"Harry, dear?" Lily poked her head into her son's room, and fondly took in the view.
There was a desk in the corner against the single window that let in faded light through its curtain, stacked with parchment, notepads, ink and quills. Two doors led to a bathroom and wardrobe, respectfully, and a large queen four-poster bed sat in the middle of the farthest wall from the door. Books stacked in towers surrounded the room, hiding the bed from view except for the top, creating a winding path to all four aforementioned landmarks, barely if at all visible. The room itself was dark, the only light coming from the bed's general direction.
"Yes, mother?" Harry's voice echoed from somewhere in the room. Lily could never figure out how he managed to be visibly nowhere but audibly everywhere at once.
"The letter came just now. Come downstairs and eat breakfast and we will go out to Diagon Alley. Okay, sweetheart?" she smiled fondly, knowing he could see her.
"Okay." His voice intoned from behind her, and she spun in shock to see her baby boy standing in the middle of the hall directly behind her.
"Do I want to know how you did that?" she asked rhetorically.
"No." he answered anyway, a small glint of mischievousness shining in his Avada-green eyes. He disappeared before her eyes, and she sighed, shaking her head as she heard a loud shout of alarm and a crash coming from the kitchen.
"Oh my god!" James shrieked girlishly as he jumped so high he hit his head on the ceiling when his son freaking materialised in front of him.
Lily flew into the kitchen. "What did you break?" she asked before stopping short at the sight in front of her.
A plate lay broken on the floor. Her husband gripping the back of his chair with his left hand to hold himself up and clutched at his heart with his right, panting in shock. Her son stood across from him, doubled over in borderline hysterical laughter.
Oh. My. God.
"Harry, baby? Are you all right? Are you sick? Are you…" Lily ran over to her son in concern, not even glancing at her slight indignant husband in favour of her baby. She attempted to press the back of her hand against his forehead, but he waved her off, still laughing.
"I-I'm, oh god" giggle "s-so-sorry d-dad" snicker "I c-couldn't" chortle "r-r" laugh "resist!" Harry laughed, grinning at his father who, being himself, quickly found the humour in the situation and tackled his still laughing son to the ground, where they proceeded to wrestle each other.
Lily shook her head, sighing in mock exasperation as she quickly repaired the plate and set it back on the table. When she turned around, she saw her husband on his stomach, arms pinned behind his back by their son who was sitting on his legs and holding his wrists in one hand while the other tickled her hysterically laughing child- erm, I mean husband. Yeah. Husband.
"Boys!" she scolded instinctively around the shock of her out of character son. "Breakfast! Now!" she ordered.
Harry rolled his eyes but stood up anyway, sitting at his normal spot and instantly piling the plate with hashbrowns, bacon, eggs and toast. "Yum! Thanks mum!" he enthused.
"S-sure, baby." She said shakily. "James? Do you have any idea…?" she trailed off, jerking her head significantly towards her son.
"Well, it's possible that the muggle blood in you diluted the Dark Elf inheritance by allowing him access to his emotions. It is possible that the effect was slow, after all he has been acting a bit strange but now it could have caught up with him." James muttered back in her ear, low as possible.
"Do you think so? I suppose it is a possibility but I would have to look it up to be sure…" Harry joined the conversation. "Oh for- it's fine to talk about it. Besides, I am interested in what's happening to me." he stated firmly, rolling his eyes at his parents sheepish expressions.
"So, let's see this letter?" He asked, holding his hand out expectantly.
Dear Mr Harry Potter
We are pleased to inform you that your acceptance has been processed. Three additional courses have been added to your curriculum, namely Elven magic, Night magic and Inheritance studies, in which you will obviously be studying Dark Elves. We apologise for any inconvenience, but ask that you do not worry. This has not affected your subject choices whatsoever.
The following contained in the envelope is a list of all supplies required, sorted by type (books, bags, clothing etc.) and a portkey, the password for which is "footloose", to our specialised shopping town, which is open to all students every Sunday from 9am to 6pm.
We hope to see you later today.
Belladonna Black
Headmistress
"Sounds great! Can we go now, dad? Please?" Harry jumped from one leg to another.
