"So, now that you three are up to speed, we can begin," Sara concluded.

"Joy," Malfoy said. "Also, I should point out that Potter and I were enemies, therefore I should not be held to the same standards of decency as those two."

Ron and Hermione shot Malfoy a well-practiced look of self loathing.

"Thanks, Malfoy," Ron said.

"Anytime, Weasley," Malfoy said. "Shall we begin?"

"Yes, anytime," Astra said. "Gideon?"

"Chapter Five," Gideon narrated. "Diagon Alley."

We see Harry waking up and thinking for a moment it was all a dream.

Astra and Kara both sighed. Especially Astra. This was disturbingly on brand for Harry for the first year. And he snapped back to old bad habits after the memory erasure.

"Cheerful and optimistic I see," Kara said. "Not that I can blame you."

"No one can," Nora said. "Still, after all of that, that would have been a hell of a dream."

"To be fair, it did seem a bit out there, when I learned about it," Hermione said.

The owl and the paper and Harry's first introduction to the monetary system of the Wizarding World.

"Didn't he realize that you didn't know anything because of those idiot Muggles?" Malfoy asked.

"Well, he was half asleep and it's just as easy as breathing to him,," Harry said.

"Plus, it was a good learning experience," Hermione said.

"That to," Harry agreed.

Hagrid's little conversation with Harry, leading to the happy balloon puncture.

"Not the happy balloon!" Lita cried. "Anything but that."

"Boy, Potter, you turn on a dime quick," Malfoy said. "You were a bit dramatic, weren't you?"

"No mirrors at Malfoy Manor?" Harry asked.

"And obviously he didn't know his parents left him anything," Zari said. "This is new and shocking, and he's trying to figure out this is all being dumped on him. And yes, I know the memory erasure thing, but it might as well have been new."

"It was new and weird," Harry added.

Hagrid's conversation about Harry's financial situation and Gringotts.

"That was my reaction to the goblins, too," Hermione said. "Why don't wizards run their own banks?"

"No one can be bothered," Malfoy said. "Even if the goblins knut and sickle you with fees out the arse, it's not worth the bother trying to set things up. We purebloods can be enchantingly lazy. And the goblins aren't going to give up that control that easily."

Everyone looked at Malfoy and nodded, realizing that made sense.

"You know, that's about as good of an explanation as I've heard," Nora said.

"What about the non-purebloods though?" Sara asked.

"Well, I don't see them tripping over their feet to set something up, not that they would ever be allowed in that position," Malfoy said. "And they can be pretty lazy as well. Not just a pureblood thing, but a magic thing. People will complain about problems, but never work to find a solution."

"Unfortunately," Hermione agreed, thinking about the lack of support she received from other first generation magical users over the entire house elf thing.

Conversation up until Hagrid's declaration that he flew and Harry's reaction.

"My thoughts exactly," Lena said. "Sorry, but it's hard to picture."

"Well maybe he's part Kryptonian," Kara joked.

"It would have to be his father," Harry said. "Which could explain, certain things."

"Not quite sure how it would work otherwise," Lita said. "With the size difference, it's like trying to slide a hotdog down a hallway"

A few people snickered, others looked mortified at Lita's description of what Hagrid's conception was likely like.

"Oh, thanks for the image," Ava groaned.

"Any time, Aunt Ava," Lita said with a cheeky grin.

"I…well it wouldn't work, if his father was…well you know," Ron said.

"Never going to fit," Sara added.

"What are you talking about?" Astra asked.

"You'll find out later," Harry said. "Continue please."

Harry and Hagrid's travels with them taking the only mode of transportation.

"So does anyone care enough to ask how the Dursleys got back?" Zari asked.

"Not particularly," Astra said. "I don't suppose you know."

"Not really," Harry admitted. "It's a slight spoiler, sorry, Ava, but unfortunately they did."

"Guess everything can't go smoothly, eh, Potter," Malfoy said.

Hagrid talking about how one would be mad breaking into Gringotts.

Harry broke out into a fit of laughter, and Ron and Hermione shook their heads.

"I would say you would be mad enough to do so," John said.

"It was for a good cause," Harry said.

"Well, he must have had his reasons," Mick said. "Breaking into banks requires a lot of timing."

