Amethyst's Side of the Story:

Amethyst Meets Harry

What was I doing on Diagon Alley, I can't quite seem to recall. All I know is--oh, that's right! I'd just heard from someone that a new book was in at Flourish and Blotts. It was a new volume from the Hospital for the care of Magical Maladies and I was curious if it might provide an insight into how I could cure myself of this nusance of an ability that I have. I don't suppose it's too bad but oh well. Back to my story.

I was acually in Knockturn Alley at Bogins and Burkes to see if they had anything seince I'd been too scared to look there before. So anyway, I was walking out of Knockturn Alley and I saw Harry go into Flourish and Blotts, which I found conveneient since I hadn't gone there yeat. So I go in there and as I'm looking around I "accidentally" bump into Harry and knock his books down. As I bend down to help him, I smile and apologize. I didn't stare at him or his scar or gawk or start speaking oudly or excited because the truth of the matter was that I didn't really know about him that much. I could never afford to buy a newspaper and all I knew was from discared newspapers and gossip, so I wasn't too clued in.

But anyways, he looked up at me and then as she stood up,he thanked me. Out of curiosity, I asked him what his name was. He seemed somewhat surprised that I wouldn't recognize him, but he told me that he was Harry Potter. I went, "Oh," as if I recalled his picture or something and smiled. It seemed as if he was used to a certain reaction from people and didn't get it from me so it was interesting to watch him. After a few seconds he asked my name. I automatically told him that my name was Amethyst because that's what I was known by from other people. He nodded and told me that it was a nice name and I told him that it wasn't my real name, but how I got that name.

"About a year ago," I said, "I was seen playing with this purple rock, making it appear and disappear and balancing it on vacious things. Someone saw me and they knew that the rock was actually an amethyst and they asked for my name and since I wouldn't tell anyone, the name 'Amethyst' just stuck."

I smiled again and Harry said, "Cool....How old are you?"

"I'm 18 years old," I replied.

"Where do you go to school, then?"

I paused before I said, "I don't go to school anymore."

"How come?"

"Well," I said, a bit unsure about what to say. "I wouldn't really feel comfortable telling you here. It's not an entirely public thing to say." He nodded and said okay. "I could show you why, if you wanted," I said, unsure of what he'd think.

"Um...alright," he replied. "Just a minute."

He found the other books he needed and I decided to look for that other book at a later time. Well, after we walked out, I asked him to follow me around the back of the shop. he did and when we stood there, I reached my hand towards Harry's head. He stepped back and then I recalled something. "Darn it!" I said.

"What?" he asked.

"I didn't know I'd be showing anyone this so I didn't bother to bring my invisibility cloak! Argh!"

"Well," he mentioned, "you could borrow mine for a little while."

I smiled and he acted kind of unsure, but I wouldn't blame him. I reached my hand towards his hair, but when he pulled back I pulled my hand back a little. When he finally stopped moving, I took one of his hairs and raised it to my eyes. I tried to rub stuff off of it while I said, "This is just unsanitary." He laughed but cringed when I put it in my mouth.

I tried to stand still as I felt my blood start to churn. Slowly, I began to feel myself becoming shorter and my clothes becoming increasingly looser. I felt my hands change and my shoulders growing slightly broader. My hair grew shorter, spontaneous, and black. About a minute later, I was a near-perfect replica of Harry.

Harry looked at me in wide-eyed astonishment as he noticed my transformation take place. "How'd you do that?"

"It's kind of a long story," I replied, my voice a little higher and man- like.

Harry laughed slightly. "I'm used to those," he said.

I smiled and started to tell him about what had happened to me just a few years ago. he became rather interested when he found out that I went to Hogwarts. I went on to tell him how long I was there and how Professor Argus went to into a rage and hit me with a bottle of pure polyjuice potion. Then I talked abouthow I would wake up changed and how other people were terrified and I was expelled. He narrowed his face when I told of how a scared Slytherin took my wand and burned it to ashes, rendering me all but spell-less.

When I finished, he asked me how long I could stay as one person. I told him that it depended on how long I kept the hair in my mouth. Then I realized that I still had his in my mouth and pulled it out. "Darn! I'd say that I'll be stuck as you for a good 2 hours or so tonight!"

"So is that why you wanted the invisibility cloak?"

"Yes. It would probably look kind of strange if there were two Harry Potters walking around Diagon Alley." After a moment I asked him, "So do you have your invisibility cloak?"

"Not with me."

I thought for a moment before I thought of a spell I hadn't used for a long time. "I wouldn't trust myself doing it, but have you learned the Accio spell?"

