In the Cupboard

In the Cupboard

By: HarryDude85

When Harry trusted his instincts and opened his first Hogwarts letter away from prying eyes, the difference this one simple act has on the future is astounding.

I don't own any of these characters.

Enjoy.


'Where should I go first?' wondered Harry, as he looked up and down the street. He thought about meeting up with the Patil's and getting some ice cream, but Harry really wanted to buy his wizard gear. Looking at his watch, he realized he had 6 hours and 50 minutes left. The cart ride took more time than he had thought.

Setting off up the street, Harry told himself he could get the other side when he came back.

After looking in a few windows at the amazing items inside, Harry found his first stop, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. While not the most exciting first purchase, Harry needed to get school robes.

Entering the store, Harry noticed that he was the only one there. At least he thought he was until a smiling, squat witch came out from the back, dressed in light yellow.

"Hogwarts?" the witch, who Harry figured to be Madam Malkin, not waiting for a response before directing Harry to the room she just came out of.

An Asian girl and her mother were back there as well. The girl was around Harry's age, maybe a little older. They seemed to be putting the girl's robes in a shopping bag.

"Thank you, Madam Malkin," the mother said as she handed over some Galleons. "Cho has grown so much in the last year that those earlier robes were much too short."

"It happens all the time, Mrs. Chang," Madam Malkin said, taking the money. "I probably get the same person in here 3 or 4 times from their first year to their seventh."

"Well then, I guess you can expect to see us at least two more times," said Mrs. Chang. She grabbed Cho's hand, said good-bye too Madam Malkin, smiled kindly when she saw Harry, and the two of them left.

"Now than, young man," said Madam Malkin, "why don't you hop up right here." She indicated an elevated platform in front of the mirror.

Harry did as she instructed. She than waved her wand and a tape measure flew from her desk and began taking measurements.

"Where are your parents, mister… uh?" she asked as she wrote what Harry assumed were his measurements on a clipboard.

Not wanting too have any more pity from another stranger, Harry decided to lie about his parents, just this once.

"They're out buying other Hogwarts supplies. And it's Mr. Potter."

"Of course, Mr. Pot –" she dropped her clipboard.

"What! What's wrong?" asked Harry.

Madam Malkin just stared at him, but when she, like others before her, gazed at his forehead, she seemed to have realized what she had done. Coughing embarrassed, she bent down to pick up her clipboard and quill.

"Nothing, Mr. Potter. I just thought you were somebody else, that's all. But your not; you're just you." She smiled rather awkwardly.

Later, after Harry had left with his new robes, he thought that Madam Malkin was a strange lady.

The day went like that. He would enter a new store, gape at the merchandise, buy his supplies, and every once and awhile, some one would act weird and look at his forehead.

Every store he would go to, except the Apothecary, he bought more than just his school supplies. He would get things that he thought could help him help understand the new world better. In the store for full of things for Astronomy classes, he bought an ever changing calendar, that would have a new fact about the planets and stars that would change every day. It also would automatically change months and years, so he would never have to buy another calendar for the rest of his life. In the store dedicated to Defense Against the Dark Arts merchandise, Harry bought his required school book, A Guide to Self-Protection, but also bought a book about dark beasts and creatures that wouldn't be found in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Finally, with 2 hours left, Harry had only three more shops to visit: Eeylops Owl Emporium to get an owl, Flourish and Blotts for his school books, and Ollivanders to get his wand. That was he was most looking forward to: owning a magic wand. Whenever Dudley would try to steal from him, or hit and push him, or do anything cruel, Harry could just take out his wand and say, "If you touch me, I'll make sure you spend the rest of the day walking on your tongue." Of course, Harry had no idea how to do that, but Dudley wouldn't know that.

Deciding he should get his books first, because he didn't know if the book store would allow animals in it, Harry, lugging his bags of supplies and new school trunk, entered Flourish and Blotts.

