"Harry, I don't know what all you remember so far-" Remus began.

"Basically what you've read is all." Harry said sadly, eyeing Remus curiously. He looked like he was about to vomit, but at his words the man relaxed slightly.

"Well the nicknames and the sneaking off at school, it relates to me." He said slowly watching him very carefully.

"And the werewolf thing?" Harry interrupted again.

"Wha-how," he began.

"You mentioned it a little earlier," Harry said, looking about the room to the others who all looked just as stunned. "I didn't think much of it at the time. Why would I?"

Remus blinked spastically for several moments before shaking his head and finally letting out a weak chuckle and saying, "Yes well, I guess I never had bothered to censor myself around my friends."

Harry grinned at him and then prompted, "So the nicknames? What does that have to do with sneaking off?"

"How about this," Lily said. "It really is a rather long story. How about we read two more chapters then stop for the night?" She looked around at all of the boys in the room in a rather maternal way. "It's been a long, exhausting day for all of us. Hopefully by then we'll be at a good stopping place. We can get some rest, and then before we continue Remus can tell you the whole story."

Harry nodded, accepting this rather glumly as yet another feeling swept through him. He felt he knew this story, had heard it once before. But like everything else when he tried to dig for the memory a sharp pain was all he got.

The people on the couch were suddenly startled as Sirius called from the fireplace, "Heads up you two." He said as he chucked the books their way.

Harry instinctively ducked, while James reacted by catching it, then snapped. "What the bloody hell was that for?"

"Well it's one of you two's turn," Sirius said brightly. "I figured who ever got hold of it would have to read next."

"That's absurd," Lily glared at him. "What if you'd hit one of us?"

"Come on Lily," Sirius sighed, "I was a beater, I do have better aim than that."

"It's my turn anyways you nitwit," Remus rolled his eyes.

"It's fine," James chuckled, flipping to the correct chapter, "I've already got it, so I'll read."

When Harry woke the next morning, he tried to convince himself he'd dreamed the whole event last night.

"Harry, really?" Remus chuckled, "I don't think anyone has that kind of imagination."

"I once had a dream that I was abducted by mermaids," Lily told them with a shrug. "Surely you've had strange dreams."

"What's this have to do with mermaids?" Sirius frowned. "I think we're getting just a bit off topic huh?" Then he kept going to ignore the glare.

He heard a tapping noise, and was convinced that it was his Aunt knocking on his cupboard. He closed his eyes and tried to linger on his dream.

"Who can blame you," James agreed. "I'd dream about escaping that place as well."

He hears the tapping noise again and sighs then decides to sit up only to have Hagrid's jacket fall off of him. Hagrid was still asleep on the sofa, and the noise was coming from an owl at the window, tapping its talons to come in with a newspaper in its beak.

"The best morning of my life really," Harry smiled at now having such a good memory to look on.

The others all grimaced slightly at that, finding this more than depressing. Harry on the other hand seemed in such a good mood that none of them wished to ruin it.

Harry got happily to his feet, giddier than he'd ever been in his life as he opened the window and the owl swooped in to drop the newspaper on Hagrid. Then began attacking Hagrid's abandoned jacket. Harry tried to shoo the bird away, but it merely snapped at him.

Sirius laughed at that, "I remember one time I tried to get away with not paying the owl, bloody thing left scratches on my arms for weeks."

"Why would you do that?" Lily asked, genuinely curious.

"Wanted to see what would happen," he answered honestly.

"Of course you did!" Remus said to the ceiling, shaking his head in disbelief.

Harry asked Hagrid, who was still half asleep, what he should do? Hagrid grunted that he wanted to be paid, so Harry began to look in his pockets.

"That is the opposite of descriptive." Lily said, thinking about all the things Hagrid had already pulled out of those pockets.

Hagrid's coat seemed to be made of nothing but pockets, but after sifting through several of them he comes across a handful of strange-looking coins.

"Strange looking?" James asked.

"I've shown you muggle money James," Lily reminded him. "Does it look anything like wizard money?"

"Fair enough," James sighed.

Hagrid tells Harry to give the owl five Knuts, but Harry was confused and asked what Knuts were?

All four again flinched, hating Harry's ignorance and seeing it almost as a sign of their failure. They knew the longer this went on, the worse this feeling would get.

Hagrid told him the little bronze ones and Harry gave the owl the due money. The owl flew away as Hagrid stretches and sits up from the couch.

Sirius snorted, "If he was just going to get up why did he make Harry do that?"

"To teach him I suppose," Remus supplied.

"Right," James drew out the word in disbelief.

Hagrid told Harry that they should head off to London soon. Harry was now looking at the coins and had just thought of something that would put a real damper on their day.

"Right," James said, nodding sadly. "He won't know about the vault then?"

"Vault?" Harry asked curiously.

Both Lily and Remus opened their mouths but Sirius butted in first, "I am positive Hagrid is about to explain." James read ahead a bit and then agreed, so read out loud.

Harry reminded Hagrid that Vernon won't pay for him to go to this school and Hagrid told him his parents left money for him. Harry asked about their house being destroyed.

"Why would you think that?" Remus asked. "Even muggles don't keep money in their house."

Harry thought back and answered, "Well Hagrid had that money on him. I suppose I was thinking more about how wizards had a way to keep bunches of money on them."

Sirius chuckled and said, "Ah, ignorance really is bliss eh?"

Frowning severely at him, Lily looked about to tell Sirius off for this, but James was already reading again.

Hagrid told him that wizards have their own bank called Gringotts, that was run by

goblins, where they stored their money. Hagrid boasts slightly saying that the only place safer to store something then Gringotts was Hogwarts. He remembered he has to visit Gringotts today anyway as a favor to Dumbledore, because Dumbledore knows he can trust him.

"Knows you can protect things," Sirius disagreed.

"Come now Sirius," Remus frowned at him. "Hagrid has proved to be very trustworthy."

"Oh I'm not disagreeing with that," Sirius quickly explained. "I'm just saying Hagrid is the

opposite of subtle. If Dumbledore needed something done, secretly important I mean-"

"So not the point right now," Lily interrupted the two.

The two finished getting ready and headed outside. Harry looked around and did not see another boat so he had to ask how Hagrid got there . Hagrid simply says 'flew.'

"I guess he couldn't apparate." Remus said thoughtfully, "Without a proper wand and all."

"Don't think any kind of model broom would hold him." James said, running his hand through his hair in thought.

"Thestrals!" Lily and Sirius said at the same time.

"What?" The other three all said at the same time.

Sirius was grinning wickedly at Lily while saying, "Remus, remember our care of Magical

creatures class, Professor Kettleburn mentioned the Thestrals that roam the grounds. I do believe he mentioned something about them having been raised by Hagrid."

"Oh that's right," Remus agreed, smiling now. "Though I find it hard to believe that you

remembered that and I didn't."

