Searching for Purpose

by vurio

Harry Potter always dreamed of a world beyond Little Whining. He dreamt of exploring ruins and rescuing princesses, of battling dragons and of flying castles, but most of all he dreamt of escape and of freedom. Can Harry Potter living on the wrong side of world overcome something as consequential as fate? Can Harry find the family he is looking for?

3. Chapter 3

AN: Chapter 3 is out. In this chapter more lore is explored and some future events are touched upon. One thing I will try to stick to is the Harry Potter event timeline. The challenge I have undertaken is to convincingly fit HP in the pokémon world with as few lazy shortcuts as possible. Please read and review. I am also looking for a beta reader to proof read my work and with someone I can bounce ideas off. If anyone is interested please PM me.

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Chapter 3: Of Scars and Dark Lords Pt 1

That noise was definitely made by a pokémon and by the sound of it, sounded like a Machamp. Before Harry could even finish that thought a large man entered the house followed by a machamp. Calling the man large was an underestimation. The man was absolutely humongous. He towered over the machamp in both height and width and that in itself was quite an achievement. His face was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but you could make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles under all the hair. Despite the fearsome stature the giant had a kind look on his face and his machamp looked positively angelic.

Before the giant could talk, Uncle Vernon shouted "Get out of here sir, you and your kind are not welcome here, and get that foul beast out of my house".

The giant ignored Vernon and turned to Dudley sitting on the couch with a wide smile "Oh Harry! Its been so long since I last saw you. You were just a wee babe and now look at you, all grown up, a bit rounder in the middle though but we will sort that out", while everyone was staring at the giant flabbergasted he continued "Budge up and make some space will you, it was hell finding this place with the storm raging outside" He then turned to Uncle Vernon " Why would you leave your house and come live here?, You had a perfectly respectable place in Surrey". Upon hearing his lifestyle choices questioned by a wild man Uncle Vernon was apoplectic with rage and quickly shuffled back into the bed room.

Harry meanwhile gathered his courage and spoke up "Sir I am Harry."

Hagrid looked towards and Harry and Harry saw his eyes go subtly towards the scar on his forehead.

"Of Course, you are, you look much more like a Harry. Oh, just look at you, you look exactly like your father but you have your mother's eyes. Come here let me look at you are properly. You look like a well-built young man. And none of this sir business. The name is Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts and a breeding expert." The last part was said with a lot of pride. "My friends call me Hagrid"

While Harry and Hagrid were talking, Uncle Vernon returned with a shotgun and pointed it at Hagrid. Faster than the eye could blink, the Machamp who standing quietly in the doorway till now, snatched the gun away from Vernon and twisted it like a pretzel before throwing it out of the house. Hagrid looked unfazed while Vernon was standing there with his mouth wide open.

As if the interruption never happened Hagrid continued "Here Harry, I got something for ya," and Harry was handed a letter and a box.

"This here is your Hogwarts letter, the box has a cake, sort of a birthday gift, baked it myself."

"Hogwarts, what is Hogwarts?" Harry enquired while turning the letter up and down. This letter had been the source of much contention between Harry and his family for the past couple of days.

"What's Hogwarts? He dosen't know what Hogwarts is? You never told him" Hagrid shouted at Vernon.

Vernon, not one to be cowed easily, snapped back "Why would we? Our deal before taking him was that we would never talk about that awful place or the freaky stuff you trainer and pokémon get up to. That old fool Dubbydork promised us that your lot would not interfere in the way we raised him. And we raised him right. He hasn't uttered a word about those god-awful abominations for years now. He used to, all the time but a few good smacks set him right".

Oh! If only Vernon knew, Harry though.

Now Rubeus Hagrid was a pretty easy-going man. He had a thick skin for insults. He had to considering his looks and stature, but one thing Hagrid could not tolerate was an insult to Albus Dumbledore.

"What did you say? You will not utter a word about the great Albus Dumbledore in my presence". Hagrid roared as he abruptly stood up. The heavy couch rocked back as if it was a rocking chair. "And did you say you hit Harry. You laid your hands on the Harry Potter". Hagrid looked really mad. His face was red and his fists were clenched tight. This time Vernon was well and truly subdued. As Hagrid moved forward his wrist was gripped in the strong hand of his machamp. Hagrid jolted back and looked at the terrified faces of all the people in room.

"I am sorry Harry, I shouldn't have lost my temper, I can't tolerate when people insult Albus Dumbledore. He is a great man and you will never insult him again."

"Harry this here is a Machamp, he is a pokémon, his name is Sprinkles" Hagrid said turning towards Harry

"I know he is a pokémon and I know he is a machamp". Harry relied

"You do?, how do you know that" Dudley squeaked. He had been silent until know stuffed in a corner of the couch.

"I have been studying about pokémon in secret for a while now, I have been attending Mr. Blackthorns "Intro to Pokémon" class after school for a while now",

"You have! I though you were with a janitor scrubbing floors"

"Well, Obviously I lied Dudley"

"Of course, he knows what a pokémon is, chip of the old block he is, I can see it in his eyes" Hagrid interrupted, "and Harry Hogwarts is a pokémon training academy, the best in all of Kanto, Johto and Hoenn combined."

"Hmm... I thought that the Oak Academy in Pallet town is the best pokémon academy"

"And where do you think Samuel Oak studied from. He was a Gryffindor with the mind of a Ravenclaw".

"Gryffindor? Ravenclaw?" Harry questioned

"Open the letter the rest will become clear"

Hearing Prof. Oak went to Hogwarts, Harry was eager to open the letter, maybe it was invitation to attend, how would they even know of him?, he hadn't applied, but then again Hagrid said that I looked like my dad so he must have known my parents, but this Hogwarts place also sounds expensive, how would I even pay for it, the Dursleys sure wouldn't.

"Open the letter harry, Hagrid prompted again breaking Harry's chain of thought.

"Oh sorry, I tend to get lost in my thoughts sometimes". Harry said embarrassingly

"Tis alright better to be an overthinker than an under"

Harry finally opened the letter. The envelope wasn't glued. inside were two thick pieces of parchment. Harry opened the first one and read

HOGWARTS ACADEMY OF POKÉMON TRAINERS AND TAMERS

HEADMASTER: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

(Order of Arceus, First Class, Chief Arbiter, Trainers Council, Supreme Mugwump, Triumvirate)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts Academy of Pokémon Trainers and Tamers. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress.

The second letter read:

First year

First-year students will require:

Uniform Three Sets of Plain work robes (Black).

One Plain Hard Hat (Black) for outdoor work.

One Pair of Protective Gloves .

One Winter Cloak (Black, silver fastenings).

Please note that all student's clothes should carry name-tags at all times.

Books

Unlocking Pokémon Types and Biology, Grade1 by Miranda Goshawk

A History of the World, Grade 1 by Bathilda Bagshot

Global Geography and Terrain, Grade 1 by Leo Wesman

Navigating with The Stars, by Neil Armstrong

A Beginner's Guide to Pokémon Behavior Grade 1 by Samuel Oak

One Thousand Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore Potions and Healing by Arsenius Jigger

Pokémon and Their Habitats by Newt Scamander

A Guide to Pokémon Battling by Octavius Potter

Hogwarts a History. Edition 323 by J.R.R. Tolkein (Optional)

Miscellaneous

1 Starter Pokémon*

1 Cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set of glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set of brass scales

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN RIDE POKÉMON

PARENTS ARE STRONGLY CAUTIONED TO NOT GIVE THEIR WARD MORE THAN ONE POKÉMON. BY LAW 1ST YEAR TRAINEES ARE ONLY ALLOWED ONE POKÉMON. OWNING MORE THAN 1 POKÉMON IS PUNISHABLE UNDER THE LAW WITH A FINE OF 1000 GALLEONS OR 6 MONTHS IN AZKABAN PRISON

PLEASE REFER LIST OF ACCEPTABLE STARTER POKÉMON FOR MORE INFORMATION

Harry's heart was literally beating out of his chest in excitement as he read the letter

"Wow Hagrid, all of this sounds brilliant. I can't wait to go-"

"He will not be going anywhere" Uncle Vernon interrupted. "We will not pay for him to be a freak."

"As if a great muggle like you could stop the Harry Potter from attending Hogwarts. He doesn't need your money; his parents have already arranged for him to attend" Hagrid aggressively replied.

This was the second time Harry had heard himself as being referred to "The Harry Potter", that was a strange was to address someone.

"Wait Hagrid do you know my parents, did they attend Hogwarts too? What were their names?"

"You dunno your parents names, did you tell him nothing of the world, does he not know of "that night"" Hagrid roared at Vernon Dursley

Vernon who was slowly gaining back his confidence shrunk back in fear again and whimpered "Of course we didn't tell him, we wanted him to have nothing to do with it"

As if Hagrid didn't even hear Vernon he looked back at Harry and continued "Your parents were James and Lily Potter, Harry. They attended Hogwarts and were some of the greatest trainers of their generation."

