Harry Potter and the Black Grimoire

CHAPTER FOUR - FREEDOM AND FIREWORKS

The next morning brought the response letter from the Ministry of Magic and the good news Harry, Ron and Hermione were waiting for. The Ministry saidthat the stay at Diagon Alley was arranged and that several Aurors were goingto be placed in the village while they were there. Mr. Weasley had also talkedto the mayor of Diagon Alley and got them a very good deal at the Leaky Cauldron.They couldn't wait to be leaving the next day.

The rest of the day seemed to go by very slowly. The three were eagerly anticipating the hour of their departure and they were busy getting together and organizing the things they would be taking with them for the last two months before school.

By the time the sun began to set beneath the hills behind the burrow and evening was upon them, they were all ready to go. The arrangements were made with Tom, the innkeeper of the Leaky Cauldron, for them to go directly to room 19 at the inn by way of floo powder. They were all three to be sharing the deluxe room because all of the others were full.

This, of course, brought much teasing from Ron's older brothers, Fred and George, and his younger sister, Ginny.

"Ooooooooo! Two guys and a girl," said George, " sounds like a shagfest waiting to happen!"

"Yeah you three better keep the snogging down to a minimum," teased Ginny.

Harry and Ron both took the teasing lightly and brushed it off, while Hermione kept going red and denying that she felt 'that way' about either of the two boys of whom were to be her roommates for the next two months.

Finally the hour came that signaled the time for their departure. Excitement filled the air while everyone gathered around the fire in the Weasleys' tiny kitchen.

"Now you behave yourselves!" demanded Mrs. Weasley, trying her hardest to keep a stern look.

"We will mum, now we really have to be going," said Ron, embarrassed.

"You made sure you packed extra underwear Ron?"

"Yes Mum! Now can we go?"

"Not until you come and give your mother a kiss goodbye!" said Mrs. Weasley, her stern look dissolving into a tear filled smile.

"Oh Mum!" shouted Ron, but he did give her a kiss.

With hugs to Harry and Hermione, the trio was off. They each jumped into the fire, in turn, with their belongings and yelled "Leaky Cauldron room19!"

Ron could've sworn he heard one of his brothers yelling "Ronnikins! You forgot your underoos!" as he jumped into the fire.

Soon they were all in the room and started to unpack their things into the dressers in the rooms, which of course, were magically enchanted to hold more things than any ordinary dresser drawer.

The deluxe room truly was deluxe. It actually consisted of two rooms, one containing the three beds and dressers, the other containing couches, a refrigerator and a television, which fascinated Ron beyond belief.

Soon they made their way downstairs into the bar area of the inn. Tom, the innkeeper, who was as gracious a host as ever, greeted them. They told him they would be back with their payment for the room and made their way into the backyard of the Leaky Cauldron to enter Diagon Alley itself.

Once there, they made their way to Gringotts, the Wizarding bank. Gringotts was run by goblins, cunning and savvy creatures that at times could be quite ruthless.

After filling their moneybags full of gold galleons, silver sickles and bronze knuts, they decided to stop at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour for "dinner" which consisted of giant banana splits, a tribute being independent and on their own.

They walked around the Alley leisurely by moonlight, looking at all of the products displayed in the shop windows and the multitude of interesting people walking about. Harry was happy to find that the Firebolt, racing broom, was still on display at Quality Quidditch Supplies, which meant that he still owned the best broomstick on the market.

They made a stop in the park and laid on the neat grass under the stars before turning and heading back up the Alley to the inn.

That night, they all fell asleep thinking how wonderful it felt to beon their own, with freedom in the wizarding world.

* * * * *

The next morning, Harry awoke a bit early and was surprised that both Ron and Hermione were already awake and gone. Harry got out of bed and began to dress himself, wondering where the two had gone off to and why they had not woken him. He wished they had.

Harry found a note from Hermione on the mirror in the room.

Awake then Harry? Ron and I decided to let you sleep

in a bit, so we went down to the bar to have a bit of

breakfast. Do come and join us when you wake up if we

don't get back before that.

Hermione

Harry put the note down and frowned at the fact that they would wake so early and start the day without him. He dropped the note in the trash andhurried into the shower so he could meet them down there before they finished.

Done washing, Harry put on some fresh clothes and went out.

It was if a bomb went off. The minute he stepped out of the doorway to the main inn, the place was flooded with a deafening array of lights and sound. Loud pops and bangs mixed with colored lights and flashes of several spectacular in-door fireworks went off all around him.

"Happy birthday Harry!!!" shouted dozens of witches and wizards below him in the bar and restaurant area.

Another firework went off in front of him, sending "Happy 15th" in frontof his eyes.

It seemed to Harry that the whole village was there. As he walked down the stairs he noticed Madam Malkin, Mr. Ollivander and Florean Fortescue andwhat was unmistakably the giant profile of his friend Hagrid, a half-giant and teacher of Care of Magical Creatures as well as the gamekeeper at Hogwarts.

Then, down at the foot of the stairs, he noticed his two best friends, both wearing wide grins on their faces. He knew now that this had to be all their doing. He reached the foot of the stairs and was greeted by a loud HappyBirthday from both of them. He got a firm handshake from Ron and as he wasaccustomed to from Hermione by now, two skinny arms around his neck and akiss on his cheek.

"Is it really the 31st?" asked Harry after Hermione let go.

"Sheesh Harry," said Ron, "you didn't even know it was your own birthday. But come on, we have presents and cake over here."

Harry followed Ron and Hermione over to a table in the corner that wascovered in enough presents to make even Dudley Dursley jealous. There wasalso what appeared to be a giant ice cream cake, no doubt compliments ofFlorean Fortescue. Soon cake was beginning to get passed out to everyone inthe inn, which gave Harry a chance to talk to his friends.

"You know, you two are really bad," said Harry.

"Oh come on Harry, you know you love us!" said Hermione.

"Yeah," Ron added, "what would you do without us? You'd be lost!"

"Yeah, you're right, I don't know what I would do if I didn't have bothof you," Harry said. "So I guess this is why you both got up so early anddecided to leave me alone?"

"Of course," said Ron. "We went through the Alley and invited everyone to come. They were all more than happy to give Harry Potter a birthday party!"

"We just felt like you deserved a proper party at least once in your life! And you should be extra happy because most came bearing gifts!"

"And how do you go about forgetting your own birthday?"

"I guess that with all of the excitement of the last few days it just slipped my mind!"

"Jeez, and I thought Hermione was kooky!"

"Hey!" said Hermione, punching him in the arm playfully.

"I don't even know what to say about all of this," Harry said.

"Just tell us that you're happy and it will all have been worth it," said Hermione.

"Well, all I have to say," Harry said, putting his arm first around Hermione, then Ron, " is that you two are the best friends a guy could have!"