-CHAPTER TWO-
Return to Diagon Alley
Harry sat patiently at the fireplace, watching it intently. Hedgwig gave out a hoot from her cage. It looked as if even she was getting restless.
Harry nervously looked at his watch, and then looked around the room for what seemed like the millionth time. Maybe Ron had meant Two o'clock in the afternoon... That would explain why they had yet to arrive...
The thought crossed Harry's mind briefly that maybe they had forgotten about him.
Harry frowned at the thought, Ron had been his best friend for five years, and knew he would never forget him. With a melancholy sigh, Harry then sank into Uncle Vernon's big comfy chair and looked at the side table where his plate and the crumbs from his sandwich lay. He rose from the chair, returned the plate to the kitchen, then sat back down in the chair with a smile of pride. Harry did not have to worry about getting in trouble for sitting in Uncle Vernon's favourite chair or eating in the living room, not that day at least. The Dursleys had gone out, saying they were going to buy Dudley some new video game but they and Harry both knew it was they did not want to be at home when the Weasleys arrived. They had left earlier that day, with not even a goodbye.
Honestly, Harry did not care and was glad they were gone. It was much easier for him to leave if The Dursleys were not around. When the Weasleys picked him up, they would not have to say goodbye to Harry. In other words, would not have to pretend they cared about him.
Suddenly, there was a loud crash-bang noise from fire place. Harry jumped to his feet, then realized it was only the Weasleys travelling by floo powder. One time when they had tried arrive by floo powder they had ended up stuck in the chimney because the Dursleys owned an electric fireplace. After that incident the Dursleys had spent a fair sum of money having an old fashioned fireplace installed, as to high the hole Mr. Weasley had made to escape the chimney.
Fred (or was it George?) appeared in the fireplace, and ducking his head he emerged stepping out of the way. "Lo' Harry!" He said with a grin, then looked around the room expectantly. George (or was it Fred?) followed soon after, with soot all over his face. Ron came out quickly afterwards, and then the boys' father, Mr. Weasley.
"Hullo Harry!" Said Ron sounding pleased to see him. "Hermoine is waiting back in Diagon Alley for us! We're all staying there until we have to go to Hogwarts! But err-" He paused. "You already know that,"
"Hello Harry," Said Mr. Weasley smiling before he picked up Harry's bags. Harry nodded politely, and picked up Hedgwig's cage, "Hi Mr. Weasley,"
"Where is that hippo cousin of yours' Harry?" Asked George curiously looking around. Both of the twins eyes sparkled mischievously as they searched the room. "We've brought him some sweets,"
"Now don't you start boys," Said Mr. Weasley wagging his finger in the air much like Harry had seen Mrs. Weasley do many times before. "The only reason I convinced your mother to let you keep those cursed candy's was because you had spent so much money on them," He looked around the room, obviously surprised to not seen the Dursleys.
"Where are you Aunt, uncle and cousin Harry? I would've thought they'd want to see you off,"
Harry shrugged his shoulders awkwardly, "They had to go out," He mumbled.
Mr. Weasley blushed, and like Ron, his ears turned pink. Now that Harry thought about it, all The Weasleys seemed blush in the same way. Mr. Weasley looked away from Harry and spotted the twins trying to hide some sweets around the sitting room.
"Come away from there you two," He called with a frown on his face. "You know your mother would have your heads if she knew you were hiding enchanted sweets for that hippo of a cousin-" Mr. Weasley stopped cringingly, then turning to Harry said, "What I mean to say is, well-"
Harry held up his hand to silence him, "It's okay Mr. Weasley, really,"
"Uh....Very well then," He replied uneasily, his ears brighter than ever. "Come on you lot, the others are waiting," He ushered them all towards the fireplace.
"Right then," Said George, "Back to boring Percy and his leaky cauldrons," but Mr. Weasley stopped him before he could get any closer to the fireplace.
"Hold it. I may not be as fast as your mother George, but I still saw you put those sweets in that bowl. Go on, take them out,"
The twins let out sighs of disappointment, then went along retrieving the candy. "Dad accidentally ate one of the sweets," Said Ron in a low whisper. "His face was blue for 3 days!"
Ron smiled and Harry chuckled quietly to himself. Things were finally beginning to feel like he was going home.
*
"As I've been saying since the beginning," Percy said between sips of
his tea. "Leaky cauldrons are very dangerous,"
The group, which consisted of, the Weasleys, Harry and Hermoine (her parents could not stay very long) all sat at a table in the Leaky Cauldron eating a late lunch.
"Oh yes, terribly," Said George trying to keep a straight face. The twins laughed, but Hermoine who sat next them frowned.
"I agree with you Percy. What if one had toxic potions in it and it leaked? It's a potential hazard,"
Ron laughed and devoured the last bite out of his sandwich. "Only if it was Fred and George's potions project,"
The twins only rolled their eyes and took turns replying.
