Kailor: And Chapter 3 is where things get interesting. Mwahahahahaha. (Let's see how many of you recognize this beginning.) Answered some questions at the end.
"Up! Get up! Now!"
Harry woke with a start. His sister slapped the bed again.
"Up!" she screeched. Harry heard her moving around their room and the sound of the curtains over the window opening. He rolled onto his back and tried to remember the dream he had been having. It had been a good one. There had been a flying, roaring contraption in it. He had a funny feeling he'd had the same dream before.
Ven bounced on their bed. "Are you up yet?" she demanded.
"Nearly," he said.
"Well, get a move on. July 15th! It's our birthday, laddie!" Ven shook him. "Happy birthday, Harry!"
Harry fought her off and sat up, trying to be iritated at being woken, but grinning. "Happy birthday, Ven. What time is it?"
"Dawnish."
"Don't you usually try to sleep until noon?"
"It's our birthday. We can sleep later. Get up already!" She rolled off the bed, waving her hands at him.
"Fine, fine. I'm getting up." Harry slowly got out of bed and started searching for clothes. Ven helpfully turned down everything he pulled out until he ended up dressed in a simple gray shirt and black pants, which matched the simple gray shirt and black pants she wore. When she approved, he dressed, then dug around for socks. Finally, he found a pair under the bed. Once he had put them and his shoes on, he joined Ven at the mirror on their wall.
"What do you think for today? Two or three?" Ven said, seriously studying her appearance.
"Three, I think. It is our birthday, after all." Harry said. As one, the two of them ran their hands through their hair three times.
"Perfect," Ven said. The effect was that their hair looked exactly the same: wild and all over the place.
Harry led the way downstairs. In the Great Hall they found their parents. "Morning, Mum. Morning, Da."
"Morning. Happy birthday," Lyall said, ruffling their hair.
"Da! We just fixed our hair!" Ven complained, swatting him away.
Faolan hugged her children. "Could have fooled me. Your hair looks the same as always."
"Does not," Harry protested. "We did an extra run through this morning."
Their parents just laughed. "You're up early. We were going to wake you once your uncle arrived," Faolan said. "Diagon Alley isn't going anywhere. Your letters haven't even arrived."
"Well, it's our birthday. We were too excited to stay sleeping," Ven said.
"You mean you were too excited," Harry corrected her.
The family turned to the fireplace as it suddenly flared up, the flames turning green. A moment later a spinning figure appeared in the fire. It slowed, then stepped out onto the hearth rug. The flames died back to their slow, orange crackle, leaving a man standing there. He was leaning on a long staff, shrouded in a black traveling cloak. His face looked as though it had been carved out of drift wood by someone who hadn't seen another human for years. It was framed by a dark gray mop of hair. Every inch of skin seemed to be scarred. The mouth looked like a diagonal gash, and a large chunk of the nose was missing. His eyes, however, were his most alarming feature.
One of them was small, dark, and beady. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue. The blue eye was moving ceaselessly, without blinking, and was rolling up, down, and from side to side, quite independently of the normal eye - and then it rolled right over, pointing into the back of the man's head, so that all they could see was whiteness.
"Uncle Moody!" Harry and Ven said together. He wasn't their actual uncle, but he had worked with their da when he was an auror and the two were still close friends.
Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody grunted in their direction. "Happy birthday, yeah?" He limped forward and took the seat Faolan offered him. He hitched up his pants legs and Harry eyed his wooden leg and the clawed foot at the end of it.
"How have you been, Alastor?" Lyall said, offering Moody breakfast.
Moody waved the food away. "Bloody busy. Training newbies. I sure miss the days when I could count on the Aurors I worked with. Like you. Or hell, James Potter. And he wasn't even an Auror. Can't trust anyone nowadays. All got secrets...though I do have a trainee I'm thinking of making my protege. Tonks is the name. Can't recall the first name. She's a spitfire."
Harry missed the look his mother shot him. He sipped his orange juice. "Wasn't James Potter Harry Potter's father?" This time he saw his mother's lips purse and her eyebrows draw together, but he didn't know what to make of the look.
"That's the one. He was a warrior," Moody growled. "A hell of a wizard. Fought beside me in the war a decade ago. His wife, Lily, too. Talk about a loss when those two died."
