Harry Potter and the Ruby of Karda

The quote about Unicorn Blood is an excerpt from J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Chapter 2: Knockturn Alley

Harry woke up to the sound of Hedwig screeching the next morning. He had slept well, and the worries of last night seemed far away. He let Hedwig out, and quickly got dressed. He packed his trunk. Although he wasn’t going to take it with him, he wanted to have it packed so they could fetch it quickly on their way to the Weasleys. Ron, Hermione and he had arranged that they would spend the night there before leaving for Hogwarts the next day.

Harry could already hear Hermione clattering down the stairs, yelling to her parents that they better hurry up, she didn’t want to keep the Weasleys waiting. Harry grinned. Hermione’s concern was uncharacteristic – he wondered how much of that was because Hermione would be meeting Ron after two months.

Indeed, as he made his way downstairs, he noticed that Hermione looked much as she had the night of the Yule Ball last year. Her hair was smooth and shiny, her face glowed and she looked excited and happy. Harry chuckled to himself. If this was indeed on Ron’s account, his friend was in for an interesting school year.

Hermione rushed them all through breakfast, and they set out for Diagon Alley shortly afterwards. Mr. and Mrs. Granger had decided to accompany them, so they didn’t use the fireplace – instead making their way by the Underground. Harry was very relieved at this - he had used the fireplace many times over the course of the summer to go to Diagon Alley, but he didn’t think he’d ever get used to the peculiar feeling in his stomach whenever he used Floo Powder. Also, even though he hadn’t got lost in the network of fireplaces since his first time using Floo Powder, he was never very certain of ending up at his destination.

The first time he had gone to Diagon Alley with Hagrid, he had gone through the back of the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione and he had been using the same entrance over the summer, so Harry was very surprised when the Grangers headed past the Leaky Cauldron, to a large, impressive looking building that bore the sign “Gring & Gotts, Attorneys at Law”. They entered through the large glass double-doors, and a uniformed guard who nodded cheerfully to Hermione showed them to an elevator. Hermione, noting Harry’s puzzled expression shook her head, and rolled her eyes.

“Honestly, Harry, do you read at all? Surely you know there’s more than one entrance to Diagon Alley? This is the one they like Muggles to use. So they can keep track of who goes in and out…”

“So, are there really attorneys in that office?”, Harry asked curiously, not in the slightest bit bothered by Hermione’s tone. “What if a Muggle walks in off the street and wants an attorney?”

“I think they have some attorneys who work there… Muggle attorneys… Some Muggles know about us – Gringotts has to do something with all the Muggle money they exchange – maybe they pay their attorneys with it?”

Harry was intrigued. There were so many things about the way the Magic and Muggle worlds interacted that he didn’t know about. In a second though, that thought had fled his mind, as the elevator opened into the main hall of Gringotts, and he saw Ron waiting with his parents, Fred, George and Ginny on the stairs.

“Ron!”, Harry yelled happily. “All right, Harry?” Ron asked, thumping Harry on his back. He did a double-take when he looked at Hermione, but recovered quickly.

“Let’s go check out the new Firebolt Model 2.”, he said excitedly. “Quality Quidditch Supplies just got it in today…”

Fred and George flashed Harry identical grins, Ginny blushed, but managed a shy hello. Mr. Weasley was busy talking to the Grangers – “We just got a telephone – what an interesting gadget”, he said beaming from ear to ear. Mrs. Weasley looked concernedly at Harry. “We heard about that Muggle boy attacking you”, she said. “I feel so bad – I wish we could have had you to stay over the summer… could have avoided the whole incident…”

Fred winked at him. “We managed to take care of him, though…”, he whispered in an aside to Harry. “We tested one of our inventions on him – I don’t think he liked it when he proposed marriage to every girl in his school… on his knees too… Got in a bunch of trouble about that. Parents complaining, I think his father was very unhappy with Polkiss. Great invention, if I say so myself. Now, all we need is a good name for our invention.”

