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{Have you ever had that kind of experience where you try to do everything you can to sleep, take for example, from counting the imaginary sheeps in your imaginary farm to masturbating the shit out of yourself only to realise that no matter how tired you feel, you just fucking can't sleep?
Well, if you ever have, than you're not alone. Yours truly, that's right -- I, the freshly 'reborn' Harry James Potter, the 'Boy' Who Lived, just had that kind of experiance, though just a 'little' worse. By 'little', I mean much more than just a little -- like 'fuck me backwards' kind of little -- you get it...}
Right now, It was early morning and I just finished watching an owl's silhouette disappear in the distance, a melancholic expression on my facial features. My mind was too numb to even notice that Hagrid was trying to speak to me just as it was too numb to even notice that I was the one who payed the very same owl for the newspaper with the 5 knuts just as Hagrid ordered me to.
[Oh my god, why? Why is my penis so tiny!]
I cried for the umpteenth time in my head.
[It's almost as tiny as a clitoris! Well, of course not that tiny but no way puberty could make that much of a miracle! And even the medicine of thirty years ahead could not find a healthy solution to the problem, so -- is this my destiny?]
"Harry?" called the half-giant but it was futile. A gentleman's pride was at stake here, so excuse me for not giving you any attention. I already paid for your newspaper, that's got to count for something, right?
[Even my balls! No way were they this small in size when I was eleven in my previous world... Is it because I'm magical? Seriously, how the fuck in any sense is it magical owning a small tool? It would be a miracle if it...]
Suddenly, a light bulb flashed in my head and I let out a perverted smile that should definitely be hella creepy coming from an eleven year old boy, not that it would be any less creepier if it came from an adult for that matter.
[Wait a second -- yes! A Miracle! Only a miracle can save it -- my micro-soft-in-distress!]
"Everythin' allrigh' Harry?" A futile attempt to gain my attention...
"Kuhkuhkuhkuhahahahahahaha!" A sudden burst of hysterical; in some ways, villainous laughter escaped from my lips as I was in mad scientist mode, 'it's so cool'...
[I wonder -- magic -- if it can be utilized in a way to manipulate the growth and differentiation of cells, tissues or even organs... That way, I can find solutions to my gentlemen's pride, along with a bunch of life hacks like getting my eye-sight healed or even putting some kind of magical MP3 in my head that can play any song that I've listened till this day. I really like listening to music, even when I'm sleeping. I can not imagine a life without music so it is essential I do something about it. I can also do something about my hearing. For fucks sake, it is so sensitive I fear that one day it would be the end of me... But! I will not let that happen! No sir! Who am I? I'm a wizard! And not just any wizard, I'm Harry Potter, the only son of Lily and James Potter, both exceptional magicals in their own class. And there's also the experiance I've gained from my previous twenty years of life. So there's no way would I be mediocre and no way would I waste a life like this! For that, understanding of magic comes as a top priority! Well, not including a certain someone of course. She will always be in the toppermost place on my top list of priorities, period.]
Just as I was about to have a good laugh about my usage of a Beatles idiom, all of a sudden, I felt a slight pain on my left shoulder as the world came shaking down on me and everything seemed to be spinning in front of my eyes only to suddenly come to a stop the moment I felt my body on the ground. When I quickly became aware of my surroundings, I realised I was lying on the ground face-down with my elbow and forearms negating any serious damage that may have come from the fall. Probably while trying to regain balance, I unconciously managed to fall the same direction from where the blow came.
Hagrid was towering over me and looking at me in worry.
"Harry?" Hagrid inquired in a worried tone. It looked like he was really worried about something.
"Hagrid? What's wrong? What happened? Why did I fall?" I asked as I readjusted my glasses that was about to slip away due to the impact. Even though I already have a good guess, nevertheless I asked in a bewildered tone. He probably 'poked' me with his giant hand to gain my attention. No wonder I fell down...
[Shit, he's probably suspicious of my acting. Did I do something strange while in thinking mode? Shit! I should not have let my guard down! I did not fucking come to this world only to be fucking comprimised because of my penis! No wonder it is a dangerous tool... Yes, next time I should be more careful -- yes -- penis, dangerous -- careful...]
"What's wrong? Ye tell me! Well, actin' all weird ye were! Like in some kin' of evil spell!"
