Hello readers. Welcome to my new chapter. Got a few things to say. First, Engulfing Silence finally made the sequel for "Harry Potter and the Heir of Slytherin". It's called "Harry Potter and the Ties that Bind", for anyone who didn't know (although I highly doubt that, but you can never be too careful). Second, got a new poll set up on my profile. If you want to, check it out. It's going to stay on my profile for a while.
Okay, now back to the chapter. On this one, they will read about the rest of Harry's adventure at Diagon Alley. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and the Gift of Memories. Or Harry Potter itself.
Chapter 6: The Familiar Chapter
"And that's the end," Terry said, putting down the book. "Who else want to read?"
"I will." Hermione said, grabbing the book before Terry could pass it to her. She quickly open the book and read.
"Chapter 6: Familiar Familars and Getting Fitted…" Terry read. The muggles look confuse at that while the wizards and witches knew that Harry is going to get a wand. Hermione, McGonagall, Terry, Daphne, Blaise, and Lisa T has a feeling what the first part meant, but they
Upon exiting Flourish and Blotts, Harry noticed right away that the sun was much higher in the sky than it had been before entering the bookstore. He must have spent at least two hours within that shop alone.
"Not surprising, considering his love for learning." Lisa T said, "He bought every single book about the wizard world, plus those fictions about him."
Harry was very glad he had gotten here so early, or he might have been forced to leave before he even managed to buy all of his school supplies.
Using the positioning of the sun to judge the time, Harry deduced that it was somewhere around midday. In other words, it was high time he grabbed a bite to eat.
Fortunately there were a number of places that was not the Leaky Cauldron to get a decent meal at. Harry had seen five different cafe's from when he was walking to Gringotts. However, just as he was about to begin walking to one of them, he paused, then looked around with a small frown on his face.
Something was calling him. It wasn't a voice calling out his name, or even a voice in his head that was calling out to him. It was more like an innate feeling that something here was calling for him, a tug on his heart that was pulling him in a certain direction.
Everyone look interested when they heard that. What is calling out to Harry? The smarter and more clever magic users are getting are getting more suspicious. Is Hedwig Harry's familiar?
Not one to ignore such a thing, and extremely curious to find out what was calling him, Harry abruptly changed directions and walked away from the cafe he had been about to walk into and towards the source of this strange sensation.
The source that was calling out to him was none other than Eeylops Owl Emporium.
McGonagall's, Hermione's, Lisa T's, Blaise's, Daphne's, and Terry's eyes widen. Hedwig is Harry's familiar. No wonder the two seem closer than most owls and wizards.
Anastasia and Wei saw the surprise looks on their faces and Wei quickly cornered them about it, "All right, it's obvious you wizards know something. What is Harry feeling?" This time, Lisa T spoke.
"What Harry is feeling is a bond with Hedwig." Lisa T said, "It seem that Hedwig is Harry's familiar, meaning an animal bonded with a wizard or witch. An adult wizard usually has a familiar, which is why we are surprise that Harry got a familiar." Lisa T, Anastasia, and Wei are surprise by that along with the magic users who didn't know that Hedwig is Harry's familiar. It seem that Harry has more and more surprises as they keep reading.
The store was very dark on the inside, probably due to the fact that owls were nocturnal creature's. Harry's vision took several moments to adjust, but when he did it was easy to see that the store was really just an open space with no shelves, one counter, and a whole lot of cages containing Owls of all kinds hanging from the rafters.
"Wow," Lisa C said, seeing the store of owls on the screen. "That's a lot of owls. I wonder if we get one as a pet." It would be cool to have an owl.
Anastasia shook her head for no. "We don't need an owl flying around the house. It'll drive your father bonkers." Lisa C pouted at that.
Many of the owls were of kinds that Harry recognized, Barn, Brown, Tawny, Screech, yet none of those were the ones Harry had sensed calling to him.
"Can I help you, kid?"
Harry almost jerked in surprise. With all the hooting from the Owls in the shop, he hadn't heard the man walking up behind him. Looking over at who he could only guess was the shop keeper, Harry took in the man's general appearance, tall, with brown going on gray hair and a pot belly. He was wearing standard black wizarding robes that had several feather's sticking to it, which gave him a bit of an unruly look.
"Maybe," Harry replied, keeping his surprise well hidden. "I'm looking for... an Owl."
The man raised an eyebrow at his pause, but then seemed to shrug off whatever he was thinking. "If it's an owl you're looking for, you've come to the right place. Eeylops is the number one store for getting a pet Owl. What kind are you looking for?"
"I'm not sure," Harry said, his eyes once more traveling around the store as he tried to find the source of whatever was calling him. "But I'll know when I see her."
"So he knows what gender the owl he sensing is?" Wei ask the magic-users, which they nodded to. "Interesting."
"Her?" the man questioned with a raised eyebrow. Harry ignored him as he traveled deeper into the store, searching. He passed by many owls, all of them hooting as they twisted their heads this way and that. Harry was vaguely amused when he watched one owl twist it's head exactly one hundred and eighty degrees, reminding him of the movie The Exorcist that Lisa had convinced him to watch when she snuck into her parents R-rated movie cabinet.
"Lisa…" Anastasia said sternly to her daughter. "We are going to talk about that too." Lisa C gulped and nodded while the others laugh. She hope Harry doesn't mention the other times she read or watched things she wasn't suppose to. She's already in trouble right now.
He also remembered how the girl hadn't been able to sleep in her own bed for several weeks after that and often crawled into his when he spent the night.
Many laugh at that or in Anastasia case, sent her amused look while said girl blush furiously. Daphne and Susan felt that uncomfortable feeling again.
It was during this time that Harry finally reached the back and found the source that was calling to him. A snowy white Owl with what had to be the most intelligent amber eyes he had ever seen on something that was not human was watching him with the utmost concentration.
"Hedwig!" The first-years cheered, except for Blaise and Daphne. Though the two did smile a little. Anastasia, McGonagall, and Wei look at the first-years with amusement. It look like all of them care for Hedwig.
Harry found himself almost entranced as he walked up to the cage.
