Revised: April 23, 2022
There wasn't a significant reason to revise this chapter; I just felt like improving by even just the smallest amount.
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Tom didn't come out of the diary the next morning. Harry wrote in it, but all Tom said was a brusque "Go get your school supplies."
'Give him time,' Azure said. 'He had a bit of a scare. I can try and talk to him.'
'You can't even write,' Harry pointed out wryly.
If Azure could, she would have rolled her eyes at him. 'Just get your things, Harry.'
Reluctantly, Harry agreed, carefully warding the room to alert them if anyone was coming. He first headed to Gringotts to take out some money. Griphook, who had grown to have more respect for the boy, greeted him with as much friendliness as a goblin could give. He gave an update on Harry's vaults and checked him over, relieved to see that Dumbledore had not attempted anything. Yet.
"Voldemort had made Horcruxes before he... disappeared," Harry explained as he was stepping out of a vault. "Is there any way we can reconnect the soul pieces?"
"There is," Griphook replied, scowling at the thought of such dark magic. "Obtain all the Horcruxes and bring it here. There is a ritual we will do."
"The price?"
"500 Galleons."
Harry nodded. "All right. We'll see what we can find."
He dipped his head to Griphook before leaving, money bag refilled. He walked around Diagon Alley, hearing snatches of conversation here and there. Most of them he heard involved purchases that have been made or, more solemnly, Sirius' escape. Harry finished his essays outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, where Florean Fortescue himself gave him free sundaes every half hour and the occasional pointer.
About a week into his time at the Leaky Cauldron, he caught sight of a crowd outside of Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"Just come out — prototype —"
"It's the fastest broom in the world, isn't it, Dad?"
"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!"
Harry could see why given its acceleration, which read to be "0–150 miles an hour in just ten seconds."
Flourish and Blotts proved to be its own adventure with the The Monster Book of Monsters book for Care of Magical Creatures. How the manager was still alive Harry did not know, but he was impressed.
He eventually returned to the Leaky Cauldron, hoping Tom had calmed down enough to talk. But when he opened the door, he saw that wasn't the case.
Azure was sitting by the window, tail lashing mutinously. She responded to Harry's greeting with a single grunt/hiss and said nothing.
As more days passed, Harry tried to keep himself busy. He caught glimpses of fellow students here and there, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan admiring the Firebolt, the Patil twins heading into Flourish and Blotts, and others he recognized by face but not name.
On the last day of the holidays, Harry spotted Draco and Pansy.
"Cannot believe Dumbledore would allow such a horrible book to —" Draco caught sight of Harry and grinned. "There you are, Harry. Got all your supplies?"
YOU ARE READING
A Little Help from a Snake // Tomarry
Fanfiction(Aka the Tomalongadingdong™ fic) It was a normal day for Harry. He woke up, made breakfast for his relatives, ate some leftovers, and went out to do the chores set for him. Then it all changed when he accidentally disturbed a snake in the grass. Ple...
