Chapter 10
Friends and Enemies

Author's Note: I might have made a mistake earlier in the story. Eeylop's sells owls, Magical Menagerie sells other pets. If I did so, I correct that in this chapter. Also, Parseltongue is seen in this chapter. Therefore, to not confuse it with the telepathy between Harry and Ginny, this is how to tell the difference:

Telepathy: italics only.

Parseltongue: "italics with quotations"

Q & A Time:

(From a review for chapter 8)

Q: Does Ragnok suspect Harry is from the future right offthe bat because he never has to introduce himself?

A: Very good question and one that I am not even sure the answer of. This is because I have yet to decide if Ragnok knows Harry and Ginny are from the future. I've been debating this in my head since I wrote the past two chapters and I have yet to decide. Ragnok will return in the story, so it could go either way. If Ragnok does know, it could complicate relations between him and Harry and Ginny, because they have not been completely honest with him. I'm going to have to think about this…

Aware that Dumbledore was looking at him, Harry turned back toward Mr. Ollivander and quickly started to strengthen his Occlumency barriers.

"Ah, Albus," Mr. Ollivander said, "how delightful to see you. I was just about to help young Mr. Potter here acquire his wand."

"I was just passing by," Dumbledore said, "on my way to Gringotts, and I saw Harry here. Harry, if you do not think it is rude, I would wish to be here when your wand chooses you."

"Er… sure, sir," Harry said, though he did not look at Dumbledore.

Harry? Ginny's voice came into Harry's mind; she seemed breathless, almost panicky, Are you there? Whew, it was pretty close. Just got done putting a calm version of the Aguamenti Charm over my hair to make it look wet, and then concealed my wand and money bag when Mum knocked on the door. Had to tell her I was looking for a towel just for an excuse - Whoa, what is going on? Is that Professor Dumbledore, I sense?

Yeah, he showed up not a minute after you left. Says he is interested in watching me acquire my wand.

Er… Harry, that could just be a story, you know. I mean… you said less than a minute? He could have seen me teleport! What if he did?

Are you sure that's possible?

Harry, think about it! I've been going over what Ragnok said for a while now. He said that someone had obliterated the record of our Soul-Bond shortly after it appeared. Harry, do I need to remind you what happened shortly after we kissed that day? We had our conversation… you had breakfast…

Dumbledore came to the Burrow! We didn't know the reason then…

He asked me about you, and then you about me. This is why! I'm sure of it! He found out about the Soul-Bond. Well, in order to finish the Soul-Bond, he knew we'd have to meet!

Er… hang on. You might be right, but I'll continue this soon. Mr. Ollivander and Dumbledore are finished with their small talk and are looking at me.

Oops. I got carried away and forgot!

Harry walked over to Mr. Ollivander, who offered the phoenix wand to him. Harry took it and felt the breeze and saw the light shine around him.

"Ah, wonderful!" Dumbledore said, "First wand… Mr. Ollivander, you always impress. What is more impressive, and quite curious… I recognize this wand."

"I thought you might," Mr. Ollivander said, then looked at Harry, "You see, Mr. Potter. This wand is eleven inches and holly and – ah – has the core of a phoenix tail-feather. The phoenix who donated this feather, donated only one more at this present time. Just one other."

Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"Ah, Mr. Ollivander, I must interrupt you," Dumbledore said, "Mr. Potter, that story has much to do with another story I promised you. I do remember saying I would tell this story to you when we are at Hogwarts in the near future. Until then, I must ask that you wait. However, for such rudeness, I will give one piece of information. The phoenix who gave that feather is actually my own phoenix, Fawkes."

"Wicked," Harry said, trying to sound amazed.

Dumbledore chuckled.

"Yes, it is wicked," he said.

"Care to try out that wand, Mr. Potter?" Mr. Ollivander asked.

Harry nodded and pointed his wand at the pages of newspaper. They repaired themselves into one full paper and returned to Mr. Ollivander.

"Excellent," Mr. Ollivander said, "Most excellent. That will be seven Galleons."

