Chapter Nine: Off to See the Wizards
Fabletown, New York, August 2011
"Hard to believe you're going to go off to the same school your mom did." Bigby said nostalgically while he helped Harry pack. It was the last week of August now, and time for Harry to be off to his new school.
"Why did she go to Hogwarts anyway?" He asked.
"When she was young, a wanted criminal was loose and looking for Lily specifically. I don't think we ever got a motive out of them. We had Lily go to England to keep her safe since Ilvermorny would have been an easy way to find her. From there Lily grew fond of the place and she decided to stay. Then she married James and stayed there a little longer."
"Don't worry Dad, I'm not going to fall in love with a boy named James and stay there too." Harry joked.
Bigby chuckled. "No but you might find a cute English girl there that will get her hooks into you."
"Then I might bring her here." Harry replied.
There was a knock at the door and it opened to reveal Jane. "You ready Harry?"
"Just about, still need to say goodbye to everyone." He answered. "What have you been up to?"
For the past three weeks Wendy and Jane have been in Britain helping get the Fable dorm in Hogwarts ready. Neither had sent any messages back to Fabletown. Bigby hadn't said anything other than a lack of bad news was good news.
"You'll just have to see for yourself." Jane said with a pleased grin. "Oh, Mom took the liberty of doing most of your shopping for you, but there are some supplies you'll need to get yourself."
"Fine." He replied, closing his case. Fortunately it was charmed to be bigger on the inside so he could hold everything he needed in it without being bothered by the weight. "What time is it in England right now anyway?"
Jane looked at a clock. "It's 10 AM here, so it should be 3 PM there. Plenty of time to shop and get to the hotel. Apparently Mom says you need to ride the train to school like the other kids. It's good for you or something like that."
"All I'm thinking is getting to sleep is going to be hard tonight." He said before looking at Bigby. "You going to party my first night gone?"
"Hell yeah I am. I've already got the deposit on the keg and strippers. I'm going to have Fabletown's first Mardi Gras tonight." Bigby joked, patting his grandson's back.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Sure Grandpa, have a blast."
"I'm going to miss you Harry. But I'm going to tell you what I told Lily when she left." He paused to recall those years from thirty years ago. "Get good grades, have fun, and be careful around girls."
"Be careful how?" Harry asked.
Bigby shrugged. "Just don't be the kind of boy I told Lily to stay away from."
Harry picked up the case and gave his room one last glance, knowing he wouldn't be back for a while. Not wanting to linger, he left the room and the apartment, heading to the main room of the building. Down there was Snow, Totenkinder, Jake, Percy, Coraline, Boy Blue, Flycatcher, and Pinocchio.
"Won't be the same without you kid." Flycatcher said, tipping his hat to the young boy.
"Bring back some souvenirs." Pinocchio added.
"Get some chocolate. Mom tells me that European chocolate is sweeter than American." Percy said.
"And let me know if you see any dragons." Jake requested.
Totenkinder came forward and handed Harry something. It looked like a wand with a holster. "Here Harry. Wands are essential at these schools. This should do if you can't find a better one, though I'd suggest having one of their professionals make sure it's school-appropriate first."
"Why? It's not going to explode is it?" Harry asked, accepting the wand.
Totenkinder smiled. "Depends on what you do with it."
"Don't make any explosions Harry." Snow warned. "Just be a good student and represent Fabletown with dignity."
"How much dignity will he need to cancel out what Jane does?" Coraline asked.
"I'll be good Miss White." Harry told her then gave her a little hug, which she was happy to return.
"Don't be too good though. Have some fun, be a kid." Pinocchio suggested.
Snow gave the former puppet a dirty look. "Your idea of kid friendly fun Pinocchio was drinking beer and joining a circus."
Pinocchio rolled his eyes. "What? You're only a kid once. Don't tell me you want him to be one of those nerds who might as well stick 'Kick Me' signs to his own back."
"You mean like you have on yours?" Jake asked. Naturally Pinocchio scrambled to check if that was true, which it wasn't, but it made Jake and the other kids laugh.
"Let us know if things get too bad over there." Snow added, letting go of the boy.
Harry nodded. "If I don't you know Wendy or Jane will."
"You ready Harry?" Jane asked, standing up a supply closet with her hand on the knob. Coraline was coming towards her but looking a little hesitant.
Everyone said goodbye one more time, and not wanting to linger, Jane opened the door, revealing a black abyss on the other side she walked into like it was normal. Coraline and Harry followed, closing the door behind them.
Snow sighed. "Now I need to take Rose up to the Farm. Everyone, Bigby's in charge until I get back."
