Author Notes: Thanks for the reviews.

Update 14 July: Many thanks to Aletheya for proofreading this chapter and fixing the numerous errors.

Chapter 3 - Diagon Alley

The following morning, Harry was standing on the front lawn of No. 4 Privet Drive when he heard a faint crack from the small park just down the way. It was soon followed by the sound of someone knocking over a rubbish bin and a muffled grunt. Next, a massive figure roughly brushing rubbish off his long dirty overcoat strode into view. When he spotted Harry, a broad smile lit up the giant's face and his huge steps quickly ate up the distance between them until he towered above Harry.

"Wow, Harry. You sure grew up. Last I saw ya you were just a wee fella who loved ta climb." The man's voice boomed so loud that nearby windows shook and Harry was sure that it would be only a matter of moments before the neighbours were all peering out. So much for waiting outside to try and keep the meeting low key.

"Eh.. Hello. I'm sorry but I don't really remember you."

"Ahh dat be right. Just like yesterday for me but for you yeah... So I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts and I'm here to take ya shopping. Tis nice to meet you again anyhows Harry."

He held out a massive arm and shook Harry's hand hard enough so that Harry almost fell over. The big man barely noticed as he was now looking around the street.

"What a strange place you live, eh? They all look the same. Weird, these muggles. So, all ready then? Go tell ya Uncle and Aunty we going?"

"Already told them, thanks, Mr Hagrid." Harry hadn't and wasn't planning to. He certainly didn't want his Aunt and Uncle forgetting their place and going off on one of their rants.

"None of that. Just call me Hagrid, Harry. Everyone does. So we gonna get the muggle train there, but you can get the Knight Bus back. You'll need ya wand to call it and since.. well.. anyhow, enough of that. You know the way to the station, Harry?"

"Eh... Yes. I've been there before."

They started walking towards the station, with Hagrid exclaiming at all sorts of normal things as if they were the weirdest things he had ever seen.

Tom explained, 'Hagrid's probably spent little or no time in the muggle world. I'm unsure why Dumbledore would send him. From his comment about the knight bus he's still not a qualified wizard as you need a wand to summon it. Sadly, his being unqualified is my fault. Hagrid isn't very bright but he would have got through to at least owl levels except that in my seventh year I got him expelled to cover up one of my many crimes.'

The train trip was fairly uneventful apart from all the strange looks that the ten foot high man received. Harry made small talk with Hagrid about Hogwarts and his work. He didn't learn anything new, but he actually did enjoy chatting with him.

Hagrid led the way from the station to the Leaky Cauldron. Harry's eyes were everywhere. He had been told many stories of London, the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley but words did none of them justice. London was impressive, the Leaky Cauldron was even more grubby than he expected and Diagon Alley was just amazing. He barely noticed all the attention he garnered on the way through the tavern, he automatically shook hands and exchanged meaningless platitudes with the half dozen people having a late breakfast, before he exited on the heels of Hagrid.

The alley was very quiet, with only a few people wandering around and many shops still yet to open. Gringotts was impressive, though Hagrid didn't enjoy the cart ride near as much as Harry did. They gathered a few handfuls of galleons and then briefly stopped by another vault so Hagrid could retrieve something, before heading back to the main hall. Tom reminded Harry to refrain from asking questions to the Goblins at this time. If things went well, he would have ample opportunity later.

Just as they arrived back amongst the tellers a voice called out, "Hagrid. A moment of your time please."

A surprised Hagrid turned and waved as he half led half dragged Harry along behind him, "Eh. Hello, Professor. Wasn't expecting to see you here. That a muggleborn you have there?"

It was a tall stern looking lady with black hair and dark grey robes that had addressed Hagrid, "Indeed this young lady is Miss Hermione Granger and these are her parents. Mr and Mrs Granger, and that young fellow there must be young Mr Harry Potter."

Harry wasn't sure but he thought he detected a moment of mild frustration in Mr Granger's expression when he was introduced.

"That's right. Harry dis ere is Professor McGonagall. Deputy Headmistress and head of Gryffindor house and she'll be teaching ya Transfiguration."

"Pleasure to meet you Professor McGonagall." Harry was polite though he was more interested in looking around at the goblins.

'Harry, it'll be no coincidence that she is here. She knew when Hagrid was bringing you. I suggest you pay more attention to her and her companions.'

