Been a long time since I added a new chapter. Had some major writers block on this one, managed to get something out though. Let me know how you like it.

Chapter 12

Harry could never fully appreciate the depressing mood Grimmauld Place set on someone until he was stepping out its large ancient doors. As the cool summer breeze flowed through his hair he thought of how good it must have felt for his Godfather to finally leave such a horrible place. He was rather disappointed as Fred, George, Ron, Hermione, Lupin, and Ginny, with help from Tonks, began to apparate in front of him. He did not want to leave such a peaceful summer morning to apparate into the damp and dusty Leaky Cauldron.

Focusing on his destination, Harry took one last breath of crisp clean air before turning around to disapparate at the famous wizards pub. Only the Leaky Cauldron was not like Harry had known it for the past six years. Witches and Wizards were not talking happily over butterbeers and firewiskey, in fact, almost nobody was there. Tom, the barman, looked up at the group as they passed, but he did not show the usual hopefulness for new customers. He seemed to be eyeing each of them with a look of fear. The expressions on the faces of the few people actually sitting for drinks perfectly expressed the way Harry had been feeling for months.

"Its even gloomier in here than it was last year," Hermione noted.

"Diagon Alley gets worse everyday," said Fred grimly.

"Anyone who ever comes through here is keen to get on with what they need to do and get out quick," said George.

"That's exactly what we should be doing," said Lupin, guiding them into the empty alleyway.

Diagon Alley was worse than Harry had ever seen it. Witches and Wizards walked hurriedly without speaking, looking cautiously in every direction. Some had one hand tucked deep in their robes reminding Harry of how Moody would act when part of Harry's guard. A surprising amount of shops were closed and boarded up. The few shops that were open seemed to be enclosed in glowing black bars. It looked to Harry as if the shops were in large magical cages, but he knew they must be designed to keep something out.

When the group reached Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, however, they found the same flashy display as always. Although, Harry was happy to see, the "You-Know-Poo" sign was missing.

"You idiots didn't even lock up!" said Ron.

"He's right Fred," said George.

"How could we have been so stupid," said Fred.

"Tell you what little bro," said George, "for pointing out such a thick mistake on our part,"

"We'll let you have one free thing from the shop," said Fred.

"Cool!" said Ron, hurrying into the store. But he did not get more than a few feet into the store before he was shot right back toward them. Lupin slowed him down with a flick of his wand, and set Ron down lightly.

"Once you've had a bit more schooling you'll appreciate that there are more effective things than locks," said Fred grinning.

"I've had more school than you, you two never finished sixth year."

"So you wont be needing our help sorting out the second part of the jinx then?" said George, with an even bigger grin on his face.

At that moment Ron's eyebrows began growing at an alarming rate. Before they had grown so large that they blocked Ron's eyes, a huge mustache sprouted under his nose and began growing just as fast. While everyone burst out laughing, Ron's hand dove immediately into his pocket but Lupin had already reached him. As the jinx really began to take effect, bushy red hair began growing from his back and arms, giving him the impression of a red-haired gorilla that had been stuffed into wizard's robes. Lupin slowly removed the hair with his wand in one hand, while quickly taking Ron's drawn wand away with his other.

"We can't draw attention to ourselves," said Lupin, still holding Ron's wand a safe distance from him, "We need to keep moving, we'll stop back here when we leave."

Lupin led them down the almost deserted street, headed toward the stark white building, Gringotts. As Harry walked through the first set of doors he met a terrifying sight. An enormous troll was standing right in front of Harry. As Harry stared at the troll, Tonks steered him around him and pushed open the second door. Two more trolls stood on either side of them, accompanied by two large wizards. The wizards scanned all of them with strange glowing instruments before allowing them to head towards the counters. Once Harry had, had is Wand scanned, he was lead by a fat grumpy looking goblin to his vault.

"Okay, we ought to head to Madam Malkin's first," said Lupin, once they had returned to the streets of Diagon Alley.

"Only Ginny needs new robes," said Ron, "Harry, Hermione and I can keep going to get our things."

"We're supposed to keep together," said Lupin shortly.

"We members of the order now," said Ron, "we can take care of ourselves.

"He's right Remus," said Tonks, "they'll be alright."

"Okay, we'll meet at Flourish and Blotts in fourty-five minutes," said Lupin.

Harry, Ron and Hermione walked with them until they reached the robe shop and then headed down the street. They stopped to buy quills and parchment, then went to the apothecary to refill their supply of potions ingredients.

"What do you say we get a drink in the Leaky Cauldron?" asked Ron hopefully.

"The barman did look like he could use some customers," said Hermione.

"Yeah, alright," said Harry, still looking through the window of Madam Malkin's at Ginny.

The barman, Tom, did indeed look as though he needed a customer. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat at a table in the empty room.

"I'll get the drinks," said Hermione standing up.

"That's alright Hermione I'll get them," said Ron, heading for the bar.

"You've still got to buy food for you're owl, Ron," said Hermione.

Harry listened to them with disinterest, used to their bickering. He noticed, however, that it did not seem like their using arguments. They did not seem as serious, more as though they were ribbing each other. Harry couldn't help noticing that they were looking at each other in an unusual way.