A few days later, it was Hari’s 12th birthday. Minerva made him a birthday cake shaped like Hedwig and made a whopping stack of pancakes for breakfast. Afterwards, guests started arriving one by one carrying gifts and birthday wishes. Remus was the first to arrive, followed shortly by Hagrid and Kingsley and Neville and his grandmother. Hari wished Neville a late birthday as well when he arrived and the two of them wandered away from the adults to a blanket spread out under Hari’s favourite tree, both carrying plates piled with food.

“Are any others our age coming?” Neville asked, settling down on the blanket and poking experimentally at his food.

Hari leaned against the tree with his plate balanced on his lap and nodded. “Yeah, I think so. Hermione has been staying with Ron, so I think they’re coming soon with the other Weasleys,” he replied, taking a large bite of his food. “I’ve invited Draco as well, obviously, but seeing as his father has been insufferable for weeks, I’m not sure if he’ll be able to make it.” Hari wiped crumbs off his hands and reached for his cup of lemonade, taking a sip.

“Well, either way I guess it’ll be good to see Ron and Hermione, at least,” Neville replied. As if summoned by his words, there was a commotion inside the house and then a troupe of gingers appeared out of the living room. “Oh, they’re here!” Neville chimed and they both ditched their plates on the blanket as they jogged over to the house to meet their friends.

Ron appeared to have grown another few inches since the last time Hari saw him, stepping out of the house with his own plate of food. Hermione appeared behind him and beamed when she saw Hari and Neville approaching. “Hari! Neville!” She brushed past Ron to hurry over and pull them both into a hug. “Oh, it’s so wonderful to see you both! Happy Birthday!” she exclaimed as she pulled out of the hug.

“Hey, Hermione. How’s your holiday been?” Hari asked her.

“Oh, it’s going so well. I already finished my homework, so I’ve been getting some good reading done instead.”

Hari was saved from her rant as Ron came over, followed by George and Fred. “Hiya, Harry!” The twins said together, patting him on the back and going over to get some more food. Ron grinned and stopped next to the other three.

“Happy Birthday, guys.” He smiled crookedly.

At that second there was a diversion in the form of a small red haired girl coming out of the house and promptly hurrying back inside, almost knocking Remus over while he was getting out of his seat. Ron rolled his eyes, looking over his shoulder at the doors to the house.

“Ginny,” said Ron in a low tone to the other four, smirking. “She hardly shuts up about you, Hari. I think you might have a new admirer at school this year.”

“Oh, is Ginny starting at Hogwarts this year?”

“Yup. We’re going to Diagon Alley to get her stuff as soon as the letters arrive,” Ron replied, “Any idea when that’ll be?” Everyone turned to Hari this time, clearly expecting him to know the answer. In truth, Harry had no idea when the letters were being sent out with their book lists, but figured it would be soon.

Hari shook his head. “No idea, but I suspect it’ll be soon.” He started walking over to the blanket once again as more people started crowding nearby. “We should all try to meet up in Diagon Alley again to shop together, though.” He sat back against the tree with his plate as Neville took his last place, Hermione sat next to him and Ron stretched out beside Hari, leaning back on his hand. A minute later, Fred and George joined them with their own plates of food, telling them Ginny was hiding out with the adults and Percy was pretending to be important by chatting up Minerva.

“By the way, Hari. What was this I heard about you getting an official warning?” Ron asked, lifting up his plate to shovel food in his mouth. Hermione rolled her eyes at his movement but turned to Hari with curiosity at his question.

Hari told them the whole story about Dobby, his warning and the fiasco of the dropped cake all over the floor, ending with Minerva’s rescue. There was a long silence after he finished, filled only by the distant sound of adults talking next to the house.

“McGonagall’s right, Hari. I think it sounds like someone’s idea of a joke,” Hermione piped up finally, breaking their silence.

“Definitely dodgy,” George agreed, trying not to drop food on the ground as he took a bite. “And he didn’t even tell you who or what was supposed to be going on at Hogwarts?”

Hari shook his head. “Not a thing. That’s why Minerva thinks it’s probably just someone trying to keep me from going to Hogwarts for no reason,” Hari replied. “I mean, Hogwarts is one of the safest places on Earth, so why would staying away do me any good?”

