Hey everyone, I'm back again. The student debt hasn't killed me yet. As always please thank my lovely beta Pixel and Stephanie Forever, for putting up with me. (Its terrible folks… He just keeps me waiting here day in and day out for another chapter to review and Beta read… Spend most of my time playing chess with the voices in my head – Pixel)At the moment I am on spring break from college, which is the only reason this chapter is even done. I did mean to update faster, but I got caught by my finals and other end of the quarter projects, so I apologize. My schedule is far more flexible spring quarter, and I will have my laptop on me every other day for note taking purposes. So I'll probably be able to write a bit more in the upcoming months. Anyway please enjoy.

Northumberland, UK

28 July, 1991

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster's office.

To say that Albus Dumbledore was furious was like saying the UK had strict gun laws, it was a brutal understatement. As soon as he had gotten back from his conference with the International Confederation of Wizards he had been informed by an awestruck Amos Diggory that Harry Potter had shown up at the Wizengamot meeting and handily defeated the Bill proposing a break with the Muggle government the he, Dumbledore had spent so much time bringing to the floor. He brought up his web of monitoring charms he had kept on the young Potters health, making note that all of the charms were intact and not monitoring any form of distress. He frowned pulling up the half of his matric used to monitor the wards on Number 4 Privet Drive. He gasped as he stared at the shattered and broken remains of the blood wards and wards on the property. He had put enough power into the wards to last until Harry was eleven, unless he had left the property for two consecutive years. The boy himself was the anchor of the wards, and if he had left the property for long enough the wards broke.

"Albus?" He sprang into action, flicking his wand in a complex pattern to stow the ward matrix and turning to face the door and smoothed his beard.

"Come Minerva." He called, glancing around the room before turning back to face his Deputy.

"Have you heard the news Albus?" She seemed concerned as she took the proffered glass of brandy.

"Indeed, I hadn't thought that young Harry would have spoken in front of the Wizengamot like that." Dumbledore put on a straight face as his long-time friend stared him down.

"So you knew that he was at that school?" She obviously wasn't going to believe him.

"No I did not, in fact before today I believed him to still be at his aunt and uncles. It is disturbing that he managed to be away from that house for so long without my wards notifying me. However it is good to see him grown into such a fine young man." Dumbledore took a sip of his own brandy, watching Minerva's face as nodded.

"Indeed, being able to stand up and speak in front of so many people his elder is impressive, especially about such sensitive topics." There it was, the look in her eye had changed from calm to anger in less than a second.

"Sensitive topics?" Dumbledore cursed himself for letting Amos go before getting the whole story from him.

"Indeed, Albus, he spoke of his relatives during the session. About how they hated and despised magic, and how they never asked to take him in. Now can ye tell me Albus, why didya noot say that they had accepted him into their house and were treating him well if that obviously wasnna the case?" In anger her Scottish brogue came to the forefront

"I told you that so you wouldn't attempt to interfere with his placement. It was an unfortunate oversight on my part, I overlooked Petunia's obvious hatred of the magical world in favor of seeing the possibility that Harry would bring closure to her and be accepted. It was not uncommon in my day for orphans to be left on family members doorsteps, and they were accepted!" Dumbledore was angry, at himself and the Dursleys, mostly the Dursleys. "It needed to be done Minerva, the blood wards were his best means of protection. In his first year there they protected him six times, from Death Eaters and his fans alike!" Dumbledore was not fond of justifying his actions, but he could own up to them.

"Aye, I understand that Albus!" Minerva was nearly yelling at the old man "But ye coulda at least checked on the boy." With that she turned and strode from his office, leaving her brandy behind.

"Indeed I should have, at least to prevent this Academy from mucking up my plans." Dumbledore mumbled to himself, stroking the feathers of his Phoenix, Fawkes.

London, England

1 August, 1991

Charing Cross Road

Outside the Leaky Cauldron

Harry and his team were sitting in the back of a nondescript car outside of the famous wizarding pub that led into Diagon Alley. The sole missing member of the group was Walter who, of course, was not magical. Harry and Hannah had both decided that he was being very jealous at not being able to go to Hogwarts with them. In fact, they'd even noticed he'd gone out of his way to avoid them and was seen at the shooting gallery putting in some target practice with the pellet guns. There were around two dozen cadets heading into Diagon Alley in pairs and trios so as not to draw to much attention. The rest of the students that needed to, had done their shopping in the past few days, and that just left the youngest members. When it was finally their turn Harry and Hannah got out of their car and walked up to the Leaky and went inside, the scent of ale and stale smoke hitting them as they came through the door. The proceeded quickly under the watchful eye of the Corporal sitting at the bar, making sure nothing went amiss. Once in the back courtyard they were motioned to hold up by the group the Sergeant sitting on the side wall smoking a cigarette. "Hold up an wait for the rest of your group - since you're the last ones through the Lieutenant doesn't mind you all going through together." The man looked them over, "Do you all have your galleons? 'Member the Colonel doesn't want anyone going near the bank." The two nodded, clutching their small coin bags that were bigger on the inside.

"Yessir." Harry said, leaning up against the wall waiting for Flora and Hestia. The wait was only about three minutes before the twins came bustling through the door.

"What's up?" Hestia asked in a quiet, worried tone.

"Nothing, the Sarge here said to wait for you." Harry said in a reassuring voice. The Sergeant nodded before opening up the archway for them. Breathtaking was not a good enough word, Harry decided later, for his first proper glimpse into the Wizarding World. There were dozens of people milling about the street, ducking in and out of strangely named shops and complaining about things Harry hadn't a clue about.

"We'll grab robes first yeah?" Hannah asked the other three.

"Hestia can grab mine right sis? I have to go and grab a new set of scales for potions, I broke mine last week." Flora almost managed to get that out without looking abashed.