[Well, thank you for apologizing, there's really no need to feel sorry for pushing a fragile eleven year old down... Alright, it's time to play the emotion card! Puppy dog eyes, activate!]
As I got up from the ground and arranged myself to sit in seiza, I gazed up at Hagrid with my emerald green eyes, my head facing down and my hands on my knees -- tightly gripped...
"Oh -- sorry, I made you worried -- really," I said as I directed my gaze to my knees and went on, "I was just a little confused, and -- overwhelmed, I guess?" At the end of my sentence, I looked up at Hagrid with my head tilted slightly to the right, trying to appeal my innocence as much as possible, then I went on, "Until this day, I never thought I would be able to escape the Dursleys. Even though I go to school, because of my cousin Dudley's bullying, I never had any friends. Nobody dared to get close to me. So I guess I was a little excited to gain friends for the first time?"
I finished with an innocent smile. The words escaping from my lips were supposed to be lies that I said only to ease any suspicions that the not so bright half-giant may harbor but, for some reason, I could not feel guilty about fooling him. It's as if what I said came from the very depts of my heart.
Of course, Hagrid fell for it as there was no sign left of his previous unease. He even started crying.
I immediatly turned my face away from the half-giant and let out an evil smile just like a certain teenager who chanced upon a black note-book that had the power to kill anyone whose full name was written on it while taking into account the relevant person's face.
[Yes! Just according to plan!]
Thankfully the half-giant mistakenly thought that the reason I faced away was because I didn't want to show my face out of shame.
"I never though' ye were alone! Ter -- ter not even have any friends -- uhuuu!"
I immediatly covered my ears with my hands.
"Don' ye worry 'arry! I'll be yer friend!"
[Ugh -- too loud! I get it, ok? Thou shalt not make a giant cry... I will keep that in mind! So please, just shut up!]
Then as I got up on my feet, Hagrid pulled out the same dirty, spotted handkerchief that he used yesterday to blow his nose again with a foghorn sound much like yesterday's.
"Hagrid, it's okay. I'm okay. I will make lots of friends, alright? And I already consider you as a dear friend, ok?" Somehow I ended up being the one to comfort the giant this time.
"Ye mean it?" He sniffed and asked hopefully.
"Yeah, of course Hagrid. You are the one who told me wha -- who I am, and I am forever grateful for that," I finished as I smiled encouragingly at my new friend.
[You have no idea how much I mean that...]
"Alrigh'."
The beaming half-giant nodded his head, then with a resolute face repeated again.
"Alrigh'." As though convincing himself that everything will be alright.
He then briskly walked towards the shoe cupboard to retrieve his boots that he must have placed in some time before going to sleep.
[Oh thank god! I thought he was going to hug me!"
{Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against the half-giant, It's just that's I prefer less human contact, well in this case, half-giant contact.}
As he retrieved his boots, I was met with a shocking sight.
[Wow, that's gotta be the largest boots I've ever seen. Just look at the sheer size! Wonder if my head can fit in? I bet it would...]
"Alrigh' Harry. Best be off, lots ter do today, gotta get up ter London an’ buy all yer stuff fer school," he said as he was pulling on his huge boots.
A sudden wave of excitement hit me as I thought of finally having my very own wand. It was my childhood dream to produce my very own patronus.
[I have to learn it! Wonder what animal it is? Wait, animal? Animagus! Yes, I should learn that too!]
"Okay let's go!" I replied enthusiasticly.
[Oh boy! I'm finally gonna do magic! I can't wait! I wonder if my wand will be the same? I hope so! But wait a minute! As far as I remember, the phoenix-holly wand of Harry's was especially good with powerful magic. But I think it would be better for me if I could have a wand that is better suited for complicated spells such as transformation as it would be easier for me to to do magic that manipulates my organs -- hmm...]
As we left the hut, I paused momentarily and inhaled the fresh scent of the open air which the wind brought just for me. I smiled in wonder, I was completely mesmerised by it.
[So this is the scent of my dreams, it smells like freedom -- freedom from my old life...]
I then briskly followed Hagrid to a place where a lonely wooden boat stood afloat. As we got closer, we noticed that there was a lot of water that had accumulated in the bottom of the boat, possibly due to the storm.
“Hagrid, how did you get here?” Although I already knew how Hagrid came, I still asked as it would be a reasonable thing to ask, with there being only a single boat as far as my eyes could see.