"More of a prison break guy yourself, eh, Mick?" Harry asked.

"Oh, yeah," Mick agreed.

Hagrid and Harry's conversation about the Ministry of Magic.

"Well, there's that," Nora said. "And also the fact that they have been using magic to cover up their existence for years and modifying memories along the way. Along with other seedy bullshit."

"Which is why I'm surprised there wasn't any backlash when you went public," Sara said.

"I still think it was reckless to do that, Harry," Hermione said.

"Oh, it's brilliant," Ron said. "Well, it led to those movies, so not so brilliant."

"And my legions of entirely unhinged fangirls," Malfoy said. "Leather pants, as if those are practical. And I'm highly allergic to leather."

"Half the people think that it's just a coincidence that I happen to be named Harry Potter and look like the fictional character of the same name," Harry said.

"And some people think that you're some imposter named Timothy Hunter," Ava said.

"Like my daughter," Mick said.

"Well, I was kind of trolling you after the first couple of times," Lita said.

"Were you?" Harry asked.

"Plus, it was a good con," Lita said. "I feel like I should respect the art by going along with the joke."

"Thanks for being such a good sport, Spitfire," Harry said.

"Dare I ask what this is all about?" Ron asked.

"Legends shit," Harry said.

"Thanks for answering my question," Ron said. "That's a big fat nope."

Ron honestly felt some of the stuff Harry got into with these time-traveling band of misfits was a bit too weird for his tastes.

Hagrid talking about the dragons guarding Gringotts and his desire to have a dragon.

"Mmm," Harry, Malfoy, Ron, and Hermione all said pretty much simultaneously.

"I'd like one too," Astra said. "Although not practical to raise one."

"Your mum turned you down a few times," John said.

"Oh, yeah, although dragons are awesome," Astra said.

The school list which mentioned students meant students could either have an owl or a toad or a cat as a pet.

"Did someone try and take all three?" Lita asked. "A cat and a toad and an owl I mean."

"My aunt," Malfoy said. "The insane one."

"Ah, Trixie," Harry said.

"She disemboweled the last person who called her that, Potter," Malfoy said.

"I know, but she's not here, so I can sass her all I like," Harry said.

"She would literally lose her mind, if she ever found out the way Rowling killed her character off in the books," Malfoy said. "Such an undignified way to go."

Lita and Nora rolled their eyes, showing what they thought of how Bellatrix died.

"It was kind of funny," Ron said.

"Well, yes, it was, but she wouldn't get the joke," Malfoy said. "Oh, and a rat wasn't on the school list. You, I'm not surprised. But I'm honestly surprised that Percy the Perfect Prefect so blatantly broke school rules. And why did someone as prim, proper, and pompous as Percy the Perfect Prefect ever have a rat as his preferred pet."

"Stan Lee would approve of that alliteration," Lita said.

"Who?"

"Purebloods," Hermione muttered in disgust.

"And I wouldn't know, Malfoy," Ron said. "And I'm not sure how either of us got away with it."

"Well, you were Dumbledore's favorite family," Malfoy said.

"Yeah, like that really did us a lot of good in the end," Ron bitterly spat.

Hermione shifted nervously at Ron's bad mood.

"Um, can we continue, please?" Hermione asked.

Harry and Hagrid entered the Leaky Cauldron where Harry is mobbed because of his fame.

Harry received his share of sympathetic looks. He just shrugged in response.

"Your first taste of fame," Zari said. "And considering I've been around all of that since when I was even younger than you, my condolences. You have the rush, but you realize you have no privacy. Everything you do is put underneath a microscope, and you can't do anything without having people analyze it."

"Famous for losing his parents, famous for a thing he can't remember, and you damn sure won't appreciate him, will you?" Astra asked.

"Not as much as we should," Hermione sadly said. "But, maybe Dumbledore was right…"

"Those three words make me disagree with you already," Astra said.

"To keep Harry away from that, before he was ready," Hermione pressed on.

"Mum prepared him for it, well enough, before Dumbledore wiped his memories, thank you very much," Astra said. "She would have made sure Harry kept his feet on the ground too."

"She would have been good to be around, when I was returning to that world," Harry said. "Although, it might not have been at Hogwarts or in Britain."

"Hogwarts wouldn't have been the same without you, Harry," Hermione said. "And you were a lot better for going."

