Disclaimer: All elements featured in this story are not my own.
Chapter 3
-Fairy Tail building-
Harry just sat there, his head hung down in front of him. Dumbledore stared at him intently. "Harry, I know it's hard to accept, but I…"
"It's not that Mister Dumbledore. I don't care about the fact that this Moldy-butt guy…"
"Voldemort, Harry," Dumbledore corrected, though he was having a very hard time keeping a straight face. Makarov and Erza knew too little about Voldemort to get the joke.
"Yeah, him, murdered my parents. I don't even care that you made me live with my aunt and uncle for seven years. Because if you hadn't I would never been kidnapped in the first place, and I never would have become part of Fairy Tail."
'And this mess would have been avoided,' Dumbledore thought.
Harry continued. "Really, I don't care, that's all in the past. What matters is what's going to happen now. And because of that, I don't think I'll take your offer of going to Hogwarts."
Dumbledore nodded, Makarov smiled, while Erza looked indifferent. Makarov and Erza have decided that they will not influence Harry's decision, no matter what it may be.
Harry looked at all of them, and took a breath. "I mean, I know I can study all kinds of magic at the school, and even learn what kind of persons my parents were, but I think I can be of more use if I stay here," he said.
Nobody spoke. Harry continued. "You see, if I stay here, I'll be able to hone my own magic more; I'll also be able to do more missions for the guild, which will increase our reputation. Plus there's the fact that I'm the cook."
'And because you will do more jobs, you get rich quicker,' Erza thought.
Harry expected Dumbledore to either humbly accept Harry explanation, or lash out in uncontrollable anger. He didn't expect the old man to suddenly smile while looking like a villain with a devious plan.
"Of course Harry. I anticipated that your loyalty to Fairy Tail will prevent you from going to Hogwarts. Because of that I am wiling to offer a compromise."
Makarov raised an eyebrow. "And what would that compromise be Albus?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Makarov, since Harry Potter is a member of Fairy Tail, I am going to hire him for a mission."
The eyes of all three fairy Tail members widened. Makarov started to chuckle, Erza began to smirk, and Harry's jaw dropped.
Dumbledore noticed their reactions, and mentally patted himself on the back.
"His job will be to learn other types of magic from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He will be given the reward of eight million Jewels–"
Harry's jaw dropped even more.
"–paid in eight instalments. The first million jewels will be given in… young lady what date is it today?"
"August the fifth," Erza replied, before nudging Harry hard in the ribs.
"He got you there Harry," she whispered to her stunned friend.
"The first million jewels will be given on the last week of August, where I shall fetch Mister Potter for the start of term. The next million will be given should Harry attend another year at Hogwarts, and so on," Dumbledore said.
Makarov was still chuckling, which soon turned into full-fledged laughter moments later. Harry was in a state of disbelief; Erza was smirking at him, while Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling as he watched the three.
He snapped out of his shock, and looked at the other three. "Don't I get a say in this?" he asked weakly. But between Makarov laughing like a maniac, Dumbledore smiling triumphantly, and Erza very close to sniggering, the answer would be a resounding 'no'.
When Makarov finally stopped laughing, he spoke.
"Finding loopholes as always, that's just like you Dumbledore," he said.
Dumbledore simply smiled at the compliment.
He looked at Harry and Erza. "Now Harry, its best that you take up as many jobs as you can until the end of August, take Erza with you if you want, it'll make the jobs easier."
Harry didn't reply, he didn't know what to say.
Makarov then turned to Dumbledore. "Come Albus, let us enjoy the breakfast Mirajane has prepared for us, I'm sure it's done by now."
He moved to open the door, but stopped when he heard a stampede of feet just outside.
Sighing, he looked at Dumbledore. "Are you coming?"
"Right behind you Makarov," said Dumbledore, and the two of them left the room. There were footprints, and some flattened Fairy Tail members, on the corridor outside.
Harry and Erza stayed behind, with Erza still smirking at Harry. He looked at Erza. "I have a question. How did all of this start again?"
Erza snickered. "Well, it all began when you were born Harry."
