(A/N All Harry Potter characters belong to JKR I'm just having fun with them)

Chapter 3

Diagon Alley was teeming with people, some shopping, others just socializing. The shops were already in full swing as Bill and Harry made their way from the Leaky Cauldron's floo. Harry glanced up at Bill again, his fang earring and dragon hide boots looked really cool. Harry himself was in black school slacks and the white button down uniform shirt, but no tie or robe. The only Dursley item was his taped up trainers and other items of a more personal nature; fortunately they could not be seen. Florin Fortescue waved at Harry in greeting, they got along well, after so much time spent reviewing history last summer. Harry wondered why he didn't think to get new clothes last year, but then everything was so new. It was still amazing to see, he probably would never lose his wonder of magic.

The white steps of Gringotts approached, but Bill ducked into a side door pulling Harry along.

"Employee entrance, it'll be quicker," Bill said with a grin.

Harry followed happily, still not able to see very well and not wanting to get lost, he stayed close. After a few short hallways they came out in the lobby and were able to get into line at a teller quickly. Approaching the desk, Harry placed his key on the counter.

"I'd like to make a withdrawal please." Harry's respectful tone surprised the goblin.

"As you wish Mr. Potter, how much?"

"Two hundred Galleons please," Harry stated trying to appear nonchalant. Bill did a double take at that, he had worked hard to save up his 42 galleons. Then again, Harry's parents had left it to him.

"Very well, here you go…can you return for a five o'clock appointment?" Harry looked to Bill, who nodded.

"Yeah, um…sure, I'll be here, sir" Harry replied, unsure in his dealings with goblins, as he and Bill stepped away from the counter.

"Strange… but we have things to do. I don't know how long it takes to get glasses, so I'll drop you off there, while I take care of some other tasks." Bill was eager to get a move on. Harry, with a new money bag charmed to be feather light and expanded on the inside and stuffed full, was ready to be able to see properly.

Together they walked back out into the alley and turned in a direction Harry had yet to see. Past Gringotts on the left, down a smaller alley with a fitted rock path instead of cobblestone, they walked up to a small shop. It had a healer's sign on it as well as an eye and the title Oculist below.

"This is where you can get your eyes checked and some glasses, I'll meet you back in Gringotts at two o'clock. Will you be alright?" asked Bill.

"Yeah that's fine, thanks, see you soon," and with that Harry entered the shop.

"Hello young man, I'm Gertrude Goggle, welcome. How can I help you?" She was younger than most healers he had seen; well, Madam Pomphrey at any rate, with wavy brown hair and her own stylish glasses.

"Hello, I'm Harry. I need some glasses if you have them," Harry said looking around the shop.

"I can do that in a jiffy, have a seat in the chair over there," she said, raising her finger to point. Harry looked; it was by a shelf full of glasses, a bin with fake eyes, and a sign for contacts. Taking a seat, Harry had a thought.

"Can you tell me if I have any options other than glasses?" Maybe he wouldn't have to rely on glasses.

"Let's see how your eyes are, and maybe we can find a better option. It would be a shame to hide those eyes of yours." Gertrude said, drawing a blush from Harry. She chuckled as she began to move her wand in a complex pattern. After a few minutes she smiled.

"There, all done…you know, I had a good friend at Hogwarts with eyes just like yours Mister Potter. Lily was the best of friends and a dorm mate, so kind and smart too. Ahh… Look at me going down memory lane. I have two options for you, first glasses which is cheapest at around 11 galleons, and second-contacts. These contacts are new from the United States, charmed for comfort, and they are corrective, meaning that they work to permanently fix your sight. After I put them in, they stay for a year, then return here and we check you out and renew the charms."

"That sounds the best…you knew my mom?" Harry asked.

"Your mum! O' yes, owed her a life debt I did, and spent many nights studying, discussing boys, or our futures in the common room. She stepped between me and Bellatrix LeStrange, when I was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, and dueled her till help arrived. I was pregnant at the time with my first. Your mum saved us both that night… We can add several enchantments to the contacts, that will help you see better at night, or to see through objects and see active magic. It's all ministry regulated, but for you I can sneak it in."

"Please do, I can pay, that sounds really cool. I haven't heard much about my mum, thank you."

