So I hope you guys are enjoying this so far

Disclaimer: Once again for the hard of understanding - I DO NOT OWN THIS


Daphne began to read, "The Leaky Cauldron."

It took Harry several days to get used to his strange new freedom.

"It's sad that you don't have any freedom," Ginny said sadly.

Never before had he been able to get up whenever he wanted or eat whatever he fancied.

Harry's friends looked like they wanted to curse the Dursley's as the adults glared at Dumbledore.

'They don't know how important it is for Harry to live with his relatives.' Dumbledore thought as he pointedly ignored the glares.

He could even go wherever he pleased, as long as it was in Diagon Alley, and as this long cobbled street was packed with the most fascinating wizarding shops in the world, Harry felt no desire to break his word to Fudge and stray back into the Muggle world.

'He kept his word it seems.' Fudge thought as a small amount of guilt began to form.

Harry ate breakfast each morning in the Leaky Cauldron, where he liked watching the other guests:

"People watching is always fun," Romilda said.

funny little witches from the country, up for a day's shopping; venerable-looking wizards arguing over the latest article in Transfiguration Today;

A few people snickered.

wild-looking warlocks; raucous dwarfs; and once, what looked suspiciously like a hag, who ordered a plate of raw liver from behind a thick woolen balaclava.

Some girls went green at the thought of raw liver.

"That's disgusting!" Lavender squealed.

"It's a hag," Seamus shrugged. "What do you expect?"

After breakfast Harry would go out into the backyard, take out his wand, tap the third brick from the left above the trash bin, and stand back as the archway into Diagon Alley opened in the wall.

A few people grinned.

Harry spent the long sunny days exploring the shops

"There are always new and exciting things in the shops," Hannah said.

and eating under the brightly colored umbrellas outside cafes, where his fellow diners were showing one another their purchases ("It's a lunascope, old boy — no more messing around with moon charts, see?")

Professor Sinastra looked annoyed at the mention of a lunascope.

"I wish I had one of those," Kevin whispered to his friend. "I wouldn't have to waste any more time up in the Astronomy tower."

or else discussing the case of Sirius Black ("Personally, I won't let any of the children out alone until he's back in Azkaban").

The trio, the twins and Ginny exchanged looks, Sirius is never going back to Azkaban once everyone finds out he's innocent.

Harry didn't have to do his homework under the blankets by flashlight anymore;

Hermione huffed. "He should've have had to do his homework under his blankets with a flashlight anyways."

now he could sit in the bright sunshine outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor,

Ron perked up at the mention of Florean Fortescue's.

finishing all his essays with occasional help from Florean Fortescue himself, who, apart from knowing a great deal about medieval witch burnings, gave Harry free sundaes every half an hour.

"Lucky," Ron said wistfully.

"I wish I got free sundaes." Several people grumbled.

Once Harry had refilled his money bag with gold Galleons, silver Sickles, and bronze Knuts from his vault at Gringotts, he had to exercise a lot of self-control not to spend the whole lot at once.

Snape was shocked; he didn't think that Harry could exercise self-control.

He had to keep reminding himself that he had five years to go at Hogwarts, and how it would feel to ask the Dursleys for money for spell books,

Harry was sent many odd looks.

"But your rich," Ernie said. "The Potter's were one of the wealthiest pure blood families, there's no way you'd run out of money."

"Yeah, the Potter's have more money than the Malfoys," Terry said causing Draco to scowl.

Harry shrugged as he shot a subtle glance at Ron not wanting his best friend to be angry. "I didn't know that at the time, I didn't learn about all of that until after my third year, I thought that my trust vault was all I had."

Ron felt a pang of jealousy but then he remembered the conversation he had with Harry and his family earlier, and everything that Harry's done for him, he pushed the feeling down.

to stop himself from buying a handsome set of solid gold Gobstones

"They sell solid gold gobstones?" Hannah asked.

"Yes, but they're really expensive," Susan told her.

"Those would be a waste of money," Lisa murmured from the Ravenclaw table.

(a wizarding game rather like marbles, in which the stones squirt a nasty-smelling liquid into the other player's face when they lose a point).

"It's gross," Ginny said. "But it is a fun game."

He was sorely tempted, too, by the perfect, moving model of the galaxy in a large glass ball, which would have meant he never had to take another Astronomy lesson.

Professor Sinastra turned to look at him.

"I like Astronomy," Harry said quickly. "I just don't like how late the lessons are."

"It would be better for the students if Astronomy was during the day," Hermione said. "We could use those galaxy models instead of having to go outside at midnight."

"It's tradition Miss Granger," Umbridge simpered.

"So is beheading ones house elf and hanging it on the wall," Hermione said thinking back to Grimmauld Place. "That doesn't mean it's right or the best thing."

Several students looked sick at the thought of beheading a house elf and hanging it up.

Umbridge narrowed her eyes at Hermione but said nothing; instead she scribbled a note on her clipboard.

But the thing that tested Harry's resolution most appeared in his favorite shop, Quality Quidditch Supplies, a week after he'd arrived at the Leaky Cauldron.

"Of course," Hermione said.

The quidditch enthusiasts perked up, they all had a feeling what this might be about.

Curious to know what the crowd in the shop was staring at, Harry edged his way inside and squeezed in among the excited witches and wizards until he glimpsed a newly erected podium, on which was mounted the most magnificent broom he had ever seen in his life.

"It really is a great broom," Harry said wishing that he was on his broom instead of listening to his life being read out.

"Just come out — prototype —" a square-jawed wizard was telling his companion.

"It's the fastest broom in the world, isn't it, Dad?" squeaked a boy younger than Harry, who was swinging off his father's arm.

"It's the best broom in the world," Oliver said dreamily.

Katie, Alicia and Angelina exchanged amused looks.

"Irish International Side's just put in an order for seven of these beauties!" the proprietor of the shop told the crowd. "And they're favorites for the World Cup!"

"The World Cup," Oliver said as his eyes lit up. "It was amazing!"

"It was until what happened later," Seamus muttered.

A large witch in front of Harry moved, and he was able to read the sign next to the broom:

** THE FIREBOLT **

Harry smiled at the name of his broom as several people shot him jealous looks.

THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART RACING BROOM SPORTS A STREAM-LINED, SUPERFINE HANDLE OF ASH, TREATED WITH A DIAMOND-HARD POLISH AND HAND-NUMBERED WITH ITS OWN REGISTRATION NUMBER. EACH INDIVIDUALLY SELECTED BIRCH TWIG IN THE BROOMTAIL HAS BEEN HONED TO AERODYNAMIC PERFECTION, GIVING THE FIREBOLT UNSURPASSABLE BALANCE AND PINPOINT PRECISION. THE FIREBOLT HAS AN ACCELERATION OF 150 MILES AN HOUR IN TEN SECONDS AND INCORPORATES AN UNBREAKABLE BRAKING CHARM.

"Amazing," Oliver said staring at the book as though it was a firebolt.

PRICE ON REQUEST.

"I don't think I want to know how much it costs if the price is on request," Charlie said.

Price on request… Harry didn't like to think how much gold the Firebolt would cost.

He had never wanted anything as much in his whole life —

All of the Quidditch fans nodded in agreement.

"If I could afford one I would've bought it the day it came out," one of the Ravenclaw chasers said.

but he had never lost a Quidditch match on his Nimbus Two Thousand, and what was the point in emptying his Gringotts vault for the Firebolt,

Harry petted Snuffles head and leaned down to whisper, "Thank you."

Snuffles licked his hand.

when he had a very good broom already?

"I believe that the Firebolt outstrips the entire Nimbus series by a considerable amount," Harry said in a perfect imitation of Draco from second year.

Those who remembered reading what Draco said laughed as Draco tinged pink and scowled.

Harry didn't ask for the price, but he returned, almost every day after that, just to look at the Firebolt.

"Harry," Hermione sighed as she shook her head.

There were, however, things that Harry needed to buy. He went to the Apothecary to replenish his store of potions ingredients, and as his school robes were now several inches too short in the arm and leg, he visited Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and bought new ones. Most important of all, he had to buy his new schoolbooks, which would include those for his two new subjects, Care of Magical Creatures and Divination.

"I can't believe I thought it was a good idea to take Divination," Harry muttered.

Harry got a surprise as he looked in at the bookshop window. Instead of the usual display of gold-embossed spell books the size of paving slabs, there was a large iron cage behind the glass that held about a hundred copies of The Monster Book of Monsters.

"I bet the store manager loved that," Charlie smirked.

Torn pages were flying everywhere as the books grappled with each other, locked together in furious wrestling matches and snapping aggressively.

The twins snickered.

Harry pulled his book list out of his pocket and consulted it for the first time. The Monster Book of Monsters was listed as the required book for Care of Magical Creatures.

Those who had been in Care of Magical Creatures that year grimaced in remembrance.

Now Harry understood why Hagrid had said it would come in useful. He felt relieved; he had been wondering whether Hagrid wanted help with some terrifying new pet.

"Given Hagrid's history with dangerous creatures, I can see why you thought that," Padma said.

As Harry entered Flourish and Blotts, the manager came hurrying toward him.

"Hogwarts?" he said abruptly. "Come to get your new books?"

"Yes," said Harry, "I need —"

"Get out of the way," said the manager impatiently, brushing Harry aside.

"That's rude," Susan said frowning.

He drew on a pair of very thick gloves, picked up a large, knobbly walking stick, and proceeded toward the door of the Monster Books' cage.

"Hang on," said Harry quickly, "I've already got one of those."

"Have you?" A look of enormous relief spread over the manager's face.

"Why would he automatically assume Harry needed that book?" Seamus asked.

Dean shrugged. "Maybe a lot of people had asked for it that day."

"Thank heavens for that. I've been bitten five times already this morning —"

Several people winced and Hagrid looked at his hands sheepishly.

A loud ripping noise rent the air; two of the Monster Books had seized a third and were pulling it apart.

"I hope the book was alright," Luna said frowning.

Luna was sent odd looks which for some reason annoyed Harry.

"Don't worry," Harry said automatically. "It was fine."

"Stop it! Stop it!" cried the manager, poking the walking stick through the bars and knocking the books apart. "I'm never stocking them again, never!

"I don't blame him for not wanting to stock those," Neville said as he rubbed his hand. "That book was always biting me."

It's been bedlam! I thought we'd seen the worst when we bought two hundred copies of the Invisible Book of Invisibility — cost a fortune, and we never found them…

"Why would anyone want an invisible book?" Seamus asked looking puzzled. "You wouldn't even be able to read it."

Hermione looked thoughtful before frowning. "I'm not sure, it doesn't really make sense."

Well… is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Yes," said Harry, looking down his book list, "I need Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky."

"Ah, starting Divination, are you?"

"Unfortunately," Harry muttered.

said the manager, stripping off his gloves and leading Harry into the back of the shop, where there was a corner devoted to fortune-telling.

Lavender and Parvarti smiled, they both love Divination.

A small table was stacked with volumes such as Predicting the Unpredictable: Insulate Yourself Against Shocks and Broken Balls: When Fortunes Turn Foul.

"That sounds like a book for you mate," Ron said nudging Harry.

Harry snorted. "Thanks Ron."

"Here you are," said the manager, who had climbed a set of steps to take down a thick, black-bound book. "Unfogging the Future. Very good guide to all your basic fortune-telling methods — palmistry, crystal balls, bird entrails."

"Is there a guide on how not to be bored in Divination?" Ron asked in a tone so only those around could hear.

Parvarti and Lavender glared at him.

"How can you not like Divination?" Lavender demanded.

"It's easy I just don't," Ron said shrugging carelessly.

Parvarti and Lavender looked scandalized causing Hermione to roll her eyes.

But Harry wasn't listening.

'Of course not.' Snape thought. 'Does the boy ever listen?'

His eyes had fallen on another book, which was among a display on a small table: Death Omens — What to Do When You Know the Worst Is Coming.

"Only you would find the book on death omens in a shop full of books," Dean said, his lips were twitching.

"Oh, I wouldn't read that if I were you," said the manager lightly, looking to see what Harry was staring at. "You'll start seeing death omens everywhere. It's enough to frighten anyone to death."

"Ridiculous," Hermione scoffed.

Some of the pure bloods and those who believed in death omens shot her annoyed looks.

