A/N: Just to warn you, Harry is a bit…different…shall we say? Sorry it took so long to update, but here it is!
*****
Chapter 2 - The Famous Harry Potter
Ten years had passed since Lord Voldemort had mysteriously disappeared. Peace had once again fallen upon the wizarding world, all thanks to the famous Harry Potter.
It was early July when Harry received his letter.
"Oh, isn't this wonderful, James! Our little boy, going off to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" Lily cried. "May be he will even be in Gryffindor!"
Harry was happy that he was going to Hogwarts. After all, it was the best wizarding school with an incredible headmaster, Dumbledore.
Harry wanted to learn more magic. He knew he was powerful, but he never really did a spell that could prove it, again. This would be his chance to show the world his power in action.
…The famous Harry Potter…
*****
As July, rolled along, Harry's eleventh birthday had arrived and his parents decided to take him to the zoo.
"Uh, the zoo!" Harry whined. "I've only been there a million times."
"But the Muggles just remodeled it. It's supposed to have animals from all around the world, it should be fun!" Lily tried to reassure him.
After many sighs and complaints, Harry agreed to go with a bitter "Fine."
*****
When they were at the zoo, Harry secretly agreed with his mother. It actually was fun with the new remodeling.
"Hey, Harry! Let's go look at the reptiles," James suggested.
"Sure, whatever."
Upon entering the reptile house, Harry couldn't help but be amazed at what Muggles could do. The place was huge, with tanks bigger than Harry's room (A/N: The Potters are rich and have a really big house, and Harry's room is gigantic…)
Harry randomly picked a tank to go to. First he saw an Egyptian Cobra, which was sleeping; then a rattlesnake, which was sleeping; and next a Python, which was sleeping. Harry sighed, but continued to walk around the reptile house. When he came upon the Boa Constrictor, Harry stopped. He couldn't believe it, this snake was the biggest reptile he had ever seen.
He stared at the sleeping snake. A group of small kids walked up to the tank next to Harry. After only a few seconds they began to pound on the glass. Harry gave them a cold glare as they walked away.
"Sorry about that," Harry said to the snake.
"I get that all the time,"
the snake replied."I know," Harry continued, as if every boy could talk to a snake. "Where are you from anyway?"
"Harry? You couldn't be Harry Potter, could you? Oh my gosh, Mom! This is Harry Potter!" Before Harry could get a reply from the snake, another group of kids, and adults too, surrounded Harry.
"Can I have your autograph?"
"Where's your scar?"
"Does it really look like a lightning bolt?"
"How did you defeat You-Know-Who?"
How unfortunate
, Harry thought. He goes to a Muggle attraction and is still spotted by wizards. These wizards were so annoying. Am I ever going to have a nice birthday?As Harry was attacked by even more questions, he final reached his limit. I HATE being the center of attention all the time! he shouted out in his head.
All of the sudden, there were several screams. The wizards turned around to see the Muggles yelling and running to the side of the hall. Harry looked over to where the Boa Constrictor's tank was and noticed the glass wasn't there. He saw the snake sliding over the railing and down the hall.
This is it!
Harry thought as he escaped the mob of wizard's whose attention was still on the snake.Man, did I do that? That was so cool,
Harry thought as he went off to find his parents.*****
The day after his birthday, the Potters went to Diagon Alley, where Harry was once again attacked by his wizard fans. The Potters wanted to make there trip quick, so Harry went off to get his wand while his parent's went off to get his school books.
Upon entering Ollivander's, Harry was relieved to see that there was no one else in the store. He waited, rather impatiently, for Ollivander to come and sell him a wand. After several minutes, an old man emerged from the rows of cabinets packed with wands and hoarsely said, "Good afternoon."
Harry jumped, but quickly replied, "Hello."
Ollivander approached Harry and said, "Ah, yes. Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon, Harry Potter. You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work. Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it--it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."
