Chapter 2: Diagon Alley Shenanigans

THE BINDING OF FATES

CHAPTER 2

DIAGON ALLEY SHENANIGANS

Summary: Harry and Jon hoodwink Tonks into babysitting them for the day!

"Great. Just great," mumbled Harry.

He was taking off his dirty, oversized seventeen year old clothes in the bathroom. He put the water on to get to a nice warm temperature and took a long hard look at his face in the mirror.

It..looks flatter. Almost, invisible. Is it gone? Harry thought. The train station voices came back to him.

"Curses empower the horrible cross."

He stepped into the shower, thinking. Does that mean using a curse makes it stronger, or getting hit with one? Snape's lecture came to mind.

'The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible...'

Harry closed his eyes, trying to get a feel for Voldemort's lingering magic in the scar. He didn't feel anything remotely close to the later years in Hogwarts. He traced his fingers over it, did it feel flatter, or was it his previous experience of rubbing it all the time giving him a sensory memory of its shape and feel?

And what about Jon? The Voices had told him he needed him to help destroy the effigy Voldemort left behind. Death itself asked him to.

I'm the bloody Master of Death, now. At least that part of the Deathly Hallows story was true.

But what do I do now?

Integrate him into magical society. Get him somehow into Hogwarts so they could...

Wait. He's a Knight, a Lord Commander actually. He isn't a wizard. He can't do magic...

'Magic and Time say false,' the voices had said. Time did its part alright. Did magic also intervene? He couldn't worry about that right now, he had no wand to test this theory.

First, we will have to get a place to plan. Or rather, firstly, he needed an ally to help him get out of here and get back a wand. And then he can get Jon to test it out. He had a gut feeling he had some sort of magic, why else or how else would he become a visitor from another world?

He was sent by the forces Magic, and Time, and Luck after all. It's going to work itself out. Hopefully.

Who did he know could help him out of this jam and keep it quiet?

And lastly, is he going to do things much differently, or try to keep it-

No... Ginny, Hermione Ron and Neville became Dark wizards- multiple personifications of Voldemort. They killed him years ahead in the future.

Harry began to vigorously scrub himself with the soap, a weird numbness running through his skin.

I was shown my own nefarious demise. Wait until Trelawny gets a hold of this! He began lathering shampoo in his hair.

What did they all have in common which caused these events to happen? They were all in Gryffindor, but so were Seamus and Lavender. They were his friends, about the same age, in the DA.

It finally came to him. They were all in direct contact with a Horcrux. Dumbledore said his 'plan' didn't work. He didn't know how to destroy the horcuxes. Basically, he admitted he didn't know how dangerous they were... how they affected wizards they came into contact with. The greatest wizard of their time, the Chief Mugwump, the head of the International association of Wizards blah blah-

He just didn't know.

Harry came to the grim realization that he had to figure this one out himself, but at least he knew what the horcruxes were, and how they were hidden . Ginny was the first one to come in contact with the Diary.

Holy Merlin's balls. That was in year two, because of Lucius Malfoy. At Diagon Alley he slipped it in her bag.

Immediately washing off and drying himself, he got dressed. Firstly, he needed to deal with his guest, and get re-armed. Needed a trustworthy, resourceful wizard to spring him from this place.

"What a beautiful owl!" Ted Tonks said as he looked out his window at the convenient owl perch he had installed when his daughter went off to Hogwarts. He was a man of practicality, and having owls dive in unto his dinner table or crashing into his furniture at the most inopportune time was a thing of the past. Only a galleon at any reputable pet store, the nifty little perch installed right outside a window pane and was enchanted with a 'ez-rest owl attraction' charm. Owls now landed neatly outside the designated window and waited a few minutes before coming in, giving him or Andromeda a chance to invite them in.

"I'll get it," a lanky eighteen year old girl wearing an oversized witch's blouse and tiny shorts said, knocking her knee into the dinner chair with her haste to get to the window first. Grimacing but admirably trying to hide the fact that she was limping, her father shook his head at her then went back to his paper and coffee. She opened the window and offered her arm which the snow white owl immediately hopped unto.

"It's for.. me ..?" Tonks smiled as she talked to Hedwig. She carried her to the pet area nearby while untying the note on her leg. Hedwig ate from the owl treat bowl and water dish as she tried to figure out who this was from. She didn't know anyone who mailed her using this pretty owl. Hedwig stared at her as she walked up to the staircase to her room, then let out a quick hoot, reminding Tonks that she would wait for the reply. Tonks glanced up but then focused on the letter again, wincing each step she went up.

She settled down in her adequate but untidy bedroom, trainee books and research papers all over her desk and the left side of her bed.

"Well I'll be damned," she breathed. This was from someone she only knew about in stories: Harry 'The Boy who Lived' Potter has owled her. She grabbed her wand. If there was any one basic element her studies taught her, anything remarkably unusual could be a sign of trouble, no matter how mundane it may seem. In the wizarding world, stuff happens and better to be just a little paranoid than hexed or bewitched into something that can have cascading and dire events.

"Impervisito, asiente colloportus, imediacio homenum revelio," she recited. The window pane closed gently, as did the door behind her, and a light ripple of light sealed the doorframe and window frame in a gentle blue pulse. No listeners or spying elements were found either.

"Aparecium enscripto," she said and tapped her wand on the parchment itself. No hidden words or enchantments flared, so she went ahead and began to read. As she read, she frowned, blinked, and various other expressions of doubt crossed her pale, heart shaped face. Her hair reverted to become dark black, identical her mother's.

'Tomorrow. He needs me to help him tomorrow. The children's park off Privet drive, Little winging. Look normal,' he says in the letter she summarized.

Tonks bit her lip as she read it again. 'Look normal' he says. Something wasn't right. As far she knew, they never met, so he didn't know what she looked like, and she really doubted he knew that she was a Metamorphmagus.

She thought the general feel of letter was innocent enough, except for that little Look normal bit. It gave her a heads up though. This boy was intriguing, and he knew some things that he shouldn't be able to. Guess she had a trip to do now, to prepare herself better for tomorrow.

She wrote a quick response in the same tone, agreeing to the visit and the diplomacy needed to not draw too much attention. Keeping the original letter in her magical safe box she got recently, she grabbed some flight goggles and gloves and made her way downstairs.

"Hey, going to borrow research paper material from a mate downtown. Be back in a couple hours," she said as she gave Hedwig the letter. He father grunted in acknowledgement and said offhandedly to be back in time for dinner.

Jon and Harry were sitting in Harry's bedroom later that evening. Harry had successfully convinced him to bathe and change in the bathroom and brought up some food for them without the Dursley's knowing there was someone else upstairs for the entire day.

"Spaghetti you say," Jon said between bites. "And meat-balls. Quite good, I must admit."

"It was leftovers," Harry added, then closed his mouth; not wanting to spoil the good impression by saying that even Dudley wasn't a fan of the simple meal. At least it was more than enough for the both of them to eat with the added plus of not being important enough for Aunt Petunia to notice that it was finished.

"Right. Tomorrow you say this associate is going to get us out of here. "

"Yeah."

"I take it your relatives despise your hard wizard ways. "

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Hm. Soft." Jon shook his head in laughter. "They should have broken you out of this occult magic you speak of. You look weak." Jon scoffed. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Look, Snow," said Harry. "This was not a happy place for me, and yes they did do cruel things to a kid, me, growing up. It's not a good feeling to be unwanted by your family." Harry looked away with disgust at the doorway. "If you want to call them that."

Jon gave him one of his stares, which was a bit uncomfortable because in modern culture that kind of intense eye contact wasn't just done anymore. Harry concentrated on not breaking it first.

"Apologies," Jon said, going back to his food. After a tense couple minutes he added, "My family didn't really want me either. Sent me away to the Wall, the Night's Watch, to take the Black."

"Sounds like a raw deal."

"Yes. It made me a man, but it gained me allies ...and many enemies." Jon ate his spaghetti with a long slurp. "Hmm- good stuff." Harry frowned.

"I will give you some pointers on modern etiquette and stuff you should know. First, no slurping in public," Harry said. "Also, your accent is remarkably northern even if you use different words than we do now. I need to give you a crash course in British history, magic and muggle."

