Chapter 2:

When they arrived in the Kitchen a familiar sight and smell came to his senses, his mom was in her red apron cooking a small breakfast of eggs and bacon, while his dad sat groggily at the table reading the morning edition of the Daily Prophet.

The other two additions to the table were his two siblings, The oldest Jack Charlus Potter, and the youngest Rosalie Petunia Potter. Jack was an exact replica of their father James, who was a little skinnier, and had the glasses, while Rosalie looked kind of like his mum and Sirius. Harry always found this odd, but both have sworn up and down that the girl must just have pulled it from her Black roots on James' side of the family. Rosalie had dark red hair, and little freckles on her cheeks, while her body was very skinny and almost frail. Jack was 9, and Rosalie was 8, and this would be the first time in living memory that Harry would be away from his siblings this coming September.

Harry had grown very protective over his two siblings, and even though Jack wanted to train with Harry, he was barely allowed to do that. This left the two to bond over quidditch, and it really had brought the two closer together. Rosalie and Harry had always had the better relationship though. Harry always enjoyed playing the overprotective big brother, and Jack didn't like that, while Rosalie found it very amusing. For an eight-year-old, Rosalie had some very sharp wit that her oldest brother just could never get enough of, they bonded through the little stuff that a lot of people often overlooked, but the family all in all was very close.

The headmaster stood just outside the kitchen with a deep smile on his face, "Ah I smell your mothers cooking Mr. Potter, I regret catching breakfast with the elves, but here is where I will leave you. Go join your family, and enjoy your day. I will be back by tonight with the rest of the party to celebrate your eleventh birthday. Good day, Mr. Potter, and remember the heart is always warmest around family."

With those words and soft pop, the headmaster was gone. Harry then strolled through the backdoor leading him straight into the kitchen to be greeted with a warming hug from his mum and a kiss on the cheek, "Morning Harry, happy birthday, did you have a nice morning?"

Harry nodded as his dad stood up with a smile bringing him in for a hug as well, "Happy Birthday Harry."

Harry responded, "Yes the headmaster and I were dueling on the quidditch pitch. It was a nice, and unexpected gift from Professor Dumbledore. My chain spells need work still, and my aggressive strategy. Mum your anti-jinx spell worked perfectly, I almost managed to hit the headmaster with his surprise. I was close twice actually, I brought up the shield Sirius and I have been working on, and I almost hit him there too. Not by skill mind you, but if I ever manage to hit the old man it will have to be by surprise."

James laughed as he fist-bumped his son, and Jack gave a tight smile, clearly jealous that his brother was able to practice such advanced magic. Jack and Rosalie both got practice wands at the age of seven, so sometimes the brothers would trade spells for fun.

Of course, that was without their parents knowing, as the wards kept the trace off the property. Harry had already taught his brother to cast a weak shield and even a few trick-like spells, but he had yet to get off a proper stunner, or blasting curse. Rosalie like their mum was actually rather good at the basic charms.

She was able to unlock doors and even cast a basic levitation charm, which at eight years old is rather impressive. Jack spoke quietly to his brother, "You think we can convince everyone to a pickup game of quidditch after we get your wand? I think everyone will be here around three!"

Harry and Jack instantly started talking about putting together a full quidditch game once everyone had come over, and around that time two men came storming into the room with fireworks erupting around the room, and both were yelling, "Happy Birthday Prongslet!"

Harry groaned as Sirius and Remus came into the kitchen. The mayhem didn't last long, as the Potter Matriarch had pulled her wand out so fast striking down all the prank magic, leaving Sirius and Remus looking a little downtrodden.

Lily Potter however smirked, "For twenty years I have had to deal with you three idiots casting prank magic, I would think you'll have invented something original that would not be so easily taken down by little ole me."

Harry and Jack greeted the downtrodden marauders, "Morning Moony, morning Padfoot."

Harry embraced his godfather and honorary uncle cheerfully, and they took their designated seats at the table, while breakfast was being served by the mother of the house. Rosalie spoke to Sirius excitedly, "Where is Aunty Emma Siri?"

Sirius barely looked up as he began devouring his meal, "She went into work this morning for a little bit, she promised to be in later, but duty calls kiddo."

Emmeline Black nee Vance was obviously Sirius' wife. Sirius' very pregnant wife, who was a research-unspeakable for the Department of Mysteries. She was also Rosalie's godmother, whom she was very close with. Harry turned to Remus, "Are you two going to Diagon Ally with us?"

Remus smiled at his nephew, "Of course cub. Getting your official wand is a big rite of passage in our world. We wouldn't miss it for anything."

Grinning, Harry responded, "Speaking of rites of passage in our world, look what the headmaster dropped off to me this morning!"

With a flick of his hand, a letter flew to his hand from his coat pocket, producing his Hogwarts letter. This caused the adults at the table to cheer, and even the siblings were super excited for their older brother. Lily who was reading the letter and nearing tears smiled at her son, "Looks like Diagon Alley will be a hot spot for us over the next few weeks."

The adults around the table conversed easily, while Jack and Harry spoke of the coming year, "You know you're going to write to me all the time right? It's not fair that you and Neville get to go off without me!"

Neville Longbottom was Harry's best friend in the world. The two had been inseparable ever since they were small children, and had trained a lot together growing up. Alice Longbottom, who was Harry's godmother, brought Neville around a lot to give him a more family environment.

The family home of Longbottom was rather tarnished after the death of Frank and his mum who were killed by Bellatrix and the Lestrange brothers. Thankfully Neville had been out of the country with his mother, while Frank had to work back at home.

The two Longbottoms didn't go quietly though. They were attacked by a half dozen death eaters and only Bellatrix and Rodolphus walked away from it. Neville was quite proud to be his father's son, and Harry was proud to have Neville as a friend.

