𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗘

ACT ONE, CHAPTER TWO
draco & diagon alley.

THE REST OF the summer holiday would've been more blissful and peaceful if it hadn't been ridden with stories of disappearances, odd accidents, and deaths.

Most of the days were spent playing three versus three Quidditch in the orchard of the Burrow (Penelope, Ron, and Ginny against Harry, Venus, and Hermione), enjoying stolen kisses with Ron, and eating a lot of food from Mrs. Weasley. However, their bright and sunny days suddenly turned into a rainstorm when Bill and Mr. Weasley brought home horrible news before it even reached the writing of the Prophet.

Harry's birthday was also plagued with such news. That night when he turned sixteen, the celebatory atmosphere of the Burrow was darkened by Remus Lupin, looking very gaunt and grim with his brown hair streaked with silver and his clothes severely patched. Penelope kept a very close eye on him — once again, for reasons she could not disclose.

"There have been another couple of Dementor attacks," Lupin announced as Mrs. Weasley passed him a large slice of birthday cake. "And they've found Igor Karkaroff's body in a shack up north. The Dark Mark had been set over it — well, frankly, I'm surprised he stayed alive for even a year after deserting the Death Eaters; Sirius' brother, Regulus, only managed a few days as far as I can remember."

Mrs. Weasley frowned. "Yes, well, perhaps we should talk about something diff—"

"Did you hear about Florean Fortescue, Remus?" Bill asked, who was currently being provided with wine from Fleur. "The man who ran—"

"—the ice cream place in Diagon Alley?" Harry interrupted. "He used to give me free ice creams. What's happened to him?"

"Dragged off, by the look of his place."

"Why?" Ron questioned as Mrs. Weasley glared at Bill.

"Who knows?" Bill replied. "He must've upset them somehow. He was a good man, Florean."

"Talking of Diagon Alley, looks like Ollivander's gone too," Mr. Weasley revealed.

"The wandmaker?" Ginny inquired, looking very startled.

"That's the one. Shop's empty. No sign of a struggle. No one knows whether he left voluntarily or was kidnapped."

"But what'll people do for wands?"

"They'll make do with other makers," Lupin answered. "But Ollivander was the best, and if the other side have got him it's not so good for us."

The day after that rather gloomy birthday tea, all of their letters and booklists arrived from Hogwarts. Penelope remembered last year, when she had opened up her last booklist to see her Prefect badge. She loved being a Prefect, but sharing the duty with her loser of a cousin . . . Merlin, Draco Malfoy could be such a bitch sometimes. Harry, however, also had a surprise similar to hers last year — he had been made Gryffindor Quidditch Captin.

"That gives you equal status with Prefects!" Hermione exclaimed happily. "You can use our special bathroom now and everything!"

Ron examined the badge with glee. "Wow, I remember when Charlie wore one of these. Harry, this is so cool, you're my Captain . . . if you let me back on the team, I suppose, ha ha . . ."

Penelope crossed her arms across her chest and leaned against the table. "You'll get back on the team, baby. You just need more . . . confidence." She raised an eyebrow. "Weasley is our King, remember?"

Mrs. Weasley then sighed as she looked down at at Ron's booklist. "Well, I don't suppose we can put off a trip to Diagon Alley much longer now you've got these. We'll go on Saturday as long as your father doesn't have to go into work again. I'm not going there without him."

Ron chuckled. "Mum, d'you honestly think You-Know-Who's going to be hiding behind a bookshelf in Flourish and Blotts?"

"Fortescue and Ollivander went on holiday, did they?" Mrs. Weasley demanded, instantly getting angry. "If you think security's a laughing matter you can stay behind and I'll get your things myself . . ."

"No, I wanna come, I want to see Fred and George's shop!"

"Then you just buck up your ideas, young man, before I decide you're too immature to come with us!" Mrs. Weasley then snatched up her clock — all nine hands still pointing at mortal peril — and balanced it on top of freshly laundered towels. "And that goes for returning to Hogwarts as well!"

