24: A Little Shopping

Chapter 24: A Little Shopping

After spending more than an hour hashing out details on the containment charms, and taking a few tries with Bill there to correct them if they did it wrong, Hermione felt confident they were ready to take on the Horcrux. She and Ron would work together to cast and hold up the containment shield as their combined effort would make the shield stronger and less likely to waver.

Over the past few days Harry had been practicing the spell needed to denature the locket, so now they only had to decide where to do it. Several locations had been considered and rejected from the Forbidden Forest near school grounds, to the Weasley paddock, to Stone Henge. It had to be somewhere they wouldn't be happened upon accidentally, it needed to be large enough to contain any possible backlash and . . . The list of requirements was so long the three of them hadn't been able to agree on a single location.

After Flooing back to Mrs. Figg's fireplace, the three of them headed back to the tent. "So now we just need to figure out where," Ron said.

"Any new ideas?" Hermione asked, mentally thumbing through the possibilities again.

"Maybe." Harry ran a hand through his unruly hair, but said nothing more.

Hermione eyed him up and down, waited for him to speak, then grew irritated when they reached the tent and he still hadn't said anything. "Where is it?"

"I'm not sure. I mean, I haven't seen it, so I don't know if it will fit the bill or not, but I guess it's mine, so we could do as we pleased if it fits the criteria." He muttered under his breath, moving around the living room, running his fingers over the binding of the scrap book of his parents' pictures that Hagrid put together for Harry during his first year at Hogwarts. "It might not work at all...it depends."

"What is it?" Ron asked with a huff of irritation.

"We were going to go there anyway. It'll just be a matter of moving the time up a bit, and not all that much either. If not, we can always look at other places."

Though he was still speaking to himself, muttering in a barely understandable volume, Hermione thought she knew what he had in mind and appreciated the poetic justice. But as they had no idea what the place looked like, it would be best to take a look around before making any firm decisions. "Do you know where it is, what the boundaries are, or should we ask Remus to take us out?"

"Better get Remus to take us for a quick jaunt. Just a friendly visit, mind...to get some closure, take a look around. If we're going to do it there, we'll want to go back alone." Harry sat in an overstuffed chair and ran a finger over his scar. "And it might not be suitable at all. We'll have to see."

Ron looked back and forth between them as if waiting for one of them to clue him in. "Did I miss something? Where are you talking about?"

"Godric's Hollow." Harry stood and walked over to the ice box, pulled out a bottle of butterbeer and returned to his seat. "I guess we'll need to write to Remus and see if he's available."

"The full moon is past, so we should be able to get him to take us fairly soon." Hermione grabbed her own bottle of butterbeer and one for Ron, tossing it to him.

"The sooner the better, I say. It gives me the screaming abdabs just knowing Harry's carrying a bit of that ruddy git's soul in his pocket." Ron twisted off the cap and took a long draw from the bottle.

"Tell me about it." Harry sat up when Hermione brought him a parchment and quill to write to Remus with.

"Then get to it."

*****

It was the next morning before they received a written response from Remus. He didn't have time to spare until after Bill and Fleur's wedding, but promised to take them out the day after. He set the time for one in the afternoon, and Harry was quick to write back that it would work great for them, even though all three would rather get it over before then.

"Well, since we won't be heading out there today, how about a trip to Diagon Alley? I have a few things I need to pick up." Hermione's suggestion was met with enthusiastic approval from the boys, who were anxious to get out of their scheduled study time and stretch their legs in the wizarding world.

When breakfast was cleaned up and Hermione had made Harry and Ron help her straighten things up around the tent a bit, she grabbed her list of potion ingredients and they headed out to Mrs. Figg's to Floo over. Hermione cast Disillusionment Charms on them before they left the tent, not wanting an entourage of Aurors following them along.

When they reached Mrs. Figg's back door, Hermione was grateful to find the old woman gone, probably out buying more cat food. She tapped her wand on the back door and chanted the password to open the door, then led the boys in. When she was sure the door had sealed behind them, Hermione led them to the Floo, and then to the Leaky Cauldron.

Despite the waves of fear that had flowed through the magical community after the attack at Hogwarts, there were still plenty of people walking through Diagon Alley. Fewer than usual, but it wasn't deserted. Pedestrians kept close watch on their surroundings and traveled in groups of two or more now instead of single people wandering around for a casual afternoon of shopping, but they didn't stay holed up in their homes like Hermione had feared.

Before making a trip to Gringott's for funds, Hermione allowed the boys to drag her to the nearby broom store to look at the newest models and check out the latest Quidditch gear. Hermione kept a close eye on the boys, noticing what each of them exclaimed over, making mental notes for future birthday and Christmas presents.

This mental note taking was the only thing that kept her from getting bored in under two minutes. Still, she was ready to leave the store at least ten minutes before she could drag Ron and Harry out. She figured it would be more than compensated for when they reached the apothecary and she began picking out potion ingredients.

