Chapter 4

I left with Hagrid to the Diagon Alley just like in canon. Not like I could do much else. I had no idea how to find 'The Leakey Cauldron'. I remember most of the things about canon but the minor details were lost to me.

As we were about to enter the tavern, or I thought it was a tavern, I looked at Hagrid ans asked in the most innocent voice I was capable of, "Why have we come to this run down tavern?"

The giant looked down at me and said, "Ah 'tis the way to get to Diagon Alley for all the muggleborns. Wizards have different ways though."

I just nodded and followed him.

As expected, when Tom asked him if he would take the usual, Hagrid refused and exposed me to the crowd of simple minded wizards who swarmed me to get a chance of introducing themselves.

As if I would remember them anyway.

Hagrid then led me to meet Quirrell who was standing by the fireplace. I couldn't feel even a little bit of Voldemort's aura from him. Maybe he wasn't hitchhiking in Quirrell's body at that moment.

Soon after we left the tavern, Hagrid led me to Gringotts. Truly, what a sight it was. I didn't ask Hagrid about the goblins. They weren't the most pleasant beings to talk to. I suddenly recalled the manga I head read before I killed myself. Goblinslayer, a story where goblins were villains.

Yeah, I was not going to be like butt buddies with them.

When we reached the teller, Hagrid introduced me and we were asked about the keys to my vault.

The ride to the vaults was something I could do without. I really wasn't a fan of puking my guts out. Free flying was a different thing though.

The vault was huge and so was the mountain of gold inside it, much bigger than I expected. It didn't seem like Dumbledore was embezzling the gold from me.

I turned towards the goblin who accompanied us and asked, "Is it possible for me to take more galleons from the vault? My pockets aren't big enough."

The gobling just threw a dirty looking pouch at me in total contempt and said, "Five galleons for it."

I clenched my jaw at his rudeness. Men have died for lesser deeds.

I just gave him a tat by smashing a galleon to his forehead. One thing was certainly decided. I would never a friend of goblins. Despite all the fanfictions I had read, I couldn't bring myself to think of them in a better light.

The filthy pouch was actually a bottomless pouch and I filled it with hundreds of fists full of galleons.

I took a one last look inside the vault to see if anything else was there for me to take. Unfortunately, there wasn't.

I bought the books for my first and second year, a trunk and other supplies mentioned in the list that had arrived with the letter. After everything was bought, I went to Ollivaders for my wand.

It was the same as canon. Holy and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple. I guess, some things never change. At the very least, I had a wand that could counter Voldemort's wand. The experience of being chosen by the wand was.. euphoric. In terms of a man, it felt like reaching your first ever orgasm.

Hagrid had bought me a snowy owl just like in canon. I named her Hedwig as a tribute. The owl sacrificed herself by flying in front of a killing curse meant for Harry. She was more loyal towards Harry to her very end.

Hagrid gave me the ticket to the platform 9¾ and disappeared without giving me instructions about how to get to it.

I didn't wait for the Weasley family to arrive and walked right into the pillar that lead to the platform.

The Hogwarts express was magnificent and the platform was bustling with people. It was quite a site to behold.

I boarded the train and found an empty compartment to sit in for the journey. I was excited.. Who wouldn't be?

Soon, the door was opened by Ronald Weasley and he asked, "Hey, can I sit here? Everywhere else is full."

"Sure."

He sat down opposite to me and extended his hand and said, "Hi, I'm Ron, Ron Weasley."

I shook his hand and replied, "Potter, Harry Potter."

"Whoa! Really?! Do you have the um.. scar?"

I tried hard not to roll my eyes at him. He was kid. They are curious little things.

I just smiled and pointed at my forehead. The scar had faded a lot. Ron had to squint to see it.

The rest of the journey wasn't interesting enough to mention. I saw Hermione and she was not Emma Watson. She matched the description in the books while Ron was like the one in the movies.

Ron also showed me Scabbers and tried the botched spell his brothers hat taught him. I really wanted to slam a broon on the rat's head at that moment. I hated to hold myself back for the plot. The worm was needed alive to free Sirius.

The train arrived at Hogsmade station at night and all the first years took the boats to reach Hogwarts.

The castle was truely magnificent. So were the wards around it. Though, their strength was waning.

We were then escorted up the stairs and asked to wait as Hagrid went ahead to look for McGonagall.

While we were waiting..

"I heard the Boy-Who-Lived was coming to Hogwarts this year. My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," said a pasty looking brat as he went in front of the crowd of first years, facing me.

Ron couldn't control himself and snickered. Draco took offence of that and retorted, "Find my name funny, do you? Let me guess, red hair, hand-me-down rags, you must be a Weasley." He again looked at me and said, "You must choose wisely who you hang around with. Stay away from the wrong sort."

It wasn't nice of Ron to snicker at someone's name when his own family name was giggle worthy.

I replied while smiling innocently, "Draco.. your parents must expect a lot from you to give you that name. If you are anything like a dragon then I would envy those you treasure. It wasn't right of Ron to laugh. I apologize in his stead. But, wouldn't it be wrong for me to decide who the wrong sort are so quickly? I mean, we will be studying together for seven long years and people change with experience. Trust me, I'll be watching very closely for the wrong sort and for the sake of their health, I hope I don't find any."

Suffice to say my warning went over the heads of all. They were children, after all. Draco looked confused and had to move aside when McGonagall arrived.

'What the fuck was that?! It's gonna be hard to talk to kids. Come on! bring your inner child out! become a brat!'

As we entered the great hall, the sorting hat sang its song and the entire hall stared us.

One by one, my fellow batchmates were sorted into different houses. When I was called, everyone began whispering excitedly.

"Hmm.. devious and sadistic yet kind and compassionate.. coward as well as courageous.. hard working and lazy.. cunning but also simple minded.. boy you are a box of contradictions."

Apparently, the hat couldn't see my past life or he would have added pathetic and depressed to that list.. after being amazed by the plethora of knowledge I had.

"Gryffindor would do. I don't think I'll be able to spend seven years among racists, dumbasses and jelous recluses.

The hat barked a laugh and declared "Gryffindor!!"

And the meddlesome old goat couldn't be happier while the dungeon bat couldn't sneer any harder.

Life at Hogwarts was gonna be fun.