Author's Note: A reviewer asked. Why are Willow and Dawn following the law on not teaching Wiccan magic, especially to Harry. My thinking was this at the time I wrote the chapter. Harry is still a British citizen. While Dawn and Willow are Americans, Harry still has to abide by British laws. And technically so do Dawn and Willow if they want to continue to be Harry's legal guardians.
That may change after what happens in this chapter (namely the Will reading).
Chapter 13: Diagon Alley
Harry tapped the third brick from the left above the trash bin, and stood back with Willow and Dawn as the archway into Diagon Alley opened in the wall.
As they walked toward Gringotts they heard snatches of conversation, some about their purchases and some about Sirius Black. When they entered the Goblin bank they approached a teller. Harry intended to give Willow some of his gold since he was sure his mom would have wanted her to have some.
"Yes," one of the goblins said.
"I'd like to open a vault for my aunt and transfer some of my money into hers.
"Name."
"Willow Rosenberg-Summers," Willow said.
"Maiden name."
"Why do you need her maiden name," Dawn wondered.
"In case she already has a vault of course," the goblin said.
"Rosenberg," Willow said.
"Evans," Harry said as Willow looked at him. "Aunt Willow was adopted. Her birth name was Willow Evans."
The goblin nodded and checked his records. "We already have a vault for a Willow Evans. It was setup by Lily Anne Evans-Potter on October 30th, 2001. The Key was left in our care. If you will please prick your finger. We need to verify your identity."
Willow nodded and pricked her finger as a drop of blood dropped onto a sheet of paper the goblin produced. As they watched a family tree appeared.
The family tree listed her parents and that they were muggles. It listed Petunia and that she was married to Vernon Dursley and that they had one child, Dudley. It listed them as muggles also. Then it listed Lily being married to James Potter with one son, Harry. That Lily was a muggle-born witch and James was a pureblood wizard and it listed the date both Lily and James had died. It then listed Harry and that he was a halfblood wizard. Then it listed Willow and said she was married to Dawn and that the both of them were muggle-born witches.
"Your claim is confirmed," the goblin said. "There are some things to note. James and Lily Potter's will needs to be read now that you have returned." He led them into a side room and then left them there. He returned a moment later with a parchment. "We James and Lily Potter of the House of Potter, Gryffindor and Peverell hereby leave guardianship of Harry James Potter to his aunt Willow Danielle Evans. We leave the bulk of our monies and property to our son, Harry. We leave Willow Danielle Evans the sum of ten thousand galleons. We name Willow Danielle Evans to be the ad litem representative for the seats of Potter, Gryffindor and Peverell on the Wizengamot and that she shall hold those seats till Harry James Potter turns eighteen. At which point Harry James Potter will claim those seats if he so chooses. We leave the Evans family home in Cokeworth, England to Willow Danielle Evans."
"I didn't know that the family home was even owned by Lily," Willow said.
"We did some research," the goblin said, "when we learned of the muggle home. We have witches and wizards who work in the muggle world for this very reason. The estate of your parents was left in trust for when you and your sisters each turned eighteen. Gringotts successfully exchanged the monetary portion of the estate and added it to the monies left by James and Lily Potter. Bringing the total contents of your vault with interest to be fifty thousand galleons." He then handed Willow a title deed and the key to the Evans family home. "And this is the deed to the muggle home. You will have to of course register it. If you see James Connery at the Land Registry office, he is our representative in the office, he will be able to get the muggle home transferred into your name."
"Thanks," Willow said and then she sign a few forms and was handed the key to her vault. Then she and Harry filled their bags with money.
When they exited Gringotts they passed Quality Quidditch Supplies with a large number of people gathered around the shop.
Curious to know what the crowd in the shop was staring at, Harry edged his way inside and squeezed in among the excited witches and wizards until he glimpsed a newly erected podium, on which was mounted a broom.
"Just come out—prototype—" a square-jawed wizard was telling his companion.
"It's the fastest broom in the world, isn't it, Dad?" squeaked a boy younger than Harry, who was swinging off his father's arm.
"Irish International Side's just put in an order for seven of these beauties!" the proprietor of the shop told the crowd. "And they're favorites for the World Cup!"
