A/N: Hey everyone, Rose here. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed this story so far! I love getting feedback from you guys. Just a head's up, I always thought that Harry's attending Hogwarts was a trigger for certain events, which is why some of the events in this HP timeline might be different then in the actual series. This was intentional, and are mostly to help the story progress. So, thanks again, love you all, enjoy!
Chapter 7: What's a Hogwarts?
There wasn't much conversing on the way to the Leaky Cauldron. Not only because both Harry and Hermione had little to talk about (Harry himself was deep in thought), but also because both were too busy trying to keep to their bench. As the Knight Bus rocketed this way and that, the furniture in the bus followed suit, skidding back and forth across the floor. The conductor - introduced as Stan - didn't seem all that bothered, merely reading a newspaper as the driver steered wildly with little assistance.
"Harry," Hermione managed to say to Harry, "the pictures in that newspaper are moving,"
Curiously enough, Hermione was quite right. Slapped across the front page was the headline 'BLACK IS BACK' and had a photograph of a man in chains and stripes on the front. But the picture was indeed moving, though there was no sound coming from it,
"Excuse me, Conductor, sir?" Harry asked, jerking again as the Knight Bus made a wild turn,
"Aye?"
"Who's that, there on the newspaper?" Harry motioned to said paper as Stan looked at it, and then back at Harry with a darkness in his eyes,
"I rlly' shouldn't be telling ye, but this here is Sirius Black. The only criminal to eva' escape Azkaban," Stan tapped the photograph with a finger, and stared with wide eyes between Harry and Hermione, "you keep a look out for him', wherever you two are goin'. Hear me?"
Harry made a nod of his head as the bus came to a sudden stop, sending Harry and Hermione towards the front wall, "the Leaky Cauldron,"
Shaking his head and exhaling deeply, Harry gently nudged Hermione to her feet as they thanked Stan quietly and left the bus. Standing on the sidewalk as the purple monstrosity blasted off again and vanished completely, Harry turned to Hermione.
"I don't think I'll ever ride a bus again," Harry commented, quirking a lip at the light shade of green his best friends face had taken during the ride, "are you ok?"
"Fine, just a little sick to my stomach is all,"
"So why did we come here again?" Harry turned to look at the little hole in the wall place they had been dropped in front of and frowned,
"The bearded man said someone named Tom had your key here," Hermione answered instantly, tucking a loose curl behind her ear as she regained herself. Even so off her game, Hermione is still the prettiest girl, "are you paying attention, Harry?"
"Hmm? Yes, Tom has my key. Uh..." Harry glanced at the little pub again untrustingly, "key to what exactly?"
"I...I don't really remember? It was a place," Hermione insisted, "and this is where he said Tom would be,"
"Are you sure this is a good idea? What if we're wrong?"
"We're fast. Come on, Harry this is our chance to see what Wizards do. Aren't you the least bit curious?"
Hermione took both of Harry's hands in hers as he glanced up at the Leaky Cauldron again. Of course Harry was curious. In fact, he was practically bursting at the seams for a chance to get away from his Aunt, Uncle and Cousin. He was even more thrilled that Hermione was with him, holding his hand and remaining right by his side. Like she always does. But Harry couldn't help but worry. What if Hermione got hurt? Or taken? Or...anything, really. Harry couldn't imagine a life without his best friend,
"I am. Just...I don't want you to get hurt. I couldn't live with that,"
"Harry, I can take care of myself. Really I can. Besides, no one would dare tussle with a boy named Harry Potter. I can just see it. People will bend at the mere mention of your name,"
"That's silly, Hermione. Why would anyone do that?"
Hermione giggled brightly, the sparkle once again returning to her dark marble eyes as Harry smiled too,
"I dunno, but you're quite a character, Mr. Potter. Now come on. You should escort me in,"
"Well, if you're totally sure,"
"Of course I'm sure,"
Hermione smiled as Harry once again looped his arm through her. But Harry couldn't help but admire this new, strikingly confidant Hermione Granger. She walked with a certain pep in her step, and Harry felt as though she could walk into any room and set it off like a firework. Smiling stupidly to himself, he opened the door to the Leaky Cauldron and bowed slightly, Hermione chuckling again and slipping inside. Following after, Harry looked around in sharp alertness. The tavern was small and dingy, and smelled slightly of sweat and booze. There were rough wall lanterns illuminating the tired patrons, and in one corner, a floating band of magical instruments played a slow, sad song,
"Those instruments are playing themselves," Harry stated, keeping Hermione close to him as she nodded,
"It's magic, Harry. Real magic,"
"Oi!"
