CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE !

THE LEAKY CAULDRON

_________

FINN BLACK WATCHED AND WAITED FOR HIS BEST FRIENDS ARRIVAL. HE WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE HARRY AGAIN.

  "Finally!" said Ron, and Finn whipped his head around to see Harry walking towards them. Finn immediately got up and threw his arms around the boy who laughed and hugged Finn tighter. As they sat down, Ron was rambling on.

"We went to the Leaky Cauldron, but they said you'd left, and we went to Flourish and Blotts, and Madam Malkin's, and --"

  "I got all my school stuff last week," Harry explained. "And how come you knew I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron?"

  "Dad," said Ron simply.

  Mr. Weasley, who worked at the Ministry of Magic, would of course have heard the whole story of what had happened to Aunt Marge.

  "Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?" said Hermione in a very serious voice.

  "I didn't mean to," said Harry, while Ron roared with laughter and Finn giggled. "I just -- lost control. "

  "It's not funny, you two," said Hermione sharply. "Honestly, I'm amazed Harry wasn't expelled. "

  "So am I," admitted Harry. "Forget expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested. " He looked at Ron. "Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let me off, does he?"

  "Probably 'cause it's you, isn't it?" shrugged Ron, still chuckling. "Famous Harry Potter and all that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry'd do to me if I blew up an aunt. Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me. Anyway, you can ask Dad yourself this evening. We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight too! So you can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow! Hermione's there as well!"

  Hermione nodded, beaming. "Mum and Dad dropped me off this morning with all my Hogwarts things. "

  "Excellent!" said Harry happily. "So, have you got all your new books and stuff?"

"Yeah, my mum and I went school shopping with the Weasley's." said Finn.

"Is your mum here?" asked Harry.

"Not anymore, no. She doesn't like staying out in public for very long." replied Finn and Harry nodded.

  "Look at this," said Ron, pulling a long thin box out of a bag and opening it. "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. And we've got all our books --" He pointed at a large bag under his chair. "What about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two. "

  "What's all that, Hermione?" Harry asked, pointing at not one but three bulging bags in the chair next to her.

  "Well, I'm taking more new subjects than you, aren't I," said Hermione. "Those are my books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, the Study of Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies --"

  "What are you doing Muggle Studies for?" said Ron, rolling his eyes at Harry. "You're Muggle-born! Your mum and dad are Muggles! You already know all about Muggles!"

  "But it'll be fascinating to study them from the wizarding point of view," said Hermione earnestly.

  "Are you planning to eat or sleep at all this year, Hermione?" asked Finn, while Ron sniggered. Hermione ignored them.

  "I've still got ten Galleons," she said, checking her purse. "It's my birthday in September, and Mum and Dad gave me some money to get myself an early birthday present. "

  "How about a nice book? said Ron innocently.

  "No, I don't think so," said Hermione composedly. "I really want an owl or a cat maybe. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig, Finn's got Artemis, and you've got Errol --"

  "I haven't," said Ron. "Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers. " He pulled his pet rat out of his pocket. "And I want to get him checked over," he added, placing Scabbers on the table in front of them. "I don't think Egypt agreed with him." Scabbers was looking thinner than usual, and there was a definite droop to his whiskers.

  "There's a magical creature shop just over there," said Harry, who knew Diagon Alley very well by now. "You could see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can get her owl. "

  So they paid for their ice cream and crossed the street to the Magical Menagerie. There wasn't much room inside. Every inch of wall was hidden by cages. It was smelly and very noisy because the occupants of these cages were all squeaking, squawking, jabbering, or hissing. The witch behind the counter was already advising a wizard on the care of double-ended newts, so Finn, Harry, Ron, and Hermione waited, examining the cages.

  A pair of enormous purple toads sat gulping wetly and feasting on dead blowflies. A gigantic tortoise with a jewel-encrusted shell was glittering near the window. Poisonous orange snails were oozing slowly up the side of their glass tank, and a fat white rabbit kept changing into a silk top hat and back again with a loud popping noise. Then there were cats of every color, a noisy cage of ravens, a basket of funny custard-colored furballs that were humming loudly, and on the counter, a vast cage of sleek black rats that were playing some sort of skipping game using their long, bald tails. The double-ended newt wizard left, and Ron approached the counter.

  "It's my rat," he told the witch. "He's been a bit off-color ever since I brought him back from Egypt. "

  "Bang him on the counter," said the witch, pulling a pair of heavy black spectacles out of her pocket.

