Author's Note: Here's the next chapter. I've been asked when Harry and Hermione are going to meet. They'll get their first meeting in the next chapter. I'm going to make it different from the other ways they meet. At least I hope it'll be different and she'll start playing a larger role in the story.

Chapter 7

Diagon Alley

Harry rejoined Minerva at the main lobby. Checking once more to make sure his money pouch and wallet were secure they walked out of the bank and onto Diagon Alley.

"Do you have your school list with you?" Minerva asked as soon as they were out of Gringotts.

"Yeah, hang on a moment."Harry pulled it out of his pocket. He didn't really take a good look at it before due to the fact that he was more preoccupied with all the new information he received the past week. He now took the time to look it over.

First years will require
Uniform
1. Three sets of plain black work robes
2. One plain black pointed hat for everyday wear
3. One black winter cloak
4. One pair of protective gloves

Set Books
All students should have a copy of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A Beginners Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 set of potion ingredients
1 telescope
1 brass scale
1 set of parchment, quills, and ink
STUDENTS MAY ALSO BRING A PET (owl, cat, rabbit, turtle, toad)

Note: First Year students are not allowed to bring their own brooms from home.

"Where to first professor?" questioned Harry.

"We are going to get your school trunk first." Replied Minerva.

They walked down the alley till they reached the store. It was filled with trunks of all different sizes, colors, and even shapes. There were also backpacks, carrying cases, purses, satchels, etc. There was a middle aged man standing behind the counter wearing a monocle in his right eye. The monocle reminded Harry of the character from the board game monopoly.

"Welcome. My name is Simon. How may I help you?" The man with the monocle asked.

"Afternoon Simon." Replied Minerva.

"Oh Minerva. I didn't see you there. Damn monocle doesn't do its job. Don't know why I even bother. So what can I do for you today?" he asked.

"I'm helping out my charge here in getting his supplies." Said Minerva motioning with her hand at Harry.

"Oh? It's that time of year already? Guess you'll be needing the standard Hogwarts trunk right?"

"Yes as well as a backpack."

The man named Simon walked around the counter and made his way to the backroom. Five minutes later he returned with a standard black school trunk and a black shoulder bag.

"The total is 22 galleons and 7 sickles."Simon said after counting the total.

"Do you also add crests and initials on stuff as well?" spoke Harry for the first time.

"We do. If you want it on your trunk and bag it'll be 20 sickles more." Simon replied.

"Do it."

"Very well. Do you have a picture of the crest you want with you?" he asked.

"Will this do?" Harry asked pulling out his money pouch and showing him the Potter family crest.

"Yeah that'll do. Also what are the initials?"

"H.J.P"

Simon took out his wand and traced it over the crest. He then pointed it at the trunk and said Geminio. The image of the crest shot out of the wand and hit the trunk in its center. The copy of the griffin on its hind legs with its wings spread was engraved on the trunk. Simon said the phrase again this time pointing his wand at the bag and the griffin image was placed on their as well though not as big as the trunk. On the trunk the griffin was in the colors of white and dark red. The image on the bag was in white and dark red as well. He then put the initials H.J.P on both objects as well in white.

Professor McGonagall said nothing as this was being done. A lot of families put their symbols to show which family they belong to. She didn't think Harry knew that though.

"Here you go." Simon said showing them the crests.

Harry liked it and thanked the man. He paid the extra amount and they left the store.


Simon forgot to ask which family the crest belonged to. He tried to remember but was brought out of his musing when he heard a bell chime alerting him that he had another customer.

He immediately recognized the man who came into his store. He usually comes in to get trunks that are durable and stable enough to hold all of his supplies. He's also a well-known member of society.

"Afternoon. How can I be of service today? Need more space in your trunks for your materials?" Simon asked good-naturedly while hiding his disgust at the sight of the man. He might give Simon good business but his behavior towards Simon and others always grated on his nerves. Naturally none of his unpleasant thoughts showed on his face.

