Disappointment Keeperoliver

August 11, 1986. A very special day for the residents of the burrow. Or it was suppose to be. It was the birthday of the youngest in the household. Ginevra Weasley turned five years old. It was supposed to be her special day where her father and mother would make her a special breakfast, then take her to Diagon Alley for a birthday treat. But her dad had to change his plans as the Head of the DMLE wanted all senior members of the Ministry in her office for a briefing, before going out on an assignment. Although he was in the middle of the seniority list, he was high enough to be called in for this meeting.

He left a sobbing Ginny, as she liked to be called, and he felt bad about doing it to her. He tried to explain, but because of his oldest sons, Bill and Charlie, he couldn't get past his promise to always be there for the birthday of all his children. Ginny pointed this out to her dad, and he told her she was too young to remember Bill and Charlies birthdays. She replied that they told her he never missed any of theirs. He would have to thank them both later.

What was supposed to be special, turned out to be a dark day for Ginny. Not even her friend Luna could get her off her sour mood. Luna lived up the hill from Ginny, with her mum and dad. She never missed a day visiting Ginny, if she wasn't off somewhere with her dad, chasing some fantastic creature

At the Ministry, Arthur was listening with half a heart at what Amelia Bones, Head of the DMLE, was saying. Something about a missing child in the Muggle world. He wondered why the Ministry was worried about a muggle child gone missing. However, it was Ginny's crying that had most of his attention. He hated to let any of his children down for any reason, but their birthday was something special. For it to be on his youngest was bad, but she was also his only daughter and it only made things worse since her brothers all had him at their birthdays for their special day.

He was so worried about her that he missed it when Amelia said the name of the child they would be looking for. He had to look at William Horner's notes to catch the name. He almost passed out when he saw it was Harry Potter who was missing from his home. He read the entire story from William's notes.

Harry had gone to an amusement park with his family, when he got in trouble with his Uncle. He was taken back to the family car where he was told to stay until the family got back to him to leave. The car became too hot for young Harry to sit in it, so he got out and walked around to cool off. He got lost in the maze of cars that were there, and it was the last his family saw of him. Why they waited five days to report it, no one knew. So Harry had been gone for five days, on his own, with no money or anything to eat.

The member were split up into teams to conduct the search. For three weeks they searched, and they found no sight of him. The park was in the middle of London, so he got lost in the crowd, presumably. With the family living in Devon, many kilometers away, there was no way of telling if he was trying to get back to them.

The search had to be canceled because it was time for school to start back up and the Ministry had to get back to business. There were smaller search parties sent out, but there was little hope of them finding them if larger parties couldn't while the trail was still fresh, or fresher than three weeks old.

Ginny got over her disappointment of her dads missing her birthday, but now she worried for the disappearance of her hero, Harry Potter. She asked her dad, "Daddy, if Harry is so strong, why can't he just wish himself home?"

Arthur knew she had been listening to her brothers as they read to her from the books he got her for her birthday. They made Harry look like some sort of god. He knew Harry could be no more than six years old, so the books were pure fantasy. He tried to explain this to Ginny, but at five years old herself, she didn't know what fantasy was. She just knew that Harry was her hero.

As for the boy in question, Harry didn't try too hard to find his guardians. They hated him and he felt the same towards them. He was fed once, maybe twice a day. He never had a day off from his chores and they kept getting harder every year. His days grew longer and bedroom was getting smaller.

Right now, he felt free of his controlled life. He didn't know how long he had been missing, but he didn't care. He was lucky in the fact that he found food sources all over, with mushrooms, wild onions, wild berries, apples and so much more. He even figured out a way to kill rabbits and squirrels for a meal with meat. He found fishing tackle with hooks caught in trees and bushes that he used to catch fish. He was eating better now then he did when he was with the Dursleys. His biggest problem was he didn't know his name. All he was ever called was freak or boy. He knew neither of them were his name because he heard his uncle tell his aunt he woulds never learn his true name because of what it meant should he learn his heritage. Right now he just knew his parents died in a car crash after getting drunk at a party.

Harry also learned how to get clothes that fit him better than what the Dursleys provided him. A church close to where he stayed gave him clothes and shoes from the donations given to them by its attendees. His parish had a very big attendance.

