Chapter Text
~~Harry~~
Harry and Draco left their rooms at around the same time, like they normally did. Even when they weren’t sharing a room for the night, they always seemed to wake up at the same time. It was so much better than the few years he was with the Dursleys and had to be awake before anyone else so he could start on breakfast and do the chores for the day. The two of them made their way downstairs for breakfast and that’s when mum told them that their Hogwarts letters had come and after breakfast they could open and read them. The two of them ate their breakfast faster than they had in recent months.
Mum gave them their letters.
Mr. D. Malfoy
The Bedroom on the Right
Malfoy Manor
Wiltshire, England
Mr. H. Potter
The Bedroom on the Left
Malfoy Manor
Wiltshire, England
Smiling, Harry and Draco looked over at each other briefly before they each broke the seal on their letter and opened it.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
It was a little odd to get a letter with Aunt Minnie’s full name signed instead of what he and Draco called her, but it made sense. These were official Hogwarts letters that were likely copy-pasted with the names and addresses changed only. Draco’s letter was exactly the same but with “Mr. Malfoy” instead of “Mr. Potter” at the top.
Next was the supplies list, which Harry and Draco looked at from Harry’s letter as mum had taken Draco’s copy to look over herself with dad.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Uniform
First-year students will require:
- Three sets of plain work robes (black)
- One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
- One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
- One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils’ clothes should carry name tags
Course Books
All Students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners’ Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore
Magical Draughts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
The clothing wasn’t a surprise as he and his brother had seen pictures of their parents while they were at Hogwarts. And the pictures of Harry’s original parents when they were in school, too. Plus, they’d visited Hogwarts a number of times, including while students were there. Though they’d never actually interacted with any of the students, usually seeing them from a distance while visiting Aunt Minnie, Uncle Sev, or Hagrid.
For the equipment, again, none of it was a surprise to either of them. They each already had brass scales and the needed cauldron since they’d been getting simple, beginner Potions lessons from Uncle Sev for a couple years now. The books were the only thing that had differed from when their parents attended.
Although a couple of them seemed to be the same, judging from what their mum was muttering to dad.
Mum then took out some parchment and wrote both Harry and Draco’s acceptance to send off with one of their owls.
“When are we getting our supplies and clothes?” Draco asked, excitement bubbling up a bit in his expression. They’d been excited to go to Hogwarts for years.
“Hm, I’d rather get everything sooner rather than later so the Alley isn’t too crowded. I’ll floo call Siri and Remus to see when they’re free, because I know they’ll want to come with us,” mum told them, smiling. Harry smiled and looked over at his brother to see the same smile reflected on his face.
~~~~
A couple days later they were getting ready to head to Diagon Alley to get all their school supplies. Sirius and Remus were free today and were excited to see them get their supplies, specifically their wands.
And Siri promised to get them ice cream while they were there.
“We’ll be flooing to Diagon Alley,” mum told them after Siri and Remy arrived. “It’s the easiest way for all of us to get there.”
Dad went first, Harry and Draco following shortly after. As they were cleaned of any soot, mum, Siri, and Remy all arrived. They cleaned themselves off and they made their way into the slightly busy street.
“I’ll go and withdraw funds, why don’t you get the boys fit for their robes and I’ll meet you there?” dad told mum, and she nodded. Siri mentioned he’d be heading over to the bank with dad while Remy joined them at the robe shop.
They made their way over to Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions as dad and Siri walked over to Gringotts. Remy opened the door for them all and entered himself afterwards.
Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve.
“Hogwarts, dears?” she asked, looking at the two boys. “Got the lot here, step over here and we’ll have you fitted up.”
In the back of the shop, the two of them were led to a couple of footstools. Once they were stood on them, Madam Malkin and another witch slipped long robes over their heads and started pinning them to the right length.
“What House do you think you’ll be in?” Draco asked, looking over at Harry as their robes were altered to fit them correctly.
“Hm, maybe Gryffindor like my birth parents and Siri and Remy? Could also be Slytherin like mum and dad. What about you?”
“I think I’ll be Slytherin, but I know our parents won’t mind if I’m in a different House. I wonder if we’ll be able to try out for our House Quidditch teams since first-years aren’t allowed brooms.”
“We could always use the school brooms, even if they aren’t too great.”
Harry looked over and saw dad and Siri making their way into the shop after coming back from the bank, joining mum and Remy who were talking together a little bit away. He could hear what his dad was saying to the others.
“Ran into Hagrid up at the bank as we were leaving and he was heading in. He was picking up something from one of the vaults for Hogwarts,” dad told mum, “and he’s determined to buy the boys birthday presents in the form of getting them each an owl.”
“That’s nice of him,” mum commented, smiling at the thought. “Owls’ll be nice to have at Hogwarts for the post but also because of how loyal they tend to be.”