Harry stared at her for a few minutes, before sighing.
-A few weeks later, last week of August-
Harry stuffed last minute items into his newly bought Vortex bag (capable of holding more than it appears able to, available at Heart Kreuz For Men for ninety thousand Jewels). He used the last weeks before Dumbledore will fetch him to do as many missions as he can. Most of these jobs were from the same medicinal company (Dr. Quack's Medicine Inc.) that hired him to get the griffin claws.
In one mission he was tasked to make a frogzard cry. A frogzard is an extremely adaptable creature that looked like a cross between a frog and a meat eating dinosaur, whose tears have healing properties. They're also incredibly stupid. Harry was forced to do slapstick comedy to get the animals to cry in laughter.
Another job has him wandering the forests around Magnolia in the middle of the night, looking for medicinal mushrooms. He ended up being chased by a horde of breloom, a type of sentient mushroom with black belt level martial arts skills, when he mistook one of them for the one he was looking for.
But it was all worth it, as Harry was able to buy many items he needed for his stay at Hogwarts. Among them was the said Vortex sling bag, which can hold a near infinite number of items. He also bought Gale-Force Reading Glasses, special reading glasses that allow the user to read at an accelerated pace. And finally he bought a fountain pen, just because.
That day was the day Dumbledore was scheduled to get him, and Harry packed most of his clothes for his one year stay in Hogwarts.
He was wrapping Thornby's sword in bandages when Mirajane burst through his room.
"Harry! Master said to come and get you! He said that old man is already here!" she shouted quite loudly. She looked around for Harry, and found him rubbing his nose. "What are you doing?"
"Rubbing my nose after you surprised me and made me smash my face into the sword."
Mirajane rolled her eyes. "Whatever, get your junk out and let's go."
Harry grabbed his bag and followed Mirajane into the dining area, where seemingly everyone was waiting for them. Dumbledore sat with Makarov in the center, clutching what seemed to be an iron pot with legs. Erza stood next to them.
"Hello Harry," Dumbledore said.
"Hello," Harry said back.
"Take care Harry," Erza said, moving beside him, and seemingly ready to-
"Back at you," was the reply, before he pulled Erza into a tight embrace. The other one was not surprised, and returned the hug, completely oblivious to the smirks, whistles, and jealous faces that were directed at them. They let go a few seconds later, both feeling more relieved and confident than before.
Dumbledore stood up. He walked to a corner of the building, and placed the iron pot there. He took out his wand and pointed it at the pot. "Portus."
The pot glowed brightly, then returned back to normal a few seconds later.
Dumbledore turned to the crowd. He pointed to the new portkey. "That pot, now a portkey, will be used as a mailbox. Harry will be able to deliver whatever he wants to deliver to you, and vice versa, using this pot. It will teleport to my office, where it will spend a day there, every thirty days, don't touch it when it does, or else you will find a part of your body missing, along with the pot," Dumbledore said.
Harry smiled. He would be able to keep in touch with the guild after all. The same couldn't be said for some Fairy Tail members though, who were planning on visiting Harry (and had no idea Dumbledore was lying).
Dumbledore then returned to the center of the dining area. He pulled out a woolly sock and beckoned Harry to hold the piece of clothing. At the latter's confused expression, he spoke. "This is a time-activated portkey Harry, we will use this to travel back to England."
"Oh, okay."
Harry touched the sock, while Dumbledore took out a silver pocket watch.
"It is nearly time Harry," he said.
As one, the Fairy Tail members said their farewells.
"Take care, Harry."
"The food will not be the same without you, man!"
"Come back here stronger, Harry!"
"Good luck!"
"Thanks you guys!" Harry yelled back to them all. He was practically in tears.
And with that, the portkey activated, and Harry and Dumbledore were whisked away. It will be a long time before Harry can see his fellow guild members again.
-Hogwarts-
Dumbledore and Harry arrived in the headmaster's office. Dumbledore stood proud and tall, Harry kneeled beside him, and looked like he was just about ready to vomit.
He chuckled at the bespectacled boy. "Not fond of travelling by portkey, Harry?"
