Session Six: You Meet in a Tavern

Harry's POV

The Leaky Cauldron was one of those places that except for the name was identical to millions of other places in the world. They served food, they served alcohol, there was music in the corner, drunks passed out at tables and the dents and damages all over the place from the last brawl. To someone like Harry this place felt better than a home, it felt right. It called out to him, made promises of good times, adventure and wealth beyond his wildest dreams. It sang to him in words that not even the oldest beings of creation knew, it sang to him in the way only a tavern could sing to an adventurer.

Harry stepped inside The Leaky Cauldron.

The occupants of the tavern all turned in unison to stare at him. They noticed his wine stained clothes, his bruised face, his lightning bolt scar, the empty looking bag over his shoulder, the menu in his hands and Harry could tell these people who had never met him before in his life knew exactly who and what he was. Almost in unison the occupants of the bar got up from their seats, helped the unconscious drunks up and left. 'Knew that weirdo in the corner was trouble,' one of them muttered as they brushed past.

Harry of course paid these people no mind, he was used to people giving him a wide berth and luckily for him the tavern still had people inside it.

In the corner, face shrouded in shadow sat a figure. Was it man? Was it woman? Was it even human? Harry did not know. All he knew was that it liked black clothing and everything else about it was indiscernible.

The musician in the corner was still playing his music, honestly Harry wasn't even sure if the musician was aware that most of the room had left. He seemed to be in his own world. Eyes closed, playing his violin as brightly colored musical notes filled the air around him.

The owner was standing behind the bar, a jovial smile on his face as he happily hummed along to the musicians music, he was cleaning a glass with a rag so filthy that Harry was certain it had never been cleaned.

So it was with an ear to ear grin, a heart thump thump thumping with excitement and the knowledge that this was where it all would begin Harry walked towards the bar.

...

Hermione's POV

'I do not like the look of this place,' the ghost of Dan Granger said as they stared at the sign for the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione couldn't blame her father, the building looked like it was barely standing. Of course in a world where magic was real appearances could be extremely deceiving. Or not. Who knows. Hermione didn't know. That was a problem of course. Hermione didn't like not knowing things. She didn't like it when there was knowledge beyond her reach.

This drinking establishment. This bar. This tavern. It held answers that Hermione wanted. The packet that Albus had left her told her how to get into the alley behind it, it told her how to get her school equipment, how to find her train and everything else. The pack barely even mentioned the Leaky Cauldron but Hermione knew that upon walking into the tavern she would eventually learn everything she wanted to.

So ignoring her parents comments about the place. Ignoring the large group of people walking out the door. Ignoring the fact that legally she was not allowed into a tavern at the age of eleven. Hermione walked into the Leaky Cauldron.

The experience was...it was unique. It was as if time lost all meaning. As if eldritch beings more horrifying and insanity inducing than anything Lovecraft could have imagined were looking at her. Evaluating her. Taking stock of who she was, is and will be. The walls bent. The lights flickered. The beings from a realm before time and space almost shattered reality as they paid attention to her.

Then the experience was over.

Everything was back to normal and no one seemed to have noticed what had happened.

Hermione had noticed though, the tavern had allowed her to notice, and instead of breaking like others would, like normal people would, Hermione instead felt a great hunger. There was so much to know, so much to learn and she would learn it all.

...

Ron's POV

Ron's day was like it always was. Just another reminder that he was the least important Weasley. His parents spent all day talking about how they had to get Percy a new components pouch and spell book for being made prefect, despite how his current ones were still working. They talked about how the twins, Fred and George, needed to get stuff for their artificer's classes. Ginny needed new clothes as she was outgrowing her current ones. Gift packages needed to be sent to Bill and Charlie.

Of course this meant all of Ron's Hogwarts equipment would have to be second or fifth hand from his brother Bill's first days of school. Of course this was the case of everything Ron owned. Why would today be any different than every other day of his life?

It still hurt though, it always hurt. He blinked away the tears as they walked into the Leaky Cauldron, he couldn't be seen crying, he'd never hear the end of it.

'Master are you unwell?' his new familiar asked mentally. It was still odd for Ron, sharing his mind with a raven that always hid in his shadow but it was so much better than The Voice, and it was the only friend he had.