"Always liked magical creatures," Sirius said primly, while eyeing Remus with a devilish smirk.

Lily said loudly to Harry, before a familiar round could start. "Thestrals are magical creatures that can carry immensely heavy loads. It's not out of the realm that Hagrid could have used one to get to Harry, and then sent it back to the castle."

"But how are they going to get off the rock?" James asked.

"Well you have the book," Remus said, still eyeing Sirius as if he was about to chuck something at him, though with the baby still in his arms his options were limited, "you tell us."

Harry repeated 'flew' back in shock, but Hagrid didn't elaborate and instead said that

they'll have to borrow the Dursleys boat for now, he's not supposed to use magic anyway.

"Bummer," Sirius sighed.

As they settled in the boat, Harry was watching Hagrid while trying to imagine him flying.

Lily chuckled and agreed, "Picturing Hagrid flapping his arms about, yeah I can't imagine that much either."

Once they are both in, Hagrid gave Harry another sideways look and mentions how much of a shame it would be to row, so perhaps if he did a bit more magic Harry wouldn't mention it?

Now all five of them were chuckling, none of them blaming Hagrid one bit. One of the drawbacks to constantly having magic was a bit of an impatient side.

Harry agreed at once and Hagrid pulled out his pink umbrella again and taps the edge of the boat. Now out on the water, Harry asked why Gringotts is so safe. Hagrid explained that there are all sorts of spells guarding it, and rumor has it that there were dragons in the lower levels.

Lily blinked several times in shock, "I've never heard that."

"It's true," Sirius and Harry said at once, and then gave each other startled looks.

"How would you know?" James asked him curiously, "my vault isn't that far down."

,"I, err-" Harry muttered rubbing his temple again in frustration. He'd had only a brief moment of being sure that was right, now it was gone as quick as it had come. "I've no idea," he finally admitted in frustration.

Still frowning in concern at Harry, Sirius answered, "Well my cousin, Bellatrix, her vault is that far down. We don't get on much anymore, but when I was a lot younger I went with her and her family to Diagon Alley, we had to ride down there. Poor beasts, they weren't any happier to be down there then I was."

"You mean to tell me, there are dragons underneath Diagon Alley?" Lily yelped, looking

suddenly fearful. "How on earth are they kept down there?" She frowned in concern.

Sirius frowned as he thought back, "Um, they were chained up, but they used these things to keep them back. Honestly I stayed in the cart, so I can't give too much detail."

"Is that even legal?" Lily demanded, now frowning in anger.

"How should I know?" Sirius threw his hands up in surrender, while all eyes turned to Remus.

Remus frowned while rubbing his jaw before answering thoughtfully. "If the Goblins purchased the dragon legally, then by their right they can technically do whatever they wish to it, so long as it's being fed properly. The Ministry doesn't have much control, or say what Goblins do."

They were all frowning by the end of this, while Lily huffed, "That still doesn't make it right."

James reached over and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder before saying, "Well, you are in the Magical Law division, I have high expectations you'll have something to say about this then."

Lily nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly, before James went on.

While Harry sat and thought about it , Hagrid flipped open his newspaper and began browsing through it . Harry was itching to ask more questions, but experience from Vernon had taught him to never interrupt someone reading the paper.

James turned to Harry and said with the sternest face any of them had ever seen, "Rule number one for the rest of your life, forget anything and everything those Dursley's ever taught you."

Harry gave him a slight nod, not bothering to correct him that this rule was already a moot point no matter how you looked at it.

When Hagrid huffed about something the Ministry of Magic was messing up , Harry couldn't help the next question that burst out of him about there being a Ministry of Magic.

"If you can call it that," Sirius said in disgust.

"You didn't ask about that now?" Remus asked Harry.

"Honestly, I've just learned to let you guys talk, and pick it up as I go along," Harry laughed.

Lily shook her head and said, "Remember what your father just said? If you have a question, please speak up."

Harry looked around at all of them, before nodding sagely, promising to remember that. "Guess I shouldn't bother asking what the ministry is again though?" He asked, as he looked at the book,

"Since Hagrid's most likely fixing to say." James nodded and decided to keep going.

Hagrid says of course there is, and that they wanted Dumbledore himself as Minister, but he turned the job down, and it turned to a man named Cornelius Fudge.

"Really," all four adults said in genuine surprise.

"Here I thought Crouch was a shoe in," Sirius said in surprise.

"Well I'm happy anyways," Lily said brightly, "that he didn't. I find his methods, almost

medieval."

"Oh come now Lily," James said, frowning at her, "he's strict, and he feels that's the only way to get through and show people there's still a ministry at all." Lily shrugged, she wasn't taking it back.

Despite what Harry had just promised, he smothered the question of who Crouch was, as he had an inkling he should know that name himself, but he still didn't feel up to asking them for such details.

Harry asks what a Ministry of Magic did and Hagrid said their main job was to make sure Muggles didn't find out about the magical world. When Harry asked why, Hagrid explains that everyone would want a magical solution to their problems, and it would be best for Muggles to just leave them alone. Then the boat bumped against the shore and they climbed out and began heading into town.

James suddenly let out a rather vindictive snort, causing Lily to look at him in concern and ask, "What on earth was that for?"

Answering with glee, but without looking up he responded, "I would like to briefly point out that it in no place does it say that the boat made its way back to that rock."

While Lily had a sneaking suspicion that Hagrid must have put a charm on the boat for it to return to the island, which Harry may not have noticed it floating back out. After a moment the others all burst into dark laughter as well, but James quickly decided to press on, knowing his luck wasn't so good and that those Dursley's would be trapped there forever.

Passerby's stared a lot at Hagrid as they walked through the town to a train station.

"Well that wasn't much of an explanation," Remus pointed out when it became clear that Hagrid wasn't going to continue.

"It's fine for now," Harry said quickly, simply wanting his father to keep going. He felt no real feelings towards any ministry, so he didn't find it too important to learn about right this moment.

Harry couldn't blame them since Hagrid was so huge he stood out all on his own, plus he kept on pointing at ordinary things like parking meters and saying loudly how odd they were. Harry delayed him by asking if he had really meant what he said about there being dragons in Gringotts. Hagrid admits it is only a rumor and then admitted his wants of a dragon of his own.

"He'd like one?" They said in shock.

Harry repeated back that Hagrid would really like a dragon and Hagrid said he's always wanted one since he was a kid.

"Why?" Lily gaped, "They're completely unmanageable."

Remus simply shrugged, finding it as odd as everyone else.

Then they reached the train station and walkway where people continued to stare at Hagrid as he pulled out knitting supplies.

"Suppose that would be a sight," Lily said, smiling to herself at the image.

Hagrid asked Harry if he's still had his list and to take a look at all of his supplies, so Harry looks at the second page which consists of all sorts of textbooks about potions and charms.

