Diagon Alley was different to Harriet in some way. At least this time she could point the finger at the unsettled feeling that she had when looking upon the bright and colorful market. But it was still loads better than being with the Dursleys. After their mental break down at the cabin in the middle of the ocean, Harriet wanted to stay as far away as possible. Who knows what they would do to her. Now that they knew that she knows about magic, Harriet was unsure of what kind of punishments they would give her. Harriet dreaded the thought of going back to them now. And so the cheery sight of Diagon Alley was a momentary relief to be there. But the shopping district wasn't as wonderful as it had been before. There was a difference in the last time that Harriet had been here. Something had changed. Perhaps it was the fake cheerfulness she could see on people's faces. Or maybe it was the knowledge that the wizarding world was unfair. And Harriet was no longer the sweet summer child who believed that the magic world would solve everything. She knew better than to place her trust in others now. At least in those who were in charge of her. Once she was grown up then maybe she could do what she wanted, but for now, it was the sense of impending doom that the wizarding world gave her that made the shopping district feel off.
"Right this way, Harriet." Hagrid, the giant of a man, gestured to her to follow him. "You keep with me, now. Don't want you to get lost." He slapped her on her back and Harriet pitched forward. The man didn't notice and Harriet rubbed her shoulder as she reluctantly followed. Her back still ached from the beating. But it was mildly discomforting rather than a red hot burning mess of pain. Harriet could ignore it easily, as she had other things to think about.
The alley was full of people. More so than usual. Parents and their children were walking everywhere, and Harriet noted that they all had a parchment that they referred to. The Hogwarts letter that held the list of school supplies. Harriet was glad that she was with Hagrid. He was a nice man, although extremely intimidating. But since he was so big that Harriet didn't have to be in the flow of people because they parted before him. It lessened the panic and anxiety she had around crowds. It wasn't as bad as London, but it was still making her feel uncomfortable to be here. She silently walked behind the man as he pointed out store after store. "That's Flourish and Blotts. You can pick up your school books there. And that's Fortescue's, they have a great selection of ice cream." Harriet noted his advice and moved onwards.
The one shop she did want his commentary, Hagrid didn't say a word as they passed. Harriet paused slightly, leaning on her tiptoes to get a better look at the items in the window. Slug and Jiggers Apothecary. Harriet stared longingly at the jars and plants in the display window. She wanted to get her hands on those so badly…
"Harriet? Keep movin' I don't want to lose you." Hagrid called behind him and Harriet blinked before moving onwards. She glanced behind her, but the crowd obscured her vision. Harriet sighed before turning and quickly caught up to Hagrid. She had to take almost five times the amount of steps that he did, and Harriet was glad that they came to their destination so fast. She was beginning to get a stitch in her side. Gringotts was as intimidating as it had been before, and Harriet didn't like the place. It didn't seem as welcoming as it had before. The large stone pillars and the expansive hallway was huge, towering above her small body. She felt small. Smaller than usual in these halls.
Due to her inheritance test, Harriet knew how much she should be getting from her vault. It listed that she got 200 galleons every year for school and stuff like that. If Harriet were to penny pinch, hopefully, she could go pick up a few extra things. She watched as Hagrid went on ahead, and she dreamed about the various ingredients that she could get from the potions store. She practically drooled at the idea. 200 galleons. It was barely a drop in the bucket from what her parents had, but to Harriet, it was a fortune.
Hagrid went up to a goblin and cheerfully interrupted them. Harriet watched the exchange with cautious eyes. Hagrid didn't care that he was bothering the goblin at all. Although Harriet found no affection for the beings, she still figured that they were much smarter than her. They knew math after all. And Harriet knew that interrupting somebody was very rude.
"We are here to also get Harriet Potter's school vault as well." Hagrid boomed out. Harriet jumped at the sound of her name being so loud. It was weird that somebody called her that. Most of the time she was just used to 'freak' or 'girl' but being called her own name was an odd sensation. Harriet immediately disliked it being said so loud.