Hearing this Harry had tears in his eyes, he knew his parents names, and they were trainers too. Harry couldn't have been happier. Harry had so many more questions about his parents, about Hogwarts, about pokémon but he was also very exhausted and yawned sleepily.

Suddenly a yelp was heard from near the fireplace. Dudley had apparently taken advantage of the situation and had pounced on the cake that had lain forgotten by Harry's side but before he could reach it, Sprinkles had grabbed him by his pants and lifted him off the floor and now Dudley was hanging in the hair by his shorts and flailing around like a fish. Harry reached for the cake. It had pink frosting and was a little squashed. Harry grabbed a slightly rusted knife from the kitchen abd cut of a piece and tried it. It was really good. He offered some to Hagrid, Sprinkles, Dudley and Vernon, it was his first birthday cake after all. Dudley wanted to lunge for it but was held back by Vernon grumbling about freaks and their freaky food. He then dragged Dudley back into the bedroom and closed the door behind him with a thud. Harry shared a piece with sprinkles and Hagrid and gleefully ate the rest

Harry was amazed that Aunt Petunia had not woken up with all the commotion. Harry knew that she took sleeping pills sometimes and put on thick earmuffs, so maybe that was the reason. Harry was grateful for it though. He could not have tolerated another shrieking harpy.

Even though Harry was sleepy, he asked Hagrid who was roasting sausages with Sprinkles by the fireplace, "Hagrid where are we going to get all this stuff, I don't think any shop in Little Whinging sells this stuff."

"Why London of course, Diagon Alley is the greatest trainer market in the whole world"

"But I thought London is in East Albion"

"London is actually in the centre of Albion, it is a hub of trade and commerce for both trainers and muggles alike, you will see when we go there tomorrow."

"Oh, how will we get there?"

"We will fly"

"On a pokémon"

"Of course, Now got to sleep Harry, I will wake you up in the morning. We will have to leave early. No point in having the muggles panicking upon seeing a large flying pokémon. These easterner muggles are the panicky sort"

Harry wanted to ask what a muggle was, but he was too sleepy so he laid on the couch that Dudley had vacated and promptly drifted off to sleep. He had the same dreams again that night. Flying on a Charizard with a sword in his hand plus this time there was a giant houndoom by his side, flying on a massive aerodactyl as a baby, a red-haired woman singing a lullaby and a terrifying snake like man sending a black wave towards him.

Harry was woken up a large hand vigorously shaking him. He woke up to see a giant man and a Machamp peering over him.

"Chop Chop Harry wake up, too much to do, too little time"

"Machamp Champ machamp" the Machamp agreed with his trainer flexing his giant muscles.

Harry woke up rubbing his eyes. So last night was real. It was almost as if Harry had imagined it. He got off the couch. It was 5:30 in the morning. Dursleys were probably still sleeping and it would be best to leave before they woke up. He rushed to bathroom and finished his morning rituals. He changed his clothes with the ones he had in his backpack. Harry had always worn Dudley's old clothes but since he had grown taller and Dudley wider in the last couple of years, Dudley's clothes truly stopped fitting Harry. Aunt Petunia from then had regularly taken Harry to the local Oxfam to pick-up bargain-basement clothes. The clothes were second hand but they were in good condition and were cheap and relatively modern looking. Harry now was the owner of several t-shirts, 3 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of shorts and even a winter coat.

As Harry stepped out of the shack in the cold windy morning along with Sprinkles and Hagrid. He looked around trying to spot the flyer, maybe it was a Pidgeot. He had always wanted to see one. But then Hagrid pulled out a pokeball and seeing it Harry facepalmed, he was so used to seeing pokémon out in the open that he had forgotten that trainers kept their pokémon in pokeballs. As Hagrid pressed a button the tiny red and pink ball expanded in his hands and in a beam red light with a giant roar out came a huge Aerodactyl. It was tough and mean looking and was littered with scars, It had a scar going down his face. Three long scars on his torso and one long scar on its right wing. The aerodactyl gave a bone chilling roar and Hagrid put a hand on its snout.

"Easy girl, we need to fly to Harrys place. Think you can give us a hand" "Aerooo" came the reply

"Harry this old girl is Maya. One of my oldest and strongest pokémon."

Harry was still too apprehensive to approach the pokémon but he turned to Hagrid and asked him in shock.

"Hagrid, have I ever flown on Maya before"

"Of course you have, I was the one to come get you from your parents' house that night"

"That night?"

"I will tell you Harry, soon but not here"

Hagrid picked up Harry as if he was a mere babe and plopped him onto a saddle on Mayas back. Then Hagrid returned Machamp and climbed on Maya sitting behind Harry. "Let's go girl". The trip was the single most exhilarating feeling Harry had ever had in his life. Flying on a pokémon was awesome. Harry saw Hagrid subtly guiding Maya on where to go. Harry was in the air for a couple of hours before Little Whinging finally became visible. Uncle Vernon really had driven them far, if it took this long by air.

"Do you want to go to your house Harry"

"No Hagrid, could you just bring Maya down in the park over there."

"Sure, why do you wanna go to the park though"

"Such bring her down, I have someone I want you to meet"

Hagrid patted Maya twice and she set herself down in the clearing in the park. Harry slipped of from Maya's back and ran towards the thick shrubbery. "Harry wait up" Hagrid thanked and returned Maya and then followed Harry.

Harry led Hagrid past the thick shrubbery and bushes to the back of the park and shouted for Nero. Nero sprinted over to Harry and jumped on him. Harry caught him, stumbling a little and Nero started licking his face excitedly with frequent happy barks. Harry turned towards Hagrid and saw Hagrids wide eyes.

"Hagrid, this is Nero, my houndour"

Hagrid was speechless.

"Say hi boy!"

Nero meanwhile was looking at Hagrid with suspicion and growling at him fiercely. After all he had been told to not trust any other human.

"Don't be like that boy, Hagrid is a friend, he is a Pokémon trainer too. He will take us away from here to a school where we can always be together."

Nero liked the sound of that but was still looking at Hagrid with suspicion.

Meanwhile Hagrid was looking at Harry flabbergasted.

"But Harry, how? Where did you find a houndour in Muggleland."

"I have been meaning to ask Hagrid, what's a Muggle?"

"Muggle is what we call non trainers in Albion"

"Oh! Sounds like an insult"

"Its not, just an old term, that has stuck around"

After than Harry regaled Hagrid with his adventures of the past year. Finding Nero, raising him, training him, hiding him.

Hagrid was amazed, how was it that a boy of not even 10 had managed to train a dark Pokémon in Muggleland and no one was any the wiser. The same dark Pokémon that was now acting a like a little puppy with its trainer.

"Harry you do know that houndours are dark types right"

"Yeah so! He is still awesome"

"Harry there is a certain stigma associated with dark types" Hagrid talked slowly as if trying to explain something easy to a child.

Harry shook his head in amusement

"I know that Hagrid, but both Karen and Sidney, elite four members, say that dark types are perfectly fine if they are raised properly"

Hagrid though for that a moment. How come Harry a boy who facing such adversity had managed to gather so much knowledge about Pokémon but was still so ignorant about the history of his own land.

"Think nothing of it Harry, I was just being silly, here gather your things, let's go to London" Hagrid said cheerfully

While Hagrid was helping Harry gather Nero's things Harry wondered why Hagrid sounded slightly worried. Hagrid had masked his worry well but Harry could still hear the slight apprehension behind his cheerful tone. Harry wondered why that was, but then shook his head, maybe Hagrid was just being a worrywart.

"Here Harry ball the little fellow, Hagrid said offering Harry a pink a white pokeball".

"Hagrid that's a luxury ball, aren't those super expensive, I don't have anything to pay you with."

"Don't worry Harry, this was to be your birthday gift. After all a starters pokeball should always be special."

Hearing this Harry hugged Hagrid hard and almost had tears in his eyes. Nobody had ever been so nice to him.

"Here I will tell you how to use it. Place your thumb on the pad on the opposite side of the button. This will register the pokeball to you and only you will be able to use it. This will also link the ball to your trainer account and profile, once you have made one at Hogwarts. After registering your thumb print, the ball will expand and you will have to throw it at the pokémon. The pokémon will be captured and the ball will start shaking if the pokemon is resisting and finally on completing the capture the ball will stop shaking, give off a "ping" sound and shrink back to its tiny size. To send out the pokemon all you need to do is expand the ball with your registered fingerprint and then press the button at the front."

"Wow that sounds easy. Can I register any finger print or does it have to be the thumb?"

"It can be any fingerprint but most trainers prefer the thumb or the index finger, to be able to expand with one and send it out with the other without any hassle. Why don't you try now?"

"Here boy, I am going to finally capture you, you will finally be my Pokémon and no will be able to take you away. Are you ready Nero?"

Nero yipped excitedly. He had heard about this moment from his site. This was the moment man and pokémon become true partners.