It was everything he had hoped it would be. Books everywhere, filling every space where people didn't have to stand, shelves higher than Harry had ever seen, tables all over the place with no wood visible because they were all covered with books such as Holiday's with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart and How to Tackle Dancing Yogurt by Temprance Dyat.

One of the things Dudley and his gang teased Harry about – besides his hair, scar, glasses, dead parents, scrawny appearance, elephant skin clothes, and lack of friends – was his love of books. He absolutely loved to read. Most day's at his old school, he would forgo lunch and recess to go read in the library. Their was nothing more liberating for Harry than to escape the lonely ness of his life to pursue the white whale with Captain Ahab, float down the Mississippi with Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, or explore Wonderland with Alice. And now his world was open to even more with the information and fiction that these endless books of the wizarding world would provide.

Deciding that he would find and purchase his school books before he got any books for his own entertainment, Harry went around skimming the numerous shelves, looking for the books on his school list, but also mentally book marking anything that might peak his interest for later.

Fining all the appropriate school books Harry paid for them. He went to the front of the store where he left the rest of his school supplies, because it would be too much of a hassle to lug them around the store and put his new books in his trunk.

With still half of his money pouch full, Harry knew there was more than enough to buy a few books for himself, get an owl, a wand, and still have more left over.

The store was slightly full. Harry knew from when he was searching for book that there were a few families looking for supplies like Harry was. But the many shelves made the store appear almost empty. If it wasn't for the loud, excited talking that could be heard throughout the entire store, Harry would have guessed that he was alone, just by sight alone.

Harry had just found a rather thick book that was about Hogwarts, called Hogwarts: A History, and had pulled it down to add it to his pile of other books he found when the empty look of Flourish and Blotts became a hindrance.

After paying for his new recreational books, Harry was so engrossed with walking while reading The Many, Many, Many, Many, Headmaster's of Hogwarts and their Contributions to the World, that he didn't hear the nearby call of "Here, Hermione, I think your mother found it."

And since Harry didn't hear the first shout, he also didn't hear the shriek of excitement and the "I'm coming!" that followed it.

And so, it was with great ignorance, that Harry accidentally stepped in the path of a speeding, excited girl.

The book and the bag that held the other newly purchased books in his hands fell to the ground. Harry's glasses flew off of his face and, opening his eyes, he noticed within a split second that he and the girl who ran into him were going to crash to the ground. It that wouldn't have been that big of a deal, except Harry was positioned to land on top of the girl, and that would certainly hurt her. Since his hands had clenched onto the girl's arms when he dropped his books, Harry, with his feet still partially on the ground, did the best he could and attempted to jump to the left.

How it worked, Harry would never figure out, even when he thought about it years later. Maybe it had to do the strength that only Harry knew he had at the time. Maybe it was some of that underage magic that happened around that time. Maybe it was a combination of the two or something completely unrelated, Harry didn't know. All he did know was that he next felt a hard slam against his back and a rather heavy weight on top of him.

"Hermione!" Two voices shouted out.

Harry opened his eyes and looked at the girl on top of him. She, who he figured was named Hermione, had her hands wrapped around his waist, her eyes were clenched shut, and her head was pressing so hard into his chest, he was afraid their might be an indentation. Her massive amount of bushy black hair covered his chest so thoroughly that it looked like he was wearing a hairy, brown sweater.

Aware that the only movement now was both of their steady breathing, Hermione opened her eyes and looked up at Harry. Harry noticed that her eyes were brown like her hair.

"Hi," said Harry.

"Hi," squeaked Hermione. She seemed to have realized how close the two of them were because she quickly let go of Harry and got up.

"Hermione, what happened? Are you alright?" asked Hermione's mother.

Harry got to his feet while Hermione answered, "I'm fine. I just ran into this boy here and knocked the two of us to the floor. I'm fine Mum, I swear," said Hermione, who was trying to please her mother who was trying to find any injuries.

It was Hermione's dad who first looked at Harry.

"Are you alright there, son?" he asked.

