THE MOST FAITHFUL

HIDDEN TRUTH

To Mrs. Weasley's chagrin, Harry's sixteenth birthday celebration was marred by dreadful news brought by Remus Lupin, who looked wasted and grim. His hair streaked with grey, his clothes older and patched up than ever.

«There's been another couple of Dementor attacks» Mr. Weasley announced as he handed him a slice of cake, 'and they've found Igor Karkaroff's body in a hovel in the north. The Dark Mark was placed upon it... well, frankly, I'm surprised he managed to stay alive for almost a year escaping from Death Eaters.»
Byron hid his face behind the large goblet, the memory of the first war invaded his mind. The kidnappings, the tortures, he swallowed hard.
«Yes, well» said Mrs. Weasley «maybe we should talk about something dif...»
«Looks like Ollivanders is gone, too.» said Mr. Weasley.
«The maker of Wands?» Ginny said, looking at him in alarm.
«That's right, the shop is empty. No sign of a struggle. Nobody knows if he left voluntarily or was kidnapped... »
«But how are people going to get wands?»
«They'll get them through other wandmakers» Lupin said. «But Ollivander was the best, and if the other side has it, that's not good for us.»
The day after the birthday, their letters and book lists arrived from Hogwarts. Harry's letter included a surprise: he had been elected Captain of the Quidditch team. «That gives you equal status with the prefects!» said Hermione with joy. «Now you can use our special bathroom and everything!»
«Wow, I remember when Charlie wore one of these» said Ron cheerfully, eyeing the new captain's pin. «Harry, that's so good, you're my captain, as long as you get me back on the team, of course, he ha ha...»
«Well, I suppose we can pop over to Diagon Alley now that you've got these." said Mrs. Weasley looking at the book lists. «We're going on Saturday, the day Arthur isn't working. I'm not going there without him.»
«Mom, honestly, do you think You-Know-Who's going to hide behind a shelf at Flourish?» chuckled Ron. «Fortescue and Ollivander went on holiday then?» said Mrs. Weasley, flaring up. «If you think security is fun, you can stay here, I'll get your books»
«No, I want to come, I want to see the Fred & George shop!» added Ron hastily. «Well, then you need to freshen up, young man, before I decide you're too immature to come with us!» said Mrs. Weasley angrily.
«I'm coming with you» Byron said, pulling his chair away from the table. «At least this way we are two" «Excellent!» Commented Mr. Weasley.
«You can't even joke anymore...» Ron muttered. Saturday morning they realized how much Diagon Alley had changed. The glittering, colorful display cases displaying spellbooks, potion ingredients, and cauldrons were gone, obscured by large Ministry of Magic posters that had been pasted over them. Many of these grim official-looking posters featured an enlarged version of the Ministerial Security pamphlet released earlier this summer, but others featured black-and-white motion pictures of Death Eaters who were known to be free. . Bellatrix Lestrange grinned from the nearby pharmacy. A number of display cases had been covered with wooden bars. A decrepit little witch flapped armfuls of silver emblems mounted on chains at passers-by.
«One for the young girl, ma'am?» she asked Mrs. Weasley as she passed, eyeing Ginny. «To protect her pretty neck?»
«If I were on duty...» Mr. Weasley interjected, angrily glaring at the amulet seller. "Get out of my way» growled Byron, extending an arm like a shield in front of Ginny, Harry and Hermione on his side.
«I think we'd better go to Madam McClan's shop first, Hermione needs new clothes, and Ron's gown shows most of the ankle, and you need a new one too, Harry, you've grown so much come on now, everybody...» «Molly, there's no reason for us all to go to Madam McClan's» said Mr. Weasley. «Why don't the three of them go to Byron together, and we go to Flourish and get books for everyone?»
«I don't know» said Mrs. Weasley anxiously, clearly torn between wanting to finish shopping quickly and wanting us all to stay together.
«Don't worry, Molly, we'll hurry.» he assured with a smile.
Mrs. Weasley didn't look too convinced by the decision, but she agreed, hurrying to Flourish with her husband and Ginny as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Byron made their way to Madam McClan's shop. Harry noticed that many of the people they passed had Mrs. Weasley's worried look and that no one stopped to talk to anyone else. When they entered the small shop, they found it empty, at least at first glance, but before the door had closed behind them, they heard a familiar voice coming from behind a rack filled with green and blue ornate robes.
«...I am not a child Mother. I'm perfectly capable of doing my shopping myself.»
There was a clicking sound and a voice, which Harry recognized as that of the owner, Madam McClan. «Darling, your mother is absolutely right, none of us think about going out on our own, it's not something for a child to do...»
«Try to be careful with that pin!»