Chapter 6 – Fashion and Firebolts

Harry, Ernie, and Algie didn't manage to get back to the summer house in Cornwall until the late afternoon due primarily to Algie's massive hangover. He'd let Harry and Ernie have a couple of pints – although not nearly as many as they'd have liked – but neither boy had been quite so unwell as Algie in the morning. The mood in the campsite had been a lot more subdued in the morning than it had been the night before, as many of the other campers were in much the same situation as Algie – and many of them worse.

After taking a little wander around the camp with Ernie to check out the aftermath of the night before, Harry used the crannog tent's built-in kitchen with the help of his wand to fry up some bacon and sausages for sandwiches. Once Algie was up and about after a large helping of bacon and sausage the hungover wizard packed up the tent with a flick of his wand and stuck it in his robe pocket.

It had taken another hour or so to convince the Portkey officer – a squat, officious witch in bright blue robes – that Algie's permission from the Portkey office for a personal Portkey right back to the house was genuine. In the end it had needed a bit of prodding from Proudfoot to get things moving, but they did eventually get transportation back to the summer house.

Harry spent the remainder of the summer lounging about the expansive gardens at Ernie's summer house, alternating between impromptu flying sessions on a borrowed broom and the occasional lecture from Ernie's mother about floramancy and all the other strange things they did at Wandwright's. He even took out his homework to go over it again along with Ernie, with input from both of Ernie's parents. That had been useful, since even though Mairi taught the more obscure magical arts, she was still a teacher and had an eye for homework and was a dab hand at charms.

Under the supervision of Algie, Harry and Ernie even got a few hours of practise in with practical spellwork, covering most of the trickier spells from first year and even a couple of the easier ones from the upcoming year. It had been good practise after a lapse over the first of the summer. Harry still felt more than a little miffed that wizard-raised students could effectively ignore the laws about not using magic during the summer so long as their parents were on board, but he supposed he could understand the reasons behind it. It wasn't a specific exemption, after all.

In the last week of the holiday Mairi took the boys to Diagon Alley for their school supplies – and so that Harry could finally collect his Firebolt broom courtesy of Sirius. That meant yet another trip from the Travel Room.

"Just take a pinch of Floo powder, throw it in the fire—and wait until it goes green—then you can step inside and call out your destination, clear as you can. It's easy once you get the hang of it," explained Mairi patiently to a rather sceptical Harry.

Based on his experience with other magical methods of travel, Harry didn't have high expectations of Floo travel. It was, however, apparently the easiest and most commonly used form of transportation for families and unqualified wizards, so Harry would need to get used to it.

"I can go first so you can see how to do it, if you want," offered Ernie. "I've done it loads of times, so it's fine."

"Er, yeah, alright," agreed Harry. It all seemed simple enough, and wizards used it so commonly that he knew it was safe, but he'd spent most of his life being told not to step inside fires.

"What a lovely idea, Ernest," said Mairi. "Remember, we're going to the Leaky Cauldron. Wait just beside the fireplace and don't go anywhere, please."

"Mum, I know," said Ernie. He grabbed a pinch of Floo powder and threw it into the fire before stepping right inside. As soon as he declared his destination, he disappeared into the flames.

"Now you, Harry, darling," said Mairi. "Just a pinch of Floo powder and remember to be very clear when you say your destination."

Harry nodded.

He stepped forward and grabbed just a little bit of Floo powder. By then the fire had returned to its normal and dangerous state, so he threw the powder in and watched for the flames to turn green. Then he stepped inside the fire.

"The Leaky Cauldron!" Harry said.

Then he started spinning.

Harry flew past a series of different fireplaces, catching snatches of the world just beyond them, until he finally came to a stop in what he assumed – rather hoped – was the Leaky Cauldron. Mercifully, he hadn't gone wrong, and when he stepped out of the fireplace he could immediately see Ernie stood just to the side.

Harry had visited the Leaky Cauldron briefly the previous summer with Flitwick, and the somewhat dingy pub looked exactly as he remembered it, even down to its near-toothless barman and proprietor. A rather motley collection of patrons sat at the tables – Harry thought he could even see a hag – eating and drinking, although it didn't seem particularly busy to Harry.

"See, mate?" said Ernie. "Easy! Nicer than Portkeys, at any rate."

