Harry could barely believe that the summer was nearly over. He had spent a glorious two months staying at the Malfoys, and was almost, but not quite, unhappy to have to return to Hogwarts. His break had been the next best thing to idyllic, being able to do whatever he and Draco decided they wanted to. It had been a fantastic holiday. Most of their friends had come over at some point or another. Blaise had gone to Italy with his mother, so he wasn't around, but everyone else visited. They had some fun times. Barbecues, Quidditch games, swimming-and Harry still had found time to read.
Lucius had hosted a dinner for some fundraising event for St. Mungo's Hospital. Harry had been introduced to many of the most important political figures, including the Minister for Magic. It had definitely been interesting, the Minister, a short, nervous-looking man, had almost dropped his hat when he shook Harry's hand. It didn't really inspire much confidence in the man, but Harry assumed there must be some reason he had been elected. Harry had spent much of that night avoiding his Headmaster. As head of the Wizengamot, he couldn't just be not invited when all his peers were. Even though Lucius had expressed his displeasure at being forced to welcome the man into his own home. Harry still wasn't quite sure how he felt about the old wizard. He often wanted to punch the man right in his spectacles, but other times he felt as if he would like to just forgive him. He didn't really enjoy carrying anger around within him. In the meantime, Harry decided to simply avoid the man as much as he could. It might not be so easy once he returned to school, but it would be mostly do-able.
At the moment though, he was preparing to go shopping with Lucius and Draco. He had given Narcissa (She had chided him early on in the break for referring to her as Mrs. Malfoy), a blood-quill signed letter for Gringotts the previous week, and when she had gone there to sort out something she had withdrawn money for him. His purse was full, his stomach was full, and he was ready to hit the town. A pity that Draco wasn't, really.
Eventually, Draco finished eating. Moments later, Lucius called them both into his study.
"Harry," the man said, "You've never traveled by Floo, correct?"
Harry looked nervously at the fireplace.
"Uh, no sir. I've read about it though"
Lucius gave Harry an indulgent smile, "Of course you have" He murmured. "Well, Draco will go first, and he will wait for us precisely where he comes out" He turned his head towards his son, voice becoming far harder, "Won't you, Draco?"
"Yes, sir," Draco said, looking down at his shoes.
The blonde boy took a pinch of the powder his father was professing and threw it into the fireplace, turning the flames bright green.
"Remember Draco, we are going to Knockturn first"
Draco nodded, before stepping into the fire.
Harry gasped slightly. Even though he had known how Floo powder worked, he still was not fully prepared to see his best friend step into a roaring fire.
"Knockturn Alley" Draco said slowly, emphasizing the words strongly. With that, he spun around very, very quickly, and was gone.
"You go, Harry".
Harry took some of the powder from the box in Lucius' hand. It felt oddly oily to touch it.
"Say it clearly Harry. Don't let the words get muddled, or you'll end up somewhere else"
Gulping, Harry practiced the name a few times. He threw the powder into the flames, which changed again and stepped in. The fireplace felt cool, the flames licking him no more than a dog's tongue.
"Knockturn Alley," He said, trying to say it as slowly and carefully as he could.
And then he was spinning, faster and faster until suddenly he was being pulled, and tossed around, and then-
He stumbled out of the sooty fireplace into a dingy pub. Draco was standing there, waiting for him.
Harry looked around absentmindedly while he rubbed the ash off his robes.
This was definitely not the Leaky Cauldron.
There was a far-scummier type of crowd around here. People with hooded faces, people drinking firewhiskey at-Harry glanced at his watch- 10 in the morning.
"What's this place called?" He asked Draco, just as Lucius swirled into existence behind him.
"It's the White Wyvvern!" Draco said excitedly.
"Come, boys. We need to take care of something before heading to Diagon"
They left the pub, the barkeep bowing low as they passed.
"Sir?" Harry asked, "Why didn't we just Apparate here?"
"Knocturn Alley is warded against Apparition, Harry. A safety precaution"
"Why isn't Diagon Alley warded also?"
Lucius sneered. Whenever he did so, Harry was shocked at how much Draco resembled him.
"They wish to give a sense of warmth and welcome. Fools, the lot of them"
' It is more convenient for them'
"Knocturn is actually the older alley" Lucius continued, his tone slightly lecturing. "Originally, this was considered to be an unsafe area by muggles, and they avoided it at night. We adapted, and used it as our shopping ground, but only at night. Hence the pun in the name. Eventually, Diagon Alley was added on, and it became the main center for those of us willing to abandon tradition"
Harry and Draco kept getting distracted by the strange and vibrant sights around them, and Lucius kept having to call them to keep them moving.
