Eleven years later….
"Happy Birthday Harry!" James exclaimed, throwing a messily wrapped package at his son. Blinking, Harry Potter shoved himself in an upright position and grabbing his black round glasses.
"Dad…whattimeisit?" He mumbled.
"6:30 AM!" James said cheerfully, ignoring Harry's dumbfounded expression. "Now up up! Uncle Remus is here!" Harry's expression transformed into one of excitement; it had been over six months since he had last seen his Dad's friend.
"I'll bet he got me something awesome! Like when he got me that Ireland Quidditch jersey last year!" James glowered at his son before getting up and pointing his wand at his son's face. Harry yelped.
"What were you saying…."
"You're the best, most awesome Dad in the world?" Harry recited quickly, jumping off his bed and dodging his Dad's noogie.
"You get off easy this time Harry. I won't shoot you with water today." Harry grinned.
"Thanks Dad," he grinned sarcastically, before bolting down the stairs of their three bedroom house. "Hi Uncle Remus!" He shouted as he pounded down the last three steps. Lupin smiled.
"Happy birthday Harry! Feel any different?"
"Not really," Harry grinned, the fringe of his hair still askew from sleep. The lighting bolt shaped scar was obvious on the boy's forehead.
"He shouldn't feel too much different Remus. He was ten only yesterday." James joked as climbed down the stairs.
"Has the boy shown promise James?" Lupin asked, a grin pulling up the corners of his mouth.
"Yeah!" Harry said a huge smile breaking out across his face. "I found Dad's old broom in the closet and I wanted to try it. I had just gotten up in the air when Dad came home and blew a gasket. I fell off the broom, but when I got closer to the ground I kind of slowed down and landed." James shook his head, obviously remembering the moment that had nearly caused him to have a heart attack.
"This is why he isn't going to learn to fly until next summer. On a Bluebottle." James told Lupin who chuckled in response.
"Dad!" Harry protested, thinking of the stupid family broom James had insisted he would learn to fly on. James grinned and slapped Harry on the shoulder.
"I suppose you want your presents now Harry?" Lupin asked, chuckling at Harry's embarrassment on learning how to ride on a 'sissy' broom. Harry nodded eagerly.
"I'll go first." James said, shooting Lupin a dirty look. Under his arm was the present Harry had forgotten to open in his excitement to see 'Uncle Remus'. "I don't think you'll out- do me this year Remus." He handed Harry the package. Harry went over to the couch, untying the string that held the wrapping paper together. The paper fell away to reveal a rather large silvery cloak.
"Um…thanks Dad," Harry said holding the cloak out in front of him. The cloak was ratty and well used. He looked up to see Lupin and James shaking with laughter. "What?" Harry demanded. Were they playing a joke on him?
"How about you…try it on Harry?" Lupin asked, trying to stifle his laughs. James was still shaking hysterically with laughter. Glaring at the two men, with a huff, Harry pulled the cloak around his shoulder.
"There! Now what? How does it look?" He asked sarcastically, holding out his arms under the cloak and dramatically turned himself around.
"See for yourself," James answered, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. Harry looked down. What he saw shocked him. Or rather, what he didn't see shocked him.
~"My body's gone!" He exclaimed.
"It's an invisibility cloak," James answered, smirking. "It was mine when I was around your age," Harry just gaped at his Father, before gasping and uttering his thanks.
"Thanks Dad! This is definitely the best present I've EVER had!" Harry exclaimed, feeling honoured that his father trusted him with such a treasure. James laughed, before his expression turned abruptly serious.
"Use it wisely Harry," He warned. "Or I'll take it away and ground you for a month." Harry nodded quickly, before gently folding up the cloak and putting it beside him on the couch.
"Here Harry," Lupin said, throwing Harry a bag of money. Harry grinned, opening the bag to show fifteen galleons.
"Thanks Uncle Remus," Harry said, tightening the bag back up again.
"Remus, you shouldn't have…" James frowned. Lupin waved him away.
