I don't own anything!
Birthdays and Wands
Two weeks passed quickly and before Harry knew it, it was his birthday.
"Happy Birthday!" James boomed, right into his ear, effectively waking him up on the morning. Harry rubbed his eyes, before grabbing his glasses and yawning at the overly excited James.
"It's your birthday!" James said, as if afraid that Harry had somehow forgotten it.
"Aren't you excited?" James asked, jumping on Harry's bed, a new habit he'd gotten. Harry shook his head tiredly.
"I'm more excited about our Hogwarts letters arriving, they should be here anytime now." James fell of the bed with a bang.
"What! Our letters are coming today?" he asked, standing up and rubbing his bum. Harry nodded, falling back on the soft mattress. A rap on the window showed a barn owl. James whooped and ran to the window, throwing it up with such a force that he successfully knocked the owl of the windowsill it had been perched on.
"I killed it!" He wailed
"We won't be able to go to Hogw… oh! It survived." Harry started laughing, he'd never meet anyone like his dad before.
"Here you go. This one is yours." Harry accepted the letter handed over by James and opened it. He was however not looking at his letter as he opened it, he was looking at James's happy face.
"YES! I'm going to Hogwarts!" James swivelled round on the spot smiling brightly.
"Happy Birthday, Harry." Mrs and Mr Potter stepped into the room smiling.
"Ah, you've received your letters. So what house are you in James?" Mr Potter asked. James, who had thrown the letter away on the floor, after reading it, suddenly dived after it.
"It says in the letter?" He asked, terrified. Once he had the letter in his hands, he looked scared of folding it out again.
"Oh, Harold. Don't be bad. Daddy was just joking, sweetie. It doesn't say what house you'll be in." James glared at his father.
"I guess we'll have to go to Diagon Alley." Mr Potter said shrugging at the glare he recieved. James practically flew out of the room, as if a bunch of dragons were at his heals.
"Not yet James! We need to get dressed and have some breakfast first." Laughed Mr Potter. James soon returned, looking sheepish.
"Shall I start with breakfast then?" asked Mrs Potter, smiling at Harry. James perked up nodding, quickly.
"I'll help, mom!" he shouted, speeding of downstairs. Mrs Potter looked alarmed, and hurried after him.
"Last time he 'helped' I had to order a complete new kitchen." she muttered as she sped of after him.
"Are you coming Harry?" Mr Potter waited as Harry climbed out of bed. Harry couldn't help feeling sad at not receiving his custom birthday letters from the Weasley's, Hermione and Hagrid. Mr Potter noticed Harry's sad looks.
"I know its hard Harry. But your father would have wanted you to have a happy birthday. You have been very brave since you arrived, but it is alright to feel sad." Harry couldn't meet his eyes, but he did feel comforted by the words, as they applied for what his friend would have wanted too. He nodded after a while, and together they made their way downstairs, where they could hear Mrs Potter scolding James.
"…Could have chopped your fingers of!" James was red in the face and stood nodding at his mothers words.
After withstanding James glares for a whole hour, Mr Potter finally led them to the fireplace. "To the Leaky Cauldron. I'll go first and your mother last." both boys nodded. Mr Potter disappeared in a green pillar of smoke, James soon followed. Harry grabbed a handful of floo-powder and stated the words very clearly, least he make a surprise visit at Borgin and Burkes again. He stumbled out in front of Mr Potter and James and was soon followed by Mrs Potter. "Gringotts then?" asked Mr Potter, looking at his wife.
"Oh, Harold. You know how I dislike those cart rides. I'll meet you in Flourish and Blotts." she said, looking questionably at the boys. James grabbed Harry and his fathers' hands and started to drag them towards the big building, leaving Mrs Potter to roll her eyes at his behaviour. They walked into Gringotts and Mr Potter asked them to stay close.
"Harold." A man called out. Mr Potter turned round and smiled, clasping the extended hand. "Hello Neville. Fancy catching you here." The two men started talking, clearly old friends. Harry was brought out of his state of shock, at hearing Neville's name, as James poked him in the back.
