Chapter 4 - The keeper of the keys and Diagon Alley


0900 28th July 1991

I was ready a whole hour before McGonagall arrived, I mean who wouldn't be excited in my situation.

I waited in. The living room, alone the tv on for background noise, the Dursleys out for the day, remembering some last minute plans late last night. Dudley was upset to be forced to go and miss his chance to see more magic, I made a mental note to take him to Diagon alley one summer, easy enough to do on the knight bus.

0914

I just remembered Ollivanders uncanny ability to read people, and also I started to panic thinking about how different a person I am from canon Harry and if that'll effect me getting the phoenix wand which saves his life in goblet of fire.

This and a hundred other similar thoughts rush through my head.

0937

More panicking, I've been waiting all my new life.

Ahhhhhhhhh!

0941

Did time always move this slowly?

0943

Clearly.

0950

Washing my hands after going to the loo for the fifth time in two hours,

Knock knock knock.

I rush downstairs, take a breath and opened it.


"Good day Mr Potter, I would like to inform your Aunt and Uncle I should have you back before five this eve, to…alay their worries…." She started off strong but trailed off at the silence of the house.

"I don't think they'd mind if it was five o'clock a month from now." I said as nonchalant as possible while stepping forward and closing the door behind me.

McGonagalls face tightened like she desperately wanted to say something quite rude but had to hold herself from doing so.

"Hmmm… Anyway, if you could follow me please Mr. Potter.

With that we were off, down and out of Privet drive.

I could see that the Professor was looking around for a quieter streeet, and I surmised she must be intending for us to take the knight bus.

As we left the cul-de-sac I could still see the odd owl droppings that still clung to some of the roofs and smiled to myself about it.

After a few streets had gone by and some furtive glances up and down the street McGonagall raised her right arm wand in hand.

CH-CH-CRACK-BANG

The two storey purple bus appeared suddenly with a gust of warm air and whip crack, looking as though it was about to topple as it rounded the corner at high speeds.

"Welcome to the knight-" a young voice started his well rehearsed spiel before,

"Yes yes Mr. Shunpike, one galleon and five sickles, two for the Leaky Cauldron please." She said whilst hustling me onto the bus.

We sat close to the front but not close enough for Stan to attempt conversation.

"Nex' stop, the Leaky Cauldron." He called out half heartedly.

"Take it away Ern'"

BANG-BANG-CRACK!

The movie hadn't prepared me for this, it was like a rollercoaster that had stopped mid drop and my knuckles went white from trying to stay in the seat.

"The leaky Cauldron." Stan said to no one in particular.

"Off we get now Mr. Potter." McGonagall led me off the bus, a couple of wizards got on and a second later,

CH-CH-CRACK-BANG, it was gone.


We stood on the street opposite the leaky cauldron.

The Professor turned to face me and crouched down to meet my height.

"Harry James Potter, you are famous for what happened the night your parents died, most likely it was something they did that vanquished he-who-must-not-be-named and yet it is you who has been credited for his end.

When we go into the pub your life will change in many ways. If you ever would like to ask my advice I will happily give it."

She said all this in a serious manner, then her face softened.

"I knew your parents, taught them from when they were your age. Regardless of your house at Hogwarts know that if I can help you, I will.

She smiled sadly, then stood up tall.

"Right then, let us not dawdle and prepare to be welcomed back to the Wizarding world."

Both moved and stunned by her speech I followed her to the pub door, swallowed and stepped through behind her.

The pub was old, and a little run down as though it hadn't fully healed from the effects of the war despite the decade between now and then.

"Ahhh Professor, another muggleborn? There's more every year, not that that's a problem mind you." Said who I was sure was Tom the barkeep.

Clearly not wanting to arouse suspicion she used the cover he'd accidentally provided.

"Yes Tom, another muggleborn, we'll be going straight through." Guiding me towards the rear of the pub.

I made sure to look around on my way over.

No Quirrel, it's Harry's birthday in the books, his attempt will be then.

As we open the door to the back a cat yells and scatters off.

Wand tapping against the wall McGonagall said,

"Welcome to Diagon Alley."

The street is truly something, the films were close in its depiction but even they couldn't capture how purely ...well, magical it all was.

My head couldn't keep up with my eyes, I wanted to stay here until I'd seen everything.

Toads croaked, cauldrons bubbled or stirred themselves,

I could see the odd witch or wizard appearing or disappearing at what must be an apparition point, the apothecary selling all manner of ingredients.

We passed the quidditch and broom shop and Olivanders before, as though out of nowhere, Gringotts towered over us, pristine and blindingly white compared to the turn of the century - last century, mind you - buildings we just passed.

Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was a goblin.

