Sorry it took so long to put up this chapter, but I've been distracted by the most hilarious Harry Potter abridge series I've seen to date! It's funny as fuck, and fuck is a fucking comedy genius!
It's on YouTube and is created by SpashTheBandragon and you've gotta check after reading this chapter! I mean it! It's funny, witty, and satirical. They've already done the Harry Potter series all the way up to the Goblet of Fire, and I have never laughed so much from any other Harry Potter abridged series. Please, check it out!
Anyways, onto this chapter! Let's start the show!
Chapter 3: Shop 'til Ya Drop
"There it is, Harry. Your home planet." Yen Sid said as he pointed a wrinkly finger out the window toward the blue and green world below.
"Whoa…" Harry said, seeing the planet, "Where can we land?"
"We can't land, but we have permission to teleport you into the magical subspace between Muggle London and Diagon Alley." Merlin said as DiZ piloted the Gummi-ship.
"Yen Sid and I won't be accompanying you, young Harry." DiZ said, "I am no longer permitted to step foot upon your world."
"Why's that?" Harry asked as DiZ got a sad look in his eyes.
"Sometime after we took you in, I went searching for interesting individuals. The magical government did not approve of my taking orphans off-world, so they have forbidden me from setting foot in their society on pain of imprisonment and execution." DiZ explained as Harry looked a bit saddened not to have two of his mentors with him for his first time on his home-world.
"Oh…" Harry said, "Well, that sucks…"
"Indeed." Yen Sid agreed with a curt nod, "I would not be much help in getting you ready for your schooling anyway. That is why Merlin shall be taking you."
"Okay." Harry accepted, knowing that his mentors had their reasons for everything they did.
"Well then, shall we?" Merlin said as he walked onto the teleportation platform.
"Yeah!" Harry said excited, the earlier conversation and his questions gone in the face of being on his home-world, "Let's go!"
Harry and Merlin had been teleported directly outside the Merlin told Harry was the Leaky Cauldron. Merlin though, had been a little worried about being noticed, but was relieved when he felt the charms that kept people from seeing the building itself would also keep them from seeing the people materializing right outside of it. Harry felt the magic as well, and was even more excited as he practically pushed an indignant Merlin into the tavern so they could quickly get onto seeing the famous Diagon Alley which Merlin had shared stories about while they were traversing space.
The bartender and owner of the tavern (which Merlin told him to refer to as a "pub" because "tavern" made it sound like a "shady place" in their wizarding culture), Tom, Merlin reminded Harry, was the only one to glance over at first.
"Now Harry, get ready for the fan surge." Merlin said as he rolled his eyes.
"Fan surge?" Harry asked as Merlin nodded.
"Yes, remember when I told you that you were famous on the way here?" Merlin asked as Harry nodded, "Well, you're more famous than you'd think."
"Just how famous?" Harry asked, a brow raised as Merlin sighed.
"Three… Two… One…" Merlin said, counting down on his fingers until the man Tom had dropped the glass he was wiping and the other patrons of the… pub took notice of the pair.
The people had quickly formed a mob around Harry, all trying to shake his hand and introduce themselves.
"Yeah… that famous." Merlin said as Harry's mind was blown.
"And I thought the people of Agrabah worshiped me…" Harry thought as he cast a pleading glance to Merlin to get him away from the rabid fans.
Merlin, however, chuckled as he didn't seem to mind them at all. Though not one to make his apprentice take on more than he could handle, he convinced the people to form a line upon noticing that Harry was getting overwhelmed. It wasn't like Harry hadn't seen his mentors get mobbed by fans before, and he had even been standing next to them when it happened… on more than one occasion. Really, he still had the footprints on his back to prove it.
It was just that the fans had never been so intense for him before. The people of Agrabah had all fallen to their knees and started bowing. This experience… well, it left his mind with a blank for a moment. Luckily, DiZ had taught him how to handle such situation, and so, calling upon the lesson, Harry was soon shaking hands with everyone and making sure to use their names in his brief conversation with them. According to DiZ, who had been a king at some point when Harry was too young to remember; people never expected anyone famous or royal to remember them, so it made a big impression when they did. Yen Sid had even helped Harry out, saying that even if he couldn't remember their names afterward, it would still be good to using their names, even seconds after hearing.
"So where to now?" Harry asked, straightening out his robes, "A concert held in my honor?"
"Oh goodness, no." Merlin laughed, "Just to the bank for your money."
"I have money?" Harry practically shouted, "But all those odd jobs I had to do while in Traverse Town-?"
"Bet you appreciate the value of hard-earned money now, huh?" Merlin teased as Harry looked enraged, "Plus, it also helped to show you the value of every piece you earned."
"But I have money!" Harry exclaimed, gripping at his hair in disbelief before shooting Merlin a quick look, "How much?"
"My guess would be… a lot." Merlin said, having remembered the Potter's as a well-off family.
"Yahoo!" Harry cheered, jumping high into the air as Merlin pulled him back down to Earth.
"Watch what you do, ward!" Merlin hissed harshly, "You can't show your training around these wizards! They don't know about what lies beyond the stars!"
"But they must have Heartless here." Harry insisted.
"Perhaps, but none so far as I've known." Merlin said, though the way he wouldn't meet Harry's eyes spoke volumes "Let's just get to the bank."
"These people have a bank?" Harry said looking around, "But they seem so… medieval."
"You'll see when we get there." Merlin said, and Harry pouted childishly as he crossed his arms.
"Why are we standing in front of a trash can?" Harry asked as Merlin was running a hand along the brick wall, which sat behind the trash can.
"To find our way, young ward." Merlin said, shooting Harry a stern look before he turned back to the wall, running his hand along it while muttering words.
"A magic doorway, Master?" Harry said respectfully, knowing that when Merlin was dealing with anything magical, he would not care for any tomfoolery or silliness.
"Yes, my young apprentice. One that is nearly as old as I am." Merlin said, his tone once again gentle and tame.
"You've been here before, right?" Harry asked as Merlin nodded.
"Long ago. The last I was here was a few weeks after you had been taken in by DiZ and Yen Sid." Merlin said before a bright look passed along his face, "There we are! No one, not even today can get the better of me with protections I myself helped setup."
"You created this?" Harry asked, gesturing to the wall as Merlin nodded.
"Yes, long long ago." Merlin replied, holding a hand out, "Give me my cane, ward."
"Here you are." Harry said, picking up the walking stick and handing it to his mentor.
"Now then, remember this, ward." Merlin said, "They only change it every century, but by then you'll be able to detect the correct patterns."
"I'm listening, Master." Harry said, focusing on Merlin's next words as Merlin pointed his cane at the wall.
"Three up… two across…" Merlin muttered, giving a glance at Harry to be sure he was paying attention, "Right then, stand back, Harry."
Harry did as he was told, while watching as Merlin tapped the wall three times with the point of his cane. The brick Merlin had touched quivered, and it wriggled in the middle as a small hole appeared. The hole grew wider and wider before Harry's eyes. And then, a second later, he and Merlin were facing an archway large enough for even a giant to step through. The archway led onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.
"Welcome, Harry, to Diagon Alley." Merlin said, grinning at Harry's amazement. They stepped through the archway with Harry looking quickly over his shoulder to see the archway shrink instantly back into solid wall.
"Three up, two across… Got it." Harry muttered as Merlin smiled.
The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop. Cauldrons of all sizes, there were. Some of copper, brass, pewter, silver. Some self-stirring, some collapsible. It was all read on a sign hanging over them.
"Yeah, you'll need one for your classes." Merlin said as he saw Harry staring at the sign, "But remember, first we have to get you your money."