"Are those actual heads?"
"Whoah! Look at that Hag!"
"You may look around the store, boys, but touch nothing," Lucius said, as he entered a shop. Harry could just make the name out on the faded sign.
Borgin and Burke.
The stooped over shopkeeper greeted them.
"Master Malfoy. Young Master Malfoy. And, Master Potter, I believe?"
The man's greasy tone grated on Harry's nerves. He was saved from answering by Lucius, who strode up the counter and begin talking in a low voice. The boys were too distracted by the objects around the store, although Harry could have sworn he heard the name "Weasley" mentioned, which made him feel a fleeting jet of hot rage.
"Harry, look at this!"
Harry looked where Draco was pointing. It seemed to be a severed hand, which a hole in the palm and a candle sitting in it. The plaque served to shed some light on it.
The Hand of Glory: The candle inserted will give light only to the one holding it, and to those he wishes. No matter what magical or natural means are used to cause darkness, the Hand will give light
"That could definitely be useful," Harry said thoughtfully.
The boys wondered the store, pointing out the gruesome contents to one another, and trying to come up with the most interesting backstory to it.
"Hey Draco, check this thing out," Harry said, pointing at the large wardrobe sitting in the corner of the room. The plaque on it wasn't particularly informative.
Vanishing Cabinet: The other in this pair is broken, and its location is unknown.
"What's a vanishing cabinet?" Harry said, mostly to himself.
"Oh, that's what it is. We've got one at home, a lot of the old families do"
"Thanks, Draco, now I know exactly what it is and what it does"
"Don't give me that. You have a pair of these cabinets, and you can travel from one to the other. You just go in, close the door, and when you open it you're in the other one"
"What's the point? I mean, you could just Apparate, or take a portkey, or-"
"They're for emergencies. The one we have will take you to a safe house. Also, all the other ways can be Warded against or blocked. These can't"
Harry looked at the shabby cabinet with more appreciation, but quickly realized-
"Well, if you can't block it, what use is it? If you're running from someone, you don't want them just chasing after you"
"If one of them has an open door, you can't travel through it," Draco said exasperatedly.
Lucius sent them off to the apothecary, while he went to sort something out at the Quidditch supplies store. Draco was so overexcited, he giggled quite loudly, in a very high pitch, then immediately looked around him, cheeks reddening.
Harry made a show of turning his head around slowly and looking confused.
"I thought I just heard Pansy. Did you hear anything, Draco?"
"Shut up"
"But, I'm sure that-"
"Shut up already".
Snickering, Harry followed Draco into the apothecary.
' It's pretty cool of Lucius to buy brooms for the team'
' Its bribery is what it is, and you know it'
' Draco is a good player'
' So? It still isn't right! And you're being a part of it!'
' It's not wrong, it's just using every tool that I can to make sure I'm on the team'
' It's unfair!'
"Can I help you?"
Harry blinked up at the shopkeeper, standing before him.
"Uh, yeah. Second-year Hogwarts, and"
The man just walked off.
' That's kinda rude'
He returned a few moments later, with a box.
"Here you go. I decided to make life easier on myself this year. Got a hold of all the school lists, and made a bunch of boxes beforehand. Seven Galleons please"
"I'm telling you, Harry, you're being ridiculous!"
"No, I'm not. You're just not listening!"
They were sitting and sipping their ice cream sundae's at Fortescue's, while they waited for Lucius to return from the Broom store.
"But, who ever heard of a Parselmouth that doesn't have a pet snake? It's such a waste"
"I've told you, Draco. Half the school already think I'm some evil guy. My having a snake would only make things worse! Besides, I don't think we're even allowed pet snakes"
"You're just letting what Weasley said get to you. And I'm sure Snape would let you have a snake if you just would ask him"
Sighing, Harry took a long sip before replying.
"You might be right. Tell you what, I'll see how things go this year, and maybe end of the year I'll ask if I can bring one"
Draco gave a brilliant grin, sun gleaming off of his teeth. "You know I'm right. At least learn that spell Peter used. Imagine it! You're in a fight, and you just make some snakes and send them at your enemies"
Harry was forced to admit that would be really cool. And quite intimidating, for whoever was on the receiving end. Not too long later, a shadow fell over their table.
