Harry Potter and the Wizards of Narhassa

Chapter 3: Diagon Alley Revisited.

Three days later, Harry had said his good-byes to the Dursleys (who all cheerily waved to him and made sure he hurried out the door by kicking him in the rear) and met Jessica and her parents next door. It was time to travel to Diagon Alley and purchase schoolbooks and resupply his Potions kit. With excitement only to be felt when traveling away from home for three seasons, Harry hugged Jessica as he arrived. They had agreed to go together, for Jessica and her family had no idea where they could find it.

And so, after an hour-long car ride, they arrived in London and were dropped off at the Leaky Cauldron.

"Do you have your book list?" asked Jessica's mother with concern.

Jessica nodded. "It's only like two books," she said with a slight shrug. "Not that hard to remember: History of Magic V and Farley's Fabulous Guide to Strange Phenomena."

Harry curiously turned to Jessica. "Only two books for you?" he asked.

With a shrug, Jessica handed him the letter she had received from Professor McGonagall. Indeed, Harry saw only the two mentioned books upon the list. Harry, on the other hand, had five books to buy, one for each of his classes. One was History of Magic V, yet nowhere upon his list did Farley's book appear.

"Have a good semester, pumpkin," said Charles Rennings, as he hugged his daughter closely.

Jessica nodded. "I will, daddy. You two take care!"

She grabbed Harry's arm merrily, and the two proceeded into the Leaky Cauldron. The crowd within the inn seemed to be unbelievably large. While it had always been crowded a few days before the start of the Semester at Hogwarts, it had never been so packed that Harry had a hard time maneuvering through the mass of people. A line formed by the back wall, as people waited to enter the magical alley.

"Wow," echoed Harry as the two thin bodies of him and Jessica squeezed through the crowd. "I wonder what's going on."

Jessica seemed lost in elation and excitement, reminding Harry of the first time Hagrid had taken him through the Leaky Cauldron when he was 11. Only then, it was barely even crowded at all.

"So, hey," asked a boy, looking to another boy in front of Harry. One was short with red hair and green eyes while the other was a tall, with fuzzy black hair and hazel eyes. The blacked haired boy was speaking. Each of the boys were heavily tanned, and wore sleeveless t-shirts and blue jeans, what Harry might expect to find someone wearing at a beach. The hazel-eyed boy had a golden chain around his neck that sparkled electrically in the torchlight of the Leaky Cauldron.

"I hope they have some good CDs here. Ma's given me five hundred bucks to spend in this place. I still don't know how I am going to manage without my computer and my MP3s, though."

The most distinctive feature about him was his American accent.

The red-haired boy smiled coyly. "We'll see, Alex. Maybe they have wizard CD players and stuff... I just can't wait to meet that girl again."

The line finally began to move forward as Harry and Jessica stoically waited behind the two gabbing American wizards. Yet, something about this conversation perked Harry's attention.

"Yeah," said the fuzzy brown haired boy. "You've been talking about her enough. What was her name again?"

The small red-haired boy rubbed the back of his head shyly. "Hermione."

For some strange reason, this did not surprise Harry as much as he thought it would when he heard it. Somehow, he had known right off the bat that the boy in front of him was Sean Camaradi, the one Hermione had mentioned in her letter. He looked very much like a smaller version of Ron, with short, red hair and a shy disposition.

"Hermione Granger?" asked Harry, surprised at his own boldness as the line slowly began to progress forward through the back wall.

The red-haired boy and his comrade turned slowly around, regarding Harry with calculating and cautious expressions.

"And you are?" asked the boy Sean had called Alex. Harry felt a chill run down his spine. That one is a future Slytherin, thought Harry with certainty.

Harry extended his hand. "Harry Potter."

The boy looked at his hand for a moment and finally shook it. "Guardings, Alex Guardings," replied the boy proudly, sticking out his chest. He was indeed a well-built kid that Harry would be afraid to have to confront without his wand. Alex's eyes wearily fell upon Jessica. "And you?"

"Rennings," said Jessica stiffly, puffing out her chest and sucking air through her nose. "Jessica Rennings."

The boy Harry took for as Sean bit his lip, hiding a laugh. Even Harry tried to cover up his smirk as Jessica impersonated Alex.

"Sean Camaradi," said the red-haired boy kindly, shaking Harry's hand. "You must be that friend of Hermione's she did not stop talking about. Aren't you famous, or something?"