Harry glared at him. "No. There was something that grabbed me by the stomach and pulled me in."
"Ah, that is what all wizards will feel when they use a portkey."
Harry finally got his breakfast under control. "Where are we Mister Dumbledore?"
"We are in my office Harry. During your time at Hogwarts, I would like to ask you to call me professor, or sir, do you understand?"
"Yes sir," Harry said, who stood in awe of the many magical items that were in the office, which ranged from a simple stone basin that must have held something special, to what looked like a delicate old witch's hat with a tear on the middle. He was especially intrigued by the portraits, which were sleeping silently in their frames.
Dumbledore smiled. "You can admire the portraits later Harry, right now we have to buy your school supplies. Come."
He beckoned the boy to follow him out of the room, and they both left Dumbledore's office.
-Outside Hogwarts grounds-
Dumbledore led Harry outside the enormous school grounds. Once they were beyond the gates, Dumbledore stopped.
"Grab my arm Harry; we are going to do a side-along Apparition," he said.
"Side-along Apparition?"
"Yes, Apparition is a method used by wizards here to instantly get from one place to another. Side-along Apparition is simply having one person who cannot Apparate join one who can."
"Wow, you can do that?"
"Yes, but it is a very dangerous method of transportation. Many wizards don't bother with it because of the risk that they will leave something important behind, like their brain."
Harry had a sudden vision of someone's head lying on a street, their body many miles away. He gulped.
Seeing the child's worried look, Dumbledore gave him a reassuring smile. "Do not worry Harry, I am a proficient enough user of Apparition that I am confident you can keep all of your body parts while travelling with me."
Giving the old man a nervous chuckle, Harry nonetheless took hold of Dumbledore's wrist. "If you are ready to go, you might want to close your eyes," Dumbledore said.
Harry nodded and closed his eyes.
What he felt next was something akin to him being forced through a tube. It was an extremely weird sensation, even weirder than when he first tried to use telekinesis on himself. He ended up being on a hospital bed when Erza thought he was peeking on her while she was bathing.
He opened his eyes, and blinked at the change in scenery. The two of them were standing in the middle of a pub that looked similar to the one back at the guild. People stared at them for a few moments, before returning back to their businesses. Clearly Dumbledore was a regular at the bar. Just outside the building, a sign that said 'The Leaky Cauldron' could be seen through the window.
Harry realized this was a perfect opportunity to try out his telepathy. He reached out to everyone in the pub, sans Dumbledore, and pried into their minds as far as he dared. Fortunately for him, none of his targets noticed his tampering in their minds.
"Of course, the next shipment of cocaine will be delivered next week."
"No, no, no, Jim. If you want me to make more of those blades, you must construct additional pylons."
"We will summon him this evening."
"This is for the Swarm."
Harry released his telepathy and adopted a nervous look. It looked like not everyone in the pub was there for a simple drink.
Dumbledore walked over to the bartender, who was cleaning some glasses with a cloth.
"Good morning Tom, Harry and I would like to get to Diagon Alley to buy supplies. He is starting school this year, you see."
Tom raised an eyebrow. "This is rare; the headmaster of Hogwarts himself is assisting a student in buying supplies. So who's the lucky kid?" He looked over at Harry, who looked back at him, Tom then noticed the scar. "My word, it's Harry Potter!" At that single statement, everyone in the pub froze and looked at Harry.
"Is it really him?"
"Yes, I see the scar, it really is Harry Potter!"
"Where had he been all these years?"
"Can I have his autograph, mom?"
The crowd slowly moved toward Harry, who backed away from them and into Dumbledore. The man laughed softly. "It would seem that your disappearance has not lessened your fame, Harry."
"Gee, you think?"
Dumbledore smirked, he turned to Tom. "We will be going now I think Tom." He led Harry out of the pub.
"Wait Mister Potter, I'd like to ask a few questions!"
"I love you Mister Potter!"
"I haven't gotten your autograph Mister Potter!"
-The brick wall outside of the Leaky Cauldron-
"This is it Harry."
