Chapter 5. Owls and a Visitor
It was the last week of July when Harry and Anissa got their first clue that there was much more to their special talents than they realized. They were at the park, like always, and Padfoot was coming back with a stick, when two owls came swooping in and landed on their bench. They stood there hooting at them and extending their claws, offering them letters.
Shocked could not even describe the dumbfounded looks on their faces, but Padfoot was excited. It was about time! He knew what those were. He barked happily and ran over to them. Snapping out of his shock, Harry retrieved the yellowish envelope and looked at the address written in emerald-green ink:
Mr. H. Potter
Bench at the Park
Little Whinging
Surrey
Looking over at Anissa's it read:
Miss A. King
Bench at the Park
Little Whinging
Surrey
The two shared a look and at the same time turned over the envelopes. On the back was a purple wax seal. Pressed into the wax was a coat of arms. There were four animals: a lion, a badger, an eagle, and a snake surrounding a large letter H.
"What is this?" Anissa still looked a bit shocked.
"I never get mail, and who sends mail by owl?" Harry asked.
Anissa just shook her head then slowly broke the seal on her envelope. Harry did the same and they both carefully pulled out the letters from inside.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
"But magic's not real," Harry blurted out. Padfoot huffed and Anissa raised an eyebrow. Harry blushed and looked back at his letter.
"And what would you call all the stuff we can do? Throwing a stick without touching it for instance. This does explain some things, but what is this place and who is this Professor McGonagall?" Anissa said the name carefully.
"Also, what do they mean they await our owl? We don't have an owl and the ones that dropped these off have already gone." Harry added, gesturing to the empty playground and sky.
"There's no address, but maybe we can just write the school's name and mail it like we'd normally do." Anissa was looking over the paper again. She was getting excited. Padfoot's tail started wagging as he looked back and forth between the two. "We'll ask for more clarification and see what they say."
"I'll need to hide this from my aunt and uncle. They'd get angry and I'd get a beating for anything that even seems like magic." Harry shuddered at the thought. Anissa placed her hand on Harry's shoulder, which he now hardly ever flinched at, and smiled at him, her eyes still worried.
"We'll see what comes back. Then we'll go from there, okay?"
"Okay," Harry smiled back, he was getting a little excited too, though he kept his hope in reserve. Padfoot barked and chased his tail, making both of them laugh.
"I think Snuffles is just as excited as we are. And don't worry, I'll write a letter for the both of us so there's no chance your relatives will be able to see it." offered Anissa.
"Thanks." Harry smiled wider. He was hoping this was real so he could finally have time away from his horrible life.
Minerva McGonagall knocked smartly on the headmaster's large wooden office door. In her hand was a certain letter from two children who were supposed to come to Hogwarts this year. Excitement and worry running equally through her mind.
"Enter." Albus's grandfatherly voice came softly through the door. Minerva walked proudly into the office, and she returned the greetings to the past headmasters and mistresses that welcomed her as she moved towards the large desk.
"Minerva, how are things coming along for the new term? No mishaps, I'm sure. Would you care for a lemon drop?" Albus offered, holding out the dish full of yellow Muggle sweets.
"No thank you, Albus." Minerva gracefully declined. "I just wanted to inform you that I have received a letter from Mr. Potter and a Miss King."
Albus looked at her with his eyes twinkling brightly and folded his hands in his lap as he sat back in his big chair. Today he was wearing a god-awful yellow color that hurt her eyes to look at, so she focused just over his shoulder to spare her retinas.
"Harry? Good, good, he's received his Hogwarts letter then." Albus nodded in satisfaction.
"Yes, but they are asking for verification that this is indeed a real school, what we teach, and for help with getting the things they need. How can Potter not know anything about Hogwarts?" Minerva was worried, this did not seem right. Harry should know something about the magical world.
"He was raised by Muggles." Albus reasoned. "They may not have explained everything to him yet. I'm sure they have now, since he has received his letter."
"Well, I guess I'll find out how much they told him when I personally answer this letter."