"Muggle?" Jon said.

"Normal people, non- magical."

"Like myself?"

"Maybe, maybe not," Harry shook his head. "I'm not too sure of that. At the station those entities said they would intervene for this situation...well... our travel back in time; to happen. Magic said they would -"

"So you heard them too?" Jon interjected. "These booming voices."

"Yeah. I'm just going to say it. Did you have, or, experienced any magic? Any sort of weird impossible stuff?"

Jon gave him another stare that lasted about ten seconds.

"Death showed me a glimpse into my future life," Jon said, wiping his mouth with the Tesco table napkin. "Being brought back to life by the Red woman. Surviving a crush of almost two thousand men in battle. Also I defeated a Lord of Winter. With Dragon glass and Fire. The Lords of Winter are already rotten corpses which are continuously regenerating, creatures of foul magic to be sure."

He gulped down a drink of water. "And, being Impervious to the Winter's Touch, a cold of unearthly note and even later on... Dragon Firebreath."

"Wow." Harry was impressed. "You are impervious to dragon fire?"

"Maybe that was a strong word," Jon admitted. "I felt the heat and the pain, but only for so long as the fire lasted. I was Unburnt. I was not permanently injured."

"And the Cold?"

"The white walkers bring the cold. It seeps into the land, killing all the ground's life the longer and more numerous their stay. Men who travel across their territory come across an unnatural chill, freezing to death within a month's time, even after having left the cursed area. Then they rise from the dead, joining their army. It is called Winter's touch. It made advancing the battle lines impossible. The realms of men were always on the retreat, burning their own walls to prevent the advance of the horde." Jon looked at his empty plate. "Ghastly, I say. I was unhorsed in a battle and injured. My horse had fled, or died... but I managed to survive long enough to find shelter in a cave and recover, even in the blasted cold, and escape their territory after a week hidden. I could not cross from behind their front advance on foot. I found a flowing river heading south, and held on to a drifting log. For almost two days... I was going along the current in freezing temperatures. Yet I did not die. It must be some sort of magic. No mere man lives through that..." Jon suddenly made a fist and pounded his forehead in anger.

Harry flinched bodily.

"I have not imagined this," Jon said. "I have not imagined this."

"What?" said Harry tentatively.

"The memories ring true. But I have not lived them. Curse you," Jon seethed, his eyes murderous. Jon's whole body tensed, hunched over his meal.

"Me?" Harry said, a bit worried now.

"The voices," Jon whispered. "They claimed 'A Lion roars in the Darkness. Only he holds the key.'"

Harry and Jon stared at each other. Harry's resolve grew. Jon was testing him.

"You are the Lion," Jon admitted. Breaking eye contact, he got up and rubbed the back of his head. "You are the pebble that started these ripples. That's what they said."

Harry watched him pace. "And what did they say about you?"

"Me?" Jon laughed. "They called me the 'Sword of the Light'."

"Oh really?" Harry said, eyebrows going high.

"Which makes absolutely no sense, Harry of House Hollow-"

"Potter," Harry corrected.

"Because they also said: 'You will once again take on the Black, in this you shall come to terms'." Jon pounded his head once again. "Do you know what this means?"

"You said you took on the black before right?" Harry said.

"Yes, the sworn Brothers of the Night's Watch," Jon agreed. Harry studied him a few seconds.

"Is that a Knight, as in defender of the realm, or Night, as in day and night?" said Harry. Jon faltered briefly in his pacing, then continued.

"It is a play on the word. It is a bit of both- usually it is riff raff molded into fighting men, criminals on pardon from death who choose to take the black, outcasts and other non-desirable scoundrels. Most take it as a legitimate alternative to dying either a slow dying existence as a scoundrel or beggar, or quick death on the executioners gallows. I was trained in the art of war, a Knight, and also as a Vassal, who can read, write and draw up wages, laws and agreements on behalf of my superior or Liege. And I grew up with Nobles in my liege's house, which was probably the reason the last Lord Commander trained me to take his place." Jon stopped his explanation mid-stride, frowning to himself. "Almost as if he knew- that he would be betrayed, and tried to warn me of how easy one could be set upon by his own men." Jon laughed bitterly. "I did not learn that lesson well, it seems."

"The only 'Black' I know, which could make any sense whatsoever ...is a wizard family named Black. To be precise, 'The Ancient and Most Noble House of Black'."

"Well, they sound lively," Jon murmured sarcastically. "More like a gathering of Black magic occultists to my ear."

"True, true. To an extent," he smiled. "There are some good apples from that tree. Well, only one or two of them ...really." Harry faltered, sounding unconvincing to his own ears. He frowned, his heart paining him on what happened to Sirius.

He would rescue him this time, this he swore to himself.

"Your expression," Jon said. Harry shook out of his thoughts.

"What?"

"You were thinking dark deeds, something fierce," Jon noted."I am experienced in seeing that look upon men." Jon sat down again on the bed. "Maybe you aren't so weak as you seem."

"Erm.. thanks?" Harry said, shaking his head. Jon watched him again with another long, piercing stare. Harry was beginning to think he had some sort of leglimens ability. But then again, this man led a militia. And he knew criminals and nobles alike. Harry really began to understand that Jon was a man of numerous dark experiences and encounters. A bit scary to be honest.

"Enough of the past. Tell me about this meeting tomorrow and what to expect in this new world."

"Alright," said Harry. "My acquaintance is a girl. She's a witch and got some nifty, and unique abilities. Her name is Tonks, but just ...I'll do the talking. Be polite, and don't act or say anything like... weird. Be careful with your responses to her questions. We don't want to throw her off or give ourselves away. We'll come up with your story eventually after I give you some tips on how things work."

"Is my name not good enough for this Tonks?" Jon objected. Harry tilted his chin side to side in a vague gesture.

"Magical people are curious folk about other wizards they don't know about. We're very, very rare compared to the amount of non magical people about." Harry thought for a second. "Maybe another orphan bit, wizards and witches eat that one up all the time." Harry grinned. "I should know. Also, you gotta watch out for cars...they are some really crazy drivers and oh yeah- tv and radios are things that..."

Nymphadora Tonks was at the rendezvous point ten minutes early the following morning at eight fifty a.m. She was here yesterday placing some mild apparation detection wards and a few well placed sneakascopes at each corner of the block, all of them charmed to her earrings to give her a warning if there was any sort of dark magic being performed during this meeting.

She was dressed in a white Michael Jackson leather jacket to go with her dark blue dinner gown underneath. She also wore some incredibly high heeled leather boots under the long skirt of her dress. She was leaning up on the fence on the inside of the park, trying to look inconspicuous in her muggle attire she put together after she did her broomstick surveillance of the area yesterday. Afterwards she popped by her old classmate from school.

As she came unannounced, her friend Sarah could only get one dress from one of her cast-off trunks. She had fully integrated into the magic world and her old muggle clothes that could fit were far and few in between. Sarah strongly advised that she needed a jacket to go with the dress or all her breasts would be showing, and was not appropriate for anything other than a dinner date. So Tonks had to ask her dad this morning to borrow a jacket for a muggle costume party she wanted to go to later tonight. Her father only had his old white MJ jacket with a couple well placed zips all over it. She loved it on sight.

Only five minutes had passed when she saw two boys walking towards the park as they came into view around the corner. One was a bit shorter than the other, ruffled black hair covering his head and glasses on his face. The other was walking in stride with him, speaking out the side of his mouth, watching everything with a sense of scrutiny only a tourist or someone who was very awestruck would have done.

Both walked a bit, different. Not like the twelve year olds they should be. She remained where she was, watching them.

"There." Harry said, spotting her instantaneously. "The girl in the... never mind. You can't miss her."

"Definitely," Jon murmured. "I thought you told her look normal. Compared to the few people we've walked past and those children playing in there... she's attracting too much attention. Or is that normal?"

"Normal for her it appears. Let's go. Smile, be nice and let me handle this."

"Aye," Jon muttered, nodding. "The signal is, Winter is Coming," Jon added hastily out the corner his mouth.

"Signal for?"

"If you need me to incapacitate or ..well.. y'know." Jon gave him a look. "If it goes down badly."

