The Academy of Magical Excellence
Disclaimer: This is a non-profit work of fiction based on JK Rowling's Harry Potter series.
AN: We have now reached the usual trip to Diagon Alley. I've paraphrased some of the book and added a little of my own, particularly with Gringotts as with no Hagrid to guide Harry, he doesn't have his vault key. I hoped I've resolved this issue logically, and watch out for a brief OC appearance, thanks to MK123 for their submission. Onwards!
Chapter 3: Getting Prepared
Harry awoke the following morning feeling a lot happier. Knowing where he needed to go and having the means to become a part of this new world had broken through some of the barriers he kept around his feelings, leaving him slightly giddy. The usual routine felt less constricting even though he was yet again making breakfast for the family. Aunt Petunia was the first to the table yet again and she watched Harry float around the kitchen as he cooked bacon, eggs and beans.
"Harry, you may have today away from the house if you like" said Aunt Petunia rather suddenly. "I'm sure you need to get your supplies after all. You may also have Dudley's spare bedroom for your own" she finished quickly as the tell-tale sound of a herd of rhinos running down the stairs told them both that Dudley and Uncle Vernon were coming.
"Thank you" said Harry as his cousin waddled into the kitchen.
Breakfast proceeded as usual, the only sounds aside from Dudley's steadfast chewing being Uncle Vernon's grumbling over the days news. Harry collected the dishes, washed them and left them to dry. Stopping only briefly to ask if he was allowed out and getting the expected yes from Aunt Petunia he gave her an appreciative thank you and headed to his cupboard. He retrieved the letter from The Academy and carefully tucked it into his pocket. Lacing up his trainers he grabbed his jacket and headed out into the bright morning sunshine. Harry checked for his ticket and recalling the words of Professor Garrick, held out his right hand. A sudden bang which made Harry leap backwards in surprise, just barely keeping on his feet, and a bright purple triple decker bus was sat next to the kerb. As the bus idled, emitting curls of purple and blue smoke or the occasional violet spark, a pimply youth hopped out onto the kerb.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. My name is Stan Shunpike and I will be your conductor this morning" said the youth.
"I have this ticket" said Harry, holding up the purple parchment for Stan to inspect.
"Alright then, seem to be in order there" said Stan, stamping the ticket and climbing back inside the bus. "Hop on board lad, and tell me where you want to go"
"I need to get to Diagon Alley" replied Harry as he stepped aboard only to be taken aback by the rows of armchairs and sofas that took the place of the seats he was used to.
"School shopping eh?" said Stan "Where's your parents anyway?"
"They, uh, aren't around" Harry said carefully. From what Professor Garrick had to say Harry figured if people knew who he was they'd probably end up giving him way to much attention. He felt if people wanted to get to know him, he'd rather it wasn't for his reputation. Besides, there was no reason to make waves too soon. For now he sat on a rather chintzy armchair and tried to relax as the bus let off another great bang as it shifted from idling outside his house to rocketing down a country lane somewhere else.
"Right, you're the third stop now" Stan told him as he slid down the aisle. "The Leaky Cauldron, someone inside can help you get to the Alley"
Harry simply nodded, looking a little green in the face. The bus may be fast but it certainly wasn't a smooth ride. This proved to be a very accurate assessment as the bus banged and rattled it's way through two more stops then, with a final almighty, bang it stopped outside a dingy looking pub that had a swinging sign with a cauldron dripping water from it's base. As Harry tottered unsteadily off the bus he got the impression that everyone on the street but himself could even see the pub. As he approached he saw their eyes slide from the bookstore on one side to the record store on the other. Still he stepped through the door confidently. As he passed over the threshold his eyes swept the somehow dingier interior, deciding never to eat here. It's not that he was picky he just preferred to eat in places that were clean and sanitary. He made his way over to the bar and waved to catch the attention of the lone bartender.
"Hello, can you help me get to Diagon Alley" Harry asked politely.
The barkeep turned around and started to say something but as he caught sight of the boy his face paled.
"Oh Merlin" He stammered out "Can it be? Harry Potter returned to us at last?"
This caused all conversation in the pub to stop, the patrons as one turning to look at the black haired boy. Harry kept his attention on the barkeep, not allowing the sudden increase of the stares to shake his confidence. He knew what he wanted and was determined to get it. Unfortunately for Harry the crowd wasn't going to let this pass by and he was engulfed by almost all of them. His hand was seized by a man in a purple top hat and shaken vigourously.
