Why am I incapable of keeping a consistent update schedule? If someone finds out, please let me know. I've decided to start writing ahead in hopes of getting on a more regular schedule, so my next update should be on the eighth. I'm aiming to release a new chapter every three days. We'll see how that works out.
August 3, 1996
The following 24 hours were fraught with tension between the Golden Trio. Harry was burying himself in his school books and Ron was rather hacked off at Harry's newfound study habits. Hermione, while outwardly excited about Harry's attitude, could be seen covertly glaring at Harry when she thought no one would notice.
Hedwig had returned without an answer from McGonagall and Harry was on tenterhooks waiting for a reply. Maybe she's talking with Snape now? Harry wasn't holding out much hope on Snape finding some decency buried in his blackened soul.
He was currently ensconced in his - for the next three weeks at least - bedroom with various books spread out haphazardly across the floor. He was currently reviewing his Potions textbook on Fred's bed. He'd discovered that it was Fred's because of a F he had found etched on one of the bedposts. It could have been George's doing too, Merlin knows that's just the sort of thing the twins would do. Harry absentmindedly turned a page, his mind wandering back to Snape.
Should I write to him? Harry gave a bitter laugh at that errant thought. Snape would sooner chuck his letter in the fire than open it. It's not worth it.
Harry shook his head a few times, as if he could physically get rid of the unwanted thoughts clouding his mind. McGonagall would get back to him eventually, and in the meantime he would have to content himself with studying. He expected to have to buy a new Potions textbook this year - if he was accepted into the class - since no new one had been assigned since first year. As such, Harry wanted to take one last look through the old one, admittedly in part because he hadn't cracked it open very often. He looked down at the page he had stopped on.
"The Strengthening Solution is one that grants the drinker immense strength. The brewing of this potion is somewhat difficult and requires some technical skill. The general theory of how this potion works and its effect on the body should be reviewed before any attempts to brew it are made. If a review is needed, please refer to Chapter 2, page 37.
Common mistakes students make when brewing the Strengthening Solution are mostly errors with their ingredient preparation - specifically the Griffin's claw. The claw must be finely powdered before being added to the cauldron. Many students merely reduce the claw to a granulated texture, which causes the claw to melt slower than it should and reduces the efficacy of the final product.
One must also be aware of which ingredients they are adding to the potion. Salamander blood is an essential ingredient in the Strengthening Solution while pomegranate juice is not, yet they look remarkably similar. Always double check ingredient labels before…"
A loud hoot cut through the silence and Harry nearly dropped his textbook in surprise. A soot grey owl was hovering outside of the closed window, a letter tied to its left leg. Harry hastened to let the owl in, quickly undoing the latches.
The owl soared into the room and came to a stop on Hedwig's perch, causing Hedwig to grudgingly shuffle over to make room for the newcomer. Harry removed the owl of its burden, giving it an owl treat from the bag he kept on the dresser before settling back on the bed to read the letter.
Harry recognized the crisp, clean handwriting of his Head of House at once. Speak of the devil, he thought amusedly. There was only a single sheet of parchment inside the envelope.
Mr. Potter,
I confess myself disappointed that you have turned down the Captaincy, but am relieved that you will remain on the team. I have no intention of relinquishing the Quidditch Cup to anyone else. Miss. Bell will be an excellent alternative and I have already sent her a letter informing her of the circumstances.
I have taken your request regarding N.E.W.T. Potions to Headmaster Dumbledore and he has assured me that Professor Snape will be amenable towards accepting you into his sixth year class. The textbook Professor Snape has assigned to his N.E.W.T. class is Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage.
I look forward to seeing you back at Hogwarts. Please attempt to stay out of trouble until Halloween at the very least.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Harry couldn't help but snicker at McGonagall's parting remark; he hadn't even managed to stay out of trouble for the summer.
The comment about Dumbledore convincing Snape to teach Harry this year worried him though, why would Dumbledore intervene for him? Sure, Harry's Potions O.W.L. was probably enough for a normal teacher to let him into their class, but Snape was no normal teacher. Harry would bet the entire contents of his trust vault that Snape would only accept Harry's attendance under extreme duress.
