As soon as they met, Mr. Weasley greeted them warmly, and they chatted for a while.
Then everyone parted ways on the marble steps outside the bank.
Percy muttered about buying a new quill, while Fred and George spotted their friend from Hogwarts School, Lee Jordan.
Mrs. Weasley and Ginny were going to a shop selling secondhand robes.
Mr. Weasley insisted on taking Zhang Xiao and Hermione's parents to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink.
Hang on, Mr. Weasley. Do you even have any money left for drinks?
"Meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your textbooks," Mrs. Weasley instructed as she headed off with Ginny.
"Don't go into Knockturn Alley!" she shouted after the twins.
Zhang Xiao and the three little ones wandered along the winding cobblestone street.
They bought four cones along the way, then strolled leisurely through the alley, eating ice cream and browsing the dazzling shop windows.
Ron pointed at the full set of Chudley Cannons robes displayed in the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies and chuckled. "I've got a set too. Zhang gave it to me!"
This drew envious gasps from the other young wizards eyeing the robes. They certainly weren't cheap!
Ron followed the others away, feeling more satisfied than ever.
He was even willing to accompany Hermione to buy ink and parchment, despite usually feeling sick at the mere smell of either.
In a secondhand shop, they found Percy engrossed in an exceptionally dull book: How Prefects Gain Power.
Ron whispered that Percy wanted to become Minister for Magic someday.
An hour later, they headed toward Flourish and Blotts. They were far from the only ones going there.
Zhang Xiao noticed that the crowd outside had grown even larger.
A large banner hung from the upper floor: Gilderoy Lockhart signing