Chapter 9 - Hogsmeade

Harry found Mr. and Mrs. Weasley waiting at the foot of the stairs for him. They walked out a side entrance from the main Hall and crossed over a small courtyard. A wide, well used path led away from the castle and Harry glimpsed the village of Hogsmeade through a gap in the trees.

"Mrs. Weasley, are we going to Hogsmeade because your house is in or near the village?"

"No, Harry", Mrs. Weasley answered with a laugh. "I'm afraid the climate here in Scotland is a bit too rough for my tastes. I've some shopping to do and being at Hogwarts makes the village a convenient stop."

"Besides," Mr. Weasley chimed in, "it'll give you a chance to see what's here in the village. Normally, first and second years aren't allowed to go down on Hogsmeade weekends."

The path they were on soon joined up to the main road that connected the railway station to Hogwarts. It was only another couple of minutes walk to the first building in the village. It was named The Three Broomsticks and Harry thought it might be a tavern or restaurant.

Mr. Weasley pulled open the front door to allow his wife and Harry to enter. A pretty woman hurried out from behind the bar to greet the trio. "Welcome to The Three … well, if isn't it Arthur and Molly Weasley. Nice to see you two again, along with a child who obviously isn't one of yours; can I get you three some butterbeers or anything else to drink?"

Mrs. Weasley gave the curvy blond a quick hug. "Can't tarry today, Rosmerta. We were wondering if Arthur could floo back to work from here and if I could leave some packages here for a bit while we did some shopping?"

"Of course, Molly, you know you two are always welcome to drop in anytime. Come by some evening and we three will have a nice quiet supper, just like old times."

""That sounds really nice, Rosmerta," Mr. Weasley said, "but I'm really late - I need to get back to work"

Mr. Weasley put down the bag of Harry's clothes and then put a hand on Harrys shoulder. "Sorry I won't be there for all the introductions, Harry, but I hope you can make yourself at home. One word of warning- do not, repeat NOT, accept anything that the twins offer you. Molly will explain it to you."

"Molly, I should be home at the regular time unless …"

"Something unexpected comes up", Molly finished with a grin. "Be off with you before I make you help with the shopping."

Mr. Weasley gave his wife a quick peck on the cheek and then stepped into the nearby fireplace grabbing some powder from a bowl that was on the mantle. He threw the powder on the ground and quickly said "Ministry of Magic". A flare of green flames flared up around Mr. Weasley and when it died – he was gone!

Harry was so surprised that he stepped back quickly and found himself sitting on the floor. Rosmerta gave a small laugh. "It always gets the firsties the first time they see that. It's perfectly safe." She reached down to give Harry a hand up and then let out an exclamation of surprise.

"That scar! That shape! You must be…"

"Harry Potter, ma'am. Just Harry Potter."

"Welcome to Hogsmeade, just Harry Potter. You must be excited to be starting Hogwarts this year. Molly, you've been holding out on me! Why didn't you let anybody know where this young man has been?"

"It's a long story, Rosmerta and I don't think I'm at liberty to tell it to you since I've only known about him for about an hour. But, yes, Harry is starting Hogwarts this year. Would you mind keeping it under wraps until he actually starts?

"Of course – it'll only be a few weeks. Nice to meet you Harry."

"Nice to meet you also, Madame Rosmerta."

"Come on Harry", Mrs. Weasley said. "We've only got a stop or two to make. We'll probably be back within an hour Rosmerta."

"OK, I'll keep an eye on your things. Have fun shopping!"

Mrs. Weasley and Harry stepped out of the tavern and turned toward the rest of the village. Harry spotted a bench a few yards away and tentatively reached out for her hand. "Could we stop for a couple of minutes, Mrs. Weasley? I'm a little tired."

Harry felt his hand grasped a little more firmly. "Of course, Harry."

Mrs. Weasley held onto his hand as they reached the bench and sat.

"I felt so much better in Dumbledore's office and now I don't seem to have any energy at all."

"It's just the restriction removal backlash, Harry. Your magical energy is going to fluctuate for a couple of days until it stabilizes. Since your magical energy level is tied so closely to your physical energy, you may get tired or a trifle energetic for a couple of days; until you're physically healthy you'll probably feel more tired than not. That's why I'm going to make sure you'll get plenty of rest and lots of good food into you. Don't worry, Harry, you will be feeling a lot better by the time you get back to Hogwarts."

Harry smiled up at the kind assurance that came from Mrs. Weasley. "Can I ask for some advice, ma'am?"

"Surely, Harry," Mrs. Weasley replied. "What is bothering you so much?"

"I'm not really comfortable being famous. How am I supposed to react to all these people who think I'm something I'm not? I'm not some genius super wizard. This bench we're sitting on knows more about magic than I do. I'm not that "Boy Who Lived" everybody expects."

