Diagon Alley wasn't what it used to be. The once-vibrant shop windows that had displayed spellbooks, potion ingredients, and gleaming cauldrons were now completely obscured by large Ministry of Magic notices. These ominous purple posters were mostly enlarged versions of the safety tips from the Ministry's summer leaflets, alongside wanted posters showing moving black-and-white photographs of Death Eaters.
Bellatrix Lestrange was sneering menacingly outside the nearby apothecary. Several windows had been boarded up, including Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. In contrast, many shabby-looking street stalls had sprung up along the cobbled road. One stall was pitched under a grimy striped canopy right outside Flourish and Blotts. A cardboard sign in front of it read:
Protective Charms: Effective Against Werewolves, Dementors, and Inferi
A scruffy, short wizard was rattling a long chain of silver amulets, hawking them noisily to passersby.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Hagrid stepped into the street from the Leaky Cauldron.
"Ma'am, care to buy one for your lovely daughter?" the little wizard called out as they passed, eyeing Ginny lecherously. "Keep her pretty neck safe?"
"If I were on duty…" Mr. Weasley muttered furiously, glaring at the man.
"But you're not, dear," said Mrs. Weasley briskly, checking a shopping list with a worried glance. "We're on a tight schedule. I think we should head to Madam Malkin's first. Hermione needs new robes, Ron's school uniform is way too short, his wrists are showing, and Harry, I'm sure you need new clothes too, you've grown so fast. Right then, everyone, let's get moving, "
"Molly, all of us going to Madam Malkin's might be too much," Mr. Weasley suggested. "Why don't the three of them go with Hagrid while we head to the bookstore and pick up everyone's textbooks?"
"I don't know…" Mrs. Weasley said uncertainly, clearly torn between her desire to get everything done quickly and her worry about separating the group. "What do you think, Hagrid?"
"Don't worry, Molly, they'll be just fine with me," Hagrid said reassuringly, giving a casual wave of his massive hand. Mrs. Weasley still didn't look entirely convinced, but she let them split up, hurrying off toward Flourish and Blotts with her husband and Ginny, while Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid made their way to Madam Malkin's.
Along the street, many witches and wizards wore the same anxious, harried expressions as Mrs. Weasley. No one stopped to chat anymore. Shoppers moved in tight little clusters, making a beeline for what they needed. No one seemed to be out alone.
"Might get a bit cramped if we all go in," Hagrid said, stopping outside Madam Malkin's and peering through the window. "I'll stand guard out here, all right?"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stepped into the shop together. At first glance, it looked empty. But as the door shut behind them, a familiar voice rang out from behind a row of green and blue dress robes.
"…I'm not a child anymore, Mother. You may not have noticed, but I am fully capable of shopping on my own."
Madam Malkin's voice replied, "Yes, dear, but your mother's quite right. It's not about being a child or not, it simply isn't safe to wander around alone these days, "
"Watch where you're sticking that pin, will you?!"
A pale, sharp-faced boy with light blond hair stepped out from behind the rack. He was wearing an elegant emerald green robe, its edges gleaming with decorative pins. He strode to a mirror and admired himself.
After a moment, he spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the reflection. His pale grey eyes narrowed.
"If you can't tell what that horrible stench is, Mother," Draco Malfoy said coldly, "I can help you. A Mudblood just walked in."
Harry and Ron immediately drew their wands, glaring at Malfoy. Hermione stepped forward to grab them, but someone else gently took her hand first.
A dry voice came from the doorway.
"Honestly, any wizard with the slightest sense of decency wouldn't use that word so frequently. Shouting slurs doesn't make you powerful, it just makes you sound desperate. Then again," she added with a hint of mockery, "I suppose children of Death Eaters wouldn't know much about class."
"You! " Malfoy snarled, whipping out his wand.
"Anne!" Hermione gasped in delight.
Harry and Ron spun around. Anne stood by the door in casual Muggle clothes, smiling softly.
"I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in my shop!" Madam Malkin exclaimed, hurrying from behind the rack with a tape measure and wand in hand. "And I absolutely do not allow wands to be drawn!"
Narcissa Malfoy stepped out as well, her face twisted in visible disdain as she looked at Harry and Ron. When her eyes landed on Anne, her pupils contracted, but the next second she composed herself with cold indifference.
"Look at the kind of people frequenting this establishment, Draco," Narcissa sneered. "We're leaving. We'll go to Twilfitt and Tatting's. They carry much finer robes."
Draco grunted in agreement, yanked the robe off over his head, and tossed it at Madam Malkin's feet before storming out, bumping hard into Harry on his way past.
Anne ignored the scene and turned to Hermione.
She reached out and gently pulled Hermione into a hug, murmuring, "You've been gone so long and didn't even run up to hug me… I'm hurt."
