IX. Diagon Alley
Thanks to the persistent work of Hermione and Hedwig, Harry had emerged from his shell by the time dinner rolled around. Acknowledging that this was something that they could not help with, Remus and Tonks refrained from entering the room. They were sitting through and uncomfortable dinner when Harry finally descended from his room, escorted by the two most important women in his life.
"Hey cub. How are you feeling?" asked Remus. Harry arched an eyebrow at his new moniker.
"Cub?" asked Harry.
"Well, you are being taken care of by a wolf after all", replied Lupin with a smile. Harry gave him a lopsided grin and entered the room.
"I'm hungry", said Harry, almost in synch with his stomach growling. Tonks laughed.
"Yes, I'd imagine that you would be. Well, come now don't be shy. We don't bite… too much" she said with a devilish smile. Harry chuckled lightly, feeling the tension that he felt slowly wane away.
"He's been making noises for the past couple of hours", said Hermione.
"You're one to talk. You humans are so noisy when you're hungry", quipped Hedwig. The room was filled with laughter at her comment. The trio sat together and began to hungrily shovel food into their plate.
"Says the owl that is eating more than any of the humans", said Hermione. Hedwig merely glared at her and, once her plate resembled a miniature mountain, began eating.
"You try living of mice for years and then eating this. We'll see how much self-control you have then", replied Hedwig. Harry laughed for the first time that day, and the rest of them smiled at their success in lifting the gloom from the teen's emerald eyes.
"So Harry, do you like the room?" asked Remus.
"Yes Professor Lupin. It's—"
"Harry. I'm not your professor. I insist that you either call me Remus or Moony. The same goes to you young lady", he said eyeing Hermione. Harry gave him a smile of gratitude.
"Yes Moony. I really like the room; it feels so much like… home." The last was said in a little over a whisper.
"Sirius built it for you", said Tonks. Harry's eyes immediately sparkled at this.
"I believe that this letter will explain any questions that you might have", said Remus as he handed Harry a sealed envelope. Hermione and Hedwig moved a bit away from him so as to give him some privacy. Hands trembling, Harry opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.
Hello pup,
If you are reading this, then it means that I am already dead. Hopefully I went out in a way of my choosing, if not, then I guess there really isn't much point in getting upset about it. Now, on to the serious stuff.
I know that you are sad, and you probably feel alone and unprotected. Though our time was brief, I can honestly say that it was the happiest that I have been since your father told me that Lily was pregnant and that he wanted me to be your godfather.
Don't mourn me Harry. I want you to live, laugh, love, wreak havoc in Hogwarts and make Snape's life a misery. Remember, you are the son and godson of the Marauder's! Always remember what I told you Harry: the one's that we love never truly leave us. You can always find them in your heart.
Know that your parents loved you very much. You were James' greatest accomplishment, and you were the world to your mother. I always thought of you as a son.
On a different topic, I left you Grimmauld place, along with all of my wealth and possessions. Please treat Kreacher better than I did. Perhaps then he will quit being so miserable.
The room where I am living this letter I made for you. This is your home now Harry, don't ever forget it. Feel free to change it to whatever suits your purposes. Also the bed does have an enlarging charm, should you ever need it (wink).
Farewell,
Sirius
Harry felt a small tear roll from his cheek as he finished reading the letter.
"Thank you Moony. It… really means a lot to me", said Harry.
"You're welcome Harry. Grimmauld place is now your home. It was his last wish that you would have a place that you could call your own", said Remus with a smile. Harry rose from the chair, clutching the letter tightly.
"I think I'm going to go to bed", said Harry.
"Are you alright?" asked Hedwig, concern in her voice.
"No. But I think I finally will be", he said. "Good night" and with that he retreated to his bedroom. As soon as his head touched the pillow, he was instantly asleep, exhausted from the most emotionally draining day that he had ever had. He was sad, and hurt. But mixed with these feelings came a sense of peace. Of belonging. I have a home now, was his last thought before darkness claimed him.
Harry woke up on the morning of his birthday to the smell of bacon, sausages, eggs, and pancakes. Rubbing the sleep off his eyes, he got up and headed into the shower. After he had changed to a pair of clean clothes, he descended to the kitchen to find a group of people smiling at him.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!" they yelled as he entered the room. The group consisted of Hermione, Hedwig, Remus, Tonks; the Weasleys sans Ron, Alastor Moody, and Kingsley Shacklebot. Of course, Moody did not yell, but he did treat Harry to a smile, something that was exceedingly rare on the old Auror. Harry's smile was huge, and he was literally beaming with happiness. These were all people that cared for him, in one way or another. People who had taken the time to meet the real Harry Potter. Something like a family, thought Harry. He was almost bowled over by a rushing mass of brown hair that was literally jumping with excitement.