Harry wished he had about eight more eyes as he turned his head in every direction while they 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 with auburn hair outside an Apothecary was shaking her head as they passed, saying, "Dragon liver! For sixteen Sickles an ounce! They're barking mad, they are…!"
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 were stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels' eyes. Some with tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon…
"There it is, young ward! Gringotts, the Wizarding World bank!" Merlin said as he pointed, with Harry whirling his head around.
They had reached a snowy white building that towered over the other little shops around it like a superpower. Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was —
"Yes, Harry, a goblin." Merlin said quietly as they walked up the white stone steps toward him. The goblin was about two heads shorter than Harry. He had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and, Harry noticed, very long fingers and feet. He bowed as they walked inside with Merlin and Harry inclining their heads to him in polite respect. Now they were 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.
"Nice poem." Harry quipped as Merlin shook his head.
"More than just a poem, my young ward." Merlin said, "Remember to be respectful and polite. Goblins are a rather… bold breed, but they're clever, and make for great allies in times of need. They only show respect when given it in return, and trust my judgment when I say; it'll make your times in the bank much more pleasant."
"I've always trusted your judgment, Master." Harry said as Merlin smiled.
"I know, but just to be safe…" Merlin said, trailing off.
"Someone would have to be a complete idiot to try and rob this place." Harry muttered to Merlin as a pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors. They walked through into a vast marble hall where 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 them.
"A fool, yes, but powerful to even attempt such an act, none the less." Merlin said with a grimace, as though he were recalling such an experience himself.
When Harry and Merlin made it to the counter, they came upon a large man with a large brown coat which held many pockets.
"Morning!" said the large man to them before he looked at Harry, "Ah! Harry! Glad you made it! Professor Dumbledore said you'd be comin' here soon!"
"I'm sorry, Mr…?"
"Just call me Hagrid. I was there when yeh went off, ya know. Didn't have nothin' to give yer, ya see. So, when Professor Dumbledore asked fer a volunteer to help yeh here, I came runnin'."
"That's nice. Thank you, Hagrid." Harry said politely.
"Oh, right." Hagrid said as though he had almost forgotten something, "Yeh key. You'll be needin' that."
"My key?" Harry echoed in confusion, glancing up at Merlin just as the ancient wizard face-palmed himself.
"Confound it! I knew I was forgetting something!" Merlin muttered from behind his hand as Harry sighed.
Merlin sighed to himself as he looked up, seeing a free goblin.
"Well let's get this over with." Merlin muttered, putting on a bright smile, "Hello good sir. We've come to make a withdrawal from young Mr. Harry Potter's safe."
Goblin looked up from it's work, and his eyes widened as he seemed to recognize Merlin, but Merlin merely winked at the goblin, who colored and cleared his throat in a show to regain himself.
"Do you have Mr. Harry Potter's key, sir?" the goblin asked as he glanced at Harry, who smiled shyly at the sizing look.
"Got it here somewhere…" Hagrid said as he started emptying his pockets onto the counter.
"Allow me, Mr. Hagrid." Merlin said quickly. With that, he raised a hand, from one of the deep pockets on Hagrid's coat came a tiny golden key which flew to Merlin's hand.
Hagrid, however, had already scattered a handful of moldy dog biscuits over the goblin's book of numbers from his first pocket. The goblin wrinkled his nose as Harry watched the goblin on their right weighing a pile of rubies as big as glowing coals.
"Another lesson, ward." Merlin said, nudging Harry to pay attention while he gestured toward Hagrid, "Messing with the goblins gets you nothing but trouble. Now with his goof up, we're not going to get a good cart now…" Merlin whispered to Harry, who raised a brow at Merlin's grimacing.
"What do you mean, Master?" Harry asked as Merlin sighed, placing hand on Harry's shoulder while the goblin was looking at the closely and intently.
"Two words, Harry: one speed." Merlin said as the goblin finally nodded.
"This seems to be in order." the goblin said as Hagrid stepped up to him, towering over the diminutive creature. Merlin seemed to groan as though Hagrid were only making things worst. Harry had the feeling that he was by reminding the small goblin that he was in fact very small, even with the stool he sat on.
"An' I've also got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore." Hagrid said importantly, throwing out his chest, "It's about the You-Know-What in Vault #713."
Merlin groaned as he saw the curious look over taken his young apprentice, knowing the boy would do just about anything to find out what was so secretive.
"No trouble, ward." Merlin said sternly.
"None at all." Harry replied, not even bothering to look innocent in front of his eldest teacher.
The goblin read the letter Hagrid had given him carefully.
"Very well." the goblin said, handing the letter back to Hagrid, "I will have someone take you down to both vaults. Griphook!"
Griphook was yet another goblin.
Once Hagrid had crammed all the dog biscuits back inside his pockets, Merlin, Hagrid, and Harry followed Griphook toward one of the doors leading off the hall.
"So, Hagrid, what's the You-Know-What in Vault #713?" Harry asked, playing it smooth.
"Can't tell yeh that." Hagrid said mysteriously while Merlin looked to want to bang his head against something, "Very secret. Hogwarts business. Dumbledore's trusted me. More'n my job's worth ter tell yeh that."
Griphook held the door open for them. Harry, who had expected more marble, was a bit surprised when they were in a narrow stone passageway lit with flaming torches. It sloped steeply downward and there were little railway tracks on the floor. Griphook whistled as a small cart came hurtling up the tracks toward them. Harry gawked at it as he looked around at the sudden group.
"That is not going to hold us all, Mr. Griphook." Harry said as he cast a look at the cart and Hagrid.
"Not to worry, sir. Goblin magic is very resourceful." Griphook said while gazing up at Harry as though he were something strange, and then at Merlin as though the man was a hero. Merlin merely gave another of his sly winks as they climbed into the cart, though Hagrid did so with some difficulty.
And they were off.
At first they just hurtled through a maze of twisting passages. While Harry tried to remember them all. Left, right, right, left, middle fork to the right, left, but it was near impossible.
Merlin saw Harry watching every turn and huffed, remembering all the times he had done the same thing in his youth, "It's impossible to remember, ward. They have goblin protections to see to that."
"Right you are, sir." Griphook said, grinning like a madman as Harry gulped, looking back at the goblin.
It was then that Harry noticed that the rattling cart must have been guided magically, because Griphook wasn't steering.
Harry's eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, but he kept them wide open. Once, he thought he saw a burst of fire at the end of a passage and twisted around to see if it was from a dragon, but he did so too late.
"Still using dragons, hmm…" Merlin said, stroking his beard as he glanced at Griphook, who grinned even more than before.
"Perhaps…" Griphook replied.
They had plunged even deeper into the cavern, passing an underground lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites grew from the ceiling and floor.
"I never can recall…" Harry called to Merlin over the noise of the cart, "… what's the difference between a stalagmite and a stalactite?"
"Stalagmite's got an "M" in it." Hagrid said as Merlin scoffed.
"It's much more than that, good sir." Merlin said, turning to Harry, "Stalagmites rise up from the cavern floor forming M-like slopes between them. Stalactites hang from the cavern roof."
"Like W's." Harry said as Merlin nodded.
"Please don' be talkin' much mer, or askin' any mer questions just now. I think I'm gonna be sick." Hagrid said as the other three turned to him.
"Well, you do seem a little green…" Harry said, wincing as he noticed Hagrid's color.
Hagrid looked very green when the cart had finally stopped at last beside a small door in the passage wall. Hagrid got out and had to lean against the wall to stop his enormous knees from trembling like leaves in the wind.
