AN: Alright the next chapter of the story is here, only one more Exposition chapter and then we will get to the train ride and the sorting and the story will take off.
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Chapter 3: Chance Meetings and Wand Waiving
Harry and Professor Cohen entered the robe shop after briefly parting ways with Professor Tebbit outside, she wanted to pop in to Flourish and Blotts early to have a chat with Mr. Flourish about the updated book list. The store had a rather even mix of Mundane and Wizard clothing, all seemingly hand tailored. Most of the color schemes where earthy tones but there where a few bright pops of color that seemed geared toward Harry's age group on both sides.
"Even a few years ago this store was fall of mostly robes." Timothy said a bit of pride in his voice.
"Ay lad until you and your classes built a demand for proper muggle, er mundane clothing." came the voice of an elder woman from behind one of the racks, she stepped out and saw the teacher and student and smiled. "I thought Tebbit did all the introducing on her own after you got her set straight on proper mundane protocol. Libolia Malkin lad nice to meet you." came the rapid talk of the woman as she held out her hand and shuffled around a few robes on her arms.
"Usually yes, but this was a bit of a special case madame Malakin."
Harry inclined his head and smiled at the kindly looking woman, "Harry Potter madame, pleased to meet you."
Libolia's eyes flicked up then back down, "Well Heir Potter, a full wardrobe then, up on the stool with you." She said motioning to the back of the store where another young man was already being fitted by another shop assistant. He was around Harry's hight, though a bit wider along the middle. He had brown hair that fell in mid lengths about his face. He seemed nervous but trying to hold himself confidently. Next to him in a chair directing the poor assistant in a rather severe tone was an older woman. She wore a beautiful day dress in an earthy green. A hat with a stuffed vulture of all things on it on the hat rack next to her.
"Neville stop Fidgeting and it would be over sooner!" she barked.
Harry looked to professor Cohen a bit nervously and headed over. The Elder woman took notice of them heading their way and gave them a look over before nodding, "Professor Cohen, how do you do?"
Timothy smiled and gave a slight bow, "Dowager Countess Longbottom, Heir Longbottom a pleasure. May I introduce Heir apparent Harold James Potter," Timothy said indicating Harry to bow as he kissed the countesses ring hand. "Harry this is Lady Agusta Longbottom and her grandson Neville Longbottom. He will be in your year with you at Hogwarts."
Agusta looked Harry over once more before softening and smiling a bit, "Heir Potter, a pleasure. I was so sad when your parent's passed. You would have gone to my Frank had.." Here she stopped herself "Neville say hello" she snapped suddenly
Harry was jarred by the sudden shift in mood but looked to the other young man, "H-Hello." he said shyly as Harry stepped up on the stool and Madame Malkin started taking measurements.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Lady Longbottom, but please just call me Harry. All this formality is new to me and Miss Tebbit said our houses have been Allied in the past." he looked down and shuffled his feet, "I'd like to be friends if possible."
Agusta smiled softly, "Oh of course Harry. and please in private you may address me as Nana or Agusta if you prefer."
"Of course Agusta. So Neville are you excited for Hogwarts?" Harry asked looking at the boy next to him.
"Oh yes, we almost didn't think i'd get in." He said bashfully.
"Awaken and Empower what is within Lord Longbottom!" came the strong timber of Professor Tebbit from behind the boy.
He gave a yelp and Timothy chuckled under his breath at his colleagues antics.
Agusta huffed, "Really, Wendy do you have to startle everyone so."
Wendy shrugged indifferently with a smirk on her face as she sat down next to the elder witch. "He has the will of a lion lurking beneath all that nervousness you have heaped upon him Agusta." she admonished, "Let him be his own person and he will grow like a Whomping Willow. Strong and resilient.
Agusta glared at Wendy, "I'll thank you to not tell me how to raise my own grandson."
"Merely suggestions dear Augusta. Just as I told you when Algernon tried dropping the poor lad out of a window. He would be much more inclined to show magic if you would stop comparing him to Frank. Let him be his own person." Wendy held up a hand as Agusta tried to retort, "I know he and you meant well but at what cost?"
