He's Got Lily's Fire in His Eyes

When Harry slowly drifted back into consciousness he was comfortable and when he finally opened his eyes and sat up he blinked remembering where he was before deciding to meditate a little to try and sort through the mess in his head. He does that for about twenty minutes before getting out of the comfortable chair and folding the blanket that was knitted black and dark green that smelled oddly familiar but not like his mothers clothes at all. Noticing that most of the books were placed neatly on the shelves except for the giant pile in the middle of the room that he thinks must’ve been what his mom packed last minute. He starts looking around to see if there's an order to the books when he turns and sees a few books on the side table by the chair he slept on. One was definitely a baby book, one that was advanced runes, something he’d come across while rummaging through before, though this one was in a different language that he wasn’t sure about. The last one made him nearly cry in relief as it’s a manual of how to use the library as well as a record of all the titles. According to the manual all he needs to do is put his wand on the index page and state the title and author he wanted and it would flip to the page he needed, which also showed the shelf and where it should be on the shelf. He started with the list Goldrich gave him and thankfully a good chunk was in the library, some he had to go through the pile on the floor to find. After checking all the titles, marking off the ones he could find he started to put the books on the floor in their place on the shelves using the manual book as a guide.

Putting the last one from the small hill of books on the shelf he puts the manual back on the side table before climbing out of the trunk to face the music. The sunlight is shining brightly from the window and the cracked screen of the old digital clock reads midday. Sighing he carefully heads downstairs, seeing only his aunt in the kitchen who startled at his sudden appearance before anger twists her face and she says, “How long have you been here?” Harry says back, “I'm not sure when I got back but it was probably early this morning.” steeling himself for the yelling and slew of chores she’s most definitely going to give him. His aunt does just that, after a half hour of lecturing she gave him a very long list that is going to take more than one day. He starts working on the list, not getting it all done and losing dinner because of it.

Several months pass with Harry going into his trunk and reading the books Goldrich suggested along with his mothers diaries. He found her first one that she kept from the ages of 6-11, something her mother, his grandmother, had given to her when she saw her keeping one and asked if she could have one too. The second one she kept from 11-17, her Hogwarts years. The last one he decided to stop reading until he’d read the first two in order. He also made more trips to the magical district, going completely by himself after the first time. He had much more knowledge about the wizarding world and his accounts now, thanks to his account manager. He stayed away from the books for his first year that had been on display in Flourish and Blotts since the beginning of the summer. Deciding to look them over before school started and after he got his letter not wanting to be bored but also still anxious he’s behind since he didn’t grow up around magic. He mainly bought books from thrift stores or the shop down knockturn anyway as the thrift stores were cheaper and the shop in knockturn that was aptly named “Alexandria's Book Store” had a lot of political and traditional books he needed. He went there enough that he found the owner was actually named Alexandria and that she found as much amusement from her shop name that he did. He had also come to find out that the Library of Alexandria still existed in the wizarding world, it had only been ‘lost’ to the muggles.

He’s been practicing etiquette like Goldrich mentioned and from the couple times he used magical etiquette in the alley he didn’t completely fuck it up. Practice didn’t make him less nervous as his eleventh birthday drew ever nearer. He found out he was famous and why on his second trip, it took a while to process and when he did he asked Goldrich if he could sue the person writing all those fake stories about him. Thankfully he could do something even if it had to be discreet as his “magical guardian” couldn’t find out he knew about magic yet as they had surmised he was trying to keep Harry dumb and ignorant. Harry had come across the shoe box his aunt had shoved at him when she first showed him the truck, opening it to reveal a picture book from his mum’s childhood and pictures of him his parents must have sent her along with letters from his mother, most unopened. In the box were also letters from Dumbledore, including the one left with him on their porch. All of those are now sitting in an evidence folder in Ripclaws office.

