He stood and walked down behind the few chairs between he and her and stopped just shy of her chair.
Calmly he said, "Headmistress Marchbanks, I need a word with you - in private."
"Whatever for, Albus?" she 'innocently' asked.
"It's concerning your foolish decision to cancel the Yule Ball," he firmly replied.
She immediately frowned back. "Foolish, Albus?" she scoffed. "I assure you, the decision was neither reached lightly nor without plenty of input from those in authority. As a matter of fact, it was a decision reached after plenty of discussions concerning it and the rest of the Tournament with those in authority to do so.
"Are you saying that myself, Bartholomew Creston, Igor Karkaroff, Olympe Maxime, Hamilton Snodway of the DIMC and Amelia Bones of the DMLE are all foolish?" she asked. "Dear me, Albus. What a positively slanderous thing to say."
Frowning even more right back he said, "I wish to speak with you in private about this."
With a hard put-upon sigh, she said, "Very well, Albus. I have a very full schedule for the rest of the school day, today. How about you come to my office to talk about this at... 8.00pm this evening."
"I would prefer we speak now, Griselda," he almost growled.
"It's Headmistress Marchbanks, Albus," she shot back. "We've been over this and over this. And, irrespective of your desire to speak with me in private now, I'm finishing my breakfast. After that, I have interviews to attend."
"We shall talk as I walk with you to your office, then," he declared.
"Albus!" she snapped back, getting quite louder now. It was now loud enough to reach the students. "I said... at 8.00pm this evening. Not a moment before!"
Noticing how quiet it had gotten, he glanced to the students and noticed they were all staring back.
"Very well," he huffed. "8.00pm in you office then, Headmistress Marchbanks."
He turned and firmly strode - stormed - from the room.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Activity at the Granger residence and Hogwarts weren't the only places of note in wizarding Britain where surprises were in store.
After having first stopped in at the Weasleys intending to be there before Arthur had to go to work, a witch Mind Healer turned up on the doorstep of the Lovegoods.
After knocking on the door, she waited only a short while before the door was opened by Xenophilius Lovegood.
"What can I do for you?" he asked. "Do you have information that keys the previous Minister in with the Rotfang Conspiracy?"
"No, sir," the witch replied, ignoring the comment. "I've come to talk to you regarding an offer that is to be put to you regarding the mental health of your daughter."
"Hmmm..." he replied. Stepping back to clear the doorway, he gestured the witch in and said, "Perhaps you'd best come in and let me know what this is all about."
She gave a single nod and replied, "Thank you." Then stepped inside.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After the two 'made up' again, Hermione tentatively asked, "So. Still want to go to Diagon to do your shopping?"
"Yeah, actually," breathed Harry. "I do."
"Me too," she nodded.
After informing the lead auror the trip to Diagon Alley was still on, both teens hurried upstairs to change into warmer clothing. For Harry, that meant changing into wizarding casual. However, as soon as he tried one of his outfits on, he realised the problem.
"Damn!" he muttered. He'd even outgrown the sizing charms he specifically had put on the wear.
"Well," he sigh-muttered, "There's nothing for it, but to buy a couple of outfits from Madam Malkin's"
Dressing in his best muggle casual he grabbed his wizarding currency purse and trotted back downstairs. As he knew he would, he beat Hermione by quite some time.
Their aurors had also congregated and were waiting next to the front door.
Once Hermione came down, also dressed in muggle casual, they headed out to the front portkey area and were gone.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
On arriving at the top of the Alley, Harry grabbed Hermione to stop her running off into Flourish and Blotts and said, "First things first, Love."
Confused at what he meant, she docilely allowed him to lead her along. And was quite surprised he took them directly into the next store along, Madam Malkin's
"Harry?" she asked. "Why―"
Cutting her off, he replied, "It's not just my muggle wear I've grown out of, Love. I've also grown beyond my wizarding wear, too - except for what I wore to the trial, that is. I need a small wardrobe to replace that.
"Plus, little miss Lady Presumptive, I've noticed a distinct lack of wizarding wear in your wardrobe. You need to be properly outfitted if you're going to be representing me or Sirius in the wizarding world."
Before Hermione had a chance to retort as they stepped within, they were approached by one of the store assistants. "Welcome to Madam Malkin's how can I―" she began before she noticed who she was looking at. "Oh, my! Mister Po... Sorry, Lord Potter; I did not recognise you."
"Not a problem," he was quick to say. "I'll be needing... two distinct casual wizarding wear outfits. And one formal, please; just in case."
Turning to indicate Hermione, he said, "Miss Granger, here, has been remiss in ensuring she has proper wizarding attire and will be needing quite a few outfits, if you don't mind."
"Harry―" began Hermione.
A quick turn to her he firmly said, "Hush!" Then turned back to the assistant and said, "For now, I think we can start with five casual outfits, one semi-formal and one formal. Oh, and you'd best make sure my formal matches hers. I know that's a big thing for ladies."
Hermione tried again, "Harry, what do you think you're doing?"
"Getting you properly outfitted," he replied, as if it was obvious. Then he again turned back to the assistant and said, "By the way, this lady is the Lady Presumptive Hermione Granger, magical ward of Lord Black of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black and betrothed of myself, Lord Potter of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter. As such she'll need the proper identifiers included in her semi-formal and formal attire."
"It will be done, My Lord," replied the assistant.
As the assistant turned to call over 'help', Hermione hissed at him, "Harry, you don't need to do this."
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