The next morning, Harry woke early, ready for Christmas shopping. He had a general idea of what he wanted to get everyone; he just hoped he'd be able to find it all. After a quick breakfast, they all traveled to Diagon Alley by floo. Once again, they split up, with Harry, Draco, and Alexander going off on their own. Violet stayed close to Tom and Bella, still shaky from being away from the Memorux for so long.
"Harry, I have to find something perfect for Hermione."
"Any ideas?"
"No, none at all. I have no clue."
"Well, let's start in that junk shop where I found the communication mirrors. Then maybe we can try the bookstore. I have to find something for Luna, too. And Violet. Well, and my parents, and your parents, and...well, the list goes on." Laughing, they entered the junk shop and looked around.
They passed rows of books and clothes, jewelry and mirrors, and random odds and ends. At the very back of the shop, in a case labeled "rare and exotic", Draco spotted the perfect gift for Hermione.
"Harry! Come look at this!" Harry hurried over to the display case Draco was looking in. He looked at the item Draco was pointing to. It looked like an old, worn book. Then he read the description card.
LIBRARY IN A BOOK. Simply copy your favorite books to the table of contents, then, when you open Library in a Book, choose the book you want to read, tap it with your wand, and read away. Unlimited storage. You can have the world in your book bag. Works with magazines and newspapers as well. Incantation revealed upon purchase.
"That's perfect for Hermione! I'll go get the owner."
"No need, boy. I'm right here. Now, you're interested in our Library in a Book?"
"I am, sir," answered Draco. "How much?"
"Well, it is quite the invention. It's 75 Galleons."
"Seventy-five! That's rather expensive for a book."
"That's my price." Harry tapped Draco on the arm and pulled him a bit away before whispering to him.
"What if we make it a present from all three of us. Then it's not so bad."
"Good idea." Draco hurried back over to the clerk. "We'll take it! We'll each pay twenty-five galleons." The store clerk pulled the book and the card out of the display case and wrapped it with a flick of his wand. He provided three Gringotts Withdrawal Parchments, as requested by the boys. They filled out the information and left the store in search of their other gifts.
At Mystical Toys, Harry found a live model of a Quidditch game. It was apparently played like Wizard's Chess, where you directed your team. He purchased one for Draco, although he had a hard time managing in without being seen.
At the magical joke shop, they ran into the Weasley twins.
"Hello, Weasleys."
"Hello, Slytherins. And Alexander. Harry, how was tea with your fanged servant? Has he promised to petrify Percy yet?" The three boys flinched a bit but Harry managed to compose himself enough.
"Apparently, even my lovely fanged friend is eager to stay away from the droning Prefect. I understand he dislikes boredom. So, is the rest of your family here too?"
"No, we snuck away. Mum will kill us if she finds out, but we're researching new ideas for our joke shop."
"You have a joke shop?"
"Not yet, but we plan to. Weasley Wizarding Wheezes. We've nearly perfected a couple of things, but we still need a lot more ideas to start a shop."
"Sounds cool." Alexander said.
"Well, does everything have to be a joke product?" The twins looked thoughtful for a moment before regarding Harry curiously.
"Well, we'd intended them to be so, but, do you have any ideas?"
"Yes, but they'll probably be difficult to work out. Oh, and if I tell you, my fee is to be the first to know."
"We can handle that." Harry told the twins about the Library in a Book and the two-way mirrors, including his wish that there was something available that could be tuned into more than just two people, like a network of mirrors.
"Great ideas, Harry. We'll let you know if we work them out."
"Don't disappoint me."
"Don't worry, Gryffindors or not, we're the real oddballs of the family." They parted ways, the twins heading back to the Leaky Cauldron to floo home, while Harry, Alexander, and Draco stayed to search for more gifts. They managed to find different odds and ends for their other friends and classmates. Their next stop was Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"Hey, Harry, what about a broom?"
"I don't know how comfortable Luna is on a broom, and they're really expensive. I don't want her to feel uncomfortable."
"Oh, good point." They soon left the store, and entered Scribbulus Writing Instruments. While there, Harry found a BookCam for his mother. It was effectively a camera and photo album in one. It could take pictures from a pensieve or real life. He also found a lovely velum stationery set for his aunt. He had the Malfoy family crest applied to finish off the gift.
