A/N: Hello to you all! I know it's SUPER LATE!I was going to update last month/year, but my entire family contracted food poisoning, including me. And I just couldn't pull myself off the sofa to post this chapter. Then I went on holiday and now school has started. I don't expect that I will be updating frequently... I'm so sorry! I will try to update at least once a month, if my schedule allows for it...
I was presently surprised at the response to my story. Thank you all for favouriting or following either myself or this story.
Shout-outs to: CameronH94, matechan, Saaphire, feel-the-music-of-life, thewateryfiredrummer, Lil'ViolaXD, seiyan13, DragonSiren7, Elnora-17, masterdiaz4, xXSakuraBlossomsXx, harryfan160889, SmartWind, fairyheather, 10wrighth, Annebelle1988, kingston21, letterstoabba, shadowduskmon, skyefire, Ximara, jot47, hpotter90, marycaugh, MaryShot09, Trixie's mom, Mytryk, markdbailey01, gailbryce, 917brat, Ina Bauer, AutobotSeeker98, PuppyProngs, MarieCP, and the stargate time traveller.
That's quite a lot of people, for a first chapter... If I have missed out any names, feel free to inform me through a PM.
I shall also be replying to reviews here.
To Alice(Guest): Yes, I have mentioned that Harry will be in Slytherin. I have decided on the pairings for this story, which will later be mentioned, sad to say Harry won't be with Daphne. Inspiration hit me last night... I will probably start some of the romance off in Harry's fourth year, cos of the Yule Ball and all, it's an opportunity to have a little drama. Thank you for reviewing, and I'm glad you liked my story.
To letterstoabba: Yes, I will keep writing. Thank you for reviewing, and I'm glad you liked my story!
To lucavento: Glad you liked my story. But I don't get what you mean by 'begging'. As I have said above and below, pairings are non-slash. Thank you for reviewing and I'm glad you liked my story!
To fairyheather: As I have said earlier, sorry, Harry will not be with Daphne. Thank you for reviewing! :)
To harryfan160889: No worries, it won't. Thanks for reviewing! :D
To xXSakuraBlossomsXx: Heh, *blushes * thanks XD. Even though this may sound repetitive, thanks for reviewing! :D
To Lil'ViolaXD: Thanks! Glad you liked it. Thanks for reviewing! :D
Pairings: Main - HarryxOC
Minor - BlaisexDaphne DracoxLuna
If there are any adjustments you wish for me to make, please take it up with me. I will consider them. If you have any complaints please tell me as well. Thanks! :D
Warnings: Some expletives
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I only own my presently uncreated OC.
Edited: 9/9/2015
Thank you. Presenting, the second chapter of Revelations! Enjoy!
25 July 1991...
Harry sat in his cupboard that night, long after the Dursleys had gone to bed, eagerly opening the yellowed envelope. Inside the letter, written in cursive, green script, was:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme
Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Harrison Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at HogwartsSchool of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of allnecessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
First-year students will require:
Three sets of plain work robes (black)
One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
Set books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emetic Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 wand cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWEDTHEIR OWNBROOMSTICKS
Harry stared at the letter in shock and disbelief, questions bursting inside his head. This must have been why he had all those strange, albeit useful abilities! He was a wizard! Harry grinned so hard his cheeks hurt. His parents must have been a wizard and witch, not useless drunks, as Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had portrayed them to be.
He then wondered how he was going to owl the school, and where he could find all the things needed for him to attend. He heard a faint 'hoot' from outside the house, causing him to dash as quickly as he could to the window. He saw a medium-sized tawny owl sitting on the fence, its bright yellow eyes looking straight at him, as if it knew whom the recipient of the Hogwarts letter was. Harry drafted out a quick reply letter:
Dear Professor McGonagall,
It would be to my immense honour and pleasure that I may be able to attend Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry. I also have a few questions; Where would I be able to buy all my school supplies? I also do not have any money to buy school supplies,is there a school fund for such things? How am I supposed to get to the school? The means of transport to the school was never stated.
If you could kindly answer these questions, I would be very grateful.
Yours sincerely,
Harry Potter
Harry finished the letter and quickly padded out into the garden where the owl was waiting for him. Harry hesitantly reached his hand along with the letter towards the owl, the gleaming talons of the owl snatching the letter up. The owl gave a soft 'hoot', before flying away, supposedly to his new school.
Harry headed back in, his heart jumping in excitement at the prospect of going to a school where he could learn MAGIC! His aunt and uncle had always had a strange aversion to anything concerning the word 'magic', going so far as to forbidding Harry from using the word and banning him from watching any television show concerning magic, not that he could watch television very often.
Harry pulled his once threadbare blanket over himself, smiling lightly in remembrance of how he had 'willed' the blanket to mend itself back into its original thick state. He now knew how he had done it, and fell asleep with a smile on his pale, heart-shaped face. (A/N: I know that it kinda sounds girl, but yeah, he has a heart-shaped face... )
30 July 1991...
Harry had just finished frying the eggs for breakfast, when he heard the sound of the mail slot opening, the shuffle of letters as they fell through the slot, and the metal clang as the mail slot closed. His heart leapt at the thought that perhaps Professor McGonagall had written a reply to him.
Harry hastily placed the eggs on a plate and hurried out to the hallway. A horrifying sight greeted him; Uncle Vernon was bending down to pick up the letters, and had already begun shuffling through them.
He reacted as Harry knew he would. His face went from red to green faster
than a set of traffic lights. And it didn't stop there. Within seconds it was the grayish white of old porridge.
"P-P-Petunia!" he bellowed.
Aunt Petunia rushed the stairs, alarm written on her horse-like face. She saw the letter and her face turned white. She grabbed it and read the first line. For a moment it looked as though she might faint. She clutched her throat and made a choking noise.
"Vernon! Oh my goodness - Vernon!"
They stared at each other, seeming to have forgotten that Harry was there.
"Vernon," Aunt Petunia was saying in a quivering voice, "look at the address! How could they possibly know where he sleeps? You don't think they're watching the house?"
"Watching, spying, might be following us," muttered Uncle Vernon wildly.
"But what should we do, Vernon? Should we write back? Tell them we don't want -"
"No," he said finally. "No, we'll ignore it. If they don't get an answer... Yes, that's best... we won't do anything..."
