Chapter 3: Of Spirits and Diagon Alley
Dumbledore knew something had gone wrong at Grimmauld's Place. He could feel it, almost as soon as he had materialised in the home that the darkest kind of magic had been performed here. Having been called by Sirius about Harry's sudden recovery, he brought a rare magical artefact he had borrowed from Grindelwald's collection to investigate Harry's status. But he didn't need the artefact to tell him that someone—maybe even the boy himself had been a part of some form of ritualistic magic.
Sirius met him at the door. He said, "I had to make sure before I could tell them." Dumbledore noted the man's hostile tone and frowned slightly, perhaps this had all been brought about after their meeting. The Black Family were notorious hoarders in magically artefacts, many of which belonged to infamous Dark Magi. 'No. Sirius is incapable of using such magic.' Dumbledore assured himself, settling his paranoia down for a moment.
"Hmm…A wise choice, Sirius. They have enough to worry about as it is." Sirius didn't acknowledge his words as he guided them through the narrow corridors of the house, Dumbledore found Harry sitting on a chair, rocking it back and forth as Andromeda Tonks was in the middle of her diagnostic testing. The Medi-Witch seemed almost confounded by the results, mumbling to herself as a magic pen floated beside her jotting down all of her findings.
"Andi—Dumbledore is here to see you," Sirius announced, snapping her and Harry's attention towards them.
"You came just in time, Professor. I'm afraid Harry's prognosis remains as puzzling as ever, I can't for the life of me figure it out."
Dumbledore merely nodded, moving gracefully across the room towards the curious child. "I believe we haven't had the pleasure to officially meet, Harry. I have been working with your parents to help find a cure for you." Harry simply chose to remain silent, and Dumbledore awkwardly continued, "If you would place your hand on the glass for me."
Harry looked at the object cautiously, "What does it do?" The glass artefact appeared to be designed as a see-through prism that contained a sphere of pulsing black energy within it. Harry could tell that the energy was magic, but it felt unpure as if it had been corrupted or converted into something parasitic.
"It's a rare magical artefact created specifically for people like you, I borrowed it from an old friend of mine."
"Is your friend like me?" Harry muttered softly, reaching out and grasping the prism from Dumbledore's palm. The reaction occurred instantly; he almost dropped the object as the black liquid-like energy careened straight into the glass case holding it. Dumbledore quickly took it from him, and Harry could tell that he wasn't all that pleased with the outcome.
"I'm afraid Andromeda's assessment is quite accurate. Harry's condition may have stalled for the moment, but it is still present." Dumbledore gave Harry a sympathetic glance but to his surprise, the boy seemed to be completely unaffected by his words.
Harry shrugged, "I did tell them that, I likely just woke up on the right side of the bed."
Sirius sighed at Harry's cynical outlook, "You were running, Harry. When was the last time you could do that without fainting—" Harry scrunched his eyes as he tried to recall such a time but no such memory came to the forefront of his mind. Sirius grinned, "See. This is a good thing, you can go home, maybe even play some quidditch."
Andromeda glared at her cousin, "If I hear that you or James put Harry on a broom, you'll both end up as permanent residents in my ward. Medical oath be damned."
"I'm sure it was all in jest, Andromeda." Dumbledore summoned Fawkes, the phoenix brightly materialized on his shoulder. It looked at Harry for a moment before it let out a pleasant wail, Dumbledore narrowed his eyes at him as he contemplated what Fawkes had told him. "Tell me, my boy. What do you know about Phoenix's?" He asked.
"Mother said they are gentle creatures, immortal and unyielding by nature. Unlike the closely related Thunderbird who is temperamental and possess the ability to cause natural disasters on its own."
Dumbledore appeared impressed by Harry's knowledge of magical creatures, "Quite right, Harry but a Phoenix's worth can be derived not just from their intrinsic properties like their tears but also their connection to magic itself."
'He knows.' A whisper echoed through his mind, Harry couldn't get the woman out of his head, her memories would seep into his dream and her thoughts would often make their way into his mind during the day. It was disconcerting that he had effectively tied himself, soul and body, to a mad voodoo priestess that called herself Celeste. So ironic, Harry thought.
