Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Chapter Thirteen

Birthday Party and Diagon Alley

It had only taken Harry a week to get over his anger at Remus and Sirius; he honestly did understand why they kept everything from him. Still, he gotten more than a few traits from his uncle and he liked to keep up the theatrics as long as he could, whining loudly about them not trusting him or something like that. However, as his birthday drew closer he couldn't help but act cheerful and thing returned to normal. Harry was sure this was going to be a good party, seeing as everyone he knew was going to come to it (though it was actually Neville's birthday that they were celebrating on). That included the Tonkses and the Longbottoms, who were coming via the magical cabinets that were now in Grimmauld Place, as well as the Grangers, who had to merely walk across the street.

Nymphadora Tonks, came through the magical cabinet as gracefully as she always did, which is to say that she fell out of it and knotted over the chair that was nearby.

"Hey Dora," Remus smiled at her and was rather shock by how much she had grown since the last time he had seen her almost a two years ago.

"Moony," Tonks said blushing a little in her embarrassment, though she thought that she should have been used to this by now, but Remus Lupin always seemed to make her nervous. "How have you been?"

"Not so bad, at least this quiet seclusion has given me time to write," Remus smiled.

"Ah yes, I read your book, Little Known Creatures of the Night," Tonks said. "It was … interesting."

Remus hand went to his mouth to hide his smirk, it was clear that Tonks didn't care much for his book, but somehow he was pleased that she had bothered to read it at all. "Hm … I was just wondering how you knew I wrote that … I didn't use my name. Did your mum tell you?"

Tonks rolled her eyes. "Come on, you've got to give me more credit than that. Romulus Luna, I think anyone with half a brain would know you wrote it."

"I knew that was a bad name," Remus frowned. "But I couldn't seem to help myself."

"Why did you even bother using a fake name?" Tonks asked.

"I just felt it was the right thing to do," Remus shrugged, hoping he didn't look too glum.

"I'm sorry," Tonks sighed, she always seemed to ask too much … dig into other's personal space.

"So how have you been?" Remus asked, changing the subject forcefully and with no tact whatsoever. "Sirius says you've been causing him trouble down in the Auror department."

"I have not," Tonks pouted, glad for the change of subject; she liked it much better when Remus was laughing. He looked so much younger when he was, and the mischievous glint in his eyes always made her smile back. "All I did was apply to become an Auror."

"Yes, but what was it that I hear about you bumping into Shacklebolt's desk and knocking down …" Remus started.

"Shut up!" Tonks said, her face turning red as her hair flashed to the same color without her really telling it to. This was an embarrassing trait that she had thought she had grown out of … she hadn't done this in years … not since the last time she saw Remus and she had accidentally tripped into his lap. "It wasn't all that bad."

"That's not …" Remus started but was interrupted.

"How did you do that?!" Hermione asked as she stared open mouth at Tonks in amazement. She's never heard of someone that could change their appearance at will before.

"Oh … Er …" Tonks said, blushing and having no idea what to say. It became clear to Remus that she thought Hermione was a Muggle and she was trying to think of some kind of explanation for what the girl had seen. Remus was still deciding whether he should tell her or not, he was having trouble concentrating because Tonks's expression was so amusing, when she said, "how did I do what?"

"Your hair just changed color!" Hermione said excitedly.

"What?" Tonks raised an eyebrow, and looked up at her hair, and was pleased that it had only gone from pink to red. Those colors where close enough so her plan might work. "Oh that, it just changes color's when the light hits it differently."

Hermione frowned, this older girl was obviously good at lying, she probably would have believed her excuse if it wasn't for a few factors. First, Hermione noted her first reaction, which was panic. Second, Hermione of course knew there was magic and it wasn't easy for her to believe that she didn't see what she had seen … she had prided herself in being observant, after all. And third, and the most convincing evidence, Remus was shaking with silent laughter, looking quite amused. Taking her cue from Remus's reaction she said, "that's impossible … you must have done something."

"No, I assure it's just the light," Tonks shrugged, trying to look unconcern, but her eyes were anxious now. "Here, look," she added, having an idea that would be difficult to do, but she was sure it would convince this girl that nothing out of the ordinary was happening. She moved her head more into the light, concentrated hard on just making subtle changes as the light and shadows hit it. She was really happy now that she's been practicing this ability over the summer because she dimly thought it might be useful for her Auror training.

