02 - Thanks Merlin for Competent Teachers
This is it, the blessed day, the day when his Hogwarts letter is bound to come. He thinks he's about to combust with the repressed energy accumulated by his stay with the Dursleys. Seriously, one more scream and he's going to curse Vernon, wandless if necessary.
(He tries telling himself that if he gets expelled before even starting his first year his plans will be harder, and he won't get to see Hogwarts again, to keep himself from hexing them)
(The not seeing Hogwarts again is what works mostly)
He has half a mind of letting everything happen as before, but he's curious and wants to see if Hagrid was a last time decision and Dumbledore will send a teacher this time, so he's going to take the letter and answer quietly.
The day begins as usual, he has to make breakfast and all that. When Vernon orders him to go get the mail he complies without arguing, turning to escape Dudley's Smelting's stick.
He recognizes the letter straight away and snatches from the others quickly, almost going himself a paper cut. He rushes back and slips the letter down the door of his cupboard, then goes back to the kitchen, heart pounding and feeling giddy.
In his life before, he keept all his Hogwarts letters together inside the album that Hagrid gifted him. Ron made the effort but he never quite got why he did that, Hermione had a better grip on the reason but the ones that came close to really get the sentimentalism of that were Mr. and Mrs. Weasly. They understood why keeping the letters that marked the beginning of their school life was something important. Even if they didn't completely get all the things that Hogwarts meant to him.
The day passes slowly. Harry can't keep himself from showing little tics of emotion and Petunia is looking at him as if he would start attacking her suddenly. Wich, rude. Still, when Dear Tuney finally, finally, sets him free he can't help himself and he runs inside his cupboard. He got a scream from his Aunt but he couldn't care less.
He has his letter, and the feeling of freedom that always comes with it is here too. He opens it, reading it with care. So far everything is the same, it's addressed to The Cupboard under the Stairs and is signed by Professor McGonagall.
He picks up the broken pencil and tores a page from the notebook, writing a response.
(His penmanship is almost the same as it was in his second year and he's almost ashamed. How is it that he can fight better than he can write? Shameful, disgraceful)
(That doesn't mean that he will start doing calligraphy practices every day, someone tell the Hermione in his mind to please calm down)
(Tom Riddle always wrote beautifully, maybe when he gets the diary he'll tell him to help him(meaning: he'll annoy him till Riddle tires of his awful chicken scratch))
He's half hoping that they send Hagrid again, if only because seeing him again will be nice. And the fact that he can get his Gringotts key from him easily without him noticing is a bonus. One of the things that bothered him is that he almost never had his own key, usually Mrs. Weasly took care of buying his things and sure, he was a kid and he probably would've spent a lot of money in gifts for all his friends, but still.
(Maybe he can finally buy Ron a broom? He wanted to do that since always but the only one that supported his idea was Sirius, the others went on telling him that it would cost too much. Didn't they get that he's rich? I could have vacations flats, rent 5 stars room hotels, and buy stupidly expensive wine for the giggles Rich? He just wants to spoil his friends, is it that bad?)
His response consisted of him asking them about 'magic is real? If it is, could I have any proof? Also how do I get my supplies? How did I get enrolled in Hogwarts?'. Hopefully, they will take the hint and send someone able to explain. He knows all of that already, but they don't and he'll try to keep the pretense that he's actually 11 for as long as he can.
He saves the letter and when the day passes and he's let out the cupboard, he very discretely looks through the window for an owl. There's a barn owl sitting on the branch of a tree, looking at him. It's a bit disturbing, but it makes things easier. He calls the owl and sends it with the letter. After being picked because he didn't have any treats for it.
He misses Hedwig. If he goes to Diagon Ally and Hedwig is not in the shop he'll riot and cry, in that order.
-
The fated day arrives, there was not a letter telling him if they'll send someone to take him to Diagon Ally or not, but Harry still remembers the day that Hagrid came to take him off the Dursleys. The fact that it was his birthday the same day certainly helped matters.
It's Harry's birthday, there's not a trip to the ocean or oceans of letters coming through the windows. Everything goes as usual until the clock ticks 9 AM. There are three knocks that sounds like they're made by not a half-giant.
Turns out, it's not Hagrid this time, it's McGonagall. And Petunia's face when she noticed that she wasn't going to take the insults is going to feature in his dreams. McGonagall is awesome.
The trip to Diagon Ally goes well. McGonagall explains magic and Hogwarts to him while they get into the Leaky Caldron. She transfigured a cap for him so no one recognizes him at the Leaky.
(The wixen world is stupidly oblivious, Harry knew that already but, wow)
The trip follows the same schedule that the last time, first Gringotts (he gets his key, cheers), Madame Malkin's (no Draco this time, but there was a to-be slytherin boy buying his robes, he thinks his name rhymed with blaze but he can't remember), Flourish and Blotts (he did buy more books than before, including an introduction to Ancient Runes and a book of Arithmancy for beginners. Hermione would've been so proud), the apothecary and finally, Ollivander's.
It's as unnerving as it was the first time, if not more. Ollivander keep giving him weird looks since he stepped through the door but still have the exact same discourse as before. Harry is not proud of it, but he squirmed the whole time they were in the shop, even more when his nerves made him ask Ollivander what was so curious. First year him never saw McGonagall look so pale.
(Oh Merlin he missed his Holly wand so much)
(Even if when he touched the wand he felt like something was missing. The feeling receded and now it's not there but, weird, right?)
After the ordeal, professor McGonagall did not buy him hamburgers, but she did give him his ticket with clear instructions on how to pass through the barrier into Platform 9 and ¾. The Wixie world doesn't recognize how competent she is, a shame.