Harry was an unusual child. Absolutely no one could spend more than a couple minutes with him without thinking something was off. Was it the hair which never looked combed? Was it the eyes which were so green they almost glowed in the light? He just didn't fit in.
Harry lived with his Aunt Petunia Dursley and her family. They were a normal family. They had one normal child, a normal house in a normal community, and Vernon, her husband, worked at a normal job.
On Christmas eve when Harry was three years old, he noticed that Dudley was trying to count all his presents, but kept getting stuck on four. Harry said, "Dudley, you have sixteen presents." He then turned to his uncle, "Uncle, Happy Christmas!" With a grin he handed his uncle a drawing he had made. It was a simple crayon drawing. A stick figure of a man, woman and two boys with words written under them. The words were Daddy, Mommy, Dudley and Harry. After looking around for a couple of seconds "Uncle, where are my presents?"
Vernon was livid. His son couldn't even read yet, and this FREAK was drawing and writing! He also, dared to think he was part of the family!
Balling up the picture and throwing it at the ground, Vernon roared, "Little FREAKS don't get presents! Little FREAKS should be happy getting food and a safe place to sleep! Where's your gratitude? You need to learn your place!"
He then grabbed Harry and threw him across the room. Harry flew through the air right into the kitchen. Harry landed hard on the floor, sliding until he slammed into the stove. When Harry hit the stove, his arm was caught under him, and he screamed as his wrist broke.
Vernon advanced on Harry taking off his belt. When in reach, Vernon started whipping Harry. Harry was screaming in pain, and trying to block the painful belt. He was a young child so tried to use both arms, but every time his broken arm was hit, it hurt so much, he would let out a shrill scream.
Vernon, continuing to whip him, "Shut UP! I'm not stopping until you are silent! SHUT UP!"
It hurt so much, Harry was unable to keep quiet. During the long beating, Harry eventually fell unconscious. His body was covered in welts, bruises, and blood was oozing from dozens of cuts and abrasions. Once Vernon noticed Harry was no longer responding to the belt, he just grabbed him by his arm (the broken one), and dragged him over to the cupboard. Vernon then threw him in before locking it, and stomping away.
The next morning Petunia, fearing the worst, opened the cupboard. Looking inside she saw a three-year old boy, covered in dried blood, lying on a thin, now-bloodstained, mattress. There was nothing in the small cupboard other than that. Petunia thought to herself, 'It's more than the freak deserved. Now we are rid of him.' At this point Harry rolled over and looked up at her in fear. His eyes, that vibrant green reminding Petunia of her freak sister, looked up at her. Realizing Harry was still alive, she reached in and pulled him out.
Harry whimpered, "I will be good, please don't hurt me, Aunt Petunia."
Petunia frowned at Harry. This was not normal. He looked completely uninjured. For all intents and purposes, he should be dead, or at least seriously hurt! Harry then pushed himself up to a sitting position and left a handprint of dried blood on the floor. 'Look what this freak was doing to my clean house!' Petunia thought. "Go to the bathroom and wash yourself up! You will then clean up the mess you made! You are old enough to start helping with chores!"
Harry just looked at her with fear, not understanding what she wanted. Seeing Harry not moving, Petunia grabbed Harry and threw him down onto his belly. She then yanked his pants down and spanked him fiercely. Harry started crying immediately at the harsh discipline. Once his bottom was bright red, she yelled, "When I tell you to do something, you will do it! Go!" Harry scrambled up, and ran to the bathroom continuing to cry. He received many spankings that day, never able to figure out what would satisfy her. So began the first Christmas, Harry would remember.
Vernon was a man who thought much of himself. He always believed he was destined for great things. Unfortunately, he was neither hard working, nor intelligent. He had a middle management job at a drill factory, and had been passed over for promotion, again. However, he also had a fear of standing out, as deep in his soul he knew he wasn't that special. When he came home, already in a foul mood, he saw Harry drawing on the sidewalk. It was a picture of a family…again. Here was the cause of his torment! 'It's not me, it's HIM!' Vernon thought. He then dragged Harry into the house for another evening of beatings.
By the time Harry was five, he had long since learned not to speak at home. His aunt would give him chores and he would do them. If he failed in the smallest way, he was beaten. Harry had also learned that his aunt and uncle did not like him to 'pretend' to be intelligent. He learned very quickly, to never show up his cousin…on those days when he did, it was BAD.
Unfortunately for Harry, he was brilliant. Harry had realized by preschool that Dudley wasn't smart or hard-working, so made a deal with him. At school, he would be Dudley and Dudley would be Harry. The Dursleys were ecstatic about the wonderful grades Dudley earned, and very happy Harry was an appropriate failure as freaks were NOT special. The Dursleys never figured it out, as they refused to go to school for any information about Harry...and Dudley was the top of his class, so why bother?
When the Hogwarts letter came, Vernon was going to burn the letter, but Petunia yelled, "Don't! They will send another! An OWL! We can get rid of him! He has to go!"
Vernon just looked at the boy, who was working in the kitchen on dinner. "Fine! Write a reply telling them to come get him! Tell them to bring their own money because Harry has NONE!" He screamed.
