Disclaimer: I own nothing. NOTHING!!!
A\N: I'm sorry for the long delay, I really am. But I'm making it up to you; this chapter is much longer than usually.
Personal responses:
Chiliz – This chapter is dedicated to you, because you kept reminding me to write it :)
Graphicrockstar - Thanks for pointing it out to me. I changed it, it WAS Moody who should have drunk it. But it's all Lupin's fault, not mine, 'cause he's the one who said it!
Twigs – Thank you!!
Lari Potter – Yes, indeed, it's Draco :)
Weaver of Words – As much as I do want him to come back, I'm not intending to bring Sirius back to life, not in this story, anyway. I hope I'm not in your 'bad books', and I hope you'll continue reading it anyway :)
Chapter 8 – Diagon Alley
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Harry, Ron, wake up!" cried Hermione, bursting to their room a week later. "The booklists have arrived, we should go to Diagon Alley to buy everything!"
"Aahhh," yawned Ron, "But wh-wh-why did you have to waaaake us?" Harry, however, put on his glasses and frowned. "Are they going to let me come with you? I mean," he imitated, "it's not safe."
"Actually," said Hermione, "they say that the Fidelius Charm makes it safe enough, and besides, a couple of Order members are going to come along anyway. So you two should get yourself ready, or you will stay here. That includes you, Ron," she said to Ron, who let out a loud grunt, and muttered something. "Oh, come on, I can't believe he fell asleep again," she said, irritated, "Wake him up, I have lots of books to buy." And with that, she left the room.
~*~*~
"Mom, how're we getting to Diagon Alley?" asked Ginny after breakfast.
"Floo powder, but of course," answered Mrs. Weasley. "Come on now, let's go. How many people are we?"
"Eight, I believe," answered Mr. Weasley. "I'll go first, shall I?" He took a pinch of Floo powder out of a small yellow pot that was standing on a small table, and threw it into the fireplace. With the words 'Diagon Alley' he stepped into the green flames, and disappeared.
"Ron, you'll go next," said Mrs. Weasley, handing him the yellow pot. Hermione went after Ron, and then it was Harry's turn. "Harry, remember that you are invisible to everybody but us," were the last thing that Harry heard before he started spinning in the flames.
He stepped out of the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron, brushing the soot off his clothes, and readjusting his glasses. A minute later, Ginny appeared in the fireplace, and then Mrs. Weasley. Almost immediately, Remus and Tonks apparated in and joined the group.
"Harry, if you'll give me your Gringotts key, I'll fetch you some money," said Remus, as they stepped out to Diagon Alley. It took a while to find the key, and Remus hurried off towards the end of the street.
"Hey, let's go to Weasley Wizard Wheezes; Harry and Hermione haven't seen it yet," said Ron cheerfully.
"All right, darling," said Mrs. Weasley. "Tonks and Arthur can join you, and in the meantime, give me your booklists, I'll go to Flourish and Blotts." Despite her cheerful tone, Harry knew that the adults were joining them to make sure nothing happens to him. He felt irritated – he was invisible to everyone else, he surely didn't need any more 'protection'. However, he didn't show his irritation, and hastened to follow Ron, who was already trying to describe the shop.
"It's amazing, you won't believe it, it's like Zonko's – only bigger, and full of all their stuff. You just won't believe what a success it is, it's fantastic, it's – "
"Cut it out, Ron," said Ginny, "I think they've got your point." Ron was slightly put down, but then they arrived to the shop. The entrance was coloured in red, yellow and blue colours, and there was a large banner that read "Weasley Wizard Wheezes" in glittering orange letters. Underneath there was a small sign, that said, "Open 24/7, unless we're not here. By the way, we're not here from 18:00 until 8:00 every day, and on Tuesdays, too."
The four of them entered the store (Tonks and Mr. Weasley stayed outside), and Harry and Hermione gasped. Ron was right, it was fantastic. It was about 5 times larger than Zonko's, and full of things. There were all the tricks, jokes, and other stuff that Fred and George invented during their time in Hogwarts, and much more new things. The shop was full of people, and the line of people who wanted to buy things was endless. Ron grinned, "I hate to tell you that I told you so, but I told you so!!!" Harry nodded, still stunned of the colourful place. Suddenly somebody slapped him on the back.
"So, I see you are amazed by the wonderful Weasley Wizard Wheezes," said George's voice. Harry turned, and almost shrieked – George was standing in front of him, headless. It took a while, until Harry remembered that the twins invented hats that could make your head invisible. "It's not funny," he frowned, while Ginny and Ron exploded with laughter, and Hermione was torn between amusement and annoyance.
