ROTF – my comment at the end of the last chapter about buying shoes got more responses than anything else! Sorry – I just don't see Harry as the type who worries about shoes matching his robes. Harry is not a metrosexual in my alternate universe.
I've changed the dragon used for Harry's armor. What was I thinking?
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Chapter 10
Sweeter Than Revenge
The rest of Harry's birthday was spent readjusting to the time. Hermione and Harry had spent three months in intense training together, opening their minds to each other in ways that would terrify even the most loving of couples. So besides feeling disoriented to having been only gone a few hours, they had an almost embarrassing closeness that couldn't be denied. Although they never kissed or even spoke of their feelings, they found themselves holding hands and sharing glances, and able to 'read' each other accurately with a swift look.
Hermione found herself in a whirlwind of emotions. She was over Ron easily, having come to the conclusion on her own (before Harry's discovery of her hexed locket) that something wasn't right with her attraction to the red head. Once she learned he had been forcing her feelings through magic, the youngest male Weasley totally repulsed her.
Now Hermione found herself totally in love with Harry. But love was a word that just didn't cover it. There was no cupids and flowers, no snogging and steamy lust. Missing was the head trips, high maintenance, and "I wonder what he's thinking" that she had always associated with a relationship. Through the occlumency they just were, if that made sense. She had seen him from his earliest childhood to the present. She had shared his fears, his weaknesses and his endless strengths, and he shared hers. She cried with him, for him, and because of him. He didn't cringe at her mistakes or girly silliness – he accepted her with gratitude, of all things.
Hermione was still in shock at just how impossible Harry's life was. She argued with him a bit about turning in the Dursleys and Umbridge for child abuse, but he was firm. He felt that bitterness and revenge would be wasted energy, seeing that both parties were not in the position to harm a child at the moment. Harry wanted to concentrate on training to defeat Voldemort. Hermione didn't fight or carry on like she would have with Ron – she now had a soul-mate and she understood. Harry was right – the odious Dursleys and Umbridge would be dealt with later.
Dumbledore. Hermione cringed, recalling how firmly she had always respected her headmaster and professors until she saw them through Harry's eyes. She always had a blind loyalty for authority until now – never questioned her teacher's wishes or that they had their student's best interests at heart. Now she wondered if she'd ever trust again.
The Weasleys were still gone, and it was late afternoon. Harry cooked dinner for the three of them, making sure there was plenty for other order members if they showed up. Tonks came stumbling in through the floo, and the trio greeted her with warm smiles and hot beef stew.
"I think Dumbledore is on his way over" said Tonks, dropping her spoon on the floor by accident. "He came out of his office at Hogwarts looking pretty cheesed off about something."
Hermione glanced over at Harry, who had the faintest of smiles on his lips. A moment later the headmaster stepped out of the fireplace, brushed the ashes off his cloak, and gave Harry a very strange look.
"Harry, my boy, how has your birthday been?" He gave Harry a penetrating look.
'You can't see me… ha ha' Harry thought to himself. 'Pretty cheesed off about the penseive I bet.'
"Fine, Professor!" Harry said innocently. "I've been using your penseive, and you are right – it really does help to move the bad memories to it."
"Um, yes. About the penseive. You do understand the only thing that should enter it are thoughts, correct?" He twitched an eyebrow at Harry, the annoying twinkle gone from his blue eyes. 'I don't see anything unusual in Harry's mind… typical mourning over Black, concern about OWLS, worry about Voldemort…nothing strange.'
Harry looked down at his feet with a stunning display of acting. "No, I didn't know that. I might have had some help setting a booby trap, in case Snape wanted to spy on it…"
Dumbledore looked transparently relieved. 'Ah good – he didn't set the trap for me, and still doesn't realize what the penseive does. Help? The twins I bet.' The twinkle came back to the headmaster's eyes. "Do be careful what kind of trap you set – it's not nice to fiddle with people's minds. And make sure you use it to sort your thoughts about Voldemort – it might help you form a strategy against him."
The ancient wizard helped himself to a bowl of stew and sat down at the table. "So what are the two of you doing now?"
Hermione smiled "I've been going through the library and we've been working on our homework."
"Ah, good" Dumbledore smiled at them and gave them an extra sparkly twinkle of the eyes. "The Weasleys will probably return tomorrow."
'I've got to learn how he does that eye-twinkle. It's so annoying.' Harry mused to himself.
0o0o0o0o0o0The morning dawned bright and clear. Harry washed and went to the kitchen to start breakfast, to be joined by a yawning Hermione.
