Diagon Alley

The next morning Harry woke up at 8:30 with Hedwig gently nicking at his fingers. Harry reached for his glasses while he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He looked around the room and saw that Ron was still sleeping in bed and it sounded like he was mumbling about blocking a quaffle during a Quidditch match. Harry sat up and noticed the package that Hedwig had placed next to Harry's hand.

"Ok, Hedwig," Harry said sleepily, "I'm up, I'm up." Harry picked up the package and untied the ribbon around it. It was four letters from Hogwarts, one for each of them. Harry opened his and looked at the list of books he would need.

Mr. Potter,

Here is the list of books you will be needing this year for your studies;

Standard Book of Spells (Grade 6)

By: Miranda Goshawk

Advanced Charms

By: Filibus Greenwood

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi

By: Phyllida Spore

Potions: For Intermediates

By: Phyllida Spore

Begginers Training for Aurors

By: Piers Anthony

Intermiddeate Training for Aurors

By: Piers Anthony

Defensive Spells for Aurors

By: Piers Anthony

You will also need from previous years, The Monster Book of Monsters and Unfogging the Future.

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Head Mistress, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Harry looked at the list of books and frowned. He had three books he needed to buy for his Aurors Defense Against the Dark Arts class alone. Harry knew that he was going to have to work harder than ever to pass his courses this year. Harry noticed a second letter addressed to him stuck inside the envelope, he opened it and his jaw fell open as he read it.

Mr. Potter,

Congratulations on your recent ranking in the Order of Merlin. Your test results in your O.W.L.s were terrific. That along with your obvious abilities outside of the classroom have allowed me to grant you the right to learn the magic of being an Animagus. As you plan on becoming on Auror your Animagus training will be done in secrecy. You may if you wish tell your closest friends but I urge you to keep the number of people who know as small as possible. Myself and Professor McGonagall will be your instructors in your Animagus course. Again, congratulations.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Harry noticed that his mouth was getting dry it hung open while reading the letter for the sixth time. Ron let out a particularly loud snore followed by a mumble that sounded to Harry as if Ron were dreaming of Hermione. Harry took this opportunity to toss Ron's envelope at him, it landed squarely on Ron's cheek.

"Bloody hell Hermione," Ron said loudly, "not right now I said. I'm tired, can't I just sleep?"

Harry burst out in laughter at hearing this. As Ron woke up and realized he had been dreaming Harry covered his mouth to hide his laughing.

"Oh," Ron said turning a deep red, "morning Harry. Why did you wake me up?"

"You were talking in your sleep," Harry answered, "and our Hogwarts letters are here."

"You woke me up for my Hogwarts letter? I was having the most wonderful dream!"

The door opened quickly by a very red in the face Hermione followed closely by a giggling Ginny.

"Honestly, Ronald," Hermione said sounding very angry, "do you have to be so loud? I wouldn't be surprised if the whole house heard you!"

"Heard what, 'Mione?" Ron asked sheepishly.

"Hermione opened her mouth to snap back when Harry mentioned that their Hogwarts letters had arrived. Ginny and Hermione both opened their letters, Ginny frowned at her booklist while Hermione just grinned.

"How many books do you need this year mate," Ron asked Harry.

"Er," Harry said buying some time while he counted them, "I need seven new books for the year and two from previous years."

Hermione even winced when he mentioned how many books he needed. "Wow Harry," she said, "that's a lot of books. Plus Quidditch, the DA and Occlumency, you are going to be swamped."

Harry's face grew a large frown as Hermione mentioned his extra curricular activities. Then he remembered his fourth activity and he got up and shut his door.

"Can I tell all of you a secret," Harry asked looking at his three closest friends.

"'Course you can Harry," Ginny said with a smile, "we are your friends."

"What I am going to tell you can not leave this room," Harry spoke with total seriousness, "I will learn and use the Fidelius Charm if I have to, to keep this secret."

"Oh now I have to know," Ron said practically drooling at the thought of hearing this big of a secret, "come on mate, tell us. We swear we won't tell anyone."

Harry took a long, deep breath and smiled.

"Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall are going to teach me how to be an Animagus!" Harry said smiling broadly at his friends. He watched in amusement as all three of his friends mouths slowly fell open in shock.

"Good one Harry," Ron said laughing, "you had me going there for a second."

With out saying a word Harry handed Ron his letter and watched as Ron read the letter and shook his head in disbelief.

"My best mate," Ron said quietly, "an Animagus." Ron's look of shock quickly turned into a large smile, "You have any idea what this means Harry? This means you will be able to sneak around even when you don't have your invisibility cloak."

"Honestly Ronald," Hermione snapped, "being an Animagus is very difficult and dangerous."

Before another word could be spoken they heard a knock on the door followed by Mrs. Weasley entering to announce breakfast ready and that they would be going to Diagon Alley today.

Two hours later after breakfast and showers everyone was ready to go. Fred and George were already at Diagon Alley minding their shop and making sure all was well. Remus, Tonks, Mrs. Weasley and the four Hogwarts students were taking turns using the floo powder to travel to Diagon Alley. Once Remus stepped out of the fire place in the Leaky Cauldron they all made their way out the back exit and through the magical brick wall.

They first went to Gringotts Bank to make their withdrawals, Harry took out an extra handful of Galleons this year as he needed even more books than normal. Next Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, Ginny and Hermione went to Flourish and Blotts to get everyone's books.

Remus, Harry and Ron, were supposed to go to the Cauldron Shop and The Apothecary to purchase new cauldrons and potion supplies for everyone but were sidetracked at Quality Quidditch Supplies. The three of them stood outside the window looking at the magnificent display. Four brooms were on display in the window, The Nimbus 2000, Nimbus 2001, The Firebolt, and the newest broom out, The Phoenix Mark 1. Though not as powerful or fast as the Firebolt, it made up for it in other ways. The Phoenix M1 was four inches longer that the Firebolt but weighed twenty-five percent less. This was supposed to aid in maneuverability and was rumored to out maneuver any broom. The other feature of The Phoenix M1 was the most important. Just as a Phoenix was able to be reborn from its ashes, the Phoenix M1 was able to be rebuilt from the smallest splinters. There was a miniature model of each broom flying around the display and every minute the tiny Phoenix M1 would crash into the window shattering into hundreds of pieces and falling to the ground. After a few seconds the model would snap back together and take flight again.

"Wicked!" Ron shouted as he watched this feat for the third time.

Even Remus had a boyish grin on his face watching the display over and over again.

"I wonder how much it costs," Harry said in a whisper, "it must be loads." As Harry finished his sentence another model Phoenix M1 flew through the display with a banner being towed behind it. Only 1000 Galleons was all the banner said.

Ron frowned, he had been saving money for a new broom but was no where near able to afford that.

"And just what do you three do you think you are doing," they heard Mrs. Weasley's voice from behind them.

The three struggled to find words but couldn't. Mrs. Weasley smiled and lead the way to The Apothecary. Several hours later after trips to Madam Malkins Robe for All Occasions, the Magical Menagerie for cat food for Crookshanks and owl treats for Hedwig and Pig, Scribbulus Everchanging Inks and very enjoyable trip to Weasley Wizard Wheeze's they made their way to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. They all had large smiles on their faces as they sat down to eat their ice cream in the outdoor patio.

Harry brought his ice cream cone to his mouth but suddenly dropped it. He stood up as at least ten Dementors glided down onto Diagon Alley.