Again, I see acknowledging that Lily made a mistake (which is how the vote describes it- not as blaming her) as distinct from blaming her in an important way. The difference between active and passive culpability, if that makes sense? Also, to be clear I do agree that Petunia's unlikely to be blameless in this area, and I doubt we've gotten the full picture. I just think that it's likely Lily did have a hand in this, and that Petunia's concerns and what she's said aren't unfounded.
I don't see the distinction to be honest. In the end , we are saying that the estrangement between them was the fault of Lilys mistakes, which we will be avoiding. That is laying the blame solely at her feet. If Petunia was more honest and talked about her own culpability there would be a way to say that we avoid the mistakes Lily made while not blaming her alone for what happened, but sadly the story that was given to us shows Lily in a very bad light.
Also, I definitely wouldn't define this as Petunia taking her issues out on Harry. That would take the form of... well, something like canon, or the negative option in the first post. Her actively making Harry's life worse, or lashing out at him, or something along those lines. To me at least, there's a pretty clear line between harm through neglect (which is what this is- not revealing information because it hurts to do, and in doing so placing her own needs over that of Harry) and harm through deliberate action (which is what lashing out would be). And while it certainly doesn't render her blameless, the lack of malice is important.
"Better than canon Dursleys" isn't saying that much. She probably harmed Harry, and while I'm willing to acknowledge that is was through neglect, I disagree with the conclusion that we shouldn't blame her for that. It was a really shitty thing to do to a child, and that is something that should be said aknowledged instead of swept under the carpet just because it could have been worse.
Real adults act like this all the time, so you can hardly accuse her of not acting like one based on this.
But more seriously, holding out for her to take the first step or waiting for her to get over her issues on her is unlikely to accomplish anything. Yes, she is the adult, and she should be better than this and bear the responsibility- but if we know that she's not going to, then what do we actually gain out of refusing to reach out our hand first? Nothing that I can see. Whereas taking the initiative ourselves might actually give her a chance to understand and come to terms with whatever happened, while also preserving/improving an important relationship in Harry's life.
That's why I voted for the hug. She did a bad thing, but Harry isn't cutting ties over this. And with the hug option, he is actually the one going for it first , so I saw it as a great way to do the first step. If we just let this slide, what else will Vernon and Petunia see as reasonable to expect and act like? Just being a doormat and taking neglect as granted or reasonable isn't the way to build a healthy relationship.
[X][FEELS] ... Full of Promises: Harry tried to make his family understand that he wouldn't repeat the mistakes his mother made. He'd sworn to keep Vernon, Petunia and Dudley in his heart. He wasn't sure she believed him, but Vernon nodded approvingly. [X][EXIT] Gave his aunt a hug: Either to mend things or to reassure her. She wraps a hand around your neck and holds you tight, before slowly letting go. [X][PURCHASES] Select the Order in Which Items are Purchased: Write-in. -[X] 1st: Uniform
-[X] 2nd: Implement
-[X] 3rd: Books
-[X] 4th: General Supplies
-[X] 5th: Ingredients
I don't see the distinction to be honest. In the end , we are saying that the estrangement between them was the fault of Lilys mistakes, which we will be avoiding. That is laying the blame solely at her feet. If Petunia was more honest and talked about her own culpability there would be a way to say that we avoid the mistakes Lily made while not blaming her alone for what happened, but sadly the story that was given to us shows Lily in a very bad light.
I guess to me... blaming is saying Lily did this intentionally, and acknowledging she made a mistake is saying that she she took actions that caused or contributed to the result, without actually intending the outcome.
"Better than canon Dursleys" isn't saying that much. She probably harmed Harry, and while I'm willing to acknowledge that is was through neglect, I disagree with the conclusion that we shouldn't blame her for that. It was a really shitty thing to do to a child, and that is something that should be said acknowledged instead of swept under the carpet just because it could have been worse.
I, er, literally said that it doesn't render her blameless.
And yes, it was a shitty thing to do. It was, however, also a very human thing to do if (as I suspect) it was motivated by grief over the loss of her sister- and while that doesn't absolve Petunia of responsibility, it does leave me inclined to let things lie. At least for now, anyway; I definitely want to learn more about the other side of the story, and once we know more try and get Petunia to see the full picture (whatever it is).
That's why I voted for the hug. She did a bad thing, but Harry isn't cutting ties over this. And with the hug option, he is actually the one going for it first , so I saw it as a great way to do the first step. If we just let this slide, what else will Vernon and Petunia see as reasonable to expect and act like? Just being a doormat and taking neglect as granted or reasonable isn't the way to build a healthy relationship.
