Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. I do not own Harry Potter.

Note: The following near-drabble takes place on the day in 1991 that Harry Potter was taken shopping in Diagon Alley, and assumes canon events up until the following developments occur in Madam Malkin's. This story is rated 'T' on account of implied violence.

This is a one-shot.


"Harry? Are you safe?"

Harry's conversation with the blond boy whom he was increasingly disliking was cut short by a weirdly dressed old man with a long white beard and twinkling blue eyes.

The blond boy's and the shop woman's mouths dropped open.

"Who are you?" Harry demanded.

"Forgive me, Harry, but I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, and there appears to have been an incident at the Leaky Cauldron involving Hagrid. His condition, alas, is not good, and he is quite unable to see you through the rest of your school supplies trip. Consequently, I am minded to oversee the remainder of your purchases, myself. However, to return to my question, if you will forgive me, are you quite safe?"

Harry looked around in bewilderment at the shop, the shop woman, the other boy, and then back at the old man.

"I think so." he said. Then as a matter of instinct, given the looks the others were giving this old man, he added: "Sir."

"That is a matter of considerable relief to me, Harry." and the old man did sound earnestly relieved.


Author Notes:

Basically, as in canon, Hagrid dropped Harry off at Madam Malkin's and went for a drink 'to settle his stomach'. Whilst Hagrid was drinking, though, he was slightly too incautious about what he said, and Quirinus Quirrell (who was in the vicinity) realised that Hagrid had the Philosopher's Stone on him. Quirinus mugged Hagrid for the stone, and ran, making a clean getaway before anyone else on the scene could respond.

Albus Dumbledore was quickly sent for (it being known Hagrid was on the Hogwarts staff) and Albus managed to get out of Hagrid (before Hagrid was removed to St. Mungo's) where Harry was; Albus immediately headed to Madam Malkin's afraid that besides, for whatever reason, seizing the stone, Quirinus might have gone after Harry too...

Hogwarts in this universe would have a different defence teacher from canon for the 1991-1992 school year, and this universe would see a Voldemort 'returning to a body' somewhat ahead of his canon schedule. (Minus having 'restored' himself with Harry's blood, however, which might prove an unpleasant surprise for Voldemort at some point...)

This story is a one-shot.

Update:

With regard to a comment in an early review, attempting to pick Hagrid's pocket didn't have any appeal for this Quirinus. Hagrid has multiple pockets, all of which might have needed checking (and trying to do just one of which by stealth would have been at the very least time-consuming for this Quirinus, since he's not a master pickpocket), and being within arm's reach of Hagrid, if caught-in-the-act of trying to pick one of his pockets, would have been all-but-fatal given Hagrid's size and strength. Taking Hagrid down by surprise and with (magical) force was simpler, faster, and much more preferable to Quirinus' mind than trying to be stealthy.