"Wow!" Hermione said, unable to control her excitement, if she hadn't been watching as closely as she was, it would have been easy for this girl to fool her, but of course Hermione wasn't having any of that. It was simply amazing the way the color would change and appear so suddenly she couldn't quite catch the change even though she was watching as carefully as she could. She no longer cared about trying to keep up the charade, she wanted to know the answer to her question and she wanted to know it now.

She need not have worried though, because at Hermione's expression, Remus started laughing out loud and Tonks was looking at him incredulously.

"This is Nymphadora Tonks, Hermione, and she's a Metamorphmagus," Remus said while he continued to laugh. "She can change her appearance at will."

"Remus!" Tonks exclaimed and punched him on the shoulder. "How could you just let me go on like that? And don't call me Nymphadora!"

Remus was rubbing the spot that Tonks had punched. "I didn't have the chance to explain."

"Sure you didn't," Tonks glared at him and then turned to Hermione, who seemed to be giggling at the interaction between Remus and Tonks. "Sorry, I thought you were a Muggle."

"I'm a Muggle-born," she shrugged and then held out her hand to this girl she didn't know what to call, but knew Nymphadora was not an option. "I'm Hermione Granger."

"Ah, my dad's a Muggle-born too," Tonks smiled, "and I go by Tonks."

"Okay," Hermione smiled back, "now, please tell me more about Metamorphmaguses!"

Remus chuckled there, "well have fun with that conversation Tonks, I'm sure Hermione only has about a hundred questions to ask you now."

"It's probably more than that," Hermione said biting her lip, and Tonks chuckled, too. However, before any of them could say more Harry came into the room.

"Hermione … what's taking you …" Harry started and then he noticed his favorite, for lack of a better word, cousin. "TONKS!"

"Harry!" Tonks said just as excited as the boy running to hug her was.

"I'm so glad you made it here," Harry beamed at her.

"I wouldn't miss your eleventh birthday!" Tonks said. "I just wish I could have been there when you started at Hogwarts, pup!"

"You call him pup, too," Hermione noted out loud.

"Yeah, all the Tonkses do," Harry rolled his eyes. "Aunt Andromeda is Padfoot's cousin, and they picked up the name from him."

"Ah, Tonks is related to Sirius, that explains her ability to lie convincingly," Hermione said.

"What?" Harry asked a little confused.

"Funny you should mention Sirius in that effect," Tonks laughed. "My mum is always going on about how much I take after him … she seems to think that's a bad thing for some reason …"

"It might have to do with the fact that you were in trouble almost every week at Hogwarts," Harry chuckled, too. "Do you have any new pranks to tell us about?!"

"I might have a few," Tonks chuckled. "Oh, and I have to warn you that if you think you'll be the best pranksters when you get to Hogwarts, you might find that you're wrong."

"Oh really?" Harry said doubtfully.

"Yeah, you remember me telling you about Charlie Weasley, right?" Tonks asked.

"Yeah, the guy that was the Seeker for Gryffindor, who you said was a bloody brilliant flyer," Harry supplied.

"That would be him," Tonks chuckled.

"You said in your last letter that he's going to Romania to be with dragons," Harry said.

"What? Dragons! Who in their right mind would want to be with dragons?!" Hermione exclaimed, what she had read about dragons, which admittedly wasn't much, didn't really make her want to go anywhere near them.

"I have no idea, Charlie's never been in his right mind," Tonks laughed. "Anyways, what I was saying is that Charlie's twin brothers started at Hogwarts two years ago, and they … er … come up with rather inventive stuff."

"I can imagine that," Remus chuckled. "The one time I saw them they were causing trouble and they were only two at that time."

"Really? What did they do?" Tonks asked, looking amused.

"I'm not sure really, I left before it happened, but I believe it was your friend Charlie that was their victim," Remus chuckled. "Actually, now that I think about it, that was the day you were born, Harry!"

"Really? Why were you at the Weasley?" Harry asked.

"To get Molly, the boys' mother," Remus explained. "She helped your mum to go through labor."

"Oh," Harry said, and didn't know what to think about that.

Remus gave him an understanding smile and then moved on, "Honestly I'm not surprise that the twins are trouble markers, their Uncles Fabian and Gideon were quite the pranksters themselves."

"Tonks, you've got to tell me what I'm up against, so I know what I have to do once I get to Hogwarts," Harry said to his cousin.

"Argh!" Hermione and Remus both groaned.

"I don't like the sound of that," Hermione went on as Remus said, "you're not suppose to let me hear talk like that."

Both Harry and Tonks chuckled at the other two's reaction. And soon Tonks was telling them about some of the twins more brilliant pranks, and Harry had to admit that they sounded pretty cool, he was probably going to get along with them rather well.

