Author's Notes:
*I do not own any of the material within this chapter. The scenes and characters depicted belong exclusively to JK. Rowling!*
Hi Everyone! I hope you're all doing well as places start reopening/closing down again. PA has started reopening (going green) and we've finally been able to go out and do stuff. It's been nice to sit poolside while studying. I have heard rumors that the bar exam will be postponed AGAIN. I hope not.
Beer of the chapter!: This chapter I drank a combination (alternating between) Modelo and Wake brand coffee. To be honest, I'm not a huge Mexican beer person, but I've been craving that summer taste they bring. So, I had a few and they really hit the spot. And the Wake coffee was amazing. It's a Papa New Guinea roast and pairs well with vanilla. 15/10 would recommend this brand! They ship all over the US (maybe out of country? Not sure) but it is delicious and well priced.
Reviews: Midnitewanderer: I'm sorry you've been so drained! But yay(?) you're back at work? I'll definitely understand if you don't review every chapter, but your presence will be missed! Self-care comes first, 100%. I thought that little litter from James to Sirius kind of summed up their relationship. A constant barrage of "why am I doing this?!" deal. Ha! You'll just have to wait until the next few chapters to see what's going to happen with Draco and the sorting and seeing Hermione. Trust me, I have so many plans for these next few chapters I can't wait to start! Y'all might get another surprise update, dunno yet. Dogfather, I love that! Can I steal it? Definitely stealing that. OMG I CRIED WHEN SIRIUS DIED IN ASC. Legit, I don't think I can ever top her death scene. It still has me in tears. It's still going to be a bit before Tonks and Remus are together, but the foundation is definitely being laid! Triggbc: There will definitely be more Hinny as the story progresses, but you have to remember that they're only 10/9 and Harry is frightfully obtuse with some stuff. Relationships included. As for Draco/Ginny as friends-I'm sorry you're not enjoying it yet, but I truly believe that in a different world, like this, they would have bonded over quidditch and been friends. Jaqen H'ghar: First off, love your name. I'm a big GOT fan. Secondly, I'm not sure how the pairings in my summary are misleading? This is going to be a Hinny and Romione story but, currently, these kids are 11/10 and aren't going to start dating for a while. And I believe that each of them, as was true in cannon, will have other relationships before realizing they were meant to be with the other. Hope you keep reading to see these relationships come to fruition!
Thank you everyone who has read this story through to now! Chapter 30 is a huge milestone in my eyes and I'm excited that I've had the chance to share my story with all of you and I can't wait to post more. Please PLEASE keep reviewing! Reading your reviews after I post a chapter is THE BEST part of writing my story. They make me smile and laugh and give me so many fun ideas!
Please enjoy chapter 30 of Ignoring Destiny!
Chapter Thirty: Diagon Alley
James made his way out to the quidditch pitch where he knew he would find Harry flying around and throwing a ball back and forth to himself. He smiled when he caught sight of Harry doing loop-d-loops; the boy was just a natural on a broom.
After a few minutes Harry caught sight of James and waived from his boom in the air, "Morning, dad!"
Even after 8 years of hearing that, having Harry call him dad still sent a warm, happy feeling through James, "Morning! Did you want to go get your school things today? I have the day off."
"Sure!" Harry shouted, "But can you throw the quaffle with me for a bit first? I want to practice for next season!"
James shrugged, "Why not? I'll grab my broom, give me a minute."
In his excitement, Harry threw both of his hands in the air and whooped, "Sweet! Thanks dad!"
Smiling and shaking his head, James made his way to the broom shed before heading up towards Harry. He stopped several yards away and tossed Harry the quaffle.
Somehow the morning seemed to slip by them both and before they knew it, it was after 12. Harry had convinced James to run several drills with him and they had had a good time doing it. They decided to quickly eat lunch before headed to Diagon Alley.
Later that afternoon James took Harry to the Leaky Cauldron by side-along apparition. They appeared just on the stoop of the pub so as not to be seen by the muggles passing by. Harry had always thought that the pub was grubby-looking, but today, as it was filled with witches and wizards, he felt it looked even more so.
As the door closed behind them Harry looked around the room and noticed how a buzz it was. Several paper nodded absently at James as they walked through the pub but it was Tom who managed to capture the interest of the surrounding patrons.
"Afternoon, Lord Potter. What brings you out to Diagon Alley?" Tom asked as he reached for a glass behind the counter.
