Disclaimer: I own nothing.
It didn't take long for Harry to find Remus. After browsing the clothes Remus found, Harry revealed he didn't really care what they looked like, so long as they fit him properly. Remus nodded, buying several different outfits despite Harry's protest.
"Honestly, Remus, I'm grateful but... aren't ten outfits a little much?" He asked as they left the shop.
"Come on, Harry, you never know when you might need certain clothes. And if one outfit gets dirty, you'll have something else to wear." Remus replied.
Harry sighed a little bit, but he had to admit Remus had a point.
"Alright... where are we going next?" He asked.
"Flourish and Blotts. It should have all the books necessary for a first year, and some more advanced material if you want." Remus answered.
Harry immediately lit up, and Remus got his first glimpse of Harry acting like an excited child. Sometimes, the man forgot that Harry was still only eleven-years old. He had been through so much in the past years, not to mention the last few days. He led Harry to the bookstore, giving him free reign of the tomes as he looked around for the required material.
Harry immediately started looking for the most advanced books he could find. He didn't know exactly what he was looking for. After all, he still didn't understand why he came back after he was killed. It had to be a curse, right? But all the books on curses didn't describe them, it just warned against them. He sat down and thought for a moment. Maybe it wasn't a spell or... maybe it wasn't written down anywhere. He shook his head. He should've known it wasn't that easy.
"Harry?" A familiar voice called out and Harry looked up in surprise.
"Hermione!" He immediately smiled at her. "Fancy meeting you here."
She blushed slightly, feeling giddy that he remembered her name.
"I imagine you're here to get your books as well?" She asked.
"I think Remus- er- my uncle is getting the required texts." Harry answered. "I'm actually looking for something else."
Hermione tilted her head. "Oh? What are you looking for?"
Harry scratched his head. "I'm not... exactly sure? I think it's a spell..."
She sat down next to him. "Could you describe it?"
Harry chewed his lip in thought. "Well... Do you know of any spell that lets you come back to life?" He decided to get straight to the point.
Hermione was caught off-guard by the question. She was curious as to why Harry was interested in that sort of thing, but her first responsibility was to help him find an answer.
"I don't know about a spell, but there was something mentioned in Hogwarts: A History." Hermione replied.
Harry glanced at her, hopeful and a little surprised. "What was it?"
"Albus Dumbledore was close friends with a man named Nicolas Flamel. In the book, it briefly mentions he created something called a Philosopher's Stone. It doesn't go into detail, but I've seen mention in muggle books- which I thought were pure fantasy until I became a witch- about how a Philosopher's Stone can keep you alive or, possibly, bring you back to life." She cited off like an encyclopedia.
"That's brilliant!" Harry jumped to his feet, startling her. "Sorry, er... I just... Thank you." he said with a grin.
Hermione smiled as well, standing up much more slowly. "You're welcome. Although, if I can ask... why are you interested in something like that?"
"Oh..." Harry's smile fell. "Just curious, I guess."
She raised an eyebrow. "Harry... you're not thinking of using the Philosopher's Stone, are you?"
"I... I don't know." He shook his head, not meeting her gaze.
She wasn't sure what to think. She had only just met him- THE Harry Potter- and he just said he might use the Philosopher's Stone. Well, not in those words, precisely, but he didn't deny it.
"But... why? Why do you want to use it?" She asked, her curiosity brimming over.
When Harry looked at her, it almost felt like he was looking into her soul. It was a long, hard look, and Hermione was certain he was debating if he should entrust her with the answer. She stood a bit straighter, determined.
"I pursue knowledge, Harry. I want to learn about what I don't understand. But before that... I'd like to think we're becoming friends. So, please, will you tell me?" She asked.
Harry finally looked away and sighed. Then, he looked back at her.
"I need you to promise that you won't tell anyone about this." He said.
Hermione suddenly wondered if this was such a good idea. Clearly, this was very important to him. Harry was nervous as well. He had thought they were becoming friends, too. Was it really smart to tell her about what was happening to him? Would she even believe him?
"I promise, Harry. I won't betray your trust." Hermione replied.
Harry felt a little relieved at that, though he still looked around to make sure no one else was listening.
"Alright... here goes." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "This is probably going to sound crazy... but I need to tell someone. I... I feel like I've died before. But every time I die... I come back. It's like... time reverses, or something, and I can avoid what killed me. It keeps happening and... and I don't know what it is, I don't know what to do."
He was sure she had left by now, writing him off as some lunatic. He wiped the tears from his eyes, surprised when he saw that wasn't the case. She was looking at him with a strange expression. Disbelief? Pity? He couldn't identify it, but it felt like she was analyzing him.
Finally, after a long moment of silence, she spoke.
"I believe you." She said simply. "I'm not quite sure what you're going through... but I do think you're telling the truth."
