Unofficial Portkey Archive

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, it belongs to JK Rowling, etc, etc. Anyone who thinks I do own Harry Potter is an idiot.

A/N: Okay, I've actually revised this chapter a little. You might want to re-read the last part (the bit when Hagrid finds Harry again). The reason for this is because I feel I didn't really explain Harry's actions well enough. When I read it back, it just wasn't clear, and I also found several spelling mistakes, which I've corrected as well.

Harry didn't get much sleep.

He'd been awake for almost an hour when Hagrid gave a grunt and rolled over.

'Alright Harry?'

'Fine,' Harry replied. 'When do we leave?'

Hagrid gave another grunt as he hauled himself up. 'Right away, I s'pose.'

Harry stood up expectantly.

'Finish those sausages,' Hagrid said with a gesture. 'No sense wasting them. Or leaving them for that cousin of yers.'

Harry almost smiled as he picked up the remaining sausages - cold now, but still good.

They left the hut behind as Hagrid led Harry to the boat the Dursleys used to reach the island.

'We'll take this back.'

Harry wondered how Hagrid had got to the island last night (there was no other boat), but he didn't ask. He just watched as Hagrid climbed in and then followed.

Hagrid held up his umbrella. 'Don't tell anyone. I'm not s'posed to use magic. Strictly speaking.' He tapped the umbrella against the side of the boat and they began to move.

An owl came fluttering down onto the bow of the boat halfway to the shore. It dropped a newspaper and held out a leg.

Harry watched curiously as Hagrid pulled a few odd looking coins from the pocket of his coat and seemingly pay the tiny owl. After the owl flew away, Hagrid picked up the paper and glanced at the silent Harry, as if waiting for the questions to start. When Harry said nothing, he opened the paper and began to read.

They travelled in silence to the harbour, then all the way to the train station that would take them to London. Hagrid seemed to grow more uncomfortable with each passing moment. Finally, he became so uncomfortable he began to fill the silence.

'We're going to the Leaky Cauldron first. It's a pub that will take us to Diagon Alley.'

When Harry made no comment, Hagrid went on doggedly.

'Diagon Alley is the best place to shop for magical goods, and it also has the only bank wizard kind has - Gringotts. We'll go there next and get yer money from yer parents vault.'

My parent's vault? My parent's money? My money?

So much was happening, it was hard to take it all in, but Harry had a quick mind and was determined to remember it all. He'd spent the majority of his time at Privet Drive locked in his cupboard studying books from the library. After all, what else was he to do? After having spent so much time with his nose in a book, it became easy for him to retain information.

Hagrid continued to chatter all the way to the Leaky Cauldron. He talked about all sorts - Goblins, Dragons, the Houses at Hogwarts (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff), his game keeping duties and his dog Fang. He even went so far as to mention a secret mission to Gringotts to pick up a package for the Headmaster of Hogwarts - a man named Dumbledore.

When they finally reached the Leaky Cauldron, Harry found himself standing outside a very non-descript pub.

Hagrid ushered him inside. He shared a quick greeting with the bartender, but when he mentioned Harry, the entire pub became instantly silent.

'Dear lord,' Harry heard someone whisper, 'it's Harry Potter.'

His name was repeated several times in open astonishment.

The bartender (Tom, Harry remembered that was what Hagrid had called him) rushed forward to take Harry's hand and vigorously shake it. Harry stiffened at the unwelcome contact and snatched his hand back. Tom didn't seem to notice as he rambled on about how honoured he was.

Soon he was surrounded, being struck on the back good naturedly, having his hand seized over and over again. One old woman even stooped to kiss his forehead. No one seemed to notice that his body had frozen. Nor did they notice how uncomfortable he looked.

Then the crowd seemed to break and another figure approached, this one a turbaned young wizard. He smiled nervously at Harry and stammered an introduction. When he offered his hand and Harry didn't take it, an odd expression crossed his face, but it was gone before Harry could recognise it.

