Chapter Four

The Beginning

Weasley Household

There was a flurry of activity across the magical world that mid-July morning. Households with children getting ready to attend Hogwarts were dealing with the chaos of wishes for brooms and wands while older siblings tormented them with descriptions of their fearsome Potions teacher and depending on the type of house, either Slytherins or Gryffindors.

In Diagon Alley, the stores prepared for the influx of students that would be happening over the next two six weeks, Ollivander was preparing wands to sell and even the ice cream shop was looking forward to the hustle and bustle.

Granger Household

At a Muggle home, a young witch was thrilled as she informed her parents she had read all of her school textbooks and had requested permission to pick up a book she had heard about called Hogwarts a History.

Her mother had indulgently smiled and with a nod towards her father announced she would take her to the magical street but only after she had cleaned her room, brushed her teeth and had spent at least a half hour outside in the sun.

Weasley Household

In a less affluent pureblood home, a married couple was still at the breakfast table trying to figure out how to budget the funds to send four of their children off to school that year. "Molly, did the wand work for Ron?"

"Yes, thank Merlin, that is one less expense for the upcoming year. I have already altered Fred and George's robes for him, the books haven't changed at all since they were first years, so he will be able to use theirs. Percy went over the list and it seems as if other than Runes, he can use all of Charlie's old books. Fred and George will be using his so that means we have to purchase one more set of third-year books. We will have to get them a few robes."

"Has Ron mentioned anything else about wanting a broom?" Arthur asked as he shook his head at how tightly they already stretched their budget.

"No, Charlie left him his Cleansweep, thank goodness," Molly replied. "I have a little of my egg money saved, but am going to try and save it to use for Christmas if we can." The redhead on the stairs wanted to storm up to his room, furious that he was going to have to go to school with second-hand everything, but knew better.

His family had been poor forever and Ron knew that any chance of his getting a new broom was nil at best. Still, lying back on his bed, he fantasized about making the Gryffindor Quidditch team, never mind that First years NEVER made the team.

It's just, he knew from Charlie that most of the team had graduated with him and that a mere fifth year was the team captain. He was just so certain that if this Wood kid were to see him flying, he just would beg him to be on the team. That would never happen, not when he couldn't even afford a decent broom.

Hearing a soft knock, he lifted his head and greeted his little sister. At least he got to go to Hogwarts, poor Ginny was stuck at home for an entire year by herself.

"Mum and Dad still trying to figure out how to send all of you to school?" She asked as she settled down onto the end of his bed.

"Yeah." He replied. "I thought you spent the night over at Luna's."

Shrugging, she said "I came back last night. Luna and her father left for someplace called I-da-hoe to look for one of his imaginary creatures, something called a yeta. Anyhow, her dad mentioned something about how Harry Potter is old enough to start Hogwarts, this year. Do you think he will be in your dorm? If he is, could you maybe get me a picture."

Ron really really hoped that the Boy Who Lived wasn't in his dorm, just once he wanted to be the big shot, wanted to be the one that others looked to. "Mom hasn't said anything about it and you know how she reads all of that stuff in the Prophet about him to you."

"Oh, well okay," she said as she went to stand. "Still, he is the same age as you right?"

"I guess so," Ron replied and went back to daydreaming about this Wood guy begging him to take the position of keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team.


In Hampstead, Andromeda Tonks had kissed her husband goodbye had gone straight to St. Mungos. She had very light duty still as a result of a potion's mishap and was on call mainly in the long-term ward.

Her daughter had caught her reading one of her bodice-ripper books the evening before and after teasing her for a bit told her mother about her terrible date. The less than a gentleman had taken her to dinner then had tried to take her back to his place, mentioned how he was thrilled at the idea she could change into anyone.

Tonks had quickly exited the hallway outside of his place and had apparated home, grabbed a pint of ice cream and a pint of her father's muggle beer. Seated in the small den with her mother, she had eventually grabbed the book on the nearby table out of nothing more than complete and total ennui.

When Andromeda had heard her chuckles turn to outright laughter and then to practically sobbing tears she was laughing so hard, she had accioed her daughter's book only to find she had been reading the Pureblood witches guide to marriage that Narcissa had brought over the day before.

