Gringotts Wizarding Bank was a bit of an architectural disaster, considered Jim.
In theory it was a nice place, made of white marble with rows of columns, several floors high. Gringotts Wizarding Bank was written on the front, just to make sure you knew.
In reality it was a bit of a dump. The pillars were wonky and the whole building looked, well, like it was about to fall down. It was probably held up by magic. In fact, Jim thought as he glanced around Diagon Alley, most of the shops seemed to be constructed out of an odd combination of magic and willpower.
But evidently they were safe, if there were no warning signs or screams. Indeed, the street was full of people – witches and wizards, Jim guessed – buying, selling, shouting, chatting, and just generally being.
'Don't get left behind, Jim!' exclaimed Mum, grabbing Jim's wrist and dragging him after the rest of the family. He stumbled after her, until they caught up with Dad and Emiko. Harry was already halfway up the steps to the doorway.
'Hey, Jim! Em! Have you seen this place!' he shouted to them. 'It's like Christmas, but in Australia!'
'Australia?' whispered Emiko in Jim's ear.
'It's Christmas is in the summer,' he whispered back.
'Oh. Why doesn't he just say that then?'
'He's Harry. Why do you think?'
'Good point.'
However, Harry was right about one thing: it did feel like Christmas. The bustling of the crowds, coupled with the bright lights and street vendors advertising their wares – it was like something out of a film.
Inside Gringotts, it was much calmer, but Jim still couldn't shake off the feeling that he was in a film. The little men – goblins? could they be goblins? – counted money in such unison that a rhythmic thumping sound filled the long room and made Jim feel that someone was about to start a song-and-dance routine.
At the end of the long room was the counter they were heading for. Another goblin sat there, also counting money, but at half the speed. He watched the Roths carefully as the five of them made there way up towards his counter.
'Ah – hello,' said Dad.
The goblin waited for him to continue.
'I – uh, we were wondering about taking some money out of the bank.'
'Do you have an account?'
The goblin's voice was low and gravelly. Dad faltered and Mum took over, her 'efficient' smile on her face.
'That's what we don't know. You see, it's not ours, it's our son Jim's.'
'…you don't know if your son has an account here? That sounds a bit… irresponsible.'
'Well, you see, he's adopted, and as we understand it, his family, who were wizards – unlike us – had a bit of money.'
Jim smiled.
'And their family name?'
'Potter.'
The name seemed to mean a lot to the goblin, as he nearly toppled backwards off his stool. 'Potter? This must be Harry, then?'
'Yes that's right.'
The goblin leaned over his counter and had a good look at Jim. 'Yes, I see now. We do have an account in the name of Potter, and it has a modest amount in it. Come with me.' He hopped off his stool and led the party to a small vehicle which resembled either a car or a rollercoaster ride. 'Please get in.'
The five Roths squashed in, and the goblin hopped in what appeared to be the driver's seat.
'Please hold on tight,' he said.
What followed was a ride that put any fairground ride to shame. The car moved at about the speed of light, if that was even possible, and had so many twists and turns that it would have made a very effective, if slightly OTT, centrifuge. Unfortunately (or fortunately, as far as Jim's body was concerned) the speed meant that it was all over very quickly, and the car was stopping outside a large iron door. It was featureless, except for a small keyhole on one side.
The goblin got out, closely followed by the Roths.
'I don't suppose you have a key?'
'No. Sorry, sir,' Jim replied.
'We must do it the hard way then.' Saying that, the goblin stood by the keyhole, fiddled with it, and after five seconds the door slowly swung open.
'Please help yourself.'
Jim felt his mouth drop open. 'A modest amount' did not even begin to cover it.
Emiko, next to him, was speechless for the first time in her life. Behind him, Harry was stuttering. 'It's all – what – gold – what - what?'
Jim managed to take a step towards the vault. 'What is this worth?' he asked the goblin.
'The gold coins are Galleons, silver are Sickles, and the bronze ones are Knuts. One Galleon is seventeen Sickles; one Sickle is worth twenty-nine Knuts.'
