AN: Thank you for the reviews! Please do remember that this is a 1st draft, I am literally posting up what i write each day as a chapter. There are things I want to touch up and clean up, and even expand upon, but NaNoWriMo is all about get it down, edit later... like next month... or next year, or five years from now. So while I am trying to catch spelling and grammar errors, this story may get rough in spots.
All i ask is for your patience on that, and your forgiveness. Once I get this story finished, then i shall go back and begin to polish it up and fix what should be italics, bold, underlined, in brackets and all of that. I also invite all of you to look into NaNoWriMo aka national novel Writing Month. It can be a serious challenge at times when you get a block, but I wanted this challenge to be out there so that my friends could read as well. Putting myself out here like this, I am starting to find who I am as a writer. So to all those willing to bear with me, THANK YOU!
Chapter 5
Making their way back into the bank lobby Hermione could only roll her eyes at harry, mostly for the fact that he skipped the tutorial. Thankfully she had gone through it, and Fatima had warned her that this might happen, thus she was given the ability to help him. Since she had gone through the thing, and read every bit of information, before they left the Alley she would be able to explain to him how to get the tutorial back up, as it was one quest that would sit off to the side until you did do it, a fail safe that she had hoped was unnecessary.
There towering over everyone in the lobby stood Hagrid, waiting for his young charge by the guard as they had agreed. Acting like the excited child he should be at this age Harry broke away from the Grangers and skidded to a halt at the half giant.
"Hagrid! I made a friend, she's going to be a first year as well!" it all tumbled out in a rush, and he was happy to see Hagrid's eyes light up in joy for him.
"That's great news harry," the man bellowed as he smiled to the family walking towards him.
"Can they come shopping with us too? Hermione's a muggleborn, and like me isn't sure about where to get all of this stuff."
"Right then," he said with a nod of his massive head. "Welcome to the Alley. I can give ye a hand in findin' what ye'll need," he said with a massive grin.
"Thank you Hagrid," Emma said as she craned her neck to look up at the large man. "It is nice to know that Hermione will know one child her own age at school, as well as one of the staff."
"Aw, well, I will do what I can ta help the kids," he said happily. "Now then, lets get these kids all kitted up fer their year!"
The whole shopping trip was a whirlwind of activity, first getting a trunk, then off to Malkin's for clothes where thankfully Draco was not. Moving from store to store, buying all of the important things, and even a few extra bits in the case of Harry, he was determined that the two of them would have enough stuff, and the right things to not only make it through this year but their entire schooling safe and sound.
Of course it was the bookstore where the hurried pace came to a grinding halt. While her parents became interested in some of the books on the healing aspect, Harry and Hermione moved off together into the shelves to have a quiet word.
"I hate that you have to go back to your relatives after all of this," she said in a whisper to him as they moved among the stacks.
"Yeah, but don't worry," he replied equally as quiet. "Bones put that charm on me, so I have no doubt she will come running if they do try anything. Plus it will give me a chance to get through the tutorial like I was supposed to."
"Oh, that's right. So to bring that back up," she closed her eyes for a moment and the world went on pause. "Okay, to bring it up again you need to bring open your quest menu while in the pause screen. Then you need to go to starting quests," she looked at him carefully. "You have been checking for side quests and the like, or have you just been doing the ones that pop up for you?"
"Um, there are side quests?"
"Oh Harry," she sighed with a shake of her head. "Check your quests menu when you get home. There will be a bunch of things you can do to get another level or so, but do not spend too many points on the grid just yet. I want to do that with you so that we can determine what might be the best move for the both of us."
"That is what I thought too. I want to make sure that we have the best skill sets, and then as we get more friends spend their points for them the best we can. I mean let's face it, Neville should be awesome at potions with the way he is with plants," he said looking over at the odd book titles.
"Yes, well we can get to that when we finally make friends with him on the train. For now though you really need to learn how to handle this game life thing you signed us up for." She sighed in frustration, "I am doing my best, but I only have minimal controls since you seem to be the one in charge. I have been using my examine skill all over the place, and have found out some rather interesting information from it."
"I learned some from using that as well, but after what I read about my uncle," he looked at her nervously, "I am not really sure I want to use it too often. I mean some things we keep hidden for a reason, and I did not want to know he was worse than I thought."
"Oh Harry!" She quickly wrapped him in a hug, "I'm sorry that happened."
"Its ok I guess, but just don't expect me to use it on people often," he said leaning into the warm embrace.
"Then just don't go using it on my parents, there are some shocks there I do not think you are ready for." He quirked a curious eyebrow at him but she shook her head, "I also learned some things that right now are not for the sharing. I am still dealing with the revelations. I did examine King Ragnarok though, and got some good news about him.