"Dora?" Her father had entered the room having heard the sound of her laughter and she had regained control of her hair that was turning so many colors it was blinding. "What is so hilarious?"

"That book Mum has." She told him about some of the silly directives in it. "It's really old-fashioned and whoever wrote it has any time even fantasizing about sex."

"Dear, please?" Ted grimaced and Dora grinned at her father's expression.

"Relax, remember, the daughter with the word Nymph in her name that is still a damn bloody virgin," she replied airily. Noticing her mother's eyes on her, she sighed and said "Hogwarts boys reacted the same as tonight's date. Anyhow, why do you have such an out of date book, mum?"

"My mother gave it to Narcissa and we have discussed it the other day. Now that I am scanning through it, it explains a lot about my parents." She said shuddering as she flicked through the pages. Finding the chapter on marital intimacy, she found herself following her daughter's path and snickering at its directive to stay as still as possible and to let the man do what he needed to get it over with as soon as possible.

Reading the words describing the supposedly perverse character of men, she stilled and then shaking her head, dismissed her random thought, certain she was wrong. Still, maybe she should question her little sister, though she was certain that Bella would have been thrilled to have an excuse to discuss sex with anyone so she would have told her the truth. If not, well she had no trouble believing that Lucius Malfoy was more than capable of doing so.

Looking at her daughter and husband's photo on her desk at St. Mungos, Andi settled in for her shift, the book in her hands as she decided that a more thorough reading might be helpful. Hearing the sound of the mediwitch greeting the Longbottom matriarch, Andromeda kept a low profile, knowing how she made said witch and her grandson nervous.


At the Malfoy residence, Draco was thrilled when his mother told him that they had made plans to go to Diagon Alley and that yes, he was going to finally be able to purchase a wand.

The eleven-year-old was thrilled even as she warned him that they were also going to be picking up his school textbooks and that he might want to recall he had promised to read at least four chapters ahead.

When Lucius left to go to the Ministry, promising to meet them at Narcissa's favorite cafe, Draco was heading outside with his broom, intending to fly so that time would go faster. He just knew that the day was going to drag on and on just because he so wanted to get his wand.


At Hogwarts, Minerva read the acceptance to Hogwarts from one Harry James Potter and a large smile bloomed onto her face. Looking at the next few names, she saw several she recognized, Malfoy, MacMillan, Weasley, Longbottom, and Bones.

Joining the few staff members at the table, she was relieved that Severus wasn't there as she told Filius and Hagrid that Harry Potter had sent his acceptance letter.

"There were no issues with his getting it?" Albus inquired from his spot at the head of the table. He had expected the Dursleys to need a bit of a push to allow him to attend, but clearly, things had gone better between the Potter boy and them than he had expected.

"None, in fact, his was among one of the first along with Bones, Longbottom, Weasley, Malfoy and MacMilliam." She announced then with a slight frown asked. "Do you think that the muggles have told him about his trust vault?"

"I am rather sure that they haven't. We will have to arrange for someone to go and bring young Harry to Diagon Alley so that he may purchase what he needs." Albus serenely stated as he finished his breakfast.

Once down, he asked Hagrid for a moment of his time and recalling his wish to see the young boy he had last seen ten years before, he inquired if he would like to bring him to the Alley for the first time.

When the half-giant beamed his large smile at him, Albus patted him on the arm and told him he would make the arrangements when he came back from his two-week summer session with the ICW. In his quarters, Albus looked over at his monitoring devices and saw that all was well as he lifted his carpet bag and walked to the floo.

Exiting the floo in Belgium, he was greeted by his new Defense Against Dark Art's Teacher. "Professor Quirrell, how was your brief trip back to Albania?"

"I-I-I lllearrrnnned sooo muchhhh." The young wizard announced as he continued to speak to the headmaster. Once he had managed to escape the overly congenial man, the turban-wearing wizard quickly took the floo to London, never seeing the narrowed eyes of the elderly wizard who hurried off to pay a visit to an old friend. He had just hatched the most delicious plan.


In Little Whinging, young Harry James Potter was having the day of his life. His uncle had attempted to access the master bedroom but the strange creature who kept telling him to call him Dobby had simply snapped his fingers and Uncle Vernon had disappeared.

