AN: Thank you all for sticking with me, and again sorry for basic spelling/grammar/plot issues... this is a 1st draft and i am taking notes on things you are all catching to fix once I complete this and go go back through and flesh it out a bit more and clean it up.
Yes there will be more gamer framework, especially once they hit school, i must admit tho i did kind of misplace my notebook on story info... so i I have a page of what i added here, and once i find that dang notebook i will really be back in business. One thing i am planning for are game upgrades, glitches, and the ever dreaded rollback... not like i can do a daily login bonus for him since he is living it...
Harry does have access to all of his memories, they are ' locked ' so he can take them year by year at a time of his choosing. I tried to explain why that is here, and i hope it makes sense.
Feel free to give me some ideas as well : ) This story is not set in stone, and i have a very flexible skeleton. If i use your idea i will give you a thanks in my notes too : )
I know this story isn't for everyone, but i am glad to see so many of you are amused by it. Thanks for joining me on this wold ride ! again feel free to point out if i made any glaring mistakes, I am using a site that has a calendar time line and i am trying to stick with that, as well as some of the other resources out there.
Until next time ENJOY ! ( and i may time hop to get the group to school faster... )
Once everyone was safe within the Leaky Cauldron Harry paused the world.
" Harry ?" his soul mate asked confused as to the reason.
" I wanted to look at some things, and some people here. I mean not so much the people, because they either love me or hate me, but even with my mind the way it is, I need to start looking at things. I mean I saw how I was last time, I just went along and while I had some ideas, " he shrugged as he looked about the room and the patrons therein.
"Well you did try to take on twenty three years of memories in a single night. Ambitious, and foolhardy to say the least of it. The trauma of all those years hitting your brain and body at once, " she shuddered.
" Yeah, my mind is still sorting it all out. Wish I hadn't done it, but I wont be doing anything like that again, " he grinned. " I'll have to find other daft things to do. "
"Prat, " she replied rolling her eyes at him with crossed arms.
" Well then, let's look about an examine things, never know what might come in handy, " he said turning his gaze onto his cousin.
" You want to see how he's changed ? Not a bad idea, " she followed his example and together they examined Dudley.
Dudley Dursley – Currently being fostered with his cousin by the Granger family, he is also coming to terms that he is a wizard and was bewitched to hate his cousin. After everything he has done to his cousin in the past he really want to make up for it, and doesn't want to be remembered as a bully. He is also dealing with the fact that he caused a great deal of harm to many other kids in his classes with his friends. The main goals in his life are to be a better cousin, a better student, and just an all around better person. Since meeting two new witches and chatting with them, he thinks he may really like it in the wizarding world, and he thinks he might like Susan Bones.
" Oh my, " Hermione said with a grin. " He has changed hasn't he ?"
"Yeah quite a bit, " Harry said feeling a bit embarrassed that he now knew his cousin had a growing crush, perhaps even before the boy himself figured it out.
" Madame Bones next ?" she asked trying to get his attention off of his discomfort, and received a nod.
Amelia Bones – A stern woman who holds a family seat on the Wizengamot, as well as the head of the Department For Magical Law Enforcement. While the world sees her as stern, to friends and family she is warm, caring, and very overprotective. Since the death of her brother and wife she has taken care of their daughter, Susan, raising her as if she were her own. However she does regret that her job takes her away for long hours, and does not allow for many holidays with her niece. It does make her happy that she has a very close friend in Hannah Abbott, and is also hoping that the two girls with become fast friends with her three new magical charges. At the current moment Amelia is having her own plots against the grand manipulator, and has begun plans to help Hogwarts starting this very year. To those reading this, the fact of this will become very evident shortly, and those of us watching are in high hopes that this will make this go round far more fun and enjoyable for you.
INCOMING MESSAGE
We on staff in the Games Department thank you for becoming our first couple on mission. We do hope that you enjoy what you learn through examining people, creatures, and items. However that being said as much as we could give you vital information we have been blocked from doing so. ( sorry ) While we cannot give you major game information, um, life information, we can give hints. While this one is quite overt, in order to trigger this message, the other may not be so blatant.