James looked around the pub nervously, "Just doing a bit of shopping, Tom."
Tom peered around James, noticing Harry for the first time, "Good lord, is this—can this be—"
James frowned as the pub suddenly went completely still, the silence deafening Harry as he glanced around.
"Bless my soul," Tom whispered, "Harry Potter…what an honor. Lord Potter, you've been hiding this boy all these years?"
Tom hurried out from behind the bar and rushed towards Harry, his hand extended and tears in his eyes, "Welcome back, Lord Potter, welcome back."
Harry didn't know what to say. He stood there, uncomfortably with his hand being violently shaken, as everyone in the pub stared at him, mouths agape. He noticed the woman in the corner with the pipe had yet to realize it had gone out. James was attempting to pull Harry away from Tom, mumbling something about doing their shopping. But before James could manage to get Harry out the side door there was a great scraping of chairs and the next thing he knew he was surrounded by people, his hand being shaken and a great many of them patting his back, everyone was trying to get a touch of Harry Potter.
He met a Doris Crockford several times as she kept coming back up to him, and Dedalus Diggle. He also met a man wearing a very strange piece of cloth on his head.
"P—P—Potter," the man stammered, "c—can't t—tell you how p—pleased I am to meet you. I'm p—p—professor Quirrell, the d—defense against the d—dark a—arts p—professor at h—h—h—Hogwarts. You'll be g—getting all your equipment I suppose? I've g—got to p—pick up a new b—book on vampires, m—myself." He looked terrified at the very thought.
The patrons of the Leaky Cauldron didn't let Professor Quirrell have Harry to himself for long. After speaking to him, it took James nearly ten minutes to get out the side door, dragging Harry behind him. James frowned as the finally got the door shut and turned to Harry.
"I'm so sorry, Harry. I thought—I thought keeping you out of the limelight over the last decade would have deafened this some but…I guess I was wrong. I didn't realize people would act like that when they saw you."
Harry shrugged, "I don't know why they think I'm so special. I didn't do anything."
"It's just the fact that you survived that—that night," James said quietly, "Well, anyway, it won't be so bad in Diagon Alley because there will be more people to blend into. Just, cover your scar with your hair and I think we'll be ok. Actually, why don't I just hide it magically for a few hours. That way we can try to avoid another run-in like that."
"I'd like that," Harry said enthusiastically. The idea of people not being able to stare at his scar excited and pleased him.
He smiled as James waived his wand over his forehead, practically bouncing while he waited for his dad to complete the spell work.
When James had finished Harry beamed at him, "It's hidden?"
"For now, yeah," James said, "Now, let's get on with it so we can get back home. I can't even imagine what your first day at school is going to be like, now."
Harry frowned at the idea but then said, "I think it'll be ok. I'll have Ron, Fred, George, Percy, and Draco at school with me."
James nodded, "That's very true, Harry. I'm sure they'll help to divert attention away from you."
Harry nodded as James turned to the brick wall beside them and tapped the brick to open the doorway. As they stepped through, Harry turned and watched the archway shrink back into place, turning back into a solid brick wall. He grinned as he took in the sights of Diagon Alley and wished he had about eight more sets of eyes. He had only been to Diagon Alley once or twice as a young boy—for the most part James had taken Harry shopping in muggle London for clothes or went by himself to the wizarding shops to keep Harry out of direct sight of the magical community.
He turned his head in every direction as they walked up the street in an attempt to be able to see everything. He turned as he heard a low, soft hooting from a dark shop labeled, Eeylops Owl Emporium—Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy. He noticed several boys had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it. He couldn't help but stop and make his way over to the window and peer inside. Excitement filled him as he caught sight of the new Nimbus Two Thousand.
James had made it several shops away before he realized that Harry wasn't with him anymore. Panic filled him as he searched the crowd for a head of messy black hair. When he didn't immediately see him, he turned on his heel and quickly walked back down the road as he searched for him. Finally, James caught a glimpse of that Harry standing outside of Quality Quidditch Supplies admiring the latest Nimbus broom.
"Harry, you can't wander off like that. I thought something had happened to you!" James said in a low whisper.
Harry furrowed his brow in confusion before he realized what happened, "I'm sorry, dad. I got distracted by the broom. Isn't it beautiful? It's supposed to be the best. Have you ever ridden one?"
