It was merely weeks after the Battle of Hogwarts and still the country rejoiced and held celebrations. But to Harry, there was no reason to celebrate. The war had lasted so long… and he had lost so many people dear to him or even just connected to him; His parents, Remus, Tonks, Sirius, Fred, Dumbledore, Snape, Cedric and even the Creevy brothers. Harry knew it was because of him that all these people died, to protect, he Harry, the "Chosen One".
Although his friends would continually tell him they died not for Harry but to make a better future for their families Harry still couldn't help feeling that he should have been able to prevent those deaths.
Harry's reveries were broken with a start as Kreachers face appeared in front of Harry's.
"Kreacher asked what Master Harry wanted for lunch 3 times sir, but Master Harry did not hear Kreacher."
"Oh sorry Kreacher… I was thinking." Harry responded. "I'm not all that hungry so… just a sandwich thanks."
"Is Master Harry sure? You have not eaten much since your return sir… Master Harry needs his strength."
"I'm fine Kreacher; could you please just go make the sandwich? I'll be down in a little bit."
The loyal house elf bowed his head low and backed out of the room leaving Harry to his thoughts once more. Harry sighed, the past weeks Harry had been feeling very cut off from the rest of the wizarding world, which was his own fault. The last time harry left number 12 Grimmauld Place had been for Fred's memorial service. Harry just couldn't seem to bring himself to see his friend after all the pain he has caused… The deaths and sadness, but no matter how hard he tried to stay away he couldn't help feeling lonely with out his closest friends by his side. Most of all he missed Ginny, Harry sighed longingly at the thought of her, oh how he missed her; her silky red hair and her big chocolate brown eyes. Harry hated thinking about the pain he must be causing her; Harry hadn't even spoken to her since that day after the battle.
"They must all be very worried about me", he thought to himself. It had been 4 days since Hermione's last attempt to get Harry to see his friends; Harry supposed they may have finally given up on him.
Harry got up from his desk and stretched, yawning. If anyone could see him right now he would be almost unrecognizable. His hair was much longer than it had ever been before and his face had not been shaved for many weeks. Harry now had lines on his face as well; he looked like a man who had suffered a much older mans suffering. There was something wiser about his appearance. Harry also looked tired and strained, with dark circles under his eyes from sleepless nights filled with nightmares of battle and death.
Harry stood contemplating for a moment before coming to a decision. He would shower, get dressed, shave and would go to Diagon Alley. Ginny's birthday was the next day and he though he would go and surprise everyone and apologize, but first he needed the perfect gift for her.
Half an hour later found Harry in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place fully dressed for the first time in weeks. Half way through his sandwich Harry looked up at Kreacher.
"Kreacher, I think I will read my mail now, could you please get the bag."
Kreacher jumped up and hurried out of the room returning 5 minutes later with two grocers' bags full of letters. "Kreacher took the liberty of separating the fan mail to a different bag sir"
"Thanks Kreacher, I'll get to those later, just give me the other bag please." Harry said.
Harry started opening letters from his friends hoping he was ok and wishing he would see them again making Harry feel even worse. It wasn't until he picked up a letter from Hogwarts that he froze.
"What could Hogwarts be writing about", Harry thought. Harry tore open the envelope and pulled out the first piece of parchment, unfolded it and began to read:
Dear Mr. Potter
Once again I would like to congratulate you on your defeat of Lord Voldemort. As I am sure you are wondering I am writing to inform you that if you so wish, we have a spot available for you here to complete your 7th year along with any other students who were unable to finished their last year of schooling. Please send your answer by return owl. Your booklist is enclosed.
Harry pulled out a second piece of parchment and looked it over, 'at least it doesn't look like it would be a very boring year' Harry thought.
Upon returning your books should include:
The Standard book of spells (grade 7) by Miranda Goshawk
Experts in Transfiguration by Lilian Mursac
Potions of the most advanced kind by Stewart Lipsync
Rare plants and their properties by Linda Cooper
Defense against the Dark Arts: Dreadful curses and how to stop them by George Killup
Harry read both pieces of parchment twice to let what he was reading sink in. He had a chance to go back… he couldn't believe it, and yet he wasn't sure if he even wanted to. He decided he would wait until the following day to speak with Ron and Hermione about it.
After he finished reading his mail, Harry put on his shoes and went to the door. "Kreacher, have dinner ready around 6, I should be home by then."
Kreacher nodded enthusiastically, "Yes Master Harry, of course." And Kreacher turned to go finish the laundry from that morning.
