A/N: I am SO sorry it has taken me this long to update! My life is SO hectic right now. With basketball training, band, early morning, and sleeping…whew.
But please don't give up on me! I am trying, really.
Also, I wasn't done with this chapter, but I started getting reviews on other sites commenting on how long it has taken. So I thought you wouldn't mind if it was a little short. This way has more of a cliff anyway.
I was also having some problems with the flashback. So my friend Claire, wrote it for me. I want to thank her so much, because without her, it would have taken me even longer! So you can thank her. She also has some nice coincidences in it. See if you can find them!
All right, enjoy. And please review!
Chapter Five- I Have A Wand
Petunia peered in the hidden compartment, and saw her wand covered in a thick layer of dust, but still in the spot she had placed it in, 15 years before, along with a picture of Lily, James and Sirius taken on Lily and James's wedding day.
She took out the picture first, blowing on it to remove the dust. Petunia started at it awhile, the trio in the picture staring back at her, occasionally glancing at each other. Lily and James were glowing and holding hands. Once in a while, they would kiss and Sirius would give them a fake exasperated look. Petunia smiled to herself as a tear ran down her face. Her friends were the same even in pictures.
When she had soaked in everything in the picture, she laid it on the bed and reached in to grab her wand.
Her fingers closed around the thin strip of wood and as they did, a warm tingling sensation slid up her arm, reminding her of the time when she was 11…
"Excuse me, sir. Will you help us get into Diagon Alley?" Petunia's mother, Marigold, asked Tom in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Of course. Muggle born?" Tom asked, indicating Petunia.
"Pardon?"
Tom smiled. "It means non-magical parents."
"Oh, right. Yes, that's her. Petunia just received her letter the other day," Petunia's mother said proudly.
"I see. Well, this is the place to get your supplies," Tom said, pulling out his wand.
"Lily! Petunia! Come here!" Marigold snapped.
Tom smiled as he led the three Evans women out a door which had only a solid brick wall on the other side.
"Two up…three across…" he mumbled as he tapped the spot three times.
As the wall opened up, Petunia's mother gasped. Petunia and Lily giggled.
"Have a fine time," Tom said as he turned to go into the pub.
"Thank you," Mrs. Evans said.
The three walked a little ways into Diagon Alley, looking all around them.
"Look Petunia! Racing brooms!" Lily exclaimed to her older sister.
"Wicked! Oh Mum! There are telescopes and cauldrons! Look at that cat! It's beautiful! Can I get it? Please?" Petunia raved.
"We'll have to see if we have enough money. I've only brought 85 pounds to exchange."
"Okay," Petunia pouted.
"Come on dear, we need to stop at Gringotts first."
"What's Gringotts, Mum?" Lily asked, as she Petunia chased each other.
"It's the wizard bank. Well, at least that's what the letter said. Girls! Stop! I know you're excited but we need to stay calm," Mrs. Evans explained as they entered the large marble building and joined the line leading to the desk.
"Ewww! Mum, do all wizards look like that?" Petunia exclaimed, pointing at the goblin behind the desk.
"Petunia!" warned her mother. They stood in line quite some time until they got up to the desk. Petunia was afraid of the goblin, and she could tell her mother wasn't completely comfortable. "I w-would like to exchange some money…" said her mother, slowly.
"How much?" rasped the goblin.
"85 pounds, please," replied Petunia's mother, as politely as she could. The goblin swiftly exchanged the pounds and counted out different sized coins into a small bag. He handed the bag to Petunia's mother.
"Next!" he wheezed. Marigold grabbed Petunia and Lily's hands and rushed them away from the bank.
"What now, mum?" asked Petunia, looking eagerly up at her mother. She looked around.
"Let's get a cat!" Lily suggested.
"I already told you we might be able to later," Marigold said.
"Well, there is Ollivanders, it says on the sign that it sells wands…why don't we go there?" Petunia was overjoyed.
"A wand…" she whispered to herself as they walked to the shop.
"Petunia, you don't need us, do you?" Petunia looked at her mother. "Well, I was thinking that while you got your wand, we could pop over to that shop and get some of your books. You don't need to be with us for that and I'd like to get home in time for lunch."
"I want to stay with Petunia," Lily pouted.
"Honey, Petunia can do this by herself. Besides, I need you're help carrying the books," Mrs. Evans said trying to console her daughter.
"Lily, I'll be with you when I'm done. It's fine mum," said Petunia. She wasn't sure if she was comfortable with her mother leaving her, but it was more sensible that way.