"Was I?" Harry asked coolly which caused Hermione to flinch.

"We'll answer that question when we read," Sara said. "Hindsight's a bitch, though, isn't it?"

Sara received several nods for agreement.

Harry meets Professor Quirrell for the first time.

"Oh, standards have fallen a lot," Astra said. "He's a wreck. He wouldn't last five minutes in a combat situation."

"It gets worse," Ron said grimly. "Much worse. He might be our…fourth most competent teacher in that subject."

"I can't disagree," Hermione said.

"And neither can I," Malfoy said in disgust. "Stuttering buffoon didn't teach us a thing. And yet still somehow better than what came second year."

Harry and Hagrid enter Diagon Alley for the first time.

"Actually seeing it, it's amazing," Lita said.

"It is really spectacular," Hermione said.

"Even if you've been there dozens of times, it has its magic," Malfoy said.

Harry's first look at Gringotts follows next and a goblin. Along with that poem.

"Some people take that as a challenge," Nora said.

"I had my reasons," Harry said.

"Really surprised the goblins didn't hunt you down in cold blood for making a fool out of them," John said to Harry in undertone. "They are spiteful little buggers."

"I made them an offer they couldn't refuse," Harry said.

"What could you offer the goblins which would make them back off?" John asked.

"Trust me, they knew it was best for their livelihood if they let the matter drop," Harry said. "I'll tell you later."

Everyone locked their eyes on Harry. Now they were really curious how he got away with it.

Harry's first interactions at Gringotts up until Hagrid producing Harry's key from the coat pocket of doom.

"Hold on a minute," Lena said. "How did Hagrid have that key?"

"Dumbledore had it," Harry said.

"And why did Dumbledore have it?" Astra asked. "Because, I know Mum had the only copy of your key before the accident."

"Dumbledore made me hand it over to him," John said. "After Natalie…after she died the second time."

"Dumbledore wasn't Harry's guardian though," Astra argued. "And you just gave him Harry's personal property?"

"Well, he would have taken it whether I gave it to him," John said. "And I needed to rescue you from Hell, and I couldn't do that if Dumbledore fed me to the Dementors."

Harry knew the theory and decided to nip this one in the bud.

"The goblins did a full audit of all of the gold, it wasn't touched between when my father withdrew a fair amount before going into hiding and before I went to do my school shopping," Harry said. "No one took anything out of that vault that wasn't for me."

"There are some juicy internet conspiracy theories which say otherwise," Lita said.

Now it was Ron's turn to get extremely annoyed.

"Mum wouldn't have turned down Harry's help for money about a dozen times only to steal gold from him," Ron said.

"Thirty-three times, actually," Harry said. "That's how many I offered her help for allowing me to stay those summers."

That was before the falling out they had.

"Well, there you go," Ron said. "Mum isn't perfect, but she would never steal from an orphan."

Ron stared at the group as if daring for them to argue. No one did.

"I thought the Dursleys were paid for your upkeep," Ava said.

"That was a separate trust from Mum, and they got that money over ten years, until I went to Hogwarts," Harry said.

"And they spent that money on Dinky Duddydums," Zari said.

"Yes," Harry said.

"You should get that back, that was supposed to be for you," Astra said. "How much?"

"Um, about thirty thousand Galleons," Harry said. "Not too bad."

This caused a long pause. Malfoy finally broke the silence.

"Potter, even I would blink at thirty thousand Galleons," Malfoy said.

"And it's even more when you count interest," Lita said. "You should really take it from them."

"Yeah, you really should," Mick said. "Stealing money from a kid you were responsible for. I'm a thief, but that's fucking low."

"And they were skimming off still from when you were practically living with Mum and me," Astra said.

"We'll deal with this later," Lena said.

"We will," Kara agreed.

Astra just smiled and motioned for them to continue.

Hagrid mentioning his mystery note about the mysterious item.

"Oh, let's just mention this thing to this child," Nora said. "Not like he won't be curious at all."

"I would be," Lena said.

"Anyone would be," Ava said. "Why would Dumbledore…actually, never mind, I answered my own question."

"Oh, he's a really great guy, isn't it, that Dumbledore?" Ron asked sarcastically.

