Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters, places, and recognizable situations belong to J. K. Rowling and related publishers. No copyright infringement intended. (Disclaimer applies to all chapters.)

XOXOXOXOXOXO

A Heart Divided

Chapter 1

XOXOXOXOXOXO

The cool, morning air glided gently across the freshly trimmed yards at Starlight Lane. The unstirring silence was interrupted momentarily by the faint echo of a dog barking some ways away, then returned to the lazy morning stillness. Bright, sharp sunlight illuminated the rooftops and spilled brilliantly over the shingles onto the flowering gardens below. The day was emerging and beckoning anyone who dared stir to awaken to the beauty of a new day. But no one on sleepy Starlight Lane was aware of the new day's arrival. Almost no one.

A richly hued pink daisy swayed silkily under the touch of long slender fingers. "How beautiful!" A bright, beaming face, flushed with the coolness of the morning air, ardently admired Mother Nature's brilliance.

The admirer, a girl with rich brown eyes and full chestnut hair, raised a smooth wooden wand to the stem of the daisy and said, "Floravivo." No sooner had the incantation left her mouth than a short streak of light pulsed from the wand to the flower, cutting the stem cleanly across. The flower jumped an inch into the air, as though shot upward from an infinitesimal cannon. The girl reached her hand forward and easily grasped the stem of the flower that floated motionlessly before her. She took one last admiring look at the flower before taking the book she had tucked under her arm and placing her freshly cut garden bookmark between its pages.

She looked up at the ever growing bright sky to see a couple of sleek owls undoubtedly making their way home from a productive night of hunting. A familiar white owl, apparently carrying something in its beak, glided smoothly and gracefully through the upstairs window of the house next door. Hmm. She consulted the watch on her arm. 7:45 am. It may be a tad bit early, she thought, but the day is here, beautiful, and ready to begin. The birds in a nearby tree squawked and ruffled their wings when the street echoed with a loud crack. And with that, the girl
was gone.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

A young man stirred slightly in his bed as the girl from the garden looked down at him. Bright red, tousled hair barely poked out from under the safe haven of a warm orange comforter. His left arm hung limp over the edge of the bed, the only part of him daring to sneak out from under the covers, besides the spiky hair. Oh, he looks so cute and comfortable, she thought. With the hint of a devious grin, she leapt from the floor and landed with her knees planted right on the edge of the bed.

"Good morning, sleepyhead! It's time to get up!" she cheerfully said as she bounced up and down on the bed.

"Urgh," the young man grunted as his body rebounded with every bounce.

"Ron! Wake up! We're going to Diagon Alley today, remember?" she asked, prodding him gently in the ribs.

"Geroff," he muttered. She continued to bounce and prod, waiting for a more satisfactory response.

"Hermione! Clear off before I hex you!" he exclaimed.

"Oh fine," she said dejectedly. "You're no fun in the morning." She slid off the side of the bed and kneeled down on the floor to get at eye level with Ron. "But we have to go to Diagon Alley today, and if you don't get up now we'll never get anything done."

He mumbled something unintelligible and rolled over so his back was facing her.

"Okay, just go back to sleep," she taunted. "But don't come complaining to me that you didn't get everything you needed."

"Sure, mum."

"What did you say?" Hermione snapped. "I am not your mother, and don't you forget it!"

"Oh, come on, 'Mione," Ron muffled from under the covers. "It's a compliment. Aren't guys supposed to look for girls who resemble their mothers?"

"Only if they want a Greek tragedy on their hands," she answered.

"Hunh?"

"Oh, honestly, Ron. You really should read a little every once in a while." With that she turned on her heel and walked out of the room, a bit annoyed.

Once in the hallway, she turned left and entered the bedroom beside Ron's. She opened the door to a sight similar to the one next door. Messy, black hair shot in every direction as it poked out from a dark blue comforter. Instead of an arm, a leg was the only thing visible besides the hair.