Harry nodded. He'd heard the story of Harry Potter before. Quite a few of the books in their library talked about him. He opened his mouth to ask another question, but found it suddenly full of one of his mum's breakfast rolls. "Quit talking, start eating." Ven said. "Sooner you eat, sooner we go. Sooner we get our birthday presents!"
So Harry ate and listened to his da describe the training they'd been doing for the past month to Moody. When his plate was empty, Faolan whisked it away. "I guess that works," Moody said. "I'd push them harder, Lyall."
"They're still children. Aurelia's only seven. I'll intensify it as they get older."
Ven and Harry turned to discussing what they might be getting for their birthday. Faolan went to wake the other two going to Diagon Alley. A few minutes later Albion and Llyr joined them. Llyr was still rubbing sleep from his eyes. As the two boys sat down to eat there was a loud rapping on the window. Faolan hurried over and slid it open. A large dark brown owl flew in, landing on the back of Lyall's chair. The owl held out its foot, showing off the four yellowish envelopes dangling from it. Their da untied the letters and thanked the large bird with a bit of bacon from his plate. "Hogwarts letters," Lyall said, handing them to the four children.
Harry took his, running his hand over the emerald green ink on the front.
Mr. H. Lachlan
Fourth floor bedroom
Castle Stalker
Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
He returned the grin Ven threw him and pulled out the letter. It read: HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Lachlan,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31. Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Harry flipped to the other piece of parchment in the envelope. It detailed the supplies he would need for his first year. He had, of course, seen Albion's letter the year before, but this was his. This one belonged to him. Grinning, he carefully folded the letter back into the envelope and stored it in his jacket pocket. Before they left he would put it in his room where nobody could mess with it.
Faolan brought a quill and parchment and Lyall quickly drafted a letter back, tying it to the owl's leg. With one last piece of bacon, it swept out the way it came in.
Once Llyr and Albion were done eating Faolan gathered them in front of the fire. Harry stood still as she fussed over his cloak, making sure it was clasped right. When she tried the same with Ven, his sister was bouncing so much that his mum had to use magic to fix her up. "Now," Faolan said, turning to Llyr. "When you come through on the other side, step to the left and I'll be there to clean you up. Got that? Ven? Harry?"
"Yes, ma'am," Harry said.
Their mother went first. She took a pinch of the Floo powder Moody held and threw it into the flames. Like before they turned bottle green and roared higher. Faolan stepped into them, calling out, "The Leaky Cauldron!" In a blur and wisp of green flame, she was gone.
Ven lurched forward and Lyall grabbed her shoulder. "Hold on. Albion first. He has friends meeting him on the other side." Ven growled, watching her older brother go first. Then Lyall let her go. Harry, then Llyr, then Lyall followed.
Harry hated Floo travel. He'd only done it a few times, thankfully, but each time he still felt like he was going to throw up or wiggle too much and fall out of the wrong fireplace. Having learned his lesson the first time he'd traveled this way, he took his glasses off before he entered the fireplace. He tried to ignore the whooshing in his ears as the flames swallowed him. For a few moments he kept his eyes closed, tucking his elbows in closer as he spun. The flames gave him a light tickling sensation and he fought to stay still. When he felt himself starting to slow down he opened his eyes and held his hands out. He tumbled from the fireplace into the shabby little pub. Ven was there to catch him. "Hey, brother. What took you so long?"
Faolan was there suddenly, waving her wand to remove the soot from his clothes and face. Harry let her work, gazing around at the Leaky Cauldron. He had expected a bit more flare. The place looked a lot like their shed back at Castle Stalker. The toothless barman was serving drinks to a group of old women, one of them smoking a long pipe. The rest of the pub was fairly empty except for a single, pale young man sitting in the corner, his head in his arms. When Llyr and Lyall arrived, the group moved out the back door. They crowded into the small walled courtyard. Faolan turned to the trashcan against the wall and counted three bricks up and two across. Then she tapped her wand against the brick three times.
A small hole appeared in the brick and expanded rapidly. A second later they were facing an archway large enough for the entire family to pass through.
Harry felt his jaw drop. He now stood on a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight. People were everywhere, more people than he'd ever seen all together. The wizards and witches wove in and out of the crowds, chatting or shopping. Beside him Ven whistled a long, low note.
"Hey, Mum. If you give me some money, I'll take Llyr to start getting his things." Albion appeared from the crowd. Beside him was his best friend, a tall, handsome boy that was in Albion's house at school.
