:: ... :: - Signing
'...' - Harry speaking

Did we just go back in time?

Dumbledore's Office, July 30, 1991 3:30pm
Dumbledore was looking over the report that Poppy had given him on Harry Potter. He had really been hoping that Madame Pomfrey would find something that medical wizardry could do, that Muggle science and the Halliwell woman's brand of magic couldn't do, to be able to give Harry Potter, his voice back. However according to Madame Pomfrey, medical wizardry, did not yet have the ability to regenerate dead or damaged nerves.

The other thing that concerned Dumbledore was the confrontation that had apparently occurred between Miss Halliwell, Harry, and Professor Snape. He knew that Severus still had a grudge against Harry's father, James Potter. While Poppy hadn't seen or heard all of the argument, he just hoped that whatever had been said or done, it wasn't irreparable Right now, he had to worry about damage control, with regards to the Halliwell woman. Now that he had found the boy, he couldn't risk losing young Potter again and it was very clear that Harry would follow her lead, at least for the moment. He had hopes that that would change once he had managed to separate the boy from her. His main objective at the present was to get the boy into Hogwarts, without harming the Halliwell witch to do it, otherwise Harry, who clearly cared for his great-aunt, would never agree to stay here of his own free will. Once Harry saw how important he was to the wizarding world and how much he was wanted and needed here, Dumbledore felt certain that Harry would do the right thing and agree to remain, then he would place him with a Light wizarding family like the Weasleys or the Longbottoms. He would need one that was very powerful, since the blood protection magic bond could not be used. There were no wizarding families who were related to Lily Evans and he certainly couldn't place the boy back with the Dursleys, even if there were a way to prevent the Halliwell woman from finding them. Petunia Dursley's signing a document that gave away her legal rights to the boy had dissolved that protection for good. However until he knew the level of damage done by the Potions Master, he wouldn't be able to make any plans.

Sighing, Dumbledore reached into his desk drawer and pulled out the amethyst medallion, he had been hoping he wouldn't need to use. As he studied the runes carved into it, he heard Phineas comment from his portrait, "so there's no chance medical wizardry can give the boy back his voice."

"I'm afraid not,' Dumbledore told him. "I'm just glad you remembered this medallion that Headmaster Chyma used after that miscast spell took his voice. What amazes me is that no more were created. This kind of amulet would come in very handy for wizards with speech impediments as well."

"I agree," Phineas nodded, "but unfortunately for the wizarding world, the witch who created it, died before she could write down the spell and charms she used."

Before Dumbledore could say anything further, there was a knock on his office door.

"Come in," Dumbledore called.

Professor McGonagall came in followed by Harry and his Aunt.

"Well what did you think of Hogwarts, Harry?" Dumbledore asked the boy who had gone back over to pet Fawkes again.

Delivering one final pat to Fawkes, Harry turned to face his aunt, and began gesturing with his hands.

"The castle is kind of neat, but why isn't it lit with regular lights?"

As Harry's Aunt, and Minerva was still annoyed that the woman refused to give her name, translated those hand gestures, a missing piece of the puzzle fell into place for the Deputy Headmistress. Harry Potter couldn't speak! All through the tour, she had just thought him extremely shy around strangers, when he didn't answer her questions. His aunt had done most of the talking, even answering questions she had asked the boy. She was glad she had kept her opinion on what she thought was extremely rude behaviour to herself, whenever the woman had done that. The boy must have been signing his answers all the time, only she missed seeing him do it, until now.

"Muggle technology doesn't work in the wizarding world," McGonagall told him. "unless it's been charmed to do so in some way. Surely you already knew that, Harry, since you live with a witch?"

Harry gave her a look as if to say 'that make's no sense' then signed again to his aunt.

"What is a 'muggle'?" She translated, then added. "I've never heard that term before, either."

"A muggle is a person with no magical ability." Professor McGonagall told them. "Those children who attend Hogwarts who come from families with no magical ability are called muggle-born. If you don't call them muggles, what do you call them in America?"

"We call them people. We don't stick a biased label on them..."

"Actually madam," McGonagall interrupted her, "there are some who use an even worse term to describe those with magic, born into non-magical families. They call them mudbloods."