"What's up for today?" She asked him, buttering a scone. "And boy, I hate with a white-hot rage the way the Dursleys treated you, but your scones make the forced cooking almost worth it!"
Harry grinned and tossed her another, knowing that Hermione now knew just how far she could kid him about sensitive things. He liked having an instant soul-mate. It was quite a summer – he got Sirius back in a way, a new dad in the form of Griphook, a new mom in Winky, and he didn't even have a description for what he could call his relationship with Hermione.
He glanced at the fireplace and door to the kitchen, and did a few charms to make sure the placed wasn't bugged. "I'm hoping I can talk you into covering for me while I make a quick run to Diagon Alley" Harry told her. "I want to talk to a real estate agent about moving the Dursleys. I don't like them, but they have been unfairly dragged into a world they hate, and I don't think Dumbledore is keeping them safe. I want to buy them a nice house, some new furniture, and know that they are out of my life for good."
Hermione stiffened. "I don't think they deserve it, Harry. I don't care how strong of a charm Dumbledore placed on them, they are truly evil to treat a child the way they treated you."
"Well, perhaps" Harry nodded, "but if I let myself think angry, vengeful thoughts I'll end up manipulative like Dumbledore or bitter and cruel like Snape, or megalomaniac like Voldemort. I'd rather just apologize and have them out of my life forever, knowing I did all I could for them."
The girl sniffed softly. "You are a good person, Harry. I'll fluff some pillows under your sheets and tell everyone you are sleeping in. Try not to take too long. Put your planner in your pocket – it will vibrate like a cell phone if I need to get hold of you and write you a message."
"Thanks, Hermione" Harry squeezed her hand and apparated out of the room with a smile after swiftly donning his 'Edward Evans' look.
O0o0o0o0o0Harry located the store he needed quickly – 'Matilda Malkin, Real Estate for Wizards and Muggles' the sign read above the store front. He entered the small office to see a bored looking secretary working through a stack of parchments glance up at him, apathy rolling off her in waves.
"Can I help you?" She droned in a monotone.
"Er, yes, I need to buy a muggle home for my relatives." Harry said, glancing over some photos of homes spellotaped to the walls.
"Let me get the agent" the secretary said in her nasally dull voice, as she left the room.
A smartly dressed witch entered the room, wearing an outfit that looked professional in both muggle and wizard communities. "Can I help you, sir?" she spoke, gesturing him into her back office. "I'm Matilda Malkin."
"Yes" Harry spoke, looking around. "I wish to relocate my muggle relatives, and buy them a house, but I want to know how secure I can make the transaction." The woman raised an eyebrow questioningly. "I don't want people in the wizard world to be able to find the new home easily, if that makes sense."
She smiled at Harry knowingly. "In these times that is a common request for muggle-born witches and wizards. Not to worry. Tell me the area and price range you are looking, and we can see a few properties and have them moved in a matter of hours, unseen. We stake our reputation on our discretion."
Harry breathes a sigh of relief. Once he gave a price, the witch sat even straighter, called for tea and was even more accommodating. They looked through some books, and Harry immediately zeroed in on a very nice home in a quite exclusive neighborhood. It was twice the size and twice the cost of Privet Drive, so Harry felt confidant the Dursleys would like it. "Can we see this one?" he asked.
"Certainly, dear" she said, and made a quick floo call. "It's available – we can floo right over and check it out." They both grabbed a handful of the green powder and traveled to the empty house.
Harry walked around quickly. It was well kept and snobby enough to have his Aunt and Uncle swooning with delight. He signed the paperwork to buy the house and have the cost taken from his account, choosing a date and time for closing, and schedule the goblins to ward the property.
Harry then took his leave of Matilda Malkin after grabbing a sales brochure and photos of the home, and apparated to Privet Drive. It was Saturday, so his Aunt, and Uncle, sitting in the parlor watching the telly, Dudley obviously away at Smeltings. They turned around at the sound of his appearing in the kitchen, with a less-than-pleased look on their faces.
"What are you back here for, boy?" his uncle growled at him. "Did the freaks throw you out?"
"Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon" he nodded at them. "No, actually I came to say good bye for good. But also to do you a big favor, so please hear me out."
"If you are leaving, you are already doing us a huge favor" his uncle spat nastily.