"Hey, Cedric," Harry said, taking the hand the older boy offered.
"Heya, Harry. Been a bit, yeah?" Cedric grinned. "Hey, Ven."
"Wotcher, laddie. That's what you Brits say, yeah?"
Cedric laughed. "Some of us do, yes."
Lyall and Faolan gave Albion a bag of coins and the dark haired boy led Llyr and Cedric away. "Running a bit low this year," Lyall said, glancing in his cloak pocket. "I'll run to Gringotts and grab some more. You want to take the twins to get their robes?"
"Aye, love. I'll do that. See you soon." Faolan shooed him away then draped an arm over Harry and Ven's shoulders. "This way."
At Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, they were measured and fitted up in their brand new school robes. Faolan also bought a Hufflepuff scarf for Albion. Lyall showed up just as Madam Malkin finished with them. He paid and they hurried to the next shop, an Apothecary. Harry and Ven were quickly drawn to the silver unicorn horns. After being caught sword-fighting with them, their mother dragged them out by the ears. "Perhaps we'd best split you two up? Lyall, if you would take Harry to get his books? I'll take Ven for her wand."
"Awww, but Mum, I wanted Harry there to see how awesome my wand is!"
"Hush, you. Come along."
Lyall chuckled, placing his hand on Harry's shoulder and steering him towards Flourish and Blotts. Harry was immediately in love with the little shop. They had books of all sizes with silk, leather, dragonhide, and even one that looked like human skin, covers. Their library back home was extensive, but Harry had already read the vast majority of their collection. Lyall let him loose and Harry sped to the second level where most of the books were. He was debating how to get his da to buy him Curses and Countercurses (Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying and Much, Much More) by Professor Vindictus Viridian, when he heard someone speak on the next aisle over.
"My list only says I need these books, but I believe I might need these as well. I want to know as much about the Magical World as I can. I'll work for the rest of the summer if you convince Daddy to get me this. Look, Mum, it's Hogwarts: A History! I'll have read all of the required books by September. I'll need something else to read."
All of this was said very quickly and Harry realized it was a girl's voice. He bent and looked through the shelves, curious. A girl with brown eyes and bushy-brown hair was standing with her mother, holding a pile of books. From the mother's clothes, he knew she was a muggle. "Alright, dear," she said. "I'll talk to your father."
"Oh, thank you, Mum!" The girl burst into another litany of questions, most of which she answered herself.
"Harry?"
He nearly jumped out of his skin, spinning around. Lyall was at the head of the stairs, watching him with a small smile. Harry cursed himself for acting like he'd been doing something shady. He hadn't. Not really. "Hey, Da. Are we leaving now?"
"Yes," Lyall said, still smiling. "I've got all your books, plus a few extra for the library. I know you were running out of patience with rereading what we've already got."
"Thanks, Da." Harry put Curses and Countercurses back, wondering why his face felt so hot. Maybe next time.
The two of them left Flourish and Blotts a minute later, carrying a large bag of books. Harry assumed they had bought Ven's as well. They got Harry's cauldron, a set of scales for weighing potions ingredients, and a collapsible brass telescope. Harry cast a longing glance at Eeylops Owl Emporium as they passed. At Quality Quidditch Supplies he spent a full minute gazing through the window at the brand-new Nimbus 2000. His da finally dragged him away, saying, "Maybe another day, son."
Lyall stopped in front of a narrow and shabby shop with peeling gold letters over the door that named it Ollivanders. As they entered a tinkling bell sounded somewhere in the back of the shop. Lyall took a seat in the single chair beside the door. Harry gazed around, open-mouthed, at the shelves full of thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly to the ceiling. In the other shops they had visited, Harry had been able to hear the bustle of the street outside. Here, it was quiet. The crowds outside were reduced to a faint murmur in the background. He felt like he should whisper only in the tiny shop.
"Good afternoon," a soft voice said. Harry jumped. Lyall chuckled. An old man was had appeared behind the small counter, his wide, pale eyes staring at Harry.
"Uh, hello," Harry said, polite despite his heart racing in his chest.
"Ah, yes. Another Lachlan? Had your brother and sister in here already today. You'd be...Harry, yes?"
Harry just nodded, unable to find words. He really wished the old man would blink.