Which Dumbledore holds, of course, he mused. Whatever the cause, Harry was happy that he'd gotten the end result he'd been aiming for.
Harry found his supply list on the nightstand and wrote in the textbook that McGonagall had told him to get. He was inordinately pleased with himself, perhaps inappropriately so considering that it would still be Snape teaching the class.
He was just happy that he'd taken the initiative and done something for himself. It seemed like for most of his life, he'd been going along with the flow and conforming to the status quo - as much as a world-famous teen with horrendous luck could anyway.
"Harry!" Ron burst into the room with his Cleansweep clutched in his hand. "Want to play a pickup game? Two-on-two, even Hermione's playing!"
Harry glanced back at the Potions textbook still on the floor and decided to give it up as a lost cause for the day. "Sure, mate. Be down in a few."
Ron cheered and left in a frenzy of energy.
August 4, 1996
"I was thinking we could go to Diagon today to get your school supplies." Mrs. Weasley's words took a few moments to penetrate the morning fog that hung around the four sleepy occupants of the kitchen table. Once Harry registered what she'd said, he perked up.
"Can we? There's a lot of things I need to get."
Ron, on the other hand, wasn't thinking about school. "Wicked! We can visit Fred and George's shop."
"We'll go after you lot finish up your breakfast. I've already asked Arthur to put in a request for a ministry car. Because we've got Harry with us, we'll be meeting up with Hagrid at the Leaky Cauldron. Extra security and all, sorry Harry."
Harry only shrugged, he didn't mind having Hagrid along. He was good in a fight, but also rather trusting, sometimes to his detriment. Hopefully that would make it easier for Harry to slip past him. He didn't want Hagrid or anyone else with him while he did his shopping. Justifying to Ron and Hermione why he suddenly wanted new robes when he hadn't cared much about robes in previous years didn't sound appealing, nor did having them witness him going into his trust vault. No, he would be alone for that.
"Why aren't we floo'ing, Mum?" asked Ginny.
"It's too much of a security risk, we have no clue how many people You-Know-Who has got in the Ministry. We're better off driving."
With that, Harry jammed the last piece of bacon into his mouth and gave the plate to a smiling Mrs. Weasley.
Harry hurriedly made his way to his room, quickly changing into an old pair of jeans and a tee, throwing a light cloak on as the weather in London could be unpredictable. He stuffed his Invisibility Cloak inside the inner pocket, thankful for the sheer fabric. He quickly brushed his teeth and returned to the kitchen.
"Harry! Good morning." Mr. Weasley jovially greeted Harry from behind the counter, helping his wife with the last of the washing up.
"Good morning. Am I the first one down?" asked Harry, noticing that they were the only ones present.
"Ron is hardly ever ready on time, but I don't know what's keeping the girls." Mrs. Weasley answered.
Harry wandered off, claiming a comfortable armchair in the living room to spend the wait in. Hermione joined him after a while and they sat together in awkward silence.
Hermione was the first one to break. "Are you excited to get out?"
"Yeah, it's been a pretty dull summer so far."
Hermione nodded and they slipped back into the stifling quiet. Just then, a car trundled up to the front gate of the Burrow and a loud honk came from the horn. Evidently the driver was ready to go.
"Ron, Ginny!" shouted Mrs. Weasley, "The car's here, finish up!"
A great crash came from Ron's room and his voice floated down the stairs, assuring his mum that he'd be down in a minute.
Harry stood up and passed by Hermione, still on the couch, on his way to the entrance hall. She quickly followed him and they joined the elder Weasleys. Ginny was already there and Ron was stumbling down the stairs, still trying to get one of his trainers on.
The ragtag group piled out of the Burrow and squeezed into the white car. Harry was pleasantly surprised to find that the interior had been magically expanded, giving everyone ample space to stretch out in.
"Off to the Leaky, 's that right?" The driver asked.
"Yes, thank you."
The car sped off and Ron and Ginny began an enthusiastic debate over what the twins' shop would look like. Harry tuned them out and instead spent the ride gazing out at the scenery flashing by.
Harry slowly began to recognize the streets they were driving on and the car pulled up in front of the Leaky Cauldron not long after. Hagrid's giant silhouette could be seen loitering off to the side of the entrance. He was clearly trying to be inconspicuous, but it was a mission already doomed to failure on account of his sheer size.
