Harry Potter Harry Potter and Childish Things
- Thread starter zerohour
- Start date
Finished Chapter Three. It's a little bit short of 5,000 words, so I'll probably try to pad it a bit. Let me know if there's any part that seems in need of expansion, so I can focus on that.
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Harry was surprised to see his aunt crying. Sure, after Vernon got his brain melted, there wasn't a day when she didn't break down crying, usually around mealtimes, but this was different. She seemed.... happy?
ôHarry!ö she exclaimed, ôYou.... you have some mail!ö She all but shouted, forcing it into his hands. Harry stared at her, surprised at how eager she was to give it to him. ôWell don't just sit there! Open it already!!! ö
Still staring at her, Harry slowly opened the letter, and began to read.
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
Harry didn't respond, instead turning and walking out of the house, leaving Petunia even more distraught.
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ôSo, what do you think Rex? Do you think that it's a joke?ö
ôI DON'T KNOW... ISN'T MAGIC THAT THING THAT MAGICIANS AT PARTIES DO?ö
ôYeah, so why would they have a whole school for it? I always thought it was a hobby.ö
ôSTILL... THAT PAPER LOOKS WEIRD...ö
ôWeird like when Annabel came?ö
ôNO...A DIFFERENT KIND OF WEIRD...WHY DON'T YOU LOOK FOR YOURSELF?ö
ôHow can I do that?ö Harry asked, ôI already looked at it and it looks like any other piece of paper to-ö Harry stopped, as something... changed.
ôWhoa.ö Harry muttered, as the color of the world faded away. As he looked around, he noticed that instead of the black and white of the world, Harry was radiating light, like the plutonium they saw in science class. Unlike the plutonium's sickly green, Harry glowed a brilliant green. As he stared in wonder, he noticed that there were threads of various colors attached to him. Several dark red threads led back towards his house, and a big, black rope moved from his heart to Rex, who was cloaked in complete blackness. There were several other yellow threads as well, but he didn't see what they connected to, and they were much thinner, almost as if they were being stretched. He looked at the letter, and saw that it was glowing like him, but it was much fainter, and was a pale white.
Suddenly, everything snapped back to normal. Harry grabbed his head as the sudden assault of colors hit him. After a few moments, the ache faded, and he opened his eyes.
ôDo you always see like that?ö he asked looking at Rex.
ôOF COURSE. HOW ELSE WOULD I SEE?ö
ôI don't know. Like I see?ö
ôDO I LOOK LIKE YOU?ö
ôI guess that makes sense.ö
ôSO WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE LETTER?ö
ôWell, it certainly looked different. Maybe it's for real, but I don't have an owl... who uses an owl instead of the post office?ö
ôWIZARDS I GUESS.ö
ôI guess that makes sense, but it's still weird. Now how are we going to find one?ö
ôLET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT.ö
ôAlright.ö Harry responded, before flinching as his vision abruptly switched again.
ôWHERE DO YOU WANT TO START?ö
ôHow about the house? Some of the threads seem to lead towards it.ö
ôSOUNDS LIKE A PLAN TO ME.ö
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Harry's home didn't have anything of use. While the entire thing was saturated with red, there wasn't anything like an owl, and when Harry asked petunia, who was glowing a fair pink, she shrieked and ran upstairs, locking the door behind her.
Sighing, the duo departed, looking for something helpful.
Fortunately, their next target was right next door. Mrs. Figg's house, which not as bright as his own, was still covered in a faded gold. Harry knocked on the door, and waited expectantly.
ôYes what is it?ö Mrs. Figg asked as the door opened, ôOh, Harry, what can I do for you? Does your aunt need me to watch you?ö
ôNo, but do you know where I can find an owl?ö Harry replied.
ôAn owl? Why would you need that?ö
ôI just got a letter, and they want me to use an owl to reply.ö Harry answered, looking down out of embarrassment.
Mrs. Figg's eyes lit up, ôAh, you got your Hogwarts letter. I didn't realize that it was that time of year again! Come on in Harry, let's see if I can wake old Archibald up.ö
Dumbfounded, Harry followed her into the house, and almost fell over in shock.
Half of her things were glowing.
Harry carefully navigated his way through house, staring in awe at the myriad of colors. The number of colors was staggering, and they seemed to weave together, creating a pattern of such brilliance and complexity that it quickly began to make his eyes hurt. Harry shut his eyes, willing his vision to go back to normal. He felt something change, and sighed in relief when everything was back to normal. During this time, Mrs. Figg had dug up Archibald, who was screeching loudly at the cats she quickly shooed the cats out of the way, before settling on the couch next to Harry.
ôNow Harry, are you ready to send your acceptance letter?ö
Harry stared at her, dumbfounded, ôWhat?ö
ôYour letter. Aren't you going to go to Hogwarts?ö she pressed.
ôI... I don't know.ö Harry responded honestly.
ôYou.. don't know???ö Mrs. Figg asked accusingly.
ôI'm sorry! I thought the letter was a joke!ö Harry defended.
Almost immediately, the expression of disbelief melted to understanding. ôI'm sorry Harry. I forgot who raised you. You aunt was always terrified of magic, so it shouldn't be a surprise that you didn't know.ö
Harry nodded, still trying to process the series of events that had led up to this point.
ôHere.ö Mrs. Figg continued, jotting something down. ôHave your aunt drive you to London and go visit the Leaky Cauldron at this address. Tell the man behind the counter that you want to go to Diagon Alley, and you can go look for yourself.ö
ôMy aunt?ö
ôWell, you should ask her, and when she says no, come back over here and I'll take you there myself.ö Mrs. Figg responded. ôJust stop in any time and we'll go, does that sound alright deary?ö
Harry simply nodded, and allowed her to usher him out of the house.
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ôTHAT WAS... WEIRD.ö Rex stated, as they began to wander aimlessly through the streets.
ôYou can say that again.ö Harry replied.
ôTHAT WAS...ö
ôYou don't actually have to say it.ö
ôSORRY.ö
ôIt's alright, it's just... really, really weird. Do you think I should tell Annie?ö
ôIF YOU DON'T, SHE'LL PROBABLY HIT YOU.ö
ôThat's true.ö Harry agreed, abruptly changing course towards Annabel's house.
ôTHEN AGAIN, SHE MIGHT HIT YOU ANYWAYS.ö
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Annabel's reaction was similar to Harry's as she thought the whole thing was an elaborate joke.
ôWho every heard of a magic school? The last time I saw a magician, he was crying because the rabbit didn't come out of the hat!ö
ôI think he was crying because you were making fun of him.ö
ôIt doesn't matter why he was crying!ö Annabel blushed, ôit was still pathetic!ö
ôCOME ON, IS MAGIC REALLY THAT HARD TO BELIEVE?ö Homer asked.
ôWell, I suppose not, after all, we've got you guys here, and you're way weirder than magic.ö
ôHEY!!!ö
ôStill, if she gave you a place to go and see, we might as well check it out.ö Annabel continued, ignoring the outburst of the monsters.
ôYeah... wait, we?ö Harry asked in confusion.
She smirked at him, ôDid you really think I wouldn't go along too? Come on, I bet my mom can drive us!ö
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Convincing Annabel's mom was somewhat difficult, but after years of living with her, Annabel knew exactly what buttons to push. While she refused to take them, once Annabel mentioned the sales in London, she was putty in her hand.
The next day, the duo was dropped off in front of a movie theater, with enough money to see a couple of movies and get snacks, while Annabel's mom drove off in a furious rush to track down the clothing store offering a 75% off going out of business sale. Back home, Annabel's dad felt the inexplicable urge to weep.
As soon as the car was out of sight, Annie all but dragged Harry towards the address he supplied. It took them nearly twenty minutes to walk there, and when they got there, they were severely disappointed.
ôIt's just a bar!ö Annabel exclaimed, ôI can't believe she sent us to a bar!ö
ôCalm down Annie.ö Harry placated, but she would have none of that.
ôYou can't hide an alley in a bar! It's ridiculous! Mrs. Figg probably wrote the letter as a joke!ö
ôWhy would she do that?ö Harry asked.
ôBecause she's OLD!ö Annabel exploded, ôThat's what old people do! They hate children., and spend their miserable lives trying to ruin ours! She knew that they won't let kids into a bar, and probably expects us to get in trouble and spend the day at the police station!ö
ôCome on Annie. Mrs. Figg wouldn't do that.ö Harry replied.
ôWouldn't she?ö
ôNo, she wouldn'tö
ôWell fine then! Let's just walk on in and see what happens then! Come on Harry!ö Harry sighed, and just let her drag him along behind her. There was very little that could stop Annabel once she set her mind on something, and by now, Harry had learned not to try.
Within seconds, they were standing in from of the bartender, who was looking at them with amusement.
ôCan I help you miss?ö
ôTell me where Diagon Alley is.ö Annabel commanded.
ôSure, right this way.ö
ôSee Harry? I told you-ö Annabel began, before realizing what he had said, ôWait, really?ö
ôOf course. I'm guessing that your parents went on ahead. It happens all the time.ö he chuckled.
Wordlessly, the two children followed him through the back, and watched as he touched the bricks in a specific sequence. They watched in awe as the bricks rearranged themselves, revealing a collection of shops and dozens of strangely dressed people.
ôNow off you go. Your parents are probably starting to worry.ö the bartender said, giving them a bit of a push. Still silent, the two cautiously began their first venture into the magical world.
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ôSo... where should we go first?ö Annabel asked, still trying to process the revelation of magic.
ôI don't know...ö Harry answered, in a similar state to
ôHEY LOOK, A SNACK SHOP!!!ö Rex exclaimed.
ôThat's not a snack shop, it's a pet store!ö Annabel admonished the stuffed plushy,
ôAREN'T THOSE THE SAME THING?ö
ôNo!ö
ôHey, wait a minute, they have owls in there.ö Harry noted, interrupting his friends.
ôSo?ö
ôARE OWLS TASTY?ö
ôIf I have my own owl, then I don't need to borrow one from Mrs. Figg.ö
ôYou're going to buy one of them?ö Annabel asked in disbelief.
ôSure, I'll probably need one anyways, so I might as well buy it now. In fact, I should probably get all the stuff on the list too.ö
ôFine... let's just get this over with.ö was her response, and they entered the store.
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ôWelcome to my humble store. Now what can I get for you two youngsters?ö the shopkeeper greeted them warmly.
ôMy friend wants to buy an owl.ö Annabel gestures towards Harry, who was already looking at the vast collection with unrestrained curiosity.
ôCertainly. That will be eight Galleons, Seven sickles.ö
ôUm... is this enough?ö Annabel asked, holding out a fifty pound note.
ôAh, muggleborn. You'll need to go to Gringotts to exchange that for wizarding currency. We don't have much use for your...paper.ö
Annabel sighed in exasperation, ôCan't anything be easy?!ö
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The bank, much like the rest of the wizarding world, was unusual. Rather than security cameras and ATMs, there were armed guards and goblins.
ôExcuse me?ö
ôMy name is Irontooth. Can I help you?ö The clerk sneered at them, clearly wanting to get this over with.
ôWe need to change some money.ö Annabel replied.
