Harry Potter and the Power of Time
Chapter 4 – Shopping Spree
Upon exiting Gringotts, Harry called for Hedwig, who was perched on a nearby lamppost, and headed back towards the Leaky Cauldron. Although Diagon Alley had always seemed busy to Harry in the past, today's crowds seemed not as large. He suspected it was because school just let out, and people were spending time with their families. Regardless, Harry enjoyed the quiet streets. He felt more relaxed looking into windows alone, and he supposed there was less chance that he could be recognized.
"What should we buy first Hedwig?" Harry asked his owl, who was perched on his shoulder. "How about this? Let's head to Eeylops Owl Emporium to get you some owl treats, and then I can check out that magical instrument shop next door? Sound good?"
Hedwig, who never thought owl treats were a bad idea, hooted in agreement. Eeylops was located just in front of the Leaky Cauldron, so Harry supposed it was a good idea to start there anyways. Rather than running all over Diagon Alley, Harry would just make one big loop. 'It may take all day,' Harry thought, 'but then again, I'm in no rush.' Harry had already decided to spend the night in a rented room. He had three days before the Order would expect a letter from him, and the Dursleys certainly wouldn't care if Harry was missing for a day or two.
The trip to Eeylops only lasted a short while; just a few minutes to buy the owl treats, and another few to take a quick look around the store. The witch working behind the counter was impressed with Harry's enchanted money pouch, so Harry left soon after so as not to draw attention.
The shop right next door was one he'd been into once before, but Harry was three years older now, and had picked up an interest of magical instruments from his teachers the past few years. Especially Dumbledore. Harry might be angry with his Headmaster, but he still felt guilty for trashing his office. "Well," said Harry, "Maybe I'll get him something to make up for it."
But before he went looking for strange silver spheres that apparently did nothing, Harry had already promised himself a new watch. He'd wanted a magical watch ever since he'd seen one, and now was his chance.
"Hello there," the man in the shop greeted Harry. "Welcome to my shop. Just browsing today, or is there something specific I can help you with?"
"Both actually," Harry replied. "I'd like to spend some time looking around, but I know for sure I need a new wristwatch. I've never owned a magical one before, and I'm interested in them."
"Certainly, sir. We have a wide variety to chose from, both in style and in function. Let me show you some selections."
Harry followed the man to a glass cabinet not too far away, making sure to keep his head down and covered. He was starting to get a headache from squinting his eyes through the dark sunglasses, and hoped he could resolve that problem soon.
"Well, here we are. Do you have a specific model in mind?" The man asked.
"Er, not really. I know I still want to be able to tell the normal time. Some wizard clocks I've seen don't show that. I've seen a clock with planets on it, and another with hands representing members of a family that point to their location, but I'm not too sure what they do."
"You really have no idea what you're looking for then, do you?" Although it sounded rude, the man simply stated a fact. "Well, let me explain to you a few different choices. This watch here is like the one you mentioned, and has a maximum number of six hands that you can assign to different people, usually friends and family. You'll need a piece of their hair for the spells to work, and like you said, it tracks their location. All my watches tell the correct time, on this model you just have to press the button on the side and say 'tempus.' The correct time will be display for thirty seconds, and then the watch goes back to its normal display. Another popular piece I have is a comment watch, and I'm sure you've seen these before. The display looks blank, but once it becomes used to your schedule, it displays certain messages. At dinnertime it may say 'Time to Eat,' or if you're late for a class it will remind you. Some people don't like to be bossed around by their timepieces, but it's especially popular with younger children."
Harry couldn't help but think that his roommate Neville could use a watch that that. "Anything else you have?" Harry asked.
"Well," the man responded, "we do have a few models that are pocket watches, but I know those are out of style with the younger crowds. There's a new model wristwatch, but I don't know much about it yet, and it's awfully expensive."
Harry asked to see it, thinking it couldn't possibly be too expensive for him. Harry had planned to spend a lot of money on himself today, and wasn't going to back down now. After all, he was making up for fifteen years of neglect.
"Here it is young man. There's a complete manual that comes with its purchase, and explains all the features. What I do know is that it's charmed to be waterproof, shockproof, and indestructible. It also has a dark arts detector. I'm not positive, but it beeps or flashes or something when it senses dark magic. The detection levels are adjustable, and I know a few aurors have purchased this model already just for that feature. Anyway, it's all in the manual." The small booklet was pushed across the counter to Harry, and he paged through it briefly. He saw a few entries about the dark arts detector, and even something about shield charms. He didn't have time to read the whole book now, so Harry put it aside and looked at the watch itself.
It was a two toned watch with a metal band, and looked just like most watches he'd seen. The face had the normal hour, minute, and second he'd expected, and a small circle right above the six that glowed with a faint light. Harry supposed the small circle had something to do with the watch's extra features. "Do you happen to know what this watch is made of?" Harry asked the man.
"It comes in a few varieties," he answered. "That model you're holding is gold and silver. I also carry a solid gold model, and a platinum and gold model. I'm all out of the solid silver ones, and I think the company makes a stainless steel model as well, but I don't carry that. This is such a high end watch, most people willing to spend that kind of money want only the best."
"I agree. In fact, I'll take the gold and platinum model please." Harry decided to stay away from silver, in case he accidentally came into contact with Remus. The man behind the counter obviously wasn't expecting to make a sale, probably from Harry's appearance, but hurried back to the storeroom once he got over his initial shock.
While the owner was in the backroom, Harry browsed the store, looking at a few odds and ends. Very few objects he recognized, but some he did from Dumbledore's desk, and a few more from shops in Hogsmeade. Harry returned to the watch cabinet to await the man, and looked in the display case next to it. In the case was a display with a small sign that read "Magical Jewelry." A necklace here, a few bracelets there, and a box of rings of all shapes and colors. It was this box that interested Harry. He'd been meaning to purchase a ring.
A few moments later the man retuned, with an open box the size of a small book. "I took the liberty, sir, of opening the box to make sure I had the correct model, and to set the time. I noticed you're not wearing a watch at the moment. Would you like me to wrap it up, or would you like to wear it out?"
Harry wanted to wear it, so he could keep track of the time for the rest of the day. The watch slipped onto his left wrist easily, was smooth and cool to the touch, and had a comfortable weight to it. Harry didn't notice before, but the watch face was a deep charcoal grey, almost black, and Harry liked it very much.
"I'd also like to look in that box of rings you have there please." Harry pointed to the jewelry display, and a moment later the box was on top of the counter, and the shopkeeper was fishing through it.
"Now all of these rings have different magical properties, depending on the stones, metals, and additional spells cast. I would suggest a gold or platinum piece to complement your watch."
Harry agreed with the man, and looked at a few rings that were already laid out on the counter. Harry wasn't sure if it was just his taste, but he thought most of the rings were just downright gaudy. "Er, most of these are a bit much, do you have anything simpler?" Thinking that gold was one of the Gryffindor colors, Harry asked the man, "Maybe a gold ring with a red stone?"