"Oh, well, I was going to send Hagrid to help Harry. He is most willing and of course able to get him situated, and I know he'd love to see Harry again." Albus smiled, his eyes twinkling merrily.
"I'm sure he would, but I am the one that explains things to all Muggle-born or raised children who come to Hogwarts. That is my job, and I take it very seriously." said Minerva stiffly.
How dare Albus question her honor to her duty. She had done her job exceptionally for years. And why only help with Harry Potter, why not have Hagrid help with a different Muggle-born? Minerva narrowed her eyes.
"Yes, and you do a fantastic job. I meant no disrespect, Minerva, but you also have so much to do before the term starts and I thought Hagrid could help you."
Minerva's eyes narrowed further into slits, and she pierced Albus with a stare. She had quite an intimidating stare and Albus felt pinned to his chair.
"I have never needed help, and I do not need it now. I will however need Potter's Gringotts key."
Minerva imperiously held out her hand and waited, she was not going to be ousted from her most important job. Especially considering who it was she was going to retrieve. Albus sighed, knowing he had lost and opened a drawer in his desk, drew out a little gold key and passed it to her.
"Please let me know how it goes and anything you deem important for me to know. And remember that Harry doesn't need to know everything." Minerva nodded stiffly and walked out of the room. 'She's as stubborn as her feline Animagus form.' Albus thought.
Minerva was already busy making plans, she had a special boy to bring back into the wizarding world, and who was this Miss King that shared a letter with Mr. Potter? She would head to Miss King's house first before she went to Potter's house.
Minerva thought back to Harry's parents. They were such strong and lovely people, the best that she knew. She still missed them after all these years. They were some of her favorite students, and later became very close friends. She thought of them as family.
'I wonder how much Harry will be like Lily and what he will inherit from James?' she thought.
Smiling nostalgically, Minerva made her way back to her office. Picturing a young James Potter and Lily Evans in their Gryffindor uniforms and thinking that Harry would soon be replacing that image in her head.
Early the next morning, Harry was busy cleaning up the kitchen after the Dursleys ate their breakfast. He was putting the last plate back into the cupboard when he heard a knock on the front door. His uncle muttered as he stomped out of the living room.
'Whoever it is, they're going to get an earful. Vernon doesn't like to be disturbed from watching his morning news,' Harry thought. Wondering who it could be, Harry moved to the doorway to watch his uncle angrily open the front door.
"What do you want? Do you have any idea what time it is? It is indecent to bother descent folks this early." Vernon snarled at the woman who was standing before him. She was tall and dressed smartly in a green suit, and if looks could kill, then his uncle would be six feet under.
'If only.' Harry thought. He would not want to mess with this lady, she looked like a very strict principal. Harry watched as the woman stiffened at the verbal assault from his uncle, then smartly answer him with a stern face.
"My name is Professor Minerva McGonagall. I am here to speak with Mr. Harry Potter about attending Hogwarts–"
She was interrupted by the door slamming in her face. Harry's jaw dropped. So, they had gotten their letter, but her coming here was going to get him in massive trouble, at least according to the glare he was receiving from his uncle as he rounded on him. Harry shivered as dread filled him. His back already aching with the upcoming beating.
Minerva knocked again, and while she waited for the beastly man to open the door, she took a deep calming breath. You are not allowed to hex the man, she reminded herself, though she wanted to do nothing more. Minerva had always hated rude people, and she could tell this man was going to vex her something fierce.
Once the man finally opened the door again, she continued, her Scottish accent thicker in her pique, looking more determined to finish what she wanted to say. Vernon glared at her as she spoke, his face getting redder, then purple by the time she had finished.
"As I said, my name is Professor Minerva McGonagall. I am here about Mr. Potter attending Hogwarts. May I please come inside and see him, or would you rather we have this discussion out here?"
The man glared at her for a minute, hate and disgust in his eyes, and Minerva thought she would have to force her way in to see Mr. Potter, when he opened the door wider. She had to squeeze her way past his giant stomach.