  Ron lifted Scabbers out of his inside pocket and placed him next to the cage of his fellow rats, who stopped their skipping tricks and scuffled to the wire for a better took. Like nearly everything Ron owned, Scabbers the rat was secondhand (he had once belonged to Ron's brother Percy) and a bit battered. Next to the glossy rats in the cage, he looked especially woebegone.

  "Hm," said the witch, picking up Scabbers. "How old is this rat?"

  "Dunno," said Ron. "Quite old. He used to belong to my brother. "

  "What powers does he have?" said the witch, examining Scabbers closely.

  "Er --" The truth was that Scabbers had never shown the faintest trace of interesting powers. The witch's eyes moved from Scabbers's tattered left ear to his front paw, which had a toe missing, and tutted loudly.

  "He's been through the mill, this one," she said.

  "He was like that when Percy gave him to me," said Ron defensively.

  "An ordinary common or garden rat like this can't be expected to live longer than three years or so," said the witch. "Now, if you were looking for something a bit more hard-wearing, you might like one of these --"

  She indicated the black rats, who promptly started skipping again. Ron muttered, "Show-offs."

  "Well, if you don't want a replacement, you can try this rat tonic," said the witch, reaching under the counter and bringing out a small red bottle.

  "Okay," said Ron. "How much -- OUCH!"

  Ron buckled as something huge and orange came soaring from the top of the highest cage, landed on his head, and then propelled itself, spitting madly, at Scabbers.

  "NO, CROOKSHANKS, NO!" cried the witch, but Scabbers shot from between her hands like a bar of soap, landed splay-legged on the floor, and then scampered for the door.

  "Scabbers!" Ron shouted, racing out of the shop after him; Finn and Harry followed. It took them nearly ten minutes to catch Scabbers, who had taken refuge under a wastepaper bin outside Quality Quidditch Supplies. Ron stuffed the trembling rat back into his pocket and straightened up, massaging his head.

  "What was that?"

  "It was either a very big cat or quite a small tiger," said Harry.

  "Where's Hermione?"

  "Probably getting her owl." said Finn.

  They made their way back up the crowded street to the Magical Menagerie. As they reached it, Hermione came out, but she wasn't carrying an owl. Her arms were clamped tightly around the enormous ginger cat.

  "You bought that monster?" said Ron, his mouth hanging open.

  "He's gorgeous, isn't he?" said Hermione, glowing.

  That was a matter of opinion, thought Finn, though he loved cats. The cat's ginger fur was thick and fluffy, but it was definitely a bit bowlegged and its face looked grumpy and oddly squashed, as though it had run headlong into a brick wall. Now that Scabbers was out of sight, however, the cat was purring contentedly in Hermione's arms.

  "Hermione, that thing nearly scalped me!" said Ron.

  "He didn't mean to, did you, Crookshanks?" said Hermione.

  "And what about Scabbers?" said Ron, pointing at the lump in his chest pocket. "He needs rest and relaxation! How's he going to get it with that thing around?"

  "That reminds me, you forgot your rat tonic," said Hermione, slapping the small red bottle into Ron's hand. "And stop worrying, Crookshanks will be sleeping in my dormitory and Scabbers in yours, what's the problem? Poor Crookshanks, that witch said he'd been in there for ages; no one wanted him. "

  "Wonder why," said Ron sarcastically as they set off toward the Leaky Cauldron.

  They found Mr. Weasley sitting in the bar, reading the Daily Prophet. "Harry!" he said, smiling as he looked up. "How are you?"

  "Fine, thanks," said Harry as he, Finn, Ron, and Hermione joined Mr. Weasley with their shopping.

  Mr. Weasley put down his paper, and Finn saw the picture on the front of the paper. Sirius Black. The only thing he knew was that Black was his uncle.

  "They still haven't caught him, then?" Harry asked and Finn noticed him give the boy a weary glance.

  "No," said Mr. Weasley, looking extremely grave. "They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far. "

  "Would we get a reward if we caught him?" asked Ron. "It'd be good to get some more money --"

  "Don't be ridiculous, Ron," said Mr. Weasley, who on closer inspection looked very strained. "Black's not going to be caught by a thirteen-year-old wizard. It's the Azkaban guards who'll get him back, You mark my words. "

  At that moment Mrs. Weasley entered the bar, laden with shopping bags and followed by the twins, Fred and George, who were about to start their fifth year at Hogwarts; the newly elected Head Boy, Percy; and the Weasleys" youngest child and only girl, Ginny.