Harry laughed aloud, he couldn’t help himself. “I’ll keep on the lookout for a good name”, he promised, smirking. It was a great trick… The Weasley twins were imaginative beyond belief.

“Come on”, Ron said again, rather impatiently. “I think they are having a drawing to win the new Firebolt.”

“Really?”, Harry said. “Let’s go.”

After making their way towards Quality Quidditch Supplies, looking longingly through the window at the new Firebolt, and finding out regretfully that there was no drawing to win it, the three walked over to Flourish and Blotts. Hermione instantly disappeared among the books, clutching her book list in one hand. Ron shook his head bemusedly. “Crazy…”, he mumbled. “Look at her. Thrilled to be in a book store. Let’s get our text books quickly.”

“Check this out”, Harry said, reading from his list. “Defence Against Dark Arts – To Be Determined. I wonder what that means. Do you think they couldn’t find a teacher this year?”

“I hope they did”, Ron said darkly. “You know if there are no applicants for the job – Snape would probably teach us.” Harry shuddered at that prospect. There was no love lost between him and Snape – and it seemed that Snape hated him even more since Harry helped Sirius escape the Dementors in his third year at Hogwarts.

“Do you know if Hermione ever visited Krum over the summer?”, Ron continued, in an extra casual voice. “Ask her yourself, why don’t you”, Harry suggested, grinning. He ducked from the blow Ron aimed at his head, and waved to attract the attention of a Flourish and Blotts employee.

“Hogwarts Fifth year?”, the witch asked. “I can get most of your books – but the Ministry is requiring that everyone who buys the Defence Against Dark Arts textbook sign for it. You need to ask for it at the counter when you pay.”

“Why?”, Ron asked. In an aside to Harry, he said, “This is really strange. I’ve never heard of something like this…”

The witch shrugged. “Security? Fifth year textbooks have a lot of magic information in them. Maybe the Ministry wants to know who gets that information? They won’t even let me take a look at the Defence Against Dark Arts book. Top secret, they say. The only one who has looked at one is the manager.”

“Weird.”, Harry thought. “What could be in a school textbook that is so secret?”

Hermione rejoined them as they finished getting the rest of their textbooks. “Did you hear about our Dark Arts textbook?”, she asked.

“I don’t understand”, Harry said. “What’s to prevent any of us from just sharing the book with anyone? I can see the Slytherins just running off to their DeathEater friends to show them the book…”

Both Ron and Hermione shot Harry identical exasperated looks. “You idiot”, Ron explained, “your signature will complete a magical contract. You can’t break it.”

“Like the Goblet of Fire”, Harry said, understanding dawning. “I wonder what’s in that book.”

Hermione shot them a long-suffering look. “Let’s go find out, shall we?”, she asked, starting in the direction of the checkout counter.

Perhaps because of the contract, or perhaps because they were not the only people who had waited till the last day to get their textbooks, the checkout line was twice as long as normal. Harry used the opportunity to ask Ron where he had been the summer. “Tell you later”, Ron replied, looking uncomfortable. “When we get to school.”. And Harry had to be content with that.

After what seemed like hours, but was in reality a quarter of an hour, Harry, Ron and Hermione got to the checkout. A harassed looking Ministry wizard was standing there, supervising the signatures. Harry, Hermione and Ron all paid for their books, and signed the contract.

The wizard handed them each a thick book. It was heavy, and had an ornately patterned green and red cover. “There’s no title!”, Hermione exclaimed, as she opened her book eagerly. But it was blank on the inside. Harry and Ron checked their books, but they were blank too.

“As each chapter is taught, it will slowly become visible”, the wizard explained. He had been watching them try to read the book. Hermione looked disappointed (How will I prepare for class?). Ron just looked puzzled. “This is very strange.”, he said. “I’ve never known such precautions for a textbook.”

“Well, with Vol…”

But Ron shushed him up and rushed them out of the store. “You have to be careful”, he cautioned, looking uncharacteristically serious. “The one thing I learned over the summer is that these are dangerous times… you never know who could be listening…” At this, both Hermione and Harry looked to see if more revelations were coming on how Ron spent his summer, but Ron would say no more on that topic.

