Harry and his family arrived in Diagon Alley early in the morning after Ben had finished his breakfast. Harry had gotten his supplies earlier, but was still looking forward to hanging out with his friends. Ben, however, had wanted to get his shopping done as early as possible to spend the most time with the Weasleys, Hermione, Sirius, and Remus as he could. After investigating the Firebolt, and shaking his head slightly at it, Ben led the group to Flourish and Blotts.
As the quartet entered, the manager came hurrying towards them.
"Hogwarts?" he said abruptly. "Come to get your new books?"
"Yes," Harry replied, "I need -"
"What's that one doing?" Ben interrupted, pointing into the cage of The Monster Book of Monsters. Harry looked into the cage and noticed that one of the books was rubbing its spine against the floor of the cage. It seemed to be more docile than the rest. The manager sucked in a breath, before laughing in a slightly hysterical manner.
"You mean to tell me," he spoke, gasping in between words as he was still laughing, "that stroking the spine was all that was needed to make them behave? Young man, you're getting a discount for making my life easier!" the manager finally regained control of himself. "Now then, what books do you need?"
"Oh, er, Numerology and Grammatica and Ancient Runes made Easy, as well as Intermediate Transfiguration and The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three," Harry replied.
"All of those and a copy of The Monster Book of Monsters."
The manager nodded as he hesitantly approached the cage. He opened and grabbed a copy of the Monster Books and, struggling slightly, proceeded to bring it out of the cage. He ran a finger down its spine. The book shuddered, then fell open, docile.
"Thank heavens," the manager sighed as he passed the book to Ben. "Maybe now we can get the rest of them to behave. It's been bedlam! I thought we'd seen the worst when we bought two hundred copies of the Invisible Book of Invisibility - cost a fortune, and we never found them … . Well … if you could follow me?"
The rest of the time in the bookstore was uneventful. As they exited the Flourish and Blotts, the quartet nearly ran into two people. Ben flinched a bit before saying, "I'm sorry."
"Ben!" one of them shouted, startling Harry and Ben as they noticed that they'd nearly run into Hermione. She then wrapped Ben in a tight hug. Harry noticed Ben stiffen for a moment before he reciprocated.
"Hi, guys," Ben said, voice tight with emotion.
"How've you been, mate?" Ron asked, being the other person that they nearly ran into.
"Excellent," Harry replied. "This summer's been excellent."
At that exact moment, Hermione released Ben, pulling Harry into a hug. Ben turned to Ron and asked, "You got a new wand yet?"
Ron looked confused at Ben, "No. I don't need one."
Ben rolled his eyes. "Your brother's old wand is going to fail one of these days. Besides, you'll get better results on a wand that's chosen you, not one that thinks you're good enough."
Ron's ears went red from embarrassment and anger on hearing that.
Ben sighed slightly. "Well, follow me to Ollivander's and, before you interrupt, this is two years worth of birthday presents that I failed to get you. Hermione, you're going to be getting a few more books for this year."
Before either Ron or Hermione could protest, Ben eagerly grabbed Ron and started dragging him towards Ollivander's. Harry followed, smiling at the forcefulness Ben was displaying. Hermione followed, slightly shocked and confused about the way Ben was acting.
"We'll be at the Leaky Cauldron," Sirius called after them.
They entered Ollivander's with Ron still trying to convince Ben not to do this.
"Ron, shut up," Ben said in a firm tone, interrupting him. "You're getting this wand. It's important. No exceptions."
Ron quieted down, muttering mulishly to himself.
"I don't think it's 'no exceptions' this time," Hermione pointed out.
"I don't care," Ben stated. "I got the point across."
Mr. Ollivander chose that moment to appear. "Ah, Mr. Black, dagwood and unicorn hair, fourteen-and-a-half inches. Did you return to continue our discussion about wandlore?"
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Ollivander. Ron here is getting his own wand. He's currently using his brother … what's his name? Karl?"
"Ah, Charles Weasley, ash and unicorn hair, twelve inches," Mr. Ollivander replied before turning to Ron. "You didn't feel any great difficulty doing magic with this wand?"
"Er, no," Ron replied.
Mr. Ollivander nodded as he got the tape measure that he used on Harry out.
"Which is your wand arm?" Mr. Ollivander asked Ron.
"Right," Ron replied.
Mr. Ollivander nodded as the tape measure started measuring Ron. "Hold out your arm. That's it. Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Weasley. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."
Ben nodded. "Now do you see why I am getting you a wand?"
Ron nodded in response. It took a few minutes for Ron to find his new wand. After Ben paid the seven Galleons for it, the quartet left the shop. After they exited, Ben turned to Hermione. "Now, what did you want for your birthday?"
"Well, my Mum and Dad gave me some money to get me an early birthday present. I was thinking of getting an owl."
"I see," Ben responded. "Well, I suppose I can pay for your textbooks then. Don't worry," he held up his hand to stop Hermione from complaining "I should still have a discount for helping the manager at Flourish and Blotts. I also need to get cat food for my cat, Baron."
"I see a magical creature shop right there," Harry said, pointing to it. "You'll probably find what you're both looking for there."
With a nod the quartet went to the Magical Menagerie.
There wasn't much room inside. Every inch of wall was hidden by cages. It was smelly and very noisy because of the occupants of these cages were all squeaking, squawking, jabbering, or hissing. The witch behind the counter was already advising a wizard on the care of double-ended newts, so the quartet waited, examining the cages.
A pair of enormous purple toads sat gulping wetly and feasting on dead blowflies. A gigantic tortoise with a jewel-encrusted shell was glittering near the window. Poisonous orange snails were oozing slowly up the side of their glass tank, and a fat white rabbit kept changing into a silk top hat and back again with a loud popping noise. Then there were cats of every color, a noisy cage of ravens, a basket of funny custard-colored furballs that were humming loudly, and on the counter, a vast cage of sleek black rats that were playing some sort of skipping game using their long, bald tails.