"Let's measure you. Come along." Ollivander pulled out a tape measure from his pocket. Without his help, it leapt to Harry, measuring first from his shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow. "Right-handed, I assume? Like your twin?" The old man moved to gather boxes from the assorted shelves.
"Yeah. I mean, yes sir."
"Good, good. Now every wand I've ever made is unique. No two wands the same from Ollivanders. Each has a core of a powerful magical substance. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tails feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. You will never get as good a result in a spell from another wizard's wand. The wand chooses the wizard, after all." With a wave of his hand the tape measure curled up on the floor. Ollivander returned with an armful of boxes, which he set on the counter. "Your sister got a mahogany and dragon heartstring. Seven inches. Normally twins have the same core in their wands. So here are a few, let's see. Yew and dragon heartstring-eleven inches. Go on and give it a wave."
Harry had barely moved his arm before Ollivander snatched the wand back. "Nope, nope," he muttered, grabbing another. "Here we are. Same as your twin's, mahogany and dragon heartstring. Eight inches."
Once again the wand was snatched back before Harry could do anything with it.
This continued through the entire pile Ollivander had brought over. Each failed attempt seemed to make Ollivander happier. "I love a tricky customer," he said, bringing another pile of wands to try. "You must be one of those cases where your core will be different from your twin's. It happens. Here, try this. Ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy."
And still Harry tried and tried. He was starting to fear that no wand in this shop would accept him. The next time Ollivander brought back a pile of wands, he paused on the first wand. "Let's see. Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple." He stared at it for a moment, then passed it to Harry.
A sudden warmth shot up Harry's arm as he took the wand. He lifted it above his head and brought it down, leaving behind a trail of blue and gold sparks. Ollivander and Lyall clapped, congratulating him. But as the old man placed the wand back in the box and wrapped it up, he muttered, "Curious..."
"What's that?" Lyall said.
Ollivander gazed at Lyall, his wide eyes glistening. "May we speak alone?"
Lyall frowned, but gestured for Harry to step outside for a moment. Harry wanted to argue, but knew it was no use. He left Ollivanders.
XXXXXXX
"Well, Mr. Lachlan, the phoenix who gave the feather for your son's wand actually gave another feather. Just one other." Ollivander said, his quiet voice seeming to fill the shop.
Lyall crossed his arms. "You said each wand was unique."
"It is very rare for two wands to have cores from the same animal. But I remember every wand that has ever come through here, Mr. Lachlan. And I believe you will know the brother of your son's wand." Ollivander's eyes glinted knowingly. "It was a wand you battled against in the last war."
Lyall felt the color run from his face. "You mean-"
"Yes. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Yew, thirteen and a half inches. Very curious that your son, who just happens to be named Harry, was chosen by that particular wand." Ollivander said. For a moment neither man spoke. Then Ollivander blinked for the first time since their arrival. "But coincidences happen all the time. The Boy-Who-Lived is gone. Your young Harry though, is meant for great things. After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things. Terrible...yes. But great."
Lyall tried to find his voice, glancing at the door.
"Don't worry, Mr. Lachlan. Your secret is safe with me." Ollivander said. He too looked at the door. "He has his mother's eyes."
Kailor: Thank you for reading! Reviews are very much appreciated. Now to answer the question I keep getting:
The Lachlan Clan-
Lyall and Faolan
Ven-11-birth daughter. same hair as Harry(red and blonde, wild, unkempt). A lighter honey color eyes than Faolan. Werewolf.
Albion-12-adopted. black hair. black eyes. Largest of the sons. Gonna be a large and strong man. Werewolf.
Llyr-11-adopted. dirty blonde hair he keeps in a ponytail. dark blue eyes. Smallest of the lot.
Harry-11-adopted(though, as you can see, he doesn't think he is). same hair as Ven(red and blonde, wild, unkempt). Lily's green eyes. His glasses, of course. No scar(will be addressed later).
Anwen-10-adopted. Long, dark red hair. Hazel eyes.
Lee-10-birth daughter. Only daughter with black hair she keeps cut short. Bright blue eyes.
Leith-8-birth son. Spikey blonde hair. Lyall's gray eyes. Werewolf.
Aurelia-7-birth daughter. Faolan's long, bright red hair. Lyall's gray eyes.
(A cookie to the person who figures out why I used these particular names. :P)
Thank you again!