Diagon Alley had changed a lot since Thea had last seen it. It was no longer bustling with people and the place looked like all colors had been bleached from it. Posters issued from the Ministry of Magic covered the walls, lecturing the readers on security advice or informing them of Death Eater known to be on the loose. Everyone was in groups, no one was alone.
Thea looked up to Hagrid who they had met up with as they arrived at the Leaky Cauldron. Mr. Weasley had said, the high-security status was because of Harry.
Thea looked at all the dodgy stalls that had now appeared along the sidewalks of Diagon Alley displaying odd and bizarre items. The nearest stall to the group was outside Flourish and Blotts and it was selling amulets to protect the wearer against werewolves, dementors, and inferi. Thea sighed sadly, everything was getting really serious now.
"I think we'd better do Madam Malkin's first, Hermione wants new dress robes. And Ron's showing too much ankle in his school robes and you must need new ones too, Harry, you've grown so much - come on, everyone." Mrs. Weasley said ushering everyone towards the store.
"Molly, it doesn't make sense for us all to go to Madam Malkin's." Mr. Weasley quickly dismissed. "Why don't those three go with Hagrid and Thea and we can go to Flourish and Blotts to get everyone's school-books?"
"I don't know. Hagrid, Thea, do you think-?" Mrs. Weasley began anxiously, her eyes flickering up and down the street.
"Don' fret, they'll be fine with us, Molly." Hagrid waved an airy hand in the air.
"It will be fine, Mrs. Weasley." Thea offered her own words of comfort. So Mrs. Weasley still looking quite anxious walked away in the opposite direction with Mr. Weasley and Ginny in tow while Thea walked with the others towards Madam Malkin's.
"Migh' be a bit of a squeeze in there with all of us," Hagrid said peering through the window of Madam Malkin's. "I'll stand guard outside, all right.
The trio nodded before turning to Thea and looking at her expectantly.
"What about you, Thea?" Hermione asked.
"I'll stay out here with Hagrid. You'll be alright." Thea reassured watching as they pressed the door open and entered inside.
"How are you, Hagrid?" Thea asked kindly.
"I'm alright, Thea. You?" Hagrid replied ruffly.
"I'm good, Hagrid."
"What happened 'tween you and that Weasley boy?" Hagrid burst out suddenly but on seeing the expression on Thea's face, he immediately regretted it. "Oh. I'm 'orry, Thea."
"Oh no. It's fine, Hagrid. I broke up with him, after all. It just wasn't working out, I was in a lot of grief at the time and although he tried to comfort me, it wasn't working."
"That's unfortunate. I 'ought you were a cute couple."
"Oh, thanks."
It wasn't until Thea had broken up with George that she realized how many people loved them together as a couple. Ginny was so disappointed once she found out, she had adored the fact that one of her brothers was dating one of her best friends. Even Mrs. Weasley had suggested subtly several times that Thea had chosen badly.
Thea's head snapped up as the door to Madam Malkin was slammed shut as Narcissa Malfoy stalked out of the store, her son strutting behind her. Thea was extremely tempted to call something out to them, Malfoy was looking more like a self-obsessed peacock by each second but she bit her tongue to prevent herself from shouting out.
"How are all your creatures?" Thea asked turning back to Hagrid who was watching the Malfoy family pass with a hardened expression.
"Oh. Um...." Hagrid started but broke off, looking away. Thea looked up at him, watching as the man burst into tears without any warning.
Thea touched Hagrid's arm slightly before asking what was the matter, glaring at the groups of people who passed who were quite confused by the strange situation. "Are you okay, Hagrid?"
"It's... him...its...Aragog....I think he's dyin'....He got ill a few weeks ago an' he's not gettin' any better...I don' know what I'll do if he...if he...We've bin tergether so long...."
"It will be alright, Hagrid. It will all turn out right, I promise. But Hagrid if you ever need anything, someone to talk to or anything, you know where I am, just send a letter and I'll be right over."
"You 'ould do 'hat?"
"Of course, Hagrid."
The two of them sat there in silence for a few moments as Hagrid calmed down. Thea was about to say something else but the trio exited Madam Malkin's with their purchases in their arms.
"Got ev'rything?" Hagrid asked, wiping his eyes slightly.
"Just about. Did you see the Malfoys?"
"Yeah," Hagrid replied, unconcerned. "Bu' they wouldn' dare make trouble in the middle o' Diagon Alley, Harry. Don' worry abou' them."
"I hope you lot, didn't cause too much trouble."
"No, of course, Thea."
Hagrid led the group through Diagon Alley searching for where Mr and Mrs Weasley were. Thea hung back to listen to the trio's conversation. She wasn't trying to snoop but she her gut was telling her that the trio certainly had spoken with the Malfoys in Madam Malkin's.
But Thea became distracted as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley appeared in front of the group with Ginny, all of them clutching heavy packages of books in their hands. She quickly headed over and offered to carry some of the books for them because the stack Ginny was carrying was swaying dangerously.
"Everyone alright? 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..."
Butterflies rose up in Thea's stomach as the group got closer to their final destination. She patted her pocket subtly, checking that the Invisibility cloak was still in there. She wasn't sure she was ready for what was next. Thea's heart was thumping loudly against her chest, she was almost surprised that the others couldn't hear it.
"We really haven't got too long," Mrs Weasley said as the group followed her down the winding streets of Diagon Alley. "So, we'll just have a quick look around and then back to the car. We must be close, that's number ninety-two..."
"Whoa," Ron let out a low whistle as Thea froze, her heart skipping a beat.
YOU ARE READING
Finding Neverland | George Weasley ✓
Fanfiction"To die will be an awfully big adventure." As many as the Diggory siblings read over the line neither one of them were expecting to experience or witness death at such a young age. But it is the only line that Thea can focus on after her brother was...
