Chapter 5
A few minutes later after a fast ride on the cart with Harry exclaiming in glee all the way they arrived at Harry's vault. Griphook inserted Harry's key, and the door opened. Harry peered inside and gasped in awe for piled on the floor were piles gold Galleons, mounds of silver Sickles and heaps of little bronze Knuts. Harry had known at least intellectually that several million Galleons was a lot of money but to actually see evidence of it was something totally different.
"First time visiting your vault, Mr. Potter?" chuckled Griphook.
Both Frank and Harry looked surprised that the goblin knew Harry's identity.
"Of course, we know who you and we also know that you've been living with the Longbottoms. Of course we don't tell anybody what we know. It would be bad for business."
"Then yes it's my first time visiting my vault," said Harry. "There's really been no need until now. I didn't even know it existed until a couple of weeks ago."
"And we wouldn't be coming to his vault now if not for the fact that his parents made it a condition in their will that all of Harry's Hogwarts fees and anything school related be drawn from his trust vault. Alice and I would have more than happy to pay for it."
Griphook nodded sagely for it was obvious to the goblin that Frank Longbottom loved his honorary nephew like he was his own son, even though they weren't blood related. That kind of attitude was rare especially among the purebloods and it said a lot about what kind of man Frank Longbottom was.
Harry quickly filled a bag with Galleons, Sickles and Knuts then closed the door to his vault. They got back in the cart and headed for the Longbottom vault which was even deeper underground.
~~~An Alternate Future~~~
They emerged from Gringotts a few minutes later and headed to Madam Malkin's to meet up with Alice and Neville.
"Ah there you are," said Alice sounding slightly relieved. "Madam Malkin's just about done with Neville." Just as Alice finished speaking Neville emerged from the back room dressed in his black school robe. "You look good, Neville," said Alice.
"Thank you, mum," said Neville blushing slightly at the compliment.
Just then Madam Malkin emerged from the back room. "Hogwarts, dear?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Harry politely.
"Right this way, dear," said Madam Malkin leading him towards the back room.
"We'll wait out here for you, okay," said Alice.
"Okay, Aunt Alice," said Harry following Madam Malkin.
~~~An Alternate Future~~~
Half an hour later Harry emerged his robes already packaged and paid for. "Ready to go?" asked Harry.
The others nodded.
"So, where to next?" asked Neville.
"Flourish and Blotts?" suggested Frank.
The others agreed and so they all headed towards the Flourish and Blotts bookshop.
The three entered Flourish and Blotts and looked around for a moment before one of the employees approached them. "Hogwarts?" asked the red-haired clerk.
"Yes, sir," said Neville as Harry handed over the book list.
"Two sets of everything please," Harry added.
The clerk nodded and while he was gathering the two boys schoolbooks Neville and Harry looked over the shelves seeing if there was anything else they wanted for extra reading. "How about this Neville," said Harry pulling a thick book off the shelf and showed it to him.
Neville read the title: "Hogwarts: A History. Why this one Harry? I mean you grew up in the wizarding world."
"True," said Harry. "But do we know everything about Hogwarts and its history?"
"No, I suppose not," said Neville.
"I'll tell you what I'll buy this book and several others with my money and then you can borrow them when I'm done."
"Okay," said Neville. "I take it there was quite a lot of money in your vault?"
"You have no idea," said Harry. "I'll tell you all about it later."
Neville nodded for Harry was right this was not the place to discuss it where anybody could overhear them.
"About ready to go boys?" asked Frank coming to where the two boys were still looking over the bookshelves.
"Yes, dad, Uncle Frank," Neville and Harry answered at the same time.
"Some extra reading I see," said Frank looking over the titles.
"Sure, why not," said Harry. "You don't have any of these titles in the library at home and learning new things is good for you."
"Neither one of us knows everything there is to know about the magical world even though we grew up in it," said Neville.
"We thought it might be prudent to do a little reading and bone up on our facts so that people like the Malfoys can't try to put something over on us." Even though neither boy had ever met the Malfoys' son Draco they had been told to be weary for Draco was their age and would be attending Hogwarts at the same time as them and by all reports took after his father. They had also been told that they were big supporters of You-Know-Who and were only one family of many who had claimed to be under the Imperius Curse when Voldemort was defeated ten years ago. A claim that nobody, especially the Longbottoms, believed.
Frank nodded, "That's probably very smart boys. We'll if you're done why don't we pay for your purchases and then get some lunch before going to Ollivander's?"