They were facing a brick wall. Harry raised his eyebrows in confusion. "Err…"
Dumbledore looked at Harry. "Not to worry, you will see it soon." He took out his wand, and pressed a brick near the center of the wall.
And almost like it was being washed away, the brick wall dissolved right before Harry's disbelieving eyes.
Before them was Diagon Alley.
Smirking, Dumbledore pulled Harry inside. "There is no time to waste Harry, we have much to do."
Harry was getting dizzy. He kept looking from shop to shop, and tried to take in everything at the same time.
There was a shop called Eyelops Owl Emporium, which supposedly sold pets for wizards. Another shop was aptly named Junk Shop, and sold second-hand items for bargain prices. Yet another one was Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, and sold the weirdest flavours in an ice cream Harry had ever seen.
'Who names these shops?' he thought.
Dumbledore smiled at his young companion's enthusiasm.
He led Harry to the largest building in the alley, an imposing white structure that screamed 'stronghold' to everyone that saw it.
On the outside of the building, a sign that read Gringotts Wizarding Bank, swayed in the wind. The door of the building is adorned with a plaque warning thieves to stay out.
To all bastards who think they can rob us, come in. You'll never get out alive.
"This is the only wizarding bank in England Harry, Gringotts. It is run by goblins, because their greedy nature makes them the ideal guardians of money. Your parents left you a small amount of money before they died, and we're here to withdraw some for your school supplies," Dumbledore said.
He and Harry went inside, and Harry saw strange humanoid creatures that he assumed were the goblins. They were significantly shorter than a human, with pointed ears and wrinkled faces, and they were sporting expressions that tell Harry they take their jobs seriously.
Dumbledore walked to the front desk. "I would like to withdraw money from Vault 687, the Potters' vault," he said.
The goblin at the desk nodded, he took out a quill and a form.
"Because the vault has not been used for ten years, I would like for the new owner to sign his name on the form."
Harry stepped forward, took the quill, and made to sign the paper. But as he wrote the first stroke of his signature, he felt pain. He quickly lifted the quill from the form. He looked at the goblin.
The goblin looked back at him apathetically, as if the pain of a minor did not bother him the slightest. "That is a special quill that uses the users' blood as ink; it will form a contract with you and the bank, signifying that you are the new owner of Vault 687. It will also verify your claim as a relative or a friend of the former owner."
Harry gave him a nervous nod, and signed the paper, ignoring the pain the writing caused.
The goblin took the form away from him. He looked at the new contract, and then at Harry. "Now that the contract is complete, you may now use the vault freely. Do you have a key to the vault?" he asked Harry.
Harry didn't know you need a key to open the vault. "Err…"
Dumbledore came to the rescue. He pulled out a silver key from his pocket. "I have the key of the previous owner here."
The goblin took the key from Dumbledore. "Very well then. Griphook! We have clients!"
A goblin walked towards them. "Good morning sirs, I am Griphook, and I shall be your guide to your vaults," he said, taking the key as well as the signed form from the other goblin, "Follow me."
Harry and Dumbledore followed him.
Griphook led them to what looked like a mineshaft. There were train tracks on the hallway leading to the vault, as well as carts that ride on the tracks. Griphook motioned them to one of the carts. As soon as all of them were safely seated, he pushed a lever, and the cart sped through the hallway.
The cart twisted and turned, going from one corridor to another, until finally it stopped by a vault with the number 687 on top of it.
"We have arrived. Mister Potter, here is your free leather money bag, for making a contract with Gringotts Wizarding Bank," Griphook said, and handed Harry a small leather bag.
All three got off the cart and walked to the entrance, which, oddly enough, has no keyhole. Griphook took the key from his pocket, and pushed the key into the door. The key seemingly melted into the door, which opened a second later.
And revealed enormous piles of gold, silver, and bronze coins. Harry's eye widened and his jaw dropped.
His parents were rich.
As Harry stood outside dumbfounded, Dumbledore strode forward, took the leather bag from Harry, and proceeded to take some coins, golden, silver and bronze, away from the pile. He closed the bag, and returned to where Harry was still staring blankly into space.
