Author's note. It should be noted I've tweaked what wizard kids wear a bit. I just felt that since most wizards seem to have absolutely no idea what Muggles wear, it make sense that their non robe clothes are not normal Muggle wear. One thing I always loved about the movies was the great costumes all the characters wore, as opposed to the exact same blank robes which were described in the books.
So, in this verse, if they're not wearing robes, their wearing tunic like outfits, hope everyone likes this new angle. Still be interested in people's opinions of Quirrel and if he should be saved, haven't made my mind up yet.
Suggestions are welcome.
Enjoy and please review.
Harry couldn't help smile as they approached the Leaky Cauldron, knowing he would soon be back in the wizarding world. They had made it off the rock and back to land safely enough, with Harry reminding Hagrid to send the boat back for the Dursleys. Considering how Uncle Vernon now had a pig's tail, Harry thought he could do at least one thing to cool his Uncle's temper.
The train journey had been uneventful, as far as Harry could remember, nothing had changed. The only thing Harry wasn't looking forward to was being mobbed by everyone in the pub again, he would never enjoy that. He wondered, could he say something to Hagrid?
"How will we get to Digaon Alley?" he asked Hagrid as they walked along the street.
"We go through the Leaky Cauldron of course, right famous place that," Hagrid said proudly, marching along with confidence.
"What is the Leaky Cauldron?" Harry asked curiously.
"It's a pub Harry, a wizard pub," Hagrid told him. "Get all sorts in there, like hags, ogres, the odd troll, everything."
"Will it be crowded?" Harry asked carefully.
"Should be, it normally is," Hagrid replied. "People will be right pleased tah see you back in the wizarding world again, Harry."
"They will?"
"Of course, yah saved us all Harry," Hagrid said very seriously. "People are right grateful for it, I can tell yah."
"Oh," Harry said softly, remembering how bewildered he'd felt at all the people wanting to meet him and shake his hand. "Um, w-what do you think will happen when we go in?"
"Well, people will probably want tah meet ya and stuff," Hagrid began before saying. "You okay with that?"
"Well...I'm not sure," Harry said a little anxiously. "I can still hardly believe that I'm supposed to be some sort of saviour, it's a bit much."
Hagrid nodded understandingly.
"Don't worry, we'll just go straight through tah Diagon Alley, no need tah fret."
"Thanks Hagrid," Harry said gratefully, grinning up at the giant of a man who smiled back.
They finally reached the rather dingy entrance and Hagrid pushed open the slightly stiff door. It was just how Harry remembered it, busy, noisy, and full of smoke and people. Harry stuck as close to Hagrid as he could, carefully flattening his fringe so that no one would recognise him.
"Ah Hagrid," greeted Tom the barkeep. "Usual I presume?"
"Can't Tom, on Hogwarts business for Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid said importantly as he strode across crowded bar, thankfully not mentioning Harry who followed closely.
"Another time then," Tom said cheerfully as he went back to wiping glasses.
No one seemed to notice them but just as they were leaving, Harry spied someone from under his fringe. Professor Quirrel was tucked away in a shadowy corner but Harry would recognise him anywhere. He appeared to be shrewdly watching Hagrid and barely paid attention to the small boy accompanying him. But of course, Harry suspected he had seen him and might even know who he was but it didn't matter. After all, they'd shaken hands the last time and it hadn't affected anything.
Quirrel hadn't actually made Harry a target until after Halloween when he'd been worried Harry might have spotted him. And since Harry and Ron wouldn't have to rescues Hermione from that troll this time, there wasn't any reason for the man to start trying to kill him. Although, anything could happen, things were already changing but Harry just wanted to take things as they came.
"Here we go," Hagrid now said as he took out his pink umbrella and started tapping certain bricks on the wall right in front of them.
There was a scraping and the bricks began to shift until an archway had been formed, revealing a packed street ahead. As Hagrid gently nudged Harry forward, who was pretending to stare in awe, he said.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley, Harry."
Even though he'd been here many times before, he was still overwhelmed by the sounds, smells and sights of the magical street. Almost everyone was attired in robes although Harry did spot what looked like Muggle parents with their magical children hurrying about. Owls hooted loudly, various instruments hissed and whirled, strong spicy smells wafted from a nearby shop and children howled with laughter.
"Whoa," Harry gasped, and he only half faked it.
"Come on, let's get going to Gringotts," Hagrid said jovially as Harry looked up at him.
"Gringotts?"
"Yeah, we gotta get you some money out," Hagrid explained as Harry said.
"But...but I don't have any money Hagrid. And you heard Uncle Vernon, the Dursleys won' pay for me to go to Hogwarts."
"Ah but your parents left yah plenty of money," Hagrid said knowingly. "It's in Gringotts, wizard bank. Ain't no place safer, cept perhaps Hogwarts."