…

After stopping at the Apothecary for Portion ingredients, Ron turned to Hermione, and asked in the same too-casual voice he’d used on Harry earlier “Want to get an ice cream, Hermione?”

Hermione blushed a little. “Sure”, she replied, “Harry – you coming?”

Not for all the money in the world, Harry thought. He didn’t want to be anywhere near when Ron asked Hermione if she visited Viktor Krum over the summer, and found out that she had indeed looked him up when she was in Eastern Europe. “I’m going to try to catch up with Fred and George”, he said. “I want to show them where this Quidditch training camp is… I’ll join you two later.” And he set off in the direction of Gambol and Japes, where he had last seen the twins.

He was almost at there when a flash of red hair caught his eye. Was it Fred? George? Whoever it was, he was walking furtively towards Knockturn Alley. Harry didn’t want to get in trouble, but he was really curious. What did the Weasley twins want at Knockturn Alley? They were definitely forbidden from going in there. Harry made a quick decision – and followed the mysterious Weasley in.

Just off Diagon Alley, whoever it was, stopped, drew a hood over his head and set off down Knockturn Alley. Harry caught a glimpse of the person in a shop window – all he had seen was red hair and glasses. Percy? Now he was definitely intrigued. Percy was supposed to be hard at work at the Ministry, what was he doing in Knockturn Alley? He was generally too concerned about his image to ever want to be seen there.

Harry set off behind Percy, taking some care not to be seen, and wishing he had his Invisibility Cloak with him. Thankfully, Knockturn Alley was reasonably crowded, and he could keep sight of Percy without having to follow him too closely. Percy didn’t seem like he was worried about being followed. He walked quickly past the witch selling her human fingernails, and entered a dark storefront. Harry squinted at the sign. “Cavall and Clark, Apothecary”, he read, and wondered if he dared follow Percy into the store. He peeped into the storefront.

Percy had entered and gone straight to the back of the store, where he was talking to a dark-haired, pale wizard. This was presumably either Mr. Cavall or Mr. Clark. Harry shuddered. The wizard looked like he had tried out his portion ingredients, with unpleasant results. His eyes twitched constantly, and he was drooling out of the side of his mouth. Flies were buzzing around him, but they didn’t seem to bother him at all. They were both intent on their conversation.

Harry decided to take a chance and enter the store. He would never find out what Percy was up to otherwise, and he could always claim he was lost if he was questioned. He pushed his hair down onto his forehead – he didn’t want to get recognized, and removed his glasses. This was the best disguise he could think of on the spot. Opening the door quietly, he slid in. The store was mercifully large, and the only two employees seemed to be the one talking to Percy and one other, who was attending to a witch with long fingernails that were painted black and red. Like Percy, she too had a hood that covered her hair. Harry slipped next to her, and strained to catch Percy’s conversation with the shifty-eyed wizard.

“Best I could do”, the wizard was saying, handing a small dark bottle over. “That’s 500 Galleons you owe me”.

Percy handed over a bag to the shopkeeper without comment. Where did Percy get 500 Galleons from, Harry wondered, amazed. The Weasleys were not rich, and 500 Galleons was an enormous sum of money.

“… need more”, Percy was murmuring quietly. “Can’t figure this stuff out, we go through it so fast…”

“… illegal… difficult to find a supplier…”, the wizard rejoined. “… don’t see you try to get some yourself, do you? No one wants to lead a cursed life…”

Harry had heard enough. His brain churning, he walked out of the store quickly. What could Percy be buying that was so expensive? And so difficult to get? He cast his mind about, trying to think of expensive portion ingredients. Hermione would know, he thought, but I can’t tell either Hermione or Ron that Percy was buying something illegal, I don’t want to get him in trouble. He hurried towards Gambol and Japes, thinking about what the wizard had said.

