"Oh, I don't know, Hermione. I wish I could convince Little Friend to come with me. It would be weird to just get a different snake," Harry said. "It wouldn't feel right somehow."

"And everyone would be freaking out!" Ron added.

"They are going to be freaking out anyway… might as well be about something worthwhile," Harry said.

"Yeah, right!" Ron said, laughing.

Up ahead, Harry could hear bits and pieces of a stern lecture that Molly was giving the twins about doing underage magic around muggles and how they could get Arthur in trouble with the Ministry and he could lose his job.

Ron and Hermione were quiet, too, and Harry figured they were also listening to it.

"Oh wait, there's a big puddle here, Harry," Hermione stopped.

"Can we walk around it?" Harry asked.

"Not really—can you jump over it?" Hermione asked. Harry heard Ron land.

"Here, I'll reach with my staff—tell me when it is past the puddle," Harry suggested.

"Okay, that's the edge of it," Hermione said.

"That's a big puddle," Harry said.

"Yeah—want to jump together?" Hermione said.

"I guess so," Harry said.

"Okay, on three! One, two, three!" Hermione squealed as they launched themselves across the puddle. Harry stumbled when he landed and pulled on Hermione's arm, causing her to fall against him. Their feet splashed in a puddle. He steadied her, laughing.

"Did we jump into another puddle?" he asked.

"Yeah, we overshot it a bit," Hermione said.

"Come on, you two, stay with us, we're crossing the street," Percy said in an officious voice.

It sounded like a busy street and at the curb, Harry stepped back when the air from a lorry rushing by felt too close.

"Okay, let's go, Harry," Hermione said, stepping out into the street.

Harry's staff tinged against the pavement as he hurried alongside Hermione. She yelped and pulled him close to her as his staff struck something metal and bounced out of his grasp. He felt as if there was a pillow of air pushing him back.

Someone yelled at them, "Hey, watch it!"

He launched himself at the street, trying to grab his staff as it fell and let go of Hermione's arm. There was a blare of a hooter and the squealing of brakes.

Hermione was screaming, "Harry, where are you?" and her hand brushed his back and then was grabbing his arm. Fear gripped his gut.

I can't lose my staff!

His hands scrambled against the street's wet, rough surface and he couldn't find his staff—then remembered his wand and flicked it into his hand and yelled, "Accio staff" and the staff snapped into his outstretched hand at the same time that Hermione was hauling him up and pulling him across the street. He was stumbling and tripping as he tried to right himself.

The Weasleys were yelling, "Where'd Harry go? Did he get hit by that Lorry?"

Then suddenly, several hands grabbed him by the arms and shoulders and hauled him back onto the pavement of the other side of the street and he was colliding with bodies. In the melee, he managed to flick his wand back into the holster, run his hand over his staff to make sure it was all there, then collapse it to stick in his pocket.

Ginny was screaming a high, piercing wail. He tried to find her in all the bodies pressed against him, his hands feeling over shoulders and torsos, faces and hands. He couldn't reach her.

"Ginny, Ginny, we're okay," he tried to assure her.

Finally, he found her shoulder and grasped it. She was clinging to Percy. At his touch, her wailing stopped.

Harry realized that his arm hurt.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Harry asked, breathless.

She was still holding onto his arm, her fingers digging deep into his bicep. Her whole body was trembling.

"That cycle courier! He came out of nowhere and… Oh, Harry! Are you okay? I'm so sorry!" she moaned.

He felt as though they were being hugged by the entire Weasley family. Perhaps they were.

"Hey, I can't breathe!" he shouted and they let go, except for Molly who is still clinging to both Harry and Hermione.

"Harry, end that blasted disillusionment charm right now," she demanded, "so that I can see for myself that you are okay."

Harry muttered, "Finite calamitatis."

She held him at arm's length for a bit and, finally, she let go, straightening Harry's glasses.

"Don't. Do. That. Again." Molly demanded grasping him by the shoulders and shaking him with each word.

"What were you doing out there?" Arthur shouted. "Your staff is not worth your life!"

"It's how I get around now! It's how I see. And it's got everything I own in it… my Nimbus 2000," Harry shouted back, his heart pounding.

"It is not worth your life, Harry," Arthur repeated. "All that stuff can be replaced, but you can't be. That lorry missed you by a hair's breadth."

He sounded really shaken.

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know," Harry said, his head heavy on his neck.

Arthur drew him into a rough hug, pressing Harry's face against his tweed jacket, "I was just scared, that's all. It was very close."

"Who cast the Protection spell?" Harry asked.