Griphook unlocked the small door. A lot of green smoke billowed out, and as it cleared, Harry gasped while Merlin shrugged as though he had seen such a sight plenty of times.
For behind the little door were mounds of gold coins. Columns of silver. Heaps of little bronze ones, too!
"Holy Hades, Mother of Hot Damn!" Harry swore as he gazed at the room literally filled with what was apparently lots of money.
"All yours, ward." Merlin said as Hagrid nodded.
"Yup, all yer's." Hagrid echoed with a smile.
All his. Harry could hardly believe it! Master Yen Sid couldn't have possible known about the money, or Harry would have had to do tons more lessons on how "Munny Saved, was Munny Earned" and all that bull-crap. Still, he just couldn't seem to comprehend the fact that all the time he was made to do odd jobs around Traverse Town, and put up with incredibly rude people, there had been a small fortune which belonged to him; buried deep under a city.
"Let's make this quick before he starts drooling." Merlin said as Harry barely heard him, shaking his head free of his disbelieving thoughts while diving into the literal pool of currency.
"I've always wanted to do this! And now I can… with my own money!" Harry said, laughing hysterically as he swan through his funds.
"Oh come now, ward! This is only the trust fund for your schooling." Merlin said as Harry came back up to surface in his money pool, his eyes wide and his mouth agape.
"There's more?" Harry asked, currency signs of different ranges flashing through his eyes.
"Yes, now get out of there." Merlin said as Harry swam back to him… through money! Harry was just having too much fun reminding himself that it was all for him and no one else.
Hagrid and Merlin helped Harry pile some of it into Harry's bottomless bag, his birthday gift from Merlin. Ya know, even though he had to do the enchantment himself.
"The gold ones are Galleons." Merlin explained as he waved his wand, making coins fly into the bag, "17 silver Sickles make one Galleon, while 29 bronze Knuts to equal one silver Sickle."
"Sounds easy enough." Harry said, "Though Munny was way easier because it all pretty much the base currency with no other forms. It was just straight Munny."
"Yeah, but here is different because this world isn't connected." Merlin whispered as Hagrid stood up, stretching his back from picking up coins.
"Right, that should be enough fer the year. The goblins'll keep the rest safe for yeh." Hagrid said.
"Don't worry, Harry." Merlin said, "I'll create a link between yourself, your bag, and this account later today while we shop."
"Thanks, Master." Harry said, smiling as Merlin chuckled.
Hagrid turned to Griphook, "Vault #713 now, please, and can we go more slowly?"
"One speed only, sir." Griphook said as though he had been asked hundreds of times.
Hagrid was back to looking ill as they started going even deeper into the underground caverns, gaining speed as they did. The air became colder and colder as they hurtled round tight corners while making sharp turns. They went rattling over an underground ravine, and Harry leaned over the side to try to see what was down at the dark bottom, but Merlin yelped and pulled him back by the scruff of his neck, doing so with surprising strength that Harry had never known his eldest mentor to possess physically.
"You could fall out, ward!" Merlin scolded as he gave Harry a severe look, "That there was the Crook's Chasm. If you were a thief while passing over it, you would have fallen in thinking that whatever you wanted to steal was at the bottom."
"So what is at the bottom, Master?" Harry asked as Merlin sighed.
"It's a near-ending fall so long as the goblins want it to be. No one but the goblins truly know what's at the bottom of it. Not even I know, ward." Merlin said as Harry cast a curious glance at Griphook, who grinned at him making the hairs on the back of Harry's neck stand up.
When they reached it, Harry saw immediately that Vault #713 had no keyhole like his own vault had.
"Stand back." Griphook said importantly as he walked up to the vault, stroking the door gently with one of his long fingers while it simply appeared to melt away. Like, literally melt away!
Harry had believed thought he was pretty good at magic already, but he was seeing that he still had much to learn compared to the knowledge of centuries in the practice. In fact, Harry mused as he glanced up at his mentor Merlin, he was damn sure that he hadn't learned even a fraction of all which Merlin knew from his timeless years in the practice of sorcery.
But he would one day, he swore it.
"Though this thing must be a top security vault." Harry mused in thought as he looked to Griphook.
"If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they'd be sucked through the door and trapped in there." Griphook explained as Harry paled.
"Umm… Griphook, question: If people get sucked in there and trapped, just how often do you check to see if anyone's inside?" Harry asked nervously as Griphook turned to him with a gleam in his beady black eyes.
"About once every ten years, or so." Griphook answered with his nastiest of grins. Harry felt a shiver overtake him while he tried to get the image of Griphook out of his mind.
Why he would do so, you may ask? Because he was sure it would be the bane of his dreams and the boon of his nightmares from that day forth.
Though, in trying to distract himself, Harry assumed that something really extraordinary, valuable, and perhaps even powerful, had to be inside this top security vault. Of that, Harry was sure as he leaned forward eagerly, expecting to see fabulous jewels; at the very least.
Gazing inside, Harry blinked when he had first thought it was empty. Then, when he was taking a second scan, he noticed a grubby little package wrapped up in brown paper lying on the floor.
Hagrid picked it up and tucked it deep inside his coat while Harry longed to know what it was, but seeing the stern look on Master Merlin's face, he knew better than to ask or face a lump on his precious noggin.
And Harry liked his noggin the way it was, thank you!
"Come on, back in this infernal cart…" Hagrid grumbled before he sent Harry a fierce look, "And don't yeh be talkin' to me on the way back, it's best if I keep me mouth shut; about all things." Hagrid finished as he glanced at Merlin, nodding.
One wild cart ride later, they all stood blinking in the light of the marble hall while Merlin took care of some business with the goblins. After ten minutes, they were blinking again, but this time in the sunlight outside Gringotts.
Harry didn't know where to run first, now that he had a bag filled with more gold than most people had ever seen in their lifetimes. He didn't have to know how many Galleons there were to Munny to know that he was holding more money than he'd had before in his whole life; more money than even DiZ had… when the man was being generous with his pocketbook.
"Might as well get your uniforms, ward." Merlin said as he guided Harry toward a shop.
"Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions… Sounds fancy…" Harry commented as Merlin shrugged.
"It used to be an armory when I went to school at Hogwarts." Merlin said, then saw the look of Harry's face, "I'll tell you more about that later. For now, stay focused on your needs rather than your own curiosity."
"If you say so, Master." Harry said as Merlin patted his shoulder.
Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve.
"Hogwarts, dear?" the pleasant witch asked, when Harry walked in.
"Oh yes!" Merlin said proudly, "He's in need of an entire wardrobe of robes. Black, size and age: twelve, billowing effect three."
"What?" Harry asked, lost on what Merlin was prattling on about while Madam Malkin looked like the ancient wizard was her new favorite customer, royalty and made of gold.
"Well, we've got a lot here, and I was fitting another young man for his own robes… but… I suppose this is a more… pressing job that demands my personal full attention."
"Oh good!" Merlin chirped, clapping his hands together, "Maybe Harry will make a new friend… or at least have someone to sit with on the wagon…"
"Master…" Harry groaned, feeling embarrassed that the man was talking about him like he was the guy's granddaughter or something.
"Run along, Harry." Merlin said as he pushed Harry away toward where Madam Malkin wanted him in the back while never gazing away from the witch, "Now let's talk materials and charms…"
Harry sighed to himself as he walked to the back of the shop. In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale and pointed face was standing on atop a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin came toward them after a scant minute with a beaming Merlin right behind her. She stood Harry atop a stool next to the blond boy before slipping a long robe over his head, and began to pin it to the right length.
