I do not own Harry Potter, and you will find lots of the chapters will be similar as I try to stay true to the original story while writing the AU. Hope you enjoy!

"Harry, slow down. We have all day. You do not need to wolf down your food," Remus reminded him again "a trip to St. Mungo's because you choked on your food will not help us any."

Harry glanced up at him with a small sheepish smile and shrugged, swallowing a mouthful of pumpkin juice. "I swear, Remus, I am trying to slow down. I still do not get why we had to stop here at the Leaky Cauldron for breakfast. It would have been faster to grab a snack in Diagon Ally."

"What is the rush? Why not enjoy the day?" Remus said, "you only get to make your first year shopping trip once."

Harry grinned. "I have waited eleven years for my first year at Hogwarts. I think I deserve to rush a little. I am just too excited."

"Can you blame the boy, Remus?" Sirius pipped up from where he was sitting reading the Daily Profit "don't you remember the lead up to your first year?"

"I do, and I am glad Harry is so excited, but that does not mean we can't slow down and enjoy the day. As much as these eleven years have dragged by for him, they have sped by for me," Remus said, glancing at Harry with a warm, fond smile.

Harry returned the smile. He wasn't full much but still pushed his plate forward. He just wanted to get on with the day. He could get a snack or something later. Four more days, and he would be heading onto the platform 9 ¾ to get on the Hogwarts Express for his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He couldn't wait.

Sirius turned the top of his newspaper down to gaze over the top at his godson with a warm smile "ah, Remus, don't go getting all sentimental." He said, folding the paper and tossing it onto the table "come on, let's get going."

Harry was the first to jump up from the table. "Yeah, let's go." He said, grabbing his cloak that hung from the back of his chair.

Remus shook his head, swallowing the rest of his tea, seeming to admit defeat in the battle of trying to get Harry to eat the rest of his breakfast.

Eager to get a start on their day, Harry led the way through the Leaky Cauldron nodding to a few patrons that waved or said hello as he passed. Heading out the back door, he stepped to the side, leaning a little against the wall as he waited for Sirius or Remus to tap the bricks on the wall so the muggle proof passage would open.

Finally, Harry stepped into Diagon Ally. The street was packed.

"Harry, please stick with us," Remus called from half a block back, looking up from the list Harry had received by owl with his acceptance letter.

Harry sighed inwardly but slowed so that Remus and Sirius. They had stopped to chat with Kingsley Shakebolt from the Ministry to catch up. Once Remus and Sirius had caught up enough by Harry's standards, he was off again, winding his way through the crowded streets to his favourite shop, Broomstix. Walking up to the window, he gazed at the newest broom sitting on display. The Nimbus 2000.

Sirius stepped up beside Harry at the window, letting out a whistle of admiration "that is a very nice broom."

Harry nodded in agreement letting his eyes wander from the handle to the broom's bristles. Taking in each perfect piece. He was currently riding a rather old broom, but it had sentimental meaning to him. It had been his father's, James Potter, old broom. Collected from Godrics Hallow by Sirius and then passed on to Harry.

Harry glanced behind him to catch Remus making his way over to them after pausing to exchange a few words with Amelia Bones.

"Harry, why don't you go into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions to get your robes? Amelia wants to sit down for a cup of tea with Sirius and me. Remember to get them a little big so you can grow into them," Remus said, passing him his list.

Sirius glanced at him, leaning a little against the window of Broomstix. "what does Amelia want?"

Remus glanced at him with a slight shrug. "I have no idea."

Harry glanced at Sirius with a small teasing smile "good luck." He said before he headed a couple shops down to get his robes. Stepping into the familiar shop, he gazed around.

Spotting Madam Malkin as she made her way through the back of the store.

"Hogwarts, finally?" she said when Harry greeted her with a smile and wave "got the lot here – another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."

Harry nodded as he stepped more into the back of the store. A pale, pointed-faced boy stood on a footstool while a second witch pinned up his long black robes. Madam Malkin stood Harry on a stool next to him, slipped a long robe over his head, and began to pin it to the correct length.