Hermione crept up to the side of the bed and knelt next to it. She slowly lifted back the top of the comforter to reveal more messy hair and a completely unconscious face. She leaned in close to the young man's face, and when she was mere inches from the side of his face, she blew softly into his ear. He flinched briefly, then stilled. She smirked slightly then started to blow air a bit more forcefully. He jerked his head away and then back, shaking his head every time his ear came in contact with the air Hermione sent his way. She stopped blowing to giggle after about the sixth head shake. She finally whispered, "Harry, it's time to get up."

He sighed as he turned on his side, facing her, and flung his arm out. Hermione was caught off guard and almost fell over as Harry's arm landed right on her shoulder and draped down her back. The weight of his arm pinned her down slightly as she tried to wiggle out from under it. She stopped wiggling and looked at his peaceful face. What is it about these goofy guys that makes them look so cute when they sleep? she thought. She noticed tiny laugh lines around his mouth as he grinned in his sleep. She looked at him a little more closely as his grin grew slightly. "Are you awake?" she asked suspiciously.

"Uh-uh," he muttered, as his grin grew into a smile.

"You faker!" she said, pulling herself out from under his arm.

"Good morning, sweetheart," he said jokingly.

"Well, that's better than what I got out of Ron," she said shaking her head. "He called me 'mum.'" Harry sniggered briefly before stretching out fully on his bed. "He also threatened to hex me," she pouted.

"Ah," Harry replied. "That means he'll be ready to wake up in about two hours."

"Two hours! But how will we get everything done? We only have today to get everything ready for our new jobs on Monday."

"Don't worry, Hermione," Harry said while patting her arm. "We'll get it all done. You go ahead and get started and I'll be sure Ron gets up."

"Oh, okay," she relented. "But try to get him up soon."

"Not too soon," he said seriously. "He only threatened to hex you. He just might really hex me."

She smiled, relaxing a bit as Harry looked at her. "Meet me in the Leaky Cauldron at eleven."

"Better make it noon," he suggested. "If Ron does hex me, it will take a while for him to come up with the counter-jinx." He grinned playfully at her.

"Okay, noon," she said. "But not a minute later."

"Yes, ma'am." They exchanged smiles, and Hermione left with a loud crack.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

"Calling me 'mum.' Where does he get off doing that?" Hermione muttered under her breath as she entered the back entrance of the Leaky Cauldron. She was so caught up in her musings that she didn't even notice the sound of her name being called.

"Good morning, Hermione. Hermione?"

Hermione stopped after finally hearing her name. She looked over to the bar and saw a smiling man putting mugs on a shelf behind him. "Oh, good morning, Tom," she said with a sweet smile.

"So, how is our Ministry Scholar doing this fine morning?" he asked as he placed another mug on the shelf.

"I'm doing very well, Tom. Thanks for asking." She found a little round table just a few feet from the bar, set her book down, and slid into the seat facing Tom.

"I expected to see Harry and Ron with you this morning. I think I've seen just about all of the Ministry Scholars around picking up their supplies except you three." He placed the last mug on the shelf and began pouring a bag of nuts into several small bowls.

"Well," Hermione began, a hint of exasperation in her voice, "they were supposed to be here, but they felt sleep was more important. They're meeting me here at noon."

Tom let out a hearty laugh and said, "Ah, yes, the folly of male youth. I remember it well." His eyes twinkled with amusement. "But don't worry. Auror training will cure them of that, mind you."

Tom had just finished setting the bowls out across the bar when a small "Ding!" sounded in a room off to the left of the bar. "'Scuse me, Hermione. One of the guests is needing to check out. Nancy!" he called into another side room. "Come and get our customer fixed up, will you?" He winked and smiled at Hermione as he left to answer the incessant "Ding!"

A middle aged witch, presumably Nancy, walked out from the other side room with a towel in her hand.

"Good mornin', Miss. What can I get for yeh?" she pleasantly asked.

"Oh, just a muffin with jam and a cup of hot cocoa," Hermione answered.

