Diagon Alley

The triple-decker, purple monstrosity of the Knight Bus exploded onto the lane out of thin air and screeched to an immediate halt. Harry stumbled back and caught himself before falling while hoping that no one had heard the bus's arrival in the still, morning air. Pimple-faced Stan Shunpike, the Knight Bus conductor, stuck his head out and looked surprised to see who his next passenger would be.

" 'Arry Potter. I thought we was stopping for your father. You Potters are the only ones 'oo live up these parts 'cept muggles. Is 'e comin'? Should we wait?" Stan glanced up in the direction of the Potter cottage on the hill, and Harry hastily jumped aboard the bus when the young conductor stood back to allow him entrance.

"No," he stammered, anxious to leave before it was too late.

"Still in London is 'e?" Stan took a guess and followed Harry as the bus took off again at high speed and the landscape changed from lush moor to cloudy seaside. "Going to meet 'im?"

"Ah," Harry thought fast and accepted the ready-made excuse for his lone travels. "Yeah, that's right. I need to go to the Leaky Cauldron."

" 'Ear that Ern?" Stan called to the aging driver handing the controls at the front of the bus. "Mister Potter needs to get to the Leaky Cauldron."

"Ar," was the response from behind the wheel.

Harry dug in his bag of gold and paid for his ticket as Stan dropped into a seat beside driver, Ernie Prang.

"Sorry for the beds." Stan motioned at the row of bedsteads beside the curtained windows. "Ol' lady Nettles wonted a bit of lie in this morning." He nodded toward the back of the bus where a lump of blankets snored and bounced around with the motion of Ernie's erratic driving. "If you'd fancy a bench I'll get'n for you."

Harry shook his head and sat down on the edge of the nearest mattress. "This is fine."

"Too bad about missin' Pettigrew." The conductor busied himself with a dented and dirty teapot, filling it with a stream of water from his wand. "Cuppa?"

"No thanks," Harry declined. "What about Pettigrew?"

"Pettigrew escaping in London," Stan clarified. "That's why yer dad's in Diagon Alley, isn't it?"

"Oh," Harry blundered. "Yeah. Did…did they come close then? To catching him, I mean?"

"Wots I 'eard woss 'e was seen inside Gringotts. That's right." He nodded at Harry's apparent interest. "Dirty rat runnin' aroun' doin' oo knows wot. Probably tryin' to steal gold, I recken. Anyway, the Patrol was called in, they did a search of Gringotts, but there's lots of places for a rat to hide. 'Aven't found 'im yet, doubt they ever will. 'E's a slippery one, that'n." Stan glanced up and realized who he was talking to before looking uncomfortable and apologetic. "Sorry, 'bout that. I didn't mean nothin'."

"It's fine," Harry shrugged it off.

"I'll bet your dad'll find 'im," Stan changed to the optimistic. "Maybe already 'as."

Harry pulled himself out of his personal thoughts to offer the conductor a weak nod as the bus lurched and stopped abruptly to let off a passenger who emerged from a level above. Stan set down his steaming teapot long enough to help an old gentlemen off in a sleepy borough smelling of sea salt and summer rain.

"Next stop, London," the conductor announced to the passengers awake enough to listen before returning to his seat and resuming his task of heating his water for tea. "That's not all of it tho'," he resumed his conversation with Harry as if they had never been interrupted. "Middle of the search, Ollivander the ol' wand maker burst inta Gringotts sayin' he's missing on'a 'is wands."

The news had the desired effect on his audience that Stan was hoping for, and he nodded with a wide grin. "That's right, 'Arry. They won't admit it yet, but I'll betcha five galleons that dirty rat's got 'imself a wand."

BANG! The Knight Bus flew onto a familiar street shadowed by close-set buildings in overcast London, and Harry lurched forward and nearly fell off the bed as it careened, missed several slow moving vehicles, and pulled up to the curb.