Harry smiled and pulled out his wand. "Yes I have."

Just for fun I reached into my pocket, but I was surprised to find a wand in there; I left it in there just for fun, though. "Do you think...well, just to help me out."

For a moment, Harry stood there, his wand slightly upraised. Then he said, "How do I know you can be trusted?"

Being the devout Christian that I am, I gave the pledge I only made when I want people to honestly know that I am an honest person. "I swear by God in Heaven and everything holy that you can trust me not to harm out, lie to you, or steal from you on the threat of being stuck dead here and now."

I didn't know, but I think that the emphasis I put into saying that allowed him to bedlive me. He raised his wand and said, "Accio Cloak!" Then after a minute or so, thje cloak flew into his hand. He did seem a little reluctant in giving it to me, though.

"I've already got one," I said when he gave it to me. "Just-"

At that point the owner of Flourish and Blotts walked out as I was putting the cloak on. I very quickly had to throw it over me when he came out. "Is everything alright?" he asked.

Harry stood there. "Um...uh...yah. I was just...I gotta go." With that he staarted to walk off and I followed him as the shop keeper walked back inside with a puzzled look on his face. When I caught up to Harry, I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and, seeing nothing, asked me where to go.

"I stay at the edge of town, near Rowels and Hobbs."

"Where's that?" he asked.

"Just keep following this road until you come to a green building. Then turn right and at the end of the street is Rowels and Hobbs. It's an...interesting looking cafe."

Harry nodded and began to walk to where I stayed. When we got to Rowels and Hobbs I checked to see if anyone was around and seeing no one, I took off the invisibility cloak and placed it in Harry's bag that he held his books in. Then I thanked him and began to walk off.

He then said, "Hey, just a minute!" I turned around, still looking around for anyone. "Do you want to meet sometime tomorrow possibly?"

"How long are you going to be here?"

"Actually, I'm staying with another family at the Leaky Cauldron and we have to leave for Hogewarts the day after tomorrow."

"Alright then," I said with a smile. "But I'll find you." He said alright and I ran off to a spot on the ground where a trapped door was and opened it. I jumped down into this small space where all that there was was a conch shell. My parents had bought it for me for my 14th birthday from a shop on Knockturn Alley, but they had been looking for unusual things anyways.

The reason I had to keep it hidden was that it was the place I lived. I bent down to touch it and when I did, I was instantaneously transported into it. Once inside, I felt around the salmon-pink walls and my hand found the small amethyst gem that I had placed in one; the same amethyst that I'd first been caught playing with. When I touched it, a bed and my bookshelf appeared. I looked behind the shelf and found my own invisibility cloak that my friends had given to me for a birthday. It was so wonderful considering that they hadn't gotten me anything for the previous birthdays I'd known them. But anyways...

I felt odd with the body of Harry Potter, but then again, it was always a strange feeling when I transformed into that person. I then walked over to my bed and layed down, wrapping the cloak over me. Then I closed my eyes and started to sleep. When I did, I had a very wierd dream.

I dreamed that I was next to the Whoming Willow back at Hogwarts. All of a sudden, this person with just blazing-red hair comes walking out of the woods. Then I saw them walk towards the castle in the direction of this vicious tree and then there's this frog or toad that jumps from out of nowhere. The next thing is this person gets hit and I thought for sure I saw Harry's face, but without the scar or his glasses. Then I woke up.

I didn't really remember too much other than that. I woke up quite confused, wondering what would possess Harry Potter to go near the Whomping Willow without his glasses...and Harry didn't have red hair...I soon dismissed it as just another wierd dream. Maybe it was just because I turned into Harry; that was probably it.

I walked out of bed and walked back over to the amethyst and placed my hand on it. At will, a dim light filled the room and a small dresser appeared. I went over and rumaged through the dresser. I picked out a dark blue robe and a thin white shirt and a pair of white pants. I pulled them on and before I touched the gem again, I grabbed a small bag on my bed and stuffed a few sickles in and my invisibility cloak. Then I turned the light out and willed myself out of the conch as I'd done many times before. When I was outside of the conch, I carefully bent my ear to the door of my hideout and listened to hear if anyone was above me. Normally only drunk or wierd people came around this part of town, but I had to be careful.

When I was satasfied, I peeked out a little, barely lifting the door a crack. I didn't see anyone out there so I slipped out of the hold in the ground and walked quickly towards the main part of Diagon Alley. I walked down to the Leaky Cauldron, thinking that that was where Harry and the people he was staying with would be. I went up to the man who was serving the meals and asked if Harry Potter was staying there and he said yes. I asked what room he was in but the man wouldn't tell me. "Don' wan't no people gawkin' at 'Arry Pottuh. He prob'ly sick o' it!"

