Chapter 4: The Alley Part 3

The Flames of Sorrow

As Harry tumbled out of the pensive he tripped over his ratty, overlarge trainer and fell heavily into the chair he had been using before the trip into the pensive. He heard Rocksplitter laugh as he adjusted his position before looking up at the goblin.

"One last thing and then our business for today will be complete." Rocksplitter said and then got up from the desk and went to an intricate carving in the wall. He began muttering in Gobbledygook and pushed in a small knob that flashed blue before a loud click was heard. Rocksplitter reached his long fingers into a very small drawer that that had only a moment before had been decretive looking ax handle.

From within he took a small fang on a silver chain that had been carved with hundreds of tiny runes both in the fang and the chain. He turned towards Harry and said, "This is the key to the forest of Emrys given to me by the late Nicolas Flamel with instructions for it to be given to you after the pensive viewing. It will guide you through the wards surrounding the place that no one has been able to find for centuries. Even at the time of Merlin when it was known as the Druid Wood people were unsure of where it was and even the name was dismissed as mere speculation. I only know as much as I do about it because I was told by Nicolas when he entrusted this duty to me."

He handed Harry the pendant, memories, and the emerald green potion saying, "That concludes our business for today Lord Potter-Black. I will contact you once more if anything is found about your parents will."

"One more thing, Rocksplitter, is there a way to access my gold without having to return to Gringotts every time I need more money?"

"There is indeed such a thing. It is a money bag that is linked to your vault, allowing you to withdraw or deposit gold at any time. It will only move the gold though, so do not try pushing objects through it." Rocksplitter explained drawing a black pouch out his desk and continuing, "It requires a blood bond so that only you will be able to take gold from within. Just state the amount of money you want and it will appear inside."

Harry stood up feeling exhausted. He quickly un-shrunk his trunk and placed his newest treasures inside. Maybe it would be a good idea to go back to the Dursley's to sleep and finish his business in Diagon Alley tomorrow. He frowned then he also felt slight pain from all of his bones, like what taking skele-gro had felt like but less intense.

"Thank you for all of your assistance today, Rocksplitter." Harry said thinking about how Dobby would probably force feed him when he returned. Surprisingly Harry was looking forward to just that, a meal and a log rest.

Rocksplitter laughed at that. "Lord Potter-Black, even you would normally only rate high enough for one of my senior clerks. It was with a bit of coin on the part of Nicolas that he was able to entice me into seeing to you myself." A feral smile played across his face as he began to lead Harry back to the main hall. "I am now the second richest goblin in the London clan, only second to Ragnok. As the second wealthiest in our clan I am also second in charge and there are many other perks that go with my new position. You and Nicolas have made me very rich Lord Potter-Black."

Harry thought about that for a while in silence. It did make sense in a way for the goblin society to be based in gold. Then another thought struck him and he asked, "Rocksplitter, why do you call Nicolas by his name and not by his title like you do for me?"

"The answer to that is simple; because he asked me to. He has been a friend of my house for centuries and I respect his wishes." Rocksplitter said.

While Harry took in this small piece of information he realized something about Rocksplitter that was different from almost every other goblin Harry had ever spoken to. Rocksplitter did not harbor any of the resentment or grudges that had been so prevalent in others of his race. As he thought about it he guessed that it must have come from long years of having good relations with a certain very old wizard who probably knew the goblins culture inside and out. With that thought Harry took a breath and said, "Then Rocksplitter, call me Harry."

Rocksplitter's eyes went wide and an enormous and slightly crooked smile appeared on the goblins face. "You realize that if I accept, Lord Potter-Black that I would become the manager of all of your vaults?"

Harry hadn't known that but he saw no problem with that as Rocksplitter had seemed alright to him. He didn't even know who the current manager of his vaults was. "Yes, Rocksplitter, do you accept?"

Smile never leaving his face Rocksplitter said, "Yes Harry, I would indeed be honored."

They arrived back in the main hall as a large metal clock in the middle of the hall struck two in the afternoon and he parted ways with Rocksplitter.