A door opened and three kids came out.
"Ugh, I hate traveling your way Jane." Coraline groaned, rubbing her eyes.
"Beats taking the plane." Jane shrugged.
"So where are we?" Harry asked, seeing a rustic room that looked like it had been built and furnished a century ago and since then merely dusted but not improved. Outside the window he could see a city street with a sign saying Charing Cross Road.
"A hotel in London duh, where'd you think we were?"
"Just making sure you came out the right door." He commented.
"Hi Harry." Wendy said, surprising the boy since he hadn't seen her in the room before. "This place is called the Leaky Cauldron, and apparently it's a wizard pub hidden in mundy London that the mundys can't see. It's actually the closest thing they have to a Fabletown of their own. Unlike America, here in Britain the majority of wizards keep their homes away from mundy places. Sort of like how we have the Farm."
"So everyone who's inside this place is a wizard? With no mundies or Fables at all?" Harry asked.
"Yes, and as far as they know we're wizards too, and for now there's no reason to correct them. Now c'mon, let's take you shopping."
"Won't the people running this place realize I didn't check in?" Harry asked.
"I think they'll be persuaded to look the other way. Now c'mon, before it gets too late."
Everyone left the room and went down the hall, passing by the actual pub part of the inn, but Wendy wasn't in the mood to let the customers aware that Harry was present. That would overwhelm him and delay their errands. She turned a corner and eventually reached a pale brick wall with some trash cans by it, where she put her finger on an insignia on one brick. The next thing they knew the bricks began to part, creating a doorway. On the other side of this door was an open market with people bustling through, paying no mind to them.
"Here we are Harry, Diagon Alley. One of the biggest shopping districts of the wizards here. Think of it as a renaissance version of Fifth Avenue."
"What are we here for?" He asked.
"First we're going to have a professional confirm that the wand Totenkinder gave you meets Hogwarts standards. After that, how about we get you a little pet for company?"
Harry perked. "That would be great." Bigby had never been much of a pet person, what with Colin already routinely crashing at his place and with his own wolf nature making other animals look like prey to him.
"Outside that, we're mostly here to help you gain some familiarity with the wizards before you have to go to school. Don't want to look like an ignorant American do you?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Like I'm not going to make British jokes at them too? I've already got three just about their teeth."
Coraline smacked him on the arm. "Don't make me stop being your friend Harry."
The group walked down the street, ignoring the looks they were getting, and following Wendy's lead. Harry took notice of the people and his first impression was they dressed really weird. Like that woman who apparently thought a stuffed vulture made a good hat. Mostly everyone else wore robes like they were cosplaying as wizards at a LARP convention, with only a few dressed casually like the Fables were. Kids were going around with their parents doing their own school shopping, several admiring brooms on display, and several owls flew overhead despite it being daytime.
"Here we are." Wendy said, reaching a shop with a wooden sign called Ollivanders, before stepping inside. All over the walls were boxes, not unlike a shoe store, and behind the counter was an old man.
"Hello, welcome to Ollivander's Wands. I'm Ollivander, obviously, and what can I do for you?"
Wendy, who still had Harry's wand, handed it to him. "This was custom-made, and we'd like to make sure it's school appropriate before taking it there."
Ollivander looked it over, getting a good feel for it. "Strange, this wand is... different. Oak, over 30 centimeters in length, and the core... it's... what is this? Wolf fur?"
Harry blinked. 'It must be Grandpa's fur then.'
"We have a very special wolf back home." Wendy answered.
"Special doesn't begin to describe it. Normally wolf fur would be about as effective a core as human hair, but this feels powerful. Almost divine. This could be about as powerful as a phoenix feather core. Just what kind of wolf was this?"
Wendy smiled. "The Big Bad Wolf, of course."
Ollivander just looked at her like she told a joke he didn't find funny, then shrugged. "The wand itself is certainly strong in build and power. Even the wood feels different than normal oak wood. It's like it was designed for life and death situations. This is too much for a child to take to school."
Wendy immediately snatched it. "You're not confiscating it if that's what you're thinking."
Ollivander frowned slightly. "And why should I allow a child to carry such a wand on a regular basis? What child needs such power and protection at a school?"
"I don't believe you ever asked this boy what his name was." Wendy replied, pointing to Harry. "So I'll tell you. He's Harry Wolf, but you know him better as Harry Potter."
The wand expert gasped and looked at the young boy. "You're the Harry Potter?"
"I go by Wolf, but yeah that was my birth name." He nodded. Wendy then brushed aside some of his bangs to show a lightning shaped scar.