Indeed there were a few gold and red choices; four to be exact. One Harry dismissed immediately; it was hideous. The three remaining were all attractive. They all had a single stone, and one was a lot darker that the other two. Of the two rings with brighter gems, one had a round stone, and had an animated snake continually circling it. The other had a flat, square stone, with runes engraved along the ring band. The darker stone, the shopkeeper informed him was made of garnet, and not as expensive as the two ruby rings. Remembering that rubies were his birthstone, Harry placed the garnet ring aside.
Harry asked the shopkeeper, "What can you tell me about these two rings?"
"Well," he said "the one with the runes just came in about seven months ago. An old witch came in to sell it. It belonged to her late husband, and she couldn't stand to look at it anymore, so I gave her a good price. I don't know much about the runes, never studied them myself, but the old lady said that the ring had properties to keep the old man virile, if you know what I mean."
Harry certainly did know what he meant, and Harry also knew he was far too young to be worrying about that yet. "What about the other ring?"
"Can't say I know much about that one. It was part of an estate collection my pop bought back when I was a lad; when he ran the shop. Don't remember which family it came from, and it's been here since." The man paused to look at the ring, and then continued. "It's attractive enough, but not too many people are fond of snakes these days. Also, the damn thing has a habit of hissing at you if you put the ring on."
Harry's ears perked up at this. He had already seen the animated snake, but hadn't expected it to hiss. He wondered if he could talk to the snake using Parseltongue, like he spoke to the image of snakes on the door to the Chamber of Secretes. He didn't want to frighten the shopkeeper though, so Harry kept quiet. Also, it was a well known fact that Harry Potter was a Parselmouth.
"May I try it on?" The shopkeeper nodded, and Harry slipped the ring on his right hand. It seemed big at first, but magically adjusted to fit whichever finger he placed it on. And sure enough, it hissed at him.
"Hisss....Who are you....Pleassse....Put me down...." Harry smiled at the ring, and took it off quickly so as not to upset the small creature. He would have plenty of opportunity to talk to it later.
Harry handed the ring back to the man and said, "I'll take it, but please pack this one up." The man nodded, but looked at Harry like he was crazy. He dipped into the back room again, and Harry again browsed through the merchandise. He'd decided to put off buying anything for Dumbledore. Today was a day for Harry alone.
The shopkeeper returned, and approached the counter once more. "Anything else today sir?" He asked.
"No thank you, I think that's all for now," replied Harry.
"Very good then, let me ring up your purchases." The shopkeeper left Harry at the display counter and walked to the front door where a small register was kept. "Let's see, the watch, platinum and gold being the most expensive model, is seven hundred forty galleons and fourteen sickles. The ring, gold and ruby of excellent quality, is another matter. Normally I'd ask around five hundred galleons for a piece like it, but that particular one hasn't been doing anything but collecting dust for the past sixty years. And since I don't know what my father paid for it, I'll only charge you an even one hundred fifty. So that brings the total to eight hundred ninety galleons and fourteen sickles, sir."
Harry agreed to the price, and was silently happy with the discount of the ring. It was the second discount he'd been offered that day, and Harry had to remember that people seemed to take care of high rollers. Harry spoke the amount into his moneybag, pulled out his money, and accepted the small parcel from the shopkeeper. He originally planned on wearing the ring like his new watch, but wasn't up for a long conversation with a confused snake just yet.
Harry left the shop, and once again Hedwig flew down from a nearby lamppost onto his shoulder. "You're going to get a bit of exercise today, aren't you girl?" Hedwig nodded in agreement, and Harry proceeded down the street. A glance at his new watch showed it to be a quarter till twelve, and Harry was certainly starting to get hungry, but was too excited about shopping to stop and eat just yet.
Continuing down the street, Harry passed Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlor, the cauldron shop where he bought his first pewter cauldron, and a small unnamed shop that seemed to be closed. An intersection approached, and Harry could almost smell the dark magic wafting in from Knockturn Alley. Harry remember being down that way, before his second year, and had no interests in returning. At least not till nightfall.
A few buildings later and Harry opened the door to the shop he was aiming for; Leed's Luggage. Hedwig flew away as he walked inside, and approached the short bald man sitting in a comfortable looking chair. The man was asleep, and for a moment Harry wondered if he was a customer, before he noticed the nametag identifying him as Lemarin Leeds.
"Ahemm..." Harry coughed into his hand to wake the man. He stirred, but did not wake. So again, Harry cleared his throat, and this time "accidentally" bumped into the chair rousing the short Mr. Leeds.
"Oh, umm, excuse me there, must have dosed off for a second." The man didn't seem too embarrassed, and Harry wondered if Mr. Leeds had a habit of sleeping during work. "Sorry about that," he continued, "welcome to my shop. Magical trunks, bags, satchels, cases, and pretty much any other thing you can think of. What can I do for you, Mr....?"
Harry got caught off guard for a moment, but remembered his identity with Stan from the Knight Bus, so he answered, "Umm, Thomas. Dean Thomas. I'm looking for a new trunk for school. My old one's pretty beat up, and I've outgrown it as well; need a bit more space."
And it was true; his old trunk could no long hold all his clothes, school books, potion supplies, broomstick, and collectables Harry had picked up over the years. Even though it was magically expanded inside, it was still too small. And Harry hadn't even made the bulk of his purchases yet today.
"Very good Mr. Thomas. We've a few models of trunks. The simplest would be a single cavity model like the one you most likely own now. The inside can be expanded up to three hundred percent, and it locks with a traditional key, no other spells."
"Umm, no thank you Mr. Leeds, and please call me Dean. I think I'm more interested in something with quite a bit more room. One of my professors awhile back had a trunk with multiple compartments, and even had a large room. I'm looking for something like that." Harry of course was remembering Moody's magic trunk, and how it could be advantageous to be able to crawl inside for a bit of privacy.
"Yes Dean, and please call me Lemarin," he kindly answered back. "I stock three models in that description. The first trunk has four compartments, opens by traditional key as well, and is damage resistant. It will last a long while, and was originally intended for use by heavy travelers. The first three compartments all are the same size, and are expanded two hundred percent of the trunk's total volume. The forth compartment measures twenty five square feet, but is only three feet deep. Easy enough to reach in a grab whatever one needs; no need for ladders.
"The second trunk I offer is the industry standard, and has been for decades. In my opinion, it's a little overkill for a school trunk, but you decide. Seven compartments, also opening by traditional key, with the additional option of voice activation. First four compartments are the same size, again two hundred percent trunk volume. Spaces five and six are a bit larger, are accessible by either ladder or slide, and measure six feet wide by six feet long by eight feet deep. The seventh and final compartment is a much larger room, about fifteen feet by fifteen feet, accessible by again either slide or ladder. The outer shell of the trunk is damage and spell resistant, but not spellproof. A strong incendiary spell or such can mark the surface, and a Reductor curse or anything much stronger will affect the magical properties of the inner cavities."
Harry was so far impressed. The last trunk described sounded just like the one Moody was locked in for a year, and Harry couldn't wait to hear about the third option. "What's the final choice?" He asked.
There was no doubt Lemarin's eyes almost popped out of his head, and he just started at Harry. "Is there something the matter Lemarin?" Harry asked.
