Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter 3
It seemed to be like every other day in Diagon Alley. However, on closer inspection, the alley was in fact solely inhabited by Hogwarts student. Each of them had a sack of galleons in one hand, and a crisp Hogwarts letter in the other.
Harry, and Ron made their way away from the Weasley clan. The rest of the group began to disperse to meet with their respective friends.
"We're leaving at 2:30." shouted Mrs. Weasley. Her call was made in vain, as half the Weasley's didn't even hear her. Harry noticed with interest, as she made her way towards the Leaky Cauldron, to undoubtedly socialize with the patrons.
"Come on, Harry, I really want to go see what new brooms came in at Quality Quidditch Supplies." Ron said as he brandished a sock that seemed to be filled with gold coins. He caught Harry's eye. "Did some work for Fred and George." He blushed. "I'm going to get a new broom, and I think some better dress robes."
Harry burst out in laughter as Ron's face contorted into a look of disgust at the very thought of his old dress robes. "Fine with me, but I need to stop by Gringotts first." Ron gave him a disappointed look. "Then we can go to Quality Quidditch Supplies, and I think I need a few new robes. Mine are getting to small."
Ron nodded in sympathy. "I know what you mean." he said as he looked down at his own robes. They began walking down the alley to where Gringotts stood. The bank had changed little in the years since Harry had first visited it. Its grand doors still impressed Harry immensely. The pair approached the counter.
"May I help you?" bluntly asked the goblin, lacking all form of proper courtesy.
"Please," replied Harry, giving the goblin his key.
"Ahh, Rogmah," the goblin called, "take the lad to vault 560." The goblin turned back to his work.
The ride down was easy enough, Ron enjoyed most of the ride, Harry on the other hand had his eyes closed the whole time. The goblin helped both boys out of the cart, a rare courtesy to receive from a goblin. He calmly let Harry in, Ron stood outside-obviously embarrassed.
The ride to the top was uneventful. They exited the bank and quickly made their way down the street to Quality Quidditch Supplies.
As they walked inside of Quality Quidditch Supplies Harry recognized the familiar shape of a firebolt highlighting the area behind the desk. But, Ron seemed to miss the firebolt and hover directly over to the window. Harry quickly followed his friend making his way over to the display. He had to squint to see the silver letters on the handle.
The NIMBUS 2004
Harry noticed the added features. Ron was slobbering.
"What is it, Ron?"
"Only the best broom that I think I have ever seen-well excluding the firebolt."
"ummm."
"I mean, it isn't as fast as the firebolt, but it is slightly more accurate. See, it has longer tail twigs than the firebolt. Seems to me that you would have to be careful when clipping its tail twigs."
Harry shrugged. He hadn't been in the wizarding world long enough to really recognize such details. It scared him how much he knew and how much he had yet to learn. They spent about 25 minutes shifting around the shop. It hadn't seemed like long until Ron mentioned a new store which had apparently just moved to Diagon Alley. They decided to go to see what was it was all about.
As Harry walked into the store, he found two very gloomy twins. Ron rushed straight to the music section of the shop. Harry went to go see what was wrong with the twins.
"What's the matter, guys?" Harry asked.
"None of the bloody shops..." started George.
"Will let us inside, the..."
"Bastards."
Harry looked at the pair cynically for a few moments. "Umm, do I dare ask why?" Harry inquired.
"Ah, George here had the brilliant idea to try to take over all the shops on the alley." explained Fred.
"Shut up, you agreed!" George defended himself. "They wont let us buy anything, says we are barred for life."
"The good news is that we may take over the Diagon Alley partner of Quality Quidditch Supplies..."
"but the deal was expensive as hell, just for a few ruddy old brooms..."
"maybe we will make enough dough to buy out someone else though."
Harry was slightly overwhelmed by the twin's market Sauvé. "Umm, okay-" he was interrupted by Fred.
"Enough of that old boy! I hear this place has a great dueling section." Fred and George were true to their words. The dueling section seemed quite complete, though having never experienced one before, Harry could only assume.
As Harry left the shop he had already spent half his galleons. He was packed down with all sorts of things. Leg guards, dueling belts, several potions, a dueling kit, and the amount of books he got put Hermione to shame. He noticed that Ron was looking at him a little strangely, "What's the matter?"
"Think you could have gone a bit more overboard, Harry?"
Harry grinned. The stuff looked useful, and well... neat.
The majority of the rest of the trip to Diagon Alley was spent purchasing school supplies and butter beers. Harry made it back to the burrow without incident.
The next few days were spent in a rush, and they swirled by Harry. Before he knew it, it was the night before the day he was to go back to Hogwarts. Harry drifted off to sleep. Dreams awaited him.
"Ah, Petrarchen, hiding have you?" He raised his wand to eye-level with the lone death eater, dressed and shriveling in the corner of the dingy dungeon. "I expected more of you," he paused, "my spy."
"No!" the death eater claimed, she hesitated with her next few words. "I didn't, my lord. I swear."
"Don't worry," the Dark Lord answered her with ice, "I'm not going to kill you... today, Petrarchen."
"Tha--err--thank you, my Lord."
"I am offering you an offer," he began. "will you be willing to step up to it?"
The Petrarchen rose from her crouching position in the corner. "And what does this offer entail?" She had regained her nerve.
"Ah, always the careful one. Yes, yes." he began again. "Trivial matters, and perhaps a... position?"
The woman blushed. "You are, and forever will be, my liege." She bowed to the Dark Lord, and disappeared with a 'pop.'
They made it to Kings Crossing Station quickly enough. They used Ministry cars like previously. It was raining. All the Weasleys and Harry had made it through the barrier and into their compartments without incident. Harry and Ron had just sat down when Hermione opened the door.
"Hi Harry, Ron." She gave Ron a nod. They had at least 30 minutes to spare, so Hermione pulled out a book immediately.
"Heyya, Hermione." Harry greeted her. "Did you have a nice summer?"
"Well, sort of." replied Hermione, looking up from her book. "SOMEBODY wouldn't leave me alone."
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"She went to go see VIIIIIIIIICTOR!" began Ron. "He is such a--"
"Ronald Weasley, if you say one more word I WILL make sure it is the last word that you EVER take."
"I'd heed her warning, Ron, she knows the spells." Harry looked gingerly over at the book she was reading. It titled, Annoying Beasties and how to Silence them by Irrie Tate. Harry couldn't help but laugh at obvious humor created by the title.
"What?" Hermione snapped, obviously still fuming from Ron's outburst. The thought hit her hard, yet, she did not take it with exactly the same humor as Harry had previously. "That is not funny. Harry Potter."
"Oh for Merlin's sake, miss prefect had to rear her ugly--" Ron never finished his sentence as suddenly Hermione had fired a spell and Ron no longer had a mouth, nor ears Harry noticed with amusement. He dared to wonder whether or not Hermione had purposely included that part in the spell.
Ron looked around frantically for the rest of the trip. When the witch with the snacks came around, Ron was devastatingly unhappy. She gave Hermione and Harry a meaningful look. 'Shame on you,' she mouthed to them.
"So, Hermione, What's this I hear about prefects?" Harry asked.
"Oh, well Sprout told me, actually." Hermione began. "You know, perfects are NOT told they are prefects until a few minutes before the feast, but Professor Sprout felt bad during last year's exams."
"Oh, that's great Hermione, why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"Well," She blushed, completely forgetting Ron was present."I was afraid that you guys would make fun of me."
"No, no." Harry started.
"I know I am nerdy old Hermione." She proclaimed. "Its okay, Harry, its who I am."
"I know, Hermione."
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