Harry Potter and the Veil of Death

Chapter Five~~

Diagon Alley

Harry woke up early on the seventeenth. He groaned. Today was the reading of Sirius's Will at Gringotts. There was only one thing remotely good about the day. Afterwards, they were all going to do their school shopping in Diagon Alley. It was something Harry missed doing--he hadn't gone shopping in Diagon Alley since his third year, just after he blew his Aunt Marge up. Harry grinned wickedly to himself. He wished that they hadn't modified her memory of the incident. It could keep her off his back next time she came to visit (If Harry happened to be there.) He was also looking forward to seeing the Twins' new store. Beginning with only their dangerous imaginations and the 1,000 galleons that Harry had given them back in fourth year, they had finally achieved their dream. No longer just a mail-order business, the new Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes store was in business and, according to Ron, business was positively booming. They alone with Lee Jordan and Angelina Johnson were manning the shop, giving them little free time.

Harry looked at the clock. It was just after six. He rolled out of bed, even though they didn't need to be at Gringotts until ten. It wouldn't hurt if I got ready early... He yawned, and wandered over to his wardrobe, wondering what he could possibly wear. He spotted a note on his bedside table. He recognized the handwriting as Remus's.

Harry,

You know what today is! Be ready to leave at eight-thirty, we're flooing to the Leaky Cauldron. Afterwards, we will meet up with the Weasley's to do your school shopping. As for what to wear to the Reading of the Will, that is your choice, as long as you are 'neatly' dressed. I know you don't have much, but I am sure you should be quite able to transfigure your school robes into something suitable to wear over muggle clothes. Don't worry, Harry, everything will go fine!

-Remus

He smiled inwardly. He couldn't wait to transfigure everything. He was even looking forward to redoing his room at Grimmauld Place. He was amazed at how handy Transfiguration could be, and wondered why he never had more of an interest in class. I suppose it's because we never have learned this type of transfiguration. This is weird. I don't have to do anything but picture what I want and wave my wand, or sometimes, my hand. No words or incantations. I've never even seen McGonagall do that. I guess I'll ask her about it, or maybe Hermione. Harry shrugged it off for the time being. He had to get ready.

After he had showered, he changed into a black collared shirt and black pants; both previously transfigured and shrunk. By that time, his stomach was rumbling, so he decided to eat before transfiguring a robe. Once he stepped into the kitchen, he was pleased to see an already dressed Hermione eating and reading the Prophet at one end of the long table. He plopped down next to her.

"Good morning, Harry," said Hermione briskly giving him a sideways hug. You certainly look cute today. Harry blushed, and served himself some bacon and eggs from a platter on the center of the table.

"Anything in the paper today?" he asked.

"Not much, nothing about the war, if that's what you mean."

"Good," said Harry, "Bad news is exactly what I don't need today."

"Oh, you'll be okay," she reassured him. "Don't forget, we have a lot of shopping to do today."

"I remember, I can't wait to get out into the open," he said. "By the way, I am going to transfigure some robes to wear today, and I want you to help me. Can you come up to my room once we have finished eating?"

"Of course, Harry, I'd be glad to help."

~*~*~*~

"Hmm... Go back to the red ones."

Harry turned the robes red again with the wave of his wand.

"No, I don't think so... Maybe we should go with something less bold."

"Well, Mione, what color do you propose then?"

"Perhaps a shade of blue?"

"Nothing too light though, it would be to... girly."

"Harry!"

"Oh, jeez, Mione! I didn't mean anything by it and you know that!"

"Try a dark gray-blue," decided Hermione. He could see the teasing laughter in her eyes.

He waved his wand. The robes turned a grayish-blue.

"Darken the hue just a little more."

Harry did so, and was pleased with what he saw. The blue was a dark storm blue, so it went fine with the black pants and shirt he was wearing. Harry felt very pleased with himself.

