Unholy Flames

Summary: Harry Potter has powers. He's known since he "magically" grew his hair back. Curiosity leads to stumbling across the magical world, and Harry is not pleased. AU.

Chapter 2: Diagon Alley

Harry sat up, feeling that he had practiced magic enough for a day. Stretching his legs, he briefly pondered on the letter he had received early that morning. Should he be wary of being followed? Was he going to be inducted into a cult? Only time would tell.

"I'm tired." He stated, stifling a yawn with the back of hand.

Just then, the leaves on the clearing floor became swept from their dormant places on the ground. Harry stared, perplexed, as he made out a female figure in the wind.

"Hello, Harry." the woman said.

Instantly, Harry slid his pocketknife into his palm, his muscles tensing as he did so. He certainly didn't want to go down here.

"Who are you? How do you know my name?" Harry said shakily.

The figure moved forward, and Harry could now make out a woman with graying auburn hair in a tight bun and wearing robes, of all things.

Chuckling softly at his hasty questions, she replied, "My name is Professor McGonagall, and not only are you enrolled in Hogwarts School, but I taught your parents as well."

He visibly relaxed, but kept the pocketknife stealthily concealed in his palm.

"Could you prove magic exist, Professor?" he said congenially.

"Certainly." She drew a wand from a pocket on her black robes, which Harry found very ill suited for the terrain. She summoned a chair, and moved her wand in a circular motion before saying "Incendia! ". The chair rapidly caught fire, and he could feel the heat on his skin, before she flicked her wand and it was gone.

"Is that enough proof, Harry?" she said kindly.

He could only nod in amazement. They were more like him. Now he would be able to exercise his true potential.

"Is there a society of magical people?" he said excitedly.

"Yes. Didn't your aunt tell you anything about magic?"

"Only that it isn't real." he said bitterly. He really hated the Dursleys'.

"Perk up," she said, sensing his sudden change in demeanor. "We can fetch your supplies now, if you'd like."

Inspecting his watch, he was surprised to see it was pretty early in the afternoon. He had plenty of time, since the Dursleys' gave him unlimited time outdoors anyway.

"Sure!"

Unholy Flames

Harry couldn't believe it. It turned out he had a massive fortune left by his parents. He had taken quite a bit of the gold coins, but had also taken the others, as McGonagall had insisted they were just as important. He couldn't help but agree. In comparison, the pound was nothing without the pence, so the galleon couldn't be anything without the knut.

He and McGonagall had split up. She had gone to get his items such as dragon hide gloves while he went to get his robes.

He sat on the stool and impatiently waited for the lady to get him fitted. He had a lot of plans now, and had to act quick. School started in a week. He was brought out of his mental rant by a rather sullen looking boy with blonde hair and green eyes. Like his, but they had blue mixed somewhere in there.

"A-Are you going to Hogwarts as well, then?" the boy asked softly. Harry had to strain to hear him.

"Er... Yeah. Uh, yeah I am." Way to make a good first impression. Way to go.

"Excuse me, I am not so familiar with Britain. I grew up in America, but my parents moved here a couple of months ago and I'm still getting used to it." he said. He seemed like he might have been shy, if it wasn't for that dead look in his eyes. It was extremely unnerving.

"You're done, Mr. Snape." a feminine voice said from the front of the small shop.

"I should get going. It was a pleasure meeting you, ah-"

"Harry." he said extending a hand. "Harry Potter."

The boy's eyes widened before he realized why he was sharing farewells, and sped out.

'What a weird kid', Harry thought to himself. 'Well, whatever. My fitter is here.'

Unholy Flames

Walking through the muggle streets, Harry found an abandoned-looking shop. He entered, thinking this might be what he was looking for. He had wasted the majority of his day looking for a store that sold antiques that might capture his interest.

He pulled the door, and it didn't budge. His eyes flicked towards to the door, and to his embarrassment, the sign said PUSH. He blushed, and pushed the door open.

The store had a musky smell, one that oddly enough reminded him of his cupboard. He began to browse, his eyes absorbing every little detail it could make out of any items he stumbled upon.

"Please be the one." He consistently muttered under his breath.

"Looking for something?" a confident, mocking voice said from behind him. Harry turned around, and his hand itched towards his back pocket, where he kept his pocketknife.

"N-Nothing in particular... Are you the owner, then?" Harry said carefully, not desiring to insult the man when he was so close, so close to getting something a little new.

"Why, yes, yes I am. Just browsing, then? What's your budget?" This man was certainly polite. Polite enough to intrude on an usually embarrassing topic.

"Pretty high actually. Part time jobs and all."

"Well then, come with me. I might have something of interest for you." the man said shrewdly, his eyes daring him to disagree.

Harry conceded, and followed the man to his counter. The man pulled out two sets of relatively short throwing knives and a.. wand holster? Who was this man?

"I know you're a wizard Harry. Now, these blades have been forged by some of my goblin friends, and therefore have spells on them. Some of the spells are magical flexibility, meaning it can conduct magic well, just like metal conducts electricity. I'm selling for either 300 galleons or 700 pounds. There are around 100 knives in total. It's your choice."

Harry shook his head and said, "How exactly am I going to go around carrying 100 bloody knives? That'd be uncomfortable and so easy to spot."

The man smiled, and Harry shuddered. There was something being hidden in the facade of tranquility, and Harry didn't like it one bit. It just added to the list of disturbing things he had seen or experienced this year alone.

"Like I said, Harry, there are spells. Another is a mental summoning. It only exists in goblin magic, sadly, and it means you summon them when you need them. That's why they are so expensive."

"...I'll take it." Harry said, laying more than a handful of gold coins on the counter. The man carefully counted the coins, and as he did, Harry noticed with growing apprehension that the man's nails were long and claw-like. He hadn't noticed the man very much because the man wore dark sunglasses, which were characteristic for the sunny weather, and wore a wool cap, which Harry had failed to notice well.

"And the wand holster goes on your arm. It summons your wand from everywhere. For you, 40 galleons."

"How much is it normally?" Harry said, a smile creeping on his face despite himself.

The man grinned ferally back. "75."

"I'll take it too. But... what the hell are you? You talk just like old man Ollivander, except he didn't talk prices like you do." Harry said curiously, his eyes subconsciously searching for a shift in body language.

"Ah, Ollivander. That takes me back. And as to what I am, I don't know myself. Just call me Mullo." the man said.

The man slid Harry's items down the counter. Harry took them and placed them inside his pack. He then proceeded to leave.

'Hogwarts tomorrow.' was all he thought about.

A/N: Posted this a little early. Don't expect an update tomorrow, because I prefer to be two or three chapters ahead so if I'm unavailable, you guys can still enjoy.

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