Summary:Hermione takes Bolt for his first trip to Diagon Alley.
Notes:(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text Bolt woke up in the hospital wing the next morning wrapped in the arms of his treasure, waking from what had easily been the best sleep of his life. He glanced down at his best friend. His wife . He still wasn't completely sure how to be a husband, but if being married meant he got to wake up like this every morning, it would be worth it.
He considered all he had learned yesterday. He knew it wouldn't be easy, adjusting to being human again, or half human,he corrected mentally. Then there was the whole dark lord issue, but strangely he wasn't scared, at least not when his wife was curled into his side like she was currently. He glanced down at her to find her staring back at him sleepily.
"You okay Bolt?" she asked groggily, leaning up to give him a good morning kiss, frowning when he turned his head and gave her a strange look. Did he not want to kiss her, she wondered.
"Do you still even want to be called Bolt?" she questioned in an attempt to dispel the lingering awkwardness she felt after her attempt to kiss him. .
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about all that's happened. I think of myself as Bolt, so I'd like to be called that" he explained to her.
"Okay then. I'm going to go and take a shower, you should too. Professor McGonagall said that she would be taking us to the Diagon Alley this morning, remember?"
"Yes. Do I have to go though? Can't she just buy whatever I need?" he pleaded, anxious about being in public again.
"No. First, you need to be there in order to get a wand, and then we have to go by Gringotts to see if you can claim your inheritance, and let them know you aren't dead. Why are you so reluctant to go shopping?" she questioned, absently running her fingers through his hair.
"There'll be other people there. You said I was famous in this world. What if someone recognises me? Or worse, what if they are scared of me? I know I must look like some type of monster with my horns, eyes, and sharp nails. What if they try and lock me up somewhere?" he worried.
"Oh I completely forgot. Professors McGonagall and Snape created this special band for you to wear on your wrist. It uses something called a glamour to hide your horns and make your eyes look normal." Hermione assured, pulling the band Mcgonagall had given her the night before from the bedside table and placing it around his wrist, his dragon features instantly disappearing once it touched his skin, though his fingernails remained long and sharp.
Bolt felt the magic wash over him and hesitantly reached up to feel the air above his head, relaxing when he realized his horns were still there, only invisible. As much as he worried they'd draw attention, he didn't want them gone permanently.
"You'll need to stay calm though for it to work though. If your magic has a sudden spike it could overload the glamour and cause it to fail, which would be a disaster in the middle of Diagon alley." she explained. "The reason your claws aren't included in the glamour is because I believe you should be able to retract them the same as a normal dragon can. Just try to relax your hands and think of a place that makes you happy" she explained.
Bolt did as he instructed, closing his eyes and relaxing the muscles in his hands and fingers while in his head picturing his cave back at the cove, feeling as his claws retracted into his fingertips.
"Anything else before I go and go and get ready to leave?" Hermione asked, getting up so she could go and get ready.could
"You'll stay with me the entire time we are there right?"
"Of course. I'll stay with you the entire time, though I do need to speak with someone in Gringotts about having something made, so I'll need to be alone for that, but it will only take a minute." Hermione assured, reluctantly leaving him to go take her shower.
While Bolt was waiting for his turn to shower, he considered all that had happened over the last few months. A part of him missed living on the reserve without any other people to bother him, but he knew that as long as his treasure was a part of this world, he would need to do his best to learn as much as he could so he could protect her.
Soon Hermione came back, dressed in jeans and a light jacket and instructed him to get in the shower and come back when he was finished.
Once he was done, he came back to find Hermione waiting with the jar of what the man called Snape had brought to help with his scars.
"Okay Bolt, take off your shirt and sit on the bed so I can apply the potion so we can begin to heal your scars alright?" she asked.
Bolt complied, taking off not only his shirt but his pants as well, causing Hermione to turn red as she shot up off the bed and activated the privacy screen before someone else saw her husband's body.
"Bolt! Why are you naked? Anyone could have seen you!" she hissed, ignoring the way the sight of his toned body sent a shiver up her spine.
"But clothes are uncomfortable for me. They are inconvenient and restrict my movement." he groused.
"Fine, you can stay naked, but only once we get our own quarters and only around me alright?"
"Alright" he agreed, sighing as Hermione began to administer the healing balm to his skin.