ôOf course you do.ö he responded, rolling his eyes, ôYour names?ö
ôI'm Annabel Jones, and this is Harry Potter.ö
ôHarry... Potter you say?ö
ôYes, that's me.ö Harry replied quietly.
ôIt seems that wizards are getting more idiotic each year.ö
ôExcuse me?ö
ôMr. Potter, you already have an account here at Gringotts, and have no need to exchange Muggle money.ö
ôReally?ö
The goblin let out a long suffering sigh, ôYes Mr. Potter. I assume you don't have your key?ö
ôWhat key?ö
ôNever mind. If you'll just follow me...ö th goblin gestured, and the two children followed him into the depths of Gringotts Bank.
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ôReplacing your key is a simple matter Mr. Potter. All we need is a sample of your blood.ö
ôMy... blood?ö Harry asked, glancing at the large dagger the goblin had.
ôDid you expect us to just give you a replacement? We need to verify that you are indeed Harry Potter before giving you access to the vault.ö
ôWell... alright...ö Harry assented. Immediately, the goblin grabbed him, and deftly slashed him across his palm. Ignoring the accompanying cry of pain, the goblin deftly carried the dagger over to a crucible, where he watched in interest as Harry's blood filled it up. Within moments, it began to boil, and smoke poured out of it. After several minutes, the smoke died down, and Irontooth reached inside, pulling out a gleaming new key.
Looking closely, Harry could see a ghostly image of the key surrounding it, but it dissolved
ôAs this is the first time this has happened, we will not charge you the standard key replacement fee. Make sure it does not happen again.ö
ôYes sir.ö
ôNow follow me. I'll take you to your vault.ö
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ôFASTER! FASTER!!!ö
While Irontooth might be rude, it was clear that karma was compensating for it, as well as the sadistic pleasure most goblins took from the discomfort the carts caused most wizards, as the loud screams of both children filled the air, and gave him a massive headache.
ôWow! Did you see that!?!ö
ôWas that a dragon!?ö
Irontooth sighed in relief as the cart slowed, finally ending his torment.
ôYour vault, Mr. Potter.ö Irontooth sneered, motioning towards the massive door. Uncertainly, Harry moved forward, and inserted his key.
While the Potters were by no means rich, at least according to wizarding standards, there was still a lot of money, especially for a pair of children. They didn't notice the vault door close behind them, and it was several minutes before they stopped staring, and started gathering up as much as they could carry. Rex, having significantly less self control, chose to roll around in the piles of gold.
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Their business at the bank concluded, and laden with magical currency, the pair headed back to the pet store. Harry spent several minutes browsing their selection, while Annabel waited at the front.
ôHere.ö Harry said, handing Annabel a cage.
ôWhat is this?ö
ôIt's an owl.ö
ôAn owl.ö
ôRight.ö
ôWhy would you get me an owl?ö
ôWell... because.ö
ôBecause what?ö
ôWell, if I'm at Hogwarts, then I won't be able to see you, and they probably don't have mailboxes. So... I figured... you could use the owl to write me letters.ö
ôYou want me to write you letters?ö
ôI'll write to you too!ö
ôWell, alright. If it's that important to you...ö
ôCAN I HAVE A PET TOO?" Rex asked.
ôNo.ö Harry told him.
ôWHY NOT?ö
ôBecause you'll just eat it.ö
ôBUT THEY LOOK SO DELICIOUS...ö
ôI said no!ö Harry admonished, rolling his eyes in annoyance. ôSometimes I wish that Rex was like Homer. At least he knows to be quiet.ö
ôAre you kidding me? Homer loves to talk. I'm surprised he hasn't said anything since we got here.ö Annabel replied, laughing.
ô...Where IS Homer?ö
ôHe's right... uh oh.ö The duo rapidly paled as Annabel opened her bag, only to find it empty. Homer had wandered off.
Harry sighed. In all likelihood, Homer was fine, but after the incident with Mr. Henderson, she was a bit... overprotective. In three...two...one...
ôWhere could he be?!ö Annabel fretted, looking around frantically. ôThe only times he wanders off is when he's looking for food, and they don't have any sports stores here! All they sell are eyeballs, wart cream, and those stupid owls!!!ö
ôCalm down, I'm sure he just went for a look around.ö
ôThe last time he went for a look around, he got CAPTURED BY A MAD SCIENCE TEACHER!!!ö Annabel screamed, almost choking Harry in her distress.
ôW- we'll find him! Don't worry Annie!ö Harry stammered, ôRex! Help!ö
ôHOMER WENT TO TASTE THEIR SPORTS EQUIPMENT.ö
ôWIZARDS DON'T HAVE SPORTS!!!ö
ôTHEY DO SO!!! IT'S CALLED... SQUID WITCH OR... RIB DITCH OR SOMETHING. THERE'S A WHOLE STORE RIGHT OVER THERE.ö
Annabel' had whipped towards the indicated store, and all but dragged Harry and Rex behind her. Fortunately, Homer was still in there. Unfortunately, he had already eaten most of their stock, and his presence had terrified the store owner into unconsciousness.
ôHomer! Don't wander off like that! Do you want to end up a some experiment in a basement again?!ö
ôNO...ö
ôThen don't wander off!ö
ôBUT I WAS HUNGRY...ö
ôNext time you're hungry, let me know and I'll take you to get something to eat! Now promise you won't wander off again!ö
ôBUT ANNIE...ö
ôPromise!!!ö
Homer mutter something under his breath, that might have contained words along those lines, and Annabel took what she could get.
ôWe'd better sneak out the back before someone else shows up.ö Harry spoke up, glancing outside warily.
ôAlright. Let's move.ö was Annabel's response, as they quietly walked away from the scene of Homer's latest feast, ôNow what else do you need to get for school?ö
ôLet me see...ö Harry glanced at the list, as they entered the Alley, ôI need to buy a hat, some robes, some gloves, a cloak, some books, a wand, a cauldron, some bottles, a telescope, and some scales.ö
ôSeriously?ö
ôLooks like it.ö
ôFine... now where do we get these things?ö
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After several hours, the shopping was all complete. While the list of supplies was fairly easy to gather, they were a pair of children, laden with gold, exploring the magical world for the first time. The pet store was merely the first of many side quests. They visited nearly every store in the alley, and bought something from each one. The were lucky that one of their first finds was a magic chest, which was large enough to carry everything.
ôIs there anything else you need?ö Annabel asked as they continued strolling down the alley, her thirst for shopping quenched for the moment.
ôI think we got everything... except a wand.ö Harry replied, earning a snort from his friend, ôWhat's so funny?ö
ôA wand? Really?ö
ôI'm sure it's... very important...ö Harry replied, clearly unconvinced, ôCome on. Let's just get this over with.ö
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While many of the shops could be called quaint, Ollivander's shop was the strangest by far. While it lacked the flair and appearances of many other stores, the owner blew them all out of the water. Ollivander was a decidedly strange man. Within seconds, Harry was wrapped up in his measuring tape, and Ollivander was wandering the depths of his shop, searching for the perfect wand. Annabel, having nothing better to do, followed the shop keeper, peppering him with inquisitions.
ôWhy do wizards use wands?ö
ôWands are easy to carry, easy to use, and easy to make,ö Ollivaner replied offhandedly, still hunting through his wand collection
ôMagicians use wands. Why don't you use staffs?ö
ôStaffs are much more difficult to craft and learn to use. While they are more powerful, the additional power is not enough to offset these problems.ö
ôBut you can't use a wand to hit someone.ö
ôTrue, but magic is more than enough to solve most problems. If you want to hit someone, I suggest using a sword. It's much more effective than a staff for physical violence.ö
Further conversation was interrupted, as Harry had finally had enough of measuring.
ôDid you find a wand yet?!ö he shouted, uncomfortably watching as the tape measured the diameter of his irises.
ôComing Mr. Potter!ö Ollivander declared merrily, his arms filled with wands. ôLet's see if we have a suitable match for you!ö
Wand after wand was tried, with poor to mediocre results. There were few wands that Ollivander set aside, but fortunately, they finally found a match.
As Harry waved what felt like the hundredth wand, a gout of flames shot from the tip. The flames seemed to swell, and the very air of the store seemed to set alight.
Even Annabel couldn't help but be impressed by the display. Harry, as the source of the event, was completely in awe as what he had wrought. Olliander, used to such displays, merely took the wand from Harry's hand, to give the wand one last examination.
ôAsh, eleven and a half inches, with a core of dragon heartstring soaked in thestral blood. Particularly attuned to fire magic.ö Ollivander recited from memory, ôThis is quite a tempermental combination, I would recommend being careful with your spell work, or you might set the school ablaze.ö
Harry nodded numbly, and quickly paid Ollivander, his eyes never leaving his wand.
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They barely made it back to the movie theater in time to meet up with Annabel's mom. The car was so filled with bags, that smuggling Harry's new luggage was easy, and she was so happy at the deals she had found, the presence of two owls went completely unnoticed.
Sadly, Harry was enamored with the magical world, and spent his time looking through the books, and waving his wand to do anything else. Even Rex was somewhat ignored, as the new world consumed Harry's mind.
Annabel left him alone for a week, before getting sick of being ignored.
Harry was lucky to get that.
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ôHey.ö
ôHm? What's up Annabel?ö Harry asked.
Rather than replying verbally, Annabel brought her bat crashing down on his head.
ôOw! What was that for?!ö Harry complained, before she forcefully grabbed him, and dragged him out of the house.
Harry continued to complain, though was ignored. Finally, Annabel stopped, and Harry sighed in annoyance. She had hit him over the head, dragged him to the park, and hadn't said a word other than 'hey.'
ôWhat is wrong with you?ö
Annabel didn't reply, right away, waiting a few moments before she answered, ôIdiot. You're going to have a whole year to learn about magic. You've got less than a month to spend time with your friends.ö
Harry stopped, and realized how much time he had spent looking over his books. Despite her angry expression, he noticed that there was a hurt look in her eyes. There was only one response.
ô...Sorry...ö
ôIdiot. Come on. We need one more player for baseball.ö
Harry had never played a real baseball game before, mainly sticking to catch or some batting practice with Annabel. As a result, he was quickly relegated to playing catcher. Despite this, he quickly found that he was enjoying himself. While he didn't perform especially well, Annabel's skill, combined with her reputation, made it easy for their team to win. The most exhilarating moment was when she hit a home run, letting Harry get to home plate and clinch their victory..
It wasn't until the game was over, and Annabel had wrapped her arms around him in celebration that Harry realized something.
Until now, it hadn't hit him until now that he wouldn't be able to do this again until next summer, and just how much he was going to miss it.
--- --- --- --- ---
Annabel was kind enough to give him a ride to London, partially out of friendship, but mostly out of curiosity about how to get to a platform that didn't exist.
ôSo, where is this platform?ö
ôI don't know. Mrs. Figg said it was nine and three quarters, so it must be around here somewhere... do you see anything Rex?ö
ôYEAH. IT'S RIGHT THERE... SEE?ö
Harry winced as Rex shared his sight, and the world turned to shades of grey.
Glancing over at Annabel, he noticed that she was glowing a faint purple, and that the glow was tied to Homer. Turning away, Harry saw that one of the columns was glowing brilliantly, though it was completely white. As he looked more carefully, he could see the shape of a door hidden in the glow.