The man then proceeded her down the hallway, lumbering his obese body around the corner. It did not take her long to notice the magical residue that was coming strongly from the cupboard under the stairs – that was odd – and that she did not see any pictures of Harry in the house.
'Something doesn't feel right about this.' she thought.
Entering the living room, she saw a skinny, long necked woman and a boy almost as big as his father. This must be Harry's relatives, but where was Harry? The family looked annoyed to see her in their living room, and most definitely wanted her gone.
Vernon walked over to Petunia and said, "This here is a professor from that freak school your sister went to,"
Petunia and Minerva both sucked in a sharp breath, but for completely different reasons, as Petunia hated any mention of her sister. Minerva turned towards Vernon and gave him a detention worthy glare. Vernon flinched before he stiffened his stance.
"Do not disrespect things you do not understand. Now," She dismissed Vernon and turned to look at Petunia over her glasses. "I have come to speak with your nephew and get him ready for the school term at Hogwarts. Please get him so I can do so."
"The freak is not here," Petunia said, "He left the house earlier. I don't know where he went."
"Really?"
Minerva could tell the woman was lying. She really did not like these people and was starting to get worried about Harry. If they were like this to her, how had they been treating Harry? She had a really bad feeling about this and did not like how they called Harry a freak.
"This needs to be done today so he will have the time to get the things he requires and to have the chance to study the material. I guess I'll just have to find him myself then."
Minerva pulled out her wand, the two adults stiffened, and Vernon snarled, "Don't you dare do any freakiness in my house! Put that thing away!"
Minerva turned and sent an icy look at Vernon, wand pointing right at him. Vernon cringed and moved to shield his family.
"I was only going to cast a Locator Charm, so I could find your nephew. Unless you've changed your mind and will get him for me?" her voice had turned frosty. Silence filled the house and Harry was frozen, waiting for it to burst. When it did, he jumped hard.
"Boy! Get in here!"
Shaking, and knowing he was going to be in severe trouble for this, Harry quickly walked into the room. He inwardly smirked when he saw his relatives huddled in the corner and the smartly dressed professor was right in front of him. He could understand their wariness as she was quite intimidating.
Minerva turned, and when she laid eyes on Harry, they softened a bit in recognition, then she really looked at him. He was so skinny… too skinny, and he looked more like an eight-year-old than an eleven-year-old. What had these Muggles done to him?
Harry saw the recognition flash in her eyes and was momentarily confused. Did she know him? Or maybe his parents? Harry waited, eyes on the floor, he knew better than to look at them or ask or say anything. Vernon pointed at the boy.
"There he is, say your piece and get out," he snapped.
"How rude you are." Minerva sniffed before turning back to Harry. "Mr. Potter, I received your letter –"
"What letter?" Harry's uncle burst out, cutting her off. He glared fiercely at Harry, who shrank back in fear when his uncle took a few menacing steps towards him.
"When did you get a letter? You have been writing to these freaks? After all we've done to stomp that freakishness out of you, you go behind our backs. I forbid you from going to that freak school." Vernon's face was a dark red by now.
Minerva had had enough of this man. What did he mean 'stomping out his freakishness'? What exactly did that entail? She definitely did not like these Muggles, they were the worst sort. Hissing, she turned on Vernon so fast that he stumbled to a halt.
"You, sir, have no say in the matter. This boy will be going to Hogwarts. He will be taught by the greatest headmaster Hogwarts has ever seen. He will become a great wizard, and he will do extraordinary things. A Muggle like you won't be stopping him from going."
She spoke so strongly that Harry almost believed her and was in total awe of the woman. No one ever spoke to his uncle that way. Eyes wide, knowing what would happen next, Harry waited for his uncle to explode.
"I WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" yelled Uncle Vernon
He had finally gone too far. Minerva pointed her wand at him, and sparks started to shoot out of the end, making Vernon wince as little burns appeared on his shirt. Harry watched in fascinated horror at what was happening before him. He knew he would be blamed for this and winced at the thought of the beating he would receive later.
"I will be taking Mr. Potter now to get his school supplies. He will be back tonight. I'm sure you can occupy yourselves in his absence. Come, Mr. Potter."
