บท 264: HEAVENLEIGH

All the people walking in Diagon Alley had the same harried, anxious look as Mrs Weasley, and nobody was stopping to talk anymore; the shoppers stayed together in their own tightly knit groups, moving intently about their business. Nobody seemed to be shopping alone.

"So what subjects are you taking this year, Dennis?" Chris asked noticing that Dennis was glancing around frequently and was unusually quiet.

Dennis suddenly looked very nervous as he stumbled for words. "Ca-care of Magical Creatures and Arithmancy."

"Wow," exclaimed Chris smiling. "Arithmancy, huh? It's Hermione's favourite subject, I have heard. I think you will be great at it too."

"Thanks," Dennis smiled and looked a little less nervous. "I am just glad, I got to attend Hogwarts this year. I thought I will never see Hogwarts again."

"Why?" asked Ginny who was talking to Luna till now.

"Dad didn't want to let us —" Dennis began but Colin jumped in.

"We will talk about this later, Dennis," said Colin seriously. "Look, there is 'Eeylops Owl Emporium'."

But as they drew nearer they realized the shop was closed.

"What happened?" said Luna looking at the empty, deserted shop.

"Must have been left, considering the situation," said Cedric hastily. "Never mind, I know, a magical creature shop just over there, come on."

Cedric quickly steered Luna away from the shop and Chris and the rest followed.

They entered a shop named, "Magical Menagerie". There wasn't much room inside. Every inch of wall was hidden by cages. It was smelly and very noisy because the occupants of these cages were all squeaking, squawking, jabbering, or hissing. The witch behind the counter came scurrying to them, clearly looking pleased to have customers.

"What will you like to see dears?" she asked kindly.

"Can we looked around a bit?" asked Ginny looking at a particular weird looking cat, who was purring looking at them.

"Of course," said the witch and went back to her counter.

As Ginny, Luna and Dennis started to look around and Cedric stood near the door looking around for any signs of dangers; Chris pulled Colin aside.

"Spill, what's going on?" said Chris, pretending to be interested in a pair of enormous purple toads, who sat gulping wetly and feasting on dead blowflies.

Colin sighed before speaking. "After the last incident in the Department of Mysteries, my parents refused to let us go to Hogwarts again. They were really worried and the news on the Daily Prophet didn't help either. They understood that the Muggle-borns are in more danger than anyone so they. . ."

"Then how did you managed to —?" Chris began now staring at a Fire Crab.

"Dumbledore," said Colin, also staring at the Fire Crab. "I wrote him a letter and he personally came to our home and ensured Dennis and my security at Hogwarts. He said nothing will happen to the Muggle-born students till he is alive."

"That's great," said Chris feeling a little guilty.

"I heard from Luna," said Colin. "About the — legend."

Chris remained silent looking at a fat white rabbit, who kept changing into a silk top hat and back again with a loud popping noise.

"I will be with you but I am just worried about Dennis," sighed Colin looking back his brother, who was staring at a basket of funny custard-coloured furballs that were humming loudly. "Dad asked me to take care of him but he wants to join me in everything."

"Colin, you don't have to —"

"Not again Chris," Colin glared at Chris. "I am not leaving you three alone, alright? I just have to find a way to distract Dennis, that's all. I will manage that."

"So are you buying him an owl to distract him?" Chris said trying to sound casual, as her heart filled with gratitude and contentment at Colin' words.

"Honestly, yes," smiled Colin a little. "Also, mom, Dad wanted to hear from us every day and I am a Prefect now, so —"

"You are kidding," said Chris loudly. "Congratulations!"

Grinning Chris hugged Colin.

"What happened?" asked Ginny quickly coming over them.

"Colin is Prefect too and he kept that quiet," said Chris.

Everyone started to Congratulated Colin and they went back to looking around the shop. After some time, Colin forced Dennis to choose an owl (because he was too busy fawning at everything in the shop) and he choose a handsome tawny owl but Ginny looked uncertain as she asked the price of a white cat.

"That's the best one in their kind, dear, five Galleons and two Sickles," said the witch on the counter.

"Oh!" Ginny flushed. "Alright. I think I will take that owl." She pointed at a barn owl.

"That will be one Galleon."

"What's so special about that cat? If you don't mind me asking," Chris asked the witch.

"She is a half-Kneazle, a very special kind of Kneazle," said the witch. "Very rare nowadays."

"Oh," Chris nodded in understanding. "She isn't the first half-kneazle in your shop, is she?"

"Of course not," replied the witch shaking her head. "There were plenty. The problem was, sometimes it gets very difficult to differentiate normal cats and half-kneazles. Anyway, which one did you say you want dear?"

"Take the cat, if you really want," Chris whispered to Ginny as she pointed at the barn owl.

"No, it's fine," said Ginny quickly. "I like the owl."

"She is nice looking," said Chris looking at the white cat. "I will cover the rest of her price and don't give you a birthday present next month."

Ginny looked like she was about to protest but then looked back at the snow-white cat, who was purring fondly looking at Chris and Ginny.

"Deal," Ginny grinned at Chris then turned to the witch who was now bringing the barn owl. "I will take the cat. Does she have any name or I can give her one?"

After paying for the owl and the cat, they left the shop and made their way to Flourish and Blotts.

"Thanks, Chris," smiled Ginny, in her arms the white cat purred loudly. "I always wanted a cat. Especially after playing with Crookshanks. Cats are so fun."

"They are," nodded Luna wisely. "They are very regal creatures. Grubbers doesn't bother cats at all. They are the only creatures who are Grubbers free."

"Grubbers?" Dennis looked at Colin.

"Something very fascinating," replied Colin smiling at Chris.

Chris chuckled.

"I will name her Heavenleigh," said Ginny smiling.

"Everyone all right?" said Mrs Weasley, they were waiting outside the shop with Ron, Harry and Hermione. "Got your — Ginny! What's that?"

"Mom, she is Heavenleigh," said Ginny fondly scratching the cat. "Isn't she lovely?"

"But what about owl — we will talk about this later," Mrs Weasley sighed. "Right then, we can pop in at the Apothecary on the way to Fred and George's — stick close, now. . . ."

Chris and the rest brought their new potion equipment there, then with Mrs Weasley checking her watch every minute or so, they headed farther along the street in search of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the joke shop run by Fred and George.

"We really haven't got too long," Mrs Weasley said. "So we'll just have a quick look around and then back to the car. We must be close, that's number ninety-two . . . ninety-four . . ."

"Whoa," said Ron, stopping in his tracks.

Set against the dull, poster-muffled shop fronts around them, Fred and George's windows hit the eye like a firework display. Casual passersby were looking back over their shoulders at the windows, and a few rather stunned-looking people had actually come to a halt, transfixed. The left-hand window was dazzlingly full of an assortment of goods that revolved, popped, flashed, bounced, and shrieked. The right-hand window was covered with a gigantic poster, purple like those of the Ministry, but emblazoned with flashing yellow letters:

WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO?

YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT U-NO-POO —

THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION!

Chris burst out laughing. Soon everyone else joined her except Mrs Weasley, who was gazing, dumbfounded, at the poster. Her lips moved silently, mouthing the name "U-No-Poo."

"They'll be murdered in their beds!" she whispered.

"No they won't!" said Ron laughing. "This is brilliant!"

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To be continued. . .