"Oh," Harry said in bemusement, getting a little tired of having to pretend he didn't know all this but it was essential he do so.
They walked along the crowded street and Harry actually saw a few Hogwarts students from different Houses that he recognised. There was Oliver Wood, ogling the new Nimbus Two Thousand, Angus MacDonald from Ravenclaw who was in Fred and George's year, Britney Austen from Hufflepuff who was apparently one of the few people who'd managed to do a History NEWT although that wasn't for a few years yet. Harry smiled as he saw all of them and others he didn't know but knew they went to Hogwarts to. Just seeing everyone alive, whole and happy really made his day and he knew it could only get even better.
Walking along the street, he suddenly spotted a shop he hadn't been in much before. It was a sweet shop named Caramella Confectionery. He cocked his head, as far as he remembered it was full of delicious chocolates and sweets and actually had a few more exotic ones since they were closer to the continent here. He wouldn't mind getting a few sweets for the long month until he went to Hogwarts, a little treat for after dinner.
Imagine if Dudley could see this shop, he'd go crazy with gluttony. It had always given Harry a feeling of deep satisfaction that he got to go to one of the best sweet shops in the country after Dudley had taunted him for so many years with sugary treats. But Harry wondered, could sweets possibly be something to break the ice between them. Dudley was scared of magic but that hadn't stopped him from consuming the twin's toffee, could he cope with magical sweets?
It was definitely a possibility and since Harry wanted to go in there, he might as well get some for his cousin and see how things went.
As they finally approached the marble building that was the wizard bank run by goblins, Harry ruefully remembered the last time he'd been here. He and his friends had not only broken into one of the most heavily guarded vaults there was but they'd also got clean away on the back of a dragon with their prize. Thank bloody Merlin that none of the goblins had gone back in time or he'd be in dead trouble. Although he wondered if Hermione was going to end up campaigning against keeping dragons down in the vaults, from what he'd seen, it was pretty cruel.
"Yep, that's a goblin," Hagrid muttered as the climbed past the smartly dressed goblin guards, Harry avoiding looking at any of them. He really couldn't look them in the eye, at this moment; he truly felt eleven years old.
"Clever as they come but...not the most friendly of beings...best stay close," Hagrid advised and Harry had every intention of doing just that.
Almost an hour later, they emerged with Harry carrying a weighty bag of money. Nothing had changed that he could note, Hagrid had handed over his key and asked to visit two vaults, Harry's and Nicolas Flamel's. Of course, Hagrid hadn't told him who the second vault belonged to; he'd just mumbled it was Hogwart's business. Harry had cheerfully acted curious about the whole experience as Hagrid had tried to keep from telling Harry what the package was.
"What about getting your uniform, Harry? Hagrid now asked. "Errm, would you mind if I went for a quick pick me up? Those carts always make me feel ill."
"That's fine, Hagrid," Harry said as he headed for Madam Malkins before realising with a jolt that this was when he first met Draco Malfoy. Well, at least he knew exactly what the other boy was talking about now, he wouldn't feel so stupid.
Although...would the boy be there, since they hadn't been held up in the Leaky Cauldron, it was possible Malfoy wasn't there yet. On the other hand, Malfoy had still been there when he'd left, he appeared to be getting a lot more robes than the required amount. Since Malfoy never ever wore anything resembling Muggle clothes, it wasn't really surprising. It had taken Harry some time to get used to the tunic like casual clothes wizards wore and he was sure Hermione felt the same way.
Ron and his siblings did wear some Muggles clothes, like jeans and jumpers but this was because they lived in a Muggle area. And their Muggle attire was very basic; they could never wear anything that required you to have matching top and bottoms. So when they weren't wearing their school robes, they wore light brown or green tunics which always featured highlights of their house colours.
There were summer tunics which were a lot shorter in the arm and leg and then the winter tunics, which were longer and thicker. The tunics sort of resembled long shirts which went below stomach and was tied with a cord around your waist. The trousers were somewhat baggy but could be bound at the ankles just above some boots. Girls could wear this as well but theirs had a more feminine look to them, including a back which was laced up. Actually, as the girls got older, their tunics developed more of a bodice with even more laces. Some girls liked to add ribbons and other accessories to their tunics. Girls also could wear dress with long sleeves and a divided skirt.
It had taken Harry a little bit of time to get used to this style but being surrounded by it helped a lot. Madam Malkin measured him for a basic school robe and with these measurements was able to put together his whole school wardrobe. They had been shrunk before being wrapped up, ready for Harry to unwrap and place in his trunk.
This was on his mind as he entered the shop, spotting that Malfoy was indeed in the back.
"Oh well," he murmured to himself before striding forward, vaguely wondering how this meeting would go.
To be continued.
Author's note. How does Harry's meeting with Draco Malfoy go? What about the rest of his time in Diagon Alley? Can he get all that he wants? Find out next time, until then.