Harry Potter and Gaining Momentum

Harry woke up in the hospital wing for the second time in twenty-four hours. The first time he woke up, it was about midnight on the day of the attack. This time, it was the morning after. He felt surprisingly refreshed as he propped himself up in bed and surveyed his surroundings. The only person there was Draco, who had Harry's hand grasped in his own. Harry smiled at this. Not many would believe so easily that Draco would be capable of such affection, but Harry knew otherwise. Many still believed him still to be the heartless bastard that he used to be, this could be because he was around his own housemates, though his exterior was starting to soften more with the passing days.

Harry gave his hand a tight firm squeeze. Draco pried his eyes open and blinked once, and then again. Upon realizing where he was, his head snapped to Harry where a goofy grin spread across his face flashing his million dollar ivory smile. Harry couldn't help but smile warmly back at him.

"Feeling any better?" Draco asked cautiously. Harry nodded heartily. "Good, because we're going on a fieldtrip today," he said brightly. It was no news to Harry now, that any trip or vacation, of any type, was exceptional even for Draco, he clearly enjoyed traveling.

"Where are we going, or is it just you?" he asked slightly crestfallen to think that Draco was going to have to leave him in this god-forsaken infirmary without consolation or company.

"Dumbledore asked me to retrieve him when you woke. I think he wants to have a few words with you then we'll be off. That is, you, I, and some of the other apprentices," he concluded.

"Oh, so he told you he was still going to let me go gather my materials for a staff?" Harry asked hopefully. He really did dread this awful infirmary. It seemed every year he was making it more of a home away from home than a place scarcely visited.

"Yes, he told me. He just wants to make sure that you're well enough to join us. So, again, how do you feel, honestly?" Draco asked concerned.

"I'm fine as long as I don't think about it. Anyway, you'd better go retrieve him so I can get out of here and get some breakfast before it's time to go," he replied. Draco nodded, kissed him on his forehead, and fled the hospital wing. Deciding that he didn't want to sit with his thoughts until Draco returned, he tried to summon the medi-witch.

"Madam Pomfrey, MADAM POMFREY!" he yelled closing his eyes and wishing his headache not to return.

"Mr. Potter, that was quite unnecessary," she said coming out of her office.

"Well, I figured if I came to retrieve you, I'd be in deep for getting out of bed. My resources were quite low. Sorry," he said not embarrassed at all.

"Yes, well, next time send me an owl," she said with only half seriousness.

"But then how would he get up to the owlry to send it, or to even get an owl?"

"Honestly, just learn origami charm. Then, all you would have to do is fold the parchment into a swan or a paper airplane and send it to anyone you like. I'll show it to you later," Draco babbled coming back into the ward followed by the headmaster. Harry gave Draco a suspicious look and Dumbledore explained.

"I met him half way here, I was already on my way to check on you," he explained taking a seat. "Well Poppy, will he live?"

"I'm afraid so Headmaster. He should be out by tomorrow as long as he has his rest," she said stiffly. Harry began to protest,

"But--,"

"Poppy he has to go with the other apprentices today to choose the materials for his staff. Could you perhaps give him a Pepper-Up Potion and let him on his way? We're leaving just after breakfast. We'll meet you in the Entrance Hall Harry," Dumbledore said before he stood and left.

"Well, I never," Poppy began her raving about no one these days taking proper care of themselves. Draco left Harry to it, not really wanting to hear the batty old witches ranting herself. Harry was left to endure it.

Harry got dressed amidst Madam Pomfrey's ranting, but did it as quick as possible. He put on some robes that Ron must have brought up for him last night and walked out from behind the curtain. The medi-witch gave him the Pepper-Up and with a promise that he would come back that evening to be examined, he left the ward for the Entrance Hall.

When he arrived, he was surprised to see only Draco and Dumbledore there.

"Where is everyone?" he asked making his way over to them.

"I thought maybe we should speak to one another before everyone else arrived, so I told a small white lie to get you out of the hospital wing a bit early," Albus said grinning like a small child. Harry was slightly taken aback. The headmaster had admitted to lying, what was the wizarding world coming to? Harry was brought out of his thought by the Headmaster's chuckling.

"Come now Harry, surely you don't think of me as a Saint? I am not perfect Harry. As you know I've had to tell you half-truths and mislead you many times. Though I do so with a heavy heart when the situation is serious, I don't make habit of lying out of spite. I'll of course let Poppy know why--should she ever figure out I have mislead her," he said in mock seriousness that let on he had no intention of having the batty medi-witch know of his original plans of that or his little white lie.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Harry asked after processing the information that Albus Dumbledore, the epitome of good, lied.

"We need to have a small chat about Peter," the wise wizard said. Harry paled at the words. "I need to tell you that I have put a memory charm on him and have let him go." Harry's eyebrows shot up under his bangs in surprise.

"But, you couldn't have, I killed him," Harry said shaking his head confused.