ôThere it is... follow me Annie.ö Harry said, taking her hand.
ôWha- wait Harry! That's a wall!ö Annabel shouted, though her protests were ignored as Harry continued to pull her behind him. As they approached the seemingly solid wall, she let out a small shriek as they passed right through.
As the pain she expected failed to occur opened her eyes. Indignation and anger filled her, as she saw Harry smiling at her.
ôYou JERK!!!ö
ôOw! Sorry! I'm sorry!ö
After a few moments of exacting her revenge, Annabel calmed down enough to look around, and Harry followed suit. Looking at the platfrom, and the shining train waiting for its passengers, there was only one appropriate response.
ôWhoa...ö
Harry was the first to regain his senses, shaking his head as he began to walk towards the train. However, before he could get far. He was halted, as Annabel grabbed his hand.
ôHm? What's wrong Annie?ö
ôHere...ö Annabel whispered, holding out her bat, ôtake this with you, alright Harry?ö
ôBut Annie... that's your favorite bat...ö
ôYeah, it is, so you'd better bring it back, alright?!ö
Harry grinned before heading towards the train, ôI promise.ö
Annabel returned his smile, ôGood luck at Hogwarts Harry!ö
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So, what do you guys think? I can't improve if I don;t get some feedback, so let me know what needs work!
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Harry was surprised to see his aunt crying. Sure, after Vernon got his brain melted, there wasn't a day when she didn't break down crying, usually around mealtimes, but this was different. She seemed.... happy?
ôHarry!ö she exclaimed, ôYou.... you have some mail!ö She all but shouted, forcing it into his hands. Harry stared at her, surprised at how eager she was to give it to him. ôWell don't just sit there! Open it already!!! ö
Still staring at her, Harry slowly opened the letter, and began to read.
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
Harry didn't respond, instead turning and walking out of the house, leaving Petunia even more distraught.
--- --- --- --- ---
ôSo, what do you think Rex? Do you think that it's a joke?ö
ôI DON'T KNOW... ISN'T MAGIC THAT THING THAT MAGICIANS AT PARTIES DO?ö
ôYeah, so why would they have a whole school for it? I always thought it was a hobby.ö
ôSTILL... THAT PAPER LOOKS WEIRD...ö
ôWeird like when Annabel came?ö
ôNO...A DIFFERENT KIND OF WEIRD...WHY DON'T YOU LOOK FOR YOURSELF?ö
ôHow can I do that?ö Harry asked, ôI already looked at it and it looks like any other piece of paper to-ö Harry stopped, as something... changed.
ôWhoa.ö Harry muttered, as the color of the world faded away. As he looked around, he noticed that instead of the black and white of the world, Harry was radiating light, like the plutonium they saw in science class. Unlike the plutonium's sickly green, Harry glowed a brilliant green. As he stared in wonder, he noticed that there were threads of various colors attached to him. Several dark red threads led back towards his house, and a big, black rope moved from his heart to Rex, who was cloaked in complete blackness. There were several other yellow threads as well, but he didn't see what they connected to, and they were much thinner, almost as if they were being stretched. He looked at the letter, and saw that it was glowing like him, but it was much fainter, and was a pale white.
Suddenly, everything snapped back to normal. Harry grabbed his head as the sudden assault of colors hit him. After a few moments, the ache faded, and he opened his eyes.
ôDo you always see like that?ö he asked looking at Rex.
ôOF COURSE. HOW ELSE WOULD I SEE?ö
ôI don't know. Like I see?ö
ôDO I LOOK LIKE YOU?ö
ôI guess that makes sense.ö
ôSO WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE LETTER?ö
ôWell, it certainly looked different. Maybe it's for real, but I don't have an owl... who uses an owl instead of the post office?ö
ôWIZARDS I GUESS.ö
ôI guess that makes sense, but it's still weird. Now how are we going to find one?ö
ôLET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT.ö
ôAlright.ö Harry responded, before flinching as his vision abruptly switched again.
ôWHERE DO YOU WANT TO START?ö
ôHow about the house? Some of the threads seem to lead towards it.ö
ôSOUNDS LIKE A PLAN TO ME.ö
--- --- --- --- ---
Harry's home didn't have anything of use. While the entire thing was saturated with red, there wasn't anything like an owl, and when Harry asked petunia, who was glowing a fair pink, she shrieked and ran upstairs, locking the door behind her.
Sighing, the duo departed, looking for something helpful.
Fortunately, their next target was right next door. Mrs. Figg's house, which not as bright as his own, was still covered in a faded gold. Harry knocked on the door, and waited expectantly.
ôYes what is it?ö Mrs. Figg asked as the door opened, ôOh, Harry, what can I do for you? Does your aunt need me to watch you?ö
ôNo, but do you know where I can find an owl?ö Harry replied.
ôAn owl? Why would you need that?ö
ôI just got a letter, and they want me to use an owl to reply.ö Harry answered, looking down out of embarrassment.
Mrs. Figg's eyes lit up, ôAh, you got your Hogwarts letter. I didn't realize that it was that time of year again! Come on in Harry, let's see if I can wake old Archibald up.ö
Dumbfounded, Harry followed her into the house, and almost fell over in shock.
Half of her things were glowing.
Harry carefully navigated his way through house, staring in awe at the myriad of colors. The number of colors was staggering, and they seemed to weave together, creating a pattern of such brilliance and complexity that it quickly began to make his eyes hurt. Harry shut his eyes, willing his vision to go back to normal. He felt something change, and sighed in relief when everything was back to normal. During this time, Mrs. Figg had dug up Archibald, who was screeching loudly at the cats she quickly shooed the cats out of the way, before settling on the couch next to Harry.
ôNow Harry, are you ready to send your acceptance letter?ö
Harry stared at her, dumbfounded, ôWhat?ö
ôYour letter. Aren't you going to go to Hogwarts?ö she pressed.
ôI... I don't know.ö Harry responded honestly.
ôYou.. don't know???ö Mrs. Figg asked accusingly.
ôI'm sorry! I thought the letter was a joke!ö Harry defended.
Almost immediately, the expression of disbelief melted to understanding. ôI'm sorry Harry. I forgot who raised you. You aunt was always terrified of magic, so it shouldn't be a surprise that you didn't know.ö
Harry nodded, still trying to process the series of events that had led up to this point.
ôHere.ö Mrs. Figg continued, jotting something down. ôHave your aunt drive you to London and go visit the Leaky Cauldron at this address. Tell the man behind the counter that you want to go to Diagon Alley, and you can go look for yourself.ö
ôMy aunt?ö
ôWell, you should ask her, and when she says no, come back over here and I'll take you there myself.ö Mrs. Figg responded. ôJust stop in any time and we'll go, does that sound alright deary?ö
Harry simply nodded, and allowed her to usher him out of the house.
--- --- --- --- ---
ôTHAT WAS... WEIRD.ö Rex stated, as they began to wander aimlessly through the streets.
ôYou can say that again.ö Harry replied.
ôTHAT WAS...ö
ôYou don't actually have to say it.ö
ôSORRY.ö
ôIt's alright, it's just... really, really weird. Do you think I should tell Annie?ö
ôIF YOU DON'T, SHE'LL PROBABLY HIT YOU.ö
ôThat's true.ö Harry agreed, abruptly changing course towards Annabel's house.
ôTHEN AGAIN, SHE MIGHT HIT YOU ANYWAYS.ö
--- --- --- --- ---
Annabel's reaction was similar to Harry's as she thought the whole thing was an elaborate joke.
ôWho every heard of a magic school? The last time I saw a magician, he was crying because the rabbit didn't come out of the hat!ö
ôI think he was crying because you were making fun of him.ö
ôIt doesn't matter why he was crying!ö Annabel blushed, ôit was still pathetic!ö
ôCOME ON, IS MAGIC REALLY THAT HARD TO BELIEVE?ö Homer asked.
ôWell, I suppose not, after all, we've got you guys here, and you're way weirder than magic.ö
ôHEY!!!ö
ôStill, if she gave you a place to go and see, we might as well check it out.ö Annabel continued, ignoring the outburst of the monsters.
ôYeah... wait, we?ö Harry asked in confusion.
She smirked at him, ôDid you really think I wouldn't go along too? Come on, I bet my mom can drive us!ö
--- --- --- --- ---
Convincing Annabel's mom was somewhat difficult, but after years of living with her, Annabel knew exactly what buttons to push. While she refused to take them, once Annabel mentioned the sales in London, she was putty in her hand.
The next day, the duo was dropped off in front of a movie theater, with enough money to see a couple of movies and get snacks, while Annabel's mom drove off in a furious rush to track down the clothing store offering a 75% off going out of business sale. Back home, Annabel's dad felt the inexplicable urge to weep.
As soon as the car was out of sight, Annie all but dragged Harry towards the address he supplied. It took them nearly twenty minutes to walk there, and when they got there, they were severely disappointed.
ôIt's just a bar!ö Annabel exclaimed, ôI can't believe she sent us to a bar!ö
ôCalm down Annie.ö Harry placated, but she would have none of that.
ôYou can't hide an alley in a bar! It's ridiculous! Mrs. Figg probably wrote the letter as a joke!ö
ôWhy would she do that?ö Harry asked.
ôBecause she's OLD!ö Annabel exploded, ôThat's what old people do! They hate children., and spend their miserable lives trying to ruin ours! She knew that they won't let kids into a bar, and probably expects us to get in trouble and spend the day at the police station!ö
ôCome on Annie. Mrs. Figg wouldn't do that.ö Harry replied.
ôWouldn't she?ö
ôNo, she wouldn'tö
ôWell fine then! Let's just walk on in and see what happens then! Come on Harry!ö Harry sighed, and just let her drag him along behind her. There was very little that could stop Annabel once she set her mind on something, and by now, Harry had learned not to try.
Within seconds, they were standing in from of the bartender, who was looking at them with amusement.
ôCan I help you miss?ö
ôTell me where Diagon Alley is.ö Annabel commanded.
ôSure, right this way.ö
ôSee Harry? I told you-ö Annabel began, before realizing what he had said, ôWait, really?ö
ôOf course. I'm guessing that your parents went on ahead. It happens all the time.ö he chuckled.
Wordlessly, the two children followed him through the back, and watched as he touched the bricks in a specific sequence. They watched in awe as the bricks rearranged themselves, revealing a collection of shops and dozens of strangely dressed people.
ôNow off you go. Your parents are probably starting to worry.ö the bartender said, giving them a bit of a push. Still silent, the two cautiously began their first venture into the magical world.
--- --- --- --- ---
ôSo... where should we go first?ö Annabel asked, still trying to process the revelation of magic.
ôI don't know...ö Harry answered, in a similar state to
ôHEY LOOK, A SNACK SHOP!!!ö Rex exclaimed.
ôThat's not a snack shop, it's a pet store!ö Annabel admonished the stuffed plushy,
ôAREN'T THOSE THE SAME THING?ö
ôNo!ö
ôHey, wait a minute, they have owls in there.ö Harry noted, interrupting his friends.
ôSo?ö
ôARE OWLS TASTY?ö
ôIf I have my own owl, then I don't need to borrow one from Mrs. Figg.ö
ôYou're going to buy one of them?ö Annabel asked in disbelief.