"Hello." the boy greeted, "Hogwarts, too?"
"Yes." Harry answered, wincing as a pin poked him in the thigh.
"My father's next door buying my books and mother's up the street looking at wands." the boy said as Merlin raised a brow.
"From what I know, your mother is wasting her time." Harry said, glancing at Merlin, "Apparently the wand choices the wizard, or something…"
"Yeah, but it keeps her busy from bothering me and trying to put me in frilly shirt." the boy said, "After this I'm going to drag both my parents off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first-years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and smuggle it in somehow."
"People normally don't check luggage, so if you shrink it, you can." Harry said, smiling before Merlin slapped him in the back of his head.
"Stop teaching children how to smuggle things!" Merlin scolded as Harry snickered, watching as the blond smirked at their antics.
"Do you own a broom?"
"Not my own. I use my mentor's broom." Harry replied.
"Oh. Play Quidditch?" the blond asked as Harry blinked.
"Play what now?" Harry said as Merlin sighed.
"Magical sport of silliness. Remember. I had you play it with your little friends."
"Oh right!" Harry said, snapping his fingers, "Apparently I'm a good tiny gold ball catcher."
"Seeker." Merlin deadpanned.
"Seeker." Harry echoed, correcting his earlier statement.
"Right…" the blond boy drawled, his eyebrow raised, "Well, I'm a good Seeker as well. Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?"
"House of what?" Harry asked as Merlin smacked his face.
"I told you about all of this! How could you forget?" Merlin yelled in disbelief.
"I think I forgot about everything you say in light of the literal mountain of gold in my trust vault, and the fact that it's all mine; which I swam in." Harry deadpanned as Merlin face-faulted.
"Umm…" the boy said.
"Houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff." Merlin said quickly as Harry thought, rubbing his chin.
"Hmm… I think I'll be in Gryffindor. All that others sound like diseases." Harry said with a smile as the blond blinked owlishly at him.
"Well… I'm going to be in Slytherin, all my family has been there." Draco said proudly as Harry shrugged.
"Well, that's cool, if you're into that sort of thing. Ya know? Following tradition and having your name synonymous with this Syphilis-
"Slytherin!" Merlin corrected.
"Whatever." Harry shrugged, "The point is, you should go to any of the disease-named houses you want to, not because your family went there."
"I think my father would disown me if I were to be in any other house." the blond said slowly before he grinned, "Especially Hufflepuff, though I think I'd leave the school if that were to happen."
"Hufflepuff? What, is that some kinda mutated fish or marshmallow?" Harry asked as Merlin sighed while Madam Malkin made her presence known with a giggle.
"Ward…" Merlin muttered behind his hand, which was currently in his face.
"Right, Pigfarts house-"
"Hogwarts, ward!" Merlin corrected while Madam Malkin seemly enjoyed Harry's annoying antics. The blond boy smirked a little as he glanced at Merlin's muttering form.
"I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." the blond said with an outstretched hand. Harry shrugged as he gripped the boy's hand in a firm handshake.
"I'm Potter, Harry Potter." Harry said as Draco Malfoy's jaw dropped and his grey eyes widened in disbelief. Then the blond's gaze suddenly shot up to where Harry's scar was hidden behind his hair, "If you wanna see my scar, all you have to do is ask." Harry said with mirth evident in his tone.
"Please." Draco said as Harry chuckled, brushing aside his hair to show his lightning bolt-shaped scar. Merlin merely shook his head at his student's nonchalant attitude, but couldn't fault him for it. The boy was just naturally friendly.
Draco continued to stare at the scar with his mouth agape in shock for a long pause before he finally gathered his composure once more.
"Well now, I'm embarrassed." Draco Malfoy said as Harry chuckled again.
"Calm down, no harm done." Harry said, waving the boy's embarrassment and blatant gawking aside casually.
"Can I ask you something?"
"You just did, but go ahead." Harry smiled as Draco flushed.
"Were you…? Did you…?" Malfoy began, but hesitated before taking a deep breath, "Were you really raised by Muggles like they say?"
"Muggles?" Harry echoed in confusion.
"Non-magical folk, ward." Merlin explained, "Again, I told you all this on the way here."
"Again; I forgot it all in light of the money pool." Harry countered before smiling at Draco. Then, he tapped his chin,, trying to think of how to phrase what he was about to say, "Well… I guess not, since all of my mentors can use some form of magical power. So, no, I wasn't raised by these Muggles you speak of. I was raised by a King, and two wizards for most of my life, though."
"Well good." Draco sniffed, "I've heard living with Muggles is simply dreadful. I can't even imagine it. I don't even think that they should let the other sort into Hogwarts, do you? I think that they should keep it in the old wizarding families."
"Huh?" Harry said in confusion, turning his head to Merlin.
"He means purebloods." Merlin gruffed out, rolling his eyes, "The other sort are Muggle-Borns and Half-Bloods. You get the picture."
"Yes, I do." Harry said his tone crisp and sharp as he raised a brow at Draco, "Master, wasn't my mother a Muggle-born?"
"Yes she was, ward." Merlin said, seeing where Harry was going with it. Almost instantly, Draco colored crimson and began stammering.
"And wouldn't it be basically incest to the extreme if only these prejudice people known as "old wizarding families" kept magic to themselves and tried to pass it along to only others like them?"
"Yes it would." Merlin nodded, looking a little green at the mental images.
"Besides, what makes these so called Purebloods better than anyone else. What makes them entitled to magic and no one else? I'm sure that if magic wanted to stay with the old wizarding families, it wouldn't have spread to others at random." Harry mused aloud as Merlin shook his head with a smirk, "In fact, I think magic has done you a favor, Draco Malfoy. It's made sure that you weren't born impaired and without a hunchback. Thank magic for not making you a moron, Draco."
"Th-Thank you, magic." was all Draco could say as he stared at Harry.
"Good Draco. Magic says you're welcome." Harry said, patting Draco's head as Madam Malkin laughed aloud.
"You're all done, dear." Madam Malkin managed to say through her fits of laughter.
"Thank you, Madam." Harry and Merlin said.
Harry turned back to Draco, only to see the blonde's mouth opened and closed a couple of times as his mind processed what Harry had just said. Finally, the blond took a deep calming breath before his face took on a contemplative look. It was almost as if the boy had never considered thinking for himself before today.
"So… Should we pay you now, or…?" Harry asked, remembering his experiences with buying clothes from other shop owners on other worlds. Some had wanted payment when the order was picked up, and some wanted it upfront then and there.
"Oh, dear!" the witch replied, smiling at him, "You can pay when you come by to pick them up. They should be done in about an hour or so."
"Madam, we insist to pay you this moment." Merlin said, "We simply won't take no for an answer."
Harry gave his master a look, but was met by one from the wizened wizard, who gestured to pay now. When Harry reached for his money pouch, it was then that he understood what Merlin wanted to do. The old man was a sly one, Harry gave him that. Merlin wanted to be sure that the pouch was working correctly, connected to Harry's trust vault and to be sure that it was limitless.
"How much, Lady Malkin?" Harry asked as he took out his empty-looking pouch.
"Oh… Umm… Let's see here…" Madam Malkin said as she took out a parchment, "That'll be… 125 galleons for the entire wardrobe."
"The gold ones, correct?" Harry asked as he opened his pouch, and at her nod, Harry thought of the amount he needed.
But then, instead of golden coins, Harry felt a piece of paper in his hand when he reached into the pouch. Pulling it out, and handing it to his mentor first, Merlin adjusted his glasses to better read the parchment which Harry handed him.
