Harry Potter and the Dark Separation

Chapter Four

All Hallows’ Eve

'Four Butterbeers, coming up.' Ron sat down on the polished wooden bench. Harry, Hermione and Ginny were already seated, looking tired.

'Why is it' Harry said, amused, 'that whenever we come in here, you do the ordering?'

Ron blushed. Behind him, Madam Rosmerta was serving drinks to a succession of dumbstruck teenage boys. 'What can I say, Harry? I must be more socially minded.'

'And it's not just an excuse to stare at Rosmerta, then?'

'That is a damnable lie, Ginny.' Ron grinned. 'Besides, I'm sure that if there was some hunky Italian wizard up there serving, we'd have to drag you and Herm away.'

The Three Broomsticks was packed with Hogwarts students, most of them clutching fresh purchases and talking excitedly about the upcoming Hallow'een feast. Fred and George, who were seated next to them, were going through their shopping list and checking off items. Seamus walked past, carrying a bag of Zonko's latest product, Blood Oranges (they squirted fairly realistic blood into your mouth when you bit into them) and a couple of bags of toffees.

'See you back in the dorms, guys' Seamus said, hefting the bag of oranges onto his shoulder.

'See you, Seamus. I'll tell everyone to be very careful when you offer them fruit in future' Hermione said. Seamus laughed.

'Oh, come on, Hermione, don't spoil my fun.'

Hermione, chuckling, turned back to the group. 'The Hallow'een feast's going to be a bloody obstacle course this year. Between Seamus' oranges, your brothers' lollipops and Peeves' inevitable fun and games, we'll be lucky if we make it through the evening.'

'Don't forget the Canary Creams, Hermione' George said, not looking up from his list.

'I doubt Neville will' Ron replied, smiling. 'Hang on, there's going to be Canary Creams there?'

'There's going to be absolutely everything. Lollipops, creams, toffees and this new one we've developed called Firefudge. Melts in your mouth, and I mean it.' The four laughed. 'It's probably best if you come down early, before we have a chance to mix our products with the regular food.'

'You know the amount of trouble you'll be in if anyone catches you, right?' Hermione said, looking worried.

'That's why we don't intend to be caught.' George returned to his list. As he spoke, a pretty young barmaid delivered a tray of glasses to their table.

'Thanks' said Ron, in an unusually high voice. The barmaid smiled at him and departed. Ron went red.

'Nice jugs' Harry said. Hermione, outraged, kicked him in the shin. 'Harry!'

'I was referring' Harry said, innocently 'to the Butterbeer.' Ginny and Ron laughed. Hermione gave him a dark look.

'Come on, guys, drink up' Ron said, looking at his watch. 'I need to get to Honeydukes before they close. I need to get some food that I can trust.'

'You can't rush a good Butterbeer, Ron' Ginny said, deliberately sipping the thick liquid delicately.

'Sure you can. Come on, finish your drink and move your arse.'

They bolted their drinks and stepped out the door into the cold street. It was a late October evening, the ground strewn with red leaves that crunched underfoot, the dark sky filled with stars. A few Hogwarts students remained in the shops, but most had retreated to the Three Broomsticks for a Butterbeer before they went back to the castle. Ron huddled in his robes for warmth.

'Come on, let's get to the shop, I'm freezing.' Ron turned.

CLICK.

A bright light flashed, startling the group. Ron staggered back, covering his eyes. 'What'd it do? What'd it do?'

'Ron?' Ginny said.

'What?'

'Ron, you bloody idiot, it's a camera.' Ron lowered his hands, looking sheepish.

'I knew that.'

'Sure you did, Weasley. And maybe later I'll join Gryffindor and give Dumbledore a sponge-bath.'

Ron groaned. 'I know that voice.'

Draco stepped out into the street, backed up by Crabbe and Goyle, both of which were laughing dully. Ginny stepped forward.

'Never would have expected you to be sneaking pictures of Harry, Malfoy. Been taking lessons from the Creeveys?'

'Yes, Miss Weasley. Advanced Arsekissery. No, Harry, remember when Dumbledore hauled us up to his office? And I mentioned about taking a photograph of Longbottom?'

'I tend to repress anything connected with you, Malfoy' Harry said, in a voice that wasn't quite angry but gave the impression that it could be given the slightest prompting.

'Very funny, Potter. Well, it gave me an idea. So I'm doing a photo album. I'll be selling it at the end of the year. All proceeds will go to a good cause.'