At Madam Malkin's, Harry found a great gift for Luna. Madam Malkin had expanded her store to include custom jewelry, including charm bracelets. Harry bought a basic bracelet as well as some charms: an owl to represent the letters they had sent back and forth the previous year, a moon, and a lightning bolt. He also found a lovely Slytherin cloak clasp for his Uncle and a necklace with a little violet flower charm on it for his sister. Draco bought a Slytherin house crest for Luna's charm bracelet at Harry's suggestion. Alexander bought a little potion bottle charm. They were running out of time, and they still needed several gifts. Draco found the rest of his gifts at Gladrags, which just left Harry needing to find a gift for his father and a gift from Alexander to Violet.
When they all met back up at Florean Fortescu's Ice Cream Parlor, they discussed their plans for the rest of the day.
"Well, Harry and I need to visit the Magical Menagerie. And I know Lucius needs to visit the apothecary for the ingredients to perform the blood test. Bella, dearest, do you need to do anything else?"
"Not at all, Tom. But perhaps Draco and Alexander could join you and Harry while Cissy and I take Violet and visit Gladrags for some new dress robes."
"That sounds excellent, Bella. Draco, is that alright with you, or would you prefer to join your father?" Draco gave Lucius an apologetic look.
"While I'd love to join you, father, I'd really like to see if Harry manages to find his familiar."
"Don't worry son, I'm hardly disappointed." They finished their ice cream quickly and each went their separate ways. They agreed to meet at Gladrags, as they all knew that Narcissa and Bellatrix would take the longest. As they entered the Magical Menagerie, Tom cautioned Harry that he might not find a familiar at this store.
"There are plenty of other magical pet shops, and they are constantly getting new animals, so it may take a while."
"Of course, father." They walked to the back of the shop where the snakes were kept.
Hello, serpents.
A Tongue Speaker! It is an honor to meet a tongue speaker. Tom smiled. He was reminded why he loved snakes.
It is a pleasure to meet you all. My son is seeking a familiar. Would any of you be interested? The snakes eyed Harry skeptically. They had yet to realize that he could speak Parseltongue as well.
I was told I must find a familiar worthy of me. Do any of you fit that specification? The snakes gasped.
You are The Sacred One! We hear the power in your voice. They bowed. Forgive us, Sacred One, we knew not who you are. Harry looked to a particularly beautiful green snake.
What is your name, green one.
I am Nagini, Sacred One. Harry smiled, she had a lovely, lilting voice that soothed him.
Well, Nagini, you are a very beautiful snake.
Thank you, Sacred One, that means much.
Would you be my familiar?
I am not worthy, Sacred One. None of us here are. Harry sighed. He had known it wouldn't be this easy, but he had hoped. Suddenly he had an idea.
"Father, I think we should speak to the clerk. Would you please bring her over?"
"But Harry, none of these snakes are destined to be your familiar."
"But that doesn't mean none of them can be a pet." Tom sighed.
"I see where you're going with this, you rascal. Very well. Give me a moment." The moment Tom left, Harry turned back to the snakes.
Nagini, would you be willing to be my father's pet, or familiar?
Yes, of course, Sacred One. That would be a great honor.
Wonderful, you'll be a gift, so you can't let him know yet.
Yes, Sacred One. Tom returned with the store clerk, and Harry purchased Nagini. Although he was disappointed about not finding his familiar, he was glad he had finished his Christmas shopping. Harry and Tom noticed that Alexander bought a strange looking box with several holes in it but neither mentioned it. Tom did give him a small smile and a pat on the back. They came across Lucuis just coming out of the apothecary, and the five of them headed off to Gladrags to collect the women.
Once home, Harry was eager to try the blood-magic test. He left all of his purchases in his room, and, after a quick reassuring word to Nagini, ran back downstairs to find his parents and Aunt and Uncle.
"Uncle Lucius, may we perform the blood magic test now?"
"Yes, of course, Harry. Come along." Lucius called for Dobby, who appeared, just as eager as ever. "Dobby, please bring the silver ritual dish and the parchment." Dobby popped away and reappeared a moment later with the requested items. "The test we are going to give you," explained Lucius, "is a standard blood-magic test: all we need are a few drops of your blood and then," he pulled a vial of navy colored liquid from his pocket as he added, "This potion will mix with the blood and present a list on here," he indicated the parchment, "which will then tell us all we need to know, or rather, all you need to know. This should help fill in some of the blanks for you. Are you ready, Harry?"
