"We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public."
Chapter Three
Harry took a deep breath once they got out of the bank. He looked over the alley for a moment to figure out where to start. Last time he had not been allowed to enjoy the Alley and he planned to spoil both himself and his master. Not that she knew that yet.
The first spot that he guided them to was a shop that sold trunks and backpacks that he would have to use. He could have done without a lot of things on the list but he didn't want to let the wizarding world know of his full strength. Integra had agreed with me on that one. It was better to be underestimated than to find himself in a situation that he couldn't handle. As unlikely as it could happen.
He let Integra look around while he walked up to the shopkeeper. "I'm looking for something a bit better then the standard Hogwarts trunks and backpacks."
The man looked me up and down because he didn't like my 'muggle' clothes. "What did you have in mind?"
"I need both to have featherless charms, shrinking charms and the trunks should have 4 compartments for clothes, books, potions and an extra one just in case I need it."
"That's not going to cheap boy, are you sure you can pay?" the man growled.
Harry smirked and jiggled his money pouch. He wasn't about to show the man his money. That was a good way to get robbed in the price department. Some shops do raise the prices for the muggleborn students since they don't understand the exchange rate between pounds and galleons. Not that it mattered to me with how much I have and how little I spend
The man's eyes lit up with the sound. He walked around the counter and walked towards the back of the store.
Harry followed at a slower pace. He looked around at the items that they pasted. He didn't know if the man was going to try and pass off a piece of crap as a good quality piece.
Harry looked over what the shopkeeper thought as his best trunks and backpacks. He liked the looks of some of them but felt drawn towards a black wood one with what looked like steel to complement the coloring.
He pointed at it and a matching pack as well. "I want those ones." The man nodded. "Excellent choice" He showed off to use the different chambers and the shrinking charm. Which was used right away after putting the back in the trunk.
Harry led Integra into Twilfitt and Tattings, he wanted to get the clothes shopping over with now that he had a trunk to store his purchases in. They walked in and looked around carefully. There wasn't any consumers at that he could see. Which was just as well.
He walked up to a salesperson "Hello I would like a full wardrobe with a few school uniforms. My lady friend here would like two outfits for everyday use and one dress robe. We both would prefer expensive but practical."
"What do you mean I'm getting some outfits?" Integra glared at him.
Harry gave a small smile, not in the least intimated. "Any magical person will take you more seriously when meeting with them if you dress as they do. It's the same reason you wear suits to the meetings. Besides this whole trip is on me." He sent through their link. How much money am I going to spend in my lifetime? I'm only getting all these clothes because it's the thing to do. Besides, you have taken such good care of me master. Let me spoil you for once.
"This isn't over, Harry." Integra said.
Harry laughed. "Of course not" What games we could play master he purred to her as she walked towards a room to be fitted. He only knew she heard him because she paused for a moment.
He walked into the other room from her. He knew better than to peak when they were in public. Especially considering he really wanted to be allowed to 'play' in the magical community.
He stood on the stool thing when told to and watched as the assistant started to get clothes ready for him to try on with the measurements that were gotten by the tape that was going around his body. No matter how old he got, he still hated shopping for clothes. Although, it didn't help that he didn't have to buy any for a few hundred years now.
He allowed the person to choose whatever she wanted him to wear. He kept an eye on the colors, just in case. He didn't think she would choose wrong since this was the more high end shop that the higher society goes too. However by the time he was done with it, he was very bored. He made sure to leave with an outfit that he bought. A few of the places he was going to drag his master to today needed him in wizarding clothes.
Make sure you are wearing one of the outfits to shop in please, master. He sent as he got off the stool to pay the bill and give the address for them to be owled to them.
As he figured would happen, he was done before Integra. No matter what time period he was in, women always seemed to take forever getting ready.
He looked around the store a bit so he wouldn't be too tempted to cause mischief. He found a display of jewelry in a back corner and was looking at a few pieces that he took an interest in. He bought them and tucked them away before Integra finished.
He watched people out the shop window and let his mind wander to simpler times. He had always felt calmer when he watched people going about their days. It was something he had learned when he was thrown into the past.
He had learned how to be patient as well. Both were skills that he had learned in order to survive.
It wasn't much longer before Integra appeared beside him. He looked her over and smiled. She didn't look comfortable in the clothes at all but he felt the need to say "You look great."