Harry looked at him coldly. Why did they have to make it so hard? But he took a deep breath and spoke calmly. "Please just keep quiet a few minutes, then I'll answer questions and I can be out of your life for good. I want to be away from here even more than you want me gone. I do not believe you are safe here," and Harry saw Petunia gasp and sit even more stiffly than before, "and I feel badly about you being dragged into my world. I learned this summer that Dumbledore has been playing with all of us all these years. My parents had left a will – they never wanted me to come here. In fact they specifically named four other families to care for me and to NOT leave me with you, respecting your dislike of my world."
His aunt and uncle kept their comments to themselves at least. They stared at him, giving him full attention for once. "Well, what about the blood safety?" His aunt asked.
"One big huge lie, courtesy of my 'dear' headmaster, Harry continued. He also charmed that vase" Harry pointed at the blue vase against the wall, "to re-enforce feelings of dislike toward me. You might have noticed in the last couple of weeks you haven't been feeling as aggressive around me, and you hadn't swung at me once while I was here since I blocked the hex."
The three of them had varying expressions of guilt, surprise, and skepticism passing over their faces. "Why would he do that, boy?" his uncle exclaimed loudly.
"I'd prefer 'Harry' or even 'Potter', if you don't mind." Harry gave his uncle a dirty look. "Dumbledore did it to make himself a hero in my eyes, so I'd feel like he was my savior every fall to rescue me from this hell."
His aunt and uncle really looked guilty now.
"Anyway," Harry continued, "you aren't safe here. Voldemort will find you, and I'm sure Dumbledore doesn't care as long as I'm not here. So here," he tossed them the photos of the home he just bought "I got you this. It's paid in full, title in your name, closing next week. It's a really nice neighborhood. I'm having it warded so it's invisible to the magic world, and I'll leave you with a £10,000 gift card to buy whatever you need to fix it up to your liking. On the day of closing, pack nothing! For your safety you don't want anyone to know you are moving! No suitcases, nothing! The agent will come and pick you up in her car and take you to your new home, and send house-elves to move your stuff magically within hours."
His family sat dumfounded, staring at Harry and the photos of the gorgeous home. "But what about our friends?" his aunt gasped.
'What friends?' Harry thought to himself. But he smiled kindly instead and said "once you have moved you can call anyone you wish over the phone and give them your new address. Your new phone will not be tapped like this one is. Your mail will be forwarded for two years magically to your new home. After two years Voldemort and Dumbledore will have given up trying to find you – sooner if I win this war quickly. I'll put your home on the market, and the profit will go into your account on the sale. My agent will handle it for security reasons – I'm not making a dime out of anything."
"Can we see the house?" His Aunt asked, with more kindness in her voice than he had ever heard. "It looks very nice. I'm very familiar with this neighborhood". Vernon grunted a sound that was a strange blend of greed, skepticism, and almost gratitude.
"Yes, here's the card of the agent – she has a muggle phone too. I went under the name Edward Evans. She will be glad to answer any questions. My only requests are that you please leave my real name out of this, and leave the fireplace open and don't board it up. It is not open to the floo network, but I have the ability to hook it up temporarily if I feel you are in danger. It will be a quick way to get to you in an emergency if you are in trouble. I am safe – I only suggest this for your own good."
They nodded dumbly at Harry. He looked at his 'family'. 'This is it,' he thought to himself, 'I'm finally leaving them forever.'
"Well, sorry you got dragged into this. And I'm really sorry that all Dudley ever saw of the wizarding world was negative. There are many nice people and cool things in my world. I wish you guys could have been nicer to me, but I don't want any harm to come to you."
And with that, Harry apparated out of Privet Drive for the very last time.
O0o0o0o0o0oHarry appeared in Godric's Suitcase. He peeked through the window in the door that viewed the bedroom in Grimmauld place before entering the room, and removed his charmed disguise. It would not be good to step out of a trunk with Ron sitting there. He waved at Sirius and Mrs. Black, gave Winky a kiss on her wrinkly forehead, to her surprised delight, and walked upstairs.
Harry stretched and ruffled his hair a bit more, and made his bed. It was only 11:30, and hopefully nobody knew he was gone. He walked out of the room, attempting to look like he just woke up, and made his way to the kitchen where Moony and Hermione were drinking tea and reading books and newspapers.
"Morning, sleepyhead!" Remus smiled at him. "I figured since Molly was still gone I'd let you get some rest."
"Thanks!" Harry forced a yawn. "Any tea?" He sat down and helped himself to a cold scone.
"What are your plans for today, Harry?" Remus asked him, putting down the paper.