"If not on sweets, then his education," he said, winking at Harry.
"Now you're not to spend that on sweets young man," James told him. Harry groaned.
"He'll be going to Hogwarts then?" Lupin asked.
"Yeah, Dumbledore told me he would send the letter any day now." James answered.
"You'll like Hogwarts Harry, your Father and I went there,"
"Your Mother too." James said softly. Harry stiffened, which was his automatic reaction for when anyone spoke of his mother. James had rarely spoken about her for eleven years of Harry's life. Whenever Harry would ask about her, James' answers were always so short and full of grief, causing Harry to feel guilty for even bringing it up. He couldn't help it though. He didn't even know how she died.
"She like it there?" Harry asked. James nodded,
"We all liked it there," an uncomfortable silence filled the room.
"Well then, is there going to be a birthday breakfast for the birthday boy?" Lupin asked, clapping his hands. James laughed,
"I'll do my best Remus. But I'm afraid I can't really cook."
"James," Lupin tsked, "You could always use magic."
"But you need some knowledge on what goes where," James defended himself. Lupin laughed, and waved his wand. Pots and pans in the small kitchen immediately went to work. Another flick brought the food out. Harry stared, open mouthed at the display. His Father scarcely used magic at home, except to wake him up in the mornings and to summon the paper. But he could tell his Dad was an extremely powerful wizard.
"Okay James, I'll show you how it's done." Lupin said, beckoning James into the kitchen. James rolled his eyes and went into the kitchen.
"We'll call you when it's done Harry!" He called over his shoulder.
"Alright!" Harry said. He set the bag of galleons on the couch next to him so he could cross the room to look at the picture of his Mother that inhabited the corner of the room. It was a picture of her and himself. She was holding him and gently forcing him to wave at the camera. Harry felt his sadness grow.
"It's my birthday today Mum," he began, not sure where to start when he started talking to a picture. "I'm eleven. This is the year I'll be going to Hogwarts. Dad gave me his invisibility cloak as a gift. I really like it! Lupin gave me money this year, so I could buy some supplies. But I think he wants me to spend it on things I like. Maybe I'll put it in my savings for a broom. I really don't want to learn how to fly on a Bluebottle. But Dad won't teach me until next summer anyways." Harry took a deep breath and then continued, "I've been realizing lately how little I know about you Mum. Until a few minutes ago, I didn't know that you went to Hogwarts. I don't know how you died. All I really know about you is that you loved me a lot. There's tons of stuff that Dad doesn't tell me, like how I got this weird looking scar on my head. He always says he'll tell me when I'm older. Every year I get older Mum, and he still doesn't tell me much. Last year, I found out that you were a muggle born and I have a muggle aunt, uncle and cousin up in Surrey. I'd like to meet them someday, maybe ask them about you." Harry said, pausing. "Well Mum, I miss you. I don't really remember much about you, but I still do miss you, a lot. Dad misses you too." Harry finished, gazing at the picture. His Mother smiled brilliantly at him- the same smile she'd been smiling for the past eleven years. Harry manage to crack a smile of his own and cross the room to inspect the invisibility cloak before his Dad came and saw him looking at the picture of his Mother. That would make him depressed for the rest of the day. He heard his Dad swear as a pan crashed to the floor. An idea crept into his mind. He put on his new cloak with a devious smirk on his face. Quietly, he snuck up to his Dad and poked him in the sides. James jumped and cursed, causing the pan and a bottle of oil to fall to the ground again.
"Shit!" He exclaimed, swerving his head around. "HARRY POTTER! YOU COME OUT FROM UNDER THE CLOAK THIS INSTANT!" Knowing that if he did, he would probably be in trouble, so Harry snuck up to his bedroom trying to control his hysterical laughter. He threw the cloak on his bed and shook with laughter. A sudden rapping on his window halted his hysterics. For one wild moment, Harry wondered if his Dad had somehow climbed up to his window to punish him. Turning his head up slowly, prepared to see a pair of hazel eyes, he let out a breath of relief when he saw a rather large barn owl rapping on his window impatiently. He quickly yanked his window open, allowing the owl to flutter in and deposit an envelope sealed in wax into his hands before flying out again. Curious, Harry looked down at the letter.