"Strawberry all right?" Nancy asked. Hermione nodded. Nancy pulled out a wand from the side pocket of her apron and gently tapped the table. A plate with a muffin and jam and a mug of hot cocoa on a saucer appeared. Utensils and a small tea towel appeared right next to the plate. "Enjoy, dear. Holler if yeh need anything else." Nancy turned to leave as Hermione began to spread jam on her muffin.

Hermione absentmindedly bit into her muffin as she thought about past events. It seemed like yesterday when she, Harry, and Ron were graduating from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It had been a lovely day.

Graduating students and their families were packed into the Great Hall which had been transformed into a sort of conference center. Where the staff's head table usually was stood a raised platform with padded chairs for each graduate lined up in rows. An ornate dark wooden podium with the Hogwarts crest carved into the front took prominence in the center of the platform while big squashy armchairs for the staff lined the edges. Family and other guests were seated in long rows of comfy benches that stretched all the way to the back of the hall. As usual, candles suspended in mid-air gave the hall a bright, warm glow.

Hermione and Harry had given speeches, as was customary for Head Girl and Boy to do. Then Professor Dumbledore stood and announced the Ministry Scholars.

"As you all are undoubtedly aware, last month each graduating student was allowed to apply for the newly instituted Ministry of Magic Scholar Program. Under this program, ten students would be chosen to begin training and internships for careers in the Ministry. I am pleased to announce that ten students have been chosen, and will be awarded the title of Ministry Scholar. Along with this title comes a stipend for housing, supplies, and other miscellaneous needs as well as recognition as newly appointed Ministry employees. Now, without further ado, I
present to you this year's Ministry Scholars."

Each student stood and beamed proudly as his or her name was called. Of course, Hermione's name was read first, followed by Susan Bones, Ernie MacMillan, Dean Thomas, Padma Patil, Hannah Abbott, and Seamus Finnegan. Loud applause followed each name.

"Draco Malfoy." Cheers erupted from all of the Slytherins, as the other houses applauded courteously.

Hermione glanced at Harry and Ron with an "it figures" look on her face. Then she held her breath as Dumbledore announced the final two names.

"Ronald Weasley." Ron let out an audible sigh as he stood along with the other Scholars. Mr. Weasley had sprung out of his chair with fatherly enthusiasm, as Mrs. Weasley sat shaking in her seat, wiping away tears of joy with her nearly drenched hankie.

"And, finally, Harry Potter." The hall erupted with thunderous applause as Harry got to his feet. Everyone there knew that just one week earlier Harry had finally defeated Lord Voldemort in a duel that had eliminated Voldemort once and for all. The applause and resulting standing ovation was more for Harry's victory over Voldemort than for his Ministry Scholar appointment, but Harry smiled with relief and appreciation anyway.

Hermione, unable to contain her emotion, threw her arms around both boys, kissed their cheeks and cried, "I knew you could do it!" As the three of them stood there, embraced in a tight hug, no one could deny that these three were the greatest of friends.

Hermione sighed into her mug as she remembered vividly those events of one month earlier. Her memories were interrupted, however, by a chuckle, more of a scoff really, from behind her. She turned her head and looked straight into the steely grey eyes of Draco Malfoy. She rolled her eyes and turned back to her cocoa.

"Lost in thought, are you, Granger?" he said from the table behind her. "Or maybe you're waiting for someone. Surely not Potter or Weasley."

"And what makes you think I'm waiting for someone, Malfoy?" She furiously ripped off a bite of her muffin, trying to release her frustration over his intruding presence in a productive manner.

Malfoy leaned back in his chair and rested his arm across the back of the chair next to him. "Well, you're here without your two boyfriends and you have a book with a flower. Isn't that some sort of signal you use when you're meeting up with someone you've never met before?"

Hermione set down her muffin and mug and turned to face Malfoy, her curiosity piqued. "If I didn't know better, Malfoy, I'd think you'd been reading Muggle romance novels." She eyed him as he shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"Watch your mouth, Granger," he warned. "I'd never touch a Muggle book, let alone a romance novel."

Hermione knew she had gotten Malfoy's back up, and she loved how for the first time the tables had been turned. "Speaking of boyfriends," she smirked, "where are yours? I've never seen you without Crabbe and Goyle."