Harry looked over at his parent's friend – the last of the Marauders. "Moony, may I ask a very personal favor of you?" He felt himself sweat a bit. The young werewolf nodded at him solemnly, and Harry continued. "Would you be offended if I asked to look into your thoughts? I promise not to go to deep or far back, but for my personal safety I need to be sure…"
Remus glanced around the room, and Harry rubbed his Potter ring to look for magical 'bugs', which came up negative. "You can do that?" he leaned forward and whispered at Harry, who nodded at him. "Go ahead – I trust you completely."
Harry looked his friend directly in the eyes and gently probed around. Sure enough, Sirius was right – Mooney had been suspicious of Dumbledore for some time. He totally trusted Harry, and held strong feelings of loyalty, love and trust for him. He held Hermione, the twins, and Tonks in the same regard, but held reservations about most of the Weasleys and Snape.
Harry broke off the contact, and smiled. "Did you…?" Remus asked – he hadn't felt anything. Not even Dumbledore was that smooth, in his opinion.
"Yes" Harry whispered back. "Please follow me, Moony". They started up the stairs towards Harry's room, but knocked first on Hermione's door and gestured to her. "Hermione" Harry asked her in a low voice, "could you please keep an ear out for anyone? I'm taking Moony to Godric's Suitcase." She nodded, grabbed a book and headed down to the parlor by the front door and hallway.
He led his former professor into Ron and his' bedroom, and swiftly charmed the room for privacy, silence and slowing of time. Remus' eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Well" he coughed, "I can't wait to hear this – occlumency, legilimency, wandless magic… what else?"
The young wizard laughed and popped open his trunk instead of answering. Remus smiled at the stairs and followed him down willingly. He looked around the room appreciatively, and gave a small cry of delight when he spied Sirius' portrait over the fireplace. "Sirius my friend! Um, is that Mrs. Black?"
"Mr. Lupin", Mrs. Black nodded with politeness. She curtseyed formally to Harry with a polite "My Lord" and turned back to Remus. "Please excuse my former behavior. I had no control over my actions. I deeply regret the things I was forced to say – I have no problem with my son's best friend being, um, different." She looked at Sirius. "How did you put it son – 'furry little problem'?"
Remus nodded politely back. "I had wondered why it was so quiet, and didn't dare peek under your curtains. It's a pleasure to meet you in your current state, Mrs. Black." He turned to Harry and questioned him "my Lord?"
"Um – yeah. I'm Lord Harry James Potter-Black now. Long story." Harry rolled his eyes.
With that out of the way, Harry summoned Winky and Dobby, who provided a hearty lunch and he proceeded to fill in Remus as to the summer's events. The werewolf was delighted and relieved to learn what had been happening in Harry's life.
"I was seriously worried about you, but afraid to put anymore burdens on you, with the weight of the prophecy and all" he told Harry sadly. Sirius and I, about a month before the Ministry of Magic (and he winced slightly when saying it), started to put two and two together, and had agreed to keep an eye on Dumbledore. It was hard to keep him out of my thoughts – I had to really lay on the 'sickly werewolf' act and pretend to doze a lot."
Harry's head snapped up. "You know the prophecy – the full prophecy?" He asked, thunderstruck.
Remus looked at him solemnly. "Harry – I think most of the order knows it. I think Dumbledore wants it leaked out to Voldemort. I don't know if Dumbledore really believes you are the one who can defeat the Dark Lord. I get the feeling he either wants you to kill him, and then take the credit for it him self, or he wants you to be cannon fodder while he does the job. Dumbledore is powerful, no doubt. I imagine his goal is to take over the wizard world, and the popularity of the public is the way he is going to do it."
Harry scowled darkly out his enchanted windows. "Why didn't he take over as Minister when he defeated Grindlewald?" he asked. "Why drag me into this – it isn't even a true prophecy – we only have his word for it, and I have a much more reliable one from the goblins. One that doesn't include my having to 'kill or be killed'."
Remus rubbed his jaw in a familiar pondering expression. "It could be Dumbledore knows of the true prophecy then, and wants to keep you away from it – make his more popular if you will. He glanced over at Sirius and changed subjects. "So we have the twins, Hermione, myself, the goblins and probably the house-elves. Who else are aware of what is going on?"
"Well" Harry blushed, "I'm hoping you will speak to Tonks. I tried to take a short polite reading off of everyone at the party, but I had to back out of her head in a real quick hurry." He looked at his feet, turning redder by the moment.
"Do you know if you can trust her completely, Harry?" Remus looked concerned. "What did you see?"
