Harry was sitting at the breakfast table, idly poking at the remnants of his dutch omelette.

Sirius returned to the dining room and said, "I need to go into Diagon Alley, to look at a space to potentially purchase for a storefront. You want to come along?"

"Sure," he said and pushed the plate away and went to grab his overrobes.

In his room a Darkling was just standing on the small shelf next to his boombox, his form even more amorphous than usual. Harry made a mental note to really discover his form for them, something he found both comforting and terrifying. "What are you doing?" he asked as he shed his sweats and pulled on his black BDU trousers then pulled on his Arsenal hoodie followed by his favorite overrobes. He wasn't a fan of the type Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, and the fireteam wore due to constant tripping over the hem.

"Guarding your room, Master. The cat urinated in here yesterday." A gift to them from Mrs. Figg, it was more cat than kneazle and didn't like Harry. The dislike was mutual.

"Don't kill it, just keep it out of my room."

As soon as he was downstairs, the fireteam appeared—alerted by the Keeper they were needed, Harry decided—as he told Sirius about the cat.

"I'll put a cat repelling spell on your door and talk to the cat later." It was kneazle enough to understand him when he was Padfoot.

They apparated once they were in the forest and reappeared in the small room in the inn set aside for apparition.

Stepping out quickly, they joined the other wizard and witches queuing to enter the alley from the inn.

"How come there were so few people when the muggleborns went through?"

"Since it's the same day every year, most avoid the alley so they don't have to wait for the tour to finish up. Same with the first days of the breaks and the first week of the summer. Most parents bring their kids those days to deal with presents, new clothes, and so on so everyone else avoids the alley. Your dad and I loved shopping on those days."

"Why?"

"Pranking."

Harry nodded. It was only in their sixth year people started hiding in fear over the unexplained deaths and disappearances.

"How—how did dad deal with grandma's death and gramps' disappearance?"

"Well he knew your grandfather wasn't dead," he said softly. "And your grandparents were both rather old and your grandmother poorly after illnesses so her death wasn't unexpected."

Harry nodded, lost in thought until a loud voice called out "SIRIUS!"

He turned to see a massive mountain of a man heading their way. In his peripheral vision he saw various people watching and Sirius wave off the fireteam.

The man grabbed up Sirius and he realized the man was even taller than Harry had thought. Sirius was six foot one and the man was another two or three heads taller. He estimated the man was eight feet tall.

He heard Atum cast a privacy spell and saw a gold bubble of light surround them all as Marianna said the man was an old friend of them all. An Egyptian privacy spell, Harry realized, recognizing it from his dreams.

Sirius was set down then the man looked down at Harry as Harry looked up and his eyes went wide. "Harry?" he breathed.

"Harry, this is Hagrid[1]. Hagrid, Harry."

"Cor, I 'aven't seen yer since yer could fit inna palm of me 'and."

Once Harry got through his thick accent, he realized what he meant. "So..., a week ago?" he asked, looking at the man's hands.

Hagrid snorted then let loose a great belly laugh, patting him roughly on the head.

He asked what they were doing in the Alley and Sirius said, "Looking into purchasing a storefront. The one across from Ollivander's. For a wand that teaches—actually, I could use your help with it," he said to Hagrid and asked him to come visit them in a half an hour at the shop.

"Aye, enuff time ter finish Albus's errand. Gotter get somethin' fromma vault fer 'im.""

Once the two were done talking, Harry and Sirius walked on. "Hagrid is the keeper of the grounds and forest at Hogwarts. He's near eighty and was a good, good friend of your parents and Remus and I."

"He's eighty‽ He looks as old as you!"

"Not sure if that was a compliment to him or an insult to me," Sirius said.

For a moment, Harry looked nervous until his godfather laughed and pulled him tight in a side-hug.

The building across from Ollivander's was new looking compared to the rest and made of brick and mortar instead of wood.

The witch representing the owner was there and showed them the three floors flats above it and the tiny half-dozen places under the place after Sirius proclaimed the place viable after some dwarven remodeling.

"Why dwarves?" Harry asked.

"Humans for woodcraft, goblins for metal, dwarves for stone," Sirius said. "Magical affinities. It's why most buildings are wood. Few can afford craftsdwarves. A wizard or a witch can work in either and become just as skilled but it's like putting an Olympian runner up against a greyhound. The dog is better built for running than the human."

"Oh. That's what he meant." Harry didn't elaborate but Sirius was sure he meant a conversation with Charlus.

Sirius offered fifteen percent under the asking price and she promised to owl within a week.

Across the street, Sirius removed one of the P-WANDs and asked, "Can I enlarge this for Hagrid without causing issues? And have you ever thought about wands for squibs? They can do certain spells to help with cleaning and the like." It was a question Harry had had a few days before during dinner.

"Be powered by replaceable temporary magicite cores," Harry suggested. "To create a long-term customer. And a subscription service to replace the cores?"

Ollivander looked curiously upwards as his wand twirled and the P-WAND in Sirius's hand grew twice as long and almost twice as thick. "I shall owl you as soon as a working prototype is ready. Same monetary arrangements?"