"Sure, hun!" James grinned, imitating his son.
"Boys! Harry, act like your father should. James… try not to talk too much." She said finally after a pregnant pause of expectation.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" James cried indignantly at the same time as Harry studiously agreed with her statement, schooling his features into the all-too-familiar expressionless mask.
Lily held the portkey out, and, after reminding James to grab the money because yes, it was necessary to go shopping, and after all three of them had tight grips on it, activated it and felt the unmistakable tug.
When they landed, Harry being the only one on his feet, Lily on her bum and James tumbling are over tea kettle into a nearby wall, Harry quickly whipped out the list and began to scan over it.
3 sets uniform: trousers, shirt
3 under robes
3 over robes, open
1 winter cloak
1 summer cloak
2 pairs standard boots
1 combat set: trousers, shirt, boots, gloves
1 potions set: protective robes, gloves, mask
1 duelling set: trousers, shirt, boots, gloves, robes
1 hooded cloak
3 sets dark elf uniform: tie, jumper
1 protective robe
1 set cameo uniform
1 set formal robes
"Okay, first stop is the uniform shop, okay? It's called Ruebella's Robes." Harry informed his parents, before stepping inside.
The uniform consisted of black trousers and a white button up shirt. The under robes were lavender purple and buttoned up until the waist in a military fashion before flaring around the legs. The over robes were a deep red-purple that sat open over the rest of the uniform, with the school emblem, a sword with a winged snake coiled around it, a rose piercing one of its wings, in gold. The dark elf uniform consisted of a dark midnight almost-black blue jumper which could be worn over the under robe and a tie that both had the emblem of the dark elves on them. The winter cloak was ice-blue with silver lining and the summer cloak was a soft green with gold lining. The boots were knee high and black, very sturdy made of dragon-hide. The combat set had black dragon-hide trousers and gloves with a white muscle shirt and dragon-hide knee height boots that were plated with metal. The potions set was a black set of robes with protective charms cast on them, gloves of the same variety and a black cloth that could be placed around one's neck to cover their face to just under the eyes with ventilation charms on it. The duelling set was similar to the combat set, but had a set of dragon-hide, open robes to cover the ensemble. The hooded cloak was black, floor length with a hood that covered the entire face. The protective robe was similar to the one used in potions, but it protected against minor cursed and shielded the body from physical harm as well. The cameo uniform consisted of a white shirt, khaki cargo pants and a pair of cameo boots that laced up to mid-calf. The formal robes could be any colour, so of course Harry got emerald green with silver lining.
"So, honey, what's next?" Lily asked cheerfully as her husband held the bag petulantly.
"Books…" Harry muttered in reply absently, eyes already greedily searching the page with a growing glint in them that sent shivers down his parent's spines.
Potions - Most Potente Potions, Potion Making: the subtle art, Potions Encyclopaedia
Arithmancy - Clever Calculations
Ancient runes - The World of Runes: history, origins and alphabets
Dark arts - The Darkness Within, Dark History, Dark Deeds and How to Do Them
DADA - Defense Against Darkness, Without Light There are no Shadows
Transifguration - Making Your Imagination Reality
Charms - 1001 Charms You Didn't Know and What to do With Them
Elven magic - The Secrets of the Elven Ways, Elven Elemental Magic
Shadow magic - Shadows in Hiding, Shadow-walking, Shadow-shaping
Combat - The Arts of Combat; Muggle and Wizard
Black magic - Darkness Personified
Night magic - Nightshade, Night Magicks for the Beginners
Inheritance studies - Dark Elves, Dark Elven Lore, Dark Elven Warriors and Weapons
Blood magic - Rituals and Runes, Blood Within, Black Blood
Curses and hexes - 10000 Curses You Never Knew, Borderling Hexes, Harmful Hexes, Legal Hexes
Defensive magic - The Art of Defense and Protection
Offensive magic - The Art of Offense and Attack
Essence/spirit magic - The Spirit and You, Essence of All
Transformations - Shifting and Shaping, Changing Within
Spell casting - Wandless, Wordless, Willing
Spell crafting - The Art of Creation, the Method to Madness
Sex magic - The Amour, Magical Properties of Procreation