Harry took seven Galleons from his bag and handed them to Mr. Ollivander.

"Very good," Mr. Ollivander said, "Have a good day, young man. This visit was most educating. Now, Dumbledore, can I help you with anything?"

"Yes, I believe so," Dumbledore said, "Then I must be off to Gringotts. Good day, Harry."

"Bye," Harry said.

He could not get out of the shop quick enough. He did not want to stay around any longer and give Dumbledore a chance to attempt Legilimency on him. Sure, he had plans to buy a wand-holster, but that would have to wait. He pocketed his wand and then started off up the cobbled pavement. When he arrived at Eeylop's Owl Emporium, he stopped and paused against a wall outside the shop.

Okay, Ginny, I'm back.

Good thinking getting out of there quickly.

Yeah. Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Dumbledore knows about our Soul-Bond. I doubt he's an aura reader, however, though I wouldn't put it past him.

But if he was, he would have known about our souls anyway.

True.

Though, he doesn't seem too worried about us. If he knew about what happens when bond-mates don't meet, you think he'd try to get us to meet. Right?

Yeah. Guess he doesn't know too much. We'll just have to watch for him.

Right.

Well, I'm going to get Hedwig before I do the rest of my shopping. Contact me when you get here and I'll come to Magical Menagerie and act like I need to buy Owl Treats or something. Eeylop's has those, and so does Magical Menagerie, so it won't look too strange.

Good plan. See you then. Happy shopping. Love you.

I love you too.

Harry felt his mind clear and he walked into Eeylop's Owl Emporium. The shop clerk smiled when he saw Harry and bowed slightly.

"Good morning, young man," he said, "Looking to send a letter? Or perhaps you wish to buy an owl. We have a range of owls, all trustworthy and faithful companions."

"I am looking for a snowy owl," Harry said.

"Ah good choice!" the clerk said, "You're in luck! We have one snowy owl left, a female, I do believe. We have to get more in stock, I must remember to make note. Follow me."

Harry hoped beyond hope the snowy owl that was left was Hedwig, and was beginning to worry until the shop clerk led him across the shop and he saw her. Harry had to do his best to hold back tears. Seeing his first best friend again, after so long, was almost overwhelming.

"Well?" the clerk asked.

"She's perfect," Harry said.

"That she is," the clerk said, chuckling.

Harry took the cage and walked back up to the front of the shop.

Harry? Ginny asked, concerned, Are you all right. I feel you becoming rather emotional.

I found Hedwig. Just seeing her…

Oh, Harry. I understand now. I was just worried.

See you later.

Yeah.

Harry took out the amount of coins needed for the purchase and handed them to the clerk.

"Do you need help naming her?" the clerk asked, as he counted the coins, "I consider myself an expert on names."

"I already have one," Harry said, "Hedwig."

"Oh, wonderful!" the clerk said, "A beautiful name for a beautiful owl. I'm sure Hedwig will be a great companion for you. Trusty and quick with letters too, snowy owls are. Long distances. Hogwarts for you, soon, correct? Hogwarts to London is always a great trip for owls."

"Thanks," Harry said.

The clerk bowed in goodbye, and Harry left the shop, carrying Hedwig's cage. Harry decided that the first thing he needed to buy for his school supplies was a trunk to carry everything in. He knew just where to go too. When Ginny needed a travel-trunk for road trips, she had found a very nice one in Quality Quidditch Supplies. Harry liked this kind of trunk better than the one he had in Hogwarts in the old timeline, so he headed straight for the shop. When he arrived however, he heard a rather familiar voice. Though he had not heard it in a few years. Harry ducked behind a wall near the shop, so he would not be noticed by the owner of the voice.

"But, Father!" the whining, drawling voice of Draco Malfoy, "it is said to be the best broom so far! The speed alone can outstrip my broom! Can't we reserve one? They'll be selling so quickly when they arrive, they'll be gone by the time I come back to do Hogwarts shopping!"