ôSure, I'll probably need one anyways, so I might as well buy it now. In fact, I should probably get all the stuff on the list too.ö
ôFine... let's just get this over with.ö was her response, and they entered the store.
--- --- --- --- ---
ôWelcome to my humble store. Now what can I get for you two youngsters?ö the shopkeeper greeted them warmly.
ôMy friend wants to buy an owl.ö Annabel gestures towards Harry, who was already looking at the vast collection with unrestrained curiosity.
ôCertainly. That will be eight Galleons, Seven sickles.ö
ôUm... is this enough?ö Annabel asked, holding out a fifty pound note.
ôAh, muggleborn. You'll need to go to Gringotts to exchange that for wizarding currency. We don't have much use for your...paper.ö
Annabel sighed in exasperation, ôCan't anything be easy?!ö
--- --- --- --- ---
The bank, much like the rest of the wizarding world, was unusual. Rather than security cameras and ATMs, there were armed guards and goblins.
ôExcuse me?ö
ôMy name is Irontooth. Can I help you?ö The clerk sneered at them, clearly wanting to get this over with.
ôWe need to change some money.ö Annabel replied.
ôOf course you do.ö he responded, rolling his eyes, ôYour names?ö
ôI'm Annabel Jones, and this is Harry Potter.ö
ôHarry... Potter you say?ö
ôYes, that's me.ö Harry replied quietly.
ôIt seems that wizards are getting more idiotic each year.ö
ôExcuse me?ö
ôMr. Potter, you already have an account here at Gringotts, and have no need to exchange Muggle money.ö
ôReally?ö
The goblin let out a long suffering sigh, ôYes Mr. Potter. I assume you don't have your key?ö
ôWhat key?ö
ôNever mind. If you'll just follow me...ö th goblin gestured, and the two children followed him into the depths of Gringotts Bank.
--- --- --- --- ---
ôReplacing your key is a simple matter Mr. Potter. All we need is a sample of your blood.ö
ôMy... blood?ö Harry asked, glancing at the large dagger the goblin had.
ôDid you expect us to just give you a replacement? We need to verify that you are indeed Harry Potter before giving you access to the vault.ö
ôWell... alright...ö Harry assented. Immediately, the goblin grabbed him, and deftly slashed him across his palm. Ignoring the accompanying cry of pain, the goblin deftly carried the dagger over to a crucible, where he watched in interest as Harry's blood filled it up. Within moments, it began to boil, and smoke poured out of it. After several minutes, the smoke died down, and Irontooth reached inside, pulling out a gleaming new key.
Looking closely, Harry could see a ghostly image of the key surrounding it, but it dissolved
ôAs this is the first time this has happened, we will not charge you the standard key replacement fee. Make sure it does not happen again.ö
ôYes sir.ö
ôNow follow me. I'll take you to your vault.ö
--- --- --- --- ---
ôFASTER! FASTER!!!ö
While Irontooth might be rude, it was clear that karma was compensating for it, as well as the sadistic pleasure most goblins took from the discomfort the carts caused most wizards, as the loud screams of both children filled the air, and gave him a massive headache.
ôWow! Did you see that!?!ö
ôWas that a dragon!?ö
Irontooth sighed in relief as the cart slowed, finally ending his torment.
ôYour vault, Mr. Potter.ö Irontooth sneered, motioning towards the massive door. Uncertainly, Harry moved forward, and inserted his key.
While the Potters were by no means rich, at least according to wizarding standards, there was still a lot of money, especially for a pair of children. They didn't notice the vault door close behind them, and it was several minutes before they stopped staring, and started gathering up as much as they could carry. Rex, having significantly less self control, chose to roll around in the piles of gold.
--- --- --- --- ---
Their business at the bank concluded, and laden with magical currency, the pair headed back to the pet store. Harry spent several minutes browsing their selection, while Annabel waited at the front.
ôHere.ö Harry said, handing Annabel a cage.
ôWhat is this?ö
ôIt's an owl.ö
ôAn owl.ö
ôRight.ö
ôWhy would you get me an owl?ö
ôWell... because.ö
ôBecause what?ö
ôWell, if I'm at Hogwarts, then I won't be able to see you, and they probably don't have mailboxes. So... I figured... you could use the owl to write me letters.ö
ôYou want me to write you letters?ö
ôI'll write to you too!ö
ôWell, alright. If it's that important to you...ö
ôCAN I HAVE A PET TOO?" Rex asked.
ôNo.ö Harry told him.
ôWHY NOT?ö
ôBecause you'll just eat it.ö
ôBUT THEY LOOK SO DELICIOUS...ö
ôI said no!ö Harry admonished, rolling his eyes in annoyance. ôSometimes I wish that Rex was like Homer. At least he knows to be quiet.ö
ôAre you kidding me? Homer loves to talk. I'm surprised he hasn't said anything since we got here.ö Annabel replied, laughing.
ô...Where IS Homer?ö
ôHe's right... uh oh.ö The duo rapidly paled as Annabel opened her bag, only to find it empty. Homer had wandered off.
Harry sighed. In all likelihood, Homer was fine, but after the incident with Mr. Henderson, she was a bit... overprotective. In three...two...one...
ôWhere could he be?!ö Annabel fretted, looking around frantically. ôThe only times he wanders off is when he's looking for food, and they don't have any sports stores here! All they sell are eyeballs, wart cream, and those stupid owls!!!ö
ôCalm down, I'm sure he just went for a look around.ö
ôThe last time he went for a look around, he got CAPTURED BY A MAD SCIENCE TEACHER!!!ö Annabel screamed, almost choking Harry in her distress.
ôW- we'll find him! Don't worry Annie!ö Harry stammered, ôRex! Help!ö
ôHOMER WENT TO TASTE THEIR SPORTS EQUIPMENT.ö
ôWIZARDS DON'T HAVE SPORTS!!!ö
ôTHEY DO SO!!! IT'S CALLED... SQUID WITCH OR... RIB DITCH OR SOMETHING. THERE'S A WHOLE STORE RIGHT OVER THERE.ö
Annabel' had whipped towards the indicated store, and all but dragged Harry and Rex behind her. Fortunately, Homer was still in there. Unfortunately, he had already eaten most of their stock, and his presence had terrified the store owner into unconsciousness.
ôHomer! Don't wander off like that! Do you want to end up a some experiment in a basement again?!ö
ôNO...ö
ôThen don't wander off!ö
ôBUT I WAS HUNGRY...ö
ôNext time you're hungry, let me know and I'll take you to get something to eat! Now promise you won't wander off again!ö
ôBUT ANNIE...ö
ôPromise!!!ö
Homer mutter something under his breath, that might have contained words along those lines, and Annabel took what she could get.
ôWe'd better sneak out the back before someone else shows up.ö Harry spoke up, glancing outside warily.
ôAlright. Let's move.ö was Annabel's response, as they quietly walked away from the scene of Homer's latest feast, ôNow what else do you need to get for school?ö
ôLet me see...ö Harry glanced at the list, as they entered the Alley, ôI need to buy a hat, some robes, some gloves, a cloak, some books, a wand, a cauldron, some bottles, a telescope, and some scales.ö
ôSeriously?ö
ôLooks like it.ö
ôFine... now where do we get these things?ö
--- --- --- --- ---
After several hours, the shopping was all complete. While the list of supplies was fairly easy to gather, they were a pair of children, laden with gold, exploring the magical world for the first time. The pet store was merely the first of many side quests. They visited nearly every store in the alley, and bought something from each one. The were lucky that one of their first finds was a magic chest, which was large enough to carry everything.
ôIs there anything else you need?ö Annabel asked as they continued strolling down the alley, her thirst for shopping quenched for the moment.
ôI think we got everything... except a wand.ö Harry replied, earning a snort from his friend, ôWhat's so funny?ö
ôA wand? Really?ö
ôI'm sure it's... very important...ö Harry replied, clearly unconvinced, ôCome on. Let's just get this over with.ö
--- --- --- --- ---
While many of the shops could be called quaint, Ollivander's shop was the strangest by far. While it lacked the flair and appearances of many other stores, the owner blew them all out of the water. Ollivander was a decidedly strange man. Within seconds, Harry was wrapped up in his measuring tape, and Ollivander was wandering the depths of his shop, searching for the perfect wand. Annabel, having nothing better to do, followed the shop keeper, peppering him with inquisitions.
ôWhy do wizards use wands?ö
ôWands are easy to carry, easy to use, and easy to make,ö Ollivaner replied offhandedly, still hunting through his wand collection
ôMagicians use wands. Why don't you use staffs?ö
ôStaffs are much more difficult to craft and learn to use. While they are more powerful, the additional power is not enough to offset these problems.ö
ôBut you can't use a wand to hit someone.ö
ôTrue, but magic is more than enough to solve most problems. If you want to hit someone, I suggest using a sword. It's much more effective than a staff for physical violence.ö
Further conversation was interrupted, as Harry had finally had enough of measuring.
ôDid you find a wand yet?!ö he shouted, uncomfortably watching as the tape measured the diameter of his irises.
ôComing Mr. Potter!ö Ollivander declared merrily, his arms filled with wands. ôLet's see if we have a suitable match for you!ö
Wand after wand was tried, with poor to mediocre results. There were few wands that Ollivander set aside, but fortunately, they finally found a match.
As Harry waved what felt like the hundredth wand, a gout of flames shot from the tip. The flames seemed to swell, and the very air of the store seemed to set alight.
Even Annabel couldn't help but be impressed by the display. Harry, as the source of the event, was completely in awe as what he had wrought. Olliander, used to such displays, merely took the wand from Harry's hand, to give the wand one last examination.
ôAsh, eleven and a half inches, with a core of dragon heartstring soaked in thestral blood. Particularly attuned to fire magic.ö Ollivander recited from memory, ôThis is quite a tempermental combination, I would recommend being careful with your spell work, or you might set the school ablaze.ö
Harry nodded numbly, and quickly paid Ollivander, his eyes never leaving his wand.
--- --- --- --- ---
They barely made it back to the movie theater in time to meet up with Annabel's mom. The car was so filled with bags, that smuggling Harry's new luggage was easy, and she was so happy at the deals she had found, the presence of two owls went completely unnoticed.
Sadly, Harry was enamored with the magical world, and spent his time looking through the books, and waving his wand to do anything else. Even Rex was somewhat ignored, as the new world consumed Harry's mind.
Annabel left him alone for a week, before getting sick of being ignored.
Harry was lucky to get that.
--- --- --- --- ---
ôHey.ö
ôHm? What's up Annabel?ö Harry asked.
Rather than replying verbally, Annabel brought her bat crashing down on his head.
ôOw! What was that for?!ö Harry complained, before she forcefully grabbed him, and dragged him out of the house.
Harry continued to complain, though was ignored. Finally, Annabel stopped, and Harry sighed in annoyance. She had hit him over the head, dragged him to the park, and hadn't said a word other than 'hey.'
ôWhat is wrong with you?ö
Annabel didn't reply, right away, waiting a few moments before she answered, ôIdiot. You're going to have a whole year to learn about magic. You've got less than a month to spend time with your friends.ö
Harry stopped, and realized how much time he had spent looking over his books. Despite her angry expression, he noticed that there was a hurt look in her eyes. There was only one response.
