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10:16
July 24th, 1971
12 Grimmauld Place, London: Black Family Residence

"Can I go too?" I ask in a hopeful manner. I know how to work mum and dad fairly well when I want things. Being cute doesn't always work, but for something like this it's like speading icing on a cake. Smooth and simple.
It's not everyday we get to go to Diagon Alley, and I want to see if the new comet is out yet. Maybe, if I'm lucky, I can come home with something new too.

12:17, 24th of July, at the riverside

It looked as if Lily was trying to memorise the letter the way that he was memorising her face. When she finally glanced up she offered him an apple, for she had been considerate as usual and brought one for each of them.

His black eyes went from the apple, then to Lily, and back to the apple again. The forbidden fruit, he mused, and chuckled at the strangeness of his own thoughts.

"Thank you," he said as he took it, and he was sincere in his gratitude. He was famished because he had eaten nothing at home, though in spite of that he made sure to consume the fruit slowly so he wouldn't appear uncivilised in front of her. "Yes, amazing," Severus agreed, thinking of the two of them being together far away from his parents' arguments and Petunia's sneers in a castle full of magic.

"When someone from Hogwarts comes to tell you about the school, they'll probably offer to have someone take you to Diagon Alley to buy your supplies. You need a wizard to get in, so even if your parents had directions they wouldn't be able to bring you. I thought that maybe...Well, Mum is going to take me soon, so I was wondering if you wanted to come with me?" He was relieved that he had sounded relaxed when he asked and attempted to refrain from holding his breath as he awaited her response.

10:49
24th of July
Diagon Alley

My head hurts. I hate riding in those Gringott carts, they really should rethink those, I highly doubt they’re up to code. My ears are still ringing. Do goblins even have to follow normal safety codes?
It could have been worse though, Regulus could have been there. I’m so glad he got told to stay home. It’s something I can be happy about. Regulus screams like a girl.

There is not much conversation as I walk with my father. That’s just how we are when it’s the two of us. It’s nice though, I will admit, just walking and not talking.
If he wants to tell me something he will, but he usually enjoys the quiet too. I think it is the only thing I can say I have in common with him, besides genetics that is, but I don’t never count those anyways.

“Here we are,” my father speaks and breaks the silence. He turned to the left slightly and I followed him into Ollivander’s. I’m going to get my wand. I’ve waited for this day my entire life.
No seriously, I care more about this than anything else associated with going to school. Well actually, getting the wand and living away from my family are about equal, but still, you get my point.

Doesn’t anyone use house elves around this place? And I thought Gringotts could use a scrub down. The dust is floating in the air in here. What kind of old crone runs this place anyways?

“Welcome Master Black, here for your wand I see,” An old man walked up to the desk from the back of the store. He gave my father a nod of respect and then focused his attentions back on me. His cloths and hair are dusted quite heavily with dust. Figures. “Well come on then, step up here and we’ll find the wand for you.”
I step forward slowly. A wand for me… the thought keeps replaying in my head.

“I don’t want willow,” I blurt out.
Okay, was not expecting to get laughed at for that, the old codger is just as batty as mum it seems.
“That’s not how it works Sirius,” My father informs me.
“Quite right Sir,” Mr. Ollivander gestures towards my father with his finger. Does this man know the kind of creepy vibe he gives off? “Young man,” Oh no, what now? “Young man it is not for a wizard to pick their wand,”
Come again? What are we here for, this man is completely mental. I look to dad for some assistance in my thoughts but he doesn’t seem upset or taken aback at what the old man said like I thought he would be.
“It is the wand that chooses it’s master.”
That’s just stupid. How would a piece of wood, granted, magical wood it may be, but how does a piece of wood know how to do that……ugh…never mind. I get it.

So rolling my eyes apparently is worth getting smacked in the back of the head for. Thanks dad, real sporting of you.
The old man opened a box and held out a wand to me. Now this is more like it!
I reach out and take it.
“Rowan, 10 inches, dragon heartstring core.” he says as my hands grip around it.
Before I can even try to do anything with it he’s prying it out of my hands. What the newt is going on around here?

“Try this one. Evergreen, 12 1/3 inches, phoenix feather core.” I grabbed it, held it up in front of me. He grabbed it back. Oh, I see how it is going to, alright then. This little game of grab-and-take continues through another half a dozen wands or so. I can’t bring myself to look back at my father. This can’t be good.

I know I’m a wizard, I’ve been doing magical stuff my whole life, well okay my first sign of “magic” actually only happened when I was 13 months old, but still. That’s sooner than a lot of people. Regulus was two before he showed any signs.
Mr. Ollivander reappears from the back with a few more boxes in his hand.
“Try this one first,” he says pulling out the box he had at the bottom. Why doesn’t he just stack them in the order he wanted me to try them? Very strange man.

