Hello, everyone! I have a few disclaimers for this chapter! We're starting off the canon story here. All passages/descriptions that are italicised are not mine; I'm using the words and descriptions that JKR wrote. Please know and understand that I am not claiming to own any of the characters, or books. I am writing this story based off of what happens in the books, so although some things will be different, I'm also utilising what's already written by JKR to do so.

Other than that, please enjoy this chapter. I'm really excited to start off Harry's Hogwarts journey, and I hope you all ride along with me :) xx

July 24th, 1991

Harry woke up early. There was change in the air, and it frightened him. As much as he put on a strong facade, there was so much that could go wrong when he left his family. He felt as if he had been in a bubble for the past ten years of his life, where there was nothing that could harm him, but now he was leaving.

He pulled himself out of bed and put his glasses on. It was a useless task, as he went straight to the shower where he just took them off again. He supposed it was a nervous tick because he didn't need his glasses; he could still see without them, everything was just blurry. Whenever he wanted to think more clearly, he'd put them on. Regardless, he stripped and stepped into the shower.

His thoughts clouded his ability to think properly. Once he finished washing his unruly black hair, he turned off the water and wrapped himself in a towel. He wondered what time it was; he didn't doubt that the rest of his family was awake too.

He stepped back into his room and slipped on a grey t-shirt with his leather jacket that Sirius had given him. He pulled on a pair of loose, light-washed jeans and rolled them at the ankles since they were a tad big for him. Harry Potter wasn't a short boy by any means, but he was scrawny, and everything seemed too big for him, even if it wasn't.

He put on some socks and walked downstairs; he'd get his shoes later. As he expected, James, Lily, Remus, and Sirius were already sitting downstairs dressed and ready to go. It was early, seven twenty-two in the morning. His grandma would be coming soon; they planned for her to get to the cottage early. They wanted to hit Diagon Alley before it was bustling with people.

As if on cue, the fireplace roared, and his grandma stepped into the room. She held a cream coloured envelope with emerald green writing on it. They were quiet for a minute as they all stared at the letter in her hands before Lily got up.

"Thank you for bringing it here yourself." She said as she approached and hugged Minerva. The older witch was much taller than Lily, and she wrapped her arms gently around Lily's back.

"I wouldn't miss it. I wish I could go with you to Diagon Alley, but it's not safe for me to go too."

"I know. We need to make Dumbledore, and everyone else think that you have no connection to us whatsoever. It doesn't make it any easier, though," she said quietly.

"One day, it'll be alright. We'll get through this." The older witch whispered soothingly down to the petite little woman. Lily pulled away from Minerva and walked back to the couch. Minerva turned to Harry, "This is for you." She said warmly as she handed Harry the letter.

Harry took it and peeled the Hogwarts seal carefully. Without ripping the envelope, he pulled out the parchment it enclosed. He read it aloud to the group:

"Dear Mr Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress"

He read through the second page that contained all the books they'd need to purchase. He already had most of them and read through them at that. He still needed all the things for potions, his wand, a telescope. They were going to purchase the owls, and Harry knew they'd have business with the goblins. Locking your vaults and not accessing them for eleven years would indeed result in a meeting. He'd also need robes and a few other bits and bobs, but their trip seemed rather straightforward.

"I'm excited for you to be able to do this, Harry," Minerva said calmly, "it's a new journey that I'm sure you'll excel at."

Harry smiled, "Thank you, Grandma."

"Let's get our shoes then. We don't know how long the goblins are going to take, and we want to get all this done earlier rather than later," James said, and they nodded. Minerva said her goodbyes and then disappeared through the fireplace while the Potter-Lupin-Black clan collected their shoes, the Invisibility Cloak, and their wands.

They quickly went over their plan one more time before one-by-one, they stepped into the fire and called out "Diagon Alley." Harry appeared in the foreign fireplace after his dad. It wasn't actually foreign, he realised as he took in the building around them. Harry had been here once before with his grandma, years ago. It was the Leaky Cauldron. He supposed in all his anticipation the first time, he didn't realise where she had floo-ed to.

The pub was empty, and the barman wasn't at the counter like he was last time. They all huddled together quickly, and James guided them to a door out the back of the building. Harry was confused at first, but he knew enough about the magical world that nothing was as it seems.

Sure enough, his dad tapped a few of the bricks, and they began to float to the sides. They revealed the entrance to Diagon Alley. Harry had never been here before, it seemed like it would've been quite lovely in its prime. There was a flurry of colours, and most of the stores were open, but it still showed obvious signs of the war.

