(*Our author, Carnacki23, is sitting in front a fireplace in a big library, reading a book of Limericks. At his right hand side is a snifter filled with two fingers of Jameson Irish Whiskey; the bottle is next to him. He goes to pick up the glass to take a sip and looks up.*)
Oh! Sorry, didn't see you there. Hello, readers. How are you? Sit down; take a load off. I'm still getting hits on this story and I thank you all! Give yourselves a pat on the back; you've earned it! I'd especially liked to thank Therio, an honest and very thorough critic. Your concerns have been helpful and will be addressed to the best of my ability. Chapter 2 was total filler! Not just any filler, but flashback filler! AUGH! I can't believe I wrote it like that! Chapter 2 was supposed to be shorter and I didn't want there to be so much detail. But, there I went; listing off details like I was going shopping. To all my readers, I apologize. In the near future, I'm going to edit and revise chapter 2. All I need is someone to beta for me and we'll get started. Next order of business, Author's Notes. ANs will now be annotated. I'm sorry for the long ones in Chapter 2. Some AN's will be music related. It's a big part of my writing and I want to include that. So, when there is music involved, these will appear:
(Track # Start) (Track # Stop)
Obviously, the first queue begins a song that I feel is appropriate for a scene and the other will stop it. A track listing will appear above, before the chapter and comments concerning why I chose them will be below, after the chapter. Not all chapters will have a soundtrack (Sometimes, I'll ignore listing songs and say something like, "The sounds of [insert artist] were emanating from the speakers." So don't worry about it.), and it's completely optional; you are not obligated to use it. But, if you do use the soundtrack, I would like your opinion; what you liked, what you didn't like, and/or some recommendations for other bands or songs. But be warned, I'm a bit of a music snob. This chapter won't have a soundtrack; so you're all safe… for now.
First, a disclaimer:
Harry Potter isn't mine. Now sod off!
And finally, chapter 4. Enjoy!
Harry Potter and the Shaman
[xXx]
Carnacki's Cabin, ?, 7/31/91 10:00 AM
Ray and Sparrow were woken up by an excitable Harry earlier that morning. Well, it was more like Harry pounced onto his brother. But Ray couldn't complain; today was Harry's birthday. They were going to take him and, his best friend, Susan Bones, to Diagon Alley to buy their school supplies, giving the green-eyed boy more reason to be excited. He was going to school!
They washed up, got dressed, ate a quick breakfast and travelled to the Bones Townhouse, Susan and her Aunt Amelia's current home. Harry was dressed in jeans, a red T-shirt, a grey hoodie, and white tennis shoes. Sparrow wore Khaki pants, a baby blue tank top, which Ray complimented showed off her chest some, a red jumper which she zipped up to collar bone, which she put on with a blush coloring her cheeks in reaction to his remark, and a pair of moccasins. Ray's black beard grew in and he wore jeans, a long-sleeve, blue woven shirt, a black T-shirt underneath it and a pair of black Vans; slung over his shoulder was his trusty satchel with his even trustier Bowie knife and held his cane-like staff to his person. Adorning his shirt's breast pockets were pins were pins for bands he liked (Joy Division, TV on the Radio, Wire, etc.) and funny sayings (Merlin's coming, look busy!).
They travelled to the Townhouse by the use of a special skeleton key in Ray's possession that takes the user anywhere they wish when it's used on a door. Personally, Ray liked this method of transportation; a bit short, but gets the job done better than apparition or Floo Powder. He likened it to Mirror-travel in the US and some cities in Europe (metropolitan centers, mostly), but only limited to transport.
Ray opened the door to the Paddington neighborhood in London. He stepped out, holding the door for Harry and Sparrow, and closed it when his companions were out of the way. To Techie, the American magic community's slang for non-magical, passerby's, it would appear as if the trio were leaving The Blue Door Bistro, a restaurant on Montague Street, the same street as the Townhouse in London. They walked across the street to Number 16. Harry knocked on the door excitedly, he hadn't seen Susan for a month; he counted the days. The door opened to reveal Amelia Bones in Techie casual wear, a brown leather jacket, a white blouse, pair of jeans, and a pair of conservatively heeled brown leather boots.
Amelia is a logical and very progressive individual. She understood the need to go out into the Techie world from time to time, for business or pleasure, and studied their fashion magazines and catalogs, mostly as a guilty pleasure. She presented laws to the Wizengamot, magical Britain's lawmaking body, to make it mandatory for all MLE employees to go through an extra crash course on Muggles, as a number of traditional European countries still called non-magical folks, Studies with a more accurate and thorough look at their culture and customs, arguing that only way for the Magical World to stay secret was to blend in. But every time, she lost, thanks to bribery and the stubbornness of the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, and the superiority complex of the Chief Warlock, Albus Dumbledore; if he thought he was right, he was right and no one would argue against it. They both deemed her proposal expensive and waste of time. Amazingly, this topic was one of the scant few issues the Minister and Warlock honestly agreed on.
"Hello, Ray; Sparrow," Amelia greeted the two and grinned at of her visitors. She then looked down at the boy who knocked on her door, her grin growing into a friendly smile and said, "And Happy Birthday, Harry. Come on in, you three. Susan is in the living room."