“Flew,” said Hagrid.
"You can fly?" I asked sounding suprised.
"Yeah—but we’ll go back in this. Not s’pposed ter use magic now I’ve got yeh.”
[Then what about the Dursleys? They don't have any reason to stay in the hut anymore now that I'm out of their way. So they would need a boat to cross the water. Otherwise, they're stuck here till someone came for their rescue. And I don't think that would be any time soon considering the lack of any communication devices in the hut.]
I sigh in an exaggerated manner.
"Hagrid, what about the Dursleys?" I asked in a reproachful manner.
"What abou' them?" He asked clueless.
"Don't you think by using their boat, we are abondoning them here with no way left to return?"
Hagrid just nonchalantly waved his large hand and said, "jus' leave 'em there, serves 'em right."
I let out a sigh in a resigned manner. Than I gazed up at the sky in a dramatic mood.
[The sky is quite clear today, as opposed to yesterday.] I was running away from reality, the reality that all magicals, just like Hagrid here, lacked common sense. At least that was the impression I got from the series, which was definitely confirmed just now by the actions of the half-giant.
"It's time ter go Harry," At the half-giant's words, I sighed as I directed my tired gaze to the sea.
[And the blue sea gleams in the sunlight. I can sea a vast piece of land not too far from the island. What a wonderful view. I wish I had my cell phone so I could immortalize this wonderful moment, I could even take a selfie...]
"Harry?"
I sighed again then walked straight towards Hagrid who already got rid of the water in the boat and was just in the middle of untying the ropes that hold the boat.
[Shit, I wonder if I'm wasting my mental energy trying to act according to common sense. It appears that I will have to revise my acting from scratch.]
I sighed for the umpteenth time.
[It feels like every time a sigh escapes from this mouth, a small portion of my lifespan also goes along with it -- It would have been a worthwhile subject to research as a med student if I was still in my old world...]
As we finally settled down on the boat, I was staring at Hagrid, wondering what the half-giant would do next.
“Seems a shame ter row, though,” said Hagrid, giving me another of his sideways looks.
[Hey I know that look! It's the look Hagrid gave me in the hut after he used magic to try to turn Dudley into a pig.]
“If I was ter—er—speed things up a bit, would yeh mind not mentionin’ it at Hogwarts?”
[Figures...]
“Of course not,” I was also eager to see more magic. And the fact that it would speed things up only added to the bonus.
[I just can't wait to be united with my wand at last -- I wish we were there already -- but when I think about it, It all seems like a dream. A very wonderful dream, but a dream nevertheless.]
Hagrid pulled out the pink umbrella again, tapped it twice on the side of the boat, and we sped off toward land.
[Is it just me or did it actually got a little colder the moment Hagrid tapped the boat. Strange...]
As there was no more conversation between us, I closed my eyes and entered into deep meditation as I opened all my senses to nature. It was something that I could do only when I feel relaxed. I used to meditate to quell the anxiety I occasionally felt when I was stressed out, usually just before my exams. Unfortunately, sometimes no matter what I do, I just can't enter the meditative state necessary for me to keep a clear head. That's why I couldn't sleep today as it was too stressful for me to relax.
[This feeling -- I can feel the wind on my face, when I try to smell it, the fresh scent of the sea attacks my senses. When I try to taste it -- hmm -- I am met with the appetising aroma of sea water that is reserved only for those select few with higher sense of taste. When I try to hear it -- the ever changing melody of the howling wind -- my sensitive ears were disappointed as they were used to music to go along with the voice of the nature. But it is okay. Because I have never felt this much alive.]
I opened my eyes only to discover that we were about to reach our destination as the land seemed much more vast and clearer than the last time I laid my eyes upon it.
[That's odd -- how can time fly by this quickly when the only thing that I did was meditate like I usually do, well this time felt a bit different but I don't think that is enough to explain it. Is it somehow related to my hightened senses? Or is magic somehow responsible for it?]
"Ye awake Harry?" the half-giant who was holding a newspaper in his hands, must have thought I was sleeping untill I opened my eyes.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
"Yeah, I suppose -- I didn't get enough sleep today," I went along with the conversation as I saw the black and white moving pictures on the paper just as in the movie, and asked as I readjusted my glasses, "Is that the paper the owl brought?"