ô...Sorry...ö
ôIdiot. Come on. We need one more player for baseball.ö
Harry had never played a real baseball game before, mainly sticking to catch or some batting practice with Annabel. As a result, he was quickly relegated to playing catcher. Despite this, he quickly found that he was enjoying himself. While he didn't perform especially well, Annabel's skill, combined with her reputation, made it easy for their team to win. The most exhilarating moment was when she hit a home run, letting Harry get to home plate and clinch their victory..
It wasn't until the game was over, and Annabel had wrapped her arms around him in celebration that Harry realized something.
Until now, it hadn't hit him until now that he wouldn't be able to do this again until next summer, and just how much he was going to miss it.
--- --- --- --- ---
Annabel was kind enough to give him a ride to London, partially out of friendship, but mostly out of curiosity about how to get to a platform that didn't exist.
ôSo, where is this platform?ö
ôI don't know. Mrs. Figg said it was nine and three quarters, so it must be around here somewhere... do you see anything Rex?ö
ôYEAH. IT'S RIGHT THERE... SEE?ö
Harry winced as Rex shared his sight, and the world turned to shades of grey.
Glancing over at Annabel, he noticed that she was glowing a faint purple, and that the glow was tied to Homer. Turning away, Harry saw that one of the columns was glowing brilliantly, though it was completely white. As he looked more carefully, he could see the shape of a door hidden in the glow.
ôThere it is... follow me Annie.ö Harry said, taking her hand.
ôWha- wait Harry! That's a wall!ö Annabel shouted, though her protests were ignored as Harry continued to pull her behind him. As they approached the seemingly solid wall, she let out a small shriek as they passed right through.
As the pain she expected failed to occur opened her eyes. Indignation and anger filled her, as she saw Harry smiling at her.
ôYou JERK!!!ö
ôOw! Sorry! I'm sorry!ö
After a few moments of exacting her revenge, Annabel calmed down enough to look around, and Harry followed suit. Looking at the platfrom, and the shining train waiting for its passengers, there was only one appropriate response.
ôWhoa...ö
Harry was the first to regain his senses, shaking his head as he began to walk towards the train. However, before he could get far. He was halted, as Annabel grabbed his hand.
ôHm? What's wrong Annie?ö
ôHere...ö Annabel whispered, holding out her bat, ôtake this with you, alright Harry?ö
ôBut Annie... that's your favorite bat...ö
ôYeah, it is, so you'd better bring it back, alright?!ö
Harry grinned before heading towards the train, ôI promise.ö
Annabel returned his smile, ôGood luck at Hogwarts Harry!ö
--- --- --- --- ---
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
--- --- --- --- ---
So, what do you guys think? I can't improve if I don;t get some feedback, so let me know what needs work!
I actually think it gives a bit of historical flavor. For a very long time the idea of using anything other than silver or gold as currency was laughable, and paper money? You had to be insane. Even now, it's typically accepted that a country has some kind of gold reserve as a source of hard value behind its paper money.
Working on the next chapter, though it will probably end up shorter than the previous two. I'll probably have a rough version finished Sunday or Monday.
In the meantime, here are some Omake.
--- --- --- --- ---
Murphy's Law
Unfortunately, as the Hat was placed on Harry's head, he was talking with Rex. While the Sorting Hat was used to unusual thoughts, and had seen more than its share of disturbing things, there was very little that was capable of surviving in the mind of a monster.
The hat let out a piercing scream, before bursting into flames. The hall was dead silent, as both students and teachers stared at Harry in a mixture of fear and awe.
As the flames died down, leaving Harry coated in a layer of ashes, he blushed, thinking that there was no possible way for things to get worse.
Sadly, the young Potter had never heard of Murphy.
ôHA!!! TAKE THAT YOU STUPID HAT!!!ö Rex crowed as he resumed his true form. So caught up in his gloating, he paid no heed to the now terrified people before him, blasting flames and rending furniture to celebrate his victory.
While wizards and witches, like the Sorting Hat, were used to strange and disturbing things, they had never encounter something like a Monster. The entire students body, as well as the staff, was quickly driven into madness as Rex rampaged through the Great Hall.
Well, at least it wouldn't be boring...
--- --- --- --- ---
His Biggest Fan
When they returned to his compartment, Harry felt a little relieved. Hermione was a nice girl, but she just loved to talk, and it was exhausting. It didn't help that he was her current subject of interest. It seemed that she knew more about his life than he did!
ôHarry, your compartment!!!ö Hermione shrieked, rousing Harry from his stupor. Glancing into the compartment, it was easy to see why she reacted that way. The entire compartment was trashed, the seats torn up, and Harry's luggage opened and strewn all over the place. For Harry, being well versed in such situations, it wasn't difficult to locate the culprit, especially since he was still there. Rex was a rambunctious fellow, and without Harry there to reprimand him and keep him in check, he had gotten a bit over enthusiastic with the room.
ôI think you've been robbed!ö
ôRight...robbed...ö Harry responded, glaring at the innocuous seeming toy sitting in the center of the havoc.
ôI'm going to report this to the prefects right now! People shouldn't be allowed to get away with this sort of behavior!ö Harry felt a vague sense of panic well up inside him. While they probably wouldn't suspect Rex, drawing attention to it would just make things more difficult, and from what Hermione had told him, he was already going to have more attention than he liked.
ôHermione wait! It was probably...ö Harry desperately searched for a culprit that wouldn't cause problemsô...a fan! Someone probably wanted something that belonged to me as a souvenir. You said I was famous, right?ö On one level, Harry was relieved that she had seemingly memorized his life story. If one person did it, certainly others did the same, right?
ôA fan... I suppose that makes senseö
As Harry began to clean up the mess, Hermione helped, and discreetly pocketed one of his socks. The room was quickly cleaned, and Hermione bid Harry goodbye. As soon as she exited the compartment, she glanced around warily, before retrieving her prize.
*SNIIIIIIFF*
A disturbing grin crossed the young girl's face as she inhaled the scent of the hero of the wizarding world. Hermione made a mental note to acquire more trophies. If they were all as... potent as this one, she was going to have a very enjoyable seven years at Hogwarts.
--- --- --- --- ---
Why Harry can't be in Gryffindor
Peter Pettigrew, currently best known as Scabbers, looked up, slightly annoyed, as Harry Potter's little construct opened the door to his cage. It wasn't all that surprising. Many parents had their children's toys enchanted. Granted, by this age, most children were more interested in pets than stuffed animals.
Sighing to himself, he jumped out of his cage, and resumed his human form. Snatching his current owner's wand, he calmly pointed the wand at the toy.
ôReducto.ö
Having dealt with the annoyance, he returned the wand to its resting place. It would likely cause some friction between Harry and the rest of the first years, but it was Harry's fault that he had to spend the last ten years as a rat, and children had to grow past toys some time.
ôINTERESTING TRICK.ö
Peter looked down in surprise. Not only was it still intact, but it was talking to him, and in a far deeper voice than one would expect from something so small.
ôI CAN TRANSFORM TOO.ö
Peter watched in horror as the innocuous toy grew to massive proportions. The now terrifying creature before his growled lowly, before opening its jaws. Peter managed a tiny squeek, reminiscent to the sounds he had made for the last ten years, before the jaws closed around him, and ended his life.
Rex chewed on the newly deceased man for a few moments, before spitting him out in disgust.
ôTASTES LIKE CHICKEN... I HATE CHICKEN...ö
Sadly, the corpse landed on its owner, and one Ronald Weasley woke up, screamed, and spent the next three week in the mental ward of St. Mungos.
In the meantime, here are some Omake.
--- --- --- --- ---
Murphy's Law
Unfortunately, as the Hat was placed on Harry's head, he was talking with Rex. While the Sorting Hat was used to unusual thoughts, and had seen more than its share of disturbing things, there was very little that was capable of surviving in the mind of a monster.
The hat let out a piercing scream, before bursting into flames. The hall was dead silent, as both students and teachers stared at Harry in a mixture of fear and awe.
As the flames died down, leaving Harry coated in a layer of ashes, he blushed, thinking that there was no possible way for things to get worse.
Sadly, the young Potter had never heard of Murphy.
ôHA!!! TAKE THAT YOU STUPID HAT!!!ö Rex crowed as he resumed his true form. So caught up in his gloating, he paid no heed to the now terrified people before him, blasting flames and rending furniture to celebrate his victory.
While wizards and witches, like the Sorting Hat, were used to strange and disturbing things, they had never encounter something like a Monster. The entire students body, as well as the staff, was quickly driven into madness as Rex rampaged through the Great Hall.
Well, at least it wouldn't be boring...
--- --- --- --- ---
His Biggest Fan
When they returned to his compartment, Harry felt a little relieved. Hermione was a nice girl, but she just loved to talk, and it was exhausting. It didn't help that he was her current subject of interest. It seemed that she knew more about his life than he did!
ôHarry, your compartment!!!ö Hermione shrieked, rousing Harry from his stupor. Glancing into the compartment, it was easy to see why she reacted that way. The entire compartment was trashed, the seats torn up, and Harry's luggage opened and strewn all over the place. For Harry, being well versed in such situations, it wasn't difficult to locate the culprit, especially since he was still there. Rex was a rambunctious fellow, and without Harry there to reprimand him and keep him in check, he had gotten a bit over enthusiastic with the room.
ôI think you've been robbed!ö
ôRight...robbed...ö Harry responded, glaring at the innocuous seeming toy sitting in the center of the havoc.
ôI'm going to report this to the prefects right now! People shouldn't be allowed to get away with this sort of behavior!ö Harry felt a vague sense of panic well up inside him. While they probably wouldn't suspect Rex, drawing attention to it would just make things more difficult, and from what Hermione had told him, he was already going to have more attention than he liked.
ôHermione wait! It was probably...ö Harry desperately searched for a culprit that wouldn't cause problemsô...a fan! Someone probably wanted something that belonged to me as a souvenir. You said I was famous, right?ö On one level, Harry was relieved that she had seemingly memorized his life story. If one person did it, certainly others did the same, right?
ôA fan... I suppose that makes senseö
As Harry began to clean up the mess, Hermione helped, and discreetly pocketed one of his socks. The room was quickly cleaned, and Hermione bid Harry goodbye. As soon as she exited the compartment, she glanced around warily, before retrieving her prize.
*SNIIIIIIFF*
A disturbing grin crossed the young girl's face as she inhaled the scent of the hero of the wizarding world. Hermione made a mental note to acquire more trophies. If they were all as... potent as this one, she was going to have a very enjoyable seven years at Hogwarts.
--- --- --- --- ---
Why Harry can't be in Gryffindor
Peter Pettigrew, currently best known as Scabbers, looked up, slightly annoyed, as Harry Potter's little construct opened the door to his cage. It wasn't all that surprising. Many parents had their children's toys enchanted. Granted, by this age, most children were more interested in pets than stuffed animals.
Sighing to himself, he jumped out of his cage, and resumed his human form. Snatching his current owner's wand, he calmly pointed the wand at the toy.
ôReducto.ö
Having dealt with the annoyance, he returned the wand to its resting place. It would likely cause some friction between Harry and the rest of the first years, but it was Harry's fault that he had to spend the last ten years as a rat, and children had to grow past toys some time.