"No sir." Lemarin licked his lips. "It's just that most people find that the last option I mentioned more than meets their needs. The last model I have to offer is one of my most prized works, but it's very expensive. It was a custom piece I made to order, but the customer I was making it for died before its completion. I kept the initial down payment of course, but the family didn't want to pay the remaining cost, so I kept the trunk. It's far too much for my simple needs, but its display attracts a rather lot of attention."
"May I see it?" Harry was very excited.
"Certainly, follow me please." Lemarin led Harry through a back door, across a room filled with boxes and packing equipment, to a polished set of large oak doors. Lemarin stepped forward to grab the door handles, and paused as he turned around to address Harry. "This Dean is my life's work, the only one of its kind. I call it, the Leeds Mark One." And with that he opened the doors.
The trunk certainly was a thing of beauty. It was a deep walnut color, with bronze etchings inlaid in the polished wood. It was slightly wider than a normal trunk, longer too it seemed. The partition of the top and bottom halves was almost seamless, Harry could only tell because the bronze markings separated the two sides. There were no keyholes or openings anywhere along the surface, but an intricate circle was outlined in the crafted metal inlays on the top of the trunk. And above that circle, also inlaid in the same intricate bronze work, was a name. Arched in a manner that matched the curve of the circle perfectly, was written the word, "POTTER."
"Where did this come from?" Harry whispered. He didn't know what to say, or what to think.
Lemarin took Harry's odd behavior as awe. "Beautiful isn't it. It's been over twenty years since I've made it, and I still shudder. At my age, I don't think I could even come close to the craftsmanship I once showed. I spent two full months carving the shell from a single piece of wood, another two for the spellwork alone, and the bronze inlays I had designed from a talented blacksmith I once knew. He supplied the plans and materials, and I spent five weeks perfecting that."
Harry simply nodded, still unable to think clearly. Who was this Potter? Was it a relative, his father maybe? Or was it someone else by the same name, with no relation. To Harry, it didn't matter. It had his name on it. It would be his.
"Yes, um, Lemarin?" Harry paused. "I'd like to purchase this trunk please. Could you describe its features?" Harry barely even got out that much.
Again, not for the first time today, Harry got a queer look and a long pause before Lemarin spoke again. "This trunk too has seven compartments, but is very different from the other. The first two cavities are the most normal I suppose, and are roughly four times the size they appear to be. The third compartment is a large area, suitable for habitat if one desires. I was never instructed what to do with the space, so it's mostly empty as of now. Polished wooden floors and paneled walls adorn the area, and are maintained by spells of my own design. The wood is impossible to scratch, and is always kept to a high polish. It's only furnishings are a study table and four chairs, and a trio of matching bookcases along three of the walls. The forth compartment is the same size, and empty as well, but not as luxurious. Plank wood floors and plastered walls; no furnishings. The fifth compartment is set up as a dueling chamber. Raised platform, distance markings, all made in accordance with world competition dueling guidelines at the time. A rack of practice dummies are mounted along the far wall, which were supplied to me by a company no longer in business. They properly gauge a spell's power and accuracy, and the dummies are capable of dodging spells if ordered. They cannot fight back or block spells, but can take a good beating and still be repaired from most spell damage, if not too extensive. Cushioning charms have been placed around the room to prevent injury, and the walls are spellproof, to prevent the trunk's damage. As the dueling platform does not take up too much space, there is a large area off to the side that remains empty."
Harry's eyes were glossing over. He would have purchased the trunk, no matter its options, just because it had his name on it, and it was so beautiful. But as Lemarin described each compartment in detail with pride, Harry started to bounce from one foot to the other. So far, this was exactly what he needed.
"The sixth compartment," Lemarin continued, "is my favorite. Full living quarters, large enough for four. It contains a master bedroom with king size bed, full furnishings, walk in closet, and private bath. Probably the most luxurious room I've ever been in. The sitting room is comfortable, not too large, and houses two matching couches and three armchairs. No fireplace of course, the room is still in a trunk, but small efficient space heaters are hidden within the stone walls. The original buyer provided some family tapestries which still hang from the walls as well. And lastly is a small kitchen. A table large enough for four, small stove, and oven. There's an enchanted icebox as well, but no luxuries there. I couldn't get the spells right. But it is charmed to stock the essentials; eggs, bacon, milk, juice, etc. The pantry is charmed as well. Bread, beans, potatoes; just your average foodstuffs. Neither the icebox nor pantry will ever run out, but I imagine the same foods must get boring after awhile. Cooking utensils are located in two cabinets, along with plates, bowls, glasses, and flatware enough for four. A supply of recycled water is located in a hidden tank, and is charmed to self-clean dishes placed in the sink each night.
"The final compartment was an odd request, but I did it none the less. It's totally bare, and all the walls, the floor, and the ceiling and been transfigured into stone. It's an impressively large room, about the size of Gringott's lobby I'd say. No inner furnishing or other structures, just one big room.
"Lastly," Lemarin ended, "are the trunk's special features. In the last five compartments, there's a small magical portal that lets you through into the others. So it's possible to visit all the compartments without ever leaving the trunk. The trunk itself opens by palm recognition, much like a Gringott's vault. Place your palm in the circle, speak your full name, and declare which compartment you want to open. No one else can get into the trunk, unless you key them into the security circle. The trunk will always close behind you, and opens the same way from the inside. This option's not unheard of for other custom jobs, and I usually suggest you always allow at least one other person access. If anything should happen, well, it would be most difficult to gain access to this trunk uninvited. The trunk shell itself is practically impervious against muggle and magical means. I suppose if enough wizards shoot a spell at the same time, it might damage it, but it'd take a lot of power. All that bronze metalwork is enchanted to keep people out. The trunk also shrinks on voice command. Just put your hand in the circle, and speak out loud 'shrink,' and the trunk goes down to the size of a deck of cards. To return, place a finger in the circle, speak 'enlarge,' and the trunk returns to normal size. And of course, the trunk's never been tested against unforgivables, but I wouldn't be surprised if it held up."
Harry wanted it more than anything he'd ever wanted before. With the exception of his Firebolt, and only because it was a gift from Sirius, this would be his most prized possession. "How much?" Harry asked.
Again, Harry got that queer look. "You're not serious are you Dean? This thing costs a small fortune, and has no business serving as a school trunk. I'm not sure I'd sell it to anyone anyways. This has been my pride and joy for over twenty years!"
"I am very serious," stated Harry, "but before we discuss the price, can you tell me more about who ordered it?"
Harry could tell Lemarin thought he was pulling the shopkeeper's leg, but let Harry know the answer to his question anyways. "Well, the work was commissioned by old man Potter, as the name says. It was back during the height of the Dark Lord's power. Everyone was scared, and he asked me to make a trunk for him; for his family. He had an idea to hide in plain sight, you see. No one had ever thought about living in a trunk before. It'd always been possible I suppose, just never comfortable. Harold was a good man, an old friend of my father's, and that's the only reason I accepted the job. Normally I'd never spend so much time on one single project. I don't know if Harold meant to keep the trunk for himself, or give it to his kid, but it didn't really matter. Potter died a few weeks before I finished, and the family was too busy mourning to care what happened to it. Not many years later, James was killed as well. No one since has had a real interest. It sure is a fine piece of work, no one argues that, but there's not much need for such a detailed trunk."
