Chapter 91 - A trip to Diagon Alley (3)

As soon as Hagrid left, Harry decided that it would wise to tell Mr. Weasley what he had seen inside Borgin's shop even if that will undoubtedly put his friend in a bad light.

Though, before he could say anything, Ron took the lead and asked his friend what he was doing in that shady part of Diagon Alley. "Harry, what were you doing in Knockturn Alley?"

"About that…" Harry starts scratching his head in embarrassment. "I wasn't so clear when I said Diagon Alley and ended up in Borgin's shop. Anyways guess whom I saw inside that shop?"

The twins as well as Ron and even Mr. Weasley responded with the same words at the same time. "Who?"

"Malfoy and his father together with Thomas."

Harry then glanced at Thomas, feeling a bit uneasy about revealing the details of their encounter with the Malfoys. He knew that the Weasleys didn't have the best opinion of Draco and his father, and he didn't want to add more fuel to the fire. However, he also understood the importance of honesty, especially when it came to potentially dangerous situations. Almost as soon as he heard this, Arthur Weasley turned towards Thomas and looked at him for a few good seconds before turning back to Harry. "Did Lucius Malfoy buy something from the Borgin boys?"

"Um, well, I don't know for sure," Harry admitted, trying to choose his words carefully. "They were in the shop with Mr. Borgin, but I didn't hear exactly what they were discussing. It looked like they were negotiating something, but I can't say for certain if Mr. Malfoy bought anything."

Mr. Weasley frowned, clearly not thrilled with the idea of the Malfoys being involved in anything shady. "Thomas, I apologize for this, but as a member of the Ministry of Magic I need to know what Malfoy was doing there."

Before Thomas could say anything, Fred and George smiled at each other. "Maybe they're shopping for some Dark Arts supplies."

"Wouldn't surprise me," Ron added, rolling his eyes.

Arthur cleared his throat making his boys shut their mouths, as he waited for Thomas to explain himself.

Thomas took a deep breath and met Mr. Weasley's gaze with sincerity. "Mr. Weasley, I apologize for not telling you earlier. I didn't want to cause any trouble, but I promise to be completely honest now."

He proceeded to explain how he had been searching for a set of vanishing cabinets because he had heard they could connect to one another, allowing someone to transport them between them. Thomas shared that he had hoped to find one so he could visit his parents whenever he wanted since while at Hogwarts, he missed them terribly. He showed a hint of sadness as he spoke about how much he would do to be able to see his parents again or have them see him on the Quidditch field.

"Coincidentally, while searching for the vanishing cabinet, I found myself in Borgin's shop, and that's when I saw Draco and his father," Thomas continued. "I didn't interact with them too much but from what I overheard, it seemed like Mr. Malfoy was there to sell something, but I honestly don't know what since I didn't dare to sneak a look at the list he gave to Borgin."

Mr. Weasley's expression softened as well, understanding the situation better now. "Thank you for being honest, Thomas," he said, placing a hand on Thomas's shoulder. "I can see that you had no involvement in whatever business the Malfoys had there. And I'm sorry for using my authority in this matter, but I hope you will find the heart to forgive me."

"No harm done sir. It's all good, besides I can understand why you will react like that."

Luckily for Thomas, he didn't say anything about going to visit the Malfoys tomorrow otherwise, Arthur will freak out. God knows what the man was capable of doing if he will ever find out about this.

"So he's worried about the Ministry coming to his house," Mr. Weasley said with grim satisfaction a few seconds later. "Oh, I'd love to get Lucius Malfoy for something … Alas knowing that damned snake, he probably had already cleared everything in his house up to the deeps of his bottom."

"You be careful, Arthur, both with your words and with Malfoy" Mrs. Weasley scolded her husband sharply as they were bowed into the bank by a goblin at the door. "That family's trouble. Don't go biting off more than you can chew. You have children to take care and Merlin forgives me for saying this, but if you were to somehow end up in that horrific prison, I will break you out only to beat you."

"So you don't think I'm a match for Lucius Malfoy?" said Mr. Weasley indignantly, but he was distracted almost at once by the sight of Hermione's parents, who were standing nervously at the counter that ran all along the great marble hall, waiting for Hermione to introduce them to the other couple.

"Oh my, you're Muggles!" said Mr. Weasley delightedly. "We must have a drink! What's that you've got there? Oh, you're changing Muggle money. Molly, look!" He pointed excitedly at the ten-pound notes in Mr. Granger's hand.

"Meet you back here," Ron said to Hermione and Thomas as the Weasleys and Harry were led off to their underground vaults by another Gringotts goblin.

Seeing that, Thomas could only shake his head with a smile on his face. If learned something about Arthur Weasley was that the man was a sucker for Muggles and anything related to them.

After the Weasleys and Harry were led off by a Gringotts goblin to their vaults, Thomas, Hermione, and her parents approached another goblin at a nearby counter to exchange some Muggle money. Thomas couldn't help but feel a bit amused as he watched Mr. Weasley's fascination with the ten-pound notes. It was clear that Arthur Weasley's fascination with the Muggle world was a stark contrast to the goblin's disdain for all things non-magical.

