Chapter 7 – The First Warning



Stacked up with books and new ingredients for the up and coming new term at Hogwarts, the trio finally decided that it was time to go back to Grimmauld Place.

The sun was shining and with the temperature rising, Diagon Alley was bustling with shoppers. From the top of the hill all you could see was bundles of colours from different cloaks and hats.

Hermione looked around; she set eyes on a small child, no more than 4 years old with her family.

“Wow, I don’t think I have ever seen Diagon Alley this busy before.” said Hermione

“Yeah I know, maybe because it’s the new term soon, everyone like us is stocking up on their supplies.” replied Ron

Harry looked around him, “Yeah, your right, well I think a well deserved ice cream sunday at Fortescue’s is in order.”

“Ah, mate, you read my mind.” said Ron while patting Harry on the back. “I’m having the triple.”

“Ron, you always have the triple.” said Hermione while rolling her eyes. “I seriously don’t know where you put it.”

Slowly they walked up the hill towards Fortescue’s when they heard shouting.

“HARRY, RON, HERMIONE, WAIT UP!” running up the hill towards them was the unmistakeable physic of Neville and tagging along behind was Luna Lovegood.

Neville was out of breath; Luna was very pink and flustered in the face.

“Hey Neville, Luna.” said Harry with a nod.

“Am I glad to see you three.” said Neville with a sigh of relief. “I’ve just seen Draco with Crabbe and Goyle, they tried starting a fight with me and Luna. Draco didn’t look too happy.”

“Neville, Draco is never happy.” said Hermione “Are you alright? You seem very flustered.”

Luna spoke before Neville could answer “I myself just ignored them, people like Draco Malfoy will get his comeuppance one day, my Father always says that about mean people.”

“Well, your Father does talk sense sometimes then Luna.” replied a mocking Ron. However Hermione nudged Ron in the side.

“Ouch, watch it”. He said turning to look at her, eyes wide, Hermione looked at him menacingly, “Ron, don’t be rude.”

“You’re a fine one to talk; you call her Loony all the time.”

“That’s not the point, and I only say it to you and Harry, not to anyone else, it’s not very nice.”

“Uh, you wanna both join us for an ice-cream?” Harry gestured to Luna and Neville.

“Oh, I would love to.” replied an overjoyed Luna. Neville nodded in agreement and they all entered Fortescue’s together.

Ron ordered the biggest triple Ice-cream Sunday they had on the menu, when the waitress bought it over to the table, it was bigger than his head!”

Hermione laughed at the enormous mound. “Ron, you are such a pig.”

“No, I am a growing young man Hermione.”

Harry grunted “Don’t worry Hermione, I’ll share one with you, I can’t eat a whole one like freckles over there either.”

“Oi, Potter.” joked Ron.

“I like your freckles Ron.” said Luna, with a dreamy expression clouded over her face.

Harry and Hermione turned their heads away, looking sideways near the window, so as not to show their amused expressions; they tried with all their might not to burst out laughing.

Ron started blushing and expressed a silly grin across his face to try and hide his embarrassment but it just made him look guiltier.

Luna continued staring at Ron then said. “Thank you for your letters over the holidays, I really enjoyed reading them. I don’t get many letters from friends, maybe because I don’t actually have any. It was mad last term wasn’t it, what we did at the Department of Mysteries.”

“SHHHHH” shouted Harry and Hermione. “Will you keep your voice down!” Harry looked at Luna and Neville, and then spoke.

“Look, what happened last term we have to keep to ourselves, no-one and I mean no-one must know what we did. We were stupid, we could have been killed.” Harry put his head down briefly but slowly regained his composure. “Someone I care about dearly died because I was irresponsible.”

“Harry, no you wasn’t, it was not your fault. How were you to know Kreacher was lying.” interrupted Hermione, with her face full of determination.

Neville shifted in his chair, he wanted to speak up, but didn’t know what or how to say it.

He started stuttering, everyone at the table looked at Neville, awaiting his words patiently.

Finally he spoke. “I just want to say Harry how sorry I am about what happened and well…… I……... just wanted to thank you for…. um…. saving my life.”

All was silent for a few seconds, then Luna butted in. “Yeah, me too. I want to continue doing the DA, Harry if it wasn’t for you I would have never got out of there alive.”

Harry looked up at them. “I don’t deserve this; it wasn’t me that saved your lives. I put you in that dangerous situation in the first place, if it wasn’t for the Order, we would all be dead”. retorted Harry, in a faint whisper.

“I disagree Harry, I am proud of what we did, and if we can just continue with the DA then maybe we have a shot at winning this thing that’s heading for us all.” said Neville

Everyone looked at Neville. Harry couldn’t help but think how much he has changed in the last year. Grown up and matured into a brave young man that only 3 years ago would have been extremely hard to envision.

The waitress arrived with the rest of the ice-cream orders; they all sat in silence for a few minutes devouring the mouth watering combinations of the best ice-cream in town.



Part 2



Harry got up from the table and looked at Neville and Luna. “We have to go now, but I guess we will see you on the train to Hogwarts, if you want, we’ll save you both a seat.”

Luna looked out of the window, her expression changed from dreamy and vague to totally horrified.

Harry remembered that look of hers; she had it at the Department of Mysteries. Very slowly he asked her what was the matter, but before she could answer Hermione screamed out.

“HARRY LOOK.”

Out in the street there were roughly 20 men in black masks and long black cloaks coming towards them.

“Deatheaters.” cried Luna

Diagon Alley erupted into sheer panic, women were screaming for their children. Husbands were screaming for their wives. Baskets and bags of mixed potions and ingredients were scattered in the street. Glass could be heard shattering in the close distance.

“Oh no” was all that escaped from Harry’s lips

“Where are Ginny and my Mum?” asked Ron frantically.

“Ron, they might have gone back to Grimmauld Place. We have to get to Fred and George’s shop immediately.

“Yes, but how on earth are we going to get through that lot? “

AAHHHHH” Harry screamed. He was holding his scar, it was searing in pain. He fell to the floor, his body was shaking violently.

“HARRY” Hermione screamed. “Harry you have to fight him, close your mind Harry, please, close your mind.”

“Harry, listen to Hermione, you have to.” panicked Ron

Hermione was in tears, Ron was shaking. Luna and Neville just stood there feeling totally helpless.

Slowly after a minute or two, Harry regained himself and with help from Neville, finally got to his feet.

Hermione grabbed hold of Harry and hugged him tight “Harry are you alright? What happened?”

“Voldemort is Happy, he didn’t enter my mind, just to show me he is happy about something. It’s never hurt like that before with just an emotion, only when he enters my mind completely.” Harry was rubbing his forehead.

“It means he is getting stronger.” said Hermione

“Oh No.” mumbled Ron

This was all for your benefit Harry. Look they are leaving Diagon Alley.” Hermione was pointing to the now dark cloaked figures in the distance.

“You’re right, this is a warning, it means the war has started or at least is close. We have to get back to Grimmauld Place immediately, I have a very big suspicion Azkaban will not be standing for much longer.”

Ron’s face suddenly overcame with a look of shock.

“But my Dad. Harry my Dad is on watch tonight.”

Hermione shot Harry a look of dread “We have got to find Professor Dumbledore and Karis immediately.” she cried.

“But they are at Hogwarts” replied Ron

Harry stood up tall and looked intently at his friends. Ron, Hermione, Luna and Neville watched him in anticipation, they wanted direction and they looked at him for it.

Harry thought for a few seconds then finally spoke.

“Forget about that seat reservation for the train Neville.“ Harry then looked to them all. “Pick up your things; we are leaving for Hogwarts immediately.”