Ok everyone. I know it has been a really long time, and I apologize. Life just gets crazy sometimes. I had midterms and then my nursing program exam. However, I have a nice long chapter here for you all! I hope you enjoy. I am on spring break now and I hope to have a few more chapters up in the coming week. Thank you all for sticking by this story. It means so much to me.
As always, let me know how you are enjoying this story. I did use some of the dialogue from The Philospher's Stone, and i do not own that.
Enjoy!
Sirius stepped out of the ministry, it was dark outside, the air cool. He took a deep breath, still not believing he was free. Free to not worry, knowing that his family was safe. He held Lily closer to him, his arms wrapping around her waist and pressed a fervent kiss to her lips. He felt her smile against his lips and he couldn't hold back his smile either. He looked up at the sky and let out a peel of laughter, pulling Remus into the hug as well.
"Where are the kids?" He asked.
"They are with the Grangers. The twins have been entertaining Rob and Nancy to no end. Harry will be glad to see you. He's been pretty anxious." Lily paused a moment, looking up at him, her smile faltering a little. "We all have been." Sirius just smiled again, an arm around both Lily and Remus.
"Well, let's go get them, then." They walked down a sidestreet. Sirius looked over his shoulder and then apparated with the both of them in front of the Granger home. He reached forward and knocked. Rob answered the door and a smile split his face. Sirius looked into the entryway and saw Harry look up.
"Come in, come in! I'm guessing this is good news, eh?" Robert had a large smile on his face as he stepped aside. Sirius freed his arms as Harry jumped to his feet and started to run toward him. He spread his arms and caught the small boy and lifted him up.
"I thought I wasn't going to see you again." Harry whispered in his ear and Sirius felt his eyes well up a little. He held him tight, feeling his little legs wrap around his waist. He stroked his hair and rocked slightly when he felt Harry sob.
"Do you think I would ever let that happen?" Harry didn't reply, just snuggled his face into the crook of Sirius's neck. "Well, I wouldn't." Sirius looked over at Lily as she walked up and rubbed Harry's back. He could see the concern in her eyes and he knew that Harry must have been like this the whole time he had been gone. Harry looked up at him then, a determined look in his eye.
"Well, don't do it again, ok? Promise!" Sirius chuckled, kissing his forehead.
"I promise, little man. Nothing is going to take me away." He seemed somewhat appeased. "Why don't we just go home. I'm sure the beach is waiting for us." He set Harry back on his feet, who was looking as if he was trying to refuse the smile that was creeping up his face. He liked the beach, he would always like the beach.
He stooped to pick up Caelum and Ivy at the same time, relieved to see them again. He held them close and breathed in the smell of their hair. Ivy had settled on black hair and eyes so pale they looked gray. She looked so much like him, even had the same mischievous grin. Caelum, on the other hand, looked just like Lily. Red hair, but soft brown eyes, and a know it all look, even at the age of two. He laughed.
"Let's go home."
It was May 1991 and school was winding down and Harry was glad for it. Hermione could come and visit then and they could go to the beach everyday. He would have someone his age around again, someone he didn't have to hide his magic from. The twins were great, but they were still babies, really, even if they were turning 6 this year. They got into his stuff and wanted to play all the time, which he didn't altogether really mind. Ivy liked to play dress up and would insist she was the dragon slayer and Harry was the dragon and Caelum was her squire. He started to feel like he might be too old for such games, but they were still kind of fun.
A few weeks went by after the trial and everything was just…back to normal. Like nothing had ever happened. Except Sirius had quit his job at the muggle accounting office. Harry wasn't altogether sure why exactly he had done so, but he had gotten a job at the Columbia branch of MACUSA. His mother still worked in the preschool, as she only had half day work days, and could be home with the twins. It had been that way for almost 4 years now. He, on the other hand, sat in class, did his work and walked home like always, staring out at the ocean as he went and brushing the sweat from his face, sighing at the fact that he promised he wouldn't make any stops on the way. He kicked a stick along the walkway as he listened to Eric talking about his plans for the summer.
He waved goodbye to Eric, who lived a few streets further up, and walked up the steps to his house, thinking about how close it had been today. He had made his pencil move on its own across the desk out of sheer boredom. The teacher had almost caught him. He needed to be more careful. He also thought about his Hogwarts letter that would be coming soon. He was nervous that it wouldn't get to him, regardless of how often his mum and Sirius told him it would come. He looked across the street at the sound of voices and loud thuds. There was a large moving truck parked in front of the house. A middle aged couple with a daughter, who looked a few years older than himself, was watching the movers lift things into the house. Two older boys came out of the house and were speaking to their parents. They looked to be in their teens. The young girl turned in his direction suddenly and smiled and waved at him and then crossed the street. He paused in front of the door before going back down the steps.