Harry cocked his hand back and threw the pokeball at Nero. The ball almost missed Nero but Harry got lucky and there was a whisker of contact with Nero's upturned ears. Nero was sucked in and Harry heard a ping sound. He was instantly captured. Harry picked up the pokeball and resolved to improve him aim. After all a successful trainer could not have shoddy aim.

"Now try releasing him Harry and don't worry about your aim. At Hogwarts we classes for that"

Harry released Nero and Nero happily started running around.

"Okay Harry now to put him back in his pokeball, just point the ball at him and press the button again."

Harry did so and returned Nero. Hagrid finally got from the jungle gym on which he was sitting. The jungle gym had deformed under Hagrids weight. Harry wanted to laugh at that. Nero's home was damaged but it was not like Harry and Nero were coming back here.

"Alright Harry let's get out of here, we can go to London on the underground. Now that the muggles are up and moving, we can't really fly about."

Harry had wanted to meet Mr. Blackwood before leaving Surrey but Hagrid seemed in a hurry and Harry did not want to impose more than he already had. Hagrid had already taken one detour to come collect Nero, he did not want to waste anymore of Hagrids time. There was also a month left before Hogwarts started, Harry promised himself that he would make time to come and say goodbye to Mr. Blackwood.

Harry and Hagrid travelled to London via the tube. It was funny seeing a large man like Hagrid navigate through the crowds, but Hagrid did it with the grace of a man who had been doing it his whole life.

They took the underground and arrived in London in no time.

London was very different compared to Surrey. Their were people and the their Pokémon walking about, engaging in mundane tasks and no one seemed to care. A policeman was directing traffic with the help of a Machoke, a newspaper vendor had an Aipom on his head, a fruit stall was surrounded by bellosom, who along with their trainer were tending to the produce, an officer Jenny was patrolling followed by her Arcanine. It was all very eye opening for Harry. As Harry followed Hagrid taking in the sights, Hagrid stopped and pointed towards a large red building.

"This Harry is the local Pokémon centre. You can heal your Pokémon and even small injuries to yourself. For more severe human injuries, you would have to visit St. Mungo's, it is the best hospital in Albion catering to trainer injuries. Pokémon centres are free if you have you have anything above a trainee license."

Harry nodded along making a mental note of any questions he would ask Hagrid later.

Hagrids next stop was in a front of a pub.

"This Harry is The Leaky Cauldron, the entrance to Diagon Alley, the best trainer market in all of Albion."

"But Hagrid this is a pub."

"Of course, it is, the entrance is from inside the pub, it both keeps nosy muggles out and gives the alley a classy entrance, imagine it being a boring old gateway"

Harry could imagine it, he could imagine it very well and it would have been a far sight better than a dingy creepy old pub, but then pokémon trainers were an eccentric lot.

As Harry followed Hagrid, he realized that the inside was a lot better than the dreary façade had suggested. The space was a large rectangle and well lit. On his right was the counter behind which were an old man, a Mr. Mime and a Jynx. On Harry left along the wall were a number of booths with comfortable looking sofas on both sides of a table. The booths were also able to covered with a flimsy curtain, to provide privacy. In the middle of the pub were round tables with chairs around them. On one of the tables was an old woman with a murkrow on her head and an ancient looking raichu on a chair beside her. Both the raichu and the woman appeared to be smoking a pipe. On the far corner was a set of giant double doors. The Mr Mime was cleaning the counter, the old man was chatting with a patron who was sitting on a high stool alongside a row of high stools. The Jynx was using, what was presumably its psychic prowess to mix different colored liquids in front of it in the air and then pouring it in a cone shaped covered glass and mixing it. All suspended in the air, like magic. It was a fascinating site and Harry was so engrossed watching it that he did not notice Hagrid go up and say hello to the man behind the bar.

"Hell Tom, how are you today" Hagrid greeted the barman,

"Hello Hagrid, the usual"

"Can't, Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business," said Hagrid, clapping his great hand on Harry's shoulder and making Harry's knees buckle.

"Good Lord," said the bartender, peering at Harry, "is this — can this be—?"

The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent.

"Bless my soul," whispered the old bartender, "Harry Potter…what an honor."

He hurried out from behind the bar, rushed toward Harry and seized his hand, tears in his eyes.

"Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back."

Harry didn't know what to say. Everyone was looking at him. The old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out. Hagrid was beaming. Even the pokémon seemed to be excited.

Then there was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment, Harry found himself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.

"Doris Crockford, Mr. Potter, can't believe I'm meeting you at last."

"So proud, Mr. Potter, I'm just so proud."

"Always wanted to shake your hand — I'm all of a flutter."

"Delighted, Mr. Potter, just can't tell you, Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle."

"I've seen you before!" said Harry, as Dedalus Diggle's top hat fell off in his excitement. "You bowed to me once in a shop."

"He remembers!" cried Dedalus Diggle, looking around at everyone.

"Did you hear that? He remembers me!" Harry shook hands again and again —

Doris Crockford kept coming back for more.

A pale young man made his way forward, very nervously. One of his eyes was twitching.

"Professor Quirrell!" said Hagrid. "Harry, Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts."

"P-P-Potter," stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping Harry's hand, "C-can't t-tell you how p-pleased I am to meet you."

"What do you teach at Hogwarts, Professor Quirrell?"

"I us-ss-ed to teach about Co-Co-contests, b-b-but this year onwards I will teach about P-P-Pokémon battles" muttered Professor Quirrell, as though he'd rather not think about it.

He laughed nervously. "You'll be g-getting all your equipment, I suppose? I've g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on dark types, m-myself." He looked terrified at the very thought.

But the others wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Harry to himself. It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all. At last, Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble.

"Must get on lots to buy. Come on, Harry."

Doris Crockford shook Harry's hand one last time, and Hagrid led them through the bar and towards the set of double doors towards the back.

Meanwhile Harry stared confusedly at Hagrid.

"Hagrid, am I famous or something".

"Or something Harry, I will tell you once we are done with our shopping."

As Hagrid opened the double doors Harrys jaw dropped.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley, Harry, the best trainer market in the world".

In front of Harry was a long winding impossibly wide stone laid pathway. Calling it an alley was a bit of under estimation in Harry mind. This road was possibly wider than privet drive.

Despite its size it was brimming with people and pokémon. If Harry though London with its people and pokémon were impressive this was something else. There were all kinds of pokémon walking alongside their trainers, large pokémon, small pokémon, baby pokémon you name it, were there. If Harry were to guess every pokémon in Kanto, Jhoto and Hoenn, if not more were present here. The people were wearing long robes and walking busily not caring who they bumped into. Harry spotted a pikachu, a furret, a linoone, a few machokes, a heracross, an ivysaur, a blaziken and he was sure he had even spotted a garchomp, though he wasn't sure about the last one. Rows of shops lined the alley on the both sides with merchants shouting about their wares. The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop.

Cauldrons — All Sizes — Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver — Self-Stirring, Collapsible, said a sign hanging over them.

"Yeah, you'll be needing one," said Hagrid, "but we gotta get your money first."

Harry wished he had about eight more eyes. He turned his head in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping, the pokémon scurrying behind their trainers.

A low, soft hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying "Eeylops Hoothoot Emporium — The most well-bred mail hoothoots".

Several boys of about Harry's age had their eyes glued to a store that had a sign that said - "Riders for life- home of the fastest flyers". On top of the store was a giant sculpture of a Pidgeot.

"Look," Harry heard one of the boys say, "He is from Mr. Nimbus latest stock, the 2000 line" — "he can achieve over 200 km/hr with a rider" another said, "yeah that's the fastest ever —" a third agreed. Harry peered inside and saw a proud looking Pidgeot, sitting on a giant perch. Its head was turned up as it didn't deem anyone important enough. Harry had to agree, that was one majestic looking bird.

There were shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments Harry had never seen before, windows stacked with pokémon items, berries, books, training manuals, TM's, rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon.

"Come on Harry, don't fall behind, we will have plenty of time to wander around later."

Harry hurriedly followed Hagrid to a snowy white building that towered over the other little shops around it. Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, on each side, wearing a uniform of black and gold was an impossibly short man holding a spear, with a sandslash, on the other side was a similarly dressed and equipped man but beside him was a Marowak. Just like Hagrid was the largest man he had ever seen, these two were the smallest.

"Gringotts," said Hagrid. "those are the Hooks," Hagrid said in a low tone using his eyes to point towards the two men. The two men who portably heard Hagrid sneered back.

"Hooks?"

"Aye Harry, just like the pokémon centres and police centres are run by the Joys and Jennies, the banks and its like around the world are run by the Hook clan. They are masters of ground types, greedy, very money minded, opportunistic and hate us regular Brits, be polite to them and you should be fine."