"Key?" The goblin asked, extending a gnarled hand.
"Oh yes. Now, where did I put it?" Hagrid patted his many pockets. He retrieved several live mice, a few dogs treats, a vial of what looked like ooze, and a jar of bees, before he finally located the key. Harriet had been surprised by the mice, and by the time the bees came out Harriet's eyebrows were almost to her hairline. And Dudley had been a hoarder… but he had nothing on Hagrid and his pockets. Harriet mildly wondered what it was like to carry all that stuff around. It must be heavy.
After the goblin looked at the key with a sneer on it's face (Harriet didn't blame him at all. It came out of the pocket with the ooze), it deemed it worthy. Once again Harriet found herself trailing after a goblin. Although he didn't take her through the confusing hallways again, he led them to a large doorway in the back of the room where it looked like several people were coming in and out of. That room led to a… a cart on wheels? Harriet stared at it blankly before it dawned on her. A mine shaft cart? She had only seen these in cartoons, whenever she could sneak a glance. She didn't know that they existed. How strange to see it here of all places.
Hagrid didn't seem to notice her confusion. He followed the goblin towards a cart and climbed in, almost tipping the thing over by his sudden weight. "Well? Come on Harriet. It won't hurt ya."
Harriet jumped once again at the sound of her name and moved forwards. Almost knocking into a few people. She ducked past them and clambered into the cart. The goblin didn't glance at them before moving to grasp a lever.
"Vault 687." He said and then the cart jerked forwards suddenly. Harriet bounced at the motion and then she instantly realized that this was a mistake. Hagrid, as Harriet glanced at him, didn't seem to be worried at all. But as the cart began to move, Harriet clutched at her large clothes and curled in, she felt that familiar sinking feeling that she was going to regret this.
The cart turned a corner, leaving the station with people behind, and immediately it slid down a ramp sharply. Harriet let loose a strangled noise as she watched the tracks disappear from under the cart rapidly. It would level for a moment or two, and then the cart would dip sharply and fall. Harriet didn't know what to think, it was happening so quickly that she could barely process it. One hand snatched at a handle that was placed in the cart, gripping it tightly while the other protected her torso. Then the cart leveled out and curled around another corner. Harriet saw it a split second before they hit it. Her hair lifted up and curled around her ears as they went steeply downhill.
Too frightened to do anything, Harriet stopped breathing and watched with wide eyes. They were going fast. Too fast. The rail twisted. Harriet was suddenly pressed up against Hagrid. Then it turned. She was pushed up against the other side of the cart. Too close to the wall. Harriet could feel her hair whipping behind her. The wind was so sharp she could barely keep her eyes open. The cart turned upwards. Her stomach lurched at the sudden motion. Then it dipped once more. Harriet felt herself lift off the seat. But she landed heavily on the cushion. The air turned cold. Turn. Twist. Up. Down. Left. Right. Falling.
And then finally, the goblin pulled the lever. The cart immediately began to slow. The wind on her face lessened, and Harriet felt numb as she felt the cart began to stop. The jolt that pushed her forwards as it finally came to a stop didn't register. She was still looking forwards with wide eyes, waiting for the ground to drop out from underneath her again.
"Here we are. I told ya it wouldn't hurt ya." Hagrid said, giving Harriet another slap on the back. Then the moved, getting out of the cart first and then holding a hand out to Harriet. She looked at him with wide eyes before accepting his hand.
He pulled her out with no trouble at all. Harriet didn't expect that and stumbled out of the cart. She staggered, her legs feeling weak. She looked around, blinking. Was it really over? Was the cart ride done? She couldn't feel her fingers from where they gripped the cart. Then she gave herself a bright smile. 'That was brilliant!' Harriet thought as she stumbled over to the vault door. She watched as it was unlocked, the shifting gears and pullies moving apart until a doorway appeared. It was almost mesmerizing to watch. And then her eyes fell onto the gold.