"Hi. I'm Liz Kowlaski. We obviously just moved here. I thought I would come and say hello." She gave him a bright smile. He didn't really know why she was talking to him, older kids never talked to the younger kids in school. Liz leaned in a little closer.
"I'm a witch." She whispered and Harry stepped back, a little shocked at this pronouncement.
"A– a what?" He stammered out and the smile on her face just got bigger.
"I'm a witch. My whole family is magic, except my grandpa. But he knows a lot about it. What is your name?" She spoke fairly quickly, bouncing on her heels while maintaining eye contact. Harry swallowed, unsure what he should do or how she could possibly have known he was a wizard.
"How–how do you know I'm not a muggle?" He asked, looking up at her. She stood a few inches taller than him.
"What's a muggle? Oh I see. You mean No-maj. Because, I'm a legilimens. You were thinking of making your pencil spin around on your desk. That's how I knew. I don't mean to intrude, it's hard to control sometimes, but I'll get the knack of it. My grandma says it's always hard for the first few years. So what—"
"You can read minds?" Harry asked, flabbergasted at the thought and then a little embarrassed.
"Yea, but like I said, I'm trying not to. You were kind of projecting your thoughts earlier. Also, your British! That's pretty cool. I've been there a few times, visiting extended family. What is your name? I told you mine: Liz Kowlaski." She stuck her hand out to him and he took it, still a little confused.
"Harry Potter." her eyes widened a little at his name, but she blinked and they were back to normal.
"Nice to meet you, Harry. Are you going to go to Ilvermorny? The wizarding school here? I start back up in August. I'm a pukwudgie, just like my mom and dad and brothers." He was glad she clarified, because he had been about to ask what that was, but then was confused again by the next words that had come out of her mouth. He shook his head as he pulled his hand back from hers.
"I'm going to go to Hogwarts," he said simply. "My whole family has gone there."
"That's weird. Why do you live here then?" Just then her mother called to her. And she grimaced. "I have to get back. It was nice to meet you, Harry Potter. I'll come over sometime and we can talk more." She smiled and ran back across the street, talking excitedly to her mother and father, who looked over at him curiously. He walked back up the stairs but turned to look back at the house across the street. Liz smiled and waved at him and he waved back walking into the house and was instantly greeted by Charlie, who was trying to lick his face.
"Mum, Sirius! I'm home!" He walked into the kitchen and set his bag down, petting the dog as he went, just as his mother walked in. She kissed the top of his head as he went into the fridge for a soda. He looked over at her and smiled.
"Hey sweetheart, how was school?" She was straightening her shirt. Harry averted his eyes, not wanting to make it obvious that he did something at school that might require further questioning. He knew he had to be careful with his magic, but sometimes it just happened. The lecture about safety was an old one and he didn't really want to hear it again.
"It was alright. Did you see that there are people moving in across the street?" He asked in return, changing the subject, just as Sirius walked into the kitchen as well, running a hand through his hair. Harry made a face, they both looked a little rumpled. He shuddered at the thought of what they had probably been doing and his cheeks went pink. Sirius tousled his hair as he walked past and he reached up to flatten it back down.
"I did notice, in fact." Sirius, noticing that Harry has straightened his hair, reached over and ruffled it up again and Harry glared, annoyed, but Sirius just laughed and looked out the window to see the neighbors still moving the boxes into the house.
"They're a wizarding family." Harry stated, flattening his hair down again.
"Oh, really? You've talked to them already?" His mum asked and he nodded.
"Well, I talked to the girl and really, she came up to me. She said she was a legili-something, someone who can read minds. She said she knew I was a wizard." He pushed Charlie's head out of his bag and then set it on the chair. "She goes to the wizarding school here, a place called Ilvermorny." Harry missed the look that passed between his parents as he was still trying to keep Charlie's head out of his bag.
"I'm going to go get my homework done." He said, grabbing his bag and making his way up to his room, Charlie at his heels. He stroked the cat as he passed her perch and took the stairs 2 at a time. He wrenched open the windows, letting in the ocean breeze. The moving van was gone from the house across the street now. Charlie jumped up and placed his paws on the windowsill and looked out with him.
"School year is almost done, Charlie. Then we can go to the beach. I'll be geting my Hogwarts letter soon." The dog cocked his head as he stared back at him. Turning from the window and the view of the ocean, Harry sighed as he got started on his homework.
Saturday morning was bright and sunny and the house was full of movement. The twins were running around as his mum and Sirius danced around them with practiced ease as they tore around the kitchen, the radio playing in the background. Miri simply stared in disgust at the ruckus and retreated higher onto her perch. Harry hugged them both good morning and set out the plates, as usual, smiling as he watched Charlie give chase after his siblings and adding to the noise. Lily was humming and Sirius had a huge smile on his face as he watched Harry set the table.
