A.N/ This chapter has Michael's diary entries while Zoe is away. There will not be one every day and some will be shorter than others. He isn't the world's best writer
July 25th
She only left this morning and I miss her already. We have never been apart for more than a couple of days before. I got a letter today that said the exam results would be out on the 14th of august. That's the day Zoe gets back. So it will be an interesting day.
I popped round this morning just as they were leaving to say goodbye. That got me a smile from Maria and another kiss from Zoe. The kiss from yesterday still burned in my mind. It had never mattered before. We had been playing kiss chase for the past 4 years at school and we had never got embarrassed over each other. I know I have feelings for her; she is like a little sister to me. Well maybe more that a sister, we tell each other everything and know everything about each other. I think I may be falling for her.
July 27th
Stephan and Jonathan are being complete pains in the arse. So much so that I walked out, meaning to go around Zoe's. I was halfway there before I remembered that she wasn't there. I just don't function properly when she isn't here. Three hugs saved.
Michael looked out of his window thinking about what Zoe was doing right now when his reverie was broken by a man striding towards the house. Michael took a moment to realise it was Professor Snape. He ran down stairs but his dad got there first.
"Yes?" he said and Snape looked him up and down.
"I am here for Mr Michael Liennard. I am a teacher from his school" he said, his voice the same silky drawl that Michael had heard the first time.
"I'm here" Michael said and Dad and Snape both looked at him.
"What's this all about?" Dad asked, not unreasonably, Michael thought.
"I will explain quickly. Mr Liennard, go and get ready" Snape said dismissively and headed into the living room. Michael looked at his dad and shrugged.
"Chelle!" Dad yelled as he followed the sallow man. Michaels mum appeared at the top of the stairs.
"What?" she asked as Michael walked past her.
"There is someone down stairs to see you and dad" Michael said as he went into his bedroom and closed his behind him.
Ten minutes later he was ready in clean jeans and a t-shirt, with his favourite blue jumper on. He headed down stairs to where he could hear low conversation. Then he heard a laugh and it was Snape's voice. Michael didn't think that he could laugh with a face like that. He crept closer to the door to listen in but as he approached the door it opened and he quickly knelt to fiddle with his shoes.
"Ready?" Snape asked and Michael straightened and nodded. Snape walked out without a second glance.
"Go on, we will talk later" Michael heard his dad say as he followed the Professor out.
"Take my arm" Snape said and Michael obeyed without question. This day was getting stranger and stranger. Snape looked down at him. Then they both disappeared. To Michael it was as if someone had grabbed his inside and pulled them, thinking they would look better on the outside. Then he had felt a great pull and he was hurtling through what looked like nothingness. Then just as quickly as it had started it finished. Snape and Michael were deposited on a dingy street with parked cars down both sides. That was all Michael saw before he put his hands on his knees and violently threw up.
"What the bloody hell was that?" Michael asked when he straightened up. Snape looked down at him with contempt.
"Apparition" was Snape's explanation. He reached into his pocket and pulled out what must have been his wand and waved it over the puddle of sick at Michael's feet and it vanished.
"Wow" Michael said as Snape stored his wand and headed off towards a small brick building on the corner. Outside a rusty sign swung, proclaiming the place to be the Leaky Cauldron.
"The Leaky Cauldron?" Michael asked and Snape ignored him. The entered and no one seemed to notice except the barman who nodded at the Professor. Again the professor seemed not to notice.
"Sit" Snape said when they were next to a table and Michael sat. Snape stood nearby and looked across the bar as if he was looking for someone. After a minute or two he suddenly walked away. Michael's eyes followed him as he started talking in a low voice to a man sat at the bar with a large purple turban on. Then Michael saw something even stranger. The largest man he had ever seen had just walked in and no one had even batted an eyelid.
Snape got up and stalked back to Michael.
"That is Hagrid" he said and walked off to intercept the large man. He needn't have bothered. There was a boy with Hagrid who seemed to be attracting a lot of attention and Hagrid had to keep stopping to rescue the boy from the never-ending handshakes and back-pats he was receiving.
"Ah Professor Snape and Professor Quirrell" the large man said and the man with the turban jumped at the volume of the large man's voice. Snape craned up and whispered something to Hagrid who looked over at Michael, still sitting at his table. He waved him over and Michael complied.
"You goin teh Hogwarts too?" Hagrid asked kindly and Michael quickly decided he liked Hagrid better than Professor Snape. He nodded and Snape sighed.
"Good day Hagrid, Quirrell" Snape said and he stalked off without a backwards glance.
"Come on now, we got a lot of work to do" Hagrid said above the din of the crowd and he steered Michael and the other boy out the back.
"I'm Michael Liennard" he said and stuck his hand out to the other boy who shook it promptly.
"Harry Potter" the boy said. They turned back to Hagrid who had a pink umbrella out and was tapping bricks. Suddenly the wall folded back and they could see a long street on the other side with a huge white building at the end.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley" Hagrid said and the two boys looked at each other with wonder in their eyes.