“You have a good point there,” remarked Fred, stealing a pretzel off Ron’s plate and tossing it in his mouth. He ignored the following glare. “With Dumbledore at the school still, I reckon nowhere’s safer than Hogwarts.”

“Who do you think would have sent their house elf to try to keep you from going to Hogwarts, Hari?” Neville asked.

“I dunno, really. I mean, house elves are usually only owned by rich, pure blood families,” he replied. “I mean, who would fit that criteria and want to keep me out of Hogwarts?”

“Do we know if Zacharias Smith is a pureblood? He’d certainly like to see you out of Hogwarts, I reckon,” Ron suggested through a mouthful of food.

Hari had not considered Smith, but now that Ron pointed it out, he had a point. Of all the people Hari had problems with at school, Smith was one of the main culprits in school. His blood still boiled at how he had reduced Draco to shutting himself in a toilet for a day after his comments last year. Hari could just about imagine Smith strutting around his house, shouting orders to his house elves and sending them to keep Hari from going to school.

Before they could continue discussing whether or not it was Smith that sent Dobby to the Dursleys’, Minerva called them over to start cutting the cake and singing Happy Birthday to Hari and Neville, whose birthday was the day before Hari’s. Still muttering about their dislike of Smith, they wandered over to the table set out. As usual, Hari and Neville were dragged to the front while the rest of the guests sang, though thankfully no speeches were made this year. One of the twins set off confetti into the air as the song finished and they started cutting into the cake.

As he thanked the people giving Hari birthday wishes, taking the first bites of cake, Hari finally got a proper glimpse of the youngest Weasley, Ginny. She was a small girl, perched on a chair clutching a plate of cake with long ginger hair like the rest of her older brothers and a sort of mischievous glint in her eyes. As she caught Hari looking her way, her cheeks blushed violently and she ducked away, bringing her cake with her. Hari huffed a small laugh and turned back to the rest of the party.

He had yet another perfect birthday, though he was a little upset about Draco not being able to make it.

¤¤¤

A few days later during breakfast, Minerva dropped the usual Hogwarts letter next to his plate, telling him the book list was out. Hari thanked her and used the bottom end of his knife to tear the letter open, pulling it out to skim the book list: what appeared to be the entire set of Gilderoy Lockhart’s books, as well as the next Standard Book of Spells book. Minerva, who had been about to take her empty plate to the sink to wash, glanced over Hari’s shoulder and skimmed over the list of books.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” she groaned. “Of course Lockhart has his entire bibliography on the book list this year. Honestly, the lengths that man will go to just for more money…” Hari thought he heard her muttering about ‘vanity’ under her breath as she walked over to the sink, rolling her eyes. Hari smirked, tossing the paper onto the side of his plate and getting up to help her wash.

“Can we try to meet up in Diagon Alley with the others so we can shop together?” he asked, handing her his plate and cutlery. She waved her wand and a sponge began washing up the dishes for her, turning to lean her back against the counter.

“I don’t see why not. Write to Ron and Draco to see what they’re thinking and we can make our way there in the next few days.”

Hari got back both Draco’s and Ron’s replies later the next day. They all agreed to meet in Diagon Alley the following Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, shortly after breakfast, Hari and Minerva were standing in the living room, preparing to head to London through the Floo network. Minerva was holding onto a small pot of powder and checking she had her list of items to buy while Hari fastened the buttons on his jacket. Apparently deciding she had everything she needed, Minerva handed Hari the pot of Floo powder.

“We’re going directly to Diagon Alley, remember,” she said as she stepped aside to allow Hari to get nearer to the fireplace.

He nodded. “I know,” he replied. He threw a handful of powder into the fire, ready to state the location, but then his foot caught on his shoelace and he breathed in half the powder. He just managed to choke out, “D-Diagon Alley.” And then he felt the familiar sensation of being transported through the Floo system. He saw an almost endless amount of living rooms zipping past him before he next found himself being unceremoniously spat out onto a cool hardwood floor. He winced as his face hit the ground and he heard the bridge of his glasses snap.

Dizzy and bruised, Hari stumbled to his feet, brushing soot and dust off his clothes and looking around the unfamiliar surroundings. He was in some kind of very dark shop, filled with the creepiest items on display Hari had ever seen. There was a cushion with a withered old hand and a bloody notebook and some kind of glass eyes. There was a necklace around the neck of a black bust, labelled as being cursed, which he quickly avoided. Outside the windows looking out onto the street, Hari saw an unfamiliar stone wall and dark lanterns. He was definitely not anywhere he had ever been in Diagon Alley.