"Leaky Cauldron!" Stan glanced out the nearest window. " 'Ere you go, 'Arry. Wotch your step on the stairs, now. Got time for a quick one, Ern?" He turned to his driver and persuaded Prang to step into the pub a moment before they moved on.

Harry didn't wait around to find out if they would be joining him inside the Leaky Cauldron. He slipped off the muggle street and inside the bustling inn full of witches, wizards, and all sorts of magic folk having a quick breakfast before taking care of their business for the day.

Harry glanced around and wondered where to go first, out into Diagon Alley, or just stay there and hope to find Ron and Hermione before James realized he was gone. His decision was made for him when he spotted Ron's sister, Ginny, sitting alone at a nearby table. An empty plate sat off to the side where she had pushed it after eating, and a brightly-colored advertising leaflet lay stretched out on the table as she sat reading.

"Hey, Ginny." Harry walked up with a familiar greeting.

"Oh hey, Harry!" She nearly jumped at the sound of his voice, glancing up and blushing slightly at the sight of him standing there. "You're here early. Ron didn't think you'd come 'til sometime after breakfast."

"Yeah..." Harry stuffed his hands in his pockets. It was always a little awkward talking to Ginny, but especially since saving her from the Chamber of Secrets at the end of last term. "I got here a little early."

She nodded and appeared as uncomfortable as Harry, biting her lower lip, and struggling to come up with something else to say. It was good to see her looking better though, he had to admit. The Weasleys' summer trip to Egypt must have done her some good.

"Where's Ron?" Harry asked, glancing once more around the room in case he missed him. It appeared that Ginny was the only Weasley there.

"Still upstairs," she told him. "Mum just went to wake them all up," she referred to four out of six of her older brothers who were staying at the inn with their parents. "Dad went over to Gringotts already."

Harry nodded, figuring Mr. Weasely had probably been a part of the search the night before. Glancing down, he noticed what Ginny was looking at on the leaflet. Emblazoned across the glossy paper was an enticing, colorful advertisement of the latest, fastest broom on the market, the widely anticipated Firebolt.

"Whoa!" Harry moved in and took the seat next to Ginny's to get a better look.

"Isn't it amazing?" She grinned and turned the page so he could see it.

"Have you had a look in the shop yet?"

"No." She shook her head, her bright red hair falling in her eyes. "I can't wait though. Mum's going to want to get my supplies right off, but I don't care. I'm going right to Quality Quidditch Supplies to get a look as soon as we leave here."

"I'm coming with you," Harry responded eagerly, and their gaze met as they both laughed.

"Are you going to get one?"

"I wish." Harry picked up the leaflet and scanned the description of the amazing broom with envious interest. "I know Dad won't let me though, not after having my Nimbus for only two years." And certainly not after traveling to London like a runaway without permission.

"Oi, Harry!" Ron appeared on the stairs right behind the twins, Fred and George. "You're here early."

Harry grinned at his best friend, and tried not to laugh at the increased amount of freckles from a summer in the sun. "I couldn't wait to see the Firebolt," he told him, sharing a familiar smile with Ginny as the boys sat down at the table and ordered breakfast from Tom, the landlord.

"I'm with you on that one, mate," Ron agreed wholeheartedly. "We'll go as soon as I eat."

"You will not." Percy arrived at the table looking pious as usual. "Mother said we need to wait until father returns before we leave the inn."

"'Mother says…' Careful, Perc, your hair's out of place," Fred reached up and mussed his older brother's perfectly combed hair until it stood up on end. Percy glowered and moved out of his reach before patting it back into place.

"Percy made Head Boy," George leaned over the table to fill Harry in. "Did you hear?"

"No, I hadn't," Harry shook his head.

"Well, you will," Fred assured him sarcastically. "And you'll hear, and you'll hear…"

"Everyone get breakfast then?" Mrs. Weasley arrived next at the table and checked in on her children. "Oh hello, Harry!" She noticed him sitting among her own, and looked pleased but also slightly confused. "I didn't think you would be here. Did your dad come back to London so soon?"