"Yes sir, I'm fine," answered Harry, who then bent over to pick up his books. He noticed Hermione bend over to do the same thing. "You don't have to do that. I can get this by myself," said Harry.

"I know," said Hermione, "but I knocked you over and spilt your books, so I want to help you pick them up."

When all of his books were collected Harry turned to Hermione, who was looking at the copy of Hogwarts: A History she had just handed him. "Oh, you got this book too? Well, I mean, of course you got it, you just paid for it, but I was just asking because I have it and I practically memorized it. I have most of my school books memorized; I have read them so much. Of course, I've had my school books since September, that's when I found out that I was a witch, on my birthday, September 19th. My parents are muggles so they didn't know any of this either, but we are all so excited that I'm going to Hogwarts. And I know what your thinking, 'If she got her school books in September, why is she here now?' Well that's easy. We've been coming here once a month so I can get more books. Every time we get here, we buy books about a new school subject. Last month I got books about Herbology and this month, today, I'm getting some on Potions. That way I have time to read up on each subject I great detail, and not just our course books. The only subject I have to get extra books on is Defense Against the Dark Arts, so when we come back in August, I will know what to get. How about you? When did you find out you were a wizard? Oh, my name is Hermione Granger by the way. What's yours?" She said all of this barely taking a breath.

Harry just stared at her, trying to keep his jaw from hitting the floor in stunned shock. Before he could answer, Mrs. Granger stepped in. "Let the boy breathe Hermione. We know how excited you are about this magic business, but you need to learn to control yourself," she advised lovingly. Mrs. Granger than turned to Harry and said, "I am, as you probably figured out, Hermione's mother, Mary. And this is my husband, Travis. Are you sure you're all right? That was quite a fall"

Harry shook both of their hands, and said "I'm fine. It's very nice to meet you. I'm Harry Potter"

And for the first time since he had met the Patil's hours earlier, their was no reaction at all from any of the Granger's to his name, and, like with the Patil's, he was very relieved about this.

"It's very nice to meet you Harry," said Hermione. It was at that moment, Harry realized, that she was a little blurry. Maybe that fall had hurt him after all. He went to push his glasses back up his nose, but they weren't there.

'Right,' Harry thought as he looked down, 'they fell off when Hermione hit me.'

"Is something wrong, Harry?" asked Mr. Granger.

"My glasses fell off when Hermione ran into me. I just remembered."

"Oh, let us help you," volunteered Mrs. Granger.

"That would be great, thanks."

The four of them scoured the aisle they were in, looking for Harry's missing glasses for a minute until, "Here they are," exclaimed Hermione, quickly followed by "but their broken."

Sure enough, when Harry joined the Granger's, the glass in Harry's right eye was cracked. Harry tried them on, but it was no good.

"Ah man," moaned Harry, taking the busted glasses off. "And the Dursley's told me if I broke them again I would be on my own." He looked down at the glasses and felt as if his ability to read had shattered along with the glass, for Harry was quite unable to read well at all without his glasses. And Harry had no idea when he would be able to get them fixed or get a new pair.

"Give them here, Harry," said Hermione, holding out her hand.

"What can you do? Their broken," reminded Harry, but handed them over anyway.

"You forget, Harry," said Hermione as she pulled out her wand, "I'm a witch." She tapped the glasses and said "Repairo" and the glass fixed it self, good as new. Not only that, but the tape holding the snapped frames disappeared and the crack that had been there since Dudley punched him in the nose on hi 6th birthday was gone. It was as if Harry had just purchased a new pair, they were so perfect.

"Thanks, Hermione," said Harry as he put the glasses back on. There weren't even any fingerprints.

"It was the least I could do. I did break them," smiled Hermione. Harry smiled back and thought he saw her cheeks redden a little. It must have been a trick of the light, because when he looked again, she was as white cheeked as before.

"Who are the Dursley's, Harry," asked Mr. Granger after the great glasses debacle was solved.

"They're my muggle family: my uncle, aunt, and cousin. I've lived with them my whole life, at least, after my Mum and Dad died," explained Harry, preferring to get the truth about his parents out of the way.