"Harry do you remember what I told you third year about life debts? About how there is a bond that can only be broken when the debt is repaid? Well, it turns out that the person who received the life debt, cannot be killed by the one in debt. Which means that you cannot kill him until he has repaid the life debt. It took a reasonable amount of time to find this information after Professor Snape found you in the third floor corridor. He said Peter was beheaded, and that you were passed out, but Peter was ranting about how he couldn't live like that. Professor Snape brought him and his body to my office after you were taken to the Hospital Wing. We did interrogate him, but because this can come in handy later, we decided to wipe his memory and release him. Oh, and just incase you wanted to know, he can't kill you either, the bond of the life debt is too great," Dumbledore said in a surprisingly cheery voice.

"Wow, that's a lot to take in," Draco said messaging his own temples.

"I do agree Mr. Malfoy, now, others may be arriving soon. You may go up to your tower and retrieve the Weasleys and Miss Granger," the Headmaster said before turning and striding out the front doors to stand on the steps to take in the beautiful day.

Harry made it up to Gryffindor tower in record time. He was dying to tell them that he didn't really kill anyone and that Peter was still alive. Draco had headed off to the dungeon to come back up with Blaise and meet them in the Entrance Hall.

As he walked into the tower what he saw made him freeze and grin. Hermione and Ron were sitting on the sofa in front of the fire, but that was not what made him freeze. What made him freeze was that Ron had his arm around Hermione's neck and she was lying back on his chest while they both read a book that was positioned in her lap.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asked. They both jumped and Hermione jumped again when she saw who it was. She jumped out of Ron's lap and into the wide area of space beside where they were sitting. Her face had gone Weasley red and she was beginning to stammer.

"H-Harry, um--we were just--what I mean to say is-- Oh, I'm sorry," she said burring her face in her hands. Ron looked a bit teed off at this but said nothing because his face and especially his ears were too red like Hermione's.

"Finally!" Harry said now planting a huge smile on his face out of happiness.

"What?" Ron squeaked then found a bit of composer to ask in a more male-like tone, "What?" Harry laughed.

"It took long enough for you two to get together. I thought I was going to have to hear you two going at it until graduation. Thank Merlin I don't have to play referee anymore. I do hope this stops some of the arguments?" he ventured only to see the two of them blush once more. "Okay, okay, we won't talk about it until you two are more comfortable, but anyway, I have some news," he said making his way to the chair beside them and sitting down.

"I'm not a murderer," he said brightly.

"What?" Ron asked again then added, "I tend to be saying that a lot today."

"Yes, well, it turns out, Peter isn't dead," Harry crowed, "I'm not a killer."

"But from what Draco told us, and of course, Snape told him, you beheaded Peter," Hermione caught on furrowing her brow.

"I did, but he didn't die," Harry said.

"There's no way he could have lived like that Harry," Ron said as if trying to give bad information gently.

"Do you remember third year when I stopped Sirius and Remus from killing Peter?" he asked, they both nodded. "Well, the day after, I spoke with Dumbledore in Lupin's office as we were seeing him off. Dumbledore told me that a life debt causes a bond, a very strong bond that only exists between us two. Now, after I was taken to the infirmary, Snape returned and took his still talking head and his body to Dumbledore's office. Albus went into research mode and as it turns out, I can't kill him and he can't kill me until after he has repaid his debt," Harry said excitedly.

"How does this make you happy Harry? This still means you have another Death Eater after you, one that could have been taken in by the ministry," Ron voiced in concern.

"Yes, true, but Dumbledore wiped his memory of the event in the hall and released him back to Voldemort. Now he can't hurt me until he repays the debt, I think Albus put this subliminal message in his head telling him that, because he seemed rather chipper about the fact," Harry said.

"You know we never thought of you as a murderer Harry," Hermione said placing a hand on his leg.

"No offense, but I did. It doesn't matter what everyone else thought, it mattered what I thought. Now I don't have a reason to feel like a killer, because I didn't kill anyone," Harry said standing, "Well, we better get down to the Entrance Hall, Dumbledore is waiting on everyone," he said.

"Oh! We're late!" Hermione yelled looking at the clock on the mantel. "Wait, you're going too?"

"Yeah, Dumbledore insists that we're going to find a way to make the small crack in my dam a gaping hole. I didn't see fit to let him down by telling him I have no idea how I'm going to," Harry said as they made their way from the fireplace to the portrait hole.

They meet Ginny outside the hole and told her what Dumbledore said on the way down to the Entrance Hall.

When they arrived at the Entrance Hall, they found it was not only students going, but their mentors also. There were also a few members of the Order with them.

