4 Shopping and History Lessons

First-year students will require:

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 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

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

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.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.

"Well then. I may as well get these books first but no sense in just getting them" Alex walked up to one of the store clerks and asked them where the books were and also asked for recommendations. So Standard magic books 1-7 got em, might as well get a head start. Self Updating Hogwarts: A History is also something that might be a good read. Spellman's Syllabary, a book on Ancient Runes, sounds interesting so in the bag! The Ministry and You, Wizarding Law Through The Ages, Merlins Laws, All books on law so I got them too. The Wonders and Dangers of Potions, 10,001 Magical Plants, Fungus, and Herbs Encyclopedia, Wands and You, Monster Book of Monsters (Tried to bite me), and an assortment of books on Harry Potter's adventures.

I think I have everything I want for now. I do wonder if Harry likes books if he does I will get him some on the first. I should get him a birthday gift too maybe an owl then he can contact me anywhere. Well that can come later as well. I go and have my purchases rung up, they use very old fashioned cash registers here. The clerk seems a bit nervous about the Monster Book of Monsters and I don't blame him. I mean seriously a book that tries to eat you sounds like something out the Twilight Zone.

Heading back to the front of the shop I see Severus and my mother. My mother has a look of uncertainty. I don't know what they talked about but if I had to guess it would be about James. Seeing the look she has she is probably questioning her choice of being with him. So I walk up and wrap my arms around her pulling her into my embrace "Don't dwell on things mom. War changes people so he probably wasn't the same as he was back in school" She smiles and runs her fingers through my hair. I can see her ease a bit.

"Ah Uncle Sev you are a Potions Master so can you help me with my shopping list?" He grunts but nods slightly. "Hey Uncle Sev is there a Prince estate?"

He glances over at me "Yes. I have been living there for the last decade." Well that is news.

"Really?"

"Yes my Grandparents wanted me to be the Heir but I refused because they wouldn't take back my mother. Still they let me have limited access to the vaults and allowed me to use the manor"

Uncle Sev cares a lot for his mother. "Can you take us there sometime?"

"Perhaps..."

I have to say the Potions shop smells weird. There are so many ingredients and cauldrons and odd things all over along with peculiar fumes. I'm glad Uncle Sev is with me or I really wouldn't know what to do in here. He tells me it is best to double up on all my potion ingredients, a spare cauldron (he has me get an Black Iron Cauldron rather than a pewter one. Says he will let the Headmaster know he gave permission), and also two Beginners Basic Potion Kits. He says it is always best to have two of everything when it comes to potions just on the chance of a failed batch.

I am very happy there is magic for shrinking things. I couldn't imagine carrying all this stuff. "Before I take you back to Gringotts let's get you a trunk. They are enchanted with feather weight charms, anti theft, and other enchantments can be provided too." I have to say that does sound good. So once more we head out to, hopefully, our last stop for the day. I decide to custom order two though. One for me and one for my brother for his birthday. The two will have feather weight charms, shrink charms, magic signature bonding so that it can only be accessed by the owner and can only be summoned by the owner, anti-muggle charms, unbreakable charm, they have a manor worth of storage space with five hidden rooms, and be custom engraved A.A.P and H.J.P and lastly the trunk can be attached to some jewelry if wanted. Of course this cost a few thousand galleons but it will definitely be worth it in the long run. Sadly, or conveniently, they won't be ready for til the 1st. In the mean time I bought a bottomless bag to store my stuff in, though I am sure it isn't bottomless as advertised.

I would have gotten one for my mother but you need magic to use them properly. Maybe I can try and find a way to give squibs magic. Technically they should have a magic core... I wonder why no one ever thought to do this before? Well probably because they would much rather just toss squibs to the side I suppose. Well whatever, I'll see what I can do to help my mom.

"Why are you dazing out Alex?" My mother asked after I stood gazing out into space for awhile.

I smile slightly "Nothing much mom. Just slightly overwhelmed by the wonders of magic." She nods

"Sooooo Uncle Sev do you have a phone?" Uncle Snape just rolls his eyes

"No I do not have one of your muggle phones."

I gave a scandalized look "What?! How can you not have a phone!?"

Snape pinches the bridge of his nose and gives a long sigh "Muggle technology doesn't work around magic. Wizards and Witches normally use Two Way Mirrors to communicate with one another from a distance." Note to self: Find way to get technology to work around magic. Ask the goblins first.

"Well we might as well go back to Gringotts. It is a shame I won't be able to contact you though until school starts" So we began to walk back towards the bank

"Alexander" Snape says but I cut him off

"Please just call me Alex. That's what everyone else does"

He raised a brow but gave a brief nod "Well Alex. Why don't you and your mother go into the bank. I got some of my own things to purchase." I can only shrug due to the fact he didn't give me a chance to reply before walking away.

