For the first time he could remember in his young life, Harry woke up early out of excitement instead of pain and fear. He had just found out that he was a wizard. A real life magic wizard. Aunt Petunia had said they would go to the magical shopping district somewhere in London today and gather all the mystical things he needed to learn how to do real magic. It had a strange name, Diagonally, or something like that. It was all so new and exciting he couldn't contain himself. But even being so excited he couldn't sleep, Harry knew better than to wake his uncle and aunt. So instead, he tiptoed down the stairs from his new room, the one Aunt Marge usually stayed in when she was in town, and decided to fix breakfast for everyone. Out of all his old chores, he had always enjoyed cooking because of the slight sense of control it gave him. He had planned the menus and wrote out the shop lists and it gave him a profound sense of peace to stand in front of the range as bacon and eggs sizzled in their pans.
Harry was focused on carefully flipping his uncle's ham, cheese, and mushroom omelet and didn't hear the swinging door into the kitchen opening to admit his aunt. She paused for a moment, taking in the scene before her. The table was already filled with various dishes of food. Platters of bacon and sausages sat steaming beside a pyramid of toast and a bowl filled with hashbrowns. Realizing her nephew had been up for quite a while and had everything well in hand, she silently departed through the same door she entered and went upstairs to wake her other boys to eat. Deciding to unleash a mischievous streak that hadn't seen the light of day in many years, the three Dursleys silently crept into the kitchen and sat in the breakfast nook. Harry finished cooking the omelet and slid it onto a plate. Turning to set it at his uncle's place at the table, he let out a startled scream and flung the plate upwards when he saw his relatives seated behind him. Petunia and Dudley laughed at the surprised look on Harry's face while Vernon morosely looked at the now ruined omelet. Even splattered on the floor it looked delicious.
After enjoying the magnificent food that Harry had prepared, the three Dursleys and Harry all piled into Vernon's company car, a 1991 Cadillac Deville, and began the hour-long drive towards London. Upon their Arrival into London, Aunt Petunia Said they needed to go to Charing Cross Road. Uncle Veron was able to find parking on Irving Street and they all got out and started to walk the couple of blocks to Charing Cross. Aunt Petunia had said Harry would be the only one able to see their destination without any help so he was eagerly turning his head side to side, looking for anything that seemed magical. Suddenly he saw a sign hanging where there wasn't one just a second ago. "The Leaky Cauldron." he read out, certain that he had found what they were looking for. Petunia immediately turned her attention in the direction Harry seemed to be looking.
"That's the place we want. '' she said, confirming what Harry had already guessed. "But I still don't see it. If i remember correctly, we have to be holding on to you to find our way in." she finished, turning her attention to Harry.
Excitedly, Harry latched on to his aunt and uncle, grabbing their hands in his own. Vernon let out a startled yell as the once graffiti strewn wall he had been eyeing critically shifted into a dingy pub exterior. Petunia released a wistful sigh, as memories from a childhood long gone flooded back as if it were only yesterday. "Duddums, come hold mummy's hand, dear. " she called out, taking a deep breath as she prepared to enter the magical world for the first time in nearly two decades. "Harry, lead us in but don't let go of me or your uncle until we are all inside please." With everyone nodding in understanding, the small group strode forward and entered the dingy looking pub.
Much to the dismay of the two adult Dursleys, the interior of the pub was no better looking than the outside. In fact, one could easily make the argument that the inside was in worse shape. The bare wood floor was caked in dirt and dust. A worn staircase along the wall appeared to be mere seconds from collapse. Dim lighting, produced from candles that appeared to float in midair, cast long shadows across the room. Regardless of all these things, the bar had a lively business, with platters of breakfast foods and drinks flowing from behind the bar at a steady pace. Vernon noticed a man, seated at a table in one of the few well lit areas of the room, idly stirring a cup of tea as he read a book. After taking everything in, Petunia indicated an empty table near the back for the boys to sit at while she found someone to admit them into the alley proper. Harry and Dudley both sat down, eagerly looking around at their strange new surroundings as Vernon stood watch over them. All three of them gawked at seeing a regal looking lady step from a green burning fireplace before being followed by a slightly chubby young boy. They watched as Petunia boldly walked up to the lady and spoke to her softly. Then the two women strode over to where the boys were seated, the other young boy trailing quietly behind.
"Hello, gentlemen." the regal lady greeted as she walked up to their table,"Exciting day, isn't it?"
Harry and Dudley nodded silently, slightly intimidated by this lady who was dressed for a meeting with the Queen.
"There now." she smiled gently at them, "No reason to be scared. I don't bite." She paused as all three boys giggled. "Much better!" she exclaimed, "Now, my name is Madam Longbottom, but you can both call me Granny Gussie. This is my grandson, Neville. He is the heir to the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Longbottom. You address him as Heir Longbottom, unless given leave to use his name. It is very important in polite wizarding society to use the proper formal title for everyone you meet until they give you permission to address them in a casual manner." Madam Longbottom paused to allow the young boys to process what she had said.
