Harry tore his eyes away from the blond and noticed a tall woman with a bob haircut walking towards him.

"Hogwarts robes, dear?" The lady asked sweetly. Harry nodded and she beckoned him to follow her towards an empty pedestal next to a certain blonde. Harry looked at his feet waiting for the lady until a small but confident voice drew his attention from his tattered shoes.

"Hello."

Harry looked to meet silver eyes. "Hi."

"I'm Draco. Draco Malfoy."

"Harry." A blonde eyebrow rose expectantly. " Just Harry."

"Oh ok," Draco seemed to fumble over his words. "Hogwarts right?"

"Yeah."

"I'm hoping to get into Slytherin house, you?"

"I don't really know the houses." Draco seemed surprised and hastily informed the confused Harry.

"Well, the Sorting Hat at Hogwarts puts the student into a certain house that they will stay in for all seven years of the schooling. The four houses, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor, were named after the four founders of the houses Helga Hufflepuff, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Godric Gryffindor. Each house has its own specific set of traits that determine one's place. If you are cunning and ambitious you'll be put in Slytherin, brave and daring Gryffindors, honest and loyal Hufflepuffs and the diligent and wise Ravenclaws." Draco took a comically big breath of air that caused Harry to let out a light giggle. Draco smiled he'd have to get Harry to smile more often.

"I don't really think I fit into any of those categories," Harry said glumly.

"Don't worry the Sorting Hat will place you where you belong," Draco said brightly trying to cheer up Harry. At this point, Madame Malkin had started to take Draco's measurements.

"How do you know?" Harry asked suddenly.

Draco looked a bit startled before replying, "What do you mean?"

Harry flushed, "Well you said Slytherin so how do you know Slytherin?" A look of realization passed of Draco's features.

"My entire family has been placed in Slytherin so it's only right for me to be placed there too." By now Draco's measurements have been taken and Madame Malkin is moving onto Harry.

"Right now you turn dea- oh" she stopped talking as she spotted Nigrum and Anguis still twisting lazily around Harry's upper body. "Dearie would you be able to move your snakes please for me." Harry cheeks turned a light pink and nodded his head.

~ Nigrum, Anguis would you please move down towards my feet so the lady can take my measurements~ Harry asked the pair politely.

~ Of course, Master Harry~ They reply in unison. Harry smiled fondly and looked up to see the shocked faces of Draco and Madame Malkin.

"You're a Parselmouth?" Draco asked incredulously. Harry nodded and raised his arms to allow Madame to work. "Wow that's cool, I've never met anyone who could do that."

Harry smiled. "I just learned today"

"How?" Harry shifted uncomfortably his brain working a mile a minute on how to stay friends with Draco.

"Not something I really want to talk about in public." Draco's face contorted into a small pout. "But," Draco's face lit up instantly "If you wanted to accompany me on the train I wouldn't mind telling." Harry finished nonchalantly.

Draco nodded and smiled, "I would like that." Harry smiled back. Madame Malkin instructs both boys to go and wait in front of their robes.

"Draco dear how did it go? Not too bad I hope." A blonde woman in a deep purple dress spoke to Draco. Next to her was an intimidating man with long blonde hair looking like an older version of Draco.

"It was fine Mother" Draco replied. Harry stood a little ways behind Draco, looking at his feet obviously trying to stay out of the way as he had learned with the Dursley's

"And who might you be?" Draco's father asked talking to Harry. Harry looked up a little shocked that they had addressed him. He cleared his throat and took a few steps forward.

"My name is Harry, sir. And am I correct to assume that you are Lord and Lady Malfoy." They both nodded with a raised eyebrow curious as to what was to come. "It has been a pleasure to meet both of you and your son Draco." Harry mustered up his most charming smile and bowed lightly to the both of them. Harry locked eyes with Draco and gave him a quick wink before turning back to his parents. Both of them looked thoroughly pleasantly surprised at Harry's pureblood manners.

"And may I ask what is your surname?" Narcissa asked politely.

"Mother, there is-"

"Draco it's alright. They're going to find out eventually." Harry interrupted lightly touching Draco's arm. Draco flushed and ducked his head. Harry smiled softly and turned to his parents. "My full name is Harry P-" Harry was interrupted as Madame Malkin come back with a small bag for Harry asking for her 40 galleon pay. Harry took out his new pouch ignoring the quizzical looks thrown his way and pulled out the correct amount handing it to Madame Malkin and smiling at her in thanks. "Well I must be off I have many other purchases to make for school," Harry said turning back to the blonde trio."It was a pleasure Lord and Lady Malfoy. And I'll see you on the train right?" Harry turned to Draco and lightly grabbed his wrist. Draco looked a bit shocked at Harry's display but nodded his head touching Harry's hand and smiled reassuringly,

"Of course." Harry smiled and nodded looking relieved.