Harry trotted in with a quick 'thank-you' as the blonde woman moved out of the way to give entrance to her guests. Ray and Sparrow followed and Amelia closed the door. The Bones Townhouse was luxurious, but not extravagantly so. It was warm and homely, the much like the Common Room of the Hufflepuff Basement, described to Ray by Nymphadora Tonks, a Mountainblood who was a fifth-year Hufflepuff when Ray returned from his journey. She was a friend of Bill's younger brother, Charlie Weasley, the second oldest of the Weasley clan, and was a Metamorphmagus, or shape shifter, as he recalled. She graduated last year with Charlie, too. The three adults went to the living room after they heard a shout of "Harry!"
Hugging Harry was an eleven-year-old girl with long strawberry-blonde hair cascading down to the middle of her back. She wore a skirt, a pink T-shirt, a jean-jacket, white knee-high socks and blue ballet flats (A/N 1). Ray approached the hugging pair and poked the girl on the head. She looked up to reveal almond-shaped Hazel eyes, a small nose and mouth on a round face.
"Why, hello, Susan," Ray greeted the girl, now named Susan, Amelia's niece. She blushed some and let go of Harry. She looked down and played with her hands, a nervous tick. Ray smiled. If Harry was his little brother, Susan Bones would be his little sister-in-law. One might not notice, but Ray was playing matchmaker with the two children before him. So far, it was working.
"Oh! Um, hi Ray. Hi Sparrow," Susan retuned the greeting, a little embarrassed. Ray chuckled a little.
"So," he began, "Who's ready for Diagon Alley?" Both Harry and Susan raised their hands, shouting 'Me! Me!' The adults laughed.
"Are we taking the Floo," Amelia asked? Ray shook his head as he opened his satchel. What he pulled out were four pairs of glasses with dual colored lenses; the right was green and the left was red.
"I made a promise to Harry that we would travel through the Blaze today," Ray replied, using the nickname he made for the Blazing World. Harry and Susan's faces lit up at the opportunity of traveling through the Glorious Forever, as Ray sometimes called it when he told the two of them tales of his adventures inside. On one adventure, he created special goggles to protect companions and allow them to witness the wonders of this amazing anomaly. Harry and Susan went to take a pair of protective glasses but Ray lifting his hand to an unreachable height, by their standards.
"Not so fast you two," he said. "Let's list off the rules." The children groaned which made Ray express a chuckle. Sparrow laughed behind her hand and Amelia had an amused grin on her face. The rules were important; staring into the Blaze without protection was comparable to playing a game of Russian Roulette with a bullet and a blank loaded in the chambers of a revolver with the ammo capacity of three bullets only. The first outcome is that one looks in and they die because their brain overheats while their heart explodes in their chest from all the adrenaline pumping through their veins. The second outcome involves that someone looks in and they survive thanks to a strong constitution, but eventually end up turning into a catatonic vegetable or simply incurably insane. And in the final outcome, well, they turn out like Ray; alive with mind intact but no longer able to show his eyes, as they have become portals to the Blazing World. If someone were to gaze into his eyes for longer than twenty seconds, their lives would be collateral in one deadly game of chance. And so, Ray made strict rules.
"OK," he began. "Rule One."
"Never take off your glasses," the children answered, bored.
"Rule Two."
"Don't wander off."
"And if you do?"
"Trust your instincts and imagination. The Blaze thrives on them. It will lead the way."
"Very good, but what's rule three?"
"Stick together."
"Only strengthens rule two's contingency. Now rule four."
"Don't touch anything if you don't know what it is."
"And five?"
"Never take off your glasses," Susan and Harry finished, repeating the first rule, empathizing the word 'never'.
"What was rule two again," Ray asked?
"C'mon, Ray, they're ready," Sparrow admonished him. Amelia looked a little concerned, though.
"Ok, I guess," Ray sighed as he gave the two children their glasses. "Here you go."
"YAHOO!" Harry and Susan took the glasses and put them on. Ray then gave Sparrow and Amelia their glasses, as well.
"Ready," Ray asked? He got affirmatives from his fellow travelers. Ray raised his hand to his face, moving to take off his always present sunglasses.
"OK, here we go."
As he revealed his eyes, a swirl of colors unlike that of which anyone has ever seen. A blank portion of the wall warped away, revealing a portal to the Blaze. Ray went in first, followed by the children, then Sparrow and Amelia.
[xXx]
The Blazing World lived up to its name and reputation; on the other side of the portal was a wild, vivid cacophony of sights and sounds. Strangeness surrounded the group in an untold multitude of colors and shapes from all directions. Ray motioned for the others to follow. They all saw things of interest. Harry waved at Sun Wukong, from Journey to the West, flying over a lake the group was walking around, atop of his Summersault Cloud, Gold-Banned Cudgel harnessed in the crook of his arm (A/N 2). The Monkey King looked down at the black haired boy and flashed him a toothy smile in greeting as he passed overhead. Susan pointed out Moby Dick, swimming overhead. Amelia found herself in awe of the untold number of phoenix nests overlooking their path and Sparrow was caught in a small conversation about current events and things young children should hear with Mistress Fanny Hill (A/N 3); Sparrow couldn't help but blush, silently thank whatever being who controls this dimension that her conversation partner was using entendres and innuendo, but then asked herself why that's a good thing at all.
After a few minutes of trekking through the Glorious Forever, Ray halted the group and opened another portal to the mundane world and held it until they all got out. As soon as Ray put his sunglasses back on, the portal closed. The group of five found themselves in an alley. Ray led Harry, Susan, Sparrow and Amelia to a busy public square. People wore robes that would have looked out of place in normal society, but here was same old same old. Tourists would think that this was a historical village if they ever found themselves inside, but no one is that crazy.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley, kids," Ray said to Harry and Susan. The pair of children took off their protective specs and saw many witches and wizards, some alone, in pairs, or in groups of all ages moving about from shop to shop; some for themselves, but most for school, much like Harry and Susan were doing that day. It would have been more impressive if they hadn't traveled through the Blaze, if Ray hadn't taken Harry with him to other bazaars in the magical world or the fact that Susan has been here before, but it was something.