"Happy Birthday Harry!" squealed Hermione and gave him a peck on the cheek. Harry's smile got brighter, and he mumbled a reply. Next in line was Hedwig, who was not about to demean herself by showing the same level of excitement as Hermione. Granted, that did not mean that inside she wasn't jumping every bit as much as; if not more than, Hermione. She gave Harry a warm hug and congratulated him for his birthday. The queue progressed rapidly until the only ones left were the Weasleys. Arthur walked forward and embraced Harry.
"I just want to apologize—"
"It's Ron that has to apologize Mr Weasley. Not you", interjected Harry. Mr Weasley smiled and congratulated him as well, only to be replaced by the bone crushing hug of Mrs Weasley.
"Mrs… Weasley… I… need… to… breathe" wheezed Harry. She quickly released him and apologized. As soon as everyone had congratulated him, he immediately sat down and was presented with a heaping plate of food.
"So Harry, we thought we would celebrate your birthday by taking a trip to Diagon Alley", said Remus.
"I would like that. Thanks Moony", said Harry with a smile.
"No thanks necessary cub. Now, we won't be Flooing there since your loathing of Floo is not a secret", said Tonks with a mischievous smile.
"Stop sugar coating it Nymphadora. It's for his own protection", grumbled Moody.
"Don't call me Nymphadora Alastor. Besides, it's his birthday that does not mean that—"
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" roared Moody. Harry chuckled at the exchange.
"It's fine really. It's his way of showing that he cares", said Harry. Tonks smiled at him while Moody squirmed a bit. He was a battle-hardened Auror. He could not afford this kind of softness. Yet, Harry had touched Moody like no one before him, and so the old Auror found himself, for the second time that day, smiling.
"Right Potter. As soon as you are done, we shall be leaving by cars. Shacklebot! Is everything set?" asked Moody. Kingsley smiled.
"Indeed it is. All that is missing is the birthday boy", he replied.
Once everyone was ready, they loaded themselves into the cars, and left for Diagon Alley. Harry was sitting next to Hermione with Hedwig perched on his shoulder on the back of the car that was driven by Remus and Tonks. Immediately behind them was the car that contained the Weasleys. Bringing up the rear was Alastor and Kingsley.
So Moony, any news from the Order?" asked Harry.
"Are you sure you want to have this discussion now?" asked Remus. Harry nodded. "Very well. People are scared. More now, since Voldemort has been laying low for the past week or so", explained Lupin.
"But isn't it a good thing that he hasn't shown up?" asked Hermione.
"Typically the answer would be yes. The problem is that he was never inactive for this long in the past, and it does not herald anything good. It seems like he might be preparing for something, but we are not entirely sure", said Tonks.
"There are some who believe that Voldemort might decide to attack Azkaban to get his Death Eaters out, but these are mere speculations", said Lupin.
"Speculations or not, the Ministry has decided to triple the security in Azkaban. It is now crawling with even more Dementors and Aurors. It would be almost impossible to break into there now", commented Tonks.
Harry was deep in thought. Ever since Voldemort had possessed him, he had not felt his emotions through the connection from his scar. He could not sense anything, and this worried him. Though it was an unpleasant experience, it did provide him and the Order with an advantage and information that could prove critical. But he had not been able to pick up anything, and this was not a good sign.
"And how is the Order handling this?" asked Hermione.
"Lots of meetings, but not much is getting done. The main difficulty right now is the lack of information regarding Voldemort. So we basically have been preparing for everything and anything that we can think of", explained Lupin.
"So basically it's been a snore fest for the past couple of meetings", interjected Tonks. Lupin gave her a mock glare, as Harry and Hermione snickered at her comment.
They arrived at the Leaky Cauldron, and they descended from the cars. Though the Leaky Cauldron was not as empty as was expected, the atmosphere was still very tense. Harry immediately noted the truth behind Remus' words. Though Voldemort had been lying low, people were still very tense about it, fearing the magnitude of the next attack.
"Alright, listen up!" said Mad-Eye. "Everyone here must be with at least one Auror at all times. That means no wandering around Potter!" Moody's eye was swivelling in all directions, but it did hone in on Harry for a bit, giving him shivers. "The operation is simple: get in, buy your stuff, eat dinner, and get out. Understood?" everyone nodded. Harry and Hermione went together, flanked by Remus and Tonks. Ginny stuck with her parents, which were joined by Kingsley. Mad-Eye simply mingled in the crowd, trying to cover as much ground as possible.
"Let's go to Gringotts first. I don't have enough money to buy all the stuff I need", said Harry.
"I also have to stop by Gringotts", said Hermione.
"Excellent! Then we shall go together. Onwards!" exclaimed Lupin. Tonks leaned in and gave him a quick peck in the cheek as she laughed at his comment.
"So what have you two been up to over the summer?" asked Remus.