"You won't be wanting that bird," the shop keeper that had been following him said, but Harry hardly listened to him. It was as if the man's voice was coming to him from a great distance. "A right menace, she is. Many customers had tried buying her only to be bitten. I would've gotten rid of her a long time ago, but she never moves from that cage even when I open it to let her free."
"That because none of them is the right partner." McGonagall said, "And she is waiting for him. Harry is the right one. He feel the connection to Hedwig." The first-years smile. No wonder Harry actually talks to her like he would a wizard.
"Really, how interesting," Harry mused absently as he and the owl stared at each other. There was something about this Owl, a thrum of familiarity that hummed within his soul. It was strange, he had never laid eyes on this Owl until now, and yet he felt as if he should know her. Almost like she was simply a piece of him that he had been missing.
"That's how most people feel when facing a familiar." McGonagall responded. Hermione is taking notes of this. She only got minimal information about familiars and she want to know everything.
Raising his left hand, Harry ignored the shop keepers warnings as he stuck fingers in between the cage. The Owl eyed his index finger with a look of keen intelligence. After a moment she lightly nipped his finger, then waddled a bit closer to the cage so that Harry could brush his fingers against her feathers.
"Well I'll be," the shop keeper said in surprise. "Every other person whose done what you have got their fingers practically bitten off."
Everyone wince, feeling a little sympathy for the people who did that. Ouch. That had to hurt a whole lot.
"I hope a little child didn't try to pet Hedwig." Susan said with a little concerned. Daphne shook her head.
"I don't Hedwig would do that." Daphne said. "Hedwig isn't cruel to others. Although get offended easily, as a few of us already know." She look at Tracey when she said that, making said girl pout. So she told Hedwig that she was violent, so what? That doesn't mean Daphne had to point it out.
"I'm sure they have," Harry replied in a soft voice. He could feel it, he didn't know why, he didn't know how, but he knew that this Owl belonged with him. They were partners, in a sense, even if he was not quite sure just what that partnership entailed.
"Sound's like a strong connection." McGonagall observed. Most don't sense that deep of a connection with their familiars. Harry is a interesting one indeed.
"How much for her?"
The man eyed the bird and the boy strangely, before shrugging. "Fifty Galleons. That includes both the cage and owl treats."
"We won't need either of those," Harry said, his voice still soft. Neither he nor the Owl had looked away from each other since the moment they had made eye contact. It was strange, but Harry felt that if they broke contact something bad would happen. He didn't know what, it was just a gut feeling. But it was one he decided to go with since he had always trusted his instincts.
"And his instincts aren't usually wrong." Terry said. "It never failed him before and probably won't as times past." All of his friends nodded. Harry has very good instincts
The shop keeper looked a bit unnerved, probably thinking about how weird the strange Owl and even stranger kid were, but he didn't argue the point. "Very well, then it will twenty-five galleons for the Owl."
Harry absently opened his money pouch and pulled out exactly twenty-five galleons, then handed it to the shop keeper. All of this was done while still keeping eye contact with the owl. As soon as the man had his money, Harry opened to cage that kept him and his new... partner separated.
Immediately the owl flew out of the cage, startling the shop keeper who led out a loud shout of surprise. She flew around the room for two laps, and then landed on Harry's outstretched arm. The Owl nipped him on the ear once in a gesture that Harry got the feeling was distinctly affectionate, and Harry decided it was time to leave and get something to eat.
He left the shop, only vaguely paying attention to the shop keeper who complained about the weird bird and the even weirder kid who bought her.
"I kinda is agree, Harry is a little weird." Tracey said. "I mean, he enjoys working out in the brink of dawn and never got tired. Who does that?" Daphne roll her eyes at that.
"That only reason you don't like it because you sleep in late." Daphne retorted, making Tracey pout.
"You're mean, Daph."
Lunch time found Harry sitting in a small batch of tables near a cafe, eating a beef sandwich as he read the book A History of Magic.
Hermione smile dreamily at her favorite book, getting some amuse looks from her friends and her teacher. Lisa C groan a little. Great. Another book fanatic. Harry was already enough.
If he were perfectly honest, he was rather surprised Diagon Alley actually had what amounted to an open air cafe, especially when he considered how behind the times the magical world seemed to be. Judging from everything he had seen and done, Harry had determined that the wizarding world was still stuck somewhere in the early or late fifteen hundreds, long before the open air cafe was invented.
"Kinda a mix of the past and present." Hermione guessed. "But mostly the fifteen hundreds, considering most of the traditions and rules they have, which I still say is barbaric." The wizards roll their eyes while the muggles look confused.
"What do you mean by barbaric?" Anastasia asked, "What kind of rules are there?" The magic-users look at them and all of them said, "You'll see in the book." The mother pouted a little at the answer.
Still, he supposed some things change, what with all of the muggle-born students that come out of Hogwarts. And even though Diagon Alley had an open air cafe, it still looked like something that was pulled directly from the fifteenth Century.
"You know," Harry said conversationally to the Owl currently standing on the table eating a small plate of bacon he had gotten for her.
"Hedwigs sure love bacon," Neville said, remembering all the time the owl ate bacon. Anyone trying to get while she's eating will find their finger gone.
"We still need to come up with a name for you."
The Owl looked up from her eating, her head tilting this way and that. She gave a barking hoot that Harry somehow translated into assent, before going back to her crispy pieces of pig.
"How about Alison?" asked Harry. His new Owl companion only took enough time from her eating to give him a look that he decided the word 'unsatisfied' fit most aptly, hooted in a manner that told him a similar story to her expression, and then went back to eating. Harry decided to cross off that name as a no in his mental list.
"Still kinda weird that Harry talks to Hedwig like that." Tracey said, with Lisa C nodding in agreement. It just weird seeing that.
"What about Katherin?"
"Hoot!"
"Angelica?"
"Hoot!"
"Such a picky owl." Tracey teased. Everyone wonder how many names had to go through before he came up with the name Hedwig.
"Ok, ok, how about Tabitha?"
When 'Tabitha' decided to show her displeasure at the name by biting his hand hard enough to draw blood and draw a pained hiss from him,
"Ouch,' Blaise said with a little wince. "Yeah, she definitely don't like that name." Blaise commented, getting a few winces from others and nods in agreement.