  Ginny, who had always been very taken with Harry, seemed even more heartily embarrassed than usual when she saw him, perhaps because he had saved her life during their previous year at Hogwarts. She went very red and muttered "hello" without looking at him. Percy, however, held out his hand solemnly as though he and Harry had never met and said, "Harry. How nice to see you. "

  "Hello, Percy," said Harry, trying not to laugh.

  "I hope you're well?" said Percy pompously, shaking hands. It was rather like being introduced to the mayor.

  "Very well, thanks --"

  "Harry!" said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply. "Simply splendid to see you, old boy --"

  "Marvelous," said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing. "

  Percy scowled. Finn laughed.

  "That's enough, now," said Mrs. Weasley.

  "Mum!" said Fred, as though he'd only just spotted her and seizing her hand, too. "How really corking to see you --"

  "I said, that's enough," said Mrs. Weasley, depositing her shopping in an empty chair. "Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?" She pointed to the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. "Second Head Boy in the family!" she said, swelling with pride.

  "And last," Fred muttered under his breath.

  I don't doubt that," said Mrs. Weasley, frowning suddenly. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects. "

  "What do we want to be prefects for?" said George, looking revolted at the very idea. "It'd take all the fun out of life. "

  Ginny giggled. "You want to set a better example for your sister!" snapped Mrs. Weasley.

  "Gunny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother," said Percy loftily. "I'm going up to change for dinner. . . "

  He disappeared and George heaved a sigh.

  "We tried to shut him in a pyramid," he told Finn and Harry. "But Mum spotted us. "

• • •

DINNER THAT NIGHT WAS A VERY ENJOYABLE AFFAIR. Tom the innkeeper put three tables together in the parlor, and the seven Weasleys, Finn, Harry, and Hermione ate their way through five delicious courses.

  "How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as they dug into a sumptuous chocolate pudding.

  "The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," said Mr. Weasley. Everyone looked up at him.

  "Why?" said Percy curiously.

  "It's because of you, Perce," said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them--"

  "-- for Humongous Bighead," said Fred.

  Everyone except Percy and Mrs. Weasley snorted into their pudding.

  "Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?" Percy asked again, in a dignified voice.

  "Well, as we haven't got one anymore," said Mr. Weasley, "and as I work there, they're doing me a favor. . . "

  His voice was casual, but Finn couldn't help noticing that Mr. Wesley's ears had gone red, just like Ron's did when he was under pressure.

  "Good thing, too," said Mrs. Weasley briskly. "Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle Underground. . . You are all packed, aren't you?"

  "Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk yet," said Percy, in a long-suffering voice. "He's dumped them on my bed. "

  "You'd better go and pack properly, Ron, because we won't have much time in the morning," Mrs. Weasley called down the table. Ron scowled at Percy.

  After dinner everyone felt very full and sleepy. One by one they made their way upstairs to their rooms to check their things for the next day. Ron and Percy were next door to Harry and Finn had decided to stay in Harry's room too now that he was here. Finn had just closed and locked his own trunk when he heard angry voices through the wall, and went to see what was going on.

  The door of number twelve was ajar and Percy was shouting.

  "It was here, on the bedside table, I took it off for polishing --"

  "I haven't touched it, all right?" Ron roared back.

  "What's up?" said Finn.

  "My Head Boy badge is gone," said Percy, rounding on Finn and Harry.

  "So's Scabbers's Rat Tonic," said Ron, throwing things out of his trunk to look. "I think I might've left it in the bar --"

  "You're not going anywhere till you've found my badge!" yelled Percy.

  "We'll get Scabbers's stuff, Harry and I are packed," Finn said to Ron and Harry nodded, and they went downstairs.

  The two boys were halfway along the passage to the bar, which was now very dark, when they heard another pair of angry voices coming from the parlor. A second later, Finn recognized them as Mr. and Mrs. Weasleys". He and Harry hesitated, not wanting them to know they'd heard them arguing, when the sound of his and Harry's own names made Finn stop, then move closer to the parlor door.

". . . makes no sense not to tell them," Mr. Weasley was saying heatedly. "Harry's got a right to know and so does Finn! Black is Finn's uncle! I've tried to tell Fudge, but he insists on treating Harry and Finn like children. They're thirteen years old and --"

  "Arthur, the truth would terrify them!" said Mrs. Weasley shrilly. "Do you really want to send Harry or Finn back to school with that hanging over them? And Finn? He would think his family's actions would make him a burden. For heaven's sake, they're happy not knowing!"

