Author Note: Everything between the time Harry is picked up in Diagon Alley and the time Hagrid puts him back on the train to return to his relatives is the same as in the books. For those that have just seen the movie version, this is not explained well, as Hagrid takes Harry to the station, and puts him on a train back to his relatives, as his birthday is July 31st, yet school does not start till September 1st. This is where my story starts move away from canon.
The way Harry is pictured in my mind is completely different, as when he arrived at the military school he was treated for his malnourishment, and a lot of issues were corrected in the three years he spent at the academy. My research says that the average size for an 11 year old is about 4'3'' and 77lbs, in this story Harry will be slightly above average he will be 4'6'' and about 90lbs. This will put him in the neighborhood of 6'3''-6'5'' when he is 15-16 year old. He has a crew cut when he starts the year, as it is required of the school, but he will end up with his hair similar to David James Elliot, Harmon Rabb Jr., in JAG.
I apologize for those that read this chapter previously there was a slight mistake when I uploaded the chapter, and about 20 words were left out of the end of this chapter, since then I have added those words to the start of the next chapter.
This story is not Beta'd at this time so please bare with any mistake I have made, I am always learning and improving my writing style.
Enjoy the second chapter of my story.
Harry stepped onto the train, and waved to Hagrid, after taking a seat he started thinking about his current situation. 'If I go back to the Dursleys, they will be angry, as Vernon will no longer have me as a wild card in his dealing with Mr. Jamerson, I already have all my stuff in my duffel. Why even go back?'
Harry felt the train slowing at the next stop and made his decision. 'I will go back to the Leaky Cauldron, and book a room for the next month, from there I can learn about the magical world, and do some exploring of Diagon Alley.'
"What do you think Hedwig, should we stay at the Cauldron for the next month?" He received a nod, or what he took for one, and a hoot. 'Must be something about magical animals, and them being able to understand their owners.'
Harry gathered his trunk, duffel, and Hedwig and moved to switch trains back into London, he was glad that it was not crowded as an owl was an interesting travel companion.
After a very peaceful ride, as people seemed to leave the compartment, to get away from Harry and his travel companion, he was back at the Leaky Cauldron. After making his way to the bar he waved for Tom.
"Right glad to see you again Mr. Potter, how can I be of service to you." Tom said in a low voice not wanting to cause the ruckus, when Hagrid was here earlier.
"Well Tom, I need a room till September 1st, and please call me Harry, as it will cut down on the chance someone noticing me."
"Right you are Harry, but you do display the scare out in the open, but no reason to announce you to everyone. Here is the key to room 304 it is a suite, that should be comfortable for the month, if you will just touch your Gringott's key to the room key it will settle your tab when you check out."
Glad he kept the key, even when Hagrid suggest he return it to him for safe keeping, as it would be a benefit of not letting anyone know he was here.
Harry pulled out his key and tapped it to the room key where it glowed bright for a second. "Here ya go Harry, and if you need anything just, and if you need anything just come see me personally."
"Thanks Tom, I could use some help getting my stuff up to my room." No sooner than the words had left his mouth there was a pop, pop, and his stuff was gone. Harry had a look of shock on his face as he heard Tom chuckle.
"Have no fear Harry you will find your stuff in your room, and more than likely unpacked and your owl fed and water. What you just heard was a house elf, they are very handy to have, but many people treat them terrible. A little known secret, is that if you treat them right they work 3 times harder."
Harry was really trying to figure out this new information, and added it to the growing questions; he thanked Tom again and headed up to his room.
Tom was correct his books were on a bookshelf next to the desk in the room, Hedwig's cage was hanging from the ceiling, and she was resting on a perch in a darkened corner. His clothes were in the armoire in the bedroom, which had a large king size bed. Overall the room was on standards of a luxury hotel.
Harry decided to take the time to read the first chapter of each book, to see if he needed to get any other books the following day. So Harry set about reading his school books.
About 4 hours later Harry finished his reading and had many questions, and needed to put some things on paper.
Harry first thing was he wanted to revisit shops, as Hagrid seemed to steer him to buying all the cheaper things in each shop, he was not sure if this was deliberate, or because Hagrid was tight with money. Harry had noticed some interesting trunks in the trunk shop, and he saw some of the charms that could be placed on them, and as he noticed lugging the trunk around they would be handy.
Revisit shops and ask questions to the employee
Harry also wanted to know about how most people carried their wands, as he was worried about breaking the wand by sitting on it. He figured a wand was similar to a weapon for non-magicals, so why not a holster to carry a wand.
Ask Olivander about carrying a wand.
Harry thought that talking to a goblin about his vault and his options for investment, and what interest rates he is getting, as he had learned how to save and manage the amount Uncle Vernon gave him, as the school always hade outings and Harry never was able to participate. Only after his first year, and a talk between Mr. Jamerson and Vernon did things change.
