Alternate Reality: Simply Slytherin
Chapter Two
The next morning dawned what seemed to be much to early for young Harry Potter who lay in a huddled heap under the stairs. His Aunt Petunia was knocking furiously at the door, demanding he wake up that instant and serve them their breakfast.
"Ungh?" he asked the world with his usual linguistic mastery.
Groggily he rolled over to look at the small line of light that permeated his hole in the wall and slowly the light grew as the door slowly opened. He could hear the audible gasp as his Aunt stepped away from the door in disgust and horror. Ignoring her, Harry, without a second thought, struggled up into a sleepy slouch and shuffled into the kitchen.
Dudley was crying about not having his breakfast on time, and Harry glared at him before taking his usual place at the stove. After a couple minutes the smell of bacon, and eggs filled the room, nauseating him to the point of pouring it all down the garbage disposal. Nevertheless he served each Dursely their meal before plopping down on his chair by the wall, and watching the whole repetitive scene with a sour grimace.
Absent-mindedly he rubbed the side of his ribs where he had been kicked the previous evening. Curiously he didn't feel the burning pain as he had expected. Further prodding and feather light exploring provided the same conclusion. It seemed as if nothing had transpired from the night before.
Unable to come up with a logical conclusion Harry stowed away this piece of information to analyze later. At that moment loud banging at the front door brought him out of his swirling thoughts and with a sharp look from his Aunt, went to answer the incessant knocking.
"Hel-" Harry opened the door and the word died on his lips.
He was easily upward seven feet tall, with a bushy beard and mustache that covered most if not all of his face. The girth of his waist must have equaled three Dudleys, and his arms were as thick as two logs. Wearing a coat made of various pelts and a hat that looked ridiculously small Harry thought he was the strangest sight he had ever seen, including Professor McGonagall. Two clearly visible black eyes that sparkled with life regarded Harry for a moment before his great face broke into a huge grin.
Harry barely had enough time to gather all this information together into one coherent thought before he was swept up in a bone-crushing hug.
" Harry!" he cried in a rumbling voice. "Last time I saw you, you was jest a baby! Now you're all growin' up! Off to Hogwarts! Lookin' jest like yer parents. Spittin' image of James, except for the eyes. They be from yer mother, Lily"
"Um, sir?" Harry gasped, trying to get as much oxygen as he could into his lungs. "Who…are you?" he managed to choke out.
"Eh? Oh, sorry 'bout that Harry, my name's Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts " to Harry's immense relief, the monstrous bulk placed him down on the Dursley's hallway floor. "Shoulda expected you not remembering me" he seemed to blush and Harry gave a halting smile.
"Err come in, Mr. Hagrid" he said, motioning toward the living room.
"Thank'ee, Harry, and call me Hagrid, everyone else does" he boomed, whilst trying to squeeze in through the doorframe which suddenly seemed very small. If Harry had ever thought it impossible to get Dudley through the door, those thoughts were now banished forever from every corner of his mind.
However, after much twisting and turning Harry watched as Hagrid finally managed to enter the small room. Hunched over and out of place, Harry could have laughed at the site Hagrid made in the Dursley's clean perfect home.
"I don't mean to be rude, Hagrid, but why are you here exactly?"
"Oh, didn't Professor McGonagall tell yea? We're to go and get yer schoolin' supplies today," he said brightly.
Harry mentally slapped himself. Of course! He had been wondering who the professor had meant when she mentioned sending someone to take him 'shopping'. He looked at Hagrid critically for a brief moment. "You're a wizard too?"
"Well…sort of," he said offhandedly, "I was sort er, expelled from Hogwarts myself." Harry's eyebrows raised considerably.
"Expelled? How did you get expelled from a magic school? What did you do?" Hagrid scratched the back of his neck, and looked around the room for something to change the topic with.
"So, are yea ready to go, Harry?"
"Yeah, just a minute" Harry raced back into the kitchen, coming to a halt just before entering. Calmly walking in he smiled sweetly at his aunt when she turned her hawk eyes glance upon him, obviously searching for something to criticize.
"Well? Who is it?" she asked curtly.
"Mr. Rubeus Hagrid, he's here to take me for my school things"
"Fine" came the blunt reply from behind a newspaper.