"First, we need money. To Gringotts," Ray declared as he pointed in the direction of a building surrounded by little people with big, pointy noses and fearsome, jagged teeth; they were dressed in armor and held sharp spears. At the top of the building's façade, in its arch was the words "Gringotts Goblin Bank, London Branch". The quintet walked towards the building and went past the guards and into the building.
Inside, hundreds of people were waiting in lines for the goblin bank tellers to assist them with their business. Ray looked around and found a teller who wasn't helping anyone and the group approached him. Ray searched through his pockets until his found a crystalline blue coin the size of a Galleon. But unlike a Galleon, this coin had not the marks of Gringotts, but symbols of secret origin, painted gold. It was an Oricalcum (A/N 4) coin, a gift from some very powerful friends.
[xXx]
Ray told stories at some time or another about his coin being a most special gift from the Most Ancient Race, forefathers of Goblins, Dwarfs and Elves: the Gremlins, the world's first species of magical beings. They were thinkers, creators, warriors, healers and teachers, even assisted humanity on their first steps into magic, long ago before the time of Merlin. When they felt their help was no longer needed, they disappeared underground, removing themselves from history. The Grem-folk left behind the Ministry of Magic's age limit trace used by the DMLE's Improper Use of Magic Office, Azakaban Prison, originally their main outpost on the surface, the shrewd Goblins, teaching man economics, starting with simple goods, advancing them to money 600 years B.C.E., the creative dwarves, introducing man to culture and war, and finally, the loyal Elves, advancing mankind into a self-sustaining race by teaching them agriculture, law, and civil engineering. These races were once great, but are now shadows of their former selves. But alas, that's a story for another time.
The Gremlins would appear in history as myths and legends, more so after World War II, when they helped the British Royal Airforce fight back against the Nazis looking to take over by sneaking onto their planes and subs, sabotaging all efforts to occupy the British Isles. They appeared to Ray, when he was 13 years old, and Narcissa "Cissy" Black when he found himself taken back to the year 1963, the duo worked in their favor when they prevented an Italian noble from enslaving the race in order to take over the world. In gratitude, the Boss of the Gremlins, Cthulu gave them each a coin made of Oricalcum, a priceless mineral that wizarding folk would call the Philosopher's Stone; with a coin alone one could buy the entirety of the British Isles and have money left over for other things. Their coins marked the duo as Most Trusted Friends of Grem-folk, an honor higher than royalty, as long as they do not do anything to knowingly harm the Gremlin race or cause suffering to innocence. Allowing the coin to drop on a surface will make the coin emit a sound that will summon some warriors to assist the holder of the coin in case of emergency or to help fight against their enemies.
When Ray returned to his present time, he returned to Italy four years later because he had to claim an inheritance from the house of Sforza, the Duchy of Milan and his mother's true family; a revelation that took the young shaman by surprise. He appeared to the Gremlins again, but this time, with his cousin, Catarina Sforza VII, heiress apparent to the Duke of Milan, Jacopo Sforza. Like Teresa, Ray's mother, she was whisked away to America to a trusted ally of the family, Giovanni Orisini. The Gremlins greeted him again with kindness and bequeathed an Oricalcum coin to Catarina, impressed with her boldness and willpower. Ever since, Ray has been their representative to the world above. (A/N 5)
[xXx]
Back with our heroes, Ray approached the goblin, who was annoyed that the human cut into his break until he saw the coin he was rolling over his knuckles. Ray took note of this and smirked.
"You and I have Friends Below these Hallowed Halls," said Ray, "I'd Love to Think They're the Greatest Friend of All." At these phrases, the teller panicked for a second, attempting to return to his senses and apologize to Their Most Trusted Friend. Ray patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry about it. Can you help us," Ray asked after reassuring the goblin he did nothing wrong. The goblin nodded.
"How may I be of service, Trusted Friend," the goblin inquired?
"My brother and Madame Bones' niece need to withdraw money from their trust vaults," Ray answered, motioning Harry, Sparrow, Susan and Amelia to stand next to him. Their teller gave them an affirmative.
"May I see their keys, please?" Ray pulled Harry's vault key from his satchel while Amelia had Susan's in her purse. When the goblin found nothing troubling he nodded and look to another goblin.
"Griphook! Take these customers to their vaults please." The other goblin, named Griphook, gave the teller a quick 'yes, sir' and instructed the group to follow him to the cart which would take them to their vaults. Ray looked back at the teller and gave him a letter sealed with one of the symbols on Ray's Oricalcum coin.
"Can you also give this to Director Ragnok for me?" When the teller gave a rapid nod and said 'of course, sir, anything sir,' with an excited expression, which looked kind of weird on a goblin, Ray observed as he thanked him. As their teller sprinted of the Director's office, Amelia gave Ray a confused look.
"What do you need to see the Director of Gringotts for," Amelia asked her godson?
Ray looked around, and moved closer to her ear.
"Serpico got the greenlight last week," Ray answered. Amelia's features became passive and as she nodded silently in understanding.
"Should I speak to Croaker," the head of the DMLE inquired quietly? She was referring to Head Unspeakable Algernon Croaker, the head of the Dept. of Mysteries, Research Division and public face of the DOM. In reality, Croaker and Serpico share the leadership of the DOM, taking charge of their separate divisions while making decisions together when they concern the Dept. as a whole.