A large witch in front of Harry moved, and he was able to read the sign next to the broom:
This state-of-the-art racing broom sports a stream-lined, superfine handle of ash, treated with a diamond-hard polish and handnumbered with its own registration number. Each individually selected birch twig in the broomtail has been honed to aerodynamic perfection, giving the Firebolt unsurpassable balance and pinpoint precision. The Firebolt has an acceleration of 150 miles an hour in ten seconds and incorporates an unbreakable Braking Charm. Price on request.
Even though Harry had wanted to buy the Firebolt they passed it by. They went to the Apothecary to replenish his store of potions ingredients, and as Harry's school robes were now several inches too short in the arm and leg, they visited Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and bought new ones.
Next stop was Harry's new schoolbooks, which would include those for two new subjects, Care of Magical Creatures and Divination.
They got a surprise as they looked in at the bookshop window. Instead of the usual display of gold-embossed spellbooks the size of paving slabs, there was a large iron cage behind the glass that held about a hundred copies of The Monster Book of Monsters. Torn pages were flying everywhere as the books grappled with each other, locked together in furious wrestling matches and snapping aggressively.
Harry pulled his booklist out of his pocket and consulted it for the first time. The Monster Book of Monsters was listed as the required book for Care of Magical Creatures.
"Now we know why Hagrid sent you that back," Willow said with a sigh.
"Yeah," Harry agreed as they entered Flourish and Blotts.
The manager came hurrying toward them. "Hogwarts?" he said abruptly. "Come to get your new books?"
"Yes," said Harry, "I need—"
"Get out of the way," said the manager impatiently, brushing Harry, Dawn and Willow aside. He drew on a pair of very thick gloves, picked up a large, knobbly walking stick, and proceeded toward the door of the Monster Books' cage.
"Hang on," said Harry quickly, "I've already got one of those."
"Have you?" A look of enormous relief spread over the manager's face. "Thank heavens for that. I've been bitten five times already this morning—"
"Yeah I don't understand why Hagrid wanted to use that book for his textbook," Dawn said with a shake of her head. "The moment Harry got it we put it securely away."
A loud ripping noise rent the air; two of the Monster Books had seized a third and were pulling it apart.
"Stop it! Stop it!" cried the manager, poking the walking stick through the bars and knocking the books apart. "I'm never stocking them again, never! It's been bedlam! I thought we'd seen the worst when we bought two hundred copies of the Invisible Book of Invisibility—cost a fortune, and we never found them … Well … is there anything else I can help you with?"
"Yes," said Harry, looking down his booklist, "I need Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky."
"Ah, starting Divination, are you?" said the manager, stripping off his gloves and leading them into the back of the shop, where there was a corner devoted to fortune-telling. A small table was stacked with volumes such as Predicting the Unpredictable: Insulate Yourself Against Shocks and Broken Balls: When Fortunes Turn Foul.
"Here you are," said the manager, who had climbed a set of steps to take down a thick, black-bound book. "Unfogging the Future. Very good guide to all your basic fortune-telling methods—palmistry, crystal balls, bird entrails—"
"Premonition?" Dawn asked.
"Uh," the manager said. "I don't know if that one is included. Why?"
"I'm a seer," Dawn said. "I get visions of the future."
"Ah," the manager said. "And you want to make sure the young sir is being taught about what you do?"
"More or less," Dawn said. "I know Harry will have questions about what I can see, how I see them, etc. Some of the questions I may not be able to answer. It would be nice if he could learn them in class."
"Of course," the manager said. "Anything else?"
"Yes," said Harry consulting his booklist. "Er—I need Intermediate Transfiguration and The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three."
Dawn, Willow and Harry emerged from Flourish and Blotts ten minutes later with Harry's new books in their arms and made their way back towards the Leaky Cauldron. They intended to eat lunch there before driving back to the ISC. As they passed Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor they heard …
"Harry! HARRY!"
They looked toward the sounds of the voice and saw Ron and Hermione waving frantically at them.
"How were your vacations?" Dawn asked.
"Wonderful," Hermione and Ron answered.
"So, have you got all your new books and stuff?" Harry asked.
"Look at this," said Ron, pulling a long thin box out of a bag and opening it. "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. And we've got all our books—" He pointed at a large bag under his chair. "What about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two."
