A/N: What's up guys. I apologize for the long wait. I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Again, sorry for the long wait. For those of you who reviewed, thank you. I really appreciate reviews of my writing, I can always improve. For those of you who didn't please consider leaving a review. Thanks to all my readers and enjoy the next chapter. Happy Hunting, Fenris.

Return to Hogwarts:

Diagon Alley entrance: England

To most people, the standard brick wall surrounding the yard in the back of the tavern known as the Leaky Cauldron would be just that, a brick wall. Yet to wizards and witches across the British Isles it was the entrance to the wizard version of a strip mall, Diagon Alley. On this particular morning in August, the 25th to be exact, the yard was completely empty. Or at least it was until a family of three; consisting of a man, what would appear to be his wife and a son, appeared in a swirl of colored lights that many would compare to the Aurora Borealis. Stepping forward the man tapped a series of bricks in sequence and before their eyes the wall rearranged itself into an arch allowing them entrance to Diagon Alley. Kyle turned and smirked at Harry.

'Told you it was cool.'

'Yeah but you didn't say it was this cool. I mean the wall opening is pretty cool but the warping or bi-warping thing was freaking awesome!'

'What even is that Kyle, the M-files mention apparation, portkeys, and floo but not whatever we just did.'

Kyle smirked again. 'You can thank the Norse mages for that. Essentially, it's the same as apparating just instantaneous and without all the uncomfortable sensations. I can do it without all the light if I wanted to but it's this kind of travel that made the Norse believe in the Bifrost.'

'That's awesome!'

'Glad you think so Harry. Now are we going to get your stuff or what?'

'Hell yes!'

'Language Harry.'

'Yes, Aunt Cara.'

During his time with them Harry had come to see them as family. Kyle was just Kyle while Caroline had become Aunt Cara. It helped put Harry at ease when she explained that she wasn't trying to take the place of his fallen mother but simply be there for him if he needed her. Together the three of them went through shop after shop, gathering books, potion supplies, more books, his cauldron, telescope, some more books (Harry was an avid reader) and his robes. Harry was thinking about the boy he had meet in the robe shop as they walked towards Eeylops Owl Emporium.

Flashback:

Madam Malkin was a short plump woman, who ran the robe shop. She ushered Harry towards a dressing stand and began measuring. Next to him was a thin boy with bone white hair. As Madam Malkin went about her business the boy turned to Harry.

'Are you going to Hogwarts too?'

'Yes. I'll be a first year.'

'Excellent, what house do you want to be in? I'm going to be a Slytherin, the place for true pureblood wizards away from all the mudblood trash.'

Harry's eyes turned dark and started to glow around the edges. Kyle had told him all about people like this kid but seeing it for himself was another story.

'I would watch it if I were you. My mother was a muggleborn and I don't take people insulting her lightly.'

Something about his voice must have warned the other boy because he paled a little. Then he sneered. 'Whatever, my father is friends with the Minister and they both say that mud… muggleborns are inferior to purebloods.'

'Maybe you should find some evidence of that instead of just taking their word for it. My mother was considered the brightest witch of her age and yet she was a muggleborn.'

The blond seemed to think about that for a moment but was interrupted by Madame Malkin before he could reply.

'That's you done dear.'

The boy walked off without another word.

Flashback End:

The bell above the door rang as the small family stepped into the shop. Almost instantly Harry sensed a presence descending from the rafters towards him. Harry turned and lifted his right arm just as a pure white owl alighted on it. Gently, Harry brought his arm to his front so he could look at the owl.

'Well aren't you a bold one.'

The owl hooted in reply and blinked at him.

'Would you like to come with me?'

Again, the owl hooted, but this time nodded its head as well.

Kyle laughed, 'Well then, I guess that's decided.'

The store clerk smiled as they approached. 'An excellent choice young sir. This female snow owl is a rather remarkable bird and has been very picky about who she associates with.'

The owl hooted imperiously causing the group to laugh.

'What will you call her Harry?' Aunt Cara was smiling gently at the boy she had come to love.

'I think I'm going to call her Athena, like the Greek goddess. She's certainly smart enough to be.' (A/N: Yes, this is Hedwig. However, I don't believe that the name Hedwig fits an owl that seems to be so intelligent, both in other fics and in the books themselves. Hence the name Athena.)

Kyle smiled as he paid for the newly christened Athena as well as the supplies needed to care for her. With a smile and a wave, the group left the little shop and headed to their last stop for the day, Ollivander's wand shop. As they approached Kyle stopped Harry.

'Listen, we have been keeping your presence under wraps because you're not a fan of attention and we wanted to get this done. It doesn't matter with Ollivander though. He will know who you are the instant you step into his shop. Now, he is a little…. bizarre. Don't be scared but be watchful, his quirks hide his intelligence. Ok?'

Harry nodded, 'Got it.'

With a nod Kyle pushed open the door and the family stepped into the shop. The place was filled with shelves, on which rested hundreds if not thousands of slim boxes of varying lengths. It was dark and the flickering candle light gave off a weird vibe. Harry sensed a presence approaching from the rear of the room. Turning he saw a short, older man with bright blue eyes emerge from between the shelves.

'Ah Mr. Potter. I have been expecting you. Mr. Gunderson, it is good to see you again, although I did not sell you your wand.'

Kyle laughed. 'No, Ollivander you did not. Something you still have trouble letting go of I see.'

Harry had been studying the man intently as the byplay passed between the two men and he could see the slight twitch in the corner of Ollivander's mouth as well as the way his eyes seemed to gleam with mirth. He frowned. The man's exterior and the look of the shop was not matching up with what his gut was telling him was true about the man. Then it struck him. It was an act. A very well played and rehearsed act, but an act none the less. He turned back to the man and opened his mouth to speak but he was beaten too it by the man himself.

