Two weeks later Harry found himself back at St. Mungo's hospital in a very familiar room. Looking around, he enjoyed the mid-morning sun as it shined through the glass and filled the room to the brink.
Sitting upon the bed calmly, he followed Healer Mcstiek as she unrolled the bandaging from his body. As she went from the top of his head downward he waited until she got to his shoulders. With each unwinding a little more of his skin came back into view. The first part that he was able to see he had to keep himself from flinching. It was a dark red, kind of like raw meat, and there were blisters everywhere. There must have been some kind of numbing agent in that cream that they used or he was pretty sure that he would be screaming in pain with every move he made.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself and continued to watch as she made her way down his arms. Like the rest of his skin it was dark red and his nails were pitched black, if they were even there and not the flesh underneath that he was seeing. Inside his mind there was an extremely strong desire to look away from his body but he had to see what had happened to him during his time in the mirror chamber. Breathing in and out through his nose he kept himself focused. It was hard but he had to do it.
The farther down she went, the more squeamish he became. What he saw when she unwrapped the bandage from between his legs was a little more than scary. Where his privates had once been was dark red, completely flat with a small holed area. Gulping, he tried to keep the shudders going throughout his body from going into harsh sobs that he desperate wanted to release.
With tears in his eyes he looked at Healer Mcstiek and found that she was looking a little sad but she sent a comforting smile at him.
"What happened to my thing, Ma'am!?" his voice quivered majorly but he managed to get the words out. Healer Mcstiek sighed softly before looking him right in the eyes and that alone told him that she was going to be completely honest with him.
"The fire, for whatever reason, scorched your privates Harry. They were entirely unusable as they were, even for the bathroom. We had to remove your penis entirely and replace it with just an opening for you to urinate from. Once this year is over you will have to sit down to use the toilet, there was nothing else we could do without your consent. There were a few healers, myself included, that recommended turning your privates into the female ones and you won't be able to have kids if we do nothing. However, it was decided that we wouldn't go that far until your body was entirely recovered from the surface damage that the fire caused. We would also need your approval to do such a thing." She paused for a moment before continuing on, "I would highly recommend that you see a mind healer. They would be able to help you come to terms with this and if we complete the operation later on, with that as well."
Each sentence she spoke was like a light slap to the face. The first thing that he thought was that he was different no matter which way he looked at it. One way he's a boy without a penis or a girl that had used to be a boy. He didn't even want to think about if he ever dated anyone in the future and how they would take the situation. He almost started crying when she mentioned him never being able to have kids if he did nothing. Having never been all that close to his relatives as he grew up he had dreamed about one day having a big family to call his own. Now how would that happen?
Gulping he felt a few tears roll down his damaged skin, "Could I wait until I'm older? I don't think I should go along with any of that for a while." She nodded to him before continuing her unwrapping but he didn't put any thought into what he looked like at the moment, his mind was trapped in what had happened. Honestly, he should have guessed when his relatives started being kinder to him that something else would happen to him that would take that good part away. Cursing his luck, he zoned out from the world around him.
It was an hour later that his body was all clean of the old healing cream, a new batch was replaced, and he was bandaged once more. All the while he had been semi-mechanical in his movements until he snapped back to reality once his body was covered up again. Giving a whispered thank you to Ms. Mcstiek, he dressed himself in his street clothes before leaving the hospital.
Today was the day that he was supposed to meet up with Hermione and the Weasley's to go shopping for their school things for the year.
Pushing what he learned at the hospital to the back of his mind, he tried to get himself hyped up for the meet up with his best friends. Gripping onto his crutches he moved as quickly as he could in hopes of making it to the Cauldron on time, although from what he knew of the Weasley's they were always a little late.
Walking into the pub, the first thing he noticed was the horde of redheads all sitting around a group of tables in the middle of the room. They were all bickering among themselves about something and Mrs. Weasley looked a bit peeved and stressed. Shrugging it off, he made his way over toward his bushy haired friend, who was standing a good few feet away from the family.
Smiling to himself he stumbled to a stop right beside her. Hermione being Hermione, looked over at him and he could see the shock that covered her face before she covered her mouth to try and hide her reaction.
"Oh, my gosh, are you okay? Do you need any help?" he voice was filled with worry and kindness that just made him want to hug the bushy haired girl, but he honestly didn't know how to initiate one with these crutches.
