Chapter Four - Intern Alley

The weeks snailed by. Dudley, managed to reach his target of two hundred and seventy-six pounds in weight, Vernon's cold got worse, and so, did it seem, did Ron's. Harry got more and more depressed. He wanted more than anything to see Ron, or Hermione, or anyone to do with magic. He felt so left out from the world he belonged in that he go to any lengths to hear from someone. Still, the 24th was drawing nearer so soon he would see his friends again.
One day (8th August) he had mail, Hedwig, looking exhausted swooped through Harry's window. Harry, who was relieved Hedwig was safe, practically tore open the letter.

Harry,

I hope you have fun at Ron's

(Harry sighed)

I can't wait to go to Canada, Mum's got some friends there so I might get a pen-pal!! Crookshanks is fine, but he keeps sneezing so I'm leaving him at home (cold weather won't help). Of course I'll bring you back something. I'll keep sending the newspapers if that is OK. See you on the 24th,

Hermione.

This cheered Harry up considerably.
It seemed that each day was much longer than 24 hours to Harry, but eventually it was the 23rd. Harry had not thought how he was going to get to Diagon Alley. But the answer to his problem was solved at breakfast. The whole family was sat around the kitchen table, then, Vernon looked up from his paper,
"We have a treat for someone who has just lost one hundred fifty pounds" he said with a rare grin on his face.
Dudley grinned back.
"We are taking you somewhere special, Dudums" Petunia said with tears in her eyes.
"To the ..... wait for it ..... LONDON AQUARIUM", Vernon beamed.
Harry, who was thinking that Dudley may, at last, see something with more blubber than he had, smiled too. He could slip away from them while they were planing how to accidentally push him in.
"Shall we go on the train or in the car?" asked Petunia. As Dudley got car sick, it was an easy decision for his tiny mind.
"Train" he said with a look of relief on his face. "Can we go tomorrow?" Dudley asked hopefully. There was a short pause followed by nods from Dudley's parents. "Does he have to come?"
"I'm afraid so" Vernon added, but seeing Dudley's face quickly said "But he doesn't have to come in the aquarium with us".
"Yes, he can wonder around London until we decide to go" said Petunia obviously thinking, or hoping, that Harry would get lost. But this was exactly what Harry had been hoping for. He could see his friends and the Dursley's would be none the wiser.
On the morning of the twenty-fourth, Harry went down the stairs to find Dudley sitting at the table, with bits of bacon hanging out of the corners of his very chubby mouth. Rather shocked to see Petunia taking no notice of this, Harry asked why he was breaking the diet. "He has been such a good boy" aunt Petunia said to her round son, "that we are letting him have one day off his normal routine". Harry had felt this coming. The Dursley's didn't believe that Dudley needed to be on a diet at all. In fact, they thought that Dudley needed feeding up, and blamed his pudginess on big bones. Harry sat down opposite Dudley, who started kicking him in the shins under the shaking table (Dudley could barely fit, so the table moved whenever he did). Moving his feet out of Dudley's reach (which wasn't far) Harry saw his own breakfast. It looked like the left overs from the meal from last night. Cold hard boiled eggs and mushy peas. As Harry ate, he felt like he would be sick. The peas would get stuck to the egg and form a lump too big to swallow, but Harry was too hungry to stop eating. In fact his stomach rumbled every other chew. When at last they had finished breakfast (Dudley had fourth helpings), Harry grabbed a bag with his list, some money and his wand (just in case) in it. As he went down stairs, he saw Dudley put his earring back in.
The journey to the station was far from enjoyable. Dudley was squirming in the back seat, apparently trying to get comfortable. Harry couldn't help but think how awful it would be to have a bottom bigger than the average doorway (4 Privet drive had rather large doors). Dudley insisted on playing I-spy with his parents all the way there. Harry assumed that this was to stop himself being sick all over him. When they finally got to the station they ran into further difficulties. After they had purchased their tickets they went up a flight of stairs and found themselves surrounded by guards.