'It seems young Mr. Potter has discovered my secret.'

Kyle grinned, 'Indeed it does.'

Ollivander turned back to Harry. 'Well done lad. Few are observant enough to see past what is put before them.'

With a light wave of his wand the room gradually brightened until it seemed as if the gentle afternoon sun was beaming down on the inside of the shop. The creepy and slightly mysterious feel lifted, and Harry could smell a combination of wood dust and oil that was strangely comforting.

Ollivander smiled at him. 'Now, let's see about your wand, shall we?'

o00O00o

An hour later and they were no closer to matching a wand to him. There were easily a hundred boxes, scattered in various states of tidiness about the room. 'Hmm. Tricky customer. No matter. The wand chooses the wizard after all.' Ollivander sighed and brought forth another box. 'I was hoping that this would not be the case, but it seems I have no choice.' The man turned and spoke to Kyle. 'Dumbledore commissioned this wand, saying that it would likely fit young Harry here when the time came. I was reluctant to try it but now.' The man shrugged as Kyle's fists clenched at yet another sign of the Headmaster's meddling.

'This wand is Holly and Phoenix feather, 13 inches. It is the brother to the wand that gave you the scar upon your brow.'

Harry shivered, but took the wand anyway. It felt warm in his hand and gave off a few sparks, but he shook his head. 'It fits but its, wrong somehow. Almost like its forced.'

Ollivander frowned. 'Hmm curious. I was not expecting that result. We will have to try some of my more complex wands. Wait one moment.'

Ollivander turned and walked into the back of his shop. After a few moments he returned with two boxes.

'I believe that one of these will fit you.' He opened the first and handed it to him. 'This one is 11 ½ inches made of Fir and Aspen with a Griffin feather for its core.'

Harry took the wand and as he did a warmth spread up his arm and sparks shot out he end of the wand, but to him, it again seemed forced, if only a little. Harry shook his head. 'May I try the other please?'

'If you wish. This wand is one of the most complicated and most powerful wands I have ever created. It is 14 ¾ inches long with a mix of Alder and Holly. Its core….'

Kyle frowned at the man's hesitation. 'Ollivander?'

The man looked at him with a deadly serious expression. 'This core should not work and to this day I do not know why I created it. It is a phoenix feather with a thestral hair twined around it. The two original resisted the presence of the other until I combined them with the woods that make up the wand. For some reason they bound together more strongly once the wand was finished but again, I cannot explain it.'

Kyle looked at Harry. 'Are you sure about this?'

Harry nodded. 'It would make sense wouldn't it. I survived something that I should not have. No one can explain how it happened or why. No one who saw it survived and I don't remember. It doesn't surprise me that I have a strong connection with death and life equally.'

Kyle smiled sadly. 'Sometimes I forget how mature you are.'

Harry smiled back at his uncle. Then he turned and grasped the wand. The wood of the wand fit smoothly in the palm of his hand and for a moment there was nothing. All of a sudden, a harsh and bitter cold wind blew through the shop and the candles flared and died. The light atmosphere of the shop disappeared and was replaced by a dark sense of foreboding. However, it did not last. A warm summers breeze filled the room and the lightness returned. As the breeze passed Harry could have sworn, he felt it gently caress his cheek. As the light wind faded the room was filled with the unmistakable scent of flowers. Harry and Caroline turned to Kyle.

'Kyle, what was that?'

'Flowers?'

Kyle shook his head. 'I don't know kid, and no. Not just flowers. Lilies.'

Harry's eyes widened. 'Lilies?'

The question came out in a whisper as though he could not bring himself to dare to believe. Kyle nodded solemnly. Silently he handed a bag of coins to Ollivander.

'Thank you.' He turned back to Harry and his wife. 'Come on kid. There something we both need to do.' Gently he grasped his adopted nephew's shoulder and his wife clutched his arm. Then in a rush of rainbow-colored light they were gone.

o00O00o

In a small town, deep in the English countryside, a column of rainbow light roared into existence before just as swiftly fading away. Where it had appeared stood a small family. The man led his wife and kid farther into the town. They made their way to the cemetery and stood before a pair of graves. Harry stood silently, looking at his parents' grave marker with Kyle behind him. Then Kyle broke the silence.

'James, my brother. I swore an oath to protect you and yours till the end of my days and in this duty I failed. For ten long years I failed you and Lily. I am sorry brother. Sorry to have trusted those bastards, sorry to have left, sorry I let you down.'

Kyle knelt and pulled his knife from its sheath.

'But I found your son and have protected him and loved him as my own. This I swear to you my brother. So long as I live, he will be as flesh of my flesh and blood of my blood. Never again will I fail and all those who led to your fall will taste the bit of my blade according to the customs of my people. This I swear and this it shall be.'

With a quick motion Kyle drew the knife across the palm of his left hand and gently pressed it against the stone that marked the Potter's grave. When he drew back his blood shimmered and sank into the stone. Kyle stood and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder.

'Mom, Dad. I miss you both and I wish you were here. I know you can't be though, so I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for giving me Kyle and Aunt Cara to save me from the Dursley's and to teach me everything I know. I love you…'

Harry's voice broke and he sunk to his knees in grief, sobbing as tears flowed down his face. Kyle knelt behind him and pulled him into his chest. When Harry's sobs grew quiet Kyle held his hand out to his wife, who took it. 'Come on kid, time to go home.' And the family disappeared once more in rainbow of light. When they were gone a warm breeze washed over the graveyard, carrying with it the smell of lilies.

What's up guys. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'm not great with writing more emotional scenes so if it came across a little stilted, I apologize. In any case, consider this a trial chapter after my long absence in writing and please consider leaving a review as I always appreciate constructive criticism. Catch you later and happy hunting. Fenris