"Eh.. and hello Mr Granger, Mrs Granger, Miss Granger." He shook the hands of Mr Granger but just ducked his head at the lady and young girl. Now that he was paying attention, he noticed the youngest had bushy brown hair and was wearing a neat little grey dress and jacket. Something a little more suited to someone a bit older, but Harry thought she pulled it off okay with her straight backed posture. She was obviously a little out of her depth, but holding up well under the pressure.

"Mr Potter, a pleasure.", they each intoned in sequence which almost sent Harry into a fit of giggles he only just managed to stifle in time, only the young girl having picked up on it. Though she tried to pull of a slightly disapproving look, he spotted the smile in her eyes.

"Well, Professor, I've just taken Harry here down to his vault and we're about to do some shopping..."

"Excellent, Hagrid. I have just assisted the Grangers in exchanging some muggle money and we are about to do likewise. Please lead the way." Professor McGonagall glanced at Harry briefly and he was sure that there was a tinge of amusement in her eyes as she fell in beside him. As they followed the flustered Hagrid out of the bank she continued in a softer voice. "Well, Mr Potter I do hope you will be around long enough that you can join myself and the Grangers for lunch?"

"Minerva... Professor.. since you ere ya wouldn't mind if I, like, went and... ran another errand whilst Harry here gets fitted for his robes?" Hagrid was acting rather nervous around the much shorter Deputy Headmistress, which brought a grin to Harry's face. Hermione also grinned though not having seen Hagrid eyeing the taps in the Leaky Cauldron earlier probably didn't quite pick up the full reason for Professor McGonagall's disapproving glare, curt nod and then rolled eyes as he turned away.

Inside Madam Malkin's, Professor McGonagall took the two older Grangers aside whilst Hermione and Harry were measured up for their robes.

"So Harry, are you also muggleborn?" Hermione was putting in an effort to make her tone as casual as possible though there was still an nervous undercurrent.

"Not really. My parents were both wizards but they died and I was raised by my Aunt and Uncle. They are both muggles so I guess you could say I am muggle-raised."

"Ohh, sorry... my condolences."

"It's okay."

As the two ladies finished their measurements and went to check out the racks of robes Hermione asked, "Harry. Why did they keep looking at you so strangely? Did you notice? It was a bit weird, I thought. I think people..."

Harry smiled and held up a hand to stop the torrent of words, "Relax, Hermione. Let me answer your question first." The smile faded as he continued, "I've been getting those looks all day. It seems that when the last Dark Lord fell, it was due to an accident whilst he was trying to kill me just after killing my parents. So somehow I've been labeled a hero because of it."

Hermione opened her mouth to ask a question, closed it, reopened it paused again all in a manner of a few seconds before finally saying, "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have asked."

"Don't be silly, Hermione. You didn't know and it's before I can remember anyhow. I'd much prefer to be asked like you did, than have everyone already think they know what happened, which seems to be the case. I've already been thanked for defeating Lord Voldemort a dozen times this morning."

There was a pair of gasps behind them as the two ladies were returning with the robes.

Harry rolled his eyes at Hermione, "Oh, yeah. Most people don't like to use his name. They all go around calling him You-Know-Who."

"You-know-who? Why?"

'I like this girl. Maybe a bit talkative at times but she does tend to get straight to the point.'

Harry smiled and as they walked to the two changing cubicles replied, "Lord Voldemort ruled mostly by fear and.."

'Harry. Other people can hear. Remember how much you are supposed to know.'

"... and I guess they are still scared." Harry flicked his eyes back in the direction that the two ladies were waiting hoping that Hermione would get the message. A small nod seemed to indicate that she did.

"Can I tell her more, Tom?"

'Of course, but I would be careful of your timing. She seems intelligent and, if she learns that today is supposed to be your first contact with the world, she might wonder how you know so much. She might ask the wrong person and make them suspicious. Might I suggest you wait till you've had time to read some books or talk to other people a bit more before you say too much more?'

"That makes sense. Thanks, Tom,"

'You are welcome, Harry. You are doing well.'

As the robes were adjusted, their conversation turned to the primary schools they had attended, favourite subjects, friends and hobbies. Harry soon picked up that Hermione didn't have many friends. She reminded him a lot of his bookworm friend, though they were some significant differences. For one thing, Hermione was a girl. He wasn't too amused by Tom's ribbing regarding this and he couldn't avoid blushing a few times. He wondered if maybe he shouldn't have asked Tom those questions about girls. Tom was a little too honest and he felt he was far too young to think about Hermione like Tom suggested.