"Sure, but not now. It's Harry's Birthday. Him and Susie will get suspicious of we keep talking like this." Amelia nodded and they separated. They looked at Harry, Susan and Sparrow and apologize for the secrecy. The children were concerned but they shrugged it off while Sparrow gave Ray a look and mouthed, 'I want to know what's going on,' to which Ray acknowledge with a nod and mouthed back, 'Serpico and I are going to meet in two days; I'll bring you along to get your clearance.' Sparrow accepted and moved over to Ray. He wrapped and arm around her shoulders and kissed her on her forehead.
Griphook, their guide, lead the group of five into the cart and asked them to hold on tight. Amelia mentally prepared herself for the wild ride ahead. Ray's grin grew into a toothy grin, like that of a schizophrenic. Sparrow snuggled closer into her boyfriend with fear in her eyes and swallowing a lump in her throat with an audible gulp, to which she tightened her grip. Harry and Susan looked ahead of the track and saw a downward drop, which gave the two excited smiles matching the one on Ray's face. Their goblin escort pushed a lever forward and their cart went with it. Outside in the bank's lobby, all attention suddenly focused on the entrance to the vaults after everyone heard, "!"
Downward they went at breakneck speed. Amelia scrunched her eyes closed; the head of the DMLE just wanted it to be over. Sparrow screamed first in freight, then in excitement; she was beginning to enjoy the ride. Ray was hanging onto his girlfriend, hooting and hollering and having a blast; he was the reason Sparrow began to lighten up. Finally, the birthday boy and redhead associate (A/N 6) were screaming and laughing all the way down to the vaults. Harry leaned forward to talk to Griphook.
"Can this thing go faster," Harry asked loudly over the din of the cart moving along the tracks? Griphook looked back at the boy and smirked. He pushed the control lever forward a notch and his passengers slammed into the back of their seats. Griphook couldn't help but chuckle.
[xXx]
Eventually, the cart slowed to a crawl at it reached its first stop, Susan's trust vault 542. Griphook exited the cart first, followed by Susan, Harry, Sparrow, Ray jumped out laughing excitedly, and Amelia, who got out slowly, as to regain her bearings. Ray was still laughing.
"Man! That never gets old," he shouted out! He was pumped! How can anybody not find that ride fun! Harry and Susan laughed along with him while Sparrow smiled with a little worry in her eyes. Amelia shot him a look that said 'are you insane!' Griphook snorted.
"It's amazing for our customers to actually enjoy the rides to their vaults," quipped the goblin. "Most of the time, they react the same way as Madame Bones. No offence, ma'am." Amelia uttered a 'none taken' to their guide as she finally reoriented herself.
"Just as long as the next trip is a little more bearable," she said, "I believe it'll be fine." The goblin acknowledged her request with a nod and asked for the vault's key. Amelia gave Griphook Susan's key and he went to the vault door. The goblin inserted the key, turned the lock and opened the door, revealing the vault's contents. Susan and Harry were surprised to find piles and piles of Galleons, Sickles and Knuts.
"Only the account holder and guardian may enter the vault," Griphook added. Harry, Ray and Sparrow acknowledged the goblin's comment as Susan and her aunt entered the vault. Amelia pulled out a sack and pooled Galleons into it while Susan pocketed some money for herself after her aunt gave her permission. When Amelia felt that they had enough money, she pulled closed the bag and put it back in her purse. Susan and her aunt exited the vault, and Griphook closed the door, locking it and returned its key to Amelia. The group returned to the cart and descended once more, this time heading for Harry's vault.
[xXx]
The ride was much more sedate, this time around. It was fast, but not as out of control as it was on the way Susan's vault. This allowed Amelia to rest easy. Griphook explained the reason they drove the carts so fast was "payback" for the way they're treated by a majority of wizards and witches. They demand and order goblins around without realizing that their vaults could have been confiscated if the Goblin Rebellions were victorious, but unfortunately, they weren't, so all the Goblin's are left with is bureaucratic red-tape and crazy carts rides.
Eventually, they reach vault 687, Harry's trust vault. His parents, James and Lily, left it to him. If they were alive, they would be here with him; taking him shopping, telling stories of their school years, giving him advice. Ray and Sparrow observed Harry's anxiousness, so Ray patted him on the shoulder. Harry looked up and saw his older brother and his girlfriend give him a reassuring smile. Harry returned it but worry still clouded his eyes.
"Key, please," requested Griphook. Ray gave Harry's vault key to the goblin. He took the key and inserted it into the keyhole. The door swung away slowly and revealed a bigger vault with even bigger piles of money than in Susan's vault. Surprise was worn on the humans' faces. Susan was the first to break away and pouted at Harry.
"Lucky," she quipped to her friend, folding her arms over her chest. Harry snorted then laughed, with Susan joining him. Ray smiled at the two. 'Only Susan could break Harry out of a slump,' thought Ray as he observed the two of them. Whenever Harry was really sad or upset, Susan was usually the one to cheer him up. Meanwhile, Susan was very shy and withdrawn before she met Harry. It perplexed the three adults to no end how the children brought the best out of each other. Ray had begun planning to make the two a couple after they left the Bones Townhouse three years ago. He told Amelia about his plans, to which she was surprised but understanding; Susan helped Harry a lot while Harry gave Susan courage and strength. They complimented each other and their friendship would grow eventually.
Harry led Ray into the vault and collected their money. Harry searched around for something; what exactly, Ray didn't know.
