Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and company.
The first Monday of his holiday Harry faithfully reported to Madam Pomfrey for the Note of Blood change to take to Gringotts. While in the infirmary he was joined by Professors Snape and Flitwick who would join him on his trip to Diagon alley. Flitwick took charge of the expedition.
"Glasgow will be our first stop as it has one of the major magical hubs which connects with muggle transportation." he informed Harry. "One of the disadvantages of floo travel is the limit on the distance you can travel safely. While technically you could travel from here to London via the floo network by the time you got there you couldn't see straight."
"All that spinning you do in the floo network from one grate to another?" Harry asked.
"Correct. There are a few express routes but they are limited to major cities. Glasgow to Liverpool is an example. Effectively it's best to travel only 25 miles by floo." Flitwick explained. "If some one your age wants to go further one either uses the train, rides a broom, uses a port key, or takes the Knight bus."
"So how are we getting to London?" Harry asked.
"Port Key. You'll see how to purchase one in Hogsmeade." Snape replied.
"You will also set your first way point at the train station there." Flitwick said.
Inside the Hogsmeade train station there are six fireplaces and two ticket windows. One window had the word train over it, the other had the word port key over it. Snape lead them over to the one that said Port Key. "A three person port key for Diagon Alley please same day return."
"That will be 2 Galleons 8 sickles. What time return?"
"5 pm or there about." Snape said as he paid the price.
The clerk handed Snape an umbrella after murmuring a quick spell. "Leaves in ten minutes. The return is set for 5:13."
Snape lead them outside. "As you see purchasing a port key is much like buying a ticket for the train. Some one your age wont be buying a one way ticket so remember to always specify a return time. International travel is by port key. Wick will get you to Scandinavia; Liverpool will get you to Ireland and the Isle of Man; Great Yarmouth will get you to the Netherlands; Bristol, South Hampton and Dover will get you to France."
"What about London?" Harry asked.
"Floo and muggle transport only. You can purchase a port key to London with a return but you can't purchase a port key in London itself." Flitwick said. "It has to do with the security on Gringotts and the way port keys work. From what I understand your transport spell will be affected by that as well. There are exceptions one being the Ministry itself and the other being the Ravens Head Tavern. Neither of which sell port keys."
The port key grabs them by the navel and propels them to Diagon alley. They land in front of Gringotts. This time Harry had it easier he knew when the spell was going to let him go. He still was thrown out of the spell.
"You need work on that." Snape commented as he helped Harry to his feet.
"It's only the third time I've port keyed." Harry complained.
They enter Gringotts. Snape pointed out the correct window him over to one window. "My blood is changing." Harry presents the goblin behind the window the form Madam Pomfrey gave him.
"Unusual for a full human." the goblin commented. "Your key and left hand." Harry complied. The goblin took a silver knife and cut Harry's left palm open then placed the key in the blood. There was a sizzling then the wound disappeared and the shape of Harry's key had changed. The goblin took it and registered the change in a large ledger. "We need to go to your vault now." At the vault the goblin did something with the key. "Do you want in your vault?"
"Yes, please." Harry said. The vault opened and Harry filled a pouch with galleons. Then back upstairs to join Professors Flitwick and Snape. A stop at the exchanged window before they leave gets part of Harry's galleons changed into muggle pounds. Then a public floo grate to a tavern called the Ravens Head in sight of the tower of London.
"Magical taverns like the Ravens Head usually have public floos in them. Note the four fireplaces, 2 are for arriving, 2 for leaving. There is an apparation point as well out back. We'll use that spot to set your way point." Flitwick said. They spend the rest of the morning flooing around London setting way points. Harry was rather surprised at the one in Kew Garden and the one in the Museum of Natural History just off the cafeteria. That had a placard by the door with a map of the Museum of Unnatural History on it.
"As you live close to London you can come see it in the Summer." Snape told him.
Disappointed Harry turned to the public Floo connection they would be returning to the Leaky Cauldron. After lunch Prof. Flitwick left them for his own errands. Snape lead Harry out to muggle London and the Tube station.
"I had though to take you to an establishment that served the mixed community. Squibs or muggles in the know either spouses or relatives of the muggle born. Such establishments take both wizarding and muggle currency." Snape said. "Such places are also very rare. There is this one in London and another in Dublin which serve the British Isles. There are a half dozen in on the Continent I know of."
They change trains twice to get to the Est End and the next to Last stop on the train to Cockfosters. There is a faint glow to the door of the shop. "Greetings Professor, Mr. Potter." the clerk greeted them she is a young woman of about 20 or so.
"Miss Ryan. Mr. Potter is in need of muggle style clothing that fit." Snape said.
"Usual charms on the clothes?" Miss Ryan asked Harry.
"As long as they don't cause problems with a muggle washing machine. My Aunt got a new last summer with a microchip in it." Harry said.
"Have to do with out the growth charms then. Messes up the microchips something fierce. Potion based resistances will be OK. The magic doesn't mess the microchips up. Don't know why. School Clothes?"
"My uniforms have all the necessary enchantments on them. So I don't need any." Harry replied.
"Casual clothing like jeans, T-shirts, jumpers. Right?" Ryan asked leading them to the back of the shop and up a flight of stairs.
"Yes." Harry replied.
On the first floor the men's department stretched out. Miss Ryan lead them to a corner with trendy clothes for teenagers. Snape grimaced at some of the clothing. He asked harry what sizes he was currently wearing then went to the racks and choose some very basic clothing in several sizes.
Harry took them and tried them on. What fit he kept and went out looking for what he liked in that size. He got three pairs of slightly baggy jeans, five t-shirts, two button down shirts, and two jumpers.
"Will that be Pounds or Galleons?" Miss Ryan asked.
"Galleons." Harry said.
16 galleons, 7 sickles and 12 knuts" Miss Ryan rang up his purchases.
Harry handed over the money and collected his change. The clothes where put into a cloth shopping bag that said Ryan's Clothiers and fit everything inside. Once out side Snape lead Harry to a tea shop for a rather bland tea and use of the public floo connection.
"As we have about an hour before we return to Hogwarts is there anything you'd like to do while here?" Snape asked.
"A book on breeding Snowy Owls." Harry said.
"Eeylops Owl Emporium should have something." Snape commented.
Eeylops was deserted when they arrived in the back was a small bookshelf with maybe 20 books on it. There was a notice board with an advertisement for the Owl Breeding Association. They wanted looking for new members.
The subjects of the books consists of the care and feeding of specific owls. Training your owl. Nothing on the breeding of owls. "What are you looking for Mr. Potter?' the shop clerk asked as he came from the back.
"I'm thinking of breeding my Snowy owl." he replied.
"Post owls are magical creatures and require a license to breed." The clerk said. "The Owl Breeding Association would be a good place to start. As a member a first time breeder the license is waived. If you continue breeding you will need to get a license."
"Thank you, I'll look into the Association." Harry said.
Once out side "I would not recommend the association it's currently made up of pure bloods. Talk to Hagrid about breeding your owl he may have other suggestions." Snape offered as they went back to The Leaky cauldron to collect Prof. Flitwick.