"Okay," said both boys getting excited at the thought of getting their first wands and started carrying the extra books to the checkout counter between them.
All three headed up to the counter and Harry added all the extra books to his stack. "I'll pay for mine," Harry told the clerk.
The man nodded well aware who Harry was, but after Frank and Alice had glared at him, he had thought it better not to mention that fact.
~~~An Alternate Future~~~
A few hours later Harry and Neville entered Ollivander's which was the only place for wands. "Ah yes," said Ollivander coming out of the back of his shop as the bell over his door tinkled. "I was expecting you to come in any day now," said Ollivander. "Harry Potter," It wasn't a question. "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work."
Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Harry and Harry suddenly wished he would blink for those silvery eyes were a bit creepy.
"Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches, pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it—it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."
Mr. Ollivander had come so close that he and Harry were almost nose to nose. Harry could actually see himself reflected in those misty eyes.
"And that's where . . ." Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harry's forehead with a long, white finger. "I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it. Thirteen-and-a-half-inches, yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands…well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do. . . ." He shook his head and then to Harry relief seemed to come out of his trance and noticed the Longbottoms standing there staring at him and that Harry looked extremely uncomfortable. Ollivander pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket then asked. "Which is your wand arm?"
"Er—well, I'm right-handed," said Harry.
"Hold out your arm. That's it," Ollivander measured Harry from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head. As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail and heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same and of course you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."
"I know that sir," answered Harry, as he suddenly realized that the tape measure, which was measuring between his nostrils, was doing its own for Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.
"Of course you do," said Ollivander turning back with a stack of boxes in his arms. "That will do," he added to the tape measure which crumpled into a heap on the floor. "Right then, Mr. Potter, try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches which; makes it nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."
Harry did as he was asked knowing that he would know the minute he found the correct wand. Ollivander immediately snatched it from his hand and handed him another one "Maple, and phoenix feather, seven inches. Quite whippy." Harry barely had a chance to hold it before Ollivander was snatching it out of his hand and handing him another and then another. "Tricky customer, eh?" said Ollivander seeming pleased rather than annoyed. "Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere—I wonder, now—yes, why not—unusual combination—holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
Harry took the wand and immediately felt a warmth in his fingers. He raised it above his head and brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light onto the walls. The Longbottoms clapped and cheered, and Ollivander cried, "Oh bravo! Yes, indeed, oh very good. Well, well, well…how curious…how very curious…"
He put Harry's wand back in its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious… curious…"
"Sorry but what's curious?" asked Harry.
Ollivander fixed Harry with a pale stare the said, "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter, every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather—just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother—why its brother gave you that scar."
Harry swallowed and Uncle Frank and Aunt Alice looked worried while Neville also looked worried but not as much as his parents.
"Yes, curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember…I think we must expect great things from you Mr. Potter…After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things—terrible, yes, but great."
Harry shivered and wasn't sure he liked Mr. Ollivander too much. He paid seven gold Galleons for his wand and then it was Neville's turn.
Five wands later Neville found his, not being as hard to match as Harry. Neville's wand had a unicorn tail hair and was made of willow.
"Come along boys," said Alice. "Why don't we go get some ice cream before we head home?"
Both boys nodded although Harry still looked unusually subdued.
"You okay, Harry?" asked Alice immediately noticing that Harry didn't seem quite himself.
"I'm fine Aunt Alice," said Harry although he still didn't quite seem like himself.
"I'm sorry if Ollivander scared you sweetie. We should have warned you that he could be a little—intense."
"Intense is that what you call it?" asked Frank, his expression unusually serious and sober and he kept shooting his nephew worried looks. "Ollivander should know better, scaring a child like that."
"I wasn't scared," Harry protested. "Okay maybe I was at first," he corrected himself when both older Longbottoms shot him disbelieving looks tinged with sympathy. "But after the first few minutes I wasn't really scared just kind of shocked. I mean who expected him to just start on me like that and tell me all about how he sold the wand that gave my scar and all that other crap."
Frank nodded in understanding.
"Harry, language," Alice warned.
"Sorry," said Harry. "Anyway Mr. Ollivander has given me a lot to think about that's all."
"We understand, Harry," said Frank clapping his nephew on the back. "Now about that ice cream—"
Both boys ran ahead to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor and both Frank and Alice were so relieved to see Harry acting normally that they didn't try to stop the boys from racing ahead.