"Ah," Albus said as they walked in, "Now that everyone is here there are a few things I need to tell you. First, there are three parts to the staff that you will be forging. There is the wood, the jewel that goes on top of it, and the core of the staff. Mr. Ollivander has told me he has everything set up so that you can go with your mentors and receive them. Choosing the materials for you staff, is just like choosing a wand, the materials choose you. Secondly, as they materials can be expensive, Mr. Ollivander has been kind enough to allow everyone credit and to pay as they see fit as long, as you pay at least ten galleons a month, or a hundred and twenty galleons a year. Third, you are to stay with your mentor at all times. They will aid you in information about the materials that choose you as well as Mr. Ollivander. Now, if everyone will gather around, we have three Portkeys that will take us to our proper destinations," he finished as he took three sheets of parchment out of his robes and handed on to an Auror, one to Professor Snape, and one to Professor Flitwick. He, Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Draco all gathered around the one they had and grasped on. As soon as everyone had a good hold on the parchment, Dumbledore tapped it three times with his wand and Harry felt he too-familiar feeling of being pulled by a blunt hook in his navel.

Harry landed in Diagon Alley slightly loosing his footing and cursing as he almost twisted his ankle. Dumbledore, the ever-graceful traveler, steadied him with a hand on his shoulder before directing them to the small shop in front of them.

As they walked in Harry noticed the small shop full of small elongated parcels hadn't changed a smidge. The shopkeeper, Mr. Ollivander himself, was standing behind the desk with his small glasses on the very tip of his small nose. His silver eyes show eerily just as they had six years ago when he came into this shop.

"Ah, the first team, who wants to go first?" he asked. Ron bravely and excitedly stepped forward. Because he didn't have a mentor, Dumbledore strode up to him to help him while he picked his materials; he did the same for Ginny as she was just after him.

On the front counter Harry could see different types of jewels. Harry never realized there were so many different types, but was impressed that the dusty old shop would harbor such treasures. The table next to that one held different types of wood. This made perfect sense to Harry, wood of all things would be expected in a wand shop. The last table was the table with staff cores. Harry could see all types of things sitting on the table, many of which he had no idea of their owner, or properties. The only two he recognized were the phoenix feather, and the basilisk fang, not that he admired it at all.

After Ron and Ginny went, they came to the back of the group, with him, as the Headmaster spoke with Ollivander.

"So, what did you each get?" he asked excitedly. Ron blushed somewhat, but opened a small bag that held a jewel and a core. His wood was in his hand but looked like nothing but a long fat toothpick.

"I got a tiger's eye for my jewel, redwood for my wood, and a Griffin's tail for my core," he informed Harry.

"A whole Gryffin tail?" he asked in awe.

"Yeah, seems that because the staff is so big, the core has to be as well," Ron said shrugging.

"Did Dumbledore tell you why he thinks you got those materials?" Harry asked.

"The tiger's eye, he said, is a gem of a keeper or guardian of some type. He said someone who watches over someone else would do well with this gem. He said that because I'm protective of my friends, like tigers are, and I look out for my friends, hence, eye, then that could be the reason the gem chose me."

"He made a crack about my hair when the redwood chose me, but in seriousness he said that the redwood tree is huge and sturdy, meaning that I too am sturdy. Finally, the griffin tail means courage and is of course the relation of the lion that presides over our house at Hogwarts. He actually seemed to be pleased with my materials," Ron concluded beaming.

"As he should be," Harry commented smiling warmly at Ron, "What about you?" he asked Ginny, she grinned.

"I got Fire Opal for my jewel, see," she said bringing it out of her small bag and showing it to him. It was clear but had brilliant flashes of red, orange and yellow in it depending on how the light hit it. "I also got willow for my wood and heliopath char for my wand core."

"Dumbledore said that Fire Opal has to do with my attitude, much like he did Ron's. It's clear which means I'm not afraid to show my feeling or attitude to anyone, and I have various levels of moods. He said that the willow is graceful, but can be very invasive or controlling, and a heliopath is a being made of fire, which again, like Ron, he made a crack about my hair before telling me that I'm dangerous if made mad," she said smiling mischievously.

"Right, remind me not to piss you off," Harry said grinning.

He watched as Hermione went excitedly and picked her materials. She seemed to be talking quite rapidly with Professor McGonagall every time she would pick a new piece. Professor McGonagall would just smile and add a few words to the mountain of information that Hermione was giving her about the materials. It seemed McGonagall was getting more of a lesson that giving one to Hermione. After they were done, Hermione walked hurriedly up to the small group and started spouting out information about her materials as soon as she was done. The Professor smiled fondly at her before jointing Dumbledore as Draco finished with Snape.

"I got a ruby, Birch wood, and an owl feather," Hermione gushed.

"Owl feather?" Ron asked looking like he was trying to hold back a laugh.

"Yes, but first let me explain the others. I got a ruby because it's the sign of heart, hence the red color. It is also hard to change, meaning I have firm beliefs. The birch is flexible and swift meaning that I can see things from different angles, but that I think well on my toes. The owl feather is simple, it means intelligence. And its just not any owl, but an owl of Cleopatra, do you know what that means?" she asked.

"No, what does it mean," Ron asked furrowing his brow.

"The Owl of Cleopatra can talk and is of the most intelligent and most magical of the owls. Oh, I'm so excited," she squealed.

"Harry are you ready?" Dumbledore asked interrupting Hermione's tirade.

"Yeah," he said shuffling forward and giving his name to Ollivander. Not that he needed to, everyone knew who he was.

