Chapter 266 - Deserted Diagon Alley (1/2)
Saturday dawned and Mrs Weasley became less and less cheerful. She even seemed very tense at breakfast Saturday morning. Bill, who would be staying at home with Fleur (much to Ginny's displeasure), passed two full money bag across the table to Chris and Harry.
”Where's mine?” demanded Ron at once, his eyes wide.
”That's already theirs', idiot,” said Bill. ”I got it out of your vault for you, Harry, because it's taking about five hours for the public to get to their gold at the moment, the goblins have tightened security so much. Two days ago Arkie Philpott had a Probity Probe stuck up his . . . Anyway, Chris, I changed the money your father send you in Muggle way, Sirius gave it to me, a few days ago. . . Well, trust me, this way's easier than standing in lines for days. . .”
”Yeah, I know. Sirius told me,” said Chris pouring the gold in her small purse. ”Thanks, Bill.”
”Thanks, Bill,” said Harry, pocketing his gold.
”'E is always so thoughtful,” purred Fleur adoringly, stroking Bill's nose. Ginny mimed vomiting into her cereal behind Fleur. Chris shook her head in disapproval and Ginny rolled her eyes.
It was an overcast, murky day. One of the special Ministry of Magic cars, in which Chris had ridden once before, was awaiting them in the front yard when they emerged from the house, pulling on their cloaks.
”It's good Dad can get us these again,” said Ron appreciatively, stretching luxuriously as the car moved smoothly away from the Burrow, Bill and Fleur waving from the kitchen window. He, Harry, Hermione, Chris and Ginny were all sitting in roomy comfort in the wide backseat.
”Don't get used to it, it's only because of Harry,” said Mr Weasley over his shoulder. He and Mrs Weasley were in front with the Ministry driver; the front passenger seat had obligingly stretched into what resembled a two-seater sofa. ”He's been given top-grade security status. And we'll be joining up with additional security at the Leaky Cauldron too.”
”I am glad they have no idea about the legend,” whispered Chris to Harry.
”Lucky you,” muttered Harry. ”I don't fancy doing my shopping while surrounded by a battalion of Aurors.”
”Here you are, then,” said the driver, a surprisingly short while later, speaking for the first time as he slowed in Charing Cross Road and stopped outside the Leaky Cauldron. ”I'm to wait for you, any idea how long you'll be?”
”A couple of hours, I expect,” said Mr Weasley. ”Ah, good, they're here!”
Chris imitated Mr Weasley and peered through the window; her heart leapt. There were no Aurors waiting outside the inn, but a girl with straggly, waist-length, dirty-blond hair, very pale eyebrows, and protuberant eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look, wearing pale-white robes. Beside her were two boys, one a lot taller than the other one, but both had the same kind of mousy-hair, brown eyes and some freckles on the face, dressed in sweatshirts and pants; and behind them stood two figures, one a tall, handsome young man in a black formal robe and other was a gigantic, black-bearded man, wearing a long beaverskin coat. All of them were beaming at Chris and others.
”Luna! Colin! Cedric! Hagrid?” Chris was surprised and confused at the same time as they made their way to her. ”Wait, you are not Harry's 'security', are you?” Chris nudged Colin, teasingly. Harry rolled his eyes at her and Colin laughed.
”No, they are not but we are,” said Cedric, giving a one-arm hug to Chris. ”Me and Hagrid.”
”See, the Ministry wanted ter send a bunch o' Aurors, but Dumbledore said I'd do,” said Hagrid proudly, throwing out his chest and tucking his thumbs into his pockets.
”And I am the newest Order member and an employee of the new Muggle Observers department in Ministry,” said Cedric smiling. ”Dumbledore called me today to bring Luna, Colin and Denis; and asked me to stay with you all. He knows you all will prefer us than a bunch of serious-looking Aurors.”
”That's true,” Harry beamed.
”Let's get goin' then — after yeh, Molly, Arthur —” Hagrid led the group towards the Leaky Cauldron.
The Leaky Cauldron was, for the first time in Chris' memory, completely empty. Only Tom the landlord, wizened and toothless was there. He looked up hopefully as they entered, but before he could speak, Hagrid said importantly, ”Jus' passin' through today, Tom, sure yeh understand, Hogwarts business, yeh know.”
Tom nodded gloomily and returned to wiping glasses. Chris remembered her first visit to Diagon Alley with her father and a not formed in her stomach, as they walked through the bar and out into the chilly little courtyard at the back where the dustbins stood. Hagrid raised his pink umbrella and rapped a certain brick in the wall, which opened at once to form an archway onto a winding cobbled street. They stepped through the entrance and paused, looking around.