〃Hang on；〃 blurted Harry。 〃What about my punishment？〃
Fudge blinked。 〃Punishment？〃
〃I broke the law！〃 Harry said。 〃The Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry！〃
〃Oh； my dear boy； we're not going to punish you for a little thing like that！〃 cried Fudge； waving his crumpet impatiently。 〃It was an accident！ We don't send people to Azkaban just for blowing up their aunts！〃
But this didn't tally at all with Harry's past dealings with the Ministry of Magic。
〃Last year； I got an official warning just because a house…elf smashed a pudding in my uncle's house！〃 he told Fudge； frowning。 〃The Ministry of Magic said I'd be expelled from Hogwarts if there was any more magic there！〃
Unless Harry's eyes were deceiving him； Fudge was suddenly looking awkward。
〃Circumstances change； Harry。。。 We have to take into account。。。 in the present climate。。。 Surely you don't want to be expelled？〃
〃Of course I don't；〃 said Harry。
〃Well then； what's A the fuss about？〃 laughed Fudge。 〃Now； have a crumpet； Harry； while I go and see if Tom's got a room for you。〃
Fudge strode out of the parlor and Harry stared after him。 There was something extremely odd going on。 Why had Fudge been waiting for him at the Leaky Cauldron； if not to punish him for what he'd done？ And now Harry came to think of it； surely it wasn't usual for the Minister of Magic himself to get involved in matters of underage magic？
Fudge came back； acpanied by Tom the innkeeper。
〃Room eleven's free； Harry；〃 said Fudge。 〃I think you'll be very fortable。 just one thing； and I'm sure you'll understand。。。 I don't want you wandering off into Muggle London； all right？ Keep to Diagon Alley。 And you're to be back here before dark each night。 Sure you'll understand。 Tom will be keeping an eye on you for me。〃
〃Okay；〃 said Harry slowly； 〃but why？〃
〃Don't want to lose you again； do we？〃 said Fudge with a hearty laugh。 〃No； no。。。 best we know where you are。。。 I mean。。。〃
Fudge cleared his throat loudly and picked up his pinstriped cloak。
〃Well； I'll be off； plenty to do； you know。。。
〃Have you had any luck with Black yet？〃 Harry asked。
Fudge's finger slipped on the silver fastenings of his cloak。
〃What's that？ Oh； you've heard…well； no； not yet； but it's only a matter of time。 The Azkaban guards have never yet failed。。。 and they are angrier than I've ever seen them。〃
Fudge shuddered slightly。
〃So； I'll say good…bye。〃
He held out his hand and Harry； shaking it； had a sudden idea。
〃Er…Minister？ Can I ask you something？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Fudge with a smile。
〃Well； third years at Hogwarts are allowed to visit Hogsmeade； but my aunt and uncle didn't sign the permission form。 D'you think you could …？〃
Fudge was looking unfortable。
〃Ah；〃 he said。 〃No； no； I'm very sorry； Harry； but as I'm not your parent or guardian …〃
〃But you I re the Minister of Magic；〃 said Harry eagerly。 〃If you gave me permission
〃No； I'm sorry； Harry； but rules are rules；〃 said Fudge flatly。
'Perhaps You'll be able to visit Hogsmeade next year。 In fact； I think it's best if you don't。。。 yes。。。 well； I'll be off Enjoy your stay； Harry。〃
And with a last smile and shake of Harry's hand； Fudge left the room。 Tom now moved forward； beaming at Harry。
〃If you'll follow me； Mr。 Potter；〃 he said； 〃I've already taken your things up。。。〃
Harry followed Tom up a handsome wooden staircase to a door with a brass number eleven on it； which Tom unlocked and opened for him。
Inside was a very fortable…looking bed； some highly polished oak furniture； a cheerfully crackling fire and； perched on top of the wardrobe …
〃Hedwig！〃 Harry gasped。
The snowy owl clicked her beak and fluttered down onto Harry's arm。
〃Very smart owl you've got there； chuckled Tom。 〃Arrived about five minutes after you did。 If there's anything you need； Mr。 Potter； don't hesitate to ask。〃
He gave another bow and left。
Harry sat on his bed for a long time； absentmindedly stroking Hedwig。 The sky outside the window was changing rapidly from deep； velvety blue to cold； steely gray and then； slowly； to pink shot with gold。 Harry could hardly believe that he'd left Privet Drive only a few hours ago； that he wasn't expelled； and that he was now facing two pletely Dursley…free weeks。
〃It's been a very weird night； Hedwig；〃 he yawned。
And without even removing his glasses； he slumped back onto his pillows and fell asleep。
CHAPTER FOUR
THE LEAKY CAULDRON