"Now, Draco," the cold drawl of Lucius Malfoy said, "Your broom is nearly brand new, not even a year old. And why would you need a new one? First years at Hogwarts aren't allowed on the House teams."

"Yet," Draco scoffed. "I mean… Father, you're a school governor! I know you have the power over the other governors. You could change the rules that permit First Years –-"

"Silence, Draco!" Lucius hissed, his voice going lower, though Harry could still hear it, "You know fair well if I changed that law, parents of students might complain and say their students are too young their first year. Do you expect me to risk my reputation because of your desire to play your first year?"

"Your reputation, Father?" Draco asked, then scoffed. "Well –"

"I know what you're going to say," Lucius said, "And I do not permit that kind of backtalk. Your broom is fine. Ask me again, and you will clean that pigsty of a room on your own without Dobby's help!"

Draco groaned.

"Now come!" Lucius said, "I need to meet Borgin in a few minutes."

"Yes, Father," Draco said.

Harry heard footsteps and peered around the corner. Draco and Lucius walked out of the shop and started off down the cobbled pavement. When they were a good distance away, Harry hurried into the shop.

Over the next hour, Harry continued his school shopping. A couple of the shopkeepers seemed surprised that Harry was doing his shopping for Hogwarts this early, but most did not comment on it. However, most of the shop-keepers did seem to recognize him, most of the time because they saw his scar through his fringe of hair, but a couple of the older shop-keepers recognized him as James Potter's son.

"Never forget a face like that," Mr. Gambol had said, in Gambol and Japes' joke shop, when Harry went in there to look around, "James came into this shop almost every time he visited Diagon Alley. Me and him were good friends. One of my best customers. I was heartbroken for a week when I heard of his and Lily's passing. Terrible… and what happened to Sirius Black… I just… well, I couldn't believe it. Peas in a pod, those two… always came in here together. It's just… boggling. Never expected that… but a Black he was, yes."

This mention of Sirius Black brought things to the front of Harry's mind and his next stop after Gambol and Japes was a visit to Flourish and Blott's. Along with his slew of school-books, he picked up a few other books including the store's only copy of Nature's Nobility – A Wizarding Genealogy. Along with the information about the Peverell brothers, there was also, Harry knew, information about a list of other pureblood families, including the Potters and Blacks. This, he thought, would be useful as evidence in the future when he needed to explain how he found out about Sirius Black. Though Sirius only has a mere mention in the book, Harry could still come up with a story, if needed, about how he continued his research into other books as well.

By the time Harry finished his shopping, it was ten minutes to eleven. Between the trunk, Hedwig's cage, and the various shopping bags, Harry knew he needed to sort this out before he would meet the Weasleys, and he wasn't sure he could get away with shrinking charms, given that there would probably be witnesses to such magic. So he walked over to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor and sat at one of the tables, and placed his belongings on the ground next to him.

"Welcome to my ice cream parlor!" a voice said, and Harry looked up to see a face he had not seen in a long time, "I am Florean Fortescue, as the sign says. Would you like some ice cream on this particularly warm day?"

"Sure," Harry said, "Er… chocolate and raspberry with chopped nuts? Large cone."

"Coming right up!" Florean said, as he ducked back into his shop.

Harry took his wand from his pocket and pointed it at his trunk. He looked around to see if anyone was watching, then placed an Undetectable Extension Charm, as well as a Featherlight Charm, on the trunk. He then proceeded to store his shopping bags in the trunk and by the time Florean returned, only Harry's trunk and cage were out for everyone to see.

"Here you are, Mr. Potter," Florean said, and when Harry looked up at him with raised eyebrows. "Yes, yes, I do know who you are. I didn't want to be rude when I came out here earlier. I expect you get that a lot."

"A bit, yeah," Harry said.

"I am not the type to do that," Florean said, "Scares away customers. But I tell you what. No charge for this cone, for your troubles."

"Er… thanks!" Harry said.

Florean bowed lightly and returned to the shop.

