Chapter Text
The rain was falling hard on the cobblestones of Hogsmeade village. It was a typical October afternoon, grey and cold, and most students from Hogwarts had decided to stay inside the Three Broomsticks rather than wander outside. Harry Potter sat by the window with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, watching the water drip from the eaves of the shops across the street. Ron was complaining about Snape’s potions homework while Hermione was reading a thick book about advanced charms. Harry was not really listening to either of them. His mind was elsewhere, as it often was these days. Voldemort was growing stronger every week. Death Eater attacks were becoming more frequent. And Dumbledore was spending more time away from Hogwarts than ever before.
Harry took a sip of his butterbeer and looked out the window again. That was when he saw something strange. A small cart was coming down the main street of Hogsmeade. The cart was painted in bright purple and gold, colors that seemed almost aggressively cheerful against the grey sky. Pulling the cart was not a horse or a thestral but a small fluffy pink creature with long ears and a round belly. Harry had never seen anything like it before. He blinked and rubbed his glasses thinking the rain was playing tricks on his eyes. But the creature was still there, trotting happily as if it did not have a care in the world.
Ron noticed Harry staring and followed his gaze. Bloody hell he said what is that thing Hermione looked up from her book and her eyes went wide. That is a Snuffling Fluffhorn she said they are extremely rare and they are native to the mountains of Switzerland I read about them in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them they are supposed to be extinct. Well this one is not extinct Ron said it is pulling a cart full of what looks like chocolate.
Harry leaned closer to the window. The cart had stopped in front of an empty shop that had been closed for years. The sign above the door still read Honeydukes Old Storage but everyone knew no one had used that building for a long time. A man jumped out of the cart. He was young maybe in his twenties and he was wearing a top hat and a long purple coat that seemed to shimmer even in the rain. His hair was brown and curly and his smile was so wide and so bright that Harry could see it from across the street. The man waved his hand and the door of the old shop swung open by itself. Then he waved again and boxes and barrels and jars began floating out of the cart and into the shop all by themselves. No wand Harry said softly Hermione grabbed his arm. That is impossible she said unless he is using wandless magic which is extremely advanced or unless he is not a wizard at all. He is a wizard Harry said I can feel it.
And he could feel it. Ever since the night Voldemort had returned Harry had been able to sense magic in a way he could not explain. It was like a warmth or a hum in the air. And the man in the purple coat was radiating magic so strongly that Harry almost felt dizzy. We should go meet him Hermione said standing up and closing her book. Ron groaned do we have to I wanted another butterbeer. You have had three already Hermione said you are going to turn into a butterbeer. Ron muttered something under his breath but he followed Hermione and Harry out into the rain.
The three of them crossed the street and stood outside the newly opened shop. A sign had already appeared above the door in gold letters that seemed to glow. It read Wonka s Wonderful Wonders. Beneath the sign a smaller line of text said Chocolates That Change Everything. Harry pushed the door open and a bell chimed somewhere far above them. The inside of the shop was nothing like they expected. Instead of shelves and counters the room was filled with floating glass orbs each one containing a different kind of chocolate. Some were shaped like animals some like flowers some like tiny castles. One orb contained a chocolate that was constantly changing color shifting from red to blue to green to yellow. Another orb held a chocolate that was crying tiny tears of caramel.
Welcome welcome welcome The man in the purple coat appeared from behind a curtain at the back of the shop. His eyes were bright and wild and he was still smiling that enormous smile. My name is Willy Wonka and this is my newest and smallest and possibly most magical shop in all the world What can I get for you today A chocolate that makes you fly A chocolate that lets you speak to birds A chocolate that tastes exactly like the first time you fell in love I have them all I have more than all I have everything
Hermione stepped forward her curiosity overcoming her caution. How are you doing this without a wand she asked Mr Wonka tilted his head like a curious puppy. A wand Why would I need a wand A wand is just a stick a very boring stick But chocolate chocolate is alive chocolate understands you chocolate listens to your heart She opened her mouth to argue but Harry interrupted. Can you show us something something real Mr Wonka looked at Harry and for a moment his smile flickered just slightly. You have sad eyes he said very sad eyes for someone so young I think you need a special chocolate.
He reached into his coat and pulled out a small golden box no bigger than a matchbox. He opened it and inside was a single chocolate shaped like a tiny mirror. Eat this tonight before you sleep he said to Harry and you will see someone you miss very much. Harry’s heart stopped. How do you know I miss someone he asked quietly. Mr Wonka closed the box and placed it in Harry’s hand. Everyone misses someone he said that is the secret of chocolate It reminds you of what you have lost and then it helps you find it again.
Ron grabbed Harry’s arm and pulled him toward the door. Harry mate he whispered this bloke is mental Let s go Hermione was already examining one of the floating orbs but she too looked unsettled. Harry looked down at the golden box in his hand. The chocolate inside was warm. It should not have been warm because it was sitting in a cold shop on a rainy day but it was warm. And Harry could have sworn he heard his mother s voice whispering his name from somewhere inside the box.
Thank you Mr Wonka Harry said and he walked out of the shop with his friends following close behind. As the door closed behind them Harry heard Wonka say one more thing. Come back when you are ready Harry Potter I will be here. Harry froze. He had not told Wonka his name. He turned around but the door was already closed and when he looked through the window the shop was empty. No floating orbs no purple coated man no pink fluffy creature outside. Just an old abandoned storage room covered in dust.
Ron was pale. Did that just happen he asked. Hermione nodded slowly. It happened she said but I cannot explain how or why. Harry slipped the golden box into his pocket. He did not tell his friends that he could still hear his mother s voice whispering from inside his coat. He did not tell them that the chocolate was getting warmer and warmer as if it was alive. And he did not tell them that for the first time in a very long time he felt something other than fear. He felt hope.
That night Harry sat alone in his four poster bed in the Gryffindor dormitory. Ron was already snoring. The rain had stopped and the moon was shining through the window. Harry took out the golden box and opened it. The chocolate mirror was still there still warm. He lifted it to his mouth and took a bite. The taste was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It was sweet and bitter and salty and sour all at once. It tasted like his mother’s treacle tart. It tasted like his father’s laugh. It tasted like home.
And then the room changed. He was no longer in his bed. He was standing in a green field under a bright blue sky. In front of him stood two people a man with messy black hair and glasses and a woman with bright red hair and kind green eyes. Lily and James Potter. His parents. They were smiling. They were real. Harry tried to speak but no words came. His mother stepped forward and touched his face. Oh my brave boy she said we are so proud of you. His father put a hand on Harry’s shoulder. We never left you son he said we are always with you. In your heart. In your blood. In every choice you make.
Harry woke up crying. The chocolate was gone. The golden box was empty. But the warmth remained in his chest like a small golden sun. He knew then that Willy Wonka was not just a chocolate maker. He was something else something powerful something dangerous and something wonderful. And Harry knew he had to go back.