"Hey, what's all this laughing about," Sirius said coming into the kitchen, "I thought the party was outside?"

"Oh … you've just missed Tonks telling about some lovely pranks," Harry smirked at his uncle.

"No fair Nymphy, you know I like to hear about the pranks!" Sirius whined.

Tonk's expression at being called Nymphy was so fierce it was surprising that Sirius didn't flinch from it. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!" and the next thing Sirius knew he was flat on his back with blue spots all over him.

"Nice one, Tonks," Harry laughed.

It wasn't long after that the other came to the party. When Neville got there, Harry was glad to see that he and Hermione got along rather well. Of course, Harry thought this would be the case, seeing as he believed that both his friends where easy to like, but he would have hated it if they couldn't stand each other.

"So, are you looking forward to going to Hogwarts?" Neville asked Hermione.

"Very much so," Hermione said. "I've been learning as much as I can about magic ever since I met Harry, but still, actually doing magic myself is what I really want to do."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Neville chuckled. "Though, I probably won't be any good at it at first."

"Don't say that," Hermione frowned at him. "If you go in believing that it will only make it harder for you to do the spells. I read this interesting book, and it said that confidence is about fifty percent of successfully performing any new spell …"

"Yes, my dad keeps telling me that too," Neville chuckled. "But the truth is my mum's side of the family is a bit late in forming their abilities. Of course, I'm going to try my hardest and all, but my parents assure me that it would be alright if I'm not the best at first."

"Don't let him fool you, Hermione," Harry said smirking. "He's just trying to lure you into a false sense of security."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"Just watch your back in Herbology," Harry warned. "I think Neville's years ahead in that subject."

"It's not my fault I have a gift for planting," Neville chuckled; he always loved helping his mum in their (sometimes dangerous) garden.

"Hm …" Hermione said looking at him closely, "I'll have to remember that."

"Right," Neville said, a little uncomfortable with the look she was giving him.

"Hermione's the overachieving type, she wants to be the best in everything," Harry explained to Neville.

"Shut up Harry," Hermione rolled her eyes.

"What, it's true," Harry shrugged and she couldn't think of anything else to say to that.

O

Harry was walking down a street in Muggle London feeling very excited indeed, though that couldn't stop the annoyance from affecting him, too. He was about to enter the Leaky Cauldron for the first time, a place that he had heard of for most of his life but has never been able to visit. However, the person next to him wasn't Sirius or Remus; he wasn't even allowed to go with Hermione and her parents. No, he had to go with a stranger, a very friendly and very, very tall stranger, but a stranger all the same.

Hagrid was his name, and Harry found that he liked this giant man, though he realized quickly that he wasn't really a giant for he would have been even bigger than he was. Hagrid had a deep laugh and happily told Harry so many story about the trouble his dad, uncle and godfather had cause while they went to school as they travel through the underground, that Harry was almost able to forget that he should be upset. He had always imagined coming here with Sirius and Remus. Sirius was supposed to drag him off to the joke shop and Quidditch store and Remus was suppose to show him the book shop and then Remus would get lost in the tomes before Harry dragged him out of the store.

However, Sirius and Remus told him this morning (on his actual birthday no less) that things weren't going to happen as he had hoped. That for his safety, it was best if Harry didn't show up with Sirius and Remus, that way no one would know that he was living with them or even knew them at all. It seemed that everyone in the wizarding world believed that he was living with his Muggle relatives … Dumbledore had said that Harry Potter was living with his mum's closest living relative, and seeing as the Ministry only knew of one living relative that Harry had, it was assumed that he lived there. No one knew that he was now related to Sirius through a charm that was cast before he was born between his mum and Sirius.

"I know you would rather be here with Sirius and Remus," Hagrid said, clapping Harry on the back and almost sending him flying into the street. "But I hope I'm not too much of a disappointment."

"No Hagrid, I don't mind coming with you," Harry said and was surprise that he almost meant it.

"Well then, let's get going," Hagrid smiled and they walked through the door into a dusty looking pub. Harry looked around curiously, taking in all the people that were there, excitement had now beaten away all of his annoyance and he was just dying to get into the magical alley that he knew was just a few paces away from them.

"Hagrid," the barman called when they entered the pub, "the usual?"

"Can't today, Tom, I'm just here to show young Harry around," Hagrid laid a hand on Harry's shoulders.