"Oh, yes, Harry, I like that one a lot," she said as he put the robes on over clothes. Her face suddenly lit up. "Ooo, Harry, do you think that you could help me transfigure my robes? I could do it on my own, but I have to have a different incantation for EVERY different color. It would help so much if you did them!"

"Of course, Mione, and I've been meaning to ask about my ability to do that without speaking, and sometimes without using my wand. Why can I do this so simply?"

"Well, do you picture the color in your head?" said Hermione, looking slightly puzzled about it.

"Yes, briefly, but I don't have to concentrate enormously hard to cast it."

"I've been thinking about it too, Harry, and this is my idea. I think it shows how powerful you can be, like Dumbledore was saying. I believe what you are doing is thought magic. With all your power, you don't need to say spells, if you just think them, or think of the effects of them, in cases such as transfiguration, they happen. It's a very difficult thing to do without having a lot of magical power."

"Yeah, I think I know what you mean," said Harry, remembering the almost silent duel between Professor Dumbledore and Voldemort. "Dumbledore and Voldemort hardly spoke their spells when they dueled in the ministry. I remember Voldemort saying Avada Kedavra but that's most likely because that spell is too difficult to perform without speaking."

"Yes, I think you're exactly right..." said Hermione, obviously thinking deeply. Suddenly, the annoying superior look that Harry and Ron and come to know and resent dawned on Hermione's face. Harry sighed. Here we go again. Hermione suddenly spoke again.

"When we get back to Hogwarts, I need to check something in the Library. I think that I've just realized something about the powers Dumbledore was talking about."

"Come again," said Harry, trying to get up to speed with Hermione's calculating brain.

"Dumbledore said we're both magically powerful, right?" Harry nodded his head, wondering where this was going. "Well, you can do things like transfiguration with nothing but a careless thought, but I can't, yet as Dumbledore said, I am still powerful. So, I want to read up on the different kinds of power, and see what mine could be, and how I could put use to it."

"I get you now," said Harry, grateful that he finally understood. "Now should we finish?"

"Oh, yes, of course. Let me nip down to my room for a moment to find a robe we can transfigure."

Harry laughed to himself as she dashed down the stairs. Hermione was so extreme. If she had an idea, or supported something, she'd be behind it, one hundred percent of the way, pushing, no matter how big or small the matter was. She gave full time and effort to anything she began. Harry admired her for that. It was one of the things that made her so great. Hermione didn't start something unless she fully intended to end it in her favor.

Harry was drawn out of his introspection by the return of Hermione. She had a set of Hogwarts robes over her arm.

"I think these will do," she said, holding them out to him.

Harry nodded, and took them.

"What color would you like?"

"Well, I'd like a shade of blue too, but nothing too... manly" she grinned at him.

Harry sighed. "Girls just don't get it, manly is a compliment to us guys, but when we say girly, you get all offended."

Hermione giggled slightly. "I think we just like annoying the crap out of you!"

"Oh," said Harry tartly, "Thanks for enlightening me. I'll keep that in mind."

"Oh, shut it, Harry. I think I want a pale blue."

Harry imagined the color and waved his wand. The robes turned a stunning ice blue.

"Ohhh, Harry!" breathed Hermione, "That's exactly what I wanted!"

Harry hugged Hermione.

"I know." He said.

Hermione put the robes over her arm once more.

"Well, it's almost eight thirty, so you have to go soon. We're coming along around ten, after you're done. I guess we're going to meet you at Gringotts. Now, I'd better go and pry Ron and Neville out of their beds, or we'll never leave on time."

"Okay, Hermione, I'll see you around ten. I should be going downstairs soon." He went over and hugged her, then planted a quick kiss on her lips. "I'll miss you."

"I'm sure you will," said Hermione loftily, "I'll see you later."