Griphook snapped his fingers, pulling Harry out of his trance. "Mister Potter, I will explain to you the wizarding currency. The gold coins are called Galleons, the silver coins are Sickles, and the bronze ones Knuts. A Galleon is worth 17 Sickles, and a Sickle is worth 29 Knuts."
Harry nodded slowly, still in awe from the amount of money his parents left him.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I think our business here is done. Mister Griphook, would you kindly take us back to the reception area?"
Griphook nodded, and motioned for them to once again step into the cart.
-Gringotts lobby-
Harry sat on a chair while Dumbledore talked to the front goblin. He wondered where he would spend the money, and if the Dursleys knew about all of these. A few minutes later Dumbledore was beside him.
"Can you stay here for a little while Harry, I am going back to withdraw from a vault. I cannot tell you what is inside, it is top secret," he said.
Harry nodded, and watched as Dumbledore walked with Griphook back to the carts.
He returned an hour later, his pocket bearing a slightly noticeable bulge. "Come Harry, let us get you your supplies. Take out the acceptance letter, it should have all the items you need listed inside," Dumbledore said.
Harry got up from his seat, took out said letter, and followed Dumbledore out of Gringotts.
-Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions-
"Really Dumbledore! Bringing a student here so late into the summer! There isn't any stock of his size left for him, I would have to sew a set overnight!" Madam Malkin said angrily as she measured Harry for his school robes.
"I appreciate your hard work Madam," Dumbledore replied.
"You better!" snapped Madam Malkin back. She looked at Harry. "The measurements are complete dear, you may return here tomorrow to get your set of robes."
"Thank you." Harry smiled at Madam Malkin, and left the shop with Dumbledore.
-Slug and Jiggers Apothecary-
As Harry waited for the shopkeeper to return with the needed potions ingredients, he looked around the shop. All kinds of objects stored in jars, baskets, and the occasional pot were found in the store.
Harry was looking at one of the objects in a jar (the eye of a newt) when the shopkeeper returned.
"Here are the items you need, young sir," he said, giving Harry a paper bag filled with potions ingredients.
"Mister Jiggers, does something like a healing potion exist?" Harry asked.
Jiggers raised an eyebrow. "Why yes, it does. It's effective for minor to slightly major injuries, but mortal wounds need the attention of a healer to treat effectively. Why do you ask?"
"Um, nothing, just curious." In reality, Harry was very curious. Healing potions in Earth-land were expensive, due to the difficulty in acquiring ingredients. If Harry could find an alternative healing potion, it would drastically reduce the expense that Fairy Tail uses on hospital bills.
"Hmm, well, it's nice to know some kids are interested in potions, you'll do good in Snape's class, he's the potions professor at Hogwarts," said Jiggers.
"Thanks."
-Flourish and Blotts-
Harry was so engrossed in reading a wizarding cookbook (Crazy Magic Cuisines) that he had to be tapped in the shoulder by the clerk. "Mister Potter, the books you asked are ready."
Harry jumped, and looked at the clerk.
"What? Oh, thank you, can I buy this too?" He held up the cookbook.
The clerk smiled. "Of course, just lay it on the counter with the rest of the books."
Harry did what he asked, and waited for the clerk to give him the bill.
-A few hours later-
"I just need a wand Professor," Harry said.
"Alright then Harry, then we will go to Ollivander's, the shop is one of the finest wand makers in the world," Dumbledore said.
They made their way to a small shop beside Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment. Peeling gold letter over the door read 'Ollivander's: Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C.'. A single window illuminated the entire shop.
"I shall wait for you outside Harry," said Dumbledore.
Harry nodded, and stepped inside the store.
It was dusty, as if the shop owner had never bothered to pick up a broom to clean his stall. There were shelves that contained small boxes on all corners of the room, with the only furniture being a chair in the center and a small table on one side.
Harry was looking at one of the shelves, when a voice spoke behind him. It said quietly and airily, "Good afternoon."
Harry jumped, he instinctively brought his hands back, and levitated whoever was behind him right into one of the shelves. The man hit the shelf with a crash, and fell onto the floor.
