookshanks will be sleeping in my dormitory and Scabbers yours, what's the problem?" said Hermione. "Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no one wanted him."
"I wonder why," said Ron sarcastically as they set off toward the Leaky Cauldron.
They found Mr. Weasley sitting in the bar, reading the Daily Prophet. The hustle and bustle of the Weasley family died down almost completely, so it was safe to say they were all shopping for their new supplies.
"Harry!" he said, smiling as he looked up. "How are you?"
"Fine, thanks," said Harry as he, Ron, Hermione, and Y/N joined Mr. Weasley with all their shopping.
Mr. Weasley put down his paper, and Y/N saw the now-familiar picture of Sirius Black staring up at her.
"They still haven't caught him, then?" asked Y/N.
"No," said Mr. Weasley, looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far."
"Would we get a reward if we caught him?" asked Ron. "It'd be good to get some more money –"
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron," said Mr. Weasley, who on closer inspection looked very strained. "Black's not going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. It's the Azkaban guards who'll get him back, you mark my words."
At that moment Mrs. Weasley entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by the twins, Fred and George, who were about to start their fifth year at Hogwarts; the newly elected Head Boy, Percy; and the Weasleys' youngest child and only girl, Ginny.
Fred and George sandwiched Y/N between them and slipped a few candies and trinkets into her purse. Winking, they stood and elbowed a pompous Percy out of the way.
"Harry!" said Fred, bowing deeply. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy –"
"Marvelous," said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing."
Percy scowled.
"That's enough, now," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Mum!" said Fred as though he'd only just spotted her and seizing her hand too. "How really corking to see you –"
"I said, that's enough," said Mrs. Weasley, depositing her shopping in an empty chair. "Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?" She pointed to the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. "Second Head Boy in the family!" she said, swelling with pride.
"And last," Fred muttered under his breath.
"I don't doubt that," said Mrs. Weasley, frowning suddenly. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."
"What do we want to be prefects for?" said George, looking revolted at the very idea. "It'd take all the fun out of life."
Ginny giggled.
"You want to set a better example for your sister!" snapped Mrs. Weasley.
"Ginny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother," said Percy loftily. "I'm going up to change for dinner. . . ."
He disappeared and George heaved a sigh.
"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," he told Y/N. "But Mum spotted us."
"Well, between you boys and me," said Y/N quietly to Fred and George, "I've got a much better badge than Percy."
"No way!" said George in disbelief.
"Really?" said Fred, reaching into Y/N's purse. "Merlin's beard! She's right Georgie!"
"Well, who would've thought?"
Y/N scoffed. "The whole school, of course."
Dinner that night was a very enjoyable affair. Tom the innkeeper put three tables together in the parlor, and the seven Weasleys, the two Grangers, and Harry ate their way through five delicious courses.
"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as they dug into a sumptuous chocolate pudding.
"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," said Mr. Weasley.
Everyone looked up at him.
"Why?" said Percy curiously.
"It's because of you, Perce," said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them –"
" – for Humongous Bighead," said Fred.
Everyone except Percy and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their pudding.
"Why are the Ministry providing cars, father?" Percy asked again, in a dignified voice.
"Well as we haven't got one anymore," said Mr. Weasley, " – and as I work there, they're doing me a favor –"
His voice was casual, but Y/N couldn't help noticing that Mr. Weasley's ears had gone red, just like Ron's did when he was under pressure.
"Good thing, too," said Mrs. Weasley briskly. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle Underground. . . . You are all packed, aren't you?"
"Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk yet," said Percy, in a long-suffering voice. "He's dumped them on my bed."
"You'd better go and pack properly, Ron, because we won't have much time in the morning," Mrs. Weasley called down the table. Ron scowled at Percy.
After dinner everyone felt very full and sleepy. One by one they made their way upstairs to their rooms to check their things for the next day. Ron and Percy were next door to Y/N, and she had just closed and locked her own trunk when she heard angry voices through the wall.
"I'd better go see what that's about," said Y/N to Hermione, and she went to see what was going on. Harry had seemed to have the same idea, and they peered into the room.
"It was here, on the bedside table, I took it off for polishing –"
"I haven't touched it, all right?" Ron roared back.
"What's up?" said Harry.
"My Head Boy badge is gone," said Percy, rounding on Harry and Y/N.
"So's Scabbers's rat tonic," said Ron, throwing things out of his trunk to look. "I think I might've left it in the bar –"
"You're not going anywhere till you've found my badge!" yelled Percy.
