Immediately, the Harry and Rose being looked in two different directions, sweeping their eyes along the various shops to get a good look at everything, their joy and excitement overwhelming their deep anger. It was wonderful and marvelous. They couldn't stop grinning as they stared at all the shops they could see. One had a stack of cauldrons outside it, with a sign above it that read, Cauldrons-All Sizes-Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver-Self-Stirring-Collapsible. There was an Apothecary, an owl shop, pet shop, something that looked to be a potions shop, a book store, a shop that had something to do with Quidditch, what looked to be an Ophthalmologist shop, windows piled high with telescopes, globes of the moon, a shop selling Robes and Cloaks along with other clothes, and a large white marble building called Gringotts, which Professor McGonagall was headed toward. The Harry and Rose being followed her up a set of steps to its entrance, which contained a short creature that bowed them through a set of bronze doors. They caught sight of words engraved on a second set of doors and read it.
Enter, stranger, but take heed Of what awaits the sin of greed, For those who take, but do not earn, Must pay most dearly in their turn. So if you seek beneath our floors A treasure that was never yours, Thief you have been warned, beware Of finding more than treasure there.
They were bowed through by two other creatures, which were about a head shorter than the Harry half. Their faces looked swarthy and clever, their beards were pointed, and their fingers and feet looked very long. Their uniforms were scarlet and gold. The Harry and Rose being didn't say anything, but was curious about the creatures and what they might be.
The inside of the bank was a hive of activity. The creatures were examining various jewels through eye glasses, weighing coins with brass scales, and writing various things. Too many doors to count led off in various directions, which people were being led to and from by the creatures. Professor McGonagall approached one of the creatures that seemed available, the Harry and Rose being behind her as they stared around in amazement.
"Good morning." She stated. "We have come to remove some money from Mr. Potter's vault."
The Harry and Rose being felt puzzled, since they knew the Harry half didn't have money. That only lasted a moment, though, realizing that the parents of the Harry half likely left him quite a bit of money. As they thought, Professor McGonagall handed the creature a tiny golden key, which was examined critically.
"That seems to be in order. I shall have someone take you to the vault." The creature said, then called, "Griphook!"
Another of the creatures hurried over to them and they followed him through one of the doors. It led to a passage way that was made of stone. It was narrow, with torches that lit it, sloping deeply down and containing railway tracks of some kind. Griphook let out a whistle and a cart came speeding up the tracks toward them.
They climbed in and the cart took off, seeming to know its own way. The Harry and Rose being grinned widely and looked around, trying to keep track of the many turns the cart took. It was impossible, though. The air seemed cold as it rushed past their faces and as the Harry half spotted a burst of flame from a passage, the Rose half looked and caught a glimpse of scales before they were past the area, going even deeper and passing what looked to be an underground lake of some kind. Within a few seconds, the cart came to a stop and the Harry and Rose being climbed from the cart with Griphook. Professor McGonagall came with them, handing the Harry half two bags and watching them as they approached a door. Griphook unlocked it and quite a bit of green smoke billowed out. When it cleared, they could see heaps of coins that were different colors.
"The gold coins are Galleons, the silver are Sickles. Seventeen Sickles is equal to a Galleon, and twenty-nine Knuts is equal to a Sickle." Professor McGonagall explained calmly.
"Wow." The Harry and Rose being said, then scooped quite a bit of the coins into the bags with Professor McGonagall's help. This was more money than they'd ever laid eyes on, or had ever carried before. When they finished, they closed the bags and made their way back to the cart, Griphook closing the vault behind them.
"Thank you, Griphook." The Harry and Rose being said. He nodded and they climbed back into the cart, speeding back toward the surface.
The Harry and Rose being had thought about where to go first since they had quite a bit of money in their bags. After they exited Gringotts, they turned to Professor McGonagall and said, "I'd like to visit the glasses shop."
"Very well, then." Professor McGonagall replied. "While we are inside, do not speak as one, act as the individuals you are."
They followed her to a shop called Potions and Proscriptions For Your Vision. The name seemed somewhat unimaginative, but they didn't mind as long as the Harry half got a better proscription. They sighed quietly at Professor McGonagall's continued refusal to believe they were one being instead of two, but would go along with it for the moment.