"Aye. The whole team has one for matches. We aren't allowed to take them with us though; they're too expensive."
Harry nodded, "Yeah, two thousand galleons is a little much for a broom I'd never use. But blimey, wouldn't it be a dream to ride…"
James nudged him in the side with his elbow, "You know, if you asked your old man nicely, I bet you could take a turn on his Nimbus."
Eyes widening in excitement, Harry exclaimed, "That would be so cool! Can I, dad? Please?"
"I have team practice every day this week for the world cup—pick a day and Sirius or Remus can bring you out to the pitch for a little while to fly, ok?"
"Yes! Oh, this is going to be so cool! Wait until Ron, Ginny, and Draco hear about this. They'll be so jealous!"
"Come on, we still have a ton of shopping to do today."
Harry nodded and followed James away from the shop and back onto the busy lane. As they made their way down the busy road, James caught sight of an overly large, hairy man in a moleskin overcoat. The man turned around and noticed James and Harry standing there and beamed at them before awkwardly making his way towards them.
"'Ello there James, Harry! Good to see yeh. What brings yeh ter Diagon Alley?" the large man asked as he beamed at Harry, "An' look at yeh, Harry. So big! Why, I remember when you was jus' a little baby."
"Hello, Hagrid," James replied, smiling, "Harry, this is Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of keys and game at Hogwarts. You'll see him around the grounds when you start in September. How are you, Hagrid? I haven't seen you in ages."
"Good, good. I'm here on official Hogwarts business today," he said as he puffed out his chest, filled to the brim with pride, "Dumbledore needs me to pick up som'it from Gringotts for him. I'm on my way over."
"We're on our way to Gringotts, too!" Harry exclaimed, "Maybe we can go with you? Dad?"
"Only if it's ok with Hagrid."
"Sure! The more the merrier I always say! Now come on, we're burnin' daylight we are."
The small group made their way over to the large white building at the end of Diagon Alley. Harry was astonished at the towering, burnished bronze doors that were the entrance of the bank. He was even more shocked at the sight of the odd looking human-like creature in a scarlet and gold uniform standing at the entrance. Seeing his confusion, James leaned over and whispered to Harry, "That's a goblin. They run and manage Gringotts. If you remember, Bill works for them as a curse breaker in Egypt."
Harry nodded silently as he eyed the goblin's swarthy, cleaver face and his long fingers as they passed by and into the entry way. Once inside, he noticed the words etched upon the second set of double doors:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
Hagrid let out a soft breath before whispering, "Yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob Gringotts."
James nodded in agreement before pushing Harry through the second set of doors and into the main lobby of the building. They quickly made their way to the front of the queue and were escorted by a goblin to the tracks under the building. They made their way to the Potter Family Vault where James removed a large quantity of galleons, sickles, and Knuts before they moved on to vault 713 where Hagrid removed the sole object from the vault; a small, brown package.
After the wild ride back to the top of Gringotts, the three men stood blinking in the bright sunlight.
Harry turned to Hagrid and James and asked, "Where should we go first?"
"Might as well get yer uniform," said Hagrid, nodding toward Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, "If you two don't mind, I'm going to head fer a pick me up at the Leaky Cauldron but I'd like ter come shoppin' with yeh for ol' times. Them Gringotts carts just don' sit right with me."
"Sure, Hagrid. I think you're right. Harry, why don't you run into Madam Malkin's and I'll run over to the parchment shop and get some for you and start looking at quills and ink."
Harry nodded and set off for Madam Malkin's shop alone, feeling nervous. As he entered the shop he looked up at the door when a bell rung, signifying his entrance.
A squat, smiling witch dressed in mauve, who Harry assumed was Madam Malkin, cam bustling around the corner, "Hogwarts, dear?" she said before Harry could speak, "Got the lot here—another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."
She led Harry to the back of the shop where he saw a pale faced boy with blond hair standing on the stool next to the one he had just climbed up on. Harry smiled when he recognized Draco.
"I didn't know you were coming here today! We could have done our shopping together," Harry said to Draco.
Draco frowned for a moment as he looked at Harry before smiling, recognition dawning on his face, "Harry! I didn't recognize you for a minute without your scar. Where'd it go? Mother's up at Ollivander's looking at wands for me and Father is getting my books. I'm hoping to drag them over to the quidditch store to look at brooms. Did you want to come?"