Harry said, "ok, so not Tabitha." Of course, that meant he still hadn't come up with a decent name for the girl. There were many more names out there that he knew of, after all, he knew the names of all the people he had ever met and could come up with at least a thousand that he hadn't heard of on his own. But he suspected that his Owl did not want a typical name. He didn't know how he knew, just that he knew she would want a name that was not only rare, but also unique.
"Hence the name Hedwig." Hermione said. That is definitely a unique name for anyone, pet or human.
Frowning, Harry looked down at the book, A History of Magic. It was a very fascinating book, a well spring of knowledge on events long since past. A part of him knew that he should probably be reading something a bit more prevalent to his current situation and lack of knowledge on recent events, but he had reasoned with himself that he would be studying almost nonstop for the next few weeks before he went to school. It generally only took him a day or two to read most books, even the longer textbooks only took at most three days. That would be more than enough to gain all of the most prevalent knowledge he would need before beginning his time at Hogwarts.
"No wonder he excel at the practical parts." McGonagall said. "And we already know how well he does with using magic itself. He even help some of the students with their work." The magic-users nodded in agreement. Harry is a talented person, in many aspects.
Tracey smile. Yep, that definitely sounds like Harry. Helping anyone with their work who needs it. Hermione flush a little, remembering how she acted when Harry try to help her. She was a real brat months ago.
As he looked at the book set on the table, his mind remembered a particular name that had appeared within the third page of the book.
"How about Hedwig?" Harry asked, looking up at the Owl who had stopped her eating again to look at him. She blinked several times, her head tilting to the left. A moment past, then two. Harry began to wonder if she would ever answer him, but after another moment she gave what he could only describe as an 'affirming' hoot, bobbed her head up and down once, then went back to eating.
"I really like the name." Susan said softly. "It's suits her well." The magic users nodded in agreement. A unique name for a unique owl.
Harry smiled. It seems he finally found a name for his new companion.
The next shop on Harry's list of places to go was none other than Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
Tracey perk up. She was at Madam Malkin's when Harry was there. She's going to get introduce soon, she excitingly thought.
There, he got his first sight of who could only be the own of the store, Madam Malkin. She was a rather squat witch, dressed in a mauve robe, and giving him a pleasant smile. While she looked a little odd in Harry's opinion, being so short and all, he couldn't help but decide he liked this woman. And if nothing else, at least she took better care of her appearance than those other witches he had met in the Leaky Cauldron did.
"I agree on that one." Anastasia said, with everyone nodding in agreement. Even the purebloods agree on that one.
"Hogwarts, dear?" asked the woman, her kind smile still in place.
Harry nodded. "Yes."
"We've had quite a few Hogwarts students coming in today," the woman said. "In fact, there's a young lady being fitted up just now."
In the back of the shop, a young girl with slightly curly brown hair that was currently tied into a pony-tail, bright brown eyes, and a pretty smile was standing on a footstool while a second witch pinned up her long black robes. Madam Malkin stood Harry on the stool next to her, slipped a long robe over his head, and began to pin it to the right length.
"I'm mention!" Tracey cheered, getting some amused looks from her friends. Lisa C narrow her eyes when she heard the 'pretty smile' part, but luckily, no one notice.
"Hi!" The girl greeted him in a voice that was every bit as cheerful as her smile. "Are you going to Hogwarts too?"
"That's right," Harry told her with a smile of his own, his mind and demeanor easily slipping into that of the polite and helpful boy he was whenever he was at school.
"That is incredible," Blaise commented. "Managing to slip demeanor in a heartbeat, without any training from an adult to do it. Impressive." Daphne nodded in agreement.
"From how excited you are I take it you're a first year?"
"That's right," the girl said with a nod. "What year are you in?"
"First year."
"Really?" The girl looked at him wide eyed.
"Everyone who first see Harry are surprise by his age." Lisa T said, with the first years nodding. They all thought he was a bit older when they first met him.
She eyed him up and down, and as she did, her cheeks gained a bit of color. Harry frowned when he saw her staring at him, it almost looked like she was eying him through the robe.
Some of them laugh while Tracey blush at being caught. Lisa C narrow her eyes at Tracey, almost as if she was an enemy.
"You don't look like a fist year," she mumbled to herself.
"I get that a lot," Harry admitted, and the mild blush that had been staining the girl's cheeks spread to the rest of her face as she realized she had not only been caught staring at him, but also hadn't been as quiet as she should have been.
There were more laughter and Tracey blush even more. Lisa C gritted her teeth and glare at Tracey in the corner of her eye.
The frown marring Harry's face deepened for a moment as he wondered why the girl seemed so embarrassed. It's not like she hadn't said anything he had never heard before. Or maybe it had something to do with how she had got caught staring at him?
Most of the people shook their head. How can someone be so smart be so clueless?
Well, whatever. It wasn't like it really mattered in the end. Shrugging the thought off as irrelevant, Harry decided to restart the conversation by steering it towards the one thing they had in common. The new school they would both soon be going to.
"So are you excited to be going to Hogwarts?"
"You bet I am!" the girl replied, enthused, her bright smile returning again. It was almost amusing how she seemed to bounce from embarrassed to excited so quickly, a thought that Harry wisely kept to himself. "So what house do you think you'll be in?"
"What do you mean by house?" Anastasia asked, looking at McGonagall she is one of the teachers of that school.
"In hogwarts, you have four houses." McGonagall said, "Each houses represent whether you are intelligent, loyal, brave, or cunning. Gryffindor is for the brave and courageous, Ravenclaw is for the intelligent and wise, Hufflepuff is for the loyal and hardworking, and Slytherin is for the cunning and ambitious." As she talked, Hermione and Neville smile at one another when Gryffindor was mentioned. Lisa T and Terry did the same when Ravenclaw got mentioned. Susan smile while Hannah grin they heard their house name. And Blaise and Daphne smirk while Tracey grin when Slytherin was mentioned.
Lisa T thought that Harry will be in either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw while her mother is the same way.