'Oh,' Harriet thought. Then paused. 'That doesn't look like two hundred galleons.'
It indeed wasn't.
Harriet quickly grew sick of shopping. It was the addition of the crowds, the noise level, and the general anxiety that she had that pressed down on her. But it was also the knowledge that she only had seventy-five galleons to her name. And looking through the lists and the prices matched on her school supplies made her heart quickly sink. There wouldn't be anything left. Nothing. The first sign was that she spent a good chunk on a second-hand trunk. Hagrid had bartered with the shopkeeper, bringing the price down from twenty-five galleons to eighteen. He had spared her from paying six galleons, of which Harriet was grateful. However, the trunk in question was so different from her mum's that Harriet wondered if it was worth the expense. It was banged up, a corner of the leather was peeling back, and it was heavy. It didn't come with any enchantments, like shrinking or a light-weight charm. It was a heavy box that didn't even have more than one compartment.
Harriet took it anyways. Because it was hers now. Even though she was certain that she was going to use her mum's anyways. She'd find a use for this trunk somehow. Perhaps not for storing items in though. It was ugly, old, and clearly second hand. But now it was Harriet's. And she thought if anything, it had character.
(Harriet didn't look once at the sleek and beautifully designed trunks whatsoever. They were clearly too expensive. If she had the full amount of two-hundred galleons, she might have been able to afford one. But she couldn't change the fact that she was poor. And so she was quite content with her ugly trunk.)
One store after another, Harriet was blindsided with different items and people. Colors blended together. Noise encompassed her, and Harriet found it easier to stick next to Hagrid. People moved aside for him. She felt a little bit safer around him. Although he was impossibly loud. Hagrid's voice could shake her deep into her bones. It was almost unsettling for her, but she would prefer it to the massive amounts of people around her. Hagrid took her to shops, almost seemingly at random. They would start at one, go down the street, and then come back up to the shop next to where they first started. It was unusual, but Harriet didn't protest. She was a little overwhelmed by everything. And there were a few shops that Hagrid couldn't squeeze into, like the book shop. But there was a set stack of books placed together that listed each school year that required them, so it was easy for Harriet to duck in and out of. She even received a couple of small blank paper books that were complimentary, which Harriet found to be nice. She'd use them, whether for notes or as a makeshift journal. The rest of the shops fell in the same way. They had prepared separate areas that were just for Hogwarts students and put all the required items there. It was easy to just pick up what was listed and to pay for it.
However, Harriet was almost depressed by the time they reached a store called Potage's Cauldron Shop. She should have been grateful that they were reaching one of the shops that she had been looking forward too. Anything that pertained to potions was immediately a favourite. Hell, the potions book she had picked up already had her fingers twitching to get to it. A potions book that she had never read before? It made her mouth water. But Harriet figured out quickly that this store was just like the rest. It had a bunch of equipment separated and… to her dismay, a potions ingredient set was included. Harriet leaned in at the small box filled with small vials, looking at the ingredients and noting with a sinking stomach on how little there was. The vials were as big as her fingers. They weren't the full sized ones. Not in the slightest. Not to mention the quality of the ingredients was… not good. The baymore leaves were cracking, for heaven's sake. Those are long since past their expiration date. Harriet had never handled these items before, but she could pick out signs that she had read about. Weren't they going to the apothecary after this? Or was this all? Harriet hoped fervently not.
"Harriet?" Hagrid called from the doorway. "We haven't got all day. Pick a box and let's go."
Harriet pursed her lips just like Aunt Petunia and set about trying to pick out the best box within a few seconds. She succeeded, hopefully. At least there wasn't mold growing on the wormwood. After paying, Harriet hurried outside to where Hagrid was waiting in the shade. By now it was an easy task of opening her dumb bulky trunk and putting her new purchases inside. Hagrid was perusing through the Hogwarts list, mumbling to himself.