Once all six of them had exited the car, it sped off, the driver telling Mr. Weasley to give him a holler when they needed him again. Harry assumed Mr. Weasley had a way to contact him, otherwise they were about to be stranded.
"Harry!" Harry was suddenly swept up into a massive hug, feet dangling off the ground.
"Hi, Hagrid." He panted once he was released.
"Good ter see yeh all, Molly, Arthur," Hagrid shook hands with everyone else and led the group into the Leaky Cauldron. The inside was devoid of customers and the few who were there seemed to be in a hurry. The children were struck at the changed atmosphere while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley seemed to be expecting it, mouths set in a grim line. Harry knew that many of these witches and wizards had lived through the first war with Voldemort and it made his heart clench to see those same people preparing for war again.
Tom was at the counter as always, and he waved at them as they filed past on their way to the Alley. Hagrid shouldered the back door open and they were presented with a plain brick wall. Mr. Weasley drew his wand, tapping the correct brick, and the bricks parted to reveal Diagon Alley like Harry had never seen it before.
The same grim atmosphere that had hung over the Leaky Cauldron was present here, too. Customers hurried between shops, not pausing for conversation. Propaganda liberally covered every available surface, giving defense tips and announcing miracle new products to protect your loved ones. Mr. Weasley glared at those in particular as they passed them.
Pictures of Death Eaters stared down from the awnings and many were prone to cackling madly at random intervals. Harry spotted Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange among them.
Hagrid came to a halt outside of Flourish and Blotts and turned around to face his entourage. "Righ', where'll we visit first?"
"Er, I've got to stop by Gringotts, I've not got any money." Harry answered first.
"Anyone else hafta visit Gringotts?" Hagrid asked.
Ron and Ginny shook their heads; their parents had given them money before they left. Hermione shook her head as well, holding up the bag of coins that she had left over from the last school year.
"The lines at Gringotts are very long nowadays, Bill said. I don't know how long it'll take for us to get out of there." Mrs. Weasley said, nervously twisting the corner of her scarf.
"Maybe I'll just go with Hagrid and the rest of you can get started on your shopping?" Harry volunteered.
The Weasleys looked at each other for a long moment, silently debating. Hagrid clapped his hand on Harry's shoulder, as if silently proclaiming that he'd protect Harry. Mr. Weasley eventually sighed and turned back to face Harry.
"Harry, don't leave Hagrid's side and come right back to us when you're finished. We'll be in Madam Malkins for new robes." Harry nodded eagerly and made to leave with Hagrid, but Ginny piped up.
"Mum, my robes fit fine. Can we get my books first?
"All right, Ginny and I will go to Flourish and Blotts, Arthur will take Ron and Hermione to Madam Malkins, and Hagrid and Harry will go to Gringotts. Are we clear?" Mrs. Weasley asked, a chorus of yeses answering her.
Satisfied that he had already managed to part from the group, Harry followed Hagrid down the Alley. As the tall marble building loomed closer, Harry could see armored goblins guarding the entrance to Gringotts. Many of them had a scabbard around their waist and others had the handle of a blade jutting up from over their shoulder. The two goblins on either side of the main doors held what looked like a black rod.
Hagrid drew even with the steps and made to climb them, but Harry reached out and stopped him.
"Hagrid, I was wondering if I could go in alone? You might, er, draw too much attention." Harry tried to say tactfully.
Hagrid looked down at Harry, one bushy eyebrow raised. "Yeh realize I'm here for yer security, yeah?"
"Yes, but Gringotts is incredibly well-guarded; you said yourself you'd have to be mad to try and rob it. I don't think I'll be getting into any trouble here."
Hagrid considered that statement, looking up at the row of menacing goblins on the top step.
"Promise yeh'll come righ' back here when yer done?" Hagrid asked.
Harry nodded emphatically and Hagrid stood aside, letting Harry climb the steps alone. Inside, he was jubilant. He was now alone and even if the lines in Gringotts took awhile as Mrs. Weasley had said they might, Harry could justify the amount of time he was gone with the long wait. He surreptitiously patted his pocket, making sure that the Cloak was still there. It was, and Harry was satisfied.