Harry Potter and the Age of Deceit

Chapter 3 A New Companion

"Harry wake up."

Harry woke and rose into a sitting position.

"Wha-?" He said as he realised he was on his bed surrounded by Mr Weasley and the twins. "What's going on?" he asked as his mind cleared.

"We were a tad concerned when you didn't wake to your aunts calls," Mr Weasley said with a concerned look on his face.

"Yeah and she yelled loud enough too," George said as he gave Harry a lengthy perusal.

"Like she was using an loudness charm or something," Fred said with a grin, as he too looked Harry over. Harry looked down and saw he had slept in his clothes, and hadn't been completely successful at removing the grass. He winced inwardly and thought of the inevitable barrage of questions he was going to face. He looked up at Fred and George and saw the questions already on their faces. He looked away to Mr Weasley. He also looked as if he had questions.

"We expected you would be up and ready to go almost thirty minutes ago."

"Sorry, over slept," muttered Harry wiping some of the grass off him. The twins smiled wickedly from behind their father. Harry thought they were grinning at his unkempt state until he saw one of them surreptitiously toss something out of the still open door. Something in Harry's expression caused Mr Weasley to look at him in concern and then turn about sharply.

"Undo whatever you have just done," he said sharply, quite unlike his usual tone, "or I will inform your mother. You know you are already in a lot of trouble." Both twins glumly nodded and walked out of the bedroom. Mr Weasley looked towards the door obviously wanting to ensure they did as they had been told. He looked back at Harry.

"Well we are in an awful hurry and as you're already dressed, I suppose you will have to come as you are," said Mr Weasley and he withdrew his wand and cast a cleaning spell on Harry. The grass and grass stains vanished. "Well come along then, we're already half an hour late," Mr Weasley said as he waited for Harry to leave with him. Harry got up and yawned loudly. He felt very tired. He looked at Mr Weasley and saw the concern on his face.

"Sorry, didn't get much sleep last night," said Harry while avoiding making eye contact with Mr Weasley. He then went straight to the front door and was outside before he was called back.

"Harry, aren't you going to say goodbye? I know last year wasn't very pleasant but surely we can put that behind us," Mr Weasley said cheerfully. Harry doubted very much it could go any better but decided it was worth a try if it pleased Mr Weasley and he supposed if it did go awry it would distract conversation away from how he had come to sleep fully dressed and covered in grass. He walked back inside and stood by Mr Weasley. Vernon and Petunia were in the kitchen with Dudley nowhere to be seen.

"Be good now Harry," Petunia said loudly while looking out of the window.

"Goodbye," Harry said weakly. Petunia picked up a bag off the table and walked rapidly over to him. She had Harry in a hug before he could stop her. Harry managed to extract himself on the third attempt and made a dash out the door closely followed by Petunia. She followed him all the way to car that awaited him in the street, speaking easily loud enough for most if not all of the street to hear.

"And enjoy the lunch I've packed for you and make sure to eat it all," she said as Harry winced and dived in to awaiting car. It was a large black limousine with a vast interior having been magically enlarged to several times its normal proportions. In fact, the interior didn't look like the inside of a car at all. It more closely resembled a coffee lounge with several large reclining chairs surrounding a coffee table. Fred, George, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were seated and they pointed an empty seat. Harry took one last look out of the car; first at number four and then to Angela's house. She was nowhere to be seen. Harry guessed she was still asleep, much as he felt he would still like to be. He closed the door and turned to look at his friends.

He took a seat and looked back to see Mr Weasley beating a hasty retreat from Petunia who was now sobbing heavily. He came over to the door and leant in.

"I sit up front," he said, his face covered with concern though Harry thought it was now more likely to be about his aunts' sanity rather than his own questionable sleeping habits.

"Hi Harry, er is your aunt alright?" Ron said as he tried and failed to contain his laughter.

"Hi Harry," Hermione said and she gave Ron a reprimanding look.

"Hi," Ginny managed before she blushed furiously and looked away.

"So are you all going shopping with me?" Harry asked.

"You didn't know?" Hermione said in a reproving tone.

Harry shook his head and said, "Dumbledore said a ministry official and some Hogwarts students were coming with me. I didn't think it would be all of you."

"Who did you think it would be then?" Hermione asked with something akin to mirth in her eyes. It appeared that she thought it had been obvious that it would have been them.

"I don't know who I thought it was going to be. I didn't think about it much."

"Honestly Harry. Of course it was going to be us. Myself because I'm in ministry care after the attack," she shuddered slightly as she mentioned it, "and the Weasleys because of Mr Weasleys connections with the Ministry and well as the fact that my parents and I have been staying with them."

"Also some think we might be targeted next because we know you," Fred piped in.

"Yeah Harry you're a dangerous friend to have," said Ron as he recovered from laughing at Petunia.

"Ron! How dare you," Hermione exclaimed in outrage as she tried valiantly to hit him.

"Getoff I was just being truthful. Harry is a dangerous friend to have," Ron said as he fought back half-heartedly. Hermione gave Ron a scolding look before she turned back to Harry.

"Ignore this idiot," she said gesturing towards Ron.

"We were just talking about your pyjamas Harry," George said with a decidedly malicious look in his eyes.

"What pyjamas?" Harry answered with a feeling of dread building in his stomach.

"You know. Your grass covered ones." Harry looked down into his lap as he blushed and shuddered. He knew he wasn't going to like what was to follow.

"Oh grow up," Hermione said to the twins giving them a disapproving stare.

"If they weren't pyjamas then perhaps it was a fashion statement," said George.

"And by Merlin's dangly bits I think we'll have a bit of that," Fred said loudly and with that both twins reached into their pockets and produced handfuls of grass which they proceeded to throw upon themselves.

"What are you doing?" Ron said as he began to laugh loudly again. Ginny to laughed too although Hermione remained tight lipped as she looked derisively at those about her.

"We'd like to know that as well Harry" George said

"Shed some light if you will upon what ever caused you to attire yourself in such a flamboyant fashion," said Fred. Harry felt his anger well up though his embarrassment.

"Stuff it and sod off!" he said harshly as he continued to glow red. He drew a few quickly inhaled breaths from his friends but he didn't look up at them. They could all sod off if they were going to ask him such things.

"Harry?" Hermione said in an alarmed voice that had Harry to looking up at her.