"You can always tell a lot about the teachers you're going to have by the books," Sirius said sadly.

"And judging by the few new ones, Harry should have a few interesting teachers," Remus agreed.

"We know that there's going to be a new Defense teacher," Lily agreed thoughtfully. "Do you think any of the other teachers would have changed?"

"Won't know until he gets there then," James pointed out.

Requiring things such as a cauldron, dragon hide gloves, and a wand. Then ending with a reminder that you can only bring one of three pets, an owl, a cat, or a toad.

"Remember Barney, he brought his newt all seven years, and no one said a word," Sirius laughed.

"You would think they would enforce that pet policy a bit more," Remus agreed.

There is also a note of reminder that first years are not allowed their own broomsticks.

"Which is a horrid rule," James grumbled, "first years should be allowed to join the Quidditch team if they choose."

"They're supposed to be focusing on their school work," Lily disagreed.

"You could apply that to all seven years then," Sirius said, siding with James on that.

"What's Quidditch?" Harry butted in, before the argument continued further.

James and Sirius looked faint all of a sudden, never having thought such words could come from any person's mouth, let alone their Marauder Junior. Before either boy could jump and go into absurd detail Remus gave Harry a quick general idea of it. When he was done Lily smiled at him and said, "Thank you Remus. If we'd let these two answer, we'd be here for hours."

"But he didn't even mention," James began at once, but Lily cut him off with a firm glare and said, "you can go on all you like later dear, for now how about we keep going on this." Sirius and James shared exasperated looks, but James decided to agree, for now.

Harry asked if they could really buy all of this in London and Hagrid mysteriously says 'if you know where to go.' They exit the train and go out onto an ordinary street, and Harry begins to wonder if there really was wizard money hidden beneath the street.

"It is quite a lot to take in," Lily agreed, remembering back to her first time, wishing with all she had she'd been the one with Harry at this moment.

Could this all be one big joke cooked up by the Dursleys?

All three boys gave derisive snorts at that, while Sirius growled, "Please, those three wouldn't know a joke if it bit them in the-"

"Language," Lily reprimanded at once.

"Oh please Lily," James sighed, "Sirius has been talking like that this whole time."

Lily frowned severely at them both before reminding them, "There is still a child in the room, and I don't want him to be growing up around that kind of talk. Now I can't stop you every time, but I will for the minor things." Huffing and grumbling, both boys agreed, it wasn't worth the argument right now.

Yet for some reason he couldn't explain to himself, Harry trusted Hagrid.

"Maybe it's because Hagrid is a trustworthy person," Remus said frowning, "and you're not used to being around that kind."

Harry gave him a sad smile, not really wanting to agree, but not disagreeing either before pointing out, "I am now."

Feeling a bit warmed, James continued.

When they do stop, it's in front of a grungy little place called the Leaky Cauldron. Harry looked around and saw that no one else seemed to notice this place, their eyes skipping from one shop to the next without even glancing at it.

"They can't," Lily explained for him, "it's magically protected that way."

For a famous place, it was very dark and shabby.

"That's part of its charm though," Sirius laughed, having gotten drunk a fair few times in that place.

They entered and found it with only a few occupants, noting the bartender in particular who had a walnut shaped head.

"I just love the way you describe people," James laughed, never having thought of Tom that way.

Hagrid calls out a greeting to him, calling him Tom, but when he asks if Hagrid will be staying for a drink, Hagrid says he can't because he's escorting Harry Potter today. This draws the attention of every person in there.

All four adults frowned at this, having recognized in the first chapter that this was the reason that Harry had been kept away from most magical folk, but still not liking this attitude much.

Then suddenly they were all lined up in front of him, shaking his hand.

"Jeez, pushy much," Sirius said frowning; suddenly wishing he was there to keep them all back.

"They could show a bit more decorum," Lily agreed, hoping Hagrid would do something about this soon.

Remus and James were frowning and shaking their heads, remembering all over again just what exactly Harry was now famous for, and not liking the reminder. Harry could sense how upset this was making them, and while he didn't like it anymore than they did, he did venture to ask one thing, "How did they even recognize me? Hagrid I'll give, Dumbledore surely was the one to tell him, but them?"

"Most likely they had a picture of you," Lily sighed, "if your name is so famous then I'd bet there would be pictures of at least James and I floating around, and you do resemble your father enough it's not hard to miss." This only seemed to depress the lot of them all the more, so Harry didn't press for more details, admitting they wouldn't know anyways.

They were all introducing themselves to Harry, and he even recognizes a man who introduces himself as Dedalus Diggle, who Harry had once seen in the street and had bowed to him.

"Well we were right before," Sirius said, taking a brave stab at their normal conversation again. "The members of the Order are still hanging around him a bit."

"Fat lot of good it did," James grumbled, having hoped that all those dark feelings from being around the Dursley's wouldn't have been brought up again, at least this soon.

"It does make me at least thankful that it was an Order member, and not someone else," Remus scowled, still thinking any of Voldemort's supporters were likely to want revenge on Harry and his tucked away life with the Muggles held the smallest glimmer of good.

One woman kept coming back to shake his hand again and again.

"Really now," Lily huffed, "this is getting ridiculous."

Another stand out comes edging up, and Hagrid introduces him as Professor Quirrell, a teacher at Hogwarts.

"Oh," they all brightened at this change, "What do you suppose he teaches?" Lily asked eagerly.

"Won't find out till I read now will I?" James asked cheekily, while Lily reached around and smacked him lightly. Harry wasn't listening; he was blinking in surprise as he realized that name should mean something to him, something he definitely didn't like. Perhaps he was just a really bad teacher?

Quirrell stutters out a greeting.

"Is he going to stammer like that the whole time?" Sirius asked with a frown, "because it will get quite annoying."

"You're quite annoying, and we put up with you," Lily reprimanded.

Harry politely asked what class he teaches, and Quirrell stutters out Defense Against the Dark Arts, then shudders at the idea of his own subject.

"Not the best teacher for the subject then," Remus said sadly.

"Remember Kimbell? That woman couldn't read a book right side up properly, can't think of many teachers worse than her," Sirius laughed.

Then he gives a nervous laugh and stutters out that he had to go pick up a book on vampires, clearly going paler at the thought of that.

"Dumbledore must be really desperate by this point," James sighed.

"I don't get it?" Harry finally asked, there was clearly something going on here

"Oh," Remus said in surprise, "yes well, there's a rumor that the Defense Against the Dark Art's teaching post is cursed."

"Slytherin supposedly cursed the position centuries ago," James added on.

"And as no teacher ever held the job for longer than a year, for various reasons, most of us are inclined to agree," Remus finished.

Finally Hagrid waved everyone away who was still trying to talk to Harry.

"About time," they all huffed.

