Chapter 4: At Diagon Alley

Still thinking about Quirrell, Harry followed Hagrid out the back door of Leaky Cauldron. As expected, it was a dead end, blocked by brick wall. Hagrid took out his pink umbrella and after a few seconds muttering something which sounded like, three up…two across, Hagrid tapped a particular brick with the tip of his pink umbrella. As the brick was tapped, the brick wall slowly separated from the middle, revealing a passageway into Diagon Alley. Harry had always wondered why there was a need for the brick wall to conceal Diagon Alley. However, he had no answers for that. Diagon Alley was as crowded as ever, with many people bustling around, buying supplies for schools.

'Let's go Gringotts first.' said Hagrid, and lead Harry towards a tall, white building, which could be seen from a distance.

Soon, they reached Gringotts. Harry could never be failed to be amazed by the magnificient tall white building, with its numerous glass windows. They walked up some steps, then walked into the bank through a double-door made of glass.

'Morning!' said Hagrid to a free goblin at the counter 'We've come ter take some money outta Mr Harry Potter's safe.'

Harry lost track of the subsequent conversation of Hagrid with the goblin. This was such as other more important thoughts filled Harry's mind. One of the horcruxes of Voldemort, the Hufflepuff cup was in Bellatrix Lestrange's safe in Gringotts. Harry was thinking of ways that he could get hold of the Hufflepuff cup. One idea that came to him was to bribe the goblins. However, this idea, Harry knew, had absolutely zero chances in succeeding. Imperious curse? No... Harry could not risk breaking the laws, as the goblins would be able to recognize him, with him being the boy who lived. But he smiled when he thought what a good headline it would be for the Daily Prophet. He could already visualized the headline: The boy who lived breaking in to Gringotts! He could also just imagined the horror and surprise of the readers when they realized that their Hero had become a criminal. Harry vaguely felt Hagrid guiding him into a cart and felt the cart speeding off along the undergrounds tunnels.

Maybe he could take Polyjuice Potion and pretend to be Bellatrix Lestrange? The goblins fell for that the previous time... No… that time it was discovered but we manipulated the events by using imperius curse… we almost failed due to Griphook…At the thought of the name, Harry looked at the goblin who was now opening up Harry's vault. Yes, he was non-other than Griphook. Maybe he could offer Griphook the Griffindor sword again in return for his help? Of course, he would have to make sure that he specifically state when he would give Griphook the sword this time round. He would not be so foolish as to make the same mistake twice. Amidst all those thoughts, Griphook had opened Harry's vault. Harry went in there to scope in some gold into his pouch. Then, they returned by to the cart, proceeding on to vault seventeenth hundred and thirteenth. As the cart went on to the other vault, Harry decided that he could not risk breaking into Gringotts. Not today at any rate. He would have to do so some other time perhaps with some help from Bill.

'Vault seven hundred and thirteen!' Griphook announced.

Harry saw Hagrid, putting a small bundle from the safe into one of his pockets. Harry made a mental note to tell Hagrid not to drink too much and maybe advised Dumbledore to guard the stone in other better ways. But then, Harry's mind kept coming back to the Hufflepuff cup. Harry had to do something about the Hufflepuff cup. But, he could not do anything at the moment. Heaving a deep sigh, Harry resigned himself to the fate that he had to get the Hufflepuff cup the next time with detailed plans as he had already decided earlier on.

Soon, Harry and Hagrid were out of Gringotts. Hagrid excused himself to get a drink from the Leaky Cauldron. Thus, Harry same as the previous time, entered Madame Malkins' robes for all occasions, to buy school robes, alone.

'Hi, Hogwarts dear?' asked Madame Malkins 'There is also a boy currently being fitted up for Hogwarts'

Harry nodded. He looked towards the back of the shop. At the back of the shop he saw a paled face, blond hair boy standing on a stool being fitted up. It was Draco Malfoy! Harry could never forget his pale, arrogant face and his blond hair. His son Scorpio really looks a lot like him when he was young, Harry thought, as he remembered seeing Malfoy's son on platform nine and three quarters several times. Perhaps he should just ignore Malfoy when he say 'hi' later. He do not want to have anything to do with the Malfoys, although he owed Narcissa Malfoy, Malfoy's mum, his life. Moreover, Harry have always hated Malfoy's father, Lucius Malfoy. He still remembered how Lucius Malfoy had put the diary in Ginny's cauldron, almost causing Ginny's death. Yes! The diary! He had to get the diary somehow from Lucius Malfoy, Harry realized. Harry stared at Draco Malfoy. He had an idea. It would be difficult but still…

'Hi!' Harry greeted Malfoy brightly.

'Hi' Malfoy replied lazily.

'I am from Hogwarts, starting first year.' Harry said with a bright smile. 'I hope to play seeker for Quidditch'

Just as Harry has expected, Malfoy perked up at the mention of the word 'Quidditch'. Quidditch was something he and Malfoy had in common. Well, perhaps the only thing in common.

'Yes! I hope to play seeker too!' Malfoy exclaimed brightly. 'I am starting first year at Hogwarts too' Malfoy added on as an afterthought.

'But mum won't let me bring my own broom to Hogwarts…' said Malfoy, going on with the conversation, his voice getting softer and softer, with a crestfallen look on his pale face.

'Hmm…' said Harry, as Malfoy moved down from the stool on to the floor as he had finished with the fitting.

'I have enough gold to buy you a Nimbus 2000… how about that?' offered Harry.

'Yes!' Malfoy cheered. 'But…. Are you sure?"

Harry nodded in affirmation, and with certainty, smiling.

'Thanks! I am Draco Malfoy!' Malfoy self-introduced and put out a hand for handshake.

'I am ….' Harry started to reply.

Just then, the shop's bell rang, interrupting their conversation, and someone stepped into the shop.

'Draco! Let's go!' A female voice sounded, interrupting their conversation.

Harry recognized the voice. He looked at the lady. Yes. It was Narcissa Malfoy.

'I have to go' said Malfoy, 'See you at school!'

'See you, Draco.' Harry nodded. It felt weird to call Malfoy by his first name. Well… he could get use to it….

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