I slept in, and completely forgot to post earlier.
But I haven't gone to sleep yet, so it still count as wednesday.
Harry dropped onto the bed in his room at the Leaky Cauldron, letting out a deep sigh.
The people looking for him had been ministry people, sent to deflate Aunt Marge and make sure Harry was safe. For some reason. No one would tell Harry anything. Even when they had bundled him onto The Knight Bus, (a wizarding transport that was barely better then Flu powder) they only said the minister was waiting for him, and sent him off to the pub that served as a gateway between muggle London, and Diagon Alley.
Even Fudge, the minister for magic, only told him not to wander muggle London, because it 'might be dangerous'.
Harry wished someone would tell him what was going on.
When Tom had shown him to his room, the first thing Harry had noticed was Hedwig, perched on the foot of the bed, back from Hermione's.
It wasn't until the next morning, that Harry got his first clue to what was going on.
Tom the barman had kindly delivered Harry's breakfast up to his room, along with a copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry started on his breakfast quite happily, and unfolded the newspaper curiously. Only to inhale a sausage down the wrong pipe in surprise, and begin to choke.
After several frantic minutes, Harry managed to clear his throat, and instead ogled the front page in disbelief.
In massive, bold print across the top were the words;
No leads on escaped mass murderer Sirius Black
Underneath there was a black and white photo which, like most wizarding photographs, was moving, blinking slowly up at Harry. But Harry had seen him before, just last night in fact, of that he was sure. Even if it had been dark, Harry would recognize Sirius' gray eyes anywhere. Seeing the picture in the Prophet also reminded Harry where he had seen Sirius before. On the muggle news barely a week ago. A 'dangerous mass murderer' they'd said. But Harry also remembered what Sirius had told him; framed for something he didn't do.
Harry didn't know what to think. Sirius hadn't seemed like an unstable mass murderer. He could still remember the feeling of his hug, as well as the kiss he'd pressed to Harry's forehead.
Could it have all been a ploy? He certainly seemed to know Harry. He said he was Harry's godfather, but there was no way to find out if that was true. Should he trust Sirius? Steer clear of him?
Harry's head was swimming, as he set the newspaper aside. He would have to speak to Sirius again, if he wanted any hope at an answer.
Instead, he focused on what to do with the day. He would need to complete his shopping for school, and for that, he would need gold. Pulling his Hogwarts letter out of his trunk, Harry felt a twinge of guilt and sadness, as he set aside the permission form. There was no way Uncle Vernon would ever sign it, now.
Harry looked over the list of books he'd need for the coming year. On it, he saw 'The Monster Book of Monsters', the book Hagrid had sent him for his birthday. It made sense now, why Hagrid would think a biting book would come in handy.
When Harry finished his breakfast, he grabbed his wand and pouch of wizarding money out of his trunk. His supply list in hand, he took the tray from breakfast with him down into the bar on the first floor. Leaving the tray with Tom the barman, Harry headed out the back door and tapped the third brick from the left, watching as the solid brick wall transformed into an archway into Diagon Alley.
After a trip to Gringotts, to refill his wallet, Harry's first stop was the apothecary, for potions ingredients. It was there, that Harry was reminded of his unwanted companion.
He was looking over hornbush leaves, when a voice said,
You won't want to get those.
Harry jumped slightly, and nearly whipped around to find the speaker, when he realized that the voice was familiar.
Forgotten me already?
Harry could hear the smirk in Riddle's voice, and tried to ignore the heat he could feel rising in his face. Instead of replying, Harry continued to peruse the jars of leaves.
Do you see the discoloration at the ends of the fronds?
Harry looked closer and found Riddle was right, the tips of the leaves were a pale, sickly yellow instead of the vibrant floral pink the rest of the leaf was.
That means it's been a while since they were harvested. The older the leaves, the less potent they are. They'll be next to useless in potion making.
