Chapter Text
Chapter 1. A Fateful Meeting.
"Listen Harry." Said Hagrid, a very large man twice the size of a normal man, with a large bushy beard, and beetle black eyes. Hagrid had just emerged from a large white marble building called Gringotts. Beside him, was a very skinny young man wearing clothes for a boy five times his size. "Mind if'n I go for a little pick-me-up at the Leaky Cauldron? Those infernal carts do a number on me. Tell yeh what. I'll meet back up with yeh at Madam Malkins."
The young man beside Hagrid, was a young man of thirteen. Harry had very untidy black hair that stuck up in the back. Round glasses, that were held together at the bridge by a rather large wad of tape, and vivid bright green eyes. His clothes as stated before, looked as though they were for another boy several times as big as Harry. Because the clothes Harry wore, had once belonged to his enormous cousin, Dudley. At only a year old, Harry’s parents had been killed. Only recently, meaning just several hours ago, had Harry learned the truth of his parents death. His mother and father James and Lily Potter had been killed by a wizard. The most evil wizard there had been in the magical community for over a century, Lord Voldemort.
So Harry had been raised by his deceased mother’s sister and her husband. Vernon and Petunia Dursley were quite possibly the worst non-magical people one could ever have the misfortune to meet. Doing everything in their power to keep Harry as downtrodden as possible. Harry having found this out at the same time he had learned the truth of his parents death. The Dursley’s reasoning, was in hopes they could squash the magic out of him by making his life miserable.
Harry had never had anything new of his own. All the belongings that he owned at one point, belonged to his cousin. Dudley had followed in his parents footsteps. Bullying Harry both at school, and especially at home. Dudley was the reason that Harry’s glasses were held together at the bridge with all that tape. From all the times that his cousin had punched him on the nose. But finding out he was a wizard only a few short hours ago. And finding out he would be going to a school where he would be with people who would accept him, on top of being away from his abusive extended family, had given Harry the first glimmer of hope in thirteen years.
Harry made his way down the cobblestone street of Diagon Alley by himself. Spotting several young people who looked to be shopping for their school supplies. A young round faced boy around his age was being scolded by a rather formidable looking woman.
“Gran, I’ve lost my list.” The round faced boy sniffled.
“Oh Neville…” The woman sighed.
Unfamiliar with Diagon Alley, it took some time before Harry could find Madam Malkins Robes for All Occasions. There came the sound of a bell ringing above the door as Harry stepped into the robes shop, after wandering around Diagon Alley for the last half hour. A sensation of relief flooding him, at having found the correct building.
“Hogwarts too dear?” An older woman who had to have been the shops proprietor asked, bustling up to Harry with an armful of fabrics. She gave him a soft almost motherly smile, managing to beckon Harry to follow her further into the shop. “Got the lot in here.”
There were two other boys in the shop already. Clearly being fitted for their Hogwarts robes by two of Madam Malkin assistants. Both boys looked oddly similar, as if related in some way. But while one had long, almost wild dark hair, the other’s was colored a deep purple. Overseeing all of this was a tall and very beautiful woman with long waist-length, silver-blonde hair, wearing robes of a pale, almost silver-blue.
“Eef you two could manage to seet steel…” The tall woman spoke, and Harry was surprised by her accent. She sounded French. “‘Ze Malfoy’s were ‘ere after us.”
“Sorry mum…” The darker haired boy said in an apologetic tone. He was fidgeting as he was working on the fabric draped over him. “Just uncomfortable around pins. Er, no offense meant ma’am.” He added a bit hastily. But it was waved off by the witch working on him.
“Oh Mercutio…” The tall witch said with a small smile playing at her face.
Madam Malkin waved her wand, and a stool was conjured from out of nowhere. And motioned for Harry to step onto it. As he did so, he found himself draped in the same black fabric as the other two boys. Madam Malkin began to work at once. Sticking several pins into the fabric, as the other boy to his right. The dark haired boy, Mercutio, his mother had called him, spoke up.
“Starting at Hogwarts too?” Mercutio asked, shooting a friendly smile at Harry, who nodded. “So am I, and my cousin Reg here.” Mercutio nodded his head at the purple haired boy, Reg, who also smiled at Harry.
“My real name’s Regulus, but I prefer Reg.” Regulus, or Reg as he preferred, said. “Named after an uncle of ours.”
“And that’s you done dear.” The assistant working on Regulus’ Hogwarts robes said. And with a wave of her wand, all the pins that secured the fabric together, flew free and into a small jar in the witch’s hand.