The door opened and a bell softly chimed. As they entered, they spotted racks of glasses and various potions. It was a fairly small shop, and behind a counter was a tall, slender woman who gave them a bright smile.
"Good morning!" She said cheerfully. The Harry half stepped forward as the Rose half and Professor McGonagall remained behind.
"Hello." The Harry half said. "I was wondering if I could get my glasses checked.
"Certainly." She said, then stared at Harry's forehead, her eyes widening. After a long moment, the woman said in an excited voice, "Mr. Potter, we can definitely help you with that today. It's so very, very good to meet you!"
Confused, the Harry half held out his hand and the woman took it in hers with a powerful grasp, shaking it quite enthusiastically. After she released it, she rounded the counter and led the Harry half to a back wall that seemed to be covered in an array of letters and numbers.
"Look here, please." The woman said. "Tell me when everything is clear for you."
The Harry half looked where directed, then the woman pulled out a long wooden stick, lightly tapping each of the Harry half's lenses on his glasses. The Harry half blinked as everything blurred, then sharpened. It continued to grow sharper until it started to blur again, at which point the Harry half told her what he'd seen. The woman tapped his glasses again and the sharp, clear vision returned.
"That one." The Harry half indicated.
The woman clapped her hands in a delighted way, then said, "I'll just have to make that permanent for you, this will take a few minutes." She tapped the glasses again, and for a moment, everything clouded before becoming blurred. His vision went through several variations from clear to cloudy, to almost a complete darkness, the woman tapping the Harry half's eye glasses all the while, seeming to be concentrating. Once a few minutes had passed, the Harry half's vision returned to the same sharp look as before.
"Thanks." The Harry half said. "That was fast."
"It's not a problem at all." The woman said. "Muggle proscriptions are very simple and don't take very long to change. The proscription should update for you as you get older, so you shouldn't ever have to get your glasses replaced again. You may have to visit here a few more times in your life, but it should take just as long as it did today. Is there anything else we can do for you? Any special charms we can put on your glasses?"
"No thanks." The Harry half responded.
"Well, I'm glad to have been of service for you! Come back again soon!" The woman said with a beaming smile.
"Um, how much do I pay you?" The Harry half asked.
"Nothing, Mr. Potter, I'm honored to help a person like you, especially after what you did for us. Enjoy, Mr. Potter!" She said cheerfully.
"Thanks." The Harry half said, then as the three of them left the shop, heard the woman quietly squeal in excitement behind them.
"What was that about?" The Harry and Rose being asked Professor McGonagall.
"In brief terms, when You-Know-Who attempted to kill you after killing your parents, Mr. Potter, the curse backfired on him. That is why you have the lightning bolt shaped scar, and why you are famous." Professor McGonagall said. "You are known as The-Boy-Who-Lived by much of the wizarding world. I would be unsurprised if you receive such treatment elsewhere. Some believe He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named isn't actually dead, biding his time before he will rise again."
"Oh." The Harry and Rose being paused for a few moments, the news she'd told them sinking in. "Thanks for telling me, Professor." They finally added.
"You're quite welcome." Professor McGonagall said. "Where do you wish to go next?"
"Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions." The Harry and Rose being responded.
They saw where it was and began walking toward it, Professor McGonagall between the Harry and Rose halves. They entered to face a squat woman dressed in mauve, who smiled at them.
"Hogwarts, Dears?" She asked before they spoke.
"Yes." The Harry and Rose being replied.
"Follow me, then." She said. "Got the lot here, some being fitted in the back right now, in fact."
The woman, who's name tag read Madam Malkin, stood the Harry half on a stool and another witch helped the Rose half as she also stood on a stool, the Harry and Rose being gazing around the shop as their robes were pinned to the appropriate lengths. They were finished a few minutes later and thanked Madam Malkin, paying her for their uniforms before leaving.
As they started walking toward a shop that had quills and parchment, the Harry and Rose being caught sight of the Quidditch shop again. Curious, they asked, "Professor McGonagall, what is Quidditch?"