Ron turned with wide eyes to look at Harry incredulously as his mother lifted up the laundry basket and teetering clock into her arms and stormed out of the room. "Blimey . . . you can't even make a joke round here anymore . . ." He then turned towards his girlfriend, who was trying to keep a straight face. "You, stop laughing."

"Me?" Penelope responded.. "No, I'm not laughing."

"You're totally laughing."

"And you're totally delusional."

However, Ron was careful not to be thoughtless about Voldemort about the next couple of days. Saturday came upon them with no more outbursts from Mrs. Weasley, although she seemed very tense at breakfast. Bill, who was staying home with Fleur (much to Hermione and Ginny's pleasure — please, Penelope just wanted them to fucking get over themselves), passed Harry a full money bag from across the table.

"Where's mine?" Ron ordered at once, his eyes wide.

"That's already Harry's, idiot," Bill replied. "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 . . . well, trust me, this way's easier."

Penelope nodded in agreement. When Ted and Andromeda had gotten gold for Penelope before she left for the Burrow, it did take them about five hours to finally go into the depths of Gringotts to their vault. She remembered how annoyed they were when they came home.

Harry pocketed his gold. "Thanks, Bill."

"'E is always so thoughtful," Fleur voiced adoringly, stroking Bill's nose.

Ginny mimed vomiting into her cereal behind Fleur. Penelope rolled her eyes — okay, now it was just getting bitchy.

The day was very murky and overcast. One of the special Ministry of Magic cars, like the ones they had ridden in to go to St. Mungo's during last Christmas except this one wasn't stolen by Mundungus Fletcher, was waiting for them in the front yard when they left the house while pulling on their cloaks.

"It's good Dad can get us these again," Ron stated appreciatevly, stretching out luxuriously in the roomy comfort of the wide backseat.

Penelope rolled her eyes in amusement at him. Ron then put his arm around her, making her smile and kiss his cheek quickly. The car moved smoothly away from the Burrow, where Bill and Fleur were waving goodbye from the kitchen window.

"Don't get used to it, it's only because of Harry," Mr. Wesley told him from over his shoulder. He was sitting up front with Mrs. Weasley and the Ministry driver. "He's been given top-grade security status. And we'll be joining up with additional security at the Leaky Cauldron too."

Penelope raised her eyebrow at Harry. "Hear that? You're special."

Harry pointed to her. "You, shut up."

"Here you are then," the driver announced a surprisingly short while later. This was the first time he had spoken, and he was currently slowing down on Charing Cross Road to stop outside of the Leaky Cauldron. "I'm to wait for you, any idea how long you'll be?"

"A couple of hours, I expect," Mr. Weasley answered. "Ah, good, he's here!"

Penelope then looked out the window. Sure enough, there were no Aurors waiting outside of the inn. Instead, there was the gigantic, black-bearded form of Rubeus Hagrid wearing a long beaverskin coat. He was beaming at the sight of Harry and was clearly oblivious to the startled stares of passing Muggles.

"Harry!" Hagrid shouted, bringing Harry into a bone-crushing hug the moment he stepped out of the car. Penelope laughed slightly, interlocking her hand with Ron's as they stepped out onto the sidewalk as well. "Buckbeak — Witherwings, I mean — yeh should see him, Harry, he's so happy ter be back in the open air—"

"Glad he's pleased," Harry responded with a grin as he massaged his ribs. "We didn't know security meant you!"

"I know, jus' like old times, innit? See, the Ministry wanted ter send a bunch o' Aurors, but Dumbledore said I'd do." Hagrid proudly puffed out his chest and tucked his thumbs into his pockets. "Lets get goin' then — after yeh, Molly, Arthur—"

The Leaky Caludron, for probably the first time, was empty. Only Tom the landlord remained. He looked up hopefully as they entered, which kind of made Penelope's heart twist.

"Jus' passin' through today, Tom, sure yeh understand, Hogwarts business, yeh know," Hagrid explained.

