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No Trigger Warnings

Chapter 6

Crack!

Harry blinked and wavered on his feet after his first side-along apparition on this particular timeline. It was just as jarring now as it was the first time he did it. He remembered at the last second that he's not supposed to know about any of this and said, "Wow, what was that?!"

"It's called Apparition. I can go from one point to another in the blink of an eye. For longer distances you have to take other forms of travel, but it's not too much trouble to do that now," McGonagall said, as she led him out of the alleyway they appeared in.

He glanced around and discovered that they were just across the street from King's Cross. McGonagall swept along in front and he had to run to keep up with her pace as she walked. He looked like a child from a church school trying to keep out of trouble as he accompanied a severe nun.

They hurried down the stairs towards platforms 9 and 10. When Harry glanced over there he saw about half a dozen families loitering, looking a little awkward, like they expected they were apart of some elaborate hoax. Harry felt his heart soar as he caught sight of a certain bushy-haired girl who was standing shyly by her parents, looking at everyone through a curtain of her hair warily. This piqued Harry's curiosity since she'd been so excited and forthright when they first met, but he knew she hadn't really had friends before. Maybe she and her parents were still questioning how real this was? He'd try to crack open her shell before they parted ways today.

He saw a good chunk of other students he did not recognize, but he saw Justin Finch-Fletchley and Dean Thomas talking to another boy Harry didn't recognize. For the first time, he saw how small the number of muggleborns were in his class. No wonder Malfoy can gloat about keeping the muggleborns out of Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic. The blood status issue was a dividing issue co-opted by Voldemort and would need to be tackled in its own way. However, there was very little reason to muddle over it now since he was only a child.

Harry detached himself from the professor and moved into the thick of the crowd, smiling jovially. It felt good to see everyone happy and healthy, even if he wasn't necessarily true friends with most of them. He positioned himself near to where Hermione was standing with her parents and turned his attention forward as McGonagall cleared her throat.

The professor glanced around furtively and waved her wand. Harry shivered slightly at a light pressure that made him want to pop his ears. It was a spell Hermione had used to keep them all safe when they were on the run, to mask their sound.

"Your attention, please! Good morning. Thank you for coming to the Muggleborn Integration Tour of the Wizarding World. I am Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts. I shall be showing key sites in the Wizarding World, including the Platform 9 ¾ and Diagon Alley, which is where magical folk do the majority of their shopping. Now, I ask that you refrain asking me too many questions while we are out in the muggle world. I will be available to answer all of them once we reach Diagon Alley."

"This wall is the barrier between the muggle world and the magical. If you will watch me closely, I will demonstrate. It is best that you not feel fear."

It was interesting how regal and prominent Professor McGonagall could look while walking straight into a brick wall.

"Is she mad?" Mr. Granger spoke audibly enough for Harry to hear and he had to stifle a giggle.

Hermione had the same skeptical look on her face. Harry smiled at her and said, "It's alright. I trust her!" He then darted forward and ran at the barrier, whooping as he crossed it onto the platform. He had never seen it so empty, but he immediately reigned in his excitement upon seeing Professor McGonagall.

"Very good, Mr. Potter. I can appreciate that this is not an easy task for those who are unfamiliar with magic."

Harry felt the blood rush to his cheeks at the compliment, but as he turned around Dean Thomas and Justin Finch-Fletchley came sprinting through the barrier. Their eyes widened comically and they gasped in awe at the vast platform that seemed to materialize before their eyes. Their parents followed soon after and then Hermione materialized, though she had decided to stick closely with her parents. She seemed to relax though when she stepped through and gaped at her surroundings, her expression mirroring everyone else there.

"Very good! This is Platform 9 ¾ . It is where your student shall catch the train on the 1st of September. The train leaves at 11 sharp. I highly advise you arrive early. Now, if you'll follow me, I shall lead you to the Leaky Cauldron, where you'll be able to reach Diagon Alley. It's only a few blocks."

It was an odd bunch that left the station to venture out into the city. Since McGonagall had asked not to be questioned out in the muggle world, the parents kept to themselves and muttered to each other about what was going on, their doubts and fears. The kids all mingled and though Hermione seemed less shy now that it was clear the world of magic existed, she still hung back and watched the other kids chatter like monkeys.

Harry fell back to walk near her. "Hi, I'm Harry! Harry Potter. And you are?"

She seemed surprised that anyone would want to talk to her, but then she relaxed and replied, "I'm Hermione Granger."

"Pleased to meet you. So what do you think of all this?"