"Oh man! They've got the new Nimbus in. It looked awesome. We already stopped by on our way to Gringotts. Dad said he would let me take a turn on his Nimbus this week. You can come if you want! Dad said I could watch Portree practice while I was there.
"Oh, and my scar, right. Dad did some magic or something and hid it for while we're shopping. Too many people were staring at me and I'm not sure why. I didn't do anything—they shouldn't bother with me."
"They're staring because you supposedly took down the Dark Lord when you were a baby. It's pretty impressive if you ask me. But Father doesn't like to tell the story much. I have a book about you though; interesting stuff. Anyway—I'm hoping to talk Mother into letting me buy the new Nimbus for myself. Father says it'd be a crime if I'm not picked for my house team right away."
Harry frowned, "I thought first years weren't allowed broomsticks?"
"Well, they're not. But if you're on the house team that's a different story, you know? Are you going to try out for your house team? I wonder what house you'll be in."
Harry shrugged, "Dunno. I guess I'll be in Gryffindor like my mum and dad. But I guess it doesn't really matter in the end, does it?"
"It does if you ask my Father."
"Do you think you'll be in Slytherin?"
"Probably. Father says I have to be—the whole family has been. I can't imagine what he'd do if I got sorted into Hufflepuff—he might make me leave."
"Hey, Hufflepuff isn't bad. Tonks was a Hufflepuff at Hogwarts and you met her, she's really cool."
Draco smiled, "Yeah, I guess she is. I didn't know she was a Hufflepuff. But still, no one great comes from there."
"I think Tonks I pretty great. And Newt Scamander, the author of one of our books, was a Hufflepuff, too. He's pretty cool and super smart."
"Hmm. I don't know. I just don't think it's worth wondering if I'll be in a different house—imagine what my Father would say."
"You're no son of mine!" Harry said in his best Lucius Malfoy impression before bursting out laughing, "Come off it, Draco! They can't be that upset as long as you do well in classes. Your house only gets you so far in life, you know."
"I say, look at that man!" Draco exclaimed as he nodded toward the window where Hagrid and James were standing holding large ice creams and waiving. James caught sight of Draco and indicated the ice cream, asking if he wanted one.
"That's Hagrid, he works at Hogwarts as the gamekeeper."
"Oh, I've heard of him. My Father says he's some sort of savage—lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tries to do magic, and ends up setting fire to his bed," Draco smiled at James and nodded, indicating he would like some, too, "But, if you and Lord Potter know him and stuff, I guess he isn't really like that, is he? He seems…nice?"
"I think he's brilliant," Harry said warmly, "When we're done you can come talk to him—I think you'll like him a lot."
Draco smiled and Madam Malkin quickly finished hemming the boys' robes and sent them on their way. They both gladly accepted the ice creams James and Hagrid offered them and quickly ate the cones while listening to James and Hagrid discuss local politics. Apparently, rather recently, someone in the Wizengamot had attempted to gain votes to bar any children born from non-magical families, or muggle borns, from attending Hogwarts with other wizarding children. James and Hagrid lamented the fact that a third of the group had apparently voted in favor of this idea. They couldn't believe that, this day in age, so many people still held the notion that muggle born witches and wizards were lesser magicals because of their family history and blood.
And then, Draco piped up, "My Father started that bill. He doesn't believe that Hogwarts should let that sort in because they're just not the same—they've never been brought up to know our ways. I personally can't imagine not knowing about my magic or the wizarding world until the day I got my letter. I don't know what to think of all of it though. I mean, my Father thinks the Weasleys are dirty and crude, but they're the nicest, kindest people I've ever met. They're like family to me now and I don't understand why he would think that way about such amazing people. And Hermione is awesome even though she's a muggle. She's smart and kind and strong—she doesn't need magic to be magical. So what's so wrong about being magical and coming from a family like her's? I just don't understand."
James nodded and frowned, putting his hand on Draco's shoulder, "I understand what you mean, Draco. Sirius' family was very much like your father. They held onto the old pure blood ways longer than they should have. Maybe you should talk to Sirius about all of this, I think he could answer your questions better and give you a deeper understanding and help you make some better decisions for yourself. I'm sure he would sit with you anytime you wanted."