As for where Harry resided, it was an old abandoned, boarded up house. It looked bad on the outside, but inside, it was more that what he required. It was because of this house that he learned that he was different then other children his age. It happened when he was trying to reach the top of a closet to see what was in a box. He tried climbing the shelves, but they didn't hold him. He used the loose pieces of the shelving to reach the box, but it didn't work. Finally, in desperation he said, "Just come to me box!" and it flew off the shelf and into his hands. He practiced doing different things with this gift, as he liked to call it. He was able to start a fire in the fireplace and put it out with a water spray from his hands. He didn't know what it was he had, but he called it magic.

For five years he lived this way, and in that time he also learned how to travel great distances by wishing to be some where else. He had different maps he found in the underground that he used to find new places to go to. He even traveled to France once, but when he asked someone where he was, they answered him with an unknown language. He visited Scotland, Ireland and Wales. He always landed on the outskirt of a city he was visiting to avoid landing on someone, like he did the first time he tried going to a different city. He landed in the middle of a large crowd in Yorkshire. It was so crowded, no one even noticed his arrival, but he did step on many feet, which gathered some harsh words from the people.

The magic he was teaching himself helped so much in keeping him alive on his own. He never missed his family. In fact there are times he can't even remember their names.

Now, on the 31st of July 1991, he was ready to start his day when an owl entered through on open window and dropped a letter on the floor in front of Harry and then took off. Harry looked at the letter and wondered what it was all about. He was afraid to touch it, because it looked so old he was thinking it would probably crumble when he touched it. He kicked it with his foot, and the letter moved with the action, so he picked it up and opened it.

The letter told him what he thought about himself was right. He was what was called a wizard and this letter was from a school that would teach him how to be a proper wizard if he wished to attend. Harry knew that, with school, came costs. Money that he didn't have. He put the letter up in a place only he would find it. Maybe later he would try to look into this school.

Back at the Burrow, Ginny was watching her last brother prepare to go to Hogwarts. Ron turned eleven in March and was ready to take his trip to Diagon Alley with then twins and Percy. Ginny would go as well, knowing she would be teased by Ron and the twins. Percy was too busy writing his list of things he thought he would need beside what his letter called for. He was a prefect this year, so he would need appropriate robes for his position. He would be the second son to receive new robes for school. Bill was the first, since he was the first child to attend. Charlie got his hand me downs from Bill.

The trip was exactly as Ginny expected. She was ribbed constantly about her having to stay behind while they left for school. She heard all about Ron making new friends, maybe even Harry Potter, since this was to be his first year as well. This comment brought on tears to Ginny, as he was never found after the park incident. Ron knew all this and liked to upset his sister with his off comments.

Three weeks later was Ron's trip to school and he hoped to see Harry Potter on the train and make friends with him. Once on board, he left his trunk in a compartment and went in search. He found the twins with a dark skinned boy who must have been their friend. He tried to ask them if they saw Potter, but they told him to get lost. He then found a wild haired girl talking to what he thought was a mama's boy because he was almost in tears over a lost toad. The girl was a bossy sort, so he left them both alone. He finally gave up the search as no one knew what he was talking about and no one answered to the name of Harry Potter. Hopefully he would confess once he was placed in his house.

Once again he was disappointed when the Professor called out his name and no one stepped forward. After the meal and once he was settled in the dorm, he thought about writing to his sister and share his disappointment with her, but got caught up in a game of chess with a fellow student. He never would write that letter to Ginny, but the twins did and once again she was disappointed. The person she so much wanted to meet didn't attend Hogwarts, so he must be dead, or out of country. Either way she didn't expect to ever see Harry Potter.

Harry used this time to further his magical abilities by seeing what he couldn't do. So far, what ever he needed his magic for had provided it for him, even if it had to change one thing for something he needed. He learned that he could get something like a chicken if he used another thing that was alive, even a tree. If it was something organic, it would not change to a living thing. He did find out he could change coal into a diamond, but it took every once of energy he had and it would put him out of magic for about a week. It did provide money for his food and clothing and still had quite a bit left over for something special for himself. He never used this though as he was trying to save to go to that school that sent him the letter. He didn't know how much he needed for this, so he had to change fifteen pieces of coal into diamonds. At first he did one at a time, but he figured out a way to do multiple pieces at a time and he finally figured he had enough money to get into this school, next year. Now he had to find out where to buy the things he need to attend school. Once again he was on the move, trying to find some one who could help him. He would listen to groups of people talking to see if they had his answer, but there were no talks about magic from them.