She walked out of the room. Harry went over to his bed and sat down on the still slightly musty sheets. He sighed. There was a lot ahead of him. His eyes trailed along the cracked and peeling paint on the walls. He decided that he would finally clean and transfigure his room tomorrow, since the day afterwards, apparation training and studying for his History of Magic exam would take all his spare time. For now, he just had to get through the morning. He heaved himself off the creaking mattress and headed downstairs.

~*~*~*~

He went into the kitchen. Remus was just finishing eating, and was talking with a rather ill looking Tonks, whose hair today was a dark brown, falling in soft curls to about mid back. Her eyes were blue, and her nose was slightly pointed.

"Wotcher, Harry," said Tonks, as he walked up to them. She saw him eyeing her features. She grimaced. "This is my original face. I feel too out of sorts this morning to do the actual transformations. It causes too much pain in the head."

"Well," Harry said, choosing his words carefully. "It's certainly less extreme than normal."

"Harry, we had better be going," said Remus, walking over to the fireplace, "it's a quarter 'til."

Harry walked over to Remus.

"I'll go first," said Remus, "and I'll wait for you on the other end."

Harry nodded as Remus took a pinch of floo powder and dropped it into the fire. He stepped into the roaring flames.

"Diagon Alley!"

Harry did the same as Remus.

"Diagon Alley!"

He felt the sick spinning dizzy feeling as he twirled through the fireplaces. He kept his elbows tucked in and his mouth closed. Soon he felt his feet slam into the stone floor of the Leaky Cauldron. It took all his balance to stay standing. He stepped out of the fireplace, and waved his wand to get the soot off his robes. He went over to Remus who was waiting nearby.

"Ready?" Remus asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," said Harry, "which isn't very ready, but..." he trailed off.

Remus grasped his shoulder understandingly.

"Let's go."

They went out into the back alley, and through the archway. They made their way down through the cobbled streets, slightly less busy than normal. Harry mentioned it to Remus.

"Now that Voldemort's back, some are afraid to go out. Pretty silly, as he's not yet ready to attack a public place such as this," whispered Remus.

Soon, they came upon the towering white building that was Gringotts. They were bowed through the first set of doors, and went on through the second set. They came into the cavernous marble hall where numerous tellers were making transactions and appraisals. They went to a side desk, with a sign reading 'Director'.

"May I help you?" asked a squat looking goblin sitting behind the desk. He reminded Harry forcibly of Umbridge, but just in looks, not personality.

"Yes," said Remus, "We're here to attend the reading of Sirius Black's Will."

Harry stomach fluttered. Oh, I really don't want to go through with this... I think I'm gonna puke... You'll be fine Harry. What the--oh yeah... sorry Mione. Yeah, I hope so too.

"Ah, yes," said the goblin, checking a sheaf of parchment, "Mr. Lupin and Mr. Potter. Please follow me to Mr. Wheelcart's office, where the Will is to be read." Lupin squeezed Harry's shoulder in understanding. At least Malfoy will never see a knut of this! That's the spirit Harry! I'm going to go now. I'll see you later. 'K. Bye Mione. Love you. And you as well.

The goblin hopped off the tall stool where he was sitting, and led them off a hallway that Harry had never been down. They stopped at a door, with the plaque that read 'Griphook Wheelcart, Inheritance and Will Distribution'. The goblin knocked on the door. It swung open, and they were led in.

"Ah, Mr. Lupin and Mr. Potter," said the goblin sitting behind a desk, whom Harry recognized as the very same Griphook who had taken him to his vault for the first time ever. "It is time to hear the Will of Sirius Black."

~*~*~*~

Harry and Remus left Griphook's office an hour later. Both were in shock. After taxes, the Black Estate had consisted of 22,259,846 Galleons, 12 Sickles, and 11 Knuts! Sirius had split it evenly between them. Harry had also been left Grimmauld Place, and Remus, most of Sirius's personal belongings. Neither of them had expected that Sirius had anywhere near this amount of money. Harry withdrew some gold from his now magically expanded vault, which was piled higher than Harry's head, and exchanged a small amount of it for muggle money. They finally met up with the others, who had just finished handling all their banking affairs.