"Frankly he is on your side, and really enjoyed dealing with your parents. Something I did not know about goblins was that they are very protective of their children. Abuse to a child or a female will get them instant capitol punishment, so when he said he wanted justice for you, he really meant it."
"Well then, we will have to keep him up to date on things, and see if we can't get some laws to help them get better treatment. In fact, Hermione, can you recall the reason that there is not a branch office in Hogsmeade? I mean it would make sense, what with all of us kids at school," he said pulling from her arms.
"I will have to review my memories, but it does seem odd. However with as much as the witches and wizards are prejudiced it makes sense, after all they classify them as creatures and not people. Perhaps there will be something we can do later, but right now, we are just kids," she said with a smirk. "Now promise to me that you will do the tutorial when you get back to the Dursleys."
"I promise I will do the tutorial, and take up as many side quests as I can, the more points to spend the better. I am really glad you are able to do this with me, going at it alone, I could have lost sight or done something completely daft, like I may have the last go round."
"Get your first year memories Harry, you did many a daft thing. Some of them turned out having good consequences, but I think this time you need to not be trusting luck to pull you through, or your guardian angel. I think your last one might still be in traction somewhere," she said cheekily.
"I get it, I get it," he said as he un-paused the world.
So together they gathered up any book that might be interesting for them to read when they had the chance, or wanted to pause the world. While they did grab many a newer edition of the school books, they also went digging in the dusty and less traveled shelves for far older versions, as well as other interesting sounding books on plants, creatures, laws, and potions.
"Are you sure you want to buy all of those Harry," Emma asked looking at a particularly sad leather binding that the name had been rubbed off of. "Hermione didn't talk you into all of these did she?"
"Nope! I want to learn as much as I can," he said putting on the excited child act. "For once I can read whatever I want, and buy my own books. So I am going to learn as much as I can so I can do good in school. My parents will may have said that they were proud of me, but now I want to make sure I can live up to that."
"Oh Harry," she replied getting a little misty-eyed.
"Oh! We also found some other books that explain old wizard customs and holidays and the like. I figure to read that one first, and then Hermione can, and then we can leave it with you. Then you can learn about everything too," he grinned.
"Oh mum!" Hermione came from around another shelf with albeit smaller stack of books. "I found cookbooks, not potion books, but actual cookbooks. Some of the directions are funny sounding, but it looks like they have something similar to what Great gram used to make, and refused to share the recipe!"
"Really?" her mother took the top book off the stack and began to leaf through the book, "well now these are old. Many of these dishes fell out of favor, or have been changed to use other more modern spices and techniques. Good find sweetie!"
Harry and Hermione couldn't help but share a look and giggle at the way her mother was devouring the information and gasping at the moving pictures.
"This is amazing! With these pictures showing what they actually mean, I just might be able to make your grandmother's favorite desert. Of course she hasn't had it since Great passed, but I think that this will make a wonderful Christmas present for her. All her favorites in a glorious dinner," she sighed with delight just thinking about the wonderful tasting food.
"So you don't mind then that we get extra books?" Harry asked as he watched the woman in her happy place. Waved acquiescence was all they got back, and thus they began the piling of books onto the sales counter to be rung up and placed into a number of shopping bags.
Harry of course paid for the lot, though they sales woman did get a grin at Mrs. Ganger for the way she held onto the book like it was the Holy Grail. When they explained to the woman why she was acting that way about a simple cookbook, she nodded in complete understanding.
"There was a call for such books to be made in the seventies. Most families have their house elves do all the cooking, so they don't know the first thing about a kitchen, nor any interest in the books. However some muggleborns got it in their heads to put together a whole series of cookbooks and for about five years they were all the rage to have. Many just got them to say they had one, but I didn't think about how some family recipes might be rediscovered that way." She grinned down at the two kids, "I'll let my boss know since we have yet to have the big rush of sales. Maybe we can find some more muggle parents who might be interested in an old cookbook, with moving instructional pictures."
"Cooking programs are kind of a big thing for muggles, so I'm sure you will get a good number of them. Just put one of the books on a stand open to a picture showing how to do something, and you will have them," Hermione said giving some advice to the woman who nodded thoughtfully.
"Thanks for that," she nodded. "Now I put some featherweight charms on the bags, and shrunk the books down for you. When you pull a book out it will go back to normal size, so be careful not to spill them or you won't be able to get them back in there."
"Thanks!" they said in unison and gathered their bag and headed out to their last stop, Olivanders.
Thankfully Hermione's wand was found within ten tries. Once again, sadly, it took the better part of and hour before he got his wand, the same as last time. If he could have just told the man what he thought would work, it would have saved time, but also been a cause to question them both.