Harry had suspected the trunk belonged to one of his family, but he didn't think it would be someone as close as his grandfather. He had thought maybe a distant cousin or something, at best. But the name Harold was most definitely his grandfather. He had been named for him after all, at least according to Sirius and Remus. This trunk was another piece of the puzzle of Harry's missing life.
"Mr. Leeds," Harry starred at the man as he removed his sunglasses, "like I said, I am very serious about purchasing this trunk, and I hope you find me worthy. I promise to take good care of it." Harry knew it was a gamble, but didn't think Leeds would go for it any other way. So as he spoke his next line, Harry pulled down his hood and took off his ski cap, clearly showing his scar. "Please tell me the price of my grandfather's trunk?"
A half hour later, Harry left Leed's Luggage with a miniature trunk the size of a deck of cards. After reviving an unconscious Lemarin, Harry explained why he was in disguise; trying to avoid the public. It didn't take too long to convince Lemarin to sell Harry the trunk. After all, if things had gone as planned, it might have been his now anyways. Lemarin added Harry's palm ID into the security circle, showed him how to add other people, and then removed his wife's ID to show Harry how to remove people as well. He explained that Harry would have to remove Lemarin himself, because a person couldn't remove themselves, but Harry decided not to. Harry asked Lemarin if he didn't mind keeping his access. It was an odd question, and Harry explained he didn't want anyone he knew to get into his new trunk. Harry had plans for some of those compartments, and not all of them were legal. Lemarin agreed, and was instructed to open the trunk in the presence of Dumbledore (or another Order member) on the occurrence that Harry had been declared dead or missing for one month's time. Harry wasn't planning on dying anytime soon, but some of his actions the following year would be very dangerous.
After throwing his earlier purchases, along with Dudley's old backpack in the first compartment, Harry shrunk the trunk in size and walked out the door an even twenty three hundred galleons poorer. Harry had had to make three separate withdrawals to avoid Dumbledore's attention, but his new trunk was worth the large price.
It was now almost one, and Harry couldn't hold out on eating much longer. The small bowl of cereal he had that morning wasn't much of a breakfast, even by Dursley standards. He thought about going back to Florean's for some ice cream, but that wasn't too nutritious. The only other place Harry knew of where he could get some food was the Leaky Cauldron, so that's where he went. The streets were still quite empty, and Harry was glad to be avoiding the crowds of late summer.
After crossing the magical barrier into the tavern, Hedwig faithfully perched on shoulder, Harry approached Tom the barman. He had planned on renting a room for the night anyways, so wasn't worried about giving his identity away. Besides, Tom had proved trustworthy in the past. Of all the people who worked in Diagon Alley, Harry knew Tom the best from his fortnight stay there the summer he blew up his Aunt Marge.
"Tom, may I speak to you in a back room please?" Harry didn't want to give away his secret in front of a bar full of strangers, so he whispered to Tom and walked directly into one of the private dining rooms. Tom did follow, and once they were alone, Harry lowered his cloak and removed his muggle disguise.
"Harry, thought that sounded like you! I haven't seen you in a long while." It warmed Harry's heart that not only Tom had recognized him, but remained on very friendly terms as well. "What can I do for you?"
"Tom," replied Harry, "it's good to see you too. I don't want to be seen, so sorry about sneaking around, but I haven't been having much luck with the press lately. I also want to rent a room for later tonight if you've got one, maybe tomorrow night as well. But for now, just a ham sandwich, some crisps, and a butterbeer if you please."
"Sure thing Harry," Tom assured, "them articles last year were horrible. I don't blame you much. I hear lots of whispered conversations going on in here, and I've heard about some of the stuff you've been putting up with. That horrible Skeeter woman! Just give me a moment, lunch'll be out shortly."
Harry gave a thanks and sat alone with Hedwig in the private room. Tom retuned a moment later with a mug of butterbeer, and five minutes later with a large ham and swiss sandwich on rye, with all the trimming, and a platter of crisps. Harry tucked in, occasionally feeding Hedwig a crisp or bacon piece, and even a few sips of butterbeer. Hedwig drank from Harry's goblet of pumpkin juice all the time at Hogwarts, but this was her first time having butterbeer. She liked it!
"Slow down Hedwig!" Harry laughed. "If you're anything like a house elf, you'll be drunk after a few more sips! Don't want you to be flying into buildings like Errol, now do we?"
Hedwig most certainly did not want to be like Errol, the Wesleys' old family owl, and gave Harry a hard nip on his ear for even mentioning it. Errol had never made a good impression with Hedwig in all the time they'd known each other. 'Nor does Pigwideon,' Harry thought, 'come to think of it.'
After the leisurely long lunch, and another mug of butterbeer which Hedwig wisely left alone, Harry stepped back out into Diagon Alley to resume his activities. Tom had given Harry a room key when he dropped off the bill, and Harry left a generous tip. Another glance at his watch told him it was now almost half two, and Harry thought he might have about three hours at the most before it started to get dark.
The next few shops in the loop Harry had decided on weren't much use to him. A used robe shop where he knew Ginny shopped was the first. A junk shop, where Percy had once found an old ripped book about Hogwart's prefects followed. Olivander's was next, and Harry did plan on going in there, but he wasn't ready yet. It was widely known that members of the magical community were only allowed one wand, unless working for the Ministry of Magical Law Enforcement. You couldn't even buy a replacement without a certificate of a broken wand issued by the Ministry.
Harry wasn't exactly an auror, and he had a perfectly working wand that he was fond of, so he skipped that shop for now. But he knew he would be back soon. If Harry was planning on besting Voldemort one day, he would need a different wand. Their two wands were brothers, sharing the same magical core, and did not duel well together. That fact had saved Harry's life last year, and he wasn't about to trade in his lucky wand now. But he did want another wand to be able to duel with Voldemort; he just didn't know his cover story yet. Harry decided to work on that tonight.
Harry continued along his loop, now rounding the end and walking back towards the Leaky Cauldron. Harry had no need for joke supplies at Gamble & Japes, or new pets at the Magical Menagerie. He did stop in to the Apothecary to top off his potion supplies, and decided to pick up a few extras as well.
Harry was never the best potions student, no doubts about that, but that was mostly due to Snape riding Harry at every opportune moment. If left on his own, Harry was a capable, if only slightly above average potions student. He'd only taken his OWL's a week ago, but Harry expected to receive a good enough grade to be allowed to take Snape's NEWT prep class, with a little help from Professor McGonagall. She had promised to help Harry become an auror, and while that was no longer his plan, she would help him get into the potions class as she promised.
So Harry picked up an advanced NEWTs potions kit, along with a gold, silver, and copper cauldron that would be required for some of the more advanced potions. They weren't school requirements because of the cost, but seeing as he could afford them, Harry much preferred to have his own than share the school's communal equipment. As he paid the Asian witch behind the counter, Harry had an idea, and asked a question.
