Waking up in the hut, having slept in a cosy environment, was unpleasant. But Harry would not begrudge Ardila for that. She had been more than kind, in his measure.
The now bulging pack parked beside him was another insentive. The same items were still there, but now he also found a small framed painting, a pouch of money, and another letter of instructions. (This time it was about how to use the money inside. He quickly planned how to repay Ardila, next time they met.)
He paid the newspaper-owl that came afterwards with the money, thinking to practise the new knowledge early. Then, after waking Hagrid up and having a quick breakfast, they departed the hut using the old row-boat.
Hagrid's long strides made Harry winded, and his stares and loud comments on ordinary things along the way made him embarrassed, but their travel to London was otherwise enjoyable. Harry even got to read Hagrid's Wizarding newspaper during the underground train ride, and Hagrid happily answered his questions about its strange look and contents.
But the most amazing thing of all was their destination: Diagon Alley, whose entrance was a dingy pub named the Leaky Cauldron. The gates were disguised as a stretch of brick wall! Sadly Harry could not open it himself now.
And the view that lay beyond… Harry could not decide where to look first! Everything was so new and exciting. He would stop in every shop if Hagrid would permit it.
But anyway, they were stopped by the keeper of the baggage shop just a few yards from the gates. He said that Harry's arrival had been awaited, and someone had purchased his trunk and school-bag for him.
To Harry's astonishment, they got similar calls from many other shops. Harry must choose his wand, several titles were added to his list of school books, and Madam Malkin had to measure him for his clothes, but otherwise everything had been purchased in advance. Curiously though, the person ordering all those things was never the same for every shop.
They had much time left, regardless. Harry wanted to look around in the Quidditch shop, but Hagrid insisted on their going to Gringotts for Harry's spending money and "Hogwarts business." However, in the end Hagrid won and they went to the bank.
Harry did not care much of the piles of fortune in his vault. (The pouchful of money in his pack was enough.) He was quite interested in the tiny package Hagrid fetched from the special vault for "Hogwarts business," though. He did not get any answer from the man, unfortunately, however much he wheedled.
Harry chose to go to the bookstore afterwards, as his interest in Quidditch had waned slightly. He just had never expected Hagrid to wait for him outside with a cage of slumbering white owl. "Birthday present fer yeh, lad," the man said. Harry could not stop thanking him for a while.
All in all, it was Harry's best shopping session to date.