Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, London, 10/20/1993, 21:20
Tonks was feeling particularly exhausted after pulling a double shift patrolling Hogsmeade. She really envied Hestia and her cushy post working up at Hogwarts with Auror Savage. Still, there were some perks to working in the field, mainly that she wasn't confined to the castle and got to do as she pleased when her shift was over.
Glancing down the table, she noticed that Hestia wasn't at the meeting tonight, though that didn't surprise her much, Hestia couldn't leave the school unless another auror came to relieve her.
Tonks took her seat next to Charlie and could immediately smell the scent of smoke coming off of him. She realized that he must have just gotten off of work and came straight here, not even bothering to shower first. Tonks couldn't help but smile fondly as she looked over at him noticing his face was smudged in a soot.
"What?" Charlie asked, giving her a curious look.
"You smell like a forest fire," Tonks said before placing a soft kiss on his lips.
"Bertha just recently laid a new clutch of eggs and we had to document the nest," Charlie said as if that explained everything.
"Beats my day, I had to patrol Hogmeade with Mad-Eye," Tonks chuckled.
"I'd take the dragons any day," Charlie grinned.
Before Tonks could reply, the headmaster and his entourage from Hogwarts entered the room and the talking around the table almost immediately ceased.
Tonks thought that Snape in particular looked much more dour than usual. His face made it look as if he were constipated or something, that thought making Tonks have to fight to contain her laughter. Snape took a seat in his usual place but Albus remained standing seeming to be lost in his thoughts for a moment as he stares off into space.
Finally, after a moment, he seemed to come back to himself and he smiled benignly to the room at large before clearing his throat and speaking at last.
"Good evening to you all. As we discussed in our last meeting, Antonin Dolohov was Killed in France at the end of August. This had been most opportune for our cause as it had severed Lord Voldemort's connections with Durmstrang Institute and enabled Minister Oblansk to start undoing the damage Antonin's tenure as headmaster has caused to that fine school," Dumbledore announced.
"Unfortunately, this has had some not completely unforeseen consequences. As Voldemort is prone to do when things do not go his way, he plans to lash out at the wizarding world in a very big way," Dumbledore said, sounding very grave.
"The when isn't too hard to figure out. Do you know where he plans to attack?" Mad-Eye asked sounding more resigned than anything else.
"Severus, if you will?" Dumbledore said expectantly as he glanced over at his potions' master causing the other order members to also look toward Snape.
"From what I have learned there will be six attacks but I only know where three of them will be taking place," Snape admitted.
"Where ate the ones that you know of?" Mad-Eye demanded.
"Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and the Cresswell home," Snape answered in his usual bored tone of voice.
"How did you come by this information?" Kingsley questioned.
"Passive legilimency on some of the death eaters who will be leading those attacks," Snape said as he met Kingsley's gaze.
"So out of six targets, we know half of them. I don't suppose you could learn the other three?" Sirius asked, giving his old nemesis an inquiring look.
"No, I doubt that I can. Parkinson and Travers are both proficient at occlumency and Cromwell never makes eye contact with anyone," Snape admitted.
"Well it's at least something to go on," Arthur said and got nods of agreement from several others around the table.
"Perhaps the aurors can assist with Diagon Alley so that we can focus all of our efforts on protecting Hogsmeade," Dumbledore suggested, giving Kingsley a questioning look.
"If I bring this to Bones, I think she'll be more than willing to place a squadron or two in the alley," Kingsley said, getting a grateful nod from Albus.
"What about the Cresswells?" Alice asked.
"I will pass along a warning to Dirk and advise him and his family to stay elsewhere on Halloween," Dumbledore assured her.
"We could set up a trap at the Cresswells' home, if we do it right we may be able to catch the bastards by surprise," Mad-Eye suggested, a smile that boded ill for those particular death eaters playing on his gnarled lips.
"You will have to discuss that with Dirk, though I doubt it will be very difficult to convince him," Dumbledore said his eyes twinkling in mirth.
"These other three targets are a bit of a problem, we need to have at least a rough idea of what they are or a lot of people could be hurt," Frank pointed out.