Hagrid came to the rescue. 'We'd best be off. Lots to do.' Before anyone could object, Hagrid propelled Harry across the room and out the back door. 'Sorry 'bout that,' he apologised. 'They're just happy to see yeh. Yer quite famous, yeh know.'

Hagrid again waited hopefully for a response. When he didn't get one, he sighed, and said, 'I won't be mad if yeh ask questions. I'm sure yeh must have many.'

Eventually, Harry shrugged.

'Harry,' Hagrid said patiently, 'I'm not them Dursleys. Maybe they don't like yeh talking, but here in the wizarding world, well, we want yeh to speak. We need it. Yeh don't have to be afraid. Yeh can't go yer entire life just nodding and shrugging.'

Hagrid waited.

'I know,' Harry said.

'Then speak, please.'

'Why do you care if I talk or not?'

Hagrid regarded him closely, clearly at a loss for words. When he regained his wits, he said, 'I knew yer parents very well. It may seem strange to you, but I held yeh when yeh was just a baby, and I care about yeh a great deal Harry.'

'Oh,' was all Harry said in response.

Hagrid closed his eyes, clearly pained over Harry's lacklustre reply.

'Well, I guess we should get going,' he finally spoke.

Harry nodded instinctively. Hagrid touched his umbrella to one of the bricks on the wall at the back of the yard. The wall gave way to reveal Diagon Alley in all its wondrous glory. Harry followed Hagrid down the street, taking it all in, but also mulling over the giants earlier heartfelt words.

Was it truly possible that someone actually cared about him? The thought awoke strange, never before felt feelings in Harry, which he didn't know how to explain or handle. The idea that someone could care for him was so foreign that he just didn't know the rational response. Did he say thank you?

Evan as Harry was puzzling over this new development; his eyes were absorbing all the wonder and magic of Diagon Alley.

There was a shop for Cauldrons and a pet shop called Eeylops Owl Emporium. Then what looked like a shop selling broomsticks, with several boys outside who looked extremely excited by the fact. It seemed like Diagon Alley had a shop for everything, no matter how stupid it might seem to anyone not a wizard or witch.

Hagrid led him all the way to Gringotts. Outside, Harry got his first look at a real live Goblin. Inside, he found a lot more, some shorter than others, some rounder, but all unmistakably Goblins.

As Hagrid talked with one of the Goblins, Harry scanned the large marble room. It was simply amazing, like a set form a fantasy movie - but none of this was fake.

Another Goblin was summoned to escort them to their destination. First they called at Harry's vault. Hagrid explained all about the foreign money, and Harry was gob smacked by the sheer amount he was seemingly worth. Could he really be this well off?

After retrieving enough money, the Goblin took them to the next, and final, vault. Hagrid picked up a simple looking package and then they made their way back to the surface. Harry didn't say anything, but it didn't take a genius to figure out that package was the secret mission Hagrid had alluded to before.

When they emerged back onto Diagon Alley, Hagrid said, 'phew, I hate those Gringotts carts. Mind if I get a drink at the Leaky Cauldron while you pick up yer robes?'

'Sure,' Harry said.

'Madam Malkin's is right there,' Hagrid replied with relief, pointing across the street.

Harry entered the shop alone.

A short witch Harry assumed was Madam Malkin accosted him before he even closed the door.

'Hogwarts dear?'

Harry nodded.

'Follow me.'

She escorted him to the back of the store, were another boy was being fitted. She went to help him on the adjacent stool, but Harry beat her to it and climbed up. He glanced at the boy next to him as Madam Malkin went to work. The boy met his look. He had a pale face, grey eyes, and the strangest silvery hair.

'Hello,' the boy said. 'Hogwarts too?'

Harry gave his customary reply - a short nod.

'Any idea what house you'll be in?'

Harry shook his head in response. He was really growing tired of people asking him questions. It was a lot easier to deflect attention from himself when nobody really wanted to speak to him, but here in the wizarding world it was all different. Nobody knew him and nobody knew they shouldn't be talking to him. He decided to try a different approach.

'You?' Harry asked, hoping to encourage the boy to talk more about himself, and thus ask less questions.