There's a difference between not being a doormat and lashing out at someone in anger. Though even if you do run with the assumption that this is acting as a doormat, I also don't think a single incident is enough to establish a pattern of behaviour that Harry will just let anything slide; aside from anything else, this is an emotionally stressful time for all of them. Not causing problems in that time isn't likely to be met with 'I can push this person around' as a response, but instead 'thank you for not starting a fight'.
Truth be told, I would prefer a middle ground option- something like 'Harry is hurt they kept this from him, but promises to keep in contact'- but that's not something we've been given here.
[X][FEELS] ... Tense and Angry: As soon as he processed things, Harry got more angry than he'd ever been. Magic? His parents had been magic and they'd kept that from you?! He yelled some things he maybe regretted saying now, and Petunia and Vernon had yelled back. It had been a day since they talked to each other.
[X][EXIT] Gave his aunt a hug: Either to mend things or to reassure her. She wraps a hand around your neck and holds you tight, before slowly letting go.
[X][PURCHASES] Select the Order in Which Items are Purchased: Write-in.
-[X] 1st: Uniform
-[X] 2nd: Implement
-[X] 3rd: Books
-[X] 4th: General Supplies
-[X] 5th: Ingredients
But the option you are arguing for pretty much tells her that we are taking her side in the dispute, and when we take it we wouldn't communicate that withholding knowledge of his parents is something that we would blame her for. I agree with many of your arguments, which is confusing to me when I see how much you prefer the other vote option.
There's a difference between not being a doormat and lashing out at someone in anger. Though even if you do run with the assumption that this is acting as a doormat, I also don't think a single incident is enough to establish a pattern of behaviour that Harry will just let anything slide; aside from anything else, this is an emotionally stressful time for all of them. Not causing problems in that time isn't likely to be met with 'I can push this person around' as a response, but instead 'thank you for not starting a fight'.
Truth be told, I would prefer a middle ground option- something like 'Harry is hurt they kept this from him, but promises to keep in contact'- but that's not something we've been given here.
I feel like the combination of Tense and angry and going for the hug ( first ) is that middle ground. And not being at least somewhat angry when the first thing you hear about your mother is mostly blaming her for not staying in contact, while the only thing that you really learn about her as a person is that she was kind and a wizard ( after 11 years of not hearing a word or seeing a picture of her ) is very reasonable in my opinion. Honestly, not getting angry and just taking that as fact would establish a pattern in my mind, because it would be such an extraordinary thing to do for a 11 year old orphan.
But the option you are arguing for pretty much tells her that we are taking her side in the dispute, and when we take it we wouldn't communicate that withholding knowledge of his parents is something that we would blame her for. I agree with many of your arguments, which is confusing to me when I see how much you prefer the other vote option.
I think it might be a difference in priorities? I tend towards peace-keeping, deescalating situations, and going with the flow- or at least, I do when I don't see a benefit in raising a fuss (when I do feel the need I dive in 100%, no holds barred).
I feel like the combination of Tense and angry and going for the hug ( first ) is that middle ground. And not being at least somewhat angry when the first thing you hear about your mother is blaming her for not staying in contact, while the only thing that you really learn about her as a person is that she was kind and a wizard ( after 11 years of not hearing a word or seeing a picture of her ) is very reasonable in my opinion. Honestly, not getting angry and just taking that as fact would establish a pattern in my mind, because it would be such an extraordinary thing to do for a 11 year old orphan.
Honestly, I think in Harry's situation my reaction would be confusion and bewilderment over hurt and angry- even back when I was 11 I had a very long fuse, and was much more inclined to ask 'why' rather than get angry. People aren't uniform in how they react to situations, after all.
[X][FEELS] ... Tense and Angry: As soon as he processed things, Harry got more angry than he'd ever been. Magic? His parents had been magicand they'd kept that from you?! He yelled some things he maybe regretted saying now, and Petunia and Vernon had yelled back. It had been a day since they talked to each other.
[X][EXIT] Gave his aunt a hug: Either to mend things or to reassure her. She wraps a hand around your neck and holds you tight, before slowly letting go.
[x][FEELS] ... Full of Promises: Harry tried to make his family understand that he wouldn't repeat the mistakes his mother made. He'd sworn to keep Vernon, Petunia and Dudley in his heart. He wasn't sure she believed him, but Vernon nodded approvingly.
[x][EXIT] Gave his aunt a hug: Either to mend things or to reassure her. She wraps a hand around your neck and holds you tight, before slowly letting go.
