Harry Silver

“Mr Silver!” The nun gasped in horror as Snape’s eyes snapped back to Harry with a scowl.

Harry winced on instinct, he hadn’t even considered the possibility of Snape along with all the very complex emotions he held for the man.

“Ah um… Sorry, it’s just… you look a little odd.”

Harry swore he saw the slightest hint of amusement in Snape’s eyes but that couldn’t be right, this was Snape after all.

“My apologies Sir, he’s not normally no vulgar I-”

“It’s fine Ma’am,” Snape said with a wave of his hand, “I understand my appearance can sometimes be surprising and he is just a child. Could you allow us some privacy?”

The nun nodded and with one last glare at Harry shut the door, leaving the two alone in a more than awkward silence.

“Good Morning Mr Silver,” Snape said and held out his hand, “My name is Professor Severus Snape.”

Harry bit back the snide remark that came to mind, no need to start this rivalry again straight off the bat.

“Good Morning Professor,” He said and politely shook the man's hand, “Am I in trouble?”

“Not at all,” Snape assured as he took the chair at Harry's desk while Harry sat on his bed, “In fact quite the opposite. I’m here representing the boarding school I work for.”

“School?” Harry asked and by God he hoped his acting wasn’t abysmal, “I haven’t applied to any secondary schools yet.”

“You wouldn’t apply to this one. You see this is a school for Witchcraft and Wizardry. You’re a wizard Mr Silver.”

Luckily Harry’s laugh didn’t seem so out of place at that moment but he couldn’t help it, for as badly as Hagrid had handled the reveal he had nothing on how blunt and monotone Snape was in changing someone’s life.

Snape simply glared at him as Harry calmed himself down, “Ahem… I’m sorry Sir but… Wizard? Is this a birthday joke?”

Snape’s lips thinned slightly before he reached into his pocket and pulled out his want. With a quick wave Harry’s diary shot from his bedside table towards the man. Harry’s heart leaped into his chest, just reading the first page would tell the man everything about who Harry really was.

In panic Harry jumped up from his bed and intercepted the flying book as it zoomed through the air. He grabbed it against his chest and crashed down onto the ground. Slowly he looked up to find Snape glaring down at him, breaking his polite charade Harry glared straight back.

“That’s private.”

Snape rolled his eyes as he put his wand away, “I wasn’t planning on reading it. However, do you believe me now.”

“Yeah yeah alright,” Harry said as he got himself up and dusted himself off, “I guess I’m a wizard… what now?”

“You need to decide if you’ll be attending Hogwarts or not.”

Harry levelled at Snape with a deadpan look, “A choice between this orphanage and a magical school? Gee what a tough decision.”

“Don’t sass me boy!” Snape snapped and Harry suppressed a flinch at that word, “You’d do well to sort out that attitude if you do choose to attend. Hogwarts may be a magical school but it is also a strict school where you’ll be expected to follow rules and regulations.”

“Yes sir,” Harry said and put his diary away, “I’m just… sensitive about this book.”

Surprisingly Snape calmed down slightly, “I understand, life can’t have been easy for you and there are too few who will understand that.”

Harry’s head snapped round faster than he thought possible, had Snape just shown… empathy? Was this what it was like to be a normal child and not Harry Potter? To not have every wizard or witch he’d ever met already have millions of assumptions about him?

“So uh… what happens now?” Harry asked, hoping that Snape didn’t say he’d be back in a few days, otherwise the entire start of his plan fell apart.

“Now I’ll be taking you out, not only to further explain our world and Hogwarts to you but also to gather supplies for your year.” Snape said as he rose from his chair and handed Harry his first year letter.

“Yes!” Harry cheered and paused as Snape raised an eyebrow at him, “Uhhh I just mean… I’m excited to buy wizard stuff.”

Snape just rolled his eyes, “These get stranger every year,” He mumbled under his breath.

“-you may wear anything deemed appropriate between classes, including muggle wear if you wish, though robes are expected during class, school events and formal feasts. You must always carry your wand on you though magic outside of class or supervision is strictly prohibited.” Snape explained as they walked through the streets of London, “Keep up Mr Silver, we’re almost there.” 

Harry cursed his smaller and weaker legs as he struggled to get used to moving in this body once again. Not only that he had to do it while trying to think of responses to keep up conversation with Snape like he didn’t already know all of this already.

“Sorry sir but what’s a muggle?”

“Ah yes,” Snape said as they whisked around a corner, “A Muggle in a non-magical person. As a wizard whose parents were both muggles in our world you’ll be classed as a muggleborn. A pureblood is someone whose parents were both wizards while a halfblood is someone who has one pureblood parent and one muggle or muggleborn parent.”

Harry nodded along as if he was taking this all for the first first time before slipping in a question that would seem innocent coming from a fresh faced wizard but for Harry would tell him a million things at once.

“Is being a muggleborn worse than being a pure or halfblood?”

If this were Harry's first encounter with Snape he would have missed it but having actually known the man for several years he caught how the professor's nose flared up and his eyes widened slightly.