"Mr Potter, so nice to meet you" he said excitedly "Daedalus Diggle's the name. We've met before you know"
"I remember, you hugged me once in a shop" replied Harry, firmly retrieving his hand.
Diggle gave an exagerated start causing his top hat to topple to the floor.
"He remembers, did you hear? Harry Potter remembers me"
Thus followed several meetings and greetings of a similar nature until Harry forcefully pushed to the bar once more.
"Tom, I really need to get into Diagon Alley. I have to get my school supplies" He said loudly, almost needing to shout over the gaggle of over enthusiastic wizards and witches.
Tom nodded and pushed through so he could steer Harry towards the door on the far side of the room.
"Move it you lot!, that's it" Tom said "Mr Potter needs to get his school supplies, come on Fletcher out the way"
Harry was very glad he hadn't come face to face with that last wizard. He gave off a distinctly criminal vibe with his hat pulled low, and thick over coat. His hangdog face with deep set bloodshot eyes didn't help either, nor did his unshaven scruffy beard or his aroma of alcohol.
Thankfully they soon got out into a small courtyard where Tom pulled out a thin, carved wooden stick that Harry immediately guessed was a wand and tapped a brick three up and two across from the bins. Harry quickly counted how many bricks up from the floor the brick was and how far from the nearest wall, in case the bins moved sometime. As Harry finished his counting the brick grew a whole that expanded to form a marble arch with a metal sign reading 'Diagon Alley'. Harry gazed down the street in wonder. It was long and slightly crooked with shops leaning out at odd angles. The displays of all kinds of goods spilled out into the street, from where he stood Harry could see books on tables, dried flowers hanging in bunches and even a barrel full of slimy purple meat. Eager to get started he turned to look at Tom who was waiting by the door to the Leaky Cauldron.
"Thank you Tom" He said "Where can I find Gringotts?"
"Ah, yes you would need to know that" Tom smiled "Just head straight down the alley, it's the big white building at the far end, but watch out for the goblins. They run the bank, see, and they don't take kindly to rudeness. Bow a bit when you approach them and remember your manners. Don't wander down Knockturn Alley, either eh?"
"Okay, thank you for the help Tom" Harry nodded before setting off into the most magical place he had ever seen. Harry wished he had several more pairs of eyes as he walked down the Alley. There was so much to see he could hardly take it all in, and the sounds, well it was almost a sensory overload. Still he couldn't gawk forever and he passed by each shop until the great marble bank came into view. As he approached he noticed a family of three looking up at the intimidating building as if unsure there were in the right place. Harry guessed they must be mundanes since they had wonderment in their eyes. Focussing back on his own tasks he headed past them towards the bronze front doors. However his confident stride must have caught their eye as the bushy haired girl called out to him.
"Excuse me!" she called, waving to make sure he knew she was talking to him. "Can you help us?"
Harry walked over to them smiling. He did, after all know just how they felt, being confronted with the magical world so blatantly for the first time.
"Sure" he replied easily "What do you need help with?"
"Is this really Gringotts bank?" she asked "It doesn't look like a bank to us"
"I know what you mean" Harry answered "But as far as I can tell, yes it is Gringotts bank, you see the goblins guarding the door?"
They both looked at the short, dome-headed creatures either side of the doors. Each one had a surprisingly large axe strapped across it's back, and Harry could make out a short sword at the waist of the guards.
"Goblins run the bank, I was told" Harry explained "You need to be polite to them. A bit of bowing and minding your P's and Q's "
"You were told?" the girl asked curiously "You didn't know?"
"No, I'm mundane raised" Harry said, "My name's Harry Potter, what's yours?"
"Hermione Granger" replied the girl.
They shook hands briefly and shared a laugh before Hermione introduced her parents, who had been watching the exchange cautiously thus far. They weren't overly impressed by the disdain many of the wizards had shown so far when they had asked for help navigating the Alley. Harry had made a good impression though, as he was polite and kind.
"This is my mum, Emma and my dad is Dan" Hermione was saying.
"Nice to meet you Mr and Mrs Granger" Harry said offering his hand.
They both shook the offered hand, before settling in to watch Harry and Hermione chat.
"So which school are you going to?" Harry asked
"I got two letters, one from a school called Hogwarts and another from The Academy of Magical Excellence. I wanted to go to Hogwarts but the Academy did a much better job of explaining magic, you know?" she said all of this quite fast and ended up taking a large breath. Harry smiled all though her explanation having thought the exact same thing himself.