The two friends often talked about what life will be like in Gryffindor, but it honestly never felt real until today. Harry knew that Neville had gotten his letter yesterday from Professor Mccgonagal, and he was so excited he accidentally caused his bedroom curtains to be set on fire.

Responding to his brother he laughed, "Just a year and you will be joining us, Jack."

Lily who responded sympathetically winked, "It might be sooner than you think!"

The siblings all stopped and stared at their mother, but she refused to meet any of their eyes, and they dismissed it as their mother being cryptic.

After breakfast was done and the table was cleared, the family was gathering up around the floo preparing to head off to Diagon Alley. It didn't take long to get there through magical transportation, and in order to avoid a media siting they instantly set out for Ollivanders.

As the group of seven entered the building Moony stood by the door in order to make sure no members of the media spotted the boy who lived and tried to chase him down for an interview or some other rubbish like that.

When Harry made it over to the counter he spotted an old man with the widest eyes he had ever seen. Garrick Ollivander had always reminded Harry of a mad scientist he used to watch in a muggle movie called 'Back to the Future', which amused and creeped Harry out all the time.

Mr. Ollivander took a big smell as if he could smell the magic in the room, "Ah Mr. Potter I was wondering when you would be coming to buy a wand from me. Let me see what I can do for you. Ah Mr. Potter Sr. eleven inches Mahagony, Dragon Heartstring, I trust that it has served you well? Mrs. Potter, Willow wand, with a Unicorn Hair?"

Both adults nodded in amazement while Ollivander turned to Sirius and Remus, "Ah Mr. Black, you were using the Oak, with a dragon heartstring. Mr. Lupin, ah yes the Cypress, and Unicorn Hair, a very good combination, one of my finer crafts. Now for Mr. Harry Potter, I do believe I have just the wand for you."

After a few minutes of searching around Ollivander brought back seven boxes, as he claimed they were a magical number and had him try variations of what his family had used in the past, with nothing, but destructive results. After those failures, Ollivander decided that the wand completely and undoubtedly chooses the wizard and that he was foolish to think one with such potential would just follow in line with his family.

James Potter came over and squeezed a stressed Harry's shoulder at one point telling him, "It took Ollivander almost an hour to pair me with my wand, he gave me a combination of every Potter since Gryffindor himself I think. Finally, he decided that I was too temperamental for the wands he was trying and the very next one worked for me. Just be patient, your wand is like a lifelong partner, it's very important, you understand?"

Harry merely smiled and nodded at his dad while Ollivander stopped and stared, "You have a wand already? Interesting, may I?"

Harry drew the wand speaking carefully, "A gift from Headmaster Dumbledore. He thought it necessary that I begin magical training as early as possible. We never decided if the wand was a good match, but it was a full-powered wand. I was also rather attached to Hippogriff where the core comes from, and I have never felt dissatisfaction with the wand."

Ollivander looked it over smiling, "Very interesting. The wand has a master, and I believe that to be you, Mr. Potter, however, I wonder why it does not work to its optimum ability in your hand, with this being the case...perhaps..."

Before Ollivander could finish that thought he stormed towards the back, while Sirius whistled, "That dude is bat sh-"

Lily cut him off, "PADFOOT!"

Sirius looked guiltily at the ground, "Sorry Lils."

When Ollivander came back he was looking pale as he handed Harry the box. Harry instantly felt something stir inside of him as he opened the box revealing a slim-looking wand. When he grabbed it, a powerful surge went through the room blowing out the windows and creating a small little storm of bright red power.

James and Lily were both blown back at the force of the blow and Ollivander stared with a tear in his eye, "Forgive me, Mr. Potter, it seems I have made a grave error. The wand has connected with you, I wish it could be different, but, the wand chooses the wizard. That much has always been clear to those of us who have studied wand lore. These connections are complex. An initial attraction, and then a mutual quest for experience, the wand learning from the wizard, the wizard from the wand. For better or for worse the wand is now yours. I dare not try to give you another, while that wand remains intact."

Harry asked quietly as his parents and siblings stared at him in awe and worry, "What is so special about this wand Mr. Ollivander?"

Putting a hand on the boy's shoulder he spoke gently, "Eleven inches, phoenix feather, Holly wood. It is certainly an unusual combination, but it is powerful, for the only one who wielded it did great things, terrible, but great. The phoenix whose feather created that wand, gave another feather, just one other feather. The one who wields the other wand gave you that scar."

The room seemed to drop several degrees at that, while Lily Potter immediately intervened, "Surely there is another wand that he can try? This is a dangerous connection for my son to have with the Dark Lord."

Ollivander sighed, "We should not fear the dead Mrs. Potter, only respect them, and the things they accomplished. The Dark Lord did great feats of magic with the brother of this wand. I expect great things from Mr. Potter as long as he wields that wand. I fear if he were to try a different one, it would come at a great cost to his magic."

James Potter asked, "What kind of cost?"

"Nothing too severe be assured, but I fear he would never accomplish his optimum potential without this wand at his side," Ollivander spoke cryptically.

Sirius was at Harry's side in an instant, "I support this Harry. Mr. Ollivander is right, and we forge our own paths. This could be a sign, and not necessarily a bad one. Please Mr. Ollivander we will take this one."

The head of the Black family gently patted his Godson on the shoulder as James paid the seven galleons for the wand. As they left Ollivander called out one last time, "Treat your wand well, Mr. Potter, is it a partner for life, and will bring you great power."

With that, the family all whisked away out of the ally. No one wanted to be seen just at the moment as the entire group had turned several shades paler. Even as young as Rosalie and Jack were, they understood an omen when one happened right before their very eyes. The question of the matter now was, could Harry carve a different path of redemption from the brother of the wand that killed so many.