The Chambers doing

Chapter 11 - From Alley to Train

Upon arriving at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry and Ginny entered the bar. They headed up to the counter, and where about to ask Tom for somewhere to stay, when he spoke up. "Harry, the minister is waiting to speak to you - private conference room 1. While you're talking with him, I'll get your lady friend here a drink." He pointed at a door to the side of the bar.

Harry reluctantly made his way toward the indicated door, dreading the coming conversation. What was going to happen to him? Opening the door, he spotted Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge sitting at the far end, behind the head desk.

"Ah, Harry. I trust your journey was reasonably comfortable? I dread the Knight Bus, you know - much too bumpy and the driver is crazy, but sometimes it can be useful." Fudge sounded rather jovial.

"What's going to happen to me?" He was cautious - what he thought should be happening didn't match up with how Fudge currently sounded.

Fudge was taken aback. "Why, whatever do you mean, my boy?"

"I did magic outside of school. Am I going to be expelled - will you send me to Azkaban?"

"Oh my dear boy no! We don't send people to Azkaban for misdeeds as trivial as blowing up aunts!" He laughed, a strange wheezing sound filling the room. "And anyway - did you mean to?"

"No - my wand was upstairs, I think it was accidental magic."

"Then that's OK then. We won't expel you for that. We got a few reports in of muggles seeing someone floating in Little Whinging. The Ministry Obliviators went in to wipe memories. No harm done - you'll be glad to know your aunt is fine, the accidental magic reversal squad popped her back to her normal size, so we'll here no more about it. Her memories of the evening were wiped as well."

"Thank you minister."

"Don't mention it my boy, don't mention it! Tom the bartender has instructions to help you in anyway you need so there'll be no need to venture outside Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron - especially with Sirius Black on the loose you know."

With that, Fudge stood and swept out of the room, his cloak billowing behind in a way that reminded dHarry of Snape entering classrooms, but not as dramatically. He also headed back to the main bar, to meet up with Ginny again.

"So young miss, what'll it be?"

Ginny was startled out of her musings, looking towards the door Harry had just headed through, by Tom addressing her from the counter.

"Oh, um..."

"I know, I've got just the ticket - Butterbeer!" He pulled a bottle up to the counter and emptied some into a glass which he then pushed across to her. "Go on, give it a try!"

Ginny pocked up the glass slightly warily, then shrugging, raised it to her lips and took a sip. She was mildly startled to feel herself warm up drastically - for some reason despite it being yet another warm night the bar was very cold - and find it very nice tasting. "How have I never heard of this before?"

"It's not new, but its generally not something a parent would buy a young child. Most teens find out how nice it is in Hogsmeade their third year."

Ginny smile faltered slightly at the sound of Hogsmeade, but she quickly plastered a fake one back on her face. If Tom noticed anything he didn't point it out. She was slightly upset at not being able to attend Hogsmeade that year, even though she shouldn't have until the next anyway, but knew she'd never tell Harry. As much as she wanted to visit the village, she'd much prefer to wait until Harry could come with her, and explore it all for the first time with him.

At this point, Harry came back out, following behind Fudge. The once again jovial man was stopped several times on the way out of the bar by well-wishers wanting to tell him they were backing him in the next Wizarding Election. Harry quickly made his way to the bar where Ginny stood.