Hermione saw the look on Harry's face.

"Was it that much?" she said quietly.

"You have NO idea," said Harry in reply. "I have more money than I ever thought I would have in my life." He thought for a moment, then joked, "It almost makes becoming an Auror seem stupid."

Hermione smiled at him.

"Let's go, the others are waiting to begin."

They walked over to where Ron, Luna, Ginny, and Neville were standing. Ron had a slightly smaller version of the look that Harry had on his own face.

"What's up with you, Ron?" asked Harry.

Ron tried to reply, but a gurgling noise was all that he could manage.

He turned to Ginny, who was smiling happily.

"What happened?" he asked her.

"Well, we knew that with Dad being Minister and all, we would have a lot more money to spare. That... that is a bit of an understatement. We each have our own mini vault, and they all have at least 3,000 Galleons. I know some of it is from Fred and George, who insisted upon giving all of us some of their store profits, but most of it is from Dad's starting salary. It was a bit of a shock."

"You had it easy in the shock department, I reckon," said Harry.

"Why, Harry, what'd you get?" asked Ron, coming out of his trance-like state.

"I won't give you the exact number, it would take too long, but let's just say that they had to expand my vault and it's still piled to the ceiling."

"Wow," said Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna together.

"I feel much better now, I'm not the only one who is amazed at the sight of too much money!" said Ron dramatically.

"Oh, yeah, one more thing," Harry tried to say a little offhandedly. "Well, um... Sirius sorta... lefGrimoldplaceome..."

"Come again, Harry? Sirius did what?" asked Ron.

"He, um, left... left Grimmauld Place to me."

They all stared at him, including Hermione.

"Wow," only Hermione managed to get out.

Mrs. Weasley interrupted them.

"Come on, children, you need to get a start on your shopping. We're going to meet at the Golden Snitch in three hours to eat, and then we'll have more time to shop afterwards. Don't be late, and behave yourselves."

They nodded. Ginny and Neville went off alone, and Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Luna shopped together.

"Where should we go first?" asked Hermione.

"Let's go into Quidditch Supply shop, I want to see if there are any new models. Maybe I'll get a Nimbus! Ginny can have my Cleansweep." Harry snorted at that. It was very unlikely that Ginny would want Ron's old broomstick.

"Maybe," Harry joked humorlessly, "I'll buy the whole Quidditch Team Firebolts."

Ron looked up eagerly.

"I was kidding."

"Oy, Mate! Don't kid about things like that!" said Ron. "You'll kill a man's dream that way!"

Harry didn't smile.

"Oh, come on, Harry," said Hermione, "Cheer up, Sirius wanted you to have his money. Would you rather it'd gone to Malfoy?"

"I know, but I wouldn't have this money if he were alive."

I know Harry, I know. It really does stink.

"I know," said Ron, cracking into an evil grin, reminiscent of the twins, "You could donate a bunch of it to spew, and then--"

"S-P-E-W!" came the reply from Hermione and Harry. Hermione whacked him across his arm.

"Alright, alright," said Ron, hiding behind Luna, who took his hand in hers, "Jeez, I was just joking. Hold your hippogriffs. How do you put up with her, Harry."

Harry responded with a glare and a sharp smack on the back on Ron's head.

"Ow!" said Ron, "Luna, make them stop, they're hurting me!"

"Oh really, Ronald, just shut up," said Luna, and to all's surprise, she pulled him into a deep kiss.

"Get a room, you two," muttered Harry, feeling a little queasy, as they walked into the Quidditch Supply Shop.

Ditto. That's absolutely disgusting, they way they do that in public! Absolutely no regard to the public... and Ron's dad is Minister! What will people think? How can they just--

Hermione! Shut up!

Harry playfully grabbed Hermione and kissed her. She quickly pulled away.