"Yes, Uncle Luke."
"Very well, hold out your hand. I want to perform a cleaning charm." Harry did so. "Scourgify." Harry felt a really strong wind pass over his hands. "Now, Harry, prick your finger with this knife and squeeze ten drops into the bowl." Harry did so then watched as Lucius added the navy colored potion to the bowl. He held his breath as Lucius magically stirred the contents. After a couple of moments, the parchment glowed a bright white. Harry stood over it, waiting for the glow to fade. The moment it did he reached forward to grab the parchment. Just before he touched it, he looked to his uncle. "Go ahead, Harry." Not needing more encouragement, Harry grabbed the parchment and read out loud:
Harry Thomas Salazar Riddle -Bloodline: Pure
–Mother: Bellatrix Riddle –Father: Tom Marvolo Riddle
–Godmother: Narcissa Malfoy –Godfather: Lucius Malfoy
–Notable Magical Ancestors: Salazar Slytherin (F), Helga Hufflepuff (F), Merlin (M)
–Familiar: Fawkes (Phoenix)
–Hereditary Magical Prowess: Parseltongue, Occlumency, Legillimency
–Current Magical Core Strength: 200
–Talents: Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts
"I'm related to Merlin? Mum, you're related to Merlin? Really? Mum?" Harry turned to his parents and aunt and uncle, all who were staring at him speechless. "What's wrong?"
"Well, Harry, those are some impressive results."
"Well, yeah, it is pretty cool to find out I'm related to Merlin. I mean, I already knew about Slytherin, which, of course, would mean I'm related to Hufflepuff as well, seeing as how they were married..."
"What did you say, Harry?"
"What do you mean?"
"Hufflepuff and Slytherin were married?"
"Well, that's what Professor Binns said."
"Tom, this is wonderful. That's exactly the kind of thing we need. Why has that never been mentioned?"
"I don't know, dear. I wonder how Binns knew?"
"Well, how old is Professor Binns, father?" Tom and Bella looked to each other, perplexed.
"We can try asking the portraits, Harry, but I don't know. Now, enough about that for the moment, let's discuss your results. Your mother wasn't referring to your ancestors. She was referring to the strength of your magical core and your talents. The average strength of an adult witch or wizard's magical core is 100. A gifted witch or wizard might have a magical core strength of 120. Even my magical core is only scored at 150. It is impossible to say what kind of power you will have when your magical core matures."
"Matures, father?"
"Yes, sometime around your 17th birthday, your magical core will finish developing. At that point, you will have full access to the strength of your magical core. At present, you have access to only a portion of your magical core, yet you already score 200. Imagine what you will be able to accomplish!"
"Oh, wow. Cool. What did you mean about my talents, though? I'm sure Hermione would have even more talents."
"I'm not entirely sure about that Harry. Having a talent means you have a natural affinity for that subject. You could easily pursue a mastery in one of those subjects."
"I'm sure Hermione could boast more talents than me. She's far better in many of the classes. There's a reason why she's first in our class." Tom looked to Lucius.
"Perhaps we should test her, Lucius. Alexander and Violet too. And Draco as well. I am certain he would like to see his own results."
"Oh, yes, please, father!"
"Very well Draco."
"Father?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Do you suppose we could test Luna as well? She's a close friend and an important member of our sextet, and I wouldn't want her to feel left out."
"Well, we'll have to speak to her father, but I don't think that will be an issue. Lucius, would you mind picking up more ritual serum?"
"Of course not, Tom. I'll go later today. Are we just testing the five of them?"
"Yes, unless anyone else would like to be tested..." Tom looked to Lucius, Narcissa, and Bella, but none of them showed much interest. "Very well, just for five, then. For now, I think we should enjoy some lunch." As everyone headed to the dining room, Harry called for Dobby and asked him to look after Nagini until Christmas. Dobby agreed enthusiastically, always happy to have more work. Harry briefly wondered about his conversation with Lucius and Narcissa about educating the house elves, but didn't want to pester them about their business. He noticed that Alexander also pulled Dobby off to the side, making him curious as to what exactly was in the box he bought.