authorsnotes: enjoy!
I had soooo much fun writing this chapter, I hope you have just as much fun reading it!
do let me know your thoughts!
also fyi, these first chapters will be slow: lots of set-up to do! but the pace will quicken as we delve in. was reading goblet of fire the other day and I did notice rowling does something similar - very slow to start the school year and then the pace picks up - same plan here!
songrecs: wow - zara larson / sabrina carpenter
"Woah"
She is glad the snarky Goblin had waited outside for them, for she wants to echo her best friends sentiment. Woah indeed.
She remembers coming to Gringotts with her parents, setting up a vault, exchanging pounds to Galleons, putting in a few bits of hers; a bracelet Viktor gave her, an old Sneakescope she got as a gift to herself, some of her own savings transferred to wizarding currency. The vault had been on one of the higher floors, not needing such security. It had been humble, modest, simple.
The Blishwick vault, deep in the bowls of Gringotts is none of those three things.
It is frankly garish.
Piles of galleons, jewellery, paintings, chests, silks. It is almost obscene. She remembers Harry telling her about seeing his vault for the first time, the shimmering towers of Galleons, this is much the same.
They won't need to worry about what will happen post-Hogwarts, not at all, they could never work and live comfortably for the rest of their lives here, just off this.
"Damn" She says with a shake of her head but tries to come back to herself, after all they have a lot to do and little time before classes start tomorrow.
She fills a bag of Galleons, that should more than cover her expenses. She also deposits plenty out of her beaded bag, textbooks with knowledge not yet discovered in this time, a wand or two stolen from snatchers, the portrait of Philleas Nigeles, a few bits she'd taken from home - her mother's jewellery box, her father's watch and a few other things they accumulated on the run. Her piles are nothing compared to everything else, but she is glad to store them somewhere safe, somewhere she can come back them.
"You okay?" Harry asks, the silent but comforting person at her shoulder as she strokes her fingers over the wood of her mother's prized jewellery box, as she gentle runs her fingers over her father's old watch, inherited from his father – her grandfather. All gone now.
"Yeah" She says and manages a smile, Harry's hand slipping into hers helps, helps a lot and she nods again, means it this time before turning around.
"We should go" She smiles a little then, "One vault and then we can get some food and shop"
Harry nods and they make their way to the doors still hand in hand, "Food sounds good"
At least that makes her laugh and Harry's grin widens her smile, as he always knows how to make her do so.
"The Potter vault" The Goblin sneers as they sit aboard the cart and get whisked away again, not deeper or higher, but across, further into the twisting stone of Gringotts.
"Oh my god"
Last time he'd been the one with an open mouth and dropped jaw. Okay, this time he is too but Hermione is wide eyed next to him as well, and for good reason.
The Blishwick vault had been opulent, garish even, the Potter vault he had expected to be smaller, less wealth but more than enough to see them through (after all, this was the 2nd Potter vault, the one Harry inherited would likely never go to him now).
Oh how he'd been wrong.
It is similar in most ways to Hermione's new vault. Trophies, gold, jewels (he can even see a crown), adorn many a surface, and piles of Galleons stand high. It is a lot, less artefacts than the Blishwick vault, but definitely more money.
He had expected wealth but not on this level. Are Potter an old pure blood family? He thinks he and Hermione need to do some more digging, something he grimaces at - he never thought he would be voluntarily signing up for research! But they do, those need to understands more about the families they are claiming to come from (though for him of course he actually does want to understand for they are his family).
Because yes, he'd expected wealth, but this pales even to his old vault, how is this line of Potter even wealthier than the old that had already been richer than Crousseus?
"Damn Harry" Hermione says and he nods before following her lead. He doesn't remove the moleskin pouch from his neck though, he does unpack some bits, some textbooks, some simple stuff like his old sneakescope and such, but he keeps most of his most valued possessions around his neck. He does also fill up a bag of galleons (two even knowing how much they'll need), before something catches his eye.