"—as a result of this, A phoenix can detect the use of abstract magic that many, include myself would be hard-pressed to sense." Dumbeldore finished and Harry was certain that the elder wizard was onto him or knew what he had done.
Celeste's mad laughter echoed throughout his mind; the woman was taking great pleasure in his predicament. 'I'm so going to find a way to kill you,' He thought harshly.
'I'm already dead, petit.' Celeste replied, 'All you did was simply transfer my spirit from one prison to another.' That was technically incorrect, at least before, she possessed complete autonomy of the plane but in this boy, she felt like she was constantly drowning, losing bits of herself as each day passed.
Sirius's accusation snapped Harry out of his stupor, "What are you saying, Professor. I can assure you no one in this home has used any dark magic."
Dumbledore's gaze hardened, "Perhaps you are correct, Sirius. But Fawkes has never lied, and I have my suspicions on good authority." He looked at Harry, a frown played upon his lips, "Where did you learn such magic?"
Harry calmed himself, "I…What are you talking about? The only magic I've ever done is this—" He extended his palms out in an outward fashion, a small rumbling echoed from the corner of the room as a dozen or so books rushed out from the bookcase and straight towards them.
Andromeda was stunned, "You can do wandless magic."
"It's not that complex, I'm sure a lot of kids can do it." Harry muttered, "I read somewhere that it is quite a common practice in Africa."
Dumbledore asked, "And where did you read that."
Harry's smirk never quite left his lips as one of the books spun in front of the headmaster, "I believe it is this one, Professor." And just to prove it, he willed the pages of the book to move until it reached the chapter in question. Dumbledore smiled genially, his eyes twinkled brightly as he stared at Harry, "And where did you learn how to do that." It was a rhetorical question, in that moment, he had chosen to push into Harry's mind. And like with Gellert, he wasn't met with a wall or even a complex shield, instead, he felt pressure as if he was drowning in the depths of the sea. There were thoughts, he could feel the whirlwind of emotions but they were so drowned out that he was unable to decipher them.
Harry's voice echoed throughout his mindscape, "You can't enter there…You cannot have my thoughts. They're MINE." Dumbledore was expelled with such force that the powerful wizard found himself stumbling when he had returned to his body. Harry hissed lowly, "Try that again…I dare you." And Dumbledore realised what he had felt within the boy's mind, a powerful craving, a hunger that was only comparable to a black hole.
He wondered what it was that Harry desired so much; did he want power or perhaps the knowledge to cure his condition or was he like Gellert and wished to conquer death itself. But both cases were a tad bit farfetched, he was aware of Harry's natural talent but he had shown nothing that would indicate that he was capable of accomplishing anything more advanced than channelling raw magic. Something that he was able to do before his seventh nameday.
Dumbledore straightened himself, "I apologize for that…I did not mean to pry, it's an impulsive habit of mine. I'm sure you can relate."
Harry nodded softly, it had been the first time that he had met a fellow mind reader and a powerful one at that. Dumbledore had breached his mind with ease, he was just unable to decipher anything as a result of the chaos that was his mental state.
Sirius asked cautiously, "Are you saying that Harry is a Natural Legilimens."
Dumbledore's smile widened, "That and so much more, Sirius." Fawkes cawed in agreement, "Harry is a rarity among us, the last person who possessed the same ability almost brought the muggle and wizarding world under his heel."
"Gellert Grindelwald." Harry murmured, "Some say that he is the greatest dark lord to walk the earth."
"Perhaps." Dumbledore said wistfully, "Gellert was brilliant and possessed a talent for the abstract that I was unable to replicate. Like you, I suppose."
There was no hiding from the fact that Dumbledore had seen right through Harry, he likely suspected and accurately deduced that Harry was the main culprit behind the ritual.
Sirius frowned, "Natural Legilimens aren't that rare, in fact, I am certain that both the Lestrange brothers were one."
"The Lestrange family have always been secretive, a lot of them are taught Occlumency at a young age. Rodolphus and Rabastan for all their faults possessed a great talent for mind magic, it was why he trusted them so much despite them being under my supervision."