Harry? Ginny's voice rang in his head, You there? We're here! Ron, Mum and Dad and me… and yes, Scabbers too. We're walking through the marketplace now.

I'm at Florean's. Just finished my shopping a little bit ago.

Excellent, we'll pass right by you. I'll try to distract everyone. No sense shying from our plan. We'll still meet in Magical Menagerie, yes?

Yeah, I'll start going there when you enter the shop, so it doesn't look like I followed you.

Good idea. Mum's already going to think it is a bit weird meeting you, thanks to Dumbledore's discussion with her earlier this week. Ah, I see you! And I see Hedwig. I almost forgot how beautiful she is.

Harry focused on his ice cream and he looked at Hedwig in her cage, so he wouldn't be seen looking at Ginny or her family.

"Yes, Ron," Mrs. Weasley's voice said, a bit loudly, "We're going to get tonic for Scabbers, as promised. I just hope it isn't too expensive. And Ginny, dear, I think we're going to have to go to that secondhand clothes shop. You're clothes are looking small. Always growing, but I shouldn't be surprised."

"Thanks, Mum," Ginny said.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw the Weasleys pass him. He also saw Scabbers moving back and forth in his cage.

Ginny, keep an eye on Pettigrew, Harry said. He looks rather jumpy.

Yes, love. Both eyes, if I can.

Harry grinned when he saw Ginny looking over her shoulder at him, as she winked at him. They were close to Magical Menagerie now.

"What are you looking at?" Ron asked Ginny.

"Nothing," Ginny said.

Harry saw Ron look over his shoulder toward him, and Harry focused on his ice cream and looking into the parlor.

"Ron, don't pester your sister," Mr. Weasley said.

Ron muttered something Harry could not here.

I think Ron saw me, Harry said.

He probably doesn't realize who you are yet, though. Okay, we're going into the shop.

Harry nodded and gulped down the rest of the cone. He picked up the trunk and Hedwig's cage and walked down the street toward Magical Menagerie. When he arrived, he saw Ron and Mrs. Weasley standing in line behind an elderly witch, who was holding a black bat in a cage. There were a few people in line, so they had some time to wait. He then saw Mr. Weasley and Ginny looking around at other pets.

I'm here. Harry said.

I'm looking through the pets. Harry, I just thought of something. Have you tested out your Parseltongue yet?

Nope.

Well, I just passed a tank of Runespoors – you know, three-headed snakes? If you do a Muffliato Charm on the shop and try to speak to them…

Yeah, sure.

Harry made his way across the shop, and over toward the tanks. He saw Ginny stealthily nod her head to a tank and walked ahead to her father, who was looking at a fire crab.

Hmm… Crookshanks is not here yet. I thought he might be.

Hoping to steal him away from Hermione before she has a chance to buy him?

I was thinking of using him to oust Pettigrew actually.

Oh, right… that could have worked. Shame. Okay, I found the snakes.

Harry stealthily put the Muffliato Charm on the shop and looked at one of the Runespoors.

"Greetings, serpents. Can you hear me?" Harry hissed at the three-headed snake.

"Hello," one of the three heads said.

"Bonjour!" another one of the heads said.

"Greetings, user of snake-language," the last of the heads said, "Will you buy us?"

"Not today, sorry," Harry said.

"Pity," the three heads said at once.

Harry sighed and lifted the Muffliato Charm.

I speak Parseltongue again, Ginny, Harry said, You know what that means…

Yeah. Whoa, watch out, Dad's coming by.

"Pardon me," Mr. Weasley said, accidentally nudging Harry, as he walked on by.

"That's okay," Harry said.

Mr. Weasley looked back at him with raised eyebrows. He then turned around and quickly walked over to Ginny.

I think he recognized me, Ginny. Probably saw my scar.

Hmm, I'll see what he says. Oh, he wants me to go over to Ron and Mum. Come in line, could be time for introductions soon.

Harry walked over to the back of the line and saw that Ron and Mrs. Weasley had arrived at the front. Mr. Weasley was whispering into his wife's ear. She quickly glanced over her shoulder at Harry, then turned back toward the clerk.