"This is Frank. He's a second year." James introduced, looking up awed at a tall, lanky boy. Harry was surprised, Neville and his father looked very alike. Frank Longbottom radiated self-confidence however, which Neville never had.
"Hi James. So you finally got your letter?" Frank asked, smiling brightly. James nodded quickly.
"Yes, we got it today. Its Harry's birthday today, you know." He said, patting Harry on the shoulder.
"Congratulations. You here with your family over the day?" Frank asked. James smile faded, and he quickly looked at Harry.
"Um, his dad kind of died. So now he's living with me." Frank looked genuinely sorry. "Sorry." he said. Harry nodded going red around his ears.
"Are you ready boys?" Mr Potter called out. The older Longbottom gave Harry a look, as they walked pass, Harry wondered what for.
"What does Mr Longbottom work as?" he asked Mr Potter on their way down to the vault. James who was whooping loudly didn't hear a word. Mr Potter gave Harry a surprised look.
"He works as an unspeakable, at the Ministry." They looked at each other for a while, forgetting where they were.
"With what?" Asked Harry finally. He did however, not receive an answer as they finally stopped, much to James disappointment. The vault was huge, Harry who had considered himself very rich, suddenly felt poor. The vault was stuffed with money and things. James was currently fingering a sharp looking sword.
"If you lose a finger, your mother won't let you down here ever again." Mr Potter warned him and James reluctantly stepped away from it only to start fiddling with a suit of armour. Harry looked around in wonder, where had all of these things gone at the time he had a vault, he thought to himself. He spotted a beautiful painting of Hogwarts in a corner of the vault, and a large tree planted in an enormous pot, growing what looked to be oranges.
"Come on. Better not let your mother wait to long." They were soon on their way back up. "What took you so long?" Mrs Potter asked as soon as she caught sight of them. "We meet Frank." James answered happily. Mrs Potter looked sternly towards Mr Potter.
"And you had to gossip didn't you? Really Harold, the man lives next door." She said and grabbed the money pouch. Soon their books were paid for and they made their way towards Madam Malkin's.
"No you can not have a dragon skin jacket, James!" Mrs Potter exclaimed as they entered the shop. James sat down on a bench to sulk. Harry however spotted another boy, reading a thick book.
"Severus darling, if you could put your book down for a couple of minuets and try these robes on?" A dark haired woman asked the boy. He scoffed, but placed the book down on the table next to him, and turned to face his mother. He seemed to notice that he was being stared at, as he quickly turned and sneered at Harry.
"What are you looking at?" he asked. Harry who was at loss for words just shook his head and walked over to where Mrs Potter was talking to Madam Malkin's, he had been staring. The dark eyed boy continued to glare at him though. James soon walked over and nudged Harry.
"What is his problem?" he whispered, pointing at Snape's back. Harry shrugged and accepted the robes handed over from Mrs Potter.
"James?" Mrs Potter was looking around the shop for James, who seemed to have disappeared. Harry noticed that Snape's mom was searching for Snape as well. This couldn't bode well, Harry thought.
CRASH A whole shelf stacked with clothing came crashing down. Harry spotted his fathers messy hair in the midst of the clothes, he was sitting on top of Snape.
"Take that back, you filthy little…"
"JAMES POTTER!" Mrs Potter bellowed, running over and pulled her son of the other boy. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" She Shrieked, James looked up at her in silent defiance. "OUT! Get out of here! Harold!" Mr Potter dragged the scowling James out of the shop.
"I am truly… I don't know what possessed him." Mrs Potter pleaded, Madam Malkin's who waved her wand and had all the clothes back in order just shrugged and Snape's mother seemed to just want to get out. Snape who was sporting a bleeding nose, glared at Harry as they quickly exited the shop.
"Oh, don't worry so much Edna. Boy are like that." Madam Malkin's said in a tired voice. "Why, I would never let Thomas or Jacob near the shop." she shuddered and made Mrs Potter smile half-heartedly.
