Chapter 2 A Day in Diagon Alley
"Boom!" Harry's feet hit the floor. He was in "Flourish and Blotts." Harry brushed the ash on his shirt as he stepped out of the fireplace to wait for everyone else to arrive when "WHAM!" Someone had collided with him and was now hugging him. It was Hermione.
"Harry! Happy Birthday!" Hermione said as she hugged Harry.
"Mind giving me some air?" Harry gasped. "Good to see you too. How'd you get here?"
"I took the knight bus. My parents weren't very keen on letting me come here by myself though."
"Hey Hermione," said Ron so enthusiastically it made Hermione jump.
"You scared me!" she said breathlessly.
"Sorry." Ron Grinned.
"Hello Hermione," Mrs. Weasley said.
"Hi Mrs. Weasley. Hey Ginny,"
"Ginny and I will meet you in a couple of hours. Meet us here," said Mrs. Weasley with a warm smile. "But don't be running off to Knockturn Alley," she stated with a stern look.
"Bye" They replied.
The Three friends left the store. It was a beautiful day. The warm sun shined on the three friends as they bought three chocolate strawberry swirl ice creams from Florence's Ice Cream Parlor. "Where to?" asked Harry.
"Let's go to Fred and George's shop! I'm dying to see it," said Ron as he quickened his pace. "Here we are," Ron whispered in awe.
There was a sign above a small shop that said "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes." On the window was a moving poster showing a boy eating a candy and then magically becoming clothed in a dress. "Hey there," they heard a familiar voice say. Either Fred or George was walking out of the shop. "Did you come to visit us?" he asked, grinning.
"Yes. Your shop is wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Have you seen our newest product?" asked the grinning twin as he pointed at the poster. "They're called 'Dress Drops,'" he said. "We got the idea from Neville." Harry remembered that in his third year Neville had clothed a Snape formed boggart in a dress. "We also made a special product. One that will be useful to you and the order," he said as he lowered his voice. "They're called dark glasses," explained the twin as he pulled out a pair of ordinary looking sunglasses. "They may look like ordinary sunglasses, but if you put them on, you can see behind you and see through walls. You can use them to see if people are following you, or you can spy on someone. Also, if you click this button," he said as he clicked the button, "they become invisible, but were not selling them yet. They are strictly for order purposes."
"Brilliant!" Hermione said. "Absolutely brilliant. I'm impressed."
"They are also good for attracting the ladies," Fred said with a wink at Harry. "Here," said the twin as he gave them each a pair, "You three will find good use for them, but don't tell Mum," he said as he looked around.
"Thanks," said Harry and he pocketed his pair, "These will be useful."
"Anyway," said Ron eagerly, "Are you going to show us your shop or what?"
"Of course I will," said the twin, "Don't have a cow. Here's our shop," he said as he led them inside. It was magnificent! There were enough pranks in the shop to fill the dreams of any prankster. There were candies that that would turn you into any animal you please. As well as fake objects that would explode when you picked them up, such as a quill or wand. There were also Skiving Snackboxes that will make you seem like you're sick so you can cut class, and much much more. "We've gotten a few new products," said the other Weasley twin as he popped out from behind a shelve. "Here's something you might enjoy giving to Snape or Malfoy. It's a killer bee," he said as he showed them a small honey colored candy. "If you give this to Malfoy, bees will suddenly be attracted to him. We also have them in snakes, scorpions, and spiders." Ron shivered involuntarily. He's terrified of spiders.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked around for a while before they had to go to buy their school things. They went to Gringotts first, so Harry could get some money. Then, they went to the apothecary to get potion ingredients. Of course, they had to go to the quidditch store. Lastly, the friends went back to Flourish and Blotts to get their schoolbooks. Harry and Ron bought only six, since they were only going to take six classes. They were taking charms, transfiguration, herbology, defense against the dark arts, care of magical creatures, and astronomy. Hermione, however, bought ten books. "Hermione! Are you mad?" asked Ron.
"No." Hermione made a very irritated noise and asked, "Aren't you going to ask me how I did on my O.W.L.s? I've been dying tell you!"
"Actually, we weren't planning on OUCH!" Ron yelped as Harry stepped on his toe.
"Fine," grinned Harry, "How did you do?"
"Ten O.W.L.'s. Strait O's!" said Hermione with more than a touch of pride.
"You're slacking," Ron said with a grin on his face, "Harry beat you."
"How...how is that possible," asked Hermione who looked a little downfallen.
"I didn't really beat you," laughed Harry. "I only got seven O.W.L.'s, but I did get an O plus in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Oooo," Hermione squealed, "That's very good! I didn't even think that was possible!"
Harry shrugged. "It was nothing. You did great Hermione! I never doubted you. O yeah, Ron got seven O.W.L's too."
"Good job Ron!" said Hermione, "I'm proud of you guys."
"Ron, Harry, and Hermione, it's time to go," Mrs. Weasley said as she walked up to them. They went the fireplace to use floo powder. Hermione was staying with the Weasleys too. This time Harry went last. When he arrived in the living room of the order's headquarters, he was in for a shock.
