Wish Upon A Star

Draco's Detour

Ashlyn, Harry, Ginny and Ron spent their time playing Quidditch. Sirius would pop into the fire frequently, and stay for hours together, complaining about the Ministry and Kreacher, much to Harry's amusement and Hermione's indignance.

"Slughorn taught us potions," Sirius was telling over dinner on Harry's birthday.

"Potions? But we thought he'd be teaching DADA," Harry said.

"Slughorn? Defence Against the Dark Arts? Ha!" Sirius laughed. " He is a skilled wizard, alright. But not the fighting type,"

"Then who'll be teaching DADA?" Ron asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Hermione said exasperatedly. "Snape's got his dream job,"

"Don't worry, Harry," Sirius said patting Harry on his back. "just tell me if he gives you a hard time, I'll have a talk with Snivellus,"

"Sirius," Lupin said exasperatedly, as Tonks giggled.

"There have been another couple of dementor attacks," Lupin announced, as Mrs Weasley passed him a large slice of birthday cake. 

"And they've found Igor Karkaroff's body in a shack up north. The Dark Mark had been set over it — well, frankly, I'm surprised he stayed alive for even a year after deserting the Death Eaters; Sirius's brother, Regulus, only managed a few days as far as I can remember."

"Yes, well," said Mrs Weasley, frowning, "perhaps we should talk about something diff —"

"Did you hear about Florean Fortescue, Remus?" asked Bill, who was being plied with wine by Fleur. "The man who ran —"

"— the ice-cream place in Diagon Alley?" Harry interrupted, "He used to give me free ice creams. What's happened to him?"

"Dragged off, by the look of his place."

"Why?" asked Ron, while Mrs Weasley pointedly glared at Bill.

"Who knows? He must've upset them somehow. He was a good man, Florean." Bill shrugged.

"Talking of Diagon Alley," said Mr Weasley, "looks like Ollivander's gone too."

"The wandmaker?" said Ginny, looking startled.

"That's the one. Shop's empty. No sign of a struggle. No one knows whether he left voluntarily or was kidnapped."

"I say kidnapped," Ashlyn said.

"But wands — what'll people do for wands?" Ginny said.

"They'll make do with other makers," said Lupin. "But Ollivander was the best, and if the other side have got him it's not so good for us."

The day after this rather gloomy birthday tea, their letters and booklist arrived from Hogwarts. Harry's included a surprise: He had been made Quidditch Captain.

"That gives you equal status with prefects!" cried Hermione happily. "You can use our special bathroom now and everything!"

"Wow, I remember when Charlie wore one of these," said Ron, examining the badge with glee. "Harry, this is so cool, you're my Captain — if you let me back on the team, I suppose, ha ha. . . ." he trailed off awkwardly.

"Well, I don't suppose we can put off a trip to Diagon Alley much longer now you've got these," sighed Mrs Weasley, looking down Ron's booklist. "We'll go on Saturday as long as your father doesn't have to go into work again. I'm not going there without him."

"Mum, d'you honestly think You-Know-Who's going to be hiding behind a bookshelf in Flourish and Blotts?" sniggered Ron.

"Fortescue and Ollivander went on holiday, did they?" said Mrs Weasley, firing up at once. "If you think security's a laughing matter you can stay behind and I'll get your things myself —"