Mr. H Potter
24 Lester Lane
London
He saw a crest containing an elegant H in the centre. A jolt went through him as he realized that this was his acceptance letter into Hogwarts.
"DAD! I GOT THE LETTER FROM HOGWARTS!" He bellowed as he raced downstairs.
**
After a particularly satisfying breakfast, Harry, James and Lupin were seated at the dark oak table. James had sent off Harry's reply with the family's Great Grey Owl, Merlin. Harry had always found the name to be quite comical.
"Well Harry, congrats!" Lupin said heartily. "I best be going now, you best start shopping!" James' face fell.
"I forgot about the shopping!" He groaned. "I'm swamped with work this week!" He looked towards Lupin hopefully. "Remus, could you…?"
"Full Moon," Lupin stated simply. James' face filled with horror.
"Shit, Remus, I forgot!" Lupin waved him off.
"Write to Hagrid, maybe he'll take him. He's going to be in London anyways this week I hear." James' face brightened.
"Perfect! Harry, a good friend of mine will be taking you to buy your things."
"When?"
"We'll have to wait until Merlin gets back…dammit we should have thought of the scheduling conflicts before I sent him…he's not going to be happy about flying all the way back."
"Well, I really should go! I'll see you later James! Happy birthday Harry!" He vanished with a pop.
"Dad, who's Hagrid?" James looked up at Harry from the Hogwarts letter.
"Are you saying I've never told you about Rebeus Hagrid?" James asked. Harry shook his head.
"He's the gamekeeper at Hogwarts. He's half giant, so he's quite large." Harry gaped at his Father from across the table.
"Half giant?" James nodded.
"He's fiercely loyal to Dumbledore, the headmaster at Hogwarts and he used to chase Remus and I around with a crossbow when we became too curious for our own good." James chuckled.
"Wait…was he the one who sent me those rock cakes for my 8th birthday?" James nodded his eyes crinkled in a smile.
"Yes that does sound like Hagrid. Now finish your eggs before they get cold. I went through a lot of effort to make them." Harry nodded and started shovelling eggs into his mouth.
"You know…you're still in trouble for that little stunt with the cloak," Harry laughed.
"Come on Dad, it was only a joke." James laughed too, before his expression turned serious. Harry's felt a weight drop in his stomach. He really was in trouble.
"I'm proud of you Harry." Harry blinked.
"What?"
"I'm proud of you. Good job for getting into Hogwarts." Harry let of a breath of relief.
"Thanks Dad. You know, for a second there I thought you were going to punish me."
"It's your birthday today. I'm letting you off easy. But remember, if you EVER do something like that again with the cloak, I'll string you up by your ears in the basement." James threatened, his eyes flashing playfully. Harry grinned and returned to eating his eggs.
**
"Harry, are you ready yet?" James yelled from down the stairs.
"Almost!" Harry yelled back, throwing on a baggy over shirt. He ran downstairs. It was the day after his birthday and Hagrid was coming to pick him up and take him to London. He arrived in the kitchen where James was packing a few things for work. He worked for the Ministry of Magic as an auror.
"Ready!" Harry announced. James looked up, his eyebrows raised disapprovingly.
"Comb your hair Harry. It's messy." Harry looked incredulously at his father who was planning to go to work with hair just as untidy as his own. His father smirked.
"Kidding, but at least hide the scar." Harry looked at him, surprised.
"Why?" James sighed as he put another piece of parchment in his leather briefcase.
"People are naturally curious Harry. They'll ask and judge you based on your scar." James looked up. "I don't want that."
"Why would they judge me based on an old scar I have on my forehead?" His Dad winced.