'I'm fine, just had something in my eye. I'm fine Huginn,' he sent back, he felt bad about lying but he couldn't tell the truth, he couldn't tell his familiar how ,much of a baby he was, could he? What if Huginn laughed at him, or was cheeped out by him? Ron just really needed the bird to like him, for someone to like him.

...

General POV

Three children. Each one from a different background, different walk of life. Each one with different interests. Each one with different skill sets. Each one with different goals. Usually these three children would never interact. They would go to school, be sorted into different houses. Would make their own friends. Would have their own destinies.

These however are not normal circumstances.

You see this is a tavern.

Harry was the first one to act, a life of danger had impressed upon him the importance of following his instincts. Also the bushy haired girl was being followed by two ghosts, and the red headed boy had eyes coming out of his shadow. How cool were they!?

So while the new adults were too busy trying to corral the other red headed kids, Harry walked up to the two much cooler kids who looked to be about his age. 'Hi, i'm Harry,' he announced with a big grin and grabbing each of them by the hand, shaking it.

Hermione for her part was ashamed to admit, if only to herself, that she was surprised. Most kids her age avoided her like the bubonic plague. Then again most kids her age were not drenched head to toe in wine. 'Poor child, raised by alcoholics,' her mother, Emma Granger muttered sadly.

'Only one alcoholic, and Aunt Petunia only started drinking recently,' Harry announced, correcting the ghost much to the surprise of the three Grangers.

'Wait you an see my parents? Is this due to magical heritage? Is it because of this place? Those beings at the edge of reality? Is it because you're an adventurer? You can hear them too, so it's not just a partial effect, you can interact with them like I can. Have you also turned people into ghosts? Do you know any magic? If so what do you know? What can you do?'

While Hermione was speaking, Ron was internally having his own breakdown, just one of a mental nature. Someone was talking to him. Someone willingly came up and talked to him. Someone willingly came up and talked to him when they could have talked to his parents, brothers or sister. So it was with shock and surprise that all Ron could get out was 'er hi...i'm uh...Ron.'

Harry responded to Ron with a blinding smile, 'nice to meet you Ron, so did you have to fight a cult to get here?'

'You had to fight a cult?' Hermione asked in shock, 'why would you have to fight a cult?'

'Er...yeah mate, that seems a bit much..we're not supposed...to do that til third year.'

Harry gave a non-committal shrug, of course he would meat a person haunted by ghosts and aother with eyes in his shadow and Harry would be the weird one. 'Well I didn''t know magic was a thing until recently, and when I was told I had to find my own way here the only people I knew who might know something was the cult that kept trying to sacrifice me to their god.'

The two just stared at him mouth agape.

Yup Harry was definitely the weird one. 'What did you guys have to do to get here?'

'I had to learn a spell, and repair my ticket. Wait we have to fight a cult in our third year!?' she asked shrilly, 'why would we have to fight!?'

Ron was surprised, and uncomfortable with the sudden attention of the other two. 'Well I just came with my family and uh...yeah least that's what Percy had to do in his third year. Don't worry we'll probably have to fight wolves or goblins or something for our first year.'

Hermione was horrified, mouth agape and as pale as her parents. They had to fight wolves, goblins and cults as part of their school curriculum? What kind of crazy school was...no never mind she had met the headmaster.

Harry on the other hand was excited, his eyes had almost doubled in size. He had an awesome sword, was apparently far ahead of the school work, this would be awesome. AND he got to fight goblins! How cool was that!?

Harry and Hermione had both made up their minds right then and there. They had both realized that Ron seemed to know the most about Hogwarts out of the three of them and each for their own reasons needed to know more. So it was with a history of experience of doing whatever the wanted and ignoring the adults around them that they pulled Ron out the back of the Leaky Cauldron towards Diagon Alley. 'Tell. Me. Everything!' they chorused in unison.

...

...

...

I am alive!

Now sorry this is a bit shorter than I wanted, but I had real trouble with this scene. I wanted to convey a tavern as a magical, wondrous place to adventurers but mundane for everyone else along with showing the trios primary motivations going forward and I struggled with that a bit.

I also of course wanted to start and end the chapter in the tavern