The rough voice got both Harry and Hermione's attention as the older man behind the counter jerked his hand at them, "c'mere,"
Glancing at each other, Hermione tugged a bit at Harry's sleeve as they approached. The man seemed irked, but his eyes reflected no hateful intent,
"What're you kids doin' in here?"
Come up with something Harry!
"We're looking for someone," Harry blurted, "someone named...Tom?"
The bartender was quiet for a moment before leaning in a bit closer,
"That's me. Who sent you?"
"A man with a white beard, and a woman who could turn into a cat. I-I can't remember their names," Hermione replied. Tom sat back slightly on his heels, lifting a furry brow up into his hairline. Does he believe us? Harry unconsciously squeezed Hermione's hand as Tom made a noise in his throat,
"Dumbledore and McGonagall sent you here? Alone? What fer?"
"A key sir," Hermione answered again, squeezing Harry's hand back as she smiled a bit, "this is Harry Potter,"
"I don't believe you," Tom said sharply, "I want proof,"
Glancing wildly at Harry, Hermione shrugged. Think on your feet Harry.
"W-what kind of proof?" He finally asked. Tom narrowed his eyes,
"The scar should be enough, eh? If you really are Harry Potter,"
"My scar?" Harry turned to Hermione confusedly, how does he know about that? Hermione merely shrugged at his silent question and moved her arms in a go on! Motion. Sighing, Harry lifted his long bangs to reveal the lightning bolt seared onto his head,
"Bloody hell, its really you!" Tom exclaimed, "its really Harry Potter,"
The music in the tavern seemed to stop as tired patrons looked up in curiosity, "I'm sorry for my suspicions earlier, Mr. Potter. Dumbledore informed me I wouldn't be seeing you for a few years yet,"
"I-its fine," Harry mumbled. Was this Dumbledore the same bearded man Hermione saw during the winter?
"There's been a change of plans," Hermione stated, patting Harry's shoulder, "we uh...are attending...Hogwarts, this year. And we need Harry's key,"
"Oh? The old coot has finally given in, eh? Well, alright then. Jus' wait here,"
Tom vanished from behind the bar as Harry turned to Hermione questioningly,
"What's a Hogwarts?"
"I have no idea," Hermione shrugged slightly, "but Smoky said she wanted you to attend there. So I suppose it's like a...school? Or perhaps a camp?"
"Oh,"
"Here you are, then, Mr. Potter. One key to Gringotts,"
Tom handed a white envelope over the counter and smiled. Harry gently took the envelope and smiled back,
"I'm sorry, sir. But..." Hermione glanced over her shoulder slightly and knitted her brows, forming the rest of the question in her mind, "how do we get to Gringott's?"
"Through Diagon Alley, of course. Just head into the back room there, and tap one, three, five, six on the brick wall with your wand. I swear, if ole' Dumbledore didn't have his head screwed onto his shoulders he'd lose it,"
Tom gave a hearty laugh as Hermione nudged Harry in the correct direction. Slipping into the back room, Harry exhaled deeply,
"You were brilliant, Hermione,"
"So were you, Mr. Potter. Now, he said one, three, five, six on the wall?"
Harry nodded, turning to the wall which now faced them. This just looks like a normal brick wall to me. Harry thought, watching as Hermione pulled her wand from inside her jumper. To Harry's pleasure, she had wrapped navy colored yarn around the bottom to create something that looked like a handle. Staring at the wall for a moment, she bit her lip,
"One," Hermione tapped a brick on the left of the hole, "three," she then tapped the second brick on the top, followed by five which was on the right side, and six which was on the bottom. For a short while nothing happened, but soon enough, Hermione jumped back as the wall began to move. Pulling her to his chest and wrapping his arms around her waist, Harry and Hermione watched as the wall opened up brick by brick, revealing what Tom called Diagon Alley,
"It's...it's incredible," Hermione rasped, releasing herself from Harry's grip as she smiled and turned around, "come on, Harry!"