They had negotiated with the author to put a disclaimer that the stories were all made up and simply his imagination as well as Harry getting forty percent of the profits, the percent was a bit high but seeing as he had the power to stop them printing his name all together and sue him for every penny he made off his name and then some the man was glad to sign the contract that Ripclaw made, a goblin that his mother hired specifically for her vault, Goldrich being the manager for his fathers. He also didn’t care too much that the books described him with black hair as it helped him keep a low profile, before and after he found out he was famous. Ripclaw had suggested they come up with a contract for the press too for when he officially joined the wizarding world again, he’s very grateful for his account managers as he has no doubts he’d be much worse off and way less prepared without them.

The morning of 26 July, 1991 dawned as he rolled out of bed to do his usual routine of meditating and then going to make his relatives breakfast. Half way through breakfast the clink of the mail slot sounded, Vernon telling Dudley to get it who then whined for Harry to get it. He has been so anxious about his letter he didn’t even argue, dodging Dudley's new smeltings stick as he passed the table. He froze when he felt the parchment amongst the pile, deciding quickly to approach his aunt later wishing to avoid his uncle's wrath, shoved the letter by his hip, hoping it wouldn't fall out before he’s ready. Once breakfast had finished Vernon made his way out of the house for work and later after lunch Dudley had begged off to go run around with his friends. Harry quickly finished up the last chore he’d been working on, making sure not to make any mistakes. Carefully approaching his aunt, her noticing his lingering she snapped, “What do you want?” Harry takes a deep breath and pulls out the letter that he had cracked the seal and read over during the small break he took, making sure he was out of sight before doing so. His aunt sneered at him before saying, “I trust you know how to write those freaks that you can take yourself?” she asked icily. “Yes, Aunt Petunia.” He went to his room quickly penning a reply on paper and putting it in the envelope to take to the post office.

Arriving in the alley and seeing the crowds he was grateful he only needed his first year books and new robes as he had outgrown the ones from last year, semi-regular meals seemed to do that to a growing boy it seemed. Deciding to hit the robes shop first he went to Madam Malkins. Walking in he saw it was probably gonna take awhile as both stands had kids on them so he sat quietly waiting for his turn. Mrs. Malkin must not have seen him when he first walked in as she seemed to startle at the sight of him before ushering him on the dias, not a few minutes later the kid next to him was ushered off and another boy stepped up to be fitted. The boy had blonde hair and ice grey eyes. He was taller than Harry though most kids his age still were. Mrs. Malkin had walked away for something telling them to be still as the needles and tape measure went this way and that around each of them.

The boy piped up and asked, “What's your name? I’m Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.” Harry was a bit surprised he was talking to him but answered, “Well met Heir Malfoy, I'm Harry.” he said, not wanting to give himself away just yet but still wanting to be polite.” His answer seemed to make the boy perk up as he replied, “Well met. I apologize for not giving the proper greeting, I didn’t realize you would know it.” Harry smiled at that, saying, “It’s alright, I'm still learning the proper etiquette, I didn’t know about the magical world until recently.” He watched Malfoy carefully for his reaction, he didn’t react negatively, simply looking surprised and said, “You must learn quickly then, I'm relieved you're taking an interest in it since most muggleborns don’t.” He watched for Harry’s reaction. It seemed they were testing each other, Harry found it a bit amusing that they were basically sizing each other up like adults despite both being eleven and couldn’t help but giggle at his thought. Malfoy started laughing with him and after a few too many pokes from the needle they both quieted. “Since you only told me your first name I guess it’s only right that you use mine as well.” Harry smiles and says, “nice to meet you Draco.” Draco responds similarly and they chat some more, Draco deciding Harry must accompany him and his family through the rest of their shopping and Harry agreeing.

Once Mrs. Malkin finishes their fitting up and ushers them off, Harry walking to the counter to pay and Draco wondering to a woman with black and white hair who must be his mother. She comes up to pay behind him, as he stamps the check with his Heir ring which is invisible to everyone but him. He was very happy at that as he knew the Dursleys would have questioned him if he showed up one day with a very expensive ring that he never took off. Stepping off to the side, Draco started chatting with him again while dragging him near the door of the shop to wait for his mum. They looked over as she stepped beside Draco, introducing them with, “Mum, this is Harry. Harry, this is my mum, Lady Malfoy.” Harry replied “Hello Lady Malfoy, well met.” while doing the little head bow the books taught him hoping he got it right.