Hagrid bustled Harry out the back door into an alleyway. Hagrid grinned at the look on Harry's face and reminded him that he's famous, and made a light joke that even Quirrell was trembling to see him, then he corrected himself and said he was always like that.

Harry asked why he was always that nervous, and Hagrid says that he went out on a sabbatical a year ago, got into some trouble with vampires and hags, and didn't come back the same.

Remus nodded sadly, "I suppose if you don't know how to handle those instances they could have an effect on you."

"But he's the DA teacher," Sirius said in exasperation, "he should be exactly the one to handle those things." The other three all agreed, and guessed that this wasn't going to be a very good start to Harry's magical education in that class.

Harry's head was beginning to swim with too much information.

"You're feeling alright now though?" Lily asked quickly in concern.

Harry however was leaning comfortably back against the couch, and nodded quickly to her, "I can't explain it, but this all seems perfectly normal to me now. New still yes, but ordinary."

"And you'll tell us if you do feel overwhelmed?" James reminded, feeling almost overly

concerned.

Harry promised that he would.

Hagrid pulled out his umbrella again and opened the door to get into Diagon Alley. Once inside, Hagrid started pointing out all sorts of shops, and Harry wished he had a dozen more eyes to look around with.

"I don't blame you," Lily laughed, remembering her first time in, "I couldn't stay in one spot."

"Bet your first stop was the apothecary," Sirius teased. Lily's blush was enough of an answer for them.

As they passed people on the street Harry heard scraps of passing conversations, including one woman complaining that the price of Dragon liver had gone up to sixteen Sickles an ounce.

James let out a throaty whistle, "boy prices sure went up in the passing time."

"Unavoidable that," Remus laughed.

They passed a few more shops that caught Harry's eye, including one that had a broomstick in the window.

"The best shop in the Alley," Sirius agreed.

The two boys gawking in front of the store were going on about a new model that had come out called a Nimbus Two Thousand.

"Nice," both boys chanted at once. "Oh I wish we could see it," Sirius added on.

"Probably not anytime soon," Remus gently reminded.

They made their way to Gringotts, and on the front doors was an engraved plaque that read:

Lily actually said along with James.

Insert Gringotts Plaque

All the others looked at Lily in shock; James was finally able to ask, "How on earth did you

memorize that?"

"I love poems of all kinds," Lily told him, "I memorized that the first time I saw it."

"Nutter, honestly," Sirius laughed, but quickly stopped when Lily gave him a sharp glare.

They made their way to a free goblin and requested to go to Harry's vault, and the goblin asks for Harry's key.

"At least the goblins are professional," Lily grumbled, still smarting slightly from the Leaky

Cauldron.

Hagrid had to dig through his many pockets before coming up with the tiny object.

"How though?" James suddenly asked in surprise, "If that's the key to my vault, how did Hagrid get it?"

"Dumbledore most likely," Lily reminded him, "he seemed to have taken responsibility over for Harry."

She threw Sirius a pained look, who had paled a bit before continuing, "he probably held onto it, and then gave it to Hagrid when he went to fetch Harry."

James nodded absentmindedly, thinking of the other possessions he had in his house, wondering what had become of certain items. He suddenly shook himself as he got off track, deciding he'd have to think about it later.

Then Hagrid hands over a note, stating it was from Dumbledore, and they needed to visit another vault as well.

"Could he be any more vague?" Sirius frowned.

"Honestly if he'd just come out and said what it was, Harry probably wouldn't even know,"

Remus agreed.

"Why wouldn't he want Harry to know anyway?" James asked.

"Search me," Lily sighed.

After the goblin read the note he had no problems summoning another goblin, Griphook, to take them below.

"Were you expecting anyone else at this point?" Sirius chuckled.

Harry didn't answer, as he felt it again. An insistent niggle telling him there was a connection to that name, and one he was sure he didn't like, and this time he had no idea why that could be.

Harry asked what's in this special vault Hagrid has to visit.

"My point," Remus interrupted, James just ignored it.

Hagrid says he can't tell Harry, it's top secret.

"If it's so important then why did Dumbledore send Hagrid to get it at the same time as getting Harry?" Lily asked severely, "He couldn't have gone to get it some other time."

"Convenience I suppose," Sirius shrugged.

They pass through another door into a dungeon-like area, with a cart waiting. When they climb inside it b egan moving on its own in all sorts of twisting and confusing patterns through the caverns.

"Of course it is," Remus laughed, "considering the route magically changes every time anyways."

The goblin wasn't even steering. At one point they go over an underground lake with stalactites and stalagmites growing all over the place. Harry tells Hagrid he forgets the difference between the two and Hagrid says stalagmites have a 'm' in them.

All five of them burst out laughing at this. James managed to recover first, wiping slight tears from his eyes as he gasped, "well he's not wrong."

Remus was still snickering slightly as he began, "stalactites grow from the ceiling, stalagmites grow on the floor. That's the basic answer anyways."

"Is there anything you don't know?" Sirius demanded.

"How your mind works," he responded without looking over.

Then he told Harry not to ask him anymore questions, he's feeling sick.

James grimaced in disgust, "that wouldn't be a pleasant trip."

"I'd imagine it happened all the time though," Lily agreed, having a bit of a weak stomach for roller coaster type things herself.

The cart came to a stop outside an unnumbered vault and Griphook requested the key and opened it. Inside is a treasure trove worth of money all for Harry.

"That should hold you till school's over anyways," James said sadly, wishing he could have left his son with something a bit more than gold, "after you turn seventeen, you'd inherit the whole of the Potter vault, so this is practically nothing."

Harry went a little cross eyed at the thought of such riches, but couldn't think of anything to say to it really. 'Thank you' just didn't seem to quite cover it.

"Assuming you're not like your father and try to buy a new broom every year. Or buy all of your supplies in solid gold," Lily said scathingly throwing James a bit of a dirty look.

James was quick to defend himself, "hey, can you blame me; I was trying to impress a pretty girl."

Lily just rolled her eyes, and pointed at the book before he could keep going.

Harry was understandably a little overwhelmed. The Dursleys had complained his whole life of how much he cost them, and there was no way they could have known this existed, or surely they would have taken this away from him as well.

"No, they couldn't," Remus snapped, seeing red for a brief second at such a thought, "it's

magically protected."

"Thankfully," Lily said quickly, "I think Harry's right, and they just don't know it exists. So it

shouldn't even be a problem." Privately she was thinking that, legally, yes the Dursley's very well could have rights to this, if anyone informed them that was.

They complained all the time how expensive Harry was.

A bit deeper grumbling, but thankfully, no outburst this time.

Hagrid helped Harry pack away a bit of the money that he could use today to get his school supplies while explaining the wizard currency to him. Then they got back into the cart and Hagrid requested if the cart could possibly go slower.

"One speed only," Remus chuckled, "it's magically enchanted that way."

