"Talking"
"Parseltongue"
"Just hold this sock, good, then 'dragon'," and with that, they both disappeared from the Dursley's living and reappeared in the alley way behind The Leakey Cauldron.
Chapter 14: Diagonally
"Up we go Harry," said Hagrid as he helped a fallen Harry to his feet. "Now watch closely…" Hagrid tapped the wall on the special brick and Harry watched with a fascination and amazement that was no longer faked as he got his first look at Diagon Alley. The Elite had never allowed him to leave the grounds of the manor and had, in truth, only let him outside every now and then, so he had never been able to come to Diagon Alley and he was definitely impressed with his first view.
Following Hagrid through the opening Harry surreptitiously glanced around at all the stores, but while he looked awed for the sake of the half-wit half-giant, he was unwilling to let his mask down enough to gawk. He quickly followed Hagrid to Gringotts where he got his first look at the goblins. While looking at the goblins Alex began to try to find the best way to convince them to join their side. Hagrid mistook his expression for one of curiosity and thus pointed out the obvious that, "those are goblins, Harry. Safest place in the world, Gringotts, 'cept maybe Hogwarts."
They entered the bank and Harry was hard pressed to hold back a smirk at seeing the warning and feeling the magic that was linked to even just glancing at the poem that almost every witch and wizard would automatically glance at upon entering the bank.
They walked up to the first open goblin teller and Alex forced himself even further into his Harry persona, for the goblins were known to be keen and observant. If anyone could figure him out, they would. This would be one of his first acting tests, luckily the goblins probably wouldn't say anything even if they did find out about his duplicity.
"Can I help you?" sneered the teller.
"Harry here needs to get ter his vault and I need to go to vault number you-know-which to get the you-know-what. Got a letter her from Dumbledore," replied Hagrid.
"Does Mr. Potter have his key?" asked the gobbling.
"Got it wit me somewhere, hold on." Hagrid started digging through his pockets to find the small key and as Harry watched the goblin's face become one of disgust at some of the outrageous things being pulled out of Hagrid's pocket he decided to see if the goblin would play along and he sneered at Hagrid's back, while keeping one eye on the goblin. The goblin caught the look and raised an eyebrow at the uncharacteristic expression. When Harry was sure he had the goblin's attention he let the glamour flicker ever so briefly and he saw the goblin's eyes widen imperceptibly and then it returned back to its normal mask of boredom and disgust, although its eyes shown with a curiosity that betrayed it.
This silent conversation had taken less than a minute during which Hagrid had found Harry's key and produced his letter from Dumbledore. The teller looked everything in order before deeming that "everything seems to be in order. Griphook! Slipnot!" The two goblins in question quickly approached the teller for instructions. "Slipnot, please take Mr. Hagrid here to vault 713. Griphook, please escort Mr. Potter to his trust vault."
"Now wait jus a minute here," said Hagrid, "what der ya think ya doin' splittin us up like that. I need to go with him."
"P…p…please, I want to go with Mr. Hagrid, he's the only person I know right now."
The first stop was Hagrid's mysterious vault. The half-giant tried to hide the contents of the vault, but he wasn't quick enough and Harry managed to see that the vault was empty except for a small, grubby package about the size of a fist. Hagrid quickly grabbed the stone and stuffed it into the bottom right, inside pocket of his oversized coat.
Griphook then took Harry down to his trust vault. Harry and Griphook climbed out of the cart, but Hagrid, who was looking pretty green, stayed back. When they got to the door, Griphook opened the vault and then made a show of introducing wizarding currency to the oblivious boy. As they were heading back to the carts, Harry slipped an envelope to Griphook and thanked him for explaining the money system.
Leaving the bank they once again stepping into the busy alley. Under the guise of staring in awe, Alex took note of the many shops and the ones he would have to ask Severus to stop in for him. There were shops for everything, clothes of all sorts, games of every variety, more bookshops than he could count, a couple different trunk stores, and many, many more stores that he could figure out what they sold by looking at them. He also saw the many entrances to the other alleys that ran off the main one. The entrance to Knockturn was both the most obvious and the most discreet. Alex wished there was a way for Harry to go down there, but he knew that Harry Potter, would never be caught dead in such a dark alley and so quickly scurried after Hagrid before the large man noticed he was lagging behind.
Soon enough they had gotten almost everything on Harry's list from robes, to books, to potions supplies, to parchment, quills and ink. Harry had asked why they couldn't just use muggle pen and paper, but Hagrid hadn't understood the question so Harry had dropped it, hoping to get a chance to get some extra pens and notebooks before going to Hogwarts.