She started on his back, taking time to admire her husband's firm body as she caressed his muscles, earning a deep rumble from Bolt, who seemed to be enjoying the massage nearly as much as she was if his prominent erection was any indication. By the time she was finished, she was feeling quite proud of herself for keeping from staring at Bolt's arousal (much). She did note that his member, while mostly human, was above average in both length and girth, with a small knot at its base, and it seemed to have a slight purple tint to it, reminding her of the diagrams of anatomically correct dragon penises she'd come across during her research. It was incredibly arousing.
When she'd first seen those veterinary diagrams in the library textbooks she'd felt so ashamed for being aroused by them, thinking she was some sort of sexual deviant. Now she realized that it had been her magic reacting to Bolt's transformation that was molding her physical desorires to better match his physical form. Magic had deemed them perfect for one another at birth, and when he'd been forced into the form of a dragon, magic had apparently decided to help even out the differences between them. Normally she'd be horrified at the idea of magic changing her to better fit a man, but she was honestly just grateful to have someone so kind and innocent in her life.
Sighing, she brought her attention back to his scars. She could also immediately tell that although the potion was certainly helping, most of his scars were much too deep to ever be fully removed. She once again prayed for the Dursleys to be resurrected so she could make them feel half the pain her poor husband had felt. Noting the time on her watch, she realized it was nearly time to meet the headmistress, and reluctantly told Bolt to get dressed in the jeans and t-shirt she'd laid out for him, having nicked them from the lost and found the night before.
Once they'd both finished getting ready Hermione led Bolt to the headmistress's office. It took much longer than expected to get there however, mainly because Bolt kept stopping them, , eagerly asking Hermione questions about magic, the castle, and speaking to the moving portraits lining the corridors Though she hated the idea of being late, Hermione was honestly happy to see him so excited, and eagerly provided him with answers to his questions and basking in his obvious wonder as she guided him through the castle. By the time they reached the headmistress's office where McGonagall was waiting they were nearly an hour late.
"I'd have expected Mr. Potter to get lost, but I'd have thought you'd be better at being on time Ms.Granger." McGonagall reprimanded, annoyed at knowing they had missed their scheduled appointment at Gringotts. Goblins didn't take tardiness lightly.
"Sorry professor, Bolt had questions and kept wanting to explore the castle." Hermione sheepishly explained.
The professor's eyes softened at this. "Well, I suppose this is all quite new to him. I had planned to go to Gringotts first, but now that we've missed our appointment we can put that off until last. Anyway, your parents will be meeting us in the Leaky Cauldron." she said, watching as Hermione paled slightly, gripping Bolt's hand like a vice, a reaction McGonagall immediately noticed.
"I'd have thought you'd be happy to see your parents, Ms. Granger. Surely they want to meet your new husband?" McGonagall questioned.
"Well you see.. I haven't told them yet. " Hermione reluctantly admitted.
"Why one earth not? Surely they'd be happy for you! It's not every day someone marries their soulmate!" McGonagall exclaimed, genuinely confused as to why Hermione hadn't told her parents what, in her mind, was a blessing.
"They're muggles, professor, they won't understand!" Hermione cried, as all the emotions she'd been bottling up came rushing out.
"They haven't really understood me since I started Hogwarts. I don't blame them of course, the magical world isn't something you can truly understand without being a part of it, and I know they love me, but it feels like magic has put this wall between us. What if this is the final straw for them and they make me leave magic behind? Leave Bolt behind?" She questioned, distraught at the thought of having to leave her new husband behind.
Bolt, sensing she was upset, hesitantly wrapped his arms around her waist in an attempt to calm her the way she did for him.
"If they take you away, I'll find you, I promise." he assured her, pulling her closer to his chest and inhaling, enjoying the smell of her hair.
McGonagall smiled at the young couple, deciding to relieve some of their worries. "First off, your parents can't pull you from Hogwarts. In case you've forgotten you're both emancipated." she pointed out. "Secondly, I'm sure your parents will understand. Maybe not at first, but certainly once they see how happy you are."
"Maybe." Hermione relented. "Anyway, how are we getting to Diagon Alley?" Hermione asked in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
"We'll be using the floo network to go straight to the leaky cauldron, where your parents should be waiting." she told them, gesturing to the fireplace.
"What's a flew?" Bolt questioned.
"It's floo, and it's a magical connection between fireplaces. You take a handful of special powder, and throw it into the fire before stepping through it while calling out the name of your destination. I read about it in a book on magical forms of travel." Hermione explained.
"It won't burn me though?" Bolt asked nervously, a little frightened at the idea of purposefully stepping into a lit fire. As a dragon, he'd always had a special relationship with fire, but it didn't mean he wanted to be burned alive. Bolt nodded hesitantly.