"Just trust me Harry. Don't let anyone see that scar."
"Why Dad?" Harry demanded, his frustration growing. James opened his mouth to chastise him when a loud booming knock resounded at the door.
"That'll be Hagrid," James said quickly, looking away from Harry's furious expression. He walked to the doorway and wretched open the door to reveal an enormous man, his face concealed behind a shaggy black beard. He wore a huge brown leather overcoat that was full of random pockets. When he saw harry, his beetle black eyes crinkled up in a smile that was invisible under his beard.
"Well what d'ya know? Harry Potter. I haven't seen you since you was a baby!" He shook on of Harry's hands in a bone crunching grip.
"It's nice to meet you," Harry said sincerely, "Thanks for sending me the rock cakes a couple years back." Judging from the warmth of Hagrid's eyes, his smile had grown wider.
"You remember! Wasn't sure if you would like 'hose. Some people say that break their teeth," Harry was careful to keep the smile on his face so he wouldn't reveal the truth. Hagrid's eyes turned to James.
"James Potter, how ya been? Not getting into any trouble I hope." James smiled wanly.
"Can't say I have Hagrid. Thanks for taking Harry down to Diagon Alley. It'll be his first time so watch him carefully. He'll blow it all on sweets if you're not careful." Hagrid waved a massive hand in acknowledgment.
"Don't worry about him James, I got this. Little tyke won't get away." James blew out in relief.
"Well, I best be off to the ministry now. I'll see you later Harry! Good luck with your shopping. Do you have your bank key?" Harry nodded. James smiled and patted Harry's head, not ruffling it as he usually did. Didn't want to mess up my hair, Harry thought sourly. James caught a glance of Harry's expression and grinned. "Just keeping it real Harry," He said. Harry rolled his eyes and Hagrid let out a rumbling guffaw and patted Harry's back, an action that unknowingly (on Hagrid's part) nearly knocked Harry off his feet.
"We best be goin' Harry," Hagrid said. Harry nodded, ducking under Hagrid's arm outside.
"Bye Dad,"
"Bye Harry!" James' said disappearing with a pop. Harry started to run to keep up with Hagrid's enormous steps.
**
"So Harry, how've ya been?" Hagrid asked. Harry shrugged.
"Fine. Hagrid…why are we on a muggle's street?" He asked.
"You gotta cross through here to get to the Leaky Cauldron," Hagrid answered. "Through there is a passage that we can use to get to Diagon Alley." Harry nodded.
"Is that the Leaky Cauldron there Hagrid?" He asked, point to a small shabby bar that the muggles seemed to just walk by without seeing. Hagrid beamed.
"That Dad of yours taught you well Harry!" Harry flushed at the praise. Hagrid walked over to the grungy shop and opened the door with a huge 'woosh,' causing Harry to be hit with a blast of wind. The door promptly fell off its hinges. Hagrid's expression turned mortified. He poked his head in. "Tom…d'ya think you could lend me a hand?" A small, balding man came scurrying out the door, his wand raised. With a small flick the door jumped back on its hinges. And the muggles didn't seem to notice a thing.
"S'alright Hagrid, no harm done. Now come in, come in! The usual then?"
"No time today Tom, I've got Hogwarts business, plus I have to help young Harry here buy his supplies." Tom's eyes slid past Hagrid's massive form to focus on Harry. He took a sharp breath in.
"I can't believe it…Harry Potter!" Harry froze. How did they know him? He managed a tiny smile and a wave before his hand was abruptly yanked down by an extremely small man.
"I can't believe it!! Harry Potter! It's a HUGE pleasure to meet you at last!" Harry nodded and smiled at the man before his other hand was grabbed by a witch with a lopsided hat. She introduced herself as Doris Crockford, but didn't say anything after that, except smile at Harry, her eyes full of awe and excitement. Clearing his throat, Hagrid put his arm around Harry's shoulders.