"Not all that much. I dropped two classes and have been studying with the help of these two", said Harry as he motioned to Hermione and Hedwig.
"Which classes did you drop?" asked Remus.
"Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. I replaced them with Ancient Runes and Arithmancy", said Harry.
"Really? And what are your thoughts on them?" asked Remus. They then proceeded to have an in depth conversation on both subjects.
They arrived to Gringotts, and quickly entered the bank. Goblins stood in their high tables, counting and moving amounts of gold, silver, and jewels that would make anyone crazy. The bank was empty, except for the trio and two others. It appeared to be a mother and her son, but this was not the important part. Remus' and Harry's jaws hit the floor when they noticed the mother. She looked no older than 30 and was positively the most beautiful woman that he had ever laid eyes on. In fact, she seemed too beautiful. He suspected that she might have been a Veela, but they usually did not come to such a common place as Gringotts. Her hair was strawberry gold, and her eyes were a sparkling shade of blue. Her face appeared to have been carved by the gods themselves in the purest of marble, which was increased by the soft, angelic glow that her skin gave. Her robes appeared to be the most expensive around, though he had never seen anything similar.
Hermione and Tonks, though Hermione much more than Tonks, were equally dazzled by the young boy. Their thoughts agreed in one thing: the boy was gorgeous. In fact, he was the single most handsome and beautiful boy that she had ever met. A cascade of deep gold and brown fell from his head. His skin glowed softly in the light, and his blue eyes sparkled furiously. His robes matched the ones that his mother was wearing, and only seemed to enhance his beauty. Hermione looked at the eyes of the young boy, and was surprised to find that they were similar to Harry's. Though they projected strength, there was something lurking underneath. A shadow, created by both horror and grief, which was so light it went by undetected unless one was looking for it.
Having finished their business with the goblin, the two strangers thanked him, bowed, and left. The trio recognized that they were speaking in Gobbledegook, which only a handful of wizards could speak. Snapping from their trance, they approached the Goblin and requested access to their respective vaults. Remus stayed behind with Tonks, electing to give the youngsters some time alone and saving himself from the dreadful cart ride. It never really sat well with him, and the full moon had been only a couple of days ago. Harry and Hermione sat together as they sped downwards into the inky blackness of the Gringotts vaults.
They arrived at Hermione's vault first. Since she was a muggleborn, her money was converted from her parent's fund in London to Wizarding money. As a result, her vault was closer to the surface and also considerably smaller than Harry's. The contents were few, but still more than the contents of the Weasley vault. Had Ron seen this, his ears would have turned pink with jealousy. Harry noticed that unlike Ron, Hermione was not shy of the vault, in fact, much like Harry, and she was thrilled that she had one. She smiled broadly every time that she went to her vault in Gringotts, once again ensuring her place in the Wizarding World. After she collected the necessary money, they continued their descent towards Harry's vault. Harry noticed that Hermione's money bag was a bit fuller than previous years, but did not comment on it.
After a quick stop at the Potter vault and a lightning fast ride back to the surface, the two teens were squinting in the bright sunlight.
"So", started Remus, "where would you two want to go first?" Harry looked at his list.
"Well, it would be better to get the easy stuff first. I am not in Potion's this year, so I only need to get some writing stuff and more treats for Hedwig", he said.
"How come you're not in Potions?" asked Remus.
"I got an E in my Potions OWL, and Snape only accepts O's in his class", said Harry.
"Does that mean you can't be an Auror?" asked Remus. Though Hermione was aware of Harry's grade, she had not considered the effect that it could have on his best friend's future.
"It does. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but I will figure something out", replied Harry, dropping the subject.
"Hermione, do you want to go to the Apothecary first?" Hermione smiled at the question, and nodded. Hermione replenished her Potions material, and then they went to the stationary shop, were they both got a new set of quills. Harry's was courtesy of Remus and Tonks, saying that it was his birthday present. Hermione's new quill was made out of a griffin feather, whereas Harry's was a phoenix's. Upon exiting the shop, they both noticed the wreckage that had once been Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. Hermione's face saddened at the sight, while Harry remained seemingly unaffected by it. The reality was very different, but he had to maintain a strong façade.
"What happened here Remus?" asked Harry.
"Well, a couple of weeks back, Voldemort ordered an attack on Florean's. The Death Eaters came in and captured him, leaving the wreck that you now see. There has also been an attempt on Ollivander's, but he managed to fend off the Death Eaters and they never returned. His stubbornness is the only reason why the store is still open", replied Remus. Harry said nothing, and Hermione clasped her hands over her mouth.
"Is he alright?" she asked.
"Yes. It appears that old Ollivander is not as defenceless as he might seem. He gave the Death Eaters quite a beating. It has been the talk of Diagon Alley ever since, and now some students are afraid to go in!" said Remus. The trio laughed at the image of old Ollivander defeating the Death Eaters and young first years afraid to enter.
