Authors Request: If you supply any feedback, could you give your opinions on the background, science-of-magic and lore that I'm supplying please?

In reply to Katankapotter, for all of Harry's enforced maturity, he remains a kid. An eleven year old can and does swing between different emotions.

Also, American readers who don't know the size of a cricket ball, just imagine a softball.

Why oh why would Harry meekly accept going back to the living hell of the Dursley's?

All of the characters except for my own handful of originals, as well as locations, names, titles etc are and remain the property of JKR and I hope you like it. Review please, this might well be a LONG work in progress.

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Chapter 8: Leave-taking

"The aftermath of the Rite of Accession resulted in several upheavals in the magical world and is believed to have been the deciding factor in Emperor Claudius' choice to begin a full-scale invasion and colonisation of Britain. Claudius built on the work done by Caligula the Mad and affected the first genuine landing in Britain in or around what is now Richborough on the east coast of Kent. The fact that Roman magicians had wands that no longer required recharging, along with the discipline of the Empire meant for the first time Rome held a significant powerbase in Britain from which they rapidly expanded.

The greatest blow to the Native British came when the governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus conducted the Menai Massacre, destroying the seat of Druidical power on Ynys Môn or Angelesy in what is now Wales. The only thing that saved any vestige of traditional British magic was Boudica's uprising in the north. It is widely believed among magical historians (the writer of this document included) that Paulinus was, by that point in possession of a magical artefact of such power, that it was able to occupy and temporarily overwhelm the powers of the most potent Druids in the land while their muggle soldiers went about their grizzly work. Either way, native British magic never recovered and thus began what was known as The Age of the Wand. This term has fallen out of use in recent centuries as wand use is so ubiquitous now that it is unlikely any other form of focus will ever exceed them."

Harry set the book back on the table and wiped his eyes. Every time he learned something new about the wizarding world, it seemed he encountered new horrors.

'Not that I'd choose anything over you.' He said, thumbing the handle of the wand that now rested next to his fork.

The table was heaped with plates, cups, goblets and books that Harry had started reading. The only one he had read in any detail was "A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot" and in a little over an hour of sitting outside the cafe, he had flown through more than a hundred pages, some of which were lightly splattered with cockatrice gravy.

His mind flashed back to the old tin toy soldiers that stood in his cupboard under the stairs and he shuddered. He took another sip of pumpkin juice and wriggled deeper into his seat before picking his book up again.

He was warm and comfortable, his belly full and his mind genuinely engaged and it was the first time he could remember all of those things happening at the same time. An image formed before his eyes of an enormous roman soldier, gleaming bronze breastplate, leather skirt and all. The solider had Dudley's face. He loomed over Harry who was looking up from the floor and drew the sword that was at his hip.

'Time to die, freak!' he said in a voice that boomed in Harry's ears.

Harry bolted upright in the chair, crying out and started as the book fell to the ground. Hagrid was standing over him shaking his shoulder.

'You alright Harry?' He said, the shiny black pebbles of his eyes gleaming in alarm.

Harry nodded. 'Yeah, I'm fine. Where were you?'

'I'm sorry; I fell asleep in the pub. It's 'cause we came straight 'ere from the hut on the rock y'see.' Hagrid said as he picked up the fallen book.

'It's okay I guess. I thought you'd ran away or something.' Harry said, taking steadying breaths. Being alone in Diagon Alley suddenly seemed as bad as being alone in the cupboard.

Hagrid laughed that deep cavern echo sound and sat on the chair opposite Harry which groaned loudly under his prodigious weight. 'I'm ever s'sorry, Harry. I'll never let you down again.'

Harry frowned at how incredibly sincere the giant sounded. It made the anger inside him die immediately. 'It's fine Hagrid, really. I was just a little worried. I was okay though, I'm used to being on my own.' Harry put the book back into his bag.

'I like the new clothes.' Hagrid said taking a cricket ball sized pinch of Harry's leftover burger, 'they really suit you – wow that's tasty.'

'You can finish it, I couldn't eat another speck. I like the shirt but I think I might prefer it in red.' Harry said as he brushed away crumbs. 'I got my wand. Mr Ollivander's a... an unusual man.'

Hagrid laughed again as he picked up the mammoth burger which seemed normal sized to him. 'He is indeed, but there's no one in England that knows half as much as old Garrick.'

