Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter only Leo and Fawn

Entering the Room of Requirements, the next night with Hagrid now joining their little group, everyone paused at what they saw when the door opened.

All the lounges and chairs had been pushed aside to make room for the five from the future to move around more comfortably, but that wasn't what made everyone pause.

Leo and Ginny were in the middle of the room standing on their hands. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all sitting on the lounges watching the two. Harry was staring at Leo, who was shirtless.

"What is going on in here?" Professor McGonagall asked exasperated.

Ron and Hermione turned to her sheepishly, Harry was still staring at Leo's naked upper body and Leo and Ginny just ignored her.

"Leo and Ginny are seeing who can stand on their hands the longest," Hemione explained. "It's been three minutes since they started."

"Well, that's enough of that," said Professor McGonagall waving her wand and the lounges and chairs all arranged themselves to where they were yesterday, the room even added a new lounge just for Hagrid.

Leo and Ginny dropped their feet and stood up straight, both pouting as they went and sat with their friends. Ginny sat with Ron and Hermione again and Leo went to sit on a two-seater with Harry, who Leo threw his arm around when he sat down.

"Thank you," sighed Professor McGonagall.

Everyone was quick to find their seats. James and Lily sat together on a two-seater in between Harry and Leo's and the Marauders three-seater. Fawn made herself comfortable sitting with Narcissa and Andromeda while Regulus and Snape got their own chairs, same as Professor McGonagall and Hagrid.

"Has anyone explain to Hagrid what's happened so far?" Harry asked, smiling up at the half-giant.

"I explained everything during lunch today," Professor McGonagall assured.

"It's great to have you, Hagrid," Leo grinned.

Hagrid beamed back at the white-haired teen, happy to be included.

"Who wants to start us off tonight?" Hermione asked, holding up the book.

"I will," James volunteered, grabbing the book from Hermione before settling down next to Lily again.

"Chapter 5 Diagon Alley"

"Yes! You're going to get your stuff for Hogwarts!" James cheered.

"Isn't this where we first met?" Leo whispered to Harry.

"I think we bumped into each other," whispered Harry.

Harry woke early the next morning. Although he could tell it was daylight, he kept his eyes shut tight.

:It was a dream," he told himself firmly. "I dreamed a giant called Hagrid came to tell me I was going to a school for wizards. When I open my eyes, I'll be in my cupboard."

"You're such a pessimist," Lily frowned sadly.

There was suddenly a loud tapping noise.

And there's Aunt Petunia knocking on the door, Harry thought, his heart sinking. But he still didn't open his eyes. It had been such a good dream.

"Wasn't a dream," sang Sirius with a smirk.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"All right," Harry mumbled, "I'm getting up."

He sat up and Hagrid's heavy coat fell off him. The hut was full of sunlight, the storm was over, Hagrid himself was asleep on the collapsed sofa, and there was an owl rapping its claw on the window, a newspaper held in its beak.

Harry scrambled to his feet, so happy he felt as though a large balloon was swelling inside him. He went straight to the window and jerked it open. The owl swooped in and dropped the newspaper on top of Hagrid, who didn't wake up. The owl then fluttered onto the floor and began to attack Hagrid's coat.

"Don' attack me coat," Hagrid said with a fond smile.

"Don't do that."

Harry tried to wave the owl out of the way, but it snapped its beak fiercely at him and carried on savaging the coat.

"Hagrid!" said Harry loudly. "There's an owl."

"Pay him," Hagrid grunted into the sofa.

"What?"

"He wants payin' fer deliverin' the paper. Look in the pockets." Hagrid's coat seemed to be made of nothing but pockets- bunches of keys, slug pellets, balls of string, peppermint humbugs, teabags… finally, Harry pulled out a handful of strange-looking coins.

"Is wizarding money strange or is it muggle money that's strange?" Regulus asked curiously.

"I think wen it comes to the amount then muggle money is better and easier but wizard money is the same all around the world while different muggle countries had different currencies," Hermione answered.

"I've never understood why wizard money needs so be so complicated," Leo admitted.

"Give him five knuts," said Hagrid sleepily.

"Knuts?"

"The little bronze ones."

Harry counted out five little bronze coins, and the owl held out his leg so Harry could put the money into a small leather pouch tied to it. Then he flew off through the open window.

Hagrid yawned loudly, sat up, and stretched.

"Best be off, Harry, lots ter do today, gotta get up ter London an' but all yer stuff fer school."

"This is so exciting! I can't wait to see what kind of wand you get!" Lily squealed.

Harry smiled at her but didn't say anything. He knew what would happen with his wand and he didn't want to say anything just yet.

Harry was turning over the wizard coins and looking at them. He had just thought of something that made him feel as though the happy balloon inside him had got a puncture.

"Um- Hagrid?"

"Mm?" said Hagrid, who was pulling on his huge boots.

"I haven't got any money- and you heard Uncle Vernon last night… he won't pay for me to go and learn magic."

"Like we would leave you with nothing, you have the whole Potter fortune and what me and Lily make before we die, you'll be set for life," James reassured Harry, not that he needed to.

"Don't worry about that," said Hagrid, standing up and scratching his head. "D'yeh think yet parents didn't leave yeh anything?"

"But if their house was destroyed- "

"Do muggles really leave their money in their homes?" Narcissa asked shocked. "What if someone broke in?"

"Muggle usually keep their money in banks as well, though some keep it in their homes. It all depends on the muggle," Lily explained.

"They didn' keep their gold in the house, boy! Nah, first stop fer us is Gringotts. Wizards' bank. Have a sausage, they're not bad cold- an' I wouldn' say no teh a bit o' yer birthday cake, neither."