"Well, we have all the light stuff, where to next?" asked Remus.
"I would like to stop by Quality Quidditch Supplies. I need more polish for my Firebolt", said Harry.
After Harry had bought a new polish for his broom, he exited the store.
"Speaking of Quidditch, do you know who the new captain is?" asked Hermione.
"I haven't heard anything. Apparently McGonagall is going to announce it at the start of the term, but it could be anyone", answered Harry.
"So Moony, I've been meaning to ask: how long has this been going for?" asked Harry. Lupin blushed.
"How long has what being going for?" he asked feigning ignorance.
"I think you know full well what Harry means Moony", quipped Hermione, a devilish smile gracing her face. Lupin blushed even further, but was momentarily spared from his embarrassment as Tonks tripped over her own two feet.
"Well, if you two must know, I've been seeing Mr Wolf here for the past two months", said Tonks with a proud smile.
"That's wonderful Tonks! Congratulations to the two of you", said Hermione happily.
"About time if you ask me", said Harry.
"And what exactly do you mean by that cub?" asked Remus.
"You weren't exactly good at hiding it. Heck, even I noticed that you two obviously liked each other. Or at least that's what it seemed. I wasn't particularly sure…" said Harry.
Remus immediately turned a very bright shade of crimson, followed swiftly by Tonks.
"Yes, well… Where to next?" said Remus, hoping to spare himself from any further embarrassment.
Deciding to let Remus off the hook, Hermione gave Harry a long look.
"We need to go to Madame Malkin's. Harry needs new robes", she said. Harry eyed her curiously, while Remus attempted not to laugh. Remus was delighted at the news, but he also found it incredibly funny that Hermione, out of all people, wanted to take Harry to buy him new robes.
"But Hermione, I don't need—"
"Harry James Potter! I will not allow my best friend to walk around with clothes that do not fit him properly. We will go to Madame Malkin's and we are not leaving until you are properly attired", she commanded. Remus stared at her, amazed at the similarity between her and Minerva McGonagall. Harry held his ground, but eventually caved in. He did need new robes, though he did not want to admit it.
As soon as they entered the shop, they were encountered with two surprises. The first one was pleasant in nature, while the second one was not. Sitting in the back, was the boy and mother that they had seen at Gringotts. The black robes that the boy was waiting to get fitted did not carry the crest of any of the houses, which was odd, considering his age. The other surprise was the customer currently being attended by Madame Malkin herself. His white blonde hair shone, almost matching the light that his pale skin was throwing off. Draco Malfoy's face was contorted with disgust even before he noticed Harry's presence. Standing behind him, clad in her usual expensive and tasteful attire was Narcissa Malfoy herself. "Be careful with that needle, you are poking me!" barked Malfoy. Narcissa was trying to soothe her son, but failing miserably. Madame Malkin was so nervous that her hand was visibly shaking. She finally slipped enough to prick Malfoy, which earned her a slap from the Malfoy heir. "STUPID WOMAN!" he yelled, rubbing his arm.
He quickly removed the robe that he was trying on and threw it at her, being very careful not to reveal his left forearm. He then stormed out of the shop, not even noticing Harry, Hermione, and Lupin. Narcissa gave Madame Malkin an apologetic look, and quickly followed her son.
"I am so glad that pretentious pureblood is finally gone", commented the boy. Harry and Remus burst out laughing at the comment, and Hermione tried very hard not to laugh, but eventually gave in.
"Is he always like that?" he asked. As soon as Harry had calmed down, he nodded.
"He's been like that since we first met six years ago." They boy raised his eyebrows.
"You have my admiration. It must have been very hard not to have glued his lips shut. Especially if he was with you for six years", he commented. Harry laughed again, and approached the boy.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met. I am—"
"Harry Potter. A pleasure to meet you. And before you ask, no, I did not recognize you from the scar. It was your face. I have seen it once on a paper that another was reading", said the boy, as he gave Harry a short bow.
"This is my friend, Hermione Granger", said Harry.
"The brightest witch of her age, as I understand it. A pleasure", replied the boy, bowing to Hermione as well.
"This is Remus Lupin, he was—-"
"The Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. If the rumours are true, you were one of the best they ever had in the past six years", commented the boy, making Remus blush.
"Should I introduce you to Tonks or do you already know who she is?" asked Harry with a smile.
"I am afraid that I have not heard of you, madam. My mother never mentioned one named Tonks. There was an extraordinary new Auror who was also a metamorphagus. Are you, perchance, that person?" asked the boy. Tonks blushed an even brighter shade of red than Remus. Deciding to spare her, Harry nodded.
"Her real name is Nymphadora, but she refuses to let anyone call her that", answered Harry.
"Really? But why would she deny the world of employing such a beautiful name? After all, it is said that the nymphs were beautiful beyond the realms of mortals Nymphadora", said the boy.