"Well, um, er…" Harry stammered, "She's real loyal to you, Moony. I think you should, um, ask her out. And yes, I think she's suspicious of Dumbledore too, but I didn't stick around in her head." And he left it at that, and was please to see Remus also blushing, but looking very happy about the news.
Lupin reached over and put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I'll take care of Tonks – I'll ask her out on a date where we can't be overheard. And Harry, I'm really sorry about Ron and Ginny. That has to be real hard on you. Betrayal is a bitter thing that takes a long time to get over. I don't know if I'll ever get over Peter's betrayal of us."
Harry nodded with understanding. "Yah – you do know how I feel. I appreciate being able to dump on you."
Remus suddenly thought of something, and looked over at the fireplace. "Mrs. Black? Is there any chance I could convince you to go back to your portrait and pretend to still be cursed? If Dumbledore finds you missing or sane, he will probably suspect that Harry came into his inheritance and is on to him. We really aren't ready to deal with that yet. If that offends you, we could get a blank canvas for you to live in and keep you here, if you can tell us how to remove your old one.
Mrs. Black smiled at the two men looking at her, and Sirius rubbed his hands together with glee. "Oh I think I'd enjoy being 'crazy' again very much. As long as you good people know it's all an act, I have some real choice things I can say to Mr. Dumbledore in particular. I'd be glad to help out." Everyone nodded with satisfaction.
They finished up a pleasant meeting with Harry lending Remus his invisibility cloak and Firebolt for a private date with Tonks. "Just let me know how it goes as far as her loyalties to Dumbledore is – that' all I want to know!" And the werewolf politely offered to bite him on the next full moon.
O0o0o0o0o0o0The Weasleys returned that afternoon. Ron stepped out of the fireplace with a very smug, almost Malfoy-ish look to his face.
"It's great we finally have a home to be proud of" he sniffed, brushing soot off his robes. "Sirius really was a great guy."
"Boy, that was insensitive" Harry scowled slightly at Ron. Hermione looked shocked and gave him a punch on the arm.
"Ron, try to be a bit more tactful" she snapped, and Ron's mother shot her son a scathing look.
"Harry, I'm sorry again about Sirius. He did leave us a generous amount that he refused to take back, and insisted that we move." The plump witch sighed. "I will miss the Burrow – this new home just isn't, well, home yet, if you know what I mean. I can't wait for you both to see it."
"No problem Mrs. Weasley" Harry said, and headed up the stairs. Mrs. Black must of overheard the callous comments from Ron, because as soon as he stepped foot in the hallway, she started her old shrieking. It was all he could do to bite back a smirk.
The two boys flopped on their beds. "So tell me what you can about the new place – just don't let anything out that could compromise its location" Harry asked kindly. Although he wanted nothing to do with Ron, and really didn't want to be in the same room as him, he had to put on a good act.
The red head rolled onto his back and laced his fingers in back of his head, grinning. "Well, we don't have money like you, Harry, but this is sweet. It's much larger than this house, nice new furniture, and a real garden. Very peaceful, more formal, but room enough for Quidditch." Ron looked very content.
Harry frowned a bit. "Ron, I might have money, but I don't think I've ever thrown it in your face."
"Well, no, I guess. But you have no idea what it's like to have hand-me-down clothes, and furniture, and books and robes." Ron glared at the ceiling. "I just wasn't meant to live like that."
Hermione had followed the boys into their room and was leaning against the door way. "Ron, how can you say that? Harry never had clothes except for those awful cast offs of Dudley's, and no toys of his own. Everything he ever had before Hogwarts was hand-me-downs. Even his family." She shot him a bitter look and flounced out of the room.
"Mental, that one" Ron rolled his eyes. "Girls never understand."
"Neither do I, mate. Neither do I" Harry thought glumly. Changing the subject, he asked "got your OWLS yet?".
"Nope" he answered. "How 'bout a game of chess?"
Harry gave the game some effort, as he tried to continue with friendly conversation. "So what's happening with Percy?" He asked softly.
Ron shrugged his shoulders. "Percy is still Percy. Prat. Still not talking to the family. Mum doesn't fly off the handle like she use to, but they are still upset anytime his name comes up."
After brutally beating Harry at chess, Ron stood up and stretched. "I'm heading to the kitchen for a snack." And he left without a backwards glance.
Harry listened to be sure he was indeed in the kitchen, and quietly knocked on Hermione's door. She cracked it open, and broke into a wide smile when she saw who it was, and gestured him in.
"Where's Ginny?" he asked, glancing around. Hermione shrugged. "I think she's with the twins." Harry grinned and swiftly charmed the room for silence, repelling, and time slowing.
