A/N: As always, thank you for reading. Answering one guest with a pertinent question: No, Harry is not a brat. That would be Dudley's role. Answering the other guest: Really? By the way, you might want to Google "The Iron Maiden"; they have really good songs. Now seriously, either you stop reading or you read the full story, don't bitch about something you don't understand and/or don't have context. For all you other cutes who read, this is a chapter where we'll see solely Harry's thoughts on things. Enjoy the rainbows!
7 - Braving the new world
Harry tried to restrain his impulse to touch his mum's letter for the thousandth time; he touched it anyway. His mum's voice was so beautiful and gentle he felt like she was right there with him, cradling him. He actually had a mum. Of course he knew he had, but it still amazed him. This made it real, so real. He always wanted to have a mum. He had Aunt Petunia, but she was Dudley's mum. Dudley was really lucky to have a mum and a dad. Walking in silence through the bank's dark corridors Harry could admit he wanted to get away from the Dursleys. But his Aunt Petunia was being so nice now; she even let him have the guest room and tucked him in, not to mention all the food. She gave Harry a sundae just like Dudley's yesterday, even a banana split!
Harry should be thankful; Uncle Vernon always told him how ungrateful kids didn't deserve to have anything good. So when Mr Snape asked Harry to let them use his money to buy Dudley's school things, he agreed. The only problem was that Harry had no money. They wouldn't be happy with him when they discovered the truth. But, most of all, he didn't want to disappoint his Mr Snape and his Aunt Petunia. He didn't want them to think he was an ungrateful kid. Now, how would he get money? Harry could clean, cook, paint, even sew, but money is not something that appeared in front of you. Or was it?
"Can we create money with magic?" Harry blurted before he could hold his impulses down. Everyone stopped and looked at Harry like he had three heads. Well, to be fair, Mr Snape seemed more amused than angry or... or... or exasperated. He was also the one who answered him.
"No, not exactly. No. You have to earn your gold, just like in the muggle world. But you can make something magical and sell it."
Harry nodded; he understood that. He touched his mum's letter again. Right, his mum's letter. She said James was rich so she could leave her inheritance to Aunt Petunia. What was an inheritance, anyway? Harry should have brought the dictionary with him, though that was Mr Snape's so he wouldn't have been able. Harry noticed his Mr Snape coming close and tensed. He didn't know why, it just felt right to tense up.
"You may... share your doubts with me if you do so inconspicuously." What is inconspicuously? Harry looked up to Mr Snape and his eyes looked so inviting he couldn't help but fire away his questions.
"What's an inheritance?... Sir" He mentally patted himself for remembering to add the title. Must not forget to be respectful.
"That would be earthly possessions one receives upon the passing of another if the passing one had wished so." He pauses for a moment thinking and Harry still can't quite say he understood. Thankfully, Mr Snape didn't ask anything and continued talking. "For example, when my grandfather died he left everything he owned, houses, money, jewels, books, to me."
"Oh." Now, that Harry could understand. "And who is James?"
"That's your father's name." Mr Snape didn't seem all that well now. Harry only knew he wasn't angry from the barely there pat on the head he received. Better not ask anything anymore.
They had arrived at a sort of underground station with a few carts about. One of the carts stopped in front of them and they were told to board. Where is the seatbelt? While Harry was looking around for it, the cart left. It was so fast. They turned, loop, went upside down, straight up, straight down, to all sides in all ways. As fast as they started they stopped.
"That was so cool! The best roller coaster ever! Mum, can we do it again? Please?" Dudley was hopping up and down and Harry could only agree. This was much better than floo. Floo wasn't really great.
"Key?" Mr Griphook asked extending his hand. Harry was about to give him the key he received earlier from Mr Ragnok but was cut off by Mr Snape handing him another one.
"This is one of my vaults. I will take a few things I need before you stop by yours. You may look around. Do not touch anything."
And in they went. The vault was bigger them the Dursleys' guest room and full of stuff. There was a corner with neat piles of gold, silver and bronze like coins; shelves with jewels; more shelves with books; some strange looking trunks in another corner. Maybe this is Mr Snape's inheritance from his grandpa.
Soon enough they were out riding the cart again. They stopped in a vault Mr Snape told was Aunt Petunia's, and Dudley's, so she handed the key she received from Mr Ragnok. This vault wasn't as neat as Mr Snape's but was fuller. The piles of coins were really big, bigger than Mr Snape's. He told Aunt Petunia to get 300 hundred coins: 150 gold, 100 silver and 50 bronze ones. Harry went to help his Aunt Petunia and his cousin get the coins while Mr Snape searched for what he wanted. What could he be looking for in Aunt Petunia's vault? Whatever it was, he seemed to have found. Mr Griphook didn't look happy with Mr Snape. At least Harry didn't have to worry about getting money to give them.
