𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐝 {𝐇. 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫}

34

"Harry! HARRY!"

Johnny, Ron and Hermione were sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour when they saw Harry walking around.

"Finally!" said Ron, grinning at Harry as he sat down. "We went to the Leaky Cauldron, but they said you'd left, and we went to Flourish and Blotts, and Madam Malkin's, and --"

"I got all my school stuff last week," Harry explained. "And how come you knew I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron?"

"Dad," said Ron simply.

"And Mum got her old job as an Auror back," Johnny explained. "She's already been made Third-In-Command behind Mad-Eye Moody and Rufus Scrimgeour."

"Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?" said Hermione in a very serious voice.

"I didn't mean to," said Harry, while Ron and Johnny roared with laughter. "I just -- lost control."

"It's not funny," said Hermione sharply. "Honestly, I'm amazed Harry wasn't expelled."

"So am I," admitted Harry. "Forget expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested." He looked at Ron and Johnny. "Your parents doesn't know why Fudge let me off, does he?"

"Well, my Mum is your Aunt, isn't she?" Johnny said. "Plus, Fudge wouldn't want to get on my Mother's bad side, and then there's the fact it's you, isn't it? Famous Harry Potter and all that. Anyway, you can ask Mr. Weasley yourself this evening. We're all staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight too! So you can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow! Hermione's there as well! Mum isn't though, she's training the new Aurors."

Hermione nodded, beaming. "I've been staying with Johnny all summer, but I went home three days ago and Mum and Dad dropped me off this morning with all my Hogwarts things."

"Excellent!" said Harry happily. "So, have you got all your new books and stuff?"

"Look at this," said Ron, pulling a long thin box out of a bag and opening it. "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. And we've got all our books --" He pointed at a large bag under his chair. "What about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted three."

"What's all that, Hermione?" Harry asked, pointing at not one but three bulging bags in the chair next to her.

"Well, I'm taking more new subjects than you, aren't I," said Hermione. "Those are my books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, the Study of Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies --"

"What are you doing Muggle Studies for?" said Ron, rolling his eyes at Harry and Johnny. "You're Muggle-born! Your mum and dad are Muggles! You already know all about Muggles!"

"But it'll be fascinating to study them from the wizarding point of view," said Hermione earnestly.

"And it's because she's brilliant," Johnny said, squeezing Hermione's waist.

"Are you planning to eat or sleep at all this year, Hermione?" asked Harry, while Ron sniggered. Hermione and Johnny ignored them.

"I've still got ten Galleons," she said, checking her purse. "It's my birthday in September, and Mum and Dad gave me some money to get myself an early birthday present."

"How about a nice book?" Said Ron innocently.

"How about you piss off, Ronald?" Johnny said back in a fake innocent tone.

"I really want a pet. I mean, Johnny's got Quorra, Harry's got Hedwig and you've got Errol --"

"I haven't," said Ron. "Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers." He pulled his pet rat out of his pocket. "And I want to get him checked over," he added, placing Scabbers on the table in front of them. "I don't think Egypt agreed with him."