AN- Okay as far as I can tell not much has been happening in the story yet but I believe that that will start to change in the next few chapters as Harry starts to meet new people. I warn everyone that likes Malfoy, I DON'T like him and there will probably be some Draco Bashing although I am contemplating whether of not to make him evil or just misguided in the end (after year four so it's a long way off). Not much else to say except that I live for reviews and to once again thank everyone that has reviewed so far. :-)
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' When do we leave?'
' As soon as you get all yer stuff together.' replied Hagrid.
Harry turned and was halfway to the stairs before he realized that he had nothing he wanted to take with him. He turned around and smiled sheepishly at Hagrid.
' Just remembered that I don't have anything that I'd want to take with me...'
Hagrid laughed grimly 'Hmmh. I don't suppose that the Dursleys would have given you anything worth keeping anyway. Well then I suppose we should be on our way. I've got some business to take care of for Dumbledore and then we've got to find someplace for you to stay for the rest of the holidays.'
' The rest of the holidays? You mean I won't have to come back here?' said Harry grinning from ear to ear.
' Well not for THIS summer but I expect that Dumbledore will want you to come back here once the first term is over. He had his reasons for leaving you here so there's no point in arguing.' But then Harry wasn't about to argue. Everything that had happened already was too wonderful for Harry to feel bad about returning to the Dursleys at the end of term.
As they left they spared not a thought for what had happened to the Dursleys last night.
Since they needed to get to The Leaky Cauldron in order to get to Diagon Alley where Hagrid said they could buy Harry's school supplies they took the bus. Unfortunately neither Harry nor Hagrid had any experience at taking the muggle bus. Harry because he never had the money and Hagrid because he had never needed muggle transportation, surrounded as he was by magic at Hogwarts. They ended up creating quite a fuss trying to figure out what they had to pay to ride the bus and who to give it to. Finally Hagrid just gave up and handed all the muggle money he had on him to the driver, who gave him an odd look and signalled for him to move to the back of the bus.
After missing their stop a total of three times they finally got off at the right stop and Hagrid pointed to a bleak looking bar with a sign proclaiming "The Leaky Cauldron" in peeling gold letters.
' THAT'S where we need to go to get to Diagon alley.' Hagrid announced.
It didn't look a thing like what Harry had pictured a magical pub to be and he said so to Hagrid.
' Well o' 'course it don't LOOK like anything special! At least from the outside. In fact there's a charm on it so that only wizards or other creatures with magic will notice it. Anyone without magic or new to it won't notice it. In fact I'm surprised that you were able to see it right away!' he beamed proudly.
' Well you did point it out to me.' Harry answered.
' True. But even so....' Hagrid mumbled. ' Standing about out here won't get your school supplies any faster so let's go.'
As they walked through the door into the Leaky Cauldron Harry noticed two things. First he noticed that Hagrid had been right. It might not have looked like much from the outside but on the inside it seemed larger than the small building had looked from the outside and it did indeed look like a true magical pub. The second thing Harry noticed as people began to notice him standing with Hagrid, who seemed to be quite well known and popular here, was the wave of silence that spread outward from where they were standing.
For a full minute the only sounds to be heard in the crowded room were Harry's nervous shuffling and Hagrid's soft chuckle. At least it was soft for someone of Hagrid's size but actually sounded more like thunder to everyone else.
Then all at once the silence broke and people were rushing forward shouting questions over each others voices. Despite the fact that Hagrid had done his best to explain to Harry that everyone in the wizarding world knew and loved him even though he'd never met any of them, Harry was in no way prepared for this kind of reaction. His whole life he had practiced staying out of the way and was certainly never treated as anyone that mattered except by Mr. Osakawa. All of this attention focused on him all at once was simply too much. It was even a little frightening for him and he started to feel crushed and claustrophobic in the press of bodies trying to reach him although Hagrid was doing his best to block their way. The only thing that kept Harry from fainting was closing his eyes and practicing the meditation that he did every time he started training at Mr. Osakawa's Dojo.