"What? Did any of you cast a Protection spell? We couldn't see where you were exactly," Arthur said.

There was a chorus of "no" and "not me" and "What? Who cast Protego?"

Arthur moved away from Harry.

"I don't think there are any other wizards here," Arthur muttered. "But we should get back to the Center. We shouldn't be having this conversation in the middle of London."

"Arthur, he shouldn't be disillusioned. He can't see and people can't see him. It has to be polyjuice or some other disguising charm. It's not safe if no one can see him," Molly said.

Someone had their hand on Harry's back—patting it. He finally figured out it was Ron. "You scared me, mate," Ron said quietly.

"Okay, we'll do something else other than a disillusionment charm. We'll figure something else out," Arthur agreed. "Let's go back to the Center. That was a little too much excitement. I'll feel better when we're back inside."

The group was much more somber as they made their way back to 56 Charing Cross Road. Harry could hear Percy muttering soothing things to Ginny as they walked. As his heart began to beat at a more normal pace, Harry realized that his trousers knees were soaking and his palms scraped up from his time on the ground trying to find his staff. He was suddenly feeling really tired again and ached to be back at the Center. Hermione tapped his hand for sighted guide and he grasped her upper arm—wincing when his stinging palms came in contact with her shirt. She was still trembling.

"Sorry, I think I might be getting blood on your shirt," he said.

"Oh, are you cut?" Hermione said, pausing.

"My palms," he said showing her his palm and the motion made him think about talking with Gemma.

She drew in a sharp breath, "oh, ow! That looks like it stings."

"Yeah. We can get it sorted out when we're at the Center. How many more streets do we have to cross?" Harry asked.

"I think we're almost there," she said, starting again.

Harry got a whiff of chili powder and realized that they were closer than he thought. "Yeah, I think we just have to go across Charing Cross Road and then Great Newport Road," he said.

"Oh, did your staff tell you that?" Hermione asked.

"No, I just remember that spice shop we just passed," Harry said. "I quieted the Navigant spell—sometimes it is just too much to have it always chattering at me—especially with everyone talking around us and the street noises."

They were quiet for a while—listening to the sounds of the city and their footsteps on the pavement.

"I don't think I'm up to going to Diagon Alley today," Harry said.

"Yeah, me neither," Hermione agreed. "Maybe Mum will let me come tomorrow and we can try shopping then. Do you think that Healer Jordan will let you go to Diagon Alley—what with all the concerns about your safety? Maybe you can wear a disguise or something."

Harry had a mental image of himself with a mustache, a trench coat with the collar pulled high around his ears, and a bowler hat low on his brow.

"I don't know. Isn't it a hassle for you to come over here?" Harry asked.

"It's not that far, really. And I want to," she said. "You did promise to go to the library with me!"

oO0OooO0OooO0OooO0Oo

Harry felt the tightness in his shoulders lessen as he crossed the threshold back into the reception area of the Center—especially when the entryway closed, suddenly eclipsing the honking horns, discordant voices, and petrol fumes of Charing Cross Road.

"Harry, we are going to head home now. It has been so good to spend the day with you and to see you getting along so well despite… well, everything," Molly said with tears in her voice as she touched his face gently before pulling him into a firm embrace. He held onto her for a moment, inhaling her comforting aroma before he started to feel a bit smothered and pulled back.

She whispered, "Thank you so much for everything you've done for Ginny. She really is so much better; I've been so worried about you both. It did her a world of good to talk to you."

Harry didn't know what to say, so he thanked Molly for coming to visit him and for the ice cream.

She held his hands in hers and squeezed. He yelped.

"Oh, Harry, look at your palms. Let me… " she said and then she was tapping one palm with her wand and muttering, "Scourgify."

"Ow!" he cried out while she did the same thing to the other palm.

"Oh, sorry, I had to clean it. This one won't hurt," she said as she murmured, "Episkey." He felt a warming sensation move across his hands as the cuts knit themselves up and soothed the stinging. He ran his thumbs over his palms and couldn't find any scrapes.

Fred and George and Lee thumped him on the back and mussed his hair as they said goodbye. Harry felt his shirt warm up again and felt it trying to figure out if there was another logo on it. "What did you do this time?" he asked, half afraid, half amused.

His fingertips tracing across his shirt didn't find any imprint of a logo. He reached over his back, trying to tell if there was something there.

"Nothing! What makes you think we did anything?" Fred said with an air of innocence that made Harry even more worried.

When Ginny came to say goodbye to him, Harry took her by the hand and asked his staff to guide him to an empty corner.