Harry left quickly before Vernon changed his mind and forced him into the cupboard again. Meeting Hagrid in the living room he watched in fascination as Hagrid once again managed to squeeze through the doorframe, back outside.
"Follow me, 'Harry" The two walked for a few blocks before coming to a slightly shadier part of town. Ushering them down a dark, quiet street, Harry began to wonder about the mentality of his guide.
"Um, Hagrid? Where exactly are we going?"
"Right here" Harry looked around, was this a joke? The street was deserted; a chill wind blew some trash across the street. Swallowing he was about to ask Hagrid where 'here' was, but was stopped by the sight before him.
Hagrid was holding a pink umbrella out in the middle of the street. Clearly thinking the man was off his rocker, he cleared his throat uneasily. What had he gotten himself into?
"Lumos" He spoke with clarity and ease, and Harry watched as the tip of his umbrella lit up. A second later here was a loud 'BANG' and a purple bus came careening out of thin air.
A man, possibly in his mid twenties hopped out and began talking to the both of them. "Welcome to the Knightbus, you're friendly way of transpiration in the Wizarding world. As easy as sticking out you wand and with a simple illumination spell, we'll illuminate your way home. I'm Sammy and I'll be your err…announcer. Now then, that'll be one sickle for you sir, and two knuts for the young lad"
Hagrid set to work, searching his coat pockets thoroughly before finally handing three coins to the man. As they were boarding Sammy suddenly put a hand on Harry's shoulder and peered closely at his face.
"You wouldn't happen to be Harry Potter would you?"
"Ummm, yes sir"
"Blimey! Look, Jake! It's Harry Potter! On our bus! Blimey!" he seemed to come alive and if he had been any younger Harry imagined he'd be jumping up and down fit to burst.
"Come along now, Harry, got to get a seat. There's a boy" Harry followed Hagrid deeper into the bus and was amazed at everything he saw. At every window there were plush chairs, all as red as the outer paint of the bus. There were also small table stands with newspapers strewn atop them. Taking a seat across the isle from Hagrid he picked up one of the newspapers and began to read.
Dragons escaped from local zoo in Sydney
AUSTRAILIA, Sydney- Early Saturday morning three Black adder dragons escaped from Sydney's Scales. Their caretaker, Mr. Tops, assures the community that they are not man eating, but are quite docile…
Harry stopped reading, and instead stared at the headline again. Dragons? He shook himself. Of course there were dragons, if not wizards, why not dragons as well? He briefly wondered what other oddities he might encounter.
Turning the page he skimmed the headlines, drinking in the information he was provided. Turning yet another page he gave a startled yelp and jumped in his seat.
"Whot's wrong, Harry? You alright?"
"Yea, the picture it…it…the picture moved" he exclaimed.
Hagrid chuckled. "Well o' course, these pictures weren't taken by no muggle camera"
"Muggle?" he asked with a quirk of his eyebrow. He vaguely remembered Professor McGonagall using the term in reference to his relatives.
"Non magic, usually referred to people who have no magic abilities. Like yer family, the Dursley's"
Harry snorted at the reference, but Hagrid wasn't listening anymore. Instead he was engrossed in an ad on the opposite page of what Harry had been reading.
"Would yea look at that! Blast ended skrewts, selling fer half price!" Harry's eyes widened, but he refrained from asking.
Sporadically the bus would disappear with a loud 'bang' and the next instant Harry would be looking at entirely different surroundings. Soon, about four bangs later, they arrived in a side ally of London. Hagrid glanced up from his paper and grinned, black eyes sparkling.
"Let's go Harry" The great, bearded man picked up his jacket which he had previously cast over a chair, and made his way for the door.
Out in the fresh air, away from the confines of the small ally way, Harry could see various shops, their vibrant colors beckoning for him to come closer. Looking around wonderingly he followed Hagrid down various streets until coming to a stop in-between a clothing store and a bookshop. He recognized the clothing store as an expensive one that only sold the top quality brands.
"Where are we?" he started to question but Hagrid was already walking toward a shady part of the corner and decided to follow. Soon enough he realized the 'shady' spot was in all actuality, a dusty, broken down pub by the name of the 'Leaky Cauldron'. If he hadn't been looking strait at it he might not have noticed it at all.
