The Leaky Cauldron

           IttookHarryseveraldaystogetusedtohisstrangenewfreedom.Neverbeforehadhebeenabletogetupwheneverhewantedoreatwhateverhefancied.Hecouldevengowhereverhepleased,aslongasitwasinDiagonAlley,andasthislongcobbledstreetwaspackedwiththemostfascinatingwizardingshopsintheworld,HarryfeltnodesiretobreakhiswordtoFudgeandstraybackintotheMuggleworld.

           HarryatebreakfasteachmorningintheLeakyCauldron,wherehelikedwatchingtheotherguests:funnylittlewitchesfromthecountry,upforaday’sshopping;venerable-lookingwizardsarguingoverthelatestarticleinTransfigurationToday;wild-lookingwarlocks;raucousdwarfs;andonce,whatlookedsuspiciouslylikeahag,whoorderedaplateofrawliverfrombehindathickwoolenbalaclava.

           AfterbreakfastHarrywouldgooutintothebackyard,takeouthiswand,tapthethirdbrickfromtheleftabovethetrashbin,andstandbackasthearchwayintoDiagonAlleyopenedinthewall.

           Harryspentthelongsunnydaysexploringtheshopsandeatingunderthebrightlycoloredumbrellasoutsidecafes,wherehisfellowdinerswereshowingoneanothertheirpurchases("It’salunascope,oldboy—nomoremessingaroundwithmooncharts,see?")orelsediscussingthecaseofSiriusBlack("Personally,Iwon’tletanyofthechildrenoutaloneuntilhe’sbackinAzkaban").Harrydidn’thavetodohishomeworkundertheblanketsbyflashlightanymore;nowhecouldsitinthebrightsunshineoutsideFloreanFortescue’sIceCreamParlor,finishingallhisessayswithoccasionalhelpfromFloreanFortescuehimself,who,apartfromknowingagreatdealaboutmedievalwitchburnings,gaveHarryfreesundaeseveryhalfanhour.