"But-"
"I'm not having one in the house, Petunia! Didn't we swear when we took him in we'd stamp out that dangerous nonsense?"
Aunt Petunia nodded absentmindedly.
Harry decided to make his presence known, "Ahem, Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, I believe that that is my letter. And I have already accepted the invitation to attend Hogwarts."
Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon froze and looked at Harry, shock and anger written on their faces, respectively.
Uncle Vernon lunged forward, shrieking like a mad man, "HOW DARE YOU? WITHOUT EVEN TELLING US!"
BANG!
Uncle Vernon was sent flying back into his cupboard door, courtesy of Harry, who had his right hand out. Aunt Petunia gasped, but dared not move, lest Harry extended her the same courtesy.
"Dear Uncle Vernon, you can't stop me from going to Hogwarts. It is my decision to do so. You can let me go willingly, or I can just persuade you to. Would you like that? " Harry smirked maliciously.
"Now, you listen here, BOY!" Uncle Vernon yelled.
"I am offering you a deal, Uncle Vernon. I will leave for school on 1 August each year, even though school starts on 1 September, so as to free you of me and I of you a month earlier. I will return at the start of the summer, each year. Just in case people get suspicious on why I suddenly disappear. During that time, I will be learning magic, " Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia flinched at the word, "while you can tell the neighbours that I misbehaved so often, that you had to send me to St' Brutus' Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys. See, you get rid of me for three quarters of a year, and get to destroy my reputation. Isn't that nice? Hm?" Harry stated.
Uncle Vernon's face turned even redder, though he seemed to be considering the deal. Aunt Petunia as well. Finally, Uncle Vernon grunted, "All right, deal. But don't you prance around the house doing those freakish things of yours! And I expect you to do your chores as well!"
Harry replied, "Of course, Uncle Vernon. However, the chores should be equal between myself and your little Dudders. I will not do any more or less than what I believe is my share. Understand?"
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia nodded. Harry dropped said ma unmercifully onto the ground. They were about to enter the kitchen when Harry stopped them, "I almost forgot, my letter please."
Aunt Petunia grudgingly handed over the letter. Harry grabbed it and went to his cupboard to open his letter.
Dear Mr. Potter,
I am pleased to hear from you. Now, regarding your questions. Your school supplies can be bought at Diagon Alley. Head to London and find the pub 'the Leaky Cauldron'. The barman, Tom will assist you. As for monetary problems, Gringotts is the wizarding bank, run by goblins. Your parents left a rather large sum of money for you, so you do not need to worry about that. Regarding the transportation to school, the train to Hogwarts leaves from King's Cross Station platform 9 and three quarters at 11 o'clock on 1 September. To get to platform 9 and three quarters, just run through the walls that separate platform 9 and 10. I have enclosed you train ticket.
If that is all, I shall see you on 1 September.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Harry almost squealed in excitement. His aunt and uncle had never told him about his parents other than the fact that they had died in a car crash. Hearing that he had something from them was comforting in the least. He emptied the envelope out and saw the ticket Professor McGonagall had mentioned. He placed the envelope along with his first letter in his school bag, the only bag the Dursleys had ever bothered to provide him with. The worn, brown bag served its purpose, so he had never bothered to buy a new one.
Harry stuffed his best clothes into the bag; two pairs of slightly worn jeans only 2 sizes bigger than him, one mostly clean white shirt with only two small holes at the back, and a thin black singlet. The only shoes he had were the white sneakers that had been given to him when a 7-year old Dudley had outworn them.
He placed his train ticket in the pockets of his trousers. He looked around his 'room' and spotted the meager supply of stationary he had. Though he was quite sure that wizards did not use pencils or pens, judging by the ink he had seen used on the two letters he had received, he decided to just bring them along.
Leaving the small bag in the cupboard, Harry headed to the kitchen, where the Dursleys were still eating breakfast. Upon his entrance, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon's heads jerked up, while the small whale that was Dudley paid him no mind and continued gobbling down his food.
"Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, I have decided that I will leave tomorrow, at 8. " Harry stated.
They nodded.
"However..."
Their eyes flashed to him again.
"I will require some money to get to London, so that I may purchase my school supplies, "
Uncle Vernon seemed to want to say something, but kept him mouth in a firm line.
"Alright, " Aunt Petunia retrieved 10 pounds from her wallet, " this is all you're getting from us, boy. And it's more than you deserve. "
Harry nodded, and was about to leave the kitchen to start on his chores, when Uncle Vernon called him, "Boy, how are you getting to that school of yours?"
"I am to board a train at King's Cross Station, " Harry replied, politely.
"Funny way to get to a wizards' school, the train. Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?"
Harry didn't say anything.
"Where is this school, anyway?"
"I don't know," said Harry, realizing this for the first time. He pulled his ticket out of his pocket.
"I just take the train from platform nine and three-quarters at eleven o'clock," he read.
His aunt and uncle stared.
"Platform what?"
"Nine and three-quarters."
"Don't talk rubbish," said Uncle Vernon. "There is no platform nine and three-quarters."
"It's on my ticket."
"Barking," said Uncle Vernon, "howling mad, the lot of them. You'll see. You just wait. "
With that, Uncle Vernon turned back to his newspaper. Harry placed the ticket back into his pocket and started his chores. The rest of the day passed in a slight daze for Harry. He was going to Hogwarts!
31 July 1991...
Harry woke up with a big smile on his face. He quickly went through his morning routine before starting to prepare breakfast. At 8 o' clock sharp, Harry walked up to Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, his bag pack slung over his shoulder, "Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, I will be leaving now. I shall see you on the first day of summer. Goodbye. "
Dudley, looked confused for a moment, before deciding that the food infront of him was much more important, and continued stuffing bacon and ham down his throat.
"Go, boy, and don't give me any trouble!" Uncle Vernon snapped.
Harry stepped outside of the door of 4 Privet Drive, and took a deep breath. He was so excited! He made his way to the nearest bus stop and boarded a bus to London.
Harry had never been to London before. He passed book shops and music stores, hamburger restaurants and cinemas, no hint that there was actually a whole alley of magic hidden by one of the pubs. He finally spotted the Leaky Cauldron on Charing Cross Road.