[X][PURCHASES] Select the Order in Which Items are Purchased: Write-in. -[X] 1st: Uniform
-[X] 2nd: Implement
-[X] 3rd: Books
-[X] 4th: General Supplies
-[X] 5th: Ingredients
[x][FEELS] ... Full of Promises: Harry tried to make his family understand that he wouldn't repeat the mistakes his mother made. He'd sworn to keep Vernon, Petunia and Dudley in his heart. He wasn't sure she believed him, but Vernon nodded approvingly.
[x][EXIT] Gave his aunt a hug: Either to mend things or to reassure her. She wraps a hand around your neck and holds you tight, before slowly letting go.
[x][PURCHASES] Select the Order in Which Items are Purchased: Write-in.
-[X] 1st: Uniform
-[X] 2nd: Implement
-[X] 3rd: Books
-[X] 4th: General Supplies
-[X] 5th: Ingredients
Scheduled vote count started by Dr Heaven M.D. on Feb 23, 2023 at 3:49 AM, finished with 21 posts and 14 votes.
[X][EXIT] Gave his aunt a hug: Either to mend things or to reassure her. She wraps a hand around your neck and holds you tight, before slowly letting go.
[X][FEELS] ... Full of Promises: Harry tried to make his family understand that he wouldn't repeat the mistakes his mother made. He'd sworn to keep Vernon, Petunia and Dudley in his heart. He wasn't sure she believed him, but Vernon nodded approvingly.
[X][PURCHASES] Select the Order in Which Items are Purchased: Write-in. -[X] 1st: Uniform -[X] 2nd: Implement -[X] 3rd: Books -[X] 4th: General Supplies -[X] 5th: Ingredients
[X][FEELS] ... Tense and Angry: As soon as he processed things, Harry got more angry than he'd ever been. Magic? His parents had been magic and they'd kept that from you?! He yelled some things he maybe regretted saying now, and Petunia and Vernon had yelled back. It had been a day since they talked to each other.
[X][FEELS] ... Full of Promises: Harry tried to make his family understand that he wouldn't repeat the mistakes his mother made. He'd sworn to keep Vernon, Petunia and Dudley in his heart. He wasn't sure she believed him, but Vernon nodded approvingly. [X][EXIT] Gave his aunt a hug: Either to mend things or to reassure her. She wraps a hand around your neck and holds you tight, before slowly letting go. [X][PURCHASES] Select the Order in Which Items are Purchased: Write-in. -[X] 1st: Uniform
-[X] 2nd: Implement
-[X] 3rd: Books
-[X] 4th: General Supplies
-[X] 5th: Ingredients
By the way, Tom the Bartender is a really funny character to me, just 'cause of his name. I guess he must know how German guys named Adolf must've felt during and after WW2.
Dumbledore likes to call him Tom whenever they meet, so while his past isn't well known ( 'Very few people know that Lord Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle'-Dumbledore, CoS), his first name might be somewhat public knowledge. Who knows how often they met and who heard them. Also, all his closest Hogwarts friends know his real identity. And Ollivander. And that's only the people I can recall textual evidence for. Most probably not enough for the Adolf treatment, but who knows if that changed in this AU.
[X][FEELS] ... Full of Promises: Harry tried to make his family understand that he wouldn't repeat the mistakes his mother made. He'd sworn to keep Vernon, Petunia and Dudley in his heart. He wasn't sure she believed him, but Vernon nodded approvingly.
[X][EXIT] Gave his aunt a hug: Either to mend things or to reassure her. She wraps a hand around your neck and holds you tight, before slowly letting go.
[X][PURCHASES] Select the Order in Which Items are Purchased: Write-in. -[X] 1st: Uniform
-[X] 2nd: Implement
-[X] 3rd: Books
-[X] 4th: General Supplies
-[X] 5th: Ingredients
Madame Malkin's was a boutique of quite a size, with large storefront that showed a collection of mannequins wearing different elaborate outfits.
The fact that all of them moved to display the flexibility of the outfits was a tad unnerving, especially since their blank faces turned to look at Harry and they made gestures to entice him to buy them, but the outfits did look nice.
Hagrid held the door open for him and let him walk through first, before kneeling a bit. The store wasn't exactly packed, but the workers were busy, with only three elevated platforms in which children your age stood around with their arms out to their side while one worker each moving around with measuring tapes, pieces of cloth and pins.
"Now, I'm going to the bank to pick up some money from your parents' vault, and do an errand. It'll take a while for the workers to get to you, but if I'm not back in time, just tell Malkin you're with me and she'll understand," Hagrid explained. Then he leaned in a bit closer, his eyes flitting around as he spoke in a low voice, "Now... I can't tell you what to do, but if I were you I wouldn't mention your whole name."
