Chapter 17: Buying School Materials
"Today is the big day!" James Potter excitedly says.
"What's the big deal about today, James?" Lily curiously asks.
"Today is the day we'll get the owl with the list of school supplies Prongslet will need for his seventh schoolyear." James replies. "We'll finally be able to follow Harry to Diagon Alley without having to worry with a death eater attack."
"I understand, James." Lily sadly replies. "It was sad we missed the previous six years." She adds, thinking at how Dumbledore convinced them to stay hidden instead of joining Harry while he bought his sixth year books.
Before anybody says anything else, the owl arrives. Jakes and Lily eagerly read the list. "Prongslet, the list is here." James calls Harry, who quickly comes.
"Look, the defense books didn't change this year." Harry comments.
"Of course, dear." Lily calmly replies. "This year you're getting the same Defense teacher from last one." James and Harry frown at it. "Come on." Lily pleads.
"I don't like Snivellus teaching our son." James moans. "Can't we transfer Harry to Beauxbatons?"
"Can we teach him French on time for the schoolyear?" Lily asks in reply.
"Mum, Dad, the more I hate Snape…"
"Professor Snape, Harry." Lily replies. "He's your teacher."
"… the more I hate him, I'd miss my friends if I didn't return to Hogwarts." Harry explains.
"I know what's like, Prongslet." Sirius Black intervenes. "If not for Hogwarts, I'd never befriend James, Remus or… never mind."
Later on, they go to Diagon Alley, where they meet the Weasleys. They all go to Gringotts Bank to get some Galleons. Because there's no space at the cart for both the Potters and the Weasleys, just the parents, Harry, Ron and Ginny go with the goblin. Like Harry, his parents also felt bad for having so much more money than the Weasleys. After they return from the vault trip, they see Hermione's parents exchanging Muggle money.
"Considering the interest he's shown on it before our second year, I wonder how come he didn't know how to use Muggle money when we went to the Quidditch World Cup finals." Harry whispers to Ron.
Before Ron has a chance to reply, they all see the Malfoys appearing. After an awkward moment of silence, the Malfoys are led to their vault.
"What's with them, Hermione?" Her father asks.
"After going too far with pure blood supremacy, they don't know how to act." Hermione explains.
"Oh, yes, I recall how you said the Malfoys used to serve that Lord Voldemort before regretting it." Mrs. Granger comments. "They gave up their prejudices, right?"
"Mostly they just weren't ready for what Voldemort wanted from them." Hermione explains. "He used to rule by fear and it eventually caused some of his followers to leave him."
"Just like every tyrant in history who ruled by fear." Mr. Granger replies. Sirius, the Grangers, the Weasleys and the Potters leave the bank.
"Do you think they've made a better broomstick than the Firebolt, Prongs?" Sirius asks.
"Black, you and James have just bought new Firebolts for yourselves." Lily replies, surprised he'd be looking for a new broom.
"So what?" Sirius asks. "The Weasleys and the Grangers might want some."
"Padfoot, Hermione doesn't play Quidditch and her parents can't use flying broomsticks." James replies. "They're Muggles."
"Actually, the broomsticks are enchanted to fly on their own." Hermione explains. "Their riders don't need to be magical."
Harry and Ron are shocked. They never suspected Hermione would know anything about Quidditch.
"Of course, a Muggle riding a broomstick would probably need special protection for their body." Hermione adds.
"Do you mean those weird clothes airplane pilots needed back with earlier airplane models?" Sirius asks. Everyone stares at him. "What? I took muggle studies."
"And you paid attention?" Lily asks, shocked. "I thought you took that class just to annoy your parents."
"That too." Sirius explains.
They then enter Flourish & Blotts to buy the school books. While the Potters and the Grangers buy first hand books, the Weasleys look for their required textbooks at the second hand bin. After that, they all go to Madam Malkin's to buy their robes. Fortunately, the extra money Mr. Weasley made as head of the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects allowed him to buy first hand robes for both Ron and Ginny.
"Well, I guess it's time for a goodbye." Mr. Granger comments.
"We'll meet at Platform 9 ¾." Harry replies.
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