Laughing a little at his friend, Harry shook his head, "No thank you Hermione, although I might need it later when we finish our shopping. I can't say I'm okay but I am much better than I was before"
She looked at him for a second in confusion as she mouthed the word shopping to herself before her eyes widened exponentially, it was almost like what his Aunt Petunia did a few weeks ago. Her voice came out in a whisper but he still heard it.
"Harry?" he nodded and could see her holding herself back from hugging him to death, which he was somewhat glad for. Tears started to fill her eyes and words started to come from her lips, "What happened to you? Dumbledore wouldn't tell us what happened or the stone and when we tried to visit you in the hospital they said you were not taking any visitors."
Frowning he wondered why they hadn't been able to visit him but figured it would be another question he could ask Healer Mcstiek when he sees her next summer. Looking his friend in the eyes he wondered just what he should say? The burns were obvious but what about his magic? Then again it would be fairly obvious when he went to cast a spell and nothing happened during class, that is if Dumbledore doesn't announce it at the start of the year.
Shaking his head, he answered her, "Professor Quirrell tried to steal the stone and while we were fighting, the stone exploded in my hand. Quirrell died just before that and the stone shards pierced almost everything in my body. Then the room was covered in fire before I could escape and ended up with really bad burns all over. The healers at the hospital were able to get about two-thirds of the stone out of me but the rest they couldn't, so now my body is absorbing them a little at a time." He paused to catch his breath and then went on, "Sadly, this is taking up all my magic and isn't estimating to finish until near the end of our fourth year. So, I can't do magic until then, not even to fly a broom. I'm basically a regular person until then." The silence grew around the pair to the point where you could cut it with a butter knife.
"oh Harry" her words were soft, almost distant, but the Weasley's must have heard it because in an instant they surrounded the pair.
"Harry What happened mate! You look like those mummies Bill goes on about."
"Wow Harry, trying…" "…out a new look?"
"EEPP!"
"Harry, my boy, what did you do? Take on a dragon!"
"HARRY! Did those nasty muggles make you work all summer without anything to block the sun! Muggles are such ridiculous people!"
Right up until the end the pair of muggle-raised preteens had actually found most of their ideas funny, although Ginny's was a little bizarre to him, but Mrs. Weasley's was downright offensive to the pair. Mostly because both of their families were regular people and actually had common sense, although Harry's was a recent development, unlike many magicals.
Frowning at the woman in question Harry cleared his throat to get their attention. Almost as one they stopped talking and turned their attention fully on him, it was rather creepy actually.
"No I didn't take on a dragon, I'm not trying for a new look, and my relatives didn't do anything to me Mrs. Weasley! I got stuck in a room at Hogwarts last year that was lite on fire for some reason which I barely escaped." He sent a look to his friends to tell them to shut up about the stone, "I escaped with third degree burns all over my body and have to be wrapped up like this for a year as the healing cream does its job and heals the damage. I didn't get released until the start of August but my relatives have been really understanding about my plight. I've mostly been resting or reading."
The Weasley matriarch looked like she swallowed a rather bitter lemon but didn't say anything, neither to excuse her words or apologize. The rest looked upset that he had been hurt while Ron actually looked like he was crazy.
"Reading! Blimey mate, if you keep doing that then you'll end up like Hermione!" Said girl glared at the boy while Harry merely frowned rather heavily.
"It's all I could do Ron. I still get tired rather easily on these things and the burns make me rather sensitive to touch so I had to be careful that I didn't fall while I'm outside. Besides I live in the normal world, so I can't go flying or anything during the summer." Not like he could anyway but that's beside the point.
Ron was still frowning a little but gave up after a minute or two with a mighty huff. "Can we go shopping now? I really want to go look at the new nimbus broom!"
"In just a minute Ron." His mom spoke up before she turned toward Harry and he knew that she was going to ask for something that he wouldn't give, "Harry dear, seeing as I have to go to the bank to get money for school things, if you give me your key, I can get some for you as well?"
Harry looked at her and shook her head, "Sorry Ma'am but I have to get out more than normal to pay for some things my healer wants me to get." Frustration formed in her eyes but he pressed on, "Besides it will be quicker if we separate during the trip to our vaults. I'm sure your family will need your help getting the right things." She swelled up at that before nodding to him in acceptance, although the glimmer of greed was still in her eyes.