ôINTERESTING TRICK.ö
Peter looked down in surprise. Not only was it still intact, but it was talking to him, and in a far deeper voice than one would expect from something so small.
ôI CAN TRANSFORM TOO.ö
Peter watched in horror as the innocuous toy grew to massive proportions. The now terrifying creature before his growled lowly, before opening its jaws. Peter managed a tiny squeek, reminiscent to the sounds he had made for the last ten years, before the jaws closed around him, and ended his life.
Rex chewed on the newly deceased man for a few moments, before spitting him out in disgust.
ôTASTES LIKE CHICKEN... I HATE CHICKEN...ö
Sadly, the corpse landed on its owner, and one Ronald Weasley woke up, screamed, and spent the next three week in the mental ward of St. Mungos.
Mostly done with this chapter. I just need to figure out who to have Harry ride with on the boats, and do a little bit. I don't really have anything planned for it, so I might just have them be faceless A and Faceless B, but I'm open to suggestions.
As I expected, this is going to be around 2500 words when its finished. That's probably because there's not much going on during this period. I might extend it a bit once I reread the relevant parts of the book, but it probably won't break 3000 words.
One the bright side, the next chapter ought to be a lot longer, especially since I plan on Harry exploring Hogwarts with Rex, in addition to his classes.
Enjoy!
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
The train ride to a magical school was quite similar to any other train ride, that is to say, that it was fairly boring. Harry, being among the first to arrive, quickly settled into a compartment. Loading his trunk into the upper storage area, he quickly retrieved Rex and set him down across from him. While Rex wasn't exactly human, it was better than staring into space.
ôSO, HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO TAKE?ö
ôI don't know. I've never gone to Hogwarts before.ö
ôWELL I HOPE ITS SOON. THIS TRAIN GIVES ME A HEADACHE. IT'S WAY TO BRIGHT.ö
ôIt'll probably be worse at Hogwarts. It is a magic school after all.ö
ôOH. THAT'S RIGHT... CAN I STAY WITH ANNIE???ö
ôNope.ö
ôAWWW...ö
Harry laughed at Rex's reaction, just in time for a redhead to walk in.
ôSo, what's so funny?ö
ôOh, nothing, Rex was just complaining about going to Hogwarts.ö
ôRex? Is that your familiar?ö
ôUm... I guess so...ö Harry replied uncertainly, grabbing Rex, ôThis is Rex.ö
ôOh...ö the redhead replied, looking at Harry strangely... ôWell, I'll just be going now...ö
ôSee you later!ö as their companion departed, Rex looked over at Harry.
ôWEIRD KID. YOU'D THINK HE'D NEVER SEEN A MONSTER BEFORE.ö
ôWell, maybe he hasn't. I've only met you and Homer.ö
ôBUT HE'S A WIZARD. SHOULDN'T HE BE USED TO STRANGE THINGS?ö
ôI think you're a bit stranger than usual...ö
Once again, their conversation was put on hold, as a woman knocked on the door. Harry stared in awe at the selection of snacks. Completely unlike snacks he was used to, Harry couldn't help but buy at least a few of each. While some of them seemed benign, such a licorice wands, others, such as the every flavor beans, proved to be less so. On the plus side, the Chocolate Frogs proved to be a big hit with Rex, who enjoyed stalking them. Harry was just glad he had something to do that didn't involve transforming.
It wouldn't look good if he caused the train to crash on his first day as a wizard. Even if it wasn't really his fault.
ôExcuse me, have you seen a toad around here?ö Harry turned to see rather pudgy boy standing by the door.
ôNo, I haven't. Sorry.ö Harry responded, ôDo you want some help looking for it?ö
ôNo. There's no need to go out of you way.ö the boy replied, ôI'm sure Trevor will turn up somewhere...ö
Their conversation concluded, the boy left, and Harry resumed watching Rex hunt down the chocolate treats.
ôSo, it is fun hunting down chocolate animals?ö Harry asked,
ôYEAH, IT'S PRETTY FUN. NOT AS FUN WHEN I'M SMALL LIKE THIS, BUT STILL PRETTY FUN.ö
ôWell, you're going to have to stay small. If you change, you'll probably wreck the train.ö
ôYOU SAY THAT LIKE IT'S A BAD THING.ö
ôI'd rather not get kicked out of school before we get there. That's why.ö Harry replied.
ôBUT SHOULDN'T I GET IT ALL OUT OF MY SYSTEM BEFORE WE GET THERE?ö Rex wheedled.
ôWell, if it'll keep you from burning down the school...ö Harry though to himself, before shakign his head, ôNO! No destroying the train, alright Rex?ö
ôFINE...ö
Harry eyed his friend suspiciously, before an uppity young girl barged into the compartment.
ôHave you seen a toad? Neville's lost his.ö Harry glanced up to see a rather brazen girl standing at the door, waiting for a reply.
ôNeville... I think he came by here earlier, is he short and kind of pudgy?ö
ôThat sounds about right.ö
ôSorry, I haven't seen his toad. Do you want a hand looking?ö
She smiled, ôThat would be lovely. Hermione Granger.ö
ôHarry Potter.ö was his response as they exited the compartment.
ôAre you really?ö
ôUm... yes?ö
ôI've read about you!ö
ôRead about me? I'm... in books?ö
ôOf course! After what you did, didn't you think people would write about it?ö
ôI'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about.ö
ôHow could you not know?!ö
ôI grew up with my relatives. They... didn't really like magic...ö Harry mumbled, thinking about what had happened when Rex first came into his life. Granted, magic was probably not as bad as Rex, but considering that Uncle Vernon's brain was melted, he could understand why magic was avoided.
ôWell, you ought to make an effort to learn, you're in dozens of books, including Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and even Great Wizarding Events if the Twentieth Century!ö
ôReally?ö Harry asked, ôWhat did I do to get into them?ö
Hermione looked scandalized, ôY-you defeated the Dark Lord!ö
ôI did?ö
Hermione gaped, unable to wrap her mind around the idea of an oblivious hero.
ôDo... you think you could fill me in?ö Harry asked, wincing as he saw her eyes lit up. Maybe asking her was a bad idea...
--- --- --- --- ---
Harry allowed himself to be dragged all over the train in search of the missing toad. Far from a silent search, his companion jabbered on and on, initially concerning his exploits, and the rumors surrounding his ten year absence, but once that topic was exhausted, she branched out to other topics, such as the properties of dragon's blood discussed in their first year Potions textbook, and the charms she had experimented with over the summer.
When they returned to his compartment, Harry felt a little relieved. Hermione was a nice girl, but she just loved to talk, and it was exhausting. It didn't help that he was her current subject of interest. It seemed that she knew more about his life than he did!
ôHarry, your compartment!!!ö Hermione shrieked, rousing Harry from his stupor. Glancing into the compartment, it was easy to see why she reacted that way. The entire compartment was trashed, the seats torn up, and Harry's luggage opened and strewn all over the place. For Harry, being well versed in such situations, it wasn't difficult to locate the culprit, especially since he was still there. Rex was a rambunctious fellow, and without Harry there to reprimand him and keep him in check, he had gotten a bit over enthusiastic with the room.
ôI think you've been robbed!ö
ôRight...robbed...ö Harry responded, glaring at the innocuous seeming toy sitting in the center of the havoc.
ôI'm going to report this to the prefects right now! People shouldn't be allowed to get away with this sort of behavior!ö Harry felt a vague sense of panic well up inside him. While they probably wouldn't suspect Rex, drawing attention to it would just make things more difficult, and from what Hermione had told him, he was already going to have more attention than he liked.
ôHermione wait! It was probably...ö Harry desperately searched for a culprit that wouldn't cause problemsô...a fan! Someone probably wanted something that belonged to me as a souvenir. You said I was famous, right?ö On one level, Harry was relieved that she had seemingly memorized his life story. If one person did it, certainly others did the same, right?
ôI suppose, but that doesn't mean they should get away with it!ö Hermione protested.
ôI promise, if this happens again, I'll report it right away.ö Harry attempted to sooth his companion.
ôWell, alright...ö Hermione huffed, though she didn't seem happy about it. ôDo you want a hand cleaning everyhting up?ö
ôI've got it. Besides, I still have to change into my robes.ö
ôWell, alright. I need to get back to my compartment anyways.ö Hermione assented, leaving Harry alone for what felt like the first time in ages. He enjoyed the silence for a breif moment, before turning his attention to his wayward companion.
ôSo, what was it this time?ö
ôI GOT BORED ONCE I ATE ALL OF THE FROGS.ö
Harry sighed, ôWell, at least you're honest about it...ö
ôWE'RE ALMOST THERE. YOU SHOULD PROBABLY CHANGE...ö
ôI just hope I can find my robes in this mess you made...ö
--- --- --- --- ---
Fortunately, the remainder of the trip was uneventful, and Harry managed to change without any problems, and spent the rest of the time cleaning up after Rex. He was lucky enough to clear most of the mess, and repack his trunk before th train slowly came to a halt. Sighing in relief, Harry grabbed his things, making sure Rex was where he could see him, and departed.
ôFirs' years! Firs' years over here!ö Harry gawked at the truly massive man calling out to the students, before following the rest into a group down towards the lake.
ôAlrigh' now everyone get in a boat and we'll be off!ö
Harry, along with the rest of the students, followed the large man down to the edge of the lake, and cautiously boarded the boats.
Harry purposefully avoided Hermione's boat, wanting a bit more time to recover from their last chat. As a result he wound up in a boat with a pair of twins and a dark hair girl. Being the only boy, Harry found himself sitting in awkward silence as the remaining passengers chatted idly.
Fortunately, the awkward situation quickly passed, as they all got their first glimpse of Hogwarts. Gasps of awe filled the air, as the majestic castle came into view. That sense of awe remained with them as the disembarked from the boats.
Their escort lead them up the steps, to the front gates, and banged heavily on the door. With a deep creaking sound, the doors swung open, revealing a stern looking witch.
ôHere ya go Professor McGonagall, all firs' years present an' accounted for.ö
ôThank you Hagrid, I will take them from here.ö with a glace, McGonagall directed the collection of children to follow her, which thy did without protest.
ôYOU WERE RIGHT ABOUT THIS PLACE. IT DOES GIVE ME A HEADACHE.ö
ôShut up Rex!ö Harry hissed quietly, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention.
ôBUT IT REALLY, REALLY HURTS!ö
ôIf it hurts so much, then why not close your eyes?ö
ôBECAUSE THEN I WON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.ö
ôThere's just no pleasing you, is there.ö Harry said, grateful that something seemed to be drawing everyone else's attention.
ôI JUST WANT THERE TO BE AN OFF SWITCH. HECK, I'D SETTLE FOR A DIMMER.ö
ôI don't think magic has anything like that.ö
ôWHY NOT?ö
ôI don't know! Why isn't the sun blue?ö
ôHOW SHOULD I KNOW?ö
ôExactly!ö Harry exclaimed, a bit louder than he intended.
ôWill you shut up!ö one of the twins stomped on his foot. It was only then that Harry realized that they had arrived at their destination, and that there was a singing hat. Somehow, he found this more unusual than anything he had seen yet.