"It's really quite...exciting! My parents and I were beginning to think the weird things that happened around me were some sort of collective hallucination. It's been some time though since I displayed any sort of magic." Her smile fell a little then. "I wonder if I'll be any good at it."

"I'm sure you'll be brilliant! My mum and dad were witch and wizard, but I never found out until today. My aunt and uncle kept it from me because they were hoping I'd be normal."

"That's horrible!"

Harry merely shrugged it off. "I was so certain the Dursleys were playing an elaborate hoax on me when I got the letter. Even though I'm supposed to know about magic, I'm pleased Headmistress McGonagall was kind enough to include me in the Integration tour. I'll be learning the same stuff right along with you!"

Hermione still seemed uncertain and he almost regretted even mentioning the Dursleys, but she'd eventually find out about his horrible home life. They would certainly have gotten off on the wrong foot if he lied to her right out of the gate. He did his best to steer her away from pondering on his relatives. "So what crazy things did you do before you found out about magic? I turned one of my teacher's hair blue when she failed me on a test."

She giggled at that. "You really should study for those tests!"

"I did. I just didn't get it at the time. I'm alright now. So what about you?"

"Well, once a girl invited me to a sleepover. My parents wouldn't let me go, so I got mad and caused some pictures to fly off the wall. They grounded me for that, even though I didn't know what was going on."

Harry nodded sympathetically. "I got grounded for the things I didn't understand, too. Like once I was trying to escape some bullies and I jumped to hide behind some trash cans but I ended up on the roof. I'm still not sure what happened."

"I am really looking forward to learning how to control it. It's been so mysterious and now I get the chance to learn all about it. I hope they have a lot of books available."

"I'm sure they will, Hermione," Harry said, trying to conceal his laughter. He was afraid she'd think he was laughing at her, but he was just so pleased that she was like the friend he left behind. For some odd reason, he felt a pang in his heart at the thought of leaving the other Hermione behind. I didn't leave her behind. We went back in time. She will never have to know about that future.

"Everyone, crowd around me," Professor McGonagall said.

The children moved in the closest and as Harry glanced around he saw the peeling letters of The Leaky Cauldron. The parents had polite confusion written all over their faces.

"Now, you are about to enter our world. Those who have magic in their blood can see the building behind me and those who don't, cannot. Parents, I assure you that not everything will be invisible to you. Since your child is apart of our world, the courtesy of being able to access it is extended to you. Please, put each of these necklaces around your neck. They are charmed to allow you to see the same things we do."

Harry peered curiously at the necklaces. Hermione had never mentioned them to him before and he supposed there was never any need to. They seemed innocuous enough. Small metal objects hung at the end of a leather band and the shapes range from a stars, to moons, seashells, and even owls. Mr. Granger still looked like he was prepared to be had, but he slipped it on over his head and gasped as the building materialized before him.

"H-h-how?"

"Magic, of course," McGonagall replied. She received a wry smile in return but paid no attention to it. "The Leaky Cauldron houses the entrance to Diagon Alley. There are other ways of getting to the shopping district, but as muggles you will most likely use this one. Follow me."

They entered into the pub and while they got glances, Harry was pleased that he didn't get the same enthusiastic welcome as last time.

"Ah, Professor McGonagall,"Old Tom said, giving her a toothless grin. "That time a year already?"

"Indeed it is, Tom. These are the newest muggleborns who will be going to Hogwarts."

"Welcome to our world," Tom replied with a bow. The children tentatively waved at him.

"On we go," McGonagall said, not wasting another minute. Harry was certain he saw her cast a glance at him; he was grateful for the discretion.

Harry was determined not to stare too much, but he smiled at the bustling pub It had been a shadow of its former self once Voldemort had attacked the alley and taken over the ministry. Now, though, he was fairly certain he saw a vampire hiding in a corner, a couple of goblins seemed to be playing a raucous game of Gobstone, and various witches and wizards were conversing over self-stirring cups.

"Now, this is the entranceway to Diagon Alley," McGonagall replied in front of a familiar brick wall. "Students, pay attention, because your wand is the key to open this door and you will need it to continue to access the alley. "Three up, two across." She demonstrated at a rather awkward angle for all to see and the bricks began shuffling themselves to form an archway.

"Before you head off to the shops for your school supplies, you must open an account at the wizarding bank, Gringotts. We have a different currency from muggles, so you will need to exchange. Goblins run the bank. They are very knowledgeable on the ways of finance and you may ask them any questions regarding the exchange of currency."

McGonagall started down the street and, though it was crowded, the sea of people parted from her as if she was a goddess. Everyone who followed her tacitly kept her in their line of sight, but were all staring around at the various shops.

