AN- Harry has an "encounter" with Malfoy in this chapter.
H/H FOREVER!
Bye!
PS: I MEAN to spell "Anywho" that way...
PPS: Everyone should look up the "Switchblade Kittens" and get their song "Ode to Harry Potter"!
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The boy had a pale pointed face with an arrogant look to it and the shape of his mouth had a sort of sneer to it even though he wasn't sneering at the moment. His hair was perfectly straight and parted right down the middle. It hung halfway past his ears and was so pale a blond that it seemed almost white next to the black robes he wore.
Harry felt an instant dislike of this boy but reminded himself not to judge a sword by its sheath, a saying he had picked up from Mr. Osakawa. Harry's sensei had often used the saying in reference to Harry himself.
After a quick glance at Harry the boy dismissed him as unimportant and looked to Madame Malkin.
' Father said to remind you to use your best material this time as there was a stain on the last set of robes you made for me. He also said to remind you that he can make life difficult for you should you fail to meet the Malfoy standards.' He said in a bored tone.
He then turned and walked out a door in the side of the room that Harry assumed would open into the alley by the store. However the boy shouted out " Gringotts!" as he passed through and Harry caught a glimpse of the main foyer through the doorway before it closed behind the boy and disappeared (AN- don't worry Malfoy haters. I'm not done with him yet.).
Taken aback at first Harry reminded himself that "Nothing is as it seems." when dealing in magic. Thinking again about the boy, he realized that Madame Malkin was muttering to herself as she went about the room picking things up from the measurements she had just finished with. Harry thought he caught the words "Damn Malfoys think they're so..." but he couldn't make out more than that. Harry decided that his first impression of the boy might have been right after all. As well as being arrogant the boy, Malfoy, Harry reminded himself, was also too dim to make a more subtle threat. That or he had reason to be so confidant. And from the looks of Madame Malkin I'd guess that the latter is true.
' Uh. Excuse me Madame Malkin? I know this will sound like a silly question but I was wondering if you could explain that door to me?' Harry asked pointing at the wall where the door had been. It was a poor attempt at getting her mind off the Malfoys but Harry didn't like to see someone as seemingly kind as Madame Malkin upset by some little pest that needed to be taken down a notch.
For a moment Madame Malkin glared at the wall as though it was the cause of her problems with the Malfoys. Then she shook her head, sighed and smiled at Harry.
' It's not silly. I keep forgetting that you grew up with muggles though.' she replied.
' Does EVERYONE know so much about me?' Harry groaned exaggeratedly (AN- I know it's not a word...).
Madame Malkin couldn't help but chuckle at this as she answered. ' Actually most people don't know quite so much, but as Hagrid and I are acquaintances I've learned as much about your life as Hagrid almost. As for the door... Well it's difficult to explain to someone that has no experience with magic. The door belongs to the Malfoys and follows them where ever they are. it has a way of connecting any too rooms that are connected to the floo powder network. Of course to understand that I'd have to explain floo powder and so on so you can see how the best way to learn is experience in this case.' Having accomplished what he was aiming for, namely getting her concentration off the Malfoys, Harry simply nodded his agreement to her last statement and she started her measurements without a word.
Never having had his measurements taken Harry wasn't sure what he was expected to do and eventually the two of them were falling over with laughter as Harry almost fell over several times while trying to change positions for Madame Malkin to work. All in all Harry had quite a good time just having his measurements taken and was grinning like an idiot by the time Madame Malkin was done.
' Your robes should be ready in just a few hours if you'd like to go get the rest of your supplies with Hagrid and then come back for them?' Madame Malkin said. She was still grinning at Harry's previous antics.
' Did I hear my name?' Boomed Hagrid as he came into the shop. ' So, yeh got yer robes yet Harry? No, of course you don't they won't be done quite yet' he said answering his own question.
' How are you Hagrid?' Madame Malkin asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes. ' I heard you went down to Harry's vault at Gringotts? Did you enjoy the ride? Harry said he had fun.'
' Ughh. Don' remind me.' Hagrid groaned. ' But what are yeh doin' here? Yer almost never in your shop. You're usually travelling around the world and bringing back new materials and fashions.'
' Well I can only take so much traveling at a time and since Harry here was supposed to be starting at Hogwarts this year I thought that I'd come back and make sure that his robes were properly made.' This answer seemed to satisfy Hagrid but it only served to further embarrass Harry.
' Well Hagrid as I was just suggesting to Harry, why don't you take him to get the rest of his supplies while I work on his robes then when you're done you can come back here to pick them up?'
' That sounds like a good idea. What d'yeh say teh that Harry?'
' It's alright with me.'
' Then lets git goin'.' Hagrid said and they left for Flourish and Blotts to get Harry's books.
' Heh heh. Here's one yeh might like to try out on Dudley.' Hagrid said with a book called Curses and Counter-Curses by Vindictus Viridian.
Harry just chuckled a bit as Hagrid put the book down. He didn't really want revenge. As far as he was concerned there was no point and it wouldn't make up for anything Dudley had done to Harry unless Dudley actually felt sorry for the way he had treated Harry. Once Harry had all his books they left to pick up his other school supplies at a shop for "General Wizarding Equipment".
Then they at last went to get Harry's wand. Harry had been waiting for this all day. Finally he would be able to do magic himself, or at least once he knew some he would but he figured he'd be able to learn something from his books before school started.
