Chapter 1: A new friend
I don't own Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling does. This Disclaimer holds effect of all my other chapters.
Now another Disclaimer for the readers. I fully state and agree with the sentiment that the first couple chapters are no where near as good as the rest. There is a steady progression in the tier of writing. I read and write very close to the original. I hope that this will encourage some of you lot to read on past the first couple of chapters.
A Path Not Chosen
By: Dezmar Sama
"Might as well get yer uniform," said Hagrid, nodding toward Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. "Listen, Harry, would yeh mind if I slipped off fer a pick-me-up in the Leaky Cauldron. I hate them Gringotts carts." He did still look a bit sick, so Harry entered Madam Malkin's shop alone, feeling nervous.
Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve.
"Hogwarts, dear." she said, when Harry started to speak. "Got the lot here - another young man being fitted up just now, in fact." In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin stood Harry on a stool next to him, slipped a long robe over his head, and began to pin it to the right length.
Just as Madam Malkin had started working on Harry's rode a small spiky haired witch poked her head from the back of the store. "Madam Malkin, there's a problem with the Bones order" she said. "The anti-summoning charm for the undergarments is having some, unexpected results"
"Well that won't do" Madam Malkin said as she stopped working on Harry's robe. "Helen, come with me, I'll need help with this". Both Madam Malkin and the other witch, Helen, hurried of to the back of the store.
"First year at Hogwarts?" Asked a blond boy who stood next to him.
"Yeah, what about you"? Harry asked hoping to make a friend before he even got to Hogwarts.
"Yeah, mine too" he replied, he had the look of him like this was all old news.
"I'm wondering what kind of a house Slytherin will be like in person; sorry I'm going to be in Slytherin, what about you, what are you hoping for"? Asked the boy.
"Yeah, Slytherin for me to," Harry said hoping to impress him. Harry really didn't know anything about the school houses.
The boy smiled at Harry and offered his hand to him. "I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy". Harry smiled and shook his hand lightly.
"Harry Potter, nice to meet you" Harry said wondering if he would regret telling this boy his name. Draco's eyes widened in shock.
"What are you trying to pull"? He said as he pulled his hand back. "Really? The Harry Potter. I highly doubt that. The real Harry Potter probably has like servant to do his shopping for him, or maybe he has people willing to serve him just to be in his presence".
Harry had no idea what was happening. All he managed to gather was that this boy doubted him actually is Harry Potter. "I'll prove it" Harry said confidently.
The other boy seemed shaken out of his tirade. He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really, well go on and prove it"
Harry lifted his bangs to show what he now knew as his scar that made him special.
The others boy's entire face clenched in shock. but then softened, he smiled and said "You really are". Instantly he seemed embarrassed by his actions, he looked down at his shoes and muttered something.
Harry hunched forward a light. "I'm sorry, what was that?" Harry asked, although he was pretty sure he knew what was Draco was trying to say.
"I said I'm sorry" Draco muttered a bit louder this time.
Harry smiled. "Ok" he said cheerfully. Draco looked up at Harry and smiled. Draco seemed a little shocked with Harry's acceptance of his apology. The two stood in silence as the Witches came back and finished working on their robes. By the time they were done Draco had explained the four different Hogwarts house to Harry who had explained that he didn't actually know what the houses were.
They stepped out of the shop bags in hand. As Draco looked around for someone as Harry looked around for Hagrid.
"Draco there you are. Robes all properly fitted I trust." said a tall man who Harry figured to be Draco's father. Harry instantly knew this was a man to be respected. Dressed in all black with silver fastenings. Long blonde hair tied back in respectable knot. He walked in with a cane that he obviously did not need for assistance.
"Of course Father" Draco answered courteously. He turned to Harry with a small grin. "I'd like to introduce you to my new friend, Harry" Draco said with a smile to his father as if his father would know exactly who he was. He seemed to be apprehensive about offering his hand. In a split second his mood seemed to change and his hand came out as his he forgot to do so instantly.
"Harry Potter, sir" Harry said and took Mr. Malfoy's hand.
"My word, Harry Potter" Mr. Malfoy said quietly.
Mr. Malfoy pulled Harry forward and with his cane pulled his hair away from his scar. "You scar his legendary, my dear boy" said Mr. Malfoy, he was about to say something when Harry interrupted him.
"As is the wizard who gave it to me" he said calmly. Mr. Malfoy let him go and laughed lightly. Draco smiled to Harry and nodded.
Lucius made reserving smile. "Indeed, now I assume your here for the same reason as Draco" Lucius said in a far less serious attitude. "To procure your school supplies for the year" asked Lucius. Harry smiled and nodded.
"Well why not accompany me and Draco, I'm sure this is your first time in Diagon Alley" Lucius said as he started down the street with Draco at his heels. "We would be happy to show you around, and not to mention being seen with one of the most prestigious wizarding families will do your reputation good" Lucius said turning around and looking Harry eye to eye.
"Thank you sir, I would most appreciate that" Harry said truly happy that he made a good impression on these people and a little forgetful of whom he was in Diagon Alley with in the first place.
Olivander's: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.
"Who's there" a voice came from behind all the shelves.
