Disclaimer: No, I don't own Harry Potter. Who do you think I am? J.K. Rowling? Well, your wrong, so stop bothering me about it and get on with reading this (my) Fanfic.

A/N: Hope you like the new chapter, not too much excitement yet but I'm getting there. Anyway, here's the rest of the Diagon Alley trip.

MORE PREPARATIONS AND A NEW LOOK

BY:CHICANOSURFER01

Having appeared back on the platform, Harry jumped into the car and asked Graphrock for the time.

"The current time is 12:37 A.M., Is there any other business you need to attend to or need assistance with?"

"Well I was wondering if I could exchange some of my galleons for muggle pounds. What's the exchange rate?"

"One galleon is equivalent to twelve muggle pounds, but we keep what is equal to 2 pounds for service charge. How much would you like to exchange?" asked Graphrock as they arrived back in the main lobby.

"Um . . . I think that 250 galleons are enough, that would be 2,500 pounds right?"

"Yes sir, I will get that for you right away." Graphrock took Harry's 250 galleons and came back quickly with 250 ten-pound notes.

"Is there anything else Mr. Potter?"

"No Graphrock, thanks for your help." On that note Harry stepped out of Gringotts and back into Diagon Alley.

'I definitely need to go to Flourish and Blotts first, I need some books to study or my new gear will be of no use.'

Once inside the bookstore Harry headed for the DADA section almost immediately. He picked up the three books he thought would help him the most, which included, Perfect Dueling Spells and Techniques, The Offensive and Defensive sides of DADA, and Helpful Shields and Spells for the Best Defense.

Going into the Transfiguration section, Harry found two books that interested him the most, Conjuring and Animating and Advanced Transfiguration: A True Art. Picking up Taming the inner beast, an Animagus training book, he headed for the charms section. Here he found a book in a sort of weird glass case in the middle of the isle. Looking into the case, he actually noticed it was a collection of spell books and had a casing that read The Ultimate Collection of Charms, Hexes, Jinxes, Curses and Spells: 150 Galleons.

"This could definitely help me out" said Harry, picking up the collection.

Having finished with finding the books for his magical training, Harry turned into the miscellaneous section where he found a book on household charms and a couple books on muggle defenses; such as sword fighting and a book on various types of martial arts.

'I think that's enough for now, but I wonder how much this is all going to cost?' Walking up to the counter with a stack of books, he waited to be acknowledged by an old man apparently reading a newspaper.

Putting the newspaper down, the old man uncommittedly started checking the books for their prices. "Wow. That'll be 197 galleons and three sickles sir. Can you really afford this collection?"

Harry, making sure to keep his scar covered, only answered by pulling out 198 galleons and stuffing the books in his duffel bag.

Leaving the shop, Harry decided to go into muggle London.

'I'm tired of wearing Dudley's old clothes. I think it's time for a new wardrobe.' Harry waved down a taxi and jumped into it when one stopped.

"Could you take me to the best clothing store around here? I might need some help though; so maybe somewhere a little smaller, not a department store."

"Yes sir, I know the perfect place."

Arriving in front of a small to a mid-size store with a sign on the front saying 'fine clothing and casual wear', Harry slid out of the car giving the cab driver a nice tip.

As soon as he entered a beautiful blonde girl approached him, "How may I help you? Are you looking for casual or fine wear today?"

"Um . . . well, I was actually planning on getting a whole new wardrobe. As you can see, I don't really have any nice clothes with me and I'm not the most fashionable, so I was hoping you would help me pick something out." Harry explained, while tugging on his baggy jeans. The girl smiled, obviously excited about the prospect of the shopping spree.

"Well come with me and we'll find something for you." The girl immediately started pulling jeans, T-shirts, polos, and some different colored pants off the racks.

"I'm Amanda, by the way. Go try these on for now and I'll come back in a minute with some dress clothes for you, all right?"

"I'm Harry and thanks."

Going into the dressing room Harry pulled on a black collared shirt with some jeans and was called out by Amanda to see how it looked.

"Wow, you're actually cute under those tents you were wearing for clothes. Keep trying everything on. Here are some button-up shirts and dress pants. I'll be waiting out here to help you judge the look." Blushing Harry went back into the dressing room and changed.

This routine kept on going, Amanda calling some clothes keepers and some not. They folded the clothes that they decided to keep, including 16 polo shirts, 10 T-shirts, and 5 Button-up dress shirts of varying colors. He ended up with six pairs of jeans, two pairs of khakis, four pairs of dress pants and he made sure to get a new tracksuit and a pair of trainers for running.

"Your total is 980 pounds. You know, you might want to get a haircut next door to get your new look complete. That mop on your head isn't helping your new look Harry."

"Thanks Amanda, I really appreciate your help and I might do that."

To tell the truth Harry couldn't remember the last time he got his hair cut except for the time his Aunt Petunia had nearly shaved him bald. His confusion must have shown because Amanda followed with, "Just let Jenny, next door, take care of you; she won't do you wrong."