"This seems in order, ward." Merlin said, nodding as he handed the paper off to madam Malkin, "You see, Gringotts doesn't do coins over one hundred Galleons, so they have drafts and checks for that. The moment you took that paper from your pouch, that amount of gold was taken from your account."
"Sounds like the Moogles… Cheeky things…" Harry said with a click of his teeth.
"Yes they are." Merlin said, "Come on now, ward. Much more shopping to do. Much more…"
"Coming, Master." Harry said as he turned back to give Madam Malkin's his thanks once more, and then to say goodbye to Draco before sweeping out of the shop after Merlin.
As they stepped back onto Diagon Alley, Merlin waved his hand, and Harry's school list came from his robe pocket. Merlin allowed it to float in his peripheral vision while glancing over it.
"We have your uniforms being tailored, so now we your books, your truck, other equipment, and of course; your wand." Merlin said before the list rolled into itself and went back to Harry, who opened his pocket for the thing to settle it.
"Do I really need a wand? I can do magic find with my hands." Harry nearly whined as Merlin rolled his eyes.
"But of course you need a wand, ward! You rely on a musical tempo and my own cane far too much. Besides, having a wand of your own was like a right of passage when I was a young lad first learning. It'll help increase your own magical potential and your abilities to focus your already impressive powers." Merlin said, turning to Harry with a gentle smile, "You have yet to reach your magical maturity, and so with your powers already being so strong, just imagine how much better you'll be once you've wielded a wand for a few years."
"How strong do you think I'll be?" Harry asked as Merlin pondered the thought.
"Perhaps powerful enough to rival Yen Sid and myself…" Merlin said after a moment of thinking.
Harry stared at his mentor in shock. That powerful! He would have never believed such a thing. Yen Sid and Merlin were the two most powerful wizards in all of time and space. In all of existence! There was only one other sorcerer- other rather sorceress which could contest to their power. Harry felt shivers run down his spine from even thinking of the woman who commanded power so great and terrible.
If Merlin believed he'd grow that powerful with the help of a wand, then Harry didn't object anymore.
"So what are we getting first?" Harry asked as Merlin raised a brow, having obviously expected more of a reaction than the simple surprised look that overtaken Harry's face for those few moments he was thinking.
"I'm glad you're now taking this more seriously, ward." Merlin said, "Because we'll need your help in the future. We're getting a bit too old to be saving the worlds. You understand that one day in the near future, you will be our successor, correct?"
"I understand, Master." Harry said sincerely, his gaze dropping to his feet as he thought of just how old the two wizards were. Truly they deserved to live out the rest of their days in peace. Harry would more than gladly take over if they got the chance.
"Well then, we'll collect you a truck first so you'll have something to put all your things in while we're shopping." Merlin said, glancing over Harry's reaction to what he revealed. It was true, he and Yen Sid needed a successor more than ever in their titles as supreme sorcerers. Yen Sid had even been contemplating having Harry take over the Mysterious Tower while he went into an even more reclusive retirement. Merlin would be lying if he said that he was not planning to join the man and let Harry have his properties as well.
Besides, she was still a spry young woman compared to them. They were simply too old to combat her anymore, and they knew it…
The rest of the walk to the trunk store was passed in silence. The trunk store was surprisingly not anywhere near as crowded as Harry would have thought. In fact, even Merlin was a bit surprised that they were the only customers there at the moment.
"What can I do you for, gentlemen?" the storekeeper asked, making Harry think of his old friend Cid, "Do you need a trunk for Hogwarts? You're a bit early in the game, but that just means I've got plenty to choose from."
"Yes, sir." Merlin said respectfully, "We're looking for one with particularly strong magic-resistant locks, but still able to be charmed by the owner. Do you have anything like that?"
The storekeeper chuckled, "Oh, brother. Listen, I don't think the kid needs to worry about anything like that at Hogwarts." the storekeeper said, obviously having taken Merlin's request as a joke.
What the man should have realized was, when it came to magic; Merlin did not joke.
Seeing this on their faces, the guy's smirk slowly faded from his face. Harry raised a brow at him, and the man sighed as he frowned.
"Fine, it's your money anyway…" the guy grumbled, making Harry smile. This guy was like Diagon Alley's version of Cid.
The man turned around and began to head toward the back of the store, making a gesture for them to follow.
"Come, we keep the really strong stuff back here." the guy said as Merlin and Harry exchanged looks before following the man to the back of the store where the trunks did indeed appear to be stronger. Harry could almost feel the magic surrounding them.
The storekeeper stopped in front of the back wall and rested his hand upon what appeared to be a simple luggage trunk, not much larger than Harry's own one that he had now in his pocket.
"This is a fairly simple appearing trunk. However, its lock is one of the strongest available. The lock is made out of pure magic-enhanced silver. It is impervious to all currently known unlocking spells, from the weakest to the most powerful. It's unbreakable and just generally spelled to be able to be opened only by the owner." the guy said, tapped what appeared to be a solid piece of metal that was over where the lock should have been before running a hand over the leather of luggage trunk, "The exterior is also enchanted to be unbreakable and there's a permanent feather-light charm on the trunk."
Harry looked at the trunk, mulling over whether or not to get it. He knew that he and Merlin (though mostly Merlin) could put charms and enchantments on any trunk and it would be just as good, but he wanted to splurge a bit with his newfound wealth. Obviously, that was what Merlin was allowing him to do by having taken him to get a high-security trunk anyway.
So with that in mind, Harry finally nodded to Merlin, who nodded back in agreement.
"Alright then, this'll do nicely." Harry said as the merchant blinked in shock, his entire demeanor showing that he obviously he hadn't actually expected Harry and Merlin to buy such a trunk.
"Err… Right… You are the customer, after all…" the man said slowly, "But just to warn you; once you officially own the trunk you will not be able to return it, nor will anyone else be able to open it unless you sell it or give it to them permanently. That also means that only your magic will be able to work on it."
"That's fine." Merlin assured, "He will be keeping it for quite some time."
"The price of the trunk is 57 galleons." the guy said Harry got out his money pouch.
"Is that cheap, because that doesn't sound cheap." Harry said as he reached into the pouch and felt a mass of coins meet his fingers.
"No, that's not cheap at all." Merlin said, "Think of it this way; you could feed all of Traverse Town a full three-course meal with 150 galleons."
"Well that's not cheap at all." Harry snarked as they walked back to the front of the store to make the purchase. Harry dumped the pouch free of it's contents, watching with a smirk as the salesmen's face turned nearly gleeful at having made such an amazing sale.
"Alright then, kid- I mean sir!" the man said, sounding much brighter and respectful as he pocketed the money, "Please place your thumb on the latch and I'll perform the ownership transference charm. A guidebook on how to perform it should you wish to give the trunk to someone else is inside."
Once Harry had placed his thumb to the cool metal, the storekeeper pulled out his wand. He began murmuring incantations under his breath, waving his wand in a complicated pattern as he did so. Merlin watched on with his lips perched in the manner that told Harry he was analyzing the spell work being done. Finally, the man tapped Harry's thumb gently with the tip of his wand.
As soon as the wand made contact with his skin, Harry felt a shiver run through him, signifying that the magical transfer was taking place.
"Well, that's done. Now whenever you want to open the trunk, simply press your thumb to the lock or open it magically with your own magic."
Harry nodded and withdrew his hand. This was good; no one would be able to break into trunk now. The only person that might be able to would be Merlin, but even then Harry was sure the old wizard would hurt himself trying.
