Chapter Three: Diagon Alley
It was a normal day outside the 'The Leaky Caldron'.
The people of London were passing by almost as it they didn't notice the rotted looking wood that was 'The Leaky Caldron', but behind this building were blocks of busy streets, all filled with different buildings.
Hermione stood outside Flourish and Blotts, stretching on to her tippie toes trying to find Ron and Harry above the heads of everyone that was around her.
As she stretched again, she looked towards the Quidditch store, and noticed a tall, slender red head and another tall, slender black hair boy coming out.
Hermione smiled, she knew it was Ron and Harry, they were always found with each other.
As they got closer, Hermione could see their faces, and she smiled to them.
They smiled back, as Harry hugged her, and said "It's good to see you again 'Mione."
Hermione looked up at Harry, as he was a good 6'2", and she was only 5'4".
She smiled at him, as he released her from the hug, and she said "It is good to see you too Harry."
Ron smiled down from his height of 6'3", as he picked Hermione up in a hug, and asked "So how is our favorite school prefect?"
Once Ron set her down, Hermione smiled and said "I'm good, I got my O.W.L results, I got all out-standings. What did you guys get?"
Ron smiled, as he said "I didn't do too well, I got mostly A's and P's. Except in D.A.D.A I got an Outstanding in that."
Hermione clicked her tongue, as she looked at Ron, and said "Ron that is not good, their gonna ask for your prefect's badge back."
Ron sighed, as he nodded, and said "They already did, I sent it back after I got my Hogwarts letter."
Harry frowned, as Hermione gasped, and said "Oh Ron, that is horrible."
Ron laughed, as he shook his head, and said "I never really wanted it in the first place. What about you Harry, what did you get?"
"Mostly E's, O's, with two A's, and one P."
Hermione smiled, as she hugged Harry, and said "Harry that is great."
Harry nodded, as he hugged her back, and said "And guess what else, I've been made quidditch captain."
Hermione nodded, as they pulled out of the hug, while she pulled out her books list, and said "Shall we get our supplies then?"
Ron and Harry agreed, as Ron reached over Hermione, and held the door open for her.
She thanked him, as she walked through, followed by Ron and Harry.
When they got inside Hermione turned to Ron and Harry, and said "It might be a lot easier if we divide this up, and we each get however many copies we need given the subject."
Ron and Harry agreed, as Hermione nodded, and said "Good, then Ron you get our books for DADA, Care of magical creatures, and then you can get yours and Harry's books for Divination. Harry you can get potions, history of magic, and charms. And I will get my books for Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes, then I'll get our books for transfiguration, and Herbology."
Harry nodded, as he turned to Ron, and said "I don't need Divination. That's the one I got a P in."
Ron nodded, as he said "Yea, me too."
Hermione sighed, as she looked at them, and said "Let's meet at the register once we are done."
After that they went in separate directions, with Ron heading for the DADA books, Hermione towards the Herbology, and Harry towards the potions books.
Harry turned the corner of the store, as he walked towards the potions books, and went to reach for the sixth year books.
As Harry reached up to pull down the last book, he noticed a pale hand grab for it too.
Harry however was too quick, as he grabbed the book, and turned to see that the hand belonged to Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy, what are you doing here?"
Draco sneered at Harry, as he reached up to take another book, and said "Well Potty, your not to smart with out that mudblood Granger are you? I'm getting my school books the same as you."
"I am smarter than you…that book you just grabbed is seventh year potions, and I do believe that you need sixth year the same as me. Boy Crabbe and Goyle must have really slowed you down."
Draco glanced at his book, as he realized Harry was right, and he reached up to put the book back.
After Draco pulled down the right book, he turned to look at Harry, and said "If I'm so dumb, then how come I'm second in our year?"
Harry shook his head, as he smirked, and then said "Malfoy I do believe your wrong. Your third in our year, Hermione is first, I'm second, and then it's you."
Malfoy sneered at Harry, and said "You had just better watch your back this year Potter, especially with me being a prefect and all."
"I have to watch my back every year, what is your point?"
"You know the Hogwarts dream team isn't all it's cracked up to be. All three of you better watch yourselves. That is all I'm saying."
Harry however hadn't heard any of what Draco had just said, he was mesmerized by a girl standing on the second level of the store.
She had long brown hair, and was wearing a blue robe, trimmed in white along the edges, and a white rose where the crest should have been.
He stared up at her, and asked "What school has blue robes?"
Draco glanced at Harry as if he'd gone crazy, and asked "You must be stupid Potter, Beauxbatons has blue robes. Don't you remember?"
"Not like that they don't."
Draco started looked around, not noticing anything, and he asked "Not like what? What are you looking at?"
Harry lifted his finger, pointing towards the second level, as Draco looked up, and Harry said "I'm looking at her."
Draco smiled, as his eyes wondered down the body of the female, and he said "Well I must admit Potter, as annoying as you are you have got damn good taste. Too bad I'm gonna get her."
With that, Draco turned to race up the stairs, as Harry noticed her looking at him, and then he realized what Draco had meant.
He turned to race up the stairs, but by the time he got there, Draco was standing by himself, staring at the doors.
Apparently the girl had gone down the other stairs, and had left the store.
Harry sighed, as Draco snapped his fingers, and Harry went back to getting his school books.
As Harry met with Ron and Hermione, Ron looked at him, and asked "You okay mate? We saw you up there with Malfoy, what did he do?"
Harry shook his head, as he set his books on the counter, and said "Malfoy didn't do anything. We just both saw a pretty girl on the upper level; well I saw her first, but he was trying to bet me up there to talk to her. And by the time we had both gotten there she was heading out the door into Diagon Alley."
They nodded, as they finished paying for the books, and left the store.
The people on the streets were all rushing around, except for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who were sitting at the ice cream shop watching the crowd pass them by.
While some of the crowd was watching one of the young adults, who was recognized by his dark hair, green eyes, and lighting bolt scar on his forehead as 'the boy who lived'.
Harry Potter didn't notice the craning necks, as people tried to get a second glance at him.
He was only interested in what he and his friends were talking about, and eating his ice cream.
He and his friend Ron Weasley sat discussing quidditch, as his other friend sighed, and said "You guys come on we should be shopping for supplies."
Both Harry and Ron began to respond to Hermione, but only Ron followed through.
Harry attention was caught by the same young female he had seen in the book store, who had just walked out of the Apothecary, and glanced towards him.
He noticed that she had pale skin, with beautiful green eyes, and long brown hair.
Their eyes locked, as they stared at each other, and Ron tried to talk to Harry.
To silence his friend, Harry pointed to the young woman, as Ron followed his finger, and Harry said "That's her, the girl from Flourish and Blotts."
Ron's mouth fell open, as he stared at her, and his only response was "Damn, Harry."
Hermione turned to gaze, as she sighed, and noticed a beautiful looking young woman standing at the door of the Apothecary.
Harry and Ron continued to stare, until another young woman walked up the other, and pulled her towards Gringotts.
Just as suddenly has she had appeared, she was lost in the crowd, and both boys looked at each other.
Harry asked "Did you see her?"
Ron nodded, as he looked at where she had been standing, and asked "I wonder how old she is?"
With that, Hermione pulled her friends towards the Apothecary store, so they could restock their potion kits.