"It's a sport which is quite popular in the magical world." Professor McGonagall replied. "You will see it played at Hogwarts. It is played on broomsticks, which fly through the air. There are four balls. Two of them are called the Bludgers, which are used to knock apposing team members off their brooms, or to use as interference, batted by the beaters. Another is the Quaffle, which is used by the chasers to score. The keeper blocks the goal posts, there are three of those at each end of the field. The seeker looks for the last ball, the golden Snitch, which flies quite fast. A normal scoring in the game with the Quaffle is only ten points, but when the seeker catches the Snitch, that is worth one-hundred and fifty points. The Snitch is by far the most important ball in the game."
"Sounds interesting." The Harry and Rose being said, smiling a little.
They bought their parchment, quills, and vials of ink, some of which were quite cool, including ink that changed colors as you wrote. There were also other, more flashy types of ink on display, but they settled for a kit that provided them with different vials of ink that were various colors, along with several high quality quills. Next, they went to the book store called Flourish and Blotts. It was there they found their books for Hogwarts, along with many others. Like the rest of the magical world, some of these books seemed quite out of the ordinary. Aside from the titles, there were books as large as paving stones, books that were as small as postage stamps, even books that seemed to have nothing in them at all, which was quite odd. They enjoyed simply looking at the strange books in the shop, but decided not to test Professor McGonagall's sternness any further than they had to.
At yet another shop, they purchased their cauldron, along with scales and various implements for measuring, cutting, and stirring potions and their ingredients. They briefly thought of buying a solid gold cauldron, but knew that was rather wasteful to purchase if they didn't have to. Treasure the gifts, they reminded them self. The money was a gift, after all, from the Harry half's parents.
After purchasing the items, including a collapsible brass telescope, they went to the Apothecary. There were many strange ingredients on display there and they purchased everything they needed for their first year. After that, they proceeded to a potions store, which contained a variety of different potions that were in sealed vials and already made. Some listed final ingredients that needed to be added, such as a drop of blood, phoenix tears, or many others. Professor McGonagall greeted the owner behind the counter and asked for a potion called Magia Familia Hereditatem. At the Harry and Rose being's puzzled expression, she said, "This potion will determine who your parents are, as it will, once placed on a piece of parchment, tell you who you have inherited your magic from. In most cases, this is your parents, but in some such as Muggle born families, it can tell you several generations back."
"Here we are." The man said, placing a small vial on the desk. "Something from the tester should be added before use, of course, and it's fourteen Galleons."
The Rose half scooped the coins from the bag and placed them on the counter, taking the vial from the man as he handed it to her.
"Thank you, ma'am, and good day to you." He said pleasantly.
"You're welcome, sir." The Rose half said pleasantly, then the three of them left.
"Your wand is the only item left on your list." Professor McGonagall said. "Do you both wish to purchase them now, or perform the inheritance test?"
"Wands!" The Harry and Rose being said with excitement, the Rose half slipping the potion's vial into her pocket.
"I thought otherwise." Professor McGonagall said, raising an eyebrow.
"The test has no time limit we won't work within. According to the label, the potion expires in ten years." The Harry and Rose being said. "I want to get my wands first."
"Quite understandable." Professor McGonagall responded, leading the way to the wand shop. A sign above the door read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. In the window was a wand resting on a faded purple cushion.
A bell rang softly from the depths of the shop as they entered. Narrow boxes were piled high against the walls, nearly reaching the ceiling. A spinning chair sat in the shop aside from the boxes and Professor McGonagall sat to wait. The Harry and Rose being felt an odd tingling on their bodies, as if this place contained some type of powerful and secret magic. Closing their eyes, they basked in the sensation.
"Wondrous, is it not?" A man's voice said softly from in front of them. The Harry and Rose being opened their eyes, only slightly startled. Professor McGonagall glanced at the man, who was staring at the Harry and Rose being with wide, pale eyes that shined like moons. This must be Ollivander, they reasoned.
"I like it." The Harry and Rose being said. "It feels old, secret somehow."
"Yes indeed." Mr. Ollivander responded. "Curious, curious." His eyes traveled to their clasped hands, then up to their faces. "It seems only yesterday your mother was here, purchasing her wand, Mr. Potter. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow, a wand suited for charms work." Mr. Ollivander moved closer, his eyes looking rather creepy as they fixed on them unwaveringly. "Your father, on the other hand, was chosen by another, quite different wand. Mahogany, Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. The wand always chooses the wizard, of course."