He thought hard on this school and what it told him to bring for his classes. Then he thought about where the school was. How the students got there. If they traveled to it every day. If they lived there during the school year. So many questions that needed answers and no one to answer them for him.

He visited all the big cities, but nothing was found in any of them. It was around Christmas time when he finally learned about what he was looking for. He was looking around Kings Cross station when he heard a young girl talking to her parents about Hogwarts and the teachers and fellow students. Harry listened to her for as long as they walked. He heard her talk about this dreadful boy named Ron that bullied her and called her names. So much so that one time she hid in a Lav while she cried over his harsh words. She could have been hurt because of a Troll that was loose in the halls. Professor's McGonagal and Snape saved her from harm when they heard her scream and stopped the Troll before he hit her with his club. When asked why she was in there, she told them she had been sick all day and was just getting over it when the Troll showed up.

She was just getting ready to say something about needing more supplies and a visit to shops, when they got to their car, and Harry missed where they had to go to get them.

He went back to the station and found two young girls talking about when it was their turn to go to school. The blond asked the red haired girl, "Do you think he will be in school next year, Ginny?"

"I don't think so Luna. He should have been there this year, so he probably moved out of country. If they called his name in school, that means he is still alive. I would like to see him go to school next year though. That would really upset Ron to no end. The prat hasn't quit embarrassing me about my feelings for him. I hope that girl he almost hurt finds a way to get even with him."

"Are you going to do your shopping in Diagon Alley for Christmas this year, Ginny?"

"I'm afraid we don't have the money for it this year, Luna. Mum had to use what we had to buy our Christmas meal. I think she made us all something though, and I do love her for that. Those sweaters keep me warm. Of course the prat won't be satisfied with it. He thinks he should be getting a new broom for next year when he goes up for the house team. He's an idiot if he thinks he can make the team in his first year of eligibility. Shoot, I can fly circles around him. He really is pathetic."

Harry needed to talk to them so he walked up to them and was about to say something, when what must have been her brother called out for them to slow down. Harry didn't see where he came from and turned around to see the double of the one that just went to the girls come through a wall.

"What is it George?" Ginny asked.

"Mum doesn't want you to get too far ahead of us and get lost in the crowd. She heard about what Ron did to Hermione and is giving him what for. He could have gotten her hurt with his stupidity and all she was doing was correcting him and trying to save herself from him crazy wand waving. She may be bit much with her school work, but she is a nice girl."

Fred caught up to them and added his piece to the talk, "Not bad looking either, is she George?"

Ginny laughed as Luna answered back, "Only you would notice that Fred. George was just saying she was sweet."

George didn't let it go, "Fred didn't give me a chance to add that last bit. She is quite the looker though."

Luna turned to Ginny, "I think I spoke up too early. The twins must be looking for a conquest in school. Come on Ginny, let's slow down and wait for your mum and leave the lust driven twins to their dreams. I think I hear her and Ron coming through 9 3/4 now."

Harry was still laughing at the exchange he just heard, when he saw his chance to talk to the girls. He walked over to them and asked, "Excuse me. But I was wondering if you could help me. I'll be going to school next year and I need to buy the things needed for school. Where can I buy them?"

They both said at the same time, "Diagon Alley is the only place to get them." this caused all three to laugh. The twins heard this and turned to see Harry talking to Luna and Ginny.

"Here now, What's this? My little sister and her friend being hit on by a strange boy?" Fred asked.

George continued the thought with, "It's not safe around here any more, when a family can't come home for the Hols without having a family member stalked by a stranger."

"Drop it you two. He just asked where he could get his school supplies, didn't he Luna?"

"That's all he asked, and we both answered him at the same time which got us all to laughing."

Molly and Ron came through the wall then and Molly saw her children talking with a strange child. She pulled Ron with her as she approached them, "What's going on here? Fred, George, Ginny who is this boy and why are you arguing with him?"

"We're not arguing mum, Luna and I are just setting the twins straight as to why we were talking. This boy just asked us where he could pick up some school supplies and we told him."