"How come?"
Hagrid blinked. Then he blinked again.
"Did... did the Dursleys not tell you about... everything?"
Were magicians addicted to not speaking clearly? "They don't know anything about... wizard bollocks."
"Language," Hagrid distractedly chided, before nodding to himself. "Alright, then... I'll explain everything over ice cream once we're done shopping, alright? Just keep what I told you in mind."
Harry nodded and promised, and Hagrid walked away.
He turned around and faced the store once more. He gathered his courage, took a step inside...
And was immediately intercepted by an older woman with grey hair pulled back in a bun and wearing a sensible grey shirt, black tie, black suit pants and expensive-looking pants.
"Hello, dearie," she said, "Was that Hagrid I saw with you?"
"Um, yeah, he said he had-"
"An errand, I assume," the lady huffed, shaking her head. She started ushering you towards the waiting area, where a few kids were waiting, some accompanied by parents. "They're going to work that man to death, one of these days. Please just have a seat, he'll probably come back at the last possible moment."
A little awkwardly, Harry followed, asking, "Um, miss?"
"Madame," she corrected. "Malking, if you were wondering."
"Right, Madame," he nodded. "Is there something I should do, or...?"
"Nonsense, we are here for your service," she assured him. "In fact, can I get you anything to drink? Tea, cocoa?"
"No thanks."
She left him a few steps away from where everyone else was waiting and walked away, leaving Harry alone.
He looked at the people there. For the most part, they seemed to know each other, parents making small talk amongst themselves while children Harry's age eagerly speculated about Hogwarts, and older teenage sons and daughters rolled their eyes and grumbled about their families embarrassing them.
Actually, that appeared to be true of most magicians he'd met thus far. Everyone seemed to know each other. Harry couldn't remember the last time a shopkeep recognized him.
It made it a bit difficult to approach the group, actually. They were spread across a series of futons and love seats, dominating most of the waiting space.
Most of it.
There was a couch where a lone child sat, carefully looking bored.
Rather than the pale blonde hair or fine clothes that he was already wearing, what drew Harry's attention was how straight he was sitting, even when he leaned against the armrest and laid his cheek against his fist. Mathematics weren't his thing, but Harry was fairly sure that if he took one of those rulers with the little bubble to the other boy's back, the bubble would be perfectly in the middle.
He was also the most approachable person by default, so Harry walked over and stood in front of him.
The boy raised an eyebrow at him.
"Hi!" he said, trying for cheerfulness. "My name's Harry."
The boy blinked, before standing up and putting a hand forward for Harry to shake, very formally saying, "Draco, of House Malfoy."
Harry took a moment to process this new information.
Draco sighed, "Yes, I know, my name is-"
"Bloody awesome!" Harry interrupted, grinning. "Are you kidding me, your name is Draco? I wish my parents had named me something like that!"
Then he thought it over and corrected, "Well, my aunt and uncle would have probably wanted to change it, but still."
Draco blinked again, then snorted, "Well, we can't all be as bless as me."
"Guess not," Harry chuckled. "Are all magician names like that? I mean, the ones I've heard so far weren't, but that Headmaster guy had a bunch that were really... Wizard-y."
"Oh," Draco said, "You're... muggleborn?"
Harry made to explain, then paused. If people were supposed to know about him, maybe explaining that he was an orphan raised by his muggle aunt and uncle would expose him. How many magician orphans named Harry could there be?
It was because of this hesitation that he noticed Draco's eyes going to the side. He followed his line of sight and noticed a few of the chattering families looking their way and muttering to themselves, some of them frowning.
Confused, he turned back to Draco, who frowned, squared his shoulders and said, "Well, as a member of the Noble House Malfoy, I'll be glad to explain everything you want to know about the Unspoken World. Nobility Obligates, after all."
You blinked, then smiled.
This Draco kid was pretty nice.
Kinda stuffy, though.
[][DRACO] Write-in three topics that you want to ask him about: [e.g.: Hogwarts, Hogwarts Houses, Noble Magician Houses, Why Everything Is Secret, Who This Harry Potter Kid You Heard About Is, What is the Orbital Velocity of the Moon, Magical Knife Juggling, What His Favourite Colour Is, Does He Want To Be Your Friend, Has He Ever Heard Of Metroid or Castlevania, Etcetera]
OXOXO
Once the clothing was paid for and Harry bid Draco goodbye - the other boy shily waving at him as his own parents picked him up - Hagrid led him to a different store closer to the end of Diagon Alley (still a dumb name).