  "I don't want to make them miserable, I want to put the on guard!" retorted Mr. Weasley. "You know what Finn, Harry and Ron are like, wandering off by themselves -- they've ended up in the Forbidden Forest twice! But Harry mustn't do that this year! Neither should Finn! He needn't know anything about his families past! When I think what could have happened to Harr that night he ran away from home! If the Knight Bus hadn't picked him up, I'm prepared to bet he would have been dead before the Ministry found him. "

  "But he's not dead, he's fine, so what's the point --"

  "Molly, they say Sirius Black's mad, and maybe he is, but he was clever enough to escape from Azkaban, and that's supposed to be impossible. It's been three weeks, and no one's seen hide nor hair of him, and I don't care what Fudge keeps telling the Daily Prophet, we're no nearer catching Black than inventing self-spelling wands. The only thing we know for sure is what Black's after --"

  "But Harry and Finn will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts. "

  "We thought Azkaban was perfectly safe. If Black can break out of Azkaban, he can break into Hogwarts. "

  "But no one's really sure that Black's after either of them --"

  There was a thud on wood, and Finn was sure Mr. Weasley had banged his fist on the table.

  "Molly, how many times do I have to tell you? They didn't report it in the press because Fudge wanted it kept quiet, but Fudge went out to Azkaban the night Black escaped. The guards told Fudge that Blacks been talking in his sleep for a while now. Always the same words: "He's at Hogwarts. . . he's at Hogwarts. " Black is deranged, Molly, and he wants Harry dead and as for Finn, I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to kill his brothers son. If you ask me, he thinks murdering Harry will bring You-Know-Who back to power. Black lost everything the night Harry stopped You-Know-Who, and he's had twelve years alone in Azkaban to brood on that. . . "

  There was a silence. Finn leaned still closer to the door, desperate to hear more.

  "Well, Arthur, you must do what you think is right. But you're forgetting Albus Dumbledore. I don't think anything could hurt Harry at Hogwarts while Dumbledore's Headmaster or Finn for that matter. I suppose he knows about all this?"

  "Of course he knows. We had to ask him if he minds the Azkaban guards stationing themselves around the entrances to the school grounds. He wasn't happy about it, but he agreed. "

  "Not happy? Why shouldn't he be happy, if they're there to catch Black?"

  "Dumbledore isn't fond of the Azkaban guards," said Mr. Weasley heavily. "Nor am I, if it comes to that. . . but when you're dealing with a wizard like Black, you sometimes have to join forces with those you'd rather avoid. "

  "If they save Harry or Finn --"

  "Then I will never say another word against them, said Mr. Weasley wearily. "It's late, Molly, we'd better go up. . . "

  Finn heard chairs move. As quietly as they could, Finn and Harry hurried down the passage to the bar and out of sight. The parlor door opened, and a few seconds later footsteps told them that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were climbing the stairs.

  The bottle of rat tonic was lying under the table they had sat at earlier. Finn waited until he heard Mr. and Mrs. Wesley's bedroom door close, then headed back upstairs with the bottle.

  Fred and George were crouching in the shadows on the landing, heaving with laughter as they listened to Percy dismantling his and Ron's room in search of his badge.

  "We've got it," Fred whispered to Harry. "We've been improving it. "

  The badge now read Bighead Boy. Finn forced a laugh, went to give Ron the rat tonic, then shut himself in his and Harry's room and lay down on his bed while Harry lay on the other.

  So Sirius Black was after Harry and it had something to do with Finn's family past. This explained everything.

  Finn lay listening to the muffled shouting next door and wondered why he didn't feel more scared. Sirius Black had murdered thirteen people with one curse; Mr. and Mrs. , Weasley obviously thought Harry would be panic-stricken if he knew the truth. But Finn happened to agree wholeheartedly with Mrs. Weasley that the safest place on earth was wherever Albus Dumbledore happened to be. Didn't people always say that Dumbledore was the only person Lord Voldemort had ever been afraid of? Surely Black, as Voldemort's right-hand man, would be just as frightened of him?

  And then there were these Azkaban guards everyone kept talking about. They seemed to scare most people senseless, and if they were stationed all around the school, Black's chances of getting inside seemed very remote.

  "I'm not going to be murdered," Harry said out loud, bringing Finn back to reality. Harry seemed to have read his mind.

  "That's the spirit, dear," said the mirror sleepily.