Thinking to change some of his money into pounds, Harry made his way over the exchange desk and drew a few galleons from his new bag. He made the exchange quickly and turned to leave.

Walking towards the entrance Harry called for Dobby. The little elf appeared next to him, immediately matching his pace towards the exits. "Dobby, I need you to get us back to my room at the Dursley's." Harry said as he reached out is hand for the elf to take.

Still seeming hesitant Dobby reached up without a word to grab Harry's hand and they vanished with a crack.

Harry arrived back in his room the same way he landed in the alley. The painful feeling of being ripped at from all directions was not something he was willing to experience for casual travel.

Harry thanked Dobby for his assistance and requested a meal to be ready on his return. He looked around for Hedwig and saw that her cage was empty so he guessed she was out hunting. Then Harry made his way downstairs to make an appearance for the watching Order members.

Not even bothering to acknowledge his realities who were watching a program on the telly, Harry made his way out the front door heading planning to go to a small play park a few blocks away.

Harry had only gone a block when he felt the eyes upon him. Not knowing which Order member would be tailing him today, he began trying to think of a way to find out. He decided to wait until he got to the park and then simply ask whoever it was to join him on a bench. Harry figured it might work, and if it didn't he would just go back and get some rest.

By the time Harry sat on the bench he was really feeling drained but determined to at least talk to his stalker before returning. "Why don't you come out from under the cloak and join me on the bench." Harry said, looking towards the area he thought his follower was likely to be.

He was rewarded for his efforts a moment latter when a muttered, "Bloody hell Harry! How'd you know I was there?" came out of the air. Seconds later Bill Weasley's face could be seen as he removed the invisibility cloak he had been wearing.

Harry just laughed and asked, "How's it going Bill?"

"Aside from being spotted under an invisibility cloak by a fifteen year old wizard?" Bill said as his face split in a grin, "Amazing, I just got engaged!"

"Congratulations!" Harry said as Bill sat down on the bench net to him. "When is the wedding?"

"We have it planned for next summer. Fleur is staying at the Burrow for the summer to get to know the family better. Things have been off to a bit of a rough start there but I think they'll warm to her soon enough." Bill said a little hopefully.

"I hope things go well for you Bill, but I'm going to have to cut it there. I didn't sleep well last night and I'm completely knackered. Tell Fleur I said hello." Harry said standing. A grin forced its way onto his face and he added, "And ask Mad-Eye about his last time on duty."

Not understanding Harry's comment, Bill stood as well and said, "I'll see you later this summer then Harry, and take care of yourself in there." Harry turned and started walking back to the Dursley's as Bill slipped the invisibility cloak back on.

When Harry returned he made his way up to his room and closed the door before sitting down to eat the meal Dobby had laid out for him. He ate quickly, clearing the platter before stumbling over to his bed dropping off to sleep fully clothed on top of the covers of his bed.

Harry woke to the feeling of the sun across his back and realized that he must have slept for longer than he thought he would. He looked to the old alarm clock that now read half past two. He frowned; it couldn't have been only a half hour, could it?

He sat up on his bed and called out, "Dobby?"

The little elf popped into the room and into the room and squeaked, "Master Harry! You is awake!"

"Dobby, how long have I been asleep?" Harry asked a little surprised by the elf's reaction.

"Yous has been sleeping for two days. Dobby tried to wake you once so you could eat, but your magic stopped Dobby before he could." Dobby looked a little ashamed at that.

Harry was about to thank Dobby for trying when a long strand of black hair fell in front of his face. It was longer than he remembered and as he reached up to feel it he realized just how different it was. His normally unruly hair now hung down just passed his shoulders.

While it was odd he hadn't really known what effects the Elixir of Life would have on him, so Harry quickly decided to get a haircut. Thinking on it now Harry hadn't had a haircut since he was… Harry frowned; it must have been before he went to Hogwarts so it must have been at least five or six years. He would have to look for something about it when he returned to the alley.

Returning the matter at hand Harry asked, "Has anyone from the order been around to check on me?" It had been two days since he had sent the note to the order telling them he was doing alright before he had fallen asleep.

"The brother of masters Weesey stopped in earlier today and then left when you was still sleeping."

