Chapter Five:

Words in the Leaky Cauldron

     Harry, Ron and Hermione were near the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron when Harry's scar began to sear with pain. Harry had not felt a twinge all summer. Since he had been at the Dursleys, the terrifying visions he had experienced at Hogwarts had also ceased. Harry was sure that this was because of Dumbledore's explanation of why Harry had to stay with the Dursleys every summer. As long as he called Privet Drive home, there was some protection from Voldemort.

     The moment that Dumbledore had placed Harry on his Aunt and Uncle's doorstep he had placed a spell on Harry so that he was safe as long as he was in relations care. So the old charm probably kept the visions out.

"Are you okay?" asked Ron looking at Harry with fear in his eyes.

"Yeah, it just hadn't hurt in awhile," answered Harry rubbing his scar hard.

"I wonder why its hurting now? Do you know what Voldemort's feeling right now?" asked Hermione gazing intently at Harry's scar.

"No. He'd know by now to block me out of his feelings, but it doesn't stop him from having feelings," replied Harry.

     Hermione nodded and they walked on into the Leaky Cauldron. What greeted them inside however was most unwelcome. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were huddled together in a corner of the room, talking avidly about something. Harry crept closer to listen,

"That's right. Didn't take Father long to get out. You know the Dementors are back under the Dark Lord's control."

Harry who had just lost his temper retorted, "Yeah, not surprising that a true criminal like your Father can break out of Azkaban with no Dementors guarding it. Bet, he's not too keen on meeting Voldemort after failing though."

Malfoy wheeled around at glared at Harry with intense dislike, "Well, if it isn't Potter. Glad to see you made it in one piece over the summer."

"Eat slugs Malfoy. Come on Hermione let's go back to your house," said Harry.

"Going to the mudblood's house are you? I guess after Weasley's house you can withstand all sorts of filth," added Malfoy grinning at Crabbe and Goyle.

"Leave Harry alone Malfoy!" rang out two voices from the far side of the room.

     The two voices belonged to Cho Chang, from Ravenclaw House, and Zachiarias Smith, from Hufflepuff House. Harry looked over to see members of his former Defense Against the Dark Arts training class, also known these days as Dumbledore's Army or the DA poised and alert. They both took out their wands and pointed them at Malfoy. Then Cho said,

"If you want to get to Harry you have to get through us!"

"And me!" rang out Ron taking out his own wand.

After looking at the scene incredulously, Hermione took out her wand and muttered, "Me too!"

Malfoy sneered and said, "Nice to have all the Quidditch Captains in one place isn't it?"

     Ron and Hermione weren't Quidditch Captain for Gryffindor so that had to mean that Malfoy was Captain for Slytherin, while Cho had the post for Ravenclaw and Zachiarias must be Hufflepuff's decided Harry quickly. Then Harry took out his own wand and said,

"Leave us alone and we promise we won't bother you or your cronies."

Malfoy looked slightly shaken but snapping back to himself he took out his wand and muttered, "Impedamenta!"

"Protego!" returned Harry quickly before Malfoy had quite finished the flick of his wand.

     The Shield Charm completely dispelled Malfoy's Impediment Jinx. Then the rest of the DA shouted the incantations for their own Impediment Jinx. The combined effect of all four jinxes knocked Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle off their feet.

"Come on Harry we can use a different fireplace," stated Hermione once Tom, the innkeeper shooed them out for fighting.

"I know! We can go to Fred and George's store! We've never been there before. I'm sure there's a fireplace in there," suggested Ron.

     Harry, Ron and Hermione then set off for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Fred and George's infamous joke shop. The word was that the store was a smashing success, and the twins were always delighted to see Harry, who had been their original benefactor. When they arrived at the entrance of the bright and gaudy shop they saw a long queue of people inside.

"What's that all about?" asked Harry.

"I expect they've made some new thing," replied Ron passively. He was after all used to the sensation the twins and their wacky inventions created.

     When the three friends finally pushed their way inside they found that Ron had been quite right indeed. Fred's voice rang throughout the shop,

"Miniscule Mists!" he cried delightedly, "One Galleon and four Sickles each!"

"That's what the line is for then, these Miniscule Mists," stated Hermione glancing about with amusement at the rows of items on the shelves.

"Let's get some and then we can ask Fred and George if we can use their fireplace," said Harry.

As Harry, Ron and Hermione joined the line two more people fell in behind them. The first was Ginny Weasley, Ron's little sister and the only girl in the Weasley family, and the second was Luna Lovegood.

"Hi, Harry!" greeted Ginny enthusiastically, "Mum's getting my books from Flourish and Blotts right now.

"Hello, Harry," said Luna in her usual passive, dreamy tone running her hand through her blonde hair.

"Did you have a good summer?" asked Harry.

"Oh, yes" answered Luna, "My father and I caught a Crumple Horned-Snorkack."

"You did?" sputtered Hermione incredulously. "I mean…um…well then."

"Yes, and we're going to learn all about them with Professor Hagrid this year. He was very interested when we showed him," replied Luna looking at an object far off in the distance.

"Luna," insisted Ginny beside her impatiently, "tell her what else you've thought up for us at school this year. Its going to be too fun really wicked."

"Well," began Luna in her usual tone, "While Papa and Hagrid were bedding down the Snorkack, I was telling Professor McGonagall all about my first year. How much I enjoyed being free of Umbridge and all that," continued Luna.

"She asked me what I had liked about the term, and I told her that I had loads of fun watching the Quidditch matches and she remembered my hats. We both had a little chuckle over them, and she suggested that others might like to wear them too, so I got her permission to start a little Pep Squad. Students can wear the appropriate hat for their team, sit together in the stands and root them on," she finished.

"Well… that's   er… lovely," said Hermione eager to change the subject.

     The queue vanished extremely quickly and before Harry knew it he was at the front of the line.

"Harry, good to see you- Miniscule Mist- right then, how many?" asked Fred. "George is demonstrating them 'round back. Just throw them down and they create a lovely concealing fog all about you that lasts just long enough to slip quietly away from um…the scene of the mischief shall we say…. quite excellent really."

"I'll take one pack of six and… um… can we use your fireplace. We got kicked out of the Leaky Cauldron, slight scuffle." answered Harry.

"No, problem, mate. We've been there. That'll be six galleons and twenty-four sickles," replied Fred handing Harry his pack of mists.

     Once Harry forked over almost all of the remainder of his money he stood aside from the line and waited for the others. After Hermione and Ron had also gotten their jokes George came out and led them to the back of the shop.

"Here," said George handing Harry a pot full of Floo powder then pointing his wand at the fireplace he muttered, "Incendio!"

     The grate ignited and Harry tossed a pinch of the Floo powder into the flames. The flames rose higher than ever and turned emerald-green. Harry stepped into them and exclaimed,

"Number Ten, Bliss Place!"

And with a swirl of color and wind Harry was whipped away with the numerous things he had bought that day.