On his way
Harry was now eleven years old and boarding the train at platform nine and three quarters.
It had now been seven years since he had met Allyssa and started a new life away from his old family.
He grew up in Yorkshire in the Rose family cottage (Which was more like a mansion). He played with the muggle children, performed magic with his mum, learnt how to blend in with muggles, and was now going to school.
He had been rather surprised when his mum told him that he was going to go to Hogwarts in September.
They had been sat at the table, a week before Harry's birthday, when Allyssa had handed over the letter.
"But, mum, I thought you said that there's not much point in me going to Hogwarts?" he had asked, puzzled.
"Academically, not really. But I think you should still go through that experience of your life, Harry."
"Why?"
"I don't want you to look back on your life in a few years and feel like you missed out on something, Harry," she took a drink from her glass of orange juice. "Do you want to go? Because if you don't, Harry, I won't force you to. It's entirely your choice."
Harry had to think for a while. He knew that if he went to Hogwarts, then his family would definitely be there. The Prophet had covered an interview in which the Potters had said that they were going to stay at Hogwarts to help 'make sure precious Colin felt supported'. In fact, James Potter had said that he was going to help teach flying while Lily co-taught muggle studies. His free life would be exposed to them. But did he care..?
This also would give him a chance to make friends with other wizards and witches. Most of his friends were muggles, all of them were fun, but Harry did want to make friends with people who may be able to understand him completely and would be easier to relate to.
"Yes mum," he had told her. "I want to go, if that's okay."
Allyssa smiled at him. "Fantastic!" she replied. "We'll go to Diagon Alley for your school supplies later."
Harry had been to Diagon Alley many times with his mum to buy potion supplies and buy new spell books, each time he had felt enchanted. This time felt so excited!
He'd had no need to buy books or a cauldron, but he had been happy about being measured for robes and gloves.
"Mum," he said to Allyssa while being measured for robes. "What are we going to buy next?"
"A wand," she replied.
"A wand!" Harry exclaimed turning to face her excitedly, almost pushing aside Madam Malkin. "Sorry miss!" he had said to her quickly, he then looked back at his mum. "Does this mean I won't have to borrow yours mum?"
"Sorry, Harry. After you get your wand you're not allowed to use magic outside of school."
"Oh... Okay, never mind," he'd shrugged. "At least I can use it at school!"
"Do you know who you remind me of? James Potter," Madam Malkin had commented as she shortened a sleeve. "He came in her with his with his wife and son the other day. And, let me tell you, that boy of his is a little swine!"
"Why do you say that?" Harry had asked, dreading the answer.
"He came in with his parents, who basically held me at wand point and told me to be careful not to prick him with anything. Then the boy kept boasting about his brilliant powers and how he was going to be the greatest wizard Hogwarts had ever seen. Clearly he's full of himself. After I was done sizing him for Hogwarts robes, he commanded that I measure him for scarlet and yellow robes. You know, to represent Gryffindor! I mentioned that it might not be a very good idea to do that because he doesn't know for sure what house he was going to be in..." she'd paused with a wince.
"How did he take that?" Harry had asked.
"You would have thought I told him I was going to feed him to my pet dragon!"
"You have a pet dragon?" Harry had jokingly asked, grinning cheekily.
She'd returned his grin. Allyssa had rolled her eyes with a smile.
"What happened then?" Allyssa had asked her.
"He flew into a rage! He jumped off the stool and started throwing everything he could get his hands on! Needles, robes, stools, everything! All the while, screaming like a lunatic!"
"What did the parents do about that behaviour?" Allyssa'd asked, Harry could tell that she knew the answer.
"They turned around and blamed me for upsetting their baby! Baby! Ha! He's eleven next week, that's old enough to know better! They let him reign havoc in the shop and they consoled their son by promised him the robes! After about twenty minutes of bribing and tempers flying, it ended with the parents threatening to tell the press that I am a danger to children! I only told a boy he might not be in Gryffindor!"
Allyssa had grimaced. "They don't call it spoiling children for nothing... That boy may be ruined for life now. Did they buy him the robes?"
"Oh yes! They forced me to measure them out for him exactly and then let him wear them for the journey home! You watch out for him, dear," she'd advised Harry, who looked at her seriously. "There's little doubt in my mind he'll be a bully, even if he is the Boy Who Lived."
Harry had thanked her for the warning and set off with his mum for a wand.
Ollivander's wand shop meant a lot to Harry. Not the inside or the product itself, but the steps leading up to the doorway. That was the starting point for Harry's free life, the place he met his mum.
Harry had taken a look at those steps as he had walked in.
As the door closed, Harry gazed around at the shop. It felt dark, but was also rather clear. And rather quiet. He'd looked up at his mum for answers.
"Mr Ollivander!" she'd called into the silence.
A white haired man with a wrinkled face suddenly appeared from around a corner. His curious face broke into a smile at the sight of his customers.
"Allyssa Rose!" he came over to them quickly and shook Allyssa's hand in greeting. "The pretty Rose girl! Is the adventurous one off exploring?"
"Oh, yes! Erin and Romeo are in Argentina today, who knows where tomorrow!" she returned his smile.
"Erin Rose, juniper wood, dragon heart string core, twelve and a half inches, an ambitious wand for an ambitious girl. Now then, Romeo Villa, I sold him his wand. Thirteen inches, alder wood, also a dragon heart string core. A wand that appeared to be his pride from the beginning. Your wand, Miss Rose, 12 inches, unicorn tail hair core, and cherry tree wood."