"Sir, madam is this your son?" one of them asked. Dudley was sitting on the floor, chocolate all round his mouth, rocking backwards and forwards. This reminded Harry of Dobby, only he wished Dudley did shut his fingers in the oven door or iron his hands.
Petunia stared at Dudley and said, in a shaky voice,
"Is there a problem guard?"
"Yes madam there is, you see this young'un 'as eaten too much. He bought all 'is food an' can't stop burpin'". Petunia looked down at Dudley, who looked back at her and belched.
"Thank-you" Vernon said stonily. "Come Dudley".
As Dudley waddled over to his father, Harry saw that there was a trail of coins leading from Dudley's pockets. Picking them up, he said to the guard that he would give them back to him. He didn't however, because this was the first and probably the only time he would have muggle money, and besides, Dudley had more than enough already. Once they were on the train, Dudley seemed happier, and so did Harry. In an hour, he would be in Diagon Alley, with all his wizard friends.
The journey took them through fields and towns, passed rivers and roads. When they eventually reached liverpool street station, Petunia turned to Harry.
"We shall meet here at a quarter to six to catch the train back home" she said. There was a glint of malice in Vernon's eyes, but Harry didn't care.
"See you later", he said cheerily and he strode off into the crowd, without looking back. The money he had from Dudley, was enough to buy a one day pass for the under ground, and a muggle newspaper. Harry passed through the subways and over the footpaths, and at last reached his destination. The Leaky Cauldron stood between two muggle shops. As he approached it he saw two familiar faces. Ron and Hermione were watching him out of the faded windows. Harry speeded up, hoping that they would be as pleased to see him as he was to see them.
"Harry, Harry over here!" Hermione was waving frantically from a table. "Oh Harry, it's so good to see you". Hermione looked slightly browner than usual, her hair was swept back into a high ponytail, and her eyes were gleaming. Ron, however, looked the worst for wear. His eyes were streaming and his nose, was as red as the backs of his ears.
"All right Harry?" he said sniffing slightly, "mum only said I could come, because she can't get my things for me". Ron was clutching a glass of butterbeer in his shaking hands.
"Are you OK you two?" Harry asked looking concerned
"Just a bit of a cold" Hermione said, "I guess I'm not used to such cold weather". They walked out of the pub, and into the alley behind it. Hermione counted the bricks, and tapped one three times with her wand. They walked through the iron archway into the street. The cobbled path spiralled round and round, with shops on either side, selling all sorts of weird and wonderful things. After buying an ice-cream for himself and chocolate for Ron and Hermione, they sat down at a table.
"So" said Ron, "what's Dudley been up to then"
Harry told them all about him seeing Dudley smoking, and coming home in leathers with green hair. Ron laughed hysterically, until Hermione asked
"Is he all right now?"
"Does it matter Hermione?" Ron asked, "he's a great bullying git".
They talked for half an hour or more before Hermione mentioned Canada.
"One of the wizards in Canada showed me round all the sights. It was amazing" and she lifted two bundles out of her bag. "Don't open them until you get home" she added as she passed one to each of them.
"Thanks Hermione" Harry said as he was given his.
Ron sniffed deeply before showing his gratitude.
"You're welcome" Hermione said blushing slightly "now lets get shopping". They first of all went into Flourish an Blots in order to get the books on their list. A pile of Standard book of spells were at the front of the shop. They each picked up one of the grade five ones and continued. Hermione went up to the shop keeper and asked
"Do you have any copies of 'O.W.L's - making the grade' left"
"You're in luck miss" the man behind the counter replied, "new delivery this mornin'". He pointed to a stack of sparkling books in one corner. Hermione rushed over and grabbed a copy.
"Aren't you going to get one?" she asked Ron and Harry.
"S'pose so" said Ron, "I'll need all the help I can get". He and Harry walked over to the pile and grabbed one each.
"What's next?" Ron sniffed.
"Advanced learning of Transfiguration" Hermione said without even looking at the list.