"I see." Penny nodded. "So there are levels of prejudice among those in the wizarding world. I can't help wondering if you also have a biased label for those born to magical families that have no magic?" At the flush that rose in McGonagall's face, Penny told her stiffly. "It seems as if you view those with no magical ability as somehow less than you, simply because they can't do magic the way you do. They can do their own form of magic. It's called technology and it's a wonderful thing to have."

"Wizarding kind aren't the only ones capable of some form of intolerance, madam." McGonagall countered just as stiffly. "Muggles are also capable of prejudice, against things like the colour of one's skin, a person's religion, or their sexual orientation, just to name a few."

"Ladies, I think we're getting off the subject here," Dumbledore quickly intervened, when it looked like this might turn into an ugly fight between the two women, "and that is giving Harry his voice so he may attend Hogwarts and get the best magical education available to him."

Harry was relieved when the Headmaster intervened. Grams was not one to hold back on her opinions and it seemed as though this Professor McGonagall might be capable of matching her barb for barb.

"Well, Mr. Dumbledore, what did your medi-witch tell you about Harry?" Penny asked the older wizard.

"She confirmed that there is no way to restore Harry's voice." Dumbledore admitted. "Now normally that would mean a child would be unable to attend Hogwarts since most spells and charms have a vocal component to them, but thanks to Phineas here, we have a way to give Harry his voice."

"What do you mean." Professor McGonagall couldn't help noticing that Harry's 'aunt' sounded very suspicious.

Dumbledore picked up an amethyst medallion on a silver chain. "One of the previous headmasters of Hogwarts lost his voice due to a miscast spell. A witch, whose name I unfortunately do not know, created this amulet for him?"

"May I see it?" Penny held out her hand and when Dumbledore handed the amulet over, she asked. "What's it supposed to do?"

"According to what Phineas told me and what I've been able to find out myself, it allows thoughts to be heard as spoken word." Dumbledore explained. "It doesn't broadcast all thoughts, just those the wearer wants heard. This would mean that the only one besides the four of us the only one who'll know that Harry can not speak will be Madame Pomfrey. No one else need know."

"Covering your backside huh." Penny guessed.

"No," Dumbledore countered. "I'm actually protecting Harry's."

Harry looked at the Headmaster with interest as he continued. "While I am not saying that the children who will be attending Hogwarts with Harry would wish to do him harm, like anywhere else in the world there are those who crave power and will do whatever is necessary to achieve it. Harry is looked on as a hero in the wizarding world and if someone who wanted power found out about the amulet, they might try and get it to remove a potential threat to their gaining power."

Penny could read the hidden meaning in what Dumbledore was saying: there would be children attending this school whose parents were followers of Riddle. "What you really mean to say is that you don't want the children whose parents are followers of Voldemort to find out that the one who caused his defeat ten years ago, is now handicapped. Nor do you want it known that Harry acquired this disability in the first place, while under the care of the people you chose to place him with, because no one from your world bothered to check up on him to make sure they were taking proper care of him."

"The headmaster did his best for Harry at the time." McGonagall countered heatedly. "It's not his fault that the Dursleys abused Harry."

"And you never voiced any doubts about leaving the boy with them? Or thought to check on him yourselves?" Penny wanted to know. "Harry's mother went to school here. Surely someone in this school knew how Petunia Evans felt about anything with even the barest hint of magic in it. Are all the teachers in this school so convinced that this man is infallible that they would let him do anything... to anyone?"

"Ladies, I think we're getting off the topic again," Dumbledore put in quickly before the discussion could escalate out of his control.

"How does this thing work?" Penny was willing to let the man change the subject -- for now -- and returned her attention to the unfamiliar runes carved onto both sides of the amethyst disc.

"From my research and Phineas' recollections, once Harry puts the amulet on and strokes the face of it counter-clockwise, it will take any thoughts he wants heard and turn them into spoken words. To deactivate it, he just strokes the face of the amulet clockwise." When he glanced over at Harry, he saw he had piqued the boy's interest and suggested, "Give it a try, Harry."

Harry looked over at Grams and she nodded, but before she handed it over, he saw her lips moving, and guessed she was saying some kind of protection spell in case the Headmaster tried to pull any tricks.