"Did you speak with the two that were in here before?" the man sneered in his usual tone disregarding Simon's greeting.

"Yes I did." Simon answered confused.

"Do you know who the child Professor McGonagall was escorting is?" The man asked.

"No I don't. Why don't you ask her since you two…?" Simon started to say.

"Idiot. If I wanted to know I would have asked her. I asked if you knew who he was?" the man interrupted harshly fingering his wand idly in full view of Simon.

"No I do not know who he is." Simon replied nervously beads of sweat beginning to form on his forehead.

The man took a long look into Simon's eyes as if seeing if he was lying.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity he spoke his voice barely above a whisper but Simon heard it as if he shouted.

"Very well. I see in your feeble mind that you don't know. I also see that you haven't been completely honest with me. I see the crest in your mind and you wonder which family it belongs to. Too bad you will never know. I can't have you spreading it once you figured it out."

"What are you going to do?" Simon said terrified wondering if he's going to die.

"Fool. I'm not going to kill you but unfortunately for you, you won't remember and don't think your pitiful wards will alert anyone. I disabled it as soon as I came in." said the man seeing what Simon was thinking in his mind.

"I grow tired of this conversation. Obliviate. Tempus Eximo Somnus." The man pointed his wand at Simon and erased the past hour of his life from his mind and put him to sleep. He would wake up in ten minutes thinking he dozed off. He also erased the spell the man did on his wand and changed the order form to show that it was a different person who bought the trunk. The man reapplied the wards and left the shop silently with no evidence that he was even in there to begin with.

Many different stores' employees throughout the day would experience the same as Simon did.


Professor McGonagall and Harry entered Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasion. They walked in to find the store full of robes and a woman measuring a blond haired boy. She looked up at the sound of her bell jingling.

"Afternoon Minerva." Greeted the woman kindly.

"It's good to see you. This is Harry and he needs to get his robes. Harry this is Madam Malkin." Minerva introduced Harry and Madam Malkin to each other politely. She was a short woman wearing light blue robes.

"It is that time of year. Hop on up sweetie and I'll be right with you." Said Madam Malkin. Harry narrowed his eyes at the word sweetie. He hated it when strangers especially strangers who act familiar with him talked to him as if he was not there. He said nothing but merely stepped onto the stool next to the blond boy and waited.

"You don't have to wait here Professor. I'll be done shortly." Said Harry hoping she would not insist on staying and taking charge like she did in the trunk shop. He hated it when he did not have control of a situation as well.

Minerva thinking that nothing bad could come of it agreed to browse around the store and to call her when he was done. She walked off leaving Harry with the blond boy and Madam Malkin.

Madam Malkin said a couple of minutes later that she'll have his robes packed and to wait here.

"This your first year?" asked the blond boy to Harry.

"Yes." Harry replied. The blond boy gave Harry a look similar to the goblin teller as if he was sizing him up.

"Mine as well. I've met all of the staff at Hogwarts and they know me well. Father is on the board of governors and occasionally takes me with him. Who was that with you? I don't think I've seen her before." Said the blond boy pompously.

Harry only raised an eyebrow at this. If what he said was true then he should know who Minerva McGonagall was. Harry looked into the blond boys mind and saw that he was only telling a half-truth. His father was a member of the board but he never took his son with him and he never met any of the staff save for Dumbledore and a thin man with sallow skin and a large, hooked nose. He had shoulder-length, greasy black hair which framed his face in curtains. His eyes were black that resembled dark tunnels. He had a thin-lipped, sneering mouth with yellow, uneven teeth. His mind supplied the name Severus Snape and he taught potions.

"If what you said was true then you should know that the woman with me is Professor McGonagall. She's a teacher there but of course you already knew that." Said Harry mockingly matching the blond boy's tone.

The blond boy's lips curled into a sneer and his pale face was a little pink in embarrassment.

"What's your name?" demanded the boy rudely.

