Harry was so pleased to return back to Diagon Alley. He missed the wizarding world. So, he began to walk towards Flourish and Blotts, the bookshop that Mrs. Weasley told him he'll be meeting Hermione, Ron, and Ginny there. All of the sudden, Harry felt something hairy and small brushing against his legs.
"Crookshanks! I was beginning to wonder where you are!" said Harry with excitement.
Then, he heard someone call his name. It was Hermione.
"Harry! It's great to have you back! Ron, Ginny, come on, Harry's arrived!" Hermione ran towards Harry, and hugged him. Harry blushed, she didn't seem to want to let go.
"Erm...it's great to see you too, Hermione," said Harry, smiling.
She finally let go of him. Then, Harry caught a glimpse of two red haired people coming his way.
"Harry mate! So wonderful to see you!" that was Ron.
"Hello Harry, had a nice summer?" this was Ginny.
"Hello fellows, I really missed you," replied Harry.
"Listen, you guys stay here, while I go get the new books ok?" said Harry in a rush.
"Ok!" replied everyone. So, Harry finally stepped into Flourish and Blotts. It was completely packed with wizards and witches. He politely spoke to the shopkeeper, and told him what books he needed.
"I need One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi II, See Beyond Your Sight, and the Standard Book of Spells-Grade Six,"
"Righto," said the man. It took him several minutes to get the books, because they were stored deep inside the store rooms, plus they were heavy, about three hundred pages each.
"Here you go, kid," said the man, handing the books over to Harry, "yeah, that will be---twelve galleons please." Harry took out some bunch of gold from his pocket and gave them to the man. He put the books in a bag, and headed towards the door. When...
"Oi, kid, wait a sec, you've got a change of 6 galleons," spoke the man again.
"Oh, go ahead and keep it," replied Harry quickly, heading towards the door.
"Why---thank you my dear boy," said the man happily.
Finally, Harry managed to force his way through the throng and get out to be with his friends again.
"Sorry, I made you wait for ages," said Harry, trying to catch his breath.
"Don't mention it, mate," said Ron.
"It's been our pleasure waiting for you Harry," said Hermione, with a pretty smile on her face. Harry suddenly realized something about his friends. They changed. Ron had less freckles, grew just a bit taller, and had longer hair---a bit like Bill's, to be honest. Ginny grew taller, and had cut her hair. Harry's jaw might have fallen when he noticed Hermione. Though her growth was slight, her hair waves were totally amazing (with a sense of bushiness still around), and she was looking stunningly pretty. Then, Harry saw a black book in her hands, which he hadn't got listed on the list of books that was sent to him by McGonagall.
"Hermione, what is that?"
"Oh--this--Force Your Way through Dark Paths, by Wilbert Shanoks, why are you asking Harry?" replied Hermione.
"It's just that I---this book wasn't included on my list,"
"No way, McGonagall can't do such a stupid mistake," said Hermione, still looking curious.
"Yeah, but still, do you think she's made such a mistake?" asked Ginny.
"No way, she's too smart for that," replied Ron.
"Anyway, Harry, I think you should go and get the book, just in case it was truly her mistake, you may be needing it at Hogwarts," said Hermione, smiling.
"Well ok!" said Harry. He, at once, headed back to Flourish and Blotts to procure the book. Five minutes later, he reappeared between his friends.
"So, you've got it finally," said Ron, relieved, "listen, Harry, would you like us to stay in The Leaky Cauldron for the next three days? I'm absolutely disgusted to go back to Grimmauld Place, Mrs. Black has gotten even worse,"
"Sssssssh, Ron, keep your voice down," said Ginny quietly.
"That seems ok to me," replied Harry grinning, "that's if Hermione and Ginny have no problem."
"Us? No, it's perfectly fine with us." replied Hermione.
"Fine, at last. You're life savers you three," said Ron, relaxed, "I'll write to Mom tonight to tell her about staying here."
"Well then, shouldn't we be going to reserve a room?" asked Ginny.
"Ginny, shut it!" shouted Ron angrily. "I see your behaviour hasn't improved yet. Harry has just arrived after being stuck with the Dursleys for two months, he missed the magical world, would you mind some respect?" Ron's ears were getting redder as he spoke louder.