Hermione smiled and hugged her back, leaning in to kiss Anne lightly on the cheek. "I missed you, Anne."
Anne grinned, "I missed you too."
But her smile faded quickly as she noticed the bruise under Hermione's eye.
"What happened?" she asked, voice turning sharp.
Harry and Ron glanced over; Hermione tugged Anne's sleeve quickly. "It was Fred and George's Punching Telescope, "
"Punching Telescope?" Anne blinked, then burst out laughing. "Oh, that thing! The little fist that punches you in the eye? They did add some extra oomph to that one… no wonder the bruise hasn't gone down."
"So you're in on it too?" Hermione said, exasperated.
Anne stifled her laughter and squeezed Hermione's hand. "I'll have a word with those two later. They have a salve that'll get rid of the bruise in ten minutes flat."
Once the three finished getting their new robes, they exited the shop.
Hagrid was chatting with Aaron outside and beamed when he saw them. "Got everything you needed?"
Hermione greeted Aaron politely.
"Pretty much," Harry replied. Moments later, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny reappeared, each carrying stacks of books.
"Everyone all right?" Mrs. Weasley asked, scanning the group. "Oh, Aaron, Anne, hello!"
After learning Anne and Aaron would be traveling the same route, she visibly relaxed.
"All right then, let's swing by Fred and George's shop, stop by the apothecary and Eeylops Owl Emporium on the way. Stay close, now…"
They walked down Diagon Alley, looking for Fred and George's shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Mrs. Weasley checked her watch every minute.
"We don't have much time," she said. "Just a quick look around and then we head back to the Ministry car. That's 92… 94…"
"Whoa!" Ron came to a sudden halt.
Unlike the drab storefronts drowned in Ministry notices, Fred and George's shop window was like a firework display, vibrant and chaotic. Passersby were craning their necks to get a look. One side was filled with spinning, flashing, bouncing, and screaming magical items.
The other side bore a huge poster, styled just like the Ministry's, but bright purple with glaring yellow letters:
WHY WORRY ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO?
YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT…
CONSTI-PATION!
CONSTIPATION IS A NATIONAL CRISIS!
Everyone burst into laughter, except Mrs. Weasley, who stared at the sign, lips moving silently as she mouthed the words "Constipation." Hermione didn't laugh either, clearly disapproving of Fred and George mocking the Ministry so openly.
"They're going to get murdered in their beds," Mrs. Weasley muttered.
"They won't," Anne said confidently, stepping toward the shop. "Mrs. Weasley, this place isn't as silly as it looks." She squinted at the poster. "But if it really bothers you, I'll tell them to take it down."
Mrs. Weasley seemed a little less tense. "Yes, please do."
Inside, the two-story shop was packed. Boxes stacked to the ceiling, shelves nearly empty, and customers everywhere. A group of young kids watched in awe as a wooden figure slowly climbed a set of gallows labeled:
Reusable Hangman – Spell It Right or Hang Tight!
Nearby, shelves held joke wands, the cheaper ones turning into rubber chickens or pants, and the more expensive ones smacking unsuspecting users in the head. There were also self-inking, spell-checking, and quick-witted quills.
Hermione was drawn to a large display cabinet. Anne followed close behind.
"'Proprietary Product: Daydream Charms…'" Hermione read aloud, eyeing a vibrant box that showed a handsome boy and dreamy girl on a pirate ship.
"'With a single incantation, enjoy a high-quality, hyper-realistic 30-minute daydream. Ideal for class time. Undetectable, side effects include vacant expressions and light drooling. Not for sale to under-16s.' Hey, Anne, this is kind of fascinating!"
Anne shrugged. "Can't deny they've gotten a lot more creative since leaving school…"
"I heard that compliment loud and clear!" said a voice behind them. Another chimed in, "And if you're interested, Hermione, the first one's on the house."
Fred and George stood before them in flashy magenta robes, grinning broadly.
"Afternoon!" they chorused. George added, "Hermione, what happened to your eye?"
Anne stepped in quickly. "Blame your bloody Punching Telescope. Now, hand over that bruise salve."
Fred and George exchanged glances. George pulled out a small bottle. Fred said hastily, "Right, our fault! We'll clean everything up at home, promise."
Anne held up the bottle. "Want me to do it for you?"
Hermione gave her a look, then turned to the twins, tone serious. "That poster outside, the colors mimic the Ministry's notices. It's disrespectful."
The twins looked at each other, confused, they thought it was brilliant.
"Ahem," Anne interjected, "Mrs. Weasley wasn't thrilled either. You two might want to take it down." She winked. "Ah, Harry looks like he wants a word with you."
They glanced over, nodded in unison, and made a quick escape.
