Disclaimer: I am not J.K Rowling, and I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 14: Diagon Alley

Harry was nervous, but at the same time excited, as he put on his coat and shoes. For the first time since he could remember, he was going to be going to Diagon Alley with Albus and Aunt Minerva.

He'd gone before, as a baby, but Harry couldn't recall that, and so it didn't really count. This would be his first real time. Albus needed to sort some things out in Gringotts- the bank- and they would also be getting some new casual robes for Harry.

It was a sunny weekend day, still the morning. Albus was hoping to get there as early as possible in order to avoid the crowds of busy witches and wizards that usually shopped at this time of year, less than a month before the first term at Hogwarts was due to start. Harry was grateful that there would be fewer people, because he really didn't like crowds. He knew he was famous, knew that everybody recognised him and thought he was a hero. But he hated the attention. At least, at Hogwarts, people already knew him- except for the first year students each year, but they quickly got used to seeing him around. Nobody stared at him funny, or asked to shake his hand and thank him. That was weird. Harry remembered one time he had gone out with Uncle Remus. Even though they had been in the Muggle world, a middle-aged witch had still recognised him. She would've hugged Harry, if Remus hadn't been there to stop her and ask for some space.

It was even stranger that all these witches and wizards sent him mail, too. Albus had a designated room in one of the small towers, and all the owl post from people they didn't know was directed there. Harry sometimes read some of the letters people sent him, if Albus let him, and he enjoyed the gifts some people even sent- as every seven-year-old boy would. But still.

Albus and Minerva stood next to the fireplace behind Albus' desk, at the back of the office, and Harry quickly hurried to their side.

'Are we going by the floo?'

Minerva nodded, smiling at him, and Harry watched as she took a handful of the sparkly green powder. He was relieved. The few times Harry recalled Apparating somewhere had been horrible, and he never wanted to do it again. When green flames lit up the interior of the fireplace, Albus stepped in and calmly said 'Diagon Alley', before disappearing. Harry went in with Minerva holding onto his shoulders. It was safer this way. Once, when Harry had announced proudly that he was old enough to travel through the floo by himself, he had accidentally messed up the location and ended up in Professor Snape's office instead of Aunt Minnie's. And that had been a test, just to prove that he could.

Several confusing seconds later, Harry stumbled out of the fireplace. They were in what looked to be the back of a pub, or some sort of bar- lit up by a low, yellowish light. A nice smell wafted towards Harry, and he immediately thought that this would be a nice place to have breakfast one day. Several people sat around tables, stirring mugs of coffee and chewing on fried sausages- including a woman who looked quite a bit like a hag- but it was mostly quiet. Even so, Harry nervously flattened his hair over his scar to cover it, though it wouldn't have made much of a difference, anyway. Most people in the wizarding world knew he lived at Hogwarts, so the only child travelling with Albus Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall had to be him.

'This is the Leaky Cauldron, Harry,' Albus said, brushing soot from his robes. 'We can go through Diagon Alley this way.'

Harry nodded, and they made their way around a few tables towards a small door. A friendly man wearing a dark cloak stood behind the counter, cleaning several glasses with a dishcloth. He looked up when he saw them passing, grinning.

'Mornin' Dumbledore, Minerva. Fancy seeing you here!'

'Hello, Tom.'

The man- Tom- suddenly seemed to notice Harry. His eyes widened, and he looked to be about to say something when Albus broke in.

'Please, a little discretion, Tom. . .'

'M-my apologies,' Tom stammered quickly. 'Nice meeting you, Mr Potter.'

Harry's cheeks were red. 'Hello. . .' he managed to mumble, before Aunt Minnie steered him to the door. Albus pushed it open, and they stepped into a courtyard outside. It was small, and enclosed with brick walls on all sides. A battered old dustbin sat in a corner.

'Is this Diagon Alley?' Harry asked hesitantly. It didn't look very impressive, unlike everything he had heard about it. His heart sank. He had been excited, to come, but now. . .

Albus chuckled. 'Oh, dear me, no!'

Harry blinked.

'What do you mean?'

'Hmmm. . . Watch this-' Albus took out his wand and tapped one of the bricks on the wall in front of them. Immediately, it started to move. Then more bricks. A gap appeared, and it quickly turned into the size of Harry. Next second, a large archway had formed.

'This is Diagon Alley,' Albus said, indicating forward with a smile.

Harry's eyes widened.

It was amazing.

A large street stretched out before them, lined with hundreds and hundreds of different colourful shops. There was so much to see, so much to take in, that Harry wished he had five more pairs of eyes so that he could keep up with everything. Stacks of cauldrons, screeching blue bats hanging from perches, piles and piles of old books. . . there was so much to see! Harry was only dimly aware of Aunt Minnie taking his hand and tugging him forwards.

