"Harry Pot..."
"Shut up!" hissed Ginny. "Or I'll hex you!"
Mundungus was shaking violently as he searched for onlookers. "Merlin's beard, how many heart attacks are you lot planning on giving me?"
"No more if you do as I ask," Harry whispered. "Now shut up and listen. I need a few of your hairs…"
"My hairs? Why d'you…"
"Shut up!" said Harry and Ginny together.
Mundungus scowled as he pulled a couple of hairs from the top of his head. Harry looked both ways down the alley before reaching his hand out from under the Cloak and taking the hairs.
"Thank you," Harry whispered, "now take this rubbish and get out of here for a while…"
"You lot better not frame me of any crimes with Polyjuice Potion…"
Harry and Ginny walked away as Mundungus continued muttering. Ginny pulled the vial of Polyjuice Potion out of her pocket and handed it to Harry, who dropped Mundungus's hairs inside. Then he drank it, trying desperately not to make a sound as his body slowly transformed into that of Mundungus. After the transformation was complete, the two of them started toward Flourish and Blotts. Ginny had to suppress a giggle as she watched Harry trying not to trip on his now too-long robes. As the storefront came into view, they hid behind an abandoned kiosk, and Harry slipped out from under the Cloak. Once he was sure no one was looking, he emerged and walked into the store, holding open the door so Ginny could sneak in too.
As Harry looked around the bookstore, he noticed that it was quite as deserted as the rest of Diagon Alley. There was a large display of The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore by Rita Skeeter at the front of the store, which looked mostly untouched. Additionally, there were several newer looking books on adjoining shelves, books that bared an official Ministry of Magic insignia. One caught Harry's eye, titled The Boy Who Lied: How Harry Potter Duped the Wizarding World. Disgusted, Harry marched forward toward the front desk. The only other inhabitant was a manager Harry had encountered here a few times previously. At the sight of Harry, he rushed forward, saying "Good morning, sir, how may I help you?"
"Fine, thanks," said Harry in Mundungus's voice. "Was just wondering, if you had any literature on… You-Know-Who."
Harry tried to keep his expression casual as the manager looked at him suspiciously. "And why would you want something like that?"
"Research," Harry lied, "I've been reading about magical history… and wanted to know more about… the First War…" Harry heard Ginny fidget behind him. He was already considering just abandoning this effort, as nobody in their right mind would believe that someone like Mundungus would be interested in something like this. Indeed, the manager looked unconvinced, but turned his back and started scanning the bookshelves.
"Well, sir, most books about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named have been banned by the Ministry," said the manager tersely. "So there's not much I can do to help you."
"Well, maybe there's something we can work out…" said Harry desperately. He felt Ginny tap him urgently on the back, but Harry was determined at this point not to leave empty-handed.
The manager sized him up for a moment before quietly muttering, "Well… there might just be a book in the back… if you've got ten Galleons."
Harry sighed and resentfully searched his pockets before handing the money over. "Oh… would you mind throwing in one of those?" he added, pointing at the Rita Skeeter display.
Three minutes later, Harry was walking back out onto Diagon Alley, holding a bag containing both The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore as well as an old, leather-bound book titled The Secret History of the Dark Lord. Harry was just about to walk behind the kiosk again when he heard someone shout, "Hey, Dung!"
Harry turned around with a start. Walking toward him was Lee Jordan, one of Fred and George Weasley's best friends from Hogwarts. Harry shot him what he hoped was a normal look as he muttered, "Hey, Lee…"
"Dung, have you got the… item… that we discussed?" Lee muttered furtively.
"Oh… no, I haven't," said Harry, trying not to look bemused, "I'll have to catch you next time."
"You better," Lee shot back angrily, "We didn't give you fifty Galleons for nothing, you know…"
"Right," said Harry quickly, "I'll get it to you as soon as I can."
"Good," said Lee, lowering his voice even further. "I've got to go anyway, Fred and George are expecting me in a few minutes, we're airing another Potterwatch…"
"Potterwatch!" said Harry, suddenly interested. "What's Potterwatch?"
"Merlin's beard, Dung, you don't remember? You really are thick," whispered Lee incredulously. "Just go home now, tap your wireless with your wand and say 'Prongs.'"
"Okay," said Harry, "thanks Lee."
Lee shook his head and walked away. Harry slowly creeped back behind the kiosk, where Ginny suddenly appeared and threw the Cloak over both of them.
"Wow," said Ginny, "I wonder what all that was about."
"No idea," Harry whispered, "but let's get out of here."
Harry and Ginny crept invisibly back into the Leaky Cauldron. There was still no one around, so they decided to get the food Ron requested from a Muggle market on Charing Cross Road. Once they had taken as much food as they could carry, Harry grabbed Ginny's arm and they Disapparated.
When they reappeared on the beach where they knew Ron and Hermione had set up their tent, Ron eagerly pulled them within the protective boundaries and started scarfing down the bread Ginny was holding. Harry, meanwhile, went straight into the tent, and as soon as he found Hermione he yelled "Do you have a wireless in your handbag?"
Hermione, looking startled, said "Yes, but why?"
"I need to listen to something," said Harry distractedly. He rushed to Hermione's handbag, took out a wireless radio, and placed it on the kitchen table. He pulled out his wand, placed it on the radio and muttered, "Prongs."
A moment later, Fred's voice was filling the tent, and Ron and Ginny rushed inside.
"… you're right, River, he doesn't exactly have it all together. But hopefully he can come through and get it for us soon."
Next they heard Lee's voice again. "We all need to do whatever we can to help Harry Potter, so if our listeners have any suggestions, please contact either Rodent or myself, it would be much appreciated."
"Our list of casualties today is thankfully short," said Fred. "Famous wandmaker Mykew Gregorovitch was found murdered in Germany today. There's no indication as to whether there was Death Eater involvement, but this does lend some credence to recent rumors that You-Know-Who is traveling abroad. We've also learned that the body of Florean Fortescue was found yesterday. Fortescue was the owner of a popular ice cream parlor in Diagon Alley, and was abducted from his shop by Death Eaters last year."
"There were also a couple of suspicious Muggle attacks over the past few days," said Lee. "A family of Muggles was found dead in their homes Sunday in Edinburgh. Muggle authorities have not yet been able to determine the cause of their deaths, but it bears the hallmarks of a Death Eater attack. Additionally, a Muggle library in London exploded on Saturday, resulting in at least four Muggle deaths. The Order of the Phoenix suspects Death Eater involvement."
"That's all for our show today. Join us again on Thursday for more Potterwatch. The password will be 'Alice.' For River, this is Rodent, signing off."
As the broadcast went silent, there was silence in the tent before Ron finally spoke. "So… how was your trip to Diagon Alley?"