Harry Potter: A Life before Hogwarts

Chapter 8 – Escape to Diagon Alley (25-Aug-1991)

Before Harry could be released from the Hospital, he had to be given one more physical to make sure everything had been fixed. The report read as follows:

Patient: Harry James Potter

Physical Age: 11 years, 0 months, 25 day

Actual Age: Mr Potter now has the body of an eleven year old, with all bones and organs fix in the upper 95 percentile of the children in his age group.

Current diagnosis: All of the signs of abuse and malnutrition in Mr Potter have been eliminated.

Soul Fragment: The soul fragment behind Mr Potter's scar has been removed. Mr Potter shows no ill effects of having the soul fragment attached. He also shows no ill effect of having the soul fragment removed.

Magical Potential and Reserves: According to the standard 'Merlin Power Scale' (MPS) where the standard 11 year old male student entering Hogwarts is '100', Mr Potter scores a 350. Meaning that we should expect Mr Potter to perform all spell required for a first year student beginning Hogwarts this year.

(The following section is magically encoded so that only a healer who has signed an agreement with Gringotts, or Mr Potters 'Loco Parentis' can read the following.)

Mr Potter's true power level as rated by the 'Merlin Power Scale' (MPS) is in the range of 49,000 to 65,000, a mid-level Sorcerer. The reason for the wide variance is due to the removal of a powerful bind that had been placed on Mr Potter at the age of three by Mr A.P.W.B. Dumbledore. Had this core binding remained on Mr Potter's core that is a very good possibility that Mr Potter would not be alive today.

It is the opinion of the healers at Gringotts that Mr A.P.W.B. Dumbledore should have limited access to Mr Potter. It is clear that the goals of Mr A.P.W.B. Dumbledore are NOT in the best long term interest of Mr Potter.

If required, this document and evidence of malpractice in the case of Mr A.P.W.B. Dumbledore can be released with a properly executed summons by the Wizarding Ministry of Magic or the Wizarding ICW. Mr A.P.W.B. Dumbledore will no longer enjoy favored status within any of the walls of ANY Gringotts location.

(End of encoded section)

Blood Status: In examining Mr Potter's blood we find that he should be considered a pure-blood.

He shows magical inheritance from Potter, Evans, and Black blood, with evidence of other ancient blood-lines via the Potter and Evans line. It has been proven beyond any doubt that Lily Evans was from a squib line and is not mundane-born as previously suspected. The presents of Black blood in Mr Potter's body shows there was adoption of Mr Potter by Lord Black. Mr Potter is considered by Gringotts as the heir presumptive of the House of Black should anything happen to Lord Black while he is being held illegally in Azkaban.

(The following section is magically encoded so that only legal counsel who has signed an agreement with Gringotts, or Mr Potters 'Loco Parentis' can read the following.)

It has been discovered that Mr Potter could rightfully claim nearly all magical titles due to the inbreeding however, in MOST cases; there is a more direct claimant than Mr Potter. The main exceptions to this statement are with the lines of the Hogwarts founders (Gryffindor and Ravenclaw through the Potter line; Hufflepuff through the Evans line and the Slytherin line by right of conquest). He is also the heir and Lord to the family Peverell and the Most Ancient and Most Noble Houses of Myrddin Emrys and Morgan le Fay. As a result of this discovery, the first nine vaults in Gringotts will be accessible to Mr Potter as soon as he ascends to his Lordship in ANY of the houses he is eligible for.

It would be the recommendation of Gringotts that Mr Potter should claim his right as Lord Potter since he is the last of the Ancient and Noble House of Potter and has reached the age of eight or greater. It will be left up to his 'Loco Parentis' to advise Mr Potter in this matter. He could then claim the other Lordships of the other seven houses, but hold them secret until such time as it is needed to make them public. There are currently a total of five goblin accountant teams updating the accounts of these previously closed vaults. It is hoped that a full accounting of the contents and values of the vaults may be ready by the winter break of this year.

(End of encoded section)

Mind Health: Mr Potter has had all obliviation and other blocks on his memory removed. Mr Potter as also met with a mind healer to help him deal with the trauma as a result of this action, and of the poor treatment he received at the hands of his aunt, uncle and cousin.

Other issues: Mr Potter finds it is easier to communicate with adults than children at or about his age. We are hoping that as Mr Potter associates with more people his own age he will be able to communicate with them in a more consistent manner.

Conclusion: Mr Potter is now ready to attend Hogwarts as a regular student. It is hoped that he will continue to grow and become a respected member of society.

End of Medical report for Mr Harry James Potter.

