Chapter Eight
Diagon Alley
The next morning the gang woke up early to try to sneak out of the house without Mrs. Weasley knowing they were going that early. Mr. Weasley was waiting by his new car (because of Harry) but Harry stopped at the sound of the back door opening and Mrs. Weasley stepping out yelling "Why are you all going without me?"
Harry looked back guiltily at Ginny and the others before saying, "Mom, we were trying to protect you. Rodophlus is still out there and would more than likely go after you since you killed Bellatrix." Molly just looked at her soon to be son-in-law and turned back without a word. The others sighed and got into the car.
The ride to Diagon Alley was quick but quiet no one liked the fact that they left Molly home alone. Harry and the gang relaxed through as they approached the Leaky Cauldron and saw the crowd of people going shopping. Their first stop was Gringotts the wizard bank. Harry didn't know what kind of retribution awaited them inside.
"M r. Potter how nice to see you again." A familiar voice called from down the marble hall. Griphook was walking up to them.
"I see you got your job back." Harry said when Griphook got to the gang. "I'm sorry about the sword. It was called upon to help with the finial battle." He finished guiltily.
"Don't worry about it. Bill told me that you most likely forgot to mention the spell put on it that connects it to the sorting hat at Hogwarts. So you have your key right?"
"Yes, here." Harry said handing Griphook the key. "Will you be the one to take us down to the vaults?"
"Yes, Mr. Weasley do you have your key?" Mr. Weasley just handed the goblin the key. After about five minutes the gang was back outside the bank and heading down the winding street to Ollivander's Wand Shop. Ron and Hermione needed new wands after the war. Mr. Ollivander was delighted to see them. "Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny. Welcome. Now who needed new wands?" While Ron and Hermione got their new wands Harry asked "Mr. Ollivander, how many kids needed new wands this year?"
"Quite a few. So many in fact that I made up the money I was missing out on the last two years. Now Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger you shall wait here while I fetch your newly made wands." Mr. Ollivander finished turning toward the back room. Hermione looked awestruck as she stared after him. Mr. Ollivander returned within moments with boxes labeled with their names. Ron and Hermione lifted the wand and a shower of sparks decorated the walls of the shop. The rest of the trip went without incident until the group reached to Weasley's Wizards Wheezes. George had decided to hire his and Fred's friend Lee Jordon as a business associate and hopefully the one to run the shop that he and Fred had purchased in Hogsmead. George wanted him to be familiar with the merchandise before he took over the second shop from Herrita. Alicia Sprint was a chaser on the Gryffindor House Quiditch team when Harry was appointed and was also working with Lee and George when the group entered the shop that afternoon.
"Harry, how nice to see you again." Alicia said when she saw him enter the shop. "What can I do for you today?"
"Hi Alicia, I'm fine but could you point me in the direction of George?" Harry said with a smile on his lips at the overly polite way Alicia was speaking to him.
"Yeah that's why I wish Lee would address people when they enter I always seem overly polite. But to answer your question I believe George is in the back room." Alicia said turning to other customers.
"I was in the back room, Alicia but I don't usually stay back there to long, you should know that." George said emerging from the back room and kissing Alicia squarely on the lips before he turned to his family. George looked at Harry and said "Why are you pulling out money?"
Harry looked up at George, "To pay for the merchandise."
George looked completely shocked. "Didn't Fred and I tell you that you will never pay at our shop? Beside I believe that you need to go down to Quailty Quiditch supplies." Harry looked confused but said, "Okay, Ginny I'll be right back."
As Harry left the store Ginny asked, "What was that about?"
George laughed saying, "Ginny don't you remember that Harry needs a new broom. Quailty wanted to give him a brand new Firebolt, as thanks for saving the Wizarding World although I told not to tell him that but to say that when Sirius bought the first one he also purchased the warranty that states that the broom could be replaced free of charge for life."
"You think that Harry will buy that." Ginny asked but George was unable to answer due to the reappearance of Harry.
"No of course I didn't believe that but I did take the broom after all who knows where the one Sirius brought me got to that night. So George when did you and Alicia get back together?
"After the battle in April, but I'm hoping that we will be together for the rest of our lives. But alas I don't have the nerve to ask her to marry me." George said.
"Of course I'll marry you, George." Alicia said making George jump. "I was getting tired of waiting." Alicia kissed George as hard as she could, making the family laugh openly at George. George looked astonished and pleased once Alice let him go. "Alright we'll see you tonight. Lee watch the store for awhile." Alicia called dragging George toward the stairs.
"Well now we know why Alicia chose to work here instead of playing for England like she planned on in the first place." Ginny said still chuckling. "Let's get what we want and get going home before Mum shows up here." They got the jokes they wanted and head to Eyelops so Harry could get a new owl. Harry was in luck he found a snowy owl even whiter than Hedwig had been. "How about Snowy for your name?" Harry asked the owl who precided to nip his finger in an affectionate sort of way. The gang got their books and potion ingredients.
The rest of the shopping was uneventful, except for a few stares. Getting home was easy but the gang knew that once they were home they would have to deal with Mrs. Weasley, who was not happy to be left behind.