"Ivy, Cae, go wash up for breakfast. Hurry up, it's almost ready!" Lily called to the twins who were laughing. Harry followed after them and herded them into the bathroom to get their hands washed. Finally, at the table, they settled down to eat. Harry had just finished his eggs when the fire lit up in the living room and Hermione came racing into the room, her curly brown hair even more wild than it usually was.
"Good morning," she said hurriedly. "Oh good, Harry, you're done eating. You won't believe it!" She exclaimed, her face flush and excited. She flashed a letter in front of him that had bright green ink on the front. "I got my letter! My Hogwarts letter!" She was bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet in excitement. Harry stood from the table, a grin spreading across his face and the sheer happiness on her face, and she beamed at him, throwing her arms around his shoulders. Harry awkwardly hugged her back. She released him and showed him the letter. They put their heads together as they read, Harry felt a small pang of jealousy that she had already gotten her letter. Then again, she was already eleven.
"That is wonderful news, Hermione," Lily said as she got up from the table as well. "And just in time, too." Sirius's smile grew bigger as he went into the living room and grabbed an envelope from the mantle that Harry hadn't noticed before.
"Came early this morning," he said as he handed it to Harry. Hermione shrieked and jumped up and down. The twins started talking at the same time and raced over to Hermione and were jumping up and down with her. Harry felt his smile grow on his face as he opened the letter.
"Oh this is all so terribly exciting, Harry! We have to go and get our books and our wands and our uniforms. I can't wait to go to Diagon Alley. Mum and dad are excited, too. Professor McGonagall came and explained precisely how to get there. I came as soon as I could. Remus let me use the floo network." She was talking so fast that Harry had a hard time understanding her. He looked up at his parents.
"We can go as soon as we clean up" Sirius said to them both. "We will meet you at the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione, if you like. If your parents are ready, that is." Harry saw his mum's face drop ever so slightly.
"I'll let mum and dad know. They can't wait! I'll see you in a little bit, Harry!" She hugged him again and then was racing out of the room, her hair streaming behind her. She was gone in a plume of green flames.
"Harry, Ivy, Cae, go get dressed." Lily said as she waved her wand at the dishes on the table. They zoomed into the sink and started to wash themselves and then into the cupboard. Harry raced upstairs to get ready, wondering what one wears to Diagon Alley. He settled on a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt. He spent a few moments trying to flatten his hair, but knew it was no use. It was going to stick up no matter what he did. He came back down the stairs and heard his mum and Sirius talking in a low tone. He paused in the hallway, listening.
"- find out anyway. He hasn't asked questions for years. It isn't something that you just casually bring up–" Sirius was saying.
"I know. I just–I don't know how to talk about it." His mother's voice sounded a little strained.
"Everything will be fine. We can answer any questions he has together, alright? You aren't alone. You have me. We can do this together."
Just then, Ivy came running down the hall and their conversation stopped at the sound of footsteps. Harry's thoughts spun a little. What hadn't he asked in years that his mother was worried about telling him? He felt Ivy place her hand in his and tug him into the kitchen, Caelum bringing up the rear. Sirius and his mother were similarly dressed in black robes. Harry was used to seeing Sirius dressed like this for work, but he hadn't seen his mother in robes since his godfather's trial. She smiled at the three as they walked in, but Sirius continued to look at Lily, concern etched on his face.
"Let's go, shall we? Hermione will meet us there." She ushered them towards the fireplace. She stepped up first, Ivy's and Caelum's hand in hers and said clearly.
"Leaky Cauldron." Harry watched as they spun and disappeared in the green flames. He stepped forward to follow, but felt Sirius place a hand on his shoulder, holding him back.
"Harry," Sirius looked down into his face. "This is going to be your first time going to the wizarding world and a lot of people are going to know who you are." His eyes flicked up to the scar on his forehead and Harry unconsciously flattened his hair down over it.
"Because of my scar?" Harry asked and Sirius simply nodded.
"Because of what happened when you got that scar. I know you are going to have questions. Questions that aren't easy for us to answer, especially your mum."
"Because of dad." Harry stated. He watched as a crease formed between his godfather's brows as he straightened. He nodded, releasing Harry's shoulders.
"Come on, let's go. Your mother is waiting for us." Harry turned back to the fire, his mind on what little he did know about the night he had gotten his scar. He knew his father had died protecting them from a really bad wizard, but no one talked about it. He remembered the last time he had asked, just before they had moved to America. It was very vague, he had been so young. He grabbed a pinch of powder and stepped into the grate, following his mother and siblings.
Harry spun, watching as the shapes and colors around him changed and swirled. He closed his eyes, but the green light pierced through his eyelids. He never really liked traveling by floo powder, if he was honest, but it was the only way to get to Britain in a short period of time. Once he stopped moving, he opened his eyes again. Blinking into the dimly lit room, he stepped out of the fireplace just as his Sirius spun into the grate behind him.