But Harry continued to stare at the front cover of the book; it showed a black dog large as a bear, with gleaming eyes. It looked oddly familiar…

"Oh Merlin!" Lavender gasped as she covered her hand with her mouth.

"The dog you saw in the last chapter!" Parvarti said looking at Harry horrified. "You saw the grim!"

Some people shot Harry worried looks.

Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I'm still alive, and it wasn't the grim that I saw."

"How do you know?" A sixth year Hufflepuff who believed in death omens asked.

"I'm sure you'll find out before the book is over," Harry said.

The manager pressed Unfogging the Future into Harry's hands.

"Anything else?" he said.

"Yes," said Harry, tearing his eyes away from the dog's and dazedly consulting his book list. "Er — I need Intermediate Transfiguration andThe Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three."

Harry emerged from Flourish and Blotts ten minutes later with his new books under his arms and made his way back to the Leaky Cauldron, hardly noticing where he was going and bumping into several people.

"You really should be more careful Harry," Molly admonished gently.

He tramped up the stairs to his room, went inside, and tipped his books onto his bed. Somebody had been in to tidy; the windows were open and sun was pouring inside.

Harry could hear the buses rolling by in the unseen Muggle street behind him and the sound of the invisible crowd below in Diagon Alley. He caught sight of himself in the mirror over the basin.

"It can't have been a death omen," he told his reflection defiantly. "I was panicking when I saw that thing in Magnolia Crescent…

Snuffles whined quietly, he hadn't meant to scare his godson.

It was probably just a stray dog…"

The trio exchanged looks, it was something like that.

He raised his hand automatically and tried to make his hair lie flat

"Not going to work," Ron said amused, Harry should know by now that it won't work.

"You're fighting a losing battle there, dear," said his mirror in a wheezy voice.

Snickers broke out around the hall.

"Even a mirror knows," Fred said as he laughed.

"I like his hair," Daphne said immediately stopping the noise in the hall.

Pansy glared at her dorm mate and Draco sneered.

Harry tinged pink as Fred and George began to whistle, Lee joined in and then his year mates.

"Oh shut up," Harry grumbled.

Ginny shot a subtle glare at the Slytherin as Cho full on glared at her.

A lot of other girls in the hall agreed with Daphne, Harry did have nice hair; it looked like he just got off a broom.

Daphne ignored the amused look her best friend was sending her as she continued to read.

As the days slipped by, Harry started looking wherever he went for a sign of Ron or Hermione.

Ron and Hermione smiled at their best friend who grinned in return.

Plenty of Hogwarts students were arriving in Diagon Alley now, with the start of term so near. Harry met Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas,

Seamus and Dean took turns high fiving Harry.

his fellow Gryffindors, in Quality Quidditch Supplies, where they too were ogling the Firebolt;

"That broom is amazing," Seamus said.

he also ran into the real Neville Longbottom, a round-faced, forgetful boy,

Harry mentally winced. "Sorry Neville, I didn't mean to be rude."

Neville waved his apology off. "It's okay Harry I know you didn't."

outside Flourish and Blotts. Harry didn't stop to chat; Neville appeared to have mislaid his book list and was being told off by his very formidable-looking grandmother.

Neville winced slightly.

Harry hoped she never found out that he'd pretended to be Neville while on the run from the Ministry of Magic.

"She wouldn't mind," Neville said looking amused. "She would be proud that you considered me a good friend and that you would know me well enough to even try to impersonate me."

Harry woke on the last day of the holidays, thinking that he would at least meet Ron and Hermione tomorrow, on the Hogwarts Express. He got up, dressed, went for a last look at the Firebolt,

Hermione looked fondly at her best friends who were both smiling.

and was just wondering where he'd have lunch, when someone yelled his name and he turned.

"Ron and Hermione." The twins said immediately.

The trio exchanged grins.

"Harry! HARRY!"

They were there, both of them, sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor — Ron looking incredibly freckly, Hermione very brown, both waving frantically at him.

"Great description of me mate," Ron grumbled.

"Hermione's isn't bad," Lavender said. "There's nothing wrong with having a tan."

"Finally!" said Ron, grinning at Harry as he sat down. "We went to the Leaky Cauldron, but they said you'd left,

"Shouldn't be blabbing about his whereabouts," Moody grunted. "They could've been death eaters."

Tonks rolled her eyes at her mentor.

and we went to Flourish and Blotts, and Madam Malkin's, and —"

"I got all my school stuff last week," Harry explained. "And how come you knew I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron?"

"I really shouldn't have been surprised," Harry said.

"Dad," said Ron simply.

"What does he have to do with anything?" Euan asked but no one answered.

Mr. Weasley, who worked at the Ministry of Magic, would of course have heard the whole story of what had happened to Aunt Marge.

"Oh," Euan said. "That makes sense."

"Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?" said Hermione in a very serious voice.

"Yes," Harry said simply causing Hermione to roll her eyes but her lips were twitching.

"I didn't mean to," said Harry, while Ron roared with laughter.

Ron tried to stifle his laughter as he remembered the look on Hermione's face when he was laughing.

"I just — lost control."

"It's not funny, Ron," said Hermione sharply.

"Yes it is." The twins and Lee said together.

"Honestly, I'm amazed Harry wasn't expelled."

"So am I," admitted Harry. "Forget expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested."

"Such a bloody pessimist," Jimmy muttered.

He looked at Ron. "Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let me off, does he?"

"Probably 'cause it's you, isn't it?" shrugged Ron, still chuckling.

"Of course," Harry sighed. "I can't do anything or have anything happen to me without it being because I'm Harry bloody Potter."

Ron turned red. "I'm sorry mate, I know you hate that."

Harry shrugged. "It's fine I'm used to it."

Hermione and Ron exchanged looks; they'd talk to him later.

"Famous Harry Potter and all that.

"You know he hates that," Hermione hissed in Ron's ear. "You shouldn't have brought that up."

Ron turned even redder.

I'd hate to see what the Ministry'd do to me if I blew up an aunt.

"You'd be dead before you'd have a chance to find out," Fred said.

"Mum would kill you," George unnecessarily clarified.

Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me.

All of the Weasley children nodded.

Anyway, you can ask Dad yourself this evening. We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight too! So you can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow! Hermione's there as well!"