"Er sorry I didn't mean you or you Ginny," he said and gazed at Ginny who promptly blushed. Harry looked down at the bag in his hand. He opened it as a distraction from the twins and the smell of rubbish flowed out. He shook his head sadly; it figured, he should have guessed that the bag didn't contain food. Petunia detested him no matter how much she tried to hide it from the neighbours.

"What's that awful smell?" Ron asked as he tried to get a better look at what Harry was holding.

Harry shook his head sadly and gave it to his friend. Ron took it and looked into it. A huge smile graced his face.

"Bon appetite," he said tossing it back to Harry.

"What is it?" Hermione asked Harry with a screwed up face. "It smells really bad like rubbish or something.

"It is rubbish," Harry said with look of disgust on his face as he looked for a place to put it. George saved him from his search as he grabbed the bag and threw it out of a window. Hermione looked aghast as she built up for a loud tirade. Neither twin seemed to notice as they congratulated themselves for dealing with the bag.

"HOW DARE YOU DO THAT!" she bellowed and both twins jumped in fright and looked around at a very red faced Hermione.

"Do what?" they asked.

"Throw rubbish out the window like that. What do you expect to happen to it now? We've got to stop and pick it up," she said and leant forward to tap on the glass partition that separated them from the front of the limo.

"Don't be bonkers Hermione. We're in a ministry special transport. They don't stop for no one till they've got to where they're going."

"Besides the rubbish will have gone into a rubbish bin won't it have."

"Not on a muggle road idiots. That charm is only placed on Wizarding roads and pathways. That rubbish will stay there until someone comes and picks it up and then puts it into a rubbish bin."

"Still, not our problem." Fred said with a nonchalant shrug. Hermione looked apoplectic but George saw this and saved both his and his brothers neck by rapidly changing the topic.

"So Harry how did you come to sleep on your bed dressed in those clothes and covered in grass?" Harry looked at him in shock and then around at the others. It had had the desired effect of stopping Hermione in her tracks.

"Oh that's why you don't have robes on. Why didn't dad let you change?" said Ron.

"You were out late last night Harry?" Hermione asked abruptly.

"What? No," Harry said instantly. Inwardly he cursed Hermiones' quick thinking but more so Georges' dirty tactics.

"Oooh do tell," Ron said with a look of glee on his face.

"No."

"Come now Harry my good friend, be a good fellow and regale us all with the fine tale of‑"

"Shove it," Harry said though clenched teeth. They could all go to hell before he was going to make an arse of himself in front of them.

"Tell us now what you were doing outside at night," Hermione said in a loud serious voice that had them all looking at her. She looked highly offended. Harry jerked a little in shock. It didn't make sense that she would be angry. She had no right at all to be angry with him. He was perfectly entitled to see Angela if he wanted to and went to tell her but caught himself just in time. Hermione didn't know about Angela.

"What?" he said instead.

"My family were nearly killed and you are out prancing about at night. Are you insane or are you just a f‑" Hermione barely stopped herself and looked enraged.

"You were outside? Cool," Ron said and incurred a look of wrath from Hermione.

"He is an idiot," she said to Ron before she addressed Harry again. "How far away from your house did you go?"

"Not far at all. Just the back yard really," Harry said

"Why?"

"Look at the stars that's all," Harry said as he began to feel more comfortable with the half-truths.

"How could you Harry? You know that Voldemort is after all of us," she said in a hurt voice although her anger remained. "He wouldn't hesitate to kill any of your friends or you"

"Angela," Harry murmured as he thought of the one friend he had that had no defence against the Dark Lord. Surely, he would never know of her.

"Angelina?" Ron asked hesitantly.

"Who's Angela?" Hermione asked with narrowed eyes.

"Who?" asked Harry as he looked up.

"Who is Angela?"

"How do--none of your business."

"Oh now the grass stains are explained. Never fancied you for a lover boy Harry."

"Shove it!"

"Merlin's balls!" Fred exclaimed as he sat fully upright.

"What?" Harry asked resignedly as he dreaded the answer.

"Your next-door neighbour, tall, black hair, face of a goddess and huge," he gestured in front of himself meaningfully.

"How--no I don't want to know," Harry said with a start before he regathered himself.

"But she looked stunning. How'd you manage her?"

"You sexist pig," Hermione spat out as she once more took offence at the twins

"Well tell us now, tell us everything."

"Sod off."

"Come on now, tell us about the lucky muggle, she was a muggle right? She looked like a veela but with dark hair."

"I said SOD OFF!" Harry yelled causing everyone to fall silent. The silence continued well past the point where it became uncomfortable. Finally Ron spoke up.

"Its good to see you Harry" he said and reached over and shook Harry's hand. "Its good to see you Hermione" he said as he proceeded to shake Hermione hand. "Is always good to see you lot," he said to the twins while shaking their hands as well. He then grabbed and hugged Ginny and said "And you as well little'un." He then promptly flushed bright red. "Er I thought starting again might help er things..." he petered off. Both twins looked at one another with large grins on their faces and Fred reached out to shake Rons hand.

"Well well, my good brother Ronald. How delightful to meet you again," he said in a pompous voice.

"Delighted my fair Virginia to have the honour of your presence," George said and he reached out as if to shake her hand but instead grabbed it and planted a kiss upon it. Ginny grabbed her hand back torn between laughter and offence. Fred looked around to Hermione who backed away into her seat. He gasped and covered his mouth with his hand.

"Lady Hermione...thankyou indeed for you gracious presence. We are deeply honoured and are both humbled and rendered speechless by your magnificent beauty. Thankyou oh thankyou," he said in an even more pompous voice. Both twins moved faster than anyone might have guessed them capable of and kissed each of Hermione's cheeks. She blushed furiously but couldn't help but grin wildly as she strained to appear offended. Harry drew back into his chair as he recognised it was his turn and the twins seemed to have left him to be the last and most certainly the worst. George looked about at Harry and gasped as if he hadn't noticed him sitting there before.

"My word. Why it can't be can it?" he said in a high surprised voice. "By Merlin himself I think it is...Fred my good man look yonder," he said and gestured to an equally agape Fred.

"By Merlins ghost can it be?"

"Little Harry Potter himself. Oh the honour, Mr Potter, the honour. You don't know what this means to us ordinary little folk."