Harry nodded, they sounded just like Uncle Vernon

Hagrid led Harry into a vast marble hall. About a hundred more Hooks were sitting on high stools behind a long counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass scales, typing on an ancient looking calculator, examining precious stones through eyeglasses. Those looked like evolution stones. There were too many doors to count leading off the hall, and yet more Hooks were showing people in and out of these. Hagrid and Harry made for the counter.

"Morning," said Hagrid to a free cashier. "We've come to take some money out of Mr. Harry Potter's vault."

"You have his key, sir?"

"Got it here," said Hagrid, as he pulled out a golden key from one of his numerous pockets and presented it to the small man behind the counter. While this was happening, Harry observed the man on a counter to their right weighing a pile of rubies as big as glowing coals.

The Hook looked at it closely.

"This seems to be in order." Handing it back to Hagrid.

"Em, Hagrid! Since it is my key, shouldn't I keep it"

"But Prof. Dumbledore –"

"Yes, you should, every client should have their own key" the Hook interrupted glaring at Hagrid.

Hagrid gulped and the handed the key to Harry "Here you go it Harry, keep it safe"

"Listen to the giant, tauwi, if someone gets your key, they can access your vault." The hook barked back.

"Okay", Harry gulped, despite their small size, Hooks were scary.

"Now" the Hook pressed a bell on his counter and another Hook approached.

"This is Grip Hook; he will take you to your vault. Get going, time is money"

Before they could leave, Hagrid bent down at the counter and handed a small piece of paper to the cashier and softly whispered "Hogwarts Business".

"Very well, Grip Hook will take you to both the vaults."

Harry looked questioningly at Hagrid.

"Sorry Harry, Top Secret Hogwarts Business." Hagrid said with a grin.

Harry and Hagrid followed Grip Hook to a door Grip Hook held the door open for them. Harry, who had expected more marble, was surprised. They were in a narrow stone passageway lit with flaming torches. It sloped steeply downward and there were little railway tracks on the floor. Grip Hook whistled and a small cart came hurtling up the tracks toward them. They climbed in Hagrid with some difficulty and were off.

The carts were fast and wobbled dangerously as it traversed the caverns. Harry gazed at the caverns around them. He dared not look down from the cart. It was so deep that a fall would certainly result in death.

"Even though this is fun, this doesn't seem like a very safe way to travel." Harry whispered to Hagrid who was gripping the railing tightly and looking very green.

"Be thankful for this Tauwi. We used to move though this caverns on the heads of Steelix. But you Tauwis with your weak constitiution found it too be "too unsafe", "too queasy". So, we had to build these tracks, of course your government paid for it." Grip Hook said grinning. Somehow even smiling he looked menacing.

They stopped in front of a vault number 687.

"This is your vault. Place your key in the slot and turn it, you would not like to know what happens if you have the wrong key" Grip Hook looked at Harry.

"What happens? and how can such a small key open such a giant door". Harry asked

"The key dosent open the door, it acts as an authentication mechanism, we have porygon living in every door, they are verify the key and operate the mechanism to open the doors, if you have the wrong key, the psychic pokémon around will teleport the culprit to a pit with golems, you don't want to know what happens then."

"Oh! But I thought Porygon lived in computers"

"They did, we bred them specially for living in mechanical machines, such as gears."

Harry put his key in the slot and turned it. After a moment there was a whirring noise and lots of gears began to turn and the vault door slowly opened.

"Looks like you won't be visiting the golem pit after all."

Harry and Hagrid were about to enter the vault when Grip Hook stepped in front of Hagrid.

"Only the client may enter."

"Hagrid can come, he is my friend" Harry insisted

Hagrid seemed to stand a little straighter at this.

"Fine, but keeps your hands to yourself." Grip Hook spoke

Hagrid looked offended at that.

The three of them entered the vault. The vault was a small room with a low ceiling. It was barely Hagrid's height. There were large stacks of gold coins in one corner followed by smaller stacks of silver and bronze coins.

Harry was amazed at the outrageous display of wealth.

He picked up a gold coin "Do we need to convert this to pounds to use."

Harry had heard of people storing their wealth in gold. Uncle Vernon would often complain of rising or falling gold prices.

"Why would you do that Tauwi." Grip Hook spoke

"That is a galleon Harry, the silver ones are sickles and bronze ones are knuts. It is the money we use." Hagrid said.

"But what about Pounds?"

"We don't use muggle currency" Grip Hook replied

"Why?"

Grip Hook sighed; this Tauwi had a lot of questions.

"Muggles base their paper currency on fluctuating interest rates and floating arbitrary metrics, those are easy to manipulate and influence by any one intelligent enough. We use precious metals and tightly control the flow and manipulation of the market and futures, so you Tauwis wont randomly find that one day your money values less than it did the day before. It also keeps the inflation low and prevents external manipulation due to events such as natural disasters and wars."

Almost all of that went over Harry head but he did get one piece of information, Paper money- bad, gold coins- good.

"Oh! How much do I need!"

"Take about a hundred galleons, that should be enough for first year supplies and you will have some money left over for spending." Hagrid advised and handed over a pouch to Harry.

Harry who had never seen such an ostentatious display of wealth grabbed about 150 galleons and put them into the pouch. He also grabbed a fair number of silver and bronze coins. Its not like that made a dent into the veritable treasure.

"Its Seventeen silver Sickles to a galleon and twenty-nine knuts to a sickle". Grip Hook stated

Harry looked around as if he was searching for something.

"Whats the hold up, lets go"? Grip Hook muttered impatiently

"I was just hoping to find something belonging to my parents" Harry glumly said. All that was in the vault was money.

"This is the Harry Potter trust vault, personal belongings will be in the Potter Family vault" Grip Hook said

"Wait! I have a family vault"

"Of course , Potters are very old family, have existed even before the founding of Albion, did you really think that this was all your family left you." Hagrid spoke

Oh God! He had even more money, Harry looked faint at that thought.

"Where is it?, can we go?"

Hagrid shrugged

while Grip Hook stated "I don't know and you can, after you turn fifteen"

Saying that he walked out of the vault.

Meanwhile Hagrid looked Harry, then at the money on the floor and then at Grip Hook as if implying something.

Harry picked up on the hint.

He hurriedly bent down and picked up 10 galleons and walked out with Hagrid, the vault door closing behind them with a thud.

"Here you go Grip Hook, you have been very helpful, I would have been lost without your guidance" Harry said laying it on thick, handing the 10 galleons to Grip Hook.

Grip Hook took the money and grinned back looking just as terrifying as before.

"You are learning Tauwi, you are learning, you can talk to any account manager on the ground floor, regarding your family vault. Now let us go to the next vault"

All three of them stepped into the vault and travelled a little deeper into the caverns before stopping in front of an even more elaborate looking vault door.

Vault seven hundred and thirteen had no keyhole.

"Stand back," said Grip Hook. He stroked the door gently with one of his tiny fingers and it simply melted away.

"If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they'd be sucked through the door and trapped in there," said Griphook.

"How often do you check to see if anyone's inside?" Harry asked.

"About once every ten years," said Griphook with a rather sinister grin.

Something really extraordinary had to be inside this top security vault, Harry was sure, and he leaned forward eagerly, expecting to see fabulous jewels at the very least — but at first, he thought it was empty. Then he noticed a grubby little package wrapped up in brown paper lying on the floor. Hagrid picked it up and tucked it deep inside his coat. Harry longed to know what it was, but knew better than to ask, it really wasn't any of his business."

One wild cart ride later they stood back in the gleaming lobby of Gringotts. "Let's go Harry, lots to buy."

"I was hoping to see an account manager regarding my family vault, as Grip Hook had suggested."

"You can do that later Harry. Its not as if Gringotts is going anywhere. Let's get you school shopping done first."

They came out blinking in the sunlight outside Gringotts.

Harry didn't know where to run first now that he had a bag full of money. He didn't have to know how many Galleons there were to a pound to know that he was holding more money than he'd had in his whole life.

"Okay uniform first."

They walked outside to a shop which had mannequins in the windows dressed in various robes. There was a sign above the shop that stated "Madame Malkins – Trainer Clothing for all terrain"

Hagrid waited outside as Harry walked in. On a raised platform where measurements were being taken by a young girl, was standing a blond boy. Beside the girl was a sunflora. The blond seemed to complain and moan every time the measuring girl approached him. She had an irritating look on his face. The sunflora would leaf slap the boy every time he squirmed and moved with an angry squak of "Sunflora"

"Ouch, watch where you poke the needle, Are you incompetent? And you pokémon stop hitting me, I swear I should have gone with dad to Twilfit and Tattings."

The girl looked smug. Harry was sure she had purposely let the needle slip on the irritating boy.

The measurement was done and the girl and the sunflora stepped inside.

"That was horrible and did you see that pokémon, ridiculous, a sunflower" The blonde boy said as he stepped down from the platform and looked at Harry, looking up and down at his clothes.

