Short chapter since the last one was over 2000+ words. But another will come soon, so don't worry!

Harry and Ginny barreled down the pathway, dodging around wizards and witches going about their business. Though they weaved through streams of people, they always managed to stay close enough to each other to make eye contact.

Pushing through the torrents of passerby's, a few getting distinctly miffed, Harry and Ginny halted at the door to Flourish and Blotts, both out of breath as they exchanged glances. From inside, they could hear the mutterings of a few voices, and neglected to listen carefully enough to who was speaking before barging through the threshold.

There before them, hands folded over a cane, stood Lucius Malfoy. He regarded them with his nose upturned, sniffing in distaste. The hems of his dark green robes were perfectly pressed, and the tie around his neck gleamed silver, so much that it almost seemed metallic. His hair was longer than even Katrin's halting in a pony tail towards the middle of his spine. A black ribbon held it in taste, and Harry only had a few seconds to snort at how girlish it looked before the man swooped his gaze back to Molly Weasley, who had turned red with anger.

"Good day, Molly," He sneered, unfolding his hands carefully and glancing back over at Ginny, who stared at him with wide, dark eyes. "Ginevra," He gave her a crooked smile and she started trembling, her eyes relaying the images from Tom Riddle's diary. His memories. Murders, leading girls into caves, driving people insane. All of these images in less than a second, flowing through her brain, a few fleeing into the Bond, as the man smiled. Well, it was more like he bared his teeth at her, but still.

"Potter." He nodded at the boy who stood stiff backed beside a pale faced Ginny, her eyes unfocused. Then, with a last sweeping glance, he walked away from the store, his cane clinking against the stones in an even pattern as civilians created a path for him.

"What the h... Heck did he want?" Ginny asked, clenching her fists tightly. Mrs Weasley bumped back into gear, dumping some quills into her daughter's hands and a couple of rolls of parchment in Harry's arm.

"Nothing, dear, what matters is that you two are here and we can finally check out." She bumbled, herding her family towards the cashier. When the woman placed a hand on Ginny's back, she jerked away.

"Mum, I respect you, but I need to know. You know what he is capable of doing. Even in the slight of hand, he can topple our lives to the ground." Ginny insisted, pulling her mother to the side. Harry stood beside her, and Molly glanced at him helplessly before sighing.

"Dears, I'll tell you soon. It's just... He was complimenting us on your... resilience." Harry's jaw locked, and he took a deep breath.

"And what does that mean?" He practically growled, placing a hand on the small of Ginny's back. Mrs Weasley swallowed, looking out of the window.

"I don't know... Fred has gone to alert the authorities. I have a bad feeling about this." She muttered, her face alight with worry. The window cast shadows onto her features, making the two notice how war worn she already was. And the war hadn't even officially started.

Harry and Ginny exchanged glances, both uneasy at this statement. They were sure there was a double meaning behind the man's words. Anything could happen.

Then, with a shock in the pit of his stomach, Harry's eyes turned gold.