The ongoing debate went unnoticed by everyone else in the room, drifting through their ears unheard. Instead Harry and Neville had started talking about differences between their worlds.
"Well you see I grew up with my Mom's sister and her family. They are mundanes and I only found out about magic this morning." Harry said excitedly.
Neville's eyes grew wide at the realization, "But all the books said you were being kept somewhere safe and trained in old forgotten magics."
Harry looked at the other boy incredulously. "What books?" Harry looked over at the professors and Lady Agusta, "There are books about me!?" he said in alarm and shock.
Timothy sighed and nodded, "there are books that reference you and speculate on what may have happened both that night and afterward. There was a brief attempt at a book series on you but Albus Dumbledore, who took up magical guardianship of you when he placed you with your mundane next of kin, successfully sued and shut them down as false and unethically trying to profit off a minor. The books where recalled but not before many of the younger generation had seen it and accepted it into fact."
Harry sighed heavily, "we will definitely have to discuss this whole fame thing in more detail soon." he looked over at Neville with a piercing look that made the nervous boy jump a bit. "Whatever you have read was false I'm sure."
Neville nodded quickly, "never really thought they where all that true but I still never would have thought you of all people would grow up mundane."
"Well that's your measurements done dearie. Lady Agusta already has your order down and it will be ready in an hour." The assistant said ushering Neville off the stool.
"Well as pleasant as this was," Lady Agusta said standing up and rapping her cane on the floor sending a slight glare to her old classmate in the seat next to her, "We must head over to Olivanders to get Neville fit for his wand."
Professor Tebbit smiled like a cat that got the canary, "By all means dear Agusta, don't let us stop you." she said in a knowing voice.
Agusta gave a snort and looked over at Harry, "Harry dear, drop us an owl, you must come over before the end of summer. In Fact Neville's Birthday is the day before yours. Come over the 30th i'll have my brother Algernon come pick you up." she said in the voice of a woman used to her suggestions being followed as holy writ.
Harry quickly nodded, "Of course Lady Agusta I would be glad to." Professor Cohen saw the look on Harry's face flash for a moment of worry and quickly took out a mundane pen and notepad and wrote down Harry's address. "His address Lady Agusta so he doesn't go shouting it to the world." Agusta nodded and with that the two left quickly.
Harry smiled at the two teachers, "Wow, never been to a birthday party before. what should I get him?"
"I know he likes Herbology, magical gardening, so maybe something related to that." Wendy said after a bit of thought. "The boy has a strong connection to earth magic."
Harry nodded taking a moment to think deeply about what he might get his possible new friend.
After a while longer on the stool, picking out clothes in both Mundane and wizard style that would be ready to pick up after their shopping trip was done they headed out to the book store. They picked up the full list of school books, including Professor Tebbit's book Wizarding Culture: Age and Beauty and Professor Cohen's book, Science: The Magic of the Mundane. Harry laughed at the slight cheek in both tittles. After a bit of questioning on his part Harry also picked up some detailed books on the wizengamot and a book called The Sacred 28 that would have more information on his family and where they fit in the web of the world he found himself in.
Finally it was time for the moment Harry was excited most about, getting his wand. The three of them walked into Olivanders and Harry nearly ran out of breath right then and there. The magic in the room was almost suffocating. He could feel it in little swirling eddies all around him. They shifted ever so slightly behind him and he turned to see an old man stepping out of the shadows behind one of the book shelves.
He had slightly wild grey hair and his eyes where a steel grey, though obviously still able to see as he was looking directly at all three of them with a piercing gaze.
"Wendy Tebbit, Rowan Wood seven inches and the hair of The Lady herself. a powerful wand for any light magic you might fancy, as well as a bit of mischief." Came his light airy voice, "I trust it is serving you well, hm?"
"As Always Master Garrick," Wendy said with a smile.
Harry got the feeling these two got along great what with their enigmatic personalities and odd ways of speaking in riddles.
"and young Timothy Cohen, I remember not too long ago when you came in, a little slip of a thing with your mother and father all timid. But that rosewood and griffon feather told a different story didn't they? yes the start of a strong line of magick users was at hand, hm?" Olivander barked with a laugh.