"I'm not sure," Harry admitted, almost tempted to shrug, but held himself back for fear of accidentally getting stuck with a needle while Madam Malkin was fitting his robes. "Both of my parents were in Gryffindor, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's where I'll end up. I suppose I will go to whichever house they put me in."
"So both of your parents went to Hogwarts?" the girl asked. Not giving him a chance to respond, she said, "mine too. My mum was in Ravenclaw and my dad was in Slytherin." She paused for a moment, then asked, "are you a pure-blood then?"
"Half-blood," Harry corrected her. "My mum was a muggle-born while my father was pure-blood."
At that the girl flashed him a grin. "Mine too."
"So what House do you think you'll be in?"
"Well," the girl actually seemed to think for a moment, before shrugging. "I'm not really sure, I would say Slytherin or Ravenclaw, since my parents were in those Houses, but the truth is nobody really knows they'll be sorted until after the sorting. I just hope I'm not in Hufflepuff."
Susan and Hannah whip their heads to Tracey when they heard that. They glare at her and silently ask 'what's wrong with hufflepuff?'. Tracey gulp. She remember this part.
"And what's wrong with being sorted into Hufflepuff?" asked Harry, honestly curious.
"That's what we want to know." Hannah said, giving Tracey a really scary glare. Well, for her age anyway. Tracey gulp a little and shrank at the glare.
He also filed away the knowledge that both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were the other two houses at Hogwarts. Harry had only ever known of Gryffindor, because his parents were in it, and Slytherin, because his father and his group of friends – miscreants his mum had called them – pranked many of the students in Slytherin.
McGonagall sighed, remembering all those pranks she had to clean up. Especially in the Slytherin house. The marauders and their legacies will be a bane in her teaching existance.
They had not really spoken of the other houses, so Harry had not heard of them.
"Don't you know?" the girl asked, before hurrying on with the answer before Harry could say anything to the question that was obviously rhetorical. "Hufflepuff's supposed to be the house of cowards and left overs. No one who goes to Hogwarts ever wants to go there."
"WE ARE WHAT?!" Susan and Hannah yelled, looking extremely angry at the fact that their friend called them leftovers.
"Sorry," Tracey said in a small voice. "You know I put in my foot in my mouth a bunch of times." The two puffs glare at her a little longer before turning
The girl was leaning towards him slightly, as if what she was telling him was some great secret. Which would explain why she had missed the look of anger on the face of the young woman pinning up her robes.
"Look like Tracey got someone angry once again," Daphne driely said, smirking. Tracey pouted. It's not her fault she put her foot in her mouth.
However, while the girl missed it, Harry was in the perfect position to see the expression.
"You were in Hufflepuff, weren't you?" Harry asked of the young woman. The girl's head turned in surprise as she looked at the woman pinning up her robes. Said woman gave the brunette a cold smile.
"Yes," she answered Harry's question. "I was one of those... left overs, as you called them."
Susan and Hannah gave cold smiles to Tracey as well, which make the girl extremely nervous since Hannah is cheerful most of the time and Susan is shy.
"Urk," the girl made a strangled sound and her face began to pale, all except for her cheeks, which reddened as she realized her mistake. "Uh... I'm really sorry about that..." The woman huffed, but didn't say anything further as she continued working on the robes.
"You should really watch what you say," Wei chided the girl, "You never know when you insult someone around you by what you say. Also, you shouldn't judge a person on who they are, what they do, or where they live. That is making assumptions out of ignorance, which leads to confrontations." McGonagall nodded in agreement, since she saw that in Hogwart to many times to count. Anastasia nodded to that as well.
Tracey and Hermione stifle a giggle, since Hermione read the next part silently and Tracey remember the words Harry used, "I can see where Harry get personality from." Hermione said, getting some confuse looks. Instead of answering, Hermione kept reading
"You really should learn to be more careful when you speak," Harry admonished lightly. "You never know when someone around you might be insulted by what you say. Also, you probably shouldn't judge a person based on what House they go into. Preconceptions about someone based upon where they are sorted can lead to making assumptions based out of ignorance, which could lead to a confrontation if you're not careful and insult the wrong person."
Some of the readers chuckle at the similarity between Harry and Wei while Wei merely got a small unnoticeable smile. He taught his apprentice well indeed.
"Yes mum," the girl said with a slight roll of her eyes.
"You may roll your eyes now," Harry spoke with a tone of warning, "but when you end up inadvertently insulting someone again just remember that I told you so."
"Like she did with the owl." Daphne dryly stated, causing Tracey to pout. "And Lisa T. And-"
"Okay, okay, we get it Daph." Tracey said, still pouting. "No need to embarrass me more."
"Just stating out the facts."
"You are really mean Daphne. Truly."
The girl sighed. "Yeah I get it." She grimaced. "You're probably right anyways. My dad always said that I should learn to think before I speak." Which was exactly what Harry said just a few moments ago, said raven haired youth noted with amusement.
"It seem like you can't stop doing that." Daphne said, smirking at her best friend. Tracey stuck her tongue out and turn around, pouting.
"You're dad sounds like a smart man," Harry said, getting the girl to stick her tongue out at him. He chuckled a bit at the childish return. Lisa always did something similar whenever she lost in their arguments, which was quite often.
"Quite often indeed." Anastasia said with amusement. Lisa C pouted a little. Why did her friend have to be so smart? She could never win an argument with him.
"That's you done, dear," Madam Malkin said, interrupting any further attempt at conversation. Harry nodded and hopped of the stool.
"Do you think I could also get several sets of dress robes?" asked Harry.
"Of course," Madam Malkin smiled at him. "Just tell me how many, what colors, and what you would like them made out of."
"I want three, two black and one dark green," Harry began. "And what options do I have for the materials?"
"We have several," Madam Malkin began to list off the materials she had on her fingers. "We have cotton, wool, though neither of those make for very good dress robes. Our other two materials are linen, and silk. If you want my opinion, our silk is the best material to use for dress robes. We use Acromantula silk."
"And what is Acromantula silk?" asked Harry, now curious. He had never heard of an Acromantula before, though judging from the name he could take a guess as to what one was.
"What's an acromantula?" Anastasia asked. McGonagall and a few of the first years sighed. Look like they'll be explaining what most things are. Before they could answer, a book appeared in front of them as well as a note.
