She thought it over for a minute. "Well our most expensive dress robes for this type of occasion cost about 55 galleons, but…."
"No problem," Harry interrupted. He took out his money bag, spoke "50 galleons," and dumped the contents on the nearby counter. "That should more than cover the cost of whatever robes she picks out, with her 9 galleons added, and you can keep the rest for your trouble and your kindness in helping me out."
"That's really not necessary, Mr. Potter," she blurted out, wide eyed.
"It's Harry," he corrected. "And it's really not a problem. I have more money than I know what to do with, and I really do appreciate your help. She's a very good friend of mine, and I'd just hate to see her worrying needlessly over something like this."
"It's my pleasure. Now you can consider those socks of yours on the house." Harry was about to speak up when she held up a hand to silence him. "I won't have any complaints. Together they wouldn't set you back much more than a galleon, and even if your lady friend picked out the most expensive robes here, you've still given me enough that with her 9 galleons, I'd still make out better than I should be. Now I won't take no for an answer."
"Thanks," he told her sincerely, with a smile firmly planted across his face, distinctly satisfied with how this visit was playing out.
"It's been a pleasure doing business with you," she sang cheerfully.
"Likewise," Harry called over his shoulder, already reaching for the door. He exited the shop and headed further into town. His next stop was to be the Three Broomsticks. When he entered the familiar pub, he was almost surprised to find it nearly empty. It's not that he had been expecting a large crowd or anything. In fact, he knew that there wouldn't be many people there. But he was not used to seeing it without a crowd of students filling it.
He had looked into the pub briefly over the summer when he was first exploring in his owl form, but he had not actually entered the bar at the time, and he had only briefly glanced inside the one time. After the first time, he had mostly steered clear of the town, not wanting to risk being spotted. He didn't know if it was possible to tell if an animal was actually an animagus, but he guessed that if it was possible, somebody like Dumbledore or Moody would probably be able to do it. With Hogwarts close by, running into Dumbledore could always be a risk in the town. And Harry didn't know where Moody might be, considering that he worked for the Order. He could theoretically be anywhere.
Harry shook himself out of his thoughts and strode up to the bar. Madame Rosmerta, the barmaid and owner of the tavern, was currently serving one of the two men who were sitting at the bar. Harry hopped up onto one of the bar stools to wait, his eyes wandering the room idly. He hadn't been waiting long when a melodious voice broke him out of his reverie. "What can I get you, sweetie?"
Harry turned to find Rosmerta leaning slightly over the bar directly in front of him. He caught an eyeful of… some of her assets and realized that she must've been drop dead gorgeous when she was younger. Heck, she was still gorgeous, he admitted to himself, even though she was well older than his parents. He didn't allow his eyes to linger as he brought them up to her round face and locked with her honey colored eyes.
"I was wondering if you sold butterbeer in bulk," Harry asked her.
"What did you have in mind?" she replied, pushing herself up and off the bar. She grabbed a dish rag and began wiping a glass lazily as she observed him.
"Well, we have a Quidditch match coming up," Harry explained to her, eyes never leaving her warm face, "and it is customary to have a party afterwards, assuming we win of course." The last was added on almost as though he thought it somewhat unnecessary. "In the past, the Weasley twins- I'm sure you remember them-"he smirked at her and she chuckled in response as he continued. "They have always provided Gryffindor with plenty of butterbeer and a variety of food. I'm sure I can get the house elves to provide some food for us, but I'm at a loss for the butterbeer."
"Well, I might be able to set you up with a couple kegs," she began, setting the glass and rag down on the bar. "Mind you that they're not exactly cheap…."
"I've got plenty of money," Harry interrupted.
She smiled at him warmly. "And I'm guessing you're trying to keep this a secret…?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?" he asked curiously.
"Well, I usually don't see students in here quite so early," she explained. "And when I do they're usually not alone," she added mischievously.
"Oh," Harry blushed faintly. "Right, I guess it is kind of obvious."
"Just a bit," she teased. "I'm not sure how you'll get them into the castle without all your friends seeing. I can't exactly owl them to you, so you'll have to take them up on your own."
"That's not a problem," Harry waved away her concern. "I can just stick the kegs in my trunk."
....
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