Unlike Madame Malkin's, Ollivander's Implements was a poorly-kept establishment with boarded-up windows and scratches on the door. Actually, it was a tad more similar to the Leaky Cauldron, now that you thought about it. Complete with the ambiance that someone had definitely been stabbed there before.
"... am I going to be murdered?" asked Harry.
"No, no, of course not. Ol' Ollivander couldn't hurt a- well, he could hurt a fly, but he doesn't eat children," assured Hagrid.
"Why did you specify that he doesn't eat children? And why did you specify that he doesn't eat children?"
"Don't ask too many questions," Hagrid muttered[1], before knocking twice on the door and opening it. "Hello? Garrick? It's Hagrid, I've got a new student here?"
A voice, creaky like ancient furniture, called back, "Ah, yes. Please, come inside and shut the door."
Harry and Hagrid went inside. Despite the lack of fans or air conditioning, the room was unnaturally cool. Enough so that Harry could see his breath painting the air white in front of his mouth.
Shivering, he rubbed his arms and looked around. The only illumination available was what snuck through the planks over the windows, barely letting him see clear glass cases lining the walls, showing... blocks of wood? Harry could barely see them, but on one side that's the most he could make out, just different blocks of different-coloured wood.
He turned around and look at another wall.
There was a heart inside a glass case. It was still beating silently.
He swallowed nervously.
"Don't be afraid..." the creaky voice assured him, coming from right behind him.
Harry whipped around, and found nothing there but the door.
The voice came from behind him once more, "I'm sorry for the theatrics... my appearance, it does not suit everyone's taste... regardless... would you like me to turn on the lights?"
Jesus H. Christ. No, he did not want that.
But he also didn't want "Garrick" to feel insulted...
"Y-Yeah," Harry stuttered. "Please, turn the lights on."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, dim illumination filled the room, bouncing off the glass cases and showing indeed that one side had a variety of wood pieces of varying colours and shapes, plus a few metals and fabrics, while the other had a wide range of parts and pieces of different animals, though none looked like anything you'd seen before.
Feathers of shifting colours, stark white horns that appeared to be made of marble, silvery hairs and those beating hearts of which you'd spotted one before.
The cases were all side by side, completely covering the walls, only interrupted by some thin silk curtains covering random lines of them.
But Garrick Olivander was nowhere to be seen.
Harry looked around, not finding anything.
And then he remembered all those times that Dudley and he criticized movie characters for not looking up when in danger.
Harry looked up.
Three arms emerged from each side of his body, ending in long and spindly fingers with exposed bone at the joints. His body, long and centipede-like with how it twisted from where it was rooted to the ceiling, was covered by robes that appeared to be made from many folds of clothing sewn together at random, regardless of colour and texture. His head was bald, and the skin on his scalp and face was wrinkled and tight in such a way that it appeared to have been pulled back on his skull, highlighting the hole where his nose should be.
Two beady, all-black eyes stared down at him.
"Please... no yelling..." he whispered. Inside his mouth were spider-like furry fangs, "My hearing is... quite sensitive."
Harry's mouth pressed into a tight line and he successfully smothered the desire to scream in a blind panic.
"Probably should have given you more of a warning," Hagrid mused. "Sorry."
Harry kept focusing on not screaming his head off.
"I... appreciate your efforts," Ollivander said. His body stretched, the robes somehow staying on as they unfurled and he lowered to the ground, ending up quite close to Harry as he looked at him upside down. "Tell me, young magician... what is your name?"
"H-H-Harry, s-sir."
"Harry... what?"
Harry looked at Hagrid, who gave a nod. He swallowed and said, "P-P-Potter."
"Ah... the boy saviour... how bitter a meeting this is..." Ollivander twisted over to be right-side up. "I... owe you an apology..."
Oh god, Harry thought. He ate my parents.
"I did not eat... your parents."
He can read minds!
"No... that's just what every orphan thinks..." Ollivander sighed.
Despite being totally horrifying, Harry felt a bit of pity. Swallowing down his revulsion, he forced himself to look Garrick in the eye and raise his chin.
"Why are you apologizing?" he asked.
"That scar..." Ollivander said, one spindly finger pointing at his forehead, "'Twas my handiwork... that gave it... a fine work... given to a man I believed... to be promising..."
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Hagrid's hands tighten into fists and his jaw set in anger.
"... was this the person that... killed them? My parents?"
"... I'm afraid so..." Ollivander sorrowfully said. "I expected you... to know already... how bitter..."
You swallowed.
[][FORGIVENESS] "It's Okay": A tool is only as deadly as its user. Ollivander is not at fault. Ollivander smiles as much as he can with his whole... face thing, then moves on.