Visit Gringott's
Harry figured for now that was enough for a couple days, as he had quite a few shops to visit, or in some cases revisit.
Harry soon went back to the bar area to see about getting some dinner. Due to Harry's crew cut, his scar was on display and many people recognized him immediately. Although Harry felt his scar was cool, sometime stealth is needed, so there was another thing to add to his list.
Harry waved at Tom and asked about dinner where he was happy to learn that Sheppard's Pie was the special tonight, after ordering a helping he took a seat at a booth in the corner.
"Harry what would you like to drink?" Tom asked as he brought the plate out to him.
"Well it is something that comes from the states, it is called iced tea."
"Ahh, I know of the stuff, we get quite a few Yanks through here during the year, and some of them seemed like they die without it."
Harry was a happy camper as he returned to his room after an excellent dinner, and decided that he may as well read the 2nd chapters in his books before bed.
Harry made his way down the stairs to the bar area of the Leaky Cauldron, as it was still early he was hoping to avoid a lot of the crowd this morning while getting breakfast. As Harry entered the bar he was happy to notice only a few people there and they were scattered throughout the bar, he made his way to the empty bar to get some breakfast.
"Morning Harry, how'd ya sleep?"
"Great Tom, the room is perfect, even if it is a bit more than I am use to, but I can see the use of it with me staying the whole month."
"So what can I get ya this morning?"
"How about two eggs over medium, sausage, potato cakes, 2 pancakes, and some orange juice, if it will not be too big of a problem Tom."
"Can tell you been around the Yanks, but not a problem. So, any big plans for today Harry?" Tom asked as he wrote the order on a pad then threw it in the air were it became a paper airplane that flew to the kitchen.
"Well I wanted to visit some of the shops, as Hagrid seemed to be in a rush to get things done yesterday, and see if I have everything I will need, and I have some questions since I was raised non-magical." No more than Harry finished his sentence did his food appear on the counter.
"Yeah Hagrid is one of a kind and a heart of gold, but I think the trip to Gringott's did him in, as he is not a big fan of goblins and the cart ride made him a bit ill, as he came in here to get something to calm his nerves. As for the questions, I may not be a scholar but I have been around for a long time. I would have thought that the muggle to magical book you got should have helped explain things to ya."
Harry just added this to the growing number of things that seemed to be wrong around him and his entrance to the magical world.
"No Tom, I never received a book, all I got was a letter and when I did not respond they sent Hagrid to see what the problem was." Harry explained as he buttered his pancakes before pouring syrup over them.
"Odd that Harry, Hagrid is a great fella, but he ain't no professor. Normally they send a professor, as every muggle born gets a visit by a professor to explain things to them. When you visit Florish and Blotts, ask for the book 'So You are a Wizard' and 'Wizarding Customs and Traditions'. Those two books will help you with most any question you may have, if you have any more just find me Harry I would be honored to help."
Tom gave Harry a slight bow of the head and moved to take care of his other customers that just came in by floo.
'Why would I be treated different from any other non magical born student? Granted Aunt Petunia knew about magic, but the way she talked mom and her had a falling out over magic, why would they think she would tell me. Also how did they expect me to respond, as I had never been to Diagon Alley and all the letters came to the door slot.' Harry took another bit of his breakfast, as he thought over the strange way he came to be in the magical world.
'Going have to find a place to get my morning run in, as I can't eat these big meals with no exercise, I guess I need to get going as I now have more questions to solve.' Harry got up from his empty plates, gave a wave to Tom and proceeded to the hidden doorway.
Harry decided to get to Olivander's early, as if what Tom said was true then a professor from Hogwarts might see him, so he needed to get all the common places done first, and since Olivander's seemed to be the only wand shop he was sure everyone had to go there.
Harry made it to Olivander just as the old man was turning the sign in the window from Close to Open. Olivander opened the door to allow him entrance.
"I am glad you caught the subtle hint to drop by Harry, as I needed to be careful with Hagrid around, he is a great man but loyal to Dumbledore to a fault."
"Sorry to interrupt Mr. Olivander, but I actually stopped back by to ask a question about carrying a wand, as I thought it equivalent to a gun and since guns have holster, maybe there were ways to carry wands." Harry watched the old man's face morph through emotions, when it landed on happy or surprised.
"Well regardless Harry, I am glad to see you are here, and yes I can answer those questions. However first we need to fit you properly with a wand. As Dumbledore was pushy about you getting that wand, as it was the brother to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and true brother wands have interesting effects."
"Mr. Olivander, how do you not know this is my true wand, while it may be a decent match, Dumbledore used some of your blood to key it to you, and while the wand makes a decent match, you will never reach true potential with it."
"Why would the headmaster due something like that?"
