A/N: My gratitude to PathKeeper for giving me an idea, how to keep the price for wands at 7 Galleons. The Ministry pays for wand the half of its price. However, I won't change the previous chapter. The price will be still 15 Galleons because the Ministry doesn't pay for filthy mudbloods :D
Chapter 4
It was the fifteenth of August, a sunny windless day. The heat was insufferable for everyone, but not three strange dressed in black robes persons with hoods that covered their faces. The two of them were clearly adults, but the third one looked like a child. They were a strange sight in the middle of London, but no one seemed to notice them. Besides, for some reason funny-dressed people were sighted often in this particular part of London.
The trio was the Grangers family. And the reason they were dressed so strange was Hermione's pet. After her first visit to the Diagon Alley the wizarding world learnt her face. Somehow she was recognized and photographed by someone from the 'Daily Prophet', the wizarding daily paper number one. And that made her visits to the Alley almost unbearable. On the other hand they discovered that there were bigots in the wizarding world who didn't like people like her parents. Muggles. For some reason they didn't like people like Hermione either. She heard the word 'mudblood' for many times on her second visit to the Alley.
To say that she was disappointed was an understatement. On a few occasions she had to stop Naga from attacking so called pure-bloods. She would gladly let him do it, since they were extremely annoying, but she knew that her pet would kill them. The venom was deadly even if a lot weaker than one of true basilisks. For a few days Hermione and her parents even considered to leave the wizarding world again, but they reasoned that even if they'd do it, it would still exist and as well as those pure-blooded bigots. At least Hermione would be able to protect herself by attending Hogwarts. On the bright side, the majority of wizards and witches were indifferent towards muggles and muggleborns.
"The robe is a blessing," Hermione said. "I'm glad that we paid for cooling and warming charms."
"Yes," her mother answered. "We have to get Madam Malkin to use these charms on other clothes as well."
Edward groaned and said, "It would cost us fortune, honey."
"But you have to agree that it's very convenient," Jean said following Hermione to the Leaky Cauldron.
It was their third and, probably, last visit to the Daigon Alley this summer. The most important matter that had to care for was to pay for newly placed wards around their house. Hermione was a celebrity and there were a lot of people out there who wanted to harm her because they thought that "the mudblood had to learn her place," obviously jealous of her sudden status she never wanted.
They used the Fidelius Charm as the main protection, with Hermione as a Secret Keeper, since it was required that a Secret Keeper had to be outside of wards for at least six months a year. It was a little tricky to let their friends and relatives know about the place, but in the end they managed to do it. The problem was that the moment warders placed wards they forgot about their house and the fact that they warded something. It was a common practice for warders to use special memory charms. Still, her family wouldn't be able to not pay, because goblins were mediators and Hermione doubted that it was a good idea to make those who handle your finances angry.
If not for Naga they wouldn't be able to afford it, but Naga's venom was very expensive and there was a good demand on it. Naga wasn't happy at all but he agreed to be milked, since it was almost the only way to ensure their safety.
When Hermione opened the way to the Diagon Alley Jean turned to her husband and said, "Let's meet at the Flourish and Blotts after you pay for wards."
He nodded and they parted their ways. Hermione and her mother went to the Ollivander's, because her new wand was supposedly ready. Two weeks ago Ollivander made her test dozens different wands, asked hundreds questions and performed a lot of spells on her to determine which wood would suit her the best.
It was elder, but Ollivander convinced her to use on of the second best woods: ivy or ebony. "Elder isn't worth the trouble," he said. Hermione didn't understood what was wrong with elder, but decided to trust him. And she already had an ebony wand, so she decided on ivy. Besides, he assured her that ivy would complement the core perfectly, better than elder despite she was more inclined to it.
As for core, it was Naga's powdered tooth. Ollivander found out that his skin wasn't that good for wand making. Despite having very unique characteristics, it was inferior to standard cores, so Hermione sold it because they needed all th money they could get for wards. Teeth on the other hand were good cores, not so different from phoenix feathers, but the wand maker couldn't say if it was going to be compatible with her.
She and her mother entered the Ollivander's shop and pulled back their hoods. The wand maker wasn't there but he soon came and greeted them.
"How is my wand?" Hermione asked.