There was a pause before Snape answered, “That is a… more complex question than you realise. In practical terms? No. Muggleborns can be just as magically powerful, intelligent and capable as purebloods. Those that think otherwise are fools who fail to acknowledge the contribution they make to our society.”

Huh. So Snape really did hate Harry Potter simply because he was Harry Potter and didn’t appear to have any negative feelings towards muggleborns. That didn’t accuse him of everything but at least Harry knew what he was working with.

“I’m sensing a but…”

Snape paused on the pavement and turned to Harry with a serious look, “Mr Silver please understand I say this out of necessity and not to impede you. But I feel far too many muggleborns enter our society without the correct preparation for how it operates or the understanding of their place in it. There are those who call themselves blood purists who believe that wizarding blood should not mix with muggle blood. By extension this extends to muggleborns who they see as coming in and diluting pure wizarding society.”

Harry scowled, even if he did know this already he always hated hearing it, “That’s stupid.”

“Indeed,” Snape said with a nod of agreement, “I wish I could tell you this was a fringe group of wizards but it’s not. It’s a large group that holds most of the political and economical power in our society. That’s not to say they hold all the power but they do hold influence. And as a muggleborn you’ll have no name to fallback on, no fortune to burn and next to no influence. You’ll be starting from the bottom of the pack. I just want you to understand that.”

Harry would have to pinch himself in private when he got a chance, he loved Hagrid but Snape had done a far better job of explaining wizarding society to him in a few short hours than Hagrid had done in 7 years.

Harry smiled up at Snape and shrugged, “With all do respect professor I’m an orphan, I’m already at the bottom.”

For a moment it looked like sadness flickered in Snape's eyes before he turned with a signature billow of robes and turned to the building on their right.

“This is the Leaky Cauldron, the only non-magical entrance into Diagon Alley. It’s like a wizard Highstreet, though technically it contains the equivalent of a small town, however as a student you’ll never have any need to leave the central street.”

Harry breathed in the familiar smells with a smile, it wasn’t exactly a meadow but more a mix of alcohol, burnt food and damp oak but to Harry it was a reminder of the escape he’d had all those years ago and the second chance he was getting now.

“Remain close, this establishment can be as rough as it looks.”

Harry had never imagined he’d ever move close to Snape for safety but something in his 11 year old mind was telling him to remain as near to the adult protecting himself. They got a few curious glances but it was nothing compared to Harry's first visit.

“Oh P-Professor Sn-Sn-Snape!”

Harry nearly tripped up at the voice, completely forgetting that Quirrell and by extension Voldemort, would be in the bar today. Snape too came to an abrupt halt and Harry nearly walked into the back of him.

“Quirrell.” Snape said with no attempt to hide the disdain in his voice causing Harry to fight a growing smirk.

“A-Another m-m-m-muggleborn I see?” Quirrell said and eyed Harry in way that made him even more uncomfortable than the way the man had looked at Harry Potter.

“Indeed, this is Harry Silver. Mr Silver this is Professor Quirrell, he’ll be your Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher. Think of it as magical self defence.” Snape explained.

“I see,” Harry mumbled and held out his hand, making sure to look directly at Quirrell, “It’s a pleasure to meet you sir.”

Quirrell looked down at Harry's hand and for a moment it looked like he was going to ignore it until a very shaky hand grasped his own, “I l-look forward t-t-to s-s-seeing what you ca-can do Mr Silver.”

Harry plastered on a smile as he shook the hand and looked Quirrell directly in the eye. At least this time there was no pain in his-

Scar!

Harry's hand shot out of Quirrell's and he practically slapped himself in the face as he tried to find his scar. But there was nothing, the lightning bolt he’d had since he was a child was gone, not even a slight bump remained.

“Everything ok Mr Silver?” Snape asked, looking down at him.

“Ah, yes… sorry” Harry said as he realised from their perspective he’d just shaken Quirrell's hand and slapped himself in the face, “I had an itch,” he said and made a show of scratching his head.

“I see…” Snape said in a way that made it clear he saw straight through Harry, “Well we should be on our way. Lots to do.”

“I-I-Indeed, G-Good Day S-S-S-Severus.” 

Snape didn’t return the gesture to Quirrell as he led Harry to the entrance of Diagon Alley, tapping the bricks to open the famous door in the wall. If he was expecting Harry to be awed by the display he didn’t show it as he took off down the street the moment there was enough space to get through.

“Do you take issue with Professor Quirrell?”

“Yes, he’s planning to kill Harrison Potter this year and has the world's worst dark wizard in back of his head.”

Is what Harry wanted to say. It would be so easy but he knew doing so would throw the timeline he was following into chaos. So he went for a safer thought instead.

“Well… considering he’s supposed to be our teacher for self defence he’s a little… well… you know.”

“He has a wealth of experience fighting dark creatures.” 

“Yeah well… Doing something over and over doesn’t make you an expert.”

Just look at Draco Malfoy and his abysmal seeker capabilities Harry thought to himself with a slight smirk.