Hari was just about to move towards the door to leave when two people appeared on the other side of the glass. Hari panicked and ducked inside a black cabinet, out of sight of the familiar faces that just entered the shop. Through the gap, Hari could see the entrance of Draco and Lucius Malfoy.

“Touch nothing, Draco,” Lucius snapped at Draco, who had been about to reach towards one of the items on display. He shrunk away from his father’s retort, pouting.

“Mr. Malfoy. What a pleasure to see you again,” said the stooping and greasy haired man behind the counter, smiling falsely at Lucius walking over to him. “I see you have your young son, too. How charming.” He eyed Draco wandering the shelves, arms crossed and eyes narrowing at the things he scrutinised closely on display. “What can I interest you in today, Mr. Malfoy?”

Lucius sneered at the shop owner. “I am not buying today, Mr. Borgin, but selling,” said Mr. Malfoy, producing something out of the inside of his coat and putting it on the table in front of Mr. Borgin.

As Draco neared Hari, clearly unaware of his presence, Hari held his breath. He did not want to startle Draco, but hoped to make him notice him. He could hear the two men discussing ‘embarrassing’ items Lucius wanted to avoid the Ministry catching him with. He had no idea they were raiding Draco’s house.

Draco was right next to Hari’s hiding spot now, inspecting the withered hand from earlier with furrowed brows.

“Draco,” Hari whispered, making the blond falter, eyes wide, turning towards the voice. His startled expression turned into a grin as he saw Hari’s green eye peering out through the cabinet.

“What are you doing in a cupboard?” he whispered, glancing over his shoulder at the men talking.

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later,” Hari whispered back, closing the door again as Lucius approached Draco again.

Mr. Borgin’s voice said, “Ah, the Hand of Glory! Insert a candle and only the holder will be able to see the light. Perfect for thiefs and plunderers!”

“I hope my son will amount to more than a thief or a plunderer, Borgin,” said Mr. Malfoy coldly. “Although, at the rate he’s going, I would certainly say he may be going in that direction. Befriending Mudbloods and half-breeds, not even able to beat them in every exam.” Hari scowled at the hurt look on Draco’s face, which flushed slightly pink.

“Don’t call them that!” Draco snapped, scowling at his father.

Lucius Malfoy glared at Draco. “Enough back talk from you!” he snarled, turning back to Mr. Borgin. “If we may return to my list? I am in something of a hurry, Borgin.”

They returned to their haggling and Hari continued to watch Draco pout at his father’s back, wishing he could reveal himself to go comfort him. Before Hari could begin to do so, however, Lucius was pulling Draco out of the store behind him, muttering angrily to him as the door shut behind them with a bang. Once Mr. Borgin disappeared into the back once again, looking irritable, Hari quickly hurried out of the shop once again.

Clutching his broken glasses to his face, Hari peered around the dingy alleyway he found himself in suddenly. He didn’t recognise any of the shops around him, but a sign on the end of the alley told him he was in Knockturn Alley. Hari knew that was a street near Diagon Alley, but as he had never been allowed near there, he had no idea how to get back to Diagon Alley. He started in the direction he saw Draco and his father walk to before he heard a voice behind him calling his name.

“HARRY! What d’you think you’re doin’ down here?” Hagrid appeared, pulling Hari away from a witch holding a tray of fingernails and leading him out of the alley.

“Hagrid! I messed up the Floo powder,” he replied, letting Hagrid drag him away from the unfamiliar street. “What were you doing in Knockturn Alley?”

“I was buying Flesh Eating Slug Repellent. They’re ruinin’ the cabbages at school.” They turned a bend and Hari was glad to finally recognise the familiar, cheerful street of Diagon Alley. Hari recognised Minerva standing near the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, standing with the Weasleys and Hermione.

They made their way over to the rest of the group. “Oh, thank goodness. I was hoping you hadn’t gone too many grates away,” Minerva said as they reached her side, wiping more soot off his denim jacket. “What’ve you done to your glasses?” She quickly pointed her wand at his nose and fixed his glasses.

“I found him wandering around Knockturn Alley, Minerva. Thought I’d best bring him back to the right street,” Hagrid replied, patting Hari on the shoulder so his knees almost buckled.

