chapter 6:James said....

"I regretted it every day since, but it would have been cruel to bring you back. Squibs don't have a place in our world. I had to live with my guilt. But then, Dumbledore contacted me. An acceptance letter for Hogwarts came for you."

James reached out to hug Harry, and it took everything for him to not flinch away from the touch.

"I'm so happy to have you back home," he finished.

"I…" Harry started to say, then realized he had no idea what to say. Or what to think. Finally, he managed to get out, "I have a brother?'

It was a question, and it broke one of Harry's rules. He couldn't help but ask though. Of all the things James said, it was the only thing he could focus on.

"You do. Nine minutes younger than you are. He's been dying to meet you, but I thought it might be easier for you to settle in without him here," James said.

"Do I get to meet him?" Harry asked.

"He'll be home in time for dinner," James said with a smile.

Silence lapsed between them for several minutes. Then James handed the letter to him. "Why don't you read it. It'll make everything more real.

Harry took it. It was just like the one he'd gotten yesterday. Same parchment, same purple wax seal on it, even the green ink was the same. The only difference were the words.

Mr H. Potter

Guest Room

Linweald House

Village of Linweald

Gloucestershire

With one last glance at James, Harry opened the letter and began to read the first page.

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(HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY)

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Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

A dozen more thoughts flew through Harry's head. There was an entire school, and entire society of people like him.

Harry flipped to the second page, and found the strangest school supply list he'd ever seen.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Uniform First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags

Set Books All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

Other Equipment

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST-YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS

"This is a lot," Harry finally said after he finished reading.

"Feeling overwhelmed?" James asked.

"A little," Harry admitted.

"You can ask me anything you want, any time you want," James told him

"Thank you," he said softly.

"I brought you some books that'll explain more about our world, better than I can," James said. "And you don't have to wear them, but I brought some clothes more like what wizards wear."

Harry assured him he was okay and just wanted to be alone to get his thoughts together, and maybe flip through some of the books.

When he was alone, with just his thoughts, Harry laid down on the bed and let the tears fall. While it was a relief, in a strange way, to know he wasn't alone, that others out there could do what he did, it was worse to know he hadn't been wanted.

If he knew anything, it was that parts of James' story made no sense. For as long as Harry could remember, he'd had magic. There was no way anyone could have missed that. James hadn't wanted him, chose his brother over him. He'd only been brought back into their family because of the letter. James hadn't had a choice in that, Harry was as sure of it as he was in Morgan's loyalty to him.

After some time wallowing, Harry noticed just how silent the house was. The ever present hum of electricity was completely absent. There was no overhead light, instead flames danced in the fireplace and in sconces around the walls. Overhead was a chandelier with candles burning on it, though no drops of wax fell to the carpets on the floor.

The clothing James brought him had fallen to the floor. Harry picked them up and looked to his own clothes. The ill-fitting rags swallowed him, making him appear even smaller than he already was. He looked through the clothing, a pair of plain brown trousers, with hidden buttons and no zipper, a plain white shirt. The shirt had no stains or torn hem, and was as soft as butter in his hands. There was a brown jacket with gold detailing in a similar style to the one James wore.For a moment, he weighed the chances of consequences. Then he grabbed the clothes and made his way to the bathroom. It was larger than the Dursley's, and the bathtub called to him. He got the water as warm as he wished for once. The bath had been stocked with shampoo and soap in little glass bottles. They smelled of herbs, and Harry relished in their scent.

It was the most luxurious thing he'd ever experienced. By the time he climbed out, his fingers and toes had wrinkled up. And the towels felt like clouds wrapping around him. The clothes were odd, a little loose, but they fit much better than Dudley's old clothes ever had.

He threw the rags into the fireplace, never wanting to see them again. Even if he had to wear this one thing for the rest of his life, he would never go back to the ill fitting rags.

With nothing left to do, Harry turned his attention to the books James left. Beyond the personal implications, there was a lot James said that he didn't understand. Words and concepts that were completely foreign to him.

He made camp at the desk with the books James left and his notebook. He filled a whole page with things from just the school letter and his conversation with James alone.

What do they mean by await my owl?

What is Side-Along?

What was the war about?

What is a Dark Wizard?

Who was the traitor?

There was an entire list of the titles that followed the name Albus Dumbledore.

List made, Harry looked at the books, trying to decide where to start. There were four of them. There was a small brown one, barely more than a leaflet, titled Overview of the Wizarding World for Muggleborn Students; a large heavy tome bound in dark leather with Hogwarts, A History embossed in golden script across the front. The deep blue one was called Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century. The smallest one, but not the thinnest, was black with bright red writing. History of the Blood War it was called.

He grabbed the leaflet first, thinking it was possibly an introductory book of some type. The drawings in it looked more appropriate for small children, but it was informative. It went over things such as the government, including a list of laws relevant to students; the banking and currency system, with was entirely separate from the muggles, and run by goblins. It also answered one of his first questions. Wizards sent mail using owls, which Harry thought was both absurd and genius.

Harry filled out half a dozen more pages, front and back, of things to look up from the leaflet. He even tried out the quill and ink before switching back to his pencil. Eventually, he'd have to learn to use the quill, according to the book, but it would take practice. The black smudge on one of the pages was completely illegible.

When someone knocked on the door again, he was deep into Great Wizarding Events, reading about a man called Grindelwald and his failed revolution.

"Harry?" James called out. "Dinner is ready. Do you want to join us?"

He hadn't realized it had gotten so late. There wasn't a clock in the room, and the history book was fascinating enough that he hadn't noticed the sun setting.

Us, James said, which must mean Alex was here. James hadn't impressed him, but maybe his brother would be better. Harry sat the book aside.