Hermione glared at him for a moment while Harry finalised the purchase.
Harry then turned back with the shrunken package and said, "There; done. Let's get out of here."
"Thank you," said Charlotte. "I don't like the idea you're here without proper protection and undisguised."
Harry smirked back and said, "Look at me. I look so much different than I looked only a few weeks ago that anyone who 'knows' me, now won't recognise me."
"You still have the glasses and the scar, Lord Potter," she disagreed.
"For now," he muttered.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When they finally arrived by portkey back at the Granger residence, Harry tried to immediately head for the kitchen to stake his claim at cooking for that night.
As he'd already started, Dobby was having none of it.
"Damn it!" grumped Harry.
"Master Harry needs to change," said Dobby. "Master Harry be havings a very busy day and needs to tell the Grangys about it. Master Harry should relax."
"I should fire you and throw your mangy arse out into the street in Knockturn Alley," Harry barked. "There, you'll be reduced to begging hags to allow you to clean their shoes of dog turds with your tongue!"
"Master Harry be sayings the nicest things," chirped the elf. "Master Harry be such a wonderful master!"
Stumped for a comeback, it was a moment before Harry just again barked, "Damn it!" And stomped from the kitchen.
As he walked into the parlour, where Monica was relaxing with paperwork spread on the coffee table before her, she said, "Leave Dobby alone, Harry. He's doing a good job."
"He's taking mine!" he grumped. "And he knows it, too; the scrawny little―"
Snapping her eyes to him she snapped back, "Harry."
Taking a deep breath he let it out in a long sigh. Then said, "Sorry."
She gave a nod back before turning her attention back to her papers. "He's right, though. You need to change; or, at least get rid of the coat, gloves and jumper."
Neville, who was still there and was snickering, stood and said, "I'd best get home. My parents will be waiting and wondering how my day went."
Harry gave a firm nod back and said, "I'll walk with you to the floo."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After reminding the boy he and Hermione would see to his purchases being sent over once they were delivered to the Granger residence, Harry saw the boy off before returning inside and going up to his room to shed himself of layers.
After disrobing of the coat, gloves and jumper, he then went ahead and removed the rest down to his boxers and socks before redressing in jeans, collared T-shirt and light jumper. On his feet he just donned trainers with Velcro fasteners.
As he came out, he was just in time to meet up with Hermione, who was coming down from her room wearing similar. On her, though, he thought it looked much better.
As they were walking down the stairs he asked, "How do you get into those jeans, Love? They look as if they're painted on."
Smiling at the unintentional compliment, she replied, "With practice, Love."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Through dinner, the two teens took turns explaining their day to the Granger parents.
"Twice, there, I thought we broke him," said Harry. "He was so stunned by what he'd seen I thought it might have been a toss up whether he was going to faint or run screaming in terror."
"He wasn't that bad," smiled Hermione. "He was surprised, though. By the end of it, however, he started to be able to handle it better."
"That's why you recommended a swing through Diagon, wasn't it?" he asked her. However, it was more a statement than a question.
Surprised, she replied, "Yes, actually. But, I did want to see you increase your wizarding wardrobe to go along with your muggle wardrobe. And you did need to replace your Hogwarts' wardrobe. Plus, yes, I also did want to pick up those books. Alice and Adeline both recommended them.
"Alice, from a half-blood's perspective and first being 'elevated' to the role of a Lady Presumptive, when she became betrothed to Frank. And, Adeline, from a pureblood perspective, who grew up her whole life in a Noble House."
"Nice," he nodded. "But, if you need any more and know the titles, let me know. I can easily send Dobby in to purchase them for you."
She nodded and said, "I'd forgotten about that; Dobby being able to go in, I mean."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
That evening, Croaker walked into the Knight's Shadow team bullpen and said, "A problem has arisen. A known Death Eater, the Axe, has begun to stake out the White Knight's hidey-hole."
"Damn!" said one. "Anything being done about it?"
"Eagle's managed to tag him with a compulsion charm that has him thinking he hasn't collected enough information yet, plus another that compulses him not to speak about what he knows until he does have enough information."
One of the others, Crow, gave a snort and said, "That's clever. We'll have to make note of that idea. It could come in handy in the future."
Owl asked, "Is the Axe 'sanctioned'?"
He meant, was deemed to be killed if that's what it took to ensure his silence.
"No," replied Croaker. "Instead, we're going to put a tracker rune on him the next time he turns up."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Their purchases from Harrods arrived almost right on the time the store told them they'd be delivered, a few minutes after 11.00am.
After accepting the delivery, paying the driver a tip for his professionalism and closing the door again as the man retreated up the front path, Harry called Dobby to take the clothes and other goods and put them in his and Hermione's rooms. "Once you've done that, can you take the stuff for Neville over to Longbottom Hall for me, with my compliments?"
"Of course, Master Harry," replied the elf.
Once Dobby had popped away, Harry bolted for the kitchen.
If he knew the elf as he thought he did, he would not just take the clothes upstairs, but would also remove them of tags and the like, probably given them a wash, re-press them and put them away.
.
.
.
.
.
🎉The novel is available in PDF with more than 400 chapters, visit us in our Ko-Fi store🎉
🎉ko-fi.com/sosukeaizen123🎉