Harry couldn't wait, Professor Flitwick had gotten him permission to leave the school with him. He was getting to leave Hogwarts for a day away from all the students who bullied him. A day with just the professor who had become as close to a friend as Harry ever had. It wasn't only the escape from Hogwarts that had the eleven-year-old excited but what they were doing on the outing. They were going to Knockturn Alley which apparently had dueling gear and he couldn't wait. He'd finally be able to look the part of a real duelist.

The child's enthusiasm was catching, Flitwick was amazed to see the smile on the child's face, it was far beyond the simple smiles he was rarely graced with but lit up the child's entire face. He was also almost vibrating in excitement. Unable to keep still. "Excited," Flitwick asked amused though it bothered him that something so simple could change the child's entire outlook on everything. Something so simple as a trip outside the school had changed the normally withdrawn child into a happy excited little boy. It was a stark reminder about how often the child wasn't happy about the things in his life or how often he faked happy.

"Yes, Master Flitwick," he said brightly using a different honorific since Flitwick was training him. He knew it was tradition since the position was closer to an apprenticeship. Flitwick had actually filled it out as such so he had legal claim to him, after finding some things wrong with his home life though the man did not know any details.

"I'm glad," Flitwick said since the boy never smiled. "We need to get you a properly made dueling staff and proper robes. Knockturn has the best selection however it does have a…more unique clientele," Flitwick stated trying to find the kindest way to put it, "So it would be best if you stay close to me."

Realizing that he likely needed a lot of equipment Harry suddenly looked worried. "I don't know if I have enough money," he admitted the fact just dawning on him. "I only got one vault."

"Oh dear," Flitwick said startled since while family wealth was a semi private thing, he knew better, the Potters were an extremely well off family after all. "Did no one explain your vaults to you."

Harry shook his head, he hadn't gotten much information on them, he was just taken down, told to get enough money for his things and then they left. "Hagrid is a good man but someone more qualified should have done your introduction," Flitwick stated, things were so busy, an unusual number of muggleborn or muggle raised introductions with so many war orphans, they hadn't had the staff necessary to do the introductions, but they should have found a way around sending the grounds keeper.

"The Potter family is fairly wealthy, you'd have access to your trust vault which will renew every year, probably on the new year. Refilling to a specified amount. Likely most trust vaults are 5 to 10 thousand galleons plus your school fees. So, you can buy a broom, people rarely use all of it except in cases where you are involved in quidditch which can get expensive. Dueling is also relatively expensive but you...I was friends with your parents. I taught them both, was friends with your grandfather and your great grandfather sponsored me in dueling. Your family is one of the wealthier ones."

Harry had no idea about that and was slightly amazed by how his real family was connected to the professor. Another worry crossed his mind. "But I don't have my key, Hagrid does."

"I got it back from him," Flitwick stated though he was worried about giving it to the child. While Harry was exceptionally responsible with his things, he also knew that other people had a tendency to steal or destroy his possessions. "I'd say keep it on your person, but I do not trust your classmates so if you would like, I can hold onto it."

Harry nodded trusting the professor to keep a hold of it. He followed his professor as he was taught how to go through the floo and got introduced properly to his vaults which just confirmed everything Flitwick had said. The goblin that was answering his questions explained that he had a 10,000-galleon vault beyond what his school fees required. Harry couldn't imagine ever using so much money though he might need to with how often he was needing to replace his books, bags and cloths. It did remove some of the worry about buying new things that he had.

"A full access card," Flitwick told the goblin. "He is going to get dueling gear."

The goblin nodded giving the boy a look over, the only reason Flitwick would be with him asking for this was if he was his student. Even the goblins knew of the professor's reluctance to take on students. "So, you've convinced Filius to teach you...you must be something special. Look up boy."

Harry looked up at the goblin startled. The goblin just looked at him as he refused to shuffle under the gaze. He knew the professor wouldn't let anything happen to him and the goblin had told him to look up after all. He didn't want to appear disrespectful by looking away. "I can see it. You have potential for a human."

"Thank you," Harry said startled. Only the professor had ever said he had potential for anything. He was amazed that anyone else could hold the same opinion.

The goblin just handed it over and they left. "Why does he think I have potential?"

"Because you looked him in the eye and never faltered," Flitwick returned knowing that the child had earned some respect from the goblin. "it is a shame for you to hide your eyes. They were your mothers eyes."

"Really, I think Ha...Hagrid mentioned that, when...when he still wanted me to visit."

Flitwick shook his head at the reminder of what the man did. He had good intentions however the half giants dismissal of the child had hurt his charge. "He is very sorry about yelling at you, has he not said that yet?"

"I donno, there was crying and...yeah," Harry admitted. It had been quite confusing. He hadn't gone to visit him again. He was fairly frightened to do so. The half giant had been friendly at first but he had really scared him when he had yelled. He was so large and Harry so tiny. He didn't want to think about what would happen if he made the giant angry again.

"he means well," Flitwick said as they walked towards their destination. "But sometimes he doesn't see the entire picture. Especially when it comes to his animals."

Harry just shrugged, he had tried to explain but even that got messed up. he had thought Hagrid was his friend but that wasn't real. He messed up everything, so it had only been a matter of time. He was just glad Hedgewig was safe. "Now, you are never to come down here on your own you understand," Flitwick explained needing to know that his charge understood the potential dangers of the alley. "It can be fairly dangerous especially at your age. Some nasty sorts hang about down here but it is the only place you can buy staffs and dueling attire."