Harry hadn't considered that hiccup. Of course the Weasleys would have thought it odd that he was there alone, without his dad and amid the threat of Pettigrew running around the London sewers. Regretting having to lie to Ron's mother, Harry gave the best excuse he could come up with. "No, actually, he sent me to meet you. He didn't think you would mind if I tagged along, just to get my things. I hope that's alright."

Mrs. Weasley thought about this a moment, still finding it odd that James Potter hadn't spoken to her or Arthur himself, but she figured he probably had a lot on his mind at the moment. "Of course, dear," she smiled. "We'll be leaving the inn in a moment, just as soon as Arthur returns. Ginevra, put the advertisement away, would you?"

The Weasley's quickly ate their breakfast, and Mr. Weasley met them in time to slip through the hidden entrance between the pub and Diagon Alley. He was just as surprised to see Harry, but accepted the explanation just as his wife had. "James did look rather spent when he left here earlier this morning," Arthur thought about it out loud. "I don't blame him for wanting to duck out. I'm rather worn out myself."

"Mr. Weasley?" Harry asked as they walked down the crowded street in a group, making their way toward Flourish and Blotts.

"Yes, Harry."

"Is it true that Ollivander's got broken into last night?"

"Your dad told you, did he? Yes, I'm afraid it was," Arthur answered before Harry had to.

"It was Pettigrew, wasn't it? He has a wand."

"We don't know that for sure." Mr. Weasley put up a hand, warning Harry not to jump to conclusions.

"Who else would?" Harry wanted to know. There was no doubt in his mind that it was Wormtail, and the thought made him uneasy. The rat could be hiding around any corner, ready and waiting to attack him at first sight. Perhaps he should have listened to his father and stayed at home.

"I agree it seems most likely," Mr. Weasley assented, "but there is no actual proof as of yet. He was only spotted in Animagus form within Gringotts…but you know all this, I'm sure your dad filled you in already." He ended the conversation, as Mrs. Weasley was calling for his attention further down the street. "Coming, Molly!"

The others had congregated outside of Quality Quidditch Supplies where a great crowd of people had gathered in hopes of getting a glimpse of the stunning Firebolt display in the window. Ginny stood beside her older, taller brothers, bouncing on her toes trying to get a look over all the heads in her way.

Harry moved in, forgetting about Pettigrew for the moment in his excitement of seeing the Firebolt himself. "Here," he stepped up and offered Ginny a hand to help her stand on the plinth of a nearby streetlamp. Ginny accepted it gratefully, and Harry climbed up beside her, hanging off the other side where she clung with one arm around the cylindrical pole of the lamp. "Can you see it?" he asked.

"Yes!" She beamed.

"Amazing isn't it?"

"One hundred and fifty miles in ten seconds," she recited from the advertisement. "I wonder how much it costs."

"More galleons than I'll ever have." Harry studied the design of the model in the window, wanting nothing more than to jump on and take it for a test-fly. Looking around the alley from that vantage point, he noticed that there were several more Magical Law Enforcement members out roaming than usual. They roamed in sets of two, turning down side streets and conversing with patrons with their eyes constantly searching the area. One even caught sight of Harry where he was standing, and watched him a moment, appearing curious. Harry grew worried wondering if the officer knew he wasn't supposed to be there, but the squad member looked away and continued chatting with a group of shoppers and didn't glance Harry's way again.

Turning back to the crowd outside of Quality Quidditch Supplies, Harry did noticed someone else, however. Hermione Granger was rushing their way from the direction of the Leaky Cauldron. Her parents were behind her, and she looked like she also had enjoyed a summer in the sun. Calling his and Ron's name, she bounded up and greeted the whole Weasley family happily.

Harry helped Ginny safely back to the ground before receiving a brief, excited hug from his friend.