"Harry, all you can do is be yourself. You really aren't anybody else. What happened around you all those years ago gave great hope to everybody in the magical world. People needed an explanation and unfortunately you were and still are "it". All I can say is just be Harry. Some people are going to thank you and some people will want to be near you just because you are famous and they want to look good and be famous too. I hope you run into enough people who look at you and just see Harry the person without all that other folderol. Those people will be the ones you really need or want in your life. Does that help a little, Mr. "Just Harry" Potter?"

Harry gave a little giggle at her tone of voice and felt himself relaxing. "Thanks, Mrs. Weasley. You really know how to make someone feel better. How did you get so wise?"

"Comes from being around a long line of good influences I'm sure. The fact that I've raised 7 children also helps a lot; life teaches you what's right or wrong."

"Wait a minute", Harry exclaimed, "I know it's not polite to mention a woman's age but you surely aren't old enough to have raised 7 children. You're much too young and pretty for that."

Harry found himself smothered in a huge hug as soon as he finished that statement. He thought his ribs were going to crack from the pressure but he realized he really enjoyed this. Mrs. Weasley released him after a few seconds but had a huge grin on her face when Harry looked at her.

"That's the nicest thing anybody but Arthur has said to me in many a day, Harry. Don't let anybody ever tell you that you're not a good person, young man. I'm really glad you're coming home with me today."

"I'm starting to think so also Mrs. Weasley."

"Molly."

"Right, Mrs. Weasley… Molly. I'm feeling rested up now, so maybe you can tell me about the rest of your family while we get to that shopping."

Mrs. Weasley stood up and held out her hand. Harry smiled at her and reached out and grabbed it. She pulled him up and they continued walking down the main street in Hogsmeade.

As Harry walked past the post office and all the other shops in town, Mrs. Weasley told him about the family she and Arthur had raised. Harry noted the pride in her voice and thought how lucky the rest of the Weasleys were to have somebody that obviously loved them so much. Harry heard about the two oldest, Bill and Charlie, who had already left Hogwarts and had successful careers already. Harry agreed that curse-breaking and working with dragons was probably very dangerous but privately thought their jobs were a very exciting thing to be doing. Percy was the eldest still living at home and Mrs. Weasley was hoping that he might become the 'Head Boy'. The twins sounded like a lot of fun to be around with all the pranks and experiments despite Mrs. Weasleys worrying about their future. By the time they had finished talking about Ron and Ginny, Mrs. Weasley had bought some parchment and quills at Scrivenshaft's and they were heading back up the street.

"Anywhere else we need to go, Mrs. Weasley?" Harry asked peering around hopefully at all the other shops along the street. His curiosity had been aroused by all the displays he saw in the windows of the shops and he really wanted to go exploring. He also knew it was wrong to leave his escort but he hoped for a few more chances to just see things.

"Over here, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said with a smile. "I hope you like this place."

Harry saw the sign over the door that said 'Honeydukes Sweetshop' and just smiled as he followed Mrs. Weasley through the door. There were jars and shelves just full to the brim with all sorts of great smelling goodies. Harry's mouth started watering just standing there taking in everything.

"Come along, Harry, I'm sure we can find something in here to satisfy your sweet tooth."

"Hello, folks, how can I help you today?" The voice came from the man on a ladder stocking shelves behind the counter. He didn't see who he was talking to until he descended the ladder. He turned around and smiled at his customers.

"Mrs. Weasley, as I live and breathe – good afternoon to you. You're looking as lovely as ever. Did you bring the twins with you? They're some of my best customers, you know. Always there with some nice suggestions for different treats for me and my customers. I may just have to hire them myself when they get around to graduating."

"Ambrosius Flume, your sweet talking is always just as good as your candy. Does your wife know you try to butter up every female that walks through your front door?"

"She does", came a voice from the back room, "but he also knows there's a limit to his wife's patience with it." An older blonde witch came out from the back room and wrapped an arm around Mr. Flume's waist. "What can I get you for you, Molly, since my husband promised to restock those top shelves sometime today."

Mr. Flume let go a good- natured grumble at the comment but just smiled at his wife.

"Hello Temperance, I just came in to get some chocolate frogs for Ron; I swear he has a hollow leg for those treats. Do you have a small package of sugar quills that could be wrapped up for my little girl Ginny's birthday?"

"I have just the thing over here. Do you want an assortment or does Ginny have a favorite flavor she'd really like?" The two women went down to one end of the counter while Mr. Flume walked over and started talking to Harry.

"How about a little sample of the raspberry fudge while the ladies are talking young man?"

"That would be really nice, sir." Harry glanced up at the proprietor of the candy shop and watched as recognition lit up his face.

"By Merlin's beard, it can't be. Not here, not now. Temper, come here quickly! It's Harry Potter, here in our own shop!"