"Would you like me to just take this from your account today?" the old wizard asked.

"Um--that wouldn't be a good idea, my accounts have been frozen for now, but as soon as it's released, I'll give you the okay to do so," he told the old man. Ollivander nodded and motioned for Harry to begin the process. First was the jewel.

Harry started from the left side of the counter and let his hand hover above the gems and jewels. He walked down the counter until he came about half way and a nice sized green emerald shot up into his hand. Harry knew immediately it had to do with eyes, but professor Dumbledore thought differently.

"Most excellent choice. The emerald is only green if pure, meaning your meaning is more often pure than not. It is the jewel of love, healing, and contentment. Ancient Egyptians used to wear it to promote those properties," Albus informed him. Harry just nodded at the old man and wondered where he learned all these things.

The next was the wood. Harry again assumed the position of starting at the left side and making his way down the table. A few different types of Holly pieces trembled under his hand, but none leapt for it. Holly was what his wand was made of so he had no reason to believe this was odd. When he finally got to the end of the table, a piece of wood shot into his hand before he even had a chance to look at it. As he did he noticed it was odd and orange.

"Ah, a fine specimen indeed," Ollivander said taking the small twig from him and replacing it with a shaft of wood that was just as tall as Harry.

"What kind of wood is it?" Harry asked confused, he was again expecting Holly.

"This is Osage Wood. It is the strongest wood known on the Earth. I think it represents your will, after all will magic is no small feat. The fruit Osage-Orange grows on it and is also known to give vast amounts of food to the wildlife around it," he said, then continued, "This could mean you have a value you try to make sure everyone gets a bit of, though I can think of more than one," the Headmaster finished in a fond tone.

Nodding to just agree, Harry moved to the next table with the magical cores. His wand was special because it shared a feather with Tom Riddles wand. It was also one of only two that held a feather given by the Headmaster's phoenix Fawkes. He started, like the other tables, at the left and made his way over to the right side. His hand was almost trembling with anticipation as it traveled over the various cores. The further he went the more nervous he became. At about three fourths of the way down, he began to panic; he wasn't getting the slightest signal from any of them. He furrowed his brow concentrating on the magic in the cores and the magic in his core hoping that one of them would chose him soon. He made it to the end without one budging at all. He sighed and looked at the headmaster who had his hand on his chin in thought.

"Headmaster, why is it that I got no response from any of them?" he asked in a small voice. He looked over to his friends and saw that everyone in the shop was looking at him intently. He shortly wondered if they were watching him the whole time. As he turned back to Dumbledore, there was a bright flash of flames that Harry had to duck due to them almost hitting him. He'd dropped down to the floor and had his wand trained before he noticed it was Fawks. Dumbledore chucked as Harry looked at his friends, only to see that they too had their wands out and ready for action. He grinned a little and stood back up.

Fawks was on Dumbledore's shoulder was immediately fluttered to Harry's when he stood up. Harry started stroking him and murmured to him as the phoenix let out a calming shrill and fluttered its wings again.

"I think it's trying to tell you something," Dumbledore said, but had his hand on his chin again in thought. "Would you like to donate a couple tail feathers ole boy?" the shriek that came after clearly meant no, anyone around would have known.

"Okay, okay, I meant no offense," Albus said in a reprimanding tone. "Is he supposed to have a feather of a phoenix?" Albus asked this time. The trill that came from the bird's mouth was joyous and clearly meant yes.

"From what phoenix?" Albus inquired looking over his half moon glasses at the phoenix on Harry shoulder.

As Albus asked the question, Fawks sunk his claws in to Harry making him flinch from the rough treatment. Then it clicked, he was supposed to be the one donating the feather.

"Er--Sir, can I speak with you in the back room, if it's alright with Mr. Ollivander of course?" he said looking over at the man who had taken up Albus' gesture and had his chin in his hand in thought.

"Yes, of course," he said turning and leading them to a small back room just out of sight of those in the front. As they made their way back, Fawks fluttered from Harry's shoulder to Albus knowing what was coming next. Creepy ole Ollivander showed them in and then closed the door as he left. Harry threw up a silencing charm and locked the door with a good locking charm before turning back to Dumbledore.

"When you asked Fawks who the feather was supposed to come from, he squeezed my shoulder quite hard. I think I'm supposed to use my Animagus form to get the feather," Harry said.

"Ah, that does make sense. Would you like to transform and I'll pluck a few?" Albus said and Harry nodded.

"Wait, don't I have to willingly give them?" he asked and Albus beamed.

"I do believe you are correct again," he said as he stood aside and waited for Harry to transform.

Harry did it in his best time yet. He fluttered up to a table and reached around to pluck a tail feather. As he did, he felt a slight drop in his energy, he did this twice more before he couldn't take any more afraid of passing out. As he transformed back he was panting and stumbling.

"What's wrong?" Albus asked confused.

"You have no idea how much energy it takes to give a feather. Each time I took one it was harder and harder. I think it drained me of my magic each time," he said sitting at the chair next to the table.

