Chapter 6: Boarding school preparations

Petunia pov

Just before joining Hogwarts…

Though we visited Diagon Alley only three more times again, we were able to accomplish a great deal. Books, of course, were a priority, to replenish the reading stock about their world. But last year, we visited the oculist and Harry was able to correct his eyesight. Now his green eyes stand even more vivid, just like Lily's. We were also able to buy some ingredients for some easy potions for medical care which were more effective and did not expire, especially not when Harry learned the stasis spell.

This was a surprising discovery that Harry was able to do magic just like that. The books said that wizards usually needed wands, their specific movements and incantations; and that only few well experienced and powerful ones were able to do it wandless or silent. Of course, Harry could do only basic things like moving as item or creating a light, but the ones he was good at was communicating with his magic and sharing or forcing it. Like he did with his parseltoungue (snake language) or when he dropped the wards on the unicorn to see it. So maybe having a wand was necessary for complicated spells.

Now the boys are both 11 years old, and ready for entering middle school, and alas! Boarding schools. For Harry, it was unavoidable, he had to attend Hogwarts. But I thought that Duddley would stay with me. But he got selected for Smelting School on a scholarship for his high grades and football. He is a pretty good player and the school is famous for education as well as extra-curriculars. So we could not say no to it. But after having them with us for all this time, it would be hard to be alone for a better part of the year. Well not alone. I have Richard with me, so I guess I will cope well.

Harry has to leave for Hogwarts in three days, on 1st September. His ticket, which arrived by an owl, says it leaves at 11 o'clock from platform 9 ¾ . It was amusing to see the boys looking confused at the station number. I told them it is a secret. Duddley was leaving five days later. So we went to Harry's shopping first.

We decided to hide Harry's identity as much as possible. So he wore a bandanna, sun-glasses, torn jeans and a 'rockband overcoat' (his label, not mine) to avoid identity. Our first stop was for wands. We stepped into the shop labeled 'Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC' which was a dimly lit shop with rows and rows of stacks holding boxes with wands. We could not see the other end of the shop due to them. Only the desk having causal items, a pair of chairs and a cushioned chair on the other side of the desk. The room was decorated well enough with vases and paintings, but we did not get the time to look at them. Because, a very old pale-eyed and white haired man approached us out of nowhere, making us all jump.

"Good morning customers, I see most of you are muggles, and you are the one here for a wand. Ah! Mr. Potter, nice to finally meet you. I was wondering when I would get to see you. It seems like only yesterday that I was selling wands to your parents. You have your mother's eyes. Her wand was nice wand for charm work, ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. But you do not choose the wand, no you don't. It needs compatibility with your personality and magic, and only then it will bond with you. Someone else's wand won't give as good results, if any."

Duddley then had to ask, "If you know what type of personality a person has, then why didn't you know that Voldemort was going to turn evil and kill people."

He looked fascinated at Duddley, "Ah but you answered your own question, young sir. He was not evil when he bought the wand, nor magic is ever evil or pure. He was just a kid like you, entering a wizarding school instead."

"So why did the wand not stop working when he did turn evil? That's it? It bonds with someone and there is no way out for it."

"May I know your name, boy?"

"Duderson"

"Mr. Duderson, I really wish that you were a wizard too. I would have made you my apprentice for thinking the right way. Wandlore is a deep subject, many of its ventures still unknown. In short, I could say this. Wands find and bind with a compatible personality. Then as the person uses it, it moulds itself to the changes, making some spells more efficient than others according to the user. Defeat and win the wand from him, and it will change its allegiance. In that case, it would still need some using for to readjust its efficiency. How a wand works requires an intense study of how the magic flows in a person and through him into the wand. I could go on and on, but it is a big subject and your cousin needs his wand. When you have time, interest and the pass to visit me, and I do hope you get one, please do come here so we can discuss the questions."

Then he happily hummed a tune as he searched for and picked some boxes he thought might be suitable for Harry. Pride was what I felt when I looked at Duddley, as he roamed around the shop exclaiming whenever he found something unexpected. On the other hand, Harry was getting tired, I could tell. The wands were not giving any reaction to him, or violently exploding things in the shop. As Ollivander snatched wand after wand from Harry, he grew more and more excited in having a tricky customer.

He then hesitated a bit before bringing a box. He held out the wand to Harry saying, "Please try this Mr. Potter. This one is holly, eleven inches with a Phoenix feather as its core."

The moment Harry touched it, a golden glow appeared around him. He swished it in the air and a few sparks shot out from its end. Ollivender clapped his hands, "Finally a positive reaction. A wand finally chose you Mr. Potter."