It's a bookcase against one of the walls, but that wasn't what caught his gaze. No, it's the framed scroll, glittering with golden ink that has him wondering over, Hermione following.
"It says here this is a patent?" He says and Hermione nods and then gasps before he can read anymore. He does roll his eyes at that and turns to her smiling, she'll always out read him.
"Go on" He nods to explain and she mocks punching him before he laughs and holds his hands up in surrender. Turning back to the scroll as Hermione speaks.
"It is a patent" She says then, placing a hand on his shoulder, leaning over him. "For Sleakezy's hair products" She shakes her head then "Harry, do you know what this means?"
His eyebrows raise, and he nods. Forget never working, if he had children they'd never have to work, or their children after, or after again. Sleakezys? He knows enough about them to know every girl in the castle owns at least a few bottles, a few of the guys too. No wonder his vault is even bigger than the old pureblood families.
"No wonder I'm richer than you" He teases Hermione then, a little shell shocked but taking it in. Money to him doesn't hold too much importance but damn, of course he's a little surprised, and comforted that they have enough for whatever they need and then some.
"New money" Hermione sniffs, joking and he laughs. Tucking his money bag away they make their way out again, back onto the carts.
"At least that's something we don't have to worry about" Hermione says and he nods, they really don't, "Lunch is on you though" She grins and he rolls his eyes but nods. He supposed he had that coming.
When they emerged from Gringotts the weather had taken a turn for the worst. It was cold and wet and they both let out a little groan. Nasty weather was nice when tucked in Gryffindor common room with a nice fire and a cosy chair, but not when trudging through Diagon Alley.
"We'll be quick" Hermione said and Harry nodded, before waving his wand, an impervious charm, she remembered teaching it to him, to help in quidditch, she noted he'd mastered it now, probably from casting it so often on the pitch.
"Guess we're not going to Flourish and Blotts then" Harry said cheekily and she rolled her eyes at him before looping her arm through his and dragging him to the first shop on the street opposite Gringotts – the Apothecary.
As always it had an interesting smell to the air of it as they stepped inside. Jars upon jars of ingredients lined the shelves (many of which still looked alive), and several cauldrons bubbled away on the front desk and on a long wooden desk at the back. The smell was one of potions ingredients, smoke and peculiarly something akin to marshmallows.
"Hello" The Wizard behind the desk said with a nod, as he stirred something thick and gloopy looking. "School supplies?" He didn't bother to ask why they were coming late in the year, or why they hadn't sent off for them and instead just nodded, and pointed them in the direction of the 'Hogwarts' section as he called it, that lined one wall.
They both picked out their Apothecary sets Hermione had packed and began to pick out the stuff that was missing. First, they picked out the basic stuff they'd need for class; armadillo bile, frogs legs, ginger, eye of newt, the basics. Once they'd grabbed a bag each of supplies they'd need for classes, they then began to gather the slightly more … sinister things.
Because both of them had to remember; they weren't just here to attend school.
First, they grabbed a handful of beazors; always useful in a pinch. Some Mandrake essence (two jars, and they shot one another significant looks, they'd have to deal with what mandrake essence helped with at some point). Then fluxweed, knotgrass, lacewing flies, leeches, horn of bicorn, skin of boomslang … i.e. all the ingredients for Polijuice potion, Hermione signed as she contemplated, she'd likely need to brew up another batch soon, it hadn't been easy, and was time consuming. Finally, in went some murtlap essence, the ingredients for Burn-Healing Paste and Antidotes for Common Poisons, and a few extra bits like aconite and unicorn horn she felt were just good to have on hand.
They got an odd look from the Wizard as he rang them up, but he seemed not to ask questions when he realised just how hefty the purchase was. Harry waved her off as he handed over the Galleons for it, and she rolled her eyes.
"Fine, we'll take it in turns" Harry shrugged then and she grinned at him before giving him a little shove, Harry had always been generous, but she knew even now, richer than he had been before, she could near match him.
And so, as they enter the next shop (Potage's Cauldron's), she resolves to make sure he doesn't buy everything for them today.
