Chapter 1 – Diagon Alley

Harry had had quite about enough, thank you very much. It had been an astounding chain of events that had followed his eleventh birthday. First was Uncle Vernon going spare over a few (well maybe a bit more that a few) letters that came from a mysterious school called Hogwarts. Then there was the random wandering around the countryside. Following that came the sudden and unexpected arrival of one Rubeus Hagrid, the groundskeeper of said school of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Hagrid had at least explained that Harry was a wizard and gave him some real answers about his parents and life in the magical world.

It was embarrassing and somewhat scary to go have to deal with the crowd of well-wishers at the Leaky Cauldron although it was nice that Hagrid hurried him out of there quickly enough. Harry was almost stunned beyond belief at the amount of money, magical money, that had been in his own personal vault at the goblin run bank Gringotts. Harry had grabbed more than enough to buy the supplies that were on his list.

The surprises had kept piling up one on top of one another all day. The arrogant boy at Madam Malkin's, the other magical shops and the amazing bookstore that Hagrid had basically had to drag him out of were all eye-openers. Especially after a young boy, after hearing his name, had shyly asked if asked him to autograph his new copy of 'Harry Potter vs The League of The Cursed'. Both the boy's parents and his older sister were awe-struck but apologized for disturbing him and Harry suddenly felt the eyes of everyone in the area following his every movement.

Getting that beautiful and intelligent Snow Owl from Eeylops Owl Emporium only settled Harry's uneasiness a little. There was a growing sense of worry and nervousness the longer he stayed in the magical shopping area. However Harry worded some of his questions, Hagrid had been unable or unwilling to answer all of them. Harry knew he was probably gibbering like an idiot and carrying on too much but there were so many questions that he didn't know about his new life yet. Everyone was either praising him or staring at him like he had grown a second head. Of course, it was tad hard to be even a little inconspicuous while you were being accompanied around by Hagrid.

At least the answers seemed to be available; it wasn't like he was back at 4 Privet drive and encouraged (beaten) to keep his 'pie-hole shut', as the Dursleys were all fond of screaming at him. The easy going Keeper of the Keys seemed very patient and happy to be introducing him around.

And now he was here at his last stop of the wonderful place called Diagon Alley - Ollivanders Wand Shop. The silver-eyed old wizard had gone to a great deal of trouble and time in finding the exact wand that would be the best match for Harry. It was what the proprietor said after had successfully tried out the holly and phoenix feather wand that totally flabbergasted Harry. That the brother wand of his had been the one to kill his parents and give him the scar that was a symbol of his notoriety. Harry frankly had the urge to place the wand back down on the counter and walk or run out of the store at that point. But Hagrid had insisted that this was the only proper place to get a wand and Harry didn't quite dare disappoint his new and larger than life friend.

Harry was still feeling the incredible rush of magic and specialness in holding his wand but he couldn't restrain himself from asking something of the old man with the incredible memory.

"Mr. Ollivander, may I ask a question or two?"

"As I have no other customers at the moment, I would enjoy a nice conversation with you young man."

"Thank you but isn't it sort of illegal or unethical to sell one of your wands to a Dark Lord?"

Ollivander chuckled. "I did no such thing!"

"But you just told me that you sold the brother to my wand to Lord Volde -sorry, You-Know-Who?"

"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was only a lad like yourself when he came in here with Headmaster Dumbledore."

"The headmaster knows Lord V.., sorry, You-Know-Who?"

"He attended Hogwarts."

Hagrid tried interrupting Harry and getting him to leave the store but Harry had just reached a starting point of his questions. "Hagrid told me that the Dark Lord vanished after attacking me. How does everyone know it was Lord Voldemort?"

"Please don't say that name Mr. Potter. But every wand contains the unique magical signature of the person who uses it."

"So they found 'Whozits's wand?"

Hagrid and Ollivander exchanged a look that said that the answer to the question was beyond then. "Nobody knows Harry."

"Did it get confiscated by anyone? Did you find it Hagrid since you were the first there after my parents… after it happened?"

"I didn't see any wand Harry but I was in a rush to get you out of that place. Maybe the aurors found it when they came and investigated."

"Aurors, who are they? Never mind that now. Do you know if that wand was confiscated or destroyed? That would seem like a logical thing to do if that wand was used like a weapon and was found at a…a mur…the scene of a crime?"

Ollivander shook his head in shock. He wasn't used to answering such direct questions from a new wand owner. "I don't know lad. Nobody does."

Harry scratched his head in annoyance. 'Did nobody think to ask questions in this world?' he thought to himself.

Trying another tack, Harry turned back to ask another important question, to him at least. "So did this Voldemort have a regular first name?"

"What?"

"Mr. Ollivander, you've just demonstrated to me that you have a perfect memory for the combination of wands and the wizards or witches that have bought them. It's a simple question I think. Were my parents killed by somebody named Jack? Barney? Winston? Was it Chauncey Voldemort? I would think it would be an easy enough name for you to tell me."

"Lad, I've a binding oath that I've sworn to Dumbledore that I must not tell anyone about that wizard's name."

"WHAT? So Dumbledore knows Voldemort's name? An oath even against me – the victim?"

"Yes, and I'm sorry."

"Me too. I guess I'll have to ask Dumbledore when I see him at school." Harry stood up and put the wand in the front pocket of his trousers. He nodded to Hagrid and the half-giant and Harry went to the front of the store. Just as he reached the doors, Harry spun around and ran back to the counter and Ollivander.

He pulled the receipt for the wand out of his pocket and slapped it down in front of the suddenly nervous wizard. "Maybe you can't tell me his name, but could you write it down? For god's sake, please - it was my parents that were murdered!"

Ollivander stared at Harry's face for a long time before reaching for a quill. He turned the receipt over and was surprised that he could actually write the name down. Harry hardly glanced at it before enthusiastically shaking Ollivander's hand and thanking him again. Rushing out to catch up with Hagrid who was pushing a cart loaded with supplies and the cage containing the owl, Harry had a small grin on his face.

"I know you are supposed to be on a schedule to get back to Hogwarts Hagrid, but do I have time to run back into Flourish and Blotts? I promise I won't be long."

Hagrid thought for a moment and then nodded. "Go on with you. I remember my first time going through here. There's always more you want to get and not enough time. Just be quick about it."

Harry surprised Hagrid with a quick squeeze to one of his massive arm and then made a run toward the bookstore. He had to make an apology as he almost ran over a small bushy haired witch coming out with her own large pile of books. Harry didn't need to look too far to get the additional books he wanted – Famous Witches and Wizards, A History of the Dark Wars, and Hogwarts:A History. Harry thought that these three books would tell him all about Dumbledore, his new school and this Lord Tom Marvolo Riddle Voldemort. 'Funny middle names that' Harry thought as he and Hagrid had lunch at Paddington station.

Harry was surprised and more than a bit nervous that he had to ride the train by himself to get back to Little Whinging. Hagrid bought him a ticket and helped load his supplies up before he gave him his boarding ticket to get to Hogwarts. Hagrid bid him goodbye and Harry was astonished how quickly the big man disappeared.

Disregarding the stares of his fellow travelers, Harry pulled out one of his new books and began reading it as the train left the station. He wasn't sure about how much the Dursleys would let him read in the month before he left for Hogwarts but Harry intended to get as prepared as he possibly could.