AHP: Year 1 Chapter 1: The Violinist

"So... that's the Girl Who Lived, eh?"

-Sherrod Howe after meeting Harriet Potter

Summary
The story begins and the focus is brought towards a woebegone figure dressed in an old coat and a wide brimmed hat. He is smoking a pipe in a spot to the side of platforms nine and ten. He sets down a cup and begins to search for someone. Unable to locate whoever he is looking for, he suddenly has an old violin. As he plays, it is only families wearing odd clothes that seem to be able to hear him.

He stops playing when a new family approaches. Leading the family is a large neck-less man. As they walk, a young girl comes into view. The violinist smiles when he sees that on top of the girl’s trunk is a snowy owl. The violinist resumes playing, but begins playing a more whimsical score. The girl hears him and starts to walk towards him as her family continues onward.

In a rough and gravely voice the violinist tells her it is dangerous to get separated from her family. She explains that they aren’t really her family. The girl tells him that he is really talented and asks why only a few people notice him? The violinist winks at her and answers simply “Magic.” As the girl bends down to put two large golden coins into his cup, her hair falls forward and the violinist notices that she has a lightning-shaped scar on her forehead. Then the large man from earlier yells at the girl to get away from the “riff-raft.” The girl apologizes to the violinist and hurries back to the large man.

The man’s violin seems to have vanished as quickly as it had appeared. The violinist enters an alley and pulls out a wand shaped like a violin bow. The violinist stops when he hears the friendly voice of another man in the alley. As the two men greet each other we learn that the violinist is named Sherrod and the other man is Albus Dumbledore.

Albus asks why Sherrod is there. Sherrod tells him that he was there to do some “scouting” because he has a vested interest in the girl’s future and safety as well as the safety of the rest of the Wizarding World. Albus reminds him of a conversation they had ten years ago. Sherrod assures Albus that he remembers. Sherrod then goes on to admit that Albus was right and that Miss Potter has turned into an outstanding young woman. Through their conversation we learn that Sherrod is the headmaster at an art and magical school called Rathlin.

Sherrod later admits that the reason he actually was there is that he was worried about Harriet’s safety and warns Albus that she and “the item” are no longer safe. Albus assures him that he will give the item and Harriet every defense necessary and that Sherrod should consider Harriet herself as a defense. Sherrod gives Albus another warning about a possible wizarding war bubbling up in the United States. Relieved that Albus is aware of the dangers going on, Sherrod and Albus say their goodbyes. Both men leave the alley by vanishing with a loud crack.

Characters who appear in this chapter

 * Sherrod Howe
 * Vernon Dursley
 * Petunia Dursley
 * Dudley Dursley
 * Harriet Potter
 * Hedwig
 * Albus Dumbledore

Characters who are only mentioned in this chapter

 * Arabella Figg
 * Portia Figg
 * Severus Snape
 * Nicolas Flamel
 * Perenelle Flamel
 * Dora Flamel
 * Emma Flamel
 * Isabella Martinez
 * Lord Voldemort
 * Cornelius Fudge
 * Dr. Jefferson Watkins
 * Fawkes