Another cart ride and it was Harry giving his key to Mr Griphook. Okay, this is a big vault. Harry's vault was huge; their whole house could fit inside. The only things inside were huge piles of coins. Harry looked back and Mr Snape only nodded and told Harry to get the same amount his Aunt Petunia did. Dudley helped him get them into the pouch Mr Griphook gave him and out they went. Harry was shocked and stunned still by the time they left the bank and entered some restaurant nearby.
After the food arrived, Mr Snape waved his wand and Harry saw something glowing from the corner of his eyes, but when he turned to see what it was it wasn't there anymore. He turned back to the table as his Mr Snape began a new explanation about wizard stuff.
"As I have mentioned before, wizarding currency is different from its muggle counterpart. In the British Wizarding World, we have the types of coins: the bronze one called Knut; the silver one called Sickle; and the gold one called Galleon." He got a few other coins from his pouch and began piling them. "The Galleon has the highest value of the three, the Sickle goes in the middle, and the Knut has the lowest value. One may exchange 29 Knuts for 1 Sickle; for a Galleon one may do so with 17 Sickles, or its equivalent in Knuts."
"So wizards only work with cash? They don't use cheques or cards?" Aunt Petunia asked frowning. "So if I have to buy something expensive like a fridge I would have to carry all that money around?"
"That is what is practiced by the masses, yes. Nevertheless, Gringotts is able to provide cheque slips for what they call valuable customers. You will perhaps receive one when all the proceedings started today are dealt with. I suggested you-" He motioned to show he was talking about Aunt Petunia and Harry. "-take out that high amount of money so we wouldn't be hassled over the costs of the school's requested supplies and the ones not mandatory but equally important.
"On another account, as you must be aware is the same in the muggle world, cash is harder to track. I believe I emphasised enough the need to be inconspicuous in our activities so as to not alert the wrong kind to them. Since we are on the subject, I will remind you of the importance of not calling the boy by his name whilst here in Diagon Alley. The outcome would most certainly not be to our advantage nor liking."
Mr Snape grimaced. For a man like him to grimace it must be something really bad. Better not say anything about that, maybe he could get a nickname. Well, they had to call him something, and he really couldn't picture Mr Snape calling him dear like his Aunt Petunia did. Not that he would like it if he did, just... "So what am I being called?"
"Dear?" Aunt Petunia looked at him in confusion and Mr Snape only got one eyebrow up.
"Ooh, we could call him Potty!" Harry scrunched his face at that; he always wanted to have a nickname, but a nice one. He'd rather be called baby than potty. He kept quiet though, what if his cousin got any worse ideas and started calling him baby potty.
"I see. You might have presented a very good idea indeed, Mr Durs- Evans." Harry looked at him with shock and betrayal. Was his Mr Snape really going to call him that? It was so bad he could cry. "Alas, I believe a more fitting name would be preferable."
Aunt Petunia agreed with Mr Snape to Harry's relief. For a few moments, the two were thinking what would be a good nickname for Harry, though they had to stop every minute to shut down Dudley's awful suggestions. Finally, Mr Snape looked like he had the best idea ever, at least from the look on his face. "How about Raven?"
"That black bird that is an omen of death?" Aunt Petunia wasn't pleased and showed it.
"I believe we are thinking of the same bird, yes, but it is hardly an omen of death. While yes, they are a scavenger type of bird and as such, it is not uncommon to find it near a corpse, Ravens are also curious creatures by nature, which is also to be said about Harry. The bird is also intelligent, extremely so, and I hope Harry would be an intelligent individual. It is mentioned in a number of cultures as well, but you can certainly research the desired information at a later date. So Raven it is."
Mr Snape didn't leave much room to argue over that, not that Harry wanted anyway. He was quite happy his Mr Snape thought he was intelligent, he even felt his insides churning and warming in that way it always did when his Aunt Petunia hugged or kissed him or called him dear.
Lunch was nice. Mr Snape told them at the end where they would have to go and to always keep close. The shops were all so interesting, in each Mr Snape explained a bit of what they sold and what their use was. They got everything except their robes, books and wands. Mr Snape was really nice to tell them to buy double the amount of ingredients in the apothecary so they wouldn't have problems if they had to redo their potions or wanted to practice them.
They were now entering Madam Malkin's shop. Mr Snape said that by the time they got to go there it would have very few people inside if any and he was right. They were the only customers there.
"Why, hello Professor Snape. It is nice to see you again. Looking for new robes? I have just received some of that silk you liked last time, only it is green with swirl patterns in a darker shade." The woman had a strange glint in her eyes. It wasn't bad, but she seemed really amused like she just did the best prank in the world.
"My, Madam Malkin, how thoughtful of you. Do reserve it for me; I may have use for it in the near future. It will certainly make an excellent robe for my godson; I was still wondering what would be a good gift." Mr Snape's voice was so silky it sent shivers up Harry's spine. Madam Malkin didn't seem to have liked it too.