Not too much longer, Madam Malkin said, “Both of you are done, dears.”
Harry and Draco hopped down from the stools and their dad paid for their robes (school robes and some new casual robes for the weekends) and shrunk the packages before leaving the store so the bags could just be put in his pocket. They headed to Flourish and Blotts next to get their school books. While the two of them had been in the shop before, it never ceased to amaze Harry how big and small some of the books there were. There were a few books that weren’t on the list that they were allowed to get as fun reading. Remy was also perusing the books and picking out some, Siri carrying them for him.
The amount of books in their house was always growing.
After leaving Flourish and Blotts, they ran into Hagrid and he took the two of them into Eeylops Owl Emporium. Harry left with a beautiful snowy owl who’d locked eyes with him the moment he’d entered the shop and was now sleeping with her head tucked under her wing. Draco got an eagle owl that was fierce-looking and had landed on his shoulder when they were looking around and refused to budge. The only time the owl did budge was to get into a cage after Hagrid bought him for Draco.
Once they had their owls (and had repeatedly thanked Hagrid), they went and bought some more of the required items. They already had pewter cauldrons and scales to measure ingredients since they’d been brewing simple positions with Uncle Sev for a while now, but they did visit the Apothecary to get the ingredients needed for their first-year class.
At that point, the only thing the two of them needed were their wands. Mum and dad went in Ollivanders with them while Remy and Siri went to the ice cream shop to get them some ice cream for afterwards. Both boys were excited to finally get wands of their own.
A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single spindly chair. While Harry had been in most of the shops in Diagon Alley at this point, this was one of the few shops he hadn’t ever been in before. Neither of his parents needed a new wand at any point while he was growing up. He felt strangely as though he had entered a very strict library; he looked at the thousands of narrow boxes piled nearly right up to the ceiling. For some reason, the back of his neck prickled. The very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic.
“Good afternoon,” said a soft voice. Harry and Draco both jumped, though their parents must’ve expected it as they didn’t.
An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.
“Hello,” said Harry awkwardly.
“Hi,” Draco followed up, both boys looking at the man.
“Ah yes,” said the man. “Yes, yes. I thought I’d be seeing the two of you soon. Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter.” It wasn’t a question. “Harry, you have your mother’s eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work.”
Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Harry and Draco. Harry wished he would blink. Those silvery eyes were a bit creepy.
“Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it – it’s really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course.”
Mr. Olivander looked at their mum and dad. “For example, the wand that chose Narcissa Black Malfoy here was twelve and a quarter inches long, rowan wood, unicorn hair core. Quite bendy.”
Mum smiled and nodded.
“And Lucius Malfoy, how is your wand? Elm, dragon heartstring, ten inches long and slightly springy.”
“My wand is still perfect, thank you,” dad responded, nodding his head at Mr. Ollivander.
Mr. Ollivander nodded and looked back at Harry. He’d come so close that he and Harry were almost nose to nose. Harry could see himself reflected in those misty eyes as the man spoke again.
“And that’s where…”
Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Harry’s forehead with a long, white finger. Mum subtly pulled Harry closer to her and away from Mr. Ollivander.
“I’m sorry to say I sold the wand that did it,” he said softly. “Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands… well, if I’d known what that was wand was going out into the world to do…”
He shook his head, and mum redirected things.
“How about Draco here gets chosen by his wand first?” she asked, directing the attention off of Harry, and he was thankful for it. He was getting quite uncomfortable with the man’s undivided attention. Mr. Ollivander nodded and pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. “Which is your wand arm, Mr. Malfoy?”
“I’m left-handed,” Draco replied.
“Hold out your arm. That’s it.” Mr. Ollivander measured Draco from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head. As he measured he said,” Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard’s wand.”
As he was talking, he started flitting around the shelves and taking down boxes, letting the tape measure (currently measuring between Draco’s nostrils, causing Harry to giggle) act on its own.
“That will do,” he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor. “Right then, Mr. Malfoy. Try this one. English oak and phoenix feather. Eleven inches. Unbending. Take it and give it a wave.”
Draco held the wand, waved it a bit, and almost immediately had it taken out of his hand by Mr. Ollivander before another wand was taken out and placed in his hand instead.
That process repeated a couple times before there was a different outcome.
“Hawthorn wood with unicorn hair, ten inches, reasonably springy… go on and try this one.”
When Draco grabbed the wand and waved it in the air, some sparks flew from the tip and his face lit up with a smile, as did Harry’s and their parents. Mr. Ollivander smiled as well.
“Bravo! Excellent wand there,” he said as he put Draco’s wand back into the box and wrapped it in brown paper. Draco came over to where Harry was still standing with mum, nearly vibrating with excitement.
Time for Harry to get chosen by his wand.
