/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Three

Wandering about Diagon Alley, Harry found himself stifling a yawn. It was not as if he was guilty to being here, but it was all of the same things over and over again. How the people could come here day after day with their faces pressed up against the windows looking at things they can never have or going into Gringotts to get money for what they want. He especially felt sorry for the people who had to work in the shops lining the street on either end. Weren't they bored and wished they could be somewhere else? Heck, they all probably know how many bricks there were on the street.

Coming across the small outdoor café, Harry sat down at one of the tables, the umbrella above him shading him from the glaring sun. A kindly old witch came toddling over and asked Harry what he would like to have. Harry ordered a small ice cream sundae and a huge bottle of Butterbur and the witch hurried off to fix his order.

Gazing lazily down the street, Harry watched the people hurrying from shop to shop as if they had more important things to do. No doubt they probably did, they probably wanted to get home to their families as quick as possible. It wasn't safe to leave the family alone when the most famous Dark Wizard of all time roamed the streets. Nobody was safe.

Something caught the corner of Harry's eye. When he saw who it was, Harry groaned. It was Draco Malfoy, his archenemy at school. Malfoy terrified and tormented all those who he didn't consider "worthy" to be at Hogwarts, hoping against hope that they'd soon leave and that pure bloods could run the school. But it wasn't just Draco that thought this, it was his whole family—Lucius was a known Death Eater for Voldemort.

"Well, well, look who it is, the famous Harry Potter," Draco sneered as he caught Harry sitting at the café. Grabbing the nearest chair, Draco pulled up the chair close to Harry. "So tell me, Potter, still thinking you can save all the Mudbloods? Want to be as famous as Dumbledore? Well, trust me, you're on the wrong side of the fight. You're going to wish you had come to my side."

"Go eat some slugs, Malfoy," Harry growled.

"Was that a threat, Potter? Because if it was, my father's just over in Gringotts and will come if he hears you threatening me," Malfoy sneered.

"Does it look like I'm afraid of your family, Draco? If I was, I would be running away scared already," Harry commented simply, trying hard not to punch Malfoy in the face.

"Harry! I didn't know you were here. I thought you were still at the Dursleys—" Hermione's voice stopped short as she came hurrying over to him, and seeing Malfoy she glared. "What do you think you're doing with Harry, Malfoy?"

"Just having a little chat with Potter here. Is that illegal now to talk to him, Mudblood?" Malfoy returned the glare.

"Well, I'd watch if I were you, you know who you're dealing with right? Harry here could knock you flat before you knew what happened to you. I remember quite well what happened on the train home last year—" Hermione began.

Malfoy's face darkened with angry. He had clearly not forgotten and probably never would for a long time. Harry hoped that Malfoy wouldn't, or Harry'd have to remind him again, only be much harsher…

"Draco, let's go, I've got things to do."

Malfoy jumped and Harry glanced over his shoulder and scrambled up. It was Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father. It looked like Lucius wasn't at all happy with the company that Draco was keeping right at the moment.

"But father, didn't you just hear what this Mudblood's saying about me? She's threatening me, father!" Draco cried out.

"Do you really let a Mudblood's words get to you, Draco? You are of a pure blood family and have high standing order, just remember that, Son. Now as for you," Lucius turned to Harry and Hermione, "if I see you around my son threatening him ever again, I'll personally have you wish you never did."

With that, father and son scurried off, disappearing into the crowd. Harry growled and clenched his hands into fists.

"Oh, I wish I could have a good one at them—" Harry growled.

"Please, Harry, don't go crazy over it, it's nothing, really. Just forget about it," Hermione pleaded.

Finally unclenching his fists and turning back to Hermione, he finally gave her a disgruntled smile. Best keep her happy, after all.

"So what are you doing here, Harry?" Hermione asked sitting down next to Harry chair and ordering a large Butterbur.

Harry sighed and sat back down in his seat. "Fred and George Weasely have kind of recruited me to work in their joke shop this summer and I've only just arrived a while ago."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "You shouldn't encourage them, Harry. I wouldn't work for them."

"It wasn't of my own choice!" Harry said, diving into the ice cream that had just been placed in front of him. "And anyways, it's a much better diversion than being at the Dursley's."

"Being there's for your own protection!" Hermione stared at Harry in horror. "You know that the war's just beginning. You're acting like this is all a game, but this is very serious! This is more than just wizard's chess or sneaking out into the night, you could get captured, tortured, killed—"

"Don't be a prat, Hermione. Let me enjoy something out of this summer. This might be my last one for all I know," Harry glared at Hermione.

Hermione looked down at her drink sadly. Harry sat back in satisfaction. He finally had the last word for once. Just then, Ron appeared, through the crowds and plopped down next to Harry.

"I've been looking all over for you, Harry, the shop's been really busy—what are you doing here, Hermione?" Ron asked, noticing her for the first time.

"If you want to know, I've decided to come here and stay at the Leaky Cauldron for the rest of the summer. My mum and dad are going on a business trip and can't take me along with me and had me come here, if you must know," Hermione said pointedly.

"Well, good, you can help Harry and I in Fred and George's joke shop. The shop's really booming and it's hard to keep up. It's amazing they haven't found permanent workers yet. Sorry about breaking my promise, but I need to get back to shop instead of wandering around with you, and I was told to recruit you back to the shop to help," Ron said.

"I really don't think you should—" Hermione began, but the two of them already disappeared into the crowd. She threw up her hands in disgust and followed them into the thickening crowd.