"Ginny," he said gently. "Will you write to me and tell me how things are going and how you're doing? I don't mean just telling me that you're all right, but the other things, too?"

"What? Why?" Ginny asked.

"I dunno. It's just that, well, we were the only ones in that Chamber. You're the only one who really understands what it was like… and I think we need to talk about it. You know? Would that be okay?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Ginny said. "How do I write to you?"

"Just write normally on a scroll—you can send it with Errol, right? Or with Hedwig when I send her to you with letters," Harry said. "I've got this thing that helps me read. It'll read the letter out loud to me in my ear, but no one else can hear it." He touched the aftí on his ear.

"Okay," Ginny said and she squeezed his hand. "Hermione and Ron are watching us. I think they want to talk to you."

"Hey, Harry," Ginny said tentatively, "Did you read the scroll I gave you when we arrived?"

"Oh, yeah, no. I haven't read it yet," he said, remembering that he'd stuck it in his staff. "Accio Ginny's scroll" he said, holding his hand to the little opening on his staff.

"Well, maybe you shouldn't read that one. Can I have it back?" Ginny asked.

"Sure," he said and handed it to her.

"It's just that I'm feeling better now… than I was when I wrote it. I'll write you another one… right away," she said and she tugged at his hand, leading him to where Ron and Hermione were waiting.

"You all right, Ginny?" Ron asked.

"Yeah," she sighed.

"Well, I guess I'll see you later," Ron said uncomfortably. "Maybe you can spend next weekend at the Burrow?"

"Yeah, I'll ask. That'd be nice," Harry said, though he had some doubts.

"Harry, I just spoke to Healer Jordan again about using the disillusionment charm and how disastrous that was. She's going to look into other ways you can disguise yourself when you go out into London," Arthur informed him.

Hermione came and held onto Harry's hand while the Weasleys called out their goodbyes and the entrance opened up letting in all the noise and fumes of the street outside. Harry could smell the wet pavement and guessed that it had started raining again. Then before he was ready, the noises were cut off and the Weasleys were gone. Harry was glad Hermione was still there. Even so, he felt really lonely.

"My mum's going to be here soon," Hermione said. "Want to just wait here on the benches?"

"Sure," he said and they walked over and sat down.

"Do you think Ginny's going to be okay?" Harry asked.

"Yeah. She's strong, you know."

"Yeah."

"Still, I know what you mean. I think she's having a hard time," Hermione said.

Harry nodded, wrapping his arms around himself. He remembered his shirt and asked,"Hey, did the twins change my shirt again?"

"Um, no, it looks the same. Why?"

"I just felt it heat up again like it did when they changed it at the gelato shop."

"That wasn't very ni… " she broke off in mid-sentence as the entrance opened again.

Hermione jumped up and ran toward it. Harry stood up and shook out his staff and walked toward Hermione and her mum.

"How was your day, Harry?" Emma asked.

"It was good, Dr. Granger," Harry said, taking a step nearer.

"Mum, can I come back tomorrow and help Harry get some new clothes and trainers and maybe a Quick Quotes Quill at Diagon Alley?" Hermione asked.

"Would we be able to go to Gringotts and get more money from my vault, too?" Harry asked.

"Oh, sure, they don't have the same banking hours as muggle banks, they are open on Sundays," Hermione said.

"Well, I'm pretty sure that Dan could come with you," Emma said. "Is there a phone here? We could call him."

"It looks like there is one at the reception desk," Hermione said and she ran off, leaving Harry standing awkwardly by her mom.

"It looks like you got some sun today," Emma said.

"Yes, we went to the beach," Harry said.

"Really? How'd you do that? Did you get there by magic?" Emma asked.

"Well, there are rooms here that are like entrances to other parts of the world and one of them is a Carribean beach," Harry explained.

"Wow, that's amazing," Emma said as Hermione came running back to them, a bit breathless.

"Dad says it's okay, mum. We'll be back here tomorrow at 9 am, okay?" Hermione said.

"Okay, that'll be great. Thanks, Hermione," Harry said.

"Well, that beach sounds heavenly. I'm glad you had a chance to do that. I imagine it was relaxing," Emma said.

"Yeah, it was fun to ride the waves," Harry agreed.

"See you tomorrow, Harry," Hermione said, giving him a tight squeeze that surprised him.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Harry said. The entrance opened, noises and odors exploding into the space once again, and then they were gone and the reception area was quiet except for the scratching of a quill coming from the reception desk.

Harry started walking back to his room—the tip of his staff and his footsteps echoing in the empty space. He took a detour to visit Hedwig for a bit. She was a bit grumpy since he hadn't saved any snacks for her and the visit was short.