With that out of the way, Professor McGonagall took Harry to the goblin inheritance office to have Harry installed as the current Lord Potter as well as the other Lords that he is the head of. In becoming a Lord Potter he automatically becomes emancipated, meaning he has no reason for a 'Loco Parentis', however, Harry still feels that he need the help of an older, wiser person than himself and so he asked Professor McGonagall if she would consent to be his 'Consiliarius Parentalis' (Parental Counselor). She agrees if for no other reason than to keep Headmaster Dumbledore applying for the position himself.

Professor McGonagall also tells Harry that she will not be at her flat in Highlands of Scotland. She suggested that he get a room at the Leaky Caldron where he could stay uninterrupted until it was time to go to Kings Cross Station on 01-Sep-1991. With that, she gives Harry another hug and tells him that she expects to see him at Hogwarts in the first, or he will be in BIG trouble.

Having only one week until Harry had to report to the Hogwarts Express, he found that he still had many things yet to buy.

Harry had contacted the Grangers to see if Hermione had already purchased her item. They responded that yes, she had, but that she had run out of reading material and was trying to convince her parents in to take her back to Diagon Alley to get her more book and things to read. She convinced her parents that she was the ONLY person that could help Harry get the rest of the things he needed to go to Hogwarts. The agreed to meet at the Leaky Cauldron at 10:00AM on 25-Aug-1991.

Upon meeting the Grangers, Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. Where before there was a four foot nothing, forty pound waif of a boy; now stood a five foot three inches, one hundred twenty pound handsome young man.

"Harry what happened to you? You don't look like yourself anymore?" Hermione asked.

"Sure Hermione, this is how I was supposed to look if not for the nine and a half years of neglect from my 'loving' family. It's taken the healers at Gringotts over a month using the best magic and potions in the world to get me looking like this. But that's not why we're here today, we're he to go shopping."

At the sound of the 'S' word, Hermione wanted to immediately go to Flourish and Blotts Booksellers as soon as she got into Diagon Alley to see if she could buy all the books she didn't have yet. Harry however needed to by a trunk first.

"Why do you need a trunk Harry?"

"This may seem silly Hermione, but I currently don't have anything to put my books or other items in. So I'll need to go to a trunk shop first before I can go with you at Flourish and Blotts Booksellers."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense. I just give all my purchases to my Daddy had let him carry them for me."

"Well, that would be nice, but I don't have any parents to do that for me, and I wouldn't want to over burden your father with everything I'll be buying today. Why don't you get started with the book store first, I'm sure there are a lot of areas that aren't covered in the first years books."

"Alright Harry, but hurry will you. I have so many things I want to look at today."

As stated previously, Harry's first stop was at a trunk store.

Going down the street in Diagon Alley, Harry found a trunk maker store: H.J. Cave, Fine trunks since 1839. Going in the store, a small bell rang in the back of the shop, letting the proprietor that a customer was waiting.

"Good day kind sir, what may I help you with?" Asked the elderly gentleman.

"I am looking for a special trunk that will last me a life time if I may sir."

"You look a little young to be looking for such a serious purchase. Are you even going to Hogwarts young man?"

"I start this year, but I have feel that money well spent on quality always win out over quantity."

Harry convinced the older gentleman, Mr Henry J. Cave to show him a selection of the trunks he had in the store. He of course started out with the standard Hogwarts school trunk. A single chambered trunk with minor expansion charms on them where you could store all your standard school supplies. Then he moved up to the more expensive 'senior' Hogwarts school trunk. This trunk had three compartments with a more advanced expanding charms on them so that the student could keep more of the items he had 'acquired' during their Hogwarts days. These seemed to be very popular with the fifth years and up.

Next were the family model trunks. Some of these where equipped so that they could be attached to a broom, or if the family had some mundane relations, they could even put them in one of those 'Automobiles'. The trunks had anywhere from two to six chambers that could be designed anyway the user wanted them. These trunks are even spelled so they can fit in the back of these 'Automobiles' regardless of how much room is still left in them.

Finally Mr Cave showed him what he said was his finest work. As he pulled back a display curtain, Harry saw the most beautiful trunk in the world. Rich, hand rubbed burl walnut exterior with what looked like at least twenty coats of hard lacquer on it. Thick leather straps to support and highlight the piece. Heavy duty brass handles, trims and fittings to ensure it can take the hard traveling if required. But most impressively was the gold embossed name of "POTTER" on the top of the trunk.

"Old man Potter commissioned this trunk almost twelve years ago. He paid have of the 120,000 galleons it cost to build. I finished it the day 'He-who-must-not-be-named' killed him and his wife. Their only child was only in the fifth year of Hogwarts, so I just forgot to get with him after he graduated.