"That was a good way to end the holidays," Harry said as a faint smile crossed his lips.

Hermione nodded, beaming. "Mum and Dad dropped me off this morning with all my Hogwarts things."

"Excellent!" said Harry happily. "So, have you got all your new books and stuff?"

"Of course she had," Ron said.

"I don't know why I even asked," Harry said.

Hermione glared at them as those around them snickered.

"Look at this," said Ron, pulling a long thin box out of a bag and opening it. "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair.

Ron smiled, he was so glad to finally have a new wand, a wand that chose him

"Good." All those who had witnessed what his old wand could do said.

And we've got all our books —" He pointed at a large bag under his chair. "What about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two."

"I can imagine," Ernie said dryly.

"What's all that, Hermione?" Harry asked, pointing at not one but three bulging bags in the chair next to her.

"Light reading Hermione dear?" Fred asked innocently.

"There's nothing wrong with liking to read," Hermione said stiffly.

Fred went to open his mouth but one look from his mother effectively silenced him.

"Well, I'm taking more new subjects than you, aren't I," said Hermione.

Several people raised their eyebrows.

"Those are my books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, the Study of Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies —"

"Bloody hell, just how many classes did you take?" Dean asked.

"How is it even possible to take that many classes?" Anthony asked.

"Aren't some of those classes at the same time?" Mandy asked frowning.

Hermione shifted uncomfortably. "I had worked it out with Professor McGonagall."

Everyone turned to look at McGonagall who said nothing so Daphne continued to read.

"What are you doing Muggle Studies for?" said Ron, rolling his eyes at Harry. "You're Muggle-born! Your mum and dad are Muggles! You already know all about Muggles!"

"Fair point," Sue Li said.

"Who'd want to take Muggle Studies?" Draco sneered.

Professor Burbage and those taking Muggle Studies glared at Draco.

"Those who aren't bigoted prats?" Tracey suggested innocently.

Draco scowled as those who heard snickered, even some of the Slytherins.

"But it'll be fascinating to study them from the wizarding point of view," said Hermione earnestly.

"It actually would be," Justin said. "It would be interesting to learn how wizards saw muggles."

"Are you planning to eat or sleep at all this year, Hermione?" asked Harry, while Ron sniggered.

Hermione glared at Ron who was doing the same as his past self.

Hermione ignored them.

Fred and George snickered.

"I've still got ten Galleons," she said, checking her purse. "It's my birthday in September, and Mum and Dad gave me some money to get myself an early birthday present."

"How about a nice book?" said Ron innocently.

Half of the hall snickered as Hermione pursed her lips, reminding Harry of McGonagall.

"No, I don't think so," said Hermione composedly.

Fred and George snorted.

"I really want an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig and you've got Errol —"

"I haven't," said Ron. "Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers."

The trio glared daggers at the book.

He pulled his pet rat out of his pocket.

Ron's glare turned into a look of pure disgust.

A few people noticed the looks the trio were sending the book and were confused.

Fred and George were two of those who noticed and they exchanged raised eyebrows.

"And I want to get him checked over," he added, placing Scabbers on the table in front of them. "I don't think Egypt agreed with him."

Snuffles growled. 'It wasn't Egypt that didn't agree with the traitor.'

Scabbers was looking thinner than usual, and there was a definite droop to his whiskers.

"Good," Ron spat under his breath.

Fred and George overheard, it confused them even more.

"Why does it seem like Ron, Harry and Hermione don't like Scabbers?" Fred whispered to his twin.

"I'm not sure," George whispered back. "Ron always liked Scabbers and he was really upset when he died."

Fred frowned momentarily. "You don't think it has to do with Sirius does it?"

George furrowed his brows. "What would Sirius have to do with Scabbers?"

Fred shrugged. "I'm not sure."

George glanced at the trio. "I'm sure we'll find out before this book is over."

"There's a magical creature shop just over there," said Harry, who knew Diagon Alley very well by now. "You could see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can get her owl."

"You don't have an owl," Lavender said turning to look at Hermione.

"That's because I didn't get an owl," Hermione told her dorm mate.

Lavender looked confused for a moment before realization dawned. "This is when you got Crookshanks."

"Yes," Hermione said smiling at the mention of her cat.

So they paid for their ice cream and crossed the street to the 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.

"I love that shop." Fred, George and Lee said.

"That's where I got my tarantula," Lee said grinning.

Ron shivered at the mention of Lee's spider.

"What happened to it?" Dean asked. "I don't remember seeing it after third year."

"It got loose somehow in my dormitory," Lee said with a shrug.

Ron looked horrified. "What?"

"Relax Ron," Hermione said. "I'm sure it's long gone by now."

Ron looked at her skeptically as some of the Slytherins laughed at the look on his face.

"Shut up," Harry snapped at Draco and his little group of friends. "If you faced a colony of acromantula you wouldn't like spiders either."

Draco stopped laughing to glare at Harry as Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckled threateningly.

The witch behind the counter was already advising a wizard on the care of double-ended newts,

"Double-ended newts?" Justin asked with raised eyebrows. "How does that even work?"

"Well you see the newts-" Charlie began but was cut off by Bill putting his hand over his mouth.

Charlie glared at his older brother.

"Please continue to read," Bill said with a smile at the blonde Slytherin.

so Harry, Ron, and Hermione waited, examining the cages.

A pair of enormous purple toads sat gulping wetly and feasting on dead blowflies.

At the mention of toads several people eyes flickered to Umbridge.

A gigantic tortoise with a jewel-encrusted shell was glittering near the window.

"That sounds pretty," Parvarti said.

"Are they born like that or are the jewels added?" Asked a first year Hufflepuff.

"They add the jewels," Susan told her kindly.

Poisonous orange snails were oozing slowly up the side of their glass tank,

"Why would anyone want to buy a poisonous snail?" Marietta asked making a face.

"Hagrid would." Harry, Ron and Charlie said at the same time.

The three boys exchanged grins as Hagrid chuckled.

and a fat white rabbit kept changing into a silk top hat and back again with a loud popping noise.

The muggleborns laughed.

"What's so funny about that?" Blaise asked.

"There's a muggle magic trick where a magician pulls a white rabbit out of a silk top hat," Hermione explained.