--- --- --- --- ---
Harry watched in interest as the Sorting Hat was placed on every students' head, and cried out the name of one of the houses after a short period. Some of them, like the arrogant looking one name Draco, were sorted in an instant. Others, like Neville, took much longer. Harry found himself wondering if there was a time limit, or if they just waited until it was finished. Hearing Rex growl in boredom, Harry couldn't help but think about what would happen if he put the Hat on. At the very least, it would be an interesting and unique experience.
ôPotter, Harry!ö
Startled out of his thoughts, Harry glanced around, making sure they had really called his name. As McGonagall looked at him meaningfully, he started forward, trying to ignore the whispers and murmurs from the students.
Harry approached the hat cautiously. Hermione's chattering had given him a basic understanding of the houses, and the song helped, but th idea of something looking inside his head was a little disturbing. Granted, his best friend was an unspeakable horror from who knows where, but there were some things that were just plain creepy.
A glare from McGonagall forced Harry to set aside his concerns and take his seat. As the hat settled on his head, Harry was surprised to feel another entity inside his head.
ôInteresting... very interesting... there seems to be something protecting your mind, but it's not Occumency or any type of magical protection I've seen before. Still, if you think that'll keep my from doing my job, you've got another thing coming.ö Harry flinched, as he felt pressure on his brain, but it quickly faded, though he still felt somewhat strange.
ôDon't worry my boy, your secrets are safe with me. Now let's have a look...ö the Hat muttered, ôPlenty of courage, it seems, not many people would attack their teacher like that. Seems that gave you some distrust towards authority. You're a fairly smart kid, not exceptional, but smart. I could put you just about anywhere, and I doubt there would be much complaining...ö
Harry didn't respond, still adjusting to the fact that there was something in his head. Absently, he wished Annabel was here with him.
ôAh, it seems to miss your friend... it looks like that friend was the reason you attacked your teacher, and is the reason for some of your adventures. You've got a strong sense of loyalty in you, and given that, I think the best place for you is HUFFLEPUFF!!!ö
There was a moment of awkward silence following the announcement of Harry's house, but it was quickly eclipsed as Hufflepuff table burst into cheers. The remaining houses quickly joined them in the applause.
----- ----- ----- ------ ------
Let me know what you guys think.
Couple of questions for you guys:
-Who should ride in the boat with Harry?
-Should I start creating new threads for new chapters?
-Since Snape is going to have his face melted, who should be his replacement?
-Anyone want to beta?
As I expected, this is going to be around 2500 words when its finished. That's probably because there's not much going on during this period. I might extend it a bit once I reread the relevant parts of the book, but it probably won't break 3000 words.
One the bright side, the next chapter ought to be a lot longer, especially since I plan on Harry exploring Hogwarts with Rex, in addition to his classes.
Enjoy!
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
The train ride to a magical school was quite similar to any other train ride, that is to say, that it was fairly boring. Harry, being among the first to arrive, quickly settled into a compartment. Loading his trunk into the upper storage area, he quickly retrieved Rex and set him down across from him. While Rex wasn't exactly human, it was better than staring into space.
ôSO, HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO TAKE?ö
ôI don't know. I've never gone to Hogwarts before.ö
ôWELL I HOPE ITS SOON. THIS TRAIN GIVES ME A HEADACHE. IT'S WAY TO BRIGHT.ö
ôIt'll probably be worse at Hogwarts. It is a magic school after all.ö
ôOH. THAT'S RIGHT... CAN I STAY WITH ANNIE???ö
ôNope.ö
ôAWWW...ö
Harry laughed at Rex's reaction, just in time for a redhead to walk in.
ôSo, what's so funny?ö
ôOh, nothing, Rex was just complaining about going to Hogwarts.ö
ôRex? Is that your familiar?ö
ôUm... I guess so...ö Harry replied uncertainly, grabbing Rex, ôThis is Rex.ö
ôOh...ö the redhead replied, looking at Harry strangely... ôWell, I'll just be going now...ö
ôSee you later!ö as their companion departed, Rex looked over at Harry.
ôWEIRD KID. YOU'D THINK HE'D NEVER SEEN A MONSTER BEFORE.ö
ôWell, maybe he hasn't. I've only met you and Homer.ö
ôBUT HE'S A WIZARD. SHOULDN'T HE BE USED TO STRANGE THINGS?ö
ôI think you're a bit stranger than usual...ö
Once again, their conversation was put on hold, as a woman knocked on the door. Harry stared in awe at the selection of snacks. Completely unlike snacks he was used to, Harry couldn't help but buy at least a few of each. While some of them seemed benign, such a licorice wands, others, such as the every flavor beans, proved to be less so. On the plus side, the Chocolate Frogs proved to be a big hit with Rex, who enjoyed stalking them. Harry was just glad he had something to do that didn't involve transforming.
It wouldn't look good if he caused the train to crash on his first day as a wizard. Even if it wasn't really his fault.
ôExcuse me, have you seen a toad around here?ö Harry turned to see rather pudgy boy standing by the door.
ôNo, I haven't. Sorry.ö Harry responded, ôDo you want some help looking for it?ö
ôNo. There's no need to go out of you way.ö the boy replied, ôI'm sure Trevor will turn up somewhere...ö
Their conversation concluded, the boy left, and Harry resumed watching Rex hunt down the chocolate treats.
ôSo, it is fun hunting down chocolate animals?ö Harry asked,
ôYEAH, IT'S PRETTY FUN. NOT AS FUN WHEN I'M SMALL LIKE THIS, BUT STILL PRETTY FUN.ö
ôWell, you're going to have to stay small. If you change, you'll probably wreck the train.ö
ôYOU SAY THAT LIKE IT'S A BAD THING.ö
ôI'd rather not get kicked out of school before we get there. That's why.ö Harry replied.
ôBUT SHOULDN'T I GET IT ALL OUT OF MY SYSTEM BEFORE WE GET THERE?ö Rex wheedled.
ôWell, if it'll keep you from burning down the school...ö Harry though to himself, before shakign his head, ôNO! No destroying the train, alright Rex?ö
ôFINE...ö
Harry eyed his friend suspiciously, before an uppity young girl barged into the compartment.
ôHave you seen a toad? Neville's lost his.ö Harry glanced up to see a rather brazen girl standing at the door, waiting for a reply.
ôNeville... I think he came by here earlier, is he short and kind of pudgy?ö
ôThat sounds about right.ö
ôSorry, I haven't seen his toad. Do you want a hand looking?ö
She smiled, ôThat would be lovely. Hermione Granger.ö
ôHarry Potter.ö was his response as they exited the compartment.
ôAre you really?ö
ôUm... yes?ö
ôI've read about you!ö
ôRead about me? I'm... in books?ö
ôOf course! After what you did, didn't you think people would write about it?ö
ôI'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about.ö
ôHow could you not know?!ö
ôI grew up with my relatives. They... didn't really like magic...ö Harry mumbled, thinking about what had happened when Rex first came into his life. Granted, magic was probably not as bad as Rex, but considering that Uncle Vernon's brain was melted, he could understand why magic was avoided.
ôWell, you ought to make an effort to learn, you're in dozens of books, including Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and even Great Wizarding Events if the Twentieth Century!ö
ôReally?ö Harry asked, ôWhat did I do to get into them?ö
Hermione looked scandalized, ôY-you defeated the Dark Lord!ö
ôI did?ö
Hermione gaped, unable to wrap her mind around the idea of an oblivious hero.
ôDo... you think you could fill me in?ö Harry asked, wincing as he saw her eyes lit up. Maybe asking her was a bad idea...
--- --- --- --- ---
Harry allowed himself to be dragged all over the train in search of the missing toad. Far from a silent search, his companion jabbered on and on, initially concerning his exploits, and the rumors surrounding his ten year absence, but once that topic was exhausted, she branched out to other topics, such as the properties of dragon's blood discussed in their first year Potions textbook, and the charms she had experimented with over the summer.
When they returned to his compartment, Harry felt a little relieved. Hermione was a nice girl, but she just loved to talk, and it was exhausting. It didn't help that he was her current subject of interest. It seemed that she knew more about his life than he did!
ôHarry, your compartment!!!ö Hermione shrieked, rousing Harry from his stupor. Glancing into the compartment, it was easy to see why she reacted that way. The entire compartment was trashed, the seats torn up, and Harry's luggage opened and strewn all over the place. For Harry, being well versed in such situations, it wasn't difficult to locate the culprit, especially since he was still there. Rex was a rambunctious fellow, and without Harry there to reprimand him and keep him in check, he had gotten a bit over enthusiastic with the room.
ôI think you've been robbed!ö
ôRight...robbed...ö Harry responded, glaring at the innocuous seeming toy sitting in the center of the havoc.
ôI'm going to report this to the prefects right now! People shouldn't be allowed to get away with this sort of behavior!ö Harry felt a vague sense of panic well up inside him. While they probably wouldn't suspect Rex, drawing attention to it would just make things more difficult, and from what Hermione had told him, he was already going to have more attention than he liked.
ôHermione wait! It was probably...ö Harry desperately searched for a culprit that wouldn't cause problemsô...a fan! Someone probably wanted something that belonged to me as a souvenir. You said I was famous, right?ö On one level, Harry was relieved that she had seemingly memorized his life story. If one person did it, certainly others did the same, right?
ôI suppose, but that doesn't mean they should get away with it!ö Hermione protested.
ôI promise, if this happens again, I'll report it right away.ö Harry attempted to sooth his companion.
ôWell, alright...ö Hermione huffed, though she didn't seem happy about it. ôDo you want a hand cleaning everyhting up?ö
ôI've got it. Besides, I still have to change into my robes.ö
ôWell, alright. I need to get back to my compartment anyways.ö Hermione assented, leaving Harry alone for what felt like the first time in ages. He enjoyed the silence for a breif moment, before turning his attention to his wayward companion.
ôSo, what was it this time?ö
ôI GOT BORED ONCE I ATE ALL OF THE FROGS.ö
Harry sighed, ôWell, at least you're honest about it...ö
ôWE'RE ALMOST THERE. YOU SHOULD PROBABLY CHANGE...ö
ôI just hope I can find my robes in this mess you made...ö
--- --- --- --- ---
Fortunately, the remainder of the trip was uneventful, and Harry managed to change without any problems, and spent the rest of the time cleaning up after Rex. He was lucky enough to clear most of the mess, and repack his trunk before th train slowly came to a halt. Sighing in relief, Harry grabbed his things, making sure Rex was where he could see him, and departed.
ôFirs' years! Firs' years over here!ö Harry gawked at the truly massive man calling out to the students, before following the rest into a group down towards the lake.
ôAlrigh' now everyone get in a boat and we'll be off!ö
Harry, along with the rest of the students, followed the large man down to the edge of the lake, and cautiously boarded the boats.
Harry purposefully avoided Hermione's boat, wanting a bit more time to recover from their last chat. As a result he wound up in a boat with a pair of twins and a dark hair girl. Being the only boy, Harry found himself sitting in awkward silence as the remaining passengers chatted idly.
Fortunately, the awkward situation quickly passed, as they all got their first glimpse of Hogwarts. Gasps of awe filled the air, as the majestic castle came into view. That sense of awe remained with them as the disembarked from the boats.