Then there was the fact that neither Harry nor Merlin honestly expected anyone to try and break into his trunk. But, Harry figured Merlin wanted him to be better safe than sorry. And so with that in mind, Harry lifted the trunk with one hand, him and Merlin leaving the shop.
The rest of Harry's shopping passed by quite quickly. Before Harry knew it, he'd already bought all of his needed parchment, quills, and ink, including a bottle of Self-Correcting ink that'd caught Merlin's eye. Harry had also bought the required telescope, cauldron, crystal phials, brass scales, as well as a lunar-scope, which showed the phases of the moons.
Merlin was proving to be just as interested in things as Harry was. The both of them comparing things to how they were on other worlds. Merlin seemed to also be recalling his own memories in dealing with Diagon Alley.
"You know, ward, Diagon Alley was created around the time of my own schooling at Hogwarts." Merlin said as browsed the shelves of the bookstore.
"Really?" Harry asked, as he looked through the open space at his mentor.
"Oh yes, circa 994 A.D!" Merlin said proudly as Harry blanched, "It was a big hit when the Gringotts Bank appeared there after the Goblin-Wizard treaty was signed. I got one of the first vaults to be created. Then came the shops to do business around it, and then Ollivanders' family Wand Shop moved from Wales after Helga Hufflepuff did a few years previous. From there, it became the place to go for all things wizard."
"Wow…" Harry said as Merlin smiled before both continued on looking at books.
Harry and Merlin must have spent nearly an entire hour inside the book store. It took only a minute to get Harry's required school books, but after that the two wandered around the store, picking up just about any book that looked as though they'd be able to help him. Merlin, however, was also looking for some light reading.
"Oh just look at this." Merlin said, dropping a tome in front of Harry, "These young whippersnappers use my name for everything!"
Harry glanced at the title of the book, Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charms: As Written By Merlin Himself and whistled.
"Well, technically speaking, you're supposed to be dead, not time-traveling." Harry said as Merlin's normally calm demeanor turned annoyed, his face brightening red in anger.
"That doesn't make these things right, ward! They're falsifying documents in my name just to sell them!" Merlin raved as Harry picked up the large tome and leafed through it.
"Chapter 23: Enchantments by the Prince of Enchanter Himself…" Harry read as Merlin snatched the book from him.
"I'll get these blasted fools for this!" Merlin said, waving the book around menacingly, "I'll go through this entire book and correct. Then I'll shove it down the throat of whoever wrote it."
"That would be… E. Limus." Harry said, looking at the spine of the book, "Apparently he got a hold of some of your notes on charm work and wrote the book as you."
"Well, he'll pay." Merlin said, a fire burning in his eyes.
"Okay…" Harry said, sweat-dropping over his teacher's antics.
Once Harry had purchased all of his selections, though the man was more preoccupied with being sure Merlin didn't curse anyone and staring oddly at some of the titles Harry wanted, Harry had placed all of them away in his new trunk, which was beginning to get fairly full. Though thankfully Harry had long ago learned how to make objects bottomless.
"Alright then, next stop: the Apothecary." Merlin said, with Harry's school list checking itself off before rolling up and flying back into Harry's robe pocket.
"Yup, all that's left is my Potions ingredients." Harry said smiling. He liked Potions, mainly because it was so much like the Synthesizing that the Moogles did with all the gems and stones Harry collected. Harry knew that in his personal trunk, he had collected an impressive amount of synthesis materials. He hoped that he'd be able to find some free time to try out synthesizing himself with the book he had gone earlier in the year from a group of Moogles he had saved.
"Come along ward, to the Malfoy Apothecary." Merlin said as they passed an Apothecary, which made Harry turn to look at it before following his mentor.
"Master, we just passed an Apothecary. Why go to this Malfoy one? And wasn't Malfoy that kid from Madam Malkin's last name?" Harry said as Merlin nodded.
"Ward, you do not go to just any Apothecary for your potion ingredients!" Merlin scolded as Harry walked beside him, "Just any old place will give you bad goods without knowing what's good and what's bad. No, ward, we go for quality in the field of Potions. You, I, and anyone with good taste/senses shop at the Malfoy Apothecary." Merlin finished as Harry nodded.
"But wasn't that Draco kid's last name Malfoy?" Harry repeated Merlin nodded.
"Yes, and he just might give us a discount." Merlin said, chuckling as he rang his hands evilly.
"I worry for you, Master…" Harry deadpanned as he followed the ancient wizard.
The inside of the Malfoy Apothecary was just as strange, fascinating, and smelly as it was lavish, refined, and captivating. Harry was sure he'd never grow tired of seeing it when he'd visit in the future. The first thing that they did when inside was go straight to the front counter for a supply of basic potion ingredients.
"Hello, and welcome to the Malfoy Family Apothecary." a beauty woman greeted as she came down stairs, "I am Narcissa Malfoy, and I'd like to greet all those who know that the Malfoy Apothecary is only for the best of good wizarding ingredients."
Narcissa Malfoy was tall, slim, and nice looking woman. Her skin was very pale. She had blue eyes with long blonde hair, and a clear, cultivated voice.
"They're having some sort of a sale." Harry noted as the woman descended into the store, "That's the only time owners ever come around."
"Yes, yes…" Merlin said, glancing between Narcissa Malfoy and a fine collection of silver unicorn horns.
"Hello gentlemen." the woman greeted as she moved through the crowd, "I am Narcissa Malfoy. And you are?"
"I am his mentor." Merlin greeted back, his old looks set in a regal way that Harry had rarely ever seen the kind, and hearty old wizard appear. That told Harry that he had to make a good impression on this woman, because Merlin was, and if anyone knew Merlin; he didn't try very often to seem impressive.
"And your young charge?" Narcissa said, her eyes landing on Harry as he smiled charmingly up at her. He causally brushed the bang of hair to uncover his scar while Narcissa gasped slightly, her eyes widening much life Draco's had. Could the woman before him be Draco's mother, aunt, older sister? It would make sense…
"I am Harry Potter, Madam." Harry said, a smooth bow to his even smoother tone. He took the woman's hand and kissed the back of it lightly with a brush of his lips before he looked up at her. Her pale cheeks had colored as her blue eyes stared transfixed upon his scar.
"A please to meet you at long last, Mr. Potter. I've heard much about you…" Narcissa said as Harry smiled.
"Not awful, I hope." Harry said with mirth.
"No, not yet." the woman replied as Harry nodded.
"Excuse my asking, but would you be related to a Draco Malfoy?" Harry asked, glancing over the woman's fair appearance once more, "An older sister, perhaps?"
She chuckled at him, and when she smiled, it was then that Harry noticed that her beauty had seemed to increase when she stopped holding her nose high, an expression that suggested that she was sniffing something foul. Harry figured that she had done this whenever she was in the company of those she considered her inferiors. He had to admit though, when she did it, it marred her beauty somewhat.
"Merlin, no, Mr. Potter!" Narcissa as Harry swiftly glanced up at his mentor, seeing the man's eye twitch when the woman swore by his name, "I am young Draco's mother."
"Really?" Harry asked, doing a good job of seeming shocked, "But you can't be a minute over twenty yourself, and I met Draco in Madam Malkin's dress shop a few hours ago."
"Yes, yes." Narcissa said, her cheeks turning a bright pink as she tried to remain casual, "During that time I was having a look at wands. But I digress. Enjoy your shopping gentlemen. First time?"
"Here, yes." Harry said with a nod.
"Then please, enjoy the variety and quality of the Malfoy Apothecary's selection. I'm sure you'll find everything you need… and more." Narcissa said as Harry got the impression she was leering at him. When he glanced at her, he saw she was indeed gazing over his form like a hungry predator.
