Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor am I attempting to make any personal gain from this story.
Harry Slithers-in; Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapter 2: Diagon Alley
Stan looked up and, seeing no-one, started looking around. It was only when Harry went to stand up that the conductor noticed him.
"'Shoo doin' down there?" he asked.
"I fell over," Harry replied, feeling annoyed.
"Why'd you fall over?"
Harry glanced back at the alley which was now bathed in the buses' headlights. There was no sign of a dog. He turned back to the conductor and, ignoring the last question, asked "Can this bus take me to Diagon Alley?"
"It can take yer anywhere you like, so long as it's on land," Stan replied.
Harry pulled his money pouch out of his trunk. "How much?"
Stan told him the fares and Harry decided on hot chocolate for the journey. With Stan's help I lifted his trunk onto the bus and went to find a seat only to discover there were only beds on the bus.
"Here, I'll give yer the one right behind the driver," Stan said. "Was' yer name by the way?"
Harry thought quickly and said "Blaise Zabini."
Stan turned to the driver, an elderly wizard with thick glasses, and said "Ern' this' Blaise Zabini an' he wants to go to Diagon Alley."
"Ar," the driver, Ernie, replied.
Harry chose to sit on the bed rather than lie down but as soon as the bus started moving he was thrown to the floor as the bus jumped to a totally different location. Stan explained this was where they were before Harry summoned them stating that it was somewhere in North Wales.
Several jumps later Harry gave up on trying to drink his hot chocolate. Every time the bus jumped he spilt more of the drink than what actually got into his mouth.
Several hours later the bus pulled up outside the Leaky Cauldron and Harry was relieved to be able to get off. He turned to collect his trunk when a voice spoke right behind him. "There you are Harry."
Harry turned around sharply and saw a portly man wearing a travelling cloak and a lime green bowler hat. He knew straight away this was a wizard and someone who had clearly been sent to find him. He knew he was in trouble.
"What did you say to Blaise 'ere, Minister?" Stan asked.
"Blaise?" the man said, sounding confused. "This is Harry Potter."
"The Harry Potter?" Stan said in a shocked voice.
The man looked annoyed. Instead of replying he took hold of Harry's shoulder and steered him into the Leaky Cauldron where the Barman, Tom, said, "You've got him then Minister? I've got a private room all ready for you." Behind them Stan and Ernie were carrying Harry's trunk inside. They left it on the floor and, after a last look at Harry, left the room.
Harry knew he was in a lot of trouble. Everybody was addressing the man as Minister and Harry doubted they meant a church minister. Tom showed them into a private room off the main bar and pointed Harry to a seat in front of it before leaving the room. The Minister walked around the table and sat on the other side before indicating Harry should sit also.
"Now then Harry, I am Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, and I must say you've had us very worried tonight, running away from your uncle and aunt like that. You will be pleased to know that we have managed to deflate your aunt and modified her memory so she will have no recollection of what happened. All that remains now is to decide where you will spend the remainder of the holidays. I would suggest you take a room here at the Leaky Cauldron. I'm sure Tom can find a suitable room for you for the next three weeks."
"Hang on, sir," Harry said feeling extremely confused. "What about my punishment?"
"Punishment?" Fudge asked. "Surely you don't want to be punished, do you?"
"No, but I used magic out of school and against a muggle. Isn't that against the law? Shouldn't I be facing some punishment? Even expulsion?"
There was a knock on the door. Tom came in carrying a pot of tea and crumpets which he placed on the table before saying, "I've taken Mr. Potter's belongings to room 11, Minister. Everything will be ready for him as soon as you finish here."
"Thank you, Tom," Fudge said as Tom left.
Fudge poured himself a cup of tea and helped himself to a crumpet. "Eat up, Harry. You look half starved. As to your question we don't expel students for such minor matters as blowing someone up, especially when it is in self-defence. According to the staff we sent to your home you were being threatened at the time. Although we would have preferred you to not run away I think that, in the circumstances, we can let this go."
Harry was very confused but decided to accept the situation. "Thank you, sir," he said as he poured himself a cup of tea.
"Well, that's all settled then," said Fudge. "There is just one thing, Harry. You are not to go into muggle London. You are free to go anywhere in Diagon Alley, however. How does that sound?"
"Of course, sir. I promise," Harry replied.
Fudge finished his tea. "I had best be off. Lots to do of course," he said in a cheerful voice.
After Fudge had left Tom returned. "When you're ready I'll take you to your room, Mr. Potter. I daresay you're rather tired."
Harry finished his tea and followed Tom up to his new room.
When he woke up a little after midday Harry began wondering why he had not been punished. He remembered now that Fudge was the Minister of Magic, the highest position in the wizarding government, which made the fact that he had met him even more surprising. Surely the Minister of Magic didn't concern himself with underage magic.