The alley wasn't very full, but quite a few people noticed them and stared. Harry flattened his hair again and stuck closer to Albus- who was leading the way- and Aunt Minnie. He hadn't been out into the wizarding public in nearly a whole year- the last place being the Ministry of Magic, and he had forgotten what it was like.

Gringotts towered above them, letting off a bright glare. Harry didn't understand much about buildings, but it was definitely very cool. Not as great as Hogwarts, of course, because Hogwarts was the best ever! But very cool.

Albus stopped, turning around. 'I'll be going now, Harry. Stay with Minerva, okay?'

'Are you going to Gringotts?'

'Yes. I have several important things to do. But I'll let you know if I see any dragons, okay?' Albus winked.

'Wow! Dragons!' Harry exclaimed. 'Are there dragons there!?'

Albus chuckled. 'Of course, Harry. Very deep down, protecting the vaults.'

'Wow. . .' Harry trailed off. 'And I can't come in and see?'

'No, Harry, not today. But another time, yes. Alright?'

Harry nodded, and Albus smiled.

'I'll see you a bit later, then.'

Harry watched him disappear into a crowd, before turning back around to Minerva.

'Are we getting my clothes now?'

'Yes, Harry.'

Minerva led him into a small, purple store with a large sign overhead reading 'Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions' (though Harry barely had time to glance at it). The inside was nice, and thankfully empty save for a squat witch with white hair pulled up behind her head and a young-looking woman in the corner, who was folding up several robes.

It was strange to be there, buying clothes, because most of the time Albus and Minerva ordered them from Hogwarts by post. It was much easier. Harry couldn't really remember a time he had gone to an actual clothing store.

The witch looked up when she heard them, smiling, and bustled over to them.

'Hello, hello! What can I do for you today? Minerva, dear, is that you?'

'Good morning, Madam Malkin.' Minerva said. 'Harry, here, is in need of a new pair of robes, and-'

'Harry?' Madam Malkin frowned for a second, before her eyes widened in understanding. 'Oh, of course!' She lowered her voice. 'I am very pleased to meet you, Mr Potter.'

Harry smiled at her nervously.

Madam Malkin was quick to get straight down to business. She brought over several robes, which Minerva helped Harry try on. The lady in the corner- who appeared to be an assistant- made a strange sort of squealing noise when she realised who Harry was, and nearly dropped a measuring tape she was bringing over. In the end, Harry walked out of the shop with a nice pair of dark-blue casual robes. Most of his clothes were what one would consider 'muggle', but he did wear robes every once in a while- like when he had visited the Ministry.

Albus was waiting outside for them.

'Albus! You're here!'

'Indeed, Harry. I am very much present.'

Harry giggled. 'Are we going back to Hogwarts, now?'

Albus' eyes twinkled. 'Perhaps. . . though I did have something else in mind. Would you care for some ice-cream?'

'Ice-cream! Really?'

Minerva laughed lightly. 'Yes, Harry. Florean Fortescue's is the place.'

'Oooooh!'

They reached Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour several minutes later, and took a seat at a small round table outside. A tall, bearded man had soon approached them.

'Morning Albus! And Minerva- hello!'

The three adults exchanged greetings for a few seconds, and then the man turned to Harry.

'And who might you be, lad?'

It took Harry a moment to realise that the man was asking for his name. He hesitated, but the man seemed to be friends with Albus and Aunt Minnie, right? So he had to be okay. And there was something nice about him, too, something Harry liked. 'Harry Potter, sir.'

'This is Mr Fortescue, Harry. He is the owner,' Albus said.

The man- Mr Fortescue- beamed at him.

'Hello, Mr Fortescue.'

'No, no! Call me Florean, dear boy!' said Fortescue, smiling again. 'What would you like to order today? My chocolate sundaes do seem to be rather popular at the moment. . .'

In the end, Harry got a large scoop of choc-chip ice-cream with sprinkles on top, Albus a banana and whipped cream Sundae, and Minerva a bowl of vanilla and caramelised cherry ice-cream. Harry ate until he was full, then licked the melted ice-cream off his fingers. The sun shone brightly in the sky, birds chirped high above them, and Harry couldn't stop smiling, despite the many eyes he could feel on the back of his head (nobody seemed to want to approach him, though, with the Supreme Mugwump and Firmest Hogwarts Professor at his side). It was a perfect Summer's day!

A/N: Thank you to everybody who has read/favourited/reviewed this story so far! I really appreciate it :D