It was unusually warm, the early hours of September 1st. As any true Brit knows, summer doesn't really start until August ends, which is irritating for students as they spend all of September wishing it had been this warm when they had the time off. But such is life.
The sun had just started to rise when Hedwig flew quietly back into Harry's rented room, a dead mouse clutched between her claws. She gave a soft hoot, as if too announce her presence but received no reply. The owl rolled her eyes. Honestly, her human was simply a mess. Dropping her prey, she flew over and nibbled at Harry's ears. Enough was enough, her human had to have had enough rest by now.
Harry slowly began to wake up, his head feeling groggy – the sort of dizziness one experiences after having a spectacularly unhelpful nap. He groaned as he sat up, head in hands, and lazily cast a tempus charm. He glanced to the right, checking the time.
And checked it again.
'Hedwig,' Harry said hoarsely, 'was I asleep… for 3 days?' Hedwig gave a noise of affirmation before happily eating her prey. All she had to do now was eat, and then she could sleep until tomorrow night. Her work was done.
Harry jumped out of bed with a yelp, and frantically started throwing things into his trunk. What was that long sleep about? Harry thought as he stuffed a pair of pants into the drawers in his trunk. Thankfully, it was mostly full with just a few (see:many) books scattered around and generic items here and there. Harry ran around his room, frantically waving his arms to try and float everything inside his trunk, as well as trying to get ready himself. Crap! Harry thought, as one over-zealous wave sent a pair of socks flying through a glass window I still need a wand!
Harry arrived outside the wandmaker's shop, Ollivanders, with a wary look. It luckily opened at 7AM, so he would have plenty of time to get his wand, breakfast and catch his train. Suddenly nervous, Harry began patting down his pockets searching for his ticket. Just as he found it, a voice sounded out onto the practically dead street:
"Are you going to just stand there, or come in?" Harry froze momentarily, picked up his trunk and owl and entered the dusty shop.
"Good morning, my lord." A quiet voice came from the shadows.
"Oh, um, good morning, mister… um"
"Ollivander, my lord." The wand-maker stepped out of the shadows and extended one, pale bony arm for harry to shake.
"Right.. of course Mr Ollivander." Harry slowly nodded, nto breaking eye contact with the mans beady black eyes. "I've um, come for my wand."
Ollivander smiled, why do all wizarding folks smile in such a weird way?, and motioned Harry further into the shop. Harry followed the man a a little further before he was stopped.
"I was expecting you much sooner, my lord." Ollivander said causally as a tape began measuring Harry's various limb lengths. "I was beginning to fear you had … forgotten." Harry, not wanting to admit he overslept (by a longshot) shrugged.
"I just wanted to save my wand to last" he simply said. Ollivander nodded.
"I see. Well," he snapped his fingers and the tape dropped limply to the floor, "let's get started, shall we?"
2 hours later, a rather grumpy Harry set yet another failed wand down. "Do you have any wands I can use?" He asked Ollivander. "I do have a train to catch you know…"
Ollivander nodded, his face flushed. "Yes, yes I know! But this is so exciting, I've not had a tricky customer like you for quite some time! Not even the holly wand matched, how curious, how about the yew? No, no that won't work…." Ollivander trailed off, clearly lost in thought as he wandered through the many shelves of his shop. Harry huffed and slumped on his chair. I'm going to be here forever he thought morosely. It seemed that aspects of his magic would respond to certain woods, while other aspects would fight against the core. And then, if his magic relunctantly agreed with a wand one of his rings would fight it. Harry held up his hand with the rings on and glared at it.
"You lot better agree sooner or later, else I'll never be able to learn magic!" He scolded his rings. The Pendragon and Gryffindor rings tightened in apparent indignation while the Hufflepuff and Potter rings buzzed as if laughing.
"Ah, here we are!" Harry jumped. Ollivander was standing in front of him, holding an old copper box. "This was one of my experimental wands I made, back when I was a wand apprentice myself. Ah yes, the good old days…" his voice trailed off as harry opened the lid to reveal a twisted branch, with lines of some metal intricately woven into the wood. Harry picked it up and immediately felt a warm rush flow thorugh him. He suddenly felt, light, as if weightless, as if he had suddenly grown several feet, as if he could do anything.
"I think this is the one, Mr Ollivander" Harry said faintly. Ollivander nodded slowly, his eyes narrowed, perhaps with awe, perhaps with suspicsion.