Also we send a hearty cheer of congratulations for the major ripples you have sent out so far. These changes of course do make some of that happened in your last time through obsolete, however everything you have previously lived through may hold vital clues and tricks on how to deal with situations. So we also send you the information that we have locked you from viewing previous life memories until after you arrive at school. Truly we are sorry for the inconvenience we know this poses, however Jacob had this to say ( verbatim ) , " What kind of moron are you !? Reliving two painful past childhoods and a year of school in one go !? You are lucky you didn't fry all of your neural pathways from the instant shock of trauma to your min and body ! I am personally locking you both out of those parts until I am certain your brain has fully recovered, and trust me it is going by faster than it should be thanks to your magic and the occlumency. "
Jacob then huffed out of our office after putting in the lock out codes. In order to help you both out we have added a fix for some issues that would normally take more time, such as the potion regiment. No one wants to take a daily med if they don't have to, so we are going to give the two of you and Dudley a boost on how well they work. In fact you may have already noticed this take effect, and it will stay on until you head off for school, but this is a one time boost only. Don't expect it to stay on because that might draw more attention to you both.
Good luck, and Give ' em hell !
The Gamer Department
" Well, " Harry said as the two looked at one another from the message. " So that happened. "
"A triggered event, interesting. Also good to know that they can drop us hints and messages, " she said nodding thoughtfully.
" Yeah that is nice to know. Kinda mad at myself now too, for doing what I did. First thing I do when I get back is to run things like I know what I am doing, but I really don't, " he said looking to her.
" Harry, no one knows what they are really doing in life. We all just make choices and then have to learn to live with them. Thanks to you we get the chance to try again, and when our minds are ready force yet more information into them. "
"Yeah only this time, only a year at a time, " he said. " As much as it would be good to have all of that information on hand, if we were to start casting spells learned in sixth year we would really stand out. "
"Well said Harry, " she beamed at him. " As they said much of the information is now pretty much moot, but it still might hold very useful information. So Once we get settled in at school, then we can plan on when to view the next one. "
"I'd like to get through a few years of knowledge before Christmas. I mean we have already caused some major changes, and if we know what else happened we might be able to ' find ' some clues to set people checking out other things if there were other issues like Dud's parents. "
"Well let's say that depending on how traumatic year two was, we can see about doing year three as well or hold off on it if we need more time. I'd prefer if we didn't look at any memories until October, since you already overloaded yourself once, but we shall see how things turn out at school first and then we can talk about it ? Maybe I do year two first and see how bad it really is, then let you do it if it isn't so bad ?"
"I dunno about you going first, but yeah, we can talk about it later. Right now we should focus on everything here around us, and how awesome we are going to look in flying leathers, " he said with a wide toothy grin.
" Silly fly-boy, " she said and then resumed things.
Dudley was looking about at everything not really certain about the rather old tavern, but was surprised when Susan grabbed his hand and began leading him to the entrance of the alley.
As Amelia tapped the code for the alley everyone kept an eye on Dudley to see his reaction to seeing it all for the first time. No one was disappointed with his bug-eyed fish mouthed impression of shock, that quickly changed into a big grin of embarrassment as he heard the group laugh at him in jest.
" Quite a sight isn't it ?" Harry asked him.
" Yeah, never thought it would be this amazing, " he said still fixated on the moving signs, and the images moving on the fliers. " Do they all do that ?"
"Move ? Yes, they do, " Susan replied cheerily. " Sometimes when there is a new one people will crowd around for a few minutes to see everything that it does, especially new products. "
The three girls giggled at his reactions to everything, but poor Dudley was just blown away that anyone could hate all of this stuff. This made him yet even more confused about his own parents, but he decided to shake it off for now, and think on that later.
Harry began heading forwards down the street when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder, looking back he saw Madame bones looking down at him.
" Where do you think you are going ?" she asked curiously.