More of Hagrid's talk with Harry about the you-know-what in vault 713. And their adventure in the cart.

"I want to go!" Lita yelled.

"Yeah, that sounds like fun," Kara said.

"It really is," Nora said.

"You've been down there?" Harry asked her.

"Dad took me down a few times," Nora said. "Not to get any money. He just wanted to ride in the carts. And I'll tell you those goblins are liars, because they can most certainly go faster."

"Those carts always make me sick," Hermione said. "Why would you want to go faster?"

"Because, it's fun?" Lita asked.

"I hate agreeing with Granger, but I'm going to have to agree with her," Malfoy said. "Worst part of Gringotts, and I swear the goblins take delight in making us get sick on our best robes."

"Oh, surely, you wouldn't be giving them a reason to take such delight, would you, Malfoy?" Harry asked.

Malfoy did not dignify Harry's comment with a response.

"It does sound like fun," Astra said.

"It is!" Nora cried out happily. "Oh, maybe we can all go sometime."

"Maybe we should just buy Gringotts for the carts," Lena said.

"Oh, you would be my best friend if you did," Nora said.

"And we can ride them all the time," Lita said.

"You people are mental," Malfoy said.

"Just now figuring that out?" Sara asked.

"Goblins would never sell," John said. "They have too much pride."

"Everyone has a price," Lena said.

The rest of Harry and Hagrid's Gringotts adventure is shown leading to Hagrid shoving off for a pick-me up.

"Drinking on the job?" Zari asked. "Shame, shame, shame."

"And leaving the famous Harry Potter to run around Diagon Alley unsupervised," Ava said. "He could have been hurt by someone."

"Or trampled by crazed fans," Zari said with a shiver.

"Even worse," Lena said.

Harry enters Madam Malkin's and meets this young blonde boy his age getting fit by robes.

Malfoy gazed upon his younger self, with disapproval in his eyes.

"I don't recall sounding this whiny," Malfoy said.

"We do," Hermione and Ron said in unison.

"I'm honestly surprised Lucy did his own shopping," John said. "Afraid he would break a nail."

Malfoy just shrugged it off.

"And your Mum was up the street looking at wands?" Lita asked. "Is that what they're calling it now?"

Everyone broke out into laughter. Except for Malfoy who was confused.

"I don't get it," Malfoy said.

"Nice to see you admit it, Malfoy," Ron said.

Harry compares Draco to Dudley.

"Potter, how dare you?" Malfoy asked. "Comparing me to that useless tub!"

"You're kind of remind me of my brother, a little bit there," Lena said.

"I'd rather be compared to the useless Muggle than a sociopath like Lex Luthor," Malfoy said.

More of Malfoy and Harry's conversation.

"As far as first impressions go, yours could use some work," Zari said.

"I was trying to be friendly," Malfoy argued.

"I hate to see you try and be a dick then," Sara said.

"I was eleven, and I really…I was trying to make a friend," Malfoy said. "And it didn't work. It was the first time I tried to do something like that on my own. Every other child I interacted with, all of those meetings were planned by my father. And I was told the right things to say. And they were told the right things to say by their parents."

"Is that your story?" Harry asked

"Believe me or not, Potter, not like it matters right now," Malfoy said. "All of those pureblood etiquette lessons were useless when I actually had a social interaction out in the wild."

"Nice to see you admit it," Hermione said.

"As if your people skills back then were any better, Granger," Malfoy said.

Hermione could not dispute this so she shut up.

More of Malfoy's conversation including his comments about Hagrid being a savage.

"And that sunk you," Lita said.

"Yeah, I know that," Malfoy said.

The conversation between Malfoy and Harry got more awkward leading to asking Harry's surname.

"You are unlike any eleven year old ever," Kara said.

"Oh, this is a bad look for me," Malfoy grumbled. "Stupid, little baby Draco, what the fuck were you thinking slagging the dead parents of the kid you just met? And he just happened to be Harry Bloody Potter."

"Mistakes were made, weren't they, Malfoy?" Ron asked.

"Shut it, Weasel," Draco said.

Malfoy and Harry parting ways and then Harry's conversation with Hagrid about the Hogwarts houses.

"He really shouldn't have told you that all Slytherins were bad," Astra said.