"Yes the way you defeated you-know-who. Oh the honour and privilege, why it just overwhelms me." Sensing what was coming Harry withdrew his hands, but he wasn't fast enough and each twin grabbed a hand and had kissed it before Harry knew what was happening.

"HEY!" he exclaimed as he grabbed his hands back and started wiping them clean. He tried to ignore to the laughter but found that he had to laugh too. They were all friends and should behave like friends.

"So what's she like?" Fred asked with a smirk. Harry felt the anger return but decided it wasn't worth it. It was blatantly apparent that none of them were going drop the matter.

"I sod...oh all right her name is Angela Stranger. She lives next door with her father. They moved in a little while back after the last neighbours moved out due to my screaming. I'm surprised they haven't heard anything but-"

"Dumbledore arranged for a better noise suppression charm," Hermione interjected as the others shuddered at Harry's mention of screaming.

"Oh and anyway we're just friends. She asked me to help put her new telescope together and then we looked at the stars last night only we got a bit carried away-"

"Ahh the juicy bits"

"Sod off. We're just friends and we stayed up a bit late. Anyway how do you know what she looks like?"

"She was out for a run when we arrived. She was wearing these skin tight-"

"We don't' need to know that," Hermione interrupted

"-pants that really showed off her-"

"Grow up," she interrupted again.

"-butt and her top was also skin tight and I swear you could see ni-"

"THAT IS QUITE ENOUGH!" she said loudly and in a manner that suggested very bad consequences would befall those who ignored her. The twins remained quiet so Harry continued.

"We didn't do anything but look at the stars and we didn't realise it was so late until we saw that it was nearly dawn with the sky getting lighter. So I rushed back inside. I was so tired that I collapsed on my bed and fell asleep"

"So this Angela does she put-" Fred said eagerly only to be interrupted by Hermione once again.

"Don't," she said.

"What? I was going to ask about-" He continued

"Just don't," she said and looked at Ginny. Harry looked around and saw that Ginny had a peculiar hurt expression on her face.

"Touchy touchy," George said.

"I am not!" Hermione said in a sharp indignant voice.

"Well touchy feely then, but only with little Ronniekins."

"I-we do not," Ron exclaimed. Hermione blushed deeply while giving the twins a scathing stare.

"So you are only friends then," a very timid Ginny asked.

"What?" Harry looked around to see a scarlet Ginny with a hand clamped about her mouth.

"You and Angela," she mumbled though her hand.

"Yes we are only friends," he said and Ginny seemed to become happier. He looked at the others and said what he had been worrying about. "Do you suppose she'll be alright with Voldemort trying to kill all my friends."

"You can always ask Professor Dumbledore about it but I heard from him that the spell that protected you and the Dursleys from Voldemort kind of works on those nearby like your neighbours. I don't think Voldemort can know about anything to do with the street you live on. Its like it doesn't exist to him," Hermione explained. "Well I asked him after we were found," she explained further after she got several curious stares.

"We'll be there in a couple of moments so get ready," Mr Weasley's voice came out of nowhere.

Harry looked up at the dark windows. He could see streets blurring past at alarming speed but not much more. It was, he supposed, reminiscent of the knight bus.

***

The car came to an abrupt stop and a moment later the door opened

"Right everybody out," said Mr Weasley.

They got out to find themselves inside a room with now visible entrance or exit. Several surly looking wizards were present as well a table covered with an assortment of objects. Harry could see several potions and what looked like a couple of cloaks.

Mr Weasley came around to them, "Well, now for the hard part. Disguising you all. Everybody take on one of the concealment cloaks." They all picked one of the cloaks up. They looked like invisibility cloaks. "Now for those who don't know these aren't invisibility cloaks although some might say they are just as good at hiding you. They make you look like something else, be it a tree or another person. They are extremely expensive so do not damage them." He handled his with extreme care as he gently placed it upon himself. It didn't do anything until he closed his eyes as if concentrating and then the effect was spectacular. He became Mrs Weasley.

"Hmmm," the real Molly Weasley said, as she appeared, "I don't look like that at all and you'll change the discrepancies if you know what's good for you." Harry looked at the both and couldn't see the difference even as it appeared Mr Weasley complied with his wife's demand.

"Yes dear," he said in is normal voice. Harry suppressed his laughter but the rest of the Weasley kids didn't.

"So which of you is the real one?" one twin said, as he was the first to subdue his laughter.

"Watch it Fred," the real Molly Weasley said.

"Watch what?" the other said with a smirk. They both stoped laughing as they received a menacing look from their mother.

"We still have to have that little talk."

"We'll be good."

"Yes positively angelic."

"And with the cloaks help, maybe even Angela," one of the twins whispered in Harry ear.

"Put your cloaks on," Arthur Weasley said as he reverted to his normal form, "and then concentrate on looking like someone else. That is all that is required for the cloaks to work. Once we have all taken on another form we can work on our voices and other things." Harry closed his eyes thought of who he should become. A person came to mind and he concentrated upon his memories of that person. He didn't feel anything so he opened his eyes to see if it had worked.

"Neville?" Viktor Krum asked him in Hermione's voice. Harry stepped back in shock before doubling over in laughter.

"I don't see what's so funny," Ron said and Harry looked up to see that only he and Hermione had managed to change.

"Hey", one of the twins said to the other, "You could have asked before assuming my image." The others retort was cut short by Mrs Weasley.

"Stop it both of you. This is serious. If you can't manage the change then you will have to stay behind." Both twins gulped and seemed to try much harder without much success.

"Typical, Hermione and Harry get everything first time," a disgruntled Ron was heard to mutter as he tried to achieve a change.

"Er Ron, don't think about the appearance...just the person," Harry said as he tried and help his friend.

"What?" Ron said and he changed into a spitting image of Viktor Krum.

"Hey there can't be two of us," Hermione complained

"WHAT!" exclaimed Ron.

"QUIET! Actually there can't be one of you as well. Choose a less well-known person to become. Someone about your age and one that isn't likely to be recognised by anyone," Mrs Weasley said. Hermione concentrated and became another girl that none of them recognised.

"Someone I met on holiday," she said explained.

"Gross, I can't believe I was Krum," Ron exclaimed as he to concentrated and became a rather older looking teenager.

"Hey we, I was going to be him," one of the twins exclaimed and grumbled as he became Dudley. Mr Weasley shook his head sadly. Harry laughed a little as Ginny changed form for the first time into a young boy about her own age or slightly younger. Harry didn't recognise who it was.