"I believe, that he knows something of your destiny, and is trying to help you. However as great as Albus is he does not know everything, and this is a case where I know more. What Albus's biggest problem is everyone has turned to him for advice, and he rarely seeks anyone for advice, so he has taken the stance he knows best."
"Should I fear him? I mean he will be in direct control for the next seven years." Harry's mind was spinning as this new world seemed to be a bad idea. He was considering on calling up Duke and catching a transport back to the states. Harry was sure the Dursleys would approve, but he wanted to learn about his parent's world, so he forged on.
"Fear Albus, no Harry, he is misguided, but he is a good man, what you need is to always weigh your decisions and listen to others. In the end mistake are made, but we learn from them and try not to make them again. Now we need to find you a wand and by what I saw yesterday I fear we made need to do some testing, so let us step into my shop and see what would be best for you.
Harry followed Olivander back into his workshop; he was amazed at the equipment that lay around the room. There was a lathe that seemed to have been modified to work off magic, cauldron of all sizes on one wall, some even were working cauldrons, but what caught Harry's eye was the wall of glass that had small compartments in it full of different objects.
"Ah I see you are amazed by the rainbow of colors, most seem to be amazed by it. That wall could probably earn a person enough money for generations, as it has taken me most of my life and some of my fathers, and grandfathers to gather this wide variety of ingredients."
"It is amazing to see it, the colors are so different, and some I have never seen before."
Olivander's face became sad, as Harry said this. "Unfortunately Harry, you are correct as some of these species are no longer with us, due to either muggles hunting them when there was no division of our worlds, or from wizards hunting them."
Harry started to move towards them when he ran into an invisible wall. "I may be old Harry but I would not leave those ingredients open to a cauldron explosion, or someone trying to steal them, let me retrieve a ward band for you and we can get started."
Olivander passed through the invisible force field with no problems, and soon disappeared behind a door that was not there a minute ago. When he returned again he was caring a leather wrist band.
"Put this on Harry, as it will dampen your magic, as some ingredients are sensitive to them, and it allows you to pass the ward. It is one of my personal inventions, and one I am quite proud of, as a wizard wearing this band would be as harmless as a new born baby."
"No offense Mr. Olivander, but you are getting up in age. Wouldn't a younger man be able to overpower you?"
"A muggle for certain, but few wizards keep their muscles in shape. The older families still train their son's in sword fighting, but those are usually the noble families that earned their titles from the crown, for the rest I have an equalizer." Olivander lifted his coat pocket and waved his wand, and Harry saw a 38 special revolver in a holster.
To say Harry was stunned, he had known the American wizards were intertwined with the non magicals, but to see Olivander with a weapon that was strictly muggle, and very illegal in England was something he would have never suspected with what he had seen so far of the English wizarding world.
"I see you recognize the weapon I carry." A nod of Harry's head and Olivander waved his wand again and the gun was hidden once more. "I am not as stupid as most purebloods to believe they are superior to muggles, in fact I am sure you could find a few things in my workshop that I have converted. During the Dark Lord's rise a second wand was a needed item in his ranks. While there are other makers of wands I am considered to be the best, due to how long my family has been doing it. So I sought other ways to protect myself, and when I came up with this ward, I know I just needed a way to defend myself."
"Very wise Mr. Olivander, as I am sure most English wizards would not know what that is, and from what I have read, many do not see muggles as threats. They still view them a few centuries behind the times, and do not understand the power they have now."
"Right you are my boy, but now that the history lesson is over let us find you a wand, as Mr. Potter I believe we both shall be in for a pleasant surprise."
Olivander and Harry stepped through the ward together, and got to work quickly having Harry test for wand cores that pulled to him or in a perfect match might even sing to him.
"Interesting Harry, you have three cores that are nearly perfect matches as you heard the songs, and no doubt if you would have use of your full magic you would no doubt hear the full song. Let us try different woods, find the one that tries to draw your magic out from you."
Harry went through hundreds of samples as he wondered through the shelves till he was at the end, and two nearly pulled him to them.
"Well I knew it was going to be interesting Harry, but never did I expect to have you select two woods, and these two woods are one of a kind."
"I have never seen woods like these two Mr. Olivander. What makes them so special?"
"The first one is Alder, and while you might have seen the normal version, this particular one has a silver core in it, and is one of the oldest materials I have. The story is that silver is from Excalibur herself, legend has it after the fall of Camelot Merlin drove the sword into the ground where the kingdom stood, and cast a spell to have a alder tree surround it, to show where the brave fought."
"Is the legend true? I mean I have read some in one of the books I got about Merlin and Camelot."
"I can't say if it is or not Harry, but over my life the one thing I have learned is in every legend there is some truth. Now this other wood is also from an ancient tree, and has a legend to go along with it. This piece is from the black-white ebony tree, it is said that after a great battle between good and evil that the two greatest wizards met and battled. Both wanted to destroy the other, and it is said the gods turned them into the tree to show that there has to be a balance. Each year the tribe that guards the tree allows one piece of the tree to be taken, and the wand maker must prove they are centered."