Tom gave him a gloomy nod and returned to wiping glasses. Meanwhile, Penelope, Harry, Venus, Hermione, Hagrid, and the Weasleys walked straight through the bar and out into the small, chilly courtyard at the back where the dustbins were. Hagrid raised his pink umbrella and rapped at a certain brick in the wall. It opened at once and formed an archway onto a winding cobbled street. They stepped through the entrance and paused to look around.

Penelope instantly frowned. This was not the Diagon Alley she knew. The place that was so full of life was . . . dying. All of the colorful, glittering window displays of spellbooks, potion ingredients, and cauldrons were not there, and were instead hidden by large Ministry of Magic posters. Most of the purple posters were enlarged versions of security advice that had been on the Ministry pamphlets sent out over the summer. Others showed moving black and white photographs of Death Eaters known to be on the loose. Penelope wasn't surprised to see her own mother on there — Bellatrix Lestrange was probably the most notorious Death Eater out there. However, it definitely still made her unsettled, because the smirk Bellatrix was wearing reminded Penelope of her own. She shook it off and tightened her grip on Ron's hand, forcing herself to look away.

A couple of the windows were boarded up, Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor being one of them. Along with that were a number of shabby-looking stalls lining the street. The one closest to them, which was outside Flourish and Blotts, was under a striped and stained awning. The cardboard sign pinned to the front was reading some bullshit that these amulets could protect them against Dark creatures.

"One for your little girl, madam?" a seedy-looking little wizard called at Mrs. Weasley as they passed, leering at Ginny while rattling armfuls of silver symbols on chains. "Protect her pretty neck?"

"If I were on duty . . ." Mr. Weasley trailed off, sending an angry glare to the amulet seller.

"Yes, but don't go arresting anyone now, dear, we're in a hurry," Mrs. Weasley reminded him, nervously consulting a list. "I think we'd better do Madam Malkin's first, Hermione wants new dress robes, Penelope wants a new tie, I think Venus wants another pin, and Ron's showing much too much ankle in his school robes, and you must need new ones too, Harry, you've grown so much — come on, everyone—"

Penelope nudged Ron's ribs with her elbow. "Yeah, Ron, your ankles are too scandalous to be shown."

Ron sighed. "Sometimes I wonder why I'm dating you."

"It's because I'm irresistible."

"Molly, it doesn't make sense for all of us to go to Madam Malkin's," Mr. Weasley admitted. "Why don't those five go with Hagrid, and we can go to Flourish and Blotts and get everyone's school books?"

"I don't know," Mrs. Weasley voiced anxiously, obviously torn between wanting to finish shopping quickly or sticking together. "Hagrid, do you think—?"

"Don't fret, they'll be fine with me, Molly," Hagrid reassured her, waving her off.

Mrs. Weasley didn't look fully convinced, but she allowed them to separate. While she scurried off to Flourish and Blotts with Mr. Weasley and Ginny, Penelope, Ron, Harry, Venus, Hermione, and Hagrid went to go to Madam Malkin's. Penelope also realized that many of the people who passed them had the same nervous looks as Mrs. Weasley. Nobody was stopping to talk anymore and all the shoppers stayed together in their own tight knit groups. Not once did Penelope see anyone shopping alone.

"Migh' be a bit of a squeeze in there with all of us," Hagrid said, pausing to stop outside of Madam Malkin's and bending down to look through the window. "I'll stand guard outside, all right?"

Penelope sent him a quick nod before walking into the shop with the others. At first glance, it seemed to be empty — oh, how wrong that was. Because once the door swung shut behind them, Penelope heard a very familiar voice coming from a rack of dress robes, one that she was trying to avoid hearing until she got to Hogwarts.

". . . not a child, in case you haven't noticed, Mother. I am perfectly capable of doing my shopping alone," the voice was saying.

Madam Malkin clucked her tongue on the roof of her mouth in a disapproving manner. "Now, dear, your mother's quite right, none of us is supposed to go wandering around on our own anymore, it's nothing to do with being a child—"

"Watch where you're sticking that pin, will you!"