“And you as well.” The other witch who was working on Mercutio’s robes said, with the same wave of her wand. Both boys stepped off the stools they stood upon, and went to examine their new robes in the floor-to-ceiling mirror only a few steps away.
“Not bad at all Reg.” Mercutio smiled at his cousin, while they looked at themselves in the mirror. “But I think I look better. If I say so myself.”
Mercutio’s comment made Regulus’ hair turn from its dark purple, to a vivid bright red. Something that made Harry gasp in shock. Only finding out that he was a wizard a few hours ago, he did not know that people in the magical community could do things like changing the color of their hair at will … or when their tempers flared. Fortunately, any arguments, or physical altercation between the cousins was stopped before it started. Mercutio’s mother, the tall beautiful silver-blonde strode in between the two boys. Placing a hand on their shoulders, instantly quelling the two. Regulus’ hair going back to its usual purple. Making Harry goggle at the young man in shock. Something the beautiful witch saw from looking in the mirror.
“Ah, I suppose you are Muggle-born, ‘Arry?” She asked in that same slightly thick French accent. Whirling about to face the young man who was still being fit for his Hogwarts robes. She paid no attention to the red color pooling in Harry’s cheeks. “You would not be aware of my dear nephew being a Metamorphmagus.”
“It means I can change my appearance at will.” Regulus said in response to the puzzled look on Harry’s face. He too didn’t pay the reddening of Harry’s cheeks any mind. “My older sister is one too. Crazy thing about it is, they’re supposed to be exceptionally rare. Only popping up a few every two, maybe three hundred years. But mum and dad are two for two.”
“‘Arry, eef I may ask. ‘Oo are you shopping wiz?” Mercutio’s mother asked with a quizzical tilt of her head, as Madam Malkin finished Harry’s school robes in half the time as her two assistants had with both Regulus and Mercutio.
“O-oh. I’m doing my shopping with Hagrid.” Harry said with a bit of a start. He had so much information about a part of the magical world dumped on him rather fast. And it took him a moment for his mind to snap back to reality. “He’s the gamekeeper at Hogwarts. It’s because of him that I got my letter.”
“Hold on, what?” Now it was Mercutio’s turn to look puzzled. “Why did the gamekeeper deliver your letter? You didn’t get it in the mail? And… and why are you doing your shopping with him? I mean even Muggle-borns would have their parents with them.”
“My parents are dead.” Harry said, looking away. Hearing Mercutio gasp in shock. He continued on before he could voice an apology. “I’m not a Muggle-born, but I’ve had to live with my aunt and uncle for my whole life. And they… don’t like magic at all.”
Harry went on to tell the three about the last twelve years of his life, as he paid for his robes. Mercutio scowled as he heard about all the things that Duddley had done. He was not the only one. Mercutio’s mother also had a serious disapproving look on her face, as she took in the clothes that Harry wore. The clothes that at one point had belonged to Harry’s enormous cousin. Her eyes, a bright almost piercing blue finally settling on his heavily taped up glasses.
Harry then blinked, as he saw the thin twisted piece of wood in the beautiful woman’s hand. It could only have been one thing. The one thing that he had been looking forward to having ever since finding out he was a wizard. A wand. She then pressed the tip of her wand to the bridge of Harry’s glasses. The tape that held Harry’s glasses vanished, the bridge having been magically repaired.
“Where iz ‘zis ‘Agrid now?” Mercutio’s mother asked, as she stowed her wand back in her robes.
“He’s back at the Leaky Cauldron.” Said Harry, who blinked in shock as his glasses were magically mended. “He doesn’t like the carts at Gringotts too much.”
“Ah, I am none too fond of zose carts myself.” Mercutio’s mother said. A slight scowl on her face, that didn’t quite suit her due to how beautiful she was. But the scowl was replaced after a moment, by a kind almost motherly smile. “Come ‘Arry. You can do your shopping wiz us, until ‘Agrid comes back.”
Mercutio and Regulus, while accompanied by Mercutio’s mother, visited several shops along Diagon Alley. At the bookstore, Flourish and Blotts, the four of them met, or in Harry’s case, was introduced to Mercutio’s cousin, Regulus’ elder sister.
“This is Nymphadora.” Regulus introduced his elder sister, who much like him, had her hair in a far different color than what it normally was. In this case, a bright neon pink. Regulus speaking quickly, when he noticed that his older sister’s hair had gone the same fiery red his had back in Madam Malkin’s. “But she prefers being called Dora, or just by her surname, Tonks.”