After hearing her name Petunia gasped and tentatively asked "Are you any relation to Frank Longbottom, Madam?" Both Longbottoms tensed, the younger in grief but the elder in suspicion. "Yes." she replied, "He is my son. But how would a presumable muggle know of him? she questioned, slowly drawing her wand from an elegant handbag. Petunia smiled in delight before responding.
"I think the best way to answer that is to have my nephew introduce himself." she said, turning to look at Harry with an encouraging smile.
Harry, acutely aware of the sudden increase in MAdam Longbottoms tension but, trusting in his aunt, softly introduced himself to the two people he had just met.
"My name is Harry." he said, "Harry Potter." Augusta gasped loudly in shock, eyes scanning Harry critically, searching for proof of his identity. Finally, her eyes met his and she knew he was telling the truth. She had only ever seen such green eyes one other time in her life. On the day her Frank graduated Hogwarts. In the face of one of his dearest friends and closest confidants. Lily Evans. Letting out a joyous sob, she fell to her knees and pulled him into a bone crushing hug.
"Where have you been all this time?" she sobbed as she clung to the boy who shouldve been her second grandson.
Harry awkwardly hugged her back, still unaccustommed to any sort of physical affection. "I've lived with my aunt, uncle and cousin since that night. My aunt found me sitting on the step one morning, with a note from Dumbledore saying my mum and dad were dead and she was the only family i had left. There was some sort of weird spell on the note that made them hate me though."
Augusta stiffened. Dumbledore had left her honorary grandchild outside on a step, in November, and the only communication was a note, with whar sounded like a Hatred Hex woven into it. He eyes hardened like steel as she pushed the relief and joy she felt at seeing Harry to the side and let a cold burning rage fill her. She turned a flinty gaze onto Petunia and Vernon, who at least had the sense to appear remorseful.
"May i assume, given your willing presence here, that whatever spells there were have broken? And that they broke precisely at midnight on the 31 of July?" she growled, her voice hard as iron.
Petunia flinched, but quickly nodded her head in affirmation. Seeing this nod being reflected by Vernon as well, Augusta Longbottom gave a single firm nod of her own head before finally rising from her knees, every inch the powerful dowager lady, who had served as regent over the house she married into since that awful night in early November.
"Very well. you're blameless for any suffering my grandson suffered at your hand then." she said with finality. "Now, if you will follow me. The first stop if every witch or wizard, on their first trip to Diagon Alley, absolutely should be Gringotts. This is even more imperative for you, Heir Potter, as you have been completely out of contact with anyone in Magical Britain. There is no telling the state your account is in, without somebody to authorize routine maintenance or audit any spending that might have been done. Not that there should be any. Come along." She turned and briskly led the group out into the rear courtyard behind the Leaky Cauldron.
"Now, pay close attention Heir Potter. This is the only way into Diagon Alley from the Cauldron side. When you're older, you will be able to apparate in on your own. But for now, you must tap these bricks in a series of precise locations to open the archway. Watch closely." Madam Longbottom proceeded to tap three spots on the wall forming a triangle around a brick that seemed to be pushed in. As she tapped the last brick, the wall rolled back onto itself, forming an arch that revealed a cobblestone paved alley. Filled with olden style buildings and lopsided shops, there were signs of magic everywhere. Posters advertising the newest broom hung in the windows of one shop while a sign shaped like a book opened and closed itself. Witches and wizards in all forms of attire darted up and down the lane and in and out of shops. Dozens of owls carrying letters flew overhead. A huge, slanted building, made entirely of pure white marble with golden collumns, stood at the far end of the alley.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley, Heir Potter." Augusta said, allowing herself a small smile at the wonder on the young lad's face. She indicated the white marble building and spoke even as she began to move forward. "That's Gringotts. It is our bank. It's run by goblins. An unpleasent race, but i challenge you to find a more honorable one. They absolutely abhor theives. Any found guilty of even attempted theft on Gringotts territory will likely see their head parted from their neck. Deal with them cautiously. Be brisk and to the point. Goblins dont approve of wasted time. For today, i think it best if I help you, if you feel comfortable with that." By this time they had reached the giant doors to the bank. Harry cast a quick glance at his aunt for confirmation before drawing in a breath to respond.
"I believe taht would be an acceptable arrangement, Madam Longbottom, provided you are willing to meet my conditions." he intoned in as formal a voice as an eleven year old can manage.
Augusta was mildly taken aback at this sudden formality, but her upbringing allowed her to repond appropriately. "Might I ask what your conditions are, Heir Potter?"
Harry held back a cheeky grin as he replied, "It would give me the utmost pleasure if you would cease addressing me as Heir Potter. I hereby give you leave to address me as Harry." Here he let his grin slip out as he finished, "After all, you did claim me as a grandson right, Granny Gussie? Why so formal and stiff?" Augusta laughed delighted as she once again pulled Harry into her arms.
"I find your conditions more than acceptable, Harry. You're absolutrly correct. There is no need whatsoever for such formality amongst family. Now, let's go see a goblin about your inheritance, shall we?" Smiling Harry joined hands with his new granny and together they walked into the bank, the Dursleys and Neville trailing quietly behind them.