Mum let him go closer to Mr. Ollivander, who asked him to raise his wand arm and then started the same measuring process but with Harry’s right arm. The tape measure once more started measuring on its own as Mr. Ollivander disappeared in the stacks of wands again.
“Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave.”
Harry took the wand and waved it around a bit just as Draco had done, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once.
“Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try–”
Harry tried – but he had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander.
“No, no – here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out.”
Harry tried. And tried. More wands than Draco had tried out, Mr. Ollivander obviously waiting for the same sparks that had shot out of Draco’s wand when he waved it in the air. The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become.
“Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we’ll find the perfect match here somewhere – I wonder, now – yes, why not – unusual combination – holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple.”
Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls. Mum, dad, and Draco were all clapping for him just as they’d done when Draco got his wand. Mr. Ollivander cried, “Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well… how curious… how very curious…”
He put Harry’s wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, “Curious… curious…”
“Sorry,” said Harry as his parents and brother came over to where Harry in order to purchase the wands, “but what’s curious?”
Mr. Ollivander fixed Harry with his pale stare.
“I remember every wand I’ve ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather – just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother – why, its brother gave you that scar.”
Harry swallowed and Draco just pulled him close into a hug.
“Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember… I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter… After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things – terrible, yes, but great.”
Harry shivered, with Draco and mum just pulled him closer still. He wasn’t sure he liked Mr. Ollivander too much. Dad paid fourteen gold Galleons for the wands, and Mr. Ollivander bowed them from his shop.
They left the shop and found Siri and Remy waiting with ice cream for them all. He and Draco were handed rather large cones, and Harry chose to focus on that rather than what Mr. Ollivander had said. He noticed Remy had gotten chocolate ice cream. His parents were also talking with him about something while Siri asked about what they’re most excited to learn at Hogwarts.
“Potions!” Draco exclaimed, ice cream getting on his face as it melted, just as Harry’s was.
“Hm, maybe Charms? Defense sounds cool too!” Harry replied, smiling. “Though Transfiguration with Aunt Minnie might be nice too, but I know she’s a tough teacher.”
“That she is, Prongslet, that she is,” Sirius said solemnly, the mood only broken by the fact that he’d somehow managed to get a bunch of his ice cream on his cheeks. Harry wasn’t quite sure how he’d managed that. If the way Remy and mum were laughing was any indication, they’d noticed that too. Dad just rolled his eyes, but the smile on his face betrayed the amusement he was getting from the spectacle.
They didn’t take too much longer to finish their ice cream, wanting to make sure it didn’t all melt in the summer sun, before their faces were spelled clean and they started making their way back to the floo they’d come through to head back home. Harry, despite loving Diagon Alley, was excited to go back home. He didn’t like how much he was stared at when they were out in the wizarding world, though it’d lessened compared to when he was younger.
How intimidating his parents and godfather could be might have something to do with that, now that he thought about it a bit.
Once they were back in the Manor, Harry and Draco took their owls to their Owlery to let them out to fly around a bit. Mum and dad said they’d enlarge their packages later to put in their new school trunks.
~~Cissa~~
“Oh, I did not like how Ollivander just decided it was his business to go and touch Harry’s scar like he isn’t a child with his own boundaries!” Cissa seethed once the boys were out of the room, pacing a little bit. Sirius looked at her a bit confused. He hadn’t been part of the conversation she and Luc had had with Remus since he’d been talking with her sons.
“When we were in the wand shop with the boys, Garrick was showing an immense amount of interest in Harry,” Luc explained, a bit more calm than Cissa was at the moment. “Muttering about You-Know-Who’s wand and Harry’s scar. Touched Harry’s scar before Cissa pulled Harry away from the man and redirected his attention to getting Draco his wand. Then, once Harry got his wand, he was mentioning how Harry’s wand has a brother, which just so happens to be You-Know-Who’s wand.”
Sirius’s eyes widened in shock. Horrified shock.
“I don’t think he had any business telling Harry that,” Cissa said, still seething. “That’s not important for Harry to know right now, actually ruins the experience of getting his first wand a bit if I’m honest. His mood took such a dive afterwards.”
She sat down, sighing. The others had sat down before she did, not having the same amount of angry energy needing to be burned off.
“Ollivander was always a strange man,” Sirius said, thinking back to his own experience with the man. “Was quite odd with me as well, comparing the wand I got to the ones my parents and other family members had. Apparently some of the qualities of my wand matched other family members who’d been ex-communicated. Mother didn’t like that one bit.”
“My mother was quite the same, though she was rather horrified that two of her daughters weren’t as crazy about blood-purity as she was,” Cissa added. “Though she thought I’d changed by the time I’d grown up and married considering we were thought to be Death Eaters at the time of her death.”
“How proud would our parents be to see us now; me married to a werewolf and you raising the Boy-Who-Lived,” Sirius said, laughing a bit at the imagined outrage. Cissa laughed along as well.