I do not own any of this!

Chapter 17

The trio met in the Entrance Hall at half past one the next day. Thankfully for Harry, Snape had given permission for him to accompany his friends into Hogsmeade, so Harry was able to enjoy the afternoon without the shadow of an anticipated punishment hanging over him.

Walking down to Hogsmeade in the sunlight, the group got a few odd looks from students and passing wizards and witches alike, most of them staring at Harry, wondering what, exactly, he was wearing. Harry, however, ignored them, having gotten used to the looks his uniform earned him. Ron and Hermione were in their own clothes, and actually felt sorry for Harry, and the bounds his uniform put on him.

First stop was Cathy's Clothes for all Occasions, where Ron and Hermione had to get their new uniforms. Once inside, the two of them took out their lists.

'Well, trousers first, d'you think?'

The fact that Ron had never bough himself clothes before was painfully obvious. Rolling her eyes, Hermione dragged him over to the shelves marked, 'Hogwarts - Dueling and Defense uniform' Checking here list as she went, she quickly selected trousers and shirts that looked like they would fit Ron's lanky frame, then pushed him into a changing room with the words

'See if they fit!'

Rolling her eyes in Harry's direction, Hermione selected some clothes for herself and took a changing room for herself. As the pair emerged a minute later, Harry ran a critical eye up and down his friends, making them as nervous as possible. Finally he nodded his head.

'Yeah, they're fine. Ron., yours're are a bit big but you'll grow a lot in the next few months, so I'd leave them like that.'

Both nodded, and disappeared back into the changing room, this time clutching the swimming costumes Harry grabbed for them. This time, neither emerged, but came out dressed in their own clothes, both mumbling something un intelligible. Harry simply smiled.

Once they had grabbed all the clothes they needed, the trio wandered over to where a selection of trainers were displayed on rack. Harry grabbed a pair of black ones, and turned to Ron.

'What size are you're feet?'

'Er, eight, I think.'

Rolling his eyebrows Harry turned around and selected a box from under the rack, passing it to Ron. Looking slightly dubious, Ron pulled them out of the box, and put them on. Standing up, he rocked on his heels. Sitting down, he nodded slightly.

'They're fine.'

Harry voice was slightly skeptical.

'Sure?'

Ron sent Harry a look, so Harry simply picked out \another box, this time containing trainer that were a stylist white and blue mix, and passed Ron the box. Nodding to the cash desk, Harry turned to Hermione, adding a reminder over his shoulder.

'Don't forget a belt, and a cloak.'

Hermione meanwhile, was just standing up, having had no trouble in selecting her own shoes. Once the two had paid, they wandered out into the street, Ron and Hermione struggling under heavy loads.

Next stop was the bookshop, where Ron and Hermione took a few minutes finding the correct books. Harry already had copies, so he browsed the shelves, waiting for them to finish. Staggering out into the street once more, Harry took some of the heavier bags off his friends.

The next shop they entered was 'Oddities for every Wizard'. Inside Harry helped Ron and Hermione pick out leather holsters for their wands, before they moved over to a box that was full of trinkets, jewelry, and bits of metal. Hermione was immediately drawn to a copper bracelet. Sliding it onto her wrist to check the size, it felt oddly warm. Turning to Harry she saw him examining various pendants.

'Have you decided?'

Harry turned to her, once of the chains in his hand. He held it up in the dim light so she could see it properly.

'Yes, I think this. It reminds me of Fawkes.'

The pendant was made of a dull silver metal, and was beautifully carved in the shape of a phoenix, so well crafted it looked alive. Harry turned to Ron.

'How 'bout you?'

Ron turned round, and showed them his arm. Wrapped around his arm just above the elbow was a woven strip of material. Dressed in only a t- shirt, the red and black colors stood out vividly from his skin. Harry nodded appraisingly.

'Nice choice. D'you want to pay?'

The trio moved over to the cash desk, and handed over a few sickles for each of their purchases. Then it was off to Ollivanders, and new wands. In fact, as they soon found out, the shop was run by Ollivanders nephew, as Ollivander himself was busy running the store in Diagon Alley.

As they left an hour later, Ron and Hermione both bucked on their holsters and added their wands. To a casual passer by, they looked ready for anything. As the afternoon wore on, they stopped for a visit to Honeydukes, and a quick Butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks. Finally, it came to the part Ron had been looking forward to all day.

'The Edge' was a tall building, with large windows in the front, meaning the shop was uncommonly light inside. It was here they would get their knives. It was a few minutes before they saw anyone. When they did, it was a man who looked to be in his early thirties, wearing an apron which he wiped his hands on before shaking hands with each of the three.

'What can I do for you?'

Harry spoke for the three.

'These two need a set of dueling knives, good ones.'

The Man inclined his head quickly, his voice wry.

'We only sell good ones. And for you?'

'Magical Blades.'

'Fine.'

The man stepped up to Ron, placing his thumb lightly on Ron's forehead, and closed his eyes. A few minutes later he drew back, and walked over to a shelf at the back of the shop. He came back with some sheathed knives in his hands, which he handed to Ron.

Holding the blades, Ron's eyes were wide. When drawn, the blades were of medium size, but strong looking. The hilt and sheathes were made of black leather, inlaid with a shiny white metal. Ron needed to time to think about it, it felt right. He nodded shortly, and slipped the knives and belt they came with into his bag.

This process was repeated with Hermione. Her blades were very long, and unusually thin. The metal itself seemed to shine from within, made of a delicate blend of steel and silver. The hilt was white ebony, with gold wire etched into the handle. She too, quickly nodded, and tucked them away as if worried the man would take them back.

Ron and Hermione instinctively realized the blades he selected for Harry were different, though if asked they would not have been able to say how they knew. Despite the price of the blades, none of the trio complained as they paid for their purchases in silence, before leaving the shop after thanking the man.

Once outside the shop, they walked along the high street once more. About to have a look in Zonko's they heard an all too familiar drawl behind them.

'If it isn't the potty apprentice, and look, he's got his weasel and mudblood with him too.'

Harry turned, holding Ron back as he did so.

'I wouldn't talk, Malfoy. Not when you don't have your precious father here to back you up. You wouldn't want to get hurt now, would you?'

Malfoy simply glared, trying to come up with a suitable retort, finally, he gave up. Harry tilted his head.

'I though not.'

'Get him.'

Malfoy's order was barely above a whisper, yet Harry was ready for it. As Crabbe lunged clumsily in, Harry gave him a quick kick just above the knee cap, and he fell moaning to the ground. Shaking his head at Ron and Hermione, Harry advanced on Malfoy.

Unfortunately, Goyle used the opportunity to come at Harry from behind with a stone, having forgotten that his wand as in his pocket. Calmly, Harry rolled with the blow, and tripped the huge boy, sending him tumbling into his counterpart. With his bodyguards bested, Malfoy fled.

'You'll regret that, Potter!'

Letting him go, Harry walked back over to Ron and Hermione. Grinning at them, he felt the slightly blood rip on his right arm.

'Well, at least my back has finally healed.'

His grin turned to a grimace.

'Snape's going to have my head for this.'

Noticing his friends worried faces, Harry decided he should try and distract them.

'Look, we're late. We better get back to the castle. Come on.'

Hefting their bags once again, they started up the long path to the castle, as darkness closed in around them.



Big news! I have discovered that the filter system at school has changed and I now don't have to wait to go home till I can update! This means updates will be slightly sooner than I thought, but please understand that I have a lot less free time at school than I do at home. Because of this, I'll try to get about one chapter up a week, though I'm not sure when.

Thanks to all reviewers - Pose