"It's common courtesy to introduce your self first before asking others. Any person with some idea to propriety should know." Harry drawled talking to the blond boy like he was beneath him which Harry believed he was.

The blond boy catching the insult puffed up like a balloon ready to burst.

"Obviously you must be a mudblood if you have no idea who I am. Pure-bloods shouldn't have to deal with scoundrels as you." Shot back the blond boy smugly.

Harry didn't need to read his mind to know that the word mudblood was supposed to be an insult.

Before Harry could respond Madam Malkin came back and told him his order was ready. The blond boy gave Harry one more disdainful look and walked off. He walked at least five steps before he tripped and fell flat on his face.

Embarrassed, the blond boy stood up and looked into the smirking face of Harry. He snarled at him and left the shop with what remained of his dignity.

"Oh dear me. I hope he's okay." Said Madam Malkin concerned.

"I'm sure he'll be fine." Replied an obviously amused Harry.

Madam Malkin measured Harry and had him try the robes on. He looked himself in the mirror and felt as if he was a real wizard. He didn't really feel like one before but now with the robes he looked it as well. In addition to the school robes, Harry bought robes for casual wear in red, black, dark blue, and green. He also bought silk pajamas in green and black. He bought a pair of dragon hide boots which according to Madam Malkin was in style that would change colors to fit whatever outfit and that automatically resized to fit his feet and would for another ten years, socks as well as underwear was also bought. All the clothes were charmed with a heating charm to keep the clothes warm, sizing charm so that the clothes would grow with him but only good for a year, anti-smell and cleaning charms as well to keep it smelling fresh and looking good.

He also got his family crest on all of his robes in whatever color would complement the robes except for his school robes. Those robes would have the crest of Hogwarts and whatever house he would be in.

He also looked at their supplies of muggle clothing and saw that they were at least sixty years out of date. He asked her if he could buy clothing from muggle stores and bring them here so she can charm them. She said he could but depending on the fabric it might not last as long.

The total came to 91 galleons, 34 sickles and 19 knuts. Harry felt it was money well spent. He decided to wear out one of his casual robes in the color green with the dragon hide boots in dark green.


After Madam Malkin's they went to Apothecary where they got all of Harry's potion supplies and vials to hold them as well as scales. The cauldron shop next to get his pewter cauldron then the stationary store to get parchment, inks, and quills. Also bought was a telescope used for astronomy.

Flourish and Botts was visited next and next to Gringotts spent the most time in there. Harry got all of his school books as well as books supplementary to each class. Professor McGonagall said it would be helpful. He also got a book called Hogwarts: A History which detailed all about the school since its debut, Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts which looked interesting, An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe which described the education of the different wizarding schools in Europe, A Compendium of Common Curses and Their Counter-Actions,gave a list of different spells that show how to use it and counter,Different Ways Wizards Can Travel, which mentioned portkeys, Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century and Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century. He skimmed through the title Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century and saw his name as well as his parents. It said that the Potters were responsible for the downfall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named whoever that was. It also stated that his parents as well as himself all died that night as well.

It seemed that the Potters were regarded as the family of the wizarding world. According to the book they were like the wizarding version of royalty. Wondering if this was true then Harry silently wondered why he was raised in an orphanage and not with some magical family. Obviously he wasn't dead but then why did everyone think he was? For protection? And why was he left at a muggle orphanage with no idea who he is? Having more questions than answers he resolved to ask McGonagall the first chance he got.

He also bought Modern Magical History, Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy, The Ministry: What is it and it's Function, and The Laws of Magical Britain.

He also looked for any books that would describe his mind reading skill and how some people were able to block it and how some were not. He found in a book about mind arts that his skill was called legilimency.

Legilimency, a branch of magic not normally taught at Hogwarts is the ability to extract emotions and memories from another person's mind. Although the word literally translates as 'mind-reading', this is considered a naive interpretation of the art by its practitioners. Someone who practices Legilimency is known as a Legilimens.