Harry, now only realizing his mistake, moved towards the man.
"I'm so sorry, sir! Are you alright?" he asked, worried that he may have done critical damage onto the assumed shop owner.
To his surprise the man stood straight back up, dusted his clothes, and looked at him. "It is of no consequence, though I dare say I haven't had a customer use accidental magic on me since more than forty years ago. Her name was Molly Prewett, such a sweet girl, with a fiery temper."
He went to the center of the shop, and sat on the chair. "You must be Harry Potter. I still remember the days when your parents bought their wands here. Your father left this shop carrying an ash wand with a dragon heartstring core, sixteen inches long, perfect for Transfiguration. Your mother, on the other hand, preferred a yew wand with a unicorn tail core, eleven inches, excellent for Charm work."
He adjusted his position. "And now the son comes here for the first time to buy his own wand. Wands are magical items that allow wizards to use magic, each of them are made from various types of wood, with a special magical core inside of them. No wands are exactly alike Mister Potter, and really, it's the wand that chooses the wizard. Here at Ollivander's we make wands from unicorn tails, dragon heartstrings, and phoenix feathers. Though much recently I have added eagle feather to my cores, as the times change, so must the wands, don't you think?"
He gave Harry a questioning stare, which was returned with nervous chuckle. "Oh, I haven't introduced myself. I am Ollivander, and the keeper of this shop."
He got up from the chair and moved towards Harry. He pulled out a measuring tape, which began measuring the bespectacled boy on the oddest of places, namely, his foot, waist, nose, head, and shoulders. Harry watched in silent wonder that Ollivander had walked away while the measuring tape still took Harry's measurements all on its own. Ollivander came back with a small rectangular box. "Hold out your wand arm," said Ollivander.
"Err…"
"The arm you use for writing."
Harry raised his right arm, which was examined by Ollivander at every possible angle. When he was satisfied he had gotten what he needed, he went to one of the shelves, and pulled out a box. Inside was a wand. "Try this one then. Oak with unicorn tail, eighteen inches, rigid. Just give it a swing."
He gave the wand to Harry, who took the wand. But he had barely moved his hand when Ollivander snatched it out. "Not that one, let's try another."
He went back to the shelf, and pulled out another box. "How about this? Mahogany with dragon heartstring, fourteen inches, flexible."
Harry took the wand and waved it. Nothing happened. He gave it back to Ollivander.
-Outside-
To pass the time, Dumbledore bought a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, a delicacy he hasn't enjoyed since childhood. As he placed a bean in his mouth, he never noticed that it suddenly changed colour.
He bit the bean, then spat it out immediately.
"Alas! Manure!"
-Ollivander's shop-
"Hmm, not that one then, another." And he went back to the shelves.
After what seemed to be hours, and what felt like every wand in the shop, Ollivander gave Harry another wand. "Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, supple."
Harry took the wand, and he felt some warmth spread from his fingertips to his hand. He gave the wand a wave, and a few sparks came out of it.
"Hmm, compatible, but not quite. Well, that just means we're getting close!" Ollivander exclaimed.
He moved to return to the shelves, but paused suddenly, his face showed that his mind's wheel was turning. After a few seconds, he smiled.
"Why not?" he said to himself, and delved again into the shelves.
When he returned, he gave Harry another wand. "This one is a recent creation of mine. The wood came from a tree called the 'Tree of Wisdom'. The particular tree from which the wood of this wand came from is found in America, where it was instrumental in the defeat of a mad thanatologist, a person who studies the dead, who somehow found a way to reanimate dead bodies. The core is a feather from an eagle found in South-east Asia. The bird is so large and powerful that even dragons hesitate to come near it. The locals call it, the 'Haribon,' while the explorers who found the eagle simply named it, the 'Mighty Eagle'. Twelve inches, springy."
Harry nodded, and took the wand from Ollivander. This time however, he felt a chill, a chill that spread to his entire body. He waved the wand, and a trail of cold mist followed the tip.
Ollivander smiled. "Now we have found a match."