"Excuse me ma'am, do you happen to know of any potions for correcting eyesight? I normally wear muggle eyeglasses, but have recently broken them."
The attractive witch shook her head in answer. "Sorry, medi-witches at St. Mungo's might know of something, but I don't think anything like that's been invented. If you're looking for a better option though, there's a small shop tucked back in a corner somewhere that sells magical eyeglasses, hearing aids, and other prosthetics."
Harry expected the woman to tell him where the shop might be, but froze in fear a second later when she peeked her head into the back room and yelled out, "Cho! Cho! Where's that prosthetics shop where we get grandpa's hearing aid?"
Harry plainly saw that the woman he'd been talking with had been Asian, and he had already admitted that she was very attractive, but he had no idea that Cho's apparent mother worked in the Apothecary. If anyone would recognize Harry and spread the word he'd been around, it would be Cho. They hadn't exactly parted on the best terms last year, and Harry had learned the hard way she easily gave in to gossip and rumor. While Harry was still physically attracted to Cho, he had well gotten past any romantic notions he had once held.
Luck was with Harry when Cho didn't come up front to answer. Instead she yelled back to her mother, "Mom, I'm in the fire talking to Michael! What do you want?"
"That prosthetics shop dear, the one that opened last summer. Where did you say it was again?" Her mother seemed to be used to her behavior, but Harry thought, especially on the first day back from school, Cho was being entirely rude.
"It's back towards Knockturn Alley. You almost have to go in it, but the shop's tucked behind the ice cream shop. Now please leave me alone, Michael's only allowed to floo call for a half hour!" He was glad Cho had the answer, and that her new relationship with Ginny's ex seemed to be flourishing, but Harry couldn't get over the way she treated her mother. Harry never spoke that way, not even to his Aunt Petunia!
On thanking Mrs. Chang, Harry left the shop and continued on his loop. The break he took from the sunglasses during lunch had stopped his headache, and the glasses could wait. He had to go there anyways, but not until it was darker. With less than three hours till dark, Harry walked into Flourish & Blotts.
This, Harry had planned, would be most of his purchases for the day. He had big plans for the next year, and they required much reading. If she'd done anything in the past five years, Hermione had proven knowledge really did mean power.
In the past, Harry had never really given much thought to the wealth of information on all these shelves. Usually he bought his schoolbooks, spent a few minutes looking through the Quidditch section, and then herded Hermione outside. Now Harry had almost three hours to kill, and decided to spend the time carefully searching the popular bookstore.
Picking up a shopping basket (magically expanded and charmed to be feather-light), Harry went straight to the textbook section. Like with Potions, Harry had a clear idea which OWLs he might have passed, and which ones he might have failed. There was no chance he'd passed History; Harry had fallen asleep during that test. Astronomy was a similar situation, where he had been too busy watching Hagrid fight off the aurors to correctly fill in his star chart. For Hermione's sake, he hoped the examiners would curve that one. And passing Divination was always a gamble, because Harry had no idea how to complete one homework assignment or exam without making up half of the answers. The rest, however, Harry thought he stood a fair chance of scoring well on.
So Harry selected all the textbooks required for years six and seven, for the remaining subjects of Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, and Potions. He also picked up a complete set of books on the subjects he'd never taken. Muggle Studies was useless to Harry, who had grown up as one, but Arithmancy and Ancient Runes looked promising. Hermione always went off about those subjects, so they couldn't be too dull.
Harry didn't expect to master every one of these subjects, but the books would be good to have on hand, and Harry continued in his shopping.
A large section of the shop was dedicated to wizarding laws and history, neither of which Harry had much interest for. The rest of the bookshop, about half the shop's total size, was divided by subject, and Harry perused each section meticulously.
In the Healing Arts section, Harry picked out two books that taught self applied healing charms. With all the times he'd been in the Hospital Wing, Harry thought that being able to heal a small cut or a few bruises would be a worthy investment. With study, and opportunity, he'd even be able to set simple bone fractures. Harry promised himself to look up how Lockhart screwed up so royally.
In the Potions section, Harry picked out three large texts. The first was a guideline of basic potion principles; what ingredients shouldn't be added together, what properties each ingredients have, and so on. Harry thought that Snape would have taught him all of this long ago, but Harry then remembered Snape didn't really teach. He just pointed to the board, yelled "Follow the recipe," and then spent an hour hovering over his students. Harry never had a good understanding of the basics, and that's where many of his problems came from. The second book was "Healing and Household Potions," and Harry thought he could pick up a few pointers from there. He'd be able to brew his own dreamless sleep potions, or any of the other vile concoctions Madam Pomfrey forced down his throat so often. Maybe they could even be improved upon, in taste at least. The last book was a personal interest of Harry's. A dusty old tome entitled "Rare and Powerful Potions." Harry had no illusions about being able to brew the majority of these recipes, but maybe one day he could. It was the title that had caught Harry's eye, but the reason he decided to keep it was because he flipped past a section describing the Wolfsbane Potion that Remus required. He knew it was one of the most difficult potions to make, but Harry was interested in the ingredients and recipe. "Maybe Hermione would like a stab at this?" Harry asked himself.
In the Transfiguration section, Harry left most of the books alone, except for the ones dealing with Animagi. Since discovering his father was one, Harry had planned on one day reading up on the subject, and even attempting it. Plus, it was just cool. Harry popped another three books into basket, "Theory of the Animagi," "The Animal Within," and "How to Become an Animagus to Impress your Transfiguration Teacher." Harry laughed at that last title. McGonagall would have his head on a spike in true Scottish fashion if she found out Harry was trying to become an animagus illegally. With one last book in the basket, about transfiguring objects to decorate homes Harry moved on.
The Charms section had a lot of smaller, more specialized books than what Harry had seen so far. He did pick up a few that interested him, and some that he though he might need. Five books from this section joined the others. The first was about animating household appliances. The second discussed in depth the different types of wards, and how to cast and detect them. A third book was about charms and spells to magically alter space. After hearing about the miracles Lemarin had performed on his new trunk, Harry wanted to be able to try and do some of that. Book four was entitled "Year Eight Advanced Charms," and Harry read in the author's explanation that this book contained the advanced spells that would be taught if magical educations were extended a year. Harry thought it was strange title, but he got the author's point; advanced charms not taught at Hogwarts. And the last book, and one Harry had paused on, was entitled "Mastering the Fidelius Charm." The charm that resulted in the death of his parents. Little did Harry know, it would also be one of the first spells he would seriously study.
Harry almost skipped over the Herbology section entirely. It wasn't a favorite subject of his; he'd just picked up the textbooks to cover the basics. Besides, Harry doubted having a green thumb would help him defeat Voldemort. But that did bring Harry to think about Neville, and how well he had held up during the fight in the Ministry last week. Of all his friends, Neville had fought back the best, even with a broken nose and snapped wand. Harry grabbed one book for Neville, "Careers for the Botanically Gifted."