"If we go by the targets that we already know that he is going to attack, then it's a safe bet the other three targets will be similar. Places where large amounts of witches and wizards congregate or the homes of enemies to the dark lord," Alice said after thinking about it for a moment.
"So Mungo's and the ministry should be on high alert," Kingsley muttered.
"I doubt the ministry is at risk but it wouldn't be a bad idea to set up lookouts at the hospital," Dumbledore said.
"I think that I can handle that job," Sirius said hoping that Amelia would grant his team clearance to watch over the hospital.
"That's an excellent idea," Dumbledore agreed.
"We should also contact all the muggleborns that work for the ministry and put them on alert," Arthur added.
"Aye, that could help a lot so the ministry isn't spread out so thin," Moody agreed.
"What do our friends of the night know about these attacks, Nymphadora?" Dumbledore questioned.
"I haven't spoken to Snyde since our last meeting, so whatever was on that envelope is the only information I have from them," Tonks answered, ignoring the use of her first name.
"What envelope?" Sirius demanded.
"Miss Tonks met with Merula Snyde recently and brought back a great deal of information about the interworkings of Voldemort's organization," Albus explained looking quite pleased.
"But there was nothing in there about exact locations," Moody said, forestalling Sirius' next question.
"Bugger," Sirius cursed.
"I believe the dark lord is trying to accomplish more with these attacks than he's letting on," Snape admitted.
"What do you mean?" Kingsley questioned
"I believe the dark lord is trying to discover a traitor, the men he has chosen to lead these attacks are all a bit... untrustworthy," Snape elaborated.
"Like Rupert Cromwell," Sirius mused.
"Exactly, he was a spy for the order. Albert Runcorn is leading the attack on Hogsmeade and he too was once a spy inside the ministry," Snape said looking like it pained him to agree with Sirius.
"This could work to our advantage, if we interfere in all of these attacks, Voldemort will suspect them all," Bill pointed out.
"I do not believe it is the order that Voldemort is concerned about having a spy inside his ranks," Dumbledore said after a moment.
"Then who?" Elphias asked.
"I believe that Voldemort is trying to figure out where the Reaper is getting his information about his follower's movements," Dumbledore explained.
"So there is a chance the Reaper may make an appearance at one of these attacks," Alice said looking intrigued.
"Undoubtedly, he is known to strike on Halloween as well," Dumbledore answered.
"Do we have to worry about ole no-nose showing up?" Frank asked.
"No. He will be performing some type of ritual on that night," Snape said.
"Do you know what kind of ritual?" Dumbledore asked sounding very interested.
"No, other than him hinting that this ritual will make him immortal," Snape drawled.
"Very interesting. I believe that will be all for tonight. I will call another meeting in the coming days to set up watch rotations in Hogsmeade," Dumbledore said before he rose to his feet and swept out of the room without another word.
"That was odd, even for him," Charlie muttered next to her as he watched Dumbledore step out into the hallway.
"Really, everything he does is weird. I honestly stopped noticing," Tonks said as people began to trickle out of the room.
"So, Cadet Auror Tonks, care to go for a bite?" Charlie asked as he stood up.
"As long as you're not the one cooking it," Tonks teased.
"I was thinking pizza actually," Charlie said.
"Alright. Do you mind if we pick it up and take it back to my place," Tonks asked, giving him a hopeful look.
"No, that would be fine," Charlie agreed.
"Good, I am exhausted," Tonks beamed.
"Same and I could use a shower," Charlie said as he stood up and offered Tonks his hand.
"To right, you could. I may help you get cleaned up after dinner," Tonks offered.
"Isn't that my line?" Charlie asked as they stepped out onto Grimmauld Square.
"It doesn't matter who makes the move as long as we end up in the shower together after dinner," Tonks smirked.
"Fair point," Charlie agreed.
As the two of them walked to a nearby pizzeria, Tonks couldn't help but smile to herself. For the past two years, her and Charlie's time together had been rather limited due to their careers demanding so much of their time. She was still getting used to being able to see him in the evenings after she finished her shift though it was definitely a welcome change.
