From the moment he'd steeped off the Hogwarts Express onto platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station he'd known this summer holiday would be different. For one thing, he'd escaped death at the hands of Voldemort again, but old Voldie had killed a fellow student. Cedric Diggory; and Harry didn't feel as if he would be letting Voldie get away with that. Killing his parents had been one mistake, but Harry had been so young that while he missed his parents, he had never really known them. Cedric had been a living breathing known figure to him. And Voldemort had had him killed.
'Kill the spare.' Harry shook his head slightly at the memory; he couldn't afford distractions, while on the train he had come up with several ideas.
One of the most important was that he needed to buy a new wand. His old wand was fine but since he couldn't use it against Voldemort it was next to useless. Also he couldn't just waltz into Ollivanders and buy a new wand; but still he figured that Knockturn Alley would probably sell wands as well as some of the other stuff he needed. Like books on the Dark Arts, after all how was he going to defend himself if he didn't even know what was going to be used against him. Books on the use of snakes in magic would be useful too; but one thing of vital importance would be disguising charms. The problem was he'd have to go into Knockturn Alley undisguised just to get information on disguises, and the Boy-who-Lived couldn't be seen in Knockturn Alley. Harry snorted to himself, might as well paint a neon sign on me saying 'Death Eaters come and get me! One time special offer on the 'Boy who Lived''
Harry's biggest problem with all his plans, happened to be standing right in front of him.
"Boy! Grab your trunk and lets go." His Uncle Vernon growled at him.
Harry meekly obeyed. How exactly am I going to get away from this fat sod? I have to leave before we get to Privet Drive though. With all the wards and protection spells on that, I'll never get out…and then there are the wards to detect underage magic. Though I doubt anyone will be watching that, Voldie is back. Though the damn fools at the ministry don't believe it, it won't stop Voldemort from killing Muggles and Muggle-borns. I can't apparate so I'll have to get to Diagon Alley the Muggle way. Lucky I have some Muggle money on me, hopefully I can get a room somewhere near the Leaky Cauldron, and sneak in during busy hours. Then I may actually be able to do something without getting anyone else killed, and without the 'Boy who Lived' constantly on my tail.
~*~
As they walked towards the car, Harry debated on how to get away. Once inside, Harry spoke up.
"Uncle Vernon, I know you don't want me around, and I don't want to be around you either. I would leave but first I need some extra money. So it's simple really, give me some money and I'll be out of your life forever, don't and I'll hex you, take all your money and be out of your life for a while until I come back for revenge." Harry smiled at the large man, who was now looking decidedly uncomfortable. Vernon stared at the boy, weighing the possibilities. Here, finally was his chance to be rid of that dratted freak forever.
"How much money do you need?" came the man's reply. Harry stared, he hadn't believed it would be this easy.
"How much do you have?"
"105 pounds, and you aren't having all of it." The beefy man snarled.
105 pounds…how much will I need? I have some on me already… and I just need enough to get me a decent disguise… "70 pounds will do." His uncle handed over the money, looked at him sharply and said "I don't want to hear from you again. If you lose the money; and come running back to Surrey then we won't take you back. Is that understood, boy?!"
"Done."