"What you looking for," he asked his little brother?
"Nothing," Harry answered, nonchalantly. But Ray knew better.
"If you're looking for your parent's things, they're in another vault. I'll take you another time."
Harry opened his mouth to deny it, but he knew Ray figured it out, so he just nodded. Ray lead him out of the vault and back into the cart where Susan, Sparrow and Amelia were waiting with Griphook to leave the vaults. The brothers strapped in and the cart ascended the cavernous area under the bank.
[xXx]
As they were leaving the bank, the goblin bank teller that served them earlier caught up to the group to give Ray a letter. He read the address, discovering that it was written by Director Ragnok. He thanked the goblin with ten Galleons as he and the group exited the bank, blending in with the crowds that trekked Diagon Alley.
'I'll have to read it later,' Ray said internally. He knew he could trust Ragnok to be discreet, but there were too many eyes in the Alley. Ray pocketed the letter in his satchel and informed the rest of the group he was check up on something as they were about to enter Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. When the group accepted his excuse, Ray gave Sparrow half of the Galleons they withdrew from Harry's trust vault. With that, he gave a quick adieu and walked across the cobblestone street to a shop playing music.
[xXx]
When Ray acquired his inheritances from his parents and maternal grandparents, he made a few investments. The first was to restart his mother's magazine, The Looking Glass. After his parent's death, the magazine stopped being published. Ray tracked down his mother's colleagues and convinced them to restart the magazine. By January 1988, The Looking Glass made its comeback with a vengeance. On the morning of January 3rd after students returned from winter break, the skies of Magical Britain had been taken over by large flocks of ravens selling the first issue of The Looking Glass' comeback. Similar events were happening all over the world, as well.
Dumbledore was taken by surprise at the avian blitzkrieg that disturbed his breakfast and the magazine's cover picture, even more so. It was an adolescent boy wearing a dragonhide jacket and a black and white stripped T-shirt. He had shaggy black hair. What disturbed the headmaster the most was the fact he had a bloody nose and a swollen black eye, the kid was laughing, revealing that he was missing three teeth and had his tongue studded. The large caption, the cover story, read: 'WILD IN THE STREETS: Punks Wizards and Witches in the U.S.A. by Brodie MacIntyre'. The writer, Brodie, wrote up an expose on how tech Punk music has become popular with the youth of magic America; so much so, that bands had begun to pop up all over the States.
A great majority of students from all ages and houses, along with some teachers, bought a copy and were just plum fascinated; the look, the language, the overabundant energy and the rebellious spirit all appeared to possess its readers. The magazine covered politics, world news, art, music, philosophical debate. It included music on its pages; by tapping magic onto the page, songs by the issue's noteworthy artists would play. Ray invented it himself.
Speaking of music, Ray also became an investor in the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade village. He and Madam Rosemerta enlarged the establishment and had a stage built for live music. The venue reopened in time for the first Hogsmeade weekend, and hosted a band from Cambridge, Mass. In the U.S.A. called Trust Fund Kids (A/N 7); a quartet that played some really funky jams. The band was given standing ovation and a plaque with their picture on it and the caption, 'First of many successes. Cheers, Mate!' is now hanging in the tavern's entryway. After that, more bands were booked for months and the Three Broomsticks became an important tour stop for up-and-coming or already famous artists.
Ray also opened a record shop in the village. He found a vacated shop next to Honeydukes and bought the deed. The shop was deemed Poltergeist Records. The shop specialized in vinyl records, as it was the most popular format when it came to distributing music. He hired a guy named Cassius Clinton to manage the day-to-day operations. Cassius was a Mundie, short for Mundane, the American term for a squib. The man was an African American with a big Afro and a handlebar mustache with a very… intense attitude and look on his face. Back in the day, he was a roadie for a lot of tech bands, so he always had unbelievable stories to tell, he also hinted that he was part of a few revolutionary groups. Under Cassias' guidance, the shop became as popular as Zonko's Joke Shop and Honeydukes next door.
With the success of Poltergeist, he opened another shop in Diagon Alley called Tempest Records. It was managed by Kyle Shunpike, the older brother of Stan Shunpike, the Knight Bus attendant. He had long brown hair and a full beard with an easygoing smile and demeanor. He knew a lot about music and was glad to help customers when they asked for it, which made the Tempest just as popular as Poltergeist. This was the place Ray was heading to now.
[xXx]
While Ray was checking in on his record shop, Harry, Susan, Sparrow and Amelia were at Madame Malkin's, buying Harry and Susan's school robes. Susan, Sparrow and Amelia were in another part of the store while Harry waited for his robes to be made. Unfortunately, he was forced to listen to a blond ferret thing (Harry thought it was a child… he couldn't be sure.) drone on about how rich he was. Another quirk Harry acquired from his brother was a disdain for uppity rich people. The brothers just couldn't stand them; the superiority complex, the boring stories, and the showboating just annoyed the hell out of them. Ray hated snobs because they believe their untouchable. He literally tap dances when "Lord Underbite" gets convicted and sent to prison even with their expensive lawyers or "air-tight" alibis. Harry gained a just as healthy appreciation for knocking the rich and entitled down a peg or two from his brother.
Unfortunately, Madame Malkin's wasn't a crime scene and the ferret wasn't a suspect, so Harry couldn't do anything but zone out as the snob droned on about things Harry didn't care about. He stopped paying attention after the Yenta-Mouth (A/N 8) began talking about his father. Time slowed to a crawl from there.