She smiled at him replying, “Well met Harry, it’s lovely to meet you, Draco tells me he wishes you to join us on the rest of our shopping?” she questions. “Yes Lady Malfoy, if you don’t mind.” Harry said. “Of course I don’t mind as long as your guardian allows it.” she says. “Ah, I’m here by myself so I don’t think they would mind.” He replies a little wary. “You are? Draco tells me you only recently learned of magic, do you not have a professor from the school escorting you?” she asks. “No ma’am, my letter came with instructions on how to get to the alley but my guardians didn’t want to come with me, they’re muggles who aren't really fond of magic. I didn’t know I was supposed to be escorted by a professor.” He says, hoping the woman doesn’t make a big deal of it. Sensing his wariness Narcissa drops it for now, resolving to mention it to her husband later. “I see, well I most certainly can’t in good conscience let you go about the alley yourself. Let’s go meet up with my husband. What supplies do you need dear?” she asks. “Just my school books, I got the rest before.” she nods, walking them out of the shop saying, “That’s where my husband should be, you two can pick yours up as I look for him.” She skillfully weaves through the crowds walking them up to Flourish and Blotts.

Walking into the shops she says, “I’ll go find Lucius, you boys can go get Harry’s books.” They nod in agreement going over to the stands at the front with all the different years' texts separated into piles for students to easily grab. Draco ended up pulling him to the politics and etiquette section and after pointing out he had all those already he dragged him to the history section, which he surprisingly hadn’t read much of yet. Draco started to pile books in the expandable basket he’d given to Harry before hesitating a second then nodding to himself before continuing to pile the books in the basket. Harry watched amused and curious, he pointed out a couple he had but he didn’t have most of the titles Draco wanted him to get. Finishing his self-appointed task he dragged him to the counter and once Mr. Botts wrung them up and Draco insisted on paying, “No, let me, I was the one who piled your basket with books, they're important enough anyway.” “I can myself, you definitely don’t have too.” they probably would have argued like this for a while if Mr. Blotts hadn’t slid the check slip to the end of the counter which Draco hastily stamped, smiling in triumph as Harry looked at Mr. Blotts in mock betrayal. Which the man looked at with tired amusement. They started back to the door of the shop, Harry insisting on paying him back, Draco insisting he didn’t. Eventually Draco countered saying he can pay him back by writing him over the rest of the summer and sitting with him on the train. Harry begrudgingly accepted it and they started looking around for Lady Malfoy. They spotted her with what must be Lord Malfoy talking outside, so the two hurried to join them.

Narcissa split up from the boys, trusting her son to look after Harry, he already seems quite fond of him and she hopes they can become good friends. While being an Heir to an Ancient and Noble house had its perks and grandeur it didn’t make for a very good base of friends, not real ones anyway. She searched the store for a bit, finding her husband just about to leave. She walked him outside and when they stopped, she put up anti-eavesdropping charms before she turned to him and said, “Lucius, our son seems to have picked up a new friend in Malkin’s, though I’m concerned as he said he was muggle-raised but didn’t have a proffesor escort him to the alley. His letter only had instructions on how to get here.” Lucius raises his eyebrows in surprise replying, “Really? That is extremely against policy, if they were torn that thin this year they should have contacted the board who would have escorted the muggle-raised to the alley.” He thinks for a few seconds before saying, “I will ask around and see if any other muggle-raised has had this problem. Now, what can you tell me about the boy?” They end up discussing what she had gathered about him and what they could do and who they could talk to about this problem. About half an hour later the boys walk out of the shop, Draco calling to them. She took down the charms walking over to introduce the boy.