Legilimency is easier when the spell-caster is physically near the target, and when the target is off-guard, relaxed, or otherwise vulnerable. Eye contact is often essential, so it is useful for a Legilimens to verbally manipulate his or her target into meeting the Legilimens' eyes, with the fringe benefit that the target's emotional state may bring relevant associated memories to the surface.

Note: Legilimency is regulated by the ministry and any person caught learning it illegally will have a minimum of a ten year sentence in the prison of Azkaban. Ministry must approve a person before they can learn legilimency.

Even though the book didn't say anymore Harry found it extremely interesting. It didn't mention the spell needed but since he's been already doing it he could just replicate it. Further down the book showed that the only way to block legilimency is by occlumency.

Occlumency is the art of magically defending the mind against external penetration, sealing it against magical intrusion and influence - the defensive counter to Legilimency. A practitioner of Occlumency is referred to as an Occlumens.

Occlumency is a necessary prerequisite to defeat a Legilimens' lie-detector abilities without suspicious behavior such as avoiding face-to-face contact and eye contact. Elementary Occlumency involves clearing the mind of thought and emotion, so that the Legilimens can find no emotional ties to memories that the target wishes to conceal. Simple resistance to attack requires similar skills to those needed to resist the Imperius Curse. In its more advanced form, Occlumency allows the user to suppress only feelings and memories that contradict what the user wishes a Legilimens to believe, thus allowing the Occlumens to lie without self-betrayal.

Note: Occlumency is not illegal to learn but is heavily frowned upon. In order for a person to be a master occlumens they must be repeatedly attacked by a legilimens to learn how to block them. Ministry must approve a person before they can learn occlumency.

That was the only book in the store that described legilimency and occlumency. It seemed that if a person wanted to learn it they would have to go to the government. Harry figured what he could do would have to be enough for now. Later on if he could he would learn it but it wasn't a pressing need for now.

In total Harry spent an hour and a half in the store and paid over 150 galleons for all the books. The most expensive book he bought was The Laws of Magical Britain. That was worth 60 galleons by itself and was in limited supply.

Due to the many books Harry bought they had to revisit the trunk store to include a bookcase compartment to hold all of his books. Simon wasn't there when they went back. The clerk watching the store said that he was on his lunch break but said he could help them. The clerk added the second compartment to the trunk and he also added a feather light charm and an expansion charm on Harry's book bag so the books wouldn't weigh him down and there would be enough space to hold up to ten books at one time without feeling the extra weight. It cost Harry an extra 13 galleons to add it to his trunk and bag but made carrying all those books easier.

"What's left professor?" Harry asked as they stepped out of the bookstore.

"All that's left is to buy your wand and if you want a pet, Mr. Potter." Replied Minerva as they walked down the less crowded alley.

"I don't think I want a pet now. Not really a big fan of animals and the orphanage would never let me keep it even if I was leaving in a month." Said Harry thinking it over. He had enough trouble taking care of himself and adding a pet would only cause him more problems.

"It is your decision after all."

They walked in silence the rest of the way until they reached a store where the letters over the door were peeling off. The shop was narrow, shabby and just as dilapidated as the rest of Diagon Alley. Set above the door was a wooden signboard, painted a dark green with faded and peeling gold letters that declared, Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC. There was only a single window looking out onto the cobblestone street that wound through the alley. Displayed on a moth-eaten purple pillow was a single, elegantly carved wand.

The inside of the store looked just as bad as the front. The shop was tiny, empty except for a single, spindly chair in the corner. Thousands of narrow boxes containing wands are piled right up to the ceiling of the tiny shop, and the whole place has a thin layer of dust about it.

"Ah, Harry Potter."

Harry spun round and saw an old man to one side of the entrance standing alongside Professor McGonagall. He was dressed much as every other wizard Harry had thus far encountered though he looked a bit on the dusty side much like the rest of the shop. His hair was a wild mass of white surrounding his head like a halo of clouds. His eyes were an unnaturally pale silvery color and both eyes were focused unblinking upon Harry with a startling intensity.