'Slytherin.' The boy's reply was instantaneous. 'All my family have been in Slytherin, so of course I'll be as well. It's the only real house to be in, isn't it. All the others are a joke. I suppose Ravenclaw isn't all bad, but its no Slytherin.'

Harry got the impression the boy was repeating what someone else had told him.

'Play Quidditch?'

'No,' Harry said.

'I do,' the boy said haughtily. 'I think it's so stupid first years aren't allowed to play for their house, don't you?'

Harry was saved from having to reply. The witch working on the silver haired boy announced she was finished and he hopped down.

'Guess I'll see you at Hogwarts.'

'Draco!' This came from over by the door, where an older man who was clearly the boys father stood, looking extremely impatient. 'Enough gossiping. Come on.'

'Yes father,' the boy Draco replied meekly, his attitude taking a complete turn. He quickly walked over to his father, who paid the other witch and then propelled Draco out of the shop with a shove.

Five minutes later and Madam Malkin was finished. He paid her for the robes and excited the shop. Hagrid wasn't back from the pub yet, so Harry decided to consult his letter to see what else he needed. There was a long list of books, so Harry decided to get those first.

He quickly located the shop - Flourish and Blotts - and began to browse. He found all of the books on his list, but didn't stop there. He was looked at a book on Curses when one of the shop assistants approached him.

'What you doing looking at those?' he admonished. 'They're not for kids. Come on now.'

Harry put the book back. 'Excuse me,' he said, as the wizard made to walk away, 'where can I find books on Voldemort?'

The man nearly jumped out of his skin. 'Shh! What do you want books like that for?'

'I'm just interested, that's all,' Harry said, trying to be casual.

The shop assistant frowned at him. 'Books like that aren't for children either. I'll show you to our kiddie section.'

Harry was getting tired of this man's patronizing, but he tried to remain calm. He needed those books. 'I don't want kids books.'

'Then I suggest you pay for those' - he pointed to the books already in Harry's arms - 'and forget all about You-Know-Who. I'll ring them up for you.' The man grabbed the books right out of Harry's hands and took them to the counter. Harry was forced to follow. He paid for the books and then left the shop, feeling disappointed.

'Harry!' Hagrid came tumbling down on him like an avalanche. 'Thank Merlin. I thought I'd lost yeh. What were yeh doing? I went ter Madam Malkin's an' yeh wasn't there. We've yeh been?'

'I was just getting my books,' Harry said, feeling guilty. 'Sorry.'

'Oh,' Hagrid panted, 'well, okay, as long as yeh're alright.'

An idea presented itself to Harry and he seized on it. This giant Hagrid really did care for him, that was becoming very obvious, and Harry needed those books. He wondered if he could turn that to his advantage.

'Hagrid?' Harry asked hopefully.

'Yeh?'

'I was trying to get some books about Vol… You-Know-Who… but they wouldn't let me buy them.'

'Why would yeh want them Harry?'

Harry gave him a look.

Hagrid looked uncomfortable. 'Harry, yeh shouldn't be thinkin' things like that. I know what I said, but…'

'I just want to know,' Harry said, trying a new approach. 'Who was he really? Hagrid, please, I need to know. I'm not thinking about revenge or anything stupid like that. I promise. I just need to know.'

'Oh,' Hagrid said, pulling on his bushy beard indecisively. 'I'm not sure it's such a good idea Harry. I don't want yeh gettin' yerself hurt.'

'I won't. Please Hagrid,' Harry pleaded, 'just a few books. I'm way behind on wizarding history. I need to know this stuff. I need to know all about the world I came from.'

Hagrid sighed. 'Alright,' he said, 'just a few books.'

Success.

'Thanks Hagrid.' Harry felt a little bad about manipulating the giant, so he decided to throw him a bone, so to speak. 'You're a good friend.'

Hagrid beamed at him and ruffled his hair. Harry shied away, but found himself smiling at the giant. And what do you know; Harry was surprised, because it was a true smile. It was the first time he'd really smiled in a long, long time.