“Wise words.” Snape replied and said nothing further on the matter, “I suggest we attend the apothecary first. Along with robes your potion supplies will take up the biggest chunk of your muggleborn scholarship.”

Harry nearly froze as the realisation hit him like a rampaging hippogriff. He didn’t have a trust vault anymore. He didn’t even have parents.

He was POOR!

Not that there was anything wrong with that of course. Harry didn’t really care for expensive things and barely saw the difference between hand me downs and expensive robes. He’d never judged someone for their lack of or indeed significant horde of gold in his life.

But… That didn’t mean he didn’t like the fact that once upon time he could happily walk into any store in Diagon Alley and purchase whatever he wanted without worrying about the cost. He didn’t flaunt his money like Malfoy did; however Ron and Hermione had quickly realised Harry was probably just as wealthy with how often he didn’t even bother to look at the price of something.

Now however, he’d actually have to budget. If the old timeline Hermione could see him now she’d be wearing a grin more smug than Malfoy could ever hope to achieve. The lecture Harry had gotten when he fell asleep during a one off economics class they’d had in sixth year had been one of her worst. She’d nearly killed him when he’d snarked back the combined Potter and Black fortunes basically meant he’d never have to work a day in his life.

“Don’t worry,” Snape said, picking up on Harry's mild panic, “The muggleborn scholarship, especially for orphans, is one of the few areas our society is surprisingly generous. In fact you get more per year than most purebloods are entitled to, largely down to Dumbledore.”

“He’s the headmaster right?”

Snape nodded as they entered the apothecary and started to go down Harry's supply list. If Harry had been surprised by Snapes amicable attitude before he was near catatonic by how helpful the man was in buying potion supplies. He recommended different cauldrons, explained what everything was for and even helped Harry buy the best value options on a budget. It was a far cry from his experience with Hagrid in which he’d grabbed the first correct piece of equipment he’d seen.

Not to mention Snape was not only simply walking around telling him how great Hogwarts and Dumbledore were. He was actually making sure Harry understood what each purchase was, why he was buying and just generally informing him about the wizarding world. Of course Harry knew most of it already but it was the thought that counts.

He wasn’t sure what was worse, that Snape was actually a half decent teacher yet despised Harry Potter and by extension any of friends so much that he had stubbornly refused to help them or that the Snape in this timeline was simply a better man than in Harry's original time.

As Harry handed over the gold required for his purchase he checked his watch (courtesy of the orphanage for his birthday which was a stroke of luck), his memory was a little foggy but if he was right the timing would be near perfect.

“So… Can we get my wand next?” Harry asked as they left the shop.

Snape audibly sighed, “Always with the wands… Yes, let's go.”

Harry beamed and practically skipped along next to Snape which combined with his brooding and near levitation he used to walk made them quite the sight. Now if Harry was right he just had to keep going this way… move to the right ever so slightly and…

“Oof!”

“Ow!”

“Arrison!”

Harry stumbled to the ground in a mix of limbs eerily similar to his own. He then felt one huge hand on the back of his coat hoisting him and back onto his feet.

“Oi!” A booming voice said above him, “You need to watch where you’re going!”

Harry looked up to see the angry face of Hagrid and he had to admit, he’d never been on the receiving end of the giant's ire before and he suddenly appreciated just how huge the man was.

“Calm yourself Hagrid,” Snape said with a sneer.

Oh good, there was the Snape Harry knew and loved.

“Professor Snape!?” Hagrid said, turning to the man in surprise as Harry dusted himself off.

“Your sight remains as sharp as ever,” Snape drawled, “It’s clear to me these two simply collided by accident. There is no blame among Mr Silver or Mr…”

“Oh, Potter, Sir.”

Harry slowly looked up until he was staring at the boy opposite him. They looked uncannily similar, they were exactly the same height and nearly the same build. The main difference was in their faces, both had unruly messy hair though Harrys was much darker than the light brown of the other boy and both their eyes were bright though whereas Harrys were green and the other boys were blue. Luckily Harry's face seemed to be ever so slightly thinner than the other boys otherwise it would be far too similar for people not to realise something was amiss. There was also the fact this other boy wasn’t wearing glasses.

Wait.

No glasses!? How was that fair!?

“Blimey!” Hagrid exclaimed and his eyes snapped between the pair, “You could be brothers!”

Even Snape seemed to be at a loss for words as he tried to comprehend what was before him.

“I uh, doubt that,” Harry said and smiled at the other boy, “I’m Harry. Harry Silver.”

Hagrid baulked as Harrison managed to smirk slightly, “Harrison. Harrison Potter. Though I don’t like to shorten my name. Are you attending Hogwarts this year too?”

“You know it!” Harry said excitedly, even after all this time the thought of returning to Hogwarts still excited him.

Snape finally managed to regain his senses, which of course meant it was time for his first ever attack on Harrison Potter.

“Ah… so we finally meet the celebrity.” He said with enough disdain to even make Harry wince who had been expecting it.

To his credit Harrison turned to Harry with wide eyes, “Are you famous?”