Timothy blushed and ducked his head, "Well it has certainly served me well, Master Olivander, and Johnathan and I have been discussing expanding our family soon."
Wendy smiled sideways at her colleague, "Don't wait too long Timothy hm?"
"Ah and young Heir Potter, why it feels like only yesterday that your parents where in here getting their first wands. Lily favored Willow, good for charms work, where as James had Mahogany, flexible and good for transfiguration." As he spoke he started getting a little closer, "It will be curious to see what chooses you Mr. Potter."
With that he abruptly turned and started shuffling through boxes seemingly searching at random for various wands.
Professor Tebbit had a smile on her lips as she watched the old man move about the shop, "He likes to spook new customers." she said simply, "Don't let it bother you too much."
With that she and professor Cohen sat to watch as Harry started waiving wands around. After a number of odd happenings at each wave, from exploding vases to a small frog appearing that seemed to burp up smaller versions of itself like a Russian nesting doll Mr. Olivander began rapid fire handing them to Harry and snatching the wands back before he could even wave them. Just as he was about to hand him a Holly wand he stopped looked at the wand and murmured, "I wonder."
"Wonder what, sir?" Harry asked in a polite but exasperated tone.
"I wonder Mr. Potter, if I might have been looking in the wrong place." The old wand maker says before walking to the back of the store.
Professor Tebbit coughs and calls out, "Third from the left, not the one your thinking of Garrick, It would work but the other one is more Perfect"
Garrick whips his head around "Wendy what have I told you about doing that. it ruins the mystery."
"Sorry cousin, I was getting bored and Albus would be to happy with the other option." She said with a smirk.
Both Harry and Timothy looked at the two in confusion. "say what now?"
"Garrick wanted to give Harry here the brother wand to Tom Riddle's, AKA Voldemort. It would have worked but it wouldn't have been a perfect match. The wand that is calling out to Harry is three boxes over from that one. He was going to ignore it for 'story'. Paltry excuse if you ask me." Wendy Tebbit said with a glare toward her cousin.
"There are benefits to the other wand you know?" Garrick said coming back with two black boxes. One with a Holly wand the other with an Oak wand.
"That there are but the decrease in power isn't worth it." Wendy contended.
Garrick nodded, "I still say you should have taken over the shop from grandfather."
"Yes but then it wouldn't be an Olivander shop and Tebbit is so, droll sounding for a wand makers name don't you agree cousin?"
Harry and Timothy both looked at each other crossways, confused by the sudden family revelation and byplay.
"Oak with a twin core of Sphinx hair and Lamia scales. Good for Defensive magic and charms, exactly nine inches." Olivander said handing over the Oak wand.
Harry took hold of the wand a little apprehensively and instantly felt a rush like never before. A golden wind whipped up around him and a faint screech could be heard in the background of Harry's mind, like the call of some ancient beast.
"And there you have it, a perfect match. Awaken and Empower what is within!"
"Wonderful, that will be seven Sickles." Olivander said with a smile, happy to see a customer properly matched even if it wasn't by his own hand.
Harry laughed at the dissonance of the moment and handed over the seven pieces of silver, "are there wand holsters? Putting it in my pocket seems disrespectful."
Garrick smiled and handed him a leather holster, "This can go on our belt or forearm. I recommend the belt on your off side. Put a drop of blood on the top of the holster to secure it and the wand to just you." Olivander said handing over a small Athame "it is enchanted to vanish any left over blood and heal the wound after use." he assured at the young boys worried look.
Harry nodded and pricked his thumb rubbing it over the top of the holster and placing the wand inside.
"Hold your hand over the holster and think of it in your hand." Olivander instructed.
Harry nodded and did so, the wand shot up into his hand quickly. "Wicked!" He said with a smirk before placing the wand back in the holster. "How much for the holster?"
"Take it my boy. It's the least i can do." Garrick said with a smile.
"Thank you sir, very much!" Harry said beaming.
"See you at the next time Garrick, I have another two possible First Gen Wizards to escort within the next few weeks." Wendy said as they trio headed out of the shop. Garrick waved off his cousin as he went about putting the shop back together.