"Bye Draco."

"Bye Harry." Harry turned to leave but was stopped when Narcissa called his name.

"You never told us your name." Harry's eyes widened a fraction before shaking his head and smiled lightly before replying.

"Potter ma'am. My full name is Harry Potter."

With that Harry left the shop leaving three blondes in shocked silence before Draco spoke up, "And I was hoping he would be put into Slytherin." Narcissa smiled at Draco.

"You never know Dragon, you never know."

Outside with Harry

Harry took a deep breath trying to calm his rapidly beating heart. Why it was beating so hard, Harry didn't know but he couldn't stop the smile that graced his features as he walked towards Ollivanders.

Harry reached towards the faded red door pulling it open and stepped inside. Harry looked around to see a sea of tall shelves holding thousands of rectangular boxes.

Harry jumped as a man with wild, white hair appeared and spoke. "Welcome, Mr.Potter. Here for a wand, I presume?" Harry smiled lightly and nodded. "Well, now, let me see." He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"

"Um, my right?" said Harry, not really understanding the question.

"Hold out your arm." Harry complied and jumped again as Ollivander pointed his wand at Harry and a measuring tape flew out of it. Ollivander didn't seem to notice and started to talk as the measuring tape flew all around Harry. "Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand. That will do."

Harry stepped away as the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor. He noticed Ollivander had disappeared into the shelves and it was only a moment before he came back.

"Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."

Harry took the wand and waved it around a bit, feeling stupid, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of his hand.

"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try- "

Harry went to grab it but his fingers barely touched it before it was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander.

"No, no - here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out."

Harry tried. And tried. His confusion was building as quickly as the pile of wands was and he was beginning to feel frustrated. Ollivander seemed to sense this and reassured him.

"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere - I wonder, now - yes, why not - unusual combination - holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."

Harry took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls. Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well ... how curious ... how very curious ..."

He put Harry's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious ... curious ..."

Harry frowned but didn't say anything. The Wizarding World was very odd. He paid seven gold Galleons for his wand and Mr. Ollivander bowed him from his shop.

Harry then proceeded to Flourish and Blotts. Pulling out his list to check he had all the necessary books, he looked around for a while pulling a couple of books off the shelves that caught his eye. He walked up to the register receiving funny looks for his solitude.

Harry then walked to the apothecary buying his cauldron and a simple set of ingredients and brewing tools.

After a quick stop at Trunks, Bookbags, and More! Harry grabbed a Never-Melting-Everchanging ice cream cone from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.

When Harry stepped out of the shop and iron the alley he came to a realization. He had nowhere to go. Rubeus had left him here and he had no way to get back to the Dursleys. Harry pondered his predicament as he walked down the alley eventually coming to a stop in front of a wooden door with a sign at the top reading ' The Leaky Cauldron: Bar & Inn'. Perfect, Harry thought.

Harry then proceeded to walk into the surprisingly empty inn. He put on a mask of calm and walked right up to the bar confidently.

"Excuse me, sir," Harry waited until he had the inn keeper's attention, "I would like to stay in a room here if there is one available."

The man looked Harry up and down pausing slightly at the creatures on his shoulders and smiled.

"Of course, may I ask where your parents are?" Harry frowned before replying.

"Dead. But my guardian has told me to ask for a room here as they are on a trip that they won't be able to get out of to stay with me." The man looked a little shocked at Harry's fake (well mostly fake) sob story and quickly apologized before disappearing into the back room. When he came back he had a small gold key in his hand and led Harry up a small set of stairs in front of a small door with an antique brass number seven on it.

"Here's your room and you can get food anytime when you go back to the main area." He opened the door and allowed Harry to step through first and set his stuff down before handing him the key. Harry smiled and thanked him before surveying the room. It wasn't much, a small wooden dresser, full-sized four-poster bed, and a door connecting to a small bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower. Harry took out his books and sat down on the bed to begin reading the course books before moving on to his free time books. He was going to be here for a while so better get comfy.

***

Words~ 1981