Harry Potter and the Keys of Light

Chapter Eight: "Diagon Alley"

Hagrid met Harry at eight the next morning in the entrance hall. As it turned out, both professors Tavisham and Lupin were going as well, and so the usually perilous ride aboard the Knight Bus passed quickly and pleasantly. Harry consulted his school list several times before they arrived. He needed several new books, including the Standard Book of Spells (N.E.W.T. Level), An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration, A Healer's Guide to Magical Maladies by Remedy Pox, and The Dark Arts by Marcus Omen, as well as a set of advanced Potions ingredients and a silver cauldron for his Magical Healing class.

"Professor Lupin," Harry asked, looking up from his recent review of the list, "who is teaching Dark Studies?"

"I am," Lupin replied, smiling. "Are you taking it?"

"Yes," Harry said. "I'm really glad it's with you though. What are we going to learn exactly?"

"Well, I want the class to focus on the history of dark wizards, at first, and then move onto some ways of recognizing dark magic; it will be a continuation of the Defense class, like the Magical Defense course."

"That's quite a lot of work, Remus," Professor Tavisham said, a look of slight concern on her bright face. "Three whole courses?"

"Well, I will have help of course," he said. "I am counting on you," he looked at Harry, "to help me some in Magical Defense. And then, of course, Professor Snape has agreed to aide me with the Dark Studies course. His knowledge will prove quite valuable to the students."

"Snape is going to teach the class too?" Harry said, his heart sinking.

"Professor Snape, Harry," Lupin said gently.

"How about I just call him Severus?"

"Harry--"

"Snivellus is a particular favorite as well."

"Harry!" Lupin snapped; Hagrid was shaking behind him with silent laughter, Professor Tavisham with a disapproving look on her face, but a twinkle of amusement in her cerulean eyes.

"Just a thought," he said, grinning wickedly.

"All off for Diagon Alley," Stan Shunpike called from the front of the bus. They climbed down from the purple double-decker, immediately behind an elderly witch holding a handkerchief to her mouth looking slightly peaky.

"See you later then Harry," Stan said as he made it to the steps. Harry inclined his head to a slight nod, jumping from the last step to the cobbled pavement outside the Leaky Cauldron. He took a moment to look at the Muggles crowding the busy London street, unaware of the magical world only a door beyond. Hagrid had already gone inside, and Lupin stood holding the door open.

"Coming?"

"Yeah." The Leaky Cauldron was particularly full today. Nearly every spindly-legged table was full, every chair occupied. A pair of white haired wizards sat by the large fireplace, each with a pipe issuing little puffs of smoke, and a Daily Prophet between them. As Harry stepped in the door, he felt the deja vú of his first time there; the noisy chatter stopped, and it seemed as though every available eye was upon him, curious and critical. Then a whisper began, then more and more until the noise had returned in the lull of hushed murmuring.

Unperturbed, Harry followed Lupin through the pub to the back door, leading to the entrance of Diagon Alley; he was used to being Famous Harry Potter, or at least, he was determined that there were more important things than the embarrassment of the stares that perpetually followed him.

"Silly fools," Lupin muttered, the brick wall fading way to the bustle of the crowded street.

"Ignore it," Harry said, "I do."

"They believe everything they read..." The Defense Professor seemed to be talking more to himself, so Harry didn't reply. Still, he wondered what it was that everyone was reading; he wished he hadn't stopped his subscription to the Daily Prophet, but he had grown so weary of last year's rumor mongering that he had given it up in disgust. Professor Tavisham and Lupin left Harry and Hagrid to make their purchases, promising to meet later in the Leaky Cauldron.

The first stop was to Gringotts so that Harry could refill his moneybag. To his great amazement the piles of gold, silver and bronze had increased since his last visit. He knew Wealseys' Wizarding Wheezes were going well, but he hadn't suspected he would receive so much return. His pouch full, they returned to the shops above ground, stopping at the Flora's Flora to buy fertilizer for the Aldersaw fungus Hagrid was now growing next to his pumpkin patch.