"Sir," Harry started as he stared down at his wand lovingly. "The goblin at the bank said that I should look into getting myself a wand holster, do you sell those?"
"Why yes I do," he replied rather taken aback. "A goblin gave you this advice?"
"Yes sir," he said looking up at the older gentleman.
"Did he charge you for this advice?"
"No," Harry replied rather confused. "Is it normal to be charged for advice in the wizarding world?"
"Oh heavens no, not by a witch or wizard, however the goblins usually charge for everything," he replied thoughtfully. "You must have gained their favor somehow, unknowingly, a very good thing to have, if you can get it, and manage to keep it."
With the purchase of two rather standard holsters they group left only to run into Hagrid who handed Harry his birthday present. The beautiful snowy owl, that he once again named Hedwig.
"Hey Hagrid, how do magicals send mail?" Harry asked as if he was curious and didn't already know.
"Well Harry we use owls to carry messages back and forth," the man said with a chuckle. "I bet ye yer owl there is smart enough to find anyone ye ask of her."
"Can we go to the owl shop? I want to get Hermione's parents and owl so they can stay in touch with her during the school year," he said with a grin. Dan and Emma looked surprised and thankful at his gesture, because they too had wondered how they were going to keep in contact with their only child.
"Harry you don't need to do that, we can buy our own owl," Dan said giving the boy a nod.
"Nope, I'm gonna buy it for you as a present for being so nice to me, and for looking out for me," he said in reply. Dan just closed his mouth trying to figure out a way to argue that point, and failing.
Pulling Hermione with him into Magical Menagerie he began looking over all of the owls and other birds that they had. For all she was worth Hermione extracted herself from his grip and went over to look at the small mewling kittens.
He stared at each of the owls, trying to somehow guess at the personality that each one had, before he saw the funniest face on one owl. It tilted its head all the way to one side, and then to the other staring at him as if he was the funny looking one. Taking a step towards the bird it suddenly looked aghast that he would step closer. That made up his mind; this funny owl would belong to the Grangers, and seemed smart enough to deliver mail. If it didn't have brains it definitely had looks and personality to make up for it. Turning he waved over the shopkeeper.
"Find an owl you like laddie?" the man asked with a touch of an accent through his bushy mustache.
"Yeah, I'd like to buy that one," he said pointing to the silly owl.
"Alright then, he's a long eared owl, so you know what to read up on. Will you be needing a cage and all of that for him?"
"Yes please, he's a gift for my friend and her family. That way they can keep in touch when we go off to school," he said grinning as the man brought the owl over to the counter.
"Well that is right nice of you! We don't see many people willing to buy an owl for muggle parents, but you are quite right. It is a good idea, many of them school owls are getting on in years. My last boy just graduated, and even he said it is a shame their owls aren't breeding the way they should. Bad omen that," he rambled and then looked at the young boy. "Ah but don't you worry none about that. You just see if you can't tell someone there in charge that they are needing some new owl lineages, might help them from declining as they are."
"I can talk to Hagrid about it, he's the one that brought me to do my shopping," he replied a bit worried about the owls at school now.
"Oh, I talked to him already. He said he had to speak with the headmaster about it before he could make a purchase like that. I figure though if a young strapping boy says something to a few fellow students, and then to maybe the Deputy Headmistress, something might finally be done before they have no owls left."
"I'll do that," he said sincerely, then looked about to see Hermione playing with all of the little kittens.
"Looks like you're friend might want a little kitten to take with her to school," the man winked at him. It was obvious to the man that the two were going ot be quite close.
"Can I pay for a kitten and all of the things needed for one as well? I don't think I'm going to get her out of here and to her parents unless she gets to take one home," Harry said watching his best friend giggle and play with all of the little fluffs.
"Smart boy you are," the man laughed and rang him up for all that was needed for his friend. He couldn't wipe the grin off of his face as he watched the dark haired boy approach his female friend carefully.
"Hermione, we need to be going now, I got your parents an owl," he said picking up one kitten and placing it back in the crate where it was supposed to be.
"Oh but Harry can't we stay just a little bit longer?" She turned and gave him the big pleading eyes, "please?"
"But we need to get going. Why don't you choose one, singular kitten," he said slowly as if trying to get through to someone who was not all there.
"Did you buy me a kitten," she asked all in a rush, and at the slightest of nods she made a squee sound and was hugging him tightly. "thank you thank you thank you Harry!"
As soon as it had happened the large shopkeeper let out a loud laugh at the whole situation.
"You choose any kitten that strike you Miss; I got all that you need packaged up here and a nice plush carrier as well. I'm sure a young lass like you will take great care of any of the little ones you take," he said watching her closely.