"Alrigh' then. Looks like we just need to get you yer robes. Madam Malkins doesn't look too busy now." Hagrid was quick to fold up the parchment and stuff it into his many pockets. "Better prices than Tattings."
But wait- weren't they going to-? Harriet made a small sound. Hagrid stopped and turned back, "did you say somethin'?"
It was the first time besides telling her that she was a witch (of course she knew. But that was a rude way of saying it to her) that Hagrid spoke to her and expected a response. Harriet caught his eyes and something inside of her froze. Her mouth grew dry. Her throat parched. What- what should she say? She suddenly felt very, very small. She had to say something. She had to. What could she tell him? Panic surged up from her stomach and choked her.
"I thought- uh, maybe-" Harriet's voice croaked from unuse. She looked down at the ground, unable to hold any eye contact. It was too nerve-wracking. Then she glanced up at the apothecary. The one place that she wanted to go. Surely they still had to go purchase some items there. There had to be something that wasn't included in the kit that she needed?
Hagrid followed her line of sight. Then laughed, a big booming sound. "Oh no. That place is far too expensive. It's for the posh folks, really. Besides, ya got the potions stuff you need already. Don't need nothin' in there."
"Oh," Harriet said very, very quietly. Her heart sank into her stomach. She wanted to protest. She had to have some spare money. She could at least get a few small items. Perhaps better vials, if anything. But any desire to speak up against the big man was nonexistent. Harriet couldn't even imagine herself willing up any courage to speak now.
"Don't let that get ya down. We aren't finished shoppin' quite yet." Hagrid slapped her back, making her stumble forwards. Harriet looked up from the ground enough to stop herself from falling face first and then hurried once more after Hagrid who was walking fast.
This time, Harriet didn't dare look back at the apothecary. It was better to not dream if she knew she couldn't have it.
Madam Malkins was indeed not busy. Harriet was the only person in the shop. The nice lady, Madam Malkin, used magic to fit her for her robes! How amazing. Harriet hadn't seen magic done by a wand before. Unless she counted the umbrella that Hagrid used to give Dudley a pigs tail. But this was equally exciting to see. Pieces of cloth floated around her and Harriet soon had her very own clothes. Tailored to her! Harriet wanted to put them on right away. She hated Dudley's old clothes that she had to wear. And the skirt looked so pretty! Harriet had never worn a skirt before. And she wouldn't have to wear a belt while using it. The thought of wearing something that didn't make her look like she was drowning was so appealing to Harriet. These clothes were made just for her! Not for Dudley or for anybody! Just Harriet.
Her school wardrobe was wrapped in brown paper and neatly tied up with a bow. Harriet admired it and quietly paid for it. Malkin didn't mind her silence and thanked her for coming in. It was probably the best store that Harriet had visited thus far. There were no screaming children, no parents waiting in line to pay for items, no crowds reaching over her. Harriet was sad to leave the small shop, but thankfully Hagrid was waiting for her outside.
He was holding something strange in his hands. A box. Harriet was unsure, but Hagrid looked extremely impressed with himself. "Happy Birthday Harriet!" He boomed out, thrusting the box towards her. Harriet fumbled with her package. Her new clothes were gently set aside on her trunk as she gently plucked the package out of Hagrid's waiting grasp. The giant was beaming and Harriet felt nervous underneath his stare.
She fumbled several times untying the twine that wrapped the box. Hagrid didn't say anything, just smiled broadly and waited for her to open the box. Harriet finally pried open the cardboard and looked inside. It was… she paused. It was a glass bowl with a lid? She picked it up easily in one hand, letting the box fall as she peered into it.
Inside of the bowl was an animal. At first glance, Harriet thought it was a toad. Or perhaps a frog. She couldn't be sure which was which. However, glancing over its strange white marks on it's back and dotted black head, it took some time before Harriet finally recognized it. It wasn't just any type of toad. It was Tarda Bufonidae. The Slow Toad. The magical properties of this animal weren't fully listed because of how annoying it was to handle them. But their skin slime and eggs were used in powerful sleeping potions that could send people into comas if taken improperly. And simply holding the toad too long could cause hallucinations and drowsiness.