A few days later, a giant of a man came early in the morning just after Vernon had left for work. He pounded on the door shaking the whole house. Petunia quickly went and opened it only to scream when she saw what was outside. She immediately grabbed Harry, who was waiting to go with 'them', and shoved him at the monster before slamming the door shut.
The giant looked at the boy. Harry was wearing old worn-out clothes, with shoes barely held together with tape. He didn't have glasses or a scar on his forehead, as Dumbledore described. The giant would have thought him an imposter, but he did have the Potter hair and Lily's vibrant green eyes. "You Harry?" he rumbled.
Harry nodded. "Have your letter with the equipment list?" Harry nodded again. "You don't say much, do you?" Harry shook his head no. The Dursleys had taught him to keep quiet if he didn't want to be beaten.
The two stood there just looking at each other. Eventually Harry timidly asked "Sir?" obviously worried. Normally he wouldn't say anything, but a 9 foot tall man wearing a rough bear coat and obviously self-made leather clothes, just did not fit in here! If the neighbors started gossiping about 'strangeness', he would be beaten worse than normal!
The giant looked at Harry, who finally spoke with a question, "Just Hagrid." He said, "What?"
Harry looked at this 9 feet tall giant in his unique clothes, "Is there somewhere we can go where you fit in? I have never seen a 9-foot person before, and I doubt it's normal here. Where is this magical land you hale from?" Hagrid looked affronted at the comment about his size.
Harry quickly continued, "Not that there is anything wrong with being tall, but you really stands out, here."
Hagrid looked around and frowned. He then dug in his voluminous coat and pulled out a rusted wrench. "Here grab ahold a this. Now don't let go 'til I tell ye." Harry grabbed it and was swept away.
"Here we are!" exclaimed Hagrid happily.
After recovering from whatever magic moved them to this new place, Harry looked around. They were obviously in a dirty garbage-filled city alley. Harry heard the sounds of autos on the street, and smelled many not-so-wonderful smells from the autos and the garbage around them. Harry could also see many people who walked past the entrance of the alley in the distance. They appeared 'normal', unlike his companion, so where where they? It did not appear to be a magical place. "Where are we?" watching as Hagrid tossed the wrench into a corner. "Don't we need that?" and Harry pointed at the rusted wrench so callously thrown in a corner.
Hagrid who was looking at the entrance of the alley, turned and glanced at the wrench before giving Harry a sharp look. "What the port-key? Nah. It won't work again. We'll get another. Well? Come on." And Hagrid started walking to the mouth of the alley. He then stopped and pulled out a wool hat. "Here put this on." He shoved it down on Harry's head covering his unruly hair. Harry fixed the hat to a more comfortable position, and rushed to follow. They came out of the alley next to this strange tiny grubby-looking pub. "This is it, the Leaky Caldron. It's a famous place." Hagrid replied but petered out as he realized Harry was not impressed.
For a 'famous place' it looked fairly...well poor, dirty, and unimportant. Harry noticed all the people moving past it, ignoring it completely. Strange, it was like they could not see the pub at all. Hagrid led Harry inside and it was very dark and shabby. A few old women were in a corner drinking sherry. One was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to someone behind the bar. The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in. Everyone seemed to know Hagrid. They waved and nodded to him. The man behind the bar asked, "The usual, Hagrid?"
Hagrid replied with a bit of self-importance, as if he was doing something vital. "Can't, Tom. On Hogwarts business." And he dragged Harry through the bar quickly as Tom wondered, "Was that…" Hagrid rushed to the back hall, quickly tapped a series of bricks and the brick wall started to come apart.
As the bricks quickly separated, bright sunlight streamed into the archway. The suddenly appearing archway was large enough, for even Hagrid to pass through without stooping. Looking through it, Harry saw a cobblestone street which twisted and turned before bending out of site.
Hagrid with a grin waved across in front of them, "Welcome to Diagon Alley." There was much to see. Harry instantly noticed they were somewhere else, though the unchanged sun's position made that seem a lie. Still, he could not hear the noise of autos, or smell the stink of exhaust or garbage. And the people! Dressed as he had never seen people dressed before. Harry stood there transfixed, and after a minute, Hagrid dragged Harry forward past many interesting stores and scores of people dressed nonsensically.
It was something out of those old picture books….but not. It seemed like a costume party, where everyone was dressed as they wished. There was no single style, and the colors rarely failed to clash. Aunt Petunia wouldn't be caught dead having anyone wearing such ridiculous clothes in her house, much less wearing them herself. Finally, they came up to this large marble building with large bronze doors. GRINGOTTS was written on the side in large letters. In front were short soldiers in medieval armor. As Hagrid dragged Harry past them, Harry noted, "Wait, they aren't human."
Hagrid glanced at the goblins and replied, "Yeah, those r goblins. Come along." Hagrid led Harry into what must be an old bank. There were lines to tellers behind those cages he had seen in picture books from the last century. Hagrid brought Harry to one. Once they reached the front, the 'goblin' teller growled "key!" and Hagrid fished through his coat until he found it. The goblin looked at the key, then at Harry, "The account manager wishes to see Heir Potter."
