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Harry turned on the spot, with Griphook on his shoulders, concentrating with all his might on the Leaky Cauldron, the inn that was the entrance to Diagon AlleyThe goblin clung even tighter as they moved into the compressing darkness, and seconds later Harry's feet found pavement and he opened his eyes on Charing Cross RoadMuggles bustled past wearing the hangdog expressions of early morning, quite unconscious of the little inn's existence
The bar of the Leaky Cauldron was nearly desertedTon, the stooped and toothless landlord, was polishing glasses behind the bar counter; a couple of warlocks
having a muttered conversation in the far corner glanced at Hermione and drew back into the shadows
"Madam Lestrange," murmured Tom, and as Hermione paused he inclined his head subserviently
"Good morning," said Hermione, and as Harry crept past, still carrying Griphook piggyback under the Cloak, he saw Tom look surprised
"Too polite," Harry whispered in Hermione's ear as they passed out of the Inn into the tiny backyard"You need to treat people like they're scum!"
"Okay, okay!"
Hermione drew out Bellatrix's wand and rapped a brick in the nondescript wall in front of themAt once the bricks began to whirl and spin: A hole appeared in the middle of them, which grew wider and wider, finally forming an archway onto the narrow cobbled street that was Diagon Alley
It was quiet, barely time for the shops to open, and there were hardly and shoppers abroadThe crooked, cobbled street was much altered now from the bustling place Harry had visited before his first team at Hogwarts so many years beforeMore shops than ever were boarded up, though several new rock of love tiffany's necklace establishments dedicated to the Dark Arts had been created since his last visitHarry's own face glared down at him from posters plastered over many windows, always captioned with the words UNDESIRABLE NUMBER ONE
A number of ragged people sat huddled in doorwaysHe heard them moaning to the few passersby, pleading for gold, insisting that they were really wizardsOne man had a bloody bandage over his eye
As they set off along the street, the beggars glimpsed Hermionethey seemed to melt away before her, drawing hoods over their faces and fleeing as fast as they couldHermione looked after them curiously, until the man with the bloodied bandage came staggering right across her path
"My children," he bellowed, pointing at herHis voice was cracked, high-pitched, he sounded distraught"Where are my children? What has he done with them? You know, you know!"
"I\a150\a150I really\a150\a150" stammered Hermione
The man lunged at her, reaching for her throatThen, with a bang and a burst of red light he was thrown backward onto the ground, unconsciousRon stood there, his wand still outstretched and a look of shock visible behind his beardFaces appeared at the windows on either side of the street, while a little knot of prosperous-looking passerby gathered their robes about them and broke into gentle trots, keen to vacate the scene
their entrance into Diagon Alley could hardly have been more conspicuous; for a moment Harry wondered whether it might not be better to leave now and try to think of a different planBefore they could move or consult one another, however, they heard a cry from behind them
"Why, Madam Lestrange!"
Harry whirled around and Griphook gucci bags discount tightened his hold around Harry's neck: A tall, think wizard with a crown of bushy gray hair and a long, sharp nose was striding toward them
"It's Travers," hissed the goblin into Harry's ear, but at that moment Harry could not think who Travers wasHermione had drawn herself up to full height and said with as much contempt as she could muster:
"And what do you want?"
Travers stopped in his tracks, clearly affronted
"He's another Death Eater!" breathed Griphook, and Harry sidled sideways to repeat the information into Hermione's ear
"I merely sought to greet you," said Travers coolly, "but if my presence is not welcome
Harry recognized his voice now: Travers was one of the Death Eaters who had been summoned to Xenophilius's house
"No, no, not at all, Travers," said Hermione quickly, trying to cover up her mistake"How are you?"
"Well, I confess I am surprised to see you out and about, Bellatrix
"Really? Why?" asked Hermione
"Well," Travers coughed, "I heard that the Inhabitants of Malfoy Manor were confined to the house, after the
Harry willed Hermione to keep her headIf this was true, and Bellatrix was not supposed to be out in public\a150\a150
"The Dark Lord forgives those who have served him most faithfully in the past," said Hermione in a magnificent imitation of Bellatrix's most contemptuous manner"Perhaps your credit is not as good with him as mine is, Travers
Though the Death Eater looked offended, he also seemed less suspiciousHe glanced down at the man Ron had just Stunned
"How did it offend you?"
"It does not matter, it will not do so again," said Hermione coolly
"Some of these wandless can be troublesome," said Travers"While gucci laptop bags they do nothing but beg I have no objection, but one of them actually asked me to plead her case in the Ministry last week'I'm a witch, sir, I'm a witch, let me prove it to you!" he said in a squeaky impersonation"As if I was going to give her my wand\a150\a150but whose wand," said Travers curiously, "are you using at the moment, Bellatrix? I heard that your own was\a150\a150"
"I have my wand here," said Hermione coldly, holding up Bellatrix's wand"I don't know what rumors you have been listening to, Travers, but you seem sadly misinformed
Travers seemed a little taken aback at that, and he turned instead to Ron
"Who is your friend? I do not recognize him
"This is Dragomir Despard," said Hermione; they had decided that a fictional foreigner was the safest cover for Ron to assume"He speaks very little English, but he is in sympathy with the Dark Lord's aimsHe has traveled here from Transylvania to see our new regime
"Indeed? How do you do, Dragomir?"
"'Ow you?" said Ron, holding out his hand
Travers extended two fingers and shook Ron's hand as though frightened of dirtying himself
So what brings you and your\a150\a150ah\a150\a150sympathetic friend to Diagon Alley this early?" asked Travers
"I need to visit Gringotts," said Hermione
"Alas, I also," said Travers"Gold, filthy gold! We cannot live without it, yet I confess I deplore the necessity of consorting with our long-fingered friends
Harry felt Griphook's clasped hands tighten momentarily around his neck
"Shall we?" said Travers, gesturing Hermione forward
Hermione had no choice but to fall into step beside him and head along the crooked, cobbled street toward the place where the replica chanel handbag snowy-white Gringotts stood towering over the other little shopsRon sloped along beside them, and Harry and Griphook followed
A watchful Death Eater was the very last thing they needed, and the worst of it was, with Travers matching at what he believed to be Bellatrix's side, there was no means for Harry to communicate with Hermione or RonAll too soon they arrived at the foot of the marble steps leading up to the great bronze doorsAs Griphook had already warned them, the liveried goblins who usually flanked the entrance had been replaced by two wizards, both of whom were clutching long thin golden rods
"Ah, Probity Probes," signed Travers theatrically, "so crude\a150\a150but so effective!"
And he set off up the steps, nodding left and right to the wizards, who raised the golden rods and passed them up and down his bodyThe Probes, Harry knew, detected spells of concealment and hidden magical objectsKnowing that he had only seconds, Harry pointed Draco's wand at each of the guards in turn and murmured, "Confundo" twiceUnnoticed by Travers, who was looking through the bronze doors at the inner hall, each of the guards gave a little start as the spells hit them
Hermione's long black hair rippled behind her as she climbed the steps
"One moment, madam," said the guard, raising his Probe
"But you've just done that!" said Hermione in Bellatrix's commanding, arrogant voiceTravers looked around, eyebrows raisedThe guard was confusedHe stared down at the thin golden Probe and then at his companion, who said in a slightly dazed voice,
"Yeah, you've just checked them, Marius
Hermione swept forwardRon by her side, Harry and Griphook trotting invisibly behind louis vuitton beverly bag t |
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