"Hey," the remaining twin exclaimed before he shrugged and became another Dudley. "Oh well we can be twin tubs of lard then." He said. That left Harry and he thought long and hard before he decided on becoming Piers Polkiss.

"Right then come over here then," Mr Weasley instructed as he pointed to the potions. "This potion will change your voice. This one makes you sound female; this one make you sound male; this one deepens; this one heightens; this one adds a lisp and so on. Take a couple and make your voice sound different. We can't make it sound like the people you now look like but we can make it sound different from your normal voice and that is what is important."

Harry made his voice sound appropriately slimy and weaselly after a little bit of experimentation and waited for the others to finish. The twins succeeded in giving themselves identical high falsetto voices and seemed very pleased with effect.

"Always wondered about that," Ron commented as he looked at his brothers.

"Well we never," one of them said pompously and laughed heartily until they caught a glimpse of their mother's expression upon which they became very quiet. Harry gulped as he remembered that Mr and Mrs Weasley might have found out about the money he'd given to the twins. He dreaded the confrontation that lay in store for him if they did in fact know. He was certain that they would not be supportive of his generosity and felt rather sick at the prospect of the twins being forced to hand the money back. He looked at the twins who looked away as if they felt guilty. He then looked at Mrs Weasley who gave him a fleeting look of anger, concern and hurt before she presented Harry with a rather unconvincing smile. Harry found he couldn't keep her gaze and looked away as he felt his fears had been confirmed. Mrs Weasley was worried and angry at him as well as being slightly hurt. It seemed to him that would be her reaction if she had found out. Worried he wasn't being careful with his money; angry with him for supporting the twins; very angry at the twins for accepting, and slightly hurt at the amount of money involved given they were so poor.

***

Eventually they all had successfully changed their voices and they all tried hard to memorise the new faces they were confronted with in case they were separated as the many rules were explained to them all. They were going to go to Diagon Alley in one group and the security was going to be tight. Harry had been appointed to one of the hit wizards present and another, an Auror, was going to follow them at a discreet distance trying to spot anyone who looked suspicious or as if they might have recognised any of them.

"Now remember two taps is bad; Three taps is very bad; a thump is wand out and running and Floreans is the emergency rendezvous," Mr Weasley said in one final recap.

"Right now we are going to follow a strict schedule. First, we are going to go to Gringotts to get money. Then we are going to get new robes; then new books; then to the apothecary; then to the sweet shop for a few treats; then to a pet store of your choosing to pick up any new pets you might want and then we'll finish in Floreans for further treats. Anything that can't be obtained in those stores will have to be obtained later"

"Excuse me," Harry interrupted, "I need new robes. How am I going to fit them if I look like this."

"We have arranged things with the store owners. That is why we are only going to a select few stores."

One of the wizards who Harry didn't know went over to one of the walls and touched it. It drew back to reveal a room that appeared to lead out directly into Diagon Alley itself.

"Come on then." They all followed Mr Weasley as he led them into Diagon Alley. It was wonderful Harry thought, he was finally back and surrounded by wizards; some of the stress that had built up from living with Petunia's insanity vanished from him. He couldn't help but wear a huge grin as he went into Gringotts.

Mr Weasley approached one of the goblins and said something that he didn't catch. The goblin gave the group a look over before moving off towards a room to the side. Mr Weasley signalled everybody to follow and they found themselves being led into a luxurious side room.

"Piers come with me and we'll go and get your money."

It took a moment for Harry to realise he was Piers and he moved forward jerkily. "Yes alright."

"Ooh can I come," Hermione said in a pleading voice. "I've never been on one of the Gringotts cars and I really want to." Harry looked around at her. It really didn't sound like something Hermione would say at all and he began to feel she was taking the pretending to be another person thing a bit too far.

"I really think you should-"

"Pleeeaasse," whined Hermione.

Mr Weasley gave Hermione a hesitant look before nodding.

"Can I come too then?" Ginny asked.

"No you may not," Mrs Weasley said with an air of finality.

Harry followed Mr Weasley and a goblin out another door with Hermione and the hit wizard accompanying them. Soon he found himself in familiar territory, or as familiar as the tunnels of Gringotts could be to him. In truth he was once more lost after the first couple of turns as they rushed head first down some sections. Hermiones' shrieks echoed along the tunnels and signalled their passage.

Eventually they stopped before a vault and Mr Weasley got out. "Well looks like it's our vault first and he gave his key to the goblin who opened it up.

Harry turned to a pale Hermione and asked her; "So how did you like the ride?"

She didn't speak but looked around at him in shock.

"Are you ok?" Harry asked.

"How can you be smiling," she accused.

"I kind of like the ride."

"It was like a roller coaster and I don't like roller coasters."

"Oh." Harry went quiet and waited until Mr Weasley returned.

"Can we go slower now."

"One speed only," the goblin said as Harry smiled.

The trolley lurched off at high speed and soon they were at his vault. Harry got out uncertainly and gave his key to the goblin. He really didn't want to show Hermione how much money he had but the door was opened before he could give it any more thought. He heard Hermiones indrawn breath behind him and winced inwardly. It made him ill when others thought of him and his small fortune. He quickly reached in to grab a few coins and turned to see Hermione had joined him.

"Wow Harry how much is in here?"

"I'm not sure and now I'm finished so we can leave."

"What's in those?" she pointed into a corner.

"In what?" Harry asked following her finger. He couldn't see anything. "In what?" he repeated.

"In the chests."

"What ch-" Harry stopped as he saw the chests. He felt uncomfortable as if he hadn't been able to see them before. "I don't think I could see those before you pointed them out to me."

"Well perhaps we should open them then," she said tentatively, obviously torn between curiosity and caution.

"We don't have time," an impatient Mr Weasley interrupted.

Harry thought he sensed something else in his voice but said nothing of it and both he and Hermione went straight back into the trolley-car.