Dear readers,
I forgot to give the muggles a wizard dictionary for them. Sorry about that. Have fun.
Merlin
Anastasia, Lisa C,and Wei read what a acromantula is and girls paled at what they heard while Wei raise an eyebrow in interest. A spider that can be as big as a truck. They are glad that the wizard and muggle world are separate. They don't think others will handle it that good.
"Acromantula silk is the fiber spun by Acromantula spiders to make their web. Not only is it very beautiful when woven together for clothing, it's also comfortable, and heat and magic resistant as well."
"I imagine it's also pricey," Harry pointed out. Not that price mattered much to him. From what he had just been told, Acromantula silk was the best material to make robes out of. If it weren't for the fact that Harry didn't want to seem like some kind of rich snob, he would have probably even considered using Acromantula silk for all of his robes.
"I wish I was a rich as Harry." Tracey said, pouting a little. "I really wanted one of those robes." Daphne roll her eyes at that. Her friend is real childish sometimes.
"Yes," Madam Malkin looked reluctant to admit that. "One robe made from Acromantula silk costs two hundred galleons." At that, the girl Harry had been talking with who had been listening in on the conversation with growing enthusiasm, began looking dejected. Harry almost snorted. It seemed that even in the wizarding world all girls were fashionistas.
Some of the girls merely pouted at that. Mainly Lisa C, Hannah, and Tracey. Like a boy would understand.
"I would like all of my dress robes made in Acromantula silk," Harry told the woman, shocking both her and the girl that had been listening – eavesdropping – on the conversation.
"Eavesdropping." All of the first years, except Tracey of course, deadpanned. Tracey pouted at that. The traitors.
"Very well," Madam Malkin quickly recovered her smile and pleasant demeanor. "The dress robes will take a while, but they should be done in a day or so if you would like to come back then. Or I can have them sent to you."
"I'll come back," Harry said after a moment. "I'm probably going to be here often enough, so I'll just check in to see if they are done two days from."
"Of course. Have a pleasant day, dear."
"And you as well," Harry gave her a small bow of the head, then turned to look at the brunette who was only just now recovering from her shock of someone spending over six hundred dollars on dress robes. "I'm sure we'll see each other at Hogwarts."
"Right. I'll see you around then." The girl waved at him as Harry walked out of the store.
"I can't believe he didn't tell me who he was." Tracey mumbled, remembering that Harry didn't tell her his name. Then again, she didn't either.
The next two hours were spent with Harry visiting various shops to get the rest of the school supplies he would need. He ended up buying a pewter cauldron – he had thought about getting the golden one but that seemed really wasteful – as well as a set of scales for weighing potions ingredients.
"Smart." McGonagall said with a firm nod. "Considering the potion teacher we have now." All the first years nodded in agreement, even Hermione agreed that Snape was a jerk. Anastasia and Lisa C wanted to know who Snape was, but McGonagall gave them a look that says, 'ask later'.
One of the things he had decided not to get was a telescope, which from what he had seen was a really old fashioned model that would not look out of place in the fifteenth century. Harry had decided to instead buy a muggle telescope, as even the ones that did not require batteries to power them were far better then what he saw there.
"Muggle telescope are better than ours?" McGonagall asked, a bit curious. A picture of a muggle telescope appeared on the screen and McGonagall have to admit, it's better than their own.
Other items Harry did not get were quills and ink bottles, having decided to also buy a set of calligraphy pens in muggle London that would give the same effect as an old fashion quill, only without the mess.
"I saw him use that." Hermione said to the others. "I wish I could've thought of that. Cost less and less messy."
He did end up buying quite a few potions ingredients, nearly four times the amount of ingredients required by Hogwarts, at the apothecary, a fascinating place with a most horrible stench. The place had smelled like a mixture of bad eggs and rotted cabbages. It was, quite possibly, one of the most putrid scents Harry had ever picked up, and that was saying something coming from him.
"And if Harry thinks it's bad, it must be bad." Lisa C said, knowing how sensitive Harry's nose is.
The last place Harry visited was the one place he had been looking forward to the most – other then Flourish and Blotts – the place where he would get his wand. Ollivanders.
All of the magic-users, except Neville since he's using his fathers wand, smile fondly, remembering getting their first wands.
The wand store was pretty run down, from what he could see. It was a narrow and shabby looking building, with peeling gold letters above the door that read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.. Below that was a dusty window in which a single wand lay on a faded purple cushion.
Harry was not quite sure what to think about the place at first sight. On the one hand, it was like being in the Leaky Cauldron, and he had to wonder if the owner of this shop cared at all for how his store appeared. On the other hand, he got the distinct feeling it was made to appear like this on purpose. Something in the air spoke to him as he looked at the shop, as if saying 'this store doesn't need to look fancy in order to get it's customers', and upon entering Harry found out why.
A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the back of the shop as he entered and looked around. The store did not look like much. It was small, and dusty, and the only item in the room was a spindly chair. Despite it's rather lackluster looks however, Harry felt as if he had entered hallowed ground. Magic hung in the air, tingling and reverberating through his mind. It seemed to sing in his soul with a quiet reverence. He could hear what sounded like thousands of voices calling out – not to him he suspected, though he did not know why – in union.
McGonagall furrow her eyebrows in thought. Is Harry the magic in those wands?
And then he felt the presence behind him. Spinning on a dime Harry prepared to enter a combat stance, his mind going completely blank as he entered what he had taken to calling his 'combat mode'. His feet slid exactly shoulder width apart, left hand tucking into his torso where he could punch with both incredible force and speed, right hand stretching forward in order to parry any attack or pull someone into a grapple depending upon the situation.
"Harry got good instincts." Lisa T said with a little awe. Wei smile proudly at his student. A good way to react to an unknown presence.
Already his left hand was coming out in a straight jab aimed at where the solar plexus would be on his own body, which would leave anybody winded, before he had even finished his spin.
And then he stopped with his fist halfway to it's mark. He blinked, once, twice, thrice. After making sure his eyes were not deceiving him, Harry spent a moment trying to figure out how this old man managed to sneak up on him without him even noticing until said old man was right behind him.