"That's not hard though, is it?" said Harry. He stepped away from the fireplace and within moments Mairi stepped out of it.

"With me, boys. We've got lots to get done today!" she said after brushing stray bits of soot off her robes. "To the bank first! And then—shopping!"

The way Mairi said it made Harry think he was in for something rather unlike what he'd been prepared for.

Mairi led the two boys through the busy, crooked street that made up Diagon Alley's main shopping area towards Gringotts Bank. With two vaults to visit they spent longer on the carts than Harry had last time, which was both exhilarating and nauseating. They reached Harry's first, and he quickly gathered up enough gold for his school supplies and for bits and pieces throughout the year, and then they descended deeper into the bank's underbelly for the Macmillan family vault. Once they were all back outside, Mairi took another look at Ernie's school letter to see where to go next.

"I think we should go and get your robes first, darlings," said Mairi, "since you're going to both need dress robes and we'll want them properly fitted, of course. So I should think we'll want to go to Madam Malkin's first for your school robes, and then to Gladrags for your dress robes. Is that acceptable to you, Harry?"

"Erm, yeah," said Harry, who didn't really have an opinion. He knew that some of his housemates would only shop at Gladrags and hated having to buy their uniforms from Madam Malkin, but Harry honestly couldn't see the difference.

"Wonderful!" said Mairi. "Will you be needing any new casual robes, dear?"

"I don't think so," said Harry. "I've not really grown all that much, anyway…"

"We'll see while we're there, then," said Mairi, although her tone suggested to Harry she'd already decided he needed more.

"Mum, Harry wants to go get his new broom, as well, remember," said Ernie. "So we can't spend too much time on robes."

"I remember, Ernest. Of course we can go and pick up Harry's broom. But you'll both thank me later for being so attentive to fashion, darlings," said Mairi. "Remember that this year something special is happening at school, and you'll need a nice new pair of dress robes for the Yule Ball."

"Yule Ball? A dance?" asked Harry. He was instantly reminded of awful school discos back at primary school, and later on the Stonewall Christmas disco. Repeating that experience but in robes didn't rate highly on his list of things he wanted to do.

"Yes, Harry, dear. It's traditional for there to be a ball at Christmas time during the Triwizard Tournament, and second years will be invited—it's why you have dress robes on your letter," said Mairi. "As it's an international event I'm sure you'll both want to look your best, so we really do need to be spending time on robes."

"Well, I suppose I do need some new robes, then," said Ernie.

"I don't think I even own dress robes..." Harry said.

"You don't, darling—I had Blippy check for us," said Mairi. "So, robes first, and then we can attend to... brooms."

That decided, Mairi led Harry and Ernie into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and negotiated a swift fitting and purchase of new robes for the upcoming school year even though the shop seemed very busy with the usual Hogwarts rush. Harry probably wouldn't have bothered, since his old robes did still fit more or less, but he supposed it would be useful to have new ones just in case he grew a bit more over the year.

With no time to rest after Madam Malkin's Harry and Ernie got ushered into Gladrags Wizardwear, a clothing shop apparently dedicated to dressing the 'elegant wizard'. Inside, Harry could immediately tell the shop wanted to attract a more affluent customer than Madam Malkin. Nothing inside the shop had any sort of price tag, or even an indication of how much it could cost, and the selection on display dwarfed that of the other well-known clothing supplier in Diagon Alley. Harry saw an entire section of wall dedicated to socks, including a particularly exotic display of novelty socks. Displays advertised custom, hand-tailored, robes along with all manner of additional charms, such as smell-detection, thief-biting, and automagical resizing.

A handful of customers browsed the display items, watched over by a couple of witches in periwinkle robes. A section at the back of the shop had been reserved for fittings according to a sign Harry saw on the wall but it had been blocked off by a patterned screen.

"Have a look around while I go and fetch an assistant," directed Mairi once inside the shop. "And Harry, I do think we'll need to purchase some casual robes to extend your wardrobe once we're done with the dress robes, so I'd like you have a think of what you'd like."

"We'll need to go this way," said Ernie. He grabbed Harry by the arm and pulled him away from the entrance. "Men's are over in the corner."