"Hello, sir!" Mrs. Weasley said, a little nervous (perhaps from seeing him, Harry thought?), "My son's rat is looking pretty peaky these days. He's rather worried. Do you have some rat tonic."

"Of course, of course," the clerk said, "Let me see the rat, young man."

Harry watched as Ron put the cage on the counter.

"I need to get him out for a moment, so I can see what degree of tonic he needs," the clerk said, "Do I have your permission?"

"Er… yeah, do what you want," Ron said.

"Ronald, be polite," Mrs. Weasley said.

"No worry, ma'am," the clerk said, "And how long have you had this rat?"

"Well, err –" Ron said, "He was my brother Percy's rat, until he got an owl, and –"

"Percy said he bought the rat from a dorm mate a couple years ago," Mrs. Weasley said.

"Mum, he had that rat a lot longer than that," Ginny said, "Probably since around the time I was a baby."

"No, that is not possible, Ginny," Mrs. Weasley said, "That was almost ten years ago. Rats don't live that long."

"But it is the same rat," Ginny said, "He's missing a toe, remember? Percy always talked about it when I was younger."

What are you doing, Ginny?

Trying to make Mum see something odd. I have a plan.

Er… okay.

"Well, ma'am," the clerk said, "This rat does look very old. But no common rat can live ten years. Could explain the illness… let's see."

He put his hand on the lid and tried to lift it.

"Hmm, must be charmed shut," the clerk said.

Crap! I forgot to uncharm the lock!

Harry rolled his eyes mentally.

"Oh – err – I must have done that and forgot," Mr. Weasley said.

"No matter, no matter," the clerk said, tapping his wand on the cage.

The clerk then opened the cage and lifted Scabbers out. He set him gently on the counter. But as soon as he let go, Scabbers ran off. Harry's eyes widened as he tried for his wand, but he was still holding the trunk and Hedwig's cage.

"My rat!" Ron cried out.

He's coming towards you, Harry!

Harry watched as Scabbers hurried toward him, trying to run toward the door, when all of a sudden, Harry felt a force come from his amulet. Scabbers was then flung back, many feet into the air. Ron cried out, store patrons screamed, as Scabbers flew toward the tanks near the middle of the shop. Suddenly a great crash, louder than what should have been, for a rat hitting a tank, rang out across the shop.

"Scabbers!" Ron moaned.

"I'll get him," Mr. Weasley said.

Harry broke apart from the crowd and walked around the back of the aisles toward the tanks. Many Runespoors were escaping the tanks and going toward the door of the shop.

"Freedom!" a small hiss sound out. "We're free! Country-land, here I come!"

"Whoa! That rat turned into a human!" a baby snake hissed.

Harry's eyes widened as he looked toward the tanks.

"Scabbers?" Mr. Weasley said, "Are you here? Scabbers – My Merlin!"

"What's going on, Arthur?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Where's Scabbers?" Ron asked, "Is he okay?"

"Someone find a fireplace," Mr. Weasley said, "Floo the Auror Department. This is no rat…"

"What?" Ron asked, "Of course he's a rat."

"No, he's not a rat," a voice said behind Harry.

Harry turned around. Albus Dumbledore was standing there.

"He is an Animagus," he said, "By the name of Peter Pettigrew."

-
Told you it would end in a cliffhanger! Yes, Dumbledore knew about the Marauder's Animagus transformations. I think that was revealed at one point. Well, Dumbledore keeps showing up at the craziest of times.

Next chapter: the aftermath of the end of this chapter, and Harry has lunch with the Weasleys and Dumbledore (two different conversations) in the Leaky Cauldron.

Hope you liked this chapter as much as I did! I had the end of the chapter planned out for a couple days now. More to come! Might be able to get another chapter up today (May 5th), but if not, it probably won't be up for a few days. Sorry about that, I know this is a big cliffhanger. I will try my best to get another chapter up today.