Chapter 5, Traversing the Alleys, Part 2
"speech" – speech
^speech^ - parseltongue
Professor Sprout had taken Harry to Hogwarts straight away. There the Headmaster had first tried to tell Professor Sprout that Harry was well taken care of by his relatives before making Harry take a medical test, once Harry's results came back though Dumbledore backed down.
Harry had mixed feelings about the Hogwarts staff. Snape, potions master, seemed to hate him. McGonald was under the illusion that he would be in her house. Harry seemed to suffer headaches around the Defence professor. Luckily the other teachers seemed to treat him more or less like Professor Sprout did. Harry was happy when it was revealed that he would be staying at Professor Sprout's house instead of Hogwarts for the summer.
During his stay Harry had changed quite dramatically. Harry's confidence after leaving the Dursleys was massive. He knew his limits and had a healthy measure on other people's limits. This caused him to stand a little taller. Harry had also learnt a lot about magic and wizarding culture.
Harry had been shocked to learn about his parents' wealth and had immediately purchased a new wardrobe. He had bought a muggle/magic mixed of comfortable clothes in plain colours that actually fitted him. He bought contacts and had gotten rid of his glasses. Professor Sprout said he looked like a young model.
It was the morning of his birthday during breakfast that Harry found out some good news.
"We're going to Diagon Alley today," Professor Sprout declared over her Daily Prophet.
"Really?" Harry asked stabbing a sausage.
"Yep, you need to leave this house sometime, besides I want to get you a present."
Harry flushed, "You don't need to get me-"
"Of course not Harry," Sprout interrupted, "but I want to so just let me, okay?"
Harry beamed at his new guardian and quickly finished his meal.
"Oh, and I have to do some work regarding finding adoptive parents for you so I'll be going to Perpendic Alley as well," Sprout commented idly.
Harry felt his happiness drain from him and to be replaced by the anxiousness he had been ignoring over the past few days. Harry disposed of his plate in the sink.
"Well, child, go get dressed!"
Harry shook his head and ran up the stairs to change. He finally decided upon a blue t-shirt, a pair of black jeans, his black Converse shoes and a large yellow hoodie. He also wore gloves to cover his bruised and cut hands. Grabbing his green backpack Harry ran downstairs.
"I'm ready!" he shouted when he arrived in the living room.
Professor Sprout smiled at him, "Just like your mother, bright clothes and brighter smile."
"Can we go now?" Harry pouted.
Sprout sighed, "Okay birthday boy, we can go. Remember how to floo?"
Harry scowled, "How could I forget?"
Chuckling Sprout passed him the floo powder. Harry took it with a small 'thank you' and floo'd to the Leaky Cauldron. After arriving Harry gazed about the dirty pub waiting for Professor Sprout who arrived second later.
"Now do you want me to come with you?" Sprout asked giving Harry the equipment list and a map of the Alleyways.
"No, I'm fine. You should go sort out the adoption stuff," Harry said sort of hoping Sprout would stay with him anyway.
"Well okay then Harry. Remember stay on Diagon Alley, and if you are in trouble I'll be in Anguses' Law Firm on Perpendic Alley."
"I know okay," Harry huffed, "Can I have my money now?"
Sprout laughed and handed him the pouch of gold, "Don't spend it all."
"Okay," Harry whined.
"Well let's get you on Diagon Alley," Sprout said dragging him in to a small, walled court yard.
Harry noted the weeds and the dustbin. Sprout walked calmly to the further most wall and started tapping the bricks. Soon a small hole appeared – it grew wider and wider – a second later they were facing a large archway. The archway opened up onto a cobbled street which twisted and turned out of sight.
Sprout grinned at him and pulled Harry through the archway, which closed behind them, and onto the street. The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop. Cauldrons – All Sizes – Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver – Self-Stirring – Collapsible said the sign hanging over them.
"Well Harry," Sprout said clapping him on the back, "I guess you should go get one of those."
Harry nodded and waved at her before entering the store.
One hour later saw Harry with a cauldron, a crystal set of phials, a telescope and a brass set of scales, shrunken and packed into his back pack. (1) Spotting Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions he decided to get his robes.
Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve.
"Hogwarts, dear?" she asked when Harry started to speak, "Got the lot back here, another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."
In the back of the shop was a boy with a pale, pointed face standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin stood Harry on the stool next to him, slipped a long robe over his head and began to pin it to the right length.
"Hi," Harry said as the boy looked at him curiously, "I'm Harry."
"Draco Malfoy," the boy replied, "Hogwarts too?"
"Yes, what house do you think you will be in?" Harry asked trying to ignore the witches with pins who were making him uncomfortable.
"Slytherin, my family has been in it for ages," the stated proudly.
Harry snorted.
"Do you think that's funny? I bet your some muggle-born any way," Draco sneered.
"No, I'm a half-blood, not that it matters. Slytherin is a perfectly reasonable house, it's just a privet joke," Harry smiled.
Draco rolled his eyes, "You're weird, most people think being in Slytherin means being evil. Even some Slytherins think that."
Harry looked at the blond. At first he had dismissed the blond as a typical spoilt brat but those insights took brains to see, even if Harry had no evidence if they justified.
"You're weird too, you act like a normal brat but you notice more than you let on," Harry said slowly unable to resist seeing the boy's reaction.
"Maybe I do Mister Potter, maybe I do," the boy smirked. (2)
Harry grinned, "You are definitely going to end up in Slytherin, Draco Malfoy."
Madam Malkin interrupted them, "You're done now dear."
As Harry hopped off the stool Draco drawled, "I'll see you at Hogwarts I guess," but Harry noticed the spark in his grey eyes.
"I guess you will," Harry smirked taking his leave.
Outside the store Harry stuffed his shrunken robes into his backpack and decided to get his books. The book store, Flourish and Blott's, was larger than any book store Harry had ever seen. There were piles of books that reached the ceiling. Harry couldn't help but feel in awe of the impossible wealth of knowledge around him.
Against all practical concern Harry soon had about thirty books piled in his arms. Very slowly he tried to make it to the counter where the books could be shrunken but he hit a solid object and the books were spilt everywhere. Looking around he saw a girl his age was knocked to the ground and helped her up.
"Oh god, I'm so sorry," Harry said in a rush hoping the girl wasn't hurt.
"Are you by chance Harry Potter?" a soft but deep voice asked.
Harry turned to see a tall red headed boy with shabby robes looking at him in surprise.
"Um, yes, does that matter?" Harry said fidgeting, he felt bad for knocking the girl down.
"Well no, but it's good to have your name," the red head grinned, "You right 'Mione?"
Harry guessed that was the girl's name and was proven correct when she nodded.
"Do you need any help," she asked.
"Yes," Harry said in relief, "I got carried away by the amount of books."
The three of them sunk to their knees and started gathering books.
"There are so many in this store. I'd have the same problem," the girl smiled.
They picked up all the books and carried Harry's books to the counter.
As the shopkeeper tallied the cost the red head turned to him, "I'm Ron Weasley."
The girl smiled at Harry, "I'm Hermione Granger."
Harry laughed, "I'm Harry Potter, pleasure to meet you."
(1) He is getting the shopkeepers to shrink his stuff for him.
(2) Draco saw the scar and with the name Harry put two plus two together. Most people don't seem to realise Draco's smarts, I mean he did manage to get Death Eaters into Hogwarts. Imagine what he could do if he really WANTED and tried to.
Wow, this took longer than I expected. I go back to school tomorrow so update will be slow but I hope you can forgive me.
Please keep reviewing!