Harriet was speechless. This was- this was-
She looked up at Hagrid with wide eyes. Unable to fully process the emotions and thoughts that were racing through her head. Hagrid cleared his throat.
"I got ya a toad. I know they aren't exactly popular with the kids these days. But I figured that ya might like her." He shuffled his feet a bit.
Harriet sniffled.
"Harriet?" Hagrid asked. He looked alarmed as Harriet began to cry a little bit. "Oh-"
"It's perfect." Harriet hiccuped. She covered her face with a hand, ashamed but so happy. Nobody had done this before. Nobody had ever given her such a wonderful gift. This toad, this was what she had wanted for so long. A piece of magic. And it washers. "Thank you." She whispered, hugging the bowl close to her. She knew that she cried ugly. And she felt embarrassment heating her face as she covered her face from anybody's view.
Then she felt strong arms wrapping around her. She was pulled into an embrace, her feet lifting off the ground. She stiffened. Unsure what to do in this situation. Did she put her arms around him? Does she stay still? Was it rude to breathe? But… the longer she was held, the more she slowly relaxed. This feeling was equally strange. Somebody touching her that wasn't hurting her. It was… nice. Harriet decided that she didn't mind that feeling. It was warm. And even after Hagrid set her down and pulled away, that warmth lingered in her bones.
"You're welcome, Harriet," Hagrid said, with a soft smile. Harriet… well. Harriet didn't mind him as much anymore. Yes, he was loud and big, but he was kind. And that is something that the Dursleys were not. Being better than the Dursleys was always a bonus in her book.
There was an awkward moment. Harriet looked down at her newly acquired pet. Yes, she had a pet! Something that Aunt Petunia had never allowed Dudley to get. Her own magic toad! One with magical properties.
"What'll you name 'er?" Hagrid asked. Harriet paused. That is right. She got to name her own pet! But what could she call her? Harriet wasn't sure. Nothing stupid, like Spot or Trevor. But she didn't want anything too out of the norm. Instead, Harriet recalled a favourite potioneer. There weren't too many females in the potions world.
"Hedwig." Harriet softly replied. Speaking didn't feel too scary now. Although she didn't dare raise her voice. "I'll call her Hedwig."
"Tha's a lovely name." Hagrid approved. "I wasn't too sure if you'd have liked her. But she seemed like she was made fer ya." Harriet clutched the bowl closer to herself. She really liked Hedwig. This was better than going to the apothecary. Now she had a friend and a potions ingredient wrapped into one! Although Harriet wasn't going kill Hedwig to use her organs or anything. Just her slime would do.
"Speaking of which, we have one last item on your list. Yer wand." Hagrid said.
Oh yes, that is right. Harriet felt a little slow thinking. So many things were happening and all she wanted to do was be in her cupboard and look at her new books with Hedwig. But there was one more thing to do! Her wand! The best thing that would help her finally do her magic! Harriet grabbed her small bag of coins from her pocket. She had kept a careful track of how much gold she had left. Although she had a few knuts and sickles, the main total evened out to six galleons. The ones that Hagrid had saved her when he bartered for her trunk. She was ready to find her new wand!
Instead, Hagrid reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small box. It was a little bent but this one had a red ribbon tied neatly around it. He handed it to her, a proud look on his face. Harriet glanced up at him, then down at the box. Reluctantly she set Hedwig down and pulled at the ribbon. It was silky and smooth as it slid through her rough fingers. When she finally lifted the box, a brown stick laid in a cushion. It was plain, but Harriet had never wanted anything too extravagant. The wood was smooth. Although Harriet could see a few small scratches on it, it was in perfect shape.
"That was yer father's wand," Hagrid spoke softly.