"Here, this should be enough," her mother told her, dropping half the bag in her hand. "Wait for us in the shop." With that her mother turned around and walked towards the bookstore. Petunia's heart skipped a beat. She opened the huge oak door and walked into the shop. It was very quiet and she couldn't see anyone. There were stacks of boxes cluttering the shop. They were piled very high. She walked towards a desk at the front of the room and noticed a small bell perched on top of a stack of books. She rang it.
"Yes?" she heard a voice say. Suddenly, a small man popped out from behind a pile of boxes. He was very old looking, and he had silvery eyes that seemed to bore through Petunia.
"I'm here for a wand," she said.
"And what is your name?" he asked, kindly.
"Petunia Evans."
"I've never had any of your family here before…" he replied.
"I know, my sister and I are the only witches in the family so far."
"Ah…" he replied. "Well, if it's a wand you want, you've come to the right place." He walked over to the desk and opened one of the drawers. He came back to Petunia with a tape measure. "Wand hand out, please." Petunia assumed he meant the hand she wrote with and stuck out her left hand. The tape measure began measuring. Mr. Ollivander (Petunia assumed that was his name) started pulling boxes from the stacks. Petunia was sure the boxes were going to fall to the ground, but they remained stationary. Suddenly the tape measure dropped to the floor. Mr. Ollivander handed her a box.
"Try this one…mahogany, eleven inches, pliable."
that"What do I do with it?" asked Petunia, holding it awkwardly in her hand.
"Give it a wave!" he said. Petunia did so. He snatched it away quickly. "No…no…no…" he muttered to himself. "This one!" he handed her another. This was repeated for quite some time, Mr. Ollivander handing her a wand, her flicking it, and him snatching it away. Petunia's excitement over getting a wand began to wear off. Finally, he handed her a wand. "This one," he said, quietly. "Ten and a quarter inches long maple." She waved it half-heartedly. Sparks flew out of the wand, and it turned warm in her hand. "That's it!" he cried. "Ten and a quarter inches long, maple, containing holly and one tear from a phoenix." Petunia grinned. "Ten galleons." She handed him ten gold coins. "Good day, Miss Evans." She walked out of the shop. Once in the bright sunshine, she felt a lot better. It was stuffy in that shop, and very dark.
'I have a wand,' she realized, suddenly.
"I have a wand," whispered Petunia aloud. She shook her head. "That was a long time ago," she said, wistfully. Suddenly, she heard Vernon. She dropped the wand immediately, and rushed to greet her husband. The wand rolled under her bed and rested there.
When Harry and Ginny reached the Fat Lady, Ron and Hermione were there waiting for everyone to catch up.
"The new password is Pickled Toad Hermione stated.
"Exactly dear," the Fat Lady said, as she swung open.
Everyone clambered in, most went straight to their dormitory. A few, including Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Ginny, stayed in the common room.
The four of them took their usual seats around the fire to talk.
"So who were you thinking of to fill in the spaces on the team?" Ron asked.
"I haven't really thought about it. I guess it depends on who shows up to the tryouts," Harry replied.
"Do I need to be at the tryouts?" Ginny questioned.
"Of course. I need you to work with the chasers. I want you to find two people you work really well with," Harry said, astonished that Ginny even had to ask.
"Do we really need to talk about Quidditch?" Hermione grumbled. "Why don't we talk about our classes that start tomorrow. That will be much more interesting."
"Aw, come on 'Mione. Nothing could be more boring!" Ron complained.
"I don't know. The new classes I'm taking seem quite fun," Harry put in, trying to stop an argument.
"Harry, you aren't taking any new classes. You just dropped some old ones," Ginny pointed out.
"Yes, well. That's what makes it more fun. I'm finally out of Divination," Harry said, grinning.
"What classes are you taking again?" Hermione asked.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts, obviously. That's like…the most important class to become an Auror. Then, Potions, Charms, and Transfiguration, like Professor McGonagall suggested. I'm also taking Herbology, just in case. Knowing about all the plants can't hurt can it? And-"
"HARRY!" Ron interrupted.
"What?"
"You're starting to sound like Hermione!"
"Sorry. I guess I'm just excited knowing what I'm aiming for in life."
"You guys are so lucky. Getting to pick you're classes. I'm still stuck taking all the required classes, and the two I chose in third year."
"You'll get to pick next year. After you've taken your O.W.L.'s," Hermione encouraged her.
"Oh yeah. You have O.W.L.'s this year don't you?" Ron said.
"Jeez Ron. How dense can you get? I'm in the fifth year," Ginny said rolling her eyes.
"Just make sure you start studying early and you'll be fine. I found it particularly helpful filling out planners or my study schedule. Also starting a few months before the actual tests is helpful too. If-"Hermione cut off as Ron let out an overly dramatic yawn. "Sorry if I'm boring you to much!" she snapped.