"I know exactly what you mean" He said as Hermione stopped "So I chose the Academy after I got visited by Professor Garrick"
"He visited me too" Hermione replied eagerly "He didn't look like a wizard to me, but he didn't look normal either"
"Yeah, do you have your list?" Harry asked
"Yep, I didn't realise just how much stuff we would need for the school, but I guess it's because we're new to magical school"
Harry nodded and produced his own list.
"I can't wait to get a wand" he said idly, wondering what it would be like.
"I can't wait to get some of the books" Hermione said, that note of excitement rising again in her voice.
"Well, lets get going" Harry said, walking towards the doors. The Grangers followed hesitantly, not wanting to get on the wrong side of the vicious looking axes the guards carried. As Harry reached the doors he bowed to the guards and gave a polite 'Good day' as he proceeded past the them. He didn't see the slight widening of their eyes at the courtesy, but the Grangers coming up the wide marble steps did. Harry came across the inner doors, silver this time with an inscription carved into them on each side. Harry leaned into read it with interest.
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.
Harry suppressed a shiver from the ominous prose and proceeded into the bank fully, seeing many lines of people queueing to see a teller. Harry discreetly made his way over to the shortest line hoping none of the wizards he saw would see him. He was starting to see the difference between magicals and mundanes. Magicals tended to wear robes as standard dress and Harry wondered why they did, but then that was something he could find out later. Robes were on his school list so he needed some regardless. He noticed the Grangers coming to stand behind him starting off another train of thought, how did a first generation witch or wizard get the money for their school supplies? Clearly they needed to exchange ordinary pounds into something else, or they would already be shopping. Harry pulled his attention to the line just in time to notice the last family in front of him step away. He caught sight of a blank faced boy around his own age, dark hair and eyes showing boredom if nothing else. His parents were similarly aloof looking, though his father appeared asian while his mother was a light haired, pale woman. Harry was used to observing these little details seemingly obsessively but he could never help the streak of curiousity combined with a remarkable capacity for observation. He supposed that was why he managed his school-work so well despite having to consistently turn in low quality work so he didn't out score Dudley.
Stepping forward he bowed to the goblin at the desk.
"Good day" said Harry "I'd like to access my vault please"
"Name" snapped the goblin.
"Harry Potter"
"Ah, yes Mr Potter" answered the goblin "Please present your key"
"Forgive my ignorance, but I did not know I needed a key. I was raised by my mun- muggle relatives" Harry said changing to muggles as he remembered that that was the common term for non-magicals in wizarding society.
"In that case then we must prove your identity, before we can retrieve your key from your magical guardian" answered the goblin, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. "Be warned, we do not take kindly to fraudulent attempts to access vaults here, so we will give you this one chance to turn back"
Harry stood his ground and looked the teller in his eyes.
"Very well" said the goblin, apparently pleased. "Please place one drop of blood onto this parchment"
The goblin handed over a knife and a sheet of parchment with a stamp reading: Gringotts Verification Slip. Harry pressed the knife to his thumb until a droplet of blood welled up. He pressed his thumb to the parchment and when he lifted it away, ink began to spread out across the surface of the paper while his thumb was healed of the small hole. Harry watched as the ink wrote:
I Harry James Potter, son of James Potter and Lily Potter nee Evans, have proven my identity by freely giving of my blood in the presence of Teller Gashrak.
Handing the slip back Teller Gashrak read it through and his demeanor changed instantly.
"Welcome to Gringotts Mr Potter, we will of course allow you to your vault but first may I suggest a meeting with your Family Account Manager?"
"I guess so" replied Harry, a little confused.
"Merely a formality to ensure things that need to be in place are in place now you've rejoined the magical world" explained Garshak.
Harry waited as the teller motioned for what he assumed was an assistant who was quickly dispatched through a door to the rear of the bank that Harry only now realised was there. He quickly noticed several other doors and a great yawning hole in the back wall that looked as though it was hewn from the rock itself. Harry wasn't kept waiting long as he spied a rather more well-dressed goblin approached him.
"Greetings, Mr Potter" the goblin said "My name is Brobag and I am the Potter Family Account manager"
Harry bowed politely and followed the goblin towards one of the doors. The door was engrave with a coat of arms that must have belonged to the Potters and the entered to find an office. Brobag took his own seat behind the desk, leaving Harry to sit in the remaining chair.
