Eric walked into Matron Claire’s office, wondering what she could want to talk to him about. He hadn’t done anything wrong he didn’t think. A few of the boys didn’t like him, but nothing more than harsh words and a few shoves. He didn’t think they’d try to get him in trouble with the matron over any of it.

“Harry Potter?” Eric looked up and frowned. Standing there in the office was a very old man with a long white beard. He was wearing a fancy suit and his gaze was piercing as he looked down at Eric. Next to him sitting at her desk was the matron.

No one had called him Harry in over a year. He was growing on the name Potter, honestly. He liked how it sounded with Eric better than how Smith did.

“Hello?” Eric tried as he looked at the old man, “Who are you?”

“Eric,” the Matron Claire scolded, “This man is here to offer you a very selective scholarship to school. If you’re polite and can show you meet his qualifications after he interviews you.”

“Eric?” the old man asked, “Is this not Harry Potter? I’m sorry if there’s been some sort of mistake…”

Matron Claire waved him off, “Oh, no. This is the right boy. When you said it earlier, I had nearly forgotten. But he goes Eric around here even if he’s technically Harry in the files. Eric Potter, Meet Albus Dumbledore. He’ll be your interviewer for the scholarship.”

“Indeed,” Dumbledore said, stroking his beard as he appeared thoughtful as he stared at Eric.

“Can we perhaps have the interview in private? I find it’s more conducive to our prospects to discuss it on a one on one basis.”

Matron Claire hesitated for a moment but Dumbledore met her eyes for a long moment. Then she nodded and stood.

“You can use my office for now. I’ll be just outside if you need me.”

She walked out, leaving Dumbledore and Eric alone in the room. Eric frowned slightly. Wasn’t that against the rules? The matron was never supposed to leave any of the kids alone with strangers, even if the man was giving him a scholarship.

“Eric,” Dumbledore said as he sat on a chair that he turned to face Eric. He gestured towards the other one and with a single gesture lifted it off the ground and floated it out to Eric and put it next to him. Eric stepped forward to sit in it, before freezing. Act shocked, act shocked…

“Ohhh, nooo. What was that? Is this a prank?” Eric tried to say convincingly. But the old man just chuckled.

“Ah, about five seconds too late, Mr. Potter,” Dumbledore said, “I see you’re already familiar with magic, then? I thought that would be the case.”

Eric sat down on the chair, tense as a spring. This was a potentially hostile wizard. Who knew what he could do to him if the man became upset with him?

“Why? Why would I know? How did you guess?”

“Just a hunch. I looked into the situation with your aunt and uncle. It seems you’ve used magic before. Intentionally to punish them after they almost killed you.”

“Er, well. Yeah,” Eric said. No point in denying it really. Who knew what this wizard might do if he tried to lie to him. Balthazar had always seemed to know if Eric was trying to lie to him. He wasn’t sure if it was magic or if Balthazar was just that good. But that meant he should probably try to not lie if he could. Besides him not really being Harry Potter that is. That seemed pretty critical to keep from everybody.

“Hm. How did that make you feel? Did you use your magic before that point? Have anyone help train you?”

“I dunno. I was happy being able to control my magic so easily. I probably should feel bad about hurting them, but I don’t really. I almost died. Felt like I did die for a little bit. Didn’t feel very fair that they could just get away with it with no consequences.”

Oops. A little too much revealed there. But all true. It really had bothered him how Harry’s aunt and uncle had believed that they could have just brushed off what had happened without a second glance. If it had really been Harry there then it might have even worked. That was just sort of depressing.

Especially when he had no idea what had happened to his own father. Had he been arrested and hanged? Ran into the countryside and lived on the run? Somehow and gotten off without any serious punishment? Eric would never know. His dad was named Peter Smith. One of the most common combinations of names possible. He would never be able to find what had happened even if he spent a long long time looking.

“Yes, your case was rather extreme. An act of passion, I suppose.”

“Something like that…”

Curious, Eric extended his magical senses towards the old man. He usually kept them contained because they distracted him if it was out all the time when there was no magic around for him to focus on. He immediately flinched and retreated again as he saw the blazing sun of magic blasting out of the man. With his magic sense only going a foot away from his skin he only couldn’t even detect the man directly, but he was radiating so much magic that Eric could feel it even if he couldn’t directly sense his actual magic in his body. Woah, this guy was powerful…

“I say this, because many children release their magic largely uncontrollably during times of high emotion or stress,” Dumbledore continued, “It’s called accidental magic. But you seem to have admirable control of your magic, more than most children your age. Did you have a teacher perhaps?”

Eric thought for a few seconds. What should he say? He did have a teacher, but he wasn’t sure what this old man was after. What if he figured out somehow that Eric wasn’t Harry? What would happen to him?