"Why did you take three, you only needed two," Albus asked.

"I want to donate one. I've read that each time a phoenix gives a feather, the wand for the feather becomes weaker. I don't think the two for my staff count, so I donated one for Mr. Ollivander to put into a wand," Harry said wiping his brow of the moisture that had accumulated there.

"Excellent idea my boy. Would you like me to ask that he make you an extra wand with it? I know it's illegal to have two wands, but I don't think that he'll say anything because the feather came from you," Albus said.

"No, I just wanted to donate it. If I have a problem with my wand in a duel, I can always revert to my staff, if I ever get to charge it," Harry said glumly.

"I have a feeling the feathers from your tail may make it possible," Albus said twinkling. He gave two of the feathers back to Harry and held on to the third one for Ollivander. "You do know the wand from this feather will make quite a powerful wand. The feather alone will be very powerful due to it coming from a phoenix, but because the phoenix is you, the feather will be even more powerful. Mr. Ollivander will quite happy indeed," he said.

"I'm sure he will; just tell him that I want to know, should it choose anyone, who it is. Tell him I also would suggest Osage wood for the wand due to how powerful you say the wand will be. It won't due for the wand to be blown apart during usage," Harry said snorting.

"Wonderful idea; now, let us get going, I know young Miss Granger is just dieing to get her staff made," Albus said chuckling.

Dumbledore led the way out of the back room where they had been as Harry followed. When they reached the front of the shop, Harry realized that they must have been back there for more than ten minutes because the third group of students was already half way done picking their materials for their staffs. Harry and Dumbledore waited patiently as the students finished and Dumbledore asked everyone to go ahead and they'd meet them there as soon as possible.

While Dumbledore was watching out of the shop window to make sure everyone got back safely, Harry took a second to treasure the jewel and stick he had in his possession already. The wood had an almost peach tinge to it while the ruby was so dark it couldn't be seen through. The words pure and strong kept repeating inside his head while he examined the wood. It was the strongest wood on Earth, surely that would allow him to charge the staff, not to mention that the emerald itself was one of the harder stones, not like the Opal that could be brittle if not treated correctly. He was brought out of his thoughts to see Dumbledore making his way back to he and Ollivander.

"It seems," Albus began, getting Mr. Ollivander's attention, "That Harry's staff core, like his wand core, is two phoenix feathers. The odd thing about these phoenix feathers is that they are very rare indeed. If you would Harry," he said motioning to Harry. Harry took the motion and laid his materials on the counter before transfiguring before Mr. Ollivander. The wizard gave a sharp intake of breath and started to stutter.

"I knew it--great things, I told you, great things," he was murmuring to himself. Harry flapped his wings a few times for effect before he transfigured back sitting on the counter. He climbed down and took his position once again by Dumbledore picking up his materials.

"As you see, Harry is a magical Animagus. The phoenix feathers that come from his tail are going to go into his staff. He has also taken the liberty of providing you with one as well as long as you make it with Osage wood and tell him whom the wand chooses," Dumbledore said as giving no room for discussion.

Ollivander practically sprinted from behind the counter at this time and started to pump Harry's hand with his own.

"Such a pleasure Mr. Potter, really, a great pleasure," he said before letting go of Harry's and gingerly plucking the feather out of the Headmaster's hand.

"You do know that only a truly great wizard will ever be able to wield a wand of such stature don't you?" he asked twirling the feather around in his fingers and looking at it with his head tilted back so to see through his glasses that were still on the very tip of his unusually small nose.

"We have guessed as much," Dumbledore said grinning like an old fool.

"Do you only wish to donate one, I dare say that two will probably not affect the wand as they come from such a great wizard," he said still in awe.

"I'd rather not have to have someone in the future have the same kind of trouble that I'm having with mine. One is all I'll give for right now. If someone else is chosen by the wand before I'm dead, I'll supply another," Harry answered.

"I see; well, I going to make you a deal for such a donation to my shop. I will let you and your friends cost of materials be waved if you let me tell the person where his wand comes from," Ollivander said in a hushed tone as if they were speaking of a conspiracy. "I know those wonderful Weasleys could use a break in cost," he added.

"Actually, their quite well off now and don't think the cost will even make a notch out of what's in their vault, but if you must, Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Ron and Ginny Weasley, and Neville Longbottom are all my best friends. If you make due for one, the other cannot be left out," Harry said with authority.

"Done," Mr. Ollivander said going behind his desk and taking a glass box out and depositing the feather into it. "This will take me at least a year to craft. Oh, but the result will be fascinating it will," he said putting the glass box under the counter and marking names off the parchment where the credit list was kept.

"May I make one more suggestion?" Harry said after the old man was done ranting about how precious the wand would be. The old man's face grew worried.

"Yes," he said hesitantly.

"You will charge me for the wand when the owner is chosen. I have no doubt that the wizard who get this wand will not be able to afford the price of a wand if what you say is true. Such work, on your part, should not go unnoticed. Charge what ever you see fit to a normal customer, and I'll pay the fee when the wizard is chosen," Harry said.

