Harry Potter and the Year After

Chapter Ten: Diagon Alley

Chapter 10: Diagon Alley

The next day, Ron, Hermione and Harry had not spoken about Ron's drunken behavior. Ron had woken slightly confused and entirely hung over. Hermione told him that they'd kissed, which he seemed to be relieved by: he had no recollection of anything that had happened.

They spent the day cleaning up the house. None of them spoke much as Ron was hung over and Harry and Hermione could barely look at one another. Every time he even so much as glanced at her, Harry remembered kissing her.

That evening, they Apparated to Diagon Alley. Hermione announced that she wanted to try to find a Pensieve so Harry suggested they try Potage's Cauldron Shop first. When they had no luck there, the shop owners said to try asking Ollivander to make one.

Harry was mildly surprised that Ollivander had opened his shop back up after his lengthy stay in the Malfoy's dungeon.

When the three came in, it was quiet except for the little tinkling sound of a bell and Harry immediately was transported in his mind back to when he'd first entered this shop. The place appeared just as it always had... except the cubbies that usually held all the wands were mostly empty.

Ollivander came out of the backroom and gazed at the three.

"Harry Potter," Ollivander said, smiling slightly, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"What happened to all the wands?" Ron asked.

"When the windows were blown in, the wands were banished to different hidden places all over the world. I'd done the enchantment on the shop years ago when the first battle had been fought. Unfortunately, many of the wands still have not found their way back. It may take years for the reversal spell to work on some of them."

Ron looked like he was sorry that he asked.

"Mr. Ollivander," Hermione said, stepping up to the front display area which Ollivander stood behind. "I was wondering if you could help me. I am looking to buy a Pensieve."

"Ah," Mr. Ollivander said, his eyes going wide for a second. "That's some pretty complicated magic. Unfortunately, they are not something that may be cheaply bought."

"How much does a Pensieve normally go for?" Harry asked.

"Twenty thousand galleons," Mr.Ollivander said, raising an eyebrow, "It takes months, sometimes years, to recover after making one and I'm still quite frail... but I have my own debt to be paid to you, so I am willing to drop it to a thousand galleons. That will cover the price of the stone required."

"I wouldn't want you to harm yourself, Mr. Ollivander," Hermione said glancing to Harry. "Would you be willing to teach me to make one instead?"

"I feel certain I would survive the creation of a Pensieve, or I would refrain from offering," Ollivander said, "but yes, I will teach you. I feel certain that you will make a worthy student." Harry looked at Hermione and saw that she seemed worried. But then Harry realized what her face meant. Yes, she was worried for Ollivander, but also, she didn't have a thousand galleons to spend.

"I'd like to pay for the stone," Harry said quietly to her. Hermione's gaze snapped to Harry.

"Oh, of course not, Harry. I couldn't possibly let you do that. It's far too much money to spend on a whim for me."

"I insist," he said, smiling. "I can't help but feel like it's my fault that you need it at all." She half-smiled back.

"Fine," she said simply, "Thanks, Harry."

After a trip to Gringott's (Mrs. Weasley had gotten Harry's key off of Hagrid for him) Harry withdrew twelve-hundred galleons. While in the vault, he found a small stack of papers there. Rather than read them by wand light, He took the whole stack of papers with him. The goblin with him had even provided a folder for them.

After Ollivander was paid for the Pensieve's stone, Hermione went to buy Hogwarts student's robes while Ron and Harry went to Eeylops Owl Emporium. Even though Harry wasn't planning on going back to Hogwarts anymore, he decided he should still get another owl.

"How about another snowy owl?" Ron suggested. Harry didn't want to try to replace Hedwig, but he also didn't want to tell Ron this.

"Snowy owls attract too much attention," he told him instead. He continued walking through the Owl Emporium until his gaze landed on an auburn and gray owl. It was stocky and small, but not nearly as small as Pigwidgeon. Harry met the bird's eyes and then wordlessly held his arm out to him.

The owl flew to Harry's arm. This owl would never be Hedwig, but this owl was pretty cool too.

"Looks like he likes you," said a sales girl who was walking toward Harry, but then when Harry turned to look at her she stopped dead. "Oh Merlin, you're Harry Potter."

"No, just a look-alike," Ron said flatly.

"Oh," she said, glancing between Harry and Ron. Harry gritted his teeth to keep from laughing. "Oh, you're having me on!" She laughed. "Can I have your autograph?"

"Uh," Harry said, feeling the smile fall off of his face. "Alright." He still had an owl perched on his arm. The owl seemed to realize that he was over-staying his welcome though and flew back to his previous perch up on the wall.

Harry gave her an autograph in the back of a book she'd been reading. Though she tried to give Harry the owl for free, he'd insisted on paying.

"Oh, what'd you name her?" Hermione asked. Rather than try to find her, as they knew she had a lot of school shopping to do, Ron and Harry went to (what used to be Florean Fortescue's and now was) Margaret Moulder's.

Hermione sat down in an empty chair next to the caged owl.

"Him," Harry corrected, "I haven't thought of a name yet."

"How about Bilius, after me?" Ron suggested.

"That's a thought," Harry said. Hermione smirked at Ron. "Yeah alright. Bilius, after you. But don't go trying to snog me again."

"What?" Ron asked after swallowing his bite of ice cream.

"Oh it was just a kiss on the cheek," Hermione said, "When you were drunk."

"I don't remember that. You've got to be joking."

When Harry said nothing, Hermione started laughing.

"Sorry," Ron said without looking at Harry.

"It's alright," Harry said, "Too much firewhiskey can make anyone do strange things."

"Mm," Ron said, shrugging.