"I agree, my Lord. That'll be 10 galleons." Harry gave the man a quizzical look.
"I thought the standard Hogwarts price was 7 galleons?" he asked. Ollivander looked down, and sighed.
"It is, but that is no standard wand." Harry waited. Ollivander finally looked up and met Harry's eye. "That is an elder wood wand, fused by molten rock with holly and has a double core – a unicorn's tear and phoenix feather. Not only are such bonds rare, they're near impossible to make – which is why I did it," he explained to Harry's confused look, "To prove to my master I could work with unknown materials. He didn't even tell me what the bonding agent was, just told me to use it." Ollivander paused examining the wand thoughtfully.
"Elder wood with holly, a powerful and temperamental pair. You should be careful of how you care for it. As for the core…. Well. I don't want to make assumptions. 10 galleons, please."
Harry left the shop slightly overwhelmed. Figures I'd have an odd wand to go with this ridiculous experience. He half wanted to go tell Urxluk about his new wand, but thought best leave for a letter once I'm at Hogwarts, I don't want to interrupt his day and set off to Kings Cross Station.
Harry sipped at his tea, people watching. Bet she's off to visit her daughter, or something Harry thought distantly, as he sat on a bench waiting for the clock to pass 10:50. According to one version of Hogwarts: A History the gate to the train from the muggle world didn't open until 10 minutes before it was due to leave for safety reasons. Later editions disclaimed this fact, or ignored it altogether, but Harry wanted to play it safe. The time now 10:51, Harry put a lid back on his cup, took a deep breath, and began walking confidently forward. One of the books he had read for muggles said to run towards the 10th platform wall in order to not get stuck. Harry didn't like running, and decided it was much for seemly to walk briskly into the wall.
He still held his breath as he walked through.
Once on the other side, Harry was assaulted by such a vibrant array for loud noises and colours he had to take a moment to steady himself. Cats weaved in and out of legs, small families huddled together, men and women in long robes standing haughtily contrasting the plainly dressed muggleborns who looked frankly terrified. Harry empathised, but hoisted his trunk in one hand and bird cage in another. "Let's go, Hedwig," Harry muttered to his (rudely awakened) owl.
Harry had just settled into a rather narrow yet comfortable compartment, book up and feet up, when the door was slammed open. Two tall figures stumbled into the compartment and shut the door and curtain breathlessly.
"Do you think he saw us?" One said fearfully.
"Nah," the other panted, "think he was looking the other way BLIMEY my back hurts!" he said stretching his back. The first figure at this point noticed Harry's wide eyed face staring at them.
"Erm, Forge…" he nudged his stretching companion, who also noticed the young boy.
"Oh! Alright kid? Um, do us a favour will you? If some ginger kid comes in, you didn't see us, ok?" Harry started a little more, then nodded. The person grinned. "Solid. If you ever need a hand, look for the Weasley Twins in Gryffindor – we're not hard to find." At this 'Forge' turned to his (apparent) twin. "Come'on Gred, Ron's probably run off by now, we can get our stuff." 'Gred' nodded and they both left Harry on his own again.
Weasley, huh? Aren't one of my houses connected to them in some way? Harry wondered, but none of his rings glowed, so Harry assumed it wasn't important.
Much later into some YA novel, Harry's compartment opened once again. A short ginger boy peered in.
"Hi, um… sorry to bother you, but my brothers kicked me out. Can I sit here?" He asked nervously. Harry nodded, only half paying attention. The boy mumbled a thanks and sat down. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but just as he opened his mouth another person walked in and sat in a huff. Harry's Black ring suddenly squeezed, causing him to sit up straight.
"May Magic bless our first meet, Ally Heir Removed Greengrass" Harry intoned, the words coming from nowhere. The girl's eyebrows rose slightly, and she took his pro-offered hand cautiously. "May Magic bless our first meet, Ally…" Her eyes widened in shock, and drew in a sharp breath. "ally Line Heir Potter...and ally Heir Balck" she finished shaking his hand. Harry blinked slightly, shaking the magic from his headas he withdrew his hand.
"That was odd, I've not done that before. You can just call me Harry. And you are?" the girl continued to look at him with a dazed expression.
"Daphne… um Daphne Greengrass…" she trailed off. Harry waited for her to continue, but as nothing was forthcoming he turned to the boy.