The Cauldron Shop thankfully didn't have the smell of the Apothecary, of dried ingredients that made his nose itch, but the fumes were enough to make him cough.
Evidently to display the value of their cauldrons they were mixing the most corrosive potions they could, as though to display how despite the acrid grey fumes coming off one, and green sparks another (honestly they reminded him of some of Neville's concoction's), such potions wouldn't leave a dent in their cauldrons.
Thankfully they didn't have to linger for long. Hermione shoved in front of him, giving him a face full of bushy hair, handed over Galleons for three Pewter Cauldrons (one each for class he presumed, and another for any illicit brews in their room – he remembered for some reason then Felix Felicis and remembered just how complex the potion was to make but resolved to study it further) before they exited just as quickly as they'd entered.
"Phew" He said shaking his head, and he notices as he turns to Hermione her eyes are watering.
"Yeap" Is all she manages, and silently they both agreed never to enter that shop again if they have to, mail order will do.
"Where to next?" He asked, glancing up and down the street, before his eyes pinged on the next shop over, and when he heard Hermione's long-suffering sigh, he knew she'd seen, and he knew that she was well aware he wouldn't be deterred.
"Fine!" She said, and he grinned, turning to her with a smile like a kid in a candy store, "But!" She pauses, and he does too, though he knows there's no trouble, with her giving him a somewhat indulgent smile that makes him feel about five, "You can't complain about Flourish and Blotts!"
"Deal" The words are out of his mouth before he even registers what Hermione has said, and then he takes her hand and drags her forward, into and through the doors of Quality Qudditch Supplies.
As soon as he steps in he feels content, to see the brooms against the wall, sure there's no Firebolts in this time, but he can see the most up to date model; the Nimbus 1900, a bit behind his first broom, but it would be the best of the time. He knew as soon as he saw it, he had to have it.
It was polished to a high standard, the twigs of the broom slick and clean to give maximum air resistance. The handle was beautiful, the Nimbus Logo and '1900' shining in gold. The stats next to it promised good speed, strong braking and had a varnished coat, anti-theft charms imbedded and years warranty.
First though he went to the back of the room, picked up a new Broom Kit (for he'd worn the one Hermione gave him down to everything being empty), and then some new seekers gloves, before heading to the desk.
He glanced over at Hermione, who looked positively bored, and was just waiting for him to pay, but he couldn't resist having a little look around first.
He could see the newest Comet – the 220, again a decent build, but not on par with the Nimbus. He saw others; the Cleansweep Six (he remembered Ron flying his Cleansweep Eleven), an old school Silver Arrow (that whilst beautiful looking he knew couldn't match the speeds of modern brooms), a Shooting Star (that looked sad and saggy), and a Bluebottle Make 1 (which he knew was a family broom, hence the child harness swinging from the back), to finally round back to the desk, his eyes flickering back to the Nimbus.
"You sure you don't want one Hermione?" He asked, though he already knew the answer, and the look she shot him confirmed it.
"What?" He asked holding his hands up, his grin a tad cheeky – he knew Hermione was terrified of heights "What if we need it for another Ministry trip? We could get you a Cleansweep? Something simple?" He asked, and he hoped to at least get Hermione to look at it from that logical perspective, but she just shook her head.
"Why would I need that?" She said with another roll of her eyes, "I'd just go on the back of yours"
It was his turn to roll his eyes then, but he let it go as he turned back to the store owner who'd wandered into view, handing over his purchases.
"Anything else?" He asked, looking slightly bored.
"Yes" He said with a nod, pointing to the Nimbus on display, he missed his Firebolt already, but the Nimbus did give him an odd feeling of nostalgia and he knew it would do the job.
The proprietor immediately went from bored to grinning, grabbing the broom, waxing lyrically about the speeds, the style, how it was the perfect broom for making the Quidditch team. He could feel Hermione's eyes rolling into the back of her head as he nodded, paid, and left without saying anything else, he already knew the stats the owner was reeling off, and he already knew if he wanted a broom, he wanted the best.