As described in the book he had a clever face, a pointed beard and very long fingers and feet.

Simply put, kind of ugly looking and definitely not human.

He bowed as they walked inside, his face covered with disinterest but clearly hiding his attentiveness.

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.'

Up until now McGonagall had been letting me absorb this new and different world, she broke the silence.

"I see you probably have several questions, I'll answer a couple, that was a goblin. They run this bank and most wizarding banks, never cross or insult a goblin. It may be the last thing you do and may start a war in the process. I would also consider anyone who dares think that attempting to rob this bank a fool.

I will answer all questions later."

Clearly she wasn't sure how to talk to me still, fighting between the educator she will be and 'Grandmother-like figure' she could've been or similar line of thinking.

She pressed on through the second set of doors and I had to allow my eyes to adjust for a minute to the sparkling interiors, when I had adjusted I could see the Professor being approached by a huge man that I immediately recognised as Hagrid.

"Ello Professor, fancy seeing you 'ere t'day."

Sure Hagrid, this is just coincidence that you are about to blab about-

"Just been to fetch you know what out of seven one three." He said in a whisper to McGonagall who probably was fighting to not roll her eyes.

This first year is definitely filled with manipulations from Dumbledore, but having read canon and far, far too much fan fiction, if this goes the way I expect I'll see them a mile away.

"Maybe we should try not to advertise such things, hmm?"

"Aye, aye yer right Professor, and who have we got here?" He said, attempting to hide his excitement in seeing me.

"Harry sir, Harry Potter." I said in a voice that was as small as I could.

"Ahhh 'Arry, last time I saw you I could hold you in one hand, loo' at ya. Knew your parents I did an' all, I'd be happy to tell you all about 'em if you wanted. Oh but where's me manners, Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of the keys and grounds at Hogwarts. I'll owl you after you've settled in." He turned to McGonagall,

"I think I'd best be off, I'll go see the Headmaster and then off to the three broomsticks I think. Those carts always seem to disagree with me."

She nodded curtly in response.

"See you soon 'Arry."

And with that the mountainous man left, I could've sworn I heard McGonagall breathe heavily out her nose, probably regarding his cavalier mentioning of the stone, and then we were at a desk.

"We are here to access Mr. Potter's vault please." She asked the goblin.

"Does Mr. Potter have his key?" A gravelly voice demanded more than asked.

"He does, I have it here."

I remember the many fanfics where Harry is friendly enough with the goblins they treat him better than most, why not try and foster that here?

"Excuse me, what's your name Sir?" I asked him.

He looked taken aback like no one had ever asked him.

"My name, young wizard, is Griphook, thank you for asking. Most don't." He said pointedly.

"You're welcome." I say, pausing as if wondering to continue.

"You're the first Goblin I've spoken to so I was wondering if there are any greetings for when meeting a goblin."

Griphook's face broke into a wide toothy grin.

"Yes young wizard, there are several."

"Could I find them in a book? Do you have your own language? How can I learn that?" I asked in a flurry, legitimately curious to the answers.

A harsh sound came from Griphook as he laughed,

"Yes to the first two and to the third, with great difficulty."

McGonagall having presented the key he had directed us to the cart to take us to my vault.

Holy crap Harry is, I mean I am stinking rich.

Funny the things I remember just before they happen.

The cart ride was better than any rollercoaster, no wonder it could make even Hagrid queasy. I wondered if the Goblins had chosen this particular method of traversal to the vaults simply as another way to mess with wizards.

My hair whipped around my face as we flew past vaults, stone and darkness occasionally interrupted by bright white lights dotted on the walls of the bank.

We hurtled along a tunnel that opened out into a cavern that seemed to have no bottom, it was gone as quickly.

Eventually we came to a shuddering halt, a row of doors to one side and black rock to the other.

He led us to the vault door and placed his hand on it, he then gestured for the key.

The mechanisms in and inside the door creaked, groaned and whirred until opening revealed mountains of gold, silver and bronze.

McGonagall collected exactly the needed amount and some extra for pocket change, I had prepped for this by hiding a number of pouches on myself to shove full of galleons.

I asked to have a moment in the vault to 'get used to the idea this was all mine'. As soon as I was alone I got to filling each pouch to the point it struggled to close and the zips were almost tearing apart.

We zipped along in the cart heading back to the main bank via a different route and through a different cavern, I could hear the roar of a dragon in the distance but again the cavern was quickly replaced by tight dark tunnels.

When we were back in the lobby I turned to Griphook,

"Can you tell me the best book to learn about Goblins Mr. Griphook?"

He stopped walking, threw back his head and laughed like earlier.

"Of course, wait here."

He left us at the desk and went over to another goblin, they spoke in low gravelly voices.