"Of course not, it's magical fire, and according to Madame Pomfrey your skin has the same magical resistance as you did as a dragon, so you should be fireproof anyway."
He felt his treasure's warm hand slip into his and he turned to see her smiling at him amusedly. "We'll go together okay? Trust me, it won't hurt at all." Bolt nodded hesitantly.
Hermione grabbed a handful of floo powder, and stepped into the fireplace, pulling Bolt in beside her and calling out "Leaky Cauldron", causing both of them to disappear in a flash of flame.
What followed was the most disorienting thing Bolt had ever experienced, and when he finally tumbled out of the fireplace he immediately fell flat on his face, pulling Hermione on top of him as he fell. Hermione helped him to his feet and quickly pulled him to the side to make way as McGonagall gracefully exited the floo, cleaning the soot covering the 2 students with a flick of her wand.
"I'm not doing that again, Mione. Even if it means I have to fly back." Bolt grumbled, frowning as he suddenly realized he couldn't fly anymore.
"We'll just get Professor McGonagall to apparate us back then." Hermione told him, grinning at his apparent dislike of floo travel.
Bolt instinctively began scanning his surroundings since this was the first time he'd been in public since he was a child only to jump, only to startle slightly as Hermione let out an ear piercing squeal and as she jumped into the arms of an older man nearby with a similar hair color to his treasure's, forgetting him. Standing next to them was a woman who could easily be mistaken for Hermione's older sister, with only slightly darker hair, but the same kind, chocolate brown eyes.
He knew they must be her parents, judging by how happy she was to see them and also from the way they smelled similar to the way she did. Bolt hung back and watched as the older couple hugged his treasure and he felt a pang of jealousy settle in his gut, wishing he could have had that type of relationship with his own parents.
He silently prayed that they wouldn't hate him the way his own relatives had. The longer he stood there, the more nervous he became, his thoughts beginning to spiral as he realized that if her parents hated him, they might convince her to leave him, and then he'd be alone all over again.
Hermione, noticing Bolt was still standing with McGonagall by the floo, ran back to him and led him over to her parents. She noticed he seemed terrified and was shaking, though she didn't have time to dwell on it, too concerned with the prospect of telling her parents she was married at the age of 15. "Mom, dad, this is Bolt, my best friend. Some stuff happened at school lately that we need to talk about, but first we need to move into the private room the professor rented so we can have some privacy." she told them bluntly, wanting to get this over with quickly.
Once everyone was settled in the private room, Professor McGonagall put up a few privacy charms and informed them that she'd be just outside the door if she was needed. Hermione sat next to Bolt and turned to her parents, who were patiently waiting across the table, who seemed to be curious as to why their daughter was with a teenage boy.
Noticing Bolt seemed extremely uncomfortable under their scrutiny, almost to the point of having a panic attack, she realized that perhaps Bolt shouldn't be here for this. Tensions were likely to be high, and her parents probably weren't going to be happy about her being married, at least at first. The last thing she needed was for her parents to traumatize him further by directing anger toward him, or worse, for him to transform in a misguided attempt to protect her and accidentally hurt someone
She turned to Bolt, whispering in his ear, "I need to talk with my parents alone. Go and tell Professor McGonagall that I said to take you to the magical menagerie and see about getting you a familiar, and then Ollivander's to get your wand. I'll meet you there once I'm finished, okay?" she told him.
She'd expected him to protest at leaving her alone but if anything he seemed relieved that he wasn't needed.
Once Bolt had left, Hermione turned to her parents, who were trying and failing not to look interested in how close she seemed to be with Bolt. Just as she was about to speak, her mother spoke up.
"Please tell me there wasn't another giant snake?" her mum asked worriedly.
"What? No! How did you even know about the first one?" Hermione asked, thrown off by the unexpected question. She wasn't aware that her parents had even known about the first one.
"We're not stupid Hermione." Dan chided, smiling. "The Summer after your 2nd year you suddenly seemed to have all this extra money for books and things. We didn't understand where you were getting it from, and you didn't seem to want to tell us when we asked, so we sent a letter to Professor McGonagall asking about it. She explained all about how you saved the school, earning a small fortune in the process." he explained.
"You knew all this time? Why didn't you tell me?" Hermione complained. She'd put so much effort into keeping them from finding out, feeling they would pull her from school if they knew, just to find out they'd known the entire time.
"Hermione, you're 15. You're young, but you've always been independent. We trust you enough to know that you'd come to us if you needed us." Emma told her gently. "Now what is it that you need to tell us?" she prodded.