As the two of them walked hand-in-hand into the pizzeria, Tonks couldn't help but smile at the prospect of spending the rest of the evening with Charlie.
Peverell Manor, Leeds, 10/21/1993, 17:34
Harry entered the drawing room to find the twins chatting animatedly with Sirius about the last match between the Bats and the Catapults. All three of them looked up when he stepped into the room.
"Daddy, you're home," Carina squealed, her emerald eyes lighting up.
"Hey there Princess, how are you?" Harry asked as she took off his outer robes and hung them up on the coat rack.
"Good, Uncle Padfoot was just telling us all about the match he saw last weekend," Carina said.
"That's good. What about you, Son? How was your day?" Harry asked as he took a seat in his favourite chair and stretched.
"It was okay thought Aunt Cossa made me do a demonstration dance," Iggy said with a shake of his head.
"You'll thank her for that one day," Harry predicted, giving his soon a knowing look.
"I doubt it," Iggy muttered quietly.
"Where is your mother?" Harry asked, looking between the twins.
"In the nursery with Hardwin," Carina answered at once.
"Mum says he's teething," Iggy added.
"Poor bloke," Harry sighed.
"He was ina right state when I got here," Sirius said.
"That was probably because he knew you were here," Harry quipped.
"What an awful thing to say, my presence brightens everyone's day," Sirius exclaimed.
Harry was saved from having to reply as Bella swept into the room with Hardwin fast asleep in her arms.
"I'm so glad you're home, the baby has been very cranky today," Bella said, giving Harry a tired smile.
"He must take after his mother," Sirius sniggered.
"I'm only cranky when you're around, Mutt," Bella shot back.
"It sounds like you've had a busy day," Harry muttered as he got up and guided Bella into her spot on the couch so she didn't wake the baby.
"Your son has been screaming his little head off since he woke up this morning," Bella said, shooting the babe in her arms a look of exasperation.
"I thought Iggy would have outgrown that kind of behaviour by now," Harry said before placing a kiss on Bella's cheek.
"Very funny, Dad," Iggy huffed while his sister giggled beside him.
"So what do we owe the pleasure of a visit from Lord Black?" Harry asked as he glanced over at Sirius.
"We need to talk... in private," Sirius said giving Harry a pointed look.
"Care to stay for dinner? We can talk while the kids do their schoolwork," Harry suggested.
"Yeah that would be great," Sirius beamed.
"Where is Edgar?" Harry asked as Jangles stepped into the room.
"He's at a birthday party for the Abercrombie boy," Sirius shrugged.
"Dinner's be's ready, masters," Jangles chirped.
"Excellent, I am hungry enough to eat a hippogriff," Harry said as he assisted Bella back to her feet.
"Sorry master, I's not be's cooking hippogriffs," Jangles said, a mischievious smile playing on his tiny face.
"And thank heavens for that," Sirius chuckled.
"Come on kids, let's go eat," Harry called over his shoulder as he led Bella out of the drawing room.
Harry and Bella walked at a sedate pace but the twins practically sprinted towards the dining room with Sirius hot on their heels.
"I still say that Sirius is a bad influence on them," Bella muttered as she watched Sirius transform into his animagus form and then take off running down the corridor barking happily.
"He can't be any worse than the Greengrass girl," Harry pointed out as they entered the dining room.
Dinner passed as it usually did with Harry and his family catching up after a long day. Shortly after dinner Bella excused herself to put Hardwin down for bed and Harry chatted with the twins until she returned before they sent them off to start on their schoolwork.
"So what's up, Padfoot?" Harry asked as soon as the kids left the dining room and it was just the three adults seated at the table.
"Voldemort is cooking something up for Halloween," Sirius said looking between Harry and Bellatrix.
"I figured he would be, he's nothing if not predictable," Harry said unsure where Sirius was going with this.
"According to Snape there is going to be six attacks taking place at the same time on Halloween night," Sirius elaborated.
"He's upping the stakes a bit then?" Harry muttered as he thought about what an attack like this could mean.