Ollivander attempted to compose himself again. "Well, as surprising as that is, that still doesn't justify him having such a wand. You-Know-Who is dead."
Wendy rolled her eyes. "Just say his name. What are you so afraid of?"
"Pardon?"
"Besides, even if he is dead, not all of his followers are, right? Don't you think a few would want to get revenge on behalf of their fallen master?"
"But he'll be safe at Hogwarts." Ollivander said.
Wendy scoffed. "Oh sure, because no Death Eater would ever do something dishonorable like break into a school to kill a child. No, they're the good kind of genocidal criminal."
"I see your point, but-"
"And besides, don't most former Death Eaters have children?" Wendy continued. "Don't you think it's possible that a few might try to have their kids do their dirty work for them?"
Ollivander blinked. "Don't you think you're being a little paranoid?"
"Don't you think you're being a little naive in assuming that Harry only has one enemy?" Wendy asked back. "There are worse things out there than Voldemort." Ollivander twitched in fear. "Oh grow some fucking balls already! It's just a name, nothing's going to happen if I say it! There are other things that would love to hurt Harry, and I am not going to let you deprive him of a wand that can give him a fighting chance! So, are you going to approve the wand? Or am I going to make you wish you wore brown pants to work today?"
Ollivander trembled a bit, but cleared his throat. "Well... young Mr. Potter... er... Wolf, is bound to get a lot of attention once he arrives at the school, and perhaps some of it will not be with good intentions. So, while I'm still uncertain about the nature of this wand, for now I will not protest him having it."
"Good." Wendy said, smiling. "Thank you for your help." The group of Fables then left the store.
Back at Hogwarts Dumbledore looked over the construction of the new fifth dorm with pride. From the outside it just looked like another tower being added, and it was, but the inside was the real accomplishment. Despite it being less than a month to make it work, he was certain that the tower would be complete before school started.
Construction was initially handled mainly by house elves, but Bigby had sent from hired goblins and trolls from Fabletown to assist in the manual labor and interior accommodations as well. Dumbledore was surprised to see how different these were from the versions he was familiar with. Fable goblins were green and burly, few with hair and the height ranging from first year students to fourth at the tallest. Trolls were burly but huge, with the shortest being just a little bit shorter than Hagrid. They had horns and they had more color to them, with skin tones including pink, yellow, brown, and mauve, several with visible dark spots like moles or big freckles too. It wasn't just their appearances that were unexpected, it was their behavior. Fable goblins were really good at manual labor and worked remarkably fast even with little jobs, more like what Dumbledore would expect out of dwarves. And Fable trolls were talkative and worked with surprising coordination among themselves for the heavier jobs, though Dumbledore did note that they didn't smell the best.
"How is it going?" Dumbledore asked when he saw them taking a lunch break, eating out of metal boxes. Apparently their tool boxes doubled as lunchboxes.
"So far it's going well. We're working on the wiring now, and after that we're going to confirm the best place to put the wifi." One of the goblins answered.
Dumbledore nodded though he had no idea what they were saying. At least it didn't sound dangerous or illegal.
"Though one of your employees is still giving us trouble." One of the trolls added.
Dumbledore sighed. He had told his staff about the needed change to the school when he came back to England and was met with some questions and concerns, but only one person had expressed actual opposition to the matter. The dorm was built anyway, and the staff had mostly avoided the working monsters with a few exceptions.
Flitwick had approached the goblins with curiosity due to his own heritage, but the goblins soon found his questions of what made them different than British goblins to be offensive and didn't want to talk to him anymore. At least he apologized and left them alone. And Trelawney had been eager to try and give them all predictions of their futures, having never done so to a non-human before. They told her to buzz off and if they wanted a prediction they'd consult an oracle back in New York. She tried anyway, but left in a huff when they went on as if they hadn't heard a word she had said.
"Who was it? I'll remind them of the importance of your work. Just please bear with them and don't take violent responses." Dumbledore asked.
"Does throwing the jerk into that lake count as violent?" One of the trolls asked, pointing to the Hogwarts lake.
Dumbledore turned towards the lake in a panic then ran over, wanting to make sure his employee wasn't in danger of drowning. Or worse, eaten by the giant squid. He sighed with relief and slowed down when he saw a drenched angry man walk his way from the lake.
"Headmaster I demand you let me kill those monsters!"
"Severus, I warned you to not bother the trolls and goblins here. If you did so anyway it's your own fault."