Narcissa gave them both a nod before she moved on to greet more customers of her establishment. Harry and Merlin both exchanged looks before quickly purchasing what they had, and putting it away. They had turned to leave, but something stopped them as something caught Merlin's eye.
"We'll stay a bit longer ward. I'd like to see just what sort of wine they have here." Merlin said, the ancient wizard heading deeper into the store while Harry sighed.
"But I still need a wand, Master." Harry whined as he followed Merlin, who was glancing at the different things around while Harry busied himself with the jars around him as he did so.
Harry was just rounding the corner of an isle that Merlin had when he suddenly bumped into someone walking toward him. With a gasp, Harry reflexively reached out a hand and paused a falling jar in midair with a small time-freeze spell. He quick reached out, and snatched the jar from the air.
With a sheepish look on his face, Harry looked up at the person he'd bumped into, only to freeze as something in the back of his mind prickled.
Standing looming above him with a clouded look on his face was a tall, dower, and severe looking man. But that wasn't what made Harry feel weird. No, it was the fact that he knew this man's name without having ever seen him a day in his life. This man was none other than Severus Snape.
And Harry had no clue how he knew that…
"So we finally meet face-to-face, Mr. Potter." the man said quietly, though he didn't seem to need to speak any louder because Harry felt like the man's voice was booming with the way his mind was racing.
"I'm sorry, I don't know-" Harry tired, but the man scowled at him.
"You know exactly who I am, as I know you, Potter." the man sneered, "I knew your mother."
"Oh…" Harry said.
"Before she died protecting you, she gave me this." the man said, raising his dark black robe sleeve to reveal a heart emblem, but one that Harry recognized as his eyes widened.
"That's the symbol of the final Keyhole! Only a Princess of Light, Princess of Heart, or Keyblade Master could place that symbol on someone's body!" Harry thought in shock, seeing his name across the emblem, "Is this Severus Snape… my slave?"
"It is a mark that binds me to you in servitude." the man said before kneeling to Harry, "I am Severus Snape, yours to command."
"Ummm…" Harry said, his mind blown as Merlin came upon him.
"Well this has been an excellent day. Look, Harry, I've got a bottle of Superior Red! Yen Sid and DiZ will take great pleasure in a cup of-… What goes on here, ward?" Merlin said as he rounded the corner, gazing down at the bottle before he looked up at Harry's shocked face and Severus Snape's knightly-kneeling form.
"He's Severus Snape… apparently my slave as thanks to my mother…" Harry said, not even wanting to think about his mother. He had known about his parent's deaths, but thinking about it always brought him great sadness. No, it was better if he remembered their lives instead of their deaths…
"Oh…" Merlin said, looking stunned, "Ahh… Hello there, Severus Snape."
"Hello, sir." Snape said from his kneeling position.
"Harry, tell him to get up." Merlin insisted while he glanced around.
"What? Can't he kind of do that on his own?" Harry said, gesturing.
"Yes, but I think he's one of those types that take servitude seriously." Merlin said as Harry rolled his eyes.
"Why? I'm eleven years-old. What did my mother expect me to do with my own slave? Have him bring me cookies and milk?" Harry asked as Merlin sighed.
"You know, I'm still here." Snape said as Harry nodded.
"Yes you are." Harry said, "Which means that you have some measure of free will, man. Get the hell up!"
"Why you insolent little-" Snape snarled as he rose to his feet, glaring down at Harry.
"See!" Harry interrupted, gesturing to Snape, "You have free will."
Snape said nothing as he glanced down at himself. For years he had feared that the mark would compel him to obey the Potter spawn. For years he feared that he'd be subjected to the same humiliations that the boy's own father had put him through. Or years he had believed that the day to the two of them came upon the other, what little of his life he cared for after Lily died would be shattered and replaced with a life of strict and degrading servitude.
Severus Snape was never more glad to be absolutely wrong in all his life…
"Well, see ya Severus Snape." Harry said as Snape stopped him.
"This is not something you can just walk away from, Harry Potter." Snape said, forcing himself to use the boy's full name, "I shall be seeing you at Hogwarts."
"Fine…" Harry sighed, not wanting to have to deal with yet another person how wanted to devote their life to serving him.
Hearts, did he already have enough of that with Cloud and Ienzo…
Walking out of the Malfoy Apothecary, Harry and Merlin were greeted to the sight of Hagrid, who smiled at them as he held up three ice cream cones in his enormous hands.
"Figured the two of you'd want a treat after today." Hagrid said as he handed them their ice cream, "Also, got 'arry here a present back at the pet shop."
"Really?" Harry asked, excited, "Gimme gimme gift!"
"Ward…" Merlin said, sending Harry a look.
"Oh, right, sorry. I mean, thank you Hagrid. I'm sure it's a lovely gift. Might I have it?" Harry said, imploring a tone like a woman at high tea. Merlin merely grumbled as he shook his head at the boy's antics.
"Why 'course yeh can! It's still there, it is." Hagrid said as he led the way.
At the shop, it was there that Harry gasped in pleasant surprise when he discovered that Hagrid had brought him, a birthday present, which was a beautiful snowy owl with amber colored eyes. Harry thanked Hagrid over and over again, having never had a pet before because his Masters had deemed it a luxury he couldn't afford with his worldly travels, but now Merlin was encouraging him to take the beauty animal.
Looking carefully at the owl, Harry petted it's head while gazing lovingly over it.
"You're a handsome fellow, aren't you?" Harry said as Merlin chuckled when the bird pecked at Harry's fingers in an indignant rage.
"I think you have problems with gender identification, ward." Merlin said mirthfully as Harry shrugged.
"So you're a girl, huh? And a feisty one at that." Harry said as the bird tilted her head, "Now what should I name you…"
"Why not Hedwig?" Merlin suggested as Harry blanched.
"I th'nk that's a good name." Hagrid said as Harry glanced up at him before gazing at Merlin with a deadpan look.
"And why that?" Harry asked, not bothering to hide the fact that he didn't quite like the name.
"She sort of reminds me of an old flame I had." Merlin said as Harry blanched even further.
"Okay, that's nasty." Harry said as his owl seemed to agree.
"She reminds me of old Hedwig Andechs. She was the Duchess of Silesia, you know. She was proud and dignified, yet loving and loyal." Merlin said as Harry stopped acting immature as he saw the sincerity which shone in his mentor's eyes.
"I guess your name is Hedwig from now on, huh?" Harry said as the newly christened bird hooted happily which Harry took as a fact that she liked the name. Harry smiled, knowing that his friends back in Traverse Town would love the owl.
"Well, Harry, this is where I leave ya." Hagrid said, looking a bit saddened, "Here's yer train ticket that will get ya to Hogwarts. I'll see yer at Hogwarts. Stay well." Hagrid said, handing Harry a ticket, which he put in his pocket, so he won't lose it.
Harry and Merlin watched Hagrid go after another round of thanks on Harry's part for the newly named Hedwig.
"Come along, ward. Last place of shopping; your wand from Ollivanders." Merlin said happily as Harry carried his trunk in one hand and Hedwig's cage in another, "Now keep in mind, the Ollivanders can get a little… up-close and personal with their seeking, as well as strange and choosy, but don't mind nor be offended. They're masters of the wand arts. If they snatch a wand from your hand, then that's it. You'll probably be going through a pile by time you find the right one."
"Okay…" Harry said slowly as they went on.
Ollivanders was a narrow and shabby looking shop with peeling gold letters over the door that read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.