"Don't call me that", mumbled Tonks as she blushed even harder.
"And you are…?" asked Harry.
"Where are my manners? I apologize, Hermione, Nymphadora, Remus, and Harry. My name is Galdir Aglaron, and this is my mother, Aglareth Algarebel."
Since his return from the Casket, Galdir had dedicated himself to studying everything that had transpired over the past six years at Hogwarts, as well as collecting as much information as he could from his contacts. He then went on to study the entirety of the Hogwarts curriculum. Though the subjects were simple to him, he devoted a lot of attention to three subjects: Defence Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, and Potions. The first one was more in the interest of being able to gauge how much power and knowledge he could exhibit without giving himself away. Potions was more of a necessity than anything else. Since Elves did not bother with it, he had to learn it from scratch. Fortunately, since Elves are creatures of magic, it was not as challenging as it would have been otherwise. History of Magic was more of an entertainment for him than anything.
Since humans did not live anywhere near as long as Elves, their history was filled with inaccuracies. Moreover, it was tainted with opinions and this lead to many humorous moments for Galdir. He laughed at the way that the authors tried to justify their lack of knowledge, and he found it very amusing how many details they either left out or were completely wrong. The only part that Galdir thought interesting was how the intervention of the Elves had remained a mystery throughout their history. He knew that Elves had followed a very strict protocol for interaction with humans, but he had always read the tales from their side. Moreover, Galdir was astounded at the nobility of some humans, as well as the arrogance of others. This was the first time that he read history from the eyes of the humans, and it was as amusing as it was interesting.
Galdir and Aglareth left for Diagon Alley early in the morning, leaving Canadion and Anuon behind to continue their surveillance over the Wizarding World. The Elves too were worried at Voldemort's lack of activity, but much less so than the humans. "Before we go, remember: if something happens that you are unsure of, ask me with your thoughts", said Galdir. Aglareth nodded and they left. Similarly to how Canadion and Anuon had powers of elements and time, Galdir was blessed with gifts as well. Galdir was what is known as an Absolute Occlumens and Legilimens. These skills were rare, even amongst Elves, and gave their users a very distinct advantage. The skill was the same as humans, except that Galdir's were immensely more powerful, and far more developed. Absolute Occlumency means that no one can enter the person's mind. No matter how powerful or how skilled. Absolute Legilimency is the opposite. No matter how strong the person, the Absolute Legilimens will always be able to read their thoughts. The results of an encounter between the two were unheard of, and Galdir had never encountered someone like him. He also possessed telekinesis, which proved invaluable to him during battle.
Upon arriving to Diagon Alley, Galdir and Aglareth stood there, far too shocked to speak.
While Elves had devoted themselves throughout the entirety of their lives to perfecting their arts and producing things of beauty, humans had just focused on growing. The shops were literally piled one on top of the other, and the street was nowhere wide enough to hold the apparent number of wizards that transited it. Everything seemed dirty and unorganized, and this shocked the two Elves. Walking through, Galdir's eyes surveyed everything
"How can they live like this?" asked Aglareth. Galdir quickly muttered a spell to ensure that they were not overheard. Though Modern Elvish was not understood by all creatures like Ancient Elvish or even Protean, it was still a risk to have humans listen to a tongue that was completely alien to them.
"They know no other way, Aglareth. Remember, the focus of humans is different from ours, and the result is what we see here", replied Galdir.
"But the shops… they are crammed and dirty and—"
"Yes. But that is the way they live. It is shocking for me as well, but remember that these are humans. They do not devote themselves to things as we do, and their lifespans are nowhere near as long as ours, limiting their advances, though not by much", continued Galdir. "Their lifespans may be short, but they can accomplish more than we can if the put their minds to it." Aglareth nodded, but was still shocked at the state of Diagon Alley.
"Anyway. First order of business is to get you a vault", said Aglareth.
"I am assuming you have a plan? The lack of currency in our world can be… potentially problematic", replied Galdir.
"Of course I do. I managed to get some funds ready to be transferred. Alternatively, we can always fall back on the treaty with the Goblins, but I would rather not inconvenience them with this. We just need to get the vault so they can be funnelled in. I believe the bank is called Gringotts." They continued to wander through Diagon Alley until they came up to the white marble front of Gringotts Bank.
"Such a change", commented Aglareth.
"We can attribute that to the goblins", replied Galdir.
"Goblins? How can you… oh!" Aglareth recognized the characteristic carvings on the marble that identified Goblin craft. They entered the bank and immediately headed towards a teller. Galdir cancelled the spell as they approached the Goblin, who was busy weighing rubies.
"Good morning. I would like to open a vault for my son", said Aglareth. The goblin continued its work, not even lifting its head. Aglareth's cheeks flushed with indignation. How dare this Goblin ignore the Lady of the Noble House of Algarebel! she thought.
