The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Harry and Hagrid made their way back down Diagon Alley. Harry felt sorry for having to leave this enchanting place and almost despaired at the thought of returning to Privet Drive and staying with his aunt and uncle for another month, before going to school. This urged him to think hard, and he suddenly had an idea.
"Hagrid, don't I need some normal clothes too? I mean, robes are worn over regular clothes, aren't they?"
Hagrid stopped in his stride. "Well, I s'pose ye do, although some wizards wear notin' under their robes, so I've 'eard."
"In that case, shouldn't we take some muggle money as well? The muggle shops don't accept these coins, you know."
"Ye', that's right. Ye could change some money at Gringotts if you like."
Hagrid accompanied him back to the bank, letting Harry exchange some of his gold. Noticing that Hagrid was not paying him attention, Harry tried to get some more information from the goblin. "How much would I need to buy a whole new muggle wardrobe? As you can see, I need it badly."
The goblin took a good glance at the boy and grimaced. "It won't affect your vault much. You can change a few galleons for pounds and get enough for all you need. Still, I'd suggest to show nobody more than twenty pounds at a time. You may never know whom you can trust."
He converted only a few gold coins, yet came out with more than two hundred pounds, which he quickly hid in his pockets. He made sure to keep less than twenty in each of the outer pockets, along with some change, while keeping the rest in a small pouch, under his shirt, as suggested by the goblin. He was glad he had that pouch, which he normally used to hide things he didn't want Dudley to see.
They went back through the wall, back through the Leaky Cauldron, now empty. Hagrid left most of their shopping there, to be kept safe while they went shopping for muggle stuff.
"I'm not sure I'm a good companion in clothes shopping," Hagrid admitted. He had no taste in clothes, as his own clothing testified, and no interest in fashion. Besides, his size attracted unwelcome attention. After being unable to buy anything at the first shop they found, where Hagrid stayed at his side, Harry suggested, "Let me shop alone. I know what I like and what fits me, and I can ask for help, while you intimidate them all."
Hagrid had to agree.
About an hour later, they returned to the Leaky Cauldron to collect what they had left there. Harry was now wearing much nicer clothes that fit him well. They then made their way down the road and through the Underground, where people were gawking at them, laden as they were with all their funny-shaped packages, with the snowy owl asleep in its cage on Harry's lap. Up another escalator, out into Paddington station; Harry only realized where they were when Hagrid tapped him on the shoulder. "Will yeh be alright if I only leave you here for the train? Got to go back to 'ogwarts already."
Harry nodded. This was even better than he could hope for.
Hagrid helped Harry to the platform where the train that would take him back to the Dursleys was due in less than half an hour, then handed him an envelope.
"Yer ticket fer Hogwarts," he said. "First o' September â King's Cross â it's all on yer ticket. Any problems with the Dursleys, send me a letter with yer owl, she'll know where to find me⊠See yeh soon, Harry."
Harry watched Hagrid until he was out of sight. He waited a few more minutes, just to be sure, and then grabbed his stuff and went to the train station's locker room, where he left most of his stuff in the long-term lockers. He let his owl free, telling it to find him in the morning. With only some clothes in a backpack and his wand, well hidden among his new garments, he made his way back to muggle London, feeling finally free.
Harry wandered through the darkening streets for a bit. It was his first time in London, as far as he could remember, and he wanted to enjoy it as much as possible. Still, he knew he needed to find a place to stay. The goblin had assured him that he could spend the whole month at a luxury hotel and make no dent in his vault, but he thought something more modest would serve him better.
Harry almost missed the small sign above a door, between two shops, stating simply "Hotel." Paying it some more attention, he found a small note near the door, identifying it as a two-star family hotel. He pushed the door, finding a long corridor leading to the reception desk, which was probably situated so deep to leave room for the stores at the front of the building. A teen girl was sitting at the desk, looking quite bored, until she noticed him. Her name tag identified her as Selma. "Need anything?" she asked.
"May I get a room for the night?" he said, trying to seem innocent.
She looked him over. "Aren't you a bit young to get a hotel room by yourself?"
Harry blushed. "I am, but I've just missed the last train home, so I really have no choice."
"Can you even pay for a hotel room?"
"I've put some money aside, in case I needed it. How much does it cost?"
"It's eighteen pounds per night; an extra three pounds for breakfast, if you want it."
Harry tried to seem a bit sad. "I only put twenty pounds aside. I'll have to skip breakfast."
Selma looked at him and then smiled reassuringly. "You may still have breakfast if you help me with the dishes after it. Now, you need to pay in advance and I'll show you to the room. You must vacate it before midday, tomorrow. Is that clear?"
Harry felt like laughing and singing, yet he kept a serious composure. "May I see the room first?"