"Mr. Potter," the old man said, and Harry couldn't help but notice that the man's pale eyes had not even touched upon his scar when he spoke. It was as if this man had known who he was before even entering the shop. "I was wondering when you would be coming by. I suspected I would be seeing you soon. You have your mother's eyes. It seems like only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charms work."
Lisa C blink, a little incredulous. "How is that man look so unsurprised when he saw Harry move like that. And how did he know Harry was coming and how did he remember his mother wand?" The magic users shrug, not knowing the answer. Ollivander is a strange man.
Harry relaxed his stance as he realized that this man was likely the store owner. In return, Ollivander seemed to take notice of Harry's posture relaxing and nodded to himself.
"Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for Transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it – it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."
Now that he seemed to be out of danger, Ollivander moved closer to Harry. The boy in question tensed again, but relaxed a bit when he did not sense any hostile intent from the old man.
"He did that with all of us." Susan said, with the others nodding. "Told us either our parents or one of our family members wand was in full detail."
"Kinda freaked me out when he told me what my father's and mother's wand was." Tracey admitted. Neville and Hannah silently agreed with her. That was kinda scary that someone remember what wand he gave their parents.
"And that's where..."
When Ollivander was no less than arms length apart, his hand came up touched the lightning shaped scar on Harry's forehead. He almost flinched, but withheld the action by taking a slow breath.
"I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it," he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands... well, if I had known what that wand was going out in the world to do..."
"It was not his fault." McGonagall said, shaking her head. "No one would have possibly known an eleven year old would be the future dark lord, unless they saw the future themselves."
"Hind sight is always fifty-fifty, sir," Harry told Ollivander, not feeling any anger at hearing that this man sold Voldemort his wand. It would have been irrational to be angry at someone who was just doing there job. "You couldn't have known at the time that Voldemort would end up as one of the darkest and most powerful wizards of the Century."
"He seem to have the mind of an adult." Hannah half teased. It was true though. Harry is very mature than any of the first years.
"That's wisdom speaking," Ollivander said as he took a step back, not flinching at Voldemort's name like Professor McGonagall had.
"He's one of the few that isn't afraid of the name." McGonagall said. "Like Dumbledore and Harry isn't." Lisa C made a face. How can anyone be afraid of a stupid name like Voldemort, even if he's a killer?
"You are indeed correct; when the one who would become known as Lord Voldemort came into this store he was but a boy no older than you on his way to Hogwarts. No one could have known than how he would turn out. Still, I cannot help but feel regret at knowing the part I played in his rise to power."
Harry shrugged. "Had he not ended up with the wand you sold him, it would have simply been because he had another wand instead."
"Harry is correct on that." Wei said, nodding in agreement. "It's doesn't matter how powerful your weapon is, it matter how well you use it." It's something he learned during the Vietnam war.
"Indeed," the old man murmured in a bit of a dazed tone, before seeming to perk up, his eyes snapping towards Harry. "Which is your wand arm?" he asked, pulling a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket.
"Neither," Harry answered. "I'm ambidextrous." It was a skill he had been born with as far as he could tell. He had never favored one hand over the hand, using both and switching up whenever he felt like it.
"Is there anything Harry can't do?" Tracey complained. Seriously, it's like he got a never ending supply of talents, each one better than the other.
Lisa C grin at her new friend. "The one thing he can't do is dance." Daphne roll her eyes and smirk. They are going to be in for a surprise.
Harry suspected it had something to do with his eidetic memory, but didn't know for sure.
"Fascinating," Ollivander said, seeming to ponder Harry's words for a moment. "Hold out both arms then, that's it." The tape measure suddenly sprung to life, and Harry very nearly smacked it across the room when it started measuring him. It measured Harry from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head. Harry found the actions of the measure to be more than a bit intrusive, but stilled his tongue and fists by telling himself that all of this was so he could get his wand.
"Okay, that's a little too creepy." Hannah said, creeped out of what Ollivander is doing along with the others. He wasn't that intrusive with anyone else was he?
As his tape measure measured, Ollivander flitted around the shelves, taking down boxes. "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."
Neville look at his dad's wand, the wand his grandmother make him use. He wish that she didn't make him use it sometimes.
Harry frowned as the tape measure began measuring between his nostrils.
Now everyone is at least a bit creeped out, even Wei and Daphne. Is that necessary?
He wondered if this was absolutely necessary in order for him to get his wand, or if perhaps Ollivander had simply forgotten to stop the tape as it measured him and it was now simply running on autopilot.
As if hearing his thoughts, Ollivander said, "That will do," and the tape measure stopped and crumbled to the floor in a heap. Ollivander than came up to Harry baring a wand in his hand that he offered to Harry. "Now then, Mr. Potter, try this one. Aspen, nine-and-a-quarter inches, with a Dragon heartstring core. Powerful, yet supple. Perfect for dueling. Just take it and give it a wave."
The moment Harry took the wand a frown came to his face. Not even bothering to wave it, he handed the wand back to Ollivander. "No, this one won't work."
Ollivander blinked.
"I don't feel anything from it," Harry explained, feeling the need to extrapolate on his reasons for not doing as asked.
"He doesn't feel anything?" McGonagall asked, a little interest. It usually takes a wave to know if the wand is perfect for you or not. Harry Potter is an enigma that gets harder and harder to solve the more she looks.
"Don't feel anything you say?" old Ollivander seemed very interested in what Harry was saying. His eyes seemed to shine even more, a pair of silver moons gleaming within the shop.
"Yes, I don't feel anything when I'm holding this wand."
Ollivander peered at him very closely, his eyes boring into Harry's with an intensity that almost startled the much younger male. "And what is it, Mr. Potter, that you expect to feel?"
"I'm... not sure," Harry admitted. "But I expect that if a wand chooses me to be it's partner, I should feel something." He held up the wand given to him by Ollivander. "When I hold this wand, it just feels like dead wood."
"Ollivander is going to have a feel day." McGonagall muttered, shaking her head. That man loves a challenge.
