A/N: THIS WAS EIGHT PAGES LONG! HOLY SMOKES! Its roughly a thousand more words than the last chapter. Don't you love me? Ahaha... PRing it was a bit harsh. But I am on an update spree! Whoo hoo! (nevermind this chapter was already mostly written a week or two ago .)

Disclaimer: I do not own this fandom or original idea, I just take it out for a walk. Like a dog walker does for other peoples pets.

Rating: K+ to T

"abcde…" – general conversation

"abdce"-Speaking a foreign language (Italian, French, Spanish, etc with the exception for Parseltongue)

Abcde- Thoughts

$abdce$- Parseltongue

A Rational Child

Chapter 4: Cairo and Shopping

While Harry and Severus were off to Cairo to buy school supplies the bank, Gringotts was buzzing like a kicked bee hive. The goblins in charge of accounting, soliciting, and vault management were beside themselves. Some forthright bastard had dared to break the sanctity of their bank! It was preposterous! It was infuriating! It made more than one of them pick up old family heirlooms and slash furniture in rampant rage induced by blood lust! When they finally got a hold of Albus Dumbledore, they were going to strip that goat-like old coot naked before fileting the flesh off his bones! In public! Especially in public! Damn delicate sensibilities! They were goblins and they wanted more than their damn pound of flesh! The wanted to leave less than a pound left! Dozens upon dozens of items had to be found and returned to the Potter Lord!The exact number was mind boggling! To have four hundred and eight three artifacts in all stolen, half of them priceless heirlooms and the others books that were speculated on even existing, made them froth at the mouth. More than one honor duel was called during those short hours, and Gringotts did something they had never done in the six hundred and thirty-eight years of existence, they had temporarily closed!

The Goblin Lord watched as his clan bustled around, cursing, snarling and snapping, his heavy brows deeply forming a large series of wrinkles on his fore head. His dark beetle black eyes glared at more than one figure as he fingered his axe handle angrily. Gringotts was legendary for being the most securing bank place in the world. To have this come to light made him heighten all and any security measures. Dragons, sphinxes, and massive domesticated chimeras were acquired and placed in strategic places and before any vault with a number lower than five hundred and each block of numbers higher had a rather massive contingent of goblins now seated beside it. Spells, traps, and doors reinforced. As a specialized team was formed to track down the items, another was formed to specifically guarantee and look over the vaults. A similar type of travesty as this had spurred on the last Goblin Rebellion and it would be wise for Albus Goat-Face Dumbledoreh to keep a hand on his little magical twig, because when the first of September came the Gringotts clan would be knocking on his door. Which reminded the Gringotts Lord, he had a series of vaults filled with gains (both legally and illegally gotten) to inspect and claim from that odious and twinkle eyed bastard.

Harry and Severus landed with a mild thump. For a moment it looked like the young teen was battling between finding losing his balance, throwing up, and exclaiming in annoyance. However, Severus quickly caught his arm and settled him before any of the three could happen.

"Thank you," Harry said grumpily. "I'm not sure if that's better than apparation or worse."

"Neither way of travelling is very comfortable, but they are quite effective and quick." Severus said. Severus had a small spark of humor and wondered absently how the sensible youth would take the Knight Bus. Not very well, he thought as he watched the boy grumpily straighten his cuffs and hat. Thought it would be amusing to see him knocked back or his first glimpse at the "seating" the bus offered. All of which, wasn't bolted down.

"Yes," Harry admitted reluctantly. "I guess efficiency is more important that a slight discomfort."

"Very sensible," Severus said with a nod, "However, I am certain you will become more accustomed to the modes of travel over the years. It is usually only the first few times that disorientate the travelers."

"Yes, well, let us get our business done here so we can go shopping." Harry said earning another nod.

Harry stood inside the bookstore flipping through the books in sincere interest. Several titles were down right fascinating alone and he was encouraged to think that the content might even be more so. He'd retrieved his telescope and a maintenance kit for it, and was hoping to do some pleasure shopping before the draining affair of buying his uniform and such. From what Severus said the fittings often took a long while, and they used pins. He was not looking forward to being poked and pricked for at least half an hour. The fact he needed five casual uniforms, two formal ones, and a martial arts uniform made up of leather and protective materials was slightly daunting. Not to mention the other items like his hats, shoes, and cloaks that had to be picked as well.