'Which good cause?'

'Me.'

'Malfoy' Hermione said 'that is the worst idea you've ever had. And I include the bouncing ferret incident in that statement.'

Draco's smug expression flickered for a moment. 'Extremely funny, Granger. Now why don't you all bugger off back to the castle?' He nodded to Crabbe and Goyle. 'Come on, let's go. Wouldn't want to miss the feast.'

The three began to walk down the street, Draco's shoulder accidentaly knocking Ron. Hermione placed a warning hand on his shoulder as he spun around angrily.

'Don't let him wind you up, Ron. He'll get what's coming to him tonight. He doesn't know about Fred and George's little surprise, remember?' Ron allowed himself a small smile, obviously picturing Draco with a lollipop the size of an apple sticking out of his mouth.

'Honeydukes is just down here.' Harry gestured. The three followed, leaves crunching under their feet. The windows of Honeydukes, golden beacons against the dark, shone ahead of them.

'I've got to get something to eat. You coming in, any of you?' Ron asked, opening the shop door.

Ginny followed him. 'I could do with some food. God knows I won't be eating any at the feast tonight- I like my body the shape it is, thank you.'

Harry shook his head.

'What about you, Hermione?' Ron enquired.

'No, thanks. I'm supposed to be staying off the chocolate for a while. Parents insisted.'

'Oh, come on, Herm' Ginny said, amused. 'They're a hundred miles away, and unless they've become very good at scrying recently, they won't find out. It can't do any harm, can it?'

'I think you underestimate the value of good oral hygiene' Hermione replied, straight-faced. Ginny smiled, defeatedly.

'Well, if you're sure... See you in a few minutes, then.' Ginny stepped into the shop. Ron closed the door behind him.

Hermione leaned against the wall, facing Harry. 'Interesting.'

'What is?' Harry answered.

'You and Ginny seem to be spending a lot more time together these days.'

'Yeah, as friends.'

Hermione laughed. 'I've heard that one before. No, seriously, Harry, what's going on between you two?'

Harry gave an irritated little sigh. 'Nothing, Herm. It's your overactive imagination again.'

'I'll take your word for it, Harry' Hermione replied.

Harry looked away. 'No, you won't. You'll bug me about it until we graduate.'

'You know me too well.'

'Anyway' Harry said, looking back, 'what about you and Ron? If we're going to talk about relationships, then I'll bring this up.'

'Believe me when I say he is just a friend.'

''Fraid not, Herm. You haven't noticed how he looks at you?'

'He looks at me in a perfectly just-friendly way' Hermione said, defensively. She looked around. 'What was that?'

'Stop trying to change the subject, Herm.'

She shook her head. 'No, I'm serious. Shut up for a second and listen.'

Silence descended. Suddenly, Harry could hear it- a strange noise, just on the edge of hearing. It sounded like an indrawing of breath, but stretched out, so it could have been mistaken for a whistling wind by anyone not listening closely.

'What's that?'

'I don't bloody know, do I?' Hermione snapped.

'Seems to be coming from that alley...'

Hermione started for the alley. Harry looked dubious. 'What're you doing?'

'Investigating. What's it look like?'

'Has someone spiked your Butterbeer?' Harry asked incredulously, stepping forward.

'What's the problem?'

'Oh, no problem. You're just going to investigate a strange noise. In a back alley. On a dark night. On your own. You didn't watch a lot of horror movies before you came to Hogwarts, did you?'

'Well, if you feel so strongly about it, you accompany me.'

Harry nodded. They both drew their wands, stepping into the alley.

'Lumos' Hermione whispered. A thin beam of light extended from the tip of her wand, illuminating the narrow corridor. A couple of rats fled from the sudden flash, scuttling into the piles of drifting autumn leaves that marked the sides of the alley. The two friends edged quietly down the cobbled pavement.

'The noise's stopped' Harry noted. Hermione listened. The sound had gone, replaced by the faint chatter of Hogwarts students and the rustle of the leaves.

'You're right.' Hermione stopped. 'Come on, let's get back, Ron and Ginny'll be waiting for us.'

Harry didn't answer. He had knelt down to look at something on the floor. Hermione looked down. 'What is it?'

'You tell me.' He held up a handful of some unidentifiable roots. They were thick, brown, dry and smelled foul. Hermione waved them away.

'You keep them.'