Andromeda swallowed, her lips tightened in a stern frown. "We are in the company of the young, perhaps such tragic tales can be kept to a minimum."
Harry wondered what exactly they were speaking about, though he could tell from their mirroring reactions that it wasn't pleasant. He had a nagging feeling, however, that the Professor knew exactly what he was. An Esper. The Blu'dakorr had been created by one, and Celeste had been imprisoned by another, and now he knew that Gellert Grindelwald was also one.
Dumbledore stared at him for a while, Harry tried his best not to look into the man's eyes for fear that this time he might successfully enter his mind. A weary sigh escaped the old man's lips but he sensed the slightest intonation of relief, "I believe Harry can go home now, there is no need for him to visit St Mungos whilst he has stabilized."
Andromeda agreed, "I will liaison with Annabeth, and Lily to arrange monthly appointments." A frown marred her features as she spoke her thoughts on the matter, "But all of this wouldn't be necessary, if you weren't so paranoid, Professor. You-Know-Who has been dead for eight years, surely it is time for the Potters to come out of hiding."
Dumbledore stroked his long beard, silently contemplating Andromeda's words. "The order was betrayed by one of our own, I cannot in good faith recommend the Fidelius Charm to be lowered. Both Lily and James agreed on the matter, Jaime must be protected not just from those who wish to harm but also those who would willingly force him to indulge in his excesses."
Andromeda merely expressed her discontent before she disappeared in a whirl of magic and a soft crack. Harry looked curiously at the magic, watching it wisp around and contort itself into the small rift. He made a mental note of it, learning to teleport would serve him better than the magic that Walburga was teaching him at the moment.
"Harry, The Professor and I are going to head to the Library. Would you like for me to pick up a book for you?" Sirius asked, snapping him out of his reverie.
"One on Haitian Magical History would be nice." Sirius simply nodded, not questioning the odd subject matter or suspecting that he already had access to the Library. Walburga had persuaded Sirius to take his education seriously, though she had left her son blissfully unaware of his tutelage under her wing.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow in intrigue. "Interested in the Sevite are you, Harry."
"I read about them in one of my history books, they're an interesting group," Harry said, slow and even so as not to arouse any suspicion.
"That they are." Dumbledore smiled through his long white beard, his ease in the situation only served to further Harry's anxiety. "Why don't you come along with us, I'm sure you can find a few books to take home."
Harry nodded. His mouth was grim as he followed the two men through the long corridor and down into the basement where the library was located. Sirius warned him, "Once we are inside, don't touch anything."
Celeste sneered in his mind, 'So foolishly naïve, he still doesn't suspect you.'
'I prefer trusting.' Harry countered. The door creaked upon, and he immediately found himself shivering from the sudden burst of cold air. Dumbledore and Sirius immediately drew their wands, Fawkes flew into the room, illuminating it in a flash of golden flames.
"Stay behind me, Harry," Dumbledore ordered, the elder wizard twirled his wand, wordlessly casting a powerful revealing charm. There was a brief hum and then nothing. The room appeared the same as usual, yet all three of them were being subject to bone-chilling cold.
There was a brief shuffle and Harry saw a silvery jet poke out of from the ceiling and head straight towards him. He shouted, "Above you!"
Sirius and Dumbledore looked at the bare ceiling, unable to see the shadow that was rushing towards them. Fawkes flashed in front of his master, releasing a torrent of flames towards the unknown creature.
'There's more coming.' Celeste warned.
Sirius fired a spell into the air, the charm careened into the wall leaving a deep gash in the expensive tapestry. Dumbledore murmured, "I'm afraid physical charms are useless against such entities, Sirius."
"What are they?" Harry asked.
"Wriaths." Dumbledore answered, "Captured souls, disfigured as a result of their inability to pass onto the other side. They are unlike Ghosts in that we can't see them until they materialise from the Astral Plane…well all except you." He looked at Harry with an expectant gaze, "You will be my eyes and ears, Harry. I need you to tell me exactly where they are."
Harry nodded, somewhat excited that he had been delegated such an important task. He closed his eyes and allowed the familiar connection of magic to flow through him, his body was enshrouded in warmth and the world around him become unnervingly brighter.