Then there were cats of every color, a noisy cage of ravens, a basket of funny custard-colored fur balls that were humming loudly,

The twins exchanged looks.

"Maybe we can breed a small pet like that," Fred whispered to his twin.

George nodded as he pulled out their 'work book' and a quill.

and on the counter, a vast cage of sleek black rats that were playing some sort of skipping game using their long, bald tails.

A group of first year Hufflepuffs giggled.

The double-ended newt wizard left, and Ron approached the counter.

"It's my rat," he told the witch. "He's been a bit off-color ever since I brought him back from Egypt."

"Bang him on the counter," said the witch, pulling a pair of heavy black spectacles out of her pocket.

"If only I had," Ron muttered.

Ron lifted Scabbers out of his inside pocket and placed him next to the cage of his fellow rats, who stopped their skipping tricks and scuffled to the wire for a better took.

"I should've just bought one of them," Ron whispered to Harry. "That wouldn't have been a waste unlike that stupid rat tonic."

Like nearly everything Ron owned, Scabbers the rat was secondhand (he had once belonged to Ron's brother Percy) and a bit battered.

Ron tinged red and Harry sent him an apologetic look.

Next to the glossy rats in the cage, he looked especially woebegone.

"Hm," said the witch, picking up Scabbers. "How old is this rat?"

"Old," Percy said. "Like the book said, Scabbers used to be my rat."

"Dunno," said Ron. "Quite old. He used to belong to my brother."

"What powers does he have?" said the witch, examining Scabbers closely.

The trio snorted and to many people's surprise so did Remus.

"Er —" The truth was that Scabbers had never shown the faintest trace of interesting powers.

"Of course he didn't," Ron grumbled so only his best friends could hear. "He was bloody useless."

The witch's eyes moved from Scabbers' tattered left ear to his front paw, which had a toe missing,

Harry's eyes darkened momentarily at the reason behind why his toe was missing.

"Remember that," Harry said suddenly.

"What?" Hannah asked looking confused.

"Remember that Scabbers has a toe missing," Harry said.

"Why would we need to do that?" Justin asked looking oddly at Harry.

"Just trust me," Harry said as everyone looked at him oddly, including the Weasley's. "It's...important."

Nobody understood how Scabbers having a missing toe could be important but they decided to try to remember anyways.

and tutted loudly.

"He's been through the mill, this one," she said.

"He was like that when Percy gave him to me," said Ron defensively.

"He was like that when I found him," Percy said.

"An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so," said the witch.

"How old was he?" Susan asked.

"Old." The trio said; this didn't help with anyone's confusion.

"Now, if you were looking for something a bit more hard-wearing, you might like one of these —"

She indicated the black rats, who promptly started skipping again. Ron muttered, "Show-offs."

The twins snickered.

"Well, if you don't want a replacement, you can try this rat tonic," said the witch, reaching under the counter and bringing out a small red bottle.

"Okay," said Ron. "How much — OUCH!"

Ron buckled as something huge and orange came soaring from the top of the highest cage, landed on his head, and then propelled itself, spitting madly, at Scabbers.

"Crookshanks." All of the Gryffindors said.

Hermione smiled fondly at the mention of her cat.

"NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!" cried the witch, but Scabbers shot from between her hands like a bar of soap, landed splay-legged on the floor, and then scampered for the door.

"So that cat has always had it out for Scabbers?" Dean said.

"It seems so," Seamus said as he recalled all of the arguments in the common room over the cat and Scabbers.

"Scabbers!" Ron shouted, racing out of the shop after him; Harry followed.

It took them nearly ten minutes to catch Scabbers, who had taken refuge under a wastepaper bin outside Quality Quidditch Supplies.

"That's where he belongs," Ron hissed under his breath.

Ron stuffed the trembling rat back into his pocket and straightened up, massaging his head.

"What was that?"

"It was either a very big cat or quite a small tiger," said Harry.

Some people snickered.

"I'm going to go with a small tiger," Fred said rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Where's Hermione?"

"Probably getting her owl."

"Not quite," Lavender muttered; that cat was always getting hair all over her stuff.

They made their way back up the crowded street to the Magical Menagerie. As they reached it, Hermione came out, but she wasn't carrying an owl. Her arms were clamped tightly around the enormous ginger cat.

"You bought that monster?" said Ron, his mouth hanging open.

"Unfortunately," Lavender said quietly, but not quietly enough because Hermione heard her and glared.

"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" said Hermione, glowing.

"That's a matter of opinion," George snickered.

Hermione switched her glare over to George.

That was a matter of opinion, thought Harry.

"Harry!" Hermione said shocked.

"It's not that I don't like him," Harry said quickly. "I just don't think he's...the most attractive cat in the world."

Hermione huffed as the hall tried not to laugh.

The cat's ginger fur was thick and fluffy, but it was definitely a bit bowlegged and its face looked grumpy and oddly squashed, as though it had run headlong into a brick wall.

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. "I think Crookshanks is gorgeous."

The twins had to cover their mouths to stifle their laughter.

Now that Scabbers was out of sight, however, the cat was purring contentedly in Hermione's arms.

Hermione uncrossed her arms and exchanged looks with Harry and Ron, Crookshanks had always known what Pettigrew was.

"Hermione, that thing nearly scalped me!" said Ron.

"He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?" said Hermione.

"No," Ron admitted grudgingly before adding under his breath, "he wanted the traitor."

"And what about Scabbers?" said Ron, pointing at the lump in his chest pocket. "He needs rest and relaxation! How's he going to get it with that thing around?"

Ron felt sick that he had actually cared about the traitor who was responsible not only for the death of his best friend's parents, but also for the rebirth of Voldemort.

"That reminds me, you forgot your rat tonic," said Hermione, slapping the small red bottle into Ron's hand. "And stop worrying, Crookshanks will be sleeping in my dormitory and Scabbers in yours, what's the problem? Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no one wanted him."

"I wonder why," Lavender whispered to Parvarti.

"Wonder why," said Ron sarcastically as they set off toward the Leaky Cauldron.

Ron looked away as Hermione glared at him.

They found Mr. Weasley sitting in the bar, reading the Daily Prophet.

"Harry!" he said, smiling as he looked up. "How are you?"

"Good," Harry said. "I was glad not to be at the Dursley's."

