Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Before the Dawn ❯ Chapter Seven: Harry ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, characters, or the novels. The only thing I do own is Iris Clayton and this story.

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Chapter Seven:

Harry POV

 

After the “little” incident at the Leaky Cauldron, the three of us, including Hargid, walk down the crowded streets of Diagon Ally. We did not say a word to each other, only walk. Iris, who should have said something about the wonders of Diagon Alley, did not say anything. She walks with her head held up. However, her eyes speaks a different story, she was sad, terrified, and guilt. She did not have to feel guilty; I was the one who would not listen to her. I insisted that everything will be alright and I wanted her to trust me. Instead, I was too fucking stupid to listen to her. I should have not listened to my own needs. I feel pissed, confused, guilty, and angry all at once.

 

Besides feeling guilt, I can't believe that old bastard was about to kill because I bought a vampire with me to the tavern and became friends with her.? She is nothing but tainted witch blood, a vile creature freak. How can he say things about her when he does not know her all? Of course, I only known her for a few days and we have been honest to each other. She may need blood to survive, but she is a harmless vampire who loves life and compassionate. Hell, she is closer to me than my Ron and Hermione. And I know for a fact that she is not working for Voldemort. How could she work for him when she does not know anything about the wizardry world or him? Therefore those wizards should get to know her before judging her.

 

However, their hatred for vampires is still a mystery to me. Of course they need blood, but how did their hatred escalated into a law to kill them on the spot. I cannot keep pondering about it; I need see how Iris is doing.

 

I glance at her for a lingering minute. She now had her head down, watching her feet. For a vampire, she had some human characteristic. I wrap my arm around her shoulder, hopefully that makes her feel little better.

Iris looks up and releases a small smile. It wasn't the smile that I liked, but, at least we are on the same page.

 

We stop at a corner. Hargid release a sigh and told us to stay near the shop, he had to do something for Dumbledore. With that order, he left us. We did not say anything to each other for the first five minutes. Iris watches the people passing us by while I tried to fight the urge not to smoke. That is also another thing Ron or Hermione does not know. I started smoking since my fourth year. It is becoming a habit. I usually hide them under my bed until my relatives are asleep. Then I pull those sticks out of the bed, go to the porch, and take a drag. It always relaxes my nerves. This time, I really need a cigarette badly.

 

I grind my teeth, hoping the urge will go away but did not. I pull out the long cigarette from my pocket. I press it to my lips and tried to find a match. Gotdamn it, I left it on the dresser! Knowing that asshole, he is going to find them and show it to Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. I am so screwed and Vernon was such in a good mood, today.

 

Before I put the damn thing in my pocket, I see flames coming from Iris fingers. She held it towards my cigarette which stunned me. Can all vampires and/ or wizards do this? Could I?

 

She smiles as I lower it to the flame and inhale the harmful toxic. By a snip of her finger, the flames disappeared. I close my eyes when I exhaled the smoke, enjoying the taste of tobacco. Iris giggled. I opened my eyes quickly.

 

“I never seen someone enjoyed a cigarette as much as you.” She said.

 

I lean my head to the ancient wall, smoking.

 

“I never seen anyone fascinated with people smoking. Anyway how—”

 

“I don't know. I was thinking about flame and presto, flame on my fingertips.” She said, plainly.

 

“You think I could do it, Iris; producing flame on my fingertips?” I asked.

 

She shrugs.

 

“I guess so. Try it.” Iris suggested.

 

I closed my eyes, thinking about flames. I could see fire, blazing but I don't feel it on my fingertips. However the flames do have a face. The face has red eyes which stare into mine. I was terrified as the face resembles a snake. Soon two hands came out of the now blue flames, trying to grab me. It could not be him…it can't…it just can't!

 

“Harry!” Iris called.

 

I opened them slowly at first, only seeing blurs. Over time, I start to see figures, then faces, finally the face of an angel. I saw Iris kneeling on the ground, caressing my face. Her nails maybe sharp, but it is calming. Her white hair was on my face, but I did not care.

 

She was glad that I awaked and smiles. The smile was bright, calming, and beautiful, the same smile I saw at the mall. The same smile, I love to see. She helps me from the ground. Iris was relief I was all right.

 

I now know that Voldemort is somewhere nearby, ready to attack any minute. I should not try that stunt again or Voldemort will be there and I won't be the only one hurt.

 

“All you alright, Harry? I did not know what happened to you. You just closed your eyes and passed out. I hope nothing internal happened to you.” She said with concern.