Harry stepped forward and told Molly, "I'm sorry if I caused a problem with you and your children Mame. I start school next year and I need to get my supplies."

"What's your name son?" Molly asked him.

Harry didn't want to get into any trouble, so he used the middle name on the letter he received, "It's James. Now if you will excuse me, I should be going." and Harry left before any more questions could be asked. He did however manage to slip Ginny some money before he left, by shaking her and Luna's hand. Ginny happened to be wearing gloves, so she didn't feel it at first. When she finally noticed it, she cried out for James, but he was already gone. He had given her a hundred pounds. Ginny cried at this, but gave the money to her mum to help out with the Hols. When asked where she got it, she just said, "From James."

Fred looked to George and said, "I think we may have been a bit hard on poor James. I wish he had slipped us the money."

George laughed and said, "I don't think we are pretty enough for him, Fred. Now Ginny and Luna, that's a different story. If we run with them, maybe we'll get a hand out from some stranger."

"It is something to think about, now isn't it." Fred answered.

Harry had walked away from the family and decided to stop to eat somewhere. He was just going past an old building that looked empty, when someone came out of it. Harry got to look in and saw where people were eating and drinking in there, so he entered and took a seat at a table in the back. A waitress soon came and asked what he wanted and Harry ordered a meal and a glass of water.

While waiting for his order, he heard talk about magic coming from the other tables. When the waitress returned with his water, he asked about Diagon Alley. She told him, "After you eat, ask me again, and I'll show you it. You're in a part of it right now. This is the entry point." and she went back to work.

Harry hurried up and ate so that he could see this Diagon Alley and purchase everything he needed. As she said, she took Harry to the back and since he didn't have a wand, opened the gate for him and Harry looked at a place out of the past. Everything looked 200 years behind this time. He thanked the lady who helped him and she told him "Have fun." and she turned and went back in to the pub.

Harry went to the first window to look into the store to see what they sold. This is where he learned he needed to find a place to exchange his pounds into currency used here. He didn't know what a galleon, sickle or a knut was but this is what they accepted. He asked the first person to pass and she pointed him in the direction of the bank.

Harry followed the path leading to the bank and approached the doors leading into the bank. Upon entering, he could not believe the tellers were human. He walked up to the first available clerk and asked, "Excuse me, but what are you?"

"I'm a teller, what are you?"

"I'm new to this world of magic and I am trying to fit in. It's all so strange to me. Like, what is a galleon?"

"Wizard money, like sickles and knuts. Galleons are gold in color. Sickles are silver and knuts are bronze."

"Thank you, I think. What are the exchange rates from pounds to galleons?"

"Twenty five pounds for one galleon."

"Sounds like a lot of money for one piece of gold colored coins?"

"Do you have an account with us? If you do, then you may not need to exchange currency. What is your name so that I can see if you do?"

"I believe it's Harry Potter."

"You believe it's your name? You don't know for sure? How can this be?"

"I didn't know my name until I received this letter from Hogwarts."

The goblin took the letter and saw the name. He excused himself for a minute then left to find someone. He returned a minute later with another one like him. This one asked Harry to follow him to his office. Here he performed a blood test on Harry to confirm who he was and then he told Harry, "You are who the letter says you are. Why didn't you know your name?"

Harry didn't want to answer him, but he had to in order to find out some history on himself. "My Aunt and Uncle never used my name when talking to me. It was always boy or something else, like freak."

"Well, since you are Harry Potter, you do have an account with us, left by your parents. You have three vaults, but have access to only one until you turn fourteen and can claim your inheritance. We have a copy of your will, if you wish to hear it?"

"If you would be so kind to read it please, sir."

"Very well, let me get it." and he left his desk to a filing cabinet and pulled out a folder which he brought back with him. He opened it and pulled out a sheet of paper and an envelope. He began to read what was on the paper.