"Yeah, alright," said Harry. He didn't know what to really look for in a dress robe – he only just about barely understood what he was supposed to be looking for in his usual robes – so he deferred to Ernie's suggestions while waiting for Mairi to come back with a shop assistant.

Harry didn't have to wait long, as Mairi soon returned with a tall and rail thin young wizard dressed in similar robes to the witches on the shop floor, although his were a bit longer.

"Harry, Ernest, this is George, and he's going to be helping us find lovely new dress robes for the both of you today," said Mairi. "I've been assured that he knows what sorts of styles young men your age are wearing—here and on the continent—so we should have more than enough time for you to pick up your broom later, Harry."

"Oh? What broom are you getting?" asked George. "D'you play at school, then?"

"I did want to play, but…" Harry said, unsure that he should mention the Triwizard Tournament. He shrugged. "It's a Firebolt—the broom is—anyway." At the look the shop assistant gave him, Harry felt he had to clarify that he hadn't bought it for himself even though he didn't have a position on a team. "It was a Christmas present."

"Well, you are lucky, aren't you!" said George. "A Firebolt! I'm stuck with a Nimbus 1000! I mean, it's not so bad now I can Apparate, but… even for a sport broom, you know." He shrugged. "Anyway, you need dress robes for school this year, yeah? The both of you?" He glanced between Harry and Ernie. "You both suit different styles, so… I think I know what to go with for you," he said to Ernie, "since we've got a profile here already from your last visit, but you'll be a bit harder…" He turned towards Harry and looked him up and down. "Hang on, I'll be back in a minute."

George disappeared into the back of the shop, leaving Harry and Ernie to wait with Ernie's mother.

"Do you think you'll need new shoes, Harry?" asked Mairi. "You shouldn't really see them under the dress robes, of course, but a new pair of shoes to match would be more appropriate. You know, I always feel like it's better to dress for an event than it is to just put any old thing together out of what you've already got."

"Er—I hadn't really—I was just going to wear my trainers, I suppose," said Harry, who hadn't given a moment's thought to his shoes. Instantly he regretted saying it, since Mairi appeared to be physically pained by his response. "I suppose maybe I should buy some new shoes, then…"

"Oh, Harry, darling, you definitely need to buy some new shoes!" said Mairi. "We'll go right away after we're done here! You certainly can't be wearing those muggle shoes to a Ball!"

Harry didn't think his trainers were that bad – they were new that summer for the holiday. He would however concede that they were very muggle in their style. He didn't think he'd ever seen a pureblood wizard or even most of the halfbloods wearing shoes like them, so maybe Mairi had a point. Harry thought it wouldn't hurt to grab a pair of wizard-appropriate shoes, at least.

"Mum!" said Ernie. "You can't just go about dressing a wizard up! It's just not done." He turned towards Harry. "Sorry about this, Harry. You don't have to listen—she can't make you buy new shoes!"

"Oh, hush, Ernest!" said Mairi. "No one is making anyone do anything, darling. I just thought I should offer Harry some sartorial expertise, that's all, since Harry's aunt isn't likely to know the fashions here. Harry, I can only apologise if I have offended you in any way. Simply say the word, and I shan't interfere again."

"Oh, er, it's alright, really," said Harry. "I don't mind. I appreciate the help—I don't have a clue when it comes to fashion—and I wouldn't have known what to buy, really…"

In a way, Mairi reminded Harry of a much more up-market version of his aunt Petunia – but a bit more artsy. More or less harmless, but with certain strongly-held opinions on comportment and etiquette that she was utterly unafraid to share with all and sundry. In any case it was the sort of behaviour Harry had grown used to, and he did genuinely feel thankful for the guidance. The utter embarrassment of turning up to the Yule Ball dressed like some sort unfashionable oik didn't bear thinking about, not when Harry considered that most of his friends and housemates would certainly attend the Ball dressed in the most fashionable of fashion available.

"Oh, it really is my pleasure," said Mairi. "Fashion is art, and I do so love art in all its forms, Harry darling."

"Alright, Mum," said Ernie. "Steady on. It's just a pair of shoes!"

Mairi sniffed.