"That will do Mr. Potter. You have my promise, I will not cheat you," he said again taking Harry's hand over the desk and shaking it. Harry just nodded.

"Well now, we must get back to the castle today. I'm rather hoping that we can have the staffs done by sundown. The children will have all day to work on it due to the weekend and I shant waste anymore of your time Mr. Ollivander," Dumbledore said making his way to the door and holding it open for Harry. "Good day to you."

"And to you," Mr. Ollivander said still on cloud nine.

"Oh, and Mr. Ollivander, would you mind not telling anyone that I'm an Animagus until the wand has chosen? I don't intend to register until after the war and need all the secrets I can for tactical reason. I'm sure you understand," Harry said giving him a pointed look.

"Oh, of course Mr. Potter, and good day to you," he said as Harry nodded and walked out the door.

"Well, that was quite an eventful trip wasn't it," Albus said grinning in amusement at Mr. Ollivander's attitude towards Harry. Harry just rolled his eyes at the old man grinning himself.

"Yes Sir, it was," Harry said with a edge of sarcasm on his tongue.

The two wizards made their way to the Leady Cauldron where they flooed to the Headmaster's office. Harry took to examining his materials yet again. He still didn't understand how Dumbledore thought it possible to charge the staff just because the core of the staff would of his magic. The Headmaster gestured for Harry to sit while he took a seat behind his desk.

"I'm sure you're wondering how to make that staff, so let me first explain the process," he began, and then continued, "Because the wood of your staff is so strong and hard, the smallest possible hole should be made through the staff, in the center. The reason for the staff having the shape of a log right now is because you yourself must carve it to your wishes. Once these two parts are taken care of, you must both magically, and manually attach the emerald to the top of your staff, it will be the focal point of all magic from the staff."

"The focal point of the staff is what actually makes the staff so strong. Depending on the type of jewel you have and what it stands for, the spells in common with those traits will be greatly affected. They will effected in a way that makes them both stronger, and more powerful," he explained.

"What's the difference in stronger, and more powerful?" Harry asked.

"When I say stronger, I mean the effect will be most unbearable and will not be fought off easily. When I say more powerful, I mean powerful enough to get result from more than one individual at a time. All other magic will be slightly altered to have more effectiveness, but you must not count on it to help with all magic. I am particularly happy that the emerald chose you. Do you remember what it takes to produce a Patronus?" The Headmaster asked.

"A Happy thought?" Harry said in the form of a question.

"Yes, but since these Happy thoughts can come from certain, shall we say, events involving love, than the performance of your Patronus will be much more powerful, more than mine," he informed Harry. Harry just gawked at him.

"The trickiest part of the whole process of staff making is dealing with the magical core. The core of the staff must have all the needed enchantments and charms you want on them. Most wizards who wish to carry the burden of a staff, use only the basic enchantments such as the Signature Restriction charm, which allows the staff only to react to your magical signature, the Lost and Found charm, with insures that the staff will always appear when you need it, the Morphing charm, which allows you to turn your staff into other objects such as a ring or bracelet so that appears that you are using wandless magic, and last the Makers charm, which allows only the person with the magical signature of the maker to alter the staff."

"The core cannot be tampered with after it has been sealed in the shaft of the staff because extraction of the staff will leak all its magic and that can and would be very dangerous to anyone. I would suggest, you being who you are, that you research defensive charms and enchantments for your staff before settling on sealing the feathers into the shaft. Do you have any questions?" he asked.

"Yes, you said you didn't think I would have to charge the staff because my feathers were in it, may I ask what was meant by this?" Harry asked rolling the golf-ball sized emerald around in his hand.

"When you told me that you felt you power draining as you gave the feathers, I came to the assumption that you may have extracted enough magic to be able to do without having to charge it. It may need a small charge to make the charms and enchantments take hold, but it will take little energy if any from you, therefore cutting the risk of charging down immensely," Dumbledore finished.

"Well, are we allowed to form with shaft with magic?" Harry asked picking up the Osage wood and turning it in a circle.

"It is usually recommended that you don't because it is feared that the magic will seep into the wood and disturb the enchantments. Why, what do you have in mind?" he asked almost twinkling beyond belief.

"I have a perfect vision of what I want in my head, but I want to use will magic to shape and sculpt it," Harry said averting his eyes from the shaft to Dumbledore to see him contemplating the resort.

"I think that may work, as long as you don't want your shaft to be ruined, you shouldn't have a problem keeping the will magic from seeping into the shaft," he said nodding as if agreeing with himself.

"So can I do that now?" Harry asked trying not to sound too excited.

"Of course, do you mind me watching?" Albus asked him trying not to sound too overcome with excitement. Harry grinned at his mentor.

"Not at all Sir."