"You can't be serious," Harry sighed, stopping to look at Jon squarely. "She's just a girl, she becomes a friend of mine you can't- I mean she won't-" he stopped suddenly on the pavement.

Harry looked Jon in the eye. Jon was serious. Harry shook his head and continued walking towards the park. Maybe he shouldn't be as trusting, maybe he needed Jon to think differently, after all he is a Stranger in his ordinary world. But without a wand, or a weapon of any sort he doubted Jon could really do anything to Tonks. She even did NEWT levels and supposedly, if his memories served correctly, she was doing entrance studies for examinations to qualify for the Auror program this winter.

"Just, easy mate, I got this." The two boys walked up to her, her eyes taking in their faces as they approached.

Harry stood a respectful four feet away directly facing her. Jon continued in an arc so that he was at an angle closer to her right arm, yet not close enough to her or Harry to be in their space. Jon folded his arms across his chest. Harry saw the movement and huffed, pulling Jon by his sleeve back closer so the two boys stood side by side.

"Hullo," Harry said, smiling. Tonks just watched him.

"Hello," Jon said, nodding upwards.

"How do you know who I am?" Tonks said, her eyes wary. "And that I was the one you are looking for?"

Jon smirked, his eyes twinkling. Harry smiled, a bit of confusion on his face. There were five other people in the park, a young mother with her two children, and by the swings another young boy with probably his younger sister, both of them probably Harry's own age.

"Lucky guess," Harry answered. "I'm glad you returned my owl, I was hoping we'd get chance to talk, in person. I'm Harry, this is Jon." He offered his hand for Tonks to shake. Jon relaxed, and did the same after Tonks accepted Harry's handshake.

"Well lads, this is, might I say, a bit unusual? You Harry's cousin or something?" Tonks asked.

"No, milad- I mean ma'am," Jon corrected.

"How about we go by the benches and talk?" Harry deflected, gallantly gesturing to the benches underneath a shady tree. Tonks shrugged and lead the way and sat down. Harry sat down one space away from her in the middle of the bench, leaving the end for Jon, who instead took up a defensive position standing up behind Harry's left shoulder, as to not be a distraction to the meeting and giving him a good view of the entire park.

"A bit intense fellow there," Tonks smiled at Harry. Harry laughed nervously.

"Oh nah, he's cool. So. Tonks, you asked how I know you. Well I was always curious about what my parents did and who they were ever since I joined Hogwarts, and it seems that there was some history there of them being a target, or well, hunted. I mean, before they were murdered."

"You don't flower things up, do you Harry?" Tonks murmured. Harry shrugged, not flinching under her stare. She had nothing on Jon, anyway.

"So, I asked about why weren't those people arrested or something at the Library late last term, and some of the older kids told me that's the Auror's job. Me with my dumb mouth blurted what's an Auror? And that earned me major embarrassment points as they laughed. The boy who lived don't know what an Auror was? Well, that was brilliant..."

Tonks laughed as she rest her elbow on the back of the bench as she crossed her legs towards Harry, bouncing her ankle. "Okay, I see. Go on."

"I asked one of the older guys afterwards on the Quidditch team, about Aurors, and they said they heard the Tonks girl who left last year wanted to become one. I got your name and worked up the courage to write you," Harry said, doing his damned best to push every bit of hero worship he could muster in his innocent, twelve year old visage. "I'm really glad you came."

Tonks smiled, and cleared her throat. "I must admit it was unexpected, but I was curious. You're resourceful for a lad. And who is he?"

"He's Jon. He's also one of the reasons I mailed you." At that moment came a yip yip yip of a dog and Ghost came pelting down the road, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. The little wolf pup bounded into the park and aimed straight for Jon. Jon smiled and called him to heel by his legs, which Ghost promptly refused and began running circles around his feet. "And that's his dog, Ghost; who I believe we forgot was sleeping under the sheets."

"Nice puppy," Tonks observed.

"Thank you milad- ma'am," Jon said pleasantly.

"Yes well," said Harry. "I am in dire need of a massive favour. I know we've just met, but my relatives are muggles, they just won't help me with this. I took a chance in mailing you, seeing as you intend to become an Auror and so on, you might help me." He did his hero worship thing again.

"The Boy hero of wizardry mails me, of all people, and asks a favour." Tonks dramatically tapped her lip looking up in thought. "Hear wot, let me hear about this favour, and I'll think on it. I can't promise you more than that. It's nothing ridiculous or anything, right?"

"No no no, I won't ask you anything bad or anything," Harry said, keeping up with his twelve year old persona. "Just I can't do it alone." Harry looked around a second. "Mind if you did some privacy charms or something?"

"Sure, no problem." Making sure no one was watching, Tonks took out her wand and began to wave. In a smooth strike, Jon had her wrist in his grip, twisting her arm when Harry did a frantic motion to stop.

"What the hell mate, it's cool!" Harry said removing Jon's arm away from hers with a wild tug.

Tonks pulled her arm away and cradled it protectively out of their reach.

"Sorry," Jon said, sheepishly. "Bad reflex?" he shrugged.

"Whoa." Tonks said. Jon's hands went up in a placating manner as he stepped back. "Ok, I am definitely going to put a privacy charm up. You two are up to something."

"No we're not, not really," Harry explained, giving Jon a look. "He's just a bit jumpy, bad dreams and all, or so he says."

"Hm," Tonks said as she quickly did the privacy charms. "So. Now we can talk. What do you want?"

"Um... We need you to get us to Diagon alley. Its pretty embarrassing and no one could know, not even my friends, or the headmaster. Which is why I couldn't mail my teachers, either." Harry took out his wand with the crack running along the entire length of the wand, showing the semi-solid phoenix core inside. "Got to head to Gringotts, and sort myself out by Ollivanders." Tonks looked at his wand.

"Ouch."

"Some other errands I'd like to do too, if we can." Harry clasped both hands together, begging.

Tonks was contemplating his request.

"Well, maybe..." Tonks hesitated.

"I can even throw in a fifty galleon tip once we are through?" Harry pressed. Tonks narrowed her eyes.

"Won't your folks be curious to where you are?" she asked, skeptical.

"Nope. Once I do my chores and back before sunset, the less they see of me, or the neighbours see of me, the better!" Harry said.

"Sounds like cool folks," Tonks said, smiling. "For a young lad to be so free."

"Ahm, yeah, sometimes..." Harry agreed half heartedly. He definitely didn't think that cupboard was cool, or free.

"When do you want to go?" Tonks asked.

"Would now be alright with you?" Harry answered immediately. Tonks eyed the both of them.

"No time like the present, as they say," She admitted, getting up. "No funny stuff, Jon," she warned, turning her back to the other park goers and removing the privacy charm. "We can walk to the other street, from there we can catch the bus."

"Great, thank you," he said. The walk was done in under five minutes and they waited until the road was clear. Tonks then held her wand up for the Knight Bus, and within moments it came screeching to a halt in front of them.

"Welcome lady and gents, how can I do for ya?" Stan said.

"Three for Diagon, please," Tonks said, digging in her zippers. Harry already had the fee out in his hand. "Oh right, cheers," she gave Stan the fare and sat down with the two boys. Jon was trying not to be flabbergasted, but his pale face and wide eyes were telling.

"He's not from around here, is he?" Tonks asked Harry. Harry was at that moment pulling on a steep wizards hat over his hair and forehead.

"Nope," Harry said. Jon took out one of Uncle Vernon's old Kangol hats and put it on his head. As Tonks was sitting in the bench she unzipped her MJ jacket and opened it up. Harry couldn't help but stare. Tonks caught on to her actions and sort of closed the jacket around her. "Um, Random question. Is there any way for wizards to ...check family history if they don't know it?"

"Yeah, sorta. It's a magic seal based on blood that can link a wizard to a family. It isn't as precise as a Wizard family scroll or portrait, but it gets certain disputes settled easier than through court."

"How does it work?"

"Basically, it's a spin the bottle mechanism the goblins, and some other guilds use to determine family affiliation. It basically points out the most prominent genes and blood history. It's sometimes pretty vague, as some families have a lot of different old lines in them. The hotter the seal glows, the more direct the descendant. Gotta be embarrassing for some of the Slytherins, who... traditionally, you know what...don't go far outside, if you catch my drift," She winked and chuckled. Harry found her laugh charming. "But then again, maybe they aren't embarrassed," she frowned.

