Chapter seven: SHOPPING AND WANDS

3rd August Harry followed the Granger family to the wizarding world with Lucas driving him to the Leaky Cauldron – a rundown pub that was apparently famous in the wizarding world, well that kinda said something for how they would treat him or how they had already done so in the past.

If they couldn't keep a pub respectable then what chance did they have with a child?

Stepping inside of the 'pub' he grimaced as the wards washed over him, he couldn't tell what all of them were because he hadn't come across them – being that the wards around his house had been similar on a more basic level to the Granger's he had been able to identify them, same here with the basic muggle-repellent that caused them to be blind to that spot and it's happenings.

"…telling you, there is no Raven Valdesi attending this year." A female was saying to Marcus who sneered back at her, the woman looked too strict and her hair was tied up in a tight bun with her face set sternly. "Nor do the Valdesi family have any connection to the wizarding world, most are aware of the name only because of them being renowned for martial arts in the muggle world."

"Apprentice Raven Valdesi however is wizard." Lucas cut in, having followed the young wizard inside – he needed to see about keeping their training up while they were away at school and to inform the bank of the apprentice status. "Professor McGonagall I presume? I am Sensei Lucas Valdesi and this is my apprentice Raven."

"Oh, I – apologise." Professor McGonagall blinked utterly confused, looking down she gasped and recognised the kid without any need for the scar to confirm who he was, and Dumbledore told her that Harry had been personally escorted by him for his school supplies on his birthday! "Well I never – Mr Potter, I must say it has been a while since I saw you. Almost ten years in fact."

"Yea…yeah…my Sensei wished to speak with a representative of the school." Harry shrugged, grateful of the silencing spell that had been applied by the professor – and a privacy charm he assumed. "Since I have yet to have a visit from anyone to explain my letter – I only know it wasn't a hoax because my aunt was…polite…enough to tell me and give me the address here."

"Professor Dumbledore…!"

"Is a bumbling old coot who shouldn't be allowed to interfere with potential students' lives" Lucas stated coldly, Harry looked up at the man and smiled slightly before turning back emotionless – Lucas, of course, knew the letter by heart and had threatened to beat the man senseless for what he had done. "I am telling you now if my apprentice ends up hurt because of him I will be taking legal action. Now – Raven will return Tuesday and Friday after classes as well as Saturday morning for training, he will spend all holidays including half-term with me and Mr Granger will be joining him through Tuesday and Friday's lessons and being mentored within the rest of the time."

"Mr Valdesi you cannot…"

"I am telling you." Lucas warned pulling Harry back against his chest firmly and protectively for that Harry was grateful for the comfort…though annoyed at the same time because he could damn protect himself!, "He will attend his lessons and you will comply with the rules I set or he will not be attending this school,"

"Marcus and Hermione too will be pulled out if not." Mr Granger threatened harshly, Harry looked to Hermione to see her looking horrified at the prospect – Marcus didn't even look that bothered.

"Very well. I shall have it sorted" McGonagall assured looking rather palled at the treats…it wasn't that there weren't the wizards (even muggleborns) the low population of the school was because of parents such as this and the school not being able to compromise in these situations…well that would need to change.

The group of seven left the Leaky cauldron quietly and headed straight for Gringotts, Harry and Lucas hadn't been saved from the awe for entering the alley for the first time ever, both listened carefully while the professor explained how the alley had been founded and the security procedures.

Needless to say Harry hadn't been impressed; the only thing stopping a mass-attack was that the only entrance/exit to the alley was through the Leaky Cauldron or via Knockturn Alley – though the entrance to that was guarded by two 'Aurors'.

Entering the bank Harry and Lucas separated from the others and approached one of the empty desks while the others went to go and get the scholarship money for muggleborns.

"NEXT!"

"Hello, I would like to register my apprentice within the wizarding society." Lucas stated firmly though respectfully too – the goblins around them looked surprised but nodded quickly, "also a withdrawal from the Potter vault."
"Name?"