Arriving at Gringotts we are taken to a private room where we have to wait. It doesn't take too long as Ragnok and an ancient looking Goblin shows up. "Mr. Prince this is Elder Runetooth. He would like to do a more detailed Inheritance Test on you." I can't help but raise a brow at that

"Why would that be necessary?"

Ragnok gave a goblin smirk "Let's just say if this test confirms what we think you will not be disappointed with your gains" Thinking it over for a few seconds I give my head a nod of approval. It was basically like the other test only with a different potion. Sadly one thing they forgot to mention to me is only the goblins can see it.

"Well Mr. Prince it appears you are quite special" This time it was Runetooth speaking. His voice was a bit raspy a testament to his age.

"Would you care to explain what you mean for me Elder Runetooth?"

The elderly Goblin nods. "I will put off the Emrys line for now. Let's start with Peverell. Ignotus Peverell was one the the Three Brothers who held the Deathly Hallows" seeing my look of confusion he explains in more detail "The Three Brothers are a story told in Tales of Beedle and Bard. Death gifted three brothers three artifacts known as the Deathly Hallows. The Elder Wand, the most powerful wand in existence. The Resurrection Stone, which can bring back the dead. Lastly the Invisibility Cloak, capable of hiding one from Death itself. If you want to know more read the book." Well that was a bit rude but whatever

"Ignotus Peverell had a Granddaughter who Married Hardwin Potter. That is where that line meets yours as the Peverell line was never mentioned again until now it seems. For the Inheritence test states you are also descended from Antioch Peverell the holder of the Elder Wand. Nobody knew he had descendants but from this it seems he had one with a woman called Malia Frost. Judging from the date of her sons birth we estimate he got her pregnant just before his death, perhaps even the night of his death. Her line continued but then moved over to what would become Italy where her line stopped when the last of her descendants married Oboro Vindice in 1763. The Vindice Family were known as the Keepers of Forbidden Magic. Magic far worse than the Unforgivables were things they guarded to make sure it never got into the wrong hands and they erased anyone else who knew about these magics."

"In 1936 Leon Vindice married Nerium Addams. In 1937 Nerium gave birht to a baby girl called Aurora Vindice. In 1944 Aurora Vindice became Alexia Smith in an orphanage who in 1946 woukd be adopted and renamed again as Alexia Yarrow" Mother gasped beside me. I too have my mouth agape because Alexia Yarrow was my grandmother and the mother of my mother.

"Does that mean my grandmother wasn't a muggle but a squib?"

The goblin shakes his head "No Aurora Vindice was a pureblood witch not a squib. Backtracking from the dates I think that they sealed her magic core and hid her in an orphanage to live life as a muggle. I estimate this because not even a week after she was left in the orphanage both Vindice and Addams (other than the ones in America) were gone. Addams was completely destroyed but all the Vindice just vanished into thin air. Reports say that when the house was found by there would be destroyers that the castle was empty, the food was still fresh and warm though as if one just got done making supper."

"But why were the two destroyed or presumed to be destroyed?"

The elderly goblin sighed "It was war. Like the muggles had theirs the wizards were in a war with one side lead by the Dark Lord Grindelwald. Now the Vindice were attacked by Grindelwalds forces because they wanted the Forbidden Magics but the Addams were attacked by the light side because they were specialized in Ritual Magics, which became outlawed during the war as Dark Magic as did many magics even if they were not used during the war. Now Ritual Magics aren't completely Dark. They are actually Grey but the ministry at the time divided everything into Light and Dark making sure there was no in between so most Neutral Magics became Light Magic and most Grey Magic became Dark Magic. I, for one, am of the opinion they just made anything they couldn't control Dark."

"Now continuing on Godric Gryffindor had a granddaughter Sinestra Gryffindor who married Marcus Potter in 1057 so that is where your Gryffindor Heritage comes from. Now onto Emrys. Merlin Emrys, yes that Merlin, line split into two branches. One Branch became the Princes the other branch got absorbed into the Potter line. Now this is why we are having the meeting. despite the two houses that held the heritage of Merlin no one was able to claim his vault or inheritance. This is because Merlin himself wrote it in his will that only someone who awakens his bloodline could become his Heir and accept his inheritance. Merlin was born of a witch and an Ancient Dragon, now Ancient Dragons were able to take on human forms unlike modern dragons. None of Merlins descendants ever awoke their bloodline until you. You have begun the Initial Awakening of the dragon bloodline of Merlin himself, despite it mutating into another it still counts. So you Alexander Prince are the rightful Heir to Merlin's Legacy"