It was a tiny, grubby-looking pub. The people hurrying by didn't glance at it. Their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the record shop on the other as if they couldn't see the Leaky Cauldron at all. In fact, Harry had the most peculiar feeling that only he could see it.
Harry entered the pub, wrinkling his nose at the dark and shabby pub. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, Tom, Harry thought back to Professor McGonagall's letter, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. The low buzz of chatter stopped when he walked in.
"Good Lord," said the bartender, peering at Harry, "is this - can this be -?"
The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent.
"Bless my soul," whispered the old bartender, "Harry Potter... what an honour."
He hurried out from behind the bar, rushed toward Harry and seized his hand, tears in his eyes.
"Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back."
Harry didn't know what to say. Everyone was looking at him. The old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out.
Then there was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment, Harry found himself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Doris Crockford, Mr. Potter, can't believe I'm meeting you at last."
"So proud, Mr. Potter, I'm just so proud."
"Always wanted to shake your hand - I'm all of a flutter."
"Delighted, Mr. Potter, just can't tell you, Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle."
"I've seen you before!" said Harry, as Dedalus Diggle's top hat fell off in his excitement. "You bowed to me once in a shop."
"He remembers!" cried Dedalus Diggle, looking around at everyone. "Did you hear that? He remembers me!" Harry shook hands again and again.
Doris Crockford kept coming back for more.
A pale young man made his way forward, very nervously. One of his eyes
was twitching.
"P-P-Potter," stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping Harry's hand,
"c-can't t-tell you how p- pleased I am to meet you. I-I'm w-w-will be your P-p-professor at H-h-hogwarts."
"What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?"
"D-Defense Against the D-D-Dark Arts," muttered Professor Quirrell, as though he'd rather not think about it. "N-not that you n-need it, eh, P-P-Potter?" He laughed nervously. "You'll be g-getting all your equipment, I suppose? I've g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on vampires, m-myself." He looked terrified at the very thought.
But the others wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Harry to himself. It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all. At last, Tom, the bartender managed to make himself heard over the babble.
"Alright, folks. You've seen the boy, he has to get his supplies. "
Doris Crockford shook Harry's hand one last time, and Tom led them through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds.
Tom grinned at Harry.
"Good morning, Mr Potter. I'm Tom, bartender and owner of the Leaky Cauldron. So very pleased to finally be able to meet the Boy-Who-Lived, " Tom introduced himself.
"Boy-Who-Lived?" Harry asked.
Tom's eyes widened, "You mean, you don't know anything, Mr Potter?"
Harry shook his head, "No sir, I was raised by Muggles, you see."
Tom's bald head shook in disbelief, "Goodness gracious! Well, we can't have that. "
"Eleven years ago, the Potters were in hiding, from the You-Know-Who. On the evening of Halloween 1981, Voldemort arrived at where the Potters were and killed James Potter and Lily Potter, your parents. Somehow, you managed to survive the Killing Curse thrown at you, and vanquish You-Know-Who. He hasn't been seen since then. Nor have you, for that matter. "
"Sir, if I may, who was 'You-Know-Who'?" Harry couldn't help but ask.
"You-Know-Who, was the most powerful Dark Lord since Grindelwald. He did so many heinous things, that people began fearing even his name. His name was V-voldemort. " Tom explained, flinching a little at the name.
"Oh," was Harry's reply.
Tom turned back to the brick wall they were standing infront of, "Right, I suppose we should get you into Diagon Alley. Pay attention now, Mr. Potter."
"Three up... two across" he muttered. "Right, stand back."
He tapped the wall three times with the point of his wand. The brick he had touched quivered - it wriggled - in the middle, a small hole appeared - it grew wider and wider - a second later they were facing an archway, onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.
"Welcome," said Tom, "to Diagon Alley."
He grinned at Harry's amazement. Harry stepped through the archway. Harry
looked quickly over his shoulder and saw the archway shrink instantly back into solid wall.
The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop. Cauldrons - All Sizes - Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver - Self-Stirring - Collapsible, said a sign hanging over them.
Harry spotted the grand, snow white building that towered over the other small shops at the end of the alley, and guessed that it was Gringotts. So he headed towards the grand building. He turned his head in every direction as he walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping. A plump woman outside an Apothecary was shaking her head as they passed, saying, "Dragon liver, seventeen Sickles an ounce, they're mad..."
A low, soft hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying Eeylops Owl Emporium - Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy. Several boys of about Harry's age had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it. "Look," Harry heard one of them say, "the new Nimbus Two Thousand - fastest ever!"
There were shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments Harry had never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels' eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon...
Harry finally reached Gringotts. Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, wearing a
uniform of scarlet and gold, was a short and strange-looking creature that Harry immediately assumed to be a goblin. He was about a head shorter than he was. He had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and, Harry noticed, very long fingers and feet.
He bowed as he walked inside, Harry bowed back. He understood from the many books that he had read that, when one entered another's 'territory', one must show the appropriate respect. The goblin seemed immensely surprised at Harry's actions, and gave what Harry interpreted to be a goblin's version of a smile.
Now Harry was facing a second pair of doors, silver this time, with words engraved
upon them:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
A pair of goblins bowed him through the silver doors and they were as surprised as the previous goblins at Harry's bow. Harry ended up in a vast marble hall. About a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind a long counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass scales, examining precious stones through eyeglasses.
There were too many doors to count leading off the hall, and yet more goblins were showing people in and out of these. Harry made for the counter. The goblin-teller barely glanced up at Harry.
Harry bowed deeply, and greeted, "Good morning, sir. I am Harry Potter. I wish to withdraw money from my vault. "
At this, the goblin looked up and peered at Harry through his thick glasses. He turned up his long nose at him, sneering at the rags he wore, and replied, "Well, we will have to have a test to check if you are really who you claim you are. Follow me. "
With that, the goblin hopped down from his seat and walked briskly towards one of the many doors. Harry had to jog to keep pace with the goblin. They walked down a long hallway also filled with many doors. The goblin knocked on one of them, with a plaque which read 'Nagnok: Potter Family Manager.
A raspy "Come in, " was heard, and the goblin pushed the door open, revealing a rather expensively decorated office.
"Yes, Griphook? " the stern-looking goblin sitting behind the desk spoke.
"Sir, this boy here claims to be Harry Potter. We need a test," replied the goblin, now known as Griphook.