"Don't lose you temper Ron," said Harry trying to calm him down, "besides, Ginny's right, we need to go and reserve a room."
The four just moved to get to The Leaky Cauldron, when suddenly...
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! POISNOUS TOADS AND TENTACULAS ESCAPED FROM KNOCTURN ALLEY HEADING THIS WAY, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!" screamed a frightened young boy.
"What the----" began Ron.
They turned around, and saw some things coming nearer and nearer. There were about a hundred Tentaculas and poisonous toads jumping on the right side and left side of Diagon Alley. Customers were running out of the shops, screaming, yelling, shouting, panicking...even adult wizards and witches!
"Come on, we've got to do something," said Harry, uneasily.
"Ok, Harry, you go to that side and try to stun most of the toads, I'll go this was, to stun the Tentaculas," said Hermione in a hurry.
"And us?" asked Ron.
"You just stay here, and try to help those people escape," answered Harry quickly. Finally, after twenty minutes of stunning, Harry and Hermione came back to Ron and Ginny. The stunning task was so wearisome to them.
"That should've taken care of them," said Harry, looking pale.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," said Hermione, catching her breath.
"Besides, who's the moron who set those creatures loose?" said Ron, looking rather angry.
"I don't know," answered Harry. "Perhaps an idiot."
After that incident, the four went to The Leaky Cauldron Motel to reserve a room.
"One room please, for four people," said Harry to the motel manager, pointing at the three friends.
"Would it by fine to take a room on the second floor? The first floor is full!" mentioned the man.
"Yeah, anywhere would be ok, we just need to rest as soon as possible," answered Harry, he was tired. So, they followed the man to their rooms and entered. Harry was still at the door paying the man for the three nights, plus a tip. He then slammed the door shut, and found himself lying on the cushion.
"Should we get on with putting our things in the closets and cupboards?" asked Ginny.
"I guess you're right," said Hermione. Eventually, the four managed to put their stuff into their places, using magic of course to save time. Hermione and Ginny went straight to bed. However, Ron and Harry were still awake. Ron was writing the letter to his mother; he finished writing, tied the letter to Pigwidgeon's leg, and told him to fly away. Harry, on the other hand, was reading the Daily Prophet, just in case he found something interesting. Indeed, he did...
"Hey Ron! Look at this!" said Harry, amazed. "Listen, the majority of wizards and witches in the Ministry of Magic, has agreed that it was time for Cornelius Fudge to step aside from his position, having caused such trouble to the students of Hogwarts: passing on dreadful educational decrees, sending Professor Umbridge to be the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, which caused great misery to the students, and much more. Therefore, the majority of the Ministry of Magic people have selected a new Minister to be more caring for Hogwarts rather than destroying it, and the person was none other than Hogwarts' headmaster himself, Albus Dumbledore. Of course, Dumbledore has sportingly agreed to take Fudge's place."
"Wow! I'm telling you, this is great news! With Dumbledore in charge of both Hogwarts and the Ministry, things are going to change a lot from last year!" said Ron, filled with happiness.
"Yeah, but still, that can't protect us, can it? I mean, Voldemort's death eaters--OH RON, GET A GRIP, YOU SHOULD START USING HIS NAME--began to spread all over the place, maybe even to destroy Hogwarts, not just to find me,"
"Spooky!" said Ron, swallowing a lump in his throat.
"Ron, during this summer, have you seen a lot of the members of the Order?" asked Harry.
"Quite a few, we saw McGonagall, Snape, Lupin, and Mad Eye, but we didn't see Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, or the others. I wonder where they are now," replied Ron.
A few seconds later, Harry and Ron both headed to their beds. Harry was yawning, so desperate to have some rest, after a long, exciting, thrilling, and an eventful day. He took off his glasses, climbed into the bed, and reclined. At first, he didn't much seem to have the ability to sleep, but then, slowly, his eyes began to hurt. He closed his eyes, and went straight to sleep. Harry couldn't stop thinking about how close September First was, how he finally joined his friends, how he was going back to Hogwarts in a few days.