But Harry still did not look satisfied. I observed that he did not speak much since he entered the shop. I knelt in front of him, "What's the matter Harry? Do you not like it? Don't let yourself be forced into anything, Remember what your mother wrote to you."

He nodded and gave me a small smile. Then he looked at Ollivander, "I am sorry sir, but this is not the wand for me."

Ollivander was not disappointed at all, "Fascinating, can you tell me why, Mr. Potter?"

"It feels like it is unwilling and being forced. It agrees with a part of me, but only that much. I'm sorry, I cannot explain any better."

"Oh no no. This is the first time it is happening, but that make it any wrong. If that's the case, then what has you distracted since entering my shop?" He asked excitedly. I wondered if he misses noticing anything.

"Ummm… A feeling?"

"Then please follow it Mr. Potter." He gestured with hand to go ahead.

Harry wasted no time roaming. He walked straight amongst the stacks to the back of the shop, to a particular glass tube. It had a golden hair strand in it. He picked it up and a smile came upon his face. Ollivander was almost dancing, "Ah! Finally! And so soon too."

Harry just looked at me and said, "It's her, the baby unicorn." I understood the one he was referencing, the one whom we returned to her parents.

"Do you know this unicorn?" Ollivander was radiating joy.

"Yes sir, we found one captured and helped her to her parents. She was still a kid."

"Would that be before about two and a half years?"

We nodded.

"Around that time, I had a dream. In that, a baby unicorn came to me and gave me her hair. I was happy when I woke up to find one in my hand."

"But she was silver, and this hair is gold. Why?" I queried.

"A few wands are made of unicorn hairs, madam. Almost all that we find shed amongst branches and bushes. They are rare and powerful in themselves. A few hairs people take forcibly, I don't know why. Those are inherently violent and of less power. Now, if a unicorn gives it willingly, then it means it has fortified it with some power that it wants the hair to have, to be used in whatever ways. I know now that your wand is supposed to be made with this hair, she chose you. Ah I never thought I would see such an occurrence in my life. Please come here Mr. Potter so that we could select the wood."

That was quick, the selection of wood. Harry just had to close his eyes and pick whichever one he felt a pull to. He picked a banyan one, which Ollivander explained that it was from a very old tree in a forest where unicorns lived too. So maybe this was the blessing that the unicorn gave to Harry. I wonder what it was for Duddley. We personally requested the wand maker not to divulge the information about his wand to anyone. He agreed without any objection.

We were promised the wand in the evening, and we proceeded to our remaining shopping. Richard finally came out of his awe at the sights and participated in the selections. We went to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions for Harry's robes. While he fitted for school ones, we selected some casual ones for him. The expressions on his face like when Duddley pulled out an orange one were funny. Leaving them for stitching, we next went to Ranald's Luggage for buying a trunk. Harry selected one that looked ordinary from outside, but could open into four different expanded spaces based on owner's choice. Also it was keyed in to be opened only by him. There were many other fancy ones, but this was what he chose. The net shops were Potage's Cauldron Shop for Cauldron, Slug and Jiggers Apothecary for potion ingredients and Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment for telescope. By this time, the district was rushing with shoppers, mostly school shopping for various years. I was glad that we had decided to start early. I offered Harry to buy the books and he promised us ice creams. So Richard and I went to Flourish and Blots for the books, and he and Duddley moved towards Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.

Duddley's pov

As Harry went to collect our ice cream treats, I sat down at a big table blocking places for the family. Another family came to us asking if they could join us. I looked around and found all the tables were full.

"Sure, please do." I invited. Two girls, each probably of same age as my boys, sat down with a couple. One of the girls had light red hair and the other had dark blond hair. Their other features were different too, so they must not have been sisters. The parents then left saying they will bring the orders.

"Thank you. First years too?" The blond haired one asked me.

I laughed, "I am of the right age but not going to Hogwarts."

"Where are you going then? Don't tell me Dumstrang!"

"No, I am going to Smelting."

"Oh, never heard of it" she mused, as the other girl's eyes widened in understanding. This one did not seem to have caught the meaning, "Is that a private school?"

"Oh no" I played along, "It is very popular and they were impressed with my talents and gave me an invitation to study with them."

"Popular? Is it in other country?"

The red-head beside her was shaking her head and smacked her palm on her mouth, "Hannah! Stop making a fool of yourself. He is a muggle."

I laughed. "Right you are."

"Then why are you here?" Hannah blurted out. The other girl's face grew resigned and she pinched her arm.