Harry was speechless; both of his wand woods were extremely rare, and had magical myths to go along with them, and he like Olivander believed in every legend there was some truth.
"How will you form a wand from two different woods?"
"Well Harry we will not be doing a wand, but making a staff, as a wand could not handle the power."
"So while everyone else has a wand I will be using a staff? I know I have the one that Dumbledore wanted me to have, but will that cause problems?"
"While staffs are rare, a secret has been passed down amongst wand makers to help hide those that have the power. A certain string of runes, allow the staff to take the appearance of a wand, however it will reduce the overall power while in the wand form."
"That would give a person a big advantage in a fight, as no one would expect the staff."
"Yes, the spell was originally created by Rowena Ravenclaw for Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin, as they both had staffs. Those two were some of the best warriors in history. Now, as for the wand the Headmaster wanted for you to have, I believe that a wand holster, as you were correct about carrying a wand, on your non-dominate hand."
"So basically, use my staff for all purposes, but keep the other wand handy if anyone wants to check the wand everyone thinks I have."
"Correct Harry, make sure to practice spells with the holly wand in case anyone asks to test the wand, as I believe that only the headmaster or the Ministry will do that kind of check."
Harry assisted Olivander once the wood was returned to its true size. They took half of each wood to make the staff. Harry thought the wood would be split length wise, and soon voiced his thoughts as Olivander did not seem to be working that way.
"Mr. Olivander, why are you combining the wood that way instead of length wise?"
"Normally Harry I would do that, but with the legends behind these woods, I feel they will be better off doing it this way. As the wizard normally grips the top, I will use the Alder in that part since it is suppose to contain Excalibur, and the black- white ebony represents balance it shall be the bottom half to keep balance with nature."
Harry stood amazed as Olivander put a piece of wood on the lath, and then shut his eyes and molded the wood with his own wand, soon enough he had two pieces that fit together perfectly, and the design in the wood was amazing. Harry could not tell if Olivander was making fun of the legends surrounding Excalibur, or if he knew more than he was saying, as the where the two pieces met two scenes were depicted. The first being the sword in the stone legend, and the second being the Lady in the Lake holding Excalibur. The staff was beautiful it called to Harry stronger than anything he had felt.
"I see it is already calling to you Harry, but we have much to do, as we need to place the cores after making sure they are as strong as they can be, this was but the shaping of the staff."
"Mr. Olivander, is it possible to add something to the design of the staff, some words?"
"Normally it is not advised, but Harry you have gone against most things so far, so I do not see why we cannot try. A word of warning ever little change can affect the staff."
"I wish the words Semper Fidelis around the top of the staff. As that is the motto I learned from my "family"."
"Interesting Harry, I cannot wait to see how this staff will work." Olivander said with renewed joy and a childlike energy.
Soon they were at the Cauldrons with the ingredients. "Now Harry in each of these cauldrons is a special potion I use to help harness the power of the cores, it is a secret to only my family, thus why my wands are sought after. However we will be keying the cores to you by using your blood, this will strengthen the cores for your magic, and make it all but impossible for any other person to use your staff."
Olivander handed Harry a small silver knife, and instructed him to cut his palm, and allow 10 drops per cauldron. Once Harry had completed this Mr. Olivander healed his wound and cleaned the knife off.
"Mr. Olivander you were very cautious to make sure my blood was gone, why is that?"
"Harry is the wizarding world the blood of someone can be used in many ways, some need blood voluntarily given, and some need it taken. The end results in these rituals or potions are usually never good, so guard your blood like your life." Harry took notice of those words and filed them as they seemed to be very important.
As they waited, Harry had a question."Mr. Olivander, does a wizard's wand ever change as he grows up?"
"That is a tricky question, as the wizard may grow but unless they make a drastic change in their life, the wand chooses the wizard based on their magic, however it has happened before that a wand no longer works for the wizard, thus they need a new wand. That is a reason that I was surprised that you did not find a 4th core as two of your cores complement each other, that is why I left a 4th core spot in your staff, as something tells me you may find it, and when you do bring it to me and we shall truly complete your wand. For now I believe it your cores are ready to add."
Olivander brought a pair of silver tongs out to grab the cores. "In this step no magic must be used and this silver is tempered against magic, so they are perfect."
The first core was the scale of a rare black hyberian dragon; they were hunted by ancient wizards, as they were believed to be evil. However, Olivander said they were the royalty of dragons, and were sought after to control the rest of the dragons. The scale itself was given to Harry's great-great-great grandfather, when he helped one escape.
The second core to be added was the talon of a Griffin that Olivander's grandfather retrieved from a Griffin in the Forbidden Forest. Legend was it was Griffindyor's own familiar.