"Oh, I'm sorry Harry," apologized Mr. Granger.

"Its fine," said Harry, and, desperate to change the subject, asked Hermione, "How did you fix my glasses. I know you're a witch and all, but I thought we had to go to school to do that?"

"Oh no, not for simple things like that," explained Hermione, also glad they weren't talking about her new friends dead parents, not because she didn't care, but because she didn't know what to say. "We need to go to Hogwarts for much more complicated stuff, but that I learned how to do from reading our Charms textbook. But I can only do it now, before we go to Hogwarts, because once we get back, we won't be able to practice magic at home."

"Interesting," said Harry. He glanced at his watch and saw that he only had 1 hour and 30 minutes until Uncle Vernon came to pick him up. "Yikes!" Looking up at the Grangers he said, "Sorry, I have to go. I'm kind of on a tight schedule."

"Alright," said Mr. Granger. "Well, since you said you live with muggles, do you think you and Hermione would be able to call one another until September?"

Hermione looked embarrassed at her father for asking the question she was going to ask, but hopeful that the answer would be the one she was wanting.

But once again, the image of Uncle Vernon entered Harry's mind and he was forced to say, "No, I don't think that would be the best idea. But," he quickly added, seeing Hermione's crestfallen face, "I am planning to buy an owl when I leave here, so we could write each other, if that's alright."

Hermione simply beamed. "That would be great." Quickly she pulled out a quill and ink from her bag, grabbed Harry's hand, and wrote on the back of it. "Hermione!" Her mother scolded, quickly followed by Hermione's, "Sorry, but I don't see any spare parchment or paper, and I need to give him my address."

Sure enough, when Hermione finished, Harry saw Hermione's address on his hand.

"Tell your owl to come there," said Hermione.

"I will," smiled Harry. He looked back at his watch, saw that he had 5 less minutes than he did before, and said, "Sorry to run off, but I really have to go."

"Well, than Mr. Potter," said, Mr. Granger, holding out his hand, which Harry took, "I hope to meet you again."

"So do I, sir," said Harry, who than shook Mrs. Granger's hand, "Ma'am."

Turning to Hermione, he held out his hand and said, "I hope to see you on the train, Hermione."

She took his hand and said, "So do I, Harry." There was no mistaking it this time: she was blushing, and just the thought that he made a girl blush made Harry blush as well.

Not wanting to embarrass himself further, Harry grabbed his book bag, said, "Good-bye," and headed toward the door, where the rest of his school supplies waited.

He exited Flourish and Blotts, ready to enter Eeylops Owl Emporium, feeling a light happiness that had nothing to do with books.


Wow, an entire chapter full of "my own" material. Nothing in this chapter was taken from the book aside from the very brief description of Madam Malkin, which I tweaked slightly and the title of the Lockhart book.

Now, before I get so many flames that my head catches on fire, let me say that, yes, Hermione will develop a crush on Harry. Whether Harry will crush back, even I don't know yet. Let me say, again, that this is going to be a very different story of "Harry Potter". Not all relationships will be as they were in the books, for Harry will be meeting them at different times. I still don't plan for Harry to find out about his connection to Voldemort for another few chapters.

And as for the couples, their may be Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione, their might not. I will have to see where this goes. But I have always thought that if Harry and Hermione had met with out Ron around them, there would have been a spark. I'm not saying it would have been love, but it would have been something.

And let me just say, it was a real bitch coming up with why Hermione, who had learned that she was a witch almost a year before Harry, would be in Diagon Alley and not know who Harry was. I kept coming up with so many other ways, but I was always stuck with the fact that there was no way she wouldn't know about him, until I thought about what I wrote. I don't know if it makes much sense, but I thought that would be so Hermione, to learn each subject at once so she could catalog it away and never forget it before she moved on to something else. I mean, that's what screws her over in Prisoner of Azkaban, afterall.

So, yeah. That's it for now. Later.