Hagrid went visibly red as Snape blinked in genuine surprise. Then it hit Harry, in his timeline he and Snape never got a chance to be anything other than enemies due to their first meeting from which point neither bothered to make an effort. And sure, Snape was an ass but he was a useful ass who could make a valuable ally in the long run.

The main reason Snape hated Harrison was because he assumed he was an arrogant ass like his father who had been doted on his entire life by his family. And loath as he was to confess it Harry had never attempted to prove otherwise. Unfortunately if Harrison was exactly like him there was no way he would admit to his treatment by the Dursleys outright and once he got to Hogwarts and realised just how unusual said treatment was Harry knew he’d never pry it out of the boy. And as much as he still disliked Snape he knew the man wouldn’t think the same of Harrison if he knew the truth about how ignorant the boy was about the wizarding world.

“Nah, not famous. Just a muggleborn orphan.”

Hagrid seemed to be getting more uncomfortable by the second, though Harry couldn’t blame him. He was still in wartime adult humour, hearing these things from an 11 year old must have been odd.

“Oh I’m an orphan too!” Harrison said a little too excitedly for everyone to be comfortable, “Although I’m not sure what a muggleborn is?”

“Tch,” Snape said as his sneer came back with a vengeance, “Too arrogant to learn about anybody but yourself Potter?”

Harrison took a visible step back in shock, clearly not understanding what was going on, “No sir I just… I’ve never heard the term before.”

“Oh it's someone who has muggle, which means non-magical, parents,” Harry said, jumping in before Snape ruined his plan by putting his foot in his mouth.

“I see,” Harrison said, pausing to think before turning to Hagrid, “Am I muggleborn Hagrid?”

Hagrid withered under the three stares he suddenly got and yeah ok, maybe Harry was glaring slightly but he needed Hagrid to squirm if this was going to work.

“Ah no um… You’re a halfblood Harrison. Your father was a pureblood, folks with wizard parents and your mother was a muggleborn.” Hagrid tried to explain as Snape looked on in confusion.

“You never knew that huh?” Harry asked Harrison, hoping beyond hope he took the bait.

“Well I only found out I was a wizard today.”

Hook. Line. And sinker.

“You what!?” Snape hissed, turning to Hagrid with an angry glare.

“It wasn’t my fault Snape!” Hagrid tried to defend, unable to withstand the man's gaze, “It was the Dursleys, they never told him the truth. Weren’t even going to let him attend Hogwarts until I turned up at the shack.”

Thank god Hagrid was a lovable idiot.

“Shack?” Harry asked, turning to Harrison with a raised eyebrow.

“Um… That's uh… Where Uncle Vernon took us when the letters became too much.” Harrison explained and Harry could tell he was getting uncomfortable, he needed to steer the conversation back to safer topics.

“I guess you’re like me then? Having no idea about any of this stuff?”

“Ah yeah,” Harrison replied, looking relieved at finally finding someone else who had no clue about being a wizard, “I keep hearing all these words and having no idea what they mean.”

“Didn’t Professor Hagrid explain things to you?” Harry asked, he’d have to make sure to get Hagrid a hell of a Christmas present for throwing him under the bus like this, “Professor Snape has explained things to me so far.”

“Oh… um… Well…” It was obvious Harrison didn’t want to say anything against Hagrid but that what Harry said was completely correct.

“He knows nothing!?” Snape turned to Hagrid with an incredulous look, “And Dumbledore sends the groundskeeper!?”

Harrison frowned at Snape’s accusatory tone but luckily Hagrid managed to speak before Harrison said something which turned Snape against him.

“Well it's not like we knew! Dumbledore assumed he knew about magic and it was just an issue with the letters.”

Harry leapt at the opportunity the presented itself, all he needed was one final admission from Harrison and he was certain he could turn this around.

“Oh yeah those letters were really specific, they had my room size in and everything.”

“Oh yeah,” Harrison said with a chuckle, “Before Uncle Vernon moved me out of my cupboard they had that as the specific address.”

“Did you say cupboard!?” Snape nearly shouted, horror written all over his face.

Harry had to avoid smirking to himself, in one conversation he’d completely flipped Snape’s perception of Harrison Potter in a way that he had never done for Harry. At least until much later by which time what little they could salvage of their relationship was insignificant to hate they held against each other. And for as much as some part of Harry still despised Snape, he knew at the very least the man hated abuse.

“Um… yes?” Harrison squeaked, clearly feeling out of his depth.

Snape turned to Hagrid with a sharp glare, “Have you completed your secondary task for Dumbledore?”

Hagrid’s eyes widened, “How do you know about tha!?”

“Please, the entire staff knows about it.” Snape said with an eye roll, “I ask again. Have you completed it?”

“I- Yes. Of course! It was the first thing we did, with the utmost secrecy!” Hagrid said, standing proud at having completed his mission (though Harry argued about the secrecy part considering he knew the man had taken Harrison down there).

“Good. Then you can return to Hogwarts and I will finish here with both Mr Silver and… Mr Potter.”