They were soon reunited with the others and, after Hermione had gone to the ladies room, were happily off and shopping although Harry's humour soon faded as the reality of the security sunk in. He wasn't allowed to stray anywhere and had to walk past shops he might otherwise have gone into. Very quickly, he had acquired all of his necessary equipment, which was settled very snugly in a small trunk in his chest pocket, and was looking forward to obtaining a new owl. He was walking over to the owlery when the Hit Wizard gave him two taps on the shoulder. Harry's insides froze as he recognised the prearranged sign that danger approached and moved so he walked just behind the Hit Wizard. He was hurried into a nearby store and as he stumbled behind the front display, he saw what the fuss was. Lucius Malfoy and his son Draco were loitering outside as if they owned the alley. Another was with them and Harry realised it was Macnair. Two Death Eaters and one soon to be Death Eater Harry thought darkly.

"They know," a voice said and Harry turned to see the Auror disappearing out the door again.

"Put your invisibility cloak on Piers," the Hit Wizard said, "and don't go near them. We have been betrayed."

"What?" said Harry as he complied.

"They know we are here and in disguise. We must leave now."

Harry found himself being pushed out of the shop and after a final push moved along the shops to Floreans. He walked along briskly in front of the Hit Wizard making sure he didn't touch anybody. A loud thump had Harry turning to see the Hit Wizard falling to the ground. He was dead. Harry looked up and saw a hag scuttling away through the multitude of people. Harry looked down and saw the wizards' body had been turned into a twig. He shuddered and looked around. None of the multitude of wizards and witches present seemed to have noticed that a murder had been committed in their midst. He turned and ran swiftly and silently toward Floreans. He stopped dead in his tracks as he saw who was sitting outside. Narcissa Malfoy and several other wizards were seated about a small table. They were scrutinising the crowd and Harry knew they were looking for him. Not knowing what to do he fled and backed into a wall on the opposite side of the alley, away from where most people were walking.

"Help me."

Harry jumped and looked about for the voice.

"Help me."

Harry looked again and again came to the conclusion the voice had come from a bag swung over an old witch's shoulder.

"Help me please," the voice said again and Harry narrowed his eyes. The voice was definitely coming from the bag but Harry recognised the voice to be that of a snake.

"They plan to use me to kill. Save me," the voice came again and Harry found himself moving after the witch. He knew he was being stupendously foolish but he didn't falter. The witch turned into Knockturn Alley and Harry decided to give up he chase.

He turned to go and was faced with Macnair walking towards him. Harry spun and ran. He rapidly caught up to the old witch and kept as close to her as possible as he tried to get past her. He found however that the alleyway was too narrow and busy for this and realised he was trapped, being forced to go with the flow of traffic further and further away from the others. He fingered his wand as he thought for a way out. Eventually he decided on trying for a diversion.

"If you struggle I will free you," he whispered in Parseltongue to the bag.

"Who speaks?"

"Struggle," Harry said and then decided to not risk further talking of any kind. He waited for a few moments and had given up hope when the snake started to struggle viciously.

"Oh no you don't," the witch cried and much to Harry's horror swung the bag off her shoulder and on to the ground with as much force as she seemed to be able to muster.

She swung it three more times before the snake stopped struggling and Harry felt sick to the bottom of his stomach, as he stood by helpless.

It hung limp and silent in the bag as Harry followed the witch. Eventually she walked into a store and Harry crept in after her making sure he didn't bump the witch or the door. He found himself in a dark foreboding store. It was very narrow arranged in two long aisles. Shelving went up to the ceiling and was covered with skulls; including some human ones that Harry felt were likely to be genuine, and other seemingly sinister artefacts.

The witch went to the counter and tipped the snake onto the table. It didn't move but she stupefied it anyway.

The door opened behind Harry and he turned to see Macnair enter. Harry's insides, which were already tight with fear, froze solid. He realised in one horrid moment that he was dead. There was no possible escape that he could see and Macnair was approaching rapidly.

"Do you have what we need?" Macnair said in an evil voice.

"Yes our master will be pleased," the witch replied sending shudders though Harry.

Macnair was almost within arms reach when something in Harry gave way and he acted. He lifted his wand and pointed it straight at Macnair's head.

"Stupefy," Harry screamed, as Macnair was about to make contact with the outstretched wand. Macnair fell as Harry did too. Falling backwards and turning, he screamed "Stupefy" once more. The witch fell back behind the counter. Harry got up and looked about. He was surrounded by two unconscious Death Eaters with many more nearby and some possibly in the store already. He quickly darted behind the counter and, stepping onto and over the witch, he went in to the back room. It was horrendous. Several dozen carcasses were hanging and rotting there and the smell overwhelmed Harry. Convinced no one was back there he fled to back into the front of the store closing the door hard behind him. He grabbed Macnair and dragged him behind the counter. He didn't know what to do next so he decided to revive the snake instead and ask it what he should do.

"Ennervate." The snake shivered and its head rose up.

"Er what should I do now?" Harry asked.

The snake looked at him and Harry realised it was going to strike.

"Wait I rescued you," he cried out.

The snake paused and looked about.

Harry realised it couldn't see him. "I'm invisible but I need to be; I'm surrounded by enemies, friends of those who captured you. What were they going to do to you?" he said.

"I was to be as slave to the coming darkness," it hissed.

"Down on the ground," Harry whispered and the snake looked down and saw the two unconscious Death Eaters.

"They live?"

"Yes, they are unconscious. I don't want to kill them besides I'm sure the ministry wants them alive."

"Ministry?"

"The good guys."

"Good humans?"

"Yes like me."

"You are a human?"

"Yes."

"Very well. It does seem fitting in these strange times that humans will speak as serpents."

"So do you have any ideas on how to escape?"

"Harry."

Harry jumped. Dumbledore stood in front of him but Harry wasn't buying it on face value after witnessing the transformation cloaks. He remained silent and pointed his wand at his professor.

"Harry are you there? We must go now," he spoke in a worried voice that didn't sound all that like his beloved professors. He looked over his shoulder at the door. "Keep the cloak on you Harry and back into the next room. I'd rather sneak out of here than have a confrontation with the Death Eaters outside. I fear Voldemort himself might be coming."

Harry paused longer and Dumbledore moved forward. Harry remained motionless so as to not give himself away. Professor Dumbledore knelt down and looked at Macnair and the witch. He looked up at the snake, which was very interested in him and he seemed to come to some kind of conclusion.

"Interesting," was all that came from him however.

He muttered something and Macnair turned into a small gemstone. He then repeated it with the witch. He stood up and placed the stones near the snake. It rose up and moved to encircle them.