"Ouch! Hey!"

"I am sorry. She uses full mouth and half brain. I am Susan Bones and this is Hannah Abbott. We are joining Hogwarts this year. Who are you with?"

"I am Duderson Robin. Just call me Duddley. I am here with my parents and cousin. He is the one joining Hogwarts this year."

"Oh where is he?" Hannah was looking around trying to spot him.

"He went to get ice creams. Hmmm... Oh right there. Hey Harry!"

"Here's your ice cream sir. Scoops and scoops of chocolate, black forest and vanilla all combined."

"Yum! Thanks. Hey, meet your classmates. They are first years too."

"Hi!" Harry greeted them.

"Umm, hi. I am Susan Bones and this is Hannah Abbott." Susan greeted him. And once again Hannah's curiosity remained unsuppressed.

"Are you really the one who is a wizard? Are you playing a prank with us? Duddley seems more wizard like than you."

I could see why. In order to mask his identity, Harry had worn a jacket with many pockets, jeans, a bandana and a pair of black sunglasses. He looked like a rebel. While I, 'the polished one', just wore a decent full sleeved white shirt and black pant. Meanwhile Harry feigned a hurt look on his face and his hand was over his heart.

"Ouch that hurts. Duddley, you better go to Hogwarts and I will go to Smelting. Maybe we'll fit better that way."

"And loose my chance at football, get lost." I turned back to the girls, who were looking amused, "Don't worry. No pranks. He just wanted to be full out muggle before he has to wear those robes."

Harry turned to them now, "So what do you know about the school?"

And the gossip turned to school description, at least what the girls knew. Mama and Papa joined us soon and Hannah's parents too. When getting ice cream for them, Harry had to ask, "Hey Susan, will you parents be joining us too?"

Susan face saddened, "They died, killed by Voldemort in the war."

"Oh I'm sorry. My parents were killed too. I am lucky to live with my relatives. Who do you live with?"

"My Aunt. But she is the head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement. So she is usually busy, but manages some time for me every day."

"Cool!"

I watched the time and patted Mama who was talking with Hannah's mother, "Mama, we still need to go to pet store and then collect our items. You promised us to let us go to the treat remember."

"Right, I lost track of time. Very well then."

We said our farewells and went separate our ways. The last shop was Magical Menagerie, for pets and their care. My eyes widened as soon as I entered the shop. There were all kinds of animals, some I would never imagine being pets… Cats, toads, squirrels, lizards, snakes, owls, puppies, and many more. I looked pleadingly at Mama, but she shook her head,

"Not yet Duddley. First settle in your new school and then we can think about pets. Even Harry, only an owl so that we can communicate. Any other pet would have to wait till next year."

Harry nodded and looked around. There were many owls, all in different colors. All looked eager to be picked, preening and showing off. But Harry walked along the aisle until he reached near the end. There was a white owl there, but she looked dirty and with some loose feathers. Harry called the shop keeper to him,

"Tell me about that one."

"Oh there are many better owls in the shop. She is a youngling too, but a wild one who had lost her parents just a year ago. I brought her to the shop when she was wounded and treated her. But the moment she was well enough, she kept away from anybody. She attacks if anyone tries to touch her and has not let anybody buy her. Two times she was sold and was returned in three days. Choose another one."

"No" he said, "I want her. Does she have a name?"

"No… As I said, she is wild and just old enough to carry mails. But she is a tough one. She survived while her family died."

Harry ended up purchasing the owl. She fretted a lot while the cage was being put down, so the shop keeper stunned her asleep. Then we collected the clothes and wand, and finally were able to leave.

That night, after our pizza treat, Harry and I were lying in my room, just talking about today's experience.

"So Harry", I asked, "I was too busy looking around. We met Susan and Hannah, but did you notice any other first years?"

"A few. There was a blond aristocratic man with his wife and son. All three were standing stiff and looking haughty, but I did see the man hitting his son with his cane when they turned into an alley. Maybe they are closet abusers. I also saw a pair of red-head twins, it was hard not to notice them, and they were making such a racket with their glee and shouts."

"Hmm... I saw them too. There were two people of our age with them, both red heads too. Maybe they will be in your year."

"Oh I did not notice that. I am pretty sure it was another first year I saw at the trunk shop. He was looking timid and unconfident behind a regal looking old lady. Then there was a boy at the ice cream parlour. He was collecting his order too. He was wondered at all the sight, so he was a muggleborns. That's it, I guess."

"No girls Harry!?" I teased him.

"Shut up!"