Their escort lead them up the steps, to the front gates, and banged heavily on the door. With a deep creaking sound, the doors swung open, revealing a stern looking witch.
ôHere ya go Professor McGonagall, all firs' years present an' accounted for.ö
ôThank you Hagrid, I will take them from here.ö with a glace, McGonagall directed the collection of children to follow her, which thy did without protest.
ôYOU WERE RIGHT ABOUT THIS PLACE. IT DOES GIVE ME A HEADACHE.ö
ôShut up Rex!ö Harry hissed quietly, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention.
ôBUT IT REALLY, REALLY HURTS!ö
ôIf it hurts so much, then why not close your eyes?ö
ôBECAUSE THEN I WON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.ö
ôThere's just no pleasing you, is there.ö Harry said, grateful that something seemed to be drawing everyone else's attention.
ôI JUST WANT THERE TO BE AN OFF SWITCH. HECK, I'D SETTLE FOR A DIMMER.ö
ôI don't think magic has anything like that.ö
ôWHY NOT?ö
ôI don't know! Why isn't the sun blue?ö
ôHOW SHOULD I KNOW?ö
ôExactly!ö Harry exclaimed, a bit louder than he intended.
ôWill you shut up!ö one of the twins stomped on his foot. It was only then that Harry realized that they had arrived at their destination, and that there was a singing hat. Somehow, he found this more unusual than anything he had seen yet.
--- --- --- --- ---
Harry watched in interest as the Sorting Hat was placed on every students' head, and cried out the name of one of the houses after a short period. Some of them, like the arrogant looking one name Draco, were sorted in an instant. Others, like Neville, took much longer. Harry found himself wondering if there was a time limit, or if they just waited until it was finished. Hearing Rex growl in boredom, Harry couldn't help but think about what would happen if he put the Hat on. At the very least, it would be an interesting and unique experience.
ôPotter, Harry!ö
Startled out of his thoughts, Harry glanced around, making sure they had really called his name. As McGonagall looked at him meaningfully, he started forward, trying to ignore the whispers and murmurs from the students.
Harry approached the hat cautiously. Hermione's chattering had given him a basic understanding of the houses, and the song helped, but th idea of something looking inside his head was a little disturbing. Granted, his best friend was an unspeakable horror from who knows where, but there were some things that were just plain creepy.
A glare from McGonagall forced Harry to set aside his concerns and take his seat. As the hat settled on his head, Harry was surprised to feel another entity inside his head.
ôInteresting... very interesting... there seems to be something protecting your mind, but it's not Occumency or any type of magical protection I've seen before. Still, if you think that'll keep my from doing my job, you've got another thing coming.ö Harry flinched, as he felt pressure on his brain, but it quickly faded, though he still felt somewhat strange.
ôDon't worry my boy, your secrets are safe with me. Now let's have a look...ö the Hat muttered, ôPlenty of courage, it seems, not many people would attack their teacher like that. Seems that gave you some distrust towards authority. You're a fairly smart kid, not exceptional, but smart. I could put you just about anywhere, and I doubt there would be much complaining...ö
Harry didn't respond, still adjusting to the fact that there was something in his head. Absently, he wished Annabel was here with him.
ôAh, it seems to miss your friend... it looks like that friend was the reason you attacked your teacher, and is the reason for some of your adventures. You've got a strong sense of loyalty in you, and given that, I think the best place for you is HUFFLEPUFF!!!ö
There was a moment of awkward silence following the announcement of Harry's house, but it was quickly eclipsed as Hufflepuff table burst into cheers. The remaining houses quickly joined them in the applause.
----- ----- ----- ------ ------
Let me know what you guys think.
Couple of questions for you guys:
-Who should ride in the boat with Harry?
-Should I start creating new threads for new chapters?
-Since Snape is going to have his face melted, who should be his replacement?
-Anyone want to beta?
As for who he rides in the boat with... well, he needs 3 people... and he is avoiding Hermoine. Hmm... I would suggest him not riding with anyone in his new house just to keep things even...
Couple of Ravenclaws and a slytherin, maybe? Su Li is always a fun one to pick, as she has aboslutely nothing in canon that you have to worry about messing with. The Patil twins could be a fun idea. Since no one really knows who he is at this point, its rather easy for him to have a little meet with them before anyone goes all fangirl/boish.
So... Su... Tracy Davis... and some poor other boy smuck that isn't anyone important is my suggestion.
Couple of Ravenclaws and a slytherin, maybe? Su Li is always a fun one to pick, as she has aboslutely nothing in canon that you have to worry about messing with. The Patil twins could be a fun idea. Since no one really knows who he is at this point, its rather easy for him to have a little meet with them before anyone goes all fangirl/boish.
So... Su... Tracy Davis... and some poor other boy smuck that isn't anyone important is my suggestion.
I have plans for Umbridge later. Rest assured, her uppance will come.
Besides, at this point, Fudge doesn't really have any reason to interfere with Hogwarts, since at this point, I think he still asks Dumbledore for advice. Even if Umbridge showed up, I doubt she would be the conniving bitch we're used to.
Hm... that might be interesting... *goes to ideas section*
Besides, at this point, Fudge doesn't really have any reason to interfere with Hogwarts, since at this point, I think he still asks Dumbledore for advice. Even if Umbridge showed up, I doubt she would be the conniving bitch we're used to.
Hm... that might be interesting... *goes to ideas section*
Added the last bit, and it's a bit over 2300. Not as long as the last chapters, but since I didn't really have much to expand upon, it's to be expected. Now that Harry's at Hogwarts, there is plenty of unused material to tap into.
I went with the Patil twins and Daphne Greengrass, since that gives one person from each house other than Harry's own. Not sure if I'm gonna do something with that at some point, but probably not. Think I should expand on this a bit? Harry is going to Hufflepuff, so attempting to make friends would be fitting...
And seriously, there's nothing you guys want to say? Granted, there isn't much to go one, but I even wrote some Omake to amuse you guys!
Edit: The bit I added:
Fortunately, the remainder of the trip was uneventful, and Harry managed to change without any problems, and spent the rest of the time cleaning up after Rex. He was lucky enough to clear most of the mess, and repack his trunk before th train slowly came to a halt. Sighing in relief, Harry grabbed his things, making sure Rex was where he could see him, and departed.
ôFirs' years! Firs' years over here!ö Harry gawked at the truly massive man calling out to the students, before following the rest into a group down towards the lake.
ôAlrigh' now everyone get in a boat and we'll be off!ö
Harry, along with the rest of the students, followed the large man down to the edge of the lake, and cautiously boarded the boats.
Harry purposefully avoided Hermione's boat, wanting a bit more time to recover from their last chat. As a result he wound up in a boat with a pair of twins and a dark hair girl. Being the only boy, Harry found himself sitting in awkward silence as the remaining passengers chatted idly.
Fortunately, the awkward situation quickly passed, as they all got their first glimpse of Hogwarts. Gasps of awe filled the air, as the majestic castle came into view. That sense of awe remained with them as the disembarked from the boats.
Their escort lead them up the steps, to the front gates, and banged heavily on the door. With a deep creaking sound, the doors swung open, revealing a stern looking witch.
ôHere ya go Professor McGonagall, all firs' years present an' accounted for.ö
ôThank you Hagrid, I will take them from here.ö with a glace, McGonagall directed the collection of children to follow her, which thy did without protest.
ôYOU WERE RIGHT ABOUT THIS PLACE. IT DOES GIVE ME A HEADACHE.ö
ôShut up Rex!ö Harry hissed quietly, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention.
ôBUT IT REALLY, REALLY HURTS!ö
ôIf it hurts so much, then why not close your eyes?ö
ôBECAUSE THEN I WON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.ö
ôThere's just no pleasing you, is there.ö Harry said, grateful that something seemed to be drawing everyone else's attention.
ôI JUST WANT THERE TO BE AN OFF SWITCH. HECK, I'D SETTLE FOR A DIMMER.ö
ôI don't think magic has anything like that.ö
ôWHY NOT?ö
ôI don't know! Why isn't the sun blue?ö
ôHOW SHOULD I KNOW?ö
ôExactly!ö Harry exclaimed, a bit louder than he intended.
ôWill you shut up!ö one of the twins stomped on his foot. It was only then that Harry realized that they had arrived at their destination, and that there was a singing hat. Somehow, he found this more unusual than anything he had seen yet.
I went with the Patil twins and Daphne Greengrass, since that gives one person from each house other than Harry's own. Not sure if I'm gonna do something with that at some point, but probably not. Think I should expand on this a bit? Harry is going to Hufflepuff, so attempting to make friends would be fitting...
And seriously, there's nothing you guys want to say? Granted, there isn't much to go one, but I even wrote some Omake to amuse you guys!
Edit: The bit I added:
Fortunately, the remainder of the trip was uneventful, and Harry managed to change without any problems, and spent the rest of the time cleaning up after Rex. He was lucky enough to clear most of the mess, and repack his trunk before th train slowly came to a halt. Sighing in relief, Harry grabbed his things, making sure Rex was where he could see him, and departed.
ôFirs' years! Firs' years over here!ö Harry gawked at the truly massive man calling out to the students, before following the rest into a group down towards the lake.
ôAlrigh' now everyone get in a boat and we'll be off!ö
Harry, along with the rest of the students, followed the large man down to the edge of the lake, and cautiously boarded the boats.
Harry purposefully avoided Hermione's boat, wanting a bit more time to recover from their last chat. As a result he wound up in a boat with a pair of twins and a dark hair girl. Being the only boy, Harry found himself sitting in awkward silence as the remaining passengers chatted idly.
Fortunately, the awkward situation quickly passed, as they all got their first glimpse of Hogwarts. Gasps of awe filled the air, as the majestic castle came into view. That sense of awe remained with them as the disembarked from the boats.
Their escort lead them up the steps, to the front gates, and banged heavily on the door. With a deep creaking sound, the doors swung open, revealing a stern looking witch.
ôHere ya go Professor McGonagall, all firs' years present an' accounted for.ö
ôThank you Hagrid, I will take them from here.ö with a glace, McGonagall directed the collection of children to follow her, which thy did without protest.
ôYOU WERE RIGHT ABOUT THIS PLACE. IT DOES GIVE ME A HEADACHE.ö
ôShut up Rex!ö Harry hissed quietly, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention.
ôBUT IT REALLY, REALLY HURTS!ö
ôIf it hurts so much, then why not close your eyes?ö
ôBECAUSE THEN I WON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.ö
ôThere's just no pleasing you, is there.ö Harry said, grateful that something seemed to be drawing everyone else's attention.
ôI JUST WANT THERE TO BE AN OFF SWITCH. HECK, I'D SETTLE FOR A DIMMER.ö
ôI don't think magic has anything like that.ö
ôWHY NOT?ö
ôI don't know! Why isn't the sun blue?ö
ôHOW SHOULD I KNOW?ö
ôExactly!ö Harry exclaimed, a bit louder than he intended.
ôWill you shut up!ö one of the twins stomped on his foot. It was only then that Harry realized that they had arrived at their destination, and that there was a singing hat. Somehow, he found this more unusual than anything he had seen yet.