“Wotcher.” Tonks said in greeting, smiling kindly at Harry. Tonks stood out like a sore thumb amongst the other men and women in Diagon Alley. While everyone … well mostly everyone, as Harry didn’t count himself amongst the others just yet, wore robes of various colors. Tonks wore Muggle clothes that would have made his Aunt Petunia wrinkle her face, until it would have resembled a raisin, and mutter several things about “misguided youths.”
Tonks wasn’t alone. Her and Regulus’ parents were accompanying the young woman. Mr. Tonks was tall and blonde. He looked rather round, but nothing like Harry’s Uncle Vernon. Mrs. Tonks was thin and had a length of long wild slightly brown hair, and kind brown eyes. Thankfully, neither of them had noticed the marking on Harry’s forehead. Harry had got his fill of people gawking at his scar when the bartender of the Leaky Cauldron recognized him somehow.
“Tonks here is starting her fifth year at Hogwarts.” Mercutio said, while his older cousin’s hair color turned back into its usual shade of neon pink. “But what nutter decided to make her a Prefect, I’ll never know.”
Tonks let out a snorting laugh, and ruffled Mercutio’s dark wild hair in a playful manner. Acting far more like she was his older sister, than his cousin. “You sound jealous, Merci! Just wait until they make you a Prefect!”
“Why would I want to be a Prefect?” Mercutio laughed, as he struggled to get out of range of his cousin. But Tonks quickly had him in a playful headlock. “It would take all the fun out of life!”
After getting all they needed at Flourish and Blotts. The four of them, now accompanied by the Tonks’, made their way to Ollivander’s wand shop. A magic wand. This was what Harry had been most looking forward to. Ollivander’s shop looked to be worn and shabby, with gold lettering above the door reading: “Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 BC.”
“Best wandmaker in the world.” Tonks said, noticing Harry reading the words above the door. “Bought my wand from him four years ago. But he can be a bit er, intense.”
Harry felt a strange sense of foreboding as he pushed open the door to Ollivander’s. The sound of a bell tinkling from somewhere within the depths of the shop reached Harry’s ears as he stepped inside. As he did so, he spotted two more people in the shop who were clearly customers. And the third who had to be Mr. Ollivander, an old man with poofy bright silver hair that if reflected in the sunlight, would have made the old man look like he had a halo.
The other two in the shop were a mother and daughter. The older woman, much like Mercutio’s mother, had bright blonde hair. Though in an unfair comparison to the beautiful woman who suggested Harry accompany them, this woman’s hair seemed dulled. The daughter who was obviously around Harry’s age, looked remarkably like Mrs. Tonks. Only this girl’s hair was pure black and far more wild. Almost like Mercutio’s hair.
“One moment please…” Mr. Ollivander said. His voice had a slight rasp to it, as he turned his attention to the newcomers. His expression brightened at once. “Ah! Young Nymphadora! Eleven-and-three-quarter-inches! Unicorn Hair, made from Oak! Swishy!”
Tonks smiled, and produced the aforementioned wand from a pocket of her torn jeans. It was a warm brown color, and had a spiral-like twist to it towards the tip. “Yes sir. But I prefer Tonks now.”
“And Theodore, and Andromeda!” Mr Ollivander positively beamed at the married witch and wizard. “Hornbeam. Unicorn hair. Twelve inches. Rather bendy. And Beachwood and phoenix feather nine-and-a-quarter-inches.” The elderly wandmaker then turned his eyes to the three young men obviously here for their first wans.
“And young Master Tonks, and young Master Black!” Mr. Ollivander exclaimed at seeing Mercutio and Regulus. “Ah, I remember when your parents were here for their first wands-”
“If you do not mind, Mr. Ollivander.” The mother of the wild haired girl attempted to get the shop’s proprietor to focus. She gestured to the large pile of rejected wands stacked on a nearby table. “May we return to finding a wand for my daughter?”
“Ah yes! My apologies Mrs-” Mr. Ollivander began, but was stopped when the other woman gently held up her hand.
“Miss. Not Mrs anymore.” She said with a wry smile. “Lucius and I divorced several years ago. I no longer use his name.”
“Ah, again, apologies Miss Black.” Mr. Ollivander said, before he turned his attention back to the pile of wands. Despite oh so many being in a rejected pile, the elder wizard only became more and more excited. “Tricky customer you are, young Bellatrix. But no matter. We will find the perfect wand for you yet! Hmm. I wonder…”
Mr. Ollivander vanished into the depths of his shop. Returning after several long minutes with another long wand box. Opening it revealed a very handsome wand. Colored a rich dark brown, with a curve that went from base to tip. “Twelve-and-three-quarter-inches. Dragon heartstring, Ebony wood. Unyielding.”