"We'll get Scabbers's stuff, we're packed," Y/N said to Ron, and she and Harry went downstairs. She scoffed. "Head Boy? More like Bitch Boy."
Harry snickered.
They were halfway along the passage to the bar, which was now very dark, when they heard another pair of angry voices coming from the parlor. A second later, they recognized them as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's. They hesitated, not wanting them to know they'd heard them arguing, when the sound of Harry's name made them stop, then move closer to the parlor door.
". . . makes no sense not to tell him," Mr. Weasley was saying heatedly. "Harry's got a right to know. I've tried to tell Fudge, but he insists on treating Harry like a child. He's thirteen years old and –"
"Arthur, the truth would terrify him!" said Mrs. Weasley shrilly. "Do you really want to send Harry back to school with that hanging over him? For heaven's sake, he's happy not knowing!"
"I don't want to make him miserable, I want to put him on his guard!" retorted Mr. Weasley. "You know what Harry and Ron and Y/N are like, wandering off by themselves – they've even ended up in the Forbidden Forest! But Harry mustn't do that this year! When I think of what could have happened to him that night he ran away from home! If the Knight Bus hadn't picked him up, I'm prepared to bet he would have been dead before the Ministry found him."
"But he's not dead, he's fine, so what's the point –"
"Molly, they say Sirius Black's mad, and maybe he is, but he was clever enough to escape from Azkaban, and that's supposed to be impossible. It's been a month, and no one's seen hide nor hair of him, and I don't care what Fudge keeps telling the Daily Prophet, we're no nearer catching Black than inventing self-spelling wands. The only thing we know for sure is what Black's after –"
"But Harry will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts."
"We thought Azkaban was perfectly safe. If Black can break out of Azkaban, he can break into Hogwarts."
"But no one's really sure that Black's after Harry –"
There was a thud on wood, and Y/N was sure Mr. Weasley had banged his fist on the table.
"Molly, how many times do I have to tell you?" They didn't report it in the press because Fudge wanted it kept quiet, but Fudge went out to Azkaban the night Black escaped. The guards told Fudge that Black's been talking in his sleep for a while now. Always the same words: 'He's at Hogwarts . . . he's at Hogwarts.' Black is deranged, Molly, and he wants Harry dead. If you ask me, he thinks murdering Harry will bring You-Know-Who back to power. Black lost everything the night Harry stopped You-Know-Who, and he's had twelve years alone in Azkaban to brood on that. . . ."
There was a silence. Harry leaned still closer to the door, but Y/N held him back from actually entering it and exposing them.
"Well, Arthur, you must do what you think is right. But you're forgetting Albus Dumbledore. I don't think anything could hurt Harry at Hogwarts while Dumbledore's headmaster. I suppose he knows about all this?"
"Of course he knows. We had to ask him if he minds the Azkaban guards stationing themselves around the entrances to the school grounds. He wasn't happy about it, but he agreed."
"Not happy?" Why shouldn't he be happy, if they're there to catch Black?"
"Dumbledore isn't fond of the Azkaban guards," said Mr. Weasley heavily. "Nor am I, if it comes to that . . . but when you're dealing with a wizard like Black, you sometimes have to join forces with those you'd rather avoid."
"If they save Harry –"
" – then I will never say another word against them," said Mr. Weasley wearily. "It's late, Molly, we'd better go up. . . ."
Harry and Y/N heard chairs move. As quietly as they could, they hurried down the passage to the bar and out of sight. The parlor door opened, and a few seconds later footsteps told them that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were climbing the stairs.
The bottle of rat tonic was lying under the table they had sat at earlier. Harry and Y/N waited until they heard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's bedroom door close, then headed back upstairs with the bottle.
Fred and George were crouching in the shadows on the landing, heaving with laughter as they listened to Percy dismantling his and Ron's room in search of his badge.
"We've got it," Fred whispered to them. "We've been improving it."
The badge now read Bighead Boy.
Y/N snickered as Harry went to give Ron the rat tonic, and headed to his own room with a mere 'goodnight'.
"Goodnight, boys," said Y/N as she passed Fred and George, ruffling their heads of flaming hair and rejoining Hermione in their room.
"What was that all about?" asked Hermione from her bed, her Arithmancy textbook propped open in her lap.
"Bitch boy lost his badge, Ron forgot his rat tonic downstairs," said Y/N, crawling into bed. "Nothing special."
But that wasn't the truth. She and Harry had learned that Sirius Black was after Harry and the Azkaban guards were to be stationed at Hogwarts – and if Dumbledore didn't like them, then then they must be bad.
Sighing, Y/N pulled the covers over herself and closed her eyes.