AN: I do not own Harry Potter, that honor goes to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 3: Magical Me
"Dear, how are we going to pay for all the coursebooks this year and get Ginny her stuff?" Mrs. Weasley whispered to Mr. Weasley.
Harry sat on the bench outside reading when he overheard the adults. He couldn't hear Arthur's response. His conversation with Mrs. Weasley played over in his head as he listened to Ron's mother talk about their finances with her husband. He wondered if Mr. Weasley would be more receptive to using the money provided by the Ministry than his wife had been. A plan developed in his mind as he stared at the Potions book without seeing the words.
Mr. Weasley didn't go to work on Saturday or Sunday unless it was an emergency. Ginny woke up and ran around the house in excitement. Mrs. Weasley took the young girl aside and helped her pick out an outfit to wear to Diagon Alley. Harry pulled Arthur outside to talk about his idea as soon as he was sure Mrs. Weasley wouldn't immediately return.
"Mr. Weasley, I have a proposition for you," Harry said as they walked to the garage where Mr. Weasley's Ford Anglia parked in the small building.
"Yes?" Arthur questioned as he opened the garage door. "Decided to take up a position in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office?" he asked with a chuckle. "You'd do well with all your knowledge."
"Uh, no, thank you for the compliment though, Mr. Weasley. I wanted to talk to you about paying for magic lessons," Harry said with a smirk
The middle-aged wizard turned with a frown. "Magic lessons? What for?" Mr. Weasley asked and scratched at the bald spot on the crown of his head.
"To pay you, sir, for magic lessons on say the Extension Charm, like you're doing for the car. I could say, pay you what the Ministry is sending for me to stay with you," Harry hedged and smiled.
It took Arthur a moment to understand what Harry was asking. His face darkened. "Harry, we don't need that money. Family is more important than," Mr. Weasley started to say but Harry cut him off.
"You don't need the money but I need the magical education on harder spells, Mr. Weasley. This is a win-win situation. I get to learn what I want to know while Mrs. Weasley gets to splurge on her only daughter. Maybe buy Ron a better wand without the unicorn hairs sticking out. Get Percy something to really show how proud I know both of you are of him. Say, oh, you won an inner-office betting pool that Mundungus managed to get himself caught, again," Harry tempted with a shrug.
"Harry, we're talking almost a hundred Galleons a month. You realize the money is so they can collect information on you, right?" Mr. Weasley said in an unusually gruff voice for the soft-spoken man.
"Then give them the information you want to give. War is about misinformation and misdirection as much as it is about hiding the truth. There is no reason we should say no to free money," Harry answered and stared Mr. Weasley in the eye.
"This isn't a war, Harry," Arthur scolded but his eyes narrowed.
"It is if they are bribing my guardians to spy on me. I'm not angry, I know Tom told people I was staying at the Leaky Cauldron for bribes as well. Maria told me as much in her last letter."
"That is still a lot of money," Mr. Weasley sighed.
"My magical education is worth almost any price. I want to be independent as soon as possible. Learning how to survive on my own is one of my primary goals at Hogwarts. I love everything to do with magic, but gaining my independence is more important by far," Harry answered as honestly as he could. As soon as he was of age, he would find or make a home for himself. He hated jumping around and being shuffled off to new guardians and new situations every few years. Hogwarts was the best thing to ever happen to him, but he knew the wizarding world wasn't safe.
"All right, if you think it's best. There is only a little time before school starts, but on the weekends, we'll work on the enchantments you want to learn," Mr. Weasley conceded with a small smile.
"Yes!" Harry shouted and pumped his fist. "I need to draw a little more money out of my vault. We can get the money out of the Ministry one. Just play it off if Mrs. Weasley gets suspicious," Harry said with a smile.
"Harry, I've been married longer than you've been alive. Molly has long since trained me to tell her what she wants to hear," Mr. Weasley said with a chuckle and shot Harry a wry smile. "Come, I believe you want to see more of the Extension Charm."
Harry stood with the Weasley family by the living room fireplace. It was the largest fireplace in the house and the one Mr. Weasley used to go to work from. "You've never used the Floo, Harry. I know you've seen Arthur use the Floo before, but I'll give you a quick recap. Speak clearly when you say Diagon Alley and make sure you get out at the correct grate."
"I've got this, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said with a laugh. He struggled not to roll his eyes. Taking a pinch of the green powder, he threw it into the flames of the small fire. The flames turned green and he stepped into the flames. He struggled to keep his revulsion down as he felt the warm breeze of the fire brush across his skin. "Diagon Alley," he said in a firm voice and felt himself being hurtled backward. A loud roaring in his ears made them hurt as he struggled to keep his eyes open. His glasses were in danger of falling off as he saw glimpses of rooms beyond many fireplaces in the dark. A moment later, he fell out of a fireplace in an alley. Witches and wizards stepped out of marble fireplaces all along the long alley.
Ron appeared a moment later behind Harry. "Might want to move, Dad is coming next and he is never stable going through the Floo," he warned and pushed Harry in the back.
