It was a gloomy, overcast day.
When they came out of the house, wrapped in their cloaks, one of the Ministry's cars, which Harry had ridden in once before, was waiting for them in the front yard.
"We're lucky Papa sent us a car," said Ron cheerfully.
Ron said happily as he stretched his limbs comfortably.
The car sped away from the Burrow, and Bill and Fleur waved at them from the kitchen window.
Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny sat in the spacious, comfortable back seats.
"Don't get used to it. It's just for Harry."
Mr. Weasley turned his head.
He sat up front with Mrs. Weasley and the Ministry driver, and the passenger seat beside the driver had been thoughtfully widened to resemble a sofa for two.
"He's got first-class security now, and he'll have to give us extra security when we get to the Leaky Cauldron."
Harry said nothing.
He did not want to be followed by a crowd of Aurors when he went shopping, and he had already put the Invisibility Cloak in his knapsack.
He had thought that if Dumbledore did not object, the Ministry would not object either. But now that he thought about it, he was not sure whether the Ministry knew that he had an Invisibility Cloak.
"Here you are," said the driver.
After a while, the driver said, and that was the first thing he said.
He slowed down, turned into Charing Cross, and stopped outside the Leaky Cauldron.
"Do you know how long it will take for me to wait for you?"
"About two hours."
"Oh, good," said Mr. Weasley. "He's here!"
Like Mr. Weasley, Harry looked out of the car window.
His heart leaped with joy. There was no Auror waiting outside the bar. It was the big, black-bearded Hagrid, wearing a long beaver coat. He smiled at the sight of Harry, ignoring the surprised looks of the passing Muggle.
"Harry!"
He said gruffly. As soon as Harry got out of the car, Hagrid took him in his arms and crushed his bones.
"Glad he's happy."
Harry rubbed his ribs and said with a smile, "I didn't expect the 'security' to be you!"
"I know … it's just like the past, isn't it? The Ministry of Magic wanted to send a group of Auros, but Dumbledore said that I can do it. "
Hagrid said proudly. He puffed out his chest and put his thumbs in his pockets. "Well, let's go in. After you, Molly, Arthur —"
For the first time in Harry's memory, the Leaky Cauldron seemed deserted.
The bustling crowd of the past had disappeared, leaving only the shopkeeper, Tom, with his wrinkled face and missing teeth.
Tom looked up hopefully as they entered, but before he could speak, Hagrid said solemnly, "Just passing by, Tom. It's Hogwarts business, you know."
Tom nodded glumly and went on polishing his glasses.
Harry, Hermione, Hagrid, and the Weasleys walked through the bar and out into the cold little back yard where the dustbins were.
Then they stepped through the doorway and stopped to look around.
Diagon Alley had changed completely.
Spell books, potion ingredients, and crucibles that used to be displayed in the display window were no longer visible. Instead, they were all covered up by large notices posted by the Ministry of Magic.
Most of these intimidating purple notices were enlarged versions of the safety warnings in the pamphlets distributed by the Ministry of Magic during the summer holidays. Some of the notices even had black-and-white photos of wanted Death Eaters printed on them.
Béla Trix Lestrange sneered at the door of the nearest drugstore.
Several windows were boarded up, including Lorraine Fusco's ice cream parlor.
Elsewhere, a number of ragged stalls had sprung up on both sides of the street.
The nearest one was set up under a stained striped canopy outside Lir's Mark Bookshop. A cardboard sign was tacked up in front of the stall: "Magic."
Amulet: Effectively repels werewolves, dementors, and zombies.
A scruffy little Wizard was selling a large chain of silver mascots to passers-by, rattling them.
'Get one for your little girl, ma'am? '
He called to Mrs. Weasley as they passed, glancing lustfully at Ginny. 'Protect her pretty neck?'
'If I were on duty … 'said Mr. Weasley, glaring angrily at the amulet seller.
'Yes, but don't go around arresting people now, my dear. We don't have much time. '
Mrs. Weasley said, 'I think we'd better go to Madame Morkin's Robes first. Hermione needs a new gown.
Ron's school uniform is too short and shows a lot of wrists. And, Harry, you must need new clothes too. You're growing so fast … Well, let's get moving. '
'It's not very proper for all of us to go to Madame Morkin's Robes, Molly, 'said Mr. Weasley.
'Why don't the three of them go with Hagrid, and we can go to Lir's Mark Bookshop and get everyone's textbooks?'
'I don't know what to do, 'said Mrs. Weasley fretfully, clearly torn between the desire to get the shopping done quickly and the desire to keep everyone together.' Hagrid, do you think-? '
'Don't worry, they'll be all right with me, Molly. '
Hagrid assured her, waving his hand smartly as big as a dustbin lid.
Mrs. Weasley didn't seem entirely reassured, but she kept everyone apart. She hurried with her husband and Ginny to Lir's Mark Bookshop, while Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid went to Madame Morkin's Robes.
Harry noticed that many of the passers-by had the same worried look on their faces as Mrs. Weasley's.
'It may be a bit crowded if we all go in, 'said Hagrid.
Hagrid said. He stopped in front of Madam Morjin's shop and leaned over to look through the window.
'I'll stand guard outside, all right? '
So Harry, Ron, and Hermione went into the shop together.
At first glance the shop seemed deserted, but as soon as the door closed behind them they heard a familiar voice behind a row of green and blue robes.
'… I'm not a child any more. You may not have noticed, Mother. I'm perfectly capable of shopping on my own. '
There was a cooing noise like a hen's, and then a voice, which Harry recognized as Madame Morkin's, spoke. 'Yes, my dear, your mother's right. None of us ought to be wandering about on our own now. It has nothing to do with children —'
'Where are you poking that needle? Mind you! '
A pale, yellow-haired, sharp-faced lad appeared from behind the hangers. He wore a handsome dark green robe with glittering pins on the sides and cuffs.
He strode to the mirror and looked at himself.
It was a moment before he noticed in the mirror that Harry and the others were standing behind him.
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