"Well Mr Potter, first things first" began Brobag "Your key, which you would need to access your vault will be recalled by the end of the meeting from your magical guardian. Next I must provide you with a full summary of all accounts under the Potter Family Account which I believe stands as the Potter Family Vault, you Trust Vault for schooling and the vault that belonged to your parents, held for you per their will"
Harry nodded, having easily understood the explanation. He did have his own questions though but felt it was polite to wait until he was certain Brobag had finished talking.
"Currently your magical guardian is Albus Dumbledore, and he acts in your stead in any legal matters" Brobag continued "For now, here is a copy of all holdings in the vaults"
He slid a rather large leather folder across the desk.
"You won't be able to access the vaults belonging to the family or to your parents until you come of age in the wizarding world, which is to say at age seventeen"
Harry took the folder and scanned the top page which laid out an index of sorts. He read that his personal vaults were marked by green parchment, the family vault on red and his parents on blue. Shuffling though he found the parchment for his vault.
Potter Trust Vault
3000 Galleons
500 Sickles
200 Knuts
Turning the paper over to see if there was more he was surprised to see it so blank.
"I have a few questions Account Manager Brobag" He said "Can you explain wizarding currency to me? Will this last for all my schooling?"
"In order of value it runs Galleons, Sickles then Knuts. Twenty-nine knuts to a sickle, seventeen sickles to the galleon" said the goblin. "The funds in your trust vault get replenished every year to this amount shown. Tuition costs are deducted from the family vault."
Harry nodded. He was getting the distinct feeling that his family was wealthy. To think that the Dursleys bemoaned how much it cost to raise him and he was sitting on what sounded like a fair bit of gold. Apparently literal gold. A soft chime called his attention and he looked to the desk where a small golden key glinted softly.
"Excellent, now we have your key we can go to your vault" Brobag announced.
He led the young boy back into the main hall and called for a goblin attendant. When one approached he spoke a few nonsensical words to him, which Harry assumed was their own language, and the attendant led him over to the yawning gap. As they drew closer Harry saw the mine cart and the tracks it sat on. Noting that they curved down into the dark he felt his nerves jangling with anticipation. They climbed into the cart, the goblin pulled a few levers and off they went rocketing along the rails. Harry tried to memorise the turns but the track seemed to be deliberately designed to throw people off course and he had to give up after a rapid fire sequence of lefts and rights. All of a sudden the cart came to an abrupt, halting stop outside another of the large doors Gringotts seemed to favour as part of their overall décor. Harry climbed out trying to catch his breath from the wild but enjoyable ride. The goblin didn't seemed inclined to talk much and just gestured to the keyhole which seemed absurdly small compared to the door. Harry slid his key into the lock and with a rumbling groan the doors opened revealing a large pile of gold, silver and bronze coins. Harry didn't know the exchange rate with pounds sterling but he knew he was looking at more money than Dudley had ever had. Filling up a pouch that the goblin helpfully handed him with large handfuls of coinage he figured his business was done for the moment and the two got back in the cart.
A breakneck journey later, followed by a short trip back across the marble floors of the bank and Harry was stood once again in the sunlight. Checking his school list once more he tried to figure out where he might need to go to get some of the items. First though he needed a trunk and just to his right he could see a sign that reading Livingston's Magical Luggage. He quickly headed over to the shop and ducked inside. He browsed along the shelves, reading the descriptions of the trunks, suitcases, rucksacks and other assorted goods. He didn't understand some of the mentioned features but things like feather-light charmed were easily worked out.
"Can I help ya, lad?" said a voice.
Harry looked over to the counter to see a wizard in tan robes with a mustache larger and thicker than Uncle Vernon's though considerable better cared for. Harry had uncanny impression of a turn of the century big game hunter like in those movies his uncle watched. He headed to the counter anyway.
"I need a trunk for school" answered Harry.
"Of course, of course" Said the man. "I would suggest a basic two or three compartment trunk with a feather-light, expansion and shrinking charms"
"Could you explain the charms?" Harry said "Mundane raised"
"Ah, right right. Well the feather-light charm means that the weight of the trunk is reduced to a small amount, no matter what goes in it. The expansion charm basically makes the trunk bigger on the inside for greater storage and the shrinking charm allows you to shrink the trunk with just a tap of your wand for easy transportation." explained the wizard. "We can also provide a variety of colours and locking mechanisms, just in case"
"I think I'll just get one of those then" said Harry, feeling very impressed.
