A/N: Thanks for your comments. This is my first effort to reformat the spacing so your eyes won't have such a hard time. Keep reading!;p

Harry found himself three weeks later in Diagon Alley with Ron, Ginny, Fred and George, Mr and Mrs Weasley. Hermione had written to Ron three days before, apologizing profusely about being absent in the Burrow, but her parents had dragged her off to Rome for the summer. Personally, Harry could not see why Hermione felt so guilty since he felt... he felt... Well, he felt nothing.

Harry and Ron had been standing in front of Mr. Ollivander's wand shop since that was where Hermione had agreed - no, not really agreed, more like - TOLD them to meet her.

'Where is Hermione?' asked Ron irritably. 'It's been ten minutes.'

'I dunno.'

It was so hot, and there were so many people.

'She's not like this,' said Ron worriedly. 'Hermione's not the type to be late.'

'I know.'

The sun shone brightly above them and the noise was drumming in his ear louder than the usual.

'Harry?'

'Yeah?'

'She's still not here.'

'Dammit, Ron!' yelled Harry. Some people stared at them, obviously surprised. 'Sorry,' said Harry.

'I'm not feeling quite the thing today.'

'Yeah, you look a bit - pasty,' Ron offered lamely. 'Maybe you should go back to the inn.'

'No way,' said Harry. 'I'll be fine.'

'Hey,' said Hermione, coming up to them from behind a crowd of old hags. 'Sorry to keep you waiting, but dad had trouble getting here because he couldn't see the entrance.' Right. Since Hermione's parents were muggles, they couldn't see The Leaky Cauldron from the London streets.

'Well, now that you're here, we can start shopping for supplies,' said Ron, taking Hermione by the hand. He then stopped to look at his hand covering Hermione's then let the girl's hand go as if it burned him. Hermione blushed deeply.

But Harry noticed nothing. He seemed to be in deep thought as he headed straight for the Apothecary with Ron and Hermione trailing behind him. They spent several minutes inside the shop replenishing their potions ingredients. They emerged from the shop with a few things from their shopping list crossed out neatly by Hermione who had bothered to make it.

'Let's go to the Magical Menagerie,' said Ron, heading for that direction. 'I need to get medicine for Pig's wing. The bloody bird got himself hit by kids playing around with slings.'

So they entered the shop. As usual, it was dark, funky-smelling and filled with hooting noises. Ron walked over to the front desk but there was no one there.

'Where is the service lady?' asked Ron.

'How should we know?' asked Hermione sarcastically. 'We came in here with you, remember?'

'Right,' said Ron. He noticed a bell on the counter, then started to ring it repeatedly.

A fat saleswitch Apparated behind the counter and surprised Ron.

'I am so sorry, dear,' said the fat saleswitch. Harry noticed that her robes were covered with cat hair and feathers. 'I've been doing the inventory out back and it's sort of wild there, what with fifty newborn minute owls - '

'It's fine,' Ron cut in rudely. 'I need the Wing Tonic for my minute owl.'

'Oh? Did you say minute owl? Did I mention that I have about fifty new minute owls out back?'

'Yes, it might have come up,' said Ron irritably. 'Now, I need the Tonic - '

Hermione tugged Harry's cloak and signalled for him to come with her outside to wait for Ron. Since Harry didn't fancy staying in the shop because he already felt very claustrophobic there, he stepped outside with Hermione.

'I've been meaning to talk to you,' said Hermione, talking quietly. 'I've heard some news abroad about You-Know-Who.'

Harry groaned. Great. Talking about You-Know-Who when he was feeling very uncomfortable as it was was just what he needed.

'Harry,' said Hermione, 'I know you don't want to hear this, but You-Know-Who has been gathering forces outside Britain. He's forming DeathEaters International or something. I don't really know what's going on, who's who, but there are talks - '

'You know what, Hermione?' said Harry, rubbing his temples. 'You're right. I really don't want to talk about this.'

Hermione stopped and stared at him. 'Harry, I -'

'I don't want to talk about it.'

And that was the end of it.

Hermione bit her lip. 'I'll go get Ron.' She went inside the shop again to check on Ron, leaving Harry alone standing on the noisy, crowded street.

Harry stared at the door of the opposite shop where a man and his son were visible from the glass panes on the door. The man and his son were laughing, looking at brooms and Quidditch paraphernalia.

And he was here, standing all alone without even the slightest trace of a smile on his lips.

Harry then felt a strange tingling of the hairs on his nape, feeling very much aware that someone was watching him. Harry looked around, whipping his head in every direction. But there was no one there who seemed to be especially interested in him.

At least, no one in plain view.

Seconds later, Ron and Hemione emerged from the shop.

'Where to?' asked Ron.

'Well, all that's really left to buy are our books,' said Hermione. 'But it's almost lunch time.'

'Well, I'll just go ahead to the inn and tell them you're coming.' With that, Ron waved a quick goodbye and headed off in the direction of The Leaky Cauldron where his parents had told them to meet for lunch.

'Harry, are you ok?' asked Hermione. 'You don't seem like yourself.'

'I'm fine.' He opened the door of the bookshop and they stepped in.

'I'll get the parchment and ink and quills,' said Hermione. 'You order the books.' Harry took the book list from Hermione and took out his own book list. Since he and Ron had the same subjects, they would be needing the same books, except Ron had already told him the books that he had hand-me-down copies of from his brothers.

Harry walked over to the counter and sidled next to a girl in a red robe.

'I'll have a copy of "Periwinkle Border Laws" and "Advanced Transfiguration", please,' said the man who had accompanied the girl in the red robes.

An assistant had materialized in front of Harry. 'I'll have every book in this list,' said Harry, pointing to Hermione's list, 'And two copies of "British Magical Fauna, Vol. Three" and "Going Against the Dark Arts".'

As the assistant scurried off to get the books, Harry drummed his fingers on the counter and looked at the girl beside him, who happened to have been looking at him.

Harry's fingers stopped drumming.

The girl was not really pretty, she was more on the side of lovely. She had brown skin, which was strange. Her long, straight black hair was swept up in a tight, regal bun at the back of her head. Her nose was long and fine and she had pink, cupid's bow lips.

The girl smiled at him.

'Will that be all?' asked the assistant who had appeared in front of him, dumping the books on the counter.

'Umm...' Harry fumbled with his book list. 'One copy of the books marked in red, please.' The assistant scrambled off to get his books as Hermione came up to him.

'Everything ok?' asked Hermione as she handed him the things she had picked up in the shop.

'Yeah,' said Harry, still staring at the girl. Unfortunately, the assistant serving her and the old man with her had returned. They made their purchases and left the shop.

The assistant who was getting his books came back, holding the books he had ordered. 'Here they are. Anything else?'

'Nope.'

As they paid for their books and supplies, Harry was still thinking about the weird girl who had been beside him in the shop. But when they stepped out of the bookstore heading for The Leaky Cauldron, the feeling that someone was watching him pushed the thought of the strange girl to the back of his mind.