Conjuring - Creation, Making Your Dreams Reality, Imagery
Necromancy - Summoning the Demon, The Demon Within, The Ritual, The Demons; type and names
Special studies - The Art of Flight, Multi-lingual Magiks, Reading the World, Knowing What is Not
Celtic magic - Na Focail Sean Bealaí
Asian magic - 古い方法の言葉 (Furui hōhō no kotoba)
Mind magicks - Manipulating the Mind, The Wall, Mind Maps
Strategy - Life's a Game of Chess, It's All Perception, Manipulation
Soul magic - Soul's Secrets, Reading Between the Lines
Wand creation - The Cores, Woods and Their Properties, The Secrets, Maintenance
Duelling - The Art of Duelling, Rules and Regulations
Survival skills - Edible Or, Spells for Survival, Finding Shelter, The Wizard's Guide to All Animals
All students require:
The Student's Guide to Arcane Academy
The Rules and Regulations
A Student's Guide to Correct Behaviour
The Dominant and Submissive; Respecting Boundaries
Encyclopaedia of Creatures
"I… never thought I would say this but I am… sick… of books…" Lily gasped as the three figures leant against the wall just outside of the rather huge bookshop. Her husband was cursing the man who invented books and her son was grinning from ear to ear, having gotten even more extra books than required ones.
"Next!" Harry singsonged, smirking at his parent's groans.
All students require the following:
15-20 black ink pots
5-10 of various colours, including, but not limited to, red and blue
10 school-issue quills
5 quills
10-100 never-ending journals
1000-10000 rolls of parchment, 1ft each
1 potions set
1 wand/focus/staff
1 trunk
1 school-issue bookbag
1 school-issue satchel
1 school-issue diary/journal
1 owl
Familiars are also welcome
Harry made quick work of buying the maximum requisite of the first seven items, buying 5 rather fetching raven-feather quills. The trunk was black with gold lining. The inside was purple and silver, with four compartments. One for clothing, one for books, one for school items and one that could be used for anything, all with undetectable extension charms on them, though Harry had requested a bottomless charm on the one for books, for obvious reasons.
The bookbag was surprising. It was about the size of an average book, deep purple with silver lining and a flip-over top that just clipped to the front. It was charmed to be feather-light and had an extension charm on it as well as a calling charm, so all Harry had to do was think about what he wanted and instead of ruffling through piles of books, it would appear in his hand.
The satchel was of the same colouring, with a top that clipped to the front in two places, and much like a muggle messenger bag, it went across his shoulder comfortably. It had one pocket made to fit the bookbag, one specially made for ink and quills that would stop them from being spilt, one for various items and one that was, for once, as small as it appeared to give easy access to personal items.
The school issue journal was once again purple and silver. Filled with dates for everything, Harry couldn't wait to fill all the individual sheets of paper that were one for each day of the year.
When they left the shopping town to visit Diagon alley, Harry all but ran into Eeylops Owl Emporium, the first word of which Harry could never pronounce.
There he bought a beautiful snowy owl whom he called, after much deliberation, Hedwig.
"Can I get a familiar, please?" He asked his parents softly. He was never one for asking for things, always just accepting what he had, though no one could figure out why.
"Of course, dear. Why don't you go and pick one out and meet us at the wand shop in half an hour?" His mother asked kindly. He nodded eagerly before running off to the Magical Menagerie.
He walked swiftly past the normal animals and into the magical creature section. In the back, shrouded with shadows, was a huge glass cage. He peered into it, and was surprised to see a tiny serpent raise its head ever so slightly to look at him.
*Hello…* it hissed at him uncertainly.
*Hello. My name issss Tenebrisss, but everyone callss me Harry.* Harry smiled kindly.
*Greetings, young sssspeaker… I do not yet have a name.*
*I sssure we can fix that.* Harry said with finality. *But what kind of sssnake are you?* he asked.
*I am not a ssnake.* It replied simply. *I am a male Portentum. We can change our ssshape to whatever we dessire.* He hissed back.
*Would you like to be my familiar?* Harry finally asked after a small internal debate. The Portentum instantly looked up with happiness in its eyes.