"Harry take a look at this," Severus called over from a few bookcases down. Harry carried the two numerology and arithmancy books over.

"What is it?" Harry asked curiously.

"It's an in-depth guide on the complex mixture of Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, and Wards in the defense against battle magic. It's very well written and unavailable back in Britain." Severus said handing Harry copy, marking his current page with a well-placed finger as he shuffled a few tomes around in his arms to do so. Harry's own interest was piqued and he took the aforementioned book and leafed through it. It was exceedingly well written with a basic outline on the different types of magic, how the separate branches were used, and even had strategies with references on every page. It was reasonably thick and had a sturdy leather binding. They stood there for half an hour going through the book before being interrupted by a slightly amused clerk trying to get by. Harry instantly trailed after the clerk since he was carrying a stack of books that looked to be a thick compilation of the different languages used by sentient magical creatures and beings. In other words, fascinating.

Finally dragging his basket over to a clerk at the check-out counter he unloaded all fifty-four books out of it making the clerk's eyes widen in surprise. Severus followed reluctantly and grudging handed over money for his smaller stack of twelve. Finally, with packages shrunk and tucked away in their pockets, they stood outside of a limestone building with a small cursive sign reading, "Robes and the Finer Things, by Flute."

Harry followed the Professor inside studying the fabrics draped in clusters and design posters with pictures flitting to and fro, showing off for them. "How can Flute's be of services today?" A calm voice asked and Harry glanced to meet the kindly face of a plump clerk.

"I need to buy robes for MAGIC at Alexcandria." Harry said using his new school's acronym.

"Ah," the woman said checking off a few items on a slip of parchment before handing it to Harry, "take that back to one of the fitting rooms," she pointed to a series of small rooms with drapes in front of them, "and give that to the seamstress or tailor waiting for you. After you're finished come back here and you can pay for purchases. If you need anything else or require certain items besides robes like accessories or such they're available on the wall or in a catalogue."

"Thank you," Harry said.

"I'm headed to the Apothecary," Severus told him before shooing him off, "I'll be back for you in an hour or so." Harry glanced back before nodding and entering an open room.

"Hello," a thin man said. "I'm Pinns, how can I help you today?" Harry silently handed over the slip of paper. The man read it over with a slight hum.

"I see, off to MAGIC are you?" He said before glancing critically over Harry's outfit. "Are you Muggleborn or Muggle-raised?" He asked and Harry paused before nodding. "I see. Well, would you care to buy any casual non-school robes, and have a run through of the different materials and the enchantments we can cast on them before we begin?"

"Yes, to the robes, and yes to the run through, that would be quite helpful," Harry said with a slight note of relief and interest.

"Well then, let's start with the different materials and the charms they can come with." Pins said summoning a catalogue to his hands. "These are the different fabrics available," he said after opening the book and a thick tablet of different fabrics appeared containing small samples. "The most expensive, of course, are Acromantula silk, dragon hide, and lethifold skin. The more inexpensive fabrics are these…" Harry felt and studied the different fabrics. The most expensive ones were best suited for either formal robes or armor, while the Muggle silk, Magical and Muggle versions of cotton would do well in a wide variety of robes and came in more than one color. The different enchantments covered; self-cleaning, self-ironing, spill proof, ink proof, water proof, potion proof, fire proof, and on and on.

"What do you think? Which ones do you favor?" Pins asked holding out the color sample booklet and the fabric booklet. Harry flipped through them to his favorites and the ones that would be most reasonable.