"Better get goin'. Lots to buy…" Everyone swarmed towards them to get one last handshake. Poor Hagrid looked alarmed. He dragged Harry away to a room and shut the door behind them.
"Bloody hell," Hagrid muttered awkwardly. Harry just stared.
"What was that!?" He demanded. "How did all those people know my name?" Hagrid paused.
"Your Dad didn't tell ya?" Harry shook his head.
"No."
"Then I'm not the best person to tell ya that Harry." Hagrid said, pulling out a pink umbrella from a rather large pocket in his jacket.
"But Hagrid, why am I famous?"
"That's a topic between you and your Dad," Hagrid told Harry. As he hit a series of bricks in a seemingly random order, he muttered "James is going to have a cow about this." Harry tried to suppress the wild curiosity that was burning through him. He opened his mouth to ask another question, but suddenly the brick wall in front of him began to move, the bricks turning and flipping around to form an arch. His mouth dropped all the way open.
"Is this-"
"Diagon Alley." Hagrid said smugly pushing Harry along. "Come on now, we don't have all day." Shaking out of his stupor, Harry followed Hagrid into Diagon Alley.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised on how the bricks move." Harry commented.
"Shocks the best of us, when seen for the first time." Hagrid grinned. Harry looked everywhere, wishing he had eyes on the side and back of his head to take in all the sights. He had never been to a wizard market before. His Dad had always done the shopping and the furthest he'd been from his house was to visit Uncle Remus.
"Hagrid…where're we going?" Harry asked, finally twisting his head to look at the half giant beside him.
"Gringotts," Hagrid answered, pointing ahead to an elaborate white building.
"The wizard bank?"
"Ain't no place safer…'cept maybe Hogwarts o'course."
**
Almost half an hour later, Harry and Hagrid were barrelling down in a mine cart through the long dark caves under Gringotts with a goblin named Griphook- where Harry's bank was.
"Ug. I think I'm gonna be sick!" Hagrid moaned. Harry wasn't listening. His mind was more occupied by the small letter Hagrid had given to the head goblin. He had talked in some sort of code, often using the words 'who', 'which and 'what.' It was obviously a secret- or else Hagrid wouldn't have spoken like that.
"Vault 638," the goblin's squeaky voice announced, getting out of the mining cart. Harry followed, looking back with concern when Hagrid lay back limply in the cart. But Hagrid shook his head and motioned Harry to go with the goblin. Harry picked up the oil lamp and obeyed, for Hagrid did look quite ill.
"Lamp please!" Griphook commanded. Harry handed him the rusty, heavy lamp. "Key please!" Harry handed him a small gold key. Although Griphook had been awfully polite when asking for things, he accepted the key without saying thank- you to Harry. Harry barely noted this, for the huge vault door swung open revealing mountains of gold and piles of silver and bronze.
"Wow." Harry said, completely in shock. He had known his father's work paid him quite well, but Harry had had no idea that he was so rich. He stepped inside the vault and took two handfuls of the galleons, four handfuls of the sickles and six handfuls of the knuts. He piled it into a large leather wallet and turned to return to the mine cart with Hagrid. The goblin shut the door and wordlessly handed Harry his key. Harry put that into the wallet as well. His Dad would kill him if he lost it. Griphook then joined them, started the cart and they sped throughout the caves again. Hagrid groaned next to Harry, who patted his enormous arm gingerly. As it did the first time, the cart screeched to a violent stop in front of an extremely peculiar looking vault.
"Vault 713," Griphook announced.
"Hagrid," Harry asked as he watched the giant wobble out of the cart and lean against a pillar, "Why doesn't this vault have any keyholes?"
"Because a key's too easy to steal," Griphook answered before Hagrid could utter a sound.
"What's in there?"
"Can't tell you Harry," Hagrid answered this time, "Hogwarts business." Harry couldn't get anything out of him after that.