"You're covering for them again," Hermione said flatly.
"Hey, no way," Anne replied, opening the bottle and gently dabbing the yellow ointment onto Hermione's bruise. When Hermione opened her eyes, Anne smiled. "Besides, my justice-loving girlfriend, we're off school grounds now. A little mischief doesn't hurt. And," she added, taking Hermione's hand, "I'd rather not be tailed by those two. Let's check out the second floor, there's more fun up there…"
Second Floor – Diagon Alley
On the second floor, Ginny was leaning over a clear display case, intently watching the tiny objects inside. A crowd of girls surrounded her, all peering in with just as much fascination. When Anne and Hermione came over for a look, they saw what had captivated them: a pile of fluffy little balls in varying shades of pink and purple, rolling back and forth along the bottom of the case. They were unbelievably cute.
When Ginny noticed them approaching, she pointed excitedly at the display and asked, "Do you know what these are?"
Hermione leaned forward, studying them. "They look like Puffskeins… but the book said they usually grow to five to ten inches, and they're usually white."
"You're right," Anne chimed in. She turned a silver handle on the side of the case, and with a soft click, a round opening popped open. As she reached in, the tiny fluffballs immediately swarmed around her hand.
A chorus of delighted gasps came from the girls nearby.
"They're so cute…"
"But these are miniature Puffskeins," Anne explained, pulling out two and handing them to Ginny and Hermione. Both girls lit up with excitement. "They're a dwarf variant, imported from France. They don't grow any bigger than this, and they're really popular among French witches, they love keeping them as pets."
The surrounding girls looked on in envy at the Puffskeins in Ginny and Hermione's hands. A small girl, barely waist-high to Anne, pouted and asked sweetly, "Big sister, you're really pretty… could you help me get one too? I want a pink one…"
Anne smiled warmly and reached in to retrieve a pink one. It was tiny, no bigger than a piece of candy. The moment it landed in the little girl's hands, it rolled over playfully, sending her into a fit of giggles.
In an instant, the entire group of girls erupted into a frenzy. Anne was quickly surrounded and mobbed. She had to call loudly for Verity, the shop assistant at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, to come help before she could finally extract herself from the crowd.
Outside the circle, Hermione stood alone near a shelf, gently playing with the lavender Puffskein in her hand as it tumbled about adorably.
"Where's Ginny?" Anne asked, walking over.
"She went to buy a Puffskein from Mrs. Weasley," Hermione replied coolly, not looking up.
Anne noticed Hermione avoiding eye contact and recalled the earlier scene. She chuckled inwardly but kept her face neutral. "Oh my… is someone feeling a little jealous?"
"I am not," Hermione replied quickly, lifting her head.
Anne leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Hermione blushed instantly. "We're in public, "
Pulling her into a hug, Anne whispered in her ear, "No one's watching, you know~"
They were tucked behind a large display shelf, away from the first floor's view, and the girls on the second floor were too distracted by the Puffskeins to notice anything else.
"And even if they were," Anne continued, her voice softer now with a trace of vulnerability, "I wouldn't care. If it weren't for you asking me to take it slow, I'd shout it to the world."
She loosened her embrace just a little, still holding Hermione close, and looked into her eyes.
"I, Anne Laurence-Stark, like you. I like you, Hermione Granger."
Her voice lowered as she went on.
"Maybe in the past, I avoided a lot of things, pushed down a lot of feelings, and that's made you feel uncertain, unsafe. I get it. I know what that feels like too. I'll admit, I'm still afraid of a few things even now. But that doesn't change one simple truth, Hermione."
Tears glimmered faintly in Hermione's eyes.
"I like you," Anne said again, gently.
Hermione leaned in and kissed her.
Caught off guard at first, Anne's eyes lit up with joy. She wrapped her arms tightly around Hermione, deepening the kiss.
A sudden squeaky chirp came from between them, causing them to break apart. The pale purple Puffskein in Hermione's hand had turned deep violet and leapt onto Anne's shoulder, bouncing up and down in protest.
Hermione burst out laughing at the grumpy little creature. Anne chuckled too, brushing her hair behind her ear with a sheepish grin.
As they stepped out from behind the shelf, Hermione tugged gently on Anne's hand and said softly, "Anne, I like you too."
Anne beamed, her smile radiant. "Yeah, I know," she said, like it was the most wonderful and obvious thing in the world.
The two of them wandered the second floor together, hand in hand, exploring all the odd and whimsical magical prank items until a frantic call from Mrs. Weasley summoned them back downstairs.
Later, at the Leaky Cauldron, it was time to part ways.
Anne and Aaron would be returning home via Floo Powder, while the Weasley family and the rest headed back using a Ministry car.
"See you in the morning, Hermione."
"See you in the morning, Anne."
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