"Well, I like these greens, blues, grays, and reds," Harry said picking out a few stripes of colors, "These browns and tans would do well as well, and black of course." This made several of the fabric samples, as well as the other color pallets, disappear. "For my formal school robes, let's go with the Acromantula silk lined with Muggle silk, and for the casual school five of the Magical Cotton and five of the Magical wool in the correct school colors. Then a mixture of dragon leather, lethifold skin, and Muggle cotton would be perfect for the martial arts uniform." Harry said and a list began forming itself on the chalkboard next to them. "For the everyday non-schooling robes I'll go with a mix after looking through the different designs. But that'll come later when we go over the shoes, hats, and cloaks. For everything school related I want your For the Smart and Growing Wizard' special." In the store there were several groups of charms, the one Harry asked for covered several proofings, self-cleaning, and size adjustments within a six centimeters.

"Very well," the tailor said. "Please undress." The next hour or so the fittings and tailoring were pinned, sewed and measured. After the tailor had made his first version of a robe he duplicated the sizing and markings onto another in the same material instantly changing it. Then he hung them outside on a small hook with a paper informing who ever enchanted it what charms needed to be cast. All the while they discussed how many robes would be needed for casual Wizarding fashion, how acceptable non-Magical clothing was to Harry's new school, what occasions would allow for it and which ones demanded higher forms of dress or Wizarding robes. By the time they finished Harry had selected a second wardrobe of just Wizarding clothes, been fitted for his school uniform, and had plenty of new shoes and other accessories to pick out. He left two hours later with twelve bags shrunken and tucked away in his bag. Amusingly so, Severus was still in the Apothecary when Harry found him arguing with another man about the uses of some strange worm like creatures in a rather inexpensive version of a rather generic Anti-Insomnia potion. It took another ten minutes but the pair finally stopped arguing and agreed to send each other their own personal recipes for comparison and testing.

"Oh, Harry," Severus said glancing to the side in a smug fashion earning himself a small shock when he saw the eleven year old watching on looking faintly amused. "You took your time buying your robes." Harry shrugged.

"I got a full Wizarding wardrobe on top of the school items. It took an extra hour or so to get all of the fittings made and items chosen. I figured you would be fine in the Apothecary, since there must be items here you aren't able to get in Britain."

"Yes, I'm arranging for a number of items to be shipped home to me." Severus Potion Master had barely noticed the time passing as he was shopping and was surprised when Harry met with him there. "Well, would you like to stop and buy some lunch before getting your wand?" Harry nodded.

After a light lunch of rice, meat and vegetable kabobs, salad, mixed fruit, and freshly squeezed juice the duo went in search of a wand shop. The bazaar was quite massive, rows upon rows of stores and stalls interlocking and sprawling out around each other. They were grouped together by type of course, the cheapest furthest out and near to the residential cross-sections while the more expensive ones were towards the center near the tourist Apparation, Floo, and portkey points. Food stalls and restaurants like the one Harry and Severus had stopped at had its own section as well and sprung up like weeds in a garden everywhere. Finally, they found the section specifically for unique wares or personal items like wands or other magical foci. The two, slowing down to look at a number of items on display, finally entered a rather respectable looking wand shop, drawn by the sound of light music and the faint scent of roses. A lightly garbed man stepped out through a door way behind the counter and smiled warmly in greeting at them when they entered. He was deeply tanned, with a lean figure more suited for outside activities than indoor ones. His face was warm but aristocratic with a straight nose and bright white teeth. His rather thick eyebrows arched over dark chocolate eyes which danced merrily in welcome. After skimming Severus figure that is. Harry seeing the quiet flicker of eyes had to hide a giggle when his older companion flushed a tad at the attention.

"Good day," the man said in heavily accented English. "What can I do for you?"

"Mr. Potter here," Severus said, clasping the boy on the shoulder gently, "is in need of his first wand." The man's face lit up and he motioned them over to a small backless couch circling around a low coffee table.

"Ah, you're first wand, it is a special thing." The man said with a smile. "Most wizards and witches are paired with their first wand all their life. Come, tell Abdul a little about yourself, Mr. Potter, so I may make your wand just right."

"Make?" Severus asked startled. "You don't have them premade like Ollivander's?" The deeply tanned man snorted in amusement.