Harry stroked the disk, counter-clockwise as he had been instructed and then asked. 'Can you hear me?' and smiled when he heard the young male voice.

'Grams, I can talk!' Harry jumped up and down for a moment and then turned to the Headmaster and smiled at him for the first time today. 'Thank you sir.'

"You're very welcome, Harry." Dumbledore smiled at his antics. "I am pleased I was able to find a way for you to speak so that you can attend Hogwarts this year."

'Am I going to be going to school here, Grams?' Even though he already knew the answer to that, Grams had made it quite clear that Mr. Dumbledore wasn't to know, otherwise they'd lose all their bargaining power. Also given his earlier meeting with Professor Snape, whom he'd learned, from Professor McGonagall, would be one of his teachers, Harry wasn't real eager to come here. The last thing he needed or wanted, was a male teacher like Ms. Cawston.

"Mr. Dumbledore and I still have few things to resolve before I can answer that Harry." She told him, the expression on her face serious.

Not wanting the Deputy Headmistress or Harry to hear what was bound to be a heated discussion, Dumbledore asked, "Minerva, would you mind taking Harry outside to see Hagrid, while his Aunt and I discuss a few things?" Then he told Harry, "Hagrid is the groundskeeper among other things and I'm sure he would enjoy showing you around his domain, Harry."

'Grams?' Harry questioned.

"Hagrid won't hurt him," Dumbledore was quick to assure Miss Halliwell. "In fact, he has been looking forward to seeing Harry again."

"You remember what I told you to do if there was trouble?" At Harry's nod, she said, "then go ahead Harry. I'll join you in just a bit."

Once Professor McGonagall and Harry had left the office, Dumbledore turned his attention back to Penny Halliwell. "Have a seat, Miss Halliwell and we can begin discussing these other matters you feel need to be resolved, before you let Mr. Harry Potter take his rightful place at Hogwarts."

Penny refused the offered seat. "There is only one issue and it is quite simple; your Potions Master, Professor Snape."

Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley, July 31, 1991
Hagrid shifted nervously from foot to foot as he knocked on the door of the room across the hall from him. He hoped it would be Harry that opened the door and not the woman, that Dumbledore had introduced as his aunt. While the woman had been very polite to him, he kind of got the feeling she was like Professor Snape, waiting for him to step out of line, then she would pounce.

Part of his nervousness came from the conversation he had overheard between the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall, when he'd gone up to get the letter he needed to get stone from Gringotts.

"And then there was the incident with Peeves." McGonagall was telling the Headmaster.

"What did Peeves do?" the Headmaster inquired.

"He'd poured Slippery Slope solution on the floor from near the base of the main staircase to the entryway of the Great Hall," McGonagall reported. "Harry's feet hit it and he lost his footing. Peeves started to cackle about ickle firsties not supposed to be here yet. Harry's aunt made a gesture with her hand and stopped Harry from hitting his head on the stairs. You didn't tell me she could do wandless magic."

"What did Harry's aunt do to Peeves?" Dumbledore asked.

"I had just started taking Peeve to task, when she interrupted me and glaring at him she said something along the lines of if he ever caused harm to her or Harry again, that he would spend the rest of eternity chained to the wall of a dungeon." McGonagall told him. "Peeves started to laugh, but then he looked at her and bowed, then stammering something like an apology as if he were facing the Bloody Baron, he took off."

Hagrid had never heard of Peeves giving any witch or wizard the level of respect/fear he gave the Bloody Baron, the Slytherin House ghost, not even the Headmaster and any witch who could terrify Peeves was not someone Hagrid wanted to get on the wrong side of. He didn't know how Harry had come to be with this woman when he knew that the boy had been left with the Dursleys and Dumbledore hadn't enlightened him. Hagrid got the impression that the woman rattled Dumbledore at least a little bit, enough to make him cautious in his dealings with her and it would take a witch as powerful as he was to make the Headmaster act cautiously. It also meant that she was someone, Hagrid didn't want to cross.

Hagrid got his wish, as the door opened to reveal Harry, who smiled at the sight of him. 'Hello Hagrid.'

"Hello Harry," Hagrid greeted the boy. "Are you and your Aunt ready for breakfast and to go to Diagon Alley for your school things? She did say she wanted to get started before the Alley got too crowded."

