HP Approaches the Magical World

It was a dark, overcast day.

When they came out of the house wrapped in cloaks, a special Ministry car, in which Harry had been driven once, was waiting in the front yard.

"Fortunately, Dad can send us a car."

Ron said happily, stretching his limbs comfortably.

Bill and Fleur waved to them from the kitchen window as the car sped away from the Burrow.

Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny all sat in the spacious, comfortable back seat.

"Don't get used to it, it's just for Harry."

Mr. Weasley said over his shoulder.

He sat up front with Mrs. Weasley and the driver of the Ministry of Magic, the passenger seat next to the driver being thoughtfully widened to resemble a loveseat.

"He now enjoys a first-level security guard, and when he arrives at the Leaky Cauldron, he will strengthen the security for us."

Harry said nothing.

He didn't want to be surrounded by a bunch of Aurors when he was shopping, and he already had the Invisibility Cloak stuffed in his backpack.

He had thought that if Dumbledore hadn't objected, neither would the Ministry, but thinking about it now, he wasn't sure the Ministry knew he had an Invisibility Cloak.

"You guys are here."

After a while the driver said, this is the first sentence he said.

He slowed down into Charing Cross Road and stopped outside the Leaky Cauldron.

"I'll wait for you to come back, do you know how long it will take?"

"About two hours."

Mr. Weasley said: "Ah, great, he's here!"

Harry, too, looked out the window, as Mr. Weasley had done.

His heart jumped for joy, and there were no Aurors waiting outside the bar, but a huge, black-bearded Hagrid, wearing a long beaver coat and showing his face whenever he saw Harry's face. He smiled happily, ignoring the surprised eyes of the passing Muggles.

"Harry!"

He said gruffly that Hagrid had squeezed Harry into his arms as soon as Harry got out of the car, crushing his bones.

"As long as it's happy,"

Harry rubbed his ribs and said with a smile, "I didn't expect that 'security' refers to you!"

"I know... just like the old days, isn't it? The Ministry of Magic wanted to send a group of Aurors, but Dumbledore said I'd be fine."

Hagrid said proudly. He puffed out his chest and put two thumbs in his pockets, "Okay, let's go in—you go first, Molly, Arthur—"

For the first time in Harry's memory, the Leaky Cauldron looked so deserted and empty.

The lively crowds of the past are gone, leaving only the wrinkled, toothless owner Tom.

As soon as they entered, Tom looked up hopefully, but before he could speak, Hagrid said solemnly: "Just passing by today, Tom, it's Hogwarts business, you know."

Tom nodded sullenly and went on polishing his glass.

Harry, Hermione, Hagrid, and the Weasleys walked across the pub into the small, bleak back yard where the litter boxes were kept.

Then they stepped through the doorway, stopped and looked around.

Diagon Alley has completely changed.

Spellbooks, potion ingredients, and cauldrons used to be displayed in the window, all colorful and colorful, but now they can't be seen, but are tightly covered by large notices posted by the Ministry of Magic.

Most of these forbidding purple notices were blown-up versions of the safety advisories in those pamphlets that the Ministry of Magic circulated over the summer, and some featured black-and-white photographs of wanted Death Eaters in action.

Bellatrix Lestrange sneered hideously in front of the nearby drugstore.

Several windows were boarded up, including Florin Fusco's ice cream parlor.

On the other hand, many dilapidated stalls suddenly appeared on both sides of the street.

The nearest stall to them was set up outside Lihen Bookstore, under a stained striped canopy, and a cardboard signboard was nailed in front of the stall:

Amulet: Effective against werewolves, dementors and inferi.

A scruffy little wizard was selling a bunch of silver charms on chains to passers-by, rattling them.

"Madam, buy one for your little girl?"

He called to Mrs. Weasley as they passed, casting a lewd glance at Ginny, "Protect her pretty neck?"

"If I was on duty..." said Mr. Weasley, glaring at the amulet seller.

"Yeah, but you don't want to catch people now, honey, we're short on time."

Mrs Weasley said: "I think we'd better go to Madam Malkin's Robes first, Hermione needs a new robe,

Ron's school uniform is too short, showing a lot of his wrists, and, Harry, you're definitely going to need new clothes too, you're growing so fast... well, let's go, everyone. "

"Molly, it's not appropriate for us all to go to Mrs. Malkin's robe store."

Mr. Weasley said, "Why don't the three of them go with Hagrid, and we can go to Lihen Bookstore and buy all the textbooks for everyone, okay?"

"I don't know what to do," said Mrs. Weasley annoyed. She was clearly torn between wanting to get the shopping done quickly and keeping everyone together. "Hagrid, what do you think—?"

"Don't worry, they'll be fine with me, Molly."

Hagrid reassured, waving his palm as big as a trash can lid smartly.

Mrs. Weasley didn't seem entirely relieved, but she kept everyone apart, and hurried with her husband and Ginny to the Ridge Bookshop, while Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid went to Madam Malkin's robes shop.

Harry noticed that many passers-by had the same troubled and anxious look on their faces as Mrs. Weasley.

"It might get a little crowded if we all go in."

Hagrid said he stopped outside Madam Malkin's Robe Shop and leaned over to look in the window.

"I'm standing guard outside, okay?"

So Harry, Ron and Hermione walked into the shop together.

At first glance, the store appeared to be empty, but the door had just closed behind them when they heard a familiar voice behind a row of green and blue dress robes.

"...Not a kid anymore, you might not have noticed, Mom. I'm perfectly capable of going shopping by myself."

Then there was a cooing sound like a hen hatching an egg, and then someone spoke, and Harry recognized Madam Malkin's voice: "Yes, dear, your mother was right, and none of us should be alone now." Going out to hang out, it has nothing to do with whether children are children or not—”

"Where is your needle poking? Be careful!"

A pale, pointed-faced boy with flaxen hair appeared from behind the hanger. He was wearing a beautiful dark green robe with shiny pins pinned to the hem and cuffs.

He strode to the mirror and looked at himself carefully.

It was a moment later that he noticed in the mirror that the three of Harry were standing behind him.