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Harry Potter (Modified) - Book 1 by Shades of Grey
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Harry Potter (Modified) - Book 1

Shades of Grey

AN- Okay I don't know what you guys think but I think that last chapter kinda sucked. I wasn't really getting into the story like I normally do. But anywho, in this chapter Harry is probably going to meet Hermione and Ron. I guess we won't know until I type it...

Bye

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Whenever Harry DID leave the Leaky Cauldron he learned to Hid his scar and blend in with the other wizards so as not to attract attention to himself. It never worked completely but he was at least able to move about Diagon Alley (AN Say it fast-diagonally) without attracting a mob. His glasses did much to hid Harry since, because they were mirror plated, no one was able to see the bright green of his eyes which had become almost as trademark for Harry as his scar.

During his stay at the Leaky Cauldron Harry had the best time of his life. Although he still didn't feel like he really fit in he was learning a lot from his schoolbooks. He had found himself playing with his wand wanting to try out a spell or two from his books more than once. Of all of his school supplies Harry's wand was what interested him most and he was almost always holding it or constantly checking to make sure it was still in his pocket.

Truthfully Harry really didn't fit in yet but Tom always went out of his way, in his spare time, to tell Harry all about the wizarding world. Eventually Harry felt more at home in the wizarding world, if not the Leaky Cauldron, than he ever had at the Dursleys. In fact Harry was beginning to think that his idea of what a "home" was supposed to be like was wrong. Home at his Uncle's house had never been this much fun!

On the last day before he was to leave for the train station Harry was becoming quite hyper and wanted to go outside of the pub but it was packed like a sardine can. Harry knew at once that he didn't want to try and deal with a crowd that size all trying to get his autograph at once, but he was still restless. In an attempt to calm down Harry started practicing his meditation. Once he calmed down he realized that he DIDN'T have to stay in his room to avoid the crowd.

There were two windows in his room one of which faced the alley in between Gringotts and the Leaky Cauldron. There was a drainpipe right across from his window to.

Harry made his decision at once. He opened the window, judged the distance carefully and jumped. Unfortunately the pipe was wet and slipped out of Harry's grasp and Harry fell. The fall would have been two stories, but acting quickly Harry did the splits, pushing his feet against both walls. Although this slowed him considerably he didn't stop falling. About six feet from the ground Harry brought his legs back underneath him and dropped, landing on his feet with as little noise as possible.

For a moment Harry just stood there shaking his head at his stupidity. He should have realized the pipe was wet before his jumped. It would have been an embarrassing way to die. The boy that "defeated You-Know-Who" killed by a slippery pipe.

After calming down after the scare Harry made sure his hair was covering his scar and that his glasses were covering his eyes and walked out of the alley as if it was a normal place to have been. It worked perfectly. No one even glanced at him.

Now that Harry was free of the Leaky Cauldron he realized that there was one place he hadn't visited since the day he arrived, Gringotts. He decided that the best way to pass the day would be to ask the goblins at Gringotts about his ability to see magical reactions. Supposedly it would be useful in charms lessons. How it would be useful Harry had no idea.

When Harry entered the bank it was packed. He saw families in every line but one family in particular stood out with it's flaming red hair. It was also the biggest group there. Harry was about to leave but when he turned to go there was a goblin standing right in front of him.

' Harry Potter I presume? I am Griphook. You were told about me yes?' The short and slightly portly goblin said.

' Shhhhh! Not so loud!' Harry said glancing around to see if anyone had noticed. Fortunately no one was looking in their direction except for a girl about Harry's age with bushy brown hair and cinnamon eyes, but she blushed and quickly looked away when she saw Harry looking her way.

' Yes I know you. Or rather I know who you are. I was told that you could tell me about seeing magical reactions?' Griphook nodded. ' Well I was wondering if you might explain it to me. If you have the time, that is. It is kinda busy...'

' Yes, yes. Of course. I would rather enjoy explaining it. I have always been interested in any humans with the ability to see reactions in magic. However, I don't think this would be a good place for us to talk. Follow me.' And with that Griphook led Harry through a door behind the tellers.

Harry spent most of the rest of his last day at Diagon Alley learning about his ability. Apparently there wasn't much to learn about it except for its history, which Harry forgot pretty much right away, and what different colours and shades meant. Unfortunately for Harry Griphook told him it probably wouldn't be of any use to him until his fourth or fifth year at Hogwarts. It was kind of disappointing to Harry who had hoped to have a bit of an advantage to make up for his lack of experience.