Finally the only store left was Ollivander's. As they were crossing to the other side of the street someone suddenly stepped off the opposite curve directly in front of Hagrid causing the large man to stumble. Harry, who had been standing to the right and a little behind the large man, had to cling tightly to Hagrid's coat in order to stay upright. Hagrid immediately bent down to apologize to the man and make sure he was ok, but the stranger jumped up and in his hurry to leave almost bowled Harry over.
After making sure that Harry was alright, the strange pair continued to Ollivander's. Harry was excited about getting his first wand, but he was also a little apprehensive having heard that Ollivander was very perceptive. Together, Harry and Hagrid entered the shop. Instead of seeing boxes and boxes of dusty old wands as was the normal first impression, they were greeted by the sight of an owlish man in earnest discussion with a much taller, blonde haired man. They also saw a beautiful woman standing next to a boy who was an almost exact replica of the older man. At the sound of the chimes above the door going off, the blonde man quickly stood and with a curt goodbye to the shopkeeper and a sneer at Hagrid, swept out of the shop without even a glance to Harry. He was shortly followed by the shop's other two occupants who sneered at Hagrid and even more at the rags Harry was wearing..
The shopkeeper turned to blink at Hagrid and Harry, "Good Afternoon."
"Hello," said Harry.
"Ah yes," said the man. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Harry Potter." It wasn't a question. "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."
Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Harry. Harry wished he would blink. Alex through up his Occlumency shields enough to know if Ollivander was probing, but not enough for someone to notice the walls were there.
"Your father, on the other hand, favored…a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it – it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."
Mr. Ollivander had come so close that he and Harry were almost nose-to-nose. Harry could see himself reflected in those misty eyes.
"And that's where…"
Mr. Ollivander reached out to touch the lightning scar on Harry's forehead, but Harry flinched back reflexively, causing Ollivander to drop his hand.
"I sold the wand that did it," he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful…"
He shook his head, as if to clear it, and then, to Harry's relief, spotted Hagrid.
"Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to see you again…Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy, wasn't it?"
"It was, sir, yes," said Hagrid.
"Good wand, that one. But I suppose they snapped it in half when you got expelled?" said Mr. Ollivander, suddenly stern.
"Err – yes, they did, yes," said Hagrid, shuffling his feet. "I've still got the pieces, though," he added a little more brightly.
"But you don't use them?" said Mr. Ollivander sharply.
"Oh, no, sir," said Hagrid quickly. Harry noticed he gripped his pink umbrella very tightly as he spoke.
"Hmmm," said Mr. Ollivander, giving Hagrid a piercing look, before turning away with a small nod. "Well, now – Mr. Potter. Let me see." He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"
"Err --- well, I can write with both hands," said Harry.
Mr. Ollivander gave him a searching look before finding whatever he was looking for. "Hold out your arm. That's it." He measured Harry from should to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit on both sides and round his head. As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."
Harry suddenly realized that the tape measure, which was measuring between his nostrils, was doing this on its own, and knocked it away. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.
Hagrid was fidgeting behind Harry before coming forward to talk to Harry. "I've got som'thin to do if that's ok Harry, you wait here for me ta come back and get ya, alright?"
"Sure," said Harry, turning back to watching Ollivander as Hagrid began to leave.
"Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."
Harry took the wand and (feeling foolish) waved it around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of hand almost at once.
"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try –"
Harry tried – but he had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander.
"No, no – here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out."
Harry tried. And tried. He had no idea what Mr. Ollivander was waiting for. The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled for the shelves, the happier he seemed to become.
"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere – I wonder, now – yes, why not – unusual combination – holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple.
Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down throught the dusty air and a stream of red and black sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls…and yet, it didn't feel quite right. Mr. Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well…how curious… how very curious…"
He put Harry's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious… curious…"
"Sorry," said Harry, "but what's curious?"
Mr. Ollivander fixed Harry with his pale stare, causing him to shiver slightly.
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feater is in your wand, gave another feather – just one other. It is very curious in deed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother – why, its brother gave you that scar."
Harry swallowed.
"Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember…I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter…After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things – terrible, yes, but great. Don't you agree?"
Harry shivered. "I'm not sure I understand what you're asking sir."
"Don't you?" countered Mr. Ollivander. "I think you do. Maybe you should let your aura flair fully and we shall find you a second wand."
"The Hogwarts list said one wand," replied Harry nervously.
"Ah, but I can't imagine you telling anyone about the second, as a matter of fact young Mr. Malfoy, just received two wands. As did…your father. It has to do with being ambidexterous, I believe."