Arthur fell out of the fireplace, much like Harry did moments before. "Sometimes I trip on the way over," the middle-aged wizard said with a blush.
Harry waited as the Weasleys all appeared out of fireplaces along the alley. "Can we get my wand, mum?!" Ginny squealed as she ran over to Mrs. Weasley.
"Not yet, dear. You need robes first. Arthur, you mentioned going to Gringotts first?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she put an arm around Ginny.
"Harry needs to stop by his vault and I've got to pull a little money out of ours. Boys, I'm guessing you want to go to Zonko's?"
The twins grinned and nodded while Percy rolled his eyes. "I'd like to look at getting an owl," Percy said and puffed out his chest.
"How about everyone go with Molly to Tremaine's Robes and by the time we're done at Gringotts everyone will have their robes ready," Mr. Weasley suggested.
"That sounds lovely," Mrs. Weasley answered with a smile. "You boys can do what you'd like after all the essentials are done. Within reason," she said, looking at the twins. "I'll lock you in your room if you try and go into Knockturn Alley again."
"We wouldn't dream of it, mum," the twins chorused with innocent faces.
Harry tried not to laugh as he followed Mr. Weasley into the throng of people. He knew the twins were planning on sneaking away to Knockturn Alley to find a bookstore that sold foreign books they could find joke inspiration from. Flourish and Blotts was heavily censored by the Ministry of Magic. Harry spotted a familiar figure talking to her parents in the atrium of Gringotts.
"That's Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Harry said as he pointed to Hermione and her parents.
"But you're Muggles!" Mr. Weasley greeted as he shook hands with Mr. Granger. "We must have a drink! You're exchanging Muggle money! I'd love to see how this works."
Harry gave Mr. Granger a strained smile as he half-hugged Hermione. Mrs. Granger looked like an older version of Hermione except without the large front teeth. Her bushy-brown hair was combed straight and she wore a smart business suit. Mr. Granger's neck stooped forward a little as he pointed to the little pamphlet in his hand and talked to Mr. Weasley.
They waited in the small line as Harry talked to Hermione. "Excited to go back to Hogwarts?"
"Oh, yes. I can't wait to see who assigned us Lockhart's books! I've read he is a really powerful wizard!" Hermione gushed and smiled.
Harry smiled and laughed. "Mrs. Weasley has a book by him. I think it was called Lockhart's Guide to Household Pets or something," he mused and shrugged. "Anyway, Mrs. Weasley loves his work and reads from the book whenever she can."
"Oh! I must get that book too. It's our turn, Harry," Hermione said with a laugh.
When it was Harry and Mr. Weasley's turn the goblin asked for Harry's key. "I'm sorry, I don't have my key with me. Is it possible to make another one?" Harry asked as he looked at Mr. Weasley.
"We require you to prove who you are. Tokhack," the aged goblin called and waved his small hand.
A squat goblin in a red and gold uniform appeared a moment later. "Follow me, Mr. Potter," the goblin ordered in a deep voice.
"Mr. Weasley, we will discuss your vault while we wait," the goblin behind the counter said as he put a large tome down in front of him.
Tokhack led Harry through a door behind the counters into a long hallway with offices on both sides. The goblin stopped at the seventh office on the left and opened the door. "Gornac, another wizard for key services."
A shriveled old goblin sat behind a long table with a large hand-crank machine in front of him. Thousands of glittering keys were arranged on tiny hooks on the wall behind him. "Have a seat young wizard, have you lost your key before?" Gornac asked as he peered at Harry through jewelers' glasses. Five little lenses stuck out from the side of the glasses on narrow wires of metal.
"I believe Albus Dumbledore has my key, but he is not with me and I need to get into my vault," Harry answered as he peered around the small office. Keys of every shape and size were arrayed along the walls.
"You have full access to your vault?" the goblin questioned and stood from his small stool. He ambled over to a disk-shaped instrument with a long, thin needle in the middle.
"I believe so, yes," Harry answered with a frown. He watched the goblin pick up the disk and place it on the desk near Harry.
"A Blood Test and Purity ritual is needed then," Gornac wheezed and pointed to the needle. "Prick your finger and let your blood fall into the disk. My gold and axe you and yours will not be harmed by this ritual."
"Gold and axe?" Harry muttered and tried to remember what he'd learned in History of Magic. "Thank you for your oath, Gornac," he said and pricked his finger. The pad of his middle finger felt nothing as blood welled up and slid down the long needle.
"Good, a moment," the goblin praised as he pulled the needle out of the disk. Harry saw his blood at the base of the needle. Gornac wiggled his fingers for three minutes and chanted in a guttural language. He sat the disk down on the desk and pulled out a parchment. "Your blood always tells the truth."
Gornac drew a black quill from a drawer and dipped it in the hole where the needle was. The quill rose in the air and began to write on the parchment without assistance from the goblin. "Blood can be used in the highest and darkest forms of your wizard magic. We goblins use blood to perform rituals and our most sacred magics. Humans deny us the use of a wand, but those of us who are strong enough can use magic without the assistance of a wand."