Dumbledore turned and looked straight at Harry and said, "Tell the serpent that if it comes with us it can look after the gems and now Harry I think I will go and find the rear exit although I suppose it will be hidden."

He moved past a motionless Harry into the back room and Harry moved quietly so he could see what he did. Dumbledore looked about and seemed saddened by what he saw. He looked over his shoulder to where Harry stood.

"It was fortuitous that I did not send Hagrid to get you Harry. I do not think he would have been able to remain silent at this. He shook his head and pointed to one of the carcasses. That was a griffin, and that-" he moved closer to another, "is not what it appears to be--Revelatio." The carcass glowed and a small serries of symbols came forth out of the glow. They seemed to make sense to Dumbledore but made none to Harry. Dumbledore pointed his wand back at the carcass and muttered a quick succession of spells. Some had no discernable effect but some made the carcass faintly glow in a variety of colours. Eventually the carcass changed and Harry gasped with Dumbledore. The horn and tail were missing and it had been spread wide open but it was still unmistakeably a dead unicorn. It seemed that someone, after removing what parts they wanted, had then tried to drain the blood from it and a tub sat under it half full of the silvery substance.

"This is most disturbing Harry," Dumbledore said, "I'm afraid we must stay for a moment while I remove or destroy what is in this room. Some of these objects must not be allowed to fall back into Voldemort's hands. But first-", he pointed his wand at the rear wall, "Revelatio", a small section of the wall glowed and drew the attention of both of them. Dumbledore crouched down and Harry could hear him again muttering a quick succession of spells. Finally the small area opened up and grew to become a small doorway. It led into another room that Dumbledore peered into before signalling Harry to go into. Harry remained motionless.

"Come now Harry. Surely by now you must have realised I am no Death Eater in disguise. I would have acted against you by now."

Harry thought about this. It made sense that he wasn't a Death Eater but he couldn't quite shake the feeling that it wasn't his Dumbledore. Finally, he decided that it made no sense to believe that this was not the real Dumbledore. He couldn't come up with any reason for someone to pretend to be Dumbledore and then not kill him and this person had had several opportunities in which to attack him.

"Ok sir," Harry said and was surprised by the relief he felt. Now that he was with Dumbledore every thing would be all right.

"Stay in there, wand out, and stupefy anything that enters from any other entrance. I will try and be quick in destroying what is here." Harry complied as Dumbledore set to work and alternatively turned the carcasses into further gems or destroyed them completely.

It was several minutes before Dumbledore rejoined Harry and he carried the snake when he did. He held it out for Harry to take.

"I believe you should hold onto this although keep it out of sight."

Harry took the snake, which looked back at Dumbledore and whispered, "Thief."

Harry froze up in shock; "What do you mean thief", he whispered at the snake. It turned and addressed him

"He stole my sparkly stones."

"Professor she wants the gems."

"Later I will arrange something with the ministry or provide some out of my personal store."

That statement puzzled Harry as he couldn't quite picture Dumbledore having a personal store of gems although if he could turn people into gems Harry supposed he could turn anything into a gem and could therefore have as many as he liked.

"He's going to give you some others later," Harry whispered to the snake. It looked at him almost as if it were judging the truthfulness of his statement. Eventually it settled down and Harry tried to put it inside his robes. After a moment's difficulty in which both the snake and Harry writhed uncomfortably the snake settled about Harry's neck with it's tail dangling down his chest. Harry wasn't particularly thrilled with the arrangement but he wasn't about to argue with a snake that was coiled about his neck. In any event the snake was safely hidden underneath his cloak.

Professor Dumbledore moved to the one of the other doors and opened it. A dead body fell out of the cupboard that was revealed. It didn't seem to faze him as much as it did Harry who was quite shocked. He opened up another and revealed a narrow passage that opened onto a busy street.

"Put your wand out of sight but keep it ready and move just beside me, and now I believe a new face is needed." He produced a cloak and put it on. He assumed a new form. That of an old man Harry didn't recognise.

The two of them walked out into Knockturn Alley. Harry could see that they had emerged quite some distance further down from store. The two of them then proceeded to make slow but steady progress back to Diagon Alley. At several points Death Eaters came near to them but at the last moment seemed to be distracted by something else.

Upon reaching Diagon Alley Dumbledore looked around and walked along the alley away from the direction of Floreans. Harry was slightly alarmed with this turn of events but decided he couldn't do much about it. He didn't want to leave his only visible ally while still surrounded by Death Eaters.

They came to a small bookstore and Dumbledore entered while making sure there was enough room for Harry to squeeze by without being noticed by anyone else. They proceeded through the empty store and into a back room. Dumbledore waved at one of the walls and it collapsed and revealed a long passage. They walked briskly along it and emerged, after passing though several more hidden doors and passages, into a large room that Harry supposed was a library from the books that covered every wall and several shelves. Several wizards looked up from their reading in shock at their sudden appearance.

"What is the meaning of this" one exclaimed as they rose and pointing their wands at them.

"We're expected, now take me or point me to Arthur Weasley or perhaps Molly Weasley."

"Who are you?" the same one queried.

"Not now."

"Tell us or we will stupefy you."

Dumbledore grumbled wearily and removed his cloak.

"Now will one of you please take me to see Arthur Weasley?"

"Yes Professor Dumbledore," said one of the younger men. He straightened visibly much to the apparent amusement of some of the older wizards present. They still acted with a certain reverence as two of the others approached.

"Come with us then," said one of them.

The wizards escorted them out of the room and led them along a long corridor. Dumbledore swung his cloak back on and resumed his disguise as they went. Several long and dull corridors later they came to a door and one of the wizards opened it for them. Inside was a very worried Molly Weasley being consoled by several other witches. Ron and Hermione sat holding one another in a corner. Dumbledore entered with Harry close behind. Molly looked up expectantly as Harry saw Ginny hidden behind her in tears.

"Have you found him?"

Dumbledore swung off his cloak and elicited a gasp from everyone in the room. Even Ginny looked up expectantly.

"Harry I think you can remove your cloak now." Dumbledore said and Harry flung it off and then the concealment cloak he had on beneath that.

"Harry," they all screamed as one and Harry found himself quickly overwhelmed as they all tried to hug him at once.

He let them continue until a small voice cried out.

"Release me at once."

