A/N: Nice and quick with chapter two. Please review!

Disclaimer: I'm not JK Rowling!

James Potter and the Giant Squid
by The Scottish Fae
Chapter Two

James stumbled out of the fireplace and landed face first on the grubby floor of the Leaky Cauldron in fits of giggles.
Moments later his mother stepped out and loomed over him, frowning.
"Get up you silly boy!" She exclaimed. "Do you never listen?"
James did as she asked and upon seeing her expression, tried unsuccessfully to contain his giggles.
"What's so funny?" She asked, her stern expression softening.
"I saw two people..." He trailed off, the tips of his ears going red.
His mother looked at him curiously.
He beckoned her closer and whispered in her ear, "I saw two people snogging!" he fell about laughing again.
"Come on," she said, grinning and rolling her eyes. James followed her to the back door of the pub still chuckling to himself.
As they approached the brick wall at the end of the pub's small courtyard James watched as his mother produced her wand, counted down then across and tapped the calculated brick.
The wall shuddered and a crack appeared in the centre of the structure as the bricks rearranged themselves to form an archway.
James skipped ahead through the opening in exciement, he didn't often come to Diagon Alley. Until now he hadn't been old enough to need or use many of the services the area provided, but if he was particularly good his parents would occasionally take him to Gambol and Japes to pick out something special.
"Alright James," his mother started when she finally caught up to him. "Let's look at that list and see what we need."
James dug into his pockets then, realising they were empty, glanced sheepishly at his mother.
"You don't have it, do you?" She sighed.
He shook his head.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Alright, you head straight to Ollivander's and get your wand while I go and fetch the list. Where did you leave it?" She asked.
"In my top bedside draw," James responded quietly.
His mother sighed again. "What am I going to do with you?"

She made sure James knew the way to Ollivander's and told him she would meet him there in twenty minutes before disapparating, leaving him to wander to the far end of the alley alone.
Having no siblings, James was used to spending time alone, however he was quite unused to spending time alone, with money, surrounded by temptation.
He soon found himself in Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor ordering a large strawberry cone which he then brought with him into Gambol and Japes.
He emerged ten minutes later, ice cream free, with a bag full of dung bombs, whiz-bangs and hiccup sweets and finally made his way down to Ollivander's.

James found the rickety store fairly easily and wandered through the front door. He'd never been allowed inside the wand shop before and he was somewhat disappointed to find that it looked very much like a shoe store, only with smaller boxes and less on display.
James wondered around the small space trying to read the print on the end of the slim packages.

"What can I do for you young man?" Came a creaky voice.
James whirled around to find a lanky man with tufty, greying hair perched behind the counter.
"Your first wand I imagine?" he continued before James could reply. "What's your name?"
"James Potter." Said James.
"Ah, Mr Potter. Of course! How is your father doing?"
James opened his mouth to answer but the man, assumedly Ollivander, was already rambling.
"Oh, I remember his first wand. Aspin, twelve inch with a dragon heart string core. Unbending much like his character if I do recall. Good fellow, good fellow..."

While he spoke he scanned rows of boxes before he finally pulled one out, removed its lid and passed the wand inside to James. James gingerly grasped the handle and looked nervously up at Ollivander.
"Well, give it a go!" He encouraged.
James tightened his grip then swished the wand above his head. Orange sparks spurted from the tip, setting the ends of his hair on fire. Ollivander hurriedly snatched back the wand and vigorously patted James' head to quash the smouldering strands.
"It's clear you're a passionate one," Ollivander mumbled as he re boxed the wand and pulled another from the shelf for James to test.
James hesitated as his fingers brushed the handle. Something about this wand was physically repulsive to him. Ollivander must have sensed that too because it was pulled away from him before he had a good hold.
"No." Ollivander said curtly, and he wandered further into the shop.
He returned with a wand already free from its box and placed it James' outstretched hand.
A warmth spread through James as his hand came into contact with the smooth wood. He smiled.
"That's the one," Ollivander said with a grin of his own. "Mahogany, eleven inches, dragon heart string core, pliable. Excellent for transfiguration."
James nodded, not really sure what to make of all that but excited to be holding his first wand.
"That will be seven Galleon my boy," Said Ollivander, rounding behind his desk.
James unfastened the purse his mother had given him and fished out the remaining coins.

Five galleons, nine sickles and fourteen knuts later James face was burning red.
"I'm sorry sir," he mumbled. "I'll have to wait for my mother."
He reluctantly handed back the wand and stood patiently just outside the front door.

Not two minutes later his mother came toward him, parchment in hand.
"Do you have your wand?" She smiled.
James couldn't look her in the eye.
"What did you do?" She asked, a frown creeping over her face.
"I couldn't afford it," he replied.
She glanced at the store in surprise. "What? I gave you seven galleons. Don't tell me he's increased wand prices!"
Before James could stop her she'd marched through the entryway. James could only follow helplessly.
"How much are you charging for a wand?" She demanded.
Ollivander looked a little taken aback but replied strongly, "seven galleons Mrs Potter. The same as always."
James' mother narrowed her eyes then returned her attention back to her son. It wasn't long until she spotted the paper bag dangling from his left hand with the words Gambol and Japes clearly printed across its side.
"James Potter, what is that you're holding?" She forced through thin lips.
James jumped straight into defending himself.
"I only spent one galleon Mother! Well maybe one and a bit." He corrected himself as she raised her eyebrows. "I didn't realise how much the wand would be." He added guiltily.
His mother huffed and turned to Ollivander. She handed him the correct money, took the now boxed up wand, thanked him and brusquely left the store .James followed sheepishly behind her.
Ollivander cheekily winked at him as he slipped out the door.

When James caught up to his mother she announced that she was going to leave him at Madame Malkin's to get his robes fitted while she collected the rest of his supplies. He was disappointed he that he wouldn't get to see inside the rest of the stores but new better than to argue.
She escorted him inside the tailor's shopfront, paid Madam Maklin upfront, and left James to be fitted.
The fitting itself took only five minutes with a charmed tape measure. Madam Malkin then picked out some robes and had him change into them so she could adjust them where necessary. Once she'd finished with all three sets she folded them neatly along with a thick winter cloak and placed a pointed on top of the pile.
Then for the next 45 minutes James sat in the corner in a velvet-upholstered armchair with his uniform on his lap and his bag of tricks by his feet waiting for his mother.

James was half asleep by the time his mother arrived, arms overflowing supplies, to pick him up. He quickly shook himself out of his stupor and grabbed the textbook filled cauldron from her hand to lighten the load.
They wandered back toward the Leaky Cauldron together, and just before they had reached the brick archway he dared ask.
"Are you sureI can't get a broomstick?"
His mother sighed. "You did read the letter, didn't you?"
"Yeah." He said, dejected.

The return journey was twice as difficult with their goods in tow but they eventually made it back home with everything intact.
James showed his father all his new equipment, getting particularly excited over his wand, but before he could lug it all up to his room his mother swiped the sleek piece of wood from his grasp and announced that she was "keeping this until he could learn how to properly use it."
In other words he wasn't getting his wand back until school started on the first of September.