"Oh yes, it is," laughed George, pulling off the hat, and becoming perfectly visible again. "So, what brings our first sponsor to our small and cozy place?" he asked. Harry was the one who gave the twins the money they needed to develop their jokes, and to open their own shop.
"We just wanted to show your 'small and cozy' place to Hermione and Harry," said Ginny. "They didn't believe us when we told them how big it was."
"They what? No, no, I'm shocked and stunned," said George, pulling an offended face. "Don't you dare talk to me again," he said dramatically.
"If we don't talk to you, it'll only be safer for us," grinned Harry, "and I don't think that's what you want."
"Good point," George frowned, "I guess I'll have to endure you talking to me." He grinned, "I have to get back to work, so I'll see you in the evening. Here," he took a box from a shelf nearby, "you can all have some Wriggling Worms. It's on the house." He stuffed the box into Harry's hand, and disapparated. They heard him shouting, "Sneaking Snackboxes, on a special offer," from somewhere in the back of the shop.
"Do you think it's safe to open the box?" asked Harry.
"To open it – probably yes, to use whatever is in it – definitely not," answered Ginny. "I never heard of Wriggling Worms before, have you, Ron?"
"I don't think so… We could always try it," Ron suggested, "but I'd rather not be the first. I'll tell you what, we'll open it when we are back home, it's less risky."
"Okay then, let's go," said Harry, and led the way out to the street. "Where are we going now?" he asked when everybody was outside.
"Let's go to Quidditch Quality," said Ginny, "I need a twig-clipper." They started walking, and suddenly Harry remembered something.
"Hey, I forgot to tell you," he said excitedly, "I'm Quidditch Captain!"
"Oh, Harry, it's great," said Hermione and Ginny together, and laughed. Ron looked caught off track, but quickly regained himself, and smiled. "Could you think otherwise? You were the youngest Seeker in 100 years, it was obvious you'll be a captain."
"We're going to have a great team this year," said Ginny eagerly, "With both of you on the team, we'll be invincible. I only hope we can find worthy chasers, now that all out chasers left."
"Well, we already have one chaser, don't we? If you want to, obviously," said Harry. "I mean, you should go to the try-outs, but I think your place is assured."
"Really? Oh, thanks, Harry, I really appreciate it," Ginny said, blushing a little.
~*~*~
They spent their time in a few more shops, and, finally, started going back towards the Leaky Cauldron. Mr. Weasley and Tonks were already far ahead of them. Just then, they heard a familiar voice.
"Well, well, it's Granger and the Weasels," said Draco Malfoy, a blond boy from the Slytherin house in Hogwarts. Malfoy was Harry's enemy ever since their first day in Hogwarts, and their enmity only grew after Harry caused Malfoy's father to go to Azkaban. "And where's Potter? Didn't invite him to come with you, did you? Or has he stayed in his house, too frightened to go out? Oh, of course – he's probably sitting somewhere and crying over his – "
Slap! Harry, whom Malfoy couldn't see, slapped him hard on his head, and Malfoy fell to the ground. Harry kicked him, and they went on, laughing, as Ron shouted to Malfoy, "Be careful, Malfoy, you should really learn how to stand properly, before you're going out to the street."
"I can't believe it," said Hermione angrily, "After all that happened last year, he still thinks himself above everybody. I thought that having his father imprisoned would make him realize that he's wrong…"
"D'you really think that something can change him??? No way," said Ron. "But at least Harry repaid him… Right, Harry?"
But Harry didn't answer. In fact, he was really bothered by Malfoy's words. How could he know about Sirius?? Oh, that's right, he reminded himself, Bellatrix Lestrange is his mother's sister… And they probably keep in touch, especially now. But Harry couldn't allow himself to be taunted by Malfoy's sneers. He must not let Malfoy provoke him anymore – at least not when Malfoy actually sees him. It would only make things worse, so he must control himself. Reaching that decision, he reacted to Ron's words.
"What? Oh, yeah, sure…" he said.
"Are you OK, Harry? Asked Hermione, looking worried.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, I just wasn't paying too much attention. Sorry," he grinned.
When they reached the Leaky Cauldron, they found out that Remus has already fetched the Torch of the Green Flame from the Lewis Mansion.
"Why can't we use the normal Floo powder?" Harry asked.
"The Floo Network may be watched," answered Tonks. "But when we use the Torch, or when we Floo out of the Mansion, they can't track it – they can only track fireplaces that appear on their lists, and the Mansion's isn't listed. However, if you Floo out of here to the Mansion, they might notice the un-listed fireplace, which won't be good. The Mansion is supposed to be deserted."
"Ok, sure," answered Harry, not sure he really understood it.
Just like before, Tonks was the first to go, and Harry followed. Finally, he was back…
A\N: OK, you read it, now review!