"Sorry about that, I would have introduced myself earlier but I was distracted by my book!" He laughed slightly, but the other boy was also staring at him in shock. Harry sighed. "Is this going to be the normal reaction?" he asked, somewhat rhetorically.
"Yes." Daphne replied instantly, offering a slight grin. "You are the boy-who lived, after all." Harry looked at her strangely.
"Are… are you making fun of me?" He asked indignantly. "We've just met!" Daphne smiled fully, and didn't reply. Harry rolled his eyes and turned back to the other boy. "Again, sorry. I'm Harry, Harry Potter, and you are?" The boy started at him with his mouth agape.
Silence fell for a moment before the boy composed himself and swallowed.
"Um, I'm Ron Weasley" his eyes flicked towards Daphne but when she didn't react he continued "bloody hell are you really Harry Potter?" Ron asked excitedly. Harry blinked. I did say I was didn't I? he thought before nodding. Ron stared at him awe-struck, but didn't say anything else.
"Well," Daphne said just to fill the silence, "What house do we all think we'll be in?" Ron jerked out of his hero gaze and looked at her.
"Gryffindor, obviously! Where… all my brothers went…" He trailed off slightly. "I want to be there… but it's a lot to live up to, you know?" he said, glancing between the other two. Daphne eyed him thoughtfully, before nodding.
"I know what you mean. I'm expected to go into Slytherin, if I get put in any other house I might be disowned – but imagine being a Hufflepuff!" She shuddered. Ron had sneered slightly at the mention of Slytherin, but nodded in agreement with Daphnes statement.
Harry observed them both, before turning to the window.
"Does it matter?" He asked. The two looked at him incredulously.
"Of course it matters!" Ron said loudly, leaning out of his seat. "Your house is your family! Wouldn't you be mad if you got put with the slimy snakes?" he lowered back down onto his seat, glancing at Daphne. "erm, no offence…" he said sheepishly. Daphne gave him a cold look, but nodded slightly.
"He has a point though, Harry. In Wizarding Britain, which house you were in means a great deal." She spoke calmly as Ron nodded in agreement, but Harry continued to look out of the window.
"I suppose in that case…" he sighed and turned to face them. "I still don't care." The two purebloods stared at him.
"You're barmy." Ron said quietly. Daphne dipped her head in agreement, looking at Harry with calculating eyes. Harry looked at both and shrugged.
"Guess I have different priorities. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm starving." He jumped up and went out to buy as many sweets as he could stand. Daphne's gaze met Ron's.
"I would like to get on with you, Weasley." She said calmly. Ron looked at her in surprise "however if you insist on insulting my house I'm afraid this won't work out. Please refrain from such comments in the future, else… well. I think you know." Ron looked away, his cheeks flushed. He bobbed his head, and mumbled another apology. Daphne looked at him, before turning away from him.
"Potter's a bitdifferent than expected, isn't he?" she said causally. Ron looked up again, relieved to talk about something else.
"Yeah, he is a bit," Ron said, taking out his corned beef sandwiches. "I thought he'd be more… y'know" Ron gestured vaguely with his arm. Daphne stared at him, mouth twitching slightly. Ron glanced at her and his sandwich. "Oh, um, my mum packed me a lunch… corned beef." His face fell slightly. "You want one?" he tried to say cheerfully. Daphne tried to keep her face impassive but couldn't quite repress her smile.
"No thank you. You realize you've managed to get food on your face and you haven't even taken a bite?" Ron went pink and went to wipe his face but ended up rubbing his sandwich on his face. He scowled at the now giggling Daphne.
"You did that on purpose!" he accused the giggling girl, who nodded between laughs.
"Of course! What did you expect from a 'slimy snake'?" she teased him. Ron began to smile too, just as Harry came back, arms laden with an assortment of food and face stuffed with pastries.
"wha'd ah miss?" he mumbled through the food. Daphne and Ron took one look before bending over laughing. Harry rolled his eyes.
Honestly, wizards.
Before anyone says anything, the scene with Ron isn't totally OOC because I have done something similar.
So there.
Me: I'm going to upload about 1000 words every few weeks over a year!
Inner me: upload a ridculous amount 9 months after last uploading to stress yourself out over instead of doing important revision and work
Me: why on earth would I do that
Inner me: you gotta
Me: \( _ )/ damn u right