Hagrid suddenly looked scared, "No time, just need ta get to 'is vault and get some money. Some other time!"
The teller looked at Hagrid angrily, "I said his account manager needs to see him!"
Hagrid then yelled back, "And I said we don' have time!"
The teller looked furious, "Fine!" He turned to a goblin runner at the side, "Griphook! Take these to their vault! Step back!" They stepped back and soon another goblin escorted them to a cart. The cart took them along a long convoluted track, making many unexpected turns all without apparent direction, until it reached a large door...larger than many of the doors they passed on the journey. The goblin used Harry's key to open the door and very specifically handed it back to Harry with a stern look at Hagrid. Inside the door was a huge pile of gold and silver coins. Hagrid took out a bag and filled it with handfuls of the coins, "That'll be enough for a year. Save tha rest fer later." Thrusting the bag at Harry, Hagrid grabbed him and quickly dragged Harry from the bank.
After they walked out of the bank, Harry looked at Hagrid, "Lets get my wand now. If I'm a wizard, the wand will prove it. Otherwise all the rest of this is pointless."
"What da ya mean pointless?" Hagrid asked angrily.
Harry glared at him, very aware something significant happened in that bank, and Hagrid was definitely hiding something. "I mean, I know about magic because I magically heal the damage of the Dursleys every night. It doesn't mean I can cast spells. I want proof. Who do you work for?"
Puffing up proudly, Hagrid replied, "Headmaster Dumbledore. A great man."
Harry looking at him carefully, "How did you know where I live?"
Hagrid replied as if the answer is obvious, "Dumbledore told me."
Harry then asked, starting to get angry, "Who gave you my vault key?"
Hagrid answered again, "Dumbledore had it. I need it back." and Hagrid makes Harry give back the key.
Now very irritated about the key, and the supposed goblin account manager, Harry snarks, not really believing it, "So this Dumbledore left me in that house."
Hagrid replied assured of the correctness of his answer, "Sure! Said you would be safe ther!" said Hagrid, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Sure I was safe. I was beaten every day, starved, worked as a slave. That your definition of safe?" Harry asked angrily.
Now Hagrid is getting angry. Nobody insults Dumbledore to him! "Stop lyin! Dumbledores a great man! He would never leave you in a hous like tha!"
Harry yells while showing his old castoffs with tears and stains all over them. "Look at my clothes! These are the clothes of a slave! You heard my aunt. She threw me at you without a care for my health. She look like someone who cared about my wellbeing?"
Hagrid looks at him carefully, "If you were beaten like you say, where are yur scars?"
"I don't scar! It allowed them to beat me, break me every blasted day. I was hated, reviled, all because me drunk brutal father killed himself and my stupid uncaring whore mother in a car crash one night." Harry said with disgust.
Hagrid is floored by Harry's words. To say that about the Potters, his own parents! "Your parents were great friends of mine! They died fighting he-who-must-not-be-named. They weren't drunks, whores, or stupid!"
Harry scornfully replied, "Bollox! The Dursleys, who you and the great Dumbledore left me with, said they were! Why should I believe you? My parents must have been gullible fools if their supposed friends left me to be treated like that! They would hardly lie about my loving parents, would they?" At this point, Hagrid started to silently cry and attract attention to himself. He looked around noticing people starting to pay attention to them.
He looked hurt and angry at Harry, "You were all meek when I met you! Wouldn't say a word, what changed?"
Harry showing utter scorn and disgust, "Of course I was quiet! The Dursleys beat me if I said anything other than 'yes ma'am!' Why? You going to tell them how I really act? Want to watch them beat me bloody for daring to speak? Figures!"
Hagrid quickly grabbed Harry, "Fine! Wands first!" and led Harry away with tears falling down his face. Could Harry be telling the truth? Does he really think that about his parents? It just wasn't possible.
Harry was led to a store called Olivander's. Once inside he was surprised by a small old man. "So Mr. Potter is here for his wand."
Harry looked at the small strange man, "Do I know you sir?"
With wide eyes, he pointed a finger at Harry, "We have never met, but I know you. You drove away he-who-must-not-be-named."
Harry just snorts in disgust. "What balderdash! Only a fool believes a baby drove anything away. Did I throw my dirty nappies at him?"
Olivander just looked at Harry strangely. This is not what he expected from the boy-who-lived. "Well lets get you your wand then." Over the next few hours, he went through much of his stock. Finally, in desperation, he tried the older wands which sometimes bonded to the unusual wizard. No luck. "Well, it looks to be a custom wand then. All right, come to my work room and we will get you sorted."
Harry politely but a bit confused asked, "I don't understand."
Olivander, rather irritated by the need for a first gen to get custom, replied, "The vast majority of wizards will bond with a standard wand. Adults, once they have finished their 3rd maturation, will get a custom wand which will fit their magic perfectly. It is considered a waste for a 1st maturation, as your magic usually changes too much, to not be a waste of my craft. However, sometimes it is required as none of the spec wands will work effectively. You are one of those."