"Slytherins are wizards who talk to snakes?" Jon asked out of the goddamned blue. Harry groaned inwardly.

"Oh, no, well I mean, technically, only Slytherins have been known to talk to snakes, but not all Slytherins talk to snakes, I mean. Ok there were two known Slytherins who talked to snakes. The worst of the lot. I don't even want to talk about it. But they are rare. Very rare. The hardest of the pureblood maniacs who turned dark. Anyway never mind about that. We're here," she announced. "This is our stop."

Harry shook his head as he followed Jon and Tonks off the bus. He wanted to kick Jon and his Iron man t-shirt off the last step on the way down. Jon waited for Harry as the bus sped off.

"O' hardest Slytherin," he mumbled to Harry.

"Shut it," Harry staged whispered back.

"All right! And this, my dear lads, is the Leaky Cauldron," Tonks parroted in her perfect tour guide voice. "Please do not eat anything that has been served very hot because it has probably been cold for a long time and used a flash heating charm on it, disastrous for the bowels, dear me, but please do enjoy a cold brew by all means!" Tonks pushed open the door to the pub and walked in. People watched the two boys without much interest but then did a double take on Tonk's MJ white jacket. At least Harry knew that she would be getting all the attention instead of him.

"Wotcher Tom," she said with a wink. Tom gave her an ugly stare and grunted. She flicked a galleon at him, "A remember-me-not special in everyone's next round please," she whispered. Tom grunted again and offered her his dirty rag on the table. She pretended to look over the bar then spat directly in the rag.

"No one saw you 'ere," he nodded and went back to his duties.

Harry was fascinated. As they left the back door and into Diagon alley entryway, he nodded back at the bar. "What was that about?"

"Tom's spot are full of nosey folk," she said softly while tapping the blocks. "It's an old trick my mom knew he did to give everyone who bought another drink a bit of short term memory failure. Got a potion bubbling on low simmer that he throws the rag in when you pay with coin and spit. Gives you a couple minutes of everyone forgetting you were ever there."

"Neat," Harry said. She was the right choice to make for this trip.

"Turn around boys," Tonks commanded as the blocks began moving away. "Almost forgot about the clothes." Harry and Jon were perplexed; but obliged and turned their back to her. There was a slight woosh of magic and rusting of clothes. "Just hold this for me a mo'," She asked Harry and the dress was thrown over Harry's shoulder. Startled, Harry had to use tremendous willpower not to peep. The fabric smelled of shampoo, cream and a slight flowery perfume. "And this," and the jacket was handed to Jon. "Okay, lets roll." They turned and she was dressed in a perfectly normal witches robe, with a bit of dip at the neck more than usual. She took the clothes back from them and folded them a couple times then stuffed them in a magic purse. Her hair began to shorten and turn a nice shade of pink, then ended with fluorescent green tips.

Jon's eyes widened, but he said nothing. Harry cleared his throat and followed her through.

Within minutes at a steady pace, they were in front of a vault clerk at Gringotts.

"Morning," Harry said in a chipper voice. The Goblin grunted, not even looking up from his papers on the desk. Harry had a moment when he recognized the goblin as Bogrod, the one he used the Imperious curse on. "I would like to retrieve some gold from my vault."

"Vault key?" Bogrod asked impatiently.

"I'm sorry, I don't have it with me," Harry said. Bogrod shuffled for a parchment in his drawer. He unrolled it, putting on his spectacles. The parchment rolled onto the floor and along the walkway behind.

"You the owner or cosigned?"

"Owner?"

"Hereditary or Current account?"

"Hereditary," Harry agreed.

"Head of house?"

"Yes."

"Siblings or other benefactors whom are to be informed?"

"No."

"Status?"

"Excuse me?" Harry asked.

"Sole heir, betrothed, parent or guardian, married or widowed?"

"Um, I'm only tw-" Harry began.

"My good sir," Jon interrupted as he spoke to the goblin. "Please accept my apologies, but surely a blood seal would do?"

"Very well," Bogrod grunted, watching Jon closely. "If you shall, place a spot of your blood on this board, here and here." He shoved a small, bloodstained chalkboard inscribed with runes towards Harry pointing at two spots.

Harry watched Jon curiously, but then offered his thumb to Tonks, who drew her wand and silently issued the paper cut jinx on it. Harry pressed his thumb at the two spots.

Bogrod accepted the board and placed it under another small parchment. The parchment soaked up the little blood and words began to materialize on it. Harry was instantly reminded of a cross between Tom's diary and Umbridge's detention quill.

Vault 687, 820.

"Very good, Mr. Potter. Your trust fund vault 820 you are able to draw one thousand galleons monthly free of service charge. Your hereditary no 687 has a cap of five thousand per week with written withdrawal scrolls signed and sealed two days in advance until your finances are drained. All withdrawals at hereditary cost 5 gallons per every 1000. Which would you like access?" the goblin asked, in a bored, unwelcoming manner.

"Trust fund please."

"Bilgrumble," Bogrod summoned. "Please attend Mr. Potter and guests." Another goblin came towards them. "Mr. Potter, please instruct your Magicker to counter the blood seal. Your privacy is important to us, and we should hope that you keep doing business with us." He shoved the board back and gave them the parchment with the vault names and numbers. Tonks tapped the board and the blood was reversed unto her wand. Bilgrumble offered Tonks a fresh cloth with she wiped off the edge of her wand. This was done with a formal air and Bogrod nodded. "Very well, next!"

"I'll wait here," Jon said. "You go on ahead."

Tonks nodded and gave Harry the parchment with the numbers of his vault. "Come on," she said, walking with Bilgrumble.

"Jon," Harry warned."I'll be back."

"Yes, of course," Jon replied with a slight bow and a small smile. When they were out of sight Jon turned to Bogrod. "Is there a way to determine magic parentage..to let's say, abandoned magical children?"

Bogrod watched him. "If your parents had accounts with us, of course." Jon stared at Bogrod with calculating eyes. Bogrod actually broke the silence first. "You wish to try, young master?"

"I will be grateful. Is there a price?" Jon asked, his eyes never leaving Bogrod's.

"I like you, young man. No charge. Would you need a magicker or do you have another means?" he offered the board.

Jon took out the butter knife he had sharpened overnight from his meal while Harry slept. With a efficient nick he cut his thumb.

Vault 711. Vault 487. Vault 780. Vault 492.

"Very good Mr. Black. Your trust fund vault 780 and 492 you are able to draw one thousand galleons monthly free of service charge. Your hereditary numbers 711 487 has a cap of five thousand per week with written withdrawal scrolls signed and sealed two days in advance until your finances are drained. All withdrawals at hereditary cost 5 gallons per every 1000. Which would you like access?" the goblin asked, his eyes twinkling.

"I would like to retrieve one thousand galleons, and my parents information."

"Very well. Here you are, Mr. Black," Bogrod stretched over and produced two different scrolls.

Regulus Acturus Black vault number 780. The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black vault number 711.

Giselle Gemma Ollivander vault number 492. The Most Ancient House of Ollivander vault number 487.

"Thank you, good sir."

"Your name, Mr. Black, so that I may enter it into our records?"

"It's Jon. "

"Would you be taking on a hyphenated... or prefer simply Black."

"I will just take on the Black, thank you." Again.

"It is done. Your funds will be brought to you. Next!"

John stepped aside, Ghost sitting neatly at his heel. By the time Tonks and Harry came back Jon had a bag full of coins wrapped around his wrist. He and Harry shared a look.

"Well, look at you!" Harry nodded. "I thought this might of been harder, but you seem to improvise and get through quite well!"

"One must do what he can to help himself," he addressed them. "Great success, but not all the puzzle pieces are in place."

Tonks looked from one to the other. "I think there is something I am missing, but who am I to be curious about the boy who lived and why his friends take out large sums of gold." She chuckled.

"Oh, yeah well..um don't want to have to keep popping back in all the time." Harry laughed lamely.

"So... " Tonks smiled. "Ollivanders?"

"Yup!" Harry said, relieved.

"After you, mila - ma'am," Jon bowed slightly.

