You're a Wizard
Three seconds until he turned eleven… maybe he should wake the Dursley's?
Two… it would be one hell of a beating but maybe it's worth it, you only turn eleven once…
One… nah, he would just ‘enjoy’ his birthday by being the only one awake, no Dursley's, no ms. Figg, no one…
Zero-
A loud cracking of thunder disrupted the relative peace, followed by knocking on the decaying wood door. Harry could just barely hear it over the thick carpet of rain that fell onto the earth and sea. His head spun around back to Dudley and then the door to the second room but neither stirred, though Harry could reason that Petunia didn't hear the thunder over Vernon’s snoring.
There was another knock at the door, now Dudley turned in his sleep but he, and the elder dursleys, were still far from waking.
Seeing it best that they don’t wake quite yet, Harry, upon hearing the third knock, got up and walked over to the door. The hinges squeaked quietly as the old, weathered door swung open to reveal a black man standing there. He wore a fashionable purple-blue suit with sea green tie that would’ve made Vernon’s mouth water. It was made of very fine material, the sort that you could see a celebrity wearing at a public gathering. The man was bald, a dark goatee lining the lower part of his jaw, “Ah, wonderful to finally meet you mister potter, may I enter?”
His voice was smooth and deep and he pronounced each word with a slow carefulness that oozed comfort. The logical part of his brain wanted Harry to deny the man’s request but he couldn’t shake the feeling that having this man come in was right, “Sure mister?”
“Shacklebolt, Kingsley Shacklebolt”, the newly named Shacklebolt stepped into the old structure, “I must say Mister Potter, I had not expected someone of your caliber to reside in a place like this”
“My caliber? I am sorry sir but I don’t understand”, Harry felt dumb, like he didn’t know something that he should.
Shacklebolt took one long look into Harry’s eyes and sighed, shaking his head, “So that’s how it is…I told him we should’ve checked up on you… take a seat, there is a lot that I need to tell you”
Harry wanted to ask where they should sit, there was no furniture inside this room except the couch that Dudley currently occupied but when he looked over to the man, he saw him sitting on one of two big leather chairs that he could’ve sworn weren’t there when he came here with the Dursleys. Dumbfounded, he sat down, now facing Shacklebolt. He only now noticed his eyes, they were purple, a very dark shade of purple that bled into black.
“Now Mister Potter, let us begin with the most important part. You are a Wizard”
“I’m a what?”, he stared into those deep purple eyes. Surely Shacklebolt was telling a joke, lightening up the mood like Vernon tried -and failed- to do at dinner whenever his boss came over.
“A Wizard Mister Potter”, Shacklebolt repeated with a plain tone, “Here let me show you”
He raised his hand in which laid a long, wooden stick carved on one side, the one facing his palm, to look like a frog. He pointed his stick towards one of the stones that littered the ground and whispered something Harry didn’t quite catch. Instantly, the stone was no more, it had been replaced by a small chicken, about half the size of a regular one, “That is only one of many forms of magic we, the witches and wizards are capable of. Now I can see you are doubtful but I assure you that there has been no mistake, you are magical, just as your parents had been before you, your mother and your father and his father before him”
“My- my mom and dad… they were magic? B- but no! How could they be magic- if- if they were magic then they wouldn’t have died in that car crash”, he just couldn’t believe it.
“They were magic, that I promise you and you are right, Wixen don’t die in Car crashes, I doubt half of my family even knows what a car even is but that’s it, Lily and James Potter did not die in a car crash… no, they were killed.”
Harry wanted to speak up, to protest but Shacklebolt continued, “A long time ago, before your parents even started learning their first spells, there was a powerful, evil man who sought to rule the magical world through violence. He waged war against any and all that he thought unworthy of magic, one fateful night, on halloween, he decided your parents were unworthy. He came to their home and killed them with a vile spell, one of the same green color as your eyes, he went to kill you- but he couldn’t. Somehow, he was unable to kill you, a defenseless toddler, instead he was hit by his own spell and he vanished… That night, the most evil wizard since Grindelwald disappeared and you became famous”
It took several minutes for Harry to even begin to process what he just heard, it sounded so nonsensical, so unreal, yet somehow he just felt it to be true, somehow he knew this man spoke the truth and nothing but the truth, “I- I don’t understand, who was this man, why did I survive and why does that make me famous?”