"I keep runnin' out ya see," Hagrid explained. "The leveenas keep comin' an' comin'. I'm startin' to think it weren't such a good idea feedin' em." While Hagrid busied himself chatting with the clerk in Flora's, Harry went next door to Mullpepper's Apothecary and purchased his ingredients for both Potions and Healing. There was a silver cauldron shining in the sunny window display that he purchased as well. Mentally, Harry checked off the things on his list. By the time he had completed this, Hagrid was ready, and they set off for Flourish and Blotts.

The hassled clerk in Flourish and Blotts asked Harry three times what he wanted before actually going to fetch the Standard Book of Spells. The narrow isles were filled with students and parents that day, an unpleasant contrast to the last time Harry had been inside it. Hagrid had remained outside, worried that he might not fit amid the crowd. Unsure of the reliability of the clerk, Harry went himself to the Defense and Dark Arts section to get the rest of his books. The Dark Arts was on the very bottom shelf, in the back of the row. As Harry reached for the last copy, another hand quickly snatched it up.

"You'll have to be quicker than that Harry." Looking up, Harry saw the familiar bushy brown hair and eyes of Hermione staring down at him.

"Hermione, I didn't know you were going to be here today."

"Well, I didn't know you'd be here either. My parents had shopping to do in London, so they dropped me off. I've got another couple of hours before I have to meet them--have you finished your shopping yet?"

"No, I just got here. Hagrid's waiting outside, and Professor Lupin and Professor Tavisham are meeting us later." Hermione looked past Harry, out the store window where Hagrid was standing and waved to him.

"Who's Professor Tavisham?" she said then, handing Harry the book.

"The new Divination Professor," Harry replied. "I sent you an owl yesterday telling you, but this way you'll get to meet her. She's really nice, Hermione, not at all like Professor Trelawney was." Harry told her all about his morning spent with the Professor the previous day, as they walked through the store getting their books. As it turned out, Hermione was taking all the Defense classes as well, and would share N.E.W.T. classes with Harry.

"I wish I were taking Healing, but it simply wouldn't fit into my schedule," she said. They were standing in line then, waiting to make their purchases.

"It's all right. Lupin's gave me a terrific book, and I learned loads with Madame Pomfrey this summer--I was planning on teaching the rest of the D.A."

"Oh that's a wonderful idea," Hermione said, beaming with approval. "It is quite important, I think, for us to know some sort of medicine. Of course, I hope we never have to use it, but it is constructive information." Harry agreed, and they moved up to the front of the line.

"Do you know if Ron is coming to Diagon Alley today as well?"

"No. Mrs. Weasley got all his and Ginny's things last week," Hermione replied. They took their bags and turned to walk back through the crowd to the door. Strangely, the witches and wizards in line gave them a wide birth, whispering as they had in the Leaky Cauldron.

"What's wrong with them?" Harry wondered. Hermione gave a sigh, looking back at the line, which was still watching them.

"The Daily Prophet is still spreading rumors about you, Harry," she said, disgust clear in her voice. "The Ministry is trying to maintain that they're close to restoring order, and they don't want you coming out with any more stories that You-Know-Who is back in full power. A lot of them still don't want to believe it." She gave Harry a quick smile and said, "Just ignore them."

Hagrid gave Hermione a hug when they stepped back out on the street and then suggested they all stop at Florean Fortescue's before continuing. Hermione still had to stop at Madame Malkins' to have her robes lengthened and to Detharney's Stationary Shoppe to purchase special legal parchment.

"I've decided to take Magical Law for Magical Creatures. I figured that if I could make a strong study of it, someone would have to listen to what I have to say. It would be so wonderful to spend the rest of my life working for the protection of Magical Creatures," Hermione said, putting a spoonful of strawberry sherbet into her mouth. Harry shared a look with Hagrid, and they both smiled in exasperation. Hermione, Harry thought pleasantly, will never change.