Malfoy looked daggers at her as he glared straight into her eyes. "I said watch it, Granger!"

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said with innocent sarcasm. "I forgot that they ran off to France together and left you behind. It must still hurt. But, don't worry, time heals everything."

Malfoy stood up so abruptly and forcefully that the chair beside him was knocked backward to the ground.

He was breathing deeply as his eyes flashed dangerously. "Time heals everything except being a Mudblood!" Hermione watched silently as he stormed briskly from the Leaky Cauldron.

Wow, she had really gotten to Malfoy that time. Something she had said had really set him off. She knew that Crabbe and Goyle hadn't passed any of their N.E.W.T.s and, therefore, hadn't graduated. Crabbe's uncle in France taught at Beauxbatons and had suggested private tutoring so they could attempt their exams again the following year. Of course they weren't really Malfoy's "boyfriends," so why would he get so riled up? Hermione thought for a second and then she shook her head. "He's mental. Honestly." She put some money on the table and traced Malfoy's path from the Leaky Cauldron out to Diagon Alley.

Hermione stepped onto the smooth cobblestone street and made her way down Diagon Alley. The street was slowly coming to life as numerous witches and wizards milled in and out of the shops lining the cobblestone.

A group of children huddled in front of a shop window, talking excitedly about the display. Hermione stopped a few paces behind them to see the object of their enthusiastic coveting.

"It's a Lightning Strike!" shouted one of the boys in the front of the group.

"Brand new this year," enthused another boy in front. "It's better than any of the Nimbus or Firebolt models!"

"It must cost a fortune," mused the first boy in a tone of near reverence.

Hermione couldn't help but smile. She recognized the awe and wonder the two young boys expressed. A small giggle escaped her lips as she thought about how Harry and Ron would rant and rave over the display, too. After all, they were still just little boys themselves, but in grown up bodies.

She walked past the children and into the shop deciding that now was the perfect time to pick up Harry's birthday gift. His birthday was the following day, and she knew exactly what to get. Of course, she would have loved to have gotten him the Lightning Strike. The look on his face would have been worth going into debt over, but she figured the boy outside was right. It must cost a fortune. Knowing she didn't have a fortune, and probably never would, she decided she'd better not even think about it.

"May I help you?" asked a young wizard at the counter.

"Yes. I'd like to get a broom case," she said matter of factly.

"Well, we have several versions to choose from." The wizard led her to the left side of the shop and pointed to no less than twenty different kinds of broom cases.

Hermione's eyes widened as she surveyed deluxe steel cases with anti-theft charms and basic wooden cases with non-locking latches. Her eyes ran quickly over each case until they rested on a display case. It was made of solid mahogany wood and displayed up to three brooms upright. On the right hand side of the case was a hinged door that opened to reveal a broom cleaner storage compartment.

"I want that one," she said decidedly, pointing to the display case.

"Very well," said the wizard. "I'll just get this wrapped up for you. Would you like to have it delivered to you?"

"Yes, please," she said with a smile.

As she began to follow the wizard back to the counter something caught the corner of her eye—white blond hair. She turned to see Draco Malfoy glaring at her. As soon as their eyes met he turned his back to her and looked down at the broom cleaning kits.

"If you'll write the delivery address here we can have this delivered to you tonight," the wizard said, handing her a slip of paper.

Hermione turned back to the counter and scribbled down her address. She paid the wizard and began to walk toward the door. She glanced around the shop and noticed that Malfoy had gone.

Hermione stepped outside of Quality Quidditch Supplies and headed over to Flourish and Blotts to pick up some books. As she walked she thought about what she had said to Malfoy in the Leaky Cauldron. It was no worse than anything Malfoy had ever said to her, and he had never thought twice about his insults. But instead of reveling in her victory over him, she felt bad. There was a time at Hogwarts when she would have been hoisted up on the shoulders of Gryffindors, or Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws, for that matter, for bringing down the school's cockiest Slytherin, and she would have savored every second of it. But now, she just felt guilty. She wasn't a vindictive person. And she certainly wasn't as low as Malfoy in the common decency department. So why had she stooped to his level and been so insulting to him? He just brings out the worst in me, she decided. She shook her head to clear it and walked into Flourish and Blotts.

