✰𝑀𝑜𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑠𝑡✰ H. Potter

Cʜᴀᴍʙᴇʀ Oғ Sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs- Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 4

☞︎︎︎𝑂𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑀𝑎𝑙𝑓𝑜𝑦☜︎︎︎

All throughout Diagon Alley were families of witches and wizards, searching the shops for their desired goods. Whether it be a new broomstick or a stack of school books, anything they needed could be found in the busy street. Most people strolled casually past the shops, in no particular hurry to leave as they reunited with friends and family who also happened to tour the area. However, their relaxing walks were interrupted by a particular second- year brunette, pushing her way through the crowds of people in search of her friend.

Hestia, despite her kind and considerate nature, dove ruthlessly down the street, eyes hurriedly scanning her surroundings in a blind panic. Fear distorted her vision, erasing Hestia's sense of awareness. The clumps of people seemed to grow around her, streets somehow getting longer than they were before. It wasn't until a familiar face entered her line of vision that she calmed down.

"Hestia!" A girl yelled, suddenly noticing her friend rushing down the busy street. Hermione quickly wrapped her arms around the girl, desperate to get close to her again after their time apart.

"Mione! Oh thank Merlin."

Hestia tightened her grip around the girl, burying her face into the crook of Hermione's neck. Despite the excessive amount of letters that the two girls shared, no words on a page could compare to actually being with one another. A simple hug felt rejuvenating.

After a few blissful moments, the two girls untangled their arms, tearing away from one another.

"I've missed you so much! Oh, we have so much to catch up on. I can't wait to go back to Hogwarts this year. Hestia, I couldn't stand being away for so long. It felt so weird, didn't it? After living with each other for so long. Hey, is that Harry?" Hermione rambled, barely taking a breath as she spoke. Hestia smiled the whole time, remembering how her friend would get when excited. It took her a few seconds to register the words that flowed so quickly out of her mouth.

"Harry?"

Hestia turned her head, following Hermione's gaze. The girls breath hitched once she saw a roughed up Harry, covered in ash and dirt, strolling along next to Hagrid.

Hermione was the first to move, excitedly greeting the two. "Harry, Hagrid!"

"Hello, Hermione." Hagrid responded, replicating the girls jovial smile.

"It's so good to see you." The girl said, facing Harry.

"It's great to see you too. "

"Harry! Where have you been? I told you to let me go with you. What have you done to your glasses?" Hestia spoke firmly. The boy would have been scared if he hadn't known her tone was mainly one of worry.

Harry smiled at his friend, sharing an amused look with Hermione who quickly fixed his cracked glasses.

"And your absolutely filthy." Hestia pointed out, eyebrows raised at the boy who's face was covered in a thin sheet of dirt.

Both Hermione and Hagrid watched in bemusement as the girl wiped Harry's face with the sleeve of her cloak, the boy occasionally grimacing as she wet the fabric with her tongue in an attempt to properly cleanse his skin.

"Better." Hestia stated with a smile, wiping her now dirty sleeve on her dress.

"You'll be alright now then, Harry? Right, I'll leave you to it." Hagrid pat the boys shoulder efore walking away, followed by a chorus of 'goodbyes' from the trio.

"Come on. Everyone's been so worried." Hermione latched onto her two friends, dragging them back to the Weasleys.

Spotting the group of redheads, the children waltzed into the crowded store. Hestia noticed it seemed significantly more popular than the other shops on the street, though she assumed it was down to a sale.