The young girl, Bellatrix Black reached forward to take the wand from the box. But no sooner had her fingertips touched the wood, than Mr. Ollivander pulled it just out of reach. “I should say this young Bellatrix. It is the wand that may choose the witch or wizard. However, it is up to the witch or wizard in question who chooses what the wand will do. While you look very much like your aunt, even share her name. It will be up to you whether or not you become the person the world knows her to be.”
Mr. Ollivander held the box back out, and Bellatrix took it. There was a rush of air that blew back everyone's clothes and hair. Bellatrix smiled as silver sparks flew from her wand. There was a soft smile that played at the corners of Mr. Ollivander’s mouth as he packaged up the wand in its box, then wrapped it in brown paper. His attention then turned towards the new arrivals in his shop.
"I wondered when I would be seeing you in my shop, Mr. Potter." Mr. Ollivander said, as his gaze settled on the mark on Harry’s head. A curious looking scar that was shaped like a jagged bolt of lightning.
"Hold on!" Mercutio said. He rounded on Harry, his eyes wide with shock. Also finding the mark on Harry’s forehead. Harry’s usually untidy black hair had done a good job of hiding the scar. However, the gust of wind that had whipped up when Bellatrix had found her wand, had blown back Harry's hair enough for the scar to be visible. "Blimey! You're Harry Potter!"
"Seems only yesterday, that your mother and father were in here for their wands. Twelve-and-a-quarter-inches. Elm. Reasonably springy. Good wand for charms, your mothers wand." Said Mr. Ollivander, carrying a long thin box towards Harry. "Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Ten-and-a-half-inches. Rather swishy."
“And that’s where…” He motioned to the jagged scar that ran along Harry’s forehead, before fixing Harry with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry to say, I sold the wand that did it. Thirteen-and-a-half-inches. Yew. Phoenix feather core…” The elderly wandmaker walked back towards the seemingly endless rows and rows of shelves that were piled with wand boxes. He came back with several boxes, presenting one after another to Harry. However, none of the wands presented either seemed to be compatible with Harry, or Mr. Ollivander did not seem to think the wands were appropriate for the young man. Just like Bellatrix before, The wands piled up and up. Much to Mr. Ollivander’s interest. “Tricky customer eh? Not to worry. Not to worry, we’ll find the perfect match.”
“I wonder…” Mr. Ollivander mused just as he had before presenting Bellatrix with her wand. He then vanished into the depths of his shop, coming back with another long wand box. “Unusual combination. Holly and phoenix feather. Eleven inches. Nice and supple.”
It was a magnificent wand. Looking though it was barely worked on at all. Instead formed into a wand after immediately taken from the tree it had been cut from. Harry took the wand, and felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He brought swishing through the air, and the wand let out a stream of red and gold sparks. Everyone present clapped. Mercutio even gave Harry’s shoulder a congratulatory shake.
“Oh yes! Wonderful indeed!” Mr. Ollivander exclaimed, then his expression turned serious after a moment. “Well now, how curious…”
“What’s curious?” Harry asked, as he placed the wand back in its box.
“I remember every wand I’ve ever sold Mr. Potter.” Said Mr. Ollivander as he wrapped up the wand box. “It just so happens that the phoenix who’s tail feather resides in your wand, gave another feather. Just one other. It is curious that you should be destined for this wand, when its brother gave you that scar.”
“Blimey…” Mercutio whispered. And Regulus felt a shiver run up his back. Making his hair turn a shade of silver for a moment.
“But as I said to young Bellatrix.” Mr. Ollivander said, placing both hands on Harry’s shoulder. “It is the wand that chooses the wizard. But it is the witch or wizard in question that decides what the wand will do. And I believe Mr. Potter, you will make that wand do great things.” He gave Harry’s shoulders a reassuring squeeze, as Regulus’ hair turned slowly back into its normal shade of purple.
“Now.” Mr. Ollivander said, after wrapping up the box that contained Harry’s wand. He looked in between Regulus and Mercutio. “Which of you is next?”
The two cousins had a quick game of boulder, paper, shears, in which Mercutio won. And Mr. Ollivander moved back amongst the rows of shelves filled with wand boxes. Selecting yet another long wand box.
“Is selecting multiple … er, rejected wands on par for all your customers?” Mercutio asked. Having only seen the selection process twice. Being too young to go with Tonks when she first got her Hogwarts letter.
“Oh no.” Said Mr. Tonks. He ruffled Mercutio’s hair, much to the displeasure of the young man. “Found my wand on the second box. Or I should say, my wand found me.”
