It's strange how a small change can make all the difference in the world.
For instance all it took to send things down a totally different path for Rubeus Hagrid not to think to offer a young Harry Potter a cold sausage. The small amount of cake the boy ate wasn't quite enough to make up for the lack of calories as it was actually strangely tough, like trying to bite into a rock.
"Well then, hope you don't mind if I head off to the leaky cauldron for a pick me up, those carts don't agree with me stomach." The huge man said as the pair left the goblin run bank Gringotts.
Hearing the pub mentioned was all it took for Harry to realize how hungry he was, he was used to not eating much but he usually had at least something. The Dursleys hadn't liked the hassle they'd received when he had passed out at school "Actually Hagrid, do you mind if I come with you... I just realized I haven't had a chance to eat yet."
Hagrid, the friendly giant of a man was shocked by that "Well why didn't you say so Harry, come on we'll getcha somethin' ta eat."
With that all thoughts of Madam Malkins were forgotten for now, and things changed forever.
Hagrid insisted on paying for Harry's meal insisting that he should have realized the boy hadn't gotten to eat and buying him a classic full English breakfast along with a glass of orange liquid that was apparently pumpkin juice.
Harry couldn't exactly help wondering how exactly one juices a pumpkin, an image of Hagrid taking half a pumpkin and forcing it down onto a massive version of one of those juicers for oranges entering his mind.
He managed to force down the filling meal, feeling more full than he thought he ever had, and barely eating half of it, with Hagrid taking the rest when he said he couldn't eat anymore. "Well now, Madam Malkins then 'Arry" Hagrid said as they finished, seeming far happier.
They arrived at the shop in question, the array of robes and dresses on display was staggering to Harry who had never really spent time in a clothing shop before, he'd always just gotten Dudley's Handme downs.
"Yeh know 'Arry you should be good to get yer own robes, everything yeh' need is on the list. I just realized I fergot ta get ya anythin for yer birthday, I'll just pop off ta get somethin."Harry found himself ushered inside by the man, past the strangely ordinary-looking couple waiting outside.
"Here for Hogwarts?" The woman who Harry could only guess was Madam Malkin, she was an older woman, possibly slightly overweight though she certainly wore it well.
"Oh don't worry we'll get you sorted, there's another first year getting fitted too"
The fitting room contained another witch fiddling with a measuring tape, and a mass of bushy brown hair standing on a stool that took Harry slightly too long to realize was a girl about his age facing away from him.
The girl undergoing the fitting turned to look at Harry, her deep brown eyes meeting his own. "Oh hello there, you're a first-year too?"
"Yes." Was all that Harry could bring himself to say being ushered onto a second stool while a robe was placed over his head.
She nodded as the other worker pinned her sleeves with practiced efficiency.
"Are your parents magic? Mine were rather shocked by all of this, though apparently it explained some things." She asked
Harry paused not sure how to answer that. "Um, no, my parents are dead, apparently they were a witch and wizard though."
"...Oh, sorry. I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger."The girl said shocked by the revelation.
"Harry Potter." He replied as Madam Malkin froze for a split second before deciding that the job was more important than who her client may be.
The girl looked at him as though trying to work something out "Harry Potter, I'm sure I've heard that name..."
After a moment she seemed to give up on trying to work it out. "I suppose you must have known about all of this then? If your parents were a witch and wizard."
"No, actually, my aunt and uncle didn't like all the magical stuff, so apparently they decided to hide it from me."
"They hid information that important from you? How utterly barbaric."
"They're not very nice people."He confirmed.
Hermione nodded as the assistant pinned a part of her new robe. "Do you know where Flourish and Blott's is, we were told that was where we should buy my books."
"We?" Harry asked, Hermione was the only one in the shop.
"My parents they're waiting outside."
Harry remembered the fairly ordinary couple waiting just outside the shop. That explained it, her parents were non-magical people, Muggles as Hagrid had called them.
He wondered how that happened, was there just something that could make anyone a witch or wizard, could a witch or wizard have children who didn't have magic?
They talked for a few minutes longer while getting fitted, or rather Hermione talked at Harry, wondering about things aloud like what their books would actually contain and how big the school's library was.
"Once we're done here I'll finally be able to get my books and get a headstart on the curriculum. Isn't it odd how the names of the authors match their subjects at times, I wonder if they following family traditions, or is changing your name something that people do?" Hermione asked and Harry replied that he simply didn't know.
She was slightly overbearing, almost running him over with her words, and clearly a bit of a know-it-all, despite that it was probably the nicest someone his own age had been to Harry in years. He couldn't help but find himself liking the girl.