“Yeah. I had a teacher,” Eric said, “But I don’t want to talk about him. I disappointed him and I haven’t seen him since.”

Balthazar was very disappointed that Eric hadn’t stayed behind to work together with Harry to try to defeat the stupid impossible puzzle. He definitely hadn’t seen him since. He wondered how long it had been for Harry since Eric had left that hell.

“What was this teacher’s name? I’d like to talk to this person if I could.”

Eric didn’t speak for a bit, trying to decide what he should do. But there was no way this Dumbledore could make it to the hellish realm, right? “Balthazar,” He finally said, “His name was Balthazar. Is there really a scholarship? Or did you just want to ask me about my teacher?”

Dumbledore jolted and shook his head, “Oh, yes. We’ve been drawn off course. There are many other magical children such as yourself. I’m the headmaster of the Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. When you go there, you can learn to control your magic and meet other magical children such as yourself. The scholarship is very real, and you’ll be given some basic funds for school supplies as well as your tuition being fully paid for by the wizarding government.”

Eric thought about it. That could be fun. He didn’t use his magic too much so far, not wanting to stand out from the other children more than he already did. But around other magicals he could let loose and experiment with his magic more.

“What about the orphanage?” Eric asked, “What will I tell them?”

“I will make the arrangements. Everyone will believe that Hogwarts is nothing but a high end boarding school that you attend. I assume you’re interested in attending?”

“Yeah. There’s really a whole school of people who can use intr- magic?”

“Indeed. Here is your acceptance letter with the school supplies for the term,” Dumbledore said as he pulled a letter from his suit and handed it over to Eric.

“One of our teachers will arrive to escort you to buy your supplies and get you properly introduced to our world. They shall arrive in the middle of August. Welcome to the magical world Har- Eric Potter.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The man left and Eric held the letter in his hands. He stared at it for a long while before he smiled. He had just been happy to be alive again and living in this place. The magic was just a nice bonus. But now? Now things would get interesting.

— — —

The man that collected Eric was a giant of a man wearing a worn ragged old brown cloak. Rubeus Hagrid as he introduced himself. He took Eric into London and into a pub. The Leaky Cauldron. He thought it was strange to take an eleven year old kid into a dingy old pub, but Eric was surprised once he looked a little closer. He could feel intrinsic magic in all the people he was walking by! Several were holding newspapers with pictures that moved on their own, and all had little sticks at their sides. Wands, Hagrid had called them.

Balthazar had told Eric about magical focuses. Increase your power at the cost of versatility. Balthazar was a bit of an elitist, looking down on the ‘less skilled’ wizards who couldn’t cast magic without them. Eric had asked for a magical focus while he was magical training and Balthazar had strongly advised him to not use one, as it ‘built up bad habits’.

It seems these magical people were not of the same opinion.

“Hey, Tom,” Hagrid said as they approached the barman, “How’s life treaten' ya?”

“Very good, very good,” the old bartender replied, “Plenty of galleons in the pocket, business is good. What are you about today?”

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Hagrid waved to Eric, “Here to take Eric Potter here to get his school supplies.”

Tom peered down at Eric. He looked back at the old man and smiled widely. People liked it when you smiled, right?

The old man flinched and Eric toned it down a bit. Too much it seems.

“Eric Potter… No relation to Harry Potter, is there?”

Eric tilted his head slightly to the side and frowned, “Harry Potter? That’s me. I go by Eric. How would you know me? Have we met before?”

Hagrid and Tom looked at him in surprise, “Ya don’t know? You’re about the mos’ famous boy in the whole wizarding world. The boy who lived. Defeated you know who as a baby.”

“Who?” Eric asked, “Why am I famous again?”

The two of them exchanged a glance. Hagrid turned to Tom. “Why don’t ya get me a pint. Seems like I got some explaining to do.”

Eric pulled himself up onto the barstool as Hagrid sat down next to him, his chair creaking dangerously under him as it struggled to hold up his massive weight.

“Did tha’ Matron ever tell ya what happened to yer parents?”

“They died in a car crash?” Eric asked confused, “And why would she know? I was living with my aunt and uncle for most of my life.”

Well, Harry’s life.

“Ye were?” Hagrid asked in surprise, “Why were ya at tha’ orphanage then?”

“They were mentally ill and got arrested. I got sent to the orphanage after,” Eric said with a smile. Everything had really worked out perfectly there.

“Sorry to hear tha’. Didn’t even know…”

Eric shrugged.

“Car crash… Na, it was more than tha’. Yer parents were murdered by a dark wizard. V-V-Voldemort,” Hagrid said the last word in nearly a whisper, “Yer were jus’ a baby. But somehow when he cast the killing curse at ya, something happened. Ye survived and the dark lord was found dead, killed by his own curse. The dark wizard and his followers the death eaters were terrorizin’ the country, everyone was scared and no one felt safe. But with his defeat, it all ended and you’re the one responsible for it. People think that yer a hero, the boy who lived. Harry Potter.”

