Chapter Five: Diagon Alley
Life at Peaceden was passing very peacefully. Harry, Ron and Hermione spent a lot of time together. Sometimes they played quidditch. Harry advised Hermione to observe the game very carefully especially taking note of Ginny's movement as he thought that she was a perfect chaser. Hermione took this very seriously. She even got out a small diary to take notes. Harry secretly laughed at this. Typical Hermione!! Ron grew curious at Hermione taking notes. She told him that she was drafting a letter to a cousin of hers living in Italy. Ron wasn't totally convinced but didn't press.
They had a small party on Harry's birthday. Harry cut his first birthday cake at the age of sixteen. He had got some lovely presents. Ron gave him Chudley Canon's robes. Hermione gave him a digital organizer, which is a muggle device. Mr. Weasley as usual was fascinated at seeing this. He tinkered with the keys and Harry became slightly worried that he may spoil it. Fred and George presented him with a bagful of items from their shop. They asked him to use a few of them on Malfoy. Ginny had a very unusual but useful present. It was a set of brand new quills. Harry thanked all of them. It was easily his best ever birthday.
Soon Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny got their Hogwarts letters. They planned a visit to Diagon Alley for the fifteenth of August. The day before that Ron told something surprising to Harry.
'Tell me Harry, if I ask a girl to go out with me, will she agree'
'Whom are you planning to ask?' asked Harry quickly and somewhat rudely though he didn't know why.
'Don't tell a soul excpt maybe Hermione. Its Susan Bones' replied Ron.
'Well you can try being friendly with her first. She hardly knows you. In fact I have good idea. Tomorrow when we go to Diagon Alley, she will be there most probably. Hemione and I will stay out of the way. You can ask her to help you out with buying your Potions ingredients. Maybe after we go back to school you can ask her out', said Harry.
'You said it mate', Ron said happily thumping Harry on the back. Harry congratulated himself as he had now created the perfect condition for Hermione to buy her broomstick. He told her about it in the night. She was very happy hearing it.
'You've not even started teaching me Harry but you've helped out in so many ways already. Watching you all play was really helpful. You've also done wonderfully well to get Ron out of the way. Its strange thinking of Ron and Susan together though its not happened yet', she said.
'Well, in many ways the two of them are quite similar. Their families weren't very well to do to start with. They've worked their way up. Their social behavior is also similar. I think their relationship should work very well. Frankly speaking I had got a hint by the way Ron was looking at Susan during the feast', replied Harry.
The next morning everybody had a quick breakfast. This time they were not traveling by floo powder. The ministry had provided a car for them for going to Diagon Alley. The four Hogwarts students hopped in and reached Diagon Alley in twenty. Ginny saw her boyfriend Dean Thomas as went off with him. Harry gave Ron a wink as he walked away looking for Susan. That left Harry and Hermione alone.
'We'd better get our supplies quickly so that we can select your broom', said Harry as he and Hermione made their way to various shops. They bought potions ingredients, dress robes, parchments and quills in the case of Hermione. When they had got all they needed they made their way towards Quality Qudditch Supplies. Harry checked all the brooms carefully for defects before handing them to Hermione for making her choice. In spite of her limited knowledge in flying Hermione tried out all the brooms. She checked the weights, handling and strength. Finally she made her choice. She had decided to buy the Nimbus two thousand and three. She handed it to Harry for a final approval. He nodded and Hermione went to the cash counter to pay the money.
'That would be One hundred and sixty galleons', said the cashier.
Hermione took out her purse to get the money but looked up in dismay. She had only hundred galleons. Harry saw that she was close to tears. He quickly spoke up.
'Don't worry Hermione. I'll just get sixty galleons from my vault'
'I cant let you do that Harry. I wish I hadn't spent so much', said Hermione sounding deeply disappointed.
'Don't be silly. You can always pay me back later. We do need good chasers on good brooms for the team. You certainly have the determination to become one'
Hermione turned red. She was pleased by Harry's praise for her determination. Harry got the money out and paid for Hermione's broomstick. The cashier shrunk it into a small stick so that she could carry it in her bag. It was past noon. The two of them were getting hungry. They went into a coffee shop for a snack. They sat near the window as they enjoyed glasses of iced tea and ham sandwiches. They were getting out of the shop when they saw Ron and Susan walking by deep in converstion. They hadn't even noticed Harry and Hermione. Harry smiled to himself. His idea had done the trick for both Ron and Hermione.
They still had one and a half hours before the car was to come and pick them up. They decided that they would spend it looking through the various shops. They went to 'Madame Malkin's Robes for all Occasions'. Madame Malkin recognized them and had a short chat with them. They also went to Ollivander's. Mr. Ollivander insisted that they should get their wands tested. So they did. Both the wands were found to be in perfect condition. It was now getting time to get back. They met Ron and Ginny. Ron seemed very happy.
'Harry your idea was superb. I've got to know her much better already. She seems to like me'
The other three just giggled. The car was back. They got into it and drove back to Peaceden.