[][FORGIVENESS] Glare Angrily: Not having all the details won't keep you from getting angry if you have someone to finally be angry at. Ollivander accepts your condemnation with a solemn nod and moves on.
"In any case..." Ollivander continued, "If you are here... then perhaps it is time... for me to rectify... in some small way."
He put a hand out and said, "Your hand... please? It shall be... but a moment."
Harry placed his hand in Garrick's, from where one finger - which wore tapped the center of his palm. Painlessly yes alarmingly, a small bubble of blood poured through Harry's skin, which was then picked up with nimble needle-thin fingertips.
Ollivander retreated back, closer to the ceiling, and started inspecting the blood.
"Ah, yes... such an interesting nature... stained by tragedy... purified by love... a tad trite, but I'm no one to judge..." Garrick hummed, which sounded a bit like rusty hinges opening. "Wood? Yes... wood... holly, naturally... but these things I see... no, no, a feather just won't do... not just one, at least... no, better to go for something... punchier..."
While two arms kept playing with the bubble, his other four arms stretched out. And they kept stretching, until they reached the cases lining the walls.
Without looking, Ollivander started pulling out a block of wood from one wall while the other two hands started pulling out small bones, a bundle of feathers, horns of varying sizes and one of those beating hearts. He started inspecting and even, well, "sniffing" the materials, occassionally doing the same to the blood.
As much as a person with no nose could sniff, anyhow.
Eventually, he chose one material, explaining what purpose it served.
[][IMPLEMENT-CORE] Telltale Heart: A dark red colour, and now that it's out of the case it's quite audible. [Harry gains affinity for The Conjurative Arts]
[][IMPLEMENT-CORE] Small Bones: Too small to even belong to mice, but when one is moved the others spin accordinly. [Harry gains affinity for Accord Crafting]
[][IMPLEMENT-CORE] Bundle of Feathers: Of shimmering, colourful glow, which flows from tip to tip and reacts to touch. [Harry gains affinity for The Transfigurative Arts]
[][IMPLEMENT-CORE] Horn Shavings: Silvery and beautiful, almost crystal clear at the tips. [Harry gains affinity for Ritual Crafting]
With it in hand and the rejected options back in the cases, he stretched back down towards the floor.
Three hands sank into the folds of his clothes and pulled out three items.
A ring, a staff and a wand.
"These... are the standard Implements... for magicians..." Garrick explained as he approached once more. "While it is... imperative... that the core and material of the implement... suit the user's nature... affinity can be ignored... when it comes to the shape."
He held up the ring, "The smallest type of Implement... but in the right context... the mightiest... Best suited for subtle work... such as my own profession... or medicinal work... Your mother wore one... to great use... in her crafts."
He then held up the staff, "The largest... and the least subtle. Though it is far from my prefference... having someone capable of... extraordinarily loud acts... of conjuration and transfiguration... can always be very useful. Your father wielded one... of similar material to yours..."
And finally, he held up the wand. "The middle child... and the one you hold affinity for... A decent jack-of-all-trades... in craft and in the arts... though it does make mastery... complicated."
The exampled sunk back into Garrick's robes and he continued, "Affinity... means the shape that is most easy... for your use. But... those that ignore it... upon achieving mastery... see far greater results."
What shape does Harry pick?
[][IMPLEMENT-SHAPE] The Staff
[][IMPLEMENT-SHAPE] The Wand
[][IMPLEMENT-SHAPE] The Ring
OXOXO
Well... that whole experience sure was... a thing.
Still trembling a bit at the memory, Harry went to some random bookstore (second-hand, at Hagrid insistance) and picked up the required reading. Some books on spells, some books on maths and other boring normal subjects (Harry was very disappointed to learn that being a magic school didn't make Hogwarts less of a school), and a book that Hagrid recommended on a subject called "cryptozoology".
Inside he saw a brown-haired girl asking all the questions he would've usually asked a mile-a-minute, clearly overwhelming the poor bookstore worker. Usually he would've liked with another clear muggleborn or muggle-raised magician, but...
Yeah, bugger that. He needed a couple minutes to stop quivering at the mental image of Garrick Ollivander dangling from the ceiling.
OXOXO
Arms loaded with book bags, some of which Hagrid kindly offered to carry but which Harry refused as some of his enthusiasm returned at the thought of getting unfettered access to magical knowledge, they both headed to a nice little store with large shelves full of useful odds and ends.