" To the bank, to get money to pay for Dudley's things. " It was confusing as to why she would even ask him that, it wasn't like his cousin had any money to spend here and even if he did there would need to be an exchange from pounds to galleons.
" Ah, I see. " The woman smiled at him and squeezed his shoulder reassuringly, " you don't need to worry about that. I am paying for him. The Grangers are in charge of taking care of the three of you, " she said also indicating Hermione, " in the muggle world. I am in charge of seeing to your needs on this side. It had skipped my mind that you might think you needed to pay for your cousin, however it is the guardian's job to do so. As such I have already reimbursed the Grangers for Hermione's magical school supplies, and have put money back into your trust for the supplies you bought as well, not for the extra library the two of you got your hands on, but the actual list of school things. "
"Do the other muggle kids have magical guardians that pay for things too ?" Dudley asked very curious on how this whole thing worked.
" Sadly no. It is a very old system, and after the last war, many of the families that used to sponsor the muggleborn with their school supplies, " she wiped a tear forming from her eye behind the monocle. " Sadly many of those families were killed. As of this moment the ministry is still trying to get those family vaults that have sat dormant all these years to be emptied into their coffers, but the goblins do believe that many squib lines will be coming back, and if they do the test at the bank, might find the legal heirs of those vaults and pass them onto the children at their age of majority. "
"I think I may have to do that then, " the bushy haired girl stated plainly. " I had no idea that they could do that, and I bet most if not all muggleborns don't know about it either, " she stated.
" Madame Bones ?" Harry said drawing her attention to him, " is there a Gringotts bank branch office near Hogwarts ? Just in case I need to put money back or get more money out ?"
"No, the goblins only have a bank in Diagon Alley within England. I think there is one branch office that is shared for Ireland and Scotland, " she replied. " Goblins aren't given the same rights as witches and wizards, something the older generation has been fighting to keep in place. In fact as you will learn they are considered creatures, as are centaurs and a number of other intelligent races. "
"Barbaric, " Dan barked angrily. " Doubt your magical law system sees us any better then ?"
"Sadly, " she said with a cough, " no. Many of us have worked to protect and change laws to keep the non-magical side safe, but some people just think that they are better because of their blood, and they have no idea the things that exist in your world. At this point to most of them it would be a completely different world. "
The group then wandered into the Olivanders ' Wands, mulling over the thoughts of how strange both sides of the coin truly were at this point.
" Well Mr. Hellstrom, I am glad we were finally able to fit you with a wand, " the shopkeeper said taking a handkerchief to his brow. " Thank you for your patronage and good luck with your schooling, " the man said to a tanned dark haired boy in his teens, after he passed over the coin for the purchase.
" Thank you Sir, " he said and left the shop with a grin.
Harry paused the world after the boy left the store, and looked at his best friend.
" I don't recall him at school, do you ?"
"No, and Harry, look at the shop, " she said still looking at the no longer dusty and cluttered shelves.
True enough as he looked about, the shop was no longer the cluttered mess it had been before. Now the place was tidy by comparison. While there were still some wand boxes scattered on the main counter, there were no longer stacks of them all over the aisles as there had been.
Garrick Olivander – Presently rather exhausted by the number of people who have come in recently getting their first wands. He is happy at the fact that there are so many new students, but is also very curious why some of them did not start their magical school at age eleven. Since taking over the family business he has narrowed down the cores that he personally chooses to work with to what he feels are the three best ; Unicorn hair, Dragon Heartstring, and Phoenix Feathers.
"So looks like that is one big ripple right there, " she said looking at the green eyed boy.
" Yeah, more students. Going to be harder to keep track of me in a crowd that size, " he grinned, " especially since I wont have the famous scar of glasses by the time we go. "
"Well don't think I am going to let you out of my sight for long. With all that we managed to get up to in our fist year with such a small number, it will be near chaos this time around. "
"Right, well, sorry for the abrupt pause, I just was curious if you had seen that boy in our last go round. Now back to living life !" and with that said he restarted things once more.
" How can I help the group of you today ?" Garrick said looking over the whole group with a tired smile.
