An Agreement with Fate

Flash Forward to the Sorting

Staying in the Leaky Cauldron was one of the best things I had ever experienced. I would explore the magical place though as days dragged on, it started to seem unending, and I would also peek at the many magic items in various shops.

The best part was that the people here were amiable, they loved me for whatever reason, not that I am complaining. Madam Malkins would let me help her whenever she was busy, the shopkeeper from Flourish and Blotts would let me read any book I wanted for free if I him open the shop daily and Mr Fortescue would tell me magical history every time I visited him, I loved it.

As my 11th birthday (in this life) passed by, Dumbledore visited me again, though this time he was under a charm that only let me see his real appearance. He told me that other people would see him without hair and glasses.

Yeah, I cannot imagine Dumbledore without his beard.

Dumbledore guided me so that I could buy my school items, he would also tell me how Harry is settling in with the Potters. I felt sad whenever I heard that he was happy there without me, though I felt guilty about being sad. Though, I am relieved that he is happy in his house.

As Dumbledore guided me back from Ollivander's wand shop, I just kept staring at my Alder wand. Dumbledore asked me, "Benjamin, my boy, would you prefer to have a pet?"

I shook my head in denial before asking, "Where should I keep my wand, sir? I think it will be misplaced if I just keep it in my pocket, or it may break."

Dumbledore smiled at me and said, "Alastor would kill to have every child think this very thought, my boy. Most students use their bags to keep their wands at Hogwarts, though some children seem to bring wand hostlers to appear . . . what was the word again? Cool, yes, cool. Those children wish to appear cool.

"Benjamin, remember not to buy wand hostlers unless necessary, they are rare items and quite expensive so they are not generally bought unless a person from DMLE or a duellist wishes for them."

Dumbledore peered into my eyes as I nodded and said, "For you, my boy, we will take, not a rare, but an uncommon path. Some people have special pockets in their robe sleeves to store their wands, and we will also use that option for you."

And so, I had to feel my wand touch my palm whenever I wore my robe. I hate robes usually but these pockets, ugh, they make me hate them even more. I feel weird in robes, I cannot explain it but I do. This is why I never wore trenchcoats even though they looked cool, I just feel funny after wearing them, and I look weird in them and . . . and . . . I am ranting to myself, great!
_

It had been a couple of weeks since anyone familiar talked to me, I mostly just kept to myself in Diagon Alley and read my course books. Of course, I got bored of them and decided to head into the muggle world, at least I can see how the British live differently than the Canadians.

Honestly, I had way more fun exploring than I should have and wandered around till late, which meant that I had just crashed into my bed after returning to my room. And so, my days fell into a pattern where I would just walk around for a while and then go back to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. After that, I would go up to my room to study magic. I mean, who doesn't like magic?

By now, I had read the Transfiguration book fully as well as parts of the History and Astronomy texts. Hey, don't judge me, I like that stuff! I read the more useful Charms book but honestly, I don't want to read about the hand motions of your wand for hours so I just read it once a week, which meant that I just read the introduction.

I felt sad that I didn't even touch Herbology and Potions but then I remembered that, according to Harry, they were mostly hands-on subjects which meant that I could wait until the Hogwarts Express to study.