Olivander led Harry over to a series of pieces of wood on the bench. "Run your hand over the wood and tell me what calls to you." Harry looked confused, "Just do it, Heir Potter." Harry ran his hand over the wood and two pieces really called out to him. He picked them up and handed them to Olivander. Olivander took the wood, "Huh. Yew for the defender, and Elder for the destiny walker...interesting. Now do the same with these jars on this table." Harry ran his hands over the jars and was immediately called to a beautiful feather sitting high on a shelf, and an old jar so covered with dust he couldn't see what's inside. Olivander took the feather and the jar, "I should have known, Phoenix feather. Wait! You also want this? Basilisk fang? Are you sure?" Harry nodded uncertainly. "Well with two opposing cores, we will need two additional things, one. Your blood willingly given. Two, a focus stone. I never had to place a focus stone on a student's wand. We will see. Go to that shelf over there and grab the first stone you want." Harry went and quickly grabbed a red stone. Harry handed a red stone to Olivander. He rolled in around in his hand, "Red Jasper, the stone of leaders and magus. Appropriate. Now go buy your other supplies. It will be four hours for me to make this wand." He then pushed them out of the store and slammed the door closed with a sign that said "Wand making, come back later!" appearing on it.
After Olivander's, Harry was led to get his trunk, and other equipment. Hagrid and Harry were both angry with each other, and neither was willing to break the silence. Harry did much of the talking, and because of this, bought many things, recommended by the merchants and not on the list. Hagrid just huffed thinking Harry was wasting money, but was in no mood to 'help' Harry right now. Toward the end of the day, Harry was led to Madam Malkins.
He was led into an obvious clothing shop. It had to be the shop for the students, as a whole section was all black robes with a big sign overhead saying Hogwarts! A middle-aged woman wearing a robe came forward with a smile, "Hogwarts robes, my dear?"
Harry looked at her, then at the Hogwarts display. He asked, "Do you have other clothes? I don't have any." With a glare at Hagrid, Harry held out his hands, "These are the only clothes I own."
She clucked and asked, "You need to be completely kitted out? What social status young man?"
Harry looked abashed and dropped his eyes, "I don't know. I was a slave my whole life so have no idea."
She clucked again, not believing him, but was unwilling to lose a sale, "Well let's keep it basic then. I will kit you out for a full wardrobe at the basic Hogwarts level. You must have some status to afford Hogwarts so we will go with that basic level. 20 galleons should cover it. 5 additional for a decent set of dragon boots, and to have sizing, durability, and comfort charms placed on the outer clothes. No point in that for small clothes...unless female"
Harry pulled out the necessary coins and she smiled at him. "Come with me and we will take care of this." She lead Harry away and told him to strip off the garbage. When Harry didn't move, she just waved her wand and Harry's clothes vanished, leaving him starkers. Without batting an eye, she tossed him smallclothes, socks, shirts, a rain coat, a winter coat, slacks, and a good pair of stout dragon boots. She looked at Harry just standing there, not at all bothered by his nudity. "Well boy? Put them on so we can size them properly." Once Harry was dressed, he felt strange. He had never had clothes which actually fit. Harry looked at himself in the mirror, "Wow! That is what fitted clothes look like? I feel marvelous."
Hagrid watching the interaction, couldn't take it anymore. There is no way a child who has worn decent clothes in the past, would be able to fake this. Something was very wrong, and he feared Dumbledore was the one lying. Hagrid just left, looking very troubled.
Malkin watched as Hagrid left, "Poor man" Harry just snorted. She looked disapproving at Harry, "Hagrid is a gentle soul."
Harry growled at her, "That gentle soul is partly responsible for me being a slave these 10 years. I have little compassion for a child-abuser, even if he was a gullible fool and not the orchestrator."
Malkin shook her head, not wanting to get involved. "Well you are out of wherever that was now, so let's get this done." She then finished fitting him for his robes and the rest of his clothes. Harry was finishing packing everything in his trunk when Hagrid returned. He was carrying a large snowy owl.
Hagrid gruffly shoved the owl toward Harry, "Here Harry, she's for you." Harry didn't move. Hagrid stood there with his arm out. "Don't ja want er?"
Harry not moving to take the owl, exclaimed "What am I supposed to do with an owl? Why are you giving me it? Is there something wrong with her?"
Hagrid answered excitedly, "Owls are dead useful! She can send letters to your family…" Hagrid saw the glare in Harry's eyes at the mention of family, and pulled back his arm.
Hagrid asked timidly, "What about friends?"
Harry bitterly and quietly replied, "They never let me have any friends. Freaks don't deserve friends." At this point the owl jumped into the air and circled around before landing on Harry's shoulder.
"Hey now!" exclaimed Hagrid. The large white and brown speckled owl gently nibbled on Harry's ear while talking to Harry "burr, burr."
Harry smiled for the first time, and turned to the owl, "You are friendly. I don't know any names for now. Can I name you latter?" The owl enthusiastically bobbed her head "burr, burr".
Harry turned away from the beautiful owl and looked at Hagrid. His smile immediately vanished to be replaced with suspicion "Why?"
That look of distrust and suspicion, broke Hagrid's heart. He gruffly replied, "I'm na sure I believe you, but I jus don know. Ether way, I owe ya fer 10 birthdays. So there."