She needed two books for her internship. She went straight to the Magical Governments section and found them right away. She was busy reading the inside flap of one of the books to acquaint herself with the author when she smacked right into a person entering the same book aisle. The book she was reading flew out of her hands and landed between them. She bent down, a bit flustered, and said, "I'm sorry," at just the same time as the other person. They reached for the book at the same time, and their fingers touched as they both grasped the book. A small shock shot up her arm and down her body as she looked up and her eyes met steel grey ones.

Malfoy's eyes turned cold as they met hers. He let go of the book, stood up, and stalked away before Hermione could even get to her feet. That was odd, she thought. He was actually going to be nice and pick up my book. Until he saw it was me, of course. She didn't think she had ever seen him be nice to anyone before, not even his own friends. She thought about their awkward encounter until she got to the counter to pay, then quickly dismissed it from her mind.

"And how would you like to pay for this today?" said the witch at the register.

"Um, my Ministry Scholar account, please," Hermione said a bit tentatively.

"Ah, yes," replied the witch. "And you are Miss –"

"Granger," said Hermione.

"Very good, Miss Granger. Here you are." The witch handed her a handled paper bag containing her new books. "Congratulations on your Ministry appointment."

"Thank you," Hermione said with a small smile. She then turned and walked toward the exit.

Once outside and back on the cobblestone Hermione looked at the watch on her left wrist. 10:30 am. With any luck Harry had been able to convince Ron to get out of bed without being hexed.

Those two, she thought. How different they were. Ron was a terror to wake. Harry was gentle and sweet. Ron was a bit crass and insensitive at times. Harry was usually tender and kind. Ron could be somewhat slow on the uptake. Harry always seemed to be one step ahead. But when she got right down to it, she thought they were both perfect. "Now if only they'd get here," she voiced softly.

As she walked towards Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions she saw a little girl walking by happily holding an ice cream cone. Oh, I've got to get myself one of those, she thought. After I get my robes, she promised herself.

She walked into Madame Malkin's and a dreamy, far away sounding chime tinkled through the shop as Madame Malkin herself emerged from behind a silk draped partition.

"Welcome, my dear. How may I help you?" she asked.

"I need some Ministry robes," Hermione said brightly.

"But of course. We have one of your colleagues being fitted right now. Please follow me."

Hermione followed Madame Malkin behind the partition to the back of the shop and stopped abruptly as she saw the sight in front of her. Standing on a short foot stool in front of a full length mirror was Draco Malfoy. Hermione rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh as she resolutely moved forward. Madame Malkin ushered her to a stool and mirror right next to Malfoy. She stood on the stool and glanced quickly at him out of the corner of her eye, hoping he wouldn't notice. He just stared straight ahead as though she wasn't there.

Madame Malkin and her assistant pinned Hermione's and Malfoy's robes as they stood in silence. After a long silence of pinning the assistant walked into a side room muttering something about "more pins." When the assistant hadn't returned a few minutes later, Madame Malkin made her way into the same side room.

Hermione and Malfoy continued to stand in silence, each looking into their own mirrors. Just when Hermione thought she couldn't take the awkward silence any more, Malfoy spoke.

"Following me, Granger?" he said coolly, sounding a bit disinterested.

"I could say the same to you," she retorted.

"I believe I was here first," he said in a rather aloof tone.

Hermione turned to look at him. She opened her mouth to say something, then shook her head and turned back to her mirror.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "Can't think of anything nasty enough to say back to me?"

"Actually, I can, and that's the problem," she said a bit guiltily.

He turned his head slightly and looked at her reflection in his mirror. "So, what's stopping you?" he dared.

She looked at his reflection and put her hand on her hip. "What's stopping me is that I am not a vindictive person, like you. I do not thrill in belittling others and dragging them down. I don't have to stamp out others to make me feel better about myself. I am not a horrible person—." At this last statement her hand fell from her hip and she looked slightly away.

