chapter: 4

"Weird." Harry said. He never experienced the sensation Hagrid described. He only experienced a feeling of weightlessness whenever he faded, a term he invented for his unique skill of transportation.

"Come on then, there's the bank... see that large white building? That's Gringotts" Hagrid said, pointing to the largest building in Diagon Alley. It towered over the small two or three story shops and bars around it and it's white marble walls gleamed in the morning sun.

"Wicked." Harry grinned.

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"What's inside the package?"

"Nothing... just errrr something Professor Dumbledore asked me to pick up." Hagrid said evasively. "Well I suppose we better continue yer shopping now... It's getting late and I have to deliver this package to Dumbledore soon."

"Is it valuable?" Harry asked curiously.

"It's just ehrmmm a paperweight 'Arry. Professor Dumbledore is fond of it wand want it back as quickly as possible." The Half Giant said.

"Why don't you go ahead and deliver whatever it is you have? " Harry suggested. He wanted to explore this new world on his own, without someone watching his every move.

"Professor Dumbledore asked me to accompany you 'Arry... To make sure yer safe." The Half giant said as he scratched his beard. He didn't know that Harry would take a long time in his vault.

"Why... am I in danger?" Harry asked curiously.

"Errr No! No! Of course yer not in danger!" Hagrid said hastily, and Harry narrowed his eyes in suspicion. He knew when he was being lied to, from his experience from a few double crossers who refused to honor a previously agreed upon contract.

"I just want yer to have a wonderful time 'ere..." Hagrid patted his shoulders, and Harry's knees buckled under the force.

"The sun's still up... and with this many people here, I doubt anything bad is going to happen to me." Harry said. "I'm sure Dumbledore would be very anxious to get whatever he sent you to retrieve back in his care."

Hagrid's face was torn between the two now conflicting instructions given to him by the Headmaster.

He was supposed to deliver the package as soon as possible, while at the same time preventing young Harry from meeting the unsavory characters in Diagon Alley.

He stared at Lily and James' offspring looking around with interest. The lad was a good boy, very polite but also inquisitive... he was sure he saw a glint of mischief behind those green eyes, but that was perfectly normal for a boy his age.

He doubted if the Malfoys or the other dark families could sway the young Potter to Slytherin in one day, not after the stories he told the boy that ruined the House's reputation.

"Errr... alright I guess... But remember if you have a problem, talk to old Tom back der'" Hagrid said hiking his thumb to the direction of the Leaky Cauldron.

"I'll be sure to do that." Harry said, happy that his plan worked. Now he could explore Diagon Alley on his own, with no adult to supervise him. He had a bag full of galleons and he was eager to spend it.

Harry waved goodbye to the Half Giant and once Hagrid vanished back into the Leaky Cauldron, the young boy stared at Diagon Alley, and his fingers tingled in anticipation. For once he was rich enough to buy whatever he fancied.

Harry grinned as he stared at the display beside the door to the apothecary... it was the best thing he had ever seen. He was fascinated at the eye of the newts that filled a jar and was considering buying the whole jar of eyeballs that kept on winking at him.

He was sure that Dudley would get a kick out of this.

Harry scowled as he was rudely pushed aside by a tall man with girly blonde hair, as he almost crashed into the display.

The man did not even give him a second look, but continued twirling his ornate walking stick as he walked up to the counter.

He finally found a target.

"The deluxe potions kit please... my son Draco is starting Hogwarts this year." The man said as flicked his perfect blonde hair back

"Of course... Lord Malfoy." The owner of the store said. As he hurried up and down the shelves collecting ingredients, he tried to appease the impatient looking customer.

"And how is young Master Draco? I am sure Severus would be delighted to finally have him as a student." The owner said.

"He is with his mother... fitting for his first Hogwarts robes. Of course we have our own seamstress to further make sure that rag Madame Malkin sells is wearable.

" Lord Malfoy said as he looked with fake interest at the few rare ingredients on display. "Severus is excited of course, he has spent many summers teaching his Godson potions, among other things."

The Malfoy Lord stopped talking as a young boy with a basket full of ingredients moved past him and he was forced to stop leaning on the counter because of the tight space. The Owner wanted to tell his dangerous customer that he was the one blocking the counter as he should have just given his order and waited at the designated area.

But the Owner did not dare tell him that, he didn't want his business to suddenly experience an unfortunate accident.

"Mudblood... they don't have manners at all." Lord Malfoy sneered as the boy walked past out of earshot. "I tried to amend the charter of the School as a governor, but the others governors refused to pass my proposed amendments. Muggle loving fools... "

"Well yes... uhmm that will be twenty galleons Lord Malfoy." The Owner said eager to make the man leave as soon as possible since a line had formed behind the Malfoy Lord.

And unlike the naïve young boy who was now standing at a free counter having his choices processed by his Wife, the other customers did not dare antagonize the dangerous pureblood by asking him to move aside.

"Only twenty Galleons? It should be forty..." Lucius Malfoy said as he tried to pat down his robes looking for his money bag. He was sure it was on his pocket.