"Mister Olivander, its Lucius Malfoy, I'm here with my young son Draco to get his wand, I also have a young Harry Potter with me" Lucius said in no general direction.
"Right, right, I'll be there in, just, a, moment, oww" said mister Olivander from behind the stakes, but still Harry couldn't tell where, and by the looks of it neither could Draco. Without so much as a tire screech, Mr. Olivander came around the corner, rolling on a Bookshelf ladder, startling Harry and Draco.
"Always one for the entrances Mr. Olivander" Lucius said with a smile
"I was wondering when I would be seeing you Mr. Potter" Mr. Olivander said with a very Cheshire grin. "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work." Mr. Olivander moved closer to Harry. Harry wished he would blink. Those silvery eyes were a bit creepy.
"Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it - it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course." Mr. Olivander had come so close that he and Harry were almost nose to nose. Harry could see himself reflected in those misty eyes.
"And that's where..." Mr. Olivander touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead with a long, white finger.
"I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it," he said softly.
"Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands... well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do..." He shook his head . "Mr. Malfoy if you don't mind I'll get the young Mr. Potter's wand first, then your son" Olivander said implying that he would do so anyway. Lucius nodded.
"Hold out your arm. That's it." He measured Harry from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head. As he measured, he said, "Every Olivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Olivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."
Harry suddenly realized that the tape measure, which was measuring between his nostrils, was doing this on its own. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.
"That will do," he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor. "Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beachwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave." Harry took the wand and (feeling foolish) waved it around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once.
"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try -" Harry tried - but he had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander.
"No, no -here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy.
Go on, go on, try it out." Harry tried. And tried. He had no idea what Mr. Ollivander was waiting for. The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become.
"Tricky customer, eh. Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere - I wonder, now - - yes, why not - unusual combination - holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple." Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls.
Draco clapped with his father as Mr. Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well... how curious... how very curious... " He put Harry's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious... curious..
"Sorry," said Harry, "but what's curious." Mr. Ollivander fixed Harry with his pale stare.
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather - just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother why, its brother gave you that scar." Harry swallowed.
"Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember... I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter... After all, He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things - terrible, yes, but great." Harry shivered. He wasn't sure he liked Mr. Ollivander too much.
Harry step back to let Draco be measured and fitted for a wand. Draco stood rigid and with his left hand out as the tape measure coiled around him and run its length up and down various part of him. Meanwhile Mr. Ollivander seem to be looking at Draco in all sort of funny ways. "I see, I see. No that won't do" Mr. Ollivander said to himself.
As the tape measure stop and flew into Mr Ollivander pocket he quickly made his way to the back of the store the same way he had when he started looking for a wand. After taking down many boxes, he made his way back.
"First let us try this one" Mr Ollivander said as he handed Draco a slim light brown wand. "Spruce, 9 inches, with a dragon heartstring core". Mr. Ollivander took a step and a half back and watched as Draco seem to weigh the wand in his hand. He took half a swing when Mr. Ollivander lightly took it back. "No, its seems not".
Draco made no attempt to say anything as the next wand was given to him to try. "This wand is 10 inches precisely, reasonably springy, made of hawthorn and unicorn hair, which is not a very common mix as the wood usually rejects the core".
Draco took the wand. He again seemed to inspect the wand. With a swirl and a swish the end of his wand left a streak of snow and frost. With a smile Draco simply stated "Wicked", with a tone of much appeasement
Lucius placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "Indeed" he said looking at a frozen chair. " Thank you Mr. Ollivander, a great wand as always. But before departing I was wondering if you had any other specialty items" Lucius said as he gesture to his cane.
Mr. Ollivander raised his head and nodded vigorously. "Why yes Mr. Malfoy, I believe I might have some items that you would like" Mr. Ollivander said as he summoned a small locked book from behind the counter. "Although if your planning on acquiring an, item, for you son I would advise against that for now".
Draco's disposition changed almost instantly. "And why might that be. If I remember correctly when I acquired mine it was a most memorable day and it preformed just as it had before" Lucius said in a stern voice that remind Harry of Vernon.
Mr. Ollivander seem to waver for a second when Lucius glared at him. "But you see Mr. Malfoy you were well into you seventh year, you already were quite adept at using your wand, when I crafted your cane for your wand it was with the understanding that it would not change your use" Mr. Ollivander said as he put the booked down and took a seat.
"My recommendation would be to wait. Your son will no doubt possess the skill needed for a crafted item. I would recommend his sixth or seventh year, but at least his third year. Then I would consider discussing an item, perhaps something a bit more inconspicuous than a cane for a boy his age".
Lucius seemed to think on what Mr. Ollivander said. Draco looked up at his father pleadingly. "I understand Mr. Ollivander. You are the expert on these matters" Lucius said with a smirk that even to Harry was obviously fake. "You say his third year though, but it would best to wait until his seventh. I understand".
Draco had obviously taken little interest in his father's conversation after he had heard he would not be getting anything else. With short swift strokes of his wand he had added more frost and snow to the room. It was clear that that was all he could at this point. Harry had been more reserved about his wand
He paid seven gold Galleons for his wand, and Mr. Ollivander bowed them from his shop.