Draco Malfoy then emerged from behind the rack, wearing a handsome set of dark green robes that was glittering with pins around the hem and edges of the sleeves. He only noticed them when he went to the mirror to examine himself and saw their group in the reflection. His light gray eyes narrowed.

"If you're wondering what the smell is, Mother, a Mudblood just walked in," Draco announced.

"Merlin, Draco, just drop it," Penelope instructed, glaring at him. She then noticed Ron and Harry reaching for their wands and rounded on them. "If you pull out your wands right now, I swear I will drop kick you out of this store. Do not make this worse. Let me handle it."

"I don't think there's any need for language like that!" Madam Malkin exclaimed, running out from behind the clothes rack holding a tape measurer and a wand. "And I don't want wands drawn in my shop either!"

"No, don't, honestly, it's not worth it," Hermione whispered to the two boys — Ron was still contemplating after Penelope's threat, and Harry was in the middle of trying to be contained by Venus.

"Yeah, like you'd dare do magic out of school," Draco sneered. "Who blacked your eye, Granger? I want to send them flowers."

"Shut up, Draco," Penelope told him. "I've had enough of you bullying my friends. For once in your life, just be quiet."

Draco's eyes then flickered down to her and Ron's intertwined hands. "It still doesn't make sense how you're dating such a blood traitor, Penelope. You should've done the right thing and accept my invite to the Manor this summer. Yet instead you went to their dump of a house."

"Why would I voluntarily go to a place where I know my mother is hiding?" Penelope questioned. "To be honest, seeing Bellatrix again is not number one on my list."

"That's quite enough!" Madam Malkin ordered sharply, looking over her shoulder for support. "Madam, please!"

Narcissa Malfoy then strolled out from behind the clothes rack. Penelope's heart momentarily stopped at the resemblance to Bellatrix, but then calmed down upon noticing the resemblance to Andromeda.

Penelope smiled bitterly at her. "Hi, Aunt Narcissa. Have a good reunion with my mother?"

Narcissa stared at her intently. "I'm not sure what you mean, little Penelope. I haven't seen my sister since she got locked away in Azkaban almost fourteen years ago."

"Little Penelope?" Penelope repeated, the nickname sending shivers down her spine. "Were you aware that only Bellatrix calls me that? You've never called me that until now, only when she's out of Azkaban . . . huh, what a coincidence."

Madam Malkin squealed and clutched at her heart. "Really, you shouldn't accuse — dangerous thing to say—"

"It's not accusing if it's true." Penelope kept her gaze on her aunt. "So, let me ask you. Where is my mother hiding in your Manor? The basement? The cellar? One of the hidden bedrooms?"

Narcissa's expression remained stony. "I can assure you that my sister is nowhere to be found in my house."

Lie.

Penelope then rounded on her cousin. "Draco? Is that true?"

Their eyes locked. Even from so far away, she could see the truth swimming in them. Where else would Bellatrix could have gone?

"No," Draco answered.

Lie, but telling Penelope the truth at the same time.

She nodded. "Let's hope I don't find out otherwise."

Madam Malkin then bent towards Draco again. "I think this left sleeve could come up a little bit more, dear, let me just—"

"Ouch!" Draco suddenly bellowed and slapped her hand away. "Watch where you're putting your pins, woman! Mother — I don't think I want these anymore—"

He then pulled the robes over his head and threw them in a pile on the floor at Madam Malkin's feet.

Narcissa sent a contemptuous glance at Hermione. "You're right, Draco, now I know the kind of scum that shops here . . . we'll do better at Twilfitt and Tatting's." She then glanced to Penelope. "Family first, Penelope. Remember that."

With that, the pair strode out of the shop. Penelope gave them harsh looks as they exited. Family first — yeah, right. Draco took extra care to knock his shoulder into Ron's as hard as he could on the way out. She went to leave to go yell at him again, but honestly, she didn't want to waste her breath. Draco had the chance to be a good person, and he seemed to just be throwing it all away.

"Well, really!" Madam Malkin yelled, picking up the fallen robes and moving the tip of her wand over them so it removed all the dust.

