After an hour or so, Harry met up with his father outside Gringotts. He was puzzled to see his father not exit from within the bank, but ran run up to him from across the street.
"Dad, where were you? What's wrong" he asked at the exhausted look on his dad's face
"Harry, I've been looking everywhere for you. While I was in the bank I met up with Cornelius Fudge"
"The Minister of Magic?" questioned Harry, amazed
"Yes, it appears he needs me and your mother to start work rather quickly. Tomorrow in fact. He wants to have a meeting with us in a few minutes to organise a few details. I'm sorry Harry, but I'm afraid I'll have to leave you to finish you're shopping" Joseph looked at his son sadly
"It's ok Dad" nodded Harry, "I only need to get a new wand"
Harry's old wand had been snapped in half one careless day when he'd been fooling around playing Quidditch instead of practising Charms.
"Alright then, when you're finished, meet us in The Leaky Cauldron. We'll try not to be too long" Joseph patted his son's shoulder and Apparated
Harry meandered his way to a place called "Olivander's" to buy a wand. He gazed at the shop, getting a very queer feeling about it. Like something was pulling him towards the door. Aching for his presence.
This is crazy thought Harry as he pushed open the door and walked inside. The door snapped shut and a bell rung. He looked around the store. Hundreds of shelves filled it, leaving very little space. Boxes of wands it seemed were crammed into every available crevasse of the room, most were covered in cobwebs.
But there was no sign of anyone.
"Hello?" called Harry softly.
There was no answer. He called again a little louder. He jumped out of his skin when a ladder attached to a shelf came swinging around to the front of the shop; on it was an old man. His white hair and grizzled appearance gave him a sort of wisdom about him both mysterious and dangerous.
Harry guessed this was Mr Olivander.
Olivander looked extremely puzzled for a moment as his eyes swept Harry. He cautiously stepped down from the ladder, "May I help you, young man?"
Harry found his voice, "Er, yes, thankyou. I'm here to get a wand, my old one was broken and I need a new one to start at Hogwarts soon"
Mr Olivander's face did not rid itself of its puzzled expression, "But you must be at least fifteen by now"
Harry was shocked at Mr Olivander's knowledge. Must've been just a good guess, he thought, "Um, yeh. I've been studying at other schools since now. My parents have moved here and so I'm going to Hogwarts"
Mr Olivander nodded, seeming to accept this as the expression on his face dimmed slightly, "Ah" he said, pausing before going over to a shelf, "I think you'll like this one. Dragon Heartstring and Beech, 9 inches, very sturdy"
He removed a box from the shelf, opened it and handed the wand to Harry, who automatically gave it a wave.
A glass vase exploded and he quickly gave it back to Olivander.
"Hmm" the old man pondered before giving him another wand (Unicorn hair and Elm, 11 inches)
It sent books and boxes flying in every direction the moment Harry touched it. Harry must have tried about twenty wands before Olivander stopped, moving from the shelves to stand directly in front of him.
Harry couldn't help but raise his eyebrows questioningly as Olivander studied him very closely. His eyes came to rest on the scar on Harry's forehead.
He looked Harry in the eyes for a moment before saying, "I've seen your face"
"Sorry?" asked Harry, now thoroughly bewildered
"What is your name, boy?" asked Olivander
"Harry…" Olivander's eyes lit up, before Harry finished, "…Bartlett"
Olivander's eyes narrowed, "Curious scar you have on your forehead Mr Bartlett"
"I've always had it" Harry replied cautiously
Olivander paused yet again, "You were not born a Bartlett were you?"
It was more a statement than a question. Harry shook his head.
Olivander smiled, then hurried back into the shelves and soon reappeared, carrying another box. It was very dusty and strangely enough, Harry felt like he wanted to rush and snatch the box off Mr Olivander. Olivander opened the box to reveal a wand that was jet black. He slowly handed it to Harry.
As soon as Harry took it, he felt incredible warmth spread through his fingertips and around his body. It was amazing, as if he and the wand were connected. He'd never felt this sensation when he'd had his old wand, which had been his grandfather's.
Olivander continued to grin, "Curious. Very curious"
"Sorry, but what's curious?" questioned Harry nervously
Olivander seemed to chose his words carefully, "I remember every wand I've ever sold Mr Potter. It so happens that the Phoenix whose tail feather resides in this wand gave another feather. Just…one…other. It is curious that you should be suited for this wand…when its brother…gave you that scar"
Harry was shocked, "You know what gave me this?" he asked, his fingers tracing the lightning bolt on his forehead, "How?"
Mr Olivander looked at him in the eyes, "I think that is something that you need to find out for yourself…Mr Potter"
"What did you call me?" asked Harry slowly
"Potter" said Olivander darkly, putting a finger on Harry's scar
Harry gasped as pain jolted through him. He was suddenly no longer in the store. He was at a house during a storm. Wind was howling and rain was pouring down. A dark figure in a black cloak walked towards a house. The world went black as Harry heard a woman scream, "James!"
Thunder roared, silencing everything…
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