Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Hermione Granger and the Weasley Wedding ❯ Diagon Alley ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Diagon Alley

 

Hermione had not been so excited in a long time. It had been exactly two weeks since the last misadventure she and Ron had embarked upon. Today was going to be good; she was absolutely sure of it. Today, she and Ron were going together to Diagon Alley for several reasons. The first of these reasons was that she and Ron needed to pick out the textbooks they were going to use for their classes so they could send their selection to Professor McGonagall so that she, in turn, could send out the supply list to all of the Hogwarts students. They would need a textbook for each year of students, as first years couldn't very well use a seventh year book and seventh years certainly wouldn't want a book more suited for the first years. Ron also said that he had saved enough money to buy Hermione a surprise something at Madame Malkins Robes. She couldn't possibly imagine what kind of robes he was going to buy her there, but she had to admit that she would need to go there to get robes fit for a professor. Ron would have to do the same.

Ron and Hermione decided they would Apparate into the Leaky Cauldron and have a drink before continuing onto Diagon Alley. When they arrived in the Leaky Cauldron and sat down, Hermione noticed a very large figure lumbering through the doorway. “Hagrid, come here!” she exclaimed, standing to hug him. Rubeus Hagrid lumbered over to where they were sitting and pulled up a chair.

“Hello, Ron, Hermione. How're things at home? Oh and how's Harry doin' these days?”

“Everything's fine, Hagrid,” Ron replied cheerily.

“Did ye get my gift, Hermione? I assume ye did, considering my owl came back with nothin' on his leg.”

“Oh, yes, it was very nice,” Hermione replied, thinking back to the strange blue ribbon Hagrid had sent her.

“Well, I'd best be off then. I have some Hogwarts business to attend to today. I'll have a word privately with Ron before I go, though, if you don't mind, Hermione.”

“Not at all,” Hermione agreed nodding, and slurping down the last swallow of her butterbeer. Ron stepped off to the side with Hagrid.

“Have ye asked her then?” Hagrid asked, indicating Hermione.

“Not yet. We're going to Madame Malkins today though. I'm getting blue to match that ribbon.”

“Ah, that'll be nice. Send me an owl when everything's set.” Hagrid winked. “Have fun today.” He headed out the door of the Leaky Cauldron in the opposite direction from Diagon Alley. He must've already been there today, Ron thought.

“Are you ready, Hermione?” Ron asked.

“Yes. What was that all about?” Hermione eyed him expectantly.

“He just wanted to know what all the commotion at The Burrow was about. He didn't want to embarrass you, but apparently someone sent him an owl saying that all manner of strange things were going on. I quashed his tales. I told him that nothing was going on.” Ron lied smoothly, because he didn't want Hermione to know of his little secret just yet.

“Oh, is that all? Well, honestly, Ron, he could have just asked me. I don't mind telling him the truth. I trust Hagrid.” They had arrived in Diagon Alley now, and their first stop was Madame Malkins so that while they looked for their textbooks, their robes could be sewn and they could get them before the end of the day. As soon as they walked in the door, Madame Malkins beamed at them.

“I've been expecting you. Fred and George came yesterday and told me you would be along this morning. Now, you'll need professor robes, and I think two new sets of dress robes.”

“Two?” Hermione questioned. “But I thought we were only supposed to have one.”

“Ah, but you need one set for extra-special occasions,” Madame Malkins replied with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Now as to professor robes—you can choose a color. Mr. Weasley, I think you would do well with nice dark green velvet. Ms. Granger, your color is definitely blue. I'll make you two blue ones—one you can wear everyday and one you can wear as your dress robes. Do you want a pattern on your everyday one?”

“Yes, I think stars and moons would be nice. Make the everyday one a midnight blue so stains don't show as much, too,” Hermione replied.

“Good, good, now for your other set of dress robes, you get to choose another color. Pink, I think would look lovely on you. Perhaps I could put little roses around the hem?” On and on it went until measurements were taken and their orders were in. Hermione had ended up with the stars and moons pattern on her everyday midnight blue robe, a lighter blue velvet with enchanted stars around the edge for her “extra-special” dress robes as Madame Malkins called it, and a pink velvet with roses around the edge for fancier school functions. Ron had ended up with deep green velvet for everyday, a lighter blue to match Hermione's for “extra-special” occasions, and brown velvet for the fancier occasions. Ron had insisted on paying for the “extra-special” ones. He had also paid for Hermione to get a white dress to go underneath the blue and for himself to have white to go underneath his. She kept objecting, but to no avail.