"It's not just a pair of shoes, Ernest. It's never just a belt. At Wandwright's we have a whole subject dedicated to fashion and design! Where do you think all these clothes come from?" said Mairi. "Honestly, you and your father…"

By then, George had come back with a selection of different dress robes for the two boys to try, which got Mairi's mind off fashion in the abstract and onto the rather more practical concerns over dress robes for Harry and Ernie.

"We can move into the fitting area now, if you've browsed enough," said George. "I brought a couple of robes here so you can tell me if I'm on the right track or if I should go back and try again." He presented the robes not to Harry or Ernie, but to Mairi. Although Harry thought it was the right decision, it still stung a little.

"Oh, that one for Ernest, definitely," said Mairi as she sorted the dress robes. "Or maybe this one… Oh, or perhaps this one... But I don't see Harry in any of these. Maybe something that shows off his shoulders?"

George and Mairi stopped to look Harry over once again, which made him feel a bit uneasy, but they soon turned back to the robes.

"I see what you mean," said George. "We've got some things in the back that would be perfect."

"Well, do lead on, George, darling."

Harry followed Mairi and George to the back of the shop where several secluded areas had been put aside for fittings. He tried on a series of different kinds of dress robes, along with Ernie. By the third set of dress robes Harry thought he was beginning to understand what George and Mairi were talking about. He did have good shoulders – just broad enough to give the more fitted robes a nice shape – although he wasn't yet tall enough to pull off some of the looks he'd been dressed in.

According to Mairi, anyway.

Harry's enthusiasm for fashionable robes dwindled as the hours dragged on, and as he had to try on countless different sets of dress robes. After two long, gruelling hours inside Gladrags – which felt to Harry more like a lifetime – they left the shop with new dress robes for both Harry and Ernie, along with a few new sets of casual robes for Harry that Mairi had picked out.

"Why couldn't we get my shoes in Gladrags?" Harry asked as they were leaving. Gladrags did have a section with shoes in it, after all.

But Mairi didn't seem to even want to entertain the thought.

"Oh, Heavens, no," she said. "These will be much nicer—and I know the shoemaker."

After a brief excursion to a fancy cobbler for new shoes to match his dress robes, Harry could finally perk up as it was time to visit Quality Quidditch Supplies to pick up his broom. In the interest of efficiency and a declared complete absence of interest in Quidditch and brooms Mairi went off to get all Harry and Ernie's new schoolbooks.

"I have the teacher's discount, you see," she'd said before leaving the two boys.

"Sorry about Mum," said Ernie once Mairi had left. "She can get a bit… well, you know," he said. He shrugged.

"I don't mind," said Harry. "Really. Anyway, we've got loads of time left to grab my broom."

For Harry, that had always been the most important part of the trip to Diagon Alley anyway. Of course he needed new schoolbooks, and robes, and ingredients for potions… but he could have owl-ordered those. The Firebolt needed to be picked up in person, and even if it hadn't, Harry would have wanted an excuse to visit Quality Quidditch Supplies anyway.

And he would have wanted to buy himself a broom if Sirius hadn't done it for him. Perhaps not a Firebolt – as the premier sports broom, it was a little bit too expensive to buy for recreational purposes – but maybe a Nimbus 2001.

"It's just a bit disappointing there's no Quidditch this year," Harry continued. "I know your dad said there's a flying competition, but I wanted to get on the Slytherin team. If I have to wait until next year when we've got OWLs, well…"

"There's a lot to sport flying, you know," said Ernie. "I'm not much of a Quidditch flyer, personally—you've seen me fumble the Quaffle back at the house—but I wouldn't mind a spot of racing, or something like that if it's on. 'Course, I won't have a bloody Firebolt, but my Nimbus should be enough to get on with." He looked around to check whether anyone was listening in, then continued. "That godfather of yours is someone worth knowing at Christmas time, let me tell you."

"I don't imagine he'll be like that every year," said Harry. He hoped not, anyway. Rven the Firebolt felt like far too grand a gift, and that was ostensibly because Sirius had missed all his birthdays and Christmases to date. A repeat of that would be embarrassing.

A crowd of people, young and old and everyone in between, stood outside Quality Quidditch Supplies looking at the Firebolt display in the window. Most of them were talking about the price – which wasn't listed anywhere in the display – although some were talking about its specifications. Harry elbowed his way through the crowd and eventually found his way inside the shop.