Harry felt as if a feather had brushed his mind the minute he locked eyes with the old man. Harry not knowing what was going on but wanting the old man to stop whatever he was doing he unknowingly and accidentally tapped into his magical core and used it to repel the attack back to the old man.

Shocked by the mental response the old man withdrew his probe and gave Harry a long look.

"It seems the rumors of your demise were false. I am glad you are alive and well." The old man said in a soft voice.

Demise? It seems everyone knows more about me than me. Harry thought scornfully.

"I am Ollivander and I run this store." The man named Ollivander introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you." Harry said neutrally eying him.

"Now Mr. Potter which is your wand hand?" Ollivander stepped up to Harry and withdrew a silver tape measure from his pocket.

"My wand hand?" Harry asked confused. He understood what the old man was referring to but was put off by the silliness of the question to answer it.

"The hand which you write with."

"Oh. I can write with both hands but easier to do with my right hand." Harry replied. The only reason he could write with his left hand was that he had to learn when his right hand was broken by Stephen's gang when he was nine. The teachers didn't think a broken arm was reason enough to stop Harry from turning in his assignments.

"Your parents were right handed as well but I don't think either one was as adept with their left hand." Ollivander said walking into the back to get some wands. The tape measurer was moving independently.

"What kind of wands did my parents use?"

"You mother's wand was made of willow with a unicorn hair at its centre. Ten and a quarter inches long. Good for charms. Your father, on the other hand, was selected by a mahogany wand with a dragon heartstring core. A powerful wand. Eleven inches long. Perfect for transfiguration."

Ollivander came back to the front with boxes in his hand. With a wave of his hand the tape measurer left Harry and sat on the desk. He took out a wand and gave it to Harry.

"Go on. Give it a wave." He encouraged.

Harry raised his arm to wave it but Ollivander snatched it out of his hand.

"No that isn't it. Try this one. Oak and phoenix feather. Exactly twelve inches."

Harry waved again but Ollivander snatched it from his hands muttering it wasn't the right one.

This was the process for the next forty minutes. Ollivander would hand him a wand, tell him to wave it, and snatch it moments later telling him it doesn't match. Then he would give him another wand and the process repeated itself. The closest match was an eleven inch Holly and phoenix feather wand. Ollivander was excited about having a tricky customer and with every failure was enjoying finding Harry his wand more and more. Harry personally thought that Ollivander might wet himself if he got anymore excited.

"The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter," the man had said knowingly after another failed attempt to find his wand."We just haven't found the right one yet." Ollivander glanced from Harry's face to the box on the top.

"I wonder..." he murmured to himself. He climbed the small ladder and pulled the box off of the shelf. He opened the box and gingerly pulled out the wand it contained and handed it to Harry.

"Try this. Yew with the core of a basilisk fang coated in basilisk venom. Eleven inches."

The minute Harry touched the wand the room lit up with Harry's magic. It was like fireworks exploded inside the shop and there was a rainbow of colors surrounding Harry. Ollivander and Professor McGonagall had to cover their eyes at the intensity of the light Harry was throwing off. Wind picked up originating from Harry which caused most of Ollivander's wands to fall from the shelves.

Harry was oblivious to all this only focusing on the feeling that the wand gave him. Instinctively, Harry knew that he was different from other children for a long time. He could do things no other person could and reveled in it. When Dumbledore came it only reinforced what Harry already knew but now it had a name to it. Magic. The warm feeling in his body he felt whenever he used it was his magic being used. It comforted him and gave him a feeling of contentment that he rarely felt but only lasted for as long as he used it then the feeling would disappear and he hated that. He constantly used his magic to the point of exhaustion just to maintain that feeling.

The minute the wand reacted to him Harry experienced a feeling of pure pleasure throughout his body. The magic in him seemed to rejoice at the feeling of the wand and a part of him that he didn't know was empty was filled.