Hagrid carried a basket on his enormous arm as he filled it with a small cauldron about double the size of a basketball, small tin scales, a few knives, a large amount of papyrus scrolls, small ink bottles, quills, backup quill tips and maps of England that showed quite a bit more terrain than any other maps that Harry had seen before.
Some straight up showed continents he didn't know existed, such as one of Atlantis and one of somewhere called the Feywild.
At the end, Hagrid stopped at an aisle labeled "storage", which had racks of coats and shelves luggage side-by-side.
"Alright, this here is why we had to do our book shopping at a second-hand store," Hagrid explained, rubbing his hands eagerly. "Harry, may I introduce you to the wonderful world of storage inside pocket spaces?"
Harry looked at him.
Then at the items on sale.
Then back at Hagrid.
"These just look like coats and luggages."
"They do, don't they?" Hagrid chuckled. "There are all storage units expanded through pre-made rituals, they just need you to attune yourself to them and they will let you fit as much as you like inside of them. Er... within reason. You can't put an ocean in your pocket."
He thought it over.
"Well, some of those better models can, but they don't sell those here. And they're out of our price range anyhow."
Harry looked over the items with newfound interest.
[][STORAGE] A Nice Coat: "It'll adjust to your growth, and you can make it fit your House colours if you go to Madame's again next year. Plus, speaking from personal experience, the ladies love a nice longcoat."
[][STORAGE] Luggage: "Oh, that's a shame. They're out of walking models. Well, we can still get you one of the weightless ones."
OXOXO
After that, it only took a quick trip to the apothecary to pick up a bunch of sealed jars full of squirming things suspended in liquids and bags of dried plants before they were done with shopping.
"Well then," Hagrid said, brushing off his hands and smiling at Harry. "How about that ice cream? I believe there's a conversation we ought to have."
Harry smiled back and nodded, happy to let Hagrid lead the way out.
On the way to the door, back through the aisles leading to the counter at the back of the store, Harry's eyes caught on blonde hair.
He almost thought it was Draco again, but this was more yellow than silver. Upon looking closer, he noticed it was a short girl, hair done up in a bun, who was climbing on a shelf in an effort to reach something called "floating pumpkins".
There was a horrible moment of unrealization in which Harry's brain didn't process how the shelf was starting to tip over, about to crush the little girl. But he realized it, and at the last second...
[][HERO] He Took His Implement and Saved Her!: It's only right.
[][HERO] He Did Nothing!: You're eleven. You ain't running for Superman.
[1]: Unbeknownst to him, Hagrid would go on to spend a large amount of his time saying that to Harry Potter every time they saw each other.
[X][HERO] He Took His Implement and Saved Her!: It's only right.
[X][STORAGE] A Nice Coat: "It'll adjust to your growth, and you can make it fit your House colours if you go to Madame's again next year. Plus, speaking from personal experience, the ladies love a nice longcoat."
[X][IMPLEMENT-CORE] Horn Shavings: Silvery and beautiful, almost crystal clear at the tips. [Harry gains affinity for Ritual Crafting]
[X][IMPLEMENT-SHAPE] The Ring
[X][FORGIVENESS] "It's Okay": A tool is only as deadly as its user. Ollivander is not at fault. Ollivander smiles as much as he can with his whole... face thing, then moves on.
[X][DRACO] Hogwarts, Noble Magician Houses, Does He Want To Be Your Friend,
[X][CROSSOVER] No Crossover: No mixing chocolate and peanut butter. Keep it strictly a rewrite.
[X][DRACO] Write-in three topics that you want to ask him about
-[X] Hogwarts (since we basically know nothing about it)
-[X] The Magical world in general (Because a secret society probably has all kinds of weird stuff)
-[X] What magical kids do for fun (I mean are there magical video games? That's definitely an important question) [X][FORGIVENESS] "It's Okay": A tool is only as deadly as its user. Ollivander is not at fault. Ollivander smiles as much as he can with his whole... face thing, then moves on.
Not like he decided to kill Harry's parents. Tom being a dick wasn't his responsibility.
[X][IMPLEMENT-CORE] Bundle of Feathers: Of shimmering, colourful glow, which flows from tip to tip and reacts to touch. [Harry gains affinity for The Transfigurative Arts]
Atoms are just Legos that "The Man" says are too hard to grab by hand.
[X][IMPLEMENT-SHAPE] The Staff
When the magic fails you still have a big fucking stick to beat people with.
Don't knock the "Half Brick in a Sock" method.
[X][STORAGE] A Nice Coat: "It'll adjust to your growth, and you can make it fit your House colours if you go to Madame's again next year. Plus, speaking from personal experience, the ladies love a nice longcoat."