"But the nerve of that boy." Mrs Potter muttered, glaring out through the window at a laughing James. Harry wondered what Snape could have said to make his dad punch him like that. After paying for the robes, they made it to the potions store and even had some ice cream. Harry shouldn't have to pay for James's troubles after all, Mr Potter said to a scowling Mrs Potter. James was given a very small portion of ice cream, which he seemed to enjoy anyway, much to Mrs Potter's disappointment.
"Wands next." Mr Potter exclaimed when Harry and James had finished of Harry's enormous portion. Harry suddenly felt as if the ice cream had turned into a block of ice in his stomach. What if his wand wasn't there? What if he wasn't given one at all!
A little bell went of, over their heads, as they entered the little shop. Harry thought it felt just as creepy as the first time he'd entered.
"Ah, Mr and Mrs Potter. Here for a new wand? Whose is it this time?" Asked Mr Ollivander, looking grimly at James.
"We're actually here for James's wand today." Answered Mr Potter, James who was blushing looked up and meet Ollivander's glare.
"Is it already time? Finally getting your own, eh? Stop you from using your dad's now then." Harry was surprised, what exactly had his dad done to make Mr Ollivander glare at him that way. James was nodding quickly, as if afraid of being declined a wand.
"Let's see then, which arm…oh, hello! I didn't see you there. Who might you be?" Harry gulped, the man had a talent for creeping people out.
"Harry." He whispered. Mr Ollivander was looking between him and James and then to Mr Potter.
"My nephew." Mr Potter said calmly. Mr Ollivander nodded slowly.
"Well, James here first, eh. Better be over and done with it." He muttered, walking behind the counter to fetch some boxes. James soon found his wand, (Mahogany, 11 inches excellent for transfiguration.) and Harry felt his heart drop. It had taken him forever to find the right one the last time.
"Ah, Harry was it? Didn't have the pleasure of handing your father his wand. Which is your wand arm?" Harry lifted his right arm and waited for the tape measurer to make an appearance. Mr Ollivander came closer and Harry had a sense of déjà vu.
"Unusual eyes, you have. Such an emerald green colour." Harry stiffened at Mr Ollivander's words. Nobody had ever described his eyes as unusual.
"Try this one." Harry sighed, but grabbed a hold of the first of many wands to come.
"Tricky, tricky. Don't worry, we'll find the right one." Mr Ollivander beamed at him.
"Tell me a little about your self. It will help me determine which core that would fit you." Harry nodded, what was he supposed to say?
"His father went to Durmstrang. He's a good flyer, from what I've seen. And you had a wand already but it was lost, wasn't it?" Mr Potter said before Harry had the chance. Mr Ollivander looked closely at Harry again, he hummed.
"You were the boy that survived the terrible attack two weeks ago? I must confess on selling the wand responsible for all of this mayhem." Said Mr Ollivander.
"A very fine wand. Very fine indeed." He seemed to lose himself in thoughts.
"Flyer you say? Let's try these then." Harry was going through a new pile of wands, feeling frustrated as not a single worked properly.
"Not to worry. There are hundreds upon hundreds of wands here." Harry wondered if he was supposed to feel relived by that.
" You had a wand before you say. What kind was it?" Ollivander asked.
"Fhoenix feather..."Harry didn't get any further before the wandmaker hummed and walked off.
"How about, this one?" Harry felt a shiver go down his spine. He recognised the box. It was HIS wand. Mr Ollivander placed the box on the disk between them and slowly lifted the lid. Harry's breath got caught at the sight of the polished wood. They stood there in silence, just watching the soft candle light reflecting in the polished surface, the others forgotten. Mr Ollivander pushed the box forwards and Harry raised a shaking hand to lift it out of its box.
The moment he held the wand in his hand, a shower of red and gold sparks erupted. There was a blinding light and then nothing. The forgotten Potter's all stood with their mouths open. Mr Ollivander looked contemplating at Harry.
"Congratulations on being the chosen one." Harry looked up at him in suspicion. What did he mean the chosen one? Did he know?
"The wand chooses its owner, Mr Potter." answered Mr Ollivander. He walked around the counter and stood in front of Harry.