"Are you here for Hogwarts?" He asked Harry

"Yes"

"Oh! Do you have a starter? Father is going to get me some exotic foreign pokémon that is befitting our status so that I won't have to go to Ollivanders like a commoner"

"Yes" was Harrys one-word reply, he had no clue what Ollivaders was and he had a starter.

"Good, your parents are the right sort, aren't they?"

"They are dead"

"Oh"

"They were both trainers"

"Good - Father says these days they let anyone in Hogwarts"

Harry was sure that they wouldn't let just anyone into Hogwarts, Afterall why would someone who has no interest in pokémons go to a trainer school.

"Tell me, which house do you think you will be in. I am sure I will be in Slytherin"

Harry just shrugged "Dunno"

"Yeah, you can't really tell before can you, but let me tell you Slytherin is the best house"

"Say whats your name, my name is Draco Malfoy" the blonde said with a smirk

He said his name with an air of self-importance, like Harry was suppose to know who he was. The boy reminded Harry of Dudley, Dudley had the same air of arrogance, self-importance.

Before Harry could reply, the measuring girl came back and shouted "Next".

At the same time someone from outside the store spoke "Draco, lets go, we are done here"

Draco walked out before saying "I will be seeing you in Hogwarts."

Harry stepped up on the platform.

"Hi!" the girl said cheerfully, "I am Mary Wilkins and this is sunflora, we will be taking your measurement"

"Sunflora-flora" the sunflora cheerfully replied and waved at Harry.

Harry waved back and said "I'm Harry Potter, nice to meet you"

The girl immediately gasped "WOW!" and her eyes shot up his scar.

Before she could say anything, an elderly woman who was working on the counter almost shot towards Harry.

"I will take it from here dear", she ordered Mary and took the measuring tape from her and shooed her away. Mary looked back at Harry and almost seemed envious.

Behind the old woman was an odd-looking bug like tall pokémon, the pokémon had a round yellow face with 2 antennae and a leafy head crown, with a thin green and yellow leafy body.

"I am Madame Malkins, my dear, the owner of this fine establishment, and this here is Levanny, she is from Unova, and the finest weaving pokémon in all of Albion, nothing but the best for you Mr. Potter." Levanny nodded alongside her trainer and saying "Levanny, Levanny", shaking her head at intervals, looking particularly pleased at the best comment.

"I am Harry Potter, nice to meet you"

"I know my dear, I know, now tell, what is it that you need, perhaps your Hogwarts uniform?"

"Yeah, the letter said—"

"—three sets and a winter cloak, I know, I have been doing this for almost 40 years. Madame Malkins is the best at making Hogwarts uniforms." The woman was intent on doing all the talking and she looked particularly proud of her profession. Harry guessed she had a right to be if she was doing this for 40 years.

"Now stand still, while Levanny and I take your measurements, this will only take a few minutes."

A few minutes later, "All right we are done, is there anything else you need."

After looking around for a few minutes Harry spoke "Do you have any jeans or t-shirts? you know like casual clothes."

"We have all kinds of trainer wear here, dear, just look around."

Harry did indeed look around, there were heavy fur cloaks, tough looking high boots, a bunch of rain coat looking cloaks, a thick looking short jacket that looked like it was armoured! Harry would have purchased these clothes if he was going to war but since he wasn't "No, No, I meant something more indoors, non-school wear"

"Oh! We have casual robes for those, and some slacks and shirts, do you want any"

Harry shrugged he might as well take some. He brought three of each, and a pair of school and hiking boots before stepping down and walking to the counter,

"All right the standard Hogwarts uniform package, alongside the extra clothes will be 20 galleons,"

As Harry pulled out the heavy money pouch, jingling with coins, looking at which, she continued

"For an extra 5 galleons, we can throw in 5 pairs of high-quality underwear, 5 pairs of socks and ariados silk lining for your clothes, a bargain really!"

Harry nodded, while he didn't really care about the silk lining, he could use some new socks and underwear, his were falling apart.

"Yes, Please" Harry replied handing out 25 galleons to Madame Malkins, Harry looked reluctant using the money, he promised himself he would be more careful with his parents money.

"Nice doing business with you dear, your package will be ready in an hour, drop by after you have done your shopping and your package will be there" Madam Malkins said looking inordinately pleased with herself and handing Harry a slip.

"Show this slip here at the counter and who ever is here will hand your package over to you."

Harry nodded and took the slip and walked out of the store.

"All done, Harry, Now lets go and get you a trunk." Hagrid said as soon as he saw Harry.

"Hagrid, can I bring out Nero, all the people here are walking out with their pokémon."

Hagrid squirmed at that question, looking very uncomfortable.

"You best not Harry, I will explain it to you later, now let us go"

The "later" question were increasing in Harry mind. Harry was not going to let Hagrid go before he answered all of his questions.

Hagrid and Harry walked to a trunk store, a few stores away from Madam Malkins, named "Porta-Portable, luggage for the adventurer" Beside the sign was a poster of large fat man wearing a hat, a red scarf and a green coat, carrying a giant backpack, almost as large as the man. The backpack had a shovel on top.

As they walked in the store, a man approached them

"How may I help you gentlemen?"

"Harry here needs a trunk for Hogwarts," Hagrid boisterously stated

"And What kind trunk does Harry need—"

"What kind of trunks are there?" Harry questioned

"All kinds, young man, large, small, medium, we have trunks that use the same shrinking technology invented in Kanto in Silph Co. to fit more space the outer size. The bigger the expanded space, the more expensive the trunk, Why I once sold a trunk with an apartment inside, though the person was wearing a hood and didn't really tell me who he was, or why he needed it, strange and paranoid sort of fellow he was. We also have trainer backpacks in various sizes -"

Before the man could keep going Hagrid interrupted him seeming impatient.

"Just give him a standard size Hogwarts trunk with 3 times the space."

"3x Medium got it, anything else?"

"Um… I would also like a backpack" Harry sated before Hagrid could reply

"what size, we have -"

"Nothing too big, not like the one you have outside on the poster, a small school backpack size one"

"A small trainer backpack it is"

"Your total will be 30 galleons, 20 for the trunk and 10 for the backpack, for 5 more I can add a fingerprint and a combination lock to both the trunk and the backpack, and for 1 more I can attach wheels and a handle to the trunk for easy carry."

"Do it," Harry relied

Five minutes later the man came back with a trunk and a backpack and showed Harry how to set the combination and the fingerprint lock. Harry did both and then opened the trunk and put the backpack inside. Harry was surprised at how big the trunk was on the inside.

Harry paid the man 36 galleons and walked out of the store dragging his trunk behind him.

The sun was high in the sky, it was 11 am, it had been 2 hours since they had come to the Alley and Harry didn't even realize.

"This is taking way longer than I thought," Hagrid grumbled

"Sorry Hagrid," Harry said feeling guilty.

"Don't worry, I am just Hungry."

Harry realized that he too hadn't eaten anything since the morning but was too excited to .

"Next step, Ollivanders," Hagrid said as he started walking.

"Whats that?"

"Ollivanders is the best breeder and procurer of pokémon in Albion, been doing so for centuries, they provide starter pokémon."

"Do all students go to Ollivanders, I met a Draco Malfoy in Madam Malkins, he said that his Dad was getting him a foreign pokémon."

"A Malfoy? Yeah a Malfoy would do that. The wrong sort of people they are Harry, throw around money to get what they want, Lucius Malfoy even supported You-Know-Who, avoided going to prison using his money."

"who?" questioned Harry

"what?"

"you said his Lucy Malfoy supported someone"

Hagrid scractched his head nervously, "Uh.. later, and its Lucius"

Harry looked at him exasperatedly.

"You know I wont let you go till you answer all the "later" questions"

"I know Harry, after shopping, we will sit down in the Leaky with food and I will answer all those questions, Now onwards to Ollivanders."

"What about starter Pokémon, do all of them come from Ollivanders"

"Most do some families prefer starters from the breeding stock they keep and some just buy expensive from different more obscure breeders, but Ollivanders always matches you with the best starter."

They walked past a few shops, a grooming, a clipping, a hair stylist and even a move tutor before stopping in front of an ancient looking storefront. There was nothing in the display windows, the sign was slightly crooked and said "Ollivanders-Starters since 768 BC" which was obviously a lie, Albion itself was barely 700 years old, the shop claimed to be over 2500.

Before they walked in Hagrid asked "Harry, hand me a few galleons, I will go and get your potion ingredients, while you are inside, you know divide and conquer."

"How many do you need?"

"Three should be plenty"

"Just three"

Harry handed Hagrid five galleons and stepped into the shop while Hagrid walked in the opposite direction.

Harry entered the shop. The shop was completely dreary. Straight upfront was counter behind which was open space with ancient wood panelling and shelves lined with open pokeballs, there must be a hundred open pokeballs on the shelves. In the back of the shop were 2 stools. One on sat a hypno and on the other a drowzee. The hypno was staring at his pendulum while the drowzee was sleeping. Apart from that the shop was completely empty and super quiet. Harry walked up to the counter and stood there wondering if someone would show up.