"You know a bit too much about this stuff," Sirius told him, giving him an eye.

Remus blushed a bit before saying, "yes well, I briefly considered a career in curse breaking. So I studied up quite a bit on the subject," all the other occupants gave him startled looks before James said with hurt in his voice, "you never told us that."

"Remus, you'd be traveling all the time," Lily said sadly. Sirius looked akin to a kicked puppy.

"Considered," he repeated quickly, "I figured, you know Goblins wouldn't mind me much and-"

,"So what changed?" Sirius asked quickly, seeing his friends line of reasoning, though still not liking it much, he could hardly fault him.

"Harry," he answered, smiling down at the baby in his arms, and then looking at the adult

squished between his parents. "When I found out Lily was pregnant, I decided to stay local for at least a bit longer. I wanted to be there while both of your parents were still getting their feet together, their own careers you know. Sirius is pretty busy with the Order, and Peter has been moving around just as much lately, restless I suppose," he gave a half shrug at all of their looks and said, "I figured I'd bring it up eventually."

"We will discuss this later," James said, giving his friend a stern look, though unimaginably warmed at the thought behind it.

Harry briefly considered interrupting to ask what the 'Order' was, since this was mentioned several times before, but James was already reading on and he decided to save it for later.

Griphook told him the cart had only one speed. Now they were heading even deeper underground, at one point going over a ravine, and Harry pokes his head out of the side of the cart to see what was below.

"Not safe," Lily said at once, "not safe at all, you could have gotten your head knocked off."

"Relax Lily," James laughed, "I did that almost every time I went down. Those tracks won't hurt you."

Hagrid pulled him back by the scruff of his neck.

Despite James assurance, Lily still felt relieved at this.

When they reac hed Hagrid's requested vault, number seven hundred and thirteen, it had no keyhole. Griphook goes over and runs his finger down the wall instead, and then turned to Harry and told him if anyone but a Gringotts goblin did that, they'd be trapped inside.

Harry asks how often they check for that, and Griphook says every ten years or so.

"Pleasant," Sirius grumbled.

"That's murder," Lily said in shock.

"Do you really think they care?" James asked curiously.

"Goblins live by their own rules, remember?" Remus reminded Lily, "they see this as just punishment for trying to steal their stuff, and the Ministry doesn't interfere in Gringotts."

Harry was sure there must be something really fascinating in here, but when he first poked his head in there was nothing to be seen. Then Hagrid grabbed up a small little package wrapped in grubby paper and tucked it away in his jacket. Harry wanted dearly to ask, but knew better.

"I don't," Sirius said at once, "but I suppose you don't know that answer." Harry shook his head, rubbing his temple in agitation again.

Now that they were all done in there and back out in the bright sunshine of the alley, Harry had a pocket full of money and he wanted to go around and look at everything all over again. He was carrying more money than he had his whole life, possibly even more then, Dudley ever had.

"That can go to your head," Lily said, not quite reprimanding, just cautioning.

"Relax," Remus told her, "he's with Hagrid; he won't let him go crazy."

Hagrid requested if it was ok if he went and got himself a drink, the cart ride had really messed up his stomach. He told Harry to go into a place called Madam Malkin's robe shop by himself. Harry agrees, though still nervous.

"What?" All four adults yelped in shock.

"He really shouldn't have left you alone like that," Lily said at once.

"It's fine," Harry soothed, "I wandered around by myself on my own all the time. The only reason I was nervous was because of the magical part." None of them were really very happy about this, but they also knew Madam Malkin was a professional type of woman, so they figured it was better than somewhere else he could have been left.

Harry entered and was escorted to the back to be fitted with robes and finds another boy already back there with pale blond hair. He started the conversation by asking if Harry was in Hogwarts too.

Lily smiled sadly, knowing this was Harry's first interaction with a boy his age, from the magical world. It was still depressing to think her son didn't have any friends all this time.

Harry agreed that he was, and the boy continued by saying his father was out getting his books, and his mother was out looking at wands.

"See," Harry spoke up, "he was left on his own. It's not that odd."

"Still," James grumbled, considering in the first five minutes of discovering all this, he kept imagining Death Eater's around every corner. He held himself back from saying that, it was clearly on the others minds as well, but no need to startle Harry about it when he was almost relaxing around them.

"Why would his mother be looking at wands?" Remus asked, "it wouldn't do him any good."

"Maybe she needs a new one," Sirius suggested with a shrug.

Then he continued in a bored voice that he was going to bully his father into getting him a racing broom and try to smuggle it in.

All four adults suddenly frowned at this, suddenly deciding that they'd rather Harry didn't continue talking to this boy. They didn't much like his attitude.

Then he kept going by asking Harry if he had his own broom, and when Harry replied in the negative, he asks if Harry knows anything about Quidditch, which again Harry denies.

"Don't," Remus and Lily said at once.

"But you didn't even scratch on-" Sirius began.

"You can talk about it later," Lily repeated, growing rather annoyed that they just wouldn't let it go.

Begrudgingly, James decided to keep going.

The boy is now boasting slightly by saying he's positive he'll be a shoo in for his own house team, and asks Harry if he knows which house he'll be in, and Harry once again says no, feeling stupider all the time.

"My poor dear," Lily sighed, running her hand through his hair in sympathy.

"Don't smother him Lily," James laughed.

"What are houses?" Harry asked before Lily could respond hotly.

"The four Hogwarts houses," Remus said at once, not wanting Sirius to get a biased opinion in, "Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. When you get to school, you'll be sorted into one of the four houses depending."

"Depending on what," Harry inquired, when it seemed Remus wasn't going to keep going.

"It's up to the Hat," Sirius said honestly.

When Harry's blank look continued James jumped in with, "well, when you get to Hogwarts, then you'll fully understand. Besides, I want to see the look on your face when you, err, remember it for yourself."

Harry sort of wanted to keep arguing, but then Remus said, "it really is tradition that we don't tell you. It's a secret, so that no new students can be thinking of it ahead of time." Harry finally nodded his acceptance and let it go.

The boy said he's positive he will be a Slytherin, all his family was. He stated that he'd be so ashamed if he ended up somewhere else. Like if he landed in Hufflepuff he'd leave the school.

"I am liking this kid less and less," James said frowning. Sure he was loyal to his own house, and would admit to being a bit biased towards Slytherin for personal reasons, but he knew deep down that he would love whatever house his son wound up in.

Harry had nothing articulate to say to that. Then the blonde boy notices Hagrid outside of the shop holding two ice-cream cones, which is why he hadn't come in. The boy exclaims who that is.

"Well at least he went and did something nice for Harry," Lily said smiling.

"Assuming those aren't both for him," Sirius quipped.

Harry's pleased to finally contribute something to the conversation and informed him who that was and his job at the school, and the boy scathingly replied how he's heard of him, he was some sort of servant.