"Look, Hermione, Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore! I bet you can find your books in there," Harry said.

She could barely contain her excitement now, clapping her hands and practically skipping down the cobblestone walkway.

"Well, what do you think?" Hermione's mom said.

"I don't think it's a hoax," her dad replied as he gaped at all the various stores.

"Mum, dad, can I buy more books than are on our list? Please?"

"Of course you can, dear. I think we'll want to buy a few books anyway."

Harry grinned ear-to-ear as everything familiar he remembered before the war went about him as it all had before. Florean Fortescue was serving a family ice cream, Ollivander's looked shabby but whole, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Harry smile a little bit knowing that Malfoy had already been here and he wouldn't have to meet him in the Alley. At seeing Eeylop's Owl Emporium, Harry felt his heart leap. Hagrid had escorted him to Diagon Alley on his birthday. It was the day after, but he wondered if Hedwig was still there and he grinned at the prospect of getting his faithful owl back.

The marble white building of Gringotts towered over the group. Next to the quaint buildings of Diagon Alley, it looked like it had been displaced from Greece. The muggles couldn't keep from staring at the goblins as they passed; Hermione stopped to read the warning, but Harry walked right on past it. The odds were pretty good that he was going to have to be mad enough to try and rob from it again.

"This will take a varying amount of time for each of you. I suggest that we meet up at the archway to Diagon Alley by one in the afternoon."

After the rest of the families dispersed to see about opening accounts with the bank. Harry glanced around at the goblins with some trepidation. Hagrid had been carrying his vault key the last time.

"Professor?" Harry asked quietly. "I...I don't have any money and I'm certain my aunt and uncle won't pay for all of this."

"You need not worry about that, Mr. Potter. Your parents left you some money. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore has been keeping your trust safe for you. I have your vault key right here." She led him up to an open counter and said, "Mr. Potter would like to access his vault."

It seemed even at Gringotts, Professor McGonagall's reputation preceded her because the goblin sat up straighter under her stern gaze.

"Does Mr. Potter have his key?"

She pulled the key out of a clutch. The goblin examined it carefully and then said, "Does Mr. Potter wish to see the rest of the Potter holdings?"

Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise; this was his first time hearing about this. "No, sir, just the one vault for now," he replied

"Very well. Scratchnail, will show you the way," the goblin said, clapping his hands and showing them away with a sweeping direction. The marble hallways gave way to a dark passage and they climbed into the cart.

"Thank you for staying with me," Harry murmured to her.

"Of course, Mr. Potter. You're a student at Hogwarts; your welfare is our concern."

They took the long cart ride down. The first time thrilled Harry like a roller coaster ride, but by the second ride he'd just found it tedious. Now, though, he felt his heart pounding as he remembered his last descent into Gringotts, where they found the oldest vaults, and the blind dragon. He knew it was ridiculous, but he couldn't help but be afraid that Scratchnail would know his thoughts, but he just sat in the front like normal.

The goblin took the key and opened the vault to the sizeable pile of Galleons and columns of Sickles and Knuts. Harry gaped even now.

"Mr. Potter, do you know our currency?" McGonagall asked.

"No, but...it looks like gold, silver, and bronze, right?"

"Yes, it is, but we call the gold coins Galleons, the silver ones Sickles, and the bronze are Knuts. There are seventeen Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine knuts to a Sickle."

"How much do you think I'll need?

"I suppose that depends on what you need besides your supplies."

"I don't have anything to put all my stuff in."

"So you'll need a trunk."

"I also want some new clothes. I don't like these," Harry said, gesturing to the parachute he was wearing.

"I would say ten galleons, fifty sickles, and one hundred knuts should be enough. Your wand will be your most expensive item. It is intended that you will keep your wand for the rest of your life."

"Wow."

Typically, Harry did not spend all that much on school supplies past the first year, but he had quite a bit that he wanted to buy, including an extra nice trunk, so he grabbed a little extra for good measure.

Back through the tunnels on the cart, Harry was blinking in the daylight of Gringotts. He had glanced around the front hall of Gringotts and hadn't recognized any of the sets of parents he'd toured with. He was hoping that Hermione and her parents would already be out here, but it might look suspicious for him to hang around for her.

"Mr. Potter, do you need an escort around to the various shops."

"Oh no thanks, Professor. I can manage," Harry replied and headed down the steps. He might only be eleven, but he had always shunned an authority figure leading him around, even if he liked them. Madame Malkin's was first, so he headed over there, hoping that it would be the first stop for everybody.