"Wizards have banks?"

"Oh, Harry," Remus shook his head fondly. "Why wouldn't wizards have banks?"

"I dunno, I was still a little overwhelmed about everything that happened at that point, I wasn't really thinking…" Harry defended himself before he realised that Remus was grinning at him.

"Just the one. Gringotts. Run by goblins."

"Don't really like the goblins," Ron commented.

Harry dropped the bit of sausage he was holding.

"Goblins?"

"Yeh, so yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it, I'll tell yeh that. Never mess with goblins, Harry. Gringotts is the safest place in the world fer anything yeh want ter keep safe, 'cept maybe Hogwarts. As a matter o' fact, I gotta visit Gringotts anyway. Fer Dumbledore. Hogwarts business." Hagrid drew himself up proudly.

Hagrid puffed up his chest just as proud making everyone chuckle.

"He usually gets me ter do important stuff fer him. Fetchin' you, gettin' things from Gringotts- knows he can trust me, see. Got everythin'? Come on then."

"Ah, good man, Dumbledore," Hagrid grinned.

No one but Lily noticed Harry and Leo exchanging a look when Hagrid mentioned Dumbledore but decided to keep quiet for now.

Harry followed Hagrid out onto the rock. The sky was quite clear now and the sea gleamed in the sunlight. The boat Uncle Vernon had hired was still there, with a lot of water in the bottom after the storm.

"How did you get here?" Harry asked looking around for another boat.

"Flew," said Hagrid.

"I didn't know you knew how to ride a broomstick, Hagrid," Sirius said.

"I don' kno', musta been a Thestral," said Hagrid.

"Flew?"

"Yeah- but we'll go back in this. Not s'pposed ter use magic now I've got yeh."

Professor McGonagall gave the Marauders a stern look when they looked like they were about to asked Hagrid why.

They settled down in the boat, Harry still staring at Hagrid, trying to imagine him flying.

"Seems a shame ter row, though," said Hagrid, giving Harry another of his sideways looks. "If I was ter- er- speed things up a big, would yeh mind not mentionin' it at Hogwarts?"

"Of course not," said Harry, eager to see more magic. Hagrid pulled out the pink umbrella again, tapped it twice on the side of the boat, and they sped off toward land.

"Hagrid, did you just want to show Harry some magic?" Lily asked.

"Migh' o'," Hagrid shrugged.

"That is so sweet, thank you, Hagrid," Lily beamed up at him making Hagrid blush slightly, waving her off.

"Why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts?" Harry asked.

"Spells- enchantments," said Hagrid, unfolding his newspaper as he spoke. "They say there's dragons guardin' the high security vaults.

"It's true," Leo beamed.

"Wait, seriously?" Peter asked, ignoring Sirius's grin.

"Yep," Leo smirked, sharing a look with his friends. "Saw it myself. It was gorgeous!"

And then yeh gotta find yer way- Gringotts is hundreds of miles under London, see. Deep under the underground. Yeh'd die of hunger tryin' ter get out, even if yeh did managed to get yer hands on summat."

Harry sat and thought about this while Hagrid read his newspaper, the Daily Prophet. Harry had learned from Uncle Vernon that people liked to be left alone while they did this, but it was very difficult, he'd never had so many questions in his life.

"Wouldn' mind yeh askin' questions," Hagrid assured Harry.

Harry grinned up at him.

"Ministry o' Magic messin' things up as usual." Hagrid muttered, turning the page.

"There's a Ministry of Magic?" Harry sked before he could stop himself.

"Course," said Hagrid. "They wanted Dumbledore fer Minister, o' course, but he'd never leave Hogwarts, so old Cornelius Fudge got the job. Bungler if ever there was one. So, he pelts Dumbledore with owls every morning, askin' fer advice."

"Fudge is Minster of Magic?" James asked stunned.

"He's completely useless," Sirius added.

"But what does a Ministry of Magic do?"

"Well, their main job is to keep it from the muggles that there's still witches an' wizards up an' down the country."

"Why?"

"Why? Blimey, Harry, everyone'd be wantin' magic solutions to their problems. Nah, we're best left alone."

At this moment the boat bumped gently into the harbour wall. Hagrid folded up his newspaper and they clambered up the stone steps on to the street.

Passers-by stared a lot at Hagrid as they walked through the little town to the station. Harry couldn't blame them. Not only was Hagrid twice as tall as anyone else, he kept pointing at perfectly ordinary things like parking meters and saying loudly, "See that, Harry? Things these muggles dream up, eh?"

"What are parking meters?" Regulus asked.

"It's something you have to put money in to park your car somewhere," Hermione answered.

"Kind of stupid you have to pay to park somewhere, though," Lily added.

"Hagrid," said Harry, panting a bit as he ran to keep up, "did you say there are dragons at Gringotts?"

"Well, so they say," said Hagrid. "Crikey, I'd like a dragon."

"I would love one," Fawn sighed dreamily.

"It would be so cool!" gushed Leo, sharing a wide smile with his mum.

"You'd like one?"

"Wanted one ever since I was a kid- here we go."

They had reached the station. There was a train to London in five minutes' time. Hagrid, who didn't understand 'muggle money', as he called it, gave the notes to Harry so he could buy their tickets.

"Muggle money is confusin' to meh," Hagrid admitted.

"It can be confusing," Sirius admitted.

People stared more than ever on the train. Hagrid took up two seats and sat knitting what looked like a canary-yellow circus tent.

"What are you knitting that for, Hagrid?" Remus asked curiously.

