Harriet Potter de Potidaea-Amphipolis Chapter 4
What's wrong with the Wand?
Harri had the largest grin on her face. After two weeks of waiting, her parents had finally decided on which house to buy in the United Kingdom. Gabrielle at once had moved into their new home with the intentions of redecorating every inch into her ideal home. Her other mom, Xena, had stayed behind with Harri as they sold and donated the rest of their belongings that they would no longer need.
"Alright kiddo, I think that is everything." Xena said ruffling Harri's hair. They looked back at their last residence. "Gabrielle is probably staking out the airport in London. We better hurry up to catch our flight now. We have a 10 hour flight ahead of us."
"Then we can go to Diagon Alley?" She asked.
"Maybe once we sleep. Remember the United Kingdom is eight hours ahead of us. It'll be close to midnight once we get settled in. I am pretty sure you will want to recover from the jet lag." Xena smirked at her. Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief in recalling all the past times they had flown and Harri had trouble with the after effects of jet lag.
She couldn't wait. Professor McGonagall had reluctantly allowed Headmaster Dumbledore to explain how they could get to Diagon Alley. The older witch had wanted to accompany the family, but Xena was not having it. She had finally broken the older witch down by laying into the guilt the woman felt for abandoning Harri as a babe. The elder witch had stopped pressuring them at once.
Harri was glad that they were leaving the United States once more. She hardly made friends, and most seemed intimidated by her. "To a new beginning." She whispered to herself as she got into the passenger side of the car.
The ten hour flight had been exhausting. Harri thought mildly. Though, she had been through worse. She had fought with her mothers the night before about staying up the rest of the night, but they together were an unbreakable force. She had been tucked into bed, and told to stay put or they would not go into Diagon Alley the next day as promised.
Harri, as patiently as she could, walked alongside Xena and Gabrielle as they made their way to the Leaky Cauldron, the place that would allow them access to Diagon Alley. She patted her pocket where she had her school list folded neatly.
"This is it?" Gabrielle asked. Harri glanced at the blonde. She was stoic.
Xena snorted, "What did you expect a top of the line pub?"
"Not this. I don't want to make Harri walk through this. You'll probably start a fight."
"Me? No." She replied. "I promise. Now let's go." Xena said placing her hand on the blondes back and steered her towards the door.
Gabrielle was right. Harri had thought. It looked out of place amongst the other buildings it had an ancient look in with a modern world. She closed her eyes and counted backwards from ten.
She opened her eyes and saw Xena standing in the doorway holding the door open for her. "You alright, kiddo?" She asked concern tracing the edge of her voice.
"Yeah. Just kind of nervous." She replied with a small smile.
"It will be alright. Your mom and I are with you."
"I know." She walked forward and Xena allowed her to go in first. Gabrielle was at the bar speaking to the bartender about entering Diagon Alley. The blonde whisked her head towards Harri and the man behind the counter followed suit. His eyes widened in recognition and excitedly motioned for the trio to follow him to the exit at the back of the pub. They entered a small yarded area and came face to face with a brick wall. Harri looked on in interest. How was this exit an entrance to Diagon Alley? Were they supposed to walk to through a wall like Dumbledore had explained to get onto platform 9 and 3/4? Harri grinned as the barkeep took out his wand counted three up and two across from the trash bin. At once the bricks seemed to move and re-calibrate into an archway. Through the archway revealed a hidden market place. "Wow!" Harri exclaimed.
Beyond the wall was a Wizarding market place bustling with activity. Harri looked up at her parents. Xena had her poker face on, and Gabrielle looked just as excited as Harri felt.
"Come on kiddo," Xena nudged Harri through archway.
"Thank you." Gabrielle nodded at the barkeeper. After the blonde had stepped through the archway shrunk just as fast as it had appeared. "First thing is first." Gabrielle stated. Both Xena and Harri glanced at her. "We need to find the bank, Gringos, gotgrins—"
"Gringrots." Mom, Harri said.
