Time Turned Back- The Prisoner of Azkaban
Chapter 5: Meeting Friends Old and New
Harry spent the next few weeks spilt between going over his books for the year, wandering Diagon Alley with Padfoot, and reading his parents final Journal entries, hoping to find some information he could use to prove Sirius' innocence, and helping Sirius and Remus as they went over the Marauders Animagus research with Severus.
He had also gotten several mail order catalogues from Quality Quidditch Supplies for Broom Companies in America, Asia, and the Far East, as well as a catalogue for a small but well known broom company from Ireland, from what the clerk at the shop told him they designed the brooms for the IrishEagles.
He had arranged to meet with Professor McGonagall, and Oliver Wood the week before Ron got back from Egypt, so he went through the broom catalogues with Sirius for a good broom that could compete with the Firebolt.
"What exactly did you bring us here for Potter?" Professor McGonagall asked as she sat down in the meeting room
"I called you here for your opinion on a little matter pertaining to Gryffindor's Quidditch Team" Harry replied "And making sure that the House and Quidditch cups are in your office this time next year" then he set a folder down on the table and said "As well as to deliver this to you"
"What is it?" Wood asked
"It's the key to a Vault I set up for Gryffindor" Harry said "To get the team an Equipment upgrade in brooms to match the Firebolt and the Nimbus 2001"
"I ca…" McGonagall began
"You can" Harry interrupted "Oliver is graduating this year, I've heard rumours that there won't be a Quidditch cup next year because the Ministry is planning something big at Hogwarts, and the team will be going to pieces the year after that, so I think we should start training the replacements now so that when the time comes they're ready to rumble"
"He is right Professor" Wood said "I've heard the same thing about next year, but there's nothing concrete to support it, I think we should set up tryouts this year so that we're ready later"
"Very well" McGonagall said "I will arrange it, but what about this Vault you set up?"
"I've been staying at the Cauldron for nearly three weeks" Harry said "And other than going over my books for this year and training in my Trunk all I've had to do is read the mail order catalogues from Quality Quidditch…I asked Oliver to come here so we could go over the possible brooms I've picked out of the books from Mountain Crossers from Ireland, Tsunami from Hawaii, Tornado from Oklahoma, Mustang from Texas, Blizzard from Alaska, Four Points from China, Dragonfire from Japan, and Sandstorm from Egypt and the Far East"
"How many Brooms do you have from each one?" Wood asked
"I've got one from each companythat works well forany Position" Harry said "But I'm not gonna replace my Nimbus just yet, it's still able to match most of the brooms the school will be using. Especially since the best brooms anybody has are the 2001's Malfoy Sr. paid to get his brat onto the team last year"
"And he still couldn't fly to save his slimy little hide" Oliver muttered
"So I've noticed" Harry said "His broom may be a year ahead of mine, but its still only got an additional five k/ph on mine, and he still turns like a first year on a Cleansweep"
Wood chuckled as he and Harry went through the catalogue pages Harry had cut out.
After twenty minutes of reading through the pages, comparing them to the information sheet Harry had on the Firebolt and Nimbus 2000 and arguing about Turning speed, Acceleration, Maximum speed and other key statistics, Harry and Wood finally agreed on an acceptable broom for the entire team. As well as a broom for Harry.
"OK" Harry sighed "We've decided that the Tornado Highwind for the Team"
"And when you need a new broom, the Sandstorm Desert Blade for you" Wood nodded "It'll match the Firebolt and the Nimbus any day"
"Good" McGonagall said over the transfiguration text in her hand "There is a total of 450,000 Galleons in the Vault"
"Enough to keep Gryffindor at the top of the playing field forthirty years" Harry said as he stood up "Maybe more"
"I will order thethirteen Brooms immediately and distribute them at a team meeting on September 2nd" McGonagall said "You just make sure those Trophies are in my office September next year Potter"
"You got it" Harry said as he handed the page with the details of the Highwind and the Desert Bladeto McGonagall along with the order form
"Till September" McGonagall said as she strode out.