" Garrick, I would like to introduce to you, Dudley Dursley. This year he is starting Hogwarts, and will be needing a wand, and like the others here a holster, " she looked at the young boy before her. " They strap to your arm, and this way your wand is always at the ready, as well as not going to be broken by sticking it in your back pocket or some such other place. "
"So many new students this year, " he said wistfully. " Now I know how my father felt back in the day, busy as can be selling wands left and right, " he called out from the stacks as the tape measure began to whiz about the pudgy boy.
" Yes, well it is good to see that there will be so many new faces in the coming years, " Amelia said as she batted the pesky measure away from the lad. " It does appear that you will be quite busy trying to restock the shelves this year. "
"Oh yes, " he said returning with a haphazard pile of wand boxes. " I am actually quite giddy with the thought of being able to better organize the shop, as well as the crafting I shall get to do. " Once the boxes were on the counter he motioned for the young boy to step forward, " come forwards. Now then, if this row are some wands my father made, as well as those I made. I would like you to close your eyes and reach for a box that you think might be your wand. "
Since this was different from how the rest of them had gotten their wands before they all watched closely. Taking a deep breath Dudley closed his eyes and then reached out his hand to a seemingly random box.
" Don't open your eyes yet, choose another one, and then a third. I am trying to see what type of wand you might need, " he looked at the group. " I am trying to narrow things down a bit, can't spend hours on one child anymore, " he grinned looking at Harry.
For all his knowledge and growth that he was doing, he still couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed and blush at this.
" Ah I see, " Garrick then said as he looked into each of the boxes. " All three are my father's creations, and none of them contain the cores I prefer to work with. Very interesting young man. Now we shall start with the three you pulled, and then we shall go from there and I will try to find you the prefect wand. "
The chaos of trying wands then began, lights, flames, confetti, rotten egg smell, vases exploding, among a variety of other obnoxious things. The wand maker was not put off by any of these, but simply waved his own wand to set things to right.
" Well then, shall we try number twenty and hope for the best ?" he grinned handing another wand to a now much more cautious cousin.
" Lucky number twenty ?" He said taking a breath and looking at the wand intently before even beginning to reach for it. " I think this is the one, I have a really good feeling about it. "
That said, and an eyebrow raise from the son of the wand's crafter, he reached out and took the wand, and warm light enveloping the boy and his new item.
" How does it feel ?" the elder asked.
" It feels warm, and like it had always been waiting for me, " Dudley said with a grin as he gave the wand a firm swish, causing an empty pitcher to fill with water.
" Ah very good, " he replied handing the wand holster to the boy. " Your wand is something a bit special. My father, in all his years selling wands, has only ever sold three with the wood yours is. What you have is a Fir wand containing the hair of a mermaid, nine and a half inches, and very sturdy. This wand will do you quite well. "
Dudley stared at the fine wood with carvings engraved in it like waves, and a small shell at the very base of the handle. This was his wand. He, Dudley Dursley was going to go learn magic, at a magic school with his cousin. No longer was he ever going to be the bully, but instead to protect. This was his wand and he was going to do his best ever, and prove to himself and to his parents that magic was not wrong, and that he was not a freak like they had called his cousin.
Dudley was surprised and excited about everything, and that was infectious for all the kids. Even Hermione was surprised at herself being excited going into the Quidditch supply store. While Harry was more than excited about looking at the brooms, since he had the memories of flying from the last time through, he was excited about the prospect of flying again. While she was nervous about the idea, Dudley was down right skeptical that a broom would hold him at his current weight, making him even more determined to lose some of the pounds.
The main reason for going into the store in the first place was to get flight goggles, which Susan and Hannah were rather upset at Amelia for buying for them. However while the store sold pads and gear, they told Dan that if they wanted some ridiculous flight costume they would have to go see madam Malkin. There was general laughter by the staff as they headed out.
" Well that grinds my gears, " Dan growled. " Costume indeed ! Didn't even let me explain what the whole thing was about, right arse !"