"That wand is very powerful, I'd be surprised if you didn't become great one day." Harry backed away at Mr Ollivander's words nodding, he kept a good hold of the wand, not liking the way the older man kept staring at him.
"Well...that was, eh… interesting." Said James, walking besides Harry towards the Leaky Cauldron where they were going to have a late lunch. Both adults nodded behind them and shared a look.
They were all happy and content coming home later on that evening. Harry thought it had been the best birthdays ever, he'd been with his family. That alone had been the best birthday present ever. Mr and Mrs Potter had surprised him with a present as they were walking past the pet shop, they had told him to choose an animal. Missing Hedwig, he had first thought of getting a second owl, but after being attacked by a small orange fur ball, he had settled for a cat. It resembled Crookshank so much, that Harry had decided to name it Crookshanks the second, much to the others puzzlement. The cat was at the moment chewing on Harry's trousers as he and James tried to get down stairs.
"Mom! Why aren't we allowed to bring brooms to…" James stopped walking, making Harry bump into his back and the cat skid on the floor. The reason for James abrupt halt was sitting on a chair by the dining table together with a pale Mrs Potter.
"Oh, hello again sir." James said, straightening his back to appear taller. Harry had a good guess as to why Dumbledore was there, but he decided to play clueless.
"Hi sir." He greeted the Headmaster. Dumbledore nodded in response looking grave. James looked between Harry and the man he regarded as unstoppable.
"What's up?" He asked when the silence got to long. Dumbledore smiled then, and shook his head at James.
"Sorry for being late, Albus. Ah hello boys." Mr Longbottom smiled, he and Mr Potter came walking in through the door behind Harry and James.
"Hey! You have Frank with you?" James asked looking hopeful. Mr Longbottom shook his head however and James shrugged.
"Well I guess Harry and I should be going then." James started pulling Harry towards the door.
"I would actually like a word with you Harry, if I may." Dumbledore said. James gave Harry a look that said, what-have-you-done now.
"Sure." Harry said, walking up to the table.
He sat down opposite of the Headmaster.
"Harry. I believe you purchased a wand today?" Dumbledore asked. James who was listening with rapt attention looked confused.
"What does Harry's wand have to do with anything?" he asked, forgetting just who he was demanding an answer from. Dumbledore ignored him however.
"The wand you bought is very special." Harry, who just felt a sharp twinge on his forehead, couldn't help wincing in pain.
"Are you alright, Harry?" Mr Potter asked worriedly. Harry nodded, before bending over in pain. The scar had never hurt this much, why did his forehead hurt now when the stupid scar wasn't even present? Harry thought, he had a very hard time making out that Voldemort was happy, so strong was the pain.
"He's happy about something." Harry said, turning to Dumbledore.
"Voldemort?" Dumbledore asked leaning forward. Harry nodded, rubbing the spot where his scar had been before.
"Can you tell me anything else?" Dumbledore asked urgently. Harry shook his head and closed his eyes.
"No it's usually just these feelings I get. The visions come when I'm asleep." he said to the quiet room. He suddenly felt a gush of wind and opened his eyes to find Fawkes sitting on the dining room table. Dumbledore was writing something on a piece of paper. Harry walked over to the magnificent bird and started stroking his scarlet feathers.
"Hello, Fawkes. How are you?" he whispered, not noticing the shocked look he was getting from Dumbledore. Fawkes chirped a tune and made the pain in Harry's forehead lessen.
"You've meet Fawkes before I see?" Dumbledore said in a collected voice, Harry could see no surprise or any other feeling on his face. Dumbledore handed Fawkes the paper he'd been writing on and the phoenix left in a flash of fire, leaving one scarlet feather behind. Harry shifted nervously on his feet, he didn't dare look Dumbledore in the eyes.
"It is quite alright my boy. Fawkes has his own friends I'm sure." Dumbledore said comforting. Harry felt relived, he was Dumbledore's boy again. Dumbledore stood suddenly.
"I will see the both of you at Hogwarts, if not sooner. Harold, Edna, Neville." Dumbledore walked over to the fireplace after giving Harry one last look. Things had just become interesting, Harry thought with a shudder.