The black quill finished writing and fell on the desk, the magic animating the quill having stopped. "You would have a great future in a goblin clan if you were born a goblin. Five vaults to your name, a powerful number of prosperity. You have not reached human maturity so one vault is inaccessible to you without your guardian. Harry Potter, you will have access to your Ancestral Vault, 301, of the Potter lineage when you reach the age of seventeen. Until then, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore has full rights. You have full rights to Vault 956 set aside for Petunia Evans Dursley, transferred after the death of Lilly Evans Potter. You have full rights to Vault 957 set aside for Harry Potter's Tuition and Magical Learning created by James Potter. A joint vault, Vault 1688, created by a Ministry of Magic Representative Lucius Malfoy gives you and a one Arthur Weasley full rights. Finally, you have no access to the Ancestral Vault of Dumbledore."
Gornac passed the parchment to Harry. "Could I get keys to all the vaults I have access to?" Harry questioned as he read the last line of the parchment.
"It would cost you twenty Galleons per key," the goblin said with a feral grin.
"Ah, I see," Harry muttered and drummed his fingers on the top of the table. "Is there a way to see how much is in each of these vaults?"
"For that, you would need to visit the records office. Shall I have someone escort you?" Gornac questioned, his voice had a hard edge to it.
"I would like keys to vaults 301, 957 and 1688, please," Harry said with a smile. He had the feeling the goblin was angry.
Gornac's smile returned and he nodded. "Three keys and five vaults," the goblin murmured and sat behind the machine again. He took a golden key blank off the wall and slid it into the machine in front of him. The goblin chanted in his harsh, guttural language as he shaped the key blank. A gout of fire erupted from Gornac's fingers and scorched the sparkling key. He took the completed key off the metal press and placed it in front of Harry.
"Amazing," Harry muttered as he picked up the warm golden key. He traced his finger over the three large loops with a "G" in the middle for the crest. The emblem was at the end of a long, slim and hollow cylindrical tube that ended in twenty small randomly sized golden teeth. Gornac produced two more similar keys with different teeth arrangements. Harry was about to ask which key was which when he realized tiny numbers were engraved in the curve of the "G".
"Thank you," Harry said and handed over the Galleons. His smile dropped a little when the goblin told him the sixty Galleon charge for the ritual. He paid the goblin with a grimace and left the office. Mr. Weasley was talking to Mr. and Mrs. Granger in an excited expression as they sat on small chairs by the side of the main hall.
"Harry, have you got everything?" Mr. Weasley said with a grin. "I've already been down to the Weasley vault."
"I did, you can catch up with the others while I run down to the vaults, Mr. Weasley," Harry said with a grin.
"Oh, no, I'm sure Mr. Weasley would enjoy your company," Mrs. Granger said with a strained smile. Harry realized how tense Mr. and Mrs. Granger were.
"True, I do need to bother you a little longer, Mr. Weasley," Harry apologized with a small smile.
The hair-raising ride through the mines was a blast with Mr. Weasley. Harry and the middle-aged wizard screamed and threw their hands in the air as they plummeted lower and lower into the mines. The goblin, Kackral, gave them disapproving looks. He emptied the Ministry provided vault into a bag that he gave to Arthur. By a quick count, Harry figured there were five hundred or so Galleons in the vault. He and Mr. Weasley took another wild ride to the Trust Fund vault where he realized there had to be thousands of Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts stored for school. It had a considerably less amount of money than the Potter vault, but it still awed him how rich his parents were.
Mr. Weasley left Gringotts with a spring in his step as he made his way to the second-hand robes shop. Mrs. Weasley and the bored children sat on stools while Ginny tried on her seventh outfit and robe combination. Harry grinned and took a seat by Ron. He heard Arthur talking to his wife in a low voice with a wide grin. Mrs. Weasley's eyes narrowed as she looked between her husband and Harry for a moment. She sighed and gave Mr. Weasley a strained smile as she patted his forearm and congratulated him in a louder voice for winning the inner-office betting pool.
Harry coughed into his hand to hide his smile. He didn't think Mrs. Weasley believed her husband. Ron received ten Galleons from Mr. Weasley before they left the shop. Harry's friend whooped for joy and started to run for the broomstick shop. Harry pulled him aside and recommended getting a new wand to Ron.
"I can get a wand later, mate! I could get the official Chudley Cannons flying gear for nearly eight Galleons," Ron argued and pulled away. Harry shrugged and followed. The twins each got ten Galleons to splurge on and Percy got forty for his amazing O.W.L. marks. Ginny beamed as Mrs. Weasley promised to buy her new school supplies.
Harry followed Ron for a bit before breaking off to find a new trunk. He'd realized how short-sighted he was the previous year when he bought a standard trunk. His was getting close to being filled with books and a random assortment of items and junk. He'd lost count of how many jars of potion ingredients he had or the number of vials of potions he'd brewed. Four hundred Galleons poorer later, he rolled a sturdy, polished walnut trunk in front of him. It wasn't the most expensive trunk in the shop, but it did have most of the features Mr. Donalds offered.