"Not sure, could be a creature, meh pumpkins or just a blanket," said Hagrid.

"Still got yer letter, Harry," he asked as he counted stitches.

Harry took the parchment envelope out of his pocket.

"Good," said Hagrid. "There's a list there of everything yeh need."

Harry unfolded a second piece of paper he hadn't noticed the night before and read.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

Three sets of plain work robes (black)

One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags

SET BOOKS

All students should have a cope 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 Waffing

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts 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 of glass crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set of brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR cat OR toad

PARNETS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIROWN BROOMSTICKS

"They still have that rule," James whined. He wanted Harry to play Quidditch and hoped that they would have gotten rid of the rule where first years weren't allowed broomsticks.

"Can we buy all this in London?" Harry wondered aloud.

"If yeh know where to go," said Hagrid.

"Loving the mystery vibe, Hagrid," Leo joked making Hagrid chuckle at him.

Harry had never been to London before. Although Hagrid seemed to know where he was going, he was obviously not used to getting there in an ordinary way. He got stuck in the ticket barrier on the Underground, and complained loudly that the seats were too small and the trains too slow.

"I don't know how the muggles manage without magic," he said as they climbed a broke-down escalator that led up to a bustling road lined with shops.

"Living with magic for so long can really make people lazy," Andromeda pointed out.

Hagrid was so huge that he parted the crowd easily; all Harry had to do was keep close behind him. They passed book shops and music stores, hamburger restaurants and cinemas, but nowhere that looked as if it could sell you a magic wand. This was just an ordinary street full of ordinary people. Could there really be piles of wizard gold buried miles beneath them? Were there really shops that sold spell books and broomsticks? Might this not all be some huge joke that the Dursleys had cooked up? If Harry hadn't known that the Dursleys had no sense of humour, he might have thought so; yet somehow, even though everything Hagrid had told him so far was unbelievable, Harry couldn't help trusting him.

"You're a very trustworthy person, Hagrid," Harry admitted, almost everyone agreeing with him, making Hagrid blush again.

"This is it," said Hagrid, coming to a halt, "the Leaky Cauldron. It's a famous place."

It was a tiny, grubby-looking pub. If Hagrid hadn't pointed it out, Harry wouldn't have noticed it was there. The people hurrying by didn't glance at it. Their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the record shop on the other as if they couldn't see the Leaky Cauldron at all. In fact, Harry had the most peculiar feeling that only he and Hagrid could see it. Before he could mention this, Hagrid had steered him inside.

"It's a muggle repelling charm," Hermione explained.

For a famous place, it was very dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut.

James and Sirius burst out laughing.

"Why does that describe Tom perfectly?" James laughed.

"I'm never going to look at Tom the same now, all I'll be thinking about is a toothless walnut," Sirius wheezed.

The two took a couple minutes to settle down and get their breath back.

The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in. Everyone seemed to know Hagrid; they waved and smiled at him, and the bartender reached for a glass, saying, "The usually, Hagrid?"

"Can't, Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business," said Hagrid, clapping his great hand on Harry's shoulder and making Harry's knees buckle.

Harry groaned loudly, everyone looked at him confused, even his friends.

"I hate this bit," Harry muttered, gesturing for James to continue reading before anyone could ask him why.

"Good lord," said the bartender, peering at Harry, "is this- can this be-?"

The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent.

"Bless my soul," whispered the old bartender, "Harry Potter… what an honour."

"That's a little creepy…" Ron grimaced. "How did he even know it was you?"

"Probably my scar," Harry shrugged.

He hurried out from behind the bar, rushed toward Harry and seized his hand, tears in his eyes.

"Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back."

Harry didn't know what to say. Everyone was looking at him. The old woman who the pipe was puffing it without realizing it had gone out. Hagrid was beaming.

Then there was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment, Harry found himself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.

"We figured you'd be famous but this is a bit excessive," Lily said looking uncomfortable with the idea the idea that everyone knew who her son was for something he did when he was only a year old.

"Doris Crockford, Mr Potter, can't believe I'm meeting you at last."

"So proud, Mr Potter, I'm just so proud."

"Always wanted to shake your hand- I'm all of a flutter."

"Delighted, Mr Potter, just can't tell you, Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle."

Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes at the mention of Dedalus Diggle.

"Are they even going to let you breath?" asked a frowning James.

"If they could, I'm sure they'd want to breath for me," said Harry with furrowed brows.

Snape snarled at Potter and his son. Of course, Potter's son would have all the attention on him. Snape bet Potter's son loved it but didn't admit it so everyone would be sympathetic towards him.

"I've seen you before!" said Harry, as Dedalus Diggle's top hat fell off in his excitement. "You bowed to me once in a shop."

"He remembers!" cried Dedalus Diggle, looking around at everyone. "Did you hear that? He remembers me!" Harry shook hands again and again- Doris Crockford kept coming back for more.

A pale young man made his way forward, very nervously. One of his eyes was twitching.

"Professor Quirrell!" said Hagrid. "Harry, Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts."

"Quirrell?" Remus asked. "As in Quirinus Quirrell? From Ravenclaw?"

Harry and his friends all exchanged confused looks before looking back at Remus.

"We have no idea, we never knew his first name," said Hermione.

"P-P-Potter," stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping Harry's hand, "c-can't t-tell you how p-please I am to meet you."

"It must not be him, he doesn't have a stutter," said Remus.

"What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?"

"D-Defence Against the D-D-Dark Arts," mutter Professor Quirrell, as though he'd rather not think about it. "N-Not that you n-need it, eh P-P-Potter?" he laughed nervously. "You'll be g-getting all your equipment, I supposed? I've g-got top-pick up a new b-book on vampires, .m-myself." He looked terrified at the very thought.