 

I press my hand on her shoulder. I can't tell her what I saw. She does not know who Voldemort is and I want to keep it that way. I don't want her to know everything about or get hurt by him. She is too precious for me to lose and I will not lose her.

 

I gave her a convincing smile although the smile was a lie.

 

“Everything fine, Iris. I just felt tried that's all.” I lied.

 

She sighs.

 

“Since everything is fine, Hargid should be coming back very soon.”

 

“For what?”

 

“When he saw you lying on the ground, he became worried. So he left to get help.” She explained.

 

Shit. Now he is going to tell Dumbledore. I don't want him to know yet, well, till school start that is. I hope to God, he comes back soon; the bookstore doesn't close until four. It is now two o'clock.

 

And speak of the devil, Hargid comes running towards us. He was relief when he saw me standing. He wipes his head dry with his handkerchief.

 

“I'm so glad…dat…yer finally…woke…up. I thought yer saw version of…”

 

“No,” I interrupted him. I don't want Iris to know until I am ready to tell her. I don't want her to worry about me with Voldemort. “No…everything is fine.”

 

Hargid looks at Iris than at me. He understood. I'm glad.

 

He looks at her and quickly consumes himself.

 

“Oh, excuse me, my manners. Hullo, my name is Hargid.” He shakes her hand. Iris whole body shakes as she looks at him. “You must be Iris Clayton, the new vampire-witch coming to Hogwarts. I am so glad Dumbledore finally got the Minister to let a vampire in the school.”

 

He lets go of her hand.

 

“Nice to meet you, too, Hargid. What do you mean the Minister?” she asked.

 

He was confounded.

 

“Oh, forgot you are new to this world. The Minister is the one who is in charge of everything that goes on in this world. Of course, he has many departments that help him.” He explained

 

“Oh, like a president.” She said.

 

“A what?”

 

“The Minister is similar to a president back in America.”

 

“Oh, okay.” He said, not knowing a world she is saying.

 

“I explain later.” I whispered to her. Iris nods.

 

“Okay, yer all better be going. School will begin very soon and the stores are ready to close. So I meet yer at the Harriet Haven?”

 

We nodded our heads and left Hargid to his business. Since I know my way around the alley, I show Iris everything, even explained some places to her. She remains mute, only commenting when she see something confusing or interesting. Then we made it to our destination. Iris was more confused than ever.

 

When we entered the room, there were so much people getting their books. She squeezes my hand. I knew she was afraid, afraid that they know she is a vampire. I don't want us to have another altercation like the one in the tavern.

 

Suddenly, I saw Malfoy and his partners near the exotic section of the store. Since Malfoy's father is in prison, he hates me even more. If he finds out Iris is a vampire, he will make her life a holy hell. So I pulled her towards the first book on the list.

 

She lifts the books with no problem while I had some difficulties. She helps me by caring the books while I read the list. Within an hour, the line died down and Malfoy and his friends left. We went in line. We waited as Iris told me about some of the strange things that she saw. I laughed, because I saw some of the same things when I was little.

 

“It was this book that acts like an animal. It has grayish fur, fangs, and even had eyes. It cannot be a book or an animal.” She exclaimed.

 

“Iris, come down, it is a book. I had in my third year. It was the book I need for Care of Magical Creature. Anyway, what year you are? You are now going to school and everything.” I asked out of curiosity. It would be strange if she starts as a first year and only sixteen years old in muggle years. In reality, she is over 300 years old.

 

“The letter list only sixth year books, so I am with you and your friends.” She said, clearly.

 

I was delighted that she is going to be in the same year as me. She will know at least one person at school. She doesn't have to be alone, because I will be there.

 

When it was her turn to pay for books, she was more confused. I forgot to tell her about the currency. It is different from London's. .Therefore, I had to pay for it. I have more than enough thanks to my parents. Iris offers to pay me back but I refused. She tried her best but I just kept refusing. She gave up.

 

“Thank you, Harry.” She thanked.

 

“No problem.” I said.

 

After getting our books, we went sight-seeing once more. We went to every store, some store I never went before because I never notice them or dare not go. She giggled loudly when I turn red at a “sexual treatment” store for male wizards. I hope I don't have to go to one no time soon. At the end of the day, we had two more store to visit, Florean Fortescue's Ice-Cream Parlor and Weasley's Wizards Wheezes. Iris picks the joke shop.

 

As soon as she opens the door, I can hear George and Fred arguing. They were standing at the middle of the room going at it.