I look at the wand in the box in front of me. Then I look up at him, or I guess, if I have to be honest about it, I’m glaring at him.
“You’re joking right?” I refuse to touch that. I can read the box; Willow, phoenix feather, 10 ¼ inches.
“Just try it son,” my father speaks up. I can’t help but jerk slightly, the man has been silent for the majority of this time after all. I didn’t actually think he was paying much attention.

I try the wand, nothing special, just like the others. And so the third box from the top is pulled out for me and I exchange wands happily with Ollivander.
As soon as my fingers grip the wood I feel a tingling sensation rush through my arm, a stream of what looks like grey and yellow smoke flows out of my wand.
“Sorry.” I apologize to Ollivander who got a face full of the smoke.
“Don’t be my boy, that’s the wand for you. Yes, a very good wand, Dragon heartstring core, Aspen wood, 13 inches. Very good mixture of flexibility and sturdiness for professional spell work.”
“Thank you Sir,” my father grabs my shoulder and pulls me back so that he can pay for the wand. I stare at my hand. I’m still holding the wand, my wand. My wand! I have my wand! This is so fantastic, and if I’m not mistaken 13 inches is the length of my father’s wand. Nice. Wait a second….but….my mother has a dragon heartstring core in her….oh bloody hell. No, I just won’t think about it. This is my wand, my wand. Nothing is going to make me hate this moment. Nothing.

So the rest of the afternoon I got to walk around Diagon Alley with my wand in my cloak pocket. It pretty much kept my attention the entire time, I didn’t think about anything else while I got fitted, or while my father took me through the potion supplies stores ignoring most of the ingredient lists buying me all sorts of odd things it did not mention. When we picked up my school books, I did get excited, but mainly because I couldn’t wait to use them to learn proper spells to cast with my new wand.

And lucky me, when I get home and try to show off my wand to Regulus he dashes into his room and closes the door behind him.

This day couldn’t have gone better. I smile as I go into my room and jump backwards onto my bed. Soon I’ll be out of here, I tell myself. Not much longer now.

7:10
July 25th, 1971
Hogwarts.

I got up and went over near my desk. I had hung my traveling cloak on my chair. I reached for it and put it neatly on my shoulders. I took the letter for Missus Lily Evans off my desk and walked out of my office and to Albus'. Hagrid was to meet me and we were going to go to the child's home together. He had not shown up. I was curious as to where he was, but I decided to just ask Dumbledore instead of searching myself.

I gently said the password, peanut butter (an interesting name I thought), and walked up the staircase. I knocked twice and immediately the door had opened.

"Minerva, I thought you were going to the muggleborns' homes tonight." Albus smiled at me with a gleam in his eye as he spoke.

"I was. Hagrid was to come with me and he was over 20 minutes late. I can not be going to someone's home too late, Albus. Do you know where he might be?" I was not one who liked to wait. As I often told my students, I do not except tardiness because it allows for bad behavior and failure for themselves in the future.

"He is not on these grounds. I believe he went to the Hogs Head to visit my dear brother. I am sure you could leave him a note at his hut and he could join you later." Albus looked amused as he told me this. I tried to keep my exterior blank as I was absolutely furious on the outside. We perform this 'ritual' every year, yet Hagrid is almost always missing each time.

"Okay, thank you Albus. I shall see you later. Hopefully these people won't call the muggle police and try to have me put in a hospital again. That was a terribly dreadful day. Oh well. I must be on may way."

"Bye Minerva." I heard him say as I walked out the door. I traveled through the castle until I was outside and at Hagrid's hut. "Accio my stationary and quill," I said with a flick of my wand. I had forgot to bring them out. I wrote a quick note and stick it with a minor sticking charm to Hagrid's door.

7:21

I had finally made it out to Hogsmeade. I had been in the area Miss Evans had lived twice. I remembered a forest near her home, so with complete concentration, I felt myself begin to apparate. It was always such a dreadful experience, but I did it anyway. I felt myself stop so I opened my eyes and began to walk. Once I reached the house, I knocked swiftly twice.

A man came to the door and I took the liberty to begin to speak. I assumed it was the girl's father. "Hello, I am Minerva McGonagall and I have come to offer a place to your daughter, Lily, at my school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Yes, as I am sure you are wondering, your daughter is a witch. I have her letter as proof right here actually."

7:26 PM
July 25th, 1971
The Evan's Household.
Ah, never a surprise. The father seems quite upset. Wait, what did the girl say? How would she know? The only wizarding family with a son or daughter her age I know around here is Eileen's, but they live in another part of town. Could he of possibly told the whole neighborhood? No, impossible. I'm sure Eileen would stop that at once. But how on Earth would Lily know?

I hear the mother and I begin to respond. "Yes, it is. Thank you." Her shock was the usual. Most don't believe it. "If you could lead me to the sitting room so I can explain..." I began to give her a hint. She instantly started showing me to it.

After her inquires of my comfort and my multiple reassurances and a cup of tea, I began. I reach for the letter first and handed it to the girl as I started speaking.