Harry looked around. He was in a tiny, grubby-looking pub. There was chatter and laughter all around him. Everyone was going about their business as usual. Witches as wizards of all ages packed the room some older witches were drinking in the corner and a man in a top hat was sitting at the counter talking to the bartended. A few looked over at them as Harry and his family stepped further inside. He felt his mother's hand on his shoulder as the people closest to them went quiet and stepped aside. A very large man stood up then and made his way towards them, the huge smile on his heavily bearded face making his eyes crinkle. The crowd parted even more to let him through.
"Lily, Sirius, it's good ter see yeh. How you been doin'?" The large man stepped closer and his hand engulfed Sirius's as he shook his whole arm up and down. Harry simply stared at him in awe. He had never seen a man so large in his whole life. He watched as his mother shook his hand too, but he was much more gentle, both her and Sirius were smiling up at the man. He turned his gaze to Harry and Harry swallowed.
"It's good to see you too, Hagrid. We've been doing well." Sirius said.
"Alway's good ter see a familiar face. An' here's Harry!" he turned his attention back to Harry. "Las' time I saw you, you was only a baby," said the giant. "Yeh look jus' like yer dad, you do." The giant extended his hand towards him and Harry smiled and took it cautiously. "Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts." The whole pub was now silent. "Yeh'll be here ter get yer supplies fer school, I s'pose. Lots ter buy!" He stepped aside and allowed them to pass, following along behind them.
All eyes were on Harry and his mother. The barman walked out from behind the bar towards them, his eyes trained on Harry.
"Bless my soul," he whispered. "Harry Potter…what an honor." Tom the Barman held out his hand to Harry who took it, noticing the tears welling up behind the old man's eyes. "Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back. And you as well, Mrs. Potter." His gaze turned to Lily who took his hand as well. Harry didn't know what to say, everyone was looking at him. Hagrid was beaming down at them as there was a great scraping of chairs and suddenly, Harry found himself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron. He soon forgot the names as they introduced themselves to him. Harry was staring around, a little uncomfortable with the whole event. His mother stood beside him, a slightly forced smile on her face. He now understood why they had never come here. Hagrid cleared his throat above them all and everyone took a step back.
"Let's let em through here now. Things ter be gettin' on wit, I imagine." Harry was grateful that Hagrid was there to do so. Sirius had his arm around his mother as Hagrid ushered them through the pub just as a pale young man made to turn away. One of his eyes was twitching and he looked very nervous. Hagrid greeted him warmly, making the man jump a little.
"Why Professor Quirrell! Didn't see yeh there. Harry, Professor Quirrell will be yer Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year." The young professor looked positively terrified of something. Harry reached out a hand to shake his, but the teacher didn't shake his hand.
"N-not that you need much t-teaching of it, eh, P-potter?" The man stuttered, twisting his fingers together as he looked down at Harry.
"We'll be seein' yeh professor," Hagrid said cheerily and patted his shoulder, causing the man's knees to buckle a little. The crowd started to talk a bit by then, but shot glances their way periodically. Just then, Harry saw Hermione and her parents enter the pub and Sirius waved them over. Hermione's eyes roved the room, drinking it all in. She raced over when she saw Harry. Hagrid was still talking.
"Sorry 'bout tha'. Tried to get yous through tha' a lot quicker. An' who are these little tikes?" He glanced down at Ivy and Caelum. Ivy, being the bold one of the two, piped up immediately.
"I'm Ivy Rose, and this is Caelum. We're five." She craned her head all the way back to look up into Hagrid's face as the Grangers joined their group.
"Nice ter meet yeh," Hagrid was saying. "Bet yeh'll be excited ter see this." He had led them back into a small walled in courtyard where Sirius stepped forward and tapped the wall in the back with his wand. Harry's eyes bulged as he saw the wall start to melt away in front of his eyes. The opening grew wider and wider and he heard Hermione gasp next to him. A second later, the wall was replaced by an archway that opened up onto a busy cobblestone street that twisted and turned out of sight. They stepped through and Harry turned to see the wall shrink back and return back to a solid wall. He looked everywhere all at once. The sun was shining brightly on the alley as people hustled and bustled along going about their shopping. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Sirius asked him, a large smile on his own face as he saw Harry's expression of amazement.
"Well, I must be off. Got a job ter do from Dumbledore. I'm off to Gringotts," Hagrid said, "I'll be seein' yeh Harry." he patted his shoulder, Harry just managing to keep his feet, and walked off, parting the crowd as he went.
"Whoa! Is he a giant or something?" Hermione asked him and he shrugged.
"He's part giant, dear." Lily answered her delicately. "We have to make our way to Gringotts ourselves. It's the wizarding bank. You'll need to exchange muggle money there, Nancy, Rob." Nancy looked back at his mother, clearly only half paying attention. She had torn her gaze away from the signs advertising collapsible cauldrons for the traveling potioneer. "Stick close, children. Don't go wandering too far ahead." Harry looked over at Hermione and they set off after Hagrid, the parents in the lead as the two of them looked through every shop window and the twins miniature tornadoes in the street ahead of them.