Harry nodded and Ollivander held his hand out. A second shake with Sirius sealed the deal.

Outside, Harry pointed at the top floor. "Tonks is looking for a flat. I bet she'd like one."

"Her mum would kill me."

Harry grinned then turned at Hagrid calling Sirius's name. He was holding an owl in an ornate cage and held it out to Harry. It was a beautiful white owl who looked Harry over then seemed to nod. "Alaria sed 'Arry dint 'ave an owl."

"Alaria? She runs the Owl Registry at the Emporium now?" At Hagrid's nod, he turned to Harry. "The Owl Registry tracks the purchase and ownership of owls to make sure they're properly cared for. Which breed is that?"

"Snowy Owl," Hagrid said as Harry accepted the owl. "Yer parents're greatly missed."

Sirius handed over the massive wand, wrapped in a length of conjured cloth and the manual for it then went into the spiel. "I know you can't have a wand but someday you may. You won't be NEWT level but they're all the spells a wizard should know by the end of school."

Hagrid sniffled then hugged Sirius again who groaned at the strain on his ribs.

"Does he—err, she? Anyway, named already?" Harry asked.

"Err, no, ye'll havta do that," Hagrid said, wiping moisture from his eyes. "An' she'sa girl."

~•~

Harry sat on his bed, the owl resting on the back of the throne. "The first of my family had a mother named Jadwiga. The english translation is Hedwig. It's also a name I saw in my History of Magic text. How do you feel about that?"

She flew to him and landed on his shoulder, nibbling at his hair as he laughed. "I guess you do like it.

"You'll need to meet some people."

He stood carefully then pulled his blackout curtains.

Darklings began to appear and Hedwig brought her wings up, ready to take flight until they began to bow.

"Why're you bowing?"

"Always bow to magical animals[2]," the Darkling advised. "Hedwig will he protected by us always, Master. Request the werewolf purchase a mail harness for her and you will soon need hollow, openable medals or some sort of token for your followers to wear that Darklings can reside within to protect them."

Harry imagined a hollow saint medallion and nodded. His grandfather's fireteam wore such medallions. "Good idea."

He dismissed them then set Hedwig back on the throne and sat in it, picking up his history book. "See? Here's the name?"

Harry closed his book and stood. "Hedwig, if you get hungry, you can ring that bell and Sinister will bring you a mou—"

The bell was instantly rung by a rapid peck of her beak.

"—se or you can fly outside…," Harry finished.

He chuckled as he finished pulling his hoodie on then picked up his shoes and headed downstairs as he heard Sinister pop up and the squealing of a frightened mouse then a barking hoot.

He was tying his laces as he sat on the steps when the front door opened and Tonks said, "Hey, ready?"

The bell rang again and Harry snickered.

"What was that?"

"I told Hedwig she could ring a bell in my room to get a mouse delivered."

Tonks laughed as Harry yelled, "Sirius!"

"We're going now," he told his godfather when he looked out of his office.

"Got your portkey?" Harry nodded. Subterfuge for Tonks. "Wand?" Nod as he tapped the chamaeleon skin dropleg holster on his thigh. "Backup wands?" Another nod and a tap on his forearm and their sheath connected to a spiked wrist band from Tonks. "Money?"

"Two hundred pounds and fifty galleons."

"Have fun."

"Why so much in galleons?" Tonks asked as they went out to her waiting car, a Land Rover 127. Harry had been surprised the first time he saw it and even more surprised that the muggle neighbors had thought the military surplus vehicle a great treat to see, shocked how a few thousand feet and more disposable income could make a person see an old vehicle as a sign of class where the denizens of Privet Drive would have seen her as an uncouth barbarian. She had received half a dozen offers to purchase it and even an offer to trade it for a brand new Lotus Elan that came with a marriage proposal. She had turned him down, deflecting it with her father and her cousin more than willing to violently disappear a cute man older than them trying to date her. The 'suitor' had laughed uproariously.

They stopped at McDonald's and got dinner to go then spent the ride with Harry quizzing Tonks for her entrance quiz to the Auror Academy.


Albus walked out of the governors' meeting, extremely satisfied. Decades of mismanagement of funds—another curse of Riddle's he was sure—had just been negated he hoped. Instead of the governors managing the fund—and embezzling, he knew but couldn't prove due to the curse—the goblins would now manage a greatly expanded fund due to a rather large bequest from Charlus Potter, due to a 'recently discovered' document.

Now he could once again restart certain classes, have multiple instructors for fields—Minerva and the rest of his staff shouldn't be required to abuse a time-turner to do their jobs. And now he had to decide what to do about Severus. His spy needed to be protected in case he was ever needed again but was dreadfu—then epiphany struck and Albus did a little jig before apparating to Hogsmeade.

He walked to his brother's inn. They may not have been on good terms but Aberforth was still an excellent spymaster, as good as Sirius had been turning out to be by the end of the war. He made a mental note to suggest to Sirius he should reactivate his network but wouldn't he surprised if he hadn't already.

"A few moments is all I require," he told his brother once inside.