The Harry and Rose being stepped away from Mr. Ollivander, who had gotten uncomfortably close to the Harry half. His pale eyes focused now on the Rose half and he observed her with an assessing gaze.
"Interesting, interesting." He muttered to himself. "Twin wands will choose you, I think. As it just so happens, I have two such twin pairs in my possession." Pulling out his own wand, Mr. Ollivander summoned four boxes to him. The Harry and Rose being watched in awe as the boxes floated to him. Carefully, almost reverently, he opened two of them to reveal identical wands.
"I presume, Mr. Potter, that your wand hand is your right, and you, Ms. your left?" Mr. Ollivander asked.
"If by wand hand you mean what I write with, that can be so, though I'm ambidextrous." The Harry and Rose being responded.
"Good, good." Mr. Ollivander said, handing them each a wand. "Ten inches, ebony, with a core of Dragon Heartstrings."
"What do I do?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
"Give them a wave." Mr. Ollivander explained.
They had hardly risen them before Mr. Ollivander took them.
"No, no, I think not." He said, then took the second pair from their boxes. "Holly and Phoenix feather, twelve and a half inches, nice and supple."
The moment he handed them the wands, the Harry and Rose being felt a curious warmth in their bodies. They waved the wands, sending deep golden sparks swirling from their tips and floating around them. Mr. Ollivander looked quite excited, then said, "Switch wands and hands for me, if you will." They did so and waved them again, and again, the sparks emanated. He clapped and placed them back in their boxes, handing them to them.
"Quite curious indeed." Mr. Ollivander said. "Curious, curious."
"What is curious?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
"Twin wands are usually reputed to choose only those who share a very rare and unique bond, a bond long since lost to roomer and speculation. The bond is known as the single soul bond. Unlike the more commonly found soul bond, the single soul bond is quite rare. Can you guess why?"
"There is only one soul between those bonded?" The Harry and Rose being responded. "That would make sense."
"Quite correct. But, as I said, it's a bond lost to legend and roomer. I myself only know of it through tails told to me. It would seem, however, that with both of you, legend has become a reality. I hear how you both speak, see your identical body language and how comfortable you both are with one another. Never let anyone come between you, always remain the one being I suspect you are. Guard your bond, guard it well." Mr. Ollivander said.
"I don't have a bond, I'm one being." The Harry and Rose being frowned a little, then asked, "Does it mean anything else to have twin wands?" They already knew about them being one being in two bodies, it wasn't new to them. Knowing the name of the bond would be helpful, though, and they remembered, even if they didn't view them self as being bonded in any sense of the word.
"In fact, it does. When used together, your spells will be more powerful. When dueling or going against one another, you will find that your wands will likely dissipate spells upon contact. This is unlike the effect of brother wands. It is quite curious you have a wand so close to that of a student I once sold a wand to. Phoenix feather and Yew, thirteen inches. The wand that gave you that scar, Mr. Potter. I had wondered if you were to be chosen by it's brother, but instead, you have been chosen by wands who's feathers were taken from the parent Phoenix to that which gave the feathers for the wand of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and it's brother. It seems you will accomplish great things indeed with your other half." Mr. Ollivander said.
"Oh." The Harry and Rose being replied, then thought of Professor McGonagall storing her wand in a pocket. To them, that seemed unwise. "Is there something I can put my wands in that will stop them from being taken? Also, is Voldemort's wand the one that gave the Harry half the scar?"
Professor McGonagall flinched at the word Voldemort being spoken, and Mr. Ollivander's eyes widened slightly.
"Yes, indeed it is." Mr. Ollivander said with a grave frown. After a moment, he smiled slightly. "Not many wish to own a wand holster these days, referring to your other question. However, I still make them for those select few." He used his wand to retrieve another set of boxes and opened them. "These will automatically resize and are keyed to the wearer, though in your case, will likely be keyed to both of you." He took the Rose half's wrist and placed a holster on it, then slipped her wand inside. "Go on and flick your wrist." The Rose half did so and her wand sprang from the holster. She caught it in the tips of her fingers, fumbling slightly.