"Very well dear, let's get on our way everyone."
In a mob the group moved towards the alley, none of them seemed to notice that they were leaving Harry and Hermione behind seeing as he couldn't move quite as fast. Hermione was looking at him with an inquisitive eye but he simply smiled at her.
Making sure to speak softly so no one around could hear her, Hermione whispered in his ear, "Why didn't you let Mrs. Weasley take your key to get your money? She was just trying to help."
He shook his head a little, "No she wasn't. She was trying to get money from my vault for either her own wants or pay for her kid's school things. I wouldn't have minded if she asked if she could borrow some for that but stealing from me is completely different." He stopped speaking because Hermione had to pull him out of the way of a rather plump man in a green bowler hat that nearly bowled him over, "thanks. Anyway, I hired an account manager over the summer to look over my account and beside myself there were quite a few people taking money from my account that weren't allowed by my family. I doubt I'll ever get the money back but my manager is making sure that no one but me is allowed to take any more. Really all I just did was save her from getting hurt by the Goblins."
"Oh" her eyes were wide and he could tell she was trying to figure out just why the large loud woman would do such a thing to an orphan of all people. Neither preteen said another word until they reached the bank. Harry made a quick hobble towards the counter to get some money from his vault without actually going down while Hermione had her normal money converted to magical.
With money purses tied to their belt loops, they made their way out of the bank and started their shopping. Seeing as Clothes shopping and books would take the longest for the pair they headed off toward the apothecary to get their potion supplies. Since it was going to be one of the subjects that Harry really needed to actually focus in Harry made double sure that he was getting good ingredients, Hermione just followed his example.
Making their way across the walkway Harry found himself being pulled into a stationary shop. Hobbling along the shelves he found himself looking at the beginner's calligraphy booklets and kits. Cursing to himself he wished that Hagrid had let him take an actual look around last year, maybe his notes would have been eligible then. Grabbing one of each, as well as the intermediate one, he moved about grabbing bottles of ink and dozens of quills for future use. Heading up toward the counter he placed it all down for the store keep to ring up. The man looked him over more than a little but Harry stubbornly ignored him as he waited for his total.
"That will be 1 galleon and 13 sickles." Digging through his coin purse he fetches the said amount before quickly stuffing it all in the first compartment of the new trunk he got back in July, call it a birthday present if you want. Hermione's was about a quarter of his total but then again, he got those calligraphy kits as well so it was understandable.
They made a short stop at the Pet shop to get some treats for Hedwig, who had been staying with Hagrid at Hogwarts all summer. He knew he would have to make up for getting hurt and making her stay there without him.
Clothing was up next and to be honest Harry didn't know what he should get. The words of Healer Mcstiek from earlier that morning echoed through his head and wouldn't go away no matter how hard he tried.
"There were a few healers, myself included, that recommended turning your privates into the female ones because you won't be able to have kids if we don't. However, it was decided that we wouldn't go that far until your body was entirely recovered from the surface damage that the fire caused."
He knew that if he wanted a family in the future he would have to go through the process to do that but would he be able to live with being a girl? He wasn't sure to be honest but that also doesn't answer the question that he had at the moment. Seeing as he no longer had the equipment could he be classified as male anymore? So, should he get girls clothes instead, even though he didn't have their equipment yet? It was probably a matter of choice but he didn't know what to choose, all he had ever known was Dudley's cast-offs and that his body was male.
Shaking his head in despair, he gave up for the moment and decided just to go with what he knew for the time being. If he had been paying a little more attention, he would have noticed Hermione spotting his hesitation, although she thought it was over his discomfort over the bandages wrapped around his body and not the clothing they were getting.
Both were shocked out of their thoughts when Madam Malkins came up to them, "Off to Hogwarts dears?" they nodded and the woman went on, "Girls?" Hermione nodded while Harry shook his head. "Okay one Boy and one girl? Do you mind sharing a room? All the others are in use at the moment, I swear those Weasley's are like a swarm of locusts!"
Both preteens blushed heavily, although only Hermione's was noticeable. The pair looked at each other uncertain in what to say. Thankfully Hermione summoned up her courage first.
"I don't mind Harry, just don't peak okay?" her voice was a little strained but she managed to get the words out.