Harry had to admit that he hadn't known that. He'd never had to pick his own ingredients before, Hagrid had just got him the starting kit for first years, and mrs. Weasley had gotten them for him last year.
Potions, Poisons, and The Thin Line Between. It explains the best ingredients and the signs of expired ingredients.
How do you know about it? Harry questioned Riddle silently.
I grew up in an orphanage. If I wanted to know something, I had to find it myself.
It made sense. Before he'd met Hermione he had to do all of his own searching. Looking through library books to complete his homework. The hardest part had been making sure his grades were believably less then average, so the Dursleys wouldn't get mad at him for out doing 'precious Diddy-kinns'. A habit made easier by copying Ron's study habits, rather then continuing his own. It helped that he knew next to nothing about the wizarding world.
Why must you stoop to their level? They aren't a part of the wizarding world, why should their standards be the ones you adhere to?
That also made sense. But how was he supposed to not hide himself? Even his friends didn't know who Harry was. He wasn't sure he knew himself.
Why don't we find out?
Why not? He was stuck with Riddle anyway, he might as well get something out of it.
The rest of the day was spent shopping. Getting everything he needed for the coming year, and then browsing some of the books Riddle suggested. He ended up having to get an extension charm on his trunk, adding a whole second compartment for his books, but he felt it was worth it. The past two years had been agony, not knowing anything. He hated the feeling, and was quietly glad that this year he would be rid of it.
During the last few days of his stay, Hermione and Ron found him at Florean Fortescue's Icecream Parlor, a half melted icecream forgotten in front of him, the spoon held loosely in his hand, as he read a book titled, 'Dark Defense and the Light it Holds'.
"Harry!"
Hermione's voice startled him out of his thoughts, and Harry looked up to find his two best friends standing by his table.
"Hermione! Ron!" He carefully set his book and spoon down, before he lept to his feet and pulled then both into a big hug.
"I missed you both! How was your summers?"
"Brilliant!" Ron said excitedly, "much less interesting then yours though, apparently. Why'd you blow up you're aunt?"
"It wasn't on purpose."
Harry had eventually written to them both, explaining what had happened, though he hadn't mentioned Sirius.
"I can't believe you didn't get into trouble!" Hermione stated, "especially after last year! The ministry isn't very consistent, are they?"
"Slow down, Hermione," Ron rolled his eyes, "do you want him to be punished?"
Hermione's eyes widened,
"Of course not, Ronald! I'm just saying-!"
"It's alright, Hermione." Harry interrupted, "I still can't believe it either."
They all sat down, and Harry got them both icecreams.
"What are you reading, Harry?" Hermione asked, pointing to the book lying on the middle of the table.
"Oh!" Harry had almost forgotten about it. "It's a book on defense magic. After last year, I figured it couldn't hurt to learn a bit more on my own. Who knows what kind of teacher we'll have this year."
Even Ron seemed interested by the idea, up until Harry and Hermione started talking books.
Riddle chimed in a couple times, though only Harry could hear him, and he couldn't always fit what Riddle said into the conversation without being questioned with things he couldn't answer. So Harry's side of the conversation was much more interesting then just what he and Hermione were saying.
Ron decided, after he'd finished his icy treat and his two friends were still talking about books, that they needed a distraction, before Harry became another Hermione.
"Did you see the Firebolt, Harry?"
Harry grinned at Ron, even as Hermione rolled her eyes at then both.
"I did. It's beautiful."
And as easily as that, the topic changed to Quidditch.
Once they had all finished their icecreams, they headed off to find school supplies. Harry had everything, so he merely enjoyed his friends company, and chatted with them. For the few hours they spent roaming Diagon Alley, Harry managed to put everything with Riddle, and Sirius out of his mind, and he had a rare moment of optimism. Perhaps this year at Hogwarts would be peaceful.
Idk if Hornbush is a real potions ingredient, I made it up.
Hope you enjoyed!
Bakeku67