Harry looked at the bird and with tears in his eyes, "I have never been given a present. The last time I asked for one, I was beaten broken, bloody, and unconscious. Thank you."
Hagrid dashing away a tear, said gruffly, "Lets get you home." Seeing the look of concern in Harry eyes, "Don' ja worry bout tha. I will talk wi the Dursleys!"
Before they left Harry exclaimed, "Wait! My wand!"
Hagrid's eyes light up, "Oh right, never heard of a 1st-maturation needing custom before." and Hagrid led them back to the store which was open again.
Once inside, Olivander looked up and motioned them to the counter. He then placed on the counter a beautiful wand with two spiraling different colored brown woods. It also has a Red crystal, almost like a pommel stone and a smaller red crystal in the tip. It seemed to have red dust from the crystal shimmering in the junction of the two woods spiraling up to the tip. It was beautiful. As soon as Harry grabbed it, there was a bright white light, and the wand felt warm.
Olivander looked pleased with himself. "Say Lumos and try to push your magic through the wand."
Harry glared at the wand and thought light at it. He then said "Lumos" and the wand flashed before lighting up the whole shop blinding everyone.
Olivander yelled, "Push less magic, back off! Just relax!" It took a second for Harry to relax and he stopped 'pushing' causing the light to dim down to something not so blinding.
Olivander then ordered, "Say NOX!"
Harry said, "Nox" and the light went out.
Olivander smiled and rubbed his hands together, "Well that is a success. That will be 148 Galleons."
Hagrid shocked and awed by the price, "Blimey, that is more than I make in a year!"
Olivander looked at Hagrid, and apologized, "Custom wands are not cheap. Here, I will throw in an appropriate wand wrist holster, and some polish. The wand is already enchanted unbreakable. My custom wands are NOT snapped!" Harry reached for his money pouch.
Olivander exclaimed angrily, "NO no no!" He then pulled out a money transfer contract. Wrote Harry Potter on it and 148 galleons. "Press your key to this contract pushing your magic the same as when you cast Lumos."
Harry glared at Hagrid who handed over his key. Harry pressed the key against the contract pushing his magic and the contract glowed gold before returning to normal. On it he could see transfer completed. Hagrid then snatched the key back and Harry glared at him again.
They left with Harry's trunk and Hagrid pulled out an old sock which Harry also grabbed. Soon they were back at the Dursleys.
Harry dragged his trunk up to the door and knocked. Vernon yanked open the door and yelled, "Where have you been boy!"
Hagrid just slammed his hand into the door throwing it into Vernon and tossing Vernon across the room. Vernon then slammed into his chair and toppled it over. Hagrid finished opening the door, and hunched down to walk in, "Where's yur bedroom Harry?" Harry pointed to the door under the stairs. Hagrid bent down and opened the small door looking in. His expression was thunderous. The thin blood-soaked mattress, the drawings on the wall, it all made everything Harry said, abundantly real and undeniable.
Hagrid stood back up. "How many bedrooms in this house?"
Vernon said nothing, so Harry answered, "Four, my uncles and aunts, a guest bedroom for their sister, and Dudley has two."
Hagrid thought for a second, "Show me Dudley's bedrooms."
At this point Vernon had gotten back up, "Now see here."
Hagrid just reached out and grabbed a bannister on the stair railing. He then yanked it, snapping it out of the railing like it was paper. "Unless you want me to do that to yur arms and legs, we are giving Harry a bedroom now. Which bone you want me ta break firs?"
Vernon turned white and pointed upstairs. Harry led Hagrid to Dudley's second room. Hagrid looked around, "This el work." He then picked up all the toys and tossed them in Dudley's other room. It took about 10 trips but the room was clean now. With a sweep of his umbrella, there was a simple bed and dresser in the room. "Never much good at permanen transfig. That good enough for ya?"
Harry exclaimed, "it's brilliant! My own room! Thanks Hagrid!"
Hagrid looked at him. The gratitude was genuine. More reason to believe Harry's stories were true. He gruffly said, "Unpack yer things. I'm going to talk to yer relatives. Stay in here. I'm not wanting yer to hear me talk to em. Understan?" Harry nodded. He heard loud voices through the door from downstairs and some loud thumps. Then nothing.
The Dursleys didn't bother Harry for the rest of the summer. They told him to stay in his room and 'study' for school. If they didn't see him, they wouldn't bother him. Harry never had as wonderful a time as the few weeks he had, before leaving for Hogwarts.
Vernon parked outside of the train station. "Get your trunk and get out! Do not return for the 'hols. Stay at your freak school!" After Harry had removed his trunk and Hedwig, Vernon drove away, never looking back.
Harry knew something was up with the platform 9 and 3/4, so he discretely parked himself between the 9th and 10th platform and waited. Soon enough, he sees a family come over to a wall and after glancing around quickly, dash through. 'Huh' Harry thought, well lets give it a try and he goes over to the wall. Harry soon finds that if he pushed hard, the wall lets his pass through. Harry then grabbed his trunk and went through the wall.