There were soft hoots coming from a shop called Eyelops Owl Emporium, a dark shop that housed dozens of owls. They walked passed a shop that had a bunch of little boys around Harry's age, their noses pressed up against the window, staring at a broomstick. "Look," Harry heard one of the boys exclaim, "It's the new Nimbus Two Thousand–fastest ever–" He looked on in fascination as Hermione dragged him along to keep up with the adults. They passed robe shops and a shop that sold strange silver instruments, a shop that sold potion ingredients, a book store. Harry saw Hermione's eyes light up at the sight of stacks and stacks of books. He had to drag her away from it just as she had had to drag him away from the broomstick display.
Up ahead, Harry saw a large looming white marble building that towered over all the other shops in the alley. Harry came up alongside his mother, looking at the guards in scarlet and gold uniforms.
"Goblins, Harry," his mother whispered to him, "They are very clever and very serious creatures. They can be a cruel and unforgiving folk. You don't want to get on their bad side. They run the wizard banks across the world." They made their way past the bowing goblins and through a series of doors and into a vast marble hall filled with close to a hundred more goblins sitting on high stools filling out ledgers, weighing coins, examining rubies and diamonds. Harry could see Hagrid ahead of them being led through one of the many doors off the main hall. His mother handed something to Sirius and then she led the Grangers to the counter to help them sort out their muggle money. The twins and Hermione went with them. Harry followed his godfather.
"Good morning," Sirius said, "We've come to make a withdrawal from Mr. Harry Potter's vault." The goblin in front of them looked over the edge of the counter and eyed Harry speculatively, his beady eyes narrowing slightly. Harry swallowed and stepped closer to Sirius.
"Very well. You have his vault key, I presume?" Sirius nodded and handed over the tiny golden key. The goblin took it from him and motioned to a second goblin. "Griphook will take you down to the vault." They were led from the hall and Harry looked back at his mother.
"She'll wait for us outside, Harry. She is much better at muggle currency than I am. In you go." Sirius helped Harry into an ancient looking cart and sat beside him. It took off with incredible speed. The cold air rushing past Harry's face made his eyes sting as they plunged deeper into the maze, past an underground lake and he could have sworn he saw a burst of fire as they whipped around a corner. They came to a jarring stop outside vault 687. Sirius got out of the cart and lifted Harry out. He watched as Griphook walked up to the vault door and inserted the key, twisting it. The door creaked open and a plume of green smoke issued from within. As the smoke cleared, Harry gasped. Inside were mounds of gold coins, columns of silver, heaps of bronze.
"All yours," Sirius said as he guided Harry inside. Harry couldn't believe it. He knew they weren't poor, they had a nice house and everything, but they never bought anything that was super expensive. They lived pretty modestly considering his classmates all had a lot of money. He would never have realized that they had a fortune sitting in a bank waiting for them.
"How much do we need?" he asked, turning to his godfather.
"Well, first of all, we need enough for all your school supplies and then some extra. The galleons are the gold ones, seventeen silver sickles to a galleon and twenty-nine bronze knuts to a sickle. Easy enough once you get used to it." Sirius explained and took the bag proffered to him from Griphook. It looked like a rather small bag, but Sirius piled gold, silver and bronze coins into it and then handed it over to Harry. The bag was surprisingly light considering how much money was in it. Harry placed it carefully in his pocket, still slightly in shock with how much money he was carrying. Sirius gave him a lopsided grin and turned back to Griphook. He didn't know the exchange rate, but he was certain he was holding a small fortune in his hands.
"Vault seven hundred and eleven, please." The goblin simply nodded and returned to the cart.
"Why are we going to vault seven hundred and eleven?" Harry asked curiously.
"Because that's my vault. I'll need some gold while we are here as well." He helped Harry across the gap again and into the cart.
"Why not just use mine?" Harry patted his pocket before the cart lurched forward and he gripped the front to steady himself.
"Because, that's your money, Harry," Sirius called over the rushing wind as they tore down the passage and around a corner and then plummeting down even further into the depths of the bank. They jerked to a halt, both bracing themselves to prevent them from flying over the front of the cart. "I'm not going to use your money when I have money myself." Harry looked ahead and saw another cart a few vaults away, Hagrid was about to climb back into the cart when he saw them.
"Ah, Harry, Sirius!" he patted his breast pocket, looking a little nervous, his face pale. "Hate these damned infernal carts. Best to keep me mouth shut so I don't get sick. Best be gettin' back." He bowed a little and grudgingly got back into the cart, a hand over his mouth as the cart took off.