Life at Peaceden was passing very peacefully. Harry, Ron and Hermione spent a lot of time together. Sometimes they played quidditch. Harry advised Hermione to observe the game very carefully especially taking note of Ginny's movement as he thought that she was a perfect chaser. Hermione took this very seriously. She even got out a small diary to take notes. Harry secretly laughed at this. Typical Hermione!! Ron grew curious at Hermione taking notes. She told him that she was drafting a letter to a cousin of hers living in Italy. Ron wasn't totally convinced but didn't press.
They had a small party on Harry's birthday. Harry cut his first birthday cake at the age of sixteen. He had got some lovely presents. Ron gave him Chudley Canon's robes. Hermione gave him a digital organizer, which is a muggle device. Mr. Weasley as usual was fascinated at seeing this. He tinkered with the keys and Harry became slightly worried that he may spoil it. Fred and George presented him with a bagful of items from their shop. They asked him to use a few of them on Malfoy. Ginny had a very unusual but useful present. It was a set of brand new quills. Harry thanked all of them. It was easily his best ever birthday.
Soon Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny got their Hogwarts letters. They planned a visit to Diagon Alley for the fifteenth of August. The day before that Ron told something surprising to Harry.
'Tell me Harry, if I ask a girl to go out with me, will she agree'
'Whom are you planning to ask?' asked Harry quickly and somewhat rudely though he didn't know why.
'Don't tell a soul excpt maybe Hermione. Its Susan Bones' replied Ron.
'Well you can try being friendly with her first. She hardly knows you. In fact I have good idea. Tomorrow when we go to Diagon Alley, she will be there most probably. Hemione and I will stay out of the way. You can ask her to help you out with buying your Potions ingredients. Maybe after we go back to school you can ask her out', said Harry.
'You said it mate', Ron said happily thumping Harry on the back. Harry congratulated himself as he had now created the perfect condition for Hermione to buy her broomstick. He told her about it in the night. She was very happy hearing it.
'You've not even started teaching me Harry but you've helped out in so many ways already. Watching you all play was really helpful. You've also done wonderfully well to get Ron out of the way. Its strange thinking of Ron and Susan together though its not happened yet', she said.
'Well, in many ways the two of them are quite similar. Their families weren't very well to do to start with. They've worked their way up. Their social behavior is also similar. I think their relationship should work very well. Frankly speaking I had got a hint by the way Ron was looking at Susan during the feast', replied Harry.
The next morning everybody had a quick breakfast. This time they were not traveling by floo powder. The ministry had provided a car for them for going to Diagon Alley. The four Hogwarts students hopped in and reached Diagon Alley in twenty. Ginny saw her boyfriend Dean Thomas as went off with him. Harry gave Ron a wink as he walked away looking for Susan. That left Harry and Hermione alone.
'We'd better get our supplies quickly so that we can select your broom', said Harry as he and Hermione made their way to various shops. They bought potions ingredients, dress robes, parchments and quills in the case of Hermione. When they had got all they needed they made their way towards Quality Qudditch Supplies. Harry checked all the brooms carefully for defects before handing them to Hermione for making her choice. In spite of her limited knowledge in flying Hermione tried out all the brooms. She checked the weights, handling and strength. Finally she made her choice. She had decided to buy the Nimbus two thousand and three. She handed it to Harry for a final approval. He nodded and Hermione went to the cash counter to pay the money.
'That would be One hundred and sixty galleons', said the cashier.
Hermione took out her purse to get the money but looked up in dismay. She had only hundred galleons. Harry saw that she was close to tears. He quickly spoke up.
'Don't worry Hermione. I'll just get sixty galleons from my vault'
'I cant let you do that Harry. I wish I hadn't spent so much', said Hermione sounding deeply disappointed.
'Don't be silly. You can always pay me back later. We do need good chasers on good brooms for the team. You certainly have the determination to become one'
Hermione turned red. She was pleased by Harry's praise for her determination. Harry got the money out and paid for Hermione's broomstick. The cashier shrunk it into a small stick so that she could carry it in her bag. It was past noon. The two of them were getting hungry. They went into a coffee shop for a snack. They sat near the window as they enjoyed glasses of iced tea and ham sandwiches. They were getting out of the shop when they saw Ron and Susan walking by deep in converstion. They hadn't even noticed Harry and Hermione. Harry smiled to himself. His idea had done the trick for both Ron and Hermione.
They still had one and a half hours before the car was to come and pick them up. They decided that they would spend it looking through the various shops. They went to 'Madame Malkin's Robes for all Occasions'. Madame Malkin recognized them and had a short chat with them. They also went to Ollivander's. Mr. Ollivander insisted that they should get their wands tested. So they did. Both the wands were found to be in perfect condition. It was now getting time to get back. They met Ron and Ginny. Ron seemed very happy.
'Harry your idea was superb. I've got to know her much better already. She seems to like me'
The other three just giggled. The car was back. They got into it and drove back to Peaceden.