AN: I thought that since its been a month since I last updated that I would post what I had and not leave you wondering if I'd died or something like I did over the summer. So here it is. It's a bit shorter than usual but I thought better to post it than leave you hanging. The next bit is sort of in the process of being written – real life is being nasty at the moment and not leaving me much time to write. Still I'm determined you'll get at least one more by Christmas.

Anyway enjoy.

Almost There.

Remus was, of course, the first person to volunteer as a chaperone. Not that anyone minded, as the werewolf was well liked. Unfortunately, Mrs. Weasley, with a steely glint in her eyes, was quick to announce that she would be coming too. The teenagers were far less happy with that.

Perhaps the headmaster caught the looks of horror they all exchanged because he tactfully told her that she was needed far more at Grimmauld Place and so couldn't accompany them to Diagon Alley.

Harry didn't really think she'd bought it though, as she'd been banging pots and pans about with a little too much enthusiasm when they left.

It was arranged that Tonks would be 'coincidentally' running into them at the Three Broomsticks so that they wouldn't all be seen arriving together before joining them on their shopping trip. She had seemed supremely pleased to be given an excuse to get out of work.

Other Order members would be dotted around Diagon Alley or stationed in the shops they were likely to be visiting. Bill was already in place at the Bank, and the Twins (and their merchandise) made for pretty formidable foes within their own shop.

Dung had volunteered, suspiciously quickly, to loiter by the entrance to Knockturn Alley and Shacklebolt was more than willing to spend his lunch hour checking out what was new in Quality Quidditch Supplies.

Harry hadn't recognized the other people the headmaster had contacted but knew that there would be a warlock sipping coffee at Florean Fortescues and a witch in Flourish and Blotts.

There would also be someone who had been so covered in voluminous veils that Harry couldn't even tell if it was human, let alone it's gender, getting potions supplies at the Apothecary.

Mad Eye Moody, who had been called in to oversee 'the Operation,' as he called it, would also be on hand, keeping a close eye on them when they were outside. Just in case someone snatched them in the few feet of street between shops.

Since the Ministry had been forced to acknowledge Voldemorts return, the Minister had been attempting to seem like a decisive leader in the hope that people then wouldn't kick him out of office for his sheer stupidity.

He had been vocal about, and had actually followed through, in putting more Aurors on the beat. A lot of it was probably fear for his own safety, especially since it had been proven that the Dark Lord could just walk into the Ministry.

Harry wondered briefly if his badge had said 'Purpose: World Domination' or 'Finally get rid of Potter' or maybe even just plain 'Theft.' It was clear that Ministry security had been in dire need of an overhaul.

Anyway, it meant that there were at least two Aurors patrolling Diagon Alley at all times now.

Moody and Tonks, with a little help from Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes, had also come up with a few good ideas to make it less likely that they would be bothered.

The magical hair dyes that Harry had received for his birthday proved surprisingly effective. Instead of his usual unruly mop, Harry was now sporting stylish black spikes with purple highlights.

Tonks had pretended to swoon when she saw him while Ginny had giggled at her antics. Or maybe at him, Harry wasn't sure.

Ron's hair was in the same style, only he was sporting deep blue highlights and had spent some time touching his hair in front of the mirror and going 'Blimey!'

Harry didn't blame him, his mate didn't really look like, well, Ron without the trademark Weasley hair. Still, Harry was surprised to find that he quite liked the style and resolved to replace the ones Tonks was using up.

Nevilles usually sandy hair had become a dark auburn, longer and wavier than his own hair was. He looked very different, and Harry could really see the resemblance to the picture of a young Frank Longbottom he had seen, especially since Neville had slimmed down considerably over the past year.

Luckily Tonks had brought along some dyes that were suitable for the girls and so Ginny was now sporting a tumbling mass of blonde curls and Hermione a short, sleek cap of dark brown hair.

Tonks had then got to work on their eyes, announcing that she was far better with appearance charms than she was at household ones.

'Its funny,' she said. 'Being a Metamorphmagus and being good at appearance charms, since I don't need them.

Still, it used to annoy the other girls in the dorm that I could change at will when they had to spend hours getting ready so I learnt them in self-defense really. Didn't want to wind up hexed you know!