'Finally,' Harry thought. He took out his money bag.
"How much for the wand Mister Ollivander?"
"Fifteen Galleons."
Harry paid for the wand, and left the shop.
He never noticed Ollivander staring at him as he exited. The man laughed softly. "So much for me predicting which wand the Boy Who Lived will take. I wonder, how this will affect the future?"
He closed the shop for the night.
-Outside the shop-
Harry found Dumbledore sitting on the nearby Ice Cream Parlor, looking very bitter indeed. "Is something wrong Professor?"
"Ah, nothing my boy, I was just reminded of why I had sworn not to eat Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans since my childhood. I assume you are done with your shopping?"
"Yes sir."
Dumbledore nodded. He got up from his seat. "Come Harry, since I had not gotten you anything for your birthday last 31st of July, I shall buy you a pet of your choosing."
He led Harry to Eyelops Owl Emporium. They arrived at the shop when it was beginning to close. Luckily, the shopkeeper allowed them to make their purchase, as long as they were quick.
Harry was amazed at the number of pets that the shop held, from the common house cat to the more exotic tarantulas and snakes. Students, however, were only allowed to bring three kinds of pets, an owl, and cat, and a toad. Harry looked all over the shop, trying to find an animal that caught his interest. He walked to each of the sections, examining each owl, cat, or toad that the cages contained.
None grabbed his attention.
"Hey kid, hurry up!" said the shopkeeper.
Harry hurried his pace, now only giving each creature a passing glance. He was about to leave the amphibians section when one animal caught his eye. It was a toad, a common toad complete with warts on the back. Except said toad was also coloured white.
The amphibian stared at him, and Harry stared right back. There was something in the toad that interested Harry, perhaps it was the colour, or maybe at the way it was staring at him, like a wizened old hermit who has experienced everything the world has to offer.
Harry picked it up and carried it to the counter, where Dumbledore was waiting.
"I'd like this one," he said.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"A toad? Many students prefer a cat or an owl, why did you choose a toad?" Dumbledore asked.
"I don't know, there's something about him that drew him to me," replied Harry
Dumbledore stared at the toad, who stared back. A staring contest ensued, one which the toad won when Dumbledore averted his gaze.
"Well, if you're sure," he turned to the shopkeeper, "how much for the toad?"
"That thing? It scared off a lot of kids with the way he keeps staring at them, I'll give it to you for ten Galleons, I'll even throw in a fishbowl to keep him in," said the shopkeeper.
Dumbledore paid the amount, and also bought a book for taking care of toads (Toady Tutorials).
He and Harry left the shop and went back to the Leaky Cauldron for the night.
Author's note: Is Dumbledore a sneaky bastard or what? Using the loophole that Harry is part of a guild to allow him to hire the boy for a 'mission'.
I actually skipped updating my other stories in favour of this one, due to the sheer amount of attention it got.
So, I finally got myself a Beta Reader. I would like to give my thanks to HTM for offering to beta read this story. This is the Beta Version of this chapter, as you can see from the Editor's note below. Do not worry HTM, I have plans for Ginny, and pairing her up with Harry is NOT one of them. But like I said, I do not bash characters.
Unfortunately, you can expect the next update to be on April. I'll try my best to update as soon as I can, but the amount of school work our teachers are giving us is astounding. I'll be buried in school work until the end of the academic year. I hope you bear with me.
Please read and review!
Editor's note: My my, Isangtao, who would have thought that it would turn out this way? Well, I have to say, the need of my beta reading is almost, if not, non-existent. I have to say, your grammar is at the very least understandable and decent.
And, for the love of all that is holy, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT pair Harry with Ginny. If you do, I will not be held responsible for what I'd do to you. Well, granted, it'd be absolutely nothing violent, but still. The point stands. I don't like Ginny. I think that much is obvious, yes?
Also, I see what you did there when Harry looked into the mind of the people in The Leaky Cauldron. Starcraft, anyone? But of course, the first little mind walk sentence is a bit... meh, I dunno. It could be damn near anything, really, instead of a tribute to some gangster movie or something.