"What are we doing?" she asked, eyeing him with curiosity.
"Visiting your folks." Harry grinned, grabbed her hand, and apparated them out of the house.
They landed in the Granger's living room, Hermione stumbling for balance on arrival. "Next time WARN me first!" she yelled at him. Her parents, sitting on the sofa watching the telly, jumped up in alarm.
"Please forgive me, Mr. And Mrs. Granger!" Harry smiled as smoothly as he could while dodging Hermione's blows on his arms. "We need to talk about some things, and we don't have long to do it."
Although surprised and shaken, the dentists quickly composed themselves and gestured the two to take seats, after quickly hugging their daughter.
Harry swiftly outlined the course of events happening with Dumbledore and the approaching danger with the war. "What I'm getting around to saying, is, well, I don't feel that you are safe here. I am very well off, and I wish to relocate you somewhere until the war is over. Where ever you wish. And don't worry – Hermione can come visit anytime – even during school with the new skills I've been learning."
Her folks looked understandably stunned, and Hermione yelped at him again. "Next time give me warning about THAT too!" and proceeded to pummel him some more.
Mr. Granger stammered slightly and glanced at his wife. "This actually isn't too great of a shock to us – we have been considering options already. Please give us a couple days and come back – around the same time, and I think we will have something worked out."
"Unless you feel the danger is immediate" broke in Mrs. Granger, looking at them worriedly.
"There is no way of telling," Harry said, "but that should be fine – we will come back in two days." He took Hermione's hand again and apparated back to her room, removing the spells.
"Never a dull moment" she smiled at Harry. "And Harry – thanks for being concerned about my folks" she whispered, and gave his hand a warm squeeze.
They wandered the house a bit, Harry looking for Remus. He found him in his favorite chair in the parlor. They sat down and Harry asked in a low voice "Moony – where can I get armor and a second wand?"
His former teacher raised a customary eyebrow. "What kind of armor?"
"Dragonhide – to go under robes." Harry answered, watching the door for eavesdroppers.
"Sirius liked Almardo's Armory in Hogsmeade, Merlin Lane" Remus answered in a low voice. "What kind of wand are you looking for?"
"Something the Ministry and Dumbledore won't find out about" Harry replied.
"Knockturn Alley, small shop on the west side of the street, sign in window says 'Lepani's'. Ask for Leonard, tell him I sent you." Remus gave him a smile. "And I never had this conversation."
"What conversation?" Harry asked innocently, nodded his thanks, and left with Hermione for the kitchen.
Ron, who was finishing what was obviously his second slice of pie, looked up when they entered the room. "What's up?" he mumbled around a mouthful of pastry.
Hermione wrinkled her nose. "Nothing – it's boring I'm afraid. Too bad we just got here. It's going to be a long holiday."
"Not for me" Ron gloated. "I'm heading back home in a bit. Lots more unpacking to do and I can't stand being cooped up like this."
Mrs. Weasley swatted her son in the back of his head. "Try to have some manners, Ronnie." She scowled at him. "Sorry, kids, but I do need Ron's help at the new place. I'll return him in a day or two."
O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
The next day dawned hot and sunny. Harry and Hermione found themselves alone with Remus in the house, who kindly agreed to cover for them while they went shopping. Disguising them with goblin magic, Harry took Hermione's hand and apparated them to Hogsmeade. After a quick trip into Honeydukes for a gift for Remus, they found Almardos with no trouble.
Harry purchased a set of dragonhide armor for each of them. Hermione protested vehemently at first – the armor was very expensive, and she had her own inheritance from Sirius. But Harry was firm – when his close friends were in additional danger because of their relationship with him, he wanted to provide additional protection wherever possible. With that in mind, he had two sets pre-paid for the twins, who would be notified by owl that an anonymous benefactor had gifted them.
Dragonhide was highly spell-resistant (which was why the dragon challenge of the tri-wizard tournament was so, well, challenging), lightweight and strong. Different species of dragon held no advantage over others, except for looks. Each set consisted of vest, arm guards, shin guards and boots. Hermione chose Common Welsh Green for herself, and Harry picked Hungarian Horntail for his own – not for looks, but for a sense of revenge on the one particular dragon from the tournament.
They left the store content with their purchases, and left permission for Winky to come and pick them up next week. Next they apparated to Knockturn Alley. Hermione glanced around nervously as they passed the dodgy looking shops and dodgier looking patrons, but Harry was intent on finding Lepani's. They finally found it – a tiny shop practically hidden, with dusty books and knick-knacks in the single window display. Harry took a deep breath, pushed open the door and entered, Hermione in tow.