He could see them.
Hear them.
"What do you see?" Dumbledore asked.
"They feel so cold and dead," Harry shivered, "They're everywhere, lurking in the shadows."
They whispered to him, laughing as they flew all around him in a giant swirl of darkness. "Marked by death, this one is." One said. Harry could feel their desire to consume him. "Join us." Another spoke and then another uttered those same words until the words blended together and sounded like a swarm of insects.
'Find the rift and plug it with your magic.' Celeste urged, 'Or there will be nothing stopping them from coming through.' Dozens had already made it through the barrier between both planes, though how they remained trapped in the room was a mystery to him.
Another wraith rushed towards him, Harry was too slow to dodge it but by focusing all of his magic, he was able to stop the skeletal hand inches away from his chest. A streak of bright light ripped through the air and collided into the wriath, Harry watched in fascination as the creature writhed, it's body hissed and popped, disappearing in a faint wisp of darkness.
Harry quickly turned around, this time anticipating their attacks. Two wraiths erupted out from the darkness behind him, Harry wildly lashed out his magic and they were rooted to the spot. Sirius reacted in kind, a whip of fire erupted from his wand and ripped through the air. Their screams echoed across the room as their forms were caught aflame.
This continued for a long while, and soon they were quickly becoming overwhelmed by the sheer number of twisted spirits. It seemed that for each one that they defeated, a dozen more would appear in their spot.
Harry caught a flicker of distortion in the middle of the room, "There." He shouted, "They are coming from there." He rushed towards the middle of the room, intent on closing the rift before it grew any larger.
"Wait!" Sirius called for his godson, he raised his wand and released a spell to stun him before he got himself killed. A swirling mass of darkness conjugated around Harry and deflected the spell straight back towards him. The red streak of magic struck Sirius in the chest, catching him by surprise and launching him into the wall.
Harry groaned in pain as he was grasped by hundreds of shadowy monstrosities, an impossible cold spread through his body, almost piercing into his very soul. Tendrils of darkness from under his feet, tangled and gripped at his legs, Harry scrambled to reach his for his wand.
Light, He thought, Light and Fire is their weakness. He somehow managed to draw his wand and say the most basic of fire charms. A burst of embers sprouted from his wand, but Harry gasped out the spell again despite the mind-numbing cold, "Dissilio Inflamari." Fire rippled through the air, burning every shadow that was around him. The Wraiths screamed, hissing out loudly as they either perished or retreated into the rift.
There was a large bang, the rift and Harry's magic was slowly collapsing into a critical mass. Dumbledore had no choice but to cast a spell to protect the room from the incoming explosion. Except such a thing never happened, instead, the critical mass flared a bright white before it slowly died down, fading away into the darkness.
Harry's eyes rolled back into his head, finally succumbing to the exhaustion and the cold. He uttered, "C-Close the—"
Dumbledore's soft and calm voice echoed clearly in his mind despite the ringing of his ears, "Rest now, Harry. You did well." The Professor looked at what remained of the rift, a small glowing ethereal gem of magic lay in the boy's hand.
"Fascinating." He mused as he looked at Harry, a rue smile danced on his lips, "You truly are just like him, aren't you?"
Three Years Later
"Harry! Get up, or I am going to take all your presents." Jaime shouted, bursting through his twin's bedroom door. He grinned at the sight of his brother sleeping soundly and decided to wake up with one of his signature pranks. Hanging a small bucket above Harry's head, he tipped it over and let the water spill out.
A lone green eye opened and the water froze inches above his head, "What are you doing?" Harry asked.
Jaime smirked mischievously, "Our letters came this morning—here." He passed the letter over to Harry who in a show of rare excitement forgot about the water hanging over him.
His body was doused in ice-cold water.
"Got ya." Jaime snickered. Harry glared at his brother, Jaime never made it out of the door before he felt a sharp grip on his legs by what felt like an invisible chain, hoisting him upside down in the air and leaving him there to dangle helplessly.
Harry watched in amusement as Jaime flailed around in the air, "Hey! Let me down." Jaime shouted.
"Suit yourself." He snapped his fingers and Jaime crumbled onto the ground with a pained groan.