They were off to Flourish and Blotts, and they would go back and pick up their order with Madame Malkins later. Ron intertwined their fingers as they walked and Hermione became excited at the prospect of choosing textbooks. She had always enjoyed the reading of the textbooks, and hoped her students would enjoy the ones she chose as well. At the end of three solid hours of scouring their prospective areas, Ron and Hermione finally had all the textbooks they needed. Hermione's favorite was The History of Arithmancy and Why We Use It. She was going to require this for students of every year, and they would continue to use it until they were finished with their N.E.W.T.S. It just made life simpler, because it would aid anyone first years through seventh years in testing, because it explained many of the theories behind many of the problems presented. The problems only got more complex the higher the students got, but the theories remained the same. As they were checking out, Hermione saw a thin book lying on a table. She went to look at it, and told Ron she would be right back.

A few minutes later Ron came over to her. “He's ready for you. You'd better hurry.”

“Ron, didn't you say that Gilderoy Lockhart's memory had been obliviated back when we discovered the Chamber of Secrets?”

“Yes. Why?”

“This book is said to have been written by Lockhart himself just this year. How can he have anything to write if he has no memory?” Ron took the book from Hermione and opened the front flap to see what the inside cover said.

“Ah, it says here that he is writing about the terrible treatment he has sustained in St. Mungo's. I'll bet that's a hoot. C'mon, let's get out of here and go get our robes. I'm beat. I want to go home to my nice warm bed.” Hermione headed to the counter to check out her books. Standing beside the counter was a girl Hermione thought she recognized. She paid for her books, and had a second glance. A vacant expression filled the girl's face as she leaned against the counter holding the latest issue of the magazine called “The Quibbler.” It couldn't be.

“Luna Lovegood?” Hermione gasped. Although the expression was as vacant as ever, Luna had grown up to be quite a pretty young woman.

“Hermione, I can't believe it's you!” Luna squealed, squeezing Hermione in a tight hug. “You'll never guess where I got a job.”

“Where did you get a job, Luna?” Hermione asked, humoring her.

“Well, my dad finally decided he was tired of work and had earned enough money, so he turned management of `The Quibbler' over to me! Isn't that great? Oh and guess what else?”

“What?” Hermione asked checking her watch.

“Neville Longbottom and I are dating now.” She sighed. “He's so dreamy.”

“Well, that's wonderful Luna. I hope to see you again soon, but I have to go. Ron's waiting for me.”

“Oh,” Luna's face fell. “Where are you going to be working?”

“Ron, Harry, and I are all teaching at Hogwarts. Come by and visit anytime. You might be able to get some good stories. Just don't ever send that Rita Skeeter woman!” They laughed at the memories this brought to mind, and Hermione waved as she left the bookstore.

“What kept you?”

“Luna Lovegood. She's just informed me that she's taken over her father's job managing `The Quibbler' and she and Neville Longbottom are dating. She called him `dreamy.' I would never in my life think of Neville as dreamy.” Hermione said this as they walked back to Madame Malkins.

“You're kidding. Neville didn't say anything about it when he was staying with us.”

“Maybe he was embarrassed, or maybe it just happened recently. Neville and Old Loony: that is just too hilarious. I can't wait to tell Harry and Ginny.” She and Ron were laughing hysterically when they entered Madame Malkins' shop to pick up their order. She wasn't at the front desk, so Hermione rang the little bell.

“I'll be just a minute.” Madame Malkins' voice came from the back of the shop. Ron and Hermione kept talking about Luna Lovegood, until finally Madame Malkins appeared from the back of the shop followed by none other than Draco Malfoy. He was carrying a large package and a bag of books. “If you'll just let Mr. Malfoy pay for his order, I'll go to the back and get yours.” Malfoy paid, and Madame Malkins headed to the back of the shop again, this time alone. Ron and Hermione stood in awkward silence, all laughter about Luna and Neville put in the past.

“Well, I guess I'll just be going, then,” Malfoy said uncomfortably. “See you at Hogwarts, Professors. Oh, and send Professor Potter my regards.” He smiled at them, and Hermione and Ron just gaped. They had never seen Malfoy be so nice.