As he entered the bar, however, all thoughts of the strange behaviour from the Minister vanished. Waiting for him at the bar was Tracey Davis and as soon as he entered she jumped to her feet and ran to him. "Harry, you idiot. Did you forget what my mother told you? Black murdered 13 people with one curse but he cannot reach you at Privet Drive. You were safe there and you should have stayed there," she said.
Taken aback, Harry fumbled with his words before finally saying, "I couldn't stay there. Uncle Vernon would have killed me for what I did to his sister."
"I doubt that," Tracey said. "I'm sure he would have been angry and would have probably grounded you but he wouldn't kill you."
"It's only an expression," Harry tried to explain. "Believe me, I'm much better off here."
It was several awkward minutes later that Harry was able to make it the bar and ask for lunch. After he had eaten he and Tracey went into Diagon Alley. While they were sitting outside Fortescue's ice-cream parlour Tracey talked about her holiday. Apparently she had a new half-brother who had been born late in June and, because of this, she hadn't stayed at her father's like she and Robert usually did for the first month of the holidays.
Harry listened politely. He knew very little about Tracey's father other than the fact he was a muggle and that he had left the family when Robert received his Hogwarts letter. He knew he had remarried but that was the limit of his knowledge. Now he learnt that Tracey had a half-sister as well, who was 4 years old. Tracey also said Robert had passed eight of his nine Owl exams, failing only in History of Magic. Of his eight passes four were Exceeds Expectations (Ancient Runes, Charms, Potions and Transfigurations) and the rest were Acceptable.
Later that afternoon they returned to the Leaky Cauldron and Tracey flooed back home, promising they would meet again once the booklists came out.
About a week later, when the booklists arrived, Harry sent a letter to Tracey asking when she would be coming into Diagon Alley. Her reply said she would be there 30 August. In the meantime Harry was spending part of almost every day wandering around the shops. During this time he met many of his fellow students but it was one particular meeting that stood out.
Draco Malfoy came with his parents but once they had been to the bank they separated. Draco knew Harry was staying at the Leaky Cauldron and sought him out there.
"Hey, Potter. Well done, by the way, blowing up that muggle," he said.
"That was an accident," Harry replied. "Marge Dursley is just a mean, nasty person and I had simply had enough of her. All I meant to do was tell her off but I lost control."
"Accident or not, it was still funny hearing about it. So, how was it that you didn't get punished?"
"No idea. Minister Fudge said it was because I was acting in self-defence but wouldn't say any more," Harry replied.
"I wish I could get away with that." Draco said. "Anyway, did you hear about the Weasleys?"
"No. What happened?"
"They won a load of money in the Daily Prophet's sweepstakes." Malfoy sounded disgusted.
"Well, good luck to them."
Malfoy snorted. "Guess what they did? They spent the lot on a holiday to Egypt. If any of them had any common sense they would have saved the money and spent it on something useful."
Harry had to agree. The Weasleys weren't wealthy so the smart thing to do would have been to save the money rather than waste it on a holiday.
Harry and Draco spent most of the afternoon together. Harry showed Draco the new Firebolt racing broom that had just come out and added that he had heard the Irish National Quidditch team had bought a full set for their team and they were now favourites for the World Cup.
After Quidditch Harry asked, "What is the name of the house elf that took my mail last year?"
"Dobby," Draco replied. "He has been punished, it won't happen again. Why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if you considered dismissing him. Isn't that normal for a house elf who misbehaves?"
"Some people would do that," Draco admitted. "Father prefers to punish by cutting privileges, though. He does that for me as well."
"He treats you the same way he treats a servant?" Harry asked, sounding surprised.
Draco was about to say something but seemed to change his mind. After a while he said, "Putting it that way that is what it sounds like. I think I'll ask him about it."
After that Harry went with Draco to Flourish and Blotts. Draco was buying his school supplies and Harry told him he was waiting for Tracey so they could shop together. When Draco said he wanted the Monster Book of Monsters the attendant said, "Not another one." He then donned a pair of thick leather gloves and approached a cage containing dozens of copies of the book. Harry wondered why they were in a cage but his question was answered before he could ask it. As soon as the attendant opened the cage several of the books attacked him, trying to bite him and, when that failed, they began attacking each other. The attendant hit several with a long stick before finally managed to extract one; the whole time saying, "Never again."
The book was forced inside a tight paper bag and tied with thick string. Harry was now very glad he wasn't taking Care of Magical Creatures whereas Draco seemed to be wondering if it was too late to change his selections.
After Draco left for home Harry returned to his room and reviewed his holiday assignments. He had by now finished all of them and was waiting to catch up with Tracey to compare notes. He was just making sure he hadn't made any silly mistakes first. Once satisfied he put them away and relaxed.
Author's Note: Reviews and boggart suggestions would be appreciated. (Currently one review and zero suggestions.)