~~~An Alternate Future~~~
Just over a week later Frank and Alice helped Neville and Harry went through the barrier to platform 9
The boys had said goodbye to the rest of their family already and so it was just the four of them.
"Now you boys; be good," said Alice giving them both kisses on the cheek. "And make sure you send us a letter with Hedwig the moment you find out what house you're in."
Both boys nodded and Harry clutched a little tighter the owl cage that held a beautiful snowy female owl asleep with her head under her wing.
"Hey Harry, Neville," a very familiar vice called. The voice was immediately accompanied by the appearance of their best friend Ron Weasley.
"Hey Ron, Fred, George, Ginny," both boys called excitedly. "Percy," both added not very enthusiastically. Percival Ignatius Weasley was the only one of the Weasley family that they weren't very fond of. Percy as Fred and George had succinctly put it more than once had a stick up his rear end. In other words, he was very stiff, proper and pompous and one of the worst stickler for rules they had ever encountered. How Percy had turned out so different from the rest of the family—considering the rest of the Weasleys were very easygoing and laid back—was a mystery that would more than likely never be solved.
"Hello, boys," said Mrs. Weasley. "Ready for your first year at Hogwarts?"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," Neville and Harry said together. Mrs. Molly Weasley was the very motherly type and tended to mother all her children even those who were not her own. Neville and Harry had spent a great deal of time over at the Weasley house which they called The Burrow over the years and vice versa of course.
"Come on let's get you boys on the train, before it leaves without you," said Molly.
"Bye mum, dad," said Neville hugging both parents.
"Bye Uncle Frank, Aunt Alice," Harry added also giving them both hugs.
"Bye Mrs. Weasley," they both added.
"You be good boys and that especially goes for you Fred, George," called Mrs. Weasley. "And I don't want any owls about how you blew up a toilet."
"We've never blown up a toilet but what a great idea, mum, thanks," said Fred and George at exactly the same time.
Mrs. Weasley shook her head but just sighed instead of responding directly. "I've had more owls about those two then the rest of the children put together."
"Why don't you join us for a cup of coffee at the Leaky Cauldron now that the children are safely on the train?" Alice suggested putting an arm around Molly's shoulders.
"Sounds good," said Molly. "And maybe a spot of lunch too. Come along, Ginny."
"Yes mum," said Ginny following the three adults.
~~~An Alternate Future~~~
Meanwhile on the Hogwarts Express all five boys had found an empty compartment while Percy went to sit with the Prefects.
"So, Harry, Neville," Fred began.
"—looking forward—" George continued.
"—to your first—"
"—year at Hogwarts?" finished George
Harry and Neville who were used to the Weasley twins finishing each other sentences didn't think anything of it, "Yes we are looking forward to it," Harry answered. "Aren't you Neville?"
"Yes," said Neville. "We've both been looking forward to it for most of the last year."
After that Ron and Harry played a game of Wizards Chess while the rest of them played Exploding Snap.
Harry and Ron were in the middle of their second game and absentmindedly eating some of the snacks Harry and Neville had split the cost of when their peace was interrupted when the compartment door opened and a thin blond boy with two hulking goons behind him stepped in
"Is it true?" the boy asked. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So, it's you, is it?"
"Yes," Harry answered shortly looking at the other two boys standing on either side of the blond boy like bodyguards. Both of them were thickset and looked extremely mean.
"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," said the pale boy carelessly, noticing where Harry was looking. "And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
Ron gave slight cough, which might have been to hide a snigger. Malfoy looked at him and said snidely, "Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children then they can afford."
Draco turned back to Harry and said, "You'll find some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."
Draco held out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't take it and instead gave the Draco a cold look. "I think I can tell who the wrong sort is for myself thanks. My Uncle Frank and Aunt Alice told me all about the Malfoys and how your family supposedly came back to our side after You-Know-Who was vanquished saying you had been under the Imperius Curse. Just so you know, I don't believe it for a moment and neither do any of the rest of us. So why don't you three make yourselves scarce?"
Neville looked slightly nervous at his godbrother's show of defiance, but he also got up to stand beside Harry and to be ready to help him out if it was necessary. Neville was a handsome boy with his mother's round face, brown hair and eyes but the rest of him was his father's. His body had the same lankiness despite the little bit of baby fat that still remained not only on his body but his face as well. "We aren't looking for a confrontation," Neville added coming to stand on the one side of his brother while Ron was on the other, his voice quivering slightly but determined to stand his ground. "But I will defend my brother if I must. Don't force me to take that step."