"Wonder what he was doing all the way down here?" Harry thought aloud. Sirius simply shrugged as he handed a second key to Griphook, this one looked like it was made of iron and very old. This vault was much larger than Harry's own and it was filled with more than just gold. It had statues and rubies and diamonds and sapphires and ornate rugs. Massive tapestries lined to stone walls and there was an eerie forbodding feeling about the place. Sirius grunted as he looked around. Harry reached out to touch an ornate golden trophy when Sirius caught his hand.
"Welcome to the vault of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. I wouldn't touch anything in here, Harry. Nothing but the gold." He looked around the space, contempt clearly etched upon his face. "My family is not known to be accepting of anyone that they deem unworthy of being a witch or wizard. I wouldn't put it past my dearly departed mother to have placed curses upon the treasures of this vault."
"What does that mean, 'unworthy of being a witch or wizard'?" Harry asked, now avoiding touching anything. Sirius sighed.
"My family is considered one of the sacred 28. 28 pureblood families, the oldest pureblood families in the wizarding world. They put an enormous amount of value on blood status. There are some families in our world that still do. To be a Black, according to my mother, is to be royalty among wizards. A load of bullshit, if you ask me. I wouldn't have anything to do with it at all if I wasn't the heir of the house of Black." Sirius was pushing coins into a second pouch as he explained this to him.
"Blood status has nothing to do with the kind of person you are or how much magic you have. Some would even suggest that to remain a pureblooded society would only make us weaker for it. Never, ever place the merit of someone's character on their blood status, Harry. You will find that it means very little to those who actually matter in our world." He had turned to Harry, a very serious expression on his face, one he rarely ever saw there. Harry nodded and followed Sirius out of the vault. Harry opened his mouth to ask another question and Sirius waited.
"But why would it matter if someone is pureblood or not? Magic is magic, isn't it?"
"Exactly, Harry. Some wounds run deep. Even muggles remember when the magical world and non-magical worlds were at odds. They still are to some degree. The statute of secrecy was put in place to keep both sides safe. That is why magic isn't to be performed around muggles unless it is dire circumstances. Before the statute was put in place, wizards lived in fear as did the muggles. Wizards had to go into hiding to protect themselves and their families. Muggles weren't to be trusted." The vault slammed shut behind them as they got back into the cart. "It is a very dark and very bloody history that we share, and many families uphold great contempt for muggles. They believe themselves greater than all other beings, even other magical beings. They believe that wizards should rule over the magic and non-magic alike. Nothing good has ever come of such thinking."
"He is only too right you know," Griphook interjected. "Many a bloody war has been fought amongst wizards and other beings. They have been brought low for their arrogance and conceit. You will do well to take heed of this lesson, young wizard." he turned away and the cart lurched forward, taking them back up the cavern. Harry remained quiet as they made their way through the passages. Sirius put an arm around his shoulders, giving him a squeeze and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. They clamored out of the cart for the final time and made their way up the final passage.
"The world isn't perfect, Harry, but it is much better than it was. There aren't many, but relics of the old regime still exist. Best to not put much thought into it past knowing about it." He smiled and grabbed Harry around the middle and swung him around until he was laughing. He carried him through the door over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes before setting him down.
"Let's go find your mum, yes?" Harry nodded and Sirius playfully shoved his shoulder and Harry retaliated by shoving him back to little effect. They stepped out into the glaring afternoon sunlight and joined the Grangers and his family, setting off down the cobbled street.
"Uniforms first, since it's right here. We're going to take the twins down the way." Lily said to him. "You have your list, yes?" Harry nodded. "Well, then off you go. We'll meet up with you in the bookshop at the end. You two have fun." She slipped her hand into Sirius's and they set off, watching the twins bounce from window to window, the Grangers a step behind, still in awe of everything around them, asking questions about this and that, which his mother answered patiently. Harry turned to Hermione and they both stepped into Madam Malkins, a bell tinkling against the door as they did so.
The shop was brightly lit from the large window in the front. Harry was a little nervous. He hadn't expected his parents to just let him roam free. He was glad he had Hermione with him at least. Madam Malkin, a squat little witch dressed in mauve, hustled over to them with a smile.
"Hogwarts, my dears?" she asked before Harry could speak. He simply nodded. "Got the lot here– another young man being fitted up just now, in fact." In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing on a footstool, his arms outstretched and looking rather bored as another witch pinned him up. Harry and Hermione stepped up onto their own stools. Madam Malkin slipped black robes over their heads and waved her wand and Harry watched in amazement as the pins worked all on their own, pinning the robes to the right length.
"Hello," said the boy, "Hogwarts, too?"
"Yes," said Harry. The boy kept looking straight ahead.
"My father is next door, buying my books and Mother's looking at wands," said the boy. He had a bored, drawling voice. "Then I'm going to drag them to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully Father into getting me one anyway. I'll sneak it in." Hermione looked at the boy aghast, clearly offended by his brazen disregard for rules. Harry didn't have much to say about it, so he kept quiet.