As he related his plans, Aberforth nodded occasionally. "I won't spend my informants."

"I would never ask you to," Albus said. "And one last request. Please find Slugworth? I will soon be able to afford the proper amount of staff for the school."

Aberforth nodded. "Good day."

Albus nodded himself then left. A chilly reception but no epithets: he decided it went quite well.


Sirius's eyes snapped open and he looked at the clock. Almost three. Tonks and Harry were sneaking into the house, trying not to be noisy. He pulled his invisibility cloak over himself and waited on the couch, not wanting Harry to think he waited up for them as he had. Or tried.

A few minutes later, he went upstairs to find Harry asleep on top of his duvet still dressed, a bag of concert items on his throne—though Sirius wondered why he had elected to buy such a weird looking guitar, a Darkling watching his master sleep, then a half-dressed Tonks—her tee and boots were off but jeans were still on—in her "permanent-so-it-really-wasn't-a-guest" room as she had put it. Sirius grimaced when he realized seeing Tonks's breasts felt quite wrong.

He went to his room and sent Sinister in to get them in bed properly as he fell onto his own bed, avoiding Cleopatra, their finally named cat—after a girl they went to school with who had wet herself in her sixth year.

~•~

At breakfast the next morning, Tonks kissed Harry's cheek goodbye, turning the boy a brilliant red.

Once she was gone, Sirius smirked. "Okay, so aside from that—which I will grill you about—how was the concert?"

"It was amazing! AC/DC headlined and they were okay. The rest of the bands were better than them."

He went on and on about the acts until finally Sirius asked, "Okay, so what was with the major blush from the kiss? She's hugged and kissed you before."

"Who kissed him?" Gramps said as he floated into the room.

"Tonks kissed him goodbye and he turned oh so red."

"Ahh, the metamorph. Your gran had the talent. Not as good as your cousin. She could do her hair and eye color. So What caused the blush?"

"She flashed the band just as I turned around to ask her something and accidentally, ermm, licked her n-nipple." It wasn't exactly a lick but he wasn't sure how to put how her nipple went into his open mouth. Every male nearby who had seen it high-fived him. His shoulder still ached from it, especially since Hetfield had seen it and he and Tonks had gone backstage and he had told the band how it happened. Hetfield and all the other bands' members had signed Hetfield's guitar and taken pictures with him and Tonks.

Sirius looked at him in awe as Charlus looked impressed. "Wow, it took your dad to fifteen to get that far with a witch! Oh, why did you buy a guitar?"

That led to the story of going backstage and how Harry had received a guitar with a sticker that said EET FUK on it.

Late that evening, Tonks' owl, a sooty owl with a gas problem, arrived with a thick packet and Harry opened it to find she had had her film developed magically. The picture version of him was either looking very chill with all the bands or staring at Tonks in awe as she flashed either bra or breasts in a couple of the shots.

He put them in his safe except one of her flashing with just him and the guitar in the shot, placing it as a bookmark in his ideas notebook.


With September 1 looming ever larger, Harry was figuring what exactly to take to school: specifically what to carry and what to keep in the trunk.

He had it in the desk mode at the moment and placed all the books and stationery supplies on it as the Keeper did the checklist and Charlus waxed nostalgic about his own first year and James's.

"Your dad's first year I really went overboard. Bought him the best broom, an obscene amount of candy, fully enchanted combat robes," he mused as Harry grinned while Sirius leaned in the doorway and Remus in the hall laughed. "Your dad is why first years aren't allowed brooms. He kept flying through the halls, trying to set a record for every hall."

He decided to keep his notebook and half the stationery supplies in his satchel; his two lists—the Darkness list and the list of magicks he was interested in finding out more about; some candy; two of his backup wands—with three more in the desk and the other two on the strap for his wrist; his dad's old pocket knife next to his wallet and coin purse; his dad's old auror kit which Remus was updating—he still wasn't sure what it was beyond common use potions and a 'muggle interaction kit;' he rolled up his posters of Iron Man, the Holyhead Harpies, his runebreaker poster—Bill had made it for him, an interactive teaching poster that taught him how to break runic arrays safely, and a dragon morphology poster from Charlie that showed how to fight and dissect a different dragon every day, then put them on the dresser next to his wallet; and his current comics went into his satchel. "Do you want me to forward you your comics or save them for when you come home on breaks?"

"Forward," Harry said after a moment of thought. "Just put them in their bags before you shrink them."

"I'll do that," Remus said. "Sirius would end up shrinking just the plastic." Sirius made a rude gesture at Remus.