Jaime looked at his twin for a while, "You have to teach me how to do that. I've been trying for months and I can barely get my quill off the table."
"I don't have time to teach you." Harry replied, "Besides, you've always been horrible at controlling your magic." Jaime's bursts of accidental magic had somehow always incurred some form of destruction, it even forced his mother to begin teaching them something she liked to call Yoga.
Jaime grinned, "Just means that I am the more powerful one between us."
"Sure." Harry said, rolling his eyes as he slid out of his bed, "You'll be stronger than me, the day dad admits that you're better than him at Quidditch."
"But I am," Jaime shouted as he followed his twin downstairs, his parents were already sitting at the dining table, ladling their plates with their mother's amazing pancakes.
James Potter peered through his glasses, "What's this I hear about Quidditch." Harry groaned in annoyance at his father's obsession with the sport, "If you're interested, I can teach you a trick or two before you're off to Hogwarts."
"No thanks, Dad." He said, "I'd rather focus on my studies."
James muttered, "Just like Lily—But I'd have you know that Quiddich helped me a lot in developing into a better duellist than your mum."
"And yet how many times have I had to save you." Lily countered.
Jaime whispered to Harry, "When do you think they'll get tired of bickering with each other." Harry shrugged, eating his breakfast while he read his Hogwarts letter which had somehow managed to be completely unaffected by the water damage. No doubt, it was one of Dumbledore's enchantments.
Ever since that day, Harry had obsessively read as much as he could on the Headmaster. It was often said that Dumbledore was already experimenting with magic far beyond his peers even before he had begun Hogwarts. The elderly man seemed familiar with magic all around the world, something that he was becoming more and more fascinated about it.
Harry looked at the list of books on the letter, a frown marred his features as he realised that he had already read them. "Mother.", He said, "What is this? Even Jaime has read these books."
Lily said, "I'm afraid most of your class would have already finished those books." Her lips twitched in a nostalgic smile, "The point of your First-Year is to familiarize yourself with practical theory and allow you to become accustomed to life at Hogwarts. Perhaps join a club or two."
Harry murmured, "But I can already do the spells." James and Lily looked confusedly between each other at his usage of French. But neither got the opportunity to enquire as a powerful snap echoed outside their home.
"Sirius, Andromeda." Lily greeted them, "You're early."
"I'd say we came just in time," Sirius took a seat at the table and dug into a plate full of pancakes.
Andromeda simply stood there, not at all impressed with her cousin's lack of decorum.
"I'm guessing, they're here for me," Harry asked. His parents had always been very careful when they went out into the public, what they were afraid of, Harry didn't quite know but it more than likely had something to do with you-know-who.
"Yeah…You can't handle the attention—Remember the time you destroyed all the windows in Madam Malkin because the Press confused you with me," Jaime answered.
Harry blushed a deep red as they all laughed at his embarrassment. "I'll have you know that if it weren't for my mishap, you would have been plastered all over the Prophet for your failed attempt at using magic."
Harry stretched his arms out in an exaggerated manner, "Watch everyone—I'll show you all how I defeated the Dark Lord." Jaime sent a mock glare at his twin as the laughter turned on him.
Jaime grumbled, "I was nine."
Sirius patted his godson on the back, "Well this time, Mad-Eye has personally allowed us to use more offensive spells to protect you from the media. Still, splitting you both up is likely to attract less attention." He gave Harry a meaningful look, "I'm sure Harry doesn't mind."
Harry was beginning to suspect that Dumbledore had a hand in this too. He, nor Sirius had made any mention to his parents that he had a wand or was learning magic already. Instead, all the elderly wizard did was give him a warning about how tampering with the soul was breaking the deepest laws of magic.
He shook his head.
Andromeda checked her wristwatch, "Good, go get ready. I have to take you to St Mungo's by two." Harry finished his breakfast before he rushed off to his bedroom to get dressed.
Jaime looked at his parents, "Why can't we go now?"
"Because I have an errand to run for Dumbledore and your mother can't take you alone." Jaime just grumbled at his father's vague excuse, why couldn't Dumbledore just get on his own. Wasn't he meant to be the most powerful wizard in the world?