"Well, I suppose I'll leave you two for a little while," Hagrid said once he had finished his sundae. "I've gotta go buy some Flesh Eatin' Slug Repellant--nasty little buggers won't stay out of my cabbages. Yer to meet me back at the Leaky Cauldron in an hour." They agreed and watched as the gamekeeper disappeared around the corner to Knockturn Alley.

"Hermione," Harry said as soon as Hagrid was out of sight, "I need to tell you something."

"Harry, what is it?"

"Well, it's about the D.A. You see, Dumbledore hasn't exactly approved..."

"Harry, don't tell me you plan on hiding it from him! What happened to being responsible? You promised--"

"I know what I promised Hermione, but there are some things that Dumbledore doesn't have control over. He doesn't want to see that there is a real threat to the rest of the students, and he won't. We have to be realistic."

"I don't like it," Hermione said, though without any real conviction.

"I don't either. But I'm giving you a choice--if you don't want to be part of it any more, I understand." Hermione looked at him a moment, and then sighed.

"Oh, Harry, of course I'm part of it."

"Thanks Hermione." They paid for their ice cream, and gathered their things. "So where to--"

A blast shook the street, and both teens were thrown back. Screams erupted and people began running in all directions. A large cloud of gray smoke and haze issued from the left side of the street, witches and wizards emerging from the entrance covered in dust, some bleeding, holding mangled limbs tight to their bodies.

"Harry, what's going on?" Hermione cried over the noise, taking his hand and getting to her feet.

"I don't know, Hermione, but we've got to get out of here!" Grabbing her hand, they ran into the stream of people.

"Harry! Harry, what about Hagrid!" Stopping, Harry felt a nauseating pang in his gut. "That blast came from Knockturn Alley!" Deciding quickly, Harry said,

"Go to the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione. If you take the stairs up to the second floor, you will find a large portrait at the end of it. The password is Butterbeer. It will lead you to Dumbledore's flat. You can Floo back to Hogwarts and get help. I'll go find Hagrid." Hermione nodded and disappeared into the throng.

Harry had to fight the stream of bodies to get back to the scene. Panic and fear hung heavy in the air, depriving everyone of their senses in the scramble to escape. There were popping sounds as those that could still reason Disapparated. Children were crying, clinging desperately to their mothers, shopping bags were dropped, wreaking havoc as people tumbled over them.

The dust had settled in Diagon Alley. The entrance to Knockturn Alley was a mess, though, with smoke so thick that Harry could barely see through it. The Magical Menagerie had its entire left face in a stony pile of rubble spilling onto the street corner, animals fleeing their cages. Taking a breath to calm his beating heart, Harry stepped onto Knockturn Alley. There were motionless figures lining the street, and Harry found it hard to not stumble over all of them as he made his way through the dark haze.

"Hagrid?" he called, "Hagrid?" The street took a sharp turn, the pale lights of the empty stores making it easier to see. There was a smell in the air that brought Harry to a stop--the same smell that he assaulted his senses on Privet Drive, now polluting the air. Burnt flesh. He was nearing the scene of the explosion now, he knew it. And yet, he could not step farther. His brain screamed at his limbs to move, to keep searching for Hagrid, but a panic gripped his senses, ordering him to run. He had already seen the damage of one such explosion, could he handle another? The image of his aunt lying helpless on the pavement surfaced in his mind, the blood that soiled her normally flawless, starched clothes, the sweat and dirt that clung to her face...

"Hagrid!" he called. The sound of his own voice restored his will, and he kept walking. He had to find Hagrid. Another sharp bend in the road caught Harry by surprise, and he fell forward. His glasses fell from him, skidding across the cobblestones, his skin burning where he knew he had cut himself.

"Accio!" he said, his glasses returning to his hand. Vision restored, he turned to see what it was that had caused him to fall. There was a massive mound lying on the floor, feet heavily laden with large grimy working boots. "Hagrid?" Harry whispered. He moved to the front of the great thing, and caught his breath.