With his satchel filled, Harry put the books and stationery supplies in the desk then touched his wand to the desk and it shifted to a wardrobe. He hung his uniforms save one and most of his muggle clothes then placed the various dark arts detectors and the like Charlus had made him collect from the vault on its top shelf. His muggle trainers stayed out—they had been orange and green and Harry had been disappointed that the shoes he liked were only available in that combination until Sirius reminded him about permanent color changing charms: now they were dark red and gold, while his two pair of school shoes—essentially fur lined slippers Harry thought but Sirius nodded at the design and said the school was in Northern Scotland and was cold and drafty, a reason for students to learn spells faster. He had been practicing walking in the school uniform and had finally gotten past the way the hems seemed to always twist under his feet when he realized Madam Malkin always did the length 1.5 inches longer so first years could grow. The robes came with a self hemming packet of thread he just needed to start then it would hem itself. His posters went in next, haphazardly tossed in. His pictures of his family; his favorite picture of him, Sirius, Charlus, and Remus; a picture of him and Bill giving Charlie a hotfoot; a shot of him with the fireteam practicing throwing his backup wands; the pictures from the concert in a shoe box with just one tacked up with the other pictures; and a picture of him and Licorice were on the inside of the door.

With clothes properly placed, he looked around his room. It was mostly bare. His parents' wand shrine he decided to leave at home, his throne was staying as well, and his boombox was sitting on the shelf above the head of his bed, it and its speakers stuck in place with sticking charms, its wires disillusioned. He looked at the bollock dagger and snickered, knowing he would have to leave it behind. If he ever needed it, a Darkling could retrieve it. He put it under his bed then looked around his room again. Bare. But it looked lived in somehow he thought.

He was looking at his parents' wand shrine when Sirius hugged him from behind, making him squeak. "I'm going to miss you!"

"I have my mirror," Harry said, pointing to it where it was sitting next to his wallet.


Cookie had been a little surprised to get a reservation—the last one had been in '77, he thought—until he saw who it was. Harry Potter, the not-a-Death-Eater-godfather, and a handful of others.

In a partitioned off area, the group soon had their orders for breakfast in. Cookie delivered the food himself—Molly was off dealing with her children of course—and made sure everything was perfect then went to see to his other custom, all students and their families as well.

As they ate, Sirius stood. "Hold up, hold up. I meant to do this earlier but forgot. Harry, c'mere."

Harry stood and walked to his godfather. The man took two rings out of his pocket as Charlus floated closer. "These are the heir rings. Only the confirmed heirs of families wear these. Luckily, both the Black and Potter rings go on different fingers. When you place the ring upon, say 'I accept my place in the family' to bind the ring."

Charlus looked on happily as Harry did so, remembering the day James did this as well on his seventh birthday.

The Potter ring shrank down to fit Harry's right pinky finger as he said "I accept my place in the family." The ring was simple silver with an ornate P in high relief in reverse for use in sealing envelopes.

When he did the same for the black Black ring on his right middle finger, he was surprised to see it was a bas-relief gold skull, not a backwards B.

"Oooh," Tonks said then took off two of her rings, one with TONX in bas-relief then another ring that was hinged and looked like armour. "I can't wear these during training anyway so take good care of them," she told him, putting the TONX ring on his ring finger, ignoring the chuckles around the table then putting the ornate tungsten armour one on his index finger.

"It does look pretty cool," Harry admitted, looking at his hand.

Finally it was almost time. Remus settled up and left a hefty tip as Harry clicked his pocketwatch to 'trap' his grandfather.

"Mr. Potter?"

Harry turned and smiled at the owner as he was near the door. "Yes?"

"My daughter had an absolute fit when I told her I met you and I didn't get her an autograph. Co-could I trouble you for one?"

There were laughs from everyone as Harry flushed and nodded. He used his quill to sign the Daily Prophet with him and the Minister shaking hands then shook the man's hand.

On the platform, they saw others had begun to arrive and one other student and their parents left the diner behind them.

"Mr. Black?"

They all turned to see another first year. Harry remembered her hair and that her name started with H.

"Yes, miss?"

"My P-WAND has been awesome! Thank you so much for making them!"

"Actually, I only run the company that makes them. The initial prototype was designed by someone else and created by Ollivander before our artisans got to the design." The initial prototype was in Harry's satchel, redesigned to help him with Darkness specific spells as he discovered them since he wasn't to use them with a real wand until Sirius, Remus, or Marianna considered him qualified. "But I will pass along your words of encouragement."

She nodded and looked like she wanted to say something else but was called over by the witch from the Ministry who was tasked to make sure the muggleborns made it through the door and onto the train since their parents couldn't go through without help of an adult.

Harry saw Sophie wave at him from the group and he waved back.

"Harry!"

He turned and saw Licorice running towards him then she was hugging him tightly, Mrs. Barq walking up to them slower, waving hello.

"We came to see you off! And I've decided to go to Hogwarts!"

~•~

Harry sat in the compartment he had selected, reading a dossier of all the current and new first years of established families at Hogwarts.

Charlus had thought about having backgrounds done up of muggleborns but had decided it was a pointless expense.

There was a knock on his door and the red-haired boy from the pub was in the door. "Uh, can I sit here? My brothers' friend has a spider."

Harry realized that must have been the shriek he had heard a few moments before. "Sure."

As the boy got his trunk situated, he hesitated then asked, "Are-you're Harry Potter, right? I saw you at the pub when my mum was working."

"Yeah, you're Ron Weasley, right?"

He gaped. "Ho-how'd you know‽"

"Bill and Charlie. They were my tutors."

"That's what they were doing? They said they couldn't talk about it!"