"Sure thing, Mione. I'd say the same but I don't think you would be able to see anything anymore anyway." Hermione giggled a little and nodded her head, if only she knew that he was hinting that he didn't have anything anymore.
Quickly the pair followed the seamstress into one of the backrooms. In no time at all the pair were stripped down to their underwear, although Harry could see Hermione was as red as a tomato and trying very hard not to cover her lightly budding breasts from his prying eyes. He had to admit that the cat themes panties were cute though, not that he'd dare say that out loud. She'd probably beat him to death with a book… no something else because his blood would stain the book.
Madam Malkin chuckled to herself when she noticed what Hermione was trying to do and the fact that the bandaged boy was obvious trying to not look in case of making his friend even more embarrassed. Smiling to herself she remembered when she was in this exact situation with her husband all those years ago, although he wasn't bandaged from head to toe like this boy. It was amusing to watch from the outside point of view.
"Okay dears, I'm going to start with your torso and work my way down." She pointed over to Hermione, "And you miss are going to have to be measured for a bra, not a big one or anything but still a measuring." If anything, they got even more red at the woman's words.
As soon as the woman started measuring his best friend, Harry could see the girl start to squirm when the seamstress started to press the tape against her chest or when she lifted them up a little to see how much of a bounce they had. Once She got those measurements done she left the room with just the preteens inside.
An uncomfortable feeling filled the air and Harry really didn't know what he should say. No matter what they did, this situation was Awkward with a capital A. He was pretty sure that Hermione was seriously wishing she could erase this moment from at least his mind if not her own as well.
To his utter amazement, she turned toward him, face complete red, and the small lumps on her chest on show and swishing a bit from her sudden movement. She set a firm glare at him and pointing a single finger at him.
"Not a single word about this to anyone. Am I understood!?" gulping he nodded his head in a blur and she smiled at him before some of the red tint to her cheeks, throat, and chest dimmed down a little bit. "Good, and because you saw me you're paying for half of my clothes." Knowing better than to deny it he nodded in acceptance, although it's not like what she was would excite him anymore, if it ever did. Heck for all he knew he might have them a few years down the line.
Both of them jumped back into their places when Madam Malkins came flying in through the door with a bunch of what he guessed were training bra's or the smallest sized holders that they had. For the next ten minutes Madam Malkins gave Hermione demonstrations on how exactly you put on such a device, as well as had her practice a few times before having her leave it on before she continued the fitting.
After that they moved onto Hermione's blouse and his dress shirt. Funnily enough Madam Malkins ended up deciding to have his dress shirt made of the same light material that was used for a girl's blouse because she didn't want him to overheat with all his bandages. Given how much clothing they had to wear at the school he was more than thankful for her idea, although he swore Hermione was giggling over on her stool for some reason.
The skirts and trousers were much easier, although it was still weird that the seamstress had to get so close to their private areas to get an accurate measurement. She even had them try and spread their legs as far as they comfortable could and took measurements then too. It was so weird and totally different than the last time he had done a measuring from the woman. Amazingly his bandages never gapped anywhere nor sagged once he stood back up. Although Hermione had to come behind him as he did it to hold him so they could get an accurate measurement, which lead to a blushing bushy haired girl because she had to press up against him.
Funny enough their shoes were both size 4 and if they truly wanted to, they could trade shoes, seeing as the magical world had very little difference in shoe size between males and females. Harry even joked that he wouldn't need her long socks because his legs were already wrapped up in white. Although she got back at him that by saying that if he did that then he would need to borrow her skirt as well. They both snickered at the thought of a bandaged Harry in a skirt, not like it would truly matter since his clothing for the year were just for everyone else's comfort and his habits. Thankfully Madam Malkins quickly shot that idea down by saying that her measurements wouldn't fit right on him, although neither knew that the cunning seamstress could easily make him one with the measurements she had taken.
Madam Malkins was more than happy that she was friends with Healer Mcstiek and had been informed of the young bandage Harry Potter predicament. OF course, she felt more than a little sad that such a thing had happened to such a young lad, but there was nothing she could do about it. As soon as she saw him and his bushy haired friend in her shop she had quickly suggested the idea of the shared fitting room because she was more than sure of the choice that the young Potter was going to end up taking in the future. This way both he and his friend were at least a little more comfortable with each other and less awkward about it in the future. If the pair came in next year she was going to have either herself or her apprentice take the pair just to further that intimate friendship a little more.
