Chapter Two
Harry ambled down Diagon Alley, soaking in the delicious feeling that finally, he was back in his own world. Reaching Florean Fortescue's Ice- cream Parlour, he ordered a large strawberry and peanut butter sundae afloat in marshmallow sauce with the small amount of Wizarding money he had left from the last school year, and contemplated the weeks ahead. Two weeks with no homework and no Dursleys. Sobering, Harry reflected that this time, he was being shadowed by something much worse than any grim. As Cedric's face floated involuntarily to mind, Harry's good mood departed, and he finished his sundae with the slightly haunted expression that these days seemed never far away. Florean himself then came bounding out of the Parlour, and helped push Harry's unhappiness away by way of reprimanding him for not coming to visit him last year, although Florean knew how much of a fuss everybody had been in over the World Cup being in England, so it couldn't be helped, then congratulating him for his plans to spend the coming weeks within a stone's throw from the Parlour, then reprimanding him for having completed all his History of Magic homework already, which Harry thought was a change for once.
Harry set off up the Alley much cheered. First things first, he headed to Gringott's, the finest Wizarding Bank in England. Run by Goblins, and as exciting as a roller coaster every trip. There were over two weeks of holidays left before the Hogwarts Express left, so Harry wasn't expecting to see any of his schoolmates, and the queues in Gringotts were minimal. Harry was soon whizzing down to his vault of galleons.
Resurfacing, somewhat heavier, Harry headed straight to Gambol & Japes Wizarding Joke shop to fill whatever space he had left in his trunk. Then Harry decided to go to Madam Malkin's for his new dress robes he'd be needing for the 'senior social events' calendar thrown for Fifth years and above. he was not looking forward to it. Ron certainly wouldn't want to shop for this particular article with him after last years' debacle, and Harry would not go robe shopping with a girl, not matter how good a friend Hermione was. Looking at all the different colours and styles, Harry was overwhelmed. It had been much easier when Mrs. Weasley had just chosen robes for him. He supposed he couldn't wear Gryffindor scarlet, as was his first impulse, because he'd look too much like he was in his Quidditch robes. In the end he just decided to go with a different style of green. from Parvarti's looks and Hermione's comments, he supposed he'd looked alright in the colour last year. Sifting through the various robes on the hangars, Harry suddenly heard a familiar voice speaking in the row behind him. Another voice, a girl's, was saying cajolingly:
"You are NOT getting another black one! Green, blue. anything but black Sev! How about purple? Look at it, it's your colour!"
Then the voice Harry knew:
"Dear girl, Slytherins DO NOT WEAR PURPLE!"
That voice had sent shivers up Harry's spine many a time, and but for the Dark Lord himself, was possibly the most evil Harry had ever heard. This time, however, it did not hold its usual sting, but was simply gently mocking. Amazed, Harry leant forward through a rack of feathery yellow robes to peer at the pair, and find the reason for such an altered tone.
The girl was still talking.
"I can't possibly wear all these, put it back. no not mmphh mmph mph!!" The rest the sentence was muffled as Snape dumped yet another robe onto the enormous pile the girl was already holding . smiling.
In shock, Harry fell forwards through the robes, landing in a cloud of yellow feathers. The girl stared at him in surprise over the top of her mountain.
Snape looked shocked. his expression rapidly turning to rage.
Harry sneezed.
"POTTER!!!" Snape's furious yell was suddenly drowned out in the hilarious laughter of the girl beside him, and his expression disappeared, his face looking closed. Harry was too dazed to do anything but stay where he was. Recovering herself, dropping her robes, and with her eyes still laughing, the girl spoke.
"Harry Potter himself. and what an entrance!"
Harry ambled down Diagon Alley, soaking in the delicious feeling that finally, he was back in his own world. Reaching Florean Fortescue's Ice- cream Parlour, he ordered a large strawberry and peanut butter sundae afloat in marshmallow sauce with the small amount of Wizarding money he had left from the last school year, and contemplated the weeks ahead. Two weeks with no homework and no Dursleys. Sobering, Harry reflected that this time, he was being shadowed by something much worse than any grim. As Cedric's face floated involuntarily to mind, Harry's good mood departed, and he finished his sundae with the slightly haunted expression that these days seemed never far away. Florean himself then came bounding out of the Parlour, and helped push Harry's unhappiness away by way of reprimanding him for not coming to visit him last year, although Florean knew how much of a fuss everybody had been in over the World Cup being in England, so it couldn't be helped, then congratulating him for his plans to spend the coming weeks within a stone's throw from the Parlour, then reprimanding him for having completed all his History of Magic homework already, which Harry thought was a change for once.
Harry set off up the Alley much cheered. First things first, he headed to Gringott's, the finest Wizarding Bank in England. Run by Goblins, and as exciting as a roller coaster every trip. There were over two weeks of holidays left before the Hogwarts Express left, so Harry wasn't expecting to see any of his schoolmates, and the queues in Gringotts were minimal. Harry was soon whizzing down to his vault of galleons.
Resurfacing, somewhat heavier, Harry headed straight to Gambol & Japes Wizarding Joke shop to fill whatever space he had left in his trunk. Then Harry decided to go to Madam Malkin's for his new dress robes he'd be needing for the 'senior social events' calendar thrown for Fifth years and above. he was not looking forward to it. Ron certainly wouldn't want to shop for this particular article with him after last years' debacle, and Harry would not go robe shopping with a girl, not matter how good a friend Hermione was. Looking at all the different colours and styles, Harry was overwhelmed. It had been much easier when Mrs. Weasley had just chosen robes for him. He supposed he couldn't wear Gryffindor scarlet, as was his first impulse, because he'd look too much like he was in his Quidditch robes. In the end he just decided to go with a different style of green. from Parvarti's looks and Hermione's comments, he supposed he'd looked alright in the colour last year. Sifting through the various robes on the hangars, Harry suddenly heard a familiar voice speaking in the row behind him. Another voice, a girl's, was saying cajolingly:
"You are NOT getting another black one! Green, blue. anything but black Sev! How about purple? Look at it, it's your colour!"
Then the voice Harry knew:
"Dear girl, Slytherins DO NOT WEAR PURPLE!"
That voice had sent shivers up Harry's spine many a time, and but for the Dark Lord himself, was possibly the most evil Harry had ever heard. This time, however, it did not hold its usual sting, but was simply gently mocking. Amazed, Harry leant forward through a rack of feathery yellow robes to peer at the pair, and find the reason for such an altered tone.
The girl was still talking.
"I can't possibly wear all these, put it back. no not mmphh mmph mph!!" The rest the sentence was muffled as Snape dumped yet another robe onto the enormous pile the girl was already holding . smiling.
In shock, Harry fell forwards through the robes, landing in a cloud of yellow feathers. The girl stared at him in surprise over the top of her mountain.
Snape looked shocked. his expression rapidly turning to rage.
Harry sneezed.
"POTTER!!!" Snape's furious yell was suddenly drowned out in the hilarious laughter of the girl beside him, and his expression disappeared, his face looking closed. Harry was too dazed to do anything but stay where he was. Recovering herself, dropping her robes, and with her eyes still laughing, the girl spoke.
"Harry Potter himself. and what an entrance!"