"Harry, there you are," Hermione called as she sat at a table with Ron and Neville in front of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
Harry took a seat beside Neville. "Hey Neville, how has your summer been?" he asked and grinned at the round-faced boy. Neville looked to have been out in the sun a lot over the summer.
"Brilliant, Harry! My greenhouse is done and I've got a few plants already," Neville blurted out with a huge grin. He told them all about the plants he had and wanted to get while he was at Diagon Alley. Augusta Longbottom, a formidable-looking witch, appeared in the crowd and called to Neville. Harry watched as the aged tall, thin and bony witch strode over to her grandson with a wan smile.
"Neville, you have an appointment at Twilfitt and Tatting's shop in ten minutes. Move your behind," Mrs. Longbottom ordered in a stern voice. Neville wilted and apologized before going off with his grandmother.
"You got a new trunk?" Hermione asked after everyone waved Neville off.
"Yeah, mine was getting cramped," Harry said with a laugh.
"Cramped? Is that what you call having to sit on your trunk to get it closed?" Ron questioned with a smirk.
"Okay, more than cramped," Harry laughed and sat back. "Want my old one?" he asked as he turned to Ron.
"Can I? It's loads bigger than mine," Ron answered with a hopeful expression.
"Sure, mate. You get the stuff you wanted?"
"No, they were sold out of the Chudley Cannons version. They only had Puddlemere United and the Wallongong Warriors ones. Shame."
Hermione laughed and shook her head. "I'm going to the second-hand shop to get a spare cauldron like yours, Harry. I've decided you will not beat me in Potions this year," she challenged with a grin.
"Keep dreaming," Harry challenged back with a laugh. He hadn't told his bushy-haired friend how much he'd been studying and practicing.
Ron groaned and rolled his eyes. After they finished their ice cream, Hermione led the way to the second-hand shop. Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley were shopping for cheap supplies. Harry noticed a lot of new items in Ginny's polished cauldron. He was glad Mr. Weasley was able to splurge on his family.
About ten minutes passed as Harry shopped with the Weasley's and Hermione when a silky voice called out from behind them. "Ah, if it isn't Arthur Weasley," Lucius Malfoy drawled with a sneer.
"Lucius," Mr. Weasley greeted with a strained smile.
"Busy time at the Ministry, I hear," Mr. Malfoy said and sneered as he looked over Mr. Weasley's family. "All those raids… I hope they're paying your overtime? You certainly don't need it after taking the money the Ministry provided." Lucius gave a hollow cough as he looked around the shop. "Obviously, Galleons can't change a Blood-traitor's mindset. Disgraceful."
"We have very different ideas of what is disgraceful, Death Eater," Mr. Weasley growled, his fists clenching.
"Alleged. Clearly, our ideals differ. I did not serve the Dark Lord… willingly," Lucius answered with a sneer. "The company you keep, Weasley… and I thought your family could sink no lower."
Mr. Weasley was about to hit with his fist Mr. Malfoy when Mr. Granger grabbed Mr. Weasley's shoulder. "This is the so-called Blood-purists?" he asked his daughter. "Scum."
"I'll not have a Muggle tell me what is scum!" Lucius raged and drew his wand.
"I will take you in myself if you so much as cast a spell, Malfoy," a stern voice called from the shadows. "That goes for you too, Arthur," the wizard said as he stepped into the light.
A tall, pinched faced wizard with two large scars on his face and neck glared at Lucius. His wand was drawn and a red light emanated from its tip. "Give me a reason," he growled. "I haven't forgotten last month's raid."
Lucius snorted and put his wand away. "The hero, Savage, here to save the day again," he sneered with a hollow laugh. "This trash isn't worth the use of my wand," Lucius said as he turned to leave the shop.
Harry watched with narrowed eyes as a very short, bat-like eared figure in a dirty pillowcase ducked behind a shelving unit. He couldn't be sure, but he was almost positive it was Dobby. His eyes followed the retreating figure of Malfoy until he was lost in the crowd.
"Thank you, Savage," Mr. Weasley greeted. "I almost lost my temper."
"A terrible price it would have cost you. Lucius is on a roll with getting people sacked he dislikes. Molly, sorry you had to see that," Savage apologized with a small bow. His medium-length hair flopped to one side revealing a long, jagged scar hidden in his hair.
The mood was somber as the Weasleys and Grangers finished shopping and paid for their purchases. "Off to Flourish and Blotts, I heard Gilderoy Lockhart was doing a signing session in an hour," Mrs. Weasley said in a breathless voice. Mr. Weasley gave her a strained smile.
"We can actually meet him!" Hermione squealed. "I mean he's written almost the whole book-list!"
Harry groaned and followed behind the others. He kept playing the confrontation with Mr. Malfoy over in his head as he mulled over what he knew about the money the Ministry gave him. The more he thought it over, the more he suspected a connection between Dobby and Lucius. Flourish and Blotts was packed as everyone pushed their way into the large shop. Harry spotted a few older students as they shopped with their parents. Most of the patrons in the shop were witches with excited expressions on their faces. Hermione's face, in particular, glowed as she picked up every copy of Gilderoy Lockhart's books.