“No one wants to lead a cursed life…”, he had said. The only thing Harry knew that would cause a cursed life was killing a unicorn, and drinking its blood. What could Percy want with unicorn blood?” He tried to think of what Firenze, the centaur had told him in his first year.

“…a monstrous thing, to slay a unicorn. Only one who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a crime. The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips”

The only person that Harry knew of who had actually used unicorn blood was Voldemort. He had used it to keep himself alive until he could steal the Sorcerer’s Stone. Was it really unicorn blood that Percy had bought? Harry shuddered. He thought of the unicorn Malfoy and he had found in the Forbidden Forest, its legs sticking out at odd angles, so beautiful, but so sad. And he refused to that believe Percy would buy unicorn blood. Percy was ambitious, sure, and Harry was sure he would do a lot of things if it meant he could get ahead at the Ministry. He wanted to be powerful. But there was nothing wrong with that. He would not do something evil – Harry was sure of it. He desperately wanted to be sure of it.

…

Harry made his way back to Florean Fortesceau’s Ice Cream Parlor. He had tried to find the Weasley twins, but his mind was in a daze, and he didn’t search for them much. Hermione and Ron were sitting outside in the sun, but they weren’t talking to each other. There was a thick air of tension surrounding them. Seeing Harry, they both jumped to their feet.

“I’m going to try to find my parents”, Hermione mumbled, and rushed out, heading in the direction of the Leaky Cauldron. Harry turned to Ron, who was looking glum. “What happened?”, he asked, trying to sound sympathetic, but laughing at Ron’s expression.

“I can’t believe she visited Krum over the holidays”, Ron burst out. “What does she see in him anyway?”

“Come on, Ron, he’s only an internationally famous Seeker. Besides, he always seemed nice. Just a little quiet.”

“Great. Thanks, Harry”, Ron said moodily. “That’s all I need, both my best friends becoming founding members of the Viktor Krum Fan Club.”

“Cheer up, Ron”, Harry replied soothingly. “After all, Krum’s not in school with Hermione the whole year, is he? You are. ”

Ron brightened. “There is something to that”, he admitted. “Come on, let’s find Mum and Dad, go get your stuff and head back home”.

…

It was just after dinner, and Harry was sitting at the dining table, trying to summon enough energy to get up. Dinner had been delicious, and Harry had eaten way too much. The conversation had been lively and cheerful until Ron suddenly sank to his knees and proposed marriage to Hermione at the table. Hermione had turned pink, Fred and George had burst out laughing, Ginny was giggling and Harry who had really felt for Ron, still couldn’t stop a chuckle from escaping. Only Mrs. Weasley was not amused. “I’m ashamed of you two!”, she yelled at Fred and George, as Mr. Weasley whipping out his wand, pointed it at Ron and spoke - “Finite Incantum”. Ron turned fiery red as he slumped back in his seat and glared at Fred and George. “Almost fully trained wizards and you waste your time with pranks like this… why can’t you be more like Bill or Percy?”, Mrs. Weasley continued ranting. “Off to bed, and I don’t want to hear a whisper out of you two till the morning.”

Ron mumbled an embarrassed apology to Hermione. Harry turned to Mrs. Weasley, and asked innocently about Percy. “What’s Percy doing these days?”

Mr. Weasley had a frown on his face, but Mrs. Weasley beamed. “He’s in France for the Ministry, dear.”, she said fondly. “Something about International Cooperation. I think he’s soothing some ruffled feathers because Hogwarts won the Triwizard Cup…” At this, Harry had a sudden coughing fit. He didn’t think Mrs. Weasley would lie to him, and he was sure that it had been Percy he had seen in Knockturn Alley. So that could only mean Percy was lying to his parents. Suddenly, all Harry’s doubts about Percy, which he had pushed to the back of his mind, came flooding back. What would Percy do for power and glory? Would he join Voldemort?

Ron was inclined to be very quiet after dinner. He was still embarrassed about the proposal of marriage. “Wait till I get my hands on Fred and George”, he said angrily. “Honestly, I agree with my mom sometimes, that trick was just too much… Hermione must think I’m a total idiot!”