"Mom, dad, it's a long story. The boy who just left is Bolt Potter, my best friend. We met a month ago and he will be coming to live with us." Hermione began, explaining how she found him in the forest as a dragon, only to find out later that was really a boy and that he really needed someone to take him in.
Once it was explained how his real parents had been murdered by a dark wizard, and that his relatives had abused him so badly that his magic had forced him into his dragon form, with Hermione having to explain that no, people coming back from the dead and being found living as magical creatures was not normal in the magical world, they immediately agreed to take him in, causing Hermione to relax slightly, but only slightly. She still had one more bombshell left to drop.
"There's one more thing. Bolt and I aren't just best friends. We sort of accidentally soul bonded, and now we are considered married." Hermione gushed, feeling extremely nervous yet the the same time unable to keep the stupid love drunk grin off her face. Instead of the angry outburst she'd been half expecting, she was pleasantly surprised her father just calmly asked her to explain, knowing she wouldn't have gotten herself pregnant and that she should have a good reason for getting married so young.
So she did, explaining what it all meant, putting emphasis on the fact that while they didn't plan it, neither of them could be happier about it, and that magic had literally deemed them to be perfect for each other. The Grangers listened to their daughter's explanation calmly, only stopping her twice to ask clarifying questions, knowing that this was something they needed to handle carefully.
Daniel Granger was shocked his daughter was now married, but not necessarily upset. It helped that she was obviously ecstatic about the news. He of course knew Hogwarts hadn't been easy on her and though she tried to hide it, he knew she was bullied and picked on.
He was also aware that she was really too young for marriage, but she'd always been more mature than most, not to mention her new husband was her literal soulmate of all things. Seeing his daughter anxiously waiting for his reaction, he looked towards his wife and immediately he knew she was thinking the same thing. There was only one thing they could do here lest they break their daughter's heart and destroy an abused orphan's only chance for a family in the process.
"Congratulations sweetheart. He is of course welcome to stay with us." Dan said, with Emma nodding along to show her agreement as she walked around the table to embrace her daughter in a tight hug.
"Really? You're okay with this?" Hermione asked, relieved. She'd come up with countless scenarios in her head when she'd thought about how she'd tell them, the worst of which ended ultimately with her being disowned and tossed out on the street. She'd never even considered that they'd be so accepting.
Emma smiled at her daughter. "Princess, we just want you to be happy. We may not always understand things when it comes to magic, but we do understand you, and we know that you'd never allow yourself to be married to someone who didn't deserve you. It'll take some getting used to, but if this is what you want, then of course we'll support you."
"I really do mum. I love him so much it hurts.' she admitted, smiling giddily. "He's so sweet and innocent, but at the same time kind of intense in a way that just makes me just want to…" she trailed off with a shudder, blushing slightly at the thoughts running through her head.
"Just remember, we don't want any grandchildren yet, and we will be having a long talk with the both of you about all of this when you come home for Christmas break in a few weeks." Emma teased, causing Hermione to blush.
"Mummmm" she whined, "We haven't even kissed yet! It's kind of annoying really," she huffed, thinking of the way he wouldn't kiss her this morning.
"He's so loving and protective, but also kind of shy. As much as I want to be more intimate, he hasn't given me any sign that he wants the same even though I have hinted at it multiple times. I keep having to remind myself that he's mentally the equivalent of a six year old in the body of a teenager. I even tried to kiss him this morning but he turned his head away and looked at me like I was doing something strange" she complained.
Emma smiled at her daughter's naivety. "Have you ever considered that maybe he wants the same thing you do but just doesn't know how to express it?" She watched with amusement as her daughter considered this before pressing on. "Hermione, if the abuse he suffered was as bad as you described, then coupled with him not being around any other people for nearly eight years, he likely has no basis for what a physical relationship is supposed to be. That is something that is learned from watching people around you. It's entirely possible he rejected your kiss this morning not because wasn't interested, but because he didn't understand what you were trying to do." Emma explained.
"Oh, you're probably right. That would explain why he looked at me like I had just tried to lick him." Hermione replied, giggling. "I'll have to try and remember to be a little more direct about what I want."
"You do that. I have some books on victims of abuse and post traumatic stress at home that you can read during the Christmas break that may help you with him," Emma said.
After that, Hermione and her parents spent a few more minutes talking, before Hermione left to find Bolt with Hermione promising to owl them with suggestions of gifts for Bolt at Christmas.