"Fine, thanks," said Harry as he, Ron, and Hermione joined Mr. Weasley with their shopping.

Mr. Weasley put down his paper, and Harry saw the now familiar picture of Sirius Black staring up at him.

Harry rubbed his scar as he internally sighed. 'I'm going to be thinking badly about Sirius this entire book.'

"They still haven't caught him, then?" he asked.

"They're never going to either," Harry muttered.

"He'll be cleared at the end of the book," Hermione whispered. "There's no way he can't be."

Ron snorted. "With that idiot Fudge in charge how can you be so sure?"

"Madam Bones is here and so are a lot of other people," Hermione told them. "They'll have to find him innocent."

"They better," Harry muttered darkly.

"No," said Mr. Weasley, looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far."

"Would we get a reward if we caught him?" asked Ron. "It'd be good to get some more money —"

The majority of the students snorted.

"Three kids aren't going to catch Sirius Black," Roger Davies said.

"After everything you've read about them doing," Roger's best friend said. "You never know."

"Don't be ridiculous, Ron," said Mr. Weasley, who on closer inspection looked very strained. "Black's not going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. It's the Azkaban guards who'll get him back, you mark my words."

Arthur sent Harry an apologetic look, Harry smiled at him to let him know that it was okay.

At that moment Mrs. Weasley entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by the twins, Fred and George,

The Weasley twins cheered.

who were about to start their fifth year at Hogwarts;

Molly frowned as she remembered their fifth year and how few OWLs they received.

Harry noticed Mrs. Weasley's face and decided to have a talk with her before the books were over about the twins.

the newly elected Head Boy, Percy;

Percy smiled.

and the Weasleys' youngest child and only girl, Ginny.

Ginny smiled, but then it faded as she realized that Harry would probably never see her as anything other than Ron's little sister or the youngest Weasley.

Ginny, who had always been very taken with Harry,

Ginny quickly looked down as she turned pink.

seemed even more heartily embarrassed than usual when she saw him, perhaps because he had saved her life during their previous year at Hogwarts.

"While almost getting yourself killed," Remus said frowning at the memory.

She went very red and muttered "hello" without looking at him.

Ginny's blush became more pronounced.

Percy, however, held out his hand solemnly as though he and Harry had never met and said, "Harry. How nice to see you."

The twins snickered as Percy blushed.

"Hello, Percy," said Harry, trying not to laugh.

The twins had no such problem, they were now laughing loudly.

"I hope you're well?" said Percy pompously, shaking hands. It was rather like being introduced to the mayor.

"Sorry Percy," Harry said sheepishly.

"It's fine Harry," Percy assured him. "I see now how I acted may have come off as...impersonal."

"Very well, thanks —"

"Harry!" said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply.

'Enter the dunderheads.' Snape sneered as he looked at the twins.

"Simply splendid to see you, old boy —"

The hall was snickering at the twins' antics.

"Marvelous," said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing."

By now even Percy looked amused.

Percy scowled.

"Looking back on it, it was amusing," Percy said which surprised the twins.

"That's enough, now," said Mrs. Weasley.

"Mum!" said Fred, as though he'd only just spotted her and seizing her hand, too. "How really corking to see you —"

Molly sighed. 'They'll never be serious.'

The twins noticed their mothers frown and they exchanged looks.

"I said, that's enough," said Mrs. Weasley, depositing her shopping in an empty chair. "Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?" She pointed to the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest.

"Hard to miss," Fred said snickering.

"Second Head Boy in the family!" she said, swelling with pride.

"And last," Fred muttered under his breath.

Ron turned red.

"You'd make a great head boy," Hermione whispered to him when she saw his face.

Ron turned even redder at Hermione's words.

"I don't doubt that," said Mrs. Weasley, frowning suddenly. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."

Almost everyone in the hall, teachers included, looked horrified at the prospect of the twins being prefects.

"Merlin save us if that were to ever happen," Alicia giggled.

"What do we want to be prefects for?" said George, looking revolted at the very idea. "It'd take all the fun out of life."

Fred and George grinned as the teachers looked at them in exasperation.

Ginny giggled.

"You want to set a better example for your sister!" snapped Mrs. Weasley.

"They set a good example," Ginny said grinning mischievously.

Molly narrowed her eyes at the twins. "I better not read about you two teaching your sister anything dangerous."

The twins exchanged quick looks with Ginny.

"You won't." Ginny and the twins said together.

"Ginny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother," said Percy loftily.

"Oh I don't know," George said rubbing his chin.

"I don't think Ron sets a very good example," Fred said with a thoughtful look.

"He gets into way too much trouble," George said.

Ron rolled his eyes. "You guys are ones to talk."

"We've never claimed to be good examples." Fred and George said grinning.

Percy rolled his eyes as his lips twitched to the surprise of his siblings.

"I'm going up to change for dinner…"

A few people rolled their eyes.

He disappeared and George heaved a sigh.

"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," he told Harry. "But Mum spotted us."

The hall burst into laughter.

"I can't believe you actually tried to shut him in a pyramid with your mum being there," Angelina said shaking her head at her friends' antics.

"We thought it was funny," George snickered.

"You would," Percy said dryly.

Dinner that night was a very enjoyable affair. Tom the innkeeper put three tables together in the parlor, and the seven Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione ate their way through five delicious courses.

Ron's stomach gave a growl.

"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as they dug into a sumptuous chocolate pudding.

"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," said Mr. Weasley.

A few people raised their eyebrows. Since when did the ministry provide cars? But then they remembered, Harry is there, that makes more sense.

Everyone looked up at him.

"Why?" said Percy curiously.

"Didn't you hear Perce?" Fred asked pretending to be shocked.

"They're for you, after all the Supreme Ruler of the Wizarding World needs to arrive in style," George said trying to keep a straight face.

People laughed and Percy couldn't help but chuckle, he could tell they weren't doing it to be rude.

"It's because of you, Perce," said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them—"

"— for Humongous Bighead," said Fred.

Everyone around the hall snorted.

Everyone except Percy and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their pudding.

"Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?" Percy asked again, in a dignified voice.

'And people think I'm arrogant?' Draco sneered.

"Well, as we haven't got one anymore," said Mr. Weasley, "and as I work there, they're doing me a favor…"

"That doesn't sound like something the ministry would do," Hannah murmured.