' STOP THIS AT ONCE YOU GREAT BLUNDERING FOOLS!!' Hagrid roared over the noise of the crowd. At the sight of this giant of a man in such a rage, and with the full force of that rage directed towards them the crowd fell silent right away and backed away from Harry and Hagrid. They knew Hagrid well enough to know that he wasn't about to hurt any of them but with an enraged, wild looking man a good two or three feet taller than any of them they forgot his gentleness and as a whole they cowered away from him until the fire in his eye was out and his breathing was back to normal.
After he calmed down Hagrid looked around sheepishly and tried to apologize. ' Uh, I'm uh dreadfully sorry 'bout that. Just a bit worried about Harry was all...'
He would have continued like this but was interrupted by a lanky man in brown robes with gold embroidery at the cuffs and collar. 'Don't you worry about. Entirely our fault. I'd say we over-reacted a bit but I'm sure you understand. I mean to say, it is HARRY POTTER after all and... Umm is there something wrong with him?'
At this Hagrid whipped around to face Harry whose eyes were still closed and he was slowly breathing in and out.
' Harry? Harry? Are yeh alright Harry?' Hagrid asked. Gently shaking him, which meant he nearly knocked him off his feet.
When Harry's eyes snapped open they flashed a brilliant green for a moment, almost like they were lit from within until he blinked and seemed to come to his senses.
' Huh? What?' Harry said intelligently. ' Oh. Sorry Hagrid.' he said as his face flushed with embarrassment. ' I guess I got a little overwhelmed with so many people so I just started practicing my meditation to calm down.'
Looking a little worried Hagrid said, ' Maybe I shouldn't have brought you here today. I knew it'd be a little crowded but...'
' Don't worry about it Hagrid. I'm fine. I told you I was just a little overwhelmed for a moment.'
During this little discussion the crowd had been trying to eavesdrop without being too obvious, but now the barkeeper, whom Hagrid had addressed as Tom, came around the bar to speak to them.
' Terribly sorry about the hubbub, Mr. Potter but we're just all so excited to have you back in our world that, well, I suppose we didn't stop to think what it would be like for YOU having grown up in a muggle environment and then to have all of us jumping all over before we've been properly introduced.' Tom said all this in one long excited breath and then waited anxiously for Harry and Hagrid's reactions.
' Well then I suppose it would be rather rude not to say hello but only if you're sure you're alright Harry.' Hargrid answered, turning to Harry.
' Sure. I'm fine, But I can only talk to so many people at once.' Harry replied a bit nervously.
And with that, of their own accord, the other customers wordlessly formed a line in front of Harry with Tom at the front and began to introduce themselves.
It took quite a while for everyone to be introduced and to say hello to Harry, who they saw as their saviour in a way, and in a way it was true. Of course before they were even halfway through, names and faces were becoming a blur in Harry's mind but fortunately no one would be offended if he couldn't remember their names.
By the time Harry and Hagrid had greeted everyone Harry thought, that for sure his arm would fall off if he had to shake one more hand, but on the other hand (AN- no pun intended) meeting so many people that actually seemed to want him around was wonderful for Harry. He had only ever felt this happy at the Dojo with Mr. Osakawa.
' Well as much as I'd love to stay and chat with yeh all me 'n Harry have gotta be going now. School supplies and whatnot yeh know.'
' Well I hate to see you two go but I'm sure Harry's anxious to get ready to go to his parents old school and all so I won't try to keep you but promise you won't be strangers either of you, ya hear?' Tom called after them as they went out the back door of the pub and into a small walled in courtyard.
Harry looked around at the courtyard confused. ' How are we supposed to get to Diagon Alley from here?' he asked.
' One of the most important things you'll learn about magic, Harry, is that nothing is ever as it seems.' and with that Hagrid walked over to a dustbin by the wall and counted three bricks up and two across, winked at Harry then tapped the brick with his wand.
The brick quivered a bit, then rippled and the ripples spread out to form an archway of sorts that then faded away to revel Diagon Alley.
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AN- Alright so there wasn't much happening in this chapter either, but Harry still hasn't met anyone very important to the plot yet except for Hagrid. Anywho in the next chapter we find out what Harry's first impression of Malfoy is. Once again I BEG you all to review. I live for your reviews and any advice you have will be helpful!
H/H FOREVER!
Bye!