"Bless my soul … Harry Potter," Tom, the bartender, said, "It's an honor …"

Harry didn't know what to do. He was no stranger to attention; he actually enjoyed it most of the time. But then again, most of the time he got it for something that he had done himself, and he really didn't feel he deserved the looks of admiration that was on, not only the bartender's face, but on everyone else's that was in the room. He also didn't appreciate the mob of people that came to him and shook his hand, patted his back and exclaimed how happy they were to meet him.

Then Hagrid introduced him to one of the professors he was going to have, who was wearing a purple turban around his head and his name was Quirrell.

"P-Potter," Professor Quirrell said, offering his hand to Harry, "I c-can't tell you h-how p-please I am to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too, professor," Harry said, shaking the hand, Remus told him it was best to always be polite. "What subject do you teach?"

"D-defense Against the D-dark Arts," Quirrell said and Harry had to suppress a groan. He had nothing again this guy, but he was kind of hoping that his Defense teacher would have a bit more nerves than this guy seemed to have. "Not that you n-need it, ah P-potter."

Harry didn't have a chance to answer that because more people started clamoring for his attention until Hagrid was able to drag him off to the back of the pub so they could make their way to Diagon Alley. Harry's full attention was on the wall that barred their way, waiting patiently for Hagrid to press the enchanted bricks that will open the passageway that led to a fully magical community. He wasn't disappointed when his eyes fell on the many sights to be seen. His eyes traveled all over the place, he couldn't help looking from one side of the street to another as they continued to walk down the crowded alley and he even gasped when he saw Gringotts, the wizarding bank.

"Yep, that's Gringotts, there's no safer place in the world, except perhaps Hogwarts," Hagrid said beaming at him. And before he knew what was going on he was face to face with a goblin, a real life goblin and he was just as Harry had imagined. Remus had told him many things about the goblins, the most important of which was that they valued their treasure more than anything else, and you would have to be mad to take anything from them. Yes, Harry could see by the look in the goblin's eye that this was quite true, and he made sure he was never going to cross a goblin if he could help it.

Hagrid gave the goblin the key to Harry's vault, and he wondered if Hagrid (or Dumbledore) had his key this whole time, or if Sirius and Remus did. He shrugged, that didn't really matter, but he was about to ask before Hagrid started talking about a secret thing he had to get out of vault number seven hundred and thirteen. Merlin how Harry wished Hagrid hadn't said that in front of him, because now he couldn't get the comment out of his mind. He wondered what the 'you-know-what', as Hagrid had phrased it to the goblin, was and was curious to know what it looked like.

The cart ride, with all of its twist and turns, was thrilling and he wished it would have lasted longer, though it looked like Hagrid didn't agree with him. In fact, the giant man seemed to have turned a little green. When he saw the inside of the vault that belonged to him he nearly gasped. He really shouldn't have been surprised, he knew his family had been very old and prominent in the community, but he still hadn't imagine this. The whole vault was filled with Galleons, Sickles and Knuts, and it was marvelous being able to fill a bag full of money, knowing that he could buy anything he wanted now. Yes, Remus and Sirius gave him a generous allowance, but this was different.

"Now, now, not too much," Hagrid warned him. "This is to last you all seven years."

Harry had a distinct feeling that Remus had warned Hagrid he might act this way, but he just shrugged, and took a fair amount, but not too much. "Okay, I'm ready."

They then zoomed through more tunnels to get to the secret vault, which seemed to have higher security on it, seeing as the goblin (Griphook, Harry was sure his name was) had to stroke the door, explaining that only a Gringotts goblin could open the door without being sucked through the door and stuck there. There was only one thing in the vault and whatever it was, was in a grubby package. All this did was make Harry wonder even more than ever what was in the package, and he was dying to ask Hagrid, but he knew he wasn't going to get an answer.

Once they were out of the bank Harry went to Madam Malkin's and Hagrid went back to the pub so he could recover from the Gringotts's cart ride. Inside the shop Harry met a rather unpleasant boy. He could tell at once this kid, with his drawling voice and superior attitude, was likely a bully, and Harry never liked bullies. However, what really got to Harry was when they were talking about the houses at Hogwarts and the boy had talked poorly about Hufflepuff. Tonks, after all, was a Hufflepuff and she was one of the coolest people he knew. Harry didn't say anything, now wasn't the time to act rashly, but he was sure that he wasn't going to like this boy. Then the boy topped himself when he complained about Muggle-borns being allowed at Hogwarts and Harry really was about to do something but his robes were finished and he was rushed out of the shop before he could say anything. He suspected that Madam Malkin could spot a fight coming and intervened before anything could happen.