"You British and premade items! You should know that the best quality pieces, the most comfortable and luxurious, are hand crafted to the person they belong to! Why would wands not be the same?" Abdul said with a chuckle. Severus flushed a bit more before nodding.

"Now, tell me about yourself, Mr. Potter," Abdul said bending forward. "Just who are you?" The boy nodded and relaxed into his seat chatting a bit about himself, his likes and dislikes. Like how he enjoyed quiet evenings with a warm glass of tea and a book during the winter. Or how he was a determined business man and accomplished student, far ahead of his own peers in several Muggle fields. The young savior spoke of growing up with few friends, and not really having anyone. All of it was said with a quiet air of civility and manners. Little awkwardness could be found in his tidy and forthright nature. The logical discussion and attitude of the lad made the wandmaker chuckle while nodding.

"And when is your birthday, Harry?" The man asked with a small smile.

"July 31st, 1980," the boy's prompt reply came. The wandmaker nodded again before standing.

"I will be right back with a number of items. Wait just a moment." The man disappeared into the back of his store for a few minutes before coming back with a chest. It was a heavy looking item with thick metal hinges and a rather foreboding front latch with a thick and heavy lock. The man sat it before him and said, "Touch the lock, and think about what makes you, you." Harry stared at the man for a moment, before resting his fingertips against the lock.

Miraculously, he felt it warm and then bite down on his hand. "Ouch!" Harry said softly in surprise. It earned him a surprised look from the wandmaker and an arched one from the Potion Master. "It bit me." Harry said in a startled tone. After a few moments a jolt of electricity went through him and something released him. Cradling his hand to his chest Harry stared at the box as it creaked open. The sound was almost mocking.

"Now reach in," Abdul said. Harry shot him a look of distrust and a silent of question of 'do I have to?' The man merely nodded to him seriously. Warily Harry stuck his hand into the box and kept going down to his amazement. There was no bottom, or that's what it felt like. "Do you feel anything yet?" The wandmaker asked and Harry shook his head as he concentrated and swing his arm and wrist around feeling for something. Suddenly something cold and slick met his hand and he felt his eyebrows go up.

"You felt something?" Severus asked catching the minute response. Harry nodded.

"Good," the wandmaker said eagerly, "Pull it out!" Harry nodded solemnly and gave his arm a firm tug as he pulled whatever it was in his hand out.

There in his palm was a fist sized stone. There was a hint of sparkle to it. A light pink around the edges it had a deepen orange color until darkening into a blood orange color at the center.

"Ah!" Abdul said clapping his hands together. "A Padparadscha Sapphire!" Harry's face jerked around to him.

"It's a what?!" Harry asked shocked. "Do you know how much this is worth?"

"It's a fourteen carat orange sapphire, of course I know what it's worth!" the man exclaimed.

"Fourteen carats?!" Harry hissed. "There was a five carat sapphire ring that sold for roughly fourteen thousand pounds a few years ago! Where the bloody hell did you get a fourteen carat Padparadascha Sapphire in this water? Much less let me pull it out! The fact it is still hasn't been faceted makes it worth even more!" The professor edged away from the stone and box. The jewel would most likely be worth at least part of his salary for the year if not all of it. He had no interest in damaging it, there would be no way to afford it if he did.

"Nonsense! You're the one who found it! If you hadn't someone else would eventually!" The man replied. Harry's mind reeled. Shaking his head Harry carefully set the stone in the middle of the table.

"Now what?" Harry asked staring at the man dubiously. He wasn't the only one though. Severus was beginning to wonder if the wandmaker was a bit touched in the head as well.

"You put your hand right back in and find another something! You just keeping doing that til the box closes!" Harry felt another headache starting to form. It was going to be another one of those days wasn't it?

Harry reached in several times, each time coming out with something different. Once it had been a vial of blurry, purple liquid. Another, a long black feather with silver edges and a spine of silver as well. Finally the chest sealed itself and seven things were laid out on the table. Two were pieces of wood, ordinary looking, one was the vial of liquid that Harry stared dubiously at after retrieving, then the feather with the sapphire seated placidly next to it, a lump of some indistinguishable metal and a small bag filled with what appeared to be some animal's hair.