James guided them all into the nearly empty alley, and they immediately began on their way for Gringotts. It was a tall, white building at the front of the alley. It looked to be about three stories high, but each level was leaning a different direction as if it's weight was about to give out.

Harry was a bit shocked when they walked into the building and revealed the open, marble room with bank tellers lining all the walls. There were hanging crystal chandeliers, and the room was flooded with natural light. James went up to the goblin in the middle of the room. He cleared his throat quietly and said, "I would like to access my vault."

The goblin didn't look up, Harry wouldn't have thought he heard them if he didn't speak. "What is your name? Do you have your vault key?"

"James Potter," he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out an ornate gold key, "vault 687."

The goblin looked up and reached his hand out for the key. Sirius took out his own key as well and stared at it for a moment, "Can we also access vault 711, Sirius Black."

The goblin studied the two men for a long moment. He took both keys, "I see you received your vault key when your parents died. That was quite good magic from the goblins." He grumbled.

"It appeared in my hand one day," Sirius said simply.

"Yes, yes. When the former owner of the family vault died, the key magically transferred to the next remaining Black." The goblin muttered dismissively. "Griphook will be taking you to your vaults."

Another little goblin appeared. He had thinning black hair and empty black eyes. The goblin at the main podium gave Griphook the two vault keys, and with a dry, "Follow me," he led them to a back room and loaded them onto a cart. Harry thought it looked quite cool.

It was most definitely not cool. The entire way down, he felt like he was going to be sick. He could tell his mum and Remus weren't doing too well either. His dad and Sirius looked to be fine, but Harry supposed they were the ones who had to do this most often. And they had gone through the animagus training; a little bumping around wouldn't be too bad for them.

Going to the two vaults was an experience though. Both the Potter and Black family vaults contained mounds of gold galleons, silver sickles, and bronze knuts. There were also heirlooms and valuable knick knacks everywhere in both of the vaults. The Black family was a bit darker, and Harry didn't like the feeling he got from being in its proximity, but the Potter family was wonderful. It wasn't just the money that awed him; it was the sheer amount of history he could see piled everywhere.

The trip to Gringotts had been surprisingly short. The goblin requested to speak with James and Sirius alone to discuss their fortunes' intimate details, but it hadn't taken more than an hour. Sirius came out of his meeting grumbling about the will his parents had left, explaining that under no circumstances should Sirius have access to their vault since he was disowned. The goblins, however, didn't agree with wizarding law, Sirius was indeed a Black. The last remaining Black at that, and so he had full access to the fortune.

He complained that his cousins would be mad. But the goblin said they were now Narcissa Malfoy, Bellatrix LeStrange, and Andromeda Tonks. Therefore, they were no longer Blacks. Sirius did get a kick out of that.

They did their shopping quickly. Most stores were still empty, but the alley got more and more crowded as time went on. To all their relief, people were paying too much attention to themselves to realise the Potters. Sirius and Remus were targets themselves, of course, but they would be tortured rather than killed for information on the Potters.

Once they had bought the necessary potion supplies, parchment and quills, the telescope, the two owls, and the remaining books that Harry didn't own, Lily, Remus, and Sirius took a quick trip home. The owls were essential to their plan, and they didn't want to be noticed with them. James led Harry to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

"I had to go here quite often when I was your age. My mum was always having these fancy dinner parties and stuff; I had to dress up. She wanted me all spiffy," he said cringing.

"Good thing we don't have fancy dinner parties," Harry said with a smirk. "I don't think I could stand having to wear anything other than hoodies, jeans, and my leather jacket."

"Well you're going to have to wear robes every day soon enough, Fawn." James said with mock sadness. "I'm afraid the Hogwarts dress code requires you to wear trousers and button-up shirts every day. Sometimes you can wear collared jumpers, but the button-ups get the ladies. Trust me, your mum swooned over me when I had a few buttons undone, and my sleeves rolled up."

"Like I need to be focusing on getting a girlfriend," Harry said humorously. "Besides, I can make anything look good. Watch me."

"I'm sure you can. Who wouldn't want you when you have the best of mum and me. We're gorgeous people, and you're a combination." James said with a smirk.

James pushed open the door to the robe shop, and a little bell chimed. A squat, smiling witch dressed in all mauve, rushed forward as soon as the door shut. She gasped, "James Potter! I daresay my eyes deceive me! It's been so long dear, how have you been?" She said enthusiastically.