The inside of the shop smelled like wood and high-quality wood varnish. A number of different displays occupied the walls and the shop floor covering a variety of different models of broom by a varied range of broom-makers, although the largest and most grand of them all was the Firebolt display right in the centre of the shop. A huge photograph of the broom in action at the World Cup showed the Firebolt off in all its glory, playing and replaying the moment Harry recognised as Viktor Krum catching the Snitch in the final. Testimonials from the various professional and national teams that used the Firebolt scrolled past on a banner above the display, while another read out the technical specifications of the broom.

Only a handful of customers were inside the shop, and most of them seemed to be browsing in the broom care section. A middle-aged wizard sat behind the shop's counter keeping an eye over the customers while scribbling something in a little book.

Harry walked up to the counter and fished around in his robe pocket for the certificate that proved he had a Firebolt order waiting for him.

"Er—hello," said Harry. He placed the certificate on the table. "I'm here to pick up a Firebolt you've been holding for me since Christmas time. I've got the order certificate here."

"And I'm the Sultan of Brunei," said the man without looking up. "It was worth a try, lad, but we've had ten like you try something like this today, so I've lost patience. If you're here to buy, please do. Otherwise, we don't need you cluttering up the shop floor."

"I'm sorry you've had to deal with that," said Harry, "but I really am here to pick up a Firebolt. I'm Harry Potter. You've had one here for me since Christmas, look, I've got the certificate here."

"That Harry Potter must really get about," said the man, "since you're the third one we've had in today!" The man finally looked up, and Harry moved aside his hair so that his scar was visible. He usually kept it hidden, but that moment seemed as good a time as any to do things a little differently. "Oh! Mr Potter! I am so sorry for my rudeness! You must understand, with all the furore over the Firebolt since the World Cup we've had all sorts of chancers in! It's been driving away our actual customers, so I've got a little… well. You really are the third Harry Potter we've had in today, except you… well… you are actually Harry Potter!"

"It's alright," said Harry. "But there is a Firebolt here for me, right?"

"Oh, yes, yes, of course!" said the man. "We've had it in since Christmas, like you said. I'm Aquileus Flitney! I wrote to you at Christmas to confirm we'd hold it for you until this summer! Again, I'm so sorry for my behaviour before. I'll just go and grab it from the stockroom, and it'll be a few minutes if that's okay? The security charms, you know…" He waited for Harry to nod his assent before getting up and disappearing into the back of the shop.

While he was gone, Harry had a look around the broom care section of the shop.

"Which varnish d'you reckon I should get?" Harry asked Ernie. "This one says it keeps the handle sleek, but this one says it's better for grip."

"The second one's got a best seller sticker on it," said Ernie. "Oh, have a look at that—it's a full professional care kit." He pointed to a stack of fancy wooden cases against the opposite wall. "That seems better value. It even says they're what the Irish national team uses."

"Yeah, that's not a bad idea, actually," said Harry. He put the items he'd been looking at back in their spots, then moved over to pick up a full professional care kit. "Must be charmed feather-light, as well," he said, "since it's not heavy at all."

Harry stuck the care kit under his arm and browsed a little more while he waited for the shop worker to come back with his broom. He eventually picked up a little book on proper care practice, then went back to the counter to wait.

Aquileus Flitney returned holding a long, ornate box embossed with the Firebolt logo. He placed it gently onto the countertop and then produced a small scroll.

"This is the proof of ownership and the details of the warranty—which is really good, by the way. It's a fifteen year warranty on this, and if it gets damaged—as long as the damage is covered under the terms, it's all in the scroll—you can send it back to us for repair or replacement depending on the condition," said Aquileus. "The box is charmed with all the standard anti-theft measures of course, and… well, I think that's it, actually. You've got a top-notch broom there, Mr Potter, really."

Harry stared at the box longingly.

"I wouldn't recommend taking it out of the box before you get it home, personally," said Aquileus, "since that will mess up the anti-theft charms. But of course it's your decision. Now… yes, went over the warranty, charms… I think that's all then, Mr Potter."

"I've got these as well that I need to pay for," said Harry. He put the care kit and the book onto the counter, then enough money to cover the cost. "You can keep the change," said Harry. He'd added it up and it was only a couple of knuts, anyway. Aquileus bagged up his purchases and then slid them back across the counter.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr Potter. And please, do not hesitate to contact us here if you have any questions or problems with the broom. Not that you should have any, of course—it's a work of art, that broom. But… just in case," said Aquileus.