"Seems a bit nervous to be a DADA teacher, doesn't he?" Peter asked rhetorically.

But the others wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Harry to himself. It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all. At last, Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble.

"Must get on- lots ter buy. Come on, Harry."

Doris Crockford shook Harry's hand one last time, and Hagrid led them through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a trach can and a few weeds.

Hagrid grinned at Harry.

"Told yeh, didn't I? told yeh you was famous. Even Professor Quirrell was tremblin' ter meet yeh- mind you, he's usually tremblin'."

"Doubt he'd be a very good teacher," Narcissa commented. Everyone murmured their agreements.

"Is he always that nervous?"

"Oh, yeah. Poor bloke. Brilliant mind. He was fine while he was studyin' outta books but then he took a year off ter get some firsthand experience… They say he met vampires in the Black Forest, and there was a nasty bit o' trouble with a hag- never been the same since. Scared of the students, scared of his own subject now, where's me umbrella?"

"It might be better if he wasn't a teacher then?" James frowned.

Vampires? Hags? Harry's head was swimming. Hagrid, meanwhile, was counting bricks in the wall above the trach can.

"Three up… two across,' he muttered. "Right, stand back, Harry."

He tapped the wall three times with the point of his umbrella.

"I love doing that," Leo grinned.

"I do, too," said Fawn, sharing a smile with her future son.

The brick he touched quivered- it wriggled- in the middle, a small hole appeared- it grew wider and wider- a second later they were facing an archway large enough even for Hagrid, an archway onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.

"Welcome," said Hagrid, "to Diagon Alley."

"You're finally at Diagon Alley!" Lily beamed. "I can remember my first time going, it was amazing."

He grinned at Harry's amazement. They stepped through the archway. Harry looked quickly over his shoulder and saw the archway shrink instantly back into solid wall.

The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldrons outside the nearest shop. Cauldrons- All Sizes- Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver- Self-Stirring- Collapsible, said a sign hanging over them.

"Yeah, you'll be needin' one," said Hagrid, "but we gotta get yer money first."

Harry wished he had about eight more eyes. He turned his head in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at one: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping.

"I was the same way," Lily said, smiling over at Harry.

A plump woman outside an Apothecary was shaking her head as they passed, saying, "Dragon liver, seventeen Sickles an ounce, they're mad…"

A low, soft hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying Eeylops Owl Emporium- Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy. Several boys of about Harry's age had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it. "Look," Harry heard one of them say, "the new Nimbus Two Thousand- fastest ever- "

Every Quidditch player leaned forward at the mention of the broom, all of them excited to know more about it but were disappointed when James continued reading.

There were shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments Harry had never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels' eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the mood…

"Gringotts," said Hagrid.

They had reached a snowy white building that towered over the other little shops. Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was-

"Yeah, that's a goblin," said Hagrid quietly as they walked up the white stone steps towards him. The goblin was about a head shorter than Harry. He had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and, Harry noticed, very long fingers and feet. He bowed as they walked inside. Now they were facing a second pair of doors, silver this time, with words engraved upon them:

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.

"That warning has always made me nervous," admitted Fawn.

"It's doing it's job then, love," Sirius winked.

"Like I said, yeh'd be mad ter try an' rob it," said Hagrid.

A pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors and they were in a vast marble hall. About a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind a long counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass scales, examining precious stones through eyeglasses. There were too many doors to count leading off the hall, and yet more goblins were showing people in and out of these. Hagrid and Harry made for the counter.

"Morning," said Hagrid to a free goblin. "We've come ter take some money outta Mr Harry Potter's safe."

"You have his key, Sir?"

"Got it here somewhere," said Hagrid, and he started emptying his pockets onto the counter, scattering a handful of mouldy dog biscuits over the goblins book of numbers. The goblin wrinkled his nose. Harry watched the goblin on their right weighing a pile of rubies as big as glowing coals.

"Imagine that on an engagement ring," whispered Leo, pretending to have a very heavy weight on his finger. Harry snorted to himself but nudged his boyfriend to pay attention.

"Got it," said Hagrid at last, holding up a tiny golden key.

The goblin looked at it closely.

"That seems to be in order."

"An' I've also got a letter here from Professor Dumbledore," said Hagrid importantly, throwing out his chest. "It's about the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen."

"What is vault seven hundred and thirteen?" James and Sirius asked instantly.

"You'll see," sang Leo, smirking at the two's disappointed faces.

The goblin read the letter carefully.

"Very well," he said handing it back to Hagrid, "I will have someone take you down to both vaults. Griphook!"

Harry shared a grimace with his friends when he was sure no one was looking at them.

Griphook was yet another goblin. Once Hagrid had crammed all the dog biscuits back inside his pockets, he and Harry followed Griphook toward one of the doors leading off the hall.

"What's the You-Know-What in vault seven hundred and thirteen?" Harry asked.

James let out a loud laugh. "You're as curious as me," he said proudly as Harry beamed at him.

"Can't tell yeh that," said Hagrid mysteriously. "Very secret. Hogwarts business. Dumbledore's trusted me. More'n my jobs worth ter tell yeh that."

"That just makes me want to know even more," Sirius whined.

Griphook held the door open for them. Harry, who had expected more marble, was surprised. They were in a narrow stone passageway lit with flaming torches. It sloped steeply downward and there were little railway tracks on the floor. Griphook whistled and a small cart came hurtling up the tracks towards them. They climbed in- Hagrid with some difficulty- and were off.

"Those cart rides are so fun!" said Regulus.