“It was just a trick, Ron, I’m sure Hermione doesn’t think any such thing.”, Harry said. Ron was looking upset, and still mortified at the memory of proposing to Hermione. “Harry, can you go talk to her?”

“And say what?”, Harry asked. He was comfortable, and slightly sleepy.

“Make something up, Harry. Just check on her, you know… say something good about me…”

“Ok”, Harry said reluctantly. He didn’t see the point of the whole thing, but Ron looked anxious. “I’ll talk to her…”

He made his way down the stairs and knocked on Ginny’s door. Ginny opened it, grinning. “Pretty funny, wasn’t it?”, she asked Harry. “Let me guess - Ron sent you to talk to Hermione?”

“How did you know?”, Harry asked surprised. “Because Hermione wanted me to go talk to Ron…”, Ginny replied, rolling her eyes. “Make sure he is alright… Crazy, these two. Go on, she’s awake. I’m off to comfort Ron…”

Harry made his way inside the room. Hermione was sitting on the edge of her bed. “I am going to kill Fred and George”, she said angrily. “That’s exactly what Ron said.”, Harry said, chuckling. “You alright?”

“I’m fine, but Fred and George are in trouble…”, Hermione said, still angry. “What a stupid trick to play!”

“I thought it was pretty funny”, Harry said mildly, and then ran from the room as Hermione threw a pillow at him. He made his way downstairs laughing, in all the commotion, he had quite forgotten to fill Hedwig’s bowl of water. Weird bubbling noises came from Fred and George’s room, as Harry passed their door. They didn’t seem too perturbed over being sent to their room, Harry thought. He grinned. An outright war with Ron and Hermione on one side, and Fred and George on the other ought to liven up his school year …

He was making his way out of the kitchen, when he heard a voice. It was Mr. Weasley. He sounded upset and angry.

“What the hell were you doing in Knockturn Alley?”, he asked. For a minute, Harry stood there, his heart pounding, thinking he had been seen. Then he realized that Mr. Weasley was facing the fireplace, and talking to Percy’s head in the flames.

“I had my reasons.”, Percy replied. “Some of what I do, I can’t tell even you about.”

“You were seen.”, Mr. Weasley replied, and now he just sounded tired. “Percy, you are walking a dangerous line… What you are doing could win you fame and fortune, indeed. But it makes you valuable to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I don’t approve of the whole thing, not at all. Maybe you don’t realize this, but this is how young Barty Crouch decided to join You-Know-Who.”

“Yes, I’ve heard that before.”, Percy said impatiently. “I can’t stay and chat – trust me, I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you?”, Mr.Weasley asked heavily. “I hope you do. It tore apart the Crouch family – I hope I will never have to do what Barty Crouch had to do to his own son…”

“Goodbye dad.”, Percy said, and his face disappeared from the fireplace. Mr. Weasley just sat there staring at the fire. He suddenly looked very old and haggard.

Harry’s heart was pounding as he climbed the stairs towards Ron’s room. He had seen and heard too much that day, and he couldn’t make any sense of it. From what Mr. Weasley was saying, it sounded like Percy was working on something that would help Voldemort. And this, in some way, had to do with the unicorn blood that Percy had bought at Cavall and Clarks. Harry hadn’t really thought about it, but where did Percy get 500 Galleons from? Ministry wizards were not paid that well, and the Weasleys weren’t rich by any means. Had he joined Voldemort for money?

Ron was asleep by the time Harry went back up, for which Harry was extremely grateful. His mind was going around in circles. He liked the Weasleys. Mrs. Weasley was like a mother to him, Mr. Weasley had always been kind to him and Ron was his best friend. But if Percy was doing something wrong, and Mr.Weasley didn’t want to tell anyone and betray his own son, maybe Harry should tell someone. Prof. Dumbledore, perhaps? The last thing he wanted to see was a Voldemort made more powerful by Percy’s doing. But was he ready to betray the people who were the closest family he had?