"That's what I was saying."
"Yes, yes it was." Xena said with a smirk. "How about that building towards the end? The big white one." She raised an eyebrow at the blonde, "the one that has the name on it."
"Xena, now I know you have many skills, but I don't believe super vision is one of your amazing skills. I can't even make out the letters on the sign."
"Let's check it out anyways." She said, "and see if I am right."
Gabrielle glared at her. "I doubt it."
"Can we just go already?" Harri asked irritated by their banter.
"Okay." Both adults said and led the way to the imposing building.
Harri trotted along behind them glancing from left to right, and then back again trying to enjoy every sight she could see. There were children her age outside what appeared to be a sports shop long fully looking at the broomstick displayed in the window. "Humph." Harri ran into a stopped Xena. Which was not fun, because now she was sitting on the ground looking up. Xena turned around.
"Shouldn't you be paying attention to where you are going?"
"Yes."
Xena reached down and helped her up. "Gabrielle is already inside. She was upset that I was right."
"Again?"
"Not you too. Let's just go get some money to pay for your supplies." Xena said with a smile.
They walked in and Harri tried not to gasp in surprise. There weren't regular tellers behind desks or counter, but small mean looking creatures. She followed Xena over to where Gabrielle was. The blonde lightly tapping her foot on the floor. "Oh, there you two are. I thought maybe you were going to let me do this by myself."
"Nope."
"Hmm." Gabrielle tilted her head as if she were thinking. "Well," she turned and faced one of the creatures, "I would like to open an account for my daughter who is going to start Hogwarts this year—"
"Hold on a minute!" Xena said and started to dig into her pockets. She smiled as she pulled out an old looking skeletal key. "Here, this is my daughters key from her biological familiy's trust vault."
"Where did you get that Xena?" Gabrielle asked slightly puzzled.
"Oh, that old geezer handed it to me before he left."
"Xena!"
"Mom, he is old. Did you see the length of his beard?" Harri shuddered.
"You two are ridiculous."
"Ahem."
Six pairs of eyes turned to the little interruption. The creature behind the counter had a very annoyed look on his person. "The key please Madam." He held out his hand.
Gabrielle handed the key over.
"Definetly a Gringotts Vault Key. Registered to the House of Potter, only child, Harriet Jamie Potter." The creature's eyes widened for a moment before falling towards the child in between the two adults. "Griphook!" The creature hollered. Another creature came forward, "Take Miss Potter to her trust vault please." He handed the key to Griphook and motioned for the family of three to follow him.
Xena put her hand on Gabrielle and halted her movements. "Why don't you stay up here and open us an account. Just in case."
"Alright."
The account had been opened, and Harri now held a pouch full of money that would pay for her school supplies and anything extra her mom's thought she would need to pick up for the school year. The first stop was the book store that Gabrielle had decided to the annoyance of Xena and Harri. Xena had tried to argue in favor of getting Harri's wand first but a fierce glare from the green eye blonde, and Xena had shut her mouth.
"Harri take out your list and—"
The worker in the bookshop interrupted, "No need to pull out your list. First year are ya?" Harri nodded, "Good I have the set of books for first years already to go. They hardly change that much." He walked over to a table that was knobby and looked as if it were about to fall down under the large amount of pressure it held. He picked up the books that she would need and handed them over to her mother. "Feel free to look around." He said.
Gabrielle squealed. Harri rolled her eyes and walked alongside Xena as they trailed behind the excited blonde as she looked over the books. They spent close to an hour in the bookstore. The blonde had wanted to add at least ten more books to Harri's set, but she argued that she wanted two of the ten. Hogwart's A History, and The Introduction to Proper Wizarding Society. She did not want to seem ignorant of a world that she was supposed to be a part of. That would be rude. They went from shop to shop picking up her school supplies, and finally after what seemed to be hours they were in front of Olivander's. Harri smiled big as she looked at the dingy looking store. She would receive her very own wand. The wand would be her most important tool and weapon in this world.