Harry emerged from his room, Andromeda and Sirius made their way to the fireplace. The trio individually floo'd themselves over to the Leaky Cauldron. Erupting from the fire, Harry almost tripped over but fell into the arms of Nymphadora Tonks.
Tonks smirked, "Didn't know ya missed me so much, Harry."
Harry blushed. "I don't." He wiggled himself out of her arms, he looked towards the two amused adults, "So where should we go."
"Ollivanders." Andromeda said, "Let's get the longest out of the way first."
Harry brandished his wand out of his pocket, "But I already have one."
"There may be a wand better suited for you," Sirius said with some hesitation, "It doesn't hurt to find out."
"I doubt that." Tonks replied, "He would have already known if the wand didn't want him." The group of four made their way into Alley, it remained as full and vibrant as always.
So many people, Harry disliked being near so many people and so much noise. It was jarring for a person that was rarely allowed to go out into the outer world.
They made their way passed Gringotts which there was no need to enter if Sirius's and his father's frivolous spending was any indication, they both had enough money to buy anything in Diagon Alley and it would likely not make a dent in their accounts.
Coming to a stop in front of a narrow and old-looking shop that belonged to Ollivander's. It was a wonder, of course, how any family was able to maintain such a monopoly on wand making for over 2000 years.
Andromeda said, "Nymphadora and I will go on and get your potion supplies, I'd rather not hear one of his lectures about wand lore again." Tonks seemed to agree with her mother, not even taking offence to the use of her name.
The door chimed as Harry entered Ollivander's, he raised a slick eyebrow at the inside of the shop. It seemed more like a warehouse than it did a store, thousands of wand boxes were stacked upon each other until they touched the ceiling.
How was anyone going to find something in this mess, Harry thought.
"Just a second, I'll be there in a moment." A voice broke it out from the back of the shop, Harry could hear the loud crackle and grinding of what he assumed to be wood. "Perfect." An elderly man with white hair and slender form walked out from in between a mountain of wooden boxes.
Harry found himself drawn to the glowing core in the wand betwixt between the man's finger, "Is that a phoenix feather?" He asked.
Ollivander's weary eyes brightened, "Truly brilliant, Mr Potter—It's been a while since I met a fellow sensate." Harry appeared confused as to how the man had known his identity, he hadn't sensed any intrusion to his mind nor was there indication that he would be arriving today.
Ollivander looked at Sirius who was leaning against the wall, "I hope your wand is still serving you well…Blackthorn and dragon heartstring, not too dissimilar from your cousin."
Sirius grumbled, "It's doing just fine."
Ollivander took no notice of Sirius's anger and instead focusing his attention on the already fidgeting boy. "Why don't you try this one." He gifted him the wand already in his hand, Harry slowly picked up the long and thin wand. He waved it but it only caused the glass container on the counter to explode.
"Definitely, not," Ollivander muttered, grasping the wand from him before he could exact any more damage. Two tape measures quickly began to take his measurements, Harry squirmed anxiously as Ollivander examined him in his entirety.
"Quite frail, aren't you." Ollivander said, "Perhaps then…this one would serve you well."
Harry watched as he grasped a wooden box from below the table, "Ebony and Pheonix Feather. Nine inches, unyielding and loyal to a fault." Harry took the wand and twirled it around. A jet of yellow lurched from it striking against a wand box behind Ollivander, burning right through it as if were made out of acid.
"Hmm." Ollivander peered at Harry, "Have you ever used a wand before, Mr Potter."
Harry nodded, he shuffled through his large robe pocket and drew out a wand. He waved it for effect, a small flame erupted from the tip, flaring menacingly before dying down in a nosy hiss.
Ollivander asked, "May I." Harry looked at Sirius who just motioned for him to follow the shopkeeper's instruction. Handing over the wand, despite feeling empty without by his side.
Ollivander inspected the wand. It was beautiful in his eyes, black as obsidian the wood had been inscribed with runes. An ancient practice that had long since been replaced with enchantments and better tools. "I assume this is a relic belonging to your house," He addressed Sirius.