Harry rolled his eyes. He knew all this, it was just a waste of his time. Finally Ollivander got his measuring tape and it began measuring Harry. After a minute or so, the old man said, "That will do," and it crumpled on the floor near Harry's feet.
Ollivander grabbed a wand and gave it to Harry. Harry didn't know what to do, but as he began to raise his hand with the wand, it was quickly snatched out and the old man went back to the boxes of wands, muttering to himself. He scurried back over to Harry and gave him another wand, but before Harry could do anything, that too was snatched out of his hand. This went on several more times, when finally Ollivander paused. He slowly picked a box and mumbled, "I wonder…"
He went back to Harry, this time much more slower, and gave him the wand. Harry felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework.
As Harry was paying for his wand, the old man was still mumbling, "Curious…how curious…" Harry perked up his courage and asked, "Umm, if you don't mind me asking, what's curious?"
"I remember every wand I've sold, Mr. Potter, every one. It just so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand gave another feather--only one. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when it's brother gave you that scar. The wand chooses the wizard remember…I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter…After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things--terrible, oh yes--but great."
Harry just stared at Ollivander. He never really thought about how closely tied he and Voldemort were. Whatever, this man must be going senile, Harry thought.
Lily and James entered the shop and informed Harry that they had bought all of his school supplies. Pushing the bit of information he was just told to the back of his head, the Potters exited Ollivander's store.
*****
On September 1st, Harry's parents took him to Platform 9 ¾. They arrived there very early, so he wouldn't be mobbed by other Hogwart students. Harry went to the very back of the bus and waited for what seemed like a lifetime.
When Harry could hear the voices of many students aboard the Hogwarts Express, he felt the train begin to move. After only a minute or so, the door to Harry's compartment slid open and a red-haired, freckle-faced boy emerged. Great, this must be a Weasley, Harry thought.
"Can I sit here? All the other places are taken," the boy said.
"Sure whatever," Harry coldly replied.
"Thanks," said the boy as he sat himself opposite Harry.
Harry sighed and closed his eyes. He had been up for a while, and thought he would rest before they arrived at Hogwart's castle. Just as he began to doze off, he heard a squeak. Harry jumped and opened his eyes to see the boy pulling a rat out of his bag that lied next to him.
"Sorry. This is Scabbers, he's pretty pathetic. He doesn't do a thing I say," the boy quickly said.
Harry just waved his hand a closed his eyes again. Now he was well aware that the boy was looking at him, he could practically feel his eyes gazing on him. Harry opened his eyes, and the boy quickly looked out the window. This happened about five more times before Harry rudely asked, "What do you want?"
"I…uhh…I-I just wanted to know…if…umm…you know…if you were actually…umm…" the boy took a deep breath and continued, "Harry Potter."
"Oh, I should've guessed. Yeah, I'm him. I'm guessing you're a Weasley?"
The red-haired boy's face turned slightly scarlet. "Yeah, I am. My name is Ron."
With a tone of sarcasm, Harry replied, "Well, Ron Weasley, nice to meet you."
Before Ron could reply, the door slid open again and a bushy-haired girl entered. "Has anyone seen a toad, by any chance?" she asked while looking around.
"No," the two boys coldly replied.
"Well, aren't we a happy bunch!" The girl sat next to Ron and continued, "Come on, cheer up a bit, you guys! So what are your names? Oh wait! Are you…Harry Potter?!"
Harry sighed again, "Yes, yes, I am."
"Holy Cricket! I've read all about you. And you are?" she asked turning to Ron.
"Ron, Ron Weasley."
"I'm Hermione Granger. I would stay back to chat, but I have to keep looking for that toad. Oh, by the way, you may want to change into your robes, the train will be arriving at the castle shortly."
As she left the compartment, Ron said, "I'm sorry I was staring before. It's just that--"
"Forget it," Harry said, looking out the window.
*****
A/N: Sorry Harry is so mean! I hate making him be such a stuck-up boy, but just wait! Everything will come together in the end… Please don't flame me too harshly. But please review!