She seemed to be so distracted all through the fitting of Ron and Harry's new robes, tried to sell Hermione's wizard's dress robes instead of witch's, almost gave Penelope a Gryffindor tie instead of a Slytherin one, and almost poked Venus with a pin. Finally, they left the shop, and Madam Malkin seemed glad about that.

"Got ev'rything?" Hagrid questioned brightly once they were outside.

"Just about," Harry responded. "Did you see the Malfoys?"

Hagrid looked unconcerned. "Yeah. Bu they wouldn' dare make trouble in the middle o' Diagon Alley, Harry. Don' worry about them."

The group of five all exchanged looks. Before they could tell Hagrid about what happened in there, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny appeared, all clutching heavy packages of books.

"Everyone all right?" Mrs. Weasley inquired. "Got your robes? Right then, we can pop in at the Apothecary and Eeylops on the way to Fred and George's — stick close, now . . ."

Penelope got some more ingredients at the Apothecary. After getting an O on her O.W.L. exam for Potions, it was guaranteed that she was in Snape's N.E.W.T. class. She then went on to buy a large box of owl nuts for Annabeth at the Owl Emporium. Finally, with Mrs. Weasley checking her watch about every minute, they headed farther down the street in search of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Fred and George's new joke shop.

"We really haven't got too long," Mrs. Weasley revealed. "So we'll just have a quick look around and then back to the car. We must be close, that's number ninety-two . . . ninety-four . . ."

"Woah," Ron let out as he stopped in his tracks.

He was right. Unlike the dull and poster-muffled shop fronts around them, Fred and George's windows were bright and colorful. Casual passerby looked over their shoulders at the windows and a few rather stunned people actually came to a transfixed halt. The left window was dazzlingly full of an assortment of goods that revolved, popped, flashed, bounced, and shrieked. On the right window, there was a gigantic purple poster with flashing yellow letters that read something about U-No-Poo. Penelope smiled to herself. Even in the darkest of times, the Weasley twins always seemed to be the light that could remind people of happiness.

Mrs. Weasley was obviously not amused by the poster like the rest of them. "They'll be murdered in their beds!"

"No they won't!" Ron responded, laughing along with Harry. "This is brilliant!"

With her hand latched tightly in Ron's, Penelope followed him, Harry, and Venus into the shop. It was packed with so many people that they weren't able to get anywhere near the shelves. Penelope looked around in wonder at all of the boxes piled to the ceiling. There were Skiving Snackboxes (with the Nosebleed Nougat being the most popular), bins full of trick wands (the cheapest being the ones that only turned into rubber chickens when waved and the most expensive ones that beat the user around the head and neck), and boxes of quills that came in varieties of Self-Inking, Spell-Checking, and Smart-Answer. A space cleared in the crowd, and their small group pushed their way to the counter where a couple of ten-year-olds were watching a tiny little wooden man slowly ascend the steps to a real set of gallows. Both of them were perched on a box that read something about a Reusable Hangman.

Hermione then managed to squeeze through to a large display near the counter, reading information on the back of a box that showed a highly colored picture of a handsome youth and swooning girl standing on the deck of a pirate ship. "Patented Daydream Charms . . . One simple incantation and you will enter a top-quality, highly realistic, thirty-minute daydream, easy to fit into the average school lesson and virtually undetectable (side effects include vacant expression and minor drooling). Not for sale to under-sixteens." Hermione looked up at them. "You know, that really is extraordinary magic!"

"For that, Hermione, you can have one for free," a familiar voice then said from behind them.

Penelope turned with a smile. A beaming Fred Weasley was standing before them, wearing a set of magenta robes that clashed actually very well with his flaming red hair.

"How are you, Harry?" Fred continued. They shook hands. "Ah, isn't it our very own Slytherin."

"Hi, Fred," Penelope stated. "This place is fucking insane."

"Thanks. And what's happened to your eye, Hermione?"

"Your punching telescope," Hermione answered.