"Hmmm... most peculiar, most peculiar," Ollivander took the wand from Harry's hand, even as he continued to study the raven haired youth. There was a building excitement in his eyes as he continued to speak. "It seems I have underestimated you, Mr. Potter. With the way you had almost attacked me I had suspected you would be a duelist, but it appears you are far more complex than I thought."
Harry had the decency to blush as he remembered getting ready to break the old man's nose before coming to his senses. "I do apologize for that," he said contritely. "I had sensed you behind me and was so shocked I reacted on instinct."
"I noticed," the old man replied as he walked back to the stack of boxes, frowning a bit as he began to rearrange them. Some of the boxes he grabbed and put back in there place, while at the same time pulling other boxes from the shelves. "That is why I first suspected you would be a duelist. The way you reacted was on instinct, quick, and impossible for anyone who does not have experience in fighting to do. I had thought an aspen wand would suit you, since aspen is the most suited wood towards dueling, but it appears as though I were wrong."
Rather than being put out by this, Ollivander seemed excited. It seemed that rather than taking the fact that he was wrong poorly, the old wand maker took it as a challenge.
"See?" McGonagall said whiile the others just blinked. Ollivander is a strange man indeed.
"Here we are. Elm. Nine inches exactly, and with a phoenix feather core. Try it out." Harry held the wand, and almost immediately handed it back. Ollivander frowned. "Nothing?"
"Not nothing," Harry said. "It rejected me."
"Rejected?" Ollivander's eyebrows rose into his hairline, surprise clearly evident on his features.
The others are surprised as well, not expecting that. One, because of what Harry felt in the wand. And two, because he actually surprised Ollivander.
"That's what it felt like," Harry frowned as he tried to place what he felt into words. "It's hard to describe, but it felt as though the wand was telling me that I was not the correct person to use it."
"Interesting," Ollivander mused. "It seems that you are very in tune with your magical core, Mr. Potter. That is a very rare feat, unheard of in one so young. Many adult witches and wizards go there whole lives without ever touching their core, that you seem to be in tune with it is most remarkable."
"If the ministry of magic heard about this, it would be utter chaos." McGonagall muttered. She is glad that Harry don't announce it to everyone in the world.
"Magical core?" Harry frowned.
"Your magical core is where the magic inside of you comes from," Ollivander answered. "All beings who possess magic have it, this includes witches and wizards. It's your magical core that allows you to use magic in conjunction with your wand. There are also some people who are so in tune with their magical core that they can even cast magic wandlessly, though such instances are very rare." The way Ollivander looked at Harry said that he knew, knew that Harry was capable of wandless magic. He didn't say anything, but Harry could tell from that single glance that the old man knew, or at least suspected, that the young man with the lightning shaped scar was capable of producing wandless magic.
"So he is one of the few wizards that knows." Daphne mused. "I wonder how many know his secret." Everyone else is wondering the same thing.
Did this mean the man could see his core? Or see his magic at least? Was it even possible to see magic? Harry could feel magic when it was in the air (at least he was pretty sure he could), but he had never heard of someone actually being able to physically 'see' magic.
"No one did." Hermione spoke up. "At least, not of what I've read in the history books."
It was just another thing he would have to look into when he got to Hogwarts.
"Your core," Harry started, haltingly. For a second he wondered if he should continue, but reasoned if the man truly knew as much as Harry suspected he did, then it wouldn't matter if he knew a bit more. And something else told him that his secret would be safe with the old wand maker. "It's generally shaped as a sphere, yes?"
"So you have seen it," Ollivander breathed, excited. It wasn't a question. In that instance, Harry knew that this man had at least suspected that Harry was in touch with his own magic. "Now this changes everything! I highly suspect, Mr. Potter, that we will need to make a new wand for you, for I doubt your partner has entered this world yet. Still, why don't we try out a few more wands, just to make sure."
And try out wands they did. Harry held every wand made from every wood with every core and of every length. None of them felt right in his hands. Some gave him a distinct feeling of wrongness, a few gave him feelings of negativity, others reacted almost violently – one even blew up in his hands and gave him several splinters, and still more than most he simply felt nothing from when held.
"Okay, wow." Tracey said in awe and disbelief. "That got to be a new record for people who try to get their wand."
It was nearly two hours later when Ollivander handed Harry the last wand he had in the shop.
"The last one?!" Everyone shouted at once. None of those wands worked for Harry? Will this one will?
"The last one. An unusual combination, holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple." Before Harry could even touch the wand he felt an immediate rejection from it. His hand stopped, halted right before his fingers could touch the wand, and he quickly withdrew it.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "That one will not work for me."
Everyone felt some disbelief. If none of these wands work for him, how did he got his wand? The first years and McGonagall know that Harry got a wand.
"I suspected as much," Ollivander admitted. "It seems that I was correct, and your wand still has yet to be born into this world." Rather than seeming discouraged, the old wand maker looked excited, it was as if someone had breathed new life into him.
"He must love a challenge." Anastasia said, chuckling nervously. That man creeps her out, along with the others.
Reaching under the counter, he pulled a long, thin piece of what looked like metal, but seemed far to organic to be such, whose shape roughly resembled that of a wand. "I will need you to pump your magic into this. As you are already in touch with your core, you should be capable of accomplishing this task rather easily."
Harry grabbed the thin object and closed his eyes. His breathing began to slow down, mind calming as he reached deep into himself, searching for his core.
He could see it within his minds eye, the large ball of light that crackled and sparked as if containing the power of a thunder storm. Large wisps of energy seemed to exude from it, wafting off the ball like smoke from a roaring bonfire. It was very bright, brighter than the sun. This rolling mass of energy. Were he seeing this sight with his actual eyes, Harry would dare say looking at his core would have blinded him.
"Wow," Lisa C said in awe as the TV show Harry's core. The others are amazed as well at how bright the core is.
And then Harry opened up the floodgates. It was an act he had only done once and never did again, mainly due to the fact that he had nearly destroyed his room when he had done it.
Tracey mouth dropped at that, with the others surprised as well. "Holy shit. That is powerful."
"Language Tracey."
"Right, sorry."