The light and the wind died down and Harry's magic retreated into him. He could still feel it vibrating, pulsing through his body ready to be used at a moments notice. He finally took his eyes off the wand and looked around him.

The whole store looked like a twister went through it. Wands were on the floor, the dust that was in the store was settling on the floor being moved from their original spots.

Harry looked back at his wand and breathed out one word.

"Amazing."

Harry speaking broke the trance that Ollivander and Professor McGonagall were under.

"Indeed. Mister Potter." Replied Professor McGonagall astonished. Her hat had fallen off and her hair was out of the bun she usually put it in. A quick flick of her wand fixed her appearance and picking up her fallen hat and placed it back on her head.

"I've never seen a reaction so strong before. Not even Albus produced such a reaction the first time he touched a wand." Ollivander said excitedly who suffered no ill effects to Harry's magic unlike Professor McGonagall.

Ollivander took another look at the wand and at Harry murmuring "Curious…very curious."

Knowing he was going to regret asking but doing it anyway, "What's curious?"

"That wand in your hand is one of a kind Mister Potter. I remember every wand that I have ever made and sold. Every single wand. The Yew wood of your wand is the exact same type as the wizard who attacked your family on Halloween. While the wood is not as significant as say two wands sharing the same core it is still important. The core of your wand was the only one I had in the store. It was brought in by the same wizard who attacked your family not long after he graduated from Hogwarts. He brought it in hopes of creating a new wand for himself for reasons only known to him. Unfortunately for him it was not compatible for him and he left infuriated and displeased. He left the wand and it has been here ever since. You are the only other person other than the Dark Lord who has touched this wand. It's curious that the wand in your hand was essentially created by the wizard who attacked your family and is now in your possession. So you see why it is so curious that you of all people would be fated for such a wand."

Neither Harry nor Professor McGonagall who heard every word as well knew what to say to that. Harry paid him seven galleons for the wand plus eleven sickles for a school approved wrist holster for his wand and left the shop.


They walked back to the Leaky Cauldron and Professor McGonagall sat them at a table. The pub was filled with people chatting amicably. Minerva nodded to a few that knew her. They ordered food for themselves and waited. Tom the bartender brought it to their table and they ate it silently. The words of Ollivander ringing clear in both of their minds.

"Professor? Can I ask you something?" Harry asked cautiously breaking the silence between them.

Minerva looked at him thinking he might be asking about the wand. "You may."

"What happened to my parents Professor? I read in one of the books I bought that said that the Potter family was responsible for the downfall of a person called He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. It also said that the couple along with their son died but I'm not dead. So why would they say that?"

Of all the questions this was one Minerva wasn't expecting. It should have been obvious that he would have asked about that night sooner or later.

"You mean the Headmaster didn't tell you?" Minerva questioned.

"No. All he said was that I am a wizard and that I have a place at Hogwarts. He also said that my parents died and that you all thought that I died as well. Oh and my parents left me a vault full of money. That's it." Harry summed up.

Cursing Albus silently for not telling Harry more she wondered how to answer such a question.

"Your parents… were Aurors, a dark wizard catcher." She explained to Harry seeing his confused face. "The muggle version would be a soldier plus an intelligence agent. It is an Auror's job to catch dark wizards and bring them to justice."

"And my parents were killed by this dark wizard?"

"Yes. Your parents were drafted to join the ministry as soon as they graduated. We were in the middle of a war and the ministry needed Aurors as soon as possible. Aurors were being picked off and the ministry needed more wizards. So the ministry in addition to the draft offered rewards for every single Death Eaters---the name of You-Know -Who's army---. The more death eaters they brought the higher the reward. Usually it was a bounty and they would collect their earnings. Your parents were two of many people who were drafted. They went through the accelerated wartime training program and became partners. Together they managed to bring in many dark wizards. It's also one of the reasons why they were so well-known. James and Lily Potter brought in more death eaters than any other team. From all their captures they amassed quite a fortune."

She stopped for a moment to take a drink. Setting it back down she continued her tale.