This was good, that meant they were unlikely to try stopping in again today. Perfect time to do some much needed shopping.

"Dobby I need to get back to Diagon Alley today. I still have a lot of things I want to take care of before I find the Forest of Emrys and there are a few things I would like you to do for me. While I'm gone today, I want you to look through my new trunk and make a list of all the things that are inside." Harry took out the griffin and with a muttered; "Open" it sprang up into its trunk form.

A smile broke across the elf's face at the prospect of being able to clean such a massive space while cataloging the items within.

"I will need you to take me back to London today though Dobby. It's late in the afternoon and if I want to get all that I have planned done I will need all the time I can get. While I'm there I am going to find another way of getting home." Harry said and then looked around to see Hedwig's cage was still empty, but the water dish looked to have been emptied slightly. He figured she must have been in and left again.

"Dobby will do as the master wishes." The elf said still with the pleased smile on his face.

And with that Dobby reached out his hand for Harry to take and they popped away, only to appear in an alley on Charing Cross Road.

The moment he had recovered from the effects of the elf transportation, Harry left the alley in search of a place to get both a new wardrobe and a haircut. He decided to get his muggle shopping done first as with all the money he knew he possessed he would never wear one of Dudley's cast offs again.

He found a place to get his hair cut on the next block over, and twenty minutes later he left looking a good deal better than when he had entered. He had decided to cut his hair shorter than it had been and the effect was stunning. Instead of the unruly mop his hair usually impersonated, the windswept look now complemented his features and his scar was no longer covered by his hair. He would no longer hide who he was after this trip. Once he finished in Diagon Alley, his days of trying to deny who he was hide his appearance would be at an end. The only thing stopping him from reveling himself now was the potential the Order had to ruin his plans if they caught wind of what he was doing.

After his hair was taken care of Harry made his way over to a shop that seemed like a warehouse full of cloths. When he had asked the lady giving him his hair cut about places in the area that sold cloths she had recommended this place saying it would have absolutely everything he would need.

Walking through the doors he had to admit that she might be right. The place was enormous. Harry saw racks upon racks of clothing in all sizes, styles, and colors. Shaking himself Harry set about the task of finding new clothes.

Two hours later Harry emerged wearing new jeans and a dark green polo. He was slightly drained from the experience and found himself wondering how girls, both magical and mundane could actually enjoy the process. He had spent close to seven hundred pounds inside and had several large bags he was carrying at the moment.

It had been a good thing he had been wearing Dudley's old cloths rather than anything in his size in the beginning as Harry found he was several inches taller than he remembered. He now stood a respectable six feet tall. He would never be as tall as someone like Ron, but it was still better than being as short as he had been before.

Harry made his way back to Charing Cross Road and ducked into an empty alleyway to call for Dobby.

"Master is needing Dobby?" The elf asked popping in front of Harry with a small 'crack'.

"Can you take these back to my room for me Dobby?" Harry asked pulling out a dark hat from inside one of the bags.

"Yes master, Dobby is doing it." Dobby said quickly before popping away again.

Harry pulled the hat over his head, covering his scar and took a deep breath. The Alley would be difficult if anyone recognized him, but Harry did not intend to stay long.

Adjusting his hat again, Harry opened the door to the Leaky Caldron and stepped through. Not stopping to look around he made his way over to the back door and entrance to the Alley.

He tapped the pattern on the bricks and stepped into the trade center of magical London. It was more subdued than Harry remembered it. People who would have normally been so carefree now fingered wands hidden in pockets. It was not a drastic change, but an important one none the less.

The first thing Harry wanted now was finish any shopping that had to do with cloths and then never do it again. He fought himself for several seconds on whether or not to just stop by a second-hand store to avoid attention, or go to Madam Malkin's to get fitted. In the end he decided to get fitted rather than buy second-hand.

Harry entered the shop and going over to one of the assistants said, "Could you help me? My uncle accidentally set my wardrobe on fire the other day and all that made it was this set of muggle clothing, so I am going to need an entirely new one."

"I'd be happy help, follow me." She said, leading him over to a small stand with a magical measuring tape floating nearby.