It took Harry several days to get used to his strange new freedom。 Never before had he been able to get up whenever he wanted or eat whatever he fancied。 He could even go wherever he pleased； as long as it was in Diagon Alley； and as this long cobbled street was packed with the most fascinating wizarding shops in the world； Harry felt no desire to break his word to Fudge and stray back into the Muggle world。
Harry ate breakfast each morning in the Leaky Cauldron； where he liked watching the other guests： funny little witches from the country； up for a day's shopping； venerable…looking wizards arguing over the latest article in Transfiguration Today； wild…looking warlocks； raucous dwarfs； and once； what looked suspiciously like a hag； who ordered a plate of raw liver from behind a thick woollen balaclava。
After breakfast Harry would go out into the backyard； take out his wand； tap the third brick from the left above the trash bit；； and stand back as the archway into Diagon Alley opened in the wall。
Harry spent the long sunny days exploring the shops and eating under the brightly colored umbrellas outside cafes； where his fellow diners were showing one another their purchases （ 〃 it； s a lunascope； old boy…no more messing around with moon charts； see？〃） or else discussing the case of Sirius Black （〃personalty； I won't let any of the children out alone until he's back in Azkaban〃）。 Harry didn't have to do his homework under the blankets by flashlight anymore； now he could sit in the bright sunshine outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor； finishing all his essays with occasional help from Florean Fortescue himself； who； apart from knowing a great deal about medieval witch burnings； gave Harry free sundaes every half an hour。
Once Harry had refilled his money bag with gold Galleons； silver Sickles； and bronze Knuts from his vault at Gringotts； he had to exercise a lot of self…control not to spend the whole lot at once。 He had to keep reminding himself that he had five years to go at Hogwarts； and how it would feel to ask the Dursleys for money for spellbooks； to stop himself from buying a handsome set of solid gold Gobstones （a wizarding game rather like marbles； in which the stones squirt a nasty…smelling liquid into the other player's face when they lose a point）。 He was sorely tempted； too； by the perfect； moving model of the galaxy in a large glass ball； which would have meant he never had to take another Astronomy lesson。 But the thing that tested Harry's resolution most appeared in his favorite shop； Quality Quidditch Supplies； a week after he'd arrived at the Leaky Cauldron。
Curious to know what the crowd in the shop was staring at； Harry edged his way inside and squeezed in among the excited witches and wizards until he glimpsed a newly erected podium； on which was mounted the most magnificent broom he had ever seen in his life。
〃Just e out…prototype …〃 a square…jawed wizard was telling his panion。
〃It's the fastest broom in the world； isn't it； Dad？〃 squeaked a boy younger than Harry； who was swinging off his father's arm。
〃Irish International Side's Just put in an order for seven of these beauties！〃 the proprietor of the shop told the crowd。 〃And they're favorites for the World Cup！〃
A large witch in front of Harry moved； and he was able to read the sign next to the broom：
*THE FIREBOLT*
THIS STATE…OF…THE…ART PACING BROOM SPORTS A STREAM…LINED； SUPERFINE HANDLE OF ASH； TREATED WITH A DIAMOND…HARD POLISH AND HANDNUMBERED WITH ITS OWN REGISTRATION NUMBER。 EACH INDIVIDUALLY SELECTED BIRCH TWIG IN THE BROOMTAIL HAS BEEN HONED TO AERODYNAMIC PERFECTION； GIVING THE FIREBOLT UNSURPASSABLE BALANCE AND PINPOINT PRECISION。 THE FIREBOLT HAS AN ACCELERATION OF 150 MILES AN HOUR IN TEN SECONDS AND INCORPORATES AN UNBREAKABLE BRAKING CHARM。 PRICE ON REQUEST。
Price on request。。。 Harry didn't like to think how much gold the Firebolt would cost。 He had never wanted anything as much in his whole life…but he had never lost a Quidditch match on his Nim bus Two Thousand； and what was the point in emptying his Gringotts vault for the Firebolt； when he had a very good broom already？ Harry didn't ask for the price； but he returned； almost every day after that； just to look at the Firebolt。
There were； however； things that Harry needed to buy。 He went to the Apothecary to replenish his store of potions ingredients； and as his school robes were now several inches too short in the arm and leg； he visited Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and bought new ones。 Most important of all； he had to buy his new schoolbooks； which would include those for his two new subjects； Care of Magical Creatures and Divination。
Harry got a