Long-time no see! I have no excuse. The reason has been a few things, pandemic mixed with depression relapse and figuring out my feelings between Rowling's beliefs and my love for the stories. I have finally come to a place where I can love the stories and not necessarily her. I won't go into the reasons here (as they are obvious anyway) nor will I judge people who still love her. Just respect my feelings.

Now, here is chapter five. I have rushed this one a bit but only because I wanted to get a staple moments from the booked ironed out, and then get right into their school year. The next chapter onwards will hopefully be less gabbled.

A bit of admin. I have chosen not to continue with my other story however I am thinking of starting a new one. I will give you updates on that as soon as I've written a few chapters of it.

I am also looking for a beta. Please message me if you'd like the job. As I'm dyslexic, things like spelling and grammar don't come easily for me.

All rights belong to JK Rowling.

Written: 23/09/2022

The following week, Andromeda took the kids to meet the Weasley's in Diagon Alley, outside Gringott's bank, while Ted and Dora are at work.

"Hi Ron", Harry and Hermione exclaimed. Ron just waved while the twins started to make cooing noises at him, and Ginny stood there with glowing red cheeks. "Are you excited to get your books" Hermione continued.

"Books? What are you like Hermione." Ron replied shaking his head. Harry just smirked and continued,

"I'm just looking forward to school in general. Oh, I was going to ask, how are Bill and Charlie getting on?"

Ron beamed, "they're loving it. Bill's liking the sun and Charlie is just enjoying the dragons, you know how obsessed he is with them. But I got their room you know?"

"You did!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, of cause that's the best part, getting their room. It must be so fascinating what they're doing."

At that moment Molly looked up from their conversation with Andromeda, "Alright, Fred, George and Percy. You three may go and find your friends, meet us at Flourish and Blotts in an hour, and no entering Knockturn Alley you two!" She called over to the twins who planted innocent expressions on their faces.

"Why do you always pick on us Mum" Fred said.

"Yeah" George followed, "How do you know Ron and Harry won't try and go down there!"

"Because they have more sense." Molly looked down them. "Off you go you three", she continued as the three of them wondered off to their friends. She put her hands together, turning to Andromeda and the kids. "Where shall we go first?"

Harry said wands, Hermione said robes and Ron said brooms, while Ginny and Andromeda giggled. "Why don't we drop the kids off to get their robes while we get the potion ingredients?"

"Ah, Ron's using Charlie's old school equipment. He just needs the new defence book, and some potion ingredients" Molly responded while Ron blushed. "But why don't we drop them off at the robe shop anyway as Ron will need to have the Robes checked. He's longer than the others were at the same age, except maybe Charlie, and Fred's still in Charlie's first year robes". With that that they dropped the three of them off with Madam Malkin, and after both mother's clarified what they needed, left to get potion ingredients with Ginny.

Ron was sorted first, followed by Hermione. Then Harry stepped up and while he was in there another boy started talking to him about school, and which house he was in. "Of course," the boy said, "I would rather die than be in a house full of duffers, Slytherin is where I'm headed."

Harry rolled his eyes. "My Dad and sister were both in Hufflepuff, and thy are both brave people. My sister is training to be an auror. So not so much a duffer"

Harry could practically hear the sneer in his voice, "It's fine for some people, I guess. I'm Draco Malfoy by the way". It was then Harry snorted. 'No surprise' he thought.

It was then Madam Malkin said, "Okay Mr Malfoy your now finished, and I see your mother outside. Tell her I will have your robes charged their account, and sent to your, erm, manor by Monday".

Malfoy hopped down and said, "See you at Hogwarts, duffer". He passed Ron and Hermione, smirking. Having never met Harry or his own cousin, he had no idea who he was specking to.

A while later, Molly had to meet her older children at the bookshop and get home as they had her Aunt Mural coming for dinner that night. Andromeda took that moment to head over to Ollivanders with Harry and Hermione. As they entered, the bell above the door chimed, and they heard a "Be with you in a minute" from the back of the shop. A few moments later, they saw Mr Ollivander come over between the shelves to see them. When he saw them, he greeted them with a smile, "Good afternoon Mrs Tonks, I see you in with you younger two today. How are you two then", he said looking at the children. "Looking forward to Hogwarts?" briefly glancing at Harry's scar. The two smiled and nodded. "Now shall we start with you Miss Tonks? Can you show me your wand arm?".

After three tries, they settled on 1 0¾" long, vine wood, and dragon heartstring wand, which Hermione was very happy with. "Now, lets see what we have for you Mr Potter-Tonks". He said, "Your wand arm please". Harry lifted his arm and Mr Olivander measured his arm for him before looking through the shelves. Attempt after attempt, Harry tried wand after wand but nothing seemed to choose him. He tried wands that match the Tonks', his biological parents, even his godfather. After a while, Olivander came to stop in front of a very particular wand case. "I wonder" he murmured. After glancing at the three, he plucked the box from the shelf and handed the wand to Harry. And as soon as Harry held the wand, 11" long, holly phoenix feather core, Harry felt pulled to this wand, and it shot a golden spark out of the wand, just like Hermione's did when she first held hers. As the three grinned, Olivander just looked deep in thought. "Curious, very curious".