*I would love that, young one…* It hissed.
*Good! I'm glad.* Harry said, before glancing around to see if anyone was watching. Not a soul. *Could you possibly take the form of a kitten for me quickly? Jussst for a little while.* he assured his friend, who laughed.
*Assss my Masster wishesss.* he replied almost cheekily, before becoming a small black kitten.
"Excuse me?" Harry asked, walking up to the counter.
"Yes, my dear boy?" A kindly middle-aged woman asked from behind it.
"May I please buy this kitten?" he asked, holding up the Portentum-in-disguise.
"Of course, dear! Such lovely manners. That will be 5 galleons. Do you need anything else?"
"No thank you, ma'am. Goodbye!" He smiled and waved as he left the shop.
As he was walking out, a prick on his finger had him looking down to see the kitten had sunk its small teeth into his finger for a second.
*That was clever, master.* His new familiar said approvingly.
*Thank you. You may become whatever you wish, now.* Harry replied. His friend took it to heart, and quickly became a huge white tiger.
*I approve completely of your cunning, little Trico.* He purred.
*That's it!* Harry exclaimed happily.
*What's what.*
*Trico! That's your name. Trico…*
*A lovely name. Thank you master.*
*Call me Tenebris.* Harry replied as he entered the wand shop.
"There you are, Harry! We were wondering when you would- what is that?!" Lily shrieked in shock, staring at Trico in horror.
"This is my familiar, Trico." Harry replied simply. "Hello Mr Ollivander." He added when he sensed the man's presence.
"Ah," Ollivander said as he materialised from amongst the boxes of wands. "A clever one you have here, Mr and Mrs Potter-Peverell. Tell me, boy, which hand do you use?"
"I'm ambidextrous…" Harry trailed off, watching nervously as Ollivander's eyebrown disappeared into his hairline.
"Fascinating. The last ambidextrous person to come in ended up wielding two wands. One for each hand…" the man trailed off as he took Harry's measurements.
"Hmmm… try this one. Rosewood and unicorn hair, 9 inches, nice and supple." A glass exploded. "Perhaps not. Ah! Yew and dragon heartstring, 12 inches, sturdy." A few book flew across the room, smacking Harry in the face. "Not this one either… perhaps this. Aspen, unicorn hair, 14 inches." Harry was in pain by this point. "Nope! No! Definitely not!"
About a thousand self-inflicted wounds later…
"Now, let's try this one. Holly, Rosewood and phoenix feather, 13 inches, nice and supple."
Harry held it in his left hand, and nothing happened, but when he moved it to his right sparks shot out the end of it.
"Perfect! Now to make you one for your right hand. This way, if you will, Mr Potter-Peverell." Ollivander led him to the back of the shop, where a large multitude of different ingredients and woods were sitting on the shelves. "If you could just tell me which of these woods feels right."
Harry trailed his hand experimentally down the line, stopping on three different types.
"Gaboon Ebony, Yew and Bloodwood, hmm? Okay, and these cores if you will?"
Harry's hand stopped over a black feather, a small vial of what appeared to be blood, a black hair and a scrap of cloth.
"Feather of a dark angel, vampire blood, a darcorn hair and dementor's cloak… yes… this will be a very powerful wand indeed…" Ollivander continued to mutter to himself as he worked, before finally handing Harry a beautiful wand.
The handle was made from bloodwood, with the vampire blood infused in it. The other cores were within a beautiful yew and gaboon ebony wand, the white and black woods twisting around each other like a unicorn's horn.
"Truly one of the greatest creations I have ever made. But be careful with that other wand of yours. For the phoenix who gave the feather for your wand also gave another, but just one. In fact, its brother belongs to the very wand which failed to kill you…" Ollivander said just as Harry left the shop. He sent a confused glance over his shoulder as he was ushered out the door by his parents, Trico growling in warning at the man.
"Come on darling, let's go home." Lily said, reaching out to grasp his hand as they apparated back to the manor.
When night finally fell, it was all Harry could do to get undressed before jumping into bed, snuggling against his white tiger and falling asleep.
Tomorrow was, after all, another day.