"I'm alright, Madam Malkin. I pray you've been too. As much as I'd love to try on some dress robes, we need to get little Harry here some Hogwarts robes." He said kindly, clapping Harry on the back.

"Of course, dear! I've been wonderful. Well come along," she said gesturing at Harry, "let's go get you fitted up. There's another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."

Harry gave his dad a small wave and then walked off with the witch. She seemed nice, but he was still a bit on edge. This was the first time he was going off without at least one family member in public. He would've felt better with a wand. He had never tried spells, other than transfigurations, without a wand, and for some reason, he thought they wouldn't help him now.

She let him to the back of the store where a row of footstools was standing. There was a boy with a pale, pointed face standing on one of them. There was a second with pinning up his long black robes. Harry didn't like him. He knew that there was a possibility the boy could be kind, but his general aura was horrendous.

Madam Malkin ushered him onto the stool next to the boy and slipped a long black robe over his head. As she began to pin and alter the robe to fit, the boy started talking. "Hello, are you off to Hogwarts, too?"

"Yes," Harry said politely.

The boy acted like he never heard Harry as he began talking again," My father's next door buying my books and Mother's up the street looking at wands. Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully Father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow."

He had a bored, drawling voice. Harry definitely didn't like him. He turned to look at the blonde boy and noticed his eyes. They were a silvery-grey; just like his uncle's. Harry tried to mask his smirk when he recalled how awful his godfather's family was. He had spent less than five minutes with the boy, and he already didn't want to be around him; Blacks were so predictable.

The boy seemed to have not noticed Harry's smirk as he kept talking, "Have you got your own broom?" He went on.

"Yes."

"Play Quidditch at all?"

"Yes, of course," Harry said proudly. He was quite good at Quidditch. Once he had received his Nimbus 2000 for Christmas, he, James, and Sirius began playing real Quidditch games, without the other balls. Harry always caught the Snitch first, neither his dad nor uncle had been seekers, and regardless of their agility, they could never beat Harry once he got started.

Again, the boy went on as if he hadn't heard Harry at all. "I do - Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. Know what house you'll be in yet?"

"Mmm," Harry hummed. He knew all of Sirius' family had been in Slytherin. He had drifted off in thought about how happy he was going to feel once he beat this kid. He felt the piercing gaze of the boy, and he snapped out of his daydream, "Oh, I'll be in Gryffindor."

"Shame, Gryffindors are all brawns and no brains. Of course, no one really knows until they get there, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been - imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

Harry rolled his eyes discreetly. He couldn't imagine going to school at the same time as this boy, let alone living with him. He knew he'd be in Gryffindor, but he couldn't stop imagining how dreadful it would be to be a Slytherin. They had to buckle up because if they weren't all this awful, they'd constantly be annoyed.

A pleasant thought came to his head. He'd been a subject of the bedtime stories this kid would've heard as a child. If only he knew that he was talking to Harry Potter; his attitude would surely change. Maybe he'd be colder, but regardless, it was a happy thought. Harry was special and well known by families like the boy's, perhaps not for a good reason, but at least he had a name for himself.

The boy once again snapped Harry from his daze, "Where are your parents?"

"Out and about," Harry said dryly. He assumed his mum and uncles were back by now, and he knew his dad was still in the other room waiting.

"Are they our kind?" He asked seriously. He spit the words out as if anyone else was inferior.

Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes again, "They're a witch and wizard if that's what you mean."

The boy seemed content as he broke off into yet another rant. "I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname, anyway?"

Harry groaned internally. The boy was a pompous jerk. No witch or wizard should be denied an education because of their blood status. His mum was one of the brightest witches he knew, and she was muggleborn. And his grandma was incredibly powerful, and she was half blood. Being a pureblood meant absolutely nothing in the big scheme of things. In reality, most purebloods nowadays were all inbred, and he'd rather be half blood than the product of incest.

Harry didn't really want to give the boy his surname. Not that it would really matter if he knew. He was going to find out soon enough, anyway. However, he was saved from deciding when Madam Malkin stood up and pulled the robe from his head. "That's you done, my dear," she said kindly before she walked back to the front of the shop to package the robes while Harry and James looked at anything else they might need to purchase.

Harry gave a brief wave as the boy said, "Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose."

He rejoined his dad while Madam Malkin was putting the robes and a few other items into bags. James handed her a few sickles and knuts and wrapped his arm around Harry's back. "Thank you very much, Madam Malkin. Enjoy the rest of your day."

"You too, dear. It was truly wonderful to see you again. Bless you now."