"Stand back." Griphook commanded. He then took a long finger, and ran his gnarled fingernail along an invisible line along the vault. There was a series of clicking noises before the vault swung open to reveal a stone juncture with a rather small grubby wrapped package perched in the middle of it. Harry opened his mouth to ask what it was, but thought better of it. As Hagrid bustled past him, Harry asked a different question.
"What would happen if someone else tried to open this vault?"
*"They would be sucked right in," Griphook answered, a small smirk crossing his face.
"How many times do you check the vault to see if there's anything in it?"
*"About one every ten years." Griphook said with a nasty grin showing a series of pointed teeth. Harry shuddered and looked back up to Hagrid, who had already grabbed the package and was patting the pocket he had stowed it in nervously.
~"Best not to mention this to anyone Harry." He said. Harry nodded, but his curiosity was far from satisfied.
**
"All I need now…is a wand." Harry said, reading off his letter. He looked up a Hagrid who had graciously offered to carry all of Harry's books, clothes, potion ingredients and his cauldron.
"A wand? Then you'll go to Ollivanders over there," Hagrid said tossing his head slightly in the general direction of a shop with faded gold letterings. "I'll be right back…I'm going to go and pick up a birthday present for ya."
"Hagrid, you really don't have to!" Harry protested, but Hagrid didn't seem to be listening.
"Go along Harry. Mr. Ollivander doesn't bite." Realizing it would be futile to protest, Harry entered the shop, the door ringing as it opened and closed. He took in his surrounds, noting the piles and piles of boxes, which Harry assumed to be wands. As he glanced around the shop uncomfortably, a slight movement in the corner of his eye drew his gaze to a hunched old man.
"Harry Potter," He breathed. He extended a shaking hand. "I wondered when I'd see you here." Harry took his hand dubiously.
"It's nice to meet you…I'm looking for a-"
"A wand, of course. Now how's your father James? Good? I thought so…sold him his wand, mahogany wand, eleven inches and flexible. Your Mother on the other hand was ten and a quarter inches made of willow. Good for charms…excellent wand…pity it was destroyed. Your Mother too…terrible, terrible tragedy." Harry looked at the man curiously, but he seemed to be rather distracted, already at one of the shelves holding a few hundred of his thousands of wands.
"You knew my Mum?" Harry asked him.
"I remember every wand I've ever sold Mr. Potter," Mr. Ollivander said distractedly, thumbing through the boxes.
"Here, dragon heartstring. Give it a wave." Harry took the wand in his hand, and flicked it, just as he had seen Uncle Remus do yesterday. A nearby piece of glass exploded.
"Sorry…" Harry muttered, putting the wand on the nearby desk.
"No matter!" Mr. Ollivander said, his eyes gleaming. "We'll find you a wand Mr. Potter! Mark my words."
This was the start of a rather painful hour of Mr. Ollivander giving wands to Harry to try, sometimes only to yank it out of his grip almost immediately, saying 'no, no that will not do!' Finally after the third batch of wands had gone through and been disapproved, Mr. Ollivander pulled a wand off another cluttered shelf. A curious expression crossed his face as he held the box in his hands, almost tenderly. He opened the box and extended his arm towards Harry, a mysterious look in his silver eyes.
"Try this one, Mr. Potter. Holly and phoenix, eleven inches." Harry grasped the handle of the wand in his hand. Almost immediately, the wand turned warm in his hand, red fireworks softly bursting from the tip.
*"Curious…very curious…." Mr. Ollivander mumbled, almost to himself.
*"Sorry, but what's curious?" Harry asked, gently running his fingers from his other hand down the smooth wood of the wand. His wand. Mr. Ollivander gently plucked the wand from Harry's hand, and looked at him with his intense, silvery eyes.
"This does not happen often, but the phoenix feather in this wand, Mr. Potter, gave another feather to another wand. The feather in this wand was entrusted to the wizard that gave you that scar."
"And who was that?" Harry asked. Mr. Ollivander paused before answering.
"We do not speak his name. But, he was a great wizard. He did horrible, terrible things. Even after you killed him, his name is still feared to be spoken."
