Disclaimer: Come on, guys, you don't really think I own this stuff do you?
sk8reagle – Glad to intrigue you.
Phoenix Flight – Ah, flattery will get you… another chapter. As for naming the tea, it would be a bit hard, as every pot is slightly different. He mixes ingredients according to what seems right at the time. Eventually he will learn to refine this ability but… later.
BlockingTomatoes – I sincerely apologize. I humbly admit that although I have read all four of the canonical works between six and ten times, that I had not thought to check on Petunia's hair color. I am removing the reference to it.
Creamy Mimi – I'm glad you liked it.
Elfmoon87 – Hello again. Is civil the right word? After all, verbal and emotional abuse leave scars on the soul. Nevertheless, Harry has learned to overcome it. At this point the Dursleys are afraid that Harry himself will do something to them. After all, he seems to be doing magic daily without repercussions. lol
Them Girl – Thank you for your support. As for fortunes… Harry doesn't take them seriously… yet.
*****
Harry entered the Leaky Cauldron with his school trunk and looked around.
The innkeeper bustled up. "How may I help you, sir?"
"I would like a room for the night please." Harry said. He felt something was odd, then he realized that old Tom had not recognized him. He pulled out two golden coins and offered them to the man.
"Yes, sir, certainly." The man levitated Harry's trunk and led the way up the stairs. "Right this way."
Tom led Harry to the same room he had used two years before. Harry thanked the man, still puzzled at not being recognized.
Harry laid out his night things and retrieved his school list. He was about to head for Diagon Alley when he saw his own reflection in the mirror.
He stopped, shocked. He had known he was taller. He had known that his hair had been growing ever since his birthday, but he had not realized that he had changed so much. He never saw himself at Privet Drive. His room did not have a mirror, and Dudley had smashed the one in the hall bathroom in one of his fits. It was a symptom of his parent's growing displeasure that it had not been replaced.
Harry's hair was now well past his shoulders. It grew unevenly in the front in a way that covered his scar without looking sloppy. It had become lighter too. He had spent a lot of time outside this summer, so perhaps the sun had affected it. He kept it in a ponytail very similar to Bill Weasely's.
His face seemed to have changed subtly as well. It had always seemed to be too thin. Now his cheeks had filled out. His cheekbones were higher and his chin was rounder. His nose seemed a little longer, not as cute as it had been. Harry looked down at his hands. Even his fingers seemed longer.
At least he still had his mother's eyes.
He shrugged. He supposed that all this elongating must have something to do with growing up. He shook his head and left the room.
Harry emerged into Diagon Alley and paused, surveying the bustle. Immediately he saw someone he knew.
"Professor Lupin!" He called, rushing over to the man leaning against one of the shops.
Lupin's eyes widened. He seemed to sniff the air a little. "Harry, is that really you?"
"The one and only. How do you like my new look?" Harry smiled and touched his hair self consciously. "I guess I've changed a bit."
"Amazing." Lupin forced his mouth to assume a more dignified expression. "Padfoot and I decided to help you shop, since you did not get to visit this summer." He gestured to the dog seated on the ground beside him.
"Hello, Padfoot," Harry said, patting the dog's head. "Its Gringotts first." He said.
"I think new robes had better be on your list, Harry. I don't think your old ones will be long enough." Lupin smiled at him. "You got taller over the summer."
As they were leaving Gringotts, Lupin suddenly said. "Harry, I have been asked to teach at Hogwarts again."
"Really?" Harry grinned. "That's great. You are the best Defense teacher we have ever had."
Lupin reddened. "Apparently you are not the only person to think so. I have been getting owls from Hogwarts parents all summer. Ever since Moody turned out not to be Moody." He cleared his throat. "They are all telling me to get my bushy tail back up to Hogwarts. Several have even offered to remind me of each full moon."
Harry and Lupin both laughed.
"That is wonderful news." Harry said.
"Yes. Quite a few of them say they remember me from our own school days. Several have said that they knew about my curse back then. The older students figured it out on their own as often as not." Lupin shook his head. "I had never realized."
"Well, it makes sense if they had covered detecting werewolves in class." Harry said. "If Dumbledore seemed to know all about it, there would be no reason to mention it."
Harry presented his receipt at The Reptile House and was staggered to learn the extent of Fred and George's gift. There was a full terrarium kit, including a forty gallon tank, a heating pad, a years supply of cage carpet, lights, and several hiding areas.
The shopkeeper showed Harry how to transfigure the specially prepared nutrient pellets into tiny live mice.
Then Harry showed her the egg. She pronounced it healthy looking and almost ready to hatch. She admonished Harry not to touch the snake for two days at least after hatching.
She frowned at the size of the terrarium he was getting, and told him not to leave the baby snake in so large a space until it was older, as it might get lost.
Harry purchased a great many things. Robes, books, potion supplies, food and treats for Hedwig and the largest ice cream sundae he had ever eaten.