"Dan !" Emma admonished, and Harry could now see where Hermione got that singular disapproving look from when he had cussed last go round.
"Right, " Dan said, not paying attention to his own wife, he looked at the three kids he was caring for. " Onward to the clothing store ! We shall get you three kitted up properly for flying, and show that right bastard that this isn't some silly costume. To war !"
The whole group watched Dan Granger stride with military purpose towards where he knew from his last visit the store he needed was. Emma for all her worth was shaking her head slowly with a deep sigh, and Amelia looked greatly amused.
" I take it like is a rare occurrence for your husband ?" the older woman said with a grin.
" Yes, " she paused, " well no. Dan was in the military, air force, to be precise. So when people talk poorly about military, the uniforms, the training, anything to do with it, it just gets him like this. Drives me crazy when we watch old war movies and he sits there criticizing things for not being right. He enjoys the movies, but he just can't stop himself, " she sighed deeply again. " We best catch up with him before he gets into too much trouble. "
Just like that the group began moving after the man on a mission, arriving quite a bit behind him. Photos were spread all over the main counter and he had the rapt attention of two of the younger staff as well as the owner herself who was looking over the every still non-magical images.
" So you mean to tell me, that these things made of metal can fly ?"
"Yes Ma'am, " he told the owner sharply, " and I have been lucky enough to fly one like what you see in the picture there. Granted the one I had was for fun, and not military purpose, but the idea is very similar to your brooms. You get up high enough and it gets cold, wind whipping in your face, and you are at the mercy of the elements and your skill with what you are flying. Now that man down the road at your sport supply dared to call these military flight leathers, a costume. He sent me down her4e laughing the whole time I was there, probably getting a laugh still, and Ma'am I want to make him choke on those guffaws and turn them to tears. " Glancing back he waved the three kids over, " we got the flight goggles from his shop. Now I want these three kitted up like the men and woman in the images, some spells to keep them warm, and dry of course, but I want to make wearing things like this popular. If he isn't willing to take the chance, perhaps you will be ? I can also get you images of other types of military flight uniforms, get you more options, but these are the common British ones. "
Malkin shooed the two girls from behind the counter to go and assist the customers while she gathered up the images and took a seat in an alcove with Dan. It was obvious to anyone that the two were in a very important meeting about what the images held.
" Mum, " Hermione said getting her mother's attention. " You know you should sit, dad's going to be a while talking about the cut of this and that to her. With any luck we can get them made up today too. I'm sure once Hannah and Susan see them, they might also want some good flying gear ?" she asked looking at the two girls.
" I'm very interested in seeing what he has in mind as well, " the magical guardian said as she kept one eye on the animated discussion that had a quill sketching away like it might catch fire.
Once more the tape measures were flying, and Dudley was stunned at just how fast it all moved. While they had been there for almost an hour as their measurements were taken and the orders filled, Dan has vanished with the woman into the back room.
With packages shrunk down and stored in the two purses, the group sat to wait for Dan. Thankfully they didn't have to wait very long as a very happy Madame Malkin came bursting out of the back room, Dan in full world war one flight gear striding out behind her like he was walking onto a movie set.
Audible gasps were heard around the shop by the women therein, after all nothing is better than a handsome, confident man in uniform, and Dan was proving that now.
" Now time for you three, " the woman smiled almost madly as she motioned for the three kids with the Grangers to head with her. She did glance over her shoulder at the other two girls, " Madame Bones, would you also like to bring the girls with you ? I can get you a set of these right now as well. "
"I think that is a very fine idea, " she said and took hold of the shoulders and walked with the two into the back workroom.
Once she had each person on a particular spot the woman began chanting and waving her wand in a rhythmic form of dance through the air. Fabrics, leather, brass buttons, zippers, and so many other bits and bobs zoomed around the room. Shears were cutting things in midair as needle and threat zoomed through them before they could get too far.
It was hard to tell where one should be looking as things flew about in some kind of dance, though it seemed to harry more like chaos. Scrap fabric began to litter the floor, and then it was banished to a crate off to the side.