"I don't think they could."

"Home come they were your tutors?"

"Because they're in fields my family was in and they recently finished at Hogwarts."

"Which house do you think you'll be in?"

Harry shrugged. "Any would be fine. Well, except Slytherin. I mean, my grandmother was in Slytherin but this shows most of the people who hate my family have children in it," Harry replied, shaking the folder lightly. Harry knew he'd never sleep well in that House unless it was atop a pile of Darkling slain children. "But probably Gryffindor since everyone in my family has been for the most part."

"What's that?"

"My godfather had everyone at Hogwarts now or going this year investigated and this has information about them."

"Why? What's it say about me?"

"Not much about you because your brothers were my tutors, my godfather knows your dad, and your uncles were his friends so there wasn't really a reason to research your family."

"My uncles? But they're dead."

Harry nodded. "But Sirius was in some sort of secret order with them and I guess he taught them some really good pranks? He doesn't like talking about that time much."

Ron nodded. "Neither does my mum. Dad does occasionally."

He had been glancing at Harry's scar. Fidgeting, he asked, "Does that still hurt?"

Harry nodded. "Occasionally. The Headmaster said it will take years to go away."

"Do you—"

Before he could finish the question, the girl from the station knocked then opened their door, revealing a boy was slightly off to the side, looking around. "Have you seen a frog? Only Neville has lost his."

"No," Harry said. "Ask a prefect. They'll know the summoning spell and'll have the control to summon without hurting the frog."

"Ooh, I had practiced that with the P-WAND but I didn't want to try it on something alive. Thanks!" She dragged Neville off as he stammered thanks for the idea.

"What was she talking about?"

He took his out of his satchel. "The P-WAND is for students. It will let kids practice spells without actually casting out of school. Wanna try it?"

"Uhh, sure."

Harry demonstrated how it worked, showing the lumos spell then Ron tried. He got a red light the first time then a yellow then a flawless cast. "Cool, yeah? My godfather sold a bunch to the muggleborns so they could test out the design and make them better."

"He sold them unfinished?"

"Yeah," Harry said. "You sell a prototype for less than the cost of a full version but you throw in some extras so they're happy to test possibly faulty things so you can get more info so your finished product is the best you can sell in the future. People love being able to get something cool before someone else."

Ron goggled at the idea but as he thought about it, came to think it was brilliant.

The girl and Neville returned a few moments later with Neville holding his frog. "Thank you!" he said.

"I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger and this is Neville Longbottom."

Harry invited them in and Hermione asked, "why does your P-WAND look so different?" Instead of ivory white with orange gems, his was stained a dark red with gold nuggets instead of gems.

"This is the one I built," Harry said. "I hung out for a few days with the artisans while they were studying the original and the instructions to make them and assembled it myself." Technically, his was the original, disassembled as they studied it. He reassembled it himself after staining and replacing the gems on it.

Hermione looked like she was in awe.

"How come you were hanging out with them?" Neville asked.

"Well they work for us and Remus was getting the pack setup in their new place in France so I went along."

Ron looked a little annoyed at the two joining them but didn't say anything.

"Pack?" Hermione asked.

He nodded. "Our prototyping artisans are all werewolves. They're all so cool! They have awesome motorcycles and the castle they're living in now is shared with Trappist monks that make the best butterbeer I've ever tasted! Actually," he said then reached into his satchel, removing four bottles. "Here."

"What's a Trappus?" Neville asked and Ron nodded.

"Some kind of religious order," Harry said. "The castle they're in is owned by my family and they make wines and beers. But they're all magical. It's one of four all magical religious orders in the world, Remus said."

"It's not got alcohol?" Hermione asked, making sure.

"A tiny, tiny bit," Harry said. "If you drank like fifty bottles you could get drunk maybe."

"I've never tried the fizzy kind before," Ron said with a caramel colored Hitler mustache.

"It's really good," Hermione said and Neville nodded.

"It's better than Olde Winkham-Upon-Thryne's," he said. "Where do you get it? I mean, where would I get it?"

"My godfather is setting up an importer for it now. We'll have a century lock on sales. For now, though, not available until we have distribution deals in place."

"Werewolves are real?" Hermione asked.

All three boys nodded. "My godfather's best friend is one," Harry said. "People are dumb about them. One day a month they're dangerous. So that day? Remus is locked in the basement with Sirius. Sirius can turn into a dog so he's safe. The rest of the month? He's absolutely fine."

"There are the dangerous ones though," Neville said. "Like Greyback."

"There are dangerous magicals, too. Anyway," Harry said, "and dangerous muggles." Hermione nodded at that.

Ron's stomach growled just as there was a knock at the door. An older woman smiled as Harry opened the door and said, "anything from the cart?"

Knowing a Mars Bar was quite unlikely and not extremely familiar with commercial magical candies, Harry ended up getting half a dozen of each item. Hermione looked over the offering and was intrigued by the tooth-flossing stringmints while Neville declined, saying he had left his money in his trunk.

Ron purchased two chocolate frogs—Charlie had given him some pocket money for doing some work for him—as Hermione said, "You know all that sugar is bad for your teeth, right?"