"'Arry?" it said weakly. "Harry, is that you?"

"Hagrid! Yes, it's Harry. I'm here." The gamekeeper turned his head to look down at Harry, smiling weakly.

"I doan think ye can carry me, Harry. Get goin'."

"Hagrid, no, I won't leave you," Harry said, taking one of Hagrid's massive arms and trying to heave him up.

"Look, Harry, ye've gotta get outta here. I saw 'em. They'll be back any moment."

"Who will be back Hagrid?"

"The Death Eaters. I saw 'em right before it 'appened. Ye've gotta leave fore they find ye. Go, go get Dumbledore." He shook Harry's hands away.

"I will not leave you with them around, Hagrid. What's wrong? There's got to be something I can do...have you got any broken bones? Can you walk?"

"'Arry, it's no use. Now go, I say. Go!" Harry was about to protest when he heard a familiar drawling voice coming down the Alley.

"Are they ready to move?"

"Yes Lucius. We'll need to regroup as soon as the crowd is gone. Damned lemmings, running, running...they'll die soon enough."

"Remember, we have a mission. Get to the others and go to the Leaky Cauldron. I've got something to do first."

Harry held his breath, pressing himself into the darkness of the space between two of the shops. His view of Hagrid was blocked as two figures appeared before him.

"What is this? Dumbledore's lackey," Lucius Malfoy said in a cold, quiet drawl. There was a green flash of light, and he said, "I have always thought it best to put suffering animals out of their misery." There was a pop as the two figures disappeared.

A tremendous rage filled Harry that set an internal scream in his mind. He ran from the Alley, determined to beat them to the Leaky Cauldron, and God help Lucius Malfoy if Harry caught sight of him. Glass rained on the street behind him as he turned back onto Diagon Alley, his anger filtering into destructive magic against the windows. He hardly noticed that there were barely any people left on the street, or that his arm was bleeding from a piece of glass that had brushed past it as he ran; all he could see were glimpses of the Dursleys, of Sirius and of Hagrid, replaying over and over in his mind, in a stream of pain. He could not feel the ache in his scar, burning on his forehead, or hear the crash as the windows of shops around him broke into pieces.

The Leaky Cauldron was packed to the brim with people, many of whom were lying on tables and chairs, mending their wounds as best they could until Mediwizards arrived. The sight of it pulled Harry back to reality; Death Eaters were coming, and all these injured people were in danger for their lives...

He moved to the nearest table, where a witch was lying, a soaking red cloth tied to her arm.

"What happened?" he said. "I can help you, but I need to know where you were hurt." The witch looked at him, and Harry recognized her as one of the whisperers in Flourish and Blotts.

"Haven't you done enough?" she said, looking away from him.

"Look, I can help--"

"I don't want help from you." Angry, Harry looked around at the rest of the people in the pub. Some could see him, but they were watching him with apprehension...He knew that these people wouldn't listen if he tried to warn them. No, he needed to find someone they would listen to...

He ran for the stairs. He needed to make sure Hermione had gone to Dumbledore, that help was on its way.

The portrait of Gwendolyn Cygnatius was looking frantically about, calling to those that passed by to tell her what was happening.

"Harry!" she said, eyeing him as he came down the hall. "Harry, what is going on?"

"There's been an attack," he said, breathing heavily. "Did a girl come through the portrait a little while ago?"

"With bushy hair?"

"That's the one."

"Yes. I'd never seen her before, but she knew the password. Shall I go get Dumbledore?"

"With any luck, he's on his way," Harry replied, silently blessing Hermione. "Butterbeer." The portrait swung forward, and Harry darted up the stairs three at a time. Once the apartment came into view, Harry ran to the fireplace. There were still green embers in the grate, evidence that Hermione had indeed made it out. Harry fell against the sofa, and closed his eyes a moment, organizing his thoughts.