"I will, thanks," said Harry. He and Ernie left Quality Quidditch Supplies and eventually managed to get past the crowd outside as well. Harry's Firebolt in its box drew a fair amount of stares and other attention, but it was still at a level Harry was already used to.

"We should probably go and find my mum," said Ernie. "I bet she'll still be up at Flourish and Blotts, it's always packed in there this time of year."

"Yeah, alright."

Harry wasn't really bothered what happened next, as he was much more interested in his new broom. Still, they did have a few more shops to visit before it would be time to go back to Ernie's summer house, so he had at least another hour or so to wait before he could try it out. The two boys made their way to Diagon Alley's primary purveyor of books and found it full – but with Ernie's mother nowhere to be seen.

"I think I know where she's gone," declared Ernie. "It's just this way."

Harry and Ernie found Mairi sat outside a little café near to Flourish and Blotts reading a magazine and drinking coffee. She had a little bag placed on the table.

"Are you done, boys?" she asked once Harry and Ernie reached her table. "We still have to visit the apothecary, and then we can go home."

"Yes, Mum. We've got what we wanted from Quality Quidditch Supplies. And I think we've got everything else, too… or did we need any new equipment for this year?" said Ernie.

"No, I don't think, Ernest. Next year, perhaps, when you make your choices for optionals, but not this year, darling. Well, if you're ready, we can get going." She placed her coffee down and stood up. "Your schoolbooks are in the bag. If one of you would be a dear and carry it, that would be lovely," said Mairi.

"I'll do it," mumbled Ernie. "Since you've got your broom, Harry…"

The three of them made excellent time at the apothecary, since Mairi had a way with shop assistants, and within no time at all were waiting at the public Floo fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron to return to the summer house. Harry had a bit of unease at taking his brand new, extremely expensive, high-end broom through a fireplace, but he got over it eventually.

Once back inside the Travel Room, Mairi directed Harry and Ernie to set down all their things.

"Blippy can sort out all this, darlings," said Mairi. "Now, I'm sure you're going to want to try out your new broom, Harry, but do be careful, both of you." She put down her own bags and then wandered off, leaving Harry and Ernie alone.

"Well… might as well go try it out, right?" said Ernie. "If you want to, I mean."

"Er—yeah, of course, mate," said Harry. "Let's go!"

Harry and Ernie spent the rest of the day doing laps on Harry's new Firebolt, until at the early evening when Blippy came to fetch them both to get ready for dinner.

Harry spent the last few days of summer practically glued to his Firebolt. The expansive grounds of the Macmillan family's summer house allowed him freedom enough to really test out the broom, but even the top-notch security charms wouldn't prevent muggles from seeing him if he so much as inched over the boundaries, so he did still feel a little restricted.

Still, the Firebolt felt better than any broom he'd ever tried, almost as if it was an extension of his own being. Now that Harry had his Flying cert after first year, he intended to take to the skies around Hogwarts at the earliest opportunity even if there was no Quidditch that year.

Even if he didn't manage to get into the competitions, too.

He didn't keep the broom entirely to himself, however. Although Ernie did have a broom of his own, it wasn't a Firebolt, so he traded goes of it with the other boy. Harry found that was even better than keeping it to himself, anyway, since at least then Ernie could really understand what all the fuss was about even if he wasn't quite so skilled a flyer.

It was with great regret on the morning of the last day in August that Harry packed his Firebolt back into its case, recommended by its care manual, for transport. He made sure to pack it away himself, since although Blippy had packed his other things into his trunk, he wasn't quite sure he trusted elf magic around his broom and its charms. Not enough to risk it, anyway. So he brought the broom down to the Travel Room himself just before breakfast, and felt much better for it.

"To be young again!" declared Algie at breakfast the morning of departure. "They'd cancelled the Triwizard Tournament before my time, you know, boys. But you two, well—you'll get to see the first Tournament in centuries!"

"We can't enter though, can we?" said Ernie. "I mean, it does sound dangerous, but… it's hard to be excited about something you won't go to do."