A smirk was shared between the two Black brothers, their mother hated the carts at Gringotts so the brothers loved them.

At first, they just hurtled through a maze of twisting passages. Harry tried to remember, left, right, right, left, middle fork, right, left, but it was impossible. The rattling cart seemed to know its own way, because Griphook wasn't steering.

Harry's eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, but he kept them wide open. Once, he thought he saw a burst of fire at the end of a passage and twisted around to see if it was a dragon, but too late- they plunged even deeper, passing an underground lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites grew from the ceiling and floor.

"I never know," Harry called to Hagrid over the noise of the cart, "what's the difference between stalagmite and stalactite?"

"Stalagmites got an 'm' in it," said Hagrid, "An' don' ask me questions just now, I think I'm gonna be sick."

"Those carts always make me feel sick," Hagrid grimaced.

He did look very green and when the cart stopped at last beside a small door in the passage wall, Hagrid got out and had to lean against the wall to stop his knees from trembling.

Griphook unlocked the door. A lot of green smoke came billowing out, and as it cleared, Harry gasped. Inside were mounds of gold coins. Columns of silver. Heaps of bronze knuts.

"All yours," smiled Hagrid.

"Told you, we'd leave everything for you," James smirked as everyone looked at the screen that displayed Harry's vault with shock. They all new that James was wealthy but they didn't realise just how wealthy.

All Harry's- it was incredible. The Dursleys couldn't have known about this or they'd have had it from him faster than blinking. How often had they complained how much Harry cost them to keep? And all the time there had been a small fortune belonging to him, buried deep under London.

"The Dursleys are never going to get their hands on your money!" Lily growled.

Hagrid helped Harry pile some of it into a bag.

"The gold ones are Galleons," he explained. "Seventeen silver Sickles to a galleon and twenty-nine knuts to a sickle, it's easy enough. Right, that should be enough fer a couple o' terms, we'll keep the rest safe for yeh." He tuned to Griphook. "Vault seven hundred and thirteen now, please, and can we go more slowly?"

"How long did it take for you to understand wizard money?" Remus asked amused, it didn't take him too long but everyone was different.

Leo let out a loud snort of laughter as Harry's face started to turn red.

"Leo," Harry whined before turning to Remus. "I was having trouble remembering how much everything was until third year when Leo made me learn it."

Leo gave Harry a wide, teasing smile but Harry just rolled his eyes at him.

"One speed only," said Griphook.

They were going even deeper now and gathering speed. The air became colder and colder as they hurtled round tight corners. They went rattling over an underground ravine, and Harry leaned over the side to try and see what was down at the dark bottom, but Hagrid groaned and pulled him back by the scruff of his neck.

The Marauders chuckled at how curious Harry was, it was adorable.

Vault seven hundred and thirteen had no keyhole.

"Those are the most heavily enchanted, more secure," Regulus commented.

"I wonder could be stored there," Narcissa mused.

"Stand back," said Griphook importantly. He stroked the door gently with one of his long fingers and it simply melted away.

"If anyone but a Gringotts goblin tried that, they'd be sucked through the door and trapped in there," said Griphook.

"How often do you check to see if anyone's inside?" Harry asked.

"About once every ten years," said Griphook with a rather nasty grin.

"I don't like the Goblins at Gringotts," Peter admitted.

Something really extraordinary had to be inside this top security vault, Harry was sure, and he leaned forward eagerly, expecting to see fabulous jewels at the very least- but as first he thought it was empty. Then he noticed a grubby little package wrapped in brown paper lying on the floor. Hagrid picked it up and tucked it deep inside his coat. Harry longed to know what it was, but knew better than to ask.

"I would have asked," Sirius grinned.

"Come on, back in this infernal cart, and don't talk to me on the way back, it's best if I keep me mouth shut," said Hagrid.

One wild cart ride later they stood blinking in the sunlight outside Gringotts. Harry didn't know where to run first now that he had a bag full of money. He didn't have to know how many galleons there were to a pound to know that he was holding more money than he'd had in his whole life- more money than even Dudley had ever had.

"Might as well get yet uniform," said Hagrid, nodding toward Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. "Listen, Harry, would yeh mind if I slipped off fer a pick-me-up in the Leaky Cauldron? I hate them Gringotts carts." He did still look a big sick, so Harry entered Madam Malkin's shop alone, feeling nervous.

"Sorry 'bout that," said Hagrid.

"Don't worry about, you really didn't look very good. I didn't mind," said Harry brightly.

Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve.

"Madam Malkin is one of the nicest show owners in Diagon Alley," said Ron. Madam Malkin was always really to him and his family, never judged them on what they could afford and always went out of her way to make sure all their robes always looked good, that is, when they could afford new robes.

"Hogwarts, dear?" she said, when Harry started to speak. "Got the lot here- another young man being fitted up just now, in fact."

In the back of the shop, a boy with a pale, pointed face was standing 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 right length.

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

"Yes," said Harry.

"Is that your first friend at Hogwarts?" Lily asked excited.

Harry exchanged befuddled looks with his friends. There is no way he was ever going to be friends with Malfoy.

"Not exactly…" Harry mumbled.

"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 I'll smuggle it in somehow."

"Oh Merlin, he's gonna be a Dudley 2.0, isn't he?" whined Sirius. He thought they were finally away from the Dursleys now they were going to have to deal with someone like them at Hogwarts.

"Who is he?" Andromeda asked.

"You'll find out in the next chapter I think," Harry said.

Harry was strongly reminded of Dudley.

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

"No," said Harry.

"Play Quidditch at all?"