"Let up," Harry cried, and ducked out of the many embraces. He drew several gasps and then one scream as he rescued the snake from under his shirt where it had fallen or slithered to.

"I thought you were going to get an owl," Hermione said as she looked upon the snake with quite some concern.

"You're bonkers Harry," Ron said as he looked at the snake with in horror. "You're not allowed snakes at Hogwarts. Well at least I hope you're not."

"Is it dangerous?" Mrs Weasley asked.

"Of course it is," said Ron.

"That's not at all true," Hermione said instinctively before faltering and pondering her words. She continued to say, "It may well be harmless," but her voice had lost all of its conviction.

"It is highly venomous but should be harmless," Dumbledore said, "I've heard that if they don't bite you when first handled then they make very fine pets."

"Were did you get that id-," Hermione suddenly seemed to realise to whom she was talking and stopped while blushing furiously. It appeared she drew the line at questioning and chastising teachers, especially Professor Dumbledore. Harry looked down at the snake in his arms in detail for the first time. It, she, Harry corrected himself, was about 3½ feet long with several lines of multi-sided splotches along her length. Her eyes gleamed like priceless gems and Harry guessed she was studying him as intently as he was her.

"Would you like to be my pet," Harry asked the snake hesitantly. He fully expected it, her, to reject his offer. The snake looked into his eyes and seemed to deliberate for a moment before speaking.

"Is that like being your slave."

"No, it's like being my friend."

"I am the friend of the chosen one."

Harry was taken back by this name and held the snake slightly further away from his body.

"Chosen one?"

"You are one of the chosen one. You bear the mark of the darkness. You are known to all."

"All what?" Harry asked dreading the response.

"All creatures who know of you," the snake replied.

Harry paused for moment as he thought about the answer given. Surely all creatures that knew him did indeed know him. He went to ask for clarification but was cut off by the snake.

"I will be your friend and ally in your struggle against the darkness. I will not turn tail on destiny like a common egg thief," the snake said in a definitive tone before staring intently at Professor Dumbledore. Harry looked up at Professor Dumbledore. He couldn't be the darkness and then Harry remembered the gems.

"Sir she wants the-"

"I'll go and get them right away," Professor Dumbledore interrupted and left in a rush.

"He's going to get you some," Harry said to the snake. He paused and then continued, "So what shall I call you?" It did seem to him that if the snake wanted to be a pet it should be allowed to and the idea of having private conversations with his pet in a language perhaps only Voldemort himself could understand was beginning to appeal to him. The thought of Ron's inevitable response to such an exchange sealed Harry's mind. He would have her as a friend; any rules at Hogwarts could bend or be broken.

"What do you mean?" asked the snake.

"What is your name?"

"Humans have called me many things that I cannot repeat."

"Why not? Are they bad?"

"I cannot speak human."

"What is you name in Parseltongue then?"

"I have no name."

"Do you want one?"

"If you wish it."

Harry looked up to the others. They were looking at him with strange expressions. Harry supposed they weren't all that used to wizards speaking to snakes.

"Anyone think of a name?"

Hermione started speaking in a rather self-important voice "Well you could-" but was but off by Molly Weasley.

"I remember I once had a snake. She was called Ophidia and was a wonderful big boa constrictor."

"But you were in Gryffindor", Ron exclaimed

Mrs Weasley looked at her son; "I had her before I went to Hogwarts. Oh she was delightful. I wish I had been able to speak to her..." she suddenly seemed to realise what she had said; "Oh I don't mean able to speak Parseltongue or anything dark just oh," she fell silent and looked apologetically at Harry.

Harry began to take offence but decided he shouldn't. He knew full well being able to speak Parseltongue was considered a dark wizards skill. He looked down at the snake.

"How would you like to be called Ophidia?"

"I do not mind what you call me."

"And then I can call you Oppy for short."

"Why do you not just call me Oppy?"

"Because Oppy doesn't seem to be a proper name."

The snake seemed to ponder this then replied; "I accept the name of Ophidia and you can call me Oppy. What is your name or am I to give you one now?"

"My name is Harry."

"What may I call you for short?"

"Harry."

"Hello Harry."

"Hello Oppy."

Harry looked up at the others; "Everybody meet Ophidia, Oppy for short."

"But that is just snake in another language," Hermione protested.

Harry paused and wondered briefly if he had made a bad decision. He quickly decided that Oppy was a fine name and said so; "There is nothing wrong with Oppy."

Hermione bit her tongue to stop retorting but Harry got the message anyway. She thought her names were better and was irritated she hadn't been allowed to put them forward.

"Well then here are the items," Dumbledore said upon re-entering the room. He gave Harry a small bag that felt like it contained several large gems. "And now I'm afraid that I must be going. There are almost certainly still Death Eaters about. Goodbye," Dumbledore said.

"Excuse me, Sir is Oppy allowed in Hogwarts?" Harry quickly asked.

"Oh I foresee no problems in allowing Oppy to go to Hogwarts, just mind you don't get bitten as there is no antidote," Professor Dumbledore said and he left them.

It was several minutes later that a breathless Mr Weasley entered and upon spying Harry collapsed onto the ground.

"Thank Merlin you found him."

"It wasn't us Arthur," Mrs Weasley spoke quickly, "Professor Dumbledore found him and returned him to us."

"Thank Merlin himself," he said before he spotted Oppy "Er that isn't what I think it is, is it?"

"I got a snake," Harry replied as the twins came running in. Upon seeing Harry they stopped and caught their breath. George too spotted the snake.

"A snake," he said and his eyes lit up. It was obvious both twins approved.

"Lee is going to have a fit when he sees that," Fred said with certainty. Mr Weasley looked at the snake closely.

"You're going to have difficulty getting that into Hogwarts. Poisonous creatures such as that aren't really allowed."

"A de-poisoning potion could be used and then the snake would be harmless," Hermione put in.

"Professor Dumbledore said I could have it at Hogwarts," Harry explained.

"Well mind you're not bitten and now tell me what did you see before and how did Professor Dumbledore come to rescue you?" Mr Weasley said in a very interested voice.

Harry stood there for quite sometime as he explained his adventure for while it had been rather brief his audience, Mr Weasley in particular, wanted Harry to go over some details several times before they were satisfied. Finally, it seemed he was satisfied.

"Well Harry," he said, "it seems you've had quite the little adventure but all's well that ends well." He smiled and looked at the others. His smile faltered as he met Mrs Weasley's look of disapproval. "Oh er well time to go."