"So, do you think you'll be on the Qudditch team again?" Hermione asked as they exited, the owner grinning and waving as they did, Harry's pocket considerably lighter as they made their way down the street, broom shrunk and in Hermione's bag.
"I'll try out" He said with a nod, he'd missed Quidditch, and he knew his Dad was on the Team, which only made it more appealing to him. Still, even if he hadn't been he'd be trying out. He missed the wind on his face, the thrill of chasing the Snitch, the games, the competitive spirit, the feeling of freedom that came with flying.
"So, that's a yes" She teased, and he laughed then, her faith in him always welcome.
"Someone might beat me" He said, he knew he was a decent flyer, and he had missed it fiercely, but he didn't know the talent at Hogwarts, or the competition.
"Bah" Hermione said without a doubt, with a shake of her head as she stopped in front of Madam Malkins and stepped inside, where they were promptly ushered to the stands to be measured for school and dress robes, Madam Malkin not asking either of them why they were late, just getting them in place, and with a wave of her wand tape measures began to flash and flick around them, "If you try out you'll get on"
He could only grin, even as he felt a pin poke his arm and the mirror snarkily told him to keep still. He knew he was feeling warm at the prospect of playing Qudditch again, but also, as always, he felt so for Hermione's faith in him, that she had always shown him was unwavering, and he smiled at her as they got measured for their robes, for another year at Hogwarts.
With their robes being worked on and ready to pick up in an hour, Hermione finally got her wish and dragged Harry (as he had done for her to the Quidditch Shop), to Flourish and Blotts, promising she'd only browse before they got lunch, went to Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment and then headed back to Hogwarts.
Of course her 'only browsing' was not comparable to other peoples.
First, they grabbed their booklist for the year: The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5 (and Hermione winced when she flicked through and saw how out of date it was compared to her version), A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot (she noticed Harry shudder and gave him a pat on the shoulder as they both remembered Godric's Hollow), Magical Theory by Aldalbert Waffling (and she realised they'd need to talk to Dumbledore about their OWL subjects before timetables tomorrow), One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi (she did note it was slightly slimmer, and wondered how many had been discovered between now and the 90's), Magical Drafts and Potions, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Intermediate Transfiguration were standard, and she noted Harry slipping a copy of Qudditch Through the Ages in their joint basket, and she obviously had to grab a copy of Hogwarts: A History.
"We should grab our OWL books" She said with a nod, and Harry nodded too, before grabbing his off the shelf (consulting the list Dumbledore had given them both before leaving). His consisted of Unfogging the Future (she rolled her eyes), The Encyclopaedic Guide to Magical Creatures (to which she grabbed a copy too), and she raised an eyebrow as he reached for Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles, but he shrugged and explained.
"I think my Mum will take that class, for the same reason you did" She nodded then, and knew not to discourage him, she remembered the class, growing up in the muggle world made it reasonably easy, and she grabbed a copy for herself too, perhaps they would run into Lily Evans during it.
She then grabbed Numeroloy and Grammatica, and Spellman's Syllabary for Arithmancy and Runes, and was pleased to see little had changed about the texts.
Finally, they had to reach high to grab 'Defending Against the Dark Art's a book they didn't recognise but was on their list, and then Hermione grabbed two more she had spotted; 'A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration' and finally, 'Becoming an Animagus' to which Harry raised an eyebrow and then grinned.
"I grabbed some mandrake leaves as well, and the ingredients for the animagus potion" She whispered as they approached the till and placed down the mountain of books, but the clerk seemed unphased as he began scanning them and they wandered back to the shelves, "I thought considering the company we'll be keeping it would be useful"
He nodded then, grinning and Hermione knew she'd been right to plan for this. "That's brilliant" Her grin matches his then, as they turned to the bookshelf Hermione had approached.
She tried to keep her browsing relatively short, and to Harry's credit he didn't complain as she leafed through and then decided on two more volumes for recreational reading, he even grabbed one himself on jinxes and counter curses, and she grinned as they split this purchase, it being their most expensive yet, minus the Nimbus.