"Bravo, Neville," the twins cheered. "Good show, give these berks what they deserve."
Harry didn't make any comment, but he did shoot his brother a grateful look. It was nice to have somebody to stand at his back that would defend him and not just a friend but a brother.
Draco didn't go red at Harry words or Neville's threat although his ears did turn pink. "I'd be careful Potter. Unless you're a little politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them either. You hang around riffraff like the Weasleys and it'll rub off on you."
"Listen Malfoy," said Fred standing up George behind him wands at the ready. "You were asked to leave, so leave before we make you."
"Yeah, nobody picks on our brother and Harry but us," added George.
"Oh, you're going to fight us are you and how are you going to do that?" asked Malfoy with a smirk. "Well, what if we don't want to leave? We've eaten all our food, and you still seem to have some." Goyle reached for one of the Chocolate Frogs next to Ron—Ron leapt forward, but before he'd so much as touched Goyle, Fred and George both threw several spells at Malfoy and his two goons.
When everything was relatively back to normal the five people in the compartment looked down at the unconscious forms of Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Thanks, Neville," said Harry gratefully giving his brother a hug. "And thanks too you guys to."
Ron's ears turned a bright shade of red at the praise for having five older brothers he didn't get singled out for praise often.
"You're welcome, Harry, but why do I have the feeling the next seven years are going to be…interesting?"
"Probably," Harry agreed giving his brother a pat on the back.
"Which one of you made their teeth grow so long?" asked Neville curiously after a moment looking at the twins.
"I did," said George. "It's called Densaugeo."
"And I'm the one that did the Furnunculus curse," Fred added. "It's more then they deserved."
"On that we agree," Harry said as he scowled at the three unconscious forms.
"It looks like those are two curses that shouldn't be mixed though," said Neville staring at the three unconscious forms.
"Oh, they'll be okay," Fred said airily.
"Madam Pomfrey will be able to set them to rights," George added unconcerned.
"What has been going on?" asked a bushy haired girl who had come into the compartment and looking at the sweets all over the floor and the three unconscious students. "You'll be in trouble before we even get there. Oh sorry, I'm Hermione Granger."
"They were threatening us, so Fred and George cursed them," said Neville. "Sorry, I didn't introduce myself I'm Neville Longbottom and this is my godbrother Harry Potter."
"It's nice to meet you," said Harry.
"And I'm Fred Weasley and these are my brothers George and Ron. Ron's just starting his first year along with Harry and Neville."
"Are you really Harry Potter?" asked Hermione turning to Harry after the introductions were over with. "I know all about you of course—I got a few extra books for background reading and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"I know, I might have grown up within a wizarding family, but I still got a few extra books to read in order to learn about some of the things I might not know about the wizarding world and those titles were among them."
Hermione looked shocked then pleased. "Well anyway I came in here to tell you that I've been up front talking to the conductor, and he says we'll be there soon, so I suggest you get your robes on. And Harry you and me are going to have to discuss some of those books sometime in the near future."
"I'd be happy to," said Harry.
Hermione looked pleased again but then she turned and left leaving the boys to get into their robes and trying not to bump into each other in the small compartment in the process.
~~~An Alternate Future~~~
Ten minutes later just as they finished putting their robes on all of them all heard a voice echo through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately."
Harry, Ron and Neville looked at each other their stomachs feeling extremely queasy. This was it, they all thought.
"Come on guys it will be fine," said Harry hurrying out of the compartment the other two boys following. The train stopped and the three boys pushed past other people only to wind up on a tiny dark platform. "Firs' Years! Firs' years over here!" called the loud voice of an extremely big man that both Neville and Harry knew was Hagrid.
"Come on Ron," said Neville. "That's just Hagrid. Harry and I have met him on a couple of occasions. He won't hurt you I promise."
"Yeah, he's nice," said Harry.
Ron nodded and followed his two friends. "C'mon, follow me—any more firs' years? Mind your step now! Firs' years follow me!"
Slipping and stumbling, the three boys followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that it was hard to see anything except indistinct objects. Nobody spoke much until finally Hagrid said, "Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec."
There was a loud "Ooooh!" as the narrow path opened up onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. Harry, Ron and Neville stared in awe at the awesome sight and knew that this was the beginning of many adventures for them and none of them would have it any other way.