a/n: It sounds like fanfic did you dirty, poka. Thanks for doing double duty! Also, huge thanks to Time Keeper and starboy454 for the continued reviews! You guys are the best.

Prompt: Visiting Diagon Alley for the first time

Chapter 13: Tomorrow

Waking up to a world without Voldemort was like waking up into a dream. Someone needed to tell Harry's body that the threat was over, because he still felt like he had to be ready to fight. He felt Hermione curl up into him. If there was something that could possibly convince Harry that the world was different was waking up next to Hermione in his old four-poster bed in the boys dormitory of Gryffindor tower.

Once they had finally gotten away from the celebrating crowd, the only thing they could think about was how exhausted they were. The last bit of sleep they had managed to get was at Shell Cottage the night before infiltrating Gringotts. It was hard to believe so much had happened since then.

A loud bang had them both sitting up and reaching for their wands. Harry was on his feet, headed for the door when he heard a familiar voice shouting on the other side.

"Oy! What did I say about letting those off up here? You're going to wake up Harry and Hermione," Ron was admonishing some poor person who dared celebrate in their house common room.

Harry turned back to Hermione and lowered his wand. They both let out a nervous laugh. "Ron's not going to keep them away forever," he observed and put his wand back in his pocket as he sat down next to her on the bed. He kissed her and searched her eyes, trying to decide if he should be concerned about her after her duel with Bellatrix. She had shared everything with him after he had filled her in on what happened after he left her in the forest. He didn't judge her for wanting to give Bellatrix some of her own medicine. Hadn't he tried to torture the witch right after she killed Sirius? It was apparent Hermione was judging herself. "What do you want to do today?" he asked, feeling relief at the freedom they had to go anywhere or do anything. They didn't have to worry about snatchers, about Death Eaters, or about finding some elusive object that was the key to victory.

Hermione's eyes flicked down to his pocket where his wand was secured. Then she studied the walnut wand. She set it on the nightstand. "I'd like to go to Diagon Alley. See if Mister Ollivander might had time to make me a new wand. If not, we could see if Wands by Gregorovitch's in Carkitt Market faired any better."

In Harry's happiness to have his wand repaired, he still wished they had found the snatcher who had her wand. He had doubt that going to Ollivanders and getting a new wand might not be a simple matter. Word was already out about Voldemort's defeat. The crowds of people descending on Diagon Alley would be overwhelming and a good number of those people would certainly be hoping to get a wand. So many had been confiscated over the year of the ministry cracking down on muggleborns practicing magic. "We can try. It might take a few weeks for the Ollivanders to get everything sorted out," he said, trying to manage her expectations. They didn't even know if the shop would be open to customers. Still, he understood wanting to get a different wand. Harry stood, pulled her to her feet, motivated to help her. "If we can't get you a wand, maybe we can get you a book."

It earned him a genuine smile and it did more for his heart than she could know. He couldn't remember the last time he heard her laugh. They had a lot of healing to do. The last year wasn't going to just fade into their memories. They also had to confront a life outside of Hogwarts. They heard another loud explosion and more voices cheering the result. She wrapped her hands around his arm, looking hesitantly at the door. "I bet they haven't restored the apparition barriers yet. We could try leaving from in here."

He wasn't opposed to avoiding the effort required to walk through the crowds again. If they had to go through the entire castle it could be hours before they set foot in Diagon Alley. "We can try," he agreed, gave her a minute to gather up her things and then they clasped hands and turned on the spot.

Arriving outside the Leaky Cauldron was surreal. Being able to just walk around in the public without the cloak would take adjustment. The muggle street was empty though, there wasn't much to avoid. "It looks like news hasn't made it to the muggles yet," he observed and crossed the street to the pub that served as a cover for the entrance to the magical shops. The crowd inside was significant. As Harry feared, the magical community would be out in force that day. As their eyes adjusted to the dim light, the loud din of chatter slowly faded. Harry was aware of all heads turning toward them. He took her hand and cleared his throat. He considered using the cloak just to get around uninterrupted. Harry held up his hand, looked toward the long line waiting to get into Diagon Alley. "We're just passing through," he explained. "We can come back—"

Tom set a bottle down in front of a customer and then spoke out loudly. "Make a hole. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger need to get through."

"That's not necessary," he started to object to special treatment, but as the crowd parted revealing the open brick archway to the cobble stone street beyond, he decided they could take advantage of the help.

"Come back for free drinks when you're done," Tom shouted and got back to work.

Harry nodded at people who tried to talk to them as they passed. He could tell Hermione was uncomfortable with the attention. He pulled her along and leaned in to her, "Everyone will settle down in a few days. They're just excited."