A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single, spindly chair that Merlin sat on to wait, his age catching up to him as Harry noted the man hadn't moved around so much in many years. Harry felt strangely as though he had entered a very strict library, and Merlin seemed to understand. Harry nodded to his mentor as he swallowed back a lot of questions he had while looking around instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling. His magical sixth sense was going haywire in the shop as the back of his neck prickled. The very dust and silence in the shabby shop seemed to tingle with some secret magic. Merlin seemed to catch it as he smiled at him.
"You can feel it, can't you ward? The magic in the very air around you." Merlin said quietly as Harry nodded.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen." said a soft voice as Harry jumped and Merlin chuckled.
An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.
"Hello, sir." Harry said awkwardly, feeling a bit nervous under the man's gaze.
"Garrick, you old salt, stop securitizing my young ward like that!" Merlin shouted happily s he got out of his chair and hugged the strange old man.
"Merlin, it's Merlin!" the man, Garrick said as he laughed merrily, "I haven't seen you since you started your travels across reality."
"Yes, but that's something for another time and stories over tea." Merlin said as he gestured to Harry, "My new ward requires a wand for his schooling."
"Ah yes…" the man said as his intense gaze once again landed on Harry, "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon, Harry Potter."
It wasn't a question, Harry knew that much as the man leered down at him, "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."
"How does he remember that? It must have been a whole twenty years ago." Harry thought, his eyebrows furrowing, "Does he really love his job just that much?"
Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Harry, the dark-haired boy wishing the man would blink, at least once. Those silvery eyes were a bit creepy.
"Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it — it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course." Mr. Garrick Ollivander said as he moved so close that he and Harry were almost nose to nose. Harry could see himself reflected in those misty eyes.
"And that's where…" Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead with a long, white finger. Harry felt the world around him shudder at the mystic touch from the old man.
"I'm sorry to say, Mr. Potter, but I sold the wand that did it." the man said softly, "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands… well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do…"
He shook his head and then, to Harry's relief, returned to Merlin with a smile.
"Merlin… Merlin Ambrosius, my old friend! How nice to see you again… English Oak, twelve inches, rather rigid, wasn't it?"
"Yes it was. Now I have my cane with the wand in it's core." Merlin said, patting his cane affectionately.
"Yes, still making wands yourself, I see." Ollivander commented as his gaze lingered on the long, featureless brown rod with it's bump at the end, "Never did buy a main wand from us."
"But I'm trusting you with my student." Merlin said, "And I've only ever made two wands in my entire lifetime; my English Oak and this cane."
"Good wand, that English Oak one." Ollivander remarked as Merlin nodded. Then, to Harry's displeasure, Mr. Ollivander turned back to him with a piercing look, "Well now then, Mr. Potter. Let me see." Garrick Ollivander said as he pulled out a long tape measure with silver markings from his pocket, "Which is your wand arm?"
"Err… Well, I'm ambidextrous." Harry said as Ollivander nodded.
"Right-handed it is." the man said without missing a beat as Harry's face dropped comically, "Hold out your arm. That's it."
Ollivander measured Harry from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, and then around his head. As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."
Harry nodded in understanding before he suddenly realized that the tape measure, which was measuring between his nostrils, was doing this on its own. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes while Merlin had resumed his seating with a smile.
"That will do." the slightly creepy man said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor before shooting into his pocket, "Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."
Harry took the wand and waved it around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once.
"No, no… Hmm… How about this one? Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try —"
Harry tried, but he had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander.
"No, no… Here. Ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out."
Harry tried. And tried. And tried. He had no idea what Mr. Ollivander was waiting for. The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become.
"A tricky customer, eh? I'd expect that much from any ward Merlin would teach. Not to worry, though. We'll find the perfect match here somewhere. Hmm… I wonder, now… Yes, why not… Hmm… An unusual combination, but… Here you are, Mr. Potter. Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
Harry took the wand, feeling a sudden warmth in his fingers. Harry raised the wand above his head, and brought it swishing down through the dusty air. A stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls. With another swish of the wand, Harry had made the sparks turn to flower petal. Then, he flicked the wand making the show of magic disappear. It all felt so much easier than when he had practiced with Merlin's cane or even his own wandless skill. It was like a gently flowing creek compared to the violent white waters of the other two.
Merlin clapped and cheered as Mr. Ollivander cried out, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed. Oh, very good. Well, well, well… how curious… how very curious…"
He put Harry's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious… curious…"
"I'm sorry." Harry said, "But what's curious?"
"Yes, Garrick. What is going through that brilliant mind of yours?" Merlin asked as Mr. Ollivander fixed Harry with his pale stare.
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather… just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother… why, its brother gave you that scar."
Harry swallowed, looking shocked. He had been told on the way to his home-world about why he had to leave his home-world. He had been told the tale of "The Boy-Who-Lived". However, it was only once they had started out their shopping day earlier that Harry gave any thought to it.
"Voldemort…" Harry thought, feeling a bit uneasy on his feet.
"Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember… I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter… After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things… terrible, yes, but great none the less."
Harry shivered, not sure he liked the way Mr. Ollivander was staring at him (at his soul) too much. He paid seven gold Galleons for his wand, and Mr. Ollivander bowed them from his shop.
The late evening sun hung low in the sky as Harry and Merlin made their way back down Diagon Alley, back through the wall, and back through the Leaky Cauldron, which was now empty. Harry didn't speak at all as they walked. He only realized where they were when Merlin tapped him on the shoulder.
"Time to get back onto the ship, ward." Merlin said as he cast Harry a smile, "We'll be sleeping and eating up there until it's time for your train to arrive."
"Okay, Master Merlin…" Harry muttered, seeing that no one was around, allowing him to use his mentor's name.
"Harry, you will do great things, just as Ollivander said." Merlin assured, "What's got you so down?"
"Nothing really." Harry said, "That guy was kinda creepy, but I'm just thinking of that You-Know-Who guy, Voldemort. Yen Sid and DiZ said that the Dumbledore guy thought he might return."
"And what's on your mind about that?" Merlin asked.
"When he does… Will I be ready?" Harry asked quietly, looking up at his eldest mentor in a rare moment of vulnerability. Harry was laid-back, yes. Harry was a bit cocky, yes. Harry was full of boyish attitude, yes. But Harry doubting himself, though he did so more than people thought, and speaking those thoughts aloud… well, that was as rare as an eclipse.
"I'm not going to deceive you, ward." Merlin began, "I don't know what the future holds. However, I do know this: when the time comes to protect those around you from evil, you'll be more than ready. You'll hit the ground running while casting any spells you know until you're close enough to deck the bad guys. That's the person you've been, and that's the person you are."
Harry stared up at Merlin with respect and admiration. He smiled, knowing that he could always count on his mentors for reassurance in himself when he was feeling low.
"Thanks, Master Merlin." Harry said, smiling as Merlin chuckled while ruffling his hair.
"No problem, Harry." Merlin replied, "Now let's get up to the ship so we can start on your wand work. It'll be a bit crude for a while, but the more practice you have with it, the better it'll flow."
"Okay, Master." Harry said, "There's just one more thing."
"Oh? What's that?" Merlin asked as Harry smirked.
"We need to call for our ride." Harry said as Merlin looked a bit frightened.
"Ward… Don't you dare-"
"BEAM ME UP, SCOTTIE!" Harry shouted to the skies as Merlin covered his ears, a blue beam descending from the skies to them.
"Dammit, ward! When I get my hands on you-!" Merlin was saying, but didn't get to finish as the blue beam of light fell upon them, whisking them away into the sky as it disappeared from view.