The fitting didn't take all that long and Harry found out that Jasmine was a recent graduate of a magical school in Italy and was traveling around the world, spending a year in some of the countries she was visiting. This was to ensure that she got more of a taste of the language as well as the culture.

It was here that Harry asked, "How do you learn all the languages?"

Jasmine laughed at that and replied, "Sermo serum of course. It's a language potion that was originally made for travelers such as me a few hundred years ago when world tours were huge as a rite of passage. They're a huge source of income for potion masters who can brew them properly, and the rarer the language the more the cost. I think the apothecary down the street even has Aztec."

After that they talked a little about the places she was going to see as the fitting ended. Then they were on to the cloth. In the end Harry only left with a dark hooded cloak while the rest would be picked up tomorrow. He had gotten five pairs of normal cloaks for everyday use, three sets of work robes, and two new dress robes. One was a deep crimson with a golden phoenix on the back, the other was silver and black, more plain looking but with a pattern of flames around the edges.

He was about to head over to the apothecary when he realized that if he bought anymore right now he would have nowhere to put his new purchase. He looked around and spotted a shop promoting magical luggage. Deciding it might have what he needed, Harry entered.

Not wanting to haul around a trunk, and already owning one that could meet all his needs Harry passed that section in search of something smaller and more portable. Near the back of the store he came across what looked like a few matchbox sized trunks in a pile. They had a card on them which read;

This line of trunks are useful for those traveling as the large amount of space within can hold roughly twice that of a normal trunk and can shrink down to fit within a pocket.

Deciding it would do for his shopping today Harry picked one up and took it over to the man who was sleeping on a chair behind the counter. He coughed loudly, causing the man to jerk upright in his seat. "How much do you want for the trunk?"

"Twenty galleons that is, and to make it change size all you got to do is say 'morph' with it close to your face." The man replied, still seeming off balance from waking so suddenly.

Harry paid quickly and left even faster. He was feeling paranoid all trip and he knew it. He just wanted to get his shopping over with and return to his room to put off this sense of dread he was feeling.

When he got to the apothecary the feeling of dread had gotten worse and Harry decided just to buy a bit of everything where ingredients were concerned. Seeing the pre-made potions section Harry also decided to grab one of each of the languages. He knew some, if not most of the books he had taken from the Black family vault were written in languages he didn't know. He also took at least one of all the different kinds of healing potions, not knowing if he would ever need them, but deciding having them wouldn't hurt any. He passed the stand of solid gold caldrons he had seen in first year with Hagrid, and decided to buy them now because he had not only money but his school caldrons had taken a bit of a beating over the last five years. With that in mind Harry picked up several programmable stirring rods and a set of caldrons in each type of metal available; pewter, bronze, copper, iron, steel, silver, and platinum.

When he went to pay for all of the things he had chosen he received a few very odd look from the clerk, especially when he paid for all the items and started placing them into his newly acquired trunks.

"Are you training for your potions mastery of something kid? Because if you are there is something you're missing from your collection there." The man said with slightly condescending drawl.

"And what would that be?" Harry asked slightly irritably. He felt torn between wanting to know, and wanting to get out of the Alley and rid himself of the odd feeling of dread that had been building in him.

"Settle down there, no need to bite my head off. What you need, my friend is some of the more volatile ingredients that don't make it on display. They are only for those training for, or have already attained their mastery in potions. Follow me." He said as he walked around the counter to a door in the back and waited until Harry finish putting away the things he had already bought.

Finishing with his purchases, Harry decided to at least see what was being offered and after re-shrinking his trunk he joined the man by the door. The man smiled, "Through here is the good stuff, and some of what's in here isn't exactly ministry approved. But it's still good business to those who are in your field of study. By the way, my name's Bartholomew Torak, but any who enter here can call me Blue."

Now Harry was thinking fast. He would be expected to give a name, but he couldn't let anyone know who he really was. Not yet at least. And then it came to him, a name to use, one that would be loads better than saying Neville like he had for his trip on the Knight Bus. "Alright Blue, I'm James. James Evens."