“Huh,” Eric said. He didn’t think Harry had known any of this.

“But I’m famous?” He asked.

“Yeah. Lots of people will be interested to meet ya. Surprised your so calm about it.”

Eric shrugged. It was interesting, but it was Harry’s parents not his. Sad, but not anything to get worked up about.

Hagrid took another swig of his mug of ale and Eric eyed it.

“Can I have a sip?” He asked.

Hagrid looked between his mug and Eric in surprise.

“I’ve never had any before,” Eric said.

“No,” Hagrid said, “This drink is mine.”

“Rats. Can we go shopping now? This place is interesting but I don’t see any stores or anything.”

Hagrid took one last chug to finish off his drink and slammed it back to the counter.

“Alrigh’. Off to Diagon alley. We’ll have to go to Gringotts to get ye’ some money.”

They walked into a seedy back alley behind the pub and Eric looked around suspiciously. This was the place they were going?

“Are we buying drugs or something?” Eric asked. He had seen some television over the last two years at the orphanage. This looked like the place the drug dealers hung out in the shows.

“Drugs?” Hagrid said absentmindedly as he walked up to the wall in front of him. He took out a pink umbrella and tapped a few bricks on the wall a few times.

“Nah, thas’ Knockturn alley,” Hagrid said as he kept tapping the bricks, “This place is way too public to buy anyth–”

He paused mid sentence and then tapped another brick.

“Don’t get any idears now, though,” He said as he tapped another brick and took a step back, “Ye need anything just ask me. Knockturn is no place for kids.”

Eric gave Hagrid an odd look.

“I’m eleven. Are you offering to buy me drugs?”

Hagrid shrugged, “I’ll get ya any of the muggle stuff fer cheap. We got magic. One spell can get rid of addiction or side effects, whenever ye like. Just don’t go fer the magic stuff. That’s where ya start getting problems.”

“You work at Hogwarts?” Eric asked in disbelief, trying to understand how this was happening. It was supposed to be a throwaway joke, “You wouldn’t even let me sip some beer earlier!”

Hagrid gave him a confused look, “I said the drink was mine, didn’t I? Ya can drink all you like so long as you get yer own and don't try to steal mine.”

“Pfffft,” Eric laughed, “Wow, that’s cold. How have you not been fired yet?”

Hagrid shrugged, “What’s tha’ big problem? Any fourth year can cast spells that are better than any muggle drug could be. No need to be so uptight about it. And I do good work with tha’ school. Dumbledore would never fire me. Great man, Dumbledore.”

“Does Dumbledore buy from you?” Eric asked suspiciously.

“No. I was jus’ offerin’ for today. Thought it would be a nice gift for your introduction to the wizarding world. I don’t do no selling or promotion on Hogwarts grounds. Strictly out of work activity.”

Eric stared at Hagrid for a few seconds before thinking.

“Hey, could you get me some LSD? I heard about it in the crime shows.”

“Sure. Jus’ make sure to go to a healer if ya start to notice any side effects. They’ll heal ya back up ta full health. After tha’ bank I’ll pop over to knockturn alley for some.”

Eric hadn’t actually expected him to agree… And so easily…

Well, he was curious now. “Thanks, Hagrid. Not exactly what I was expecting though.”

Hagrid shrugged and tapped the wall one last time. Its surface rippled and the bricks started shifting and moving on their own to reveal a doorway into a bustling street. They walked through and Eric immediately noticed that all the people that walked close by all had intrinsic magic humming through them.

The two of them walked through the street lined with various shops selling all sorts of magical items. At the end of the street was a building with white stone pillars like the greek parthenon. They walked inside the building and inside was a room with a series of desks lining either of the walls. At the end was a much larger desk with a line of people waiting to talk with the humanoid creature standing there.

“Hagrid, what are they?” Eric whispered, “The people working here?”

“They’re goblins, Eric,” Hagrid said, “Gringotts is run by goblins. Buggers will keep an eye on anyone’s gold, best security in the world. Jus’ make sure you’re never in their debt. Merciless when they think they can squeeze a single extra coin out of ya. With a pair of pliers if need be.”

They waited in line until they were at the front desk. The goblin sitting there had a large pair of spectacles and looked down imperiously at them.

“Reason for visit?” He asked in a nasally irritated tone as he looked over Hagrid’s obviously tattered and dirty coat.

“Withdrawal. For Harry Potter,” Hagrid said. The goblin raised an eyebrow and stared at Eric.

