In his own mind, though, he was trying to figure out what to tell his master, Voldemort. He was completely unprepared for the very close cast from behind. A compulsion charm to try and get as much information as he could, while also determining he had not yet collected enough and being reticent to share the information he'd already collected.
After thinking about packing it up for the day once darkness began to creep in, he unwittingly changed his mind and resettled himself to wait a few hours more.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
As arranged, Neville flooed to the Granger Residence the next morning as breakfast was winding down. Though he'd eaten that morning, already, he claimed he was 'up' for a second, though smaller, serving.
When Harry turned a curious look on him the boy blushed a little and said, "I eat early so I can spend time in the greenhouses. Plus, I... left room for Dobby's cooking." The last bit said with a bit of a mumble.
Harry laughed and said, "No need to be embarrassed about it, Neville. I happen to have it on good authority the aurors are now fighting for a placement on my protection detail, just so they get the opportunity to sample Dobby's cooking."
"And yours, Harry," said Monica. "You're an even better cook than he is."
While Harry blushed at the praise, still not used to it, Dobby also heard and was both pleased for his master and determined to better his culinary skills to beat said master.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Before heading out to go shopping, though, Harry had to take Neville upstairs to properly outfit him in mugglewear. Hermione had determined that what he was wearing didn't quite 'make the grade', as far as she was concerned.
It wasn't until he realised he now 'outmassed' his friend, though, that Harry discovered the other boy would now easily fit into the clothes he purchased only a little over a week ago and he'd just outgrown.
A quick adjustment of size and Neville looked every inch the muggle. He was dressed in dark grey slacks, black loafers and belt, a white T-shirt as an undershirt and a black shirt. Over that went a white/grey/black patterned cardigan and a configured knee length dark grey overcoat with black gloves that an auror configured for him out of transfiguring an old waist length brown coat he was wearing.
Harry was wearing dark brown loafers and slacks with dark brown belt, together with a dark yellow shirt over a white T-shirt similar to Neville. Then over that went a tanned jumper and his own overcoat, of a similar style to Neville, with brown gloves.
When they came back downstairs, with Neville feeling a little self-conscious, Monica beamed a wide grin at them both. "Looking good, you two." That relaxed the boy, as he smiled back.
When Hermione came down she was wearing an over-the-knee length dress in a floral pattern on light blue, with heavy stockings on her legs. On her feet she wore a closed-toe semi-high heeled shoe of a burgundy, which matched one of the main colours of the flowers and her purse. Her overcoat was black; but, one of the aurors colour-changed it to a dark burgundy to match her shoes and purse.
"Very nice," smiled Monica, giving a nod of satisfaction looking at the three of them. "Now; where are you planning on going to shop?"
"I... really didn't have much of an idea," admitted Hermione.
Harry immediately said, "Harrods."
He didn't see the look of surprise on the Grangers' faces as he'd already turned to the aurors and said, "I suggest a portkey to the Leaky Cauldron and a taxi to the store from there."
"Close," smiled the senior female auror; Charlotte Watkins, again. "Portkey to the Leaky is right, but we'll have a Ministerial car waiting for us outside the muggle-side doors of the pub to take us where we need to go. It's already been arranged."
"We rank a Ministerial car?" asked Neville.
"One's now semi-permanently assigned to the Potter Protection Detail, just for these sort of issues," she replied. "Madam Bones organised it."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Once final checks were done - with the aurors reminding them, once again, not to try to lose them and be mindful of where they were at all times - the three, with their two aurors, headed out to the portkey point just inside the front gate and portkeyed away. The aurors both had their wands out and ready as the portkey was voice-activated.
As soon as they landed in the Leaky's portkey point, the aurors immediately hustled them all out the front door and onto the street. The car was sitting there with its engine running and the driver behind the wheel, waiting. The car had matching car width back seats that faced one another east/west.
Charlotte, hustled them in and, once they were settled, said to the driver, "Harrods, I believe."
"Yes, Ma'am," the driver immediately replied before indicating to pull away from the curb.
From where he was sitting on the passenger-side of the backseat that faced forward - Charlotte sat in the back seat opposite facing him, ready to step out first once they got there - Neville's head was swivelling this way and that trying to take it all in.
"Not been out into the muggle world, at all, Neville?" asked Hermione.
"No," he replied. "Gran never wanted to, so I never got a chance to go... come."
"Then this'll be an eye-opening experience for you," she said.
"It already is," he grinned back.
.
.
.
🎉The novel is available in PDF with more than 400 chapters, visit us in our Ko-Fi store🎉
🎉ko-fi.com/sosukeaizen123🎉