"I still say they shouldn't be here. Building a dorm just to pacify the Potter brat is-"
"Stop right there Severus." Dumbledore said firmly, which got results. It wasn't often that Dumbledore interrupted others, even if they were being rude. "I understand your dislike of James Potter and have never denied you that right, but we are not talking about James Potter. Harry doesn't even use his father's name, he uses Lily's name. I would like to think that would give you at least a smidgen of tolerance for the boy."
Snape wiped some water out of his eyes and tried to wring out his hair, not responding to what the elderly wizard had said.
"Severus, when I announced that I would be going to New York to enroll Harry, you hated it even though you knew full well I had to do it. And when I came back with the news of a new dorm you were the only one adamantly against it. I would think that you would be in favor of the things I've told you."
"And why would you think that?" Snape asked, moving his hair out of his eyes and reaching for his wand.
"Because every sign points to what you want. Harry is more like Lily than James. He lives in the same home, with the same people, has the same family name, and with this dorm more of Lily's home and heritage will be here in Hogwarts where she and her home can be honored. You should be happy that Harry is following in his mother's footsteps rather than his fathers. Why are you not?"
"Because no matter what you say or do it's not the same as having Lily herself back." Snape remarked bitterly, using a charm to dry himself.
"Severus, Lily is dead. Nothing can bring her back." Dumbledore stated. "But at the same time, so is James. He can't come back and bother you either. So you can let go of your hatred of him."
"And what if I don't want to?" Snape challenged.
"If you want to stay angry at a dead man, that's your right. But I'm warning you as a friend Severus, do not transfer your hatred of James onto Harry. Harry will have protection here, and if you choose to antagonize Harry they will not take kindly to you."
Snape looked unthreatened. "Why would Potter get protection?"
"Because Fabletown is smart Severus, and I had no choice but to tell them that Voldemort will return and target Harry. The only way Harry will be here is if Fabletown provides some protection for him too, and I find that completely acceptable. But they will take this duty seriously, so please Severus do not give them reason to classify you as a threat to Harry. I don't know what they can or will do to you, but they will do it if you prompt them."
Snape scoffed and started walking away. "I promise nothing. And I can handle anything they may try."
Dumbledore sighed. "Severus, I protected you before, but even I can't protect you against everything."
"Oh hey Harry, Coraline, there's one of the guys who works at Hogwarts." Wendy said, pointing at a rather large man. Not a fat man, though he certainly wasn't lean, more like a really tall and wide guy, one that looked like a small giant.
"What does he teach?" Coraline asked.
"He doesn't, he's the groundskeeper." Wendy said, looking at the large man carefully, like something wasn't right.
"Sure is different than Flycatcher." Harry whispered, to which Coraline nodded.
"Hello Hagrid." Wendy greeted, approaching the gentle giant. "What brings you here?"
"Ah, good ter see yeh Wendy. Oh, is this who I think it is?" He asked, looking right at Harry.
"Yes this is Harry, but you didn't answer my question." Wendy reminded him.
"Oh sorry, I'm just doin' an errand fer Dumbledore. He needs me ter get somethin' at Gringotts. I was just surprised to see Harry. The las' time I saw 'im he was just one year old." He looked back to Harry. "You look jus' like James, but those are certainly Lily's eyes."
"Grandpa says the same." Harry replied.
Hagrid looked confused. "What do yeh mean? Yer granddad is dead."
"Not on my mom's side of the family." Harry corrected.
"I see." Hagrid replied, looking like he was hearing something that clashed with his paradigm and didn't know what to believe now. Harry found that weird, why would this stranger believe that he had no living family taking care of him?
"You're going to Gringotts?" Wendy asked, and Hagrid nodded. "Harry could benefit from seeing that place, as well as anything his parents left for him. Mind if we tag along?"
"No not at all."
"It's like we're not even here." Jane whispered to Coraline who nodded. "And I'm not even hiding this time."
"This way." Hagrid said, leading the Fables. They passed a shop that looked like it sold nothing but cauldrons and accessories for the pots, and another shop that looked like it sold all sorts of European owls. Harry wondered how important were owls if a pet store would sell them alone.
Up ahead was a majestic building that looked like it was made of ivory, with large bronze doors and windows. A sign on it declared this was Gringotts, and there was a short humanoid creature standing guard by it.
"That there's a goblin." Hagrid explained, in case the kids were unfamiliar.
"Goblins work at the bank here?" Coraline asked.
Hagrid nodded. "Who did yeh expect?"
"In America, we have leprechauns." Jane answered.
Hagrid blinked in surprise. "Leprechauns? I mean… sure they're good with money, but they swindle anyone they can."