Do you know how to speak Gobbledegook? asked Galdir through his mind.
Oh! Right. I forgot. "Good Morning, noble sire. I am here to request a vault for my son", she repeated in Gobbledegook. The Goblin froze in place as the witch in front of him spoke in his own tongue. What is more, she spoke it fluently, a feat that is very rare amongst wizards. Eyeing them carefully, he opened his mouth, revealing a row of razor sharp teeth.
"Most certainly madam. If you would be so kind as to follow me, I will take you to my superior", he said as he stood up. Both Aglareth and Galdir bowed and followed the Goblin to a very elegant office. The chairs were made of the finest leather, and they sported complex ornaments made of gold. The manager motioned Galdir and Aglareth to seat, after they had exchanged bows.
"Good morning. I am Bakord, the resident manager here at Gringotts. I understand that you wish to open a vault with us madam?" he said. Aglareth nodded.
"My son here was just recently accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As a result, I find myself in need of providing him with the means to move in the Wizarding World. One of these means is money", explained Aglareth. The goblin eyed them carefully, focusing on their pointed ears. "You say he is your son, yet he does not look like you at all. His energy feels… different", said the goblin menacingly.
"You are very perceptive Bakord, and for that I commend you. Your observations are quite accurate. Lady Aglareth is not my mother, but rather my sister-in-law. As I am sure you have deduced already, we are not humans", said Galdir. Bakord sat motionless.
"It has been a thousand years since we heard of your kind. I thought that you had decided to abandon the humans forever", said Bakord.
"We did. However the circumstances are different, as I am sure you are well aware. I am here to infiltrate Hogwarts and assess the situation there. In order to have a convenient disguise, more than just my appearance is needed. Of course, we do ask for your complete discretion. None outside of this office may know who we really are", explained Galdir. Bakord's eyes met Galdir's, and the goblin was immediately overwhelmed by the aura of power that he projected.
"Of course. We goblins are still bound by the treaty that was made when we first appeared. I shall procure you with the most secure vault that Gringotts has to offer. Do you require money? As I recall, Elves do not have any form of currency", asked Bakord.
"Indeed we do not. However I have managed to secure funds for the vault, and are waiting to be transferred", said Aglareth as she passed a letter to Bakord.
After Bakord inspected the document carefully, he produced a small key from his drawer. "Everything appears to be in order. Rest assured that your powers will not conflict with the security measures at Gringotts. The vault is one that was used by your kind before, and as a result it carries significantly more powerful wards. It also requires a drop of blood to be activated", said Bakord. Galdir nodded and produced a sharp knife from his robes. He made a small cut on his palm, which he then preceded to place over the key. Three scarlet drops fell on its surface. The key glowed for a second and quivered for a second.
"The key is ready. Funds may be withdrawn at any time without access to the vault, though any items placed in there must be recovered in person. Is there anything else that I can do for you today?" asked the goblin.
"You are most kind, but that will be all. There are other business that we need to attend to before the day is over", said Galdir as he rose from his chair. Aglareth rose as well, followed by Bakord.
"I shall escort you out", said the goblin.
Just as they stepped outside of the office, Galdir noticed the entrance of Harry Potter. The girl next to him he assumed was Hermione, whereas the man standing behind was unknown to him. He smiled as he recognized the metamorphagus and made a quick scan to gather the basic information regarding who they were. Both Aglareth and Galdir identified was that the man was a werewolf. Ignoring it, Galdir thanked the goblin. After exchanging bows, they left Gringotts, leaving a gawking trio behind.
"Well, that went better than I expected. Though I did not expect him to recognize us so quickly", said Aglareth as soon as Galdir had restored the privacy spell.
"Indeed. After we disappeared from the world of men, they continued as if nothing was amiss, but there have been interactions between us, rare as they may have been. It was certainly a surprise. Not an unexpected one, but a surprise none the less.
"They definitely seemed surprised that we decided to show up personally. The first goblin nearly fell off his chair when I switched to Gobbledegook", said Aglareth with a smile.
"It was amusing to say the least. I suspect that their general attitude towards costumers is but a mere façade. After all, I imagine it would be quite trying to deal with the stupidity of the masses on a daily basis."
"True. Anyways, where to next?" asked Aglareth.
"I think a trunk would be in order. We shall leave the books and robes last", said Galdir.
"What about your Potions things?" asked Aglareth.
"We can get them in our world. The ingredients are the same, and the cauldron can be Elven made. We just have to ensure that there are no marks that can identify it as such."
The two Elven Lords entered Theo's Baggage, which was the only shop in Diagon Alley that sold bags and trunks. Similar to the overall decor of Diagon Alley, the shop was crammed to the ceiling with trunks, suitcases, and bags of all shapes and sizes. A young man sat at the counter, waving his wand at a trunk. "Good morning kind sir", said Aglareth. The young man looked up and quickly banished the trunk and fixed his appearance.