"This is to all concerned that I, James Charlus Potter and I Lily Marie Potter nee Evans, do this with a sound mind. We leave all our worldly good to our son, Harry James Potter. It is our hope that he is in good physical and mental condition and that he has lived a good healthy life. We also hope that he was not left to the care of Petunia and Vernon Dursley who is my, Lily Potter, sister and brother in law. In no way should he be left in their care, because there would be no such thing there. Harry should be left in the care of Sirius Black, Selena Lovegood or Alice Longbottom. If these are not able to watch him for any reason, then Minerva McGonagal should be next on the list. We also leave in the care of Griphook, our bank manager, a letter to give to Harry upon his first visit. Harry should also know that if a man named Peter Pettigrew tries to talk to him, leave as soon as possible, as he is not what he says he is. If a man named Remus Lupin tries to talk to you, listen to what he says, as he is a good friend." at the end of the will, Griphook handed the letter from his parents to Harry.

"Why was I left with the Dursleys, when it says it should never happen? Who is this Sirius Black, or Selena Lovegood? Or the others mentioned in the will?"

"Sirius Black is behind bars because he betrayed your parents to Lord Voldemort. Selena Lovegood died a year ago. Alice and Frank Longbottom are unable to help you, and Minerva McGonagal is a Professor at Hogwarts. It seems there was no one else to watch over you. Remus Lupin has an infliction that would not allow him to be your guardian."

"Well, I'm sorry, but there is no way I will be going back to the Dursleys, as they are even worse then what my mum said. I was lucky when I got lost at the park, and I have lived well enough on my own. Did my parents leave me a home to live in?"

"One that is livable and one that is not. The one for you is in Chadwick, while the other is in Godrics Hollow. It was destroyed the night your parents were killed."

"Was I with them the night they crashed?"

"What do you mean crashed? Your parents were killed by Lord Voldemort, saving your life. They were heroes, and you took all the honors when you killed Voldemort."

Harry saw where there was a long story ahead of him, so he passed on hearing it. He asked how much he had in the vault he had access to.

"This is your trust fund for your schooling and it has 100,000 galleons in it. More than enough to get you through school. However, what ever you spend will be replenished after a year has gone by. Do you wish the keys to your home?"

"Yes please. Thank you for your time Griphook." and he left to visit his vault.

The stacks of coins in the vault looked huge to Harry and he took what he hoped was all he needed. He took his list out and began his buying spree.

He bought everything on his list except for a familiar and a wand. He looked for a familiar, but didn't find one that he felt was right. He left there and went for his wand.

Olivander had been in business for longer than he could remember, taking over the business from his father. Not once in all those years did he not find a wand for a customer. He prided himself on having every known combination of features in stock. He had been restocking when he heard the bell ring over the entry. He eased out into the store and saw a boy he thought he knew. "Hello, are you here to purchase a wand? You look familiar, do I know you, or have we met?"

"No, this is my first visit here. I am here to look for a wand, though I don't think I really need one. I can do magic on my own."

"But I doubt you can do everything without a wand. No one can. A wand helps you to focus and channel your magic. Now, what sat we give it a try, shall we?"

"If you say so. What do you suggest?"

"I don't know until I take some measurements. Shall I get started?" after a nod from Harry he continued, "Good, now raise your arms straight out, that's it." and he measured his arm length. Then he did it for his upper body and lower body. He then went to the back and brought out over a dozen wands for Harry to try. Before he did he was asked, "By the way, what is your name?" He had to step back when Harry told him. "But you should have been measured last year?"

"I didn't have the money last year, or at least I didn't think I did. I saved up for this year. Does it make a difference when I go?"

It was not unusual for this to happen, but he never expected it from Harry Potter, son of James and Lily Potter. How was it he didn't know of his inheritance. He didn't approach Harry with this though. Harry had tried all the wands brought out to him, but none were right. Neither were the next batch or the one after that. Ollivander was beginning to think Harry was right. He tried one more wand that he didn't really wish to bring out. He handed it to Harry and nothing happened with it. Harry handed it back to Ollivander. "I'm sorry sir, but like I said, I don't think I really need a wand. I have done everything I set t out to do without one." and Harry gave him a demonstration which left Ollivander speechless. It was just as Harry said. Even ones that Ollivander asked him to try. He reached under his counter and brought out a blank wand.

"In case you are asked, show whoever asks this and you should be alright. It has a fairy wing and pixie dust core. It is magical, but not strong enough to support your magic. It is just for show. Good day to you Harry." and he watched as the boy left his shop. He immediately contacted Albus to let him know he had been to his shop. He didn't tell him about the wand.

Harry was now ready to start his schooling, of course it wouldn't be for another 10 months.