A moment later Griphook came back with a book.

"We have a few copies of the book on hand in case a wizard is either brave enough to ask us about us or fool enough to insult us. Usually the later." He said with a malicious grin.

"We can not offer this without a charge of course, and as the book usually sells for 16 sickles we would be willing to offer no less than 14."

One look at the old book and without much thought I slip into haggling mode.

"7."

Griphook loves this.

"Oh, you've got guts kid, more than most, 12."

"9."

"11" he counters with.

"11…but you also give me a full walk through of all Potter assets.

This stuns both goblin and teacher, not that McGonagall hadn't been stunned from the moment I started to haggle with a goblin.

"Deal." Grin reappearing.

We had to wait a further ten minutes for the paperwork to be brought to us.

Griphook pointed to the first pile,

"Those are your vaults and the list of non monetary items, these were last updated nearly three years before your birth when ordered by the last Potter Lord, first name, Fleamont. His will allowed James Fleamont Potter to claim the Lordship no younger than twenty five, and if unclaimed by thirty then to go dormant until the next Potter is able to legitimately stake their claim when they come of age.

As there are no other living Potters you have the claim as Heir apparent, there are a few links to other families and even distant relatives in North America, though these other claims are much more tenuous.

The second pile is a list of all properties and businesses owned in full, part and other investments.

They're also the list of residuals that the Potter vaults receive for the ownership of certain charms, potions and oddly enough, pottery techniques.

The third and final pile, are the marriage proposals and contracts, for the active Lord to deal with, therefore we can give you these copies but any and all responses are to be dealt with when of age at seventeen."

He finished with an amused gleam in his eyes.

I bundled them up to read through later.

We then got all my standard equipment as per the letter, then it came to my wand, I had no idea what was about to happen.

As we stood outside McGonagall said.

"I shall introduce you to Mr. Ollivander then as I believe the moment you find your wand to be special I will do something I know your parents would appreciate, and that is to have this special moment for yourself. When you are done I shall meet you in the leaky cauldron, please do not stray from the Main Street of the alley and come straight there after you have your wand.

Understood?"

I nodded.

"Good, then we'll have some lunch and if you do desire I'll then take you to get yourself a pet."

I thought that the power of plot may be on my side with this part of day and it clearly was, Ollivander was word for word and beat for beat how I expected him to be.

As the boxes piled up he paused.

"I wonder….yes…maybe."

As expected 11 inches, holly and phoenix feather and all very curious.

"Seven galleons Mr. Potter."

I hand them to him and ask as innocently as possible,

"Is it possible e to have a back up wand?"

"Ahh, and why would you want that?"

"Well it would make sense wouldn't it, especially if it's something used everyday, it's at more risk of being damaged."

"Hmmm, well reasoned young wizard. While not outright illegal, it is somewhat frowned upon, and the only wands I haven't tried for you are my more…experimental ones from my youth when I was still learning the craft of wand making. Either that or I point you in the direction of a lesser wandmaker or even that barmy staffsmith on crows claw alley."

"Staffsmith?" I echoed.

"An even more obscure form of wandmaking that went out of fashion nearly four hundred years ago. The wand and staff are made together, the staff an extension of the wand, designed to increase the power of a spell.

Unfortunately, it's use and effectiveness to do so varied wildly between wizards. Better suited materials and matches between wood and core made for more stable and consistent magic."

I gave myself a moment to think this new info over.

"Can I take a look at those experimental wands please?"

Ollivander disappeared and returned with an armful of boxes.

He laid them out in front of me and a flick of his wand later removed all the lids.

These wands looked so far from all the others it was a bit of a shock.

Some had jewels at the bottom of the handle, one a decorative metal as a handle with wood showing through, a couple just looked like gnarled roots.

When all laid out there were a dozen or so.

He had me go down the line, just like before some were ripped away without an attempt to cast, some damaged something in the shop. They used a variety of materials as casing, including whale and troll bone, the cores were just as odd with thunderbird feather and one even with a toad heartstring.

The moment I touched the tenth one the same warmth spread through my hand as with the phoenix wand.

"Oh my, that is a surprise. 12 and three quarter inches, surprisingly swishy, red oak and most interestingly demiguise hair as a core, one of the oddest of combinations I've produced. I hope it serves you well for only ten galleons."

Nice segue old man.

"Can you keep my second wand a secret for me sir, with all I have learnt about my fame and past, it may suit me to have a back up." I whisper to him.

"Of course young sir, though, all magic should be learnt to the same standard on both, you'll find they'll each have their own specialties."

I'm now pushed for time, not wanting to waste any or have the Professor come looking for me.