"Of course, Professor. And you darlings? Hogwarts robes?"
"Three sets of standard robes, four of everyday ones and one set of dress robes. Each set should be complete with shirts, trousers... You surely know what complete means I believe?"
"Yes, I do know, Professor." The old lady looked about to ask something but in the end decided to just rush Harry and his cousin to stools to get measured and stuff. Harry looked back to see what his Mr Snape face was like to make her not ask anything -it was a really good trick he used all day and no one could blame Harry for trying to know the secret.
"Do fashion two sets of everyday robes and one of dress robes befitting her as well. Complete if you may. A few charms on the children's robes would not go amiss." He sat on a chair near them after showing Aunt Petunia to the stool beside Harry and pulled out a book to read while waiting for them to finish.
There wasn't much Harry could do while standing and trying the robes being measured and whatever the old lady -Madam Malkin was it?- was doing to him. The only thing he seemed able to do was think. He thought about everything good that happened to him lately, he was a wizard, his Aunt Petunia liked him, he got a letter from his mum... He actually had a mum, he even got pictures to prove it, or at least he thought he did. He really hoped those albums Mr Snape got him in Aunt Petunia's vault had him and his mum.
But really, of all the good things that happened, the best was Mr Snape. Right from the start, he was good to him; letting him read and all, even let him choose what mind you. He spent the whole day showing Harry and his family -his family! - around the magical world. He even went out of his way to explain everything to them and let Harry ask all the questions he wanted, even when Harry thought them stupid. He gave Harry a really cool nickname and told him he was intelligent. No wonder he was Harry's favourite person.
"Alright, we're done here, darlings. You too Mrs..."
"It is Ms Evans now. Thank you." Aunt Petunia answered accepting her helping hand to get off the stool and moving to pay from her and Harry's pouch.
"Ah, yes, right. Thank you for your patronage." She received the payment with a questioning look to Mr Snape. "Should I owl your robes?"
"Yes, owl them to Ms Petunia Evans. As for my godson's, I believe him to have grown since he was last here. Do make the proper alterations once he comes for his school robes, then you may owl them to me along with the bill."
They said their goodbyes and off they went to the bookshop. If Mr Snape's godson's gift were as beautiful as Harry thought it would be, the boy would be very happy with it. Mr Snape was a really thoughtful person. Wait. Godson? Mr Snape has a godson? Somehow, that rocked Harry's world. He didn't know what think. The feeling though was like the one when he was complimented by his Mr Snape, only it was a bad feeling now and Mr Snape wasn't his. Really what was Harry thinking?
The bookshop had cheered Harry up; they bought lots of books to help them learn about magic and the wizarding world. Even if Mr Snape wasn't his... his... his, he did care about Harry -and Dudley, it would be good to remember- and actually seemed to like Harry. At least Harry thought he did. He pulls me closer when a big group of people passed, he brushed his hand on Harry's hair, and he even gave a tiny smile! He cared, and it was all Harry could do not to hug him.
While Harry was mulling over his feelings they arrived at the last shop they would go that day: Ollivanders. About time too, both Harry and his cousin were dead on they feet. They walked so much Harry was sure he lost half his weight.
"My! What an interesting combination-" The old man started to say only to be cut off by Mr Snape's hissing. He actually hissed.
"Yes, Mr Ollivander. A pleasure to see you." Mr Snape was looking around like someone might be stalking them. "I believe you capable of discretion, yes? Or should we go for a more discreet establishment for purchasing a wand?"
"Yes. No. I hope your wand has served you well? Who might we start with?" The old man lost a few shades of colour; he was paler than a ghost now. Mr Snape motioned for Dudley to go first; it took him 10 minutes to find a wand. Now it was Harry's turn.
"I remember when I sold your parents their wands-" He paused and glanced at Mr Snape. Whatever he saw made him go back to being objective."- they were really great with them. Now let's see what will make you great, shall we?"
It was over an hour later that one finally chose Harry. He was starting to wonder if he really had magic enough to deserve a wand.
"Curious... So very curious indeed..." The old man started.
"What is?" Mr Snape had beaten Harry to the question.
"Well, you see, I remember every single wand I have ever sold." He glanced at Mr Snape again but with a thoughtful look this time. "It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand gave another feather -just one other. It is indeed very curious that it chose you when its brother gave you that scar." Harry unconsciously put his hand on his forehead.
"Thank you for the information Ollivander. Petunia, pay the man." Before the old man could say anything more or Harry could ask what he meant Mr Snape was ushering them through the streets to the pub they entered from, in the fireplace and back home.
Harry was too tired to think of anything else besides eating and going to sleep. Any questions he had he could ask the next day, Mr Snape said he could ask anything after all.