'Keep them?' Harry asked, standing up. 'Why the hell should we keep them?'

'They could be useful. Clues. I'd like to know what the noise was.'

'Does it matter? It was probably nothing. And there is absolutely no way that I am keeping something that smells not unakin to Bubotuber pus in my drawer. Hagrid's rock cakes are already offputting enough.'

'Which rock cakes are those?'

'From third year. Never had the heart to chuck them out.' Hermione smiled. He dropped the roots back on the ground. 'Let's go.'

They made their way back to the front of Honeydukes, where Ron and Ginny were waiting impatiently. Both carried large bags of sweets in their hands

'What the hell were you doing back there?' Ron asked, through a mouthful of Fizzing Whizzbees.

'Investigating a noise, talking about stuff...'

'What kind of stuff?'

'Oh, the usual. Teen stuff. Designer robes, new broomsticks, who red-haired, lanky people are attracted to this season. That kind of stuff.'

'You're kidding, of course.'

'I might be' Harry said airily.

'Come on, the feast'll be starting in an hour' Ginny said, stepping between the two boys. Harry nodded. The group, bickering, rounded a corner and disappeared from sight.

None but the keenest observer would have noticed, but a patch of shadow which had previously been shadow caused by the absence of anyone gradually became shadow caused by someone standing very still. A dark shape slipped out of the alley, its cloak flapping behind it like it was caught in a strong wind, keeping to the shadows thrown over the street by the houses and shops.

Two cold, black eyes gleamed in the darkness. The wind wrapped the figure's cloak around its legs, bringing to mind the word shroud. It growled, scaring several rats out of the alley, and disappeared once again into the mass of black shadows, gradually fading away until eventually it wasn't there at all.

There was a brief suggestion of a shadow against the moon, and then it was gone.

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The last chord of the song faded. The three wizards on stage, dressed in torn T-shirts and jeans, took their bows to an accompaniment of clapping.

'Thank you, Hogwarts!' the lead singer shouted, in a light American accent. 'We're going to take a short break now, but we'll be back. See ya later.'

The Hall gradually began to fill up with conversation. Hermione and Ginny, sitting at the Gryffindor table, watched as Harry and Ron returned from the crowd of people congregated around the stage that the band was playing on. Ginny stood up, amused. 'Did you dance?'

'No' Harry said, equally amused. 'Ron danced. I watched.'

'So did Padma' said Neville, from his seat opposite Hermione. 'Aparrently you're no better at dancing now than you were a year ago.'

'Ah, well' Ron said, cheerfully 'at least my dress sense has improved.'

'And by dress sense' Ginny said 'you mean having sense enough not to actually wear a dress. Unlike last time.' Ron threw a bread roll at her. The memory of his dress robes for the Yule Ball was a painful one for him.

'Well, I'm going to get some refreshment' Harry said. He paused. 'They didn't do anything funny with the grape juice, did they?'

Hermione elbowed George, who was talking to Katie Bell quietly. He turned around, obviously resenting the intrusion. 'What?'

'Did you enchant the grape juice?' Hermione asked.

'Not all of it. Just don't drink out of the one on the far left.' He returned to talking to Katie.

'Can't keep those two away from each other, can you?' Ron said, eating out of the bag of sweets on the table. He hadn't touched his food. Harry laughed and disappeared into the crowd of students.

'Jealous, Weasley?' Draco, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle as always, stood behind him. Ron sighed.

'Oh, just sod off, Malfoy. I'm too tired for this.'

'I expect you are. I mean, it's gone nine already, hasn't it? Way past your bedtime.'

'Taken any good photos, Malfoy?' Ginny said, not looking at him.

'Oddly enough, yes. That's what I'm here for, actually. I thought I could take a snapshot of you three and pass it off as Erumpents feeding.'

Another Slytherin emerged out of the crowd. 'What're you doing, Draco?' he asked, holding a plate of assorted foods.

'Socialising.' Draco smirked.

'Well, you don't want to miss the fun over at Slytherin table. There's something very odd about the fudge.'

Draco looked over the heads of the students to where Crabbe and Goyle were on the floor, trying to spit out mouthfuls of hot, burning sugar. He sighed. 'Those two useless buggers've got themselves in trouble again? I suppose I'd better help them out.'

The younger student took a few biscuits from his plate. 'Custard cream, Draco?' he asked, with the hint of a smile on his face.