"Not if it's in their best interest not to."
The goblin doorman let them in, and after going through two sets of doors they went into the main lobby. Like a mundy bank there was a counter with tellers at it, though this counter was rather long and there were a hundred goblins acting at teller. Most were busy writing something down, weighing coins, or examining stones like a jeweler.
"Hey there." Wendy said, approaching a free goblin casually. "We'd like to see the Potter vault." She took out a small gold key.
The goblin examined it and was satisfied. "Very well."
'Why does she have that?' Harry asked.
"While we're at it, I've got this reques' from Professor Dumbledore." Hagrid added, pulling out a folded piece of paper. A few crumbled dog biscuits fell out of his coat pocket as he did so. "It's 'bout the yeh-know-what in Vaul' 713."
The goblin took the letter and read it, then shrugged. "Very well. If you're going together, I'll get someone to escort you both. Griphook!"
Another goblin came up and led the group down the hall.
"Why do you have that key?" Harry asked the assassin.
"Apparently Dumbledore was keeping ahold of it all these years on your behalf." Wendy replied, not sounding happy with her answer. "You can imagine a few of the things I had to say about that."
Harry nodded. He really could. How did he get it? Had he used it at all during the past ten years? What else did he have that rightfully belonged to Harry?
Griphook opened a door for them, which revealed a steep staircase down an earthen tunnel lit with torches. They arrived at a platform at the bottom, with a rail before them like you'd find in a mine. Griphook whistled and a cart rolled up to them, unmanned.
"I don't think we can all fit in there." Coraline observed.
"You guys go on ahead without us." Jane offered, her and Coraline stepping back. "If you need me, I'll just shadow-travel."
"Just stay here." Wendy told her daughter. Jane nodded, and everyone climbed into the cart, Hagrid having some difficulty. Once in, the cart went off on its own, Griphook doing no visible form of steering it or controlling its speed. The rail took them through turns and declines, like the cavern was a maze. There was a burst of fire at one point, and Harry could have sworn it was a dragon causing it.
After a few minutes that felt like half an hour, the cart stopped before a door. Hagrid looked like he was going to puke, and the others got out before he did.
"Here we are Harry, what your birth parents left for you." Wendy told the boy. "I was here a few days ago, mostly to make sure no traps were left inside somehow and confirm Dumbly hadn't stolen from you when he had the chance. Though I did withdraw some money to cover your shopping."
He nodded, not minding that. Griphook used the key to open the door, revealing a chamber filled with piles of gold, silver, and bronze coins.
Harry whistled. "Imagine what they'd do back home if they could see this."
"Jack would give his left nut for half of this." Wendy remarked. "The bronze ones are called Knuts, and they're sort of the dollar of this economy. The silver ones are called Sickles, think of them as the tens or twenties, and the gold ones are called Galleons, the fifties. Now keep in mind I'm speaking comparatively, not literally. Especially you reading this."
"So I can use this any time I want?" Harry asked.
"No, most of this is for your tuition and supplies, but yeah if you do want to splurge once in a while you can use this as long as you're careful. Just don't bankrupt yourself."
Harry nodded and took a few coins of each type in a small bag Wendy had provided for him. Wendy took a few too, in case they had more to buy tonight. Finished, they went back in the cart and went to Hagrid's vault.
"That's what you came for?" Harry asked when Hagrid came out of Vault 713 with a small bag.
He nodded. "Yes, but don' ask what it is. Not allowed to say anythin' about it. Nothin'."
"Well you better tell me right now if it's dangerous or not." Wendy declared, refusing to let him back in the cart for the time being.
"O' it's not dangerous at all. No need ter worry ma'am." He assured, but when he tried to step in she again stopped him.
"Then let me see it myself. If it's not dangerous."
Hagrid pocketed the bag. "No can do. Dumbledore says-"
"Dumbledore's not here. I am." Wendy stated with no nonsense, holding out her hand. "Let me see it, or take your own cart ride back."
Hesitant, Hagrid handed her the pouch. Wendy opened it and looked inside, seeing an amber stone that looked sort of like an uncut gem. Satisfied, she closed the pouch and handed it back.
"There, now was that so hard?"
Hagrid gave no answer as he climbed back in.
One wild cart ride later, they were back at the entry and reunited with Jane and Coraline. Their errand finished, they all left Gringotts.
"'Scuse me, but I'm gonna lay down somewhere. I hate those car' rides." Hagrid said before leaving.
"What was in that bag?" Harry asked Wendy.
"I'm not certain, but if I had to guess, it's a mcguffin."