It seemed to Remus that the years flew by faster than he ever knew was possible, yet here he was, July 31st of Harry's eleventh year. Remus had been up early, making chocolate chip pancakes for Harry's traditional birthday breakfast, though he knew this year things would be changing.
It was a with a mix of emotion that Remus made his way to Harry's bedroom door, a plate stacked high with his breakfast and a lit candle. He used his free hand to rap on the door frame. "Good Morning, Harry James! Happy Birthday!" Remus sang as he came into the room.
"Noooo. Too Early." Harry groaned, rolling over and pulling his pillow over his head.
"No sir." Remus laughed, sitting the plate down on the bedside table. "Do you not remember what today is?"
"It's my birthday." Harry groaned. "It'll still be my birthday if you let me sleep another hour."
"You..." Remus took the pillow from Harry. "Sound like James. Come on, we have to buy your school supplies today!"
This, it turned out, was exactly what the young boy needed to hear.
"Hogwarts?!" Harry shouted, almost falling as he flung himself from his bed.
"Indeed." Remus laughed again, catching Harry and helping him to his feet. He turned and handed Harry his breakfast. "Make a wish, pup."
Harry squinted his eyes tightly and then blew out the candle with a comically large breath.
"Are we still having a party for my friends at the park?" Harry ask, stuffing the first bite of food into his mouth.
"Weather forecast for the day looks good, so we're on." Remus nodded. "That's this evening, and we have a lot to do. I am going down stairs to clear away the breakfast mess, you bring me your plate when you've finished up and dressed, alright?"
"Yes, sir!" Harry agreed happily. "Can we go by and see Mum and Dad? Will we have time?"
Remus felt his ache, but he smiled gently.
"Of course, sweet boy. Anytime." Remus said, before walking out of the room.
As often as Remus had brought Harry to Diagon Alley, it seemed he never really got used to the wonder of it all. His large green eyes always swelled with the wonder of the busy magical streets, though it did often turn to mild annoyance when the odd stranger would approach 'the Boy Who Lived', which Harry despised being known as. As the two made their way through the crowd, Remus heard a familiar voice calling after them, so he caught Harry by the shoulder for a moment.
"Oi, I thought that was you." Hagrid laughed, catching up at last. "Bit busy today, innit?"
"School lists got sent out today." Harry grinned up at the half-giant, who gave him a slight hug.
"Well, isn't that exciting. And it's yer birthday to boot! Happy 11th, Harry!" Hagrid boomed as he shook Remus hand. Hagrid was a good friend to both Harry and Remus, often coming over to visit and having tea in the garden with them, allowing his large dog, Fang, to run around and roll in the grass with the boy.
"Can't believe I'll be sending you my boy this year, doesn't seem time just yet." Remus laughed.
"Oh we'll have a fine time at Hogwarts, Harry! A fine time!" Hagrid bragged. "I best let you boys get back to it, I have errands to run for Headmaster Dumbledore."
"Can you make it by the party, Hagrid?" Remus ask, craning his neck to meet the other wizard's eye.
"Oh, 'fraid not. But don't worry- yer gift should be waitin' for you at home by the time you make it back. Don't think old Hagrid would forget you!"
"You didn't have to get me anything, Hagrid!" Harry laughed, hugging the large man again.
"Oh Harry, it's not everyday yer young man turns 11! Its a big year for a young wizard!" Hagrid replied. "I'll see you soon enough. Take care boys!" Hagrid called, as he headed through the crowd toward the bank.
Remus wrapped his arm around Harry's shoulder and led him through the crowded street.
"I know where you'll want to go first." Remus said, looking down at his adopted son.
"Ollivanders!" Harry gasped as Remus steered him up to the door. The two of them entered the shop, Harry squinting into the dimly lit front room.
Remus walked up to the counter and ran the bell, causing a small, old man with wild white hair to slide to the end of a large case on a library style rolling ladder. He peeked around the corner and saw the customers, and happily jumped down.
"Mr. Potter!" He called walking up and shaking Harry's nervously offered hand. "I wondered when I'd be seeing you- knew it had to be soon. Seems only yesterday your mother and father were here buying their first wands. Your uncle here, too. Took him a while, come to think of it." Mr. Ollivander teased Remus about his first trip to the shop.
"Good to see you too, sir." Remus smiled, also shaking the wandmakers hand.
"So now boy, let me look at you." He said, shooing Harry to step back. Ollivander walked around him and then hummed and disappeared into the shelves of wands. He reappeared holding several boxes.
"How come all of these look plain?" Harry ask, looking at the open boxes on the counter. "None of these look different like yours or Mrs. Weasley's..." Harry looked to Remus, confused.
"As you grow, and your magic grows, the wand will change." Ollivander explained. "It becomes like a part of you. That is something not every wand maker leaves room for- but me, all of mine do. Now- here. Try this one. Give it a wave over to that vase."
Harry did as he was told and the vase in question shattered, sending shards of clay, water and flower petals flying. His bright green eyes widened in fear and panic, and he tossed the wand in the air as the explosion startled him, and Remus caught it, laughing. He took out his own wand and with a simple wave, the mess flew back together, as if time itself was rewinding before him, like it never happened. Remus gingerly laid the wand back in its box.
"Not that one, then." Ollivander chuckled. "Here, try this."