Harry scooped up his wand and showed it to Hagrid who had devoured a full pound of the ten-pounder burger in one bite. 'It's really cool, it made the lights go up and down in his shop when I waved it and all sorts. I've not done anything else with it yet, but I'm going to give it a go when I get chance.'

'Bo n'gary,' Hagrid said with his mouth full of burger. Swallowing quickly he coughed. 'No, Harry. You shouldn't do any magic until you get to Hogwarts, okay?'

'Why not?'

'Because it's against the law and dangerous.'

'Against the law? To do magic?'

Hagrid nodded. 'It is until you're of age which is seventeen before you ask.' He took another massive bite of the burger.

'It's holly and phoenix feather, the wand. The phoenix that the feather came from gave two feathers and the other made Lord Voldemort's wand.' Harry said, matter-of-factly.

Hagrid choked, dropping the burger into the gravy. He banged the table as his eyes bulged.

Harry leapt to his feet and ran behind the giant, striking him in the middle of his enormous back.

With an explosive cough, a chunk of burger flew from Hagrid's mouth and hit an owl that had perched on the picket fence around the cafe. It flew away with an indignant squeal.

'Thankee Harry.' Hagrid said,coughing again.

'What's the matter?'

'Nothin' s'just that not many people use that name.'

Harry sat heavily back into his seat as Nidhogg wound tightly around his wrist, apparently annoyed at the sudden disturbance. 'Why, what's so special about his name?'

'Nothin',' Hagrid said, cuffing at his brow, 'It's just bad luck, or that's what people say.'

Harry nodded. 'I've been reading this book, A History of Magic, it's really impressive.'

'Aye, so I've heard.'

'So according to my letter, school starts on the first of September, almost t?' When Hagrid nodded, Harry continued, 'But it's a full month till then, so where am I going to stay until then?'

Hagrid frowned, 'Well, you'll be going back to the Dursley's of course.' Like it was the most obvious thing the world.

Harry jumped to his feet, 'What?'

'You have to, Harry. They are your legal guardians after all.'

'I don't care! Why would you send me back there?' Harry shouted as all his enjoyment from the day evaporated.

Hagrid held his hands up, 'Calm down now, it-'

'It's what, too much work, too much to ask that you don't send me back to them?'

'Look, Harry. I know they're not the easiest people to get along with but-'

'Not. The...' Harry spluttered, unable to believe what was happening to him. 'They make me sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. They shout and scream at me whenever I even put a single finger out of line. After what happened at the zoo I was only let out of the cupboard to go to the toilet and school for a whole month! I had one meal each day and if I made any noise at all then they'd tell Dudley that they wouldn't see if I happened to have a few bruises the next day! Why would you send me back there?' He was left panting as tears ran down his face.

Hagrid's face had turned bone-white. The look was startling when contrasted against the black of his hair and beard. 'You... They really?' He didn't seem able to get the words out.

'You think anyone's supposed to be this skinny?' Harry screamed, lifting his shirt, revealing his narrow waist and clearly visible ribs.

Hagrid's eyes went wide as his fists clenched on the table. He stood quickly and rifled through his many pockets, discovering the small owl who emerged blinking confusedly. Hagrid scribbled a note, attached it to the owl's leg and threw the small bird over arm into the sky. It fluttered around for a moment before heading north. When it was out of sight, Hagrid started gathering up Harry's bags and packages. 'Follow me.' He said, grim faced and walked back in the direction of the golden elevators.

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They emerged back into the car park where they were somehow able to load all of Harry's goods onto and into the motorbike and sidecar. Hagrid looked at Harry a few times and looked like he was going to speak but turned away.

It took Hagrid twenty minutes to be able to speak again, by which time they were clear of greater London and heading south-west. He turned to Harry and sighed. 'I'm sorry, Harry.'

'For what?'

'Being so blind. I knew the Dursley's were no good muggles, but we... or I had no idea that they treated you like this.'

Harry had no words to reply. 'What was the owl for?'

'Sent it to Hogwarts, there'll be either Professor Dumbledore or one of the teachers waiting when we get there.'

'We're going back to Little Whinging, aren't we?' Harry asked, his mouth dry.

Hagrid nodded. 'I don't know why, but you have to go back there until school starts. But I swear to you, Harry, on the love I had for your mum and dad, that I will put this right.'

Nidhogg tightened again around Harry's wrist as Harry himself thumbed the handle of his wand.

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