“But it took nearly an hour for me.” Said Mrs. Tonks, who then looked over at the blonde witch and her wild haired daughter. “It took twice as long for Narcissa.”
“Do not remind me…” Narcissa Black shook her head. Her lips curling up in a slight smile, as she thought back on the memory. “Bellatrix was going crazy, as she found the right wand on her first try.”
“They’re related, sisters.” Regulus explained quickly to a confused looking Harry.
“Oh yes, I remember that day well.” Said Mr. Ollivander, opening the long box. “Young Bellatrix was quite impatient with you two. Now young Master Black, try this. Birch and phoenix feather. Twelve-and-a-half-inches.”
Mercutio reached out. But no sooner had his fingertips barely brushed the wand, than Mr. Ollivander retracted the box. “No, no. Not that one. Let’s try something else. How about this, Master Black. Ironwood and Hebridean Black dragon heartstring. Thirteen-and-three-quarter-inches. Firm.”
When the box opened, Mercutio saw a rather peculiar wand. While most were, for lack of a better term, round. The base of this wand was squared, and then rounded at the tip. There were odd looking symbols carved into the wand that Mercutio couldn’t decipher. Reaching forwards, Mercutio took the wand from its box, and felt a pleasant cool sensation run up his arm. It made his fingers tighten about the wand, and like when Bellatrix found her wand, a gust of wind whipped up through the small wand shop.
“Woah…!” Mercutio said breathlessly. He could have sworn that he had also heard the distant roar of a dragon as he took the wand. “Wicked…”
“Oho! Well done! Well done Master Black!” Mr. Ollivander exclaimed, as Mercutio placed the wand back in its box. “Your father found his wand on his second try as well. In fact. Much like the the wand that chose Mr. Potter, your wand shares its magical core with the wand of your father.”
“Uh, th-think you can help Reg with his wand?” Mercutio asked rather quickly. Feeling the eyes of everyone in the room other than Harry, on him. He always felt uncomfortable whenever his father was mentioned. And it wasn’t a subject that he liked being brought up.
“Ah, of course. Touchy subject, you have my apologies.” Mr. Ollivander said, before presenting Regulus with a wand box, as he had done before to the three other customers.
“This is an unusual combination. The core of this wand comes not from a magical creature in Britain. But from an American beast. Pine. Eleven-and-a-quarter-inches. American Thunderbird tailfeather. Swishy.”
Regulus stared at the wand for a moment. As did everyone else present. The wand looked as though it was made from several thin branches woven together in a sort of spiral-like pattern. Ending at the base with a gold-trimmed handle and cross-guard. Mercutio had to nudge his cousin in the ribs in order to get him to take the wand out of the box.
There came a distant rumble of thunder when Regulus took the wand out of the box. And the whole shop suddenly smelled like the outdoors just after a rainstorm. Regulus then waved the wand through the air, and it let out a brilliant stream of red and orange sparks. Regulus’ hair suddenly changed color to represent the same color of the sparks the wand had let out. But only for a moment, before it changed back to its usual purple.
Several minutes later, Harry left the wand shop with the Tonks and Blacks. Mr. Tonks held the door to the shop open for everyone. The moment Harry stepped into the sunlight, he heard a voice calling his name.
“There yeh are, Harry!” Hagrid called, striding up to him. In one of his large hands, was a bird cage. And in that cage was a magnificent looking snowy owl. “Sorry I left after Gringotts, but those infernal carts… Anyways. I got yeh a birthday present.”
Harry’s mouth gaped as Hagrid placed the cage containing the owl into his hands. The owl’s large amber eyes looking straight into his. “Hagrid… you really didn’t have to…”
“‘Course I didn’t. But it’s not every day a young man turns thirteen.” Hagrid said, making Harry’s knees buckle when he clapped him on the shoulder. Harry couldn’t stop stammering his thanks, as Mrs Black, the tall silvery blonde placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Will you be alright now ‘Arry?” She asked softly. There was a look in her eyes, as though she did not want Harry to part with them. But it passed after a moment.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine now.” Harry said, smiling at the beautiful woman.
Mrs. Black gave Harry a kind almost motherly smile. “Well zen, we will leave you in Agrid’s care. Eef you ‘ave any trouble at all wiz your guardianz, write to us. Your owl weel know how to find me.” She gave Harry’s shoulder a soft squeeze, and after Mercutio and Regulus said their good-byes, she walked off with her son and nephew.
“See you at Kings Cross!” Tonks said, giving Harry a quick hug, before jogging off to join her family.