"As I said, I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. It is my job to inform you about Hogwarts. I am sure you are wondering how you have non-magical parents, yet you are magical. Sometimes, when non-magical people have a magical child, there is often a relative in the family that is magical. Other times, the child is just born with it. It is still being studied on that exactly happens. Each magical child's birth is recorded in a book in order by the day they are born. That is how we know the children are magical. Do you have any questions about this before I move on to actual aspects of Hogwarts and the supplies?"

I waited patiently, knowing I would soon be interrupted.

7:10 pm
July 25, 1971
The Hog's Head

The dingy rather oppressively lit room only added to the strong stench of goats and stale beers. It was completely deserted, which wouldn't be at all surprising, considering the odor, the scuffed floor, and all together shabbiness of the interior, not to mention the exterior. However, probably the most disturbing sight in the building at that time happened to be a rather, abnormally large human form that was sitting on one of the bar stools at the front. The small stool was surprisingly still intact, although it didn't make an ounce of sense as to why. The grizzly haired man sitting on it had hands the size of dustbin lids, and the bench could even provide a decent seat for even a third of his backside.

He was sitting acrossed from the barkeeper just behind the counter, and his language seemed a tad slurred.

"See now, Aberforth...why don' ya tip me off....jus' a little bi' more...."

"I think you've had quite enough, Hagrid."

The great bearded man let out a bark of laughter, "I dou' that..." he let out a small hiccup, and pressed one thick finger to his lips. Aberforth, however, did not look at all dissuaded by the reply.

"-Besides, didn't you say you couldn't stay long? You've already been here an hour."

A look of sleepy disbelief came over hagrid's large face, "I 'aven' bin here tha' long! Codswallup!" Neverless, he turned his great head to look at the clock and suddenly jumped up, knocking the barstool clattering to the floor. Luckily the ceiling was fairly high, so he didn't put a hole in the ceiling. "Blimey! Aberforth-why didn' ya tell me tha' I'd bin here so long! Professer McGonagall will be in a righ' state, you cin mark my words on tha'...."

And with not another word, Rubeus Hagrid hurried out the door, leaving Aberforth chuckling at Hagrid's obvious absent-mindedness, espcecially when he was in a pub.

He threw one leg over his massive motorbike and brought it to a thundering start and off he went in such a flurry. His beard was shuddering in the wind because of the speed he was flying at, however, it wasn't long before he saw his place of choice. Next was to find a place to land where his bike wouldn't be seen. Once he found it he stumbled off of the bike rather clumsily and quickly walked to the house. His hurried footsteps could be heard outside the house as he scrambled up to the porch as quickly as possible. Minerva's voice could be heard inside, so Hagrid hesitantly raised his fist to the door and made a light tap-which actually sounded more like a pounding of his fist than a polite knock. He winced noticably, and his face was still screwed in an apologetic face when the door opened.

"Sorry I'm late....' he said softly, looking in on the assembly.

7:28 pm, July 25, Evans's Residence, sitting room

I gazed at my letter with feelings surpassing what I had felt upon reading Severus's letter. This was mine. It had my name on it. It even had my bedroom in my address, which I had to admit was slightly odd, although endearing also. I reverently flipped over the envelope and broke the seal, gently pulling out the parchment and straightening out the folds. I quickly read over it as the lady began to talk to me. I nodded to myself, very similar indeed to Sev's letter. I handed the first page to Daddy, knowing that he just needed to see the evidence to believe. I hadn't exactly told him that I was a witch, but that was being remedied tonight. There was a loud knock on the door and in walked a gigantic man; he and the lady seemed to know each other.

After the customary greetings, and Mum getting another cup of tea for Mr. Hagrid and sitting him down on a couch all by himself, I started to reply to the conversation Professor McGonagall had started before he arrived. "I don't really have any questions." Well, alright, I had a few, but I don't think they were the kinds of questions the Professor was expecting. Just a couple left over from the book she had mentioned, and a few on the nature of the man that apparently worked at Hogwarts and how he got to be so... big.

"Go on, please," I instructed, since the lady had seemed to be addressing me. Daddy was still engrossed in reading the letter, anyway, and Mummy must have decided to not speak up now that everyone was settled. But the spoken explanations would be good for Mummy and Tuney. And Daddy, if he was listening.

Petunia. I chanced a glance at her. She was sitting rather slouched right next to me with her arms crossed, glaring, actually glaring, between my future professor and the gigantic man that was sitting on our smaller couch. I felt appalled at her behaviour, then had a quick thought. Maybe this would get Petunia to talk to me like she used to. Or perhaps this would just irritate and frustrate her more.

"Hang on, before you start on Hogwarts and the supplies for it, I do have one other question." I turned from Petunia and looked back at McGonagall. "If two children have the same Muggle parents, how is one child magical and the other not? Shouldn't they both be magical?" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Petunia straighten and finally look interested. As she should. This was the first time I had actually voiced that question. I didn't really want to ask Sev this one. It was better to get it straight from an adult to Petunia. She might actually listen.