"Hello," said the boy, "Hogwarts, too?"

"Yeah, first year," Harry replied, glancing up at the white-blonde-haired boy.

"My father's next door buying my books, and Mother's up the street looking at wands," said the boy. He had a bored, drawling voice. "Then I'm going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can't have their own. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and somehow smuggle it in."

Harry gazed at the boy with a look of surprise. Although he had to agree with the boy. He would give anything to make it onto the Quidditch team. His father had been one of the best seekers Hogwarts had ever seen, and according to Sirius, Harry was just as good.

"Have you got your own broom?" the boy went on.

Harry nodded "yeah, it was my father's old one."

"Do you play Quidditch at all?"

"Yeah, lots," Harry said with a slight grin. The game was the best thing in the world. Jumping onto his broom, let the wind whistle in his ears and let everything else drift away. It was the best cure for literally everything.

"I'm pretty good, my father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my House, and I must say, I agree. Know what House you'll be in yet?"

Harry glanced at him with a slight shrug "all of my family was in Gryffindor, so I suppose I would be the same." He said.

The boy turned to gaze at him with a slight nod. "I'll probably be in Slytherin. All of my family has been. Imagine being in Hufflepuff. I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

Harry considered the proposition, "I don't know if I would go that far." He said with a slight shrug, "there have to be a few good things about Hufflepuff."

"I would have to disagree," the boy replied.

"Well, that's it for you, dear boy," the witch said to the boy. Harry glanced at the boy.

"Well, I suppose I will see you at Hogwarts," the drawling boy said.

Harry nodded to him "yeah, I guess." He said.

As Madam Malkin finished with his own robes, Harry stood in silence, "alright, dear," she said, folding up the clothes and placing them into a bag.

"Thanks," he said as he tossed the needed coins onto the counter before heading out of the store. Glancing around for Sirius and Remus. Making his way down the street, finally spotting his godfather and Remus at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, sitting with Hagrid, the groundskeeper at Hogwarts.

"Harry," Hagrid said when he approached with a bright smile, wrapping him in a rib-crushing hug.

"Hey, Hagrid," Harry said with a bright smile.

The man had always been around. Sending him a cake and a card every year on his birthday and Christmas. Hagrid had been sent by Albus Dumbledore the night his parents had been murdered by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. Harry had spent six months living with his aunt Petunia and her husband Vernon and their son Dudley Dursley. The night his parents had been murdered, Sirius had known that his old school friend Peter Pettigrew had betrayed James and Lily Potter. He had been their secret keeper and had given their location to Voldemort. Sirius had chased down the traitorous git, but when he closed in, Pettigrew cast a spell killing ten muggles in the street and then disappeared before Sirius could track him down. The next six months Sirius had spent fighting with Albus Dumbledore over who deserved custody of Harry. After all, Sirius had been named his godfather by his parents. But for reasons never fully explained to Harry, Dumbledore believed it safer for him to go live with his aunt and uncle.

Sirius took it as far as to put a request into the Ministry to challenge Dumbledore's decision. The case was easily won once it finally made it to the desk of the busy ministry employee, and Harry was finally given to his godfather.

Sirius had bought a three-bedroom apartment in London. Harry spent his childhood growing up with his father's two best friends as guardians.

Harry pulled away from Hagrid's hug glancing at the snowy white owl that sat in a cage next to him "what is with the owl, Hagrid?"

"She a present for yeh, 'Arry." Hagrid said with a prideful smile, "one 'nly starts 'is first-year once."

"Blimey Hagrid, thank you!" Harry said, sitting down next to the owl.

"It took me a while to decide what to get yeh. I thought about a toad, but they went outta fashion years ago, yeh'd have been laughed at - an' I don' like cats, they make me sneeze. So I decided to get yer an owl. All the kids want owls. They're dead useful. Beside she, a beaut, ain't she?" Hagrid said as he dropped into the empty chair.