"Did you learn that off by heart too Hermione?" Harry asked her smiling. Hermione flushed furiously before saying.
"Here they are." They walked through the store picking up the books from the list as they went. Hermione bought 'Magical Cures' (by fixup public) and 'Famous Discoveries of the last Hundred years' (by Centon Findings).
"A little bit of night-time reading" she said as she picked up a voluminous copy of 'Dictionary of magical creatures and how to care for them' (by Custody Lexicon). When, at last, they had found the last book and had paid, they went back into Diagon Alley. Harry needed some more gold, so they went towards Gringotts talking happily. They climbed the marble steps that were gleaming in the sunlight, and went into the cool interior. A row of Goblins in blood red robes (Much like Durmstrang) nodded and bowed them in.
There was only one other person in the bank. He was leaning against the counter talking very quickly to a mean looking Goblin. Harry couldn't understand a word he was saying, until Hermione squealed,
"Ooh he can speak Gobbledegook" Harry new that this was Goblin language. The man turned around. Harry saw that he had a young face. His dark hair was short and gelled into spikes. He smiled and to Harry's amazement he didn't even look up towards his scar.
"Harry Potter I presume" he said the smile not fading. "Agripus Kinderly." He continued, shaking Harry's hand. "This must be the famous Ron Weasley (Ron blushed) and the extremely bright Hermione Granger" Hermione positively beamed at him. "I've heard so much about you, but it will all come clear soon. Pleasure meeting you" and with that he was lead off by another goblin through the door to their right. They approached the desk as a group of people entered the hall through the main doors. They told the goblin Harry's number and set off through one of the many doors leading off the main hall. Although Harry had never been on a muggle roller coaster, he was sure this was much faster. As they hurtled round corners, swerved and bumped along the rusting rails, Harry caught glimpses of doors and tunnels leading out of sight. Harry couldn't help wondering where abouts under London they really were. When they finally reached Harry's safe, they all got out to have a look inside. Ron opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Harry was sure that neither Ron or Hermione had seen so much money in their entire lives. They stood, their faces glowing in the eerie light from the gold not moving. Harry scooped some Galleons, Sickles and Knuts into his bag and said,
"Come on you two, I'll buy you something". This did the trick. Once Ron and Hermione were safely back in the cart, they set off on the brake-neck journey back to sunlight.
Back in the warmth they set about completing their lists. They wandered around shops until they came across one with crystal balls in the window display. Walking in, they smelt all sorts of interesting aromas, some of which reminded Harry miserably of Professor Trelawny. They found compatibility charts and a manner of interesting items Hermione wouldn't go near.
"Divination is a waste of time if you ask me" she said as they paid and left. "I don't know why you bother, really I don't".
They wandered past a strange shop with all types of whirring objects in it. This reminded Harry of Dumbledore's office. Just as Ron sneezed loudly, Hermione said,
"Maybe we should go to Intern Alley"
"What's Intern Alley?" Harry asked curiously.
"'s where you get Medicine" Ron said through a splutter.
They bought everything on their lists and more, (Dr Filibusters fireworks and sweets mostly), and made for a crossroad to the left of Gringotts bank. Harry saw a sign saying
Knockturn Alley
Leading off in one direction, one saying
Medic Alley
and another saying
Knotthus Way
He was very taken aback when, as they approached Knotthus Way, the sign said shrilly,
"Are you lost?"
Ron answered almost immediately "Just looking for Intern Alley"
"You want to take Medic Alley" the sign said back.
They approached Medic Alley and continued to walk down the cobbled path. Leading off to the right of the street, by a shop selling Bubotuber pus in huge bowls, was another smaller path leading to one dusty old shop at the end. A sign overhead read
Intern Alley
"This is the specialist part of Medic Alley" Hermione told Harry after seeing the puzzled look on his face. "It's for common illnesses like colds. They approached the shop cautiously, Ron shaking from the both the apprehension of what was inside and his symptoms. They pushed open the creaking door to reveal one of the strangest sights that Harry had ever seen. A few bottles were lined up on a rotting shelf, a cauldron of polished onyx and jet was gleaming in the middle of a floor made of black marble. An elderly man stooped towards them, brandishing his wand.