Harry was amazed at the reaction. Temperance Flume literally vaulted over the counter and came running over to where Harry was standing. Harry was very surprised when she knelt down and gave him another unexpected hug and a small kiss on his cheek. "Harry Potter, you saved my family and my life when you destroyed "You-Know-Who". There will never be enough words to express my thanks and that of my husband. My sister was on the Deatheaters list and I don't know how I would have survived without her!"

Harry was blushing and slightly squirming with the words that this witch was giving him. He really didn't have any idea of what to say back to her. He finally stammered back something about "it not being my sole doing… my parents." Harry stopped at mentioning his parents and just gave out a large sigh.

Ambrosius Flume reached down and gently grasped his wife's elbow and helped her rise to her feet. "I'm sorry we've embarrassed or hurt you, young Mr. Potter. We were just so surprised and happy to see you that we let our mouths get away from us."

"It's okay, Mr. Flume, I'm just new to all this and not used to this kind of attention." Harry felt rather than saw Mrs. Weasley come to stand behind him. While he had just known her for less than a couple of hours, he already took some comfort from her presence. An arm came down across one shoulder and Harry gave it a quick squeeze.

"No real harm done, Mr. Flume. You and your wife have an excellent store. I hope I get a chance to visit it a lot once I'm at Hogwarts. It would be nice to buy any of the treats you have here.

"Well, why wait, Harry? As a small token of our admiration and apology, why not help yourself to anything in the store. On us." Mrs. Flume just smiled at her husbands' suggestion.

Harry was about to protest that he didn't want any charity and didn't have any money when he remembered some words Mrs. Weasley spoke to him earlier. An idea also struck him at the same time. Harry spun around and asked Mrs. Weasley, "When is Ginny's birthday, exactly?"

Mrs. Weasley answered half questioningly, "August 11, the day after tomorrow."

"Thank you." Harry turned back to look at the Flumes. "OK, is there a medium-sized assortment of candy that a 10 year old girl would enjoy for her birthday and wouldn't mind sharing with her family?"

"I believe we have just the thing for that Mr. Potter. You've got a good heart. Give us a few minutes to put it together and get it wrapped." Mr. Flume and his wife went to different parts of the store and started gathering up seemingly random bunches of candy.

Harry turned and saw a disapproving look on Mrs. Weasley face.

"Please, Mrs. Weasley let me do this. I have nothing to give to you or your family as way of thanks for taking me in without any notice. Let me do something positive if I can. I don't think I'm taking advantage of Mr. and Mrs. Flume. I promise to find a way to pay for everything I get here from now on, and I can't really figure out what candy I like unless I get to sample some things."

Mrs. Weasleys' frown gradually gave way to a smile and she pulled Harry in for a small hug. Harry was quickly getting addicted to some positive contact in his life.

"All right Harry. Just this once and I will let Ginny know who the benefactor really is."

"Could you just let it be a family present to her? I don't want to make anybody feel bad about a complete stranger buying something for the only girl in the family."

"Smart and gracious as well. If you insist Harry, but you really ought to take some credit for the things you do."

"Maybe later, Mrs. Weasley, if you can help me figure out this being famous thing some more."

Ambrosius and Temperance soon had a box of goodies gathered and gift wrapped. Mrs. Weasley tried paying for the candy she originally collected but was told that her money wasn't any good there at that time. Harry made a promise with the Flumes that he would be paying for anything else in the future and they laughingly agreed. Harry shook both their hands and then he and Mrs. Weasley headed back to the Three Broomsticks.

Harry and Mrs. Weasley quickly gathered up their bags from Rosmerta but Harry stopped suddenly when they approached the fireplace. He remembered the flames that had risen up and seemingly consumed Mr. Weasley just about one hour ago. He wasn't very sure if he wanted to travel by fire, just in case.

"Harry, it's okay if you don't want to travel the floo network by yourself," Mrs. Weasley said. "How about I let you hang on to me and we'll do the traveling together?"

"That would be better for me.", Harry said. "I've never even seen something like that before today and I'd rather not get lost from you."

"It's not too crowded in here but some other floos don't have a lot of room to go side by side. Come on up here and stand by me and I'll give you the basic instructions I give all my kids."

Harry climbed up into the fireplace and grabbed Mrs. Weasley by the elbow she offered.

"First of all, the floo powder is created specially to only be used in this one magical way. There's usually a pot or bag within easy reach of each fireplace and all you have to do is grab a handful, throw it on the ground and state the name of the location you want to go. It will be a very fast travel and you will see a number of other grates or fireplaces in the network as you go along. Keep your elbows in; you don't want to be knocked off course and end up diverted. Any questions so far, Harry? Ready to go?"

"I guess not." Harry nodded nervously.

"OK, make sure you hold on tight." Mrs. Weasley had a handful of powder in her hand and looked down with a reassuring smile at Harry. She threw it down and as the green flames rose she quickly called out "The Burrow".