"Sensei Lucas Ali Valdesi." The sensei answered, "Apprentice Harry James Potter,"

"Or Raven"
"Or Raven" Lucas agreed nodding at his apprentice, the goblin wrote down what was needed and asked what the mastership would be in. "Martial arts, karate and Bo-staff mainly."

About 45 minutes later they exited the bank and began the shopping, apparently someone had let slip that Harry Potter was in the alley because everywhere he went someone wanted to shake his hand – one punch and a few threats from Lucas later and none dared to approach if they hadn't spoken first.

The first stop was, naturally, a clothing shop – Lucas refused to have Harry wear the old-fashioned robes and had already asked for the rules on the matter in the shop, students didn't have to wear robes so long as they had the rest of the uniform on…Harry was ordered 5 pair of formal dress trousers, 6 white shirts and two jumpers – all of which were easy to move in. they hadn't visited Madame Malkings robes for all occasions either but a 'pureblood' store called 'Freon'.

Next the book stores- yes stores! – They went to Florish and Blotts for the standards first-year books but then to 'Sanyo-Limited.' For some journals on defence and potions more advanced (and defiantly not school-approved) that the ones on his list, it was the two subjects that he loved beside arithmacy and ancient runes – hopefully there would be decent teachers at the school…if only he knew.

Potions kit and ingredients…check.

Parchment, paper and ink…check.

Pet – a small black kitten with a white patch on its eye…check.

Finally – his wand. Harry was doing this one alone because Lucas needed to go and call his father about some business meeting, entering the creepy shop he wasn't too surprised to find it heavily warded and the owner to equally as creepy as the shop itself was.

They went through a lot of wands but none of them felt right in his hand, even the one that Olivander got excited about because it let out a few sparks and didn't blow anything up – but it still left so wrong. That one had been holly and phoenix feather, none of the wands in the shop seemed to want to go with him.

"I wonder…Mr Potter; I have a wand that has been here for many generations." Olivander mused as Harry was lead into the back rooms of the store; these were much brighter and more ordered. "My many-great grandfather was the one to make it and the last owner was Harlan Peverell, one of your own ancestors whom specialised in the muggle-arts of defence; much as you will."

"May I try?" Harry inquired looking at the dusty box the wand-crafter had pulled out of the safe, Olivander nodded seriously and passed it over to the young apprentice who immediately smiled…the moment that he touched the wand a cool wind blew through the room and a bright light surrounded his right hand and the wand, binding the together for life – or so Olivander said.

The wand was made from Fairye-wood that was now more or less extinct especially in Britain, it was a pure-white wood that would not accept anything above neutral or spells to be used with it – not only that but there were specified runes inscribed to stop others claiming it as their own along with one that caused the wand to return to the owner when it was called. The core was an odd combination- a mane-hair of a unicorn given willingly, three tears of a phoenix and finally the scales of a Horntail-dragon that too were given willingly.

Purity. Life and rebirth. Power and strength – that along with the wood only made to be one of the strongest wands around today minus the death-stick (or deathly hallow wand). As Harry left the shop he smirked at Olivander who smirked right back…the old wand maker had sworn on his honour, life and magic that he would not reveal the purchase to anyone unless it was strictly necessary.

Harry had the destined wand of a true warrior and he couldn't have been more proud, now he had something to stop Dumbledore if the old coot tried to make him out to be the next dark lord…as it was said earlier the wand could not be used for dark or evil purposes, oh so-called dark spells could be used if it was to save someone else or to protect himself – in battle and such, so long as the intention was in the right place magic and the wand would comply.

Yet another of Dumbledore's plans had been foiled since he didn't have the sister-wand of the dark lord, Olivander had explained that the headmaster had asked the wand-crafter to try and get Harry to purchase that particular wand. Now where were Marcus and the Grangers…? Setting off down the street Harry ignored the stares from the public to find his new fellow-student to speak with him about setting up a schedule to learn while they were at the school.