The inside of the shop was as dusty and uninviting as the window display. Hermione tried to interest herself in some books, but found herself repulsed by the condition of the place and the darkness of the subjects in the tomes. An ancient bent wizard was sitting behind a wooden counter, eyeing them suspiciously.
"Can I help you?" he wheezed, in a not-extremely helpful sounding voice.
"Yes" Harry returned the suspicious look, "I'm looking for Leonard. Remus sent me". The wizard was possibly even older than Dumbledore – bent and fragile, with hundreds of lines on his face, and deep pouches of skin under his eyes. There was no friendly twinkle in the pale blue eyes, but as Harry figured that Dumbledore's twinkle was a fake accessory, that didn't bother the boy.
"Remus?" The crabbed figure raised his long, bushy eyebrows. "Remus Lupin? How do you know him?"
"He's a very close friend" Harry answered. How did Remus know this guy?
Keeping his eyes on the two teens, the wizard picked up a cane, hobbled to the front door, locked it and flipped the sign to 'closed' after glancing up and down the street. He shuffled back to the counter and gestured to the kids to follow him to the back room, which the two did with a sense of trepidation.
Once they passed through the beaded curtain to the back room, even Harry gasped with surprised. Not only were Hermione and his disguises stripped off of them, the ancient wizard was now a middle-aged man the same age as Remus, who stood in front of them smiling with amusement. "I have the whole shop outside enchanted to keep my identity secret, and this doorway negates that charm or any other disguising enchantments. I am impressed with your ability with charms, Mr. Potter. I'd never of recognized you in a hundred years! Now what can I do for you?" He politely gestured the youths to sit on a sofa in front of his fireplace in what was a very clean and pleasant parlor.
Harry took a quick reading on Leonard's mind. He picked up only good and light – the only darkness in the man seemed to be a wish or need to keep his identity secret, and a strong distrust for the Ministry.
"Now, as Remus sent you to me, and I know the close relationship you have with him as Mr. Potter, I am assuming you are looking for a second wand. Why not go to Ollivander's – I imagine your primary wand is from him?" Leonard served tea from a content looking house-elf's delivery, while chatting.
"We need wands that can't be traced by either the Ministry or Dumbledore. They both are trying to keep me from my task for various reasons" Harry said cautiously. "I can't divulge more than that, but I can assure you I am working for the light, as I sense you are."
Leonard looked at him appraisingly. "Yes, Mr. Potter, I do. I stay in hiding for many reasons, but I am a wizard of the light, and wish to see the downfall of He Who Must Not Be Named. I will not ask what your task is – I sense it is something great, and probably something to do with the Dark Lord?"
Harry nodded. "That is another problem I have. I can not use this wand" and he pulled it out from his cloak, "against Voldemort."
The wizard picked up Harry's wand and examined it. "I can feel it is Holly with Phoenix tail core. Why can't you use it against the Dark Lord? It feels in excellent condition – it's very content with you. Why not go to Ollivander's for a second wand?"
"Content?" Hermione asked. "Wands have feelings?"
"Yes, ma'm" Leonard smiled at her. "A well made wand is almost a sentient magical being. Oh, they won't talk to you" he laughed at her look of skepticism, "but a wand crafted with talent and treated with respect will grow stronger and more in tune with its owner as the years go on."
Harry fidgeted, debating how much to trust Leonard. "Leonard, I can't say a whole lot, not knowing you, but I can tell you this much. I know for a fact that Ollivander informs the Ministry and Dumbledore when underage persons buy a wand, and gives them the particulars. I have been attacked many times in the past six years, and have almost been expelled and even jailed for protecting myself. The Ministry doesn't like my popularity – I don't either – but they try to discredit me to make them selves look better. I wish to be able to defend myself. I have battled Voldemort five times now, but unfortunately our wands share brother cores."
Leonard's eyes widened. "Ah – that explains a lot. That is a problem. If you turn out to be 'the Chosen One' that can be a real serious 'fly in the potion'. Tell me, Mr. Potter – have you ever had a custom wand?"