I ducked into Flourish and Blotts and got a few tomes I knew that McGonagall wouldn't approve of.

Curses, hexes, advanced potions, and after asking the shop attendant, the third years ancient runes and arithmancy books and one on becoming an animagus.

I then headed down the path to the Cauldron, the Professor waiting at a table for me.

"You certainly took longer than expected but no bother, we can eat now. I also took the liberty of acquiring a trunk for yourself. It has three main compartments to help organise…"

I listened as she explained features and their usefulness when she was interrupted by our food.

"Well as promised I shall take you to acquire a pet."

Eeylops owl Emporium was noise and feathers.

I knew that being here earlier than canon she must be here, then in the greys and browns and blacks I spotted her, pure white and snowy.

Hedwig.

After the attendant walked through the basics of

With Hedwig in tow I decided to be cheeky,

"Professor, I've never had a pet before, would I be able to check the other store as I may get a second pet."

"Unfortunately only one pet per student can attend Hogwarts, plus we need to head back to Surrey before the evening rush delays the knight bus."

Ah well, I'll sneak one in for second year haha.

After another janky stomach flipping ride back to privet drive, I now lay in my bed under the stairs with a shrunken trunk on the ledge next to my head thinking over the days events, in particular the awkward drop off.

McGonagall had said her goodbyes before taking me to the Dursleys door, she glared at Vernon viciously.

Then her Gryffindor side must've taken over and she turned into her cat form before scampering off.

Vernon dragged me in by my collar.

"Sit down boy."

Vernon towered over me, and for a moment I considered if possible to hide by his own two feet that he struggled to see each day, he must have spotted a flicker of amusement on my face as it set him off on one of his shortest yet loudest tirades yet.

Eventually all the Dursleys and I occupied the lounge.

"In light of recent…events, out of further kindness of our hearts, your Aunt and I have decided it best to grant you use of Dudley's second bedroom. You have from now until you go away in September to clean it out, ask Dudley if there's anything he would like to keep. Also keep your freakishness to yourself."

With only 3 and a half weeks to Hogwarts at least I had something other than magic to focus on.

Fixing the room up was easy, especially with Dudley. We fixed some stuff he had broken and sold what we didn't want to keep, some sold as junk and the rest we chucked, this added to the pool of money we had been collecting from the sweets business.

A week before the first of September Dudley and I were in the local park, (I'm guessing this is the one the dementors would attack at in fifth year)

"Dudley, you take over the sweet selling next year ok?"

"Yeah, sure thing."

Silence fell again.

"Hey Harry…."

"Yeah?" I sat up, frowning.

"Sorry about how my parents have treated you like this for so long…. How I used to treat you."

I didn't know what to say, I hadn't -

"You really are my brother Harry I -"

I bear hug this kid, tightly.

And those aren't tears, you hear?!

Dudley Dursley, by the pen of JK Rowling was nothing more than a mean, overweight buffoon of cartoonish proportions, destined to nothingness beyond the first few chapters of the last book.

Here he was, popular, smart, diligent and somehow kind boy who respected the sports he excelled at and now had a real chance at a great life beyond number four privet drive. All it had taken was a little kindness, some encouragement his parents didn't apply in a healthy way and a little bit of magic.

"Heeeeey gerrofff H." He wiggled until I let go.

"I'm gunna miss you Dud."

"Hmmph." He grunted, a smile forming as he shoved me over while yelling.

"If I get home first you have to show me some magic tricks."

Still in a state of semi shock I plodded one foot in front of the other until I was running to catch up to him.


31st August 1991 - 21.15

I knocked on Dudley's door and he answered quick.

"Dud, here's a gift for you before I go away."

I hand the box to him, the wrapping paper has little boxing ring bells on it.

He smiles and lets out a short laugh, hands me the box and dashes into his room, appearing back with a small box, the wrapping is the last of a Christmas roll with little reindeer on.

"I got something for you too."

We re swapped gofts and counted down.

"3" I started.

"2" Dudley replied.

"1" we said together.

Sat on a soft cushion was a watch, silver with black leather strap, the time piece with the minute hand in the shape of a lightning bolt, similar to the famous potter scar.

"Check underneath." Urged Dudley.

There was a matching necklace, another lightning bolt that hung from it.

"It's all real silver." Dudley told me.

"We'll open yours then Dud." I said.

"Wooooah….these are awesome Harry, thank you."

He admired his gift, a pair of gold and black boxing gloves, ones he hadn't even told his parents about.

"I'll miss you Harry, promise to tell me all about it next summer yeah?"

"I'll miss you too, Dud, and yeah, yeah I will." I promised.


Sorry for the delay folks, been a busy time at work since last chapter.

Hope you enjoy!