For a moment you would think Snape had eaten some bad chicken for lunch based on the way it seemed physically painful for him to offer help to Harrison. Harrison himself too didn’t look too pleased at the way the situation had turned.

“Ah um… it's ok Professor. I don’t mind staying with Hagrid.”

Snape didn’t move from where he was glaring at Hagrid, simply narrowing his eyes even further until Hagrid sighed.

“No, he’s right Harrison. I’m sorry but I already assumed you knew all about being a wizard and that I’d just have to help you buy supplies. I’m not really qualified to give a full muggle level introduction. Professor Snape will do a much better job and I’m sure he can be trusted to treat you fairly.” Hagrid said and finished up with his own glare at Snape, a rather impressive feat in Harry’s opinion.

“Oh… ok.” Harrison said with a visible sag in his shoulders. 

Harry couldn’t blame him, for as much of a buffoon as Hagrid could be he was one of the few people who had stood by Harry through everything. The half giant had a heart large even for his size and it was probably only because of Hagrid that Harry even remembered this day as fondly as he did.

“Don’t look so down Harrison!” Hagrid said and tried to force a smile, “You’ll still see me at Hogwarts!”

The reminder of his future wizarding school seemed to lift Harrisons spirits as he held out his hand to be engulfed by Hagrid's in a handshake, “Thank you Hagrid, and thank you for the birthday cake!”

“Of course!” Hagrid said and turned to Harry, blinking in surprise as if he’d forgotten about his existence, “Oh and it was good to meet you too Mr… Uh….”

“Silver!” Harry said with a smile and held out his hand which Hagrid shook a little awkwardly, “It’s a pleasure to meet you sir and once at Hogwarts I’d love to speak to you about groundskeeping, I imagine being in charge of a magical estate can be quite challenging.”

Hagrid’s mood switched instantly and he gained a wide smile as he puffed his chest out slightly, “Well not everyone can do it but Dumbledore entrusts me and I love it!”

Harry could practically feel Snape roll his eyes, “Yes well, there’s much to be done. Goodbye Hagrid.”

With one final wave to Harrison, Hagrid turned and started to make his way back to The Leaky Cauldron, waves of people parting like the red sea in front of him as they clambered to get out of his way.

He left a very awkward situation in which Harrison seemed more than a little uncomfortable now being accompanied by two strangers, Snape looked like he wanted to jump off the nearest bridge and Harry stood there with a large smile looking like an idiot.

After a moment Snape let out a deep sigh and turned to Harrison, “So tell me Mr Potter,” he said and hey it was with significantly less venom that usual, “What has Hagrid told you?”

“Oh um… well I’m a wizard, Hogwarts is a school for magical folk and… well, everyone keeps looking at me oddly.”

“Hmmm,” Snapped hummed, “And where are you in the purchase of your supplies?”

Harrison looked down at the letter in his hand, “I have my potion supplies and books so far.”

“Just the standard book list?”

“Yes sir.”

“Then we’ll need to go back and get some more as an introduction to our world. For all intents and purposes you’re essentially like Harry here, a muggleborn with no experience of magic.”

Harry gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile to Harrison, “Don’t worry, I ain’t got a clue either.”

Harrison chuckled as Snape let out a sigh and stepped forward, “Now then, let us get your wands sorted first.”

Harrison’s face erupted into a smile as he eagerly followed Snape, Harry not far behind, his own excitement bubbling slightly. Even if it had only been a few days, not having a wand after so many years felt strange. He was looking forward to having one again.

They made their way into Ollivanders as Snape monotoned to them both, “Wands are curious things, they supposedly choose the wizard with each wand being unique, they have different lengths, styles, are made of different types of wood and each has a magical core. The element of the want that allows a wizard to channel their magic through it.”

Harry knew of this but he was impressed to see Harrison latch onto every word, though he supposed everything coming out of Snape's mouth was amazing and fantastical to the boy right now.

“This is Ollivanders, this is where most students get their wands. There are other wand makers available though none are as excellent as Mr Ollivander.”

“My my Severus, high praise indeed,” Said the frail voice of the wandmaker as he appeared behind the shop counter, his eyes immediately focusing on Harrison and the hint of a scar behind his fringe, “I was wondering when I’d see you Mr Potter.”

“You know who I am?” Harrison asked with disbelieving eyes.

“Of course, I remember your parents quite well.”

Harry had to admit Snape did a good job of hiding what was probably a lot of emotion as he stood next to the son of his oldest friend and greatest enemy as said parents were praised. 

“Oh,” Was all Harrison was able to say at the mention of his parents, looking down slightly as Ollivander turned his attention to Harry.

“You, I do not know.”

“I’m Harry Silver, muggleborn wizard extraordinaire.”

Harrison snorted next to Harry as Ollivander gained an amused smile, “I see, well it's always joyful to welcome another wizarding line to our world. But we’re not here to chat, I assume you’re after wands?”

“Yes please!” Both boys said with excitement as Snape took a seat behind them both.

“Excellent and who is going first?”