It was a demand that Harry did not dare to disobey, he just followed her. Professor McGonagall marched out of the door and down towards the park. Harry had to jog a bit to keep up with her long strides. He could hear her muttering something about "worst Muggles ever" "get out" and "how could Dumbledore".
Harry had so many questions but did not dare ask them. He knew better, knew what happened when you ask adults questions, especially when they were angry. He did not want the professor to take her anger out on him. She was a bit scary. Well, a lot scary really.
When they reached the park, Harry saw Anissa sitting on their bench and he felt a lot better. He picked up his pace, and when she looked up at the sound of their approach, she ran to meet him. She had a stern look on her face.
"Finally, I've been waiting for ages." she scolded.
Professor McGonagall gestured back to the bench and conjured up a chair for herself. Harry and Anissa stood in shock, jaws gaping, at the display of magic. Harry had the tingle of fear run down his spine that always accompanied anything magical. Minerva smiled and gestured to the bench again. After everyone was seated, and she had taken a couple of deep breaths, she responded to Anissa's scolding.
"Please excuse us, Miss King. It took a little longer than I thought it would to collect Mr. Potter from his relatives. We will now discuss your letter, and I will try to answer any questions you may have. Afterwards, we will go to Diagon Alley and buy your school supplies. Is that acceptable?" Minerva looked at both children and they nodded in return.
"Now, Hogwarts is a school of magic. Yes, it is real." she added, forestalling the question she saw on both their open lips. "I am the deputy headmistress and Albus Dumbledore is the headmaster. There, we teach many young children, like you, how to control and use the magic they possess. This is a boarding school, so you will be spending ten months out of the year at this school, excluding holidays when you can return home."
Harry and Anissa looked at each other significantly. Minerva could see the relief in their eyes, and it made her wonder, yet again, what was going on in their houses. She could not call them homes anymore, not if what she suspected was happening there, was truly happening. The words Harry's uncle had said ran through Minerva's mind, 'After all we've done to stomp that freakishness out of you.'
When Minerva had arrived at Anissa's house and explained what Anissa was and what Hogwarts was, her parents seemed quite excited to get her on her way. They practically pushed money at her and pushed them out the door.
She had seen that happen many times before, but it still hurt her heart when it did. The resigned looks on the children's faces hurt her the most. When they came to realize that they were not wanted by their family. Anissa raised her hand and Minerva smirked.
"You are not in school yet, Miss King. You do not need to raise your hand. What did you want to ask?"
"You will help us control all the weird things that happen around us?"
Harry was watching Minerva intently and it made her a little uncomfortable, if she was honest. Those eyes were very intense and looked just like the Killing Curse. Unnerved, Minerva focused on Anissa instead.
"Yes. Those 'weird things' as you put it, are accidental magic. Children cannot control it, and it usually happens when they are very sad, happy, or scared. You will learn to control it and use it to do many amazing things."
That did not sound exactly right to Harry as he could do many things at will. He could move things when he wanted to, where he wanted to, and he knew Anissa could too. He would have to keep watch and learn all he could. He wanted to be strong for Anissa, to keep her safe.
"Anything else?" Minerva asked. When she received two head shakes, she moved on.
"There are four Houses at Hogwarts. They are named after the four founders: Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin. You will be placed in one of these four Houses for the seven years that you attend Hogwarts. There are a lot of extra activities, clubs and studies that are available beyond the core classes you are required to take. There are also Quidditch games to watch. First years cannot try out for their House teams but watching is just as exciting."
Here, the professor smiled, and an excited glint was in her eyes. Harry and Anissa shared another look. This seemed like something they could possibly enjoy, so they asked for more details.
"Quidditch is a game that is played in the air on brooms. It is fast paced and very exciting. It would be better for you to watch it than to have me explain it. It would make more sense to you. You will see it once you're at Hogwarts. The Houses are very competitive, and it is a very big deal."
Wow, so witches really do fly on brooms! This was something they knew they would look forward to. With the professor's excitement about it, they knew it would be a lot of fun to watch. They decided they would get a book about it to learn more when they went to get their supplies.