Ron’s eyes widened, as did Fred and George’s. “You went to Knockturn Alley? Lucky! Mum never lets us,” Ron exclaimed.

“I should ruddy well hope not!” growled Hagrid, looking unimpressed. He turned to the rest of the group. “Well, I’ve gotta be off. Want to get this repellent back to Hogwarts before the term starts. I’ll see you all soon!” Hagrid waved to everyone as he shuffled past, going into the Leaky Cauldron.

“D’you think Draco will be here soon?” Ron asked as soon as Hagrid was gone.

“Oh, yeah. I forgot! I just saw them at Borgin and Burkes a few minutes ago!” Hari told them, “His father wanted to sell some things to the shop that he didn’t want in the house.”

“So he’s worried,” said Mr. Weasley with a sort of grim satisfaction. “I’d love to get something on him…”

Mrs. Weasley hit him with her handbag and said sharply, “Arthur! His son is friends with your children!” She shook her head, sharing a knowing look with Minerva. “Don’t go biting off more than you can chew, Arthur.”

After going to Gringotts to collect some money from all of their vaults, the group started to split off to do their own shopping. George and Fred met up with their friend Lee Jordan. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took Ginny to a secondhand robe store and Minerva excused herself to Twilfitt and Tattings for a new robe. Hari, Ron and Hermione strolled down the winding street together after agreeing to meet the rest of the group in Flourish and Blotts in an hour.

Hari’s bag of newly collected pocketmoney jingled merrily inside his jacket as they wandered through the streets of Diagon Alley. It was much more crowded than usual and they had to stand very close together to avoid getting lost as people dotted in and out of the stores on either side of the cobblestone street. Hari had always loved visiting Diagon Alley, feeling it was the very epitome of magic life. There were shops selling tottering piles of cauldrons and shops full of robes and shops of odd trinkets that made noises and moved of their own accord. There were several stalls selling magical brands of food and drinks, people setting off mini fireworks and blowing bubbles and showing off brooms.

The trio made their way over to Florean Fortescue’s where Hari bought them all dripping ice cream cones and fudge, which they ate as they walked the streets. They wandered through different shops, running into Fred, Lee and George in Gambol and Japes Joke Shop deliberating over pranks and found Percy in a junk shop reading a book about successful prefects. Hermione dragged Hari and Ron out of the Quality Quidditch Supplies store after Ron got distracted by Chudley Cannons robes, pulling them into a shop to buy quills and ink.

An hour later, they made their way to Flourish and Blotts where they found out Gilderoy Lockhart would be signing books.

“Well, that explains why it’s so crowded today,” Ron muttered to Hari as they pushed their way inside the shop. They found Minerva and the rest of the Weasleys near the front of a large queue of people and skirted through the crowd towards them.

“I’ve already got your books for you, Hari,” Minerva said, holding up his stack of books. “But the queue is absolutely massive because of Lockhart today.”

Mrs. Weasley was goggling the front on the tips of her toes, trying to see to the front where a small table had been set up with books covered in Gilderoy Lockhart’s face, flashing them with his too white smile. Hermione looked interested as well, joining Mrs. Weasley in searching for Lockhart’s appearance.

“I can’t believe he’ll be here!” Hermione said excitedly, grinning at Hari and Ron. “His books are practically the whole list this year!”

Minerva sniffed, glancing at Hari who hid his laughter inside his stack of books.

Gilderoy Lockhart entered slowly a moment later as the crowd of mostly older women shrieked at his arrival. Minerva seemed to be one of the few to fit that category that looked unimpressed at him. He winked and smiled at the crowd, dressed in extravagant lavender robes, waving and blowing kisses. Hari pretended to throw up in his cauldron, causing Ron to burst out laughing and earning a harsh look from Mrs. Weasley.

“Out of the way, there. This is for the Daily Prophet!” snarled an irritable man dancing about with a camera and trying to get through the crowd to get photos of Lockhart.

“Oh, big deal,” Ron grumbled as the man stood on his foot.

At this, Lockhart looked up in their direction. His eyes fell onto Hari and his grin grew impossibly wider. Then he leapt to his feet and shouted cheerfully, “It can’t be Hari Potter?”