Speaking of which. "Hey," she began when they were once again on their way toward Gringott's and there was some space between themselves and others along the street. "I've been working on details for this Potions project." She stopped when they both groaned aloud.

"Come on, it's bad enough we're stuck making healing potions while everyone else is in meetings without doing more in our spare time. How is studying Potions going to prepare us for battle?" Ron rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, it's a waste of our time, that's what."

Glaring at the two of them, Hermione let out a huff of irritation. "Well, in case you've forgotten, Ron, it was a potion that kept the two of us, and Ginny, Neville and Luna from being hurt or even killed in that battle at the school."

Harry stopped and turned to look at Hermione, disbelief on his face mingled with admiration. "You're going to try and make..."

"Not so loud, will you?" Hermione interrupted him.

Ron stepped up so they were in a little huddle on the side of the street. "You're gonna make Felix Felicis? But I thought that was supposed to be bloody difficult."

"And dangerous, yes," Hermione answered, wondering what kind of spectacle they were making for everyone who could see them. "But then Polyjuice was about three years too advanced for us in second year and it turned out fine. I need to do a tiny bit more research." Asking her Potions-expert husband could be considered research, right? "And we have to find somewhere to make it where it won't be interrupted. I would say Headquarters, but there are far too many people running in and out of there. Unless we can find a place where no one else goes." She nudged them both and they began walking again.

"That could be a trick." Harry stuffed his hands back in his pockets as they walked up the steps to the bank and got into line.

By mutual silent consent, they didn't speak of the potion any more while they were waiting for their turn on the roller coaster-like carts. There were still a couple people ahead of them in line when Bill hailed them from the side. "Ron, Harry, Hermione, you didn't mention you were heading into town."

The three of them turned and looked, smiling as Bill approached. Hermione noticed a woman flinch when she looked at Bill's once-handsome face, which now had several long scars running diagonally across it. Inured to the surprise of his scars now, Hermione only smiled and greeted him back.

"Hadn't planned on it. Just decided spur of the moment this morning," Harry said, clasping Bill's hand.

Bill gave them each a serious look. "Give your watchers the slip, or did they follow you here?" He glanced around the cavernous building nonchalantly, and Hermione knew he was looking for their guards.

Busted.

Hermione shrugged. "I don't know where they are, but we Flooed straight to Diagon Alley from Mrs. Figg's, and we'll return the same way without leaving the area. We'll be perfectly safe."

Bill nodded but he didn't look convinced. "I hope you're keeping an eye out. Following Moody's creed."

"Constant vigilance!" Ron said in a low, but firm voice.

"Hey, Griphook." Bill looked up and called to one of the goblins, who came over, looking the three teens up and down, a sour expression on his face. Then again, Hermione mused, she didn't recall seeing a goblin look any other way. When the goblin arrived, Bill leaned in, lowering his voice. "Hey, can you help my kid brother and his friends. I hate to ask you to move them up in line, but they need to get back home where it's safe. Soon." He eyed them all seriously. "And come get me when they're done before they leave the building."

Hermione felt a bit guilty again and a bit irritated. They weren't children anymore, and while she appreciated everyone's concern for her, she didn't like being coddled. Then she paused and turned back to Bill, read the stoney-faced expression on his face and realized his plans. "Oh, no, you aren't sending for our babysitters."

Bill gave her a dark, angry look. "You're not walking around out there alone."

"We're not alone, there's three of us," Ron pointed out. "And we're adults."

Fuming, Bill grabbed the two boy's arms and pulled them closer to Hermione, lowering his voice to barely more than a hiss. "One of you isn't, and might I remind you, he's the bloody Boy Who Lived. The biggest target Voldemort has."

"Gee, thanks, I hadn't cottoned on to that fact." Harry shook his arm out of Bill's grasp. Bill let his arm go, but didn't back off any.

"You can't go haring off anywhere you please without backup. You're still damned kids."

"Kids who managed to defeat a troll when we'd been at Hogwarts barely two months," Hermione whispered. "And we can't have an Auror or three following us around. We've purchases to make, and Kingsley or whoever will feel it their responsibility to pry."

"What kind of purchases?"

Hermione debated answering him for a long moment. "Potion ingredients."

"Well, hell, I'll pick up whatever you need tonight before I go home from work."

"No. I have to pick them out myself. You know Potions was never your strongest subject." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Hermione wished them back. Severus had been the one to tell her that.

Bill's eyes narrowed. "How did you know that? Never mind, it's beside the point."

"Fine. If you don't let us take care of this today, we'll just sneak out another time. We can't have everyone knowing our business." This time it was Ron.

Bill grimaced. "Look, I'll meet you all after you get back up here, take you down to get your ingredients with my back to you and facing the door. Then we can meet up with some backup for the rest of your shopping. Can you live with that? I already know some of your secrets. I hardly think one more will make much difference, especially since I'm so lousy at Potions. Thanks for the reminder." He shot a comparatively mild glare at Hermione with that one.