"I just want to get a few books," Harry complained and squeezed his way through the crowd to the back corner of the bookstore. He picked out two books on dueling, the rest of The Standard Book of Spells books two through seven, and all the required Gilderoy Lockhart books before fighting his way back toward the front of the store. Hermione talked excitedly to Mrs. Weasley about Lockhart's accomplishments.
A handsome wizard with wavy blonde hair and straight, shiny teeth appeared in the crowd. The surrounding witches screamed in excitement as he flashed them a dazzling smile. Harry felt like retching as one witch professed her love to the foppish wizard. Lockhart winked at the witch as he walked to a long table with a pile of his books displayed on the front. "Can everyone hear me?" he asked.
The shop exploded in cheers and affirmatives. "Good! Good! Welcome to my little book-signing. If you'll form a line, we can begin," Lockhart suggested and beamed at the gathered crowd.
Harry rolled his eyes as he spotted Mrs. Weasley and Hermione jumping into the line.
"Potter, come to fan-boy after Gilderoy?" a drawling voice asked.
Harry tensed and turned around. Draco Malfoy and his mother were standing by the door. "I've come to get my school books, Malfoy," Harry answered with a shrug. He hated the fact the books in his hand prevented him from getting to his wand.
"A likely story," Draco said with a sneer.
"Ah, so you really are here for the fop's book-signing then?" Harry shot back with a grin.
Draco's face contorted with rage as she sneered at Harry. "Blood-traitor," he growled and stepped forward.
"Now, Draco, I'm sure Mr. Potter didn't mean that," Mrs. Malfoy said with a cool smile.
The smile gave Harry the feeling of being stared at by a predator. "I did, Mrs. Malfoy. I must say, what lovely tatters you're wearing. They go well with your husband's moral character," Harry said with a grin.
Mrs. Malfoy's face contorted into a mask of rage. Draco yelled and charged at Harry, his fist cocked back. Expecting the attack, Harry dodged to the left and let his books fall on Draco's foot. "Ahh!" Draco screamed and fell to the ground, clutching his foot.
"Sorry," Harry said and tried not to laugh as he held The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 7) in his hands. "Are you, okay?" he asked as a witch and wizard nearby smirked at Harry. Mrs. Malfoy hissed at Harry and shoved him aside to get to her son.
"Is that Harry Potter?" a charming voice called through the store.
The hair on Harry's neck stood on end as he looked up to see the shining eyes of Gilderoy Lockhart grinning at him from across the room. He couldn't get away fast enough before a rough hand seized his shoulder and half dragged him toward Lockhart. "This will make for a great shot for the Prophet," a deep voice laughed as he pushed Harry toward the long table.
"Harry, it is! Welcome, welcome! Come to see me? Excellent! Here take a photo to memorialize this grand meeting!" Gilderoy said with a wide, sparkling smile.
A camera flashed off to one side. "Get off me," Harry ordered but Gilderoy kept holding onto his shoulder, drawing him in closer.
"I would like to take this moment to announce my recent appointment at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You'll have to wait to see which position Albus Dumbledore asked me to take," Lockhart boasted with a large grin.
Harry tried to calm his rage as he took pictures with the revolting wizard. He managed to get away, claiming he needed to get his books to be signed. The Malfoys were gone and his books had been picked up by a harassed looking shop assistant. "Those are mine, sorry for the trouble," Harry said as he tried to take the books back.
"No, some blonde boy dropped them on his foot. They haven't been paid for!" the assistant screeched and clutched them to his chest. "Look the edges are bent!"
Harry sighed and picked up an updated list of Flourish and Blott's owl-service before leaving the crowded shop. He sat outside on the top of his trunk and glowered at the bookstore. Ron appeared a few minutes later and stood by Harry.
"You should have seen your face, mate. I thought you were going to punch Lockhart in the teeth," Ron said with a laugh.
"I was close to doing just that," Harry admitted with a sigh. "I couldn't even get my books!"
"What a dreadful thing," Ron drawled and laugh. "Let's go to the apothecary. The list said we needed more ingredients this year."
Harry grinned and pushed his trunk along with Ron to the closest apothecary. They shopped for a little bit. Harry picked up an expensive, high-end scale for measuring and more vials for his potions. "You know what, bugger it, what broom do you want to get to try out for the team on?" Harry asked as they walked back toward Flourish and Blotts.
"What? Oh, if I could choose, then…" Ron mused as he trailed off. He stumbled over his own feet and continued to mutter to himself. "The Nimbus 2001 is the one I want the most, but maybe mum would let me get a Cleansweep Seven with the money dad won."
"Forget that, come on," Harry said and dragged Ron toward Broomstix, a shop specializing in selling broomsticks.
Ron's jaw dropped as Harry purchased two Nimbus 2001s and hid them in one of the four compartments of his new trunk. He spun the dial on the front and opened the largest compartment to hide his and Ron's new broomsticks. "An early Christmas or birthday present. Or late birthday one, I forgot when it was again, sorry," Harry said with a laugh to Ron's stunned expression.
"Mate, you're the best!" Ron yelled and hugged Harry.
