Chapter 5 – Diagon Ally
"Ronald Weasley! Get down here now with Harry we are going to be late!" shouted Mrs Weasley up the stairs. The Weasleys and Harry were going to Diagon Ally for the day to get their schoolbooks. It was evident it was going to be an expensive trip, all five Weasley children and Harry required the full set of Gilderoy Lockheart books and they were rather expensive. The twins and Ginny were already downstairs ready with their parents and were waiting for Harry and Ron to come downstairs.
Harry and Ron were in the attic looking frantically for Scabbers. There was a squeak and Ron picked up his rat and stuffed him into his pocket. The two boys then ran down the rickety stairs and into the living room with the fireplace already showing green flames. Mrs Weasley huffed and hurried the children through the floo network. Harry observed as the others went through. He understood what t do but stammered when he said his location.
Harry started to spin very fast and closed his eyes to stop himself being sick, faster and faster, Harry didn't think that it would ever stop, eventually he started to slow down and as he opened his eyes he felt like he was spat out of the fireplace onto his back covered in soot. His glasses had broken and from what he could see, he was in a dark, strange and creepy room. Harry wanted out straight away so he ran to the door. He was lost somewhere in the wizarding world, the panic was taking over again and there was nothing he could do about it.
Out on the street there were people with masks on, others with hoods up and a freaky smile, old witches with snarly voices whispering to the wall or one another. Harry was surrounded, he didn't know what to do, his heart became erratic, and couldn't catch his breath. Suddenly a voice he recognised shouted his name through the crowd.
"Arry! What are you doing down here?" It was Hagrid, Harry relaxed a bit as the giant guided him through the street. "Knockturn Ally! Never have I seen anything like it, you are a mess!"
"I messed up the floo and I had no idea where I was going" replied Harry
"Who ya with?"
"The Weasleys"
"Let go and find them, they are probably out of their mind with worry" Harry nodded and started to worry about the Weasleys reaction. Soon Harry recognised the street they had just turned into and they were walking down it when suddenly Hermione came at Harry from behind and hugged him. Harry flinched at the hug but when he realised who it was he relaxed.
"Oh Harry! Everyone has been ever so worried, come on let's go!" said Hermione waving to Hagrid as she dragged Harry with her. Soon they were back with the Weasleys and after hugs all around they went into Flourish and Blotts. Harry felt a lot better now he was back with the Weasley's
There was rather a large crowd in the bookshop, which was odd, there was many people in Diagon Ally because school was going to start soon but this was a different kind of crowd. It became evident why when a handsome wizard with blond hair, blue eyes and a perfect smile came out of the back room. A lot of women and girls sighed and clapped hard as he walked in, okay he was good looking but why would anyone think he was attractive. Ron looked at Harry and both boys looked at the man with disgust.
"What a welcome by so many dashing people, I am honoured to be seeking my newly published book here today. I also have another announcement to make" he suddenly stopped and looked directly at Harry "Marlins Beard, Harry Potter come to the front" Harry started he couldn't think of anything worse than to go and have his picture taken with this strange man. He didn't move and so was taken by the photographer to stand by this man. He took a couple of deep breaths like Gareth had shown him. The photographer took many pictures and it made Harry feel very uncomfortable. Once the pictures were taken Lockheart spoke again.
"When young Harry Potter here decided to come into flourish and Blotts to purchase my new autobiography little did he know he would be leaving with my whole collection signed and free of charge!" his voice amplified in Harrys ears as a stack of books were shoved into his chest. He was then pushed from the front back to the Weasleys.
"Here Ginny have these ill buy my own" said Harry as he grabbed a stack of Lockheart books and took them to the front desk to pay. He handed the woman six golden galleons before trying to make his way out of the shop to wait outside with Ron. He was halted however by a blond haired boy next to his father.
"I bet you enjoyed that Potter, all the fame and glory" Draco interrupted
"Shove off Malfoy" spat Harry
"Temper, temper Mr Potter, Draco has told me all about your arrogance and pathetic heroism but didn't tell me you were quite as rude, you wait until the wizarding world find that out" Mr Weasley sensed danger and came over to them followed by Ginny. "Oh isn't it Weasley Senior, in a shop! My word how can you afford this, with muggles too, tut tut, how can you even bare to be a disgrace to the wizarding world"
"We have different opinions about what disgraces the wizarding world Malfoy, now if you don't mind we have finished in here and need to leave, so if you would please step aside"
"How can you be finished when you have disgusting second hand books like that?" Lucius Malfoy exclaimed picking up some books out of Ginny's cauldron.
"Please give my daughter her books back or you will be sorry," yelled Mr Weasley grabbing at the books. What happened next harry couldn't believe, Mr Weasley and Mr Malfoy started a fist fight and a crowd crowded around them watching before Hagrid came and broke them apart.
"Here is your book" snarled Lucius Malfoy dropping what seemed like a bigger book into the cauldron before being escorted out by Hagrid. Mrs Weasly was livid with her husband. They didn't stay in Diagon ally much longer after that, they purchased all the things they needed and flooed back to the Burrow where the children were all sent upstairs while Mr and Mrs Weasley argued in the kitchen.