He got up and he led her out into the crowds again. This time towards Flourish and Blotts. He knew without a doubt that the bookstore was going to be the place where they would be the longest. He wanted to get books that weren't on his list and he was sure that his master would find several books that she would want to read too. Know thy enemy.
It wasn't that crowded inside when they got there. Before he let go of his master though he said. "Let's meet up at the cashier with what we want to buy. Call if you need me." and he off towards the first year brooks after grabbing a basket to hold his purchases.
After that was done he wandered around. He grabbed several books that grabbed his attention including the introduction to both Runes and Arithmancy, which he planned to take in his third year. He wanted to skim them to see how the subjects worked.
He also grabbed a few books that would help him in his school work including an introduction for potions that he had never seen before. He knew without a doubt that he would have to work his arse off if he was going to keep Snape off his back. Out of all the people he was going to see at the school, he was the one person Harry didn't want on his bad side.
The others would miss most odd things he would do and say but Snape was a spy in a war. That man though might just put things together and that would not be a good thing at all.
He picked up a few books that Integra could read too. Mostly introduction to different forms of magic and history. She would want to study this world to try and understand it.
There were several books though that he grabbed that he didn't want to read but figured that it might do him some good to read up on laws and politics just in case he needed the information. He knew that his 'condition' would come out to the masses sooner rather than later and knew he needed to be prepared. Not that they could do anything to him not with the queen and country on his side. He smirked.
Several hours passed in the bookstore before both Integra and Harry were done getting what they wanted. He made sure he glanced at the books Integra wanted before buying the whole lot and getting them all packed into his new trunk.
They made it out into the light of day again. He led her into the shops to get his potion ingredients, making sure to ignore the smell as much as he could. He could tell by Integra's face that she wasn't all that happy with the scent either.
He made his way into the Eyelops Owl Emporium. It didn't take him long to find his first friend and buy her. He released her after letting her know her name and where home was as well as giving her lots of praise and attention.
Harry wasn't looking forward to getting his wand. He wasn't sure that it would be the same wand as last time considering all that he had been through in his long life. He didn't know if the wand maker would know what he was.
He entered with Integra and scanned the dark in the shop. He kept his eyes on the wandmaker once spotted.
Integra was too busy looking around so she startled a little when he spoke. He looked just as he remembered him. However his fears were justified.
Mr. Olivander tilted his head and just stared at Harry until the boy cleared his throat. "My, my, my. What did you do to yourself ?"
He looked at the man innocently "Whatever do you mean, sir?"
"You might fool others Mr. Potter but not I. You might be Harry Potter but at the same time, you're not."
Harry smiled. "You have secrets and so do I, Wandmaker."
He nodded. "Lift your wand arm."
Harry stepped away from Integra who took a seat near the door in a few chairs that were there. He hadn't noticed that the chairs were there before but then again, he went into this shop without anyone else.
He lifted both arms and a tape measure started flying around him to measure him everywhere. He didn't know why certain measurements were needed but for all he knew it was just a cover and he didn't need any of it to begin with. After all, the wand chooses the wizard.
Olivander waved it away when he had gotten what he wanted out of it and started handing wands for me to try and say what they were.
He knew when he was handed the wand that had chosen him before. His magic hummed in his veins. It felt like it was alive. He had been using wandless, soundless magic for so long that he had forgotten what a wand could feel like. It felt like coming home after a long journey. A sigh left my lips.
"Curious isn't ?"
"Oh yes, very. After all, the wand chooses the wizard." He smirked.
He put the price for the wand on the counter and turned to leave with Integra on his arm.
We let for the house in my shadows afterward. She had work to do and books to read while I had to brush up on my knowledge.
Posted on 10/19/2020
Edited on 10/19/2020- truck as written instead of trunk. Thanks James for pointing it out!
A/N- I'm not 100% happy with this chapter but it is the best I can do for now. I will come back to it one day and edit it, so I'm going to post it now. I do kind of wish it was longer though.
Chapter 4 should hopefully come out in two weeks. It's being a bit of a pain to write but the chapter after that is the one that I'm looking forward to starting, the train ride.
Again I would like to thank everyone who favorited and followed both my story and my authors page, plus any who reviewed. I hope you all are being safe.