"Oi! Paws off me you dirty weasel," Harry joked and pushed his excited friend off him.
"Sorry, bloody hell, Harry… that was expensive," Ron stuttered and stared longingly at Harry's trunk.
"Yes and no," Harry admitted with a shrug. The two brooms together hadn't cost as much as his trunk did.
"Hermione! Can you do me a huge favor and grab these books for me?" Harry asked and passed her a list of books off the owl-service sheet. "I don't want to stand for more pictures, please."
"Oh? Dueling, that sounds interesting. You checked off next year's spell book too? That's smart!" Hermione said as she read over the list. "By the way, Mrs. Weasley is going mad looking for Fred and George."
Harry winced and hoped the twins hadn't got caught somewhere in Knockturn Alley. "They are probably still at one of the joke shops," he said with a laugh.
"Humm," Hermione hummed and continued to read his list. "I might pick a few of these up too."
Harry grinned and waited while Hermione went back inside with Mrs. Granger. Mr. Weasley and Mr. Granger had gone off to the Leaky Cauldron to talk about Muggle objects and living without magic. He hoped Arthur wouldn't make a bad impression despite his obvious good intentions and enthusiasm for the strange way of life. Harry left out the other spell book grades so it wouldn't tip Hermione off about his plan for the new term. He'd been practicing changing the cover of one book into another.
"Here you go, Harry," Hermione said, carrying a teetering stack of books in her arms.
Harry was impressed by his friend's strength and wondered if she carried several books at a time around her house for fun. "Thanks!" he said and put the books in his trunk.
"That is really cool! Multiple Extension Charms and Vanishing Charms for each compartment I think," Hermione gasped as she spun the knob on the front of the trunk and opened it a few times.
Harry stopped her before she found the brooms hidden in the last compartment. "It cost me, but I think it will be worth it!"
"Everyone is headed to the Leaky Cauldron for dinner," Percy said as he appeared beside Hermione. The older boy had a small brown owl in a cage under one arm. "Meet Gamp," he said and pointed at his owl.
"Like the first Minister of Magic?" Harry asked as he looked into the brown eyes of the owl.
Percy coughed and muttered something under his breath. He turned and walked toward the tavern without looking back. "I think that's why he named his owl that. He wants to be Minister of Magic one day," Ron said with a laugh.
"Don't laugh, Ron. It is a wonderful ambition," Hermione scolded but Harry saw a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"Uh, Hermione," Harry said as he flipped open a book at the table a little later. Mr. Weasley was telling a long-winded joke about three Hags entering a pub at the other end of the table. Fred and George turned up with a pile of joke shop items. They shot Harry the all-clear sign, making him giddy with excitement. He tried to work off his excitement by looking through his books.
"Yes?" Hermione said, turning away from her conversation with Ginny. The youngest Weasley was playing with her new wand and attempting a Mending Charm under the table.
"Why is the signature of Gilderoy Lockhart on the inside cover of all of my books?" Harry asked, staring his friend in the eye.
Hermione turned pink and muttered something under her breath. "Sorry," she stammered and quickly went back to her conversation with Ginny. She turned her back to Harry but he could see the tips of her red ears.
"It was nice to meet you," Harry said to Mr. and Mrs. Granger as everyone got ready to leave for the day. "Hermione is a wonderful friend."
Mrs. Granger gave Harry a strong hug and whispered, "thank you for looking after our little girl. She didn't tell us what happened but Molly did. Thank you."
Harry froze and winced as he half-hugged the adult back. "She is my friend," he answered in a low voice and pulled away from the embrace. Mr. Granger gave him a firm handshake and a brief smile. Hermione gave him, Ron, and Ginny all hugs before leaving with her parents.
"Back to the Burrow," Mrs. Weasley announced as they made their way through Diagon Alley toward the alley with the fireplaces. Bright street lamps lit the wide street and witches and wizards still shopped as night fell.
"Harry, just drag your trunk through the fire. You know our living room, dear," Mrs. Weasley called and disappeared into the green flames.
Harry went last after stuffing one compartment full of everyone's purchases from the day. It made it easier to transport it and Mr. Weasley claimed strange things happened in the Floo Network if wizards accidentally dropped items while they traveled. Harry stepped into the green flames and was catapulted, holding his trunk tight in his hand, through the darkness again. He landed a minute later in the Weasley's living room and stumbled. Fred and George caught him by his shoulders and set him to rights.
"All right, Harry?" they questioned, looking him over.
"I'll get used to it," Harry muttered as he glared at the green flames. The green flames dimmed after a few seconds only to be replaced by the usual red of fire.
"Meet you later," one twin whispered as they helped Harry carry his new trunk up to Bill and Charlie's room.
"Can't wait," Harry shot back with a grin.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley retired early that night and had to take Ginny's wand away after she'd been caught casting a Mending Charm on a vase she intentionally broke. The twins looked proud while Percy shook his head and went to bed as well. Ron wanted to try out their new brooms, but Harry talked him into sneaking them out around lunch the next day when Mrs. Weasley planned to do the laundry.
