Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling Page B

shrieks followed them all the way along the twisting alleyway out into bright sunlight. Harry saw a familiar, snow-white marble building in the distance — Gringotts Bank. Hagrid had steered him right into Diagon Alley.
          “Yer a mess!” said Hagrid gruffly, brushing soot off Harry so forcefully he nearly knocked him into a barrel of dragon dung outside an apothecary. “Skulkin’ around Knockturn Alley, I dunno dodgy place, Harry — don’ want no one ter see yeh down there —”
          “I realized that,” said Harry, ducking as Hagrid made to brush him off again. “I told you, I was lost — what were you doing down there, anyway?”
          “I was lookin’ fer a Flesh-Eatin’ Slug Repellent,” growled Hagrid. “They’re ruinin’ the school cabbages. Yer not on yer own?”
          “I’m staying with the Weasleys but we got separated,” Harry explained. “I’ve got to go and find them.…”
          They set off together down the street.
          “How come yeh never wrote back ter me?” said Hagrid as Harry jogged alongside him (he had to take three steps to every stride of Hagrid’s enormous boots). Harry explained all about Dobby and the Dursleys.
          “Lousy Muggles,” growled Hagrid. “If I’d’ve known —”
          “Harry! Harry! Over here!”
          Harry looked up and saw Hermione Granger standing at the top of the white flight of steps to Gringotts. She ran down to meet them, her bushy brown hair flying behind her.
          “What happened to your glasses? Hello, Hagrid — Oh, it’s wonderful to see you two again — Are you coming into Gringotts, Harry?”
          “As soon as I’ve found the Weasleys,” said Harry.
          “Yeh won’t have long ter wait,” Hagrid said with a grin.
          Harry and Hermione looked around: Sprinting up the crowded street were Ron, Fred, George, Percy, and Mr. Weasley.
          “Harry,” Mr. Weasley panted. “We hoped you’d only gone one grate too far.…” He mopped his glistening bald patch. “Molly’s frantic — she’s coming now —”
          “Where did you come out?” Ron asked.
          “Knockturn Alley,” said Hagrid grimly.
         
     “Excellent!” said Fred and George together.
          “We’ve never been allowed in,” said Ron enviously.
          “I should ruddy well think not,” growled Hagrid. Mrs. Weasley now came galloping into view, her handbag swinging wildly in one hand, Ginny just clinging onto the other.
          “Oh, Harry — oh, my dear — you could have been anywhere —”
          Gasping for breath she pulled a large clothes brush out of her bag and began sweeping off the soot Hagrid hadn’t managed to beat away. Mr. Weasley took Harry’s glasses, gave them a tap of his wand, and returned them, good as new.
          “Well, gotta be off,” said Hagrid, who was having his hand wrung by Mrs. Weasley (“Knockturn Alley! If you hadn’t found him, Hagrid!”). “See yer at Hogwarts!” And he strode away, head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the packed street.
          “Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes?” Harry asked Ron and Hermione as they climbed the Gringotts steps. “Malfoy and his father.”
          “Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?” said Mr. Weasley sharply behind them.
          “No, he was selling —”
          “So he’s worried,” said Mr. Weasley with grim satisfaction. “Oh, I’d love to get Lucius Malfoy for something …”
          “You be careful, Arthur,” said Mrs. Weasley sharply as they were bowed into the bank by a goblin at the door. “That family’s trouble. Don’t go biting off more than you can chew —”
          “So you don’t think I’m a match for Lucius Malfoy?” said Mr. Weasley indignantly, but he was distracted almost at once by the sight of Hermione’s parents, who were standing nervously at the