"Really,"
"Ron,"
"That's,"
"So,"
"Old,"
Ron's ears turned pink as he shovelled in a spoonful of his soup. Harry couldn't help but smile and think to himself cheerfully, "At least nothing has changed,"
*
"Harry! Come take a look at this!" Ron called excitedly from the
other side of the over-crowded Quidditch shop. Harry had barely heard him over
the hustle and bustle of the eager customers.
After taking one last hopeful look at the latest broom, called Lightning Strike Harry made his way through the crowded shop over to where he had heard Ron's voice.
"What is it?" Asked Harry, not able to see what Ron had discovered. Harry managed to squeeze to the front of a small crowd of excited children, where Ron stood. "They've made a Quidditch Edition to the Chocolate Frogs Collection! Blimey! I hope they have these on the Express!"
"I'm sure they will be," Said Hermoine in her matter-of-a-fact-tone. "And if not, then most likely at Hogsmeade,"
Harry was pushed from behind and fell forward a few steps nearly knocking over another display. Catching himself, he managed to swerve around, only to be face to chest with a burly brunette. "Sorry I didn't see you there-Harry? Good to see you Potter!"
It was Oliver Wood, who had been the Keeper and Captain of The Gryffindor Quidditch team until last year when he had finished school. "Ron. Hermoine," Oliver nodded to them in acknowledgment.
"Hullo Wood," Harry greeted. "What are you doing here?"
"Cor! Didn't you hear? I've been drafted to play professional Quidditch! I met the seeker from the Tornados, and he said I was brilliant! The final cut is soon, but I'll make it," Said Wood clearly excited. He looked as if all his wildest dreams had come true as he spoke. "Before you know it, I'll be on one of those frogs,"
"Bloody Brilliant!!" Ron blurted. "Which team? The Tornados?"
But Oliver did not seem to be listening or maybe he simply could not hear Ron above the noise of the busy shop, he looked around the room searching it with an odd look on his face.
"What?" Harry asked concerned. He didn't like the look on Wood's face... it was... worried somehow...
"It's nuthin' really. I think Skye might've run off to get more robes. The girl is always off buying something-Mind you; she got a Lightning Strike earlier this week. Best in brooms now a days,"
He paused, looked around, and then frowning said; "Now I can't see her or Amy... Have you seen her lately?"
"Amy? Amy who?"
"Amy Elddir of course! That's who. Long brown hair, brown eyes. Rides a CleanSweep 21. Nice broom that CleanSweep. Not as nice as a Lightning Strike or a FireBolt. Have you still got your Firebolt Harry?"
But before Harry could even open his mouth to reply, Wood shouted out loudly over the crowd, "Oi! Amy! Over here!"
Harry's eyes followed Wood's gaze as a brunette began to make her way through the busy store, but once spotting Harry, her eyes seemed darted to the ground. "Have you seen Skye?" Wood greeted.
"No," Said the girl slowly with a quizzical look to Wood. "I think she's at Madam Malkin's Robes," Harry could barely hear her over the noise. She had a loud but unsure voice at the same time, sleek brown hair and tanned skin.
For some reason she strike a chord in Harry's memory. There was something provoking about her silent beauty. She had the same eery chill to her eyes as Fleur Delacour. A beautiful girl he had met last year at the TriWizard Cup Tournament. (It turned out she was in fact part Veela.)
"Well," Wood said, clapped his hands and nodded. "We'd better go find her, or Dumbledore will have our brooms. It was good to talk with you. See you lot around!"
They quickly disappeared into the sea of excited Quidditch fans. "Well," Said Hermoine. "That certainly was interesting,"
"Well, Well, Well," A familiar voice drawled. "Come to ogle at all the things you can't buy Weasley?"
Harry turned and looked into the pale, scowling face of Draco Malfoy. On either side of him were his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle. Ron's face was as red as his hair, not to mention his ears.
"Eat slugs Malfoy," Ron growled as he reached for his wand, but Hermoine held him back.
"No magic outside of Hogwarts, remember?" Hermoine hissed.
Malfoy smiled venomously, "Yes Weasley. No magic. I've been meaning to ask you though. How do the slugs taste? You and your family are the only ones I know who can't afford normal food," He picked up a chocolate frog and tossed it in the air.
Harry narrowed his eyes, "What do you want Malfoy?"
"Oh, I just thought I'd tell you that you better not set your hopes on the Quidditch Cup this year,"
Harry was almost afraid to ask, but keeping his composer his titled his head to one side. "And why is that?"
"Because my Father just bought every member of the Slytherin team a Lightning Strike," He grinned maliciously as he held out his polished Lightning Strike. The polished oak wood shone brightly in the reflection of the sunlight streaming through the windows. Ron's jaw dropped gob smacked and Harry goggled, wide-eyed at the broom. "I'd like to see those Nimbuses and your measly Firebolt beat that," He laughed, accompanied by Crabbe and Goyle.
"You better watch your back Potter," Draco glared evenly. "Because that's not all that's coming to Hogwarts this year,"
Chapter 3: Dumbledore Returns