"Come, boys. Let's go get your books"
"Did you get them?" Draco half asked, half demanded. His father smiled at him.
"They will be delivered to Severus, at Hogwarts"
"Excellent" Draco whispered, eyes alight.
"Now, let's go. Just getting all those Lockhart books will prove to be a time-consuming nightmare"
Nightmare was definitely the operative word there. Harry and Draco followed Lucius as he strode towards the apparition point. The man was fuming to himself, muttering under his breath. Draco had been pretty embarrassed by his father's conduct, but Harry privately felt that he had gotten the short end of the stick in the bookstore.
' That man is my teacher! How am I gonna survive this year!'
Being called out in the middle of the store had been bad enough. Being forced to have his picture with that arrogant man had been worse. Lucius and Mr. Weasley's fight had been even worse. The crowning highlight of embarrassment had been the groundskeeper's intervention. After separating the two men, the oaf had the gall to smile at and greet Harry.
' He probably doesn't even remember our conversation last year'
And now, lugging their book bags, Draco and Harry followed the blonde man at a short, safe distance. He hadn't spoken since they left the shop, at least not to the two boys. Harry tried not to look at Draco, he didn't want the boy to be embarrassed further.
"Harry, are you prepared for your second year at Hogwarts?"
Harry settled comfortably in his chair. His discussions with Lucius in the man's study had become a regular thing.
' I'm glad his black eye is gone though, it would make this way more awkward'
"Yes, sir. I'm not particularly excited for our new teacher, though"
"Indeed. Please keep me informed on how his classes are. The truth is, this year he was the only applicant. Myself, and the rest of the school board are still looking for someone else to take over for him. To be honest, his books read like a fiction. If they are true though, he would be a most accomplished wizard"
' I haven't read more than a few pages yet, but I'm pretty sure it's all lies'
"Now, Harry. Why have you not bought yourself a snake? Draco is rather concerned, and I promised him I would discuss it with you"
' Draco, sometimes I really want to punch you'
"It's just-I don't want my reputation to be affected anymore. People have already been talking about me, and I don't want to give them something else to talk about"
"And so you will live your life based on the whims of others'?"
"No, sir. But I'm only going into my second year, and there are already rumors that I'm evil. I don't want to be ostracised"
"That may be the wise course. See that you do not waste your gift. It is a rare, and wonderful talent you have. I shall not push, but I believe that you may need to discuss your worries with someone"
"My-worries?"
"Yes. You worry far more than any child your age should about how public opinion views you. This is not automatically a bad thing, but if it is controlling your life, then it may serve to be"
Harry shifted uncomfortably.
' I really don't like where this is going' . But Lucius continued.
"This is not a nice topic, Harry. But I must ask you if you have ever spoken about your life in the orphanage?"
"I-I spoke to you about it, sir. And to Draco. And one or two of my friends"
Lucius waved his hand. "I don't mean that. I mean, have you ever discussed, in detail, what your life was like there? You mentioned, in passing, the torment that you suffered. Have you ever focused on that part?"
"N-No".
' Change the subject. Don't think about it'
"I believe, you should. It may be affecting you more than you know" He said ominously.
' Nope. Not affecting me. I ended it, I killed them' and oh, how that still bit in his gut to think, ' It's over. It's done with'
"If you need, I will make myself available. Sometimes, just talking about such things can make you feel better"
' NO. IT'S DONE'
"Yes, sir," Harry said quietly.
"If you would rather you can always speak to Severus"
Harry just nodded.
' Please, let this conversation just end'
Lucius raised a glass of brandy.
"A toast," He said, cutting through the conversation around the table. Narcissa had been telling Draco how absolutely handsome he looked, while Harry sniggered away.
"A toast" He repeated, "To an exciting year at Hogwarts"
Harry and Draco dutifully lifted their glasses, even though there was nothing more than soda in them.
"I can't believe my baby is already in his second year," Narcissa said, hugging Draco close to her, setting Harry off on a new round of laughter.
' Admit it, you're jealous of him'.
Not long later, Harry and Draco were in their beds, fast asleep. They were all ready to go back to Hogwarts the next day.
Lucius sat in his study, sipping a brandy. He raised it once again, as if in toast.
"To an exciting year at Hogwarts indeed. And to the end of Arthur Weasley's pitiful career"