"That's not all. Albus thinks he'll be creating another horcrux that night as well," Sirius said.
"Nagini," Harry muttered more to himself than to Sirius.
"So you already know what the horcrux will be?" Sirius asked, sounding relieved.
"If he chooses the same vessel as he did in my timeline then he'll use his familiar, a snake named Nagini," Harry said giving Bellatrix a meaningful look.
"Why is it always bloody snakes?" Sirius muttered in a tone that suggested this was not welcome news.
"Oh please let me kill her, I always hated that infernal serpent," Bella exclaimed, giving Harry a pleading look.
"If we get the opportunity to kill her, you're more than welcome to do the honours, Luv," Harry chuckled.
"You always say the sweetest things," Bella cooed.
"Do you know where the attacks are going to happen?" Harry asked getting back to the original topic.
"We know where three of them are going to happen, the other three are a bit of a mystery," Sirius admitted.
"Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley?" Harry asked.
"Both," Sirius said before taking a sip of his wine.
"And the other?" Bella pressed.
"The home of Dirks Cresswell," Sirius said.
"So no real pattern to the targets then," Harry mused.
"The order and the ministry will be staking out Saint Mungo's, the Alley and Hogsmeade but there isn't much we can do if he targets peoples' homes," Sirius said, his face betraying his frustration.
"If you want, I can stake out Mungo's," Harry offered.
"Nah, I've already got the hospital covered but if anything happens there, I'll send word," Sirius promised.
"Part of me thinks that even Voldemort wouldn't stoop so low as to attack a hospital," Harry said before taking a deep drink of wine.
"We both know that he would," Sirius pointed out.
"I agree, he's getting desperate now, there isn't anything he wouldn't do," Bellatrix said before taking a sip of pumpkin juice.
"Well the Reaper might be making an appearance at one of those attacks," Harry said.
"We may as well, we don't have any other leads," Bella agreed.
"We have some pretty good intel thanks to Dumbledore's agreement with the vampire coven," Sirius said sounding pleased.
"Anything important?" Harry asked.
"Well for starters, Voldemort's vampires have found a way to defend against the garlic grenades," Sirius said before taking a deep drink of his wine.
"That was inevitable, chemical warfare isn't exactly a modern concept. Muggles figured out a way to protect themselves from a gas attack, I bet the vampires are using muggle gas masks," Harry said, not really surprised the vampires had come up with a solution for the garlic bombs.
"That means those vampires will be very difficult to put down," Sirius pointed out.
"They are very sensitive to bright light so you just have to use that to your advantage. The way we were trained to deal with vampires was to use light spells to disorient them and then manually remove their heads with an edged weapon," Harry explained.
"Edged weapon?" Sirius asked looking nonplussed.
"Like a sword or an axe," Bellatrix sighed, rolling her eyes at Sirius.
"Sounds dangerous," Sirius snorted.
"It is. That's why you have to disorient them with light before you move in for the kill," Harry agreed.
"I hope that I don't have to try that method out," Sirius admitted.
"I've only ever done it in training. Vampires were never much of a problem in my timeline," Harry confessed.
"I wish they weren't a problem in mine," Sirous said before draining his glass.
Same here but on a positive note, I think that we're getting pretty close to ending this war for good," Harry said giving Sirius a knowing look.
"You really think so?" Sirius asked, sounding hopeful.
"I do, but that just means that things are going to get pretty crazy in the next few months," Harry predicted.
"Dumbledore thinks the war is coming to an end as well," Sirius admitted.
"I hope it is. I have a new baby to raise and Bella doesn't have time to go chasing death eaters all over the country," Bellatrix sighed as Hardwin's cries echoed down from the nursery.
"Sounds like Hardwin is hungry again," Harry chuckled.
"I need to go and pick up Edgar anyway, I just thought I would fill you two in on what the order knows," Sirius said after checking his wristwatch.
"We really do appreciate it," Harry said as the three of them left the dining room.
"Well I hoped if you two were made aware you might be able to save my ass if I get overrun by blood-suckers," Sirius said as Bella went upstairs to tend to the baby.