Tonks turned on her heel with a flourish and her hair danced around her as she turned to leave. "I'm not anyone's 'milady' ...nor 'ma'am'. Just Tonks is fine," she smiled. Jon bowed again in acknowledgement. "Why do I get the feeling I am going on an adventure. World renowned Hero, bags of gold, goblins, and weapons. A mysterious friend with only one name- sounds like the beginning of a great story!"

"Pardon me, milady. My name is Jon Sno-Black. John Black." Jon said as they walked down the street.

"Really?" Tonks eyebrows went up. Harry tried to hide his surprise as well. "As in House of Black?"

"Yes," Jon said. Tonks frowned.

"I've never heard of you," said Tonks suspiciously.

"My father," Jon said slowly. "Was Regulus."

"Oh, I am so, so sorry," Tonks said, her hand going to her chest. "I didn't know, he was really young he passed under such mysterious circumstances I never knew-"

"Neither did I," Jon said, trying not to laugh at how absurd this was. He didn't know his real mother home, now he didn't know his father here. A bastard no matter where he went. Harry did a shushing motion out of Tonks' line of sight. "I prefer to keep it private, if possible," Jon said remorsefully.

"Sure, no problem, mums the word," Tonks replied.

"'Mums' the word for what, exactly?" Jon asked.

"Just a saying," Harry intervened. "Secret is safe with her," he added. "Here we are!" He knocked loudly and pushed open the door to the wand shop.

"Coming!" said Ollivander from the back room. He walked into view and laid his pale eyes on them. "Welcome, Oh my back so soon? Ms Tonks, Mr. Potter, and...?"

"Jon," said Jon, nodding.

"Yes, yes... Mr. Jon," Ollivander said, not breaking eye contact. "How may I help today?"

Harry turned to Tonks. "Hey this might be a while, you mind terribly if Jon and I talked to him?" Tonks looked between the three of them and decided that nothing untoward could happen here so she took the hint and nodded.

"No problem, I'll browse around and be back within an hour if anything. I'm sure you two would be able to find me, the place is quiet today." Tonks turned to Jon. "No funny stuff."

"No funny stuff," Jon agreed.

The men watched her leave. Harry turned back to Ollivander, all business. "I need a new wand. One that leaves no ministry underage use of magic trace. Can this be possible?"

"Usually underage wizards who ask this aren't attending Hogwarts. Or wish to be, unobserved," Ollivander drawled out the last word. Harry took out his wand and laid it on the counter.

"Oh ho," Ollivander said, perching his glasses on his nose. He took it up and inspected it. "Oh my," he said. "Yes yes, I see."

"You do?" Harry said, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh yes," he said. "The underage trace would not apply here anyway," he agreed. He drew his own wand and Jon tensed. "Have no fear," Ollivander said, and he wordlessly flipped the open sign of his establishment to 'closed' and ran a few privacy charms and animagus revealing spells.

"Explain what you meant about the trace not applying," Harry said.

"Your secret is safe with me Mr. Potter. I assume you are from the future, or have somehow crossed the beyond and come back." Ollivander simply went about his business and began looking for new wands on the shelves.

"Oh?"

"Yes, that is what that wand shows me. The magic performed in that wand has already matured and gelled. Look at the core- the phoenix feather has been infused with your magical essence, forming a plasma. Signs of high use of adrenaline-filled battle magic. A few unforgivables as well, and many, many shields that have deflected strong curses. All signs of a Hardened wizard."

"You can keep this quiet?" Jon said in no uncertain terms.

"Of course my boy. I haven't survived this long without being able to deal with hit wizards, mages and the like. Confidentiality is one of my specialties," Ollivander said. "You are going to want to keep that, I have a project that you may want to try, Mr. Potter." Ollivander came back with a dozen wand boxes. "But first, let me help your friend."

"Mr. Jon, please come and step forward. Try these."

Jon tried a few of the wands, without any effect.

"It might help if you told me your surname, my boy," Ollivander probed gently. Harry nodded and shrugged at Jon.

"It's Black," Jon said. Ollivander nodded.

"And the other parent?"

"Ollivander," Jon replied, watching the aged wizard in the eye. Ollivander stood still a second, nodded, thenwent into the back room.

"Oh this is interesting. I will have to design one for you. But first, I have my suspicions, can weexperiment on my theory? Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, please take a hold of each end of this poor broken wand."

They did as they were told. The wand began to glow from its core, with a soft trill of phoenix song emanating.

"Yes, I was correct. I have good news, and I have not so good news, Mr. Potter."

"The bad news..." Harry sighed.

"Your magic has been altered. Your power over curses has been handicapped, to being almost ineffective," Mr. Ollivander smiled. Harry shut his eyes and blew out a long hard breath.

Well. Fuck me.

"Mr. Black, your power over curses has been focused and amplified. It almost as if you took Mr. Potter's natural ability and added it to your family's traditional knack for dark magic." Harry looked at Jon. Jon didn't even blink.

"Is that the good news?" Harry hissed. Jon folded his arms.

"The good news is that it will be tremendously difficult for you to turn to the Dark, Mr. Potter. Most young men who walk in here asking your initial question usually do."

"Well that's something," Harry grumbled.

"Also, your defensive or light-sided magic should also grow rapidly to compensate your inability to cast hexes and curses effectively."

"That's absolutely spiffing, no doubt," Harry muttered, thinking of the ramifications of this turn of events. Mr. Ollivander straightened and began to survey them as he walked back and forth in his shop. He clasped his hands behind him, similarly to the Professors at Hogwarts. In a slow deep tone, he began to speak.

"The synergy of both your magic cause this core to unleash radiance." Mr. Ollivander looked at the damaged wand, the core glowing faintly, almost alive. "That is truly the good news."

"Radiance?" Jon asked.

"When I said earlier about the project for Mr. Potter, it now means both of you must undergo it. It's a practice that used to be common a long, long time ago in ancient Babylon. It was called Kur Milid originally, but we call it simply Core Meld now," Ollivander gripped his left wrist with his right hand, raising his arms up in demonstration.

"Basically it is the process of creating a wand bracer infused with a plasma core." He mimed drawing his wand from the inside of the left wrist. "It may seem slower, but it is quite intimidating if done right," Ollivander winked. "Often stops any altercation in its tracks."

Hah. I really doubt that but ok.

"So why isn't this used more often?" Harry grinned.

"Because there is a catch twenty two in this process. It usually needs a fully aged core which is attuned to the original owner. But it also needs to be done when the owner is still developing his magic. Quite a quandary. How can both be possible at the same time?"

"Time magic..?" Harry suggested.

"And that, my friend... is correct, and how I know that the underage trace would not apply to you, even for a new wand. Your magic has matured, but now you have managed to come back and do it again, rebuilding your abilities even though your wand has already been synergized. To the both of you, it seems, but in different ways."

"Sounds good," Jon said after a few silent moments.

"I will ask you return soon so that I may give you a supplies list and instructions for this project. Depending on the success of your acquisitions, you should have this Core Meld bracer ready within a few weeks to a month."

"The catch?" Harry asked.

"You will need to apprentice with me some days each week to get the feel for wand-smithing. And for the other components, you may need to register with a few guilds, a couple within Diagon and one or two in Knockturn."

"Why?" Jon asked.

"The bracer must be made solely by your hand, all ingredients and process must be done without assistance. Instructions are fine, but it will only work if you procure supplies, design, build and test it yourself. You can't even buy the supplies, you must get it from the source."

"Sounds like a lot of hassle..." Harry queried. Mr. Ollivander shook his head in dismissal.

"You would have basically two sources of attack, or defense, or a combination of both, available to you at the same time," Mr. Ollivander said sagely, tilting his chin upwards in challenge.

"Like wielding Sword, and the Shield," Jon nodded in agreement.

"Oh. Wicked," Harry grinned, offering his fist to Jon. Jon connected without missing a beat, or taking his eyes off of the sage Wand Maker.

"However, I realize that with your unique, dual circumstances, I can only offer you both loaner wands for now. You would work on your own wands as you apprentice here. Maybe this is best, the result would be a real compliment to your Phoenix bracer project." Mr. Ollivander gave them a solemn nod and he turned to climb his ladders.