"No sir – only Ollivander's. I didn't know there was such a thing." Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Ah!" Leonard rubbed his hands together with glee. "I accept the task of creating custom wands for the two of you. You are in for a treat!" He stood up and spun around, gathering leather cases and boxes from around his room, chatting while he went. "You see, most wand makers create wands from supplies they gather or purchase. The better the maker, the better his ability to create the wand that 'wants' to be made from that particular piece of material, and the better the match to the proper core. Not every wand is a perfect creation in that method, but it's adequate. And naturally, the biggest challenge is then to pair the witch or wizard with the proper wand. The wand does indeed choose the wizard, but you have to keep thousands of wands in stock to assure proper matches for a community." The wizard stacked boxes on the coffee table between the sofa Harry and Hermione were sitting on and his own chair, and refreshed their tea. "With custom wandmaking, the individual materials for the wand body and core choose the witch or wizard, and the wand maker then has to have the skill to shape them properly. The result is a wand that truly is more bonded and powerful for its owner."
Leonard opened a box and shook it teasingly. "This is full of unfinished wand bodies, or blanks. I'd like you two to feel inside, but keep your eyes closed. I don't want you seduced by the look of the material – just look for one that feels right in your hand. You will know when you grasp it.
Harry and Hermione looked around the room, feeling through the box. It was hard not to giggle, and it was fun. Some of the stick-like pieces were rough, some smooth, some cold and slick like glass. There was certainly more materials than wood in the box. When Harry picked up one heavy smooth stick, Leonard was right – he just knew it was the one for him. "I've got it" he said with surprise. "This one wants me!" Hermione shot him an annoyed look and kept rummaging.
Leonard looked pleased. "Pull it out and hold on to it" he said.
A short while later Hermione said with a gasp "wow – this one! You're right – this one for certain!"
They compared their new wand body blanks. "Yours is bloodstone, Mr. Potter. A strong, dense gemstone from Africa, it embodies strength, victory over enemies, loyalty and sacrifice. A very understandable match." Harry stroked the long, cool rod of stone. It was deep green with flecks and spots of blood red. He felt an immediate attraction to it.
Hermione looked at hers. It seemed to be ivory, a natural spiral horn of some sort. She lovingly stroked the tapered form, amazed at the warmth and affection she felt for it and from it. "Is this from a unicorn?"
"That, my dear," Leonard explained with a smile, "is a narwhal horn. They are secretive deep sea creatures – mysterious and strong. That is a wand that will not be shaped, except for customizing the length for you."
He put the lid back on the box of blanks and moved it to the floor, bringing up another large leather box. Pulling off the lid, he tilted it toward them so they could see a box filled with what looked like opaque white glass balls, the size of pool balls. "In these globes are the cores for wands. Ollivander mostly uses only wood and three kinds of cores for his wands. Being a custom wandmaker, I have a large variety of materials, many of which I've inherited from generations of custom wand makers. Hold your wand blank in your right hand, and feel through the box with your left until one of these spheres feels good to you."
This time the selection was much quicker. Although every one of the glass-like globes looked and felt the same, they were swiftly drawn to a particular one for each of them. When the proper ball was held, the sphere felt warm and magical, and the wand blank in their other hand tingled with response.
Leonard took the ball from Hermione and cracked it open like an egg. "Very interesting, my dear! You have mermaid hair in yours. And this is from Princess Almagoria, who led the merpeople in the 1800's. That's quite an honor to be chosen by this. Do you have the water people in your ancestry?"
Hermione looked startled but pleased. "No sir – I'm muggleborn" she stammered.
"Yes, but how many generations back?" Leonard asked her. "Never mind – most muggleborn witches and wizards have plenty of magic folk in their ancestry, but magic folk who chose to live as muggles for one reason or another, so the magic was kept secret." He cracked open Harry's next. Leonard gasped when looking at core. "This, sir, is hair from the tail of Godric Gryffindor's own griffon familiar. This is quite an honor to be chosen by this as well. You two are both destined for noble and worthy quests.
He shut the box and brought up a final container, again filled with globes, but smaller – the size of a walnut. "These are various gems for the tips of the wands. Not every wandmaker uses them, and in fact you might not find one for your wand – not every wand wants one. A gem will focus the energy better in some spell casting. Keep the wand body and core in your right hand, and feel through."
Hermione ended up with a glistening baroque pearl, so pure it was translucent. "That's no shock there" laughed Leonard. Harry bonded with a white sapphire. "Again, this is no surprise for me. Although it looks clear like a diamond, it doesn't have the 'fire', so it gives a sharper focus, if you will. This will be a wand for a warrior, Mr. Potter."
Harry paid for the wands with a promise to send his house elf to check on them in a few weeks time, and visit when he could. With a message to give Remus his regards, Leonard shook hands with the two and waved goodbye.
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See guys – not too much shopping! Next chapter: elf-magic lessons, Snape, and lots of other junk.