"Oh blimey, I forgot about those. Here—" Fred then pulled a tub out of his pocket and handed it to her. She gently unscrewed it to reveal a thick yellow paste. "Just dab it on, that bruise'll be gone within the hour. We had to find a decent bruise remover. We're testing most of our products on ourselves."

Hermione looked nervous. "It is safe, isn't it?"

"Course it is," Fred replied. "Come on, Harry, I'll give you a tour."

Hermione began to dab her black eye with the paste while Harry followed Fred towards the back of the shop. Penelope then let go of Ron's hand and linked her arm with Venus'.

"Let's go back to those Patented Daydream Charms, yeah?" Penelope inquired. "I'm sure Ginny is still over there."

"Leaving me to fend for myself, are you?" Ron called after her as they walked away.

"You'll survive!"

Sure enough, Ginny was still looking at those boxes, and Hermione joined them about a minute later after putting the paste on her eye. The group began to excitedly talk about it — Penelope and Venus would obviously never use them because they had boyfriends, but it was still really interesting.

Fred then reappeared with Harry. "Haven't you girls found our special WonderWitch products yet? Follow me, ladies . . ."

Near the window was an array of shockingly pink products. Around it was a cluster of exited girls who were giggling enthusiastically. Penelope hung back, along with the other three girls. All of them looked a little wary.

"There you go," Fred voiced proudly. "Best range of love potions you'll find anywhere."

Ginny raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Do they work?"

"Certainly they work, for up to twenty-four hours at a time depending on the weight of the boy in question—"

"—and the attractiveness of the girl," George finished, suddenly showing up. He then became very stern. "But we're not selling them to our sister, not when she's already got about five boys on the go from what we've—"

"Whatever you've heard from Ron is a big fat lie," Ginny replied calmly, leaning forwards to pick a small pink pot off the shelf. "What's this?"

Penelope sighed. "I'm definitely going to have another talk with him. Over-exaggerating bitch."

"Guaranteed ten-second pimple vanisher," Fred explained. "Excellent on everything from boils to blackheads, but don't change the subject. Are you or are you not currently going out with a boy called Dean Thomas?"

"Yes, I am," Ginny responded. "And last time I looked, he was definitely one boy, not five. What are those?"

She was pointing to a number of round balls of fluff in shades of pink and purple. All of them were rolling around the bottom of a cage while emitting high-pitched squeaks. They were adorable. Penelope wanted one, but she wasn't sure how Annabeth would feel about her getting another pet. Her owl could tend to get quite jealous at times.

"Pygmy Puffs," George announced. "Miniature Puffskeins, we can't breed them fast enough. So what about Michael Corner?"

"I dumped him, he was a bad loser," Ginny answered, putting her finger through the bars of the cage and watching as the Pygmy Puffs crowded around it. "They're really cute!"

Penelope nodded, impressed. "As you should."

"They're fairly cuddly, yes," Fred continued. "But you're moving through boyfriends a bit fast, aren't you?"

Ginny turned to look at him, her hands on her hips and a very Mrs. Weasley-like glare on her face. "It's none of your business. And I'll thank you—" she added angrily to Ron, who had just appeared at George's side while carrying loads of merchandise "—not to tell tales about me to these two!"

Penelope nodded and looked at her boyfriend. "Yeah, for real. Spreading rumors about your sister is not nice, Ron. What did we say about manners?"

Fred then examined the many boxes in Ron's arms. "That's three Galleons, nine Sickles, and a Knut. Cough up."

"I'm your brother!" Ron protested.

"And that's our stuff you're nicking. Three Galleons, nine Sickles. I'll knock off the Knut."

"But I haven't got three Galleons, nine Sickles!"

"You'd better put it back then, and mind you put it on the right shelves."

Ron dropped several boxes, let out a swear, and gave the middle finger to Fred. It was unfortunately spotted by Mrs. Weasley, who had chosen just that moment to appear. Penelope let out a small laugh before covering her mouth with her hand to muffle out the noise. Ron glared at her, and she sent a raised eyebrow back.