“Lucius, this is Harry, Harry, this is my husband Lord Malfoy.” Harry replied “Hello Lord Malfoy, well met.” Lucius replies in kind, the small group starting down the alley. “Have you gotten your wand yet, Harry? We still need to get Draco his.” Narcissa asked, “No ma’am, I haven’t yet.” Harry replied. She nodded and Draco pulled him back into a conversation about brooms.
They walked into Olivander’s together, Harry thought the air felt thick and heavy as he looked upon the rows and rows of wands. Mr. Olivander popped up beside Lord Malfoy, who didn’t startle unlike Draco and Harry. “Boys, this is Mr. Olivander. Mr. Olivander, my son Draco and his friend Harry.” They boys chorused “Well met.” Olivander replied “Well met, now which is your wand arms.” Draco held out his left hand, Mr. Olivander spelling the tape measure to hilariously measure him for his wand. “I’m not sure which one is my wand arm Sir.” Harry says hesitantly, he usually uses his mum's wand with both hands so he isn't sure which one he needs. “Which arm do you write with?” asks Olivander. “I can write with both but in muggle school I'm only allowed to write with my right hand.” Harry replies wondering if he overshared a little. Mr. Olivander blinks at him before responding, “Okay, hold out both arms then.”

Mr. Olivander walked about the shop plucking different boxes off the shelves. Walking back to them he starts handing different wands to Draco, snatching them back just as quickly. This goes on for a little while until the wand in his hand bathes the shop in sparks of soft blue. Mr. Olivander smiles and says, “Ah yes, Unicorn hair and Hawthorn wood, 10 inches and quite springy. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish, Heir Malfoy.” Turning to Harry he says, “Now, let's see which wand chooses you, shall we?” Walking back into the shelves putting half the stack he’d brought for Draco back and picking up new ones. “See here, how’s this?” He says placing a wand in Harry’s hand snatching it back just as quickly. Harry, feeling his hand itch strangely, focuses on the feeling each wand gives him, finding he seemed to have a different reaction to each of them.

After what seems like ages to the eleven year old and the entire stack of wands he had brought over Mr. Olivander says, “A tricky customer have we? Not to worry, not to worry.” he says seemingly ecstatic and practically skipping back to the shelves. After trying a couple more arm fulls of boxes Olivander stops to think. Lord Malfoy, concerned asks, “Is something the matter, Mr. Olivander?” to which he replied, “Oh no Lord Malfoy, it’s not often i have such a tricky customer, but it’s no problem, rather exciting actually. Tricky customers typically mean possibly getting to make a custom wand you see. I will have him try a few more wands before taking him back to pick a core and wood.” Turning to Harry he says, “How does that sound to you, lad?” Harry, surprised at being addressed at all, says, “Oh, uhm, that sounds okay.” Olivander nods as he goes to retrieve a few more boxes, none of the wands contained within accepting Harry.

“It seems like we will have to make a custom wand after-all, the price will be the same, if a bit of a wait. Would you like to follow me?” He asks Harry who looks back at the Malfoy’s a bit hesitant. “They are more than welcome to come with you if you would like.” Olivander says, seeing Harry’s unease. Nodding the malfoys follow Harry and Olivander to a room in the back of the shop, the shelves lined with all types of magical things. Olivander directs Harry to close his eyes and hold his hand over a drawer and to pick up whatever feels different from the majority. Harry following the instructions scrunches his eyes closed and tries to feel for the differences like in the wands he’d tried earlier. After a few minutes of running his hand along boxes and jars he picks up three containers and turns to hand them to Olivander. “Why three?” he questions curiously and gently. “Oh, well, those were the ones that felt different. Most of them felt cold or itchy, but these feel warm and nice?” he says a little hesitantly wondering if he had messed up. “I see, you did wonderful, now do the same with this drawer.” Olivander says, directing him to another desk. Harry does the same, this time coming up with two different pieces of wood. “Hmm, interesting choices lad, while it's not extremely rare for wixen to have multiple cores or woods you won’t find many in Britain, very curious. I estimate it will take me a few days to have your wand made, I will owl you when I am done so you may pick it up. How does this sound, lad?” he asks Harry. “Yeah, that seems fine, thank you sir.” Harry replies. With everything decided he walks them back out to the front, ringing up the Malfoys.