Suddenly a hand appeared on his shoulders and someone said "Harry Potter"

Harry jumped back and stared at the man. He was old and slightly bent over. He had long white hair till his shoulders and wrinkles on his face and barely open eyes.

"I knew you would come here one day, I am Garrick Ollivander, I still remember the day you parents came to get their starters, a rambunctious little Charmander for your father James Potter and demure little ralts for your mother Lily Evans. They grew up to be real powerhouses"

"Oh! Where are they now."

"Alas they perished with their partners."

Harrys mood suddenly dropped

"No, no Mr. Potter the only sad day was yesterday, they went out doing their duties, both pokémon and trainer alike, Now lets match you up, Hold out your hand."

"But I already have a starter pokémon"

"You do!" this time the old mans eyes snapped wide open. Even the hypno and the drowzee sat up alert (or as alert as a hypno and drowzee could get) with cries of "Hypnoooo" and "Drowzeeee".

"Show me!" Ollivander stated

"Do you want me to bring him out." Harry said while pulling the luxury ball out of his pocket and expanding it. He really needed to buy one of those cool trainer belts.

"No. Just hand over your pokeball"

Harry looked reluctant but Ollivander assured him

"Don't worry, Mr Potter, no harm would come to your pokémon from me"

Harry handed over the pokeball to Ollivander.

"Hmmm. I see," Ollivander said, rotating over the ball in his hands and peering over it as if inspecting a particularly shiny toy.

"Very interesting, Loyal without a doubt and young, very young, and powerful for its age, protective and willing to go to great lengths for its trainer, a hunter and a predator, violent but not without reason, dangerous but not without cause"

Harry looked amazed as Ollivander monologued.

"Fire Type, the fire burns strong, stronger than it should"

Harry looked smug, of course it would, they had worked extra hard on Neros fire attacks.

"There is something else, something subdued but willing to burst out, on the cusp on greatness, Ah! A dark type". This time his eyes were wide open.

"A dual fire/dark type".

This type Mr. Ollivander turned his eyes towards Harry and looked at him sharply.

"Tell me Mr. Potter, where did you acquire a male houndour in East Albion"

Harry heaved a sigh of relief, he was glad Nero was a male, otherwise the conversation would have been super awkward.

Harry replied "I didn't acquire Nero, we sort of just found each other."

"You did, didn't you and you named him Nero, a name signifying greatness, a perfect name, the strings of fate tie around the both of you tightly Mr. Potter." Mr Ollivander cryptically stated before handing Harry the pokeball.

"The string of what-"

"Don't worry about it, bring him out on the counter right here"

Harry let out Nero.

Nero came out barking with excitement. And turned towards Harry.

Before Harry could stop, Mr. Ollivander put his hand on Neros head and Nero became putty in his hands.

"He is young, no more than fifteen months, but he looks remarkable for such a young pokémon. Tell me Mr. Potter, how did you raise him?"

That was younger than Harry had thought.

" I've had Nero for about a year and we did whatever felt right. We played and studied and trained."

"Whatever felt right huh!", Mr Ollivander said "Mr. Potter you have either great instincts or great luck. The starter pokémon I hand out are generally between two and three years old and Nero here looks like he could wipe the floor with any of them. Houndours generally become full grown at about 2 years, but Nero is already the size of a fully grown one. Continue doing what you feel "right" Mr. Potter. You are both on your way to greatness. Afterall dark types are only respect greatness"

"Oh! I didn't know"

"It is true, dark types are notoriously difficult to train, the last trainer who I handed out a dark type to, did great things, terrible but great, he was also responsible for the scar on your head. I have never given out a dark type since then, and never will again."

Harry wanted to ask more questions but he could feel that Mr. Ollivander had nothing to say about it.

So, Harry changed topics.

"Mr. Ollivander, if you don't mind me asking, where do you keep the pokémon?, all the pokeballs here are open"

"Oh! I don't mind Mr. Potter, I wouldn't keep the pokémon locked up here. Just their pokeballs are here, once I match a particular pokémon with a trainer, those two," He pointed at Hypno and Drowzee "teleport them here"

"But how do you match the trainer and pokémon?, cant any trainer train any pokémon."

"They can, but it will be extremely difficult to do so, especially for a starter."

"So, me and Nero are matched?"

"Extremely so, you were meant for each other."

"But I found Nero by chance."

"Nothing is by chance Mr. Potter, the strings of fate tie tightly around you two" Harry ignored the weird cryptic statement for the second time and reiterated his question

"But how do you match them?"

"Hmm... have you heard about Pokémon energies, you probably wouldn't have, these are the energies that direct the motion of our world, they aren't well researched or explained, but they direct the actions of pokémon and human."

"Like the force" Harry said. He loved Star Wars.

"Exactly like the force" Mr Ollivanders replied with with a smile. "In case of pokémon the effect is easy to spot, the energy directly influences the typing. But in case of humans, it is much more subtle. The energy calls out to the bond between pokémon and trainer, this is the reason that Lance is a dragon trainer, Bruno a fighting type specialist, agatha a ghost trainer and so many more."

"But that would imply that people have no choice, over the type of trainers they can be" Harry interrupted.

"There is always a choice Mr. Potter, the question is if people are willing to make it. People often insist that because Lance can train dragons, he can train any pokémon, that statement is categorically false, In fact, in his early days as a trainer Lance tried to train an electrabuzz to counter the many water/ice types his dragons were weak against. He had such a horrid time that he had to release the Electrabuzz. Could Lance have finally tamed Electrabuzz, maybe if he tried a little harder or waited a little longer, we may never know. But it was his choice, and from then now Lance has never deviated from draconic pokemon. This is often kept under wraps as Kanto doesn't want information to spread that their champion was incapable of training a pokémon. Most modern trainers deny the existence of this energy as mere heresay and superstition, but my family has been blessed with the ability to feel for a person's energy. It is both a gift and a curse."

"If this a secret why are you telling me"

"Because you asked, mostly people just listen to me and are eager to get out and play with their pokémon. Rarely any one ever talks with me." Mr Ollivander smiled

"So, you use this energy to match trainers and pokémon"

"Yes, that and so much more but mainly that" Ollivander said in a deliberately confusing manner.

"So, do you have any more questions?"

"I do, so many more but Hagrid is waiting for me outside, and I have to go."

"Then go you shall Mr. Potter, and remember -"

"The string of fate tie tightly around us"

"I was about to say, have a good day, but that too" Mr Ollivander said with a laugh.

Harry returned Nero and walked out of the store. Mr Ollivander was a cool guy, slightly creepy and cryptic as hell, but also super cool.

"Had a good time Harry" Hagrid asked, "I got your potion supplies for you and here a birthday gift", Hagrid said handing Harry a cool looking leather trainer belt, a black collar that said Nero in bold red letters and three galleons. "Also, the potions supplies only cost 2 galleons, like I said you would"

"Hagrid you didn't have to, you have already done so much for me today."

"Its no problem Harry. Now let's go, books await. That is the last thing on the list, and then food. I am so hungry, that I am gonna have both breakfast and lunch."

Harry put the collar and the belt in the truck and followed Hagrid.

They stopped in front of a crowded bookstore and Hagrid walked up the counter and said "Hogwarts complete first year"

"Right with you, that will be 5 galleons and please wait 10 minutes for the books to get ready" the lady behind the counter stated

"Look around Harry, there might be something you find interesting."

Harry explored the book store, there were so many interesting books, Harry picked up a copy of

Evolution- Dos and Donts by Elm Utsugi

History of Albion from Albion by Chadwick Boseman

Importance of Blood by Caddeus Nott

Dangers of Dark Types by Neo King

Moves Every Pokémon Should Know by Bhaela Rose

Dark Lords and Wars by Vatsal Purohit

Legacy of the Aura by Galadriel Knightstaff

Harry wanted to pick up some books about the pokémon league and the government and stuff but he figured that he wouldn't have time to read all of them.

He had also spotted a set of adventure books written on him, with himself as the titular character, Harry Potter and the Rouge Dragon, Harry Potter and the keystone, Harry Potter and the Mummy's tomb. The first two had Harry riding a dragonite and a gyarados respectively. Harry chuckled, at this rate Lance was going to get a complex. The third one had Harry fighting a black hitmonchan, just Harry, no pokémon, just Harry fighting a fighting type pokémon, hand to hand. Harry knew he was famous but this seemed ridiculous.

Before Harry left the fiction section, he spotted a couple of books titled

"Ebb and Flow – Pokémon Energy" and "Pokémon Energy – Myth or a mystery".

Harry who had been buzzing, ever since his conversations with Mr. Ollivander decided to pick those books up.

"Done Harry," Hagrid said, As Harry put his books on the counter. "A regular Ravenclaw you are."

"The total will be five plus twelve, seventeen galleons." The clerk stated

Harry paid the woman and put the books in his trunk.

"Finally we are done and now towards food -" Hagrid said.