"Ye're right Harry. The Daily Prophet, 'tis the biggest newspaper in the wizardin' Britain." Then Hagrid's attention went back to the newspaper.
I gave a nod then went back to my musings. This time, I started to think about her.
[All I want right now is to see her... To see if she really walks this wonderful world, as it should only be wonderful if she is in it -- breathing the same air as me, be it rotten or fresh, there can be a life together -- as long as there is love, lies are just words, and as long as there is love, happiness lies not far away -- together we may reach it, or we may not, but so what? Maybe that is life? Maybe, that is -- love...]
The boat bumped gently into the harbor wall. Hagrid folded up his newspaper, and then clambered up the stone steps onto the street. I weakly followed suit.
Passersby stared a lot at Hagrid as we walked through the little town to the station, who could blame them? Not only was Hagrid twice as tall as anyone else, he kept pointing at perfectly ordinary things like parking meters and saying out oudly, “See that, Harry? Things these Muggles dream up, eh?”
I struggle to keep up with the over-enthusiastic half-giant. Even though I was enthusiastic myself at the begining as I now had a new life which I had coveted for a long time, my enthusiasm quickly evaporated since I started to think about her, enthusiasm replaced with longing, taking it's place. Longing for her, which led to further increase my unease about my family that I left behind. I had been avoiding to even think about it but ironically, It seems thinking about someone you are longing for can lead you to thinking about others -- those you long for despite you choosing not to -- It hit me really hard that probably I'm never going to see them again, much less inform them of my well-being.
[Was this the ultimate price -- of finally having my wish granted? Was this the price that I had to pay? Or am I just being over-dramatic here. Maybe I'm just here as an error in a vast system that doesn't care about it's inhabitants such as me. Then maybe I can even use magic to visit my world... Who am I kidding? Even if I succeeded finding a way to go there, how long would it even take? By then..."
I let out a sigh full of sorrow. As we finally reached the station, we learned that there was a train to London in five minutes’ time. Hagrid, who didn’t understand “Muggle money,” as he called it, gave the bills to me so I could buy our tickets. As I was already a young adult with enough basic knowledge and experience to get shit done, It was relatively easy for us to make it in time for our ride.
People stared more than ever on the train. Hagrid took up two seats and sat knitting what looked like a canary-yellow circus tent.
“Still got yer letter, Harry?” he asked as he counted stitches.
I took the parchment envelope out of my pocket.
“Good,” said Hagrid. “There’s a list there of everything yeh need.”
I unfolded a second piece of paper I hadn’t noticed the night before, and read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
—————
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils’ clothes should carry name tags
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners’ 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
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
[Newt Scamander? He was the protagonist in the movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them -- I was looking forward for the second movie, a pity that I will most likely never get the chance to watch it, ever -- as this world is different from the one I came from, though how much different, I have no clear idea yet.]
I let out a depreciatory snort.
[The funny thing is, although I reread the series countless times, never once did it come to my attention that he had a textbook named exactly that: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Well isn't life full of suprises, and what makes it even more surprising most of the time is the fact that we human beings are faulty creatures who always overestimate our capabilities and when our false sense of reality is in anyway challenged, we either don't acknowledge it, or acknowledge it only to get 'surprised' and focus more on the aspect of being surprised rather than on the reason that lead to the birth of the 'surprisement' in the first place. And the interesting thing is, we want to feel 'surprised', because having a monotone, constant sense of reality lacks the stimulus needed for the brain to function properly, so you can say that ‘surprise’ is just what the doctor ordered...]
As my pessimistic thoughts fed my melancholic mood, so too did my melancholic mood fed back my pessimistic thoughts. If I left them to their own devices, the neverending feedback loop may ruin my day so as a change of pace, I started to think about other things.
[I have never been to London before, I wonder if I could visit the hotspots, with a certain someone... It would definitely be a blast! I always had a deep interest in history so visiting such places with rich cultural heritage would be nice...]
I directed my gaze from out the window to the half-giant as I went on contemplating.
[Although Hagrid seemed to know where he was going, he was obviously not used to getting there in an ordinary way. He got stuck in the ticket barrier on the Underground for goodness sake and complained loudly that the seats were too small and the train's too slow. That giant really is a piece of work.]
I snorted as I shook my head helplessly.