Shacklebolt chuckled sadly,”How you survived, we may never know. There are many theories, some say it was a trap, others that your parents love protected you while some believe you are simply stronger than him, that your magic was so much more powerful after he had cast so much magic that it overpowered his spell. Who is that man? A monster that’s what he is, he inspired so much fear that till this day none bar the bravest or most stupid dare speak his name. Most simply call him ‘He-who-must-not-be-named’ or ‘You-know-who’ but I feel it important that you know his name, now you must understand that saying this name is not something to be taken lightly, that it is something you should only do in the rarest of cases… his name was Lord Voldemort”, Shacklebolt flinched as the name crossed his lips and gulped, “now, your last question, why you are famous. No one wants to admit it but before You-know-who disappeared he was on the verge of winning the war and if he did, no one would be safe, neither Wix nor muggle -a muggle is a non-magical person-, millions would have died, and even more would suffer. So when he disappeared, when this bleak future was stopped from happening, People celebrated and you, as the one responsible for his downfall, were hailed as a hero. Books were written about you, stories were told. You would be hard pressed to find a wix in europe who doesn’t know the name Harry Potter”
“I- but I was just a baby!”
“It mattered not, you were our savior”
They continued to talk for what felt like hours, Shacklebolt telling Harry about You-know-who, about Dumbledore and Grindelwald, of Hogwarts and the Ministry, of Gringotts and -most importantly- the Potters. It was beautiful to learn more about his family, even if none remain called Potter. He listened carefully as Shacklebolt spoke of all the people that he was related to, no matter how distantly. It wasn’t all great however, Sirius black came up eventually, the man who betrayed his parents and who -according to Shacklebolt- was currently on the loose again.
“You will be safe at Hogwarts, even if Black somehow gets into the castle, there is no way he gets into your houses dormitory”
That was another thing that fascinated Harry, the houses. Shacklebolt told him of four houses in Hogwarts, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin. He told him about what each house valued and of the important Wixen that each house produced. Slytherin was the one that Harry liked the most and he wished to be sorted into it. That house sounded great, especially since Merlin was in Slytherin! As in the real, actual Merlin. In that house, Harry knew he could become great, he could be greater than any of the Dursleys could dream of, he could be truly special.
“Now, I think we have talked for long enough, it is high time that we go shopping for your supplies”, he handed Harry a letter, the same type of letter he had been receiving for weeks now, “Your official Hogwarts Letter. There will be a list in there of what you need to buy”
With shaky hands, Harry opened the purple wax seal and read the oh so elusive letter.
‘HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, first class, Grand sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Please find a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl or the owl of your assigned guide by no later than july 31st.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
(Order of Merlin, first class, Lady of House McGonagall)
(P.S. I know I’m not supposed to write this into the letter but I am still feeling guilty for allowing you to be left in the care of the Dursley’s. Seeing as you haven’t received any of the letters till now, I fear to see my suspicion true. I am so very sorry, please when Shacklebolt takes you to Diagon Alley, show this letter to the shopkeep of the magical menagerie, you can choose whatever pet you want and I will cover the costs)
Uniform:
Three sets of plain work robes (black).
One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear.
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar).
One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings).
Please note that all first year student's clothes should carry name tags at all times.
Books:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
Defending body and home, a guide of many magics by Hephaistos McGonagall
Other Equipment:
1 Wand
1 Cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set of glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set of brass scales
Students may also bring an Owl OR a Cat OR a Toad.
Should a different pet be in consideration please refer to ‘Hogwarts a History, Chapter 11’ for a list of all other allowed pets and the requirements for bringing them into the castle.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS. BROOMSTICKS CARRIED BY FIRST YEARS WILL BE CONFISCATED BY THE SCHOOL INDEFINITELY:
’
“How am I supposed to afford all this, from what you said I can’t access any of my Family’s money until in six years and I am sure the Dursley’s won’t pay for it”
Shacklebolt chuckled, “Of course you have your own vault, your parents made it to hold enough for your school supplies each year but after all was done, a lot of Wixen gave you presents that all landed up in there, wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a million galleons in there by now. Now, hold onto my arm Harry, we shall apparate to the entrance of diagon alley”
Harry did as he was told and instantly felt like vomiting. It was as if he was spinning whilst an invisible string pulled him through a coin-sized hole at his belly button. When the torture ended after a few painful seconds, Harry was about ready to throw up but managed to keep himself from doing so.
When he had reorientated himself, he found that they were standing before a pub, the ‘leaky cauldron’, “C’mon in Harry, the easiest entrance is through here”
Kingsley stepped into the pub and Harry, keeping his scar hidden as best as he could. They passed several wizards and witches and even some that Harry doubted were fully human, no normal man was that tall or hairy and no normal woman would eat a liver raw, surely. They went into a back alley connected to the pub which seemed to be a dead end, until Kingsley pulled his wand out that is, “Now Harry, you have to count from this rubbish bin, three bricks up, six right and then tap that brick twice”
Shacklebolt did as he had described and slowly the brick wall opened up, bricks folding into one another, constructing an archway that revealed a marvelous sight.