“Let's head back to the Leaky Cauldron. I could use another drink,” Ron said exhaustedly. Back in the Leaky Cauldron, another person Hermione thought she wouldn't be seeing again so soon appeared. Cho Chang came to their table and joined them.

“How is Harry?” She asked hopefully. “I did so want to see him again. I truly still have feelings for him. Do you think he would meet me somewhere?”

“Doubt it,” Ron sniggered, “seeing as he's married and all.”

“Married? To whom? Don't tell me it's that awful Ginny Weasley. Oh I forgot, she's your sister isn't she?”

“Yes she is his sister, and I'll thank you not to talk about her like that. And she's not Ginny Weasley anymore. She's Ginny Potter now. And to make things even better, she and Harry are having a baby.”

“WHAT?” Cho and Ron said simultaneously.

“Oh, come on, Ron! You can't tell me she hasn't shown all the typical signs of it lately.”

“What typical signs? I mean she's been a bit ill, but that's it.”

“Oh, Ron, sometimes you can be so thick. She's sick only in the morning and at night and when she smells certain things. She has that peculiar glow about her that most pregnant women do. And lastly, she told me she was the day she and Harry arrived at The Burrow. That's why she pulled me away. Harry doesn't know.” At this last, Cho got up from the table and huffed out the door.

She turned in the doorway to say, “That's all right anyway. I'm dating Draco Malfoy.” She ran out the door and down the street.

“You know,” Hermione said to Ron, “I think she's mental.”

“She has been for a long time. Ever since Cedric died, she hasn't been able to keep a boyfriend. I doubt the thing about Malfoy is even really true. I guess we'll find out when we go to work.”

“I suppose. Let's get back to The Burrow.” They Apparated into the kitchen where dinner was just finishing. Mrs. Weasley began pulling things back out, but Ron insisted that they were not hungry. They found Harry and Ginny sitting in the living area. Ginny was a pale green, and Harry sat with his arm around her looking proud for some reason. Hermione and Ron grinned, as they knew the reason.

Suddenly, Harry called out, “All right, everyone in the living area. You don't need to sit, as this will only take a moment.” Everyone piled in, peering anxiously toward Harry and Ginny. “We have an announcement to make.” It was like the deep breath before the plunge. Harry did take a deep breath and said, “Ginny and I are going to have a baby.” Mrs. Weasley squealed, and ran over to her daughter to embrace her. Hermione and Ron left to go up to their rooms during all the excitement.

Ron asked Hermione, “Do you dare to try to spend the night in my room again?”

“Only if you let me change clothes before I Apparate to your room.” Hermione loved a sense of adventure and the thrill of possibly getting caught. She also loved sleeping beside him. Later, in Ron's room, she was cuddled up beside him, inhaling the male scent of him. It was intoxicating.

“Are you asleep yet?” Ron asked.

“No,” Hermione whispered back.

“Good,” Ron replied, and rolled over on top of her. She felt her heart pounding in her throat. She felt like she couldn't breathe, and like she might be sick. When his lips touched hers, though, all she felt was an insatiable need. He pulled her shirt over her head and skin touched skin.

Later, as they lay beside each other, completely unclothed but under the covers, they panted to try to catch breath from their previous pleasures. They fell asleep like that, skin to skin. Suddenly there was a loud crack that woke them both. Hermione yanked the sheet up to her chin, and Ron just made sure it covered his waist. Charlie had just Apparated into the room with a candle in his hand. Hermione covered her mouth to muffle a scream.

“Charlie! What do you want?” Ron asked.

Charlie's hand flew over his eyes. “Blimey! Sorry! Mum's going to kill you, by the way, if she finds out. Dad's lost his wand, and Fred and George left one of their fake ones here. While Dad was trying to get everything ready for work, he picked up the wand and it turned into one of those fake chickens. Have you seen it? If you haven't, I'll just tell Mum you said no.”

“I haven't seen it, and you're not going to tell Mum about this are you?” he squawked at Charlie, indicating Hermione.

“I promise I won't tell a soul. But Ginny was looking for you Hermione.”

“Tell her I went for a walk outside and you found me. Please don't tell your mum.”

“All right, but don't blame me if they find out. I swear I won't tell.” With that, Charlie Disapparated, and Ron and Hermione fell back onto the bed laughing hysterically.

“Shush!” Hermione finally giggled. “Your mum's going to find out for sure if we keep this up. Let's go to sleep.” Ron agreed and they lay cuddled together again and slept until morning light.