"I'd like that. I just—I love my Father but sometimes…sometimes I don't understand why he sees some people differently and I just don't know if that's how it's supposed to be," Draco looked up when he heard someone calling his name. The table turned and saw Lucius Malfoy briskly making his way toward the group, his grey eyes dark and cold.
"Draco. Draco, what are you doing sitting here with this oaf? Haven't I taught you better than this? Come with me, it's time to get your wand and go."
Draco looked back at James, Hagrid, and Harry before hanging his head and nodding, "Yes, Father. I'm sorry I wandered off. Lord Potter asked for my presence."
"Is that so?" Lucius asked as his eyes met James', "Well, Lord Potter, the next time you request my son's presence I would appreciate you informing me before snatching him away. Come now, Draco."
Lucius turned on his heel, his cloak billowing behind him, as he made his way toward the wand shop, not even looking back to be sure that Draco had followed him.
Draco looked cautiously back at Harry before he scurried after Lucius, his head down and his hands inside of his pockets as he marched obediently behind the patriarch of the family.
Harry looked down at the remnants of his ice cream in the cup he had put it in and pushed the melted mush around while he thought. After a while, he interrupted Hagrid and James and asked, "Dad? Why does Lucius Malfoy act like he's in charge and better than everyone else? He doesn't even work high up in the Ministry and—actually I don't even know what he does for a living."
James nodded, "Yeah. See, Harry, some people, especially people who come from Pure Blood families, think that they're better or more competent than other people just because they're a pure blood from the sacred 28 families. The Malfoys are from the sacred 28 and he's just a pompous jackass about it. I really hope that Draco keeps questioning his dad's beliefs—he's a good, smart kid and he could go places if he can get out of the bigotry shadow that is Lucius Malfoy."
Harry's eyes widened, "Uh, dad?"
"What?" James asked, confused. Then, it dawned on him, "Fuck, ugh! Darn it. Sorry, Harry. I shouldn't have sworn, but, oh fuck it. You're starting school and, if I'm honest with myself, I was swearing at about your age. It was the 'cool' thing to do. So, I don't really care. Just—just use the words appropriately and out of earshot of any adults. I won't get you out of trouble with McGonagall if she happens to hear you cuss. Fair?"
Shrugging, Harry replied, "Seems fair to me."
"Alright. So, what else is on your list that we need to get? I stopped off and got you parchment, quills, ink—I got you some black ink and some cool color changing stuff. And I also got your potion ingredients, phials, scales, and a cauldron. It's all shrunk in my pockets. Oh, and I picked up a pretty neat trunk for you. I think you'll enjoy it. I wish I had one like this when I was in school. Did you get your robes?"
"Yeah," Harry handed James a brown package with his robes in them, "Got them all and Madam Malkin hemmed them for me. I also got my gloves and hat and stuff from in there. She said it was the 'First-Year Special'."
"Good. So that leaves your books and wand. Why don't we go grab your books so we can give the Malfoys a chance to clear out of the wand shop. It's a pretty small store and I don't think we would all fit in there."
Hagrid stood up and grinned, "I'll meet yer at Ollivander's. I 'ave a quick errand ter run."
"Ok, Hagrid. We'll see you in a bit, then," James said as he and Harry stood up and threw their trash out.
The small group split up and Harry and James made their way to Flourish and Blotts to get the books on Harry's list. It didn't take them long to find the required texts, and Harry had somehow managed to convince James to buy several others to go along with them. He convinced James to buy him not only Quidditch Through The Ages and Quidditch: The Best 100 Plays of The 20th Century but also several books on intermediate defensive spells and defense against dark magic. James also insisted on purchasing Hogwarts: A History for Harry. He insisted that, at some point, Harry would have questions about the castle and its secrets and having his own copy of the book would come in handy during his seven years there. Harry had simply accepted the book without any real intention of reading it.
As they made their way to the wand shop, they ran back into Hagrid who was now carrying a cage with a beautiful, snowy owl inside of it.
"Hagrid, she's beautiful! But what do you need an owl for? Doesn't Hogwarts have some?" Harry asked as he poked his finger through the cage and let the owl lightly nip his finger.
"Yeh they do. But I thou', Harry jus' had a birthday an' I didn't get him anything. So, happy birthday, Harry!" Hagrid said as he held the cage out to him, beaming.
"Happy—she's for me?"
"Hagrid, you didn't have to get Harry anything. This is so nice. Are you sure?"