Once through the wall, Harry saw a beautiful old-fashioned red steam train. He entered it and grabbed a cabin. Harry decided to immediately put on his uniform and was taking off his clothes when a red-headed boy came in. As he entered, he saw Harry bent over removing something from his trunk, only wearing pants. The boy yelled, "What are you doing?"
Harry glanced back, and yelled in return "You are supposed to knock before entering! Close the door! I'm undressed."
The boy slammed the door closed, and Harry more calmly said, "I'm changing into my uniform. We are supposed to do so on the train if we came from a no-mag location." Harry then finished changing into his school uniform.
Once Harry finished dressing he said, "I'm Harry, who are you?"
"I'm Ron." The two boys soon sorted themselves out, and the train started moving. After the train pulled out of the station, there was a knock on the door.
Shortly after the knock, the door was opened by another first year, evident by his unsorted robe. He was of average height and size, but with completely white, straight hair. His clothes were immaculately presented, and of a more expensive cut than the standard robes. It was obvious he came from money. The boy just stood there examining them.
After a moment, he looked at Harry and asked, "Are you Harry Potter?"
When Harry nodded, he asked further, "May I introduce myself?"
When Harry nodded again, confused, Draco said with a slight bow, "I am Heir Draco Abraxas Malfoy, heir presumptive to Baron Malfoy, and member of house Black. You may call me Draco, as I'm your cousin. Our family has been looking for you these past 10 years, but were unable to find you!"
Harry looking more confused, replied "What do you mean, our family?"
Draco calmly answered, "My mother is Baroness Narcissa Malfoy nee Black, and is a Black...your great-grandmother, Lady Dorea Potter nee Black, was also a Black. We are both part of the Black, and you should have been raised as my brother."
Ron piped up, "You're a slimy snake and the son of a death-eater! Harry is no family to you! His mother was a first-gen, or mud-blood as your type call them, how can you claim her as family?"
Draco, furious at Ron's words, yelled "Watch your mouth, blood-traitor! My aunt's husband, as well as Harry's mother were first-gens. I, myself, will be required to marry a first-gen as I'm a 4th-gen. As any fool knows, you must cleave to a first-gen every three generations or a half-blood (a 2nd gen) every other generation to avoid squibs...or lose the family magics. Lady Hekate provides the first-gens for this reason! To keep magic alive! Even if others, like the Weasels, ignore this, the Black DO NOT! As to whether I'm a Slytherin, who knows? Both my parents were Slytherin and they are great! I do know that your family are blood-traitors as your grandfather lost the Weasley noble title, because of his betrayal!"
"Lies! The Malfoy betrayed US!" yelled Ron with his face and ears flaming red in embarrassment.
"Hardly" Draco responded with a sneer, "My grandfather just reported to the 'mot, what that coward did! His proof was irrefutable!"
At this, Ron stormed out muttering something about dark, lying, snakes.
Draco turned to Harry, "Potter? May I call you Harry?", Harry nodded a third time.
Draco asked carefully, "Harry...are you happy where you live?" Harry wouldn't answer, and just looked down.
Furious, Draco exclaimed, "That bastard! Dumbledore wouldn't tell us where you were! My mother cried when she heard rumors you were living with no-mag. You, like the Malfoy, are a cadet branch of the Black, and should have been raised as a Black!"
Draco calmed back down, he then explained, "There is another Black on the train, our cousin Nymphadora Tonks. Don't call her Nymphadora unless you want her to hurt you. I made that mistake a few years ago and she paddled my back side. She ended up caned for it, but my bottom still hurt! Later she told me, she would do it again, and it was worth it. Don't test her. Anyway, she wants to meet you."
Draco led Harry down the train to another car. Along the way they ran into a plump boy and a frizzy-haired girl, both obviously first-years by their robes.
As Draco approached, he said with a slight bow, "Heir Longbottom, may I present Heir Hadrian James Potter, heir apparent to Baronet Potter, and member of house Black."
He then turned to Harry, "Heir Potter, I present to you Heir Neville Longbottom, heir apparent to Earl Longbottom." Draco then glanced at the girl and looked at Neville.
Neville slightly embarrassed said with a half-bow, "It is good to meet you Heir Potter, and you too Draco. Please call me Neville."
He turned to Hermione, "Miss Granger, May I present to you Heir Draco Abraxas Malfoy, heir presumptive to Baron Malfoy."
Then Neville turned to Draco, "May I present Hermione Granger, of new house Granger."
Draco kissed her hand bowing over it, "Charmed, please do me the courtesy of calling me Draco."
Hermione and Harry looked lost with all the formal language.
Draco sensing their discomfort, "There are rules, especially among the nobility, for greeting others. Don't worry, we will teach you them. For now, just mimic the names we have given you as they are how you should introduce yourself here. Also remember, no one may call you by your first name unless family, or you have given permission. This is a grave offense."
Hermione, catching on quickly, did a fair curtsey, "I thank you for your courtesy, and please everyone, call me Hermione."
Draco gave her a small smile and nod of approval.
Harry then figuring things out, did a rough bow, "Pleased to meet you Neville and Hermione. Please call me Harry."
Draco winced at that bow, "Don't worry Harry, we will work on it. Now that that is out of the way, what are you two doing?"