All in all Harry enjoyed talking with Griphook and didn't leave for hours when he did leave he decided to simply head back to the Leaky Cauldron and pack in order to be ready for the next day, and to practice his martial arts before bed. Practicing usually tired him out so this way he figured that he might be able to fall asleep before he had to actually get up the next day.

As it was Harry still couldn't sleep until one o'clock in the morning and had terrible dreams once he did.

Someone pounding on his door waked Harry up early the next morning. With bleary eyes Harry fumbled around until he found his glasses on his night table. He slipped them on hiding his eyes from the morning sun and opened the door.

' About time yeh got up Harry! The train leaves in a few hours and we've still gotta get you packed up and to the station.' Hagrid said.

' ...I'm already packed...'

' Yeh are? Well I'll be. Sorry about that I guess you didn't need to get up quite yet then...' Hagrid answered looking quite sheepish.

' Oh well I'm up now. I might as well double check everything.' Harry mumbled and went to have a shower and get dressed.

After Harry had dressed, he and Hagrid double-checked everything and by the time they were done Hagrid announced that it was time for them to leave.

' Goodbye Tom and thanks for letting me stay here.' Harry said as he and Hagrid went out the door on their way to the bus stop.

' Oh it was no trouble at all. In fact it really did wonders for my business for people to hear that Harry Potter was staying here at the Leaky Cauldron. We'll all miss you though. That's for sure.'

' Well thanx all the same. I had a wonderful time and I really owe you for helping me have some privacy!' Harry chuckled along with Hagrid.

' Heh heh. Well it's only to be expected yeh know Harry. Not only are YOU famous but yer parents were much loved by all that knew them and for their son to be starting his first year in the wizarding world... well people are happy for yeh!'

Harry just smiled a little and then they left for the bus stop. Once they got there Hagrid put down Harry's trunk.

' Well this is where we part ways but I'll see yeh soon once yeh get to Hogwarts, Harry.' he said and turned to leave.

' But I thought that you were coming with me? At least to the station?' Harry asked bewildered.

' Uh well I'd surely like to but... well Dumbledore needs me at Hogwarts before all the students arrive. I'll wait till the bus gets here and help yeh with yer trunk but then yer on yer own. Nothing to worry about. Yeh got yer Hogwarts letter and all yer things.'

' Ok then. It's really not a problem I was just confused is all. If you need to be going then don't worry about me. I can manage.'

' Yeh sure? Yer trunk is awful heavy for someone yer size...' but Hagrid stopped as Harry bent over and picked up his trunk with just a little strain. ' Heh heh. Oh right. I keep forgettin' "Things are not always what they seem." especially with yeh Harry. Well I suppose if yer sure yeh kin handle it on yer own, then I'd best be going.'

' See you in a while then Hagrid.'

' At Hogwarts then Harry!' Hagrid called as he walked away down the street.

' How is he going to get to Hogwarts before me anyway?' Harry wondered aloud as the bus pulled up and the driver got out to open a door in the side for Harry's trunk.

Except for a bit of trouble with Hedwig on the bus, Harry's ride to the station was uneventful compared to the last few days. Harry got his trunk onto a trolley and put Hedwig's cage on top and wheeled everything into the station. It was half past ten so Harry had plenty of time to find his platform. He pulled out his letter and found out that his platform was number 9 3/4. Harry looked at the signs for the platforms and saw that he was at number 8. He turned right and walked to number... ten? Harry looked back at number nine, and then looked in between nine and ten, but he couldn't find number 9 3/4 anywhere. He couldn't even see how another platform would fit in between nine and ten.

Harry was starting to panic. The train would leave in fifteen minutes with or without him and he had no idea where the platform was! Harry took a breath and calmed down. Obviously platform 9 3/4 was for wizards only so that would be why there was no sign of it. It must be hidden like the Leaky Cauldron. Unfortunately Hagrid wasn't around this time to point it out to Harry.

Harry decided to try and find some other wizards that might know how to get to 9 3/4. If he approached a muggle about it by mistake the worst that could happen would be for him to be embarrassed. He started looking around for anyone that might be a wizard. He looked for people in robes, with owls or any other wizardly thing that might give them away.