"Alright dears, I'll have your orders sent to you once they are ready. That should be by the end of the week." The preteens nodded to their seamstress before getting dressed once more in the street clothes, although Hermione was allowed to keep her new bra on, much to her embarrassment.
With a quick stop at the front counter Harry ended up paying for seven complete sets of uniform for him, as well as a pair of green dragonhide gloves for potions, while Hermione got him to pay for three of her uniforms and four of the seven bras while she paid for the rest. He was feeling much less money inside his expanded coin purse, even though it was weightless, but he wouldn't have denied it anyway. After all he did get a never thought possible 'showing' of sorts of his best friend, although it didn't even register in his mind that he got a peak at something that any other boy his age and up would have loved to be able to see.
Once they were out of Madam Malkins Robes for all Occasions Harry actually laughed a little. Hermione just looked at him like he was crazy before falling victim as well and soon the pair were left in a giggling mess.
Taking a firm grip of his crutches Harry straightened himself before taking a few slow easy breaths. Smiling at his bushy haired friend, who smiled right back but with rosy quality to her cheeks, he nodded toward one of the smaller book shops.
Hermione on the other hand looked in confusion, "Why don't we go the main store? All the books we need are there."
"Well I heard that Gildaroy Lockhart is supposed to be there and he most likely has someone from the Daily Prophet with him. I'd rather not end up in the paper, especially like this." His voice was steady but he knew his desperation to escape that ordeal must have bleed in when her eyes took on an understanding appearance.
"Okay Harry." Her smile brightened a little more, "I bet they have all sorts of books in there, just like the other one."
Going inside the shop Harry had to pause at what he was seeing. While the Main book store in Diagon Alley was rather huge on the inside, this one was positively massive. It was actually more similar to a library with the sizing. To make it even better there wasn't piles of books cluttering the floor but instead resting peacefully upon the shelves throughout the store. It was even organized by section with the cheaper books down near the bottom and the more expensive ones at the top.
"Wow!" That was all he heard before Hermione was gone in a blink of an eye. Actually, he was sure that she either teleported away or moved so fast that she left an afterimage that faded soon after she was gone. He would have to tease her for that later, maybe next year when he could properly move.
Hobbling over he grabbed a basket that were placed at the front of the store. However, as soon as he placed his hand on it the basket lifted off the table and floated behind him like an invisible person was holding it for him. Smiling he gripped his crutches a little more before working his way through the store.
Seeing as he wouldn't be able to practice the practical parts of his transfiguration, charms, and DADA classes Harry decided to at least get textbooks and a few books on rudimentary knowledge. The other core classes he did the same things. He also looked into the few electives that he had heard of during his first year that third years got to take. Thankfully he was able to pick up a beginner's guide to the Runes course but he also snagged dictionaries on other types of runes besides the Norse, Anglo-Saxon, and Celtic. There were also some books to help him with finances, languages, and etiquette. Seeing as in a few years he had a major choice to make he picked up the books for both boys and girls.
Not knowing what else to get Harry figured he had gotten enough for this year, besides he had two more years of this type of study to go through so it was a start if anything. Making his way toward the front he had his books rung up before swiftly placing them inside his trunk. Seeing as he was all finished he'd better make sure Hermione didn't die under a mountain of books. Chuckling to himself he made his way throughout the store.
In no time at all he found his friend trapped in the spell creation section trying to decide on which books to get. Peaking over her shoulder he took note that she fighting over three different authors theories on spell crafting. Snickering loud enough to be heard Hermione jumped a few feet into the air and away from him. Once she landed she pouted at him, which did nothing to stop his laughter.
"Harry! That wasn't nice at all!" shaking his head he pointed to the books clutched to her budding bosom. She seemed to notice what he was laughing about and thankfully elaborated on it, "Oh I read the first chapter in each of them and they all have good theories on the creation of spells but I'm just not sure which one to get!"
Quirking an invisible eyebrow at his friend he spoke in the most deadpanned voice he could, "Mione, you realize Spell creation isn't even a class until sixth year, right? That means three years of Arithmancy first and then it. Why are you even reading into a subject before taking its prerequisite?"
Her face reddened a little and he knew instantly that she had gotten lost in her love of learning. It wasn't a bad thing but sometimes she got a little ahead of herself and forgets to study the basics before jumping into the advanced stuff. Then again, the girl was like scary smart, it wouldn't surprise him if she was already in her third year in the theoretical portion of class already.