The next section Harry visited was Defense, and Harry selected the most books from this one. "An Auror's Handbook" described an auror's advanced training program, and listed some of the more powerful, but non lethal spells. "Magical Bonds and Restraints" discussed all of the methods for restraining a person, and instructed about instances like when metal shackles would prove advantageous over using conjured ropes. Thinking back to the DoM, and how Harry and his friends had stunned a Death Eater, only to have him be revived by another, Harry thought it would be a good idea to be able to more securely disable an opponent. There was a small addendum in the back that caught his eye, which reminded readers not to use these spells "while pursuing friendly relations." Harry blushed as it went into further detail on restraining spells that were appropriate in these situations.
"Dark Art Detection Spells" was pretty self explanatory, and "Disabling Dirty Wizards" seemed to focus on fighting those who don't fight fair. It also had a section on fighting multiple opponents, which Harry thought might be useful. Although it sickened Harry, he also picked up a brand new copy of "The Complete History of You-Know-Who's First Rise to Power," written by an unnamed author. The book must have just come out to be labeled "first rise," but Harry wasn't surprised. Harry didn't know if the book would help much, and Merlin knows he already knew how it ended, but he thought that reading about Voldemort's earlier campaign might prove insightful. "432 Counter-Curses to 376 Painful Curses that Hurt Like the Dickens" proved to be an interesting buy. Harry didn't know if the author miscounted, or if there were multiple counter-curses in certain circumstances, but Harry was sure to come up against some of those. The counter-curses would prove useful, and Harry had every intention of studying the original curses as well. Those practice dummies would come in handy.
The last book from the Defense section Harry almost passed by, because the title sounded like something Professor Binns would drone on about. "A History of Defense," sounded boring, and was quite old, but after looking through it, Harry thought it might be the most valuable book in the collection. Apparently it was written long before the dark arts were separated from Hogwart's curriculum, because only a few spells listed seemed familiar to Harry. Some of them were downright nasty, and would clearly be painful. The defensive spells were listed chronologically by when they were developed, and Harry supposed that's the only reason the book fit its title. If he were at school, this book most positively would be in the restricted section. The only reason it wasn't a dark arts book was because a small description about the spell histories were included with each entry. Most people probably mistook it for a History book.
The few remaining sections Harry passed by quickly. He grabbed a few new ones, but in no specific order. One instructed how to conjure and cook food. Another was a book of advanced Occlumency practices. Advanced Legilimency was considered a dark art, so Harry could only find an elementary book about that. He figured it would help in locking people out of his head if he knew how they got in, in the first place. Another three books for recreation, and Harry was ready to check out. He'd spent over two hours in the bookstore, and Harry still had two more stops to go to before dark.
At the register, Harry paid for his fifty two books (twenty five textbooks, twenty seven others) rather quickly. He had expected to be asked bothersome questions about some of his purchases, but the shopkeeper didn't inquire. The only question she did ask was, "Why so many books?"
Harry had beforehand prepared an elaborate story, but kept the answer simple. "My brother's a first year, and accidentally blew up the family library. My mom asked me to replace some titles."
That was it, and five minutes later, and almost three hundred and sixty galleons poorer, Harry dumped the books into his trunk's first compartment, and was out the door.
Right next door was Madame Malkin's robe shop, and Harry's next stop. Like he'd done with Tom, Harry knew he couldn't get by being measured for robes going unnoticed, so he approached the counter looking for Madame Malkin. She must have not been working that day, because the only two attendants were an older looking witch, and an attractive girl who couldn't be much older than Harry. Being a teenage boy, Harry approached the young girl for help. He also thought that she might remember him if she had attended Hogwarts, and that the older lady looked a lot like his aunt did. Harry didn't want to risk the old witch if she gossiped like his Aunt Petunia.
"Excuse me," Harry directed to the young lady, "I need some assistance. Could we possible step into a private room so I can be measured. I'm a little shy."
The girl giggled and said, "Of course!" She then followed Harry towards the back and led him into a large dressing room.
Harry made the girl promise to not scream out, and then removed his sunglasses and ski cap to the young girl's astonishment. She immediately began blushing and rambling on about how it was such an honor to meet him, etc. It turned out she hadn't attended Hogwarts, but an American school instead. She had just moved back to England. Apparently though, she was a fan of Harry's, and turned red as she went on about how excited she was at meeting him. Harry had heard it all before and politely quieted the girl, revealing he was laying low by shopping in disguise, and he asked for her help. He wanted to buy some new robes of the best material Madame Malkin's provided. Five would by everyday, black robes that were allowable for school. Two would be training robes, suitable for potion making or physical exercise. Three would be for everyday use that he could wear into Hogsmeade if he liked. And the last would be a dress robe, just in case he might need one this year.
The girls nodded an agreement, and began to take Harry's measurements while giggling. When it was time to measure Harry's inseam, they both turned beat red, but wisely said nothing. Harry explained that he couldn't wait for the robes to be altered, but would pick them up early the next day, and the girl left to bring back some samples.
The five black robes were easy enough to decide, as they had to match Hogwarts' uniform standards. The material Harry chose was a little more decadent than he was used to, but felt nice against his skin. It was a textured heavy material, maybe linen, and it breathed real well. It has a slight gloss to it, but nothing too shiny.
The three everyday robes, Harry had wanted in navy blue, dark green, and maybe maroon. Years of wearing Dudley's drab cast offs led Harry to gravitate towards darker colors. But the girl convinced Harry to look at a few brighter selections, and who was he to argue with such an attractive professional? He finally decided on an emerald green to match his eyes (according to the girl the combination was striking), the navy blue he wanted, and a bright red crimson with gold trim, to match Gryffindor's colors.
The two work robes were the simplest to design, and could have actually been ready by the time Harry left. They were a medium grey, and made of a heavy material. Not as comfortable or as smooth as the fabrics of his other robes, but a lot more sturdy. If Harry was going to be training and sloshing around with experimental potions, they would work.
Harry hadn't bought a dress robe since fourth year, and had outgrown that one awhile ago. And even though Harry had no plans for formal wear, he decided he needed a replacement. The young assistant seemed to show Harry an endless supply of fabrics and robes, and some she dismissed before he even got a say. 'Girls do love their shopping!' Harry thought. He just sat back and let the young girl, named Amber, match each material to his complexion or hair color. She finally convinced Harry to buy not one, but two dress robes, as she couldn't decide between her two favorite fabrics. He initially spoke to oppose her, but gave in when he saw her two choices.
The first was a metallic looking charcoal grey, with gold piping around the edges. It felt like raw silk, but according to Amber wasn't. It was a very simple and elegant looking, and Harry didn't feel like he was showing off while wearing them. The grey matched his watch face which Harry liked, and the gold trim matched his jewelry.
The second choice was mostly made from the same material, the color pitch black. Unlike his school robes, this one was quite a bit fancy, and seemed to capture all available light, while still throwing off a golden glow. As Amber moved the robe under the store's candle light, it almost looked like a muggle mylar balloon. The golden-black robes were trimmed in a pearly white, and there was a pattern embroidered across the robe's shoulders. A magnificent blazing white phoenix; with gold and crimson accents along the creature's feathers. Harry didn't think a phoenix could be more beautiful than Dumbledore's, but the one stitched on his new robe put Fawkes to shame.