The door creaked open slowly, and when he looked behind him at the other shoppers, they seem to not even notice the door or them. Inside the room was musty, and had an air of liquor and dust. There seemed to be a haze as if the dust itself had come alive, mixing with cigar smoke that drifted from somewhere in a far corner. He looked around and saw various people, or wizards as he was slowly learning, that were talking, laughing and in general socialism all throughout the pub. He also noticed that they were all wearing the same type of strange clothing that the Deputy Headmistress had been wearing. Long and flowing, something akin to a pajama robe or something that might have come straight from a mid-evil-esque movie.
Moving toward the bar, where a small man with a greying hair stood wiping mugs, Hagrid was throwing 'hellos' and various other greetings to people in the crowded pub.
"Hello, Hagrid, how've things been going at Hogwarts?" the bartender queried, wiping a bowl with a rag.
"Afternoon, Tom, things have been going fine. How about you? Business looks like it's hoppin' eh?"
"Oh yes, it is. Who's this we've got here?" Tom leaned over the bar to take a closer look at Harry who had been standing quietly off to the side. "Why bless my soul, it's Harry Potter!"
The whole room quieted and Harry suddenly became very conscious of people turning in their seats to get a good look at him. Somewhere in the back of the room he could hear whispering, and a few gasps of surprise. Tom, seeming coming out of a daze, stretched out his hand and gave a toothy grin.
"It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Potter, I never in all my years thought this day would come." Harry shook his hand, not knowing what to say.
The next ten minutes were spent shaking the hands of various wizards and witches, some more that one.
"Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back."
"Doris Crockford, Mr. Potter, can't believe I'm meeting you at last!"
"So proud, Mr. Potter, I'm just so proud."
"Always wanted to meet you--- I'm all of a flutter!"
"Delighted, Mr. Potter, just can't tell you, Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle"
"I remember you! You bowed to me once in a shop!"
"He remembers!" cried Dedalus Diggle, looking around at everyone, "Did you hear that? He remembers me!"
Fifteen minutes later they were standing before a brick wall. Harry watched as Hagrid took the pink umbrella he carried with him, and touched it to the bricks. Suddenly, with a rumble the bricks leapt aside leaving the street open, filled with people dressed in what Harry guessed was 'wizard' clothing. Shops were crowded together on both sides of the cobblestone road and if Harry didn't know better he might have thought they looked smaller than normal physics would allow. But this was a wizarding community wasn't it?
"Welcome, 'Arry, to Diagon Alley"
"Um, Hagrid? How am I supposed to buy all this? I don't have any money"
Hagrid chuckled, a booming noise to be sure. "Well o' course you have money, 'Arry, you didn't think your parents left you nothing do you? First stop be Gringotts"
"Gringotts?"
"Wizard bank, filled with vaults, though it be run by goblins, mean things they are"
Harry's eyes went round as saucers and he gulped uneasily, "Goblins?"
"Course, nobody can steal anything from them, safest beings to hold yer money. Best not to cross 'em though, they can be down right nasty. Course, besides having to deal with Goblins, all the vaults are underground. Stretching miles and miles, no thief could possibly find their way out, even if they got in and retrieved their treasure."
Entering the tall doors, Harry followed Hagrid through the 'bank' staring at the sights in awe. Magnificent chandeliers were dripping with spider webs, casting an eerie glow of light over the dusty floor. Tall desks rose up on either side of him and he could see- odd, misshapen creatures with sharp eyes and ugly expressions. They all wore suits, specifically tailored to their height and shape. They had sharp teeth and were covered in horrible warts. Harry could now understand how nobody would want to steal something from the terrible creatures.
Shifting closer to Hagrid he peeked from behind the massive bulk carefully, gulping audibly. Finally they reached a high wooden podium on which was seated an especially frightening goblin whom was writing on various pieces of parchment. Seemingly satisfies with whatever he had working on he took a stamp and harshly marked the documents, sending them off with a younger goblin anxious to be off somewhere. The Goblin crossed his fingers and stared at Hagrid expectantly, "Yes?" his grizzled voice questioned.
"We've come to make a withdrawal from the Potter account" Here he motioned to Harry who was blinking owlishly at the creature before him.
"Does Mister Potter have his key?" the goblin had risen from his seat (or stood upon it) to look down at Harry who tried to disappear behind Hagrid when the beady eyes fixed their penetrating stare upon him.