"Remarkable!" The shop owner exclaimed rubbing his hands together excitedly. "This," he picked up the first block of wood, "is oak! Very well suited to your birth sign and the fact it holds power over lightning! The other wood," he picked up the next piece, "is elm. Graceful, and known for rebirth."

"Okay," Harry said with a nod. The man picked up the vial next and held it out presenting it to the pair.

"This is blood." Harry stared at it.

"It's purple." The boy said flatly.

"It is indeed." The man didn't clarify however.

"What creature?" The Potion Master asked interested. Most of the blood he dealt with was a form of red blood due to the hemoglobin; to be purple it must be something rare and perhaps even dangerous to get.

"Nundu." The man said cheerfully. "Willingly given and mixed with the creature's breath." Harry's merely arched a confused eyebrow at the professor's slack jawed expression. The wandmaker moved on quickly however picking up the feather and waving it around delicately, leaving no time for question. "This is a tail feather from a Nightmare Phoenix, known for its abilities of wisdom, protection, and the ability to live in two worlds at once. It suits you, Harry since you straddle two worlds so effortlessly. Are so many things at once, deadly but kind, experienced but young, a boy sized conundrum. Just as a Light phoenix is a sign of hope, the Nightmare Phoenix is only seen when things are truly dark or beside one who is truly a changer of worlds." He set the feather down and picked up the lump of metal. "This is pewter, most likely for your old blood and charm. You have manners my young magician, abilities of old, skills that date back to simpler and more powerful times. Finally, the hairs," He set the lump aside and opened the bag. "Through the Chinese Astrological calendar, you are considered a Metal Monkey. They are wise businessmen and quite loyal. It suits your calm decisiveness, just as your bravery connects you to your inner lion. You have little fantasy due to your monkey side, so enjoy your cat naps." Harry felt a small smile flit at the corner of his lips before nodding. "These hairs," Abdul said finally showing the sparkling gray-blue hairs to them, "are demiquise hair. A magical ape with the ability to turn itself invisible, something you are able to do as you please, Harry. A gift of silent and perhaps even secretive observation."

"What will you do with them, the items, Abdul?" Harry asked as the man gathered them up. The man paused and glanced at him in a rare moment of seriousness.

"I am going to make you your wand." Then he disappeared into the back again the items cradled to his chest and the heavy box under his arm. The two sat there for a moment staring after him.

"He's kinda weird." Harry finally said sounding remarkably young and off centered. Nothing like his cool collected and mature outlook that generally coated each word and sentence he dictated.

"He's a wandmaker." Severus replied wondering just how Harry would take the rather startling and maybe off-balanced old wandmaker Ollivander back in Britain. He felt rather relieved that he would never know.

The shop was eerily silent for the past thirty minutes. The music had vanished but the smell of roses and soft herbs were still cloying in their duplicity. The scents mulled the two in a soft thoughtfulness, chatting softly about the books and items they'd already bought. Harry hadn't understood the reason for cloaks and robes in this modern era of lighter dress. To be completely honest, Severus wasn't particularly fond of some of the styles of robes either. Waxing on about the abysmal explosions, cauldron tip overs, and supply spills that happened hourly in his potion lab due to the rather destructive garments.

"You can't forbid them from wearing it to the class or have some sort of modification they're required to wear over the ghastly things when attending your lectures?" Harry asked curiously. The potion master paused and thought it out. The school handbook required that students wear their robes and uniforms to class, but it never said anything about modifications, or hell, even removing the blasted, dunderheaded things once they came in. Of course, there were plenty of other problems that those who took potions regularly were hampered by, but removing the robes… It would clear some of the more straight forward problems and difficulties. Not to mention a severe decrease in the number of damn burn relief potions the hospital wing would need.

"I believe you are speaking sense, Harry," Severus finally said. "I could request that all students remove their robes and forbid any type of dragging sleeve."