"It will take practice, but I have confidence in your ability to become proficient. These holsters allow your wand to be unnoticed by those whom it is not keyed to, and will prevent theft by any means, including disarming." Mr. Ollivander said, placing the second holster on the Harry half's wrist and sliding his wand inside. "Now, tell me. Can you each see each other's holsters?"
"Yes." The Harry and Rose being replied after examining their wrists.
"Excellent." Mr. Ollivander said in a delighted manner, closing the four empty boxes he held. With a wave of his wand, he vanished them and sent the two boxes containing the wands that did nothing for them back to their places.
"That will be twenty-four Galleons." He said.
The Harry and Rose being got twelve Galleons from each bag they held, handing them to him. He smiled at that, then bid them a good day. They left with Professor McGonagall, who led them down the alley until they reached what looked to be a blank wall. Taking out her wand, she tapped a specific brick and they watched as an archway formed. Grinning and feeling delight from the display of magic, they followed her into a pub of some kind, which was called The Leaky Cauldron. It seemed to be empty accept for a man that looked to be the bar keeper.
"Professor McGonagall." He said pleasantly. "It isn't often I see you here."
"We simply came for some privacy." Professor McGonagall replied. "Have you a room available?"
"Certainly." The man said.
They followed him to a small room, which contained a table and some chairs. He bowed and left, then the Harry and Rose being sat down with Professor McGonagall, who looked at them apologetically.
"I apologize for not taking what you told me into consideration, that you could possibly be one being and not two." She said. "I hope that you would forgive me for my oversight."
"We aren't perfect, of course I forgive you." The Harry and Rose being said as they smiled, the Rose half pulling out the small vial and a piece of parchment, reading the label and its instructions.
"Are you certain this is something you wish to know?" Professor McGonagall asked, gazing intently at the Rose half.
"Yes, I'm certain." The Harry and Rose being responded, opening the vial.
"Then I'll assist you." Professor McGonagall responded, reaching forward and taking a lock of hair between her fingers. With her wand, the hair was severed neatly without pain. Carefully, Professor McGonagall placed it in the vial, the potion within turning a brown color before turning gray. The Rose half lifted it carefully in her hands, gazing at it curiously.
"It should have turned white." The Harry and Rose being said.
"Given your bond, perhaps the potion requires a hair from both of you." Professor McGonagall said. "May I?"
"Yes." The Harry and Rose being said.
Professor McGonagall repeated the procedure for the Harry half and the potion turned white as it was supposed to. Carefully, the Rose half poured the potion on the parchment, which turned a bright gold before words formed, the potion seeming to have vanished. The Harry and Rose being stared at it and Professor McGonagall looked a little confused at the results.
"What does this mean?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
On the parchment were their names, Harry James Potter and Rose Marie Potter. A gold line connected them together, then a red line went from each name to the word unknown.
"I am not certain, but it would seem the potion is unable to determine your magical heritage. I confess, I am at a loss to determine why this is. I can't imagine the potion was made incorrectly, but a bond such as yours is quite rare. It may simply be that the potion will not function properly in your situation." Professor McGonagall replied.
"So, I won't know who my parents are, then." The Harry and Rose being said sadly.
"Not for the Rose half of you." Professor McGonagall replied.
"They would have been the most important, the Rose half's parents are probably still alive." The Harry and Rose being stated. "We're ready to go, Professor."
"Very well." Professor McGonagall said, standing with the Harry and Rose being and vanishing the vial and parchment with a wave of her wand.
"Professor McGonagall, before we go, there's something you should know about me." The Harry and Rose being said.
"Aside from your unique bond?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Yes. Every full moon, I'm prone to anger and quite a temper." The Harry and Rose being explained. "This is strongest on the day of the full moon, but fades each day seven days before and after the full moon. On the full moon, the Rose half transforms a little into a taller, larger version of herself who is stronger and has more finely tuned senses. I'm far more emotional and feral at that time, too." They paused with a sudden thought. "Will this effect my schooling? Will my bond effect it? It's been a problem in the past."