"You know we will," Harry grinned as they entered the drawing room.
"Until we meet again," Sirius beamed before throwing floo powder into the fireplace.
"I'll probably see you in Hogsmeade, I volunteered to watch over the students next weekend," Harry said as Sirius stepped into the green flames.
"Then I'll see you next weekend," Sirius beamed before calling out his address and disappearing in a bright flash of green flames.
Harry stood there as the flames changed back to orange thinking over the conversation he'd just had. Harry had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that the attacks on Halloween would be far worse than the order expected.
Before Harry could ponder it too much, Bella entered the room with a squirming Hardwin and made her way over to Harry.
"I think he's wanting to see you," Bella said as she place the baby in Harry's arms.
Harry grinned down at his son noticing that his hazel eyes were staring up at him. As soon as he was in his arms, Hardwinstopped squirming and snuggled into his chest seeming to almost instantly relax.
"I think you may be right," Harry said as he heard Hardwin starting to snore into his shoulder.
"Of course I'm right, a mother always knows," Bella said, looking quite pleased with herself.
"It looks like he tuckered himself out," Harry mused
"He's been crying all day I'm going to get a bath," Bella whispered.
"Go ahead, I think we're going to get comfortable down here," Harry said as he took a seat in his favourite chair and got comfortable.
Harry sat there rocking Hardwin in front of the fire and it didn't take very long before the baby was softly snoring in his arms. Harry felt his own eyes getting heavy but he forced himself to stay awake, he and Bellatrix still had quite a bit to discuss after they put the kids to bed.
If what Sirius had told them was true, then these Halloween attacks could very easily turn into a blood bath especially since they only knew where half of them were going to happen. Hell, three attacks at the same time was enough to be getting on with but there could be three and they could happen anywhere! Harry was starting to get a headache the more he thought about it and it frustrated him to no end that he was forced to wait and react.
Harry had no idea how long he sat there rocking Hardwin but it must have been quite some time because when Bella came back into the drawing room she was escorting the twins who were both dressed in their pajamas.
"It's their bedtime but they insisted on wishing you good night," Bella said at Harry's curious look.
"Alright, I'll tuck them in and put this one in his crib," Harry said as he carefully got up so as not to wake Hardwin.
"Come on you two," Harry said as he led them up the stairs.
"Can't we stay up a bit later, Daddy?" Carina asked hopefully.
"No Princess, you've got lessons tomorrow," Harry chuckled.
"But nine o'clock is way too early," Iggy protested.
"Sorry mate but you need your rest," Harry said as they came to the nursery.
Harry made his way over to the crib and gently lay Hardwin down before covering him up and tiptoeing back to the hall where the twins were watching him from the doorway.
"If you two wake him up, I fear your mother may send you to live with your aunts," Harry joked.
"We know, Mum said as much when she got him down for a nap this afternoon," Iggy sniggered.
"We weren't that fussy as babies were we?" Carina asked as the three of them walked down the hall toward the twins' bedroom.
"You were, I remember a train ride where you cried nonstop from one end of France to the other," Harry chuckled.
"You're making that up," Carina protested.
"I wish I was," Harry grinned.
"What about me?" Iggy asked.
"Somehow you were able to sleep through your sister's tantrum," Harry grinned.
"Alright get to bed, the both of you," Harry said as they came to the doors on either side of the hall that led to their bedrooms.
After he had hugged them and made sure they were ticked in, Harry made his way back downstairs so he and Bella could begin making plans for the Halloween attacks.
Hogsmeade, 10/31/1993, 11:38
Harry and his friends made their way out of Honeydukes with satchels loaded full of sweets.
Harry was spending the day with Susan, Daphne, Hermione, and Draco until lunchtime. Harry had already made plans to go off with Hannah this afternoon and Susan had made similar plans with Justin.
Hannah was currently at Gladrags with Tracey Davis buying some more winter clothes. Harry had no idea why it would take her all morning to buy winter clothes but figured she probably wanted to spend some time with her housemates.