He needed to get back downstairs...he knew healing magic and there was a good chance he was the only person capable of helping the injured. Besides, he needed to watch for the Death Eaters. If they came, he needed to get out as soon as possible. As much as the thought of running away sickened him, he knew he must--if Voldemort got him now, all was lost. The silence of the apartment was eerie...too calm for the chaos beyond. Harry went to the windows. Diagon Alley was a mess, with no thanks to him. Glass gleamed on the cobblestones, bodies lay motionless array down the street. He realized he must have just missed the Death Eaters arrival, and only said a prayer that Lupin and Tavisham had gotten out.

"Harry?" He turned, but there was no one in the room. "Harry?" The voice was coming from down the hall, and he followed it, moving slowly, his wand at the ready.

"Harry, is that you?" He knew who it was then, and continued down to his room. Rowena Ravenclaw was pacing in her portrait, fingering the amulet about her neck.

"Yes, it's me."

"Harry, you must get the sword out of here," she said, pausing in her step to look down at him. Her eyes were intensely blue at that moment, a fire burning behind them that he could not explain. "They are coming for it."

"I don't--"

"I was downstairs when the attack happened, in one of the portraits facing Diagon Alley. I saw those hooded monstrosities, and I tell you that you must get the sword out."

"But they can't get in here," Harry said, his heart beginning to pound painfully against his ribs. Just then, there was a distant popping sound from beneath Harry's feet, and the sounds of several voices.

"Get the sword and get out!" Ravenclaw shrieked, and Harry knew that somehow, she was right. He ran back to the living room, where the glass encased sword of Gryffindor hung on the wall.

"Accio Sword!" It flew from the casing, glass shattering onto the floor, and into Harry's hand. "Minimus!" The sword glowed with a soft yellow light before disappearing, leaving a small silver ring in Harry's palm. They were coming, and he had no time to Floo ...the center of the room looked as though a pane of glass had been placed in it, distorting the view to the other side into a swirling spiral of color.... putting it on his finger, Harry looked for a place to hide. The image came to his mind of the Great Hall, and he clung desperately to it as a small pop rang in his ears and he felt himself being pulled forward.

His feet slapped hard onto something, the force of it shaking his whole body. Harry hadn't realized he had closed his eyes, but as he opened them, he saw a sight that ebbed the fear. He was in the Great Hall, away from Diagon Alley...the ring was still on his finger, and he pushed it firmly in place. The Hall was empty, but Harry took little notice of it and turned to find Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore. When he stepped into the entrance hall, however, he caught sight of Hermione.

She looked a mess, her hair frizzing in directions that seemed to defy gravity, her clothes dirty and torn at the ends, her hands and face pale and wan. Her voice, however, rang out in almost hysterical exasperation.

"You've got to believe me! There is an emergency...I need to get to Professor Dumbledore!"

"And I am telling you, Miss Granger, that the Headmaster is meeting with the Minister of Magic, who is far more important than yourself. You will come with me back to my office at once." Snape was speaking a dangerously quiet tone that Harry knew meant that he was absolutely furious.

"I came to your office to get help!" Hermione cried, and Harry saw tears rolling down her face, putting streaks in the dirt.

"Hermione, come with me," Harry said, grabbing her hand and marching past Snape. Since neither of them had noticed he was even there, it took a moment for either to react. Hermione allowed herself to be pulled entirely up the steps before breaking into a stream of questions. Snape bounded up the steps so that he was blocking their way, his wand out.

"Mister Potter, if Miss Granger cannot, you certainly have no chance of getting in to see Dumbledore."

"So, it happens again," Harry said, just as coldly. "Get out of my way."

"What did you just say to me?" Snape said, his eyes narrowing.

"Get. Out. Of. My. Way," Harry replied, emphasizing each word as it left his mouth.