"Customers" he said in a frail voice and a door behind a pewter counter opened to reveal someone quite apart from the eerie scene of the store. A girl of their age walked into view. In the dim light of the shop Harry saw that her blonde hair was in two neat plaits.
"May I help you?" she said in a voice that made Harry's insides churn.
At this Hermione said
"Jenny?"
"Hermione?" said the girl back.
"How have you been? How's Stephen?" Hermione continued.
"He's fine, and so am I" Jenny replied.
As her face caught the sunlight glinting out of one of the loose slates, Harry recognised her. She was in Gryfindor and, as a matter of fact in the exact same year as they were. She normally sat at the back of the class with Lavender Brown, and Parviti Patil, and had never spoken to him as such.
"This is Ron and Harry" Hermione said, introducing them for the first time. Ron blushed but Harry, who was feeling shaky down in the depths of his stomach smiled weakly. After Hermione had said that both Ron and she had colds, the elderly gentleman reached two bottles of slimy something's down from the shelf, poured some into the cauldron and while it fizzed, stirred feverishly. Hermione and Jenny got into a detailed conversation on foreign wizards and Harry started a half hearted discussion with Ron about Quidditch. To Harry's great surprise Jenny turned to him and asked,
"Tried out the Wronski Feint yet?". Harry managed to stammer a yes before she joined in the discussion.
"I love Quidditch myself, but I'm not a seeker like you Harry, I play for the reserve Gryfindor team." Harry had never seen the reserve team practice before. They must have had different training times so they were never on the pitch together.
"You're on the reserve team?" Harry stammered. It had never really occurred to him that there were more Gryfindor players, but now it seemed obvious.
"Yes" Jenny replied. "It's ever so much fun".
Harry agreed immediately and was completely baffled by how much she knew about the different moves and styles.
"I wonder who will be the new captain for the Gryfindor team" Jenny said curiously. Harry hadn't thought of this. It had been a while since he had practised and because the Quidditch matches were cancelled last year, he had never found out. The Gryfindor team not only needed a captain, but also a new keeper.
"What position do you play?" Harry asked casually.
"I'm a keeper, but I play chaser as well" Jenny replied. It was as if Harry's dreams had come true.
"Maybe you can play as the Gryfindor keeper", he said his heart pounding slightly.
"I wish" Jenny sighed, "But they'll probably do a test or something. Harry, who was thinking that he would do anything to get her on the team said
"I'll help you"
Jenny seemed completely taken aback but managed to say
"Yeah ...OK".
With the potion and dosage instructions, they left the shop. Harry was far away and said either yes, no or I don't know, to anything anyone said to him. Once they reached Diagon Alley once more, they went into the Leaky Cauldron, so that Ron and Hermione could take the medicine. It didn't look the most appetising of things. It was rather lumpy and slimy. The green globs in it smelt of something rotting, but still they drank it. Seeing the discussed look on Ron's face, Harry assumed that it tasted as bad as it smelt. At five o'clock, Harry started feeling depressed once more and, as they sat in the chairs by the fire that would be taking Ron and Hermione home, he couldn't help wishing that he was staying at the Leaky Cauldron for the rest of the holidays. Then he remembered the newspaper that he had bought. Thinking of Ron's family he said,
"Ron, can you give this to your dad?" Ron looked at the newspaper then said
"Sure, he'll love it. Thanks."
"You're welcome" Harry replied, feeling himself go red. Deciding that he had better go, Harry said his goodbyes to Ron and Hermione. Hermione reminded him that there was only a week left till they would see each other again, which, in a way, helped Harry walk towards the door. Hermione caught up with him, and gave him a hug so tight, he found it hard to breathe. Ron waved and he set off into the muggle street beyond.