He nodded. "This'll last me until Christmas easily."

"Agrippa!" Ron squealed. He pointed at Hermione who had picked the chocolate frogs for him since moving around was a little difficult. "You are good luck!"

"What?" she asked.

He held out the card proudly, showing a lovely witch holding an ankh shaped wand. The card waved. "Very rare card," Neville said. "Do you collect, Harry?"

"Uuh, no. I have my dad's collection which Sirius said was complete back then. I guess I should try to get anything new. You?"

"I collect Cauldron Cake cards. They have plants and their uses. Gran said my dad used to collect Bertie Bott's cards but his collection got lost. Those cards are puzzle pieces that make lifesize posters of quidditch players."

"What's with the rings?" Hermione asked.

He explained two were family rings and the other two his cousin's and since she couldn't wear them during training, she expected Harry to wear them for her.

Ron and Neville professed they were incredibly cool once they saw Tonks' photo.

~•~

They were nearing the village when an older student knocked on the door. "Still got your frog?" Neville held it up. "Time to get changed."

"We'll let you get dressed first," Harry told Hermione after a prompt from the Keeper in his ear.

"I'm just slipping my robes on over what I have on," she said.

Harry and her stepped out and did the same thing, pulling robes on over their muggle clothes while Ron and Neville slipped out of their robes and into their school robes in the compartment. Others were standing outside, waiting as others changed then Harry saw someone waving and realized it was Sophie.

He waved back then turned to Hermione. "Did you meet Sophie? Her mum is a librarian and her dad is a famous author, her mum said." Books had been a common theme in conversation with Hermione during the trip.

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, he wrote one of my dad's favorite books. Her mum got my dad an inscribed first edition for his birthday with Mrs. Ellis-Bextor's help after mum recognized her name from an acknowledgment and their talking."

Back in the compartment, Neville asked, "Did you not bring pets?"

"I sent my owl ahead. Sirius said it would be a pain to bring her on the train. She seemed pretty excited to fly the distance when I asked her."

"My mum and dad said I should wait to get a pet until next year."

My pet rat disappeared. Mum thinks he probably got outside and was killed or just passed away. He was really old. My brothers said they'd get me an owl next year if I do really well this year."

"My uncle got Trevor for me. He's kinda useless but when he's a few months older I can milk him for his venom for potions classes," he said, holding him up to look him in the eye.

"Venom?" Hermione asked.

"He's a demonhorn bloodfrog. They drink blood then turn it into venom. My uncle's a potionmaster at St. Mungo's, wants me to be one too."

"My grandmother was a potionmaster at St. Mungo's too," Harry said.

"I know, my uncle was her friend's apprentice. He said she was stern but brilliant."

~•~

Harry had not been a fan of the boat ride—Ron flailed and sprayed water on them all—but Hagrid had been nice to see again. Seeing the castle, though, coming around the cliff, was magnificent. Backset by the moon on one of the towers, it was like a movie scene.

There was a whispering sound then whiteness and Harry almost screamed until he realized it was Hedwig on his shoulder and her wing blocking his vision. He heard the Keeper snicker in his ear.

"Hedwig!"

He held his arm out and she hopped from his shoulder to his wrist. A smug look was seemingly on her face.

"Yes, yes, you found me. And scared the piss out of me!"

"Language!" Hermione said.

The boats docked and Harry launched Hedwig. "Go find some dumb mouse."

"Mice are very smart," Hermione said.

"Not compared to Hedwig," he replied.

She opened her mouth then closed it. Owls did have bigger brains, after all.

Out of the boats, Hagrid did a head count and scooped up Neville's frog for him then led them up to the front door of the castle.

~•~

Harry fell back until he was the last to enter the castle. Once inside he clicked his watch crown three times, waved to his grandfather's ghost, then rejoined his potential friends as Charlus floated over to join the other ghosts to watch the sorting before he got busy doing research with Madam Pomfrey.

In the Great Hall itself, Harry looked upwards to verify the ceiling was still enchanted then looked around the school.

Hermione whispered about the enchantments on the ceiling while Harry realized the front of the hall looked different than Sirius and Remus had described it. Instead of a single table on a raised dais, there were two stacked daises with the headmaster with four people bracketing him and a lower set of tables with two dozen or so people in a C shape, surrounding a lone stool with a hat on it.

Harry was putting faces to names of potential dangers as students were called until "Ellis-Bextor, Sophie" and she pressed past. Harry softly said, "good luck" then shifted so he could see better.

The hat was on her head for thirty seconds before "Gryffindor!"

He clapped along with the others.

Then it was Hermione's turn. "Gryffindor!" again. Harry thought she might have taken a little longer than Sophie had.

Harry's turn came and he felt everyone watching him as he walked forward, wishing he was wearing his armour. He made a mental note to make armour design a priority.

When the hat fell onto his head, he heard the voice. Ahh, another Potter. Welcome to the school.

"Thanks."

Just think it lad. Placing your type is always a pain. The magicks you wield hides your mind, making this take forever.

How do you know that?