Harry waved his hand and the staff floated about two feet off the ground in front of him. He closed his eyes and held his hand out to the staff. He had perfect vision of what he wanted it to look like in his head. He willed his magic to slim the shaft dramatically from it now five inch diameter to around three. He willed it to keep all natural curvature and grainy appearance while doing this. He made his way up and he noticed he could almost feel what the magic was doing and how it was manipulating the wood to his taste. He then envisioned a slow increase in the width of the top and willed the wood to shape itself into a phoenix claw that held the emerald in its claw tightly. He willed the shaft and claw to be smooth and fine. He willed it to look as if it had a red varnish put on it to bring out the veins of orange that went though the natural wood. Finally, he willed the shaft to have a tiny chamber inside to the center of the staff, starting from the bottom. The hole should be no larger than a pencil. He gave his magic time to work on the hard interior until he could feel that the job was completed.

He opened his eyes almost reluctantly as he looked at the amazing object his just made with his eyes shut. It looked exactly as it did in his vision and after looking at Dumbledore, who was no standing and walking around it, no longer suppressing the bright smile that glowed from under his white beard, he knew he was not the only person who saw the perfection of this instrument.

"I must say Harry, I am very much impressed once again by your ingenuity. I have never seen a staff that held the look of grace and strength as your does. Now, you must bind the emerald to the claw magically also so that it cannot be stolen, though the grip of the claw looks quite sufficient as it is, it never lacks to be safe," Dumbledore said.

"Do you think it a good idea to use will magic once more? If I do, there will be no counter curse for the binding," Harry hypothesized out loud. Dumbledore beamed.

"Wonderful idea that may very well take care of the problem" Albus said.

Again, Harry lifted his hand, but this time only hovered a finger over the emerald and willed it to bind powerfully. After a second, Harry stopped and looked back at Albus for more instructions.

"All that is left is for you to research the charms and enchantments for the core and we will be ready to insert it and charge it," Albus said going back behind his desk and sitting.

"I only want the charms you mentioned earlier, and an extra unbreakable charm. I would also like to add a small curse, it that possible?" Harry asked furrowing his brow, his idea, of course, made since to him.

"Curse; why would you want that?" Albus asked looking at Harry as if he intrigued him.

"I want to put a curse on it so that it can only be passed down to those who wish to fight for the greater good of the wizarding world. If I were do die, would the Signature Restriction charm leave the staff?" Harry asked.

"No, not usually. Usually, the staff is buried with the deceased wizard. Do you want to have the staff passed down?" he asked.

"I would like to think that should I fail in my attempt to defeat Voldemort, I will have left behind a weapon to help," Harry said looking down into his lap.

"I understand. You could always use will magic for the Signature Restricting charm, though I must suggest you not use too much will magic on the core, we don't want to damage it," Albus suggested lightly. Harry just nodded in agreement. "So, would you like to finish this now, or do you want to research the charms you're putting on the core?"

"Now, I don't want to risk anything. I need all the protection I can get until my time with Voldemort arrives and I want to take every precaution available," Harry said determined. Albus smiled sadly at this and nodded standing up.

"How many of the incantations do you know of the charms?" Albus asked.

"I know the Unbreakable, Morphing, and Maker charms. I'm using will magic in place of the Restricted Signature charm so that the charm will re-establish itself to someone else after my parting. The only incantation I need is the one to the Lost and Found, I'm not familiar with that one," he answered.

"The Lost and Found charm is relatively complex, but can be mastered easily. You must mark yourself somewhere, and mark the staff in turn with the same mark. You must draw the mark in the air and then point at the Feathers and say the incantation 'Luguo', you repeat this on yourself to bind you to your staff. As long as you are not in a place where there are anti-apparition wards, your staff will always show up in front of you. All you have to do it call it by saying the incantation 'Vinire'. Do you know what you would like the mark to be?" Albus asked leaning against his desk. Harry nodded.

"I want it to be the blue rune on my back, just below my neck line, but I don't remember what it looks like," Harry said.

"Ah, then we'll just do a transparency spell real quick. Take your robes off and I'll make a transparency of the rune on our back. The transparency will allow you to trace the rune with your wand then you can mark your staff, you'll need not mark yourself," Albus said as Harry immediately began to shed his top robes and his undershirt.

"Copiare," Albus mumbled as Harry felt iciness on his back around the location of the rune. Dumbledore flicked his wand and the small rune floated in front of Harry. Harry took out his wand and began copying the mark flawlessly into the air. After he finished he pointed at the two feathers that were on a small side table next to the chair he was sitting him when he first arrived and said,

"Luguo!" with conviction. His drawing of the rune that was still floating about in the air before him flashed and zoomed toward the feathers placing itself on the quill end of the feathers in such a small mark that it could hardly be seen.

"Flawless," Dumbledore said, "You may add the others now."

"Avaria," Harry said making a diagonal swish with his wand to apply the unbreakable charm. He followed it up with 'Cambiarsi' for the Morphing charm, 'Disegnare' for the Maker's charm, and then held out a finger at the feathers to add the Restricted Signature by will magic. The golden trindles came from his finger and swirled around the feathers making them rise from their place on the table and into the air. They spun around rapidly before landing back on the table and glowing gold for a second then fading to their original colors.