At the next shop, they each purchased a trunk. With a little convincing, Hagrid allowed Harry to splurge a little and get one with a reducio/engorgio charm permanently applied. Hermione picked up a trunk with an expansion charm on a small foldout bookcase. Both had permanent featherlight charms applied.

Their conversation was on favourite foods until they got to Flourish and Blotts and Hermione's attention was lost to the thousands of books about subjects she had never seen before. Harry focused on the school books he needed, though he also grabbed a couple of books that covered prominent families and recent events, spending quite a bit extra to get the self updating versions where available. Following Tom's advice, he also made sure he and Hermione picked up a book of wizarding etiquette and customs saying, "Something tells me that we are both going to have to treat this culture as if we were living in a land just as foreign as Japan."

Hermione spent much of the following hour looking around and watching wizards with an often thoughtful expression.

No one enjoyed much of their experience at Ollivander's, though Harry and Hermione were both happy when they finally found their wands. They were all quite happy to move on to Eeylops Owl Emporium, where Hagrid bought Harry an early birthday present of a beautiful Snowy Owl and Hermione a Cinnamon Screech Owl, since he felt a little guilty about only buying Harry a present when it wasn't even his birthday. Mrs Granger attempted to refuse but Hagrid wasn't having any of it and Hermione had already fallen in love with the little owl. Harry named his owl Hedwig and Hermione named hers Athene.

After they were forced to move to a private room for lunch because of the boy-who-lived fans, Professor McGonagall gave a brief account of the events of ten years ago to explain the strange behaviour of people around Harry. A few more condolences were given before the conversation moved on to Hogwarts, electives and careers.

"Well, yes, Divination is also a choice and if you do happen to be a true seer it could be useful. Otherwise, you are likely to discover that it is infact one of the more imprecise branches of magic. Professor Trelawney has been our Divination Professor for the past ten years. She would be the person to speak to about the subject. I would suggest you wait till at least second year before you start trying to make a decision on what electives to take."

"Oh. What about the Houses, Professor, which were you in?"

"Well I was in Gryffindor and am currently the Head of that House but please don't let that influence you, all the Houses have their own noble history and each have produced outstanding wizards and witches."

Hagrid snorted sending pieces of his pie across the table. After he apologised and had begun wiping them up he muttered, "Not Slytherin."

Professor McGonagall glared at Hagrid, "Yes, even Slytherin. Whilst it is true that Slytherin House has gained an unfortunate reputation of producing more than its fair share of dark wizards, there are numerous examples where it has produced fine wizards. Such as our notable previous Potions Master Professor Slughorn. Even Merlin was a member of the house of Salazar Slytherin."

Hagrid muttered again, "That's not many."

Professor McGonagall glared at Hagrid again, but didn't offer a correction.

'He's right, you know. It used to be a fine house but it had already been tainted by the dark before I went to Hogwarts and, after I left, it was a breeding ground for evil wizards. Unless Dumbledore has really put his foot down, I doubt it has changed. He certainly didn't achieve much whilst Lord Voldemort was in power.'

As they went downstairs from their private dining room, Hermione confided to Harry, "I hope I get into Gryffindor. They sound like the doers. People that change things for the better, not just learn about them. Stil,l Ravenclaw would be okay I guess."

"Wherever you end up I hope I end up there as well." Harry's reply brought a blush to Hermione's face.

'Very smooth Harry, she certainly liked that.'

Harry hid his face as he started blushing as well. The adults, chatting as they led the way down the stairs, didn't notice.

After lunch, there was only a few more stops to pick up their potion making equipment, dragonhide gloves and telescopes. Hagrid was by this time slurring a bit, as he had partaken of rather a large amount of his usual whilst chatting with Mr. Granger about magical creatures. He had even promised to send him a few teeth of magical creatures he had collected over the years with the admonishment, "Really not supposed to give em to muggles but you got Hermione and long you don't go showing em to anyone where's the harm in that, eh?" Hagrid's nudge had almost knocked Mr Granger off his chair.