“Harry.”

“Harrison.”

Both boys looked at each other as Ollivander chuckled and Snape pinched the bridge of his nose.

“You go first Harrison,” Harry said, “I mean we did kinda ambush your day.”

“A necessity.” Snape snapped from behind them and Harry had to fight a glare.

“Ah right… ok.” Harrison said and stepped forward.

What followed was more or less an exact play by play of when Harry received his first wand. Ollivander went through several wands, none of them having the desired effect as Harrison looked more and more embarrassed with each failure as Snape failed to hide (if he was even trying) his amusement at the situation. Eventually however as before Ollivander handed Harrison over a holly wand with a phoenix feather core.

As Harry watched the wand bond with Harrison he felt a slight stab in his chest. That wand had been his companion for his entire wizarding life and now it was in the hands of someone else. Which also begged the question: was there another wand for Harry in this store?

“I’m sorry sir, why is it curious?” Harrison asked Ollivander, bringing Harry back from his self pity.

“I remember every wand I’ve ever sold, Mr Potter. As it happens the phoenix who gave up her feather for that wand gave only one other feather. Which rests in the wand that gave you that scar.”

Harrison reached up to rub his forehead, “Um… But I got this scar in a car crash when my parents died?”

There was an audible sharp intake of breath from Snape as Harry gave Harrison a sympathetic smile, “My parents were shot so I guess we’re both sob stories huh?”

Harrison chuckled slightly as Snape gave the pair of them a concerned glance.

“Yes well…” My Ollivander muttered, clearly not sure how to handle the situation before turning to Harry, “Now for you Mr Silver. Hold out your wand arm.”

Harry did as requested as Ollivander took his measurement, his eyes widening slightly at the results, “How peculiar… Identical measurements to Mr Potter.”

“Maybe Hagrid was right,” Harry joked and Harrison smiled, a little embarrassed.

“Well then! Perhaps we should start with similar wand styles then!” Ollivander clapped and went over to his shelves.

If Harry thought his first experience at Ollivanders had taken a while it was nothing in comparison to his second. Wand after wand rejected him, he tried all kinds of cores, woods and lengths but none worked. It even got to a point that Harrison had taken a seat next to Snape while the latter tried not to doze off. With each failed wand Harry panicked that there wasn’t a wand out there for him considering his unusual situation. Yet Ollivander was practically vibrating in excitement.

“This is most exciting!” The wandmaker declared as he boxed up another failed wand, “In all my years you may be my most difficult customer!”

“Ah sorry?” Harry said, genuinely embarrassed at how long this was taking, hell another customer had been in and left in the time they’d been here once they realised they didn’t want to wait for Harry.

“Don’t apologise! I love challenges. But this is… I’ve tried all my normal cores and even the lesser known ones I use yet none seem to work for you.” Ollivander said as he looked Harry up and down, “You are a unique customer and I suspect you require a unique wand such as… No… Could it be?”

Before Harry could question the strange behaviour Ollivander disappeared deep into the shop and away from view. The seconds ticked by before he reappeared with a worn looking box, covered in dust and scratches that looked like it had been tossed from shelf to shelf.

“This may be a long shot but… try this.” He said and opened the box.

Harry looked down at the wand being presented to him. It was pitch black, darker than even the night sky like the wood had been stained by the void itself. It also looked cracked and worn, it appeared it was a moment away from collapsing completely with a frayed end where the wood splintered. It didn’t even have any sort of design or handle, it looked more like a shaped stick than a wand. Yet somehow Harry found he liked the design and reached out his hand.

Before he’d even wrapped his fingers around it the wand jumped out of the box and into his grasp. The moment he touched it Harry felt a cold wave of power envelope him yet to him it still felt cosy, like a safety blanket against an incoming firestorm. As the magical power pulsed within him the shop was swept in it, causing the other three occupants to shiver.

“That’s it,” Ollivander nearly whispered, “After all these years you’ve finally found your master.”

Harrison was looking at the strange wand with interest as Snape frowned at it slightly, “Hardly your best work, it doesn’t even have a handle and I can see the cracks from here.”

“That’s because it barely survived its creation.” Ollivander said as he put the box away, seemingly in disbelief.

“I’m sorry Sir but, you didn’t tell me the core or wood?” Harry asked as he twirled the wand in his hand.

“Yes…” Ollivander commented, “Well you should know, I didn’t create that wand. My grandfather did and it nearly killed him.”

“Creating a wand can kill someone?” Harrison asked with a frown as Snape raised an eyebrow.

“Oh no almost never,” Ollivander said with a shake of his head, “But you see this wand… Ahem… 10 inches, rigid, yew wood and… Thestral tail hair.”

Harry tried not to show the shock that ran through his body, he knew there existed unusual wand cores but never something so.. Dark.

“Is that even possible?” Snape asked, his gaze still focused on the wand in Harry's hand.

“Oh yes,” Ollivander insisted, “Though only a handful in history have ever been successful. You see, Thestral hair is incredibly unstable and most attempts end in disaster.”