After leaving the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione made her way towards Ollivanders hoping to find Bolt, getting halfway there before feeling from their bond that he wasn't there.
Focusing on the bond, she turned and walked back down the alley, coming to a stop at the magical menagerie. Just as she was about to enter, Bolt and Professor McGonagall came out with Bolt carrying a large cage containing the most beautiful snowy owl she'd ever seen.
Bolt was so busy examining his new owl friend that he didn't notice her until she slipped her hand into his free hand, though Professor McGonagall seemed very relieved to see her.
"Mione! Look what the professor bought me! Isn't she pretty? I named her Hedwig, after that painting we saw in the hallway this morning. " He gushed, proudly showing off the snow white owl.
"A fitting name. She's beautiful." Hermione agreed, admiring the snowy owl before turning her attention to the headmistress. "I kind of expected you both to be at Ollivander's by now. You didn't have any problems at the pet shop did you?"
"Just a few minor inconveniences." McGonangall replied.
At Hermione's questioning glance she elaborated. "You husband publicly nearly gave the shopkeeper a heart attack after he revealed that he can not only speak parseltongue, but also speak the language of every other magical reptile in the shop" Letting that information sink in, she added, "I of course obliviated the shopkeeper as parseltongue is generally viewed as the ability of a dark wizard and I think your new relationship will be under enough scrutiny without adding that into the mix." McGonagall explained.
Hermione wasn't worried at this development. While the basilisk was the king of snakes, dragons were generally viewed as the king of reptiles, so while him having the ability to speak to magical reptiles was certainly surprising, it actually made sense in her mind.
"I hope it's okay that I bought him an owl. He bonded with her immediately." McGonagall explained, bringing Hermione's attention back to Bolt, who was still cooing at his new pet.
"How much was she? I'll pay you back." Hermione said, not really sure how much an owl would cost.
"Nonsense. Consider her a wedding present to you both." McGonagall said, waving off her protests.
"Thank you professor. Bolt, did you thank professor McGonagall?" Hermione asked her husband, knowing he most likely forgot.
"Thank you professor." Bolt parroted, not taking his eyes from his new pet.
"Come on Bolt. You can look at your owl later. Right now we need to go and get you a wand." Hermione told him, taking him by the hand and leading him to Olivanders.
As soon as they entered the wand shop, McGonagall began putting up privacy wards. When Hermione questioned this McGonagall explained.
"I'm no expert, but I know from experience that being an animagus can sometimes have an effect on your wand. I had to have one custom made from kneazle hair when I first transformed. I suspect that the same will be true for Bolt, especially with your bond in play."
"That is correct headmistress McGonagall." came the voice of Ollivander from the rear of the shop. "There are many factors that determine the wizard or witch a wand will choose. Now, I'm assuming you're here to buy a wand for this young man? What's your name?" Ollivander asked, looking at Bolt where he was standing anxiously beside Hermione.
Before he could answer, Hermione spoke up. "Before we tell you anything, we are going to need a vow not to tell anyone anything you learn here today."
The man looked a little put out at potentially missing out on some gossip, but he reluctantly made the vow.
"This is Bolt Potter, formerly known as Harry Potter" Hermione said, taking Bolt's hand as she felt his anxiety spike over their bond. Then she dropped the real truth bomb. "He is a dragon animagus, and my soul bonded husband." She then explained how Bolt was found having lived the last eight years as a dragon, only to then be soul-bonded the moment he was found.
She watched as Ollivander became more and more excited as the story progressed. By the end he was practically radiating excitement.
"A pair of soul mates! What an opportunity! I'd be delighted to find a wand for Mr. Potter, though it's likely he'll need something custom, as will you Mrs. Potter. Due to the bond you now share it's likely your wand will no longer work properly for you." Ollivander explained.
"Me? My wand works fine. If anything it's worked even better since we bonded." Hermione said, a little shocked. She'd never even considered that the bond could affect her wand, but now that she'd been told she realized it made sense. The bond was literally her magic reacting with Bolt's so it made sense that it could affect her connection to her wand.
Ollivander seemed to consider this. "That's odd. A soulbond should have negated the core-"
"That must be it!" Ollivander exclaimed excitedly. "Ms. Granger, you said your husband was a dragon animagus. He wouldn't happen to be a hebridean black would he?" he asked excitedly.
"Yes, he is, but how does that affect my wand?" Hermione questioned, wondering where this could possibly be going.
"Do you remember what I told you about what was so unique about the core of your wand?" Ollivander asked.