Before he could really wrap his head around just what was going on the woman stopped her chanting and movements and began to appraise her work on her living models.
" Well, those really do look quite smart. I must say if the group of you walk down to the practice field in those I will have quite the orders coming in. " Malkin just grinned as a large mirror walked its way over so the group could see themselves.
Hermione was in love with it instantly, while Harry stared at his own reflection cutting quite the figure in the flight leathers. Dudley was bouncing with excitement now at how awesome and authentic it all looked to him, and how it really was a perfect fit.
As for the witches whom had never seen such outfits before, they were turning around and examining everything about them. Even Amelia was checking herself out in the mirror.
" Mr. Granger explained everything to me about how muggle flew back in the first world war, and since he had also flown such a plane, was able to really explain to me what it was like. Seems it is rather close to broom flight, if a bit more unrefined in doing turns and such, but size and all that. " She grinned as she watched them look over her work, " now each of these has added padding on where you will sit on a broom, as well as heating and cooling charms to help with all types of weather, and a spell to keep them dry. "
"You have really outdone yourself here, " Amelia said grinning as she continued to pose for herself in the mirror. " I feel like I could duel in these as well. "
"Well, that is a compliment coming from you, " she chuckled. " Now kids if you wouldn't mind forming a group and striking a heroic pose for me ? I am going to take some pictures of you. Then I am going to change the colors to house colors, and take more. I think if this really takes off, then they might become new uniforms for the sport. Wouldn't that just wonderful ? Poor man down the street laughing at this, only to lose out big, " she grinned as she took the first of several pictures.
" You are going to file this pattern so you are the only one ?" Hannah asked as she changed poses for the camera as the colors changed to Ravenclaw house colors.
" Oh yes ! Better still Dan, that is, Mr. Granger, is going to be bringing me even more images of the different countries ' uniforms. We might be creating a whole line of flight gear, and even dueling uniforms. I have to see what else he brings me, but if they are anything like these I must say there might be more women taking an interest in Quidditch. "
"How much do we owe you for these ?" Amelia asked as she got out her purse watching the house colors shift yet again, and the kids having fun making victory poses and acting like they were just heading off to take flight.
" Oh you get these ones for free. I need the people, especially the kids, to see them and advertise. I will get these pictures in the paper for the day after they have their first flight lessons. " She grinned happily as she watched the clothes revert to their normal colors once more, " and I am going to have a contract drawn up with Mr. Granger as he will have earned his share of profits from this. "
"Well then, let's get those packed into the bags children, we don't need to be walking down the street in them just yet, " the monocled woman said with a grin, as the group obviously wanted to protest.
" Flight lessons are going to be so awesome in these, " Susan said as she held the jacket and looked it over lovingly.
" I can't wait either !" Hannah said sharing in her best friend's excitement, " they are so comfortable, and warm ! It'll be so nice to wear to watch the matches as well with the charms in them. "
Eventually the two adults managed to get all of the new gear off the kids, and Dan, and added to their parcels.
" Thank you, " Emma said to the owner of the store. " I feel a lot better knowing they wont freeze to death while flying, now all I have to worry about is crashes and falling. "
"Don't worry yourself too much, the flight teacher is a very wonderful teacher. The kids don't go up too high on their first lessons, and they wont be allowed to try out for the team until second year, so there wont be any high speed crashes. " The woman said patting the mother's hand in reassurance.
" Dan told me that you and he are going into business with this idea. After the kids head off for school, I'd like to have you over to look at all the pictures he has. Oh and you might enjoy watching a movie with us, " she said hoping to have yet another woman she could turn to for magical advice.
" What is a movie ?" the woman asked very confusedly.
" Well, simply put it is kind of like your moving pictures, but with sound and they last a long longer. That is the, " she paused not knowing how to explain it better. " Your images repeat after a short time. A movie is about an hour long or so, like watching a play, but from the comfort of your own home. Also since they can take cameras where they choose, there is more than just the stage. I guess you will have to see one to really understand as well, " she said giving up on it all.
