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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any character from the books.
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Blood that held an ancient magic ran through Damien Kailen's veins. He did not know this about himself, however. He did know that he was one happy kid. He had just received a letter from a boarding school, meaning he did not have to be bullied by Dudley Dursley anymore. And this wasn't just any school. It was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Neither he nor his parents had ever heard of this school, but as the letter was delivered by a tall, serious looking woman called Professor McGonagall who performed magic in front of their eyes, they were inclined to believe it existed. His parents, called muggles by McGonagall, still did not know what to make of this. They were going to send him there, of course, but… when he came home they would not know what he was talking about. And how would they send letters to him, when they didn't even know where it was?
The one thing Damien was dreading was telling his best friend Harry Potter about this. And, speaking of Harry, tomorrow would be his birthday. Damien smacked his head. He had forgotten to get Harry a present! He had no time left today to get Harry a present, and tomorrow he would be going to a place called Diagon Alley to get his school supplies. The only thing he could do was go to Harry's house and apologize for not having a present and then get one as soon as possible.
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Ding-Dong. Damien rang the doorbell to the Dursley household for the fourth time, although he didn't really expect an answer. Disheartened, he turned away. Where was Harry? Probably at batty old Mrs. Figg's. Or locked in his cupboard. Either way, it was a bad thing. Damien got into his parents car, and they drove through the streets of London to where McGonagall said the Leaky Cauldron and entrance to Diagon Alley was. Getting out, Damien said good-bye and turned towards the dingy old building that did not belong in the middle of London. He was excited and nervous. He was about to enter a whole world for the first time. And, more than ever, he wished that Harry was a wizard too, so that he would not be alone. Squaring his shoulders, he walked into the Leaky Cauldron.
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"Frog spawn, 10 sickles an ounce, they're mad."
"What's next on the list? Ah yes, dragon liver."
Damien was greeted by a wave of noise at the entrance to Diagon alley.
"Harry Potter, that's the one, shook his hand not five minutes ago!"
Damien's heart leapt at these words. Harry was here?! Harry was a wizard?!
"Get a move on sonny, yer blockin' the gateway."
Damien spun around. Standing there was a grizzled old wizard.
"S-sorry sir," he stammered.
"It's natural sonny. I understand. Did the same thing when I was a young 'un."
Damien walked into Diagon Alley, and the man pushed past him. And then he saw the store windows. The apothecary had displays of the finest snake blood and best cauldrons. Madam Malkin's had the latest fashions and finest robes. The Quidditch store had… people?
There was a large crowd in front of the Quidditch store, and Damien couldn't see what they were all crowding around. He could hear snatches of conversation, though. From what he could hear, it was a broom. What was so exciting about a broom anyway? Damien moved on, towards the building that towered above the others, Gringotts. He had been given a small brass key by McGonagall, and been told to open vault 417. He walked up to the doors and raised his hand to push them open, but they opened of their own accord. Disconcerted, but assuming that this was a normal thing in the wizarding world, he walked in. He was greeted by a creature that he assumed was a goblin, being told about them by McGonagall. Walking up to a booth, he said, "May I open vault 417 please?"
"Key?" asked the goblin at the booth.
Damien rummaged around in his pockets before finding the key and placing it onto the counter.
"Well, this seems to be fine. Grinpott, take him to his vault, 417."
"Yes sir," responded a goblin lounging in the shadows, "this way," he called over his shoulder as he walked toward a cart.
Damien and Grinpott got into the cart, and Grinpott said, "Vault 417."
The cart started moving, and after a while, Damien assumed that it was a ride that would make most people queasy. Having spent a lot of time on roller coasters, however, Damien enjoyed the ride and was slightly disappointed when the cart stopped in front of his vault. He got out and put the key in the lock. The door swung open, and he was greeted by the sight of gold coins the size of a hubcap, silver ones about half that size, and small bronze ones about the size of a quarter. The gold in the vault wasn't huge by any means, but it was respectable. Scooping up several galleons as he knew the gold ones to be called, he stepped out of the vault, and the door automatically closed and locked. Damien stepped back into the cart and was up to the surface before he knew it.
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Having bought all of his school supplies, which ranged from black robes to newt eyes, Damien was now fighting his way through the crowd of shoppers towards the underground. He had just gotten free of the last one when he heard a voice behind him.
"Damien??"
He turned and saw Harry laden with packages of the same shape as his, and an owl.
"Hey Harry. Ready for school then?"
"School?" asked Harry.
"Yeah. And when did you get your letter from Hogwarts?"
"Wait. Wait wait wait wait. You're going to Hogwarts too?"
"Yep. Got my letter yesterday."
"I got mine today. And it turns out my parents weren't killed in a car crash, and I'm famous."
"How does that work?"
And so Harry explained how his parents were killed by Lord Voldemort and how Voldemort tried to kill him, but the curse rebounded. He went on to recount how his uncle went mad, how Hagrid showed up and his trip to Diagon Alley.
"So let me get this straight. This giant of a man shows up on that little island, knocks down the door, scares your uncle witless and gives Dudley a pig's tail?"
Harry nodded and Damien roared with laughter.
"I didn't think Dudley could get any more like a pig," he wheezed, and Harry joined in the laughter.
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That night, Damien sat on his bed wondering what his new school would be like. Would it be small or big, have lots of students or not that many. As his thoughts drifted he looked out the window and noticed a figure on the windowsill. Turning on his light, Damien saw the strangest creature he had ever seen. It looked like a snake, except it had green feathers right behind its head and large, black feathered wings. It was about six feet long and had dark blue scales. It had long fangs protruding from its open mouth. These fangs were clear, allowing you to see the bright green poison inside.
"My friend," it hissed, "do not be alarmed. I am here to help you."
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