Moving forward he took the three books from her and placed it in his basket, which he hadn't taken back to the front just yet in case he found something interesting while he was looking for his bushy haired friend.
"Don't worry about it Mione, call it a gift. Come on, let's get your books all rung up and head off to find the Weasley's. I'm pretty sure they are wondering where we have run off to by now."
"Awwww!" Hermione pouted for a little bit before sighing and following him up toward the counter with her basket as well. Once they were all rung up, and his three books purchased as well, he handed them off to the girl. On their way out, he was amazed that not once did she run off to check out even more books like he usually had to keep an eye on when they were in the school's library. Maybe it's a shopping thing?
As soon as they exited the shop Harry took note that it was much later than he thought it was with the sun farther down in the sky than expected. Cursing to himself for starting so late, he hobbled toward the Leaky Cauldron with a worrying Hermione right behind him. The moment they entered into the pub Hermione's parents were right in front of them and squishing His friend into a tight hug.
"God Hermione, we were so worried when the Weasley's said you had wondered off with Harry. Are you okay? Did anybody try to hurt you? Did Harry try anything with you?" Mr. Grangers words flowed from his mouth before he could even take notice of just who was right there.
"Daddy! Harry would never do that to me, he's my best friend! We were just shopping and that's it." Wisely she decided to not mention the shared fitting room. That was a bag of worms she did not want to open. "Besides I don't think Harry would be able to even chase me down at the moment if I ran, let alone do something like that!"
Deciding to put his two pennies in Harry voiced his own thoughts, "Besides Mr. Granger, I can't even do something like that, not after my accident." He wasn't exactly sure they were talking about what he thought they might be talking about but he took a quick shot in the dark and prayed he was right or he would be super embarrassed.
His words seemed to fly right over his embarrassed best friend but both of her parents eyed him. He could see the sorrow in Mrs. Grangers eyes while understanding and pity filled up her husbands. Normally he wouldn't want pity from anyone but Hermione's father was different. In this case, any male would feel pity for another if something happened to their equipment in an accident, so Harry didn't let it get to him like usual.
Mrs. Granger knelt down to his level, which was amazingly short thanks to his height, and ever so gently placing her hands on his shoulders. She smiled at him with care and understanding that he knew he would probably never get from his relatives if they knew.
"I'm sorry to hear that you were so hurt in the accident last year. We never meant to suggest that you had done something, it's just that Hermione is all that we have and we don't want to see her getting hurt. Thank you for taking care of her for us Harry. If there is anything you need just ask, okay?" Not trusting his mouth, he nodded to his friend's mother. Her father nodded to him in return to show what she said went for him as well. Hermione on the other hand had no idea what was going on but decided not to interrupt in case she fudged things up like her daddy.
Getting his emotions back under control Harry took a quick look around to try and find the Weasley's but ended up coming up blank. Where had they gone?
"Um… do you know where the Weasley's went? We were supposed to meet them here once he finished shopping?"
The parents looked at each other before Hermione's mum started talking, "Well they came by a few hours ago. Mrs. Weasley looked rather upset about something and mentioned having to head home to deal with a family issue. The kids looked confused about it all but followed behind her. None came back ever since."
Realization came upon Harry almost instantly. Molly Weasley was pissed that she couldn't get any more money out of his account for whatever she was taking it for. Guess he'd either find out when school starts or if Dumbledore came knocking. Either way he wasn't sure how to answer but would have to wait upon to see what happened as an outcome. Sighing to himself he knew that this shopping trip with them was a bad idea when he agreed to it, didn't help when they didn't wait for the pair before immediately started shopping. Actually, it did make him wonder what they were doing in Madam Malkins when they usually had the hand-me-down system for the boys. He was pretty sure the only one that would get moderate knew clothing would be Ginny and that's because she was the only girl.
Hermione looked at him, silently asking if he was going to tell about them stealing from him, but he shook his head. There was no reason to create a fuss. If the Weasley's wanted to then that's their problem, not theirs.
Anyway, after a quick round of hugs goodbye the Grangers left him outside the Leaky Cauldron and Harry himself stopped a taxi to take him home. Probably cost more but he really didn't feel like going through all the effort to get to the train station again.