The double-ended newt wizard left, and Ben approached the counter.
"Hi, I'd like to buy some food for my cat," Ben said simply.
"Hm," the witch said. "Does he have any dietary restrictions?"
Ben shook his head.
"Well then," she said as she rummaged around behind the counter. "Let's see, ah, here it is!" She put two containers on the counter, one containing mice, the other was cat food. "Which would you like or do you want both?"
"Hmm…" Ben started to consider, clearly weighing the pros and cons. A couple of seconds later he declared. "I'll take both."
The witch smiled as she told him the amount.
"Thank you," Ben said as he looked around the store. He paused before exclaiming. "Wow. Look at him!"
Harry looked up at where Ben pointed. He saw a large cat with ginger fur that was thick and fluffy, but it was definitely a bit bowlegged and its face looked grumpy and oddly squashed, as though it had run headlong into a brick wall.
"Oh he's gorgeous, isn't he?" cooed Hermione.
That was a matter of opinion, thought Harry. He noticed that Ben nodded in agreement.
"Ah that's Crookshanks," the witch said. "He's been in there for ages; no one seems to want him."
Hermione teared up slightly before turning to the witch. "Well, that changes now. I'd like him."
The witch smiled as she rang Hermione up. Crookshanks jumped down into Ben's arm, with Ben going "oomph" as he caught him.
As they exited the store, Ben turned to Harry. "I don't think they'll allow Crookshanks into Flourish and Blotts. If you could take him and tell Sirius and Remus where we are, that'd be much appreciated. We'll meet up with you there and regroup to do whatever."
"Right," Harry replied as he took Crookshanks.
The four friends parted ways as Harry headed towards the Leaky Cauldron, Crookshanks purring contently in his arms.
Harry spotted Sirius and Remus seated at a table near the entrance of the Alley. Sirius raised an eyebrow at Harry as he came to sit down. "Got another pet?"
"No," Harry replied. "This is Hermione's new cat, Crookshanks. Her, Ben, and Ron are at Flourish and Blotts getting their school books. They're coming here after that."
At that moment, Mr. Weasley came in from the Alley, holding a copy of the Daily Prophet. It took only a moment for him to spot them.
"Hello, Harry," Mr. Weasley said as he sat at their table, smiling at them. "How are you?"
"Fine, thanks," said Harry. "You concerned about the break-out too?"
"Yes," Mr. Weasley replied. "There's been talk about pulling us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him. That's gone nowhere as of right now, but if this continues… "
"Yes, that's probably going to happen," Sirius said. "Dolohov was always a tricky one. He may be old, but he isn't stupid."
Remus nodded. "Azkaban's probably just increased his convictions, if anything."
Mr. Weasley nodded before moving onto a lighter topic. They continued conversing, even when Hermione, Ron, and Ben returned. They only stopped when Mrs. Weasley entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by the twins, Fred and George, who were about to start their fifth year at Hogwarts; the newly elected Head Boy, Percy; and the Weasleys' youngest child and only girl, Ginny.
Ginny still went rather red and muttered "hello" without looking at him before turning to Ben, who immediately started conversing with her in hushed tones. Percy, however, held out his hand solemnly as though he and Harry had never met and said, "Harry. How nice to see you."
"Hello, Percy," said Harry, trying not to laugh.
"I hope you're well?" said Percy pompously, shaking hands. It was rather like being introduced to the mayor.
"Very well, thanks -"
"Harry!" said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy -"
"Marvelous," said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing."
Percy scowled.
"That's enough, now," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Mum!" said Fred, as though he'd only just spotted her and seizing her hand, too. "How really corking to see you -"
"I said, that's enough," said Mrs. Weasley, depositing her shopping in an empty chair. "Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?" She pointed to the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. "Second Head Boy in the family!" she said, swelling with pride.
"And last," Fred muttered under his breath.
"I don't doubt that," said Mrs. Weasley, frowning suddenly. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."
"What do we want to be prefects for?" said George, looking revolted at the very idea. "It'd take all the fun out of life."
Ginny giggled, Ben whispering into her ear after, making her laugh.
"You want to set a better example for your sister!" snapped Mrs. Weasley.
"Ginny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother," said Percy loftily. "I'm going up to change for dinner… "
He disappeared and George heaved a sigh.
"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," he told Harry. "But Mum spotted us."
Dinner that night was a very enjoyable affair. Tom the innkeeper put four tables together in the parlor, and the seven Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, Sirius, Remus, and Ben ate their way through five delicious courses.
"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as they dug into a sumptuous chocolate pudding.
"I offered to drive," Sirius replied. "May be a tight squeeze, even with space expansion spell, but we should be fine."
"Thank you," Percy replied pompously, looking for half a moment like he was going to shake Sirius's hand.
"Why you're very welcome," Ben stated in as pompous a tone as he could.
Everyone except Percy and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their pudding.
"Good thing, too," said Mrs. Weasley briskly. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle Underground… You are all packed, aren't you?"
"Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk yet," said Percy, in a long-suffering voice. "He's dumped them on my bed."
"You'd better go and pack properly, Ron, because we won't have much time in the morning,"
Mrs. Weasley called down the table. Ron scowled at Percy.
Every teen went upstairs after dinner, Harry quickly falling asleep in the room he shared with Ben.
AN: I'm so sorry this took so long. I've been having a combination of writer's block, inspiration for future events, and schedule disruption for the past few months. I intend to get back to my two week upload schedule, and am planning on posting again on the 7th.
Uploaded Feb. 21st, 2021