Finally, the blond ferret thing had finished his measurements and "requested," more like demanded, really, that his robes were made "from the finest silks you have or my father will have words". The seamstress could only obey, but really wanted to teach him a lesson. With that, the bastion of snobbery left, and both Harry and the seamstress could rest easy as the girls approached Harry.
Susan skipped up to him and playfully dropped into a chair next to Harry with a smile. Harry could only return a look of bemusement; Susan became confused.
"What's wrong," Susan asked? Amelia and Sparrow were just as concerned.
"Stupid ferret kid thing," was all Harry muttered. It was then that Susan and Amelia understood while Sparrow stayed confused.
"Oh. That makes sense. Sorry, Harry," Susan said, patting Harry on the shoulder.
"I heard Lucius had a son who was starting school this year," commented Amelia. Sparrow grew more confused; she hated being left out of the loop.
"Who are you guys talking about? Who's Lucius?" Sparrow couldn't take not knowing and Harry grew intrigued as well. Susan began to explain:
"The 'blond ferret thing' Harry keeps griping about is Draco Malfoy; a boy who in our year."
"Lucius is the boy's father; a vile man, to say the least," Amelia amended. "The family is rich thanks to Abraxas Malfoy, Lucius' father and Draco's grandfather, who made his money in various enterprises he created with the family fortune. Unfortunately, Lucius and now Draco have been using Abraxas' hard work and money for their own gains; a shame, really. I met the old man when I first became an auror; believed less in blood purity and more in the potential of a person. 'I don't give a toss what blood runs in yourveins,' he'd always say. 'Show me some guts!' There are rumors that Lucius has been bribing important Ministry officials for power and influence. He was also a Death Eater, a follower of the Dark Lord Voldemort. He was arrested, but he got off claiming he was under the Imperius Curse, a bald-faced lie if you ask me. If there's something wrong with the Ministry of Magic, Lucius Malfoy and his ilk are likely to blame."
"Draco's no better," Susan said, diverting the conversation. "He's no more than a spoiled child. Aunty and I would have to go to functions and the two of them would just sneer at people. Then to hear the ferret drone about his 'greatness' just got old. The only reason people hang around him is thanks to his father and his money."
"And now I have to deal with him at school," Harry surmised. "Fantastic."
"Actually, I'm surprised, Harry," Susan commented.
"Really," he asked? "Why?"
"He never figured out who you really are." Harry raised an eyebrow and Susan explained.
"You know, Harry Potter: The Boy Who Lived? Vanquisher of the Dark Lord Voldemort," Susan asked, whispering the Dark Lord's name.
Ray told Harry about his parent's death the first time the boy asked, a few months after Ray took custody. Ray told them they were murdered by Voldemort, a cookie-cutter "Dark Lord", looking to take over the world, and how Harry beat him when he was only 15-months-old. The how was a mystery but it wasn't important at the time Ray told the story. And what's worse, Voldemort might not be dead. Ray still feels the Dark Lord's "vibrations" on the mortal plane; it disturbed Ray quite a bit. Ray and Amelia raised their charges to not be afraid to say Voldemort's name; fear of a name only gives its owner power. But people are still afraid, so Susan whispered as a courtesy.
Harry just shrugged as he smoothed his hair down over his scar. He made doubly sure to hide his scar before entering the Alley. Harry was a bit of an introvert and didn't like being the center of attention; something he discovered when he and Ray went the U.S. for Ray's first case as a Special Investigator. It was the murder of an important politician in the Magical Congress who was killed in his office at the Senate House. Press surrounded the building, trying to get information about the crime. Ray, Harry and Sparrow were trying to get through when a photographer saw Harry's scar. All attention turned from the crime scene to the boy. Harry got scared and froze. As questions were shouted at the boy, he lowered himself to the floor and rolled up into a ball. Ray ordered the officers on the scene to have the Press detained and asked Sparrow to take Harry back to the hotel they were staying in. When Ray returned from the Senate House, Harry was hiding in the closet, crying. Ray read the press the riot act at the press conference the morning after. Since then, Ray and Sparrow had been helping Harry with the press and now he's better, but that doesn't mean he had to like it. So he hides his scar regularly.
[xXx]
As Harry, Sparrow and the Bones' left Madame Malkin's, Harry got tackled by a canine, a coyote, to be exact. Its fur was an ash gray, tribal American design painted across its body. A leather choker decorated with beads was fastened around its neck. It wore a headband with raven feathers sown into the right end of the band behind its ears. The coyote's eyes were ethereal black pools dotted with white lights akin to stars in the sky. It licked Harry's face, making the boy laugh from his position under the creature. The ladies' attention turned to Ray Carnacki laughing from his spot in front of the Apothecary.
"Alright, the boy's had enough," said Ray, coming down from his laughing high. "Barnabas! Over here, boy!" The coyote, named Barnabas, looked at Ray, yipped and got off Harry, returning to his master. Ray scratched behind the pet's ears; with a bark, Barnabas vanished in a cloud of ash (A/N 9). Harry got up and looked at Ray mockingly indignant.
"Don't give me that look," Ray said, waving a finger at Harry mischievously. "That was payback for the 'wake-up calls' you love to give me so much." Harry sighed.
"Ok, fine. Are we even then," Harry asked, defeated?
"Sure."
The brothers shook hands while the ladies giggled.
"Why don't we continue on, then," asked Amelia? Her companions agreed and on they went. Ray, Sparrow and Amelia bought the children their books, cauldrons, scales and other items until Sparrow and Amelia broke off to find some "last-minute supplies" as Ray and the children made their way to Ollivanders Wand Shop. Hearing the hidden meaning in his girlfriend's words, Ray gave the go-ahead, leading the children to the old wand maker after Amelia gave her niece some extra money to pay for her wand.