[X][HERO] He Took His Implement and Saved Her!: It's only right.
Harry's many things, cautious isn't one of them.
I don't know quite what I want to talk with Draco about yet and this won't quite vote but I would highly suggest we try to diversify our magical aptitude, we probably already picked 2x boosts to Ritual Summoning so picking a core to improve something else would just make us a better student all around. And variety gives us flexibility to overcome challenges.
[X][FORGIVENESS] "It's Okay": A tool is only as deadly as its user. Ollivander is not at fault. Ollivander smiles as much as he can with his whole... face thing, then moves on.
[X][IMPLEMENT-SHAPE] The Staff
Harry's probably read Lord of the Rings right? A Wizard with a staff just sounds right. Having a large stick to whack people over the head with also just works!
[X][IMPLEMENT-CORE] Telltale Heart: A dark red colour, and now that it's out of the case it's quite audible. [Harry gains affinity for The Conjurative Arts]
Conjuring fireballs sound cool.
[X][FORGIVENESS] "It's Okay": A tool is only as deadly as its user. Ollivander is not at fault. Ollivander smiles as much as he can with his whole... face thing, then moves on.
[X][STORAGE] A Nice Coat: "It'll adjust to your growth, and you can make it fit your House colours if you go to Madame's again next year. Plus, speaking from personal experience, the ladies love a nice longcoat."
Having storage on our person is infinitely more useful than having to carry a piece of luggage, not to mention the style factor. Hagrid is right in that respect.
[X][HERO] He Took His Implement and Saved Her!: It's only right.
Gotta establish his hero complex, even if he is basically untrained. Smart? No. More interesting as a character trait than just standing back? For me yes.
[X][DRACO] Write-in three topics that you want to ask him about
-[X] Hogwarts (since we basically know nothing about it)
-[X] The Magical world in general (Because a secret society probably has all kinds of weird stuff)
-[X] What magical kids do for fun (I mean are there magical video games? That's definitely an important question)
[x][FORGIVENESS] "It's Okay": A tool is only as deadly as its user. Ollivander is not at fault. Ollivander smiles as much as he can with his whole... face thing, then moves on.
I like the idea of establishing this character trait.
[x][IMPLEMENT-CORE] Telltale Heart: A dark red colour, and now that it's out of the case it's quite audible. [Harry gains affinity for The Conjurative Arts]
Making things out of thin air is great stuff.
[x][IMPLEMENT-SHAPE] The Ring
Now he has more than just his mother's eyes.
[x][STORAGE] A Nice Coat: "It'll adjust to your growth, and you can make it fit your House colours if you go to Madame's again next year. Plus, speaking from personal experience, the ladies love a nice longcoat."
Gotta look good, after all.
[x][HERO] He Took His Implement and Saved Her!: It's only right.
Harry feels like Harry when he strives to do the right thing.
[x][CROSSOVER] No Crossover: No mixing chocolate and peanut butter. Keep it strictly a rewrite.
I think it'd be easier, more streamlined and more coherent to keep to the rewrite rather than to spend effort adding in elements of other settings.
[X][DRACO] Write-in three topics that you want to ask him about
-[X] Hogwarts (since we basically know nothing about it)
-[X] The Magical world in general (Because a secret society probably has all kinds of weird stuff)
-[X] What magical kids do for fun (I mean are there magical video games? That's definitely an important question)
[X][FORGIVENESS] "It's Okay": A tool is only as deadly as its user. Ollivander is not at fault. Ollivander smiles as much as he can with his whole... face thing, then moves on.
[x][HERO] He Took His Implement and Saved Her!: It's only right.
[X][IMPLEMENT-CORE] Horn Shavings: Silvery and beautiful, almost crystal clear at the tips. [Harry gains affinity for Ritual Crafting]
[X][IMPLEMENT-SHAPE] The Ring
We did pick traits that align with making things. Ring + Ritual is neat.
[X][DRACO] Write-in three topics that you want to ask him about
-[X] Hogwarts (since we basically know nothing about it)
-[X] The Magical world in general (Because a secret society probably has all kinds of weird stuff)
-[X] What magical kids do for fun (I mean are there magical video games? That's definitely an important question)
[X][FORGIVENESS] "It's Okay": A tool is only as deadly as its user. Ollivander is not at fault. Ollivander smiles as much as he can with his whole... face thing, then moves on.
[x][HERO] He Took His Implement and Saved Her!: It's only right.
[X][IMPLEMENT-CORE] Horn Shavings: Silvery and beautiful, almost crystal clear at the tips. [Harry gains affinity for Ritual Crafting]