"Yeah," agreed Harry in between mouthfuls of porridge. And it was especially difficult to be excited over an event in which he couldn't compete, and which had cancelled Quidditch for the year.

"Well it's like I said before, isn't it," said Algie. "It's a whole festival of sport—and culture, don't think I forgot about that, Mairi darling—so there's enough there for your cohort, too. Don't you worry about that!"

"Like what?" asked Ernie. "You said something about flying, but you wouldn't explain what."

"Have to leave you with a bit of mystery, eh, lads?" said Algie. "What I will say is that that new broom of yours could well come in handy, Harry."

"And it is a cultural experience too, boys," said Mairi. She'd been away for parts of the week, preparing for the upcoming year at Wandwright's, but she'd come back to see Ernie and Harry off to Hogwarts that morning. "You'll get to meet all sorts of new people from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons this year! And there's the Yule Ball, and I hear tell of a number of cultural events and social functions besides..."

"That, too," said Algie. "You could even meet a pretty French witch and take her to the Ball! Wouldn't that be something fine, eh, lads?"

"A little bit of Christmas romance sounds so lovely," said Mairi. "But you simply must let me know, Ernest, darling—so I can help. You do get a bit shy around witches."

Ernie went red and mumbled something into his toast.

Harry did see the appeal in taking a pretty witch to the Yule Ball, in the abstract, at least. The practical problem, however, involved asking a girl to the Ball and then attending it with her. Along with everyone else who was watching and attending.

What if the only girls who want to go with me only want to go with me because I'm Harry Potter? Harry wondered. Hopefully there would be someone from the other schools who wasn't really all that bothered by that, since that seemed like his best option...

Harry pushed that aside for now, since it felt like a problem he could deal with closer to Christmas.

"And if that isn't enough for you," continued Mairi, "you must remember that you have your new classes starting this year. Alas, nothing especially artistic or creative, but they are at least still teaching divination, so the curriculum isn't totally devoid of the more esoteric disciplines…"

"Well, Wandwright's is an art school, dear," said Algie. "So it makes sense that Hogwarts would choose to focus on different things. Alchemy is a wonderfully meaty subject anyway, Mairi. It's more than enough to be getting on with. We both know I never had the knack for it myself, but the lads seem far brighter than I was at their age!"

"Alchemy does sound interesting," said Harry. He'd flicked through his new textbook already, and although he hadn't understood all of the new terms and concepts, it seemed like an extension to things he had learned the previous year in some of his other subjects. The field just seemed more interesting than arithmancy, and more practical than Ancient Runes, whose textbooks had gone mostly unbothered since he'd bought them.

"I suppose alchemy does have its place among the more esoteric branches of magic," conceded Mairi. "And there is art among its higher mysteries."

"So it looks like the pair of you have a busy, busy year ahead of you!" concluded Algie. "That was a lovely breakfast, Blippy," he said, although the elf was nowhere that Harry could see. "You boys finish up and get ready, then meet us in the Travel Room when just before. We'll Floo over to the Station easy as that, and we'll have you on your way in no time!"

Harry finished up with breakfast and retreated to his bedroom to get ready for the Floo to King's Cross. He didn't think there was time for a bath, so he washed and changed into a set of his new casual robes before doing a once-over of the bedroom for any of his things that might have been left behind. Harry didn't find anything – Blippy's elf-magic had done a perfect job of packing.

With nothing else left to do, Harry made his way to the summer house owlery, a little tower off the attic which had been a later addition to the muggle house, where Agrippa had been quartered over the summer with several other owls. He didn't want to pack the poor owl up into a cage for a long journey by train, so Harry sent him off to Hogwarts on his own.

All his preparations complete, Harry went to sit in the Travel Room until it was time to go. There was something to be said for house elf efficiency, he thought, as there had been no last-minute rushing around looking for lost socks or hats or anything like that. Even the trip to the station would be much easier—step through the fireplace and arrive immediately.

When he reached the Travel Room Ernie sat on one of the chairs chatting with a nosy portrait.

"Mum and Dad shouldn't be long," said Ernie. "Dad always cuts it fine when we go anywhere, but we shouldn't be late to the train. Plenty of time."

Harry nodded.

"I've just sent Agrippa off to school," said Harry. "No sense taking him on the train, is there?"