Thomas exchanged some Muggle money for Wizarding currency and followed Hermione and her parents to their vault. As they made their way towards the cart that will take them to the vault, Thomas found himself nodding to a few goblins he recognized from his previous visits to Gringotts. Thanks to his dealings with the devils and the reputation he had earned among these small but rather strong creatures, he had gained some level of respect and recognition from them.

Once they reached the mine cart, Thomas politely excused himself to check on his own account. He approached the goblin he had somewhat befriended during his past visits, a goblin named Griphook. Griphook had been intrigued by Thomas's dealings with the devils and his lucrative business, and they had struck up an unusual sort of friendship over time.

"Hello, Griphook," Thomas greeted the goblin with a nod.

"Thomas Grayson," Griphook acknowledged him with a nod in return. "What brings you here today?"

"Just checking on my account, making sure everything is in order," Thomas replied.

Griphook led him to a nearby counter and began the process of checking his account balance. Thomas observed the goblin as he meticulously went through the paperwork. The goblins were known for their precision when it came to handling finances, and Thomas trusted Griphook to be thorough.

After a few minutes, Griphook looked up and nodded in satisfaction. "Everything seems to be in order, Mr. Grayson. Your account is in good standing and since your last visit, another 63 galleons have been added to your account with the total coming short of 376 galleons,10 sickles, and 1 knut ."

"Thank you, Griphook. I appreciate your help."

Griphook inclined his head slightly. "It's my duty, Mr. Grayson. Gringotts takes great pride in ensuring the security and accuracy of our clients' accounts. Even more so when that client just created a new business that we the goblins didn't have access to before."

Thomas smiled. "And you excel at it. I hope my business has been beneficial to both parties."

Griphook's eyes glittered with a hint of amusement. "Indeed, your business dealings have been quite profitable, both for you and for Gringotts. It's not often we encounter someone with such unique ventures. The taxes alone got us half of the money you earned and I can only hope that you will continue to grow that business of yours."

Thomas chuckled in response, knowing very well that those gold-loving creatures loved to get rich. "I suppose that's true. Well, I won't take up any more of your time, Griphook. Thank you again for your assistance."

The goblin nodded, and Thomas left the counter feeling satisfied with the state of his account. He rejoined Hermione and her parents, who were waiting nearby.

Back outside on the marble steps, they all separated. Percy muttered vaguely about needing a new quill. Fred and George had spotted their friend from Hogwarts, Lee Jordan. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were going to a secondhand robe shop. Mr. Weasley was insisting on taking the Grangers off to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink.

"We'll all meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your schoolbooks," said Mrs. Weasley, setting off with Ginny. "And not one step down Knockturn Alley!" she shouted at the twins' retreating backs.

Thomas, Harry, Ron, and Hermione strolled off along the winding, cobbled street. The bag of gold, silver, and bronze jangling cheerfully in Harry's pocket was clamoring to be spent, so he bought four large strawberry-and-peanut-butter ice creams, which they slurped happily, as they wandered up the alley, examining the fascinating shop windows. Ron gazed longingly at a full set of Chudley Cannon robes in the windows of Quality Quidditch Supplies until Hermione dragged them off to buy ink and parchment next door. In Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, they met Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, who were stocking up on Dr. Filibuster's Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat Fireworks, and in a tiny junk shop full of broken wands, lopsided brass scales, and old cloaks covered in potion stains they found Percy, deeply immersed in a small and deeply boring book called Prefects Who Gained Power.

"A study of Hogwarts prefects and their later careers," Ron read aloud off the back cover. "That sounds like something only you could be fascinated about brother."

"Go away!" Percy snapped.

"' Course, he's very ambitious, Percy, he's got it all planned out … He wants to be Minister of Magic … " Ron told his friends in an undertone as they left Percy to it.

An hour later, they headed for Flourish and Blotts. They were by no means the only ones making their way to the bookshop. As they approached it, they saw to the surprise of Thomas's friend, a large crowd jostling outside the doors, trying to get in. The reason for this was proclaimed by a large banner stretched across the upper windows:

GILDEROY LOCKHART

will be signing copies of his autobiography

MAGICAL ME

today 12:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.

"We can actually meet him!" Hermione squealed. "I mean, he's written almost the whole booklist!"

Thomas face palmed himself, forgetting about this so-called great hero and adventurer.

'God help me since I know I might kill the man if he starts blasting nonsense in my direction.' Thomas prayed silently in his mind while trying not to look at the madness in front of him.

"Guys, I think we should wait for this madness to finish. Also, Hermione, I'm pretty sure my stories are better than his, not to mention real."

Hermione glanced at Thomas promising him a slow and painful death if he continues talking nonsense about her idol. And so like any boy that loved his life, Thomas choose to shut his mouth and simply let himself be dragged into the store by his rather excited girl friend.

If that wasn't bad enough, the crowd seemed to be made up mostly of witches around Mrs. Weasley's age, while a harassed-looking wizard stood at the door, saying, "Calmly, please, ladies … Don't push, there … mind the books, now…ladies, please, there's enough Lockhart for everyone."

'I think I might throw out.' Thomas barely calmed himself before the worst could happen as the kids barely managed to squeeze inside. A long line wound right to the back of the shop, where Gilderoy Lockhart was signing his books. They each grabbed a copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2, and sneaked up the line to where the rest of the Weasleys were standing with Hermione's parents.

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