"All correct Mr Ollivander. My I introduce my ward, Harry," she'd tapped his shoulder in a proud manner.
"Hello Harry," he had shaken his hand. "May I enquire for your last name?"
"It's Potter, sir," he had answered.
"As in Lily and James Potter's second twin? Yes, I was wondering if I was going to see you young man, I never thought it would be with Allyssa Rose, but fate works in strange ways. Now, for your wand, what's your wand hand?"
Harry had been rather surprised that this Ollivander knew who he was, but didn't question him, he just held out his right hand.
"Okay, now then... try this one!" The wand maker had held out a black coloured wand, which Harry had held with caution.
It didn't feel right, if that makes sense. To Harry it didn't, but he just knew. Ollivander seemed to know as well as he did, because he took back the wand seconds later.
He then walked back over to where he got the wand from and produced another. Then, moments later, another. Then another. Then another. To the point Harry felt like he had tried every wand in the shop.
"Tricky customer, don't worry, there'll be a match here somewhere..." He'd slowly pulled another box from the shelf, he seemed to be in a trance. "I wonder..."
He had walked back over to Harry and, without saying a word, handed over the wand.
Harry had held that wand with the same caution, if not more, as the others. But then relaxed. There was warmth where the wand laid in his hand. He'd felt powerful. A feeling that both felt fantastic and dangerous.
The power seemed to have been building up in his hand. He'd lifted the wand above his head, saying loudly, "lumos maxima!"
The whole room seemed to glow, the darkness seemed to disappear. Harry had felt above everything, a feeling that was close to terrifying.
"Nox," Harry had said, slightly quieter, and the room went back to normal.
Allyssa had clapped with a massive smile, which made Harry feel a lot better.
"Bravo!" Ollivander had cried out. "Holly and phoenix feather core, fantastic! But curious... very curious..."
"Sorry, what's curious?" Harry had asked.
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather- just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother was one used the night your family changed forever."
Harry had shivered slightly.
"It's also curious that it was the other Potter twin was the one the wand chose, when it was Colin Potter that is the saviour of the wizarding world... unicorn hair and bonsai... Very curious indeed... But it can be sure that we can expect great things from you, Mr Potter, for He Who Must Not Be Named did great things- terrible, yes. But great..."
The rest of the trip to Diagon Alley was fine. Allyssa treated Harry to a new telescope for Astronomy and then surprised him by saying:
"Why don't we get you an owl?"
"Really?" Harry had asked, very surprised.
"Yes, why not? You're old enough for your own one by now. Plus, you can send me an owl if that old family of yours cause you some grief instead of waiting for Big Sam or Samson."
Harry had later found himself walking out of Eeylops Owl Emporium with a snowy owl with lovely amber eyes.
"Thank you, mum," he had said in awe.
"No problem, now then, we best get back home."
Harry had a fantastic summer. He had his mum flew out to Argentina on a muggle plane, first class, and spent two weeks with Erin and Romeo. Erin worked internationally for Gringotts and seemed to enjoy it greatly. Romeo, who was now 15, look fantastic. But it seemed as though he was going through a few phases. He had ear rings, wearing skulls on his shirts in public and chains on his jeans and said words that Harry didn't know were real or even English. But he was still the strong, fun, kid he had always been.
After leaving Argentina, Harry and his mum decided to return to Bouton De Rose cottage and practice magic and just have fun for the rest of the summer. Not a day went by when Harry and his mum didn't do magic and enjoy it.
But the time came to say "See you soon!" to Michi, the James brothers and the Johnson twins. Michi had bawled to the point her mother was worried there might not be a drop of water left inside her.
Allyssa, by the time they got to the station, wasn't much better than Michi had been. But she managed to keep her composure.
"You take care, okay Harry?"
"Yes mum."
"And send me a letter using Hedwig when you can!"
"Of course, I'll let you know which house I'm in!"
"Sounds good. Now you best get on the train," she handed over a small bag full to bursting with money. "Trip goes much better with sweets."
"Thanks mum," he smiled at her. The pair then leaned forward and hugged one another. "I'll see you soon!"
"Yes, see you soon," Harry got on, when he heard- "Oh, Harry!" he turned around. "I don't care what house you get put in, okay?" Harry nodded. "You are an outstanding wizard, no house changes that fact."
"Thank you, mum," he began to walk up the train, his backpack, with his robes and a few possessions inside, over his shoulder. But then he went back to the open window. "Mum" he called her back. "My old family might care what house I'm in though, won't they? My last name is still 'Potter'"
"Harry," she smiled kindly at him. "They never opposed the guardianship. If they care about what house you're in then they're a bunch of hypocrites, understand?"
Feeling a lot more confident, Harry nodded, "Thanks mum, I'd better find a seat!"
He then started to walk down the train. The buzz was so exciting, many friends were crowded in compartments and the atmosphere all over the scarlet train was fantastic!
As Harry walked along the train, all the compartments seemed to be full, it looked like Harry would have to share with another student.
As he walked along, he saw a compartment with only one person inside.
He took a deep breath and went inside, pulling the backpack off his shoulder.
"Hello," said the person in the compartment, clearly nervous.
"Hello," Harry pulled his muggle cards out of his bag. "You gave me these once, Drake."