*****
A/N – Please note that the challenge does not state that Harry must look like a carbon copy of Severus.
sk8reagle – Glad to intrigue you.
Phoenix Flight – Ah, flattery will get you… another chapter. As for naming the tea, it would be a bit hard, as every pot is slightly different. He mixes ingredients according to what seems right at the time. Eventually he will learn to refine this ability but… later.
BlockingTomatoes – I sincerely apologize. I humbly admit that although I have read all four of the canonical works between six and ten times, that I had not thought to check on Petunia's hair color. I am removing the reference to it.
Creamy Mimi – I'm glad you liked it.
Elfmoon87 – Hello again. Is civil the right word? After all, verbal and emotional abuse leave scars on the soul. Nevertheless, Harry has learned to overcome it. At this point the Dursleys are afraid that Harry himself will do something to them. After all, he seems to be doing magic daily without repercussions. lol
Them Girl – Thank you for your support. As for fortunes… Harry doesn't take them seriously… yet.
*****
Harry entered the Leaky Cauldron with his school trunk and looked around.
The innkeeper bustled up. "How may I help you, sir?"
"I would like a room for the night please." Harry said. He felt something was odd, then he realized that old Tom had not recognized him. He pulled out two golden coins and offered them to the man.
"Yes, sir, certainly." The man levitated Harry's trunk and led the way up the stairs. "Right this way."
Tom led Harry to the same room he had used two years before. Harry thanked the man, still puzzled at not being recognized.
Harry laid out his night things and retrieved his school list. He was about to head for Diagon Alley when he saw his own reflection in the mirror.
He stopped, shocked. He had known he was taller. He had known that his hair had been growing ever since his birthday, but he had not realized that he had changed so much. He never saw himself at Privet Drive. His room did not have a mirror, and Dudley had smashed the one in the hall bathroom in one of his fits. It was a symptom of his parent's growing displeasure that it had not been replaced.
Harry's hair was now well past his shoulders. It grew unevenly in the front in a way that covered his scar without looking sloppy. It had become lighter too. He had spent a lot of time outside this summer, so perhaps the sun had affected it. He kept it in a ponytail very similar to Bill Weasely's.
His face seemed to have changed subtly as well. It had always seemed to be too thin. Now his cheeks had filled out. His cheekbones were higher and his chin was rounder. His nose seemed a little longer, not as cute as it had been. Harry looked down at his hands. Even his fingers seemed longer.
At least he still had his mother's eyes.
He shrugged. He supposed that all this elongating must have something to do with growing up. He shook his head and left the room.
Harry emerged into Diagon Alley and paused, surveying the bustle. Immediately he saw someone he knew.
"Professor Lupin!" He called, rushing over to the man leaning against one of the shops.
Lupin's eyes widened. He seemed to sniff the air a little. "Harry, is that really you?"
"The one and only. How do you like my new look?" Harry smiled and touched his hair self consciously. "I guess I've changed a bit."
"Amazing." Lupin forced his mouth to assume a more dignified expression. "Padfoot and I decided to help you shop, since you did not get to visit this summer." He gestured to the dog seated on the ground beside him.
"Hello, Padfoot," Harry said, patting the dog's head. "Its Gringotts first." He said.
"I think new robes had better be on your list, Harry. I don't think your old ones will be long enough." Lupin smiled at him. "You got taller over the summer."
As they were leaving Gringotts, Lupin suddenly said. "Harry, I have been asked to teach at Hogwarts again."
"Really?" Harry grinned. "That's great. You are the best Defense teacher we have ever had."
Lupin reddened. "Apparently you are not the only person to think so. I have been getting owls from Hogwarts parents all summer. Ever since Moody turned out not to be Moody." He cleared his throat. "They are all telling me to get my bushy tail back up to Hogwarts. Several have even offered to remind me of each full moon."
Harry and Lupin both laughed.
"That is wonderful news." Harry said.
"Yes. Quite a few of them say they remember me from our own school days. Several have said that they knew about my curse back then. The older students figured it out on their own as often as not." Lupin shook his head. "I had never realized."
"Well, it makes sense if they had covered detecting werewolves in class." Harry said. "If Dumbledore seemed to know all about it, there would be no reason to mention it."
Harry presented his receipt at The Reptile House and was staggered to learn the extent of Fred and George's gift. There was a full terrarium kit, including a forty gallon tank, a heating pad, a years supply of cage carpet, lights, and several hiding areas.
The shopkeeper showed Harry how to transfigure the specially prepared nutrient pellets into tiny live mice.
Then Harry showed her the egg. She pronounced it healthy looking and almost ready to hatch. She admonished Harry not to touch the snake for two days at least after hatching.
She frowned at the size of the terrarium he was getting, and told him not to leave the baby snake in so large a space until it was older, as it might get lost.
Harry purchased a great many things. Robes, books, potion supplies, food and treats for Hedwig and the largest ice cream sundae he had ever eaten.
*****
A/N – Please note that the challenge does not state that Harry must look like a carbon copy of Severus.