"Eventually You-Know-Who heard about their success and went after them personally. They managed to stop him three times before he finally got them. Nobody knows what happened that night except for the people in the house. Obviously you were too young to remember and I doubt you would remember. As soon as the wizarding world learned of his death the Potters were known from that night on as the Family–Who-Conquered." Minerva finished off.

Harry shook his head negatively at the last statement. He had no idea what happened that night except for a high chilling laughter and a green light.

"Why did people think I was dead?"

Minerva sighed heavily stalling a few minutes to formulate her thoughts before answering.

"By the time we got to your house in Godrics' Hollow the house was destroyed. There was nothing left there. We never found your body and assumed that you died in the fire. Obviously you didn't."

Harry didn't say anything even at Minerva's jab.

"Mister Potter… Harry I would like to apologize for not finding you sooner. We, I should have looked harder for you. I failed you as well as your parents who were two of my favorite students." Minerva said unexpectedly feeling shame and guilt for not finding him. There were tears in her eyes as she spoke.

"You did what you could. Nobody can fault you for that." Harry replied awkwardly patting her hand not knowing how to properly comfort her and not really willing. He was extremely pissed and angry that they didn't find him sooner but kept those thoughts to himself.

"Thank you for your kind words but it will be a long time before I don't feel guilty anymore." Minerva replied solemnly.

"So do you know how I might have survived?" Harry asked changing the subject quite obviously.

Recognizing the not so subtle change she gratefully took it.

"Nobody really knows but if I had to guess I think somebody found you before we did and placed you in the orphanage for reasons known only to them. It is the only thing I can think of."

"I see. Professor, what was the name of the person who killed my parents?"

"We don't speak his name."

"Why? If he's dead then why don't you say it?" Harry was honestly confused by that. If it was him he would want people to know his name, not be so scared as to not say it but at the same time impressed that the wizard was so terrifying that people were still scared to say his name even after he died.

"He did so many terrible things that people still remember it. It has been ten years since his downfall and we as a community have only recently recovered from the war and we are still rebuilding in some areas."

"Okay I guess I can understand. But can you tell me his name?" Harry pressed.

"Very well." Lowering her head she whispered in his ear, "Voldemort" which was followed by a shiver as she said his name.

"Voldemort?" Harry inquired.

"Don't say it but yes that is his name." Minerva advised.

"What was the war about?" Harry asked.

"You-Know-Who was a big supporter of blood purity. He believed pure-blooded wizards, wizards who have no non-magical ancestors, were the only type of wizards who should be allowed to practice magic. He waged a war against half-blood and muggleborn wizards and witches. Half-blood wizard's term applied to wizards who come from either a combination of one Muggle & one magical person, a Muggle-Born & Half- or Pure-blood", or Half & Half-blood parents and all must including part-muggle ancestry. You would be considered a half-blood because your father was a pure blood while your mother was a muggleborn. Muggleborn is the term applied to wizards who come from muggle parents." Professor McGonagall lectured.

"How can a witch or wizard come from a muggle family?"

"In order for a muggle-born to be magical they would need to have a magical ancestor in their genealogy, possibly numerous generations back. Pure-bloods know this but they believe that since their magic passes on to the next generation that they are superior." She answered.

"I met a boy who was my age while I was being fitted for my robes and he called me a mudblood. What does that mean?"

"It is an offensive term meant to degrade and insult a person. Basically the word means "filthy blood" or "dirty blood" and is used by pure blood wizards to make themselves feel superior."

"Kind of like how some muggles insult others because of their skin color." Harry answered back thoughtfully.

Minerva nodded approvingly at his answer. Glancing at the clock she saw that it was already night and she had to get back to the castle.

"It seems that our time is up Mister Potter. I have to take you back to the orphanage now."

"Okay."

Minerva paid for their food and the left the pub. They walked down the street back to the alley they landed in. Minerva made another portkey, this time an old boot, and told Harry to touch it. She activated it and they disappeared in the blink of an eye.