"It's probably because Harry's with them," Justin said to his friends.

His voice was casual, but Harry couldn't help noticing that Mr. Wesley's ears had gone red, just like Ron's did when he was under pressure.

Ron groaned. "Do you have to notice everything?"

Harry looked amused. "Sorry," everyone could tell he didn't mean it.

"Good thing, too," said Mrs. Weasley briskly. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle Underground…You are all packed, aren't you?"

"Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk yet," said Percy, in a long-suffering voice. "He's dumped them on my bed."

"Perce," Bill sighed.

Percy tinged red. "Sorry about that Ron."

"It's fine," Ron said.

"You'd better go and pack properly, Ron, because we won't have much time in the morning," Mrs. Weasley called down the table. Ron scowled at Percy.

After dinner everyone felt very full and sleepy. One by one they made their way upstairs to their rooms to check their things for the next day. Ron and Percy were next door to Harry.

He had just closed and locked his own trunk when he heard angry voices through the wall, and went to see what was going on.

Ron groaned.

The door of number twelve was ajar and Percy was shouting.

"It was here, on the bedside table, I took it off for polishing —"

Everyone raised their eyebrows at Percy, who blushed.

"I haven't touched it, all right?" Ron roared back.

"I don't know why he thought I'd touch his bloody badge," Ron muttered.

"What's up?" said Harry.

"My Head Boy badge is gone," said Percy, rounding on Harry.

"He didn't do anything," Cho said glaring at Percy.

"So's Scabbers' Rat Tonic," said Ron, throwing things out of his trunk to look. "I think I might've left it in the bar —"

"You're not going anywhere till you've found my badge!" yelled Percy.

"It's just a badge," Cormac said rolling his eyes.

"I'll get Scabbers' stuff, I'm packed," Harry said to Ron, and he went downstairs.

Harry was halfway along the passage to the bar, which was now very dark, when he heard another pair of angry voices coming from the parlor.

"I wonder who it is this time," Leanne said.

A second later, he recognized them as Mr. and Mrs. Weasleys'. He hesitated, not wanting them to know he'd heard them arguing, when the sound of his own name made him stop, then move closer to the parlor door.

The adults looked at him as the students all looked amused.

Harry groaned before looking at his best friend's parents. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Arthur said pushing up his glasses. "You were a teenager, if I was your age and I heard my name I would've done the same thing. Just make sure that next time you don't stay to listen."

"… makes no sense not to tell him," Mr. Weasley was saying heatedly. "Harry's got a right to know. I've tried to tell Fudge, but he insists on treating Harry like a child. He's thirteen years old and —"

"I hate when people treat me like a child," Harry said looking at the headmaster; he was starting to feel angry again.

"Arthur, the truth would terrify him!" said Mrs. Weasley shrilly.

"No." Hermione and Ron said together.

"It scared us more than it scared him," Hermione said.

"Nothing seems to scare him," Stewart said.

"I get scared just like everyone else," Harry said. "But not at the same things."

"Do you really want to send Harry back to school with that hanging over him? For heaven's sake, he's happy not knowing!"

"Ignorance may be bliss, but knowledge is power," Harry said. "If I don't know what's going on I can't prepare myself and I won't be on my guard."

Moody nodded his approval. "Smart lad."

"I don't want to make him miserable, I want to put him on his guard!" retorted Mr. Weasley.

"Someone gets it at least," Harry muttered.

"You know what Harry and Ron are like, wandering off by themselves — they've ended up in the Forbidden Forest twice!

Harry and Ron tried and failed to look innocent.

But Harry mustn't do that this year!

"I really hope you didn't go in there again," Molly said frowning.

Harry avoided looking at her.

When I think what could have happened to him that night he ran away from home!

'I would never have hurt him.' Sirius thought.

If the Knight Bus hadn't picked him up, I'm prepared to bet he would have been dead before the Ministry found him."

Harry rolled his eyes. "No I wouldn't have," he muttered.

"But he's not dead, he's fine, so what's the point —"

"Harry's always doing something that could kill him," Ron said with his usual lack of tact.

The adults frowned as the students looked at the trio. What could they have done that was worse than Harry's first two years?

"Ronald!" Hermione hissed. "I can't believe you just said that."

"What?" Ron asked confused.

Hermione huffed, "Oh honestly."

The twins snickered as Ron continued to look confused.

"Molly, they say Sirius Black's mad,

Snape smirked as Snuffles growled.

and maybe he is, but he was clever enough to escape from Azkaban, and that's supposed to be impossible.

"He was determined," Harry whispered to himself.

It's been three weeks, and no one's seen hide nor hair of him, and I don't care what Fudge keeps telling the Daily Prophet, we're no nearer catching Black than inventing self-spelling wands.

Fudge looked sheepish as some students turned to look at him.

The only thing we know for sure is what Black's after —"

'Actually they were wrong, completely wrong.' Harry thought bitterly.

"But Harry will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts."

Almost all of the students snorted.

"He wasn't exactly safe in the forest," Dean said.

"Or the Chamber of Secrets," Seamus said.

"Or the girls bathroom," Fred snickered.

"We get the point," McGonagall said stiffly, she didn't want to be reminded about her students almost dying on more than one occasion.

"We thought Azkaban was perfectly safe. If Black can break out of Azkaban, he can break into Hogwarts."

"True." Several people muttered.

"But no one's really sure that Black's after Harry —"

There was a thud on wood, and Harry was sure Mr. Weasley had banged his fist on the table.

"Molly, how many times do I have to tell you? They didn't report it in the press because Fudge wanted it kept quiet,

"Figures." A few students muttered darkly.

but Fudge went out to Azkaban the night Black escaped. The guards told Fudge that Black's been talking in his sleep for a while the same words: 'He's at Hogwarts… he's at Hogwarts.'

The trio and Remus glared once more at the book.

"You have to admit," Ron muttered. "That does make it seem like Sirius is after you."

"That's only because they have one clue," Hermione whispered. "He really could've been talking about anyone."

"Yes, but Harry was the most obvious choice," Ron said.

"That's true," Hermione muttered.

Black is deranged, Molly, and he wants Harry dead. If you ask me, he thinks murdering Harry will bring You-Know-Who back to power.

