Harry woke up four hours late the morning he was supposed to meet Neville for shopping and wanted to swear. He hadn't realized how tired he was." Aunt Petunia, why didn't you wake me?" He said as he almost sprinted past her and Rose on his way to the shower.
"You've worked so hard and been so busy. I thought you deserved a bit of a lie in now that your summer courses are over." She said, shaking her head as the bathroom door closed on the last of her words. "It appears, my little Rosebud, that your cousin is in a bit of a snit. Let's go get you some formula, my precious flower."
Ten minutes later Harry was downstairs making himself some toast with strawberry preserves and pouring a glass of milk. Ordinarily he sat at the table, but today he ate standing near the sink and chugged his milk.
"Why are you eating like a mannerless lout?"
"Sorry, Aunt Petunia. I'm supposed to meet Neville and the rest of my friends in ten minutes at Diagon Alley we're doing our school shopping today?"
"What time are you supposed to be home?"
"We should be done by four I'd imagine, which means I'll probably be home by half six. Don't worry, I know it's my turn for supper. I'll pickup some take away from Rebecca's, alright?"
"Will Cassandra be with you?"
"No, Hannah Abbott's mum and Hermione Granger's parents are our adults."
"Alright, I'm sorry I didn't realize you had plans today. Have a good time, Harry." Petunia said to his back as he bolted out the backdoor. She shook her head. Her nephew had been so disciplined this summer. Even though Rose was prone to waking the household at night Harry had been up and made breakfasts and brown bag lunches most every morning before he left for his classes. He had come home late in the afternoon then had done chores around the house for an hour or two then he would study. As the summer had progressed she had seen him get more tired looking which was the main reason why when he slept through his alarm this morning she had just left him to sleep himself out.
Harry quickly glanced around the backyard to make sure no one was looking out second story windows or over the fence before activating his portkey to Potter Place, He barely said hello and goodbye to Cassandra before ducking into the floo to go to the Leaky Cauldron. He arrived via floo just as Hermione walked through the front door with her parents. Harry politely greeted the Gryffindor.
Hermione said, "Mum, Dad, this is my friend Harry Potter. Harry this is my mum Dr. Emma Granger, and my dad Dr. Daniel Granger."
"Dr Granger, Dr. Granger, it is nice to meet you." Harry shook hands with both of them."Thank you for supervising us today."
"It's our pleasure Harry. Hermione has told us so many stories. There's not much of this life we can share with Hermione but this we can do."
Neville came up beside Harry and said, "You're looking more rested but less put together than the last time I saw you."
"Yeah, well, sleeping four hours past your alarm does tend to do that."
Neville snickered then stepped forward for his introduction to Hermione's parents, the rest of the cadre arrived in ones and twos. Within five minutes everyone was there, and they moved into Diagon Alley itself. After the first stop of Gringotts the group spread out a little as they got their school supplies. Hermione got a cat. Harry thought it was an ugly thing, but it was obviously a familiar bond between the two. Harry was astounded at Flourish and Blotts' when Hermione bought the books for all the courses. Hannah, Tracey, Daphne and Susan all mimed the sign for crazy and when she saw it Hannah's mum swatted the back of her daughter's head. Harry was just glad that none of the Grangers noticed. He privately agreed with the girls but the lack of manners that was involved left him feeling vaguely ashamed of his own desire to snicker in agreement. The half the group that had gotten robes first headed to the apothecary for potion ingredients while the rest headed for robes. Harry, who had shot up five inches since February, knew that he was only getting his school robes from Madam Malkin. He had already contacted Jack to meet in Hogsmeade to discuss new robes nearer to Christmas. Because everyone in the cadre knew what they wanted and where to get it they finished their shopping by three and went to Florean Fortesque's for a treat.
Once there the group just sat down and chatted. The children occasionally switching who they were next to until everyone knew what everyone else knew. After forty five minutes of this Susan said, "I'd like to make an announcement."
"A month ago at Gringotts there was a sale. It was a private sale offered only to golden cauldron level Potion Masters, wand makers and Ministries of Magic around the world."