"Oh, before I forget. There is a membership fee for all guilds, and it varies from guild to guild. My apprentice fee is one hundred galleons per year, due the day before you begin. This covers regular material for study and practice. For sale, you must either procure it yourself, or buy from our stock. You earn forty percent of sales of wands you design, if you so choose to make this a regular occurrence. Obviously you will not have to pay for your own final wands and bracers. How about it, young men?"

"Done," Jon agreed at the same time Harry said "Of course!"

"It is Agreed, then," he said, stretching for a box on the third shelf. "Ah, here it is. Olive Branch and Dragon heartstring. Only probably really effective for serious curses bordering on Auror dark detectors going off like crazy, but pretty bad at everything else. But if you are an Ollivander, this would work for the interim. Here you are, young man." Jon accepted it with a bow and waved it. Harry felt sleepy immediately.

"Careful!" Ollivander said, casting a counter charm at Harry. Harry shook his head, disoriented. "Well, that hundred year sleep curse worked like a charm!" Ollivander beamed. "Maybe some extra care is necessary, Mr. Black. The curse aspect definitely suits you."

"One hundred year sleep?" Harry said, watching Jon inspect his new weapon.

"Once you sleep for the entire first year, it's almost impossible to re-animate you until around year sixty," Ollivander added, sliding down the shelves on his charmed ladder. "Here it is. It's a shame, for such a great wizard, but..." he came down the ladder and presented Harry with his interim loaner wand. "Holly and troll hair. Horrible combination, but the most compatible with any wizard. Even gives near squib-levels hope. Frighteningly good at the hair growth charm. Specializes in Lumos, and Winguardium-class spells. Can't do a lick else. Almost stopped this line ten years ago, but I do get the odd customer every year or so that needs one."

"Thanks. I guess," Harry received his wand and sure as he said, his lumos and levitation spells were bright and rock steady. He tried a mild jelly legs hex at the ground... but his hand began to vibrate and burn with a mild shocking sensation, similar to what happened with his broken wand yesterday.

"Want to start tomorrow? We can use the Knight Bus now that we got wands, without bothering Tonks," Harry said to Jon.

"Yes, the sooner the better," he agreed. Both of them counted out the galleons and gave it to Ollivander. Ollivander got a parchment from his drawer with a pre-written agreement.

"Let me give you your apprentice license. Hm," he murmured.

"What, is there a problem sir?" Jon asked, studying the old man's expression.

"This seems to be ..more of a family based document. Hold on, I have to edit the wording here," he tapped his wand to the parchment, "and here," again he tapped, "here, here, here and this line. Very well, this seems to be in order." He gave them both a copy.

There were clauses about restricting opening a separate business within two years, and using the Ollivander brand-name without consent, and certain other business related context that seemed fair. It also contained wording to the matter of attaining Junior level after successful completion of the apprenticeship. It also had a clause about applying to the ministry of international co-operation to complete a separate application. This application allowed a Junior smith with three years of experience to join the International Wandsmith Guild with hopes to become a Senior Smith.

"Sealed and signed with Blood?" Jon asked.

"Yes," Ollivander said, first note of surprise in his tone. "You've joined a guild before?" he asked politely.

"Sort of," he responded vaguely, drawing his makeshift dagger. He re-opened the small cut he made earlier while the old man gave him an enchanted quill. Jon squeezed his thumb until a pearl of blood formed, then touched the tip of the quill to it. He signed his copy, the enchanted quill multiplying his drop of blood to flow smoothly over the parchment.

Harry drew his wand absentmindedly and produced the paper cut jinx on his thumb. To his own amazement, the spell worked perfectly.

"Interesting," Mr. Ollivander said. Harry shrugged, and used the quill to sign his copy of parchment. "I was expecting to have to counter charm whatever happened to your finger but it seems the jinx was mild enough to work without issue. Usually the piercing class of jinxes is a level closer to the darker spectrum."

"The intent wasn't to harm anyone, that's the difference," Harry explained. "It was to help me learn more about magic, a positive aspect, maybe it can be called a charm in this case?"

"Perhaps," Mr. Ollivander said, not truly convinced. "Tomorrow, at eight o'clock will be fine. I will give you time to see what supplies you will need and during the course of the day you can visit the other guilds. I will call an associate to escort you to Knockturn if necessary." He wrote names of two books. "Get this at Obscurus'. I have the others you would need but those two are your starter books. Begin them tonight," he added.

"Right. Will do. This was illuminating. Thank you once again, Mr. Ollivander," Harry said, a small nod towards his new trainer.

"It is an Honor, Master Wandsmith," Jon said solemnly with a medium bow.

"It has been over two hundred years since there was an outsider apprentice," he said, pulling his beard. "Tomorrow then. Walk in the light," he said in farewell.

"Walk in the Light," Jon replied. They both turned and left the store. Right across the road was Tonks, leaning on the wall of another shop. Harry was about to ask about the Walk in the Light thing but she approached before he got a chance.

"You got through?" Tonks asked. At their nod she smiled. "Good."

"We just need to get two books from Obscurus, and we could leave," Harry said, giving her the fifty galleons agreed upon. Tonks looked at the small bag of coins, then pocketed it.

"Thanks, cheers!" She began to walk to the bookstore. The two boys followed behind her. Harry appreciated how graceful Tonks moved under her robes. He tried to not notice, but it was hard to concentrate.

"Here we are." As she opened the door, none other than Lucius Malfoy stormed out, obviously annoyed at something. Harry dipped his head and looked away. Mr. Malfoy strode down the road and exited left to the shortcut at Knockturn. Harry noticed that he was clutching something that looked remarkably like the Diary in his hand. Tonks scowled at Malfoy's back then made her way into the store with Harry and Jon in tow. They walked to the front of the shopkeeper who hadn't heard the door chime twice so was caught off guard when he noticed three people standing in front of him.

"Good day. Two copies of this, please," Harry asked. The shop clerk called out to the back room. "Katie!"

Katie bell, his fourth year Quidditch teammate, came out front. "Please get two of these for a Mr.? " he asked offhandedly.

"Harry! How's it going! Hey, Tonks was it? You look good!" Katie greeted them, taking the parchment from Mr. Ridgewall. "Who is your friend?"

"My cousin, Jon," Tonks said, smiling.

"Hi! Okay, I'm just gonna get this and be back in a minute," said Katie. Tonks nodded her thanks and she left.

"See the guy who walked out of here when we were walking in?" Harry whispered to Jon. Jon nodded. "He's bad news. We have to take care of something he is going to do as it happens to protect a little girl. We can't make any mistakes with him."

Jon genuinely smiled. "Just let me know when Harry. I am on top of it." He offered him his fist and Harry connected almost on reflex.

"We gotta stop doing that," Harry said as they both realized how uncanny it was.

"What are you two whispering about?" Tonks asked.

"She plays Quidditch with me," Harry said smoothly. "Nice girl," he added. Jon smiled appreciatively.

"She's older than you two," Tonks said. Harry shrugged, undeterred. Tonks smiled ruefully and shook her head, "Boys."

Katie returned shortly, making small talk with Harry as they paid for the books. They left, waving cheerfully to Katie who seemed genuinely pleased to see him.

"Maybe you made an impression on her," Tonks noted with a grin.

"I am the youngest seeker and fastest snitch catcher, in like forever," Harry smirked, ruffling his hair as he put back on his hat.

"Oh really?" Tonks said in a high pitch voice. "I hope that isn't a lie! "

"You don't read the prophet, do you?" Harry asked cheekily.

"I Must have missed that edition," Tonks countered with a sniff. Harry walked past Pettichaps, and almost laughed at how small the clothes were, when he realized they would probably fit him still.

"One more stop, let me get some clothes at Milkins', seems we will be back tomorrow," Harry noted.

"Oh? More shopping?"

"Yeah, and we would be apprenticing as well," Harry said nonchalantly.

"Oh that's definitely a lie," Tonks stopped immediately. Harry walked into her bouncing into her back , causing Jon to stretch out a hand to prevent both of them from falling over. "Ollivander's is specifically a family run business. That's why they are the best in Britain They have never offered apprenticeships, ever." Harry and Tonks untangled themselves, even while she was fussing.

"Not true," Jon said. "He said himself they haven't done it over two hundred years."