Harry disapparated and reapparated in front of the Leaky Cauldron, a small wizarding tavern invisible to all none magic people. This tavern held the entrance way to Diagon Alley. Harry stood there a moment and took in a deep sigh. 'This is it' he thought 'my first encounter with the outside wizarding world since The Battle'
With a deep breath to ready himself Harry pushed open the door. What awaited him surprised him. The small tavern was no longer empty it was now full of people laughing and talking. This was a very strange sight to him indeed after the last time he'd been here.
It took him no more than 5 seconds before he was noticed. All at once people began to jump out of their chairs and chanting "It's Potter!" The people in the tavern were cheering and clapping for him. Harry tried to struggle through the crowds, shaking hands and signing parchments as he went. After about 20 minutes and Harry had shaken everybody's hand at least twice, he finally made it in to the small court yard which held the secret entrance to Diagon Alley. After tapping the appropriate brick with his wand the bricks began to move away creating an archway, which lead to the magnificent cobbled streets of Diagon Alley.
Once again surprise filled Harry as he laid eyes on another amazing sight. The streets were lined with people; happy carefree people. Harry couldn't help but smile; it was his first true smile in weeks, he, Harry, had helped bring this happiness.
Harry thought back to his last few weeks remembering his thoughts of self-pity and depression. How could Harry of thought himself a plague, when, because of him no one had to worry any longer? He had made the entire world rejoice, and Hermione was right… no one died for him, they died for hope, they died for joy, they died so that their families could live and grow… and no longer have to look over their shoulders.
Harry came out of his revelation and truly took in the sight once more before setting off down the street towards his first destination, Gringotts. As Harry walked a long many heads turned in his wake and whispers followed him; always the same thing "That was Harry Potter!", "Are you sure?", "Yea I saw his scar!"
Nervously Harry made his way up the marble steps and into the hall beyond. As he entered through the first doors he read the all too familiar warning towards thieves:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn,
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
After reading the poem Harry remembered all too vividly his last time here. If he recalled correctly it involved Hermione dressing up as Bellatrix, breaking in and having to escape on the back of a captive dragon, almost bringing the entire building down. Remembering the details made Harry even more nervous. Upon entering the hall itself immediately every eye was on Harry.
Harry cautiously walked up to a particularly mean looking goblin. "Erm… I'd like to visit my vault please."
The goblin glared at Harry over his glasses with suspicion in his small beady eyes."Grimlock, over here! Gather an escort to accompany Mr. Potter to his vault. Grilnott, over here with that Probity Probe, we shall see if Mr. Potter is hiding anything." The goblin stared menacingly at Harry.
After being poked and prodded and escorted to his vault by no less than 5 goblins, Harry finally emerged out into the bright sunlight with his pockets jingling with gold galleons silver sickles and bronze knuts. Harry stood for a moment debating the places he could go to find Ginny's gift. After thinking a few moments Harry decided his first stop would be Quality Quidditch Supplies. Harry knew Ginny was the new captain of the Griffindor team and that she would probably enjoy something to do with Quidditch.
So Harry set off down the steps walking purposely to his favorite shop. Even though it was a short walk from Gringotts to Quality Quidditch, it seemed to take Harry at least fifteen minutes due to the barrage of people coming in on him from left and right. Finally Harry crashed through the doors of Quality Quidditch escaping the swarms of fans.
After catching his breath Harry began to browse around the shop that could suit Ginny's needs as a seeker. After looking at a few displays Harry stumbled across their newest broom models. The most recent model was the 'Firebolt X50', an amazing racing broom which was black in color with silver lightning bolts running down the sides and it went 0-60 in 3 seconds. Harry admired the superb broom for a few moments imagining what Ginny would look like zooming around on it. Harry was already reaching for his money bag when he realized that Ginny would never accept such an extravagant and expensive gift. So after that revelation Harry continued his search, after visiting a few more displays he found a decent pair of Quidditch gloves imbued with magic to improve a players aim, after examining them Harry couldn't remember if she needed a new pair or not, so he just left the display and looked around.
After a half an hour of searching without any results Harry concluded that the perfect gift was no where in this particular store. Harry sighed, disappointed, and walked out of the store.
Harry stowed his hands in his pockets and carried on glancing into windows as he passed them. Some of the stores he passed included 'Madam Malkins: Robes for all occasions', 'eeylops Owl Emporium', and 'Judy's: Muggle dress at its best'. None of these things seemed right for her at all.
Harry passed a window which made him stop dead in his tracks. Displayed just inside the window on a velvet podium was the most beautiful ring Harry had ever seen. It was simple, yet extravagant at the same time, something that suited Ginny perfectly. It had a white gold band and the band appeared to have vines making their way up either side towards the center, where a rosebud blossomed from them and had a beautiful diamond set in the center of the rose.