Harry snickered slightly, shaking his head. "Not by choice, I assure you."

It was finally their turn to step through the back wall to enter Diagon Alley. Alex and Sean led the way, followed shortly by Harry and Jessica.

The light of day shined down upon them as they stepped out into the alley; Harry smirked as he saw the vacant and mesmerized expressions of each of his companions. Yet, Harry had his own share of surprise, despite this being his fifth visit. The alley resembled a street during rush hour in London, completely packed with people of all sorts. While it was not unheard of to be crowded, the diminutive alley was simply overflowing with people of all sorts. While most wore Wizarding robes, many were dressed like his three companions, in Muggle jeans and shirts. They seemed to travel in insecure little groups, all lost in marvel at the wonder as they read the signs and watched the people.

Alex and Sean both turned to Harry after a moment of gawking.

"Have - have you been here before?" asked Sean timidly.

Harry nodded.

"First, you guys need money," said Harry, sounding much like Hagrid four years ago. "You guys have to exchange your American money into Galleons at Gringotts, the Goblin Bank."

Alex, Sean and Jessica arched brow in his direction.

"Goblin bank?" asked Alex, with a drawl that would have made him fast friends with Draco Malfoy. "What's next? Do I have to get a manicure at the Troll cave?"

Sean snickered while Harry wrinkled his face a bit. No, I am definitely not going to like this one, decided Harry with a bit of disdain on his face.

"Come on," said Harry, beckoning them to follow.

After their trip to Gringotts, each of the companions was armed properly with purchasing power in Diagon Alley. The next step was to get measured for their robes. Harry decided that he had outgrown his old school robes and stood in line with the rest of his companions. They made their way through the horde of people and finally arrived at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

"Woah, woah, woah," said Alex, his face alight with a flustered anger. "No one ever said anything about me having to DRESS like THAT."

Sean wore an intrigued expression on his face, while Jessica beat her eyes.

"I think it'll be fun!" she exclaimed as they took their place in line.

Harry noticed the boy Alex had pointed to walking out of the store. He was dressed in Hogwarts black attire and wore a Hufflepuff badge proudly upon his chest.

"Oh hey, Justin," said Harry, waving to him.

Justin Finch-Fletchley looked up at hearing his name called. "Alright there, Harry," he replied calmly. The fair-skinned boy with golden tresses made his way through the crowd over to Harry. "Can you get over all these Muggles? It's like an invasion!"

Alex eyed Justin coolly. "Yeah, we are just kicking ass and taking names now, aren't we?"

Justin looked a bit intimidated by Alex's brawn as he swallowed a lump in his throat.

"I meant no offense, I assure you," stammered the fifth year Hufflepuff boy. "Just observing..."

Harry noticed Justin's shiny badge above his house patch and quickly found a way to change the subject. "Oh, I didn't know they made you Hufflepuff Prefect."

"Oh," said Justin, taking his eyes off Alex and looking back to Sean. "Yeah, they announced it last week. Do you know who will be the Gryffindor's fifth year prefect?

Harry shook his head. "I think Seamus Finnegan got the job. He's the most capable and has yet to loose a single point for the House."

"Ah," said Justin, "Well, I have to go get my books. I'll see you at Hogwarts."

Jessica had remained silent the entire time, yet now looked to Harry curiously as Justin pushed his way through the crowd. "A friend of yours?"

Harry shrugged, "Oh, just someone I know."

"Ah," replied Jessica with a curt nod as they progressed further. After about a half-hour of waiting, they were finally measured. Alex seemed not up for cooperating at all, and refused to wear his robe outside. Instead, he shamefully had thrown it into a bag. Sean and Jessica both seemed to think it was outrageously cool, as they strutted around proudly in their new, Hogwarts robes. Harry watched them with a bit of a smile. There was some sort of calm naiveté about Sean that reminded him so much of himself. Not outspoken, yet very kind, he could see why Hermione liked him.

"Time to get our books too," said Harry. "Come on, I'll show you guys."

They had not even crossed the street, when a voice Harry recognized all too well echoed in his head.

"Well, well, well, look who wastes no time coddling every single Muggle who finds their jolly way into the Wizarding World?" cooed the sly and drawling voice of Draco Malfoy. Harry and his gang turned around to see the pallid boy with his arms crossed over his chest. The trollish form of Goyle and the apelike shape of Crabbe flanked him, grumbling and chortling unintelligibly. The two lackeys had a not-so cunning way of keeping people away, as people crushed into each other in an attempt to stay at arms reach.