Harry nodded in agreement, taking in the beautiful snowy owl. She had fallen asleep now with her head under her wing. Harry stammered out thanks again.

"Don' mention it," said Hagrid.

"Did you remember to get your robes a little longer?" Remus said as he took back Harry's school supplies list, looking it back over. As though he hadn't already memorized it from looking at it over three dozen times since it came in the mail.

Harry nodded. The list that he had received from the school was as follows.

Hogwarts School

Of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Uniform

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter clock (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags

Course Books

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Draughts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

Other Equipment

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

"Well, I suppose we better start going again," Remus said as he finished his cup of tea, glancing at Harry "let's head over to Flourish and Blotts."

Harry nodded, glancing at Hagrid "thanks again, Hagrid. I'll see you at Hogwarts."

Hagrid smiled pridefully at him as he got off and headed off down the street. Heading towards Gringotts bank. Harry got back to his feet, following behind Sirius and Remus as they walked through the streets to the book shop. Stepping inside, Harry looked around the shop. It was packed full of other young witches and wizards. Stacked ceiling-high with books of various sizes and shapes. Large books the size of paving stones bound in leather, books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk, books full of peculiar symbols and few books with nothing in them. Harry wasn't a big reader, but he always found one or two that piqued his interest. Harry paused at a big stack of books labelled Curses and Counter-curses (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.

Harry picked up one of them, slowly flipping through it. Tucking it under his arm before he began to look around for the books on his list. Remus made his way over after a couple minutes with a large stack of books.

"I got most of your books," Remus said, shifting the books so that he could see around them, "You just need Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Dark Forces."

Sirius looked at Remus with a puzzled look "did you memorize where those books were?"

Remus glanced at him with confusion "they are alphabetical by their authors."

Sirius nodded slowly. "I see."

Harry gazed between the two of them with a small smile as he walked through the aisles of books. Eventually, finding the two that he still required. Grabbing them up before working his way over to the counter with Sirius and Remus. Placing the three books he had on the counter. When they finished, they continued on to each shop to grab the supplies Harry required. Picking up a cauldron, a set of scales for weighing potion ingredients and a collapsible brass telescope. From the Apothecary, they picked up some basic potion ingredients.

"Alright, just your wand left," Remus said.

Harry nodded, turning his gaze down the street to Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. Harry was most excited for this part. The shop was narrow and shabby. The sign over the roof had peeling gold letters. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.

Harry stepped over to the door, glancing over his shoulder at Remus and Sirius.

"We will wait out here," Sirius said, patting his shoulder.

Harry nodded before stepping into the store. A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as he stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single, spindly chair. Harry looked around the store. He had wanted to step inside this shop since he could remember. But Sirius and Remus had said it was better to save the experience for when he could actually use a wand. Thousands of narrow boxes were piled neatly right up to the ceiling. For some reason, the back of his neck prickled. The very dust and silence seemed to tingle with some secret magic.

"Good afternoon," said a voice.

Harry jumped and turned toward the voice. An old man was standing in a doorway to what seemed to be a back room. His eyes were wide and pale, shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.

"Hello," Harry greeted.

"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, 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. Those silvery eyes were a bit creepy.

"Your father, on the other hand, favoured a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favoured 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 smelt his stale breath.

"And that's where…."

Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead. The one he had received when the dark wizard Lord Voldemort had turned his wand upon him in an attempt to murder him the same way he had murdered James and Lily Potter. Mr. Ollivander pushed his hair further out of the way with a long white finger.

"I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it," he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands…well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do…Anyways Mr. Potter. Let me see." He pulled a long tape measure with a silver marking out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"

"My right," said Harry.

"Hold out your arm," Mr. Ollivander instructed him. Harry held his arm out. "That's it." Mr. Ollivander measured Harry from shoulder to finger, wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head. As he measured, he said, "As I am sure you know, Mr. Potter, Ollivander wands have a core of a powerful magical substance. We use unicorn hair, 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 glanced at the tape measure as it measured between his nostrils on its own. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.