Harry said thanks again as he stuffed his bags in the duffel bag and went out the door.

'Am I really gonna do this? What the hell, hopefully they'll be able to do something with what I call hair.'

Entering the door he noticed a redhead watching a television.

"Jenny?" he called.

"Who asks?" The redhead asked without turning from the T.V.

"Hi, I'm Harry. Amanda from next door told me you could help me with my hair?"

"She did, did she? Ok then, I guess I can help you out. Oh, and yes I'm Jenny." She said, finally turning around. Harry was a little unnerved by her smile and found out soon enough, why it was that she was smiling.

"So let me guess, Amanda saw you shopping, or helped you out, and suggested you come in here? I swear, the girl sees possibilities in any decent looking guy, but you do need some help with your hair. What were you thinking with that hairdo?"

"I've been living with my relatives all my life and never got a decent haircut."

"Well, I'll fix that. Why don't you sit down so I can get started." It wasn't a question. More like an order, but Harry of course obliged and sat down.

As soon as he sat down, Jenny got to work.

Harry didn't know what to think when he saw all the hair that was falling from his head. Instead of showing any nervousness, Harry just closed his eyes and relaxed. 'It can't be worse than what I had before right?' Harry thought as Jenny said she was finished.

"Some of my best work yet. Kinda helps that Amanda was right about you. Hey! Stop acting scared and look for yourself."

Harry opened his eyes to see an almost totally new person. His hair was a lot shorter and exposed his scar. It was done so it looked like the messiness of his hair was done on purpose.

"It's short enough for you to maybe spike it up if you want; but this messiness gives you an 'I don't care' look but it's not scruffy like your old do."

"Wow, thanks Jenny, it looks great. How much do I owe you?"

"Ten pounds, and don't forget the tip." she said with a smile. Harry dropped twenty pounds on the counter and left a very happy girl behind when he left.

After waving down another taxi, Harry headed back for the Leaky Cauldron, it was only 3:30 and he wanted to get done with his shopping. He knew he should have done it while he was already in Diagon Alley; he had been holding it of all day.

Last time he had gone down Knockturn Alley it hadn't been a very happy experience and he wasn't looking forward to another trip. Harry snuck into an alleyway to put on his invisibility cloak and stood beside the door of the Leaky Cauldron, waiting for someone to open the door.

He didn't have to wait long as a young couple opened the door and Harry was in luck as they went straight through and into Diagon Alley, which gave him the opportunity to follow. Once he was in Diagon Alley he turned the corner to head into Knockturn Alley.

Once in, he went straight for Borgin & Burkes. Entering the store, Harry was immediately asked who he was by the man at the counter.

"DO NOT WORRY ABOUT WHO I AM. ONLY BE BOTHERED BY WHAT I WANT." Harry filled his voice with power and a little bit of a hiss.

"What is it that you want?" asked the teller.

"I WANT A BOOK ON DARK CURSES EXPLAINING HOW YOU CREATE THEM AND ALSO HOW YOU BLOCK THEM."

"Ye..yes s..sir, right away." The teller stuttered. "That'll be twenty-seven galleons, three sickles and two knuts." Harry placed thirty galleons on the counter and took the pair of books the teller had brought out.

Not wanting to be there any longer then necessary, Harry left without waiting for his change and headed back towards The Leaky Cauldron.

Once inside Harry headed straight for the door and didn't wait for somebody to open it for him. He went into the same dark alleyway as before and took off his invisibility cloak. Seeing as it was 4:20, Harry headed back to the corner where his uncle dropped him off at and noticed his uncle already there, reading his newspaper.

"Finally boy! Get in, I've been waiting forever." Vernon berated Harry.

Getting into the car Harry knew his uncle couldn't have been there more than a minute but decided not to comment on it.

"Nice to see you got that mop cleaned up. Not that it helps you out in the looks department." Vernon tried complimenting but ended up failing. Fifteen years of treating Harry like crap wasn't going to change over night.

"Um.. thanks. I think."

Arriving at Number four Privet Drive, Harry went straight up to his room to admire his new belongings. He knew that he could now train efficiently in everything he had planned. He had books to study, weapons to train with, and even a way to do magic without being expelled.

'Voldemort and I will face each other one day. He might be coming for me right now and when he does, I'll be ready. I'm not going to be a scared little boy anymore. I'm going to fight...I'm going to fight and I'm going to win...'

A/N: Thanks to Hermes09, Carrie, Lady of the Dragons2, Dishantpandya, and Potter Reader for reviewing. Keep reading, Harry will be training next chapter and maybe the answer to the dream Harry had last chapter.

Hermes09: The Elements? The Test? You'll see, they might come up in a chapter or two...if you're lucky. Thanks for the review.

Lady of the Dragons2: Don't worry. I don't think I'm gonna make him super-invincible-man as you put it. I am going to give him some new powers and put him through hell in some of his training...and other things too. Thanks for the review.

You obviously Read so why don't you review? Come on, you know you want to do it. Just push the little button :)