However, when he did find a large group of wizards it was not by any of these clues that Harry picked them out. They all had bright red hair.

Upon closer inspection he noticed that one of the boys in the family was fiddling with a stick, which Harry correctly assumed to be his wand.

' George! Put that away! We're not on the platform yet!' hissed the boys mother just loud enough for Harry to hear.

' Oh honestly mother. Even if a muggle DID notice do you really think they'd assume it is what it REALLY is? And anyway I'm Fred not George! Can't you even tell us apart?' Gred replied... or was it Feorge?

The woman sighed and shook her head hiding a smile. ' You go first Percy you're oldest.'

The oldest looking boy separated from the group and started walking towards the ticket barrier in between the two platforms. Harry watched him closely to see what he did but right before "Percy" reached the barrier a group of tourists walked in front of Harry and when Harry could see the barrier again Percy was gone. Luckily the twins, Gred and Feorge were already on their way and this time Harry's line of sight would be clear, but when they reached the barrier they simply vanished and Harry hadn't seen what they had done.

With a sigh Harry gave up on getting to the platform with out talking to the group. He just hoped, as he walked towards them, that they wouldn't see his scar.

' Umm... Excuse me m'am....' Harry started.

' Yes? Oh! Is it your first time at Hogwarts dear?' the plump woman asked as she turned around.

At first Harry was taken aback. How had she known? Then he realized that most muggles didn't carry white owls with green eyes around with them.

' Yes.' Harry said. ' However I don't know how to get onto the platform.'

She smiled kindly and said ' Not to worry dear. All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier three quarters of the way between nine and ten. Don't stop and don't worry that you'll crash into it. Go on now, before Ron she said indicating a boy of about Harry's age but almost a foot taller with the same red hair as the rest of his family.

Harry nodded. ' Ok.' he said and started walking.

When Harry was passing through the barrier there were tiny sparkles of bright white light wherever Harry was touching the barrier. Or rather the illusion of a barrier. Harry supposed that it was the magic of the illusion reaction to his own magic and letting him pass through that he was seeing. The lights kind of tickled wherever they touched him.

On the other side of the barrier there was a red steam engine waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign over the platform said "Hogwarts Express, eleven o' clock." Harry allowed himself a small smile. He was on his way to a place where he could learn magic. He was prepared to do anything to learn magic. Even if the people were like the Dursleys he wasn't about to leave. The woman on the other side had surprised him. If it had been the Dursleys they probably would have shouted at him for bothering them or ignored him completely. Harry was still not used to the fact that most people were nothing like the Dursleys.

At least Harry could be sure that he was in the right place. All over the place there were cats of EVERY colour and Harry could see many people with owls. All of which seemed to be going crazy hooting and flapping their wings in their cages. In fact Harry's own Hedwig and a few of the owls closest to Harry were the only calm owls. Harry wondered if this was one of Hedwig's special abilities. He didn't have long to wonder though as more people were coming through the barrier near him, though he didn't see anymore red heads yet.

Harry pushed his cart down the platform towards the end of the train hoping there would be a compartment near the back that was empty. The last few compartments were empty so Harry choose the very last one and carried Hedwig in. Then he came out for his trunk.

As he was bending over to pick it up he heard one of the twins he'd followed through shout out to him.

' Oi there! Ya want a hand with that?' Fred (or George) asked as he trotted up to Harry.

' No thanks I've got it.' Harry answered and grabbed one handle and heaved it over his shoulder to carry the trunk on his back. ' Thanks anyway.' Harry said to the impressed twins.

Harry carried the trunk into his compartment and set it in the corner.

' Looks like you're not as scrawny as you appear.' said George (or Fred) as Harry wiped some sweat from his forehead. The trunk hadn't been very heavy, at least not to Harry, but the station was rather warm today.

In perfect unison the twins did a double take at Harry's scar and said 'Oi, what's that?'

' Blimey, are you-?' said Fred (or George).

' He is,' said the other twin. ' aren't you?'

' What?'

' Harry Potter!' the twins said, once more in unison.

' Oh, him.' said Harry. ' I mean, yes, I am.'

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AN- Copying and pasting, copying and pasting, copying and pasting…. This gets boring after a while…

H/H FOREVER!

Bye!