Having paid for Draco’s wand the small group walk out of the shop, Narcissa herding them towards a side alley and to a restaurant. “Harry, would you like to join us for lunch?” she asks him. “Yes, that would be lovely, thank you.” he responds politely. They head into the shop for lunch, the Malfoy’s insisting to pay for Harry’s meal despite his protest. “Harry dear, Lucius and I offering to pay for you isn’t us thinking you are incapable of doing so yourself, it is simply us being polite as we are who invited you in the first place. If you are truly opposed we will not overstep.” Narcissa says after seeing how Harry reacts. This takes the wind out of Harry’s sails as he blushes a bit, realizing it was a bit silly of him to argue as he did and probably more than a little rude. “Oh, yeah that’s okay, I'm sorry for arguing.” He replies, fiddling with his sleeves. “No need to apologize dear, I just wanted you to know that we aren’t looking down on you.” With the problem resolved and Harry taking a mental note to ask Draco if he was unsure about something as the boy seemed enthusiastic to answer any questions he had so far in the trip they continued on with lunch the tension dissolving as Draco started ranting about quidditch.

Before leaving the table, Narcissa puts up a few discrete anti-eavesdropping charms asking Harry, “Was there anything else you wanted to get while in the alley?” Harry replies, “No, Lady Malfoy, I've gotten everything for now, thank you for asking.” nodding she asks, “Good, I’ve already said you may call me Narcissa dear. Did your letter come with the package of muggle-raised introductory books?” she chides gently, Harry blinks unaware there was such a thing, “No ma’am, I didn’t know you could get those.” Lucius joins the conversation with, “I will have a package sent to you then, the school should have already given them to you, they are covered in your tuition fees.” Harry responds “Oh, thank you Mr. Malfoy, I could send them a letter myself if it would be too much trouble.” He says hesatitant and a little overwhelmed at their kindness. “Nonsense, I work on the school board, I’ll have no trouble procuring you your books Harry.” he responds, “Thank you.” in a quiet voice. Narcissa says after seeing that line of conversation has ended, “It’s no problem dear. Since you said you are here by yourself, do you have a guardian coming to pick you up?” Harry fiddles with his sleeves nervously unsure how to answer without possibly bringing too much attention to his relatives.

“Uhm, no but it’s okay, I know how to get there by myself.” He thinks he might’ve said the wrong thing by the way her smile drops briefly before she says, “I’m sure you're more than capable of getting home yourself, but would you like Lucius to drop you off? I assure you it will be no trouble and much faster than muggle transport, you must be tired after running around the alley with Draco all day. She suggests gently, hoping he’ll agree. Harry thinks anxiously about her offer, looking to Lucius who nods at him in confirmation of his wife's words. He thinks he is rather tired and riding the tube and buses always gives him a lot of anxiety and he is curious about how wizards would travel. Even knowing it might not be a good idea to have a wizard so close to his relatives he agrees warily, hoping he isn’t making a mistake.

Finishing up at the restaurant they end up casually browsing Diagon and some of the other side alleys for a few hours before heading to the apparition point, Lucius asking for Harry’s address and Draco pointedly reminding Harry to write to him for the next few weeks until Hogwarts is due to start. Lucius explains to Harry apparition and how it works after Narcissa and Draco disappear with a crack. Holding his arm tightly as he instructed they too disappear with a crack, Harry feeling like he’s being squished into a straw. Lucius landed gracefully at the end of Harry's street, making sure no muggles were around before charming his robes to appear as a muggle suit as he held onto Harry, waiting for the boy to stop looking like he was going to faint before asking him to lead the way. Harry on autopilot and trying his best not to puke up the perfectly delicious lunch he had, does as asked and leads Lucius to number 4. Thanking him for dropping him off as well as walking him through the alley he goes to head inside when Lucius stops him with, “It’s no problem, Harry, Do you wish for me to pick you up when your wand is ready? I have business in the alley quite often and will most likely need to go in a few days anyway.” He says, satisfied when he takes the offer. “Oh, uhm, thank you, if it would truly not bother you I would greatly appreciate it.” After Lucius nods to try and soothe the hesitance he sees on his face says, “Owl me when Olivander says it's ready for pick up, or include it in one of your letters to Draco if you would prefer, I shall see you in a few days then.” They give their last goodbyes before Harry heads into number 4 and Lucius walks to the end of the street to apparate away.