"Of course," she replied, understanding that the thank you was for more than the contacts. "Lie back and I'll get to work. I warn you, this will sting as I bind the lens to your eye."

"I'll see you next year Mr. Potter, no later than June 15th. " Gertrude said, as Harry left the Oculist carrying instructions for the enchantments on his contacts. "Remember, keep the extras to yourself, I don't need a bunch of young lads asking for help seeing girls knickers." Harry blushed beet red, as he promised it would be their secret.

Placing the instructions in the pocket of his pants, Harry spent a few minutes standing on the stoop just looking. It was amazing how clear everything was, how much the colors looked different when the edges didn't blur. Walking back the way he came with Bill, he noticed a sign, WORLD TRAVELERS with the picture of a suitcase. Looking through the glass, Harry saw bags, sacks, and luggage of all types. Thinking of the difficulty he had moving his trunk, he walked inside. The chime was soft and pleasant that announced his arrival.

"Hello there, young man. I'm Albert Bell: owner, operator, and janitor, of this fine establishment. Is there something I could help you with?"

Harry saw that Mr. Bell was a happy, red cheeked fellow who looked slightly familiar.

"Yes please, you see I am going on a trip and my school trunks so heavy, I thought there might be something better in here."

With a great, big smile Albert looked around.

"Most assuredly, we have suitcases charmed to be 5 times larger on the inside than the outside. Backpacks fitted with a feather light charm. Trunks that can shrink to matchbook size and weigh the same, some of those even have different compartments. We put a lot of work into charming and enchanting… Ah, speaking of, here is my daughter Katie."

"Harry! What are you doing here? I thought you went to the Muggle world in the summer. Is Hermione with you?"

Harry blinked at the rush of questions and smirked.

"Shopping, not any more, and no."

"Oh," she blushed "I'm sorry… all those questions… guess I deserved that. Anyway Daddy, I'm off to Angie's house. See you at dinner." With that, she was out the door, flashing Harry a smile.

"Sorry about that, Harry was it? Not Harry Potter?" Mr. Bell queried.

After Harry's nod of confirmation, Mr. Bell regained his train of thought.

"Call me Albert, well what would suit you best?"

"I'm not too sure, there will be a lot of hiking and Bill said we would be roughing it." Harry said as if thinking to himself.

"I see sounds as if a trunk would be the best fit then," said Albert.

Harry scrunched up his face, thinking of his own awkward trunk, and lugging it around a jungle. At seeing this, Albert cut in.

"Let me show you." He went and brought out a small piece of wood and handed it to Harry, who looked at it confused for a moment, till he noticed it was shaped like a trunk. Albert took it back and with a tap of his wand, it was full size.

"Wow! I love magic," said Harry.

"As do I, look at this one!" Albert said, caught up in his own love of his work. Harry watched as another trunk grew, then with a tap of his wand, on a different picture engraved into its side, it changed. First a trunk, then a desk, then a wardrobe, then a bookshelf, was followed by an ingredient cupboard, and finally a chest of drawers, the pictures following from form to form.

"I want that one please," Harry said, thinking of the possibilities. He didn't have a home to keep all his things, especially the ones he planned on buying.

"Oh, I didn't mean…" Albert paused, looking slightly sheepish. "It's just that a trunk like this is really expensive. I was only showing you the possibilities," he said.

Harry looked down in disappointment. He couldn't have something that nice, but then he thought, why not? He had the Galleons, counting in his head to figure out how much he had left after 21 Galleons and 7 Sickles went to his contacts.

"I have 176 galleons and 12 sickles, Mr. B- Albert. What could I get for that?" he asked. Albert Bell was stunned, as a salesman he started to salivate at the thought, but as a father he realized he couldn't take advantage of this situation.

"Listen Harry," Albert began, "you need to be careful. That is a lot of money and many people would take advantage of you. Did you know that the normal yearly income for a hard working wizard is about 150 Galleons a year? So when I said expensive, I meant 27 Galleons. That is a lot to spend at one time, are you sure about this?"

Harry was shocked, his vault was so full. No wonder Ron was jealous of his wealth. Thinking, Harry nodded. Yes, he would have this. Just so he could have things for himself that were kept safe. Most people had a home for their things, but he didn't.

"Yes sir, I am sure. Thank you for the advice, I really didn't know." Harry's voice was confident as he spoke. He resolved to be more careful in the future.