"That will do," he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor. "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 hold of the wand spinning the handle a few times in his hand before he waved it around a bit. He ducked away as a few books came spiralling off the shelves.

"Mmmh, maybe not," Mr. Ollivander said, snatching it out of his hand. He retrieved a second wand, "maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try -."

Harry had barely raised the wand before a glass mug on the table next to the chair spontaneously smashed into tiny pieces.

"Definitely not," Mr. Ollivander said with a shake of his head, taking the wand back. He then picked up another "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 looking for, but he was starting to feel bad about how much damage was done to his store. The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he became.

"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 in a swish through the dusty air, and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light onto the walls. Harry grinned, and Mr. Ollivander clapped and cried.

"Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well… how curious… how very curious."

Taking the wand back from Harry, he placed it back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering "curious…curious…."

"Sorry," Harry said with a puzzled frown, "but what's curious?"

Mr. Ollivander fixed Harry with his pale stare. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand gave another feather – just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother – why, its brother gave you that scar."

Harry's frown grew, and he swallowed uncomfortably.

"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."

Harry couldn't help the shiver that ran down his spine. He quickly paid the seven Gallons he owed to the wizard. "Thanks, sir." He muttered before heading out of the shop, walking over to Sirius and Remus.

"Well, now that we have everything, how about we stop for some lunch?" Remus suggested taking the long box from Harry and stuffing it into the enchanted bag he always carried.

The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as the three made their way back through the wall and the now mostly empty Leaky Cauldron. Harry didn't nod or speak to anyone as they walked down the road; he didn't notice how much people were gawking at them on the muggle streets. Harry carried the snowy owl asleep in its cage. Harry sat down on a plastic seat at a burger stand with Sirius and Remus. He fell silent as he ate.

Sirius whipped his fingers with his napkin glancing up at Harry "you are rather quiet, Harry. Everything alright?"

Harry looked down at his plate, picking at his fries. "I just am a little… did you know Voldemort's wand core was phoenix feather?" he asked.

Sirius frowned, sitting up from his slouched position and leaning forward against his knees. "No, I didn't know that. How did you know that?"

Harry tossed the rest of his food back into the bag, "Mr. Ollivander told me. I had tried probably about two dozen wands before he gave me mine to try. And when it worked, he started muttering that it was fascinating that the particular wand was for me. Mr. Ollivander told me that the phoenix whose tail feather is in my wand only gave one other feather, and it was the feather that made up Voldemort's wand."

Sirius and Remus had told him the stories of what happened to his parents in pieces. As he grew up, they were willing to give him more and more of the story. When he was five, he remembered they wouldn't talk much about Voldemort or his father's school friend's betrayal. They would simply say that they had died protecting him. Sirius would portray them as brave and courageous witch and wizard. When he reached 9, 10-years-old the story became longer. Sirius would describe more of the darker parts of the story. Telling him all about how his parents had stood with the Order of the Phoenix in defiance against Voldemort in the Wizarding War. Remus still tended to keep Sirius on a pretty short leash when he told the story.

Sirius and Remus shared a look.

"And you are not sure how you feel about that?" Remus asked.

Harry nodded, glancing at him. "I don't know…I guess it just feels like I can't get rid of him. Like he is always nearby."

Sirius placed a hand on his shoulder. "But he isn't. Merlin knows where he is, but he is nowhere around you. It's just a coincidence, Harry. It does not mean anything."

Harry looked down at the ground nodding slowly "yeah, I guess."

"Look, I know it's hard, Harry, but just focus on your studies this year. Try and push everything else to the back of your mind. You only get seven years at Hogwarts. You get seven years to have the best years of your life. Make friends, get into some trouble, play Quidditch," Sirius said with a bright grin "don't worry about the past."

"Yeah, thanks, Sirius," Harry said with a smile.

If you enjoyed please leave a like and comment. If you really enjoyed then maybe even give it a share or two. Cheers. You can find more stories by me on Wattpad at J . Granberg!