It took her all of a minute to pick up the squashed faced orange Persian kitten, tinier than any of the others. Carefully cradling him in her arms she brought him over to the counter.
"Right, let's see what you chose here," he said bringing his face closer to the counter. "You got an eye you do girl. This here is a half-Kneazle. Very intelligent, and a good judge of character, he'll protect you from bad people, and keep your house safe. So long as you trust in him, and take good care of him, he will do his best to let you know if a person is good enough to be around you." He gently picked the kitten up and put him into the carrier, "now also know that they tend to get a bit aggressive sometimes. Not to worry though, they won't do it for no reason. Also, while he can't speak to you the way we do, he does understand you, and can learn what some might call tricks, to let you now simple answers or words. I admit I was a bit worried for this one, he was the runt of the litter, so many people passed him over, but since you have taken a liking to him, I'm sure it just means he was waiting for you."
"Really?" she said struck by the idea that the cat could be destined for her.
"Let's just say young lady that no one really knows what goes on in a cat's mind. Not even a cat animagus is willing to try to explain any of why a cat does what it does to us. I figure cats might be smarter than we are, and they just know something is coming and when they need to act. This little one has been quite standoffish to many other kids and adults, but warmed right up to you, that says something doesn't it?"
"Yes, yes it does," she said picking up the carrier and looking into the eyes of her orange fluff ball. "Thank you."
"Thanks!" Harry said as well gathering up the owl and Hermione with her cat before exiting.
It wasn't until they got back over to the three adults that Hermione finally looked at the owl staring at her, and laughed. Looking at the bird she couldn't stop laughing as it raised one wing in a comical fashion and covered its face for a brief moment then looking at her again as if she suddenly appeared there.
"What's all this commotion about?" Emma asked then she too looked at the goofy bird, "is that bird playing peek-a-boo?" Hermione could only nod as she laughed each time the bird startled itself in finding people still there when it lowered its wing.
"well then this goofy thing needs a name. Harry did you have to find the funniest looking bird there?" Dan asked as he was questioning the sanity of the bird.
"Oh, yes sir. He has quite the personality to him. I figure he will make anyone smile when they see him, and he seems pretty friendly as well." Harry looked over at Hedwig who seemed unimpressed by the other owl.
"Archimedes, Archie for short," Hermione finally managed between the giggles. "He kind of looks like how I imagine Merlin's owl would look, what with all the strange things Merlin is said to have done."
"Now that you both have owls, and can send each other letters, keep it to one every few days, like a pen pal. Decent sized messages at that. You don't want to exhaust them with constant singular sentences and answers flying all over the place," her father said looking at the two kids. Once he had them nod in agreement the group headed off back through the Leaky Cauldron, and back out onto the London street.
"Alright harry, let's get you home ta yer relatives," Hagrid said as he began placing all of the purchases in the magical motorcycle.
"Can I call you later harry? Or you call me?" Hermione asked worried for her friend.
"No, the Dursleys wouldn't want me on the phone," he said looking rather torn about separating. "Can I owl you tomorrow?"
"Yes," she said and wrapped him in one of her famous Hermione hugs.
With a heavy heart he climbed into the sidecar, and waved as the Grangers wandered off. It wasn't until they were almost back to Surrey that Hagrid spoke to him.
"That Hermione seems ta be a good girl. Glad ya both were able to make friends," he said glancing at his young charge.
"Yeah, me too. I can't wait to hang out with her some more," he said looking up at the large bearded face.
"When I saw ya harry I thought ya would be more like yer dad, but ya are most like yer mum," he said with a tear in his eye. "She would be proud of ya I'm sure."
There was nothing more that could be said on that topic, but it did warm him to know someone else thought he would make his parents proud.
Sadly once he got back into the house, all happiness seemed to leave him. By the looks of the dishes on the table, they had already had dinner, meaning Harry had missed out. Lucky for him, he had managed to talk them into letting him into the sweets shop, and he had them all stored in his trunk.
The walrus of a man glared at him from his recliner, and his horse faced aunt stood boring holes into him from the kitchen door. Dudley was laying on the sofa flipping through the channels trying to find something to watch.
"I had hoped we would be rid of you freak," his aunt said with all the venom she had. "Since you are back, you can wash the dishes, but you missed the meal." Her sneer said it all, that she was glad she wasn't going to be feeding him anything.
"Because of all that nonsense with the mail, you are to clear our Dudder's second bedroom tomorrow. Then you can move all your freakish things in there with you," she sneered after him as she watched him take the dishes to the sink. "So tonight will be your last night in your cupboard. Be thankful of that."
"Thank you aunt petunia," he said clearly putting in all the gratitude he could muster at the moment. Meanwhile reminding himself, only about a month to go.