The rest of the day had gone quickly. They had gone to the large white building which was called Gringotts and was the Wizarding bank. Michael had been more surprised than Harry to learn he had Wizarding money. His vault number was 408 and he had a respectable amount of coins in it. It was no way near the pile Harry had but it was still a lot. The three of them went down the road going into each of the shops and getting their school supplies. Hagrid disappeared for a few minutes while Michael bought himself and Harry ice-creams at the parlour.
"So, anyone else in your family wizards?" Michael asked and Harry grimaced.
"My parents, but they are dead" Michaels face fell.
"Sorry didn't mean to upset" he said and lapsed into silence. Harry shook his head.
"No it is fine; they died when I was 1 so I don't really remember them. The Dursley's have been my family ever since" as he finished a note of disgust entered into his voice.
"Why do you live?" Michael asked, resolving to try and help if he could.
"Little Whinging in Surrey" Michael smiled.
"I'm in Surrey as well. Tel you what give me your address and I'll give you mine and then we could visit each other" Harry nodded and then froze.
"I don't know if the Dursleys will be okay with that" he said doubtfully. Michael was about to answer when he saw Hagrid coming holding two large cages.
"We may not have to" Michael said and nodded to Hagrid. Harry turned and saw him as well.
"There ya go. Happy Birthday both of ya" he said and put two owls down on the table. Harry's was large and beautiful, its white feathers smooth and shiny. Michaels was smaller but jet black and was staring at him in a curious way.
"Hello" he said and was quite surprised when the Owl hooted a reply. Michael laughed.
"Now we can message each other. Harry laughed and nodded.
The rest of the time went quite quickly. They got their robes from Madam Malkin's Robes for all occasions. They got their cauldrons; both having to be pulled away by Hagrid as they stared at the collapsible ones. Finally they both went to Ollivanders.
"I'll wait here" Hagrid said and waved them in. Inside was a small and dusty shop. It had rows and rows of boxes on all the walls and a small chair by the door.
"Hello" Harry called out tentatively. At once a small man with large staring eyes popped up from behind the counter and looked at them both.
"Ah. I was wondering when I would be seeing you Mr Potter. It seems only yesterday that your Mother and Father were in here buying their first wands. Your mother had a Willow, 10 1/4 inches long, swishy, good for charms work. Your Father favoured an 11 inch Mahogany wand, slightly more powerful and excellent for transfiguration, quite pliable too. Of course when I say he favoured it I mean that it favoured him. The wand chooses the wizard Mr Potter. That has always been clear to those of us that study wand-craft"
Harry and Michael became a little scared of Mr Ollivander at this point because they noticed he hadn't blinked once since they entered.
"Ah and you are?" He asked, turning to Michael.
"Michael Liennard" he answered. Ollivander gave him a long look.
"First wizard on your family?" he asked and Michael nodded.
"I thought so. You see I remember every wand I have ever sold, every single one." He reached behind him and pulled two boxes off a shelf and opened them. He handed a wand to each of them and stood back.
"Give them a wave" he encouraged. Harry and Michael felt foolish, but they raised their wands and gave them a little flick. They had barely finished when Mr Ollivander snatched them away and shook his head.
"Not those" he muttered and grabbed two more. This time they had barely moved them when they were wrenched away the mad old man.
"We will get their eventually" he said. He didn't seem upset they were proving difficult, indeed he seemed thrilled. Soon a large pile of rejected wands were lying on his counter.
"Here you go Mr Liennard try this" he handed Michael a new wand and as soon as Michael touch it he felt a flood of warmth run through his arm into his body. He waved it around in front of him and a bunch of red and green flowers shoot out of the tip. Mr Ollivander caught them and laughed merrily.
"Oh yea that is the one. Hmm, 12 inches, Oak and Unicorn hair. Stiff but strong. Very good for defensive spells. Excellent, now for you Mr Potter. Here you go. Holly and Phoenix feather, 11 inches, supple but an unusual combination" he handed Harry the wand. Michael saw Harry's eyes shoot up and knew he was feeling what he had just felt.
"Curious, wonderful but curious." Mr Ollivander muttered to himself as he waved his wand and all the rejected wands shot back into their boxes and back onto the shelf. Harry was curious as well.
"What's curious Mr Ollivander?"
"I remember every wand I have ever sold, remember" Harry nodded and Ollivander continued.
"It so happens that the phoenix whos tail feather resides in your wand gave one other feather. It is very curious for me that you should be destined for this particular wand, when its brother gave you that scar" he said his voice lowering to a whisper. Harry and Michael gasped.
"You mean Voldemort" Harry said and Ollivander flinched.
"We do not speak his name. The wand chooses the wizard Mr Potter. It is not always clear why, but it is clear, I think, that we can expect great things from you. After all He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things. Terrible things yes, but great." He nodded, took their money for their wands and bowed them out of the shop.
"That was strange" Michael said as the door closed behind them. Hagrid looked down on them.
"Ya done?" He asked and the two boys nodded.
"Let's get you home then." He said and they followed him back into the Leaky Cauldron. Just before they left Harry and Michael swapped addresses with a promise to write each other until school started. Harry shook Michaels hand again and left with Hagrid who told Michael to stay put and Professor Snape would be along in a minute. Michael couldn't bring himself to be upset about this. Then he gave Michael a ticket.