[xXx]
The children, followed by Ray, entered the shop's threshold into a very dusty storefront. In front of the counter was open space, chairs lining the walls. The other side had shelves packed from floor to ceiling with long, thin boxes; the shelves wrapped around corners of a somewhat narrow passageway. The passageway opened up to a workshop, where the shop's proprietor fashioned wands for patrons young and old. A tech doctor's office or pharmacy came to Ray's mind back when he was Harry and Susan's age, buying his wand for his first year at Hogwarts; before his pilgrimage.
On the countertop was a bell. Its function was obvious. Susan and Harry were nervous; it was serenely quiet and they felt it would be wrong to disturb it. Seeing this, Ray kneeled down the children's level and whispered into Harry's ear.
"Why don't you ring that bell," Ray suggested quietly. Harry nodded and approached the counter with an air of caution. He took a deep breath and rung the bell.
"Ah, customers," an elderly voice stated happily. "Just a moment please." Shuffling was heard from the back room. A man came out, his face wrinkled with age. He had wild, unmanaged hair, colored white with elderly wisdom. The man's eyes were pale silver, narrowed inquisitively, but widened at the sight of children.
"Welcome to Ollivanders Wand Shop: crafting wands since 382 B.C.," the shopkeeper bowed in good tiding. "I am Ollivander, the latest in the familial line to own and run this establishment. How may I help you today?"
"These children are here for their wands, my Grand Poobah," Ray answered the old wandcrafter with a wide grin. Ollivander's attention diverted from the children at his counter to the young man in sunglasses behind them.
"Raymond Carnacki," the old man said with a thoughtful look. "14 ½'', oak with a Qilin's antler (A/N 10) as its core. Very broad, but strangely flexible; incredibly useful for defensive charms and transfiguration. Left-handed, if I can recall."
"Amazing," Ray said with a light chuckle in his throat. "You remembered."
"I always remember my work, Mr. Carnacki," Ollivander replied. "I remember we couldn't find a match until you picked up that wand. But it doesn't appear to be on your person. What happened to it?" Ray approached the counter and laid his medicine stick on its surface.
"I see," the wandcrafter stated, scratching his grizzled chin. "So the rumors are true, you have become a shaman."
"That I have," said shaman answered. "My wand works much better this way, if it makes you feel any better." Ollivander looked at the former wand in silence.
"Qilins appear to those who are benevolent and wise," he began after a pause. "It's even rarer for such a creature to bequeath parts of its body to a worthy craftsman in its last hours, such as I have been. Perhaps it knew where your path will lead. The wand chose you, so I cannot argue with how it was wielded."
"Thank you," Ray replied. "Now, let's get the little people their wands, shall we?"
"Of course," Ollivander said with a smile, looking at Susan. "Let's start with you, Miss Bones. What is your dominant hand? Left or right?"
"Right, sir," she answered, surprised he knew who she was. The wandmaker nodded and turned to the wand display, scanning for a potential match for the young witch.
"A-ha," he exclaimed as he took a box from the shelf, pulled the wand out and gave it to Susan. "10 ¼'', walnut with a unicorn hair core. Stiff and broad; great for charms. Give it a wave, please."
Susan felt very slow and awkward holding the wand in her hand. Unsure, she looked at Harry, who was excited for his friend; give her a look that said 'do it!' She nodded and did as she was told. A small blast of magic hit the bell, launching to into the backroom with a crash into some empty boxes. Ollivander tsked with a shake of his head.
"No, no, that won't do," he said as he took the wand back. "I think I saw another one that just might fit." He turned back to the boxes and pulled another wand out.
"To be honest I should have gave this one to you first," the wandmaker admitted. "But I just had to make sure. Let's try this one: 9 ½'', willow with a dragon heartstring core. Flexible and unyielding; also ideal for charms."
Susan gave it wave and the room brightened. Susan felt in tune with the wand in her hand. It was graceful, but powerful, like her auntie.
"Perfect," Ollivander said with pride. "I was sure it would be one or the other, so all's well and good. That will be ten Galleons, please." Susan paid for her wand, a polishing kit and a wrist holster.
"Auntie said to always be prepared," she explained. Ray and Harry agreed.
"Now," Ollivander said, "It's your turn, Mr. Potter. You look so much like your father—"
"But with my mother's eyes," The boy finished the wandmaker's sentence. "I've heard it before." The old man nodded.
"I can imagine you have," he replied. "Your father's wand was 11'', made of mahogany with a dragon heartstring core. It was pliable, excellent for transfiguration. Meanwhile, your mother's wand was 10 ¼'', willow with, surprisingly, a veela hair as its core; I had an addiction for experimentation in those days, you see. It was swishy, rather nice for charm work. I still have a few veela hair wands, but I have a feeling you'll be very different. Oh, how I love a challenge. Left hand or right hand?"
"Right," Harry answered.
"Thought so," Ollivander commented. The first wand was 10 ½'', made of birch with a dragon heartstring core. Harry broke a couple of windows. The second wand made a couple of boxes shoot off of the shelves. The next three were busts as well. The wandmaker scratched his chin in deep thought and frustration.
'Hmmm,' he lamented. 'I underestimated the difficulty of this one. Should I try—no, that would be going off course. Maybe… no, that wouldn't work.' Thinking quietly with his patrons staring at the old wandmaker, Ollivander suddenly had an idea.