"Wait what? I killed him?" Mr. Ollivander regarded Harry.
"You most certainly did Mr. Potter. It's why you're famous, after all." He put the wand back into its box and handed to Harry. Dazed, Harry paid for it. He turned to leave, but his curiosity would not allow him to.
"Mr. Ollivander, this wizard, he killed my Mum didn't he." He stated. Mr. Ollivander regarded him again.
"If you don't know the story yet Mr. Potter, it isn't my story to tell." Nodding slowly, Harry left the shop slowly, as if waiting for Mr. Ollivander to stop him and give him more information on how his mother died. But, no such thing happened. Instead, Harry opened the door to find Hagrid snoring on a bench just outside the shop. Feeling uncomfortable, Harry poked Hagrid hesitantly.
"Uh…Hagrid? I'm done in Ollivanders…." He said. Snorting as he stirred, Hagrid opened one beetle black eye. The other one flew open when he saw Harry.
"Blimey Harry, how long have you been standin' there?"
"Just a minute or two Hagrid." Harry replied. Hagrid yawned widely.
"Get your wand?"
"Yeah." A loads of other things too… Hagrid grinned.
"What kind?"
"Phoenix feather." Harry replied, not enjoying Hagrid's attempt at small talk. Hagrid opened his mouth to say something else, but a loud hoot and the sound of a cage being rattled come from Hagrid's feet. Harry tried to crane his neck around Hagrid's immense bulk to indiscernibly to see what was making that sound. But, he was sure he had a pretty good idea on what was. Hagrid beamed at Harry's expression- which was a mixture of happiness and disbelief. He reached beside him and produced an iron cage with a beautiful white snowy owl sitting in the centre.
"Happy birthday Harry!" Harry forgot his manners.
"Wow." Was all he could manage. A smile broke out on Hagrid's face.
"Yer welcome."
**
Harry walked down the streets of Diagon Alley, with his new owl clasped tightly in his hands. Hagrid had added the wand to one of Harry's other bags and carried them all. Harry had insisted on carrying at least half the things, but Hagrid wouldn't hear of it. He told Harry that he was much too small to be carrying the loads of parcels and bags that contained his heavy school supplies. Harry was quickly realizing Hagrid never listened to reason or persuasion.
After arriving back at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry packed the parcels away in his new trunk and brought it over to the corner where Hagrid was sitting with Harry's new owl and two plates of spiced beef and scalloped potatoes. Harry suddenly realized he was ravenous. He sat down, picked up a fork and dug in.
"Blimey Harry, doesn't James ever feed you?" Hagrid asked, chuckling as he tucked into his meal.
"Dad can't cook," Harry replied after swallowing. A sudden jolt went through him and he placed down his fork. The mention of his Dad had stirred up memories from earlier. Hagrid noticed this and asked,
"Everything alright Harry?"
"No," Harry said miserably.
"What's eatin ya?"
"Well, starters, today I found out I'm extremely famous and everyone knows my name. My Dad must have known this would happen- he told me to hide my scar. I find out I've beaten a sadistic evil wizard that I've never heard of that murdered hundreds of people without a flinch and my Mum! What is going on? I don't understand! What happened that night when my Mum died? How did I beat him! I don't remember ANYTHING!" Harry stressed the last word. Hagrid looked uncomfortable.
"Harry I think you should ask yer Da-"
"No," Harry interrupted. "If he hasn't told me now, I don't think he's planning on telling me at all. I've asked for years about how Mum died. Did she get sick? Was there an accident? It never crossed my mind that she was murdered Hagrid." Hagrid shook his head.
"Harry I really don't think I-"
"Please Hagrid." Harry pleaded. Hagrid shifted in his seat.
"Alright…I'll tell ya…but promise-"
"I won't tell my Dad." Harry promised. Taking a deep breath Hagrid started to talk.