"If I see you do that again I'll jinx your fingers together," Mrs. Weasley warned sharply.

"Mum, can I have a Pygmy Puff?" Ginny asked at once.

"A what?"

"Look, they're so sweet . . ."

Mrs. Weasley moved aside to look at the Pygmy Puffs. Penelope, Ron, Harry, Venus, and Hermione now had a view out the window. Her eyebrows knit in confusion as she watched Draco hurry up the street alone. He glanced over his shoulder while passing Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, and in the span of a second, he moved beyond the window and they lost sight of him. What was he doing?

Harry frowned. "Wonder where his mummy is?"

"Given her the slip by the looks of it," Ron stated.

"Why, though?" Hermione questioned.

Penelope also agreed. In no way would Narcissa let Draco out of her sight that willingly. He must have managed to escape her with a lot of pleading and great effort.

Harry then pulled out a silvery cloak out of his back. "Get under here, quick."

Penelope blinked. "Is that your Invisibility Cloak?"

"Yes, now get under."

Venus made a protest, but nobody really seemed as concerned as her or Hermione.

"Come on!" Ron urged.

It was a tight squeeze, but the five of them ducked under the cloak. Nobody seemed to notice them vanish, since they were all too interested in Fred and George's products. Penelope, Ron, Harry, Venus, and Hermione all squeezed their way out of the door as they could. However, by the time they got to the straight, Draco had disappeared.

"He was going in that direction," Harry murmured. "C'mon."

They moved along, looking left and right through shop windows and doors.

Hermione then pointed ahead. "That's him, isn't it? Turning left?"

"Big surprise," Ron whispered.

Draco had glanced around before sliding into Knockturn Alley, and then going out of sight again. Penelope tilted her head. She was just so confused.

"Quick, or we'll lose him," Harry insisted, picking up his pace.

"Our feet'll be seen!" Hermione voiced anxiously, for the cloak was flapping a little around all of their ankles.

"It doesn't matter. Just hurry!"

Even Knockturn Alley, the side street that was devoted to the Dark Arts, looked completely deserted. None of the shops that they peered into seemed to have any customers at all. But, then again, buying Dark artifacts in Dark times would be pretty suspicious.

"Wait," Penelope said quietly, suddenly noticing Draco's familiar figure in a shop. "Guys, look. He's in there."

They had reached Borgin and Burkes, which clearly sold a wide variety of sinister objects. Standing in the midst of the cases full of skulls and old bottles was Draco with his back to them, just visible beyond a large black cabinet. Judging by the movements of his hands, he was talking animatedly. Who Penelope guessed to be Mr. Borgin, the owner of the shop, was standing facing Draco with a curious expression of resentment and fear.

"If only we could hear what they're saying!" Hermione muttered.

"We can!" Ron revealed excitedly. "Hang on — damn—" He dropped a couple more boxes he was holding before fumbling with the largest. "Extendable Ears, look!"

"Fantastic!" Hermione told him as Ron unraveled the long, flesh-colored strings and began to move them towards the bottom of the door. "Oh, I hope the door isn't Imperturbable—"

"No! Listen!"

They all put their heads together and listened intently to the ends of the strings.

Draco's voice was heard loud and clear. " . . . you know how to fix it?"

"Possibly," Borgin replied in a tone that told Penelope he didn't really want to. "I'll need to see it, though. Why don't you bring it into the shop?"

"I can't. It's got to stay put. I just need you to tell me how to do it."

Borgin licked his lips nervously. "Well, without seeing it, I must say it will be a very difficult job, perhaps impossible. I couldn't guarantee anything."

"No?" Draco sneered — please, Penelope knew him well enough to know that he was without actually seeing him. "Perhaps this will make you more confident."

He moved towards Borgin and was blocked from view by the large black cabinet. Their group of five shuffled sideways to try and keep him in their line of vision, but all they could see was a very frightened Borgin.

"Tell anyone and there will be retribution," Draco threatened. "You know Fenrir Greyback? He's a family friend. He'll be dropping in from time to time to make sure you're giving the problem your full attention."