"Holly," he muttered. "But it couldn't be, could it?" Harry, Susan and Ray looked confused. Harry was about to ask what was going on when Ollivander briskly walked to his back room. There was the sound of shuffling and then an 'A-ha!' A second later, the wandmaker returned with a box and the bell Susan pelted earlier. Placing the bell on the counter, he opened the box and pulled out a wand.
"Today's your lucky day, young man," Ollivander quipped to Harry. "Give this one a try. 11'' even, holly and the good part, a phoenix feather core. Nice and supple, well balanced for any kind of magic."
Unlike the previous wands, Harry felt a real connection. Power flowed through his person. He smiled contently, as if all felt right in the world. When Harry gave a wave, red and gold sparks shot from the tip and the damage Harry made was repaired.
"Curious," Ollivander said after Harry was finished. "Very curious."
"What's curious, sir," Harry asked with concern.
"Phoenix feathers can only be obtained by donation," the wandmaker began. "If at all, phoenixes only donate a single feather. The phoenix that gave me the feather for your wand gave me an extra feather, an anomaly in itself. Your wand has a special connection to another. What's curious is that that other wand was the wand that gave you the scar." Ollivander pointed to Harry's forehead, where his scar was hidden by his unruly hair. Harry's eyes widen, Susan brought her hands to her mouth in shock to quiet her gasp and Ray's face became stony.
"He did great things, Mr. Potter," Ollivander continued. "Terrible, but great. You will, too."
"Everyone has done or will do great things at some point in their lives," Ray countered. "It's up to them to choose what they wish to do. No destiny, fate, premonition, vision or prophecy can say otherwise." The old wandmaker chuckled.
"Very true," he replied with a grin. "The wand will be seven Galleons." Ray paid for the wand along with a polishing kit and holster.
"May your trek up the mountain be full of truth," Ollivander said, bearing the trio farewell. Ray nodded.
"And may your journey down be told to all," He replied. With that, Harry, Susan and Ray left the shop, new wands holstered, on their way to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
[xXx]
"Hoot! Hoot!" a snowy owl landed on the table outside the Ice Cream Parlor, where Harry was eating ice cream with Susan and Ray.
"Surprise," exclaimed a voice! "Happy Birthday, Harry!"
The trio turned around to see Sparrow with a glamorous smile and Amelia with a wide grin. Sparrow was holding a cage and a bag of owl treats. Amelia also had a bag of owl treats. Ray got up from the table and took Sparrow in his arms.
"Good job," he said, pecking her on the cheek. "Didn't suspect a thing."
"Of course he didn't," Sparrow replied, puffing up her… generous chest in pride; Ray laughed. It was then Harry decided to butt in. 'Before they start making out,' the boy thought with a grimace.
"What's with the owl," he asked his guardians.
"It's yours," Sparrow answered. Harry's eyes widened. "What? Every wizard needs a familiar. Besides, it would be nice to have a trusted friend and confidante… besides Susan that is." Sparrow added the last detail after Susan shouted 'hey!' indignantly.
"She's right, little bro," Ray added, taking an owl treat from the bag and giving it to Harry. "Now go on and name her." Harry turned around as the snowy owl took perch on the boy's shoulder. They gazed into each other's eyes as Harry thought of a name.
"Do you like Hedwig, girl," he asked, giving the owl a treat. After a five second pause, the owl ate the treat, gently nipped his ear and gave Harry a happy chirp. "Hedwig it is then." The group cheered and returned to the Bones Townhouse to have dinner. It was a happy affair. Harry had his favorite desert, Treacle Tart. As it was late, Harry, Ray and Sparrow left for their home. Harry and Susan agreed to write each other over the next month and agreed to meet up at King's Cross the following month. All in all, today was a good day (A/N 11).
[xXx]
…Wow… This took forever. Jesus, sorry guys. I really wanted to get Diagon Alley in one go. I was on a roll for awhile but I got stuck when they went to Ollivanders. I was also writing a new Naruto story, Naruto: FOXHOUND, it's a mix of Naruto, Metal Gear Solid and Ghost in the Shell. Give it a peek if you're interested.
And now… ANNOTATIONS!
1 They're called Ballet Flats, right?
2 Journey to the West is an EPIC Chinese novel! Read it! IT'S AWESOME!
3 Fanny Hill is the titular character of the world's first erotic novel, published in 1748-9. Fun!
4 Figured out how to spell it right! Will play a BIG part in the story at large later on.
5 Ray is The Most Trusted Friend of Gremlinkind. He scratches their back, they scratch his. As such, he represents their interests when Gremlins need to be represented on the surface.
6 I coined the term "redhead associate" from an artist I like. He made a print of the 11th Doctor from Doctor Who with his redhead companion, Amy Pond; it's titled "Time boy and redhead associate". Look him up at www(dot)scarygoround(dot)com. Read the comics, check out the shirts and art!
7 Not a real band. Just made them up.
8 Yenta-Mouth: two words, a person that just doesn't know when to shut the *&%$ up. The term is usually applied to Jewish American Princesses, or JAPs.
9 Barnabas is a product of my imagination called an Ash Hound. Ash Hounds are the souls of dead canines who die in sweltering heat or fires. He's cool.
10 For Qilins, see chapter 2's end notes. There I go into better detail.
11 Guess what song this is from. :D
And that's all you need to know for the chapter. I'll try as hard as I can to update soon; I can't promise immediate results, but I'll try. Next chapter: THE TRAIN! THE TRAIN!
Read and review, I know where you live.