"No, I'm a friend of his. I was hoping to have breakfast with him this morning."

"Nope. Can' tell you. You can jus' wait 'till he comes down."

I sighed, but I did feel the reasoning behind what he said. Harry probably wouldn't want people knocking on his door at all hours just to look at him and his scar. So I ordered something to drink and waited.

I sat there for about 45 minutes or so, waiting. Twice more I went and ordered a new drink. I had plenty of time to think about the dream I had and tried to analyze the different parts to see if I could discoveri t's meaning. In the midst of another bout of spacing out, Harry came down with a boy his age with bright red hair. "Amethyst!" he said.

"Hi there Harry!" I shot a look at the man whom I'd ordered my drinks from; he looked away. "Who's this?" I motioned to the boy he was with.

"This is Ron Weasley. He's a good friend of mine from Hogwarts." Ron looked up at me while his freckled face formed a smile. I extended my hand and he shook it. "Ron, this is ther person I was telling you about last night." He nodded before he spoke.

"So can you really-" he began before Harry nudged him in the ribs.

I smiled a little. "Yah, but do no tell a soul! Not even your own family." Ron had a slightly mischevious face, but I knew he was kidding. "Alright, then. How about breakfast?" They both agreed and after we ordered our meals, Ron and Harry started asking some questions.

"What was Hogwarts like when you went?" Ron inquired.

I thought for a moment. "I would image that it hasn't changed much from the way it was several years ago. I mena, there were a couple different teachers. By the way, is Hagrid still the gameskeeper?"

"Yah, he is!" Harry said. "Actually, he's now a teacher. He teaches the Care of Magical Creatures class. Both me and Ron are in it together."

I laughed. Some people had asked Hagrid when I went to school if he ever thought about the job. Someone already had it so Hagrid always said no. But we all thought he wanted it. "How are his classes?"

"Well," Harry said, "they're pretty cool most of the time."

Then Ron cut in. "Yah. The usually range from as boring as can be to magnificent! We've dealt with hippogriffs, flobberworms, nifflers-"

"- Blast-ended skrewts."

"- Unicorns. It's varied depending on how his mood is and how much trouble he might be in."

"Cool!" I said. "How's Dumbledore doing?"

"He's getting older but he hasn't grown any weaker by one wit. Actually," Harry bent forward a little and lowered his voice, "this last school year, he saved me from a servant of Lord Vol-"

"Harry!" Ron exclaimed. "Don't say that name!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "He saved me from a servant of You-Know-Who."

I went wide with surprise when I heard that. I too leaned forward and whispered, "He's back? How?" Harry lowered his eyes. Obviously he'd been through an experience that he did not wish to relive. I then said, "If you don't want to talk about it right now then that's okay with me. I'm just so surprised! How many people know he's back?"

"Not very many. All the students from Hogwarts most likely told their parents....Well, I'm not sure how fast something like that would spread so I don't really know how many people. It'll probablyy be even worse than it used to before You-Know-Who lost his power that first time."

"I agree. But yah, how's Dumbledore handling it? He's probably as stressed about this coming year as he's ever been."

"I would imagine!"

Ron looked over at a clock on the wall. He turned to Harry and asked him, "Didn't Hermione say she'd meet us at Gringotts at 10 o'clock?"

"Yah," Harry confirmed. Then he turned to me. "Do you want to meet Hermione? She's another good friend of ours."

I remembered that since Harry was going back to Hogwarts the next day, other students would probably arrive here to pick up some last minute school supplies. "I can't, sorry. I just remembered that I needed to pick up a couple things this morning. I'd love to meet her, but I just don't have time."

Harry looked slightly disappointed. "Alright. Well, I hope I see you before we leave."

Ron spoke up. "Yah. Maybe we will see you someday again and I can see you..." he caught himself, "do that...thing...you do."

"Yes," I replied. "I hope that we meet again. Would you believe that I knew next to nothing about Harry Potter before I met him?"

Ron was surprised. He was about to say something but Harry stood up. "Write to me at Hogwarts. I'd love to hear from you!"

I looked up at him. "I'll try, but since I don't have an own of my own I might not be able to write very often."

Harry thought for a moment, but then he looked like he was going to say something, but changed what he was going to say and smiled. "See you, Amethyst."

I smiled. "Bye, Harry. And it was good to meet you, Ron. Just remember what I said about not telling anyone!"

"I know," he said. "See ya!"

"Be careful!" I sat there in the cafe a few more minutes, wondering when I'd ever see Harry again.