Chapter 6 – Diagon Alley



“WAKE UP, WAKE UP” shouted Molly Weasley “BREAKFAST IS READY”



Harry slowly opened his eyes, it took him a few seconds to realise where he was. He strolled over to the mirror which was hanging on the wall by the bedroom door.


“Bloody hair” he mumbled under his breath, all the while trying to flatten it with his hand. He opened his eyes wide and looked closer at his tired reflection. Faint tear streaks had marked his handsome face; his eyes were slightly blood shot. Harry bowed his head and clenched his fists, for a moment he wanted to punch the mirror in front of him.



NO, I will not let this beat me, stay focused. He thought to himself.



Slowly he started to get dressed, when Ginny came running in through the door. “Harry, Mum says Hurry up we have to leave in, Oh my, sorry Harry.” Ginny put her head down; she was blushing a violent red, luckily for Ginny, Harry had quickly turned his back to her upon her entrance.



“Uh, don’t worry; tell your Mum I will be down in two minutes.”



“OK, see you soon” said Ginny trying desperately not to stutter, awkwardly she left his room.



Harry smiled to himself, poor Ginny he thought, he could see she was so embarrassed walking in on him with little to no clothes on.

Ginny shut the door to Harry’s room and took a deep breath.

I cannot believe I just did that, she thought to herself, her face still burning from the incident. She smiled, not sure whether it was out of embarrassment or the fact she thought he looked rather good, “Get that out of your mind Ginny Weasley, he’s practically family.” she silently whispered to herself while shaking her head as if to rid her mind of thoughts.

Standing up straight and tall, she started to descend the stairs.

Harry entered the kitchen shortly after; sitting at the table was Molly, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Remus, along with a new visitor, Mad Eye Moody.

“Morning.” Harry mumbled.

“Oh Good Morning dear, sleep well?” asked Molly, surveying him closely.

“Not too bad, took a while to dose off but I got there in the end.”

Ron spoke up “Yeah me too, need a new mattress, all lumpy that one, its years old I bet.”

“Yeah my back hurts a little this morning and my neck.” said Hermione

Mad Eye looked at them “Listen to you three rattling on, anyone would think you were older than I am.

Remus laughed “Yes, I must admit though Alastair, them beds are getting old now, maybe it is time to start tidying this place up, get new things in, make it cheerier, what do you think?” He aimed his question towards Harry.

“Sounds good to me, just don’t touch my room OK, I like it the way it is.” replied Harry

Ron and Hermione looked at Remus, they knew what he meant, his room was Sirius’ old room, and he didn’t want anything changed.

“Very well.” he replied, putting his head down and finally admitting to himself that Harry was taking Sirius’ death harder then he was letting on.

Molly clapped her hands “Right now, come on eat your breakfast, sausages, bacon and eggs today, would you like some bread with that any of you?”

A few yes pleases were mumbled across the table, Harry on the other hand didn’t want anymore, he felt he may struggle with the large portion of food that Molly had already ladled onto his plate.

“Can we go and visit Fred and George in Diagon Alley Mum?” asked Ginny

“No, not today Ginny, I do not want to see those boys for a while, not after what they did last night to poor Professor Snape.”

“Oh come on Molly, it was only abit of fun.” Interrupted Remus.

“It may have been funny for the rest of you but Professor Snape is a member of the Order and last night was a very important meeting, they embarrassed me and Arthur. I have no idea where we went wrong with those two!”

Mad eye Moody started whistling, he had a smirk across his face “I must say, Severus didn’t seem too happy about it; he would never make a good ballet dancer would he.”

“Oh I don’t know Alastor; I think he would look good in a pink frilly tutu and white ballet shoes.” Laughed Remus.

A loud eruption of laughter filled the kitchen in Grimmauld Place, everyone found it funny except for Molly; she shot them all a look of disgust, and carried on cleaning the dishes.

Finally everyone had finished their Breakfast.

“Right, well I think it best that you use the Floo network to get to Diagon Alley.” said Mad Eye Moody.

“Do you think it will be safe using the network from Grimmauld Place Alastair?!” replied Molly Weasley.

“Oh yes, Dumbledore has cloaked the system, keeping our fireplace safe, he felt it wise after what happened last term” Moody looked at Harry.

Harry knew straight away what he was implying, now that they could use the network meant Harry could arrive and leave as he pleased, no more complications, and no more deceit from Kreacher!

“Right then, lets go!” said Molly

Lupin approached forward “I will not be going, I am feeling very tired, but you all please go ahead, get your supplies and I will meet you back here later on.”

“But you must come” replied Harry, “I’m sure the fresh air will do you some good.”

“No Harry, I think I will have a lay down, I will see you later.”

Harry looked disappointed but understood, Remus needed his rest, after all, he knew that it would be a full moon that night and he would have to leave for the Shrieking Shack later that afternoon.

“Now grab your floo powder. Harry you go first” said Molly.

Ron smiled and nudged Harry “Make sure you end up in the right place this time Harry, no sneaking off down Knockturn Alley.”

“I’ll try my best” replied Harry sarcastically.

Harry stepped into the fireplace and shouted “DIAGON ALLEY.” and with a puff of green smoke, he was gone.



Part 2



Safely Harry arrived at Diagon Alley, in the fireplace of no other than Fred and George’s shop.