"Of course, come here, boy," Nagnok commanded.
Harry walked over and bowed deeply, "Good morning, sir."
Nagnok, like all the previous goblins, seemed shocked at the respect Harry was giving them, "It's not often wizards such as yourself show such respect to us goblins. Most of them think of us as below them."
Harry smiled politely.
"Alright, we shall perform a test to confirm your identity, and an inheritance ritual to find out what vaults you can access," Nagnok informed.
He took out a piece of parchment and a lethal-looking dagger from under his desk. He placed hem infront of Harry, "Could you cut your palm and let some of your blood drip to the parchment? Three drops should suffice."
Harry nodded and did as he was told, watching as the three drops of dark red blood fell, staining the pristine white parchment.
Slowly, words written in red ink, that Harry suspected was his blood, appeared on the parchment.
Given Name: Harrison James Potter Status: Pureblood
Father: James Charles Potter (Deceased)
Mother: Lily Rose Potter nee Evans (Deceased)
Godfather: Sirius Orion Black (Imprisoned)
Magical Guardian: Albus Dumbledore
Harrison James Potter is eligible to claim the following lordships: Potter, Black, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Peverell, Evans
Total monies (6 vaults):
2, 348, 776, 058 Galleons
394, 082, 929 Sickles
928, 291, 172 Knuts
Total possessions:
Massive collection of books
Massive collections of gems
Massive collection of magical and non-magical artifacts (warning: some may be cursed)
Massive collection of weapons (warning: some may be cured or poisoned)
Total properties owned:
Potter Manor (Location: UNKNOWN)
Potter Cottage (Location: Godric's Hollow) DESTROYED
Black Manor (Location: UNKNOWN)
Black House (Location: London, England)
Slytherin Castle (Location: Ireland)
Ravenclaw Perch (Location: Scotland)
Evans House (Location: Manchester, England) DESTROYED
Total Owned Businesses/Venues:
Diagon Alley - 100%
Daily Prophet - 100%
Knockturn Alley - 100%
Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry - 25%
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft And Wizardry - 25%
So... He owned the entire place he was in, including this 'Knockturn Alley'. Harry made a mental note to visit it later. Though he probably didn't own Gringotts, since it was goblin property.
Harry turned to Nagnok, and asked, "I understand being eligible for the House of Potter, but what about the rest? "
"Well, Mr. Potter, most pureblood families are connected, as they tend to intermarry. Your father was descended from the Potter and Peverell lines. Your mother, whom most thought to be muggleborn, was actually pureblood. Rowena Ravenclaw, actually had two daughters. While most were concerned about the scandal Helena Ravenclaw caused, her sister Athena Ravenclaw, married and had children. One of her pureblood descendents, your great-grandmother, married into the Evans family, to your great-grandfather. Their son was a Squib. Being a pureblood family, the Evans family were shamed, and threw your grandfather out, but never legally disowned him. He married another Squib from a pureblood family and led a peaceful Muggle life, choosing to forget about the wizarding world, until your mother received her Hogwarts letter. At the end of the First Wizarding War, the Evans family were wiped out, with the exception of your grandparents, your mother and your Squib aunt, Petunia. As for the House of Slytherin, Lord Voldemort was the last Slytherin Heir. However, since you defeated him on 31 October 1981, you gained the Lordship of the House of Slytherin," Nagnok finished his rather lengthy explanation.
"Oh, okay. Then what about the House of Black?" Harry questioned.
"Your godfather, was Sirius Black. he is currently serving time in Azkaban, for betraying your parents to Voldemort and killing 12 muggles. Before that, he, as the heir to the Black fortune, bequeathed everything to you, " Nagnok said.
Harry nodded, before asking, "What about my parents? Didn't they have a will?"
"They did, however, your magical guardian, Albus Dumbledore instructed us not to show it to you until you reached magical maturity at the age of 17," Nagnok explained.
"Well, I have never seen nor heard of him."
"I shall look into that, and inform you at a later date. However, since he is legally your magical guardian, I cannot show you the wills of your parents."
Harry sneered in response, but did not do anything else.
Nagnok frowned, and said, "However, the Potter Vault seems to have lesser money than I remembered... Ah... here it is. Albus Dumbledore has been withdrawing 3,000 Galleons each year for the past 10 years, claiming that it was for you. He also transferred a total of 5 million Galleons to a vault under the name of The Order Of the Phoenix... What would you like to do about this, Mr. Potter?"
Harry snarled slightly at the fact that his so-called guardian had been stealing from him.
"Could you please take back all the money he's ever withdrawn over the past 10 years without him knowing? I certainly never received a single Galleon of that money. Could you also restrict him from accessing my vault again? " Harry requested.
"Of course, "
Nagnok pulled out six signet rings from his drawers, "Mr. Potter, these are your Lordship rings, one for each house. Normally we wouldn't allow someone as young as yourself to claim his inheritance, but you are a special case since you are the only remaining heir to each house. Would you like to wear them now and claim your inheritance?"
Harry nodded.
"Alright, you just need to put the rings on and see if the ring accepts you as the head of the family, " Nagnok said.
"And if it doesn't?"
"Well, let's just say it won't be very pleasant," Nagnok smirked maliciously.
Harry put the rings on one by one and each time, he felt a strange tingly feeling, not unlike the one he felt when he used his healing ability. He looked into the mirror in Nagnok's office, and realised that although he did not feel any difference, his cheekbones were higher, like most purebloods, his green eyes shone even brighter and his hair became soft and silky.
The six rings on his fingers suddenly glowed and disappeared leaving only one ring, on his right index finger. There was a H on the ring. Harry looked to Nagnok for an explanation.
"Well, Mr. Potter, or should I say Lord Potter-Black-Peverell-Slytherin-Evans, the rings combined with each other, since you are one person. The H is for your name, Harrison. You are now the richest wizard in all of Wizarding Europe, and possibly the world as well. " Nagnok announced.
"Hm, I think we'll stick with Mr. Potter, so as not to draw too much attention to myself, " Harry mused.
"Spoken like a true Slytherin..." Nagnok commented wryly.
"Is it possible for me to make any investments? Both Muggle and Wizarding?" Harry inquired.