They walked out of the shop and were joined by Lily, Remus, and Sirius. Harry broke out into a grin as soon as they were a good distance from Madam Malkins, and on their way to Ollivanders.

"Uncle Sirius, guess what?" He said with a cheeky grin.

"Yes, Fawn?"

"I met your disaster of a cousin. If they're all like that, I understand why your parents wouldn't want you. I mean that in the kindest way possible, of course. I think I'd die if I had to live with people like that; with their messed up priorities and belief systems."

"The little blonde terror?" Sirius said with a smirk.

"Yep."

"I've never met him before, thankfully. Although I did get a letter from my cousin Narcissa saying he had been born. I don't know why I'd care, or why she sent it in the first place."

"Gross, the Malfoys." Remus said sarcastically.

"They're all absolutely dreadful," James added resolutely.

"Now, sweetheart, don't get into it with him. The Malfoys are awful, but they're in league with Voldemort. When you go to school, he'll undoubtedly try to get under your skin. Don't fight back too much."

"I won't. It might take all of my self-control, but I'll be the bigger person. And it'll make it sweeter when I beat Slytherin at Quidditch. He said he wants to smuggle a broom onto the grounds and play for his team."

"Ahh, my little Fawn is going to kick some Slytherin arse," James hummed happily. "We'll stop by for all your matches, of course, but I can't wait for the ones against Slytherin."

They reached the door for Ollivanders. Harry had been looking forward to this stop. He had mastered basic transfigurations wandlessly, but now he would be able to practise other forms of magic. He couldn't wait until they got home and he could work on making things float and sing.

When they pushed open the door, a tinkling bell rang somewhere. It was a tiny place, and it was empty. They all huddled in a corner whilst they waited for Mister Ollivander to arrive. Harry looked around the magnificent room. It was small but packed to the brim with little wand boxes. It reminded Harry of a library, not that he'd ever spent much time in one.

"Good afternoon," a voice said quietly. Harry almost jumped, almost. He heard Remus let out a slight gasp next to him and he smiled a bit. He felt better knowing he wasn't the only one who was almost scared to bits.

Harry turned his attention to the old man standing before them. He had wide, pale eyes that were a tad unsettling. It was as if he knew all of Harry's secrets without having met him before.

"Hello, Mister Ollivander," Lily said kindly.

Ollivander began studying them before he smiled slightly, "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Harry potter. You have your mother's eyes." Harry nodded, and Ollivander turned to Lily and James, "I remember your wands very well, ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow, and of course, mahogany wood, eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power. And of course, Mister Black and Mister Lupin with ten and three-quarter inches, mahogany with phoenix feather, and a pliable ten and a quarter inch cypress wand with unicorn hair."

They all nodded when he named off their wands. Harry wondered how he could possibly remember that information. They had gotten their wands what, twenty years ago. Harry could barely remember what he did last week, let alone longer. He forced himself to look into the man's gaze as he studied Harry.

"Well, now - Mister Potter. Let me see. Which is your wand arm?" He asked seriously as he pulled out a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket.

"Right," he said as Ollivander gestured for him to hold up his arm. It was a bit awkward as the man measured Harry from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and around his head. He even measured between his nostrils, which Harry didn't understand. While he did so, he explained a bit of wandlore. He seemed to genuinely enjoy the subject, and Harry had to agree. Wandlore seemed fascinating; he wondered how you became so adept at it. Mister Ollivander appeared to have a sixth sense for the topic.

Mister Ollivander wandered around the shelves, taking down boxes as he went. He had grabbed about seven different boxes. He started with one that was Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Harry took the wand and waved it around a bit, but Mister Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once. He then tried a maple and phoenix feather wand, but Mister Ollivander snatched that one too.

He kept trying the wands Mister Ollivander was giving him, but none of them were doing anything. Harry was getting a bit anxious. He had no idea what Mister Ollivander was waiting for. He understood the concept of the wand chooses the wizard, but none of these wands seemed to want him. It would've been humorous if Harry wasn't so desperate for a bloody wand.

Ollivander didn't seem to have the same qualms as Harry. In fact, the more wands he snatched away from Harry, the happier he seemed to become. At once, he seemed to have an epiphany. He scurried back off to a shelf muttering something under his breath.

"I wonder, now - yes, why not - unusual combination - holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple." He was saying as he approached Harry and handed him the wand.

He took it and felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light onto the walls. It was quite a spectacle. The types of dramatics Harry could only expect from Sirius.