Harry turned his head back onto the room for a few moments. 'She said we'll meet you down in the dining room in a couple of minutes.'

Hagrid nodded and turned to go downstairs.

Harry and his aunt got downstairs in time to see an owl drop what looked like a newspaper on the table Hagrid was sitting at, then flutter down onto the table. They reached the table in time to see the huge man put some little bronze coloured coins in a leather pouch tied to the owl's leg.

'You use owls to deliver your newspapers?' Harry asked intrigued as the owl flew off.

"They also deliver mail." Hagrid told him. "Owls are dead useful."

"What were those coins you put in the owl's pouch?" Penny asked as they sat down across from him.

"Knuts, wizarding money." He reached into a pocket of his coat and pulled out a handful of mouldy dog biscuits, a small gold key and some coins. "The gold ones are Galleons. The silver ones are Sickles. And the bronze are called Knuts. There are seventeen Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle."

Hagrid looked over at Harry and asked, "ye still got yer letter, Harry?"

'Yeah,' Harry pulled the parchment envelope Hagrid had given him the night before out of his back pocket to show it to him. 'But Hagrid, I don't think we've got enough to get all the stuff on this list.'

"Don't you worry about that." Hagrid assured the boy as he held up his hand and motioned for Tom to come over with their order. "Did yeh think yer parents didn't leave yeh anything?"

There was a few moments silence as their food was delivered, then Harry told him honestly, 'Well, I know I got the things that were left with the Dursleys and since I knew our home had been destroyed, I really didn't think there could be anything else.'

"Yer parents didn't keep their gold in the house, boy!" Hagrid told him after taking a few bites. "That's why our first stop is going to be Gringotts. Wizard's bank. Aside from the errand I have to do there fer Dumbledore, we need ta get yeh some money so yeh can get yer school stuff."

'Wizards have banks?'

"Just the one. Gringotts. It's run by Goblins."

Harry's fork dropped onto his plate. 'Goblins?'

"Goblins," Hagrid repeated. "Yeh, never want to mess with Goblins, Harry."

"That's very true." Penny agreed, then asked. "How secure is Gringotts?"

"A person would have ta be mad ter try and rob it. It's got spells -- enchantments. They say there's dragons guarding the high-security vaults. Then yeh gotta find yer way -- Gringotts in hundreds of miles under London, see. Thief'd die of hunger before getting out, even if they did manage ta get their hands on summat." Hagrid told her. "Gringotts is the safest place in the world fer anything yeh want ter keep safe. Only one place safer and that's Hogwarts. Oh, an' before I forget, you'll need this," he handed Harry the tiny gold key, before scooping the rest of his things back into his pocket.

'What's this?' Harry examined the key.

"It's the key ta yer vault at Gringotts." Hagrid told him. "Dumbledore gave it to me last night ta give ta you."

"Dumbledore seems to have a lot of trust in you." Penny observed.

Hagrid puffed up slightly with pride. "He usually gets me ta do important stuff fer him. Escorting you -- getting stuff from Gringotts -- knows he can trust me, see."

The rest of breakfast was completed in silence.

As they got up and started to go to the back of the Leaky Cauldron, Harry collided with a chair that was pushed back from its table too quickly for him to avoid it. The resulting collision left Harry and the man who had been sitting in the chair sprawled on the ground.

'I'm sorry sir,' Harry quickly apologized to the man. 'I just couldn't get out of the way in time.'

"No it was my fault, I should have..." the man's voice trailed off as he caught sight of the lightening bolt scar on the boy's forehead. Then in a louder voice he announced, "Bless my soul... you're Harry Potter. What an honour."

After they had both gotten to their feet, the man grasped his hand and began shaking it. "Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back. My name is Diggle, Dedalus Diggle."

Silence fell over the patrons of the Leaky Cauldron as what Diggle had said was passed outward like ripples in a pond. The next moment there was the sound of a lot of chairs scraping against the floor. Harry was quickly surrounded by a crowd of people all speaking at once and reaching out to try and shake his hand or simply touch him.

It took several minutes before Penny was able to get through the crowd to Harry's side because they kept shifting his position. She could tell from the look on the boy's face that he wasn't happy being the center of attention. He never had been. He hated being seen as different.