"Like me," he said.

"What?" she asked distractedly.

"You're not a horrible person like me."

"I didn't say that," she said a bit hastily.

"But that's what you meant. Isn't it?" He turned his whole body towards her and looked her straight in the eyes.

"I…,'er…, you bring out the worst in me," she finally said, feeling a little uncomfortable. She didn't know which was worse, his averted eyes or his penetrating stare.

He stared at her for a moment longer, then turned back to his mirror and said, "So I see."

Just then Madame Malkin and her assistant returned, each jingling a box of pins. "Sorry, dears," she apologized. "You'll both be done in a minute. So, which departments in the Ministry have you been appointed to?"

"The Department of International Magical Co-operation." Hermione and Malfoy had both spoken at the same time.

Hermione's jaw dropped as she saw Malfoy glance casually towards her, then away.

"Are you kidding me?" Hermione asked dumbfounded. Malfoy remained silent. The Ministry Scholars had only just received their department appointments the previous week, so this news came as quite a shock to her.

"Well, you're both done. Congratulations and good luck," offered Madame Malkin. "We'll keep these measurements on file so you can order more robes at any time without a re-fitting."

Hermione thanked Madame Malkin and quickly left the shop before Malfoy had even descended from the foot stool.

Well, that was uncomfortable, Hermione thought as she breathed in the fresh outdoor air. What she had said was true. Malfoy did bring out the worst in her. They both knew it. And now they had to work together in the same Ministry department. Oh, that's rich. Someone must really have it in for me.

She walked slowly down Diagon Alley thinking about whether or not she would be able to get through each day with Malfoy around. She wondered if International Magical Co-operation had been Malfoy's first choice in departments. They had each been asked to select their top three department requests on their applications. Hermione had gotten her first request. And after Harry and Ron had passed their character and aptitude tests she had known they were shoe-ins for the Auror training program, their first requests. Well, regardless of whether International Magical Co-operation was Malfoy's first choice or not she was going to have to work with him, like it or not. She grimaced as she decided it was the latter.

As she walked back towards the Leaky Cauldron she noticed how busy Diagon Alley had become. Witches chatted happily to one another, huddled around outside displays, while their children darted in and out of the Quidditch and candy shops and their husbands leaned against the storefronts laden down with packages, wishing they were somewhere else. Hermione looked ahead of her and saw through the ever changing kaleidoscope of various shoppers a flash of spiky red hair bobbing up and down in the crowd ahead. As the hair traveled closer she saw a face emerge beneath it, complete with freckles and a pleasantly goofy grin. Hermione quickened her pace as she scurried around a group of dawdling witches and stopped right in front of Ron, hands on hips.

"Ah, there you are, Hermione," Ron said, maintaining the same goofy grin.

"You're late," she said impatiently, her right foot tapping the ground.

"What?" Ron asked quizzically, grabbing Hermione's left wrist and peering at her watch. "It's only 11:15. Harry said we weren't meeting until noon. So we're early." Ron looked at Harry, who was standing to his right, and then back to Hermione. He folded his arms, puffed out his chest a bit, and looked smugly triumphant.

"No, you would have been early if you had gotten up when I tried to get you up," Hermione said, trying not to smile at Ron's attempt to look victorious.

Ron's self-satisfied air dissipated quickly as he hung his head slightly and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Oh, yeah, Harry told me about that, too." He looked shyly embarrassed as he shuffled a small pebble between the cobblestone and his shoe. "I, uh, wouldn't ever really hex you, you know." He looked up at her with his head still slightly lowered, checking to see if she still looked at him with her reproving stare.

Hermione bit her tongue to keep from laughing. Ron was giving her the same look her cousin Kate's Labrador puppy had given her when he ripped a page from the novel she had been reading the previous summer. How could she get mad at those pleading puppy dog eyes? She resisted the urge to ruffle his hair and simply said, "Right," as she tried to hold on to her glare. She finally broke and a playful smile spread across her face.