"What's this?" he asked and Hagrid's eyes widened and then he nodded.
"Sorry, forgot you didn't know. This is ya train ticket. 11 o'clock on September 1st." Michael looked at it and saw a slight problem.
"Hagrid? It says platform 9 ¾. There isn't one is there?" Hagrid nodded.
"There is one, the wall between nine and ten. Run at it with this ticket on ya and you'll be there" Michael thanked him and waved to Harry as they left. Even when Snape arrived, looking as moody and bored as ever, he didn't dent Harry mood. The apparition back was a little easier this time and Michael didn't spew on the lawn when they reappeared at Pitwood Green. Snape turned and left without another word. Michael shrugged and dragged his trunk and cage inside. He took them upstairs and slid his truck under his bed. He put his owl cage on his desk and opened the door. The bird jumped out and hooted twice.
"There you go" Michael said as he opened the window. The owl hooted again and shot out. Michael sat on his bed and sighed
"That was fun" he said to himself and fell asleep without even undressing.
August 1st
One week done and I'm not sure I can handle two more. I have been reading more than usual. I have finished the Lord of the Rings already and am on to Dad's Harry Harrison. I know that if Zoe was here she would tease me for that. She always said that I read too much. No such thing I told her. I wish I could write what I am really feeling. 8 Hugs
August 2nd
I swear I am going mad without her. I can't even talk to Martin or Noel; they have gone to Scotland with Martins family. I have been spending more and more time on my own, my nose stuck into a good book. Stephan and Jonathan are driving me bloody mad. They will not leave me alone. I have had to put my table against the door to get them to leave me alone.
I heard Mum and Dad talking this morning. Apparently St Andrews have sent them a letter saying they will take me regardless of my exam results. Going to school was still worrying me as I would not seeing Zoe everyday when I get there. 9 saved
August 9th
Less than a week until she gets back and the exam results arrive at the school. Dad and me are going to walk down and get them in the afternoon. I know Zoe is meant to land about midday. So she should be there to meet me if I go late enough. 16 stored.
August 14th
She is back today and a good thing too because I am literally going to kill my brothers. They are complaining that they are bored but then they won't do anything to stop being bored. Apparently reading is boring and so is everything else. I don't know what to do. On the plus side I get to see her tonight. Good I have 21 hugs saved.
Michael and his dad walked up the hill towards Tadworth primary, talking as they walked. Michael was convinced he would fail everything and his dad tried to reason with him. After a minute he gave up and they fell silent. After ten minutes walking they reached the school and walking in.
"Hello Michael. Mr Liennard" said the receptionist, Mrs. Morris.
"Afternoon" Michael said as his dad signed them both in the visitor's book.
"Results are in the hall. Find your teacher and they will have them" she said and Michael nodded. He headed off with his dad trailing behind him.
"I will wait here" he said at the door to the hall. Michael nodded and headed in.
"Michael!" a tall girl with curly hair came running over to him and wrapped him in a hug. He returned it.
"Hey Kloe, How'd you do?" he asked as she released him. She nodded and pulled the piece of paper out of her pocket.
"Passed everything and got a reading age of 14" she said sounding proud. Michael smiled at her and started walking towards Mrs Hall, his teacher.
"Well done you" he said with feeling. He liked Kloe, she was a bit mad but so was he. They fitted well together.
"Hello Mrs Hall" he said when they reached his teacher. She turned and looked down at him. She was a large woman with a hard face and small hard eyes. She looked as if she could melt bricks with just a glare. But she was as soft as anyone underneath. She favoured Michael with a small smile.
"Ah Michael, thought you weren't going to come" she said as she fished his paper out of the small pile left on her table. She handed it to him and watched silently as he read, Kloe reading over his shoulder.
"These are mine?" he asked with a look of surprise on his face. Mrs Hall just nodded and he turned to face Kloe. Then he jumped in the air and threw his arms around her, laughing.
"Passed everything and a reading age of 18!" he yelled in her ear. She put him down and grinned at him.
"Bugger, I was hoping I had beaten you at something finally" she said with mock sadness.
"Never gonna happen" he grinned back and she laughed and shook her head.
"No probably not, Hey what's she doing here?" she asked as she saw something over his shoulder. He turned and his heart went even higher than it had just gone when he saw who Kloe had seen.
"Good result?" Zoe asked when he didn't speak. Kloe took the initiative and spoke up.
"Yea passed everything so did this Muppet" she said elbowing Michael who finally snapped out of his daze and swept Zoe of her feet in one fluid motion. He twirled her around like they were in Dirty Dancing. She yelled with joy and he put her down.
"Well done, Hero" she said in his ear and Michael went bright red. Kloe tapped him on the shoulder.
"I gotta go now but speak to you soon?" she asked and Michael nodded and hugged her one last time. She nodded to Zoe and left.
"Hope you have some more of those saved up" Zoe said and Michael nodded. He took her hand and headed out to find his dad.
"Oh yes at least 20 more" he said and they both laughed. Then he suddenly went quite.
"What's the matter?" she asked him.
"I've got a surprise for you" he said and she perked up her ears.