Sorted a Wielder before and conversed with prior Wielders when they were staff about the issue. So just try to think you're safe and your minions will settle. Try humming a tune you like.

Harry started humming the Ghostbusters theme. Sirius really liked the movie.

Ah, there we go. Now I have your measure. Thanks Lad.

You're welcome.

You're definitely not Hufflepuff material. You're loyal but the power you Wield requires selfishness, meaning your loyalty is to a select few, not an ideal.

Ravenclaw wouldn't fit you well either. Knowledge is the means, not the end for you.

Slytherin, Slytherin would fit you well.

It might but—

—But only after you cleansed it, yes. While the stories would be amusing, Godric would be disappointed in me facilitating that. So that just leaves "Gryffindor!"

The house went insane as Harry made his way to it, sitting across from Hermione and Neville and next to Sophie.

Harry wasn't sure if he should be disappointed that Gryffindor was a last resort or just be happy he was in it.

Ron joined them soon, sitting next to Neville. They congratulated him as they had Harry.

Albus said a few words then the food appeared. Harry almost immediately made a vow to never sit across from Ron again. His manners were atrocious while Hermione actually cut her roll with her knife and fork and Sophie made her roast, roll, mash potatoes, and green beans into a sandwich that she also ate with a knife and fork.

With the Sorting Feast done, the Headmaster stood, tapping a fork on a lone crystal goblet at the table that resounded like a crystal gong.

"A few last announcements. As you can see, our teaching staff has been greatly enhanced. Severus Snape remains Head of Slytherin but is no longer a full time professor. Now he will only teach first Year students. Professor Margarite Morningstar is now our second through fifth year Potions professor and Professor Horace Slughorn makes his triumphant return as NEWT level professor for Potions as well as running the Potions Club." Students began clapping excitedly in most houses while Slytherins were more reserved. "For those students who received Exceeds Expectation last year and wish to continue into NEWTS, speak with Professor Slughorn at breakfast tomorrow."

Older Students at the Gryffindor table buzzed excitedly at the lowered expectations and the possible better teaching style from both new professors.

Harry meanwhile studied Snape. The dossier on him was brief and had a handwritten addition by his godfather. Avoid. Slughorn and Morningstar received handwritten ones from Sirius as well: Nice but 'collects' famous students and Hot! respectively. There was an extra page on dealing with 'collectors' in the dossier he knew he needed to study. Harry thought her pretty but not sure why Sirius had wanted to be back at Hogwarts so much after looking at the pictures of all the new staff. There had also been a page on seducing older witches but Remus had confiscated that to Harry's relief—though there had been some interest in reading it—and Sirius's disappointment.

"Professor Flitwick will continue teaching first and and NEWT classes in Charms with Professor Lilith Naamah teaching second through fifth year classes." She had the same handwritten note alongside her evaluation as an excellent professor though her french accent was somewhat thick when excited.

Professor Sprout and the new Professor Stephen Green in her department—also teaching second through fifth year, received dossiers that boiled down to Professional though Professor Green's was annotated with American Muggleborn and loves hip-hop. Harry made a mental note to cultivate an acquaintance.

Professor McGonagall had three new staff attached to her duties at the school. Witch Martine Thunder was a secretary in charge of all the new secretaries in the school and a deputy-deputy-Headmistress. Harry wondered why they didn't call her something less ridiculous sounding over dinner the night before and was told it was tradition.

The new second through fifth year professor of Transfigurations cultivated sighs from most girls when he was introduced as Jonah Ambergris.

Her third assistant was an assistant Head of House and occasional stand-in Charms professor named Cilli Blackthorne. She had an addendum to her dossier entry of obliviated ex of Sirius, don't discuss with Cilli.

Hagrid received two support staff who were seedy but keen looking. Filch had a new assistant as well but Harry didn't catch the name of any of them due to Percy snapping at Ron.

He didn't introduce everyone sitting at the table, Harry noticed and figured they were the new secretaries that wouldn't interact with students too often.

Tired, Harry hoped they would be released soon.

"And one last notice. We are currently rehabilitating a very dangerous animal after a magic resistant injury. Do not enter the red painted hallway on the third floor. He is very angry due to the injuries received and will attack anyone."

"I wonder what kind of animal?" Percy asked aloud then turned to the new students at Dumbledore's dismissal. "First years, assemble at the end of the table, boys on my side, girls on the other side."

The first years at other tables were doing the same as the older students began filing out, chatting loudly.

Percy and another prefect did a headcount—9 boys and 11 girls—then led them out. "This is one of the faster routes to our dorms but when there's a rush for food, learning a different path can be useful. There are maps of the halls in each common room as well."

The girl prefect nodded. "In the Prefect meeting we learned there are a lot of changes. Other students used to be able to visit other common rooms. Now there are year common rooms off the library for students to study in with other Houses."

"How come there are changes, Perc?" Ron asked.

"The school funding levels went up. Mum and dad were talking about it all week, didn't you listen?"

The girl prefect chimed in with "A huge bequest was granted to the school with lots of requirements."

"What's a bee-whatever?" one girl asked.