“Harry, welcome to Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, have a nice trip?” asked Fred

“What am I doing here? I thought I would arrive in the Leaky Cauldron, isn’t that the normal meeting place?”

“Yeah, but Dumbledore thought it safer to arrive in our shop, being we are apart of you know what.” replied George with a wink.

Harry smiled and continued “I don’t think your Mum is going to be too happy, you really upset her last night, but I just want to say Thank you!”

“No probs Harry mate, Snape is a slimeball, plus he always gave us a hard time in potions, even though we were probably the best in the class.” said George.

Fred smirked “Yeah, I think he is gutted that we finally made it out on our own, we are making a packet in here, all those lovely gold galleons, and we have you to thank for that Harry, so whatever you need, you just let us know.”

“Thanks, I will bear that in mind.”

There was a commotion at the fireplace, finally the others had arrived.

“What in Merlins name am I doing here? I want a word with the pair of you!” Cried Molly.

Fred and George gulped. “Hello Mum, how corking to see you, as always.” said Fred.

“Don’t give me that, your actions last night were inexcusable, you embarrassed me and your Father, don’t you ever do anything like that again. You disgraced our name and you are never too old for me to give you an ear-bashing!” she was waving her finger while her vocal tone was hitting a high pitch.

“Sorry Mum, but we had to try it out on someone.” said George, trying desperately hard to hide his amusement.

“Yes, but not on a bloody Professor of Hogwarts and a valuable member of the or.” Fred quickly held his hand up, “Mum, not here, remember!.”

“Ah, yes, I lost myself for a minute. All I am saying is don’t ever do anything like that again.”

With that Molly grabbed hold of Ginny and Ron, and beckoned to Hermione and Harry that it was time to leave and finally fulfil their supply lists.

Molly and Ginny walked in front by about 5 yards, while Harry, Hermione and Ron tagged along behind.

“Did you see the look on Fred and George’s face when Mum started having a go at them. They have always had a knack of getting in trouble, always makes me laugh though.”

Hermione smirked “Oh, and you haven’t got the knack Ronald Weasley?”

“Well if you put it like that Hermione, I guess it runs in the blood.”

“Either that or I am a bad influence on the pair of you.” replied Harry.

““I wouldn’t say that Harry”, continued Hermione, “I think we are all as bad as each other.”

“Harry look.” said Ron pointing “It’s the new firebolt elite, WOW, can you imagine the look on the Slytherin’s faces if the whole Gryffindor team had one of those.

“Yeah, it is a beauty. Have you read this? It says here it can reach speeds of over 120 miles per hour.”

“Bloody hell Harry, that’s faster than the original firebolt.”

“Yeah I know, but I love my one, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Did I tell you, that stupid bag Umbridge has scratched the handle.”

“Yeah, old cow. Well at least we haven’t got to put up with her again. Did you ever find out what the Centaurs done with her?”

“I was hoping they would have eaten her.”

Hermione laughed “Centaurs don’t eat humans.”

“Oh, so what do they do then brainbox?” Mocked Ron

Hermione threw him a frown “Well I don’t know exactly, but they scared the daylights out of her, did you see her in the Hospital Wing afterwards, she didn’t seem to be the same Umbridge, put it that way!”

The trio were still looking at the broomstick when a cold voice came from behind them.

“Look at this, Potter and his minions come to admire the new Firebolt Elite. Don’t know what your looking at Weasley, your family would have to starve for a year to able to afford one of those.”

“Malfoy.” said Hermione, with disgust as if it were a curse word.

“Yes Granger, didn’t think you wouldn’t ever see me again did you?”

“I was more hoping instead of thinking Draco.”

“Umm, yes, well a filthy little mudblood like you never did have any taste.”

Harry narrowed his eyes and stared Draco straight in the face.

“Draco, how is your Father, I hope he’s not rotting too quickly in Azkaban, I would like him to suffer for a little longer.” Harry smirked

Draco looked shocked. Harry sounded so cold.

Hermione and Ron looked at Harry incredulously.

“Don’t you ever speak about my Father in that way, he will be out soon, you’ll see.”

“I don’t doubt it Draco, in-fact I can’t wait until he escapes, so I can put him away again.”

Draco’s face turned to stone, his anger was rising and all at once he reached out and punched Harry squarely in the face, knocking off his glasses.

Harry stood tall and looked Draco in the eye. Blood started to trickle slowly from his nose to his upper lip; Harry licked the blood with his tongue and shot a cold smile.

“Is that the best you can do Draco, my aunt hits me harder than that. I never thought you would use a muggle form of violence, being so against the muggle world and all.

“I will kill you Potter, you and your mudblood girlfriend and this pathetic red haired loser, just wait and see.

“I will be waiting, and I will be ready, pass that message on to your pals, especially the ones of your Father!”

Draco quickly and abruptly turned and walked away.

Hermione poked Harry in the arm. “Are you mad Harry, look at you, your bleeding.”

“Don’t fuss Hermione, it’s just a nose bleed, besides I let him have that, but never again, that’s the closest Draco will ever get to hurting any of us, I promise you that.”

Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged a look between them, one that they had used on numerous occasions, generally when they were in trouble or up to no good. It was the look of understanding.

“Come on, we better get our supply of books.” said Hermione, and with that, they slowly made their way to Flourish and Blotts.