That's not funny, you great prat! After all I just said, you go and do that, right in front of everybody!

Hermione, stop yelling, you're giving me a headache!

Hermione settled with a sharp smack to his arm.

Harry rubbed his arm, while Ron and Luna broke apart before they attracted too much attention. Soon Ron was completely distracted by the new broomstick on display in the window.

"Wow!" said Ron admiringly. "The Nimbus LightningBolt! It's much cheaper than the Firebolt, but beats the other Nimbus models by a decent tailwind." He reminded Harry of a 3-year-old in a candy shop.

He stood there admiring the new broom with Luna, while Harry and Hermione were looking at miniature models of the Quidditch Field that Harry was considering buying, now that he was captain. Harry also looked at weightless flying cloaks, which kept the flier warm and dry, without any heavy material weighing them down. Finally, with the help of Hermione, Harry chose a gray flying cloak and a model of a Quidditch Field, and walked over to Ron, who was still debating on whether or not to buy the LightningBolt. Luna was patiently waiting for him to finish arguing with himself. Suddenly, Ron spoke.

"Sod it! I'm going to buy this! Dad's the minister now, so we don't want it to seem like our family has no money anymore." A rather evil grin crept across his face. "Besides, this is WAY faster then Malfoy's moldy old tree branch! Too bad his dear old daddy can't buy him any more new broomsticks. He's going to be a bit preoccupied in Azkaban..." He laughed, but at the sound of the voice behind him, he stopped.

"Not for long, Weasley, mark my words. Anyway, too bad that soon, you'll be a bit preoccupied being dead to enjoy that broomstick."

They all turned around. Draco Malfoy was standing behind them, looking paler then ever, his gray eyes glittering coldly.

"Is that a threat, Malfoy?" said Ron, taking a step forward.

"No, Weasley, I would think that even a moron like you would be able to work this out," said Malfoy, the look on his face more murderous then ever before. "It's a promise."

"Sure, Draco," said Luna as scathingly as she could be. "And who's going to do it? Oh, let me guess... you are? And where are your little baboon's backside friends?" She giggled. Harry thought he heard her mutter quietly 'Ha! Baboon's backside!'

"Oh, look, Weasel, you've got yourself a girlfriend," said Malfoy, very much in the same way he had said it to Harry in his second year. This time, the reply surprised him a little.

"Yeah, Malfoy," Ron spat the name like it made his mouth dirty. " I do! Have you got a problem with that?"

"No, not at all," sneered Draco. "I'm just amazed you finally decided that the Mudblood wasn't good enough, not even for the likes of scum like you."

'He shouldn't have said that,' flashed through Ron's mind, who backed up, wanting to give Harry clear aim.

Within a second, Harry's wand was in his hand (Thanks to Dean's present) pointing right at Draco.

"Never," growled Harry angrily, Draco taking a step back from the sheer power he could feel radiating from Harry, " EVER, call Hermione that again, you piece of filth. You do not deserve to walk on the same ground she does. If I ever catch you calling Hermione that again, Draco, I WILL hurt you. Got it? And who are you to call someone scum?"

Malfoy looked very taken aback, but quickly recovered.

"Sure, what are you going to do, get your Godfather or your doggie to come and get me?"

This was too much for Hermione. She didn't care what he said about her, but he would NOT, could not, talk to Harry about Sirius. Much like her third year, she pushed past Harry and Ron, who were gazing at Malfoy unbelievingly, and pulled her fist back. She swung hard, and felt her fist connect with his jaw. There was a sickening crack, and Malfoy fell over.

"Shut the HELL up! Never say anything like that again!" said Hermione, tears of both rage and sadness flowing down her cheeks. Ron and Harry looked at her, amazed. Luna stood there, as usual, quite unperturbed.

She sobbed loudly and threw her arms around Harry, crying. He hugged her, looking at Ron with wide eyes.