Running forward with a laugh, Harry smiled too and followed after his best friend, watching as she practically jumped up and down in the midst of the chaos. It was a narrow shopping center, selling all types of things. There were shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments Harry had never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels' eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon (JKR Book 1)...
"Harry! Look there!"
Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and pointed down the alley, where a tall, crooked white building stood guard over the horizon. Across its front, GRINGOTTS stood out in big, shiny gold letters, "that's where we need to go,"
"Ok, come on. We'll come back and explore, I promise," Harry mumbled in Hermione's ear, not failing to noticing the longing look she was throwing towards the bookstore across the alley. Nodding, she padded along with Harry towards the white building and practically ran up the front steps. Heaving the large front doors open, Hermione automatically ducked behind Harry in fright,
"What...what are they?"
Harry looked around at the creature filling up the cavernous front room of Gringotts. They looked a bit like...trolls? Maybe Dudley on a bad day.
"I'm not sure. Stay close,"
"As long as you promise to behave, Mr. Potter," Hermione stated, reaching up to flatten Harry's black hair, "I think we should do our best to make a good first impression. No matter what these things are,"
Harry smiled slightly and nodded, walking arm in arm with Hermione towards the large front desk at the head of the room. Stopping before it, Harry nervously glanced at Hermione before clearing his throat. Soon, a pair of beady eyes were looking down on him,
"Yes?"
"Uh...I-I'm Harry Potter? I have my key, sir," Harry stuttered out nervously, holding up the envelope. The troll creature blinked its beady eyes,
"And you want to make a withdrawal, Mr. Harry Potter?"
Harry blinked and turned to Hermione, who whispered in his ear, this must be a bank Harry. The key is to some kind of vault.
"Yes, please. Sir," Harry answered quietly afterwards, watching as the troll nodded and sat back,
"Griphook will take you to your vault, Mr. Potter. Do you wish your companion to accompany you?"
"Yes sir. I trust her with my life,"
"Very well. Griphook. The Potter Vault,"
Turning, Hermione and Harry watched another troll creature waddle from behind the desk.
"Follow me, please. Mr. Potter and Missus,"
Nodding, Harry pulled Hermione along with the small creature as they ended up in a rolling cart. Before they knew it, the rollercoaster like ride was over and Hermione had to practically fall to the floor. She must get easy motion sickness. Harry thought with a chuckle, once again spotting the greenish color adorning Hermione's cheeks,
"Key please," Griphook said, holding out a hand as Harry fumbled with the white envelope and shook the tiny gold key from inside. Handing it to the tiny troll, Harry was starting to doubt if the creature actually was a troll? He moved to the metal door and unlocked it. Watching with wide eyes as the door opened wide, Harry's jaw dropped. The vault was piled with gold and silver,
"Harry...that's..."
Hermione's voice seemed to have been stolen as Griphook glanced between them quietly,
"This is the Potter vault. Your current balance is £253,125 (or $367,828),"
"Its all mine?" Harry asked, turning to Griphook as his eyebrow lifted,
"You are Harry Potter, are you not?"
"Yes," Harry replied, "so...I can take as much as I need?"
"Indeed Mr. Potter. Here," Griphook handed a brown cloth bag to Harry, "fill it with what you need, and I will calculate your balance again afterwards,"
Glancing into the vault again, Harry felt Hermione come to his side. Grabbing her hand, he smiled and waved to the vault,
"Think this is enough to get to the Ocean, Hermione?"
Her eyes twinkled brightly as her jaw unhooked slightly,
"Do you mean it, Harry?"
"I promised I would take you," Harry said, watching as Hermione's eyes diverted away from him. Taking Her hand, Harry cocked his head to one side, "-and that I'd get you another ring," lifting a hand as Hermione opened her mouth, Harry successfully cut her off, "Nope, you aren't allowed to protest, I insist. Now come on," Harry waved to the vault and smiled broadly, "I need some help filling this bag,"