Usually when Harry used his magic, he simply opened the door a smidgeon, allowing just enough to leak out that he could direct it into whatever form of magic he planned on using. That was actually a part of the reason he got so tired, the concentration required to keep his own magic at bay was astronomical, and often left him anywhere from mildly winded to exhausted depending on how much he was forced to direct.
In this instance Harry followed his instincts, releasing his magic in it's entirety.
Harry did not direct the energy, merely letting it flow freely out of his body. The candles within the shop began to flicker out, the window frames rattled, several objects began floating into the air, and the small organic looking silver stick in Harry's hands began to drink in the energy with greed. Like a man dying of thirst it sucked all of the energy up, and as it did it began to glow in a greben light the same color as his eyes that was so bright Ollivander was nearly blinded.
Again, holy sh-" Tracey saw the glare Hermione sent her, making her rephrase her words. "I mean, crap. How powerful is that core?" Everyone is wondering the same thing. McGonagall think that Harry might change the wizard world, with his views on life, his intelligence, and his powers, for better or for worse.
"Mr. Potter! I believe that's enough!" Ollivander's shout broke through the thick haze that had become Harry's mind. A part of him didn't want to close the gates to his magic. This part of him wanted to revel in the feel of his power being released for the first time. But another part, the more sensible part that was ruled by logic, told him it would be wise to listen to the wand makers words, lest he want to blow up the store.
"I'm glad his logical side is the bigger side." Lisa T admitted, "Otherwise, it would've been chaos at hogwarts." The first years and McGonagall shiver at the thought.
Thankfully, Harry's logical side was more powerful than his other side. With a great will of effort, the metaphorical gates that kept Harry's magical core slammed shut. The flow of magic stopped near instantaneously. The feel of magic all but disappeared, and the tingle that reminded one of static electricity that hung in the air, the remnants of Harry's unleashed power, were sucked up into the organic stick, which was now glowing and crackling with repressed green energy.
"Well," Ollivander sounded quite frazzled. He looked frazzled as well, Harry noted with some amusement. His eyes were wide, his clothing was rumpled, and his hair was sticking on end, reminding Harry greatly of that cartoon, Tom and Jerry, where the cat would get his tail plugged into a socket and subsequently electrocuted, with Lisa.
Lisa C smile widely. She love that show so much. But it took a lot of convincing from Harry to watch it.
"I believe that we are done for the day. Why don't you... head home, and I will send for you when your wand is ready."
Harry nodded. "Very well, I look forward to seeing what you bring into this world."
Recovering his wits, though his hair still remained standing on end, Ollivander's eyes lit up as he replied. "And I shall look forward to showing you. Now, of with you Mr. Potter. I have work to do."
With another nod, Harry left. He had a feeling that the old wand maker was looking forward to getting started on making his wand. He not wrong, for as soon as he exited the shop, a 'closed' sign appeared within the window. Yes, it appeared as though Ollivander was as excited to make Harry's wand as Harry was to receive it.
"I hope the others already got their wands." McGonagall said, shaking her head. Really, the man is too enthusiastic when a challenge is presented.
As if sensing his presence leaving the store, Hedwig flew down and landed on his outstretched arm, which had been extended at the same time the Owl began flying down to him.
"I think this day has been rather productive," Harry told Hedwig, feeling rather giddy from all the magic he had used in Olivanders shop. It was a very strange feeling, he had to admit. A part of him wondered if this was what it was like to feel stoned.
Hedwig cocked her head to the side and hooted.
"Yes," Harry answered with a nod. "We'll be heading home now."
Hedwig gave another hoot.
"Wow, a boy talking to his owl." Lisa C teased. "That is real cute."
"Hungry again? You sure do eat a lot Hed?"
An angry hoot was his response this time as Hedwig's feathers became ruffled.
"No, that wasn't a comment on your weight. Though if you are concerned about that you should probably lay off the bacon."
Another angry hoot followed by Hedwig pecking at his head was her answer.
"Owch! Cut it out Hedwig, it was just a joke! Gah! Stop it, Hedwig! Hedwig!"
"Even a female owl is sensitive about their weight." Blaise said, chuckling a little. But he stopped when he saw the glares of the females.
Harry arrived home at nearly seven o'clock with Hedwig sitting on his outstretched arm. All members of the Dursley household had done their best to ignore him as he walked up to his room. It seemed as if they were worried about Harry becoming even more of a danger now that he was going to be learning magic, and were intent on hoping that by pretending he didn't exist, he would simply disappear.
"Paranoid. Idiots. Jerks." Lisa C muttered, clenching her fist. It seems that she didn't forget what they done to Harry. The others darken their eyes as well, even Susan is glaring at that 'family'.
This suited him just fine however, as he had other things to occupy his thoughts.
Entering his room Harry set his trunk down and opened it. He began pulling out several items, including an Owl stand for Hedwig, the book Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century, and the backpack he had first taken with him that now carried the few items he had gotten from his mother's vault.
After setting the book and backpack on his bed, Harry unzipped the small pouch at the front of the backpack and pulled out the box containing his mothers wand. He wondered, would it be possible for him to use his mother's wand to perform spells?
"Wait a minute, he's not thinking…" Terry trailed off, as the young magic users look at each other. Harry is going to use his mother wand. McGonagall realize this as well, since she groan.
Unlike all the wands he had tried in Ollivanders, his mother's wand gave feelings of acceptance and love. Did that mean it would allow him to use it even if they were not really partners? He supposed he would find out later when he began practicing spell casting. But that would come later. Right now there were things he needed to get started on, mainly acquiring the knowledge he would need to catch up with the most recent history of the wizarding world.
Placing the box containing his mum's wand on the desk, Harry went back to his bed, picked up the book, got himself comfortable, and began to read.
"Okay, that's the end of it. Want to give it to someone else?" Lisa T asked Hermione. When Hermione turn the page, Lisa T quickly snatch the book. "Hermione! Let someone else have a turn!"
"Come on! Just one more page!" Hermione pleaded, giving Lisa T the puppy eyes. The Ravenclaw sigh and reluctantly gave the Hermione the book. The girl beam and quickly got to the next page.
And that's the end. Again, check the poll on my profile and vote. Next up is Harry meeting Andromeda Tonk. Review, Favorite, and Follow and I will see you later.