"Okay, if you have no other questions, we will now head to Diagon Alley so we can get your supplies."
Harry realized he did have a question when he watched the professor stand up and the chair disappeared. That still shocked him and made him uneasy. He looked at Anissa, his unease showing, and rubbed his thumb over his fingers. She nodded in encouragement for Harry to speak up.
"Um, ma'am." Harry said quietly.
"Yes?"
Minerva turned to Harry with a smile. Harry squirmed in embarrassment and a touch of fear, his shoulders curling inward slightly. He never asked an adult a question. It was against the rules. Anissa reached over and took his hand in support.
"How am I going to pay for all this? You heard my uncle. He won't pay for me to go to your school."
The professor's eyes softened again. "Mr. Potter, did you think your parents would leave you with nothing? You have a trust vault at Gringotts. That is our bank. Your parents have already taken care of your school costs. We just need to stop there before we go get your supplies."
Harry let go of the breath he did not know he was holding, his shoulders relaxing a bit. Anissa squeezed his hand and looked at Professor McGonagall in excitement. Harry gathered his courage to ask his next question since the professor had not yelled at him for asking the first.
"Professor," said Harry, "You seem like you knew my parents. Did you?"
Both sets of eyes focused on Minerva, but she only had eyes for Harry. Her eyes teared up a bit, a faraway look in them, and a soft smile formed on her lips.
"Yes, Mr. Potter, I taught them when they went to Hogwarts. Afterwards, we became very close friends, like family. Tell me, Mr. Potter, what do you know about your parents?"
"I know they were lazy drunks who died in a car crash. That's how I got this scar." Harry lifted his fringe to show the lightning bolt scar on his forehead.
"Excuse me!?" Minerva snapped.
Harry flinched hard into Anissa, who put her arm around his shoulder, and pulled him into her, practically shielding him. Seeing Harry's fear, Minerva quickly got herself under control, she could not believe the words that had come out of Harry's mouth. She pushed her anger at the Dursleys aside. What other lies had they told the boy?
"I apologize, Mr. Potter, but that is absurd. Your parents did not die in a car crash. They were murdered by a very powerful and extremely Dark wizard, trying to keep us all safe."
Harry was shocked, his mind in a buzz. His parents did not kill themselves to get away from him? Had they actually wanted him in spite of his freakishness? Why would his aunt lie about that?
Minerva sighed, this was not what she thought she would be discussing today, if ever. She might as well tell him about it, or he would likely get the information from another student, and who knew what they would tell him. She pointed to the bench again and the two slowly sat back down.
"Alright. There are good and bad wizards, just like there are good and bad Muggles."
Anissa interrupted the professor with a question that Harry also wanted to ask. "What is a Muggle?"
"They are what we call non-magical people. Now save your questions till the end please." Minerva started to pace. "A little over ten years ago there was a very Dark wizard who was trying to gather followers to take over the wizarding world. Those were dark days. You didn't know who to trust. People were going missing or dying. There were many who stood up to him, and your parents were some of them. He tried to recruit them, but they would never turn Dark. Things were getting really bad… then on Halloween night everything stopped. This Dark wizard had gone to the village where you were living. You were just a little over a year old then. He came to your house and… and he killed them."
Minerva sniffed and closed her eyes, trying to hold back her tears. She opened them again when she felt a small pat on her arm and saw Harry looking at her with both wisdom and sadness beyond his years. She gave him a sad smile in return.
"That is how you got that mark." she continued. "He tried to kill you as well, but the curse rebounded somehow, and Dark curses leave a mark. You are the only person to have ever survived the Killing Curse. No one knows how you survived. He has killed so many people, but something about you stopped him that night. In our world you are famous. Every child grew up hearing your name. You are a hero to the whole Wizarding world."
Harry stared at the professor dumbfounded. In his mind he could again see his old nightmare, and now it made sense. The bright green light, the high cold laughter… that was the Dark wizard who had murdered his parents.