"This is gonna be a good year I think" Oliver said
"Easy for you to say" Harry muttered as Oliver flooed home "You're not gonna run into Dementor's all year"
Harry sighed contentedly as he leaned back into his seat outside Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour a week later. He had just finished a stack of big pancakes with toffee sauce, and Strawberry and Mint Chocolate chip ice cream. Remus had gone back to his flat with Padfoot that morning.
"Harry" a familiar voice called from down the street.
He smiled as he spotted Ron and Hermione jogging towards him.
"We've been looking for you" Ron said "Tom said you were out"
"I decided to have some ice cream" Harry said
"How long have you been here?" Hermione asked
"About three and a half weeks" Harry shrugged "I wasn't in the mood to stick around to listen to Vernon's sister badmouth my mum and dad so I left an envelope with £2,400 on the coffee table and took the Knight Bus here"
"That was incredibly dangerous" Hermione said "Especially with Sirius Black on the loose"
"I'll handle my Godfather when the timecomes'Mione" Harry assured "Just leave him to me"
"Your Godfather?" Ron asked "How did you find that out?"
"From this" Harry said as he held up the brown leather bound book in his hand "It's my Dad's Journal for the years after their Graduation, its up to date right up to the week before they died…it was in one of the trunks my Aunt gave me at my birthday…we're on more amicable terms than before since I found out she went to Hogwarts"
"Cool" Hermione said
Harry nodded as he stood up "So you know Ron, I'm afraid I'll be abandoning you in Divination"
"What?" Ron yelled as they entered the bar
"I decided a few weeks ago to take Muggle Defence as well as Care of Magical Creatures" Harry said
"But why?" Ron asked
"Because from what I've heard Trelawney is off her bloody rocker even further than Dumbledore" Harry replied
Ron groaned as he walked across the bar.
As they went upstairs to Harry's room he said "You'll be pleased to know though, that Oliver is holding tryouts for a secondary House Team this year. He's gonna start training his replacement now and let the new captain pick it up next year"
"Why now?" Hermione asked "The twins, Katie, Angelina, and Alicia don't graduate for another three years"
"We agreed to start training them now because some sources I've heard from say that next year there won't be a Quidditch cup" Harry replied
"Cool" Ron said
"I also supplied the capital for Gryffindor to remain at the top of the line for the next twenty seasons" Harry said as he sat down.
"Have you gotten your school books yet?" Hermione asked
"Yesterday" Harry replied "I've also got a pretty big library for my new trunk"
"New trunk?" Ron asked "What's wrong with your old one?"
"Aside from the fact that the damn thing's fallin apart" Harry said "I've been at Hogwart's two years, and I've had two encounters with Voldermort. So I got a trunk with two compartments for training purposes, and I intend to put the bloody things through their paces, Auror equipment or not"
"Auror Equipment" Hermione yelled "That stuff could kill you"
"I've been using it at level two for a week and it hasn't killed me yet" Harry said "From what the instructions said it runs at the same skill level as a Hogwarts student…level one to seven is School spells and tactics, and eight to ten is Trainee Auror, Auror, and Hit Wizard"
"That sounds cool" Ron said
"You should see the assault course then" Harry said as he brushed his hand across his left cheek "I got this slipping through a trap near the end, I'm pretty sure it'll scar"
"Any other impulse buys we should know about?" Hermione asked
"Well I told you about the Library in the trunk, which includes Apparation, I'm gonna learn at some stage"
"But that's illegal" Hermione said "And dangerous…you could splinch yourself"
"Not if I concentrate and use the meditation techniques I've been learning" Harry said "And besides, I'm not gonna learn yet, I'm handling my Animagus studies first" but before Hermione could say anything Harry interrupted "You don't need to tell me it's illegal 'Mione I know, but it's necessary"
"Doesn't mean I have to like it" Hermione muttered as she stood up "Come on, Ron's rat Scabbers isn't feeling good so Ron's going to the Magical Menagerie to get him checked out"
The very thought of the Rat made Harry scowl. He wanted so much to take the rat and cart him off to the Ministry, but he knew he couldn't give the game away.