As our boring train ride came to an end, we got out of the train and went on our way. Turns out the Londoners also feel that a giant such as Hagrid is highly uncommon. They're watching him as though he is some sort of new species -- well they're not that far off. And the loud way he speaks about weird things definitely is not helping his case.
"I don’t know how the Muggles manage without magic,” he remarked not so quietly as we climbed a broken-down escalator that led up to a bustling road lined with shops.
[So this is London in 90's...] I thought as I lightly stroked my chin with my right hand while supporting my right elbow with my left hand as my feet were in auto-pilot mode. Minus the feet part, this was my thinking mode that I developed in my old life from studying too much.
Hagrid was so huge that he parted the crowd easily; all I had to do was keep close behind him, so it didn't require much thinking to follow him. We passed book shops and music stores, hamburger restaurants and cinemas etc. The architecture of the pavements and the buildings were rich and the planning of the city was marvelous. With the right amount of added greenery, you would have yourself a dream city.
“This is it,” said Hagrid, coming to a halt, “the Leaky Cauldron. It’s a famous place.”
[So we're here at last -- there is a very high probability of encountering Professor Quirell there so I should definitely not meet Professor Quirell's eyes with my own to avoid my mind from being read at all costs. I don't know what Voldemort could do if he learned of my identity. Maybe I better search for a book about occlumency -- It could come in handy.]
Leaky Cauldron, It was a tiny, grubby-looking pub. The people hurrying by didn’t glance at it. Their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the record shop on the other as if they couldn’t see the Leaky Cauldron at all.
[Probably a powerful notice-me-not charm was placed for muggles, or was it muggle repelling charm? I don't see the magic but somehow I can feel something from there. It is like the time Hagrid used magic, only stronger.]
I then walked towards the entrance of the pub. The closer I got, the stronger that feeling got.
The moment I entered the pub, I felt a strange tingling sensation around my body. The closest description would be that I've just submerged in water.
[Could this really be magic I'm feeling all around me? I guess it is. What a peculiar feeling, it's cold.]
The more I looked around, the more different the pub seemed from the movies. The Leaky Cauldron from my memories was a lot smaller in size, but the ambience is just as I remembered, it was very dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of what I guess is some sort of wine. One of them was smoking a long pipe. [Smoking is bad for your health my lady, even if you are a witch.] A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. [Hey Tom! Nice teeth! I was wondering, did your surname start with an r and end with an e? If so, then you are fired!] The low buzz of chatter stopped when we walked in. Everyone seemed to know Hagrid; they waved and smiled at him, and the bartender reached for a glass, saying, “The usual, Hagrid?”
“Can’t, Tom, I’m on a special Hogwarts business t'day,” said Hagrid, clapping his great hand on my shoulder and almost making me lose my balance just like this morning.
[This time it's the right shoulder...] I stole a quick glance at the source of my pain.
“Good Lord,” said the bartender, peering at me, “is this—can this be—?”
[Oh yeah baby, Harry Potter in the flesh, now bow before me, Babylon!] I gave an innocent bashful look around me, sending the message that I'm a harmless, cute boy...
The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent.
“Bless my soul,” whispered the old bartender, “Harry Potter… what an honor.”
He hurried out from behind the bar, rushed toward me and seized my right hand, tears in his eyes.
“Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back.”
[Ugh -- I don't like intimate contact with strangers -- well, shaking hand isn't that intimate, but still...]
[What can an eleven year old boy say in these circumstances? Ugh, it's overwhelming.]
There wasn't anyone in the pub who was not looking at me. The old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out just like in the movie. Hagrid was beaming.
Then there was a great scraping of chairs that did wonders to my sensitive ears and the next moment, I found myself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.
“Doris Crockford, Mr. Potter, can’t believe I’m meeting you at last.”
“So proud, Mr. Potter, I’m just so proud.”
“Always wanted to shake your hand—I’m all of a flutter.”
“Delighted, Mr. Potter, just can’t tell you, Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle.”
I shook hands again and again. Doris Crockford kept coming back for more.
[Fuck you Doris! If I ever turn to the dark side and decide to make a horcrux in the future, I will use you as my first. Be happy, this is a privilege I only reserve for the 'best'...]
Of course I don't show my true feelings as it would be highly suspicious.
[Don't want to make Voldemort jealous -- ah! Speak of the devil, the eunuch has appeared!]