"Oh, come on. " Tonks glared at them both. "Like, for real?"

"For real," nodded Harry.

"Congrats," she offered skeptically. "Let's get you geared then. Come on this way." She began moving in the completely opposite direction. Harry was confused. Milkins was just down the street.

"Where you going? Milkins is down this way," Harry protested. Tonks looked at him and shook her head.

"Trust me, for budding professionals, here is where you want to get gear. Sturdier stuff."

They walked towards the entrance to Knockturn alley. They walked for a couple minutes until they came to a stop in front of a dusty store. The sign above said WWG with a faded explanation below. Tonks hustled them inside, and they were now looking around at a different kind of clothes shop with uniforms, gloves, long over coats and tunic style robes.

"Mr. Bulistrode!" Tonks called. "Mr. Boot!"

"Good day good day!" A middle aged man with a bright smile and beefy arms came from behind the counter. "Hullo! Tonks is it? And who are your companions?"

"This is Jon, and Harry." Tonks shrugged. "Babysitting for the day!"

Harry groaned.

"Well! All well and good! how may we help?" Harry saw another man appear from the store room with a crate of dark uniforms or material levitating in front of him and unto the cashier's counter. "You finally ready for your first fitting?"

Tonks bit the bottom lip, and hesitated. " Yeah sure?"

"Good! You wanted ah, A-12 grade? Resistance level one gloves, boots, and level two ladies leather jerkin?"

"Ahm... yes, preferably the troll lined, not the dragon lined." She hesitated. "What was the difference in price again?" she ventured.

"Let me bring both and we'll let you try 'em on, then we can work something out eh?" Bulistrode said. "Bring me the Macedonian reserve and the Romanian Aerie level two's and some level one gauntlets and boots Bootsman!"

"Got ya! What size?"

"Small top, um.. size C cup or is it now D?" Bulistrode eyed Tonks front shamelessly. "Size small gloves and boots..um a size eight?"

"Yeah," Tonks said, trying not to be embarrassed about the loud proclamations of her chest in front of the boys who were smirking, pretending to look around. "And some apprentice robes for these two, and level 3 gloves."

"Oh?" Bulistrode smiled widely. "Nice of you to bring in extra customers , I'll give you a neat discount!"

Harry and Jon came forward and followed Bulistrode to the Journeyman's' section. "We got basically everything you might need here lads," he offered. "Protective gear designed for many of our guilds menu all grades, all styles. She said you need level three gloves, got the finger cut-out version here, and all-covered here. Index and thumb cut out versions here. Gauntlet attachment here, and reinforced backhand plate attachments if necessary. What line?"

"Smithing," Jon said simply.

"Broom? Furniture or Instruments of wood?" He pointed at the wood type journeyman gloves. "Metal, cauldron , fine instruments or tools?" he pointed at the metal section. "And these are the alchemy bottle and glass making gloves. Very resistant to heat."

"Wand-smithing," Harry explained.

"Oh," Bulistrode stopped his sales pitch. "Ah, this is new." He paused a second, rubbing his beard. "The closest thing I got to that is used for the department of MLE. Much too bulky for such fine work. You may need to check the Curse breaker's Guild for a pair of their runic inscription set. It's a bit pricey though , but it's the right protection when dealing with dormant, kinetic and resonant magic. You don't want to play around with wand cores without one of those until you get your methodologies right. Ask for Stannis. Tell him I sent you. You'll need these though."

He brought them both pairs of masks that look eerily similar to the Death eater's versions. "This is for the final mating part between cores and wood. There may be magical flashes that sear the eyes and face. Don't get cocky until you know the different type of reactions. Safety first is our motto at Wizards Worldwide gear."

"I'll take a pair of level one 'metal final instruments' gloves and also a level two 'metal tools' gloves. Oh, the complete set with the heavy gauntlet attachment and reinforced backhand attachment. Also the "Invincible Armor" line of metal tongs and chisels set I saw back there," Jon pointed.

"Very good!" Bulistrode said, impressed. "I'll set it on the counter. And for you?" he addressed Harry.

"Just Gloves for broom modifications would be fine with me," Harry said, getting inspiration.

"Excellent choice. I heard you made Gryffindor in your first year. Good one lad!" Bulistrode bustled about grabbing the items the young boys wanted. He spread them across the counter. "And here is your Magical hazard level 4 Apprentice Aprons and Robes. I'll give you two each , twenty percent off for the robes, five percent for the gear. Don't wear the aprons in direct sunlight, use them only in the workshop."

"That will be one hundred and ten galleons for you," he pointed to Jon. "Sixty eight galleons for Mr. Potter," he calculated on his abacus. "Will you be doing Gringotts note, or direct coin?"

"Coin," Jon said, drawing out his money. Harry did the same.

"Hey guys," Tonks called invitingly. The two young men walked over to the changing booth. "What you think?" she showed off the Leather jerkin. It fit snugly on her torso and was tight around her shoulders. It barely covered the top of her thighs. Harry took note that her legs were on point. He also took note that Tonks wasn't shy whatsoever. "This is the Macedonia brand, with the troll lining on the inside."

"Looks good," Harry gulped. He was beginning to sweat.

"But? I know there is a but there somewhere..." Tonks challenged.

"Isn't the Dragon line better?"

"Too rich for me. Got to get the gloves and stuff too for my practical," she frowned.

"In thanks for your help today, I will gladly help out with the cost of the dragon lined jerkin, milady," Jon offered.

"Oh no, I couldn't, Harry and I had an agreement."

"Consider this a gift, not an agreement," Jon persisted.

"The young man clearly doesn't mind," Mr. Boot encouraged, overhearing the exchange. "You would be better off in the long run with the dragon liner as I said, Ms Tonks."

"Okay, if you must," Tonks smiled prettily. "Thanks!" She went in the changing room to change into her original robes. When she re-emerged and paid, all three of them were practically bouncing with excitement on their new gear.

"Where is the cursebreaker guild?" Harry asked. Tonks expression changed.

"I can't take you there, Harry. That's a bit further down and maybe a bit dodgy."

"It's just for a pair of gloves for us," Harry said. "Won't be a minute."

"We'll be quick," Jon reinforced. Tonks sighed.

"You guys are too much!" she laughed.

They made quick time down the road, Ghost running around them and yip yip yipping the whole way. Into the shopfront with CBG marked on top, and direct to the counter.

"Morning, I'm looking for Stannis?" Harry said. The woman behind the desk seemed disinterested.

"He's in the back, what d'ya want? she asked.

"Mr. Bulistrode sent me here." Harry insisted. "I would like to talk to him, if you please."

"Hold on," she said, getting up and going in the back. A minute later a small man with a wiry build came out, his face scarred in a couple places. He came to the counter and leant forward on it.

"Bully sent you?" he said in a grating voice that seemed almost comical to his small frame.

"Yeah, he sent us here because we want to buy two pairs of Runic inscription gloves."

Stannis eyebrows shot up. "Is that so? Very well, its thirty five galleons a pair."

Jon sized up the man, looking him in the eye. "May we see it ?" Stannis grunted and went back in the room. He came back with two small trunks, one under each arm. He opened them with a tap of his wand and two sleek black pairs of gloves were in each one.

"These are designed to insulate your magic from the magic of the object you are working on. No feedback, or explosions, guaranteed."

Harry's eyebrows shot up. "Up to what Curse level can this protect?"

"This model goes up to Blood, Ghoul, Tissue rotting and Time/age curses."

"Got any for ...darker... protection?" he prodded. Tonks just looked at him, aghast. "Poison enchantments...what about Possession or Death-Soul magic?"

"Ho ho ho," Stannis said. "You want the good stuff. One minute." He locked the trunks then went back into the store room. He re-emerged with some jet black onyx boxes. "This is top of the line Egyptian Tomb curse breakers' gauntlet. This protects you from anything." He rubbed a silk cloth on the corner edge of the onyx boxes and they unfolded like a flower.

In each were matte black gloves, with a unique shimmering effect similar to Harry's invisibility cloak. It was mesmerizing, how the gloves folded at random, yet undeniably artistic, placed just so. They resided against the expensive box liner, resplendent against the deepest black satin backing.

The three of them simply watched in fascination. Harry actually had to swallow because saliva had built up in his mouth. It was surreal.