"No," Harry said again, wondering what on earth Quidditch could be.

James gasp dramatically, a hand clutching his chest as if he was in pain. "My own son not knowing what Quidditch is. I might just die of shame!"

Harry snorted at his father's dramatics before turning to Leo and said loudly, "Imagine what he'll be like when he finds out I don't even like Quidditch."

James let out another gasp that sounded like it was choked off. Looking over Harry saw that his father looked someone had just told him someone had died.

Leo chuckled when Harry pointed it out ot him.

"I do- 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?"

"No," said Harry, feeling more stupid by the minute.

"You're not stupid, no one really knows what house they're in until they get sorted," said Lily reassuringly.

"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family have been- imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

"There is nothing wrong with being a Hufflepuff!" Leo snapped, defending his cousin's house.

"Are you a Hufflepuff?" Fawn asked excitedly.

Sirius sat up straighter, he didn't really care what house his son was in, even Slytherin, his brother and cousins were in Slytherin and they weren't bad so he knew that some Slytherin's could be good.

"You'll had to wait and see," Leo winked.

"Mmm," said Harry, wishing he could say something a bit more interesting.

"I say, look at that man!" said the boy suddenly, nodding toward the front window. Hagrid was standing there, grinning at Harry and pointing at two large ice creams to show he couldn't come in.

"Aw Hagrid, that's so kind of you," gushed Lily and Fawn making Hagrid blush again.

"That's Hagrid," said Harry, pleased to know something the boy didn't. "He works at Hogwarts."

"Oh," said the boy, "I've heard of him. He's a sort of servant, isn't he?"

"Don't talk about Hagrid like that, you little ferret!" snarled Leo.

"Whose kid is that?" Remus asked, feeling offended on Hagrid's behalf. The half giant was one of the kindest people he knew and he didn't deserve to be talked about like that.

"He's the gamekeeper," said Harry. He was liking the boy less and less every second.

"You and me both, Prongslet," huffed Sirius.

"Yes, exactly. I heard he's a sort of savage- lives in a hut on the school grounds and every now and then he gets drunk, tried to do magic, and ends up setting fire to his bed."

Everyone could tell that Hagrid was getting embarrassed and they disliked this new boy more and more every time he opened his mouth.

"I think he'd brilliant," said Harry coldly.

Hagrid beamed down at Harry who grinned up at him.

"Do you?" said the boy, with a slight sneer. "Why is he with you? Where are your parents?"

"They're dead," said Harry shortly. He didn't feel must like going into the matter with this boy.

"Oh, sorry," said the other, not sounding sorry at all. "But they were our kind, weren't they?"

"Oh, here we go, he's a spoiled little pureblood who believes all that blood supremacy nonsense," James rolled his eyes.

"I bet he's a Malfoy," Sirius said with a scowl.

"Wait, if he is a Malfoy that would make him your son, Cissy," said Regulus. "You're engaged to Lucius Malfoy."

Narcissa had a look of horror painted on her face. She couldn't believe that she would raise such a horrible child and silently hoped that the boy wasn't actually her son.

"They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean."

"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never even heard of Hogwarts until they get the letter, imagine. I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your surname, anyway?"

"It would be disgusting if magic was kept in only old wizarding families," said Hermione. "Not only would magic completely die out but everyone would be related and that is just gross."

But before Harry could answer, Madam Malkin said, "That's you done, my dear," and Harry, not sorry for an excuse to stop talking to the boy, hopped down from the footstool.

"We'll, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose," said the drawling boy.

"Hopefully not," said Lily, not liking the boy at all.

Harry was rather quiet as he ate the ice cream Hagrid bought him (Chocolate and raspberry with chopped nuts).

"What's up?" said Hagrid.

"Nothing," Harry lied. They stopped to buy parchment and quills. Harry cheered up a bit when he found a bottle of ink that changed colour as you wrote. When they had left the shop, he said, "Hagrid, what's Quidditch?"

"Blimey, Harry, I keep forgettin' how little yeh know- no knowin' about Quidditch!"

"Don't make me feel worse," said Harry. He told Hagrid about the pale boy in Madam Malkin's.

"-and he said people from muggle families shouldn't even be allowed in."

"Yer not from a muggle family. If he'd known who yeh were- he's grown up knowin' yer name if his parents are wizardin' folk. You saw what everyone in the Leaky Cauldron was like when they saw yeh. Anyway, what does he know about it, some o' the best I ever saw were the only ones with magic in 'em in a long line o' muggles- look at yeh mum! Look what she had fer a sister!"

"Thank you, Hagrid," said Lily. She was so happy that Hagrid was the one to talk Harry to Diagon Alley, he was just the friend Harry needed at Hogwarts.

"S'nothin'," Hagrid said waving her thanks away.

"So, what is Quidditch?"

"It's our sport. Wizard sport. It's like- like soccer in the muggle world- everyone follows Quidditch- played up in the air on broomsticks and there's four balls- sorta hard ter explain the rules."

"And what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff?"

"School houses. There's four. Everyone says Hufflepuff are lot o' duffers, but- "

"I bet I'm in Hufflepuff," said Harry gloomily.

"Better Hufflepuff than Slytherin," said Hagrid darkly. "There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one."

"Slytherins are just the most common to turn to the dark side, there are plenty of people from different houses that turned dark," said Leo, not looking over at Peter knowing that he would just glare at the boy, who at the moment is innocent.

"Vol-, sorry- You-Know-Who was at Hogwarts?"

"Years an' years ago," said Hagrid.