"It was dark times Harry, dark times. The wizard- his name was, his name was V-V-Voldemort," Hagrid shuddered as he uttered the name. "He was gathering followers. It was only luck that your Dad had been called away on a last minute notice for work. After he left, You-Know-Who attacked your house. Your mother fought bravely and skilfully. But, in the end You-Know-Who brought her down. She was murdered right in front o' ya. Thank God you don't remember that. He then turned his wand on you Harry. He cast the same spell that had finished your mother, but instead of killing you, it rebounded off you, onto him. You destroyed him. But, you got that nasty scar in the process. Your father returned to find you crying and your mother dead. Remus Lupin found you three and notified authorities. Your mother was wrapped in a sheet and taken downstairs. Yer Dad was completely messed up. You were the only thing that held him together, Harry. I'll bet you that yer father hasn't completely recovered from that night." Harry sat there, staring at Hagrid with his mouth wide open. He opened and closed it, planning to say something, but the entire shock of the situation prevented him from doing so. He finally managed to garble out,
"Voldemort, I mean You-Know-Who," He quickly corrected himself when he saw Hagrid's face turn an odd greenish colour, "tried to kill me?" The last part came out as a whisper.
"Yeah. That's why you're famous Harry, that's how everyone knows your name. For eleven years, you've been known as the boy who lived." Harry felt a shock go through his body. He picked up his fork again and started to eat. It was slightly cold, but Harry didn't care. He needed the time to ponder Hagrid's words.
**
To cheer him up after dinner, Hagrid insisted on leaving his things with Tom, the innkeeper and going to the broomstick store.
"Your Dad was quite the quidditch player when he was younger Harry," He said as he pushed Harry into the shop.
"Uncle Remus told me," Harry said gloomily. "But my Dad refuses to teach me how to fly until next summer. And I'm learning on a Bluebottle." Hagrid nodded sympathetically.
"Probably the best idea. You can't have your own broom until next year anyways. Go ahead, have a look around." Obeying, Harry went to the window display. The broom had caught his eye earlier while they were walking up and down the streets of Diagon Alley. He leaned over so he could read the name. Nimbus 2000. Harry felt a grin spread across his face. He had had a fascination with brooms since his Dad had gotten him a toy broomstick when he was four. James had books about quidditch in their basement and had given him various books about broom models while Harry was growing up. James Potter prided himself being one of the only people in the world that owned a Silver Arrow, in mint condition. He had shown it to Harry a couple of months ago. It really was a beautiful broom. Its handle was a silver wood and its bristles were black. James had never used it since Harry's birth. He hadn't even flown in front of Harry before. But, since James' work required some flying with a broomstick, he also owned a Twigger 90, another old formidable racing broom. Harry felt a deep sense of longing as he gazed at the broom. The Nimbus surpassed the Silver Arrow in so many ways. If the Silver Arrow was supposed to be an incredible ride, then a chance to ride on the Nimbus 2000 would be indescribable. Tearing himself away from the broom, Harry looked up to see Hagrid talking with the shopkeeper. Apparently they were good friends.
"Hagrid?" He looked up from his conversation.
"Ready to go?"
"Yeah." Hagrid nodded and bade the shopkeeper, Murray, goodbye. They went to the Leaky Cauldron to pick up Harry's things and started the short journey back to Harry's house. Harry dragged his trunk along, deep in thought. Why had his Dad kept the truth from him all these years? A growing anger swelled in him. He had a right to know what happened to his own mother. He had a right to know that he was famous for bringing down the evilest wizard in wizarding history. Had James really planned on sending him to Hogwarts not knowing the truth? Harry felt like his father had set him up to be brought down. And he was planned on confronting him.
**
*= quotes taken from the book
~= quotes taken from the movie.
I've found this story expanding into more of an AU, mixing in with the movie as well as the book. So, I take back what I said earlier…It's not going to be exactly like the books.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed I appreciate it and your feedback is awesome to read The next chapter will be extremely short. I might wait until I finish the fourth one- review and tell me your opinion