"We need to be prepared" Was all he said, and she nods, as she shrunk their books and placed them back in her bag. He was right, and she knew it would be good to see what spells didn't exist in the books, so they could either not use them, or use them at the right time.
"So, last stop for equipment?" She asked as they stepped out, the rain going to a drizzle now, but still miserable, she couldn't wait to be back in front of the fire.
"Not just yet" Harry said then as they turned, and he nodded at the next store over, to which she wasn't sure whether to sigh or smile, she went with the latter as they made their way over, several of the occupants in the window suddenly looking for attention, as they stepped into Eyelops.
As he steps inside, (and wrinkled his nose at the smell – he couldn't help but think that most shop owners had never heard of air freshener), he knew he wanted to get an owl. He felt a horrible cold pang as he thought of Hedwig, but felt his spirits lifted that she hadn't been born yet and so in this timeline could live (he also resolved in however many years to come back to Diagon Alley for her).
But in the meantime, he needs an owl, having his own had proved great time and time again, and as he steps further inside, his eyes began to flit around, looking for the one for him.
Hagrid had picked out Hedwig for him, and again he felt that pang – though once again was cheered, surely, they could make friends with Hagrid again? Harry smiled at that, all of the losses they'd suffered, horrible as they were, they could rebuild those relationships here, they weren't lost here.
It was what they'd come back for, family, friends, and Harry planned to include Hagrid firmly in that circle.
"You want to get an owl?" He asked then, to Hermione who shakes her head.
"One will be enough for us both" She said, almost with the same air as to his broomstick, Harry just nodded as he made his way around the shop, coming to a halt in front of a large display of tawny owls – he was tempted by the same breed as Hedwig, but she had been notorious, and the Tawny's were a bit easier to blend in.
And so the owl he chose wasn't quite as showy as Hedwig, but handsome all the same and a little more non-descript. The owl he picked was young, just barely a juvenile, and a deep but handsome chocolate brown that bordered on black. It had large amber coloured eyes, and seemed to fix them on Harry as soon as he approached.
So, without wanting to overthink it he grabbed the cage containing the bird and made his way to the counter, scooping up a large pack of owl nuts as he passed.
"Oh, he's pretty" Hermione said with a smile, and Harry knew the deal was sealed, when Hermione went to stroke the owl with her finger, and he simply nudged into her and allowed it without fuss.
They paid in the same kind, without fuss and then asked the owner to hold the bird and they'd pick it up on their way out. "We'll be back" He whispered, and felt quite reassured that the handsome owl did the same as Hedwig often had; a large slow blink that seemed to mean it had understood him.
"What are you going to call him?" Hermione asked and he couldn't help but shrug, he remembered getting Hedwig's name from a book, and who better to get the next name from if not the same source?
"Any ideas?" He asked and couldn't suppress a grin as Hermione's mind began to whirl, and she fired off a few names in succession, her nose wrinkling as she did so (though why Harry noticed that he didn't know).
"Balfour? For Balfour Blane, he established the Committee on Experimental Charms, a few accidents here and there but great work…" She was chewing her lip now as she often did when focusing, "Mungo Bonham? Founder of St Mungos?" She asks then, her eyes lighting up, but at his raised eyebrow she shakes her head and continues, "Quong Po?" She asks then, "He found the use for Chinese fireball eggs, though has been burnt so many times he…"
"Wait" He felt bad for interrupting her, but the name had come to him so quickly he felt foolish to not have thought of it before, "Ron" He said simply, and at the huge smile that broke on Hermione's face he knew she agreed, and they both stepped a little closer to one another, sad that he was gone, but smiling at the honour to their friend.
"Perfect" She said, and he nodded, taking a second just to look at her, her smile, it made him feel a little better about leaving Ron behind, and they could honour their friend, in his new familiar.
"So, no owl for you?" He asked, after a few seconds, and then they began to make their way further down the Alley, they had equipment to buy, lunch to eat, robes and Ron to pick up and then back to Hogwarts where he resolved to spend some time in the common room, even after being overwhelmed the night before.
