Harry Potter's Coolest Aunt

Disney and London

"I need my clothes for Hogwarts," Sanjiv said, "I already have my wand...." Krishna had given his wand it was the same as the old one with few differences. "Yeah see yah...I still have a few books to get left."

As he walked down the alley, he froze at Quality Quidditch Supplies as he glimpsed a newly erected podium, on which was mounted the most magnificent broom he had ever seen in his life. "Just come out -- prototype --" a square-jawed wizard was telling his companion.

"It's the fastest broom in the world, isn't it, Dad?" squeaked a boy two years younger than Harry, who was swinging off his father's arm. "Irish International Side's Just put in an order for seven of these beauties!" the proprietor of the shop told the crowd. "And they're favorites for the World Cup!" A large witch in front of Harry moved, and he was able to read the sign next to the broom:

 
** THE FIREBOLT **
THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART PACING BROOM SPORTS A STREAM-LINED, SUPERFINEHANDLE OF ASH, TREATED WITH A DIAMOND-HARD POLISH AND HAND-NUMBERED WITH ITS OWN REGISTRATION NUMBER. EACH INDIVIDUALLY SELECTED BIRCH TWIGIN THE BROOMTAIL HAS BEEN HONED TO AERODYNAMIC PERFECTION, GIVING THE FIREBOLT UNSURPASSABLE BALANCE AND PINPOINT PRECISION. THE FIREBOLT HAS AN ACCELERATION OF 150 MILES AN HOUR IN TEN SECONDS AND INCORPORATES AN UNBREAKABLE BRAKING CHARM. PRICE ON REQUEST.

Price on request... must be expensive. He had never wanted anything as much in his whole life -- but he had never lost a Quidditch match on his Nimbus Two Thousand, and what was the point in emptying his Gringotts vault for the Firebolt, when he had a very good broom already?

He went to the apothecary to replenish his store of potion ingredients, and as his school robes were now several inches too short in the arm and leg, he visited Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and bought new ones as he met his brother who getting his measurements done. Most important of all, he had to buy his new schoolbooks, which would include those for two of his three new subjects, Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes.

Percy had the governors approve of battle arts to bring back an ancient way for battles with magic weapons. Dumbledore could not stop it. He almost tried to put Harry in divination but percy went mother wolf mode on him.

Harry got a surprise as he looked in at the bookshop window. Instead of the usual display of gold-embossed spellbooks the size of paving slabs, there was a large iron cage behind the glass that held about a hundred copies of The Monster Book of Monsters. Torn pages were flying everywhere as the books grappled with each other, locked together in furious wrestling matches and snapping aggressively.

Harry pulled his booklist out of his pocket and consulted it for the first time. The Monster Book of Monsters was listed as the required book for Care of Magical Creatures. Glad his mom got the books for him, Sanjiv, and Aishi. As Harry entered Flourish and Blotts, the manager came hurrying toward him.

"Hogwarts?" he said abruptly. "Come to get your new books?" "Yes," said Harry, "I need --" "Get out of the way," said the manager impatiently, brushing Harry aside. He drew on a pair of very thick gloves, picked up a large, knobbly walking stick, and proceeded toward the door of the Monster Books' cage. "Hang on," said Harry quickly, "I've already got one of those.""Have you?" A look of enormous relief spread over the manager's face."Thank heavens for that. I've been bitten five times already this morning --"

A loud ripping noise rents the air; two of the Monster Books had seized a third and were pulling it apart. "Stop it! Stop it!" cried the manager, poking the walking stick through the bars and knocking the books apart. "I'm never stocking them again, never! It's been bedlam! I thought we'd seen the worst when we bought two hundred copies of the Invisible Book of Invisibility -cost a fortune, and we never found them... Well... is there anything else I can help you with?"