Draco took them. 'Don't mind if I do.' He started to make his way over to the table, chewing the biscuits. The student stayed put, then winked at Ron and followed him. Ron burst out laughing.

'That was Andrew... Andrew someone, wasn't it?' Hermione asked, chuckling.

Ginny nodded. 'Andrew Marienthal. Third-year. Not a bad bloke, for a Slytherin.'

Harry appeared, holding a goblet of grape juice and looking at it suspiciously. 'What've I missed?' he asked, sitting down.

'Draco' Ginny replied.

'Ah, no great loss then.' He sipped the goblet cautiously. Just then there was a loud bang and a clucking noise from the direction of the Slytherins. Hermione, Ron and Ginny exchanged knowing glances.

'Well' said Fred, standing up along with George 'we'd better be off.'

'So soon?' Hermione asked sweetly.

George looked evasive. 'We don't want to overstay our welcome. See you tomorrow, people.'

The two left the hall, narrowly sidestepping McGonagall and Flitwick who were rushing to help a small canary, clucking resignedly on the Slytherin table. The four friends looked at each other and burst out laughing.

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A couple of hours later, Ron made his way up a staircase. The evening had been odd but interesting, especially when Dumbledore had tried the Ton-Tongue Toffees and had spent the next ten minutes with a swollen purple rope protruding from his mouth. Fortunately, he'd seen the funny side, but Professor McGonagall was out for the twins' blood. Ron smiled to himself. No doubt the two brothers weren't going to have many fun Transfiguration lessons for a while.

He looked around. Even when you'd been at Hogwarts for five years, the place was still a maze. He'd come up the wrong stairway. 'Hmmm' he said, looking at the portraits hanging on the walls. 'Let's see, I was just in the Great Hall, then I took a left, then a right past Beltane's class, and then... ah, that'd be it. Wrong stairs.' He turned, only to find the stairway had moved through one hundred and eighty degrees and now lead to the Charms wing. He sighed. 'Bloody Hogwarts. Does anyone know how you get to the toilets from here?' he enquired of the portraits.

'Second on the right from here' said a medieval bard, strumming his lute tunelessly.

'Thanks' Ron said, and proceeded down the hallway. The chatter of the paintings slowly faded away, replaced by an oppressive silence. Ron's footsteps echoed around the stone walls.

'Second on the right, second on the right... ah, this is it.' He opened the door, only to find that it lead to the girls' toilets. Fortunately, no-one was in there, but Ron blushed anyway.

'When I find that damn bard, I'm going to rip him a new frame...' he muttered to himself. He looked around, but couldn't find any male equivalent of the toilets. Turning back the way he'd came, he strutted down the stone passage. Whistling Grim Day's last song to himself, he walked, oblivious to anything apart from the faint staircase.

Suddenly he bumped into someone, knocking them off their feet. 'Oh, I'm sorry...' he said, and then looked down at the person he'd barged into. His mouth dropped open in shock. Dressed in a dark robe, the hood down, lay a man, glaring at Ron in hatred.

'You?'

Then Ron felt an impact to the back of his head, and everything went black.

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As the music stopped, the chatter started again. Harry, engaged in conversation with Ginny, looked up to find Hermione standing in front of him, looking equally angry and confused.

'Hey, Herm! Where've you been? You shouldn't have missed their last song, it was great. Even Flitwick danced to it, and that's not something you see very often, believe me.'

'Harry...'

'Or what happened a few minutes ago. Crabbe ate one of the Expanding Lollipops, and you know how greedy he is, so he just kept licking it, and it kept expanding and expanding, until eventually it was the size of a tennis ball and it got stuck in his mouth...'

'Harry!'

'What?' said Harry, his grin fading.

'It's Ron' Hermione said, looking downwards.

'What about him? He hasn't asked Fleur out again, has he?'

'He's disappeared.'

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Author’s Notes- Sorry this one took so long to write, I've been busy. Well, we've got some interesting questions this time around. Who's sneaking around Hogwarts at night? Where's Ron disappeared to? And who feels it necessary to follow Harry in a black cloak? All will be answered, eventually. There aren't a lot of references in here, but I do have one thing to note- the bit about 'Custard cream, Draco?' was my earliest line that I thought of for this fanfic. Thanks to everyone who read or reviewed 'Into Each Life' and hang around for 'The Pureblood Alliance' coming in about a month's time, where you will begin to get some idea about what this Dark Separation I've seen fit to name my fic after is all about…