Lucius, clearly embarrassed, tugged Draco back to his side.
Hagrid frowned beside them, making no attempt to hide his dislike for the Malfoys.
Lucius caught the look and a flash of disdain passed through his eyes, though he maintained his aristocratic composure.
"We won't keep you, then," he said smoothly. "Draco, it's time to go."
"Bye, Charlie," Draco said with obvious relief, quickly following after his father.
Once the two had walked out of sight, Hagrid finally spoke.
"Charlie, the Malfoys aren't good people. Best keep your distance."
Charlie gave a noncommittal hum.
Draco was an idiot, no doubt, but his father had always treated Charlie with cordial respect.
Charlie didn't regard Lucius as a friend, nor an enemy. Just another face in the crowd.
Hagrid looked like he wanted to say more, but Charlie cut him off.
"Hagrid, let's focus on finding those potions first."
Just then, a figure stepped out from the shadows opposite Borgin and Burkes.
The woman looked exactly how a stereotypical witch would. Her face was wrinkled and leathery, a pair of festering boils dotted her hooked nose, and her lips were thin and blackened. She radiated malice.
Charlie wouldn't have been surprised if she'd pulled a poisoned apple from her robes.
"Looking for potions?" the witch rasped, her sharp eyes flickering between Charlie and Hagrid.
"Got anything for Flesh-Eating Slugs?" Hagrid asked directly.
The witch grinned, revealing yellowed, rotting teeth.
"Of course. Common stuff, that is."
She fished a small bottle of green liquid from her tattered robes.
"Two Sickles."
Hagrid handed over the coins without hesitation.
Charlie saw the opportunity and asked, "Do you have anything that can sterilize an owl?"
The witch blinked at him, then pulled out a small packet of powder.
"Sprinkle this on their food. Works like a charm, though it smells a bit strong. One Sickle."
Charlie paid for it without hesitation.
The two turned to leave, only to see Harry Potter stumble out of Borgin and Burkes, looking disoriented and anxious, his wide eyes scanning the alley.
He was clearly lost.
The witch's gaze locked onto Harry, a glint of greed flashing in her eyes.
She reached out her gnarled hand and grabbed his arm.
"Lost, are we, dearie?" she rasped, voice even rougher than before. "Shall I help you find your mummy?"
Harry recoiled from the sudden grab, startled.
He struggled to pull free, but her grip was like iron.
"I'm fine, thank you," he said quickly, heart pounding.
The witch wouldn't let go. She tugged harder, a nasty glint in her eyes.
"Once I catch you, you're mine," she cackled.
Hagrid marched forward in a fury.
"Let go of him!"
With one shove, he knocked the witch backward. She stumbled, her tray of potions crashing to the ground in a loud shatter.
"What's the big idea?! Robbing another's catch?!" she shrieked, her voice piercing enough to split stone.
"I saw him first!"
Charlie had had enough of the noise. He drew his wand.
"Silencio."
Her screech cut off mid-shriek. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.
Just in case, Charlie followed up with two more spells.
"Expelliarmus."
"Petrificus Totalus."
Her wand flew into Charlie's hand. Her body went rigid and collapsed to the ground, immobile.
Her eyes, wide with fear, stared up at Charlie helplessly.
"If you keep screaming, the next spell won't be so polite."
Charlie twirled the wand in his fingers and gave her a cold look.
The witch trembled.
Harry finally let out a breath. For a moment there, he'd genuinely thought he was done for.
"Harry, what're you doing here?" Hagrid asked, concerned.
"I got lost," Harry admitted sheepishly. "I meant to go to Diagon Alley to buy school books, but the Floo Powder dropped me here instead."
"But the Dursleys don't have a fireplace connected to the network. Whose place did you use?"
"Mr. Weasley's. I've been staying with the Weasleys for a bit."
"Come on," Charlie said. "Let's head to Diagon Alley."
Harry was covered in soot, he looked like he'd crawled straight out of a chimney.
Hagrid rolled up his sleeves, ready to dust him off.
But Charlie, quick as ever, grabbed his arm.
"Wait, Hagrid."
Charlie looked at his massive hand, each finger the size of a ham hock.
If Hagrid tried to pat Harry clean, there might not be much left of him.
"I'll handle it."
He took out his wand and gave it a light flick toward Harry.
"Tergeo."
A flash of light, and all the soot vanished. Even Harry's glasses sparkled like new.
"Thanks, Charlie."
The three of them stepped out of Knockturn Alley and returned to the main street of Diagon Alley.
Sunlight gleamed off the cobbled path, and witches and wizards bustled about.
Up ahead, the shining white building of Gringotts came into view.
"I need to exchange some Galleons," Charlie said.
Harry nodded. He needed to visit Gringotts too.
Just then, a voice called out from the bank steps.
"Charlie! Harry! Hagrid!"
Hermione stood waving at them, her bushy brown hair catching the sunlight.
She ran down the steps with a bright smile.
"What a coincidence! You're here to buy books too?"
Charlie nodded. "Yeah, this term's list is ridiculous."
"Really? I thought it was manageable. And they're Lockhart books! He's brilliant, so knowledgeable!"
Then she turned a sharp eye on Harry.
"Harry, why didn't you write me back over the summer?"
Harry quickly explained, "It wasn't that I didn't want to, there was a house-elf named Dobby who intercepted my letters. And the Dursleys locked me in my room. I couldn't even get out."
Hagrid's face darkened at once.
"What? They locked you up?!"
His voice shook with rage. Even his beard seemed to quiver.
"The Dursleys did what?!"
His massive fists clenched with audible cracks.
Hermione looked worried too.
Harry quickly tried to calm him. "It's okay now, Ron and the twins broke me out."
Hermione's face relaxed a bit. Then she turned to Charlie.
"It makes sense Harry didn't reply," she said, then narrowed her eyes.
"But you, Charlie, what was with your reply? You wrote two words: 'Message read.'"
Charlie blinked.
Because I didn't feel like writing a whole letter, obviously.
I've already reviewed enough scrolls for a lifetime. What's wrong with sending 'message read'?
"It's because… I had too much to say. One letter just couldn't hold it all."
Hermione squinted at him. She clearly didn't buy it.
Just then, the Weasley family spotted them.
"There he is! Harry's over here!"
They rushed over in relief.
"Harry, are you alright?" Mrs. Weasley asked, anxiously looking him over.
"We figured you missed the fireplace, where did you end up?"
"Knockturn Alley, Mrs. Weasley. Sorry for worrying everyone," Harry said guiltily.
"Knockturn Alley?! Mum never lets us go there!" one of the twins blurted.
Mr. Weasley ruffled Harry's hair. "She's right. You lot best never set foot in that place."
Mrs. Weasley, now reassured, turned to Charlie and took his hand.
"You must be Charlie. Ron talks about you all the time."
Charlie smiled at her warmth.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Weasley."
With the whole Weasley family now gathered, Hagrid took the opportunity to leave.
"I've gotta get back to Hogwarts," he said. "Lots of business to tend to."
They all waved him off.
As they climbed the steps to Gringotts, Harry said,
"By the way, I saw Lucius Malfoy and Draco in Borgin and Burkes. Looked like they were selling something."
Mr. Weasley's eyes flashed.
"Must've been dark artifacts. He's panicking."
"The Ministry's been cracking down on that sort of thing. Looks like Lucius is trying to cover his tracks."
He clenched his fists.
One day, I'll catch him red-handed.
<><>---------------------------------------
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Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
💥> Naruto: Mind Control (Highly Recommended)
💥> Bleach: Sephiroth Template
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