"No" She said, sounding a little sad, but he noticed her grin and tug him into another store, one he didn't catch the name of as she pulled him in so quickly, "But I've got a better idea"
He near let out a groan as yet another smell assaulted him, this one mildly worse, though the sound and chaos was worse even than that, but he managed to hold it back, as he followed his best friend forward as she tugged him towards the following wall, where the kittens were sleeping in their cages, in the Magical Menagerie.
Hermione had known she wasn't interested in an owl, she'd never been that drawn to them, and one between them was more than enough, especially with school owls at their disposal.
No, she didn't want an owl, but she did miss Crookshanks fiercely, and intended very much so to come and buy him as soon as she worked out when she could do so, but for now, she saw no harm in adopting another familiar, she was a witch after all, it felt right to have one by her side.
The problem was that Crooks had been so unique, part Kneazel! So intelligent and handsome, she didn't want any old cat, she wanted another one like Crooks, but then Crooks had been unique.
As soon as she approached the wall of cats she knew none of them would do. Sure, they were cute and several began to paw towards her, but they just weren't the same as Crooks. She let out a sigh then, looking at the wall of adorable cats that held simply no appeal to her, and felt a horrible pang as she thought of Crooks, and how no other familiar would compare to him.
"Harry I'm not sure…" She began, because she wasn't.
"Hermione" He said her name then and she shook her head, not wanting to be persuaded, not when she was suddenly feeling quite sad at the loss of her beloved pet.
"No Harry" She said, and managed a sad smile as one of the cats began to meow quite adorably, but she still didn't want one, "I don't think…"
"Hermione" He said again, and she let out a small sigh, "Turn around"
"Why?" She asked, but did so anyway, turning on the spot, turning to her best friend, who said not another word and just pointed forward, to a cage behind the counter, where one solitary familiar remained, and then as soon as she saw it she knew.
The squeal she released set the cats meowing, birds chirping and owl's glaring at her, it had the owner hurrying out of the back, holding a pygmy puff, with an owl on each shoulder looking so thoroughly harassed he didn't identify either of them as the source of the squeal, and instead just said, "Can I help you?"
And oh he could! She ran forward then, a beaming smile on her face as she ran to the counter, Harry behind her. The hollow sad feeling was chased away as she looked past the owner to the cage Harry had spotted.
The cage that held a part cat, part kneazel, probably only a few weeks old, with ginger fur, and a thoroughly squashed face and the grumpiest expression she had ever seen!
It was Crooks! She was surprised but chided herself as she gave her familiar a wave, Kneazel's lived for up to 70 years in the wild, 20 in captivity, of course Crooks was here! And just born by the looks of it, and ready to come home with her immediately.
She turned then and threw her arms around Harry, for spotting her, and a tear leaked down her cheek, as he squeezed her back and she quickly turned back to the owner, and pointed straight at her precious pet.
"That one please"
"Really?"
"Yes!" She said, aware she shouldn't be so enthusiastic as he may rip her off, but no! She didn't care if Crook's cost everything in her Gringotts account, she'd pay it.
"Okay" He said with a shake of his head, as he reached for the cage, "He's the last one of the litter, squashed face couldn't get rid of him, but he's yours" He said with a nod, "10 Galleons" And she nodded, handing over the money without a second thought.
As soon as the cage was handed over she immediately unlocked it and pulled her familiar into her arms. He was much smaller now, but still her Crooks as she snuggled his ginger fur close, and looked back at Harry, who was beaming ear to ear.
sooo thoughts?
lots of flipping view points here! I wanted to explore diagon through both their eyes and so here we go!
also what did everyone think of the end? I know it is stretching reality a smidge, but kneazel's do have a very long life span and its magic! go with me on this!
as always please let me know your thoughts, the next chapter will be equally packed of lore/exploring (first day of school yo!), and then we'll be getting deep into plot! ahh exciting, I hope you are as excited as I am!
do fav/follow as always and speak soon