"Good morning to you! My name is Theodore, but you can call me Theo. What can I do for you today?" he asked.
"Well Theo, my son here is going to Hogwarts, and he needs a new trunk", explained Aglareth.
"Certainly madam. What kind of trunk would you like young man?" asked Theo.
"I need a trunk that has a concealed compartment with the same capacity as the principal trunk. A bottomless one would be nice", said Galdir.
"Those trunks are expensive. Only Aurors and such request things like that. Are you sure?" asked Theo.
"Completely. What do you have?" asked Galdir.
"Well, we have several models, depending on your preferred size", said Theo. Waving his wand, he summoned several trunks from the piles in the shop. The last trunk that he summoned was a sleek black model. Galdir was immediately drawn towards it.
"Something feels… different about this one", said Galdir. Theo's eyes sparkled.
"Very good young sir. This trunk is made out of a rare collection of woods that are naturally laden with magic. It has two compartments, and is bottomless. The design that you see over it is completely natural. The wood is reinforced with spells to ensure that it does not break and so that it lasts a long time. The lock is protected so it cannot be opened by anyone other than yourself", explained Theo.
"Excuse us for a minute, Theo. I believe that we will take this one, but let me consult with my mother", said Galdir.
Muttering quickly, Galdir threw a privacy charm.
"Did you feel it?" asked Galdir.
"Yes. It feels Elvish in nature, but I do not understand why", replied Aglareth.
"I think it is the wood that the trunk is made of. The pattern is very familiar to the trees that grow close to Aglaron, but then again, it could also belong to any Elvish region", said Galdir.
"It would explain the 'laden with magic' comment. All trees that grow close to us absorb the magic of the region. How did he come by it?" asked Aglareth.
"I am not sure. The wards that protect the Elvish lands are very strong, but it is also a fact that some of our magic has affected the surrounding areas, and that is where the wood came from. The magic is Elvish, but it is not particularly strong", said Galdir. Deciding to discuss it later, Galdir purchased the trunk and thanked Theo for his help.
"Let's get the worst over with", said Galdir as they headed towards Ollivander's.
The shop was as dirty and unorganized as ever. As soon as Galdir entered, an old man pounced on them, wand aimed at their hearts.
"Oh, you are not Death Eaters", said the old man in a wheezy voice. "Do you need your wand serviced?" asked Ollivander.
"No. I need to buy a wand", said Galdir. Ollivander eyed him carefully.
"I have never seen you before, yet you are old enough to have a wand. What is your name boy?"
"Galdir Aglaron. I used to have my mother's wand, but she decided that since I was going to Hogwarts, I should have my own", said Galdir.
"And your mother's wand is…?" asked Ollivander.
"His mother's wand is ancient, made by a wizard in northern Europe. I do not remember what it is made of", replied Aglareth. Ollivander stared at Aglareth.
"Adoptive mother I presume?" he asked.
"Yes. Now, about that wand", said Aglareth politely. Ollivander muttered something to himself and withdrew a measuring tape, which began to measure just about everything that could be measured in Galdir. He then started to take boxes and hand them to Galdir. Though he admitted that the old wand maker had skill, the wands felt alien in his hand. A while later, Ollivander had practically gone through his entire shop and had failed to find a wand that would fit Galdir. "No matter, no matter. I shall find you a wand. That I promise", said Ollivander. He then went to the back of the store and returned with a deep crimson box. Inside was redwood wand. "Redwood, 13 inches. The core is dragon heartstring. Highly unyielding", explained Ollivander. As soon as Galdir touched the wand, a huge surge of power exploded, destroying everything except wands.
"A rather violent reaction. Then again, given the core of the wand, it is not surprising", commented Ollivander.
"What do you mean?" asked Aglareth.
"The dragon, whose heartstring resides within that wand, was the oldest dragon that I have ever encountered. His magic was immense. I met him before he died, and humbly requested to use his heartstrings for wands. He agreed on one condition: I could only take one heartstring. He made me swear on my magic. The result is probably one of, if not the, most powerful wand that I have ever made", explained Ollivander. Galdir also requested a wand holster. Ollivander returned with one made of dragon hide, saying that the skin came from the same dragon whose heartstring was in the wand. After paying for their purchases, Aglareth and Galdir left, leaving a slightly bewildered Ollivander behind.
"What just happened?" asked Aglareth. "I have read about the wand selection process, but it is never this violent." Galdir was in a mild state of shock and did not reply immediately.
"It is him", whispered Galdir. A shadow of fear and grief passed over his eyes.
"Who? What?" asked Aglareth, confused.
"I knew the dragon that gave the heartstring", said Galdir.
"How? We do not have relations with the dragons. Do we?" asked Aglareth.