"You... you do?" Harry asked, barely able to believe it himself.
She nodded. "It sounds like whatever is happening has been happening for a while... I'm sorry, I'm not sure how I can help." She seemed genuinely disappointed.
"Well, you are going to Hogwarts... if you'd like, when we get there, we can start researching in the library about what this might be." He suggested.
Hermione's eyes immediately lit up at the thought.
"Of course! Hogwarts is bound to have more than Flourish and Blotts. Not to say they aren't a fabulous bookstore! I fell in love the moment I stepped in the door, but a full library in a castle..." She sighed. "It's a dream come true."
"Are you done with your shopping today?" Harry asked rather suddenly, surprising both her and himself.
"After I get my books, I think all we have left to do is get my wand." She replied with a smile.
"Would you mind if I came with you? That is- er- I mean- It's the same for me, really. Just need a wand." He chuckled nervously.
"I would be delighted." Hermione replied. "This is all so exciting! I finally made a friend."
He smiled a bit.
"Actually, I think you'll be my first friend, Hermione."
She blushed at that, not entirely sure how to respond.
"Um... I'll have to go let my parents know." She said.
"Oh! Right, er... I ought to let my uncle know as well." Harry replied.
She smiled again, giving a small wave as she walked away. He watched her go, feeling immense relief. He thought telling her about his... problem... would have gone a lot worse than it did. Instead, he made a friend he could trust. He briefly remembered his father's words: True friends are hard to find. He really hoped Hermione would be his first, true friend. He smiled, searching the store for Remus. He was pleasantly surprised to find his uncle already talking to Hermione and, what he assumed, were her parents.
"Oh, there you are, Harry." Remus said with a grin, inviting Harry over.
Harry suddenly felt a bit shy, giving a small wave to Hermione as he walked over. Emma Granger, however, didn't miss the wave and turned to her daughter.
"Dear, have you met this boy?" She asked.
"Yes mum... his name is Harry Potter." Hermione replied. "He loves to learn, just like me."
Emma smiled at that, looking to her husband.
"Hear that, Dan? Our little angel has made a friend!"
"Is that right?" The tall man smiled down at Harry, who seemed very interested in the floor at the moment.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you both, Remus and Harry." Dan said, holding out his hand.
Remus happily shook his hand. "The pleasure is all mine."
"We were about to go get our Hermione her wand. Would you like to join us?" Emma asked.
Remus looked down at Harry, who gave a small nod.
"I think that's a wonderful idea." Remus replied.
Emma, Dan, and Remus made small chit-chat as they left the store, Harry and Hermione trailing slightly behind as they walked next to each other.
"Hey Hermione." Harry greeted with a grin. "What do you know about wands?"
She almost seemed to glow, more than happy to launch into all the different sorts of wands. How they were made, what materials were used, and how wands often revealed certain things about the wizards that owned them. Harry, of course, was content to just listen, drinking in the wealth of knowledge she provided. He had a feeling that yes, Hermione could be a true friend. He just hoped he could be the same in return.
It didn't take long for the group to reach Ollivander's, apparently the best- or only- wand shop in Diagon Alley. Hermione went first, only getting one dud before finding a match in a 10 and three-quarters inch wand made of Vinewood, and a Dragon Heartstring for the core. Harry was a bit trickier to pin down. He tried several wands, but none of them seemed to work.
"I wonder..." Ollivander muttered eventually, removing a very special wand from the shelf.
He shuffled back to the front, offering the wand to Harry. As soon as he touched the wand, a warm wind whipped around the boy, and settled just as quickly.
"Curious! Very curious." Ollivander exclaimed.
"Excuse me sir, but... what's curious?" Harry asked.
"Your wand has a Phoenix feather for the core, Mr. Potter. However, this Phoenix gave another feather. Just one... It is curious you are destined for this wand when it's brother gave you that scar." Ollivander explained.
Harry's eyes widened and he ran a hand over the lightning-shaped scar on his head.
"You mean... Volemort gave me this?"
"We do not speak his name!" Ollivander inhaled sharply. "But it is said only great wizards receive Phoenix feathers for their core. And there is no doubt He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things. Terrible, yes... but great. And I believe we can expect great things from you as well, Mr. Potter."
Harry just nodded, wondering this wand had- indeed- chosen him. Emma and Dan seemed a bit confused by the exchange, and Remus seemed a bit worried as he ushered Harry out of the store. The trio of Grangers quickly followed.
"Do you know what this means, Uncle Remus?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure, Harry... I can only hope it's something good." He replied.
Harry wasn't entirely satisfied with that answer, but it was probably the best answer he would get... For now, anyway. His mood was lifted slightly when he realized he would soon be in school with Hermione, learning right alongside her. Remus had mentioned something about being sorted into different Houses. He sorely hoped he and Hermione ended up in the same one.