Nodding, Nagnok answered, "Of course, Gringotts normally helps our priority clients do that if they so wish. "
"How much interest do you normally charge? "
"About 5%. Why do you ask?" Nagnok gained a curious gleam in his beady eyes.
"I have an offer for you, " Nagnok looked intrigued, "you help me invest in whatever you think will make the most money, and I give Gringotts 10% of my earnings. How about that?"
Nagnok's eyes widened to the size of plates, "Mr. Potter! T-that is exceptionally generous of you! I would definitely have to agree. "
"However... I would like for you to help me buy over the majority of the shares of a Muggle drilling company, called Grunnings. My uncle works there, and I would like to have some leverage over him... " Harry instructed, giving an almost evil smirk.
Nagnok gave a fearful grin, "Of course, Mr. Potter. Now, would you like to visit your vaults?"
"Yes, but just the Potter and Black vaults for now. I doubt I will need much for a mere shopping trip, "
Nagnok commanded Griphook, who was still in the office to bring Harry to his vaults. Just before stepping out of Nagnok's office, Harry turned back to Nagnok and said, "Oh could you please keep this conversation confidential? "
Nagnok gave a low bow and replied, "Of course."
"I would hate to have any accident happen to you, " Harry stated, his green eyes hardening for a second before returning to its normal vibrant hue.
Harry had rather enjoyed the cart ride down to his vault. Griphook explained that his vaults were one of the higher security ones, even more so than the Malfoys. The cart stopped and they passed a huge yellow dragons. Its scales were a dull yellow, showing that it had probably been there a long time.
Harry vaguely wondered how long the dragon's lifespan was. Griphook made a shushing motion to Harry before picking up a strange metal object and began clanging it. The high-pitched sound reverberated in the quiet place, seeming to cause the dragon pain as it was screeching in agony.
Griphook then hurried past the Dragon, pulling Harry along with him. They reached a vault numbered '12', the Potter vault.
"Griphook, is there any way I can retrieve money from any of my vaults without actually coming to Gringotts?" Harry asked.
Griphook handed Harry a small white leather pouch with the Gringotts symbol on it, "This pouch is connected to all of your vaults, it is given to our best clients, " here he gave Harry a meaningful look, "all you need to do is think of the vault you would like to withdraw money from and the amount of money you would like to withdraw, and it will appear in the pouch."
Harry nodded. A question popped up and he asked, "Griphook, I saw on the report something about Sickles, what is that?"
"Ah, I forgot you were Muggle-raised, Mr. Potter. Seventeen silver Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle, it's easy enough. Sickles are the silver ones, Galleons are the gold ones, and Knuts are the bronze ones," Griphook explained.
Harry nodded in understanding.
"Well, Mr. Potter, you have to place your palm on the vault door so that it can confirm that you are a Potter," Griphook instructed, gesturing to the large silver door.
Harry placed his right palm on the door, barely flinching at the prick of pain he felt when something jabbed him and drew blood. Seconds later, the heavy door opened. Harry entered the vault while Griphook stayed outside.
The vault was huge; it probably could fit Privet Drive in there quite comfortably...
Heaps of gold coins and precious gems surrounded him, Harry stared in awe. If this was how much he had in the Potter vault, imagine the other vaults! Harry grinned to himself before turning to Griphook, "How much does tuition at Hogwarts cost, per year?"
"About 50 Galleons, "
Harry nodded and turned back to the towers of gold. He remembered that he didn't actually need to personally take out much, since he had the Gringotts pouch. He just grabbed a few handfuls of Galleons, approximately 100 Galleons.
He continued wondering around the vault. He found a small bag that seemed to have been expanded to many times its size, and thought it would come in handy for the books. He stuffed his small backpack inside the smaller bag, and found it rather funny that it could actually fit.
Soon, he came across stacks of books. He browsed through them and found some that could be of use.
The Art of Transfiguration... Wizarding History... Potions: Beginners... How to Defend Yourself... Charms, Jinxes, and Hexes... Quidditch Through The Ages...
Those were just some of the books Harry took. he then spotted a worn journal lying on the floor, he picked it up and flipped through the slightly yellowing pages. It seemed to be a step-by-step guide on how to become an 'Animagus', whatever that was... He pocketed it anyways.
After a few more minutes of exploring, he found nothing worthwhile, and headed back out. Griphook then led Harry through a series of hallways, before stopping at Vault 9, the Black vault.
Griphook gestured for Harry to repeat the same process of pricking his palm to open the door. Harry stepped into the vault, amazed that this vault was even larger than the Potter vault.
Since Harry already had his money, he headed straight for the pile of books at the end of the vault. He noticed that the books had typically darker genres than the ones found in the Potter vault. He deduced that the Potter were 'Light', while the Blacks were 'Dark'. He snorted, magic was magic, be it 'Light' or "Dark'.
A few of the books caught his eye; Pureblood Traditions, Purebloods Through The Ages, Art of Mind Magic, Hexes for Your Enemies.
The book, Purebloods Through The Ages was actually a self-updating ledger of sorts, showing the ancestry of most of the pureblood families. Names written in blue ink signified someone who was still alive, black ones signified those who were dead, and red ones showed those who were disowned.
Harry thought it rather interesting, so he took it. He then wandered to the small collection of weapons the Blacks had in their vault and picked out a small dagger. The dagger had a simple, but deadly-looking blade which was about 6 inches long, while it's hilt was encrusted with small emeralds. It was kept in a sheath that was also encrusted with small emeralds. Should he happen to be in a tight spot, he could probably whip it out for self-defense and no one could blame him. Hm.
Harry left Gringotts with the small bag containing his books and backpack. His money and dagger were in his pocket. He headed towards the closest shop; Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions.
Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve.
"Hogwarts, dear?" she said, when she spotted Harry.
"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.
"Hello," said the boy, "Hogwarts, too?"
"Yes, I'm Harry Potter, " Harry replied.
The boy's grey eyes grew large, as did Madam Malkin's.
"Really? The Boy-Who-Lived?" the boy exclaimed excitedly.
Harry nodded.
"Wicked!" the boy seemed to compose himself before continuing, "I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. "
"Heir to the Malfoy fortune, I presume, " Harry had taken a quick look into Pureblood Through the Ages during the ride from his vault to the main lobby, and had spotted the most prominent pureblood families; the Malfoys were not exactly the most prominent, but they certainly were one of the richest.
