Spinning, turning, wheeling wildly about in empty space, Harry Potter began
to wonder why he ever used floo powder. He never ended up exactly where he
wanted to go. Of course, he was only off by an alley or two, but Knockturn
Alley wasn't always the best place for him to turn up. This time was no
exception. The summer went by intolerably slow, but even for Harry,
Knockturn Alley wasn't the kind of adventure he wanted. Bumping into
several bricks on his descent into the now familiar hearth of the dreaded
alley, Harry prayed that his glasses wouldn't break. Goodness knew how much
longer tape could hold them together. After the darkness settled into one
place, he peered out of the dusty fireplace and into the road before him.
"Oh great, exactly what I need to start the school year off right," muttered Harry, who actually wanted school to start normally, for a change. In all his 5 years of attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry had never began the year normally. Something was always happening to make him in trouble the first day of term. Now it appeared his 6th year would be no different.
He cautiously wandered into the narrow alleyway, feeling suspicious and distrusting. As he passesd various shops with "Newt heads for sale, throw one on a Muggle and watch them disappear", and "Hangman's noose, it'll keep you hanging by a thread", displayed in the windows, Harry let out a sigh. He had no idea how to get back to Diagon Alley from this terribly creepy place.
Just as he thought all was lost, that he would be eaten by a skeptical looking hag in the corner, he saw a familiar red head saunter down the road.
"Ron!! What in the world are you doing here? And how in the heck do we get out?" Harry shouted to Ron, disturbing several mean looking goblins and a boy who looked extremely cannibalistic. Ron grinned, but motioned with his hands to get Harry to quiet down.
"God, Harry, do ya need to shout to the entire Alley that we aren't supposed to be here? Actually, we ARE supposed to be here. Did you get your list for school yet? For Defense Against the Dark Arts we need at least five things that only this alley sells. Looks fishy to me." Ron let off, and looked quizzically at Harry.
Harry, relieved to see friendly face, just shook his head. But soon after he remembered the situation at hand.
"Ok, Ron, I need a place to stay for the rest of the summer. Aunt Petunia had a fit when she found out Hedwig had babies, and she and Uncle Vernon kicked me out of the house. Can I stay with you? Will your mum mind? I can sleep in Percy's old room, I don't mind. Of course, if it's not ok.." Harry stopped there, hoping Ron would let him stay.
"Harry, don't be ridiculous. Mum's already put an extra bed in my room for you, and Dumbledore's mailed your Hogwarts list to us again. I was counting on you to come. Besides, I'm gonna need tons of practice if we want to beat Syltherin again this year for the Quidditch cup. Oh, did you see the new broom? A SilverRain X2000. It is the fastest broom ever made! Are you gonna get one? How's your firebolt? Ya know, Harry, it really could be replaced."
"Ron! Jeez, let me catch my breath for a minute, then lets get what we need and get out of here. That hag in the corner looks a little too old for us. Diagon Alley has more of what we're looking for," Harry said, with a wink. And with that, the two friends walked off, talking about the new school year and broomsticks. As they rounded a corner, they walked off towards the rest of Ron's family. It looked like it was going to be a great summer.
"Oh great, exactly what I need to start the school year off right," muttered Harry, who actually wanted school to start normally, for a change. In all his 5 years of attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry had never began the year normally. Something was always happening to make him in trouble the first day of term. Now it appeared his 6th year would be no different.
He cautiously wandered into the narrow alleyway, feeling suspicious and distrusting. As he passesd various shops with "Newt heads for sale, throw one on a Muggle and watch them disappear", and "Hangman's noose, it'll keep you hanging by a thread", displayed in the windows, Harry let out a sigh. He had no idea how to get back to Diagon Alley from this terribly creepy place.
Just as he thought all was lost, that he would be eaten by a skeptical looking hag in the corner, he saw a familiar red head saunter down the road.
"Ron!! What in the world are you doing here? And how in the heck do we get out?" Harry shouted to Ron, disturbing several mean looking goblins and a boy who looked extremely cannibalistic. Ron grinned, but motioned with his hands to get Harry to quiet down.
"God, Harry, do ya need to shout to the entire Alley that we aren't supposed to be here? Actually, we ARE supposed to be here. Did you get your list for school yet? For Defense Against the Dark Arts we need at least five things that only this alley sells. Looks fishy to me." Ron let off, and looked quizzically at Harry.
Harry, relieved to see friendly face, just shook his head. But soon after he remembered the situation at hand.
"Ok, Ron, I need a place to stay for the rest of the summer. Aunt Petunia had a fit when she found out Hedwig had babies, and she and Uncle Vernon kicked me out of the house. Can I stay with you? Will your mum mind? I can sleep in Percy's old room, I don't mind. Of course, if it's not ok.." Harry stopped there, hoping Ron would let him stay.
"Harry, don't be ridiculous. Mum's already put an extra bed in my room for you, and Dumbledore's mailed your Hogwarts list to us again. I was counting on you to come. Besides, I'm gonna need tons of practice if we want to beat Syltherin again this year for the Quidditch cup. Oh, did you see the new broom? A SilverRain X2000. It is the fastest broom ever made! Are you gonna get one? How's your firebolt? Ya know, Harry, it really could be replaced."
"Ron! Jeez, let me catch my breath for a minute, then lets get what we need and get out of here. That hag in the corner looks a little too old for us. Diagon Alley has more of what we're looking for," Harry said, with a wink. And with that, the two friends walked off, talking about the new school year and broomsticks. As they rounded a corner, they walked off towards the rest of Ron's family. It looked like it was going to be a great summer.