Ron let out the breath he had been holding and sighed in relief. The last thing he wanted was to make Hermione angry. He may well have been beginning Auror training, but he knew full well that not even the most powerful Auror would be able to defeat the wrath of Hermione.

She turned to Harry and gave him a quick visual inspection from head to toe. "You're hex-free, too?" she asked, her eyebrows slightly raised.

"Yeah. Barely," he responded with an amused smile. "But you should see the hole Ron's hex put in the wall I was standing in front of."

Hermione gasped. "Ron!" she exclaimed as she slapped his arm.

"Hey!" he shouted, as he unsuccessfully pulled away from her swatting hand. "That's not true. Harry's just trying to get me in trouble." As Hermione turned to Harry, Ron frantically waved his arms behind her head and signaled to Harry to keep quiet.

"Um," Harry began as he saw Ron mouth "Please," and put his palms together in praying fashion. Harry rolled his eyes at Ron and said, "Yeah, I'm just kidding."

She gave Harry a small smirk and said, "Okay, then," as she stood between them and linked her arms through theirs. "Let's get going."

As Hermione led them forward Harry looked over her head at Ron and mouthed, "You owe me."

The three of them spent the rest of the morning and afternoon in and out of shops picking up the supplies Harry and Ron needed to begin their Auror training. They stopped by shop number ninety-three, Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, but neither of Ron's twin brothers, Fred or George, were there. "They're probably sick in bed from testing one of their latest concoctions," Ron muttered, holding his stomach in memory of one of the times he tested a new creation accidentally. "What's that?" he asked incredulously as his eyes wandered towards a nearby shop, his hand leaving his stomach to tug at Harry's arm.

As Hermione suspected, Harry and Ron both ran to the window with the Lightning Strike display and began marveling over its sleek design and master craftsmanship. She stood aside and laughed at the two who were behaving just like the little boys she had seen that morning. Finally, after three attempts and the threat of having to skip dinner if they didn't get going, Harry and Ron reluctantly allowed Hermione to steer them gently from the Quidditch shop.

They successfully got their required books, potion supplies, and robes, and also a few extra items along the way. "They're just for fun," Ron said as he gripped a bag bearing a new wizard's chess set. "Mine was ancient," he said defensively when Hermione stared at him. "One of the knights kept falling off his horse like a drunken git."

The three continued to make their way down Diagon Alley when they heard a "Psst" coming from near one of the shops. They turned and looked in three different directions as they heard their names being called. "Ron. Harry. Hermione. Over here." Harry looked at a display cart covered with star charts and saw a patch of bright red hair poking out of the side of the cart near the wheel.

"Fred?" Harry asked tentatively.

"Right you are, Harry," Fred said with a happy grin.

Ron and Hermione moved closer to the side of the cart and stood by Harry. "What are you doing here?" Ron asked. "And why are you hiding?"

"Keep it down, little brother," Fred hissed. "Follow me."

Ron, Harry, and Hermione exchanged glances with each other before following Fred. They moved cautiously past the unoccupied cart and through a narrow alleyway between two store fronts. They had barely entered the alleyway when they began descending a steep flight of stone stairs. It went forward, then jogged to the left. After about forty steps they came out of the alleyway and stepped down onto a small dirt courtyard. The stone courtyard walls were lined with wooden crates of all sizes. Ron looked around, somewhat perplexed and asked, "Where are we?"

"You'll see." Fred's eyes glinted mischievously as he pulled out his wand and tapped a section of the stone wall not covered with crates and whispered, "I seek to go where no law abiding witch or wizard dares to go." Bright beams of light shot out from between the stones and within seconds a door had appeared. Fred opened the door and walked in, followed hesitantly by Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

They entered what seemed to be a small stock room filled with the same crates they had seen outside. Ron shut the door behind them and they all followed Fred out of the stock room and down a brightly lit hall. At the end of the hall a large room appeared, filled with rows and tables of assorted sweets and joke items. As they walked into the room Ron's jaw dropped as he looked at the colorfully bright table displays. "What is this place?" he asked in awe.