"Ah, Miss Potter, I wondered when I would be seeing you. Seems like just yesterday your mother and father were in here buying their wands." The man was small in stature, was slightly hunched over and looked younger than what he should really be. Harri tilted her head as she considered what he said. The mention of her parents. Her biological parents. She nodded her head. They had been here. "Your mother," Mr. Ollivander continued, "receieved a 10 ¼ willow wand. Twas swishy and great for charms. Your father, however, was favored by a 11" mahogany wand. It was pliable and excellent for transfiguration. It will be curious as to what wand will decide on you. Hold out your wand arm." He stated and motioned for her to move closer towards the counter. She held out her right and gasped as a measuring tape seemed to jump up and start taking measurements. She watched as Mr. Ollivander pulled out several boxes and set them on the counter. "That is quite enough." At once the tape measure halted and fell to the floor with a soft thud. Harri glanced back at her mothers who both seemed amused.
Harri had thought buying a wand would be just as simple as buying the basic potion ingredient kit or the school robes, however, thirty minutes later there was a pile of boxes looming hire and hire after every wand Harri placed in her hand. She sighed after Mr. Ollivander quickly grabbed the latest wand from her hand that she had tried. Please let this be the one. She thought
"I wonder." Mr. Ollivander said allowed. Harri glanced up at him. "Let's try it shall we." He gave her a small nod and proceeded to the far back. He returned a few seconds later with a very old dusty and battered box. "Here, Holly, 11" phoenix core. Go on give this one a try." He said eyeing her warily as she reached out to take the wand.
At once warmth seemed to travel from the wand and through her arm until in had encompassed her entire being. "Wow." She breathed.
"It's about time." Xena said. "Humph!" Harri looked back just in time to see Gabrielle elbow her partner in the stomach for her rudeness.
"Curious though. Very Curious." Ollivander said.
Harri returned her gaze to him as she felt Xena and Gabrielle approach her with her money bag to pay for her wand. "What is curious, sir?" She asked, pondering what the man could. Was something wrong with the wand she was about to purchase?
"What's curious Miss Potter? I remember every wand that I have ever sold. Curiously, the phoenix feather in your wand, donated only one other wand. Only one other, and that wand happens to be the one that gave you that scar." He reached forward and shoved her bangs out of the way. She took a step back and bumped into a solid form.
"That is enough!" Xena snarled.
Ollivander's head snapped up at the sudden fiercness in the dark haired womans voice. "Quit scaring my daughter. Harri and Gabrielle go on outside now."
"Xena?"
"Now Gabrielle!"
"Come along Harri." She pulled on Harri's should until she turned and walked with her outside the shop.
"Mom, is really mad, isn't she ma?"
The blonde looked down into her daughters eyes. Then she let out a frustrated huff. "Yes. As I am. He had no business telling you that. There was really no need for it."
Harri stood there and questioningly examined her wand. The brother or sister of her wand had given her that scar. Did that mean she would be evil too?
The bell above the door on the inside of the shop rang as Xena exited the shop. "I think we got everything on your list kiddo. I think we can head on out now."
"Um, mom." Harri said uncertainly fingering her money pouch as her eyes looked at Gabrielle then landed on her mother.
"Yes, sweetheart?" She said with a smile.
"Shouldn't I go back in and pay for my wand. You don't have a money pouch. I have one and ma has the other."
"He gave it to you free of charge. Said something along the lines it was on him. Don't worry about it. Let's go find a nice restaurant in London before we go home." She said looping her arm through the blondes and holding out her other hand for Harri to take.
As they were leaving Diagon Ally, Xena felt that prickling sensation that her and her family was being watched. She slowed down as Gabrielle and Harri walked through the arch way. She looked back over her shoulder and down the street. People were still bustling about and attending to their business. She saw nothing out of the ordinary, and turned back around caught up with her family.