 

“You dumbass, how can you forget to order the last shipment!” Fred yelled.

 

“It was not my fault, older brother; you forgot to make the order for the last week shipment. So the only one you can blame is your monkey ass self.” George yelled back.

 

“NO I did not!”

 

“Yes you did and I can prove it!”

 

“How much is for this candy?” Iris finally asked.

 

They look at her and immediately came running to her aid.

 

“Why this cost 15 bronze knuts.” George soothes.

 

“But for you, my dear, you can have for half the price.” Fred soothe as well.

 

“So…what kind of candy it is?” she asked softly.

 

Fred was the one to answer her first.

 

“It is a jolly rancher but with a twist.”

 

“Yea,” George said without missing a heartbeat, “Whoever eats this sucker is going to bopping sour onions for a month. It is the best way to get any enemy. Besides…” George eyes starts to travel her body and even her huge chest. “Why would a young lady like yourself want something like this?”

 

Fred did not want to be beat, especially when a pretty girl is involved. Somehow my heart beats faster and I just want to choke the bloody hell out of them. I folded my arms, trying not finding myself… jealous? Why would I be jealous because the twins are hitting on Iris? She can date whoever she wants…although I rather for her to date someone…like me. Bloody hell.

 

“I thought it was candy that did not include sour onion breath. Do you have anything else besides jolly ranchers, like chocolate?” she asked.

 

They laughed. Iris didn't get it.

 

“I'm sorry…um…”

 

“Iris, Iris Clayton.”

 

“Pretty name. Anyway Iris, we don't sell candy but—”

 

“Only jokes and gags. However…”Fred pull something out of his pocket which looks like the candy we shared at the mall before it was destroyed by Voldemort. “I have his mini recees that you can have, free of charge.”

 

She takes it but does not eat it. Iris looks at it, thinking it has something to make your breath smell foul. However Fred told her it is not a gag. In less than a second, she eats the candy.

 

“Thank you.” She told him.

 

“So, Ms. Iris Clayton, are you free this Saturday night? Do you mind joining me for dinner?” He asked which causes George questioned his brother. For me, I was surprised and little bit angry that they were hitting on Iris while I was standing in the room.

 

“Um…Fred, I don't think you can take her out for dinner.” George said, seriously.

 

“Why the bloody hell not?” he asked.

 

“Because she is doing me the honors of going with me to dinner,” George smoothly said.

 

“Wait!” I jumped into the conversation. “George, I thought you were dating Angela?”

 

“Not no more, we broke-up because I kissed another girl behind her back. I did not bloody kiss her on the lips but the cheek. She got the wrong impression. Now I would like to start dating again, so Iris, what it's going to be.” George asked.

 

Iris puts her nail on her chin and smiled.

 

“I'm sorry boys but I'm new at town and just settling down. I'm afraid not.” She let them down politely.

 

The sweat on my body soon evaporates and my heart beats slowly. I was relief she rejected them. Hopefully it stays that way.

 

George and Fred were disappointed until a girl walks in the room. Fred immediately came to her, doing the same routine he did to Iris, but George stayed.

 

“In case you want to change your mind…” he gave her his card, with his cell phone number. “You know what to do. Call me, Iris Clayton.” He said and kissed her hand.

 

Iris blushed. I was pissed. I grab her hand which caught George by surprised as we left the store. Iris held the number, which turns to flames.

 

For once, I was glad that Iris did not keep his number. This means, she is not interested in dating neither of the twins.

 

“He seems nice, so was his brother. Who were they?” Iris asked.

 

“My best mate's brothers, Fred and George, they are the jokester of the family. They can be hilarious.”

 

“Do they do it to all the women that come to the shop?” she asked.

 

“Only if they are pretty and you are pretty; so they wanted to flirt with you.” I told her. I did not mean to say pretty. Rather, I meant to say she is gorgeous and charming. So if she caught the attention of Fred and George then who else.

 

She blushes but does not look at me. She shows a smile before it turns to a frown.

 

“You don't have to tell me I'm pretty because I am not. But thank you for the compliment.” She said softly.

 

I wanted to stop her and tell her she is. If she is not beautiful than why Fred and George asked her out, or caught my attention, or any man. I just wonder why she does not think she is attractive, unless her husband…

 

I put my arm around her shoulder and pull her close.

 

“Come on, Iris, if we have time, I buy you ice cream. Florean Fortescue has the best ice cream than all of London.”

 

Iris paused for a minute than nods.

 

“I take your word for it.” She replies and we went on our way to the parlor.