Hagrid followed Harry's aunt, in order to prevent any disasters from happening. This woman had some unknown powers and from what he'd heard, was capable of doing wandless magic, which up to now he'd thought only Dumbledore could do. And while the patrons of the Leaky Cauldron were proving to be a little overenthusiastic as they welcomed their hero back, but they only wanted to greet the one who had freed them from Voldemort nearly ten years ago. She might not understand that they were no threat to Harry.

Hagrid reached the boy just as his aunt took hold of his arm, apparently intending to get him out of there, and spoke in a loud voice, before she could say anything. "Must get on -- lots ter buy. Come on Harry."

Harry and Penny followed in Hagrid's wake as he cut a path through the crowd. On the edge of the crowd though a pale young man with a nervous twitch in his eye, caught the big man's eye.

"Professor Quirrell!" Hagrid called out surprised. "Harry, this is Professor Quirrell. He's going to be one of your teachers as Hogwarts."

"P-P-Potter," Professor Quirrell stammered as he grasped Harry's hand, "c-can't t-tell you how p-pleased I am to meet you."

'What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?' Harry wanted to know.

"D-Defence Against the D-D-Dark Arts," muttered the professor as though he rather not think about it. "N-Not that you n-need it, eh, P-P-Potter?" He laughed nervously. "You'll be g-getting all you equipment, I suppose? I've g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on vampires, m-myself." He looked terrified at the though of vampires.

"Let's get going, Hagrid." Penny spoke up, then glared at a woman who why trying to get Harry's attention yet again.

When they got into the small walled courtyard, Harry asked, 'What was that all about back there?'

"Yer famous Harry. They all just wanted to meet the-boy-who-lived. And thank you, fer what you did." Hagrid told him "Even Professor Quirrell was tremblin' ter meet yeh -- mind you he's usually tremblin'."

"Is he always that nervous?" Penny asked.

"Oh, yeah. Poor bloke. Brilliant mind." Hagrid told them. "He was fine while he was studyin' outta books but then he took a year off ter get some first hand experience... They say he met vampires in the Black Forrest and there was a nasty bit of trouble with a hag -- never been the same since. Scared of his students, scared of his own subject -- now where's me umbrella?"

Harry's head was swimming at the idea he was famous. He knew he had survived a supposedly unsurvivable curse when he was a baby, but that had been because of his mother's sacrifice, not anything he'd done.

Hagrid's voice saying, "Right, stand back Harry, ma'am," pulled him out of his thoughts.

As he watched, Hagrid tapped a brick in the wall with the tip of his umbrella. A moment later, the brick Hagrid had touched, began to quiver then wiggled. As he continued watching the brick, a small whole appeared in it, and it got bigger and bigger. Within seconds, they were facing an archway large enough for Hagrid to pass through comfortably.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley, Harry." Hagrid stepped back to let them get a good look through the arch.

Harry felt as if he were going back in time as they stepped through the archway. The cobblestone street that twisted and wound til it went out of sight had buildings on both sides of it that looked like something out of a historical movie about the 18th century. As they went up the street, Harry found the buildings and people interesting to look at. There were tables in front of some of the shops with things like cauldrons, books, or strange silver instruments he had never seen before. The Apothecary shop had barrels out in front of it and as they passed Eyelops Owl Emporium, he could hear soft hooting coming from within the shop. He also saw what looked like a broomstick in one shop window and heard one of the boys who had his nose pressed up against the glass saying, "It's the Nimbus 2000... fastest broom ever."

"Gringotts," Hagrid announced, pulling Harry's attention to the white building in front of them. It towered over the little shops.

As they climbed the front steps to the bronze coloured doors, Hagrid identified the creature in the scarlet and gold uniform. "That's a goblin."

The goblin bowed as they walked inside and found themselves facing a pair of silver doors with words engraved on them, that attracted the eye:

Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,

Penny felt the magic embedded in the words begin to stir and quickly pulled her eyes away from the door and resisted the urge to continue reading. She quickly shook Harry's shoulder to get his attention off the words and the spell they were trying to weave.

Harry looked at her puzzled. Penny quickly signed::Spell in the words on the door. You were casting it on yourself.::

::Interesting deterrent to thieves.:: Harry signed back, having gotten a little further along than she had.