"No," all five said at once severely.

Harry corrected him at once as saying he was the gamekeeper, his opinion of the boy dropping every second.

"Thank Merlin," Sirius agreed, "I'd hate for him to be Harry's first friend."

Harry was beginning to feel his head start to pound again, the longer this conversation went on, the more he felt like he knew this boy. However, it was nothing good, so he said nothing and let the reading continue.

The boy hardly acknowledged the correction, going on to say how he's heard he gets drunk all the time and attempts to do magic and ends up setting his house on fire. Harry coldly retorts how he thinks he's brilliant.

"Thank you for defending him," Remus said smiling, seeing a bit of both his parents there, neither would have stood for someone insulting their friend.

The other sneers at him asking why that was, and asking why his own parents aren't with him. Harry truthfully answered that they're dead.

James stuttered a bit at reading this, it didn't seem to be getting any easier the more he said it, but quickly pushed on.

The boy says he's sorry, without sounding very sorry at all.

"Great," Sirius snarled, "he escapes one Dudley only to find another the same day."

"I'm hoping they won't have much to do with each other," Lily said quickly.

He goes on to ask if they were 'our kind.' Harry answered back that they were a witch and wizard.

"That's not exactly what he meant," Lily said sadly.

"But Harry's answer is perfectly correct," James said hotly.

The blond boy says he doesn't think the school should let the 'other kind' in.

"Well that cinches it," Sirius sneered, "he's a pureblood, bigot."

"A what?" Harry asked curiously, not understanding such a violent reaction.

Sirius tried to explain as best he could, "There are different 'types' of wizards if you will, though there's really no difference when you get down to it. By this boy's attitude, I'd wager anything he's a pureblood, which means both of his parents have wizard parents and they were both pureblood wizards etcetera. Then there's muggle-born, which is what he's referring to when he says 'the other sort' and that's a witch or wizard who comes from a muggle family, with no witch or wizard blood immediately traceable."

"Like me," Lily put in quietly for Harry, as Sirius finished.

"Then there's half-blood, which is a muggle parent and a wizard."

"Which is what I am," Remus input, "my mother was a muggle."

Sirius nodded before finishing, "a lot of pure-blood wizards think they're better than the lot

because of well, their pure blood statutes. Which is bogus, and-"

"It's alright Sirius," James cut in, when it became obvious his best friend was about to go into a full blown tangent, casting Harry a sideways look he summarized, "and this boy seems like the first kind."

Harry nodded in understanding, and decided against asking what had upset Sirius so much, saving that for later. He also refrained from asking what that would technically make him, if his mother was a muggle born but his dad was obviously a pureblood, would that make him a half blood or three quarters or... He let the matter go and decided against asking because he decided he didn't care one way or the other, he just wanted to know more which he decided he'd learn as this continued.

Saying how they just weren't the same, and weren't brought up in 'our' ways. He thought they should keep the school only in the old wizarding families.

"That would make attendance at school, like twenty, tops," Lily balked, "if they went by that."

"Then it's thankful they don't do that," James consoled.

Then he asked for Harry's last name.

"Don't tell him," they all said at once.

"He'll just throw himself at you, pretending and junk," Sirius grumbled in disgust.

"Can't do anything about it now though," Harry reminded them, smiling slightly.

James quickly read on, wanting to know.

But before Harry could answer, Madam Malkin declared Harry was done.

"Thank Merlin," James breathed.

"Why was Harry done before him?" Lily asked curiously, "the other boy was already getting his done when Harry walked in."

"Maybe he's getting something special done to them," Sirius offered.

Harry is more than happy to stop talking to the boy, and began to walk away, only for the blond boy to call out that he hoped to see him at school.

"Hopefully not," the others all muttered. Harry declined to mention that he had a bad feeling that, yes in fact he would.

Harry remained quiet once he rejoined Hagrid, and when Hagrid asked why, Harry lied and told him it was nothing.

All four frowned at this, wishing for what like the hundredth time that Harry had someone to open up to. They were each tempted to ask now what was really on his mind, but held it in for the uneasy frown lingering on him. They'd really been asking a lot of him lately, and he was allowed to his own thoughts, even if they wished he didn't want to.

Once they traveled through a few shops, Harry decided to ask him what Quidditch is.

"Don't even," Lily said.

James gave her a pout before muttering, "I wasn't going to."

Hagrid was at first shocked to hear Harry hadn't heard of it, and Harry mutters that just made him feel worse. He decides then to tell Hagrid about the conversation he'd had with the other boy. He finished at the end with how the boy had said muggles shouldn't even be allowed in. Hagrid corrects him at once, saying Harry wasn't from a muggle family, and points out to him that Lily was one of the best witches there was and look what she had for a sister!

"I think that was a backwards compliment," Sirius snickered.

"But true all the same," Lily agreed, smiling at the flattery.

Harry repeated his question of what Quidditch was, and Hagrid said it's a wizard sport,

like soccer from the muggle world.

"I'm impressed Hagrid knows what that is," Remus approved.

He explained that it was played up in the air on brooms and that there are four balls, but the rules were kind of hard to explain.

"No they're not," Sirius huffed under his breath, though had the sense to keep his mouth shut this time.

Then Harry asked what Slytherin and Hufflepuff are, and Hagrid explained the concept of the four school houses, beginning to say that most people say Hufflepuffs are the worst, and Harry cuts him off to say he thinks he'll be in that house.

"It wouldn't matter to us if you were," Lily said at once.

"And there's nothing wrong with Hufflepuff," James finished what he was sure Hagrid was fixing to say.

Hagrid huffed and said that Hufflepuff would still be better than Slytherin . Since it was the house known for turning out the worst and darkest of the wizards, rumour had it that You-Know-Who was one himself.

"Really?" Harry asked the room.

They all exchanged looks before Lily answered sadly, "That's a stereotype dear, all the houses have one. Not everyone in Slytherin is awful-" she stuttered off for a moment, looking pained before pressing on, "but the bit about Voldemort is true, at least as far as rumors go."

"Considering no one really knows anything about Voldemort, including his school years, or even if that's supposed to be a real name, yeah it's sadly just a rumor," Sirius agreed.

Harry nodded to himself sadly, again feeling that awful ache of where an answer was supposed to be, but as with every other time, forced to let it go.

Harry was shocked to hear this and asked if You-Know-Who went to Hogwarts, and Hagrid confirmed that yes, but years ago.

"If no one knows anything about Voldemort," Harry asks, feeling a funny little feeling at saying that name for the first time but quickly brushing past it, "how does Hagrid know that?"

"As Voldemort was trying to conquer this part of the world," Remus offered, "most assume he went to Hogwarts. After all if he came from say Australia, why would he be here?"

Harry nodded in understanding and let the matter go.