All too soon, Harry and Hermione were saying goodbye and promising to write over the rest of the summer. Harry had advised Hermione on how to send an Owl so that it didn't disturb his Uncle or Aunt. After Professor McGonagall had taken the Grangers to their car and apparated away, Hagrid led Harry to a small side street in muggle London, "This here be the best place to call the Knight Bus. So off you go. I'll be taking the Floo back to Hogsmeade."

Harry reached for his wand and then paused, "Hagrid, I forgot to get some money changed to pounds. I'll do that first and then I'll catch the Knight Bus. It's okay I know how to get back here now. Thanks for all your help Hagrid, it's been brilliant!"

"Eh, okay then, Harry. Here I'll walk you back into the Leaky Cauldron. It's been a real pleasure to meet up with ya again after all this time. You so much like ya parents. You take care of yourself and I'll see you on the 1st." Hagrid had a tear in his eye as he waved to Harry before entering the largest fireplace.

Harry smiled and absentmindedly shook a few more hands as he headed back to Diagon Alley. As he left the tavern, he put a wandless glamour on to change the colour of his hair and hide his glasses and scar. That seemed to do the trick as no one else approached him as he headed to Gringotts. He was glad that it at least worked on magical folk unlike a lot of his other wandless spells.

At Gringotts, Harry started with "Excuse me sir. I need to speak to someone about the state of my accounts and to also change some galleons for pounds." and soon had learnt a few interesting things about his inheritance. He left rather frustrated, but with copies of all the information that might be useful later; it looked like it was going to be many years before he could change or fix anything without the permission of his guardians and there was no way he wanted the Dursleys getting involved in any of this. He did however withdraw some more galleons and have a fair number converted to pounds before leaving.

'Clear your mind, Harry. Take those feelings and put them away. No, don't lock them away just push them to the side. Locking them away is not a good long term solution, I learnt that the hard way. Remember, we didn't expect anything better and I'm impressed you held your temper and remained polite to the goblins. It's good practice for when you deal with wizards who will be even less honest.'

Harry took a moment to collect himself and then considered Tom's words for a moment, "Shouldn't I be polite to the goblins anyhow?"

Tom gave a mental shrug, 'There is really no point. They are so regulated and law bound by the ministry and their own laws and oaths, it makes no difference how you act. As long as you follow their rules they have to follow theirs.'

"But there is no reason to not be polite right?"

'No, I guess not. If you wish to expend the effort, that's your choice.'

His next task, getting his eyes fixed, turned out to be surprisingly easy if one was willing to spend the money and could stand the pain. A potion, a few minutes of agony, and it was all fixed. He had the lens on his glasses converted to plain ones with just the common long lasting impervious, unbreakable and night vision charms. He wondered how many of the wizards wearing glasses he had seen had enchantments added.

'All of them, I would say, Harry. Money is rarely a concern for most wizarding families. When I was at Hogwarts I attempted to discern what enchantments exist on Dumbledore's glasses but my spells often got conflicting readings. Either his are more powerful than any I have ever read about, or he has many pairs that looked identical but have different enchantments.'

Next, he picked up a moleskin book bag with an expansion charm and locking charm so only he could access the contents. That cost even more than the eye repair potion. He moved all his non school books over to that. Then, he went back to Flourish and Blotts and picked up a large collection of books that Tom suggested would be useful. A few that had been published recently, but most just containing things that either Tom was unfamiliar with or had forgotten.

Tom had admitted that though he had gained a copy of Lord Voldemort's memories at the time of the split, it was not eidetic. Like most wizards, Tom knew some spells very well and many others only half as well. It was unlikely that his selection of spells would be that well suited to Harry. Harry searched, but ended up rather frustrated by the lack of information on wandless magic, even though Tom had warned him that was likely to be the case.

'Even if there was such a book, Harry it would likely be useless. Wandless magic is so individual that apart from listing examples of the few wizards capable of it, there is little that could be written about it. Already, you are able to achieve a few things with it that I never achieved. Likewise some of my previous abilities will probably be unsuited to you. It's up to you to work out if there is anything else you are capable of.'

On that sour note Harry left Diagon Alley and went muggle shopping. His main target was new clothing, but there were plenty of other little things he wanted to make his life easier. Modern star charts, astrological calendars, boxes of index cards and more stationary soon joined his more magical purchases in his book bag.

Harry used a glamour to disguise his features and add a few years to ensure he wasn't bothered when he took the Knight bus back to No. 4 Privet Drive.

'So Harry, think you will dream of Hermione tonight?'

"Quiet you."