"And questions, don't forget questions"

"And questions, let me get some food in my belly first."

Harry and Hagrid walked backed to the Leaky cauldron and took a seat in the backmost empty booth. Hagrid shouted "Tom a full English, large size, some shepards pie and the largest pint you can find for me, what will you have Harry-"

"- Just shepards pie and maybe some fish and chips"

"- and another shepards pie and fish and chips for my young friend."

"Right with you Hagrid, give me fifteen" someone shouted back.

Harry and Hagrid took a seat and Hagrid drew the curtain giving them some privacy.

"All right Harry ask away"

"Oh my god so many questions. Okay since we are eating let me begin with food. Where does the meat come from? Do we eat pokémon, I've heard that beef comes from Tauros"

"Ha Ha ha, no Harry we don't eat pokémon. Now I may not be an expert on this but let me explain, Before pokémon showed up, animals existed, regular dumb animals, Now pokémon started preying on these animals, and their numbers started falling fast, so ancient human, started rounding up these farm animals and keeping them in protected pens. This has continued till today, now there are giant animal farms with thousands of these animals, you know like cows, pigs, lambs, sheeps, chickens, turkeys and all the meat, beef, pork, chicken comes from these animals. And to your question of Tauros, Tauros are powerful pokémon, they maybe listed as tier B, but they are very powerful, imagine keeping hundreds of tauros locked up and slaughtering them for meat. The tauros would rebel and trample over everything, killing humans and pokémon alike, even a full team of dragons cannot subdue a rampaging herd of hundreds of tauros. The tauros would utterly destroy everything in their path. In fact, this has happened a few time in Kanto."

Harry nodded. It made perfect sense.

"Next question, what are tier B pokémon and how are tiers decided"

"You know the pokémon stat system right"

"I know, but in some books I read that these numbers are entirely random and a well-trained low stat pokémon can easily defeat a poorly-trained high stat pokémon."

"You are right Harry and that is a very smart observation, but the stat system is mostly for classification, and an example of strictly average of their species. But to answer your question any pokémon 500 or above is considered a tier A pokémon, and that is also not always true, a shuckle is above 500, and that can hardly be considered a tier A pokémon. The tier system is also designed to make sure that young trainers don't end up catching powerful pokémon before they are experienced enough to handle them. In the olden day, Kanto regularly handed out Charmander as starter pokémon to 10-year olds. More trainers were killed by an angry charmeleon and Charizard, than by the wild."

"Ollivander told me that my dad had a Charmander"

"and a Charizard, Aye, but he attended Hogwarts, and he was hardly inexperienced, he was one of the best trainers around"

Harry nodded along. This made sense, Mr. Blackwood had told him multiple times that pokémon training was dangerous.

"Why am I famous Hagrid?"

This was the question Hagrid was dreading. He knew it was coming and he also knew that he had to start from the very he beginning. He cursed the Dursleys for not giving Harry any information.

"What do you know about your parents Harry?"

"Only what you have told me so far, their names, they attended Hogwarts, they were good trainers, and Mr. Ollivander told me a bit about their starters"

"So, you don't know about their deaths?"

"Aunt Petunia told me that they died in a car accident." Hagrid grimaced "I am guessing they didn't".

"No, they did not. Before you were born Harry, Albion was in chaos, there was a war going on. We call it the dark war. There was a pokémon trainer. You-know-who"

"Who?"

"We don't say his name Harry, he wanted to destroy all of East Albion and merge East and West into one kingdom over which he would rule. He hated the muggles and muggleborns"

"Muggleborns?"

"Trainers who don't have any trainer blood in them, whose parents aren't trainers, now in the rest of the world this is very uncommon, but in East Albion, it is the norm, there are hardly any trainers. You-know-who believed that only pure bloods, or individual with the blood of trainers should be allowed to train pokémon."

"But that's absurd, anyone can become a trainer"

"You are a good person for saying that Harry, but that is not how Albion is, the person you met in Madam Malkins, Malfoy, his family supports this. There are a lot of other old families who supported this. These people would eventually follow you-know-who. In the war against You-know-who a lot of good people and pokémon died. On Halloween October 31, 1981, You-know-who attacked a house in the village of Godrics Hollow. It was your parents house Harry, you were just a babe then, after a brutal battle which wrecked the house, you-know-who killed your parents, their pokémon also perished in the attack."

"What was his name?"

"Harry we don't say his name—"

"—I know Hagrid, but I need to know" Harry asked desperately.

Hagrid looked around worriedly, they were in a private booth, and then bent towards and said softly "Voldemort".

"So, this Voldermort killed my parents"

Hagrid shuddered at the name and then nodded.

"But you said a lot of people and pokémon died, how could this be possible, Voldemort was one person, what pokémon did he train-"

"—you-know-who was a very powerful trainer Harry. He had a fearsome monstrous Hydreigon, a very powerful pseudo legendary dual dark/dragon type pokémon from Unova, the pokémon was so strong that its hyper beam could rip across multiple thick steel walls, he also had a Malamar, another foreign pokémon, it was said that his Malamar could bend peoples will to his bidding and force them to obey his trainer. Only Dumbledore could fight him toe to toe. It is said that Dumbledore is the only trainer You-know-who feared"

Harry had heard of neither of those pokémon, he only knew of pokémon which were seen in Albion, such as those from Kanto, Johto and Hoenn, there were some from Sinnoh he knew about but he had no knowledge of any of the other regions, but he had heard about pseudo-legendaries, pokémon so powerful that they could challenge legendaries.

"Nothing else?" Harry asked quietly, this information had taken a heavy toll on him

"Not much is known about you-know-who, a lot of his origin and life is shrouded in secrecy, some say he had a spiritomb he used to torment people, some say he had a weavile he used to assassinate people, but all that is clear is that he was a very powerful dark type trainer." Then Hagrid bent down close to Harry and said softly almost hesistatingly. "Some say he could use dark-type attacks himself, that he could drain the life, of his victims."

Harry shuddered at that.

"So, he is dead now"

"He died the night he killed your parents. After killing your parents and their pokémon, he and his hydreigon tried to kill you in your crib, no one knows what happened but it said that his attack backfired and it killed both him and his hydreigon. Both he and his pokémon haven't been seen since."

"Just like that" Harry asked disbelievingly

"Yes, just like that and you survived the worst dark lord in history with just a scar. The one on your forehead. You didn't just survive, you destroyed him. This is why you are famous Harry; Albion sees you as a symbol of hope, one of victory and peace and bringer of good times. You ended the darkness. This is why you are also called the-boy-who-lived. You-know-who's followers soon disbanded, they were all either killed or arrested, some of them escaped punishment by claiming to be mind-controlled".

"Is this also why people hate dark types, why you were shocked at seeing Nero?" Harry asked worriedly, hugging Nero's pokeball close to his heart.

"Yes, but don't worry about that Harry, Ollivander approved of Nero, not even the minister can take him away from you know, and its not like people don't have dark type pokémon, its just that their reputation in Albion is worse than it is in the rest of the world."

Harry relaxed at that but was still hugging Nero's pokeball. He wished he could call Nero out and hug him for warmth and comfort, but Hagrids story had made him apprehensive.

After a long period of sombre silence, the food arrived. Tom cheerfully placed the large amount of food on the table. He even put a pitcher on the table beside Harry. "This is for you Mr. Potter, pumpkin juice, an Albion speciality, on the house for you."

As Tom left Hagrid drew the curtains again.

"You can call Nero out, no one will disturb us know, just ask him to be quiet."

"Oh, Nero can be super quiet," Harry grinned and called him out,

Nero came out yipping and jumped on the table. "We have to be quiet boy," Nero nodded his head.

Hagrid was amazed at the relationship between Nero and Harry. Nero was so obedient; it was almost like he understood Harry. But that surely couldn't be the case now could it.

Releasing Nero had completely turned Harrys mood around, he held Nero close to his chest, while both Harry and Hagrid ate their food. They would feet bits and pieces of their food to Nero who happily gobbled it up.

The food was excellent. After their breakfast lunch Hagrid and Harry talked some more while Hagrid drank his beer while Harry sipped on the pumpkin juice, he liked the flavor, it was sweet and thick but it was hardly something he could drink every day.

"Hagrid tell me about the Hooks? Why do they dislike us? And keep referring to us as Tauwis."

"Hmm... let me think, you know about the Indigo-Hoenn war right?"

"Yeah, we studied about it in history class in school, there was a war over Albion, the island was wrecked, but it also led to people settling on the island and the modern version of Albion was born, east side went to the people who wanted to do nothing with pokémon and the western side was taken up by trainers and their pokémon."

"In short yes, you are right, but you know how they say that the island was uninhabited."

Harry nodded taking a sip.