It was the last interruption, instead, he had spent the afternoon and evening of the day before reading the book sent to him by the mysterious man who had claimed he was a wizard.

Harry had read the book, been told by Dobby about his master who he said was a powerful wizard but one that only recently had been nice to his house elves and others. Harry have dozens of questions that Dobby couldn't answer but he did now know what a muggle was, what a muggleborn and half-blood was and what a pureblood was.

He learned about the four houses at Hogwarts and the various magical places. He had been shocked to read his own name in the book and had cried when he had learned the truth about how his parents had died.

He had eaten a decent meal for what seemed like the first time in his life. Beef and noodles with green beans. There had been something called treacle tart for dessert.

This morning yet another elf had popped in and delivered a grand breakfast consisting of eggs, plenty of bacon and sausage, toast and to his joy, an apricot, along with the same sticky sweet juice that the house elf had told him was made from pumpkins.

Having showered and then changed into the clothes that had almost fit him, Harry was sitting in a chair that was in front of the window, looking out over Privet Drive.

He had heard his aunt and uncle arguing this morning, had smelt the burnt bacon and had smirked at the knowledge his uncle had gone to work without any breakfast.

Noticing Dudley exiting the house in a rather sneaky manner, Harry watched him until he came to the fence and then made a run for it just as his aunt's voice could be heard shouting for him in her shrillest voice.

Harry hesitated but when he tried to exit the room, the house elf shook his head and refused to let him go. "Master Malfoy says to protect Harry Potters sir. You must not go."

"My aunt is going to be very angry, Dobby." He softly replied, scared as he heard the sound of her making threats against him in the hallway.

"Harry Potter's aunt will not be allowed to punish Harry Potters like she wants to. Harry Potters aunt will find herself in a sticky position if she keeps shouting, Harry Potters, sir." Dobby warned as he stood up as tall as he could and glared at the shouting sound coming through the door.

When the doorknob rattled, Harry could only stare at it in a sick sense of doom when he saw the house elf grin and then the door open. "Harry Potters aunt is a very foolish muggle."

"Get out of my way you freak..." Petunia Dursley no longer had a mouth and when she tried to move forward, Dobby stood in her way and with another snap of his fingers sent her down to the kitchen.

"Harry Potters being staying here," Dobby ordered and called for another house elf. "Rosen, you be staying with Harry Potters until I return."

Dobby went to the muggle woman's kitchen and with a snap of his fingers cleaned the mess before lifting the enraged muggle to her seat and returning her mouth to her. Standing on top of the table, he stood face to face with Petunia Dursley and said: "I's be told to do to you what you have done to Harry Potters by my master."

"Get off my table you freak." She shrieked as she moaned at the idea of his feet on her nice clean table.

"First Harry Potter's aunt will have done to her what she has dones to Harry Potters." Another snap and a list appeared. "Youse best be getting started as yous must have all of these chores done before muggle mate comes home."

When she refused, he gave her a grin and to her shock, the television blew up and a chain with a padlock appeared on the refrigerator. "I was told Harry Potters could not eat until his jobs were done, no eating and no watchings the muggle box plays."


Lucius joined his wife and son in Diagon Alley and his young heir soon had a wand. Ten inches, with a dragon heart core. Narcissa was so thrilled she had agreed to allow him one bag of treats from the confectionery while his father went to pick up his textbook.

Entering Flourish and Blotts, he requested the clerk gather up two sets of first-year textbooks and went to browse through the latest titles. Hearing an oddly familiar and earnest sounding female voice, he groaned when he noticed the eleven-year-old version of Hermione Granger asking for Hogwarts a History.

Still, this was a chance to make the contact he was going to need at a later date. "Young lady, here."

Handing her the book she had asked about he ignored her mother as she was a mere muggle and then after a moment's hesitation said: "I gather you are a new witch?"

When she nervously looked at her mother before nodding yes, he said: "Might I suggest a few other books to make the transition a little bit smoother."

Anyone suggesting new books to the bushy-haired scholar was always going to be accepted and within a few minutes, Hermione Granger had left the bookstore carrying books about Magical customs, a used unauthorized biography of one Albus Dumbledore that the clerk had frowned at and given to her free of charge since it had been in the bargain bin, explaining he had no idea what it cost and the one that Lucius had really wanted her to get, a book that helped muggleborn students acclimate to the magical world. Hopefully, that would be enough to prevent her sorting into the house of the lions and helping a certain Weasley become an auror.