"Yes children, Hermione would you be so kind as to go to the next room. The car is there. I want to talk with Harry for a moment." Harry exchanged a desperate look with Ron whose expression confirmed his fears. He was not going to enjoy the next few moments of his life. Mr Weasley jumped into action and herded the others out of the room. He followed them and Mrs Weasley smiled and she and Harry patiently waited until Mr Weasley returned. He looked to be a reluctant participant but Harry doubted he felt quite as reluctant as he did. "Harry," Mrs Weasley began, "we know that you, that the twins took advantage of you and-"

"They didn't. I want them to have-" Harry froze. He wasn't absolutely sure they knew about the money.

"Now Harry don't be so hasty, it was an awfully large amount," Mr Weasley said. Harry's stomach twisted up into a ball. They did know.

"Too much. You can have it back," Mrs Weasley said.

"But I don't want it."

"Now Harry I'm sure you meant well but they simply can't have it. I won't...allow it," Mrs Weasley said while becoming redder.

"Why?" Harry protested even as he suspected the truth. They were embarrassed at the amount.

"You can't simply give your money away," Mr Weasley said.

"It's my money."

"We realise we can't talk to the Dursleys about this but we have talked to Sirius. He is concerned Harry and has agreed that the money must be returned."

"But I want to give it to them."

"You are not old enough to make such decisions. Now I'm afraid that the twins have spent a great deal of the money but we have taken what was left. She produced a familiar sack from with in her robes. It did look lighter that it had been. "Now we will try to make up the difference but it will take some time." Harry looked up at them in shock. This just was not happening. He looked from one of the to the other. Both were flushed and Harry could sense some of what they were feeling. He felt something like it too. Humiliation and or embarrassment. He suspected they would find it near impossible to repay him if anything near what he suspected had been spent and that they knew it. And they were having their lack of wealth shown up by Harry's great deal thereof. He couldn't think of a way out of the situation but he decided he should try.

"I'm not too young. It's my...it was my money. I didn't want it. I don't want it. I should not have won it. It was Cedric's. He should have won. That is what it represents to me. All it represents to me. And I am lucky enough to be in a position where I don't need it. I have a pile of money in my vault and if by some grand misfortune I loose all of that well then I can sell my epic life story to all the Wizarding papers and then make a new small fortune all of my own." Harry paused as he bit his lip to stop laughing. The sheer absurdity of what he had said was terribly appalling. Nevertheless he continued. "I don't need the money and feel much better to be rid of it. And now the Wizarding world is surrounded by darkness. People tried to kill me today. People died protecting me. Fred and George make people laugh even if everything they do is questionable. I want, wanted something to laugh at. I need something to laugh at. Maybe I didn't think about it for too long. Maybe it was spur of the moment but I don't regret it for a second. I want them to make their joke shop a reality and then I will have something to laugh about and so will a lot of other people. That's why I want them to keep the money. So I will have something to laugh about." Harry stopped breathless and looked at his audience. They took a moment to recover.

"Oh Harry I had no idea."

"Yes Harry."

"But it is so much money and they are spending it so fast they won't have any left for a joke store."

"It's difficult Harry for us to accept so much."

"And I don't approve of the joke store but oh, Arthur what do we do?" she asked with a troubled look upon her face. Mr Weasley shrugged.

"Perhaps if we...no we couldn't could we. Put the money into a bank account. Keep it from the twins so they can't waste it and then let them have it when they need it and after they've proved themself ready," He said slowly giving what he was saying much thought.

"But Arthur it's so very much. Over 600 galleons are in here."

"They've spent nearly 400 galleons?" Harry asked.

"Yes. They have," Molly said in a terribly guilty voice.

"Well then I think what you said was a good idea. I don't want them to waste it all. Although they did give me a huge present full of their wares."

"They what!" Molly exclaimed. It was clear she hadn't known and Harry realised he'd just made a huge error. The twins were going to kill him if their mother didn't kill them first them.

"Oh....you didn't know?" Harry said.

"Most certainly not."

"Oh."

"I am going to have to have a another serious talk with those two. Of all the irresponsible things to do. You weren't hurt were you Harry?"

"Oh no not at all," Harry said not about to mention he hadn't actually tried any of the items for fear of injury or some other major calamity. Molly gave him a probing stare and a once over. It was clear she doubted his sincerity. It was also clear that it was going to have little impact on the twin's punishment. That was going to be large and painful not matter what.

"Are you sure you want to do this Harry?" Arthur said changing the subject.

"Yes Harry, are you sure? I still don't know if it's right," Molly said.

"Yes," Harry said firmly.

"Well I suppose it also gives you time to reconsider. I assure you if you change your mind you can have it all back in an instant."

"Okay," Harry said.

"Well I suppose now that that's settled we can go," Molly said and the three of them moved into the next room where the others were waiting. Ron gave Harry a questioning look and the twins gave him a worried one. He smiled and gave a small thumbs up. The twins beamed until they saw their mother's expression. They gave Harry confused a look and he looked away feeling very guilty. Harry faltered as he saw that both Ginny and Hermione had noticed the entire exchange. Hermione's expression was of puzzlement but Ginny's was of realisation and her eyes widened dramatically. Harry looked away. He wasn't about to go there. They piled into the car and, at the last possible moment, Harry recalled that he had come to get an owl and mentioned it to those about him. He was promptly told in no uncertain terms that he was not getting one that day since Death Eaters were still everywhere. It would have to wait.

All in all, Harry was pretty ambivalent as he sat in the ministry car that took him back to number four Privet Lane. Death Eaters had ruined his outing, someone had died and he hadn't gotten what he'd gone for but he had settled one of the major things that had been wearing upon his mind and it had been nice all the same to be in the Wizarding world again and, finally, he did have a new pet. He smiled despite himself and joined in on a rousing game of exploding snap that lasted until they arrived at number four. With Oppy securely hidden within his new robes and with everyone's help, he and his purchases were quickly escorted into his room and far sooner than he liked all, of his friends had departed with Harry very reluctant to see them go.

Harry sat outside watching the street that the ministry car followed. It was only Vernon's yelling that made him get up and walk back inside. The others had been gone several minutes when, upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, he heard Petunias ungodly scream.

"SNAKE!"