Harry eyed Draco coolly. "Don't you remember what happened the last time you spoke to me, Malfoy?"

Draco's thinly stretched cheeks colored a mild shade of pink for a moment, but quickly resumed their usual indifference. It was clear that the curses Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George had hit them with on the train were still doing their job, clawing relentlessly at Malfoy's pride and ego.

"Well," snorted Malfoy, "this time, all you have is three pathetic Muggles at your back. I wouldn't be feeling as confident if I were you."

Alex strode ahead of Harry, glaring down at Malfoy. Apparently, he was not used to being spoken down to. "And just who do you think you are, girlfriend?"

Goyle and Crabbe exchanged confused looks and scratched their heads, while Draco locked eyes with Alex fearlessly.

"Muggle," he said, with an icy dagger in his words. "I suggest you get out of my face before something bad happens to you."

Harry sighed and walked over to Alex, putting a restraining hand to his shoulder. "Forget him, ok? He just wants attention."

Malfoy smirked at Harry, while Sean and Jessica hovered in back nervously. "That's right, Potter. Protect your Muggle from me. He'll need it."

With an explosion of motion, Harry's hand was shrugged off Alex's shoulder. The large boy shoved Malfoy with a very surprising amount of force, sending him flying back five feet and skidding across the ground.

"You want a piece of me, punk?" snapped Alex.

A crowd quickly encircled the seven people, watching the fight with a good deal of interest.

Goyle and Crabbe quickly made an awkward lunge for Alex, kicking his legs out from under him and pushing him to the ground. Malfoy watched with pink-faced temper as his cronies began to punch Alex on the ground.

"Stop!" shouted Sean, rushing forward. His pathetically small form could do nothing, however, as he bounced off Goyle like he were running into a brick wall.

Malfoy slowly rose to his feet while Harry watched in stunned silence. "Teach that Muggle a thing or two about respect," he said, dusting off his expensive, black robes.

Without preamble, a familiar face appeared from the crowd, his wand in his hands. With three large gaits from the boy's long legs and a thrust, the wand was extended and held to Malfoy's temple.

"Change of plans," said a very welcome person in Harry's eyes, as Ron Weasley locked his azure blue eyes upon Draco with utter hatred. "Call off your goons, or I'll try out a new hex I've been working on... very unpredictable..."

Crabbe and Goyle stopped their relentless attack upon Alex, who had a bloody lip by now. Malfoy rolled his eyes over to Ron, a scowl of deep loathing on his face. "Wherever Potter is, there is always his little sidekick Weasley. It never fails, does it?"

"Nope," replied Ron curtly, prodding Malfoy's temple harshly, causing him to wince. "It's called having a friend. You should try it sometime, Malfoy... though I don't think you'd have much to offer anyone besides money."

Malfoy straightened his robes indignantly. "Crabbe, Goyle," he said coldly, "Play time with the Muggle is over."

Harry watched Malfoy slowly back away from Ron, who continued to hold his wand at him unfailingly. Crabbe and Goyle got up off of Alex, who looked as murderous as Voldemort had at the end of the third task in the Triwizard Tournament.

"Watch your backs," said Malfoy angrily, as Goyle and Crabbe trudged back to his side. "There will be some interesting changes up at Hogwarts this year."

Ron took another step toward Malfoy, his wand still held out at arm's length. "There will also be some interesting changes in your face if you say another word."

His brain overtaking his pride, Malfoy turned about and faded through the encircling crowd, Crabbe and Goyle in tow behind him.

"Who the heck was that turd?" asked Jessica as the crowd returned to their normal activities.

Harry sighed. "Draco Malfoy. If the yearbook had a category, "Most likely to destroy the world if given the chance," he would win unanimously."

"Yeah," snorted Ron, taking up one of Harry's flanks. "And if it also had "Most likely to die a virgin," he'd be in close competition with Neville Longbottom."

Sean laughed while a smirk crossed Harry's face. With true feeling, Harry held out his hand to Ron.

Ron grasped it with brotherly affection. "Alright then, Harry?"

"Alright then," replied Harry, releasing Ron's hand. Harry quickly introduced Ron to Sean, Alex and Jessica. "We were just going to get our books. Care to join us?"

Ron nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I still haven't gotten mine yet."

With that, the five teenagers made slow, but steady, progress to the bookstore.