"What did you guys find?" Harry asked as he closed the door behind him. Fred and George wore identical smiles as they pulled three books out from under their wardrobe.
"Two translated books from Russia and one from Africa," one twin said and laughed.
"George almost talked the owner into selling us a banned book, but the old wizard got spooked by a fight outside the shop. We looked over one of the Russian ones and agree it wouldn't be wise to show mum," Fred said and pointed to a book with a tall, ferocious-looking woman holding a black wand in a gnarled hand with one missing finger.
"We aren't sure this one, in particular, is best suited for our needs. One spell seems to hoist a person in the air by wrenching their arms backward and locking their wrists together. The translator mentions the target may have dislocated or broken shoulders and or wrists if hit with the spell," George said with a shake of his head.
"The second book is more what we wanted and the last one from Uagadou School of Magic is perfect for our needs. I think the African book deals more with pranking Muggles but it's the ideas we want and not the spells. Those we can discover if need be," Fred said with a laugh.
"Want me to hide the book you don't want?" Harry offered. "The lock on my new trunk is supposed to be pretty good and hard to crack."
"Sure, we've looked through it already. It might be worth a Galleon or two but it's too much trouble if mum catches us with it," George answered with a shrug.
"Heard you got into it with Draco," Fred said with a grin. "Ron told us you dropped about ten books on his foot."
"That's a spell we could make! Dropping books on someone's foot," Harry said with a laugh. "He caught me off-guard and I insulted is mum and daddy," he said as he imitated Draco's drawl.
"Don't do that," George said with a shudder.
"It's bloody creepy," Fred finished and rubbed his forearms. "I'm breaking out into goosebumps."
Harry laughed and talked with the twins for a while. He took the book back to his room and hid it at the bottom of his pile of books in his trunk. His old trunk lay open from where he'd started to sort and organize everything. With a wide grin, he picked up the stack of Flourish and Blotts owl-service sheets and filled one out. He felt jittery and excited for the new year at Hogwarts that would start in a few short weeks.
Harry woke early the next morning covered in sweat from his night terror. Quirrellmort, his favorite name to call the ex-professor during his frequent nightmares, chased him through the Burrow, trying to kill him and all the Weasleys. He was powerless to stop the Dark Lord from killing the entire Weasley family before he was caught. He awoke when a flash of green light hit him in the chest.
Harry got out of bed and grimaced at the sweat-soaked sheets. He grabbed a clean change of clothes from his trunk and went to the bathroom. The hot, steaming water hit his skin but he barely felt the scalding water. He watched as his skin turned red and sighed. The light scar lines on his body stood out against his pink skin.
He was toweling off after his shower when he heard the door open behind him. "Oi Perce, gotta use the loo," one of the twins said before stopping short with a horrified look on his face. "Sorry, Harry," he mumbled, his eyes locked on the large burn scarring on his left shoulder.
Harry jumped, startled, and covered up his back with the towel. Nudity never bothered him at Providence but now he wouldn't shower with anyone nearby if he could help it. He'd forgotten to cast the Smokescreen Charm before showering while he was at the Burrow.
"Blimey," the twin breathed before closing the door behind him. "Sorry about that, Harry," a muffled voice called through the door.
It took him several minutes to calm down as he sat on the toilet in the little bathroom. He stayed in his room and read to distract his racing thoughts and tried to ignore Ron when he wanted to go outside to the orchard. Harry sighed and pulled out the two brooms from his trunk before joining Ron.
The Nimbus 2001 was a dream to fly. It cut through the air at break-neck speeds and turned with ease. Harry grew more comfortable with the broom and tried more complicated and dangerous maneuvers.
"What broom is that!" the twins yelled in unison as they took to the air on the older brooms.
"Nimbus 2001!" Ron yelled with a huge grin. He stroked the polished handle with a manic gleam in his eye. "The Seeker position is mine!"
Harry laughed and hovered by the twins. "I splurged a little," he said with a shrug. "Ron's got a good shot at getting on the team as a Seeker now."
"Not if you fly like that, Harry," George said in a low voice.
"Even Charlie might not have tried that dive and come out so well," Fred agreed with a glance at Ron.
"Really? I wobbled some as I pulled out of the dive, but I think I could do it better and get closer to the ground," Harry frowned and spun his broom around with a quick jerk. The twins narrowed their eyes at Harry.
"Nah, we're wrong," the twins chorused with a laugh.
"Tryout with Ron," George coaxed with a wide grin.
"It'll give him someone to beat," Fred finished with a wink.
Harry rolled his eyes and noticed the twins had identical smirks. While he loved flying, he wasn't interested in playing Quidditch for the Gryffindor team. Ron looped around them hovering in the air before coming to a stop in front of them. "This is wicked!" he gasped and did another loop for emphasis.
"Want a go?" Harry asked Fred and George.
"Merlin's pant's, yes!" they chorused. "We thought you'd never offer!"
Harry lay on the grass and felt the cool breeze brush across his face as he watched the Weasleys fly around on the broomsticks. He spotted Ginny across the orchard, her eyes locked on her brothers flying overhead. She blushed when she realized Harry spotted her and ducked behind the tree.