Harry couldn't fight the smile on his face when he thought about Hannah, after their first date they had officially become boyfriend and girlfriend much to the intrigue of the school busybodies. They were just starting torealltget comfortable around each other now and Harry couldn't be happier with how things were going between them, even with Cedric Diggory giving him menacing looks every time they passed each other in the corridors.
The village looked even more picturesque today than the last time they were here. The leaves had changed colours on most of the trees, save the pines of course. This meant that the mountains in the distance were a patchwork of green, orange, red and gold making the village feel even more like something out of a storybook.
"I can't believe how beautiful this place is," Hermione gushed as they passed a group of Slytherin girls coming out of Gladrags.
"I know, it's like something out of a painting," Susan agreed before popping a chocolate frog into her mouth.
"So what do you lot want to do next?" Draco asked.
"I want to go visit Tomes and Scrolls," Hermione said glancing down the street at the aforementioned bookstore.
"Seriously, it's the first time you've been out of the castle in a month and you want to go to a bookstore?" Draco exclaimed looking indignant.
"There is nothing wrong with learning," Hermione huffed.
"They might have the new issue of The Practical Potioneer," Daphne pointed out.
"Fine, let's go to the bookstore then," Draco sighed.
"Then can we can go to Spintwitches?" Harry asked hopefully.
"How did I know you would want to go there?" Susan snorted.
"I need to get a new set of gloves," Harry defended.
"I hope you're ready to lose next Saturday," Draco smirked.
"I am undefeated, Malfoy. What's your record again?" Harry quipped.
"I've only lost once," Draco exclaimed.
"Let's see if you can still say that after next Saturday," Harry taunted.
"Oh give it a rest, the both of you," Daphne scolded as they entered the bookshop.
"He started it," Harry muttered so only Draco could hear him.
Harry broke off from the others and went down an aisle containing books about modern history, he stopped in when he spotted a book with the title The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and picked the book off of the shelf more out of curiosity.
Opening the book to the table of contents he was surprised to see that the last chapter of the book was titled, How Harry Potter Became The-Boy-Who-Lived. Harry stared at the words for a full minute before he shakily turned the pages to chapter three hundred and twenty-two and began to read.
It became apparent very quickly that whoever wrote this had absolutely no clue what had happened that night and they were just speculating, rather wildly in Harry's opinion.
Granted Harry knew very little about what actually happened either but he was fairly certain that whatever had happened that night was not his doing. Sirius had always told him that he believed Harry had survived Voldemort's curse because of something his mother had done right before she died. Harry thought it was a much more believable explanation than any of the tripe written in this book. If that wasn't bad enough, the book barely mentioned his parents' deaths at all making it seem like he was all by himself the night Voldemort attacked Godric's Hollow.
"You look annoyed," Harry heard a familiar voice say pulling him out of his thoughts.
"I am a bit," Harry said as he put the book back on the shelf.
"I've already filed a complaint with Obscurus Books over that," Sirius sighed as he read the book's title.
"It just pisses me off that they're using me to sell their books and they can't even mention that my parents were murdered that same night," Harry sighed.
"I know what you mean," Sirius muttered as he led Harry out of the shop to a bench.
"So what are you doing here?" Harry asked.
"I'm on duty," Sirius said pointing to the hitwizard badge pinned to his robes.
"Must be a pretty cushy job," Harry chuckled.
"I hope," Sirius said as he picked up Harry's bag from Honeydukes and fished out a chocolate bar.
"Oi, that's mine," Harry exclaimed half-heartedly.
"Quiet citizen, this is official ministry business," Sirius grinned before unwrapping the chocolate bar and taking a large bite.
"So you're what, checking my candy to make sure no one slipped me poison?" Harry snorted.
"No, there is a spell for that. I'm just hungry," Sirius said after swallowing a mouthful of Honeyduke's finest.
"Unbelievable," Harry muttered as he dug himself a chocolate bar out of the bag.
"I thought I would see you with the Abbott girl like last time," Sirius said giving Harry an inquiring look.
"She's at Gladrags with her housemates," Harry shrugged.