'So… how much money should I take?'
'That, Mr. Potter, is up to you.'
Realising he wouldn't get any help from the goblin, Jim glanced at his parents. They seemed just as unsure as Harry, but after a moment, Mum shook herself and became the picture of efficiency. 'Let's just take what we feel will be enough, okay?' Jim nodded, and Mum produced a bag out of nowhere and started filling it with gold and silver coins.
'We should probably take a few bronze pieces,' said Harry.
'Knuts,' corrected Jim.
'We should take of them too.'
Mum obediently slipped a handful of Knuts into the bag. 'Is that enough, do you think, Jim?'
Jim looked into the bag, which was so full Mum could barely carry it. 'I think that's enough, Mum.'
'Okay, good. Simon, do you think you could carry this?' She handed the bag over to Dad, who managed to heave it onto his shoulder. 'Shall we go then?'
Back on street level, Diagon Alley seemed even more full than it had been before. Dad glanced around. 'What do you need, Jim?'
Jim looked at his list. 'Robes – let's try there.' He pointed at a shop front reading Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
Inside the shop it was a little quieter. A plump, squat woman came running towards them when she heard the bell. 'Oh – are you after Hogwarts robes? Not a problem – how many?'
'Just this one.' Mum pushed Jim forward. He smiled at the woman.
'Yes, of course, of course. Just come through here – we've got another one for Hogwarts already. If you'd just like to wait here?' she said to the other Roths. 'This won't take long.'
Indeed, there was another student being fitted for Hogwarts robes. She had bushy brown hair and, as Jim saw when she smiled at him, somewhat prominent buck teeth.
'Hello,' she said. 'I'm Hermione Granger.'
'Jim Roth,' Jim replied, as Madam Malkin started fussing over some cloth.
'It's very nice to meet you, Jim Roth,' replied Hermione. 'Are you by chance any relation to the painter Simon Roth?'
'Yes, actually,' Jim said, lifting up his arms as instructed. 'He's my dad.'
'Oh! I recently went to an exhibition of his at the Tate – I especially liked the pictures from the Lake District.'
'Really? You should tell him that – he's just out there.'
Hermione blinked then opened her eyes wide. 'Are you – he's actually out there?'
'Yeah, he's my dad! He's waiting for me!'
Hermione's eyes grew wider, until Madam Malkin turned to her. 'Alright, dear, you're done. Just come to the till and you can pay…' She led the girl off.
After Madam Malkin's, the family headed towards the bookshop, Flourish and Blotts. The list of books Jim had to buy was long, but some of them looked very interesting.
'A History of Magic,' read out Harry. 'Hey, Jim, can I have this one?'
'Only if you do all my homework. Now give that here!' Jim snatched the book from Harry, but in doing so, lost his balance and tripped over into a girl of about his own age.
'Oh! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?' he asked, beginning to pick up the books he'd scattered.
'I'm fine,' she mumbled, then, 'No, really, leave them… it's fine –'
By that point, however, Jim had finished stacking her books into a small heap and handed them back to her. 'Sorry again. Here –' He offered her a hand up. She took it hesitantly and Jim pulled her to her feet.
'I'm Jim Roth.' Jim stuck out a hand.
'…Susan Bones.' She shook it and gave him a small smile.
'Nice meeting you, Susan.' Jim smiled at her.
'You too.'
Jim turned to go and then, a thought occurred. 'Hey,' he said, turning back again. 'It's not your first year at Hogwarts this year, is it?'
Susan smiled again, and this time it was a proper smile, full of relief and excitement and happiness. 'Yes, it is. I… is it your first year too?'
'Yup. I'm really looking forward to it.'
'Me too… thank you. For… thank you.' She smiled once more and then ducked away.
'Who was that, Jim?' asked Emiko.
'I think,' replied Jim, scanning the bookshelf for The Standard Book of Spells, Grade One, 'that I have just made a new friend.'