"One hundred galleons for the two of 'em. Another hundred for the onyx boxes, they also serve as a good storage element for anything that these bad boys need to handle. You want them?"

Harry nodded immediately. This was probably what they needed to handle the horcuxes. Heck, even if there were no horcruxes, no Basilisks to face, he knew he would still buy them. "I'll throw in another fifty if you give us the name and contact of the craftsman that made this."

"Ho ho ho," Stannis chuckled. "Done." Tonks eyes kept getting wider with the way these boys were throwing money around. "Sign this, this is your guarantee of protection against cursed objects for up to fifteen years. If for some reason you do get cursed, the gloves will go dormant. Bring 'em back if you can and you will get a new custom made set with the counter curse inclusive of the new protection, and a two thousand galleon insurance payment."

"Great way to keep your development cycle going," Tonks noted.

"Aye lass, no better way to improve the product than through breakers complaining about what it couldn't handle. It's been through 6 revisions already over five hundred years. each one probably twice as strong as the last revision."

"Don't forget the Runic set," Jon said. Stannis put all four boxes on the counter and wrote them their bill. He also wrote the name of the master craftsman who forged the Onyx set.

"I'll give you his name for free. That's two hundred and seventy galleons." Harry and Jon put up the one thirty five galleons a piece and said their farewells. He looked at the name on the parchment.

"Holy crap," he said. Tonks asked what was the matter when Harry stopped to read the name. She looked over his shoulder and peeked at the name. "Someone named Sanguini. So what?"

"Um yeah, " Harry said stalling. He forgot that he shouldn't technically know who this was. He felt a tug on his belt and Ghost began barking like mad and made chase, running down the street. "What the hell?" Harry spun around, spotting a runner making a mad dash with his money bag in hand. "Thief!" he cried. Tonks whipped around with her wand in hand.

"Imobilus!" the light blue freezing jinx flashing towards the scoundrel. He flashed his wand behind him and deflected the bolt of magic. Jon was already in motion, his shopping bags dropped and taking off at a full sprint.

Harry pointed his loaner and shouted "Winguardium lleviosa!" The runner half turned throwing up a hasty protego shield. It had no effect and he was unceremoniously lifted up and thrown in a heap against a lamp post. With a clatter he fell down; Ghost already upon him and biting his ankle. He began to frantically kick at the wolf pup, screaming in pain. Within seconds Jon was there, waving his wand. The madly scrambling thief immediately fell asleep. Ghost was still gnawing on his ankle, his pant leg getting dark with blood.

"To me," Jon ordered. Ghost growled at the thief but let him go and backed off snarling, his eyes never leaving the sleeping body. Tonks reached next, casting a manacle charm along the disarming charm. The bag of gold and his wand zoomed into her hand. The commotion had Stannis and the old lady out of the storefront along other seedy looking individuals. Harry took off his glasses and pulled his hat on hastily.

"You got back my bag? Let's go, we're causing a scene!" Harry urged the others. Jon was still looking down the length of his wand at the sleeping thief, standing dumbstruck at what he had just done. He caught his senses and left , running back towards Harry and Tonks. They walked triple time out of Knockturn, their breath panting as they made their way to the leaky cauldron.

"'Just a trip to Gringotts and Ollivanders,' he said," Tonks laughed. "Sounds like an adventure,' I said. Careful what you ask for eh?" Tonks laughed half jogging half walking.

"We need to stop at Ollivanders!" Harry huffed and puffed. Only Jon was breathing easily. They ducked in without knocking and Ollivander looked up from writing at his desk. He saw the look on their faces and got up immediately.

"What happened?" he asked, concern on his face.

"Thief... we got back our money but I think Jon used the sleeping curse on him." Harry panted.

"I will see to it. Better get going before the Aurors come sniffing," he advised, stepping around the counter and urging them out the shop. "Go! quickly! And do not apparate out!"

The trio ran out the shop and made their way into the Leaky cauldron just as two Aurors popped in behind them at the entrance to Diagon alley, the door closing as they made their way to the brick wall. Straight out the door through the pub and unto Charing cross, Tonks' hand was up with her wand and bam! the Knight Bus arrived.

"You lot again eh? Hop on, then!"

The trio boarded, took their seats, and breathed out hard. Tonks was grinning ear to ear, alongside Harry. Jon was staring at his wand, lost in thought.

"You guys go hard huh? I mean, all that money and stuff," Tonks said. "Plus I've never even heard of someone levitating another person in a fight- right useful it turned out to be. And at such range!"

"Shot was lucky, I guess," Harry said. For some reason he knew instinctively not to cast anything else, the wand seemed to be growing on him already. He frowned.

"Yeah! Went through Protego like butter!" she exclaimed, all excited. "It's like you've had experience with this before!" she laughed, eyes full of excitement.

"Not really," he said. "Just instinct..."

"Your instinct was to use Winguardium lleviosa?" Tonks grinned. "Unorthodox but very effective. I like it!" The way Tonks said it Harry felt his body warm up. "Jon you were very brave, and you too Ghost!" the puppy barked once. "And I got the manacle hex on the first try, been practicing on Dad for a long time!"

"He was asleep at the time," Jon said calmly, deflating her.

"Oh hush!" she exclaimed. "Real life stuff. Aren't you pumped?" she nudged Jon on her right, and Harry on her left.

"Yes," Jon deadpanned. Harry shrugged. The bus reached the spot they were dropped off at the street behind the park. It was already almost two o'clock in the afternoon.

"Thanks again," Harry said, distractedly.

"Owl me, ok? You didn't post a return address!" she called out at the two boys through the window as they got off. Within a few seconds there was a bang! and the bus vanished. They made their way back to the house, snuck in and stuffed all their purchases in the closet. Both popped open their books and began to read.

"I'm going to grab some food," Harry said around half five, stretching. "I'll bring it up then see about the chores I need to do, then come back up. Nobody comes in here so... just chill out and relax. We got work in the morning."

"I think that maybe I should also find a place for room and board, close to the Master Wand maker." Jon said. "I have been given this Black identity and a family fortune, it's almost as if the forces want us to have a very big head start in our mission," Jon said. "It has me uneasy, usually life throws you challenges to match your ability. But this famous heritage and Ollivander connection makes me feel like something very big is going to be thrown at us to compensate at the ease in which we got through today."

Harry thought a minute, his voice getting very low. "Those horcruxes gave Death itself a reason to send us back. This is not going to be easy. Better take all the positives as they come."

"You are right in this. In the ways of magic, I am a novice." Jon nodded solemnly.

The next morning a tawny owl was tapping on the window at half past six in the morning. Harry got up groggily, putting on his glasses. That was Hermione's owl. It was carrying a letter and a newspaper.

Harry opened the letter first.

Dear Harry,

You made front page! With the Black Scion to boot! Who is he and what is he doing with you?

Tell me everything!

Hermione Granger

He kicked Jon lightly who was asleep on the ground on a pile of comforters. Jon got up sitting up at the waist.

"Good strong pose there, Black," Harry said, grinning. Jon looked at the moving image of the front page. It showed him looking down at the crumpled form of the thief, his wand aimed directly at his heart in a commanding pose. Ghost was in the forefront, back hunched and snarling, teeth bared.

"Lord Black Saves the Boy Who Lived!" read the headline.

"Today would be a bit less hectic," Harry said sarcastically.

"So it would appear," Jon said calmly, reading the article. "Why did we stop again? When the thief made off with your gold."

"I recognized the craftsman who made the Onyx gloves. His name is Sanguine. He's a bloody Vampire." Harry grimaced.

"Why is this important to us?"

"We need him to train us..." Harry said simply.

"What?" Jon said.

"We've got to create armor to protect us from the horcruxes. We have a few weeks until our appointment with Mr. Malfoy. We get it without him knowing that we have it and safeguard it. But when it comes times to destroy it, we got to be prepared. And that means protected. It appears it latches on to anyone nearby when the vessel is destroyed, and that isn't good. It makes this ten times harder than the first time."

Jon gave him one of those mile long stares.

"Lovely," he rubbed his face. "Just fucking lovely."

AN: Thank you for reading and being so patient. I hope you like it. Please tell me what you think!