Harry was wiping his feet carefully on the mat at the entrance to the owlery when he heard footsteps approaching him.

"Harry?" Healer Jordan said. "Do you have a moment? May I talk with you?"

"Sure," he said, his stomach flip-flopping.

She tapped the back of his hand and led him to her office across the hall.

"Did something happen?" Harry asked.

"Oh, I just wanted to check in with you about your visit with the Weasleys," she replied as they settled into chairs in her office.

He could hear what sounded like a dog whining and scratching against a door.

"Is that Arig?" Harry asked. "Is he okay?"

"Yes. He's doing well. It's just hard for pack animals to be separated from others… he doesn't like being alone… especially when he can hear us over here," Healer Jordan explained.

"He's transformed into a werewolf now, right?"

"Yes, but a perfectly benign one. He's more like a wolf cub. He'll mostly sleep tomorrow. We'll see how he's doing tomorrow… if he's ready to be back in the dorm or wants to rest here more," Healer Jordan said. "He asked me to share this information with you or any of his roommates if you asked, by the way. He wants you to know that he's safe to be around."

"Oh, okay," Harry said, then turned his head as he heard another dog whining and scratching, but at another door on the other side of the room. This dog started howling.

"Wait, why are there two?" Harry asked, perplexed.

"Er, yes. It is a matter of privacy. You'll have to excuse me for not explaining in more detail. But tell me about what happened out there. Arthur said that you were nearly hit by a Lorry as you were crossing the street under the disillusionment charm."

"Oh, yeah, I guess there was a cycle courier who didn't see me. But someone cast a Protection charm. I felt it," Harry said.

"One of the Weasleys?" Healer Jordan asked.

"No, they didn't know about it."

"Then it was probably your staff. It has a protective feature."

"But it got knocked out of my hand."

"It is connected to you, even when it is out of your hand and it will protect you if the threat is significant," Healer Jordan explained.

"Oh."

"And Arthur explained about why he had you cast the disillusionment charm?" Healer Jordan asked.

"He said that we have to keep what happened in the Chamber of Secrets out of the news if we can because Volde- er—You-know-Who's followers might try to hurt me… " Harry replied. "Can I go out tomorrow with Hermione and her mum? They are going to take me shopping for some clothes and shoes and things."

"Hermione Granger's parents are muggles, right?" Healer Jordan asked.

"Yeah."

"Would you go to Diagon Alley or just around here?"

"Both, I think. I'll need to get some more money from my vault."

"And the Grangers are accustomed to going to Diagon Alley?"

"Yes, we met them there last year at the start of term."

"Okay, but we'll have to come up with another way to change your appearance," Healer Jordan said.

"If I use polyjuice potion, would I be able to see again?" Harry asked, suddenly remembering how when he transformed into Goyle the year before he didn't need his glasses.

Healer Jordan was quiet for a little bit. Harry's heart raced as he remembered the sensation… he had been wearing his glasses when he transformed into Goyle and when he tried to look through them, everything was blurry until he took them off and then for that hour he had blissfully perfect vision. Of course, the trade off had been that he was forced to stumble around in that gorilla's body.

"First of all, polyjuice potion is an illegal substance. How do you even know about it?" Healer Jordan asked.

"Um," Harry felt the heat rising in his neck. "Mrs. Weasley mentioned it. She was really upset about the disillusionment charm."

"Well, yes. It is true that you'd be able to see if you transformed into a sighted person," Healer Jordan said. "But the emotional trauma of having your vision restored temporarily can be severe. We can't do that… especially with your injury so recent."

"Could we use my own hair from before… like from my brush?" he wasn't listening to Healer Jordan, he was galloping ahead to being able to see again. "Maybe I could just attend Hogwarts using polyjuice potion. No one would ever have to know that I was blinded!" Harry was shaking he was so excited at the thought.

"Harry," Healer Jordan said in a steely voice. "Harry, first of all you can't live your entire life in the body of a 12-year-old. And there is evidence that the long term effects of using polyjuice potion are dangerous. There is a reason it is illegal. Even so, it is true that some Wixen have been investigating the use of polyjuice potion in restoring limbs and senses after accidents, but so far they haven't been able to come up with anything viable. Also, there is the matter of your hair… chances are you only have a few strands. Duplicating the hair negates the effects of the potion—so that's not possible. Listen, polyjuice potion is not an option right now."

There was a finality in her voice that stoppered the thoughts that were bubbling over in Harry's mind. He felt as if the floor had dropped out from beneath his feet.