Amber began tallying the totals for Harry, and convinced him to throw in four new cloaks to go with his new robes. One heavy winter cloak, and three normal weight cloaks in colors that matched his everyday robes. Amber said they could also be worn with his black robes, so Harry stopped at just the four. Harry got dressed back into his muggle clothes as he went over details of his final purchase with the girl. He'd be back tomorrow afternoon to pick up the large order.
"The clothes won't be ready until at least three pm," said Amber, "because of all the charms you decided to add." Harry had opted for a few extras to be placed on all his robes. They would now be stain repellant and charmed to fit him if he grew or gained any weight; up to six inches and thirty pounds. The two work robes would have a built in cooling charm, and all four cloaks would be moisture and fireproof.
With a thanks, Harry stepped out of the dressing room after giving Amber a kiss on the check. Her eyes boggled out, and she blushed a deep red. Harry was feeling a bit embarrassed too. He hadn't thought much of kissing the girl, it just sort of happened. After all, he'd spent the best part of an hour in a pair of boxers in her witness, and he felt comfortable with her. She mumbled a welcome and Harry ran for the door.
Hedwig was perched on the roof across the street, but had learned by now not to fly down to Harry's shoulder, because he would just enter another store any second. And that's exactly what he did. The last store in Diagon Alley he needed was right besides Madame Malkin's, and it made sense because it too was another clothing store, sort of.
There was no name above the door, but Harry had been in here before to buy his dragon hide gloves for school. The shop seemed to specialize in animal hides, both of normal and magical animals. Harry came here to buy a wand holster and some boots, but planned on looking around as well.
Dragon hide boots were very fashionable in the wizarding world, but very expensive as well. That's because not only do they look good, but the hide reflects most common spells and curses. Not to mention, dragon hide doesn't exactly grow on trees.
"Can I help you?" Harry was startled by the voice, because he couldn't see anyone in the entire shop.
"Hello? Who's there?" Harry had learned his lesson about staying on guard, and his hand gripped his wand through his pocket.
"Sorry about that, didn't mean to upset you." A young man, maybe in his early thirties, appeared behind him from under what Harry recognized as an invisibility cloak. His own at the moment was packed into his miniaturized trunk. "I was just examining this cloak. A client of mine has started production of invisibility cloaks, and I was testing it out so to speak."
"Whoa," said Harry, "they're really rare." Harry hadn't realized he had repeated Ron's exact comment verbatim, but he continued. "Out of curiosity, how much would something like that cost?"
"Well, this one's not for sale yet. My client happened to come across a herd of Demiguises, and managed to capture a few before they escaped. As you know, Demiguises aren't protected because they're not endangered. They're still most difficult to capture though, because, well, they're invisible. This is my client's personal cloak; he hasn't gone into production yet. But a standard invisibility cloak, depending on its size and quality, can run from two to six thousand galleons."
"That's a lot of money," Harry commented. He had no idea that they were that expensive. And to think, he treated his like an old blanket.
"Yes," the shopkeeper replied, "it certainly is. Is this what you're interested in, or can I help you with something else?"
"Er, no. I don't think I could afford a cloak like that right now," Harry lied. "I'm actually looking for some boots, and a wand holster. I seem to attract a lot of trouble, and I know that dragon hide boots repel spells."
"Yes, certainly. But don't be confused. Unlike real dragons, clothes made from their hides aren't completely spell proof. Their hide seems to lose some of its magical properties once removed from a dragon's body. For instance, dragon hide boots will protect you from a jelly-legs curse or a leg bind spell, but will only partially protect you from a full body bind. If a spell's aimed at your head or chest, the boots won't have any effect at all." The man certainly knew his footwear. "But if it's magical protection you're after, there are other choices."
"Like what?" Harry asked. "I need all the protection I can get." Harry had totally given up hiding his identity.
"Well, there are a few options. Magical talismans provide some protection. Almost any article of clothing can be charmed to protect as well, to a degree. There are also other clothing options made of dragon hide, not just boots. We carry vests, pants, cloaks, and even hats all made from dragon hide. They're all quite heavy, and some most uncomfortable, but they're all effective. There are also selections of potions that can be ingested for immunity to certain spells, but those come at great cost. Usually some sort of personal sacrifice must be made."
"What kind of sacrifice?" Harry wouldn't dismiss anything right away if it could help protect him.
"Nothing too pleasant I'm afraid. Sometimes it's the ability to have children. Or maybe one of the five senses, sight or smell perhaps. Some strong potions provide a great deal of protection, at the cost of giving up part of one's magical powers." The shopkeeper grimaced as he spoke. "The potions I speak of aren't really dark arts, but they're close. It's only because they're used on one's self that they're still legal. Forcing another to drink these potions is punishable by up to forty years in Azkaban. I would suggest you stay away from those potions."
Harry agreed completely. While he'd love to have increased protection, or immunity to some spells, Harry wasn't about to give up his magic or hearing for that chance. "Look," Harry informed the man. It was his last stop in Diagon Alley for the day, so Harry didn't think it would hurt to give away his identity, "the truth is I'm Harry Potter." He removed his sunglasses and cap. "Voldemort's trying to kill me, along with about twenty Death Eaters, and I need everything I can get my hands on. Any suggestions?"
The shopkeeper handled Harry's revelation better than anyone else that day. He didn't faint, blush, or gasp. He did flinch at Voldemort's name, but everyone did that.
"Well, this certainly is a surprise." The man stated the obvious. "Yes, I can see now why you're so interested. I think we can come up with a few options for you."
In the end, they decided together on a full set of dragon hide clothes, minus the hat. Boots were the obvious choice, and Harry already knew what they did. He got a pair of pants as well, which looked almost like leather pants, that Harry thought were most unpleasant feeling. The shopkeeper, Mr. Anjay, told Harry that they would eventually stretch and fit, becoming more comfortable. But Harry would have to suffer through the discomfort until they did.
A vest followed the pair of pants, but not a vest as Harry thought of it. It was meant to be worn inside of a shirt, against the skin. It was a bit large it some places, a bit tight in others. Mr. Anjay instructed Harry that dragon hide was most effective when worn close to the body, hence the tight pants. The vest too would stretch to fit after about two weeks of constant use.
Harry passed on the hat, as he'd always thought wizard hats looked stupid, whether they had a dead vulture on them or not. He wanted to pass on the dragon hide cloak as well, because it was so heavy, but Mr. Anjay informed Harry it was part of a complete set, and couldn't be left out. Harry thought that sounded suspicious, he had passed on the hat after all, but said nothing. The cloak added another layer of protection, and Harry would just leave it in his trunk until he really thought that he needed it.
There were two dragon hide sets in Harry's size, and he chose the black over the red. It was a bit stiffer and rough, but more sturdy as well. It made sense once Mr. Anjay informed him the black set came from a Hungarian Horntail, and the red a Chinese Fireball. Everyone knew Horntails were more spell resistant than Fireballs. Of the four dragons Harry had seen at the Tri-Wizard tournament, his was the most dangerous one there. Harry wasn't too sure about being so close to a Horntail so soon after the first task, but swallowed his discomfort.