Locating his family, noticing his wife's glance at the extra set of Hogwart's books, he said "My young chore. Draco, what do you say to spending a little time with me when we get home."

"I was good, I did everything that Mother told me to do." He protested.

"You are not in trouble, in fact, there is a small problem that I am hoping you can help me with," Lucius stated. When Draco's thin chest puffed out at the thought there might be something he could do that his father couldn',t made him almost as happy as the wand he carried in his right hand.

Chapter Five

Taking Chances

Draco soon had gathered everything he felt that was needed for this poor pureblood wizard stuck living in the muggle world. He looked at his father and asked "Are you sure that we can't rescue him, father. No one should be forced to live with muggles."

"No, Draco, not all muggles are worthless, just some of them." He said with a sneer upon his face. "Now is there anything else you can think of that this boy might need?"

"No, well what about clothes?" Draco asked. "He is probably being forced to wear muggle clothes, father."

"I am attending to that later this week, my young Dragon," Lucius said with a smile on his face. "Now, since you have been so helpful, why don't you pick out a new game for yourself."

Draco smiled widely and did as suggested. When his father had paid for everything and had sent it via some house elves to this mysterious boy, he looked at his father and asked: "Why can't I know who he is?"

"It's to protect him, Draco. He doesn't even know he is a pureblood wizard, he has been lied to all of his life by not only the muggles but some from our world too." He stated as he directed his son out the door and once in the alley, he apparated them home.

Once Draco had rushed off to show his mother his new game, Lucius hurried into his library and pulled out the book he had pilfered from the Ministry and once again read the proof that the Headmaster had known this deep dark secret.

Harry James Potter, son of pureblood James Charleus Potter and supposed muggleborn Lily June Potter nee Evans was, in fact, the biological great-granddaughter of one Adonis Dumbledore elder half-brother of Percival Dumbledore and the true head of the Dumbledore household. The old man had to have been shocked when family magic would have informed him of this fact. In truth, the Headmaster had been long living a lie; one that would have only been proven once his father had died in Azkaban a mere twenty years ago, just as a certain supposed muggleborn witch had started to attend Hogwarts.

Just to be thorough, Lucius had done a family tree of the Granger girl and had found out that on her father's side was a connection to the Dagworth Grangers but also to a sister of Septimus Weasley's mother. Septimus was the father of one Arthur Weasley. No wonder things had gone so badly with her children, she had married her second cousin.

He had been even more surprised to locate a connection between the Prewett line to the Dumbledore line, thereby creating yet another reason as to why the Potter boy should not have married into the Weasley family. He intended to find a way to show this to Harry, to scotch any chance of Molly succeeding in her plans for the boy's future.

Still, first, he had to get him to Diagon Alley and unfortunately to Gringotts. He had recently taking Draco there as was part of the ritual of a newly minted wizard who would inherit a magical estate and he was trying to recall if he had ever seen the Potter boy wearing his family ring and he didn't think he had in his previous life.

So that meant that there was a major lapse in the protocols that should have been observed when it came to the boy. Still, he had seen that it had been that oaf Hagrid who had taken the Potter boy last time, so what could he expect. Still, he would arrange for clothes, then wait until Hagrid had paid a visit.

He wanted to see what happened...


Harry was thrilled as he read his school books, he had never imagined there was anything like the magical world, he had never allowed himself to even dream fantasies.

Listening to the sound of silence, he smirked at the knowledge that the Dursleys had fled town, heading to some remote cabin that Vernon knew about to escape from the vengeance of the very helpful house elf Dobby.

Dudley had tried to attack the small resilient creature and had been given a pigs tail, so Vernon after some shouting all of which had been ignored decided to escape from the house. Harry at first had been scared that this was too good to be true, that the entire thing had been a dream. Now, he knew it was real. However, the wizard who had rescued him had warned him against telling anyone else who came from the magical world about him just yet so that he could be kept safe. He had told Harry that while he was at school, he intended to find a way to deal with the Dursleys for him.

Harry had wondered who else might come, but the blond man had said for him to let it be a surprise but to keep reading his books and studying ahead. When the day came that he was visited, Dobby was to quickly go warn the blond wizard and then return to keep watch over Harry just in case...