It was with some difficulty that Hermione managed to keep her smile to herself. She wouldn't have to speak the names of all the ingredients anyway, as they were written down. This may work reasonably well as a compromise. At least Bill wouldn't feel it necessary to alert the authorities if an ingredient was mildly shady. "That sounds doable. Harry, Ron, what do you think?"

Harry ran a hand through his hair, then looked self conscious and patted it back into place. He had been doing that a lot lately. "That sounds OK."

"I can live with it, I guess." Ron rolled his eyes.

"Done." Bill backed away from their little scrum and nodded to Griphook, who stood impatiently to the side. "Let me know when you get back with them."

Griphook nodded, then led them to the carts heading down to the vaults.

Ten nauseating minutes later the cart came to a halt outside Harry's vault. Hermione stood uncertainly from the cart and held her stomach, grateful when Harry offered an arm in support. She had always hated that ride.

When the vault opened, Harry stood blinking at the huge stacks of gold that filled the vault to the ceiling. "Is it bigger then it used to be?"

Griphook nodded. "Had to do some enlarging to include the Black vault into yours. Then you've had an extra deposit or two. I'll give you a list when we reach the main floor if you like."

"Bloody hell, Harry. How much do you have in there?" Ron stood in open mouthed shock.

"No idea." Harry shook his head, then began gathering fistfuls of galleons and stuffing them into the money bag he'd brought along. "How much are ingredients going to cost, Hermione?"

"Um, I brought some money, I don't have a lot, but I figured it would be enough for a first batch."

"Sirius would want his money to be used to," he slid a sideways glance at Griphook, "accomplish our objectives. How much?"

Hermione calculated the total for the ten batches she thought she would need to make, then told him. Ron gasped in shock. Harry simply grabbed a few more fists full of galleons before pulling the drawstring closed on his bag, stuffing it back in his pocket.

A hellacious ride back to the main level and Hermione exited the cart, her knees feeling weak and her stomach churning. She was glad Harry had grabbed so much money, she didn't want to do that trip again anytime soon.

"We'd better get some changed to pounds to buy food with." Harry led the way to the changing counter, and Hermione forced her rubber legs to make her follow.

Then she realized part of why she felt like she had heartburn. The tug of the wards she put on the diary had been working on her since partway through the ride back up from the vault. Plus, her husband was very angry about something. Noticing the line was plenty long, she pulled the diary from her back pocket and grabbed the Muggle pen she carried around with it.

She flipped it around to the most recent page and lifted her eyebrows at his venom.

Bloody hell, what do you think you're doing running around Diagon Alley unescorted. Even I heard about it in a matter of minutes. Get somewhere safe.

Aren't you going to answer me?

These last words arrived as she read the ones above.

I was on the goblin cart and just barely cracked open the diary. Everything's fine. We're all safe.

I believe you mentioned the stupid part more than once. And we're not going to wander off alone. There are three of us. She couldn't help baiting him, he irritated her with his nasty disposition. Besides they already had Bill breathing down their necks without having to deal with her husband in a snit.

Do I need to send a note to tip off Mad-Eye Moody about you three? He and Molly Weasley will have you so firmly affixed to Headquarters you won't get out again for ten years.

A little of this, a little of that. None of the ingredients are absolutely controlled. She added that last bit just to irritate him.

What are you making, wife?

We will be discussing your illegal potion brewing when next we meet face to face.

She could feel him seething. Though she considered needling him some more, she decided she didn't have a death wish, so she relented. It's not illegal, but I did want to discuss some techniques and things with you before I begin brewing anyway.

That seemed to placate him a bit, but he was still seething when he put plume to parchment again. I need to see you again. Immediately, if possible. I can put on my glamour and meet you somewhere.

There are bits of you I would miss if you were killed, my pet.

Her eyes narrowed when she read that, and she all but stabbed at the paper with her pen in her fury. How dare he use that term with her? How dare he! I promise I will personally give you a full frontal lobotomy if you ever call me that awful name in our diary again. It is only for the Dark Lord, and I refuse to be belittled that way when it isn't for his benefit.

There was a bit of a pause. I think I believe you. You can be a raging harridan when you want to be, my dear.

Hermione would have taken offense, but then she realized she felt little shoots of amusement and...was that lust...coming through their bond. Had her comment actually excited him?

Now I definitely have to see you. Expect to run into me in Flourish and Blotts. Shake your babysitter for a few minutes if you can, and come find me. I'll be waiting for you.

Hermione felt a shiver of anticipation run down her spine, then knowing he had closed his diary, she closed her own and looked up to where Harry was making his money exchange. Thank goodness they would be leaving soon.

She couldn't wait to slide into her husband's arms.

________

AN: Again, thanks to countrymouse for betaing this for me, and thanks to all my reviewers! Also, as always, thanks to the Admins for all they do, especially Soul Bound who worked on this chapter.