Harry walked down the alley towards Olivander's. Molly hadn't been happy, but with a few lies about his wand's condition he'd managed to convince her he needed to go see the craftsman himself. After all, very few wizards or witches let others handle their wand, and nobody wanted to do without while something was done. And since luckily there had been no life threatening events this year, he'd been allowed to go with Arthur.

He walked quickly and carefully, mindful of how heavy his footsteps were, trying his best to get used to walking quietly and normally. He listened to the people around him, again trying to put into practice the skills listed by the book. He felt the familiar pounding start behind his eye as he walked. Trying to focus on multiple things would be the death of him if this headache had it's way.

He was so engrossed in his lessons he almost walked past the wand shop, the only thing that stopped him was the sudden shock of realizing he could see Mr. Olivander's face through the window as he started to pull the shade shut, Harry quickly knocked and the old man peaked out annoyed.

"I'm closed, come back tomorrow." He spat, annoyed that someone would come so late.

"Err, it's my wand, it's cracked, I need you to fix it." Harry stuttered pulling his wand out with his left and holding it up.

Garrick examined the wand, noticing a ding or two, but nothing that would need his intervention, he was about to say so when Harry carefully, and with some difficulty lowered his left ring finger, a method of recognition taught only to potential assassins. "How curious. Come in, I'll have a look." He pulled the door open, allowing Harry entrance and Arthur walked in behind him apologizing.

"Awfully sorry Mr. Olivander. But Harry was really worried and he just came to stay with us for the summer."

Garrick looked at him and nodded. "Follow me Mr. Potter." He said going through the room filled with wands. "Stay up here Arthur. This shouldn't take too long. Feel free to use the polishing kit."

Harry followed him through the small space and through another curtain into a room containing a single bed and a flight of stairs into the basement.

Garrick snatched the wand from Harry's hand. "Hmm, it looks to be in good condition for the most part, but then again, that's not why you're here. Who taught you that sign, and who told you about me?"

Harry glanced to his pocket and slowly removed the former map. "This did." He said as Garrick examined it from his position near his bed. "My father left it, it's my family's codex, my father hid it as a map of Hogwarts."

Garrick nodded. James Potter hadn't been a prodigy like Dumbledore, but he'd always been creative in his uses of magic.

"I see. And how does that bring you to my door?"

"It said to come to you, that you could guide my hand, help me in more, practical aspects of the art. Like how to use the hidden blade."

Mr. Olivander eyed him. "I suppose you're not too old." He said as his fingers ran over the wand he'd taken from the young wizard before handing it back, looking as good as the day he'd gotten it. Which in itself was saying something given some of the places his wand had ended up.

"You'll return tomorrow. Inform the Weasleys I'm taking you on under a trial apprenticeship."

Harry started to protest, "But the world..."

A wave of magic hit him from Olivander, power the man rarely showed. "If you wish to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors do NOT make excuses. You WILL be here tomorrow, or you will not come back. Do I make myself clear?"

Harry nodded in awe of a man that had at most, creeped him out before. "Yes Mr. Olivander. I'll be here."

With that Harry Potter, The boy who lived, moved quickly through the shop and skeddaddled out the door with Arthur Weasley following him bewildered at the sudden exit.

H/\P

They walked in just as Mrs. Weasley put the food down on the table. She seemed almost omniscient on when everybody would be ready for dinner and smiled down on her family and guests as the family ate and talked about the upcoming Quidditch match.

Ron looked over to Harry. "Who'll you be supporting, the Irish or the Bulgarians?"

Harry looked at Ron for a second. "Err, actually. I'm not going." Ron's mouth hung wide open when he heard that, food falling to his plate even as his words started the slow stop of dinner and the family staring at him. "Wha, why? Harry you have to come, what do you mean you're not coming?"

Arthur looked down at him. "What's going on Harry? You were so excited to go."

Harry looked around at the Weasley family plus Hermione. "Um. Mr. Ollivander, offered me an apprenticeship. He wants me to start tomorrow."

Ron looked shocked, the family awed, and Hermione simply got up, walked over to him and hugged him soundly. "Harry, that's great news. You're so lucky. It's almost impossible for anybody not from one of the old wand maker families to get a break." Harry tried to keep up with the chatter as the whole family broke into conversation at this sudden bit of news.

Harry felt more than saw Ron tense, but he didn't say anything, he just started to eat. It was clear Ron was trying to suppress the surge of jealousy he was feeling. The good moond continued even as Ron stewed silently. Harry kept an eye on him, ready to react, and then paused. He was already looking for threats? Harry was shocked by how quickly he started searching for potential threats, how quickly he was adapting, not that it should have been much of a surprise given his history with the Dursleys not to mention the insanity at Hogwarts.

"Maybe, it's just in the blood." Harry smiled happily, finally seeing something more of his parents in him than just his looks and a talent on the quidditch pitch.

When dinner was over the family headed straight to bed, they had an early morning, well most of them.

As Harry lay down on the floor with Ron in his bed, he heard a very silent. "Lucky prat."