Harry could practically feel their smiles behind him. He was studying the wand carefully and decided he quite liked it. Ollivander was still mumbling, "Well, well, well… how curious… how very curious…" Harry handed him back the wand, and Ollivander wrapped it in brown paper. He never stopped mumbling about how curious it was.

"Sorry, but what's curious?" Harry asked.

Mister Ollivander turned to Harry with unexpected darkness in his pale eyes. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mister Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand gave another feather - just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother - why, its brother tried to kill you when you were a mere infant."

Harry looked at him with his mouth agape. He was trying to be polite about the situation, and maintain his cool, but he was shocked. Of course, his wand would be connected to Voldemort's in some way. In all reality, it made perfect sense, but that didn't mean it wasn't shocking.

Mister Ollivander seemed completely oblivious to the shocked faces in the room. He was humming something to himself now. He handed Harry the wand box as James put the seven galleons on the counter, and said, "Good day. I hope to see the next line of Potters in my shop one day." Harry merely nodded as they filed out of the shop.

When they made it out of the shop, Harry broke out into laughter. The rest of his family looked at him, obviously puzzled. "I'm sorry. I just find it ironic. I can't even be upset. My wand is wonderful, and I love it, but isn't that something that we kind of expected to happen."

James started to laugh too, and then Sirius. Remus and Lily were able to remain calm, but they couldn't deny the humour in it. It wasn't even that funny, but the irony made it something worth joking about.

They began walking to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. It wasn't something they needed, but they all agreed they wanted it. A few people were starting to gawk at the group, and from the corner of his eye, Harry could see the Malfoy boy with two other tall, pale, blonde people. Narcissa Malfoy was pretty, but she looked like she hated everything and everyone. Her husband was no different; staring at all the children and their parents like they were scum.

Quickly, they all bought their ice cream and headed back to the Leaky Cauldron. For the most part, their trip had been thankfully uneventful. Harry felt a thrumming in his chest as they walked past a little girl with her family. As he got a good look at her, he remembered that time on Shaftesbury Avenue. She hadn't changed much, but again it was only a passing glance. He was about to look back to his ice cream when she looked up at him. They made eye contact, and for a moment, Harry wondered if she could feel him like he could feel her.

He shook himself out of the thought and turned back to look at his ice cream. He and his family walked back into the Leaky Cauldron, which was now bustling with people. They stuck to the outer walls on their way back to the floo network, avoiding as many people as they could. Some people looked up from their food and drinks to gawk at them, but most didn't.

Harry finished eating his ice cream cone first, so he went through the floo first. He spoke quietly so that no one would overhear him and said, "Potter cottage." He disappeared safely into the flames and reappeared at home.

Harry stepped out of the fireplace and meandered to the two owls that were still in their cages. He walked to the beautiful, snowy white owl who was sleeping with her head under her wing. He had named her Hedwig, and she was going to Hogwarts with him. The other owl was a small tawny owl with dark brown eyes that were almost black. She was to stay at home, and her name was Athena.

The rest of his family floo-ed into the room quickly and joined Harry, Hedwig, and Athena. "Shall we open a window and their cages so they can come and go as they please? They're Harry and James' familiars now, they won't leave." Sirius said contemplatively.

"Of course," Lily said warmly as she looked at the owls. Harry opened Hedwig's cage, and she woke up. She looked at him with her bright, yellow eyes and hooted at him affectionately. Athena did the same with James, except she nuzzled into his chin.

Hedwig hopped out of the cage and landed on Harry's shoulder. Lily opened the window, and Athena hooted and flew out. Hedwig followed closely behind her, and they were off. James, Sirius, Remus, Lily, and Harry all sat on the couch quietly.

"Well, I don't know about you all, but I'm glad we're done. Diagon Alley isn't as safe as Hogwarts, I didn't want to be there longer than we had to be." James said with a yawn. They all nodded in agreement.

"I don't think I'm ready to leave you yet," Harry said quietly.

"We're not ready for you to leave either, but it'll be wonderful. You'll enjoy Hogwarts, I know you will." Lily said reassuringly.

"Only a month left," Remus mumbled.

"Only a month…" Sirius reiterated as if he didn't believe it when he heard it the first time.

"It'll be alright," Lily said quietly as she huddled closer to her boys. They all subconsciously moved closer together. It wasn't enough time, but Harry had to go. They all knew the importance of his education. It might've been a bit dramatic, but without Harry learning how to properly use his magic, the whole wizarding world would be involved in a never-ending war.