"I was sure you wouldn't come." Hermione met his eye with hidden meaning and understanding in her gaze. She had observed the fact that James was absent, and Harry knew that no excuse would get by her.

"I had to," he explained, knowing she would also understand.

Hermione nodded, but didn't say anything more since Ron's parents would overhear. They took their time getting a good look at the Firebolt before moving on to complete their shopping. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were reluctant to let any of their children or Harry stray too far out of their sight. Fear was still high after the events at Gringotts and Ollivander's, but there was a point when Ron, Harry, and Hermione managed to slip off on their own for an ice cream at Florean Fortescue's.

They sat outside in the cool breeze with their purchases at their feet under the table, and slurped strawberry, chocolate, and peanut butter cones. It felt good to be away from the cottage, no matter the circumstances. Harry had not realized how lonely he had been all summer until he was back in the good company of friends. Hermione didn't allow him to rest for long.

"What do you know?" she demanded shortly after they sat down. "How did you even manage to get here? Where's your dad?"

"At home," he answered the last rapid-fire question first. "He doesn't know I left."

"Obviously." She rolled her eyes. "I'm surprised he hasn't come after you yet."

"I am too, actually."

"You really snuck out?" Ron looked thrilled. "Brilliant."

"No, it's not, Ron!" Hermione cut him a glare of annoyance. "Your dad will be furious, Harry."

He knew that, but he was rather ticked off at his dad at the moment also, so it was only fair. "I took the Knight Bus." He ignored her scolding and continued to give them the details. "It was easy actually." He couldn't help but grin as Ron laughed in enjoyment.

"Easy," Hermione scoffed. "And it will be even easier for certain escaped prisoners to take a shot at you out here."

"It's pretty smart, I think," Ron said. "Think about it, Hermione," he reacted to her cynicism. "This is the one place in all of London that Pettigrew is running AWAY from. Harry's safer here than he is at home, I'll reckon."

Hermione didn't look pleased, but she really didn't have an argument to respond with. Harry and Ron knew they had won that one, and shared their satisfaction of the rare moment.

"Well, what about last night," Hermione pressed with a tone of irritation. "What have you heard about Pettigrew?"

"I know he was in Gringotts for sure," Harry told her. "That's where they chased and lost him. He's probably still down in the vaults, lost or something."

"Good," Ron snorted.

"He may have a wand," Harry told him, and Hermione looked alarmed. "Ollivander is missing a wand in his shop. They think Wormtail might have taken it."

"This is bad, Harry." She sounded even more worried than before.

Harry just shrugged and tried to act like it was no big deal. So what if Pettigrew did have a wand? He still had to get close enough to Harry to use it. The chance of that happening was less than none, he was sure. "They'll catch him," he assured both of his friends with more confidence than he felt he possessed. "He's not coming out of Gringotts' tunnels without being captured, there's no—"

"What?" Hermione whipped around to see what had suddenly caught his attention.

"Oh, hell," Harry muttered at the sight of the familiar shape of a large black dog moving in the shadows of Knockturn Alley, but not before the dog saw him.

Jumping up from his seat, Harry scrambled to grab his things out from under the table as Sirius transformed from beast to man in the flash of an eye and began advancing quickly in their direction. "See you guys later," he gave Ron and Hermione a hasty goodbye. "Tell your Mum not to worry." He didn't want Mrs. Weasley to think he had been taken or something horrible along those lines.

"Sit down!" Sirius bellowed before Harry even made one step away from the table. Giving him no choice to do anything else, his godfather whisked out his wand and forced Harry back into his chair. "I didn't believe my eyes at first." Sirius stepped up looking irate.

"Sirius—"

"Speaking is NOT what you should be doing!" He cut Harry off sharply. "Listening is what you should be doing. Apologizing, maybe, but certainly not sitting here having a laugh with your friends out in the open!"

"Sorry," Harry muttered, glancing briefly at Ron and Hermione who had their heads down not wishing to make eye contact with anyone.