"It's been in our family since the very beginning, Moth—Walburga had said that it belonged to the very first black."
"I wouldn't be surprised." Ollivander mused, "It is a very rare and powerful wand. Ten and a half inches, Gabon Ebony and its core—"
Harry suspected that he wasn't quite sure yet as the man inspected the wand even further, at some point going as far as to put near his ear. "The fang of a Nundu as its core, Incredibly temperamental and dangerous creatures. This wand has to be a few hundreds years old, it's an outlawed practice to use such creatures as wand component."
"Why is that?" Harry asked.
Ollivander handed the wand back to him, "Some wand cores are far too temperamental to be used and that's not even taking into account the cost of retrieving the component. You'll hear about such incidents quite often, a normally harmless spell backfires on its wielder with dire consequences and all because the wand chose to."
Harry shivered, almost tempted to give the wand back to Ollivander. "But I believe that this particularly Nundu must have had an undying loyalty to the Black Family." The elderly wandmaker smiled, "It will serve you well, though I'd advise you against giving that wand to anyone. You'll find it may not enjoy being in the hands of someone outside the Black Family."
"I'm not a Black," Harry replied.
"Perhaps not in name, yes, but the wand always chooses the wizard, and in this instance, it has named you one," Ollivander replied.
There was very little else to say, Harry couldn't sense anything from the wandmaker, his mind, even what normally would be projected afterthoughts were muted.
Completely and utterly blank.
What was he? A bloody monk.
"Thank you." Harry placed a few galleons on the table, and despite Ollivander's objection, he didn't pick up the money as he left the store.
Andromeda and Tonks were outside, the former looked displeased that they had been in the store for an entire half-hour. "No luck then, "Tonks asked.
"Afraid not." Sirius answered, "Seems the myth about the wand is true, Andi."
"It matters very little," Andromeda replied, "Our family always curses everything. Let's not forget what your mother tried to do to my wedding ring."
Sirius shuddered. "Right. Best to move on." He said, "Let's go get your books, Harry." They walked towards Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore appeared like any other except like Ollivander, the shelves of books were stacked upon each other in such fashion that they reached the ceiling.
Andromeda warned, "No more than a few extra books, the Hogwarts Library will be more than substantial." Harry browsed the many rows of shelves, looking for anything that picked up his interest. The sheer diversity of books in the display was beyond anything the niche selection in his family or even Sirius's family library. There seemed to be a book for everything, he even found one called Magical Chores. Naturally, he decided to take it with him but not before moving on to the more obscure aisles. He found a book called, Lazarus, A guide to alchemy and enchantments, as well as about half a dozen or so other books that he hoped to complete before he attended Hogwarts.
Hands in his pocket, Harry focused on the ever-growing pile of books, allowing them to float in front of him as he made his way to the desk. His display of magic seemed to have caught the attention of the customers, many of which began to whisper.
One customer, in particular, stalked their way over to him, the woman in question was enchanting in her beauty. Long thick black hair cascaded past her shoulders, her black eyes possessed a deranged and chaotic anger that seemed contradictory to her soft aristocratic features.
But Harry's eyes were drawn to the young girl by her side, she looked like a carbon copy of her mother and a year or two older than him. He caught a faint glitter of gold and saw a large pendant hanging from the young girl's neck. The words etched below it echoed through his mind, 'Corvus oculum corvi non eruit'. His books crumbled onto the ground with a loud thud, his lips quivered in fear. "You're a Lestrange."
Harry didn't need to ask her who the older woman was, her twisted smile spoke for her.
In all her glory, Bellatrix Lestrange stood in front of Harry Potter.
A/N:
This chapter took longer than I thought it would, but I hope you enjoyed regardless. I thought I'd take the time to address a few things that you guys either PM'd me about or said in your reviews.
For one, magic in my universe is the same as in the books, I just scaled it up a bit because I thought it would be interesting.
Next pairing, I won't tell you but there won't be any real pairing until fourth year.
Also Bellatrix plays a very large role in this story, she's still deranged but she is far more competent than her canon counterpoint.
Hope you enjoyed and leave a review, I really enjoy hearing your feedback.
Till next time, Raido out.