"Follow me then James." Blue said opening the door. It opened into a long hallway with two doors on the left alternating with the one on the right. On the right side at the end of the hallway was a set of stairs leading down into what Harry assumed was the basement.

Blue led them down the stairs to an iron door. Blue put a heavy looking key into the lock and turned back to Harry and said, "Here it is, James. Take a look." Blue turned the key and opened the door.

The things inside looked eerily similar to Snape's office, bits of creatures floating in jars lined the wall. Harry stepped into the room and started reading the tags on the jars. What he found was both intriguing and disgusting in the extreme.

Re'em heart, Manticore hair and venom, powdered Chimaera eggs, pieces of a Lethifold's cloak, Acromantula poison, and Thestral heart among the main ones to catch his interest. There was an entire wall dedicated to bits and pieces of dragons with the only thing missing being the hide.

Aware that most, if not all of the materials on this room were class A non-tradable materials, Harry turned to Blue with a smile and asked, "How long would it take you to restock all of this?"

A little surprised Blue frowned slightly in thought and said, "Depends on the market at the time. Could take anywhere from a few months to two years."

"And how much do you think all of this would sell for?" Harry asked looking at a jar.

"I'd put it at something like thirteen thousand galleons" Blue said with a greedy look in his eye. "It's pricey, but then again smuggling is never cheep."

"I'll take it all." Harry said drawing out his money bag. He turned to Blue who had a shell shocked expression that was mixed with greed plastered all across his face.

"If you've got the gold, it's yours James." Blue said smiling.

Harry set the bag to the price mentioned and began drawing handfuls of gold before just flipping the bag upside down pouring the gold out onto the floor.

Blue's eyes shot open and he whistled, "Alright then James, load it up it's yours." And Harry began doing just that.

Ten minutes later the pair emerged from the basement and made their way to the shop proper. Then Harry asked, "Blue, why are you in your particular business of trade in this part of the Alley rather than around the corner?"

Blue laughed, "James, the Auror squads are a lot less suspicious of businesses in this part of the Alley. And there is nothing wrong with Knockturn Alley; it's like any slum in the world, filled with the dregs of a society."

"Alright Blue," Harry said, "thanks for your help today. And I hope your restocking goes quickly."

Harry turned and left the apothecary in a slightly better mood than he had entered, yet the feeling of dread was still there, like something in the near future was going to go terribly bad. Harry set the feeling aside for the moment and went over to Flourish and Blotts to look for books.

Inside Harry thought about the message he had received from Nicolas Flamel regarding magical foci, and so made his way over to the area about the creation of magical objects. Finding what he was looking for, Harry grabbed several books on wand making, enchanting, and brooms.

With those taken care of Harry began to wander through the store taking both basic and advanced books in Transfiguration, Charms, DADA, Potions, Herbology, Runes, Arithmancy, CMC, and Magical Law.

Even with the books that Harry had found in the Black Vault, he wanted to make sure he had all possible resources available to him and if he didn't need them they would still be an option.

Then Harry came to the section on magical travel and grabbed several books on apparition and the use of portkeys. Harry skipped over the books on the floo-network as it was too limiting, not everywhere he went would have fireplace connected to the network.

With his stack of books ready Harry made his way over to the counter to pay for his books. The lady checking him out looked to be even older than Dumbledore and didn't even seem to notice or care how many books he was buying, even when he handed over the gold. He didn't even wait to receive his change, tossing his books into the little room that was left in his trunk after his visit to the apothecary and leaving.

Back in the Alley proper Harry decided to call it in for today and head back to the Dursley's. He couldn't call Dobby because he had promised the elf he would find a different way home.

The only option that seemed likely to him was to go back to muggle London and have a cab take him back to Surrey. He couldn't take the Knight Bus without alerting the Order, he couldn't apparate or make portkeys yet, and there was no access to the floo-network.

So Harry made his way back through the Leaky Caldron to muggle London, removing his cloak as he did so. Out on the street Harry hailed a taxi and just like that he was on his way back to his personal prison.

Harry got out of the cab close to six in the evening about a block from his house. He took his time walking back, enjoying the fresh air.