"I can't help it! You're talking about studying for the O.W.L.'s! They aren't til the end of the year!" Ron argued back. He and Hermione were on their feet now.
"Sorry if I'm trying to help you're sister!"
"Maybe she doesn't need your help!"
"FINE!" Hermione yelled, and she stormed up to her dormitory.
"Ron," Ginny said quietly."
"What?" he snapped.
"She was only trying to help."
"Great! I should have known you'd take her side!" and he stalked off to his room.
Ginny and Harry looked at each other and grinned.
"What was that all about?" Colin inquired.
Ginny and Harry jumped, having forgotten that anyone was still in the room. Harry looked and saw that only Colin and Dennis had witnessed the latest row.
"Ah, it wouldn't be normal if they weren't fighting about something," Ginny said.
"Ain't that the truth," Harry said, nodding.
"Well, we better get to bed," Dennis said. "G'night guys."
"Good night," Ginny and Harry said in unison, as Colin and Dennis went up to their dormitories leaving Harry and Ginny alone by the fire.
"So, what classes did you take again?" Harry asked, trying to fill in the silence.
"Muggle Studies and Arithmancy."
"Fun. Do you know what you want to do when you're out of school?"
"I haven't thought about it."
"Oh."
"It's late, I better go to bed," Ginny said as she stood. "Good night, Harry."
"Good night, Gin."
And Ginny left for her dormitory, completely unaware of Harry watching her every move. When no more movement could be heard, Harry stood to leave. He looked into the dying fire one last time when someone whispered, "Harry, I need to ask you something."
Harry turned, startled, and saw Hermione, her face red and puffy, as if she'd been crying.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Harry asked, worried.
"Yes, I'm fine," she answered, then seeing Harry's face said, "Well, no. Not really. I need your help. But you have to promise not to tell Ron."
"Of course. Anything. What is it?"
"Well…" Hermione turned her head, surveying the room. "I…I like Ron. But, he doesn't seem…well…could you talk to him? Don't ask him if he likes me just…"
"Hermione, you're not used to this are you?" Harry asked grinning.
"Harry, don't enjoy my pain," Hermione said, playfully hitting Harry's arm.
"Sorry. Why don't you ask him yourself?"
"Are you kidding? He starts an argument over anything I say!"
"That's true. What about Ginny?"
"She's his sister, you're his best friend. Please?" Hermione glanced up looking hopeful.
"All right," Harry gave in smiling.
"Thank you, Harry."
"No problem."
"PETUNIA!" Vernon roared, when she was half way down the stairs.
"Yes dear," she panted.
"Where's Dudley?"
"I…I don't know," Petunia whispered.
"It's 11:30! He should be home," Vernon growled.
It was then that Petunia looked out the window and jumped when she saw how dark it was. She had been completely wrapped up in her memories, she hadn't been paying attention to the time.
"I'll call the Polkisses'."
"Ah, nevermind. He'll show up. Where's my dinner?" Vernon rudely asked, rubbing his stomach. "I'm starving."
"Well, I thought you'd be eating at the office, darling. I didn't make a meal," Petunia said nervously.
"What! I come home from a long day at work, to find my wife has not made me dinner, and the house a pit! What did I do to deserve this!"
Petunia's anger was starting to flare, she had put up with Vernon's rantings long enough.
"Don't you yell at me!" She shot back. "I SLAVE in this house, tending to your spoiled son, cleaning our house, and cooking your meals! While YOU sit behind your STUPID little desk, telling other people what to do! You leave me at odd hours, to go to your job, and you left at 5:30! That's suppertime! If you wanted something you should have gotten it then! NOT when you get home at 11:30! And I might add, that this house is not a pit! I picked it up this morning, in between waking Dudley up and making YOU coffee! I'm not going to stand for it any longer!" She gave one last glare to a very surprised Vernon, and then stalked outside.
Once outside she started walking. She stopped at Mrs. Figgs house. 'I've bothered her enough for one day,' she told herself, and kept walking. When Petunia stopped at the street corner, she looked up and saw the park in the distance. 'I haven't been on a swing forever!'
When she reached the park, Petunia was disappointed to see all the swings were broken. She was about to turn around and leave when she heard laughing. 'Who would be at a park at this time of night?' The noise was coming from the other side of the restrooms. As she got closer, she started hearing a spraying sound. She turned the corner and saw four boys spray painting the wall with obscenities, and rude drawings. One of the boys, was Dudley.
"DUDLEY LARENCE DURSLEY! YOU DROP THAT SPRAY CAN RIGHT NOW!" she shouted.
Dudley spun around and dropped the can in surprise.