"Oh! Yes…it should be around here…one moment…ah! Here it is" Hagird pulled out a small key that seemed as big as his fingernail. Giving it him he also pulled out a small envelope with a peculiar seal stamping it closed. "There is also a small matter, Dumbledore sent me for. Concerning-" here he cocked his head at Harry and lowered his voice and inched even closer. "You-know-what in you-know-where"
Harry watched intrigued as he handed it over to the goblin, which nodded his head; they were soon set off with a younger goblin named 'Fragtag'. They were escorted to a cart and were soon on their way. They raced through tunnels, circles, and had near collisions with other identical carts. Hagrid, who was riding in his own cart (it was a tight squeeze to be sure) looked to be turning a sickly green and was quite relieved when they came to a stop in front of a large iron door.
"Key", the goblin said, extending his hand expectantly. Hagrid obliged, and Harry watched as the door opened wide, granting him access. Peering inside with the help of the lantern he gasped.
Piles and piles of glittering coins twinkled at him in the light, casting shadows on paintings and vases that were nearer to the walls. Hagrid handed him a sack and told him to fill it with several of each coin. Knuts: which were the bronze ones, Sickles: the silver, and Galleons: the gold. Filling the small sack he handed to Hagrid who placed it in one of his many pockets and they set off once again.
Stopping in front of another iron door, much deeper than the last, the goblin placed his hand over a small opening and muttered something garbled under his breath. Harry watched, fascinated. They could hear the sliding and altering of the metal lock as it opened until the door finally swung open, revealing a singular small package.
Harry looked at it, mystified at all the secrecy surrounding such a small thing, but like his training had drilled into him: he asked no questions.
They made the ride back safe and sound, stepping into the clear air, thankfully. Hagrid patted his coat wear he held the odd package and leaned toward Harry.
"Best not to mention this to anyone, Harry" he whispered in his booming voice. Harry nodded and the both set off to collect his things.
After hours of shopping, a new set of robes, a miniature (school oriented) library, potions ingredients, and a pewter cauldron they settled in front of a purple and aqua marine shop that sold ice creams and other confections. Hagrid pulled out the list again and gave it a once over, stashing it back in one of his numerous pockets.
"Still got to get yer wand and yer birthday gift"
Harry choked. "Oh no, you don't have to do that, Hagrid"
"Nonsense, here you go across the street to get your wand. Yes there at Ollivanders, and I'll be along soon enough"
Harry nodded and set off for the narrow and shabby establishment. On the front, above the door peeling gold letters read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. In the window a single wand lay on a faded black cushion.
A tinkling bell rang as he opened the door and stepped inside. It was very small, and quiet dust covering everything in a very fine layer. Harry felt as if he had just entered a very strict library. All around him long thin boxed were piled up neatly right up to the ceiling. As he looked up at them the back of his neck prickled and every inch of him felt on edge. The whole place seemed to be filled with magic.
"Good afternoon" said a soft voice. Harry jumped, whipping around to face an old man standing before him. His wide and pale silver eyes observed the young boy, reflecting light like two full moons in the gloom of the shop.
"Hello," Harry said, shuffling his feet nervously.
"Ah, Mr. Potter," the man said, recognition in his voice. "Yes, I wondered when I would be seeing you. You look just like you father, but with your mother's eyes. It seems just like last week they were in here, buying their first wands."
The old man advanced on Harry, his misty eyes never blinking. Harry took an unconsious step backwards, knocking into the spindly chair that resided by the closed door.
The old man seemed to ignore him though for he pulled out a measuring tape, queastioning, "Which is your wand arm?"
"Err…I'm right handed"
"Hold out you arm" Harry did so and Mr. Ollivander proceeded to measure the length of his arm, head, wrist and elbow to shoulder. "No two wands made here are the same, just as no two dragons, unicorns or phoenixes are the same" he was saying. Suddenly Harry discovered the measuring tape, which was measuring the distance between his eyes, was working alone!
"That's enough," Mr. Ollivander called from behind a bookshelf like contraption, filled with long thin boxes. The measuring tape dropped to the floor and Harry stared at it in amazement. The old man reappeared a moment later carrying a box which he opened and presented Harry with a long dark wooden stick. "Cherry and unicorn tale. Eleven inches. Go one, give it a wave"
Feeling rather foolish Harry gave it a wave but it was almost immediately snatched out of his grasp replaced with another.