Harry's cheeks turned hot as he imagined proposing to Ginny on bended knee with that ring outstretched and placing it onto Ginny's finger. Harry looked up at the sign above the door. The sign read 'Madam Juliards: Fine Jewelry' and underneath that another sign read 'Grand Opening Today: Everything 50 off' Harry straightened up and walked into the store and almost immediately a store clerk ushered over to him.
"Welcome to Madam Juliards! How may we…", the young woman stopped in mid sentence and was eyeing the scar on Harry's forehead, "…Mr. Potter! How delightful to have you in our store! Is there anything in particular you are looking for today? I can fetch it in a jiffy."
Harry smiled at her, "well actually, that engagement ring in the window… How much is it?"
"Just one moment…" with that said the clerk promptly walked away to go get the ring Harry had spotted. She reappeared a moment later holding two rings in her hands. "It comes as a set, engagement ring and wedding band. With our 50 off promotional deal this ring will only cost you a low number of 80 galleons, any other day they would cost you easily 180 galleons."
Harry thought about it a moment. Harry knew that he wouldn't be proposing to Ginny anytime soon… but there was just something about this ring that just screamed Ginny and Harry just couldn't help but buy it.
"I'll take it… but could you hold them at the counter? I still need to take a look around for awhile longer."
"Of course Mr. Potter, anything for you!" The clerk took the ring back to the desk in the center of the store and placed it in a desk until Harry was ready. After finishing that she came back to Harry's side. "Now is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Actually there is… it's this girl's birthday tomorrow, and I'm not sure what to get her." Harry explained.
The clerk thought for a moment and glanced around the store before saying, how about a beautiful bracelet? Just so happens we have an amazing collection right this way."
The store clerk lead harry to a spot close to the front of the store where a display case stood showing off gorgeous sparkling bracelets.
The clerk turned to Harry, "now, would this gift be for a special someone perhaps?"
Harry could feel embarrassment wash over him at her words. He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks and he knew that surely he was blushing. "Kind of" he responded.
The clerk nodded her head knowingly and began browsing through the assortment of bracelets showing him many different ones occasionally but none seemed right. Either they were too small or too flashy or just way to plain.
After ten minutes of searching through the assortment of bracelets Harry decided that was not the way he wanted to go. Harry was about to open his mouth to tell the clerk this when a necklace dangling on a counter caught his eye. He then began to walk towards the necklace and examined it. It had a thin silver chain that seemed to sparkle radiantly in the sunlight and it also had a heart on the end of the chain with vines running along the rim of the heart and in the center was a single heart shaped sapphire. Harry flipped the necklace over and noticed an inscription on the back reading, 'Our hearts beat as one.'
"This is it!" Harry was shocked to hear how excited his voice sounded, "I'll take this. Could you please gift wrap it for me?"
"Of course, that is an excellent choice; she'll be very pleased with it." The clerk took the necklace from Harry's hand and proceeded to the counter and pulled the ring boxes out from the drawer. "The necklace is 38 galleons and 4 sickles so all together your total is 118 galleons and 4 sickles." The clerk cited off as she began wrapping the necklace and a blue gift box lined with satin material.
Harry emptied his money bag and counted out the appropriate amount of money to give the store clerk and handed it over to her. The clerk pulled out a small bag and placed the purchases into it and handed it to Harry.
"I hope you have a very pleasant day Mr. Potter, and I hope your girlfriend enjoys her gifts."
Harry walked back outside of the shop and into the dazzling sunlit streets of Diagon Alley. Harry quickly looked at his watch and realized it was now quarter to 6 and Kreacher would have his supper ready soon. With his shopping in hand Harry disapparated and reapparated in the doorway of Grimmauld Place.
"Kreacher, I'm home!" Harry called out to the elf. Harry could smell something cooking as it wafted up the stairs from the kitchen.
Kreacher came jogging into the room. "Master Harry! You are right on time. Dinner is in the kitchen, I made your favorites today master, and I made the treacle tart of which you are so partial for dessert. Also while you were away I took the liberty to do your washing."
Harry thanked Kreacher and headed for the kitchen to eat his meal. Kreacher had really out done himself. On the table sat a bowl of Harry's favorite Irish Stew, homemade of course, along with many other meals to choose from. Harry sat down and began to eat. After his day of shopping Harry was starting to feel anxious about the next day… he kept thinking about how much pain he had put them all through… Harry ate his meal in silence, thinking back to the last couple months.
Harry hoped they all would forgive his ignorance. As Harry finished his dessert he got up and headed up the stairs to bed. Harry entered his godfather's room which Harry now used as his own. Harry sat at the edge of his bed and began to get dressed for bed. After he was ready he laid his head on his pillows and removed his glasses. That night his dreams were filled with nightmares of Voldemort and torment. He awoke, screaming.