"Not as a whole. Few Elves have ever survived an encounter with a dragon, much less talked to one. They are the only magical creatures whose power rivals ours. They are also very quick to anger, and their code of conduct is very… complicated", replied Galdir.
"How do you know a dragon then?"
"It was a long time ago, back when I was still an apprentice. My master had purposefully sent me to an area that was crawling with dragons. They were all ruled by Gurgaranor, who at the time was the oldest dragon alive. He was immense, dwarfing every other dragon in the community, and the air around him was dense with magic. Long story short, I managed to befriend him. Before I left, his first born fell sick, and none of their knowledge of magic could heal him. The disease was generated by dark magic, though I do not know where it came from. Using all my knowledge, combined with the power of the dragons, I managed to heal Gurgaranor's son. As a symbol if his gratitude, he promised me that he would help me. He must have somehow known this would happen, hence why now I carry a wand with his heartstring", explained Galdir.
Aglareth was dumbstruck. I knew that Galdir was a very accomplished elf, but this is ridiculous! Having met Gurgaranor?! Even I have heard of him! He is mention as the single most powerful dragon of the Sixth Age. How on earth did he manage to befriend him? And how could his master send him as an apprentice?! That is unheard of! What intrigued Aglareth the most was something that her sister had mentioned. Something that she had been sworn to never repeat. Galdir had nightmares at night, which was the reason why he never slept. What the nightmares were she did not know, but she began to wonder just how much he had to go through to obtain the power that he now to ignore this for now, she composed herself, and moved on to the next item in the list.
"Well, you really only need a pet, if you want one, robes, and books", said Aglareth.
"I do not want a pet, thank you very much", said Galdir. "Then let us go to Madame Malkin's so we can get you clothes that you can wear while in school", replied Aglareth with a smile. She knew that Galdir was opposed to pets, but still decided to ask him. He is so self-contained that it is really difficult to get a reaction from him. I wonder how my sister managed to get him to open up, thought Aglareth. They entered Madame Malkin's; encountering a young boy whose hair was almost as white as Aglareth's skin. Madame Malkin, who was currently attending the boy, excused herself for a second and approached the two Elves.
"How may I help you today dear?" she asked.
"I need school robes Madam. I am starting Hogwarts this year and I find myself in the need of the proper school attire", responded Galdir, giving her a warm smile.
"Certainly my dear. Why don't you have a seat and I will get to you as soon as I am done", she said, returning to the boy she was attending.
Draco Malfoy's grey eyes fixed themselves on Galdir and Aglareth.
"Starting Hogwarts this year? I did not think that they allowed transfers. Dumbledore must be getting very desperate if he is allowing anyone in nowadays", said Draco with a sneer. Galdir did not say anything, and merely sat down to wait for Madame Malkin.
"Draco, please be nice", said Narcissa Malfoy.
"No Mother! Why should I have to be with students like that?! Look at him! He is a freak! He must be a half-breed and—" Draco never got to finish his tantrum. Galdir immediately stood up. His eyes sparkled with fury as they slowly constricted into slits.
"Draco Malfoy is it?" growled Galdir. All colour drained from Draco's face, making him even paler. "If you are so concerned by the quality of the people attending Hogwarts Draco, you would begin by removing yourself from it. I cannot imagine it would be beneficial to Hogwarts to house sons of Death Eaters. Especially the son of Lucius Malfoy." Draco's eyes bulged with anger at the comment.
"Why you little—" Galdir drew his wand from the concealed holster in his arm and pointed it at Malfoy. "They say that all magical children carry a trace, yet I was told I do not have it. Shall we test that?" asked Galdir in a menacing tone.
"Y-You c-can't. Y-You'll b-be expelled", said Malfoy, trembling in fear.
"Try me, I beg you. Make my day", replied Galdir.
"Galdir! That is enough!" She had initially thought that Galdir would just intimidate the boy. The second that he drew his wand, the entire atmosphere changed. The room darkened, and the temperature dropped. Had anyone been paying close attention, they would have noticed a very pale glow emanating from within Galdir's robes. The way that Galdir was acting was all too reminiscent of the fight with Duvainor, and Aglareth decided to stop Galdir before he did something that he would regret.
Galdir's eyes left Draco's and focused on Madame Malkin and Narcissa. He withdrew his wand, and immediately the room returned to its usual ambience.
"My apologies Madame Malkin. I should not have reacted that way. My apologies to you as well, Mrs Malfoy", said Galdir with a short bow. He then returned to his seat and patiently waited for Draco to finish. Draco's stunned state did not last long, and was immediately replaced with anger. But, being no stupid child, Draco did not further confront Galdir. Instead, his focus shifted to Madame Malkin. It was at this time that Harry Potter, followed by Hermione Granger, the werewolf and the metamorphagus entered the room.