"What's all that, Hermione?" Harry asked, pointing at not one but three bulging bags in the chair next to her. "Well, I'm taking more new subjects than you, aren't I?" said Hermione. "Those are my books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Study of Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies—"
"What are you doing Muggle Studies for?" said Ron, rolling his eyes at Harry. "You're Muggle-born! Your mum and dad are Muggles! You already know all about Muggles!"
"So," Dawn said. "It's the same reason Willow and I gave Harry a History of Magic book. It tells the story of magic from the Wiccan side of things. It's interesting to see the differences between the two. I wouldn't mind sitting in on a Muggle Studies class myself. I'm curious to see what they think of us."
"Are you planning to eat or sleep at all this year, Hermione?" asked Harry, while Ron sniggered. Hermione ignored them.
"That is a good question," Willow said. "That's more than the normal amount of classes."
"I've still got ten Galleons," Hermione said ignoring the question. She checked her purse instead. "It's my birthday in September, and Mum and Dad gave me some money to get myself an early birthday present."
"How about a nice book?" said Ron innocently.
"No, I don't think so," said Hermione composedly. "I really want an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig and you've got Errol—"
"I haven't," said Ron. "Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers." He pulled his pet rat out of his pocket. "And I want to get him checked over," he added, placing Scabbers on the table in front of them. "I don't think Egypt agreed with him."
Scabbers was looking thinner than usual, and there was a definite droop to his whiskers.
"There's a magical creature shop just over there," said Harry motion in the direction of the shop. "You could see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can get her owl."
So they paid for their ice cream and crossed the street to the Magical Menagerie.
There wasn't much room inside. Every inch of wall was hidden by cages. It was smelly and very noisy because the occupants of these cages were all squeaking, squawking, jabbering, or hissing. The witch behind the counter was already advising a wizard on the care of double-ended newts, so Harry, Ron, and Hermione waited, examining the cages.
A pair of enormous purple toads sat gulping wetly and feasting on dead blowflies. A gigantic tortoise with a jewel-encrusted shell was glittering near the window. Poisonous orange snails were oozing slowly up the side of their glass tank, and a fat white rabbit kept changing into a silk top hat and back again with a loud popping noise. Then there were cats of every color, a noisy cage of ravens, a basket of funny custard-colored furballs that were humming loudly, and on the counter, a vast cage of sleek black rats that were playing some sort of skipping game using their long, bald tails.
The double-ended newt wizard left, and Ron approached the counter.
"It's my rat," he told the witch. "He been a bit off-color ever since I brought him back from Egypt."
"Bang him on the counter," said the witch, pulling a pair of heavy black spectacles out of her pocket.
Ron lifted Scabbers out of his inside pocket and placed him next to the cage of his fellow rats, who stopped their skipping tricks and scuffled to the wire for a better look. Next to the glossy rats in the cage, he looked especially woebegone.
"Hm," said the witch, picking up Scabbers. "How old is this rat?"
"Dunno," said Ron. "Quite old. He used to belong to my brother."
"What powers does he have?" said the witch, examining Scabbers closely.
"Er—" The truth was that Scabbers had never shown the faintest trace of interesting powers. The witch's eyes moved from Scabbers's tattered left ear to his front paw, which had a toe missing, and tutted loudly.
"He's been through the mill, this one," she said.
"He was like that when Percy gave him to me," said Ron defensively.
"An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so," said the witch. "Now, if you were looking for something a bit more hard-wearing, you might like one of these—"
She indicated the black rats, who promptly started skipping again. Ron muttered, "Show-offs."
"Well, if you don't want a replacement, you can try this rat tonic," said the witch, reaching under the counter and bringing out a small red bottle.
"Okay," said Ron. "How much—OUCH!"
Ron buckled as something huge and orange came soaring from the top of the highest cage, landed on his head, and then propelled itself, spitting madly, at Scabbers.
"NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!" cried the witch, but Scabbers shot from between her hands like a bar of soap, landed splay-legged on the floor, and then scampered for the door.
"Scabbers!" Ron shouted, racing out of the shop after him; Harry followed.
Dawn and Willow stood looking at a cinnamon owl. They had been using Hedgwig whenever they wrote to Buffy and Faith or Xander and Giles. While Harry had told them Hedgwig didn't mind taking letters to the ISC for them. They still wanted to get an owl so Hedgwig wouldn't be so busy ferrying mail back and forth for them.