The crowd parted, talking excitedly and turning to stare at Hari as well; Lockhart dived forward and dragged Hari over next to him. The man with the camera began taking photos of Lockhart and Hari, his camera flash positively blinding Hari as he tried to get out of Lockhart’s tight grip. He shot a helpless grimace at Minerva, who merely shrugged, smirking.

“What a pleasant surprise, Hari Potter!” Lockhart beamed, squeezing Hari’s shoulder painfully hard. “And what perfect time to announce that Hari and his other classmates here will soon be gifted with the real magical me! Yes, I have decided to take up the post as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts!” The crowd burst into applause and Hari blinked rapidly at the new round of photographs being taken of him.

Hari finally managed to duck away from Lockhart’s clutches, making his way over to the others with a scowl. Ron was doubled over with laughter, while Mrs. Weasley fawned about how lucky they all were to have him as their teacher. “Oh, shove off,” Hari groaned at Ron, elbowing him sharply in the side.

At that moment, Draco appeared, followed by his father. “Well, well. It appears the famous Hari Potter’s fame continues to follow him,” drawled Lucius coolly as they walked over.

“Ignore him,” Draco muttered, leaving his father’s side to stand next to Hari, clutching his arm. “It’s good to see you out of a cabinet,” he added, earning an elbow to the side from Hari.

Mr. Weasley appeared behind them, his smile falling at the sight of Lucius Malfoy standing in front of him. “Lucius,” he said, voice tight.

Mr. Malfoy sneered. “Busy time at the Ministry, I hear,” said Mr. Malfoy. “I hope they’re paying you overtime.” He glanced at the secondhand books sitting in Ginny’s cauldron and his smile grew colder, eyes flashing. He lifted a few of the books. “Obviously, I see they are not.”

“Leave them alone, Father,” said Draco, frowning at his father. His grip on Hari’s arm tightened.

Mr. Weasley glanced at Draco. “I suggest you listen to your son, Lucius.”

Mr. Malfoy stuffed the books back in Ginny’s cauldron, tilting his head patronisingly. “I suggest you get a better job, Arthur. Already enough of a disgrace to wizards as well.”

There was a thud of metal as Ginny’s cauldron went flying. Suddenly, in a whirl of white blond hair and robes, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy were wrestling on the floor of the book shop. At once, there was a loud banging sound and both men sprang apart as Minerva appeared, glaring at them both and tucking her wand inside her robes.

“Gentlemen,” she said sternly, fixing both men with a stony look as they both got to their feet. “I suggest you return Miss Weasley’s things, Mr. Malfoy.” Hair falling out of its long ponytail, Mr. Malfoy sneered but did as he was told, handing Ginny her cauldron and sticking her books back inside it once again.

Mr. Malfoy straightened up, fixing his messed ponytail and glaring at Draco. “Come, Draco. We shall have a firm talk about this later,” he said. Draco started to step forward glumly, but paused as Minerva held out her arm in front of him.

“Perhaps I shall take Draco off your hands for the rest of the summer, Mr. Malfoy. If he has been so much trouble to you, I daresay you would prefer it?” she said, raising an eyebrow. Hari knew there would be no backing down from her glare and felt his heart skip as Lucius glared at her, clearly agreeing with Hari. “I can come collect his things later or have them sent, if you would prefer. I am, as you are aware, a friend of his godfather Severus and I am sure he would be happy to collect them for you.”

Lucius, recognising he was cornered in a crowd of people, relented and agreed to letting Draco stay with Hari and Minerva for the rest of the summer. Without saying goodbye, he exited the shop, looking furious. As soon as he was gone, Draco turned to Minerva. “Do you really want me to stay for the rest of the holidays? Are you sure?” he asked, clearly trying to hide his excitement as his lips twitched.

“It is no trouble to me, Draco. Of course I don’t mind,” she replied, eyes softening as she turned away from the older Malfoy’s exit and down at his son. “I’m assuming Hari will be happy with this arrangement as well, as a matter of fact.”

“Thank you, Minnie!” Hari said, beaming at Minerva and letting Draco continue to clutch his arm so hard he feared it would snap.

They made their way home not long after, saying goodbye to the Weasleys and Hermione as Mrs. Weasley continued to berate her husband for making a fool of himself. When they arrived back in the living room, after stopping to collect dinner from a Muggle take out store, Minerva set them with their food in the kitchen and then went to contact Severus in the Floo system.