Arthur frowned; he felt bad saying all of that stuff about Sirius, knowing what he does now.

Black lost everything the night Harry stopped You-Know-Who, and he's had twelve years alone in Azkaban to brood on that…"

Harry felt a wave of sadness for his godfather; he really didn't lose everything that night, just not the things everyone thought.

There was a silence. Harry leaned still closer to the door, desperate to hear more.

"Well, Arthur, you must do what you think is right. But you're forgetting Albus Dumbledore. I don't think anything could hurt Harry at Hogwarts while Dumbledore's Headmaster.

"It didn't stop Voldemort," Harry muttered as he felt a pang remembering the Triwizard Tournament.

I suppose he knows about all this?"

"Of course he knows. We had to ask him if he minds the Azkaban guards stationing themselves around the entrances to the school grounds.

Those who had been at Hogwarts during Harry's third year shuddered.

Amelia frowned; she hadn't liked the dementors being stationed at Hogwarts one bit.

He wasn't happy about it, but he agreed."

"Not happy? Why shouldn't he be happy, if they're there to catch Black?"

"Those monsters shouldn't be at a school full of children," Tonks said.

"Dumbledore isn't fond of the Azkaban guards," said Mr. Weasley heavily.

"No one is," Terry said.

"Nor am I, if it comes to that… but when you're dealing with a wizard like Black, you sometimes have to join forces with those you'd rather avoid."

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Hermione said.

"If they save Harry —"

Harry snorted.

"– then I will never say another word against them," said Mr. Weasley wearily. "It's late, Molly, we'd better go up…"

Harry heard chairs move. As quietly as he could, he hurried down the passage to the bar and out of sight. The parlor door opened, and a few seconds later footsteps told him that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were climbing the stairs.

The bottle of rat tonic was lying under the table they had sat at earlier. Harry waited until he heard Mr. and Mrs. Wesley's bedroom door close, then headed back upstairs with the bottle.

Fred and George were crouching in the shadows on the landing, heaving with laughter as they listened to Percy dismantling his and Ron's room in search of his badge.

Fred and George high fived as they grinned widely.

"We've got it," Fred whispered to Harry. "We've been improving it."

"What did you do?" Katie, Alicia and Angelina asked.

The badge now read Bighead Boy.

Everyone sniggered loudly as Percy blushed.

Harry forced a laugh, went to give Ron the rat tonic, then shut himself in his room and lay down on his bed.

"He's going to brood now," Ron said.

Harry playfully shoved him. "No I'm not."

So Sirius Black was after him.

"Only you would say that so casually," Hermione sighed.

"When there's always someone or something trying to kill you, it stops phasing you after a while," Harry said.

The adults looked at Harry sadly; he shouldn't know what it's like to have someone trying to kill you.

This explained everything.

"It does?" Andrew said looking sort of confused.

Fudge had been lenient with him because he was so relieved to find him alive. He'd made Harry promise to stay in Diagon Alley where there were plenty of wizards to keep an eye on him.

Harry shot Fudge an annoyed look. "You could've just told me, I wouldn't have gone running off."

Fudge blushed. "I didn't think it wise to tell you that you had a mad man after you."

"I'm used to it," Harry said dryly. "I prefer it when people tell me the truth."

And he was sending two Ministry cars to take them all to the station tomorrow, so that the Weasleys could look after Harry until he was on the train.

Harry scowled. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

Snape sneered. 'Arrogant boy. Every time I consider changing my opinion on the boy, he goes back to acting like James bloody Potter.'

Harry lay listening to the muffled shouting next door and wondered why he didn't feel more scared.

"Because it's you," Ron said with a shrug.

"How can Harry not be scared?" Justin whispered to his friends.

"Like he said," Hannah whispered. "He's been through a lot."

"He really is brave," Susan said as she looked over at Harry.

Sirius Black had murdered thirteen people with one curse; Mr. and Mrs. Weasley obviously thought Harry would be panic-stricken if he knew the truth.

"Obviously they were wrong," Kevin said.

But Harry happened to agree wholeheartedly with Mrs. Weasley that the safest place on earth was wherever Albus Dumbledore happened to be.

Even though Harry was angry and annoyed with the headmaster, he couldn't deny that his past self was right.

Didn't people always say that Dumbledore was the only person Lord Voldemort had ever been afraid of?

"Yes," Harry admitted reluctantly.

Surely Black, as Voldemort's right-hand man, would be just as frightened of him?

And then there were these Azkaban guards everyone kept talking about. They seemed to scare most people senseless,

Harry shuddered at the thought of a dementor.

and if they were stationed all around the school, Black's chances of getting inside seemed very remote.

No, all in all, the thing that bothered Harry most was the fact that his chances of visiting Hogsmeade now looked like zero.

Everyone turned to look at him in disbelief.

"You've just found out that there's a mass murderer after you, and you're upset about not being able to go to Hogsmeade?" Dean said incredulously.

"Yes," Harry said as though this would be everyone's feelings.

"Potter's mental," Theodore said to Blaise.

Nobody would want Harry to leave the safety of the castle until Black was caught;

'Does it stop the boy though? No, of course it doesn't.' Snape thought bitterly.

in fact, Harry suspected his every move would be carefully watched until the danger had passed.

"They still watch my every move," Harry hissed to Ron and Hermione thinking about this past summer.

He scowled at the dark ceiling. Did they think he couldn't look after himself? He'd escaped Lord Voldemort three times; he wasn't completely useless…

"We just want to keep you safe," Molly said.

"I know," Harry said trying to keep his temper under control. "It's not the fact that everyone is trying to keep me safe, it's the fact that they do it behind my back. One of these days something bad is going to happen because no one is willing to be straight with me."

Unbidden, the image of the beast in the shadows of Magnolia Crescent crossed his mind. What to do when you know the worst is coming…

Hermione shook her head. "That's rubbish Harry."

Trelawney and those who like Divination such as Lavender and Parvarti glarerue," Harry muttered.

Hermione squeezed his hand. "He won't get you," she said quietly.

"That's the spirit, dear," said his mirror sleepily.

A few people at every table snorted.

"That's the end of the chapter," Daphne said. "Do you want to read?"

"Yes," Tracey answered as she accepted the book from her best friend.