Ron did his exercises with vigor as he stared lovingly at his new broom. Harry laughed and did his exercises at a more subdued pace. Fred and George took turns on Harry's broom as the morning turned into mid-day. Ginny appeared again and called everyone in for lunch. Harry felt a lead weight sink to the bottom of his stomach as he trudged along behind the Weasleys. They locked the new brooms in the outhouse, knowing Mr. and Mrs. Weasley wouldn't look in there, before going into the kitchen for lunch.
Mrs. Weasley was polite to Harry. She didn't talk much as she fed the children at her table but Harry could feel her eyes on him from time to time. It felt like a hot, itching sensation that crawled over his numb and scarred skin. He knew she either knew or suspected he was the reason Arthur suddenly got a lot of money. Ron took a nap for the first time in weeks since starting the Quidditch exercises and Harry was thankful for it.
It took a few days before his strained relationship with Mrs. Weasley returned to an uncomfortable normal. During that time, he used the excuse of reading his coursebooks to hide away in his room. Ron was a little upset with him, but his new broom occupied his interest. Mrs. Weasley found out about the new brooms when she visited the boys at the orchard. She didn't thank Harry for buying Ron the broom, but he did have two of his favorite desserts for dinner that night.
Harry was up late one night and spotted Ginny in the kitchen playing with her wand. He wasn't sure how she'd got her wand again, as Mrs. Weasley had taken it from the excited girl that morning. Ginny murmured under her breath and pointed her wand at a sheet of parchment on the table. Nothing happened. Frustrated, she tried again.
"Incendio!" Ginny cried and narrowed her eyes at the parchment. The parchment burst into flames and so did half of the table. She gasped and jumped back as the flames licked at her hand.
"Glacius," Harry said in a calm voice as he stepped from the shadows in the hallway.
Ginny jumped and slapped her hand over her mouth to cover a scream. She stared, wide-eyed at Harry as a blue spell hit the table. The fire snuffed out in a blast of icy-cold air.
"Reparo," Harry said and mended the burn marks on the table. "That is a dangerous spell to cast alone near wood," he told Ginny with a wry grin. "I would recommend testing your Fire-Making Spell on stone."
"Th-thanks, Harry," Ginny stammered and looked between his wand and the table.
Harry watched Ginny return to her room and close the door. He noticed a figure watching from outside the kitchen window. His back prickled as he turned to return to bed. He suspected Mrs. Weasley was watching her youngest child to make sure nothing went wrong with her experimentation.
Arthur stayed true to his word and tutored Harry on performing the Extension Charm with a stern warning of how complicated the spell was and how it was regulated by the Ministry. Harry told the excited middle-aged wizard all the parts he knew in the car from his limited experience from the cadets in Providence's Automotive Class. Mr. Weasley soaked up all the knowledge he could about his favorite subject, Muggles.
"You can't cast the spell now, as it might activate the Trace, but with some preparation, you could attempt it at Hogwarts," Mr. Weasley informed Harry as they walked back up to the house that night. "Tomorrow we'll begin talking about the Disillusionment Charm I have on the car. It was a complicated bit of magic that I don't expect you to be able to pull off yet. Your theory on the Extension Charm is worth looking into when you're older."
"Thanks, Mr. Weasley," Harry replied with a grin. He'd suggested the possibility of nesting the Extension Charm inside itself to create an even larger structure inside a small space.
"It may have been done before, but I don't know enough about the charm to tell you if it's possible," Arthur admitted with a smile. "Hello, Molly! Harry here was telling me about how the piss-titons help power the engine of my car!"
"Pistons, Mr. Weasley," Harry corrected for the umpteenth time.
"Harry why do you have six copies of The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 2)," Ron asked as he plopped on Bill's bed. He frowned and opened one of the books. He blinked and opened the next book. "Oi! These are different! Joke books?"
"I bought the rest of my coursebooks that I knew about so I could work ahead. Easier to hide in the class if they look like the current coursebook," Harry said with a laugh.
"Mate, you and Hermione are mental. Just follow along with whatever the professors give us. Why would you want to do more work?!" Ron sighed and shook his head.
"Magic is bloody brilliant," Harry answered with a grin. "Learning how magic works is as much fun as casting the spells themselves. Did you know, because we cast the Fire-Making Spell, it is easier to understand and perform other fire-based spells and charms? Understanding the nature of fire, how our magic interacts with it, and how to produce it makes it easier to cast similar spells. The Fire-Writing Charm, Flagrate, is simple once you can cast Incendio."
"That is cool and all, but why would I want to write with fire?" Ron asked, his face scrunched up.
Harry sighed and put his book down. "How is your exercises going?"
"Brilliant! I can do five sets of the basic routine before I get tired."
"That is some amazing improvement in a month or so. Well done, Ron," Harry said and jumped off the bed. He put all the books back in his trunk, careful to keep the books in order. "Just two weeks or so before we go back to Hogwarts. Are you as excited as I am?"
"Mate, that position on the team is mine!" Ron declared as he flexed his arms.