They bought Harry's school books in a shop called Flourish and Blotts where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all. Even Dudley, who never read anything, would have been wild to get his hands on some of these. Hagrid almost had to drag Harry away from Curse and Counter curses (Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revengers: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying and Much, Much More) by Professor Vinsictus Viridian.

"I was trying to find out to curse Dudley."

Everyone chuckled as Harry smiled sheepishly at everyone.

"I'm not sayin' that's not a good idea, but yer not ter use magic in the muggle world expect in very special circumstances," said Hagrid. "An' anyway, yeh couldn't work any of them curses yet, yeh'll need t a lot more study before yeh get ter that level."

Hagrid wouldn't let Harry but a solid gold cauldron, either (It says pewter on yer list'), but they got a nice set of scales for weighing potion ingredients and a collapsible brass telescope.

Snape rolled his eyes, of course Potter's kid would want a solid gold cauldron, the spoiled brat.

Then they visited the Apothecary, which was fascination enough to make up for its horrible smell, a mixture of bad eggs and rotted cabbages. Barrels of slimy stuff stood on the floor; jars of herbs, dried roots, and bright powders lined the walls; bundles of feathers, strings of fangs, and snarled claws hung from the ceiling. While Hagrid asked the man behind the counter for a supply of basic potion ingredients for Harry, Harry examined silver unicorn horns at twenty-one galleons each and minuscule, glittery-black beetle eyes (five knuts a scope).

Outside the Apothecary, Hagrid checked Harry's list again.

"Just yer wand left- A yeah, an' I still haven't got yeh a birthday present."

"You really didn't need to get me anything," said Harry, smiling widely at Hagrid.

"Nonsense," was all Hagrid said with a beaming smile.

Harry felt himself go red.

"You don't have to-"

"I know I don't have to. Tell yeh what, I'll get yer animal. Not a toad, toads went outta fashion years ago, yeh'd be laughed at- an' I don't like cats, they made me sneeze. I'll get yer an owl. All the kids want owls, they're dead useful, carry yer mail an' everythin'."

Twenty minutes later, they left Eeylops Owl Emporium, which had been dark and full of rustling and flickering, jewel-bright eyes. Harry now carried a large cage that held a beautiful snowy owl, fast asleep with her head under her win. He couldn't stop stammering his thanks, sound like Professor Quirrell.

Harry smiled sadly at the thought of his owl, Hedwig, who had sacrificed herself to protect him in the war. Leo threaded his fingers through Harry's and gave his hand a comforting squeeze, he knew that Harry was missing Hedwig.

"Don' mention it," said Hagrid gruffly. "Don' expect you've had a lotta presents from them Dursleys. Just Ollivanders left now- only place fer wands, Ollivanders, and yeah gotta have the best wand."

"I can't wait to see what kind of wand you get!" squealed Lily.

A magic wand… this was what Harry had been really looking forward to.

The last shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letter over the door read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window.

A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single, spindly chair that Hagrid sat on to wait. Harry felt strangely as though he had entered a very strict library; he swallowed a lot of new questions that had just occurred to him and looked instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling. For some reason, the back of his neck prickled. The very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic.

"Ollivanders always made me feel uncomfortable," said Leo with a slight shiver.

"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. Harry jumped. Hagrid must have jumped, too, because there was a loud crunching noise and he got quickly off the spindly chair.

An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.

"Hello," said Harry awkwardly.

"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 herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inch long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."

"He remembers your wand, Lily," James grinned.

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 want. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favoured it- it's really the want that chooses the wizard, of course."

"He remembers your too, James!" Lily gushed, happy that the amazing wand maker remembered them.

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 that's where…"

Mr Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead with a long, white finger.

"You don't just touch people without permission," Leo frowned. He never liked Mr Ollivander, he seemed to always know way too much for a man that only made wands and never had any free time.

"I'm sorry to say I sold the want 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 into the world to do…"

He shook his head and then, to Harry's relief, spotted Hagrid.

"Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to see you again… Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy, wasn't it?"

"It was, sir, yes," said Hagrid.

"Good wand, that one. But I suppose they snapped it in half when you got expelled?" said Mr Ollivander, suddenly stern.

"Er- yes, they did, yes," said Hagrid, shuffling his feet. "I've still got the pieces, though," he added brightly.

"But you don't use them?" said Mr Ollivander sharply.

"Oh, no, sir," said Hagrid quickly. Harry noticed he gripped his pink umbrella very tightly as he spoke.

"You keep the pieces of your wand inside your umbrella?" Remus asked shocked. Hagrid fidgeted uncertainly before Remus continued. "That is genius!" Remus said in awe.

"Hmmm," said Mr Ollivander, giving Hagrid a piercing look. "Well, now-Mr Potter. Let me see." He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"

"Er- well, I'm right-handed," said Harry

"Hold out your arm. That's it." He measured Harry from Shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round the head. As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand had a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tails, 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 suddenly realized that the tape measure, which was measuring between his nostrils, was doing this on its own. Mr Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.

"Why does it measure so much? What's the point?" Andromeda asked looking at Professor McGonagall.

"I'm afraid I can't answer that Miss Black, wand making is a very precious branch of magic and can be very difficult to understand," Professor McGonagall answered.

"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. Nice inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."

Harry took the wand and (feeling foolish) waved it around a bit, but Mr Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once.

"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. quite whippy. Try- "

Harry tried- but he had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr Ollivander.

"No, no- 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 waiting for. 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 seemed to become.

"He loves when you have to try multiple wands," said Fawn. "I remember when I first got my wand that it too about 20 different wands before we found the right one."

"I had the same thing, but it was only 16 before I found mine. Mr Ollivander seemed a little disappointed that I found it," Leo said.