The wizard led him over to a display of sturdy looking trunks and opened a couple.
"There's you standard two compartment model, cheaper and a bit smaller but still sturdy" said the wizard. "And there's your three compartment model, larger and easier to organize but it does cost more"
"I'll take a three compartment trunk please" said Harry "Can it be decorated in red leather? With silver trim. Oh my initials in silver on the lid too"
"Oh yes" nodded the salesman "We can do that easily. Would you like a special locking system?"
"What do you mean?" asked Harry
"Well we can put in a charm that registers only you as the owner when you calibrate it, after that no one else should be able to open it"
"Yes that sounds good"
"Alright, that'll be fifty galleons for the trunk" said the salesman "It'll take an hour to step up though"
"That's alright" said Harry "I still have plenty of shopping to do"
Harry counted out fifty galleons and with his pouch a fair bit lighter he left. The rest of his shopping was rather uneventful, with two exceptions. He met a rather unpleasant boy while getting fitted for his school robes (3 Pairs Black School Robes, 1 Formal Robe) in Madam Malkin's, who was surprised to get two students for the Academy in her shop at the same time. The other was getting his wand, which he was very excited about.
He made his way into Ollivander's Wand Shop, feeling like he had stepped into a library. It was so silent Harry almost felt he could hear a whispering from the shelves.
"Mr Potter, I was wondering when I'd be seeing you"
Harry jumped, whirling around to see a pale man with white hair peering at him with silver eyes. The strange man stepped forward still staring in that disconcerting way at Harry.
"I remember the day your mother got her wand, 10 and a quarter inches, willow and swishy. Excellent for charms" said Ollivander. "Your father favoured a mahogany wand, pliable but powerful and suited for transfiguration. I say he favoured but it's really the wand that chooses the wizard of course"
"How can you remember my parent's wands so well?" asked Harry
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr Potter" replied Ollivander, his silvery stare starting to unnerve the eleven year old. "Let's find your wand"
Thus began a long process of Harry taking wand after wand only to have them snatched away by an increasingly ecstatic Ollivander. Then came a moment, a moment Harry would remember for the rest of his life where the wand maker paused, a glint of curiousity in his eye. He shuffled back into the shelves and came back with a nondescript box that he carried with great care.
"Holly and phoenix feather, 11 inches" said Ollivander, that ever so mysterious glint shining brighter.
Harry took the wand from the box and immediately felt a rushing warmth flow up his arm and settle in his chest. He waved the wand and left a thick trail of red and gold sparks in its wake.
"Curious" murmured Ollivander, though he looked very pleased.
"I'm sorry. But what's curious?"
"The phoenix that gave the feather for your wand, gave one other, just one. Your wand shares a core with another wand, it's brother. It's brother, Mr Potter gave you that scar" said Ollivander "A strange thing you would be destined to get this wand. I think we can expect great things from you. After all He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things, terrible yes, but great"
Harry paid quickly and left, thankful to be back in the sunlight. He could shake the feeling of unease that lingered as he bought his books and potions kit. He also bough himself and owl as he finally understood what was meant by 'we await your owl'. His last stop was collecting his trunk, into which went all of his purchases of the day before locking and shrinking his trunk to carry it in his pocket. He headed back through the Leaky Cauldron and raised his wand hand to flag down the Knight Bus. This time he paid nine sickles and was shortly tramping through the front door to Number Four. It was only as he pulled off his trainers that he realised that he wouldn't be sleeping in the cupboard tonight. At least he hadn't had to witness what surely had been an epic Dudley tantrum and as he entered the living room he saw an ashen faced Dudley, a red faced Uncle Vernon and his aunt sitting rigidly away from the two.
"Boy, you'll be in Dudley's second bedroom from now. Go move your stuff and get some dinner on" snapped his uncle.
Rather glad to be away from the tension he did as asked and moved all of his meagre belongings into the smallest bedroom. Expanding his trunk he organized the interior with book in the left compartment, potions in the right and his clothes and other supplies in the centre. Dinner was unusually subdued, with little being said about anything so Harry was glad to make it to the end of what had turned out to be a very long day.
AN: Next time we see the Academy and find out just who else has made the cut for the Academy. Expect some familiar faces, and naturally a lot of OC's. Reviews are welcome, every one I get makes me happy and I'd love to know your thoughts good or bad on this. SYOC is still open but restricted now to Year 2 students and up. Thank you.