"Yes, and the Black's, through my mother, " replied Draco, slightly pompously.
Harry smirked, "Nope, I am. I'm Lord Black now. "
Draco gaped, "B-b-but how? Your father was a Potter, and your mother was a mud- muggleborn!"
"Actually, my mother was a pureblood, born of two Squibs. So, I'm actually pureblood as well. My godfather was Sirius Orion Black, he wrote in his will that I was his heir, and since he was the heir to the Black family, I'm now Lord Black. " Harry explained.
"But he was disowned!" Draco protested.
"Really? Well then he must never have been legally disowned, " Harry shrugged.
Draco visibly deflated, but soon perked up again, "Hey, do you play Quidditch?"
Harry cocked his head to the side, his innocent features making him look like a child, "What's that?"
Draco's expression turned into one of horror, and he gasped, "You don't know what Quidditch is?"
Harry shook his head, and Draco proceeded to explain to him at breakneck speed what Quidditch was, what each player on each team did, how the game was played, etc. At the end of it all, Harry was left with the impression that despite his pureblood airs, Draco was a Quidditch fanatic. Harry had not catch a single word the blonde boy had rambled off about Quidditch other than the fact that it was played on brooms and there were seven members of each team.
"So which house do you think you'll be in?" Draco asked.
"What are the houses, and how do we get chosen for them?" Harry questioned.
"You don't know the four houses? B-but you're Harry Potter!" Draco exclaimed.
"I was muggle-raised, unfortunately,"
"Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, raised by muggles! My father will hear about this! He's very close to the Minister, you know, " Draco couldn't help but brag a little.
Harry decided that Draco would be a useful ally and friend, due to not only his family's political influence and wealth, but also because of his knowledge on the wizarding world.
Harry nodded. Madam Malkins, who had overheard the conversation, was shaking her head. She then stepped away from both the boys, and said, "Alright, boys, you're both done. Your robes will be done soon. The normal Hogwarts set, right?"
Draco nodded while Harry inquired, "The normal Hogwarts set consists of three sets of plain black work robes, right? "
Upon receiving a positive answer from Madam Malkins, Harry asked, "May I have four then, made of your finest material. "
"Mr. Potter, that is Acromantula silk, one robe would cost you at least 150 Galleons! Not to mention the protective charms, and waterproof charms!" Madam Malkin exclaimed.
"Money is not a problem. Could you perhaps add my initials, H.J.P. in green on all of my robes, cloak, gloves and hat? And what properties does dragon hide have, the list mentioned that the gloves had to be made of dragon hide? " Harry said.
"Dragon hide protects the wearer from most substances, and blocks off some minor spells. I suppose you want the standard winter cloak as well?" at harry's nod, she continued, "If that is all, your total would cost 900 Galleons."
"Of course, thank you Madam, " Harry nodded his head politely, taking his Gringotts pouch out.
He whispered, "Potter vault, 900 Galleons."
A smaller, brown pouch appeared inside the white pouch. Harry took it out and passed it to Madam Malkin.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter. Just give me a few minutes, and your order will be ready."
Harry turned to the blonde beside him, "What are the four houses of Hogwarts?"
Pleased to be able to explain something to him, Draco said, "Gryffindor is the house for the 'brave', in my opinion, they're just reckless idiots. Ravenclaw is the house for the intelligent and witty, which basically mean they're all bookworms who cry over a single point loss. Hufflepuff is for the loyal and hardworking, they're just the house where the nobodies go to. Slytherin, that's where I will be, is for the sly and cunning. The houses are named after the four founders, Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin."
Harry nodded, pleased that he was descended from two of the founders, he wondered which house he would go to...
Just then, Madam Malkins walked up to them and handed each of them a bag, "Alright, Mr. Malfoy, here's your order. Mr. Potter, here is yours. "
With that, Harry stood up and turned to Draco, "Well, I shall take my leave now, Draco. I will see you at Hogwarts. "
"I shall, I hope we're in the same house, " Draco said, with a small smile.
Nodding, Harry left the shop. He then headed to a shop that had some rather impressive-looking trunks on display - Baggins' Bags and Trunks for All Occasions.
Harry was greeted by a kind-looking old man, "Hello boy, Hogwarts?"
Upon receiving a nod from Harry, who was looking around the shop, the shopkeeper said, "Well, I'm Mr. Baggins, and the owner of this shop. What would you like to buy today?"
"What kind of trunks do you have, Mr. Baggins?" Harry inquired.
Walking over to a ordinary-looking trunk, Mr. Baggins said, "First, we have the standard trunk that most of the other Hogwarts student have. It has two compartments, one for clothes and accessories, and the other for school supplies, " he opened the trunk to reveal an empty compartment, "This is the compartment for school supplies."
He clicked a small button in the shape of a red gem, and the compartment changed to one that had racks and shelves that extended out.
"This is the clothes compartment, it can hold up to 30 robes, 10 shirts, 10 pants, 5 shoes, 5 cloaks, 2 hats, and 3 pairs of gloves. Which is way more than what a normal Hogwarts student would bring, "
Harry nodded, and asked, "Anything else?"
Noticing that his customer was getting a little disinterested, Mr. Baggins gave a small grin, "Ah... You want something better, don't worry, I've got others! I have a three compartment trunk, a five compartment trunk, and a seven compartment trunk."
"What is the difference between those?"
"A three compartment trunk is what more well-off students usually buy, it has the same features as the standard one, only slightly bigger, with a separate library that can hold up to two hundred books. A five compartment is the same as a three compartment one, except it has an additional potions lab and study. A seven compartment trunk has the added features of a library that can hold up until a thousand books, and a full two-bedroom apartment in it, and an empty room for you to do whatever you want with," Mr. Baggins explained.
"Hm... I am rather interested in the seven compartment one..." Harry mused.
"Are you sure? The cost is rather steep..." Mr. Baggins began.
Harry showed Mr. Baggins his Gringotts pouch, and Mr. Baggins cut himself off, "Oh! Of course, of course. What was I thinking... Excuse me for a moment, young sir."
Mr. Baggins hurried towards a door at the back of the store, and returned moments later, levitating a black trunk infront of him. The trunk was just slightly bigger than the trunk on display, and had silver borders. There was a Sickle-sized emerald encrusted on the lid of the trunk.