They went inside a bookshop next, where there were all sorts of interesting books, including ones as small as stamps.

"Why would you buy books that small?" Sirius asked.

"It's a joke," Lily told him, having asked the shopkeeper herself at eleven. "you're supposed to use an engorgement charm on it to make it bigger, and then learn about shrinking spells in it."

Sirius just shook his head but kept going.

James did butt in this time by asking, "What are stamps?"

"Something Muggles have to put on their mail so it'll go through their postal system, they're really tiny like the size of your thumb," Harry happily explained, finding it pleasant he was getting to explain something back to his father for once.

Some of the books didn't have anything in them at all.

When Sirius opened his mouth Remus quickly jumped in with, "same basic principle as the last book."

"It's still dumb," Sirius huffed.

"You think all books are dumb," Lily snapped.

"Not this one," he defended at once, unable to think any book about his pup was dumb.

Harry begins looking through a book on curses, but Hagrid drags him away. Harry tries to protest, saying he wanted to curse Dudley.

"Do not blame you," Remus agreed, while James and Sirius looked beyond pleased this was Harry's first instinct, it was certainly there's. Lily found them so repugnant she couldn't even deny a slight feeling of the same.

Hagrid pointed out to him that he's not supposed to use magic in the muggle world and he won't have the ability to do that quite yet.

"Sad but true," Sirius sighed.

Hagrid wouldn't let Harry buy a solid gold cauldron, either, pointing out that it said pewter on his list.

"Thank you Hagrid," Lily agreed, "since a lot of potions can react to the material they're being brewed in, even some first year potions. It would be irresponsible for anybody to let their child do that."

"I'm sure the potion teacher wouldn't let them," James smirked, remembering Slughorn's reaction when he tried the same thing.

Then they went to an apothecary where Hagrid got Harry some basic potion supplies.

"You know I never thought about that," Sirius cocked his head to the side, "but how would

muggles know to do that? If Hagrid hadn't been there, I mean that's not on the school list."

"We're allowed to use the school's cupboards until we mail for our own," Lily grumbled, having mentioned this several times to many teachers, but nothing had ever been done about it.

They went to several other shops after that, until finally they reached the last thing on Harry's list, a wand. Before they headed there though, Hagrid declared he hadn't gotten Harry a birthday present yet.

"I can't thank Hagrid enough," James vowed.

Harry goes red with embarrassment and began to mutter Hagrid didn't have to do that.

"That's the point of birthdays Harry," Sirius said in an almost stern voice, angry enough that he had to actually explain this, "you do deserve it."

"Ten times over," Remus muttered, giving the baby in his lap a little tickle to his tummy.

Hagrid scoffs and says he'd buy Harry his pet, and decides to get him an owl.

"Aw," Lily cooed, "Hagrid is the sweetest."

When they exit that shop, Harry is now the proud owner of a snowy white owl, her head currently tucked up under her wing as she slept.

"That's fascinating," Remus beamed, "though a little flamboyant."

"It's the one I would have picked," James agreed.

Lily frowned, worrying her lip a bit, not wanting to think of how the Dursleys were going to react when Harry was forced to go to them with an owl. Petunia hated animals. Hopefully the fear of Hagrid would loom over them enough they wouldn't say anything. This thought didn't seem to have crossed any of the boy's minds as they kept going.

Harry was stuttering out his thanks about as effectively as Quirrell would have.

Lily brightened up at once at her boy showing some proper manners.

Hagrid was getting a little embarrassed himself, saying he didn't mind, and mentioned he didn't think the Dursleys gave Harry many good presents so he deserved it.

Now they all frowned at this, suddenly wondering just how much Hagrid knew about what the Dursleys had done to Harry. Harry quickly jumped in, "I've never asked, but Hagrid doesn't know much. I really don't know for sure," he trailed off and James sighed in defeat before forcefully pressing on.

Then said they just had Ollivanders place left, so that Harry could get his wand. Harry was instantly excited again, a magic wand was what he'd been looking forward to the most.

"I don't blame you on that one," Lily chuckled weakly, slightly bringing the mood back around.

They come across a small shop near the end, where the title of the store is embossed in gold, and a wand was lying on a pillow in the window.

"Whose wand is that?" Harry asked curiously.

"Rumor has it that it's supposed to be Merlin's," James said in a mysterious tone of voice.

"But that's just a rumor," Remus said smiling.

When they entered the shop they saw that it was piled high with boxes scattered every which way, and the hair on the back of Harry's neck began to stand on end, as if he can just feel the magic in the air.

James beamed with pride at that, "that shows that you're very aware of magic in the area. Highly useful skill that."

Hagrid sat down on a little chair to the side, and when a quiet voice greets them from the shadows he jumped so hard the chair collapses beneath him.

"I'm impressed it held his weight to begin with," Sirius snickered.

The old man greets Harry formally, stating that Harry looked very much like his father, but had his mother's eyes. Then he describes his mother's wand, ending with how it was good for charms.

Lily smiled as she fingered her wand lovingly.

Harry notices how little he blinks, and can't help but find the man slightly creepy.

"He has that effect on people," Sirius agreed with a slight shiver.

"I always thought he did it on purpose," Remus chuckled, "he likes to leave an impression."

He then describes his father's wand in the same fashion, ending with how powerful it could be in transfiguration.

"Came in handy for that too," James agreed with an obvious wink at Remus, who just smiled indulgently at that.

Then he spotted the scar on Harry's forehead and touched it.

All four adults huffed a bit at that, Lily even muttering, "that's going a bit far now."

He stated who he sold that wand to, and how very sorry he was to see the damage it wrought.

All four of them balked at that, stunned to learn that Ollivander knew Voldemort's real identity. "Do you think Dumbledore knows about that?" James asked.

"Oh I'm sure he does," Remus said at once.

Then he spotted Hagrid and goes through the same treatment of describing his wand, but

noting at the end how it was snapped. Hagrid shuffles his feet with unease and admits they did this indeed, but he still kept the pieces.

Remus snorted with laughter, "now why would he admit to something like that?"

"Why shouldn't he?" James asked, lips twitching, "It's not like he could still be using them of course."

"Oh of course not," Sirius agreed, fighting back laughter.

Mr. Ollivander asked Hagrid if he still used them, and Hagrid quickly said of course not, while clutching his umbrella.

At this all three boys finally broke and cracked up laughing a bit, while Lily simply shook her head in fondness.

Ollivander turned his attention back to Harry and asked him which was his wand arm and Harry responds he's right handed. Then the old man begins measuring Harry from shoulder to finger, knee to armpit, and so on all around his body.

"Why though?" Sirius asked, still chuckling slightly. "Exactly what does the length of knee to armpit have to do with wands?"

"It's a magical item," Remus reminded him, "after the first measurement, it kind of just wanders off with a mind of its own, and Ollivander lets it while he thinks."