"What was that, Hermione?" asked Ron, looking down at Malfoy who was struggling to stand up, holding his cheek.

Hermione was muttering words between the sobs that Harry didn't even know were part of her vocabulary.

Malfoy had managed to stand up.

"You'll pay, Potter," said Malfoy thickly, through his swollen jaw, "For everything your little Mudblood girlfriend has ever done. You'll be sorry. Mark my words." And before Harry and Ron could get a chance to kick his slimy face out onto the cobblestoned streets, he stormed out of the shop.

"I'll kill him," said Harry abruptly.

Everybody looked up at him, including Hermione.

"What?" said Hermione calmly, trying not to appear alarmed at the murderous look that had only ever appeared when Harry was talking about Voldemort.

"I'll kill him," Harry repeated. "If he ever so much as lays a finger on you, EVER, Hermione, you had better tell me, because I WILL kill him!"

"Harry, don't you think you're over reacting a little?" asked Hermione.

"No," answered Harry, with a tone of finality, trying to calm his nerves. "Now let's pay for our stuff and finish our shopping. We only have two hours before we need to meet everybody to eat. Let's get our school shopping done, so we can have more free time after lunch."

The others agreed, and after they had paid, Hermione dragged them off to restock general potion ingredients, along with some select ingredients, in the case of any emergency potions that they might need to brew. They took around half an hour to buy new robes, parchment, quills, and ink. Harry then went through many novelty shops. With no more worries of having to make what once was a small fortune last through Hogwarts, Harry was now quite frivolous in his spending. He bought numerous robes, both school and casual. He stocked up on tons of (un-dangerous, therefore, un-Weasley) candy, especially chocolate. They had a grand time looking at and purchasing the most lurid and moronic wizard knickknacks.

"Who, honestly, wants a talking inkbottle?" was Hermione's query.

" Who honestly cares, with all the money I have in my pocket, what the hell I buy?" was Harry's query.

Even Hermione had to admit he had a valid point. And Hermione obviously had no objections when it came to a lovely necklace she had been wanting.

After an hour, Hermione finally put her foot down, and they spent the remaining time in Flourish and Blott's, buying their course books. Harry bought a few books on advanced healing, because after learning a few bits of healing over the summer, and actually using them to help Hermione, he had realized how important healing could be in battle. Soon, it was time to head to the Golden Snitch.

"So," asked Harry, "What exactly is this Golden Snitch?"

"You just wait, Harry. It's the newest pub in Diagon Alley, if you could call it that... it's much more high class than the Cauldron. Bit like the Three Broomsticks, 'cept at the Snitch, the food is EXCELLENT. Bit like being back at Hogwarts..." answered Ron.

Ron led them down a road that Harry had never been on. And there, most obviously, was the Golden Snitch, which, was shaped like nothing other than a giant snitch.

They walked in, and it was quite a sight to behold. The walls were covered with Quidditch memorabilia. It appeared that each team in the League had a section of the wall dedicated to them A golden snitch was flying about in the air (Help us! We have a Snitch that's been loose for a month! Nobody can seem to catch it! Can You Catch the Snitch and Win a Prize?) and in the back of the room, there were many wizard games. Such as, 'How good of a keeper are you?' and 'Test your beater skills!' and 'Win Prizes if You Stay on the Bucking Broomstick!' There were small children to kids in their late teens playing the games. It reminded Harry and Hermione, both, of muggle arcades and such, besides the fact that these were clearly magical. A bar tender in Quidditch robes led them to a private room, where everybody else was already waiting. To Ron's delight, it was completely Chudley Cannons themed, while the others all insisted that the Cannon's display was in a private room simply because fewer people would see their pitiful reputations.