"If they were all bad, then they would have got rid of the entire house years ago," Nora said.

"It's only the loudest and most vocal ones that give that house a bad name," Harry said.

"Oh, Hagrid, that was unfair," Hermione said. "He prejudiced you against them from the beginning. Not that Malfoy helped with that matter."

Malfoy said nothing and just had a permanent grumpy scowl on his face.

"I could have done good things in Slytherin," Harry said. "But, I don't think I would have gotten on with the Head of House."

Harry's shopping, leading up to him getting his pet owl.

"Awww," Kara cooed.

Harry looked at the image of his old friend sadly.

"She's beautiful," Lita cooed. "And I'm so sorry."

"What happened?" Astra asked.

"Rule 2," Lita said.

"The Dursleys better not have killed that beautiful owl," Astra said.

"You'll find out later," Harry said.

Harry hid his face, but he remembered hunting down those who murdered Hedwig. It was not pretty what he did to them.

Harry's wand shopping experience leading up to Ollivander describing Voldemort's wand.

"Hold on just a second," Ava said. "If Ollivander remembers Voldemort's wand that means…"

"He knew," Harry said. "Who Voldemort really was."

"Blimey, it's a wonder Voldemort didn't go after Ollivander sooner," Ron whispered, but only so Harry and Hermione could hear him.

It almost felt like old times sharing a private secret between the three of them. Although those old times were gone.

Hagrid's wand is recapped and his oh so subtle pink umbrella.

"Right," Sara said. "Of course you don't, Hagrid. Of course you don't."

"He's about as subtle as a herd of Hippogriffs," Hermione admitted. "Oh, sorry Malfoy was that too soon?"

"Granger, that was such a low level troll, I forgot to laugh," Malfoy sniped back.

Harry's wand making experience is shown up until he got the brother wand of Voldemort.

"Great things indeed," Astra said. "Although he's really insignificant compared to others."

"Recency bias strikes again," Nora said.

"Yeah, and British wizards are going to be a bit more afraid of the threat in their own backyard, then the distant one from abroad," Harry said. "And we're just skimming over the fact that my wand shares a core with Voldemort's."

"No big deal," Astra said.

"Common fantasy trope, the enemies tied together by something," Mick said. "Guess it isn't as much of a trope as it happens in real life."

Hagrid's final talk with Hagrid leading to Hagrid giving Harry his ticket is shown.

Sudden realization dawned on Hermione.

"Hagrid!" Hermione yelled. "You didn't tell him where the platform was!"

"Hermione, that was thirty years ago, he can't hear you," Ron said with a chuckle.

"Professor McGonagall clearly explained to me where the platform was and how to get on, though," Hermione said. "Oh, Hagrid!"

"Rubeus Hagrid you had one job!" Kara yelled.

Harry just smiled.

"I hate to say it, but Hagrid was both the best man for the job," Astra said. "And the worst. Guy is decent, but trusting of Dumbledore. And he helped shape some of your biases of the world."

"He didn't do it on purpose," Ron said. "And we all had our biases. It's just some of them we shook a bit too late."

"I wish I learned more before I stepped into Hogwarts," Harry said. "And I'm done being apologized to for the record. We can't change anything."

"You seriously wouldn't have been there though, would you, Potter?" Malfoy asked.

"If Mum let Harry go, Dumbledore would be watched closely every step of the way," Astra said. "And the moment he did something the slightest bit suspect, Harry would be gone."

"Yes, if Dumbledore somehow talked Natalie into letting Harry, and Astra both attend," John said. "Doubt he would have been able to guilt-trip her with Lily and James that easily."

"So, Potter would have been gone the moment Dumbledore gave that opening speech after the sorting," Malfoy said as he exchanged a knowing look with his fellow Hogwarts alumni. "You know the one."

"And those who don't will find out pretty soon," Ava said.

"I can't wait until the next chapter," Lita said excitedly. "We're getting to the good stuff. This is great."

"Thought you were over your Harry Potter phase, Spitfire," Harry said.

Lita playfully stuck her tongue out at Harry.

"Seriously, let's do this," Lena said. "I can't wait for this either."

"I can," Hermione murmured.

Only one person noticed Hermione looking very uncomfortable.

"Alright, Gideon, let's roll," Sara said.

To Be Continued.