Her father's… this was his wand. This was the wand that did all of the curses, all of the jinxes and charms that she had wanted to read about. It did all of the transfigurations. And the pranks that it had done. The things that Harriet had read, this wand played such a big part in everything. This is the wand that her own father had wielded. And it was so magical. Moreso than flying or causing things to vanish. To know that her dad had owned this, and now it was hers made Harriet feel like this was the most unique thing in the universe.
Harriet picked it up, gripping it in her hand. It sent almost unpleasant tingles down her arm. But Harriet had felt worse, so she didn't mind the mild discomfort. She barely noticed it as she held her father's wand. She finally held a piece of her father in her hands. Harriet had another connection to her family. Something that she had wanted ever since that fateful day with Miss Figg. No, ever since she realized that her relatives would never love her. She had wanted to know more, to have more, about her parents. And this was it.
This wand was special. And Harriet held it close to her.
"Well," Hagrid caught her attention again. "We do have another stop. If you'd like to go. I was wondering if you'd like to go visit your parents while we were here."
(There is a special place in our hearts for Harriet. We do. Truly, we would not be telling this story if we didn't enjoy her. In fact, we share her story not because of fame nor glory, but because we want people to know that she exists. Throughout the many universes, the thousands upon thousands of different versions of Harry Potter, it is easy for people like Harriet to slip through the cracks. Many entities won't bother telling their stories. But watching Harriet and seeing her struggles, we wanted to make sure that people knew her. Other people in the department don't care enough to share their tales. And thus, many creatures do not know of the struggles and life that their universes go through. But Harriet's story deserves to be told.
The small Harriet department came together about this moment. Where Harriet found herself going into St. Mungos for the first time. It wasn't just this universe, but the other thousands of universes that this occasion happened. And we all collectively decided that this was a private moment. Harriet's vulnerability and emotions at meeting her parents for the first time is something that we are leaving to her. It is a private and sacred moment that we will not broadcast to others simply for entertainment.
Instead, we shall leave you this:
Harriet met her parents.
And her parents did not recognize her.
And that is all we shall say.)
(Fred Weasley woke up in the middle of the night from a feverish dream. Breathing hard, he glanced over to see if his noise had woken his twin. But George was still snoring softly in his bed, undisturbed by Fred's sudden distress.
It happened again. Fred tossed the covers off and sat on the edge of the bed. His body covered in sweat that cooled him in the summer air. He tilted his head back and took in long deep breaths. His heart thumped so loud that he was almost afraid that it would wake George.
"Shit." Fred softly swore to himself. He curled up into a ball, his head in his hands. Things were coming to him. Frightening things. Visions. Fred had long since figured out that somehow the things that he saw were unnatural. Even in a magical community, it was hard to figure that out. But it wasn't until he had seen first handedly some of the things that he had seen come true that it really clicked for him. He could see the future.
And Fred wondered sometimes if the future could see him too.
He fell back into bed after calming down. His mind raced and he didn't feel as sick as before. He paused, looking up at the cracked ceiling. The images from his dream came to his mind unbidden.
A flash of red hair. A shoulder of a girl. Freckles dotted on skin. A black notebook, blurry words forming on the page by itself. 'People don't understand you like I do.' It said. Then a hallway in Hogwarts. It was nighttime, the torches were lit. A girl laughing. A shoulder with freckles, a tattoo inked on the skin. A girl with her face obscured.
The more Fred tried to focus on her the more blurry and undefined she was. Something about her didn't want to be shown. But there was another feeling. Dread. Fred could feel it in his bones. Something about this girl was off. And it prickled at this skin and an unexplained fear began to form. There was something that truly terrified Fred about her. And he didn't want to know why.
He let out a big sigh then rolled over. Reaching underneath his bed, he picked up a book that he had stumbled across by pure chance. It had that symbol in it. The one that he had seen tattooed. The only thing that he could recall perfectly. The lines and sharp black ink were burned into his mind. Fred flipped through the pages of 'The Beedle and the Bard' until he came to a story about three brothers and death.)
(Once upon a time, there were three brothers.)