Harry's Pen Friend

Harry´s Pen Friend
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own nothing; Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. I am only borrowing them for a while

Chapter Two - A Change of Plans

"Welcome Harry dear," said Molly Weasley, hugging him tightly. "It´s wonderful to see you again. You´ll be staying in Ron´s room, if that´s okay with you."
Harry looked around the cluttered ramshackle house and smiled with contentment.
"That will be just fine," he said.
"Ron, your letter from Hogwarts arrived. Why don´t you open it up so we can see what you´ll need for the new term?"
Ron took the letter and broke the seal. He pulled out two pieces of parchment. The first one listed the books that he would need for the fall term, and a reminder that the term started September first. He unfolded the other piece of parchment and began to read.

Dear Mr. Weasley,

As you may or may not know, Mr. Potter has elected
to take Muggle Studies during his sixth hour. To save
time, we have already added you to that class as well. This way, there will be no need for you to come up with a creative reason why you need to take the class with Mr. Potter. Please make
sure you purchase the necessary books before the start of the term.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

Ron passed the letter to his mother and looked at Harry, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Why are we taking Muggle Studies?" he asked Harry.
"We aren´t, or rather, you aren´t. I received a letter yesterday from Professor McGonagall. My potions grades are affecting my average, and she suggested I take another class this year to help raise my average. I had a choice between Muggle Studies, or an Independent Study in Divinations with Trelawney as the advisor." Ron made a face at that pronouncement.
"Exactly," continued Harry. "There was no way I could stomach an extra class with Trelawney predicting my death and destruction with every other breath."
"So you took Muggle Studies, but why would she put mein it?"
"Probably because she knew you´d try and get in once you found out," Mrs. Weasley chimed in.

"Well, I for one think it´s a capital idea," said Mr. Weasley. "I always wanted one of you to take Muggle Studies. It´s a fine subject, and you should learn a lot. It will give you a lot of insight into my line of work."
"Well, I just don´t want you to develop an obsession for all things muggle like someone else I know," said Molly, looking at her husband affectionately.
"Don´t worry Mum," said Ron. "I´m quite sure that won´t happen. My goal in life is to fly for the Chudley Cannons, not master Muggle living.
Molly laughed and shooed the boys out of the kitchen. The ran up the stairs to Ron´s room and began to plan the rest of their summer.

Several weeks past, and they had a tremendous effect on Harry physically. He shot up several inches, and thanks to Mrs. Weasleys cooking; he had also put on several pounds. Mrs. Weasley did her best to alter his muggle clothing, but with little success. For years, Harry had been forced to wear Dudley´s castoffs, and no matter what she did, there was no way she could make them presentable.
"I´m sorry dear," Mrs. Weasley sighed. "This is hopeless. You are going to have to get some proper clothing."
"I´ve got an idea," said Harry, thinking hard. "What if Ron and I go spend a few days with Hermione. She´s invited both of us several times. If we stay with her, I can do some shopping for muggle clothing in London, and Ron can see some of the muggle world before classes start, and we could meet you at Diagon Alley to finish our school shopping."
"I don´t know Harry," said Mrs. Weasley thoughtfully. "Professor Dumbledore said it would be okay for you to come to us, but he didn´t say anything about going to London."
"Can we owl him and ask?" asked Harry hopefully. "The worst he can say is no."
"I suppose so, but do me a favor, don´t say anything to Ron until we get an answer from Professor Dumbledore."

Harry dashed off a letter to Professor Dumbledore, and attached it to Hedwig´s leg and sent the bird off to Hogwarts. The next morning, Hedwig was back with an answer strapped to her leg the next morning. Harry removed the message from the owl´s leg and fed her a rasher of bacon from his plate.
"Who´d you get a letter from, Harry?" asked Ron, through a mouthful of toast.
"I don´t know yet," said Harry, as he opened the parchment.

Dear Harry,

I think your idea to observe Muggle London sounds
ideal. If Miss Granger´s family is willing to allow
you to stay overnight, I think it would be acceptable
for you and Mr. Weasley to visit her, and travel to Diagon
Alley the next day.

Sincerely

Albus Dumbledore

Harry smiled, and passed the note to Mrs. Weasley, who read it quickly and smiled.
"Splendid. Why don´t the two of you get everything packed, and we´ll bring it to Diagon Alley with us.
"Does somebody want to tell me what you are talking about?" asked Ron.
"I need to get some things in London," said Harry. "Muggle London, not Diagon Alley. I owled Professor Dumbledore and he said it would be okay for us to go spend the day in London before we meet your family in Diagon Alley."
"Blimey, that´s great news!" shouted Ron. "But what about money? Wizard money won´t work in London."

"That´s simple enough," said Mrs. Weasley. You´re going to use Floo Powder to take you to the Leaky Cauldron. Nip in to Gringotts and exchange some of our money for muggle money. Now go pack your trunks ready for school."
The two boys ran up the stairs chattering away, and making plans for their adventures in London. They made short work of packing their belongings, leaving a change of clothing for their adventure in London. Bounding down the stairs they rushed into the kitchen and wolfed down the food that Mrs. Weasley set before them.
"A letter came from Hermione while you two were packing. She´ll meet you tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. sharp at the Leaky Cauldron," said Mrs. Weasley as she put another platter of sandwiches on the table. After they ate lunch, Harry and Ron de-gnomed, and weeded the garden. They went down to the river for a quick swim, and tried to plan their London adventure.

"We can´t leave it up to Hermione," said Ron. "She´ll probably have us spending all day at the library or worse, at some museum."
Harry grabbed his towel off of a nearby bush and the two began to walk back towards the house.
"Yeah, museums are all well and good," agreed Harry. "But it´s not how I want to spend my summer holidays."
"Psst, Ron, Harry!" a disembodied voice whispered. "Up here!"
The two boys looked up, and saw the faces of Fred and George peering down from a leafy oak tree.
"What are you two doing up there?" asked Ron.
"We have to talk to you," began Fred.
"And we don´t want Mum finding out," finished George.
"What do you want?" said Ron, warily.
"We just want you to pick up some stuff for us at Diagon Alley," said George. "Mum´s watching us like hawks. We need some stuff supplies for Weasleys´ Wizard Wheezies. If we give you a list, will you fill it for us? We´ll pay you."
"In advance," added Fred.

Ron thought for exactly half a second before accepting with amazing speed. He took the list George offered, as well as two small pouches filled with gold crescents.
"Two bags?" questioned Ron. "You must be planning on buying out Diagon Alley."
"The smaller one is yours, for doing this, as well as any change you may have left from buying our supplies."
"Where´d you get all the money?" asked Ron suspiciously
"We turned quite a nice profit last year," said Fred. "And if we want business to grow, we have to increase our inventory."
Ron nodded, and wrapped the two pouches in his towel, and continued on to the house. Harry shot him a conspiratorial grin, his green eyes sparkling mischievously.
"How do you plan on hiding that from your Mum?" he asked.
"Simple," said Ron. "I´m giving it to you. Mum never suspects you of anything."
Both boys laughed as the made their way through the front yard, and into the house.