Neville looked embarrassed while Hermione replied, "We are looking for his toad."
Draco looked a bit puzzled, asked, "Have you asked a prefect to summon it?"
Hermione frowned, "No..."
Draco smiled, "Come with us. I was about to introduce Harry to another family member, and she's a Prefect. She should be able to help you."
Draco led the group to another car and knocked on the door before opening it. A young lady was wearing a nice summer dress, and filled it out with her very adult figure. She sat there with the brightest pink hair ever seen. As the door opened, she looked up from a book she was reading, and exclaimed seeing Draco "Draco! Did you find him?"
Draco replied with a sigh and a half-bow, "Heir Nymphadora Tonks, heir presumptive of house Tonks, and member of house Black, may I present Hermione Granger of new house Granger, and Heir Hadrian James Potter, heir apparent to Baronet Potter, member of house Black."
Harry quickly stepped forward and took her hand kissing it the way Draco had done with Hermione. "Charmed. Please call me Harry."
Draco smiled, "better".
Hermione then curtseyed, "Greetings, and please call me Hermione".
Tonks smiled and with a glance at Draco, "Bravo! You have been teaching them Draco."
She had risen at their introductions standing politely. Once her turn, she curtseyed, "please call me Tonks, I don't respond to the other name...unless you wish to have difficulty sitting for a while." She was grinning, but something in her eyes said, it really was more warning than joke.
Draco looked abashed and muttered, "You were caned the last time you paddled me, and couldn't sit comfortably for three days!"
Tonks replied with a flip of her hair, "WORTH IT!"
Hermione looked confused and curious at the same time. "I really don't understand. Why the old stilted language?"
Tonks sat back down, and invited with a gesture, for the group to join her. Once everyone was sitting, she answered, "You are no-mag-born, which means you come from that world. You have to understand, you are not in England anymore. Think of it as traveling to Italy, or better China. You wouldn't expect then to have the same culture as England, would you?"
Hermione thought for a moment, and then shook her head no.
"Magical Britain is similar...not the same, but similar, to Victorian England. Protocol matters here, if you don't wish to offend. There are hundreds of things we do differently from the no-mag, and the vast majority have logical reasons for them. Before you make the mistake of saying something is 'Barbaric, Primitive, Wrong'...DON'T." she said with a stern look.
Tonks sternly continued, "Ask a friend, or a prefect like me, why something is done before making any comment." Noticing the negative emotions flying across Hermione's face she looked at her, "Hermione...you need to understand you have moved to another country. Don't assume anything, about anything. ASK. There are many pitfalls which could get you embarrassed, or worse disciplined, for no reason other than your ignorance and arrogance."
Hermione frowned, "That is like the fourth time someone mentioned discipline, like paddling, or caning. Do they really beat children here?"
Tonks sighed, "This isn't no-mag England. Children are expected to comport themselves with honor and courtesy. Failure is punished. Most people do not like being paddled, or worse caned, and tend to avoid it. Ergo, it works! Even a severe caning heals fairly quick, without lasting damage...other than an aversion to repeating the experience."
Tonks shifted, "At school, only a senior family member, your betrothed, or your head of house can paddle you. Anyone else who wishes you disciplined that severely, will petition someone with 'strap rights' over you, and they will be the final arbiter of what happens to your bottom. Lesser punishments would not require permission, and would be loss of privileges, lines, detention, and house points...though only Gryffindor care about the points since Snape has turned them into a mockery."
Hermione looked angry, and was about to speak up.
Tonks with a stern look on her face, raised her hand to stop Hermione and ordered, "DON'T young lady! I have already warned you about judgements and the consequences to your pert bottom. Are you really that hard-headed? Do you have difficulty understanding my explanations, or are you one who enjoys her bottom smacked?"
Draco whispered quickly in Hermione's ear "Curtsey and apologize now."
"I'm sorry Tonks, I am having trouble processing it all." apologized Hermione with a rough curtsey.
Again, Tonks sighed, "I do understand your concerns as I was half no-mag-raised. My father was a first-gen and wanted me comfortable in the no-mag world. However, my mother being a Black, made sure I knew how to comport myself properly in this one...and I guarantee my bottom did not enjoy failing any of those lessons."
Shifting slightly Tonks continued, "That being said, do not make the mistake of believing my mother did not love me, just because her discipline was painful. Now that I'm an adult, I understand the necessity. I can honestly say my children will feel my hairbrush many times before they reach Hogwarts...to avoid my cane if they embarrass the family while they are there."
Tonks with a smirk turned to Neville, "Well, have we embarrassed you enough Heir Longbottom, with all this talk of young ladies getting their delicious bottoms smacked?"
Draco groaned, "Sorry...she loves embarrassing people. Just go with it as if you resist, she will get more and more ribald until you break...please don't try."
Neville, with a completely red face, "Um, no...that's fine. My gran was more than generous with her hairbrush. I can only sympathize."
Draco, then changed the subject, "Hey, that's right! You and Harry are godbrothers! Your mother was his godmother, and his was yours!"
Draco looked at Neville trying to tell him something, and jerked his head toward Harry.
Neville getting the message after a moment, stepped forward with his handout, "Greetings godbrother!"