"Your bond may be difficult for the professors to accept. Frankly, given that the bond you share is purely roomer and contains no actual proof of it's existence but your word, it's rather difficult for me to accept as well." Professor McGonagall responded. "I will observe you, and should I wish to know more about your bond, would you be willing to answer questions regarding it?"
"Yes, I'm willing to answer questions, but I only use the word bond to describe it because it's what you relate to. For me, it's my nature, it's who I am." The Harry and Rose being responded.
"I can't say that I understand, but I will do my best to make the attempt." Professor McGonagall said.
"That's more than most have done." The Harry and Rose being said. "Thank you, Professor."
"You are welcome." Professor McGonagall responded. "Is there anything more you wish to tell me?"
"No." The Harry and Rose being said.
"Follow me, then." Professor McGonagall stated.
They followed her back into the courtyard where the entrance to Diagon Alley was. Once there, Professor McGonagall pulled two slips of paper from a pocket in her robes, handing them to each half of the Harry and Rose being.
"This is your ticket to the train for Hogwarts." Professor McGonagall stated. "As you will notice, the platform number is nine and three quarters. The entry to the platform is not immediately obvious, but at King's Cross station, you shall see a barrier between platforms nine and ten. Walk straight into the barrier and you will move through it to the platform. It may look solid, but don't fear it as it won't hurt you."
"Thanks for telling us." The Harry and Rose being responded.
"You are quite welcome." Professor McGonagall said. "I shall return you to the Dursley's, where you may wish to remain for now. Take my arms."
The Harry and Rose being took her arms, shopping bags hanging on their arms. After the familiar constricting feel of apparition, they found themselves on the corner of Privet Drive, resigned to remaining with the Dursley's, at least, for a while longer. Professor McGonagall wished them luck and bid them a good day, then vanished, leaving the Harry and Rose being to walk to the Dursley home with their packages and the hopes of a whole new adventure ahead of them.
Professor McGonagall entered the office of the Headmaster, Dumbledore, who looked up at her with a smile, blue eyes twinkling. A few minutes had passed since she'd left the Potter's to make their way to the Dursley's.
"And what can I do for you this fine afternoon?" He asked.
"Rose Potter is alive, Albus." Professor McGonagall replied.
Professor Dumbledore's eyes widened with surprise.
"So, we were deceived." He said in a pensive voice, pondering.
"It would appear so." Professor McGonagall said. "Albus, they claimed, and Mr. Ollivander verified in his own way, that they have the single soul bond."
"If this is truly the case, we must not reveal this to anyone." Professor Dumbledore said gravely. "I doubt we can alert them to the danger such knowledge would bring them. If I am correct, they view them self, for lack of a better term, as a single person in two bodies."
"Yes, it would seem so." Professor McGonagall replied. "It's not an easy thing to accept, Albus, one person in two bodies? Such a thing is only legend!"
"Yes." Professor Dumbledore stated. "And attempting to have them act differently, would likely be useless. I advise against making such an attempt."
"There's one other thing, Albus. Rose Potter wanted to know who her parents were." Professor McGonagall said.
"Something such a young child should not have to bear." Professor Dumbledore responded. "Better, perhaps, if that were hidden for now."
"I disagree, Albus, I believe they should know, and could handle the truth given to them. But in any case, the Magia Familia Hereditatem potion failed." Professor McGonagall stated.
"There are very few cases in which such a thing will occur." Professor Dumbledore responded, stroking his long beard. "The only known case I am aware of, is one in which the magical signature of the individual was altered so dramatically that the blood lines could not be followed."
"We had to use a hair from Mr. Potter before the potion turned the correct color." Professor McGonagall explained.
"Which would, once again, support their having the single soul bond. They will likely be very powerful. I suggest we watch them, and if necessary, teach them control." Professor Dumbledore said. "It is likely, that unlike most, their magical output will be doubled if they attempt a spell together. They may also learn concepts quicker, as their minds are likely shared as one."
"And how is it, Albus, that you know so much about this single soul bond?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"I admit, most is guess work. However, I pried myself on my guesses being correct most of the time." Professor Dumbledore responded.
"Well." Professor McGonagall said. "I have some packets to write up for some of our Muggle born students."
"Very well, then." Professor Dumbledore stated.
The door to the office closed behind Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore sighed deeply. It was time for another look at the prophecy.