" I think I will have to take you up on that offer. I've never been into a muggle home before, so I might have many questions about things, if you do not mind answering ?"
"Oh not at all ! Since the kids are entering the magical world I will have some questions of my own I am sure, if you don't mind answering those as well ?"
This time Hermione paused the world and grinned at her soul mate.
" I am so happy that my parents are making friends with more magicals. They will be better able to understand and I wont have to feel like I am leaving them out of part of my life, " she confided happily.
" I'm glad I have you and even Dudley this time around. Looks like we are going to have a lot of new people and possibly new friends this time. Maybe the castle wont feel so empty and ominous with that change. "
"Oh I hope so ! I was just so excited !"
"I know, " he grinned. " Let's get back to it though, we still have a bit to go yet. "
With that once more the two restarted the world and found now that the ice really had been broken Hannah was finally chatting with the whole group and not hiding shyly behind her friend.
The next interesting thing that happened was when they stopped in to get Dudley an animal.
" Now I know what the letter says you are allowed to have, " Amelia began to him, " but I want you to take a very careful look about and see if anything really feels like they might be the right fit for you. "
"So they could take things other than a rat, owl, toad or cat ?" Dan asked puzzled.
" Yes well they try to keep most first years from bringing kittens, as they need so much care and attention and it often cuts into them doing their actual work. Owls, rats and toads do not require the same amount of care. There are others that are low maintenance as well, but not as popular, in fact toads are not all that popular, but are the easiest to care for and cheapest of them all. A good starter pet if you will, " she said as she watched the kids wander about to play with the other animals.
" Aren't Hannah and Susan getting pets today ?"
"They got their wands and pets on their birthdays, it is a tradition we have in the Bones and Abbott families. They really can't use the wands, but they get used to keeping them with them, and keeping them clean. Good habits should always be taught early if they can be, " she said with a grin.
Dudley wandered about the store looking at all the animals. Owls were cool, but Harry had an owl, and he didn't want to have the same thing as his cousin. Cats really weren't his thing, and after dealing with Aunt Marge and Ripper, well dogs were out of the question in his book. Also the idea of having a rat when Hermione had a cat, that just seemed like asking for his pet to be eaten. Not that the cat would, but it wasn't worth the risk.
It was surprising how many different animals were in what had on the outside appeared to be a small shop. They had large owls, and small songbirds, snakes, toads, frogs, cats, dogs, rats and mice, and so much more if you just kept looking.
That was when he saw something in a small cage hidden in some shadows back by the rodent care section. The little black eyes looked at him and blinked rapidly as if surprised someone had even seen it.
Cautiously he reached his hand out and offered it to the small animal to sniff. Just as cautiously the small hedgehog did sniff him, and then licked his finger.
Very happy and gently he lifted the cage from the shelf and took it to show the adults. It was an average size, and healthy, and quite active as he moved back to the adults, obviously happy to be leaving the dark spot of the store.
" I found my pet !" he announced happily as he came into view of the adults, and showed off the spiny creature.
" I will have to let Minerva know you are bringing a rodent, but not a rat, " she said with a grin. " He does seem to like you quite a lot, " Amelia said happily. " Now it will be up to you to care for him, so you best get used to it now. "
"I will ! I promise !" he said reaching a finger into the cage, where the little beast licked his finger again and then nuzzled it happily.
Thankfully there was no more excitement like the other shops and they finished quite quickly, other than the bookstore of course. It was actually kind of funny to Harry to watch his cousin beg to get a book all about dragons from the three adults. In all of his previous memories his overweight cousin had never been one for reading, and now here he was begging for an actual book. It really was amazing how things were changing.
The final stop was to get some ice cream since everything had gone so very well.
That night before bed, both Harry and Hermione collected their Exp from completing various side quests while in the Alley. Neither could really wait to begin spending their points on the skill grid, but knew it would be best to hold off. Nothing here was going to attack them, they were still in what could be considered the prologue of the story.