Hermione nodded and let him lead her along. "I didn't think everything would be open so soon," she observed, walking passed crowded shop after crowded shop. Every time someone recognized them, they became a spectacle. "You were right. There are too many people. We should come back."

They were only a few doors away from the wand shop. He didn't want to leave without trying. "Let's just see if they're open and if they have wands." They stopped out front and peered inside the large glass windows. Harry could see boxes on the shelves, but nothing compared to the sheer number of wands in stock before the Death Eaters attacked. A haggard younger man was working behind the counter to bring some order to the packed crowd. Discouraged, he started to pull back and then locked eyes with Mister Ollivander. The older wizard motioned to the back. "Come on," Harry said, walked around the side of the building to the alley way. It lead to a back door and found Garrick holding it open for them.

"Mister Potter, Miss Granger. This is a surprise. I thought you might be off celebrating today," Ollivander said, and rushed them inside.

"We did some yesterday after everything," Harry explained, motioning to Hermione. "We never recovered Hermione's wand and we wanted to see if you were open. It looks like a lot of people had the same idea."

"We're not selling wands just yet. We're taking orders and trying to catalog the types of wands that need to be replaced. It will take years to restock the shop," he explained with some sadness at the loss. "My son managed to secure the rarest wands before the Death Eaters came looking for me, and the regular stock is being held based on need." He led them to a small workshop with several stacks of wand boxes. "We can see if I have something here. Vine, dragonheart string?"

Hermione perked up at the possibility that she might walk out of the shop with a different wand. "Yes. Ten and three quarters."

"Hm, let's see," Garrick said. "I don't see vine. Only the druids sought out vine wands back then."

Harry watched the older wizard rearranged the boxes. He could tell based on their appearance they were older boxes from another time.

"We have several walnut wands that might suit a witch of your intellect?" Garrick asked, holding out a box.

"Er, well. The wand I have been using is Walnut," Hermione started, not wanting to be too picky.

"Say no more," Garrick said, clearly wanting to find the right match. Carefully pulling out a antique box, he smiled. "Toromiro wood from Easter Island. It's extinct now and we pulled those woods to ensure they're preserved. My grandfather made this one." He opened the box and turned it to offer the handle to her.

The wood was very light in color. Polished to a shine. Small yellow flowers were etched along the handle. Hermione reached for it and it jumped slightly. She picked it up and the wand let out a short, lovely melody. Like delicate bells responding to the wind.

"I think that will do," Ollivander said with a big smile. "It's been decades since we matched a toromiro wand. It works best in the hands of a witch or wizard of exceptional intellect and moral character with a strict desire for justice."

"And the core?" Hermione asked, feeling honored to be given an opportunity to hold the rare wand.

"Thunder bird feather," he said, sounding surprised himself. "My grandfather toured the states before taking over the ship from his father. He brought back a few samples of other cores to experiment with. He abandoned the effort after finding the core difficult to master, leaving customers who were seeking a unique wand disappointed. If you can master it, you'll have a powerful wand exceptionally good at transfigurations."

"It's amazing, Mister Ollivander," Hermione said, moving to set the wand back in its box. "I can't purchase such a rare wand from you."

He snapped the box closed before she could put it back. "You're right. You can't purchase it. You accept my gift to you."

"Oh. Oh no, Mister Ollivander. I can't—"

"—you can and you will. If the last year has taught me anything it's that we don't know what tomorrow holds and we should not hoard the resources others could use out of sentimentality. This wand deserves to live up to its potential and it's chosen you, Miss Granger."

Harry took the box, excited for Hermione.

"Grandpa!" a voice called out from the front, sounding flustered.

"I owe you both my life. Do come back when things settle down," he said and rushed to the front to see if he could bring some order to the shop.

Hermione was studying the wand. "I should have given him the walnut wand. It's still a good wand."

Harry led her out the door, rubbed her back in comfort and thought about the witch who welded it before her. "We might need to turn it over the aurors. They'll need it if they put her on trial again."

She and Harry weren't quite in agreement on Bellatrix's fate. It was out of their hands now. Hermione was quick to hand over the walnut wand to him. "I heard Tonks has been named as Kingsley's head auror. Give it to her."

"Now what?" he asked, putting the it away in his inside pocket. "Camping?"

She finally laughed. "Absolutely not. I'd say let's find a remote resort but we might have to stop by Gringotts to pay for the extravagance. I'm not sure either of us will be welcomed there just yet." She started walking and grew quiet. "I need to go to Australia. Find my parents."

He took a deep breath. The immediate threats might be over. The damage done would take time to repair. They didn't have to start working on it that exact moment though. He led her to Flourish and Blotts and eyed the ice cream parlor. They could take the day for themselves. There'd be plenty of challenges ahead. They could start tomorrow.