Everybody was in high spirits. The food, like Ron said, was excellent, and everybody was talking and laughing merrily. Fred and George had managed to get away from the shop, Bill and his "friend" Fleur Delacour were also there, and Mr. Weasley had got away from the Ministry. All the Weasley's were there minus Percy, who had actually apologized already but was still in redemption, along with Harry, Hermione, Luna, and Neville, and many members of the Order: Remus, Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Dumbledore.

After they had eaten, most of them went out to play the games. To nobody's surprise, Harry was downstairs for only about a second, before he deftly snatched the Snitch out of the air with ease. He ended up winning a free copy of Quidditch Through the Ages, and was even approached by a Quidditch Scout from the Tutshill Tornadoes, to his amusement. He kindly turned down any offers, saying that he had two years of Hogwarts left, and then, hopefully, Auror's College. Fred and George were also beating up a storm in the 'Beaters Cage' and were also approached by a Quidditch Scout from the Wimbourne Wasps, the team that Ludo Bagman had played beater for. Fred and George, who had some hard feeling toward Ludo, also declined. Hermione and Ginny both had a go at Chaser Practice. Ginny enjoyed it. As for Hermione... the way she put it, Quidditch was not her thing. However, acting as a Quidditch Scout for the Gryffindor Team, Hermione highly recommended Ginny as a chaser, who showed better aptitude at it than seeker. Neville and Luna both tried a few of the games, but insisted that they were no good. Ron, of course, dominated the Keeper Zone, winning a miniature trophy for most goals ever saved. Tonks and Remus battled it out in a Quidditch Strategy game, which Tonks won, but to Harry's amusement, Remus didn't really seem to care. In fact, he seemed downright pleased. Kingsley Shacklebolt and Charlie played against Bill and Fleur in the Reverse Pass Challenge. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley even joined in, their favorite being the Woollonggong Shimmy Challenge. They all had turns on the Bucking Broomstick, and it was Harry who managed to stay on the whole time, the first person to ever do so. Fred and George insisted it was fair, because Harry had had a lot of practice. All in all, Harry thought that it was the most fun he'd had in a long time, and was looking forward to coming back soon. While watching none other than Minerva McGonagall whack bludgers through the air was highly amusing, all agreed that the highlight of the night had been watching Albus Dumbledore ride the Bucking Broomstick.

~*~*~*~

After they had eaten, Fred and George headed back to the shop, with Harry and Hermione in tow. The others had begged off, insisting that they had been there enough times already. Harry privately thought that the other couples just wanted some time alone. He had no objections to that, of course, as it left him and Hermione alone, something he enjoyed very much.

As they came to WWW they gasped. Besides Gringotts, it was definitely the most noticeable building in Diagon Alley, though in quite a different way. The building stood two stories tall, and was a bright fire engine red. Lime green letters spelled 'Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes' across the front of the building. The window displays were full to the brim of all the most interesting looking sweets, tricks, and who knows what else. They stepped inside. To say that business was booming would be an understatement--Business was exploding, both literally and not. The store was big, but it was still packed. Strange explosions came from every direction every couple of seconds. There was a small platform where Lee Jordan was demonstrating some of the tricks, and Angelina was swamped at the register. She gestured wildly at Fred and George.

"Well, Harry," said Fred.

"Hermione," said George.

"We are going to have to leave you," continued Fred.

"Feel free to look around, and if we have any advice for you at all..."

"Be wary." Said the twins together.

"Oh, and be sure to get back to the leaky cauldron by three..."

"Or Mum will have kittens..."

"Or maybe a hippogriff..."

"Or maybe a blast-ended Skrewt..."

Harry winced in remembrance of the Skrewts, and gave them a short wave.

Harry and Hermione found it hard to talk amidst all the noise, both out loud and telepathically, so they decided to leave. They didn't actually need anything, since Harry still had a full box of every trick in the store, so they decided to leave.

They took to browsing the shops, arm in arm, until it came time to leave. Once they were back at Grimmauld Place, which, Harry realized with a start, was his, Harry gave a long sigh. It had been quite an eventful day, but not completely horrible.