"Have you got your own broom?" the boy went on to say.
"No, we live too close to muggles. I used to have a small one, but I could never really ride it anywhere without being seen." The boy smirked and Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry tried to hide a smile.
"So you don't play quidditch, then?" the boy's smirk grew wider. Harry shook his head. "I do– Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my House, and I must say, I agree. Do you two know which House you will be in?"
"No," both Harry and Hermione said together. Hermione explained further.
"We won't really know til we get there though, will we?" She had her bossy voice on.
"Well, I do. My whole family has been in Slytherin, so will I– imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I would leave, wouldn't you?" Harry had known his parents had been in Gryffindor, and that was about all he knew, so he simply shrugged, ready to be done talking to this boy.
"Well, Slytherin is the only house that really has any merit to it. All the others allow the other sort in, you know, muggle borns and half-bloods. Can you believe that? They just aren't the same. They don't know anything about our world. I think they should just keep it to the old wizarding families. What are your surnames, anyway?" Harry was liking this boy less and less, but before he could answer, the witch next to him said, "That's you done, my dear," and he hopped off his stool.
"Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose," he drawled as he strode to the front of the store. Harry, glad that the unpleasant boy was gone, turned to Hermione. Her lips were pursed.
"Don't listen to him, Hermione. You're brilliant. You'll show him." She smiled as she stepped down as they were finished. With a wave of her wand, Madam Malkin had their robes packaged in brown paper, as well as a black wool cloak and dragon hide gloves. They purchased the rest of their uniforms and walked out, arms full of brown paper packages.
"He was rather unpleasant, wasn't he? I wonder what the other houses are. We should buy our trunks, next. So we can place everything inside of it. It will be much easier to carry." Harry nodded and followed Hermione. She had a penchant for memorizing everything and remembered exactly where to buy everything. They went to buy potions ingredients next and their cauldrons, Harry was sorely tempted to buy a solid gold one, but Hermione vehemently explained that the list said quite clearly pewter size 2. They stopped and got quills and ink and parchment, Harry purchasing color changing ink as well. Harry then managed to convince her to go into a sweets shop and buy chocolate frogs and liquorice wands. They sat on their trunks and ate their liquorice, looking around at the people passing by.
"Want to get our books next, or our wands?" Harry asked, and he saw her eyes light up again.
"Definitely wands next. I cannot wait to try out some spells. But Professor McGonagall said we weren't allowed until we get to school." Hermione said sadly before she leapt to her feet and tugged her trunk upright onto the wheels. Harry followed her, smiling. He was excited and nervous about getting a wand. It was what he was most looking forward to getting. They stepped into the quiet, dusty wand shop called Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. The bell over the door tinkled and they waited. It felt like a very strict library or a museum where you weren't allowed to touch anything. Harry and Hermione stayed silent as they waited, looking around curiously.
"Good afternoon," said a soft voice to their right. Harry and Hermione both jumped as an old man made his way towards them from the dim aisles of boxes, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.
"Hello," Harry said awkwardly. Hermione was staring in silent awe at the man.
"Ah yes," said the man. "Yes, yes. I thought I would be seeing you soon, Harry Potter." It wasn't a question. "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday that she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."
Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Harry and Hermione looked over at him nervously. Harry really just wished that the man would blink, as his silver eyes were quite creepy.
"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."
Mr. Ollivander was so close now, they were almost nose to nose. Harry could see his reflection mirrored in them. He blinked at the man in front of him.
"And that's where…" he touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead with a long, white finger. "I'm sorry to say that 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'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do…" he shook his head and then, to Harry's relief, he spotted Hermione.
"Ah, and who have we here?" His gaze bored into Hermione's and she swallowed, squeaking out her name.
"I'm Hermione Granger, sir. I'm a muggleborn." Mr. Ollivander's eyes lit up at that.
"Well, well. Yes. It is good to see fresh faces. I can sense the power in you as well, my dear. A nice stern, shy wand for you, then." He turned and started to speak to himself as a tape measure came up and started measuring them both. "Let me see. Which is your wand arm, Mr. Potter?"
"Er– well, I'm right-handed," said Harry.
"And you, Ms. Granger?"
"Right-handed as well," she answered quietly.
"Right, then." He went to a shelf as tall as the ceiling, stacked high with long thin boxes. "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix 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." The tape measure was now measuring Harry's nostrils as Mr. Ollivander flitted between shelves, taking down boxes.
"That will do," he said, and the tape measure dropped to the floor. "Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and Flexible. Just take it and give it a wave." He turned to Hermione, handing her a wand as well. "Mahogany. Ten and three quarters long. Unicorn core. Not very flexible. Give her a wave." He waited and they did as they were told. Harry and Hermione both had barely raised their wands when they were snatched back.