"In this case, a large sum of money that has strings attached to it," Harry said and the girl prefect nodded.

At the door to the common room, the woman in the painting smiled. "Welcome back. Password?"

"This month's password is Fortuna," Percy said and the painting came away from the wall, hinged like a regular door. "The password will usually change on the third of the month."

In the common room, they saw all the students crowded around the far corner, excited voices filling the air.

Percy and the girl pushed forward while the first years were unable to see over the older students. "What do you think it is?" Hermione asked.

"Probably the vending machine," Harry said. "It's got school supplies, snacks, and coupons inside it."

"How do you know?" Sophie asked.

"They were my cousin's idea and my godfather made it happen."

"You know about these?" One of the older Prefects asked.

Harry nodded, a little nervous at all the attention. Ten thousand Darklings watching him like a god? Easy to deal with. Two hundred some humans? Frightening.

Harry knew in the back of his mind that it was because the Darklings were incapable of harming him but humans were unpredictable and pushed it down.

He moved closer to the devices. Unlike muggle devices which were giant boxes, the magical version was a coin box connected to an alphanumeric pad and a half circle display case of available items. The delivery hopper was in between the coin box and the display, making it look like a fat-handled sucker.

"Okay, umm, this is a vend machine. Each item inside costs a couple knuts up to two sickles," he said, looking back to verify. A Hogwarts sweater was 1 galleon, 1 sickle. "Oh, a galleon and a sickle for a sweater. I didn't think those would go in.

"Anyway," Harry said, "all you do is pop in a few coins for whatever you want, press the keys like this." He put in six knuts and pressed 2B and a bottle of fizzy butterbeer appeared, ice cold, condensation beading on the bottle. Instead of being delivered via magic, every hopper held a Darkling within that saw a display, jumped to a warehouse kept stocked by one of the Australian house-elves—who had been ecstatic to leave the overly neat island—and collected the item then jumped back, delivering the product. It was a temporary design until the fully magical version was complete. Those would utilize magically expanded interiors and house-elf restocking.

"Et voila. Fifty percent of the purchase cost goes to Hogwarts."

The muggleborns and halfbloods who spent time in the muggle world nodded while the purebloods were astounded by the device.

"Is that the good butterbeer?" Ron asked, mentally trying to figure out how how long his galleon, 10 sickles, and 12 knuts would last with a bottle a day.

"Yeah," Harry said then handed it over to one to the muggleborns. "Also, for the muggleborns, I can change money for you at ten pence a knut. We'll have an automated money changer soon, too."

~•~

Harry, Ron, and Neville met their new roommates Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan while the other four boys—Horatio Walliams, Cyril Figgis, Sterling Archibald, and Iago Montague—were in the dorm room next to theirs on the sixth floor.

Uhh, I'll take the far corner," Harry said, "if that's okay with all of you?"

Neville and Ron both shrugged while Dean and Seamus suggested cards to decide who would get what bed.

"Ahh, high draw?" Harry asked, pulling a pack of cards out of his satchel.

They all nodded and Harry flicked five cards onto the beds signifying which was which, the closest to the door was ten, the farthest nine, the middle three were six, two, and four.

Harry shuffled the cards then spread them along the floor.

Neville drew first and got a Jack.

Ron drew next and got a three. "Are they supposed to match?"

"Nah, we look at the order of our cards and then your card matches the order of the bed cards."

Ron thought about it then nodded. "Ah, okay, I get it."

Harry grabbed a card and got a ten.

Dean pulled a five.

Then Seamus pulled a two.

Neville ended up with the bed closest to the door then Dean, Seamus, Ron, and Harry.

They got their trunks situated then Harry opened his to the wardrobe mode.

"That's amazing!" Ron breathed.

"How much was that?" Dean asked when Harry explained it also had a desk with an adjustable writing surface.

"I don't know. It was my dad's. You could owl the trunk place in Diagon Alley and ask."

Dean immediately got out some parchment to find out. He sketched both versions of the desk then asked, "What's the name of the place?"

"Wiseacre's Magical Equipment," Neville said.

Harry saw a little tray at the head of the bed and pulled the thigh holster off his robe then put the wand on the tray.

"That is a cool holster," Seamus said. "How come I didn't see it on your robe?" It was bright gold.

"It's made from chamaeleon skin. If you want one, they're eight sickles. My godfather had to import it though so it'd probably not get here until christmas."

He got into his pyjamas then ended up joining the others for a card game.


[1]removing Hagrid being loose-lipped, except when drunk.

[2]why am I calling Hedwig magic? Going with every animal is magical due to the use of non-magical animal components in potion ingredients in canon. My read is that everything is magical, just some people are able to access it for an unknowable reason and animals that don't show some sort of magical attribute are classed as mundane. This also makes magical animal animagi possible but of no consequence to the story since if Harry does become an animagi[3], it will be for a specific plotline and not just rule of cool. Well, if he does, i may go for cool since if x(cat) will do but y(lion) is bitchin' then z(something cooler than a lion but hasn't been used in a fic before) may be his animal form.

[3] i've decided on his form for the story if it's plot necessary to learn the skill.