A/N And here' s chapter two. I don't currently have a Beta Reader, so if there are any grammatical or alphabetical mistakes, let me apologize now. I have gone over it as bets I can, so there shouldn't be anything too serious. I am simply amazed by the response I got to this story – I thought it was going to be a bust, to be perfectly honest. And now I have so many ideas! It's wonderful. Enjoy! And don't forget to leave a review if you like the story – it keeps me going, gives me motivation to work on that next chapter :) Enjoy!
It was nearly an hour later that Aaron helped his young charge off the bus, one hand resting on his shoulder as Harry swayed uncertainly on his feet. By the time they reached the door to the pub, however, he no longer needed the support.
Aaron kept the hand on his shoulder, however, glancing around himself warily as he watched the other occupants of the Leaky Cauldron. Harry's face was now known, whereas before he had been an unknown, reporters and the like being forbidden from taking photographs of him, or, indeed, from going anywhere near his place of residence. He had never understood the restrictions, although now he could imagine Dumbledore had had something to do with it, if he had been controlling everything else about the boy's life.
Those disgusting muggles had never wanted him, of that he was sure. The public had been fed some story of how they had stepped forward to take in their blood, their kin, and like a fool he had believed it, just like everybody else. What reason had they had to check? To make sure? The Dursley's were his only living relatives on his mother's side, and the closest kin he had alive. There was no reason to distrust them.
They made it through the pub without further incident, heading into the back but not out the door. Into a private room he led the child, to a floo connection for those who preferred not to make a fool of themselves for all the world to see as they slipped and slid out of the fireplace.
Harry, of course, had never even heard of this form of travel, and Aaron hid a smile behind the boy's back as Harry jumped in surprise at the sight of the flames turning a startling green. This room was for outgoing travelers, not those coming in, and Aaron could just imagine what the boy's reaction would have been, had he seen somebody arriving through the connection.
For his part, Harry was staring at the fireplace with trepidation, before he glanced back at Aaron. His eyes narrowed in suspicion at the smile on the man's face, before Aaron gave the hand on Harry's shoulder a slight push, sending the boy sprawling into the fireplace.
Harry flinched back from the flames merely on reflex, before reaching out to touch the green flames that rose around him with no small amount of wonder.
Aaron laughed outright at that -- he couldn't help himself -- before stepping into the flames with his young companion and turning the boy around to face the room at large.
"D'iona's Pub." He said simply, and in the moment before they were whisked away, Harry glanced up at him quizzically. He had no time to answer the boy, however, as they were pulled through the floo connection at that moment.
Harry stumbled out of the connection, falling to his knees and he fought to keep his stomach's contents from spilling onto the floor beneath him.
After a few healthy gulps of air, he turned his head to glare up at the older man. Aaron merely laughed softly, helping the younger man to his feet. "Come on, there's somebody I want to introduce you to."
Harry followed, albeit a bit reluctantly as Aaron led the way out of the dimly lit pub -- hadn't these people ever heard of electricity? Or at least windows at the very least -- it was the middle of the day! Certainly too early for it to be this dark.
By contrast, the light outside was almost blinding as they left the pub. The buildings around them looked older, and far more delicate than those he had seen in London, or Daigon Alley.
Of course, they wouldn't have taken ... whatever they had taken to get to Daigon Alley. And if there was more than one school of magic, why couldn't there be more than one community? More than one Daigon Alley?
Aaron walked slowly to keep pace with his young charge, glancing down every once in a while at the small boy, who was now staring around himself with no small amount of wonder. He had to admit -- the city was beautiful. He came here far too rarely these days, cooped up as he was in Durmstrang, or retrieving students who had been accepted into Durmstrang -- usually these students were more local to the area of Durmstrang, living in Russia and similar places. Harry was the farthest away he had been forced to go retrieve a student ... in a long time.
Most students bought their supplies on their own, and so he was simply sent to retrieve them and bring them to the school, usually a week or two before school actually started. The rest of the students arrived on the ship, along with any new students who had brothers or sisters starting that year. But Harry was different. Harry they had to convince.
To be honest, he was more than a little surprised that no other schools had attempted what Durmstrang was now doing -- trying to entice the Boy Who Lived to their school. The prestige of having such a figure in their school was ... phenomenal. Who said that Hogwarts instantly got that honor? Why not Durmstrang? Or some other school, for that matter? Dumbledore would corrupt the boy, change him, mold him into something he never would have been on his own.
And that just wouldn't do.
Aaron placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, steering the boy to the left and down a small side street. At the other end they quickly crossed the street into a rather large building, and Harry trailed his fingers across the books that lined the walls there. He recognized the building -- or at least what it was used for. Bookstores kept the same basic idea and outline, no matter where you went. Plenty of books along the walls, and comfortable chairs to sit down and read. And, of course, the obligatory check out counter for when you were ready to pay for your purchases. This one even had a small cafe on the inside.
They continued through to the very back of the store, before Harry was left at a line of magazines as Aaron caught the attention of an older employee and struck up a conversation, far enough away that Harry couldn't make out what the were saying. Shrugging his shoulders, he turned toward the magazines, flipping through the first that caught his fancy. It wasn't like he hadn't been ignored before.
It wasn't long before Aaron joined him again, placing a hand on his shoulder to gain his attention. Harry glanced up with a smile, before carefully placing the magazine back where he had found it.
"Harry, I'd like to introduce you to Michael Giovanni, the owner of this fine establishment." The man in question sent a wry look Aaron's way, making a small "tsk"ing sound.
"I'm still not going to give you any of my books for free, Aaron, so you can just stop with the flattery." He sent a grin in Harry's direction, winking at the surprised boy. Harry found himself flushing slightly in embarrassment, unsure how to react to the sudden attention from somebody he had just met.
"So, Aaron tells me you're looking at the different magical schools in the area?" Michael came to stand beside him, placing a hand on his right shoulder as he steered Harry toward a set of chairs in the corner, and Harry had to wonder what was up with all the touching. Not that he didn't like it, it was just ... odd.
"Y-yes sir. I didn't even know there were any other schools, beside Hogwarts, that is. I got my letter a week ago." He said the last with no small amount of pride, still fond of the day Hagrid had come to tell his relatives off for trying to keep him from Hogwarts. His uncle had made him pay for the humiliation they had been put through later, of course, but it had still been worth it.
"None of this "sir" stuff now, my boy. It's Michael. Mike, if you're feeling particularly friendly. Call me Mikey and I'll have your ears for breakfast, though." Noticing how the boy's eyes widened comically at that, Michael burst out laughing, a low melodious sound so unlike his Uncle's loud, annoying guffaw that Harry actually jumped in surprise. "I'm just teasing you, boy. Now, what has Aaron told you so far?"
"Well, I know about Durmstrang, now. But that's about it. He said he'd take me to see somebody who could tell me more."
"Of course he did. Daft boy doesn't know jack about any school other than his own. Now, I understand your parents went to Hogwarts, and it's probably got some sentimental value right there. But there are plenty of schools out there besides Hogwarts and Durmstrang, and it won't hurt to take a look, now will it?"
Harry shook his head, smiling over at the older man. He could already tell he'd like this Michael fellow -- he was just too friendly for anything else.
Michael smiled, reaching over to pat Harry encouragingly on the arm.