"Harry, there you are!" Hagrid said, slapping his back as soon as he got out of the shop and handed him a huge ice cream. Harry had to admit that did make him feel better, but he wasn't going to forget about the blonde boy anytime soon.

"Come on, we've still got lots of things to get," Hagrid said, and they went to get all of Harry's school supplies. Hagrid had tried to stop Harry from going into Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop, but Harry was having none of that. He was going to buy a good amount of joke items to last him the year. After that they went to the book store, where he got only his textbooks, he would just burrow one of Remus or Hermione's books if he wanted to read anything more.

"Well, we're almost finished now," Hagrid said, "we just have to get your wand, oh and I wanted to get you a birthday present."

"You don't have to do that, Hagrid," Harry protested. He didn't know why, but he didn't really like the idea of getting something from a strangers.

"Nonsense, Harry," Hagrid grinned at him. "I was thinking about getting you a pet … hm … an owl perhaps."

"Okay," Harry said excitedly, he's always wanted an owl. That's it, Hagrid wasn't some stranger, he was Harry's friend, and it was perfectly natural to accept gifts from a friend.

Harry looked around the Eeylops Owl Emporium, looking at each owl closely. He knew that choosing an owl, or any pet really, was very important for a wizard. Hermione had gone on and on about them becoming your familiar and you would form a special connection with them. He really had no idea what he was looking for though; none of the owls seemed to be any different than the last. Then he came to the last owl. He didn't think he felt anything different about this owl, and yet when he looked at her, she stared back at him, almost coldly. As if sizing him up and seeing if he was good enough for her. She then gave a chirp and her eyes seemed to become kinder, and Harry chuckled. He liked this owl, she had personality, and that's when he realized that he knew that he had to have this owl.

"Ah, a snowy owl, good choice, Harry," Hagrid approved.

"Yes, I think so, too," Harry said.

Soon they paid for the owl and were standing outside of Ollivander's wand shop. Harry opened the door nervously, this was what he had been waiting for since the first time he realized what a wand was. As he walked into the shop he could almost feel the magical tension in the room, though he could have been just imagining it. Mr. Ollivander was peculiar, to say the least. He definitely knew his business well, for he was able to list off the characteristics of every wand that he had every sold to Harry's family, which admittedly was only eight wands (his mum, dad, grandparents on his dad's side and then all four of his great grandparents, again on his dad's side). Still, he found this impressive and interesting too, he would probably have to look into wandlore when he got home. He seriously hoped that Remus had a book on it.

Then it was his turn to get a wand. If he had thought finding the right owl was hard, it was nothing to getting the right wand. He seemed to have tried out every wand in the shop, but none of them felt right. Mr. Ollivander seemed to get more excited with every wand he handed to Harry. It was clear he liked the challenge.

"Hm … I wonder," Ollivander muttered to himself, and Harry thought he saw a curious expression that boarder on being a bit mad before he walked to the back room. When he came back, he was holding a wand and his expression was confident, it was clear that Ollivander believed that this was going to be Harry's wand.

He was right, of course. The moment Harry touch it, he felt a warmth go through him like nothing he's felt before. Harry smiled.

"Curious," Ollivander said, his eyes were on Harry again and they seemed to be searching for something, but Harry didn't know what.

"What's Curious?" Harry asked as Ollivander took back the wand and put it in a box.

"It's curious that you should be destined to get this wand, when it's brother … why its brother gave you that scar," Ollivander said.

"What do you mean by brother?" Harry questioned, he was now staring at the wand in the box, feeling a little shock. That really was curious.

"It is what we wandmaker call wands that have a core in common, meaning that the cores comes from the same magical creature that is," Ollivander said, intrigued farther by the question. "It so happens that the tail feather of the phoenix that presides in your wand only gave one other feather.

"Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember … I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter … After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things — terrible, yes, but great."

Harry swallowed hard, and was starting to feel nervous about how much people were going to expect from him. He also thought it was weird that his and Voldemort's wand were connected, and wondered what that really meant. He thanked Mr. Ollivander and left the shop as quickly as he could, still thinking about this. Well, this was certainly an interesting first visit to Diagon Alley. And he had a lot to think about now.

Original A/N: I know that the second part of this chapter was pretty similar, and in some parts exactly (especially what Ollivander said about Harry's wand), like it was in the book, but this was important to the story so it had to be in here. The next chapter should be more interesting, what with Harry heading off to Hogwarts for the first time and all.