Harry wiped away tears. "I will Mother." He then placed the amulet around his neck and the letter back in the box. His owl hopped off her perch by the window and seemed to want to comfort him. He stroked her feathers and smiled as she pecked lightly at the amulet around his neck. He wondered if all the people his mother mentioned were dead. Then it occurred to him that a woman named Minerva McGonagall was the deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, he wondered if it was the same woman.
The next two weeks saw Harry and Petunia doing prodigious amounts of reading. Harry read the muggle born information packet, Hogwarts: A History so he would know about the school and more importantly the school rules, and the books his Aunt told him were must reads: the general laws, the etiquette book, the wizarding genealogy and the who's who. He also spent time figuring out the ledger, and realized he owned four properties. An apartment building in London, a cottage in Godric's Hollow in Wales, a small fifteen room manor in Staffordshire, and a beach house in Brighton. When he told Petunia her lips tightened and she frowned. Harry also read through a list of everything in the heirloom vault and wanted to get some of the family journals it listed to read.
In addition he skimmed all of his textbooks then read and made detailed notes on the first three chapters of each book. He also read the one of the books from his potions kit that explained proper techniques for potion ingredient prep. Harry practiced the different cuts and getting them precise as he prepared dinners, lunches, and breakfasts. Petunia had given him odd looks until he explained what he was doing after which she nodded remembering Lily doing the same thing as a girl. Harry practiced writing and came to the conclusion he would only use a quill when required. His art steel nib pen was far superior. He named his owl Hedwig after a Saint in his History of Magic text.
Petunia spent her time reading the law books and the books about or that mentioned Harry. When she was done she made some phone calls and found a place not far from Diagon Alley where she could privately meet with the lawyers of Davies, Corner and Ogden on August 20th. Harry sent Hedwig to make an appointment with the optician in Diagon Alley and made arrangements to meet with Mr. Marcello at Ollivander's on the nineteenth of August to get his wand. Vernon surprised both of them by not saying a word and picking up take away on the days they got too engrossed in what they were reading to make dinner, apparently eighty-seven thousand pounds bought a lot of tolerance.
Life at Privet Drive was hectic not just because of the cramming Harry and Petunia were doing on the magical world, but also because they were trying to get two boys ready to head off to school. Dudley had been accepted to Vernon's old school Smeltings. Harry for the first time alongside Dudley got an entire wardrobe of new clothes, including many things he wasn't convinced he'd need. (three sets of capilene long underwear, polar fleece pants. Where did his Aunt think he was going? The arctic?) A large supply of school and personal supplies and much to his pleasure art supplies. Harry bought a set of wheels to attach to his trunk that could snap in and out of the mounts, and what he thought was the best school backpack that came in leather. Harry also bought a bridge pad, a cribbage board, a couple decks of cards and paperback copies of all his favorite books plus a few new ones. Last he bought a silver picture frame for the photo of him and his parents.
Dudley surprised Harry that night. "Harry could we talk?"
"Sure Dudley what do you need?"
"Do you think I can do this? I mean go to Smeltings be a success and such? I mean I've always had you to help me and I know that you are way smarter… I'm just…"
"Dudley who took your end of year exams?"
"I did."
"That's right you did, not me. Yes, I've helped you study since we were little, and I'm not saying that things probably won't be a bit harder for you. But you know how to study and you know the mechanics of how to learn. I'm sure you'll do fine and if you're really worried about it join a study group or ask for tutoring."
"Yeah, you're right. I can do this. But all the same I think, I'm actually going to miss you, you girl."
" All right that's it…" The resulting wrestling match had Petunia yelling at both of them while they fought to keep straight faces.