"Yah I will, but you shouldn't go it alone. Harry can go with you, I know he wants to grab some more potions ingredients anyway." Hestia missed the slight glare Hannah shot at her, however Hannah didn't miss the wink Flora sent at her sister.

"Sure, I need some more dry ingredients after last class. And we can stop and grab telescopes on the way." Harry said, completely oblivious to the facial expression his friends were throwing at each other.

"That's cool, we can meet up at Flourish and Blotts at half past the hour. I only need the Herbology book, but we might as well peruse yeah?" Hestia called over her shoulder as she led a reluctant Hannah towards Madam Malkins. The walk to Slug and Jiggers Apothecary was uneventful to say the least, but the two friends still took longer to get there than they should've. The Alley was very crowded and they kept stopping to look at the storefronts they passed, which included joke shops, second-hand stores, and a tea shop. When they reached the store there was only one other customer, a sallow faced man with long dark hair, and an overly large nose. They were greeted by an overly friendly, rather portly man.

"Hogwarts, you two?" He asked, nodding to them.

"Yessir, but we just need a few supplies and she needs another set of scales." Harry said, gesturing to Flora.

"That's easy enough." The man leaned under the counter, grabbing a set of scales and two sets of basic ingredients. "This should be enough ingredients to get you through the year, plus any mishaps, and any practice you want to do. Anything other ingredients will be given to you during class." He walked over to the left side of the store where a large cabinet was sitting, and returned carrying a set of scales. "That'll be five galleons and three sickles please." Harry handed over the money and they turned to leave the store. As they were leaving the other customer in the shop gave Harry a long look before turning to purchase his items. They walked back towards Madam Malkin's, with Harry motioning Flora over to the pet store across the street.

"I'll just be a moment." He told her before heading in. The shop was deserted but for the two women over by a pair of stools.

"For Hogwarts, young man?" The eldest of the pair asked, motioning him over to the stool farthest from the door.

"Yes ma'am." Harry hopped up onto the stool and stood still as the woman began looking him over and taking measurements.

"Excited?" She quested, sticking a few needles here and there.

"I am. Did you go to Hogwarts?" Harry tried to make small talk.

"Indeed I did, Ravenclaw class of 1934." She continued her rather boring chatter, and Harry jumped in when necessary, but he was rather glad when it was over. "You're finished lad, stop by the counter and I'll ring you up." Harry nodded as she went back into the shop, swishing her wand this way and that. In another ten minutes he was back outside and heading over to Magical Menagerie to meet with Flora. When he found her she was holding a small black and white kitten.

"Hey-yah Harry, meet Felix." Flora had the hugest grin on her face as she paid for the kitten and the other necessities, a small carrying case and some cat food.

"He is cute." Harry leaned over and stroked the small creature under its chin. "I'd like to go and look around Eeylops down the street for a minute before we go and meet with the others." Flora nodded, snuggling the kitten closer to her as they left the store. At the Owl Emporium Harry found the loveliest snowy owl, which he latched onto almost immediately. After a small debate with Flora about bringing an owl anywhere near her precious Felix, they departed the store with what they needed. As they left the store and entered the street they saw the Corporal that had been sitting at the bar making his way up the street. They met him as he was heading towards Flourish and Blotts.

"What's wrong sir?" Flora glanced down the street.

"Dumbledore and a half-dozen other people just walked through the Cauldron, we need to move now." He glanced around, motioning over a few of the other cadets. After five minutes there were eight other cadets in their group, including Hannah and Hestia. The Corporal explained the situation to them, "We need to move now. I don't care if they don't know we're here yet, but I'm not risking it." He motioned to the Sergeant who'd been leaning in the entryway. The man nodded, walking swiftly down a side passage, and out of sight.

"What's the plan sir?" Harry asked, glancing around the crowded street, easily picking the white bearded Headmaster out of the dozens around them.

"We're heading out of the exit on Carkitt Market, the one that leads out to Shaftesbury Avenue, the Sergeant just went to notify the Colonel, and the Lieutenant is already moving. Now follow me and try not to draw attention to yourselves." Unfortunately it was at that moment that a passerby noticed Harry, and declared it very loudly to the street. The Alley went deathly silent as all of the shoppers turned to the woman, and by proxy to Harry. Harry and Hannah instantly dropped a hand to their waists to pull out knives in a reflex action – wincing when they remembered they'd had to leave them in barracks. The pair shared a look of annoyance but also one of uncertainty.

"Well shit." The Corporal said, motioning to the cadets to move down the street. "Make like the Italian Army and retreat"

"Corporal, the British Army does not retreat – it makes a tactical withdrawal under constant fire" Harry said as he hurried at the front of the group. There was little to impede their sudden movement towards the crossroads where Knockturn Alley and Carkitt Market were. As they made their way quickly down the Alley Harry turned to see the group of wizards around Dumbledore quickly making to follow their group. "Move faster, Cadets!" The Corporal shouted at them before starting to holler at the crowds in front of them in an attempt to get them to move. They made their way down the side street, the crowd of wizards still in pursuit but the cadets were beginning to gain distance from them.

They made it down the Market Alley and into the bustling London street, where there were two cars waiting for them. They were in the vehicles and off down the road before the six wizards made it through the market place.

"Should we follow them Headmaster?" one extremely out of breath wizard asked.

"No, they are in muggle territory now, we cannot pursue. However Severus said Potter ordered ingredients for Hogwarts, it's an easy bet as to where he'll be in a month. Return to your business gentlemen, I will call if we need a different plan" The old man said, turning and disapperating into thin air.

So that's the chapter, it isn't as long as I wanted it to be, but I couldn't seem to get the pacing right. I hope to upload again within a two weeks of when this chapter goes up but you never know. I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you next time.