For some reason I never did get the one to hide acne though. Tried it once and turned all Vicky Thomas's spots bright green. She didn't speak to me for two years after that.'

The young Auror shrugged. 'I didn't mind, she was always a bit stuck up. Found it quite funny really and it came in dead useful – I cast it on the Slytherin Quidditch team just before the Semi-Finals for the House Cup. They weren't impressed.' She grinned at the memory.

'I used to do some really cool stuff, like give them Cats eyes, or turn them silver, stuff like that. My best one was when I gave them all a ring of Scarlet and Gold flames for the big Gryffindor/Ravenclaw Quidditch final in my Sixth year. Looked bloody spectacular that did!

So don't worry – I know exactly what I'm doing. Even if I haven't done it in years.'

Harry wasn't sure whether to be reassured or worried but he wasn't given any time to decide because Tonks practically pounced on him, pinning him down, and started charming his eyes.

Soon he and Ron had matching eyes of a darker, deeper blue than Ron's usually were. Ginny, Hermione and Neville were all given eyes of varying shades of hazel.

Moody then cast a light Disinterest charm on them. This was in the hopes that a) anyone looking at them hopefully wouldn't bother to look too closely and b) anyone hoping to spot them by looking out for those who were wearing layers of Concealment Charms would pass them over, as it was too weak to draw their notice.

After all, much of what had been done to them so far came under the heading of Appearance, or Glamour Charms, rather than spells of Concealment.

There wouldn't be any problem in wearing layers of warding and protective charms since many members of the public had started using them regularly since the start of the summer.

A certain level of magical protection was therefore likely to go unnoticed. The headmaster had even provided them with emergency portkeys, just in case things went wrong.

Harry had then been told to fetch the 'Alice in Wonderland' box he had received in the bag of tricks that Fred and George had given him for his birthday.

The Twins had confessed to Harry that it made their Mum feel better to see them reading the classics, she seemed to feel it meant they weren't beyond all hope and might one day go back to complete their education.

'We didn't have the heart to tell her it was all for the shop.' Fred had sighed.

The kit contained a bubble-blower whose bubbles came out in letters to form a variety of random floating insults, some Flamingo Fudge, a deck of animated cards which could attack on command and, most importantly, growth and shrinking potions.

The two Aurors had decided that Ron really needed to be downsized slightly so he wasn't quite so gangly, and then Harry had been grown to match him.

It felt kind of strange, Harry decided, to suddenly be able to look his best mate in the eye and the extra inches felt really weird. Ron looked as if he found a tall Harry as odd as Harry found a dark-haired Ron.

Even though they were all but bouncing with an eagerness to finally get going the teenagers were forced to stand still while the Aurors placed spell after protective spell on them.

In the end Moody had been scowling darkly as the five of them practically wriggled with impatience to get going and were then forced to endure a ten minute lecture on taking the proper safety precautions, peppered with occasional shouts of 'Constant Vigilance!'

Luckily Tonks took pity on them and distracted him by asking if all the Order Members were aware of their new look, causing him to stomp off and check, twice, that everyone was in place and would not be fooled by the layers of spells they were under.

'Like Santa Claus!' said Tonks brightly, which earned her an exceedingly black look from the grizzled old ex-auror and conjured up some truly strange mental images.

Finally, finally, they were on their way.

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Sorry bout that, only way it'll let me break up the page.

Well there you go. I should finally get to Diagon Alley, like I've been promising for chapters, next chapter.

I didn't get a lot of feedback on the last chapter, though I got lots of new people putting me on their authors alert (hello new people!) so if you review this time I still want you to tell me if everyone is in character.

Anyway I should be back with more soon, hope you enjoyed this little chapter.

Special hellos to Shinigami – I'm sorry but Percy has a long way to go before they'll even think of forgiving him. He isn't ready to face up to being in the wrong so he's going to be slapped in the face with a wet fish until he breaks down and begs. However your dreams of what'll happen with Umbridge – well lets just say you should be happy with what I've got planned, muahahahah.

Altariel Eldalote – More shouting? Most people want a less Caps-Locky Harry. Still, I'll see what I can do...Thanks for the hugle by the way!

And to the ever faithful Jemma Blackwell and Japonica, see I can update quickly!

T.T.F.N Everyone!