"I'm sorry sir, but what's curious" Harry asked quietly.

Olivander looked at him, glancing at Andromeda, before he answered, "I have sold many wands Mr Potter, and I remember each and every one I sold. The phoenix which provided me the feather in your wand, provided just one other. So, the brother to your wand, is the very wand that gave you that scar," Olivander said as he pointed towards his head.

Andromeda started, "How much is that Mr Olivander".

After paying for the wands, the three headed over to the bookshop, and Hermione said, "What did he mean Mummy?"

"I'm not sure" Andromeda signed, "I'll discuss it with you later along with your father, now", as they entered the shop, "how about some extra spell books?"

HPHPHPHPHPHPHP

Over dinner, Harry had enough and asked his parents, "So what was Mr Olivander on about?"

Ted sighed and looked at his wife, then replied, "You and you know who share a wand core from the same phoenix. I'm not sure why but it most likely had something to do with the way your birth mother saved your life".

Harry nodded, as Hermione responded, "But what did she do? I mean, if she could save Harry's life with a spell, why not herself? Or Harry's Dad?"

"Well," Andromeda replied, looking her two youngest children, "it was a special spell that can only be used on a member of your biological family, a powerful spell. So, Lily was unable to cast it on herself or James."

Nodding Harry pipped up, "You know I spoke with Draco Malfoy today. In Madam Malkins, he had no idea who I was through. Just kept going on about how all Hufflepuffs are duffers and Slytherin are the best. He was so rude. Nothing would make me want to be in Slytherin less quite honestly.

HPHPHPHPHP

A couple of weeks later, it was Harry's 11th Birthday, and he couldn't be more excited. He jumped out of bed, and ran down to the kitchen, except no one was there until they all jumped out shouting, "Happy Birthday!". Harry beamed. His parents, sisters, godfather, his Uncle Remous and Hagrid was standing there, holding a cage with a white snowy owl in it.

"Did you get me an owl Hagird? Thanks!". Harry liked Hagrid, apparently, he was the one that found him and brought him to safety after his birth parents died. He always had an interesting quip or two about magical creatures or life at Hogwarts. Even if his parents did feel the need to shout him up from time to time.

Sirus, not wanting to be 'out present-ed' jumped in and shouted, "But I got you the best, I got you a new broom! A Nimbus 2000 to be exact"

"But," Hermione started, "First years aren't allowed brooms".

Sirus laughed while Andromeda responded, "He won't taking it to school honey, and you will be sharing your owl with Hermione at school, we want to hear from both of you regularly". Harry nodded eagerly.

"Can I ride it?" Harry asked excitedly.

Ted laughed slightly, "Maybe later, you have an owl to name yet. Why don't you open your other presents first?". And that was how the rest of the morning went. They had breakfast while Harry opened the rest of his presents. His parents got him some new clothes, shoes, even stationary which were mostly for him to take to Hogwarts with him, he guessed that Hermione will be given the same before heading to school as her 12th birthday will be with the first couple of weeks of term. They also got him some sweets, wizard and muggle a-like, and not to forget his main present from them, a brand-new set of gobstones to take to Hogwarts with him. He beamed as Remus gave him the ever so practical gift of a notebook and a bar of honeydukes best. Hermione had got him a book called Quidditch through the ages, as she said,

"Once you've read it, we can swap and you can read my copy of Hogwarts: a history", he couldn't help but laugh at that. She'd been trying to get him to get him to read that for the last three years.

Then Dora gave him a book on pranks, which made Sirus and Remus laugh as that had been what they would have got him if they could have gotten away with it.

Later that day, the Weasley's arrived for his birthday dinner. Ron and the twins were fighting over who got to use Harry's new broom next while Ginny looked on desperately, wanting to join in, and Hermione was talking to Percy about Hogwarts, who was one of the only people outside her family that listened to her when she started talking that fast. Hagrid had already left before lunch as he had something he needed to do in Diagon Alley for Dumbledore, and Dora had left for work before dinner as she had the night shift at the ministry. The other adults were in corner talking about something or other.

Ginny walked over to Hermione and Percy and sat down in a huff. "Why do they not let me play. I mean I think Harry would if he wasn't trying to act like those morons, but I am just as capable, even if I am a girl". Percy rolled his eyes as Hermione responded, "Why don't you just ask them?"

Now it was Ginny's turn to roll her eyes. "You clearly don't know what it like to have a brother."

"I have Harry"

"No Mione", Ginny responded. "I mean a brother who doesn't hold you back from doing things. Maybe it the hole big brother younger sister thing?"

Percy rolled his eyes, "I don't know what the fuss is about. It's just a broom".

Before Ginny could retort, they heard Harry call over, "Hey Gin! Want to be the first to try the Nimbus as your brothers can't seem to decide amongst themselves". Hermione laughed as she watched Ginny run over, her cheeks red with embarrassment, and Ron and the twins red with annoyance.