"Look," Harry said as he pointed to a counter with a cash register on top of it. A sign hanging just above the register read, "Welcome to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, Fred and George Weasley, Proprietors."

Just as Hermione finished reading the sign aloud, George popped up from behind the counter. "Welcome friends, to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes," he said, gesturing to the store in front of him. "Within these walls you will find sweets and jokes of all kinds. Sweets to make your love sweeter, jokes to make your enemies sprout feathers, sweets to help you skive off your boring lessons and staff meetings. Can't find what you're looking for? Never fear. We are constantly developing new products and gladly take requests. Thank you for your attention, and
please enjoy your visit to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes."

Fred whistled and applauded as George bowed graciously to an imaginary adoring crowd.

"Wow," said Harry rather impressed. "This is some set-up you have."

"Thank you, kind sir," said George. "And what does the other gentleman and the lady think of our fine establishment?"

"It's wonderful," Hermione offered with a smile.

"It's amazing! Even better than the other one!" Ron replied as he glanced between his two twin brothers. "I didn't know you opened another shop in Diagon Alley."

"We didn't," said Fred. "All of the respectable citizens of the wizarding community have access to our fine products in Diagon Alley. But what about the less than respectable ones? Those who are shunned from the clean reputation of Diagon Alley? How could we leave them without an establishment like Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes? So we decided to open one here, too."

"And where exactly is 'here?'" asked Hermione.

"Why, Knockturn Alley, of course," Fred answered jovially.

"You're kidding?" said Ron incredulously. "Does Mum know?"

"Don't be a silly prat, Ron," said George. "Of course she doesn't know. And she'd better not find it out from you, if you catch my meaning," he added, twirling his wand between his fingers.

"Hey, now, don't get carried away," Ron said, putting his hands up in front of him. "I wouldn't dream of telling Mum. She'd want to know what I was doing in Knockturn Alley in the first place."

"So, how's business going?" Hermione enquired, glancing around the empty shop.

"Actually, we don't know yet," Fred said unconcernedly. "Our Grand Opening is on Monday."

"Really? Well good luck," offered Harry. "I'm sure you'll be an instant success. After all, your Hogsmeade shop is the most popular one there."

"Too true, Harry," said Fred with a wink.

"So, was that the back entrance we came in through?" asked Ron.

"Yeah," said George. "We just found it two days ago. I guess whoever owned this place before wanted a discreet way in and out without going through the middle of Knockturn Alley."

"Imagine that," Ron whispered to Hermione.

"So, will you all be at the Burrow tomorrow for Mum's 'Congratulations Ministry Scholars' party?" Fred asked, changing the subject.

Mrs. Weasley had planned a family get-together to celebrate Ron's, Harry's, and Hermione's Ministry appointments. The party just happened to coincide with Harry's 18th birthday, so, with a little encouraging from Hermione, the party would also be a surprise birthday party. Fred looked at Hermione and gave her a little wink when Harry's back was turned.

"Oh, of course," Hermione replied, winking back. "We wouldn't miss a Weasley family gathering for the world."

"Excellent," Fred and George chorused. "Mum said to arrive at 3:00 on the dot," George finished, looking directly at Hermione as though to emphasize the time.

"You can count on it," Ron said smiling. "Well, we'd better be going."

"Yes, indeed, little brother," Fred said with a wave of his hand. "We have plenty to do ourselves. You can find your way out yourselves?"

"Sure, we'll just go back the same way we came. Thanks for showing us around." Harry extended a hand to Fred and then to George, adding in a whisper, "I'm still your anonymous financial backer, right?"

"You bet," Fred responded. "Mum is none the wiser."

After saying their goodbyes, Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way out of the stock room, through the courtyard, up the stairs, and back onto the cobblestone street of Diagon Alley.

"Did anyone see us?" Ron breathed, looking around as they passed the still unoccupied star chart cart.

"I don't think so," Harry said, also looking around.

"Good. I'm starving. Let's get something to eat." Ron hastily led the way as Harry and Hermione smiled at each other and followed their famished friend to the Leaky Cauldron.