Anissa stared at Harry in awe. He shook his head. From what it sounded like, his mother and father were the true heroes, the ones who stood up and made this Dark wizard go away, not him. He was nothing special.
"No, Professor. I am no hero, I'm just Harry. My mum and dad were the heroes. I don't want people to look at me as if I'm a hero, because it just isn't so. I'm not special in any way." Harry murmured.
"Yes, you are!" Anissa said fiercely. "You are kind, smart, loyal and selfless. You are an amazing person, and I better not hear you say anything like that again, Harry James Potter!" Harry smiled softly at her rebuke – Minerva could tell that this was something they argued about often – then looked at Professor McGonagall.
"I understand my parents being killed because they fought against that Dark wizard, but I don't understand why he tried to kill me. I was just a baby, what could I do? Do you know why?"
Minerva sighed. How to answer that without telling him too much? "Do you know what a prophecy is Mr. Potter?"
"I think it's something that tells you the future." Anissa piped up. Minerva nodded.
"A prophecy is a prediction of sorts, and some think they are fated. You see, Mr. Potter, a prophecy was made about a child born at the end of July. It stated that this child would possess the power to defeat this Dark wizard. Once this wizard had heard of this prophecy, he decided that it was you and set out to take your life so you would never grow up to defeat him. The problem with believing in prophecies, is that in acting to stop them, he caused his own demise."
"Do you know what the prophecy says?" Harry asked.
Minerva shook her head. "No, I'm sorry."
Harry was not sure how to feel. His whole family was murdered because this wizard figured he would be strong enough to kill him. Harry knew he was not strong. He could not even protect himself or Anissa from their relatives. He ran it all through his head for a minute then nodded.
"Two more things, ma'am, well three. Can you please call me Harry and her Anissa?"
Minerva smiled, nodded softly, and told them to call her Min outside of school. She would love to get to know this wonderful child better, and Miss King as well. They were such sweet and polite children. She would be happy to help them navigate the magical world.
"Thank you, Pro - Min. Can you tell me my parents' names? And I'd like to know that Dark wizard's name too. I want to know who murdered my parents."
Minerva's jaw dropped but she quickly snapped it shut. He does not even know his parents' names? She felt another rush of anger at the Dursleys. How could they keep this from him? This boy knew nothing at all, about anything. Oh, she was going to give Albus a piece of her mind.
"Of course, Mr. P– Harry. Their names were Lily and James. They were great people, and you look just like your father, except the eyes, you have your mother's eyes."
Harry felt a warmth flow through him at those words. Was that what love felt like? Anissa smiled and squeezed his hand in hers. She was happy for him. She knew any knowledge of his parents meant the world to Harry.
"Now, the Dark wizard's name was Tom, Tom Riddle. He went by Lord Voldemort, but everyone prefers 'You-Know-Who' or 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named'."
"Those are dumb names," scoffed Anissa.
"Why would they call him that?" Harry was confused.
"During those dark days, he put a Geis on his name, so anyone who was brave or dumb enough to say it was found and permanently silenced by his followers, the Death Eaters. People are still scared to say his name, even with him gone. So just be careful where you say that name."
"Yes ma'am. Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it more than you know." Anissa nodded along with him.
Minerva smiled at Harry, and he shyly smiled back. She then gestured for them to follow her and stopped when she reached the street. There she pointed her wand out towards the road and a loud crack filled the air. Harry and Anissa jumped.
Out of nowhere, a purple triple decker bus pulled up in front of them. A sign on the side read 'Knight Bus'. Out of the bus stepped a skinny pimple faced young man. He was reading out loud from the card he was holding.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transportation for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike and I'll be your conductor this... Blimey, Professor McGonagall, wha' you doin 'ere, ma'am?"
The man looked in awe once he looked up from his card to see who was entering the bus. He only spared a glance for the two children who were with her, and that was fine with them. Harry flattened his fringe just in case. He did not want anyone to recognize him.
"Hogwarts business, Stan. Almost time for the new term to begin. Three tickets to the Leaky Cauldron please."
"Right you are, Professor. Please find a seat anywhere."