"You should have gone with her," Sirius said.
"We figured it was best to spend some time with our friends," Harry said.
"Smart, that way she can't get sick of you," Sirius quipped.
"Some godfather you are," Harry scowled as he saw his friends exiting the bookshop.
"There's your friends. I have to run but I figured I would stop by for a minute," Sirius said as he vanished the chocolate bar wrapper.
"And steal some of my candy," Harry quipped.
"Even hardworking hit wizards have to eat, mate," Sirius said as he got to his feet.
"Right," Harry said giving Sirius a disbelieving look
"I'll be around the village if you need anything," Sirius said as the others joined them.
"Uncle Sirius, what are you doing here?" Susan asked before wrapping Sirius in a bone-crushing hug.
"I had to check in on my favourite niece," Sirius beamed.
"Are you on duty?" Susan asked.
"I am. How are you lot today?" Sirius asked.
Harry tuned out the conversation as he spotted Hannah in the middle of a group of Hufflepuff girls who were coming out of what he was pretty sure was a lingerie shop. Harry was pulled back to the present when Sirius pulled him into a hug.
"Remember to stay in the village," Sirius whispered before releasing him.
"I know, I promise that I won't go anywhere that I shouldn't," Harry said for what he was sure was the thousandth time.
"Good man," Sirius beamed before sweeping off down the street without another word.
"So off to the quidditch shop now?" Harry asked the others.
"Sure, I'm still hoping I can talk my mother into letting me get a new broom," Draco admitted.
"Good luck with that," Harry sniggered.
Harry and Draco both knew that Lady Malfoy would never agree to buy her son a faster racing broom, truthfully it was a miracle that Draco had managed to talk her into getting him the Nimbus.
"Your chances of getting a new broom aren't much better," Draco shot back.
"Oh enough about broomsticks," Hermione sighed as their group entered Splintwitches Quidditch Supplies.
"You can really be a killjoy sometimes, Granger," Draco sighed before he made his way over to the broomsticks on display.
"He does have a point," Harry chuckled.
Harry ignored the glare Hermione shot his way before going to the rack of gloves and began looking through them for a pair of seekers' gloves with built-in warming charms. It didn't take long before he found a pair that were patterned in scarlet and gold and they came with a natching pair of goggles that were guaranteed to repel water. Harry took his purchase to the counter and quickly paid for his new gloves before making his way over to where Daphne, Hermione, and Susan were looking through a quidditch magazine.
"He's pretty cute but those eyebrows are a bit thick," Susan said as she looked at the magazine Daphne was holding.
"It says he's Bulgaria"s secret weapon in the world cup," Daphne shrugged before turning the page.
"What are you three doing?" Harry asked.
"Seeing if there are any good-looking quidditch players in here," Susan said.
"If you want to see good-looking quidditch players, check out the Harpies pinup calender," Harry smirked.
"Actually I prefer this bloke here," Susan beamed as she pointed to a picture of a tall shirtless blond-haired man with a Ballycastle Bats tattoo on his chest.
"Oh my," Hermione gushed her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.
"I knew there would be something worth seeing in one of these magazines," Daphne beamed.
"What's going on here?" Draco asked from Harry's right.
"The girls are leering at Finbar Quigley, oh look he's been selected for the Irish national team," Harry said as he read the blurb over the photo.
"I'm not surprised, he is a hell of a beater," Draco mused.
"I'll bet he is, look at how big his arms are," Daphne muttered distractedly as she continued to drink in the photograph.
"Alright we're done in here," Draco said sounding annoyed about something.
"It's almost lunchtime," Harry said as Daphne put the magazine back on the rack.
"And then you can ditch us to take Abbott to the tea shop," Draco smirked.
"Well that is the idea," Harry agreed as the group exited the shop.
As they made their way to the Three Broomsticks, Harry couldn't help but notice how many aurors were patrolling the village today.
There were as many if not more than there were at King's Cross station last summer. Harry wondered if this was just a precaution or if they were actually expecting the village to be attacked but pushed those thoughts from his mind as they entered the crowded pub.