While he measured he continued informing Harry about wands, stating what magical cores he used.

"I once met a chap who had tried to use centaur hair," James laughed, "now that had some disastrous problems."

Sirius was snickering as he said, "remember that time when someone tried to use a mermaid scale as a core. That wand flooded the whole floor." After a bit more laughter, James finally went back to his reading.

Then he got down to business and handed Harry a wand, but he'd hardly held it when it was taken back. Then he handed Harry a different wand, with the same results.

"Wow," Lily said in surprise, "he got mine on the second try."

"Got mine on the first," James and Sirius both said laughing.

"It took him five tries to get mine," Remus remembered.

He tried several, but none seemed to gain Ollivanders acceptance, while the more he tossed aside, the more excited he seemed to become.

"Wow," they all said in surprise this time, while James carried on, "I don't think he's ever had this much trouble before."

"Yes well, just like all professionals in a field, at least he's enjoying the challenge," Remus said, still smiling.

Finally Harry was handed one of holly wood with a phoenix feather core, and Harry felt the warmth spread through his fingers once he grasped it .

"There you have it," Lily cried with joy.

"You know they say the type of wood you get says something about your personality," Sirius said, smiling a bit.

"I don't put much stock into wandlore," James waved him off before he could keep going.

While Mr. Ollivander took the wand back and began wrapping it up for Harry to take, he kept muttering over and over how curious this was.

"Why's that so curious?" Remus asked, just as bewildered.

"Why do you do that?" Sirius demanded, "None of us knows the answer."

"It's called a curious nature Sirius," Remus replied back a bit snippy.

Harry's curiosity wins out, and he asks why's that so curious. Mr. Ollivander explains that he remembers every single wand he's ever sold, and the phoenix whose tail feather resides in Harry's wand only gave one other feather, the brother of which ended up in You-Know- Who's wand.

Despite the shock they all felt at hearing this, they were far more concerned at Harry's reaction.

As James read this out, Harry gasped in pain, suddenly clutching his skull as if it were about to burst in two. "Harry dear," Lily said at once, wrapping her arm around his shoulder.

James quickly put the book aside and leaned down, trying to look his son in the face, as he was now doubled over and pressing his face to his knees. Sirius got wearily to his feet, heading

towards the kitchen he called, "I'm going to-" but quickly cut himself off when Harry muttered something.

"What's that dear?" Lily asked in as calming a voice as she could manage.

Finally looking up, and blinking several times as if coming out of a trance he gasped, "I knew that- but there's more, there's something really important about that! Argh-" he cut himself off and clutched his head again.

Getting off the couch and leaning in front of him James said in a stern voice, "Harry, stop trying to strain yourself. Memory charms are some of the trickiest there is, and your memories will only come back with time. Trying to force them back like this could cause you serious harm, so quite fighting it."

Still panting slightly, Harry nodded and bit by bit relaxed until he could finally look up again and look around at all of them, upon seeing the concern and fear etched into their pale faces he muttered, "Sorry."

After a short stunned pause Sirius burst into laughter, clutching his stomach, while looking pityingly at his pup, "Just what are you apologizing for? Giving us a heart attack? I'm sure there will be plenty more where that came from."

Still looking slightly abashed, Harry nodded and leaned back against the couch again, rubbing his temple in agitation but not looking in quite as much pain now. The four adults exchanged uneasy looks, but Remus finally said, "suppose we can go on yeah? You alright with that Harry?"

"Yeah," Harry said quickly, wanting to deflect the attention off of him.

As James got up and picked the book back up and began flipping pages to find his place. Sirius made his way causally over to the love seat, sprawling himself out on it, and being much more able to keep an eye out from this angle. He wasn't even tempted to mock James for his use of the word serious, this was more important. While they all deeply wanted to discuss what they'd just learned, Harry still looked so out of it they were far more concerned at keeping him away from this topic for a while.

Ollivander half praised that dark wand, saying it had done terrible things, but great powerful things all the same. He finished by saying he expects great things from Harry.

"Great and terrible," Sirius grumbled, "yeah, that about covers it."

They exit Diagon Alley altogether and stop for a bite to eat before Harry gets on a train. Harry's now looking around in awe, thinking how strange it all looks now.

"By product of switching from muggle to magical," Lily agreed, "the transition is a bit weird."

Hagrid asked Harry if he was alright once again, stating how quiet he was.

"Well that was quite the bombshell," James deflected for his boy, still a bit in shock over both the news, which he hadn't even had a chance to fully think about, and his son's severe reaction to said news.

Harry confessed how uneasy this trip made him, how everyone seems to expect such great things from him because of what Vol- then corrected himself saying what You-Know-Who did to him.

"How come you keep accidentally slipping on the Voldemort thing then?" Remus asked.

"It's his natural genes," Sirius said proudly, "no one in this family is afraid to say his name."

Harry chuckled slightly at this, but was honestly unable to answer. He'd always felt from the very beginning that it was silly to call him You-Know-Who, but for some reason couldn't put it into words then, or now.

Hagrid reassured him, saying Harry would learn his way fast enough, but knows Harry will do fine in school, exclaiming he still had a great time there.

All of the adults smiled at this, trying to push away for good that feeling of loss they had at not being there for him, and instead being so happy that Hagrid had said the perfect thing to him.

Hagrid helped Harry onto the train that would take him back to the Dursleys and then handed him an envelope.

"What?" Lily yelped in shock.

"He's not going back with you?" James said in disappointment.

All of them were dreading what kind of reunion Harry would get when he showed back up on Private Drive alone. "Don't worry," Harry comforted at once. "They didn't do anything awful, they were too afraid of Hagrid." He stopped and chuckled briefly as he did remember that reunion. He had walked from his stop and come through the doorway with his stuff, and Uncle Vernon had stopped him at the door and demanded to know if the man was still with him. When Harry had told him no, but he had given him the owl to keep in touch, he had gone very pale white indeed, and simply stuttered that he should go to his room now. After telling them this, they relaxed a bit, though all majorly disappointed Harry had to go back at all.

It had his ticket to get to Hogwarts, stating the train would leave on the first of September, at King's Cross station. If he had any problems with the Dursleys, write him a letter using his new owl, she'd know what to do. Harry boarded the train and tried to watch Hagrid through the crowd, but he blinks and he's disappeared.

"How do you think he managed that?" Sirius asked, "He can't apparate."

"Magic," Remus said in a goofy, mystical voice.

"Maybe he's had a Portkey this whole time to get back to school," Lily shrugged.*

"That's the chapter over," James announced, offering the book to Harry. "Would you like to read now?"

Harry took it eagerly, bypassing the question of what a Portkey was in favor of wanting more than anything to get his memories of such a wondrous school back.

*At least, that's the only thing I've been able to come up with after all these years. Let me know how you think he did it.