"Patience is a virtue" he muttered as he pulled on his jacket and attached his money pouch to his jeans.
"Are you gonna get anything else?" Hermione asked as they left the bar
"Just two more things" Harry said "They're both a surprise"
Hermione glared at Harry as they reached the Magical Menagerie and said "Never mind, I'm going to get a new pet today so I'll see you in a bit"
Harry nodded as he went off his own way, wandering down the aisle looking at the various dogs, cats, snakes, and other animals. While doing his damndest to block out the voices that were echoing in his mind. Pettigrew's among them.
He had just about reached the end lf the row when he spotted a very peculiar animal.
It was a cat. But it was different, it was slightly more muscular than a housecat, it was like a jungle cat, except it had the ears of a Kneazle, the cat's fur was midnight black, with white and grey stripes like a tiger.
Looking at the card on the enclosure.
Shadow Cat
A rare hybrid of a Kneazkle and an Albino Siberian Tiger. This cat is one of the most proficient stealth animals in the world. There are those who believe that it can actually meld into the shadows. This has yet to be confirmed
Harry smiled as he looked at the cub before him. He had always liked cats. Maybe it had something to do with spending so much time with Mrs. Figg.
But he decided to get the Shadow Cat.
Hope you don't mind he said as he looked the cat over
Not at all the cat replied as it stretched The name's Midnight
Harry he replied
Harry had just caught a clerk when a yell from the front of the shop sounded "SCABBERS" and caught a glimpse of Ron bolting from the shop.
"I want that cat" Harry said "But I'll be right back" then he ran after Ron.
"What happened?" Harry asked when he caught up with Ron outside Olivanders
"That cat spooked Scabbers" Ron growled as he stuffed the fat rat into his pocket.
Harry chuckled as he spotted Hermione walking towards them, with Harry's favourite cat in her arms
"You bought that beast?" Ron asked in disbelief
"Isn't he cute?" Hermione asked as she hugged the cat
STRANGE FOOD Harry heard in his mind as Crookshanks struggled to get out of Hermione's arms
No Harry said, focusing on the cat in an attempt to keep the rat from hearing him That rat is not for eating
Speaker Crookshanks said as he saw Harry
Yes Harry replied I need that rat for another purpose, please Crookshanks you must not harm him
I will do as you ask Speaker Crookshanks purred But I seek food
And where you will be going you will get it Harry said You will get more food than you imagined, especially prey Crookshanks simply purred in response as she settled into Hermione's arms.
"We've got to go get Scabbers' tonic" Ron said
"And I've gotta get my new cat" Harry said
"Another cat" Ron yelled
"This one's not a housecat" Harry said "He's a Shadow Cat"
"I've read about those" Hermione said as they walked back to he shop "They're supposed to be adorable, and they also grow to the size of a fully grown jungle Tiger"
"Cool" Harry said "A bodyguard"
"Are you nuts?" Ron yelled "That thing'll kill someone"
"Hopefully Malfoy or Fudge" Harry chuckled as he walked towards the counter, where the clerk he spoke to earlier held Midnight in her arms.
"I'll need to register him to you" she said "Do you want to leave his name as Midnight?"
"Yeah" Harry nodded "How much for everything?"
"Thirty three Galleons" she replied "But you should know that he'll be too big to go in the basket by next year, you'll probably need a lead"
"I'll worry about that next year" Harry said as he emptied the thirty three gold coins onto the counter as the clerk set Midnight into the carry basket.
Don't worry Harry reassure him I'll let you out when we get to my room
Midnight simply purred as he went to sleep.
At lunch with the Weasley's that day Fred and George were busy joking about Percy being made Head Boy, Ron and Hermione were arguing about Crookshanks and Mrs and Mr Weasley were talking quietly about Sirius, and Ginny sat blushing as she looked sideways a Harry.
Seeing her alive again was almost more than Harry could take. He wanted to sweep her off her feet and tell her how much he loved her just like before, but he couldn't, not yet, he would have to wait, and start slowly.