"Of course. When the wand first chose me I was worried what it would mean to have a wand that a dragon had to die to make it. You said that my wand was special, and it would be a good wand for light magic like healing magic and fertility rites. You assured me that it was the first humanely sourced dragon heartstring. If it hadn't been for that I wouldn't have bought it." Hermione said. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Because around eight years ago, I got a call from an old colleague named Aaron Weathers." Bolt perked up upon hearing his old caretaker's name. "He had just found a juvenile Hebridean Black running around Surrey. It was heavily injured, had a cracked skull and was very malnourished if I recall correctly. Malnutrition, especially long term, is a horrible thing. The poor thing's heart was weak and malformed. To correct it, the dragon was put in stasis and half its heart was removed and regrown. The half that was removed was donated to me. It was mostly unusable, except for one strand that was used to make a wand. Your wand."
Hermione stared wide eyed at the wand in her hand as if she'd never seen it before, turning to Bolt and noticing him hesitantly touching his chest as if to make sure his heart was actually there. "My wand core is made from my husband's heart?" she said feeling overwhelmed and a little disturbed.
"It appears so. It is very interesting that the magic of his heartstring instinctually sought out your magical signature. It is also interesting to me that your wand has a second connection to Mr. Potter. The vinewood which your wand is crafted from was collected from a small property in Godric's Hollow. The very same property on which Lily and James Potter gave birth to their son." Ollivander revealed. "Which makes me think that the perfect wand for him will be one made from you."
"What?!" Hermione shrieked while at the same time Bolt's eyes flashed, letting out a growl towards the perceived threat. "Your heart is mine!" Bolt growled under his breath, unheard to anyone but Hermione, causing her to smile at his possessiveness.
"It wouldn't kill you!" Ollivander grumbled, rolling his eyes at their, in his opinion, overdramatic reactions. "I suppose if you won't allow me to use your heart, a hair and a drop of blood will suffice." he conceded, deftly plucking a hair from the back Hermione's head, and pricking her finger to draw a drop of blood, ignoring her yelp, as well as Bolt's warning growl and heading into the back without waiting for an answer.
An hour later Ollivander reappeared, holding a wand box. "I believe this wand should be a match for you Mr. Potter. Cypress wood, used for those who are noble and brave, with a blood bound dual core of winged abraxan hair and a hair from Mrs. Potter. I must warn you not to let anyone other than your wife touch it Mr. Potter. It seems to be very protective and possessive." he said, laying the box on the counter. "This wand is capable of powerful magic and will be especially well suited for sacrificial and ritual magic. While your wife's wand is suited towards lighter magics, your wand is decidedly more grey," he revealed.
Bolt reached out and picked up the wand, sparks shooting off like firecrackers as warmth shot up his arm as a wave of magic exited his body, hitting everyone in the shop with a burst of raw power.
Hermione, who was standing next directly beside him, immediately doubled over, clutching her stomach and letting out a small moan; her knickers soaking themselves as she suddenly orgasmed.
As the waves of magic receded, Hermione looked up to find Ollivander and McGonagall staring at her in shock, while Bolt looked near tears. thinking something was wrong.
"Did you just…" McGonagall started, only to think better of it.
Blushing furiously, Hermione stood up off the floor. "I'm okay Bolt. I'm sorry about that. His magic… it seems to affect me in strange ways. Can we please just forget that ever happened and just go to Gringotts?"
Everyone quickly agreed, even Bolt who didn't really understand what had happened, though Hermione did catch him glancing down towards her pelvic region, likely due to him being able to smell her arousal.
After paying Ollivander for the wand, they made their way towards Gringotts, stopping at Madam Malkins to pick up Bolt a few pairs of jeans and t-shirts, and a pair of school robes for him to wear at the school's official feasts. Arriving at the entrance to Gringotts, Hermione took a moment to explain to Bolt that the bank was run by goblins, and to always be polite to them, as goblins did not take disrespect lightly.
Bolt was amazed at the idea of an entire race that hoarded the wizarding world's gold, as it reminded him of the way some of the dragons at the reserve would keep hoards of coins and treasures they found lying around as treasure. He'd never had a strong desire to hoard anything away, at least not until he'd met his treasure.
Having promised to let her do the talking, they walked into the bank, the door closing behind them. They'd only made it fifteen feet into the building when an ear-piercing alarm sounded at the same time Bolt turned to her, his eyes glazed over and mumbled what sounded like "feel funny" and to her horror collapsed, falling face first onto the floor and breaking his nose with a sickening crunch, instantly falling unconscious.