When they entered, for once Harry felt that the building was the same size inside, as it appeared to be outside. It had the atmosphere of a library. Meaning that Harry didn't ask the cascade of questions that he thought of upon entering the shop. It just felt like speaking or disturbing the silence would be offensive to everyone there. Except that Hagrid was the only other person there. Harry was about to ask Hagrid where the owner was when....
' Good afternoon.' a soft voice said right behind Harry.
The pale old man that was standing there made it feel even more like a library with his half-moon spectacles and penetrating look. He was only up to Harry's shoulder but he had a way of dominating the room and the already small room seemed to shrink around Harry and he wondered if maybe it was.
' Ah yes. Yes, I thought I'd be seeing you soon.' Said the man. ' Harry Potter.' It wasn't a question. (AN- the wands will be slightly different than in the books.)' You have your mothers eyes. I remember her well. Her first wand was ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, willow. Nice for charm work. Your father's though, was mahogany. Twelve inches. Pliable. Excellent for transfiguration. My name is Mr. Ollivander.'
By the end of this Harry and him were almost nose to nose although Mr. Ollivander was much shorter.
' And that would be where...' Mr. Ollivander said touching Harry's scar with a long finger. ' I'm sorry to say that I sold the wand that did it. Thirteen and a half inches. Yew. Well if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do... Ah well. It is in the past.'
Then, to Harry's relief, Mr. Ollivander saw Hagrid as he shook his head at having been the one to sell THAT particular wand.
' Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to see you again. Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy wasn't it?'
' It was sir.' Hagrid answered.
' It was a fine wand. They broke it in half when you were expelled though I suppose?'
' They did but I've still got the pieces.' Hagrid said brightly.
Mr. Ollivander's only response was to chuckle softly and turn back to Harry. ' Well lets get to work. It always takes the longest to find your first wand. Well, now - Mr Potter Let me see.' He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. ' Which is your wand arm?'
' Er - well, I'm right-handed,' said Harry
' Hold out your arm. That's it.' he measured Harry from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow; shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his bead. As he measured, he said, 'Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand.'
Harry suddenly realised that the tape measure, which was measuring between his nostrils, was doing this on its own. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves taking down boxes.
' That will do.' he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor ' Right then, Mr Potter Try this one. ' Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave.
Harry took the wand and waved it around a bit. To his surprise, a few small sparks flew out of the end, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once. After that Harry started to lose track of how many wands he tried some did nothing others made sparks of different colours but Mr. Ollivander quickly snatched each one from his hand. Harry would have apologized for being such a difficult customer if it hadn't seemed that the more difficult it was to find the right wand the more Mr. Ollivander seemed to enjoy what he did.
' Hmm, something odd then. Only a few wands like this have been useful. Ironwood and phoenix feather. Eleven inches. Stiff but flexible. Try it.'
Then moment Harry touched the wand he knew it was the one. A warmth seemed to spread from his fingers all the way up his arm. As he flick the end of the wand at the wall. Bright silver and blue sparks shot out of the end. where ever they hit something they turned into a picture of the sparks. A line of blue and silver sparks was painted across the floor and up the wall.
' Oh very well done! Well done indeed!' Mr. Ollivander cried out. ' Curious. You know I remember every single wand I've sold and the phoenix that gave that feather gave just one other. Odd that this would be your wand when it's brother is the one that gave you that scar.... Yes, very odd indeed.'
After they'd paid for the wand, as Hagrid and Harry left, Harry finally asked the question he had wanted to know since he entered the shop.
' Umm... Mr. Ollivander sir? I was wondering if you could tell me how you know how powerful a wand is?'
' Many people have asked that when they get their first wand. The wand is not powerful at all. It is the wizard or witch themselves that have the power.'
Puzzled Harry asked ' But, then why do we need wands?'
For once Mr. Ollivander actually looked surprised at the question. ' The wand, Harry is merely a tool. It is used to focus the magical energy that a person that is not a muggle has.'
Instead of clearing things up Harry became even more confused. Hagrid had explained apparation and that you didn't need a wand to do it. You were simply able to transport yourself to where ever you were headed. Harry asked about this as well.
' Well I can only answer that by saying that perhaps there are other ways of focusing magical energy.' was Mr. Ollivander's reply, and with that Harry and Hagrid left to pick up Harry's robes and then his animal that Hagrid had promised.
' Very interesting indeed.' Mr. Ollivander said to himself after Harry was gone. ' The only other wizards to ever ask me those other questions were Dumbledore and... Merlin.'
Harry and Hagrid picked up the robes then Hagrid suggested that Harry look around a while by himself in Eylops before making a decision on an animal. So Harry was walking around in the musty store when he heard a familiar voice. It was the Malfoy boy. (AN- I'm a poet and didn't know it! ^_^')
' You call THAT a quality owl?! Get real! Humph! I suppose it'll have to do as it's the best you've got.'
The voice was in the isle next to the one Harry was in. He heard the lady at the desk muttering something and counting out change. Then he heard an owl hooting in agitation as footsteps went towards the door.
Harry got to the end of the isle and stepped out in front of the boy to see him sneering and trying to grab an owl out of it's cage while he walked. He didn't look up until he walked right into Harry and almost fell over. Harry didn't budge and inch.
' Watch where you're going you oaf!' the boy screamed at Harry.
Harry's face was completely devoid of emotion as he asked ' What're you doing to that owl?'
' None of your f***ing business!'
' I don't think it likes you. I don't blame it.' Harry calmly said in return.
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AN- So this is how you write a cliff-hanger.
H/H FOREVER!
Bye!