He sank down into the chair completely exhausted. He'd used so much more will magic today than he was used to, but he prided himself in the feeling of accomplishment.

"Couldn't have done it better myself. I know your tired Harry, but that makes it even better for charging the staff now so that you can't put too much into it. I need you to slip the feathers into the shaft of the wand and into the center," Albus said.

Harry heaved himself up out of the chair with a sigh and took the feather before depositing them into the staff's inner changer and blowing slightly on them so that they would make their way to the center. He looked back up at Albus confused.

"How am I supposed to close the chamber?" he asked.

"Usually people leave a piece of wood to slip in there very tightly, but you can simply use will magic," Albus said as if hinting.

Harry, again sighed, clearly getting tired and pointed his finger at the small whole. The golden threads once again came from his hand and pulled the sides of the small hole to the middle where they met and sealed as if they were never there.

"Now," Albus began after he saw that the hole was in fact sealed, "Grasp the staff in the middle of the shaft and close your eyes," he instructed. Harry did as he was told.

"I want you to look into your body and find your magic. I want you to imagine that it is all around you in your aura, which it's pouring through your veins, that it's what makes your heart beat. I want you to look for the source of the magic. Follow the course of the magic up stream until you get to the mouth of the magic. From there I want you to make a direct route from the mouth of the river to your hand. When it gets to your hand, feed it to the staff and let it run from the staff, back into yourself. You should now have a steady flowing stream of magical energy that is coming from you, going into the staff, and returning to you. Your magical signature has now made itself known to the staff and your magic has treated the staff. I want you to cut off both the starting point of the river and the out let of the river of magic directed into the staff," he finished standing back and looked at Harry appraisingly.

The emerald on top of the staff had long since started glowing, and Albus was starting to get slightly apprehensive about letting Harry charge the staff. Usually the jewel wasn't supposed to glow, just give a bright flash at the end as a sign of acceptance.

Harry felt delirious. He had never felt something so comforting in his life. It was like being under the Imperius Curse and not having a care in the world. He had magic running through his veins and coursing thought his body at such an alarming rate, he felt as if he made explode from pleasure. The power was wonderful, and it was all his---naturally. He didn't want to cut the river off, he felt good. It was warm, tingly, and it gave him confidence to feel how much of this magic he had. He wanted to show the world how strong he was. He wanted to show them that he was no longer a little, shy, scared boy that was the constantly in hiding from the Dark Lord. He wanted everyone to know that he, Harry Potter, could be the greatest wizard of all time--- the most powerful. He was thirsting for the power. He had a taste and he wanted more. Every time he wanted more, more would be provided. To hell with Voldemort, all would bow to him as a peasant before a God. He had the power, he had the strength, and he was God.

His body began to burn with magic. It was turning its back on him, leaving him, punishing him for his greed. He tried to grasp at it, but it would burn him every time, charring the very nerves of his skin for having such irrational emotions. The magic was burying itself to hide, to save, and to protect him. It was furious, but it was not furiousness of hate, but of love. Like the love Mrs. Weasley had for him, like Draco gave him. It was a reprimanding love, one that told him he should feel ashamed of himself, and never take it, the magic, for granted.

He was pulling away. He felt awful, ashamed, beat down, and exhausted. He had cut the rivers of magic in an attempt to save some, but he couldn't feel what was trapped in the staff any longer, not without the river connected to him. He wanted to cry, to cringe, and to crumble. No, he had to be strong, he had to stand, to be confident like he knew he could be.

He opened his eyes seeing Albus looking at him questionably. It was not a look that told him the old man knew his thoughts. It was not a look of confusion or of reprimandment. It was one from someone who hoped they hadn't made a mistake.

"Albus?" he said furrowing his brow at the old man.

"Yes Harry?" Dumbledore said looking at him intently.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"The jewel, it wasn't supposed to glow, just flash after you finished for acceptance," Albus said now stepping toward Harry. "How do you feel?"

"Horrible, I just found my Slytherin side. I sounded like Voldemort, completely power hungry and I even called myself God. But then something strange happened and the magic began to fight me, well, not fight, but scold me for my greediness. It burned me for my impure thoughts. I think that's why the emerald was glowing. Remember? You told me that it stood for pureness, love, and contentment. When I started showing traits other than that, it showed me back to the way of goodness," Harry explained. He had long since sat down and was now wiping his brow of the perspiration what had gathered there.

"Well, I have to say I'm quite pleased for the emerald. Should you have had a ruby, the queen of hearts, it would have embraced the need for more power and drove you insane when you couldn't have it. But what is done it done. You need a nap and a Pepper Up before dinner. You have about three hours before you have to be down in the Great Hall, go get some rest," Albus said helping him up and leading him to the door.

As he watched Harry walk out, he breathed a sigh of relief. He just had his greatest fears confirmed, then ratified. Harry Potter could indeed do much more terror in the world than Voldemort ever dreamed of. But now, because they took a chance and made the staff, he was bound to the values of the emerald, he would not submit to his Slytherin line, only let it drive him.