"Nope, nope. Definitely not. Let's try again." He went back to the shelves and handed Hermione a new wand. "Vinewood, ten and three quarters. Dragon heartstring." He placed it in her hand expectantly and she immediately smiled as the wand lit up, glowing from the inside. Mr. Ollivander clapped appreciatively, a small smile on his face.
"This wand is special, Ms. Granger. It senses its owner almost immediately. Vinewood is known to gravitate towards those who seek greater purpose. I think this wand will serve you well in the times to come." Hermione beamed as she looked down at her wand. The old man turned back to him, another wand in his hand.
"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try–" Again, Harry had barely raised the wand when it was snatched back from him.
"No, no– here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out." Harry tried and tried. None of the wands seemed suited for him. As the stack grew and grew of all the wands he tried, Mr. Ollivander seemed only to become more pleased. He wasn't sure what he was waiting for. Was his wand supposed to light up like Hermione's had?
"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere– I wonder, now–yes, why not–unusual combination– holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple." He took down a very dusty box and opened it with great care, placing the wand in Harry's waiting hand. Harry felt a sudden warmth radiant up his arm as he raised the wand and brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like fireworks. Hermione clapped and Mr. Ollivander gave a broad smile.
"Bravo, Mr. Potter. Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well… how curious…how very curious…" he placed the wand back in the box and wrapped it just as he had wrapped Hermione's wand, still muttering, "Curious…curious…" Harry looked at Hermione, who was just as confused.
"Sorry," Harry interrupted, "but what's curious?"
Mr. Ollivander fixed Harry with his pale stare.
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather resides in your wand, gave another feather– just one other. It is very curious that you should be destined for this wand when its brother– why its brother gave you that scar." Harry swallowed and he felt Hermione tense beside him. She didn't know the story. Harry barely knew the story himself.
"Yes, thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen." Ollivander continued. "The wand chooses the wizard, remember… I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter… after all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things– terrible, yes, but great." Harry shivered. He wasn't sure he liked Mr. Ollivander much. He and Hermione paid for their wands and they left quietly. Hermione walked slowly beside him.
"Harry, what did he mean? Who is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?" Harry looked over at her and she must have seen from his face that he didn't really want to talk about it because she let it drop as they stowed their wands in their trunks, his mind whirling with what the old wand maker had said.
"He is the one that killed my dad, Hermione." He heard her intake of breath. "He tried to kill me and my mum too, but we got away. I was left with this scar. Mum has one, too. She doesn't like to talk about it." Hermione put her hand in Harry's and gave him a reassuring smile.
"I'm sorry, Harry. Really, I am. I didn't know…" She released his hand and walked quietly with him to the bookstore, Flourish and Blotts. He could tell she wanted to say something else and he was glad that she didn't. They stepped into the bookshop and his jaw dropped. Hermione looked like she was in heaven. There were all manner of books here about anything and everything you could think of. Hermione tugged him towards the stacks of books piled onto shelves and exclaimed over every book. Harry started to feel better, her excitement washing over him. They were just making their way to a different section, Hermione's arms already laden with extra reading and handing some to Harry to carry when he saw his mother walking towards him, a relaxed smile on her face.
"Having fun?" She asked, looking at the stack of books in his arms as Hermione added another and replaced one from the middle back onto the shelf she had gotten it from. She was muttering to herself. The number times he had gone to the library with her over the summers had gone similarly. His mum simply shook her head and kissed his cheek. "We've already gotten all your school books. The twins are worn out. Let's get you checked out Hermione. Your parents are eager to hear about all the things you have gotten today. We'll get some ice cream before we leave for home." She stroked his hair as Hermione, grabbed the books and raced off to find her parents, the books teetering dangerously in her arms.
"Are you alright, sweetheart?" His mum was looking down at him, a concerned look on her face and Harry nodded.
"I'm alright, mum. Just tired, I s'pose." She gave him a kind smile and led him to Sirius. He opened his trunk and Sirius dropped a stack of books into the trunk with a thud.
"Took your time getting here, eh? These books are heavy," his godfather joked, ruffling his hair to Harry's chagrin. Ivy and Caelum took his hands as Sirius took his trunk. They made their way to the ice cream shop with the Grangers, Hermione was animatedly telling them all about the things she gotten and about the books she bought as extra. Harry stayed quiet as they made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron to go home.
"I'll be over soon. We can start going over some of the books, so read through them. I'll be there as soon as school is through, alright?" She hugged him goodbye before she left with her parents.
The sun had been setting on Diagon Alley, but at home, it was still early afternoon. He smiled as he watched Sirius wrestle with the twins and Charlie. While the day had certainly been weird, it had still been fun, they even got ready to go to the beach, Harry's favorite place. Soon, he left most of what Mr. Ollivander had said in the back of his mind, as the waves crashed into them as he gave Caelum a piggy back ride into the deeper waters.
Don't worry, I didn't forget about Remus and Addie. They will obviously still be in this story. I have plans for them!