Chapter Two

A few days later found Harry Potter sitting at table in the kitchen of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place having his breakfast and reading the morning edition of the Daily Prophet.

Harry Potter Released From Azkaban

By Rita Skeeter

Last night in an exclusive interview with myself, the stylish and witty champion of the truth Rita Skeeter, was able to speak with the Boy-Who-Lived himself about his innocence of being accused of practicing the love that dare not speak it's name.

"The Love that dare not speak its name?" asked Harry Potter. "Why does no one in the wizarding world ever call things by their proper name? People called me the 'Boy-Who-Lived' and they called Voldemort "You-Know-Who' and now it's the 'Love-dare-not-speak-its-name'. It's just plain old fashioned buggery for goodness sake, but if it makes you feel better, let's just call it … oh I don't know … how about 'Herman'." Then showing his extraordinary sense of humor, Harry Potter laughed at his own joke.

However, he went on to explain that he received a solemn wizard's vow from the Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour that he would never again be persecuted for breaking that particular and obscure law of practicing the love that… I mean practicing Herman ever again. Though it wouldn't matter as an outside source informed the Daily Prophet of Harry Potter's love affair with the youngest child and only daughter of Arthur and Molly Weasley. Yes, it seems that fiery young temptress, Ginevra M. Weasley caught Harry's eye early on in their career as students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but they didn't start seeing each other until his sixth year of school.

Though Harry himself refused comment about his up coming marriage plans, stating, "Until I can talk to her about it, I am not talking to anyone. It concerns the two of us first and that's who'll be talking about it first."

For further details about Harry Potter's unjust incarceration and details concerning the upcoming trial of Mister Blaise Zabini's perjury, see page two, column six.

A moment later en elf slid a plate of breakfast in front of Harry so he put the paper down and started to dig into his food.

"Mmmm," moaned Harry in appreciation. "I think I forgot what real food tasted like."

"You's is needing fattening up you's does Master Wizard Harry Potter, Sir."

"Tibby, how many times have I told you to call me just Harry?"

"Tibby is being sorry sir," the elf replied pulling down his ears to punish himself.

"Stop that Tibby," Harry admonished. "You are forbidden from hurting yourself. Life is too fragile and short to hurt yourself."

"Yes, Just Harry, Sir."

Harry started to correct the elf, but realized that this was the best he was going to get.

"Tibby, where is that crazy sister of yours?"

Tibby giggled behind his hands with squinted eyes. "Eppy is being upstairs getting things ready for the trip Just Harry Sir."

"Good. All that's left for me to do is buy another wand now that Ollivander is back in business and then we'll be all set to go."

"When is you'd being doing that Just Harry Sir?"

"Later tonight, I think. He said he would be there after dark, so no one would see me there."

x-x-x-x-x

Much later that same night, a cloaked and hooded figure appeared outside Ollivander's Wand Shop in Diagon Alley. Looking around to see if anyone was watching, the man quickly entered the darkened and apparently empty store front.

"Ah, Mister Potter, I see you've arrived," a voice said from out of nowhere.

Pulling down his hood, Harry says, "Mister Ollivander?"

Emerging from the shadows an elderly man appears with a smile on his face. "It has been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Yes, sir, it has. Shall we begin?"

"Yes, I do believe that you are a busy young man. Just after receiving your letter I had the strangest visitor who left me a gift."

Harry nodded, not knowing where this was going, but was interested. He watched as the elderly wizard pulled a clean box out from under the counter and opened it.

"And who was this strange visitor?"

Ollivander smiled and said mysteriously, "Give it a wave and if it chooses you, I will tell you."

Harry took hold of the wand and almost instantly a warm feeling spread up it. He remembered this feeling, it was the same on he had the first time he was in this store. Then a few sparks of light popped out the end of it.

"Excellent, I thought that wand might be perfect for you."

"Yeah, it does feel right," Harry admitted. "So who was you're visitor?"

"An old friend of yours Mister Potter and of Professor Dumbledore's as well."

Harry looked confused for a moment, "We both knew a lot of the same people." However, before Harry could speculate, a small burst of flames appeared above them and a bright red and gold phoenix fluttered down to the counter. "Fawkes."

"Yes, I didn't expect to see him again in my life time, especially after Professor Dumbledore's passing," the wand maker explained. "But there he was and with a little shake one of his tail feathers floated to the floor. I think he knew you might have a need of it."

"Is the wood holly?"

"As a matter of fact it is."

"I thought you never made two wands just alike," Harry said.

"And I don't, that one is twelve inches and not eleven."

Smiling Harry took out his money bag and said, "I suppose that is a big difference is it?"

"Oh yes it is, just any man on the street if having an extra inch matters or not."

To Be Continued … Please Read and Review