"I'm still not sure I understand what your talking about, you already told me my father's wand and you only mentioned one."
"Ah, well…will you look?"
"Yes, yes I will." Decided Harry, and slowly he released his aura so that it was much more powerful and much less innocent.
"Ah, I knew there was a reason to stay neutral in the last war, and I am thinking the same thing for this one, though I do believe that I help your side more by turning a blind eye than I do the Ministry or Dumbledore. Right, here you go."
Another hour later, Hagrid had returned, holding something behind his back and Ollivander was still handing Harry wands. Finally, Ollivander returned with a box that appeared to be falling apart at the seams.
"Here, try this. Twelve-and-a-quarter inches. Yew with the hair of a thestral's tail. Very supple."
Harry took the wand and immediately knew that this was the one. With a wave the wand shot out green and gold sparks, the gold sparks started small fires where they landed and then went out, while the green appeared almost acidic, just not potent enough to do any serious damage.
"Yes, well I guess we have found your wand, Mr. Potter."
"Yes," replied Harry. He paid sixteen galleons for his two wands and whispered for Ollivander to only tell Dumbledore about his holly wand, to which he quickly agreed.
As soon as Hagrid and Harry had left the store, Hagrid began looking at Harry's letter. "Well, I guess that's everything. 'Cept, 'cept your birthday present. How 'bout I get ya yer animal. We haven't got you one yet, so I'll buy it for you. How 'bout and owl? Toads are out of fashion now and I don't like cats, so yeah, I'll get you an owl."
"You don't have to do that Hagrid, really." Spluttered Harry.
"No, but I want to. Been wanting to fer years really, now I get the chance. Here we are, Eylope's Owl Emporium."
"Um, I guess, ok." Harry finally decided as he walked into the store and began looking around.
Harry spent the next thirty minutes looking at all the different types of owls. The store had every species of owl known to the muggle world and quite a few that weren't. They also had other birds used to deliver mail, such as hawks, eagles, falcons, crows, and ravens.
Finally, Harry flared his aura and a single bird beat his wings in its cage in the stillness that followed the display of power. Harry walked over and saw the handsomest Peregrin Falcon. He immediately decided to keep the bird, which he discovered was a female who had allowed no one else to touch her.
After Hagrid had paid, they left the store and she rode out of the store on his shoulder after refusing to enter a cage. Currently, she was sleeping with her head tucked under her wing. The sun had sunken low in the sky while they were in the shop and Harry and Hagrid slowly meandered their way through Diagon Alley, to the wall, and into a rather empty Leaky Cauldron. Harry couldn't stop stammering his thanks as they walked down the road.
"Don' mention it," said Hagrid gruffly. "Don' expect you've had a lotta presents from the Dursleys. Got time fer a bite to eat before I gotta take ya back." He said.
He bought Harry some fisn 'n chips and a butter beer and they say down to eat. When they had finished, they left the Leaky Cauldron with Hagrid leading the way. Harry didn't speak much as they walked, choosing instead to play the amazed child with information overload as he tried to sort out his thoughts. He didn't notice how much people gawked at them on the Underground, laden as they were with all their funny-shaped packages, and a Peregrine Falcon perched on his shoulder. Up another escalator, out into Paddington station; Harry only realized where they were when Hagrid tapped him on the shoulder.
He handed him a ticket and an envelope. "The ticket will take you back to the Dursley's. The envelope is yer ticket fer Hogwarts," he said. "First o' September – King's Cross – it's all on yer ticket. Any problems with the Dursleys, send me a letter with yer bird, she'll know where to find me…See yeh soon, 'Arry."
Harry got on the train just before it pulled out of the station. He turned to wave goodbye to Hagrid, but he blinked and Hagrid had gone. He sat back down and wished for the first of many times that he could just go back to Slytherin Castle or even Riddle Manor, rather than back to his 'relatives'house.
A/N: The switching between 'Harry' and 'Alex' in the text is intentional. It is to try and show you who's thinking. Almost like multiple personalities, but not. When I use 'Harry' than my character is acting like cannon Harry as much as possible. When I use 'Alex' then my character is letting his true self a little more freedom either in thought or deed. Whenever my character is acting like Harry, then most of what is going on in his head is "how would the golden boy act? What's the best way to fool Dumbledore? What cards can I show without tipping my hand?" that's what's going on in his head and I'm not about to put the majority of that in my story because it would get redundant, but just so you all know where I'm coming from and the 'Harry' 'Alex' thing is completely intentional and it is not MPD.