Harry hasn't even gotten his wand yet, and already he's performing an experiment to test the limits of his Mokeskin pouch's command recognition capablitities. His conclusion? It doesn't make any sense. He turns to McGonagall for some sort of insight, some sort of consistency behind the rules of this magical item, but she simply claims that it's magic.
Naturally, Harry is not satisfied by this explanation. He goes on to ask if there's ever been any wizards that have scientifically experimented with magic, but McGonagall admits that she doesn't understand exactly what he means by “scientific experimentation.”
Thinking he might have more luck trying to work with other Muggle-born children than with an unscientifically-minded old witch, Harry asks McGonagall how many Muggle-born children are admitted to Hogwarts. She estimates about ten a year. This does not give Harry much hope for finding a like-minded child his age in the wizarding world.
On the other hand, Harry concludes, if every wizard and witch practices magic without giving much thought into how it works, there's always the possibility that a rational mind like him can unravel the mysteries of magic, and subsequently use this knowledge to Take Over the World.
Harry continues his school supply shopping, buying several other purchases that McGonagall deems questionable. Harry takes offense; just what does she think he's planning to do? McGonagall says that all she knows is that it'll either end in a get-rich-quick scheme or world domination. Harry, soon realizing that she's entirely serious in her concerns, explains that he doesn't like danger. He just wants to be prepared for whatever may come. What if some horrible monster bites a classmate, and all he can do is watch helplessly while she dies in his arms, knowing that she'll never forgive–
McGonagall stops him there, and reminds Harry of the war that happened a decade ago, how everyone lost someone – she herself watched many friends die – and that he shouldn't speak of such things lightly. She goes on to say that many Ravenclaws have lived lonely lives because they couldn't learn to think before they speak, and hopes that Harry can avoid such a fate.
Harry explains that he's just afraid of not being prepared for the worst. McGonagall responds that it's not his job to worry about that; it's hers. And naturally, she assumes that Harry must have gone through some terrible ordeal to be so concerned with safety. She asks him what it was that made him so afraid of terrible things happening.
It turns out that Harry can't really provide a satisfactory explanation. The best he can do is recall a minor incident, when he was afraid he might get mugged returning a pan to a neighbor down the street. His mother made him return it anyway, and though nothing happened, he hated that his mother just shot down his concerns. That incident convinced him that Adults Are Useless, and that's why he always wants to be prepared.
But McGonagall isn't convinced. There must be more to it, she reasons. When Harry says that he doesn't want to get an animal companion, he explains that he's afraid he might forget to take care of it. McGonagall assumes he's projecting, and tries to psychoanalyze him as he explains how his pet would suffer under his care.
But Harry catches on. And this turns out to be a big Berserk Button for him. He promptly chews out McGonagall for even suggesting that his parents would ever mistreat him, and she had better not even think to suggest to anyone that Michael and Petunia abuse him, because he knows that the public will be all too happy to villainize his innocent parents. McGonagall quickly explains that she never meant to suggest that his parents ever hurt him. But, she insists, there are moments where Harry says and does odd things that seem to suggest that some sort of traumatic event must have occurred. Something he doesn't remember. Perhaps a wizard erased his memories somehow...
Harry stops her, and offers a much simpler explanation. He's unusually smart for a boy his age, and he has trouble connecting with kids of average intelligence; he's wise enough to understand that his parents are fallible, unlike most children; he resents that adults don't treat him like an adult; and he also has an anger management problem. Sometimes, he concludes, the most reasonable explanation is the simplest.
Harry gets his wand from Ollivander's, learning in the process that the wand he's destined for is the twin to Voldemort's wand. Harry, however, doesn't find this fact quite as distressing as McGonagall's non-reaction to this news.
Harry discusses with McGonagall his concern that he won't be able to live up to his own legacy; his greatest triumph may have already come and gone. But maybe he can still make a name for himself later in life. Maybe he can avenge his parents' death by bringing Sirius Black to justice, or perhaps Voldemort will return from death and they'll have to fight again–
It turns out that Harry's right on the money about that last one, as evidenced by McGonagall's reaction. He's annoyed that she's still not willing to tell him the whole truth, just because he's a child. So he offers an ultimatum: be up front about everything, or else he'll just have to ask around for more information, and risk letting slip the fact that Voldemort is prophesied to return. McGonagall is indignant, but Harry counters that if someone were keeping a dark secret from her, she would do the same.
McGonagall is greatly uncomfortable with explaining everything right away, so Harry makes a concession; as long as she gives her word that they'll bring him into the loop soon, and as long as she doesn't try to erase his memory (he has a system prepared), he'll drop the subject for the time being. McGonagall acquiesces.
As the day draws to a close, they stop at the trunk shop to get the Bigger on the Inside trunk that Harry asked for earlier. Unfortunately, it turns out that Harry is 11 Galleons short, and the only way he can make up the difference now is to use the coins he “stole” from his vault. After several moments' consideration, he decides that even though McGonagall does treat him like a child, she's not quite as useless as most adults.
So he confesses. He only did it because he wanted to leave some room for error, and he did it behind her back because he was sure he could never get her to listen to him, no matter how rationally he argued against her.
And she accepts this explanation, and allows him to buy the trunk. Harry is ecstatic; this is the first time he's ever been able to convince an adult of anything using only his words.
As they leave Diagon Alley and prepare to part ways, Harry and McGonagall begrudgingly admit their respect for one another. As she leaves, McGonagall suggests that Harry look for a girl named Hermione Granger on the train to Hogwarts.
Tropes present in this chapter:
- Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!:"Ooh, shiny!" Harry put his thoughts of world conquest temporarily on hold and skipped over to a shop with an open display.
- Companion CubeHarry: “I had a pet rock once. It died.”