Unaware of what had happened, Hagrid led them into the main area of the bank, commenting, "like I said, yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it."

Walking up to the first free goblin that was sitting behind a desk, Hagrid said, "Mr. Harry Potter would like to take some money out of his vault."

"And does he have his key?" The goblin wanted to know.

"Harry," Hagrid nudged the boy whose attention was on a nearby goblin who was weighing rubies as big as eggs.

'Huh,' Harry sounded slightly distracted.

"Show 'im yer key." Hagrid prompted.

'Oh,' Harry pulled the little gold key Hagrid had given him, out of his pocket. He handed it to the goblin when it held out its hand.

After the goblin had returned the key to Harry, Hagrid handed over an envelope

"I've also got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid stated importantly, and then in a stage whisper, "it's about the You-Know-What in vault 713."

The goblin read the letter carefully, then handed it back to Hagrid. "It all appears to be in order. I will have someone take you to both vaults." Then he called, "Griphook."

As the new goblin, Griphook, started to lead them away, Harry noticed his Aunt wasn't beside him. He turned to look back at her.

"Go on, Harry, I'll wait here." She told him. "Besides, I have a few questions for this gentleman." She pointed her finger at the goblin, who looked back at her a little surprised, thinking their business was concluded.

As Harry rejoined Hagrid, he heard Grams telling the goblin, "Interesting spell on the door..."

The door Griphook led them through came out into a narrow stone tunnel, lined with lit torches. The goblin led them to a set of little railway tracks and after he whistled a little cart raced up to them.

The cart hurtled through the maze of tunnels. Harry tried to remember the order of the turns, but gave up after a few minutes as they came to fast for him to keep track of. At one point he thought he saw a burst of fire down one of the tunnels and turned to see if it was a dragon, but he was too late.

'Hagrid, do you suppose that was a dragon?' Harry pointed behind them.

"Might'a been." Hagrid relaxed a little at the thought of a dragon from where he was sitting so rigidly. "They say Gringotts has 'em. Crikey, I'd like a dragon, meself."

Before Harry could ask Hagrid any more questions, the cart came to a sudden stop. Griphook got out, followed by Harry and Hagrid. Extending his hand, the goblin said, "key please."

As the goblin opened the door, green smoke came billowing out. Harry gasped at the mounds of gold, silver and bronze coins that were revealed as the smoke cleared. It looked like a fortune. He wondered if he could give part of it to Grams and if he did, would she accept it.

Hagrid helped Harry put some of the coins into a bag that had been provided by Griphook. "That should be enough to see you through a couple of terms."

They got back in the cart and the goblin took them deeper into the maze of tunnels. Colder air whipped past them until the cart again came to a sudden halt in front of vault 713. There was no hole for a key, so Harry was curious about how it could be opened.

After the Goblin ran his finger down the door and it vanished from sight, Griphook told him, "if anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they'd be sucked right through the door."

Looking into the vault to see what required such special security measures, Harry was surprised to see it was just a little package wrapped in brown paper and string.

Picking up the grubby little package, Hagrid tucked it into one of the inside pockets of his coat. The big man looked over at Harry and said, "Best not to mention this to anyone. Ok?"

Harry nodded.

Once they were back in the main area of the bank, Harry asked his aunt, 'Did you find out what you needed to know?'

"Yes. They have a branch closer to home that you can use if necessary." Grams told him as they headed out of the bank.

They started their school shopping trip at Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Hagrid had told them he would meet them back there in a bit, because he had something he needed to do. Harry suspected that he was going to get himself something strong to drink to recover from that wild cart ride, but that the big man didn't want to say that in front of Grams. Maybe he thought Grams would disapprove.

Harry could understand why he thought that. So far Grams had given those they'd met in the Wizarding world the impression that she didn't like them or the things they believed in. It wasn't quite true.

While Grams had some very definite opinions about right and wrong and what was and wasn't important, she would never openly disagree with the way someone else behaved, unless the other person's actions brought harm to those she cared about or was responsible for. Grams believed very strongly in the Wiccan rede of: An it harms none, do as ye will. However, if it hadn't been necessary that he learn what they could teach him, Harry had a feeling that Grams would have told the wizarding world to take a flying leap. He knew that Grams saw them as a negligent and untrustworthy, because they had been the ones to leave Harry with the Dursleys unsupervised.