Harry agreed instantly, he could see that some of the people down here appeared terrifying but despite the man's small stature, they left him alone. It amazed Harry that someone as small as his professor had such a presence that even people in the bad areas of the magic world feared him. He hoped to someday be as impressive that people would ignore his size. "What sort of things do I need to buy," he asked curiously.

"Every duelist needs proper dueling robes," Flitwick explained using this trip as both a treat for the young boy's hard work as well as a lesson. "They are all regulation, so you don't get caught wearing dragon hide armor or acromentula silk which can protect against some spells," Flitwick explained. "You also usually wear a pair of gloves with proper grips on your palms, also regulation that helps with a staff. Everything has to be regulation which levels the playing field to a certain extent."

Harry nodded as they reached the shop which was empty except for the worker. "Filius, is has been a long time since I've seen you here. Are you in need of a new dueling staff?"

"Not for myself," Flitwick stated. "No Harry here needs a full set of everything."

The man's eyes widened, he had never brought one of his students to the area which meant this must be his actual dueling student. "Well I never, have you taken yourself a student Filius."

"I have," Flitwick nodded.

"You never take students, you've taken what, one in thirty years," he said impressed though he was a bit unnerved as well. Why Flitwick would choose such a timid boy he didn't know. As they spoke, the boy was looking down at his feet, shuffling slightly, remaining close to the professor. Not exactly the picture of a fierce confident duelist. "Its a bit late in the game for the tournaments."

"We need the basics for now and we can wait for everything out," Flitwick stated since most was often bought at the beginning of the dueling season which was half over. Still, he was only eleven, young for duelists so missing the first few duels was no issue. "He will need at least two staffs, one right away if possible. Two sets of gloves. Three sets of dueling robes and dueling clothing. Everything properly fitted. A proper wand holster and a proper staff holster."

He nodded, it was a standard dueling package. "The dueling uniforms. what do you want for the crest."

"Potter family as well as my own as he is my student. As per protocol. Harry Potter on the shoulder."

"Color?"

"Maybe with Blue lettering. I don't know. We will have to talk about it after you've measured."

He got Harry to stand up and be fitted. Harry looked to his teacher confused having heard the talk of tournaments. They had never discussed actual competing, he knew he would eventually but it was not something he had mentioned. "Tournaments..."

"Yes," Flitwick stated amused. "I have you enrolled at the next set of competitions."

Harry looked slightly worried as the man measured Harry, "When?"

"Don't worry, I will give you plenty of warning," Flitwick returned. "No reason to worry about it now. Is Blue and black okay Mr. Potter or would you prefer a different color."

"I donno," he admitted having not thought about it before. "I wouldn't know how to choose. What do most people use."

"there's typically a few designs. The inside outfit is almost like, your muggle raised so it would be like a muggle muscle shirt and Black slacks. The shirt is typically a medium grey. The outer robes are any number of color. Your great grandfather wore Black robes with red lettering, your grandfather wore Red robes with black lettering. I myself wore A brown with Black lettering. The lettering is your shoulder name and around your crest, the back usually has your last name as well. For you, I think a dark green with Black lettering perhaps. Or maybe a Black robes with silver trim and white or red letterings. You don't always have to stick with a single color either. As long as you have your name and your crest it doesn't matter. Dark colors are typically used to hide potential...well..."

"Blood steins," he offered seeing him stutter over the reasons. He had no doubt that dueling could be dangerous but for him, walking through the halls was just as bad.

"Exactly.'

"Maybe Black with Red," he asked since it seemed more common in his family. Those colors were said a lot but then again, his family was Gryffindor's and that was likely why they chose Gryffindor red.

Filius looked at him for a moment imagining the colors and agreed. Those colors would stand out on him. Give the meek boy a fiercer look. At least he hoped. "Yes, I think that will work well, each robe fastens at the top but flows free down, it also has slits cut up side so you can move freely, sleeves you roll up halfway up your arm so it doesn't get caught on your wand or staff."

Harry nodded as he was fitted with a set. "I can have a set done up and sent to you tomorrow morning," the man said. "Other two will be a bit later, say three days."

Flitwick nodded as Harry was also fitted with gloves, the gloves covered his palm, but the tops of each finger were out and the rest were fitted skin tight moving like a second skin. "Staffs," Flitwick said. "Just like the ones we practice with. It's just better to have your own staffs since you grow more accustomed to subtle differences in the make. A dark brown wood, this is the best material for a proper staff and its within regulation."

Harry just nodded as he bought everything, each staff was 50 galleons which was more than even his wand cost. "Professor, can I store these in the dueling room instead of my dorm?"

"Of course," he said knowing the reason was because the other students stole or broke his things. "Now, one of them can be on you at all times, Flitwick said as he was fitted with an arm holster for each arm. One for his wand, the other for his staff which didn't look like it would fit but it was altered so it came out miniature the size of a wand and changed near instantly into a staff once released from its holster.

Harry grinned at the feel of the holsters on his arms. "Thank you so much for bringing me out today professor," Harry said having enjoyed the shop and seeing all the different equipment. At the Dursleys, he had nothing that was his and at Hogwarts, his things were vandalized so often it was nice to have his own equipment which would be protected in the dueling chamber. It was also nice to get out of the school and not constantly having to worry about someone coming up behind him sending hexes. "It was brilliant."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," Flitwick stated. "Why don't we get some ice cream and then we can head to the school. We go back to the dueling rooms and begin practicing with your gloves and new staffs."

Harry agreed without hesitation following his mentor.