Harry just looked lost, and Hermione for some reason, gave him a push.
Harry stumbled forward, and timidly took Neville's hand, "Are we really brothers?"
Draco responded, "In family and magic if not in blood, you are."
Harry just pulled Neville in for a crushing hug with tears pouring from his eyes. Neville at first surprised, soon joined the hug, squeezing back. He had missed having family too.
With tears forming in his own eyes, at seeing the happiness in both boys, Draco exclaimed, "What am I, a bloody house elf? I'm your brother too!"
Harry glanced over, but Neville just pulled Draco into the hug joining them.
Harry started sobbing, as he couldn't believe he has found family who wanted him.
Tonks, with tears in her own eyes at the heart wrenching sobs from Harry, noticed Hermione looking longingly at Harry. There was desperation, and something else in Hermione's eyes. Tonks caught Hermione's eyes and said in all seriousness "He needs friends too."
Hermione launched herself forward and grabbed the back of Harry in a great Hug, "I will be your friend, Harry!" she exclaimed.
The three boys had started settling down, but now glanced at Hermione, bear-hugging the back of Harry. Harry feeling Hermione hug his back, turned and looked at her.
Hermione let go and took a step back. She was embarrassed, as she had never hugged an effective stranger before. And a boy! Seeing the three look at her, she felt a frisson of fear and asked timidly, "Do you want to be my friend, Harry?"
Harry turned completely to face Hermione, shyly replied "I would like that very much. I have never had a friend before. They would always leave me after a few days."
Hermione launched herself onto Harry again with another fierce hug, vowing "I will always be your friend and never abandon you. I swear it!"
Tonks just smiled as she saw the magic stir with the oath. Thinking to herself, 'She really meant that. Something is going on here. Either way, this will be fun.'
After everyone had calmed down, the sweets lady appeared. Harry and Hermione were then introduced to wizarding candy and cake. After a time eating, Hogwarts houses came up.
Draco explained "I am ambitious like my father, so will likely be in Slytherin. Harry, I would love my brother to join me there. It would be so much fun!"
Tonks bopped him on the head, "Idiot! He's the boy-who-lived! There are death-eater children in that house who would happily kill him. He needs to go somewhere else!"
Draco responded angrily, "Well, he can't go to Gryffindor! They're all brain-dead Dumbledore supporters who don't care that bastard kidnapped Harry and placed him with those animals!"
Hermione, was obviously offended, "Dumbledore is a great man!"
Draco asked cuttingly, "Why, because books say so? Where did those books say Harry lived?"
Hermione described how Harry lived with his remote family in a castle being educated on advanced magic, and Draco turned to Harry.
Draco then asked Harry, "Any of that true?"
Harry, quietly whispered "No...I live with my aunt, uncle, and cousin. They don't like me and REALLY hate freakish things…like magic. I didn't know I was a wizard until this year. You see my parents were drunk and died, driving into a lamp post, forcing them to take me in."
Draco not believing what he heard, exclaimed, "Unbelievable! Your parents died fighting the dark lord, before he vanished after trying to kill you. You were then taken from your godfather by Dumbledore and we've not seen you since! Your godfather was placed in Azkaban, without even getting a trial, to keep him away from you! Anyway, you shouldn't go to Gryffindor."
Tonks replied, "Hufflepuff. Our Head is not a Dumbledore supporter, and really backs us. Don't get me wrong, if you make it necessary, she will paddle you something fierce, but she is always fair and protects us from Snape."
Seeing Hermione's distress, Tonks warned "Remember, only your head can paddle you...until you are betrothed, since you are a first-gen and don't have a magical guardian. You don't want Slytherin since Snape can be viscous, especially to first-gens, and McGonagall isn't much better. You may also have trouble with Ravenclaw as Flitwick listens to his Prefects about punishment, and we have heard there is significant bullying in that house."
Tonks looked at Hermione, "You being a first-gen, would do better in Hufflepuff too. We protect our own, and unlike the other houses, we hate bullying, or anyone Lording over anyone else! In the other houses first-gens are treated as second-class citizens, and yes, that means you will be believed less, and punished more. In our house, we will give you classes on comportment, dance, and history so you can understand, and quickly fit-in our society. The school used to have these classes, but Dumbledore vanished them. It's one reason Sprout dislikes him so much. We are about loyalty and hard work. We support and tutor each other. You look like a bookish type, if you tutor other puffs, helping them with their schoolwork, you will make friends fast."
Looking confused, Harry asked "This is not the first time I have heard of these things. Who is the boy-who-lived? A dark lord? My godfather is in prison? What?"
While Hermione also looked very curious, Draco, Neville, and Tonks just looked at each other.
Draco sighed and said, "This will take a while."
Hermione then smirked, "Well, we have 4 hours until we get to Hogwarts, so start talking!"
Later that night after the sorting:
Dumbledore was furious! He realized the Blacks got to Harry despite sending Mr. Weasley to him. This was obvious when Harry joined Nymphadora, a bushy haired first-gen, and Longbottom in Hufflepuff. He obviously knew them as he sat with Longbottom and did some hand slapping thing with the first-gen before sitting down on her right...