"Greyback?" Penelope repeated to herself. "What the fuck is he going on about?"

"There will be no need for—" Borgin began.

"I'll decide that," Draco cut in. "Well, I'd better be off. And don't forget to keep that one safe, I'll need it."

"Perhaps you'd like to take it now?"

"No, of course I wouldn't, you stupid, little man, how would I look carrying that down the street? Just don't sell it."

"Of course not . . . sir," Borgin agreed, bowing deep at Draco.

"Not a word to anyone, Borgin, and that includes my mother, understand?" Draco demanded.

"Naturally, naturally," Borgin murmured, bowing again.

The next moment, the bell over the door rang loudly. Penelope watched, her mind spinning, as Draco walked out of the shop looking very pleased with himself. He passed so close to them that they all felt the cloak flutter around them again. Inside the shop, Borgin remained frozen, now looking worried instead of having a fake smle on his face.

"What was that about?" Ron whispered as he reeled in the Extendable Ears.

"Dunno," Harry answered. "He wants something mended . . . and he wants to reserve something in there . . . could you see what he pointed at when he said that one?"

"No, he was behind that cabinet—"

Penelope sighed. "I'm absolutely out of my fucking mind." She looked to the others. "Stay here. I mean it."

She ducked out from underneath the cloak, ignoring the sharp whispers of Penelope! from behind her. In the reflection of the glass, she fluffed up her hair to make it more look voluminous — or to make it more unruly, like Bellatrix's — and then lifted her chin up high, giving an impression of I think I'm better than everyone else. Penelope then entered the shop with such confidence that would make anyone cower against the walls of the room.

"Borgin," she greeted coldly.

He looked up at her suspiciously. Borgin didn't say a word as Penelope began to wander around the shop. The sound of her footsteps was the loudest thing in the room. Finally, she stopped in front of a pretty opal necklace that was in a glass case.

She pointed to it. "Is this for sale?"

"If you've got one and a half thousand Galleons," Borgin replied in the same cold tone Penelope had used.

Penelope arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "What makes you say I don't? I can go down to my vault and get some no problem, if you'd like."

He stared at her wearily. "Who are you?"

"You don't happen to recognize a member of one of the most prestigious families in the Wizarding World? The name's Penelope. Penelope Lestrange." She smirked at the way Borgin recoiled in fear at the mention of her last name — it didn't make her feel good, but she had to keep up the act. "I would watch your tone if I were you, Borgin. With my mother being out of Azkaban and everything, she might just pay you a visit for downgrading someone from her bloodline, nevertheless her own daughter."

"T-That was not my intention, Miss Lestrange," Borgin stuttered. "But I cannot sell the necklace to you. My deepest apologies. You can have a look around at something else if you'd like."

"No, I think I'm all right," Penelope responded bitterly. "I'd rather shop somewhere where I'm not disrespected."

With that, she turned and left the shop with the same confidence as when she entered, her black curls billowing behind her. She walked until she wasn't visible to Borgin anymore — who had also put up the closed sign on the door. Penelope stopped and waited for the other four to catch up. Once they did, they pulled off the Invisibility Cloak to reveal faces of amazement.

"How did you learn such confidence?" Hermione inquired.

Penelope scoffed. "When you've been a Slytherin for the past six years, along with being raised from a member of the Black family, you kind of pick up on some things. Plus, I've told you before — I can be a stone cold bitch if I need to." She then glanced around the dark alley. "We'd better get back. This place gives me the creeps."

Ron took her hand again. "You did great in there."

"Thanks, love."

Once they reached Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes again, all of them had to sneak in and dodge undetected around a very anxious Mrs. Weasley and Hagrid, who had clearly noticed their absence. Their group, all joining back together as one in front of Mrs. Weasley, to answer here accusations and debunk them by saying that they had been in the back room all along and that she could not have looked properly.

However, Penelope was still lost in thought. She had no idea what had just happened, and it definitely making her worried for Draco.

☆ 彡

yeah I changed up the madam malkin's scene sue me