"Now, what design would you like your trunk to be? This here, is the standard design, " Mr. Baggins said.
Harry glanced at the trunk. It seemed fine, neither too shabby nor too outstanding.
"This is fine, though I would like the initials H.J.P to be written in silver on the lid of my trunk," Harry replied.
"Alright, " with a flick of his wand, Harry's request had been fulfilled, "Now, all of our trunks have been equipped with a self-shrinking charm. You just need to tap on the trunk twice and it will shrink to fit into your pocket. It also has a featherlight charm on it, so it won't weigh you down. "
Harry nodded before asking, "Is there any way to make sure that I am the only person who is able to enter and open my trunk?"
"Yes, you just need to drip 3 drops of blood onto the emerald here, and no one other than yourself will be able to open it. You may key others in through the same method. To open the trunk, just press on the emerald, " Mr. Baggins did, and the trunk opened up to revealan empty compartment.
"Should you like to only open one of your compartments, just press on the emerald, and think of which compartment you would like to open. For the library, it is self-arranging. The trunk will only show three shelves of books, once they are full, new shelves will appear. When the library compartment is open, there will be a piece of parchment on the lid of the trunk. If you need to find a specific book, just write the title of the book and it will appear on the shelf. If you write an author's name, all the books written by him or her will appear in the shelves and the titles of them on the parchment. If you are searching for a spell, for example, water spell, all books containing water spells will appear. The potions lab is currently empty with the exception of basic furniture and equipment, you will have to buy your own ingredients. The study is also empty apart from a simple desk, chair and shelf. The shelves are connected to the library, with the same parchment-sorting system. Your apartment is fully furnished with only the simplest of furniture. To change the style and colour of the furniture, this goes for your study and potions lab as well, just tap on the furniture and think of what you want it to be. The charm only works once. The same charm is on the empty room, however you have to tap the walls of the room to add furniture. Understand?" Mr. Baggins finally finished his lengthy explanation.
"Yes, thank you. I would also like a satchel, for my daily use, "
"Oh, of course, " Mr. Baggins hurried towards one of the displays, like an overexcited rabbit, in Harry's opinion.
He came back with a medium sized satchel that was bottle green and had silver buckles. There was another emerald on it. Harry looked at it, found it satisfactory and made the same request for his initials to be written on the satchel, this time, in green ink.
"This satchel also has an Undectable Expansion Charm on it to allow you to carry all you need. It also has the featherlight charm. The same security measures may be applied, " Mr. Baggings said.
"I'll take both of them, may I know the price?" asked Harry.
"The trunk would cost 2500 Galleons, while the satchel would cost 200 Galleons, so in total, 2700 Galleons."
Harry reached inside his Gringotts pouch and handed Mr. Baggins a smaller pouch filled with the money. He then placed his old back pack and his new satchel inside the trunk, leaving only his Gringotts pouch in his pockets. Harry asked Mr. Baggins to help him shrink the trunk since he had not gotten a wand yet, before leaving the shop.
Harry then headed into the apothecary, that was simple. He just bought four first-year potions sets; he wanted to experiment a little in his own potions lab; and some rarer ingredients that most students wouldn't use until their seventh year.
Heading to Flourish and Blotts, Harry asked for the textbooks for all seven years, he tended to read fast, and would probably benefit from buying his textbooks earlier. He then wandered around the shop for interesting books. Going over to the Herbology section, Harry spotted "Poisons and their Antidotes", and he placed it in his basket. It would perhaps come in handy in the future...
A glance at other sections led Harry to add more books to his basket; Wizarding Laws, All You Need To Know About Magical Creatures, Hogwarts: A History, A Guide to Astronomy.
Harry also bought some quills and parchments; there were all kinds of quills! Eagle feathered quills, Quick-Quotes Quills, self-correcting quills that corrected your spelling; the ink glowed red whenever you spelt a word wrong. There were also different kinds of inks; normal black ink, red ink, blue ink, purple ink, ink that glowed in the dark, ink that changed colours every so often and many others.
Harry bought three elegant looking Eagle feathered quills that were coloured beautifully in shades of brown and white, and a beautiful long black quill. He also bought black ink and dark green ink. As for parchment, he asked the shop assistant how much parchment he would need for each year at Hogwarts. The answer was about 200 feet of parchment. Harry bought triple of that, so as to practice writing with a quill, so that his handwriting could be neat, rather than like chicken scratch.
After paying for his books and stationary, Harry wandered into Magical Menagerie to look for a suitable pet. He was sorely disappointed, the place only offered owls and cats. The owls were all dingy looking, with the exception of one snowy white owl, although that one looked like it was going to eat you, and did not look suitable for sending letters.
Harry left the store, and strolled along Diagon Alley. He noticed a small, dingy sign the pointed into a dark alleyway, saying "Knockturn Alley". Curious, he decided to walk through it.
Knockturn Alley was filled with all sorts of weird people, if Harry could call them that. An old woman was actually selling eyeballs! He noticed a shop, Donovan's Wands, and entered it. The dusty shop was filled with shelves and shelves of unusual 'ingredients'.
"Hello boy, what are you doing here?" a raspy voice asked.
Jumping a little, Harry turned towards the counter where an old man was sitting, his unusual purple eyes staring straight at him.
"Good morning, sir. I'm looking for a wand. "
"I can see that! I meant what are you doing down here in Knockturn? Where are your parents? " The man snapped.
"My parents are dead. And I just wandered in here," Harry replied.
"Well, don't keep 'wandering' in Knockturn! There are some unsavoury characters down here. Don't go past Borgin & Burkes, and you'll at least get out of here physically safe, can't promise your mental health though, heh. Well, you wanted a wand, eh?"
Harry nodded.
"Alright then, give me a few minutes, " the man started walking around the shop, snatching 'ingredients' off the shelves.
Five minutes later, an assortment of strange 'ingredients' and pieces of wood were scattered over the wooden counter.
"Alright, these are your wand parts, and these are your wand woods. Wave your hand over them and tell me which ones you feel a connection to, " the man instructed.
Harry closed his eyes and concentrated. After a few seconds, he began to feel a slight pull towards one of the items. He reached out for it and grabbed it. He repeated the process three times.