"Ebony and phoenix feather. Nine inches. Rather flexible"
But again, almost as soon as Harry had it in his grasp it was taken out again, replaced with another. They continued like this for quite some time, the pile of wand on the spindly old chair steadily growing. But with each wand that didn't seem to 'fit', Mr. Ollivander only seemed to become even more excited.
"Tricky customer, eh? Don't worry, we'll find the perfect one for you. Try this. Willow and Norwegian Ridgeback heartstring. Twelve inches, quite firm. Nope! Afraid not…hmmm…I wonder, now…the old man had his back turned toward him but he seemed to pause and stare at the box in his hands for a moment longer that usual. His silver eyes gave him a sidelong glance as if sizing him up, an odd twinkle peering out from within their depths. "Sure, why not" he took out the wand and handed it to Harry stating, "Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple-unusual combination though"
The minute the wand was in his grasp, Harry could feel a sudden warmth in the tips of his fingers, spreading throughout the rest of his hand. He raised it above his head and brought it down, swishing through the dusty air and a stream of sparks shot from the end like mini fireworks, throwing spots of light on the gloomy walls.
Hagrid had watched the whole thing, having entered unnoticed. As the various colors shimmered and died away Hagrid clapped his two massive hand, whooping excitedly.
"Bravo, yes indeed, very good! Well, well, well…," he stated, the strange gleam coming back into his eyes, "How very curious, oh yes, very curious indeed"
"Excuse me, but what's curious?"
Mr. Ollivander fixed Harry with his piercing eyes.
"I have sold many wands in my time, Mr. Potter. Every single one of them I remember. Both what they were and who I sold them to. That feather in you wand belonged to a phoenix who only gave two feather, only two. It is curious indeed that you should have been chosen by that wand, when it's brother, gave you that scar."
Harry swallowed uneasily under the other man's pale stare.
Harry paid for the wand and followed Hagrid out onto the busy cobblestone street. For the first time he noticed a covered object, swinging from the giant's hand.
"Hagrid?"
"Eh?"
"What's that?" he pointed to the dark blue material.
"Blimey! Almost forgot," Hagrid said, uncovering a cage containing an ebony black owl, with intelligent amethyst eyes, flecked with gold, "Happy Birthday, Harry"
Harry was speechless. He stared at the owl in awe. It was beautiful! "Thank you" he finally stated, eyes still fixed on the sleeping owl.
Later that night Harry sat in his room, contemplating everything that had happened. Just last night he had been flung into a cupboard, this night he was reclining on a battered old mattress in an actual room. It was filled with Dudley's old broken toys, which Harry had piled in one corner. His new school stuff, trunk and all were sitting by his desk and his ticket for the Hogwarts Express was safely tucked in his pocket.
Looking up at the plaster that had begun to peel, Harry sighed, contented. All he had left was to wait out the month till September and he would be home free.
Augusta, as he had chosen to call the black owl, was preening his feathers on the desk occasionally watching Harry as he sorted through his Hogwarts things. Harry marveled at the beauty and power of him. His first birthday present! He smiled and the owl gently nipped at the tip of his fingers.
Opening the window he watched as the owl took off, soaring through the sky in search of his meals. He watched him for a while before returning to his bed, looking at the piece of paper he had attached to the wall to mark of the days until September. Only one more month.
~
Ok, I know I didn't really make it all to clear, but Harry's magic healed him. In the Potter series it talks about how when Harry was little he could make things happen when he really wanted them to, so subconsciously his magic healed him while he was sleeping. Aunt Petunia was just being repulsed the next morning because it was her nephew and she hates him. Perhaps there was the remaining stench of blood and vomit, but that's up to you to decide.
Someone said Snape should have picked him up? Well I thought about it and really REALLY wanted to do that, but Hagrid seemed the most likely candidate. After all, the professors have syllabuses and other such nonsense to worry about! I just did the McGonagall scene because she was the Deputy Headmistress and seemed like the one to deliver the letter in response to it being ignored or some other such problem.
I know how many of you like Hedwig, but I figured this just fit better. If it makes you feel better, she'll make appearances at Hogwarts as someone else's owl… I have to say though; I REALLY wanted to give Harry a bat. I don't know why, but it would be awesome to have given him a bat. But, alas, it stated specifically that the student was to bring an owl OR cat OR toad.
Hmmm…maybe I'll give Snape a bat…