"She's so beautiful!" Harry said as he stroked the owl's feathers, "Can I keep her, dad?"
"I'm sure, James! Don' mention it. It's the least I can do. 'Sides, owls are dead useful, carry yer mail an' everythin'. You two can write letters after Harry leaves. Now let's get Harry a wand."
Harry beamed as he took the cage from Hagrid and smiled at the owl. Not being a fan of the light, she stuck her head under her wing and promptly fell asleep in the cage as they headed towards Ollivander's.
A magic wand had been what Harry had been looking forward to most during this shopping trip. Sure, he had learned how to do some spells wandlessly over the last three years, but he knew that those spells would be much more powerful with a wand and he could do more spells, more easily, once he had one. He was looking forward to practicing new spells once he was at Hogwarts.
As they walked up to the store, Hagrid stopped and said he was going to head back to Hogwarts because the wand shop was much too small to fit him into it as well as James and Harry. They all bid their goodbyes before James and Harry made their way into the shop.
Harry looked around the room with boxes upon boxes of wands staked precariously on nearly every available surface up to the ceiling. For some reason, the back of his neck prickled. He felt like the very dust and silence in there seemed to tingle with some secret magic.
"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. Harry and James both jumped at the surprising sound.
An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.
"Hello, Mr. Ollivander," James said, "We're here to get Harry a wand for school."
"Ah, yes," said Mr. Ollivander, "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Harry Potter." It wasn't a question. "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."
A pang of sadness went through James as he thought about Lily and her wand; the fact that so many years ago she, too, had come into this shop to buy it. Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Harry and Harry found himself wishing that Mr. Ollivander would blink; those silvery eyes were starting to creep him out.
Mr. Ollivander looked back at James, those silver orbs boring into him, "Your father, here, on the other hand, favored, and I assume he still does, a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say you favored it—it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."
Mr. Ollivander had come so close to Harry that they were almost nose to nose. Harry could see himself reflected in those silvery eyes.
"Hmm. I can't seem to find…yes, it's hidden, here," Mr. Ollivander said as he tapped the place on Harry's forehead where his scar was hidden by magic. "I was sorry to hear that I sold the wand that did it," he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands…well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do…"
He shook his head and turned back to James, "So, we'll be getting Mr. Potter here set up with a wand, then?"
"Yes. It's his first one."
"Good, good. Hmmm," he pulled out a tape measure with silver markings from his pocket, "Which is your wand arm?"
"Er—well, I'm right-handed," Harry said as he held up his right hand and examined it.
"Yes, hold it out, if you would."
Mr. Ollivander measured Harry's arm fro shoulder to finger and then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit, and around his head. As he measured, he explained to Harry the different cores he uses for wands and how no two wands he makes are alike. He also explained that Harry will never get as favorable results with another's wand as he would his own. Soon he wandered off and grabbed several boxes from somewhere off a shelf and unboxed one, holding it out to Harry.
"Right the, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."
Harry took the wand and, feeling foolish, waived it around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once.
"Now this. Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try—"
Harry tried—but he had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back.
"No, no—here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out."
Harry tried. And tried. He had no idea what Mr. Ollivander was waiting for. The pile of rejected wands continued to grow larger and taller as the time went on. But the more wands he tried, the happier Mr. Ollivander seemed to become.
"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere—I wonder, now—yes, why not—unusual combination—holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot out from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls. James clapped excitedly, throwing a fist into the air and Mr. Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh very good. Very good. Well, well, well…how curious…how very…curious…"
Mr. Ollivander quickly boxed Harry's new wand back up and wrapped it, still muttering to himself, "Curious…curious…"
"Sorry," Harry said, "But what's curious?"
James placed a hand on Harry's shoulder and squeezed, "Mr. Ollivander, is there an issue with Harry getting this wand? Should he find another?"
"No, no, he should take this wand. It's just—I remember every wand I ever sold. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in Mr. Potter's wand, gave another feather—just one other." James' eyes widened, sudden realization dawning on him as he stared at the wand now wrapped in brown paper, "It is very curious indeed that Mr. Potter should be destined for this wand when its brother—why, its brother gave him that scar.
"Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember…I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter…After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things—terrible, but great."
Harry stared at the wand now being passed to James as it was paid for, wondering exactly how much he liked the idea that he shared that connection with Voldemort and wondered exactly what that could mean for him in the future.
End Notes:
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