"I should bloody well hope so." Sirius released his hold on his godson, dropped his wand, and gestured heatedly for Harry to stand. "Get your things, let's go." He waited while Harry did as he was told without hesitating. Holding out his arm, he insisted Harry take a hold of it to apparate them both out of Diagon Alley. "Ron, Miss Granger," he nodded a curt goodbye.

Ron kept his eyes averted with a salute while Hermione passed Harry a sympathetic look and gave a weak wave just before they disappeared.


"Look who I found lazing about London eating ice cream," Sirius announced their return as soon as they pushed through the kitchen door and entered the cottage. James looked up from the table and got to his feet with flashing eyes alight with fury.

"What were you thinking?" he demanded as soon as Harry dropped his new school supplies on the floor. "Of all the irresponsible—"

"I'm sorry, okay?" Harry really didn't want to hear it. He had already gotten chewed out by Sirius, who wasn't even his father. He didn't want round two from James. "You weren't going to take me. I had to go somehow."

"And I always considered him smart." Sirius leaned against the counter with his arms crossed and passed James a sarcastic scowl.

Harry wished he would just leave.

"Go to your room," James commanded tersely. He still looked tired, and Harry wondered if he had even slept at all. Without a word, he left his things where he had set them and took the stairs to his room. Harry didn't even bother moving the wastebasket to listen in on what his dad and Sirius were saying. Instead he slumped on his bed and laid there without moving, his eyes on the ceiling. Hedwig opened an eye from her perch on his desk where she had been sleeping and watched him stoically.

After what felt like ages, the floorboards creaked outside his bedroom door as James entered. Harry waited until he crossed the room and sank into the open chair by the desk before sitting up and giving his father his complete attention. He knew he deserved whatever punishment he was given, but the thought that James might keep him home from Hogwarts that year made Harry's stomach tie in knots.

"I hope you understand what you put me through," James began in a steady, exhausted voice drained by fear. "As unconcerned with your safety as you may be, I happen to consider it my highest priority."

"I'm concerned," Harry looked up. "I know it was a risk."

"Really?" James didn't appreciate being interrupted. "I don't really think you do, Harry. Think, son. Think about what it would have meant if something had happened to you today out on your own? What if—" he cut himself off, leaning back in the chair and placing his gaze out the window to hide the emotion threatening to spill from his eyes. "This is not a game, Harry," he pleaded with his son to understand. "No matter what I do, you always seem to find yourself in harm's way," he said after a moment of trying to collect his scattered thoughts.

Harry watched him in silence, not knowing what to say to that. It wasn't his fault things happened as they had. He didn't get why Voldemort was so intent on killing him or even why Pettigrew was for that matter. Did that mean he was supposed to lock himself away in some hole for the rest of his life, afraid of his shadow the way James was? What kind of life was that?

"It may not make sense to you now." James met his eye with a desperate look of a hurting father. "But try, try to understand that your life means something. It means something to me, got it? It means…" he trailed off with a heavy sigh, leaving the rest of his thought for another time. "Just promise me that you will be careful this year at school, alright?"

Harry found his father's insistence unnerving, but eventually nodded with a promise that he would.

James relaxed in his chair and rubbed his tired eyes with the palm of his hand. "Go get your school things," he instructed. "Get them packed now. You'll want to be ready if we have any hope of catching the train on time tomorrow."

Harry hesitate, not sure if his dad really meant it. James looked up and gave him a nod with a wane smile. "I'm probably crazy, but Sirius is right. You need to go to school, and if you can't be here, what safer place to be than Hogwarts?"

Harry thanked him with a relieved smile and stood to return downstairs for his things. At the door, he stopped and glanced back with a second apology on his lips. James had not moved from his chair and was gazing at the framed photo of Harry's mother sitting on the nightstand beside the bed. Holding off on the apology, Harry left him alone and slipped silently into the stairwell.