"How dare you--"

"Incarcerous!" Thick ropes flew from the end of Harry's wand, coiling around the Potions Master. Harry stepped around Snape, and pulled Hermione down the hall to the statue of the Griffin.

"Harry, you've attacked a teacher," Hermione said in an urgent whisper, looking back at Snape, who was cursing at them from his immobilized position on the stair landing.

"Hermione, does it really matter?" He looked at the statue uncertainly, now realizing that he didn't know the password. Something in his mind spread a reassuring feeling through his body, and his arm moved up to touch the cold stone. The Griffin sprang to life, giving way to the spiral stair that led to Dumbledore's office. He and Hermione ran up these, and burst into the office without so much as a knock.

"Dumbledore, we need your help." The Headmaster looked up from his desk, a worried expression passing over his features before returning to their usual calm seriousness.

"What in the world--" Cornelius Fudge, who was sitting in the chair opposite Dumbledore, wheeled around. Upon seeing Harry, his face contorted into a look of mingled disgust and anger. "Just who do you think you are, bursting in here--!"

"There was an attack on Diagon Alley." Lupin entered the room behind Harry, Professor Tavisham at his side.

"There you are," Tavisham said, embracing Harry. Then turning to Dumbledore, she said,

"We waited in hopes that Harry would appear, but Remus knew we had to get you. The Dark Mark appeared in the sky, just as we were leaving." All the color in Fudge's face drained away, and he turned back to Dumbledore.

"Remus, if you will get Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey, and return with them to the site, I am sure the Mediwizards of St. Mungo's will need all the help they can find." Lupin nodded and left the room. "Cornelius, I believe there is an empty room just below my office where you may Floo back to the Ministry. I am sure they will need your guidance, as to how to act. Brenna, if you could please take him." Professor Tavisham nodded, and stepped back so that Fudge could exit, and then followed him.

"Harry, if you could please tell me everything." Harry shared what had happened, including what he had seen in Knockturn Alley. Hermione gasped when he told them about Hagrid, and it was all she seemed able to do to not break down then. He left out part of his conversation with Rowena Ravenclaw, unsure whether or not he should share it with anyone but Dumbledore. He did, however, tell the Headmaster about the Death Eaters arriving at the flat. From years of knowing the Professor, Harry could tell that Dumbledore was agitated, but he did not say anything until Harry was done.

"Professor," he said, finishing, "If I could go with Lupin and the others, I am sure I could help."

"No, Harry, you must remain here. Miss Granger is in need of some attention herself, and I will need you here incase members of the Order arrive so that you may explain what has happened." Harry nodded and watched Dumbledore as he left the office, the large wooden door closing behind him.

Hermione had seated herself in the chair across from Dumbledore's, her face in her hands.

"Poor Hagrid," she said softly, her voice trembling with sadness. "Poor, poor Hagrid..."

Harry knelt beside her, and put an arm about her shoulders. "I know."

"What could they have wanted? What could they possibly have wanted that they would come out in public?"

"Hermione, with Voldemort back, this is what happens. You've seen how terrible they are, that they murder for fun."

"I just don't understand--"

"That's because you aren't evil, Hermione. You can't understand murderers because you aren't one. Bellatrix Lestrange taught me that, last year." Hermione looked up at him curiously and he explained,

"It was just after she killed Sirius. I tried to use the Cruciatus Curse on her--"

"Harry!"

"But it didn't work. She said that you really had to love causing pain for it to work. None of us could do it because we don't really want to hurt anyone, no matter how hurt we are ourselves. Lucius Malfoy and the others, they're just evil, and now that they are free and serving a powerful master, they'll do this sort of thing, not matter how horrible it is." Hermione leaned over and rested her head against Harry's shoulder. He could feel the material grow moist as she cried softly. Tears began to fall down his own cheek, and he felt the full weight of some of his grief...but Harry's thought wandered to the silver ring shining innocently on his finger, and he wondered not only why Voldemort wanted the sword, but how he managed to find Dumbledore's apartment.