And finally, the eunuch approaches. The very moment I took notice of him at the periphery of my vision, I immediatly donned my best innocent child persona.
[It is intriguing watching how Professor Quirell seems to fidget. He looks completely harmless. Apparently, this guy is a master con artist who is good at making others underestimate him. Maybe I have a thing or two to learn from him. Wonder if he'll teach me?]
All of a sudden a very bad feeling enveloped me. Not the scar, but something else. It was unlike anything I've felt. At least the magic that I felt when I entered the pub somewhat resembled that of a cold water. This one on the other hand... If there exists a feeling like bloodlust, then this has gotta be something very close to it.
[Fuck! I can feel it, he doesn't want to just kill me, he wants to destroy anything and everything that has to do with me. Then save me for last. Is this coming form Quirell or Voldemort? Well if it was coming form Voldemort, I would expect my scar to hurt, but it doesn't. Fuck! Somehow this is more terrifying. Anything that is different form the original plot spooks me out. Ugh! Why do I have these senses that Harry didn't? Or maybe he did but didn't give a fuck? Nonesense! Shit! I have to calm the fuck down, and fast -- or else...] I began to hyperventilate.
“Professor Quirrell!” said Hagrid. “Harry, Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts.”
“P-P-Potter,” stammered Professor Quirrell, “c-can’t t-tell you how p-pleased I am to meet you.”
[Come on! Get your shit together Potter! And don't look in his eyes!]
“W-what do you teach, P-professor Quirrell?” I asked, looking like what I was hoping to be a shy, curious boy. Though my voice came out a little too nervous...
“D-Defense Against the D-D-Dark Arts,” muttered Professor Quirrell, as though challenging me to a duel of stuttering. “N-not that you n-need it, eh, P-P-Potter?” He laughed nervously. “You’ll be g-getting all your equipment, I suppose? I’ve g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on vampires, m-myself.” He looked terrified at the very thought.
I did everything I can to clear my head. 'Thankfully' the others wouldn’t let Professor Quirrell keep me to himself. It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all. At long last, Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble.
“Must get on—lots ter buy -- come on, Harry.”
Doris Fuckford shook my hand one last time, and Hagrid led me through the bar and out into a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds.
[Holy shit! I almost preferred Quirrel -- almost... Crowded places really drain the shit out of me, especially when I'm the reason of the said crowd. But thank goodness I didn't fuck things up, especially when I started hyperventilating during my conversation with Quirell...]
I shivered, then sighed in relief
Hagrid grinned at me.
“Told yeh, didn’t I? Told yeh you was famous. Even Professor Quirrell was tremblin’ ter meet yeh—mind you, he’s usually tremblin’.”
"Was he always like that?"
“Oh, yeah. Poor bloke. Brilliant mind. He was fine while he was studyin’ outta books but then he took a year off ter get some firsthand experience… They say he met vampires in the Black Forest, and there was a nasty bit o’ trouble with a hag—never been the same since. Scared of the students, scared of his own subject—now, where’s me umbrella?”
[I don't remember ever seeing a vampire in the movie series -- I don't think even Voldemort employed them when he attacked Hogwarts -- or did he? Maybe in the books...] I stroked my chin as I lost myself deep within my thoughts.
As we passed through the back entrance of the Leaky Cauldron, we found ourselves in a small, walled courtyard with a dustbin.
As I followed after Hagrid, I was bombarded by a new wave of 'magic' from the wall where he was tapping certain bricks with his pink umbrella just like in the movie and finally, the last brick he had touched with his umbrella quivered, and as it wriggled, a small hole in the middle appeared—it magically grew wider and wider—a second later we were facing an archway large enough even for Hagrid, an archway onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.
“Welcome,” said Hagrid beaming, “to Diagon Alley.”
I could not help the nostalgic wonder from appearing on my face. This was my childhood dream, to be a young wizard, shopping for my school supplies and having a good time with my firends,
[Oh my god! I really am here at last!]
Hagrid grinned at my amazement. The moment we stepped through the archway, my body shivered as if it was thrusted right into a deep-freeze.
[Well, at least I don't have to worry about excessive perspiration which I have suffered from in my previous life.]
I heard the wriggling sounds of bricks coming from behind me, I looked over my shoulder to see the archway shrink instantly back into solid wall.