"Also, could I have two of those backpacks too?" Harry asked.

Albert nodded, and took two bags- one black and the other brown, and tossed them in the trunk compartment of his new luggage.

With his money bag considerably emptier than earlier, Harry hurried out of Mr. Bell's shop and headed for Gringotts. It seemed he would just make it on time to meet Bill. Dashing up the steps, he was met by Bill on the way out.

"There you are! Madam Goggle said you left 45 minutes ago," Bill seemed impatient.

"I stopped at the luggage shop, I thought we were to meet at two o'clock," Harry said confused. Bill looked to relax a bit.

"We were, but we have to get your work permit and underage waiver before we can even sign up. That means we go to the ministry; but the thing is, we need your guardian's signature for the work permit, and then a professor's for the underage waiver. How can we get it? I have the forms here." Bill was slightly worked up again.

Harry knew the Dursley's would never sign it, Sirius was too far away. Last year it was Cornelius Fudge who signed for him to stay at the Leaky Cauldron. Maybe he would do it again?

"The Minister!" was Harry's reply.

"What?" Now it was Bill's turn to be confused.

"Minister Fudge signed for me last year to stay at the Leaky Cauldron, maybe he would sign this? That's all I can think of." Harry stated, nervous at the thought of asking the Minister. Or not being able to go at all.

"We can try," Bill looked disappointed, knowing how hard it would be to even get an appointment at the Minister's office.

Twenty minutes later, Harry and Bill were walking through the Atrium of the Ministry. Bill was determined to at least try, and Harry wobbly from his first Side-along Apparition. The security wizard barely nodded as they walked past, and into the lift. Bill pushed the floor 7 button for the Minister's Office. When they walked out, they stepped on blue plush carpet, light stones glowed in golden sconces, and the reception counter was made of beautiful white marble. Harry shuddered at the opulence; it made him feel out of place, but resolved to do his best and firmed up his will. He took the lead and stepped up to the counter.

"Excuse me," he began politely, "I would like to see the Minister."

The receptionist looked up from a copy of Witch Weekly, her long hair was straight and gold, and her lips a bright red and a large amount of tanned skin pushing up from the top of her robes. She looked dismissive and slightly annoyed at being disturbed.

"I can schedule you down for next month. Your name?" Her tone was tolerant and slightly grading on the nerves.

"Harry Potter, but I really would like to see him sooner. Like, today if it is possible," said Harry, not impressed with her attitude.

"Right away Mr. Potter, let me ask," with that she bounced up and in to the next room. Harry couldn't help but peek at her chest as it bounced away. Looking over at Bill, he received a glance back and they grinned at each other, both having been caught.

"Harry my boy!" Fudge's jovial tones broke the silence, "to what pleasure do I owe this visit?" He questioned, as he beckoned both Harry and Bill forward and into his office. He was admiring the receptionist walking out, before shutting the door.

"Well sir, it's like this, I need someone to sign a work permit for me. My uncle, the one you met last year after my accident thing, he would refuse and they don't want me there." Harry said before faltering, he didn't want people to know what had happened to him. "It's just, they're Muggles, and they are really afraid of magic."

"Ah yes, rather blustery sort of Muggle, wasn't he. Hmm… a work permit you say? To do what? Forgive me Harry, but as a Potter you would hardly need to work at all. I figured Albus was grooming you for the Wizengamont and politics?" Fudges questions sounded innocent, but there was an underlying intent.

"No sir, he never mentioned anything like that, and I want to go because it sounds exiting and fun," and in a moment of inspiration added, "Please sir, I would be really grateful."

Fudge smiled, having the gratitude of the Boy-Who-Lived could very well be useful some day.

"Of course I will, can't stand in the way of adventure, now can I? You have the forms?"

"I do, sir." Bill had been standing to the side feeling left out, but admiring the way Harry's words and actions had made what seemed impossible to him, easy. Bill hurried to hand them over, watching as the Minister signed without even reading more than the first few words. His quill was enormously long, and from a peacock, wiggling in Harry's face. He looked at the clock as he handed the form to Harry, he would need to hurry, he had a formal dinner to get to, and it would not do to be late.

"Thank you," Harry gushed, with a mental roll of his eyes, "This is sooo great."