"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere- I wonder, now- yeah, 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 about his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, through dancing spots of light on to the walls. Hagrid whooped and clapped and Mr Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well… how curious…. How very curious…."

"Harry, you found your wand!" Lily said proudly. James grinned just as proud at Harry over Lily's head.

He put Harry's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, 'Curious… curious…'

"Sorry," said Harry, "But what's curious?"

Mr Ollivander fixed Harry with his pale stare.

"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr Potter. Every single 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."

"That's too much of a concupiscence, don't you think?" Peter asked.

"That is weird, you wouldn't think that Harry's wand would be the opposite of Voldemort's," Remus mused.

Harry swallowed.

"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…. Afterall He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Name did great things- terrible, yes, but great."

"Why does he seem excited about that?" Ginny asked with a frown. Like Leo, she didn't really like Mr Ollivander either.

Harry shivered. He wasn't sure he liked Mr Ollivander too much. He paid seven gold galleons for his wand, and Mr Ollivander bowed them from his shop, but as Harry was walking through the door he bumped into another boy, who was entering Ollivanders.

"Wait, is this?" Leo asked looked at Harry excitedly.

"I think it is," Harry said, grinning at his boyfriend.

"What is it?" Sirius asked curiously.

James laughed, "You'll find out in a second."

Harry had never seen eyes so blue before, the boy's eyes weren't the only thing that caught Harry's attention, the boy's hair was white as a freshly fallen snow, it looked as soft as freshly fallen snow too.

"Is that you, Leo?" Hermione asked, smiling at Harry's description of Leo.

"You think my hair looked like snow?" Leo asked with a slight blush.

Harry blushed brightly but nodded ignoring all the girls gushing over how adorable they were. Leo leaned in a gave Harry a short but loving kiss.

"Well, your hair reminds me of a clear night sky," he whispers in Harry's ear so no one could hear him. But everyone saw Harry blushing brighter as it travelled to his ears and down his neck.

"Sorry," said the boy, giving Harry a mischievous grin. "Didn't see you there."

Harry stuttered his apologise to the boy when a young woman came up to the white-haired boy and patted his shoulder, "Watcher doing out here, Leo? Let's go get your wand." The only thing Harry noticed about the woman before she and the boy, Leo, went into Ollivanders was that she had bright bubble gum pink hair. Harry pushed the boy and woman to the back of his mind as he followed Hagrid.

"Who was that with you, Leo?" Fawn asked her son.

"That was Tonks, she's my cousin and the daughter of Aunt Andy and Uncle Ted. Her names actually Nymphadora Tonks but she likes to be called Tonks," explained Leo.

"Aunt Andy, do you mean me?" Andromeda asked, shocked that Leo knew her enough to call her aunt and to go get school supplies with her future daughter.

"Yeah, you and Uncle Ted raise me," Leo admitted.

"Wait, what? Why aren't Fawn and I raising you?" Sirius asked, frowning deeply.

"It'll all be explained, I promise. I'd rather not have to explain it just yet," said Leo, not making eye contact with anyone.

The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Harry and Hagrid made their way back down Diagon Alley, back through the wall, back through the Leaky Cauldron, now empty. Harry didn't speak at all as they walked down the road; he didn't even notice how much people were gawking at them on the Underground, laden as they were with all their funny-shaped packages, with the snowy owl asleep in its cage on Harry's lap. Up another escalator, out into Paddington station; Harry only realized where they were when Hagrid tapped him on the shoulder.

"Got time fer a bite to eat before yer train leave," he said.

He bought Harry a hamburger and they sat down on plastic seats to eat them. Harry kept looking around. Everything looked so strange, somehow.

"You all right, Harry? Yer very quiet," said Hagrid.

Harry wasn't sure he could explain. He'd just had the best birthday of his life- and yet- he chewed his hamburger, trying to fine the words.

"Everyone thinks I'm special," he said at last. "All those people in the Leaky Cauldron, Professor Quirrell, Mr Ollivander… but I don't know anything about magic at all. How can they expect great things? I'm famous and I can't even remember what I'm famous for. I don't know what happened when Vol- sorry- I mean the night my parents died."

"Oh, Harry," Lily sighed sadly. She hated that this was the life that her son had to live. She was happy they reading the books because she was going to do whatever it took to give her son the life he deserves.

Hagrid learned across the table. Behind the wild beard and eyebrows, he wore a very kind smile

"Don' you worry, Harry. You'll learn fast enough. Everyone starts at the beginning at Hogwarts, you'll be just fine, just be yerself. I know it's hard. Yeh've been singled out, an' that's always hard. But yeh'll have a great time at Hogwarts- I did- still do, 'smatter of fact."

"That really settled my nervous, actually. Thank you for that, Hagrid, I should have thanked you then but I am now," said Harry.

"O' course," Hagrid smiled.

Hagrid helped Harry on to the train that would take him back to the Dursleys, then handed him an envelope.

"Yer ticket fer Hogwarts," he said. "First o's September- King's Cross- it's all on yer ticket. Any problems with the Dursleys, send me a letter with yer owl, she'll know where to find me… See yeh soon, Harry."

The train pulled out of the station. Harry wanted to watch Hagrid until he was out of sight; he rose in his seat and pressed his nose against the window, but he blinked and Hagrid had gone.

"That's chapter 5 finished, who wants to read next?" James asked looking around at everyone.

"I will," Peter volunteered. James handed the book to him, excited to know what was going to happen next in his son's life.

"Chapter 6 Platform Nine and Three Quarters…" Peter started.

"You're finally going to Hogwarts!" James cheered with the rest of his friends.