When Harry got to the front door he heard raised voices inside. It sounded like Uncle Vernon was yelling at both Aunt Petunia and Dudley.

Harry frowned, that was odd. He had only ever heard his uncle yelling at him; not his aunt or cousin.

He opened the door cautiously, trying not to be noticed. He failed spectacularly at sneaking when the door groaned loudly, announcing his presence.

"Boy! Get in here!" His uncle bellowed from the kitchen. With more concern than before, Harry approached the kitchen and entered slowly. His uncle Vernon stood unsteadily, empty bottles of brandy scattered across the table and floor.

"You! You did this to me boy!" his uncle bellowed. Dudley flinched and whimpered from the corner. Vernon continued, "Your freakishness has gone too far! Your blasted weird hocus-pocus is ruining me! This is all your fault! First the Mason's dinner and now this! You got me fired boy!"

Harry couldn't say anything, there was nothing to say. This was just like when he had done magic as a child; berated heavily and tossed into the cupboard under the stairs. Except now his uncle was in a drunken rage focused directly at Harry. He didn't think his uncle would stop at yelling this time.

Harry was about to make a run for the door when he heard a loud screech and Hedwig flew in through the open window and began circling the kitchen screeching.

Both happiness at seeing his faithful companion and dread for what might happen filled Harry.

And then his uncle bellowed, "BLOODY OWL!" he reached over and grabbed the frying pan from off the stove and swung it with all his strength at the circling bird. The pan hit Hedwig full on sending the own across the kitchen into the wall.

Harry watched it happen unable to prevent what was coming, but then he heard the snapping of his familiars' bones breaking and lost it. Harry felt something rise within him as he looked at Hedwig's broken body. She had been his first birthday gift, his friend, his companion through all the summers in hell.

And now she was gone. He felt the feeling grow and then he loosed a roar of grief and sorrow. All of his emotions poured into it, the yell echoed and something flowed with it. Flames of silver and black lashed out at everything nearby, destroying all that it touched.

Harry didn't even notice the flames around him; his vision had tunneled down to include only the bird lying on the floor.

Behind him the Dursley's screamed and turned to ash, and the house followed only seconds after.

Harry noticed nothing of this as he gently scooped Hedwig's body off of the floor and held her to himself. Tears leaked down his face as he held her close. Then almost in a trance he stood up and looking to the sky lifted her body up.

He offered her body up to the sky and she rose on pillars of flame unnoticed by the young wizard. When she was almost thirty feet into the air the flames Billowed and grew. They formed into the shape of an enormous owl as large as any dragon with the white body of Hedwig where a heart would have been.

It spread its wings and screeched in defiance and then vanished.

Back on the ground Harry collapsed, out cold.

Dobby had felt his master approaching for more than an hour, and now that he was right outside he stopped his work inside the trunk to make master dinner. He had only finished putting all of his master's belongings into the trunk when he felt his master's mood change. He was not sure what master's muggle had said but he felt it had been bad.

And then even more Dobby felt danger. He quickly grabbed master's trunk and popped out of the house. He reappeared in a few bushes down the block and watched in horrid fascination and the house exploded.

Mundungus Fletcher was sleeping with his back against a wall across the street from the Dursley house he had been sent to guard.

He was shaken from his slumber when he heard an explosion and looked up to see the house he'd been 'watching' go up in silvery-black flames.

Gapping Mundungus watched a flaming bird rise up into the sky. To say he was terrified was an understatement.

He looked up once more at the flaming bird just beginning to spread its wings in the evening air before apparating back to the Burrow. Dumbledore would have to be told and people needed to come back with him to find out what had happened.

AN: So there it is both the Dursley's and Hedwig are gone and things are picking up a bit. Another small note I don't currently have anyone proof reading my work so there will probably be a few mistakes. Another thing I'd like to ask for is suggestions for Harry's animagus forms, the only limitations being no phoenix, basilisk, or dragons. I have plans for all of these later in different manners. So far I'm leaning towards choosing a griffin because it is the king of beasts on both land and in the air. Just let me know what you think.