At the end of it, a shining black substance that looked like polished stone that had been sharpened at one end, a bright orange feather, and a jar of silvery liquid. Harry had also chosen a long piece of very dark purple wood.
The man, whom Harry assumed was Mr. Donovan, looked over the items he had chosen, and said, "Ah, the horn of a black unicorn, a phoenix feather, basilisk venom, and blackwood (A/N: I'm serious, it's called blackwood.)."
"What an interesting combination... A 'Dark' creature, a 'Light' creature, with the venom of a neutral creature to balance it out. Blackwood, symbolising creativity and intellectuality. It seems that you have a neutral wand, Mr...?" Mr. Donovan trailed off.
"Potter, "
Mr. Donovan's eyes only widened fractionally, before he replied, "Ah. Mr. Potter, if you had gone to Ollivanders' for your wand, you would most likely gain a 'Light' wand, for most children at the age of eleven have not developed their magic too much to be able to distinguish, and therefore lean more towards the side of the Light, even the old pureblood families. You, however, seem have to have rather developed magic for someone of your age, so much that your magic has become neutral or gray thus resulting in this neutral wand."
"Excuse me, but what difference does it make if my magic is 'gray'?" asked Harry.
"If your magic is Light, you will find it easy to do Light magic, such as Charms, and Transfiguration. You will have a little difficulty doing Neutral magic, like Potions. You will have difficulty doing Dark magic, like curses. The opposite goes for people with Dark magic. However, people with Neutral magic are usually equally good at all branches of magic. These types of people are not very common, but not a rarity, " explained Mr. Donovan.
Harry nodded. It was a good thing, it would have been troublesome to be bad at one branch of magic and good at another...
"Now, if you would wait for a while, I'll shall go craft your wand, " Mr. Donovan took the materials and disappeared through a door at the back of the shop, which Harry assumed was his workshop.
An hour later...
Harry had been staring at an eye floating in a jar of clear liquid when Mr. Donovan came out of the workshop. He was holding a thin piece of wood in hands, which he gave to Harry, saying, "Your wand, Mr. Potter. 13 inches, blackwood. "
Harry looked over the wand in his hand, it had thin silver swirls going around the base. He could feel his magic being channelled through the wand, and he'd never felt anything like that before. It felt like warm and tingly sparks were running over his skin.
"Thank you, Mr. Donovan, " Harry bowed his head slightly.
"Unlike the wands you will find at Ollivanders', there is no Ministry tracking spell on the wands I craft. My usual customers are of age, not first-years..." Mr. Donovan informed Harry.
"What is the Ministry tracking spell for? I'm sorry, I was muggle-raised,"
"My word! Harry Potter, muggle-raised? That old crackpot of a headmaster must really be going senile! Never mind, the Ministry tracking spell is to ensure that students who are not 17 yet do not use magic during the holidays, " Mr. Donovan said.
Harry nodded, it would be much more convenient this way. He could practice magic at the Dursleys rather than be restricted during the holidays.
"That will be 15 Galleons please, Mr. Potter."
Harry handed Mr. Donovan the money and left the shop, clutching his wand tightly in his right hand. Opposite from Mr. Donovan's wand store, was Higgin's Magical Creatures. Through the dingy windows of the shop, Harry could make out the long, winding shape of a snake. He decided to head inside.
A bell rang throughout the shop as he entered. A short and plump man who was sitting at the counter looked up for a moment and continued flipping through the magazine he was reading.
Vibrant green eyes scanned through the glass cases surrounding him. There were more varieties of animals to choose from than the Magical Menagerie; snakes, ravens, some creatures he did not recognise.
Harry's gaze wandered over to the snake display. Different snakes, some long and some short, looked at him, hissing curiously: Who isssss thisssss human? Why isssss he ssssstaring at ussss?
I am Harry Potter, a wizard. Harry replied.
The snakes seemed to rear back in shock. A ssssspeaker?
Yess, I sspeak your noble tongue.
A black snake with bright green slithered forward, and the other snakes parted to make way for what seemed to be the ruler among them. It issssss rare for there to be a ssssspeaker, let alone for usssss to meet one. How may we assssssissst you?
I am looking for my familiar.
If I may be ssssso bold, young ssssspeaker, I would be honoured to be your familiar.
Harry smiled slightly. I would be delighted to accept you as my familiar. What is your name?
Tai.
Tai's forked tongue flickered out in happiness. Harry walked over to the counter, "I would like to purchase that snake, sir."
The man raised a dirty blonde eyebrow, replying, "You sure, sonny? That's a Taipan, a very venomous snake, one of the most feared in the world."
Ah... That explained why the other snakes were afraid of Tai...and Tai's name as well...
"Yes, I'm sure. How much?"
"Uh... " the shopkeeper seemed to be contemplating the price, "100 Galleons."
"Really? If I remember correctly, the sign above those cases said '15 Galleons each '." Harry remarked coolly.
"Oh... Uh... That's..." the shopkeeper stammered and stuttered.
"The actual price of the snakes?"
"Ye-No! It's a-a hundred Galleons!" the shopkeeper managed to splutter out.
Harry lifted the shopkeeper three feet into the air with just a thought, and added slight pressure around his pudgy neck, "Are you sure? "
Frightened, the shopkeeper turned pale and replied, "N-no, it's 15 Galleons! You can have it! Take it! I'll even throw in a mouse for the snake's food!"
Smirking, Harry placed 15 Galleons on the counter, and set the shopkeeper down. He hurried towards the back of the store and came out with a small cage.
"I won't be needing that, " Harry said pointedly, glancing disdainfully at the rusty cage.
"B-but...the snake..."
A glare from Harry shut the shopkeeper up, and he quickly opened the glass cage that Tai was in. Tai came slithering out and settled herself on his arm. Hissing once at the shopkeeper, Tai nestled his head under Harry's sleeve.
Harry was happy. He had a snake. Now, onto the rest of Knockturn Alley!
A/N: Ok, it's done! :D
It wasn't exactly supposed to end here... But I thought I was getting draggy and I really wanted to update!
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. If you have any opinions or suggestions, please feel free to tell me. but phrase it nicely please :D No flames please.
As usual: Like it? Love it? Hate it? Review, favourite and follow! Thanks for reading!
Byeeeez :D