“Is a Thestral like a Phoenix?” Harrison asked and luckily didn’t see Snape's scowl at the question.

“Not even remotely, Thestrals are said to be creatures of death. And the yew wood is said to create wands whose users themselves are able to skirt the line between life and death. My grandfather nearly died combining the two, the magic of the Thestral turned the once brightly coloured wood black and nearly shattered the wand. He always told me the person who bought this wand could only be someone granted the favour of death itself.”

All eyes turned to Harry who cowered slightly under their gazes, suddenly a wand that was twinned with Voldermort didn’t seem so bad.

“You are most mysterious Mr Silver. One can only imagine the relationship you have with death.”

“By Merlin man!” Snape suddenly said, standing up with a frown, “They’re children, enough talk of death. So long as the wand allows him to cast magic it’s as good as any. And I hope you don’t plan on charging an extortionate amount for a cracked wand with a bedtime story surrounding it.”

“Not at all, the standard price for both,” Ollivander said with a slight glare at Snape.

Once paid Snape led them out and turned towards Madam Malkins, “Don’t listen to everything Ollivander says, wand crafting is a respectable craft but has always been filled with superstition.”

Harry decided not to bring up the fact he had once wielded a wand created by Death itself.

“That took awhile,” Harrison muttered as he looked around the street, the sun was starting to set and the crowds were thinning.

“Annoyingly so,” Snape said with a sigh, “You can both get your robes alone, I’ll go and purchase your books.”

Pushing them into the store Snape turned and left without so much as a glance back.

“He’s… odd.” Harrison said as they walked inside, “And he’ll be our professor?”

“So I hear,” Harry responded.

“Hogwarts boys?” Madam Malkin asked as she spied the pair of them from the door.

“Yes Ma’am!” Harry chirped and the pair were pushed towards a couple of stools to sit on.

If there was one bonus to how long they had taken getting wands it was that Malfoy was long gone from getting his robes by the time Harry and Harrison arrived. As far as Harry was concerned the longer he held off that meeting the better. As Madam Malkin picked and prodded the pair Harry glanced over at Harrison to see an all too familiar faraway look in his eyes.

“Are you ok Harrison?”

Madam Malkin's ears perked up at the name though she made no move to hound the supposed Boy-Who-Lived.

“I think so?” Harrison said, turning to look at Harry, “It's just… a lot.”

“It is,” Harry agreed, “This morning I thought I was an orphan without any hope in the world. Now I’m being told I have the biggest opportunity in the world.”

“Exactly. Though I wish Hagrid had stuck around, he was nice.”

Merlin Harry needed to swallow down the bile for what he was about to say.

“Snape doesn’t seem so bad. A little strict but he’s done a good job of explaining everything to me. Maybe you just need to give him a chance.”

Harrison hummed as Madam Malkin stepped back, eyeing the two, “Brothers I take it? Your measurements are well… identical.”

“We’ve been getting that a lot,” Harry mumbled.

“Next you’ll be telling me your birthday is today too.” Harrison chuckled before his jaw dropped at Harry's silence, “No way.”

Harry shrugged as Madam Malkin stepped back, “Alright boys that was… quicker than I expected. You’re all done.”

With another two bags the pair left the shop and regrouped with Snap as he returned with a stack of books.

“Mr Silver these are all your required readings plus some recommendations from myself. Mr Potter I have added these recommendations for you too.”

Harry looked down at the additional books Snape had bought for them, half expecting them to be a guide on how to transfer to Dumstrang.

An Introduction to Wizarding Society for Muggleborns

The-Boy-Who-Lived: A Brief History

Seeing the title of the second book really brought Harry's attention to the fact he was no longer The-Boy-Who-Lived, at least not in this world. He was Harry Silver, a plain muggleborn orphan with no prophecies, no expectations and no meddling wizards trying to steer him on the correct path. He could literally be anything he wanted to be, part of that was freeing. The other part ached for the life he could no longer have as Harry Potter.

“An introduction to wizarding society?” Harrison asked.

“Yes, it's supposed to be for Muggleborns, to give them an idea of what to expect when they get to Hogwarts.” Snape explained as he gained a disapproving frown, “However it was written by a controversial pureblood politician and so Dumbledore refuses to make it mandatory reading for muggleborn 1st years.”

“There’s a GUIDE!?” Harry blurted out, this would have been the Holy Grail of reading during his first time around.

“It’s not perfect but it's better than going in blind and no such alternative exists.”

“And what about This-Boy-Who-Lived?” Harrison asked as he went to flip open the page, before he could however Snapes hand shot out and closed the book.

“That is better discussed at a more discreet location. For now, is that everything you need?”

“I think so,” Harry said looking down his list as a realisation caused a stabbing in his gut, “I don’t have a pet after all…”

“I wouldn’t mind a pet,” Harrison mumbled next to him, “My Aunt always said they were horrible to have in the house. Apparently she and my Mum had their own when they were younger but the owl hated my Aunt and loved my Mum.”