“Hm. Boy. Put your hand on this orb,” the goblin said. Eric suddenly became nervous. What if they found out who he really was? What if he was discovered? But everyone was staring at him, so it seemed he had no choice. He put his hand on the ball the goblin had on his desk. He felt the pulse of magic scanning him for a few seconds before retreating again. The goblin took back the orb and inspected it for a few seconds.

“Valid,” the goblin suddenly said, “Griphook, take them to the Potter vaults.”

Another goblin came up from the side and led them to a minecart. The two of them got in the cart and it zoomed into the dark tunnel in front of them. The goblin pulled a series of levers and they lurched from side to side for a few minutes with the wind rushing around them. Eventually they stopped in front of a large door and got out.

The three of them got out and the goblin pressed a series of buttons on the door, leaving it to creak open.

Eric’s eyes widened as he saw the contents of the vault. Piles of gold and silver coated the room mixed in with dozens of objects that Eric could tell without even his magic sense must be absolutely blazing with magic.

Hagrid strode forward and took out a small pouch and stepped towards one of the piles of money.

“What are you doing?” Eric asked.

“Oh, yeh want to do it? This is a moleskin pouch. Storage to keep as much money as ye’d like inside of it. I’ll throw it in with the drugs as a gift if ye’d like. I’ve got plenty of ‘em at home.”

The goblin looked at Hagrid in distaste, but Eric shrugged and accepted the small pouch from the big man. He extended his magic sense. He could tell that it was magical, but not what exactly it was doing.

“Thanks, Hagrid. I—”

Eric felt something tingle within him as he touched the first golden coin. The galleon the goblin had called it. Domain magic, the hellish realm wanted something.

“Can I be alone in here?” Eric asked, “I’d like to explore for a bit.”

Griphook frowned but nodded, “Everything is logged. We will know what you took. This is your personal vault, all restricted items are already locked away in the main family vaults that you will have access to when you reach your majority at seventeen.”

Eric looked at the goblin in shock, “Wait, are saying that there’s even more than this?”

The goblin smiled, “Of course, Mr. Potter. The Potters vaults are one of our largest. You’re the inheritor of one of the largest fortunes in Britain.”

“Oh.” Wow, Harry had died right at the worst moment hadn’t he? If he had just made it two more years then he would have been rich, fabulously wealthy, famous, able to use magic… Well, Eric wouldn’t complain. Things were just getting better and better the more he learned!

After he didn’t say anything else Hagrid and the goblin left the vault and waited just outside. Eric let out a sigh of relief as he felt the domain magic swirling in him. He reached out and put his hand on a single golden coin and in a flash of magic it disappeared into thin air. He felt the desire towards one of the silver coins, and it did the same. Then the copper… He wandered the vault and another twenty random magical objects were consumed by the domain magic swirling through him. Drawn back to the hellish realm so they could be copied. Balthazar had told Eric about this. This was one of the main reasons the realm even allowed him to escape as a ‘herald’. So he could collect interesting and unique magical objects for it to accumulate and even replicate if what Balthazar had told him were right.

After about twenty minutes, the domain magic swirled around one last time as if doing a final check of the vault before sputtering out and disappearing again. Eric quickly walked over to the piles of money and scraped a few large handfuls of gold into the moleskin pouch. No matter how much he put in the pouch didn’t bulge or grow any heavier as he put the money inside.

Eventually, he left the vault with the pouch at his side. Hagrid went to another vault and picked up his own package. ‘Task from Dumbledore’ he said.

“I thought you didn’t sell Dumbledore any drugs?” Eric joked.

Hagrid huffed a laugh, “Of course I’d tell ya tha’. I’d never let anything harm Dumbledore’s reputation. Just keep this between the two of us, ay?”

Eric nodded and had to suppress his giggles as they exited the bank. That old man had acted so serious and stern when he came to the orphanage. It seems he wasn’t as straight laced as Eric had thought he was. Especially if he was hiring people like Hagrid.

They exited the bank and stood on the front stoop. “Anyway,” Hagrid said, “Ya got yer list?”

Eric nodded and took out his supplies and the list of school supplies he had bought.

“Well, best a’ luck. I’ll be at the pub after I’m done with ma own tasks. The Prancing Stallion. Come on over whenever yer ready to leave. Have some fun out there. And don’t go into Knockturn alley under any circumstances. Good?”

“You’re just going to leave me here?” Eric asked curiously.

Hagrid squinted at him, “Ya need help? I can stay if ye’d like.”

“No, I’ll be fine. Go have fun at the pub.”

“I will. Best of luck, Eric. I’d recommend getting your luggage trunk first and getting one that has an expanded interior. Should help ya carry around of the res’ of the stuff you buy later.”

Hagrid walked off, the crowd parting around him as he walked forward, leaving Eric alone on the busy street. Eric looked at the long list in his hand. May as well start shopping. He had a lot of things to buy.