It was rather cold outside, and as Harry wrapped his coat around himself tightly, he wished he was back in the warmth. He walked casually along the streets taking in the sights and sounds, of muggle London. The journey on the tube wasn't enjoyable. Every inch of Harry's body was numb with cold and his mind kept wondering whether the Dursley's would be there when he got to Liverpool Street Station. He was sat between a large man, and a young child. The child kept fidgeting in his seat and every now and then, pulling on his mothers shoulder. Harry longed to see his mother. He had only ever seen her in photographs, the mirror of Erised, and last year, when he was battling with lord Voldemort.
When, at last, he reached his destination, Harry looked around for any sign of the Dursley's. The first thing that he noticed was Dudley, but then, it was difficult to miss him. Taking up three seats, Dudley was clearly upset. Loud noises reached Harry's ears as he approached. Vernon was pacing the ground in front of Mrs Dursley and his enormous son. Dudley saw Harry, and with a loud belch, notified his parents of Harry's where-abouts. They walked silently towards platform three, Harry taking in every detail. Then Vernon said to Petunia
"We shall not mention this excursion to anybody"
Petunia nodded silently before boarding the muggle train. Harry was slightly confused. Why wouldn't they mention their day out. Much to his Uncle's annoyance, Harry asked,
"How was your trip?". Vernon started to purple, his face swelling, he snapped
"None of your business boy, keep your nose out." Petunia's already oversized neck lengthened.
"You should learn some manners, can't you see we don't want to talk about it?" Harry decided not to ask anything else, as it was near the end of the holidays, so he didn't want Vernon refusing to take him to the station. Once the train journey was complete, they set about the car ride home. Dudley apparently had a pain on his thighs because he kept loosening the seat belt until it wouldn't go any further (which only gave him a tiny bit of extra room). They reached 4 Privet Drive as the sun was setting. Yawning and stretching they headed for inside. Dudley and Harry both collapsed on the sofa, reaching out his hand for the remote on the table next to the sofa Dudley turned on the television. The evening news was saying something about a boring election, then suddenly, it said,
"News flash: today officials of the security for the London underground were called in to a scene that reached the front page of many evening newspapers. A boy of fifteen was wedged between the ticket barrier of Liverpool street station earlier this afternoon. Cranes were called to pull up the offending barrier and therefore release the boy. We can now confirm that the boys name is Dudley Dursley. His father told reporters to clear off or "you'll be in for a beating" with parents like this, is it any wonder that their son has turned out to be one of the largest in the country.
Harry looked at Dudley who was cowering in the seat, as though Harry was about to turn him into a frog. Harry, who was thinking more along the lines of a rhinoceros, looked away so as not to laugh. Dudley was as pink as a pig and, in Harry's opinion, looked like he would make quite a few sausages.
Dinner that evening was pork chops and gravy, but Dudley, who was obviously still shocked by the days events, wasn't eating as much as usual. Uncle Vernon must have realised finally that his son was bigger than the average gorilla because he wasn't encouraging him to eat up. Nor was aunt Petunia who looked at her son with a lot less affection than usual. Instead, everyone ate in silence, until uncle Vernon sneezed and announced that he was going to bed. When Harry had finished Petunia turned to him and said,
"I wish you hadn't have done that today". Harry, who had no idea what she was talking about, stared blankly at her. "I know what you did, and I'm not pleased about it. Don't you ever do that to Dudley again. Understand?" Harry opened his mouth, but words failed him. His aunt was blaming him for Dudley's weight problem. It wasn't his fault that Dudley was twice as big as a bison. It wasn't his fault that ever since Dudley was six, he hadn't been able to see his feet when standing upright. Harry stormed upstairs thinking that the sooner he was rid of them the better. Throwing his pyjamas on, he slumped into bed bitterness penetrating ever inch of his aching body.
"How can they blame me" he said angrily, "I wasn't even there."
The days events washed over him as he lay there. One thought in particular lingered until he fell asleep. He was at Hogwarts and playing Quidditch with the new team, which included a new keeper. Jenny.