The final piece of the set was a wand holder, or rather wand holders; there were two. One strapped onto his inside forearm, and he could draw his wand at a snap of his wrist. It would take practice to catch the wand just right, but with time, it was the fastest draw possible. Incidentally, auror's used the same kind. The second holster could be strapped to a belt or kept inside a boot. It was a simpler design, made for wizards without much coordination. "If I ever manage to get a second wand, I'll keep in it my boot," Harry decided. Both holsters protected the wand from being summoned, and Harry couldn't be disarmed either as long as the wand was in the holster.
Harry packed the dragon hide clothes away into his magic trunk, as Mr. Anjay decided on a price. Harry didn't know if his luck with discounts would hold up, but decided he didn't care. Anjay seemed like a serious, straight to business kind of person.
"Mr. Potter, have you had any thoughts about carrying anything other than a wand?" Anjay surprised Harry with the question. Harry already had his money pouch out and was ready to pay.
"What do you mean?" Harry had no clue what Mr. Anjay was talking about.
"I mean personal protection," he replied.
Harry's first thought was about the strained talks he got from his teachers at primary school about safe sex. Mr. Anjay wasn't talking about condoms was he? "Oh god!" Harry thought. "Please don't let this guy be coming on to me!"
Anjay sensed Harry discomfort and dismissed his fears with a laugh. "No, not anything like that. I mean, something in the form of a knife, or sword perhaps. It's an old wizard custom to have a blade of some kind, in case one loses his wand. Nowadays they're mostly decorative, but a few pureblood wizards still carry around a sword. I think it would be a good idea for you. Not only is it legal to carry a blade, but you'd have means to defend yourself without using magic. Underage wizards may not be legally allowed to use a wand, but that's where the laws stop. It says nothing about using other weapons."
Harry thought about it, and liked the idea. Harry had always had a small pocket knife attached to his keychain at Privet Drive, and wasn't too afraid of the concept of carrying around a knife. And although Harry wasn't worried about underage restrictions on magic, it could prove useful. "Do you carry anything like that here?"
"Yes, please follow me." Mr. Anjay led Harry to a side doorway, and through the curtain that hung from it. Inside, the walls were mounted with all types of swords, daggers, and other throwing knives. "The fact I carry weapons isn't a secret if you're wondering, it's just that their presence make some of my other customers rather nervous." Harry had to agree. He couldn't imagine many parents shopping with their kids in a shop adorned with enough weapons to behead the entire city, twice over.
"I have a few ordinary weapons, but mostly carry enchanted blades. For you, I would suggest as big a blade as possible, while still being discrete. Perhaps a knife in the boot, or a dagger strapped to your other forearm?"
Harry liked that last choice, and let Anjay know. He was already wearing his new wand holster on his right forearm, and it made his arms feel unbalanced. Harry also asked about some of the different powers the blades had. Harry didn't want anything poisonous that he might accidentally hurt himself with.
"Well, we don't carry poisoned blades if that's what you're worrying about." Mr. Anjay was uncanny in how well he was predicting Harry's concerns. "Most of my blades are spelled to keep their original sharpness, or to alarm if in the hands of a small child. I do carry a few with a bit more seriousness to them, but not many."
Harry reminded Mr. Anjay who he was fighting, and asked to see a collection of daggers. Some of the ones Anjay showed him seemed silly. One had an ice like blade, another one was iron hot. Harry supposed either would be painful, but how could he carry something like that on his arm without hurting himself? Another choice caused high fever when it drew blood, but that only took effect after a few hours. It did occur to Harry that he had access to a small armory of his own within his family's vault, but Harry didn't have the time to research all of their magical properties. He'd get a chance to in the future, but decided to make at least one purchase from Mr. Anjay.
There were a few more that Harry didn't like, and a few that he did. But when Anjay showed Harry another one and explained what it did, Harry knew that's the one he wanted.
The dagger had a standard looking steel blade, with a rubberized grip. It wasn't decoratively made of gold or bronze like some of the other's Harry had seen, and it wasn't too old looking either. But it was made with one clear intention in mind; to cut. The five inch long blade had an infinite sharpness charm on it, and was shatterproof. Anjay showed Harry just how sharp the blade was. From across the room, Anjay threw apples at the blade in Harry's hand, and they sliced cleanly in two, without any effort from Harry. The handle fit comfortably in his hand, and the rubber provided a non-slip surface. But the best feature, however, was the properties imbued within the metal of the blade. Unlike most blades, Anjay explained, this wasn't a muggle dagger that later got charmed. Instead, it was magically made. And while it was possible to add additional charms, the very metal itself held its own magic. This particular dagger was imbued with properties against magical healing. "Which means," Mr. Anjay explained, "that any cut you make with this blade has to heal the muggle way, and will probably leave a scar. Any attempt to heal the wound with spells or portions won't work, and may even cause worse damage."
Harry immediately thought of Wormtail's silver hand, and the thought crossed his mind of how he'd like to remove it. This blade would be perfect. "I'll take it!"
Ten minutes later, Harry had the blade packed into his trunk, with a sheath Anjay had found that fit. It wasn't dragon hide, but was a very study brown leather. This way, Harry could snap out his wand with his right hand, or reach across to his left and draw out the dagger. It was a new feeling for Harry, much different than owning a small penknife, but the dagger gave Harry a feeling of security. The dragon hide clothes and dagger together were very expensive, but Harry paid happily. Mr. Anjay wished him well in his fight, and Harry left the store.
Hedwig had moved a bit closer then the roof across the street, and was now perched on a trash bin outside Madame Malkin's robe shop. The sun was just setting behind the tall buildings of Diagon Alley, and Harry had to remove his sunglasses to be able to see. "Just one more stop Hedwig!" Harry called out. "Just one more, and then on to Knockturn Alley!"
AUTHOR NOTES:
Thank you to everyone who has read, and more to those who review. If you don't mind, please mention your age and sex when you review. I want to see who my demographic is, so I can either add a few more things that people will like, or try to rope in some other readers. I hope I didn't go too overboard with this chapter. Reading it over after I've written it, I do think Harry's getting way too much stuff at once, but I'm having too much fun to change it. Don't worry though, Harry still has to learn to use everything; it won't just come naturally to him. And no mysterious figures will be training Harry in his dreams either. The next chapter will be much like this one, with a very unexpected dark twist. Hope you enjoy! Oh, and for those of you wondering, I guess the exchange rate at about 1Galleon equals 4 Pounds equals 6 US Dollars.
Updated 11/18/04
I know originally my grammar and spelling could have been better, so I've gone through (I had to for the Schnoogle version anyway) and corrected al that I could find. This is the final version, folks! If you would like to reread the entire fic, there's also other stuff I changed to, besides the spelling. Nothing that will confuse a reader if they don't, but just enough to clean up some edges, and fix some mistakes in the mythology I made. Later all!
Ross