"What else do you need to get today Harry?" Hermione asked
"It's not what I need to get it" Harry said "I want to get them; I've never taken the opportunity in my life to actually get something for myself with no reason before"
"What is it?" Mrs Weasley asked
"Contact lenses" Harry replied "And a guitar"
"You play?" Ginny asked with a smile
"I'm pretty handy on the strings" Harry shrugged "But it's been a while since Dudley threw his at the wall in a tantrum cause his teacher wouldn't give him any more lessons"
"Why?" Hermione asked
"Because Dudley Dursley was unable to play a single coherent melody" Harry replied "Vernon and Marge argued that the teacher couldn't do his job and when he refused to continue the lessons Dudley slammed the guitar down on top of his Sega Megadrive, crushing the cartridge of Sonic the Hedgehog, shattering the computer case, and destroying the guitar"
"Bloody hell" Ron said
"Yeah" Harry muttered "That's Dudley for ya. Chances are he'll die of a heart attack before he hits his twenty fifth birthday and the whole of Little Whingham will rejoice"
"That's horrible" Hermione said
"And Dudley was a horrible person" Harry said "He may just be going along with Vernon to squeeze him for what the Walrus is worth, but he's still one of the biggest (both literal and figurative) bullies I have ever had the displeasure of encountering, and as far as I know he recently decided to start smoking, give it two years and he'll be on the booze, another year and he'll be high as a kite"
"Huh?" Ron asked stupidly
"Drugs you numbskull" Hermione sighed "It's a figure of speech involving Drugs"
"Oh" Ron said, still having no idea what she was talking about.
"Never mind" Hermione said as she stood up "Where are you getting your contacts Harry? In London? Or in the Alley?"
"I'll go to the alley" Harry said "I might be able to get some special features or something"
Harry left the Opticians an hour later with a burning in his eyes. The Opticians in the alley were not like he had expected. Instead of fitting him for a pair of contact lenses, the clerk had Harry choose the features he wanted his lenses to have, Night Vision, Telescopic vision, Thermal sight, and the ability to see through invisibility cloaks and solid surfaces, like Mad Eye Moody.
He took all those, and when he had made his choice the clerk sat him down in a chair and used a spell to lock his head in place and keep his eyes open. Then she took and eye dropper and dropped some sort of clear solution into his eyes, it burned like hell as his eyes seemed to glaze over, but it passed eventually, and the clerk told him the spell to keep his eyes open would remain in effect for ten hours and would repel any attempt for him to rub his eyes.
After paying forty Galleons for the lenses, Harry bought a pair of sunglasses and left the shop.
"I've had to wear glasses since I was five" Harry said as they walked down the street towards the Musical Instrument store "Finally glad to be rid of 'em, they were a pain during matches"
"Wouldn't matter if you were blind" Ron said "You'd still nail the snitch right underneath Malfoy's nose"
Harry chuckled slightly as he entered the shop. He had taken up the Guitar in the summer before his sixth year, he was very good. It was one of the few pleasures he had been able to find for himself after Sirius died. Ginny loved to hear him play.
When she died he had not only torn the Gryffindor Common Room and the Great Hall apart with his bare hands, and then he had hurled the guitar across the lake. He was pretty sure it had reached the other side and shattered on the train platform.
As Harry wandered the shop he searched for a specific instrument. When he had originally bought it the shopkeeper said it had been there for several years, so he hoped it was there now.
And there, at the back of the shop in on a rack, was his old friend, the pale brown guitar
(AN think of the old wooden country guitars western musicians use)
"I'll take it" Harry said as he sensed a clerk walking up behind him
"So you know" the clerk replied as she took the guitar down "There are a few spells on it so that you can change the tones the strings make to different types of guitars"
"Cool" Harry said "I also want some blank music sheets, a storage folder and a case"
The clerk nodded as she went to work, and ten minutes later Harry left the shop with a guitar case across his back, a cat basket in his left hand and a folder under his right, feeling very satisfied with himself.
For the first time ever Harry was taking his own life by the throat and getting what he wanted.
And it had only just begun.
Authors Notes: Done