"That was a lie. The Hooks are the original inhabitants of this island, their houses were mostly underground with only the door and a dome being above ground. They mostly survived the destruction due to war because of their subterranean lifestyle. They have always been voracious miners and underground builders. They have vast cavernous cities underground. Tauwi in Hook language means foreigner. They hate us because first we destroyed and then invaded their lands. We have even fought three wars since then. They are called the Hook rebellions; you will learn more about them in your history class. After the first rebellion, we agreed to hand over the banking system to them to keep them satisfied and they soon took over the banking system of Kanto, Johto and Hoenn. They even do a good job of it. They are excellent at counting coppers. Because of their amazing digging ability and ground type pokémon expertise, they even control a majority of the worlds supply of evolutionary stones, fossils, rare bones and shards and such. My Maya came from one such fossil, a hook owed me a favour and I got him to cough up an old amber for it." Hagrid looked mighty pleased with himself for having made that deal.

"Why the strange currency system, 17 sickles to a galleon and 39 knuts to a sickle?"

"Dunno, but if I had to guess they do it make our lives more miserable"

"Where is my parents house Hagrid"

"Godric's Hollow, it's a charming little town in West Albion, you were also born there".

"I wasn't born in East Albion"

"Of course not, as if a Potter would be born in such a muggleland."

"I would like to visit there" Harry sighed wistfully.

"Tell you what, come Christmas break, if you stay at Hogwarts, I will get permission and we will visit there on Maya."

Harry nodded eagerly and smiled. Of course he would be staying at Hogwarts.

After lunch, Harry couldn't think of any more questions but instead he thought about how 24 hours ago he though he would have to go the London Pokémon Academy and sleep on park benches during the weekend. Now he was a trainee at Hogwarts, he was rich, he had a pokémon in a pokeball, he had new clothes, he had learnt about his parents and the genocidal megalomaniac who murdered them. Okay the last part wasn't so great but it was still more than he had known. He had even made a friend, he thought looking up at Hagrid who busy taking the last few sips of his beer.

His life really had made a U-turn in the last 24 hrs.

He paid for their meal, even though Hagrid insisted on paying, but Harry had gotten enough gifts from Hagrid, the meal only came to a galleon and 11 sickles.

"Done Harry, then let's go get you clothes from Madam Malkins."

Hagrid and Harry walked to Madam Malkins, picked up their package and on the walk back Hagrid suggested that Harry get a Hoothoot, so that he could write, if he had any more questions.

"But Hagrid I already have Nero, and the Hogwarts letter states that I may only have one pokémon."

"Mail hoothoot don't count Harry, they don't stay in a pokeball, they don't battle and they don't evolve, think of them as a pet. You don't always have to keep them around, they love to fly about and only come to you if you need them, They can find anyone is the world though, so they are excellent at carrying letters."

"Why can't I just email you?"

"We aren't big on technology at Hogwarts, plus you can even use a Hoothoot to write to your friends."

Reluctantly Harry purchased a female Hoothoot, along with a perch, some flying type food and a few hoothoot treats from the emporium. On the way back, they stopped by a store called "Pokefeed – Feed for your pokémon" to purchase a few bags of speciality dark/fire blend for Nero, no more of that bland generic food. Harry also purchased some more appropriate toys, 2 giant bones, a very durable ball, and a thick strechy string. The one end of the string was to be tied to a pole and the other pulled by the pokémon. It would apparently strengthen the pokémons jaw.

With his purchases stored securely in his trunk and his Hoothhoot on his soldier, Harry and Hagrid walked out of Diagon Alley, then the pub and finally onto the streets on London.

"Where am I going to stay till the school starts, I can rent a room at any hotel around London, or even the Cauldron, I heard someone mention that it was also an inn" Harry questioned

"I am supposed to drop you back at your home in Privet Drive."

"But Hagrid, the Dursleys, hate me, even more so now that they know I am trainer."

"Don't worry Harry, I will have a word with them before I leave, they will mistreat you no more" Hagrid grinned

Both Hagrid and Harry returned to Surrey using the tube. Harry got some strange looks for carrying a Hoothoot on his shoulders, but seeing as Hagrid was with him, no one bothered them. On the way back to Privet Drive, Harry stopped by a burger place he sometimes frequented, when he had saved up enough money, and purchased a large hamburger meal for dinner. He didn't want to face the Dursleys at night.

At 4, Privet Drive, Vernon lost it upon seeing the duo.

"No" he shouted. "I will not have the freak in my house no more",

Hagrid muscled his way in the door, so that he was standing in the living room with Harry behind him. Hagrid released Sprinkles.

A loud "Machamp" and sprinkles came out. Aunt Petunia screeched and Dudley ran up the stairs

"Listen well Dursley, Harry will stay here for the month, till Hogwarts starts on September 1, he will have his own room, you will feed him well and stop mistreating him or Sprinkles here will grind your bones to dust. I am leaving psychic pokémon here and the moment they sense, any harm to Harry, they will teleport you into the ocean. Not that they will need to, Harry has his own little companion to protect him. Now Harry will also return here in the summers, and I will talk to some people about getting you some compensation for housing him, but if any harm comes to him-" Sprinkles pumped his fists together and shouted "Champ-Machamp-Champ" "-You know the rest".

With the Dursleys thoroughly cowed Hagrid returned Sprinkles.

"Walk outside with me Harry."

Outside Hagrid turned to Harry

"Here Harry, this is your Hogwarts ticket."

"It say platforms 9 3/4 ."

"Yeah." Hagrid grinned "That's just the end of platform 9 at Kings cross station in London, walk all the way towards the end of the platform 9, you will see a door, present your ticket out to the conductor outside and he will let you on the platform."

"But why take a train, why not fly or teleport."

"Because Hogwarts has a lot of muggleborn trainers from East Albion, they won't have pokémon who can teleport or fly. Also, it's a great way to make friends,"

Harry nodded, it made sense.

"Alright Harry, gotta go now. Can you point me in the direction of the park, I will fly on Maya from there."

Harry hugged Hagrid, "Thankyou Hagrid, you changed my life today"

"No problem Harry" Hagrid state and patted Harry on the back. "You be good and write, even if just to say Hi, I will be seeing you in a month."

Harry pointed Hagrid towards the park. Harry watched Hagrid leave, waited for a few moments and then walked back in the house with his head held high. Harry didn't really think that Hagrid had left psychic pokémons, but the Dursleys didn't need to know that.

Inside the house Vernon approached Harry.

"Listen well boy, we won't be bullied by that giant. Our house has rules and you will follow them, we have cleared out Dudleys second room for you, you will stay there and keep your beast inside there. Outside he will always be in his ball. The one on your shoulders will also stay in your room and can use the window. I don't want to hear a single noise from them nor ever see them. You will do your chores and behave like a respectable citizen, not like a hooligan, otherwise no matter what the giant says, I will kick you out on your backside."

This was positively angelic from the Dursleys. Harry knew that despite their false bravado, they were terrified from Hagrids threat, Aunt Petunia was still shaking like a leaf.

Harry dragged his trunk and Hoothoot upstairs to his new room. The room was decently sized. It had a single bed in one corner, a cupboard towards the back wall, a study table and a chair next to the door, a dustbin below it and a window which overlooked the neighbours yard. Harry shut the door, opened his trunk and set up Hoothoots perch near the window. Hoothoot hopped on the perch, he also opened the window. He set up Neros bowl in one corner and put some food in it. He then released Nero, Nero came out and happily started eating his food. Harry also put some food out for the Hoothoot. Then Harry lay down on his bed and laid his head on the pillow. The bed was so much more comfortable than the lumpy thin mattress in the cupboard. It had been a long tiring day. Harry shut his eyes to relax. He heard a flutter of wings as Hoothhoot flew put of the window. After eating Nero jumped on the bed and snuggled next to Harry.

Harry added having his own room to the list of things that had changed.

His life really had changed today Harry though as he drifted off to a dreamless sleep, his dinner forgotten on the table.

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Ch3 is done. Please review. I hope people enjoy my take on Hagrid. He is master breeder so he is not completely absent minded as he is in cannon. He is more knowledgeable and responsible while maintaining his core characteristics of being slightly naïve, idealistic and a Dumbledore admirer.

The Hook clan is obviously a tribute to Griphook from cannon. I hope people enjoy my alternate take on HP history.

Two of the authors on the book list are my first 2 favourites, so thanks for that.

The pokémon energy thing will be a part of my lore. Pokémon cannon has a lot of unexplained magic like such as Aura, Psychics, Magical calming songs, spells that turn people into Pokémon (like that one anime episode) and lots more. I plan to incorporate this into my story

Harry also has a lot more backbone than cannon and the Dursleys are also more tolerable. Both can be attributed to the fact that Dursleys hatred for Harry exacerbated every time he performed accidental magic. Here with pokémon, Harry simply stopped mentioning them and with Mr. Blackwood and Nero, Harry gained both a mentor and a companion which helped increase his confidence.

I can't think of anything else really. Oh! The beta reader. Please PM me if anyone is interested. Ch4 will be out soon.

Ch4: Of meetings and goodbyes