"This is a special trunk. I put on EVERY protection charm I could think of at the time and even a few that were just experimental at the time. There are a total of nine chambers in the trunk, all expanded as much as I could. It's fully furnished with item ol' Charles took right out of his family vault. That alone makes this a priceless piece. There's only one Potter left, and no one's heard hide nor hair from him since his parents were killed. What I wouldn't give if I could present that young man some that belonged to his family. It might bring him closer to them if he had something of theirs."

Harry had to turn from Mr Cave while he was explaining about his Grandfather's trunk. When he finally got his emotions under control he looked back to Mr Cave, and pulling his hair up off his scar said, "Sir, I would be more than willing to pay you the full 120,000 galleons if I could have my Grandfather's trunk. Think of it as a 'storage fee' for keeping the trunk and other items here in your shop for so long." Try as he might, Harry could not keep the tears out of his eyes as he talked to Mr Cave. When Mr Cave realized just who it was he had been talking to all this time he too got a bit teary eyed and gave Harry the first hug he had experienced that wasn't from a healer or Professor McGonagall.

After showing Harry how the trunk operated and how he could key himself or his friends into the trunk, he handed him the operations manual, showed him how to shrink it down to where it would fit in his pocket, and refused any payment from him. He said the whole wizarding world owed him a debt for getting rid of 'You-know-who' last time and it was his pleasure to be able to unite this trunk with the real owner. He also convinced Harry to call for one of the Potter family house elves so that he would have someone that could help him learn more about his family and help him if he happened to get stuck in the trunk at any time.

Harry called for a house elf and was greeted by Sassy. A female elf that would be at about the same relative age and would be able to help Harry in his tasks of learning about all the houses he was now Lord over, however, the one that Sassy would help him with would be for the House of Potter.

After another tearful hug and words to keep in touch, Harry took his new trunk and hurried to Flourish and Blotts Booksellers before Hermione bought too many book for her father to carry.

Harry was a little happy and a little sad when he finally got to the book store. He told Hermione and her parents how he had just come into possession of a school trunk his Grandfather had commissioned even before he was born. Hermione was thrilled to hear the story and wanted to have a grand tour right there in the middle of the store. But Harry and her parents thought that that might not be a very good idea right now.

As Harry and Hermione continued to shop for book, Dan, Hermione's father asked him where he was planning on staying now that he was out of the hospital. Harry thought for a moment and said "I guess I can stay at the Leaky Cauldron until it's time to go to King's Cross Station. It's not that far."

Dan told Harry that they had a spare room, and he would be more than welcome to come back with them these last few days. He could keep Hermione company and help her get through the mountain of books she had just purchased. Reluctantly Harry agreed. Hermione was beside herself! She would actually have someone to talk about this new world of magic with her; she just couldn't wait. Harry wondered what he had gotten himself into. He still wasn't really talking to children his own age, he could do it if he were forced to, but non-stop, the way Hermione was going on? He didn't know about that.

Harry just had a few more stops in Diagon Alley before getting a quick lunch at the Leaky Caldron, then on to the Grangers.

First was Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions where he got his Hogwarts uniform to fit his now healed body. He was also able to get a few pants, shoes and shirts for everyday wear there as well.

Then to the Apothecary where he could load up on more than just the ingredients he would need for his first year class. He'd purchased all seven years' worth of books for all Hogwarts subjects. Why just settle for only working on first year potions?

Next came Eeylop's Owl Emporium where Harry felt drawn to a snowy white owl in the back of the shop. "Be careful with that one sonny! She'll bit your finger to spite your face she will! That one doesn't let anyone next to her!" Harry just turned from the yelling shop keeper back to the white owl and lifted his arm up. To nearly everyone's surprise, the temperamental owl hopped on the outstretched arm and, hopping up to Harry's shoulder, started to head-bump, then rub her head against her new masters. "I think I'll take this one sir." Harry said almost cheekily. After purchasing all the supplies they would need for the new owl, they headed to the one store he was really looking forward to going to. Ollivanders!

Ollivanders! Harry was going to get his wand!

One of the biggest thrills in Harry life was when he finally got to go to Ollivanders to get his own wand. After what Harry thought was too much trial and error, he finally had HIS wand, 11in, made of holly with a phoenix feather core; the brother wand of the one that gave him his scare.

At this point in time Harry didn't really care about the dark lord that had everyone so afraid of him that they couldn't even say his name… I mean, it's probably a made-up name to begin with.