"You two have a good eye," the witch said. "That owl changes colors depending on its mood. Cinnamon is its standard color."
"We'll take it," Dawn and Willow said and they paid for the owl. They noticed that Hermione was not carrying an owl cage, but a cat carrier, when they left the shop. Ron and Harry returned with Scabbers in hand at that moment.
"Is that the cat that scared Ron's rat?" Dawn asked as she looked into the cage.
"Yes," Hermione said, glowing. "He's gorgeous, isn't he?"
"Hermione, that thing nearly scalped me!" said Ron.
"He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?" said Hermione.
"And what about Scabbers?" said Ron, pointing at the lump in his chest pocket. "He needs rest and relaxation! How's he going to get it with that thing around?"
"That reminds me, you forgot your rat tonic," said Hermione, slapping the small red bottle into Ron's hand. "And stop worrying, Crookshanks will be sleeping in my dormitory and Scabbers in yours, what's the problem? Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no one wanted him."
"I wonder why," said Ron sarcastically as they set off toward the Leaky Cauldron.
"Ron," Dawn said.
They found Mr. Weasley sitting in the bar, reading the Daily Prophet.
"Harry!" he said, smiling as he looked up. "How are you?"
"Fine, thanks," said Harry as he, Ron, Dawn, Willow and Hermione joined Mr. Weasley with all their shopping.
"Who do we have here?" Mr. Weasley said.
"You heard me talk about them, dad," Ron said. "They're Harry's aunts, the ones who taught Defense last year."
"And this year," Dawn said.
Mr. Weasley put down his paper, and Harry saw the now familiar picture of Sirius Black staring up at him.
"They still haven't caught him, then?" he asked.
"No," said Mr. Weasley, looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far."
"Would we get a reward if we caught him?" asked Ron. "It'd be good to get some more money—"
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron," said Mr. Weasley, who on closer inspection looked very strained. "Black's not going to be caught by a thirteen-year old wizard. It's the Azkaban guards who'll get him back, you mark my words."
At that moment Mrs. Weasley entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by the twins, Fred and George; the newly elected Head Boy, Percy; and the Weasleys' youngest child and only girl, Ginny.
Percy, however, held out his hand solemnly as though he and Harry had never met and said, "Harry. How nice to see you."
"Hello, Percy," said Harry, trying not to laugh.
"I hope you're well?" said Percy pompously, shaking hands. It was rather like being introduced to the mayor.
"Very well, thanks—"
Percy looked to Dawn and Willow. "Professors, how was your summer?"
"Fine, thank you for asking," Willow said.
"Harry!" said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy—"
"Marvelous," said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing."
Percy scowled.
"That's enough, now," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Mum!" said Fred as though he'd only just spotted her and seizing her hand too. "How really corking to see you—"
"I said, that's enough," said Mrs. Weasley, depositing her shopping in an empty chair. "Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?" She pointed to the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. "Second Head Boy in the family!" she said, swelling with pride.
"And last," Fred muttered under his breath.
"I don't doubt that," said Mrs. Weasley, frowning suddenly. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."
"What do we want to be prefects for?" said George, looking revolted at the very idea. "It'd take all the fun out of life."
Ginny giggled.
"You want to set a better example for your sister!" snapped Mrs. Weasley.
"Ginny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother," said Percy loftily. "I'm going up to change for dinner…"
He disappeared and George heaved a sigh.
"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," he told Harry. "But Mum spotted us."
Dawn, Willow and Harry agreed to have dinner with the Weasleys that evening. It was a very enjoyable affair. Tom the innkeeper put three tables together in the parlor, and the seven Weasleys, Dawn, Willow, Harry, and Hermione ate their way through five delicious courses.
"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as they dug into a sumptuous chocolate pudding.
"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," said Mr. Weasley.
Everyone looked up at him.
"Why?" said Percy curiously.
"It's because of you, Perce," said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them—"
"—for Humongous Bighead," said Fred.
Everyone except Percy and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their pudding.
"Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?" Percy asked again, in a dignified voice.