"It is ready," he answered handing over a box to her.
She opened it quickly and gasped. It was beautiful! Her other wand was plain simple, but this wand was incised with small tiny snakes. She looked at it with fascination and than took it in her hand. The feeling was completely different. Yes, she felt complete with the wand, but at the same time ebony wand felt pleasantly cold, but this wand felt warm.
"Fascinating," Ollivander said looking at the firework the wand produced. "It's ten inches and three-quarters, pleasantly springy. I decided that the wand deserves a special approach."
"It's beautiful," Hermione said. "Thank you."
"But there is something very curious. Your first wand is what I would call a dark one. Wands of ebony with a horntail's heartstring were wielded by many dark wizards and witches. Your second wand is a light one, despite its core that was collected from a creature that is considered dark. Your basilisk has a good heart. You have two roads before you, it seems."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked in confusion. "Are you telling me that if I'm going to use the first wand I'll become evil?"
Ollivander smiled and shook his head. "No, your wands are simply representing what you are. You can use the first wand to do good deeds, but you may as well use the second wand for evil deeds. It's not the choice of wand that will decide your destiny."
"Then what choice are you talking about?" Jean asked unnerved by his words.
"Only time will tell," he said cryptically.
Harry didn't know what to make of the wizarding world. He realized that he had to be a wizard, a magical like Hermione. Otherwise, how would he be able to transform into a snake? He had had a chance to get a wand like Hermione, but... it didn't matter now. He didn't even remember his original name. Naga was the only name he knew and he received it from Hermione. To be her pet and to protect her was enough, wasn't it?
He turned his head and looked at her. She was engrossed in reading a book like always in the last days. She studied so much, learned wand movements, muttered incantations and even successfully performed a few spells. Jean and Edward were proud and Harry was as well. She wanted to brew potions, but her parents convinced her, fortunately, that it was a bad idea. She had months to do that in Hogwarts and Harry saw no reason to do something dangerous. And potions were dangerous, she said it herself.
Harry was highly annoyed that Hermione was called names by wizards and hoped that it would be different in Hogwarts. If not, he would scare the hell out of everyone who would dare to touch her in a wrong way. He'd even petrify or kill, but Harry knew, that Hermione would be displeased.
He hissed and climbed on the girl, wanting a bit of her attention. Harry didn't receive much of it from her lately. Hermione was too engrossed in these magical books and he tried to spend time with her parents. But Harry didn't share the same connection with them. And it was already the last day of August and he knew that Hermione would have less time in Hogwarts. He had missed her when she had been going to the normal school and he wasn't sure if she would find much time for him living in Hogwarts.
"Not now, Naga," she said. Harry hissed in annoyance and snatched the book out of her hands.
"Naga! It's a book! Don't bite it!" she exclaimed horrified, but he found it amusing and hurried out of the room keeping the book in his mouth. "Get back here!" he heard her calling for him.
He was fast, but not not as fast as Hermione that was running after a book. Soon she caught his tail and said, "Now, give me my book."
Oh he hated when someone grabbed his tail, but it was Hermione and he couldn't really do anything to her. Seeing that she didn't find the whole thing funny at all, he let go of the book. Then he slid off to the attic and curled in a corner, feeling hurt. He knew that she was just nervous because of Hogwarts, but it didn't make him feel better.
Harry glanced out of the open window and noticed a starling. It was idiotically looking at him so he activated his gaze and petrified it. A tasty free snack. Using the venom to revert the petrification he bit off the head and then began to eat the bird. Soon he swallowed last part of the bird and returned to the attic, where he met Hermione, who was looking at him with worry.
"Hey, Naga," she said. "I'm sorry."
Harry hissed affectionately and winded around her, nuzzling up against her cheek. "I ignored you for the last few days, didn't I? Forgive me. I didn't mean to be like this, I was just too fascinated with magic, angry at all those pure-blooded bigots and nervous about attending Hogwarts." She sighed petting him and continued, " I'm glad I'll have you there with me. I'd be very insecure otherwise." He hissed and like always she understood what he meant. "Yes, Naga, I hope too that everything is going to be alright. I hardly imagine my life without you, Naga..."
Harry relaxed. He couldn't imagine his life without her either.