Diagon Alley. It was a lively place with all kinds of people; from kids to elderly, wearing all kinds of weird robes.
[The magic, here is denser than that of the Leaky Cauldron, but not just that, there's much more variaty to the coldness I'm feeling.]
Not even five minutes passed since our arrival, but my neck was already aching as I was too engrossed in looking at anything that took my interest -- which were not rare. I turned my head in every direction as we walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping. A plump woman outside an Apothecary was shaking her head as we passed, saying, “Dragon liver, sixteen Sickles an ounce, they’re mad.
As we passed by the Apothecary, there were products such as Cauldrons—All Sizes—Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver—Self-Stirring—Collapsible, with a hanging sign on them.
“Yeah, you’ll be needin’ one,” said Hagrid, “but we gotta get yer money first.”
[Yeah come to think of it, I'm supposed to be reasonably rich, thanks to my parents.]
A low, soft hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying Eeylops Owl Emporium—Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy.
[Now there's my hedwig!] As I spotted the familiar owl, I grew excited. [I hope Hagrid buys her just as he did in the original story — I will look after her.]
Several children had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it. “Look at it,” I heard one of them say, “the new Nimbus Two Thousand—fastest ever—”
[I can almost hear the soundtrack of this scene in the movie...]
We passed by the shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments I had never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels’ eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon…
“Gringotts,” said Hagrid.
We had finally reached an oblique snowy white building that patheticly towered over the other little shops.
[The bank looks just as I remember — wonder why they built the building the way it is... These goblins really are a bunch of eccentric fellows.]
There were writings of warning that were handwritten with gold letters on the entrance door.
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
[There will come a time that I will have to be that thief, as long as Voldemort exists...] I grimaced as I thought about it.
“Like I said, yeh’d be mad ter try an’ rob it,” said Hagrid.
[You have no idea...]
----------------------------------------
One roller coaster of a cart ride later I found myself feeling refreshed as I was standing just outside the bank with Hagrid, though the same can not be said about the half-giant. Right now I was rich!
“Might as well get yer uniform,” said Hagrid, nodding toward Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. “Listen, Harry, would yeh mind if I slipped off fer a pick-me-up in the Leaky Cauldron? I hate them Gringotts carts.”
"Not at all -- take your time, I can manage," I said in a generous tone. Hearing this, Hagrid left for the direction we came from.
[I used to suffer from motion sickness too but this body really has it's perks, not only is it magical and is highly sensitive to stimulus, it also can withstand against high acceleration and deceleration. Now if only my 'little' thing too was — no! I'm not going through that road again! At least, not until I'm all alone and in a safe place.]
As I was just about to enter the shop, a thought made me realize that going in now would definitely not be such a good idea. I grimaced.
[Ugh, Draco Malfoy was here right? It would be a drag to have to deal with him. How about coming here after I get my other supplies?]
I then chose for my next destination to be Flourish and Blotts because it was the nearest shop to Madam Malkin's compared to others, also I could kill some time reading until Malfoy leaves.
But then as the sign that read Flourish and Blotts was just visible to me; in front of my eyes, I spotted a bushy brown haired silhouette about my height heading the same direction as me, then she entered the Flourish and Blotts
[No way — is that?]
I increased my pace and hurriedly walked till the sign that read Flourish and Blotts was right in front of me. Though I knew it would be too convenient to be true for her to be at the appropriate place at the appropriate time, still I could not help the feelings that had surfaced from my heart.
[I want to see her!]
I quickly entered the shop as I took in my surroundings. There were shelves that were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all. The place was relatively crowded for a book shop.
[I bet she is taking her time doing some 'light reading'] I smiled feeling nostalgic.
[Now how to find her... Finding her should not be difficult as this place isn't that big...]
I immediatly started my search and as expected, finding her did not take long. She was just by the counter. A blue covered book in hand, reading. She had her back to me so I could not see her visage but it was obvious, it had to be her.
[Now to start a conversation..]
"Excuse me," I called gently, my nervousness nearly causing me to stutter.
[I want to see her...]
At my interruption of her reading, she lowered the book she was reading and turned around to look at the cause.
As our eyes met, I couldn't find any words to say as there were none I could think of.
Then she brushed away her gorgeous hair and said in a slightly annoyed tone, "Yes?"