The visit to Madame Malkin's had left a rather sour taste in Harry's mouth, that the ice creams that Hagrid had brought back with him did much to correct. It was there he had encountered his first young wizard, a blond boy with a pale pointed face. Harry was willing to bet any amount of money that the boy was an only child. He had that attitude of I want it and my parents will get it for me. And from some of the things he had said about children who were born to non-magical families, Harry was also fairly sure that his family was one of those that were racial, if that term could be applied to magic, bigots.

They went through the other shops fairly quickly. The only books they got at Flourish and Blotts besides the ones on the school list were: Most Potent Potions and a book on wandless magic. Grams had told him she wanted to see how the wanded types viewed the Craft.

As they left the Apothecary, Hagrid checked Harry's school list again.

"Just yer wand left – oh yeah, an' I still haven't got yeh a birthday present."

Harry stared at Hagrid surprised. 'You don't have to, Hagrid."

"I know I don't have to." Hagrid told him. "Tell yeh what, I'll get yer animal. Not a toad, those went out of fashion years ago. An' I don't like cats, they make me sneeze. I'll get yeh an owl. All the kids want owls. Like I told yeh before, they're dead useful, carry yer mail an' everythin'."

"Why don't you get Harry's owl, while we get his wand." Grams suggested. Her thumbs had pricked at the mention of the wand. Something was going to happen and she didn't want Hagrid to be there when it did.

"All right," Hagrid smiled, pleased that she was letting him give Harry this gift. "Yeh'll want ta go ta Ollivanders." He pointed to the shop at the end of the row. "Only place fer wands."

The shop Hagrid had directed them to, appeared narrow and shabby. The peeling gold letters over the door read; Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C. And in the dusty window there was a single wand laying on a faded purple cushion.

Like Hogwarts, Penny and Harry could feel the currents of magic running through the shop as they entered it. While the shop appeared empty, she and Harry both knew that the tinkling bell ringing in the depths of the shop, if not the shifts in the magical currents would soon bring someone out to greet them.

They were looking at the rows of narrow boxes, when a soft voice said, "Good afternoon."

An old man came out from between the shelves of boxes, his wide pale eyes shining in the gloomy shop.

'Hello,' Harry greeted the odd looking man, whom he assumed was Mr. Ollivander.

"Ah yes," the man said. "Yes, yes. I thought I might be seeing you soon Mr. Potter." He looked closely at Harry, unnerving the boy slightly with his unblinking stare. "You have your mother's eyes, my boy. It seems like only yesterday that she was in here, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."

He continued to gaze at Harry as if he were seeing something no one else could see. Harry found himself wishing the man's eyes would blink, because the stare from those unblinking silvery eyes was beginning to feel a little creepy.

"Your father on the other hand, favoured a mahogany wand eleven inches. Pliable. It had a little more power and was excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favoured it – actually, it's the wand that chooses the wizard."

"And that's where…" Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning bolt scar on Harry's forehead. "I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it," he admitted softly. "Thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands… If I had known what that wand was going out into the world to do…"

Harry felt a strange surge of relief when those strange silvery eyes spotted Grams.

"I don't believe we've met before." Ollivander's intent silvery eyes studied the woman. "I remember every wand I've ever sold and to whom they were sold, but I don't remember selling a wand to you and you most definitely aren't a muggle."

"You didn't," Grams studied the man just as intently. "I've never had a wand. I have no need of one now."

"Indeed," the man's gaze became slightly unfocused for a moment, before he paled and bowed slightly. "Accept my apology for not recognizing what you were madam. It has been a long time since a follower of the green way entered my shop. Not since the time of the Founders I believe. Have you come for one of my crystal drawing wands?"

"Maybe another time," Grams told him, smiling for the first time. Her instincts were telling her she could trust this person and that he would not betray that trust.

::Green way?:: Harry questioned, using one hand to finger spell it, so the wandmaker wouldn't see it.