Once they were back in the lift, Harry burst out in laughter, soon followed by Bill.

"Brilliant Harry, really well done. Maybe a little over the top, but it worked." He smiled, this was going to happen, now all that was needed was a quick trip to Hogwarts. Checking his watch, he was surprised to note that it only took an hour. It was ten after three, two hours and fifty minutes left.

Another Side-Along apparition left Harry with his stomach bubbling like Neville's cauldron. Standing by the Three Broomsticks, Bill looked around, noticing very few people out and about. To Harry it seemed like a ghost town, having only seen it by sneaking out under his cloak during Hogsmeade days. With no students, it didn't seem very exciting. The trail to Hogwarts left Harry out of breath keeping up with Bill's long strides, for his part, Bill did not even seem to notice, intent on finishing the paperwork and getting on with the packing.

Ignoring his hunger, Harry followed, determined not to be the one to slow down. They passed the gates, and Harry felt the calm peaceful buzz he always felt at Hogwarts. It was as if a blanket had wrapped around him on a cold day, comforting and, relaxing. The trip through the Great Hall showed no one around except the Fat Friar.

"Pardon Friar, but are any professors present?" Bill asked.

"Professor McGonagall is the only one at the moment. It gets so quiet here over the holidays. I remember a time when…"

"Sorry, but we really are in a hurry," Bill interrupted. He turned on his heel, heading for Gryffindor Tower, not hearing the Fat Friars grumbling about mortals and time. As Harry walked behind Bill on the familiar path, he couldn't help but feel so at home here. It was almost as if the castle was welcoming him. Shaking such thoughts from his head, he ran a few steps to catch up. They came to the Transfiguration classroom, and then to Professor McGonagall's office.

"William Weasley, what brings you to my office?" the Transfiguration professor looked up at their approach. "And you as well Mr. Potter, what a surprise."

"Hello, Profes-"

"Call me Minerva, I haven't been your professor for three years now."

"Right, I'll try. I'm going on an expedition and have asked Harry here to be my helper," said Bill.

"Yes, my nephew Owen is going as well, isn't today the last say you can sign up?" she asked.

"Actually yes, we have two hours and ten minutes. We've been rushing around all day getting things in order." Just then, Harry's stomach growled its protest of skipping lunch.

"Indeed, and missing meals as well it seems." Minerva said with a smile at Harry's sheepish grin. "Dobby?" she called aloud, which was followed by a loud pop.

"Yes, Professor Mam, what can…? HARRY POTTER SIR! IS YOU NEEDING ANYTHING?" The excitable little elf flew over to hug his knees.

Professor McGonagall interrupted Dobby's speech.

"Sandwiches and tea please, Dobby," and with a pop, he was gone.

"It seems he is quite taken with you Mr. Potter. I wonder if he would like to accompany you?" No sooner than the words left her mouth, than another loud pop brought Dobby back.

"YES, YES Dobby would love to serve Master Harry Potter Sir!"

Dobby was wringing his hands looking back and forth between Harry and Bill.

"It would be very helpful, to have an elf," Bill began, "but don't you have to stay with your master?"

"Harry Potter freed Dobby, so he can be Dobby's Master now!" Dobby blurted.

"What?! When?! How?!" was all Harry could articulate.

Now Dobby was cautious, as if afraid he had done wrong. Seeing him look sad, Harry reluctantly agreed. Dobby jumped forward and touched Harry's hand. A flash of light and Dobby was bonded to Harry.

"No punishing yourself, and make sure to be careful. Can you go to the Weasley's and wait on me there?" Harry asked.

"Oh, yes sir!" With another pop, he was gone.

"Now, was there a reason you came to see me?" asked Minerva of Bill.

"Yes, a waiver of the underage restriction requires the signature of one of Harry's professor's."

"Very well, he has proved himself capable and able to exert control in stressful situations. Pass it over and I'll sign and, you had better hurry."

"Thank you, Professor." Harry added.

"No need, you can use my floo, after a sandwich of course," She smiled.

Coming out of the floo in the lobby of Gringotts, Bill was a man on a mission. Poor Harry was tired and hard pressed to keep up. The sandwich from Professor McGonagall was only half eaten when they jumped into the fire. Unfortunately, it was lost somewhere on the way. He spared a vague thought on where it would go as he scrambled to keep up once again.