"Good shout," said Ernie.

Harry sat down next to him and gestured at the portrait.

"He have anything good to say?"

Ernie shook his head.

"Nah—he heard Dad talking about the Triwizard Tournament and he wanted to warn me to 'beware the cockatrice'," said Ernie quietly, so that the portrait didn't overhear.

Algie and Mairi strolled into the Travel Room at ten minutes to eleven, and then all four of them left through the Floo for King's Cross. They emerged directly into the public Floo area of the station, which was a little annex tucked away from the fractional platforms. It had a few trolleys set aside for luggage, which Algie filled with the boys' things with a quick flick of his wand.

"And we got here with time to spare!" declared Algie with a triumphant look at Mairi. "More than enough time."

"I've never been to this bit before," said Harry. "Do we just… go around the corner for the platforms?"

"It's just this way, Harry, dear," said Mairi. She led the small group outside of the annex and into the muggle part of the station. "We want Platform 9¾, so we have to go past the barrier, I'm afraid. Silly little thing, but when they built the platforms they put them in all over the place."

"It's easier to Apparate right in," said Algie, "but with so many things, and the two of you… well, it seemed safer to Floo."

"It's what we did last year anyway," said Ernie. "It's not so bad."

They made good time through the packed train station and passed through the barrier between the Muggle world and Platform 9¾ without any difficulty. The magical side of the platform was no less busy than the muggle side, as dozens of families rushed to get their children ready to board the train. Algie and Mairi stopped at a vacant bit of the platform just to the side of the entrance to say goodbye.

"Harry, it was lovely having you with us this summer," said Mairi. "You're welcome in our home any time you like. I do sincerely hope you come and visit with us again! Your aunt and uncle should be proud of the way you've behaved. You really are a credit to your family—your aunt and uncle, and your late parents, of course."

"Mum!" muttered Ernie.

"Oh, er, thank you very much," Harry managed to say eventually. He thought his aunt would have been pleased to hear that – manners were always first thing on her mind whenever Harry went to a friend's house – and it did feel nice to get an invitation back. "I really enjoyed staying with you all," he said. "It was really nice and I enjoyed learning about, erm, floramancy and other magical art forms." That wasn't even really a lie, either, since it had been interesting in parts even if he was glad to be attending Hogwarts instead of Wandwright's.

"You are a darling young man!" said Mairi.

"And I'll remember that Cup Final for years to come, Harry, my boy," said Algie. "Thanks for that! And to reiterate what my beautiful wife has said, you really are welcome back whenever you'd like. Our Ernest certainly does know how to choose his friends!"

"Dad!" said Ernie. "God, you're both so embarrassing sometimes."

"It's because we love you so much, darling," said Mairi. She reached over to hug Ernie, who resisted for a moment before returning the hug.

"Give us a go as well," said Algie, joining the hug. "Now you must promise to write to me at once if you meet any pretty French witches!"

"Dad!" said Ernie. "We get Hogsmeade weekends this year anyway, so I can just come home and see you both…"

"Darling, if you do meet any nice witches this year, don't come to your father," warned Mairi. "Ask me instead!"

Ernie shrugged.

"Yeah, alright. Anyway, we've got to go—the train's about to leave," said Ernie. "And yes Mum, I promise I'll write to you! I'll see you soon anyway."

Mairi hugged him again.

"I know."

Harry felt almost as if he was intruding on a personal family moment, so he looked away, but Mairi soon drew him into a hug, too.

"You must come and visit us during a Hogsmeade weekend, Harry," said Mairi. "We won't take no for answer!"

"Er, definitely," said Harry. "Thanks for having me, really."

"Well, come on, Harry," said Ernie. "Let's get off—this pair would have us here all day otherwise!" Ernie set off with his trolley for the train, and Harry followed him. They only had a couple of minutes until the train pulled out of the station, but both of them managed to get on in time.

Once inside the train, the two boys went their separate ways. They'd agreed beforehand that they wouldn't sit together on the train—Harry had been told in no uncertain terms by Daphne that all of their friends would be sat together on the train, and Ernie had been inundated with requests from his Hufflepuff friends to sit with them.

"See you later, Harry," said Ernie.

"See you in lessons, mate," agreed Harry, who set off down the train in search of his friends from Slytherin.