CHAPTER 5
Harry's first stop was at Madame Malkin's robe shop. He kept the ski cap on, and waited patiently while he was measured. Mme. Malkin herself chatted constantly while the magicked measuring tape checked Harry's measurements.
Once the tape was done, she asked him what kind of robes he needed. "Well, I'd like a few practical roes, maybe in dark blue, or dark green. And I need some more black robes, I've grown out of my others." Harry told her.
Instantly, he found seven selections in blue and green hovering in the air before him. he had to take of the sweatshirt to try them on, and luckily he was wearing a decent shirt- decent meaning it sort of fit him, and wasn't too grubby. He chose one robe in navy blue, and two in green; one forest green, the other so dark it was nearly black. Mme. Malkin dismissed the others, then summoned five plain black robes. Harry nodded, "Those look good. Is there some type of anti-stain feature I could get on those?" seeing her questioning look, he smiled and explained, "My brother's an awful mess in potions, and I normally sit next to him in class."
She smiled back, "Of course! in fact, we have a potion-repellent feature that can be added for only a galleon per robe; it works on most potions, except illegal, and those not taught in school."
Harry nodded, "Could you add that to three of the black robes?"
"Of course, might I interest you in some dress robes? We're having a sale, twenty to thirty percent off!"
While his chosen robes folded themselves into a bag, Harry thought about it. "Alright, I guess a pair would be alright."
Mme. Malkin smiled happily, and asked him what colors. Harry asked for black, and a green or blue one. The woman hustled off to find some, and soon returned with two. The first was black silk, and sleeveless, but had an inch of silver trim along the bottom, the two arm holes, the neckline, and were it buttoned together. Somehow, it glowed, even though there was no direct light on it.
The second was like the first, but it had sleeves that widened at the wrists, and it was in emerald green, and had copper trim. The trim was in the same places, and also in a wavy pattern. Harry was impressed, "These are perfect, I'll take both." She rang up his choices, and Harry finally used his money bag, withdrawing twenty galleons, since the dress robes had actually been thirty percent off.
Harry thanked Mme. Malkin, and since he was 'such a nice boy', she put a shrinking spell on his bag, so it could easily fit into his back pocket, and would return to normal size in an hour and a half. He thanked her a last time, and then left.
The next place Harry went was Flourish and Blots bookstore. He grabbed a basket spelled to be feather-light as long as only up to one hundred books were placed in it. Like anyone would ever buy that many books in one go, Harry laughed, well, maybe Hermione would. He first went to the transfiguration section, and got three books on animagi, including two that told how to become one, and the third on how to recognize them in both animal and human forms. He got two advanced transfiguration books, and one on transfiguration theory. Harry left that section, then went to the Herbology area. The first book he saw was about jobs that went well with Herbology; thinking of Neville, he put it in the basket. Harry picked up two advanced Herbology books, then left for the charms section. Again, he picked up two advanced and one theory; then he selected three more on helpful little charms, healing spells, and 'Charms That Aren't Quite Hexes.'
Satisfied, he went to Care of Magical Creatures. Harry got some books on the more dangerous types, since those were what Hagrid normally based his lessons on; two on more friendly creatures, and one on extremely rare, both dangerous and helpful, magical creatures. Harry traveled to the potions section right after. Here was where Harry bought the most. Because of Snape's horrible teaching skills, Harry found it necessary to buy three basic potions manuals, two normal, two OWL level (just incase), and two advanced. He also selected a book on the harder to find ingredients used in potions. Finally, Harry went to the area where he knew he'd be the longest- Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Harry lost himself among the many titles. It seemed that, with Voldemort alive once more, the number of books had swelled beyond belief. Harry's first stop was Occlumency (another thing Snape was incapable of teaching); he wasn't going to let Snape get to him this year, he wasn't going to let Malfoy bother him either, or Voldemort get into his mind. So with two on basics, and one advanced, Harry was set. He picked up one defensive and one offensive book, thinking of the books in the Potter vault (as there were many of them in there), two more for his classes, and one titled 'So You Want To Be An Auror?'
Feeling complete, Harry went to the self-serve counter, knowing he'd selected about forty books (he snatched a book on Quidditch tactics that was on sale near the counter) and he didn't want too many questions asked. He purchased ten books first, sliding the money into the magicked jar, then waited a few minutes, and bought twenty. He did this a third time, and bought the last ten. The bags he carried had an auto-lightening charm on them which activated whenever more than five books were purchased, so he carried them easily. Harry had purchased them at separate intervals because he didn't want to arouse suspicion of whoever checked the money at the self-checkout; just incase it showed how many and what books had been purchased at a certain time.
Knowing he couldn't carry many more things, Harry slipped down an alley and allowed himself to be 'teleported', as he called it, to Black Manor. Again, Harry didn't bother to explore just yet, and so he dropped off the books and now unshrunken robes, then returned to the alley. Harry's stomach was beginning to growl, so he went to a small deli he'd never noticed before next to the owlery. He bought himself a turkey sandwich, and sat outside, enjoying his newly found freedom. After finishing the butterbeer he'd also ordered, Harry stretched, thinking of where to go next. Well, I've got to practice potions if I plan to wipe the smirk off Snape's face, he thought, so I guess more ingredients and another cauldron or two so I can brew more than one potion at a time. With that decided, Harry set off for the Apothecary. He bought two more pewter cauldrons (for his 'siblings'), a silver cauldron (for his 'aunt' who was a healer), and replenished his standard kit, and filled up on everything he might need for NEWT class. The store clerk suggested that 'Mark Shan', as Harry introduced himself, buy a set of tools made especially for preparing potions. Some of the items included in the set were a bronze scale, a stainless cutting board, several bottles, a ladle, and ten different knives. "And it's only ten galleons, just for you!" the store clerk exclaimed, "Half off the regular price!" So Harry/Mark agreed to it, and asked the clerk to hold on to his purchases for half an hour. The clerk agreed, and put the items behind the counter.
Harry went to the owlery next, not to get a new owl (he'd told Hedwig to meet him in two days at the Leaky Cauldron) , but to get Hedwig a new cage, a perch, and some treats. Ten minutes later, he emerged with a shrunken mahogany perch, a brass cage, and a bag of treats, all which he took to Black Manor after picking up his potions supplies. Setting the items down, he looked at the doors, it was time to explore.
Coming Up:
Black Manor Exploration (finally)
The Chimera Room
Then:
The Four Founders Return