::Old term for Wiccan magic.:: Grams signed back just as subtly, then she turned her attention back to the wandmaker. "I would respectfully like to ask that you not tell anyone about me. The wanded magic users seem to have forgotten much about the green way and I would prefer to keep them in ignorance if possible. It will allow me to continue to protect my nephew."

"As you wish, sister." Penny knew that Ollivander would keep his word. "It is a shame that some of the old ways were lost in the Separation. They could be of great use now." Ollivander looked back at Harry with the same unfocused gaze for a moment. "Perhaps your nephew will be the one to bring some of the old ways back to the Wizarding world. His mother before him also had the potential for the old ways, but like seeds waiting to be planted, it was unused in her, probably til the day of her death. In Mr. Potter however, I see the old ways have taken root and begun to flourish."

Before Penny could comment on his perceptions, the door to his shop opened and Hagrid came in with a cage containing a snowy owl.

"Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid!" Ollivander greeted the large man. "How nice to see you again... Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy wasn't it?"

"Yes sir, it was," Hagrid agreed.

"That was a good wand. I suppose they snapped it when you got expelled." Mr Ollivander observed.

"Yes it was," Hagrid was shuffling his feet nervously, then added brightly, "but I've still got the pieces."

"You don't use them?" Mr. Ollivander questioned sharply.

"No, sir." Harry noticed that Hagrid gripped his umbrella rather tightly, as he said this, as if he were protecting it.

Mr. Ollivander gave him a suspicious look, before returning his attention to Harry. "Mr. Potter, let's get on with getting you a wand. Which is your wand arm?"

Harry considered the question for a moment before responding, 'I'm mostly right handed, sir.'

While it was true that he used his left hand for some things, about the only thing he did regularly with his left hand was signing and that was because signing usually involved two hands for most words. He was having to fight the habit of signing his words while he was here. Dumbledore didn't want the wizarding world to know he couldn't talk and in this one thing, Grams had agreed with him.

Pulling out a measuring tape with silver markings from his pocket, Mr. Ollivander began to take measurements of Harry. As he did so, he talked about his wands and what they were made of.

Once he finished taking his measurements, Ollivander went to the shelves and taking down boxes. While the wandmaker was busy selecting boxes, Harry noticed that the measuring tape seemed to have taken on a life of its own, because it was now measuring the distance between his nostrils.

"That will do." Mr. Ollivander said without looking behind him and the tape measure dropped to the floor.

When he turned back to face Harry, he handed him the first of the wands he had chosen and told him, "give it a wave."

Harry did and nothing happened. More wands were tried, with the same results. Some of them were taken out of his hand almost as soon as they touched it. However instead of discouraging the wandmaker, it made him more excited.

"Tricky customer, but not to worry, we'll find you a wand." Ollivander disappeared into the back of the shop and came out with a slightly dusty box."

Pulling the wand out, he handed it to Harry. "This one is Holly and Phoenix feather, nice and supple. Unusual combination, but give it a try."

When Harry took the wand, he instantly knew this one was different, because he felt a sudden warmth in his hand. Raising the wand, he brought it down with a swish and red and gold sparkles, like a 4th of July firework shot out of the end of it.

Hagrid congratulated him.

Mr. Ollivander looked pleased, then thoughtful. "Curious," he murmured, "very curious."

'What's curious, sir?' Harry asked as Mr. Ollivander wrapped up his wand.

Mr. Ollivander looked serious. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It just so happens that the phoenix who provided the tail feather for your wand, gave just one other. I find it very curious that this wand should choose you, when its brother -- gave you that scar."

Harry looked at him surprised.

"Curious how these things happen." Mr Ollivander again fixed him with that unnerving stare of his. "I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter... After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things -- terrible, but great."

(AN: While I had intended for there to be a disagreement between McGonagall and Penny, the topic that came out wasn't the one intended, however, every time I went to remove or change that section something would stop me so it stays. It does need a bit of work though so any suggestions on how to make it better will be read, but may not be used. The 2 women are not going to get along. They are both strong-willed and fiercely protective, like tigresses with cubs, which is bound to lead to clashes, even if Penny did trust the wizarding world. Which she doesn't.

Also, as some of you may have noticed, I used quite a bit of JKR's dialogue and some screens in this chapter, but some of them were moved around. I didn't make them, but I wanted it noted, so I wasn't accused of plagiarizing.)