Sure enough, it happened. There was a loud knock on the back door and then a man the size of the shed let himself into it. Looking at Harry who was seated at the table eating breakfast, he called out his name and greeted him warmly.

Before Harry knew it, he found himself on the muggle train traveling to London. He had been handed the money by the man who had introduced himself as Hagrid as he wasn't sure what to pay. Harry had handled it and then returned the change to the large man who told him he was the keeper of keys at Hogwarts.

Harry questioned him about the magical school and his parents, before asking "Hagrid, how am I to pay for this. The Dursleys don't allow me to have money."

"I was given your key by the great Albus Dumbledore himself," Hagrid replied as he went on about how great the wizard was. Harry had been given the same books as Hermione by Lucius Malfoy and hid that he had doubts about the greatness of the Hogwarts Headmaster.

Exiting the train and entering the dirty looking pub, Harry soon found himself on Diagon Alley and found that he now understood why the other wizard had told him he had to see it for himself to appreciate it.

Hagrid took him to the bank and managed to be discreet regarding the removal of a particular stone that the Headmaster had insisted he pick up today while he was with Harry, but he need not have bothered as Harry was so much in awe of the Goblins who he knew from his books were a warrior race that he never even noticed what the groundskeeper was doing.

Leaving the bank after retrieving galleons from his vault, Harry found himself wondering why he was forced to wear rags normally if he was so well off in the magical world.

A trip to the various store, including Madam Malkins where he picked up several robes and to the bookstore where Harry slipped in a few extra books that caught his eye before being led to Ollivander's to purchase his wand.

Leaving the wand store, Harry shivered at the odd story the old man had told him about his wand and it's sister wand. Locating Hagrid who to his surprise had purchased him a pet owl had Harry feeling hope for his future for the first time in a long time.

Returning to the train after Hagrid had given him his ticket to Hogwarts, Harry felt Dobby reach for his arm and next thing he knew he was back in his room with his new supplies laid out including the second year textbooks that the house elf had traded up to with his first year textbooks.

Dobby called out for one of the Malfoy house elves and then mere minutes later, Lucius arrived and under a glamour arrived at the Dursley residence.

Questioning Harry about his day, he grimaced as he realized he hadn't really learned a lot. He still had no idea if Harry not being introduced as the Potter heir had been an accident or not. Looking at all that he had purchased and the owl he had been given by the large half-giant and Lucius found himself smiling in spite of himself at the enthusiasm of the new wizard.

"What are you going to name your owl?" He asked.

"Hedwig," Harry announced as he used his forefinger to ruffle the feathers of the beautiful white snowy owl.

"That sounds like a good name." He said "Now, tomorrow, we have to make a return trip to the bank, Harry. You should have been announced as the new Potter heir and frankly that your key was handed out so easily is rather unnerving. I think you need to have the key connected to your blood so that you and only you may access it."

When Harry listened to all he had to say, Lucius hesitated, still uncomfortable with being the rescuer of the Boy Who Lived, but then in a gruff tone said: "My son and I picked you up a few birthday gifts."

With a snap of Dobby's fingers, a large pile of gaily wrapped boxes appeared in the middle of Harry's bed. "Happy eleventh birthday, Harry Potter. I am only sorry that we can't arrange for my son and you to meet but it is too dangerous at this time. Hopefully, by the end of your school year, there will be no more need for this cloak and dagger business."

Harry sat on his bed, stunned as he looked at all of the presents and to his surprise, a small birthday cake with a candle in it arrived on his desk.

Lucius patted the young boy on his shoulder and wished him a happy birthday yet again before telling him he needed to go home. "I will see you tomorrow rather early so don't stay up all night playing with your presents."

Harry sat on the bed, stunned as he opened box after box and found toys, games, and books plus a large assortment of clothes and other sundries along with a card wishing him a happy birthday.

It was almost midnight when he climbed into bed after playing a few games of gobstones with Dobby. Feeling happy, Harry looked at the picture the wizard had given him of his parents, Harry wished them a good night and drifted off to sleep, not knowing that a man with a long white beard was thrilled with the incomplete orientation he had been given to the magical world.

TO BE CONTINUED