"Well, as we haven't got one anymore," said Mr. Weasley, "—and as I work there, they're doing me a favor—"
"If you like we can take you ourselves," Dawn said.
"How," Mr. Weasley asked.
"By portal," Willow said as she waved her arm and a portal appeared. She let the portal close when she noticed several witches and wizards at other tables were looking at them and the portal. "Instantaneous travel."
"That would be most beneficial," Mrs. Weasley said before looking at her children. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle Underground… And the Ministry cars would require loading and unloading here and at the train station." She looked at Willow and Dawn. "Assuming you two don't mind."
"We don't mind," Dawn said.
Mrs. Weasley nodded as she looked to her children. "You are all packed, aren't you?"
"Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk yet," said Percy, in a long-suffering voice. "He's dumped them on my bed."
"You'd better go and pack properly, Ron, because we won't have much time in the morning," Mrs. Weasley called down the table. Ron scowled at Percy.
After dinner everyone felt very full and sleepy. Dawn, Willow and Harry drove back to the ISC and packed before they headed to bed. The next morning they portaled back to the Leaky Cauldron with their things. As Willow portaled the Weasley children to King's Cross. Dawn walked down the corridor to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's room when her Slayer hearing picking up the sound of Harry's name being spoken.
"…makes no sense not to tell him," Mr. Weasley was saying heatedly. "Harry's got a right to know. I've tried to tell Fudge, but he insists on treating Harry like a child. He's thirteen years old and—"
"Arthur, the truth would terrify him!" said Mrs. Weasley shrilly. "Do you really want to send Harry back to school with that hanging over him? For heaven's sake, he's happy not knowing! Especially since he no longer lives with those muggles."
"I don't want to make him miserable, I want to put him on his guard!" retorted Mr. Weasley. "You know what Harry and Ron are like, wandering off by themselves! But Harry mustn't do that this year! When I think could happen to him. They say Sirius Black's mad, and maybe he is, but he was clever enough to escape from Azkaban, and that's supposed to be impossible. It's been a month, and no one's seen hide nor hair of him, and I don't care what Fudge keeps telling the Daily Prophet, we're no nearer catching Black than inventing self-spelling wands. The only thing we know for sure is what Black's after—"
"But Harry will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts."
"We thought Azkaban was perfectly safe. If Black can break out of Azkaban, he can break into Hogwarts."
"But no one's really sure that Black's after Harry—"
There was a thud on wood.
"Molly, how many times do I have to tell you? They didn't report it in the press because Fudge wanted it kept quiet, but Fudge went out to Azkaban the night Black escaped. The guards told Fudge that Black's been talking in his sleep for a while now. Always the same words: 'He's at Hogwarts … he's at Hogwarts.' Black is deranged, Molly, and he wants Harry dead. If you ask me, he thinks murdering Harry will bring You-Know-Who back to power. Black lost everything the night Harry stopped You-Know-Who, and he's had twelve years alone in Azkaban to brood on that…"
"Well, Arthur, you must do what you think is right. But you're forgetting Albus Dumbledore. I don't think anything could hurt Harry at Hogwarts while Dumbledore's headmaster. I suppose he knows about all this?"
"Of course he knows. We had to ask him if he minds the Azkaban guards stationing themselves around the entrances to the school grounds. He wasn't happy about it, but he agreed."
"Not happy? Why shouldn't he be happy, if they're there to catch Black?"
"Dumbledore isn't fond of the Azkaban guards," said Mr. Weasley heavily. "Nor am I, if it comes to that … but when you're dealing with a wizard like Black, you sometimes have to join forces with those you'd rather avoid."
"If they save Harry—"
"—then I will never say another word against them," said Mr. Weasley wearily. "It's late, Molly, we need to get ready to go. Harry's aunts will be here soon."
Dawn opened the door. "They are already here and Willow is helping to get your children to the station now. Why is it you two are so afraid for Harry? What has Sirius Black to do with him?"
"He was Lily and James secret keeper," Mr. Weasley said. "He told You-Know-Who where they were."
"And you believe he might kill Harry for Voldemort?" Dawn asked as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley flinched. "Sorry."
"We do," Mrs. Weasley said.
"Willow and I are two of the most powerful Wiccan witches in the world. Nothing will happen to Harry, I promise," Dawn said.