Harry took the wand extended to him, a short, dark colored wand, and he gave the same wave toward the flowers. This time, petals shot off the flowers themselves, like miniature fireworks, each one giving a 'pop' as the burst off the stem. Harry tucked his lips in over his teeth and and laid the wand back on the counter. Ollivander looked from Remus to Harry and back a couple times, and wandered off.
"I wonder, maybe..." He could be heard saying, down the aisle. The box he brought out was heavily covered in dust. He used the sleeve of his robes to dust the box off, and he held the box out for Harry to take the wand. Harry looked at Remus first, who nodded, watching closely. He turn took the wand, and immediately the atmosphere in the room changed. A warm wind seemed to swirl around Harry, and a gold light of the same warmth spread from the wand in the young wizard's grip.
"What is that look?" Remus ask, as Ollivander stood looking at Harry, wide eyed and mouth agape.
"The wand Mr. Potter has just bonded with is eleven inches long, holly wood and phoenix feather core. The phoenix who gave the feather for the core of this wand only ever offered up one other for me to use. You see, Harry," Ollivander turned now to face Harry directly, "The magic in the core of a wand is only good if the creature providing the core consents to the use of their part. You wand, the phoenix who gave it, gave two tail feathers... The other wand, the brother to this one, gave you that very scar."
"Woah woah woah." Remus took the wand from Harry's loose grip, and laid it back on the counter. "Is that safe?"
"Remus, my boy, you know as well as I that the wand chooses the wizard. We've no control over it any more than we do the very tides in the sea. Perhaps fate, or perhaps the phoenix itself wishes to right wrongs done. Whatever the reason, this wand has chosen Harry." Ollivander picked up the wand and carefully put it back in the box. Harry looked up at Remus, his face still a bit pale from the realization of what exactly had just happened to him. Remus looked the older man over carefully, then nodded and took out Harry's school supply funds, and paid for the wand.
"I know we can expect great things from you, Mr. Potter. I am glad to have been able to see you today." He called, as Remus and Harry quickly hurried out of the store.
Harry was overly quiet as he sat in the kitchen, watching Remus put up streamers and balloons, preparing for the party that they'd planned for the afternoon. Molly Weasley and her five younger children would be over soon, as well as Neville Longbottom and his grandmother, and a few muggle friends from his primary school. It would be Harry's last time seeing them for a while, as they were all going their separate ways for elder schools, many of them going away to school like Harry would be to Hogwarts.
Remus looked over as he stuck another point of the streamers up in the kitchen, noticing how troubled the young man looked.
"You can either tell me what's on your mind, or you can help me decorate for your party." Remus half joked. Harry nodded blankly, and he rose from his seat and moved over to hold the streamer in place while Remus taped it. Harry enjoyed things like this, doing things the muggle way, even if it was sometimes just for the benefit of his muggle friends.
"I can do both." Harry sighed. "I was just thinking..."
"About your wand?" Remus guessed, after Harry did not continue his thought.
"Mhmmm." Harry hummed quietly. "It's just..." He hesitated for a moment. "Its weird, isn't it?"
"Perhaps." Remus said. "I know I didn't react in a way that was very reassuring to you, and I am sorry for that."
"Oh come on Uncle Remus, it's not your reaction that is the troubling part. My wand is like... the other half of his wand, and I just. I don't know."
"I like the theory of the phoenix's magic wanting to right a wrong." Remus said, placing his hands on Harry's shoulders. "But either way, the wand has bonded with you. It means it listens to you. You are it's master, you understand me?"
"Yes, sir." Harry nodded.
"Good." Remus smiled. "Molly should be here any moment with-"
"Cake's here dears!" Molly called from the front door where George Weasley had just let her in.
"Right on time." Remus winked at Harry. "Come on, it's your birthday. No worries."
Molly came into the kitchen, balancing a three tiered chocolate cake, adorned with fudge swirls and strawberries. "Happy Birthday, darling boy!" Molly said as she placed the cake carefully on the counter. She gave first Harry, then Remus a large hug.
"Harry, I left the others out in the garden to set up some lawn games Arthur brought from work. Should be perfect for your muggle school friends. Why don't you join them?" She smiled. Harry seemed to perk up at the thought of seeing his his best friend Ron, as well as the others, with whom Harry had also been friends with for many years. Harry disappeared out the door and Molly turned her attention to the younger wizard.
"You alright, love?" She ask, her face looking concerned.
Remus raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?" He ask, confused as to why she ask. It was another two weeks to the next full moon, and there was no way she could know what happened at Ollivanders.
"I just know how hard it is, the first time your child goes to school." Molly explained. "I also know what a worrier you can be."
"Oh." Remus replied, then thought for a moment. "I guess I'm just trying to keep the worry out of my mind. I will have to adjust to being alone for so much of the time."
"Well, you'll still have Sundays with Arthur and I, won't you? Dinner and dessert?" Molly smiled.
"I'd never turn down a chance to have a meal you've made, Molly." Remus laughed. "Thank you."
"He's a good boy. Smart." Molly complimented. "You've done wonderfully. He'll be fine. You will feel like you've been stabbed when he disappears from view on that train though, I will not lie to you about that."
"Wonderful, something to look forward to." Remus snorted. His ear twitched as he heard another set of voices in his yard. "Daniel and his mother have arrived. First of our muggle guests."
"Best get out there." Molly nodded. "I'll finish up getting snacks ready. Go on, try to enjoy the party with your boy, don't think about the sad." Molly instructed.
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