"And their long hair?" Harry asked thinking back to all of his science lab classes. The older wizard winced remembering one rather foolish and girly Hufflepuff who's hair had caught on fire and been soaked in potion. That had been one nightmare that made him excessively irritated with the females in his class, never mind their incessant need for gossip.

"What would you suggest?" Severus asked.

"All hair longer than chin length must be tied or pinned back. If the hair is too wild a bandana would do well to keep it out of cauldron distance." Harry said. "At least, that's how it was generally handled in the chemistry labs I attended. If the girls kick up a fuss, tell them that it's better than losing part of their hair or heaven forbid, going bald. Any infringements should result in first a warning, then subsequent detention. Repeated incorrect behavior or dress should result in suspension of their personal time in class and a weekend supplementary class. I'm sure the other professors will agree once you further explain the dangers they present. You could even present a ban on any open footwear if they're allowed and require that all girls wear pants in your class. It is for the protection of their skin, flesh, and limbs after all."

"Your rationality always makes strides forward, Harry," Severus said mentally agreeing with everything the boy was saying.

"What do you think of holding remedial classes for all first years during the first three weeks of the semester so they could learn the proper way of handling their ingredients?" Harry asked as he thought about what he hadn't quite understood in one of the books Severus had suggested. "Many of your first years won't have the necessary training needed for those first potions and extra classes could help." The older man studied him before thinking over his folded hands before nodding. Dumbledore had always waved off any of the other teachers suggestions for supplementary classes and earlier career discussion. Really, it made sense to talk to them during their fifth year, but letting them decide their electives willy-nilly without any idea of what kind of job outlook they would have was pure stupidity. He smirked when he thought of speaking to Minerva once more. The lioness was more of a chimera or sphinx in his opinion. Deadly, dangerous, and most of all cunning for her cubs. Put a flea in her ear about how much safer all the students would be willing to battle it out with him. The same could be said for Pomona. Filius would agree since it would mean more learning period. Glancing at the short boy next to him Severus smiled.

"You must write while you're away Harry," Severus said with all serious. "I believe I will quickly miss your logical side. The British Wizarding society is filled with… Dunderheads."

"Of course," Harry said with a smile of his own. "I would never deprive you of exhilarating conversation. The thought boggles the mind."

When Abdul finally returned the pair had been sitting there chatting for over two hours. Numerous discussions and arguments been played out stemming from what the potion students should wear to class, how many weeks of remedial classes would be necessary, and what deserved to be punished.

"Breathing too loudly? Really?! You've taken off for that before? Why ever would you take off for that? I understand gossiping or chit chatting during a lesson… But breathing to loudly? You must be joking!"

"I'm not. You would be surprised by what the little buggers do that risk destroying their potions. There's no good reason as to breathing as loudly or as hard as they did! It was purposefully distracting and—Ah," Severus broke off when the wandmaker cleared his throat. He glanced at Harry pointedly who nodded slightly. They'd discuss it more over dinner. The wandmaker shuffled forward and set a silk covered pillow on the table before Harry.

"Your wand," the man said before he softly tugged the white silk cloth away. On the turquoise pillow sat a slender wand. Its wooden shaft alternated between a buttery pale off white almost yellow color and a dark gold-orange. Its handle was made of the former lump of pewter and had delicate scroll work and etching along it in a beautiful pattern. The orange-pink sapphire had been cut into a marquise setting surrounded by slender chips of the same stones and what appeared to be tiny ruins. Harry felt an immediate tugging from somewhere deep inside and his right hand twitched forward. Awestruck, the eleven year old's slender and small fingers wrapped around the handle. A surge of pure joy and power coursed through him, making his blood swing with pleasure and ecstasy. On instinct alone, the boy trailed the wand's now glowing tip through the air and a series of images made of light, sparks, and smoke followed forming into a beautiful scrollwork. Smiling wider than he ever did before, Harry beamed at the wandmaker.

"I love it."

"Good," the man said a smile equally as wide. "Because you'll probably hate the price." That didn't elicit a groan, though Harry did wince a bit when he finally did hear the price.

A/N: Please review! And be clear in your reviews! I've gotten some that seem to have text speak for my other works. But still, please review!