Harry allowed a small smile to grace his lips, he knew the owl well, a gift after his mother completed her 1st year at Hogwarts. Everyone else commented how the owl was as gentle as they came yet the moment Petunia got anywhere near it turned into a rabid beast.

“Go and wait for me in The Leaky Cauldron.” Snape suddenly said and Harry looked up to find an unreadable expression on his face.

“Uh ok,” Harrison said as they walked past Snape and back towards the pub.

The boys pushed the door open and clambered in with their arms full of bags and boxes, a few customers glanced up at the racket but quickly lost interest when it was just another pair of Hogwarts students. Finding a secluded spot in the corner Harry slid into a booth with a sigh.

“I still can’t believe all this is real,” Harrison said as his eyes looked over the shabby bar in amazement.

Harry hummed as he leaned back against the booth, “I know, it all feels like I’m going to wake up and find out it was a dream.”

“I just hope the teachers at Hogwarts are better than my current ones.”

“Well I’m home-schooled by nuns so it can’t get much worse.”

Harrison chuckled as they fell into a comfortable silence as they contemplated the day. Harrison how his life had changed in less than 24 hours and Harry how well things were going so far. He just had to keep the worst of Harrison and Snape at bay and they might not end up  not hating each other the same way they had in Harry's original time.

Harry was broken from his thoughts when there were two clunks on the table. He looked up to find a pair of curious amber eyes staring back at him through the bars of a cage.

“H-Hedwig?” He croaked out, unable to hold back the raw emotion that flowed through him, the last time he’d seen his first and closest friend she had been falling to her death.

Luckily it seemed Harrison was too shocked by the pitch black owl placed in front of him to notice Harry's slip of the tongue while Snape appeared to be having an aneurysm.

“Consider this a birthday present to you both. Though if you speak a word of this to anyone I’ll make your lives at Hogwarts unimaginably unpleasant. I am simply doing this because owls are a useful animal companion for muggle children.” Snape said and Harry nearly became concerned the man was going to die from the amount of pain he looked to be in.

He decided not to mention how he suspected the real reason Snape had bought the pair of owls was down to Lily Potter over anything else. Had it been James Potter that Harrison had spoken about in regards to pet owl Snape would have probably burnt every pet shop down within a 15 mile radius.

“Thank you Professor,” Harrison said as he poked his fingers in the cage and allowed the black owl to nip at his fingers, “I’ve never had a birthday present before.”

Snape simply nodded, presumably unable to deal with the fact the spawn of James Potter was thanking him for his first ever birthday present.

“I think I’ll name her Hedwig,” Harry said, jumping the gun just in case Harrison was thinking the same thing but fuck it, he was allowed this one thing.

“Ciaran,” Harrison said as he stroked Ciaran’s feathers, “I think it suits her.”

“Celtic?” Snape asked, genuinely surprised.

Harrison shrugged, “I read a book about it.”

“I see,” Snape said before clearing his throat, “Now about The-Boy-Who-Lived…”

Harry suddenly felt very awkward, of course technically he was also The-Boy-Who-Lived but this felt like it should have been a private moment for Harrison not to be shared with someone he had only met today.

“To put it simply, you, Mr Potter, are The-Boy-Who-Lived,” Snape said as Harrison’s face paled, “Around a decade ago the was a Dark Lord, so evil that he is only ever referred to as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. There were those who fought him however, including, Mr Potter, your parents. On Halloween night ten years ago the Dark Lord infiltrated your home, intent on killing your parents and presumably you. He was successful in killing your father and… mother,” Snape’s voice rose slightly as he spoke but nobody acknowledged it, “However when he came to kill you, something happened, instead of killing you he himself perished. The only evidence he even attacked you is your scar.”

Harry felt his arm twitch and had to fight his instinct to reach up to his forehead as Harrison felt his own lighting bolt scar.

“It is because of this that you are the most famous wizard in Britain, there isn’t a witch or wizard alive who doesn't know your name.” Snape finished with a deep sneer.

“Oh…” Was all Harrison could say, clearly overwhelmed as Harry nervously glanced between the two.

“What?” Snape spat, “Starting to think of how lucky you are to be famous?”

“I’d rather have my parents.” Harrison retorted with a scowl in Snape's direction.

“Uh,” Harry interrupted before things could devolve further, “Maybe this isn’t the time or place?”

For a moment he thought Snape was going to snap at him too but a second later his sneer lessened and he sighed, “Perhaps it’s time we call it a day.”

Harry nodded as he pulled out a pen and paper, “Hey Harrison, if you get a chance before term starts you should come visit.” He said and handed Harrison the address of his orphanage.

Harrison smiled as he took the paper, “Thanks and uh thank you for the owl Professor Snape.”

Snape nodded as he appeared to sort out two portkeys to get them both home.

Harry leaned back in his chair and allowed himself to feel a little smug. Day one had been near perfect success. He and Harrison were friends, Harrison was better prepared for Hogwarts than Harry had ever been and he had even managed to get Severas Snape of all people to buy the kid a birthday present.

Now he just needed the next 7 years to go as smoothly.