Stan hurried up to the front to talk to the driver. It seems that Stan was totally in awe of Professor McGonagall, he even brought her tea. She thanked him as the bus took off. Now, the bus would have been great fun, except for the sudden starts and stops. You could not stop yourself from slamming into a wall or bench.
Although somehow, Professor McGonagall did not move at all as she sipped her tea. Harry and Anissa were quite jealous as they could already feel the bruises they would no doubt have later. It was quite the ride.
In no time, they stopped outside of a dingy looking building. The sign out front read 'Leaky Cauldron' and had a picture of an overflowing cauldron on it. Just before they entered, Professor McGonagall stopped and turned to face them.
"Alright. Get ready you two. Remember how I said you were famous?" Harry nodded, "Anyone who recognizes you will probably want to meet you and talk to you. I will try to get us through quickly, but crowds can be fickle. Are you prepared?"
Anissa put her arm around Harry's shoulders. "I will keep him safe, Professor,"
Minerva smiled at Harry's embarrassment. She turned and opened the door to the pub. It was very dark and shabby inside. Not like a place anyone would want to visit willingly, but it was fairly busy inside. Harry and Anissa stayed close to the professor.
A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. A little old man in a top hat was talking to the bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. Harry did not think he would ever come here, especially alone.
There was a low buzz of chatter that grew when those inside saw who had entered. It seemed that Professor McGonagall demanded respect wherever she went. People were calling out greetings or moving out of her way as she walked.
Harry and Anissa tried to keep close to her and not draw any notice to themselves. Neither of them wanted to experience the mob that Professor McGonagall had mentioned outside of the pub. The idea of being crowded frightened Harry.
Sadly, that was not to be. Harry was so nervous that he tripped on an uneven stone, and it caught everyone's attention. The bartender quickly came around to assist him, even though Anissa had already helped him up. While unnecessarily brushing him off, the man looked at Harry's face. Minerva sighed in resignation. 'Here it comes.'
"Good Lord, is this – can this be?" The Leaky Cauldron was suddenly quiet, and everyone was staring. Harry gulped and stepped closer to Anissa. "Bless my soul," whispered the bartender, "Harry Potter… what an honor," He shook his hand with tears in his eyes. "Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back,"
Suddenly, there was a great scraping of chairs and in the next moment Harry was surrounded by people. Anissa tried to stay in front of him and keep people away, but she was easily pushed aside. The crowd ignored her complaints.
Harry was trying to sink into the wall behind him, his eyes wide with fear, as people were grabbing his hands and shaking them or slapping his back, which still pained him from his previous lashings. He wanted to be anywhere than here.
"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."
Minerva had Anissa by the shoulder, and she could see the panic and pain on Harry's face. She hated the way people could not contain themselves, nor notice that the boy was scared of them. She shot off three loud bangs from her wand. Everyone stopped and stared at her.
"If you would all please back away from my student and act like the adults you are, we need to go and purchase his school supplies. For those of you that don't move this instant, you will get a taste of my wand."
Everyone quickly stepped back from Harry, no one wanted to face Professor McGonagall's wrath. Harry was frozen against the wall, his body shivering madly and breath moving rapidly, and Anissa ran and grabbed his hand to lead him out. A path was cleared for them, and they made it outside quickly. They ended up in a garbage covered back alley.
"I am sorry, Harry. I tried to warn you, but things are as they are. Hopefully it will be better from now on. Again, I apologize."
"It's not your fault, Professor." Harry whispered as he tried to stop his heart from beating out of his chest. "It was just overwhelming. I don't like to be touched."
Minerva nodded in understanding as she watched Anissa holding Harry's hand and whispering into his ear. She could see Harry calming down and a smile pulled at her lips. She turned to the wall and held out her wand.
"Now watch this as you will need to remember it so you can enter on your own."
She counted the bricks in the wall above the trash can. Three up, two across. She tapped the wall three times with her wand. The brick she touched vanished and in a matter of seconds a large archway appeared.
As the professor walked onto the cobblestone street, she said, "Welcome to Diagon Alley."
